Setting the Turkeys Free by W. Nikola Lisa, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max

Setting the Turkeys Free is a very cute and creative book. It is the story of a boy who is finger painting and begins to make turkeys with the outline of his hand. Yes, just like kids have been doing in preschool for years! He gives each turkey special decorations and places all the turkeys into a pen made out of popsicle sticks.

Soon a fox enters the story and the boy has to protect the turkeys with changes to his drawing. In a way it sort of reminds me of The Little Prince, in the way that drawings come to life.

This is a fantastic book for the upcoming turkey making season. Teachers will love reading it, and students will love hearing it. It is a great book for teach problem solving, creativity, and imagination to young children. Ken Wilson-Max's bright illustrations mixed with finger painting are a joy to look at and should provide inspiration to lots of young artists.

Ages: 3-7
Keywords: Turkeys, Art, Fingerpainting, Problem Solving, Creativity, Courage, Friendship

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber

I didn't care for Leaf Jumpers. It was blah, the sort of book that you could have imagined was written during the 1950's or earlier. The book is written from a child's perspective of fall, but the problem is no real child would ever talk or act like this.

One positive thing about the book, I could see a teacher using the book just as an example of using adjectives and descriptive language. A teacher could also use it for a science class to teach the different types of leaves. But truthfully, I can't imagine a child sitting still to listen to this story.

Ages: 3-5

Keywords: Autumn, Fall, Leaves, Trees, Colors, Adjectives

The Legend of Spud Murphy by Eoin Colfer

The Legend of Spud Murphy was a fun, short read. It is the story of two brothers, Marty and Will, who are forced to spend time in a library during the summer instead of getting into trouble at home.

Neither boy wants to spend time at the library for two reasons. First, it will be boring. Second, the librarian Mrs. "Spud" Murphy is evil and mean. She has been given the name "Spud" by the children of their neighborhood, because she supposedly keeps a potato gun at her desk to take care of problem children.

The first day they are at the library, Spud lays down the rules and tells the two brothers they are not to leave the carpet of the children's area. Marty decides he needs to test how serious Spud really is, and quickly gets into deep trouble. (I especially loved her punishment, and if I have my library job next summer I think might get a stamper of my own!)

With the two boys afraid to get into anymore trouble, they actually begin reading books in the library! They quickly read through every book in the children's area. Marty makes his brother sneak into the adult section to get another book for them to read---you will have to see for your self what happens next.

This is a great book, especially for boys who are hesitant about reading. Eoin Colfer (writer of Artemis Fowl series) promises there will be more books about the Woodman brothers and I can't wait to see where he takes the brothers next.

Ages 7-11

Keywords: libraries, books, brothers, mischief, humor, adventure, authority

Tru Confessions by Janet Tashjian

Tru Confessions is a cute story about twelve year old Tru (Trudy). The story is written as a diary. Tru has lots of the same struggles as most twelve year old girls-friends, boys, school work, the usual. Tru is also struggling to deal with her twin brother, who happens to be developmentally delayed. Tru is also an aspiring video documentarian and much of the book is about her trying to capture and tell the story of her brother via a cable access contest.

It is a touching story, but it does a good job of not becoming overly sentimental, while still treating the subject with respect that it deserves.

Ages: 9-13
Keywords: Adolescence, siblings, empathy, mental retardation, diaries

Verdi by Janell Cannon

Verdi is a wonderful story of a fun-loving young yellow snake who doesn't want to grow old and turn green. Verdi thinks all the other old green snakes are lazy, boring, and rude. The older snakes all try to give Verdi advice so he can protect himself and grow to an old age. Verdi ignores their advice and attempts to hide the changes that are occuring with him, and eventually hurts himself.

When Verdi must take a break to rest and recover, he finally starts to accept some of the wisdom of the older snakes, but also keeps a little part of his young crazy side alive also.

Cannon's illustrations are as beautiful as they are funny. The detail in her work is amazing. This is an excellent story for kids coming to grips with some of the physical and emotional changes of growing older.

Ages 6 to 11

Keywords: Aging, Maturity, Adolescence, Snakes, Respect, Risk-Taking, Nature

Unlikely Exploits #02: Heir of Mystery, or Four Legs Good by Phillip Ardagh

Heir of Mystery, the second book in the Unlikely Exploits series is a funny and twisted continuation. Like the Fall of Fergal death plays a key role in the story. This is an excellent book for the Halloween season.

The story covers Fergal's funeral, and the discovery that Fergal's brain was not buried with the rest of his body. The McNally children spend the rest of the book trying to track down Fergal's missing brain and run into some very undesirable characters.

This was a good book, but it didn't grab me quite the same way that the Fall of Fergal did. There is no way that it could though, because the whole series seemed so unique at that point. With that said, this is still a very continuation. I admire Ardagh's writing style, it is like you are sitting with a crazy uncle and he is trying to tell you a story. Things aren't always told in a completely linear fashion, but he always takes a chance to answer the questions that the reader might be having as he reads along. One slight concern, which isn't a really a concern, but it does seem as if the vocabulary in Heir of Mystery is a little more challenging than in the Fall of Fergal. Not a bad thing, but just a thing for readers to be aware so that they don't get frustrated.

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with the teddy bear in book 3, and of course what happens with Fergal.

Keywords: Mystery, Horror, Death, Medical Experimentation, Family, Dogs, Storytelling

Ages: 9 - 12 (but I think older children will also enjoy this story, as will adults)