2008 Notable Children's Books

Before we say adieu to 2008, let me say THANK YOU to all you BFK readers, subscribers and visitors. Since I launched this blog in May 2008, BFK has received considerable traffic from book lovers around the world. I hope that BFK's reviews, essays and articles on children's literature have helped you in many ways.

As we end the year, I would like to share with you two important lists that should aid you in selecting quality literature for your children and students.

• The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has listed the 2008 Notable Children's Books. The list already includes the current year's Newbery, Caldecott, Belpré, Sibert, Geisel, and Batchelder Award and Honor books.
• The National Education Association (NEA) shares the Teachers' Top 100 Children's Books. The list was compiled from an online survey in 2007.

Here's to another year of books and reading magic! Have a Happy New Year.

Connie Luayon
Publisher & Editor
Books for Kiddies
http://books4kiddies.blogspot.com

Review: Three Shades of Green

by Binay Srivastava

If emotionally charged stories portraying love, selfishness, betrayal, female foeticide, or even immortality of the soul have ever moved you to know what lies ahead, or the shape of things to come, here is a book that will tease your most fertile imagination. You could say it is a thematic production of feminine reactions to occurrences in the ordinary course of living. A truly unforgettable and un-put-down-able book from start to finish.

As we all know, the colour green represents life-force. 'Three Shades of Green' is a work of fiction carrying three true-to-life stories symbolizing life in different hues, contexts and textures. Each story is materially different from the other in its setting, relationships, emotions and outcomes. The characters, no hero or heroines but ordinary humans, face everyday situations in a way that shows human frailty - strong at one moment, and weak at the other.

The first story -Sandy and Pearl- involves two friends, both women facing different problems. They are ridiculed by family and society, face the troubles and chose a courageous path. This story heralds the inner strength of them. The idea to write originated when, in the words of the author, 'I heard the news of nearly twenty fetuses having been found in a well in a doctor's backyard'. The second story of the book - A Fine Line- in contrast to the first one is about the inability to harness inner strength at weaker moments of life of human nature. This is about the impulsiveness, wrong choices, and above all, betrayal, all in the name of love. The last story, Peetam, is a small suspense thriller filled with magic, miracles, and near personification of soul itself. The whole story revolves around a single line from Bhagavad-Gita, which describes the importance of a soul and its immortal nature.

This book is Manasa Rachapalli's debut work in fiction. Though fairly young in age, she has acquired a considerable experience in writing and copyediting. An active blogger, poet, and above all, a dancer, Manasa is currently engaged as a technical writer in one of the largest IT firms in the world.

Three Shades of Green
Format: Paperback
Author: Manasa Rachapalli
ISBN: 9788122310337
Page: 167
Price: INR 195
Publisher: Cedar books
Edition: 2008

Binay Srivastava

Review: Call of the Tree by Darryl Markowitz

by Stephanie Ehmen

Stephanie and Vaughn find themselves living in a futuristic country that has been stripped of all freedoms, as we know them, their thoughts, actions and every aspect of their society controlled by those who govern. Their lives, and the lives of those around them are void of meaning and purpose. The government-sponsored church gives them no comfort, and the corrupt government "Keepers" watch their every move.

When Stephanie meets Vaughn, she sees something different in him. He dares to think! Together they defy the "system" as Vaughn encourages Stephanie to think deeply about herself, as well as about the world in which they live. Spending time together in their secret places, they explore the age-old questions of what Life and Love mean. They try desperately to hold onto the Goodness they discover within themselves, while at the same time they must fight off the dreams and visions of darkness.

Always lurking in the background, unbeknownst to them, are the one-eyed monsters, Master Grrragagag and his student underling, who use their orb to watch all past and present happenings. They discuss various ways of manipulating and controlling their human subjects in order to kill the glow of goodness within them. Hovering above them all are the wise King Mafferan and Queen Yinauqua, always watching, all-knowing.

A good book is one that you can't wait to get back to, and when you are finished, you wish there was more. This book is well written, with a well thought out plot. It is easy to read and yet deep enough that you find yourself reading it again in order to understand the full meaning and depth. Attention Harry Potter fans - here is a new series for you!

This book presents the ages old good vs. evil story in a new way. It is written by an author who has a great love for the kids he has met and come to know. It confronts the subjects that all teens, no matter their background, think about and discuss with each other. Drugs, alcohol, sex, feelings and emotions, right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, the characters in the book explore in great depth and in such a way that all who read it can follow and understand. It doesn't matter if kids come from high income homes with religious upbringing, or from a life of poverty on the streets, they all think about these issues and must at some point work through them in their own minds, deciding for themselves what choices they make. Every teen, young adult, parents and those who work with kids in any way should read this book. Having a deeper understanding of what our youth face today is a must if we are going to guide our kids in the right direction. No one, no matter their Faith or Religion can put their head in the sand and assume that their kids will not face, think about, discuss and confront these very same issues. This book offers them a guide, with no "preaching", only the morals that we want out children to aspire to.

Review by
Stephanie Ehmen
author of
"Angels and Quilt Pieces...Our Journey with a Katrina Family"
http://www.eagleswingspublications.com

Great Christmas Tales Your Kids Will Love

by Jeremy White

If you teach your children to love books at an early age you're doing them a lifelong favor. And there's no better place to start than at Christmas. Not only do books make great holiday gifts, but there are hundreds of wonderful children's books that deal with Christmas themes. So, what are you waiting for? Get going.

Where to start? With our list of the best Christmas books for kids, of course. Making a best-of list is always tricky. The process is subjective to begin with. And you're always going to offend someone by leaving off their personal favorite. Believe us, we know we're going to leave off lots of great books. Okay, enough apologizing. Onto our list, which is presented in no particular order and designed to appeal to various age groups of children:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss - You can't have a list of great children's books and not include a Dr. Seuss work. You just can't. Enough said.

No Peeking!, Charles Reasoner - What's inside all those gleaming presents under the tree? Every kid is dying to know ... but they have to wait until Christmas morning. Don't make your little one wait until Christmas morning to read this wonderful book!


A is for Angel: A Christmas Alphabet and Activity Book, Debbie Trafton O'Neal - Just like it sounds, this book uses the alphabet to teach children about the spirit and meaning of celebrating Christmas.

Why the Chimes Rang: A Christmas Classic, Raymond Macdonald Alden - A classic indeed. The original is nearly 100 years old, but this version has been updated with modern artistry to make the book fresh for a whole new generation of young readers.

The Night Before Christmas, Clement C. Moore - Can you complete this line: "'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring..." Yeah, we thought so. Based upon the classic poem we all know and love, this book is a winner.

The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg - Despite the fanfare, many found the movie to be disappointing. The same won't be said for the book. This tale is becoming a modern classic. Let your little one take the ride.

The Littlest Christmas Tree, Janie Jasin - Think back to when you were a child and looked up to older kids and adults. Didn't you yearn to grow up fast, to be big? Now, wouldn't you do just about anything to be a child again, if only for one more day? In this book, a small seedling wants desperately to grow up into a large Christmas tree. But it learns to be patient. It's a great lesson for your child - and a great trip into yesteryear for you!


The Christmas Hero, Golden Books - We all know and love the classic, animated Rudolph that runs on network television each holiday season. This book, which doubles as a coloring book, recreates that tale and stays true to the cartoon kids have watched for generations. Read it to your little one as she colors the pages.


The Legend of the Candy Cane, Lori Walburg - Do you know anything about the fascinating history of the candy cane? We didn't either, until we read this book. We won't spoil anything for you, so let us just say this: anytime you look at or eat a candy can again you'll be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

Twelve Days of Christmas, Alison Inches - This Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy book plays upon a perennial favorite. Your kids will love it!

Brought to you by Imaginary Greetings, a regular contributor of valuable family oriented content. For safe, family-friendly games and activities visit the official Santa Claus Home Page.