These New Children’s Books Are Recommended

Reviewed by BARB FRAZE, CNS

Published: December 11, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNS) – Barb Fraze, international editor at Catholic News Service and the mother of three children, recommends children’s books for Christmas giving.

RUN FROM THE NUN, by Erin MacLellan. Holiday House (New York, 2003). 165 pp., $16.95. When fifth-grader Kara McKinney gets transferred from a public to a Catholic school, she is determined to get expelled so she can return to her friends. But Kara’s hijinks backfire, and soon she is drawn into trying to solve a mystery that involves dead bodies, the parish cemetery, the custodian and the school principal. Kara’s adventures and misadventures highlight a tale about friendships. Ages 9-11.

THE INVISIBLE SEAM, by Andy William Frew, illustrated by Jun Matsuoka. Moon Mountain Publishing (North Kingstown, R.I., 2003). 28 pp., $15.95. “The Invisible Seam” is a well-woven story of a young Japanese girl who must apprentice as a seamstress when her aunt can no longer care for her. Michi’s stitches are small and tight and bring great pride to her teacher but cause tensions with the other apprentice seamstresses. As the plot unfolds, Michi deals with peer pressure, the need to keep her promise to do her best, and the discovery that different people have different talents. Matsuoka’s watercolors help illustrate Michi’s feelings of pride, aloneness, conflict and joy. This is a good read-aloud book. Ages 7-10.

THE SNOW PONY, by Alison Lester. Houghton Mifflin Co. (Boston, 2003). 194 pp., $15. Fourteen-year-old Dusty’s life and family seem to be falling apart, but she finds solace in the Snow Pony, a wild horse her father manages to capture up on the Australian Plains. The Snow Pony will accept only Dusty as a rider, and although several incidents make some of the adults think the wild brumby should be returned to the Plains, Dusty convinces them otherwise. During a violent incident and unexpected snowstorm, Dusty and her horse are tested as never before. Readers do not have to be horse lovers to like this book, because it also includes family conflicts, tests of friendship and adventure. Ages 10-14.

MOUNTAIN SOLO, by Jeanette Ingold. Harcourt Inc. (Orlando, Fla., 2003). 304 pp., $17. Mixing flashbacks with the present, Ingold tells the story of a talented teen musician who must discover herself after an embarrassing failure at her international debut. One of the appeals of this book, however, is that it mixes in some Montana frontier history, modern friendship, family conflicts and musician Tess’ love of camping and nature. This well-told tale is one of the better time-to-grow-up books offered for teens this year. Ages 11-14.

MINT’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE, by Mary Y. Spitz, illustrated by Joanne Y. Pierce. Mother Moose Press (Potomac Falls, Va., 2003). 32 pp., $17.95. “Mint’s Christmas Message” is an unusual twist on the message of Christmas. A grandfather who does not believe in Christmas receives the message of its real meaning when Mint, a retired champion, and other horses refuse to come in during a snowstorm. Pierce’s illustrations are designed to look like old-fashioned oval-framed pictures, and they face text of a story told quite conversationally by Spitz. The result is an appealing story. All ages.

LITTLE PIERRE: A CAJUN STORY FROM LOUISIANA, by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by David Catrow. Silver Whistle (Orlando, Fla., 2003). 28 pp., $16. This colorfully illustrated yarn is a great read-aloud book, mixing some Cajun dialect with outrageous adventure. Brothers Big Pierre, Fat Pierre, Wise Pierre and Foolish Pierre have special talents, but they are no match for their youngest brother, Little Pierre. Catrow’s illustrations and caricatures stretch the imagination; the watercolors dominate the pages, with text blended in. Be prepared to read this book to the children multiple times. Ages 5-9.

THE WONDROUS ADVENTURES OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, by Tricia Gray, illustrated by Vicki Shuck. St. Anthony Messenger Press (Cincinnati, 2003). 164 pp., $14.95. Fifteen tales about St. Francis, his life and miracles are retold in short vignettes that teach without preaching. With enticing titles like “The Three Murderous Robbers” to “The Wicked Wolf of Gubbio,” the vignettes clearly convey Francis’ love of God and his belief that God is reflected in every human, good or bad. Early elementary children will find the vignettes interesting to listen to if read by an adult; older readers will find it quick reading. Ages 7-12.

WHEN WE WERE SAINTS, by Han Nolan. Harcourt Inc. (Orlando, Fla., 2003). 291 pp., $17. “When We Were Saints” is not a historical tale, but the modern story of a young man struggling to find his identity after his grandfather’s last words, “Young man, you are a saint.” In a complex search that involves a teenage girl who thinks she is St. Clare and calls him Francis, Archie Caswell takes a spiritual journey into prayer and a physical journey to New York, all the while struggling to combine his common sense and love for his ailing grandmother with his discovery of religion. The book deals with some difficult topics, including anorexia and the stigmata, but will keep readers turning pages, trying to see how Archie resolves his conflict. Ages 11-15.

DINOSAILORS, by Deb Lund, illustrated by Howard Fine. Harcourt Inc. (Orlando, Fla., 2003). 29 pp., $16. With a rocking rhythm, clever wording and humorous illustrations, Lund and Fine have rigged a swashbuckling story that children will love. The “Dinosailors” — dinosaurs who take off on a ship — are ready for adventure, until their vessel hits a squall. “Their dinotummies slosh and churn. They groan with every twist and turn. Their paling faces dinofrown. ‘Heave ho!’ they cry. ‘It won’t stay down.’” This book rose dinoheads and scaley tails above the rest. Ages 4-9.