Book Review - Page by Paige

Author/Illustrator: Laura Lee Gulledge
Publisher: Amulet Books (May 1, 2011)
Audience:  Young Adult
Source:  Advanced Readers Copy - ALA Midwinter
Graphic Novel * Contemporary Fiction 


Description from GoodReads:
Paige Turner has just moved to New York with her family, and she?s having some trouble adjusting to the big city. In the pages of her sketchbook, she tries to make sense of her new life, including trying out her secret identity: artist. As she makes friends and starts to explore the city, she slowly brings her secret identity out into the open, a process that is equal parts terrifying and rewarding.

Laura Lee Gulledge crafts stories and panels with images that are thought-provoking, funny, and emotionally resonant. Teens struggling to find their place can see themselves in Paige's honest, heartfelt story. 

I was going to wait to post this review a little closer to the release date but I have heard from a Twitter pal (Paul Hankins) that Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge has been spotted in the wild.  So I am celebrating early.  I have been dying to share about this book since January when I picked up an Advanced Readers Copy at ALA Midwinter.  

Page by Paige is the debut graphic novel from Laura Lee Gulledge.  According to Gulledge's bio on her website "the story is her journey as an artist and transplant in New York".  In the book, Paige is 16 and has moved from VA to NYC with her writer parents.  It is a tough time to a teen's life to move and teen readers will resonate with this aspect of the story as well.  Despite Paige's many wonderful traits/characteristics, she is filled with myriad of insecurities as well. Through her developing friendships with Gabe, Jules and Longo, as well as with her sketchbook, Paige discovers more about herself and how she fits into the world around her and how others may see her.  All of these are themes that will connect with especially female teen readers. 

As I read this graphic novel, I was particularly taken with how the illustrations perfectly match the text. Some of the images were just so expressive and vivid which truly moved the text to a new level for me.  I immediately wanted to find people around me to share the images.  I encourage you to check out the book trailers below just to get a taste of the artwork from the book.

I can't wait to start giving this out as gifts or sharing it with teens that I know.  Page by Paige is a wonderful debut by Gulledge and I certainly look forward to future work from her.  

For more information about Laura Lee Gulledge, check out her websites: http://whoislauralee.blogspot.com/ 
http://www.cobaltdesigns.biz/lauralee/

To follow her on twitter:  @whoislauralee
To find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lauraleegulledge


The original book trailer on YouTube:


And the revised book trailer on YouTube:

Little Chicken's Big Day Book Trailer

Next week, Little Chicken's Big Day by Jerry Davis and illustrated by Katie Davis will be released out into the world.  I can't wait to pick up copies to share with friends.  Until then, enjoy watching the video:



To read more about book trailers from Katie Davis, check out her lastest post here.

Go Indie and pre-order Little Chicken's Big Day here. 

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday: The Fourth Stall

Author:  Chris Rylander
Publisher:  Walden Pond Press (February 8, 2011)
Audience:  Ages 10 to 13 years
Source:  Copy for Review 
Fiction * Mystery 

Description from GoodReads:
Chris Rylander delivers a funny Ferris Bueler-style middle grade novel with The Fourth Stall.

Do you need something? Mac can get it for you. It's what he does—he and his best friend and business manager, Vince. Their methods might sometimes run afoul of the law, or at least the school code of conduct, but if you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can pay him, Mac is on your side. His office is located in the East Wing boys' bathroom, fourth stall from the high window. And business is booming.

Or at least it was, until one particular Monday. It starts with a third grader in need of protection. And before this ordeal is over, it's going to involve a legendary high school crime boss named Staples, an intramural gambling ring, a graffiti ninja, the nine most dangerous bullies in school, and the first Chicago Cubs World Series game in almost seventy years. And that's just the beginning. Mac and Vince soon realize that the trouble with solving everyone else's problems is that there's no one left to solve yours .

Every once in awhile, I pick up a book and I am really struck by the writing.  I need to admit this doesn't happen to me a lot.  I may like or enjoy a lot of books, but there are fewer books that make me envious.  This happened to me as I read through Chris Rylander's debut novel The Fourth Stall about two sixth graders who run a business out of a bathroom in the east wing of their school.  Mac, along with his best friend and business partner, Vince, help other students with their problems - for a price.  Business is booming until one day trouble arrives in the form of a 8 year old bookie who wants out but his "employer" has other ideas.  Can Mac and Vince help Fred and still maintain their business and friendship? 

Rylander has created a story for Middle Graders that is part Godfather and part Film Noir with some humor thrown in for good measure.  And he is successful.  Rylander has nailed the essential tropes that fans of Noir expect but not in a way that seems trite.  With a cast of well-developed supporting characters, and just enough twists and turns, both children and adult readers will find themselves eagerly flipping pages to discover how Mac is going to solve this problem. And of course, when you arrive at the end of the book, you will want to find out what further trouble Mac & the gang will face.  (Glad to hear that there will/should be a sequel.)

In addition to a well-written story, a great cast of characters, and humor, Rylander has managed to capture boys and male friendship in his book.  Mac and Vince have been friends since kindergarten.  There is certainly a strong bond between them, but what happens when certain things arise that seeks to threaten that relationship?


For as much as I love this book, the educator in me feels the need to voice one word of caution - because of the style, there is some violence (kids do get roughed up) and some questionable behaviors (most principals/teachers will frown on a business being run on campus by students) on the part of Mac and his buddies.  However, when I find a story I love, and want to share it with students, I remind them that we need to "respect the story" and that "I trust that the antics such as the ones from the book won't be re-enacted out on the playground".   Most children are then able to sort through acceptable behaviors to behaviors written to make the story more exciting. 

Overall, I love this initial offering from Rylander, and I am very excited to see how his work develops and grows in the future. 



To check out The Fourth Stall Blog Tour Week 2, head on over to the Walden Pond Press blog here. 


For more information on Chris Rylander, check out his website here. 


Thanks to Kellie and Walden Pond Press, I have a hardcover copy of The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander to giveaway.  This contest is open to readers in the U.S. or Canada only.  To enter to win, please complete the form below.

* Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays were started by Shannon over at Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe. You can check out her Marvelous Middle Grade Monday choice and Giveaway Post here.

Rules for the Contest:

1. Please do not enter any personal information in the comments section, you must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.  Comments with personal information will be deleted.
2.  The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. PDT on April 11, 2011 to 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 18th.
3.  You DO NOT need to be a follower of this blog to enter.
4.  You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
5.  If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail.  If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
6.  Only US and Canadian participants may enter the contest.

Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop

April is National Autism Awareness Month.  "Experts estimate that every 3 to 6 children out of 1000 will have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)."  Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder impacting a child's language and socialization skills.*

My first real introduction into the world of Autism came after working for several years as a teacher for young children with hearing impairments.  I had switched teaching positions and had become an inclusion teacher for young children with Special Needs. It was in this position that I received a crash course in Autism and how to work most effectively with children on the Autism Spectrum.  Over the years, I have worked with dozens of children with Autism and thanks to the dedicated work of families and professionals I have seen many of them make remarkable educational progress. 

Over the years, I have always been amazed at the role siblings who are typically developing play in helping their brothers or sisters with Autism develop language and social skills.  However, it isn't an easy job.  I have selected three books for my giveaway that in their own way do a remarkable job of reminding us what a complex world it is for every member who loves and cares for a child with Autism.

Thanks to the following bloggers for hosting this Giveaway Hop and helping to increase awareness of Autism:

Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict:
http://justanotherbookaddict.blogspot.com/

Heather @ Fire and Ice Photo:
http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/

Pixie @ Page Turners:
http://www.pageturnersblog.com/

Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/

For additional information on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders, check out these links:

Autism Speaks
http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Autism Society
http://www.autism-society.org/

National Institute of Health
What is Autism?
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/asd.cfm
*Autism Fact Sheet
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

For the Giveaway:
Each participating blog is hosting a giveaway. You will find lots of variety among the prizes. Some of the blogs are giving away prizes that relate to autism, other blogs are giving away gift cards or other prizes and posting information about autism to help make others aware.  I have chosen to do a 3 pack of books which all feature siblings where one sibling has Autism.

The 3-pack will include:
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete
Callie is very proud of her brother Charlie. He’s good at so many things  --  swimming, playing the piano, running fast. And Charlie has a special way with animals, especially their dog, Harriett.

But sometimes Charlie gets very quiet.

His words get locked inside him, and he seems far away.

Then, when Callie and Charlie start to play, Charlie is back to laughing, holding hands, having fun.
Charlie is like any other boy – and he has autism.

In this story, told from a sister’s point of view, we meet a family whose oldest son teaches them important lessons about togetherness, hope, tolerance, and love.   

Holly Robinson Peete, bestselling author, actress, and national autism spokesperson, has paired with her daughter, Ryan, to co-author this uplifting book based on their own personal experiences with Holly’s son and Ryan’s brother, RJ, who has autism. (Description from GoodReads)


Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards' families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister. (Description from GoodReads) 
 

Rules by Cynthia Lord
Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"---in order to head off David's embarrassing behaviors.

But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she's always wished for, it's her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal? (Description from GoodReads)

Rules for the Contest:

1. Please do not enter any personal information in the comments section, you must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.  Any comments with personal information will be deleted.
2.  The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. PDT on Monday, April 11, 2011 to 11:59 p.m. PDT on Thursday, April 14th.
3.  You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
4.  If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail.  If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
5.  International participants are welcome to enter the contest.

Hot Off The Press! New Picture Books (7)

This is a feature that I do weekly called Hot Off The Press!  based on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore and checking out their wall of new picture books.  Lately there have been so many recent releases that I was unable to get through them all in one visit. Here are the 6 new releases that stood out from the pile this week:

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People 
Author: Monica Brown
Illustrator: Julie Paschkis
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (March 29, 2011)
Audience: Grades 2nd to 5th

Every since reading The Dreamer by Pamela Munoz Ryan, I have been trying to figure out how to ladder it for certain students.  With this book, I have found the perfect introduction.  Brown does a fabulous job of summarizing Neruda's life into 32 pages and still manage to touch on important facts and themes.  The text is enhanced by Paschkis' illustrations in wonderful earth tones and with words in English & Spanish woven into the design.  I read the book through once and then returned to just admire and analyze the pictures.  Definitely a must have for any collection on poets.
 

Perfect Square
Author/Illustrator: Michael Hall
Publisher: HarperCollins/Greenwillow Books (April 1, 2011)
Audience: Ages 4 to 8


Some books begin with a smart concept but then they fizzle.  Hall manages to create a unique concept with Perfect Square and excutes it marvelously. A square begins perfect with four matching corners and four equal sides.  It was happy so says the book.  However, on Monday, something happens to the square and he must over the week continue to change both in color and shape.  There is a wonderful twist at the end.   Browse inside the book, click here

Spring Is Here
Author/Illustrator: Will Hillenbrand
Publisher: Holiday House (March 1, 2011)
Audience: Ages 4 to 8

I somehow missed this book earlier in the month and decided to add it in here.  Mole wakes up to discover that Spring has arrived.  He wants to share it with his friend Bear, who is still asleep.  So begins Mole's attempt to wake his friend.  This is one of those perfect read alouds.  Beautiful illustrations, great text, humor, and a fun twist at the end.  A definite keeper.

The Bear Who Shared
Author/Illustrator: Catherine Rayner
Publisher: Dial Books For Young Readers (March 17, 2011)
Audience: Ages 4 to 8

There are some picture books that have a gentleness about them and this is one that fits in that category.  Norris the bear is waiting patiently for the fruit to fall from the tree.  Tulip the racoon and Violet the mouse are not as patient in waiting.  The smaller animals learn a special lesson in sharing and friendship.  Another beautiful story for read aloud.  Rayner's illustrations blend perfectly with her text for a delightful story.

Chicken, Chicken, Duck

Author/Illustrator: Nadia Krilanovich
Publisher: Tricycle Press (March 22, 2011)
Audience: Ages 2 to 5

Young children will love the bold illustrations of all the barnyard animals and will enjoy repeating the sounds each animal makes.  But what are these animals up to?  The end holds a very special surprise.  Perfect for toddlers and young preschoolers. 

Take a sneak peak inside this book.  Click here.

Little Bea
Author/Illustrator: Daniel Roode

Publisher: HarperCollins (March 29, 2011)

Audience: Ages 2 to 5

This is another wonderful book for the under 5 crowd.  If you watch the trailer, you'll see why.  Bea is a very busy bee.  She has friends to see and things to do.  Another great read aloud that will go over well in a storytime or even in just 1:1 reading.  Don't be surprised if you here "again, again" when you reach the end.  Good news for fans of Little Bea - there will be a sequel out this fall, Little Bea And The Snowy Day.

To check out the book trailer, click here