44. Mirror Mirror by Marilyn Singer (Dutton Children's, 2010)

BOOK: POETRY, PICTURE BOOK (ages 8-11)

Brief Description: Each spread in this gorgeously illustrated book includes a short poem written about a fairy tale paired with an "opposite" poem, that is, the lines of the poem are inverted which makes the meaning of the fairy sometimes quite different with the only changes being punctuation and capitalization.

Awards: 2010 Cybils Award (poetry division)

Personal Opinion: A brilliant picture book that I found rather sophisticated. Younger readers will enjoy it, but older readers will appreciate the nuances in the inversions. Josee Masse's illustrations are gorgeous and perfectly paired with the text. I may have to read these again as I read them trying to figure out how they would change rather than just enjoying the single poems individually!

Curriculum/Programming: Story time focused on a fairy tales could feature both the original fairy tale, a fractured version of the fairy tale, and the corresponding Singer poem.

38. Whale Port by Mark Foster (Houghton Mifflin, 2007)

BOOK/PICTURE BOOK: NONFICTION (ages 7-10)

Brief Description: Foster traces the development of a fictional port he calls "Tuckanucket" over time as the whaling industry grows and wanes off the coast of what is now New England.

Awards: James Madison Book Award, 2008; Massachusetts Book Award, 2008; Mind the Gap Award, 2008

Personal Opinion: I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic book about the development of the fictional whale port. Being a native New Englander, I puzzled during the entire book about the town - I had never heard of it, and wondered how I could have missed such history! Foster includes information at the end of the book about the sources he used to pull together this treatment. Detailed drawings lend themselves to the simple text, permitting the reader to really see how such a port could change over time. Great nonfiction title that I'll be recommending to my young readers!

Curriculum/Programming: This book lends itself to being used in a history class focused on the New England whaling industry. It would make a great supplement to history classes for both younger and middle school students as well.

34. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman (Houghton Mifflin, 2010)

BOOK: POETRY (ages 8 - 12)

Brief Description: The poetry of this book is beautiful, lush, descriptive and inviting. Each two-page spread features a poem, a gorgeous relief printing of the animal or nighttime feature of the poem. A tiny lizard graces the poetry page of each poem acting as a guide throughout the book. On the right, readers will enjoy a description of the night animal or feature with great details about its eating habits, and other unusual characteristics. Also includes a handy glossary.

Awards: Newbery Honor, 2011; Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2011; Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2011

Personal Opinion: This is an instance in which the illustrations and text work seamlessly to create a united whole that is most pleasing. Enchanting poetry and relief printing pair to form the perfect picture book. Educational and beautifully illustrated with enchanting poems, I loved this book!

Curriculum/Programming: Sidman's creation and Allen's illustration would make a great supplement to both science and English poetry units as well as a visual aide for relief printing in an art class. Certain sections might be highlighted for story time using the theme of the animals presented.

30. The Cod's Tale by Mark Kurlansky (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2001)

PICTURE BOOK: NONFICTION (ages 7-10)

Brief Description: This book covers the development of cod fishing and the effects of overfishing in general. Told with accompanying illustrations, the book relates the story of the cod and how it came to be a huge industry on the continental shelves around the Atlantic Ocean.

Awards: Orbis Pictus Award

Personal Opinion: The illustrations and accompanying text dramatically portray first the habitat, lifecycle and enemies of the cod - which is a perfect segue into the story of how Cod's greatest enemy, man, has exploited the fishing of the cod to near extinction. I hadn't realized the part the Basques played in the waters off North America; because they did not plant a flag, they lost their fishing rights to Britain and France. I enjoyed The Story of Salt, and was delighted to read another of Kurlansky's books, however frightening the outcome of overfishing.

Curriculum/Programming: I would include this book on a display of books on fishing, and would also add it as required reading for a science curriculum on the study of sustaining the Earth's resources.

12. Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam by Walter Dean Myers, Collages by Ann Grifalconi (Harper Collins, 2002)

PICTURE BOOK FOR OLDER READERS: WAR (ages 9-12)

Brief Description: In sparse language and eerily-pieced collages, Myers chronicles one day of an American soldier in Vietnam. As he searches for the enemy, he notices birds, trees, landscapes and the beauty surrounding him. He is quickly drawn back to the task at hand by his squad leader, and recalls that the enemy is out there somewhere. The unnamed soldier's fear is expressed, and shots are fired. Bombers are called in, and the soldiers watch as the valley is destroyed. Our soldier expresses his sadness at this, and when he finally sees the enemy face to face, he is surprised, and they both look at one another recognizing each others' humanity.

Awards: Jefferson Cup Award, 2003; West Virginia Childrens Book Award, 2005

Personal Opinion: As with other books on war, I found this book disturbing and beautifully crafted. The short sentences, juxtaposition of nature with the horrors of war, and the fear of the soldiers makes this book extremely compelling. I was reminded often of War is Never a Good Idea by Alice Walker. Also, having read Walter Dean Myers Fallen Angels, I had a more complete background to the daily "dropping in" of soldiers to possible enemy territory, then the evening return to camp and the exhaustion that overcame these young men.

Programming/Curriculum: Use this short book with older readers as an introduction to a unit on the Vietnam War, and as an inspiration for writing poetry about and illustrating a situation that the student found difficult.