Jack Prelutsky is such a phenomenal children’s poet; I find it hard to believe that he has been banned.   This book and its sequel the Headless Horseman Rides Again have both been banned.  Why?  Because they are scary.  And because a while ago a 7-year-old in Ohio had an upset stomach after reading these scary tales (I wish I were making that up).  I loved this book.  It is along the lines of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but in poetry form.  It does not need to be banned, and I hope all Jack Prelutsky poetry books stay in children’s departments for years to come. 

 

What in the heck did I just read? The book barely made sense.  In a way it reminds me of the David Bowie movie Labyrinth where the Goblin King comes and takes the baby away.  Here the goblins take the baby away to marry the baby to a goblin.  The sister comes in playing her horn, turns the goblins to steam and fights their way home again.  According to the NYPL this book was banned for Nudity, religion, and witchcraft.  Which okay….but…..  I would not ban it for that.  However, not liking the story, I would just have not bought it. 

 

I love Madeline books.  But this Madeline has ended up on the Banned Book list, and I understand why.  Although it was originally written in 1956/57, racial bias and stereotyping is alive and well.  The way the author describes the “gypsies” is harmful stereotyping.  I would have thought that although a classic, the publishing house might have tried to clean things up, or change it to remove parts like sewing the kids in lion pelts to hide them from their teacher (in effect stealing the children) would have been redone, but I cannot find that to be true.  So, while I love Madeline, I think this book can stay in the catacombs from which it came. 

 

This book does not age well.  For 1955 it is a great example of “own voices” but by today’s standards this book would be considered racist, ablest, and a host of other things.  We do not even get to know Crow Boy’s name.  Throughout the book he is called Chibi (Tiny one in Japanese), but no real name.  He is the “other”. He is the silent kid in class who lives in his imagination.  This book honestly makes me sad, especially as this was considered “progressive” for 1955.  To me this is just, nope.  It does not do well for today.  For history, I get it, but I would not have this in my library today. 

 

I loved everything about this book.  The comedy was just right.  The book is fully illustrated.  It is not a graphic novel, but also not a standard novel, it is a fantastic mix of both.  One of the things I really like is that at the end of every other chapter the book tells the reader how many words they read and congratulates them.  There is also an indicator at the end of each chapter that shows the reader how far along in the book they are at that moment.  What a lovely way to speak to reluctant readers, or those struggling to move beyond learning to read books.  Everything about this was great.  The only thing to make it superior – full color every page.  I will be sure to read book 2 when it comes out. 

 

While growing up we are taught there are 5 senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.  But for some people there are more, and when all these senses get together and are out of balance it can cause a calamity.  This book not only teaches about other senses like balance, and introspection, it also teaches ways to deal with sensory overload. 

 

This is a story of a Russian Jew’s immigration to America.  However, Yossel traveled much farther than just New York. His family traveled to the south and lived near an indigenous reservation where they took over an uncle’s trading post.  There Yossel made friends with a native child.  Their traditions may be different, but they can both belong and be friends.  While this story is fiction, it is based on similar real-life events.  The story is wonderful, and the illustrations are a perfect match. 

 

This book is part of the story telling math series where children are taught math concepts that will help them as they age and move along in school.  Tyson is the youngest of 4 and as such he is smaller, slower, and not able to do as much as his older brothers.  But with a bit of thinking and ingenuity, he discovers that he can help out.  The help needed?  Find the missing hamster and get him back into his cage. 

 

This was a wonderful story.  Where I live, we do not get Jewish stories very often, so I am always excited to learn something new.  This story is sweet and hopeful with wonderful illustrations.  It is a fun read weather you celebrate Hanukkah or not. 

 

This is a decent rhyming story, with not so hidden religion.  The book stresses that no matter what you do, or who you are you are perfect because God made you that way.  This book would be perfect if it didn’t stress that God made you that way.  Why can’t they kids be perfect just because they are?