Book Reviews by Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt
 Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt is an award-winning freelance writer who has contributed to American Profile, Family Circle, Ladies’ Home Journal, Go, and The Washington Post. She is the author of Amazing Maya Inventions (January 2007).
An Elk Dropped InBy Andreas SteinhofelISBN 978-1-932425-80-2Chapter book, Ages 6-10Sheri's ranking: 5 Stars
What a great Christmas read! In this book, Mr. Moose-while doing a trial run for Santa-veers off course and crashes through the roof of Billy Wagner's house. Unfortunately, he injures his leg, so he must stay with the Wagner's as he recovers-until Santa himself shows up with a bag of Milky Way Powder (the stuff that helps Mr. Moose to fly). But even then it looks rocky that Mr. Moose will make his getaway before the Wagner's nosy neighbor-a hunter-nabs him for his antlers. The delightful story and characters will delight your kids, as will the quirky illustrations.
MVP*:Magellan Voyage ProjectBy Douglas EvansISBN 91-932425-13-6Middle grade novel, Ages 10 and upSheri's ranking: 5 Stars
In this wonderful, fast-paced book, 12-year-old Adam Story is challenged by a deposed ruler of Babababad (a kingdom that no longer exists) to become the first kid to travel around the world in forty days without an adult in the Great Global Game. Skeptical at first, Adam finally agrees to the challenge-perhaps because of the chance to win four million dollars.
Written from Adam's point of view, his quest quickly enthralls the reader. Adam must thwart bad guys, double-crossing good guys, and even time itself, in his quest to get back home before the deadline expires. I love that this book is not only imaginative and fun, but highly educational. And it teaches some important life lessons. It's one of the best books (children or adult) I've read in a long time!
Feathertop by Robert D. San Souci
Boyds Mill Press
ISBN 978-1-59078-382-5
Pub date: September 2006
Picture book, Ages 7 and up
Sheri’s ranking: 3 Stars
This retelling, by Robert D. San Souci, is based on a story first published by Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1852. The illustrations, by San Souci’s son Daniel, show clothing styles worn in colonial New England in the 1750s.
The story is simple, revolving around just four players: a witch, a scarecrow she whips up with magic, the town judge, and his lovely young daughter, Polly. Actually, there are five characters if you add Dickson, the witch’s cat. The witch fashions the scarecrow from many parts, including an old broom, a forked tree limb, a rolling pin, a worn bag, and a pumpkin. She even pulls a tail feather from one of her yard roosters to stick in the scarecrow’s tattered hat. Taken with her creation, the witch decides to make him look like a real man. With a few puffs of her sweet-smelling pipe, he stands before her, fully fleshed out. Soon Feathertop is sent off to win Polly’s heart, as the witch wants to play a trick on the judge for all the grief he’s caused her.
Feathertop and Polly instantly fall in love (yes, this story moves fast!) and run to tell her father. But in passing a mirror, Feathertop sees what he really is: bits of twigs and straw. He flees home, leaving poor Polly brokenhearted. The witch, sad at Feathertop’s anguish, turns him back into a scarecrow and sticks him in a field. But true love conquers! When Polly sees Feathertop standing so forlornly, the witch decides the two belong together. With a kiss (and magic), Feathertop becomes a real man.
Young readers will likely be satisfied by the happy ending, even if it brings up a whole slew of questions including “Can scarecrows really turn into men?”
Farley Found It by Bruce Van Patter
Boyds Mill Press
ISBN 978-1-59078-351-1
Pub date: October 2006
Picture book, Ages 4-6
Sheri’s ranking: 5 stars
Author/illustrator Bruce Van Patter has created a winner! This amusing picture book is basically about perseverance and sharing. But it’s also about using your noggin to come up with alternatives.
The two characters of the book are Edna and Farley. Edna is a dog with a nifty doghouse. Farley is a sheep with a sleeping problem. Like many young readers, he’s afraid of the dark. So when he notices the “cozy closeness” of Edna’s doghouse, he moves in when Edna’s away chomping on her dinner. Enjoying his first full night of deep, warm, woolly sleep, Farley doesn’t even notice when Edna tries to waken him out by barking loudly.
Poor Edna must spend the night draped over her doghouse! But the next day she takes charge, dragging her doghouse to a secret new location. But no matter where she tries to hide it—near the cows, in the hayloft, under the henhouse, up the great oak—Farley always finds it! Edna finally gives in. She builds an extension onto her doghouse—just big enough for two. But poor Edna! She doesn’t realize that the other sheep are now eyeing her doghouse, too!
This story is great fun, but the illustrations will melt your heart. I love the way Edna walks around on her back legs like a person, and Farley’s face is just too cute! The vibrant, colorful illustrations are sure to tickle young readers. And the short word count should make it a bedtime favorite with parents.
Godspeed, John Glenn by Richard Hilliard
Boyds Mill Press
ISBN 978-1-59078-384-9
Pub date: October 2006
Picture book, Ages 8 and up
Sheri’s ranking: 4 stars
If any of your boys are gung-ho for space travel, then this is a book they should have in their personal library. Author/illustrator Richard Hilliard offers up a picture-book biography of astronaut John Glenn.
On February 20, 1962, Glen sat in the capsule of Friendship 7, becoming the first American to orbit Earth. Glenn orbited the planet three times before commencing reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. This book nicely captures Glenn’s awe of seeing the earth from space—including a moon big enough to touch—and his worry that the capsule’s heat shield might not withstand the fiery plunge toward the Pacific Ocean. But it did and the world celebrated! Hailed as an American hero, Glenn and his wife were even honored in a parade in Washington D.C., and Glenn got to meet President John F. Kennedy. In 1998, Glenn even made a return trip to space aboard the shuttle Discovery. Hilliard has done a great job with the illustrations.
The sidebars throughout the book, which offer more details on America’s early space program, are a nice touch.
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