Worse yet, the cover art sadly presents an awkwardly rendered depiction of the all-important “sweet baby feet,” which here look out of proportion and poorly drawn, especially compared to other picture-book paeans to feet—Kiyomi Konagaya and Masamitsu Saito’s Beach Feet (2012), and C.W. Bowie and Fred Willingham’s Busy Toes (1998), to name just a pair. Step on by this one—similar, better books abound. (Picture book. 6 mos.-3)
GREENHORN
Olswanger, Anna Illus. by Nerlove, Miriam Junebug/NewSouth (48 pp.) $17.95 | Nov. 1, 2012 978-1-58838-235-1 In 1946, a young survivor of the concentration camps comes to America from Poland with nothing but a mysterious box that never leaves his possession. Daniel is one of a group of boys who have lost their parents in the Holocaust and have been brought to live and study in a yeshiva in New York City. Daniel is overwhelmed by past horrors and finds adjustment to his present circumstances difficult in the extreme. He is befriended by Aaron, who tries to ease his way into this new life. Many of the boys at school are not exactly kind and considerate; they mercilessly tease Aaron for stuttering, and they keep pushing at Daniel to reveal the contents of the box. They force the issue by taking the box from him and opening it. What they find stuns them, as do Daniel’s heartbreaking reasons for keeping the object. Based on a true story, the narrative is told in Aaron’s voice, with copious use of dialogue to further the plot. Nerlove’s softly hued, full-page illustrations mostly depict quiet, calm moments, making the depiction of the attack on Daniel more startling. Olswanger’s deceptively simple tale can jumpstart a discussion of the Holocaust, as well as the repercussions for those who survived and, indeed, for all humanity. A book to be read by adult and child together. (afterword, glossary) (Historical fiction. 10-14)
NEW YORK CITY HISTORY FOR KIDS From New Amsterdam to the Big Apple
Panchyk, Richard Chicago Review (144 pp.) $16.95 paperback | Nov. 1, 2012 978-1-883052-93-5 Series: For Kids
The story of New York City from the Ice Age to the Freedom Tower makes for an adventure packed with memorable events and people. Here is Peter Stuyvesant, who ruled New Amsterdam with an iron hand until he was forced to surrender to the English. Here
is a city of many religious sects, all able to flourish in a spirit of tolerance (or perhaps indifference). Occupied by the British in the Revolution, the site of the infamous Civil War draft riots, and constantly buffeted by economic highs and lows, the city is always reinventing itself. The richest and poorest people live in uneasy juxtaposition, displaying the best and worst of humanity. Disasters and triumphs abound, and the city survives it all. Organizing the subject chronologically in eight chapters, Panchyk manages to work several centuries of history into a manageable account that reads like an action thriller. Each section is given a clear and straightforward title, is written in equally clear and concise language, and contains several informative sidebars. Copious illustrations in the form of historical photographs, maps, diagrams and drawings are appropriate, though not in color. There are also 21 activities that purport to enhance understanding but are quite complicated and call for many, often expensive, materials. A compelling history of the city that never sleeps (just skip the activities). (timeline, bibliography, places to visit) (Nonfiction. 10-14)
CHASERS
Phelan, James Kensington (256 pp.) $9.95 paperback | Oct. 30, 2012 978-0-7582-8066-4 Series: Alone, 1 Four teens struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic New York City. After Jesse, Dave, Anna and Mini, 16-year-old youth ambassadors for the United Nations, are tossed around in a massive subway explosion, they emerge on the streets of the city to see people drinking from fire hydrants and rivers—and bodies. The teens take refuge in the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center, using the high vantage point to survey the remnants of Manhattan and plot their escape from the zombielike people they call Chasers. As Jesse scouts the bridges and tunnels, he learns that perhaps the Chasers are not as inhuman as they appear. Phelan, an Australian like narrator Jesse, uses slang judiciously, with minimal impact on the book’s overall readability. Jesse’s perceptions of New York City seem to come from a different era, with gangs and graffiti, though the author deserves credit for accurate geography. Secondary characters are given rough outlines, but they lack the nuance to add much to the narrative. In attempting to deviate from the normal zombie arc, Phelan fails to develop the Chasers as satisfyingly scary, making them awkward at best. Additional content includes both a discussion guide and an author question-and-answer section. Overall, unlikely to satisfy any real thirst for adventure. (Adventure. 12-14)
| kirkus.com | children ’s
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teen | 15 october 2012 | 2383