ICYMI (In case you missed it) looks at books that have already been released. They’re books I feel deserve a second look, even though I won’t be offering a full review on Cracking the Cover. Each book description includes a publisher’s synopsis, what others thought about the book, and my thoughts on what attracted me to it in the first place.
“THE STORY OF DIVA AND FLEA,” by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi, Disney-Hyperion, Oct. 13, 2015, Hardcover, $14.99 (ages 6-8)
For as long as she could remember, Diva, a small yet brave dog, lived at 11 avenue Le Play in Paris, France. For as long as he could remember, Flea, a curious streetwise cat, also lived in Paris, France — but at no fixed address. When Flea fl neurs past Diva’s courtyard one day, their lives are forever changed. Together, Diva and Flea explore and share their very different worlds, as only true friends can do.
My thoughts: I’m a Mo Willems fan, so this was a no-brainer for me. This is a fun story, and it’s paired with charming illustrations
Here’s what Kirkus had to say about “The Story of Diva and Flea”:
“Clever plot twists are woven into the storyline, as is the occasional French word, including the chapter headings. Willems’ adroit storytelling is on display as Flea encourages Diva to try flâneur-ing herself and helps her overcome her fear of feet, while Diva encourages Flea to try indoor living complete with regular Breck-Fest—a novelty in Flea’s scavenging street life—and helps him overcome his fear of brooms.”
“THE TALE OF RESCUE,” by Michael J. Rosen and Stan Fellows, Candlewick, Oct. 13, 2015, Hardcover, $14.99 (ages 10 and up)
A family — a mother, a father, and their 10-year-old son — have come all the way from Florida to the Appalachian foothills to experience the wonder of a snowy weekend. At a nearby farm, a cattle dog is working, as she does every day, driving her forty head of cattle from pasture to corral and back again. And then, suddenly, a blizzard descends. The family is trapped outside, disoriented in the whiteout. They are panicked, exhausted, freezing and stranded in waist-deep drifts. From off in the distance, the cattle dog has heard their faint, snow-drowned cries. Her inexhaustible attention turns to saving them. This stirring tale is both a compelling story of survival and a meditation on the tremendous will of man’s best friend.
My thoughts: “The Tale of Rescue” garnered a place on Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books of 2015, and for good reason. At 100 pages, it’s a fairly short book, but it packs a punch. Thoughtful prose is enhanced by equally thoughtful illustrations.
Kirkus gave it a starred review calling it “A fine, superbly illustrated tale of adventure, bravery, and loyalty.” Publisher’s Weekly also gave it a starred review adding, “Fellows’s watercolor illustrations add an ephemeral quality to the fleeting story, helping create the distant but satisfying tone of this lovely prose-poem adventure.”
“FEARSOME CREATURES OF THE LUMBERWOODS: 20 CHILLING TALES FROM THE WILDERNESS,” by Hal Johnson and Tom Mead, Workman Publishing Company, Sept. 8, 2015, Hardcover, $14.95 (ages 9 and up)
Just for kids, 20 bone-chilling tales about the most dangerous fantastical beasts in American folklore. Meet the Snoligoster, who feeds on the shadows of its victims. The Hodag, like a spiny-backed bull-horned rhinoceros. The Hoop Snake, which can chase prey at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and then, with one sting of its tail, cause it to turn purple, swell up, and die. The book was originally published in 1910 by William Thomas Cox and is now retold by Hal Johnson. The creatures are all scales and claws, razor-sharp teeth and stealth, camouflage and single-minded nastiness. Straight out of the era of Paul Bunyan, they speak to an earlier time in American history, when the woods were indeed dark and deep and filled with mystery.
My thoughts: This book has been in my TBR pile for quite some time. Though I haven’t had a chance to sit down with it yet, I’m excited by its look — very much something I would have read at this age. The illustrations are exciting, and the bit of text I’ve gotten to has a delicious amount of snark to it.
Here’s what Publisher’s Weekly had to say about “Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods” in its starred review:
“Off-kilter typography gives the stories an additional air of surreality, while Mead renders the creatures with expressive detail, bringing them (or the unfortunate aftermaths of their encounters) to life in creepy b&w cartoons. These are stories to be read late at night to an audience willing to be surprised, startled, and kept up wondering about what might lurk nearby.”
