What's Your Savvy? Book Review: Savvy by Ingrid Law

My husband and I are always on the lookout for good books to read to the children (or listen to on CD). Our latest technique involves searching through the Newberry awards and honorable mentions. Once such book is Savvy, written by Ingrid Law and an honorable mention in 2010. I knew that the whole family would like the book as soon as I read the first couple of sentences on the back of the book.

For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy" -a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity... and now it's the eve of Mibs's big day.

Superpowers! What's better than superpowers to young children (mine were 7 and 9 when we read this) and science fiction fan adults? The kids were entranced after the first chapter of the book.

The family lives on the border of Kansas and Nebraska, so they mix the two names together when they talk about where they live. Grandpa talks about how he created a state. Mibs reminisces about watching her grandmother catch radio waves out of the air and can them and about what happen when her brother Rocket got his electrical savvy and her brother Fish received his weather savvy.

The first few chapters build up the suspense about what Mibs' savvy will be. Then, the family hears about her father. He's been in an accident and he's in the hospital in Salina, Kansas. Mibs' mother and her brother, Rocket, go to Salina to watch over the father. Mibs' birthday comes and she gets her savvy. She decides she must see her father, and she and some other kids go off on a merry adventure.

The bulk of the book is about the adventure the kids make and the hard lessons they learn and epiphanies they receive.

As any good science fiction or fantasy novel does, the savvy's can be mentally substituted for any thing that a person does differently from others, so with a little imagination, any child (or adult) can "identify" with the characters in this story.

If you and your family have the slightest interest in fantasy, comic books and super heroes, or any stories where reality is not one hundred percent what you see every day, this book is excellent. My family enjoyed it, and I hope yours will too.

By Gwen Nicodemus

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Book Review

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a Newberry Honor book by Grace Lin that describes the epic quest that a young girl, Minli, undertakes in order to improve the fortune of her desperately poor family. Along the way she meets a dragon, a king, a ferocious green tiger and a host of helpful people. It's the most delightful children's book I've read in years.

Minli (whose name means "quick thinking") is inspired by the stories her beloved father has told her to start her journey to the Old Man of the Moon who lives on the Never Ending Mountain far from Minli's home. During her long journey she cleverly overcomes many obstacles and meets people both rich and poor who teach her important lessons about friendship and the secret of happiness. Interwoven with Minli's story are Chinese-style legends told by various characters along the way. The legends are fascinating and beautifully interwoven into the central story.

The story includes many lessons and morals that are handled very gracefully. There's nothing forced or heavy handed about it.

The publisher, Little Brown, has suggested the book is suitable for grades 3 to 6 but I believe its appeal is much wider. I read it aloud to my 5 year old who was enchanted by it. Before I read it to her I read it myself and loved it. The writing style is simple and clear yet manages to create an imaginary world that fully absorbs the reader. The illustrations are gorgeous.

Grace Lin, who not only wrote this magical tale but also illustrated it, has created a classic story of a brave, determined, and resourceful young girl who leaves her home to seek good fortune for her family and village and gains great wisdom in the process.

I recommend it without reservation to people of all ages. It can be read again and again and will leave a lasting impression on its readers.

By Nora N

Who Is This Brer Rabbit?

Brer Rabbit is the title character in the Uncle Remus stories of the Southern United States.

He is a sneaky type of character with a witty tongue and sense of humor who outwits his friends with brains rather than through brawn, making fun of authority figures and breaking rules as he sees fit.

The Brer Rabbit stories originate from African and Cherokees cultures, and is thought to have have his stories spread across America by enslaved Africans.

In America his stories were originally written down by Robert Roosevelt, Uncle of the President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. These tales were made popular for the mainstream audience in the late 19th century by Joel Chandler Harris, who wrote up and published many of the stories which were previously told from person to person.

Disney featured Brer in their feature Song of the South, including 3 Brer Rabbit stories, "The Laughing Place", "The Tar Baby", and "The Briar Patch". In the film the title character was recorded by Johnny Lee, and the tale really focused on his lovable trickster character traits, rather then the slightly sinister version in the original tales.

In 1945 following the Song of the South Disney published comics starring their version of the character. The Disney Land Ride Splash Mountain is based on their film version of his story.

The Brer Rabbit Tales have become a large part of our upbringing through the stories that we read. Let's hope that these stories live on for many generations to come.

By John P Mitchell

Children Book Review - Yalu and The Puppy Room

Yalu and the Puppy Room is a heart warming tale about a golden retriever puppy. Yalu is at first called "little one" by Sue the owner the kennel where she lives with many other puppies and her brothers and sisters.

When someone comes to look for a puppy they go to the puppy room where Sue brings out puppies the families maybe looking for. At first "little one" is brought into the puppy room where she meets a family. Instantly "little one" falls in love with them. The mother scratches her head the right way, and the little boy yelled "puppy" when he saw her. But then the dad picks her up and discovers that "little one" is in fact a girl, they wanted a boy.

So back to the kennel she goes. As the days go on, all of "little ones" brothers and sisters are adopted to families. She begins to wonder what is wrong with her until one day out playing by herself feeling lonely and sad Sue tell her to find a way to stand out among the other puppies and she will surely find a family. Then one day a young couple come in. Sue brings out all of the puppies including "little one".

 All the other puppies are goofing off and playing, when "little one" finds a way to stand out to the young couple. Happily they take notice and she is adopted. She goes home with her new mom and dad to a wonderful back yard, and a nice comfy bed all her own. Where her new dad calls her Yalu (it's a name she can howl). Which presumably Yalu livers happily ever after.

Yalu and the Puppy Room was an endearing read. My 4 year old son enjoyed it a lot. The story is told in the perspective of Yalu. And how it may feel to a puppy trying to find her forever home. The book was easy to read and understand which is a big plus for the aimed demographic. My son and I are both looking forward to other Yalu books to read together.

By April Knotts