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Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents, by David Stabler, illustrated by Doogie Horner; Quirk Books, $13.99, 224 pages, ages 7-10.

Celebrate Presidents’ Day with this thoroughly enjoyable nonfiction examination of America’s presidents before they grew up. Stabler continues his exploration of popular history (Secret Lives of the Supreme Court; Secret Lives of Great Authors) by digging into the boyhoods of twenty commanders-in-chief. Many were pranksters, like Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, and others had surprising hobbies like ballroom dancing (Taft). Ford faced dyslexia, and Obama’s first job at Baskin Robbins ruined his taste for ice cream for life. Lively and engaging text are accompanied by Horner’s 200 caricatures of the presidents as young boys. A wonderful reminder that even the most powerful people in the world were once children too, and that greatness can come from anywhere.

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Napoleon Sarony, photograph of Oscar Wilde. New York, 1882.
The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia. 1954.2135

Read about a brand-new exhibit taking place in Philadelphia, on the Fine Books Blog –https://lnkd.in/dTv_6Hy …

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I Love Mom, by Joanna Walsh and Judi Abbot; Simon & Schuster, $16.99, 32 pages, ages 2-5.

Joanna Walsh and Judi Abbot team up for their third children’s book, this time dedicated to celebrating moms. Like their previous collaborations (The Biggest Kiss; The Perfect Hug) I Love Mom is a snuggly, feel-good story aimed at very young children. Here, tiger cubs demonstrate all the wonderful things their mother does: transforming chairs into thrones, baking cakes, and making skinned knees better with a kiss and a hug.  Judi Abbot’s warm and inviting illustrations fill the oversize pages and delight the eye. 

Unfortunately, while the goal was to recreate the success of the duo’s previous read-alouds, this text feels disjointed and awkward: one page extols the mother tiger’s ability to create fantastic games, then the next page she’s packing up a messy box and trucking her charges someplace. (On my first read-through, I thought I had skipped a page.)  Rhymes such as “No one brings the sky closer to the seesaw” are strange as well. Also, the text goes back and forth between “me” and “we.” This could be confusing for young readers.  Fans of Walsh and Abbot will love it regardless, but readers new to the collection might do well to consider one of their earlier offerings.  

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Ultimate Bodypedia: An Amazing Inside-Out Tour of the Human Body (National Geographic Kids), by Christina Wilsdon, Patricia Daniels, and Jen Agresta; National Geographic, $24.99 272 pages, ages 7-13. (October 2014)

Human biology gets a colorful update in this latest encyclopedia from National Geographic Kids. This child-friendly guidebook explores all the various ways  humans are unique. Ten chapters cover everything from our collective genetic history to what the future holds for the human body.

Parents familiar with the National Geographic Kids Magazine will recognize the format, and it works: Each page is full of clear, age-appropriate information and accompanied by vivid, supersize images interspersed with interesting factoids (how to make ‘brain freeze’ go away and why our skin wrinkles in the tub are a few examples). The book manages to be clear and lively while still presenting scientific information. Thirty pages of body atlases, glossary, and further resources round everything out. Keep this book handy when children begin studying human biology at school – it’s aligned with various Common Core State Standards for grades 2 through 6.

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Nicole Claire reviews her favorite recently published books that will help chase away the winter blues!

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ALA Names Top Youth Books

The ALA announced the top books for 2014, and SAM & DAVE DIG A HOLE earned a Caldecott Honor! Check out the winners in all the categories
here –http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-library-association-announces-2015-youth-media-award-winners-300028995.html

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Night Sky Dragons, by Mal Peet & Elspeth Graham, illustrated by Patrick Benson; Candlewick Press, $15.99, 64 pages, ages 5-8.

Husband and wife team Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham (Mysterious Traveler; Cloud Tea Monkeys) share another story set in a far away place in another time. Yazul lives in a han, a walled roadside inn along the Silk Road, and his father is its lord. The young boy spends most of his days making kites with his grandfather, much to his father’s disapproval. But when bandits encircle the han, cutting off the inhabitants from fresh food and water, Yazul enlists his grandfather and his kite-making prowess to save the day.  Tucked inside the special dragon kites is a secret weapon: Gunpowder, which, loaded into the kites’ bamboo stems, creates homemade firecrackers. Peet and Graham weave a spirited tale of adventure and cunning. Award-winning illustrator (Owl Babies; The Sea-Thing Child) Patrick Benson’s pen and watercolor illustrations are full of detail, and set the right tone for a thrilling story set in a faraway place. Expect this book to be in heavy reading rotation at bedtime.

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Zig and the Magic Umbrella

(images used with permission from Dial Books; ©2015 Sylvie Kantorovitz)

Zig and the Magic Umbrella, by Sylvie Kantorovitz; Dial Press, $16.99, 32 pages, ages 2-5. (On Sale March 15, 2015)

We’re looking at another rain-themed book this week, and this time it’s Sylvie Kantorovitz’s latest read-aloud, Zig and the Magic Umbrella. A timid, suspender-wearing blue ogre wakes up to a dark and rainy day, but when he grabs a red umbrella flying by his window, Zig is carried away to a magical forest. There, he meets a frantic yellow bird who needs help freeing his flock from a mean monster’s lair, and Zig summons his courage to save the day. That red umbrella comes in handy too – it transforms into a bridge, a boat, a lever, and even a dart.  Kantorovitz’s collage and acrylic illustrations stay in the primary color range but vary in tone, creating a warm and inviting imaginary world. Her use of color recalls the whimsical exuberance of fellow French illustrator Hervé Tullet. The story is just long enough for young readers, and really serves as backdrop to the wonderful art. In all, Zig’s adventure is a cute story that will encourage children to use their imaginations to create their own adventures on dreary days.

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Blue on Blue, by Dianne White, illustrated by Beth Krommes; Beach Lane Books, $17.99, 48 pages, ages 2-5.

Thunderstorms have a powerful and sometimes frightening impact on young children, but Blue on Blue dispels some of that apprehension through rhyme and rhythm. Dianne White’s first childrens book describes the swell of an impending storm with minimal, well-chosen words. In fact, the text is so spare and the pacing so quick that I am surprised at the recommended age range, which is  five to eight year olds.  It is a perfect selection for toddlers, however – just long enough to keep little children entertained, and White’s word repetition reinforces key concepts. Caldecott Medal winner Beth Krommes’ (The House in the Night; Grandmother Winter) instantly recognizable scratchboard and watercolors of children splashing and jumping in puddles are full of rich detail and are a welcome celebration of rainstorms.