Ocean's Child

A stunning new picture book, illustrated by a Caldecott medalist!

2009 Parent's Choice Award winner!

As a mother and child canoe along the Alaskan Beaufort seacoast, they observe a baby walrus held close to its mother’s spotted chest, sea lions snuggling, and the Northern Lights shimmering above. David Diaz’s powerful, lush illustrations bring to life the majesty of the ocean and skies—and the vulnerability of the ocean’s biggest and smallest inhabitants, from the orca to the puffin. The book ends with the human mother and her sleeping child gliding home for the night. “Good night, Mother Ocean, good night.”

Scout

Christine Ford
Delacorte
March 2006 (224pp)
$14.95 (0-385-73234-1)
lib. ed., $16.99 (0-385-90260-3)
Gr. 5–8. With short lines and an immediate first-person narrative, the free verse in this first novel is that rare combination––an easy read and beautiful poetry. Cecilia, 11, is happy about her friendship with Redbud, the new boy in school, and they have uproarious fun in her beloved Texas woods. Then she discovers that her friend’s home has harsh secrets. The detailed nature writing and the existential questions about “Who do you think you are?” seem more appropriate for adults than for the target middle-grade audience. But the spare, rhythmic words bring close the friends’ imaginative play outdoors, with details of river, trees, and animal life. In contrast is the anguish inside Redbud’s abusive home, where his unemployed father, a Vietnam veteran, uses “discipline” to keep the boy in line. At first Cecilia admits that she finds the father’s power fascinating, but by the close of the novel she realizes that his discipline is “just another word for fear,” and she has faced her grief about her mother’s recent death, as well as the anger, guilt, hurt, and love in her own home. –Hazel Rochman

The Soldiers' Night Before Christmas

Trish Holland & Christine Ford
Illus. by John Manders
Golden Books/Random
September 2006 (32 pp.)
$8.99 PLB $10.99
ISBN: 0-375-83795-7
PLB: 0-375-93795-1

Using the familiar structure of the classic Christmas poem, Holland and Ford offer a witty parody that serves up a unique vision of a Santa who is very different from the traditional St. Nick. A young soldier serving as the narrator sees Sergeant McClaus arrive on base in a Blackhawk helicopter, followed by eight Christmas-green Humvees decked out in gold tinsel and twinkling lights. This commanding figure stands 6'6" in his camouflage uniform and red Santa hat, with a stub of cigar instead of a pipe. He and his drivers bring in sea bags filled with gifts for the soldiers: homemade goodies, phone cards, photos from home and artwork from children. The gifts are quickly deposited in helmets and boots, and then with a sharp salute and some hearty ho-ho-hos, Sergeant McClaus and his convoy take off for their next stop with a wish for peace for all. Jazzy illustrations in a cartoon style bring the military characters to life, especially the craggy-faced Sergeant McClaus. This will be popular with children who like brash superheroes, as well as with families and friends of those serving in the military. (Picture book. 5+)

Snow!

ISBN 0-694-01199-1 HarperCollins,
Fall 1999,
24 pages, full color illustration
Ages 2 and up, $9.95

All the magical moments of a new snow spread across each of these pages.

Christine Ford's joyous ode to snow follows two youngsters as they trudge along with sleds in tow to exult in a day of winter play from building a snowman and sledding to a hot chocolate warm-up at the end.  Painted and paper-collage illustrations.

Slide slide

down we glide

swish swoosh

goes our ride