Children's Book Reviews
Page One of TwoI Am a Skater: Young Dreamers photographed by Jane Feldman
Random House, January, 2002Picture Book, 48 pages
ISBN: 0375802568
Ages 9-12
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Random House Children's Books has initiated a
most interesting series entitled Young Dreamers, which
should be very appealing to the elementary school age
student. I Am a Skater should be especially interesting
to this age group because it chronicles the everyday life
of twelve year old Emily Hughes who has been skating
since the age of three. I Am a Skater is put together in
scrapbook form, such as many twelve year old students
may already be keeping. The importance of books such
as the Young Dreamers series is in giving a young person
real facts about what other people of the same age are
doing. It is important for this age group to realize that
success begins early, and that it does not just happen.
Success follows years of dedication and focus, and the
earlier one starts, the more likely success will be.
After the stunning gold-medal winning performance of Emily's
older sister,
Sarah, at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the story
of how a skater lives should be of especial interest to
young readers who dream of skating their way to fame.
The everyday life of a young person who has chosen a certain path of endeavor can be both alike and different from that of the average sixth grade student. Emily attends middle school and is in the sixth grade, where her favorite subjects are math and Spanish. The difference in her life from that of the average sixth grade student lies in the fact that she is up at six on Tuesdays and Fridays to get in some practice before school opens. In addition, she practices every day at the ice rink. Emily has already been in an international competition in Denmark where she was able to compete with skaters from all over the world. Other pictures show the custom made skates and costumes that must be fitted, and the special gym workouts that develop flexibility and strength. Ballet lessons are important too, because they not only help with extension, they improve the artistry that makes the difference between just an athletic performance and an award winning performance. Music is also shown to be a help to a young skater, because understanding music improves a skater's overall performance. When a young reader reads about the very different life of a young skater, one hopes that the reader will begin to plan a more interesting after school life than they have followed before. The most inspiring photos may be the photographs of Emily with famous professional skaters and the exciting photographs that Ms. Feldman has taken of both performances as well as the candid photographs of skating positions and accidents.
Ms. Feldman is a gifted photographer who combines photographs and commentary to tell a fascinating story of the life of a young skater. Without preaching, she tells about the dedication and sometimes the pain of making a choice. The largely scrapbook formula of pictures with captions underneath, sometimes placed at angles or overlapping, gives a friendly format that invites the reader to sit down and experience a life that is far from average for twelve year olds.
--Sarah Reaves White
No More Kissing by Emma Chichester Clark
Doubleday, January, 2002Picture Book, 32 pages
ISBN: 0385746199
Ages 4-8
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
No More Kissing, which was written and illustrated by
Emma Chichester Clark, is a book that will delight children
and enlighten adults. What child has not wanted to run
from the kisses and hugs of scarcely known relatives and
friends of parents who all seem bent on grabbing one up
and planting huge noisy kisses on one's face and head?
What is a small but dignified person to do? Sometimes
one's parents are no help at all, and there seems to be no
escape from the humiliating torture. The problems of
little Momo seem insurmountable, and any child who
reads this story will have instant empathy for the
frustrations of the little monkey.
The story begins with little Momo on the limb of a tree in the jungle and asking the question that has troubled many a small child. "Why does there have to be so much kissing?" the little boy monkey asks. Turn the page and one is confronted with every creature kissing the other creature of its kind. Hippos are kissing hippos, warthogs are kissing other warthogs and the lions are all kissing each other. Mothers kissing their babies seem to be the worst. Little Momo, sign in hand, pickets the animal kingdom and implores them to stop kissing. He wishes that no one would kiss him, especially people he does not know. Momo also feels that his own family is always kissing for all sorts of reasons. Momo especially does not want to kiss and make up with his sister, and he states his position loudly and clearly to all of the family.
Then Momo gets a new baby brother who screams his head off, and kissing does not stop his constant howling. But Momo understands. He tells everyone that the baby hates all the kissing. Now Grandma gives the baby to Momo to entertain, but nothing Momo does stops the crying. Finally Momo picks up the baby, looks at him eye to eye and by mistake kisses him! The baby smiles and Momo hopes that no one is looking.
No More Kissing is a book that is full of bright, colorful pictures of creatures with endearing expressions. Painted in the cartoon style, the illustrations are sure to engage a young reader, and the story itself is irresistible.
--Sarah Reaves White
Children's Book Reviews
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