Children's Book Reviews.

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33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History Edited by Tonya Bolden
Crown, February, 2002
Trade paperback, 240 pages
ISBN: 0375811222
Ages: Young Adult
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

During the recent revelations about the horrors that were visited upon young girls unfortunate enough to have lived under the rule of the Taliban in Afganistan, American girls found themselves horrified and furious about the plight of their counterparts on the other side of the world. American girls were irate when they found that girls in other societies were forbidden an education, were forbidden to even show their faces, or indulge in normal girlish pleasures such as the wearing of nail polish. It shocks American elementary-age girls that once upon a time in the United States women were not allowed to vote. They see their mothers in all kinds of roles that require education and, yes, the freedom to follow their own special talents.

Ms. Bolden has compiled a book about women that is actually a collection of stories, poems, history, lists of organizations and biographies of women who made a difference in the lives of all American women. At times women had to be disruptive to make their demands known, and their steadfast determination now inspires and encourages all women. The first woman to earn a medical degree, the first woman to earn a Ph.D., the women who went to work in factories so that the men could fight in World War II, and all the other women who won small and large victories are featured in this collection. It is surprising to read just how many victories had to be won so that women could be free to be themselves and develop their own talents.

For this reason, 33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History should be not only in every school library, but also in every social studies classroom. It is one thing to research women's fight to be allowed to vote, but there are many other stories that also need to be told, and it is very convenient to have them in one book. It is only fair to mention that some of the women mentioned in this book may not be admired by all sections of the population. Nevertheless, many of the women who did fight for women's rights in the beginning were far from popular with all of their contemporaries. Yet, now those rights appear to modern girls to be unassailable.

--Sarah Reaves White

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? by Eric Carle
Harper Festival, March, 2002
Board Book, 28 pages
ISBN: 0694014567
Ages Baby - Preschool
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Bestselling author/illustrator Eric Carle is back with another wonderful board book which is sure to become a family favorite. "Does a Kangaroo have a mother, too?" asks the narrator. "Yes, a kangaroo has a mother. Just like me and you," is the reply. The narrator then asks if a lion has a mother, and asks the same question for a giraffe, a penguin, a swan, a fox, a dolphin, a sheep, a bear, an elephant and a monkey. For each animal, Mr. Carle has created a fabulous color collage of the animal mother and baby. The illustrations are full of life: the bears scamper, the kangaroos hop, and the baby lions gambol around their mother's feet. The repetitive nature of the questions and answers will appeal to toddlers, as will the colorful and vivid illustrations. An additional treat is the glossary in the back, which teaches us the names of all the members of animal families; for example, a group of foxes is called a skulk, and a group of giraffes is referred to as a tower. This would be an excellent addition to any baby's growing library.

Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup! by Emeril Lagasse, Charles Yuen Illustrator
HarperCollins, March, 2002
Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN: 0688177069
Ages 9 to Adult
Ordering information:
Amazon.com

Popular chef Emeril Lagasse kicks it up a notch for the little ones in his excellent new cookbook for kids, Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup. Emeril provides seventy-five recipes that kids (with a little parental supervision) should have no trouble recreating at home. You and your children will have lots of fun with such recipes as Make Lots of Friends Oven Baked French Fries, Gingerbread Friends, My Oh My Spaghetti Pie, Notches Unknown PBJ, Cheesy Star Snacks, Lean Mean Turkey Loaf and Pokey Brownies.

Illustrator Charles Yuen and the stylists of the book deserve especial credit. The pages are large and colorful, with sidebars for the ingredients list. For each recipe, a photo of Emeril's head has been placed on an artfully drawn cartoon body, so kids can see Emeril's expressions as he explains the recipes. Emeril has even concocted a special spice mixture for the kids called Baby Bam, which definitely kicks things up another notch. Emeril has put safety first, and uses little icons to indicate dangers such as heat, electricity etc. He always points out any dangerous aspects in any recipe, such as removing a hot dish from the oven. This is a must-have for any parent wishing to share some quality time in the kitchen with his child.

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Children's Book Reviews.

33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History Edited by Tonya Bolden

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother, Too? by Eric Carle

Emeril's There's a Chef in My Soup! by Emeril Lagasse, Charles Yuen Illustrator