Children's Book Reviews

The Amazing Pop-Up Pull-Out Mummy Book by David Hawcock
DK, October 2000.
Hardcover, 12 pages
Ages 9-12
ISBN: 0789465078.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.

This is the fifth in the popular Pop-Up Pull-Out books series, which includes the titles Amazing Pop-Up, Pull-Out Space Shuttle and the Pull-Out, Pop-Up Body in a Book. The book opens to showcase a full-color five foot high fold out of the mummy of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The pull-out contains interesting information about the embalming process, Egyptian culture and facts about mummies from all over the world. The well-written text and the beautiful illustrations are sure to make any child have visions of Indiana Jones dancing in his head; archaeology certainly seems more exciting when it is presented in this unique fashion. This is a fantastic addition to any classroom where Egypt is on the lesson plan, and would also make a great addition to your child's home library.

Dorling Kindersley's Children's Atlas
DK, September 2000.
Hardcover, 160 pages
Ages 9-12
ISBN: 0789458454.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.

With all of the recent geopolitical upheaval of the last twenty years, the necessity of a good, detailed, accurate atlas cannot be overstated. Now DK has revised and updated its children's atlas, with fantastic results. The large atlas contains more than 50 innovative three-dimensional computer-generated maps, informative text, and over 1,000 photographs, illustrations, and diagrams. The maps are organized by continent. Each region is depicted in a detailed and informative double-page layout which demonstrates the geography of the continent. Within the continent, the region is divided by country or group of countries. There is also a glossary and index with more information about each country. Each double page spread features interesting facts and beautiful photographs about the region under study. Although the book is called a children's atlas, it would still make a wonderful reference book for an adult, as well. This is a must-have for the family library, especially if you have school-age children.

The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block
HarperCollins, October 2000.
Hardcover, 240 pages
Ages 14 to Adult
ISBN: 0060281294.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.

The talented Francesca Lia Block turns her hand to the reinterpretation of classic fairy tales in this fascinating short story collection. Block takes the classic stories of Snow White, Thumbelina, Cinderella, Rose Red and Rose White, Bluebeard, The Ice Queen, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood and turns them upside down and inside out. In "Bones," Bluebeard becomes an aging Hollywood producer who preys on young, aspiring actresses. In "Wolf," little red riding hood is molested by her stepfather, and the identity of her savior is a pleasant surprise. In "Tiny," little Thumbelina becomes a garden spirit who longs to find her true love, and Sleeping Beauty pricks herself with a heroin needle.

No one writes quite like Francesca Lia Block, the author of the Weetzie Bat novels and Violet and Claire. Her prose is sensual, lush, and lyrical, yet it also has a hard, modern edginess about it. "Rev found, strangely, that she was hungry. She ate the sweet and spicy, creamy lime-stung mineral water. She breathed the gardenias. She watched the woman's eyes. They were like the eyes of old-time movie stars, always lambent, making the celluloid look slicked with water, lit with candles." Her fairy tales are set in what could be modern-day Los Angeles, but it is L.A. as seen through a lense of wonder and enchantment. Older teens through adults will enjoy the wonder, cruelty, beauty and hope that Block conjures up when she weaves her enchanting stories. Highly recommended.

--Claire E. White

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Children's Book Reviews

The Amazing Pop-Up Pull-Out Mummy Book by David Hawcock

Dorling Kindersley's Children's Atlas

The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block