Silly Frilly Grandma Tilly (Flash Light Press, 2012) by Laurie A. Jacobs and illustrated by Anne Jewett is a fun read with fun illustrations. Here’s a quote:
“Grandma Tillie says she is too old to play games.
She says all she likes to do is sit and knit.”
But once the parents are gone, she disappears and out comes the lady with the bright pink hair and it’s The Tillie Vanilly Show, including dancing. Next up is the lady with the lampshade hat and Chef Silly Tillie’s Diner, including singing. Madame Frilly Tillie comes to make them gooooorgeous in the bath. Kid narrator wonders who will come to put them to bed. Chole wants plain Grandma Tillie. To the end Grandma Tillie denies dancing, but when Sophie closes her eyes, she’s sure she hears her Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie dancing.
The book has been announced as a winner of the Gelett Burgess Center Children’s Book Award.
Read more about author Laurie A. Jacobs here.
Learn about illustrator Anne Jewett here.
Category: Award Winners
Splendors and Glooms
Looking for something spooky or creepy? Then read Splendors and Glooms (Candlewick, 2012) by Laura Amy Schlitz which won a 2013 Newbery Honor.
The book told in multiple viewpoints features:
12-year-old Clara, child of wealthy parents, who wants the puppet master to perform at her birthday party. She wants something to be different from her other birthdays, where she has to open presents from her dead siblings.
Lizzie Rose and Parsefall work for the puppet master Grisini. They’re always hungry and neglected. When Clara is found missing, Lizzie Rose suspects their master has something to do with it.
We also have viewpoints of a witch.
I love how this historical story is mixed with magic. It definitely deserved the honor it has received. Laura is a 2008 Newbery winner for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village.
You can read about Laura here. And here’s an interesting video.
The One and Only Ivan
The One and Only Ivan (HarperCollins, 2012) by Katherine Applegate is a heartbreaker and touching story. Animal lovers will especially like this book that won the 2013 Newbery award–though be prepared to be upset at what happens…
Ivan is a gorilla. In captivity. He doesn’t remember much of his life before. He lives at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, where he’s the main attraction. He watches TV, talks to his friends: an elderly elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob, and paints pictures. Like Julia, the mall cleaner’s daughter, he’s an artist. But people are coming less and less to see Ivan. Finally his owner, Mack, buys a baby elephant to be the new attraction. The dying Stella makes Ivan promise to find a better life for Ruby, the baby elephant. What can Ivan do to keep that promise?
Find out about the real Ivan who inspired the story here.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
I love it when I read a book and, knowing a sequel is in progress, can’t wait for the next one. That’s what it was like for me when I read Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Little, Brown, 2012) by Laini Taylor. And isn’t the cover beautiful?
Here’s a brief summary of Book 1: Karou is an artist living in Prague, going to art school, has bright blue hair, and draws fantastical creatures that her artist friends don’t believe are real. Not even her best friend Zuzana. But Brimstone aka the Wishmonger, Issa, Twiga and Yasri are real. In fact they raised her. Karou tells stories about them with a wry smile and there’s no risk of being believed. Of course she wishes she knew who she really was. Then while on one of Brimstone’s errands to collect teeth, Karou meets and fights an angel. Everything gets worse from there. (The story is told in Akiva, the angel’s viewpoint too.)
I haven’t managed to read Book 2: Days of Blood and Starlight yet–it’s on my list–but the third book in the trilogy has been announced too! It’s called Dreams of Gods and Monsters and comes out next spring.
Book 1 has been optioned for a movie; waiting with bated breath for more information on that.
And it all couldn’t have happened to a nicer author. Read more about Laini on her website.
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars (Hyperion, 2012) by Katherine Marsh was eye-opening for me. I had no idea that dwarfs were treated so badly.
Jepp, who has always lived with his mother at their inn, has been offered a chance to go to Coudenberg Palace. He takes it and then finds he is to be humiliated to serve as entertainment for the Spanish Infanta and her royal court. He and the other dwarfs are held prisoner and live at the whims of those around them. However, this intelligent young man doesn’t resignedly accept his fate.
The story was inspired by real characters in history and the author’s mother’s interest in astrology. Read more here.
I encourage anyone who starts reading this book and finds the formality of the writing a bit off-putting to push through–soon you’ll not notice it at all as you become engrossed in the story.