The Pen Mar Story

Ormerod, Jan: WHO'S WHOSE? New York HarperCollins Children's Books 1998
ISBN: 0-688-14678-3 As New

<strong> Three very busy families engage in such activities as school, soccer, piano playing, and cooking. FROM THE PUBLISHER Three very busy families engage in such activities as school, soccer, piano playing, and cooking. FROM THE CRITICS Publishers Weekly With bustling pen-and-inks and an energetic, sometimes tongue-twisting text, Ormerod (The Frog Prince) follows three families through a whirlwind week as they intermingle continuallyand confusinglyand keep up schedules that will set readers' heads spinning. An action-filled page shows seven children on the move on Monday, as "Josh rides his bike to school,/ Maggie drives Molly and Bugs in the car,/ and Mel and Bea walk, keeping an eye on Micky and Jimmy." At first, it's nearly impossible to keep names and faces straight or, indeed, to discern "who's whose" parent, sibling or pet. But perceptive kids will soon pick up on the author's clever visual and textual clues: one is a family of redheads, one of blondes, one is African American; and alliterative names link the clans togethereven down to Jock the dog, who belongs to Jenny, Jimmy and Josh. Ormerod breaks up her buoyant litany of activities with questions that will keep kids conjecturing: "Who loves Granny Bea most?" or "Who is most tired at the end of the day?" With spreads depicting such kid-pleasing chaos, this may be a difficult book to share: siblings are likely to fight over who gets to figure out who's who first. Ages 4-up. (Mar.) Children's Literature - Joan Carris Here's a humorous, frenetic, warm and wonderful book about three families, lots of helping hands, friendships all around, some laziness and hot tempers, a dog, two guinea pigs, a stray cat who sleeps and eats wherever-well, you get the idea. The busy pages here seem awfully busy to adults who look for an effect on each page before examining separate items, yet children look at the separate items first. This book, like those of Richard Scarry, will seem just right to kids. The amount of sheer LIFE in this story about friendship and community is astonishing-and you shouldn't be without it. School Library Journal K-Gr 2As this book is opened, readers see a cluttered array of datebooks, appointment reminders, and to-do listsan immediate bombardment that offers a visual foreshadowing of the amiable chaos within. The story tells of three busy families whose lives become so intertwined that individual family groupings are hopelessly blurred, especially at meals and at bedtime. Despite ethnic and other obvious differences such as hair color, readers immediately lose track of "who's whose." With the three families encompassing four parents, a grandmother, eight children (plus one on the way), and a menagerie of pets, disorder is a given. Ormerod adeptly conveys the interconnectedness and affectionate ties among these people. Subtly, but seemingly intentionally, she quickly disorients readers in a hustle of activity, a string of names, and questions. The result is one of touching togetherness, but also utter confusion. Ormerod's pen-and-colored ink illustrations offer some hints to careful observers to help unravel the threads. In the end, it seems it doesn't really matter who's whose. A clever and well-thought-out book that just might go right over the heads of young patrons.Christy Norris Blanchette, Valley Cottage Library, NY Kirkus Reviews Readers who may be attempting to grasp the point to this initially puzzling book will find guidance on the jacket flap: "Mix together 4 parents/1 grandmother/2 guinea pigs/1 dog/8 kids." The endpapers show the evidence of a chaotic household: pages from datebooks, lists, and appointment cards. <P> The title page gives one more clue; snapshots of three disparate familiescone of whom is blackcthat, henceforth, are jumbled together on the following pages. The kids from the families mix together in home, school, and play; they watch television, dress up, entertain one another, and sleep and nap together in constantly changing combinations while the text asks, "Who grates the cheese? </strong> Hardcover 29 cm.

[SW: FAMILY LIFE FICTION CHILDREN JUVENILE]

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Mcbratney, Sam: GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU, Cambridge, Mass. Candlewick Press 1994
ISBN: 1-56402-473-3 Very Good Condition

In a large format befitting this endearing and beloved bedtime story, this giant 13 1/2" x 15 1/2" book with the theme of "guess how much I love you" is as charming as ever. Little Nutbrown Hare asks his father, "Guess how much I love you," then stretches his arms as wide as they go and says "This much" -- but his father's reach is wider. The little hare keeps trying to top his father until he finally murmurs, "I love you right up to the moon," and falls asleep. His father kisses him good-night and whispers, "I love you right up to the moon -- and back." Comical and endearing pen-and-ink and watercolor pictures illustrate the pleasant, gentle story. Children will get a chuckle out just "how big" this lovable storybook is! From the Publisher Celebrating 10 years of love--to the moon and back--with a new way to say "I love you"! Listen to a dramatic reading of this beloved tale accompanied by music and sound effects, and get ready for a whole story experience! Acclaimed actor Adrian Dunbar presents nearly a full hour of interactive fun, including story-inspired games, activities, songs, and suggestions for simple crafts. Perfect for both individuals and groups--at home, in the car, in a classroom, or at a party--this lively recording is sure to energize little ones' imaginations time and again. Lund From Horn Book An abbreviated edition of the story about Little Nutbrown Hare trying to prove how much he loves Big Nutbrown Hare is weakened by the addition of popups and pull tabs to the illustrations. The paper engineering is standard at best (some pages are quite stiff) and adds nothing to the sentiment of the text and the otherwise charming illustrations. Stick with the original edition. -- Copyright © 1999 The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved. Publishers Weekly Fresh as a fiddlehead fern in spring, this beguiling bedtime tale features a pip of a young rabbit and his indulgent parent. Searching for words to tell his dad how much he loves him (and to put off bedtime just an eentsy bit longer), Little Nutbrown Hare comes up with one example after another ("I love you as high as I can hop!"), only to have Big Nutbrown Hare continually up the ante. Finally, on the edge of sleep, he comes up with a showstopper: "I love you right up to the moon." (Dad does top this declaration too, but only after his little bunny falls asleep.) Effused with tenderness, McBratney's wise, endearing and droll story is enriched by the near-monochromatic backdrop of Jeram's pen-and-wash artwork, rendered earthy tones of moss, soft brown and gray for a visually quieting effect just right for that last soothing tale before sleep. Ages 3-up. (Mar.) Publishers Weekly Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illus. by Anita Jeram, now appears in a gifty square-sized "Sweetheart Edition" for parent-child sharing, complete with a red cloth cover and gold type on the spine. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. Children's Literature It's Little Nutbrown Hare's bedtime. Stalling, he tells his father how much he loves him-as far as he can reach, as high as he can hop. Each time, Big Nutbrown Hare goes him one better-he can reach farther, hop higher. Finally, Little Nutbrown Hare falls asleep. As he gazes protectively at his son, Big Nutbrown Hare whispers some final words of love. Endearing pen and ink/watercolor illustrations complete this sweet tale of familial devotion, which is now available in a pop-up version. There are tabs to pull and a big panoramic pop-up of Little Nutbrown Hare and his Dad. Children's Literature It's Little Nutbrown Hare's bedtime. Stalling, he tells his father how much he loves him-as far as he can reach, as high as he can hop. Each time, Big Nutbrown Hare goes him one better-he can reach farther, hop higher. Finally, Little Nutbrown Hare falls asleep. As he gazes protectively at his son, Big Nutbrown Hare whispers some final words of love. Endearing pen and ink/watercolor illustrations complete this sweet tale of familial devotion. Gift inscription inside front cover. This is NOT the Pop-UP version, which IS also available also here. Hardcover

[SW: Hares -- Fiction, Fathers and sons -- Fiction, Bedtime -- Fiction, Love -- Fiction]

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Hamilton, Edmond / Ackerman, Forest J. (SIGNED!)/ Silverberg, Robert & Garrett, Randall and others. Imaginative Tales March 1958 (Mar.). Greenleaf Publishing Co., 1958.
Volume 5, Number 2. Cover art by Lloyd Rognan, illustrating "Men of the Morning Star". Stories: "Men of the Morning Star" (Complete Novel - 20,000 words) by Edmond Hamilton, "Wings over the Worldcon" (Report on London S-F Convention) by Forest J. Ackerman, "Wanted: A Planet to Boss" (Short Story - 4,900 words) by Tom W. Harris, "The Lur of Galaxy A" (Short Story - 5,000 words) by Ivar Jorgensen, "Decision Final" (Short Story - 5,100 words) by Robert Randall (Robert Silverberg & Randall Garrett), "Tag, You're It!" (Short Story - 2,500 words) by Mark Reinsberg. Features: The Editorial, Old-Fashioned Robot, Cosmic Pen Club, Scientifilm Marquee, Letters from the Readers, and Subscription Page. One inch chip spine bottom. Signed by Forest J. Ackerman (signature only) at the article he wrote at the Paperback Book Show March 2008. Signed: I Signed by Author.

Periodical, S Digest Magazine, Very Good Minus.

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Albanese, Laurie Lico: BLUE SUBURBIA: ALMOST A MEMOIR, New York HarperCollins Publishers 2004
ISBN: 0-06-056563-2 Very good

ABOUT THE BOOK Blue Suburbia: Almost a Memoir FROM THE PUBLISHER "With each spare stroke of her pen, Laurie Lico Albanese paints a vivid portrait of the blue-collar landscape of her childhood - rusted swing sets, auto body shops, greasy hands, home improvements - taking readers along for the wild, treacherous ride that leads to her escape. Her mother may stand silently at the sink year after year, or lie in the basement weeping, but Albanese is determined to flee the deadening certainty of her parents' lives. Her story does not disappoint us." Blue Suburbia is the chronicle of a determined young woman who overcomes family limitations, socio-economic obstacles, and personal fears to build a happy - and blessedly ordinary - life. FROM THE CRITICS Publishers Weekly Albanese's moving if predictable hybrid volume tells the story of her life in verse. As she seems to recognize, this author's key experiences resemble those of many other women. Albanese survives a working-class Northeastern family with an abusive father and a clinically depressed mother, struggles through college into an unsatisfying job in publishing, then marries and moves to Chicago, where she becomes a troubled stay-at-home mom, raising a boy and a girl. Later, Albanese grieves at her mother's death, moves to New Jersey ("unhappy/ to be back in the suburbs"), enters therapy, and discovers self-confidence in part through writing this very book. Readers may cavil at Albanese's verse technique; here, for example, she views a Picasso: "nothing prepared me/ for the day I stood face-to-face with genius/ hearing the man's message/ screaming in my soul/ but afraid to say a word." Though Albanese's novel, Lynelle by the Sea, won praise for its fine descriptions, her memoir can seem unpolished and unexceptional compared to many recent prose competitors, from Beverly D'Onofrio to Lauren Slater (whom Albanese calls "a personal/ hero of mine"). Yet Albanese's experience, and the straightforward ways in which she describes it, may well resonate with many who have felt, in her words, afraid "of the very life/ being sucked/ out of me," trapped in endless familial obligations, and just "barely/ hanging/ on." (Mar.) Forecast: HarperCollins apparently plans to promote the book as a memoir, with little mention of its status as verse; the strategy seems right for this extremely accessible work. Though the young adult verse novel (by writers with no other poetry cred) is now a well-recognized form, it's hard to think of comparable new work pitched at adults; if this volume succeeds, it will break some ground. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. Paperback 8.06x5.26x.65 in. .58 lbs.

[SW: Problem families -- Poetry, Parent and child -- Poetry, Abused children -- Poetry, Suburban life -- Poetry, Women -- Poetry, Girls -- Poetry]

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