Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln

Bryant, J. (2009). Abe's fish: A boyhood tale of Abraham Lincoln (A.J. Bates, illus.). New York: Sterling.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Storybook
Age Recommendation: 5-12 years

If your children didn't know who Abraham Lincoln was before reading this book, they will afterwards, and they'll want to know even more about him. Based off of Abraham Lincoln's childhood during the War of 1812, this story is a perfect reflection of the strong character that defined one of America's greatest presidents and how it was molded. The story begins with young Abe going out into the woods with the hopes of helping his father chop some wood, but the axe is too heavy for him to be of any use so he gets sent back home. Dreading the fact that he'll probably have to help his sister pick berries, Abe is reluctant to head back, yet when he gets there his mother instead asks him to go fishing. Abe doesn't hesitate to meet his mother's request and heads to the river where he successfully catches a big fat fish. My favorite part is at this point in the story as he begins to head home: "Abe had one worm left. He rolled it in a damp leaf and, smiling to himself put it in his pocket. A nice surprise for Sarah's pillow tonight." I simply love the boyishness of that line. Continuing on, as Abe is heading down the road home he comes across an American soldier who looks worn and hungry. Abe wrestles with himself, but in the end decides that the soldier probably needs the fish more than him and gives the fish to the man. The soldier graciously thanks him and continues down the road, but just then Abe yells "Hey---wait!...Did you find freedom?" The soldier replies, "I reckon I did see it sometimes...But other times it seemed a long way off." Abe goes home and his family is disappointed that there's no fish, but are certainly proud of his selflessness.

I absolutely loved this book. The watercolor illustrations were stunning, and I loved the fact that the text was always surrounded by a log border, which was so fitting to both the story and the life of Abraham Lincoln. I recommend this book to children ages five to twelve. They'll enjoy the illustrations, yet more importantly they'll learn an important moral lesson within the story. They'll learn about freedom and selflessness, and hopefully their curiosity about Abraham Lincoln will be sparked so that they'll go on to learn more about this great American leader. Teachers and librarians should seek to add this to their collection as it would make a great aid in teaching American history, and parents should add it to their home collection simply because it's such a wonderful book. Overall, this book's a real gem.

Bryant, J. (2009, April 1). Abe's fish: A boyhood tale of Abraham Lincoln [A book review of Abe's fish: A boyhood tale of Abraham Lincoln]. School Library Journal. Retrieved May 6, 2010 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6648615.html?q=abe%27s+fish.

Bryant has many positive things to say about this book, especially the artwork, saying "Bates's lively watercolors have rich detail, depicting Abe as a boy in a coonskin hat, still too small to lift his father's ax. The full-spread, sepia-toned paintings capture his rustic lifestyle, the Kentucky landscape, and the reactions of Abe's family to his generosity." Whereas Bryant did not describe the plot, he did describe the story as a Good Samaritan story, which is entirely appropriate since that is the very biblical reference which came to young Abe's mind as he pondered giving the fish to the soldier. In addition, Bryant believes the boyishness of Lincoln to be captured well, which I absolutely agree with: "Additional details reveal a boy who can be a prankster, wishes he were taller, and ponders the meaning of words like 'freedom'." Overall, he described the book to be "a worthy addition to the iconic portrait of a man so lauded by history," and I deem this review to be worthy as well.

Highlights Magazine

Clark, C.F., Ed. (2010, May). Highlights for Children, 65(5).

Genre: Informational/Fiction
Format: Magazine
Age Recommendation: 6-12 years

Ah, sweet memories. Highlights for Children is just as delightful as I remember it. The magazine is not just any magazine, but serves a higher purpose of both educating children and teaching them proper behavior. Throughout the magazine were scattered several short stories and poems, one which featured the topic of new step-siblings learning to get along. Also scattered throughout were blurbs created purely for entertainment value, such as comics, games, crafts, jokes, and reader art. Yes, the classic favorite are still there. I can't even express how ecstatic I was to see hidden pictures, The Timbertoes comic strip, and the reader art splayed across the pages. It just goes to show that the greatest of things can outlast time. The crafts were just as exciting too, as there were so many things to make. Kids could make a shoebox puppet theater and accompanying cardboard tube puppets, a braided bracelet, a may basket, and a puppy dog made out of beans. I would recommend this magazine for kids ages 6-12 years, as kids first of all need to have a reading ability. There are so many topics and activities scattered throughout that kids will no doubt be entertained and at the same time both education and a positive morality will be enstilled within them. I would have recommended Highlights as a child, and now I'm recommending it as an adult. Teachers, librarians, parents...subscribe! You won't regret it!

*Note: No review could be found for this magazine.

National Geographic Kids

Bellows, M.G., Ed. (2010, May). National Geographic Kids, (400).

Genre: Informational
Format: Magazine
Age Recommendation: 7-13 years

Even though this is a kids magazine, just like the magazine for adults, National Geographic Kids does not disappoint. The entire magazine is filled with incredible, eye-popping photographs of animals, people, and everything else imagineable. Not only is it a visual feast, but it is also an accumulation of so many facts that after reading a single issue the kids are sure to be ready to compete on Jeopardy. This particular featured sections on outrageous facts, guinness world records, cool inventions, and facts about our world. They even had a "Green Scene" where it spoke of vehicle emissions, and in order to encourage bike riding offered a do-it-yourself craft for a bike plate. One can not overlook the educational importance of the magazine, either, of course. There were several articles on animals, including a section on "Amazing Animals," otters, and the "Secret Life of Sea Turtles." Also included was a blurb called "Culture Trek," which this month featured an article about Kenya. The back of the magazine is sure to entertain kids as well as it provides jokes, games, comic strips, reader art, and in this issue the winning pictures of a reader photography contest. This magazine is a real winner, and I would recommend it for children ages seven to thirteen, as children within this age span are becoming much more interested in the world outside of home---what's in it and how it works. I would not hesitate to recommend this magazine to teachers, librarians, and parents.

*Note: Review could not be found for this magazine.

Hi! Fly Guy

Arnold, T. (2005). Hi! Fly guy. New York: Scholastic.

Genre: Easy to Read
Format: Chapter Book
Age Recommendation: 5-7 years

Hi! Fly Guy is the perfect introductory chapter book to young readers. With simple sentence structures and illustrated pictures, readers will learn the story of a newly formed friendship between a boy named Buzz and his pet fly, Fly Guy. At first, Buzz's parents try to swat the little fly and tell their son that a fly isn't suitable for a pet, but they soon discover how smart Fly Guy is and make him at home. Then in the last chapter, Buzz tries to enter Fly Guy in an amazing pet show, but everyone laughs at him because, once again, "Flies can't be pets. Flies are pests!" Yet Fly Guy shows his stuff with some fancy flying and in the end impresses everyone and wins the award for smartest pet.

I would recommend this book for children ages five to seven. They'll love the fact that a fly is the main character, and they'll especially feel a sense of accomplishment at being able to read entire chapters, even though a chapter is merely a few simple sentences. The illustrations are fun and cartoonish, yet the text seems to be a little lacking, which is mostly due to the fact that no complex sentences are used. Overall, it's a cute plot but a mediocre execution, yet I would still recommend it to librarians and teachers as a means of introducing chapter books to young children.

Knickerbocker, A. (2006, February 1). Hi! Fly Guy [A review of the book Hi! Fly Guy]. School Library Journal. Retrieved May 5, 2010 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6304147.html?q=hi+fly+guy.

Short and sweet, Knickerbocker goes straight to the point and gives a brief overview of the plot of the book. She then goes on to say "the cartoon illustrations showing characters with exaggerated wide eyes are delightful, but the text is somewhat weak and disjointed." That's really all she had to say of the book, and given the short length of the book there isn't much more to be said, but I think in order for a review to be considered good an author must go into more depth. I agree with her on what she said, yet wish she had gone into more detail.

Naughty Cherie!

Oates, J.C. (2008). Naughty Cherie! (M. Graham, illus.). New York: HarperCollins.

Genre/Format: Picture Storybook
Age Recommendation: 3-5 years

Simple and charming, this book is a perfect book for young children who just want to hear a story. Cherie is the cutest of his litter and is by far the little girl, Evan's, favorite. There's only one problem, though: Cherie is very naughty! He climbs on the table, pulls down the curtains, gets inside the piano, and causes all kinds of ruckus. One day the Smith family had enough, so Mrs. Smith put Cherie in a time-out in the corner, but all the little kitten thought was "I don't have to be 'good.' I'm little Cherie." It was then that Cherie noticed a small crack in the wall that led the kitten down a stairwell and into "Little Friends Kindercare," where a baby elephant, ostrich, giraffe, monkey, and panda were all gathered together playing. Cherie spent time with the other animals only to witness their misbehavior and in time grew weary of them and their shenannigans. Cherie then headed back upstairs and from then on was on his best behavior.

The best part of this book was by far the illustrations. The paintings perfectly captured the expressions and mannerisms of a real kitten, and even the Smith family were drawn with extreme realism. The plot, however, suffered in my opinion. The books greatest flaw was its failure to provide an explanation as to what "Little Friends Kindercare" was and why it was there. Was it a magical world? Was the kitten merely dreaming? No explanation is given whatsoever, so readers are left wondering "What just happened?" The scene is of course a necessity to the story as it's how Cherie learns his lesson, but the effort should have been taken to provide some logical explanation. I would recommend this book for young readers ages three to five years, as it provides a lesson about what is good and bad behavior and how inconvenient and hurtful bad behavior can be towards others. In addition, the fact that the main character is a kitten will certainly keep their attention. Overall, I would consider this to be a mediocre book, and therefore wouldn't recommend it for anything other than light reading.

Blankenship, D. (2010, January 11). Naughty Cherie! by Joyce Carol Oates. Retrieved May 5, 2010 from http://www.booksforkids-reviews.com/2010/01/naughty-cherie-by-joyce-carol-oates.html.

It was difficult to even find a review on this book as it surprisingly, despite its well-known author, hasn't gained much attention in the literary realm. This review gave the basic background of the plot to the story and had many positive things to say, but it wasn't of the greatest quality. The grammar and the sentence structure was poor and a little too simple for an adult audience, so that made it difficult for me to take anything they had to say about it seriously. I would agree that the illustrations were good and even the text was for the most part decent, but I wouldn't rave about it near as much as Blankenship did.

Finn McCool and the Great Fish

Bunting, E. (2010). Finn McCool and the great fish (Z. Pullen, illus.). Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear.

Genre: Folktale
Format: Picture Storybook
Age Recommendation: 4-12 years

Hailing from Irish folklore, Eve Bunting's Finn McCool and the Great Fish is a delightful read. Finn McCool is a gentle giant, whose constant good deeds, kind heart, and protection of the townspeople of Drumnahoon has made him loved by all. There's only one problem, though: he isn't very smart. Sometimes the townspeople whispered, although kindly, that "He's a bit of a turnip head....He doesn't know much. But he's a great big man for all that." One day Finn heard the whisper and set out in search of an old man in a nearby town who was said to know the source of great wisdom. Never before had the old man imparted this knowledge to anyone, despite the constant pleas and gifts bestowed upon him, but come to find out he didn't do so because he was waiting for Finn all this time. The old man tells Finn, "In the River Boyne there lives a fish, a great salmon, the red of the sky at sunset. In him is the wisdom of the world. Catch him, cook him, and eat him, and that wisdom will be yours." Finn sets out to do this great task, and gets as far as catching the fish when he can't bear to kill the poor thing. However, because the hook cuts both the fish's mouth and Finn's thumb, their blood gets mixed and the gentle giant magically receives the wisdom he desires. From that moment on, Finn was known for his wisdom as well as his size, and he always had the townspeople pondering why he always sucks his pink thumb when he's thinking.

As if the storyline weren't wonderful enough, the illustrations were absolutely stunning. The acryllic artwork perfectly captured every kind expression, every wrinkle on his brow, every tiny hair on his head. No combination of author and illustration could have better captured Irish culture and tradition the way Bunting and Pullen did. I would recommend this book for children ages 4-12. No matter how young or old they are, children will be drawn by the detail in the illustrations, and the story will warm their heart. This is a must read and I highly recommend it to librarians, teachers, and parents, especially for a storytelling time.

She Is Too Fond of Books. (2010, February 20). Children's Book Review: *Finn McCool and the Great Fish* by Eve Bunting. Retrieved from http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/2010/02/20/childrens-book-review-finn-mccool-and-the-great-fish-by-eve-bunting/.

This review had nothing but positive things to say about the book. She was especially fond of the illustrations, saying "Zachary Pullen’s illustrations are gorgeous – detailed acrylics that carry the landscape of Ireland, the strokes of thatch on a roof, and perhaps most telling, the expressions on Finn McCool’s face." In addition, she points out that it's enjoyable for all ages, saying "Bunting retells the legend in a way that a 5-year-old will sit for it, and a 12-year-old will read it on his own." I couldn't help but agree with everything said in this review, and I liked the fact that she included publishing information as well as the books own description along with her review.

Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776

Heyward, A. (Producer). (2002). Liberty's Kids: Est. 1776 [Television series]. Los Angeles: Melusine Productions.

Genre: Informational/Animated

Format: DVD

Recommended Ages: 5 years & up

In this television series, the Revolutionary War comes to life as the story is told through the eyes of three young characters. James Hiller is a young journalism apprentice who follows trouble anywhere for a story and tends to create his own trouble when he acts before thinking. Sarah Phillips is a young girl of British society who has just traveled to America only to be caught up in a political stir. Stubborn, intelligent, and quite snobby, she has strong opinions on issues such as slavery and doesn't hesitate to express them. Henri is a French orphan who seems to serve more as a comedic relief in his constant search for food. Together they run around sometimes stirring up trouble, while at other times they just get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. In these episodes the three young ones end up witnessing the Boston tea party and later fall victim to the squatting of British soldiers, as they took up residence in any home they liked for no charge at all. Within these episodes such historical figures as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin are introduced to children, as well as Phyllis Wheatley, the first African-American poet.

I throughly enjoyed watching this show. Not only did it make American history interesting, but it made it fun and exciting as well. I'm no history buff, but the facts seemed to be accurate and I'm quite certain that some of the things said by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were actual quotes. Throughout the episodes, children are introduced to important historical figures, events, and documents, so this would be a perfect teaching aid for young children. The animation quality was decent as well. Not quite at the Disney level (which I would consider to be top of the line), but still of good quality, and still able to capture the setting and character expressions perfectly. At times, the dialogue seemed a little too scripted, which was no doubt because of their efforts to weave in historical accuracy, but at the same time I found myself appreciating the fact that I was able to learn from what they were saying. I would recommend this television series to children ages six and up. Younger children may not yet be able to understand the politics involved, but it will still serve as a good introduction to American history even though it will be mostly used for entertainment. Children aged 10-12 will probably get the most use out of it as they are more likely to seek information. I would therefore highly, HIGHLY recommend this series to teachers to use as an aid in the classroom. Libraries and parents shouldn't hesitate to own this series as well. Your children will be entertained AND learn...could there be anything better?

Olsen, T.A. (2008). Liberty's Kids [A review of the television series Liberty's Kids]. Retrieved May 4, 2010 from http://www.knowledgehouse.info/libertykid.html.

Olsen absolutely raves about this television series! She's clearly watched many episodes, and is therefore able to more thoroughly describe the plot and characters introduced, as well as articulate the themes within the plots. She describes the series as "an exciting adventure in which today's kids can discover the real heroes and events that gave birth to the United States of America....[it] touches on issues that are still current in modern America-taxation, freedom of the press, race relations, the role of government and gun control....it's refreshing to see that this show did not rewrite history, but portrays it accurately and patriotically." Olsen also points out that through the characters of Sarah and James, the story is also able to present both the British and American side of the Revolutionary War. Olsen also points out her surprise that several references to God and prayer were allowed within the dialogue, a fact that I didn't notice, but which I am also very pleased with. I enjoyed reading this review and found Olsen's excitement for the series contagious. All in all, a good review.

Note for Teacher: Although this series was aired in 2002, the DVD series was not published until 2008.

KidsBiology.com Animal Database

Animal Database
http://www.kidsbiology.com/animals-for-children.php?animal=Sloth%20Bear

Genre: Informational
Format: Database
Age Recommendation: 6-12 years

If one word could describe the animal database featured on KidsBiology.com, "simple" would be that word. Kids are supplied with a list of animal types to choose from, such as "bears," "flying lemurs and tree shrews," "hippos and pigs," and "marsupials." Whereas these animal types don't follow the typical classification pattern of kingdom, phylum, class, etc., I daresay that this type of search is much simpler for children to use in comparison. Once children have chosen the type of animal they're looking for, they choose from a list within that type. For example, the bear type includes the American black bear, Asiatic black bear, grizzly bear, polar bear, sloth bear, spectacled bear, and sun bear. Then follows the disappointment. Each animal has a mere paragraph written about it. The American black bear, for example, merely states that "These bears are often found in national parks, where they raid campsites for food. They have a keen sense of smell, and usually hunt at night. They are smaller and less dangerous than their brown bear cousins." Accompanying each animal is also a chart which includes the animal's name, class, what it eats, and where it lives. That is the extent of the information provided within this database. Many of the informational paragraphs were poorly structured, meaning that I found several grammatical mistakes throughout the site. Overall, the animal database is a wonderful concept, and it's great if kids want nothing more than basic information, but there is room for much improvement. The inclusion of more information would make this database ninety times better, and would then prove itself to be a great resource for kids as they research animals for school. Including more than one picture of each animal and maybe even an accompanying video would also do strides for this site. So now comes the big question: would I recommend this site? The answer is yes. It's simple design is sure to satisfy young children's curiosity, but I wouldn't recommend it for any purposes other than that. I therefore wouldn't recommend it to teachers as a resource, but would consider it something valuable for parents and librarians to utilize. I would recommend this database for kids ages 6-12, although ages above 10 are a bit of a stretch as older children will no doubt desire more in-depth information.

*No reviews could be found for this database.

International Children's Digital Library

International Children's Digital Library. http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Genre: Children's Books
Format: Database
Recommended Age: 8 & Up

Within the realm of ingenius ideas lies the International Children's Digital Library, first created with the intention to "build a collection of books that represents outstanding historical and contemporary books from throughout the world." Today, the library contains 4,418 books in over 54 different languages and serves users from 228 different countries. After browsing around this site for several minutes, I have officially fallen in love. Upon first arriving at the website, it seemed as though the setup wasn't very kid friendly. There were featured books, newly added books, library news, and other aspects that would really only appeal to adults. However, as soon as one clicks on the icon in the middle, which proclaims "Read books!," one enters the childlike splendor of their simple search. Here the options are endless for children. They can search according to the color of the book cover, according to age, according to book length, and the list goes on. Instead of fiction and non-fiction, children can choose what is labeled "make believe books" and "true books." They can even choose based on the characters within the books, with buttons for "kid characters," "real animal characters, and "imaginary creature characters." Also available is an option for the language in which the book is in as well as a keyword search so that children can search for a particular subject rather than browse the whole collection. The large icons, bright colors, and illustrations that are present on the simple search are sure to help guide children in their search. Even as an adult I find the search options far more impressive than any library catalog I've ever seen, which is of course due to the fact that the library is entirely digital, making even visual aspects important to index. Another neat search feature is their organization of award books, as well as several collections they've put into "exhibitions", which focus on themes such as friendship or overcoming obstacles. If one dares go into the advanced search, even more options are available, such as the country of origin, the rating, and the subject.

What makes this database even better than most is that one isn't merely searching for what is available from another location. Everything is available in an instant for free. One merely has to click on the desired book, and the layout of the entire book is spread out right before your eyes. Click on the first page, and there it appears. Is the text too small? Zoom in. Is it too big? Zoom out? If you don't want to do those you have the option to just click on the box around the text and just the text will zoom in rather than the whole page. Do you need to read it in another language? That's an option too! You don't even have to click a next button, but can just click the page itself to go on to the next page. Conveniently as well, the entire page fits within the screen, so you don't have to annoyingly scroll up and down to get the whole picture. In addition, one can choose either a single page view or a double page view. The only problem I encountered within my search was finding the language options once I had clicked on the book. I clicked on a book that was written in Dutch, yet once I was reading the book there was no option to read it in English. I had to go back to the "about the book" section to see the available languages and click on it from there. After encountering that, I have a feeling many children will encounter frustration with this. How disappointing would it be for a ten year-old to see a book and click on it only to discover that they have no idea what's being said? Besides that, however, I give this database a raving review and recommend it for children ages eight and up, as they've got the appropriate problem solving skills at this age to be able to navigate the database. One thing's for sure, though, this database will not only be enjoyable for children, but for parents, teachers, and librarians as well. It's the perfect tool to introduce to children, and comes at no expense. All I can say is, utilize this tool! Take a look around! See for yourself...you'll love it!

Ewing, R. (2010, March 2). International Children's Digital Library. Retrieved May 4, 2010 from http://rdlr.org/2010/03/02/international-childrens-digital-library/.

Ewing's review is both thorough and informative, and she gives both the negative and positive aspects of the site with an overall positive review. She describes the Simple Search feature interface as "bright, colorful, easy to use, and provides a number of unique browsing options," yet she also offers tips for improvement: "1) make it easier to find from the home page; 2) add a search reset button to clear search results; and 3) add a button to return to search results from the Book Viewer." Ewing even discussed a feature that I didn't even notice, which allows two different book viewers to be downloaded, one in a spiral format and the other in a comic book format. Perhaps what is most impressive about her review was the provision of her own book recommendations as well as a wrap-up chart which rates such overall aspects as metadata quality, asset quality, and overall design. This review was incredibly helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to visit her site again for reviews on other digital libraries.

Kidz Bop 14

Kidz Bop Kidz. (2008). Kidz bop 14. New York: Razor & Tie Records.

Genre: Alternative/Pop
Format: Music CD
Age Recommendation: 8-12

As an adult, words can not express how horrible any Kidz Bop album is to my ears, but given that this CD is geared towards children I'm going to be charitable. With a track list of 18 songs, children will love this CD simply for the fact that it's all modern hits and it's all sung by none other than kids. Whereas many children will undoubtedly be listening to this CD on repeat for hours at a time, parents however will be clawing at their bleeding ears as songs such as "Don't Stop The Music," "4 Minutes," and "Clumsy" are sung entirely in chorus. The CD seems to ruin each child's individual talent by insisting that nearly every song must be sung in sync. Had each song featured a main singer with the chorus as the background, the CD would have been much more bearable. The Kidz Bop Kidz are incredibly talented singers, there's no question about that, but the overall song selection does not do them justice. On a positive note, however, the more alternative songs seem to have a much more quality sound in comparison to the pop songs featured on the album. "Love Song" and "Stop and Stare" actually had me singing along, and some of the hip hop selections such as "Superstar" and "Take You There" had me dancing ever-so-slightly in my seat (but don't expect me to admit that I even listened to this in public). Overall, I must come to the conclusion that parents will hate it, but children will love it. The songs were picked with censorship in mind, so the songs feature no inappropriate content, yet certain love themes still seem far too old for even kids to be singing them. Some parents will therefore, of course, have objections based on their own music standards presented to their own children. If your child isn't allowed to listen to any of these songs on the radio, then the fact that kids are singing them doesn't make them magically appropriate. Parents should therefore screen the lyrics if they think they might have any objections. I would recommend this CD for kids ages 8-12, as kids within this age are just getting into the popular music scene and will find themselves able to relate to the kids singing because, hey, they're a kid too!

*Could not find professional review for this selection

The Higher Power of Lucky

Patron, S. (2007). The higher power of Lucky. New York: Listening Library.

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Audio Book/Chapter Book
Age Recommendation: 10 & Up
Awards: 2007 Newberry Medal Winner

Don't let Lucky's name be deceptive, for luck is not on her side. After losing her mother and being left by her father, Lucky took up residence in a trailor home in the dusty California town of Pan Handle - population 43. At the kindness of Brigitte, Lucky's father's first wife, Lucky is cared for and loved, yet lives in constant fear that Brigitte will one day abandon her for her homeland of France. A charming story, it is not the plot that makes this story but rather the characters. Each character is so full of quirks and has so many layers that you feel as if it's a real person. Lucky carries a survival kit around with her everywhere she goes, her hero is Charles Darwin, and she regularly listens in on Anonymous meetings for smokers, drinkers, and the like. It is from these meetings that lucky hears of people finding their "higher power," so naturally she goes in search of this "higher power" herself, and begins to unknowingly utilize the twelve step program to do so. Lucky's friend Miles is full of character as well. Like any five year-old, he's obsessed with cookies and Dr. Seuss's classic "Are You My Mother," and despite the fact that Lucky is so often mean to him, he loves being in her presence. After a later adventure centered around the two of them running away in order to achieve the step of "getting control of your life," one comes to better understand Lucky when she explains, "It's almost impossible to get control of your life when you're only ten. It's other people, adults, who have control of your life, because they can abandon you."

Had I read this book rather than listened to the audio book, I probably would have enjoyed it more. The narrator, Cassandra Campbell, had little variation in voices for the characters, if any at all, so I found it difficult to pay attention. In addition, since the book is more about character development than an actual plot, listening was also made more difficult. I would recommend this book for an older audience, ages ten and up, since it deals with more serious topics than are appropriate for younger children. Parents should be aware that the word scrotum is briefly mentioned and pondered on, and the topics of alcoholism and smoking are also touched on as Lucky listens in on the meetings. However, these topics were presented in an innocent manner and are probably not worth dwelling upon in light of the book as a whole. Overall, though, the Higher Power of Lucky is a quirky delight, in which children can explore the effect of family dynamics and friendship, and go in search of the "higher power" right alongside Lucky.

Kenney, B. (2007, March 6). "Lucky" is indeed worthy of attention [A review of the book The Higher Power of Lucky]. School Library Journal. Retrieved May 2, 2010 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/850000285/post/1360007336.html?q=the+higher+power+of+lucky.

Kenney doesn't go into much detail at all in his review of The Higher Power of Lucky. He wrote his review mainly in response to all of the controversy that apparently surrounded the use of the word "scrotum" within the book. Kenney refutes those that hold the position that book is yet another example of "social problems being crammed into a book for kids." In the end, Kenney finds that "Lucky’s quest for stability, and above all love, is deeply powerful and sure to resonate with readers of all ages." I can somewhat agree with Kenney's review, and think that the emotional tone of the book is what will impact children the most, yet I can't help but agree with the opposing view, because at times it did feel like social problems were just being crammed in. Overall, I found this review to be mediocre and in all honesty probably wouldn't have looked for the book after having read it.