Animal Poems of the Iquazú

Francisco X. Alarcón

Illustr. Maya Christina Gonzalez

Ages 9-12

Hardcover, 32 pages

Children’s Book Press (Bilingual edition)

ISBN: 978-0892392254

$16.95

Buy the Book

Iguazú National Park, spanning parts of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, encompasses rainforests and waterfalls as well as a burgeoning population of beautiful plants and animals.

Acclaimed Chicano poet Francisco X. Alarcón, winner of the Jane Addams Award for Children’s Literature and the Pura Belpre Honor Award, clothes the rich wildlife of the Iguazú in a poetry that celebrates the ancestral spirit of the jaguarete (jaguar) as well as the here-and-now immediacy of the Golondrina Pardas (Great Dusky Swifts) who nest on the rocky cliffs behind the screens of waterfalls in these spectacular wild land.

Big, bright mixed-media art by Maya Christina Gonzalez takes us deep into the various worlds of the rainforest jungle. Eye to eye with toucan, coati, and jaguar, or watching the gleaming bodies of giant ants marching past, readers will love this book — rich poetic snapshots of a lush and rare place delivered on a vivid palette.

Awakening children to the living beauty of precious places such as the Iguazú is essential to passing on stewardship of these natural gems to the next generation.

As children, first we love, and then we seek to explore and understand. In this way we learn what matters to us in the world; we discover that we must protect what we cherish.

By sharing books like this one with children, we also share our admiration and love for the plants and animals of the rainforests. In this way we prepare them to understand and protect these irreplaceable places, and to teach their children to do the same.

The fact that this is a bilingual edition adds greatly to its value, pointing up the particular beauties of the Spanish language in tandem with the brilliant depictions of a wilderness nestled among three countries where this language, among others, is widely spoken. As a young student studying Spanish I would have loved this book, and no doubt students of Spanish worldwide will appreciate it, too.

See a video of Great Dusky Swifts swooping through the waterfalls of Iguazú National Park.

See a video of two playful birds in Iguazú National Park.

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and popular book projects. Also . . . Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (Getting Started series is FREE).A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect right brain creativity with your true intention.

Handstand Kids Mexican Cookbook

Yvette Garfield

Illustr. Kim DeRose

Recipe Editor: Cricket Azima

Winner TD Monthly Top Toy 2008

YouTube video

Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 52 pages

10.4 x 10.1 x 1.1 inches

(packaged with red, child-sized oven mitt)

Handstand Kids, LLC

ISBN: 978-0979210723

$28.00

Buy the set

The second in the Handstand Kids cookbook series (the first features Italian foods) and bearing an endorsement by Food Network’s celebrity Chef Aaron Sanchez, this kid-friendly Mexican cookbook had me at hello. I especially love Mexican cooking, and cooked with my son from the time he was old enough to lick the spoon up until the day he left home having mastered several of Mom’s recipes.

Young, aspiring cooks can look to the book’s Handstand Kid characters as friendly peer role models as they and their parents (help is required) navigate the pages of these fun and easy recipes. A great multicultural teaching tool, the book clearly illustrates common cooking utensils and ingredients and gives their names in both English and Spanish. Making full use of these pages, each recipe can provide a hands-on lesson in the language and culture of Mexico.

Recipes are given a helpful pictorial ranking of one to four avocados (sliced open, pit showing) based on their level of difficulty. A Level One Avocado recipe can be made by a child with very little help, and a Four-Avocado ranking means the child will need an adults help with the entire recipe. And the recipes — Tilapia fish tacos, Chicken tostadas, and more — yummy! Children will be thrilled to make and eat these healthful foods while learning from (and with) their grownups.

Full of recipes emphasizing healthful, fresh, whole foods, the cookbook comes with a bright red kid-sized, padded oven mitt — both packaged in a reusable, resealable tortilla bag. Green as well as good for you.

If all this wasn’t enough to make my earth-motherly mouth water, the book’s author, editors, and publisher encourage kids and parents to cook as a gift of love to others, or as a project to raise money for charitable causes. A page on the publisher’s website, Stir It Up, suggests a few worthy organizations.

Whether you give this book as a gift or enjoy it with your own family, you’ll be encouraging children to appreciate another culture and language, learn basic math skills necessary to cooking, eat nutritious foods, and to feed and help others. This one’s a winner in more ways than one!

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and popular book projects. Also . . . Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (Getting Started series is FREE).A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect right brain creativity with your true intention.

Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead

Judy Goldman

Illustr. René King Moreno

Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 32 pages

11.1 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches

Boyds Mills Press

$16.95

ISBN: 978-1590784259

Buy the book

As a longtime advocate of bilingual books for children, I’m always pleased to see a book in English that celebrates the customs and beliefs of non-English-speaking countries, using the words and linguistic flavor of that country’s language. This book does that admirably, with a couple of significant missed opportunities which end up distancing readers from an authentic feeling for the holiday that forms the context of this story: The Day of the Dead, or El Dia de los Muertos .

Having grown up in Texas where the delicious food and the colorful holidays, music, and dance of Mexico abounded, I was disappointed not to find in this book any depictions of calacas, the artful, often funny skeleton figurines central to many family altars on El Dia de los Muertos, which takes place on November 1st and 2nd. The natural place for illustrations of calacas and calaveras would have been with the essay, “Dia de Muertos,” where they are described. Both words are absent from the glossary. Within this essay, a calavera is defined as a humorous poem, but more commonly refers to the decorated sugar skulls that characterize the holiday.)

It seems a decision was made to keep the focus on Lupita’s story of her relationship with Uncle Monarch, and her discovery about death and loss. But the essay’s explanation that “Many Mexicans tends to see death differently from those in other countries or cultures,” indicates a sidestepping of responsibility on the part of author and editor. There is mention in the essay that families erect altars in their living rooms on this holiday, but such an altar is not depicted anywhere in the book. Such handling of “different seeing” deprives readers of an opportunity to have their views challenged and broadened by contact with the customs and beliefs of others – fertile ground for family and class discussions that might encourage tolerance and celebrate diversity. Rather than embracing the irony, humor, and even joy with which Mexicans remember and celebrate the departed, the book gives a somewhat sanitized and sweetened view of El Dia de los Muertos. Teachers and parents wanting to illuminate the holiday for children may wish to pair this book with others that reveal the festive atmosphere of this time of year in the countries celebrating it. Two such books are El Dia de Los Muertos: The Day of the Dead, from Scholastic’s Rookie Read-About Holidays series and Calavera Abecedario.

All that somewhat petulantly said, I appreciated the authentic portrayal of loss and learning at the heart of this book. Lupita’s grief at her Uncle Monarch’s death rings true, as does her lifting of spirit when she’s reminded of him by a glimpse of his namesake butterfly. (See my review of another picture book about understanding death and loss, Ocho Loved Flowers.)

The illustrations by Rene King Moreno have a soft, almost unfinished quality that evokes a loving sense of family and community, as well as suggesting that only a thin veil hangs between this world and the next.

A sweet story of love, loss, and the search for meaning through remembrance of those who are no longer with us.

See a video showing different people in Mexico erecting altars in honor of Dia de los Muertos.

See a video showing calaveras, brightly decorated sugar skulls, as well as the festive figurines called calacas:

(Note: the word calavera can also refer to a humorous verse written about the departed and often placed on the family altar or shrine during this holiday.)

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and popular book projects. Also . . . Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (Getting Started series is FREE).A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect right brain creativity with your true intention.

Siobhan Vivian

Illustr J. otto Seibold

Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 40 pages

11.1 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches

Chronicle Books

ISBN: 978-0811862714

$16.99

Buy the book

“Dagmar is not like other vampires. He’s shy, he’s afraid of humans, and . . . he’s a vegetarian!”

– from the jacket flap

When you turn to the first page of this uniquely charming Halloween-themed picture book, the reward is a spooky dark castle set classically atop a mountain, its pointy protuberances echoed by the forks of lightning poking out of black clouds. You can almost hear the thunderclaps and the organ music . . .

But on the very next page we see little Dagmar cutting up a carrot, his goblet filled with blood-red “Cherrie Juice” (the bottle sits nearby, conveniently labeled), and we quickly learn that this story features no ordinary vampire.

Vivid, punchy computer illustrations by J. otto Seibold, author of the new-ish Christmas classic Olive, the Other Reindeer, offer haunting scenes of fascinating and grisly detail that never goes over the top. Siobhan Vivian renders a kindly portrait of Dagmar that will make it easy and enjoyable for children to identify with this sensitive vampire who “for the first time since he was a baby” turns into a bat and flies away when his parents, fearing for his safety, forbid him to go out on Halloween.

I won’t ruin it for you, but Dagmar comes up with a costume that makes his vampire parents scream with fright. Everything’s ready, but then a terrible fate befalls his costume and Dagmar must go out as himself. More table-turning is in store as Dagmar makes friends with a ghost and has a blast collecting candy all night, only to discover that she is really a . . . horrors! Again, I refuse to spoil what’s tucked inside this picture book’s bright, crinkly wrapper.

Except for its hefty dose of candy worship, I loved this book with its goofy characters caught in a Halloween comedy of errors that takes place in a land that looks to be populated with vivid colors and skull-like faces reminiscent of the Dia de los Muertos.

Now, at a time when older children are so avidly embracing stories involving vampires, Vunce Upon a Time offers their younger counterparts a compassionate, approachable vampire who loves Halloween, friends, and candy just as much as they do. A fun read with plenty of plot twists that will keep young children interested and eagerly turning pages. Enjoy!

Check out activities based on Vunce Upon a Time at the Chronicle Books website:

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and popular book projects. Also . . . Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (Getting Started series is FREE).A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect right brain creativity with your true intention.

Divali Rose
Vashanti Rahaman
Illustr. Jamel Akib

Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 32 pages

11 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches

Boyds Mills Press

ISBN: 978-1590785249

$16.95

Buy the book

This sweet story of Divali (also Diwali), a holiday celebrated by millions of Hindus worldwide, features Ricki, who lives in Trinidad. His grandfather is eagerly anticipating the blooms on his Divali-colored rosebushes, and Ricki is eager to see what “Divali color” will be. When he accidentally snaps off one of the precious buds, he is faced with a difficult decision. As his grandfather begins blaming the neighbors for the “theft,” Ricki summons the courage to confess his mistake. In the process, the once-suspected neighbors become potential friends.

A theme of cultural origins, pride, and prejudice runs through this simple picture book text. While the grandfather reveres his ancestors, who came to Trinidad from India generations ago, he is suspicious of the “not real Indians” who have just arrived – their new neighbors. In brief, masterfully written dialogue, Rahaman successfully captures some of the nuances of Trinidadian English in his characters’ dialogue. His main character, Ricki, sees (and suggests to his grandfather) how these “new Indians” are courageous in the same way that their Indian ancestors were. This book could spark interesting school classroom as well as home discussions about diversity, suspicion and blame, cultural ancestry, and forgiveness.

Jamel Akib’s painterly pastel illustrations feature expressive close-ups and neighborhood scenes that give the reader a quick trip to Trinidad.

So much to recommend in this book! This warm story includes a one-page discussion at back of Divali, the Festival of Lights, as well as the Trinidad Indians and their particular English dialect.

Adults and children alike love learning about different faiths and traditions.

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Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and popular book projects. Also . . . Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (Getting Started series is FREE).A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect right brain creativity with your true intention.

The White Nights of Ramadan

Maha Addasi

Illustr. Ned Gannon

Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 32 pages

11 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches

Boyds Mills Press

ISBN: 978-1590785232

$16.95
Buy the book

“Look out the window!” Noor said. “The moon is almost full. The middle of Ramadan will soon be here.”

“And Girgian!” said Sam.

“Yes, and Girgian,” said Noor.

In this lovely book, the passage above displays the effortless immediacy of Maha Addasi’s characterization of older and younger siblings using simple dialogue. Older sister Noor is excited about the upcoming festival marked by the full moon (called Girgian in Kuwait) which occurs in the middle of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. But when younger brother Sam’s answer “Yes, and Girgian!” gives away that he’s getting keyed up about collecting candy, Noor answers him in a calmer, measured tone. It is a short passage that does its important work quickly and elegantly.

The Girgian festival involves children in traditional dress going from door to door with decorated bags slung over their shoulders to collect candies, as well as spending time with family and giving to the poor. Grownups will appreciate the opportunity to illuminate Muslim faith and culture for children familiar with the costume-donning and candy-seeking of Halloween.

Some explanation will be necessary for children unfamiliar with Ramadan. For example, some children may wonder why Noor “knew she had to keep busy until sunset” and why, knowing this, she chooses to read the Koran and pray as she kneels upon a rug. Arabic words pepper the text as well, giving teachers, parents, and librarians an opportunity to point up the usefulness of a glossary (Unfortunately, the glossary is printed on a dark background which makes it extremely difficult to read, but the definitions, if read aloud, are well-written and likely to spark a wide variety of useful discussions).

I enjoyed this book not only for its educational value to those seeking to help children understand Ramadan, but especially for its emphasis on the holiday’s emphasis on charitable giving to those less fortunate. Over the years I’ve noticed a surprising dearth of stories encouraging children in the virtue and joy of giving. This one is magnificently painted with intimate evening scenes of a Muslim household and neighborhood which contain themes common to many children: playing with siblings, cooking and sharing a meal, visiting neighbors, and going to church or temple.

The paintings by Ned Gannon ( The Man and the Vine, Evan Early ) appear touched with moonlight. Their mostly warm, earthy palette calls out the connection between the family’s brightly colored and white clothing and the brilliant full moon of Ramadan. With its many double spreads, this big, beautiful book is perfect for reading to children in a group setting.

Night of the Moon

Hena Khan

Illustr. Julie Paschkis

Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 32 pages

11 x 8.1 x 0.2 inches

Chronicle Books

ISBN: 978-0811860628

$16.99

Buy the book

This beautiful and educational book, Night of the Moon, depicts the Muslim holy month of Ramadan from the viewpoint of Yasmeen and Bilal, two Islamic children growing up in the U.S.

Night of the Moon poetically introduces children to the phases of the moon as well as to the way in which this holiday is celebrated by many Islamic Americans. The mother in this story, though clearly a devout observant Muslim, doesn’t wear the traditional hijab, or head covering. (In White Nights, Noor’s mother and grandmother wear head coverings on Girgian night, though at family meals only the grandmother’s head is covered).

The book celebrates the delicious foods the family enjoys when the fast is broken, and the happy feeling of community when families gather in the mosque and in the local community center. The story culminates with the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, which falls on the day after Ramadan ends. This book would make a lovely focal point for a group lesson in the foods and culture of Islamic countries.

Facing the last page of the story, where we read Yasmeen’s touching whisper of “Subhanallah” (”Glory to God”) beneath a big silver crescent moon, readers find on the facing page author’s notes that include a well-written background lesson on the importance of the moon to Muslims, who honor a lunar calendar, as well as information about the meaning of Ramadan. The glossary on this page further elucidates details appearing in the story, such as henna and Eidee.

In contrast to the realistic paintings of White Nights of Ramadan, this is a more stylized picture book. The paintings are inspired by Islamic tile art, rendered in bright jewel colors by the accomplished Julie Paschkis (illustrator of, among other works for children, Yellow Elephant and Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal).

Under the Ramadan Moon

Sylvia Whitman

Illustr. Sue Williams

Ages 4-8

Hardcover, 24 pages

10.1 x 8 x 0.5 inches

Albert Whitman & Company

ISBN: 978-0807583043

$15.99

Buy the book

We wait for the moon. We watch for the moon. We watch for the Ramadan moon.

We give to the poor, and read Qur’an, under the moon.

We live our faith, until next year under the moon, under the moon, under the Ramadan moon.

A third viewpoint on Ramadan is presented in the simple poem that graces this colorful picture book. We follow an American Muslim family through the devotional prayers, activities, foods, and deep meaning of this most important of Muslim holidays. Firelight, lamplight, lantern light, and plenty of moonlight evoke the spiritual depth of this tradition which binds families and the greater Muslim community through fasting and prayer, giving and gratitude.

Silvia Whitman’s one-page essay on Ramadan at the back of this book is clearly and personally written in modern language that children and adults of all faiths will find easy to read and understand.

Charming, magical illustrations by Sue Williams depict the innocence, devotion, love, and generosity of an American family’s observance of Ramadan.

Adults and children alike love learning about different faiths and traditions.

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Amazing Wonders Collection: Tyrannosaur!

Monty Fitzgibbon, Clint Twist
Illustr. Diz Wallis

Ages 6-10
Hardcover, 16 pages
11.7 x 11.6 x 1 inches

Candlewick Press
ISBN-13: 978-0763635503
$19.99

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Edited and augmented, this extraordinary “book and toy” product chronicles the amateur fossil-hunting adventures of Monty Fitzgibbon, a native of Scotland who studied veterinary medicine in England and then joined the army, serving in Newfoundland from 1902 to 1908 when he was declared missing.

This book is Mr. Fitzgibbon’s record of his travels to the American Rockies where he made a successful bid to become an assistant to Barnum Brown, a celebrated paleontologist who — by the time our hero caught up with the expedition — was knee-deep in dinosaur bones of spectacular importance: the fossilized skeletal remains of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Fortunately for us readers of this recently located (in 2005), never-before-published manuscript, “Monty” was not only especially adept at describing his adventures during his unauathorized absence from the British military, but was also an especially gifted artist. His drawings, together with Diz Wallis’ exquisitely made color plates of Tyrannosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Allosaurus, Ceratosaurus, and Coelophysis, paint a full and vibrant picture not only of the early 1900s during which these exciting fossil discoveries took place, but also the ancient worlds of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.

Although this great-looking, well-packaged set is recommended for ages 6-10, I’m hard-pressed to imagine the 6- or 7-year-old whose attention would be held by the book’s documentary nature or the archaic diction and syntax wielded by its original writer. That said, dinosaur enthusiasts well beyond 10 years are likely to enjoy putting together their very own substantial model of the Tyrannosaur, made of sturdy paperboard wrapped in Mr. Wallis’ detailed color artwork. Younger children will need assistance. The finished T. Rex model, which stands 16″ tall and 26″ from nose to tail, is destined to become a prized artifact for many a young person, and easily passes the “impress your friends” test.

Tyrannosaurus Rex coloring pages

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and popular book projects. Also . . . Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (Getting Started series is FREE).A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect right brain creativity with your true intention.

Ages 9-12
Hardcover, 128 pages
Full color throughout

Candlewick
ISBN-13: 978-0763636678
$15.99
Buy the book

Our story opens as Lizzie has gotten herself ready for school in a flurry of activity. As she wakes and attempts to get her dream-daft father to relinquish his PJs and comb his hair, we learn that Dad has taken to eating bugs and worms while creating a set of wings so as to enter the Human Bird Competition. I cannot say much more without spoiling, but it will suffice for readers to know that what seems at first either a tale of the absurd or a mental health disaster in the making quickly takes on depth and compassion when we learn that loss has touched these two, and Dad’s oddness is understandable. A cast of supporting characters keeps things light, as Auntie Doreen bustles in grumpily with helpful home cooking, Mr. Poop officiates grandiosely over the contest, and Lizzie’s headmaster falls head over heels in at least three ways.

On its face it is a tale of relentless silliness. Author Almond’s energetic dialogue with its wildly nutty moments (”Blitheration!” “Oh, puddly pittlepot.”) offers the option of a merely light read. For those looking deeper, however, the story suggests that allowing your feet to leave the ground for the realm of dreams and imagination can help us navigate the dark times. Together Lizzie and her Dad, the birdman, throw themselves crazily into life both because of and in spite of their loss, in the process rediscovering their faith in and love for themselves and each other.

It would be tough to imagine a finer visual interpretation of this new novel for young readers by writer David Almond, winner of a Carnegie Medal and a Michael L. Printz Award, than the wide-eyed, spindly-legged, lighter-than-air mixed-media characters of Polly Dunbar. This is a feast of a book. Its subtle messages of hope, patience, kindness, and compassion miraculously penetrate the package in which they arrive: a goofy romp about flying and faith and hope, that famous “thing with feathers.” Dive in!

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and recent book projects here. Get expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (”Getting Started” series is FREE).

A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect your right brain creativity with your true intention.

Ages 8-12
Hardcover, 176 pages
7.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches

HarperCollins
ISBN-13: 978-0061448799
$10.99
Buy the book

“A string of daring burglaries has taken place in Big City, and precious lapdogs are disappearing. Who is behind this crime wave?”

In the first book of this series (winner of the Nestle Children’s Book Prize and The Red House Children’s Book Award) Chris Riddell, distinguished co-creator of The Edge Chronicles, once again makes delightful use of his trademark blend of graphic conventions and witty storytelling. Ottoline’s world is populated with oddbodies and thingamajigs. When she is not dusting her parents’ four-spouted teapot collection or brushing the head-to-toe hair of her close companion Mr. Munrose, she is making astute observations as to the day’s events or hatching clever plans which she dutifully records in her notebook.

Her parents, at turns out, are traveling abroad, leaving Ottoline in the able care of Mr. Munroe and a team of professional home-tidiers, pillow-plumpers, and home-cooked meal providers. Dutiful writers of affectionate postcards which we read over Ottoline’s shoulder throughout the book, her parents have the laudable habits of sabotaging the efforts of butterfly collectors in the jungle, and bringing home rare hats and masks from exotic lands.

Knowing all this will not in the least spoil the story, for readers of Ottoline and the Yellow Cat must still discover the trouble in Big City, as Ottoline and Mr. Munroe collaborate to solve the mystery surrounding the cat in question. Also remaining to be settled: the true identity of an uninvited guest holed up in the basement of the P.W. Huffledinck Tower.

And oh yes, in case you were worried — by page 170, Ottoline’s loving parents are on their way home to their daughter.

A delightful read!

Also highly recommended: Ottoline Goes to School

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and recent book projects here. Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (”Getting Started” series is FREE).

A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect your right brain creativity with your true intention.

Ages 9-12
Hardcover,160 pages

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1416939771
$15.99
Buy the book

“What do you do when your new best buddy has been designated a scourge by the community and marked for imminent extermination?”

The star of this very enjoyable new fairy tale is young book lover Kenny Rabbit, son of an excitable farmer and his much calmer wife. Kenny’s short on friends who “get him” until he meets and befriends the You Know What whose name is “Grahame like the cracker.” It’s not long before the other townfolk discover Grahame, too, and react predictably. When Kenny learns that his other best friend George a bookstore owner and former dragon-killing knight is coming out of retirement at the King’s request, Kenny must find a way to stop the madness.

The book’s greatest strength is Kenny’s authentic characterization, ably accomplished with flourishes of emotional description and snippets of dramatic detail that show us he is a true, as well as quite literate, hero with the heart of a regular kid. At times, however, the descriptive passages read like the well-worn territory of an animated Disney screenplay. If this aspect of the writing irked me slightly, its bouts of whimsical musicality (who could resist a chapter title like “Kerfuffle Down in Roundbrook”?) together with the superb illustrations of Kenny’s world, eclipsed any shortcomings.

The dragon Grahame is a uniquely furry, flop-eared fellow with a Cheshire Cat-like grin and a high degree of gustatory sophistication. There’s a Wind in the Willows classicism about Riddell’s cast of animal characters — rabbits, badgers, a bushy-tailed squirrel, a porcupine, and the occasional turtle or toad, often garbed in waistcoats and hats. Kenny gets around on a 1920s two-wheeler with a gigantic front wheel. Despite its period sets and costumes, our leading man Kenny’s slightly nerdy looks make him both an individual and an Everykid — a shy, bike-riding, good-natured guy who does his homework. On his fearless quest to confront the dragon, Kenny wears a saucepan helmet — the very picture of earnest innocence.

Lovers of great illustration will be compelled to buy this book at first glimpse of the brilliant cover illustration alone. The unlikely pair — rabbit and dragon — reveal a pleasing resemblance, set at eye level by the height of Kenny’s comical high-seated two-wheeler. The story’s a good read, but it was the yumminess of DiTerlizzi’s pencil illustrations that won my heart and mind.

Readers will appreciate Kenny & the Dragon, a modern send-up of the legend of St. George and the Dragon, for its humor as well as its sincere respect for the genre of the fairy tale, complete with an object lesson on the folly of harboring expectations based on what’s printed in books or whispered in hallways.

Also available as an audiobook download or CD.

Ceci Miller owns CeciBooks, an editorial and book publishing consultancy that empowers authors to write, publish, and market irresistible books that uplift and inspire. Ceci has written, co-authored, and edited books with bestselling authors and experts since 1988. See new and recent book projects here. Find expert information on writing, publishing, and marketing a book in CeciBooks Chats (”Getting Started” series is FREE).

A graduate of the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, Ceci Miller is also the author of two published children’s picture books, and former contributing editor for Darshan, an international magazine. A student of yoga and meditation since 1976, Ceci leads seminars that explore language as a vehicle for personal transformation. Based on her book Sacred Visitations, and the popular book she co-authored with John Lee, Writing from the Body, Ceci’s work (both with CeciBooks authors and in public programs) blends writing, intuitive guidance, and contemplative practices that connect your right brain creativity with your true intention.