J.K. Rowling¡¯s fifth book will be hitting the book stores in June of this year. But that¡¯s still 5 long months away for avid fantasy/adventure readers. So, in the meantime, I have found yet another great book filled with all kinds of magic, little people and excitement. "Summerland", by Michael Chabon, is about 11 year old Ethan who lives on an island off the west coast of Washington. Ethan is about to find another world that one may enter only on one part of this island. He soon discovers that he is being recruited to help 3 other worlds stay connected with our world. Naturally, evil forces are at work to sever these connections and once that¡¯s been done, not only will the connection be lost, but also will all civilization.
Mr. Chabon has woven a story of magic with a story of baseball. Ethan has always hated baseball but is continually forced to play because his dad loves it. But, now that he¡¯s entered a magical world where he¡¯s forced to help others in need, he realizes that he has talent, strength and resourcefulness that he never dreamed he had before. This now helps him when he plays yet another game. The story goes back and forth between the real world of living on Summerland and the magical world. He¡¯s not so sure about why he¡¯s being recruited to help these small "ferishers", feeling that he¡¯s not doing much to help, until he comes home to find his father has been kidnapped by the evil-no-do-gooders. Now, it¡¯s a completely different story! He will go through the most difficult world, Winterland, in order to find his father. There is nothing now that will stop him.
His good friend, and teammate, Jennifer T. Rideout, helps throughout his adventures. She brings a heroine element to the story that makes you appreciate her good wisdom and help throughout the story. The story builds as Ethan struggles to try to get through Winterland by building a dirigible prototype that his dad left behind. Baseball is another important element both in the real world and the magical world and Mr. Chabon has masterly entertwined both into the game. There are 500 pages in this adventure and I¡¯m willing to bet that once you begin the adventure that Ethan is about to take, you¡¯ll read every last page. Michael Chabon has a map of Summerland on the inside covers and you¡¯ll find yourself referring to it often. He is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay as well as other books. This is his first fantasy book for children and it is great reading for 10 years and older.
Now for some excellent books for the very young: "Good Night, Gorilla" by Peggy Rathmann, has received all kinds of great press and has been on USA¡¯s "Top 50" book list for many weeks. Once I got a hold of a copy, I could see why. This large board book is hilarious even though it¡¯s very simple and relatively short. The zoo keeper has just told Gorilla "good-night" while he walks away from gorilla¡¯s cage. But what you see is Gorilla taking the keys from his back pocket. As the zoo keeper goes around to all of the animals and, (I¡¯m assuming), checking their cages, he tells each "good-night." But as he does so, the gorilla, unbeknownst to the keeper, unlocks each of the animals. As the zoo keeper heads home, you see a line of wild animals following with Gorilla at the lead. The story gets even better from that point, but I¡¯ll leave it there for you to find out. I now know why this book has been so successful. Kids, and their parents, 2 to 4 will absolutely love it!
Illustrator, Bill Bolton and author, Christine Tagg, have combined their efforts to make some extraordinary pop-out books about bugs. These inventive books not only pop-out in the most unique ways, but the color explodes before your eyes. Pop-out books are almost too much of an enticement for youngsters because even though they love the images that jump out, they also want to touch them. That action usually ends with the pop-out picture not working anymore. So, I always like to forewarn parents that precautions need to made in order for the child and parent to enjoy the book. Here are some of the names of other books in this series, "When I¡¯m Big", "Toolbox Trouble", "Home Sweet Home", Mayday to the Rescue" and "Buzz off, I¡¯m busy!" These are great for 1 to 5 year olds.
St. Martin¡¯s Press has a new series for 2 - 5 year olds called "Smart Kids". These delightful board books are full of bright learning tools. "My Big Word Book" has over 1000 words and pictures. "Colors and Shapes" has flaps that lift, doors that slide and fabric to touch. "My big busy Body activity book has flaps, doors, fabric and more to learn about what is inside our body.