“Business Book Reviews - Time” plus 3 more |
- Business Book Reviews - Time
- Business book reviews - Dallas Morning News
- Yahoo Re-freshens Entertainment Debuts App For iPad - ebrandz.com
- Children's Book Reviews - Publishers Weekly
| Posted: 06 Apr 2010 05:02 AM PDT The End of Wall Street Roger Lowenstein (Penguin Press; 339 pages) If a novelist lined up as many dramatic events as the author does here, his work would be blasted as contrived. Lowenstein, a magnificent business writer, creates an almost novelistic accounting of the all-too-real 2008 financial collapse. The book opens in late summer: Lehman Brothers is a hairbreadth away from collapse, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have been taken over by the feds, and AIG is veering toward disaster. After several decades of laissez-faire regulation, Wall Street is crying out to be rescued by the government. The irony is overpowering, says Lowenstein. "Less than a generation after the fall of the Berlin Wall, when prevailing orthodoxy held that the free market could govern itself, and when financial regulation seemed destined for near irrelevancy, the United States was compelled to socialize lending and mortgage risk, and even the ownership of banks, on a scale that would have made Lenin smile." Lowenstein is terrific at walking the reader through complex economic events, and he artfully traces the development of the subprime-mortgage disaster. It sounds like a lofty ideal when Angelo Mozilo, a co-founder of Countrywide, says in a speech in 2003, "Expanding the American dream of homeownership must continue to be our mission, not solely for the purpose of benefiting corporate America, but more importantly, to make our country a better place." Countrywide and others made mortgages available to anyone with a pulse, aided and abetted by Wall Street, which created the market for exotic mortgage derivatives. By 2008, "banks and investors had plied the average American with mortgage debt on such speculative and unthinking terms that not just America's economy but the world's economy ultimately capsized." Lowenstein has a pitch-perfect sense of the Street's monumental recklessness. The chorus line of overpaid bad actors in this book is endless. Held out for particular scorn is Lehman CEO Richard Fuld, who has "the daring of a gambler who believes, deep down, that he will always be able to play the last card." Maybe he did, yet as the book impressively shows, Fuld lost. We all did. THE BOTTOM LINE: Is anyone in charge here? Wall Street as we knew it failed and needs a reboot. The Lords of Strategy: The Secret Intellectual History of the New Corporate World Walter Kiechel III (Harvard Business; 347 pages) Kiechel, a former managing editor of FORTUNE, hails the rise of strategy, saying it has eclipsed "any other change worked in the intellectual landscape of business over the past 50 years." The "lords" are Bruce Henderson of BCG, Bill Bain of Bain & Co., Fred Gluck of McKinsey and Michael Porter of Harvard Business School. He traces their quest to understand how companies gain competitive advantage. The strategy revolution, Kiechel writes, "features a rowdy parade of ideas and analytical techniques jostling each other down the historical road." THE BOTTOM LINE: Who says that business is anti-intellectual? Thank You for Firing Me! How to Catch the Next Wave of Success After You Lose Your Job Kitty Martini and Candice Reed (Sterling; 232 pages) Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Business book reviews - Dallas Morning News Posted: 05 Apr 2010 05:24 AM PDT
Getting Organized in the Google Era
Douglas Merrill and James Martin (Broadway Books, $23)
In a work world where everyone multitasks, why has individual productivity dropped? Because multitasking makes us inefficient. When working on tasks that require thinking, we can focus on only one thing at a time. When you shift back and forth between projects A and B, it takes time (which means lost productivity) to regain focus. We can't hold more than nine scraps of information in short-term memory. The more information we try to retain short-term, the less information we transfer to long-term memory. So how do we increase productivity? Break down tasks into components and set aside blocks of time to work on each. Share tasks with others; build a team to take advantage of individual strengths. Develop a list of written goals and priorities. Create a written "things to remember" list so you don't have to rely on short-term memory. Quit relying on paper. Use your e-mail queue, online storage (getdropbox.com) and things to remember/do (culturecode.com/things) to filter and organize information.
Balance Is a Crock, Sleep Is for the Weak
Amy Eschliman and Leigh Oshirak (Avery, $16)
You'll laugh at this book's on-the-job/motherhood stories, but the authors' humor drives home serious points. Part I, the Pollyanna Period, includes advice about how and when to tell your boss that you're having a child. Be clear about plans for maternity leave and your return to work. During the course of the pregnancy, keep the boss informed of any health issues that may affect your work schedule. Part II deals with child care choices. The authors provide a list of questions to discuss with your spouse or partner. Part III, the Crash, deals with the return to work. Don't ignore crash warning signs such as anxiety, compulsive behavior, guilt over not being with your child and mood swings. Talk to people you trust and create a routine that reduces stress. Visit theofficemoms.com for more insight.
Jim Pawlak reviews business books for The Dallas Morning News.
bizbooks@hotmail.com
Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Yahoo Re-freshens Entertainment Debuts App For iPad - ebrandz.com Posted: 06 Apr 2010 07:46 AM PDT
The app delivers consumers with a fancy experience for the way they live, consume and enjoy content. The app is bundled with appealing percepts, Yahoo Entertainment will provides you TV schedules, movie and book reviews, news, and other original video content, making the app a good companion whether users are sitting on their couches or out and about in the world.
Yahoo Entertainment, which is a free download, seems to take advantage of the powerful capabilities of the iPad for producing interactive and personal experiences fully employing the iPad's multi-touch feature and geo-tracking functionality for pinpointing consumers' locations in delivering relevant, local televisions listings and content. The Yahoo Entertainment App for the iPad also features both portrait and landscape displays. Yahoo senior vice president of Integrated Consumer Experiences said: "Devices like the iPad allow Yahoo! to create new experiences and expand the art of what is possible in the eyes of consumers. Just like we did with Connected TV and mobile, we successfully re-freshened the consumer experiences for an entirely new application. Yahoo! Entertainment for iPad is simply amazing. The combination of compelling and engaging content coupled with unique design and innovation, provides consumers with an unparalleled Web experience." Key features of the Yahoo Entertainment app for the iPad include:
The real-time TV program guide provides you the local line-up for your service provider and the app displays your favorite shows. You will have the options to sort by genres or categories and filter shows by time, day, or channel.
The video section boasts news channels of all kinds, including sports, business, entertainment, and current affairs. You will also get weather forecasts and access to original Yahoo programming such as Tech Ticker, Primetime in No Time, and Daytime in No Time. This release manifests the future direction of Internet design and is another example of Yahoo!'s continued commitment to delivering cutting-edge, innovative and personally relevant experiences. It is the first of many engaging experiences being developed by Yahoo! for iPad. Yahoo Entertainment is available now on the App Store, and is compatible with an iPad running iPhone OS 3.2 or later. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Children's Book Reviews - Publishers Weekly Posted: 05 Apr 2010 06:07 AM PDT -- Publishers Weekly, 4/5/2010 12:00:00 AM
Picture Books
Consistently in step with newcomer Craig's toe-tapping narrative, Brown's cut-paper collages herald a fresh direction for his artwork. Recalling the simple yet sophisticated collage art of Leo Lionni (to whom Brown dedicates the book) and Eric Carle, the pictures introduce a cheerful menagerie of animals composed of basic shapes cut from hand-painted papers in an array of colors, textures, and patterns that recall everything from corrugated cardboard to exotic grasses. Celebrating movement and sound, the guessing-game story hints at the identity of each creature, initially seen retreating from the page, leaving footprints behind. Spontaneous, onomatopoeic verses ask questions that are answered with a page turn: "Tippity! Tippity!/ Little black feet!/ Who is dancing that tippity beat?" leads into a spread that reveals ladybugs cavorting among leaves and dappled orange flowers. An elephant's beat is "stompity," ducks' is "slappity," a caterpillar's is "creepity," and a bear's is "thumpity." In a satisfying finale, kids wearing clothing that mimics the appearance of the various animals demonstrate their own dancing feet. Fluid repetition and snappy rhythm make this a natural for reading aloud—noisily. Ages 1–4. (May) Zoomer Ned Young. Harper, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-170088-0 Young's debut picture book features a lively puppy who insists he's "way too busy" to get ready for school, much to the frustration of his father (mom's away) and brothers. Although the text provides a routine description of ordinary family life, Young inserts fanciful visual illustrations of birds bowling in the treetops and pelicans appearing out of nowhere, making it clear that Zoomer's world is one in which just about anything can happen. Zoomer shows off his artistic talents by sculpting first an ornate dog food castle, then an enormous brontosaurus in the sandbox. Even more surreal, he sails a pirate ship on a sea created by a garden hose, transforms the sofa into an elephant, and crashes his spaceship through the roof of the house. Young's exuberant illustrations are the clear focal point—Zoomer's siblings and father are flat characters with generic dialogue ("I think that kid needs a major time-out," complains one). Even the exclamation points are overdone as Zoomer gets the last laugh, reminding his family that he doesn't have to go to school because "TODAY IS... SATURDAY!!!!" Ages 3–7. (May) Sky-High Guy Nina Crews. Holt/Ottaviano, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8050-8764-2 In this companion to Below, Jack and his beloved action figure, Guy, embark on several mild imaginary adventures, given a visual boost by the author's digitally manipulated photos. A bookcase framed by tropical vegetation becomes "a magical island to hunt dinosaurs," and in a comic book–style spread (complete with whoosh! and zoom! sound effects) they save a city from aliens, as Jack makes a caped Guy fly around computer-generated urban backdrops. Guy dons a makeshift parachute for his final escapade—skydiving. After Jack tosses Guy in the air a few times, Guy gets stuck in a tree, and the boy enlists the help of his younger brother to retrieve him. White line drawings are superimposed on photos in several spreads, reflecting the boys' fears about what fate might befall Guy ("It could rain or snow. Wild animals could bother him"). Although this story about an action figure is perhaps a little short on action, Crews remains able to capture the way that the most everyday of locations—a patch of carpet, a brick path—are ample fodder for children's imaginations. Ages 3–7. (Apr.) Nabeel's New Pants: An Eid Tale Retold by Fawzia Gilani-Williams, illus. by Proiti Roy. Marshall Cavendish, $15.99 (24p) ISBN 978-0-7614-5629-2 In this sweet, O. Henry–like story, a cobbler who is always thinking of others has only one favor to ask: that somebody take just a little time out from Eid preparations to hem his new pants—which are "four fingers too long," as the book's refrain puts it—so he can wear them to the celebration (the Muslim holiday, and other Arabic words sprinkled throughout the text, are defined in the book's glossary). When it finally dawns on his wife, daughter, and mother how fortunate they are to have the generous, even-tempered Nabeel in their lives, each one in turn takes up a needle and thread—leaving the ever-patient Nabeel with the equivalent of capris. Gilani-Williams's (The Lost Ring) storytelling is brisk and cheery, and any child who has felt relegated to the fringes of a busy, holiday-obsessed household should identify with Nabeel's comic plight. While Roy's (What Should I Make?) crisp ink and paint cartoons don't offer much of a sense of place or culture, her focus on universally domestic details should ensure a broad appeal. Ages 3–7. (Apr.) Christian, the Hugging Lion Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illus. by Amy June Bates. Simon & Schuster, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4169-8662-1 Richardson and Parnell, the writing team behind And Tango Makes Three, turn to another heartwarming real-life animal story in this retelling, the second picture book to star Christian, following 2009's Christian the Lion. In subtly evocative prose, the authors emphasize storytelling as they hit the major plot points of the now familiar story: Ace and John's discovery of the lion cub in a cage at Harrods, Christian's adventures and growing pains in London ("Christian became a very well-behaved little cub. Most of the time"), the eventual delivery of the lion to Kenya, and the trio's climactic reunion when Ace and John return to find Christian grown-up and with cubs of his own. With a dramatic leap, Christian rejoins his friends in a jubilant embrace that fills an entire wordless spread. Playing off the understated text to humorous effect, Bates (Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight) contributes balmy watercolor, gouache, and pencil illustrations that highlight Christian's playfulness, as he sprawls out on Ace and John's sofa or gives "clumsy" hugs at the pub. It's a tender and particularly kid-friendly version of Christian's story. Ages 4–8. (Apr.) Mama, Is It Summer Yet? Nikki McClure. Abrams, $17.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8109-8468-4 In a world of full-color picture books, black and white illustrations have to work a little harder to get noticed. Yet as in her previous book, Cynthia Rylant's All in a Day, McClure's cut-paper scenes do more than just support the story; they form its heart. In contrast to the sweet domesticity of the writing ("Mama, is it summer yet? Not yet, my little one. But the buds are swelling. Soon new leaves will unfold"), the bold outlines of the images convey strength. The substantial yet delicate lines that outline the figures and objects possess a visual rhythm, creating forms that repeat or echo (a ball of twine recalls a tree branch, swallows' heavily stylized tails mimic ripples in a pond). Set against pale yellow and accented with other cheery colors, idyllic scenes unfold as summer approaches: mother and son gather sticks for a shelter (while a squirrel steals their twine), craft a wind sock, and put on rubber boots and go canoeing. When summer finally comes, readers will rejoice with the boy. McClure's deceptively simple work carries unexpected visual force and real pleasure. Ages 4–up. (May)
In this loving record of the Midwest farm community in which he lives, Geisert (Hogwash) memorializes a way of life that has dwindled to a small population of stalwarts. Pastoral charm is not Geisert's aim; eschewing apples and aprons, he begins with "A is for ammonia fertilizer." His finely worked etchings, colored in muted shades, sweep across a sprawl of fields and roads, from a sandy gully being filled in by backhoe ("E is for erosion") to a boarded-up schoolhouse at the top of a rise ("U is for uphill"), its schoolyard occupied by sheep (the book's sly glossary defines uphill as "where the schoolhouse used to be located. Both ways, of course"). Each spread shows a single farm scene, while along the bottom a continuous scroll of country road runs through the farm year, from planting to harvest to deep snowfall. Much visual information about farming is provided for lovers of tractors and farm animals, but it's more than a simple picture book; it's a deeply personal account, down to the list of thank-yous on the book's final pages, to the owners whose farms he's drawn. Ages 5–8. (May) Dino-Baseball Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Barry Gott. Carolrhoda, $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7613-4429-2 Wheeler and Gott already proved they have a winning formula with Dino-Hockey (2007) and Dino-Soccer (2009), and there's plenty for dinosaur/sports fanatics to enjoy in this latest installment (the final page hints at a basketball follow-up). It's a beautiful day in Jurassic Park (ballpark, that is), and the herbivores and carnivores are taking the field for the season's final game. The crowd is enthusiastic—and similarly extinct. Wheeler's sturdy, concise couplets provide a nicely percussive play-by-play: "Stego rumbles down the line./ Compy calls, 'This one is mine!'/ Gloves the ball. Throws him out./ That's what baseball's all about!" (The dinosaurs' nicknames are set in contrasting type; a list of their full names can be found in team rosters displayed on the Jumbotron on the first page). Gott nails the drama of high-stakes game with a series of skewed perspectives and never overplays the comedy—his dinosaurs, with their imposing heft and improbably balletic grace, are more than capable of conveying the sublime absurdity of it all. Ages 5–9. (Apr.) FictionThe Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams Rhonda Hayter. Dial, $16.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-8037-3468-5 Debut author Hayter tells the slapstick story of fifth-grader Abbie Adams, a modern-day witch who can zap back to the Constitutional Convention for research or morph herself into a fencepost to spy on her parents. Abbie's family also has amusing magical traits: her unruly younger brother likes to turn himself into different animals; her father, who is seeking a cure for "Witch Flu," tends to emit pink smoke from his ears; and Abbie's mother can dab a "refresher spell" on everyone when they get tired. As Abbie struggles to hide her abilities from the world, an oddly literate kitten shows up, who turns out to be a bewitched young Thomas Edison. Readers might enjoy imagining life as a witch—the family zaps to Hawaii for a day of surfing and snorkeling—but Abbie's rambling, super-peppy narration can be tiresome: "I happen to love drama club because, as I might have mentioned, my aunt Sophie is an actress and I want to be one too (when I grow up)." And there's little satisfaction when Abbie's problems can usually be solved with a quick zap. Ages 8–12. (Apr.) Dark Life Kat Falls. Scholastic Press, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-545-17814-3 It's not "Go West, young man," but "Go Deep," in this action-packed aquatic adventure by newcomer Falls. Years after climate changes have devastated the Earth's surface, the new frontier is underwater, where rugged individualists have carved out lives on the ocean floor. "The Topsiders clung to the chunks of oversea land that were still left, and they didn't understand why we weren't clinging, too," says 15-year-old narrator Ty, part of the first generation born and bred in the so-called Dark Life. When he meets Gemma, a Topsider girl searching for her lost brother among the prospectors and toughs of the region, Ty feels obligated to protect her, especially when they run afoul of the Seablite Gang, pirates who've been preying on local settlers. In their struggle for survival, Ty and Gemma learn the fate of her brother and uncover long-hidden secrets regarding the Deep Life. Though the science and future history are only lightly explored, there's no denying the nifty premise, solid characterization, and tense moments that contribute to a cinematic reading experience. Falls's undersea world warrants further exploration. Ages 9–12. (May) Flight of the Outcast Brad Strickland. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $12.99 paper (224p) ISBN 978-1-4022-3821-5 Strickland (Mars Year One) attempts to capture the spirit of the classic Heinlein juveniles with this first book in the Academy series. After an attack by space raiders, 13-year-old Asteria Locke is taken in by a colony of repressive religious fanatics. Using her dead cousin's papers, she escapes and enrolls in the Royal Space Fleet Academy, soon learning that commoners like herself and her best friend Dai are often at the mercy of "Aristos," like the bullying, cheating Mastral Kayser. Asteria's struggles against her newfound nemesis and her experiences over her first year of school follow a largely predictable pattern, with early struggles eventually earning grudging respect. She's helped by the mysterious belt she finds among her father's possessions, which enhances her fighting and flying skills. Hanging over all of this is not only her father's death but the resentment among some Aristos over her father's heroic actions during a space battle. Strickland crams a lot into the book—clumsy exposition bogs down early chapters—and while the pace picks up, the story doesn't offer much to distinguish itself. Ages 9–12. (Apr.) Raven Speak Diane Lee Wilson. S&S/McElderry, $16 (256p) ISBN 978-1-4169-8653-9 Asa's Viking clan is suffering from a winter that seems never-ending, her mother has fallen ill, and her father—the head of the clan—has set sail in a desperate quest for food. But in his absence, the clan's evil skald (storyteller), Jorgen, plots a takeover. Fourteen-year-old Asa escapes in the middle of the night, meeting a strange old woman named Wenda, who talks to pet ravens and helps Asa prepare to return to the clan, both to fight Jorgen and find a way for them all to survive. Multiple perspectives, including Jorgen's, round out Wilson's (Firehorse) tale, making both Asa and the secondary characters emerge as fully developed characters—even her horse, Rune, becomes an important player, thick with personality. Although the story takes place over just a few days, Asa matures tremendously, becoming someone capable of sacrificing greatly for the good of her people. Outside of some references to Odin and draugrs, not much places the story as explicitly "Viking," but the strength of the storytelling should keep readers rapt through the brutal but satisfying conclusion. Ages 10–14. (Apr.) Year of the Tiger Alison Lloyd. Holiday House, $16.95 (208p) ISBN 978-0-8234-2277-7 Hu and his family live an impoverished but peaceful life in the town of Beicheng until Magistrate Ding orders the Great Wall to be repaired, and Commander Zheng and his son Ren are brought in from the capital along with a battalion. The commander organizes an archery competition, drawing the interest of Hu and Ren, who practice together (Hu needs a bow and Ren badly wants to impress his father). But as Hu's father is drafted to work on the wall and their family is forced out of their home, Hu grows resentful of Ren ("We do all the real work. Without us, you nobles are nothing"). The situation worsens when Hu's father is wrongly accused of stealing grain, and he and Hu are sentenced to three years of hard labor, leaving it to Ren to discover the truth, expose the thief, and save his friend. By alternating between Hu and Ren's perspectives, debut author Lloyd illuminates the issue of class divide—the dangers Hu and his family face are as apparent as the strictures of Ren's privileged life. Ages 10–up. (Apr.) Sources of Light Margaret McMullan. Houghton Mifflin, $15 (240p) ISBN 978-0-547-07659-1 This historical novel set in 1962 Mississippi spotlights the tensions of the early civil rights movement through the evolution of 14-year-old Sam, a former army brat transplanted to her recently deceased father's home state when her mother accepts a teaching job at the local college. McMullan (Cashay) effectively captures the Southern setting and frames Sam's conflict between belonging and doing the right thing in the face of racial prejudice. "I just wanted to fit into this place just as we had fit in to all the other towns we had lived in... do whatever it was we were supposed to do, let whatever was supposed to happen happen." Sam's pivotal relationships with her family's maid, feisty grandmother, and love interest, Stone, whose family staunchly advocates white supremacy, force her to define her own beliefs. And her interest in photography, inspired by her mother's activist boyfriend, helps her focus on this society in transition, as she documents lunch counter protests and develops shocking film after a murder. It's a high stakes novel that powerfully portrays the bravery and loss of a tumultuous time. Ages 10–up. (Apr.) The Karma Club Jessica Brody. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-374-33979-1 Adult novelist Brody's first book for teens revolves around the principle of "what goes around comes around." When 17-year-old Madison Kasparkova's supposedly devoted all-American boyfriend, Mason, suddenly dumps her for the popular, porcelain-skinned Heather, the humiliated Maddy decides that while karmic balance is all well and good, it could use a helping hand ("Personally, I'm tired of waiting for the universe to get off its butt and start fixing stuff"). She and her best friends, Angie and Jade, form the secret Karma Club, "to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind," swearing off boys and giving those who have wronged them a dose of what they dished out. Their pranks range from the humorous Operation Butter Face (replacing Heather's medicated acne cream with Crisco) to the serious (turning Mason in for cheating on his SATs). A rosy ending that verges on corny awaits Maddy, but not before she learns the real meaning of karma—that good deeds are rewarded. It's a well-paced comedy, with a nice balance of cinematic physical humor and genuine teen emotions. Ages 12–up. (May)
"I realize that reading about a bridge game isn't exactly thrilling," 17-year-old narrator Alton tells readers early on. Luckily, this funny and thoughtful novel is as much about building bridges—between generations and maybe even between life and death—as it is about playing cards. Alton gets roped into serving as a card turner for his great-uncle, Lester Trapp, a bridge whiz who recently lost his eyesight (Alton's job is to read Trapp's cards for him). Though Alton barely knows Trapp, his opportunistic mother won't miss a chance for Alton to get in good with his "favorite uncle," who's wealthy and in poor health. To Alton's surprise, he becomes enamored of the game and begins to bond with his crusty uncle—who shares insight into synchronicity and the connection between reality and perception. With dry, understated humor, Alton makes the intricacies of bridge accessible, while his relationships with and observations about family members and friends (including an ex-girlfriend, a manipulative best friend, and especially Trapp's former card turner) form a portrait of a reflective teenager whose life is infinitely enriched by connections he never expected to make. Ages 12–up. (May) Wereling Steve Feasey. Feiwel and Friends, $9.99 paper (288p) ISBN 978-0-312-59612-5 Debut author Feasey kicks off a gripping new series with a tale of a young man unexpectedly discovering his true heritage. When 14-year-old orphan Trey wakes up to a room that's been utterly destroyed, with no way anyone could have gotten in as he slept, it's the start of a new chapter in his life. The same day, the mysterious Lucien Charron shows up, pretending to be his long-lost uncle, and frees him from the oppressive group home. Trey soon learns that magic is real, Lucien is a vampire, and he himself is a werewolf, perhaps the last hereditary werewolf alive. Introduced to Lucien's beautiful daughter, Alexa, and his right-hand man, Tom, Trey has little time to adjust before he's learning to control his powers and fight creatures he couldn't even have imagined a week earlier. Although Trey sometimes sounds overly formal ("I need to talk to someone, Lucien, and it would appear that my options in that department are somewhat limited and diminishing rapidly"), Feasey's world-building is solid, the characters believable, and the action genuine, making this an all-around strong beginning. Ages 12–up. (May) Thief Eyes Janni Lee Simner. Random, $16.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-375-86670-8 Adopting figures from Icelandic sagas, Simner (Bones of Faerie) creates a captivating modern odyssey. A year after 16-year-old Haley's mother disappeared in Iceland, Haley, determined to find her, has persuaded her father to take her there. After Haley discovers an unusual coin, her father's co-worker Katrin, a distant relative of her mother, tells Haley that her mother was caught in an enchantment cast by one of their ancestors to escape an arranged marriage. Along with Katrin's son, Ari, Haley is swept away on a perilous journey to uncover her own role in the legends. Incorporating references to Star Wars and Norse myth alike, Simner is poetic whether writing about magic and sorcery or simply getting inside her characters' heads ("I think I am not quite used to being human again," says Ari, after being turned from a polar bear back into a teenage boy. "I did not know it was possible to forget such a thing"). An endnote includes information about the sagas Simner studied while writing this story—the well-crafted result may encourage readers to do the same. Ages 12–up. (Apr.) Books with Bells and Whistles These spring titles use interactive elements to teach and entertain. Giant Pop-Out Food Chronicle, $10.99 (26p) ISBN 978-0-8118-7479-3 Inside this bright, fun book (which is preceded by titles about pets, bugs, vehicles, and shapes) photographs and word clues let readers guess the mystery meals that are concealed by large flaps. "You start with two slices of bread," offers one clue. "Then you spread peanut butter on one side," reads the other. When lifted, a full-page flap opposite with a closeup of a jar of jelly reveals the answer. The familiar foodstuffs and ample clues should make for a rewarding guessing game for beginning readers of all appetites. Available simultaneously: Giant Pop-Out Ocean. Ages 2–4. (May) Animal Soup Todd H. Doodler. Random/Golden, $10.99 (12p) ISBN 978-0-375-85808-6 This board book with flaps combines animals to make amusing hybrids. Two digitally rendered cartoon animals appear on each spread. "What would I be if I were pink from head to toe... and I swung by my tail from a tree?" reads the text above a flamingo and a monkey. Lifting a large flap on the right shows the result: "Flamingo + monkey = Flamonkey." Readers should get a kick out of venturing guesses and discovering such species as "Croctopus" (crocodile and octopus) and "Gorillican" (gorilla and pelican), whose wide-eyed expressions make them seem pretty shocked about the transformations themselves. Ages 3–5. (May) Okey Dokey Ding-A-Ling Mike Artell, illus. by Bill Ledger. Running Press Kids, $12.95 (14p) ISBN 978-0-7624-3440-4 "If I say some funny words,/ can you say them too?/ Loosen up your lips/ because that's what we're gonna do!" invites this silly board book filled with rhyming nonsense verse. By pulling levers and lifting flaps, readers can animate cartoon animals in various ways, making a frog move its head or a small dinosaur "in grandpa's shoes" tumble across a page. A fiery pop-up finale features the whole cast who, by the looks of things, have eaten chili peppers. It's an anything-can-happen journey that doesn't make much sense—but that's not really the point. Ages 3–8. (Apr.) Diary of a Castle Adventure Nicholas Harris, illus. by Peter Dennis. Barron's, $14.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7641-6210-7 In this addition to the Interactive Adventure series, Josh and Maisie travel back in time 700 years and record what happens to them as they're thrust into a medieval uprising. "Peering out, we saw a large gathering of people, all in medieval dress. Was that a knight sitting on a horse over there?!" Readers can take part via minibooks and foldout guides about heraldry, weapons, and castle defenses, while the detailed illustrations and breathless narrative should engage reluctant readers. Imaginative kids will feel as though they've taken the journey along with Josh and Maisie. Poster included. Ages 7–up. (Apr.) Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Open Me for Curiouser and Curiouser Surprises Harriet Castor, illus. by Zdenko Basic. Barron's, $18.99 (28p) ISBN 978-0-7641-6333-3 In this enthusiastic adaptation, readers follow a stylized puppetlike Alice on her adventures, which are illustrated with elaborate mixed-media collages featuring a madcap assortment of books, clocks, and photographs, as well as doors and windows that open. One pull-tab elongates Alice, while another makes the Cheshire Cat vanish into an airy wash of eyes and teeth. The Mad Hatter's youthful, disheveled appearance makes him resemble a modern hipster, and the pop-up trial scene features a flying pack of cards. A clever and inventive interpretation. Ages 8–up. (Apr.) Oceans: The Ultimate Guide to Marine Life John Farndon and Barbara Taylor. Silver Dolphin, $16.95 (62p) ISBN 978-1-60710-038-6 This spiral-bound book about oceanic life features abundant full-color photographs, charts, diagrams, and drawings. Subject tabs separate each section (topics include invertebrates, fish, sea mammals, and "human impact"), with information about the various species and subjects clearly conveyed using bullets. Acetate inserts can be lifted to reveal the internal organs of animals including a green turtle and whale. A lively and accessible resource with two large posters included. Ages 8–up. (Apr.) Vampireology: The True History of the Fallen Ones Archer Brookes. Candlewick, $19.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4914-2 Set in the 1920s, the latest addition to the bestselling Ologies series follows Joshua Kraik, a private detective whose murdered colleague has entrusted him with the book he's written about vampires. Readers can read alongside Kraik, as the copiously illustrated book explores vampires' ancestors (three fallen angels), the global spread of "the curse," vampires' powers, and ways to protect against them (with the series' trademark letters, flaps, and other ephemera integrated throughout). Readers for whom vampires are still a source of fascination and fear should be drawn into Kraik's suspenseful detective-meets-Dracula story, right up to its chilling conclusion. Ages 10–up. (May) Children's Comics Zebrafish Peter H. Reynolds and FableVision. S&S/Atheneum, $16.99 (128p) ISBN 978-1-4424-0454-0 This slow-paced and melancholic graphic novel for children opens to kids goofing around with musical video games and ends with them actually making a difference with music. This is in part thanks to Vita, a girl who dyes her hair and wants to have a rock group named Zebrafish, thus explaining the name. One member of the group is a girl who announces she has leukemia, a proclamation that spins Vita's thoughts to dark and sad places. Rather than take the news lying down, Vita wants to see if her music can raise awareness and funds for a children's research hospital. Surprisingly, it takes a while for this part of the story to come in, but once it does, it's quite powerful. The rest of the book is taken up by the usual hijinks and fun of keeping the band together. The sketchy art has the stylized look of a cable cartoon, which is fitting since the characters are also being adapted as a Web cartoon. The lack of backgrounds and details keep the focus squarely on the characters and their motivations. Ages 10–14. (May) Guinea PIG, Pet Ship Private Eye: #01 Hamster and Cheese Colleen AF Venable. Lerner/Graphic Universe, $6.95 paper (48p) ISBN 978-0-7613-5914-2 This promising new series opens in a pet store where a smart guinea pig named Sasspants spends her time reading the many books she keeps around her. Her smarts—in addition to the fact her cage accidentally says GUINEA PI instead of PIG—gets her tapped as a crime solver. When sandwiches go missing, a hamster becomes convinced the local pet private investigator will be the one to solve the case. While initially against getting involved, Sasspants nevertheless starts an investigation. Children can look and guess for themselves about the clues and red herrings the book presents. The humor in the characters' personalities and dialogue makes this a lively and entertaining book. Ages 7–11. (Apr.) Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebook #4 Craig Battle, Ramón Pérez, and Liam O'Donnell. Owlkids, $9.95 paper (96p) ISBN 978-1-897349-80-9 As a modern-day Sherlock Holmes in junior high, Max Finder runs through the pages solving short but interesting mysteries and encouraging readers to help him. While the fourth book in the series, it's easy for new readers to dive right in thanks to character explanations in the beginning. There are 13 mystery tales in all, three of which are short stories; the rest are in comic book form. Each story has a central mystery—like "Who stole the museum's painting?" "Who cheated at chess?" "Who planted the stink bomb?"—that gets solved on the last page, right after Max asks the readers if they've figured it out. On the last page of each story the perpetrator is named, along with how and why he or she committed the crime. Clues are laid out for the sharp eye and clever reader in everything from dialogue to art details in the background, which the clean, inviting art by Perez makes a pleasure to search for. This series is aimed for children and up, so in general younger readers might sift for clues while adults find them with much more ease. These stories previously ran in Owl magazine. Ages 8–up. (Mar.) Foiled Jane Yolen and Mike Cavallaro. Roaring Brook/First Second, $15.99 (160p) ISBN 978-1-59643279-6 Aliera Carstairs attends a small high school in New York City and feels like an outcast in its crowds of cliques, jocks, goths, nerds, and preps. She's always been a loner and doesn't know where she belongs. The only control she has is fencing and the role-playing games she plays with her disabled cousin. Then the gorgeous and flirtatious Avery Castle becomes her lab partner, and a crush quickly ensues. Plus there's her mysterious practice sword with the irremovable ruby in the hilt. Famed YA author Yolen weaves a familiar tale of the heroine's journey, while addressing Aliera's helplessness before Avery's glamour. But Avery has some secrets of his own—cutting up frogs in lab class is his idea of fun—and all the threads converge at Grand Central Station in a botched first date that turns into a high fantasy adventure. Cavallaro's art is rounded and cartoony, handling action and the fantasy elements well while skimping a bit on characterization—his Avery is just a sorta cute cartoon boy, not a devastating heartbreaker, but Aliera is a strong and likable protagonist. Yolen weaves her knowledge of fencing vividly throughout the plot, powerfully creating romance, mystery, adventure, fantasy, and drama, all rolled into a strong narrative. Ages 11–up. (Apr.)
This graphic novel takes the kid detective genre to the world of WWII espionage. In this case, the role of Nancy Drew is being played by Evelyn, a 10-year-old girl who's recently come to live with her free-spirited aunt in New York City. Imaginative and bored, Evelyn and her friend Tony see spies everywhere, with decidedly mixed results. Unlike the Hardy Boys or Boxcar Children, they don't always get it right, and their false alarm about a surly doorman makes for embarrassing headlines. Eventually, they do happen upon a real Nazi spy, and they're off on an exciting adventure, hiding in bakery vans, sneaking into parties, and decoding secret messages with a little help from Evelyn's Aunt Lia and a friendly policeman. The writers manage the difficult trick of writing real children into a terrific adventure story, and the book is completely age-appropriate without ever talking down to its readers. Dizin's loopily expressive art has a period feel while still looking fresh and kid-friendly. His work on "Zirconium Man and Scooter," Evelyn's comic about herself and her absent father as superheroes, is particularly charming. City of Spies is a good old-fashioned adventure story and rip-roaring fun. Ages 12–up. (May)
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