RM Winter 2016 FLIP

Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors Khan, Hena. (2012). Illus. by Mehrdokht Amini. Unpaged. Chronicle. 978-0-8118-7905-7, $17.99 (Primary/ Intermediate) --by Jaclyn Bruton

As the book continues, many more animals will be encountered such as a rhino that chases the boy. The images drawn in this book are filled with vibrant color and extensive detail. Colón’s story is a testament to the power of creativity and imagination.

The Farmer and the Clown Frazee, Marla. (2014). Unpaged. Beach Lane. 978-1-4424-9744-3, $17.99 (Primary) --by Amelia Feisal & Laurel Burst Have you ever been lost and alone? Away from home? A baby clown finds himself in a strange

In this informative picturebook, Khan uses the concept of color, something many children can easily relate to, as a tool for introducing the world of Islam. This story is told from the viewpoint of a young girl. The text on one page reads, “Red is the rug/Dad kneels on to pray,/facing toward Mecca,/ five times a day.” Another page reads, “Green is the Quran/I read with pride./Grandma explains/the lessons inside.” Khan wrote this story in a way that makes learning about Islam appealing. The use of color in the illustrations as well as the font accentuates the object related to Islam that is highlighted in the text. For instance, on the page that focuses on the Quran, the sacred book is depicted as green and gets a full page while the font too is green. There is a glossary (with a pronunciation guide) for terms that may be unfamiliar (e.g., Allah, mosque, Quran, Ramadan, etc.) mentioned throughout. This book would be enjoyable and educational in a classroom.

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new place, but with a smile on his face. It doesn’t take him long to find a friend as he meets a lonely farmer who lives just off the train tracks. This engaging story shows readers how a baby clown and an old farmer build an unexpected friendship when the clown somehow falls off of a circus train. As this unlikely duo embarks on a journey together, Frazee uses the artwork masterfully to convey the varying emotions of the characters via their body language. For example, pay close attention to the outstretched arm of the farmer at the end of the story. The clown lightens up the farmer’s previously dull and mundane existence on the farm. He brings color and excitement into the farmer’s life and teaches him a thing or two about life in the circus (e.g., the baby clown juggles eggs). In return, the farmer teaches the clown a few things about working on a farm. One favorite image depicts the baby clown milking a cow under the warm guidance of the farmer. How will the clown be able to return to the circus with part of his heart now on the farm? Read and find out. Readers young and old will find joy and satisfaction in this distinguished and memorable picturebook.

The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights Sheinkin, Steve. (2014). 200 pp. Roaring Brook. 978-1-59643-796-8, $19.99 (Young Adult) --by Tori Young In the 1940s, segregation

Eye to Eye: How Animals See theWorld

was the order of the day in the United States. Political figures, such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt, were beginning to

Jenkins, Steve. (2014). Unpaged. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 978-0-547-95907-8, $17.99 (Primary/Intermediate) --by Katherine Hoffman “Most animals rely on their vision, more than any other sense, to find out what is going on around them. For these creatures, the eyes

consider the need for integration. In the case of the U.S. Navy, segregation meant separate housing and dining as well as unfair or inept training for wartime tasks. The account provided by Steve Sheinkin in The Port Chicago 50 follows the journey of a group of unsung African American heroes after a cargo explosion reveals the mistreatment and danger they faced on a daily basis. It also reveals their courage to say “no” to the U.S. Navy in the face of unfair treatment. The men had been ordered to load ammunition onto ships although they had received minimal training in how to do so and lived in constant fear of disaster. As “The Fifty” are taken to trial for their perceived mutinous actions (refusing to continue loading ammunition after the disaster), the truth of how the explosion occurs is revealed. The trial gains the attention of famed civil rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall. As an award-winning author of nonfiction for young adult readers, Sheinkin includes numerous artifacts throughout this intriguing book such as photographs, copies of actual letters, and newspaper articles. Source notes and an intricate List of Works Cited will allow readers to read more deeply about the history of naval civil rights.

are the most important link to the world.” In this book, Steve Jenkins does an incredible job of illustrating various types of animals’ eyes and describes their main use. Readers will learn about the four types of eyes (eyespot, pinhole eyes, compound eyes, and the camera eye) and examples of animals with each type. For example, worms have eyespots, while octopuses have camera eyes. Jenkins also introduces the reader to animals that have two rows of blue eyes, eyes that are the size of basketballs, eyes that can “see” body heat, and many more. This book concludes with an explanation of the evolution of the eye that is supplemented with images. Readers of all ages will enjoy this book whether they are just looking at the collage illustrations or are interested in the scientific facts about the purposes and functions of these animals’ eyes. To find more of Steve Jenkins’s fascinating science books read Actual Size (Houghton Mifflin, 2004) and Animals Upside Down (Houghton Mifflin, 2013).

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