Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Live Oak Media (2004), Paperback

Remember the excitement of waking up in the morning and seeing it had snowed during the night? Remember bundling up in winter clothes and going outside just to watch your tracks and make snow angels and watch the cars drive by in the snow? Ezra Jack Keats remembers, and the urban setting will appeal to us city dwellers---Great in the classroom to stimulate discussions of winter that reflect students experiences more than the (much more numerous, but lovely) country-snow book

WALTER THE FARTING DOG by William Kotzwinkle. Frog Ltd (2001), Hardcover

Poor Walter! He can't help it if all his favorite foods make him fart--loudly and stinkily. Mom and Dad -- to the dismay of their 2 kids--have issued an ultimatum...either Walter stops farting or he goes! In the end Walter's talent for stinky farts foils some thieves who break in while the family is out, and Walter the farting dog is not only safe, he's a hero! A fun to read-a-loud picture book sure to please every crowd. Colman's colorful, fantastic illustrations have a playful quality that adds to the fun.

Young, Gifted, and Black: Promoting High Achievement Among African American Students. Beacon Press (2004), Paperback, 183 pages

Written by three prominent black scholars, this series of essays presents three different points of view regarding the achievement gap between black and latino students on the one hand and white and asian students on the other. Points of debate include the history of the gap, the numbers behind it, the fallout in popular culture associated with the achievement gap and ideas on what works. It is an interesting and thought provoking series in which the authors sometimes compliment each other's viewpoints and at other times almost contradict each other. My only disappointment was that the promised listing of programs that work was more theory than nuts and bolts examples of what works for whom. Still worth keeping.

Can You Guess My Name?: Traditional Tales Around the World by Judy Sierra. Clarion Books (2002), Hardcover, 128 pages

Tales from many lands grouped by similarity to popular tales well known to westerners such as Hansel and Gretel and the three pigs. Short, easy to tell tales for young children that are easy to learn and fun to hear and tell. A great resource for storytelling and programming, especially if you want to introduce something from another culture. I often tell "The Cake Tree".

Be Boy Buzz by Bell Hooks. Jump At The Sun (2002), Hardcover, 32 pages

A celebration of black boyhood-lyrical and exhuberant!

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems. Walker Books Ltd (2005), Paperback, 40 pages

Trixie the toddler is still learning to speak when she brings her favorite security stuffed animal, knuffle bunny, on a trip to the laundromat with her dad. They have lots of fun until Trixie realizes on the way home that they forgot Knuffle Bunny. Because she cannot speak yet, Trixie is for forced to have a public meltdown (we've all been there!) until Dad finally gets the picture...thanks to Mom, of course. A wonderfully fun and clever story that reminds us of the importance of family, security and communication. Wonderfully illustrated with drawings on photographs, Knuffle Bunny is fun to hear and to read.

Being Respectful (Way to Be!) by Mary Small. Picture Window Books (2005), Library Binding, 24 pages

Age appropriate examples of children from different races showing respect. Important message presented in a positive manner.