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Show mr RIDDLE ROAD Puzzles in Poems and Pictures By Elizabeth Spires Illustrated by Erik Blegvad Margaret K. McElderry Books, $15 ISBN 0689817835 Ages REVIEW BY AMANDA HESTER "North. south.east, westWe run alongand never rest.AVhere are we solve the riddles. Do you know what this one could be? "We listen to wishesbut have no eais.Were at home in the darkwithout any fears.Were older than you by millions of years .When youre gone still be here.Near or farA'an you guess what we are? That twinkle in your eye says you know what the answer is stars! Riddle Road specifically targets six-t- o forev-er.we'- ll but why should all the fun be saved for the younger kids? Even the most sophisticated teens will be going?Everywhere'We at the chance to get in on the jumping never stopunlil we're there. Can you action of solving the mysteries. Any age I guess what am?" will love being riddled and The answer is roads! rhymed by these poems. Riddle Road, by Everyone will love RIDDLE ROAD Elizabeth Spires, is filled with tantalizing riddles just like this one. The playful poetie pieees in (his book w ill have par- A AsA A ents, teaehers. and children everywhere laughing and joining in on the fun. And you thought poetry ... couldn't be fun! Spires blends descriptive word clues with Erik Blegvad's colorful illustrations, and the results are entertaining, artful poems that stimulate and entertain children. The pictures add extra flavor to the rhymes, providing hints to help readers , BIBUEmSsTfORiiiEsS TRASH-TALKI- N GIANT By Joel Anderson Illustrations by Abe Goolsby and Joel Anderson Tommy Nelson, $9.99 ISBN 0849959187 4 and up REVIEW BY ETTA WILSON Making familiar Bible stories come alive for children can be a real challenge. After the third or fourth reading, a Bible story book about such as Moses and Phaiaoh. Joseph and his biothers. or David and Goliath may have lost some appeal foi the young elementary gang. Author Joel Anderson piques the interest of these readers in his series, Mr. Gmngys Seek and Find Bible Stories, by using rhymed text and illustrations created from trash, junk, and ordinary household items. Following the earlier success of the first in the series, Jonah's Trash . . God's Treasure, comes his latest title David and n Giant. the Mr. Grungy opens the book holding a box full of such ephemera. Then, using simple, rhymed text, he tells the familiar story of the shepherd boy who char-acte- . Trash-Talki- - i Amanda Hester is an eighth grade student at Sumner Academy in Gallatin, Tennessee. killed the Philistine giant with a single, stone. The story stops short of mentioning that David beheaded Goliath after he falls, and the giant's trashy talk is more braggadocio than foul, so parents have nothing to fear if they arc reading the book to young preschoolers. But theres plenty to intrigue young readers in the unusual artwork, which may remind them of the popular I Spy books. As they follow the directions given in a Trash and Treasure Hunt verse, they will have to look hard among the peanuts, paper clips, phone cords, candles, pennies, peas, salt shakers, socks, and such in order to find the different items called for on each spread. Mr. Grungy closes the book with final instructions for a last hunt among the items in his box. including a photo of Anderson and Goolsby. David and the well-aime- d DAVID AND THE Ages reading this book over and over until each and every riddle has been completely mastered. The ?. I poems leave hints to the answers, yet encourage children to uncover the solutions themselves. . .... Read this book and youll discoverlhat these poems are like no other.Its fun, creative, and attractive too.YouH find no better thing to do! Trash-Talki- n' Giant may have more appeal for boys, especially those who are sports enthusiasts. (Davids head is a golf ball, while Goliath sports a split baseball head atop a football body.) On the other hand, girls may be inspired to try their hand at creating scenes, biblical or otherwise, from trinkets and trash. At least, they might pick up their rooms! ft Etta Wilson is a children 's hook enthusiast in Nashville, Tennessee. GOAL! The Ultimate Guide for Soccer Moms and Dads By Gloria Averbuch and Ashley Michael Hammond Rodale Books, $15.95 ISBN 1579540805 REVIEW BY DENISE AND DREW HARRIS Goal!, as its subtitle states, is the ultimate guide for the soccer parent; even the most seasoned parents will find it to be a valuable resource and reference guide. This book brims with information on every conceivable facet of the game of soccer, a game now permeating our country at such a rate that it threatens to displace many of the more established and venerable sports in the United States. While relatively new to the U.S., soccer is the most popular sport worldwide and, as the guide points out, traces its roots back to medieval English village life. With such popularity and global acceptance, one might expect a plethora of books on this subject. Many parents, though, experience difficulty in finding a guide like Goal! a guide that is both comprehensive and even when discussing some of the more technical calls, moves, and procedures of the game. Who among us soccer parents has not wondered about offside" calls, the dangers of heading, and the myriad acrobatic skills and moves that become necessary as our children progress? Moreover, what about the less technical aspects of the sport, such as how to stretch, what to eat, how to choose a coach, and how to prepare for game day (both as a player and as a parent)? Goal! answers and explains all of this and more in such a way that even a e soccer parent will have a clearer understanding of the game and its rules, creating a more positive overall soccer experience. The seasoned soccer parents, who have already learned much of the game via hands-o- n experience, might find themselves nodding in agreement as the intricacies of the game are explained in such a clear and definitive manner. Then, like this soccer parent, they will eagerly read on both for the reinforcement of what they have already learned and for a more thorough understanding of this amazing sport! first-tim- Denise and Drew Harris are a soccer mom and son writing team living in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. boy-gicombinations but also the emotions of twins and those around them. They celebrate the joys of twin-shi- p (Other people might be lonely. We hardly ever are.) to the trials (It can be a pain to be a twin, especially when you're left out.). Certainly the bond between twins is intriguing, as are their similarities. But in a note to parents at the beginning of the book, the authors emphasize the importance of reinforcing the separate identities of twins. And later, in the text, they note; Twins don't always feel the same way or like the same things. And they can be good at different things. They bring home the point by showing two identical boys, one of whom excels in basketball, the other in rl ABOUT TWINS By Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly Photographs by Shelley Rotner DK Ink, $16.95 ISBN Ages 0789425564 7 REVIEW BY ALICE CARY As the mother of month-ol- d twins, I think I opened the pages of About Twins even more eagerly than did my son. Inside are lively, adorable photographs of twins identical and fraternal, newborns to older children engaged in everything from infant sleep to squabbling over toys and being buddies. One cant help being fascinated by these duos, so here is a book for all children, whether twins themselves, a sibling to twins, or simply those interested in the phenomenon. The text is sparse yet thoughtful, often pairing simple statements such as "Some twins like to dress the same; others dont, with direct quotations from twins, such as this one on dressing alike: Its fun, but you shouldn't have to. The authors cover not only twin basics such as fraternal, identical, and soccer. Last but not least, non-twi- n siblings are not forgotten. One older sister to twins laments: My twin sisters cry a lot. When they're not around I get a turn with my parents." About Twins is a straightforward, sensitively written book for young children. It was an excellent primer for me. too. Wish me luck! r Alice Cary writes from her home in Groton, Massachusetts. |