Clark’s Eye on Books

By Clark Isaacs

Princess Emily and the Secret Library

Author: Mattox Roesch
ISBN: 978-0-9817636-0-6, Pages: 32, $16.99, Publication Date: January, 2009,
Hardcover, Published by: Willow Brook Publishing, Age Level 4 – 8

Mystical, fancy, and mysterious for this age group is discovering fantasy worlds which
will open their eyes to the love of reading and that is what Mary Balfanz has created in
“Princess Emily and the Secret Library”. Well articulated so that the parents will read this
many times to their children and not get tired of it themselves. Wonderful illustrations by
Stan Gorman will make the dourest face brighten into a smile. Surely, this book is
destined to become a classic among children’s literature. Very highly recommended as a
must have for your favorite child’s library.
Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure
Author: Chris Enss
Illustrated by Melissa & Jeff Galpin
ISBN: 978-1-4363-6648-9, Pages 28, Paperback,
Published by Xlibris, Publication Date December 2008, Age Level: 3 to 7

Chris Enss is well known as a writer of western women’s tales, and now brings this
quaint story of a young cowboy in “Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure”. A children’s
tale which tells a message that is always the same this time of year, to give unto others.
Christmas is about caring and sharing. Enss shows that this is a lesson that can be taught
at an early age with inspiration. This learning book is highly recommended for those
young buck-a-roos who will discover the meaning of the golden rule and how to deal
with those in need.

Famous Figures of Ancient Times

Author: Cathy Diez-Luckie
ISBN: 978-0-9818566-0-5, Pages 96, Soft Cover,$19.95
Published by Figures in Motion, Publication 2009, Age Level 6 to 12
“Famous Figures of Ancient Times” is an award-winning book that helps children learn
about famous people 2000 to 3000 years ago. What makes this book unique is that it has
twenty moveable cut-out paper dolls. Each of the figures is presented in two formats, one
is fully colored and the other is suitable to be colored using ordinary crayons.
Instructions are given for assembly and parents can assist a younger child in an
interactive way to properly arrange famous people like Hannibal and Julius Caesar.
Textual material describes in enough detail each of the characters so there is a broad
understanding of who they are.

Planned are subsequent books depicting characters from different eras, using this same
format of moveable figures. Cathy Diez-Luckie has provided some terrific art work and
should provide hours of entertainment for children. The added bonus is that there is a
strong educational foundation which will expose the child to many historical figures.
This book is recommended for the child who likes to play-act using their own stories, or
for coloring unusual characters.

Josh The Baby Otter

Author: Blake Collingsworth
Illustrated by Ashley Spitsnogle
ISBN: 978-0-615-28582-5, Pages 29, CD Recording, Soft Cover,
Published by Boomers Printing Co., Age Level: 1 – 4, $8.95

Blake Collingsworth wrote this book “Josh The Baby Otter” to promote water safety for
young children. The Center for Disease Control states we are losing three children each
day to drowning accidents. Collingsworth has his own cause; he lost his young son
Joshua and started a foundation to promote water safety for 1 to 4 year-old children.

Included in this book is a CD which reads the book aloud, plays a special song regarding
water safety, has a spot promotion for a radio station, and contains a pledge for kids to
take regarding going to the pool and not being alone. Also, the message is clear, learn to
float. Reading the book to children, playing the CD, and discussing the issue of not being
alone is great, but the main message is awareness. The children in the 1 – 4 age group
can wander off to the family pool or a neighbor’s pool, but the more alert the parents
become about dangers lurking near pools when summer-time comes around, the less
likely there will be a drowning. This book and its message are very highly
recommended.

Houdini’s Gift
Author: Jeanne Gehret, M. A.
Illustrated by: Michael LaDuca
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-2-3, Pages 32, Library Binding, $17.95
Published by Verbal Images Press, Publication Date September, 2009, Age Level 7 – 9

Eagle Eyes
Author: Jeanne Gehret, M. A.
Illustrated by: Michael LaDuca
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-1-6, Pages 32, Library Binding,$17.95
Published by Verbal Images Press, Publication Date September, 2009, Age Level 7 – 9

The Don’t-give-up Kid

Author: Jeanne Gehret, M. A.
Illustrated by: Michael LaDuca
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-0-9, Pages 32, Library Binding, $17.95
Published by Verbal Images Press, Publication Date September, 2009, Age Level 7 – 9
Jeanne Gehret, M. A., presents a series of books which will definitely help with children
who have problems coping with their disabilities. “Learning disabilities (LD) encompass
problems with taking in, processing, or expressing information. Attention deficit disorder
(ADD) is characterized by impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity.” According to
Gehret, these issues need to be addressed in a style which is good not only for the child,
but for the parents.

These books present the various issues which are faced by the characters in story form,
but also have discussion questions at the end of the book which can explore the
understanding level of the children and the parent of the problems which they encounter.

Encouragement and dealing with the problems are the main motivational factors in each
book. Parents who suspect they have children with these issues will find that in 2012
there will be additional help provided by the Response to Intervention (RTI) program of
the federal government. These books may be a little ahead of that program, but it is
never too soon to address the issues with understanding and compassion.

Each book addresses a different issue and it might be wise to peruse them before making
a purchase. They are helpful and highly recommended.

= 30 =

Publisher Weekly Best Selling Books:

Week of December 21, 2009

Fiction

1 The Lost Symbol. Brown, Dan;

Doubleday, $29.95. ISBN 978-0-385-50422-5.
2 U Is for Undertow. Grafton, Sue;
Putnam, $27.95. ISBN 978-0-399-15597-0.
3 I, Alex Cross. James Patterson;
Little, Brown, $27.99. ISBN 978-0-316-01878-4.
4 Under the Dome. King, Stephen;
Scribner, $35. ISBN 978-1-4391-4850-1.
5 The Help. Kathryn Stockett;
Putnam/Amy Einhorn, $24.95. ISBN 9780399155345..

Non-Fiction
1 Going Rogue. Sarah Palin;
Harper, $28.99. ISBN 978-0-06-193989-1.
2 Have a Little Faith. Albom, Mitch;
Hyperion, $23.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-6872-8.
3 Stones into Schools. Greg Mortenson;
Viking, $26.95. ISBN 978-0-670-02115-4.
4 Arguing with Idiots. Glenn Beck;
Threshold Editions, $29.99. ISBN 978-1-4165-9501-4.
5 Open. Agassi, Martine;
Knopf, $28.95. ISBN 978-0-307-26819-8.

Clark Isaacs is an accomplished book critic who is published in local newspapers and
national book review lists. Visit Clark Isaacs at http://clarkisaacs.ning.com and tell him
what you would like to have him write about.

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