Up and Down the Andes: A Peruvian Festival Tale • Illustrated Young Reader

Up and Down the Andes:
A Peruvian Festival Tale

Written by Laurie Krebs • Illustrated by Aurélia Fronty Publication: November 2008 • Barefoot Books • Illustrated Young Reader

"Up and Down the Andes, there are children just like me."

Story: Join the young narrator and six other children, each carrying a special item, as they descend from all parts of Peru to Cusco to celebrate Inti Raymi – the Festival of the Sun. Readers’ curiosity will be piqued at the mention of several parts of Peru from Lima and Lake Titicaca to Machu Picchu’s ancient sites, Arequipa, and Puno. Extensive educational footnotes -- plus a map and a "Did You Know?" section -- satisfy inquiring minds about Peru’s history, terrain, peoples, and festivals.
"Peruvian children in colorful native garb make their way to a winter solstice celebration in this glowingly illustrated book. Krebs's rhyming couplets build anticipation as each of six young travelers uses different means of transport (bus, pack animal, etc.) to arrive at the ancient Incan festival of Inti Raymi, honoring the Sun God. .” Fronty's paintings, in a warm, vibrant palette, are contemporary in their compositions but recall folk art in their flat planes and use of patterns. Tile roofs, costumes and the sun's rays incorporate repeated geometric motifs. Meaty endnotes highlight Peru's history, geography and people." -Publisher’s Weekly

Story behind the story: Up and Down the Andes is the sixth title in the Barefoot Books World Travel Series, written by intrepid traveler and former elementary school teacher Laurie Krebs. Other books in the series introduce the young armchair traveler to Egypt, Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, Tanzania, and the Silk Road. Stay tuned to see where Laurie travels next...

FYI: all the review copies for this title have been sent; please click on the "comments" link below to read what your colleagues have to say about it -- plus more to come!

Bugged! • Early reader

Bugged!
by Michelle Knudsen • illustrated by Blanche Sims • 2008 • Kane Press • Early reader
Bzzz! The mosquitoes are attacking, and Riley’s on the run! Can he find a way to make himself bug-proof---once and for all?
Story: Poor Riley. He’s tried just about everything to ward off those pesky mosquitoes. Even his “mosquito dance” doesn’t work. To make matters worse, the pesky insects would rather bite him than his friends, Steve and Lara. There’s just got to be something Riley can do before he bugs out!
Story behind the story: From the author of Library Lion (New York Times bestseller and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year list, among many other accolades) and the illustrator of the ever-popular "Kids of the Polk Street School" books, this early reader for children in grades 1-3 is one of the titles in Kane Press' "Science Solves It!" series. The books in the series merge fiction and content in storylines to intrigue youngsters and encourage them to observe, investigate, predict, experiment, compare, and draw conclusions. Kids will be inspired by the characters in each story, as they solve kid-size mysteries and dilemmas. Bugged!, along with the other books in the series, can be enjoyed by independent readers and also read aloud to younger children.
"An excellent book for the school classroom or library.... an engaging story that also helps introduce key elements for critical thinking." Read more of the review at The Reading Tub.
FYI: all the review copies for this title have been sent; please click on the "comments" link below for reviews from your colleagues.

It's That Best Books Lists Time of Year...

Three Picnic Basket titles were named to Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year list:

• The Day Leo Said "I Hate You!" written by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Molly Bang (Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers)


• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves by M. T. Anderson (Candlewick Press)


• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

Congratulations to the authors, illustrators and publishers!