Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton

"Hi, I'm Alice. I'm eight years old, and I have something to say. It's not easy to be tall. I know. I'm four inches taller than any of the other girls in my class. And then, I have a friend who's kind of short, and she's not too happy about that either. So, I guess it's just not easy being different. But I think it's okay to be different . to be you! What's different, anyway? Boy, I wish I knew."

Maybe you're not too tall, but maybe you think you'retoo short or too fat or too skinny. Maybe you think your ears or your nose are too big. But I'm here to tell you that it's all going to be okay because I learned to see me, the real me. And now I know I can be anything I want to be, because I'm okay."

Here's what 4th grade teacher Linda Balaban has to say about the book: "Too Tall Alice is delightfully entertaining with a message that young children will understand and appreciate. It is a refreshing portrayal of one's uniqueness that allows children to beproud of their own distinctive characteristics. An appreciation for one's self can result in an acceptance of the individuality of others, which is the heart of the story."

About the book:
Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton
ISBN: 978-0979066115
Publisher: Great Little Books
Date of publish: March 15, 2009
Pages: 32
S.R.P.: $15.95

Ralphina the Roly-Poly by Claudia Chandler

Press: Some books for children are so charming and magnificently illustrated that they are a pleasure for every reader regardless of their age. These are the books that will be treasured beyond childhood. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is this type of book.

Written to appeal to preschoolers and early readers, the author introduces young children
to the hidden world of a tiny insect. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is sad because she gets
lonely in her garden and wants a friend to play with. But she is so small that nobody
seems to notice her. With her mommy's encouragement, Ralphina digs up a clever
solution to her loneliness and in the process learns that she has a lot to offer in friendship.

Children will love to hear this fascinating story of friendship and will delight in the
vividly colorful illustrations. Fun facts about roly-polies and rainbows are included to
provide an educational and entertaining opportunity for children, parents, and educators.

A perfect tale that will be a bedtime favorite, Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is a story that
children will want to hear again and again, and one that adults will be happy to read and
reread.

About the book:
Ralphina, the Roly-Poly by Claudia Chandler
ISBN: 978-1585974627
Publisher: Leather Pub
Date of publish: Jan 30, 2008
Pages: 32
S.R.P.: $21.95

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

Summary: Using a series of interconnected monologues and dialogues featuring young people living in and around an English manor in 1255, she offers first-person character sketches that build upon each other to create a finer understanding of medieval life. The book was inspired by the necessity of creating a play suitable for a classroom where "no one wanted a small part." Each of the 23 characters (between 10 and 15 years old) has a distinct personality and a societal role revealed not by recitation of facts but by revelation of memories, intentions, and attitudes. Sometimes in prose and more often in one of several verse forms, the writing varies nicely from one entry to the next.

Historical notes appear in the vertical margins, and some double-page spreads carry short essays on topics related to individual narratives, such as falconry, the Crusades, and Jews in medieval society. Although often the characters' specific concerns are very much of their time, their outlooks and emotional states will be familiar to young people today. Reminiscent of medieval art, Byrd's lively ink drawings, tinted with watercolors, are a handsome addition to this well-designed book. This unusually fine collection of related monologues and dialogues promises to be a rewarding choice for performance or for reading aloud in the classroom. --Carolyn Phelan

My Thoughts: I listened to the audio version of this book--and it was tremendous! I'm going to be talking about Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! for a very long time, and recommending it to adults as well as middle grade students. I can't say anything about the illustrations, but if they match the scenes, writing, and relevance, I'd likely be raving about them, too.

Definitely a book I'm passing along, even to high schoolers. Love it. Love it lots.