Along a Long Road

by Frank Viva
In the many, many picture books that I see, it is not very often that I pick one up that I instantly think deserves an award.  Somebody give this one an award!  Frank Viva has created this wonderful picture book journey.  Children love to follow the endless road with the happy cyclist from the front cover, through every page of the book, around and across the back cover and continuing continuously along again.  It is a jaunt without a destination, but what a lovely trip.  Early readers will not mind practicing their emerging skills on this one.  The text is simple, but the concept is inspiring.  This is refreshing treat.

Recommended for grades PreK-2
Reviewed by Koren Power 

Troublemaker

by Andrew Clements
Sixth-grader Clay Hensley is a school troublemaker - and he loves it! Although his teachers realize he is only full of mischief and does not mean to hurt anyone, his pranks have become so numerous at Truman Elementary School that his school record is as thick as a phonebook. Many of his infractions, such as running in the halls, disappearing from class, or tossing french fries in the cafeteria are fairly harmless stuff. But one day he decides to do something riskier, by getting "creative" in art class when his teacher instructs the class to draw whatever they want. Clay, being a skillful artist, creates a remarkable likeness to his principal, Mr. Kellings - only he draws him as a DONKEY. Clay loves basking in the laughter of his classmates, and will willingly take whatever punishment Mr. Kellings gives him. He cannot wait to share his latest escapade with his older brother Mitchell, who just arrived home after spending a month in jail. To his surprise, Mitchell does not laugh when he recounts the prank. In fact, Clay is shocked to find Mitchell angry and hostile toward him, while threatening to hurt him physically if he does not change his troublemaking behavior immediately. Clay has always looked up to Mitchell and loves to imitate his rabble rousing ways, but now his older brother makes it clear that jail is no picnic, and that he never wants to spend another day there again. He is afraid that Clay has it in him to follow in his footsteps... all the way to being locked up himself one day. Mitchell is determined to give his brother a personality makeover before it's too late. Clay resentfully begins to change his appearance and behavior. But his classmates and his best friend, Hank, are not sure they like the "new" Clay any longer. They now treat him like an outsider. Then comes Halloween night and the real trouble begins. Mr. Kellling's home is seriously vandalized, and the police show up at Clay's house. He is the prime suspect. But he's innocent. Or his he? Clements is a master at portraying school drama through the eyes of the student. The reader will be pulling for Clay as he tries to extricate himself out of this sticky situation, while hopefully developing a personality that can make him smile again. 

Recommended for grades 5-8
Reviewed by Rozanne Porter 

Wonder Struck

by Brain Selznick
Gunflint Lake, Minnesota - June 1977.  After the death of his mother, Ben Wilson has moved into the lakeside cabin near his home with his aunt, uncle, and cousins.  He misses his mother terribly, and wishes he knew who his father was.  One stormy night he sneaks back to his house to look through his mother's things and finds a clue about the identity of his father.  Injured by lightning, Ben is taken to a hospital, but determined to find his father in New York City, he sneaks out of the hospital and takes a bus by himself all the way to New York City.

Hoboken, New Jersey - October 1927.  As the only deaf person in her family, Rose feels trapped in her home.  She refuses to take sign language and lip reading classes, and instead turns the pages of her books into models of the buildings she can see across the river in New York City.  She keeps a scrapbook of pictures and articles about a famous and mysterious actress, and longs to meet her.  When a headline catches her attention, she sneaks out of the house and makes her way by herself across the river to New York City.

Despite 50 years difference in time, Ben and Rose share a journey to find a better life, and the way their lives are connected will surprise you.  Ben's story is told in words and Rose's story is told completely in pictures, but the way they are intertwined only serves to make each of the stories better and stronger.  This book is a staggering 640 pages, but like The Invention of Hugo Cabret, this is a quick and thoroughly enjoyable read.

Recommended for grades 4-12
Reviewed by Sara Murray