Day Dreamers: A Journey of Imagination By Emily Winfield Martin Best for: Ages 3-7
If you’re looking for a soothing bedtime story with dreamlike qualities, this one is for you. In Day Dreamers, Martin takes the reader on a journey of the imagination and highlights mythical animals, such as dragons, unicorns and gryphons. The illustrations have a modern, yet nostalgic, feel. The children are bedecked in clothing reminiscent of the 1960s as they walk through museums and gardens, but appear to be in 1900s clothing as they fly on the backs of dragons. It is all very fantastical, which children will love. For those youngsters who want to continue pushing their imaginations, the last page gives a clear suggestion of what to do.
What’s good: The rhyming text is generally unforced and flows with ease for readers of all ages. What’s bad: The illustrations are very calming but may seem a little old-fashioned for some readers. Hermelin: the Detective Mouse By Mini Grey Best for: Ages 4-8
This fun picture book uses a combination of talk bubbles, typed notes and traditional narrated statements in comic book-styled panels to tell the story of Hermelin, the detective mouse. The mysteries are not too deep or complicated, but the illustrations bring out the humor in each situation. Upon solving each mystery, Hermelin leaves a typewritten note behind. This causes another mystery for the residents of Offley Street, where the tale takes place. Who is Hermelin? When the residents get together to honor Hermelin, they see him only as a pest and shoo him away. But one young lady, a detective in her own right, learns the truth about Hermelin. They begin a lasting friendship, which is sure to appear in follow-up stories in the future.
What’s good: Great illustrations that are filled with details and humor. Look carefully and see whether you can solve the mysteries before Hermelin.
What’s bad: The story seems a little thin, almost as if it is purely a set-up for future Hermelin tales.
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope By Ian Doescher Best for: Ages 10 and older
With all the hype over the new Star Wars sequels and the planned Star Wars expansion at Disney World, I couldn’t help but pick up a copy of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. The Star Wars saga is practically Elizabethan, so reimagining it as a Shakespearean play is actually not a big stretch. But doing it well is another story. Lucky for us, Ian Doescher does a wonderful job combining the characters we have all grown to love with iambic pentameter and traditional Shakespearean storytelling devices. Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope is brilliantly entertaining, and I can’t wait for middle and high school drama classes to begin performing it.
What’s good: Students who struggle with Shakespeare may change their tune upon reading this tale. What’s bad: The Shakespearean language may be a bit much for younger readers.