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DOCTOR BIRD "In these humorous, well-told, and gently oral tales, Doctor Bird, a clever, "upful" (optimistic) hummingbird in top hat and
flowing tales, convinces Mongoose to stop stealing (for a while); helps Mouse find food and shelter after a storm; and teaches Owl to
make peace with being Owl. Wolff's lively illustrations give all the animals lots of personality." "A great book for sharing..."
Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 1999
An Americas Award Commended Book. ashleywolff.com (see other illustrations by Ashley Wolff) |
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HOW CHIPMUNK GOT TINY FEET |
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THREE LITTLE BIRDS Tuff Gong Books presents Bob Marley's personal vision of positive faith in a richly illustrated Jamaican picture book with full page spreads in luscious color by Mariah Fox (illustrator of The Boy From Nine Miles). The whimsical mixed media images and lyrical text will delight babies, toddlers, and older readers as well. The message is a good vibration if there ever was one-- "Every little thing gonna be all right!" This upbeat board book is adapted by Cedella Marley and Gerald Hausman and it uses the lyrics of "Three Little Birds", one of Bob Marley's most popular songs, as featured in the animated film "Shark Tale". For all ages. |
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THE TURQUOISE HORSE AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN STORIES The Turquoise Horse is the first in a series of audio collections published by Irie Books. The stories were hand-gathered by Gerald Hausman over a thirty year stretch of listening and performing folktales around the country. His special affinity for Navajo tales drew him to these stories because he could see how much children of all ages enjoyed them. As a student of the Southwest living in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Gerald first began translating Navajo creation stories with his Navajo college roommates back in the 1960s. Since then he has published many books on Navajo culture and his recorded stories have been aired on KTNN on the reservation and on stations throughout the U.S. His version of The Turquoise Horse has reached more than a half million readers and listeners as part of The Junior Great Books Foundation program for learning. "I have known Gerry for approximately 25 years, since our early days in college, and I have seen him mature into
a prolific writer on American Indian literature. I feel he has once again caught the spirit of his quest."" "Navajo myths are among the most poetic in the world, full of dazzling word imagery. Hausman's meditations are
likewise sheer poetry, traveling on sunbeams." |
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A MIND WITH WINGS: A towering figure of American literature, Henry David Thoreau is credited with creating a uniquely American literary style, giving birth to the naturalist movement, and inspiring the social action of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Thoreau is seen by many as the very embodiment of the American spirit. However, Thoreau's own writings, such as Walden, are written in a style that is tremendously difficult for young readers. A Mind with Wings will help young people to gain access to Thoreau's influential ideas by bringing them inside the key relationships and events that shaped his thought. Drawing on Thoreau's writings, letters, and journals, the Hausmans have created a narrative that is at once simple, folksy, engaging, and profound. The book spans Thoreau's life, including his time spent at Walden Pond, his imprisonment for refusing to pay taxes, his close relationship with Emerson, and his work freeing slaves on the Underground Railroad. Key scenes from Thoreau's life are rendered with detail and emotion that make them unforgettable. A Mind with Wings also emphasizes themes and issues that are relevant to adolescents. For much of the narrative, Thoreau is a young man in the process of inventing himself, and he does so in opposition to much of what society expects of him. Thoreau's nonconformity, questioning of the status quo, and self-reliance make him the kind of protagonist that many adolescents can relate to. A Mind with Wings also includes a complete chronology of Thoreau's life and a helpful glossary of terms. "Thoreau is a man best understood by the young whose minds are still free. The Hausmans have written
A Mind with Wings especially for them. It soars!" "This fictionalized biography will serve the purpose of introducing Thoreau and his ideas to younger YAs,
to prepare them for reading Walden when they are a bit older. The authors are careful to stick to the facts of
Thoreau's life, and they reconstruct conversations based on their reading of letters and diaries of Thoreau and
his contemporaries. Because this is written for Yas, the emphasis is placed on Thoreau's schooling, his teaching
of young people, his friendships, his close relationship with his brother, and his brilliant, original thinking.
Helpful are the addition of a glossary explaining such terms as transcendentalism and the Fugitive Slave Law as
well as a bibliography with 22 entries to lead young readers further into an understanding of Thoreau's
contribution to our history and culture."
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HORSES OF MYTH Horses have been our companions since our earliest times on this earth. Without the horse's strong back, we couldn't have built the world we know today. According to mythology, our connection goes even deeper--it says that long ago humans were born of horses, and we can still remember flying with them across the heavens. The five stories in this book pay homage to that magic being, the noble horse. You will meet the Arabian racer who outran Time on the sands of the Sahara, the American mustang who stopped a battle in Montana, the Mongolian pony who changed his shape and his owner's fortune, the Timor, who chased ghosts on the island of Tahiti, and the Karabair in Armenia who made a man into a legendary leader. These are mystical tales that tell of racers, jumpers, warriors, carriers, healers and stealers of the human heart. "The Hausmans follow up Cats of Myth with a briefer but similarly world-spanning set of horse
stories, each one retold in an idiom evocative of its origins and backed up by closing comments about featured
breeds and source notes...Matching style to setting, Florczak gives his full-page and full-spread paintings distinctive
looks for each engaging tale." "These five tales each feature a different type of horse, remarkable for both its individuality and the
qualities representative of its breed. In each case, the animal plays an important–or even life-changing–role in
the existence of its human owner (or, perhaps better, partner)... Florczak's illustrations adapt characteristics
appropriate to the locations and time periods of each selection's origins: from the stylized, almost lacquered
look of the tales from Asia to the rich tropics suggestive of Gauguin to the comical cowboy in The Mustang. The
Hausmans include afterwords and acknowledgments, giving more information about the backgrounds of the stories and
their approach to writing them. This is an attractive volume, useful to teachers and librarians for read-alouds
and of interest to horse-loving youngsters." |
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THE BOY FROM NINE MILES: Bob Marley's music is known around the globe. The BBC selected One Love as the anthem of the millenium and Time magazine declared EXODUS the album of the twentieth century. However, while much has been said about the man and his music, very little has been written about his childhood and the influences that made him into the most important artist to give voice to the third world. Alive with the vivid colors of Jamaica, The Boy From Nine Miles begins in the small village where Nesta Robert Marley opened his eyes to the world. The story moves to the markets and streets of Kingston. Here, separated from his family, the five-year-old boy first felt the pain and sorrows of poverty. During his year-long stay in Kingston, the young Marley also found the music that was in his heart. By the time he returned to Nine Miles, he knew he would be a singer. Eloquently told by Cedella Marley and Gerald Hausman, The Boy From Nine Miles is illustrated by Mariah Fox in the folk art style of Jamaica. Complete with additional biographical material, a discography, Jamaican glossary, and a brief time-line, The Boy from Nine Miles is a wonderful introduction to Bob Marley that readers of all ages will cherish and enjoy. "...a delightful and long awaited children's version of Bob's life ...invitingly vivid drawings by Mariah Fox...highly
recommended for de yout' dem." ""...this intriguing biography describes Marley's early life in such fateful terms...rich rhythmic language, rife with
biblical imagery..."
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THE JACOB LADDER When Tall T is twelve years old, his life is turned upside down by a bowl of soup. The obeah woman next door slips a secret potion into some calaloo soup and gives it to Tall T's father, who immediately turns into a stranger and leaves his family. Tall T now becomes head of the household, taking on his father's role. His mother earns only a small amount of money as a laundress - and there are six children to feed. She says that Tall T must be like Jacob in the Bible - Jacob, who dreamed of miracles. "...Pulsating with exotic color, the story Hausman and Hinds have created is vibrant and heartwarming... a prose poem of a
book..."
A New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age, 2002 |
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DUPPY TALK A unique collection of authentic West Indian ghost stories. The tales feature a shadow-catching obeah man, a Caribbean bush doctor, a magician, a mermaid, and the folklorist Gerald Hausman, who seeks the strange and bizarre in the forests of Jamaica where he is working as a school teacher. The author presents duppies or ghosts in a way that is mysterious, suspenseful, as well as humorous and magical. Whether you're looking for history or just island atmosphere, this book delivers spine-tingling and amusing folklore. "...bone-rattling ghost stories..."
An Aesop Accolade Award given by the Children's Section of the American Folklore Society As seen on the History Channel's Haunted History |
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THE STORY OF BLUE ELK The tale of a boy born without the ability to utter a sound. A magnificent elk casting a blue shadow visits him on the day of his birth, then disappears. The link between the silent boy and his elk brother runs deep, and when the boy is ready to become a man, it is the spirit of the elk that guides him in finding his true voice and fulfilling his destiny. "With beautiful, vivid language, Hausman conveys the interconnectedness between Native Americans and the natural world and the
gifts each gives. Rodanas' realistic paintings show respect for the individuals and the setting. A lyrical tale from a gifted and
experienced storyteller." |
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NAPOLEON & JOSEPHINE: Josephine grows up on the tropical island of Martinique longing for a glorious life in Paris, where she is destined to be "...more than a queen". An arranged marriage to a French nobleman brings her to the city of lights, but not to the lifestyle she imagined. After the death of her husband during the French Revolution, Josephine's fate leads her to the curious general Napoleon Bonaparte. The two embark on a tumultuous relationship filled with love, grief, sorrow and the most unpredictable circumstances. Married to Napoleon, Josephine achieves her destiny of being more than a queen. As Empress of France she has as much influence over her adopted nation as does her husband. This dramatic novel explores one of history's most famous romances while describing the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era. "This bittersweet tale of love, loss, and imperial conquest is presented in an artful way by the Hausmans...will appeal to younger
readers who have an eye for romance" "A classic love story wherein both parties rise beyond their simple beginnings to become 'more than' a king or a queen, this work of
historical fiction will enchant those teen readers who thrive on tales of royalty or on Cinderella stories"
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CASTAWAYS Here are six unforgettable tales of people who are set upon by raging weather, swooping seas, hunger, thirst, wild animals, overwhelming loneliness and harshest of all, their own inner demons. Based on historical accounts and legends and seasoned with the author's experiences at sea, these exciting stories are fired with desperation, chilled with haunting breezes . . . and warmed by the sweet peace of survival. "Ghosts and mythical creatures appear throughout the stories, especially in "The Beasts of Philip Ashton,"
in which the castaway succumbs to madness trying to ward off the night beasts and day beasts. A story about Logan Welsh and
a ghostly encounter with the Pinta is loosely based on the real adventures of Joshua Slocum. .... this collection would make
a good read-aloud for middle grades."
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Escape from Botany Bay is an Accelerated Reader |
ESCAPE FROM BOTANY BAY: The year is 1786. The place: Cornwall, England. Nineteen-year-old Mary is sentenced to hang for the crime of stealing a lady's bonnet. Then, at the last moment, her sentence is commuted, and Mary is placed aboard a prison ship bound for Botany Bay in New Holland (present day Australia). Chained below deck in crowded, hot, and filthy conditions, Mary and her fellow prisoners fight for survival on a journey of several thousand miles. From her marriage to Will Bryant in the harsh conditions of the New Holland settlement at Botany Bay, to the birth of her two children, to her family's daring escape from Botany Bay, Mary is a heroine for any century. "The hardships Mary and her friends endured are mind-boggling, but Mary is incredibly strong and strong-willed. She has a marine's baby girl, marries a convict at Botany Bay and has a son. She is determined to escape, and ultimately sails away with her family and a few others in a small boat. This true adventure is a page-turner."
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TOM CRINGLE Just two and a half weeks after Tom makes the bold declaration to go to sea, he sets sail aboard the Bream as a midshipman in England's navy. The War of 1812 is raging, and Tom's ship is headed to Jamaica to patrol the waters against pirates. Tom finds all the adventure he ever dreamed of - and then some. Within his first few months as a sailor, he's caught in a life-and-death battle with a mysterious ghost ship, is rescued from a shipwreck by his faithful dog, Sneezer, survives an earthquake, and is kidnapped by Obediah Glasgow, a fierce and dangerous pirate for whom Tom develops an unexpected loyalty. "...this grand mix of pulse-pounding action, vivid language, exotic locales, and colorful characters fits firmly in the
tradition of Treasure Island."
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of 2000 |
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TOM CRINGLE The war of 1812 is raging and fourteen-year-old Tom Cringle has just been made a lieutenant in the British navy. He's thrilled but also worried that nobody--especially hard, seasoned sailors--will take a kid in charge seriously. There's not too much time to worry though, because suddenly Tom finds himself off the coast of Jamaica chasing elusive slave ships, fighting sharks, and enduring brutal battles. Tom struggles with his conscience as he is ordered to travel across swampy wilderness to return a group of stolen slaves back to their master's plantation. Tom tests his limits as he stands up for what he believes is right even when authorities disagree with him. "...Colorful characters...plenty of brisk action, a vividly rendered tropical setting and a capable but clumsy protagonist
whose insecurities vanish in the crunch once again making a winning combination..." |
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DOCTOR MOLEDINKY'S CASTLE Twelve year old Andy and his best friend Pauly spend one remarkable summer exploring their town Berkeley Bend and delving into the secrets of its unusual inhabitants. Woven into the tale are weird glimpses of Doctor Moledinky, his castle, moat and strange animal museum. Best of all is the mystery of Moledinky's moat with its unknown monster curving just under the surface. "Lyrical language that yields passages to be reread and shared."
A School Library Journal Sleepers List: |
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THE COYOTE BEAD When the "blue coats," United States Federal forces, came to move The People from their land, many Navajo lost their lives, and most were driven away on The Long Walk. His tribe decimated, his parents murdered, one boy manages to escape with his shaman grandfather. Their quest: to save their people by finding and reuniting the mythical and powerful coyote beads which balance the opposing energies of peace and violence, harmony and war. This book has been called a "Native American Harry Potter" by students who believe The Coyote Bead shows the American Indian way of using magic, employing the forces of nature to overcome human adversity. "Gerald Hausman's finest book." "Gerald Hausman brings a poet's keen vision to this narrative of a Native American tragedy, one that reverberates with so much
that was to come in our own time. Hausman knows the Navajo people, the land, and the healing wisdom of their culture as well as any
living American writer." |
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DOGS OF MYTH The authors retell thirteen tales that capture the spirit of our beloved friend, the many-faceted dog. Here are the tricksters, the well-meaning but forgetful Husky who accidentally brought Death to the world. Here are the guardian dogs, like the Wolfhound who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his master's baby. Here are the super dogs, like the Poodle who could speak four languages, catch bullets with his teeth, and change shape. Here, too, is the story of the first man and dog and the promises they made - and many more. "These stories of magical dogs, god dogs and first dogs make for a wonderful collection in which various cultures find ways to
pay tribute to some locally distinctive breed, whether it's a basenji or a Rottweiler. Barry Moser's watercolors... endow each dog
with seriousness and nobility"
Starred Review Publishers Weekly American Booksellers Kids' Pick of the List Scholastic Book Club Selection Simonsays (more kid's books from Simon & Schuster) |
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CATS OF MYTH Cats have been worshipped and honored by human beings since ancient times. Here are nine stories that pay homage to the mysterious, magical, nine-lived cat, who has faithfully guided and protected us through the ages. In these pages, you'll meet the tabby who, in the time of beginnings, decided that a human hearth was the proper place for a cat. You'll discover a Japanese bobtail who uses her cunning and martial arts skills to protect a master swordsman from an uppity rat. And you'll find a Siamese who helps her owner defeat a monster and win the hand of a princess. Cats of Myth is a thoroughly enjoyable tribute to our most clever companion, the mystical cat. "This handsome, oversize book is not just a treat for cat lovers but also for readers who enjoy a good folktale. The authors
offer nine stories about cats, dividing them into categories such as the trickster cat, the guardian cat, the goddess cat. The tales
come from many places and many times... Leslie Baker's enchanting watercolor art using layered washes appears throughout the
stories."
A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of 2000
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GHOST WALK The stories explore the realm of the supernatural as it complements and shadows everyday life. These are ghost stories in the nontraditional sense tales of the spirit of Native America. This is the second in the series (Turtle Dream is Book One) also sensitively drawn by Sid Hausman in a style that recaptures the authentic style of old western illustration. The book is an intriguing look at legend and real life, the stories featuring real people, most of them Native American friends of the author. |
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TURTLE DREAM A true reflection of native customs, but more importantly, they reveal that startling moment when life causes us to surrender our conscious power, to discover the nature of who we really are. The stories feature a foot race in Hopi country and Jemez Pueblo, a visit to the Havasupai of the Grand Canyon, a trip to Navajoland and a meeting with the mythical turquoise horse, and a ride on turtle's back in the country of the Iroquois. Beautifully illustrated throughout in soft pencil by Sid Hausman. "...lyrical, quietly forceful pieces, that effectively portray their characters' links to both the physical and spiritual
worlds."
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