Three new children's books explore father-daughter bonds
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Lois Lowry's "Crow Call" tells the story of a girl getting reacquainted with her father.
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Unusual circumstances and strong personalities blend in three new books to create emotional and unforgettable stories of discovery, acceptance and love involving the father-daughter bond.
Barbara Kerley writes another lively account of a strong girl whose father just happens to be a major public figure of his time. "The Extraordinary Mr. Twain (According to Susy)" (Scholastic, $17.99, ages 7-11) is the second collaboration between Kerley and illustrator Edwin Fotheringham.
Just as it does in the award-winning "What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!," energy spills from the pages of this well-researched account. Kerley's engaging text and Fotheringham's vibrant illustrations bring the characters to life and convey a young girl's honest and endearing impressions of her beloved father to the reader.
When Susy Clemens was 13, she set out to write her father's biography.
To her way of thinking, "It troubles me to have so few people know Papa, I mean really know him." Readers are treated to excerpts from Susy's diary (complete with a few misspellings) in mini-folded inserts within the pages of the larger book.
Susy and her dad dance through the pages, inviting us to share everyday routines, private moments, summer vacations at Quarry Farm and a variety of events in their very colorful lives.
Susy especially loves the farm where her Papa rides a donkey named Kiditchin and writes in an open-air octagonal study, far away from the public eye. This father and daughter not only share a passion for writing but also are confidants, respected companions and trusted friends.
Lois Lowry, author of numerous award-winning books for young people, shares a personal story in her first picture book, "Crow Call" (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 9-12), illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.
First Published January 12, 2010 12:00 am
