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Stravaganza

City of Ships
by Mary Hoffman
357p. 978-1-59990-491-7.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 1 Little Bear has too many items on his Christmas list and does not want to cull it down. When all the gifts under the tree go to his cousins, he suffers the indignity of watching the coveted skateboard, hobbyhorse, and pogo stick belong to someone else. Unsatisfied with the envelope he has gotten, Little Bear leaves it unopened and retreats under the kitchen table, coming out when his cousins need help figuring out how to play with their toys. The shared experiences are so much fun that Little Bear forgets about his own present, making his reward at the end all the sweeter. While the characters are not very expressive, the subtle touches make Little Bear's spoiled behavior easier to swallow. The illustrations also help the lesson gently unfold through the story, rather than overtly explaining the virtues of patience and sharing, or that the holiday is about more than just presents.-"Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
In the series' fourth installment, Isabel is transported to an alternate Renaissance Italy. There she joins a secret group of schoolmates called upon to save Talia. While the stravaganti learn more about their talismans, Isabel fights in a sea battle outside of Classe. Although it’s hard to keep the characters straight, the picturesque settings and well-developed relationships will reward readers.

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