Weekend Reviews (II)

I hope you've all had a relaxing weekend. Here are the remaining weekend reviews and a bonus do-not-miss essay.

Warning: Do-not-miss Essay Alert!

Please read this interesting take on The Golden Compass debate by Donna Freitas in The Boston Globe. I don't completely agree with each point of Freitas's argument, but this is an article to print out and hand to every person who is currently yelling about The Golden Compass and Pullman's supposed attempts to convert children to atheism. Freitas writes, for example, "It is a beautiful story, and a Christian story. It is a story that could prompt believers to reflect on their faith. It is just not a story that everyone may want you to read." Again, do not miss this essay. It's thought-provoking and beautifully written.

Okay, now on to the reviews:

Kim Baer reviews Steve Martin and Roz Chast's The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z! for the Fredricksburg Free-Lance Star.

Nicholas A. Basbanes reviews picture books with the theme of "togetherness" in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

The Washington Post Kids Post Book of the week is The Museum Book, by Jan Mark and illustrated by Richard Holland

Katie Haegele reviews The Eyes of the Amaryllis for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Susan Faust reviews the best Hanukkah books of the season for the San Francisco Chronicle. (Susan Faust also reviews board and popup books here.)

Regan McMahon reviews the "old" (classics, reissues, and old friends) in children's books for the San Francisco Chronicle.