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Author Knudson Dies:
R. R. Knudson, an author whose stories about girls and women in sports, particularly her series of Zan novels, heralded the lowering of gender barriers on the playing field, died on May 3 at her home in St. Petersburg, Fla. She was 75 and also lived in Sea Cliff, N.Y. Ms. Knudson wrote more than 40 books. But she is best known, particularly among teenage girls, for the four Zan books. Published in the years after the passage of Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibited federal funding for education programs that discriminate on the basis of sex, including sports, the series called on young women to eschew cheerleader skirts and pompoms. Its central character, Suzanne Hagen, nicknamed Zan, is a fun-loving all-around athlete. The first in the series, Zanballer (Delacorte, 1972), was based on Ms. Knudson's own experience as a high school girl in Alexandria, Va. She had spent the summer of 1946 honing her basketball skills. But just as the basketball season was about to begin, the school gymnasium floor was torn up because it had warped. The boys' team was bused to practice at a local Y.M.C.A. All that was left for the girls was a dance class. Rozanne Ruth Knudson was born in Washington on June 1, 1932, one of six children of James and Ruth Ellsworth Knudson.

Appel, Julie and Guglielmo, Amy, (authors of the Touch the Art series).
POP WARHOL'S TOP . Sterling, 2006. $9.95, ISBN 9781402735691.
FEED MATISSE'S FISH . Sterling, 2006. $9.95. ISBN 9781402735684.
MAKE VAN GOGH'S BED . Sterling, 2006. $9.95. ISBN 9781402735677.
Art appreciation for toddlers is an unusual topic, but this board book series with tactile elements may work for those who take their kids to museums. Warhol's soup can has a hinged lid that moves up and down, Thiebaud's picture of cakes have “bumpy” icing, and Lichtenstein's mustard feels sticky. Nine notable modern art paintings are shown in each book, with a paragraph describing each in the back. Note that there are small parts that could come off, and there is a “Choking Hazard” warning on the back of each book.

Carr, Karen. MY DINOSAUR BOOK (SMITHSONIAN). Harper, 2007. $5.99, ISBN 9780060899493.
Anon. MY BABY ANIMAL BOOK (SMITHSONIAN). Harper, 2007. $5.99, ISBN 9780060899486.
Straightforward questions and answers make up the texts of this easy nonfiction books. “What has black-and-white fur and very good hearing and eats bamboo?” The answer (panda bear) is on the page, and the full color photo also gives us a clue. In the book on dinosaurs, full-color realistic paintings depict the creature, and the pronunciation of each is also spelled out in syllables. Great books for a wide age range, these can even serve as easy readers.

Lessac, Frane. ISLAND COUNTING 1 2 3 . Candlewick, 2008. $6.99, ISBN 9780763635183.
Both useful and original, this counting board book is set in the Caribbean. Originally published in 2005, I did not have the picture book version with which to compare this. But as a counting book it is delightful, with both the numeral, word, and things to count in each picture. Lessac's folk art paintings clearly depict the things to be counted, from two parrots, to six cricket players, to nine limbo dancers.

James, Simon. LITTLE ONE STEP . Candlewick, 2008. $6.99, ISBN 9780763635206.
Compared to the 2005 picture book version, the board book is about one fourth the size. But everyone word and picture are there, just greatly reduced. The story of the littlest duckling who learns from his big brother to walk one step at a time to cover the long distance to their mama is relatable to the toddler audience. The yellow - toned watercolor and fine ink outlines work well in close-up but not from a distance, which is fine for a board book.

Bloom, Suzanne. A SPLENDID FRIEND, INDEED. Boyd Mills, 2007. $10.95, ISBN 9781590784877.
Word for word the same as the original picture book edition (Boyd Mills, 2005), the Geisel Honor book has been converted into a board book. It is about half the size of the original, but nearly the same price, so it is not a great choice for libraries. But the full color illustrations of the polar bear and the duck are delightful.

Wax, Wendy. DORA'S CAMPING TRIP . Simon, 2007. $5.99, ISBN 9781416934340.
Dora the Explorer and her monkey friend books go camping. The text is quite long for a board book; this would have been more appropriate as a picture book. The full color cartoon illustrations reflect the style seen on the television series.

Hill, Eric. SPOT SLEEPS OVER . Putnam, 2007. $6.99, ISBN 9780399247699.
Originally published in 1990 as a picture book, the board book version has sturdy flaps that lift up to show hidden items in the pictures. The white backgrounds and colorful characters are perfect babies and toddlers, and the simple story and guessing game are also age appropriate. The Spot series work well as board books, and the bindings and flaps hold up better than the picture book editions.

Hale, Rachel. LOVE TAILS . LB Kids, 2007. $6.99, ISBN 9780316113212.
Hale, Rachel. FURRY FRIENDS. LB Kids, 2007. $6.99, ISBN 9780316113199.
Part of the “Paw Pals” series, these board books feature full color close-up photos of baby animals - mostly puppies and kitties, but a few lambs and other critters. The books are overly “cutesy,” with pastel pink and blue borders and backgrounds. The text is rhyming verse that doesn't always work but would be suitable for a Valentine greeting card.

Davis, Caroline.
MY TOYS . ISBN 9781589258259.
MY PETS. ISBN 9781589258242.
MY FRIENDS. ISBN 9781589258235.
MY BABIES. ISBN 9781589258228. Tiger Tales, 2007, $6.95 each.
Imported from England, this board book series features cartoon-style full color illustrations that really easy for babies and toddlers to decode. The super-sturdy flaps open on the side with a tab, and reveal an animal or person, with just one or two words identifying what is hidden. The very simple stories and guessing game elements are perfect for this age group, and the bindings seem indestructible.

Submitted by : Penny Peck, San Leandro Public Library

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