Who Owns the Sun
Grade 1-6-- These books will inspire young writers, both because of the quality of the works as well as of the young ages of their creators. In Who Owns the Sun?, 14-year-old Chbosky has written a lyrical tale of the need for freedom and of the dignity of the human spirit. A young black boy observes the wonders of nature and asks his father who owns them. Although told that no one can "own" such marvels, the boy learns that his father--this man whom he reveres above all else--is, indeed, owned by another. The Half & Half Dog, by 12-year-old Gross, is a story of tolerance, of a dog learning that he is worthy of love, and that his unusual appearance makes him special. Joshua Disobeys, by six-year-old Vollmer, tells the story of a young whale that fails to heed its mother's warning and is dangerously beached until it is rescued by an angry yet ever-devoted parent. The book can serve well as a starting point for discussions on parent/child relations, and the two pages of facts on whales will make it a suitable choice for units on whaling. While the strength of the books lies in their texts, the watercolor and marker illustrations have pronounced colors and are often suggestive of expressionistic styles. These books will prove worthwhile additions for promoting values discussions and in encouraging creative writing. --Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, Wheeler School, Providence, R.I.Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.