Jackie French Koller

When his family moves to a new house - a lovely, old, new house - Howard is excited at first. Then he has to go to sleep in his big, old bed, and he becomes convinced that there is a monster underneath it. His mother assures him that there is no such thing as monsters. Monster, meanwhile, is convinced that there is a scary boy above his bed, and although his mother tells him that boys are just pretend, he isn't convinced. Each young creature tries his mother's patience, as he cries out again show more and again in alarm. But what will happen when Harold and Monster come face to face...?

An amusing bedtime reassurance tale, No Such Thing reminds me quite a bit of such titles as Mercer Mayer's There's a Nightmare in My Closet, or Dr. Seuss's What Was I Scared Of?, both of which explore the idea of our childhood boogeymans being every bit as afraid of us, as we are of them. The resolution of the story here will offer comfort to young children afraid of what might be lurking in the dark, while the very last page will leave them giggling. The artwork, done by Betty Lewin in pen and ink and watercolor, is full of movement and fun, as might be expected from the illustrator of the Click, Clack, Moo books. I don't know that these illustrations are as accomplished as those in the Cronin books, but then, this was an earlier title. Recommended to anyone looking for humorous reassurance stories for the picture-book set. show less

In The Primrose Way by Jackie French Koller we find a detailed account of the first years of settlement in the Boston colony and its environs. Beginning in 1633, we find Rebekah Hall on board a ship from England just as they sight the land surrounding Massachusetts Bay. Rebekah is coming to join her father, an elder in the church. She is excited to reach the colony yet after leaving the comfort of a cozy home with servants she is somewhat taken aback at the conditions she finds in Boston. show more Things go downhill once more when she leaves the relatively civilized Boston for the new settlement of Agawam at the edge of the wilderness. Throughout the story Rebekah will deal with betrayal, loss, and love. But will she opt to return to England and the chance to be a bride in an arranged marriage or choose to remain in the colony and seek her true love?

The Primrose Way is a clever tapestry of fact and fiction that is skillfully woven by the author. Great detail into the everyday existence of both white settlers and Native Americans gives the reader a true picture of what life was like in the early 17th century. Easy reading that will move you through the story at a rapid pace but you’ll want to slow down and savor each finely drawn scene. Don’t gloss over the details – they add so much to the story. And while the story is placed in early America the characters deal with problems that are relevant today.

This book includes a glossary of Native American terms as well as a detailed bibliography for further reading. Teachers and students alike will enjoy The Primrose Way not only for its story but for the lessons it teaches. Highly recommended. show less

I simply love Jackie French Koller's Dragonling chapter-books, as well as her longer historical novel, The Primrose Way, so when my online friends began raving about this Narragansett Thanksgiving title, I knew that I had to give it a try! Nickommoh (a Narragansett word for a celebratory gathering) is a tale, in the broadest sense of the word, of a pre-Columbian harvest celebration amongst the Narragansett, and describes the activities - from games to sweat-lodges - that participants might show more have engaged in, during such a gathering.

Koller credits Dr. Ella Sekatau, the Tribal Ethnohistorian of the Narragansett Indian Tribe, as an adviser, and uses many Narragansett words (all glossed at the rear) in her narrative. The result is a book that is most informative, although it doesn't really present a story, so much as an extended description. Still, I appreciated the information contained in both text and brief afterword - where Koller makes the point that the first Thanksgiving would have looked much more like a Nickommoh celebration, than our modern holiday - and found the artwork, done with scratchboard and gouache, quite interesting.

Although I do celebrate modern Thanksgiving with my family, I tend to make less of a "fuss" about it, than some other holidays. That said, this is one of a handful of titles I might choose to give to a child, at this time of year. show less

In a world where men hunt dragons to prove their worth, young Darek discovers a baby dragon who has lost his way from the valley of dragons. Charmed by the little thing, Darek finds himself having to re-evaluate his long-held beliefs about the inherent evilness of dragons.

This is short and sweet fantasy book. Technically it's a chapter book, but it's really just a short step up from an early reader, which makes it a good transition book for young readers. It is the first in the series, which show more it seems like could all be one long book, but I think this way works well for pulling kids in without overwhelming. The occasional black-and-white drawing illustration also makes it appealing for younger and/or struggling readers.

Personally, the story didn't do a whole lot for me; I enjoyed it enough to read quickly but enough to continue on with the series. Zantor the dragon is indeed charming and heart-warming. With Darek, it was nice to have that character growth and development regarding the viewing of the "other" (in this context, dragons but it could easily be used as a lesson about people who are different than oneself). The strict gender roles was a little off-putting. Somewhat understandable given that the book is indeed about 30 years old, but the reissuing means it's essential "new" again on the shelves. show less