Better Together

Friends and family, people, celebrate for any number of reasons.  None of these gatherings to observe something spectacular or the simple joy of another day, month, year or life well-lived are complete without food, especially dessert.  Said to be the most traditional American dessert pies have been historically documented throughout the world for centuries.  Most people will agree, there is nothing quite so savory as a fresh-baked straight-from-the-oven pie. 

Sometimes the first slice of pie is a bit tricky to cut and serve but the lucky recipient is certain to be happy whether it comes out whole or in pieces.  Pie Is for Sharing (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, May 5, 2018) written by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard with illustrations by Jason Chin takes readers to a sunny summer day in a park near the beach.  Children (and their parents) are making lasting memories.

Pie is for sharing.

It starts out whole

and round.

Even though you can make the slices large or small, sometimes there is not quite enough for everyone.  Pie, on this sunny summer day, is not the only thing more than one person can enjoy.  A book, a ball and a tree are for sharing, too.

Jumping rope offers more than one opportunity for happiness. Can you name them?  At the beach the gals and guys sail a small boat down a stream and take a rest on the toasty sand.  Some people and natural treasures are more easily given than time with 

your best friend.

An unexpected tumble does not hurt as much if someone holds and helps you.  From the mishap you can create a tale of adventure.  Secret spaces and discoveries are better with a pal.  

Singing an impromptu song, tasting ripe berries and snacking on homemade bread rounds out the day.  The evening promises even more happiness on this fourth day of July.  We are gathered because everything is better together. 

The entire tone of the book begins with the first four words.  Stephanie Parsley Ledyard fashions an atmosphere of goodwill where all are equal, and compassion dictates the actions of the children.  She asks us to notice the obvious but extends out thinking. When we think we are alone, we are not; a companion is hidden. When we are doing what we think is a single activity she invites us to look at all aspects.  Here is a passage.

Easy to share:

cousins,

sticks,

stones from your pocket.

The illustration on the front (right) of the opened matching dust jacket and book case feels as though you are holding this day in your hands.  The expressions on the children's faces, and their clothing reflects the ease of summer.  Everyone is eager for a slice of the pie, even the youngest's best friend, the black dog.  With little imagination you can hear the quiet chatter of their voices and the sounds of the seagulls. Jason Chin works the colors of red, white and blue into the banner for the title text, the table cloth, plates, napkins and blanket on the right. 

To the left, on the back, evening has arrived.  The boy in the yellow shirt, the brother of the youngest girl, is offering the crumbs in the homemade bread pan to the dog.  The same red used in the title text covers the opening and closing endpapers. With a page turn Jason begins the visual story.  A family is in their kitchen getting ready to go to the park.  Two pies are about to be placed in a picnic basket.  The little girl has a blanket tented on the dog's head and her head.  Her brother is kneeling on a stool at the island.  The dad is filling water bottles at the sink.  

A large double-page picture has the family getting on their bikes in front of the house on a small-town street.  Chalk pictures and chalk are on the sidewalk.  It's a peaceful setting for the title page. On the verso the family is on their bikes, riding.  

Most of the visuals rendered in watercolor and gouache extend from page edge to page edge on full pages or double pages.  For the purpose of pacing several smaller images are grouped on a single page.  Each scene, worthy of framing, has elements leading us to the next image.  On the grass in one of the final illustrations is a book titled Liberty. (I am wondering if this is a nod to Lady Liberty by Doreen Rappaport with illustrations by Matt Tavares.)

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a single page picture.  Five of the children are sitting or lying on a towel on the beach holding the small boat they sailed down the stream.  To their right (our left) the smallest girl is shoveling sand over herself.  Her belly is buried.  The black dog is curled and sleeping next to her.  Behind them is a bank of rocks and a path.  Some of the parents are there with new arrivals. Two tall trees are growing on either side of the girl.  Trees provide a pale varied green background along the top.

Pie Is for Sharing written by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard with illustrations by Jason Chin is a warm-hearted, beautiful portrait of holiday activities and festivities.  It depicts sharing of the little but important moments.  It honors the freedom to do these things.  Perhaps the next time pie is shared readers will pause and notice the other things being shared, in addition to the pie, and be grateful.  I highly recommend this title for your professional and personal book collections.

To learn more about Stephanie Parsley Ledyard and Jason Chin and their other work, please visit their respective websites by following the links attached to their names.  (This is Stephanie's first picture book.)  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.  The publisher also has prepared a discussion and activity guide.  Stephanie Parsley Ledyard and Jason Chin are interviewed at The Horn Book about this title.  This book is featured at author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  Stephanie and Jason maintain accounts on Twitter. 

 

This Means Everyone

Whether you've lived in the same community your entire life or it's brand new for you, today is a different day.  Today is the start of something filled with potential and unexpected twists and turns.  Today is about being your best self and helping others to be the same.

As individuals open the doors of their school and walk down the hallways, they need to know everyone is accepted and appreciated regardless of physical characteristics, ethnicity, or religion.  All Are Welcome (Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, July 10, 2018) written by Alexandra Penfold with illustrations by Suzanne Kaufman is like walking into a party where everyone got an invitation.  All feel the jubilation of being honored equally.

Pencils sharpened in their case.
Bells are ringing, let's make haste.
School's beginning, dreams to chase.
All are welcome here.

Children chatter around the room as parents deliver them into their teacher's care.  The gals and guys come from countries around the world, dressing differently, practicing religions differently and living in families with different dynamics. They embrace these differences.  They are children.

Spending time with musical instruments and placing colorful paints on paper with brushes is done with merry intention.  There are universal truths found in the telling of certain tales.  Connections are made through these stories.  They are children.

Midway through the day, the cafeteria is an array of cuisine from various continents.  Food is shared and tasted.  The playground is a happy haven of games galore.  All join together for fun.  They are children.

In this neighborhood diversity is uplifted.  The knowledge and gifts of one child are freely given to another.  Cultural traditions are enjoyed by all.  When the school day comes to a close, everyone leaves hardly able to wait for the next day. They embrace these differences.  They are children.  They are hope.  Sweet dreams you beautiful little people.


As you read these words written by Alexandra Penfold you find yourself gently swaying or maybe softly tapping your foot.  Whether you are reading them silently or aloud, a melody comes unbidden into the stream of the story.  The repeat of the phrase All are welcome here invites participation.  There is never a question of whether a child or their family is acknowledged or respected.  It's simply who the people in this school are.  By the time you get to the end, you find yourself wrapped in harmony and happiness.  It's the best kind of feeling.  Here is another passage.

Open doors, rush outside.
We will swing we will slide.
We'll have fun side by side.
All are welcome here.


Animated and vibrant the image spread across the opened dust jacket celebrates all children and their families.  They are eager to enter their school building.  They are smiling and greeting each other.  The yellow and white striped walkway and the bold and bright colors on their clothing placed on a white varnished background shouts out a big "Hello world!  Here we come!" (There is a treat on the inside of the dust jacket.)  On the book case thirty different children in three rows of ten (separated by the spine) are spread across the front and back.  They are clasping hands and looking right at the readers.  It's as if they are saying we are in this together.  Won't you join us?

On the opening and closing endpapers a cityscape including the school is presented.  On the first parents are walking through the neighborhood with their children at the start of the day.  (In this picture and all the images there is a prevalent use of primary colors.)  On the final endpapers the school day is over and it's near sunset.  Families are gathering again and carrying food for a special festival.  The school building is on the left side.  As our eyes move to the right we see the playground.  Behind this are apartment buildings.  Beneath the title text a taxi is en route.  A father is driving his little girl to school.

All of the illustrations created using acrylic paint, ink, crayon, and collage with Adobe Photoshop by Suzanne Kaufman span either two pages, a single page, or several visuals are grouped on one or two pages.  These shifts in size contribute to enhancing the text and accentuating the pacing.  Some of the smaller pictures are loosely framed in soft shapes.  A dramatic four-page gatefold will send your spirits soaring.

It's important to notice all the details Suzanne Kaufman uses in completing her images.  The color and type of clothing, the body positions and facial expressions on all the people, adults and children, and what is emphasized in the classroom settings contribute to the overall sense of the book.  She uses white space as a valuable element throughout the story.

One of my many favorite illustrations is when the children are on the playground after lunch.  It spans two pages.  (Even after looking at it multiple times, I expect to hear the shouts and laughter of the children at any moment.)  Across three quarters of the picture is the surface of the playground.  Above that is a layer of grass and then blue sky, trees bearing fall foliage and a full sun.  Several children are reading under one of the trees.  On the left all four swings are being used.  Children are bouncing a ball for four square.  Teether balls are looping around poles on the right.  Two children are playing near the red slide.  A group gathers around the map of the world painted on the surface of the playground.  This is a wonderful sight!


Have you ever looked at something so full of pure contentment you wanted to laugh out loud?  This book, All Are Welcome written by Alexandra Penfold with illustrations by Suzanne Kaufman, is one of those things.  The blend of words and illustrations leaves readers with a form of bliss so complete, there will be many requests to have it read again.  I highly recommend this title for your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman and their other work, please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  Both Alexandra and Suzanne maintain blogs.  Alexandra is on Twitter and Instagram.  Suzanne is also on Twitter.  You can view interior pages at the publisher's website.  This book and Suzanne are showcased at Pragmatic Mom: Education Matters.