The Need To Know

There comes a time in every person's life when their most-used phrase consists of a single word.  It is used frequently during a question and answer conversation.  Sometimes it's used repeatedly, perhaps because the ones saying it know how irritating it can be to some people.  Other times this three-letter word helps to satisfy a mind full of never-ending curiosity.  It's an inquisitiveness which will serve them well over the course of their lives.  It's a search to be informed, understand and become whole.

This single word is why.  It's used with the appropriate punctuation as the title of a new picture book by two-time Caldecott Honor winner (First the Egg and Green) and two-time Geisel Honor winner (First the Egg and One Boy), Laura Vaccaro Seeger.  Why? (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, August 13, 2019) explores chats between a patient bear and a need-to-know rabbit, revealing the depth of their friendship.

"Why?"
asked the rabbit

"Because flowers need water
to grow," said the bear.

From watching the bear with his watering can to sitting on a hill with the bear at nighttime, the rabbit cannot stop asking one question after another question.  During daylight, after finding out why the bear had a telescope on the hill, rabbit needs to know about the bear's over consumption of jugs of honey.  Can you guess why?

Everywhere the bear goes, the rabbit follows, keeping up a constant conversation.  The rabbit even wonders about the bear's inability to follow him down his own hole to his home.  The rabbit's struggle to maintain his grip on a branch and a subsequent fall prompt two more inquiries and replies.

As the seasons shift the bear and the rabbit watch and ponder the flight of geese in their familiar formation.  From colorful leaves to falling snow, the rabbit seeks answers.  When a dead robin is discovered in the snow by the rabbit, the bear admits to sometimes not having the knowledge to respond.

The snow continues to coat the ground, becoming deeper and deeper.  The bear turns to go, but the rabbit asks him to stay.  Now it's the bear's turn to say:

"Why?"

The rabbit's words are guaranteed to elicit a collective sigh from all readers and listeners.


When I think of Laura Vaccaro Seeger, I think of her as a storyteller for our souls. She is a master of words and language, choosing them with care to convey exactly what we all need.  In this narrative we comprehend the curiosity of the rabbit but also value the capacity of the bear for kindness through their give and take dialogue.  When it switches with the bear asking the one-word question, the purity of both their hearts are revealed.


The illustrations in this title are rendered using watercolor.  When you open the dust jacket the bear's body extends over the spine to the back, creating an entire scene.  The layered colors in the sky, grass, and the bear's and the rabbit's bodies invite you to reach out and touch them.  This setting on the dust jacket, all of them throughout the book, emanate warmth and gentleness.

Beneath the jacket on the smooth, soft dark teal book case, the bear and the rabbit are embossed on the front. They are seated on a small hill next to and facing each other.  A lighter teal covers the opening and closing endpapers.  Laura Vaccaro Seeger begins her visual story on the title page.  The rabbit is hopping after the bear that is carrying a watering can.

Each page turn displays a luminous two-page picture with the exception of two pages.  These two pages have smaller images to accentuate the pacing, leading to bear's statement.   When Laura Vaccaro Seeger shifts her perspective, we stand in awe at the portrayal or want to leap into the closeness depicted in the illustration.  Is it me or do I see a tiny, tiny symbol of love in one picture?

The body postures on the bear and the rabbit as well as their facial expressions endear them to us.  These help to make us a part of their conversations.  This is why when seeing the concluding image of the story, which Laura Vaccaro Seeger paints on the verso page, readers will want to hug this book.

One of my many, many favorite visuals is a double-page picture.  The rabbit is tumbling from the branch he was holding after losing his grip on a windy day.  On a sky-blue background with wispy clouds, thicker in the corners, along the sides and along the top and bottom, he is shown three times, left to right.  First, he is facing left, on the left, like he is hopping in air.  Then, on the right, all his limbs are spread with his mouth wide open as he asks:

"Why?"

Nearing the right-hand corner, he is still on his back, but he is trying to slow his drop.  (Bear catches him on the next page.)


Why? written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is a book to cherish for its insightful presentation of friendship, for the exuberant spirit of inquiry and the huge capability for compassion exhibited by her characters.  It will find a place in all readers' souls.  It would be interesting to read this first without bear's replies to see what children's predictions might be based on the wonderful illustrations.   You could also have discussions on other why? circumstances.  I highly recommend you have a copy of this in your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Laura Vaccaro Seeger and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  Laura Vaccaro Seeger has an account on Facebook and Twitter.   There is a five question Q & A at The Horn Book with Laura Vaccaro Seeger in December 2018.  Laura Vaccaro Seeger visits author Tara Lazar's Writing For Kids (While Raising Them to talk about her process and this book.  This book and Laura Vaccaro Seeger are highlighted at author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  You will love seeing the artistic process.  At a publisher's website you can view the title page.

Barnyard Buddies

Spring has been in full swing for many weeks now.  The word weeks instead of months (the spring equinox in 2018 was March 20th) is used because in northern Michigan the worst snow storm of the 2017-2018 winter season was April 13th to April 17th.  It's only been two months since there was two feet of snow on the ground in many places.

Mother Nature has been busy catching up; the wild buttercups and daisies are blooming, an abundance of birdsong begins each day and hordes of insects are hatching. In more domesticated scenes, farms, babies are being born.  Pip & Pup (Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, April 24, 2018) written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin introduces readers to two newborns who aren't quite sure what to think about each other.

As this wordless delight begins an egg cracks open.  With a lot of effort, a tiny chick emerges and hardly believes the shell was its home.  Finding a perch on the barn roof, the fluffy bundle of yellow fashions binoculars with its feathered wings.  It spies a puppy, sleeping deeply.

The puppy is curled next to the large wheel of a tractor.  In order to get the dozing canine's attention, the chick decides to give its nose a quick peck.  It works splendidly with the pup barking at the now alarmed chick.  Scurrying in frantic circles among the other animals, the chick makes it safely back to the two-part shell.

All of sudden at thunderstorm blows over the farm.  Inside the shell the chick is safe using the smaller piece as a cap.  The pup is not as fortunate.  It is frightened and wet.  In a series of scenes the chick arrives, assesses the situation and offers the only form of comfort available.  It's perfect for the pup.

As the storm diminishes and blue sky and sunshine appear, the relationship between the two barnyard buddies gets stronger.  There are comical antics and laughter until disaster strikes.  Of course, the puppy has a solution even if it's not an exact match.


Beautifully conceived by Eugene Yelchin this tale of springtime camaraderie will connect with a variety of readers.  The idea of new life seeking out other new life certainly strikes a chord with readers finding themselves in completely new situations.  The introduction of the inclement weather provides a venue for kindness to build a bridge between the two.


Beginning with the dust jacket, the illustrations rendered in colored pencils, oil pastels, and digital painting are an open invitation to hug this book.  That chick and that puppy on the front of the jacket are adorable with a capital A.  Behind them to the left, on the back, the grass extends with a fence and barn buildings above it.  A bright sun is peeking from a cloud.  The text is varnished as are the puppy and chick on the flaps.

The book case is covered in yellow with flecks of orange, a charming duplication of downy baby chicken feathers.  On the opening and closing endpapers a delicate sky blue hints at the happy ending.  The first image, the cracking egg appears before the title page.  Opposite the title page are six comical pictures of the chick peeking and seeking from the broken shell.

Each wordless illustration is brimming with mood and emotion.  We feel curiosity, wonder, surprise, humor, kindness and the love of friendship.  The manner in which Eugene Yelchin places the elements on each page has us filling in the words in our minds.  He has chosen to make some parts of the picture more prominent (darker) than others, giving us a true sense of perspective which shifts from page to page providing pacing.  There is a special quality to his technique which draws us into each moment.

Most of his illustrations are single page with a fine red line framing them.  To celebrate the end of one thing and the beginning of another six vertical panels span two pages. You will laugh out loud at the final image at the close of the book.  It appears above the dedication and publication information.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is actually two on opposite pages.  On the first one, on the left, the chick nearly fills the page.  It is standing on the peak of the barn roof. A few clouds are drifting by in the background.  The chick is lifting its wings to its eyes forming binoculars.  It is looking right at the reader.  On the next page within two circles is the sleeping puppy.  It's as if we are seeing this canine cutie through binoculars.  Around the two circles is a brushed green shade.


Without a doubt this book, Pip & Pup written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, will become a story time and bedtime favorite.  This is an excellent story without words singing its way into our hearts. When it's read aloud, I know you will hear sounds of laughter.  I know you will hear sighs.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Eugene Yelchin and his other work, please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  He includes several interior images on his site.  Eugene Yelchin also maintains a Facebook page.  At the publisher's website you can view additional images including the two favorites I mentioned here.

Opposite Attraction

They will draw more than the usual attention.  They are like night and day, up and down, fast and slow, and happy and sad.  They are opposite sides of the same coin.  Individuals can't help but stop and stare.

If ever there were two individuals most unsuited to be friends, it's when one is the other's favorite meal, morning, noon and night.  They Didn't Teach THIS in Worm School! (Candlewick Press, February 13, 2018) written and illustrated by Simone Lia is a book about one of those relationships.  This worm and this bird and their highly unlikely companionship will have you howling with laughter.

Chapter One
My name is Marcus.
I am a worm, and this is where I live.
My favorite color is brown.
That's because mud is brown and I really, really, really like mud.

Marcus was living a life he loved until one day digging a hole and then falling asleep changed his entire life.  The next realistic thing he remembered was falling from a can.  A bird looking more like a chicken than a bird was giving him a look which would have any other worm frozen in fear.  Marcus was not any other worm.

He smiled and proceeded to engage this bird, Laurence by name, in an engaging conversation.  Laurence it seemed was an unusual bird.  He believed himself to be a flamingo.  He wanted to locate other flamingos, specifically those residing by Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya.  Before Marcus knew what was happening his new career was that of navigator for Laurence on his flight.  His attempts to avoid this job and get back to digging only served to endear him to Laurence even more.

When Marcus lost the map within mere minutes he had to "wing it" as far as giving Laurence directions from the air.  An accident revealed the loss of the map but a quirk of fate and a skewed view of the surroundings set them back on course to Kenya.  A mole, a squirrel, a crow and a whole bunch of worms figured prominently in the next series of events. (Major eye-rolling, head shaking and laughter is guaranteed.)

Finally continuing their journey the exhausted duo found themselves waking in the morning with the nose of a zebra sniffing them.  As Marcus and Laurence explored their new surroundings they failed to connect the clues as to their geographical position until they saw a familiar beatboxing scamp.  New disclosures had this worm and this bird re-evaluating identity, travel, adventure and the meaning of friendship.


Humor is sure to be present when a story has a worm and a bird becoming best friends.  Simone Lia through the voice of Marcus and the dialogue between Laurence and Marcus and the wonderfully funny cast of characters creates madcap and moving moments.  The contrasts in personality and intelligence of Laurence and Marcus provide one hilarious episode after another.  During their adventures Simone Lia shows readers how individuals can grow and expand their very natures, becoming the best they can be.  Here are some of my marked passages.

What would you do if you were a worm and there was a bird two inches away from your face, looking at you with his beak open so wide that you could see his tonsils?
Maybe you would do what I did.  I smiled a big smile and said in my most cheerful voice,
Good morning!

"And secondly---you probably know this already---but when you cook worm, you have to add tarragon.  You know about tarragon, don't you?  It's an herb.  You do have some for the stew, don't you?"
The mole looked at the squirrel, and the squirrel looked at the crow.  The crow shook his head.
"No, we don't," said the mole.
"Oh," I said, shaking my head, too, pretending to be sad that they didn't have any tarragon.
"What?" asked the mole.
"Well, if you add worm without tarragon it's going to ruin the flavor of the whole stew.  And if it ruins the flavor of the stew, then you won't get that hug in your heart."

As we went around and around in circles, I wondered if I would be wearing a twig hat on my head while chanting if I were back at home.  I thought to myself that I would have laughed at these guys and said that they were all off their rockers.  But here in France I didn't have much choice but to try to blend in with the locals, even if they happened to be total weirdos.


In looking at the front of the case cover (I am working with an ARC.) you can view the limited color palette employed by Simone Lia for this title.  In this volume all of the interior illustrations are in black and white.  With every page turn images enhance the pacing and heighten the humor.

Simone Lia shifts the sizes, perspective and number of illustrations per page to accentuate the plot.  Sometimes she will use line drawings and at other times the visuals are filled in with shading.  Several times sounds will be added to the pictures as well as speech bubbles for exclamations.  It's amazing how she is able to convey the moods of her characters, especially Marcus, with the adept use of lines.

One of my many favorite pictures is when Marcus believes he and Laurence are in the presence of the Eiffel Tower.  When you contrast this visual with their conversation, you can't help but laugh.  The duo is perched on top of a fence post.  Stretching from the left to the right of a two-page illustration is a row of electrical towers (pylons) connected with lines.  Behind them is a row of trees and in front of them a field extends to the fence where Marcus and Laurence are looking on in awe.


If you love to laugh and enjoy the idea of an unexpected friendship, They Didn't Teach THIS in Worm School! written and illustrated by Simone Lia is a book you absolutely need on your professional and personal bookshelves.  Even repeated readings will cause you to guffaw at the situations this worm and this bird encounter and their responses.  You should consider multiple copies.

To learn more about Simone Lia and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  At her website she has excerpts from the book and views of her artistic process.  At the publisher's website you can view an interior image.  At another publisher's site you can read the first thirty-one pages.  There is a short interview with Simone Lia at The Children's Book Review.

It Never Fails

She was in her twenties before she heard him say those three powerful words to her.  He was a believer in actions speaking louder than words.  There was no doubt of his love for her but to hear those words spoken to her with quiet purpose is a cherished memory.

Love manifests itself silently without fanfare in everyday moments, a smile or an extended hand.  It can roar so the whole world is aware of its presence.  Love (G. P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, January 9, 2018) written by Matt de la Pena with illustrations by Loren Long lifts up love so readers can rejoice in its beauty as it radiates into our hearts and surrounds our souls.

In the beginning there is light
and two wide-eyed figures standing
near the foot of your bed,
and the sound of their voices is love.

If you listen and look you will hear it and see it in the city scene as you pass by in a taxi.  Love makes an appearance no matter where you live or the time of day.  You need to let it wash over you in the gifts given by Mother Nature and in the singular sounds of human progress.

Children of all ages in all seasons give love in their laughter.  Reach out, share it and join in their joy. In the midst of tragedy, heartache, or a nightmare, a voice can shelter us or a pet can comfort us and speak of love.  Love wraps around us every single day if we think about the people who are a part of our lives.  What they do is a love song just for us.

Have you ever studied the face of a grandparent, parent or beloved adult?  The wrinkles lining their faces represent paths traveled to give love.  Do you remember family stories?  Is there one member whose tales are taller than the others?  This is love.

Strangers send love into the world when they pursue their musical passion.  You have love too.  It's seen in your reflection.  So sweet children, wherever you go, there is love in you, in others, and in the world.


These twenty five sentences, these phrases, written by Matt de la Pena speak of seeking and finding love in ordinary places, in spaces we share with others.  He asks us to be aware and to understand the numerous forms of love.  Readers will be connected to other readers through Matt's depictions of love beginning with his first sentence.  This connection will broaden and grow deeper page by page.  Here are three sentences, one following the other.

And in time you learn to recognize
a love overlooked.
A love that wakes at dawn and
rides to work on the bus.
A slice of burned toast that tastes like love. 


When I first looked at the dust jacket with the shades of yellow and rich blues with a hint of purple, it wrapped around me like a hug. (When I left home for the first time going to college my mother made me a bedspread, pillow case and pillows in these colors.  She said it was to remind me of her and her favorite flowers, violets.)  Artists will tell you these hues are close to complementary.  The front of this dust jacket reminds us storms will pass and sunshine (sunrises and sunsets) will always follow, like love.  This image of the father and child with the yellow umbrella is precious.  To the left, on the back, the darker blue color provides a canvas for a puddle spreading from the top, left portion.  Reflected in the puddle is the child walking and carrying a closed umbrella.  The title text is varnished.

On the book case a thin layer of grass spans from left to right.  Along the top is a slightly larger layer of sky with wisps of clouds.  In the center is bright golden yellow.  This is deeply symbolic.  On the opening and closing endpapers is a deep, deep shade of blue.  On a background of pure white the initial title page shows the word love.  On the formal title page the design of the book case is repeated.

Rendered in

collaged monotype prints, acrylic paint and pencil

the illustrations created by Loren Long will literally take your breath away.   Some of them are loosely framed circles on a single page, others cross the gutter from left to right or right to left leaving a column for text and others span two pages framed in white.  There are single page pictures too.  Loren uses full color but his choices convey mood such as when the child is searching for love in a dream and can't find it.  His perspectives represent shifts in emotion and emphasize those emotions.

The words of Matt de la Pena are enhanced by Loren Long's images.  When Matt speaks of a ride in a cab through a city our eyes are immediately drawn first to the taxis lining the curb.  We are aware of the layers of buildings in the background and the framing of the trees.  We are transported to this park.  A red balloon drifts in the air.  We see the vendor's stand on the far left.  A woman holding a hot dog in one hand and a dog leash, attached to her pup, in the other hand is watching.  To the right a boy in a wheel chair is holding out a hot dog to a man resting on a bench.  A single crutch is leaning against that bench.  There are many stories in this scene.  Each illustration Loren has given us is replete with details inviting discussion and contemplation.

One of my many favorite illustrations is the one for the above-quoted text. It is on a single page.  Two children stand at a window.  The younger of the two is looking outside the window.  It's winter and a man carrying a lunch pail is trudging through the snow toward a bus.  An older sibling is facing the boy, handing him a glass of juice and carrying a plate with burned toast on it.  A large radiator is beneath the window.  (My dad worked in the same factory for forty-one years.  I still have the thermos he carried.  I can't remember him ever missing a day of work.  And I can't eat toast unless it's burned.  My mom always burned the toast.)


Love written by Matt de la Pena with illustrations by Loren Long is as the title states but make no mistake, this is a book conceived and created with love by these two men.  The words and images are about all of us.  We can see and sense ourselves on every single page.  You will want to have multiple copies of this title for your professional collections, at least one for your personal collections and this is one you will be gifting to others often.  Thank you Matt de la Pena and Loren Long.  Thank you with all of my heart.

To learn more about Matt de la Pena and Loren Long and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their respective websites.  Both of them have pages on their sites dedicated to Love. (Matt and Loren)  Please visit those special pages for further understanding of their work on this title.  At the publisher's website you are given a peek inside the book.  Matt de la Pena and Loren Long are guests on NPR's All Things Considered.  You will certainly want to visit Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher's blog, Watch. Connect. Read., to read the interview with Matt and Loren.  You can also view the marvelous book trailer too.

December Dreaming

During the month of December the winter season brings us more than enough wind, bitter temperatures and lots of snow.  It's also a time for reflection on the past year.  It's a time to observe holidays full of tradition with family and friends.  Children celebrating Christmas pen letters to Santa Claus hoping he will grant their requests.  As they get older they realize being "Santa" is far better and offers much more joy.

During the month of December the air seems to be charged with something extra special.  There is a feeling that anything is possible.  A character we met in Penguin and Pinecone: a friendship story (Walker & Company, October 2, 2012) has returned in a sixth title to welcome this wonderful time of year.  Penguin's Christmas Wish (Bloomsbury, September 6, 2016) written and illustrated by Salina Yoon (whose heart is surely filled with as much compassion as Penguin's) takes us on another adventure where Mother Nature, as she is apt to do, has plans of her own.

It was Christmas Eve.  Pumpkin was getting ready for the best holiday ever.

As a penguin what she would really like is to have a real evergreen tree to decorate for Christmas.  Penguin knows exactly what to do.  He gathers the group, Bootsy with her decorations, Pumpkin with the star and Grandpa with the gifts.  With his sleigh loaded with supplies, Penguin leads the way up north.

When they arrive at the home of Pinecone, they are greatly surprised. Pinecone is huge but the scarf made by Penguin is clearly visible as is the heart-shaped circle of stones. In short order, they have Pinecone looking very festive indeed.  As the Christmas Eve night settles around them, Grandpa, Pumpkin and Bootsy murmur their hopes for Christmas surprises.  Penguin seated around a cozy fire has his own wish.

During the night Mother Nature sends a horrible snow storm with wild winds.  On Christmas morning, the penguin foursome is disappointed to see the handiwork wrought by the weather.  All their Christmas trimmings have disappeared.

Wise words from Grandpa give Penguin an idea.  He makes use of the storm's wily deeds.  As Christmas night descends and the crescent moon rises, Penguin realizes how magical Christmas can be.  Every wish is granted in ways never imagined.


Salina Yoon's Penguin books (all her books) are bundles of love.  In the character of Penguin we see how glorious life can be when in service to others.  We come to understand the simplest things make us richer beyond any monetary amount.  In Penguin's world all living beings are equal; everyone (everything) is important and has worth.

Her simple sentences, excellent for younger and beginner readers, are full of meaning.  In addition to the narrative text and dialogue, Yoon includes exclamations, observations and sounds in smaller speech text in the illustrations.  Here is a sample passage.

The penguins 
decorated Pinecone
with all the trimmings.
"What a fine tree," 
said Grandpa.

Now we're ready 
for Christmas!  (Penguin)

WOW! (Pumpkin)


Digitally rendered in Adobe Photoshop using heavier black outlines and bright colors, our present-carrying roly-poly friend Penguin walks toward his friend, Pinecone.  The scene extends over the spine to the back of the book case, highlighting the previous five titles.  Careful readers will see a very tiny Penguin and Pumpkin on the spine bookending the title.  The opening and closing endpapers are a pattern, on deep sky blue, of alternating rows of crossed candy canes and a string of colored lights.  There is a difference with the final endpapers courtesy of Mother Nature.

Beneath the title text Yoon has placed one of the interior images of Penguin.  Under her dedication

In memory of 
Debbie Alvarez

(a wonderful champion of children, books and reading as a teacher librarian extraordinaire)

is a tree-topper in the shape of a star.  Her images throughout the book cover two pages, single pages, edge to edge or framed in a black line and wide area of white or a series of small pictures might be placed on a single page.  These variations in illustration size create a flow for her story.  Readers will particularly enjoy her shifts in perspective; looking at the forest from above, being near the penguin group as they decorate the tree, or extremely close to Penguin as the sun melts the snow.

One of my many favorite illustrations is on Christmas night.  Penguin is seated in front of the fire, holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate.  He is wearing his signature scarf and a red, green and yellow blanket.  Behind the hill of snow where he sits are evergreens against a starry sky.  Small plumes of snow indicate a breeze is rising.


You all are going to want to have this newest Penguin volume, Penguin's Christmas Wish, written and illustrated by Salina Yoon in your personal and professional collections.  Even amid the bitter cold and the remnants of a snow storm, Penguin, his family and friends can find Christmas magic.  This is the true meaning of Christmas.  I encourage you to read this aloud often.

To learn more about Salina Yoon and her other books, please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  Penguin (and Pinecone) have their own Facebook page.  MerryMakers have a Penguin doll now.  Salina Yoon maintains a Twitter account at @SalinaYoon  Penguin on Vacation and Penguin in Love are showcased on my blog here.

Heed The Need

There are individuals who by the lives they live inspire those around them.  Their path is not always well-worn by the use of others.  They choose the high road, the road in service to others.  They live by the Golden Rule which means everyone wins.

We observers of these individuals, some of us recipients of their kindnesses, learn regardless of being aware a lesson is being presented.  One such being in children's literature is Otis, the tractor.  His goodness seen in Otis, Otis And The Tornado, Otis And The Puppy, An Otis Christmas, and Otis And The Scarecrow is steadfast and spirited.  Otis And The Kittens (Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, September 20, 2016) penned and painted by Loren Long takes us back to the farm, a place we have grown to love.

It was hot and dry on the farm where the friendly little tractor named Otis lived.

It was a rainless summer with low water levels.  Otis worked with the other farmhands in the fields baling and bringing in straw to the barn near Mud Creek.  While Otis was ready at day's end to rest in a shady spot, the bull was not.  It was time for a good old-fashioned game of tug-of-war.  He gave his signature signal, the ducks looped the rope around his horns and Otis's steering wheel and the fun commenced.

One afternoon as the animals gathered together Otis noticed an orange tabby cat racing to the barn.  Smoke was coming from the upper level!  Reaching the bottom of the hills and seeing the cat in distress, Otis with his remarkable

putt puff puttedy chuff

charged forward.  Inside flames seemed to leap from one bale of hay to the other.  The cat was meowing frantically.

In reply soft meows, like whispers, came from the loft.  There were five kittens.  Otis positioned himself so they could ride on him to safety.  Once outside the mother was still panicked.  Returning Otis found the barn thick with smoke and the fire was fierce but he managed to send the sixth kitten on its merry way.

As Otis struggled to leave, the fire delivered a blow to our hero.  The intrepid tractor was in terrible trouble.  Even the arrival of Fire Chief Douglas did not alleviate his fears.  Outside the barn, Otis's animal friends were in a frenzy.  They had figured out what the people had not.  In the following moments, the fire and fear were replaced with friendship, a friendship forged one

putt puff puttedy chuff

at a time.


When Loren Long writes about Otis, the animals, and life on the farm his descriptions take us into the landscape.  He vividly represents the seasons and the weather which are integral to this way of life.

Water was in short supply, the ground was hard and the cornstalks were half as tall as they should've been.

Long creates a scenario, the animals in a tug-of-war game, with significant phrases and actions which is a part of the rhythm of barnyard playfulness but also is essential to the narrative.  With every sentence, after the discovery of the fire, the tension increases as Otis goes and returns from the barn.  Our hearts are completely connected to Otis, the situation and the other characters.

Otis wheeled around to see if any more kittens were left.  The old boards of the barn's floor creaked, buckled, and moaned.  The walls popped.  He couldn't wait another second. 

But like all master storyteller's Loren Long takes us into a story and back out again, all the better for having been there.


On the matching dust jacket and book case Loren Long features the friendly tractor and the first five kittens he rescues.  Placing two of them inside the fireman's hat gives us our first hint of the conflict in this story.  To the left, on the back, within a circle is the old-style fire truck, hoses being unwound by two firemen.  The ducks, puppy and kittens are anxiously watching.  A tiny Otis at the bottom is racing toward the ISBN.  On the steely gray opening and closing endpapers, Long has placed a single phrase in white.

FOR THE BRAVE WHO RUN TOWARD DANGER INSTEAD OF AWAY.

On the initial title page one orange kitten is inside another fireman's had with the C replaced with a 10.  A stunning two page panoramic view of the farm, looking like an Andrew Wyeth painting but still distinctively a Loren Long work of art, is the canvas for the formal title page.

Single page portraits of life on the farm are loosely framed in a small black line on backgrounds of crisp white. On the two-page spreads the same black line edges the images but Long has some of the elements break outside the confines of those lines.  To intensify a given situation perspective is shifted, pulling us into the scene.  In several frightening moments the illustrations bleed off the sides and top of the page.

The color palette chosen by Long in the Otis books is important to the way we experience these tales.  The shades of brown, gray, and black with splashes of color, the daisies, the ducks' bills, the bull and kittens and Otis's red are particularly pastoral.  Whether you are familiar with farmlands or not, Long conveys their soul.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is when the animals are playing tug-of-war.  To the left of the gutter the bull, rope wrapped around his horns, is pulling away, hooves firmly in place.  He is being assisted by the horse, puppy (clinging above ground) and two ducks.  On the right side Otis, tongue outside his mouth in concentration, is heaving, his front wheel off the ground.  Three ducks, the cow and calf are helping him.  I like that two of the ducks break out of the frame.


Otis And The Kittens written and illustrated by Loren Long is a fine, fine story of life on the farm and the friendships grown there.  It's a tribute to those who place themselves in harm's way to save others.  It shows what I heard repeatedly when growing up...many hands make light work.  These characters are beloved and this story will cause a collective sigh at the end.  Trust me.


To learn more about Loren Long and his other work please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  There is a special website devoted to all the Otis books.  You can get a peek at the interior at the publisher's website.  Loren Long talks about Why Picture Books Are Important during Picture Book Month 2015.  Several years ago Loren Long was featured at artistsnetwork.  An Otis lesson has been created at TeacherVision.  This is a subscription database but for now this lesson is available.

Sketch from Otis and the Kittens
From @PhilomelBooks , 9/20/16.@penguinkids pic.twitter.com/gNnYJU8F6z

— Loren Long (@lorenlong) September 2, 2016

A Girl And Her Dog/Una Nina Y Su Perro

Navigating through life, even if you tend to be an optimist, is much better when shared with a friend.  If this friend should happen to be a dog, you could not ask for a better companion and confidant.  A dog's affection never wavers plus they probably understand every single thing you say.  They are the best secret keepers.  They dispense advice with a look, a nudge or a tail wag.

If you happen to be beginning another year of school, a dog can get you through any difficulties you encounter.  Juana & Lucas (Candlewick Press, September 27, 2016) written and illustrated by Juana Medina provides readers with an up-close and personal view on growing up in Bogota, Colombia through the eyes of a lovable, lively little girl.  She gives new meaning to the word energetic.

My name is Juana.
It's spelled
J-u-a-n-a
and it is pronounced
WHO-AH-NAH. 

Right away Juana lists her favorite things: drawing, Astroman, Brussels sprouts and Bogota, Colombia.  As she chats a bit about each thing, we learn a little bit more about Juana. When she explains more about why she loves Bogota our understanding of this city and Juana grows.

When she continues her favorite things' discussion including reading, even when she should be sleeping, we learn of her most favorite thing of all, her dog Lucas.  Her seven reasons for loving Lucas are truthful and hilarious.

His vision and hearing are so good that when Mami is making her way toward my room, Lucas gives me a little push with his snout, which gives me time to turn off the light. That always saves me from a talk or two about still being awake past bedtime.

In several chapters we follow Juana from one disaster to the next; a bubble blowing blow-up on the school bus, a ruined lunch box and the contents inside, a math problem fiasco, a toe-stomping dance class, the perils of school uniforms, a futbol game at recess with teammate problems and the worst possible news of all.  Mr. Tompkins is going to be teaching his students the English.  When Juana gets home and her Mami thinks learning English is good thing, there is only one solution to this problem.  She hugs Lucas.

Juana feels like the odds are stacked against her when her neighbor Mr. Sheldon, the local grocers, the Herrera brothers, and even her Tia Cris think the English language offers opportunities.  As she continues to struggle with the new words, a fresh worry starts to bother her. Parent-teacher conferences are coming.  On the day of the meeting her grandparents, Abue and Abuelita, arrive after school to take her to their home. Juana is very grateful to notice they also bring Lucas.

During her visit with them, her grandpa, Dr. Rosas, a neurosurgeon, explains the importance of English to him.  Juana is amazed. Then he reveals a plan, an epic plan.  Juana knows she must devote all her efforts to learning English.  If she succeeds, Mr. Shelden, the Herrera brothers and Tia Cris will share in her accomplishments.  If she succeeds her Mami and Abue and Abuelita will share an out-of-this-world adventure with her.  Lucas already knows what will happen because best furry friends are special.


Within these short eleven chapters the zest in which Juana greets every situation is made abundantly clear to readers. Juana Medina brings us into the everyday events with truth and humor.  We are made aware of those things Juana really loves and those things she distinctly dislikes.  Throughout the narrative Medina asks us to pause when she writes variations of

I love___________ 
LOVE. IT. 
And here's why: 

Spanish words are sprinkled in sentences. Given the context we can figure out their meaning.  It's a wonderful way for English-speaking readers to learn and for Spanish-speaking readers to connect.  Here is a passage from the beginning of chapter four.

Back inside, in Mr. Tompkins's clase, it feels like a sauna, and after that intense futbol game, this classroom is seriously stinky. Even stinkier than after dance class, and that's a lot of stinky!
We might have fallen asleep at our desks in the stuffy room if Mr. Tompkins hadn't anunciado, 
"Ladies and gentlemen!
Are you ready for a ton of fun?"
When a grown-up says something is going to be a ton of fun, it means there will be NO FUN AT ALL.  Not even a single bit of fun. Nada de fun.


Rendered in ink and watercolor (I am working with an F & G.  All the illustrations are in black and white but the final copy will be in full color.) the illustrations are full of animation.  The smile on Juana's face on the front of the book case hints at the fun to follow.  Lucas is a patient pal in everything she does and almost wherever she goes. Every page turn has a picture.

Juana Medina alters the image sizes and perspective to enhance her text, supplying us with the true emotional moods Juana experiences.  She has the ability to convey much with small lines and dots.  Another important feature of this title is the shifting size and placement of the text for emphasis.

One of my many favorite illustrations is in the first chapter.  Taking up the bottom half of two pages spreading from edge to edge is a scene in Juana's bedroom. From the right and crossing the gutter is her window giving readers a view of the city of Bogota.  Juana is reading with a flashlight under her covers on the left.  Lucas is sleeping with his head next to her.  The word contentment comes to mind.


The first in a series Juana & Lucas written and illustrated by Juana Medina is a charming, insightful look at the world of a girl growing up in Bogota, Colombia.  The intended audience will easily relate to the ups and downs in Juana's life. The underlying current of humor in the text and pictures will touch all readers.  I highly recommend this title especially as a read aloud.

To discover more about Juana Medina and her work please follow the links attached to her name to access her website and blog at Tumblr.  You can view an inside spread at the publisher's website.  Here is a publisher generated A Q & A with author-illustrator Juana Medina about this title which is wonderful.  Here is a link to a series of flash cards in Spanish and English featuring Juana and Lucas on the Spanish cards.  Make sure to read the article, A Girl and Her Furry Amigo | Up Close with Juana Medina in School Library Journal.  Juana Medina is featured with two other Latina illustrators here.

Drinking hot chocolate con queso. #JuanaandLucas #Colombia pic.twitter.com/mIQDF0JdWN

— Juana Medina (@juanamedina) May 12, 2016

UPDATE:  November 10, 2016 Juana Medina is interviewed at Latinxs in Kid Lit. 

A New View

No one understands us better than our friends.  They stick with us through the proverbial thick and thin not because they have to but because they want to be there for and with us.  They are another kind of family.

Friends share common interests like loving cupcakes.  Friends introduce us to new individuals, sometimes numbering in the hundreds.  A little more than two years ago an author illustrator presented to readers an unlikely but lovable pair of pals in his debut title, Little Elliot, Big City (Henry Holt and Company, August 26, 2014). His second book, Little Elliot, Big Family (Henry Holt and Company, October 6, 2015) featuring the pastel pink and blue polka-dotted small elephant, Elliot, and his friend Mouse touched readers with its focus on feeling alone in the midst of many but then realizing with a true-blue companion you will always have a family.  Little Elliot, Big Fun (Henry Holt and Company, August 30, 2016) written and illustrated by Mike Curato follows the duo as they spend a day at an amusement park.

Little Elliot and his best friend, Mouse, were heading to the far edge of the big city.

As Mouse talks of the boardwalk, shows, games and lots of rides, Elliot, champion lover of cupcakes, is questioning the presence of treats.  (You will hardly be able to restrain from smiling when Mouse cautions Elliot to stay close as they enter the park.)  Mouse, eager to begin enjoying the rides, asks Elliot if he wants to ride the water chute.  The elephant does not want to take a chance on getting wet or, even worse, falling overboard.  He can't swim.

When Mouse asks about three more rides, especially his favorite one, the roller coaster, Elliot offers up one excuse after another until there's only one thing on his mind, a treat.  Before he even has a chance to enjoy one big lick on his ice cream cone, two incidents have Elliot on the run.  He's too scared to stop when Mouse shouts.  The more he runs, the more frightened he becomes. How could Mouse think this excursion is fun?

Mouse finally finds a decidedly shaken Elliot down by the beach.  A little sun, sand and another ice cream cone do wonders for the panicked pachyderm.  Back at the park Mouse thinks he can make Elliot's wishes come true but he'll need to trust Mouse.

When our elephant friend finally uncovers his eyes, he (and readers) gasps.  A change in perspective can alter moments and moods.  That's what friends do for friends.


When Mike Curato writes about Elliot and Mouse we savor every minute of the story.  His flawless blend of narrative and conversation brings us directly into a scene while enlarging our comprehension of and compassion for his characters.  There isn't one of us who hasn't wanted to share something we enjoy with someone we love.  There isn't one of us who hasn't been frightened to try something beyond our comfort level.  Curato closes the story with a powerful thought, a thought which resolves these two issues with a whole bunch of heart.  Here is a passage from the book.

"Feeling better?" asked Mouse.
"Much better!" said Elliot.
"But I wish there was a ride that
wasn't fast or dizzy or wet."
"I have an idea," said Mouse.
Elliot was nervous but Mouse patted his head.


In this title Mike Curato expands his color choices, presenting us with an array of hues not seen in the previous two books.  There is a larger use of red, yellow, pinks, purples and blues. On the front of the dust jacket, with portions varnished, is a hint of the splendor to come and the shared joy between Elliot and Mouse. To the left, on the back, on a background of deep purple a portion of an interior image has been placed.  As in the two previous books, an ornate antique frame is around the ISBN.  The book case replicates the purple on the left side of the jacket.  On the front a small picture of Elliot and Mouse chatting on the sandy beach has been placed in the center. On the back a cheery character from the book, holding a bunch of balloons, is waving and looking at readers.

The opening and closing endpapers in red, yellow, white, black, brown, light teal, green and a tiny bit of pastel pink and blue are a splendid display of amusement park posters, fifteen in total.  Readers will undoubtedly pause to look at each one.  The verso and title pages feature a speeding train on the left leaving the city headed toward the sign Big Fun with Little Elliot in cursive above it.  Another sign, with Mike Curato's and the publisher's names along with a red arrow pointing right, is under Big Fun.

Placing these titles in the late 1930s gives us a sense of nostalgia but more importantly comfort.  Curato's illustrations are spectacular in historical accuracy, layout and design.  Rendered in pencil on paper and digital color in Adobe Photoshop many of the illustrations extend from page edge to page edge.  To accentuate pacing and a particular emotional state in the story Curato has elected to frame some of the pictures in wide white spaces.  There are several wordless visuals which are truly stellar; a series of nine small images on a white background visualize the prelude to Elliot's frightened run, a ring toss scene, a delightful two-page beach setting and a breathtaking double gatefold.

Readers will find themselves stopping at every page turn to appreciate all the details in lines, light and shadow, facial expressions and body positions.  Easter eggs, nods to family, friends and other kidlit authors and illustrators, are found throughout the book.  Everything about these illustrations invites you to read this book repeatedly.

One of my favorite illustrations is the wordless beach scene.  In the foreground a contented Elliot is seated beneath a blue and purple striped umbrella licking what has to be a chocolate-chip mint ice cream cone.  To his right is an elaborate sand castle with a draw bridge and turrets.  Mouse is at the tip top holding a small yellow banner.  Behind them is an array of people, of all ages and nationalities, enjoying the sun and sand.  Primary colors plus green are used in their attire.  In the background is a bit of a hint of things to come.


In the middle of a day hoping for fun, best buddies are struggling but friendship finds a way. Written and illustrated by Mike Curato Little Elliot, Big Fun is an endearing exploration of what matters the most in our life adventures. This title is going to be requested over and over and over again.

To learn more about Mike Curato and his other titles please visit his website and blog by following the links attached to his name.  At his website you can view numerous images from this title. On his blog several posts reveal his process and the origin of his Easter eggs.  There are also illustrations at the publisher's website.  At Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries John Schumacher's blog, Watch. Connect. Read., the cover reveal and earlier interview are included.  The must watch book trailer is premiered at BookPage.  Please be sure to visit the website dedicated to the Little Elliot books.  You are really going to enjoy this StoryMakers video chat at KidLit TV. Mike Curato is interviewed at Miss Marple's Musings and at the Illinois Library Association website.

In Celebration Of The Blue Planet

While many of you may know the festivities for Earth Day 2016 will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016, you may not know about the theme for this year.  It's called Trees for the Earth (#Trees4Earth).  We are fighting to combat deforestation all around our planet.  In the year 2020 Earth Day will be fifty years old.  It is this organization's desire to plant 7.8 billion trees by that date.

With this in mind I would like to offer for your consideration three new titles focusing on trees and our wonderful planet Earth.  The Perfect Tree (RP|Kids, January 5, 2016), a debut picture book, written and illustrated by Chloe Bonfield follows a boy named Jack on a quest. He finds answers he was not seeking.

Once, a boy named Jack went on a journey to find the perfect tree.  Not to climb, not to draw and definitely not to hug.

This boy was looking for the perfect tree to cut down and make into a wood pile!  As he walked through the forest and up and down a hill no tree seemed to be worthy.  As he sat thinking and feeling discouraged a voice offered to help him.  A woodpecker leads, flies and sends out a rat-a-tat-tat!  The colorful results swirl around Jack and lift skyward.

Not to be outdone, a squirrel beckons to the boy.  A treasure fit for a king is revealed.  A final guide urges Jack to traverse among jewels until he needs to seek shelter from a pouring rain shower.

Jack does find something extraordinary on this day.  He puts aside what he no longer needs.  He embraces the purpose of trees and their gifts surrounding him with new understanding and respect.


Chloe Bonfield supplies readers with a circle story using an identical phrase in the beginning and to close her narrative but the meaning has changed.  The three encounters with animals, the woodpecker, the squirrel and the spider, each believing their tree to be perfect, show Jack a path he had no idea he needs to follow.  Bonfield mixes onomatopoeia within her story bringing a touch of realism to this fantasy in praise of our natural world.  Here is a sample passage.

Jack's heart soared as birds and feathers filled the air.  They tickled his face and tangled in his hair.
TWITCH.  TWITCH.  TWITCH. 

The opened matching dust jacket and book case are a marvel of three dimensional designs.  On the front we see the cool blues of a moonlight night.  On the back, to the left, it's still night but the light shifts to illuminate the hillside in shades of brown, white, black and green.  The opening and closing endpapers are a collected collage continuing forward (and backward) with a page turn.

A series of shifted perspectives and image sizes usher us (and Jack) on this trek filled with wonder and wisdom.  Shadows and light, muted colors and full color ask us to pause and ponder.  We are invited to participate with every page turn.

One of my favorite pictures is for the passage quoted above.  It spans two pages with the trunk of the tree down the center, branches extending to the left and right.  Five vivid birds are in flight, feathers falling as Jack sits on one of the lower branches.  The delicate details are exquisite.





















This Is The Earth (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, February 23, 2016) written by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander with paintings by Wendell Minor is a stunning ode to all things beautiful on our planet.  Through poetic phrases and breathtaking vistas we see what we have and what we need to do to become better stewards.  This is our task.  This is our future.

This is the land,
fertile, alive,
crawling with creatures
that help it to thrive.

We gaze at an African savanna as animals silently roam and watch us.  Water splashes and rumbles past us on a rapid river, trout flashing in the sunlight.  Feathered friends glide above the fields.

We move through history as women and men make their homes from earliest times to the present.  Transportation and technology evolve taking a toll on this land.  Dangerous reminders of our presence fill the land, the oceans and the air.

There are signs of help; recycling, bicycle riding and watching water use drop by drop.  We become caretakers of our animal friends who have no voice.  Each one a valuable link in the chain of life.  What do you do?  What will you do?


The authors, Diane A. Shore and Jessica Alexander, introduce us in single descriptive sentences to the land, a river and the sky.  With care we move to a beautiful, flowing melody of words on how we use the Earth and share its resources.  Continuing one sentence at a time the history of our advancements and the effects of these changes are presented for the goodness they bring to people as well as the cost they exact from our Earth.  Using this is repeatedly is a way to keep us grounded like a familiar group of notes, reminding us not to forget.  Rhyming words are a welcoming refrain.  Here is a sample passage.

This is the sky,
endless and blue,
speckled with birds
as they soar into view. 


Wendell Minor's paintings are gorgeous in their depictions of his interpretations of the text taking us from one side of the Earth to the other, back in time and forward to a better, more appreciative future.  (In my humble opinion the man is a national treasure.)  Rendered in Windsor and Newton watercolors on archival 3-ply Strathmore Bristol paper with a realistic color palette we first journey to Africa on the matching dust jacket and book case.  On the back, to the left, within a circle is a scene of dolphins breaking the surface as pelicans, silent sentinels, fly above them.  The opening and closing endpapers are a gorgeous scene of the Earth as seen from the surface of the Moon.  On the verso and title pages the circular image from the back is extended to include a breaching whale.

Thirteen striking two-page paintings elevate the narrative along with four single page illustrations.  Minor's details are nearly photographic as is the luminosity he uses around certain elements in his paintings.  He guides our gaze in every single visual.

In referring to Minor's masterful interpretation of the text here is an example with one of my favorite illustrations.

This is the Earth that we treat with respect,
where people and animals interconnect,
where we learn to find balance between give and take
and help heal the planet with choices we make, ...

Minor, in a two-page painting, illustrates a scene at a sandy shoreline.  A row of people, young and old, from all ethnic backgrounds, stand watching two children, a boy and a girl, guide baby turtles back to the sea in the distance.  From left to right the perspective shifts from close-up to farther away.  The day simply glows literally and figuratively.




On March 8, 2016 Candlewick Press released a fabulously original representation of a growing danger on our planet.  Where's the Elephant? written and illustrated by Stephane-Yves Barroux is a colorful seek-and-find story.  It is also a call for discussion and for action.

Where's the Elephant?
Where's the Parrot?
Where's the Snake?

After these three creatures are presented to readers in three distinct colors, light grayish tan, red and green, on a background of white a page turn reveals a dense, bright forest.  We need to find the threesome.  They are there but carefully hidden by their habitat.

With each succeeding page turn beginning in the lower left hand corner, a wordless image features a growing number of trees cut from the forest.  As the trees are cut Elephant, Parrot and Snake continue to hide but the area between them is shrinking more and more.  A house appears on the cleared land filled with stumps and logs.

There are more homes and cars and less trees.  Cars need roadways.  More people need more homes.  Soon there are only three trees standing alone in a forest of buildings.  The final four two-page pictures address a sad truth with an outcome which will have you cheering.  The animals make a choice.


In an author's note on the left side of the closing endpapers, Barroux explains what prompted this story after a visit to Brazil five years ago.  Three years later inspiration prompted him to begin work on the book we now have the privilege to read.  After the initial three questions the entire book is wordless, as we look for the animals amid their diminishing home space.

When you open the book case the image from the front spreads across the spine to the back.  All three animals are showcased there amid text which would normally appear on the front flap of a dust jacket.  The opening endpapers are awash in blue until the center of the far right edge where we see a portion of a heavily forested island.  The title page includes nearly all the island with Elephant, Parrot and Snake waiting among the trees.

The remainder of the book is all two-page illustrations rendered in collage, acrylic and pencil.  The colors of the forest are more vivid within the body of the book than seen on the book case.  They are exotic in shades of green, red, yellow, blue, orange and brown.  This makes the absence of the trees more startling.  The white is a most noticeable contrast.

My favorite illustration is the final one.  And that is all I will say about it except it signifies hope.  Barroux has placed himself on the right in the closing endpapers reaching out to touch a log.



These titles, The Perfect Tree written and illustrated by Chloe Bonfield, This Is The Earth written by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander with paintings by Wendell Minor and Where's the Elephant? by Stephane-Yves Barroux, are absolutely perfect for your personal and professional collections.  Each one addresses the need for stewardship and care for our home planet in distinctly different approaches, each one done with passionate excellence.  All three could be used with all ages.

To learn more about these authors and illustrators and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites. The work of Chloe Bonfield is showcased at author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  At the conclusion of This Is The Earth both of the authors and the illustrator encourage readers to care for this Earth and how it might be done.  Where's the Elephant? was nominated for The CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal and remained on the longlist released in February of this year. To see an interior image from Where's the Elephant? please follow this link to the publisher's website.

Not Here But Still Here

Body language and eyes convey the news even if a parent, staff member or student has not already spoken with you.  Sometime between the last time you saw this student and now, they have suffered a loss.  It happens to all of us no matter our ages, usually without warning.  Even if we know it's coming the hole in our hearts is huge.

When love is shared between two, day in and day out during the course of their lives, filled with ordinary and extraordinary events, the absence of one is keenly felt.  Ida, Always (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, February 23 2016) written by Caron Levis with illustrations by Charles Santoso is first a look at the strength of a bond formed by two animals in captivity.  It further cements the belief that all animals can suffer the loneliness of losing the one loved.

Gus lived in a big park in the middle of an even bigger city.  Buildings grew around him and shifted the shape of the sky.

As sure as an alarm on a clock, each morning when the keeper Sonya brings food to Gus and Ida, two polar bears, they each leave the comfort of their respective caves to spend their day together.  They play with Ida's cherished yellow ball, frolic in their pool and rest on their favorite rock.  They have thoughtful conversations.

When Gus wonders, Ida answers.

"You don't have to see it to feel it," said Ida.
"Listen."

She reminds Gus what the noises they can hear mean.  Each day closes in the comfort of this constant cadence of their lives.

Upon waking one morning Gus is puzzled to hear all those city and park sounds without the presence of Ida.  He knows Ida is in her cave; her breathing reaches his ears.  Sonya explains to Gus about Ida being so ill her body will eventually sleep without waking.

Gus immediately runs to Ida angry and afraid.  She responds in kind, angry and afraid.  Eventually they sleep next to each other, quiet in their closeness.  Peace.

Days are brimming with ups and downs, silence and not silence.  Each evening ends the same, a mantra of longing.  Then Gus is alone.  BUT remembered words warm a soul like the sun brings heat to the fur of a polar bear sitting on a favorite rock.


When Caron Levis describes the Central Park Zoo, the habitat of Gus and Ida and the city surrounding them, she does so from personal experience creating a vision for readers.  Her use of short, informative sentences, the repetition of key phrases and a blend of dialogue and narrative supplies an invitation for us.  The sounds of the city are integral to the story.  Single words and near poetic sentences bring them from the page into our respective reading spaces. She compels us to become a part of Gus's and Ida's world.  We follow with pleasure and fall in love with these two magnificent creatures.  Here are two sample passages.

They heard buses groan; trucks rumble;
police whistle; taxis honk; pigeons coo;
people say Hey, Wait Yo, Hello;
and children laugh.

Two bears sniffled, two bear breaths panted, 
two bear hearts echoed each other's beat.


Even if you know absolutely nothing about this story, looking at the illustration on the opened matching dust jacket and book case portrays the affection felt by the two bears in their space within the confines of a city.  Charles Santoso's attention to the sky and skyline in this initial image, in the entire book, is spectacular extending from left to right, back to front.  Of particular notice is the color selected for the opening and closing endpapers; a lighter shade of purple followed by a darker hue.  I have always thought of purple as signifying royalty.  Surely by all accounts this is how these two bears were to all who visited them.

On the initial title page we are gazing at a pale blue sky filled with clouds in the faint shapes of polar bears. (Santoso does use shapes several more times within the body of the book.)  In small text we read the words

ida,

ALWAYS 

centered to the right edge.  The more formal title page, verso and dedication pages are a panoramic view of New York City and Central Park.  

Rendered digitally but looking like finely detailed paintings Santoso brings warmth of emotion to each picture.  Wide-angle views of the park from a bird's perspective and closer encounters with the two bears balance in a pleasing portrayal.  Visual size enhances the pacing; sometimes odd shaped or more traditional panels are used or a circular image framed in a liberal amount of white space.  These ask us to pause.

Santoso skillfully combines an interior look at the bears' homes while including the city in the background.  It is obvious he has studied his subjects conveying them realistically.  Can you see the small animal (s) he places in many pictures?  I see this as a constant and of life moving forward even in sadness.

One of my favorite illustrations, of several, spreads across two pages.  On the left in a circular display as the sun sets is the skyline of New York City with colored clouds and birds gathering for the evening in the trees.  It is framed in vegetation and rocks as if seen from a bear cave.  To the right inside the cave Gus and Ida are together, eyes closed and at rest.

Ida, Always written by Caron Levis with illustrations by Charles Santoso is a truly moving account of an enduring love and the loss of one part of a very special whole.  Thoughtfully written and illustrated, based upon a true story, it sends a beautiful message to everyone about grief.  It helps us to remember that what we cannot see can still be visible in our hearts.  An author's note is included on the last page.

To learn more about Caron Levis and Charles Santoso please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  They both have updated blogs linked at their websites. There is an excerpt from a developing activity guide on Caron Levis' blog. (Update:  April 18, 2016 The guide is now complete.) Charles Santoso has a Tumblr site. There are ten interior images at the publisher's website.  I think you will enjoy this radio interview. 

Here are some links to newspaper articles about Gus and Ida found at The Daily News, The New York Times, Huffpost Green and Gothamist.

Update:  March 17, 2016  I really enjoy when illustrators share portions of their process.  Here is a new tweet sent out by Charles Santoso.

Found these scribbles in my sketchbook. These were the start of many options for #idaalways cover. Time flies.. pic.twitter.com/67w9GTj0ur

— Charles Santoso (@minitreehouse) March 17, 2016

Simply Fun

Have you ever noticed how the familiar things you walk by every single day may suddenly get your attention? When you stop and stare you wonder why you never fully appreciated what has currently grabbed your focus.  It may be the slope of snow sculpted by the wind, a tiny bird's nest comfortably resting in the bare branches of a tree, the way a folded blanket drapes across the back of a chair or the new grayness around your dog's face.  There is a special contentment in the simple.

For our youngest readers and listeners learning to appreciate the music of language, a few words can become a melody moving through their minds.  Taking commonplace things and putting them together can create pure playfulness.  Smick! (Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), February 10, 2015) written by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Juana Medina does this superbly.

Smick.

Having heard his name called, Smick, one ear cocked, is ready for action.  Tail wagging he easily follows the request of the unseen speaker.  He receives phrase with a doggy smile on his face.

One word, the next word, makes him sit up and take notice.  The word is stick.  For reasons unknown to me, dogs love sticks. (I have seen Xena drag sticks three times her size down roads, through fields and out of the water in total bliss.)

With one thought in his mind, he retrieves the thrown stick in mere seconds.  What he hears next is a tad bit unusual.  It sounds like a chicken.  It's a baby, a mere bundle of fluff.  Wow!

When seen side by side (Chick and Smick), it's easy to see Smick is a big dog, a big, big dog.  He's huge! Smick crouches down ready to play but he needs to proceed with care.  When you add Chick, chasing a stick and Smick together you get a rousing romp of goodness.


After I had read this book multiple times, I couldn't help but think about which word came to author Doreen Cronin first, Smick, Chick or stick?  Or what picture popped into her head before the others, was it the dog, the baby chicken or the stick?  Did she see something which sparked the idea for this story?

The most words read in combination are three.  Usually all that appears is a single word.  It's the use of punctuation, a comma, a period, a question mark, or an exclamation point, which determine the rhythm of the narrative.  It's spirited and catchy.


Rendered digitally in combination with alstroemeria petals and rosemary tree sticks the illustrations of Juana Medina are in lively synchronization with the narrative.  The royal blue background spanning the dust jacket and matching book case make Smick and Chick the perfect pals to bring on readers' grins.  On the back, left, we see the back portion of the duo in the same position. The opening and closing endpapers with the identical blue background are a series of nine new poses of Smick and Chick together; upside down, running, resting, walking away from and running toward us.  They are, in two words, utterly charming.  The picture for the title page spreads from left to right featuring the stick in Smick's mouth.  Chick is perched on the tip.

Crisp white pages make Smick, shaped with thicker black lines (and sometimes Chick), the real stick and Chick formed with flower petals seem like they could jump off the pages at any minute.  Medina alters her perspective of Smick, making him smaller or larger in response to the action of the story.  She crosses the gutter with energetic abandon just like Smick.

One of my favorite of many images is when Smick first encounters Chick.  The speaker cries out

No, Smick, no!

Smick is lying down, larger than life on the left spanning over the gutter to the right.  Wings sticking up in the air is Chick calmly walking right by Smick's nose going toward the left edge.  You can feel the gentle tension wondering what the page turn will bring next to readers.


It's easy to understand why the first three letters of the dog's name are the first three letters in smile. That's exactly what readers will be doing from beginning to end of Smick! written by Doreen Cronin with illustrations by Juana Medina.  My gaze was captured by the dog on the cover but the spare rhyming text masterfully combined with the pictures makes this a little treasure for the youngest listeners and readers (and those of us young at heart).  Make sure to read this aloud with zip and zing.

To learn more about Doreen Cronin and Juana Medina please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Julie Danielson, author and blogger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, featured the artwork from this title.  Enjoy the book trailer.




Note to reader:  I am not sure of the gender of Smick so feel free to substitute female pronouns whenever you wish.

You Don't Look Like A...

Before the first word is read at story time, the guys and gals are asked to stand, hold hands and make a circle.  Then those words they love are uttered, let's pretend.  You are a baby elephant wanting to get your mother's attention; put your hands together forming a trunk and trumpet.  You are a puppy outside for the final time that day with your human; raise your nose to the moon and howl.  You are a duckling who just can't keep up; waddle and quack to tell your siblings to slow down.  You are a kitten trying to catch a dragonfly; you move with caution, pounce and swipe with your paws.

If you've ever watched newborn and young animals, they mimic their parents instinctively knowing this will increase their chances of survival.  They are constantly being coached to sharpen these skills.   What if they like the children pretended to be other than themselves?  Those two darling characters first introduced to readers in Hey, Duck! (Random House, January 22, 2013) written and illustrated by Carin Bramsen have returned in a companion title, Just a Duck? (Random House, January 27, 2015).  

My good friend Duck!
Why slink like that?

Well, can't you see? I am a cat.

Cat brings to Duck's attention his lack of similar physical characteristics.  Ever the optimist Duck says he will look like Cat once he grows up.  His ears are simply tiny but Cat sees no ears whatsoever.

Noticing Duck's crestfallen look Cat decides to agree with Duck.  With a whoop of joy, Duck joins Cat in a favorite pastime.  Tree climbing proves to be a bit of a challenge though.  Like a true friend Cat again suggests Duck needs time for claws to grow.

When Duck suggests they try to play canoe on the lake, Cat's eyes widen.  Another idea seems much better; run, jump and catch a leaf.  Oh! No!   A last leap off the end of the dock results in a resounding splash.  Water and cats don't go together.

Concern for a cherished companion has Duck splashing into the pond regardless of a cat's dislike of all things wet.  With a death grip on a nearby floating log, Cat looks wild and wide-eyed at the little duck.  Dry land is definitely a desired destination.  Heroic efforts and a little rock 'n' roll make for a wonderful watery outcome.


This story starts, as did the first title, with the slinking of cats.  Rather than wanting Cat to be a duck, Duck now thinks and acts like a cat.  This ties neatly to the last word of Hey, Duck!, MEOW!  Lilting, rhyming sentences by Carin Bramsen wrap readers in the warmth of Duck and Cat's friendship. Their conversations reveal a strengthening in their relationship; a give-and-take banter.  Here is a sample passage.

Oh, dear! This
really is a shame.
I think I'm off my
climbing game.

Now, now. We climb with
claws, you know.
Your claws might need some
time to grow.
On, yes, I think they're still
too small... 


Unfolding the dust jacket, we are treated to an illustration spanning both pages of the weathered boards of the rustic, rich red barn as a background for Cat and Duck.  Added details of the forget-me-nots, poppies, pansies and sunflowers along with the battered green bucket with garden tools provide readers with more information about the home of the two pals.  Carin Bramsen's meticulous details add texture to this and all the pictures throughout, inviting you to touch each one.  Downy yellow duckling feathers cover the opening and closing endpapers. Splashing water is the backdrop for the verso.  On the title page, as on the front dust jacket, Duck's wings are uplifted; he's looking at them wondering if they are paws.

Bramsen shifts the image sizes to enhance the cadence of her story; two page spreads, smaller illustrations on a single page, a single page visual or a single image like a cutout surrounded by white space.  For the sequence of Duck trying to climb a tree and Duck and Cat in the lake there are eight wordless squares on two pages.   Facial features of each character are so expressive no words are necessary.

Every single image exudes enchanting appeal but one of my favorites is the first one in the book.  Duck is bent over raising his tiny legs to replicate the smooth movements of a cat.  Close behind in the grass is Cat.  As usual they are engaged in a chat.  In the distance we can see the barns, brilliant blue sky and rolling green hills.


Just a Duck? written and illustrated by Carin Bramsen continues to explore the themes of personal identity and friendship through a story brimming with charm in text and illustrations.  You keep hoping the characters will walk right off the pages into your presence.  So lovable are Duck and Cat, this book will be read and read again preferably with distinctive voices.

To explore more about Carin Bramsen and her other books please visit her website by following the link embedded in her name.  At the publisher's website you get a sneak peak at more interior pages.  Here is an interview of Carin Bramsen at Frog On A Blog posted shortly after my review of her first book.