Preserved Grandeur

The memory of certain beauty, no matter how many decades pass, never leaves.  When you stand on the edge of the Grand Canyon gazing at the vista spread before you, you have to remind yourself to breathe.  An early morning drive through the Great Smoky Mountains feels like you've entered another place in another time, a place when magic is possible.  If you time it right, you'll be looking up more than one hundred feet as Old Faithful, a geyser, erupts in Yellowstone.  Lupines as far as the eye can see, carpet a landscape in Rocky Mountain National Park.  In the silence of a sunrise as the world awaits, the Grand Teton range stands like ancient sentinels, guardians of the world spread before them.

The designation of national parks throughout the United States protects diverse ecosystems.  They provide protected spaces in a variety of geographic locations for more than 300 million visitors each year.  You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks (Atheneum Books For Young Readers, June 4, 2019) written and illustrated by Evan Turk is a spectacular and intimate journey to twenty-three of the parks.

To the chipmunk in her burrow,
sleeping beneath the leaves to keep warm;

Traveling from the Shenandoah in Virginia, we see giants plow through snow in Yellowstone in winter.  The bison brave weather in all the seasons.  Wildflowers swaying in breezes and pronghorn grazing on grasses are seen in Colorado at the Great Sand Dunes.  All these animals and the flora around them call these places home.

Bobcats, fireflies, and elk roam these locations, their relatives residents for generations.  Whether you come from city streets or sprawling farmlands, this is home.  For people calling this home for the first time and for people calling it home before anyone else, this land is for all to enjoy.

Rock formations like alien architecture, mountaintops like stairways to the stars, trees towering like they belong in a land of giants and coral reefs creating castles for marine life, are only some of the majestic sights to be scene in our national parks.  Wherever you travel, whatever you see, hear, smell, taste or touch, all these things in these preserved regions are home to you and many others.  These national parks are constantly in motion through the activities of the wildlife, the flow of water, the erosion of rocks and soil and the changing views throughout the seasons.

Even with changes something remains the same.  It is a melody sung in every corner of every national park.  You can feel its notes playing in your soul, connecting you to that which surrounds you.  It is a single word with the warmth, serenity and comfort of an embrace.


The poetic phrases penned by Evan Turk are a soothing symphony; taking us on a journey through the best this planet has to offer us.  Each combination of words appeals to our senses as we become acquainted with the flora, fauna and scenic vistas.  Regardless of where we originate, Evan Turk ties us to these national parks, allowing us to call one or all home.  Here is a passage.

to the herds of elk
trumpeting the arrival of fall;

to the forests of twinkling aspen
turned golden by the shortening days:

you are home.

When you open the dust jacket two magnificent scenes are spread before you.  We stand with two others looking over flowers, water, hills and mountains in California before our eyes turn to the left, on the back.  (The three-word title on the front is embossed in gold.)  We are in Virginia with the rolling hills of a valley spread before us.  In the lower right-hand corner, the chipmunk from the first passage watches.  Accolades for three of Evan's other titles appear in a framed rectangle superimposed on this view.  The background for the text is like vellum.  It's partially transparent.

The book case in rich colors of red, purple, orange and green portray a view of a canyon with a river in turquoise like a ribbon winding through the steep walls.  This is more of an abstract depiction but stunning, nonetheless.  On the opening and closing endpapers, we visit first Acadia and then Olympic.  In the first a setting sun radiates golden light on water and a rugged shoreline.  In the second night fashions shadows of tall rocky spires against a star-studded sky.  

For the title page the scene on the back of the dust jacket is extended to the left on another page providing a place for the dedication and publication information.  All the illustrations are rendered in pastel on black paper and most span two pages.   Single page pictures emphasize the pacing of the narrative.  Whether Evan Turk takes you close to a sleeping chipmunk or to watch others walk through the Arches or among soaring birds in the Everglades, each image is heart-stopping gorgeous.  

The color palette, time of day and season of the year are presented with polished skill.  Each visual conveys not only a particular park but the passion of this author and illustrator for his art.  With each page turn you find yourself inwardly gasping at the Earth's elegance before you.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is in Yellowstone (the first National Park).  To the left rolling hills studded with trees are snow-covered.  The air is filled with snow.  A river winds through the landscape along the bottom.  Bison are grazing.  On the right the animals are closer to us and in the foreground, ready to move.  Behind them a darker, snow-covered view moves to the top of the page and to the right.  There is a very real sense of majesty in every element of this picture.

After you've read You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks written and illustrated by Evan Turk, you'll go back to read it repeatedly but only after you've paused in stunned silence first.  This is a showpiece, a work of art.  At the conclusion of the book, Evan Turk has two pages of notes, including a portion about the art.  It is followed by a map of the National Parks Of The United States with thumbprints of those parks featured in this title on the right. There is one final page titled:

More About The Parks And Animals In This Book.

Make sure you have a copy of this book for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Evan Turk and his other work, please follow the link attached to this name to access his website.  Evan Turk highlights interior images from this title.  He has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Evan writes a guest post on The TeachingBooks.net blog about this book.  The cover reveal is hosted by teacher librarian Matthew Winner.  Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher, premieres the book trailer at Watch. Connect. Read.  Evan Turk is interviewed at The Booking Biz.  This title is highlighted by author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  At the publisher's website you can view interior pictures.

UPDATE:  Evan Turk is interviewed at Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb on June 27, 2019.

This book is so important and lovely, I am happy to give away a copy to one fortunate winner.  Good luck!

Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to view the other titles selected this week by those participating in the 2019 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Fifteen 2018 Nonfiction Titles On My TBR Pile

Since 2014 I have joined others in participating in a Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted each Wednesday all year at educator Alyson Beecher's Kid Lit Frenzy.  For the final Wednesday of this year, I am going to briefly talk about nonfiction picture (sometimes a bit longer) books published in 2018 which are still on my to-be-read stack.  I have listed them in order of publication date.  I have provided links which you may find valuable.  Like my stack of 2018 middle grade books to still read, I will not abandon these fifteen titles.  Four will be selected to highlight the first four weeks of 2019.

Plant, Cook, Eat!: A Children's Cookbook (Charlesbridge, March 6, 2018) by Joe Archer and Caroline Craig

This culinary delight is divided into an Introduction, What Parts of a Plant Do We Eat?, The Miracle of a Seed, How Do Plants Reproduce?, What Do Plants Need to Help Them Grow?, Soil and Compost, What is Garden Compost, Tools and Equipment, Preparing Your Vegetable Patch, Sowing Seeds Indoors, How to Sow into Pots, Sowing and Planting Outside, Everyday Gardening Tasks, Wildlife in the Garden, Garden Pests, Healthy Eating, Get Ready to Cook, Let's Get Started (this shows how to plant a particular food followed by a recipe,), Further Information, Glossary, and Index.  The growing of sixteen foods is discussed.  There are spot illustrations and plenty of photographs.


She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History (Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, March 6, 2018) written by Chelsea Clinton with illustrations by Alexandra Boiger

Women included in this volume are Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz, Caroline Herschel, Kate Sheppard, Marie Curie, Viola Desmond, Mary Verghese, Aisha Rateb, Wangari Maathai, Joanne Rowling, Sisleide Lima do Amor, Leymah Gbowee, Yuan Yuan Tan and Malala Yousafzai.  Opposite the text on the right is a full-page illustration.  A smaller image accompanies the text or the text is placed in a double-page picture.




Drawn from Nature (Big Picture Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press, March 13, 2018) written and illustrated by Helen Ahpornsiri

This book is divided into four sections according to the four seasons beginning with spring.  In this season our attention is drawn to eight aspects of this awakening.  In summer we explore In The Meadow, Swallows Swooping, Crickets Chirping, In the Reeds, Glorious Green Leaves, Buds & Bees and Summer Nights.  Six elements of autumn and six elements of winter close the book.  On every page turn exquisite illustrations are formed from pressed petals and leaves.  Most of them are on white backgrounds but the several on black canvases are stunning.  There is a note from the artist and a glossary. 




Dog Days of History: The Incredible Story of Our Best Friends (National Geographic Children's Books, March 27, 2018) written by Sarah Albee 

My personal copy of this book is buried under one of many stacks in my home or maybe Mulan has it hidden but Alyson Beecher featured it at Kid Lit Frenzy.  Sarah Albee is interviewed by author Deborah Kalb.  The book trailer is premiered by John Schumacher, Scholastic Ambassador of School Libraries, on his blog, Watch. Connect. Read.  

UPDATE:  I found it!  The titles of the chapters are Barking Up the Family Tree, No Bone Unturned, Mastiffs, Mutts, and Mad Dogs, Tough Times, Ruff Times, Enlightenment Dogs, Who Let the Dogs In?, Ad Dogs, Clad Dogs, Sad Dogs, and Fad Dogs, War Dogs and Cold War Dogs, and Nice Work.  In an afterword Sarah talks about What Dogs Have Done for Us?.  She also adds A Note About the Research, an author's note, select bibliography (3 pages), Rufferences, To Dig Up More Sources, To Sniff Out Places to Visit and an index.



Crash: The Great Depression and The Fall And Rise Of America (Little, Brown and Company, April 10, 2018) written by Marc Favreau (The publisher link contains a podcast chat with the author.)

The book is divided into four parts: Fall, Rise, Setback and Victory.  There are ten chapters in total.  Acknowledgments, Source Notes, Bibliography, Selected Primary Sources, Timeline Of The Great Depression, Great Depression Glossary and Index are included at the conclusion.

Marc Favreau chats about his book at the Nerdy Book Club and at YA and Kids! Books Central.

(My parents were nine years old when the Stock Market crashed.  They wouldn't talk about it much but their practice of having multiple items of certain staples on hand has stayed with me.  Let us learn from history.)


Back From The Brink: Saving Animals From Extinction (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 24, 2018) written by Nancy F. Castaldo

Full-color photography supports chapters on preservation, whooping cranes, wolves, bald eagles, giant Galapagos tortoises, California condors, American alligators, and American bison.  There are seven pages following The Call To Action.  After this are resources to watch and read.  There are organizations to join and websites to visit.  You are invited to explore.  Back matter further includes notes and a bibliography, glossary, acknowledgments and an index.



Science Comics Rockets: Defying Gravity (First Second, June 12, 2018) written and illustrated by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd (Jerzy's Twitter link)

This promises to be another stellar entry in a wonderful nonfiction series.  This team discusses What Makes Rockets Go, Rockets As Entertainment, Rockets In Warfare, Rocket Inventors, Rockets In The Space Race, Rockets In Exploration, and The Future Of Rockets.  These seven chapters of exciting panels populated by talking animals and people are followed by a timeline, glossary, further reading and acknowledgments.


 National Park of the U. S. A. (Wide Eyed Editions, June 21, 2018) written by Kate Siber with illustrations by Chris Turnham

The book begins with a table of contents which is a map of the United States.  It is divided into seven sections.  Each section is given a portion of the book.  A more detailed map of each section shifts focus to the national parks in those areas.  The flora and fauna, physical features and points of interest are placed over two pages.  The illustrations, design and layout are fantastic.  You'll probably need more than one copy of this title.






What's The Difference?: 40+ Pairs Of The Seemingly Similar (Chronicle Books, July 10, 2018) written by Emma Strack with illustrations by Guillaume Plantevin

With sections titled Animals, Food & Drink, Geography, Fashion, Human Body and City comparisons are made.  There are 42 in total.  Some of the pairs are deer and reindeer, noodles and pasta, tornado and hurricane, tights and stockings, vein and artery and newspaper and magazine.  An index is provided.  For each duo there are large images on each of the two pages with three small circular pictures beneath these pictures.


Dog Science Unleashed: Fun Activities To Do With Your Companion (National Geographic Kids, August 7, 2018) written by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen with photographs by Matthew Rakola

Lucky readers learn about Sniffing Out Senses, Fit Fido, Clever Canines, and Pampered Pooches.  Within those chapters there are wonderful revelations.  For example under Fit Fido we are educated about the portions of a dog's body used for exercise, how to calculate how much blood is flowing and record your dog's heartbeat, fashion a tool for listening to their heartbeat, how to take their respiration rate, record how exercise affects our canines, experiment how their four feet work together, explore how they drink plus an in the LAB section.  There is an in the LAB section in each chapter.


Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein (Tundra, August 28, 2018) written by Linda Bailey with illustrations by Julia Sarda

This title is a 2018 Booklist Editors' Choice & Top of the List, Publishers Weekly Best Children's and YA Books 2018, and a New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2018.  There is a lengthy three-page author's note.








Paul Writes (a letter) (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, September 11, 2018) written and illustrated by Chris Raschka

It's not often there is a book accessible to children focusing on a specific facet of a religious faith.  Chris Raschka focuses on the Christian Paul the Apostle and letters he wrote. For each letter Chris Raschka makes a reference to the exact verses found in the Bible.  His hand lettering and images of the Apostle are beautiful.  Here is a link to a free digital poster.





Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes (Tundra, September 11, 2018) written by Wab Kinew with illustrations by Joe Morse  

Through a lyrical and conversational technique, we learn of Sacagawea, Jim Thorpe, Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, Beatrice Culleton Mosionier, Frances Pegahmagabow, Te-Wau-Zee, Dr. Evan Adams, John Herrington, Carey Price, Waneek Horn-Miller, Tecumseh, Crazy Horse and Net-No-Kwa.  After the narrative there is an author's note and short biographies.  The double-page pictures are breathtaking.  Link to Sheridan Sun article about the illustrator.



Science Comics Solar System: Our Place in Space (First Second, September 18, 2018) written by Rosemary Mosco with illustrations by Jon Chad 

We are taken through the solar system with an Introduction, Takeoff, The Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Leaving Mars & Asteroid Belt, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Beyond Neptune. An engaging cast of characters, animal and human, present facts and entertain in a wide range of full-color panels.




The Wondrous Workings Of Planet Earth: Understanding Our World And Its Ecosystems (Ten Speed Press, September 18, 2018) written and illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky

This intricately detailed volume in words and illustrations has section headings of Introduction, Levels Of Ecological Organization, Biome Map, What Is An Ecosystem?, The Flow Of Energy, The Classification of Living Things, How Living Things Interact, What Makes A Healthy Ecosystem, Succession, Microecosystems, Microscopic Ecosystems, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, The Polar Ice Caps, Aquatic Ecosystems, The Cycles Of Nature, and Humans And Planet Earth.  A glossary, sources, acknowledgments and index are supplied.




A First Book of The Sea (Candlewick Press, September 25, 2018) written by Nicola Davies with illustrations by Emily Sutton

In a series of informational poems found in Down By The Shore, Journeys, Under The Sea and Wonders we travel and explore the sea.  Some of the poem titles are Sand Castle, Lighthouse, Shore Crab, Limpets, Sargasso, Bottom Trawling, Flashlight Fish, and Shipwreck.  Emily Sutton's illustrations are stunning, including a gatefold.




I've never been very good at sticking to a set number when making a list and truthfully Mulan insisted I add this title.  It is a middle grade novel, fiction based upon historical fact.

Strongheart: Wonder Dog Of The Silver Screen (Schwartz & Wade Books, February 6, 2018) written by Candace Fleming with illustrations by Eric Rohmann

Strongheart became a silent movie star of considerable fame in the 1920s.  In this 245 page book on matte-finished paper larger text is interspersed with the artwork of Eric Rohmann.  This promises to make this a fast and engaging read.  Candace includes a lengthy The Truth Behind This Tale, two pages of actual photographs, a bibliography and notes at the conclusion.  This is a A New York Public Library Best Book of 2018 and A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2018.