By definition, they shelter us from an abundance of rain or sunshine. They are unique by design to fold together when not in use. Sometimes, though, depending on the quality of the ribs and fabric, they may falter in their purpose.
There were many days, windy, wet days in spring and autumn, when on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, where umbrellas failed students scurrying from dorm to class, class to class, class to library, and hopefully to the university center. It was like living in a wind tunnel. You would be walking with your umbrella only to have the wind turn it inside out; the ribs breaking like toothpicks.
You would see broken umbrellas stuffed in trash cans, or simply thrown down by frustrated travelers. If you were fortunate, someone with a sturdier device would offer you protection until you reached your destination. Most of us gave up buying new umbrellas after the third purchase. But, quite unexpectedly, these portable canopies will offer us something wildly wonderful when we need it the most. Let's see what happens in The Umbrella (Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, March 21, 2023) written by Beth Ferry with artwork by Tom Lichtenheld.
Dreary.
Weary.
Everyone is tired of rain, day after day. The grayness of the outside world is seeping into people's homes, minds, and hearts. Will it ever stop raining?
One small child ventures out with their canine companion. Whatever the weather, dogs need their outside time. They make it to cover under the awning of a neighborhood store. This shop is filled with an eclectic assortment of new and old, familiar and odd items.
Inside one trunk, multiple possibilities are unearthed. The dog discovers an old, seen-better-days yellow umbrella. It is free! As the pair make a mad dash for home in the rainstorm, the umbrella does not survive the wind and rain. To say the child is disappointed is an understatement, but the duo get cozy in bed for the night. And it keeps raining . . . for days.
One morning when the child and pup head outside, they are greeted with a huge surprise. Somethings bloomed where they were planted. A compassionate heart knows what to do with this discovery.
With Beth Ferry's writing we are privy to the power of a single word. The first seven words in this story stand alone, followed by a period. To add to the pacing and the adventures of the pup and child, sometimes words are combined as they move from one point to another. Then, one word at a time, the narrative continues, taking us on a rhyming romp from gray to glad. Her use of alliteration is perfect. Here is a passage.
Dashing.
Splashing.
Pitter-patters.
The selection of shades of purple and yellow throughout the book, as first seen on the open and matching dust jacket and book case, is a wonderful choice. Complementary and contrasting, they provide depth to each image. On the right side, we see what the child and dog have found in the trunk. What is it exactly? What can it be if we use our imaginations? The rainwater and umbrella are vanished on the jacket.
To the left of the spine, still on a bright white background, is the illustration depicting the dog finding the tattered umbrella in the trunk of the whatnot shop with the child wondering what it is. On the opening endpapers in a muted lavender, vertical dashes of white signify falling rain. The rain creates puddles around a sandbox, itself turning into a pond. A sand shovel is sticking up and a rubber ducky floats in the water. On the closing endpapers, a vibrant yellow covers the pages. The child is calling to the dog as they race over a yellow hill toward a rising sun.
Back at the beginning of the book, the first page turn reveals the verso on the left. In a design genius choice, the rain continues to fall. With a closer look, we see the long drops of rain in white are the dedication and publication information. This is brilliant! To the right, on the title page, the umbrella lays on the floor of the shop.
in pencil and watercolor on Stonehenge paper with a bit of Photoshop to put it all together
contain the right amount of humor and details. Is that someone in a canoe going down the street? Clothed in a raincoat, a weary but hopeful citizen dreams of sunshine while throwing a coin in an overflowing fountain in the square. An insect seeks shelter under a broken branch on a hollow tree trunk. In that hollow trunk, a mother rabbit holds out a paw to check if it is still raining. Her babies huddle under her. Inside the shop, the pup glances up at a painting of a group of dogs. They might be playing poker. Next to that is another Easter egg. (Did I just laugh out loud?)
The expressive looks on all the characters' faces skillfully convey every mood. They are clearly exhausted by this nonstop rainy weather. They long for change and this child and her pup are agents for that change. We can feel this building with every page turn.
One of my many favorite images is a single page illustration. It is when the child and dog make it under the awning over the front of the shop. Graphite and purple hues color the page. A loud BOOM!! is shown between dark clouds at the top and the roof of the store. Thunder! in white is embedded in the brick upper story. And Under! is placed in the doorway. Still on a leash, the dog shakes off the wetness of the rain and the child happily spreads their arms at the success of finding a dry spot. Rain falls around them and puddles on flat surfaces.
This book, The Umbrella written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld, is full of delightful revelations. If readers ever think they are too small to make a difference, this dispels that notion. One act by one soul can make a difference. You will want to have a copy of this title in all your collections. This book is one to gift to others often. You also might want to be on the lookout for yellow umbrellas. You never know what can happen with one.
To learn more about Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld and their other work, please access their websites by following the link attached to their names. Tom Lichtenheld has many illustrations from this title at his website. Beth Ferry has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Tom Lichtenheld has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. At the publisher's website, you can view the opening endpapers. You will enjoy this discussion on Publishers Weekly between the creators about who this book honors.
Sometimes the beginning is as subtle as a change in the air. It feels a bit charged or heavier or both. The breeze gets a bit stronger. Looking skyward, the shape of clouds and their color is quickly transforming. A disturbance is threatening.
Birds gather near the shore or in trees. In the distance, rumbling begins as the sky darkens. Writer Laura Purdie Salas and artist Elly MacKay collaborate to vividly portray this usually sudden shift in the weather in Zap! Clap! Boom!: The Story Of A Thunderstorm (Bloomsbury Children's Books, February 28, 2023).
Sunny day sits warm and dry.
No wind,
no rain,
no stormy sky.
Morning's calm.
Outside is still.
A blue forever day,
until . . .
Without us being aware, warmer air is moving upward toward the cooler clouds. They start to fill and get larger, gathering overhead. In the distance loud sounds partner with gray skies and blowing winds. Spears of light fork downward in the distance.
Rumbles roll through the air, shattering any remaining silence. Rain begins to drop, slow at first, then faster. The breeze is now a howling wind. The sounds are nearly deafening.
Shelter is sought and shelter is found. Children snuggle inside, safe from the tumult. The thunder shakes the walls, the lightning flashes on and off, the wind sings like a banshee, and the rain pounds on the windows.
Then, after what seems like minutes (or sometimes longer), the thunderstorm moves to cast its chaos on another place. Those on the inside slowly venture to the outside, savoring the clear air, the rain-washed spaces and calming breaths of air. Everything feels new. Let's play!
The writing, the poetry, of Laura Purdie Salas has entertained and educated us for more than two decades. In this title her rousing rhythms woven with words move through the pages like a thunderstorm. They begin and end with a soothing quiet, coming to a crescendo in the center with the title words repeated three different times. Laura Purdie Salas uses poetic techniques, rhyme, metaphor, and alliteration, like a master. Here is a passage.
Swollen clouds begin to drain,
spilling
splashing,
chilling
rain.
In looking at the open and matching dust jacket and book case, readers feel the full force of the thunderstorm on the front, right side. Trees bend in the wind and rain diagonally cuts across the view. Dark clouds release roaring thunder and jagged lightning. We wonder how the residents of the hilly island are surviving.
To the left of the spine, on the back, we see the left side of the island in a closer view as the storm lessens and moves away. The breeze is still brisk, but the sky is beginning to lighten. The land seems to be holding its breath.
On the opening endpapers, we are given a panoramic perspective of the top of the island. Three children play with a red ball. The land, trees, shrubs, and homes are kissed with morning sunlight. Bathed in deeper hues of golden yellow, the same scene shows the aftermath of the wild weather on the closing endpapers. The children stand, this time, together as silhouettes. The ball is at the feet of one of them.
A two-page picture supplies a background for the verso and title page text. A small barn is tucked at the base of a series of rocky slopes. Traversing those slopes, as the sun rises, are a goat and two leaping kids.
Each of the full-color double-page images in this book portrays three children and three goats on this island pleasantly enjoying the company of each other. In subsequent page turns we see what the goats are doing separately before, during and after the thunderstorm. When the children are running toward home, the goats are running toward their shelter. As the goats look out the front of their barn during the storm, the children peer out the window of their home at the wind and rain.
This artistic style gives a realistic and fluid motion to the children and goats as they are placed in each setting. The color palette alters to indicate the path of the thunderstorm and how it is reflected in the children and the goats. The results of this illustrator's skill fashion an immersive experience for readers.
One of my many favorite illustrations is when the children are running home and the rain starts to fall. The trio are jumping in puddles and leaping over the wet ground. Behind the figures the dark clouds on the left appear to be chasing them as the sky is a blend of blue and purple hues. The rain falls in streaks toward a pebbled surface with pools of water forming. We are close to the children and can see their delight in this moment.
For those of us who live in areas with four distinct seasons, this book, Zap! Clap! Boom!: The Story Of A Thunderstorm written by Laura Purdie Salas with illustrations by Elly MacKay features a wonderfully true portrayal. For those who have never experienced a thunderstorm, you will do so in the pages of this book. At the close of the book is a section titled The Science Behind Storms. It is divided into three sections, Here Comes The Rain, Lighting Up The Sky, and Boom! Following this is a short list of Selected Sources and websites, time-lapse videos and books for further exploration. For a study of seasons, weather, and poetry, this book will be a welcome addition on your professional and personal bookshelves.
To learn more about Laura Purdie Salas and Elly MacKay and their other work, please visit their websites by following the link attached to their names. At Laura Purdie Salas's website there is a book trailer, an activity sheet to download, and a video of a Minnesota lightning storm. You will enjoy reading about Elly MacKay's process featured at her website. Laura Purdie Salas has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, andYouTube. Elly MacKay has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, andTwitter. At the publisher's website, you can view interior pages.
If any individual's story ends in triumph, should we not cheer outwardly, or at the very least, inwardly for them? Are we not glad for their success, whether they are known to us or not? They might be someone from the past or present who spent or are spending time on this planet. They might exist because of someone's imagination. And if this individual is one of a group, a group bound together by history, culture, and resilience, we should exalt their accomplishments.
Each time All Because You Matter(Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., October 6, 2020) written by Tami Charles with illustrations by Bryan Collier is read, you find yourself saying in your heart of hearts, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" You repeat that word of affirmation because of the truth and power in the words you've read and in the artwork you've seen. This same collaborative team released the second book, We Are Here (Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., January 3, 2023), in this trio as our new calendar year started. It is as compelling and eloquent as its predecessor.
The journey of who we are
stretches beyond
rivers,
roads,
mountains high-fiving
blue skies.
This sentence is followed with a reminder that this is the way it has always been and always will be. This unseen narrator speaks with joy and purpose. They say as seeds our roots go deep, pulsing with potential. That potential has been realized repeatedly in the achievements of others.
Their marks have been made in space exploration, building and music made with instruments and voices. Those voices rang out on stages, steps, and in stadiums. They still do.
This journey being taken is reflected in the array of food prepared, seasoned, and eaten. Those walking on the path break barriers, heads held high at points around the world. They are understood by all, talking in a universal language. They march placing one foot in front of the other so no one is forgotten. As long as your story is told, you will be remembered.
Even a condition that swept around the world, bringing everything to a standstill, did not stop these courageous people. This child is told by this narrator that these courageous people did not stop because
we have always been heroes.
Hold tight to your promise regardless of what others might say. You are remarkable in every respect.
The author's note by Tami Charles begins with this sentence.
For a long time, I have wanted to write something in honor of my daughter, whom I didn't get to meet.
Word by word, each rhythmic phrase builds something beautiful and . . . strong. The voice in this narrative speaks to this beauty and strength created over time and seen in the determination of a people to be the best of the best. The imagery fashioned by the words of Tami Charles are something to see with our eyes and hold close regardless of the ups and downs life has and will deliver. A precious daughter has indeed been honored. Here is another passage.
We are joy!
Igniting the world,
like stars caliente and bright,
like trumpets blaring at
midnight!
You hear that?
Skit-skat-
caddy-wack!
Even if you had not seen his name on the dust jacket and book case, you would know by looking at them the artwork is by Bryan Collier. His color palette first seen on the matching and open jacket and case is rich like royalty. See how the color of the text, the girl's headband and shirt contrast and complement the deep blue and purple hues. The use of light and shadow is exquisite.
The opening and closing endpapers are a pattern of portions of row houses. In the illustrator's note, Bryan Collier explains this choice. The dedication, verso, and title pages use the sky and circular elements seen on the jacket and case as a background.
Rendered
with collage and Winsor & Newton watercolor paint on 300lb. Arches watercolor paper,
these images each span one and one-half pages. In many of the pictures, the child seen on the front, right side, of the jacket and case is featured. She is shown with her family, very close to us so we see only a portion of her face, and we look, like a gliding bird, down on her as she builds something.
Subsequent illustrations highlight Black Americans showcased in the text. Those row houses appear many times. We see Bryan Collier's use of rays. In four of the five final pictures, the girl returns. Careful readers will see the balloon shown in the first picture appear again and again. The artwork of Bryan Collier for this book lifts up the beauty and strength of the words until you want to shout it out loud.
One of my many favorite illustrations is the girl standing outside the home shown in the first picture of her with her family. We are very close to her. The upper portion of her body fills most of the space with the home and the vibrant blue and purple sky behind her. She is leaning toward us. Her lips are shaped to blow air toward the wand she holds in her right hand. The wand has been dipped in a solution to make bubbles. They float in front of her and to the right.
This book, We Are Here written by Tami Charles with artwork by Bryan Collier, is a song to be sung to Black children (to all children so all children will know). You can sing it out loud like a choir or softly like a lullaby. This is a heartwarming, inspirational, exhilarating, and hopeful title. There are seven paragraphs at the close of the book dedicated to those honored in these pages. There is a short glossary. Be sure to read the author's note and illustrator's note. You will want to share this often and widely by having it in your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Tami Charles and Bryan Collier and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. Tami Charles has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Bryan Collier has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Each of us needs to remind ourselves; there is beauty to be found everywhere if we seek it. It can be found in a shape or an angle or a size or the meeting of shapes, angles and sizes. Colors, dark or light, or in a blend of many hues can take our breath away when we least expect it. Colors can have meanings, some the same or different, for each of us. We associate color with events and places and individual beings. We have favorite colors.
As a gardener, the various hues of brown seen in soil determine which plants will thrive in certain spaces. The brown of soils, for this gardener, represents, too, support and learning from a father who enjoyed making things grow. Every day in the presence of my chocolate Labrador retriever, Mulan, brown means warmth and unconditional love. In Brown Is Beautiful (Farrar Straus Giroux, October 4, 2022) written by Supriya Kelkar with pictures by Noor Sofi, readers see how we are surrounded by brown and its varied representations. A young girl, an Indian American, and her grandparents are off on a hike. During their adventure, pictures preserve their discoveries of the many meanings and value of brown.
Brown is beautiful.
A wild mustang in a vast expanse
Shimmering mane calling for a second glance.
From this panoramic perspective, the child next bends low to the ground to watch a row of ants carry items far greater than they are in size. During a sudden storm, taking shelter under a tree, it is understood how secure a tree is with all the roots extending underground. The wood used in a small campfire signifies energy.
When a mother bear offers safety to her cubs, brown is courageous. It is tall like a mountain and an eagle gliding high in the sky. Brown is home for those creatures finding a residence in a hollow.
Did you know this color can be wise? What examples of its knowledge do you think the little girl and her grandparents find? All we have to do is examine a canyon or a cave to know brown is brimming with mystery. What artist fashioned what a canyon or a cave reveals?
Paths taking us away and back home and sometimes to parts unknown are brown. For those making nests for their young,
brown is love.
Brown is a new baby brother. This is beautiful. We are beautiful.
When you think of all the walks we've taken alone or in the company of friends, furry or human, often we've seen all we hoped for and much more. With her story, Supriya Kelkar celebrates the color brown whenever and wherever it is seen. She begins each portion of her narrative with a defining word. Following this is a rhyming couplet filled with descriptive words. These definitions and couplets are as uplifting as the explorations and discoveries of the characters. Here is a passage.
Brown is stable.
Twisted roots tunneling deep
Through wind and rain, the tree will keep
How can you not smile when first looking at the front of the open and matching dust jacket and book case? The forest scene, soft and inviting in tones of brown and blue, accent the leaves, flowers and stems on the left and right of the foreground. These all serve to showcase the girl holding the leaf. The hint of a smile in her eyes and mouth ask us to join her.
To the left of the spine, on the back, starting at the top are layers of golden brown shifting to shades of blue along the bottom. A circle framed in leaves, flowers, and stems is a placeholder for text. It reads:
Brown is potential.
A new life crying out
A warm seed about to sprout
The opening and closing endpapers first hold the dedication, verso and title pages. The last two pages are titled Method, supplying readers with options and instructions. Each double-page picture throughout the body of the book and the two single-page visuals by artist Noor Sofi are rendered
digitally using Procreate on the iPad Pro.
Her layers provide readers with different perspectives in the same image. Bright colors, light and shadow animate each setting. Love of each other and their surroundings is shown in each person's facial expressions. Flora and fauna are depicted realistically.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a two-page picture. Here readers are brought very close to the highlighted subjects. We can see some sunny background through the log's branches. Moving across the log, right to left is a line of ants, each carrying a sizable load. They have been magnified for us. Underneath and along the log are several clumps of flowers. Behind the log is the girl. All we can see is the portion of her face with her eyes, framed by her hair. Her camera is between her face and the ants with a finger poised to take a picture. Her deep brown eyes are full of life and curiosity.
Written by Supriya Kelkar with pictures by Noor Sofi, Brown Is Beautiful is a lyrical love letter to the color brown; an appreciation for all it is and all it can be. At the close of the book is an Author's Note about her growing up in a community where there were few brown-skinned people. She speaks about how her mindset changed about the color brown. At the close of the book are pages titled How to Make Your Own Scrapbook, Materials and the previously mentioned Method. This is for readers to create what the child was doing for her new baby brother. I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Supriya Kelkar and Noor Sofi and their other work, access their websites by following the link attached to their names. Supriya Kelkar has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Noor Sofi has accounts on Instagram and YouTube. Both Supriya Kelkar and Noor Sofi are interviewed at John Schu's Watch. Connect. Read. about this title. At the publisher's website, you can view interior images.
Being the oldest child in a family has perks. In the beginning, as the only child you are everything to your parents. Every single first is documented. With the arrival of a younger sibling, everything shifts away from you. This is a bit of a shock. The shock grows larger when another realization dawns.
You are assigned more responsibilities. It's safe to say, some are okay. Others stink, literally and figuratively. In The Baby-Changing Station (Megan Tingley Books, Little, Brown And Company, August 2, 2022) written by Rhett Miller with illustrations by Dan Santat, older brother James initially believes a wish has been granted. He learns, as most of us do, to be careful about making wishes.
People have names
And my name is James.
I'm a regular ten-year-old kid.
I always thought
I was nice but I'm not.
I feel bad 'bout this thing that I did.
James is lamenting the fact he is no longer in the spotlight. Joe, his new baby brother, has taken this from him. Everything Joe does is adorable, even the gross stuff. If James commits even the tiniest infraction, in his parent's eyes he is not nice. James begins to plot how to get rid of Joe. Taking him back to a store or sending him in return mail are out of the equation.
When Thursday rolls around, the family goes to The Magical Pan, the best pizzeria in town. Mom, Dad, and James are stuffed with this delicious treat, when Joe starts to grimace. Then, the air fills with a tell-tale odor.
Dad looks at Mom. Mom looks at Dad. They both look at James. James reluctantly takes Joe to the men's room Baby-Changing Station. Surprisingly efficient, probably motivated by the smell, James has Joe clean and happy in a jiffy. It is then that James notices a screen over the table.
The screen offers to make Joe disappear with a push of a button. In his place, there are three options (cool stuff to own). A huge plus is all memories of Joe will be erased from the family's minds. As each choice appears, James has visions of future fun. A countdown from ten to zero begins on this one time offer. Will he or won't he push that button? A single word shouted at the end gives us a warm-hearted answer.
By the time you get to the second six line stanza in this narrative, the cadence captures you to the point you might be ready to dance. James's first person rhyming words by Rhett Millerspeak to the truth a first child feels when a younger brother or sister arrives. Readers will readily find themselves laughing at the dilemma Joe presents to James. The screen above the baby-changing station seemingly granting James's fervent wish is sheer genius as are James's thoughts when each option is presented. The rhyming beat, the first person viewpoint, the humor, and the three choices all build toward a conclusion certain to elicit a sigh of satisfaction from readers. Here is another passage.
Before I could question
This crazy contention
A picture appeared on the screen.
Some weird-looking glasses
With high-tech attachments,
Camouflage, dark brown and green.
NIGHT VISION SPECS
TWO COMPLETE SETS
ALLOW YOU TO SEE IN THE DARK
(Page turn completes stanza)
As soon as you see the open dust jacket, with Dan Santat's signature artwork, you know you are in for an interpretive pictorial treat. In both images, right front and left back, the screen above the changing table holds text. On the front James and stinky Joe have just entered the men's room. (Notice the green fumes.) On the back, Joe sits on the changing table, clean and much less smelly. He is wide-eyed with his head and eyes raised. Above him, the sign makes the first verbal announcement. One look at this and readers will laugh out loud.
On the book case, we zoom in to the changing table, pre-change. On the right side, Joe down to his diaper seems to be oblivious to the fumes. On the left, James has laid out all the necessary supplies. He has wipes, a towel, a clean diaper, pins, and BABY BUTTER.
On the opening and closing endpapers are eight different kinds of diaper folds. Each one is labeled next to diagrams indicating numbered steps. Who knew?
These illustrations
were done in color pencil, watercolor, and Adobe Photoshop.
Each image, single-page or double-page, enhances the text with extra doses of comedy. The facial expressions are off-the-charts funny. Usually, we are brought close to the characters and their actions like when Joe is grimacing and loading his diaper as Mom, Dad, and James watch with apprehension. When James is imagining three different futures with one of the possible selections, readers will wish they could jump into the scene.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a two-page visual. It is nighttime. A large dark area with scalloped edging on the corners fills the pages. There is a sprinkling of stars. Four boys with flashlights are shining them in the park. Three are in the background and one is closer to the front on the left. On most of the right side and with some crossing of the gutter is James and Baby Joe. Baby Joe is wearing a onesie and carrying a flag. Both boys are running with mouths wide open and arms spread at their sides. They are the only two wearing night-vision goggles. They have captured the flag and a ton of fun.
In this book, The Baby-Changing Station written by Rhett Miller with illustrations by Dan Santat, readers will connect with the family dynamics depicted in exuberant rhyming words and equally rambunctious artwork. They will knowingly laugh and rejoice at the uplifting ending. This will be a much requested story time title. I highly recommend it for your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Rhett Miller and Dan Santat and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. Rhett Miller has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Dan Santat has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Rhett Miller and Dan Santat were interviewed about this book at School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production by Betsy Bird.
Decades ago, more than truckers had CB radios in their vehicles. This was a time before mobile or cell phones. CB radios provided a sense of security in case of an emergency. (My handle was Book Mama.) The conversations between truckers were entertaining and informative. They would often alert drivers of traffic congestion and alternate routes to follow. Truckers would honk their horns when it was safe to pass and flash their lights when it was good to move back into a lane. Travelers got the sense they were a part of a highway group who would look out for each other.
Truckers haul goods within a neighborhood, a state, or from one side of the country to another. They are essential connectors. In Big Truck Little Island (Candlewick Press, May 3, 2022) written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, a truck becomes the focus of an unexpected complication. It is children who propose the obvious.
Out on the ocean, one bright summer day,
bound for an island, still five miles away,
a tugboat was towing a truck on a barge---
a truck that was hauling a load, extra large.
The load on the truck was covered, hidden from sight. After the barge docked on one side of the island, the truck needed to reach the opposite side, an eastern meadow, by traversing a narrow winding road. Progress was slow, the load weighed twenty plus tons.
The driver was at the beginning of his route when a switchback threw him a curve. The twenty-plus-ton load shifted and the trailer was no longer under his control. As luck would have it, the trailer stuck fast in the mud, but now the road was blocked.
Soon four cars, two from the north and two from the south, wanted to pass. Meg, Barry, Pete, and Sue had things to do. Parents with patience waning waited. Meg, Barry, Pete, and Sue left their vehicles and gathered. They devised a perfect plan.
As friends and neighbors, they knew what to do. So, a swim meet, ballet practice, science project, and dog wash were attended on time. What happened to the truck, you ask? Like the barge brought it to the island, a wrecker pulled it clear. That night, the load on the truck's trailer was disclosed to the islanders. It was a marvelous sight.
Whether read silently or aloud, the words penned by Chris Van Dusencreate a lively, inviting cadence. His rhyming couplets freely flow, forming a tale of cleverness and community. His definitive word choices take us to a memorable place and time. Here is a passage.
The trailer was tipping, everything slipping!
The wheels in the way back were no longer gripping!
They skidded and slid off the road and then---
Rendered in gouache, the full color artwork by Chris Van Dusen we see first on the open and matching dust jacket and book case gives us on the front, right side, the dilemma the truck driver and neighbors face. To the left of the spine, on the back, on a cornflower blue background is an oval image. On the white canvas, Barry, Meg, Pete, and Sue are assessing the situation and discussing a solution. The title text on the jacket is varnished.
The pale yellow in the sky on the front of the jacket and case and in the title text is used for the opening and closing endpapers. A luminescent image precedes the title page. A blazing sun in a yellow sky fashions a shimmering path on the waterway. In the distance along the horizon, the tugboat is pulling the truck and trailer on the barge. With a page turn a double-page picture spreads between the verso and title pages. We have moved up close to the tug, barge, truck and trailer. On the far right we can see the island coming into view. Dolphins dive on the right side of the vehicles as if to guide them. Seagulls act as guardians.
Chris Van Dusen alternates between double-page images, full-page visuals, and smaller illustrations set in white space. His representations of the four children waiting in their cars with visions of where they must be are fabulous. They are set against the rocky walls rising on the side of the road.
His perspectives are stunning, offering us a gorgeous bird's eye view of the island and then we find ourselves feeling as though we are a passenger in the truck when the load shifts, dragging it over the edge of the road. We experience the shock of the driver, the driver with a MOM tattoo on his arm. His canine companion looks at the back, equally shocked by the sound.
The hues in his illustrations are breathtaking in their realism. Near photographic details bring us deeply into the narrative. Wildlife is present as is island flora like lupines. The facial expressions on all the characters supply us with a clear understanding of their emotions.
One of my many favorite illustrations is of Sue, her sheepdog Bunk and her Mom stopped by the truck crossing the road. Sue is imaging Bunk at the dog wash. He had a meeting with a skunk. Sue's mom has a clothespin on her nose. Sue is plugging her nose with her fingers as Bunk squeezes through the open window next to her. Bunk is happy as the proverbial clam.
This book, Big Truck Little Island written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen, is based on a real event. An author's note describes the incident. If you are seeking a story about community and cooperation, this title is a brilliant choice. Readers will gasp at the last double-page image. I highly recommend this title for both your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Chris Van Dusen and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. You will enjoy the informative Q &A section. Chris Van Dusen has accounts on Facebook and Instagram. At the publisher's website, you can download an activity kit and a teacher's guide. At Penguin Random House, you can view interior illustrations.
For those sharing their lives with beings other than humans, each one has a preference with particular reasons attached to that preference. This reader has a fondness for dogs. Four Labrador Retrievers have been members of my family, sisters, Soot and Cinder, sweet Xena, and my wild child cuddlebug, Mulan. For this reason one saying I hold close to my heart is
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
Roger Caras
Any title referencing dogs has my attention.
Whatever it is, when you begin and end with a dog, expect the extraordinary. I'd Like To Be The Window For A Wise Old Dog (Doubleday Books For Young Readers, April 5, 2022) written and illustrated by Philip Stead is a place to let your imagination spread as far as it will go. It's also a reminder to be more observant of the details you might miss at first glance.
Oh, I'd like to be
the raindrop
falling on a turtle shell
For the next two page turns, the rain continues. It makes a puddle for a leaper. It provides the opportunity for an umbrella, an elephant's umbrella, to supply shelter. And when the rain ends, at the most perfect moment, it fashions a wonder seen out the window. A window under which a dog sleeps.
The unseen narrator contemplates the movements of penguins, snails, honeybees, and those of a whale. They ponder mirroring those motions. With sure knowledge, this individual returns to wanting to be something which gives to another.
Where will the sunshine fall? Who will nest in an oak tree hollow? Who will hide in high green grasses?
We read of feathers and weather. We read of a hummingbird, mouse, and a quiet cat. Again, with sure knowledge, our wonderer goes to the window and the dog. As the window, the voice is filled with the happiness of the dog's thoughts as she gazes through the glass.
No matter how many times the book is read, the sheer beauty of the words carefully penned by Philip Stead surround the reader in a hug of serene speculations. Each pondering asks us to look and marvel at things we might take for granted instead of viewing them with gratitude. There is a musicality to the shifts in reflections from wanting to be something, to moving like something, and then to being something again. Philip Stead uses a bit of rhyming, alliteration, and metaphor. Here is another thought.
I'd like to be
the tall grass
standing with a mother deer
helping hide the little fawns
one two three
White is used masterfully by Philip Stead to elevate his full-color artwork throughout the book as first evidenced on the dust jacket. On the front, elements found in other illustrations are a part of this initial illustration. The blend of rain and the rainbow, the red ball and red bird, the blue and yellow coneflowers, and the wise old dog hint at continuity which can be comforting. To the left of the spine, on the white canvas is a mouse carrying an acorn. The mouse is flying with delicate angel wings. Beneath the mouse are the words:
And I sometimes wonder . . .
The book case is white and covered on both sides with raindrops. The raindrops are in the colors found in a rainbow. The opening and closing endpapers are the same shade of red as the bird and ball.
The first interior picture is of the window. It is raining outside. The red bird is singing in a tree with ginkgo-shaped leaves. The dog, her back to us, is staring out the window. Next to her is the red ball with a mouse seated on top of it. The next page turn we zoom to the bird singing in the rain. The background is blue with white drops, green leaves, brown branches, and the bright bird. On the title page, the dog now has the ball in her mouth. The mouse is running across the verso.
For his phrases, Philip Stead uses double-page pictures. His printmaking is exquisite with subtle shading and fine details. Before a final phrase or an alteration in phrases, words spread across two pages with no other artwork. The color of the letters is a hint of what is to come. As the narrative continues, figures from previous illustrations join other members culminating in a heartwarming array. Readers will pause at page turns to locate all the creatures. You will notice other smaller stories embedded in the artwork like the turtle and mouse moving the red ball to its final resting place.
One of my many favorite illustrations is of the elephant holding the umbrella in the rain. The background is white with blue raindrops. The elephant is facing to the left with the front portion of its body to the left of the gutter. Underneath the elephant's body it is white as light blue water puddles around it. Under the elephant's belly, eight tiny yellow birds are seeking shelter. Underneath the green umbrella in the elephant's trunk are two more yellow birds. Two other yellow birds are flying to the right near the elephant's trunk and head. There is something exceedingly soothing about this scene.
On the verso, the dedication by Philip Stead reads:
For Wednesday most of all
As previously stated when something begins and ends with a dog, it will be out of the ordinary. I'd Like To Be The Window For A Wise Old Dog written and illustrated by Philip Stead is indeed remarkable. It is one eloquent moment followed by another equally eloquent moment. It is uplifting. It is hopeful. It is a tribute to life. You will want a copy for both your professional and personal collections.
To learn more about Philip Stead and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. Philip Stead shares a website with his wife titled The Stead Collection. They share an Instagram account, too. At the publisher's website, you can view the first few pages of this title. You can view more artwork from this book at R. Michelson Galleries. Philip and his wife, Erin, and Kevin Henkes and his wife, Laura Dronzek, were part of a virtual event on Friday, June 24, 2022. The four talk about their newest books. You can view this event hosted by Books of Wonderhere.
Of the many things attributed to dogs, one of the most endearing is their ability to make us laugh. Their body language, facial expressions, and antics are a constant source of joy. They welcome every moment of every day. In Bug On The Rug (Sleeping Bear Press, April 15, 2022) written by Sophia Gholz with illustrations by Susan Batori, a pup's beloved rug becomes an object of controversy and comedy.
Pug on a rug,
cozy and snug.
He's a rug-loving pug.
When along comes . . .
It's a bug! This bug is looking a tad bit too proud of his position on that rug. He has set up residence on Pug's rug.
Growling and buzzing ensues. Then Bug throws a stick, which Pug sets off to retrieve. Pug arrives back at his rug mad at that bug.
Pug grabs the rug and a tussle begins, until the duo crash into none other than Slug. Slug in not happy about being sandwiched between a fighting pug and bug. Slug says they are being selfish and rude.
Pug and Bug are filled with guilt. Sobbing Bug tells the tale of how he lost his home. Pug tearfully realizes the mistake he made. When Bug decides to leave, Slug makes a suggestion. The trio are enjoying the rug until . . .
With a keen sense of humor, author Sophia Gholz invites us into rhyming rhythmic fun-filled fiction. Her selection of words used to create this tale are delightful, true, and never forced but flowing. She shows readers how discord can be turned into harmony. Here is another passage.
Pug growls and howls.
Bug buzzes and scowls.
He might be small,
but Bug stands tall.
The open and matching dust jacket and book case give us a clear glimpse of the funny and frantic mischief-making about to happen between Pug and Bug. The characters in this tale all have wide-eyed expressions with exaggerated body characteristics, either small or large. On the dust jacket the image extends from flap edge to flap edge. On the right flap we are introduced to Slug who is looking surprised to see Bug on Pug's rug. Pug's body extends over the spine to the middle of the left side. There, a worm is looking cautiously at the happenings on the rug.
The opening endpapers include the publication information on the left and the title page on the right. There Bug has set up his new home on the rug. On the closing endpapers is the hilarious wordless conclusion. The looks on the characters' faces are totally laughable.
The illustrations by Susan Batorialternate between double-page pictures and full-page images. Her perspectives in these visuals shift from wide to close enhancing the pacing of the story. Humor is infused in every line of these highly-animated illustrations.
Readers will appreciate the added elements. When Bug builds his home on the rug, there is a Welcome mat outside his tent. He is drinking from a red and white polka-dotted cup. On a table next to him the red and white polka-dotted teapot sits. He has a tall lamp! Whenever the characters are thinking or remembering, those are shown in clouds above their heads.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture. On the sides, local flora is shown. On the grass is the infamous rug. Looking off-kilter Pug, Bug, and Slug are on the rug. They have just slid and crashed into one another. Bug and Slug are squashed under Pug. They are dazed and bruised. This is the beginning of a change in the story.
This title, Bug On The Rugwritten by Sophia Gholz with artwork by Susan Batori, is read-aloud gold. Listeners and readers will be finger-snapping and swaying after the first few pages. The humorous phrases forming a story of sharing and friendship will remain with readers long after the book is closed. Your personal and professional shelves need to house a copy of this book.
It seems like yesterday, but more than twenty years have come and gone since that sunny summer day. In a tiny town along one of northern Michigan's largest lakes, a few people strolled down the sidewalks. On one sidewalk, a homeless kitten wandered. Most people hardly gave it a glance. I was not one of them.
I stopped and talked to the lost soul for a few minutes. Walking away, I engaged in the timeless battle of "should I or should I not." When I turned around to go back, a family of three had stopped to kneel down and chat with the kitten. The kitten had found its forever family. A little boy was overjoyed. A few months later, my remarkable, precious Xena came into my world.
The reality is, we never know when or what kind of animal will become a member of our family. When they do, most days our joys are multiplied beyond our imagining. Two recent publications, a month apart, focus on our feline friends. In the first, Bathe The Cat (Chronicle Books, February 8, 2022) written by Alice B. McGinty with illustrations by David Roberts, a clever cat creates off-the-charts comedy with a little help from magnetized letters.
Come on folks,
it's time to clean!
Upstairs,
downstairs,
in-between.
This family, two youngsters, a baby, and two dads, need to work together because Grandma is arriving at two o'clock. Their house is chaotic clutter. All the assignments are posted on the refrigerator door. They are read aloud by Daddy. The last one,
and I'll bathe the cat,
is not welcome news for the cat.
The wily feline rearranges the letters. When Daddys asks why the children and Dad are wasting time, they look at the tasks listed on the door. They make no sense at all.
. . . Bobby, bathe the mat.
Sarah, mop the baby,
and Dad will mow the cat.
Trust me, this cat does not want to be mowed. Paws switch the letters again. It is another crazy list.
The crafty cat goes back to the refrigerator. This list is even more nonsensical, until Daddy makes a discovery. It is almost time for Grandma Marge to walk through the door. Will she find mayhem or peaceful perfection?
Author Alice B. McGinty begins this book with a common scenario, getting ready for the visit of a relative. As her first rhyming phrases unfold, we easily step into their rhythm until the last sentence, a question. Then, we burst into laughter. Our laughter increases with every meddlesome moment the cat spends moving the words and fashioning outlandish new tasks which rhyme beautifully. Here is another hilarious passage.
No, no! That's WRONG! You call this work?!
Have all you people gone BERSERK?
You've scrubbed my fish! You fed the FLOOR?!
MUST I READ THIS LIST ONCE MORE??
The bright shades of orange, pink, green, yellow, and blue we see on the front, right, of the open dust jacket invite happiness regardless of the frantic looks on all the characters, except the cat, of course. We see here a hectic incident frozen in time. We are curious to know what has happened. To the left of the spine on another crisp white background, the child wearing the dinosaur costume is kneeling over the fishbowl. She is feeding three eager fish.
On the book case the background is white. On either side of the spine is a single image. We see the fathers and two of the children chasing the cat that is nearly off the right side. The baby is smiling and crawling along in the lower, left-hand corner.
On the opening endpapers, letters on the refrigerator spell the tasks to accomplish. On the left side is a child's drawing of Daddy and Dad. For reasons readers can guess, the words on the closing endpapers refer to things to do for the cat. On the left side is a drawing of Grandma Marge. On the right side is a drawing of the cat.
On the title page, the cat calmly licking one paw with a toy mouse in the other paw sits on top of the ''t'' in bathe. These images by artist David Roberts ask readers to pause at every page turn. We need to appreciate the details and the expressions on the characters' faces. Just looking at the cat's face will have readers giggling.
Rendered in pencil and watercolor, each two-page visual is loaded with elements extending and enhancing the words. Sometimes we are brought close to the action and feel as though we are participants. Other times, we stand back more as observers. When the cat is rearranging the letters on the refrigerator, we are brought very close which heightens the laughter factor.
One of my many favorite illustrations takes place outside the characters' home. The home with its hues of orange door supplies the background. On the left, Bobby is bathing the welcome mat with a CAT SHAMPOO BOTTLE next to the large orange bucket. Behind him and to his right, Daddy is vacuuming the lawn. On the right, Sarah is mopping a laughing baby. Dad is looking perplexed as he stands next to the lawn mower. The cat, tail with fur on end, is running off the right edge. It just heard the sentence
Mow the cat?
If there is one thing we know to be true, it is laughter can be the best medicine, especially the laughter of children. This book, Bathe The Cat written by Alice B. McGinty with artwork by David Roberts, is one readers will read often and listeners will beg to have it read repeatedly. I highly recommend you have a copy in both your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Alice B. McGinty and David Roberts and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. Alice B. McGinty has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. David Roberts has an account on Instagram. At the publisher's website, you can view interior images.
Who can resist the allure of a kitten? Those little bundles of fur are some of the most magical of baby animals. Their curiosity for whatever is around them and their ensuing shenanigans can melt the iciest of hearts. Author Florence Minor and her husband, artist Wendell Minor, present all the delightful, memorable aspects of these adorable babies in their newest collaboration, Smitten with Kittens (Charlesbridge, March 8, 2022).
Who isn't smitten
with a kitten's sweet MEW
and all the cute things
that kittens will DO?
The first meal of the day gives kittens the energy they need to play. Outside, they love to chase butterflies. Inside, they look in a mirror wondering about the handsome being they see.
If they happen to wander into the bathroom, it will only happen once or at least their humans will keep the toilet paper in a safer location in the future. The television supplies endless entertainment for kittens. The birds are the stars, but they don't seem to fly into the room.
Tucked into the smallest cubbies, kittens hide and expect you to seek. They run and romp and run and romp until their energy is gone. Then, they get cozy and rest. They dream of doing what they do best.
Within a single sentence or two, using rhyming words, Florence Minor creates joy we willingly embrace. Her pacing asks readers to participate in the narrative, guessing what the second rhyming word is. Throughout the entire narrative, we smile at the behavior of the kitten she so aptly describes. Florence Minor has gifted us with the experience of being a kitten. Here is the first of two sentences. I wonder what the second rhyming word will be.
Kittens make trouble
whatever they DO---
rolling, more rolling . . .
In looking at the open and matching dust jacket and book case, we stop for a bit to relish the artwork of Wendell Minor. Rendered
in graphite on paper and digital,
the illustrations are rich in texture and authenticity. Every line vibrates with the liveliness embodied in kittens. Wendell's masterful command of light and shadow raises the reader's pictorial experience.
On the front, right side of the jacket, the title text is raised. There are also seven paw prints in varnished white on the right side of the front. To the left, on the other side of the spine, a charcoal kitten is in a pounce pose. Its expression is pure playfulness.
On the opening and closing endpapers are a series of ten kitten poses. It is as if particular seconds are paused in time. They are nearly photographic, but soft in their quality. They are graphite on white. Every single one is stunning.
On the initial title page, two kittens look up from the inside of a cardboard box. One is resting their front paws on the edge of the box. On the formal title page a large image of a kitten begins on the left, crosses the gutter, and extends to the center of the right side. The kitten is curled and napping. It is curled around a red toy mouse with white hearts on it.
White space is an element in these images drawing our attention to the kittens. The kittens are shown in a variety of activities and poses. We might see their entire body or only a portion. Color is used sparingly as an accent.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a two-page picture. Three kittens are seated in a row with their backs to us. One is to the left of the gutter; the other two are to the right of the gutter. They are facing a television screen placed on a large surface. They are staring intently at a bright red cardinal flying close to them among the clouds. Their tiny heads are cocked slightly to indicate their concentration.
Readers of all ages will enjoy reading and rereading Smitten with Kittens written by Florence Minor with artwork by Wendell Minor. At the close of the book are two pages with ten Fun Facts about kittens. For cat and kitten lovers and for those wishing to enhance their appreciation of our feline friends, you'll want to have a copy of this title in both your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Florence Minor and Wendell Minor and their other work, please follow the link embedded in their names to take you to their shared website. Florence and Wendell also share professional FacebookandPinterest accounts. Florence Minor has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Wendell Minor has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. At the publisher's website, you can view an interior illustration and download an activity sheet. At Penguin Random House, you can view additional interior images.
For some reason, the move from daylight savings to standard time has been a struggle in 2021 (and 2022) for some individuals. It seems the canine community, in this home and in the households of neighbors, is refusing the necessary adjustment. Waking, walking, eating of meals, and sleeping remain on daylight savings hours. This makes their humans' schedules a tad bit off every single day.
This situation, coupled with my dog's acute awareness when a deer, fox, or rabbit happens to be nearby, has diminished our actual time of rest. There is nothing like a dog's loud barking to make you sit upright out of a sound sleep in the middle of the night. . .or is there? After reading Everybody In The Red Brick Building (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, October 12, 2021) written by Anne Wynter with illustrations by Oge Mora, it is apparent we are not alone. Uninterrupted bedtime rest is not necessarily the norm.
Everybody in the red brick building was asleep.
The slumber of the people in the red brick building was suddenly disturbed by a loud vocal outburst by Baby Izzie. It did not go unnoticed by Rayhan. He was decidedly worried about his parrot. The startled bird let out a boisterous screech.
Those two unusual noises instigated a late night game by three pals during a sleepover. (Did Natalia just shoot a rocket out her bedroom window?) In short order, a cat made a mad dash from her sleeping space to the top of a car. This action triggered the car's alarm.
Parental responses were swift. The participants in these nighttime romps began to settle to a new set of sounds. A street sweeper and falling acorns combined to begin a symphony.
A breeze created another melody. A dozing feathered friend added harmony. Like the very best of stories, this one circled back to the beginning.
Author Anne Wynterwrites with the sure knowledge of a storyteller. Each time a new character is introduced, a clamorous noise is associated with them. This noise is repeated with the additional commotions, adding layers and building toward the loudest sound, the car alarm in the street. This technique is employed again as we circle back to the beginning. Readers cannot help but participate in this late night awakening and lullaby. Here is a passage.
Woken up by a WaaaAAH!,
a Rrack! Wake Up!,
and a Pitter patter STOMP!,
Natalia dropped from her bunk to
launch her brand-new light-up rocket.
As soon as you look at the matching dust jacket and book case, you wish you lived in the red brick building. The entire image spans from flap edge to flap edge on the jacket and edge to edge on the case. The characters in the windows on the front, right, of the jacket and case are lively. The hint of nighttime sky we view on the front extends across the back, left, in brush strokes of shades of blue. Beneath this expanse, colorful homes line the bottom, windows dark. The text on the front of the jacket is varnished.
A pale turquoise covers the opening and closing endpapers. The night sky is the background for the title, publication information, and dedication pages. In this night sky, stars leave white-line trails behind them.
used acrylic paint, gouache, china markers, patterned paper pastels, and old book clippings to create the collage illustrations for this book.
The selected colors reflect the more subdued lighting of nighttime, yet they are still a vibrant blend of hues. Each double-page picture calls out to the reader, asking them to stop and notice the detailed depictions.
The facial expressions on the characters convey each mood superbly. We see upset, worry, glee, triumph, and fright before calm settles over each individual. Closed eyes and whispered conversations signal calm. For most of the images, we are close to the actions of the characters. Sometimes a group of smaller insets are on a double page spread to indict the quick passage of time and shift in events.
One of my many favorite illustrations shows readers four windows in the red brick building. The first four windows, on the left, give us a peek inside the homes where the parents have intervened. This is a huge shift in the progression of the action. The parrot squawks a goodnight, a father clicks off a flashlight, a mother comforts a fussy baby, and a girl reclaims her rocket as her mother presses the off button on her car alarm. The next set of four windows on the right are dark. The lights are off, but we can still see elements from the earlier pictures. Wonderful.
In a universal sense and on an everyday level this title, Everybody In The Red Brick Building written by Anne Wynter with illustrations by Oge Mora, allows us to see that the world or our home, family, or friends send disruptions to what we consider normal. And, despite those disruptions, peace is restored. I highly recommend this title for both your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Anne Wynter and Oge Mora and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. Anne Wynter has accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Oge Mora has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. At the publisher's website there is a Home and Community Classroom Kit which includes this title and three other books. Anne Wynter is interviewed at Picture Book Builders and Kidlit in Colorwith respect to this title. This book is showcased at We Need Diverse Books with an interview of Oge Mora.
Sometimes, thankfully not every time, something unforeseen or annoying can keep us from falling into much needed sleep. A branch rubbing against your window by a shift in the wind's direction is bothersome. You make a mental note to trim it as soon as morning arrives. In Awake (Roaring Brook Press, October 19, 2021) written and illustrated by Mags Deroma something unforeseen happens to a little girl and her furry friend, Oscar. Something usually not in her bedroom has taken up residence.
In a big, big city, on a busy city street, there is a pretty tall
building. At the tipity-top of that tall building is my bedroom.
Just before turning out her light, a very sleepy girl and her dog are suddenly not so sleepy. The girl notices a spider. It's surprising how you can go from dead tired to eyes-wide-open awake in a flash.
Sleep is impossible when you share your room with a spider. There is nothing available to end its life. It cannot be thought away.
Still, the girl persists in imagining all manner of options to rid her room of that spider. Her schemes, in her mind, grow larger and larger. Wait! The spider is moving.
Quick as a wink, the glass on her nightstand is grabbed and encloses the unwelcome guest. It is then, on closer examination, a change occurs. With understanding, fear leaves and is replaced with compassion.
With the protagonist as narrator, author Mags Deromaencourages readers to identify deeply with the little girl. The words in her sentences fashion a welcoming cadence. Her descriptions of place and time are those easily identified by many of us. Here is a passage.
I know! The WATER SPOUT!
Just like the RAIN,
I'll WASH the spider out!
But
then out comes
the sun . . .
and dries up
all the rain . . .
and that big hairy
spider CANNOT come
up the spout again,
thank you very much!
The limited color palette used throughout the book is introduced to readers on the dust jacket. These muted shades lend a warmth to the darkness of night. The use of red here and in the interior portions of the book is highly effective. On the front, both the little girl and Oscar, her dog, have their gaze on the intruder. The placement of the text, spider and the characters is marvelous!
To the left of the spine, which replicates the red-and-white stripe of the little girl's pajamas, is a sky dotted with stars surrounding the tall building. In the front and to the right side of this building, street lamps glow. The only other light we see is from the arched window of the little girl's bedroom. She is petting Oscar.
The book case is entirely black with one exception. On the front are only two very large eyes. They are the eyes of the spider.
On the opening endpapers amid what could be a horizon at dawn or dusk are lines of hues of orange. On the right side in a column are phrases to ponder. The word OPEN is used three times. It is followed by symbols of eyes, mind, and heart. The final three words say:
TO BE AWAKE.
On the closing endpapers amid a starry sky are seven cut-out pieces of paper. They advise readers on how
TO RELOCATE a SURPRISE GUEST.
Readers are instructed on the necessary materials, giving the guest a name,
(TAKE A
DEEEEEEP
BREATH!),
and the step-by-step process.
On the title page, on the right side we are close to the little girl as she brushes her teeth before bedtime. Through the doorway we see Oscar, nose to the floor, next to the spider. On the left side, the verso, on black is the dedication and publication information. The publication information is in the shape of a spider web done in white. Clever.
These illustrations by Mags Deroma were
made with paint and soft pastels on a gazillion pieces of cut paper, all collaged together.
Each picture is full of details, asking us to absorb the atmosphere in each scene. Some are more highly charged emotionally than others. There are double-page illustrations and single-page visuals. Sometimes we are brought close to the action and other times we stand back to view the city, the little girl's bedroom, or all her ideas for eliminating the spider.
At one point we are slightly above the capture of the spider. All we see is the little girl's arms and hands on the glass over the spider. There is the top portion of her head. And a bit of her emotionally charged movement flickering in the lower, right-hand corner. A single word is on this two-page illustration. This, in turn, opens to a gatefold, four pages of a spectacular view of the city. There are layers of buildings, bridges, and a city street shimmering with lights. On the street directly in front of the tall building, the little girl's home, we can see the names of the businesses. Along the bottom of the page is the window sill of the bedroom. The spider peeks out through the glass. On the right side, in the corner, is a spider web. (Earlier in the story, careful readers will notice Oscar as he tries to give a specific book to his little girl.)
One of my many favorite illustrations accompanies the third sentence in the book. It is the second double-page picture. On the left, the little girl is kneeling on her bed, wearing her pajamas, ready to pull the chain on her bedside lamp sitting on her nightstand. Oscar is lying on the wood plank floor, with his eyes closed. Around her bed are several books and a round bin holding treasures. Other items are hanging on her wall. They seem to indicate her sense of adventure and imagination. On the right is the wall with two arched windows in her bedroom. We can see a small section of an easy chair.
There is nothing more off-setting than discovering you are sharing your bedroom with a creature not to your liking. Awake written and illustrated by Mags Deroma describes this event to perfection as well as taking us through the thought process of the little girl as she tries to resolve her problem. That she shares this experience with Oscar makes her and her story more endearing to readers. This book will promote discussions galore and will be asked to be read often. Plan on placing a copy on your personal and professional bookshelves.
To learn more about Mags Deroma and her other work (This is her picture book debut.), please follow the link attached to her name to access her website. Mags Deroma has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. At the publisher's website, you can view interior illustrations.
Every babysitter, sibling, parent or caregiver is aware of the myriad of challenges faced when shaping children into a bedtime ritual. Having them follow that ritual is an even harder challenge. Just when you think everyone is starting to snooze, there will be the sound of bare feet on floors or giggles or the classic asking for a drink of water. Forty Winks: A Bedtime Adventure (Abrams Books for Young Readers, October 26, 2021) written by Kelly DiPucchio with pictures by Lita Judge is a lovable, engaging and humorous view of patient parents and their thirty-eight mouse children settling down to sleep.
"It's time for bed!" the Wink parents said
Their routine was the same every night.
Mama and Papa lined up their big brood,
all thirty-eight children in sight.
Each child is called by name, thirty-eight alliterative, rhyming names. First, the entire crew enjoys a drink and two kinds of snacks. They eat at different speeds and with different styles. From there, as you can imagine the mess, they head to pails full of suds for their nightly baths.
Now spotless from head to toe, they dress in cozy flannel pajamas. Brushing of teeth ensues, two mice at a time at the sink. Mama reads each of the Winks a book. (Whew!) Of course, they want one more.
Prayers are said as they snuggle into bed, some more quickly and quietly than others. As a whole they are restless, not ready to rest. Some moments later, Mama and Papa believe they are all slumbering when someone asks for a drink of water.
How many of the Winks do you think then need a drink? Later, much later, as they burrow into their bedding, all forty of the family of Winks fall sound asleep. Outside their home, sunlight brightens the horizon, until . . .
By the time you get to the third page in this narrative by Kelly DiPucchio, you find yourself smiling. That smile stays with you until the end of the book, and then, a little bit longer. The rhyming rhythm of the words, especially the thirty-eight names mentioned twice, wraps around you and lifts you up. Alliteration is in abundance. Here is a passage.
The loud, hungry pack was served up a snack
of cider and crumb cake and cheese.
Some sipped and some slurped,
some gobbled and burped,
while others said "thank you" and "please".
From left to right on the open dust jacket, artist Lita Judge, has featured all forty of the Winks. They are all in their pajamas . . . well, most of them are. Some are wearing fuzzy slippers. Their antics are hilarious as you can see by the front of the dust jacket. A couple of them are already asleep. Having them climbing among the title text mirrors their energy throughout the bedtime routine. The text and the mice are varnished.
On the book case, an interior illustration is used. We are looking down on most of the sleeping Wink mice. Continuing in full-color, we see them nestled in beds, single, double, and bunk, a large stuffed turtle pillow, a toy airplane, cars from a train, and in the basket of a floating air balloon. A circus tent is there for them to play and sleep inside. Slippers, toys and some stuffed toy animals are on the floor. Many of them are holding stuffed toy animals or each other. Some of their artwork hangs on a string stretching across the round window.
On the opening and closing endpapers all forty Winks are showcased in portraits. The frames around them are pale yellow. They are a fantastic complement to the watercolor washed sky-blue background.
On the verso and title pages, the entire family is spread along the bottom with the exception of several mice in the airplane, balloon basket, and climbing down a ladder from the balloon. They are, as is to be expected, highly animated and happy. These illustrations in a variety of sizes
were made with pencil and watercolor.
The physical characteristics of the mice are realistic as Lita Judge nursed a baby mouse left on her doorstep, by a concerned neighbor, back to health. Their facial expressions conveying their moods and their body postures depicting total exuberance are certain to have readers stopping to be sure not to miss a single intricate element. Every line made and every color chosen work together beautifully.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a single-page picture. Ten of the Wink youngsters are gathered around a table, devouring their snacks of cider, crumb cakes, and cheese. Most are seated on stools, one is on the floor, and another is standing on a stack of books on a chair. A blue cupboard is behind them to the right. Something has spilled on the floor. One of the little mice, walking off the page to the right, has stepped in it and leaves footprints. Readers will pause to look at their clothing. One of them is wearing an outfit that looks like a tiny bear cub.
This book, Forty Winks written by Kelly DiPucchio with pictures by Lita Judge, is assuredly an enchanting extension of the title's definition. It presents an everyday event multiplied by thirty-eight. It is a read aloud treasure. I wonder how many of the names you will remember when asked to list them at the end. Your collections, personal and professional, won't be complete without a copy of this title.
To learn more about Kelly DiPucchio and Lita Judge and their other work, please access their websites by following the link attached to their names. Kelly DiPucchio has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Lita Judge has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. At the publisher's website you can view interior illustrations. There is an article about this book in The Oakland Press (Michigan).
For the first post in this series, Sweet Dreams, here is the link.
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