Quote of the Month

When love and skill work together, expect a miracle. John Ruskin




Saturday, February 15, 2014

Twitterville Talk #139

It's been a wonderful week on Twitter with announcements of new book releases, cover reveals, book trailers and chatter about World Read Aloud Day coming in March.  Authors and illustrators encourage one another continuously with short exchanges as they take breaks in their work.  All is right in the world of children's literature.  Daily tweets abound on how to best serve students in our libraries and classrooms.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Enjoy what has been gathered here.  Look for the giveaways.  Take time for reading.





This is a very important and always timely essay, A Little Stone:  The Rippling Repercussions of Bookshaming by Priscilla Thomas.

Thanks for this tweet goes to the Nerdy Book Club.






We can't stress enough the importance of being careful about giving credit where credit is due.  Share this article with others, The 6 Types Of Creative Commons Licenses Students Should Know About.  

 Thanks to teacher librarian and blogger at Reederama, Jennifer Reed for this tweet.








Several more judges for the School Library Journal 2014 Battle of the Kids' Books were announced this week.  Meet Yuyi Morales, Sarah Mylinowski, Vaunda Nelson, Patrick Ness and Lauren Oliver.

 Thanks to School Library Journal for these tweets.








There is a new blog at The Horn Book called Lolly's Classroom, designed to look at books and reading from the teacher's perspective.

Thanks to The Horn Book for this tweet.








This looks like a great activity which could be used in a variety of educational settings, A Step By Step Guide To Creating A Virtual Field Trip Using Google Earth.
To the first person who can tell me the name of the person who created the guide, I will send a copy of Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon.  Please leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter.


Thanks for this tweet goes to Jennifer LaGarde, teacher librarian, 2012 Library Journal Movers & Shakers, ALA/NYT I Love My Librarian winner, co-founder of #levelupbc, and blogger at The Adventures of Library Girl.





Did you see the exclusive book trailer for Zita the Spacegirl faces her toughest challenge yet:  Space Prison.  The author illustrator has written an essay about this trilogy.

Thanks to author illustrator Ben Hatke for this tweet and for providing readers with these great books.







Speaking of book trailers...here's this week's lineup from the man who finds them before anyone else. (Plus we have author videos too!)

























Booklist has listed their Top 10 Books on Sustainability for Youth: 2014.  
To the first person who tell me the title of the fifth book on the list, I will send copies of I am Abraham Lincoln and I am Amelia Earhart written by Brad Meltzer with illustrations by Christopher Eliopoulos.  Please leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter. (These titles have been won.)

 Are you ready for the #SharpSchu Book Club this month?

 Here's WONDERful news!

Make sure you don't miss any of the new book releases!  Check out Mr. Schu's Book Release Calendar.

Thanks to John Schumacher, teacher librarian, co-host of the monthly #SharpSchu Book Club, 2011 Library Journal Movers & Shakers, 2014 Newbery Medal Committee member, and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. for these tweets.





This post speaks to how we approach...everything, Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve (and Walls and Actions and)

 This is extremely important when working with readers, Slice Of Life-Matching Books To Readers-Readers Matter!

 And then there is this---Why Invest in Libraries
Thanks to educator and blogger at Read, Write, Reflect, Katherine Sokolowski for these tweets.







And the story continues, JK Rowling backtracks on 'Harry Potter heresy'


Thanks to Children's Bookshelf of Publishers Weekly for this tweet.







This could be a great discussion piece for inside and outside the classroom, Can Re-Illustration Ever Be Justified?

 Thanks to Travis Jonker, teacher librarian, 2014 Caldecott Medal Committee member, and blogger at 100 Scope Notes, for this tweet.







The most recent podcast has been posted, take a break and listen to an interview with author illustrator, Aaron Zenz.


Thanks for this tweet goes to elementary library media specialist, co-founder of #levelupbc, 2013 Library Journal Movers & Shakers Tech Leader and blogger at The Busy Librarian, Matthew C. Winner.





In case you might have missed it, this post, Bless It All, by Donalyn Miller is outstanding.

Thanks to Donalyn Miller, teacher, author of The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child and Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer's Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Reading Habits, co-founder of the Nerdy Book Club and blogger at Donalyn Miller for this tweet.





I love this video which introduces The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.


The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art from Kate Geis on Vimeo.


Thanks for this tweet goes to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.







This is good news to users of Thinglink, "Thinglink" Announces Free Virtual Classrooms

 Thanks to educator and blogger at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day..., Larry Ferlazzo, for this tweet and this post.










Here's an interesting piece, Do People Need Libraries in the Digital Age?

 Thanks to Shelly (Diaz) Vale, School Library Journal, Book Review Senior Editor, for this tweet.





What do you think about this?  Infographic: The Internet Is Making Kids Stupid

 Thanks for this tweet goes to Debbie Alvarez, teacher librarian and blogger at The Styling Librarian.










The Cybils Awards were announced this week.  Check out the winners!
To the first person who can tell me the title of the nonfiction winner for elementary and middle grade, I will send a copy of What's Your Favorite Animal? by Eric Carle and Friends.  Please leave your answer in the comments below or send me a DM on Twitter. (This copy has been won.)

Thanks to author Madelyn Rosenberg (The Canary in the Coal Mine) for this tweet.







Begin early and don't stop!  How reading your baby a bedtime story is as important as FEEDING them-and could even get them a good job and a happy marriage

 Thanks to librarian and blogger at Waking Brain Cells, Tasha Saecker, for this tweet.






Enjoy this collection of quotes, favorite tweets, announcements of book releases, cover reveals and Valentine's Day greetings and...some pictures Xena liked.




































Posted by Xena's Mom at 12:12 PM 0 comments
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Friday, February 14, 2014

It's In The Air

As a whole we are a people who could be called makers of lists.  It seems we are constantly creating them before events; grocery lists, daily to-do lists, trip packing lists, to-accomplish-my-goal lists, holiday shopping lists, or things to experience before I die lists.  It would be a challenge to go through any day without seeing a best list of something.  Lists are a way to remember, document and highlight messages and moments.

Lists can be easily compiled without limitations but if we have a specific number of items in mind, they are a tad more difficult.  We want to make sure of the importance of every single line in this list.  In Ten Things I Love About You (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., December 27, 2012) written and illustrated by Daniel Kirk, we discover, along with two friends, how truly valuable a list can be.

Ring!
Ring!
Hello Pig!
Hello Rabbit!

 Rabbit has traveled the path connecting his home to Pig's with a specific purpose in mind.  He is making a list, a very important list.  Pig acts surprised to see Rabbit making a list.  He is even more amazed to read the title of this list.

Ten things you love...
about me?  Wow, ten!

 The problem for Rabbit is, even though Pig is his very best friend, he is stuck.  He only has one thing on the list so far.  Since Pig is the perfect pal, he has come to him for help. (At this point, I find myself chuckling every time.)

Rabbit even cheerfully suggests that Pig might want to make a list too.  Pig, in his no nonsense manner, clearly states he is rather busy.  That very remark gives Rabbit the second thing he loves about Pig.

Rabbit leaves Pig's home intent on completing his tender tally.  Shortly thereafter he again comes to visit Pig.  Although he is trying, the third thing is not coming to him.

During the course of their conversation, Pig's responses trigger six more things Rabbit loves about Pig.   At this point Pig's patience is beginning to unravel. Oblivious to Pig's mood and happy the list is growing, the optimistic bunny heads back to his home.  Inevitably he arrives for the third time at Pig's place.  This time, it's Rabbit who is surprised.  The two realize they are more alike than either of them knew.


Told entirely in dialog, Daniel Kirk depicts all the charm and humor of this friendship while introducing readers to these delightful characters.  Rabbit's enthusiasm, his ability to turn a sentence into a positive point for his list, creates the special contrast between the two chums.  This comparison generates a gentle tension making the twist at the end even better.  Here is a single example.

Rabbit, I'm really busy now.
Could you come back later,
and we'll do something fun?

Fantastic!
Number 5---I love Pig
because he's full of
good ideas.
Can't you just feel the joy when looking at the matching jacket and cover?  Look at those two leaping into the air, laughter spread across their faces.  On the back in a small picture they are hugging, eyes closed in pleasure, smiling.  Already you know this book is going to be filled with plenty of grins on every page.  The opening and closing endpapers done in turquoise and white with a loose brown border picture a map of Rabbit's and Pig's homes complete with trees, hills, flying birds, a tire swing, a garden, a hop-scotch board, a swimming pond and basketball net.  It makes you want to join their world, if only for a day.

The technique Daniel Kirk used for making his pictures could not have been more perfect for his two subjects.

The illustrations in this book were made by scanning ink-on-paper drawings and painted plywood panels into the computer and adding textures and colors in Photoshop. 

 The rustic simplicity of the alternating single page, small images on a single page and the two-page spreads enhance the pacing superbly.  Expressive eyes, mouths and those perky whiskers of Rabbit's tell their own story.  I can't look at Rabbit's bare feet and Pig's tennis shoes without smiling.

I think one of my favorite groups of pictures is of Pig's increasing frustration.  He wants to get back to his work.  Beneath his two pictures Rabbit blissfully continues adding to his list.


I can't think of a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day then by sharing Ten Things I Love About You written and illustrated by Daniel Kirk.  Rejoicing in friendships any time is wonderful but today it's extra special.  Wouldn't it be great to give a book to someone today with a bookmark or card enclosed listing the ten things you love about them?   Go!  Do it right now!  Spread some sunshine!

If you wish to know more about the other books Daniel Kirk has written and illustrated please follow the link embedded in his name above which takes you to his website.

In the spirit of the day here is my list.

Ten Things I Love About Xena


  1. I love Xena because she taught me the joy in seeing things for the first time all over again.
  2. I love Xena because she kept me company on long walks along the Lake and in the woods.
  3. I love Xena because she takes me out at night so I can see beautiful star constellations, spellbinding moons, meteor showers and the Northern Lights.
  4. I love Xena because of her loyal protection when we've come in harm's way.
  5. I love Xena because she makes me laugh when I need it the most (and even when I don't).
  6. I love Xena for teaching me to slow down and be patient as she ages.
  7. I love Xena for lying across my feet when I'm writing and curling up next to me when I'm reading.
  8. I love Xena for waking me in the morning with her slobbery kisses.
  9. I love Xena for teaching me love means letting go when the other may be suffering.
  10. I love Xena because she has always been my friend when no others were. 
Some people will look at Xena and see only a dog.  I see a constant companion filled with unconditional love.


Posted by Xena's Mom at 12:11 PM 0 comments
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Thursday, February 13, 2014

Valentine's Day Eve Skype-Tom Angleberger

This is a short post to extend our utmost thanks to author Tom Angleberger for generously offering up free thirty minute Skype visits to the galaxy last month.  I could hardly believe my good fortune at seeing his tweet.  After a quick text to a colleague to confirm her class's availability, I was able to secure a spot for us on his calendar.

As the class entered the library today, you could sense the excitement.  From the moment Tom Angleberger appeared on screen he entertained and engaged our students.  The air was supercharged with his energy.  He spoke about his books, talked about his favorite books by other authors, made a list of the students' favorite books, taught us how to make Origami Yoda and answered student questions.

I know it will be a day for all the students to remember.  I know their teacher, Mrs. Madison, and I will not forget it.  Amazing you are, Tom Angleberger!

Posted by Xena's Mom at 11:07 PM 2 comments
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Cherished Creatures

Within a heartbeat they can tell you.  Not only do they have an answer but they want to know what yours is.  No matter how many books the library may have or resources you provide, it's simply never enough.  Truthfully over the years I have learned more than I ever knew I wanted to know about a large variety of animals because of students' quests to discover everything about their favorite animal, domestic and wild.

The extent of their interest is not limited to facts either; each having an uncanny ability in their individual style to recreate their animal visually.  How exciting for all of us that Eric Carle and thirteen other illustrators decide to share their choices.  What's Your Favorite Animal? (Henry Holt and Company, January 2014) not only answers the question but entertains with text and pictures by each.

I have always liked all animals.  

 So begins the story Eric Carle tells of his cat who liked to chase and fetch a string bean until she decided it was better off tucked away from view.  A ladder would definitely be needed to see eye to eye with Tom Lichtenheld's animal friend after a trip to Africa or the zoo.  You will be hard pressed not to gasp and utter yikes after seeing the smile on Mo Willems' crawling critter's face.

A Christmas tradition with a happy ending, especially for the main course, is a tale with timeless appeal as revealed by Peter Sis.  Giving us a whole new perspective on one of nature's slowest movers, Chris Raschka reminds us patience has great rewards.  Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty is up to his typical tricks.  Could it be because of a favorite animal choice?

Let's see now.  Who could possibly like a high-jumping bunny, these-pillows-are-my-spot dog, or a boastful elephant?  It might be Rosemary Wells, Lane Smith, Jon Klassen, Susan Jeffers, or Peter McCarty?  Or perhaps one of them has voiced their love of a duck (without a hat) or a herd of wild white horses?

A memory of cows coming to life at night, a kinship felt with penguins and a colorful connection to leopards fill the pages by Lucy Cousins, Steven Kellogg and Erin Stead. (No, I did not put them in order.) Just when you think you might suffer from happiness overload due to the wonderful words and colorful pictures on these pages, the final two host childhood pictures of each artist with a short biographical sketch.  Who could ask for anything more?


An amusing incident, a whimsical poem, a message of hope, personal reflections from now and then, and tales full of hilarity reach out, pulling readers into the realms of these fourteen individuals who, fortunately for us, populate the children's literature community.  All the wit and wonder we love about their work is condensed into these two page spreads; how they choose to speak about their favorite animal is a direct reflection of them as authors and illustrators.  You will find yourself alternating between a slow smile, a giggle, a guffaw, a sigh, and nod of understanding more than once. These fourteen people say much with few words.


Eric Carle's notable cut-paper collage decorates the front dust jacket with a list of the contributors and their animals on the back.  Upon removing the jacket readers see all fourteen creatures spread across both sides of the cover with the artists' signatures next to their work.  The pristine white background makes all the elements pop off the pages.  Sunny golden opening and closing endpapers brushed in paint announce the total joy to be found in this book.

Even without their name as part of the text or a signature within the illustration, each visual clearly identifies the creator; vividly displaying their unique styles and mediums.  The deft paper cuts for a cat's fur, the fluffy cloud cleverly becoming a beehive hairdo for the ruby-lipped giraffe, the loose swirls of orange, amber and blue making a home for a snail, small delicate lines and softened brush strokes bringing the essence of penguins to the page or cow paintings papering a wall as a boy dreams one into life, not only feature an animal but the considerable talents each illustrator brings to this book and everything they do.  Every single one is a masterpiece.


This variety in selected animals, narratives and illustrators is exactly what makes What's Your Favorite Animal? by Eric Carle and Friends a true treasure that everyone should read and own.  It's like holding an art gallery in your hands.  The end flap states:

All royalties from this book will be donated to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art which was founded by Eric and Barbara Carl in 2002.  

 Links to each of the contributors' websites (when possible) have been placed in their names above.  Follow this link to the publisher's website for a peek inside this title.  Enjoy the videos collected by some of the artists.  If you have other videos you would like me to include feel free to leave a link in the comments below. 






















Posted by Xena's Mom at 12:16 PM 0 comments
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Her Patience Was Rewarded

On the same day in April of 2011 two books were released about the same person.  One is fiction, the other is nonfiction.  Both appear on the ALA Notable Children's Books 2012 list.  Both received starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus.  One received a Caldecott Honor award.

The person whose life is showcased in each is Jane Goodall.  Me...Jane (Little, Brown and Company) written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell, the fiction title, is the recipient of a Caldecott Honor award. In July of 2011 I reviewed it here.  If you choose to read my review you will see I am a fan of Patrick McDonnell's work.

I also have a deep admiration for the books written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter; many have a place on my personal bookshelves. Two nights ago I was reading several titles, deciding to revisit them in posts on this blog.  The Watcher:  Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps (Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books) is an extraordinary book about one woman's pursuit of her life's passion.

"Jane, Jane, where are you?"
"Jane, can you hear me?"
EVERYONE had been searching for hours and hours, looking for little Valerie Jane Goodall.

 Jane had been carefully and quietly waiting to see a hen lay an egg.  She was only five years old.  She continued to feed her curiosity by observing all the creatures in her immediate surroundings but her dreams grew, fueled by her love of books like Doctor Dolittle and Tarzan of the Apes.  

 Jane wished with all her heart to go to Africa, working and saving as she got older.  Finally journeying to Kenya she met Louis Leakey who asked her to go to Tanzania to study chimpanzees.  Weeks stretched into months as Jane watched and waited; she became one with the chimpanzees.

One day a chimpanzee she had named David Greybeard broke the contact barrier, taking a banana from her hand. His acceptance of Jane opened the door for the others.  Now Jane watched and wrote and watched and wrote.

As the years passed Jane could see her beloved chimpanzees would be better served if she left them, alerting others to the need to preserve their home and protect them from those who would bring them harm.  Her voice was heard around the world.  Not only did Jane realize her childhood dreams but she championed for those unable to speak for themselves.  She watched, waited and worked.  The world is a better place for her efforts.


In acquainting readers with Jane Goodall, Jeanette Winter chooses to highlight those very things which make her fully human; befriending a robin who builds a nest in her bedroom bookcase, hiding money under a rug as she saves to go to Africa and the vulnerability she feels when struck by malaria in the forest of Gombe.  Winter's depiction of the process in gaining the chimpanzee's trust is to focus on the daily activities of Jane; the utmost care to be seen but not be intrusive.  Each time Winter inserts a quote of Jane's into the narrative we feel our affinity to her become stronger. The carefully formed sentences, a few on each page, tell us exactly what we need and want to know about Jane Goodall.  This is Jeanette Winter's gift as a writer.

Using acrylic paint and pencil for her artwork, it beckons us into the world of Jane Goodall immediately when the dust jacket is unfolded.  The illustration extends to the flap edges on both sides; the rolling hills of the forest with chimpanzees peeking from the treetops on the back and a small square inset with Jane and David Greybeard in the center.  Using only Jane's face and hands as she looks into her binoculars with the chimpanzee in each lens beneath the title is brilliant.  The book's case is different, patterned in the forest hills populated by the primates.

The opening endpapers in a sky blue, the closing endpapers in a mint green feature a single forest bird in flight.  The verso contains a small visual of Jane's childhood home opposite the title page on the right of a young Jane holding her cherished stuffed toy chimpanzee.  Prior to Jane's arrival in Africa, Winter's visuals are small squares with elements spreading to the outside of the frames. The remainder of the book is nearly all two page pictures.  Single page illustrations are facing one another tied together with a common element.

These illustrations in Jeanette Winter's own unique style are full of all the wonder felt, the delight known and the good and worrisome life experiences of Jane Goodall.  My favorite is of Jane sleeping on the Peak at night to be close to the chimpanzees.  The hues of blue, green, purple and brown with the full moon and stars as silent observers give a sense of peace and purpose.


Jeanette Winter closes this book with two sentences toward the end of her A Note About This Story:

I wish that when I was a little girl, I could have read about someone like Jane Goodall---
a brave woman who wasn't afraid to do something that had never been done before.  So now I've made this book for that little girl, who still speaks to me. 

 Certainly The Watcher:  Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter will be the perfect match for those readers needing to know following your dreams can make all the difference.  It is the kind of biography readers will want to read and reread.  I know I have.  If you would like to see more pages from this book, please follow this link to the publisher's website.  For a delightful interview with Jeanette Winter on the publication of her book Kali's Song, please visit John Schumacher's blog, Watch. Connect. Read.

I am excited to be participating in Alyson Beecher's 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted at her blog Kid Lit Frenzy.  Make sure you stop over there to see all the other nonfiction picture books showcased by other bloggers.

Posted by Xena's Mom at 4:32 PM 0 comments
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Pictures Tell The Tale-Storyboarder

When exploring applications for posts once a week, I try to find ones which are online or will work with more than one platform on devices.  I realize many schools, students and staff use Apple products but I happen to use an Android tablet and phone.  My current tablet is a Samsung Galaxy SCH-1905, 32GB plus 4G LTE.

 Richard Byrne, educator, speaker, writer and blogger at Free Technology for Teachers has maintained two additional sites for the past several years, iPad Apps for School and Android For Schools.  Last month he posted about an app for Android tablets only, Storyboarder.  I decided to feature it here today because I found several similar programs available for Apple devices.

Storyboarder is free program which allows you to create image boards.  Once Storyboarder has been downloaded on your device, open it to begin.  At the first screen there will be a white background with a small yellow icon in the upper right-hand corner with the words Create New.  Select the icon.

After choosing to Create New another window opens asking you to give your board a title and include a short description.  When completed select Create.  At the next window in the upper right-hand corner you will have two options, share and photo.  Select photo to add images to your board.




You will be prompted to Take Photo or Choose from Gallery (the images on your device).  If you choose Take Photo the application goes to the camera on your device.  After taking the picture you can save or cancel it.  If you save it, it automatically appears on your working board.  Any image selected from your gallery will be copied to the board.  




By tapping on an image, descriptive text can be added.  When you have completed this step, select the blue Done button on your keypad.  Your added text will appear on the original screen.  Notice the trash can in the lower right-hand corner.  If you no longer want to include this picture, it can be deleted.  Rather than going back to the board, you can scroll through your images by dragging the screen to the left or right.  To go back a step, choose the tiny yellow arrow in the upper left-hand corner.




If all the text has been added to your pictures, you can next tap on Share in the upper right-hand corner.  You have the options of sending it as a PDF file via email or uploading it to Dropbox.  You can also save it to your device as a PDF file.  There are several email choices also.



When your task has been completed by choosing the tiny yellow back arrow key, you are taken to the original board with the white background.  Now you can see your created boards.   Boards can always be edited.  The one thing I wish you could do is change the order of the pictures once they are on the board.  


This is what the PDF file looks like.  I used Storyboarder to practice writing single sentences describing photographs I took when Xena and I were walking.  Students could use it to do the same.


Through a series of images, the order of story elements could be practiced.  By taking a picture of a book's cover, predictions could be made about the story's plot or the contents covered in a nonfiction book.  A student's reading life and their thoughts about each book could be documented.  Generating top ten lists are another option, too.  

 Simple and user friendly, I recommend Storyboarder for personal or professional use.  
Posted by Xena's Mom at 6:49 AM 0 comments
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Monday, February 10, 2014

Given And Received

It is used to say hello or goodbye.  It is a gesture made out of respect.  It is a sign of affection.  When eyelashes brush another's cheek, it is called a butterfly.  If made by angels, it appears on your skin as freckles.  A particular point in time will determine its meaning.

Kisses can be energetically thrown to speed their arrival.  Kisses can be gently blown to wander on currents of air.  You can catch a ball.  You can catch a cold.  But...Catching Kisses (Feiwel And Friends, December 31, 2013) by Amy Gibson with illustrations by Maria van Lieshout is the best of all.


At any given moment,
someone,
somewhere,
is blowing a kiss.
And somewhere, someone is catching it.

 Kisses aren't fussy; they enjoy leaving from anywhere.  A certain smell, touch or sound may linger after they are gone. They are as unique as the being releasing them into the world.

Like the breath or breeze that carries them, they move sight unseen.  Up high or down low, they continue to go.  You can share their existence with no one or everyone.

There is no denying the strength of a kiss.  It can withstand all manner of life everywhere until its journey is complete.  When it settles exactly where it is meant to be, you will know its genuine worth.


Through the gifted writing of Amy Gibson simple sentences, individual touching truths, when combined, convey an enchanting definition of kisses.  Through each of our five senses they are characterized.

They smell of ginger and cinnamon,
tortillas and oatmeal,
fresh bread
and hot chocolate.

Descriptions of place, porches, busy city streets and pockets, and time, stormy weather and sadness, allow the reader to feel the enduring potential of a single kiss.


A palette of black, shades of teal, white, yellow and red is used exclusively in this book beginning with the matching book jacket and case.  The illustration on the front extends across the spine to the back in joyous symmetry.  Sailboats move through the water as dandelion seeds float across the sky and two cats nuzzle with their noses.  How can you not hear the children laughing and chatting as the dog barks, joining the chorus?

On the opening and closing endpapers the darker teal provides a background for a single row of white-etched dandelions.  On the first set all the seeds are intact; on the final set they are broken, flying around the page.  A red map of the United States with white place points is on the left page.

I know what you might be thinking at this point...a map?  What Maria van Lieshout does with each portion of the narrative is take readers on a trip across America; each two page illustration a specific place.  A single red seed floats somewhere in each scene representing a kiss.

Intricate details draw the reader into each visual; van Lieshout's signature signage, two dogs eating spaghetti (a nod to Disney's Lady and the Tramp), or a small sad boy getting a balloon bouquet at the fair.  Each picture bursts with happiness and love.  It's impossible to pick a favorite; all are worthy of framing.


Have I fallen in love with this book?  Yes! Catching Kisses written by Amy Gibson with illustrations by Maria van Lieshout has found a permanent home in my heart.  Share this title as much as you with as many people as you can.

Please follow the links embedded in the author's and illustrator's names to access their websites. This link is to the publisher website where you can view several illustrations from the book.
Posted by Xena's Mom at 7:30 AM 4 comments
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