In 2019 I began my One Little Word posts. The One Little Word concept was developed by Ali Edwards in 2006. Today, seventeen years later, many people still chose a single word at the beginning of a new year. For them this word is an underlying focus for those next twelve months.
It seems that every year there are books I have read, but not discussed on this blog. In my thinking, I need to honor them before moving to 2023 titles. I have two large bins filled with fiction picture books, seventy-five titles, I consider outstanding. Prior to LibLearnX on January 27-30, 2023, it is my desire to complete as many posts as I can featuring as many of those titles as I can. I know these titles have widened my view of the world and the views of others. These books represent years of work by the authors and illustrators, revisions and research, over and over. In these titles we find words and artwork to wrap around us and lift us up. I hope each author and illustrator knows and believes how very grateful we are for their commitment to children's literature.
Due to time constraints, some of my own making and others beyond my control, I will be shortening what I include in the listing of each book. Each one will receive one little word. There might be more than one title for a given word. I will link to the author and illustrator websites or one of their active social media accounts. I will link to the publisher's website and make additional comments if other resources are located there. The first few sentences in the book, a short blurb of my own, and comments about the words and artwork will be provided. If there are other resources I believe to be helpful, like articles and videos, they will be supplied. I am always thinking about how these books will change the lives of children for the better and how discussions can arise because of them. As an educator and human being, that has always been my goal, to make the world more perfect for those who follow.
FOOD
I'm Hungry! !Tengo Hambre! (Henry Holt And Company, January 11, 2022) written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez
At the publisher's website, you can view interior images. At the author and illustrator website are links to the audiobook.
Hiya!
Hola.
What's wrong?
The dinosaur is hungry. The bird keeps asking the dinosaur what he desires to eat. Each time the bird makes a suggestion, the dinosaur replies no. This is making the bird crazy. When the dinosaur finally tells him what he desires, the quick thinking bird makes one final suggestion. It is the only solution that will make them both content.
The question and answer technique to tell this story creates a cadence inviting reader participation. It also builds suspense through their dialogue which will have readers gasping and laughing at the same time. During the bilingual conversation between the little blue bird and the orange dinosaur, readers learn many English and Spanish words for food.
Using bright colors and simple, but clever, designs Angela Dominguez makes this book enjoyable reading for all ages. For all of the illustrations, we are close to the characters. This makes the book more intimate and personal for us. Readers will recognize the activities the dinosaur uses to pass the time and laugh at the clothing the bird wears when getting possible food for his friend. The opening and closing endpapers offer the answer to the final food the dinosaur enjoys.
HEARTBEAT
Powwow Day (Charlesbridge, February 1, 2022) written by Traci Sorell with illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight
At the publisher's website, you can view an interior image. There is also an activity guide there to download. At Cynsations, the website of author Cynthia Leitich Smith, is an interview with author Traci Sorell about this book. At John Schu's Watch. Connect. Read., both creators visit and talk about this book. At the close of the book are two pages of information about powwows. They are followed by an author's note and list of sources.
"River, wake up," Amber whispers.
My eyes open.
Today is powwow day!
This year, though, River cannot dance in the jingle dress competition because she is still weak from being sick, but she goes with her family. She tries to dance in the Grand Entry, but she has to return to her seat. With each beat of the drum and with each dance, we learn of her desire to participate. With each beat of the drum and with each dance, her strength grows and so does her belief in returning to dance next year.
Using a combination of text and dialogue, Traci Sorell leads us to the powwow. Her descriptions of the dances, the singers and drummers are like being there. With every page turn the heartbeat of the powwow that grows in River, grows in readers, too.
Artist Madelyn Goodnight used digital media to fashion the illustrations for this title. Her color choices and fine details in the pictures draw us into this event. Her perspectives shift. Sometimes, we are looking down on the activities. Other times we are so close, we can feel the beat of the drums. We are amazed at the beauty present in the dances.
EMOTION
Out Of A Jar (G. P Putnam's Sons, February 8, 2022) written and illustrated by Deborah Marcero
At Deborah Marcero's Instagram account you can view interior images and the differing book case.
Llewellyn loved scary books,
scary jokes,
and scary cartoons.
But Llewellyn did not like to be scared.
No matter how hard he tried to rid himself of fear, it always returned. So he put it in a jar and put the jar in a closet and closed the door. Now he was not afraid. Every time Llewellyn encountered an uncomfortable feeling, he put it in a jar and put the jar in the closet. It happened so often, that Llewellyn was nearly devoid of feeling. One day something caused Llewellyn to want to put another feeling in a jar and lock it in the closet, but he had a huge problem. The closet was stuffed.
CRRRRAAAACK!
And after that everything changed for Llewellyn and it will for readers, too.
Through the words of Deborah Marcero, each time Llewellyn puts a feeling in a jar we, too, feel relief with him. We also sense something is building, in not a good way. We can see what Llewellyn cannot see. When Deborah Marcero starts to shorten how the feelings are bottled up and locked away, we know something big is going to happen.
On the dust jacket, Deborah Marcero shows Llewellyn in two different phases of addressing his feelings, hiding them and the freedom of letting them go. On the book case are all the jars of varying sizes, each holding a feeling. Llewellyn has one of the jars open, ready to shut that feeling inside. Done in
watercolor, pencil, colored pencils, ink, and digital media,
the illustrations through stunning use of color and animation present an emotionally-charged narrative.
BRAVE
Nigel and the Moon (Katherine Tegen Bookss, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, February 15, 2022) written by Antwan Eady with illustrations by Gracey Zhang
At the publisher's website, you can download a classroom kit. You can also listen to an audio excerpt. At We Need Diverse Books, The Children's Book Review, and Max's Boat, author Antwan Eady chats about this book.
At night, he tells the moon his dreams.
And here his dreams are safe.
Speaking to the moon, Nigel reveals his desire to be an astronaut, a dancer, and a superhero. The moon makes him feel as though his dreams can become real. He is not ready to share those dreams with anyone else. When career week arrives, Nigel is distraught. Each activity makes his dreams feel more distant. Nigel keeps silent day after day, until the final day when a surprise releases what he has only been able to tell the moon.
Author Antwan Eady creates a beloved character in Nigel. We easily identify with him. We soar when he speaks to the moon. We feel his silence during career week deeply. Repetition of key words and phrases endears us closer to Nigel and his growing anxiety. That is why we shout out loud at the end.
One of the first thing readers will notice is the different dust jacket and book case. The first shows Nigel during his chats with the moon. He flies up to the moon for a face-to-face encounter. On the book case, we see Nigel's neighborhood with Nigel leaning out his bedroom window gazing at the moon. Gracey Zhang's images rendered with
ink, gouache, and watercolor paint
flow with perfection from page to page. Her bold lines and brush strokes give this story a very personal perspective.
Big Dreams, Small Fish (Arthur A. Levine, Levine Querido, March 15, 2022) written and illustrated by Paula Cohen
This title was Paula Cohen's debut picture book. Suddenly and sadly she passed away shortly before the book's release. Her obituary can be read at Publishers Weekly. Author Tara Lazar talks about Paula Cohen on the book's birthday. There are pictures and sketches in this tribute to this vivacious woman. At the close of the book is a glossary, an explanation of Gefilte Fish and a recipe for Russ Family Salmon and Whitefish Gefilte Fish.
Shirley's family had big dreams for their
new store in their new neighborhood.
Uncle Morris, Papa, and Mama each had special tasks to make the store a success. People loved Mama's noodle kugel, but no one would try the gefilte fish. Shirley knew exactly what to do, but her family felt she was too little to try any of her big ideas. One day, Uncle Morris, Papa and Mama had to leave quickly. Aunt Ida was having a baby. They decided to leave Shirley with Mrs. Gottlieb. While Mrs. Gottlieb slept, Shirley put her big ideas into action. All the customers that day got a surprise in their packages. Mama and Papa were furious with Shirley's big idea until the next morning. Now they were surprised.
Author Paula Cohen takes us back to when we were little and our ideas were dismissed. Through narrative and dialogue we come to understand and appreciate Shirley's determination and courage to do what will work for the good of the store. She is able to do this because of her loving family who recognize her initiative.
The artwork
for this book was created using pencil sketches which were then over-drawn and colored digitally with Procreate.
Readers will appreciate seeing Shirley on the front of the jacket and her feline companion on the back of the jacket. On the book case, we see her family first arriving at the store and on the back, Shirley is trying to put one of her big ideas in action. There is warmth and humor in these illustrations. This is something we always need in our books and in our lives. Thank you, Paula.
The Adventures Of Robo-Kid (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, June 28, 2022) written and illustrated by Diane deGroat
At the publisher's website, you can download some activity sheets in an event kit. At Penguin Random House, you can view the title page. Here is a link to a short video on the book's birthday. Here is a link to a site designed and hosted by Diane deGroat. It is called The Story Behind the Stories. You will love the sections on this title. At the Wall Street Journal in a section titled A Closer Look you can see several pages from the book. (You do need a subscription, but initially I could see the images.) Diane DeGroat has written an enlightening guest post at Unleashing Readers about this book.
ROBO-KID
SAVES THE
DAY
Oh no!
An asteroid
is about to hit our city!
In five minutes!
Robo-Kid does save the day in Henry's comic book. As he finishes reading this latest adventure, Henry's mom calls him to go to his swimming lesson. Meanwhile in the comic book, Robo-Kid is not thrilled with his life inside the comic book. He finds it boring. So . . . he climbs out into Henry's world. Henry is worried about his lesson and jumping into the deep end. As you can imagine, Henry is thrilled to see Robo-Kid and asks him for help. An unfortunate incident has readers wondering who saves who. And Henry learns that when we least expect it, we can do what needs to be done.
Diane deGroat blends the two stories together seamlessly. Robo-Kid and Henry are just trying to find their places in their respective worlds. When their worlds merge, readers through Diane deGroat, can understand better the meaning of bravery and being a hero.
The word outstanding comes to mind when looking at the artwork created by Diane deGroat. The image on the dust jacket is a single illustration. The spine of the comic book being read by Henry fits the spine of the book. On the back, the left side, Henry's dog is looking shocked at something. The book case is the comic book. The opening and closing endpapers are panels of life inside the comic book for Robo-Kid. The last page in the book and the closing endpapers will have readers at the very least laughing. For many of the pages the comic portion is along the bottom with Henry's life on the top portion of the pages.
INDIVIDUALITY
Eyes that Speak to the Stars (Harper, February 15, 2022) written by Joanna Ho with illustrations by Dung Ho
At the publisher's website there is an audio excerpt. There, too, is an educators' guide for this title and its companion title, Eyes that Kiss in the Corner. At the illustrator's website you can view gorgeous double-page pictures.
The other day,
when Baba picked me up from school,
I didn't run in for a hug
the way I usually do;
I stared at my toes
where it was safe.
The boy explained to his father that his friends were being unkind about the shape of his eyes. At home his father speaks with him how his eyes look upward to all the wonders in the sky, especially those things seen in the darkness. His father fills him with love and urges him to embrace his future. Agong, his grandfather, chats with him how his eyes see history and wisdom. Agong looks him in the eyes, knowing he too, will be filled with wisdom and the past some day. His brother, Di-Di shares the same beautiful eyes and together they see unlimited potential in each other.
With each reading of this book, the words of Joanna Ho sing out to all readers. Their poetic rhythm in the words of the characters remind each of us how lovely this child's eyes are. It is a deeply moving tribute to individuality.
The artwork of Dung Ho, done in Photoshop, lifts us to the celestial marvels we find in the sky. As Baba, Agong, and the child each speak about their eyes, her illustrations reflect love and joy, the love of family and the joy of realizing our uniqueness. Her work takes readers into the world of this family and their cultural heritage with vibrant hues and elements in each image that ask readers to pause.
Gibberish (Arthur A. Levine, Levine Querido, March 1, 2022) written and illustrated by Young Vo
At the publisher's website is a book trailer with the author illustrator speaking about the book and his experiences as a child. At the author's website is a video discussion of an event sponsored by Politics & Prose between this author and author Minh Le. If you click on the book image, it takes you to a new page on the author's website. Here is a video about the process of the artwork. At Julie Danielson's fabulous Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, she highlights this book. You can view some of the interior images.
First Dat sailed on a boat,
then flew in a plane,
and today Dat will be on a school bus.
His mother reminds him that when his classmates speak, it will sound like gibberish. He just needs to do his best. On the bus and in the classroom, the words he hears truly are gibberish. It is as if everyone speaks this gobbledygook but him. He feels isolated by his lack of comprehension until something splendid happens at lunch recess.
A fellow student, a girl, plays with him, neither understanding the other. When the day thankfully ends, Dat is again surprised by the presence of the girl on the bus. Through art and understanding, gibberish becomes one new word at a time.
Through his profound, but simple sentences author Young Vo gives us a heartbreaking view into the confusion Dat feels. He feels frustrated by his lack of knowing this new language and the lack of compassion by most of his classmates (and the bus driver and his teacher saying his name wrong.) Young Vo's use of the word unexpected twice lifts our hearts up as it does Dat's heart.
In a word, the artwork for this book is superb. In his own words---
Young Vo began the artwork for this picture book
with pencil sketches, which grew into colored pencils,
and then watercolor. It became a big, fun ness of mixed media,
cleaned up digitally in Clip Studio Paint and Adobe Photoshop.
When depicting Dat, Young Vo uses full color. When portraying all the other people, they appear in black and white and shades of gray. Their physical traits appear like aliens. Their gibberish is represented in a rebus form using stars, tacos, pencils, flowers, birds, musical notes, and other symbols. This comparison reinforces exactly how Dat feels. When his new friend starts drawing on the bus, the pages look like those in a sketchbook.
Gibberish by Young Vo from Let's Talk Picture Books on Vimeo.
BEDTIME
Star Fishing (Abrams Books for Young Readers, February 22, 2022) written and illustrated by Sang-Keun Kim
At the publisher's website and the author illustrator's Instagram account linked to his name, you can view interior images. The author illustrator is interviewed about his work and this book at Kirkus.
you just can't fall asleep.
You feel as though everyone
in the world is asleep but you.
A restless child calls out to a light in the sky, a crescent moon. The moon replies with a call for play. Then, miracle of miracles, a fishing line drops from the moon to the child standing in the grass. A star is attached to the end of the line.
The child lands on the moon where a rabbit sits fishing. Together they catch other animals unable to sleep, Crab, Fox, Big Bear, and Little Bear. Then all of them are caught by the stars who are not sleepy either. The friends, before they leave to return to Earth, form constellations in the sky so the Rabbit won't be alone.
With the beginning words, author Sang-Keun Kim taps into a universal knowledge. We all have nights when we can't sleep. By using the same question each time a line is dropped
"Are we the only ones awake?"
a gentle cadence is created. The same response is used substituting the name of the animal each time. When they are gathered on the moon, they share why they can't sleep. This is again another use of universal connections.
The illustrations for this book were made with colored pencil, pastel, pen, and digitally.
The tiny features on the child, dressed in bunny, footy pajamas, and each of the animals are exquisite and tender. The perspective used by Sang-Keun Kim make these scenes that are at once vast and panoramic, still tender and intimate. The images with everyone playing in the stars will take your breath away. You want to jump in and join them.
Where the Wee Ones Go: A Bedtime Wish for Endangered Animals (Chronicle Books, April 26, 2022) written by Karen Jameson with illustrations by Zosienka
At the publisher's website, you can view interior images. At Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez's site Math Is Everywhere, she interviews Karen Jameson about this title. There is an author's note on the verso page.
When the stars are out and the moon's above,
where do the wee ones go, my love?
Where do the wee ones go?
Through a journey around the world in varying habitats, we discover where animal babies drift off to sleep. We visit pandas in China, orangutans in Sumatra, and elephants in Sri Lanka. Baby alligators ride in their mothers' mouths. Rhinos tend to rest during the day after hunting for food at night. Hippo babies use their mother's backs as their beds. In total, we travel to eleven places viewing eleven animals that soar in the air, swim in rivers or oceans and traverse on land.
Words that read like a lullaby by Karen Jameson envelop readers in calm and security. The use of alliteration, rhyme, and repetition contribute to a soothing cadence. She circles back to the beginning, concluding with an all-encompassing response.
Rendered digitally and with mixed media, the illustrations by Zosienka feature color choices which elevate and complement the text. She places the animals in realistic natural habitats with details that welcome readers into the narrative. Readers will stop at page turns in order to step into each world.
Baa, Baa, Tap Sheep (Sleeping Bear Press, May 15, 2022) written by Kenda Henthorn with illustrations by Lauren Gallegos
At the publisher's website are several activity sheets to download. The book is featured at author Manju Howard's site and Story Catcher Publishing with a guest post by the author. At author Kathleen Temean's Writing and Illustrating is an author interview about this title.
Baa, baa, tap sheep
learning how to dance.
Heel, toe, slide step
Hokey-pokey, prance.
As the ten sheep dance, three children tucked in bed are asked to count them. All seems to be going well for by ten, the children are dozing and dreaming. All of a sudden, sheep number ten starts to rap!
Now the children are wide awake and the sheep are no longer softly stepping. They are moving and grooving, fast and furiously. The children are asked to count again, but how can anyone stand still with all this action? The sheep are exhausted! As the song resumes, the children are not the only ones with their eyes closed, resting.
This book is read aloud gold! The words of Kenda Henthorn will have everyone ready to leap like the words----off the page! The rhyming and counting are flawless. You can expect to have requests repeatedly for this to be read again. (And the tune Baa, Baa, Black Sheep will be playing in your head for hours.)
The illustrations by Lauren Gallegos are pure fun. The number-wearing sheep are precious enough, readers will want to cuddle them. They are highly animated drifting and dancing across the pages, each one performing perfectly. The predominant use of blue gently takes readers into nighttime.
Alphabedtime (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, October 25, 2022) written by Susanna Leonard Hill with illustrations by Betsy Snyder
At the publisher's website, you can view the title page. Here are links to sites with author and author and illustrator interviews about this title, By Word Of Beth, YA and Kids Books Central, Jena Benton, Maria Marshall, Stefanie Hohl, Laura Roettiger Books, Kathleen Temean's Writing and Illustrating and Vivian Kirkfield. At Laura Sassi Tales, she has devised six extension activities. At Betsy Snyder's Instagram account linked to her name, you can view interior artwork.
Suppertime's over.
Everyone's fed.
Alpha Mom says,
TIME
FOR
BED!
Each of the twenty-six children have a list of reasons they are not ready for bed. They are not sleepy. F, G, and H are chasing each other. I, J, and K are cartwheeling, dancing, and playing a kazoo. Another rambunctious bunch is rolling around in the hall.
There is hiding and riding and toothbrushing. Can you imagine how wild and wet bath time is? Pajamas are on and stories are read. Now it is really time for bed. Wait! As soon as the lights are off, a pillow fight begins. When Mom and Dad appear, the feathers stop flying and it's back to bed.
Learning or reciting the alphabet or both has never been as much fun as reading the words penned by Susanna Leonard Hill. You can hear every word spoken in the voices of the children and imagine joining in the antics. Each rhyme is a call to action. You can't resist reading this aloud.
The illustrations in this title by Betsy Snyder heighten the words. The portrayals of the children are endearing in their joy and playfulness. Their facial expressions, body postures and antics will have readers laughing out loud. The images where the entire group is together beg readers to stop and look at everything and everyone. Readers will stop to see what the family pets are doing, too. The hues and shades call out to readers to participate. (I'm still grinning from reading this book.)
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