Ever-Present Pal

To be faced with something different and untried is a challenge.  Depending on the task at hand, past endeavors, and previous successes, what is before us can be easy, hard, or somewhere in the middle.  We assess the situation, prepare for possible outcomes, and then proceed with caution or sometimes complete abandon. 

As we approach this undertaking, we are usually unaware of an unseen partner at our side.  The Magical Yet (Disney Hyperion, April 14, 2020) written by Angela DiTerlizzi with art by Lorena Alvarez discloses to all the true nature of this presence.  It never wavers from its dedication to us.

There are days when your dreams haven't come true,
or you're upset by the things you can't do.

The protagonist has attempted and failed to ride her new bike.  She has wavered, wobbled, taken a tumble, and bent her front wheel.  Trudging home, she vows to never ride a bike again.  Walking is far safer.  In the midst of her despair, she meets

The Magical Yet!

She discovers this being has been with her since birth.  She realizes it has offered encouragement.  Yet shows her up when she's down.  Yet dares her to do what she has never done.  Yet promotes thinking beyond ordinary, aiming for extraordinary.

Yet points the girl toward a plan.  Yet helps to fix that which is broken.  Yet knows practice is necessary.  Yet knows there will be errors, but there will also be successes.

If you are a hopeful melodic musician, stunning sports star, wizard wordsmith, marvelous muralist, or dazzling dancer, Yet strengthens your resolve to never give up, regardless of the time it takes.  You, wonderful you, can do what you desire to do.  There is another secret about Yet; one you can hold in your heart.  First to recognize it, you must start.


There is an undercurrent of hope on every page of this narrative.  Angela DiTerlizzi uses a lilting, lyrical series of couplets to fashion a flowing narrative.  Woven into the story of the young character who does not at first succeed in riding her new bike, are examples of other young people pursuing their dreams.  Another wondrous component in this book is making Yet a character, an individual.  Each person's Yet is seen as a positive power in their lives.  Here is a passage.

Tongue twisters twisted
your tongue in a knot?
Yet says, "Keep trying and practice
---a lot!"


If you are in need of happiness, looking at the open dust jacket is certain to bring some to your soul.  On the front, the right, the bicycle rider, wide-eyed and smiling has benefited from the optimism supplied by her Yet.  The Yet, hitching a ride on her helmet, is enjoying the results of its wisdom.  This scene continues on the other side of the spine.  Two children are running over the rolling hills.  One is playing a lute.  The other is holding a high-flying kite shaped like a bird.  The kite, the title text and the Yet are decorated in glitter.  Our main character is varnished.  Yet elements on both flaps are adorned in glitter.

A fantastical image spreads across the book case on either side of the spine.  Within a series of intricate insets and abstract shapes we are introduced to four Yets.  Each one is a different brightly colored hue and performing a feat desired by their human.  This is enchanting!

Using a two-color palette on the opening and closing endpapers illustrator Lorena Alvarez portrays seven diverse young people beginning and continuing their most passionate endeavors.  They, except for the child on the bike on the sidewalk, are shown in windows of various shapes.  A series of exquisite designs are part of this wall of possibilities.  It is pleasing to see them again at the end, older and more proficient in their pursuits.

Each illustration rendered using Procreate extends over two pages, edge to edge, on a single page with a white frame, in a smaller circle, or as a small group on a single page. These choices of size contribute to the pacing and the pictorial interpretations of the narrative by Lorena Alvarez.  Readers will enjoy seeing the delicate Yets among the vibrant colors in the landscapes and settings.  (Mulan likes that the main character's pup grows up and stays with them.)  Each image is highly animated, but the wonder of the first encounter with the Yet is stunning.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture.  In this scene the girl with her broken bike is facing left as she watches other children at work in a room.  Each one is accompanied by their Yet.  In the lower left-hand corner, a girl is making a doghouse following a blueprint she made that is hanging on the wall.  Between her and our protagonist is a child on a ladder making geometric art designs.  There is a scholar, a musician, a knitter, and a kite flyer.  The tools of their trades are shown in separate shelves.  The kite is huge and floating across the top of the right side.  This is a place where goals are met.  This is a place where children from all cultures engage in their heart's desire.


When you hold The Magical Yet words by Angela DiTerlizzi with art by Lorena Alvarez, you hold hope in your hands.  You feel as though anything at any age is possible if you remember to value the existence of your Yet.  This title will be valuable in a range of thematic storytimes.  Be sure to read it as a bedtime story so dreamers will know, as they fall asleep, dreams do come true.  I highly recommend this title.

To learn more about Angela DiTerlizzi and Lorena Alvarez and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their respective websites.  Angela DiTerlizzi has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  Lorena Alvarez has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher, showcased this title and interviewed both creators on his site, Watch. Connect. Read.  The publisher has a PDF you can print and color of the Yet.

Pets, More Pets And Still More Pets

We many not know it but they choose us.  They appear when we seem to need them the most which can translate into total surprise for us.  In time we start to manifest their physical characteristics and emotional moods.  Of this we are probably the last to know.

Observations of humans and their animal companions will lead most people to the conclusion there is the perfect pet, the perfect pal for everyone.  On April 5, 2016 The Grumpy Pets (Abrams Books for Young Readers) written and illustrated by Kristine A. Lombardi growled into the world.  Now I don't know about you but as soon as I saw the title, I knew I had to read this book.

Mom took Billy and Sara to 
Perfect Pets one Saturday.

Billy is a cantankerous character whose mom hopes this trip to a shop filled with rescue animals will perk up his personality.  With so much love floating around the room, certainly Billy will crack a smile.  Every child who walks in connects with a critter, even his sister Sara.

The more cheerful the animals, the bigger the scowl grows on Billy's face.  This is too much happiness for him. He starts to meander through the shop and discovers a back area with more crates.  These residences are filled with the least friendly canines you have ever seen.  Their body language, their fur, their looks and voices shout out orneriness with a capital o.  Good grief!  There are even a couple of cranky cats in the bunch.

These animals are exactly like Billy; in fact one particular dog catches his eye.  A starring contest develops and expands with crabby exchanges until they astonish one another.  Those two lives are never going to be the same.


Simple sentences by Kristine A. Lombardi provide excellent pacing.  Each one creates and expands on the peevish personality of Billy leading us to the surprise.  We realize Billy is not swayed by cuteness; rather it makes him feel worse.  Here is a sample passage.

He began to look around,
but every single pet was just so happy.
Blech, Billy thought to himself.


The row of grouchy, cranky faces on Billy and the assorted dogs and cats on the front of the dust jacket are intriguing.  Are these individuals always grumpy? Did something happen to them?  When you open the jacket and look to the left you get an entirely different perspective from three other dogs in front of the buildings.

 On the book case amid teal brush strokes are oval frames on the front and back.  A very bad-tempered Billy looking like a volcano about to erupt is on the front.  On the back is an interior image of three blissful looking dogs labeled appropriately.  A pattern of grumpy pets drawn in several shades of turquoise are displayed on the opening and closing endpapers.  A trio of crabby pets begins on the title page and stretches with more grumps across the verso and dedication pages which follow.

Many of the illustrations span two pages.  On the single page pictures Lombardi uses circles and ovals to frame the individual images.  The layering, shading and details ask readers to pause and let the atmosphere surround them.

One of my favorite illustrations is a close-up of Billy on the left and of the petulant pup on the right.  Their staring contest is in full swing.  In this particular picture you can readily see the use of texture in Lombardi's work in the outlines, clothing and fur.  The arch of both individuals' eyebrows and the set of their mouths are grumpy in its purest form.

To learn more about Kristine A. Lombardi and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website. Be sure to read her blog linked there to enjoy her other artwork and process examples.  Here is an interview with Kristine A. Lombardi after the publication of her first book at Monica Wellington's news.  Enjoy the book trailer.






Sometimes our pet pals don't make any sense at all to others.  They fail to see the connection.  They fail to see the attraction. They are dumbfounded.

It would stand to reason a boy living on a farm would develop a fondness for one of the animal inhabitants.  Gus has an attachment to a lot more than one.  My Favorite Pets by Gus W. For Ms. Smolinski's Class with words by Jeanne Birdsall and pictures by Harry Bliss is a laugh a minute look at a boy's obsession and report writing.

My favorite pet is sheep.  We have
seventeen in our yard.  Seventeen
sheep are still sheep, not sheeps.

Gus acquaints us with boy sheep, girl sheep and baby sheep.  We now know the horns on a male do not come off, a female sheep will not respond to a call of "What are ewe doing?" and if you swap your little brother for a lamb, your mom will definitely notice.  Clothing on sheep is also not a good idea.

If you should happen to use a sheep as an umbrella in a blinding rainstorm, your dad will also definitely notice.  Do not use scissors on a sheep's behind.  Do not use sheep to give your little brother a "horsey" ride.  Sheep are not good playmates for boys. They simply can't move from point "A" to point "B" as boys or even adults travel.

Bringing sheep into your home is NEVER a good idea. Their presence gives new meaning to the word mess.  Your parents will both definitely notice simultaneously.  You and the sheep will quickly be dispatched to other areas.  Of course a boy and his sheep can't be parted.


The first person point of view in this narrative formed by Jeanne Birdsall to replicate a school report is hilarious.  Gus seems to be stating the obvious but it is really leading to specific comedic moments.  The humor is increased with occasional questions and outbursts by Gus's mom and dad in contrast to the representations made by Gus. Here is a sample passage.

A baby sheep is a lamb.  If you
trade your little brother for a lamb,
your mother will say,
Why is Sammy 
covered in
hay?


At first glance the matching dust jacket and book case with the notebook paper above and below the characters, hint at the form of the narrative.  Two things are certain though, the boy loves those sheep and those sheep love to nibble and chew.  To the left, on the back, the words

One boy.
Seventeen sheep.
What could go wrong?

are placed over a sheep climbing out of the chimney on the house's roof.

On the opening and closing endpapers Harry Bliss gives us a view as if we are seated at Gus's desk looking out the window in his yard filled with sheep.  Readers get a glimpse of what is important to him, comics, Gus's Sheep Diary and a note to finish his report.  Rendered in black India ink and watercolor the heavier matte-finished paper enhances the double and single page images throughout the title.

Bliss's interpretation of the text raises the laughter factor providing an extension of the story.  For the observation regarding sheep's wool, cutting some off and Gus's mother's reaction, Bliss supplies a visual of Gus seated on the lawn, scissors, glue and a book titled Beards of History next to him.  He has glued the sheep's wool to his face and is holding a mirror to observe his handiwork.  Bliss embeds humor in every image.  He conveys much emotion which the shape of his lines and the position of a single dot.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is when the sheep are in the kitchen.  It is a scene of utter chaos. One of the sheep is on the kitchen sink grabbing the nozzle in its mouth and squirting water. Another is wide-eyed and slipping on the wet floor.  One is about to nibble the table runner. And a fourth has its head stuck between the chair slats.

To discover more about Jeanne Birdsall and Harry Bliss and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their individual websites.  At this publisher's website you can get a sneak peek at a few of the interior images.




What is colorful?  What is noisy?  What is totally alive with action?  These are words used to describe a gathering of creatures and their humans.  It's a day set aside to showcase attributes. It's a day to showcase those who have our affection.

The duo who brought readers Some Insects (Beach Lane Books, March 4, 2014) have returned with another delightful take on the animal world.  Some Pets (Beach Lane Books, August 23, 2016) words by Angela DiTerlizzi and pets by Brendan Wenzel present all those things which make pets the beloved individuals they are.  Let's join the conversation!

Some pets
SIT.
Some pets
STAY.
Some pets
FETCH.
Some pets
PLAY!

Dogs and cats are getting ready to be put on display.  They are still acting in their normal canine and feline way.  An obstacle course is the spot for a wriggling reptile and a leaping rabbit.  They do what they do out of habit.

Wheels spin and the noise begins.  Critters raise their voices in a clamorous chorus.  In the midst of all this fantastic fun, the hunger bug bites each and every one.

As the day draws to a close, pets let their humans know how much they care.  When all is said and all is done, love is in the air.  Friendship first and friendships that last.


Whether these words are read in silence or spoken aloud you can't help but feel the rhythm of the verses penned by Angela DiTerlizzi.  They have a playful pizzazz courtesy of rhymes and alliteration which mirror the essence of each animal.  There is nonstop action at every page turn leading readers to the final magical moment.


When you open the matching dust jacket and book case the gathering of eager animals crosses the spine to the left and the back. A string of pennants with paw prints hangs announcing the gala. Brendan Wenzel's use of color joyfully lifts the spirit of DiTerlizzi's words.  His pets are ready for the story to begin.  On the opening and closing endpapers one of the orange hues is used.

The illustrations for this book were rendered in almost everything imaginable. From the initial title page to the closing image at the back of the book containing the author and illustrator note and publication information, these images are lively depicting the best in the human and animal connection.  On the formal title page we see a bird's eye, panoramic view of the Pet Show venue.  The happiness pops off the page.

Thirteen more double-page images with details which will have you grinning from ear to ear give readers the inside scoop on the day's activities. We see a dog enduring a tooth brushing, toothpaste foaming from his mouth, cats leaping from their pedestals reaching for a toy mouse, pigs running a race, dogs in costumes and a girl snuggling with her hedgehog.  The facial expressions on the pets and their people are simply precious.  Wenzel creates wondrous wide-eyed looks.

One of my favorite illustrations is the group of dogs at the Costume Party. Bowls of kibble are filled and placed around the ground. A pug in a lobster suit is gobbling up his food. There is a Golden retriever wearing a stethoscope. Another pup is ready to buzz like a bee pausing over his meal served in a black and yellow striped dish.  The Great Dane dressed like a dragon is fabulous.  Oh, and there is a wild squirrel sneaking a snack.

After the narrative two pages are devoted to all the pets present in the book giving readers their common name and the name given to them by their people. To learn more about Angela DiTerlizzi and Brendan Wenzel and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  At the publisher's website you can view some interior images.  There is also a link to four printable activity sheets. Angela DiTerlizzi is interviewed at Watch. Connect. Read., the blog maintained by Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher.  Brendan Wenzel is a guest at All The Wonders, Episode 285 hosted by teacher librarian Matthew Winner. 


These three titles, The Grumpy Pets written and illustrated by Kristine A. Lombardi, My Favorite Pets by Gus W. For Ms. Smolinski's Class words by Jeanne Birdsall and pictures by Harry Bliss and Some Pets words by Angela DiTerlizzi and pets by Brendan Wenzel are guaranteed to make for a spirited storytime. Listeners will be begging you to read them again and again.  And you will do it because these books have that special quality we recognize in marvelous storytelling.

Marvelous Menagerie

Careful gardeners spend much of their time at plant level, working the soil and tending to the growth of the flowers, vegetables and shrubs.  When doing this, they are greeted by intriguing sights.  Hikers who realize they are alone in a forest, depending on the time of year, will find the silence gradually filling with sound.  These beings we see and hear may be small, but they are mighty in importance.

Their communities fill our undeveloped landscapes, backyards and cities.  Just in time to herald in another spring Some Bugs (Beach Lane Books, March 4, 2014) written by Angela DiTerlizzi with illustrations by Brendan Wenzel inched, leaped and flew into readers' hands last week.  Let's go for a walk on the buggy side of life.

Some bugs STING.
Some bugs BITE.
Some bugs STINK.
And some bugs FIGHT.

With those four statements we are winding our way down the possibility path of questions and answers.  Which bugs do which things?  Which bugs would never sting, bite, stink or fight?  Let's explore some more to get it right.

These interesting, incredible insects either move on land, through the air, over and under water slowly, quickly, smoothly or in spurts.  They can form a ball to make themselves appear small.  Is that a leaf, a twig, stem or stalk?  Hiding to stay safe, you won't hear them talk.

Later, danger departed, their noise fills the air like a crazy critter band.  They create, carry and search according to some internal command.  Let's seek, peek and find these living prizes whether wearing their finest or sporting disguises.


Angela DiTerlizzi certainly know her audience; conveying the realm of insects with a rhythm and rhyme certain to generate interest and movement in equal measure.  Using the title words repetitively she encourages a give-and-take relationship between the reader and the narrative while pointing out the individual characteristics of her bug personalities.  When authors piece words together to form a cadence, a musical melody takes shape.  DiTerlizzi takes readers up to a delightful crescendo, dropping down to a softer moment before releasing us to partake in a joyous adventure.


Upon opening up the dust jacket covering the matching book case, we see a single illustration stretching from flap edge to flap edge. We zoom in on the bug's world as if we have become one of them.  It's a mixed media montage of color, light and suspended sound. The bright golden yellow in the flower petals becomes the solid background of the opening and closing endpapers.

On the initial title page a single bug peeks out from blades of grass.  The two page spread for the formal title page begins the illustrative story; a cat walks outside down a stone pathway, insect nets and a glass jar in sight.  A lone ladybug crawls down a stick from the rain gutter. (On the final page, the verso, the ladybug is crawling back up into the spout.)

All of the visuals span across two pages; each a bug's eye view except for the final two.  What Brendan Wenzel does is to focus on certain sections of a greater whole, until the wide angle view of the entire backyard.  It's a wonderful concept, beautifully executed.

To tell you the truth, it's almost impossible to pick a favorite illustration.  What Wenzel does with a single sentence is fantastic and fun.  His pictures for

Some bugs curl up in a Ball.
And some bugs TAKE.  

are lighthearted and captivating.  For the first we see a raccoon peering over a log with fungus ledges at a forest floor covered in mushrooms, pill bugs, a lady bug and a woolly bear caterpillar.  In the second we see an army of ants busily removing items from a picnic basket above and below the ground.


No matter how many times I've read this book, Some Bugs written by Angela DiTerlizzi with illustrations by Brendan Wenzel, I end up smiling.  It's a lively look, a bright and busy book, about a world within our world.  Prior to the publication information and dedication, two pages are dedicated to identifying all the pictured insects.

I can see using this book as a reader's theater or turning it into a small play.  It could be paired with Ladybugs by Gail Gibbons, Bugs Galore by Peter Stein with illustrations by Bob Staake or Bugs by the Numbers:  facts and figures for multiple types of bugbeasties by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss.  For more information about Brendan Wenzel please follow the link to his website embedded in his name above.  Follow this link to a recent interview of Angela DiTerlizzi at John Schumacher's website, Watch. Connect. Read.