Where Do You Find It?

More than forty-eight hours ago, a blizzard warning went into effect.  It has been snowing nonstop with wild winds howling.  Any signs of wildlife are nonexistent.  Where are the deer, fox, squirrels, rabbits, and birds?  Hopefully, they have found spaces to keep them safe.

Where they and we humans reside can represent many things.  It can be a shelter from the elements over which we have no control.  It can be a sanctuary from those with harmful intentions.  Sometimes home is more about those with us, than the spaces we occupy.  In 2020 we were introduced to nine characters in Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story Of Us.  This tale is one of wonderful parts becoming a marvelous whole.

These beloved characters, Hedgehog, Mutty, Mole, Owl, Beaver, Hen and Chicks (2), and Annika Mae Flores have returned in Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place To Call Home (Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, October 18, 2022).  In this newest book of eleven chapters and a beautiful introduction, a discovery leads to a quest.  This quest reveals a truth to hold fast in all our hearts.

Families come in all shapes and sizes.

Autumn is nearly over for the friends in Hedge Hollow.  Hedgehog is dreaming of making a snowhog as soon as the snow falls.  She has gathered all the necessary supplies. 

Today, she and Mutty are on their way from their island to Owl's loft for a story time.  After reaching shore and walking in the woods, Hedgehog and Mutty are stunned by what they see.  It's someone who looks just like Hedgehog.  How is that possible?

At Owl's loft, Owl and Mole comfort Hedgehog and decide she has seen her doppelganger.  The quest begins.  Meanwhile Annika Mae is assisting Beaver as his works on the Friend Fort.  Their conversations revolve around building versus design and cold weather wear and who needs it the most.

Soon, Beaver is asked to help Hedgehog, Mutty, Mole and Owl.  Annika Mae, Hen and her Chicks stay behind at the Friend Fort.  The five friends make an unexpected discovery.  Hedgehog has a decision to make.  What will she decide?  And can she change a decision once it is made?  Overnight snow falls.  

At Friend Fort, there are more good surprises.  Friends embrace friends.  Friends embrace the winter season and its joys.  It is a time of firsts and forevers.

The five-sentence introduction spoken by Annika Mae is a warm welcome, an invitation readers know leads into the pages of a heart-print story.  Author Lauren Castillo, through her intentional descriptions of place and time, brings us back to Hedge Hollow.  Wherever we are we are surrounded by this magical world, as if we never left.  Each chapter heading offers a glimpse of what we can expect to be revealed.

Through the blend of narrative and dialogue by and between the characters, our knowledge of their individual personalities and quirks grows. (Readers will enjoy how Mole adds words from other languages to her commentary.)  They are beings we want to know.  We share their anxieties and triumphs.  We can't help but love them.  Here are several passages.

"What are we looking for again?" Beaver asked as he began paddling.

"Do you ever listen?" Owl hooted. "We are looking for Hedgehog's doppelganger. Her look-alike."

"Is that why you were too busy to help with the fort earlier?"  Beaver groused.  "And why did you need my safety goggles?"

"What are you talking about, Beaver?" Hedgehog looked puzzled.

"I saw you, Hedgehog.  You were headed around that bend."  Beaver pointed past his dam.

" Beaver, compadre.  Hedgehog has been with us all morning.  It couldn't have been her,"  said Mole.

For a moment everyone just looked at each other in confusion.

" The doppelganger!"  cried Owl.  " It must have been the doppelganger." 

" Are you sure it went that direction?"  asked Mole.

" Captain Beaver is always sure,"  Beaver boasted.

Owl rolled his eyes. " Let's go!"  he urged.

They would miss snowball fights, snow tubing, and most important of all, snowhogs.  Hedgehog could not imagine sleeping through all of that! These hedgehogs might be made of the same spines and snouts, but their hearts spoke different languages.

In looking at the front, right side, of the dust jacket we are pleased to see Hedgehog and Mutty again.  Hedgehog looks curiously at the other hedgehog.  She has never seen anyone like her.  A first snow coats the landscape, remnants of autumn still visible.  The title text is varnished.  To the left of the bright blue spine is an endearing portrait of the friends seated on the ground covered in autumn leaves and huddled in a hug.  Leaves swirl upward on either side of the text.  It is the introduction.

The book case in the same blue is plain except for the front.  Here we see Hedgehog and Mutty in silhouette, facing each other.  On the opening and closing endpapers is a colorful map of Hedge Hollow.  The river winds past Hedgehog's Island, past Mole's Hole and Owl's Lookout.  Before it gets to Beaver's Dam, it meanders by Hen and Chicks' Marsh, the Friend Fort and Annika Mae's House on the hill.  In the upper, righthand corner is another new addition, Hedge Hideaway.

Artist Lauren Castillo's illustrations rendered

using pen, pencils, watercolor, and Photoshop

warm every page turn with their presence.  Hedgehog and Mutty are on both the initial and formal title pages.  A bundle of autumn leaves showcases the dedication page.  Floating leaves draw our focus to the Contents page.

Gorgeous double-page pictures enhance the text for each chapter heading.  We see Hedgehog's Island in the river bordered by trees dressed in the hues of fall.  We are brought close to Beaver working on the Friend Fort, materials and tools placed near the building.  A bird's eye view shows Beaver, Mutty, Hedgehog, Mole, and Owl traveling by raft down the river on their quest.  Even though snow is falling and covering the ground, you cannot look at the last chapter visual without being warmed at the sight of the endearing characters outside their Friend Fort. (And you will probably laugh out loud at the flag.)

These illustrations convey to readers a world as real as that in which any of us reside.  The intricate details in Lauren Castillo's signature style, her color selections, lines and brush strokes are brimming with emotion and motion.  We willingly pause to not miss a single element.  

One of my many favorite illustrations is of Hedgehog and Mutty.  The affection Hedgehog holds for Mutty is as strong as if Mutty were alive; perhaps more so.  In this two-page image it is snowing.  Snow covers the ground.  From the left side to the right side, we see footprints in the snow.  Hedgehog is walking to the right top part of the visual.  Her back is to us.  She carries Mutty on her shoulders.  This picture is layered with meaning.  Hedgehog's heart is taking her where she belongs.

This second book, Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place To Call Home written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo, in a timeless series is certain to be well-loved and read repeatedly.  Regardless of how many times this title is read, you know as soon as you finish the last sentence, you will read the story again.  The best stories endure.  I highly recommend you place this title in your professional and personal collections.  (I have personally gifted both books this year.)

To learn more about Lauren Castillo and her other work, please access her website by following the link attached to her name.  At the page dedicated to this title, Lauren has resources for you to download.  Lauren has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  The cover reveal with a creator interview for this title was hosted by John Schu at Watch. Connect. Read.  At the publisher's website, you can view interior images and listen to an audiobook preview.

Beware The Tale

When you have a canine companion who needs a minimum of four miles of walking or running every day, you find yourself exploring known and unknown pathways.  You frequently find yourself having to traverse through unexpected brush, fallen trees, and flooded trails.  Sometimes as you come around a bend or reach the top of a hill, you find yourself face to face with a creature who is just as surprised to see you.  Every situation is different.  Each one deserves your best and careful assessment.

In the newest release by brothers Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, four residents of a southern watery realm find themselves in a dilemma.  Somewhere in the Bayou (Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton and Company, March 1, 2022) brings readers directly into the animals' predicament.  As we read this tale, we have to ask ourselves how we might react in a similar situation.  Would we act like Opossum, Squirrel, Rabbit, or Mouse?  Or would we fashion an entirely different response?

We need a place to cross.

Does anyone

see one?

All I see is plants.

My feet hurt.

The foursome finally find a place to cross.  They discover the presence of a log.  A log is a perfect bridge across water, but this log has a tail snuggly against it.  Rabbit thinks it is

a sneaky tail.

After a brief discussion, Opossum decides the only way to trick a sneaky tail is to quietly walk along the log.  Two loud sounds indicate his idea was not a success.  Where is he?

Now there are three not-so brave animals wondering how to cross on that log with the tail.  Rabbit changes the definition of that tail.  Squirrel decides to show that tail a thing or two.  A loud Squirrel screech echoes in the watery realm.  It is followed by those same two loud sounds.

For the third time Rabbit gives an opinion on the type of tail they are facing.  Rabbit decides to address the tail with a stick.  You guessed it, readers.  Two loud sounds pierce the air in that bayou.  

Mouse asks a question but is met with silence.  Mouse ventures onto the log trying to decide what kind of tail it is.  Mouse makes a decision and acts.  It is followed by those same two loud sounds, but are they for the same reason?  The ensuing conversation will leave readers pondering and probably laughing.  And Mouse . . . is shocked and completely relieved.

Authors Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey certainly can spin a story masterfully.  Told entirely in dialogue, we easily come to understand the personalities of the characters.  Each phrase they utter seems to finish the thoughts of the previous speaker.

After Opossum tries to cross the log and fails, a pattern is established.  This pattern invites reader participation.  The single word sounds will be shouted by readers and listeners as Squirrel and Rabbit try to cross on the log.  

The established cadence shifts with Mouse.  This creates anticipation and tension especially when the single word sounds are read.  That anticipation and tension stays until the very end.  The final sentence supplies us with a huge pause.  Here is a passage.

THAT'S A 

SCARY TAIL!

THAT'S NOT SCARY.

I'LL SHOW YOU SCARY!

BUT---

When you open the dust jacket, you can see the design extends flap edge to flap edge.  To the left of the spine, on the back, the log reaches to the shore.  A long plant sticks out of the water.  On the far left, shrubs and trees frame the scene.  The grass goes to the edge.  On the front, the right side, the cattails, log and water go to the far right.  The color palette of the bayou and each of the characters is introduced in this image.  We are also privy to the expressive eyes of the characters.  It is fabulous how much emotion Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey can show with a round white circle and a black dot.

On the book case, from edge to edge is the same scene from the right flap edge to the middle of the back of the jacket.  It is the log, trees, and some plants.  The tail and four creatures are absent.  Is this before or after the story?

On the opening and closing endpapers is an alligator green hue.  The splendid signature artwork of the brothers begins after the opening endpapers.  So does the narrative.  We briefly pause for the title and verso pages, but the back and tail of Mouse are shown on the far right.

The visuals alternate between double-page pictures, a series of vertical panels, a full-page picture, some horizontal panels and two full-page pictures.  Sometimes elements from one panel are part of another panel.  We are usually very close to the action.  At times we might just see a face or the lower portion of an animal's body with their legs and feet.  This technique of shifting the image sizes and perspectives further draws us into the tale.

One of my many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture.  It is after Opossum has failed in an attempt to cross on the log with the tail.  On the right side we see the water, the log, a portion of the tail and two cattails.  On the left side on the grassy bank, standing upright are the three remaining animals, Rabbit, Squirrel, and Mouse.  There are bushes and trees behind them.  They are all holding their front paws in front of them.  But, their eyes are hilarious.  Rabbit is looking down at Squirrel.  Squirrel is looking up at Rabbit.  Mouse is looking down at the grass.  Their looks are most definitely wide-eyed as their minds wonder what just happened.

This book, Somewhere in the Bayou written and illustrated by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, is engaging and thought-provoking.  It is also laden with tension, possibilities, and humor.  It will surely promote discussions and requests for it to be read again, repeatedly.  You will want to have a copy for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about the Pumphrey brothers and their other work, please access their website by following the link attached to their names.  Jarrett Pumphrey has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Jerome Pumphrey has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website, you can view interior images.

Repeat Repeat Repeat

It usually appears out of nowhere.  Perhaps, a specific smell signals it.  A word or phrase may awaken it.  A few notes from another melody can revive it.  However it arrives, it is here to stay, refusing to leave.  It soundlessly follows you everywhere, sometimes for hours (or more).

At first, you allow it to play in your mind.  You may even hum along with it.  And, as hard as it is to say, you soon find yourself dancing.  In Ear Worm! (Candlewick Press, January 25, 2022) written by Jo Knowles with illustrations by Galia Bernstein, a worm, a tiny youngster of a worm, has a song firmly fixed in his mind.  He is puzzled by its appearance.  How did it get there?

One summer day, Little Worm went out to play and

discovered he had a song stuck in his head.

"Shimmy shimmy, no-sashay,

shimmy shimmy, no-sashay!"

he sang as he wriggled along.

Meeting his first friend of the day, Little Worm was told by Owl the meaning of an ear worm.  Of course, Little Worm thought that name was hilarious.  When he asked Owl if he put the song in his head, Owl said no.  He had his own song which he proceeded to sing.  There might have been some wing waving involved.

These two demonstrating their ear worm antics next met Chipmunk.  Chipmunk did not give the ear worm to Little Worm.  Chipmunk performed an equally original song and dance.  As the trio sang and moved to their own music, Bunny gently inquired about their songs and dances.  Little Worm was seeking answers and Bunny had her own answer.  Little Worm was feeling a tad bit discouraged.

Fox strolled onto the scene, sharing another different song and dance.  Now, there were five songs and five dances.  It was as if the members of an orchestra decided to stand up and dance their parts!  It was a party of happy-go-lucky participants!

Soon, Little Worm's father called him home for his nap.  Papa Worm wrapped Little Worm in his bed. Then, Papa Worm said . . .

In a lively blend of narrative and dialogue, author Jo Knowles introduces us to Little Worm and his four forest friends.  Little Worm's question to each friend and their subsequent response supply us with a rousing cadence.  Jo Knowles's use of alliteration and rhyming are an open invitation for reader participation.  You can't read this story without humming or singing or dancing or all three!  Here is a passage.

"That's not it at all," said Little Worm.  "But I like your moves!"

"Thank you," said Chipmunk.  "Mind if I join your search?"

"Fine by me," said Little Worm.

So:

"CHEE

CHEE,

CHITTER-EE!

"WAVE, WAVE, TALK to THE WING!"

and

"Shimmy shimmy, no-sashay!"

they went along.

Do you feel something happening to you when you look at the front of the matching dust jacket and book case?  That something is spreading from the tip of your toes to the top of your head and it is sheer happiness.  Look at Fox, Owl, Chipmunk, Little Worm and Bunny.  Every single one of them are grooving to their own music, their own special ear worm.  Their body postures and facial expressions here, and throughout the book, portray camaraderie and cheer.  The title text and musical notes are varnished on the dust jacket.

To the left of the spine on the jacket and case is a canvas of white.  (White is used wonderfully throughout the book to highlight and elevate the characters, their expressions, and movements.) The text reads:

Who put that song in

Little Worm's head?

Little Worm is singing his tune next to two yellow daisies. 

On the opening and closing endpapers in pink hues on pink is a pattern of Little Worm in all his various dance moves.  His wide eyes and smiling face are a superb hello and goodbye for this book.  Prior to the title page, Little Worm is alone on a background of pristine white.  On the title page in the lower, right-hand corner is a clump of blades of grass.  The title text is spelled by Little Worm.  He twists and turns his body for each letter and the exclamation point.  

With each page turn, the artwork of Galia Bernstein, digitally rendered, welcomes us into the world of Little Worm and his friends.  Each animal, by their stance, reflects their characteristics.  They are highly animated, especially when they start to dance to their original ear worm.  The animals are brought close to the reader.  There is little more than them on a white canvas except when Little Worm first meets them.  A pine bough is next to Owl, an acorn is near Chipmunk, Bunny stands by two yellow daisies, and Fox is near blades of grass like Little Worm.  Readers will delight in seeing what Papa Worm uses to clean their home.

One of my many favorite illustrations is actually three smaller ones on a single page.  It shows Owl doing three more dance steps after the first display of a leg lift and wing spreads.  In the first one, Owl extends both wings forward as one leg kicks back.  In the second one, Owl bends back with both wings and one leg extended back.  In the final move, Owl is slightly bowed with one wing extended up and the other bent to cover his face.  Little Worm watches from the lower, right-hand corner.  (I can guarantee story time listeners might stand up and start to dance at this point.)

You will never feel the same way again about getting an ear worm after reading this book, Ear Worm! written by Jo Knowles with illustrations by Galia Bernstein.  The upbeat words and illustrations are a boogie-woogie dance delight that will have listeners begging you to read it repeatedly.  This would make a wonderful reader's theater.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Jo Knowles and Galia Bernstein and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites.  Jo Knowles has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Galia Bernstein has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  Jo Knowles wrote a guest post at the Nerdy Book Club about this title for the cover reveal.  At the publisher's website you can download a teacher's guide.  At Penguin Random House you can view interior images.

(My curiosity got the better of me.  I found an article about ear worms, Your Brain on Music: Earworms, The Kennedy Center.) 

Grateful

Yesterday in the United States a national holiday was observed, Thanksgiving.  There are other countries who honor a similar day by the same name, but sometimes on different dates.  Many cultures commemorate gratitude for a fruitful harvest, a change in the seasons, or encountered annual blessings.  Most of these traditions are shared with families, friends, or community members.

It is said an attitude of gratitude cultivated every day of the year is highly beneficial for individuals and those in contact with those individuals.  Two publications released on the same day highlight the art of being grateful.  We Give Thanks (Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, September 7, 2021) written by Cynthia Rylant with illustrations by Sergio Ruzzier follows two friends, a rabbit and a frog, and their friends as they find joy in their everyday worlds.

We give thanks for mittens

and for coats and boots and hats.

We give thanks for yellow dogs

and yellow kitty cats.

A frog and a rabbit are enjoying the clothing they find in a friend's home.  When the artistic talents of the first are presented on canvas, laughter ensues.  They venture into the garden and carry fruit to a feast.

As they travel throughout their day, they meet family.  They appreciate the efforts of those providing services in the tiny town.  Even when the weather shifts several times, they welcome those changes realizing the advantages of each one.  

The benefits of various modes of transportation are acknowledged.  They pause to watch the work of insects in a colorful space. Signs of affection shown by an avian mother to their child and a bear to a fish friend are noted.

Wherever this duo go, they notice the little things, taking nothing for granted.  They relish the ability to cook and eat.  Every minute of their days and nights is perceived as valuable, especially those moments shared with their friends.

What readers will first notice about the words penned by Cynthia Rylant is they address those things with which many can identify.  She lists items we need.  She includes people and their accomplishments.  She draws our attention to the natural world.  And she focuses on tender displays of affection.

She views the world through the eyes of children, the children residing in all of us.  She does this through couplets, two sentences, with rhyming words at the end.  The first sentence welcomes readers to wonder about the second sentence.  What word will she use?  Also, she uses the word "and" to join a group of words together rather than using commas.  Here is another passage.

We give thanks for sun and rain

and wind and sleet and snow.

We give thanks for bikes and skates

and . . .

The color palette on the open and matching dust jacket and book case is radiating warmth, like the apples in the basket.  That red in the title text, the apples and the hillside draws us into the happiness of the animals.  The wash of yellow and blue in the sky extends that warmth into a comforting calm.  It is here we meet the two main characters, the frog and the rabbit.  

To the left of the spine, the red covers the area except for a circular image.  It is an interior illustration.  Here the rabbit is looking through its kitchen window while cooking.  Friends are arriving to partake in a banquet.

A spring green, a shade of the green on the frog, covers the opening and closing endpapers.  On the initial title page the frog and the rabbit, on a white background, are walking to the right.  On the double-page picture for the formal title page, we can now see them approaching a villa set in the mountains.  The hues of colors are variations on those we saw on the jacket and cover.  They are an open offer of participation to readers.

Rendered in

pen & ink and watercolors,

the visuals by Sergio Ruzzier present his signature style.  His endearing animals depict a range of body positions and facial expressions.  Highly detailed images ask us to step into each scene.  Often elements on one page will appear in the next page, fashioning a flow.

One of my many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture (all are double-page images except for one, a dramatic pause).  A white sky highlights two low hills in rose and yellow.  The yellow is replete with large flowers and insects.  The bugs are given long noses and tiny eyes and mouths formed from a single line.  The rabbit and frog, on the right side, stand on the rose-colored hill talking about the display before them of insects and flowers. They are watching the bugs work.  The flowers are large enough to make us feel as though we are one of them.

This book, We Give Thanks written by Cynthia Rylant with artwork by Sergio Ruzzier, is one to be shared widely and read often.  It reminds us every single day there are things around us that need our appreciation.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional bookshelves.

To learn more about Cynthia Rylant and Sergio Ruzzier, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites.  At Cynthia Rylant's site is a single page with a letter from her to readers.  Sergio Ruzzier has accounts on Facebook and Instagram.  At the publisher's website, there are interior images, and views of the entire dust jacket and formal title page.

In a few short weeks, winter will officially begin.  All day yesterday the wind blew and snow fell.  Tonight the temperature will drop to its coldest since last winter.  The activities in the natural world have slowed.  Humans are finishing their outside preparations for the shift in seasons.  

Inside, humans are altering how they spend their time.  Thankful (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, September 7, 2021) written by Elaine Vickers with illustrations by Samantha Cotterill follows a family as they begin and complete an annual tradition.  It is a time to reflect and remember.  It is a time to make gratitude visible.

EVERY YEAR when the first snow

falls, we make thankful chains

to last us through December.

It is hard to think of all the things 

to be thankful for in a whole year,

so I start right in my own room.

The girl's parents, her father carrying a younger infant sibling, have come to wish her a good night.  As she lies in bed, she feels grateful for her home, parents, and a poem.  This poem, recited every night, helps her to recall those things for which she is thankful.  Some of those you hold in your heart; others you see every single day.

The little girl adores her dog, a wish come true.  She realizes the gift of life, a beating heart and breathing with ease.  Her school days supply her with people she cherishes.

She (like so many of us) is thankful for books and the places they lead us. The girl finds the beauty in opposites.  She identifies the silver linings in good things and in things not quite as good. 

She keeps writing, one thankful thing at a time, one chain at a time.  The girl's thoughts appear on paper until sleep is about to take her into her dreams. The story ends as it begins with her parents and a poem and her final words of thankfulness.

With each acknowledgement by the girl, readers start to relate to her and to examine their own surroundings for similar things.  We accept the goodness revealed in the opposites, soft and hard, and warm and cold, and safety and accidents.  This is a gift given to us by author Elaine Vickers.

The repetition of the words

I am thankful for

provides a connection, like the links in the paper chain, and a cadence.  With each thankful thing the narrator mentions, page by page, we understand it is not only a recounting but building toward an all-encompassing conclusion.  Here is a passage.

I am thankful for

things that are soft

and fresh, like

laundry,

bread,

moss on rocks.

In looking at the open dust jacket, readers can easily see this book is intricately designed.  We are fascinated by the intentional placement of elements on the front, the right side.  Here the girl is penning her thankful memories, link by link.  To the left, on the back, a colorful paper chain is photographed on white, portions of it faded and others clear.  Over this is a circular illustration of the girl holding and hugging her dog.  The dog looks at her with love.  Her eyes are closed in contentment.

On the book case the canvas is white.  Layered on both sides is one continuous, colorful paper chain.  The thankful memories are placed on the inside, but sometimes we are privy to one or two letters in a thought.

On the opening and closing endpapers is a green wall lined with six bookcases.  They are filled with books in an array of hues.  Paper chains in those same shades hang down either side and across each of those two sets of three bookcases.  Along the top of the bookcases is a schooner, a box with a bear on it, a guitar, a statue, a plant, a pennant with the words THANKFUL and a house.  On the title page, between the text is the girl's desk, a chair, and a waste basket.  Across the top of the desk are supplies for making the thankful chains.  A partially completed chain drops down from the desk and curls on the floor.

These artistically shaped illustrations by Samantha Cotterill 

are hand-built three dimensional sets photographed with a digital SLR camera.

The meticulous care given to each setting requires us to pause and savor the words and the images.  The people and the girl's dog are outlined in a black line and a small white border.  The sizes of the pictures switch from double-page pictures to a full-page visual, and then to a circular illustration on a colorful canvas.  Three times across a white background on two pages, we are shown only the girl working on her paper chain.  These are important pauses in the pacing.

One of my many favorite pictures is a two-page illustration.  It is in the evening inside the girl's home.  There is an "L" shaped sofa in the living room.  A single light shines on the left wall, but the entire scene glows as if there is a fireplace we can't see in front of the sofa.  On the left side of the sofa, the dad has fallen asleep holding the baby, a book next to them.  On the right side of the sofa is the girl in her pajamas, cuddled with a blanket wrapped around her.  Her dog is mostly seated next to her.  On the coffee table are dishes from a dinner of soup.  This image complements and elevates the text superbly.

You'll be gathering supplies to make your own paper chains after reading Thankful written by Elaine Vickers with illustrations by Samantha Cotterill.  It emphasizes the value all things have in our lives.  It prompts us in every respect to be grateful.  I can't imagine a personal or professional collection without a copy of this title.

By following the link attached to their names, you can discover more about Elaine Vickers and Samantha Cotterill and their other work at their respective websites.  Elaine Vickers has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Samantha Cotterill has an account on Instagram.  This book is showcased at Watch. Connect. Read. the site of John Schumacher, librarian, lecturer at Rutgers, and writer, at author, reviewer, and blogger, Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, at author Caroline Starr Rose's website, at Mel Schuit's Let's Talk Picture Books, and at The Children's Book Review.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images including the entire dust jacket.

Thankful by Elaine Vickers and Samantha Cotterill from Let's Talk Picture Books on Vimeo.

Wee Wonders

Perspective and point of view shape more than we are aware.  Numerous times student discussions lead to a whole new approach to a lesson.  These students present a thought, or an idea previously not considered.  It is refreshing and mind-blowing.  What's not to love about that?!  It is apparent we need to continuously and consciously alter how we see things, the grandest landscapes, and the tiniest elements in those landscapes.

Early this year a cast of characters drove into the children's literature realm.  Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure (Candlewick Press, February 9, 2021) written and illustrated by Steve Light takes us into a tiny community within a woodland world.  Four friends travel toward a desired necessity.  Points along their path disclose more than destinations. 

 

It was a beautiful day in Whiskers Hollow,

more beautiful than a hubcap shining in the sun.

Bear rambles down the road in his trusty truck.  Usually a good driver, Bear crashes into an acorn resting on the middle of the branch.  Now, he needs a new headlight.  

For this, Bear races toward Rabbit's house.  He asks his help in finding a new headlight.  Rabbit would rather eat, regardless of the time of day.  Bear assures him a snack is in his future.

Bear and Rabbit speed to Mouse's house.  Bear requests Mouse's assistance.  Mouse is a tad bit anxious.  He agrees to go, bringing his tried and true first-aid kit.

When they arrive at Donkey's house, he is ready to go.  Donkey, a perpetual optimist, leads the way on his scooter.  He knows how to find Elephant's Old Junk Tree.

Nothing stops the foursome, even when they reach Elephant and his tree full of treasures, discovering there is no headlight for Bear's truck.  As long as they are there and together, they have fun.  An unexpected slip, a muddy plunge, and a watery solution are revealing. Sometimes when looking for one thing, you are reminded of something else just as essential.

With four words, nearly as powerful as once upon a time, at the end of his third sentence, author Steve Light, opens our minds and hearts to the approach of a charming storytelling event.  Declarative sentences and equally straightforward dialogue, welcome us into the story of these four friends.  Repetitive phrases link phases of the narrative together fashioning a comfortable cadence.  In these companionable conversations, much is shown to us about the personalities of Bear, Rabbit, Mouse, and Donkey.  Here is a passage.

The three friends arrived at Donkey's place.

"Let's go---road trip!" said Bear.  "I need a new light for my old truck.

Can you help us find the way to Elephant's Old Junk Tree?"

Donkey knew the way because Donkey loved junk.

"Follow me friends!"

When you open the dust jacket, one of the first things you notice is the image spans from left to right with a break for the spine placement.  On the back, left, a large gray tree trunk is the canvas for portraits of the four friends, introducing them to readers.  On the branch which extends into the center of the right side hangs a sign.  This sign offers pictorial directions to Elephant's Junk Tree.  Two tiny crickets are seated on the top corners of the ISBN.  One is reading.  

On the front, the four are driving with haste to find a replacement headlight for Bear's trusty truck.  They all lean into this journey, following Donkey.  Notice the body posture of Donkey filled with calm confidence.  It is here we come to understand how small Whiskers Hollow and its inhabitants are.

On the book case, illustrator Steve Light presents a series of roadways tree to tree, tree branch to tree branch.  They pass by windows and doors in multiple homes.  There are stoplights, tow trucks, and vehicles of all shapes and sizes.  You will notice a large portion of activity revolves around the removal of the acorn responsible for Bear's crash.

On the opening and closing endpapers is a muted spring green.  Carefully labeled and drawn with intricate detail is a map of Whiskers Hollow in black.  All these sites hold infinite possibilities for future excursions.

With a page turn, a double-page image shows us on the left a cutaway of the interior of Bear's Den.  Above it a tree branch stretches to the far right.  Bear drives with quickness on that branch on the title page.  In the O of Road an acorn is shown.  An acorn is used for the dot on the exclamation point.

Rendered 

in pen and ink and gouache

the illustrations, ranging in size and perspective, are a study in the art of exquisite elements.  Fine lines take us deep into Whiskers Hollow.  We leave our world behind, shrinking to miniature.  Each page turn is an invitation to pause and study the image(s) before us.

One of my many favorite pictures is a single-page illustration.  It is framed with wide white space and a thin black line.  The color palette is spare.  There are hints of blue, yellow, and brown, black and white.  The four friends are sitting together on an enormous pile of junk.  They are enjoying snacks, beverages, and each other.  It is a scene of peace in the presence of those who love you just as you are.

Whether read with a large group or one on one, this book, Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure written and illustrated by Steve Light is an precious possession to be savored repeatedly.  Readers will wish they could step into this marvelous world and enjoy all it offers along with the four friends, Bear, Rabbit, Mouse, and Donkey.  You'll want to add a copy of this gem to your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Steve Light and his other work, please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  Steve Light has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter.  Interior pictures can be viewed at Penguin Random House.  Steve Light chats with author, reviewer, and blogger Julie Danielson about this title at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  You will love, love, love the conversation and artwork.  The virtual launch was held at Books of Wonder.

Instead of shifting to a tiny world within our world, a small creature decides to collect everyday human items.  To her, what we take for granted is a gift.  Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter (Candlewick Press, July 6, 2021) written by Jamie Michalak with illustrations by Kelly Murphy is certain to have you looking at your surroundings with new eyes.  You might decide to start your own assortment of special objects.  

IN THE GREAT, BIG CITY,

in the great, big museum,

a clock tick-tocks past midnight.

Doors are locked.

Guards keep watch.

All is still, until . . .

From the shadows, an individual moves.  It's a mouse.  Her name is Dakota Crumb.  She is a hunter of treasures.  Tonight, she carries a map.  Tonight, is the night she will locate with courage a 

famous priceless treasure.

She needs to carefully move past ancient warriors.  Wait a minute!  Someone has left a remarkable painting (stamp) which she adds to her bag.  In a room filled with gigantic beings from lore, she spies another forgotten figure (It looks familiar.)

Past a caretaker, intrepid Dakota moves, map in paws.  In the Egypt room, a wicked cat is seated, guarding all the ancient articles.  Behold!  There is the treasure of all treasures, exactly where it is supposed to be.  (It tastes like grapes.) 

As a new day dawns, silent paws take this gatherer home.  Does she sleep?  No, she does not.  Today is special.  To her friends, by day, she is Miss Crumb, proprietor of Mousehole Museum.  As the great big city sleeps, by night she is a hunter of the greatest gifts left behind.

With each page turn readers are more attached to this character and her exploits.  Author Jamie Michalak uses simple sentences for maximum results, creating a mysterious pacing.  Alliteration, rhyming and sound effects add to the suspense.  Verb choices elevate the nighttime atmosphere.  Here is a passage.

Whoosh!

WHOA!

Too slow.

Dakota escapes by a whisker.

Heave ho!  Into Dakota's sack it goes!

Tick-tock goes the clock.

But where's the treasure?

Dakota checks her map and travels on.

Dakota Crumb's wide-eyed look on both the front and back of the open and matching dust jacket and book case gives us a clue to her inquisitive and persistent nature.  Standing on the edge of a framed human masterpiece, she is ready to swing into action, looking to make sure it is safe.  The graduated color of the title text heightens the tension.  It partners with her sweater shade.  The main title text is varnished.

To left, on the back, on the pale teal background, Dakota is swinging through the air like Indiana Jones.  Her body posture and facial expression indicate her confidence and joy.  On the opening and closing endpapers is a muted midnight blue.  Prior to the title page, on a crisp white background, Dakota Crumb is next to a magnifying glass, her bag, a treasure, and her "grappling hook".  This image is tucked into the lower right-hand corner.

On the title page, a double-page picture gives readers an overview of the great, big city.  The museum is on the right.  Purple hues are prevalent.  Golden yellow lights glow in windows.  A large white moon hangs down from the top edge on the left.

Many elements, other than those, Dakota Crumb, finds are shown in the illustrations.  Do you notice any objects which seem out of place?  The double-page visuals give us an overview of the museum interior, take us close to Dakota Crumb, and offer a variety of perspectives.  We look down on a scene.  We look up toward the ceiling. We scurry, climb, and scamper next to Dakota Crumb.  Rendered by Kelly Murphy using

pen and ink, colored digitally  

these pictures convey a real sense of time and place.

One of my many favorite pictures accompanies the text above noted.  Across the left side and most of the right side a tense moment for Dakota Crumb is showcased.  On the left, she quickly scoops up the statue and puts it in her bag.  A broom sweeps up other debris and perhaps other treasures.  On the right we see the feet and lower portion of the legs of the caretaker.  In the low light shadows increase the anxiety Dakota must be feeling.  In the lower right-hand corner, we move into another moment.  Dakota Crum holds her map, figuring out her next move.

Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter written by Jamie Michalak with illustrations by Kelly Murphy is a puzzle, a scavenger hunt, and a memorable midnight excursion fraught with exciting moments.  Readers will be guessing what her next discovery will be as they notice other possible collectibles in the illustrations.  At the close of the book Dakota Crumbs proposes readers return to the story and locate more than forty other objects.  This book is certain to be a story time favorite.  Be sure to have a copy in both your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Jamie Michalak and Kelly Murphy and their other work, follow the link attached to their names to access their respective websites.  Jamie Michalak has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Kelly Murphy has accounts on Behance, Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website there is an eleven-page activity kit you can download.  At Penguin Random House you can view interior images.  At teacher librarian, lecturer, and author John Schumacher's Watch. Connect. Read., Jamie and John chat about this title.  Jamie is also interviewed at GoodReadsWithRonna.  Jamie Michalak has a guest post at the Nerdy Book Club regarding this book.

Comedy Times Two #2

Readers know you can't judge a book by its cover, but we also know a cover can be an incentive.  A cover can ask us to stop and look.  There, if we look closely enough, we see a bit of a story.  This bit of a story offers an overture to what might unfold in the body of the book. 

If there are characters portrayed on those jackets and cases, we can take clues from their facial expressions and body language.  We Love Fishing! (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, February 23, 2021) written by Ariel Bernstein with illustrations by Marc Rosenthal examines the concept of the word we.  In the events in this tale, there is a me who has a contrasting outlook.  Therein the comedy resides. 

Bear, Porcupine,

Otter, and Squirrel

love fishing.

When you keep reading each one, Bear, Otter, and Porcupine, issues individual statements in agreement, except for Squirrel.  Squirrel says---

They love fishing.

Bear, Porcupine, and Otter glorify the merits of fish consumption.  Squirrel can't stand the odor of fish.

Walking through the woods to get to the fishing spot is sheer delight for the exuberant trio.  Squirrel lacks even the slightest desire for exercise, finding fault with ever step taken.  As you can surmise, fishing from the boat is a pastime enjoyed by three and abhorred by a fourth.

When the rain begins, comments by Bear, Porcupine, and Otter are the height of optimism.  Squirrel laments the condition of his fur.  When it appears as though a fish is hooked, happiness is met with confusion.  Keeping the fish in the net, unfortunately is Squirrel's task.

A mishap is met with stunned silence . . .initially.  Will the bonds of friendship hold?  Only Fish knows.

The sentences written by author Ariel Bernstein and the rhythm they generate make this narrative a joy to read, silently or aloud.  First, we read a declarative statement, followed by three collaborative assertions and one dissenting remark.  What elevates the humor is Squirrel is apt to make several verbal observations, all in contrast to the majority opinion.  In the true style of a storyteller, Ariel Bernstein fashions a pause, a point of reflection, before the cadence resumes.  Here is a partial passage with a sentence by Otter and several, but not all, by Squirrel.

I don't know 

what I love more.

Walking or

fishing.

Can we take a taxi?

I stepped on

a pebble.

Ack! I see a fly!

Look at the cheery faces on Otter, Bear, and Porcupine on the front of the dust jacket.  Then, when you focus on Squirrel, you get a hint as to the divergence in points of view and fun to come.  The color choices imply a happy-go-lucky day outside in a relaxed natural setting.  The wide spine with the row of fish also offers a clue as to the upcoming happening.  The wide blue border continues on the back.  There we see Squirrel repelled by the slippery Fish, barely in the net.  Squirrel, the net, Fish and a small portion of the boat are set on the cream background.  The title text is raised and varnished.  The fish on the spine border are varnished.

On the book case, on a canvas of the same bright blue as the spine border, the image from the back of the jacket is placed in a smaller circle.  On the front is the same illustration as on the front of the jacket, smaller, and framed by an oval blue-green line.  Bordering that line is an wider oval of cream, framed in a green line.  Within this is the Fish pattern.  This is placed on the bright blue background.

On the matching opening and closing endpapers, we are greeted with an underwater scene. Waves in varied shades of turquoise are a superb canvases for fishes and Fish.  They are swimming in two different directions.  Bubbles form in two vertical rows, top to bottom, one on the left side and one on the right side.  Fish is approaching the hook on a line.  On the title page the foursome is gathered, three gleeful about fishing and Squirrel totally grumpy.

These images by Marc Rosenthal 

were rendered in Prismacolor pencil and digital color.

White, cream, is a strong element in all the pictures.  Texture, shading and light figure prominently.  The illustrations shift in size to accentuate the pacing.  Readers will enjoy all the added details; the lures in Bear's collection, Otter's love of supreme ice cream sundaes, Porcupine's intensity, tongue out, as he fishes, and Squirrel's passion for acorns.  

One of my many favorite illustrations spans two pages.  It features a close-up of the red and yellow boat ono the lake.  Bear, eyes closed, is stretched out on his back in the bow of the boat.  A pole behind him has a line in the water.  Over him Porcupine holds a reel and pole with another line in the water.  At the end of Bear's feet, Otter, wearing his fisherman's cap, holds the net.  On the back seat Squirrel sits, hands on either side of his face.  Just off the right side of the stern, Fish is poking its head above the water.  This picture complements the text splendidly.

Throughout all our lives, our friendships will always be tested.  In this book, We Love Fishing! written by Ariel Bernstein with illustrations by Marc Rosenthal, the art of compromise, amid grumbling, is displayed wonderfully, full of laughter and yes, love.  You will enjoy having this title as a part of your personal and professional collections.  It's sure to promote discussions after the giggling dies away.

To discover more about Ariel Bernstein and Marc Rosenthal and their other work, please access their websites by following the link attached to their names.  Ariel Bernstein has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Marc Rosenthal has accounts on Facebook and Instagram.  At the publisher's website you can view interior illustrations.

Sometimes as soon as you read a title aloud, bursts of laughter can be heard throughout the gathered listeners during a story time.  Certain words are overloaded with hilarity.  That hilarity, though, can vanish in a second if the word is used to diminish an individual's character or worth.

Don't Call Me Fuzzybutt! (Sleeping Bear Press, March 15, 2021) written by Robin Newman with illustrations by Susan Batori shows us how anger can escalate.  In that anger, civility is set aside.  Taking the high road seems out of reach.  The Golden Rule is forgotten.

Bear needed a lot of sleep.  Two hundred and

forty-three and a half days, to be precise.

Anything less and he turned grizzly.

In addition to needing the specified number of days for sleep, Bear could hear the softest noise.  He could hear the sound of one raindrop.  It woke him up.

He fashioned attire to block out noise.  Through signs, he notified his neighbors of his need for silent sleep.  And he cut down trees to make a soundproof door.  On his first hibernation day, he went blissfully to sleep until . . . 

PECK!

PECK!

PECK!

woke him up.

What Bear did not know was the trees he cut down were architectural wonders created by Woodpecker.  Woodpecker was dismayed to find all his homes were gone.  Rabbit, Mouse, and Squirrel had no clue as to the disappearance of said structures.

Woodpecker hung up flyers offering a reward.  He finally noted sections of his houses strewn in a path to Bear's new den door.  Using his signature work ethic, Woodpecker was taking back what was his.

With every peck, Bear's frustration grew.  He roared.  Outside his den, he asked a question horrifying Rabbit, Mouse, and Squirrel at the use of one word.  Woodpecker heard it and confronted Bear.  Bear stomped back inside and fell asleep.

Considering his ability to hear even the softest sound, Woodpecker unintentionally woke Bear again, this time with a different noise.  In a much longer encounter, tempers of both parties flared into a nasty blaze of name-calling.  Two wounded individuals called a truce and constructed a plan.  After two hundred and forty-three and a half days, spring was not the only renewal enjoyed by forest friends.

With her first three sentences, author Robin Newman opens the door for a problem to enter.  The slight tension increases when we learn of Bear's hearing abilities.  With the presentation of Woodpecker's dilemma, we understand a clash is coming.

Robin Newman uses the storytelling rule of three with skill.  The repetition of key phrases and application of alliteration provide a cadence welcoming reader participation.  The combination of descriptive dialogue and equally illuminating narrative achieve a flawless flow.  Here are two passages.

Before Bear could say "salmon and honey on toasted pumpernickel bread," he was asleep.

But lately his houses were disappearing.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY RUSTIC RANCH,

COZY COTTAGE, AND SOLAR-POWERED DUPLEX?"

Woodpecker went looking.

On the double-page image spread from the left to the right, back to front, on the matching dust jacket and book case, readers are given a view of Bear's den with the door built from Woodpecker's houses, the autumn forest with its golden glow, and the cast of characters.  Clearly Woodpecker and Bear are disgruntled.  Rabbit, Mouse, and Squirrel are skittish about what has happened and about what might happen next.  Illustrator Susan Batori first exhibits her inclusion of tiny details in the flight of the honeybee above the final title word and in the items on and near Bear's den.

The opening and closing endpapers are a crisp white.  Bear and Woodpecker, with angry glances and arms-crossed stances, are on the title page.  The other three creatures are looking at them, afraid.

To enhance and complement the pacing of the story Susan Batori employs a blend of full-page pictures crossing the gutter, smaller insets grouped together, full-page pictures, edge to edge, and dramatic double-page pictures.  Emotions are heightened with alternating perspectives.  We are brought close to characters or given a larger view of their forest setting, even from a bird's eye view.  

What is notable about these images are the facial features on the characters, specifically the eyes.  The wide-eyed looks convey a range of emotions.  Underlying the seriousness of what unfolds, there is a current of humor in the pictures and individual items.  Bear's nightshirt includes a pattern of honeybees.  On the flyer Woodpecker posts it reads:

WANTED

(pictures of houses)

REWARD

BUGS

One of my many favorite pictures is a single-page picture toward the end of the story.  It's a close-up of Bear all snuggled in bed, dreaming of a honeybee and its honeycomb.  He is wearing his knitted cap and earmuffs.  His teddy bear is under the covers with him as he sleeps.  Off to the left side is Woodpecker, wing to his beak, making the SHHH gesture.

Relevant and timely, Don't Call Me Fuzzybutt! written by Robin Newman with illustrations by Susan Batori will engage readers from beginning to end with the clever, rhythmic language and lively pictures.  This book is guaranteed to inspire discussions and group projects.  I hope you will all add a copy to your personal and professional collections.  

By following the link attached to Robin Newman's and Susan Batori's names, you can access their websites learning more about them and their other work.  Robin Newman has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Susan Batori has accounts on Behance, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  The cover reveal with an essay by Robin Newman is hosted at Nerdy Book Club.  At Books of Wonder on March 13, 2021, there is a virtual launch.  You can view some portions of interior illustrations in Susan Batori's Instagram feed.  Here is the link to a post on Robin Newman's Facebook page for a follow-up activity. 

 

Comedy Times Two

For those who have read a book aloud to one or more listeners and the response is laughter, there is truly little, if anything, better in life.  Once the laughter starts, it is contagious, spreading from person to person, until the entire room is enveloped in merriment.  Even after the story is complete, and each participant leaves, the shared happiness remains, tucked away to be remembered when it is needed the most.

At times, a single word can carry humor to fun-filled heights.  In Chick Chat (North|South, January 19, 2021) written and illustrated by Janie Bynum, a baby cannot stop talking during any waking moment of their day.  As you might expect, this talking is done through a single sound, repeated profusely. 

Baby Chick has a lot to say.

She peeps so much at the breakfast table; an older sister wishes the chit-chat would stop.  She's already exhausted from hearing the constant noise.  Mama and Papa are much too busy with their own tasks to listen.

Pulling a trusty red wagon loaded with prize possessions, Baby Chick tries one more time to lure Sister into a discussion.  Too busy reading, she tells Baby Chick to play.  The little chicken finds a likely spot to stop and starts digging with her trowel.  Suddenly,

Thunk!

Baby Chick finds an egg.  It's big.  It's round.  And it is silent.  Unable to leave the egg all by itself, it's loaded into the trusty red wagon.  Concerned, a sibling and parents convince and ask Baby Chick to return the egg.  Back at the hole in the dirt, she provides the egg with all the comforts of friendship, safety, warmth and conversation.

She falls asleep there and is taken home.  As the sun rises, the ever-talkative bundle of fluff hurries to the egg.  After a startling discover, a pleasant surprise awaits the gregarious Baby Chick.

With limited sentences, descriptive and declarative, author Janie Bynum introduces readers to a lovable character who resides in an equally affectionate family.  A pleasing blend of narrative and conversation add to the comedy.  Punctuation after the multitude of peeps furnishes readers with emphasis and meaning.  Here is a passage.

Peep.  Peep.  Peep?

"Not now.  I'm working,"

crowed Papa.  "Talk to Sister."

eRR-

eRR-

eRRRRR

On the open book case, a robin's egg blue is the canvas.  On either side of the spine the image shows Baby Chick pulling her trusty red wagon loaded with her treasures.  She pulls it with one wing.  In the other wing she holds her trowel.  On top of the watering can is a tiny beetle.  The line drawings here, and throughout the book, are detailed and colorful.  On the back, the left of the open book case, is text one might find on the front flap of a dust jacket.

A grass green hue covers the opening and closing endpapers.  On the first set are the tracks of Baby Chick.  On the second set another set of tracks accompany those of Baby Chick, referencing her newly hatched friend.

On the title page, the title text is placed within a speech balloon.  Beneath this, Baby Chick is leaning into a hole saying---

Peep?

The sizes of the illustrations vary from marvelous two-page pictures to full-page pictures or several visuals on a single page.  The alternating sizes contribute favorably to the wondrous pacing.  Readers will be charmed by all the tiny appropriate elements in each illustration.  Baby Chick is eating a bowl of worms for breakfast.  Her Mama wears an apron and Sister is wearing a tied scarf.  Later, Mom gathers beetles in a basket.  Sister is reading a book titled A Coop of One's Own.  

Careful readers will see that Baby Chick never wanders far from the coop.  You can see the coop from where Sister is reading against a tree.  The egg is found near the tree with Sister seen reading in the distance.  Readers will enjoy seeing how Baby Chick keeps the egg safe, warm, and company.

One of my many favorite illustrations, a full-page picture, is after the sun has set.  Sister finds Baby Chick with the egg.  The egg is wrapped in a blanket.  Baby Chick, covered with another blanket, is on top of the egg.  She is holding her purple stuffed toy elephant.  She is down in the hole with a grassy slope behind her.  There are two sheep there and Sister.  The other items Baby Chick has with her in the hole are enchanting.

Get ready for readers to peep, peep, and peep some more when listening to or after reading Chick Chat written and illustrated by Janie Bynum.  Cheerful is the word to use depicting this tale of friendship found.  All the peeps welcome participation by readers and listeners.  If you are looking for laughter, this book is for you, either on your personal or professional bookshelves.

To learn more about Janie Bynum and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  The book, Chick Chat, has its own site here.  There are interior illustrations found at the publisher's website and at Simon & Schuster.  The publisher has an interview with the creator here.  Jamie Bynum has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  The blog tour for this title starts at Good Reads with Ronna with links to the other stops.

CHICK CHAT the Picture Book (trailer) from Janie Bynum on Vimeo.

The patience of parents is tested more than once on road trips with children.  After endless games of I Spy, There's A Flag, 50-State License Plates, Bingo scavenger hunts, and boredom from coloring and puzzles sets in, the bickering begins.  Siblings who tolerate each other outside a car tend to become bitter rivals when confined to the back seat inside a car.  Squish Squash Squished (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, February 16, 2021) written by Rebecca Kraft Rector with illustrations by Dana Wulfekotte is hilarity multiplied.  Fantastic wordplay paired with whimsical images of animals and humans living together in a small community fashions a textured tale of you never know how good it is until it isn't.

"Hurry-scurry, kids," called Mom.

"Let's jiggety-jog into town in our

gracious-spacious automobile."

As soon as the sister and brother get inside the car, the pushing and shoving commence.  One leans into the other and vice versa.  Mom has a solution.  She invites a father, Peter Jeeter, and son, pigs, to join them. Brother and sister yell in unison about the more crowded backseat.

Mom replies with the same phrase,

"Too tight for two?

I know what to do."

She welcomes Dolly Waddle and two ducklings to join the passengers in their automobile.  Now the siblings are more squished and squashed.  

As the yelling from Max and Molly gets louder, Mom makes another stop.  Four more creatures enter the car.  There is more shouting, oinking, quacking and woofing.  Mom slows her automobile near the largest of animal friends they've yet to meet.  Their numbers are greater than any of the other guests.  Do Max and Molly keep yelling?  What do they do next?  

A school, pond, and the market supply answers.  Max and Molly have discovered a valuable truth about the definition of squish and squash.  Their perspective on the family car might have changed.

Rhyming, alliteration and repetition of key phrases are a wonderful, winning combination penned by author Rebecca Kraft Rector in this rollicking tale of complaints versus cleverness.  The use of dialogue and text is fabulous as is the rhythm they create.  With each new encounter of an animal family on the road, the laughter factor grows.  Here is a passage.

Two ducklings 

flit-feathered onto Molly's head,

quack-quacking,

and one piglet on Max's lap

oink-oinked right in his ear.

"Mom!" Max and Molly yelled.

"We're squished and squashed!"

You can't help but laugh out loud when you look at the matching dust jacket and book case.  The animal friends are having the ride of their collective lives.  Mom is calm and cool as the proverbial cucumber.  Max and Molly are not happy.  They look right at us in discomfort and frustration.  The facial expressions on the characters here by artist Dana Wulfekotte are priceless.  The hill you see going up on the right, front of the jacket and cover, continues on the other side of the spine.  Just left of the spine is a large tree, fully leafed.  Another darker hill with a barn at its top, extends from the middle of the first hill to the far-left side.  A pigeon wearing a hat stands on the ISBN with its suitcase.  Perhaps, it is a homing (carrier) pigeon.

On the opening and closing matching endpapers, done in two tones of teal with black outlines, we see each of the four animal families displaying a variety of activities and positions.  You can't look at these without smiling or giggling.  The double-page picture for the verso and title pages features a low rolling hill with the road along the bottom.  A giraffe in jogging gear is placed on the left.  On the right, Inch Pinch and her three backpack-wearing puppies are riding a bicycle built for four.  

In illustrations, 

rendered in pencil and then digitally colored, 

and shifting in size from double-page images to full-page pictures or single, double, or triple fine-lined-framed geometric shapes on a single page, each one generates superb pacing.  Readers will find more playfulness in the attire worn by the passengers and the objects they carry.  These elements seem to indicate the ultimate goal of each family as shown at the end of the story.  One of the funnier scenes is for Scooter Mooter and his calves.  The calves are wearing pink tutus.  One is also wearing glasses and reading a book.  The gathering of animals and people of mixed races and ages at the market is perfect.

One of my many favorite illustrations is one of three on a single page.  It is a rectangle-shaped picture.  It is a close-up of the faces of Molly and Max, open-mouthed and yelling.  Max has a missing tooth.  Dolly Waddle is to the left of Molly.  Her two ducklings are quacking on top of Molly's head.  The upper portion of their bodies break the frame.  To the right is Max with the piglet on his right.  At this moment, the piglet has paused its oinking and appears to be peeking around the corner of the border.

This book, Squish Squash Squished written by Rebecca Kraft Rector with illustrations by Dana Wulfekotte, is pure delight.  The cadence of the words and the comical visuals will have readers laughing and giggling long after the last word is read.  There will be requests of read it again.  I know you'll want a copy for your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Rebecca Kraft Rector and Dana Wulfekotte, and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites.  Rebecca Kraft Rector has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Dana Wulfekotte has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view the endpapers.  There are posts about this book and interviews at Kid Lit Village and Kathleen Temean's Writing and Illustrating.