Oh, Those Amazing Animals

Each new fact we add to our understanding of an animal, the better we grasp their place in the network of life on our planet.  Each animal, like each human, has an effect.  Many of them have been impacting our lives before we were born.  And they continue to do so.  

At a winter camp one year shared with students, we were listening to a lecture about horses.  We were close to a horse, closer than many of the gals and guys (including me) had ever been.  One piece of information has stayed with me for decades.  It has to do with horses' ears.  When asked for volunteers to ride, no one responded, so I did.  When you see people getting on and off horses and riding them in movies and videos and on television, it appears effortless.  Truthfully, getting on and off was fairly easy, but no one told us how high you would be off the ground. The distance from the saddle to terra firma seemed huge.  Horse Power: How Horses Changed The World (Abrams Books for Young Readers, April 27, 2021) written and illustrated by Jennifer Thermes will enthrall readers of all ages as we take a journey back in time to present day.  Along the way we learn about the power of horses and their impact.

About fifty-six million years ago, horses first appeared on earth.  The earliest-known ancestors

of the modern horse lived in North America.  The size of dogs, with toes on their feet, they 

nibbled tender leafy plants that grew from the warm, steamy earth.

Over long periods of time, the survivors evolved into larger animals with single hooves. Suddenly, eleven thousand years ago, they vanished.  Somehow, using a former land bridge that connected Asia to North America, they began to flourish once more.  How many thousands of years ago do you think it was when horses finally let humans ride them?  This was the beginning of immense transformation.

Horses provided a means to do everything faster and more efficiently.  Their physical characteristics, each one, are designed for the horse to survive in a variety of conditions.  Did you know a horse's height is measured four inches, a hand, at a time to their withers?  Around the globe different people from different cultures used different horses to suit their needs.  Unfortunately for horses, they were used in conquests and war.  Horses were returned to the lands of North and South America by the Spanish.

Did you know horses reside on every continent except for Antarctica?  As people moved, so did horses.  Horses across continents gave people the opportunity to continue communicating.  The Pony Express in the United States is only one example.  In time, even with advancing technologies, horses were still necessary.  Their necessity in turn created new jobs.

With the invention of the automobile, that necessity diminished.  Horses were replaced by cars and more cars and still more cars until now we humans have a global problem.  Horses shaped human history.  Today, there are herds roaming wild on six of the seven continents. 

When author Jennifer Thermes writes, readers take note.  Her meticulous research is found in each sentence we read.  She is building a world for us with her words.  In this book, she fuels, through facts, a story of horses which increases our admiration page turn by page turn.  Aside from the main narrative, she presents other information in her illustrations and in her sidebars.  Here is a passage and a sidebar.

City horses were trained to stay calm through the noise

and frenzy of a big metropolis.  Some wore blinders to shield

their eyes from sudden movements, since their natural instinct

is to run when frightened.  Without horses, human society

would have been brought to a halt.

Horses were the engines that powered everything.

One horse produces an

average of 35 pounds of

manure daily.  In 1900

more than 130,000 horses

lived in New York City,

which meant millions of 

pounds of fresh "road

apples" in the streets

every day!

A blue wash acts as a frame around a golden yellow wash on both the front and back of the open dust jacket.  The galloping horse on the front depicts horses' power when running free.  All the smaller vignettes around this creature represent how they made our lives better.  The tail on the horse on the front crosses over the spine to its completion on the back.  There praise for a previous book is placed over an image.  A farmer stands next to a large horse, resting one hand on its flank.  A cat looks up at the horse's face.

On the book case, a golden yellow canvas uplifts a spirit of freedom supplied with the image.  Left to right, back to front, a herd of horses races.  A range of color in their coats and breeds is shown to us.  Their beauty is staggering.

On the opening endpapers, on a white background, is a map of the world.  On the map are numbers corresponding to the thirty-three featured horse breeds.  Smaller images of the horses are placed around the map.  They are labeled with their name and country.  On the closing endpapers, hosting the publication information and the dedication, are horse portraits.  These portraits showcase how horses have been historically shown in artwork during ancient times. 

A double-page picture is presented on the title page.  On the left, so close you feel as though you could touch it, is a golden-brown horse.  Its gaze is toward rolling hills on the right.  A herd of horses runs upward as a parent and foal watch.  Is this the same herd running across the book case?  Perhaps. 

These illustrations by Jennifer Thermes were rendered

with pencil, watercolor, ink, and colored pencils on Saunders Waterford watercolor paper.

Their details are astounding.  Each is an exquisite portrayal and enhancement of the text.  There are many double-page pictures with smaller insets.  Some images are half-page and framed with fine black lines.  Other visuals span one and a half pages horizontally with fine black lines acting as borders.

One of my many favorite illustrations is a double-page visual.  It is a swirl of three separate but blended images.  Crossing the gutter from the right and moving across the top and side on the left portion is a steam-powered locomotive.  It gets larger as it gets closer to us.  The smoke from the engine stack moves along the top of the picture, enlarging on the right to hold the text.  Under the smoke is a scene of horses and horse-drawn vehicles moving to and from the train station.  Underneath this is a close-up of one particular family.  A couple embraces each other before the woman boards the train.  To the right of them and extending one and a third pages is a large, gray-dappled horse.  The train moves through a star-studded blue.  Golden yellow frames the other two portions of this marvelous whole.

You will want to have more than one copy of Horse Power: How Horses Changed The World written and illustrated by Jennifer Thermes in your professional collections.  People who already admire these majestic animals will read this over and over.  For others, this book will open their minds and supply them with a greater appreciation of horses.  At the close of the book is an extensive author's note, a list of select sources, and a two-page timeline.  This book is a treasure you will want to add to your personal bookshelves.

To learn more about Jennifer Thermes and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  Jennifer Thermes has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website is a video with Jennifer Thermes speaking about this book.

Living in the Midwest, the chance of seeing a parrot fly outside your window or through the woods on a walk are slim.  If one were to be seen, it would be downright strange.  These flying wonders, nevertheless, hold a fascination for many of us.  Their characteristics and behaviors as revealed in The Truth About Parrots (Seriously Funny Facts About Your Favorite Animals) (Roaring Brook Press, May 25, 2021) written and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III are truly remarkable.

These are parrots.

There are about 350 different parrot

species across the world.

Despite the differences perceived in parrots, they share similarities.  Their heads, beaks, and tongues, yes tongues, set them apart.  They have distinguishing feet, zygodactyl feet, with two toes in front and two toes in back.  The plumage on parrots is vivid.  Did you know parrots can see ultra-violet light?  

Parrot couples, mates, are often partners for life.  They express their care for each in loving actions.  Parrots in captivity can live more than fifty years.  In the wild, we are not as sure about their life spans for several reasons, but we do know about the kakapo found in New Zealand.  Can you imagine living more than one hundred years?  They are unfortunately endangered.

As varied as their colorful feathers, so too is the diet of parrots.  Some like nuts, others like nectar and pollen, and one prefers a fruit.  On rare occasions, one parrot has been known to be carnivorous.

To say parrots have the gift of gab is an understatement.  They are well known to be particularly gifted mimics.  Their cleverness does not end there.  They can communicate an understanding of other things using our language.  Speaking of language, it is thought by specialists some parrots make up their own words and definitions.

As with many animals, we humans continue to be the cause of much harm in the world of parrots.  We destroy their living spaces and take them from their homes as pets.  The more we know, the more we can protect them.

This eighth and final book in this outstanding series written by Maxwell Eaton III is equally as memorable as its predecessors.  The mix of facts and humor is engaging from beginning to end.  It starts on the jacket and book case, continues on the title pages and throughout the book.  Facts are presented in the main body of the narrative and in smaller insets on each one or two pages. (All the parrots are labeled with their names and where they live.)  The humor is found in the commentary and conversations in the speech balloons.  It is made by other parrots, other animals (even prehistoric), and a human child.  It is guaranteed you will burst out laughing at the hilarity and cleverness.  Here is a passage with commentary.  

One thing all parrots share is a keen

mind with vocal learning abilities.  Many

can copy sounds.  Most famously, human

speech.

I've noticed. (child)

I've noticed. (Eclectus parrot, New Guinea)

I've noticed. (a second parrot)

I've no itch. (a third parrot)

That's a relief. (a fourth parrot)

On the matching dust jacket and book case, illustrator Maxwell Eaton III begins his pictorial interpretation.  The leaves framing the right and left of the front indicate the climate in which most parrots reside.  The green spine acts as a branch.  The comment by the larger of the three parrots is a fitting introduction.  

To the left of the spine, on the back, two slim leafy tree branches extend from the spine.  On them perch two rows of small yellow parrots.  One on the top says:

I'm hearing

voices again.

The opening and closing endpapers are covered in the same hue of red as on the parrot highlighted on the front of the jacket and case.  On the initial title page two more of those parrots offer their opinions on the title.  Across the formal title page, a flock of those same birds flies from left to right from leafy branches.  The one in the lead exclaims:

We're colorful

characters!

These visuals by Maxwell Eaton III are highly animated.  They are defined by black lines and a full color palette.  There are double-page pictures, single-page pictures, partial-page pictures, and double-page pictures with framed insets as places for more images, commentary, and information.  Several of the funniest images involve the play of keas.  A duo appears in a double-page picture, a single-page picture two page turns later and at the end.  (So very clever, Mr. Eaton III.)  

One of my favorite illustrations is the left side of a double-page picture.  There two Salmon-crested cockatoos found in Southeast Asia are resting on a branch among treetops.  They are close together, a parrot pair.  The one bird is grooming the other bird.  The one being groomed says:

Thanks.

I can never

reach that

spot.

The Truth About Parrots (Seriously Funny Facts About Your Favorite Animals) written and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III is a book holding an array of fun-filled facts.  This author and illustrator has a knack for selecting the points most will find intriguing, and his commentary displays his ingenious wit.  At the close of the book, prior to the end page, are two pages of additional information.  Parrot nest sites are discussed, as is the eating of clay, eggs, and chicks.  Further research is suggested.  I highly recommend this title for both your professional and personal collections.  

To learn more about Maxwell Eaton III and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  Maxwell Eaton III has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.

There are places on this planet many of us will never visit or reside.  It is with gratitude we can thank those writers and illustrators of nonfiction for taking us to those spaces.  On the continent of South America in the country of Peru, there is a national park.  This park, Manu, is home to one of the most diverse populations of monkeys.  In Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme (Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division, July 6, 2021) written by Melissa Stewart with illustrations by Steve Jenkins, we travel to the Manu National Park, learning of fourteen very different monkeys who reside in this shared community.

Fourteen monkeys share Manu,

a warm, lush forest in Peru.

Most tropical rain forests are home to just a few kinds of 

monkeys.  But 14 species live in Manu National Park, in

Peru.  How can they all survive together in one place?

They may shout out a good morning call from the tops of trees, but red howler monkeys are known for sometimes sleeping eighteen hours a day.  Spider monkeys in Peru use their physical traits, long legs and feet designed for securely grasping, to move quickly.  You won't believe what they play in their spare time.  Gray's bald-faced saki would give Olympians a contest when it comes to leaping.  The distance is impressive and mind-boggling.

Two kinds of capuchins share the distinguishing curled tail, but they hunt in particular parts of the rain forest for specific types of food.  Pygmy marmosets build relationships by grooming each other when they take a break from eating.  Amiable in nature, one specie moves carefully from place to place using their tails.  Their greetings are affectionate.

You will never guess what feast is the most pleasing to the Goeldi's monkeys after the rainy season.  Wow!  Black-capped squirrel monkeys have twenty-six unique calls to speak to each other.  Two tamarin types, like the capuchins, frequent different heights in the rain forest.  One acts as a sentry.

In the dark of night, one specie moves to feed.  When the moon is full, they race, hoot, and meet mates.  The dusky titis are known for literally sticking together, especially at night.  They twine their long, thick tails together.  From the top of the trees to the bottom of the rain forest floor, these fourteen monkeys show the world how differences can be an advantage.

Known for her painstaking research, author Melissa Stewart delivers her results in three distinct manners for readers.  Each of the fourteen monkeys are tied together with single sentence rhyming couplets.  These act as introductions and combined as an informative poem.  Coupled with each sentence are paragraphs offering further items of interest.  At the close of the book fourteen groups of facts are presented, one for each monkey.  These include the common name, the scientific name, group size, diet, predators, young, lifespan, and a field note.  Here is a passage.

Way up in the leafy crown,

woollys dangle upside down.

Grey woolly monkeys move through the treetops

at a slow, steady pace.  To cross gaps, they hang

by their tails and gently lower themselves to the

next branch.  They also swing by their tails to

reach tasty fruit.  . . .

Even without his name on the dust jacket and book case, the artwork of Steve Jenkins is evident.  His 

cut-and torn-paper collages

are extraordinary in their representations.  On the front of the jacket and case is a Goeldi monkey ready to consume fungi.  The crisp white canvas, used in most of his images, highlights the varied green hues of the rain forest, the fur on the monkey and the startling shade of the food.

To the left, on the back, of the jacket and case is a green silhouette of rain forest trees and shrubs.  Placed in the branches of the trees are the fourteen monkeys.  Fourteen circles, outlined in red, hold their portraits.

A rich spring green covers the opening and closing endpapers.  A single monkey crouches between the text on the title page.  With a page turn, deep green shades fill tree outlines on the left and white text offers a welcome on a dark green background on the right.

Each monkey is given a double-page picture with the exception of the capuchins and tamarins.  The monkeys are placed in their most-frequented settings.  They are shown in a mixture of perspectives.  For each one an iconic, smaller image of a rain forest in a darker color is placed within the larger visual.  A circle on this element shows the level of residence of that showcased monkey.  Some prefer the tops of the rain forest, others in the middle, and a few are closer to the ground.  For each of the monkeys, you will be astounded at the extent of the details.

One of my many favorite illustrations is for the marmosets.  On the left amid greenery a sturdy tree trunk rises.  Clinging on the right side, ready to seek food, is a marmoset.  On the right, after hours of eating, two marmosets are cuddled together for a nap.  One already is sleeping.  The other looks at the reader.

Reading this book is like taking a trip to the Manu National Park in Peru.  Through the words of Melissa Stewart and the artwork of Steve Jenkins, Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme takes us on an adventure to remember.  At the close of the book is a two-page vertical picture of rain forest trees with the monkey silhouettes placed where they reside.  They are numbered and named as are the layers of the rain forest.  Then, there is an extra column of narrative preceding the factual entries for each monkey.  Along the bottom of pages two and three of these factual entries are the monkey sizes shown to scale compared to a human.  I highly recommend this title for both your personal and professional collections.

To discover more about Melissa Stewart and Steve Jenkins and their other work, please visit their respective websites by following the link attached to their names.  Melissa Stewart has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view interior illustrations.  At Andrew Hacket's website and at Reading Rockets, Melissa Stewart speaks about this book.  Here is a link to an extensive study guide.

Giants In Size And Heart

On our planet, there is no larger land mammal.  It is said their ears are shaped like the continent on which they reside.  With their many-muscled (tens of thousands) trunks, they can lift hundreds of pounds.  Their leader is usually the oldest female; generations of knowledge passed from elder to elder in herds together for lifetimes.  Their ability to communicate with miles separating them is astounding.  Elephants, African elephants, are remarkable individuals.

One of their single greatest foes is humans.  One of their fiercest protectors is other humans.  The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship (Chronicle Books, May 18, 2021) written by Kim Tomsic with illustrations by Hadley Hooper is a tale of the interconnectedness of all living beings on our planet.  It spotlights remembered kindness and deep affection.

This is Lawrence.

He loves animals.

This is Francoise.

She loves Lawrence.

This is Max.

Together the trio live at Thula Thula.  There they have 

a farmhouse, a garden, a swimming pool, and 11,000 acres of African bush, savanna, and forest.

The fenced-in area creates a refuge to an assortment of African animals. Hunting is strictly forbidden providing a peaceful existence for the inhabitants.  Lawrence, Francoise, and Max dwell in consideration for all species residing there.

One day, a telephone call changes and challenges the way of life for Lawrence, Francoise, and Max.  A woman asks Lawrence to house seven unhappy elephants at Thula Thula.  If they cannot find sanctuary there, they will be shot.  Lawrence loves animals.  He replies in the affirmative.  A boma with fencing is fashioned for them until they get acclimated.

After their arrival by trailer to Thula Thula, some observers believe the elephants are trouble.  Lawrence believes they are nervous.  That first night, they destroy the fencing and escape.  Again, others believe they are trouble, even after they head to their new home.  Lawrence disagrees.  He promises their leader, Nana, he will stay with them day and night until they feel comfortable.  And he does.  He sings to them.  He tells them stories.  The elephants shift their sadness into happiness.

Surprisingly enough, Nana reaches through the fence one day and touches Lawrence's stomach with her trunk.  A bond is forged.  The elephants are released into the whole of Thula Thula, and Lawrence and Max go back to the farmhouse.  The seven visit the farmhouse, the garden, the swimming pool, and astonishingly enough greet Lawrence when he returns home from trips.  How do they know?

Years pass.  The rhythms at Thula Thula are wonderfully similar.  The elephants tend to now roam on the far edges of Thula Thula.  Some years they visit.  One day an overwhelming sadness descends on Francoise and Max.  Lawrence is gone forever.  The elephants know.  Their response to this knowing is an expression of great love.  

As you read the words written by Kim Tomsic, your world fades away.  You are in Africa.  You are at Thula Thula with Lawrence, Francoise, Max and the elephants.

With introductory, explanatory sentences we meet the people and animals living at Thula Thula.  This cadence established with specific words is repeated after the central portion of the story, the arrival of the elephants and their deepening relationship with Lawrence, Francoise, and Max.  This "bookending" gives readers a true sense of the elephants' acceptance of Thula Thula as their home. It also serves to widen the definition of home as not only a place but as people.  Readers are drawn more completely into the narrative by distinct details and dialogue.  Here is a passage.

Soon the elephants' cranky

behavior changes to

ear flopping, head

waggling, and trumpeting.

"What does it mean?"

Francoise asks.

"They're HAPPY," Lawrence says.

The scene on the open and matching dust jacket and book case, not only allows us to meet Lawrence and the elephants, but we are given a preview of the marvelous artwork and color palette used throughout this book.  In many of the illustrations, the hues of red and orange indicate the African habitats and climate.  On the front Lawrence is walking and chatting with Nana.  Across and left of the spine the landscape continues.  The additional six elephants are featured walking behind and along with Lawrence and Nana.

In lush shades of orange and red with details etched in black, the opening and closing endpapers present two different scenes along a river.  The trees and birds on the shore are reflected in the water like a watercolor wash.  In both sets of endpapers, another single bird appears in the water.  

These illustrations by Hadley Hooper were rendered 

using watercolor, ink, printmaking, and then finished in Photoshop.

There are dramatic double-page pictures, panoramic and bird's eye points of view, full-page images bringing us closer to the activities, horizontal panels of three on two pages, mixed panel sizes to depict things happening at the same time, and a group of three on one page to portray multiple circumstances.  Readers will pause at every page turn to enjoy all the details.  

Color choices throughout this book denote time of day and emotional moods of the story.  The dark greens and black inside the trailer with the elephants convey their curiosity and unease.  The gray, brown, black, and white used in the scene where the elephants break out of the boma fence at night is full of outrage and freedom.  More of the red and orange warmth comes into the pictures along with natural tones as the elephants decide Thula Thula is home.

One of my many, many favorite pictures is a single-page image.  It is for the words above noted.  It is a single setting but divided by what Lawrence is doing on the top half and what the elephants are doing on the bottom half.  It is night.  A crescent moon hangs in the upper right-hand corner above a tree-filled landscape.  A night bird sits on a branch on the left-side.  Under the light of a lantern, seated on a rock, Lawrence reads aloud from a book.  The elephants rest in a group, a few raise their trunks in happiness, and others snack.

As the words and artwork are given to readers, page by page, each one finds themselves entirely absorbed by this tale of wondrous creatures.  The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship written by Kim Tomsic with illustrations by Hadley Hooper will find a permanent place in your hearts.  You can pair this title with Elephants Walk Together, How To Be An Elephant, The Elephant, If Elephants Disappeared and She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch for a fantastic story time or themed unit.  I highly recommend this book for your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Kim Tomsic and Hadley Hooper and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites.  There are interior images from this book at Hadley Hooper's site.  Kim Tomsic has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  Hadley Hooper has accounts on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  Here is the link to the publisher's website.

Teaming Toward Triumph

As a human fortunate to have shared her life with four canine companions, it is without reservation I declare they save lives.  When my beloved Xena passed away on November 30, 2015, she took a part of my heart but left behind a larger portion filled with unconditional love and loyalty which humbled me.  Today another dog, a wild child of one year and six months, is softly snoring at my feet as I write.

Almost five years ago on April 15, 2013 during the Boston Marathon a bombing injured more than two hundred people and three individuals lost their lives.  No one is the same after an event like this.  It scars you on the inside and for those more than two hundred people; it scars you on the outside.  Authors Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes were injured.  Jessica is a double amputee and Patrick is an amputee.  Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship (Candlewick Press, April 3, 2018) with illustrations by Scott Magoon is the story of a girl named Jessica, a younger version of adult Jessica Kensky based upon her truths.  It speaks of the unbreakable bond formed with a service dog named Rescue.

On a special farm in the countryside, a pup named Rescue was in training.  He was learning to help people who could not see.  But he was worried.

This pup was worried because he had been told he was better suited to be a service dog.

"Service dogs work beside their partners, instead of in front of them."

Rescue wanted to be the best he could be.

A girl in a nearby hospital was also worried.  She had lost one leg and was in danger of losing her right leg.  How was she going to be the best she could be?

On the farm Rescue trained and worked hard.  At the hospital Jessica was adjusting to life with a prosthetic leg.  Although they both made huge gains, Rescue and Jessica were still uncertain about their future.  All this changed on the day they met.

They taught each other what they had learned on the farm.  Back in the city, they were a team with Rescue providing assistance and Jessica making sure Rescue got to be a dog.  One night Jessica was not at home but she was back in the hospital.  Rescue never left her side as she slept.  Now Jessica needed to adjust to life with two prosthetic legs.

Every step of the way Rescue served Jessica as she invented a new normal.  They were inseparable (and still are). Dogs are sent here to deliver happiness.  Jessica knows this to be true.  So does Rescue.


An appealing technique used by authors Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes is to tell the story of Rescue and Jessica separately for the first portion of the book.  This allows readers to develop a strong relationship with both Rescue and Jessica.  We feel a deep kinship with each of them.  As their individual narratives unfold, we begin to secretly cheer for them to form a partnership.  When this happens we know these two beings will bond for life.

Using a blend of narrative and dialogue makes this story more realistic.  Also key phrases are repeated when speaking of Rescue and Jessica prior to them meeting. The number of sentences and paragraphs used create a natural storytelling rhythm from page turn to page turn.  Here is a passage.

Rescue was proud of all he had accomplished,
but he still worried.

He was named in honor of a brave firefighter.

He had big shoes to fill.

Rescue wanted to help people, just like his
namesake. 


Using a pale background with familiar images of the Boston cityscape, illustrator Scott Magoon is able to highlight Rescue and Jessica using bolder colors with pops of red in them and in the title text.  It's clear to see them as a team with their eye contact and heads tilted toward each other.  This image is certain to generate discussion even before the story is read.  Children are curious, having a need to know.

To the left, on the back, Rescue is featured in his dog house.  A tennis ball rests between his paws.  Leaning against the house are a pair of crutches.  (I am working with an F & G from the publisher.)  On the title page Rescue as a pup is trotting toward the reader beneath the text.

Rendered digitally each image is textured, timely, animated and brimming with emotion capturing the moods of Rescue and Jessica.  Rescue is so perfectly portrayed you expect him to leap into your lap for a snuggle.  Jessica in and out of the hospital is featured exactly as you would expect anyone to be in her situation.  Her facial expressions denote worry, uncertainty, happiness and victory.  (According to an illustrator's note the brother of young Jessica shown in most of the pictures is based upon Patrick Downes.)

The image sizes and perspectives vary in sync with the rhythm of the narrative.  Some of them cover more than a page and others are much smaller and grouped on a single page.  Readers will pause on pages to notice the details such as the inclusion of a particular constellation in the surrounding dark in the hospital room after Jessica's right leg was removed.

One of my many favorite illustrations is when Rescue is still on the farm in training.  It spans a single page.  Set in a meadow with a forest behind it is a house for ducks.  Heading up the ramp is a mother duck followed by five ducklings.  On the outside of the house a sign reads:

FRESH EGGS TODAY

Rescue's trainer is leaning against the left side of the home.  Rescue is pulling a rope to open the door of the house for the ducks.  He is wearing his blue training cape, collar and muzzle.


No reader will remain unmoved after reading Rescue & Jessica:  A Life-Changing Friendship written by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes with illustrations by Scott Magoon.  Your admiration for the skills acquired by both the dog and his human (and Patrick) will grow page by page.  In the face of seemingly unsurmountable odds these two prevail like the champions they are.  This book will indeed serve to inform readers about persons with disabilities and their service dogs.  I highly recommend this title for both your professional and personal collections.  At the close of the book is an author's note and acknowledgments.

To learn more about Jessica Kensky, Patrick Downes and Rescue follow @rescueboston on Twitter.  They are also on Instagram.  Please follow the link attached to Scott Magoon's name to access his website.  Scott highlights this title on more than one page at his site.  He is also running in the 2018 Boston Marathon to raise money for Rescue's Racers.  At the publisher's website you can view an interior image.  Candlewick Press also has a teacher's guide and nine pages of questions and answers with Jessica Kensky, Patrick Downes and Scott Magoon which are a must read.  At another publisher's website, Penguin Random House, you can view additional pictures.  At Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher's site, Watch. Connect. Read., you will enjoy the discussion with Scott Magoon.  Also there are three videos you need to watch.  They will further endear you to this title. 

UPDATE:  Please read this article in the Boston Globe on March 30, 2018.

Flourishing Friendships Forever

Once you've shared your life with a dog, you can't imagine spending the rest of your days without canine companionship.  Their presence adds a sensory quality to every experience.  You find yourself looking at this world with a fresh and better perspective.  You learn to live in the moment.

This relationship, unlike any other you have, is never long enough.  Each dog in your life grows the capacity in your heart for love.  Made for Each Other: Why Dogs and People Are Perfect Partners (Crown Books For Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, January 23, 2018) written by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent with photographs by William Munoz chronicles the beginning and evolution of this exceptional bond.

Dogs and people, people and dogs---we've been buddies for thousands and thousands of years. 

In the first of three parts scientific discoveries and studies reveal dogs and wolves might have gone their separate ways as many as 27,000 years past.  This association may have started because humans offered easier access to food through garbage or perhaps communities realized wolves howled warnings when predators were near.  It is believed wolves and people may have hunted together. 

Wolves, and ultimately dogs, needed to relinquish certain habits and characteristics to reside with humans but they also retained other instincts.  Today specific dogs have specific specialties.  They will safekeep their pack, herd, hunt and retrieve. 

In the second section the affection we hold for dogs and they for us is explored.  Working with dogs and MRI machines, a doctor was able to prove a particular portion of their minds and our minds respond with happiness and love when given certain stimuli. (For dogs it's food and human family members.)  Petting dogs benefits them and us in powerful ways.  Their interpretation of human faces and our interpretation of barks and tail wagging make communication possible. 

Our time spent with dogs is constantly changing as we learn more about them.  There are doggy day care centers and day spas.  Dogs provide therapy for special needs and humans assist dogs with impairments.  Dogs and people play together, work together and love together in greater numbers than ever before in history.


Meticulous research is evident in the information provided by award-winning author Dorothy Hinshaw Patent.  She places facts within the twenty separate but combined conversations in the three parts.  Each is linked to the other in a comprehensible flow.  Here is a passage.

The Loving Touch
Doesn't it feel good to pet a dog, especially one with soft, silky fur?
Well, you're not the only one who feels good---so does the dog!
Petting a dog increases helpful hormones in both your blood and the
dog's, including oxytocin, which helps you feel relaxed, lowers your
blood pressure, and slows your heart rate.  


The front and the back of the dust jacket (I'm working with an F & G) supply readers with two portraits of dogs and younger people captivated by the company of each other.  To the left, on the back a boy dressed in a super hero costume is hugging his pooch pal who happens to be wearing a red cape.  They're both grinning.

The opening and closing endpapers are an extreme close-up of a dog's nose, whiskers and closed mouth.  Out of focus but still visible on either side are the eyes.  This is a nod to the superior senses of our canine friends.

Throughout this title the photographs of William Munoz showcase the closeness between humans and dogs and the qualities of wolves and dogs.  The images are grouped in collages, on single pages, placed as insets on single pages or span two pages.  There are comparative charts with photographs.  These photographs are fully animated, full of realism, humor and affection thereby enhancing the text. 

One of my many favorite pictures is beneath the title page for Part Two: The Science of Love.  Light is shining behind a woman holding her dog as if it is sunrise or sunset.  They are facing each other.  Both of their heads are thrown back and they are laughing.  It's a memorable moment beautifully captured by William Munoz.


Consistently one of the most popular collections is the one filled with books about dogs.  Made for Each Other: Why Dogs and People Are Perfect Partners written by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent with photographs by William Munoz will be a welcome and well-read addition to this portion of professional libraries and for personal collections at home.  A contents page, source notes for each part, additional sources (books and interviews with scientists) and an index complete this sixty-one page volume.

To discover more about Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and her other considerable body of work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  William Munoz maintains a Facebook account highlighting his work.  At the publisher's website you can view the first twelve pages including the wonderful endpapers.


Please visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by Alyson Beecher to view the titles selected this week by other bloggers participating in the 2018 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Trained To Travel

The first time you saw the puppy, you knew your life would change in more ways than you ever would have thought possible regardless of how many dogs have been in your life.  The energy, the looks, the intense pauses to listen, and the nose constantly in the air or to the ground sensing messages in each experience are new every single time.  Puppies and adult dogs have personalities as varied as humans, but one thing is certain, their love is unconditional and unbreakable.

By their very nature canines bring certain attributes into a relationship.  Their heightened senses, especially their hearing and smelling, are invaluable.  When dogs have been trained in addition to their already remarkable characteristics, the attachment they form with their human is close to miraculous.  Readers first met an extraordinary Golden retriever in Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond between a Soldier and His Service Dog (Roaring Brook Press, May 27, 2014).  Authors Luis Carlos Montalvan, former Captain USA and Bret Witter and photographer Dan Dion collaborate again to give readers Tuesday Takes Me There: The Healing Journey of a Veteran and his Service Dog (Post Hill Press, June 14, 2016). 

This morning, like every morning, my friend Luis wakes up to this.

This is an up-close and personal look at the face of Tuesday, Luis's Golden retriever service dog.  Tuesday tells us of Luis's condition, PTSD, a result of his military service in the Iraq War.  They are leaving the home of another veteran, a friend in New York City.  It's important for Luis to be near friends because strange places and crowds are still hard for him.

Today Tuesday and Luis have a special appointment to keep.  To arrive on time, they will travel on land, over water and in the air.  Their first stop is a ferry, a boat which crosses between Staten Island and Manhattan.  During their ride many different kinds of vessels come into view as well as one very important Lady.  

Once they reach Manhattan they travel on a bus.  It's a bit too slow for Tuesday.  Now walking in the city they see sights from the ground level.  Then it's up, up and away, seeing the same things from the sky.  As the day progresses they whiz along on the subway and enjoy a carriage ride courtesy of Bruno, a well-loved horse.  

Ever vigilant Tuesday leads Luis through crowds with his leash and down stairs with a special harness.  Finally they board a train which takes them to a completely new place, Washington, D. C.  They meet an elected official at the Capitol building and take a rest while gazing at the world's tallest obelisk.  They have still not reached their destination.

More sights seen, more walking and another ride by double decker bus bring them closer.  A red convertible, a covered bridge, a field of flowers and a cool clear stream are parts of their continuing journey.  When Tuesday and Luis reveal their trip's purpose to readers, smiles signal mission accomplished.

In the first sentence Luis Carlos Montalvan and Bret Witter acquaint readers with the closeness between Luis and Tuesday.  In a narrative geared for younger readers in Tuesday's voice we understand how Tuesday works for Luis and the dog's incredible focus in a large city.  We learn how people can move from New York City to Washington D.C. to a community in Maryland by describing more than ten types of transportation.  Short captions tell us about points of interest in all three places; Staten Island, the Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower, Union Station and Loys Station Covered Bridge to name some of them.  Here is a sample passage.

We find our seat on the Amtrak train.  Luis makes a comfy place for me.  I did a good job taking care of him, so he takes care of me.  It's his way of showing he loves me.

I put my paw on his foot to tell him I love him too.

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?

We're here!  But, where is here?

The illustrations in this title, photographs by Dan Dion, take readers right into the action.  On the matching dust jacket and book case Tuesday's dedication and willingness to lead Luis is captured perfectly.  To the left, on the back, an image from the interior shows Luis and Tuesday resting on steps in Washington, D. C. overlooking the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument.  The rich red from the title text is used as the color on the opening and closing endpapers.  On the title page, Luis in full uniform with his medals is seated next to Tuesday who is holding Luis's cane in his mouth.  It's a portrait of love.

Each illustration closely follows the journey of Luis and Tuesday.  The size and perspective varies throughout the book.  Some of the shots are from behind them with a panoramic view of a place, others are close to the two as they ride or walk and sometimes only Tuesday is shown in a particular setting.  The clarity, composition and lighting of the visuals are outstanding.  Dion conveys every mood and moment beautifully.  

One of my favorite pictures is of Tuesday and Luis seated in the helicopter.  Luis, wearing a headset, is looking out the window at the harbor and the Statue of Liberty below them.  Tuesday, wearing his Service K-9 harness, is looking at Luis.  

Tuesday Takes Me There:  The Healing Journey of a Veteran and his Service Dog written by Luis Carlos Montalvan, former Captain USA, with Bret Witter and photographs by Dan Dion provides an intimate look for readers of the work done by a service dog and the connection formed with their human.  This book also gives us a glimpse at two large cities, transportation within these cities and to and from them as well as places of interest.  Closing with a poem and the dedication makes this title a fine, fine choice for the classrooms and libraries.  

To learn more about Luis Carlos Montalvan, Bret Witter and Dan Dion and their other work please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  There is a website dedicated solely to Tuesday Takes Me There:  The Healing Journey of a Veteran and his Service Dog.  At a publisher's website you can view interior images and read more of the narrative. 

Please take a moment to visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to see the other titles chosen by bloggers participating in the 2016 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Positive Power Of A Pal

With storms like Juno and Linus dropping record amounts of snow in the Midwest, East and Northeast this winter and temperatures dipping daily into the negative numbers without the wind chill, words like cozy, cuddle and snuggle are being freely exchanged in conversations.  Personally I can think of no better companion for comfort in these cold winter months than a furry friend.  Thankful for being chosen by my chocolate Labrador Xena especially with her body temperature of over one hundred degrees and her rhythmic breathing when curled up next to me gives me the courage to say, "Bring it on winter.  We are good to go here in northern Michigan."

The value of dogs in our society as companions, for search and rescue, as modes of delivery and transportation and for use in therapy continues to grow.  We learn far more from them than they do from us.  Regardless, as we seek the perfect pal, over and over again they single us out as their forever friend.  In 2013 a family sought a puppy for their home.  One decided their son was the human for him.  Naptime for Theo & Beau (Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan, February 3, 2015) written and illustrated by Jessica Shyba will spread a warmth throughout your body and soul from the top of your head to the tips of your toes.

Beau is sleepy.
Theo is sleepy.

When Beau, the little boy, and Theo, the little pup, start to get dozy, it's clear their internal clocks are saying it's naptime.  No more playing, romping or running.  It's time to sleep and sleep deeply.

Will their dreams be filled with fun?  I'll bet there is lots of laughing and barking.  Which position is the most satisfying?  As long as they are together it does not matter whether they are on their backs or bellies.

Skin to skin they breath out and in.  Their bodies aligned bind them.  One becomes the pillow for the other.

Total trust allows for this kind of companionable slumber; boy and pup moving in sync as they shift in sleep.  Nose to nose, hand to fur, and paw to body, nothing can separate these two.  This calm and quiet, between a boy and a dog, is measured in love.


Simple phrases, no more than four words each, define the experience shared by Theo and Beau.  Jessica Shyba frames her ideas so the youngest of readers can match the text with the illustrations.  A comparison, a naming of opposites, creates a peaceful pulse, like two heartbeats, page by page.  She brings the narrative full circle beginning with the introduction of Beau and Theo and concluding with words of love not spoken but seen.  Here are two short phrases.

Sleeping right-side up.
Or upside down.


In an article written for Huffington Post, How Theo And Beau's Naptime Love Story Changed Our Lives, Jessica Shyba explains how the first photograph of Theo and Beau was sent to her husband in a text message and then posted to Instagram.  This image and others quickly went viral. The picture seen on the cover, the close-up of Theo and Beau, is reversed on the back of the dust jacket showing them on their side and stomach respectively, farther away from the reader. (I am working from an F & G sent to me by friend, school librarian extraordinaire John Schumacher and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read.)  The opening and closing endpapers are a series of snapshots of Beau and Theo sleeping, framed in various colors overlapping one another.  The title page illustration extends across the gutter to the left.  The boy and his pup are sleeping on their backs as close together as they can get.

All of the photographs span across both pages, most of them zooming in on the faces of the dozing duo.  I know from experience how many pictures of sleeping people or dogs need to be taken to capture what Jessica Shyba presents to her readers.  She skillfully conveys the bliss of rest between two treasured friends.  The play of light and shadow, the variety of positions between the boy and the dog and the expressions on their faces are beautiful. Several times the looks are nearly identical.  I wonder if they were sharing a dream.

Picking a favorite image from this title is next to impossible for me.  The picture for the words

Cheek to cheek

is so sweet you feel as though you could melt from the sheer cuteness.  Beau is lying on his back, arms stretched out to his sides.  Theo's head is resting on Beau's cheek with his little puppy body stretched out perpendicular.  His one ear is flopped out on top of Beau's T-shirt.  Shyba chose to bring us close to the two.


I can already hear the sighs, ohs and ahs as this title is read to guys and gals no matter their age.  Naptime with Theo & Beau written and illustrated by Jessica Shyba is one of those books taking readers to an everyday pleasure in life which often gets overlooked but is meaningful.  It's hard to top the true grace of a sleeping child with their puppy friend.  I would plan on multiple copies of this little gem.  You could pair this title with SnoozeFEST by Samantha Berger with illustrations by Kristyna Litten,  Goodnight Songs by Margaret Wise Brown, or All The Awake Animals Are Almost Asleep by Crescent Dragonwagon with illustrations by David McPhail.

To learn more about Jessica Shyba please follow the link to her website, Momma's Gone City, attached to her name.  This link takes you to her Tumblr site to view additional images.  This link is to the publisher's website.  Eight portions of eight illustrations are shared. Enjoy the book trailer.

Lessons From A Gorilla #2---The True Story

On January 28, 2013 I, like many others around the world, was unable to attend the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting And Exhibits in Seattle, Washington. I was however sitting in front of a computer screen listening intently to every single word during the Youth Media Awards ceremony. For the first time in my life when the winner of the John Newbery Award was announced I burst into tears.





Katherine Applegate's book The One and Only Ivan (Harper Collins, January 17, 2012) (my review) is one of those books you will always remember reading for the first time.  You will read it more than once.  You will probably also listen to the audio book.  I knew I needed to share it with as many of my students as possible.  When Ivan passed away I wrote a post, Ivan, Katherine Applegate and Mr. Schu, talking about the impact of reading this aloud to our entire fourth grade student population.  Attending the American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition Banquet to hear Katherine Applegate give her acceptance speech was definitely a lifetime highlight for me.



On October 7, 2014 Katherine Applegate continued the story of Ivan with the release of a new picture book.  Ivan The Remarkable True Story Of The Shopping Mall Gorilla (Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) with illustrations by G. Brian Karas.  It is a worthy companion making Ivan's story accessible for a larger audience including younger readers.

In leafy calm,
in gentle arms,
a gorilla's life began.

When Ivan's story began he had no name.  He was part of group, a family, of gorillas living their lives in central Africa among the trees of a tropical forest.  As a young gorilla he played with and watched and learned from the other members, sometimes riding on his mother's back.

Before he was old enough to know fear of humans, he and another young female were captured by poachers. They were placed in a crate and taken to Tacoma, Washington.  They had been purchased like things by a man who owned a shopping mall.

At first due to their size they were treated like human babies and children, even given names after a contest was held.  The young Burma did not survive for very long.  Alone and growing larger Ivan was placed in an enclosure at the mall.

His singular life was not that of a normal male gorilla, a mighty silverback.  Within the confines of his cage he sometimes watched TV, played with a tire and finger-painted pictures using his thumbprint as a signature.   After many, many years of this existence people, children in particular, began to protest against his treatment.

After twenty-seven years in this environment in Tacoma, Washington, Ivan was placed in Zoo Atlanta, Georgia.  Under the care of professionals he became accustomed to his new home until the wonderful day he got to see grass and sky and be present in the company of other gorillas.  How fitting that Katherine Applegate dedicates the book

For everyone who loved Ivan

I believe the love for Ivan will continue to grow as others learn his story through this book.


With the same adept use of words found in her Newbery title, Katherine Applegate brings the facts of Ivan's life to light.  Each sentence, simple enough for her audience to understand, evokes understanding and compassion.  Older readers will notice the authenticity of her research.  Here is a sample passage.

Ivan was about thirteen
when his coat began to shimmer
with silvery-white hairs.
He'd grown into a silverback gorilla.
In the jungle,
he would have been ready 
to protect his family.

But he had no family
to protect.


Through multiple character sketches, viewing videos and spending a day watching gorillas in a zoo habitat, G. Brian Karas is able to open this book with the close-up of a baby gorilla being held in the arms of a caring adult as seen on the matching dust jacket and book case.  Sky blue opening and closing endpapers compliment his scenes from the African jungle and to me signify freedom lost and freedom found.  His artwork of the tropical forest continues, framing the title page, verso and dedication page.

Karas alters his background colors, cream, white and taupe, to assist in creating an atmosphere.  His illustrations vary in size to heighten the emotion behind the truth of the text.  A full realistic color palette enhances his artistic style, his use of lines and shading, to create a wonderful visual memory for readers.

Two of my favorite illustrations are very moving.  Both cover two pages edge to edge.  The first shows the tiny baby gorillas inside the crate, the darkness surrounding them, as the journey is made from Africa to the United States.  The other is of Ivan at Zoo Atlanta on the day he first steps outside into his new home.  He is seated his silverback to us, looking over his shoulder.  The contrast between these pictures is evident; showing two sides of humanity.  I'll take the one signifying hope.

Ivan The Remarkable True Story Of The Shopping Mall Gorilla written by Katherine Applegate with illustrations by G. Brian Karas is not only a must read but a must own.  The care taken by these two gifted creators in the field of children's literature is obvious on every single page.  Photographs of Ivan are included on the back of the jacket and cover, at the end of the story and as part of the pages dedicated to the author's note.  The final page is four paragraphs from Ivan's keeper, Jodi Carrigan, at Zoo Atlanta speaking about their relationship and the importance of Ivan's life.

Please follow the multiple links in this post to gather more information about both of the Ivan books, the author and the illustrator.  Of particular importance is the blog post written by G. Brian Karas.  It speaks about his process in creating the illustrations for this book.

I am happy to participate in Alyson Beecher's 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted at her blog Kid Lit Frenzy each week.  When I went to link up with the other bloggers, I noted several others talk about this same book today.  Alyson highlighted it last week.  Make sure you read all the wonderful posts.

Of Celebrating Elephant Seals, Caldecott Winners and Birthdays

As teacher librarian at Charlevoix Elementary School I had the pleasure of working with an outstanding educator named Sara Jonker.   Sara frequented the library on a regular basis, her love of books and reading obvious.  She often talked about her brother-in-law, a teacher librarian in another district downstate.

When I began seriously blogging in the summer of 2010, I searched for other blogs to read on a daily basis.  One of the blogs I selected was that of Sara's brother-in-law, Travis Jonker.  At 100 Scope Notes (which has since relocated under the umbrella of School Library Journal) readers can always be sure of insightful, candid, witty and worthwhile commentary on the world of children's literature.  Travis sees details others might miss.

Last year Travis was one of the members of the 2014 Caldecott Award committee. Tomorrow evening he and hundreds of others will be in attendance at the Newbery-Caldecott Banquet during the annual American Library Association conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Everyone will cheer for the medalists and honorees, but Travis will have the unique distinction of being one of the people who chose Locomotive written and illustrated by Brian Floca as the medalist, Journey written and illustrated by Aaron Beck as an honoree, Flora and the Flamingo written and illustrated by Molly Idle as an honoree, and Mr. Wuffles! written and illustrated by David Wiesner as an honoree.

Today is Travis Jonker's birthday.  I am sending him sincerest wishes for one of the best birthdays ever and, of course, many, many more.  To help him celebrate the day I am reviewing one of the newly illustrated books by Brian Floca which was released last month.


Quirks of nature, those things which defy explanation, make for the best stories, especially when they are true.  When animals choose to place themselves closer to humans, rather than remain in their normal habitat, it is newsworthy.  More than twenty years ago, an elephant seal decided to make the waters of Christchurch, New Zealand her residence.  Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas (Schwartz & Wade, an imprint of Random House Children's Books) written by Lynne Cox with illustrations by Brian Floca is her story.

There was once a lovely elephant seal who lived in the city.  

If you were to visit Christchurch, New Zealand, you would see the Avon River moving beautifully on the west side of the city; a small portion of land separating it from the southern Pacific Ocean.  Elizabeth, as she was named by the city residents, made this river her home.  You could see her floating along in the water, resting on the shore and covering herself with mud to keep cool.

Every day on his way to and from school, a boy named Michael would seek out Elizabeth calling her by name if he saw her.  She in turn would give him a glance before snorting.  On one particular morning the friendly seal felt the need to bask in the sun on the warm two-lane road.  As you can imagine after several near collisions Elizabeth moved her considerable bulk, twelve hundred pounds, back to the river.

This became the talk of the town; causing worry for Elizabeth and motorists.  It was decided to tow her far away down the river, out to sea and away from harm.  Michael, on his way to school, was not happy to see this.

Elizabeth was not content in the company of other elephant seals on the crowded ocean beach.  Making her way across the ocean and into the familiar river, Elizabeth once more could be seen sunning herself on the city street.  Joyfully, Michael greeted her.

Not once, but twice more this lovable, determined elephant seal was towed farther and farther away.  Each time she returned to what she knew as home.  Each time Michael and the people of the city welcomed her.  What they finally did was visible proof of their affection.


In her debut children's book, author and internationally recognized long distance swimmer, Lynne Cox writes with skill and the sure knowledge she has a story people will want to hear.  In an introductory author's note she explains how two children told her the tale which she has now passed on to her readers.  Empathy, an understanding, for Elizabeth is generated in her narrative.  Use of repetitive phrases at the beginning and end and each time Michael sees the elephant seal, bind us to this fascinating account.  Here is a portion of the passage where Cox explains how Elizabeth got her name.

...  She was eight feet long--as long as a surfboard---and she weighed twelve hundred pounds---as much as fifteen Labrador retrievers.  The people of Christchurch knew there was something very special about her.  ...


Using pen-and-ink and watercolor throughout, Brian Floca endears us to Elizabeth instantly on the dust jacket and book case; looking directly at us on the front as she comes up for air and gliding by on the Avon River on the back.  The same meticulous care we see in any Floca illustration is apparent in this title.  His depiction of Elizabeth is realistic in its details of her physical characteristics; the eyes, shape of the mouth, tiny hairs above her eyes and whiskers.

His color palette is a reflection of the natural world---blues, greens and yellows prominent on each page.  There is a lightness and golden quality to the pictures; enhancing the heartwarming tone of Cox's writing.  Elizabeth is featured in the center of a blue green sea with a cloud-filled sky above her on the opening and closing endpapers.  Seagulls and a small map of New Zealand decorate the verso page.

Beginning with a gorgeous two page spread of Elizabeth in the Avon River, highlighting the city activity along both banks, Floca alters his illustration sizes with each page turn.  Smaller insets with loose, rounded borders, edge to edge full pages and more breathtaking double page visuals persuade readers to pause and pace themselves.  One of my many favorite pictures is of Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas returning for the final time to the river, citizens lining the bridge as she passes beneath it.  It portrays the pure joy felt by everyone.


You cannot read Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by Lynne Cox with illustrations by Brian Floca without feeling the happiness of this true story.  It's a wonderful book to share with children and students who may know nothing about elephant seals, New Zealand or this particular story.  I am thankful to both Lynne Cox and Brian Floca for bringing this to our attention in their delightful collaboration.  I think this would pair nicely with another nonfiction book, Wild Animal Neighbors: Sharing Our Urban World (Twenty-First Century Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group Inc., August 1, 2013) by Ann Downer.

Please follow the links embedded in Lynne Cox's and Brian Floca's names to access their websites.  Here is a link to an interview of Lynne Cox at Watch. Connect. Read., the blog hosted by teacher librarian John Schumacher.  Julie Danielson features Brian Floca, including many images from this book during his illustrative process, on her blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  Here is the link to an article about Elizabeth, Memories of Avon River's sea elephant you can find when searching on the Internet.  This link will take you to the publisher's website where you can see several pages inside the book.

To Serve

As the runt of the litter, Xena was extremely small as a puppy, needing to be fed three times a day.  My elementary principal allowed me to keep her in my office at school bringing her out to be with the children during story time.  Even today the sight of the school causes her to bark and twirl with happiness.

As much as she enjoys being with the children, the transformation in them when she is present is a sight to see.  Their goodness shines on their faces and in their actions when she is with them.  It's an exchange of the very best kind.  Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond between a Solider and his Service Dog (Roaring Brook Press, May 27, 2014) written by former captain Luis Carlos Montalvan, USA, with Bret Witter and photographs by Dan Dion tells the true story of the unbreakable bond between these two friends.

In the morning, every morning, 
my friend Luis wakes up to...

this.

This happens to be a close-up picture of the Golden Retriever Tuesday, with large caring eyes and soft brown nose.  Narrator of the book Tuesday explains the time spent with his human companion, Luis, beginning with a doggie lick and a hug given in return.  By habit the dog brings his dish to the kitchen for breakfast as well as Luis's socks and shoes. 

Tuesday continues with an account of Luis's service in the war (Iraq) elaborating on his nightmares during the day and at night.  He provides comfort and calm to the man; always near him, always walking by his right side.  They go everywhere together, two halves of a better whole.

Visits to the veterans hospital, trips to the city park (extra playful when Tuesday's service dog vest is removed), journeys down the stairs to the subway, or even rides at an amusement park on a sandy beach are only a handful of the things these partners share.  In the evening they can be seen eating dinner, watching videos, answering emails and playing with Tuesday's favorite toys.  In this extraordinary relationship of give-and-take, Luis in turn brushes Tuesday's fur and teeth, and cleans his ears and paws.  Hugs, prayers and the peaceful sleep of unparalleled pals close the day and this book.

Together since 2008 Luis Carlos Montalvan knows Tuesday like no other human.  In 2011 the title written for adults, Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him hit The New York Times Bestseller list for several weeks. In this book Montalvan and Bret Witter write for a younger audience using conversational short sentences, bringing in meaningful details important to children.  Here is an example with Tuesday talking about how he helps Luis when they are in the subway.

While we wait,

I stand guard.

The subway train

gets crowded.

Very crowded.

Luis doesn't like

crowds. So he hugs

me while we ride.

For a dog lover like myself the photographs on the front and back of the matching dust jacket and book case, melt my heart.  Tuesday looking straight out at you with his foot resting on Luis's foot (note the dog socks) and the two of them sitting side by side with Luis's arm around Tuesday on a rocky beach on the back say more than any words can.  The red of Tuesday's service coat is carried over into the title and opening and closing endpapers.  

For every sentence, mood and moment photographer Dan Dion has taken a picture to intensify the text.  Moving close to his subjects to provide intimacy or backing away to give greater perspective, his gift with the camera is evident.  Some of the illustrations extend edge to edge on a single or double page, some cross the gutter to increase their size to a page and a half, others are framed with fine white lines on a portion of a page, and still more are inset within an existing visual.  Each element of the day(s) is portrayed with warmth; the love between Luis and Tuesday apparent.

One of my favorite pictures is of Luis and Tuesday on the subway.  Luis is seated within the crowd but Tuesday is as close to him as possible; between Luis's two legs.  Luis is bending over hugging Tuesday their faces pressed together.  

There is no doubt in my mind.  Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond between a Soldier and his Service Dog written by Luis Carlos Montalvan with Bret Witter and photographs by Dan Dion is going to be a huge hit with children.  I would definitely plan on getting more than one copy.  It could easily become a part of several different themed units; dogs, service dogs, soldiers at home or human and animal relationships.  Luis speaks further about their relationship in an author's note at the end.

Please follow the links embedded in the authors' and the photographer's names to access their websites.  Follow this link to the publisher's website to see eight pages from the book. This is a link to a Pinterest page. 

Each Wednesday I feel fortunate to be a part of the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy.  I have discovered many wonderful nonfiction books through this connection. Be sure to see what others have reviewed for this week by following the links at her blog.