It's Time To Learn

There are certain things we are expected to know.  These assumptions are usually based upon multiple variables, but age, lifetime experiences, and areas of expertise figure prominently.  You will learn, some earlier than others, it is impossible to know everything others believe you should.  

For a few, it is hard to admit this lack of knowledge and understanding.  In Wake Me Up in 20 Coconuts! (Christy Ottaviano Books, Little, Brown And Company, September 20, 2022) written and illustrated by Laurie Keller, the protagonist finds it impossible to confess his absence of comprehension.  In the adept hands of this creative author and illustrator, hilarity happens.

Opposite the dedication and verso page, an illustration of the four-floor apartment building where the protagonists lives in 2C, his expertise is demonstrated by seven questions asked by other residents and the intelligent answers he gives.  These conversations are shown in fourteen artfully spaced speech balloons.  Careful readers will notice the first two words of the narrative tucked into this image.

OH

NO!

This exclamation is spoken by the resident in apartment 2B upon discovering her alarm clock is broken.  She gets the attention of the occupant in 2C.  Without even thinking when asked if he will wake the being up in 2B in 20 coconuts, he replies in the affirmative.  (The resident in 1C just happens to be eavesdropping.)

Can you imagine the anxiety of the KNOW-IT-ALL neighbor when he realizes he has absolutely no idea what 20 coconuts means?  Knowing is a generational tradition that has never been broken until this moment!  He can ask 2B what 20 coconuts means, but then he will have to reveal his lack of knowing.  Yikes, what a dilemma!

As 2C is debating what to do, he discovers a sock and a 

BAAAWWWK!

chicken in his ear.  (Do you see what I mean about hilarity?) Perhaps, 2C did not hear 2B correctly.  The eavesdropping occupant in 1C says it was 20 coconuts.  Pretty soon, it seems other residents are speaking, through overheard conversations, in coconut time.  How is this possible?  2C believes his brain might be busted or, at the very least, it needs a cleaning.

Does the cleaning work?  Negative.  2C's phone is no help either.  The KNOW-IT-ALL neighbor is at his wit's end.  His shouting causes a neighbor's wig and another neighbor's bucket to land on his head.  But guess what?  2B is awake on time and thanks 2C.  She is so happy she asks 2C to do it tomorrow.  

The following discussion between neighbors 2B and 2C is one of compassion and truth.  The other apartment building residents listen in silence.  Now, you might think at this point a satisfying conclusion has been reached.  It has, BUT there is a comedic twist certain to have readers and listeners laughing like loons.

Told entirely in dialogue, author Laurie Keller sets the stage for one humorous moment after another humorous moment.  When the resident in 2C is trying to figure out what 20 coconuts means, his musings range from rational to ridiculous.  By repeating the word coconut over and over within the text, we feel the frustration of 2C increase along with the merriment.  Adding the voice of the chicken several times, elevates the laughter factor.  (It's not every day you pull a sock AND a chicken out of your ear!)  Here is a passage.

Why does

everyone

understand

coconut time

except ME?

Is my BRAIN

broken?

Did I break it

when I pulled out

the SOCK?

BAAAWWWK!

And the CHICKEN?

As you look at the right side, front, of the open dust jacket, artist Laurie Keller has included many elements important to the story.  We see residents of the apartment building in the four corners.  The window (brain) washer, Walter, is featured as is the nosey neighbor.  2B is dozing as 2C is trying to figure out when to wake her.  Of course, there are also a lot of coconuts.  This animated colorful invitation is certain to peak readers' interest.  When you run your hands over this image you will note the title text is raised.  The title text, 2B and 2C are varnished.

To the left of the spine, on the back, 2C is chatting with Walter.  As 2C leans out his window, Walter is washing the ISBN.  Walter asks what he is washing and the KNOW-IT-ALL neighbor explains.  (I love the cleverness of this, Laurie!)

On the book case, done in pale blue/green with rows of enlarged even paler blue/green dots, to the left of the spine is the chicken, looking small.  It says 

BAWK.

On the front of the book case are huge letters in purple spelling

YOU

ARE

SMART!

In the letter "o" of you, is 2C, looking a bit concerned.  A brain, standing on the exclamation point, is saying

Even if you say

"I DON'T KNOW!

The opening and closing endpapers are the same color as 2C, a bright blue.  On the title page, three coconuts offer commentary about what they see there.  These illustrations by Laurie Keller 

were done in acrylic markers, watercolor collage, and Photoshop.

Every page is filled with energy, the elements are ready to jump off the pages and come to life in our spaces.  Laurie Keller alternates between single page images, to two images on a single page, or large dramatic visuals spread on both sides of the gutter.  Sometimes she will have several images on a single page to show the passage of time.  

We are brought close to the action, making this pictorial interpretation of the text a personal experience.  The text is shown in speech balloons or larger than life on the pages.  The expressions on the characters' faces leave no doubt as to their emotional state at any given time.  Readers will meticulously look at every image finding comedy in the smallest details.

One of my many favorite illustrations is for the above highlighted text.  2C takes up half of the left side.  His eyes are huge and his brows are up because of worry.  His hands are placed on either side of his head.  It is the classic "what do I do now" look.  At the bottom of the page, just to the right of 2C is the chicken.  All we can see is most of the head with the beak wide open.  (I'm laughing!) 

No matter how many times you read Wake Me Up In 20 Coconuts! written and illustrated by Laurie Keller, you will find yourself unable to stop grinning or laughing and nodding in agreement.  This book is an absolute delight to read aloud.  Trust me when I say, it will be a favorite by readers and listeners alike.  At the close of the book a page is dedicated to A Note from Some Brains.  They talk about it being perfectly all right to not know everything.  To them and all of us who don't know everything, finding out answers is what makes life so much fun.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Laurie Keller and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website. Laurie Keller has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website, you can download a four page storytime kit.  At Travis Jonker's 100 Scope Notes, he hosts Instagramming an Author Visit: Laurie Keller!

Laurie Keller Presents WAKE ME UP IN 20 COCONUTS from LB School on Vimeo.

Wondrous Water Wisdom

There are people who would much rather be in or on water than any other place.  Depending on the nearness of their homes to water and the seasons of the year, if there is an opportunity to enjoy water, they will take it.  When they are swimming, diving, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, or sailing, they become one with the water and its inhabitants.  Many times, these activities are done in solitude or with a partner.  There is little spoken conversation, but there is an almost inexplicable bonding between an individual and water or between individuals and each other and their shared experiences in or on water.

There was once a man, a seaman, who had such a relationship with water. He knew water was to be treated with the utmost respect for its vital function in the continuation of all life.  He, like others who chose to observe, knew water revealed life lessons in unexpected ways.  Swashby and the Sea (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 5, 2020) written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal is a story of interrupted solitude, intervention by a close companion and the surprising results.

CAPTAIN SWASHBY loved the sea.

She, the sea, had spent many years with Captain Swashby.  She knew him better than he knew himself.  For his retirement, Captain Swashby settled in a small home on the edge of the sea.  With the sea at his side, he lacked for nothing.  He loved the silence.

All was well until the intrusion.  To Captain Swashby's dismay, a little girl and her grandmother settled in the vacant home next door.  It was no longer quiet.  Their beach gear was scattered across the sand.  Captain Swashby did not want neighbors.  He left them a message written in the sand.  The sea went to work.  The remaining letters spelled SING.

This word was the only invitation the little girl needed.  She sang and sang and sang.  She asked Captain Swashby what he wanted her to do next.  His unfriendly reply written in the sand was again altered.  When the little girl, with her granny nearby, attempted to do as he (the sea) requested, Captain Swashby clarified how to correctly make a starfish wish.  Their invitation for tea was spurned and a third message was left on the beach.

Each time he wrote a message, the sea erased some of the letters.  When the young neighbor attempted to respond, Captain Swashby couldn't stop pointing out the correct way to complete a task.  He approached and grumpily retreated, like waves washing on the beach.

Finally, the sea intervened in a manner not to be ignored.  Without thinking, Captain Swashby acted.  For the little girl, her granny and Captain Swashby, their lives by the sea shifted and the sea was satisfied.


When Beth Ferry presents Captain Swashby to readers, she does so with the use of alliteration and repetition. (This continues throughout the narrative, also.)  It's a gentle cadence, perfectly suited to the shock this seaman is about to receive.  Comedy is introduced in the contrast between this man who prefers seclusion to the togetherness offered by his new neighbors.

Having the sea act as a bridge between the two by washing away letters from his demands is a superb technique.  It's a subtle reminder of how friends can assist us in forming new, perhaps lasting, connections.  Here is a passage.

Swashby battened down the hatches,
hid when the doorbell rang, and fed their
oatmeal cookies to the gulls.
He didn't need neighbors.
He didn't want neighbors.
Neighbors were nosy,
a nuisance,
annoying.


You can almost feel the mist of sea spray and taste the salt in the air when you look at the open dust jacket.  The scene extends flap edge to flap edge.  On the left, back, flap edge sea glass, a wide-eyed blue crab and a baby seagull are placed around the descriptive text about Beth Ferry and Juana Martinez-Neal.  The sea shown behind the little girl and Captain Swashby on the front travels over the spine and across the entire back portion.  A yellow pail floats in the water in the upper, left-hand area of the sea.  The little girl and Captain Swashby on the front are carefully appraising each other, hints of smiles on both of their faces.  On the front flap a seagull holds a starfish in its beak near another yellow pail. 

On the book case, now resting higher and surrounded by sand is Swashby's boat.  It spans from back to front, left to right.  The lower portion of the boat bleeds off the bottom edge.  A seagull is perched on the stern.  A blue crab is resting on the bow.  The title is written in the sand on the right, above the boat.  Beth Ferry's and Juana Martinez-Neal's names are on the front of the boat.

Two tight and unfolding swirls of shades of turquoise cover the opening and closing endpapers, like waves.  On the title page, with his back to us, Swashby is painting a number on his boat.  Items from the sea, a piece of driftwood, seaweed, a starfish, and a curious crab are on the sand.  A yellow pail is next to the boat.

These illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal rendered

in acrylics, colored pencils, and graphite on hand-textured paper

are double-page pictures replete with delicate details and charm.  Juana Martinez-Neal combines soft textures with bolder colors to place emphasis on those elements which enhance the narrative.  This is seen in the initial distinction between Swashby and the little girl and her granny. It's apparent in the stuffed toy cat left sitting on the edge of Swashby's boat as the little girl walks on his dock.  A conch shells is placed near the little girl as she sings.  Sailboats pattern the fabric of the chair Swashby sits in on his porch.  And Swashby's heart tattoo labeled El Ma . . . declares his true love.

The wide, circular glasses on the little girl, the bushy eyebrows and full beard on Swashby and the beaded jewelry worn by Granny are signature characteristics endearing readers to each of them.  As Juana Martinez-Neal depicts the abandon the little girl displays with everything she does, Swashby's determination at avoidance, but also his desire at perfection, and Granny's steady generosity, our knowledge of them grows.  They may not know it, but we watch through Juana Martinez-Neal's artwork as the sea becomes the center around which their lives revolve and intertwine.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when the sea washes away the letters in Captain Swashby's first message leaving SING.  Gently curving toward the sea through the sand is the wooden deck, moving from the foreground on the right, crossing the gutter and ending before the letters and water on the left.  Seaweed is scattered on the sand, as well as several seashells.  On the right, close to readers is the little girl.  Her right foot is on the deck and her left foot is kicked up in the air.  Her left arm and hand are extended up in joy.  In her right hand she carries a yellow pail.  Her eyes are closed behind her glasses.  Her mouth is open as she sings.  Her soft hair frames her face like a cloud.  In a word, this is bliss.


The longer you are out-of-doors, the more you realize it influences you; sometimes in ways you find extraordinary.  Swashby and the Sea written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal is a story of wise waves, and the forming of unlikely friendships.  It is a story of song, sand, seagulls, and starfish wrapped in teatime on towels.  This book is a storytime treasure, meant to be shared. Children will love the rhythm of the words and so will the adults who read them.  I highly recommend this for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Beth Ferry and Juana Martinez-Neal and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Juana Martinez-Neal has interior images from this book displayed on her website.  Beth Ferry has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Juana Martinez-Neal has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  The cover reveal for this book is hosted by Elizabeth Bird, Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system, at A Fuse #8 Production, School Library Journal.  Both Juana Martinez-Neal and Beth Ferry are interviewed about this book.  Beth Ferry is interviewed at PictureBookBuilders about this title and her work.

Something Is Brewing

We have had stormy weather headed our way for the past several evenings.  Even before the sky sent us gray-cloud messages, the signs were there.  Parents, educators and humans with canine companions are keenly aware of the advance notice children and dogs give us. Their behavior is downright squirrely.  When you combine this with the full moon tonight, any semblance of normal is blown away. 

Trying to navigate through tempestuous personalities indoors and rain, thunder, lightning and gusts of wind outdoors is like walking through a briar patch.  What makes this situation bearable are children's books elevating the mood.  None do this better than Mother Goose Bruce, Hotel Bruce, Bruce's Big Move, Santa Claus Bruce and now Bruce's Big Storm (Disney Hyperion, September 3, 2019) written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins.  Trust me when I say, you'll be chuckling as soon as you see the dust jacket.

Bruce was a bear who did not like neighbors.

This bear's personality could not handle noise, being bothered a little bit or a lot or having his neighborhood populated.  Usually Bruce's neighbors did not hang around more than he could tolerate . . . barely.  This all changed on one eventful day.  A humdinger of a storm was approaching.  The first neighbors to arrive and ask for shelter were the deer.

Bruce wanted to be alone, but his mice housemates were more than happy to have company.  When the storm struck in earnest, animals of all kinds (stinky skunks and prickly porcupines) blew inside his home.  Before long, all the residents of Soggy Hollow were sequestered in Bruce's house.  He sat grumpily reading in his favorite chair.

Stop!  Someone was still outside in the wind and rain. Nibbs, one of the mice, headed toward the open door with an umbrella to save the tiny white rabbit.  Unfortunately, the wind opened the umbrella and he parachuted up, up and up until the umbrella landed point down in front of the rabbit.  Within moments one mouse and one tiny white rabbit were soaring upward.

Fortunately, Bruce hurried outside.  Nibbs thinks Bruce was saving them.  Bruce just wanted his best umbrella back but unfortunately (again), the wind was stronger than one mouse, one tiny white rabbit and one big cranky bear.  Will this trio be rescued?  Will the storm drop one final blow on the gathered group?  Will Bruce ever have peace and quiet?  Stay tuned readers and be ready for the last laugh.

Only someone with an inherently great sense of humor can write with meticulous pacing, precise word choices and the delivery of dialogue which further exaggerates the hilarity.  Ryan T. Higgins is one of those people.  With the turn of each page we find one comical moment after the other.  The contrast in attitude and outlook between Bruce and every other resident in Soggy Hollow is like morning and night.  Ryan T. Higgins portrays Bruce with precise authenticity which in turn invites us into the pure mirth of Bruce and company.  Here is a passage.

Finally, the whole 

neighborhood was there.

"Wait!" said Rupert.

"Someone is still outside!"

Everyone went to

the window to look.

A speech bubble over Bruce's head, as he sits in his chair and tries to read, is filled with grumble lines.

Well, almost everyone.

When you look at the front of the dust jacket, one of several things draws your attention.  The look on Bruce's face is one of shock, as is Rupert's expression but the tiny white rabbit is looking calmer and more determined.  You are also aware of the strength of the storm from the bending trees and mailbox post, swirl of leaves and slanting rain.  It's mighty.  The title text and Ryan T. Higgins' name are varnished.

To the left, on the back, you're likely to have one of many outbursts of laughter.  In a loose white oval is the plaid sofa in Bruce's house.  All the neighbors are curled up around each other on the sofa, along the bottom of the sofa, and on top of the sofa.  Bruce, squeezed into the right corner, facing us, is grumpier than ever.  He is the only one not sound asleep.  This image is varnished.

There is a treat for readers on the book case.  Opening it up reveals a map of Soggy Hollow.  Residents' abodes on land, near and on ponds and in trees are carefully drawn and labeled.  Some of the names are charming alliterations.

On the opening and closing endpapers, more hilarity ensues.  It is a display of the Soggy Hollow Community Board.  An assortment of announcement and advertisements cover the board from end to end.  While most of the postings like the 5K Turtle Run and Leech Pond Swim Lessons remain the same on both sets of endpapers, careful readers will notice a change on the second set.

These 

illustrations were created using scans of treated clayboard for textures, graphite, ink, and 

Photoshop.

Ryan T. Higgins begins the pictorial extension of his text with cheerful neighbors on the verso and first page greeting a scowling Bruce as he walks toward his home carrying a newspaper and a cup of coffee.  Each full color picture within this book are grouped as small vignettes, featured as a full-page image, edge to edge, placed on a white background leaving space for text, or spanned across two pages for dramatic effect.  The faces and body postures are expertly depicted.  

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a smaller one with two others in the group.  The storm is blowing neighbors into Bruce's house.  Along the bottom of the page with a white canvas on matte-finished paper, Bruce's door has blown open.  Leaves are blowing inside the open door.  Another being blew in also--a porcupine which is sticking to Bruce's fur.  Next to them is a skunk, fumes rising in the air and startled by the newest neighbor's appearance.

There are books like Bruce's Big Storm written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins which create shared experiences based on laughter.  These are the moments we need in our lives; these moments of fun and funniness which strengthen our endearment for beloved characters and for each other.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Ryan T. Higgins and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  Ryan T. Higgins has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can download activity sheets.

Odd Couple Kalinka and Grakkle Blog Tour

Living beings act in surprising ways.  Time and again there will be stories of animals, sometimes enemies, who pair for survival.  People, total opposites, will spend lifetimes together.  Somehow they are able to overlook their differences and find small windows of togetherness. 

Sometimes those small windows of togetherness open when the two are experiencing their worst moments. Kalinka and Grakkle (Peachtree, April 1, 2018) written and illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Flutter & Hum: Animal Poems, Aleteo y Zumbido: Poemas de Animales Henry Holt and Company, August 18, 2015) is about a decidedly odd couple.  They give new meaning to the word opposites.

Kalinka was a little yellow bird with a neat cap of red feathers.  
"I'm such a good bird", she said to herself.
"Good as gold, with a cherry on top."

Her neighbor, Grakkle, was big, green, hairy, cranky and an all-around messy kind of monster.  Kalinka took it upon herself, after flying in Grakkle's open window, to begin to put the chaos in his home in order.  All Grakkle said over and over was:

"Grakk!" 

Grakkle wanted no help at all.  He did want his Auntie Grumble's homemade ginger cookies.  He did want to rest his feet in a bucket of pickle juice.  He did want to snooze in his best chair, his only chair.
The problem was Kalinka.

Eating every single one of Grakkle's cookies except for crumbs was not a good idea.  She picked up his stuff but was clueless as to where it should go.  Putting pencils in a box of spaghetti and mail in a toaster was not wise at all.  You had better believe there was a whole bunch of

"Grakk!" 

being said by a very frustrated monster.

Finally Kalinka did the one thing which sent this monster into a frenzy.  He had a fit.  She ended up in a dire situation.  Her tidiness wouldn't save her now.

"Grakk!"


On the first page Julie Paschkis clearly defines the two characters in appearance and demeanor.  Before you even turn to the next page, you know there will be tension.  What you do not know is Kalinka will misunderstand every single one of Grakkle's Grakk! exclamations.  She thinks he's perfectly happy with everything she does. 

The narrative blends well with Kalinka's happy chatter and Grakkle's angry mumbles.  This supplies humor and leads us wonderfully to a startling twist.  Here is a passage.

Grakkle swatted at the bag.  He belched and scratched his head in confusion.  His hair stood out every which way.
"This beast's appearance is appalling," said Kalinka.
"Luckily for him, I do have a way with hair."
She perched on his head and got to work.
"Gr-r-r-r-rakk," grumbled Grakkle.
"You're welcome," said Kalinka, tying a bow in his matted hair.


It will be interesting to see what readers believe they are seeing on the opened, matching dust jacket and book case.  What is all that curly green?  Are those the outlines of hands on the right and the left on the spine?  Kalinka is already busy speaking.  To the left, on the back, within a white background (on the green) and gracefully framed in signature Julie Paschkis lines and flowers are words spoken right before Grakkle's temper explodes.

The opening and closing endpapers are a soft white with larger yellow dots. (Grakkle's wallpaper)  On the initial title page Julie includes a dedication and features Kalinka and the hands of Grakkle.  She continues with this design but uses Grakkle's tail as a perch for Kalinka on the formal title page.

Rendered in ink and gouache the illustrations, most of them on two pages, employ delicate lines but also manage to convey Grakkle in all his monster glory.  He is indeed a monster and his home is a mess. His expressions as Kalinka goes about her merry way are a huge signal of events to come.  Julie Paschkis uses lines and dots, flowers and leaves to separate text and wonderful patterns on items in Grakkle's house, even if they are patched.  The inclusion of the black pot-bellied stove with a tea kettle simmering adds a bit of old-world charm.

One of my many favorite illustrations is on a single page.  It shows the kitchen table covered in a beautiful patterned cloth.  Chairs are placed to the left and right.  In the upper right-hand corner a bit of curtain billows out.  Kalinka is perched in the center of the table.  She has nearly finished consuming all of the ginger cookies.  Grakkle wearing his vest and belt and with arms upraised is about to go crazy.  He's horrified and angry at the blissful unawareness of Kalinka.


Kalinka and Grakkle written and illustrated by Julie Paschkis will promote all kinds of discussions about what binds friends together.  Readers will see that sometimes the wrong kind of help can make matters worse.  They will also see that even the grumpiest grump has a soft spot.  This title would be an excellent addition with other odd couple books at story time and of course, books about friendship.  Julie's artwork will endear readers to the characters.

To learn more about Julie Paschkis and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  On the Peachtree blog, here and here, Julie talks about this book. Julie chats about the evolution of this title on the Books Around The Table site.

Tearing Down...Building Up

Even if you have a fear of heights, once you arrive and enter everything changes.  The small space, four walls with perhaps a single door, a single window and a roof to keep out the weather, is a place where memories lasting a lifetime are created.  Wishes are spoken aloud.  Promises are made.  Secrets are voiced.

When this haven is constructed by hand and with help, its value increases.  That Neighbor Kid (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, May 9, 2017) written and illustrated by Daniel Miyares is about the art of reaching out and receiving.  Taking chances can lead to a far greater joy than believed is possible.

In a nearly wordless narrative a dreary day is the backdrop for a shift in a neighborhood dynamics.  A moving truck is parked in front of one of the houses on a street lined with sidewalks and filled with mature trees.  As the household items are unloaded, a boy reads a book in the back yard next to a large tree.  He is unaware of being watched.

We along with the observer realize he is focused on seeking sanctuary in that tree.  Still hidden the neighbor sees the new boy remove and take some of the boards on the fence dividing their property.  He then climbs up smaller pieces of wood nailed as steps to a top part of the tree.  The hammer stuck in his waistband drops.

The hammer is retrieved by the neighbor.  She arrives where the boy is puzzling over plans amid his bucket of nails and boards.  Looks, a single word and items for building are exchanged.  A crew of two now knows what to do.

The pure bliss they feel at their accomplishments glows like the colors now visible on the fall foliage.  Fun continues as the project and day come to an end.  A starry sky and glowing windows hold the hope for future endeavors.


One single word, the same word, is spoken by each of the characters once. This story conceived by Daniel Miyares thoughtfully looks at the development of friendship, the idea of offering advice and accepting it, of removing barriers to build something new, teamwork, and having the courage to do all of these things.  In the way each portion of the story unfolds, Daniel Miyares allows his readers to ask questions, think about their own choices and come to the realization the best and most lasting things rarely happen quickly.


When you open the dust jacket the scene of homes, the field of grasses and sky with a few clouds extends over the spine and to the left.  The difference is the colors fade.  It's the promise of friendship which adds brightness to the day.  The little details like the apple core next to the boy and the grasshopper on a bit of grass give authenticity to the image.

On the book case the elements are extremely spare on a cream background.  To the left the grasshopper remains but the grasses are few in number.  The girl, a smile playing about her mouth, crosses the spine.  She follows the boy running and carrying a board.  We don't see his entire body; part of him is off the case.  The opening endpapers are a wash of deep grays.  The closing endpapers are golden yellow with hints of brush strokes.

Rendered in ink and watercolor on Strathmore paper most of the pictures cover two pages.  These larger visuals reach out to envelope the reader.  When the two children meet and begin working together Daniel Miyares wants us to slow down and work alongside them.  These images are smaller and framed with the tree branches.  It's a beautiful thing to watch.  With each successive illustration more of the oak leaves turn from gray to autumn shades.

One of my favorite pictures of many (you could frame any of them to hang on a wall) is when the children are taking a break in their building.  We are looking at them from above.  The floor (maybe more) of the tree house is completed.  The plans are spread on the floor along with a saw, pencil, nails, boards and the hammer.  One of the windows is indeed in place casting a shadow over the girl lying on her back, smiling with pigtails spread behind her.  The boy, lying on his back, is holding a bright red leaf and smiling with legs crossed and one arm behind his head.  Sunlight is splashed on other portions of the illustration.  This is childhood at its finest.


There is a timeless quality to the story and the portrayal of the characters in Daniel Miyares's That Neighbor Kid.  Even the title supplies wonder; is it the girl or the boy who is the neighbor kid?  I can't imagine a personal or professional bookshelf without a copy of this book.

To learn more about Daniel Miyares and his other work please visit his website by following the link attached to this name.  Daniel has an account on Instagram.  You can view interior images from this book at the publisher's website.  Author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson talks with Daniel Miyares at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  In one of his Saturday videos to educator Colby Sharp, Scholastic Ambassador of School Libraries John Schumacher talks about this title at Watch. Connect. Read.  Daniel Miyares is featured at KidLit 411 and All The Wonders, Let's Get Busy, Episode #232.  

What We Leave Behind

They are nearly fifty years old.  They were planted by my mother forty-eight years ago.  Perhaps she brought them from my parent's old home to their new one built in 1968.  Since then they have been lovingly moved three times.  Where I go my mother's peony bushes go.  Each time they are placed in a new garden, another plant fills their former space.  Gardens grow in more ways than are easily recognized.

Each person who tends flowers and vegetables in gardens of varying sizes leaves behind the stories associated with each plant.  The forever garden (Schwartz & Wade Books, May 2, 2017) written by Laurel Snyder with illustrations by Samantha Cotterill asks us to think about what we sow, not only in gardens.  It's a loving and charming tribute to people of all ages who care for everything in their lives.

In sunshine and shower, in darkness and wind,
Honey tends her garden...

Honey's knees are always muddy.

Whatever the weather and whatever the time of year, Honey looks after her garden.  She knows what it needs and takes great joy in its stages.

Honey sings to the kale.

A neighbor girl observes this her curiosity increasing.  When sent to Honey's for eggs from her chickens, the child marvels at the colors of the shells and their warmth, fresh from the nest.  Honey brings bunches of bounty from her garden when visiting their home for Friday night dinners.

Sometimes the nights are mild enough Honey enjoys dinner in her garden.  For dessert the little girl joins her eating cookies and watching the fireflies.  One day, a single sign, brings change for the girl and Honey.

In conservations both the girl and Honey reveal the affection they have for each other.  They will be missed.  The little girl also comes to know the value of adding something or leaving something behind, a visible (not always on the outside) reminder of you having been part of memory making at a particular place.  In this way a tradition can continue; a garden can last forever.


Readers will find themselves as deeply connected to Honey as is the little girl through her first person narrative as written by Laurel Snyder.  The inclusion of sounds, Honey's spoken phrases and their chats create a warm and intimate story.  Readers will come to believe the best kind of friendships can bind people together regardless of their ages.  Here is a sample passage.

Each Friday night I ask Honey to dinner.
She brings bouquets of funny things.
Squash blossoms,
rosemary,
raspberries on a prickle branch.

Nothing matches, but everything fits.
And the table smells like a meadow.


At first glance readers can tell there is a deep fondness between the two pictured characters.  Their facial expressions and body gestures are evidence of this fact.  The soft textures and color choices radiate tenderness and the belief in continual growth; flowers and vegetables are being planted, enjoyed and harvested.  To the left, on the back of the matching dust jacket and book case, the girl is seated on the fence between their two properties, holding a tiny carrot given to her by Honey who is standing with a basket full of lettuce.  A striped cat watches.

Rendered in pen-and-ink on watercolor paper and colored digitally by Samantha Cotterill the illustrations are as brimming with details as Honey's garden is full of vegetables and flowers.  Some of them cover two pages, others single pages and some are small and grouped together on one page.  Most of the smaller images are circular; in keeping with the forever theme of the book, no beginning and no ending.

One of my many favorite pictures is of Honey and the neighbor girl lying on their backs on a quilt in Honey's garden at night.  Fireflies are blinking around them.  A string of decorative lights is hanging along the fence.  Pots of flowers are placed around them.  A pitcher of water, glasses and a plate of cookies are on the quilt.  The cat is playfully reaching for a firefly.  You can almost hear the crickets chirping as the child quietly talks and points.


This title, The forever garden, written by Laurel Snyder with illustrations by Samantha Cotterill is sure to be a classic with a timeless theme of making a beneficial and lasting impression wherever you are and wherever you go.  Readers can find joy in the diverse characters and their multi-generational relationships.  The Author's Note on the verso opposite the title page is a must read; explaining the inspiration for this story.  I highly recommend this title for use with other books on friendship and gardening.

To learn more about Laurel Snyder and Samantha Cotterill please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Samantha Cotterill can be found on Instagram.  If you go to Flickr for the publisher you can view more illustrations.

Putting Yourself Together

We all know what it's like to start over.  It may be a new grade level at the beginning of a year.  Or we may have moved to a new community.  This means we will adjust to a new neighborhood, a new school or a new job.  We leave behind the familiar entering into the unknown.  Some aspects of our lives are better.  There are other reminders of those things we love that are left behind.

For those who come from one country to live in another country it's more difficult, especially if circumstances have forced them to make this choice.  Lucky Broken Girl (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, April 11, 2017), a debut middle grade novel by Ruth Behar, is based upon her real life experiences. It is a powerful, moving story about the ability of a girl to heal herself physically and emotionally.

When we lived in Cuba I was smart.  But when we got to Queens, in New York City, in the United States of America, I became dumb, just because I couldn't speak English.  

This is how we are introduced to Ruthie, placed in the alternative class of fifth grade at P. S. 117 for students who struggle with math, reading and discipline. (She and her Jewish family came to America fleeing a Cuba under the rule of Castro in the 1960s.)  She is joined by another student from a different country, Ramu, from India.  He and his family live on the same sixth floor as Ruthie and her family. They both have younger brothers in kindergarten, Izzie and Avik.  After eight months on a Friday they pass a spelling test allowing them to move to the regular class on the following Monday.

On that same Friday Ruthie and Izzie receive gifts from their Papi when he comes home from work.  This is as unexpected treat as the family has little money.  They live in a one bedroom apartment with Ruthie and Izzie sharing a bedroom and her parents sleeping on a fold-out couch in the living room.  It prompts a heated discussion between Mami, Ruthie's mother, and her father.

An even bigger surprise is in store for them when Papi returns home from his Saturday job with a brand new car, a sky blue Oldsmobile.  The next day they all, including Baba, their grandmother, drive to the home of friends on Staten Island.  The return ride back to their apartment will alter the course of Ruthie's life.

In a multi-car collision leaving many dead, the Mizrahi family is uninjured with minor cuts and bruises except for Ruthie.  Her right leg is severely fractured.  In order for her leg to heal in the best possible manner, offering her a good chance to walk again, she is placed in a body cast up to her chest.  Initially the doctor tells Ruthie and her family she is to be immobile for six months, only moved by a pole between her legs, to relieve herself and to sleep.

Family members, Papi, Mami, little Izzie, Uncle Bill and Aunt Sylvia (Mami's sister), young twin cousins Dennis and Lily, Baba and Zeide, her maternal grandparents, neighborhood girlfriends, a teacher, Joy Hoffman, Ramu and Avik, a new tenant called Chicho and a nurse named Amara swirl in and out of Ruthie's small world. Small and large kindnesses feed Ruthie's soul, Nancy Drew books to read by daylight and flashlight thanks to Joy, a necklace with the god Shiva dancing on it from Ramu, a mural painted on her cast and painting supplies brought to her by Chicho, Halloween candy collected for her by Izzie, the gift of a typewriter from Papi, a generous present on New Year's Day arranged by special friends, and a woman who won't give up.  Four months pass and an x-ray dictates a new body cast for four more months.  Finally Ruthie has a cast from her toes to the top of her thigh on only her right leg.  Will the Hopscotch Queen of Queens ever heal and walk again?


As compelling as an edge-of-your-seat thriller the voice of Ruthie rings out right into your psyche on the first page.  Someday every reader will be ten going on eleven, is ten or soon to be eleven or remembers those years as if there were yesterday.  Ruthie's perspective is so true to life we feel every single moment with her.  Through her thoughts, conversations with others (especially her Baba's stories), conversations she overhears, and daily incidents we live in her skin.  We are keenly aware of her family's (immediate and extended) structure and everyone's place in it.

Author Ruth Behar accomplishes this by breaking the narrative into five parts and thirty-one chapters.  Each chapter has a heading revealing the essence of its place in Ruthie's story; go-go boots, poco a poco, if Mami stops taking care of me, help me not to hate, applause, applause, birthday wish, the shell is inside me now, true friend, or you can't hug the wall forever. Several of the chapters conclude with Ruthie talking to God, Shiva, Frida (Kahlo), or all three of them.  Here are some sample passages. (I am working with a bound galley.)

In the bedroom I notice my rag doll is missing.  She usually sits on my bed, on top of my pillow.
I run back to the kitchen.  "Mami, where's my doll from Cuba?"
"It was falling apart.  Didn't you notice the stuffing had come out and was getting all over everything?"
"But where is it?"
"I threw it in the garbage."
"Mami, why? That was my doll from Cuba."
"We'll get you a new doll when we have a little money.  Now hurry up and get changed so you can help me."
"Mami, that was so mean!  You should have asked me first."
I knew I was getting too old to go to sleep cuddling a doll, but with her in my arms I felt that Cuba wasn't so far away.  Now she is gone and I feel like I could cry.  But I want to be strong, not weak and sad like Mami, so I try to cheer myself up.

Papi shakes his head and sighs.  He tries to speak English but mixes Spanish in.  "My wife no sabe appreciate that she can complain all she wants because she's in America.  Este en un pais libre, the best country in the world."
Mami wipes her tears with her embroidered Cuban handkerchief that I think is too beautiful to soil with her sadness.

Out of the darkness a man appears.  He looks in through the broken windows, struggles with the lock on the back door, and finally flings it open.
Who is this man? Blood is dripping from the top of his head.
It's Papi!
"Papi! Papi! Why did you all leave me?  Papi, I lost one of my boots.  Can we go look for it?"
"Later.  The car might catch fire."
He bends and picks me up, trying to cradle my right leg in the crook of his arm.  But the leg flops down like the legs of my old rag doll from Cuba.
"Stop, Papi!  It hurts!"
"Calma, calma."

"She's been in bed for over four months," Mami says to him, as if I can't talk for myself.  "The doctor says she'll have to be in bed another four."  Then she lifts the covers in one swoop.  She lets him gaze at the cast on my legs and at the pole between my ankles.  I feel like I'm her freak-show daughter.
But Chicho looks me straight in the eyes and I can tell that he commiserates with me.  He rubs the corners of his dark eyes and pushes back his thick black hair that stands on end.
"You want to sign my cast?" I ask him.
"Mi amor, could I make a picture for you instead?"
"Please, yes, a picture!" I say eagerly.
"Okay, just a minute, and I'll get started."
He runs to his apartment and brings a wooden box filled with paints in many different colors and a few small jars of water.
"This might take a little while, he says.  He smiles and starts arranging the paints and brushes along the edge of my bed.
"No rush, I'm not going anywhere," I reply.
He glances at me, "Ay corazon, that's so sad, it's funny."


You simply can't read this book only once.  I drank it in the first time all in one sitting like I was parched from days on a desert.  On the second reading of Lucky Broken Girl written by Ruth Behar, I paused multiple times moved by the situations endured by this girl.  She gains the wisdom of a lifetime within a year.  Does she get sad, angry, frightened and discouraged? Yes, yes, yes and yes, but her strength of character and willingness to seek happiness when it's difficult to find is truly beautiful.  I highly recommend this book for its rich portrayal of immigrant life within a historical setting, diverse cast of characters, and introducing us to this remarkable girl who put herself together.
To learn more about Ruth Behar and her other work please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  At her site is a link to an eight-page Educator's Guide.  You can view the title pages, dedication, contents and read an excerpt at the publisher's website.  Here is a link to the cover reveal at the Nerdy Book Club with an essay by Ruth Behar.

UPDATE:  You will want to read this interview of Ruth Behar by author Deborah Diesen on her blog, Jumping The Candlestick.

Enjoy the book trailer.

On A Street In Gizzford

We all know stories are everywhere.  The most common, everyday object, incident or living being can be the spark for an extraordinary tale.  It can start with something simple, move toward unbelievable and leave us with hope in our heart and a sigh on our lips.

Eleven years ago to the day, a series of books began with a pig.  Does this pig live on Old MacDonald's farm?  No, this pig does not live on a farm.  This pig lives with Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson in their home at 54 Deckawoo Drive.

Mercy Watson begins her adventures with Mercy Watson to the Rescue (Candlewick Press, August 23, 2005) written by Kate DiCamillo with illustrations by Chris Van Dusen.  At the close of every day the Watsons tuck Mercy into bed, singing

"Bright, bright is the morning sun,
but brighter still is our darling one.
Dark, dark is the coming night,
but oh, our Mercy shines so bright."

In this opening book, Mercy may be the cause of the Watsons bed, with them in it, to be on the brink of crashing through the floor to the room below.  She does have a constant craving for snacks, especially toast with

a great deal of butter on it.

This hankering leads her to leap from the bed, explore the kitchen and run next door to the Lincoln sisters' home.  Baby Lincoln, the younger, kinder one, thinks the snout in her window is a monster.  Eugenia Lincoln, the no-nonsense, stricter sister immediately calls the fire department.  When firefighters Ned and Lorenzo arrive the sight before them is not what they expect.  Mercy does love a good chase.

Are Mr. and Mrs. Watson saved?  Does Mercy Watson get buttered toast?  You'll have to read it.


As if this pig, the Watsons, the Lincoln sisters and Ned and Lorenzo, the firefighters, had not charmed readers enough, Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (Candlewick Press, May 9, 2006) takes us on a trip quite unlike any other.  Every Saturday Mr. Watson and Mercy go for a drive.  It's a struggle to get Mercy out of the driver's seat but the promise of buttered toast on their return always does the trick.

On this particular Saturday there happens to be an extra passenger looking for folly and hiding in the back seat. On this particular Saturday Officer Tomilello is parked in his police cruiser.  When a speeding car with a pig in the passenger seat whizzes by, he's got a job to do.

Can pigs drive?  Can pigs fly?  Will grumpy Eugenia Lincoln butter toast?  You'll need to read this to discover the answers.


In her third escapade, Mercy Watson Fights Crime (Candlewick Press, August 22, 2006) noises in the kitchen at 54 Deckawoo Drive wake up Mercy.  These are toaster sounds,

screeeeeech and clannngggg.

She also may be hearing

"Yippie-i-oh"

being sung by a little man who wishes to be a cowboy but is currently robbing the Watsons.

Since Leroy Ninker is not making toast he is able to lull the investigating, sleepy Mercy back to dreams of buttered toast.  In no time at all two things lead to a wild ride, Leroy Ninker's inability to climb over Mercy and the sweet, sweet smell of Butter Barrel candy.  The words of

"Yippie-i-oh"

being hollered with glee work their way into the sound sleep of the Lincoln sisters and Mrs. Watson.

Will Ned and Lorenzo arrive at Deckawoo Drive again?  Will Officer Tomilello continue to ask questions and answer them himself?  Will the daily newspaper headline a

porcine wonder?  

Seventy pages filled with laughter will reveal the truth.


According to the calendar Halloween will soon arrive.  Mercy Watson Princess in Disguise (Candlewick Press, July 10, 2007) celebrates the holiday, trick-or-treating (with a Mercy emphasis on treating) and introduces readers to General Washington, Eugenia Lincoln's new cat.  On the festive night a signal from Baby Lincoln and the super abilities of Mercy's snout are the only elements necessary for chaos creation.

With the swipe of a cat's paw and a pig who loves a good chase, a race is soon being run.  Two curious neighbor children, Frank and Stella who live at 50 Deckawoo Drive, observe from a distance but nevertheless intend to join the parade.  Everything and everyone comes to a standstill at the base of an ancient tree.

Will the stuck general get unstuck?  Can we count on the firefighters?  Will worry-wart Frank approve of the offered fare?  Mercy Watson knows.  You will too.


On a warm spring day or perhaps in the midst of early summer nothing is quite as fine as enjoying the pleasures of outdoors.  Eugenia Lincoln is attempting to bring graciousness to their lives despite having a pig living next door.  In Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig (Candlewick Press, July 8, 2008) the peace and quiet of the neighborhood vanishes at the whiff of newly planted pansies.


This is the last "petal" for the elder sister.  A call is made to the

Animal Control Center.

With Officer Francine Poulet at the ready, help is sure to follow although she is not expecting the problem to be a pig.

Will an Unmentionable Horror happen?  Will a tea party come to a crashing conclusion?  Will there be dogs involved?  You should all expect toast...lots of toast....lots of toast with lots of butter.


The lives of Mr. Watson, Mrs. Watson, Mercy Watson, Eugenia Lincoln, Baby Lincoln, Ned and Lorenzo, firefighters you can count on, Frank and Stella, Police Officer Tomilello, Animal Control Officer Francine Poulet, and Leroy Ninker are about to get even more exciting in the sixth and final book, Mercy Watson Something Wonky This Way Comes (Candlewick Press, July 14, 2009).  It's a lovely evening in the town of Gizzford.  It's a perfect night for a visit to the local Bijou Drive-In theater to see When Pigs Fly.

Leroy Ninker, mostly-reformed thief who wishes to be a cowboy and practices with his lasso whenever he can, works at the concession stand selling Bottomless Bucket popcorn served with real butter.  With the strong smell of butter in the air, Mercy becomes a pig with a single thought front and center in her mind.  She must have butter whether it's on popcorn or toast.

Will Officer Francine Poulet really need her net? Did Officer Tomilello hear a scream?  Is that a fire truck siren?  Six books with stories within a story all lead to Mercy's best kind of ending.


The arrival of a new series, Tales from Deckawoo Drive, is (was) happy news to fans of the Mercy Watson titles.  In the first, Leroy Ninker Saddles Up (Candlewick Press, August 26, 2014) on a specific night at the Bayou Drive-In concession stand during a double cowboy movie feature, ticket taker, Beatrice Leapaleoni makes a very important point.  What Leroy needs more than any attire and his trusty lasso is a horse.  Beatrice also gives Leroy an important piece of advice.

Patty LeMarque is moving and all she wants for her horse Maybelline (not Tornado as Leroy would prefer) is a happy home.  She agrees to give Maybelline to Leroy but cautions him about three idiosyncrasies of Maybelline; she takes great pleasure in sweet words directed to her, she consumes large amounts of food and she cannot be left alone for more than the merest of seconds.

Will poetic phrases turn Maybelline into a speed demon?  Does Leroy have enough spaghetti?  Will a thunderstorm and an umbrella cause the end of a beautiful new friendship?  You, dear reader, will come to agree with Maybelline about the stories in the best movies.  Perhaps you will be surprised but you will understand.


Do you remember the animal control officer who may or may not have captured Mercy Watson successfully?  In Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon (Candlewick Press, August 25, 2015) this winner of forty-seven trophies for her astute animal capturing skills is baffled beyond belief by what she encounters one dark night.  Upon receiving a phone call from Mrs. Bissinger, residing on Fleeker Street, about a screaming-like-a-banshee, shimmering raccoon Francine, who fears nothing, finds herself on a very high roof facing said raccoon.

This meeting with the details better left for you to discover ends with Francine in the hospital with more than one broken bone and broken in spirit.  Upon leaving the hospital she does something completely out of character for a third generation animal control officer.  Words from Frank and a tiny treat from Stella leave Francine Poulet wondering about her future, wondering about her place in the world.

Will our humming genuine article save the day?  Will a new era begin?  You should ask the raccoon.


For the third volume in the series Tales from Deckawoo Drive, author Kate DiCamillo and illustrator Chris Van Dusen showcase a woman in need of change.  Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln (Candlewick Press, August 2, 2016) begins, unlike the previous two titles, on Deckawoo Drive.  It follows the younger, more kind-hearted of the two Lincoln sisters.

Baby Lincoln was dreaming.

A dream of riding on a fast train and stars shooting in the sky comes to a fast close with the shouting of Eugenia.  She wants Baby to wake up and write goals for the day.  Today Baby does something she has never done.  She says no.  It's time for her to take

a necessary journey.

After packing her suitcase, which is no easy task for someone who has never done this and has no idea where they are going, she walks out of the house and down the street to the train station.  Along the way Stella asks to walk with her.  Stella is wise beyond her years.

Now on the train heading toward the town of Fluxom, Baby begins the most interesting part of her trip, speaking with other passengers.  A fur-hat wearing man and the comic section of the daily newspaper leave her filled with laughter.  A young woman with a bigger-than-big bag of jelly beans helps her to see the importance of given names, singing stars and tasting sunshine and springtime. A little, paper-crown-wearing boy, George, awakens the storyteller in Baby.

The station at Fluxom is deserted when Baby arrives.  Beneath the starry sky the only sound she hears is that of a lone cricket.  Thankfully, Stella is indeed wise beyond her years.


It does not matter if Kate DiCamillo is writing about animals or people.  It does not matter if the book is an early chapter book, a picture book or a novel.  There is universality about her writing which finds a way into every heart.  She makes us laugh.  She makes us cry.  And most of all, we are better people for reading her books.

Her storytelling is straightforward but brings many threads together in a nearly magical style of art.  She adds extra descriptive details to very exact portions of her sentences.  When we see the world through her eyes, we see more.  Here are some sample passages from this book.

Baby opened her eyes.  She didn't know exactly what she was talking about either.  But she knew that something important was happening.  Her heart was beating very fast.
The sun was shining into the kitchen, and everything seemed outlined in brightness, possibility.
Eugenia stared at Baby.  Her mouth was open.  She looked quite astonished.
Baby was astonished, too.

Calaband Darsh sounded like a very grand place, a shooting-star kind of place.  Baby opened her purse and took out her wallet.  She handed the wallet to Stella and watched as Stella counted the money inside. 
"Okay" said Stella.  She handed the wallet back to Baby.  She consulted the train schedule.  "Let's see."
It turned out that Baby didn't have enough money to get to Calaband Darsh.
She had enough money to get to Fluxom.
"Fluxom?" said Baby.
"Fluxom," said Stella.
Fluxom did not sound like a shooting star kind of place at all.


The Mercy Watson books and the volumes in the Tales of Deckawoo Drive series have been delightfully rendered with gouache by the talented Chris Van Dusen.  All of the book cases and dust jackets portray key moments in each one of these titles. The Mercy Watson books have full color in the interior pages.  The images in the Tales of Deckawoo Drive are in black and white.

In each of the books Van Dusen includes two page spreads, single pages and smaller picture tucked in the text.  The facial features on all his characters are guaranteed to evoke laughter.  He depicts the people and places exactly as you imagine them to be in your mind as you are reading DiCamillo's words.


In preparation for the most recent book, Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln written by Kate DiCamillo with illustrations by Chris Van Dusen, I reread all the other titles yesterday.  It was a truly heartwarming experience to step back into the world at Deckawoo Drive.  There are moments of absolute and total hilarity and minutes you want to replay over and over because of their profound truths but most of all these books speak about love in all its forms.

To discover more about Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen and their other work please take a few minutes to visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  Here is the link to a website entirely devoted to the Mercy Watson and Deckawoo Drive titles.  Here is a printable PDF outlining activities and lessons related to all the Mercy Watson books.  At each of the publisher pages for each of the nine titles there are many wonderful resources for each book.  They are in order of publication here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. 

New To The Neighborhood

Moving into a new neighborhood, a new community, can be a bit daunting regardless of your age.  You wonder about the similarities and differences between you and your neighbors.  You are curious to know if they are friendly and supportive or if they prefer to quietly go about their lives in isolation.  It's also safe to say those "Welcome Wagon" days are a thing of the past.

In a companion to Louise Love Art (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, September 9, 2014) Kelly Light works her own singular, delightful combination of words and images to bring to readers Louise and Andie The Art Of Friendship (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, June 14, 2016).  Louise's special optimistic brand of looking at life spills forth from the pages of this new story.  She embraces change seeing it as an opportunity.

Art, this is the BEST day ever!
I'm so excited to meet out new neighbor.
I hope she loves art too.

As Louise, her brother Art and their expressive cat approach the new neighbor's house an air of anticipation hangs in the air.  Louise introduces herself, Art and their cat and Andie introduces herself and her dog, Bacon.  Andie seems to be a bit reserved but welcomes them inside her home.

As soon as possible Louise asks Andie if she likes art.  Upon seeing her bedroom decorated with huge paintings, it is clear Andie shares the same passion as Louise.  Within minutes they are both making art together.  They both declare this is the

BEST DAY EVER!

The trouble in this portrait of perfection among new friends is when a question is asked and answered.  The recipient of the reply was not ready for insights from another.  An ensuing tussle results in an artistic disaster and a classic realization.

Both girls are deeply saddened, the one leaving for home and the other wondering what to do.  Kindred in spirit if not in their outlook on art, a new masterpiece takes shape.  Plans for future collaboration will prompt knowing nods in some readers and most assuredly giggles from everyone.


As soon as you read the first three sentences all the joy the characters feel for art and the making of art is conveyed by Kelly Light.  As the story progresses we realize this outlook is not something to be held in solitude but released into the world.  Within short specific conversations, personalities are reinforced and introduced to readers.  When these are paired with the images readers will be able to detect subtle hints at the how the narrative will unfold.


When you first look at the matching dust jacket and book case ask yourself what you see.  What do you notice about the color palette?  What do the expressions on the characters' faces depict?  What does the choice of eyeglass style reveal about their personalities?  What type of medium do they prefer in making their art?  Already similarities and differences are clearly noticeable.

To the left, on the back, the comic relief team is busy.  Along the top hanging from a line with clothes pins are three portraits of Louise, Art and Andie.  Beneath them the cat and Art are watching Bacon create his own particular type of art.  Blue paint is flying in the air and cans of red and yellow are overturned.  The blue used in the jacket and case acts as a canvas on the opening and closing endpapers.  In the corner of each is the window in Louise's home.  In the first the cat is beneath a welcoming hand-drawn picture.  In the second the results of a new relationship are framed in the same window.

Continuing to use every portion of the book to tell her story, Light pictures Art, Louise and the cat peeking out the window of their home at the moving van parked next door on the title page.  Andie and Bacon are on the lawn.  The publication information at the close of the book provides a comical continuation.

Rendered in many black Prismacolor pencils and Photoshop most of the illustrations span two pages except for a critical turning point when Light uses a series of smaller pictures on a single page followed by three horizontal illustrations on the next page. Bright white backgrounds, distinctive use of line and limited color palette have these pictures literally popping off the pages with sheer happiness.

The humor supplied in the cat's expressions of disdain and in the toothy grin on Bacon's face will have readers bursting out in laughter.  Bacon's eagerness is most definitely not shared by the cat.  The ebb and flow of the narrative is skillfully matched in the shift of perspective with page turns.  Careful readers will notice details such as the stacked soup cans on the kitchen counter.

One of my many favorite illustrations is a close-up after Louise and Andie sit down to make art.  All we see are hands and paper.  Louise is leaning over a duck picture she is drawing with a pencil, a sharpener near at hand.  In the opposite corner, lower, right-hand side, Andie is painting with her brush.  Beneath Louise, nearly off the page, Art is drawing with a red crayon.  On that same page Bacon is making an entrance grabbing and pulling on the cat's tale as she exits the top of the right-hand page.  What's not to love about the energy in this picture?!


As charming as the first book with equal amounts of love of art and humor Louise And Andie The Art of Friendship written and illustrated by Kelly Light is sure to be rarely on bookshelves.  The artful, yes artful, mix of Light's words and her illustrations completely surround the reader.  By the time they finish this story, they will be getting out their own art supplies or heading to the nearest store.  All the characters with their unique personalities will find a place in each reader's heart.

To discover more about Kelly Light and her illustrative work please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  Scholastic's Ambassador for School Libraries John Schumacher featured Kelly Light on his blog, Watch. Connect. Read. with the release of her book trailer and a chat.  Kelly Light is a guest at Reading for Research ReFoReMo talking about mentor texts. On June 14, 2016 at All The Wonders, a group of people from the children's literature community got together to celebrate Kelly Light, Louise and the art of friendship with their cheerful artwork.  Kelly Light speaks with teacher librarian Matthew Winner on All The Wonders, Episode 266.  Kelly Light has been a guest at KidLit TV in a series of videos.