We are time travelers when notes from a certain song reach our ears. Those notes take us back to people, places, and events. We remember where we were, who we were with, and how those songs were sung or played for us. In this respect, music is magic. It is everywhere if we listen.
It whistles through the masts of "on the hard" sailboats in winter. It splashes on the sandy shore when waves roll across the lake. It floats from branch to branch when chickadees and cardinals call to each other in the morning. For this reason, music is a bridge, too, between us and what surrounds us daily as well as to our past. Bravo, Little Bird! (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, February 21, 2023) written by Annie Silvestro with artwork by Ramona Kaulitzki is the heartwarming story of an old man and the bond his music makes with a bird. Their relationship transcends death in a truly beautiful tribute to the power of music, family, and friendship.
The old man and his wife lived high on a hill. Each
day, notes from the old man's piano drifted out the
window, down the hill, and into the valley below.
A small bird, Little Bird, heard every note. Those notes lead her from the valley to the old man's window. She built her nest outside that window. Soon Little Bird joined the old man in making music. The old man exclaimed,
Bravo, Little Bird!
Each day Little Bird would serenade the old man playing on his piano as the old woman painted next to her husband. Before long, a boy, the couple's grandson, came for a visit. When introduced to him, Little Bird sang a celebratory tune.
The house on the hill was filled with melodies as the grandson learned everything he could about making music from his grandfather. Little Bird warbled and the old woman hummed along. Where do you think all this music went? It whirled around on currents of air, winding down to the valley.
During this time, Little Bird had three babies, the boy grew bigger, and the old man grew older. The boy played the piano in his grandfather's place as Little Bird and her babies sang. One morning there was no music except for a single sorrow-filled note by Little Bird. Little Bird, her babies, the boy and his grandmother simply did not have the heart for making music.
Down in the valley, a cardinal missed the music. Traveling to the hilltop, the cardinal heard from Little Bird about what happened. Curious from this encounter, Little Bird flew to the valley. What she heard there, gave her an idea. In the evening, the boy and his grandmother stepped outside, hearing a symphony of sound, all the music, all the songs, previously played by the old man. It was enchanting! (Who do you think made that music?)
Like your favorite pleasant place or cozy comforter, the words in this story penned by Annie Silvestro wrap around you and send your soul soaring. She uses alliterative word combinations and repeating phrases to fashion a welcoming cadence. Whenever an individual masters a musical melody, the word
Bravo
is used as praise and encouragement. The right amount of dialogue is blended into the narrative to make the story more intimate for readers. Here is a passage.
The old man played joyful, jolly music.
Sad, soulful music.
Beautiful, bountiful, breathtaking music.
All the while the old woman listened
and hummed as she painted beside him.
On the right side, the front of the open and matching dust jacket and book case, we see Little Bird, the boy and his grandfather. They are enveloped in a swirl of musical notes, one of the many songs played by Grandfather on his piano. One man, an old man, and his music reshaped the hearts of the residents of the hillside and valley. As this image suggests, it began with Little Bird and the boy. The title text is raised to the touch and embossed in foil.
To the left of the spine, a smaller circular illustration is placed on a canvas of palest green, almost a cream. It is of the boy with outstretched arms, dancing. Little Bird's babies fly and sing around him. The background in the circular picture is a pale green.
A sky-blue hue covers the opening and closing endpapers. On the initial title page, Little Bird sings a melody which loops around the title text. On the formal title page, verso and dedication pages, musical notes dip and wrap around the text. They come from a song being played by Grandfather on his piano on the right page of the two pages.
span two pages or full pages, edge to edge or surrounded by liberal amounts of white space. They are highly animated, uplifting, and feature a merry mix of human and animal residents of the valley. Readers will pause after page turns to notice all the delicate details.
One thing which I find comforting and intentional is the clothing worn by the old man, the old woman, and their grandson. It does not change throughout the book. Neither does that of the other residents in the valley. I believe this brings the humans closer to the showcased animals who do not change their feathers or fur.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a full-page picture placed on a crisp white canvas. Little Bird is poised at the top of the pages singing. Notes loop from her, go around the old man playing at his piano on the right, and the old woman, painting toward the bottom of the page under Little Bird. The old woman is painting a picture of Little Bird on a leafy branch. Each of these individuals is content and happy.
We can never have enough hope in our lives. Hope is held in the pages of Bravo, Little Bird! written by Annie Silvestro with illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki. In this title, hope is carried on the notes of shared music. Use this book for a study on the power of music to weave stories, stories that never end. It should have a place on your personal and professional bookshelves.
To discover more about Annie Silvestro and Ramona Kaulitzki and their other work, please access their websites by following the link attached to their names. Annie Silvestro has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Ramona Kaulitzki has accounts on Behance, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. At the publisher's website, you can view the open dust jacket and multiple interior images. At author Tara Lazar's Writing For Kids (While Raising Them), the cover was revealed.
In cultures and countries around the world, especially in the northern hemisphere, this time of year represents a pause. Mother Nature is at rest, so perhaps it is a time for us to reflect on the past seasons and celebrate. Possibly, there are small, everyday things to honor, elevating the ordinary to extraordinary. There are centuries-old traditions to commemorate; many steeped in religious beliefs or holiday observances. Cold, snow, and wind bring their own special events. For many, a new year is welcomed.
Following are six titles (with one more to arrive soon), which you might consider for reading during these several months. The first book, Season of Light (Farrar Straus Giroux, September 13, 2022) written by Jess Redman with illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki, takes eight single words and wraps them in activities and elements, defining those words for those who participate and for those who wish to understand. From beginning to end, this book is uplifting.
After red and green dreams,
We wake up before the sun.
We're counting down December days
But savoring each one.
Joy, wonder, together, giving, song, story, faith, and light are featured through observing three families residing in a community. We see them making snowflakes, hanging ornaments and stockings. Relatives are welcomed and visited.
Kindness is presented through the giving of gifts and food. Caroling sends music throughout the town, bringing happiness to families, businesses, and those now residing in communal spaces. Stories of Christmases past and present are shared. Together the children in the three families participate in a Christmas play before they and their parents step outside into the snowy night for a final gathering.
Author Jess Redmanfocuses onpeople preparing and participating with an emphasis on placing others first. Her four-line rhyming text supplies a rhythm readers enjoy and anticipate as the pages are turned. For each of the eight words, they are preceded by the same phrase---
This is a season of . . .
This technique binds all the portions of the narrative together and references the title of the book which is also the final thought. Here is another passage.
Our voices ring out
Silver bells and midnights clear
First noels and glorious morns
Offerings of goodwill and cheer.
On the right side, front, of the dust jacket readers can see the three families circling the community tree. Windows, tree lights, and handheld candles are alight amid the snow falling at night. The title text is embossed in gold. On the back, to the left of the spine, on a crisp white canvas are four of the children from the families. Above them the words read:
This is a season of joy . . .
of faith . . .
of light.
On the book case the image from the back of the jacket is moved to the front beneath the title text. The same words are used on the back of the case, but they are set in a bird's eye view of the city as snow falls on the hills, road, and homes. A snowman is featured on the right side on the top of a hill.
The opening and closing endpapers in a muted red highlight a pattern of reindeer, a branch of berries, a pine bough, and snowflakes all done in muted brown and cream. A double-page picture of a glowing sky, snowy landscape and bare trees provides a place for the title and verso pages.
These illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki, digitally rendered, are colorful and embrace the emotions of the holiday. They are full-page pictures, smaller visuals grouped together, and two-page images for the single sentence text announcing the next word. The use of light in each scene elevates the narrative.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a two-page picture. The sky, near the horizon, is glowing. Buildings, windows lighted, line the background on the left, crossing the gutter. Another building stands alone on the right. In the distance is the church and another building. In the town center is the Christmas tree. Gathered around it are shoppers, dog walkers, children and families. They are listening to the three musicians. Snowflakes gently swirl in the air.
Warmth flows throughout Season of Light written by Jess Redman with artwork by Ramona Kaulitzki. This title is both a reminder and a nod to tradition. You will want to add this title to your personal and professional holiday collections.
To learn more about Jess Redman and Ramona Kaulitzki and their other work, please access their websites by following the link attached to their names. Jess Redman has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Ramona Kaulitzki has accounts on Behance, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. At the publisher's website, you can view interior images.
Back in 2002, author illustrator Matt Tavares illustrated 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Or Account Of A Visit From St. Nicholas (Candlewick Press). This volume measures seven and one-half inches by eight and three-quarters inches. Along the spine is a deep cranberry cloth binding which sets off the sage green border around St. Nicholas as he visits a home. There are delicate gold elements in that sage green border. That same green shade is featured within the book, outlining text and pictures with a fine line frame. The opening and closing endpapers are patterned in shades of red, somewhat like wallpaper in homes during the time period in which the poem was penned. The exquisite and highly detailed artwork done in pencil elevates this pictorial interpretation of the poem to spectacular.
This year 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Or Account Of A Visit From St. Nicholas (Candlewick Press, September 13, 2022) written by Clement C. Moore with illustrations by Matt Tavares has been recreated in a larger volume measuring just under ten by twelve inches. On the front of the book's dust jacket and book case, we can see a close-up of St. Nicholas driving his reindeer-pulled sleigh off into the Christmas night as he calls out his famous exclamation. The golden text is embossed. On the back, to the left of a bright red spine, the same bright red color provides a border for an interior picture. It is Papa looking out the bedroom window
to see what was the matter.
The same A Note from the Illustrator appears prior to the beginning of the poem with a few alterations. The dedication to his wife, Sarah, remains in this edition. The title page is artwork depicting town buildings glowing from snow covered objects and a full moon just as in the prior edition. We look between those buildings, their shadows stretching from one side of the street to the other side.
In this stunning book, the artwork extends to each page edge, whether it is a single-page picture or a dramatic double-page visual. The illustrations are darker, still as detailed, but have a slight grainy effect. In this book the text is framed on the top and bottom with an intricate leafy border in red and white. If the picture is a two-page illustration the border is only along the bottom. On some of the pages of text, just as in the original book, there are smaller images representing a moment in time, like a candle just blown out or a jack-in-the-box jumping up.
One of my many favorite illustrations spans two pages. It is if we are standing outside in the street at night. Two different fence styles border the sidewalk, close to us as we look left to right down the street. Behind the fences are trees and landscaping in front of magnificent homes. When we can see the sky above those structures there are some clouds among the stars. Santa and his sleigh are landing on one of the housetops on the right side. It is the variety of perspectives which I find wonderful.
This volume of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Or Account of A Visit From St. Nicholas by Clement C. Moore with artwork by Matt Tavares is a title to have in every collection, personal and professional. It is one to compare with other artwork by other artists. Some versions change the text, but this book keeps the text the same as it was originally published 200 years ago in 1823.
To learn more about Matt Tavares and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. There is a page dedicated to this book where you can view interior illustrations. Matt Tavares has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For fans of the one-of-a-kind, buttered-toast loving pig, a new title takes readers to Deckawoo Drive for a Christmas journey. One of the residents has a deep desire to go caroling, but not one other person wishes to join her. They all have excuses, but our carol-loving child is not deterred. A Very Mercy Christmas (Candlewick Press, September 27, 2022) written by Kate DiCamillo with artwork by Chris Van Dusen is a faith-restoring, miracle-believing, and soul-brightening tale which is utterly charming.
Stella Endicott felt joyful. She felt like something
miraculous might happen. She wanted to sing.
Frank, Stella's brother, was not ready to go caroling at the drop of a hat. Mr. and Mrs. Watson were in the middle of a fruitcake disaster. However, Mrs. Watson suggested Stella take Mercy with her. Mercy was happy to accompany Stella. They headed to the Lincoln sisters' house.
There grumpy Eugenia Lincoln refused to go caroling with a pig and her happy sister, Baby, was told no one was at the door. At this point, Stella is feeling a wee bit less happy. General Washington, the Lincoln sisters' cat joins Stella and Mercy.
Horace Broom is too attached to celestial gazing to carol, so Stella, Mercy and General Washington decide to do it on their own. The trio sing out Joy to the World, and are surprisingly joined by Maybelline, LeRoy Ninker's horse.
As dusk descends, Stella, Mercy, General Washington, and Maybelline are greeted with new sounds, joyful sounds. Each voice chimes in to affirm the personalities we know and love. As they travel for a feast of buttered toast, a true miracle quietly surrounds each person.
With her beloved skill of blending narrative and dialogue, Kate DiCamillo tells a tale of neighbors realizing the truest definition of the word, neighbor. Each time Stella stops at a neighbor's home, another layer is built into the story. Although Stella's original spirit is dampened, she believes that Mercy and General Washington are the best kind of pals to go caroling. Adding in Maybelline is a stroke of genius. In this story, Kate DiCamillo uses Stella, (and Mercy, General Washington, and Maybelline) to remind all of us miracles are possible when joy is involved. (It is guaranteed the final sentence will give you goosebumps of happiness.) Here is a passage.
The pig looked over at Stella, and then she put her
snout up to the stars and let out a strange sound.
It wasn't an oink. It wasn't a squeal.
It was a noise full of hope and wonder and longing.
It was---almost---melodious.
Words like bright, colorful, and bold come to mind when you look at the open dust jacket made by Chris Van Dusen. The snow-covered landscape of Deckawoo Drive with lights and wreaths sends out a holiday hello to readers. Mercy and Stella are looking their Christmas best. The title text is embossed in silver. To the left of the spine, framed in a star-studded scalloped sky, is an interior image. It shows the neighborhood group gathered around a table as Mrs. Watson approaches with a huge stack of buttered toast.
The book case is done in a hue of blue with thin lines fashioning stripes. Tiny diamonds make a pattern in these stripes. A wide red cloth band covers the spine. On the front of the case is Mercy Watson looking at an open box or ornaments. The opening and closing endpapers are yellow and white check. With a page turn, we see a snowpig, Mercy, alone in a white setting with a blue scalloped border. It is the attention to details that sets the work of Chris Van Dusen apart. Above the dedication is Mercy's Christmas stocking with a piece of buttered toast peeking out the top.
Single page images opposite text framed in the blue scalloped border followed by brilliant double-page visuals encourage readers to turn the pages as fast as they can. What will happen to Stella, Mercy and General Washington next? It is the final double-page picture with the final sentence that will have readers releasing a long and satisfied sigh.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a single-page picture. Here Stella, Mercy, General Washington, and Maybelline are standing and sitting together on the sidewalk. Snow covers the nearby lawns. Lights twinkle in outside trees. Windows glow with lights inside the homes. The sky is studded with stars as the horizon shows the sun recently set. Stella, Mercy, General Washington, and Maybelline have their heads raised and are singing Deck the Halls.
Regardless of how you feel when you first start reading A Very Mercy Christmas written by Kate DiCamillo with illustrations by Chris Van Dusen, you will feel much more joyful when you finish it. In fact, you'll probably read it again right then and there. Your personal and professional collections won't be complete without a copy of this title.
To discover more about Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. Kate DiCamillo has another site linked here. Kate DiCamillo has an account on Facebook. Chris Van Dusen has accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Mercy Watson has a site linked here. At Penguin Random House, you can view interior images.
One of the best parts of this season is discovering something new done by a person, a family or an entire country. How wonderful it is to encounter an Icelandic tradition presented in The Christmas Book Flood (Farrar Straus Giroux, November 1, 2022) written by Emily Kilgore with pictures by Kitty Moss. Once you've read this book, you'll agree this is a tradition to spread around the world.
Darkness blankets the land,
covering forests and homes,
mountains and bookshops.
Northern lights shine down on a village with people trying to stay warm inside and outside their homes. Snow is coming. So is the Book Flood. Book Flood?
On December 24th, people give books to those they love.
Reading is magic when you have the right book.
People shop in earnest for the perfect book for each person in their lives. There are so many choices it is hard to select a title.
Snow has started to fall as people hurry to make their purchases. Each heart is happy as they move within the shops. It is mere hours until the gift giving begins. A final treasure is located!
Now wrapped, the waiting is nearly over. It's time! Each present is opened. Each book is a new beginning. Hot chocolate is savored as are all the different books. Reading throughout the night, stories travel throughout a community and beyond its borders.
With each sentence, author Emily Kilgore paints a picture as deftly as an artist. She supplies us with a place and time rich in descriptive words. We cannot help but join with the townspeople as they get ready for the Book Flood. We feel the anticipation growing until we, like those in this town, can hardly wait. Happiness flows from the pages as people seek the right book. And then, satisfaction settles like a warm blanket as the reading commences. Here is a passage.
There's laughter and hope
and holiday cheer:
bright twinkling lights,
hot cocoa, soft music,
Clouds of warm breath,
tight hugs of hello,
the soft crunch under boots
as they trudge through fresh snow.
When opening the dust jacket, the reader will first notice the city scene extends flap edge to flap edge. The brightness of the setting sends out merriment along with the falling snowflakes and airborne books, moving like birds through the night. The tree in the town center, made of books, draws our eyes to the main character, a child longing for the Book Flood and also seeking the right book to give. Her furry friend is eager to start their next adventure. The title text is embossed in gold.
On the book case, some of the shops are still the same. The sky is darker with fewer snowflakes but books still fly. The ground is covered in snow. Our protagonist rides her bike down the street with her dog running alongside her. The tree in the town center is now an evergreen trimmed in lights and ornaments. There are so many small details on the book case and dust jacket, readers will spend hours looking at all of them.
The opening and closing endpapers feature the town before and after the Book Flood. One shows the end of autumn with a crescent moon in the upper right-hand corner. The other shows a snowy landscape with northern lights, flying books, and magic in the air. The moon, still in the right-hand corner, is full. The verso and title pages highlight a single image with the girl riding through town with her pup in the bike's basket. It is as if they are riding inside a book.
Rendered by Kitty Moss, the illustrations appear to be alive. The layers in each collage are intricate and well-defined covering single and double pages and once, a smaller one wrapped in white space. They ask us to pause, and we do. Her choice of colors mirror the time, place and mood of the narrative.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a two-page picture. The sky is now very dark with hints of snow and stars. On the left side, buildings in the community are a backdrop for bustling people trying to make final selections. A couple walks up a snowy hill outside of town on the left. On the right side, our young girl rides her bike up a large snowy hill. She appears as a silhouette with a long shadow. The skeletons of several trees are visible. An owl carrying a book in its beak flies over the town.
In case you've ever wondered why some people say books make the best gifts, this title makes it abundantly clear as to why this is a truth. The Christmas Book Flood written by Emily Kilgore with artwork by Kitty Moss is a gift. In an Author's Note more is explained about this tradition. Be sure to place a copy of this title in your personal and professional collections. Let the Book Flood begin!
To learn more about Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss and their other work, please access their websites by following the link attached to their names. Emily Kilgore has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Kitty Moss has accounts on Instagram and Pinterest. This title is highlighted by John Schu at Watch. Connect. Read. At the publisher's website, you can view interior images.
In my humble opinion, you will never forget the first time you see the northern lights. For me it was very late one night, nearly very early in the morning. I was traveling home after an event as my school's junior class advisor. At the time, I was living in a community in northern Michigan, less than an hour away from the top of the Mitt. As I turned off a major highway onto my road, I was stuck speechless by the sight before me. The entire sky was pulsating in pinks and greens, in a wide arc from horizon to horizon. It was incredible!
In his newest title, The Lights That Dance In The Night (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, November 1, 2022), author illustrator Yuval Zommer brings his considerable talents to bear in showcasing the natural spectacle known as the aurora borealis. In this book, we follow the beginning and journey of these lights. Through the words and artwork of Yuval Zommer, we experience this phenomenon as if we are standing beneath them.
We are the lights
that dance in the night.
We started our journey as specks
of dust blown to Earth
from the Sun.
The lights traveled to the far reaches of the north. They cast a colorful, shimmering glow to animals below them. Polar bears, Arctic hares, seals and puffins all noticed their presence. They shone on boats traversing the seas and on whales beneath the water.
Arctic foxes, musk oxen, wolves and wild cats played under and called out to the lights. Birds flew and gathered. Reindeer looked up at the skies. Animals were not the only ones to marvel at this display of dancing lights.
People paused and stared. Storytellers told tales. All animals and all people regardless of their size or age wondered at this natural magic. Piercing the darkness, this magic offered something for all.
Whether you read the words penned by Yuval Zommer to yourself or aloud, they convey an extraordinary truth of the northern lights. We know the science behind them, but they still reveal themselves as enchanting and otherworldly. The rhythm supplied by the words mirrors the movement of the lights, rhyming beautifully like a melody. Here are two separate passages.
Our dancing lights made whales sing
and bells on boats began to ring.
We lit the skies for forest birds,
we sparkled over reindeer herds.
The signature artwork of Yuval Zommer begins to shimmer on the open dust jacket. Here, on the front, animals and people are drawn to the lights in the night sky. Different colored glitter covers most of the elements in this scene. On the back, to the left of the spine, swirls of color cross the sky as white birds glide upward through the glow of the lights and stars. Text describes the book above the snowy landscape.
On the book case, a single polar bear stands amid hues of blue above the title text in white on the right side. A few stars are positioned above the bear. On the left side, we are brought close to puffins who fly and play and seals who clap beneath the lights that dance in the night.
A pale dusty lavender covers the opening and closing endpapers. A trio of white stars and a single star with a tail above them makes a pattern across these pages. Yuval Zommer's dedication reads:
Dedicated to all
light seekers.
A two-page picture covers the verso, dedication and title pages. A boat, puffins, northern birds, reindeer, a polar bear and whales are together here.
Two-page visuals or a series of three panels fill the pages of this volume. The intricate elements in each illustration beckon us to look and wonder. We feel as though we are in a northern forest or near the shores of an Arctic sea. Which animal are we? Or are we only observers? As humans gather, will we listen to the tales told by tellers or stand outside and watch the lights? Or perhaps, we will do both.
One of my many favorite illustrations is a two-page image. Across the blue-hued sky, the northern lights pulse in yellow, purple, and green. Forest trees are shown in white, standing among a landscape in blue and snowy white. A reindeer on the left and a reindeer on the right face each other. They wear traditional domestic blankets and harnesses. Birds fly above them and rest in their antlers.
No matter how many times you read The Lights That Dance In The Night written and illustrated by Yuval Zommer, you are mesmerized by the marriage of the words and illustrations each time. You cannot help but yearn for your next sighting of the northern lights. Maybe it will be this year. I highly recommend you place this title in all your collections and gift it to those you love.
To learn more about Yuval Zommer and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name which takes you to his agency's website. Yuval Zommer has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Yuval Zommer frequently posts pictures from his books on both platforms, as well as artwork done by readers of his books.
After the December rest amid the celebration of holidays, families, and friends, January heralds in a new year, the start of something unlike the past filled with potential and possibilities, but typing the final entry in this post, my eyes fill with tears. Carols, now Silent Night, are playing on an Ambient Worlds music video. When I enter in the title, and author and illustrator names, I find it hard to believe Patricia MacLachlan is no longer with us. In this book, Snow Horses: A First Night Story (Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, November 8, 2022), she is collaborating again with artist Micha Archer. Together they have created a vision of beauty, a story of tradition and hope. This is both a memory and a captured moment.
SNOW FALLING
all day---
all night.
Drifting over
meadows
and gardens
and roads.
In a nearby barn, sheep, covered in snow, gather inside. Patiently waiting in their stalls are two horses, Tim and Tom. They long to pull the large sleigh outside. Jenny, their driver, takes them from the barn, putting on their bell-decked bridles and turns on the lights on the sleigh. Horses and driver leave the barn gleaming with tiny white lights.
Happily, the horses move toward town. They love this time of year. In the town's market, horns blare. Children climb into the sleigh, their laughter and chatter filling the air. A golden dog races alongside the sleigh.
Children, Jenny, Tim, Tom and the golden dog move through the streets with houses lit with white lights. After the children go home to sleep, the sleigh again fills with riders. These are the grandparents, uncles and aunts, and old friends who were once children riding in the sleigh on this last night of the old year. They, too, fill the air with laughter and chatter and memories. The golden dog runs with them, too.
Finally, Jenny, Tim and Tom go home. The sheep are fast asleep. Soon the horses rest. And the little golden dog . . .
Patricia MacLachlan was an author with the ability to bring readers into a specific time and space through her descriptive, lyrical language. In this book, her characters, human and animal, are fully realized. We want to be with them. We want to know them. We understand what it is to be the sheep on a snowy winter night and the horses who can hardly wait to pull the sleigh. Regardless of our ages, we experience the joy of both the children and the older adults. This is the gift of Patricia MacLachlan's writing. Here is a passage.
Tim and Tom pull the sleigh past the
library with a light in every window,
across the old stone bridge,
along the icy river,
up the hill,
and down the hill,
where in every window
of every house
there are little lights.
The town sparkles.
Rendered in collage with homemade papers and ink by Micha Archer, the illustrations we first see on the dust jacket and book case are an introduction to the wonder waiting inside the pages of this book. On the right side of the jacket, children in the town come to pet Tim and Tom, standing patiently amid the falling snow. This visual continues over the spine and to the left edge of the back of the jacket. The author, illustrator, and title text are varnished. You can almost hear the jingle of the bells on the horses' harnesses.
On the book case is another two-page picture. Here we are privy to a vast country landscape as the sun sets in the background behind a grove of trees and rolling, snowy hills. In the foreground Jenny is in the sleigh with Tim and Tom pulling. The little golden dog runs behind the wagon.
The opening endpapers are also the dedication and verso pages. This showcases an even more vast pastoral panoramic view. Lines of trees, etched in darker colors line rolling hills. We see the barn on the far right side and in the distance is the town. A full moon hangs in the sky with a frosty circle of light around it. This is a bird's eye perspective. On the closing endpapers, everything is colored in hues of blue now. Snow is heavily falling. Lights dot the path to the barn and light windows in the town. Anticipation hangs in the air.
Readers will study each illustration, noting the details Micha Archer brings to each scene. On the title page, a double-page picture brings us near to the barn amid lines of trees, groves of trees, rolling hills and a fenced area for the horses, now wearing blankets. (Be sure to study the branches of the trees and the materials used to form them.) Each of the following two-page illustrations or one and one half page pictures with varying perspectives takes us on an exploration of this New Year's Eve festivity. You will have to remind yourself to keep breathing after seeing the sheer loveliness before you.
One of my many favorite illustrations is for the above-quoted text. The sky and landscape are done in shades of turquoise. The homes are varied in color with snow on their rooftops. Some of the houses are in the foreground and others are on the other side of the river in the background. The streetlights cast large glowing balls of light. Each window is glowing with light. Snowflakes fill the air and cover the tree branches. The children ride in the sleigh driven by Jenny and pulled by Tim and Tom. The little golden dog runs next to the sleigh. (A portion of this image appears on the cover of the November/December issue of The Horn Book Magazine.)
This work by Patricia MacLachlan and Micha Archer is certain to become a seasonal and holiday classic. Readers of all ages will find themselves in the pages of Snow Horses: A First Night Story. You cannot help longing for a sleigh ride on New Year's Eve. Do yourself a favor and make sure a copy of this book is on your personal bookshelves in case the sleigh does not appear in your town. Your learners will enjoy reading a copy hopefully found on your professional shelves, too.
Here is a link to the obituary for Patricia MacLachlan appearing in Publishers Weekly on April 5, 2022. To learn more about Micha Archer and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website. Micha Archer has an account on Instagram. At the publisher's website, you can view interior images including the entire dust jacket and book case.
As the sun drops below the horizon and the light of day fades, darkness deepens. For many, animals and humans, it signals a slowing and eventual rest. This daily slowing and rest happen on a grander scale for much longer when autumn shifts to winter. For months, the time of light is shorter and nights are longer. It is nature asking the world to pause and replenish.
Children are not always eager to rest, especially at bedtime. They have their reasons, perfectly valid to them, for staying awake as long as possible. Time For Bed, Old House (Candlewick Press, September 28, 2021) written by Janet Costa Bates with artwork by AG Ford presents a charming nightly routine.
ISAAC LOVED THE NEW PAJAMAS he got for his first
sleepover at Grandpop's house. He loved laughing and
playing with Grandpop. But he didn't love the thought
of sleeping away from home.
When Isaac said he wasn't sleepy, Grandpop was okay with him being awake. They did need to put the house to bed, though. This was something new for Isaac.
Grandpop said they needed to be quiet and move slowly. They needed to turn off the lights to make it darker. Isaac was a bit spooked by the sound of Snuffles' nails clicking on the floor.
Then the trio, Grandpop, his dog, and Isaac, moved down the hallway. Another sound startled Isaac, but after looking outside he was relieved. They pulled down the shades at the windows. (Of what does this remind you?)
Up the stairs they went as the house settled, creaking. In the bedroom, Isaac's mother's old room, he picked out a story to read to the house. Isaac could only read the pictures. When he finished, nestled in Grandpop's lap, he realized Grandpop was sound asleep. Each thing he did with his grandfather, Isaac now completed within the room until another sound could be heard.
Readers immediately warm to Grandpop because author Janet Costa Batesgives him a compassionate heart. As he and his grandson move about the house performing tasks to put it to bed, the number of tasks mingles with the trio of sounds to make a soothing cadence. The blend of narrative and conversation allows us to understand both the boy and his grandfather and their deeply affectionate relationship. Here is a passage.
Creak. Creak. Creak.
"What's that noise?" asked Isaac. (page turn)
"This old house makes sleepy sounds, just like you," said
Grandpop. "You yawn. You stretch. I bet you even snore."
"I don't think I snore," said Isaac.
Grandpop shrugged. "But if you're sleeping, how do you
know?" He chuckled loudly, then caught himself and put
his hand over his mouth. . . .
The serenity, security, and warmth shown on the front, right side, of the open and matching dust jacket and book case wraps around readers like a beloved blanket. The shadows from the soft glow of the lamp further create a cozy atmospheric scene. Grandpop, Isaac, Bear, and Snuffles are the very picture of nighttime peace. Look how Isaac has his finger to his lips to quiet the clock's chiming.
To the left, on the back, a circular image is placed on a background of dusty blue. It is Grandpop's house. He and Isaac are standing on the front porch waving. Behind the house the sky is awash in the colors of a setting sun. This is a cropped version of the double-page picture for the title page.
That visual includes the surrounding lawn and forested countryside. Isaac's parents are driving down the driveway, his Mom leaning out the window and waving. Grandpop's blue truck sits next to the house. The backyard has a high white-picket fence around it.
Snuffles makes an appearance on the opening and closing endpapers on a pale yellow canvas. In the first, he is walking to the right edge. In the second, he is curled and fast asleep in his bed on the left.
are two-page pictures, full-page visuals or two or three smaller illustrations grouped on a single page. AG Ford takes us sometimes close to Isaac and Grandpop and other times gives us a larger view of the inside of a room. The faces of Isaac and Grandpop sparkle with light and emotion in every scene.
One of my many favorite illustrations is when Grandpop and Isaac first enter the bedroom. We are given a complete picture of the room. It has a dresser with a mirror and a lamp and a stack of books on it, an iron bed with a quilt near a window, a floor lamp positioned between the bed and an easy chair with an end table. An oval rag rug is on the wooden floor. Grandpop, seated in the easy chair, is holding out a book to Isaac who holds Bear in his hand. Snuffles is dragging a blanket across the floor as he heads toward his bed.
Once you've read Time For Bed, Old House written by Janet Costa Bates with illustrations by AG Ford, you'll want to take the same journey around your home each night. It is a habit worth forming and you'll want to have this book as the last thing you read before drifting into the sweetest of dreams. I highly recommend this title for both your professional and personal collections.
To learn more about Janet Costa Bates and AG Ford and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. Janet Costa Bates has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. AG Ford has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. At Penguin Random House you can view interior images. Janet Costa Bates visits with librarian, lecturer at Rutgers, and writer John Schumacher at his site, Watch. Connect. Read.Both the author and illustrator are featured at Maria Marshall's site as they speak about this title.
It can never be stated enough. Having a canine companion exposes you to wonders of the world you might otherwise miss. You witness enormous rings around a full moon in winter on nights so crisp the air feels like glass. You are privy to stunning sunrises with clouds catching an array of red, orange, and yellow hues. Fortunately my furry friend is used to pausing on our walks, so her human can enjoy what the night or day offers.
Sometimes when the sun is rising on one horizon, the moon is shimmering above another horizon. The Children's Moon (Scholastic Press, October 19, 2021) written by Carmen Agra Deedy with artwork by Jim LaMarche is a lovely explanatory tale about this splendid event. Compromise, kindness, and friendship work wonders.
There once was a time
when the sun alone ruled the day,
the moon graced the night,
and little children were put firmly to bed before sunset.
And once it happened as the sun was rushing the moon away, she heard a sound which caressed her heart. It was the laughter of children. The next time the moon and sun passed each other, she implored him to tell her about children.
She longed to have them see her, but the sun was not about to relinquish a moment of his day. He finally told her what the world was like under his brilliance; its places, people, and animals were a thing of beauty. She in turn told him how the world was under her glow.
Her discourse did not impress the sun until she talked about stars. He was astonished there were so many others like him that he had never seen. Together they accomplished something never previously done.
The sun was filled with gratitude. A request was renewed. A phenomenon was born.
Carmen Agra Deedy's storytelling skills shine in this story of the sun and moon. For anyone who has felt pure joy at the sound children's laughter brings, they know its power. It is this power which forms the basis of this tale of a solar eclipse and the wonder observed before and after each full moon.
The majority of the narrative is formed through spirited dialogue between the sun and the moon. It reveals their personalities and how each sees the day and the night. In this way, they form an eternal friendship. The word choices in these conversations are lyrical. Here is a passage.
"Thank you," the sun whispered.
"Now," sang the moon, "will you please-please-please-with a comet on top
let me see the children?"
The sun nodded his fiery head. "Of course. But it's a poor trade, my friend.
I've seen the stars."
The shades of blue shown on the matching dust jacket and book case coupled with the sheen of the moon's light depict a breathtaking vision of peace and longing. It is a two-page image spanning from the left edge on the back to the right edge on the front. On the back large bunk beds hold three sleeping children, one on top and two on the bottom. Child-drawn pictures of the sun are attached to the wall. Coats and hats hang on the bed posts. A pair of binoculars dangles from a peg on the wall. The breeze blowing in the open window moves the curtain over the spine and to one of the bed posts.
The dog, on the front, probably holding his cherished tennis ball, has dropped it to gaze at the moon. Animals have a keen sense of understanding that which we cannot. The moon and the title text are varnished on the jacket.
A bright turquoise covers the opening and closing endpapers. On the title page, the moon moves quickly across the sky, looking behind her. She heard the laughter. The roofs of homes are below her.
Jim LaMarche rendered these illustrations
in acrylics and pencil on Arches watercolor paper.
Luminescent is a word which comes to mind when you look at each double-page picture in this book. The use of light and shadow is superb. The sun's brilliance casts warmth on each scene, whether it is a simple cottage in the country with a family welcoming the day, a meadow, a jungle, a grand city, or a field of sunflowers. In contrast, the cool glimmer of the moon provides tranquility as the northern lights span from horizon to horizon, owls and bats fly in search of food, and fireflies and plankton give forth their own kind of light.
The intricate details will have readers pausing at each page turn. They will enjoy the shift in perspectives, depending on the position of the sun or moon. And they will delight in the facial expressions on both the moon and the sun.
One of my many favorite illustrations is the two-page wordless picture. Beginning in the upper, right-hand corner, a peak of a mountain invites our eyes to descend to another range in front of it. Evergreen trees stand as tall as soldiers at attention. In front of them are more huge boulders on the ground and a single evergreen tree. A baby bear is climbing it. The mother is seated on a nearby boulder. On the other side of the gutter, to the left, another baby bear is climbing a rock. They are looking to the left at a gorgeous expanse of sky. The moon is passing in front of the sun.
As a bedtime story, as an introduction to a unit on folktales or a study of the sun and moon, this book, The Children's Moon written by Carmen Agra Deedy with illustrations by Jim LaMarche is excellent. At the close of the book is more about "the children's moon" and how to see it, as well as phases of the moon. There is also a page devoted to Strange & Wonderful Facts about the Moon. Please make sure to have a copy on all your bookshelves.
To learn more about Carmen Agra Deedy and her other work, please access her website by following the link attached to her name. Carmen Agra Deedy has an account on Facebook. Carmen Agra Deedy and this book are celebrated at librarian, lecturer, and writer John Schumacher's site, Watch. Connect. Read.
Northern Michigan was coated in at least five inches of snow Sunday and Sunday evening. It is currently snowing in spurts between bursts of sunshine with another three to four inches expected by tomorrow morning. It would seem that winter has finally arrived. Our morning walks have been quieter except for the crows, chickadees, and cardinals. Rabbits and the neighborhood fox leave tracks we can now see.
The changing of the seasons and the response of our animal residents is a constant source of fascination. Winter Lullaby (Candlewick Press, December 7, 2021) written by Dianne White with artwork by Ramona Kaulitzki allows us to see how a variety of animals prepare for winter. It follows one little bear who is not quite ready for slumber. Let's join this youngster and his mother on a stroll through the forest.
Cool winds blow through graying skies.
Geese are honking long goodbyes.
Autumn clouds sweep overhead.
Let's go, Small Bear. It's time for bed.
Small Bear sees a mouse and a chipmunk bounce in and out of view. If they are awake, why must he sleep? Mama replies each is hurrying toward their earned rest. One buries nuts in a snug nook and the other will cuddle in a delicate nest.
As mother and child journey, Skunk and Hare race across a carpet of leaves. If they are awake, why must Small Bear sleep? They are playing until Skunk goes below the surface of the ground and Hare slumbers in an empty hollow.
Badger and Raccoon are observed. Where will they go when it snows? If they are awake, why must this child go to bed? Mama patiently answers, naming the homes of each one.
Small Bear does not want to go into the den. Mama explains why they cannot remain in the winter weather. She gives Small Bear promises of future fun. Cub and mother curl as one.
When you read the words, silently or aloud, penned by Dianne White, you find yourself quietly humming. Each rhyming couplet acts as a verse in a winter song, a song of silence, an interlude between seasons. An inviting rhythm is made by the back-and-forth conversation between Mama and Small Bear. In the final pages, when it is simply the two of them, the trust and affection grow stronger as questions are asked and answered. Dianne White uses the technique of storytelling three expertly when the cub notices two animals three times. Here is a passage, one of Small Bear's questions and Mama's reply.
Badger pauses in the light.
Where will she spend this frosty night? . . .
Badger will settle---soon, not yet---
tucked inside her chambered sett. . . .
The ambience fashioned by illustrator Ramona Kaulitzkifor the open and matching dust jacket and book case is one of a serene transformation between autumn and winter. A single image covers both the left, back, and right, front, of the jacket and case. A gray and golden yellow sky releases flakes of snow on layered rolling hills. Snow-covered evergreens dot the hills. In the foreground two trees, one on the far right and the other just left of the spine, are still holding their golden leaves. On either side of the spine, a shrub has a few leaves left. Mama and Small Bear walk through the gathering snow, already in conversation. The title text and several of the large snowflakes are varnished on the front of the jacket.
On the opening and closing endpapers, a pattern is made with a radiate orange wash. It is a blend of single snowflakes and leaves. They both seem to be falling. With a page turn, we see the title page. Winter has arrived in the woods, indicated by the snowy view. Large lacy snowflakes tumble on the already blanketed ground, trees branches, and evergreen boughs.
Rendered
digitally
the image sizes alternate between two-page pictures, edge to edge, single-page pictures, edge to edge, and several smaller images on crisp white backgrounds. Most of those on the white canvases bring us close to Small Bear and Mama focusing on their affection and intimacy. The next thing readers will notice is how Small Bear and Mama move through the story to their den.
As they come to a river, Mama secures a boat so she can row to the other shore. A tiny red bird sits on the edge of the boat. The animals asleep in their homes are close to the reader as the bears travel past them. Mama carries Small Bear on her shoulders or under her arm. They are often holding paws. What careful readers will notice is that in nearly all of the illustrations elements curve or compose a circle to give a sense of comfort. It is also interesting to note we see the shadows of geese flying on the opening picture and they are in full color between the text for the dedication and publication information on the final page. Full circle.
Aptly named, this book, Winter Lullaby written by Dianne White with illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki, is certain to hush the most restless reader into their precious dreams. It is a prelude to hibernation for the bears and their forest friends. It is a book you'll need on your personal and professional bookshelves.
Although the twenty-four inches still on the ground next to four-foot piles of snow are no prelude to the official arrival of spring five days away, the appearance of garden catalogs in my mailbox are. The colorful displays of flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables are filled with promise. To think that every seed, bulb or root will supply vibrant splendor is nothing short of a miracle. It’s hard not to put pen to paper and design layouts for potential plots housing an array of beauty. In Badger’s Perfect Garden (Sleeping Bear Press, March 15, 2019) written by Marsha Diane Arnold with illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki Badger inspires his animal friends with his dream of a flawless presentation of his gathered seeds. Badger and his friends discover and remind us, plans gone astray may yield glorious unexpected results.
One spring morning, Red Squirrel found Badger
Surrounded by dozens of jars.
The jars were filled with seeds. The seeds looked
Hopeful, just like Badger. Curious as to what Badger was doing with all those jars of seeds, Red Squirrel was told they had been collected last summer in order to plant a flawless formation of botanical beauty. When the squirrel saw all the varieties of seeds and the amounts, he knew his friend would need help. Soon Weasel, Dormouse and Red Squirrel along with Badger were hard at work preparing the soil, laying out straight rows according to Badger’s plan, and finally, planting the seeds. Muffins and mulberry juice were consumed in celebration of a successful session of gardening. As necessary the next day, rain fell. On the following day heavier rain fell. By day three the showers were torrential. Badger went outside trying to save his now less than perfect garden. Nothing Red Squirrel, Weasel or Dormouse said could calm the defeated badger. Days passes inside with Badger trying to occupy his time until one day in summer a knock on his door woke him up. Three friends could hardly wait to show Badger the work of a master gardener, Mother Nature. Author Marsha Diane Arnold fills this narrative with endearing characters, charming, descriptive phrases and delightful word play. A little bit of information about where to find seeds is woven into the story. As the friends work, readers come to understand how gardens are groomed. With each step we feel Badger’s desire for precision. This is why we keenly feel every emotion, all the ups and downs and ups, in this tale of four forest friends. Here is a passage.
When the earth was as smooth as the forest pond in winter,
Badger pushed big sticks into the dirt. Red Squirrel and
Dormouse stretched string between the sticks to mark rows.
“Be sure the rows are perfectly straight,” said Badger.
When you open the matching dust jacket and book case several single words come to mind; serenity, companionship and community. It’s easy to imagine a windy spring day with friends working together for a common good. It’s also easy to feel as though any one of us could step right in and join them. The natural soft colors and delicate lines are an open invitation.
To the left, on the back, the double-page image travels over the spine to reveal Badger’s cozy home in a hollow tree trunk. A tiny lamp hangs from a branch next to his arched doorway. Next to it is a circular window. A path of stones extends from his stone porch steps. Early spring flowers bloom in the front.
Crisp white covers the opening and closing endpapers. Badger, wearing a backpack and garden gloves, is holding a magnifying glass as he gathers seeds in a swirl of blooms on the title page. Each illustration, regardless of the size, contributes and enhances the pacing and emotional impact.
Artist Ramona Kaulitzki alters the perspective for further impact. To depict Badger’s increasing worry, she brings us close to the window in his home, rain streaking diagonally across the glass as he gazes sadly outside. Careful readers will pause to notice all the extra details. Will they notice a little worm lifting its head to look at the seed jars, the tiny boots Dormouse wears, tulip petals falling from a bouquet in Badger’s home, and Badger’s bunny rabbit stuffed toy for snuggling and napping?
One of my many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture. On the left in front of his home Badger is placing sticks in the cleared garden patch. Behind him on the stones is his rolled-up garden plan. A small bucket in front of him holds more sticks. Seed jars and rakes are leaning against a stone fence. Red Squirrel and Dormouse are unrolling string and tangling it up around themselves, too. A small bird is perched on a nearby house. Weasel is running through a field in the back carrying a forked stick.
Readers will learn about the rewards of helping a friend. They will understand how to make a garden grow. Most importantly Badger’s Perfect Garden written by Marsha Diane Arnold with illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki brings to us the peace we find when letting go of a plan. This would make a wonderful addition to your professional and personal collections.
To learn more about Marsha Diane Arnold and Ramona Kaulitzki and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites. Marsha Diane Arnold has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Ramona Kaulitzki has accounts on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. At the publisher’s website you can view interior pages.
As a showcase of this blog tour, Marsha Diane Arnold is visiting Librarian’s Quest again to chat with me about this new title. I am grateful for this opportunity.
I have an idea from
reading this book that gardening is important to you, Marsha. Did you
come from a family of gardeners?Is this
connection to the earth something you have instilled in your family and you
wish to pass on to your readers?
You
would be right, Margie. I love gardens and gardening, but even more I love
Mother Nature, which you noted so beautifully in your review – “Three friends
could hardly wait to show Badger the work of a master gardener, Mother Nature.”
And
yes, behind me, I have a whole history of farming, gardening, and deep
connection to the soil.
Once upon a time there was a people,
long known for their superior farming abilities – my ancestors, Swiss-German Amish/Mennonites.
Due to religious persecution, they eventually migrated to Volhynia, Russia,
invited, largely due to their farming skills, by Catherine the Great. In 1874,
they migrated again, this time to America. My great-grandfather Peter made his
home in Pretty Prairie, Kansas, and was known as a “man of the soil.” My aunt
tells me he was also a “story teller”.J
Peter’s
daughter, my grandmother Emma, had a huge garden to feed her family of 8
children. But she also loved her flower gardens, which surrounded the farm
house. Beauty amidst the dust. These were not small flower gardens, but long
sweeps of flowers – iris, lilacs, petunias, and many more. One of my fondest
memories is of my grandmother sitting in her rocking chair looking through the
seed catalogs, planning her next garden.
My
father was a wheat and dairy farmer, but like his mother before him, he loved
flower gardens too and always planted flowers around our home. He also drew them.
I
like to think I’ve instilled a love of nature and gardening in my son, daughter,
and grandchildren. My daughter enjoys planting whenever she has an opportunity.
My son, though he works in NYC, has a 150-year-old farm house in Connecticut so
his family can get away to the country. And my granddaughter, as you see, is
quite enamored by milkweed.
Is there any one reason
or incident which planted the seed which grew into this book?
I
have a suspicion that I wrote this story because my husband and I were starting
to prepare for a move from our home of 35 years in Sebastopol, California to
Florida. I was very sad to be leaving my half-acre flower and fruit garden that
had taken me….35 years to create! I’d also be leaving my woodland friends –
fox, raccoon, deer, quail. Though none of these animals made it into Badger’s Perfect Garden, I think they inspired
my writing about beautiful forest creatures.
I really enjoyed the
blend of narrative and dialogue in this title. Is there anything you
changed considerably from your original draft?
This
is one of those stories that felt like a walk in the garden. J The text changed very little from first draft
to last. I really enjoy using dialogue in my stories.
I
loved Ramona’s illustrations when I first saw them. However, I did need to
change a few phrases of my original text. For example, I imagined Red Squirrel
and Badger being in the same room on the first spread, so I had written, “What
are you doing with all these seeds?” When I saw Ramona’s lovely illustration of
Red Squirrel in the tree, I changed that phrase to “those seeds.” It was much
easier to change the text than the art and besides, Ramona was absolutely right
to have Red Squirrel high in a tree looking down on all those jars full of
seeds. It’s a wonderful perspective.
I believe these
illustrations match the story . . .well . . . perfectly. What did you
think when you first saw them?
I
credit Sleeping Bear Press with finding wonderful matches for my SBP books,
both May I Come In? and Badger’s Perfect Garden. When I first
saw Ramona’s illustrations, I adored them. I was raised a long time ago and
grew up in the country. To me, Badger’s story and the lovely art Ramona created
for it are what children’s books should be. Delicate, fun, filled with
kindness, celebratory!
Thank you Marsha for your perfect answers and this most excellent book for spring, gardening and the wonder of friendship.
Marsha Diane Arnold's award-winning picture books have sold over one million copies and been called, "whimsical" and "uplifting." Described as a "born storyteller" by the media, her books have garnered such honors as Best First Book by a New Author, Smithsonian Notable, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and state Children's Choice awards. Recent books include Galapagos Girl, a bilingual book about a young girl growing up on the Galapagos Islands and Lost. Found., a Junior Library Guild book illustrated by Caldecott winner Matthew Cordell.
Marsha was born and raised in Kansas, lived most of her life in Sonoma County, California, and now lives with her husband, near her family, in Alva, Florida. She still loves nature and nothing makes her happier than standing in her backyard in the midst of dragonflies or purple martins swooping for insects.
