The First Six 2020-One Little Word Part 2

It is with happiness I continue to showcase books published in the first six months of 2020 not previously discussed here.  As I did last Tuesday (August 25, 2020) I will try to include links to author and illustrator websites, as well as links to publishers' websites.  I have decided to add links to social media accounts for authors and illustrators.  All these author and illustrator links, websites, and social media accounts, reveal fascinating further information about the creators' work and specific book titles.  If there are other items of interest, educational resources, additional posts, or videos, I will include them, too.  I will assign One Little Word to each one, provide a short summary, and a bit of first-page text.  If even one of these titles connects with the right person, then I say mission accomplished.  Enjoy, my reader friends.

SEASON

Green On Green (Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, March 17, 2020) written by Dianne White with illustrations by Felicita Sala 

Activity Kit

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast hosted by author, blogger and reviewer Julie Danielson featuring Felicita Sala

Dianne White---Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter

Felicita Sala---Facebook, Instagram

Colors introduce the four seasons of the year, inviting readers to seek the simple pleasures in each one.  These colors are enhanced by elements of spring, summer, autumn, and winter in poetic observations and marvelous images telling their own story.  Even as we move through the year, green is part of each one.  A rhythm is supplied in each of the four portions as we follow the colors, then the season, and how it is enjoyed.

Yellow the flower.

Yellow the seed.

Yellow and black the buzzing bee.

GREEN on GREEN by Dianne White, illustrated by Felicita Sala from Dianne White on Vimeo.

COLLABORATION

What's that Noise? (Candlewick Press, March 24, 2020) written and illustrated by Naomi Howarth 

Penguin Random House (additional images)

Naomi Howarth---Instagram, Twitter

Magnus is an Arctic seal.  One morning he wakes up to a weird noise, a rumbling.  He cannot figure out what it is.  He asks Hare first.  Together they go from Arctic animal to Arctic animal, each one providing a possibility which does not prove to be the answer until they come to Walrus.  Repetition is an open invitation for reader participation.  Each animal is described further at the close of the book.  The images are animated and lovely.

Early one morning, while the sun was rising over the icy plains of the Arctic, a long, low rumbling sound woke Magnus from a very deep sleep. "What's that noise?" he wondered.

rumble rumble rumble

GRIEF

Maybe Tomorrow? (Scholastic Press, March 26, 2020) written by Charlotte Agell with illustrations by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez 

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast hosted by author, reviewer, and blogger Julie Danielson highlights some art and a review of this title

Picture Book Spotlight on author Charlotte Agell

Charlotte Agell---Facebook

Ana Ramirez Gonzalez---Instagram, Twitter

Elba, a hippo, has a big black block she takes with her everywhere.  It has been with her a long time.  Norris is a happy-go-lucky alligator who befriends Elba.  Through his acceptance of her sadness and patient care, little by little Elba learns to let go of her grief, realizing some will always remain, but life can be wonderful in a new normal, especially with the support of a good friend.  Their conversations are truly profound.

ELBA had a big block.  She'd been dragging it around for a long time.  It made her walk slowly.  It made her think darkly.  It was heavy.

NORRIS danced everywhere he went, even uphill.

Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell and Ana Ramírez González from Let's Talk Picture Books on Vimeo.

EXPLORE

Rover Throws A Party: Inspired by NASA's Curiosity on Mars (Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, March 31, 2020) written by Kristin L. Gray with illustrations by Scott Magoon 

Kristin L. Gray---Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Scott Magoon---Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube

Did you know NASA programmed the Mars Curiosity Rover to hum the Happy Birthday tune on its one-year birthday?  This book takes that fact and fashions a day-by-day diary spoken by Rover and relates information about how and what Rover does as it makes discoveries.  You'll be cheering for Rover as it hopes for guests at its party, even though we all know its alone.  The two story lines work together in tandem, showcased by fascinating artwork. At the close of the book is an author's note, a bibliography, and Curiosity Rover facts.

JULY 27

Rise and shine!

Time to capture another sunrise.

On Mars, sunrises and sunsets appear blue, while the daytime sky is rust.  Fine dust particles in the Martian atmosphere absorb blue light and scatter colors like red and orange.  This makes Mars' sky the opposite color of Earth's.

APPRECIATION

In the Woods (Candlewick Press, April 7, 2020) written by David Elliott with illustrations by Rob Dunlavey 

Penguin Random House (more images)

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast hosted by author, reviewer, and blogger Julie Danielson is a fabulous post with artist Rob Dunlavey about this book with lots of artwork and process information

David Elliott---Facebook, Instagram, YouTube

Rob Dunlavey---Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr

This stunning collection of fifteen poems leaves readers with a deeper respect for those animal, bird, and insect dwellers of our woodlands. Each poem, in a variety of forms, is accompanied by a breathtaking double-page image in varying perspectives.  Together the words and artwork will have you longing for a walk to make your own observations.  At the close of the book are short paragraphs of further information about each of the forest residents described. 

The BEAR

The shadow stirs

in its musky den.

A yawn,

a stretch,

a muffled snort,

and then

the shadow emerges

breathing in the snowmelt air. . . .

IMAGINATION

Mermaid and Me (Little, Brown and Company, April 7, 2020) written and illustrated by Soosh 

Soosh---Instagram, YouTube

A young girl's fascination with mermaids causes her to be a bit of a loner until one day her dream comes true.  As she gazes into the water at the sea, a mermaid gazes back at her.  A friendship develops between the two as they share mutual experiences and acquaint each other with their worlds.  A storm scares both of them and surprising help forges unlikely bonds.  A promise is made.  A promise is kept.  You'll enjoy the author's note at the end.

This is me, the girl wearing a mermaid tail, in an old class photo.  I really love mermaids.

REVELATION

Baby Clown (Candlewick Press, April 14, 2020) written by Kara LaReau with illustrations by Matthew Cordell 

Candlewick---A Conversation with the author

Penguin Random House (additional images)

School Library Journal-100 Scope Notes hosted by author, and teacher librarian Travis Jonker with the book trailer premiere

Watch. Connect. Read. hosted by Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries John Schumacher includes an interview with both the author and the illustrator

Nerdy Book Club guest post by Kara LaReau

Kara LaReau---Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Matthew Cordell---Blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Everyone at the circus was excited at the birth of a baby to Boffo and Frieda Clown.  No one was more thrilled than the ringmaster.  The problem, the big problem, was Baby Clown would not stop crying.  Nothing worked to turn this child's frown into a smile.  Everyone tried to help.  At Mr. Dingling's, the ringmaster's, insistence the show went on.  That night in the center ring to a sold-out house, the circus people learned the truth about Baby Clown.

When Boffo and Frieda Clown had a baby, everyone in the circus was over the moon.  "A STAR is born!" said the big boss, Mr. Dingling.  "We'll call him Baby Clown."

FRIENDSHIP

The Word For Friend (Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, June 16, 2020) written and illustrated by Aidan Cassie

Jena Benton, Writer & Illustrator features Simply 7 with Aidan Cassie-"The Word For Friend"

Aidan Cassie---Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

A pangolin named Kemala is excited to begin school after recently moving.  She loves to talk, but when she arrives at school the language the other animals are speaking is not her language.  She introduces herself, but she is met with silence.  No one can understand her.  She curls into a ball until she can escape to a tree at recess.  There she meets an anteater named Ana, who is intrigued by Kemala's ability to cut shapes from the tree's leaves.  Each of them, pangolin and anteater, work on their needed skills.  One evening their friendship and a shared passion builds a bond.  Artwork, charming text, and conversations make this a huggable book.  Two pages at the close of the book discuss the new language and pangolins.

From her new house, Kemala could see her new town.  Somewhere in her new town was her new school.  It was filled with new friends.

She was sure of it.

Forever Together

Sometimes it's hard to believe twenty-four years have passed since I lost him.  Not a day goes by without something he said, something he did or something he taught me finding its way into my thoughts.  He was well aware of the strength a woman, regardless of her age, needs in this world.  Much of the freedom and independence I enjoy is a result of him. 

Fathers, even when they age and even with their faults, are giants in the eyes of daughters.  Debut author illustrator Soosh presents a uniquely warm and loving relationship in Dad By My Side (Little, Brown and Company, May 8, 2018).  The voice of the child tenderly tells us of the importance of her father.

With Dad by my side,
there's nothing we can't do.

This man knows how to create laughter regardless of how ridiculous he looks.  He loves enough to value the time with his daughter over all other things.  The two of them are champions at venturing into new worlds. 

This dad offers compassion in times of sadness.  This daughter understands she needs to lend support for her dad, too.  Even when they are apart, they are together.

But he doesn't miss a single lullaby,
even when he's far from home.

Each of them is teachers and learners.  When they need to rest, they snuggle.  The stories this dad tells will linger in this daughter's memory for the rest of her life.  He has an uncanny ability to use any space to share time with her.

Like any Dad he dons the persona of superhero when monsters linger in the bedroom at night.  Each of them is helpers for the other.  Together, wherever they are and whatever they are doing, they are two halves of a wonderful whole.


Each lovingly crafted sentence by Soosh speaks to the simple truth of a daughter's affection for her father.  Their relationship is a true partnership based on unconditional love, each for the other.  The everyday activities in their lives are elevated to elegance through her words.  The narrative fashioned by these sentences asks us to appreciate those things we might not otherwise note.  Here is another sentence.

Eggshells in our omelets
don't bother us at all.


Rendered in watercolor on eggshell textured paper the illustrations seen on the opened dust jacket and throughout the title (I am working with an F & G generously supplied by the publisher.) kindle a feeling of compassion certain to envelope and stay with readers long after the story is completed.  Both of the pictures, the dad reading the newspaper with the girl and her doll on his back and the girl comforting her father as they sit on a bench (Their backs are to us.) to the left on the back depict an unbreakable bond.  The size difference between the dad and daughter further demonstrates symbolically and literally how an adult can understand the true nature and heart of their child.

The opening and closing endpapers replicate the walls in their home.  On the first one the daughter has drawn a picture of them with a bird and flowers.  It reads DADDY   ME.  On the final endpapers, author illustrator Soosh speaks to readers about this book.  Beneath the text on the title page the dad is floating on his back, swimming, with his daughter seated on his generous stomach.  Both are wearing red baseball caps with their suits.  She has a pennant with a skull and crossbones on it in her hand. 

Each image, no matter the age of the reader, will reach out and find a spot to rest in their heart.  The delicate details, the soft colors, the body positions and the activities represented are familiar and familial.  There is not a single one not worthy of framing. There is not a single one which will not offer the opportunity for discussion.  By placing most of the visuals on a white background, our eyes are immediately drawn to the daughter and her dad.  Sometimes Soosh will have the text opposite the illustration or above or below it.  The font color throughout is red.

One of my many, many favorite pictures accompanies the sentence about them cooking omelets.  They are working at a long table shown with a thin top, two legs and a single shelf.  On the shelf are a pot, pitcher and a cup.  Other utensils are visible.  You can see a stool on the left side of the table stacked with books.  The daughter used it to climb on top of the table.  She sits there wearing a chef's hat like her dad and holding a wooden spoon inside a bowl.  Three eggs are near to her.  Her dad also has a wooden spoon in a bowl to the right of her.  They are looking at each other.  A broken egg is on the floor.


Without a doubt, Dad By My Side written and illustrated by Soosh is going to be a much-requested favorite.  It honors the relationship between a father and his daughter with unmeasured gratitude and abiding affection.  You can almost hear the sound of the girl's voice as she chats with us about her and her dad.  You are going to want to have this title in your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Soosh and this book, please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  Once there you can visit her YouTube channel to view her videos about her work.  Then you will get lost in the wondrous images on her Instagram account.