A Foursome Of Seasonal Treats (Seasonal Treats #2)

 As mentioned in the first post, in times of darkness, especially on a global level, people will seek and embrace the joy of celebrations.  These observances remind us of family, unity, and connectivity.  They remind us of past, present, and future miracles.  

Four September publications draw our attention to three holidays.  They present the best each event offers. They individually and collectively are a form of light. The first of the four, Binny's Diwali (Scholastic Press, September 1, 2020) written by Thrity Umrigar with illustrations by Nidhi Chanani, follows a little girl anxious to acquaint her classmates with her favorite holiday.

Binny woke up happy but nervous.  It was her

day to share about Diwali, the Festival of Lights!

Each month her teacher, Mr. Boomer, asks a classmate to speak about a holiday they enjoy.  Eagerly Binny dresses in the clothes her parents placed for her to wear.  Her mother is wearing a sari her father bought her for Diwali.  People shop for gifts for each other during Diwali.

Wearing her new clothes, Binny eats special treats with her parents for breakfast.  She will take additional jalebis and pedas with her to school.  Her father encourages her with words as comforting as the food.  At school, her mother gives her a gentle reminder about the oil lamps used in the celebration.  

When Mr. Boomer calls Binny's name, something happens.  Shyness makes her nearly speechless.  She closes her eyes remembering her mother's words about the diyas, the oil lamps.  This is all this little girl needs for her excitement to be released. She explains Diwali's name, length, and what it represents. 

Each wonderful custom associated with this holiday is shared; the fireworks, the sparklers, the streamers, and the diyas.  She demonstrates the use of the colored powders, and she shares the delicious food she brought.  Best of all is the image she creates in the minds of her fellow students.  It is the image of a traveler on an airplane looking down at a city during The Festival of Lights.

Author Thrity Umrigar invites us to experience the joy Binny has for this special holiday with her combination of text and conversation.  She gives us insights into the specifics of this five-day celebration by weaving information into Binny's thoughts and in her actual presentation to her classmates.  With each added layer of description to her friends and teacher, readers will find themselves wishing they were in Binny's classroom.  Here is a passage.

Binny did want to share her favorite holiday with her friends.

But she couldn't find the words.

Mr. Boomer put a kindly hand on her shoulder.  "Take a

deep breath," he whispered.  "I know you can do this."

[Please note I am working with an F & G.]

When you open the dust jacket, the glorious complementary blend of hues of purple and golden yellow continues over the spine to the far-left edge.  The cut-out paper streamer Binny brings to her classroom supplies a wonderful decorative top border on the front and the back.  The expression on Binny's face is one of contented happiness as the glow of the diya is reflected in her eyes and the light wraps around her face.  The design on the front and back of the jacket extends to the edges of the flaps.

Thanks to John Schumacher, here is a look at the book case, case cover.

Love the case cover for @ThrityUmrigar and @nidhiart’s Binny’s Diwali: pic.twitter.com/xNy7TI0FSC

— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) September 11, 2020

On the opening and closing endpapers is a pattern of diyas in shades of intricately decorated green, red, and blue on the palest of green backgrounds. Readers will notice the difference between the left side and the rights side.  Perhaps this represents before and after and during the celebration.  On the title page with a canvas of rich purple is a delicate design from left to right along the bottom lighted by diyas.  Binny is standing on the far right in her new clothes and her special blue suede shoes, holding a lighted diya.

These illustrations by Nidhi Chanani were rendered

digitally with handmade texture brushes.

They span page edge to page edge across two pages or single pages.  They supply an atmosphere of happiness and tradition.  Readers will be fascinated by the motifs in Binny's home, clothing, her community, and in the depictions of Diwali with all the lights spread before the homes. 

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture.  It is the pause taken by Binny when she can't think of what to say in front of her classmates.  On the left is a close-up of Binny.  We see her upper body and face with her eyes closed to concentrate.  Behind her on the right, crossing the gutter and going to the far-right edge is a scene of a community enjoying Diwali.  In front of the brightly colored homes, with all kinds of families standing in the doorways, are patterns of light made by the diyas.  This is an uplifting vision of goodness, of hope. 

Even now, after multiple readings of Binny's Diwali written by Thrity Umrigar with illustrations by Nidhi Chanani, a feeling of quiet joy wraps around this reader.  Readers will find a kinship with this girl and how Diwali is a welcome part of her life, and the lives of many others.  At the close of the book is a page titled The Diwali Story.  This is one of several legends about why Diwali is observed.  It is followed by The Five Days Of Diwali.  To close the author and illustrator have written notes about the meaning of this holiday to them.  This title is meant to be shared.  It is meant to be a part of your personal and professional collections. 

To learn more about Thrity Umrigar and Nidhi Chanani and their other work, please follow the link attached to their name to access their websites.  Thrity Umrigar has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Nidhi Chanani has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Here is a link to a Book Joy Live event hosted by Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher featuring conversations with both the creators.  Enjoy this video with artist Nidhi Chanani chatting about this book.

This year Hanukkah begins on the evening of December 10, 2020 and finishes on the evening of December 18, 2020.  It commemorates a miracle, a miracle centered in light.  The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol (Candlewick Press, September 8, 2020) written by Arthur A. Levine with illustrations by Kevin Hawkes is a beautiful offering by two gifted collaborators.  It is one story inviting more, as he states at the end of his Author's Note:

I have often wished that we could build up a bit more mythology too.  In the same way that new recipes for matzah brei or a beautiful new piece of music can enhance our experience without changing the religious observances and meaning of Jewish holidays, I wanted to do that with a story.  I hope you enjoy!

Nate Gadol was a great spirit who had eyes as shiny as golden coins and a smile that was lantern-bright. In answer to people's prayers, he made things last as long as they needed to.

Nate Gadol has always been available for large requests such as making oil last for eight days thousands of years ago, or for the tiniest but most important task to bring happiness to someone sick.  If you needed Nate Gadol, regardless of the issue, he was there.  Many years ago, when a particular family left Europe to journey to America, they had nothing left to celebrate Purim, except for a small bit of chocolate held by Mrs. Glasser.   When she looked inside her handkerchief the chocolate had multiplied. To the delight of her husband and children, it kept multiplying!

Nate Gadol held a special place in his heart for this good-natured family.  He noted their kindness and generosity toward their neighbors when they reached their destination.  The winter of 1881 brought added hardship to the Glasser family and their neighbors, the O'Malleys.  To help the sick O'Malley child, Mr. Glasser sold a handmade piece of furniture to pay for medicine.  It left them with nothing.

Now, readers, what you need to know is this night was also Christmas Eve.  Nate Gadol, pondering the problem of the Glasser family heard a noise.  It seemed his friend Nick (wearing a red suit and sitting in a broken-looking sleigh) was in trouble.  The two chatted a bit about the smaller amounts of seasonal magic in the air this year.  Then Nate had an idea.  A trade was made.

Nate Gadol, maker of magic, visited the O'Malley and Glasser homes on this evening.  Traditions past were honored.  And new ones, began.

Woven into the words written by Arthur A. Levine is a bit of Nate Gadol's magic.  Sentence by sentence as if he is telling a story to us, face to face, he spins this enchanting tale with descriptive imagery.  He provides examples to support the wondrous accomplishments of Nate Gadol and the pure hearts of the Glasser family.  Even though we are holding a book in our hands, we lean in, captivated by every moment leading us to what was a miracle for two families.  Here is a passage.

That night happened to be Christmas Eve.  The wind howled through the cracks like an angry cat, and snow began to settle on the rooftops, where Nate Gadol stood looking out over the street.  Suddenly, Nate heard a rumble of something like hooves on tar, and a voice shouting "Whoooaaaa!" behind him.

In a stunning display of artistry, Kevin Hawkes creates a memorable person as evidenced by his depiction of Nate Gadol on the front of the open dust jacket.  Here is a being able to move with grace wherever he is needed.  We can see by the windows in the building two families are observing two holidays.  How glorious that the children look up and see Nate Gadol.  What you cannot see is all the gold foil on this jacket.  It brightens the text, Nate's hair, vest, boots, and bag.  It flows from his hands.  This golden magic continues throughout the book on Nate Gadol and when he works his miracles.  To the left, on the back of the dust jacket, on top of another building is Santa Claus, seated in his sleigh with his reindeer spread before him.  He is waving toward his friend.

On the book case readers will see a replication of the buildings on the dust jacket.  All the windows are darkened, and Nate and Nick are gone.  On the front of the case these words are written:

Nate Gadol is never far away.

The opening and closing endpapers are a pale, pale blue.  On the verso and dedication page a single piece of chocolate rests in a handkerchief.  On the title page Nate Gadol's bag sits between the text.

These illustrations by Kevin Hawkes were rendered

in acrylic. 

Each image is a double-page picture.  The text is placed within a separate element with a thin, red-ribboned border. The tiny gold foil details elevate the extraordinary events portrayed in each visual.  Nate Gadol is larger than life as we see how he views our world, above us, in front of us, next to us, and sometimes hidden. 

The details in each picture take us into the moment, initially drawing our attention to Nate Gadol and then bringing our eyes outward to the entire scene.  Within these illustrations Kevin Hawkes skillfully creates more than one perspective.  It's as if we are present in each setting. 

One of my many, many favorite paintings is for the text above noted.  The majority of the page is filled with a swirling of white and gray sky, snowflakes peppering every space.  In the lower portion of the illustration are red-brick buildings with rows of windows.  The most prominent building begins on the right-half of the left, crosses the gutter and extends to the right-page edge.  Of the six windows, two have lights.  The first has a single candle and the fourth from the left has a lighted menorah.  Standing on the roof, to the left of the gutter, is Nate Gadol, wind blowing through his hair and coat.  His body is twisted back to the right after hearing the noise.

This book, The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol written by Arthur A. Levine with illustrations by Kevin Hawkes, is certain to become a seasonal favorite among all readers.  It centers on the miracles of believing in that which we cannot see.  It holds light up to hope.  I highly recommend this book for your personal and professional collections.  Please take a few moments to read the entire author's note at the end of the book or here at the publisher's website. 

To learn more about Arthur A. Levine and Kevin Hawkes and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names.  Arthur A. Levine and/or his publishing house have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Kevin Hawkes has an account on Instagram.  Arthur A. Levine is interviewed by author Cynthia Leitich Smith on her site, Cynsations.  You are able to view interior images at Penguin Random House.

UPDATE:  Arthur Levine speaks about this book on NPR 

I'll bet you did not know one of the most bustling places on Earth is in the far, far north.  Here at the North Pole is the hub of all the mail written to Santa Claus.  In charge of this particular post office, Peppermint Post, is Postmaster Buck Growlersson.  As Christmas Eve gets closer and closer, the work becomes more frenzied.  Peppermint Post (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, September 15, 2020) written by Bruce Hale with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis is a story filled with a whole lot of hilarity and equal amounts of determination and a bit of Christmas luck.

You won't find the world's busiest post office in Mumbai, Manila, or even New York.  But head due north and there it is:  Peppermint Post.  

Shouting out orders to his postal workers, penguins, Postmaster Buck Growlersson makes sure the last wish is sent to Santa's Workshop.  Here the presents are made and loaded onto Santa's sleigh.  Buck finally allows himself to relax as he watches the sleigh carrying all the gifts, lifting into the sky.

As everyone is sipping on a well-deserved cup of hot cocoa, Buck makes a startling discovery.  It's a lost piece of mail!  Together with Fred, his head penguin, they rush to the Workshop.  The elf in chief says it's too late.  Buck begs, saying he will take the gift to Santa.

This is a challenge Buck and crew are not expecting.  The only available mode of transportation is a miserable-looking, back-up sleigh.  Fred volunteers all the workers to pull the sleigh.  How is that supposed to work?  Penguins can't fly.  They are not even supposed to be at the North Pole.

In what can only be described as a miracle, not without considerable trouble, Buck and the penguins guided by Fred start to travel skyward.  Their trip is fraught with danger and mishaps, and Santa seems to be always one house ahead.  Finally, Buck, Fred and the penguins arrive at one very special little girl's house at the same time as Santa.  Even now all does not go according to plan but remember Christmas can weave its own spell.  

As you read the words penned by Bruce Hale, you find yourself smiling, his carefree, conversational sentences inviting giggles and grins.  Lots of sound effect words invite reader participation.  Alliteration, rhyming, dialogue, and text supply a cheerful flow.  The repetition of a single phrase also welcomes readers to join in the telling.  Here is a passage.

Flying a sleigh wasn't nearly as easy as running a post office.

Buck and his team hit a few rough spots . . .

with a BISH, 

and a BASH,

and a SPLISHETY-SPLASH.

Readers get their first glimpse of the comedy replete in every image on the front and back of the open and matching dust jacket and book case.  The expressions on Postmaster Buck's face and the crew of penguins vary between happiness, dismay and determined struggle.  You will notice the poor shape of the sleigh.  How is it even staying together?  The peppermint as the dot on the I and the single peppermint button on Buck's bag are a pleasing design touch.  Buck and his crew and the title text are varnished.

To the left, on the back, is a close up of a cup of hot cocoa in a Peppermint Post mug with the motto, Persistent, Punctual, Persevering.  Chunky marshmallows float on top of the cocoa.  Steam reaches to the gingerbread boy cookie and a letter to the left, written by Buck to Santa.  The letter is certain to have you laughing.

The opening and closing endpapers are red.  On the initial title page, a penguin is pushing a Peppermint Post cart loaded with letters.  On the formal title page Buck and Fred are at the window looking at Santa taking off from the North Pole with his sleigh loaded with presents.

The illustrations by Stephanie Laberis vary in size in support of the text and its pacing.  Her details ask you to stop at every page.  It is in the details that the narrative is enhanced by her work.  The postal clock face is a peppermint candy.  Before the penguins attempt to fly, Fred is reading a Flying for Dummies book with a red Christmas bulb attached to his beak.  Each image is highly animated.  Many of the facial expressions are exaggerated to elevate the humor.  I guarantee readers will laugh out loud more than once.

One of my many, many favorite pictures is on a single page.  Postmaster Buck is seated in his light blue chair with his back to us. (His name is on his chair.)  There is a note on his desk from Mrs. C.  You can see the peppermint candy attached to his hat resting on his desk.  His In box is empty.  His OUT box is stacked high.  Buck is lifting his hot cocoa for a taste, holding the missed letter in his paw.  In the window we can see the reflection of his front.  His face looks like that of a deer caught in the headlights.  It's a total YIKES moment.

Readers are going to love laughing at the trouble encountered by Buck and his crew and how it concludes through the merry text and visuals in Peppermint Post written by Bruce Hale with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis.  This takes the motto of our very own USPS to its maximum meaning.  This book is about the true meaning of the season, putting others before yourself.  Teamwork plays a hand in the outcome, also.  Your readers will certainly enjoy having a copy in your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Bruce Hale and Stephanie Laberis, and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites.  Bruce Hale has accounts on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.  Stephanie Laberis has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website is an Activity Guide.

The best part of the shift in any season is to be able to share it with a best friend.  The joys of the Christmas holiday and its traditions are amplified when you enjoy making it special for someone else.  This spirit of giving is richly portrayed in a new book by author illustrator Tad Hills.  Mistletoe: A Christmas Story (Schwartz & Wade Books, September 29, 2020) is as charming as the two characters we meet.

Mistletoe greets the chilly morning.  Snow is falling.

What a beautiful day! Finally, it feels like Christmas, she thinks.

When Mistletoe arrives at her friend, Norwell's home, the snow is deeper.  She excitedly calls for him to join her.  Norwell has no desire to go outside in the cold.  He invites her inside for some tea and to sit by the warm fire.

Norwell keeps mentioning how nice it is inside.  They even decorate his Christmas tree.  Mistletoe keeps mentioning how wonderful it would be to go out in the snow together.  It's much too cold for Norwell.  He is staying inside.  On her way home, Mistletoe is inspired.

Rushing around her house, Mistletoe gathers every ball of yarn she can find, and she starts to knit.  She knits all the time, everywhere she is.  Christmas is getting closer, day by day.  Mistletoe runs out of yarn and hurries to purchase more, bringing as much as she can home.  She knits and knits and knits some more.

On Christmas Eve she is finished, falling happily asleep.  The task of delivering her gift on Christmas morning is not easy.  It is rather huge.  At Norwell's home cheerful Christmas greetings are exchanged as well as gifts which mirror the affection Norwell holds for Mistletoe and she holds for him.  Nothing will prepare you for the image of Mistletoe and Norwell finally out in the snow together.  

Each portion of this story flows gently with purpose to the next.  Tad Hills has a gift for writing simple but meaningful sentences designed to reach his intended audience.  The blend of text, conversation, and the characters' thoughts make for a more intimate story, connecting to readers' own experiences.  Here are two adjoining passages.

"Hmmm, I don't know." Norwell

walks to the window.  He watches the

snow fall. "Brrrr," he says.  "It looks

even colder out there now, Mistletoe.

I think I'll stay home, where it's cozy."

So Mistletoe puts on her hat, coat, scarf,

and mittens and sets out on her walk home.

She soon finds herself in a field of snow.  As

evening approaches, the world turns blue.  She

stops.  She is as quiet and still as she has ever been.

Mistletoe seated in the wreath on the front of the open dust jacket is downright adorable in her seasonal, colorful winter clothing.  Her sincere nature is mirrored on her quiet face.  Mistletoe and the wreath are varnished.  The text and snow are raised and textured to the touch in glittery white.

To the left, on the back, is a serene scene from the interior of the book, enlarged.  On a canvas of pale purple Norwell is lifting Mistletoe in his trunk so she can place the star on the top of his Christmas tree.  Here the text reads:

Celebrate friendship

and the gift of giving with

this cozy holiday story.

On the opened book case, case cover, is a wonderful depiction of Mistletoe running home across the snow after she has her great idea for a gift for Norwell.  A large portion of the top is a night sky brimming with snowflakes.  On the snowy white you can see footprints from left to right.  Racing toward the right edge is Mistletoe, bright red with a little green and gray on the stunning landscape.

On the opening endpapers is a lighter replication of the book case without Mistletoe present.  The closing endpapers are similar with one notable difference.  It is, after all, Christmas Day.

These illustrations by Tad Hills 

were created digitally in the Procreate app.

Tad Hills alters his image sizes from double-page pictures to a large loose circle on a single page, to full-page pictures, and smaller geometric shapes together on one page.  These accentuate the pacing of his story.  His double-page pictures are utterly delightful.  Sometimes he brings us close to his characters placing an emphasis on a moment, and other times we find ourselves stepping back to get a larger view.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is for the second passage above noted.  The world is colored in hues of blue, even the snow at the bottom of the double-page picture.  Snowflakes gently fall from top to bottom.  Tracks made by Mistletoe stretch from left to past the center on the right, curving a little bit when she stops.  Mistletoe stands with her face pointed upward.  There is a slight smile on her face and her eyes are closed. Her feet are nearly covered by the snow.

I always enjoy reading the dedications in books.  This dedication speaks directly to the words and art created by Tad Hills for Mistletoe: A Christmas Story.  It reads:

In memory of my grandmother Florence Bullard,

who taught me that the best gift comes from the heart and hand.

And to Annie and Eliza, nimble-fingered knitters extraordinaire.

This is a story to read when the snow is falling outside, and you are gathered with one or more children, friends, students, or family.  It is cozy and comforting.  We can never have too much of either.  I am happy to add this title to my personal collection.  I believe you'll want to have a copy, too.

To learn more about Tad Hills, and his considerable body of work, please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  Tad Hills has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.

Secrets Disclosed

If you are fortunate to stand on the shore of a sea or of an ocean, the memory of being there for the first time will remain with you for the rest of your life.  A range of emotions washes over you.  You are amazed.  You are humbled.  You are intrigued.  In your mind, this boundless body of water before you generates a multitude of questions.  It has answers, some more easily found than others.

By careful observation certain discoveries are disclosed.  If you seek other answers, The Sea Knows (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, May 5, 2020) written by Alice B. McGinty and Alan B. Havis with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis is a marvelous introductory volume revealing many mysteries.  It's like taking a tour beneath the blue-green expanse.

We are young.
The sea is old.

The sea has secrets
to unfold.

The sea knows.

The sea is home to the largest mammal on our planet.  It its depths reside some of the tiniest creatures.  The size of the plant life ranges in height.  The patterns on the fish are varied as is their texture.

In the sea there are creatures who are more powerful than others.  Some are clever enough to hide, but equally there are those who know how to find them.  Just like our night sky, the sea harbors stars, and glowing lights.

There is a range of color under the sea.  Their vibrancy calls our attention as does their contrasts.  One thing is constantly true.  No matter where you look or how deep you go, there are many hues of blue.

Some things float upon the sea and others plunge into its deep, dark places.  If you listen and look, the sea shares sensory sensations like splashing and bubbles.  During the sunniest of days or during storms, the sea shows us many sides.  It exhibits high winds and steep waves.  It is a majestic power which can just as quickly subside into serenity.  The sea does know.


Using the final word in a sentence or phrase as a rhyming connection, authors Alice B. McGinty and Alan B. Havis invite readers to join them on a spectacular adventure.  Repetition of key words enhances the tempo.  Opposites inform and challenge readers to speculate.  Each window into this world encourages reflection, further research and welcomes visual interpretation.  Here is a passage.

The sea knows short.
The sea knows tall.

The sea knows spots,
the sea knows shiny.

The sea knows smooth,
the sea knows spiny.


When you open the matching dust jacket and book case, you are greeted with two lovely vivid visions of life beneath the waters of the sea.  On the front, right, light from the sun filters to creatures, coral, and plant life as a lone seagull glides above them.  To the left, on the back, a brilliant octopus lounges on a ledge as a sea turtle slides through the water overhead.  The shades of blue and green in both these illustrations display the many varied physical qualities of the sea.  The text and several of the larger fish on the front of the jacket are raised and varnished.

On the opening and closing endpapers, in reverse directions, a school of yellow longnose butterflyfish swim in turquoise waters.  A few fish and seaweed are placed on the verso page.  Another sea scene holds the text for the title page. 

Each page turn supplies readers with wondrous insights into the sea through the artwork of Stephanie Laberis.  Digitally rendered, each one, either a double-page picture, edge to edge, a full-page image, edge to edge, or a full-page visual with loose framing and elements breaking that framing, presents various perspectives.  At times we are close enough to the subjects to be among them.  At other times we are silent witnesses to enchanting seascapes.  The appealing and numerous details inspire further investigation.

One of my many favorite illustrations is a single-page picture for the words

the sea knows spiny.

Rich tones of blue surround the main being.  To the right and left are other animals and structures in contrasting colors.  Front and center is a puffer fish, blown up in defense.  Its spines stick out around its body.  It is looking wide-eyed at readers.


When through the text and images in a book you can travel flawlessly to a place you've never or rarely seen, it is something special.  The Sea Knows by Alice B. McGinty and Alan B. Havis with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis is an attractive and informative title certain to engage readers.  Its rhythm is as varied as the sea, ever-changing and alluring.  At the close of the book, further facts about each specific quality are presented.  You will want to have this title in your professional and personal collections.

To discover more about author Alice B. McGinty and illustrator Stephanie Laberis, please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  At Alice B. McGinty's website there are two videos I know you will enjoy, including a read aloud of the book.  Alice B. McGinty has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Stephanie Laberis has accounts on Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.  At PictureBookBuilders this book is discussed in a Q & A.  In this post mention is made of the authors' website titled News From The Happy Side.     At Kathleen Temean's Writing and Illustrating Stephanie Laberis is interviewed. 

Whatever. Together. Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers Blog Tour

Have you ever felt like your best assets were ignored or abhorred?  Have you consistently been the weak link in a chain?  I think you know where this line of thinking is going.  Some individuals are teased and then believe if, as the saying goes, someone looked up the word dud in the dictionary, their name and picture would be listed.

What no one tells them is the very qualities others find to be lacking are strengths.  These traits will keep them resilient in the face of future adversity.  Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs (Peachtree Publishers, September 1, 2018) written by Melissa Stewart with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis is a book championing characteristics regularly undervalued.

Everyone loves elephants.  They're so big and strong.
Everyone respects cheetahs.  They're so fast and fierce.
But this book isn't about animals we admire.

This book is singing the praises of another kind of animal.  This book has us cheering for the Etruscan pygmy shrew and Amau frog.  They are tiny, pinkie-fingernail tiny.  How does this size help them?  They can hide where their enemies cannot go.  The Galapagos tortoise has no need for speed.  Do you know why?

Stepping in a cow pie (manure) once is more than enough.  It's as if the smell is stuck to your nose hairs for days.  There are actually two animals that smell worse.  Yes, this is true.  These two odoriferous creatures cause predators to become ill or run away lickety-split.

Being shy is a silent way to blend into the surrounding flora.  Ask the okapi how this helps.  Sometimes we think of sleepyheads as having a lack of incentive but in reality these animals are storing up energy.  A little bit of food goes a long way with them.

Being clumsy is not necessarily a disadvantage, speed can cause a fall but it does produce a feast more often.  Go western fence lizard, go.  The blubber found on walruses, seals and sea lions is not an anti-beauty statement but a protective key to survival.  Finally the attributes of an underground critter definitely rank them low on the cuddly scale but they are a marvel of adaptation. In the words of the author

Underdogs Unite!

As a meticulous researcher Melissa Stewart brings a respected authenticity to everything she writes.  In this title her easy conversational style replete with captivating facts and the use of alliteration generates a desire in the reader to keep turning the pages . . . as quickly as possible.  As humans we find ourselves amazed by these animals' unique traits and seeing singular characteristics at the same time in us.  We identify with these underdogs.  Melissa also asks readers questions which welcome us as participants in this title.  Here is a passage.

In winter, a walrus's thick layer of fat can weigh more than 400 pounds.  Seals and sea lions fatten up too.  What a bunch of blubbery blobs!  Think these plump lumps should go on a diet? 


You can't help but smile when looking at the opened and matching dust jacket and book case for this title.  Surely humor resonates from the animals' body postures and facial expressions.  There is a funky smell in the air as depicted by the green swirls.

To the left, on the back, the same animals are shown in their same positions but from the back.  The little bat is there too.  What is different is the ISBN.  In a brilliant design moment two naked mole rats are carrying the bars to and from the barcode.  I love this! The opening and closing endpapers are colored in a dark teal to match the color of the title text.  Several of the same creatures are featured on the title page, much smaller and positioned differently.

Rendered in Adobe Photoshop these illustrations by Stephanie Laberis are realistic but also portray her own special brand of animation and humor. Many of the critters are displayed in their habitats but for emphasis they are sometimes taken out of that realm and put in our world. Stephanie does not gloss over the very true-to-life battle for survival.  The Etruscan pygmy shrew and Amau hiding from a bird and snake respectively are frightening situations for them.  When she represents the effect of the hoatzin and zorilla, I know readers will laugh out loud.

Her images spread across two pages, single pages, and may be grouped together as smaller insets.  One of my many favorite illustrations is the double-page picture of the walruses.  The background is a blend of blue-gray rounded clouds.  Snow rests on the icy landscape and on the walruses.  On the left one walrus nearly fills the page, looking directly at the reader.  His expression is priceless.  To his right, across the gutter and on the right side a group of walruses are huddled together on the edge of the ice.  Water is placed in the lower, right-hand corner.


There is much to appreciate and enjoy about Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs written by Melissa Stewart with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis.  Readers will come to view the parallels between the lives of these creatures and the bullying seen in human situations.  At the close of the book two pages are dedicated to more information about the animals in this book along with thumbnails images.  Selected sources and important dedications by the author and illustrator appear on the final page.  I highly recommend this book for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Melissa Stewart and Stephanie Laberis and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites. Melissa also has a blog.  Both Melissa and Stephanie maintain accounts on Twitter.  Stephanie has an Instagram account.  At the publisher's website are a teacher's guide, a reader's theater and animals stats and a map.  At educator Alyson Beecher's blog, Kid Lit Frenzy, the cover was revealed.  Melissa wrote a guest post about expository literature at School Library Journal and new sources for teaching nonfiction at the Nerdy Book Club.  Melissa is interviewed at For the Love of KidLit.  The book trailer was premiered at Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher's blog, Watch. Connect. Read.

As part of the blog tour both Melissa Stewart and Stephanie Laberis are answering a few questions.  And here they are!

Thank you Melissa for graciously agreeing to answer a couple of questions about your latest title, Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs.  I view all your writing with great respect and your dedication to science and nonfiction is wonderful for all of us.

After I read this book, in addition to the animals it features, I started to think how humans, children and students, could benefit from this way of viewing themselves.  Then I went to the back of the book and saw your dedication.

For any child who is being bullied right now---
what others see as a weakness may actually be your strength.

Don’t give up.

Was this the initial reason for writing this book?  Was there a specific incident which sparked the writing of this book?

Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, the Monday posts on my blog, Celebrate Science, will be entitled “Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep,” and each week, a different highly regarded nonfiction author will contribute. You can look forward to posts from Barb Rosenstock, Sarah Albee, Candace Fleming, and many, many more. Thirty-three in all. I was gobsmacked by the generosity of my colleagues and their enthusiasm for this project.

You see, writing nonfiction isn’t just cobbling together a bunch of facts. Every book we write contains a little piece of us. The topics we choose and the approaches we take, are strongly influenced by who we are as people—our personalities, our beliefs, our experiences in the world.

One of the experiences I endured as a child was bullying. From fourth grade to eighth grade it was a constant part of my life, and, in some ways, it shaped the person I am today. For example, it made me resilient enough to keep writing despite receiving about a zillion rejections from editors in the last 20 years. Okay, maybe not quite a zillion. But, trust me, it’s a big number.

Who knows . . . if I hadn’t been bullied, maybe I wouldn’t be writing today. I might have given up a long time ago.

When I decided to start researching animal superlatives (biggest, strongest, fastest) a few years ago, I found myself connecting with the anti-superlative animals (smallest, slowest, shyest, clumsiest,—even stinky-est). One morning, I woke up with the beginning of the book in my head, and I knew I was on to something.

Writing this book meant revisiting a painful part of my past, but it has already also allowed me to connect with educators who have previewed it in truly special ways. All my books are about
science ideas that I’m passionate about, but this book is also about offering hope to kids who really need it. 

Why did you focus on these eight special characteristics?  How did you choose the animals to represent these characteristics?

I’m so glad you asked this question, Margie, because it gives me a chance to geek out about nonfiction text structure—one of my favorite topics.

Like many of my books (and STEM-themed nonfiction picture books by other writers),
Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs is a concept book with a compare and contrast text structure. There is a main idea—surprising adaptations (body features and/or behaviors) can help animals survive—and then lots of examples. Some people call this a list book, and fact-loving kids adore them.

It might seem like the order of the animals in the book is random, but it’s not. And one day, when I’m in the middle of a school visit program, a child who hardly ever seems engaged in school will shock teachers by suddenly raising his/her hand and excitedly pointing out the pattern to me—a pattern that most other people never notice.

That’s the child I write for because he or she is an analytical thinker, a budding scientist or engineer who needs all the encouragement I can possibly provide. Info-kids don’t connect to narratives the way many teachers think they should, but they love expository literature.

So what’s the pattern in Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers? Actually, it’s multi-layered.

As you mentioned, there are eight characteristics featured in the book.

First layer: The number of pages devoted to each one alternates. Two spreads, one spread, two spreads, one spread, etc.

Second layer: The first four characteristics focus on adaptations that help animals stay safe, while the second four characteristics highlight adaptations for getting food or conserving energy, so less food is needed.

Here’s the chart I made to keep myself on track as I was revising.

In some ways, the structure grew out of the animal examples I had to choose from, but in other ways, the structure determined the animals I selected. There was a lot of back and forth to create a book that includes great examples AND has a great pattern. It’s important to have both because even if readers don’t recognize the pattern, they feel it. It affects the pacing and the page turns, so it’s critical to the experience of reading the book.

Thank you Melissa! 

I am so happy to have you here today Stephanie.  I thank you for taking time away from your work to chat with us.

Thank you so much! It’s a pleasure & an honor to speak with you!

When you plan for creating images for a title how does your process begin before you go to Adobe Photoshop?  Do you design a layout?  Do you complete sketches?  Do you do research first?

I always start with photo reference. No matter how stylized my work will be, I make sure that I have lots of photo reference to work from. You have to know the rules to be able to break them, as they say, and the better an understanding I have of an animal’s anatomy, the better decisions I can make about which forms to exaggerate for the sake of expression, while keeping these distortions believable. Sometimes I will read articles about a particular animal to better understand their habitat, what critters might coexist with them, or to learn some interesting habits they might have. It helps to create a more compelling illustration & to build off of the author’s text.

After I have my reference, I do very rough thumbnails, keeping things loose. This is how I figure out compositions & solve the bigger problems in layout. After that, I do a rough layout in Photoshop, using the page template of the book to figure out text layout & to make sure nothing important is lost in the gutter.

After the roughs are approved, I work directly from the rough file in Photoshop to bring the spread to full color. It makes my workflow much more smooth & fast to work this way.

If someone looks at the body of your work in children’s literature, it appears you enjoy illustrating animals more than any other subject? Why is this?  

It’s true, I love drawing animals! I think there a couple of reasons for this, the simplest one being that I don’t enjoy drawing humans as much as animals, haha! Beyond that, I was always into animals, even as a kid. I had a variety of pets growing up, such as dogs, gerbils, anoles, fish & rats, & I was always very interested in nature documentaries (and still am!) I even considered pursuing a career in biology or veterinary sciences at one point. I feel as though I have hit a good balance at this point with my artwork, in that I can still be immersed in the animal world, even focusing on more scientific elements, while being expressive & creative at the same time.

And if I can sneak in one more question . . . there is a good deal of humor in your illustrations for this book. Why?    

That’s a great question! I think mostly it’s because humor is FUN to illustrate! I LOVE pushing poses, facial expressions & actions as far as I can! Even when I do nonfiction works, I try my best to keep some elements of humor or push the expressions in my animals as much as I can, because really, animals in their most basic environment have these sorts of funny mannerisms. I think the fact that I am also an avid animation fan contributes to this - I loved The Lion King as a kid & really loved the balance of animals still running around on all fours, but having human-like mannerisms & expressions, including humor.

Thank you Stephanie!

All Together Now

It was early morning.  The sun was not up yet but the birds were.  Their different songs were like instruments in an orchestra tuning before a performance.  Off in the woods a squirrel chattering with gusto scolded an intruder.  Branches snapped as a startled deer ran.  Soon hundreds of bees would hum flitting from blossom to blossom.  The number of living beings sharing space with us is huge and amazing.

As is with many things, if we pause and ponder, we realize all kinds of life in all shapes and sizes swirl around us at all times.  We are part of a much greater whole.  Fur, Feather, Fin: All Of Us Are Kin (Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, May 1, 2018) written by Diane Lang with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis addresses the similarities and differences in the families of creatures on our planet.

All animals on Earth are kin,
while not the same on the outside or in.
Some we stroke with loving hand;
some we don't yet understand. 

Mammals, that's us too, do not hatch their babies.  We are all born.  Birds come from eggs but their gift is feathers whether they fly or not.  Some use their wings to move on land or in the water.  From fur to feathers to skin smooth to the touch now we have amphibians.

This is a family with big alterations.  Masses of eggs in water, swimming tadpoles and then like magic we get a frog, toad, or a newt.  A change of skin texture helps to regulate body temperature in the following family.

They move on land and through the water, slowly or quickly.  They can even scoop out a place to keep them safe.  You never know what a reptile will do.  Do you know what group has jointed legs and hard exteriors?

Creeping, crawling, flying and fluttering arthropods travel under water, across land and in the air.  (They do tend to eat each other, sometimes.)  Breathing under water with gills plus their bones distinguish fish from other animals.  Do they all look alike?  Not always.  And are there others making their homes in the water?  Yes!  Can you name one?

There is a special kind of creature whose work is never done.  They make what is dead and gone into something rich and new.  Detritivores are essential to the cycle of life.  With every breath we take, many others are doing it right along with us.


Each phrase or sentence supplies a soothing rhythm for readers as Diane Lang carefully creates rhyming words at the end of each line.  Each of three couplets for the families, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, arthropods, fish, water dwellers, and detritivores, contains distinguishing facts about them.  An introduction and conclusion bring us full circle.  Listen for the beat.  Here are two couplets.

Metamorphosis:  the road
for changing tadpole into toad . . .

or salamander,
frog,
or newt.
And at the end, a whole new suit!


A pristine white canvas highlights the array of animals on the matching, opened dust jacket and book case.  You almost expect them to run right off the page. The tiny intricate details are a request for readers to stop and see how many animals they can find.  How many can they name? 

To the left, on the back, a similar twist and turn has a different group of creatures following a path.  On the opening and closing endpapers a beautiful blue-hued sky is patterned with puffy clouds.  Two sea gulls travel past those clouds.  You will notice the change in their position from the front to the back.

On the verso and title pages a panoramic beach scene spreads before us.  A woman and two children are walking toward the water. On the next double page picture, the little girl and little boy are watching all the animals in a tide pool. (The trio is highlighted on the final two-page illustration of a closer view of the ocean.  There are lots of animals to find here.)

Stephanie Laberis alternates between vast two-page pictures, groupings of smaller images on one or two pages and single-page visuals.  These elevate the pacing while giving readers views of a wide range of animals.  Her illustrations are in full color, depicting different kinds of weather, seasons and settings.

One of my many favorite images is on a single page.  Rain slants across a gray sky.  Moving in close it pelts the feathers of a loon.  Its wing is raised to provide shelter for five furry babies in the nest.  They are in various stages of sleep and wakefulness.  Reeds frame the birds on the right and left.


As soon as readers and listeners are shown this book, Fur, Feather, Fin: All Of Us Are Kin written by Diane Lang with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis, I can guarantee they will move in closer to notice all the animals shown in the wonderful images and portrayed with the poetic, factual words.  This title could be used to begin a unit on animals in general, diversity in the animal world or to begin a study of a particular group.  It will spark awareness and promote research.  You will want to have more animal books ready.  At the close in an author's note more explanations are offered about similarities, differences, how we can help animals now and resources.  You will want to have a copy of this book for your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Diane Lang and Stephanie Laberis and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Diane has activities to download.  Stephanie maintains Instagram and Twitter accounts.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.



Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to view the selections this week by other participants in the 2018 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.