Walk With Purpose And Always Look To See

TO

ANYONE WHO IS HAVING A BAD DAY

Reading a dedication such as this lets you know you are holding hope in your hands.  We all have waking hours we would like to fast forward or rewind; some of them worse than others.  Knowing everyone has these moments binds us together as members of the human race.  If we are fortunate one or more will reach out a helping hand.

When you read titles such as A Home for Bird, Bear Has a Story to Tell, Hello, My Name is Ruby, Sebastian and the Balloon, and Lenny & Lucy each focusing on compassion and friendship, each written by the same author as the dedication shown above, you know his newest title will give you those very same things.  It will encourage you to look at your world with intention.  Samson in the Snow (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, September 27, 2016) written and illustrated by Philip C. Stead is a gentle story wrapped in a timeless truth.

ON SUNNY DAYS Samson tended his dandelion patch.

Samson has a dandelion patch, caring for it like a master gardener.  He is also waiting; patiently waiting for a friend.  On a sunny morning a small red bird stops to chat with Samson.  A request is made.

Without giving it a second thought, Samson selects some of his finest blossoms for the red bird to take to a friend who is having a bad day.  The bird explains the friend's favorite color is yellow.  It's Samson's favorite color too.  Seeing the red bird soar across the sky Samson thinks about having a friend.  Before he knew it, he falls into a sound sleep.

As Samson sleeps, a sneaky storm pushes the sunny day away changing the yellow of the dandelion patch and Samson's yellow dream to white.  This wakes him up.  When he sees all the white his first thought is of the little red bird.  It worries him so he, wishing for a friend, goes in search of one seeking their friend.

Samson plods over all sorts of terrain covered in deep, blowing snow. As he moves along he nearly steps on a mouse that is grateful for a ride within his furry coat.  They realize they are both looking for someone small who might be in trouble in this storm.  Samson grows weary so they rest right next to something looking a little out of place in all this white.  When you look for the right reasons, friendship finds a way.

Through his masterful use of language Philip C. Stead creates an atmosphere which asks us to pause and reflect.  We are sharing the experience with his characters.  We are intimately aware of the innate capacity within them to be kind first.  Without telling us outright Stead's narrative and conversations between the characters weave around us the wisdom of The Golden Rule.  Here is a passage.

Samson trudged through valleys and over rolling hills.  The wind blew the snow into fantastic shapes---but Samson did not stop to look.  

"The little red bird is not made for this kind of weather," he thought.

Moving from left to right, back to front, the opened dust jacket is a before and during look at this story.  In the first Samson is walking off the left portion of the back with the little red bird flying near him. The day is sunny and the field is filled with dandelions.  On the right the hill continues but is now covered in snow with Samson walking in the opposite direction.  The title text is raised.  

The book case takes one of the grays from the storm using it as the background color.  On the front a single large snowflake appears to have been stenciled.  In the center is a tiny woolly mammoth.  The opening and closing endpapers are done in a lighter, almost silver, gray.  The same image on the case appears in pale green before the title page.  The text on the title page is dandelion yellow with the o in snow a tiny pale green snowflake.  Several small snowflakes are placed on the verso.

Handmade using oil pastels, charcoal, and cardboard printing

the illustrations span either a single page or across two pages.  The texture in these images is stunning.  Prior to the snowstorm small dandelions are placed on the text pages.  After the storm snowflakes take their place.

 Stead alters his perspectives to completely bind readers to the story.  When he brings you close to the characters you are connected in that minute.  When we are given a grander view we realize the extent of the commitment of each.  Nothing is going to keep them from doing what they believe is right.

One of my favorite illustrations is on a single page in the beginning.  We are looking at the little red bird as if we are the woolly mammoth.  The small friend is looking up, tail feathers fanned behind. Surrounding the little red bird are dandelion tops with leaves reaching out like arms.  The dandelions are nearly the same size as the bird.  

Samson in the Snow written and illustrated by Philip C. Stead is a moving, marvelous tale of friendship.  It softly surrounds you.  It is the kind of story you want to share repeatedly. This book is a gem; like finding dandelions in a snow storm.  

To learn more about Philip C. Stead and his other work please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  There is also a website dedicated to the work of Philip C. Stead and his wife, Erin E. Stead.  Several interior pages are available for you to view at the publisher's website.  Erin and Phil were interviewed at Twenty By Jenny in April of this year.

UPDATE:  An entire set of activities is dedicated to this title at All The Wonders, December 12, 2016.

This Reader. (she say "rock on")

Life has a way of throwing us monumental change within seconds and without notice.  A single act by another or us with or without a response can alter our immediate lives.  It can expand to include others, even the world at large.

Some things done are better left without any acknowledgement at all.  Others elicit a reaction triggered by emotion or logic.  A little more than one year ago we were introduced to a boy and his best friend, a woolly mammoth, in this Orq. (he cave boy.)  Readers could not help but feel joyful by the love the two have for each other.  I am happy to announce the return of the duo in this ORQ. (he say "ugh!") (Boyds Mills Press, an imprint of Highlights, September 8, 2015) written by David Elliott with illustrations by Lori Nichols.  Orq and Woma are challenged repeatedly by two new characters.

This Orq.
He cave boy.
Wear skins.
No shoes.
Sometimes say ...
"UGH!"

The cave boy and his woolly mammoth companion enjoy every single day having as much fun as they can.  One of their favorite things to do is to build architectural shapes and forts out of turtles, stacking them like bricks.  We are made aware, nevertheless, of the hardships of dwelling in a cave.  It's chilly, dark and the food is uncooked.

As if this is not enough, Dorq, a bigger, stronger and hairier boy, and his cave bear cohort, Caba, relish making life miserable for Orq and Woma.

UGH! DOUBLE UGH!

Mother's suggestion to ignore them is simply unreasonable.  They're like shadows, spoiling all those activities Orq and Woma delight in doing, fishing, finding and building.

The single advantage the pals have is speed.  They can and do outrun the bullies.  Until ...one day on a hunting expedition a

tremendous turtle

turns out to be trouble.  Dorq and Caba have been practicing their chasing.

It looks as though the terrible twosome have the upper hand.  An egg escalates the encounter.  Anger born out of love and two rocks reverse the course of events.  Heroes, like change, can be created in the blink of an eye.  Everyone wins...well, almost everyone.


As he did in the first title, David Elliott gives readers phrases inviting their participation.  The shortened sentences are playful, humorous and full of rhythm.  The technique of designing events in clusters of three works extremely well; each time leading to a pause or a shift in the narrative.  Elliott demonstrates insight into the thinking of his expected readers with word choices and character interactions.  Here is a sample passage.

But cave life tough.
Cold cave.
Dark night.
Raw bison.
And ...
...DORQ.


Spanning from left to right we are greeted with a two-page spread across the matching dust jacket and book case.  Clearly Woma and Orq are distressed as the dreadful duo, Dorq and Caba, laugh in the background.  The three red-tufted blue birds seen gathered around the ISBN on the first title have returned, joined by jazzy-shelled turtles.  A matte-finish on these as well as the interior pages provides a pleasing tactile experience for readers.

The identical opening and closing endpapers feature a pattern of turtles, snakes, a woolly mammoth puppet and a single egg. With a page turn another double-page picture greets readers.  Everyone will grin at the scene showcasing the title.  A smiling Woma is running toward a singing Orq bathing in a pond joined by the three birds, one floating on its back in the water.  Orq's grass clothing and blue-striped underwear are hanging on a twig.

The next large image on the right holds the publication information plus The Turtle Challenge.  Readers are asked to count the number of turtles Lori Nichols has placed in this title.  Woma, spraying water from his trunk, is now bathing in the pond as Orq struggles to get dressed.  The first lines of the story appear on the right.

Rendered in

#4 pencil on Strathmore drawing paper and colorized digitally

the illustrations vary in size from two-page to single page and smaller visuals grouped on one page to extend and enhance the pacing of the story.  The facial features on all the characters depict the emotional status of each scene perfectly.  Nichols' lines, fine or large, convey setting, mood and motion, taking readers into the moment.

One of my favorite images is the second double-page picture in the story.  On the left Woma is sitting surrounded by turtles.  He holds one in his arms ready to hand it to Orq, who is being held aloft in his trunk.  Orq and Woma have made an arch of smiling turtles on the right.  We are reminded of the shared affection of these two friends.


This ORQ. (he say "ugh!") written by David Elliott with illustrations by Lori Nichols is a heartfelt and witty look at friendship and those who would strive to take away another's joy.  The BIG surprise during the final confrontation with the mean-spirited Dorq and Caba will have everyone cheering.  The change of words in the key phrase and Nichols' final illustration will fill readers with warmth.  This book.  This book great.  Share this book. Happy reader. Third title September 2016.


To discover more about David Elliott and Lori Nichols please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  John Schumacher, blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. and the new Scholastic Ambassador of School Libraries, shared a vine of this title. Enjoy.

#Bookaday This Orq. (he say "ugh!") by David Elliott and @lorinicholsbook https://t.co/ogwH1hz6sC There are a lot of turtles in this book!

— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) August 8, 2015

This Reader. Reader Love Book.

If you've ever been around little guys and gals learning to talk you know various parts of speech are frequently missing from their phrases and sentences.  Their triumphant grins when a person, a place, a thing or an idea are properly expressed are so uplifting, it wouldn't be right to point out the missing words.  It's the same for persons of any age who are attempting to learn a second language; go with the basics first.

Let's step back in time, way back in time, to a portion of the Stone Age.  Let's imagine a story about a boy and his pet...woolly mammoth.  (You're smiling already, aren't you?) this ORQ. (he cave boy.) (Boyds Mills Press, an imprint of Highlights) written by David Elliott with illustrations by Lori Nichols proves that some things rarely change over the course of tens of thousands of years.  Some things remain the same.

This Orq.
He live in cave.
He carry club.
He cave boy.

Orq has adopted a baby woolly mammoth.  He has named him Woma.  The two are inseparable.

Problems begin to arise when Woma starts to grow in size.  To complicate the situation Orq's mom does not like certain physical characteristics and habits of the woolly mammoth.  He, like some other pets, leaves hairy messes, is rather whiffy and deposits piles of poo inside the rocky residence.

Woma is banished from the cave but Orq's abundant affection for his friend helps him come up with a surefire plan.  He is going to teach him to do three things guaranteed to have his mother loving the woolly mammoth as much as he does.  Oops!  Oh! No! Yikes!  Woma is still not setting one furry foot in the cave.

An imaginary hunting expedition turns frighteningly real one day.  Cave boy is looking pretty tasty to a ferocious feline. Huge love turns the tide and a mom's thinking.


David Elliott's word choices for this story are splendid.  The spare text conveys his understanding of what his intended audience needs to know.  His repeated use of

Orq loves Woma.

is the key to binding pieces of the narrative together and of endearing readers to his characters.  It also acts, with alterations, to define the feelings of Woma and Orq's mom at pivotal points.


When you first hold this book in your hands the tactile experience starts with the matte-finished dust jacket and book case.  Unfolding the two you see Woma stretched out, eyes alight with attention, gently holding a truly contented Orq on one tusk.  Squawking away are the three baby bird characters around the ISBN in the lower left back corner.  The matching opening and closing endpapers showcase Orq's boyhood toys, artistic tools and found treasures; a bird feather, a stony bear, woolly mammoth and sabertooth tiger, assorted writing utensils and a tricycle.  The first two double-page spreads, the title page, verso and beginning text, introduce Orq and his surroundings along with the whimsical mother bird, blue with darker stripes and a bushy red top.

Lori Nichols' illustrations rendered in #4 pencil on Strathmore drawing paper and colorized digitally elevate the humor and love in this story with her extra detailed touches.  Each time the word love is used the color of the text reflects the character.  Three roughly drawn red hearts ascend from the head of the person showing their devotion.

To visualize Woma growing bigger and bigger and bigger he has been placed next to a tree. Along with his growth is the making of bird nest, the babies with open beaks and mama bird, arms on hips in disgust when the hole in the tree is covered.  That final illustration of these three is one of my favorites.  Orq loving Woma, hugging his trunk, both their eyes closed, and completely oblivious of the mama bird's dilemma, is funny and touching.


This book, this ORQ. (he cave boy.), written by David Elliott with illustrations by Lori Nichols begs to be read aloud.  Listeners will be chiming in with the refrain immediately.  I'd be willing to bet you will have plenty of boys and girls speaking Orq for many days later.  Readers of any age will readily identify with the love between a pet and their human.  A huge plus goes to Elliott and Nichols for the pictured two word twist at the end.  I am grinning ear to ear after discovering there is to be a sequel to this title.

For more information about David Elliott and Lori Nichols please follow the links to their websites embedded in their names.  If you follow this link you will be taken to an interview of Lori Nichols at KidLit411.  UPDATE:  Here is a link to a story hour kit by Curious City DPW.