For The Very First Time-Reflections on NerdCampMI 2016

In July of 2013 when the first nErDcampMI  convened, I was there.  I was there at least an hour late in the morning, making the four hour drive from northern Michigan but not quite myself, still recovering from the trauma of an accident two months earlier which totaled my car.  By the time I arrived the woman who was watching my beloved dog had left six messages on my phone, panicked because she could not get in the house.  For some reason the code on the door was not working for her.  With this issued finally resolved I attended the morning sessions; first a gathering of teacher librarians and then another taught by Donalyn Miller and Suzanne Gibbs on integrating technology into our classrooms.

As everyone left for lunch, I found myself sitting alone in an area reflecting on what I had heard.  I knew for those brief hours, I had been part of something big that was going to grow.  I also knew someone I had loved for years needed me more.  I quietly gathered my things and left without saying a word.  I wish I would have said good-by to some cherished and new friends but the urgency to get home was strong.  The welcome I received upon my arrival in Charlevoix told me I had made the right decision.  I never left Xena again for the next two years and four months.

When talk of nErDcampMI 2016 began circulating on social media, I wanted to be there.  It was time to connect with people who I only knew virtually but felt like lifelong friends.  We had conversed on the telephone, through email, messages on Twitter and Facebook and in scores of posts.  These people held (hold) the same passion for children and students, books, reading, writing and children's literature I do.

This adventure, nErDcampMI 2016, began Sunday July 10th in the morning and finished Wednesday morning July 13th.  The entire event came full circle at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.  Nothing will ever duplicate the series of firsts I experienced over these days.

• To meet author Victoria J. Coe in person was astonishing; this woman who has talked, written and supported me for more than a year, this woman who knows and understands the hearts of dog lovers and this woman who knows dogs, oh so well, is full of energy until she is not. (I swear she is part canine.) Her love of writing and her books lights up a room whenever she enters.  To have been her roommate is beyond wonderful.
• To meet educator Melissa Guerrette, to chat with her to and from the airport, on our rides to nErDcamp and other events was a gift.  You should ask her about her summer program. 
• To share conversations, meals and company with the Boston bunch and those other wicked New Englanders and a delightful Canadian, Jason Lewis, Lesley Burnap, Josh Funk, Erika Victor, Melanie Colangelo Roy and Debbie Ohi Ridpath was soul-lifting.  I'll never look at a Big Boy the same way again.
• By late afternoon on Sunday the group more than doubled as others arrived to share another meal and children's literature chats; to see and meet all these people in person is beyond description.  I soaked it up like a proverbial sponge.
• On Monday morning looking around the gymnasium as the numbers continued to grow, filling the bleachers, floor and balcony, I could feel my heart swelling at the thought of all these committed people coming together.  Every single person on the stage, tiny Heidi thanking all of us for the gift of books, Kathy Burnette, Teri Lesesne, Pernille Ripp, Raina Telgemeier and Donalyn Miller told truly poignant stories.  That they shared them for the good of the cause is the most touching thing of all.  When Kate DiCamillo walked in, the room exploded in applause.  I will remember her story because of the rock with the thumbprint hole and the green and white checked towel; her attention to details, the sense of realism, goes straight to your heart.
• Betsy Bird, Travis Jonker and Minh Le challenged us all to look at the impact of social media and blogging.  I loved knowing about their favorite books.
• Nora Raleigh Baskin and Gae Polisner took us back to 9/11 recreating their writing process; a journey in research and emotional connections.  I deeply value conversations had with both of them outside this presentation.
• I had never heard my friend John Schumacher speak but let me tell you; don't ever miss a chance to hear this man talk about books, reading or libraries.  He is witty, wise and completely passionate about children's literature.  Everyone left the room energized.  The chats with Kate Beasley and Kate DiCamillo at the end were an unexpected memorable bonus.
• Sometime during the day, Deborah Freedman and I approached each other and met for the first time.  We have conversed online and over the phone but never before in person.  I know I have hugged every single one of her books after I have read them.  I am sincerely thankful to have had this opportunity.
• I think Jess Keating and I might have yelled when we saw each other for the first time and hugged each other in appreciation. 
• In the late afternoon and evening the cafeteria filled with authors and illustrators and people seeking to get books signed and even briefly exchange sentences with them.  I tried to thank all of them for their contribution to children's lives through their books.  The room was super-charged.  I am grateful to Nora Raleigh Baskin, Gae Polisner, Greg Pizzoli, Aaron Zenz, John Davidson Anderson, Kate Hannigan, Melanie Conklin, Josh Funk, and Jen Bishop for signing books for me and taking the time to talk.
• I want to thank one very special new young author not only for his book, but for a story he shared with me.  I asked him about a bracelet he was wearing made of colored beads.  It's really a necklace made by his young son which he wraps around his wrist.  His son made two, one for him and one for himself.  It's to remind Minh Le when they are apart of the love connection they share.  When they chat face to face online they wave their fingers to recharge the power held in those bracelets.  Oh my goodness... ♥♥♥  
• And the day was not over yet as hundreds filled a hall for the Nerdy Dinner...
• On Tuesday I lead a morning session, Be The Pebble School Libraries Sharing Best Practices.  It was a pleasure to see the faces of friends I had met previously and those I only knew online.  Thank you to each one of you who contributed in the conversations and to those of you who came up to talk with me after the session.  If anyone would like more specifics about anything feel free to send me a message on Twitter.
• Sharing lunch with friends John Schumacher and Lauren Castillo (nearly in tears when I first saw her Sunday night) was one of those pinch-me moments.  Their dedication to their work, to everything they believe in, is genuine.  I have a feeling the best is yet to come.
• In the afternoon I had the distinct privilege to read a Nerdy Book Club post with Victoria J. Coe and then one of my own for possible broadcast on the new Nerdy Book Club podcast.  It's an experience I won't forget.  I am sending thanks to the patient and knowledgeable Kevin Carlson. (For the life of me, pronouncing typography gave new meaning to tongue-tied.) 
• You can't leave the session lead by Tony Keefer on March Madness without being fired-up for this event.  
• Just when you think it couldn't get any better, it did.  Hundreds of students came to nErDcamp Jr. (700?).  Authors/illustrators and volunteers talked, laughed and worked from 5:30-8PM.  I had the honor of working in the room with writer Deborah Hopkinson.  I have admired her books, especially her picture books for years.  After her presentation, I know I need to go read some of her middle grade books.  She makes you hungry for history.  Her writing exercise was profound and moving.
• When the big thunderstorm hit everyone kept on talking and listening and participating but I did hear that the students in Victoria J. Coe's presentation on POV started barking like dogs when the thunder came.  
• And how often do you leave nErDcamp MI with a rainbow hanging in front of the school.  It was a superb closing to a superb event.
• I won't forget those small conversations had with people I have not named, I see your faces and I remember.  I am grateful for those moments with each of you.
• Most of all I can't express enough my supreme gratitude to a couple who had a dream and made it come true, Alaina and Colby Sharp.  You and your team have made a difference in thousands of lives.  I love you both.

Booked Flight

You can't help but wonder if in their wildest dreams, Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright had any notion of the connections airplanes would create on the grand scale we have today.  What would they think of the technological advancements in plane design and structure or the views from and controls within the cockpit?  How would they feel if they could pilot one of the ten largest passenger aircraft or be a first-class traveler in one of these immense planes?

If they were to step inside one of the large international terminals, what would be the first thing they would say or think?  The sense of urgency and energy is highly prevalent as thousands of people pass through these facilities every single day.  The Airport Book (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, May 10, 2016) written and illustrated by Lisa Brown follows a family of four as they journey to visit the father's parents.

Don't forget Monkey!
I PACK MONKEY!
Of course I won't forget Monkey!
Where's my hat?

Each family member is focusing on the chief thing on their minds in this initial conversational exchange as they pack prior to leaving for the airport.  They continue to talk as the taxi arrives.  Narrative text by an unseen narrator (the son?) adds to the unfolding story.

At the terminal we are privy to observations about the people and their baggage as other voices appear in separate dialogues.  These continue as rows of people proceed through an assortment of lines.  At the same time the little girl begins to call out for Monkey.  Her crying increases as they pass through the security machines.  She settles some as they proceed past all the shops and restaurants, making their way to the gates.

Each portion of the process prior to and during boarding the plane inside the terminal and outside on the tarmac is revealed.  As passengers settle into their seats, the daughter begins to yell for her monkey as she looks out a window.  She simply can't stop even when the flight attendant begins her routine speech about safety.

There is rarely a quiet moment as individuals go about their personal activities during the flight.  The plane moves through the clouds finally landing at its destination.  Amid the hustle and bustle of arrival and baggage claims, a final surprise circles into view.  Greetings galore are exchanged.


With every reading my admiration for the writing, the smooth blend of text and conversation, by Lisa Brown increases.  The narrator explains every step of the journey from their home, to the airport, at the terminal, during the flight, and after the arrival.  It's completely true to life no matter what age you are.  The dialogue between the family members and the other travelers adds even more realism to the story.  Readers will be silently smiling or laughing out loud at the little girl's sightings of Monkey which only she can see.  Here is another sample combination of text and conversations.

When you reach your gate, you wait.
And wait and wait and wait.

I see Monkey! (daughter)
Don't be silly. (her brother)
I hope you have the boarding passes. (older woman to her husband, a continuation of constant reminders)
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. (business woman on her phone, constantly)

Outside people are getting the plane ready.
They are checking that everything is working and safe and clean and ready to fly.


What a joy to remove the dust jacket from this title and see what my newest group of kindergarten students and I call a surprise!  From left to right, flap edge to flap edge, on the dust jacket, Lisa Brown gives us an up-close-and-personal view of the windows looking out at the tarmac.  She cleverly gives us a peek at Monkey and places her name on the outside of a suitcase.  The undercurrent of joy throughout this book begins right here.  On the book case Brown has taken images from the book, enlarged them and put them on a background of white.  It's a mix of arriving and leaving the airport.

The opening and closing endpapers are visual storytelling depicting first the overcast day with rain falling as we look inside the homes in the city and second as we enjoy a day at the beach with the family.  With a page turn at the beginning the title, verso and first pages continue this tale with dialogue and text woven into the images.  Rendered in India ink and watercolor on paper all the illustrations span two pages.

With that being said Lisa Brown broadens the dimension of a single narrative by combining multiple stories under the umbrella of the family's story.  You HAVE to stop at each picture looking at all the tiny details, marveling at her use of color to focus on the people.  Sometimes she will bring us close to a moment or step back allowing us to see the people and the luggage/packages moving along the belt or the passengers seated on the plane and the checked items underneath the inside of the plane.  This adds a new humorous element to the entire book.  (Careful readers will note the sign held by a limo driver at the baggage claim.)

One of my favorite illustrations of many is when the family is in line at the counter.  A variety of people of all ages are behind them.  As the assistant asks for their I. D. s the little girl shouts out for her monkey several times.  The mom turns to the dad asking if he forgot to pack Monkey.  What the parents can't see is the tail of Monkey sticking out from the suitcase the little girl packed.  This is one of those pictures where Lisa Brown brings us closely into the scene.  You can't help but smile.


The Airport Book written and illustrated by Lisa Brown is a charming and humorous look at travel, planes, airports and the terminals within those airports.  We get to explore every aspect through the eyes of a younger narrator and the many conversations.  This is a standout title.  Make sure to have it on your professional and personal shelves.

To discover more about Lisa Brown please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  If you go to the publisher's website you can view some interior pages.  Lisa Brown visits Miss Marple's Musings.  For a visual extravaganza visit author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast showcasing this title.  Lisa Brown is a guest at All The Wonders, Episode 265 with teacher librarian Matthew Winner.  At Scholastic's Ambassador for School Libraries, John Schumacher's blog, Watch. Connect. Read., this title is mentioned and shown in a Saturday video as he visits a Little Free Library.

Start Your Engines...The Race Is On

If your windows are down as you approach, even miles away, you can hear the roar beginning.  It's the sound of more than twelve thousand fans gathering for the day.  The stands and infield are packed with people.  Trucks are parked inside the circular track.  Family and friends are seated in chairs on the roof of those trucks to get a better view.  When the flag drops, those voices are joined by the rumbling of engines as the race at Michigan International Speedway begins.

Shouted conversations speculate on the outcome.  Will the favorite finish first or will a "dark horse" speed and weave around the front runners?  A dastardly, delightful spin on who might win is found in the rip-roaring Monster Trucks (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, July 12, 2016) written by Anika Denise with illustrations by Nate Wragg.

On a SPOOKY speedway...
MONSTER TRUCKS MOAN!
MONSTER TRUCKS GRUMBLE!
MONSTER TRUCKS GROAN!

We meet those lined in a row and ready to go; one with parts started by a spark, another which lifts his hood to howl, a third more dead than alive but ready to drive, another who is a shadow of his former self, and the fifth and final entrant who seeks to drain the energy of everyone.  The flag goes up and then down, the sound is deafening as the competition commences.  The battle is fierce as they circle.  What's this?  Another competitor has arrived!

It's a bus, a little blue bus, bustling to join that bunch of boisterous bullies.  The others tower over the timid truck.  They're ready to feast on her apparent fear when, with a shout, a challenge is issued.  Shifting into high she leaves those snide rides real fast as they fade into the rear.

Maneuvering with skill the smallest takes the lead as the furious five spin and collide.  Now in the open, the little blue bus is a target, a bull's eye for what has burst forth from the mess of metal.  The finish line looms.  Will the mighty of heart meet their doom?  A trick and a twist are revealed under the light of the full moon.


The beat generated by the rhythm of the rhyming, alliterative, and onomatopoeic words written by Anika Denise is sure to have readers and listeners ready to race (or dance at the very least).  The narrative pauses in several places as a familiar refrain, three phrases describing the monster trucks, chants the current mood.  Word choices and punctuation create a cadence that flows and is never forced.  Readers feel as though they are observers of midnight madness, a race run in the absence of daylight and humans.  Here is a sample passage.

It's a monster mash-up!
CLANG!  BOOM!  BASH!  BANG!
Every truck for himself---by piston and FANG!
When out of the pit...with a PUTT and a TOOT
comes a LITTLE BLUE BUS
looking perky ...and cute.


Opening the dust jacket (I'm working from an F & G.) readers are greeted with a full image left to right, back to front, of the five fearsome monster trucks revving their engines as they race down the track.  Nothing is going to stop them as they fight for position.  Nate Wragg uses a full color palette but lights from the headlamps, speedway stands and the full moon cast shadows and an eerie glow to the scene.

On the title page the ghost truck glides in through headstones, looking at the reader with wide eyes.  Three other trucks travel over darkened ground and through trees looking like skeletons on the verso and dedication pages.   A lone gas pump, shaped like a coffin, drips gasoline as vampire truck slurps a sip.  Bats fly across the sky.

Most of the illustrations rendered in acrylic paints with digital color are spread over two pages or a single page, edge to edge.  For one portion of the narrative Wragg uses three smaller horizontal pictures on a single page to heighten tension at a turning point in the story.  The animation on the truck faces is superb, more scary than cute.  Every visual is charged with energy.

One of my favorite illustrations is when the monster trucks are blasting from the starting line.  Their expressions are full of determination as they face forward or give each other the evil eye.  They are going so fast they are nearly airborne.  The sky behind them is shades of orange, full of golden yellow rays shooting upward from the ground behind them.  You actually believe you can hear the engines and the screams from the crowd.


Bright and bold Monster Trucks written by Anika Denise with illustrations by Nate Wragg is a finger-snapping, toe-tapping read aloud; a seasonal selection or for a monster or truck themed story hour or event.  You need to plan on reading it more than once because your listeners will want to participate with gusto in the word play. It's noisy, scary, fun and a little bit tricky.

To learn more about Anika Denise and Nate Wragg please follow the links to their respective website and blog.  Nate Wragg also maintains Tumblr pages.  Anika is a guest post writer at Angie Karcher's RHYPIBOMO site.   Enjoy the sampler and book trailer.

UPDATE:  Anika Denise is a guest at PictureBookBuilders.  Enjoy the interview. August 9, 2016

Waving Her Wand

On January 19, 1920 my mother was born on a farm in a small town outside the capital of Michigan.  On August 18, 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified; no citizen shall be denied the right to vote based upon sex.  When you consider the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788 (our system of government began operating under the United States Constitution in 1789), it's hard to believe the first generation of women who grew up with the right to vote by constitutional amendment was my mother's generation.  In 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton is the presumed nominee for President of the United States for the Democratic Party.

As you can imagine not only in the United States but all around the world women struggled to achieve this equality.  Prior to this achievement (and still today) if a woman assumed or pursued a role outside of the expected or accepted norm, it was not easy.  Anything But Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic (Candlewick Press, April 12, 2016) written by Mara Rockliff with illustrations by Iacopo Bruno highlights the considerable accomplishments of an extraordinary woman.

Addie never wanted to be ordinary.

This girl certainly was not going to conform to the status quo.  In fact, noticing an ad in a newspaper one day, she secretly pursued a plan which landed her on the stage in front of a live audience.  She was excellent but as far as Addie was concerned, it was still not astonishing.

Her next attempt at being daring and different had her traveling from London to other large European cities, dressed in appalling (for this time in history) attire riding on a new invention.  (The name given this mode of transportation has changed but it remains.) Addie's delight in exploring the world had her on a ship from Europe across the ocean to America.  It was in New York City, at the age of 21, that she married a fascinating gentleman, a magician named Alexander Herrmann.

They built his one man extravaganza into a show together and then added more artists.  In fact, Addie ended up being shot out of a canon!  Fearless to a fault, there was a single trick which Addie begged Alexander not to do, The Bullet-Catching Trick.  (I wonder how it would have been to sit in the audience watching a row of riflemen shoot at someone holding only a plate for protection.)

After more than twenty years together, Alexander suddenly died as they traveled by train between shows.  This is when Addie decided to do the most uncommon thing of all.  She would continue to keep the show alive.  She would become the main attraction as a magician doing what was rarely done.  For her entire life she lived as her younger self had imagined.


The research for a particular nonfiction subject is nearly always challenging but for some topics it is even harder.  In two separate author notes at the end, Mara Rockliff offers further explanations about the life of Adelaide, Alexander and their family of entertainers.  She also delves into the search for information about Addie which is a bit of a detective story.

In presenting Adelaide Herrmann as a living breathing person, Rockliff begins with a sentence which ties all other details of her life together. This mantra or viewpoint Addie had on how to embrace everything creates a subtle tension or force behind all her decisions and the narrative of this book.  It supplies readers with a series of pauses and exclamation points within a truly amazing existence.  Rockliff repeats key words and phrases to enhance this flow.  Here is a sample passage.

Alexander was no ordinary husband.
He set fire to Addie.
He chopped off her head.
He made her vanish
(poof!)
into thin air.

The two of them got 
along splendidly.

Together, they
ASTONISHED,
SHOCKED,
and
DAZZLED
audiences around
the globe.


Rendered in pencil and colored digitally all of the illustrations beginning with the matching dust jacket and book case are as alluring as Addie.  Designed to mirror the look of a stage on both the front and the back with pillars framing the pictures on each, readers are taken to an era from the past.  Iacopo Bruno includes details on the front depicting the love of animals which Addie and Alexander shared.  They used them in their acts.  He includes Addie's flare for elaborate clothing, the flying cards and Addie's wand.  There is most definitely magic in the air.  On the back, to the left, scrolled, intricate letters, A and H, are intertwined on a background of deep rich red.  The opening and closing endpapers announce the changes over the course of Addie's career.

Nineteen full, two-page visuals portray the life of this remarkable woman.  A technique Bruno uses is to highlight portions of the image in a wide white line making those elements appear to stand out from the others.  It gives the pictures a 3-D effect.  In the first illustration for the first sentence most of the picture is done in sepia tones except for Addie.  She is in full color.

Throughout the book, Bruno places small visuals within larger wholes adding interest and expanding the narrative.  The text is carefully fitted within portions of the pictures in areas provided by Bruno; inside a big drum, curtains on a stage, the side of a ship or on the back of a woman's dress in the audience.  For most of the book, the moods of the characters are happy and light, but the illustrations adeptly depict the sadness of Alexander's death on the train and the state of the show at his passing.

Repeatedly for emphasis the viewpoint zooms into the page.  Pieces of newsprint add to authenticity.  Attire of the general public and specifically the Herrmanns supplies a real sense of time and place.

One of my favorite pictures is of Adelaide and Alexander seated at the captain's table on a ship.  Large borders on both sides showcase cards, golden balls moving through fingers, large rings, a rabbit above a top hat and a hand waving a wand.  In the center at a large table set for an extensive meal sits the foursome.  Alexander is making the roses rise from the centerpiece.  Adelaide is gasping in pleasure and surprise.  There is a glow to this scene.


Anything But Ordinary Addie:  The True Story Of Adelaide Herrmann Queen of Magic written by Mara Rockliff with illustrations by Iacopo Bruno is as dazzling as the subject.  This collaboration by Rockliff and Bruno demonstrates their ability to make the same kind of wonderful nonfiction picture book as given to readers in Mesmerized:  How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France (Candlewick Press, March 10, 2015.  If a woman can rise above the prejudices of her time and do so garnering respect and admiration from her peers, this will inspire others to do the same even if their circumstances are not entirely identical.

To learn more about Mara Rockliff and Iacopo Bruno please visit their online presence by following the links attached to their names.  At two separate publisher websites you can view images from the interior of this title, here and here.  Candlewick Press provides an activity kit linked here.


Please be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to view the other titles selected this week by bloggers participating in the 2016 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

I'm at #NerdCampMI So... For Day Two A Past Top Post

When you gather more than one thousand people for an event there are bound to be incidents of crankiness over the course of more than twelve hours during a summer day in July given human nature.  But in all honesty when those more than one thousand people are members of the Nerdy Book Club attending NerdCampMI the positive energy does not allow for anything but the best kind of day.  Every single session I attended on day one was upbeat, informative and charged with a love of books, reading, children's literature and filled with people who are passionate about what they do.

As I stated yesterday for today I am providing the second top post read during the #pb10for10 event in August.  If I were to rewrite this post, these books would most definitely be included but I doubt if I could keep the number under fifteen.  (As it is, I added a couple of books at the end.)  Keeping the list to ten is nearly impossible to do.  The Fabulous Twenty-Six is my gathering of favorite alphabet books for the sheer fun of reading them and using them to extend the experience in the classroom with other activities.   I hope you enjoy my summaries and my selections.

I'm at #NerdCampMI So... For Day One A Past Top Post

I am happy to report that I am attending NERDCAMPMI this year located at Western High School in Parma, Michigan.  On Sunday evening a group of teachers, authors, illustrators and librarians gathered for a dinner of conversation and camaraderie before the event has officially started.  There were many moments of people meeting face to face for the first time (And yes, there were tears.), people chatting about books and reading nearly nonstop and lots of positive energy and laughter.  At times I found myself stopping and looking at everyone enjoying every single minute.

For the next two days my blog posts will not be typical.  I am taking a break but I would like to share with you the top two posts highlighting the August event, Picture Book August 10for10.  In one month this fabulous effort will unfold, where book people gather their favorites in a list.

My top #pb10for10 post so far is Sweet Dreams.  I hope you enjoy the summaries and recommendations.    The books on this list guarantee sleep and a wonderful journey to dreamland.  If you have not seen this post I hope you will enjoy it.  If you have may it jog your memory or get you thinking about your own post for August 2016.

Power Of The Human Voice

As an educator and storyteller there is one moment in the 1987 film Three Men and a Baby which stands out more than any of the other, albeit, funny incidents.  It focuses on reading aloud and the sound of the human voice.  Do you remember this?



When reading aloud to our children and students, without a doubt the words and images on the page convey more than we can fully understand given the life experiences each listener brings with them but our vocal interpretations have the ability to heighten those words and images.

If this is our belief, let's take it a step further to the cultural artistry of oral storytelling.  There are several versions of a tale regarding the placement of televisions in the homes of an African village.  Upon visiting the village an anthropologist notes the televisions have been removed from the homes and stacked in storage.  When the village elder is asked why his people would give up the opportunity to listen to and view more stories than they have ever heard from a traditional teller, his reply is the storyteller knows us.  The gift of storytelling is a personal connection.  The spoken words are passed from heart to heart, sometimes for generations.


No matter how many times a well-told tale is heard the power does not diminish, it grows.  The Storyteller (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, June 28, 2016) written and illustrated by Evan Turk is such a tale.  On the first reading it envelopes you and does not leave.  With each subsequent reading, your reader's heart expands with its power.

LONG, LONG AGO,
like a pearl around a grain of sand, the fertile Kingdom of Morocco formed near the edge of the great, dry Sahara.

In the beginning water and storytellers were bountiful in this kingdom.  Over time the people took this generosity bestowed upon them for granted.  Water no longer flowed from the fountains and one by one the storytellers faded from their midst.  Out in the great Sahara this was noticed.

A young boy longing for water wandered in the Great Square one day receiving the gift of a brass cup from a water-seller.  This seller had no water but he encouraged the boy, if he found water, to give some to others.  As the boy made his way home, an ancient voiced called out to him.

As requested the boy sat down being told by the elder his thirst would be quenched.  The boy listened as a tale was told of a blind woman, a young girl, plentiful water and a fantastical blue bird.  At the end of the story, the child's brass cup was full of water.  When the boy asked a question, the old man told him to return.  In the desert something grew larger.

For the next two days, the boy returned to the ancient one and heard two more wondrous stories.  In the desert the size of the sandstorm had grown so large it covered the light of the sun.  As the third tale ended, the enormous swirl of dust appeared at the gate of the boy's city.  It assumed the shape and voice of a demanding genie bent on destruction.

Not only had the boy's brass cup been filled with water for three days but his heart was full of those stories.  He approached the evil knowing what must be done.  Day after day, inside his city, another presence grew.  A story within a story...within a story...within a story...within a story...


When you begin reading this narrative by Evan Turk time truly stands still.  The words, the blend of conversation and narrative Turk uses dissolve the world around you until everything is this story and this story alone.  You are drawn to the ancient one as surely as if you are the boy; then you become the other characters in the other stories.  The connection is strong.

Turk employs the rule of three more than once generating a cadence.  He also uses a singular phrase over and over---

that is a story for another day.

Tension and anticipation appear in equal measure when in the Great Square stories unfold as danger builds in the desert.  Here are two sample sentences.

The man's face cracked like dry mud to reveal a toothless grin.  "Sit down, my boy, and your thirst shall be quenched."
The old man's voice rumbled like a spring from deep within the earth, and he began:
Not so long ago there was a terrible drought in the nearby villages.


The matching dust jacket and book case promise great things to readers. With raised arms the teller speaks as a child listens.  Is the shape his voice or is it the bird?  The clouds of the Sahara dust rise around them.  To the left, on the back, text appears within the frame of a Moroccan doorway.  Gold foil creates majestic boundaries.  A collage of textured fabrics supplies a geographic display of Morocco, the surrounding countries, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea on the opening endpapers.  Large indigo brush strokes over textile patterns appear on the closing endpapers.  It is here Evan Turk supplies readers with an informative and passionate Author's Note. 

The illustrations in this title rendered in water-soluble crayon, colored drawing pencils, inks, indigo, sugared green tea, a heat gun and fire all span two pages in breathtaking, exquisitely detailed splendor.  Each image asks us to stop to enjoy the visual story being told as it enhances the text.  I found myself looking for a center in each of them, knowing all the other elements were radiating from this focal point.  When the old man is speaking to the boy, a very specific border, intricate in design, encloses those portions of the picture.

One of my many favorite illustrations has a more limited color palette than the others using shades of blue and brown predominantly.  To the left the young girl who has been sent to speak with the blind woman is gazing at her expectantly.  The old woman with eyes closed, picturing the story as she speaks, has her hands raised near her face.  In front of her is the blue bird.  The patterns on the clothing worn by both are truly lovely.


The Storyteller written and illustrated by Evan Turk is stunning in words and images.  This book casts a spell over readers, a spell which lingers even after the covers are closed.  This is a title to share repeatedly.  I highly recommend it be placed on your personal and professional shelves.

To learn more about Evan Turk and his other work please visit his website and blog by following the links attached to his name.  A website is devoted to this title with a link here.  Be sure to follow the link to a Publishers Weekly highlight on The Storyteller in pictures.  Interior images are available for you to view at the publisher's website.  Evan Turk is a featured guest at author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  It's a virtual children's literature feast of information.  The premiere for the book trailer is showcased at Scholastic's Ambassador for School Libraries John Schumacher's blog, Watch. Connect. Read.  Enjoy the video below as Evan Turk talks about a portion of his illustrative process.



UPDATE:  Evan Turk is a guest on the All The Wonders Podcast, Episode 271 with teacher librarian Matthew C. Winner. 

UPDATE:  All The Wonders has an entire page devoted to this title with a range of activities November 14, 2016