A Double Dose Of Laughter

Regardless of your age, laughter can lift you up.  It can take an upside-down day, turning it right side up.  If you can share this laughter, the happiness it creates escalates.  Presently, it's a bit difficult to spread this form of joy with anyone other than those with whom you are sheltering or virtually, BUT . . .

When you think of authors and illustrators who make books filled with playful plots and comical characters, let us imagine they are there with us when we open the covers of their books.  As we laugh at their stories, it is as if they are laughing with us.  With this way of thinking, laughter is always shared.  Two April releases, graphic novels for younger readers (and readers young at heart), are welcome bursts of friendship and fun.

In the first title, Baloney And Friends (Disney Hyperion, April 14, 2020) written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, a crew of companions exhibit distinctive personalities.  It's their differences that make them dynamic.  None of them are without imperfections but together they form a flawless friendship.

A one-page full-color graphic in horizontal panels informs readers they will be enjoying a Get Started introduction, three stories and three two-page mini-comics.

Baloney + Friends
Get Started
(An Introduction Of Sorts)
Hello!
I'm Baloney!
This is my book.
All about me!
And me, too!
Oh. Hi, Peanut.

In this back-and-forth conversational exchange, we meet Baloney, Peanut, a blue horse, Bizz, a black, white, and yellow bee, and Krabbit, a cranky purple rabbit.  Baloney tries over and over to present his book and friends to readers, but he is constantly interrupted.  When it finally appears as though he can proceed without delays, Peanut is missing.  When you have to go, you have to go. (a bathroom break)

In the first story Baloney's magic show and trio of tricks are loaded with misconceptions.  What Baloney predicts does happen, but certainly not by magic.  His friends' responses are varied.  These in contrast to Baloney's actions are comedy gold.

Avoiding what you fear and overcoming that fear is addressed with candor and humor in the second narrative.  In musings Baloney reveals his hesitancy. In chatting with his friends, they become aware of his concerns.  It's Bizz's questions and then understanding which propel Baloney to be his best self with victorious though hilarious results.

To close this trio of tales Baloney and Peanut have a heart to heart chat about those things which make you feel sad.  An effort to lighten Baloney's mood only serves to display the depth of his despair.  As this is acknowledged, Baloney steps forward as true friends do.  Heart to heart is an art best buddies learn together.

In between the three stories the mini-comics range in their focus.  We are present during an arcade duel for player dominance, a rare peek at a hungry hero's craving for cookies and a closing championing the power of good stories.  Endings are the best beginnings.


By giving voice to these four characters, Greg Pizzoli illuminates those qualities which make each individual unique.  It is their singularity which endears them to us.  In them readers will see their strengths and weaknesses.  In these three stories and three mini-comics, Greg Pizzoli, through his written words, allows us to understand the benefit of embracing the complete individual, even if they are a work in progress.  (I'm looking at you, Krabbit.)  Although, to be fair, Krabbit elevates the laughter factor.  Here is a passage of dialogue.

Come and see the marvelous . . .
the masterful . . .
the magical . . .
The One And Only
Baloney!

Gasp!
A magic show! (Peanut)

Oh fun!  (Bizz)

Whatever . . .  (Krabbit)


As soon as you see the front of the book case, you'll start to fall in love with these happy-go-lucky friends.  Well, there is a scowl on Krabbit's face, but that's pure Krabbit.  The wide eyes, in the case of this book, are the secret to the soul of these characters.  They want us to be a part of their story.  The title text, Greg Pizzoli's name, the characters and the silver starburst are varnished.

To the left, on the back of the book case, the foursome is featured in four squares inside a larger square.  Above and below them is text you might see on the flaps of a dust jacket.  There are also glowing endorsements from two other admired author illustrator voices in the children's literature community, Ben Clanton and Laurie Keller.  Several elements here are varnished as well.

In a pattern of darker orange on lighter orange is a series of drawings of the fabulous four in a variety of positions.  Every so often the words:

Baloney
And Friends

are placed within the sketches. After this, prior to the title page, is a circle with the four friends and their names fashion a circular frame.  The title page is designed with a photograph of the pals.

Greg Pizzoli's panels shift in size to emphasize pacing and drama.  The color of the framing around the panels changes from white, to pale orange, purple, green, blue, black, royal blue, and red.  Sometimes the panels are outlined in a thin black line; other times the edges are scalloped or the image bleeds edge to edge.  Several times the characters appear outside a panel to designate their position with respect to each other or in reference to a memory.

Readers will recognize the masterful ability of Greg Pizzoli to create a range of emotions through his lines.  His facial expressions leave no doubt as to what his characters are feeling.  This is how we connect easily with the personalities.  This is why we love to laugh at their stories.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is on a single page.  Baloney is on stage dancing in his black pants, black bow tie and black top hat and holding his magic wand.  He is throwing a glass previously filled with ice cubes in the air.  They magically (with the use of a heater and hair dryer) turned to water.  In front of the stage Peanut is clapping and saying

Amazing!

Bizz utters disgustedly

Oh, come on!

And Krabbit, as you might expect says:

That's
NOT
magic!

Their faces tell the whole story.


This book, Baloney And Friends written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, is a first-class graphic novel everyone will want to have on their personal and professional bookshelves.  Regardless of the number of times you read it, you'll find yourself either laughing or sighing more than once.  Greg Pizzoli makes books you want to hold next to your heart. At the close of the book four pages are dedicated to teaching you how to draw these characters.

To learn more about Greg Pizzoli and his other wonderful work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. Greg Pizzoli has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Greg Pizzoli has a YouTube channel.




In the first book in a new series readers get to meet two lovable animated animal creatures plus two of their friends.  Fox & Rabbit (Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, April 21, 2020) written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Gergely Dudas is a gathering of adventures, one connected to the other, by friendship, fun and the letter F.  Each of the five stories is titled with three alliterative words.  The three words are a welcome to readers to participate.

STORY ONE
FAIR, 
FIREWORKS 
& FRED

 I see a whale.
Me too.
I see a
carrot.
Me too.
Now I see a
crab.
Me too.

I just made that up.
I didn't really see a crab.
Stop copying me.

I wasn't copying you.  I was
just being nice.

Humph.

In this first verbal exchange as Fox and Rabbit are lying on their backs gazing at clouds, we get an early glimpse into their personalities.  This duo sees and smells cotton candy which leads them to a fair. Immediately Rabbit wants to ride the Ferris wheel, but Fox is not excited.  Rabbit says he will win Fox a stuffed toy to hold when he rides the Ferris wheel.  Guess who wins all three games?  Guess who wins a stuffed toy lion?  Guess who ends up holding the stuffed toy lion when they finally ride the Ferris wheel at night?  Fireworks lead to a new name.  Rabbit still has to satisfy a yearning.  The result leads us into story two, but not without even more laughter at the expense of the late arrival of a turtle.

The next day, story two unfolds with an eager Fox ready for a day at the beach.  At every stage of this tale, Rabbit over prepares.  Fox presents the only thing necessary, a single item beginning with the letter F.  Rabbit stalls all day long about going in the water.  For every reason Rabbit supplies to not going in, Fox counters.  Rabbit eventually decides he loves the beach (and the water) a lot, so they stay for the sunset.  A gift floats to them in a bottle on the darkened water. 

The next day after weighing the pros and cons of their next trek into the unknown, Rabbit loads up a backpack and Fox carries a single item, a flashlight.  They have three geographic challenges with weather and fauna adding to the mix.  As they reach their goal, it's not what they expected but they learn some surprises are right in front of us all the time.

Sparrow, an already accepted foodie, steps in to assist Fox and Rabbit in their next endeavor.  As a guide Sparrow is the best.  Fox and Rabbit work harder than they thought possible all day.  Then there are days and days of watering and waiting.  When they see the outcome of their labors they are overjoyed until disaster strikes.  Forgiveness starts with the letter F and it's the foundation of friendship.

At the close of this first book of heartwarming discussions and feats, the charming companions watch a startling discovery grow.  From this a construction project and hours of time in the kitchen equal a backyard business.  Just when it looks as though this is a zinger, Sparrow turns it into a pleasant surprise.  As usual Turtle arrives at the end and the final line is the bow on this perfect present for readers.


As you read these five stories you can't help but think of all the fabulous fun (two letter Fs) Beth Ferry had finding words beginning with the letter F.  You can't help but wonder at the joy she felt creating the conversations between Fox and Rabbit.  Their banter is a linguistic delight.  They counter and contrast each other.  They question and answer each other.  They bring out the best in each other.

To tie the stories together, Beth Ferry frequently uses a phrase such as

Are you sure?
Sure as sunshine . . .
Sure as sand . . .

and the appearance of Turtle heightens the hilarity of each episode.  To enhance the personalities of Fox and Rabbit a cadence is established with repeating words and instances in their dialogue.  This is the glue that adheres and deepens their affection.  Here is one wonderful conversation of many.  Fox is speaking for most of the page.

Hurry up!
What's taking
so long?
The sun will be
setting soon.
Do you want to
pack the
toilet too?
Fred is getting 
antsy.
Ta-da!
I'm ready!
You're not bringing 
anything?
Oh, yeah.
Because flip-flops start
with F.


When you open the book case, on the right you can sense the total bliss Fox and Rabbit are feeling in the moment of being together in a field of dandelions.  This moment is extended in the image that begins on the spine and spans across the back.  In this picture the pale blue sky is filled with floating dandelion fluff.  Rabbit and Fox with Fred, the toy stuffed lion, on the ground are looking up as they stand in the same dandelion field.  Above them text like you might read on the front flap of a dust jacket is placed.  The characters, the title text and some elements on the back are varnished.

The opening and closing endpapers are pale blue.  For the initial title page dandelion fluff drifts on the same blue.  For the formal title page, the picture on the front is expanded, spreading over two pages.

Illustrator Gergely Dudas rendered these images

with graphite and ink and colored digitally.

Opposite each chapter page on the right, Fox and Rabbit are placed in a circle introducing readers to their following escapade.  Gergely Dudas places a series of small images on full-page pictures, places a series of panels on a single page, supplies wonder with full page pictures and generates his interpretation of the narrative with several series of wordless panels.  Most of the images are loosely bordered with a fine black line.

Readers will be fascinated with the combination of body postures and facial features on Fox, Rabbit, Turtle and Sparrow.  They convey a range of emotions.  The pacing is impeccable.  The humor is rich and true. 

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when Fox and Rabbit are at the beach.  In a series of eight small square panels placed as two columns on a larger area of sand on most of the page beginning on the left, we are privy to a conversation and three wordless pictures at the end.

The conversation begins with Rabbit as Fox goes swimming again:

I'm going to dig for
treasure.  This was
probably
a pirate 
beach once.

Call me if you find
something good!

And by good I
mean gold!

Or silver.

Or gummy worms.

As Rabbit digs with Fred watching next to the hole, we see less of his body until only his ears are above ground.  Then on the far right is a cutaway of that beach area.  Rabbit is way, way down.  He must have dug for a considerable amount of time.  This picture leads into another comedic conversation when Fox returns from a swim.


Between the chatting of these two friends, Sparrow and Turtle, readers know they've met the best kind of individuals.  Fox & Rabbit written by Beth Ferry with illustrations by Gergely Dudas is a book, whether placed on your personal or professional bookshelves, that will have the well-loved look in short order.  We readers are fortunate another title is set to be released this year. 

To learn more about Beth Ferry and Gergely Dudas and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Beth Ferry has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Gergely Dudas has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.  The cover reveal for this book is hosted by Dylan Teut,  executive director of the Plum Creek Children's Literacy Festival at Mile High Reading.  Dylan Teut interviews Beth Ferry.  Betsy Bird, Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system, at School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production, interviews Beth Ferry about this book.

Embracing The Night And Its Creatures

One of the numerous benefits of having a canine companion is the late-night jaunts.  Depending on the weather and phases of the moon, gazing at the sky reveals wondrous marvels, patterns of stars and the sighting of a planet.  In stillness there are sights and sounds in each of the four seasons; spring peppers singing a chorus, fireflies signaling in a series of affectionate blinks, the crackling of fallen leaves beneath walking feet or paws and the sharp crack as sap freezes in tree branches.  In the darkness coyotes howl and owls hoot.

Other creatures of the night drawn out by darkness flutter fondly toward light.  You're Invited To A Moth Ball: A Nighttime Insect Celebration (Charlesbridge, April 7, 2020) written by Loree Griffin Burns with photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz is a doorway into an exceptional experience.  Through words and pictures we travel into the magic this special night reveals to all participants.

What's that?  You don't know what a moth ball is?
Please come anyway!  You can learn as we go.

A moth ball is an event designed to attract and enjoy moths.  You'll be astonished to know--

There are more than 150,000 different moth species, and hundreds of them---possibly thousands live where you do.

When a party presents an opportunity to meet more moths than you normally see, it is a special situation.

There is necessary equipment to host this unique party.  You'll want to have a source of light so you can navigate, a notebook, a pencil, a means to capture moments digitally or on film, and perhaps a magnifying glass so you can look closely at a moth's characteristics.  To attract moths, you'll need something on which they can rest, a light to bring them to you, and a sweet treat they'll love.

The more you know about moths, the more you can appreciate them.  Did you know moths tend to like ultraviolet light the best?  Some moths, like other insects and birds, love to sip on nectar.  Did you know the main difference between butterflies and moths is their antennae?  What feature is never seen on moth antennae?  By studying each physical attribute and the habitat of your moths, you can more easily identify them.

Once darkness descends moths gather near your light source and your enticing snack.  Approach them with respect.  Write down what you see.  Carefully capture them with pictures.  Express gratitude to all the attendees.  When will you arrange for this summer sensation?


Through engaging conversation author Loree Griffin Burns presents to children, actually readers of all ages, the step by step process for an entertaining and educational evening.  Her inclusion of materials and setup is easily understood.  She then allows for a pause in the process explaining more about the insects to be observed at the moth ball.  Her factual paragraphs have specific headings.

We then find ourselves in the midst of the moth ball.  Loreen Griffin Burns guides us through the excitement.  Then in another series of paragraphs we are presented with further details about moth balls, moths, supplies and setup.  Here is a passage from one of the additional paragraphs and the main narrative.

IDENTIFYING MOTHS
. . .
There are other clues, too.  Different moth
species live in different habitats.  A moth's life
cycle, particularly the caterpillar stage, depends
on the plants available in its environment.  So
noting the habitat in which you found your moth
(woodland? wetland? meadow?) and the types
of plants and trees in that habitat can sometimes
help you identify your moth.

Some people never, not once in their
whole lives, connect with moths this
way.  So take your time.  Soak it all in.


The full color nighttime scene on the front of the open jacket, a real photograph, has the quality of a watercolor painting, full of soft texture.  The lighting at the hanging sheet for the moths and in the nearby tent create an air of mystery and enchantment.  To the left, on the back, on a black background, are eight different moths.  They form a circle around the words:

Let's go mothing!

Those same moths with one more appear on the left side of the open book case.  On the front of the book case a large moth, wings spread is placed.  All of them look as though they could fly away within the blink of an eye.

On the opening and closing endpapers is a velvety black.  On the initial title page two moths hover over what appears to be the heading of an invitation.  With a page turn seven moths spread over two pages are shown to the left of a formal invitation designed for the title page.

Each photograph by Ellen Harasimowicz is an enlightening visual feast.  The image sizes vary to accentuate the text.  They are full-page pictures, one-and-one-half-page photographs to create a column, small insets with labels, two page horizontal illustrations with labels, a gallery of three grouped on a single page and two-page photographs, page edge to page edge.  Each one, usually featuring children, brings readers into the day of preparations and the evening of enjoyment.  We are shown a variety of points of view, too.

One of my many, many favorite photographs is a full-page picture.  It's at night.  A child wearing a headlamp is standing on the bottom railing of a wooden fence.  She's looking at an area where a treat was left for moths.  In the background, to the right, the lamp inside the rounded tent is glowing.  You can feel the warmth of the summer night.  You can hear the crickets chirping.  And for one brief moment, you're that child hardly daring to breathe as you watch the moths on the fence post.


For those longing for a new adventure and respect of insects who love the dark, You're Invited To A Moth Ball: A Nighttime Insect Celebration written by Loree Griffin Burns with photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz is a stellar selection.  At the close of the book is an Author's Note, a Photographer's Note, a Glossary and Resources for Further Reading, Bibliography, and Websites.  This book is a welcome resource for your personal and professional collections.  It's a chance and a challenge to become a better citizen scientist.

To learn more about Loree Griffin Burns and Ellen Harasimowicz and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  At Loree Griffin Burns website there are resources for teachers.  Loree Griffin Burns has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Ellen Harasimowicz has accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Maria Marshall interviews STEAM authors on her blog, including Loree Griffin Burns and showcases this title.  At the publisher's website you can view an interior image and there are resources to download.  Here is a link to a chance to win a Moth Ball Starter Pack sponsored by the publisher.  At Penguin Random House you can view additional images.  At Teachers Books Readers Loree Griffin Burns is interviewed.  Please take a few moments to watch this video.



Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to see the other titles selected this week by participants in the 2020 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Friendship Lost. Friendship Found.

In our collective memories most of our first (and sometimes our only) best friends are not human.  We may find an animal in the wild who visits us, or we visit.  Perhaps we hold a special place in our hearts for an animal who has resided in our homes, currently or in the past.  For many the comfort and confidence provided by a toy is the key to our contentment.  If in the presence of a wild animal, an animal who lives with us or a beloved toy we feel all is right with the world, then this individual is the truest of friends.

This special kind of friendship is cherished.  If it is taken from us, we do whatever is necessary to regain it.  And that journey, if we are fortunate, reveals rewards we can never have expected.  In her first longer book, the start in a series, author illustrator Lauren Castillo generously gives us Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story Of Us (Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, May 5, 2020).  These nine chapters plus an introduction are 128 pages of heartwarming enchantment certain to resonate with generations of readers.

Sometimes you make a friend and it feels 
like you have known that friend your entire
life.

For a long time on an island lived Hedgehog and her friend Mutty, a toy stuffed dog.  They were inseparable living a life of soothing satisfaction. Their lives were suddenly upended on the day of the Terrible Storm.  Mutty, in a swirl of wild wind, blew from the island and Hedgehog.

Shaking off her deep despair, Hedgehog left the island, swimming to the forest.  Despite calling and calling for Mutty, he was not found.  Deciding to rest on a pile of leaves for the night, Hedgehog found herself plunging down a hole.  Wow!  Hedgehog landed in Mole's home.  The kindly creature with a flair for languages had a plan for finding Mutty.  The newly formed duo headed through tunnels, seeking Owl, who resided at Lookout Point.

Owl, displaying definitive wisdom and astute physical qualities, bolstered the saddened Hedgehog and her new pal, Mole.  A notebook, a drawing, and a flight to gather ideas was the next phase of this quest.  Three hearts and heads provided companionship and clarity.  At Beaver's dam, amid his gruff denials, a discovery was made.

A rousing ride on the river, a treasure-hunting mother and a lost photograph pointed the group of animals toward a home on a hill.  A girl, Annika Mae Flores, held the key to Hedgehog's happiness.  Collected clues created a new tale, a tale of friends rescuing each other and themselves.


To have this narrative told in the voice of Annika Mae Flores, means she is the kind of person with a tender and listening heart.  It indicates as an author Lauren Castillo wanted this character to hear all the other stories before creating a single story of the further adventures of this cast.  It is as if Annika Mae Flores is a weaver gathering threads to fashion a beautiful tapestry of their shared lives.

Each chapter heading with a minimum amount of words describes a character, an object, or a feeling.  In these chapters Lauren Castillo uses language to depict places and events vividly.  Her dialogue shapes the characters' personalities for readers.  Here are several passages.

She took a deep breath, jumped in, and set
off on a journey to find her dear friend.
The river was rough, but luckily Hedgehog
was a good swimmer.  She could swim all
the strokes, including the backstroke (which
was her favorite.) 

"Hooty hoot, who goes there?" called
Owl.  Owl never missed a trick.
"Guten Tag, Owl! Good day," said Mole.
"This is my new friend, Hedgehog.  She
needs our help."
"Help?" Owl perked up.  "What kind of
help?"
"I lost my best friend, in the . . . " Hedgehog
trailed off, beginning to weep again.
"Foggy weather is terrible for hide-and-
seek, my little hoglet."
Mole spoke for Hedgehog.  "We are not
playing hide-and-seek, Owl.  We are talking
about a friend in peril."
"Hmm, peril?" Owl pondered.  "You mean
very serious and immediate danger.  Well,
I do happen to have fast wings and excellent eyes.


(Please note I am writing this blog post using an ARC.)

In a pleasing scene of the area near the river, Lauren Castillo has framed the friends in greenery teaming with life.  Tiny ladybugs, several butterflies and a comical snail join the companions.  Each of the friends, Hen and Chicks, Beaver, Hedgehog, Mutty, Mole, Annika Mae and Owl are exhibiting their most endearing qualities within a full color palette.

To the left, on the back, with their backs to us sit the friends.  With a large sunflower on the left and a tall marsh flower on the right, they are seated in between them.  First is Hen and Chicks (One chick is perched on the sunflower.), then comes Owl, followed by Annika Mae, Mutty, Hedgehog with an arm around Mutty, Beaver and finally Mole. Above them the introduction is placed.

On the opening endpapers is a map of Hedge Hollow.  Hedgehog's Island, Mole's Hole, Owl's Lookout, Hen and Chicks' Marsh and Beaver's Dam are shown and labeled.  On the top of the hill with the river winding around and behind it is Annika Mae's House.  This is followed by an initial title page with Hedgehog and Mutty seated and facing each other.  Hedgehog is on the left on a white canvas, facing the formal title page.  With a page turn, opposite the publication information, is the dedication page.  This dedication says a lot about Lauren Castillo and this book.

After the Table of Contents is The Cast.  Here we meet all the characters, left to right in a row.  Before each chapter begins a double-page picture displays the essence of what readers can expect.  Taped to (placed on) this image is a meaningful photograph.  Above each chapter beginning is a stamp done in black.  It is a single symbol representing the chapter.

These illustrations rendered

using pen, pencils, watercolor, and Photoshop

shift in size to punctuate the pacing.  They may be a cluster of three small illustrations on a single page, single-page pictures, double-page pictures or a full-page visual extending over the gutter.  The attributes on the characters are detailed and textured.  (You'll find yourself wanting to hug all of them, even somewhat grumpy Beaver.)  The elements in their homes will have readers stopping to notice each one.  They have been carefully placed with purpose.  Lauren Castillo has used white space with excellence.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is across the top half of two pages with the narrative underneath it.  We are inside Mole's Hole.  On the left buttons are on the walls acting as hooks.  To the right of them is a handheld mirror upside down.  There are several acorns and a mushroom.  To the right of the gutter is Hedgehog looking at Mole on the right.  She is standing in the doorway to a tunnel.  A wreath of leaves arches over this opening.  This picture exhibits a friendship forming.


This enchanting tale of single stories becoming part of a greater story is one of the most heartwarming stories of 2020. Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story Of Us written and illustrated by Lauren Castillo is one of those books you'll read over and over again for the joy which builds from beginning to end.  Like life, there are moments of sadness and struggle, but love and companionship triumph.  We can all be grateful to Lauren Castillo for giving us this marvelous book you'll want to have on your personal and professional bookshelves.

To learn more about Lauren Castillo and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her personal website.  Her blog is linked here.  Lauren Castillo has accounts on Facebook,  Instagram and Twitter.  Lauren Castillo and this book are featured on teacher librarian extraordinaire Travis Jonker's blog, 100 Scope Notes at School Library Journal.  You'll love seeing all the process artwork.  At Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries John Schumacher's Watch. Connect. Read., Lauren is showcased for the cover reveal and conversation and book trailer premiere in a second post.  Both are linked here.  Last week Lauren Castillo did a virtual book launch with an interactive video presentation at Midtown Scholar Bookstore. We could comment during the launch and ask questions later.  It is linked here.

UPDATE:  Please take a few moments to read this interview about this title with Lauren Castillo in Kirkus.  Lauren Castillo has created several printable activity sheets for readers linked here and here.

Two By Three By Two And A Half Feet

Meeting a person from the past for the first time in a children's picture book is a gift to be enjoyed and shared.  When this person has an astonishing accomplishment attached to their life, it makes this encounter even more relevant.  Your sense of gratitude to the author and illustrator for this book, for their work on this book, is enormous.

My first lasting memory of Henry Box Brown is when I read Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad (Scholastic Press, January 1, 2007) written by Ellen Levine with illustrations by Kadir Nelson.  Kadir Nelson was awarded a Caldecott Honor award in 2008 for his masterful use of pencil, watercolor, and oil in his artwork.  My next unforgettable introduction to this remarkable human being is in Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself To Freedom (Candlewick Press, April 14, 2020) written by Carole Boston Weatherford with illustrations by Michele Wood. You cannot read the words in these narrative six-line poems and look at these pieces of artwork without pausing at each one, visibly moved.

The book begins with powerful words written by Henry Box Brown from his Narrative of the Life of Henry Box Brown.  They speak of him born into slavery in a land which has documented all are to have lives of liberty.  In the first poem

WIND
As autumn breeze blows maple leaves
While I sit on my mother's lap.
Slavery is a cruel wind, she says,
Sweeping children away from parents,
Scattering families far and wide.
She shivers and holds me close.

the words of Henry Box Brown are echoed.  The accompanying illustration to this and the next poem, WORK, is a stunning scene of Henry, his mother and another brother, together beneath tree branches with drifting autumn leaves.

Cruelty delivered to other blacks on other plantations are told to Henry and his brothers.  By the time he is fifteen, Henry is taken from his family to work in a tobacco factory in Richmond, Virginia.  Here, among lots of people, evidence of slavery is seen everywhere.  Henry speaks of Nat Turner, rules, written and unwritten, and horrible beatings by factory overseers.  We learn of the planting, harvesting and delivery of tobacco, and of the discovery of brightleaf by an enslaved blacksmith, Stephen, in 1839.

Joy comes into Henry's life with his wife Nancy and their children, but it is not easy for them.  The constant fear of permanent separation hangs over them.  Nancy and the children are sold more than once but Henry figures out a way to have them near him.  He does so more than once.  A fourth child will soon be born.  Henry looks at Richmond, a hub of transportation, and dreams of freedom.  In an act of heinous inhumanity, Nancy and the children are taken to be sold.

Henry finds solace in his church and with friends.  Softly spoken words of an underground railroad give Henry courage to form a plan.  Again, trusted men assist Henry.  Henry is now inside a box three feet long, two feet wide and a little more than two and a half feet deep.

Unfortunately, as the box is moved from one form of transportation to another, the movers fail to observe This Side Up written on the side of the box.  At one point, Henry faints from the pain of his body pushing against his head.  After more than twenty-seven hours, Henry is a free man.

In the subsequent years, Henry deals with the dilemma of finding and buying freedom for his wife and children.  Henry wants his story to be shared, but in the midst of his panorama presentations he must leave the United States to save his life.  In England Henry shifts his persona in performances involving magic.  Happiness descends on Henry again and after twenty-five years he returns to North America to live out his life.


It's Henry's voice in these poems written with meticulous care and research by Carole Boston Weatherford that pierces your soul with their clarity.  All the poems, with the exception of one with six words, have six lines.  This is done with intention by Carole Boston Weatherford as a reflection of the six sides of a box.  The inclusion of special details gives readers a real, sensory portrait of Henry's life.  Here is another poem.

HEAVEN
For one last glimpse of my loved ones, I watch
The slave chain pass, bound for North Carolina.
Father! Father! my child yells from a wagon.
I see my wife, grab her hand, and walk four miles with her.
We shall meet in heaven, I whisper.  Then she is gone.
Lord, what more have I to lose?


The design and layout of the open and matching dust jacket and book case depict the confines of Henry's life and his success at freedom.  Each of the four featured images represents a critical point in his journey.  In an illustrator's note Michele Wood says:

The palette I chose includes blue, green, pink, red, and neutrals, which are colors of the 1800s.

To the left, on the back of the jacket and case, a rich deep, almost purple blue, provides a canvas.  In the center a black rectangle is a place for one of the poems.  Within the pages its title, not shown here, is COURAGE.

The opening and closing endpapers are black. The first poem of six words forms the number six and is titled GEOMETRY.  It appears prior to the title page and an illustration of Henry, as an adult, on the left.  This particular illustration is formed from smaller box shapes.

The illustrations, single-page pictures, framed and unframed, single and portions of the next page visuals, and vertical panels rendered in mixed media transport readers into a heart-wrenching past, but also supply us with hope held in a multitude of hearts.  Each image is layered with textures, color and emotion found in facial features and body postures.  Every detail holds meaning.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when Nancy and Henry know they are spending their last moments together.  It is in the interior of their home.  Blue is used prominently.  Henry, on the right, is bent and holding his wife.  Nancy, on his left, is reaching into his embrace, arms wrapped around him.  Her dress flows behind her in a quilt-like pattern of checks in cream and others with a white flower on blue.  Two windows, like stained-glass, showcase symbolic elements.  Both Henry and Nancy have their eyes closed to hold in the memory of this moment.


This book, Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself To Freedom written by Carole Boston Weatherford with illustrations by Michele Wood, is a book to be widely read and often.  These poems and artwork are an impressive achievement in conveying not only a single life, but the time in which it was lived. At the close of the book are pages titled:  Timeline, Bibliography, A Note From The Illustrator and A Note On Numbers And Language.  I highly recommend this title for your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Carole Boston Weatherford and Michele Wood and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names.  Carole Boston Weatherford has accounts on Facebook and Twitter.  Michele Wood has an account on Twitter.  Michele Wood is featured on author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  Candlewick Press has designed a Teacher Tip Card linked here.  At Penguin Random House you can view interior pages.  I encourage you to take a few moments to listen to Carole Boston Weatherford reading a poem from this title.



Update:  This video was released on June 19, 2020.  The illustrator speaks about the book.

Cavorting Creatures

Standing still in a sunny meadow or cool, shadowed forest offers more opportunities than calm.  It is a generous gift, a means to observe animals without them being frightened of your presence.  It may be watching a squirrel practice throwing skills as the ground is blanketed by its tossing of un-opened pinecones.  Two wild rabbits running in circles with little leaps as part of their routine is a sneak peek at a bunny ballet.

Animals are fully aware every moment of every day.  Their lives depend on this understanding.  They are wise enough to know work and play are necessary for balance.  Play Like An Animal!: Why Critters Splash, Race, Twirl, And Chase (Millbrook Press, April 7, 2020) written by Maria Gianferrari with illustrations by Mia Powell is an exploration of the lively antics of animals.

DASH!
     HIDE!
SPLASH!
     RIDE!
You love to play!
Animals do too!

They have diversions like you do, but their play is for a purpose.  It's a planned situation to hone their skills for survival. They are training for their futures.

Rolling around in the mud is more than displaying a love of dirt.  For collared peccaries and rhinos, it is a means of protecting themselves from sun, heat and pesky bugs.  Being able to leap with ease from tree to tree is not training for a trapeze act, but it builds agility in running from those who want you as a meal.

If you watch animals in the snow, what may seem like foolishness is increasing their abilities to seek solutions to problems.  We count ourselves fortunate if we witness dolphins or elephants enjoying themselves in their natural water parks.  Even watching them on videos we can see how they do this in unison.  Why is this important?

Other creatures play at fighting, wrestling, tug-of-war or tag. What is this teaching them?   Each activity, though pleasurable, is conditioning these animals like athletes or performers.  It can mean the difference between life and death for them.  It can mean having a life shared with others in harmony or living in isolation.  Did you know Keas, a parrot living in New Zealand, can make their own toys?  The next time you play, which animal are you imitating?


What readers will notice first about the writing of Maria Gianferrari in this title are her one-word action verbs.  This definitive use of language invites participatory reading.  These verbs precede a single sentence about the animals and what they are doing.  This is followed by a short explanatory paragraph placed in a separate box.  This approach supplies readers with a rhythm bringing them full circle, from the beginning to the end.  Maria Gianferrari also uses alliteration and rhyming to enhance this cadence.  Here is a passage.

JUMP, WHIRL!

BOUND, TWIRL!

Ungulates love to leap!


(Note:  I am working with a printed PDF.  My copy of this title has not arrived yet.)

When looking at the dust jacket, front and back, right and left, there is no doubt in your mind of the joy to be had by animals and humans alike when they are engaged in play.  On the front, each of the featured animals is in motion in their natural habitat.  It's a glorious blend of water, land and air.  On the back, a sunny hillside highlights the cavorting of children from various ethnic backgrounds.  They are happily leaping, running, jumping in the mud and twirling.  A single rabbit is at rest, looking ready to race away.  Two dogs are enjoying the puddle with their humans.

The opening and closing endpapers are patterned in tiny portraits of animals at play.  They showcase wolves, giraffes, rhinos, elephants, monkeys, gorillas, and ungulates.  The landscape, a green grassy canvas, is dotted with trees, shrubs and water.

Rendered

using paints, handmade textures, and digital media

the illustrations by Mia Powell are wonderful displays of play.  Her humans and animals are highly animated.  All of them express delight at their activities.

The images, double-page pictures and full-page illustrations, place the animals in the environment they relish the most.  Mia Powell, in order to show captured moments, includes a series of horizontal visuals on a single page.  At times we are close to the movements of the animals and then we step back to get a larger view.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a single-page picture of a rhino.  Most of its body is below the surface of a muddy hole or shallow body of water.  There is some vegetation behind it and on the sides.  Several leaves float near it on the surface of the mud and muddy water.  All we can see of the rhino is its head and horns.  Its wide-eyed look indicates pure bliss.


This title, Play Like An Animal!: Why Critters Splash, Race, Twirl, And Chase written by Maria Gianferrari with illustrations by Mia Powell, is loaded with fun and facts.  At the close of the book sections named:  Why Play?, Play By The Rules, Like These Animals Do!, Play Like These Animals . . ., More Fun Animal Facts, and Further Reading provide us with additional information.  This is an excellent book to include in your professional and personal collections.  It's certain to be a highly requested read aloud and supply circumstances for further research or readers' theater.

To learn more about Maria Gianferrari and Mia Powell and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their respective websites.  Maria Gianferrari has accounts on Facebook and Instagram.  Mia Powell has an account on Instagram.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images as well as read an excerpt.

UPDATE:  Maria Gianferrari is interviewed in a podcast at The Lerner Blog

Maria Gianferrari's childhood playground was nature: climbing trees, playing hide and seek in the cornfield and slapping cow patties for fun!  Nowadays she tries to keep the spirit of play alive in her writing.  She enjoys playing Dominion with her family sans the curse cards, and her late dog, Becca, was always ready for a game of "catch the flying biscuit."


(From the jacket flap)
Mia Powell is a mixed media illustrator based in the United Kingdom.  She draws digitally but likes to incorporate handmade textures and elements into her artwork as well.  Mia loves to play with her dog, and she has drawn him in the pages of this book.  He is black-and-white and loves to chase, especially squirrels.





Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to enjoy the other titles selected this week by participants in the 2020 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

Taking The Lead With Heart

There are books you hold in your hands and the story within their pages somehow reaches out to you immediately.  In this instance you are not abiding by the age-old proverb.  The cover is an open invitation and you accept it eagerly.

Is it the image on the dust jacket which holds your attention?  Does the author's name trigger a memory of another well-loved book they wrote?  Are you fond of the artwork of the illustrator?  With respect to this way, Charlie: Inspired by a real animal friendship (Abrams Books for Young Readers, April 21, 2020) written by Carol Levis with illustrations by Charles Santoso, it is a beautiful blend of all three.  This title is guaranteed to find a place, a forever place, in your reader's heart.

Jack watched the new animals scamper, hop, flap,
and trot their way into Open Bud Ranch.

Jack, a resident goat, knew some of the new arrivals would linger longer than others.  Some, like him, would spend the remainder of their lives on Open Bud Ranch.  Regardless of the outcome of any of these animals, Jack would keep his distance.  That was his way.  Charlie, a horse and a new arrival, did not keep himself separate from Jack.  This angered Jack.

Antonia, a human caretaker, on the ranch explained what Jack noticed.  Charlie was blind in one eye.  She could not heal his blindness.  Jack decided to watch Charlie.  One thing about Charlie caused him to wonder.  And one morning, Jack did an un-Jack like thing.  He said

"This way, Charlie."

One goat dweller leads another horse dweller to his favorite field, sharing the delicious goodness and the warmth of the sun.  The next day Jack led Charlie to another favorite part of the ranch.  One day changed into another day, until Jack was guiding Charlie every day.  The new friends would exchange questions and answers.  The new friends cared for each other, helping them to overcome fears, some deeply hidden in their minds and hearts.

One morning, Jack became upset with Charlie's happy-go-lucky outlook and well-used phrase.  They were both so shocked at his outburst, they didn't see an approaching storm.  Frightening danger quickly turned into a disaster.  Jack knew there was something he had to do for his Charlie.  That's what friends do.  The result of Jack's actions is nothing anyone could have predicted after his first meeting with Charlie.  It is better, much better, actually better than the best.


Several times during the reading of this narrative penned by Caron Levis, readers will pause, overwhelmed by waves of emotion. The poetic portrayals of specific moments are breathtaking.  The repetition of key phrases by Jack and Charlie not only connect them as friends but link them to readers through the rhythm of their story.  With her words, Caron Levis discovers the extraordinary in the everyday.  Here is a passage.

Jack noticed Charlie's eye had a soft glow---
                  like the moon,
which often guided Jack when he felt lost in the dark.

He wondered what Charlie used for a moon.


You know as soon as you see the open dust jacket, revealing the front and the back, this is an exceptional book.  The color palette used for the pastoral landscape and the brush strokes in the sky, trees, grass and flowers fashion a soft Monet-like texture.  On the front Jack, Charlie and the larger title text are varnished.

To the left, on the back, the scene from the front continues over the spine to the far left.  Branches from a large tree stretch from the left edge, leafy boughs bleeding off the top.  A smaller barn is placed in the upper, right portion of this back image.  As on the front sunlight casts a golden glow.

On the front of the book case a lost-looking Charlie stands in an evening without stars.  He is looking to the left.  On the left, coming from the spine, in a bit brighter light, Jack is looking back at an emerging Charlie, encouraging him forward.  Charlie is hesitant.  In a second image toward a brighter light Charlie is following Jack as they both look ahead. 

The opening and closing endpapers are a robin's egg blue.  On the title page two green leaves drift between clouds in a sunny sky.  On the verso and dedication pages readers are given a double-page picture of a truck bringing Charlie to the ranch.  It is a calm scene full of hope and promise.  The two leaves float over the entrance to the ranch.  On the verso page this sentence says much about Charles Santoso and his work for this book.

The illustrations for this book were made with digital brushes and love.

To enhance the text the size of the illustrations vary from double-page visuals, with larger perspectives and much closer points of view, to single-page pictures, clusters of smaller illustrations, loosely-framed horizontal pictures on a double-page picture, and vertical panels across two pages.  Each page turn represents Charles Santoso's skill in accentuating the magic found in certain moments.  To focus on drama in one portion of the book, circle illustrations are inserted in larger pictures.  The details in each picture are striking and captivating.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations spans two pages including three different images.  On the left a smaller Jack watches a smaller Charlie as he walks around trying to navigate an area with one good eye.  He staggers a bit and circles around and around.  On either side of the gutter is a portion of Charlie's face close to us.  On the left is his face with his good eye.  On the right is his face with his blind eye.  This part of his face is placed on a night setting.  To the right, Jack is standing in a field backed by trees and shrubs.  He is looking at the full moon overhead.  This is the picture for the text already noted. 


In a word, this book, this way, Charlie: Inspired by a real animal friendship written by Caron Levis with illustrations by Charles Santoso, is love.  It's about an affection between two animals, each with something broken in them, who heal through their friendship.  In an Author's Note Caron Levis talks about the real Jack and Charlie, her research and other animal friendships and human and animal relationships she knows.  I highly recommend this title for both your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Caron Levis and Charles Santoso and their other work, please visit their respective websites by following the links attached to their names.  Caron Levis has additional resources for this title on her website.  Caron Levis has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Charles Santoso has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. At the publisher's website you can view interior images.  This title and Caron Levis and Charles Santoso are featured on KidLit TV for the cover reveal and for a read aloud by Caron Levis.  There is also another video, StoryMakers, where Caron Levis talks with Rocco Staino about this book.  It is featured on the read aloud page.

Days Dedicated In Pursuing A Passion Affecting Our Planet

Wednesday marked the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day.  For those of us alive on the first Earth Day, it's one of those historical moments when you pause to ponder where you were and what you were doing on that day.  How many were attending university classes and finishing their first year of college?  Regardless of where you were or what you were doing or if you were even "a twinkle in someone's eye" yet or perhaps you're days on our planet have come and gone, there are remarkable contributions to preserving and protecting our planet being accomplished 365 days a year.

For this reason, I wish to highlight three titles which may not initially appear to share a commonality with our planet, but I believe they do.  The first book, Winged Wonders: Solving The Monarch Migration Mystery (Sleeping Bear Press, March 15, 2020) written by Meeg Pincus with illustrations by Yas Imamura is a story supplying readers with an example of the power of working together to accomplish a single goal. It was a quest to seek understanding of a natural phenomenon.   

For centuries, up and down North America,
every year brought a mystery.

Monarch butterflies swooped in for a spell, like
clockwork, from somewhere beyond---then
disappeared as curiously as they came.


People from southern Canada to central Mexico watched this and wondered.  It was not until 1976 that an answer was provided.  Who was responsible for discovering the truth behind this migration?

Fred, a scientist residing in Canada, and his wife, Norah, devoted three decades of their lives to following the butterflies.  After several trials and errors, they found a way to follow these winged wonders.  They gently tied price tags to their wings.  Citizen scientists, numbering in the thousands, heeded the call of Norah's advertisements.  Norah noted each piece of information gathered.

One of Norah's ads was seen by an American living in Mexico City.  Ken contacted Norah and agreed to follow the monarchs with his wife, riding a motorcycle through the wilderness for two years.  Villagers helped and directed them toward the mountains.  There Catalina, who lived in Mexico her entire life, led the way to a singular revelation.

Most miraculous was a tag found by Fred in the Mexican oyamel grove.  It was placed there by an American science teacher and his students in Minnesota.  All these people, named and unnamed contributed to unraveling the riddle.  Now it's up to all of us to guarantee this journey continues for generation after generation.


In her writing of this story, author Meeg Pincus, uses a technique certain to intrigue readers, her presentation of this as a mystery.  She explains the puzzle and when it's completed, but then in a series of questions, the resolutions by people are shown as flashbacks. Through her meticulous research she connects these individuals to each other and ultimately to us in present day.  Again, at the close of the story, she presents a series of questions, but readers will know the answers to all of them.  Here is another partial passage from the book making a reference to the

villagers and farmers of central Mexico.

. . . who for generations welcomed the
monarchs as soaring spirits during
autumn Dia de los Muertos celebrations  . . .


When you look at the open dust jacket, the image extends flap edge to flap edge. incorporating the variety of people who participated in solving the mystery of the Monarch butterfly migration.  The flurry of Monarch butterflies weaves up and down across the top of the entire illustration.  The green canvas allows for the people and butterflies to be showcased.

On the book case with the same background, is a multitude of Monarch butterflies in all sizes, some with their distinguishing details and others in orange alone, as on the dust jacket.  On the far side of the opening and closing endpapers is a solid burnt orange color.  The opposite side is a continuation of the book case design.  The waves of butterflies are depicted on the title page, radiating from the left, moving across the gutter, and journeying off the top on the right side.

Illustrator, Yas Imamura, has fashioned lush landscapes, scenes in small communities, woodland corners and desert destinies.  In these settings her image sizes shift as a reflection of the narrative.  She gives us varying points of view, above and within a particular setting.  Her details mirror a range of ages and ethnic backgrounds in the people.  Her research is seen in her characterizations of the key players.

One of my many favorite illustrations is for the portion of passage cited.  On the left we are in a cemetery during the Dia de los Muertos.  Arches at gravesites are decorated in blossoms.  Cut-paper artwork hangs across the middle of the visual.  It's a stunning portrait of this holiday in color, the people shown, and the decorated gravesites.  A wave of Monarch butterflies extends across the entire top.  To the right a large wavy column in a solid shade is formed for the text.


This book, Winged Wonders: Solving The Monarch Migration Mystery written by Meeg Pincus with illustrations by Yas Imamura, is a wonderful exploration of a scientific secret.  It sets forth the perseverance necessary as well as the work of many to find a solution.  At the close of the book are pages titled:  More About the Monarch Migration Discovery and How to Help the Monarch  This is an excellent nonfiction picture book to use for a STEM unit, to promote an appreciation of insects or our planet, and for the inspiration it furnishes readers.  This book should be in all personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Meeg Pincus and Yas Imamura and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Yas Imamura has interior images from this book on her Tumblr account.  Meeg Pincus has accounts on Facebook and Twitter.  Yas Imamura has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can access a teacher's guide/activities and read an excerpt.  Articles about this book and its creators are found at Celebrate Picture Books,  Kathleen Temean Writing and Illustrating, and Only Picture Books.



Sometimes what our planet needs most to survive is a healing of the human heart.  Sometimes a single person more than any other can affect change for generations.  One such person was Fred McFeely Rogers.

In his newest book as author and illustrator, Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell highlights with his astute words and remarkable images the life of an unforgettable human being in HELLO, NEIGHBOR!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, April 6, 2020).  Every element, written and drawn, is a loving tribute.

"It's our insides that make us who we are, that allow us to dream and wonder and feel for others. That's what's essential.  That's what will always make the biggest difference in our world."
                              ---Fred Rogers 

Welcome to Mister Roger's Neighborhood.

We begin the story of this man's life on the set of his television show which aired nationally in 1968.  It was no easy feat, but it was done by a man with a purpose.  And he did it every day.

As a child in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fred enjoyed puppets and music and learning to play the piano at age five.  Did you know his grandmother bought him a piano when he was nine years old?  Fred, during his school years, was a bit of a loner.  He was serious and pondered what he saw in the world, especially on television.  This is what prompted him to enter that field.

Fred started at NBC in New York City, working his way up and learning everything he could about television and how to appeal to children as viewers.  Later Fred returned to Pittsburgh, still working in television, children's television, but not in front of the camera.  He began to study how children think and feel.  His desire to create a show just for them, with respect for them, became more than a dream.  Mister Rogers' Neighborhood went live across the nation on February 19, 1968.

Now we go to the show as it was seen daily.  It began and ended with music and a routine of changing a coat and sweater and shoes.  Each episode supplied viewers with something of value, often expanded with field trips and special guests, as well as familiar personalities who visited frequently.  The trolley took viewers into The Neighborhood of Make-Believe with its notable cast of characters.   No issue was too large or too small to be discussed by Mister Rogers.  No aspect of the show was not touched by his hand, but he was the first to acknowledge the work of many in making this beloved television show for children, their children, and their children's children.


Each aspect of this man and his television show is written with meticulous care and research by Matthew Cordell.  His arrangement of the facts flows from one portion to the next, beginning with the show, flashing back to Fred McFeely Rogers' life until the premiere of the show and then to the elements of the show.  The information is supplied to us as if we are in conversation with Matthew Cordell and he is lovingly revealing to us what he knows or has learned.  Captions on replicated photographs give us more insight.  Quotes by Fred McFeely Rogers add to the authenticity.  Here is a passage.

Then a new idea, person, or place
would be introduced.  Just like
in life, there were good times in
The Neighborhood, like visiting the 
circus or a neighborhood school.

But there were difficult times too,
like saying goodbye to a beloved
pet.  Fred understood that children
have many feelings and interests,
and all of them are worth
mentioning and exploring.


The image shown on the front of the dust jacket takes readers into the wonderful landscape fashioned by Fred McFeely Rogers.  It's a scene we want to willingly enter.  We feel as though we are about to hear the familiar voice of a beloved television personality and marvelous human being.  All the exquisite details shown in this first illustration are continued throughout the book.  Each line is placed with intention.

To the left, on the back of the dust jacket, on a canvas of pure white is a television set from the era the show first aired.  On the screen is a real picture of Mister Rogers.  Five smiling children are seated in a semi-circle in front of the television.

On the book case is one of Matthew Cordell's signature illustrations.  Fred McFeely Rogers is walking across a background of washed blue.  He is in the near center on the right side.  He is holding a puppet in his left hand.  In his right hand is a duffel bag with a puppet peering out.  Behind Mister Rogers, in an ever-enlarging wave is a vast assortment of people and objects representing a lifetime of work.  You could look at this for hours and not notice everything.

The opening and closing endpapers are in pale yellow.  With a page turn is a small portrait of Fred Rogers, wearing his red sweater and putting on his tennis shoes.  Another page turn is a close-up of a scene on the set.  Then a double-page picture, with the quote noted above, shows Fred seated at his piano.  Coming from the piano is a similar assortment of figures and items as shown on the book case.  With the next page turn the Trolley is winding back and forth on the verso opposite the title page featuring Mister Rogers, the Trolley and some of his puppets.

Each illustration is a survey of every facet of this man's life and his television show.  Matthew Cordell rendered the pictures:

with pen and ink with watercolor.

They are double-page pictures, pictures within pictures, recreations of photographs, single-page pictures, small groupings of visuals on a single or double page.  Your eyes move easily from text to images, each complementing and elevating the other.  Historical context is excellent; like the set of encyclopedias on the shelf in the living room of the family watching the first nationally aired Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.  Each time you read this book; you will observe some new element Matthew Cordell has included.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is the first one for the first line in the narrative.  It spans two pages.  It is a close-up view of The Neighborhood.  From the upper, left-hand corner a hand is reaching in and holding a car.  It will soon be placed in The Neighborhood.  


If you've been looking for a way to hug Fred McFeely Rogers, this book, HELLO, NEIGHBOR!: The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell, is the way you can do it.  This book is definitely to be placed in the huggable category.  The words and artwork bring the man and his life's work to you, into your space.  At the close of the book two pages are dedicated to About Fred Rogers with more facts and photographs.  Matthew Cordell includes a Visual Glossary, Mister Rogers and Me, Acknowledgments, More About Fred Rogers and Where to Watch Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.  The final page has Fred Rogers carrying his duffel bag with items trailing behind as he walks away from us.  This stunning book belongs in every collection, professional and personal.

To learn more about Matthew Cordell and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  His blog is here.  Matthew Cordell has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  You can view interior images at Penguin Random House.  At the publisher's website is a printable sign.  This book is highlighted at School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production by author, reviewer and extraordinary librarian, Betsy Bird.  Matthew Cordell is interviewed at Reading Rockets via video.
UPDATE:  Matthew Cordell wrote a post about this book at School Library Journal (May 8, 2020).  It is a wonderful, meaningful reflection. 
UPDATE:  Matthew Cordell chats with teacher librarian Matthew C. Winner at The Children's Book Podcast #594 about this book (May 8, 2020)
UPDATE:  This title is the subject of a reflective post on NPR. (May 30, 2020)


When you think of Earth Day you might not think of a mathematician, but their influence in the scientific community is without question.  Between the years of December 22, 1887 and April 26, 1920, there lived a man, who in only thirty-two years left a lasting legacy in the field of mathematics.  His perceptions of the world are still being explored today.

For many years, he felt detached from others his age.  He saw the world with questioning eyes and his mind functioned on a rare and rich level.  The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan (Candlewick Press, April 14, 2020) written by Amy Alznauer with illustrations by Daniel Miyares is certain to be treasured by those with a love of mathematics.  For all others, it is a trip through time worth taking repeatedly.

Today the world is small.  With a single click, you can see
anywhere or speak to anyone.
But one hundred years ago, the world was big.  It took weeks to send a letter by steamer from here all the way to there.

Into this world, some one hundred years ago, was born a son.  His mother, Amma, named him Ramanujan.  She told her son of a visit by a goddess, Namagiri, who whispered words in his grandmother's ears.  Those whispered words were like a prophecy of his life's pursuit.

Ramanujan never spoke for three years.  He exhibited behavior requiring a set routine.  As soon as he did speak, he wondered about the meaning of small and big.  At five he started to go to school, but his questions went unanswered.  Ramanujan was bored.

His fascination with what is small and how smaller and smaller can expand, but also pull together to make a single whole grew.  Numbers were his window into the world.  He was compelled to work with them every single day using his slate, erasing, and starting over.  Ramanujan disliked school.  He would run away.  Many schools were tried.  After class, the boy could be found sitting on the front pial of his home, working with numbers on his slate.

Everything, in Ramanujan's mind, was connected by numbers.  He was ten when he attended Kumbakonam Town High School.  He felt a kinship with a man who sat by the river claiming to see strange figures.  By the time he was fifteen, a college math book was no match for his amazingly curious mind.

At twenty Ramanujan failed at college.  He finally landed a job at

the Port Trust in Madras.

Here his skills were valued.  At the urging of those with whom he worked; he wrote letters to famous mathematicians in England at the Cambridge University.  Finally, one, G. H. Hardy, responded.  Ramanujan was off to England.  It was 1914.  The world was about to meet a master.  They are still meeting him today.


The immense dedication Ramanujan had for mathematics and how they could be applied to the world around him is felt in every sentence written by Amy Alznauer.  A historical context is generated with her opening sentences.  We are fully captivated.

Specific examples bring us into essential moments of Ramanujan's life.  The insertion of dialogue draws us into his story.  When we are privy to his thoughts and musings, we feel an intimate connection to his exceptional mind and soul.  Here are two passages.

He loved this idea, small and big, each inside the other.
If he could crack the number 1 open and find infinity, what
secrets would he discover inside other numbers? It felt like he
was setting out on a grand chase.

Numbers were everywhere.  In the squares of light pricking
his thatched roof.  In the gods dancing on the temple tower.  In
the clouds that formed and re-formed in the sky.  Every day he
wrote numbers in the sand, on his slate, on slips of paper, his
slender fingers flying, each number a new catch. 


When you first gaze at the open and matching dust jacket and book case, your eyes are drawn to the enchanting figure seated before you.  Who is this person?  What will this book reveal about him?  The hues of blue and purple contrasting with the yellow and shades of red are lustrous, almost other-worldly.  The title text and swirl from Ramanujan with numbers in it are embossed in silver foil.

To the left, on the back, an intricate Indian design in colors of magenta act as a frame for text in white which reads:

If Ramanujan could crack
the number 1 open and
find infinity, what
secrets would he discover
inside other numbers?

In shades of teal artist Daniel Miyares composes a collage of numbers and pages from a notebook on the opening and closing endpapers.  The initial title page has a small image of objects relative to Ramanujan's life as a child.  An elegant Indian design, now fully complete appears, opposite the title page in a rich orange color.

These illustrations are done in ink.  Daniel Miyares takes us with his illustrations to another time and into the unique world of Ramanujan and his way of thinking.  Their subtle and soft texture mirrors and heightens the spirit embedded in the text.  Daniel Miyares use of light and shadow is astonishing.  Swirls of color weave another world, drawing us within striking moments.  Fine delicate lines accentuate the people and settings.  Some of the pages are embellished with splendid designs, acting as framing or borders.

The size of the illustrations varies in accordance with the text.  Larger, dramatic, two-page pictures will have you gasping.  The smaller ones will have you stopping to look closer at them.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations spans two pages.  A pale night sky replete with stars and a crescent moon with a few wisps of clouds acts as a background.  Large thin numbers stretch from the bottom of the page to nearly the top, page edge on the left to page edge on the right.  Four figures of Ramanujan asleep, waking and hanging onto the top of a seven, leaping between a two and a nine and then sliding down the nine illustrate how even his dreams were filled with numbers.


The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan written by Amy Alznauer with illustrations by Daniel Miyares is as incomparable as the boy, and then man, whose life is depicted in its pages.  At the close of the book is a two-page Author's Note.  It is followed by a one-page bibliography.  You'll want this breathtaking book in both your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Amy Alznauer and Daniel Miyares and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  Amy Alznauer has a special page for this title.  Amy Alznauer has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  Daniel Miyares has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view an interior image.  At Penguin Random House you can see other interior illustrations.  Last year Daniel Miyares was showcased at Picture Book Spotlight.  At Cynsations Amy Alznauer writes a post about collaboration.



Be sure to visit educator Alyson Beecher's Kid Lit Frenzy to view the titles selected this week by other participants in the 2020 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.