For centuries, for generations, women have struggled for equality. For them to construct the best possible lives for their families, friends, and themselves, certain elements are valuable for success. A solid, basic education with appropriate materials, qualified educators, and the opportunity to pursue a desired goal or dream gives all women, regardless of their age, a firm footing on a good future. The support of a parent, guardian, or trusted mentor can be priceless in helping to form a foundation of beliefs or in supplying strength in the face of adversity.
Earlier this month, two children's literature publications address both elements. The first, One Girl (Abrams Books for Young Readers, October 6, 2020) written by Andrea Beaty with illustrations by Dow Phumiruk, vividly portrays the power of a single young girl acquiring a single book. Through lilting, rhyming words and luminous images, we see the power of both.
One Girl.
One spark.
Faint and fading in the dark.
This spark is a book which cascades from the sky to appear glowing at the girl's feet as she sits on the steps of her front porch. When she opens the book, the spark though faint continues to glow. It burns without going out. It is fire!
It grows brighter and brighter, inspiring her to follow a dream, a dream of being educated. The more she knows, the more she grows. She shares what she knows so others can grow.
The brightness spreads from girl to girl, girl to boy, and boy to boy, and boy to girl. Each child is learning. With their increase in knowledge, they can embrace the wonder our world holds for them. What they read and what they write spreads farther and farther, up and out into all corners of the planet.
With this accomplishment sparks are traveling where they are most needed. They, like falling stars, make wishes come true. They land one book at a time at the feet of one girl.
Beginning this narrative with these two words has readers asking many questions. Andrea Beatyimmediately kindles our interest. Her simple but profound word choices fashion a flawless flow, almost a melody, with repetition of specific words inviting reader participation. Here are two more word combinations.
Flicker . . .
Flicker . . .
Flicker . . .
Glow.
Tiny ember.
Burning low.
When you look at the little girl on the front of the dust jacket, you feel the hope and awe shown in her face. She has discovered the endless possibilities found in a book. They grow up and out, blooming and flying. The warm background of rich red, orange, and yellow hues extends over the spine to a home on a hill with the girl seated on the steps of her porch. The book glimmering with potential is on the ground in front of her. Words from the narrative invite us to open the book.
On the book case is a large interior image. It shows the girl, now in school. A star barrette holds part of her hair in place. She is on the left, her hands crossing the gutter to rest on her desk. One hand holds a pencil as she writes. Stary sparks drift upward from her paper in a pale rainbow of color. The canvas for this illustration is a shade of cream.
On the opening and closing endpapers on a variegated purple background is a pattern of delicate white flowers, vines, books, pencils, pieces of paper, rockets, stars, crescent moons, and white birds. Some of the leaves are in several colors of green and blue. With a page turn we are treated to a double-page picture of a community on a hill at night. Some of the windows in the homes glow with lamplight. A sliver of moon sits in the upper, right-hand corner. A comet like object arcs over the title text.
These illustrations by Dow Phumirukare rendered using
pencil and Photoshop.
Some of the illustrations span two pages, single pages, or others are smaller with loose framing. They are atmospheric, displaying not only the time of day, but the mood of the little girl and the other children. The use of light and shadow are beautiful to see. When the words of the book are released as wonder, the delicate designs are intricate, portraying a world of potential. Just looking at the little girl and the other children will fill your heart with joy.
One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a two-page image. The background from bottom to top begins as cream moving to a muted orange. There are eight children spanning both pages, wearing their uniforms in white and navy. They represent a diverse group of children. They are gazing upward. The main little girl, to the left of the gutter, has her right arm up and holding a pencil. From this pencil scrolls of white lines and stars move above the children and around to the lower, right-hand corner. Within this design are elements representing hopes and dreams. The words read:
Shares her song.
The collaboration between author Andrea Beaty and artist Dow Phumiruk on One Girl gifts readers with a book to treasure. It's a pleasure to read aloud, in fact it would make a marvelous reader's theater. I highly recommend this book for your personal and professional collections to promote the true power of a book and education. An author's note offers further explanation about books, knowledge, education, and the lack of education for too many girls globally.
To discover more about Andrea Beaty and Dow Phumiruk and their other work, please access their respective websites by following the link attached to their names. Andrea Beaty has accounts on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. In addition to her website Dow Phumiruk has another site here, as well as accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. At the publisher's website you can view multiple interior images.
The second book is a promise from a father to his daughter, a love letter explaining how they can shape their world, her world. What We'll Build: Plans For Our Together Future (Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, October 6, 2020) written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers is a journey of discovery and of finding one's capabilities, and a guide to accomplish what is true and good in our lives. It shows readers how an adult can be one who endeavors to be an enduring bedrock or fortress if needed.
What shall we build, you
and I?
Let's gather all our tools for a start.
In a row, all the tools represent a father and his daughter, a green crayon near a paintbrush, and a toy pig next to a wrench. This is how they will make things, and if necessary, restart. Perhaps they should build a door and a house around it.
They will work together building each other's future. They will create love for when it is needed most. They know a hole might be necessary so they can hide. Sometimes it will be necessary to construct a mighty abode with a wall around it, but also a gate to allow entrance of former enemies.
From that fortress, together they will raise a tower from which to gaze upward at the world beyond ours. No mountain will hinder their progress. They will build a tunnel. Whatever is necessary for them to build to enjoy endless opportunities, they will use their tools to make it.
They will rest. They will travel in a seaworthy vessel. And then when a low is reached, they will recover in a special place where loved objects reside. Those with the earlier-made affection will remain until the lowest of the lows calls to them. This father and his daughter have been busy planning, so as the narrative concludes they are warm and asleep by one of the oldest forms of comfort which they build together.
There is a childlike quality to the rhyming narrative written by Oliver Jeffers. He moves freely from one thought to the other, like children do when their imaginations are set free, unhindered. The narrative changes from building a tunnel through a mountain to constructing a road to the moon or from resting cozily in a hammock to a wild ride at sea. The words let's, we'll, and I'll precede build multiple times to supply a soothing and comforting cadence. Here is a single sentence which I could read over and over.
We'll put these favorite things beside
the earlier love we set aside.
When you open the dust jacket you see that the background on the front spans over the spine, flap edge to flap edge. The stary sky and mountain range continue. I love the complementary colors of purple, yellow and orange with the spot of red in the toolbox. What a wonderful choice to have the title text be a sign built by the duo. To the left of them, on the back, sitting alone is a fox. This fox appears later in the narrative. Words there, from the book, welcome you to the plans.
The book case is a pale lavender. There are five tools in a row on the front. They are embossed in red and silver foil, as is the text on the spine. The tools shown, left to right, are a screwdriver, a saw, a hammer, a pencil, and a lightning bolt.
On a dark purple canvas elements from the story, looking like they were drawn in crayon, appear in hot pink on the opening and closing endpapers. You have to smile when seeing these pages. Father and daughter, hand in hand, are placed beneath the dedication on the verso. (Remember to read this wonderful dedication and a short note from Oliver and Mari, his daughter, also on this page.) On the title page is the red toolbox, opened.
These illustrations by Oliver Jeffers are a blend of realism and whimsy with his signature style prevalent throughout the title. They shift from double-page pictures to single-page images and in point of view for emphasis. Several times careful readers will notice how one illustration connects to the other.
One of my many favorite illustrations spans two pages. Father and daughter are stretched feet to feet on a hammock they built between two small trees with pink leaves. The trees are growing from what appears to be the surface of our moon, sandy in color. Both are wearing glass helmets. The father, arms behind his head, is sleeping. The daughter with one arm raised is speaking. Her toy pig rests on her stomach. Her other arm is behind her head. Two birds, wearing clear helmets are present. In the distance in a pink and purple sky with stars is planet Earth. This picture is one of contented and affectionate happiness, pure perfection.
This book, What We'll Build: Plans For Our Together Future written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, is a joyful, truthful exploration of what fathers and daughters can accomplish. It resonated with this daughter, who to this day is far better for having a father who taught her to build and who she sorely misses every single day. Hand this book to daughters, fathers, or anyone who is looking to form relationships founded in love.
To learn more about Oliver Jeffers and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. You can see a few interior images from this book there. Oliver Jeffers has another website titled Oliver Jeffers' World. Oliver Jeffers has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I hope you enjoy these videos and are able to follow the VancouverWritersFest coming in a few days.
Whether we are conscientiously aware of it, we are comparing and contrasting throughout our day. On multiple occasions we calculate how much time it will take to perform a given task and compare it to the time available. We guesstimate measurements in rooms when decorating, in yards when landscaping, and in cooking meals with or without recipes. When we are out and about, we gauge distances from one point to another, how close we are to the doe and fawn who suddenly makes an appearance or how high up the hawk is, gliding on an air current.
Sometimes on a clear night, with an overhead sky filled with stars, it is easy to wonder how something so far away looks as though you could reach up and gather a handful. Your Place in the Universe (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, September 1, 2020) written and illustrated by Jason Chin is a stellar title focusing on size, measurement, comparison, and distance. We begin with our feet firmly planted on the ground and gaze outward into the universe.
These kids are eight years old.
They are about five times as tall as this book,
but only half as tall as . . .
Before you turn the page to reveal the conclusion of the second sentence, in smaller print at the bottom you are told the number of inches tall the average eight-year-old is. You are informed about the advantage of using inches in measuring.
We are further acquainted with the tallest bird in the world compared to the children. This bird is then contrasted with the tallest land animal and the eight-year-olds. New heights are explored when seeking the tallest living things and the tallest manmade structures which far exceeds those natural beings.
We move to majestic mountains and the tallest peak on our planet. As we look up miles beyond mountains, we encounter portions of our atmosphere, the edge of space, and the thermosphere and exosphere which extends 6,200 miles
above Earth's surface.
Comparisons are made to the distance to the International Space Station and the width of our planet. Although the Earth is very wide it is not as wide as . . .
We journey farther and farther away from our home to those places we can see with our naked eyes and those places in our solar system not yet seen. In all its vastness our solar system is smaller than the galaxy where it resides. Within this galaxy, The Milky Way, the number of stars is
more than 100 billion.
Do you know how long, even traveling at the speed of light, it will take you to reach the center of our galaxy? Do you know how far away the nearest galaxy is to our Milky Way? In a truly mind-boggling display of comparative wonder, galaxy groups are small against galaxy clusters which are small within the cosmic web and the universe as a whole. In a brilliant use of words, we go from the
observable universe
back to those four eight-year-old children who now know . . .
With every page turn your fascination grows due to the precise use of language and research of author Jason Chin. Readers are completely engaged by the rhythmic pause in the narrative as we await what is taller, higher, wider, farther or larger than the previous thing being discussed. With each expansion our marvel grows as he adds a new dimension to our thinking and the world we can see. The fine print explanations along with the main narrative are informative and marvelous to ponder. Here are two connected passages.
Earth is enormous, but it's not
so big compared to . . .
. . . the orbit of the Moon.
The Moon is 238,855 miles away from Earth. It's so
far away that 29 Earths could fit between the two. It's
so far that a jet plane going 500 miles per hour would
take 19 days to get there.
You want to step into the setting shown on the front, right, of the open and matching dust jacket and book case. It's easy to see yourself on a hill at night exploring the world with those four eight-year-old kids. I love the diverse group featured. The wash of sky with the cosmic light behind them creates a perfect atmosphere. The title text is silver foil.
To the left, on the back, the necks and faces of an ostrich and a giraffe are shown watching the children. These extend from the far-left side. The landscape and skyscape span the spine and entire back. The words on the back read:
Can you find your place
in the universe?
A hue between midnight blue and teal covers the opening and closing endpapers. On the title page the children have arrived at the hill and are setting up their equipment. It is still daylight. On the dedication and verso page, they are almost finished putting the telescope together, leading into the first page.
These illustrations rendered
using watercolor, gouache, and digital techniques
are as beautiful as the people, creatures, and worlds they depict. The beings that are alive are highly animated. Jason Chin accentuates his comparisons in the beginning by placing a monarch butterfly in the pages. The butterfly gets smaller as the comparisons get bigger.
Careful readers will note the passage of time by watching the background, changing from daylight, to sundown, to dusk and the rising of a full moon. Until we venture out into space, Jason Chin shows each contrasted thing in the picture with the next larger item. The children, ostrich and giraffe are tiny next to the tallest living things. These tallest living things are dwarfed by the manmade structures.
Many of the illustrations are framed in white, others extend to the page edges. The double-page pictures are dramatic, highlighting the grandeur of their portrayals. There is a vertical, double-page picture requiring you to turn the book.
One of my many, many favorite illustrations is when the children, the ostrich, the giraffe and books are shown as the full moon rises behind them. Against the darkening sky the ostrich is left of the telescope with a pile of books around it. To the right of the telescope, the children are standing on each other's shoulders with the top child holding a copy of the book for the giraffe on the right to read. The giraffe is looking a tad bit surprised. Beneath the giraffe, so tiny as to almost be invisible, is the butterfly.
With each reading of Your Place in the Universe written and illustrated by Jason Chin, you will learn some new incredible fact about this remarkable world in which we live. The book is a fine, very fine, work of nonfiction. At the close of the book are four pages of further information with Jason Chin's artwork discussing Beyond Human Scale, Earth And The Solar System, The Solar System and The Universe. Do you know what A Goldilocks Planet is? There is a final page with A Note From The Author, A Note On The Age Of The Universe, A Note On The Illustrations, and Selected Sources. I can't imagine a personal or professional collection without a copy of this book.
To learn more about Jason Chin and his body of work, please visit his website by following the link attached to his name. Jason Chin has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. At the publisher's website there is an event kit and an educator's guide. You can get a glimpse of several interior images at Penguin Random House. Please take a few moments to enjoy this video.
Update: This title and its author illustrator are featured by author, reviewer, and blogger Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast on November 29, 2020.
To view the other titles selected this week by participants in the 2020 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge, visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher.
Does every living being plan? We know plants and animals plan for changes in the weather and seasons, in fact they are often a sign of what we can expect in both. They do so to survive. We humans make daily plans. We plan for special events, many of them months and years in the future. We devise plans to reach our short-term and long-term goals in our academic, career, and personal lives. It is also a given that at any moment, sometimes seconds in length, our plans are unexpectedly and significantly altered. We learn that often the best plan is to have no plan.
Six years ago we met an enchanting character in Julia's House for Lost Creatures. Julia is an energetic young woman who puts her heart's desires into action, but often the results are unpredictable. She returns in a companion title, Julia's House Moves On (First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, September 29, 2020) written and illustrated by Ben Hatke. Julia's house sits on the back of an enormous turtle and Julia pulls up her mailbox in anticipation of what is to come.
Julia's House was for lost
creatures of every kind.
But the house was getting
restless. It was time to move
on. Everyone could feel it.
The creatures residing in Julia's House were no longer their normal selves, acting entirely out of character. Julia was certain she had the perfect plan in place for the upcoming relocation. She was packing like a pro. She had a new setting in mind, but the house had other intentions. It began to move.
Julia was not ready. Her plan was not in place any longer. The turtle had its own plan. It was on the move. Before Julia, and her resident creatures knew what was happening the House was in ruins, drifting on the sea sans turtle. Julia reassured everyone that she had a plan.
Everyone jumping in the water and pushing the House did not go well. Dangerous conditions had everyone finding refuge in the now sinking House. Julia still thought she had a plan. She rummaged through her workshop and boxes, finding what she knew was a solution. It was a disaster.
Julia now, diminished in her vigor, believed she could plan her way out of this situation, but the creatures left before she could present her ideas. Julia is now alone, and her plans float away on the wind. Suddenly, something, more than one something, she never envisioned in her wildest dreams happened. It was not a part of any of her plans, but many times this is life's way of telling you to let go and embrace whatever it sends you.
In a spirited, conversational blend of text and dialogue, Ben Hatke presents a life lesson within a captivating story. His spare, but specific, choice of words builds one incident upon another leading us to a spectacular, luminous conclusion. These sentences also leave room for further enhancement by the images. Here is a passage.
The creatures scrambled
back on board. The house
was sinking faster.
"DON'T WORRY!"
Julia called.
"I HAVE
A PLAN
FOR THIS!"
The warmth in the shades of orange and yellow on the front, right, of the open and matching dust jacket and book case, hint at either a sunrise or a sunset, presenting that each is the chance for a new beginning. We can see the House in the background is already limbering up for its move. The creature in Julia's box, a ghillie, is a recent arrival, but a remarkable character to this story.
To the left, on the back, is an enlarged interior image of Julia determinedly looking through boxes in her workshop for a single item she believes will save the House. The pale canvas highlights the vibrant colors of the objects in the boxes. Careful readers will see the ghillie there with Julia.
The opening and closing endpapers begin and conclude the story including the initial title page and the final sentence. On the first, on the left, an overturned pot, on its side, has dirt spilling out. The ghillie trailing earth, leaves and wearing a single flower walks across the bottom of the initial title page on the right. On the second, on the left, Julia's House is on its way to a new adventure, small in the distance and surrounded by gorgeous clouds in hues of yellow, orange, and complementary tones of purple and blue. On the right, in a small square image, Julia, spyglass to her eye and wearing a captain's hat, is next to a railing. The Patched Up Kitty is next to her, paws resting on the rail. Engraved in the railing are the words:
for IDA!
The verso and formal title page is a large, double-page picture of Julia's House on the edge of the sea and the surrounding community. The ghillie is walking down a path toward Julia's House. If you look closely, you will see the reason the House moves unannounced. Ben Hatke uses every space to tell his story from the beginning to the end.
The illustrations' sizes alter to accentuate the pacing and narrative. There may be wordless panels with a small image on a single page or a single page picture. At times, a panel is inserted into a single-page picture for emphasis. Panels are layered on a large image in the center of two pages. Double-page picture with and without words are highly dramatic and at times emotional. The perspectives offered in each image are perfection, panoramic or close-up as needed.
One of my many, many favorite illustrations is on a single page. It is a close-up of Julia holding the ghillie for the first time. It is cupped in her hand. She smiles with affection at the creature. It looks at her, calmly resting in her hand, with an open look. This is the essence of Julia, and of the creatures who live with her. Their respect and affection are mutual.
This book, Julia's House Moves On written and illustrated by Ben Hatke, like the best kind of story will resonate differently with each reader depending on their personal life experiences. One thing is certain, though, this is a book to cherish for its words and wonderfully animated visuals. I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.
To discover more about Ben Hatke and his other work, please access his website by following the link attached to his name. Ben Hatke has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter. Ben Hatke is featured at author Maria Marshall's site, and at author, reviewer, and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. At Macmillan Publishers enjoy some interior illustrations and an activity kit you can download. I think you'll like these videos.
More than six decades ago, I traveled to southern Florida for the first time with my parents and sister. At five years old it seemed as if I had set foot on a different continent rather than a state 1,400 miles away from my home located in Michigan. There were lush palm trees, wide sandy beaches and the vast ocean. It seemed as if there were hibiscus in striking shades of pink and red growing on bushes everywhere. One of the most remarkable memories is a visit we took to Parrot Jungle. (Parrot Jungle has since been closed.) With my arms held out perpendicular to my body, colorful parrots rested there, using them like tree branches. On the top of my head sat a polite cockatoo.
My memories of this childhood visit are wonderful but only memories. Long before my trip another girl was fascinated by what she experienced in a stop with her parents in southern Florida. But, unlike me, this singular individual came back and dedicated her entire life to protecting a portion of its natural beauty. Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, September 22, 2020) written by Sandra Neil Wallace with illustrations by Rebecca Gibbon acquaints us with a woman who believed we need to act in light of what we know. She stood strong to support that which was unable to do so for itself.
Before airplanes and automobiles,
a girl in gold-rimmed glasses sailed
on a steamboat to Florida.
She tasted a freshly picked orange as she savored the company of her father. What she could not know in that moment, it would be a long time before she returned to Florida or felt the warmth of her father's companionship. She and her mother returned to Taunton, Massachusetts living with her grandparents and Aunt Fanny.
Marjory kept to herself, away from those four adults, and she read as much as possible. She also made a point to venture outside whenever she could during any season. By the time she was eighteen, she was in college. By the time she was twenty-four she was married, but it was not successful. Shortly after World War I started, Marjory returned to Florida and her father.
The Miami Herald was her father's newspaper, and she became a reporter. Marjory was the only woman reporter and her heart dictated what she wrote. To make sure her stories were a reflection of realty, she enlisted in the navy during World War I. She was a part of the Red Cross and traveled to Europe. When she returned to Florida, she was dismayed to see the changes in her beloved state. There was talk of draining the Everglades.
Knowing this, Marjory went to work. She wrote, she studied, and she explored the Everglades, but at forty years old, she had never been inside this wild area until she met Ernest Coe. Together they ventured into the interior and shared those insights with a hesitant National Park Service. Still not convinced Marjory had a brilliant brainstorm. It worked and changed everything for the Everglades.
Marjory had a unique cottage built in southern Florida. From there she could easily study her beloved Everglades. Her findings led to the publishing of a now famous book. When the Everglades were threated again, Marjory founded the Friends of the Everglades. She was 79 years old. Marjory continued to fight for the Everglades, convincing government officials to restore and maintain its place on our planet. Marjory Stoneman Douglas lived to be 108 years old. What a remarkable life filled with remarkable accomplishments.
Each time you read the words penned by Sandra Neil Wallace, you are acutely aware of the meticulous research behind her narrative Her masterful use of language takes the gleaned facts mingling them with her descriptive imagery of place and time. We feel as though we've been friends with Marjory through the inclusion of her personal quotes placed perfectly within the text. They serve to enhance the moments of her life being presented. Here is a passage.
Traveling by houseboat, Marjory meandered through the Glades in a
string of pearls, and a silk dress with pleats as thick as the saw grass
jutting through the shallow waters.
She spotted crocodiles swimming, alligators soaking up the sun, and the
wiry roots of ghost orchids wrapped around the trunks of pond apples.
She saw sea turtles round as rain barrels bobbin through forests of
gumbo-limbo.
One of the first things you notice about the open and matching dust jacket and book case are the expressions on Marjory's face in both scenes. Her looks of happiness reveal the pleasure she felt when in the Everglades, fueling her determination to protect this threatened area. On the front, right, Marjory is at home among all the flora and fauna found when investigating this southern Florida natural paradise. All you see here is still thriving because of Marjory Stoneman Douglas. The delicate elements surround her. The main title text is varnished and raised.
To the left, on the back, Marjory stands in the lower, left-hand corner. All we see is her upper body. Her head, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, is raised up to gaze at the multitude of birds of all types gliding across the sky from left to right. These birds in this sky cover the opening endpapers featuring a lovely quote by Marjory on the right-hand side. The closing endpapers highlight the rivers of grass. Here are placed a page of Sources, and a second page for Additional Resources, and Acknowledgements.
On the verso and dedication page illustrator Rebecca Gibbon depicts a crate of Florida oranges. (You'll want to read the dedications.) On the title page the text is framed by gorgeous Everglades' plants, flowers, and insects.
Rendered in acrylic inks and colored pencils
the intricate illustrations flow in a range of sizes on the heavy, matte-finished paper.
The details in each image invite us to stop and observe the world portrayed in each one, just like Marjory viewed the world around her. Rebecca Gibbon draws us into the visuals with her regard for historical accuracy in the architecture, clothing, and each setting in which we find ourselves.
One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture. Marjory is inside the Everglades on her trip with Ernest Coe. Alone she sits on a grassy piece of land with pale turquoise water encircling her. Around the water are trees, ferns, and aquatic plants. Tucked among them are a shy raccoon, a turtle, several kinds of birds and insects. In looking at this scene, it is easy to imagine sitting there, still as stone, listening to all the sounds made by the Everglades' life breathing in and out.
If you hand this book, Marjory Saves the Everglades: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas written by Sandra Neil Wallace with illustrations by Rebecca Gibbon, to a reader, or if you read it yourself, they and you will be changed. What this woman achieved in her long life will resonate for generations. Her life is a call to action, and a testament to the power of one. There are a lengthy Author's Note, information about eleven animal and plant inhabitants of the Everglades, Marjory's Tips for Protecting the Environment, Learn More about Marjory and Helping the Everglades and a Timeline of Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the Everglades at the close of the book. I highly recommend placement of this title in your professional and personal collections.
To learn more about Sandra Neil Wallace and Rebecca Gibbon, and their other work access their websites by following the link attached to their names. Sandra Neil Wallace has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Here is a link to an Activity Kitand aCurriculum Guidefor this title at Sandra Neil Wallace's website. Rebecca Gibbon has an account on Instagram. On author Patricia Newman's site there is a LitLinks: Using the Everglades to develop a love of nature post about this book written by guest blogger Roberta Gibson. At the publisher's website there are a series of interior images, along with the opened dust jacket. Please take a few moments to enjoy the book trailer.
As mentioned in the first post, in times of darkness, especially on a global level, people will seek and embrace the joy of celebrations. These observances remind us of family, unity, and connectivity. They remind us of past, present, and future miracles.
Four September publications draw our attention to three holidays. They present the best each event offers. They individually and collectively are a form of light. The first of the four, Binny's Diwali (Scholastic Press, September 1, 2020) written by Thrity Umrigar with illustrations by Nidhi Chanani, follows a little girl anxious to acquaint her classmates with her favorite holiday.
Binny woke up happy but nervous. It was her
day to share about Diwali, the Festival of Lights!
Each month her teacher, Mr. Boomer, asks a classmate to speak about a holiday they enjoy. Eagerly Binny dresses in the clothes her parents placed for her to wear. Her mother is wearing a sari her father bought her for Diwali. People shop for gifts for each other during Diwali.
Wearing her new clothes, Binny eats special treats with her parents for breakfast. She will take additional jalebis and pedas with her to school. Her father encourages her with words as comforting as the food. At school, her mother gives her a gentle reminder about the oil lamps used in the celebration.
When Mr. Boomer calls Binny's name, something happens. Shyness makes her nearly speechless. She closes her eyes remembering her mother's words about the diyas, the oil lamps. This is all this little girl needs for her excitement to be released. She explains Diwali's name, length, and what it represents.
Each wonderful custom associated with this holiday is shared; the fireworks, the sparklers, the streamers, and the diyas. She demonstrates the use of the colored powders, and she shares the delicious food she brought. Best of all is the image she creates in the minds of her fellow students. It is the image of a traveler on an airplane looking down at a city during The Festival of Lights.
Author Thrity Umrigar invites us to experience the joy Binny has for this special holiday with her combination of text and conversation. She gives us insights into the specifics of this five-day celebration by weaving information into Binny's thoughts and in her actual presentation to her classmates. With each added layer of description to her friends and teacher, readers will find themselves wishing they were in Binny's classroom. Here is a passage.
Binny did want to share her favorite holiday with her friends.
But she couldn't find the words.
Mr. Boomer put a kindly hand on her shoulder. "Take a
deep breath," he whispered. "I know you can do this."
[Please note I am working with an F & G.]
When you open the dust jacket, the glorious complementary blend of hues of purple and golden yellow continues over the spine to the far-left edge. The cut-out paper streamer Binny brings to her classroom supplies a wonderful decorative top border on the front and the back. The expression on Binny's face is one of contented happiness as the glow of the diya is reflected in her eyes and the light wraps around her face. The design on the front and back of the jacket extends to the edges of the flaps.
Thanks to John Schumacher, here is a look at the book case, case cover.
On the opening and closing endpapers is a pattern of diyas in shades of intricately decorated green, red, and blue on the palest of green backgrounds. Readers will notice the difference between the left side and the rights side. Perhaps this represents before and after and during the celebration. On the title page with a canvas of rich purple is a delicate design from left to right along the bottom lighted by diyas. Binny is standing on the far right in her new clothes and her special blue suede shoes, holding a lighted diya.
They span page edge to page edge across two pages or single pages. They supply an atmosphere of happiness and tradition. Readers will be fascinated by the motifs in Binny's home, clothing, her community, and in the depictions of Diwali with all the lights spread before the homes.
One of my many, many favorite illustrations is a double-page picture. It is the pause taken by Binny when she can't think of what to say in front of her classmates. On the left is a close-up of Binny. We see her upper body and face with her eyes closed to concentrate. Behind her on the right, crossing the gutter and going to the far-right edge is a scene of a community enjoying Diwali. In front of the brightly colored homes, with all kinds of families standing in the doorways, are patterns of light made by the diyas. This is an uplifting vision of goodness, of hope.
Even now, after multiple readings of Binny's Diwali written by Thrity Umrigar with illustrations by Nidhi Chanani, a feeling of quiet joy wraps around this reader. Readers will find a kinship with this girl and how Diwali is a welcome part of her life, and the lives of many others. At the close of the book is a page titled The Diwali Story. This is one of several legends about why Diwali is observed. It is followed by The Five Days Of Diwali. To close the author and illustrator have written notes about the meaning of this holiday to them. This title is meant to be shared. It is meant to be a part of your personal and professional collections.
To learn more about Thrity Umrigar and Nidhi Chanani and their other work, please follow the link attached to their name to access their websites. Thrity Umrigar has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Nidhi Chanani has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Here is a link to a Book Joy Live event hosted by Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher featuring conversations with both the creators. Enjoy this video with artist Nidhi Chanani chatting about this book.
This year Hanukkah begins on the evening of December 10, 2020 and finishes on the evening of December 18, 2020. It commemorates a miracle, a miracle centered in light. The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol (Candlewick Press, September 8, 2020) written by Arthur A. Levine with illustrations by Kevin Hawkes is a beautiful offering by two gifted collaborators. It is one story inviting more, as he states at the end of his Author's Note:
I have often wished that we could build up a bit more mythology too. In the same way that new recipes for matzah brei or a beautiful new piece of music can enhance our experience without changing the religious observances and meaning of Jewish holidays, I wanted to do that with a story. I hope you enjoy!
Nate Gadol was a great spirit who had eyes as shiny as golden coins and a smile that was lantern-bright. In answer to people's prayers, he made things last as long as they needed to.
Nate Gadol has always been available for large requests such as making oil last for eight days thousands of years ago, or for the tiniest but most important task to bring happiness to someone sick. If you needed Nate Gadol, regardless of the issue, he was there. Many years ago, when a particular family left Europe to journey to America, they had nothing left to celebrate Purim, except for a small bit of chocolate held by Mrs. Glasser. When she looked inside her handkerchief the chocolate had multiplied. To the delight of her husband and children, it kept multiplying!
Nate Gadol held a special place in his heart for this good-natured family. He noted their kindness and generosity toward their neighbors when they reached their destination. The winter of 1881 brought added hardship to the Glasser family and their neighbors, the O'Malleys. To help the sick O'Malley child, Mr. Glasser sold a handmade piece of furniture to pay for medicine. It left them with nothing.
Now, readers, what you need to know is this night was also Christmas Eve. Nate Gadol, pondering the problem of the Glasser family heard a noise. It seemed his friend Nick (wearing a red suit and sitting in a broken-looking sleigh) was in trouble. The two chatted a bit about the smaller amounts of seasonal magic in the air this year. Then Nate had an idea. A trade was made.
Nate Gadol, maker of magic, visited the O'Malley and Glasser homes on this evening. Traditions past were honored. And new ones, began.
Woven into the words written by Arthur A. Levine is a bit of Nate Gadol's magic. Sentence by sentence as if he is telling a story to us, face to face, he spins this enchanting tale with descriptive imagery. He provides examples to support the wondrous accomplishments of Nate Gadol and the pure hearts of the Glasser family. Even though we are holding a book in our hands, we lean in, captivated by every moment leading us to what was a miracle for two families. Here is a passage.
That night happened to be Christmas Eve. The wind howled through the cracks like an angry cat, and snow began to settle on the rooftops, where Nate Gadol stood looking out over the street. Suddenly, Nate heard a rumble of something like hooves on tar, and a voice shouting "Whoooaaaa!" behind him.
In a stunning display of artistry, Kevin Hawkes creates a memorable person as evidenced by his depiction of Nate Gadol on the front of the open dust jacket. Here is a being able to move with grace wherever he is needed. We can see by the windows in the building two families are observing two holidays. How glorious that the children look up and see Nate Gadol. What you cannot see is all the gold foil on this jacket. It brightens the text, Nate's hair, vest, boots, and bag. It flows from his hands. This golden magic continues throughout the book on Nate Gadol and when he works his miracles. To the left, on the back of the dust jacket, on top of another building is Santa Claus, seated in his sleigh with his reindeer spread before him. He is waving toward his friend.
On the book case readers will see a replication of the buildings on the dust jacket. All the windows are darkened, and Nate and Nick are gone. On the front of the case these words are written:
Nate Gadol is never far away.
The opening and closing endpapers are a pale, pale blue. On the verso and dedication page a single piece of chocolate rests in a handkerchief. On the title page Nate Gadol's bag sits between the text.
Each image is a double-page picture. The text is placed within a separate element with a thin, red-ribboned border. The tiny gold foil details elevate the extraordinary events portrayed in each visual. Nate Gadol is larger than life as we see how he views our world, above us, in front of us, next to us, and sometimes hidden.
The details in each picture take us into the moment, initially drawing our attention to Nate Gadol and then bringing our eyes outward to the entire scene. Within these illustrations Kevin Hawkes skillfully creates more than one perspective. It's as if we are present in each setting.
One of my many, many favorite paintings is for the text above noted. The majority of the page is filled with a swirling of white and gray sky, snowflakes peppering every space. In the lower portion of the illustration are red-brick buildings with rows of windows. The most prominent building begins on the right-half of the left, crosses the gutter and extends to the right-page edge. Of the six windows, two have lights. The first has a single candle and the fourth from the left has a lighted menorah. Standing on the roof, to the left of the gutter, is Nate Gadol, wind blowing through his hair and coat. His body is twisted back to the right after hearing the noise.
This book, The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol written by Arthur A. Levine with illustrations by Kevin Hawkes, is certain to become a seasonal favorite among all readers. It centers on the miracles of believing in that which we cannot see. It holds light up to hope. I highly recommend this book for your personal and professional collections. Please take a few moments to read the entire author's note at the end of the book or here at the publisher's website.
To learn more about Arthur A. Levine and Kevin Hawkes and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names. Arthur A. Levine and/or his publishing house have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Kevin Hawkes has an account on Instagram. Arthur A. Levine is interviewed by author Cynthia Leitich Smith on her site, Cynsations. You are able to view interior images at Penguin Random House.
UPDATE: Arthur Levine speaks about this book on NPR
I'll bet you did not know one of the most bustling places on Earth is in the far, far north. Here at the North Pole is the hub of all the mail written to Santa Claus. In charge of this particular post office, Peppermint Post, is Postmaster Buck Growlersson. As Christmas Eve gets closer and closer, the work becomes more frenzied. Peppermint Post (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, September 15, 2020) written by Bruce Hale with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis is a story filled with a whole lot of hilarity and equal amounts of determination and a bit of Christmas luck.
You won't find the world's busiest post office in Mumbai, Manila, or even New York. But head due north and there it is: Peppermint Post.
Shouting out orders to his postal workers, penguins, Postmaster Buck Growlersson makes sure the last wish is sent to Santa's Workshop. Here the presents are made and loaded onto Santa's sleigh. Buck finally allows himself to relax as he watches the sleigh carrying all the gifts, lifting into the sky.
As everyone is sipping on a well-deserved cup of hot cocoa, Buck makes a startling discovery. It's a lost piece of mail! Together with Fred, his head penguin, they rush to the Workshop. The elf in chief says it's too late. Buck begs, saying he will take the gift to Santa.
This is a challenge Buck and crew are not expecting. The only available mode of transportation is a miserable-looking, back-up sleigh. Fred volunteers all the workers to pull the sleigh. How is that supposed to work? Penguins can't fly. They are not even supposed to be at the North Pole.
In what can only be described as a miracle, not without considerable trouble, Buck and the penguins guided by Fred start to travel skyward. Their trip is fraught with danger and mishaps, and Santa seems to be always one house ahead. Finally, Buck, Fred and the penguins arrive at one very special little girl's house at the same time as Santa. Even now all does not go according to plan but remember Christmas can weave its own spell.
As you read the words penned by Bruce Hale, you find yourself smiling, his carefree, conversational sentences inviting giggles and grins. Lots of sound effect words invite reader participation. Alliteration, rhyming, dialogue, and text supply a cheerful flow. The repetition of a single phrase also welcomes readers to join in the telling. Here is a passage.
Flying a sleigh wasn't nearly as easy as running a post office.
Buck and his team hit a few rough spots . . .
with a BISH,
and a BASH,
and a SPLISHETY-SPLASH.
Readers get their first glimpse of the comedy replete in every image on the front and back of the open and matching dust jacket and book case. The expressions on Postmaster Buck's face and the crew of penguins vary between happiness, dismay and determined struggle. You will notice the poor shape of the sleigh. How is it even staying together? The peppermint as the dot on the I and the single peppermint button on Buck's bag are a pleasing design touch. Buck and his crew and the title text are varnished.
To the left, on the back, is a close up of a cup of hot cocoa in a Peppermint Post mug with the motto, Persistent, Punctual, Persevering. Chunky marshmallows float on top of the cocoa. Steam reaches to the gingerbread boy cookie and a letter to the left, written by Buck to Santa. The letter is certain to have you laughing.
The opening and closing endpapers are red. On the initial title page, a penguin is pushing a Peppermint Post cart loaded with letters. On the formal title page Buck and Fred are at the window looking at Santa taking off from the North Pole with his sleigh loaded with presents.
The illustrations by Stephanie Laberisvary in size in support of the text and its pacing. Her details ask you to stop at every page. It is in the details that the narrative is enhanced by her work. The postal clock face is a peppermint candy. Before the penguins attempt to fly, Fred is reading a Flying for Dummies book with a red Christmas bulb attached to his beak. Each image is highly animated. Many of the facial expressions are exaggerated to elevate the humor. I guarantee readers will laugh out loud more than once.
One of my many, many favorite pictures is on a single page. Postmaster Buck is seated in his light blue chair with his back to us. (His name is on his chair.) There is a note on his desk from Mrs. C. You can see the peppermint candy attached to his hat resting on his desk. His In box is empty. His OUT box is stacked high. Buck is lifting his hot cocoa for a taste, holding the missed letter in his paw. In the window we can see the reflection of his front. His face looks like that of a deer caught in the headlights. It's a total YIKES moment.
Readers are going to love laughing at the trouble encountered by Buck and his crew and how it concludes through the merry text and visuals in Peppermint Post written by Bruce Hale with illustrations by Stephanie Laberis. This takes the motto of our very own USPS to its maximum meaning. This book is about the true meaning of the season, putting others before yourself. Teamwork plays a hand in the outcome, also. Your readers will certainly enjoy having a copy in your professional and personal collections.
To learn more about Bruce Hale and Stephanie Laberis, and their other work, please follow the link attached to their names to access their websites. Bruce Hale has accounts on Instagram,Twitterand YouTube. Stephanie Laberis has accounts on Instagram and Twitter. At the publisher's website is an Activity Guide.
The best part of the shift in any season is to be able to share it with a best friend. The joys of the Christmas holiday and its traditions are amplified when you enjoy making it special for someone else. This spirit of giving is richly portrayed in a new book by author illustrator Tad Hills. Mistletoe: A Christmas Story (Schwartz & Wade Books, September 29, 2020) is as charming as the two characters we meet.
Mistletoe greets the chilly morning. Snow is falling.
What a beautiful day! Finally, it feels like Christmas, she thinks.
When Mistletoe arrives at her friend, Norwell's home, the snow is deeper. She excitedly calls for him to join her. Norwell has no desire to go outside in the cold. He invites her inside for some tea and to sit by the warm fire.
Norwell keeps mentioning how nice it is inside. They even decorate his Christmas tree. Mistletoe keeps mentioning how wonderful it would be to go out in the snow together. It's much too cold for Norwell. He is staying inside. On her way home, Mistletoe is inspired.
Rushing around her house, Mistletoe gathers every ball of yarn she can find, and she starts to knit. She knits all the time, everywhere she is. Christmas is getting closer, day by day. Mistletoe runs out of yarn and hurries to purchase more, bringing as much as she can home. She knits and knits and knits some more.
On Christmas Eve she is finished, falling happily asleep. The task of delivering her gift on Christmas morning is not easy. It is rather huge. At Norwell's home cheerful Christmas greetings are exchanged as well as gifts which mirror the affection Norwell holds for Mistletoe and she holds for him. Nothing will prepare you for the image of Mistletoe and Norwell finally out in the snow together.
Each portion of this story flows gently with purpose to the next. Tad Hills has a gift for writing simple but meaningful sentences designed to reach his intended audience. The blend of text, conversation, and the characters' thoughts make for a more intimate story, connecting to readers' own experiences. Here are two adjoining passages.
"Hmmm, I don't know." Norwell
walks to the window. He watches the
snow fall. "Brrrr," he says. "It looks
even colder out there now, Mistletoe.
I think I'll stay home, where it's cozy."
So Mistletoe puts on her hat, coat, scarf,
and mittens and sets out on her walk home.
She soon finds herself in a field of snow. As
evening approaches, the world turns blue. She
stops. She is as quiet and still as she has ever been.
Mistletoe seated in the wreath on the front of the open dust jacket is downright adorable in her seasonal, colorful winter clothing. Her sincere nature is mirrored on her quiet face. Mistletoe and the wreath are varnished. The text and snow are raised and textured to the touch in glittery white.
To the left, on the back, is a serene scene from the interior of the book, enlarged. On a canvas of pale purple Norwell is lifting Mistletoe in his trunk so she can place the star on the top of his Christmas tree. Here the text reads:
Celebrate friendship
and the gift of giving with
this cozy holiday story.
On the opened book case, case cover, is a wonderful depiction of Mistletoe running home across the snow after she has her great idea for a gift for Norwell. A large portion of the top is a night sky brimming with snowflakes. On the snowy white you can see footprints from left to right. Racing toward the right edge is Mistletoe, bright red with a little green and gray on the stunning landscape.
On the opening endpapers is a lighter replication of the book case without Mistletoe present. The closing endpapers are similar with one notable difference. It is, after all, Christmas Day.
These illustrations by Tad Hills
were created digitally in the Procreate app.
Tad Hills alters his image sizes from double-page pictures to a large loose circle on a single page, to full-page pictures, and smaller geometric shapes together on one page. These accentuate the pacing of his story. His double-page pictures are utterly delightful. Sometimes he brings us close to his characters placing an emphasis on a moment, and other times we find ourselves stepping back to get a larger view.
One of my many, many favorite illustrations is for the second passage above noted. The world is colored in hues of blue, even the snow at the bottom of the double-page picture. Snowflakes gently fall from top to bottom. Tracks made by Mistletoe stretch from left to past the center on the right, curving a little bit when she stops. Mistletoe stands with her face pointed upward. There is a slight smile on her face and her eyes are closed. Her feet are nearly covered by the snow.
I always enjoy reading the dedications in books. This dedication speaks directly to the words and art created by Tad Hills for Mistletoe: A Christmas Story. It reads:
In memory of my grandmother Florence Bullard,
who taught me that the best gift comes from the heart and hand.
And to Annie and Eliza, nimble-fingered knitters extraordinaire.
This is a story to read when the snow is falling outside, and you are gathered with one or more children, friends, students, or family. It is cozy and comforting. We can never have too much of either. I am happy to add this title to my personal collection. I believe you'll want to have a copy, too.
To learn more about Tad Hills, and his considerable body of work, please visit his website by following the link attached to his name. Tad Hills has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. At the publisher's website you can view interior images.
To have a pair of shoes when they are needed is a blessing. Growing up we had two pair, one for everyday and another pair for dress-up. It always seemed a shame to have those dress-up shoes, beautiful shoes, sitting unworn except for church, birthdays, or holidays. The everyday shoes were far from fashion statements, parental selections designed for durability until they were outgrown. This might explain my adult fascination with shoes, particularly red shoes.
Red is a color of warmth and positivity. It makes a bold statement. In Red Shoes (Scholastic Press, September 15, 2020) written by Karen English with illustrations by Ebony Glenn we see how objects have stories attached to them. The stories reveal potential and personalities.
Red shoes dazzling---perched on a pedestal in the shop
window as if on a throne.
"I want those, Nana," Malika says to her grandmother as they
pass the shop.
"We'll see," Nana says with a wink. "Looks like you could use
a new pair."
To Malika's surprise, those very red shoes appear in a box on her kitchen table. Her joy bubbles over into laughter as she slips on her new red shoes.
Malika parades around her house. Malika walks out the door so everyone can see her red shoes. On the first day of school, it is raining, but she wears rain boots over her red shoes to keep them cozy and dry.
For every special family occasion, those red shoes sparkle on Malika's feet. They are there when she has a disagreement with her friend and when they mend fences. One day, though, on Nana's birthday those red shoes hurt to wear. She and Nana take them to a resale shop, so they can add pizzazz to another child's life.
Inna Ziya notices those shoes, just as Malika did, in the store window. After the purchase they travel with her to Africa. They are a gift for a girl who has passed a milestone in her young life. The story of the red shoes is not over. It will continue as long as there are little girls who need and want to wear them.
When we read the first three sentences penned by Karen English, we feel a surge of merriment. Her choice to include dialogue between the two sets of characters brings readers closer to the story. Who among us has not been delighted by the perfect present? Readers are invited to participate by joining in with the sound effects made by Malika walking in her red shoes. The repetition of the words red shoes is a cheerful cadence connecting events and people, even far away from one another. Here is a passage.
Red shoes stomping home when
Malika and her best friend Keisha have a fight.
Malika is mad and sticks to it.
Red shoes jumping double Dutch
at Keisha's birthday party after
they make up.
[Please note: I am working with an F & G.]
When you open the cover (dust jacket), larger than life, in all their splendidness are Malika on the front, and Amina, the girl living in Africa, on the back. Their body postures are a mirror image of each other with their hand positions and the pointing of a single foot in front of their bodies. Both are placed on a canvas using the same three colors, but they have been switched to better complement the clothing each is wearing. Amina is wearing a green-patterned dress with a hijab in two shades of purple. Her eyes, unlike those of Malika, are wide open.
On the opening and closing endpapers is a celebratory design. The smaller elements on a red background look like confetti in colors of purple, yellow, and green. On the title page, Malika is pointing to a place on a globe.
were rendered digitally with Adobe Photoshop using chalk, paper, and watercolor textures.
They range in size from colorful double-page pictures, to a collection of smaller visuals to indicate the passage of time, and full-page pictures sometimes indicating a contrast between events. The hues used in the images shift once the story continues in Africa.
For many of the pictures, Ebony Glenn takes us close to the character of Malika and to Amina. It makes the experience for us more personal as do the added details. The eyes on the faces of the characters elevate the moods of them. You'll find yourself smiling or giggling several times.
One of my many, many favorite pictures is a double-page picture. The background is a pleasing blend of shades of green (and maybe a pale yellow) with a multitude of raindrops and one big puddle on the right, which crosses the gutter slightly to the left. On the right showing pure glee is Malika. Her yellow-orange umbrella slightly crosses the gutter to the left, too, as she holds it above and behind her. The handle on the umbrella is a bright green. Malika is wearing a red raincoat. Her yellow pants appear between the raincoat bottom and her yellow-orange boots. Her eyes are closed, and her mouth is smiling.
You'll want to use this book for a group read aloud, or as a one-on-one storytime. It can enhance a theme of clothing, stories are found everywhere, journeys, and the beauty of resale. Red Shoes written by Karen English with artwork by Ebony Glenn will be a welcome addition on your personal and professional bookshelves.
To learn more about Ebony Glenn and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website. Ebony Glenn has accounts on Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. Ebony Glenn is highlighted at KidLit411.There is an earlier article about Karen English at BookPagein 2017. Both Karen English and Ebony Glenn were guests on Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries, John Schumacher's Book Joy Live. I guarantee, it, like this book will send your soul soaring.
Update: This title is showcased on Scholastic's blog with a conversation between the author and illustrator. October 21, 2020
