Sleuth And Truth

There are any number of reasons a book ends up on your to-be-read stack.  In the case of one of my most recently read titles, a middle grade novel, it was first a reference made on social media about the illustrator creating the artwork for the dust jacket and interior images.  This particular illustrator, John Hendrix, is respected for his signature depictions of history.  His interpretations and details direct our attention to the most fascinating aspects.  

. @hendrixart Lou Grant really likes your cover illustration for The Detective's Assistant. 😺 https://t.co/LPpCFhTSJR

— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) April 4, 2015

When mystery, history, Chicago, and two spirited female characters are words used to describe the story, the intrigue heightened.


A copy, ordered in February, of The Detective's Assistant (Little, Brown And Company, April 7, 2015) written by Kate Hannigan arrived shortly after the release.  Weeks went by with the cover and promise of a marvelous tale calling to me.  I finally ordered another copy in audio format so every time I drove my car, I could follow the adventures of the characters.  (At this point I have to admit, I did, more than once, sit in my driveway and garage unable to stop listening.)



Before the first page, a single eye looks directly at the reader with the words

"WE NEVER SLEEP"

written beneath the picture.  This is, as you will soon discover, the logo for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.  With a page turn, the narrator, Cornelia, begins the story.

Chapter 1
In Which I Find Myself on the 
Doorstep of a Pickled Onion

You're expecting me to do what?" snapped a peevish voice from the other side of the heavy wooden door.  It opened just a few inches to allow a single blue eye to survey me up and down.  "Take in this gangly urchin you claim is one of my kin?" One look tells me the child hasn't made the acquaintance of a bar of lye in a good many years, not to mention been in the same two-mile vicinity of a comb."

Cornelia, Cornie to her friends, has been left at her only remaining relative's door in a Chicago boarding house; the Right Reverend Abernathy having thrown paperwork toward the woman and skedaddled down the stairs and out into the street.  Her widow aunt, Kate Warne, who she calls Aunt Kitty, wants nothing to do with Cornelia including her name.  Within minutes Cornelia has been given the title of Nell Warne.  Now in all fairness to Kate Warne, you can understand her indifferent, rigid attitude toward Nell once the past is revealed.  Nell's recently deceased father, who was shot to death, had years earlier accidentally, under mysterious circumstances, shot his brother, Matthew Warne, Kate's husband.

To Nell's utter distress the next morning her aunt announces her intention to place her in the Home for the Friendless newly located on Wabash Avenue.  Thankfully a pickpocket, Nell's quick thinking and an injured knee alter the course of events for that day.  The next morning a routine is established with Nell helping the owner of the boarding house, Mrs. Wigginbottom, with shopping to help ease the newly inflated rent due to her presence.

Nell is astonished to learn during a trip to town her aunt's occupation as a detective in the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.  One thing you should know about Nell is while her command of the English language in speaking and writing is not refined, she enjoys keeping up-to-date on the latest happenings by being an avid reader of newspapers.  You can't imagine Nell's surprise when an ad in the paper announcing the presence of the Seventh Daughter of a Seventh Daughter, Madam L. L. Lucille, a fortune teller, turns out to be part of a plan to snare a criminal.  Aunt Kitty is masquerading as Madam L. L. Lucille and at the last minute Nell will be playing a part in the ruse.

This is the first in a series of cases in which Kitty and Nell work together along with the other detectives at the agency even though it's due to circumstances rather than choice by Kate.  Her determination to find another place for Nell is met in full measure with Nell's desire to stay with her at the boarding house.  The tension between them ebbs and flows as respect for each other grows.

In letters received and sent to her best friend Jemma, a free-born African American, now living in safety in Canada, we come to have a clearer picture of the night Jemma's family ran to freedom and Matthew Warne was killed.  As pieces in each case for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency are put together to create a solvable whole, Nell works to clear the name of her beloved daddy, Cornelius.  A meeting with the Maple Tree and a harrowing train ride with a disguised distinguished guest ease and elevate anxiety and fear. As the pace quickens when pages are turned, readers' hearts will race as we are lead to a conclusion blended in liberty, inevitable war and the strength of family.


When you read the words penned by Kate Hannigan you are well aware of two things:  her meticulous research and skill as a storyteller.  Like her character Nell she can tell a captivating tale.  Several techniques add to the experience of the reader.  Each chapter is captioned with a statement alluding to the nature of the events to come;

In Which I Share My Woe
with My Best Friend, Jemma

In Which I Fall Victim
to the Silent Sit

or

In Which Aunt Kitty Transforms 
into a Southern Belle, and 
I Get a Bit Choked Up.

Nell's descriptions of her surroundings, the details of the cases and disguises worn, and the conversations between all the characters are like stepping into the years of 1859 to 1861.

The letter writing between Jemma and Nell is a brilliant bridge between the present and the past.  The girls each hint at the truth of both their lives, then and now.  They devise a cipher system for conveying information.  Too much said by either of them could put family members in danger as well as themselves.

Here are some sample passages from the book.

Aunt Kitty pounced on me as if I'd uttered a profanity right there on Washington Street for all to hear.  Color rose up in her cheeks and turned them as red as radishes.
"Why would Mr. Pinkerton hire me, a woman?  Because I can go where a man cannot---I can befriend the wives and girlfriends of criminals, and I can worm out their secrets.  I can go where no one suspects me.
"And because I was not put on this earth to spend my days filing a man's papers or writing down every word he utters---nor washing trousers and darning his socks.  Because I can do most any job a man can do, and maybe even do it better.
"I can do great things, Nell Warne.  And so can you."

"School," she repeated.  "You need the firm hand of a schoolmarm, Nell.  We will enroll you today."
She sounded determined.  It was time to take drastic measures.
"Aunt Kitty," I began, trying out her same cool delivery just to see how it would go over, "these schools here in Chicago have seventy, maybe one hundred kids in each classroom.  If you make me go, I'll catch the croup and die before Christmas."
She did not look moved.
"Or I might pick up foul language and rough habits."
She merely cleared her throat and dusted at her sleeve.
I was not getting through.
"Or even worse," I whispered, watching her lean in a bit closer to hear me.  "Head lice."
Aunt Kitty gasped and shot both hands to her tidy brown hair.
Conversation over.  I would take my lessons at home.


The Detective's Assistant written by Kate Hannigan is an action-packed adventure brimming with suspense, larger-than-life characters and historical figures, humor and the importance of making and keeping family ties.   Hand this title to anyone who craves a mix of the past with excitement and fear and questions and answers.  As a read aloud this will be outstanding.  It not only gives us glimpses into important places of the day, the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, the first female detective in the United States but also addresses slavery, abolition and the Underground Railroad.  At the conclusion Kate Hannigan provides an extensive Author's Note, Answers to Ciphers and an If You Want to Read More section.

To discover more about Kate Hannigan please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  You can read several chapters from the beginning of this book at the publisher's website. (Trust me; you will not be able to put this book down once started.)  Take a moment to read this article and interview, Kate Hannigan on Kate Warne: New book brings 19th century detective to life, in the Chicago Tribune.  Enjoy this video interview with Kate Hannigan by Becky Anderson of Anderson's Bookshop.

Sweet Dreams Picture Book August 10 for 10 #pb10for10

If anyone doubts the truth of time flies when you're having fun, then they need to join in the children's literature community.  Each and every day Twitter and Facebook are filled with people talking about their current favorite titles or those they can hardly wait to read.  I simply can't believe it's August 2015.  For weeks the buzz has been building about this year's Picture Book Ten For Ten.  Co-founders of this event, educators Cathy Mere and Mandy Robek, invited people to participate in recent blog posts.  In 2012 I featured alphabet books.   The next year I could not get my list down to ten titles, so Xena picked her favorite dog books.  Last year I did a companion list to my first year; books featuring counting.

For as long as I can remember bedtime means story time or, as I became an adult, a time kept sacred for reading.  For the last fifteen years this part of the day signals a peaceful interlude.  I listen for the sound of my dog's settling on her bed and her deep breathing as she falls asleep.  It's a feeling that all is right in the world.  To bring this same sense of calm to our children at bedtime is a shared joy.

This year I started this post with a list of twenty-four books.  I pulled out those books with a high laughter factor and those titles focusing more on night and the natural world.  This still left me with thirteen titles.  It wasn't easy but here are ten titles I recommend reading to send everyone to sleep guaranteeing them sweet dreams.

1.  Moonlight (Greenwillow Books, January 24, 2012) written by Helen V. Griffith with illustrations by Laura Dronzek

Some winter mornings after a snowfall when the full moon is setting and the sun has started to lighten the horizon, walking in the backyard, I see signs of a party, of dancing by the light of the moon.  Rabbits have left their footprints peppered across the landscape in gleeful circles.  It makes me wonder what happened when I was sleeping and they were not.

Are rabbits the only beings playing in the crispy air?  Maybe something else moves through the quiet hours during the seasons, silently leaving a mark.  Moonlight (Greenwillow Books, January 24, 2012) written by Helen V. Griffith with illustrations by Laura Dronzek whispers an invitation to readers about Earth's lunar orb.




2.  All the Animals Are Almost Asleep (Little, Brown and Company, October 2, 2012) written by Crescent Dragonwagon with illustration by David McPhail

Sleep, the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are rested (Merriam-Webster), sometimes eludes those who crave it, comes to those who wish for a little more awake time and is rarely on the immediate agenda of a little boy or girl, unless they're too pooped to protest.  Depending on the little bits and pieces of everyone's day, now brought together, bedtime is either frustrating or a golden opportunity for parents and their children.  The ritual of reading or telling a story when all else has quieted, once begun, lasts a lifetime.

A magical connection is manifested in these moments.  All the Awake Animals Are Almost Asleep (Little, Brown and Company, October 2, 2012) written by Crescent Dragonwagon with illustrations by David McPhail is a tip-toeing alphabetical adventure into the world of animals at day's end.  Soothing slumber will soon follow...guaranteed.



3.  Sleep Like A Tiger (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, October 23, 2012) written by Mary Logue with illustrations by Pamela Zagarenski (2013 Caldecott Honor Award)

Our bodies are wired to be active during the daylight and desirous of sleep as nightfall approaches.  Of course, most little guys and gals will have nights when they can truthfully say sleep is the last thing on their minds.  They have a multitude of other activities they would rather be doing; anything but sleep.

Thankfully there are caregivers, parents, who can remember those nights as a child feeling energized, wide awake and ready to go.  Those memories fuel their wisdom.  Sleep Like A Tiger (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, October 23, 2012), a first picture book written by Mary Logue with illustrations by Caldecott Honor winner, Pamela Zagarenski, is like watching treasured moments from a bedtime ritual.



4.  Once Upon a Northern Night (Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, July 30, 2013) written by Jean E. Pendziwol with illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault

Over the years, winter has become my favorite season of the year.  There is nothing I enjoy more than hiking through the snow with Xena on a calm night. The air is so clear; the stars seem to hang from the heavens like crystals on a celestial chandler.  As we pause in the stillness, there is no sound other than our breathing.

When the final page is read and the cover slowly closed, there are books which cause the same stillness to surround a reader.  Unlike the perfect frosty evening, with each reading the same feeling can return any day all year long.  Once Upon A Northern Night (Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, July 30, 2013) written by Jean E. Pendziwol with pictures by Isabelle Arsenault is an exquisite portrayal of nature's nocturnal harmony.  It's a song of love to life.

5.  Goodnight Songs: Illustrated by Twelve Award-Winning Picture Book Artists (Sterling Children's Books, March 4, 2014) by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by Jonathan Bean, Carin Berger, Sophie Blackall, Linda Bleck, Renata Liwska, Christopher Silas Neal, Zachariah OHora, Eric Puybaret, Sean Qualls, Isabel Roxas, Melissa Sweet and Dan Yaccarino.

If we trust our instincts, follow a hunch, the results are frequently surprising in the best possible way.  It's almost as if some unseen hand is guiding our way.  Untold treasures await us.

Twenty years ago, Amy Gary, editor of the Margaret Wise Brown Estate, on a whim asked Brown's sister, Roberta Rauch, if she knew of any unpublished works.  Can you imagine hearing an affirmative reply? Stacked in a trunk kept in the attic of the barn on her Vermont farm were pages and pages of poems, stories and musical scores.  Last week some of those gems were released into the world, collected in a title, Goodnight Songs: Illustrated by Twelve Award-Winning Picture Book Artists (Sterling Children's Books, March 4, 2014).  The words of Margaret Wise Brown have been visualized by Jonathan Bean, Carin Berger, Sophie Blackall, Linda Bleck, Renata Liwska, Christopher Silas Neal, Zachariah OHora, Eric Puybaret, Sean Qualls, Isabel Roxas, Melissa Sweet and Dan Yaccarino.



6.  May The Stars Drip Down (Abrams Books For Young Readers, March 11, 2014) written by Jeremy Chatelain, a musician, with illustrations by Nikki McClure

Every parent wishes for their children a peaceful, deep rest each night.  Most will agree seeing their son or daughter (no matter their age) sleeping is perhaps the sweetest thing in the whole wide world.  It seems as though the bond between parent and child becomes even stronger in those moments; the act of sleeping is one of trust.   It's a condition when we are more vulnerable.

Caregivers may read favorite books aloud, insure treasured toys and cozy blankets are near or softly sing a beloved melody.  May The Stars Drip Down (Abrams Books For Young Readers, March 11, 2014) written by Jeremy Chatelain, a musician, with illustrations by Nikki McClure is a lullaby of love.  A boy's dreams are choreographed masterfully in words and torn and cut paper illustrations.




7. Go To Sleep, Little Farm (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, September 2, 2014) written by Mary Lyn Ray with art by Christopher Silas Neal

 As if on some internal clock, a stiff breeze blowing throughout the day will calm as dusk descends.  Squawking blue jays, save further chiding for tomorrow.  Bright blooms fold their petals until the sun welcomes with warming rays in the morning.

A busy pace is slowing. In Go To Sleep, Little Farm (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) written by Mary Lyn Ray with art by Christopher Silas Neal readers are gently lead about the farm, surrounding fields, and nearby woods as night falls.  Inside the house a little girl mirrors the animals and their activities as she and her family welcome bedtime.



8.  Sweetest Kulu (Inhabit Media Inc., November 1, 2014) by Celina Kalluk with illustrations by Alexandria Neonakis

It doesn't have to be at the end of the day.  It could be anytime.  Pausing to appreciate someone, something or somewhere simply is not done enough.

Yesterday I wanted to stop at the top of a hill I have descended hundreds of times, so struck by the beauty of the swath of colorful trees bordering along and up from the shores of a harbor in a nearby town.  I knew the other motorists speeding by would not be appreciative.  For more than the thousandth time as I walked my marvelous old dog last night, I felt a huge thankfulness and affection for the sound of her breathing as she slowly paced along a well-known path.   When we acknowledge the importance of someone, no matter their age, both parties are the better for it.

When reading Sweetest Kulu (Inhabit Media Inc., November 1, 2014) by Celina Kalluk with illustrations by Alexandria Neonakis, I felt a sense of deep compassion.  Most notable within the narrative is the birth of a child as an occasion to be revered and celebrated.  The natural world is tightly woven into, an intricate part of, the Inuit culture.



9. Power Down, Little Robot (Henry Holt and Company, March 3, 2015) by Anna Staniszewski, with illustrations by Tim Zeltner

 As soon as the words are uttered by an adult, the children show an unprecedented genius.  Plans worthy of a seasoned general are put into place.  It's a battle of strategy and wits.  Even if the guys and gals previously seemed to be slowing down, the sound of "It's time for bed" will energize them into action.

They will develop a thirst similar to an individual wandering the Sahara for days without a drop to drink.  A need for clean pajamas, the brushing of teeth, another trip to the bathroom, forgotten homework needing to be completed by morning, and please, pretty please, just one more story will be only a few of their moves for avoiding the dreaded bedtime.  Power Down, Little Robot (Henry Holt and Company, March 3, 2015) written by debut picture book author Anna Staniszewski with illustrations by Tim Zeltner gives a unique spin to the nuts and bolts of a daily ritual.



10.  You Nest Here With Me (Boyd Mills Press, an imprint of Highlights, March 3, 2015) written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple with illustrations by Melissa Sweet

When the leaves fell from the trees, there it was.  It's no bigger than the size of a golf ball.  Through the cold, rain, thunder, lightning, sleet, snow and wind, it has endured.  It's so secure; you can almost imagine it as a part of the branches which hold it.

Out of habit, I look every single day to make sure it's still there, wondering about the parents who crafted it so well.  I think of other questions.  What kind of birds lived there?  Did all the babies fly away?  Will any of the birds come back?  You Nest Here With Me (Boyd Mills Press, an imprint of Highlights, March 3, 2015) written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple with illustrations by Melissa Sweet is a soothing lullaby of birds and their homes.

WOOF! WOOF!  I guess Xena wants to add one more title to the list.  After she had her own post in 2013, she feels the need to give us a canine perspective.  This title is most definitely funny.

11.  Time for Bed, Fred! (Walker Books For Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury, February 11, 2014) written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

On any given day, depending on whom you talk to or the hour, most will agree the passage of time is tricky.  For the most part it goes faster than intended, especially if you are enjoying a particular activity.  Whether anyone is willing to admit it or not, age is definitely a factor.  It's been said the perception of time going faster the older you are is because you are not experiencing nearly as many first-time events.

Endless energy seems to go hand in hand with youth as does leaping from one endeavor to another numerous times between awakening and falling asleep.  It's no easy task to turn off all that get-up-and-go.  If you think little humans are the only ones with all this zest, zip and zing, think again.  Time for Bed, Fred! (Walker Books For Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury, February 11, 2014) written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail (born in Dublin, now based in London) follows a cutie-pie pooch that is simply not ready for rest and relaxation.



Feel free to add any of your favorite titles in the comments.  Happy reading to all of you!

An Unbroken Bond

Book characters can find a permanent place in your heart.  They are as real to you as your neighbors, best friends or family.  When they appear in companion titles you can feel your spirit soar because you enjoy their company.

These characters look at life as readers do or as readers wish they could.  They inspire us to pause and ponder trying to be our best selves.  Maple & Willow Apart (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), July 21, 2015) written and illustrated by Lori Nichols is the third title about these sisters began in Maple (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), February 20, 2014) and continued in Maple & Willow Together (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), November 4, 2014).  It's a joy to watch their friendship grow stronger as they get older.

Maple and Willow loved summer.

Every minute possible the pair was outside happily busy enjoying what nature had to offer.  When the last day of summer rolled around they never rested for a single second.  They wanted these magical moments of play to last.

On Monday Maple was going to school for the first time.  Even though she was a big girl now, Willow was not quite big enough to go with Maple.  Willow missed Maple...a lot.

After her first day of kindergarten Maple talked nonstop about all the fun she had.  Not to be left out, Willow spoke about her new friend, Pip.  Her description of him and where they met resembled an acorn.

On Tuesday when Maple is at school Willow discovered tiny bits of nature.  She also became the teacher at Rock School.  Pip was her only student.  His guessing abilities had him in the third grade quick as a wink.

By Wednesday Maple's chatter about school couldn't top Willow's announcement of visiting Pip's home.  It was a tree house.  On Thursday morning and when Maple came home from school, she was quiet, more thoughtful.  She was a little upset when Willow told her Pip taught her to ride a bike.

After a sister to sister chat that evening, Friday morning was better for both the girls.  Willow shared a secret with Maple making her day at school more exciting.  The weekend (and many days after) turned out to be spectacular because more was truly merrier.


Endearing, lighthearted text paired with conversations between the sisters welcomes us back into the world of Maple and Willow.  Lori Nichols gives her characters real-life feelings and circumstances; inseparable sisters, loneliness when they aren't together, inventiveness when facing absence and the sharing which comes from unconditional love.  When Maple comes home from school excited about her day, her dialogue is delightful; exactly as you would expect from a kindergarten student.  Willows' responses are genuine to a fault; spoken softly and bravely from her wonderful imagination.

"I had fun, too," said Willow.
"I played with Pip."
"Pip?" Maple asked.  "Who's Pip?"
"Pip is my new friend," said Willow.
"He has a bumpy head and he is afraid of squirrels."


One word comes to mind, my mind, when looking at the matching dust jacket and book case, winsome.  As Maple climbs the steps on the school bus, she is sure to wave and smile at Willow.  Looking as cute as cute can be in her overalls Willow waves in return.  The autumn leaves extend to the left, the back, where review excerpts from the two previous titles are featured.  Delicate oak leaves, mushrooms, a snail, snail shells, crickets, dragonflies and acorn caps are patterned across the opening and closing endpapers.  The background colors change from soft green to soft rust.

Beneath the text on the title page, Maple is petting their white cat as Willow stands next to her holding a bunch of acorns in her gathered shirt.  Rendered in

pencil on Mylar and then digitally colored 

the illustrations are placed on a white canvas with the exception of four double-page images.  These are a glorious display of large fall-shaded leaves as a background for the adventures Willow has with Pip.

In all of the images we feel closeness to and affection for the sisters.  Lori Nichols has a way of including us by way of her layout and design.  The facial looks and body language of Willow and Maple are completely charming.  Tiny details call to readers; Willow riding an oak tree branch as if it's a bike, the M and W hooks on the wall for their coats, Willow giving thumbs up to a snail, and heart-shaped rocks.

One of my many favorite illustrations is when Willow and Pip are in his tree house.  A swirl of leaves surrounds them.  Clusters of acorns are placed around a bird's nest which is his home.  Willow and Pip are looking over the edge at the sisters' yard.  We feel as though we can be in the nest with them, too.

Maple & Willow Apart written and illustrated by Lori Nichols is an absolute gem.  Read it at home, read it to your students.  It will generate discussions and empathy.  As in the other two titles, relishing the out-of-doors and appreciating what if offers is the tie binding these sisters.  I think this might be the year to renew my collecting of acorns; especially when two are joined together.

To learn more about Lori Nichols please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  The book trailer for this title and a guest post by Lori Nichols appears on teacher librarian extraordinaire John Schumacher's blog, Watch. Connect. Read.

This Phenomenal Pooch

Most, if not all, people chosen by one or more dogs to be their person can say with confidence their dog is like no other dog in the history of dogs.  Each canine companion has a set of quirks as unique to them as fingerprints are to a human.  Some of our furry friends are Frisbee catcher champions, sheep herders, super snoopers finding all sorts of things with their noses, and some are extraordinary protectors, ever watchful.  Others can run or walk for hours, or swim like an otter all day long with minimal rest.  Those swimmers may branch out to be expert rock divers and hole diggers.  You may find a combination of these skills in a single dog.  All of them, at the end of the day, will look for you; especially if it's dinnertime.

Given the variety of talents exhibited by our pups it's easy to believe our dog is the best regardless of what it is they do.  My Dog, Bob (Holiday House, July 30, 2015) written and illustrated by Richard Torrey makes all other pooches pale in comparison.  This dog takes clever to a whole new level.

This is my dog, Bob.

First thing in the morning Bob gets a great big hug from his human.  When it comes to breakfast, this dog is ready.  Every ordinary canine on the planet is the very same.

The remarkable thing about Bob is he not only cooks his own breakfast but breakfast for Jeff and his parents.  He's a regular Chef Bow-Ar-Dee.  After the meal it's time for the family to take a drive.  You'll never guess who has his paws on the steering wheel.

Unless there is a raging storm all dogs love the out-of-doors.  Bob is no exception.  I wonder if his clubs are custom made.  His attraction to bones gives him a chance to let his expertise shine in a very special spot.

Jeff has a neighbor named Mimi who has a dog too.  She thinks her dog, Truffles, is better than Bob. (She certainly has a lot to learn.)  Surprisingly enough when it comes to stick catching, sitting and speaking the outcome is unexpected.  Bob knows best.  No apology necessary.


Bob's boy, Jeff, narrates this story as one would expect for someone his age.  Richard Torrey uses short, simple statements along with dialogue.  Both are initially unassuming but when the page turn reveals the twist, you can't help but laugh out loud at the contrast.  The truth in the conversations continues to build so when the my-dog-is-better-than-your-dog competition takes place each reader can draw their own conclusion.  Here is another passage.

And like many dogs, Bob loves
to ride in the car...
Ready, Bob? (Jeff)
...especially when he's driving.
Buckle your seat belts,
everyone. (Bob)


On the front of the matching dust jacket and book case readers are given a very large clue as to one of Bob's spectacular skills.  To the left, on the back, he and Jeff are strolling side by side within an oval framed in the sky blue used on the front.  The opening endpapers in the same blue hue and the closing endpapers in pale yellow provide a background for Bob in various positions in six rows with eight "poses" per row.  On the title page Richard Torrey begins the narrative with Bob waking up his boy.

Rendered in watercolor and oil pencil Torrey shifts between two-page images and single-page pictures.  The canvas for his characters changes from white, to yellow and blue.  Another predominant color is grass green.  So Bob, Jeff, and his parents stand out, the background elements are sometimes lightened.  

The expressions on the faces, the dots and curves for eyes, and the smiling mouths supply a lighthearted feel to the illustrations.  It's important to note that during the competition Jeff's hand rarely leaves Bob's head; they are always connected.  Perhaps this is why Richard Torrey's dedication reads

To all the Bobs out there---quietly amazing.

One of my favorite pictures is the first one.  Bob has gone to Jeff's bedside to greet him in the morning.  Jeff is now kneeling on the floor giving Bob his first hug of the day.  Hearts are above their heads and Bob's tail is wagging.  The use of white draws our attention to the rumpled bed, Jeff and Bob.  There is lots of love in this scene.


Heartwarming and funny My Dog, Bob written and illustrated by Richard Torrey is a definite read for dog lovers and anyone who enjoys great storytelling.  More than once Torrey leads us to a point only to switch directions.  As to the outcome of the competition, I think Bob is exceedingly smart.

To discover more about Richard Torrey please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  He also provides a link there to his blog.  At the publisher's website a few discussion questions are shown.

Building Freedom One Loaf At A Time

Making bread from scratch is a labor of love.  Measuring and mixing the ingredients, selecting the correct temperature to activate the yeast, kneading the dough, letting it rise, kneading it again, dividing it into loaves and baking it are time-consuming steps but even the smell of the yeast working is enough to trigger memories of complete comfort.  As it bakes the odor drifting from the oven wraps around you like arms in a hug.

Growing up, every town, no matter the size, had a bakery.  Each morning fresh baked pastries and breads would fill the glass cases.  Gingerbread for Liberty!:  How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, January 27, 2015) written by Mara Rockliff with illustrations by Vincent X. Kirsch is about a bake shop in Philadelphia and its baker who served for and with General George Washington during the American Revolution.

Everyone in Philadelphia knew the gingerbread baker.  His honest face...his booming laugh...

With his creative hands all sorts of shapes were formed and outlined in frosting.  For the children there were always left-over bits and pieces so none went hungry.  You could hear him say

"No empty bellies here!" 

"Not in my America!"

This baker knew what it was to be hungry living in Europe as a child but he also understood America offered opportunities for those willing to work hard perfecting their skills.  So he came.  In time rumors turned to truth; Americans were fighting for their freedom from British rule.  

Regardless of the advice from his wife about his age (old) and his robust physical shape (fat), this baker was determined to fight for his country, America.  He set off with the other soldiers to serve in General Washington's army.  When the baker arrived at the camp, he heard grumbling rumblings of soldiers ready to leave.  They were hungry.

While the baker from Philadelphia baked and baked for those soldiers, trouble was brewing across the ocean.  Men arrived in boats hired by the king of England.  It was more men than anyone had ever seen except for one man, the baker.  

After a consultation with General Washington, under cover of darkness the baker rowed toward those men from across the ocean.  Upon his arrival and looking at them all his plans changed.  He knew what he kneaded to do.  At the end of the revolution, believing his duties as baker general to be fulfilled, the baker from Philadelphia was ready to leave but General Washington had one more request.  And Christopher Ludwick did it.

The geniality of the baker in Philadelphia is apparent from the first two phrases penned by Mara Rockliff.  With great care she blends her research into a narrative easily understood by the youngest reader infusing the personality of the baker into her words.  With ease we follow the course of events and the baker's part in them.  Here is another passage.

But now, something was in the air (besides the smell of baking gingerbread).  Newspapers shouted

Revolution! Independence! Liberty!

Boys rolled up blankets, shouldered guns, and kissed mothers goodbye.

The baker hung his apron up.  He dusted flour off his hands.

As soon as you see the matching dust jacket and book case, you know this picture book biography is unique.  Marching off to join the army the baker is carrying stars on a platter.  He is ready to help America using his greatest skills.  To the left, on the back, other soldiers are marching to serve with General Washington.  The remarkable style of the illustrations seen here is continued throughout the book.  Created by Vincent X. Kirsch with 140-lb. press watercolor paper, watercolor, and rubbelkrepp (masking fluid) each image looks like the work of a master gingerbread baker.  

The opening and closing endpapers done in brown and cream feature a visual and written recipe for Simple Gingerbread Cookies.  Each letter in gingerbread appears as a cut-out cookie.  On the title page the majority of the text is placed on a sign such as one would find hanging outside a place of business during this time period.  Along the bottom buildings reflect the architecture of historic Philadelphia.  They continue on the verso and on the first page with the baker in a similar stance as on the front of the jacket and case.  

The color palette chosen by Kirsch is muted and warm with details etched in icing.  All of the pictures span across two pages.  Most of them present a larger overview with the exception of the conversation between Washington and the baker prior to his mission.  We are so close, we feel like participants in this communication. 

One of my favorite illustrations is when the baker is leaving to join the army.  To the left his wife is standing outside the bake shop, hands on hips.  A cow is grazing nearby.  The baker, carrying all his gear on this back, legs spread wide, is running.  It's as if he is floating over the countryside.  This is a reflection of the man's continuous can-do attitude. 

Gingerbread for Liberty!:  How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution written by Mara Rockliff with illustrations by Vincent X. Kirsch is a piece of our history too delicious to miss.  It showcases the importance of doing what you do best in service to a cause in which you believe.  One person did and can make a difference.  An author's note and list of sources are found on the last page.

To learn more about Mara Rockliff and Vincent X. Kirsch please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  This title and Mara Rockliff are featured at Jama's Alphabet Soup.  Publishers Weekly showcases this book, 'Gingerbread Liberty' Serves Up A Slice of Revolutionary History.  You will want to listen at TeachingBooks.net to hear Mara Rockliff talk about her name.

Please take a few moments to stop by Kid Lit Frenzy to see the selection of titles other bloggers have included in the 2015 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.  I can never thank educator Alyson Beecher enough for hosting this each week.

Look To The Sky

Thirty-three years ago in June a film releases redefining the boundaries of friendship.  Left behind by members of a botany team, an extraterrestrial forms a unique connection with a ten-year-old boy.  Since that time, it's safe to say the motion picture has reached classic status for several reasons.

It's one thing to befriend another gal or guy, a furry family pal, or one of nature's critters who happens to cross paths with you but it's a rarity to have an opportunity to become best buddies with a being from outer space.  Your Alien (Sterling Children's Books, August 4, 2015) written by Tammi Sauer with illustrations by Goro Fujita explores one of life's most often asked questions.  We all wonder if there is life on other planets.

You will be looking out your window when something wonderful comes your way.

This something wonderful is small and green with two antennae on top of a head.  It has a barrel-shaped body with two tiny arms and legs and is wearing a white one-piece garment with a red star in the center.  It appears to be uninjured after its vehicle fell from the sky and crash landed nearby your home.

You try to explain its presence to your parents but they are otherwise engaged to pay much attention.  Your new chum accompanies you to school to the delight of your classmates.  Your teacher does not quite believe what she is seeing.  (The theme music from E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial might be playing in her head.  I know it would be in mine.)

When you share common everyday experiences with your alien, it's like seeing them for the first time.  You two head home when it's nearly dinner time but your companion has other ideas about what makes for a delicious meal.  As it gets darker outside, the cheerful spirit worn by your playmate all day begins to fade.

You attempt to raise its spirits like your Mom or Dad would do for you.  It's the sound of a soft

sniffle

and a

MEEP!
OOG! 

which prompts a show of affection and gives you a brilliant idea.  Circling back to the beginning something wonderful comes with a look out a window.


Written in second-person narrative, Tammi Sauer invites readers to assume the role of the boy; a role we gladly accept.  We walk through an ordinary day with an extraordinary individual.  Sauer gives us compassion and creativity in the character of the boy.  Through the personality of the alien we realize exceptional gifts do not preclude another from needing life's essentials.

Use of language and word choices exhibit the true tenderness found at the heart of the story.  Each sentence is essential to forming the circular path this story takes.  Subtle bits of humor contribute to the lighthearted but heartwarming essence.  Here is a sample passage.

You'll have to break
the news to your parents.
Luckily, they won't notice
what they just agreed to.


Rubbing your hand over the dust jacket the boy and the alien are raised to add dimension to the illustration.  Your Alien feels a little nubby like toad skin.  The illustrations on the matching jacket and book case extend back to front over the spine.  To the left a full moon with squared edges shines down on the words

A Friendship That's Out Of ThisWorld...

The opening and closing endpapers are funny and joyful.  On a black canvas the alien is shown engaged in twenty different activities; chasing a butterfly, blowing a melody on a sea shell, watching a goldfish swim in a bowl and standing in an upside down umbrella during a rain shower.  The verso and title page begin the story showing him navigating in his spaceship through an asteroid belt.

Rendered using Adobe Photoshop Goro Fujita elevates the text with every image.  Details in the boy's room, a close-up of the alien after landing, the alien swinging on a light fixture, playing in the drinking fountain or eating a sofa cushion and the facial expressions and gestures of the boy increase the depth of the experience for readers.  Fujita alters picture sizes and perspective in perfect sync with the narrative.  Even in the dark of night there is luminosity to his illustrations.

Without telling you the content of one of my favorite pictures, on a single page, the play of light and shadow is uplifting.  We are given a bird's eye view of the scene.  It takes us higher and higher and farther and farther away, literally and emotionally.


Your Alien written by Tammi Sauer with illustrations by Goro Fujita will make a perfect bedtime, story time or any time book.  It's like your favorite cozy blanket or stuffed toy; you'll want to have it with you.  This story glows; shining a light on what makes a friend a true friend.

To discover more about Tammi Sauer and Goro Fujita please follow the links attached to their names to take you to her website and his blog.  Tammi Sauer participated in a chat with teacher librarian Matthew C. Winner on the Let's Get Busy Podcast Episode #52.  This title is highlighted on the blogs of educators, Kurt Stroh, Kids Talk Kid Lit, and Michelle Knott, Mrs. Knott's Book Nook.

Drifting Out To Sea With Love

When someone you love has died it leaves a huge hole in your heart.  You wish to see their face, hear their voice or laughter or feel their hand holding your hand.  You miss them so much a smell can make you believe they are near to you.  Perhaps they passed by the same spot seconds before you arrived.

You may transfer plants from their gardens to your gardens wherever you live no matter how many times you move.  Without realizing it, you will acquire certain habits similar to their habits.  You will do what you know they would have enjoyed; little things or larger things.  Although they are gone, the connection is still strong.  Boats For Papa (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, June 30, 2015) written and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley is a story of longing and the purest form of love, unconditional.

Buckley and his mama lived in a small wooden house by the sea.  They didn't have much, but they always had each other.

On any given day, if you looked down at the beach, you would see Buckley walking along the sandy shore, gathering treasures delivered from the ocean.  He was a gatherer of objects, crafting boats from the found driftwood.  When he showed one of his boats to his mother, he told her with joy it was for his Papa.  Buckley's father had died.

Several days passed.  It was Buckley's birthday; celebrated with a picnic on the beach.  A special gift of paints and brushes from Mama made his day nearly complete.  As dusk descended the two of them walked along the beach.  Buckley had decided to send his boat out into the sea with a note attached.

Buckley believed if the boat did not return, his Papa would have received it.  A tradition was born on this day.  Buckley would send more boats to the parent he missed.  As Buckley slept, Mama strolled along the shore thinking about her husband.

Whenever an eventful day would come, Buckley would send out a boat to his Papa with the same message attached.  Every single time, his Mama would walk along the shore with him.  As weeks and months passed, Buckley's skill with building boats grew; as did the designs and details.

On his next birthday, the fun was better than ever due to Mama's extra special preparations.  At day's end, about to put his latest boat in the water, Buckley realized he had no note.  As his Mama waited at the water's edge, he raced back to their little home.  The next five pages are a testament to the strength of love between this parent and this child.


Very early in the narrative, Jessixa Bagley joins us to the characters.  Her choice of words creates a mood melody, a song about love.  With the second phrase we are keenly aware of the closeness of Buckley and his Mama.  Continuing with simple but illuminating sentences, we become further acquainted with the child and parent.  Bagley helps readers understand how a little can become all you need but much more than you expected.  Here is another sample passage.

"I'm going to send my boat to Papa.  If it doesn't come back to shore, I'll know he got it!" said Buckley as he placed his little boat in the water.  They watched it bob up and down as the tide carried it gently out to sea.


Rendered with pen and watercolor all the illustrations, beginning with the dust jacket, generate an atmosphere of solitude and peace.  A lightness of line and fine details along with the color palette radiate warmth in each image. (Careful readers will notice another story on the roof of their home.)  This first picture continues to the left, on the back, with a blanket, picnic basket and the remains of a meal, as evidence of time shared together.

The opening endpapers are a sandy beach strewn with pieces of wood, a pail, shovel, kelp, sea grass, pebbles, sea glass and a couple of sea creatures.  The closing endpapers supply the heartwarming conclusion to the story within the small wooden home. The two double-page illustrations for the title page, verso and dedication pages begin the story by showing Buckley and his Mama at the beach and walking home later hand in hand.

Jessixa Bagley varies her image sizes from smaller ones loosely framed in white on a single page, to those spanning two pages, and sometimes several on a single page.  These heighten the tender tempo of the story.  At times she has chosen to give us a wider view of the scene as when Buckley and his Mama are walking along the shore.  In other moments we are closer to the characters like when Buckley is painting one of his boats.  We are there with them.

One of my favorite illustrations is when Mama is walking the beach at night after Buckley is sleeping.  We see the vast expanse of the sea, the wide beach and huge rocky hill in the distance with everything bathed in moonlight. Mama stands alone in contemplation near the small house on stilts, curtains closed at the windows.  The use of light and shadow is exquisite.


Boats For Papa written and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley is a beautiful picture book debut.  A double twist at the end will leave you emotionally moved.  This is a book for every reader, for those who have loved and lost and for those who need to understand this loss.  Everyone will want to have it on their personal and professional book shelves.

To discover more about Jessixa Bagley, her work and thoughts, please follow the links attached to her name to access her website and blog.  You will enjoy this image on the mackidsbooks Instagram page.  To see interior images follow this link to the publisher's website.  Author, reviewer and blogger, Julie Danielson talks about and shares artwork from this title at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. (Spoilers within the post) Author Pat Zietlow Miller speaks about the use of text in this title in a post at Picture Book Builders.  Jessixa Bagley talks about the pronunciation of her name at TeachingBooks.net UPDATE:  Jessixa Bagley writes about the audience for her book in a recent blog post on October 7, 2015.