A Mathematical Mind

One of several benefits of having an affinity for mathematics, at least when I was in school, was to be placed in classes with like-minded people.  One class during one particular year remains firmly entrenched in my memory.  There was a huge push to teach the New Math at that time.  Our minds were blown with working in a base other than ten.  To encourage us to complete our tasks and understand what we were doing, we were promised something we grew to love.

Being a huge fan of science fiction our math teacher would read aloud stories and books as our reward.  He had a gift for selecting captivating titles and stopping for the day at a distinctively edge-of-your-seat spot.  Whenever the period was over many of us remarked how we wished every teacher would do this.  He not only provided support in a subject we enjoyed but he enriched our world further with reading.

When you are given opportunities and encouraged to pursue something you enjoy, it can make a difference not only for you but for others.  Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine (Creston Books, October 13, 2015) written by Laurie Wallmark with illustrations by April Chu is a book showcasing the life of a remarkable woman far ahead of her time.  Her passion for numbers and inventions, supported by those closest to her, will long be remembered.

Ada was born into a world of poetry but numbers, not words, captured her imagination. 


Lady Byron, her mother, favored the field of geometry.  Her father, Lord Byron, was renowned for his poetry written during the Romantic Movement.  When still a baby, Ada and her mother left Lord Byron to live with her maternal grandparents.

Ada never saw her father again, knowing him only through his writing.  Frequently left alone by a mother who traveled, Ada found solace in writing and drawing about her two passions.  An invention catching her attention more than others was a flying machine. She even constructed a set of real wings.

One day as a storm whipped up the wind, Ada got an idea.  Taking all her papers filled with calculations, notes and drawings she left the comfort of her room to test a theory.  At a nearby pond amid the blowing rain, she made a model sailboat which she launched repeatedly, making changes after observations.  Whether it was a result of being outside in the bad weather for so long or not, disaster struck Ada.

A bout of measles left her temporarily blind and paralyzed.  Day in and day out her mother stayed by her side reading to her and quizzing her on math problems.  Her skills in numbers and analytical thinking grew but it was years before she walked without assistance.

A special tutor secured by her mother allowed Ada to connect with Charles Babbage, twenty-four years her senior, who saw the brilliance in Ada.  She became knowledgeable about his Difference Engine and Analytical Engine.  Her work on the second machine, before it was ever constructed, developing mathematical instructions, algorithms, along with her glorious imagination insured her a place in history.


Using defining events in Ada's life author Laurie Wallmark fashions a narrative from her birth until her greatest achievement, at a very young age, in creating the

world's first computer program.

Relying on her research Wallmark takes us to these specific moments with vivid descriptions of time and place.  It's as if we are living them as Ada.  Here is a sample passage.

First, Ada needed to compute the wings' power.  She broke the problem into steps---surface area and weight, wind speed and angles.  Multiplying and dividing, over and over again.
Ada loved numbers, but these calculations seemed endless.  Wasn't there an easier way?  Writing for so long made her finger hurt.  She wriggled them and returned to her numbers.


April Chu depicts the essence of Ada Byron Lovelace first use of the Difference Engine, a mechanical calculator, on the front of the book case.  Her use of color, rich muted hues, conveys a sense of history.  Certain elements in this image appear to glow.  This luminosity and palette are employed throughout the book.  The opening and closing endpapers are a part of the book.  The verso and title pages first and a timeline, partial bibliography and information about the author and illustrator on the last.

Rendered using pencil on paper and then colored on an Analytical Engine the images all span two pages.  Each one is like a portrait of a portion of this woman's distinguished life.  The details in the clothing, the interior design and exterior architecture are striking.  The depictions of London in the distance and the countryside where Ada and her mother resided are gorgeous.  Chu shifts her perspectives with intention; above, wide-angle and close-up so we are a part of each picture.

One of my favorite illustrations is when Ada goes out in the storm to the pond.  We are looking at her kneeling with her journal open before her on the bank.  Her one hand is extended toward a sailboat on the water.  It's raining and the wind is blowing.  Her cat is hiding in her satchel, worried face peeking out.  A frog and turtle are calming watching.


Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine written by Laurie Wallmark with illustrations by April Chu is a stunning portrayal in words and images of a woman who spent her lifetime devoted to her passion for numbers and inventions.  She dreamt of a future better for her efforts.  And it is. I highly recommend this title.  In addition to the timeline and limited bibliography mentioned above, an author's note, several paragraphs titled The World's First Computer Program, and Ada's Nicknames are included.

To obtain more information about Laurie Wallmark and April Chu along with their other work please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  The publisher has created a seventeen page teacher's guide.  On March 27, 2015 April Chu was interviewed at Author Turf.  To enjoy both Laurie Wallmark and April Chu speaking about the pronunciation of their names at TeachingBooks.net follow the links embedded in their names in this sentence.  Here is a link to one of the posts in the blog tour for this book located at My Brain on Books.  There is a list of the other stops on the tour.  Enjoy the trailer!




Please visit Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to see the other titles selected this week by those participating in the 2016 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.  I completely enjoy my participation in this challenge.  Each week leaves me better informed than before.

Quintessential Quirkiness

We go about our days expecting certain things to stay true to a pattern.  When they deviate, depending on the size of the difference, our reactions will vary accordingly.  As an educator standing in the hallway each morning as the buses unload and students walk down the halls to lockers and classrooms, most of the gals and guys will be carrying a backpack and wearing clothing in keeping with the current weather, particular season, the latest fad and the dress code.

There is nothing quite so fine as seeing one student who stands out in the crowd looking like they are ready for spirit week when it's months away or has already passed.  Their courage in expressing their individuality is a cause for cheering.  That I smile at them in admiration is a given.  Inside I am dancing with glee.

In Normal Norman (Sterling Children's Books, March 1, 2016) written by Tara Lazar with illustrations by S. Britt an orangutan is the object of intense scrutiny by a junior scientist, who also happens to be the narrator of the story.  She is in pursuit of a theory.  Step by meticulous step she is determined to complete her task.

Hello and welcome to "Normal Norman."

This is my first time narrating a book.

I'm a bit nervous.  I hope it goes well.

My assignment today is to clearly

define the word NORMAL.

An initial examination of Norman seems to indicate his attributes are consistent with other members of his species.  That assessment lasts for mere minutes when Norman consumes an entire pizza and looks at an offered banana with disgust.  Norman further upsets the status quo by actually speaking in English.  What kind of orangutan does that?  

He definitely does not want to sleep near a cave in a jungle either.  Taking the top on a bunk bed is more to his liking.  He also must have Mr. Scruffles; his toy stuffed anteater that our resolute narrator believes refers to his family.  She is stunned to discover Norman's love for Mr. Scruffles.  Her attempts at defining normal are in a shambles.  It's time to regroup.

When Norman's pal slithers into the room, the junior scientist is flabbergasted.  Her introduction of a more suitable friend is the final act causing Norman to escape from this fiasco as quickly as possible.  Dedicated investigator that she is our narrator follows Norman as he enjoys one exciting pastime after another.  Dune buggies?

Despondent at her failure to demonstrate normal, she breaks down in tears.  Tender-hearted Norman offers to help in the resolution of her presentation.  The results are not what you would normally expect.  They're better.

Page turn after page turns Tara Lazar builds her narrative beginning with cheerfulness backed by the firm assumptions of what defines normal.  As Norman breaks these preconceptions one by one the frustration felt by the junior scientist is escalated by specific words choices along with the addition of conversational exchanges between the two.  The disparity between what she believes to be true and how Norman really is generates lots of humor.  Here is a sample passage.

Just a second, Norman.

Who are you talking to?

My best buddy.

Your friend?  You cannot be friends.

You are natural enemies in the wild!

This is exceptionally strange.

Most.  Certainly.  Not.  Normal!

Drawn and painted by hand, then assembled digitally the illustrations throughout are composed using a blend of secondary colors giving the book a feel of joyfulness.  Norman and the junior scientist on the matching front dust jacket and book case start with an eager appreciation of each other.  To the left, on the back, surrounded by a frame of jungle leaves Norman is holding her as she takes notes for her assignment.

S. Britt uses a white background on the opening and closing endpapers extending the beginning and conclusion of the story with two large visuals.  On the first spot color is more prevalent.  On the second full color announces a shift in perspective.

The mixture of images sizes, single page, double page and smaller insets grouped on a page, flow flawlessly.  When Norman speaks the text is placed in an array of bright-hued speech bubbles.  The junior scientist's idea of normal is reinforced by labels on specific items.  Facial expressions on Norman, the junior scientist, the head scientist and all of Norman's friends leave no doubt as to the current mood of each.  Each of these details increase the pure fun of the illustrations.  You will find yourself smiling or laughing on every single page.

One of my favorite images is one of two on a single page.  Norman is buzzing through the clouds wearing a dual-rocket jet jack, a helmet with the initial N on the front and goggles.  Two seagulls are keeping him company on the right.  On his left side in the background is a small biplane flown by the junior scientist with the head scientist riding behind her.  When I see the grin on Norman's face I can't help but laugh out loud.

Normal Norman written by Tara Lazar with illustrations by S. Britt is a delightful journey of discovery in defining normal.  It's a tribute to being your best self, no matter what that is.  Plan on requests for read it again, especially if you use different voices for Norman and the junior scientist.  

To discover more about Tara Lazar and S. Britt and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  This link takes you to the most recent post about this title at Tara Lazar's website. It includes interior illustrations and an activity kit.  A blog tour is in progress beginning at Poetry for Children.   The tour is full of interviews and wonderful extensions like the one found at This Picture Book Life.  Enjoy!

UPDATE:  March 2016 Here's another interview of Tara Lazar at Geek Club Books. 

A Puzzling Predicament

For three hundred sixty-five days you and your best friend have been planning for this single day of pure childhood bliss.  Squirreling away weekly allowances and odd-job monies earned in the neighborhood are part of the grand scheme.  Past experiences help you to generate a list of those places you must visit and of those things you must do.  You have been dreaming with ever growing excitement about the mix of sights, sounds, smells and tastes of an afternoon at the fair.

It seems as though the car ride is endless but your parents finally have the car parked; you and your friend are walking to the entrance.  Strolling through the gateway, you stop and look at each other, your grins growing.  You Must Be This Tall (Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, March 8, 2016) written and illustrated by Steven Weinberg (Rex Finds an Egg! Egg! Egg!) is about a day at the fair full of the expected fun of shared activities with more than one surprising twist.

Frank and Harold are at the fair.

Frank and Harold are as inseparable as the proverbial two peas in a pod except they are snakes.  Of the pair Frank is very long (tall) and thin.  Harold is much sturdier and shorter.

As soon as they can, they are enjoying one romping, rollicking ride after another.  Certainly this twosome is nearing exhaustion or at the very least dizzy from all their experiences.  On the contrary, they nearly shed their skins when they see the ultimate fair marvel spread before them, The Rattler.  This is the roller coaster of all roller coasters.  There is one huge problem.

A very persistent pig announces:

YOU MUST BE THIS TALL.

Harold is too short.  Even standing on the tip of his rattle, Harold is a smidgen too small.

Ever the faithful friend, Frank has a plan.  Actually Frank has several plans.  A costume booth helps them with Frank's first idea.  Unfortunately the proprietary pig has keen eyesight.  Will the high-wire, trapeze strategy work?

Frank's final approach to this dilemma is so shocking readers will be stunned.  They can't believe they are witness to this tactic but they might find themselves bursting aloud in laughter.  A persnickety pig meets his match.


Each sentence written by Steven Weinberg builds a narrative not unlike a roller coaster.  We go up, up, and up enjoying all their fun and then plunging down when they encounter the height requirement.  As Frank puts his plans into action we start going up, up, and up again and down over and over until we reach the top, crowning achievement.  When we descend to the start it is with great satisfaction.

Lots of action is infused into the story with word choices like slammin' and bouncin'.  Adjectives like scary and smelly are completely understandable and reader friendly and sure to elicit knowing nods.  If your younger self (or in my case recently) has tried to reach something on a top shelf, like hidden cookies, two of the pages might find you sitting up straighter or standing on your tippy toes.  Here is a short sample passage.

No fair!
Hang in there, Harold.
Frank has a new idea...
Together they
s t r e t c h ! ...


A kaleidoscope of color in a full illustration stretching from side to side on the open matching dust jacket and book case greets readers' eyes.  We immediately understand the problem Frank and Harold are facing.  Frank looking longingly to the left watching others, a rabbit, duck and beaver, ride the Rattler, increases our empathy.  On the opening and closing endpapers on a darker teal canvas Steven Weinberg has placed a woven wonderment of snake bodies stretching from top to bottom in vertical, rows, looking like an intricate fun-filled maze.  Careful eyes will note the differences between the two endpapers.

Frank and Harold are featured in their contrasting lengths (heights) on the two pages dedicated to the title.  Frank is hanging over the row of fair pennants mouth open above the T in tall as Harold strives to reach the top of the letter L.   Their friendship is further depicted by their happy postures on the verso and dedication pages.

Rendered in watercolor and pencil, then colored digitally the images match the pacing of the narrative.  A blend of single page visuals is followed by several smaller pictures grouped together and then there are double-page spreads.  One of them requires readers to rotate the book vertically as the pig proclaims the requirement each time.  As the team races toward the final outcome Weinberg uses only large visuals across both pages.

The expressions on the faces of Frank and Harold are sure to have readers smiling.  Frank's tongue is as demonstrative as his body.  All kinds of animals are enjoying the fair; a moose, shark and turtle ride the roller coaster on one of the interior images as two mice, a balloon-carrying turtle and an elephant stand in line. (The mice suffer the same fate as Harold.)  Frank's friendship toward Harold is continually noted by the curling of his body's around Harold in comfort.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is the first one.  Frank and Harold have just entered the fair.  They are standing beneath two strands of pennants.  In the background without the firm, bold, and blue outlines is the pink and brown landscape of a desert.  Harold and Frank are holding ice cream cones with the ends of their tails, although the scoop is falling from Frank's cone.  Their grins could not possibly be bigger.  A nearby cactus acts as a holder for three small white flags.


To reinforce the power of friendship, teamwork and the unforeseen twist a story can take You Must Be This Tall written and illustrated by Steven Weinberg is a splendid choice.  I am certain you will be reading it more than once at a sitting.  The subtle word play will be duly noted by the more sophisticated readers.  You'll want to find this title at your favorite book shop tomorrow on its release date.

To learn more about Steven Weinberg and his other work please take a moment to visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  At the publisher's website you can view several interior images.  When his first book was released author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson hosted Weinberg at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

The Balloons Have It!

Certainly time is not passing more quickly but lately stopping the clock every so often is becoming more appealing.  Each year the amount of truly wonderful children's books being published is astounding.  Stacks of books in my home reveal titles from previous years yet to be read.

Two publications from 2015 speak directly to children.  The first, The Wonderful Things You Will Be (Random House, August 25, 2015) written and illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin is the joyful voice of a parent wondering about their child.  It's Tough To Lose Your Balloon (Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, September 8, 2015), the second title, written and illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka asks readers to look for the silver lining in possible situations.  If you are asking yourself why these two books are paired together here, the answer is simple.  They both have balloons on the cover and within the book.  Like balloons these books will lift you up and up, higher and higher.

When I look at you
And you look at me,
I wonder what wonderful
Things you will be.  

From birth a parent reassures a child of their worth.  Even at this early age this parent is sure this little being is going to be someone special to know.  No one else in the world is the same as this unique individual.

A beginning, especially a new life, offers many possibilities.  Will this child be strong to right a wrong?  Will this child sing a new song?  There might be new tales told.  There might be seeds planted to make a garden grow.

Perhaps new heights will be reached to get a better perspective.  Maybe tiny creatures will flourish under this child's tender care.  Without a doubt certain characteristics will help this child to be the best they can be.

Even in the face of adversity this child, this splendid child, will prevail.  This child, whatever they decide to become, will be loved.  And this child will know it.


Of the four lines written the second and fourth end with rhyming words flowing from verse to verse like a melody.  Emily Winfield Martin's gentle poetic narrative is soothing and supportive.  It looks forward hopefully.  Here is another sample passage.

For all of your tininess
Couldn't disguise
A heart so enormous...
And wild...
and wise. 

The theme of a child gently rising with a handful of balloons is carried through to the back, on the left, of the dust jacket.  Some of the text from the interior is placed there between two children each holding a balloon as they float among the clouds.  A canvas of white affords a cheerful display of colorful balloons drifting upward on the book case.  A single squirrel clothed in orange trousers is holding a red balloon rising with the rest.  On the opening and closing endpapers Emily Winfield Martin, on a background of white, in three rows with a repeating pattern, features eleven different toddlers with varying ethnicity.

Most of the illustrations span two pages.  The others are a delightful blend of single page images or smaller pictures grouped together.  Martin varies her background shades but favors white to draw our attention to the children.

Tiny details are sure to give readers pause; Humpty Dumpty sitting at the table for a tea party, mice are playing their own instruments beneath the car as a child band warms up in a garage, and a boy is reading Emily Winfield Martin's first book, Dream Animals, to some children.  Near the end a stunning four-page fold-out acts first as a curtain on a stage.  Opened it reveals a line of fifteen children all in costume playing out their signature roles.

One of my favorite illustrations is three children working together having created a community garden in the city.  Raised beds are home to fruits, vegetable and flowers.  Squirrels and pigeons are keeping them company.  Two boys are on the left planting seeds as a girl walks toward them from the right carrying a watering can and an arm full of flowers.  In this picture, in all the pictures, the clothing the children are wearing is realistic but adorable in patterns of strips or polka-dots or soft plain hues.  One is wearing a bear costume.




It's tough to 
lose your balloon...
...but it'll make
Grandma smile
from the sky.

Imagine yourself spending a day at the beach.  After romping in the sand, water and sun you have worked up a powerful hunger.  Then, to your dismay, you drop your sandwich...in the sand.  How can you turn this around to make it positive?

Things can get broken.  An accidental tromp in a puddle will leave you with wet shoes.  What if you don't eat your ice cream cone fast enough on a hot summer's day?  There are inventive, easy-as-pie answers for each one of these mishaps.

Personal experience teaches adults that the slightest boo-boo calls for the best bandage in one of many boxes on hand.  New people can be frightening but turn out to be truly fun, if given a chance.  All we need to remember is without the rain there can be no rainbows.


Each incident proposed by Jarrett J. Krosoczka is as normal as sunrise and sunset.  Children all around the world have these things happen to them.  That's what makes his single sentences broken apart by a page turn, endearing in their ordinariness.  Those moments between disaster and joy give us a chance to choose.  Here's one more passage.

It's the worst to
have wet shoes...
...but it's the best
to go barefoot.  


From the front of the matching dust jacket and book case, it's plain to see this little guy is dismayed.  One minute he is happy.  In the next minute the item giving him this joy is gone.  To the left on the back, Jarrett J. Krosoczka has taken the red from the balloon using it as a background for words of wisdom in white.

When life
gets you down,
look
up,

up, 

up!

The opening and closing endpapers provide the beginning and conclusion of the story.  On the first, outside a park entrance, a boy is receiving a balloon from a vendor as his father watches.  For the verso and title page we zoom in on his smiling face, walking proudly and carrying his balloon, which holds the title text and the author/illustrator name.  

Strong black lines drawn freely outline the elements in all the illustrations.  Bright colors on the left are the background for the beginning of the sentence and the single page image on the right depicts the oops-why-did-this-happen event.  These are partially colored.  Two pages follow filled with bright hues.  

Krosoczka's children are fully animated especially when they discover the goodness which can follow the right outlook.  Our concentration turns to the smiling faces due to his layout and design.  Careful readers will detect other examples of small kindnesses within his illustrations.

One of my favorite pictures is of the girl going barefoot.  It recalls the pure bliss of walking on grass, shoes and socks scattered.  She is laughing out loud and grinning away with a front tooth missing as she swings as high as she can on the swing set.  Our perspective is of the feet coming toward us.  

Both The Wonderful Things You Can Be written and illustrated by Emily Winfield Martin and It's Tough To Lose Your Balloon written and illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka are titles asking to be shared...repeatedly.  As you read each one you can feel a lightness filling you up.  You might even start to reach for a balloon to act as your guide.  They will both prompt discussions on the choices we make at any age.  At the close of his title, Krosoczka speaks about the spark leading to his book.  

To learn more about these talented authors/illustrators please follow the links attached to their names to access either their websites or in the case of Emily her blog.  At the publisher's website you can view interior pictures from It's Tough To Lose Your Balloon.  Scholastic's Ambassador for School Libraries, John Schumacher, premiered the book trailer on his blog, Watch. Connect. Read.  Jarrett J. Krosoczka wrote a message for readers there.  Enjoy the book trailer.

Cardboard Capers

Children and children at heart go hand in hand with boxes.  When they look at one they see more than a container, they see endless potential.  To them it's more valuable empty than full, despite the worth of possible contents.

Almost six months ago nearly everything I owned was placed into a box.  The unpacking to this day continues.  Load after load of cardboard has been taken to recycling.  Each time the tape is removed and the box is folded for ease of transport, a part of me says no.  This can certainly be used for something else.

Depending on the size and shape and with a shift in perspective and a pinch of creativity something simple can become something marvelous.  What To Do With A Box (Creative Editions, an imprint of The Creative Company, March 8, 2016) written by Jane Yolen with illustrations by Chris Sheban is an exploration of inventiveness.  It's time to imagine.

A BOX!  A BOX
IS A STRANGE 
DEVICE.

You can open it more than once.  If you seek shelter inside with something to read, it's lined with shelves.  It's a book nook within a larger whole.  If you're more than a little wealthy, possibly royalty, it's a lavish residence.

Quick!  With the right lock and key a safe haven can be accessed in the nick of time.  Hosting a time honored tradition with a bevy of beloved friends may be your preference.  Resting at the seashore and creating a flying feathered friend are all welcome wonders within the confines of a box.

If you crave the peace of a woodland glen and a gentle breeze, this can be done with ease.  If you have a need for speed, start your engines.  If you long to gaze upward at the Eiffel Tower, host your sails.

A box is where dreams can come true.  No wand is necessary to call forth enchantment.  You only need an open mind; one willing to think "outside the box."


Two words and an exclamation point reflect most people's thoughts when seeing a box.  Jane Yolen brings us together in a universally shared emotion.  Her rhyming lines come in threes, a pair or a single sentence.  It's all about placement, pacing and the use of parentheses. Here is another single sentence.  What you do think will follow?

YOU CAN PAINT
A LANDSCAPE
WITH SUN,
SAND,
AND SKY,  ...


Even though the front and back of the dust jacket are two separate images, they blend well across the spine. We are introduced to the three main characters, a boy and a girl and their dog, as they peek through the opening in a newly discovered box.  Their expressions already give hints as to their personalities.  To the left, on the back, the dog, as dogs will do, is carefully sniffing the box.  The ISBN has been strategically placed as part of the box.  The book case is a brilliant blend of two interior visuals and a third piece of a box.

A deep rich chocolate brown is used for the opening and closing endpapers perhaps to signify the interior of a closed box.  The text for the title page, verso and opening narrative page is placed on faded pieces of a box.  The first illustration is identical to that placed on the back of the dust jacket.

The layout, design and illustrations by Chris Sheban are fabulously fun.  He has rendered all the elements of his images on cardboard pieces filling each picture with texture.  You can almost smell the cardboard.  His pictures glow from a light color, perhaps white, used to highlight many of the items in his images.

Hints of humor appear in many of his illustrations.  When the girl opens the box lowering the flap, the dog is nearly covered.  He is peeking out, head and flat paws together.  As the boy rests, using a beach ball as a pillow, within the box, the girl, her head barely visible, is pouring either milk or white paint from a glass on top of him.

Sheban alters his perspective bringing us along to reside with the characters inside the box or stepping back, allowing us to see a grander view.  His illustrations sing with life; three boxes race along a track and the dog's ears flap in the wind as a box soars past clouds.  An ingenious conclusion; a fixed reality will leave readers smiling and reaching for the nearest box.

One of my many favorite images spans across two pages.  On the left is a box piece bearing only the two word text.  To the right on a continuation of the cardboard, Sheban has drawn a scene from the girl's bedroom at night.  She and the dog are cozily sitting inside the box, looking outside the window at a star studded sky.  Next to them is a small table with a lamp on top.  I can't think of a better way to end a day.

What To Do With A Box written by Jane Yolen with illustrations by Chris Sheban is a delightful rhythmic look at the blend of play and imagination.  I predict you won't even get to the end of the book before children will be calling out to you all the things they've done with boxes.  Wouldn't it be fun to have some handy to extend the story time?  And adults...release your inner child...you know you want to.

To learn more about Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  If you go to The Creative Company website you can view interior pages.  Chris Sheban has illustrated many book covers.  I think you will find this interview at James Preller's site, An Interview with Chris Sheban: Illustrating Book Covers, from Rough Sketch to Final, very interesting.


You might want to pair this title with The Cardboard Box Book ( St. Martin's Press, LLC, July 15, 2014) by Roger Priddy and Sarah Powell, illustrations by Barbi Sido, crafts designed and made by Bethany Side and photography by Dan Pangbourne.  There are seventeen different creative projects along with an introduction, items needed and suggestions of what to look for in boxes.  At the end of the book is a large envelope filled with templates.  You can view eight interior illustrations at the publisher's website.

Let's Eat!

Every living thing needs some form of it.  Certainly it's been the topic of discussions since the dawn of people.  We sing about it.  We write about it.  We read about it.  We grow, gather, and cook it.  Where we choose to eat and what we eat are questions asked every single day.

Food brings people together for common causes in the form of benefits, food banks or soup kitchens.  In many homes the kitchen and dining room are the center of family discussions; a time to sit down and review and relive the day's events.  There is also a sense of pride in having grown food in your own fruit or vegetable garden.  The Forest Feast For Kids: Colorful Vegetarian Recipes That Are Simple to Make (Abrams Books for Young Readers, February 16, 2016) written and illustrated by Erin Gleeson is a joyful look at food and its preparation.

intro
I've always loved food and art, and I find inspiration for both in nature.  

So begins the introduction by Erin Gleeson telling us who she is, why she has a passion for food, creating recipes and writing cookbooks.  We are then given hints on how to best use this book, what the abbreviations for certain measurements represent and the three basic utensils for measuring.  Through illustrations we are shown which foods are better served peeled and those where peeling is a personal preference.  Word terms, kitchen tools and eight types of cutting, depending on the food and tool used, are shared.

We all need a boost of energy between meals.  The first chapter features five savory snacks made with fruits and vegetables.  Bring the chips or crackers because the Strawberry Salsa is made with five ingredients and the same amount of easy preparation steps.  You'll be craving one each of the drinks, even the Peanut butter avocado shake.  I'm going to try that one first.

Of the listed salads any one of the five would make a delicious lunch or evening meal.  In one melding the flavors of fruit, cheese, vegetables and nuts will have your mouth watering. The Potato-green bean salad has my vote with only two ingredients; the combination of roasting one and mixing it with the crisp raw other, lots of garlic cloves and a single herb.

Entire meals are made with an assortment of fresh vegetables, grains, and beans mixed either with seeds, pasta, eggs, cheese, tortillas, pasta, pizza dough, pesto and fresh herbs such as basil, bay leaves, thyme, or oregano.  If you're one of those people who like to eat dessert first, this next chapter will have you dancing.  You will want to eat every single one but since I have bananas in the house, it's the fried banana split for me.

To close the book four types of food parties are planned:  Grilled Cheese Party, Color Party, Fruity Ice Cream Sandwich Bar and Picnic Party.  For each party a large variety of options are shared.  The Color Party is especially fun.  You will be serving blueberry sparkler, yellow caprese bites, asparagus pastry straws, red salad and sweet potato pizza.  

Other than the introduction and short paragraphs for two of the parties, the narrative offered by Erin Gleeson is limited to naming the five recipes for the first five chapters on the left of the two page title, listing ingredients and short, simple instructions.  The text is in a large font or hand-lettered with arrows pointing to examples.  For some of the recipes she will place circled numbers next to the steps.  Measurements are also shown in metric.


All of the illustrations are drawn and painted by hand or photographs by Erin Gleeson as shown on the front of the book case.  The opening and closing endpapers are a beautiful array of small watercolor fruits, vegetables, herbs and cooking tools spread before us in rows.  The title page showcases landscape from the area where Gleeson lives.  A full page highlights the dedication picturing her and her young son working in their garden.

 The layout and design and the blend of real ingredients with painted visuals is simply beautiful.  On the left of a recipe the ingredients will appear in full color along with a title at the top.  These titles are presented in a variety of fonts on different paper.  On the right the finished food is displayed in its entire delectable splendor.   Children appear in many of the images either making a meal or enjoying one together.

Every single picture will increase your appetite even if you've just eaten but one of my many favorites is the completed carrot and zucchini ribbon pasta.  The background is completed faded drawing your attention to the dish.  A lifted forked twists the carrot and zucchini ribbons and pasta from a plate.  In the lower right-hand corner is a bunch of thyme sprigs. You want to lean in and take a bite.


The Forest Feast For Kids written and illustrated by Erin Gleeson is one cookbook every library will want to have on its shelves.  Families will certainly want it in their personal collections.  Over and over again I have had to replace cookbooks in my elementary and middle school collections.  Children love to cook.  It's like a science experiment you can eat.  Girls and guys are going to gobble this one up for the ease of following the recipes and preparation and the gorgeous visual depictions.

For more about Erin Gleeson individually please visit her website by following the link attached to her name.  To learn more about The Forest Feast blog and initial cookbook try this link.  Erin Gleeson is interviewed about this book at Parents.com and the Journal Sentinel.  The Abrams & Chronicle Books website located out of the UK features some interior pages giving you a feel for the layout.
Update:  March 8, 2016 Please visit Jama's Alphabet Soup to enjoy wonderful commentary and pictures on this title. 

Every time I think of food I think of this song.  I have been known to hum or sing it when cooking and serving dinner to guests.





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

Gift

When it happens regardless of whether it's the first time or the tenth time, we marvel standing in breathless wonder.  Unless we are a naturalist with specific intentions, most of us leave the inside to go outdoors with no expectations other than to accomplish our immediate goals.  Experiencing a close encounter with a living being in the wild is a gift; some more surprising than others.

You might be reaching for a large stick wondering how it got in your yard, only to discover it's a garter snake of granddaddy proportions.  One Sunday morning this past October while standing in our new backyard, Xena and I were both shocked to see a large fox trotting down the sidewalk across the street carrying a morning meal in its jaws.  In these moments of awareness we are reminded all forms of life are sharing the same space.

Sometimes these appearances come not only when we least expect them but when we need them the most.  Dario and the Whale (Albert Whitman & Company, March 1, 2016) written by debut picture book author Cheryl Lawton Malone with illustrations by Bistra Masseva is about a unique bond formed between a boy and a whale calf.  In a desire to belong, connections can come from places other than where we are looking.

Every spring 
when the sun
wakes up the land,
Dario and his mother
move to the seashore.

They are not the only ones moving to the north.  A whale and her baby are swimming in the same direction.  Each parent is compelled to make this change based upon need.

Unbeknownst to each other, the boy and the whale are going through similar episodes in their desire to call this new place home.  Dario inadvertently destroys a sand castle being constructed by a girl on the beach.  A green turtle is the recipient of a big bump courtesy of the whale.  That is intentional.

In the afternoon, Dario, alone, racing along the beach flying a kite sees the whale breach the water.  The whale sees Dario.  Time stands still as they gaze at each other.  Both Dario and the whale excitedly reach out to their mothers with the news of this sighting.

In the following days Dario and the whale search for each other on the beach and in the water, devising signals; a whistle, a wave of hands, a spout or a breach.  Shared hours fill their mornings and afternoons.  When Dario is kept away from the shore, he worries the whale will not be there when he returns especially after comments made by the castle-making girl.  In minutes of remarkable clarity the boy receives an answer.


Sparked by a real life event Cheryl Lawton Malone writes with the sure knowledge this kind of contact can bring.  In a poetic cadence she traces the similarities between the boy and the young whale comparing the two until the defining connection.  Her word choices are specific and easily understood by the youngest of readers.

Interspersed in the English narrative are words spoken by Dario in his native language.  These help readers to further understand how Dario feels in a place far from home.  Malone is careful to define their meaning in the context of the story.  Here is another sample passage.

"Wow!" Dario shouts.
"Mae, venha ver!"
Ma, come look!

SPLASH!
The whale slaps the water with his tail.
His mother hurries over.


Opening the matching dust jacket and book case readers become fully aware of the splendor of being so close to a whale.  The whale's body extends beyond the spine with its tale raised high above the water.  A seagull has braked in flight to avoid the splash.  This illustration is fully alive, sending off the sounds of the shore, ocean and the happiness experienced by both the whale and the boy.  The color from the text, spine and water is carried to the opening and closing endpapers.

On the title page beneath the words two whale tails are breaching the water.  The verso and first page feature an illustration of Dario and his mother walking along the boardwalk on the bay.  Behind them are the sandy shore, the water, rocky stretches of land and a lighthouse.  Seagulls glide on the air currents as a ship moves in the distance.  Illustrator Bistra Masseva transports us to the setting with this initial image.

Most of the pictures span two pages with varying perspectives.  In one we are a seagull watching the whales arrive at the bay.  In another we are the whale watching Dario.  We may be Dario sitting on the beach looking in earnest for the whale.  To enhance the pacing Masseva selects to create a series of smaller visuals or do single page comparisons.  With each image we are deeply aware of the emotional moods through facial features and body movements.

One of my favorite illustrations is of the two whales swimming north to the bay.  Having never seen whales outside of an aquarium I can only imagine the sight of seeing them in the wild.  To see them from above, shapes partially above and beneath the vastness of the ocean is breathtaking.  The subtle shades of the water convey the ever-changing nature of the seas.  A lone seagull flies toward the lower left hand corner of this double-page image.

Illustrator Bistra Masseva graciously replied to an email inquiry about her work.  Here is what she has to say.

 Images always appear in my head the moment I start reading the manuscript, forming a sequence much like the frames of a film.

Then I would research the subject (I love this part of my work) and make sketches to develop the characters. I looked at a lot of right whale photographs to get the character of the whale, well, right. ;-) Simultaneously, I would sketch out the storyboard for the book in tiny thumbnails, to determine the composition in each spread and how the different pages relate to each other. And when I finally have my visual story I would paint the illustrations by hand in acrylics.

It was a pleasure to work on Cheryl's story. I have always been fascinated by the sea and its wondrous creatures! 

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to ask questions of Cheryl Lawton Malone and receive her replies.  

After you saw the whale did you know there was a story to be told from that connection?

Yes, immediately after we saw the whale, I knew there was a story. I didn't know 'what' story necessarily or who would tell it or how it would end. I only knew that the climax would be the moment when a human and a whale connected. Because I'd felt that connection. The rest of Dario's story came after much work and many drafts.

How many years has it been since you and your dog were a part of that magic until the publication of this book?

DARIO's launch date is March 1, 2016.  In 2011, I participated in a writing retreat at the Norman Mailer House, Provincetown, MA, sponsored by the Norman Mailer Writer's Colony.  The kind people who ran that program allowed me to bring my dog Chief, which is why we found ourselves on Race Point Beach very early one April morning.  Whales of all kinds migrate through the Cape at that time of year, including the very rare and very endangered North Atlantic whale.  Seeing their spouts and tails in the distance was common.  Coming face to face with a juvenile right whale immediately off shore was EXTRAORDINARY!  Unfortunately, I lost Chief later in 2011 after a difficult illness.  I consider that month in Ptown as one of my great life experiences.  Not only did he and I get to meet a real live whale but those were Chief's last happy days.  To share that extraordinary experience with such a kind friend was unforgettable.

I read that you have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to live in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.  Would you care to share more about why this happened?  Did those experiences of being in unfamiliar places help you to develop your character of Dario?

Absolutely, yes.  My father worked for an international engineering company that constructed major energy refineries.  As he completed projects and started new ones, our family moved.  And moved.  The experience of leaving school, packing up a house, saying good bye, traveling to another town either here in the US or in Europe, unpacking the house, finding new friends, and starting a new school was never easy.  My parents helped by keeping the interior of our house the same-for example, the living room couch was the same no matter if it was in The Hague or Massachusetts.  My curtains were the same.  My bed, the same.  Tuesday night was meatloaf night no matter if we were in London or New Jersey.  Without a doubt, I drew on my experience as an American child living abroad when I created Dario, having experienced first hand his need to find, any friend, and fit in.

On the jacket flap it states that Dario and his mother are from Brazil.  Have you ever visited this country?

Yes, Dario and his mother are Brazilian.  I have not been to Brazil.  Not yet!  My research tells me it's an amazing country of vibrant colors, wonderful food and passionate people.  Many hardworking Brazilians live in New England, particularly on the Cape.  I have visited another country in South America, Peru, and my husband and I are planning a hiking trip to Chile and Argentina.  As a result of traveling so much as a child, I have the travel bug.  We love to visit other countries.

At several points in the narrative, Dario speaks his native language.  These seem to be very emotional instances.  Is he speaking Portuguese?  Do you speak this language or another language other than English?

Yes, Dario speaks Portuguese, which is the official language of Brazil, and the language he learned from his mother, much like a whale learns to communicate from its mother.  Brazil was once a colony of Portugal.  Portuguese is still the language spoken by the majority of Brazilians.  Like many immigrants, Dario reverts to his first language when something important happens.  My first language is English.  I speak a little French and a tiny bit of Spanish.  As a child, I spoke Dutch fluently, but have forgotten most of it.  Unfortunately.

The illustrations of Bistra Masseva reflect the rhythm of your story beautifully.  Did you ever have the opportunity to communicate with her during the publication process?  Do you have a favorite illustration? 

I agree! Bistra's illustrations are fantastic. Everything I could have hoped for. My two favorites are when the whale chases a school of herring and later when Dario asks, "But you'll come back, right?" I absolutely love Dario's face on that spread. I think he's beautiful. I have not had the privilege of talking to Bistra yet but would welcome the chance to meet and thank her. As odd as it might sound, many picture book writers never meet their illustrators. Picture books are a unique art form where the text and the illustrations push each other to a higher place, as in the proverbial whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  For that reason, publishers tend to discourage active collaboration or dialogue between the author and illustrator during the publication process.

Are you working on another book?  Can you give us a hint about the story?

I am working on another book! Yes! Yes! Several, in fact. Two are picture books - one is a DARIO type story NOT involving whales but incorporating similar themes. The second is a silly dog book inspired by my current writing assistants - two Irish wheaten terriers named Lorcan and Muri. Also, I'm mapping out a MG novel in verse set in a Montana type location involving themes of family, loneliness and conservation. 

Thank you so much, Margie, for giving me this forum to express myself.

Thank YOU Cheryl for taking the time to answer my questions.  This kind of conversation makes the book experience far richer for readers.

Dario and the Whale written by Cheryl Lawton Malone with pictures by Bistra Masseva is an inspirational story when the possible becomes exciting and real.  These friendships remain; guiding us for the rest of our lives.  At the close of the book Cheryl Lawton Malone speaks about her encounter on that day at the beach.  She also talks about the North Atlantic right whale and the dangers they face.  

To learn more about Cheryl Lawton Malone and Bistra Masseva please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  On educator Carrie Gelson's blog There's a Book for That Dario and the Whale's cover is revealed along with other insights by Carrie and her students.  Several pages are available for preview on the publisher's website. For further information about North Atlantic right whales visit ARKIVE.