As a visitor or new resident to the western part of Montana, you find yourself saying, "What is that!?" Perhaps a flash of iridescent black mixed with blue and green catches your eye or a noise akin to a prehistoric insect pierces the otherwise quiet. During every season of the year you will see the black-billed magpie gliding through the air and landing among your trees. Adult males range in size from eighteen to twenty-four inches long; half the length is their tail.
As clever as other family members, their singular bird call sounds like a coded message waiting to be translated. Lately it's very easy to imagine them giving their avian friends notice of Cockatoo, Too (little bee books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group, January 5, 2016) written and illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia. Humans should be on the lookout for telltale signs in the snow of a feathered-friend hoedown inspired by this new title.
Cockatoo. Cockatoo?
A solitary cockatoo awakens as the sun rises, hip-hopping in happiness. To its surprise another bird flutters down, momentarily pausing his wiggling and jiggling. Who knew there was another cockatoo? A reached resolution is immediately interrupted.
Two more cockatoos enter the scene wearing tutus! Suddenly feeling slightly undressed the original two ponder what to do. The latest generous duo delivers dressy duds. Four can finally frolic.
There's a new fuss coming from the foliage. One, two, three and four more enter. Feet raised, forming a line, this new crew kicks and cavorts with abandon. It would be great if the group becomes eight.
Wait a minute! There are nine, ten, eleven and many more. It's a tweeting, twittering uproar.
As soon as you read the title, that phrase rolls out the red carpet for rollicking word play. For the majority of the narrative Bethanie Deeney Murguiauses combinations of six plus one words skillfully applying rhyming and alliteration. As the pages are turned the laughter is guaranteed to increase as the sentences and questions get a wee bit longer and a bit more mixed.
Two cockatoos, too?
It's impossible to look at the matching dust jacket and book case without grinning. Those chunky, wide-eyed cockatoos within the colorful jungle fauna are ready for action. On the back, to the left, a third cockatoo with an orange crest and matching tutu is resting, exhausted, against a bowed flower. The text
Whew, it's a jungle out there.
is a clear "why" inquiry. You can easily tell from the jacket and case how Bethanie Deeney Murguia uses white space as an important element in her images.
On the opening endpapers in blue and green, cockatoos and toucans are peacefully sleeping among large jungle leaves. On the closing endpapers the pattern is the same but the colors and facial features reflect a delightful difference. The initial title page begins the story with a single cockatoo resting in a tree top, a crescent moon outlined in the pale blue sky as dawn breaks. A larger picture spans across the formal title pages with the cockatoo awake and striding through the jungle.
Rendered in
watercolor, gouache, ink, crayon, and a bit of block printing, all combined in Photoshop (Thank you Bethanie for answering my question.)
the illustrations all cover two pages with the hues of the leaves and trees an indication of the time of day. As new characters enter the story, readers will note body positions and facial expressions which announce their arrival. Other members of the dance company are cleverly concealed until the precise moment of their appearance.
One of my favorite illustrations is at the beginning when the lone cockatoo, on the right, notices the feet and bottom part of the body of another bird, on the left, drifting through the ferns and flowers. The expression on its face is one of caution and curiosity. The previous joy is frozen. There's quite a bit of anticipation in this image.
There are fun books. There are funny books. Fun and funny books are the best. Cockatoo, Too written and illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia is the later. You are going to want to read it aloud as often as you get requests to do so. It's a word play wonder!
To discover more about Bethanie Deeney Murguia please follow the links attached to her name to access her website and blog. At the little bee books website you will find a coloring page and a How to Draw a Cockatoo page. Simon & Schusterhas seven illustrations for you to view. Bethanie Deeney Murguia is interviewed at BookPage and Ronnie's Awesome List. Bethanie Deeney Murguia was a guest at Scholastic's Ambassador for School LibrariesJohn Schumacher's blog Watch. Connect. Read.speaking about this title and premiering the book trailer below.
Toward the end of December the winter solstice descends in the northern hemisphere. It's a signal from Mother Nature for the flora and fauna under her care to rest. As it progresses the calendar for humans begins a new year. For many it's a time of introspection and seeking balance.
When we step outside away from noise and distractions during this period of calm and quiet using all our available senses, the stillness envelopes us. Author Susan Verde and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds in their third collaboration, I Am Yoga (Abrams Books for Young Readers, September 8, 2015) show readers how to expand their reflections. We discover how to tap into the serenity supplied now as well as during the other three seasons.
When I feel small in a world so big, when I wonder how I fit in, when the world is spinning so fast ...
Children (and adults) can relate to those three voiced thoughts. It's when the busyness of the everyday overwhelms our enjoyment of life in general. We certainly can't control everything the day delivers but we do have the potential as to how we respond.
Three specific actions are chosen by the girl as she inwardly speaks to herself. Her composure opens the door to possibilities. She can become more than herself.
In a series of sixteen poses she mirrors the likeness of elements in our natural world, man-made objects, animals and particular people. As a tree she is tall enough to touch the sky. She can bring luminosity to the darkness like the light of the moon. She is strong enough to support another as well as herself.
With purpose she moves from one state of being to the next. She closes with tranquility. A peaceful perspective is in place.
Susan Verde writes with knowledge about the feelings of a child. With her words she takes those feelings influencing them through the art of yoga. She describes the poses in such as manner as to invite readers to participate. Rather than specifically name the pose, she creates a vision. Here is a sample. For the boat pose she says:
I can sail on the sea. I go with the flow.
The permeating peace seen on the front of the dust jacket continues to the left on the back. In both illustrations the girl, with eyes closed, is in a yoga pose. The warm wash of colors in these two images is carried throughout the book by Peter H. Reynolds. The title text is in foil. On the book case, two interior pictures are shown. On the right the girl is in the star pose on a soft golden yellow background. On the left among hues of blue she is in the half moon pose. The opening and closing endpapers are a swirl of rosy shades. The title page is the same visual as the front dust jacket but in black etching with only orange and blue. Smaller illustrations are placed on the verso and dedication pages. Each one reinforces a sense of harmony.
Rendered in ink, gouache, watercolor and tea each of the pictures with the exception of two is placed on single pages surrounded by white space. Prior to the poses Reynolds depicts the unrest she experiences in motion and movement. Each yoga pose is beautifully portrayed, moving in color from oranges and yellows, to green, blue and purple and rose and a blend of these. For a few of the visuals, the viewpoint shifts bringing us close to the girl or making her much smaller as when placed inside a flower.
One of my favorite illustrations is for the downward dog pose. The text is placed along the top of the page. Underneath is grass with tree tops growing toward the bottom of the page. The girl is bending in place with the sun shining through the v formed by her position. Her feet and hands are on top of clouds. The text reads:
I can turn things upside down. I am playful.
On the first reading of I Am Yoga written by Susan Verde with art by Peter H. Reynolds a sense of calm generated by the text and pictures will wrap around the reader. No matter their age each will feel as though the practice of these yoga positions is within their capabilities. In my experience children enjoy creative dramatics. This book will make for a delightful and memorable storytime. At the conclusion are an author's note and three pages of pose descriptions with thumbnails of the images.
To learn more about Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their respective websites. Follow this link to listen to the original song, I Am Yoga, written and composed by Emily Yarrow. At the publisher's website you can view four interior images and two of the pose description pages. You can listen to the podcast or watch the video when Susan Verde and Emily Yarrow visit with Rocco Staino at KidLitTV.
The memory is so vivid it feels as though only a few hours have passed rather than decades. Two members of my family and I were at our first Native American Pow Wow. It was being held in the largest arena in our state's capital. We were in attendance with thousands of other people. Our seats were in the balcony.
A hush fell over the crowd as the cadence commenced. A line of men walked down the center of the people to the front of the hall. Large drums were carried. The sound they created was that of a universal heartbeat. At the same time my family and I looked at each other with tears in our eyes. It was an astonishingly powerful experience.
While the drumming remains strong in my mind another Native American tradition is as potent. Storytelling is a sacred art. In Hiawatha And The Peacemaker (Abrams Books For Young Readers, September 8, 2015) with words by Robbie Robertson and pictures by David Shannon we enter the wondrous realm of history brought to life by a tale passed from one generation to the next.
A fierce scream echoed through the woodlands... Was it a dream? An eerie steam crept up from the ground, and the smell of burning pine filled the air.
A man stood amid the remains of his village. His wife and three daughters lost in a bitter battle. He sought shelter near the river unable to do anything for weeks but think in anger of revenge against the wicked warrior responsible, Chief Tadodaho. His name was Hiawatha.
Early one misty morning, a canoe carved from white stone and rowed by a solitary figure, came toward him. The stranger did not talk but handed him an offering. Finally the man spoke, carefully and struggling, about the
Great Law.
It was a new idea of peace among the nations, a plea to end the fighting. Hiawatha was asked to deliver this wisdom on behalf of the man for his words were strong. Hiawatha decided to travel with
The Great Peacemaker
and spread the message of the Great Law.
Stepping into and paddling the stone canoe Hiawatha marveled at how it moved on the water. As the two men, Hiawatha and The Peacemaker, journeyed from the Mohawk to the Cayuga, they met with resistance and the destruction of another tribe. This rekindled Hiawatha's deep anger.
At the Cayuga council the Peacemaker talked this time changing minds with his eyes and words. When they left two canoes went to the Seneca. Then three canoes paddled toward the woods of the Oneida. There was power in unity.
After a revelation three nations, Hiawatha and The Peacemaker returned to the Mohawk but they did not join the others still fearful of retribution by Tadodaho. The Peacemaker offered proof of the wisdom of the Great Law to the dismay of Hiawatha. The voice of an elder Clan Mother added weight to the actions of The Peacemaker. The morning proved the insight of her words.
As the four nations confronted Tadodaho and the other men of the Onondaga people a singular song rang out coinciding with a natural event. Forgiveness healed pain in two men. Days passed. The power of The Peacemaker continued to spread until a lone eagle stood guard at the top of the Tree of Peace. To this day the People of the Long House abide by the Great Law.
As soon as you start reading (or if you are fortunate to be a listener hearing this story) the words written by Robbie Robertsonwhere you are will fall away, taking you into the world of Hiawatha through his personal narration. Eloquent descriptions of place, the conversations and growing relationship between Hiawatha and The Peacemaker, the real and emotional journey taken by one and many and the quiet power of The Peacemaker are completely captivating. A storyteller's rhythm is established by the initial opposition of each people, the Mohawk, the Cayuga, the Seneca, the Oneida, and the Onondaga and their approach to the two men followed by belief in the Great Law. The refrain
Together we ...
binds them together as surely as does the Great Law. The feats of The Peacemaker as related by Robertson are extraordinary. Here are two passages from early in the book.
The Peacemaker closed his eyes and placed his hand on my back. Somehow he had the power to move his message through me. I began to speak his words. "Peace, power, and righteousness shall be the new way," I said. "We must join together. All nations will become onefamily. Our people shall have one body, onemind and one heart. That is the message of the Great Law." The Clan Mothers nodded in agreement, and a sense of relief spread over me. But then the War Chief spoke. "We respect your message, but we cannot join you," he said. "How can we know if your words are true? Tadodaho is too strong, too violent. Our people must be prepared to fight."
Stunning is the first word which comes to mind in looking at the dust jacket illustrations rendered in oil by Caldecott honor award winner, David Shannon. The portraits he presents of Hiawatha and The Peacemaker are riveting and strong. The edge of The Peacemaker's cloak extends to the spine on the left. The softer colors of the back image, in the same hues as the front, blend into the spine on the right. The picture on the back is of The Peacemaker rowing toward shore when Hiawatha first sees him. It goes to the edge of the back flap.
On the book case two different visuals from the interior portray the strength of Hiawatha's and The Peacemaker's words. The one on the right is a close-up of the first speech by Hiawatha with The Peacemaker placing his hands on his back. The other, to the left, is of The Peacemaker speaking to the Cayuga when Hiawatha is consumed by rage. The opening and closing endpapers are muted steel-gray brush strokes.
On the title page Shannon sets the scenario for Hiawatha's arrival at his destroyed village. He is shown standing on a hill, carrying a turkey from a hunting trip, looking at a plume of black smoke rising from the trees near the river. Five double page paintings edged in white began the visual enhancement of the text expressing to the reader a range of deep emotions. Then single page images framed in white alternate with double page pictures.
When Hiawatha and The Peacemaker are joined by another canoe, Shannon depicts this with a smaller painting at the bottom of the text. It looks like early Native American art. His details, the reflections in the water, the facial and body painting, the clothing and jewelry, the interior of the council house and the portrayal of the evil Tadodaho are striking. By shifting his perspectives we are further connected to every nuance in the tale. I wonder if the two hands on the back of The Peacemaker's cloak are indicative of his ability to convey his message to Hiawatha.
One of my favorite illustrations is of The Peacemaker's first appearance to Hiawatha. Here is a man filled with sadness and anger at his great loss, not moving from the edge of the river for weeks, looking up to see a white stone canoe floating on the river toward him. The stranger's face is painted white with black around one eye and a sun around the other. The colors surrounding The Peacemaker are early morning yellows and blues with the edge of the woods in the foreground. It's so calm The Peacemaker and his canoe are mirrored in the water.
Without hesitation I highly recommend Hiawatha And The Peacemaker written by Robbie Robertson and illustrated by David Shannon for all professional and personal bookshelves. It conveys the strength of unifying for peace, laying down weapons of war and governing together, men and women. It is founded in truth and marvelously told in words and pictures by two great artists. At the close of the book a historical note, acknowledgements and author's note offer more information. The story behind this story is absolutely perfect. A CD of an original song written and recorded by Robbie Robertson is included with the book.
To learn more about Robbie Robertson and his other work in music please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. The link embedded in David Shannon's name will take you to his website where you can learn more about him, his other books and illustrative work. Robbie Robertson is interviewed and this book is discussed at CBCNEWS-Arts & Entertainment, Biography.com, and RollingStone. At the closing session of the American Library Association Annual conference in the summer 2015 Robbie Robertson and David Shannon spoke about the making of this book. David Shannon talks about this book and one particular illustration at TeachingBooks.net.
Wednesdays have become a significant day of the week. On this day nonfiction is showcased. It began in 2012 when an educator decided she needed to fill a gap in her reading life. Alyson Beecher started the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge on her blog Kid Lit Frenzy. Today (01/06/2016) she talks about the new challenge, the YMA Pajama Party and includes her Mock Siebert predictions.
This will be my third year participating. For my first several posts I still have some 2015 books I want to discuss. As I was reading my choice for this post, I was moved to tears more than once. Alyson Beecher listed it as one of her Mock Siebert predicted winners and she talks about it on her blog here. I completely concur.
Year by year our planet and the life of its inhabitants are becoming more fragile. The Great Monkey Rescue: Saving the Golden Lion Tamarins (Millbrook Press, October 1, 2015) written by Sandra Markle is a story of heroes and their successes. Within ten chapters and forty pages it documents decades of work and vigilance with an engaging and enlightening narrative.
TRAPPED! In a small patch of tropical forest, a squirrel-sized golden lion tamarin stops on a high branch and listens.
She hears a sound, the call of another tamarin. Perhaps this family will be the one she can join. She needs to find a mate. Four families later and none will have her. Not one of them needs a breeding female. She continues her search the next day until she comes to the edge of the forest. She has nowhere else to go.
Brazil's Atlantic Forest in South America is the only place on earth, outside of zoos, the golden lion tamarin calls home. Of the original forest only ten percent remains today. The habitat of these creatures is shrinking at an alarming rate. These monkeys make essential contributions in the life of this land.
As early as the 1960s it was noted their population was diminishing to the point of extinction. Over the next twenty years an important discovery was made about the way golden lion tamarins live and reproduce together. They have a set family rather than a large group. Zoos (first the National Zoo in Washington, D. C.) did seek to change the way they housed the golden lion tamarins. During these years the zoo population around the world increased from 122 to 500.
The next hurdle was to increase the population in Brazil. Animal scientists and zoo keepers trained their monkeys to live in the wild. Great pains were taken to safely introduce them into their natural habitat by creating safe havens. Would it work? Knowing predators and seeking safe food proved to be overwhelming for the newest members of the forest family.
Around 1990 an exciting discovery was made which momentarily turned the tide. This coupled with the ever-growing support of the people in Brazil was a huge boost for the monkey population numbers. It was too good though. Once again they were running out of enough room to live.
Two men from an organization called SavingSpecies conceived an innovative idea. Conservationists and volunteers worked for years (more than five) to make this idea a reality. Did our original female golden lion tamarin ever leave the edge of that forest and find a new family?
With the first chapter Sandra Markle has our attention. This young female is fenced-in by lack of space. Our attachment to her plight is immediate and firmly in place. Markle continues with a history of saving these monkeys spanning more than four decades. The concise chapters elevate our involvement, inviting us to consume the pages as if we are reading a thrilling survival story. What makes these even more intriguing is that it is the truth. In addition to the narrative, informative extras describe the special habitat of the golden lion tamarin and the specifics of their family dynamics. Here is a sample passage.
To train the tamarins, zoo caretakers began hiding food in the trees. The monkeys had to poke under bark and look in tree holes to find their meals. Fruit was no longer peeled or cut up. The tamarins had to figure out how to eat what they found. As they would in the real forest, the tamarins also now drank from bowls attached high-up on the tree trunks. Zoo workers hoped this training would give the monkeys a better chance of surviving in the wild.
If you want to recommend a captivating true life story brimming with named and unnamed heroes, The Great Monkey Rescue: Saving the Golden Lion Tamarins written by Sandra Markle is an excellent choice. As a nonfiction picture book read aloud selection it would be a fantastic. At the close of the book is a conversational author's note, a Did You Know? section, a timeline spanning from the 1960s to 2014, a glossary, a Find Out More list of resources, an index and a list of photo acknowledgments. Every single page has an outstanding photograph or map from a variety of perspectives. All of them are captioned.
To learn more about Sandra Markle please follow the link attached to her name to access her blog. At the publisher's website you have several options to view interior pages. You can click on the tiny magnifying glass under the dust jacket picture to see the front and back of the jacket and two pages. If you select the gray Look Inside tab you can see the first eleven pages.
Remember to go to Kid Lit Frenzyto see the other selections by bloggers this week.
With the American Library Association Youth Media Awards less than a week away, my mind has been not only on all the possible winners for 2016 but on the past medal and honor winners. I've been doing a mental inventory of all those stellar titles along with the books which, in my way of thinking, came close to being recognized. It's an exciting time of year when the spotlight shines on children's literature as a whole. The value of all authors and illustrators and their impact on the reading lives of children is at an all-time high during this wondrous week.
In 1997 The New York Timesselected ten titles for their Best Illustrated Books choices. In 1998 the Caldecott committeechose three Honor books. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback was the only book to be on both lists. This past year debut picture book author Penny Parker Klostermann gave readers a variant on that classic rhyme. There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight (Random House, August 4, 2015) illustrated by Ben Mantle is the jolly journey of a fire-breathing fiend hoping to appease a huge hunger.
There was an old dragon who swallowed a knight. I don't know why he swallowed the knight. It's not polite!
The knight came riding on a horse. Disturbed by the energetic equine the dragon devoured him too. In search of further food, the dragon blazed the bottom of an innocent squire. The smell must have signaled to his stomach because this is where the squire landed.
A cook and a book he held dear were the next to go quickly followed by a fair maiden snatched from a high tower. Royalty must have proper housing so the castle was hastily consumed. To quench his undoubtedly ever-growing thirst, this dragon drank and drank and drank until he drained the moat.
By this time, the old dragon was having second thoughts about his gluttonous gobbling. With skill he produced a gigantic superb burp. Out came one, two, three, four, and five portions of his enticing feast. To avoid listening to the
clippity, clippity, clippity, clop
of the annoying horse, the beast dug deep and belched out the knight's peppy pal.
This, my friends, left the knight still not in sight. The wily dragon relieved of his ballooning belly made a fateful final decision.
It's not polite!
Rhyming words take us on an exuberant escapade. More importantly Penny Parker Klostermannextends the story with additional descriptive elements, making each member on the menu more interesting to us. Her purpose for the dragon swallowing the first unfortunate six are a mix of reason and the ridiculous. Here is a sample passage.
There was an old dragon who swallowed a cook--- A savory cook and his recipe book. He swallowed the cook to fatten the squire. ...
The image on the matching dust jacket and book case extends from flap edge to flap edge. The bib around the dragon's neck coupled with the look on his face makes us fairly certain the knight might be in a wee bit of trouble. To the left, on the back, is an arrow sign with the word
DRAGON
pointing to the grinning large orange guy. On the rock is a
To Swallow
list. Knight, at the top, is already crossed off with steed, squire, cook, lady, castle and moat following. On the ground is a shield with a bite out of it, a knight's helmet and a bone. A green frog sits on top of a
Beware Dragon
sign.
The opening and closing endpapers, the first in shades of green and the second in hues of rose tell a tale of their own. It's a map of the kingdom with a path winding through the landmarks. There are notable changes in the two beside the color. The four pages dedicated to the title, the verso and dedication begin the story. All is not as merry as it seems. Danger is in the offing. The wanted poster is a clear hint.
Ben Mantle using full color, shadows and light, brings us back to the old world. His details add levity to the narrative. In the first scene, spanning two pages, bones, helmets, bitten and scorched signs, a lance, and an outline are evidence of the dragon's intentions toward the oblivious knight and his trusty, hoofed companion. After the knight is eaten a large dark circle gives us a look inside the dragon's stomach as the horse peeks safely from around a rock elevating the comedy.
Alternating between double pages for his pictures, single pages and a group of smaller images, Mantle asks us to pause. The black background illustrations, inside the stomach, are hilarious. Each person and thing lands differently with flourish and fun on the previous occupants. The details on the facial expressions, the consumed beings' antics on the inside and the shape of the capital letter T are full of medieval mirth.
One of my favorite illustrations is after the dragon has swallowed the moat. On the inside of his stomach all the current residents are filled with fear. The horse, squire and cook with his book are holding on to the top of the castle tower. The lady is inside the tower. A frog is speaking to her. Is he asking for a kiss? Floating in the water is the cook's kettle. The knight, looking as wide-eyed as the others, sits inside it as alligators swim hungrily around waiting for a bite.
You must include There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight written by Penny Parker Klostermann with illustrations by Ben Mantle in your personal and private collections. It asks to be read aloud often with enthusiasm. I can hear the laughter already it will elicit.
To learn more about Penny Parker Klostermann and Ben Mantle please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites. Klostermann has numerous activities you can use with this book. At the publisher's website you can view interior images. Penny Parker Klostermann is interviewed at author Tara Lazar's Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), writer Michelle Barnes' Today's Little Ditty, Picture Book Builders, and the Children's Book Reviewabout this book. There is a question and answer session with Ben Mantle at The Mudwaffler. Penny Parker Klostermann is the featured author at All The Wonders on Let's Get Busy, Episode #122. There is even more good news thanks to the tweet shown below.
They ride school buses, walk the hallways, enter our classrooms, libraries and cafeterias and roam on our playgrounds. These girls and guys are as beautiful as the other children but their distinctive individuality sets them apart from the others. Their choices, perspectives and forms of expressions are a gift to others. For whatever reason the gift though freely given is not readily received.
Be A Friend (Bloomsbury Children's Books, January 5, 2015) written and illustrated by Salina Yoon like these exceptional children is a present for her readers It's a token to be treasured, representing the wisdom and worth of walking this planet with respect and appreciation for others. It asks us to wear our differences seen on the outside and those we harbor inside with courage.
DENNIS was an ordinary boy...
...who expressed himself in
EXTRAORDINARY ways.
He was known as
MIME BOY.
Dennis never spoke. He moved his body and changed his facial features to convey his thoughts. He demonstrated without a sound how to tug a rope, ride a bicycle or go up and down stairs. He did this with a happy heart.
During show and tell his other classmates stood in front of the class speaking and displaying objects. Dennis became the things he wished to share with the other students. His imitation of a tree at recess was so convincing and sincere he became one with nature.
Regardless of being his best self, his singularity made him feel isolated at times. He wished the other children would understand him. One day his actions did draw the attention of another, a girl with the name
JOY.
For the first time it was as if he had found the other part of himself. All it takes is one someone. All it takes is a friend.
With her opening text Salina Yoon beckons us toward imagined enchantment. What is it about Dennis that is extraordinary? With each sentence and her carefully chosen words our connection to, and yes our affection for, this remarkable child grows. By revealing only one or two sentences per page, the impact of the narrative is greater. We are able feel the surge of emotion Dennis displays with Joy at the end. Here are two more sentences, one on each of two pages.
Some children liked to CLIMBa tree.
Dennis was happy to BE a tree.
Although working from an F & G, which makes me even more eager to hold the finished book in my hands, little extras are already noticeable. The title text is embossed in red foil. The stitched flower representing the miming of a blossom feels as though it has been sewn. To the left, on the back, the heart Dennis is wearing is paired with the first sentence on the same canvas as the front of the dust jacket. The book case is in horizontal stripes of black and a darker warm tan with the heart pinned on the front lower right-hand corner. On the opening and closing endpapers Dennis is shown miming eight different things or activities in a double pattern.
Heavier paper in the same hue as the dust jacket provides a wonderful background for the limited color palette of black, white, red along with several pages of softer full color when we see the other children. Rendered in
pencil on paper and colored digitally
the images are placed on a single page, span edge to edge on two pages or are grouped on two pages. By choosing to display the miming in red stitching Salina Yoon is enhancing the creativity of Dennis.
Dennis' black and white striped shirt, large top hat, the heart pinned to his shirt and painted face are adorable identifying traits. The decision to print some of the text in red and in capital letters adds importance to those words. When Yoon brings us closer to the characters' faces their presence spreads in our hearts. Careful readers will notice tiny details such as the flight of the bluebird, the placement of the pinned heart and the jump rope design at the end.
One of my many favorite illustrations is of Dennis being a tree. He is standing on a small grassy hill. His arms are outstretched one higher than the other like a branch; one leg is raised with that foot placed on the other leg. His merriment is showing on his face. A tiny blue bird has flown from the real tree to perch on his fingers.
Not only are you going to read Be A Friend written and illustrated by Salina Yoon over and over again at one sitting, you are going to want to read it to others. The combined pacing of the text and pictures is superb; a tale about needing a friend and being a friend. If you use it in a storytime make sure to have red hearts to give to your listeners.
To learn more about Salina Yoon and her other delightful books please follow the link attached to her name to access her website. She also gives us a peek at two interior pages in this book. At the publisher's website there is an activity kit you can view and download. At author Tara Lazar's website, Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), the cover for this title is revealed along with a short chat about this book. At Scholastic's Ambassador for School Libraries John Schumacher's website, Watch. Connect. Read. Salina Yoon reveals the book trailer as well as writing her readers a letter about Be A Friend.
For quite some time I've been toying with the idea of starting a series using picture books, each one with a common theme, which combine older titles with recent titles. When you've had the opportunity to read many books over decades, it's interesting to see patterns and to pair similar books together. When participating in the Picture Book August 10 for 10this past summer, I wrote about and selected titles highlighting the welcome quiet at the end of the day when parents, guardians and caregivers can share books at and about bedtime with children. Here are seven recommended titles, three more than twenty-eight years old and four released within the last six months of 2015.
Goodnight Moon (Harper & Row, 1947) written by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by Clement Hurd
You have to stop and wonder how many times this book has been read to children in the past sixty-nine years. The first four lines refer to colors and well-known objects and the next several phrases focus on nursery rhymes and a fairy tale. There is comfort in the familiar. A rhythm is established with the repetition of goodnight followed by listing items inside and outside the room. It's a lullaby of gratitude.
In the great green room There is a telephone And a red balloon And a picture of---
Bright primary and some secondary colors on double page images alternate with shades of black, gray and white used in single page pictures loosely framed using a liberal amount of white space. The pictures on the wall, the kittens playing with the yarn and the crackling fire create a mood of serenity. The adult rabbit knitting in the rocking chair, staying in the room until the bunny falls asleep brings a sense of safety and love to the story.
There have been numerous parodies and critical observations about this book but the fact remains it is and always will be a timeless classic.
The Napping House (Harcourt Children's Books, 1984)written by Audrey Wood with illustrations by Don Wood
As rain falls outside it's quiet in the house; all are sleeping. A granny, a child, a dog, a cat, a mouse and a flea doze without the apparent knowledge one is stacked upon the other until the final tiny being does what comes naturally; bites the mouse. One after the other reacts to the scaring, clawing, thumping, and bumping. A broken bed, laughter and a rainbow signal a change in more than the weather. A cumulative tale builds throughout with one sentence added to the next. Audrey Wood knows how to tell a story supplying gentle tension and a delightful resolution.
There is a house, a napping house, where everyone is sleeping. And in that house there is a bed, a cozy bed in a napping house, where everyone is sleeping.
Rendered in oil on pressed board the illustrative work of Don Wood in hues of blue progressing to the golden light of a sunny day is brimming with energy and humor. The varied positions of the sleeping granny, child, dog, cat, and mouse along with their facial expressions are sure to generate giggles and grins. When they each start waking up expect to hear guffaws. Careful readers will notice the flight of the flea.
Follow the link attached to Audrey Wood's name to access information about the work of Audrey and Don Wood at their website. Here is a link to Harcourt containing an interview with Audrey and Don Wood. At Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Sitethere are discussion topics and activities regarding this title.
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? (Candlewick Press, 1988) written by Martin Waddell with illustrations by Barbara Firth
After a day of playing outside Big Bear is ready to read his Bear Book in his cozy chair by the fire. In the darkest part of the cave he has tucked Little Bear into bed. Little Bear is not one bit tired and he is afraid of the dark.
Three times Big Bear goes to the lantern cupboard getting increasingly bigger lights to dispel the darkness. Each time he is a few pages closer to the good part of his book. When Little Bear admits to being as uneasy about the night, Big Bear takes him outside.
Final lights in the night, wise words and warm arms work their magic. Martin Waddell uses a repetition of key phrases to invite readers to participate in the story. The conversations between Big Bear and Little Bear are genuinely adorable.
"Can't you sleep, Little Bear?" yawned Big Bear, putting down his Bear Book (with just four pages to go to the interesting part) and padding over to the bed. "I'm scared," said Little Bear. "Why are you scared, Little Bear?" asked Big Bear. "I don't like the dark," said Little Bear. "What dark?" asked Big Bear. "The dark all around us," said Little Bear. "But I brought you a lantern!" said Big Bear. "Only a teeny-weeny one," said Little Bear. "And there's lots of dark!"
The illustrations rendered in watercolor, ink and pencil with the exception of three double page spreads, edge to edge, are framed in rounded arches, as if we are looking inside the cave. Some elements in the images break the lines to give a sense of openness. The antics of Little Bear in the bedroom are completely endearing. Readers will be drawn to the realistic items in the living room and Little Bear's bedroom.
Here is a link to a page created by Candlewick Press where Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth talk about their work on all the Big Bear and Little Bear books.
Ask Me (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, July 14 2015) written by Bernard Waber with illustrations by Suzy Lee
This story takes us on a day long jaunt shared by a father and his daughter. We stroll through a park and past a pond filled with geese. We look closely at butterflies flitting among flowers. We visit a small carnival and a playground. As they romp and rest among the leaves, our understanding grows. At the close of day their conversations continue as she gets ready for bed, is tucked in and good nights are exchanged.
Told through a series of questions and answers Bernard Waber takes an ordinary day lifting it into the realm of marvelous. The freedom felt by the daughter to begin with
Ask me what I like.
and her dad's willing response
What do you like?
allows us to see the special bond between them. Their chatter is like listening to a symphony.
Ask me what else. What else? I like rain. I like splishing, sploshing, and splooshing in the rain. Splishing, sploshing, and splooshing. I like those words. They're rain words. I made them up.
I know. Suzi Leebegins and ends her illustrations rendered in pencil on the opening and closing endpapers. We first see the father putting on a hat and his daughter putting on her coat in their entryway. At the close both pages are filled with fireflies, one of the girl's favorite bugs. Her color palette is introduced on the matching front dust jacket and book case and continued throughout the book filling the pages with affection and the brilliance of the season. All of the pictures cover two pages except for one. Perspective shifts to match the importance of the narrative.
To discover more about Bernard Waber and Suzi Lee and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.
The Full Moon at the Napping House (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, September 1, 2015) written by Audrey Wood with illustrations by Don Wood
Without fail if squirrelly behavior is noted in children, dogs or cats, a check of the moon phase calendar will reveal a full one is in the offing. In a companion to their 1984 bedtime classic, Audrey Wood and Don Wood take us back to the napping house. Granny, the child, the dog, the cat and the mouse are sleepless, fidgety, playful, prowling and worried. A wee nighttime visitor pays them a visit reversing the spell cast by the moon.
Using repeating phrases Audrey Wood welcomes us into the luminous atmosphere of a single night. As words are added the activity increases until a pause announces the guest. Verbs follow canceling the effects in a peaceful rhythm.
And in that bed there is a granny, a sleepless granny in a wide-awake bed in a full-moon house, where everyone is restless.
Using open acrylics on stretched and grounded watercolor paper Don Wood begins with a moon rising over rolling hills. As the story progresses you can tell by the look on Granny's face and her eyes, the actions of the child, dog, cat and mouse are driving her a little crazy. Careful readers will enjoy watching the movement of the mouse and the visitor. The use of light and shadow is as masterful here as in the original title.
Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! (Little, Brown and Company, September 8, 2015) written by Todd Tarpley with illustrations by John Rocco
A pajama-clad boy moves down the hallway with his three robot pals to get ready for bed. After scrubbing up in the bathroom it's time for all four to snuggle and sleep in their individual places. The problem is the robots. They simply can't get settled. One mechanical complication after another seems to plague them. Their boy is getting more frustrated by the minute. A trick as old as time works wonders. Mission accomplished! No more beeping only sleeping.
Told in rhyme Todd Tarpley lulls us with his words into the bedtime ritual. His use of robotic terms fits as smoothly as a well-oiled machine into the story. By having the automated companions interrupt the boy's rest once, twice and three times before his irritation causes a verbal explosion, the fourth and final request is more surprising and satisfying.
Three little robots, time for bed. Time to dim your infrared.
On the front of the dust jacket readers can readily see the friendship between the boy and his rambunctious robots. To the left, on the back, silhouettes of the three robots are shown jumping on the boy's empty bed with the full moon in the background. The color from one of the robots and the book in the boy's hand provides the canvas for the book case. On the right are the three robot faces. To the left Beep! Beep! appears in large bold letters. The spine is the same pattern as the wallpaper in the home. The opening and closing endpapers are used to introduce and conclude this rollicking romp.
At the close of the book John Rocco talks about the mouse we see on all the pages as being his daughter's idea. This little being ups the hilarity with his liveliness in every scene. Rendered in pencil, watercolor and digital paint the images are warm and reminiscent of the recent past. The decor and items in the home and the style of the robots mirror treasured childhood memories or those worth making.
Please follow the link attached to John Rocco's name to access his website. There you can learn more about him and his other work. He also has additional images from this book at his blog. At Todd Tarpley's blog you can view illustrations and read his comments about this book. Simply follow the link embedded in his name.
Thank You and Good Night (Little, Brown and Company, October 6, 2015) written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
As the day closes with a sunset, a wee bunny, Clement, is getting into his pajamas with help from his human friend Maggie. A doorbell ring announces the arrival of two friends, Jean, an elephant, and Alan, a bear. Both are wearing sleepwear. It's time for a Pajama Party!
The three take delight in bed bouncing, learning the chicken dance, participating in a funny face contest and a timeless favorite game, a bit of yoga and treats. They might pause more than once wondering if they should go to sleep but they are having too much fun. There does come a time when their activities are becoming quieter with looking, wishing and listening.
When they ask the question they have been voicing during the evening, Maggie finally says yes. The trio performs nighttime rituals and toddle toward bed. Tucked in tight they listen and then recite their thank-yous before whispering good night. A tender surprise awaits readers.
Patrick McDonnellwrites words that wrap around readers with the cozy comfort of their very own bed. His simple sentences, stating the obvious, pair beautifully with his images quietly and softly leading us into his story. The voices of the three friends are shown in speech balloons adding to the charm. Even though they would not trade in a single minute of their play, they ask from time to time in a gentle refrain
"Is it time for bed yet?"
The front picture on the matching dust jacket and book case is sure to have you gasp aloud or whisper "Aww" in your mind. Rendered in pen and ink, pencil and watercolor on handmade paper each illustration inspires a sense of calm. On the back, to the left, the three are sleeping all in a row, sharing the same pillow, in a bed. This picture, a circle, is loosely framed in a cream color. The opening and closing endpapers are blue on blue like stars in a sky.
Heavy matte-finished paper in cream is the canvas for the art work of Patrick McDonnell. Each image has a brush stroke frame or smaller pictures are placed on the page. The details are sure to have you hugging the book. When they are jumping on the bed Alan jumps right out of his pajama bottoms, their funny faces are roll-on-floor hilarious, Jean's hiding place in hide-and-seek is sure to make you laugh out loud and the attire of the singing night bird will make you smile. This book is loaded with love.
To learn more about Patrick McDonnell please follow the links attached to his name to access two websites about him and his books. Patrick McDonnell was a guest at Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries John Schumacher's website, Watch. Connect. Read.
Seven books speak about the time we take to rest. We follow the stories about a simple, ordinary but memorable conversation during a day, special events or as bedtime approaches beloved rituals. I predict many readings of all these titles for the comfortable connection they will create between readers and listeners.
As clever as other family members, their singular bird call sounds like a coded message waiting to be translated. Lately it's very easy to imagine them giving their avian friends notice of Cockatoo, Too (little bee books, an imprint of Bonnier Publishing Group, January 5, 2016) written and illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia. Humans should be on the lookout for telltale signs in the snow of a feathered-friend hoedown inspired by this new title.
