A Picture Book A Day

And Then It's Spring

2012-02-26T21:50:00.000-05:00

And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano
Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Published by Roaring Brook Press
2012

Winter is loosening its grip and outdoors everything is brown. A boy and his dog (and a rabbit and a turtle) head out carrying a bag of seeds. And then they wait. They wait for rain and sun. "And it is still brown, but a hopeful, very possible sort of brown." And they wait a bit more, looking for any sign of green. They worry about the little seeds and what could have happened to them to keep them from growing. Wait some more. And then it's spring.
And Then It's Spring is delightful, lyrical, and sweet. It's about patience and dedication. It reminded me of one of my favorite picture books, The Carrot Seed, and that's a really good thing. The illustrations by the Caldecott Medal winner Erin E. Stead are gorgeous and feel as delicate as the little seeds fighting to bring the green into the picture. Can't wait to share it in the classroom. Just beautiful!

Madeline

2012-02-25T23:15:00.001-05:00

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans
1939

Madeline was awarded the Caldecott Honor in 1940. I start by saying this because it's one of the few picture books published during the 1930s to have receive that honor and still feel like a current book and have as much appeal now as it did back then.
Madeline is the story of a brave and spunky girl who attends a Catholic boarding school for girls in Paris. She was the smallest of her class of twelve but she was the most spirited of them all. A bit of a trouble maker, she always knew how to frighten Miss Clavel with her antics. When one night Madeline wakes up screaming in pain, she is rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. When her classmates came to visit her at the hospital, Madeline proudly shows her new scar. Back at school, Miss Clavel must send to bed the rest of the girls who are all now wishing to have their own appendixes removed. "And she turned out the light- and closed the door- and that's all there is- there isn't any more.
If you have only known Madeline through her more modern portraits and editions, do yourself a favor and grab this 1939 one. The yellow and black illustrations are wonderful and the flow and rhythm of the text are delightful. Love Madeline!

If You Lived Here. Houses of the World

2012-02-24T08:26:00.043-05:00

If You Lived Here. House of the World by Giles Laroche
Illustrated by Giles Laroche
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
2011

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World is a non-fiction picture book that describes different types of homes and dwellings from all over the world. Each page spread explores a different type of home, all starting with "If you lived here" and continuing with a description of what your home would look like. Giles Laroche has included specific information about each kind of house under the headings: House Type, Material, Location, Date, and Fascinating Facts (did you know that logs from trees felled in winter were thought to last longer than those cut in other seasons?). You'll learn about Chalets, Dogtrots, Pueblos, Fujian Tulous, Palafitos and Yurts, as well as other more common types like trailers and townhouses.
The intricate bas-relief cut-paper collages created by Giles Laroche are incredible, beautiful. This is the kind of picture book that could be in a classroom library, in a home bookshelf, or in a coffee table, and feel at ease in either one.

Just in Case. A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book

2012-02-23T08:32:00.003-05:00

Just in Case. A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales
Illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Published by Roaring Brook Press
2008

Señor Calavera couldn't wait to get to Grandma Beetle's birthday party. He had ironed his tie, put on cologne, dusted his hat (which now sits on top of his cover of A Hundred Years of Solitude -a hint of the magic to come), and prepped his bike. On his way there, he heard "a moan from beyond the grave." It was Zelmiro the Ghost, a friendly looking ghost of an old man. Zelmiro reminded Señor Calavera that he needed to bring Grandma Beetle a gift. "You surely must know, the best present to give a friend is the thing she would love the most." So Señor Calavera packs up un Acordeón (an accordion), Bigotes (a mustache), Cosquillas (tickles), and un CHiflido (a whistle). Zelmiro celebrated Señor Calavera's choices but he wondered out loud, "are they what Grandma Beetle would love the most?"
Señor Calavera ends up collecting a gift for each letter of the alphabet -except the Z- but it has taken him so long that he's now late for the party and in his rush, he ends up crashing his bike and dropping all the presents. He couldn't believe his misforture. He had no more time and no presents at all...except for the person Grandma Beetle had loved the most: Grandpa Zelmiro!
Just in Case is a delightful trickster tale. Yuyi Morales has done a wonderful job of incorporating a bilingual alphabet book into the thread of a truly entertaining tale. The illustrations are gorgeous, filled with traditional Mexican images (starting with Señor Calavera, and complete with the classic Mexican lottery game) and plenty of fun details to savor over multiple reads. And you gotta love the ending!

Happy Pig Day!

2012-02-22T10:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Pig Day! by Mo Willems
Illustrated by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books
2011

Piggie is beyond excited. She runs to her friend Gerald to share with him the thrilling news: "Today is the best day of the year!" It's Happy Pig Day! Gerald had never heard of such a day, so Piggie explains how you get to sing and dance, eat pig food, and play pig games. She's even brought some of her friends along to celebrate. But how can Gerald, an elephant, join in all the fun? He doesn't look anything like a pig!
Once again, Mo Willems has given us a delightful early reader, full of clever dialogue, overly dramatic line deliveries and tons of fun. Happy Pig Day! is a wonderful reminder of finding ways to celebrate the joy of friendship. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Don't miss the Elephant and Piggie books!

The Wooden Sword

2012-02-21T10:00:00.001-05:00

The Wooden Sword by Ann Redisch Stampler
Illustrated by Carol Liddiment
Published by Albert Whitman & Company
2012

"One starry night in old Kabul, the good shah couldn't fall asleep." He looked out his window and wondered if the people in town were happy or sad, "rick or poor, foolish or wise." So he dressed up as a servant and left the palace to find out for himself without anybody recognizing him. When he reached the poorest section of the poorest street he looked inside the window of a home from which sounds of laughter and singing emerged. He saw a young couple happy together, sharing "nectar of sweet raisins by the light of their two Sabbath lamps." Wondering how poor people could be so happy, he knocked on their door and was immediately invited inside by the young man, who offered to shared his food -although he had very little. The young man explained to the shah that he was a shoe maker and that every day he earned enough to buy food for dinner. The shah was curious and questioned him "But what if one day you can't earn enough puli?" The shoemaker, while giving the shah his largest apricot, explained that he just didn't worry about that sort of thing. "If one path is blocked, God leads me to another, and everything turns out just as it should."
The shah left that night impressed and wondering how strong the shoemaker's faith might be. So he decided to test it while ensuring no harm would really come to the young man. He decreed that repairing shoes was illegal and the shoemaker found a way to work as a water delivery man that day, therefore still providing food for dinner. The shah then made delivering water illegal as well, so the young man found a new job. Nothing the shah tried seemed to shake the young man's faith and optimism. Eventually, the young man ends up as a royal guard. How will he do when he's asked to become an executioner?
The Wooden Sword is a delightful retelling of a classic Afghani Jewish folktale. It's a tale about faith, optimism, and resourcefulness to overcome any obstacles. The illustrations by Liddiment are vibrant and offer an insight into a time and culture unfamiliar to most readers. Excellent addition to the folktale library.

The Quite Contrary Man: A true American Tale

2012-02-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

The Quite Contrary Man by Patricia Rusch Hyatt
Illustrated by Kathryn Brown
Published by Abrams
2011

Before Abraham Lincoln sported his beard, there lived a man named Joseph Palmer. Since he was a little boy, he just did things his own way and his mother wondered what would become of "her pigheaded son." He was a Quite Contrary Man. During those days, people liked to look and act like each other, "which meant looking plain and acting proper." Women all wore their hear up in tightly twisted topknots and men shaved their faces bare. "No one dare to stand out from their neighbors." Except Joseph Palmer.
Joseph Palmer dared to grow a beard. And not just any beard! His beard "flowed from chin to belly and from elbow to elbow." When he walked around town, the wind would make his beard fly behind him and soon her earned the nickname of "Beard" Palmer. The townsmen considered him un-american. But his family adored him; he was fun to be around, original, and stood by what he believed in. One day, a group of townsmen tried to assault him to cut his beard and though Palmer fought them off, they ran to the judge and said they had been attacked by Palmer first. The judged fined Beard Palmer more than earned on a year, so he refused to pay and was sent to jail for a whole year. While in jail, Beard Palmer refused to shave and always found ways to defy what he considered unjust rules. When his release date arrived, they gave him a bill for the food he had consumed, so he refused to leave the jail! You won't believe the solution the sheriff and jailer came up with.
The Quite Contrary Man is a wonderful tale about man ahead of his time, who dared to stand up for civil liberties in a time when no one dared to be different. The author's note at the end of the book offer the historical background and what happened with Beard Palmer later on in life. I found myself wanting to know more about him and wished the book had kept going. It can be used to open up great classroom discussions about civil liberties and civil disobedience. Excellent addition to any classroom or non-fiction library.

The Big Bad Wolf and Me

2012-02-19T07:59:00.056-05:00

The Big Bad Wolf and Me by Delphine Perret
Illustrated by Delphine Perret
Published by Sterling Publishing
2005

A boy on his way home from school runs into a lonely figure sitting against a wall. At first he things it's a nice dog, but then the figure talks back and says that he is the Big Bad Wolf ("You know, the really scary one). The problem is that Wolf is not scary at all. In fact, he looks kind of scrawny. "Nobody believes in me anymore. I don't scare anyone. I'm done for." So the boy grabs him by the hand and brings him home. The boy hides Wolf in his bedroom and begins his new job as the wolf's teacher, training him to become a true Big Bad Wolf.
The Big Bad Wolf and Me is hilarious. The dialogue and the scenes that take place between the wolf and the boy are truly funny. I especially like their discussion around the wolf's name (the boy wants to name him Zorro, but the wolf insists that his name is Bernard -which won't work for the boy since that's the name of his great-uncle who smells like soap). Or this one:

Hey, what's the matter?
I just tried to eat you sister.
That's great! Go for it! She's a real pest.

There is also a great detail on the inside papers. The front cover one has a picture of the boy roaring and the wolf cowardly covering his head with a pillow. And the back cover has a now "reformed" wolf roaring and the boy running away in utter terror. I loved the minimalist character of the illustrations, and the perfect blend of picture book, short chapters, and comics:

I'm really in love with this one. This unlikely friendship will captivate readers.Don't miss it!

The Library

2012-02-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

The Library by Sarah Stewart
Illustrated by David Small
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux
1995

The Library is the story of Elizabeth Brown, a girl born to read. When she was little, she didn't like to play with dolls or play outside. All she wanted to do was read. She read everywhere, all the time. When she left for college, she brought with her a steamer trunk loaded with books, and in class she sat daydreaming about entering a readers' olympiad.

She manufactured library cards
And checked out books to friends,
Then shocked them with her midnight raids
To collect the books again.

Elizabeth preferred books to going out on dates, or dancing with her friends. She moved to a little town and lived a life devoted to her love of books. Eventually, she accumulated so many books that "she had to face the awful fact, she could not have one more," so she ended up donating all her books to create The Elizabeth Brown Free Library.
The Library is a beautiful book in every sense of the word. The character portrayed by Stewart is funny and lovable, and the gorgeous illustrations by Small add to Elizabeth's loveliness. I love the way Small framed the images and added ink designs to accompany the rhyming verses. I especially liked those pages where the illustrations cannot be contained by the frames anymore, and books end up spilling all over the page.
There is an underlying quirkiness about Elizabeth and readers get a glimpse of it with hilarious lines (with illustrations to match) like:

She made a list of groceries
And tucked it in her book,
Then lost the list among the fruits
And left with nothing to cook.
She read about Greek goddesses
While vacuuming the floor.
Attending only to her book,
She'd walk into a door.

I dare you not to fall in love with Elizabeth Brown. This is one of my favorite picture books. Enjoy!

Just Behave, Pablo Picasso!

2012-02-17T20:20:00.003-05:00

Just Behave, Pablo Picasso! by Jonah Winter
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books
2012

Just Behave, Pablo Picasso! explores Picasso's early years as a painter. We learn about his amazing abilities since he was a young boy in art class, where "in the time that it takes them [older pupils] to do a sketch, Pablo has completed a large oil painting." Picasso never stopped evolving as an artist. "In the time it takes other people to admire the exquisite beauty of his art, young Pablo has moved onto some other style." Though art patrons asked him to focus in the type of art that sold well, Picasso kept pushing the envelope, saying that "to copy yourself is pathetic!" The book takes us on a journey of the evolution of his art all the way to his cubist stage.
The illustrations by Hawkes are bold, colorful and play with perspectives while also portraying some of Picasso's most famous works. There are some wonderful images illustrated by Hawkes like where we see Picasso literally exploding into the art scene, jumping into the middle of a realistic painting of an idyllic landscape. Also, there are some very nice transitions between his different stages like the tail end of his matador cape as he moves from museums to bullfight arenas. Or the foreshadowing of his blue period while in France, announced by the deep blue used to color the underbelly of the Arc de Triumph in Paris.
Just Behave, Pablo Picasso! is a non-fiction picture book that shows the courage and brilliance of Picasso. There is an extensive author's note adding to the historical context and importance of Picasso. Fantastic addition to a biography or nonfiction library.

In the Time of the Drums

2012-02-16T22:43:00.000-05:00

In the Time of the Drums by Kim L. Siegelson
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
1999

"In the long ago time before now, on an island fringed by marge meadows and washed by ocean tides, mean and women and their children lived enslaved. This was the time when giant live oaks trembled with the sound of drums and, say some, it was a time when people could walk beneath the water."

So begins this incredible tale. A boy named Mentu, born in the island, lived with his grandmother Twi, who had come from Africa. "There, she had learned powerful root magic" and whites and blacks all feared her. But Mentu had known nothing but kindness from his grandmother. "Some said his first breath had come from her own mouth. That as a new babe he had been still until she whispered the secret of life into his tongue." From Twi, Mentu learned how to play the drums, how to be strong, and the songs and stories from her Africa.
One day, a large ship arrived carrying slaves. When the slaves heard the sound of the African drums welcoming the ship, they thought they had made it back to their land, but as they emerged bound and tied, they didn't recognize the island. As the slave traders hit them with their whips, the slaves began chanting a song in their own language. Twi let Mentu know that his time to be strong had arrived, that the song from the slaves talked about going home, "say the water brought'em cross the passage and it can take'em back, fe true." As Twi ran towards the ship and the water that would take her and the slaves back to their home, her body transformed into the young woman she had been when she had left Africa many years before. She held hands with her people and as many times as the slave catchers tried to slip ropes around their necks, nothing could hold them back. They walked beneath the water chanting "the water can takes us home. It can takes us home."
Years later, the islanders stoped casting their nets in the area "for fear of pulling up those chains sunk deep in soft gray mud." And Mentu grew strong and played the drums with his children. He told the stories Twi had taught him, "so rich that they wondered if he had lived in Africa himself."
In the Time of the Drums is one of the most powerful picture books I've ever read. Siegelson masterfully tells the story, with gorgeous details and beautiful language. And the illustrations by the incredible Brian Pickney are, as usual, mesmerizing. This one will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Spellbinding.

White Snow Bright Snow

2012-02-15T19:30:00.003-05:00

White Snow Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin
Published by HarperCollins
1947
Caldecott Medal 1948

I know it's been a unseasonably warm winter here in the US, and I would normally not complain. In fact, for someone who grew up by the Caribbean Ocean, a warm winter is a great winter. But then you read White Snow Bright Snow, and the gorgeous text by Tresselt makes you wish you could look out your window and see the world covered in a snow blanket.

Softly, gently in the secret night,
Down from the North came the quiet white.
Drifting, sifting, silent flight,
Softly, gently, in the secret night.

The postman, the farmer, and the policeman felt the snow approaching and each prepared for it accordingly. The postman put on his rubbers, the farmer grabbed his snow shovel and the policeman buttoned up his coat. Suddenly "the air was filled with soft powdery snowflakes, whispering quietly as they sifted down." The children tried to catch the snowflakes on their tongues. That night, "silently, the frost made pictures of ice ferns on the window panes."
Tresselt's beautiful descriptions of the snowy day continue:

[In the morning]
Automobiles looked like big fat raisins buried in snowdrifts.
Houses crouched together, their windows peeking out from under great white eyebrows.

As the days start getting warmer, and spring starts making his way, "fence post lost their dunce caps, the snowman's arms dropped off, and running water gurgled in gutters and rain pipes." "And the children watched for the first robin to tell them Spring had really come."
White Snow Bright Snow is a book to savor one line at time. Unfortunately, for me, the illustrations don't capture the beauty of the text. In fact, in the printing I read, there were instances where the grays of the background made it difficult to read the text. But take may word for it, there is enough beauty in Tresselt's words to transport you to a winter wonderland. Just beautiful!

Cybils Awards Announced!

2012-02-14T22:23:00.001-05:00

My heart belongs to Picture Books and what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than to share the wonderful news that the Cybils Awards for 2011 have just been announced!
As you may already know, I was lucky and honored to be a Round 1 Panelist Judge for the Fiction Picture Book category this year. We read over 250 picture books and ended up selecting 5 finalist. From those five (drum roll, please), here is your 2011 Cybils Award Winner:

Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnell
Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
2011
Caldecott Honor 2012

Click here for my review of Me...Jane

Please visit Cybils Awards for 2011 to see all the other winners in categories such as: Book App, Nonfiction Picture Book, Early Chapter Books, Easy Readers, Poetry, Graphic Novels, and more!

East Dragon, West Dragon

2012-02-13T22:15:00.000-05:00

East Dragon, West Dragon by Robyn Eversole
Illustrated by Scott Campbell
Published by Simon and Schuster
2012

"East Dragon lived in a palace. West Dragon lived in a cave." They lived on opposite sides of the world and they didn't think too kindly of each other. "West Dragon thought East Dragon was a snob. East Dragon thought West Dragon was a slob." They weren't quite sure who was stronger or fiercer, so they were a little bit afraid of each other and "kept a world between them, just in case."
East Dragon lived a peaceful life with his eight brothers and sisters inside the emperor's palace, who loved having them around for good luck and wise advice. On the other hand West Dragon was not treated kindly by the King and knights who were a total nuisance. They would barge into his cave "waving their silly swords," interrupting his naps. So when West Dragon gives the king a map to guide his knights to a land far East full of treasure and adventures, the two worlds are set to collide. What will happen when the two dragons meet?
East Dragon, West Dragon is a wonderful twist on "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse" story. Its filled with humor and wonderfully paced. The watercolor illustrations by Campbell add to the whimsical feeling, full of details and clever anachronism (Karaoke, piñatas, video-games and pizza!). Wonderful way to bring two worlds into a classroom discussion with tons of fun, but also the possibility of a serious conversation about stereotypes and preconceptions. Loved it!

Aggie Gets Lost

2012-02-12T22:38:00.000-05:00

Aggie Gets Lost by Lori Ries
Illustrated by Frank W. Dormer
Published by Charlesbridge
2011

Ben took his dog Aggie for a walk in the park. He took the leash off to play fetch and threw his red ball as far as he could. Aggie went running after it and Ben lost sight of her. He waited and waited, but Aggie never came back. His parents helped him look for her, made signs and called the neighbors, but that night Ben went to bed sad, not knowing if he would ever see his adored dog again. When he returned to the park the next day, a blind man showed him how to see with his other senses, and soon enough Ben heard the calls coming from Aggie, deep in the forest.
Aggie Gets Lost is organized in three short chapters: The Bad Day, The Awful Night, and Found! What I found to be special about Aggie Gets Lost is that it is an early reader book, with simple text, but nevertheless, it captures the pain and feelings of loss that someone who looses a pet faces. Excellent addition to any Early Reader's library.

When Blue Met Egg

2012-02-11T22:22:00.000-05:00

When Blue Met Egg by Lindsay Ward
Illustrated by Lindsay Ward
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers
2012

"One snowy morning, Blue was awakened by something extraordinary flying through the air." Below, unbeknownst to her, a group of kids were having a snowball fight, and one of the snowballs had landed right on her nest, on a big tree in Central Park. Blue packed Egg inside a bucket and immediately began her search for Egg's mother. With Egg in its bucket, Blue traveled all over Manhattan visiting all the spots where she had seen other birds hang out. She looked all over Central Park, along the street cart vendors, and even atop skyscrapers, but no bird seemed to be looking for Egg. She even made flyers announcing she had found Egg, but no luck. As the days went by, Blue spent the winter enjoying Egg's company, playing in the park, visiting the Metropolitan Opera House, and Guggenheim. But the weather was getting warmer, and it didn't seem to be siting well with Egg.
When Blue Met Egg is lovely. Truly lovely. It's a story of friendship, companionship, loss, and new beginnings. As the reader, your heart aches as soon as you realize Blue will eventually loose Egg forever as soon as the winter cold ends. Ward found a wonderful way of providing an uplifting ending and a new companionship that will forever connect Blue and Egg. The illustrations using paper collages and mixed media are fantastic. I found myself looking for all the little details hidden in the type of paper that Ward was using. By the way, I give extra points to Ward for having found a fantastic way of turning those dreaded answer sheets that schools use for high stakes testing into beautiful art. Also, the fact that the story takes place in NYC gives it an extra touch, finding something as small and sweet as Blue, making her way through such a big place and just owning it. When Blue Met Egg is definitely going to be on my favorites of 2012 shelf. Don't miss this one!

Bittle

2012-02-10T23:14:00.000-05:00

Bittle by Patricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan
Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Published by Joanna Cotler Books
2006

Nigel the cat and Julia the dog, led a happy life with their owners. Nigel spent his days chasing mice in the fields and scratching rugs, and Julia relaxed and thought about bones and treats. When their owners start repainting a room, buying booties, and bringing in new furniture, the pets realize that a baby is on its way. The day the baby girl moved in, Julia commented that it didn't smell like anything she knew. "What good is she? She's just a little bit of a thing." That's why Nigel decided to name the baby Bittle. At first the pets were hesitant and didn't know exactly how they should feel about Bittle. But little by little their whole world starts to revolve around the baby. They played together, cuddled up to take naps together, and even shared their meals. So by the time Bittle is ready to say her first words, it becomes evident what a big part of her life Nigel and Julia have become.
Bittle is a tender tale about the bond that's created between young children and their pets. The illustrations by Yaccarino are bold and bright over their white backgrounds. Children with pets will identify with Bittle right away, and those with no pets might be asking to get a dog and a cat as soon as they read Bittle.

Slugs in Love

2012-02-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

Slugs in Love by Susan Pearson
Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
Published by Marshall Cavendish
2006

Marylou had never talked to Herbie because she was too shy. But she loved everything about him, "how his slime trail glistened in the dark, how he could stretch himself thin to squeeze inside the cellar window, how he always found the juiciest tomato." Thinking of Herbie always inspired Marylou and she started to write poems to Herbie and leave them all over the garden. Herbie was intrigued, and little by little, Marylou's poems captured his heart. Unfortunately, every time Herbie left a note for Marylou, something would happened that would prevent her from seeing it. And even worse, Herbie had no idea who Marylou was or what she looked like. Will those romantic slugs ever find a way to meet face to face?
Slugs in Love is a very sweet love story, perfect for a Valentine's Day read aloud. The little poems the slugs write to each other with slime are little samples to be emulated by kids while writing their own Valentines. Who would've thought slugs could be so likable?

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald No Combina

2012-02-08T21:55:00.002-05:00

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald No Combina by Monica Brown
Illustrated by Sara Palacios
Spanish translation by Adriana Domínguez
Published by Children's Book Press
2011
Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Books 2012

Marisol McDonald doesn't match, that's what everybody tells her. She has brown skin and red hair, wears green polka dots with purple stripes, and likes to write part of her name in print and part in cursive. She's Peruvian-Scottish-American and when she speaks she likes to also mix English and Spanish. She's happy the way she is, but others keep complaining, so Marisol decides to try to match, to combine her clothes and conform. Thankfully, one of her teachers let's Marisol know that she's loved just the way she is.
Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald No Combina is a delightful story about loving yourself for who you truly are without trying to fit into any mold. The story is written in English and Spanish (wonderful translation) and one of my favorite parts in when she mixes the two languages, and you can see the text mirrored in both side of the page -on the left in English with some words in Spanish, on the right in Spanish with some words in English. Palacios' illustrations are beautiful and fresh. Great book to open up conversations about multiculturalism in the classroom.

Dear Hot Dog. Poems About Everyday Stuff

2012-02-07T22:36:00.000-05:00

Dear Hot Dog by Mordicai Gerstein
Illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein
Published by Abrams
2011

Dear Hot Dog is a collection of poems about everyday items and experiences. The collection starts with poems related to the early hours of the day, getting dressed, brushing your teeth, having breakfast. Among this first group of poems, my favorite is Shoes:

You swallow my feet
for breakfast.
You love to run
and though I'm fast
you always
want to run faster
and faster.
Do you wish I were a horse?
Do you want to be
horseshoes
when you grow up?

The middle group of poems concentrates on topics like playing outdoors (Kite, Air, Water), snacks (Hot Dog, Ice-Cream Cone), and the weather (Summer Sun, Leaves, Rain). There are some great images in those verses:

Where I imitate dolphins
and sharks till I flop
on the hot concrete
and you lick
me dry (from Summer Sun)

Wash away
the ordinary,
everyday world,
and in your flooded
gutters, I'll sail off
in my newspaper boat
to the land of mossy
rocks and gigantic ferns (from Rain)

The final group of poems, include nighttime topics: Bear (about a teddy bear), Light, and Pillow.

Where do you go
when its dark?
Back into lightbulbs

Dear Hot Dog will be a good introduction to poetry for the younger readers and early elementary classrooms. It includes familiar topics and accessible text and offers a great opportunity to have students create their own odes to everyday objects (and you might as well throw in some of Pablo Neruda's odes...his ode to the artichoke is one of my favorites). The illustrations by Caldecott Medal Winner Mordicai Gerstein will delight readers who will find themselves reflected in one of the pages of the multicultural children.

Another Brother

2012-02-06T22:26:00.000-05:00

Another Brother by Matthew Cordell
Illustrated by Matthew Cordell
Published by Feiwel and Friends
2012

"For four glorious years, Davy had Mom and Dad all to himself." He had their undivided attention and everything he did brought tears of joy to his parents. But then Davy got a brother, and another, and another...In fact, Davy ended up having 12 whole brothers. Talk about change! Davy went from being an only child to being one in a baker's dozen. And being the oldest brother was hard. Whatever Davy did, his brothers would imitate. Wherever he went, his brothers would follow. Poor Davy was going bonkers. His parents explained that it was only a phase, that soon, "your brothers will have their own interests" and they would stop copying him. But when you've gotten used to a crowd following you around and doing everything you do, and then suddenly they stop, well, then you feel... lonely. If only there could be a new baby at home to emulate Davy again.
Another Brother is a delightfully funny and tender picture book. The story of adjusting to a new sibling has been told many times before, but I love the way Cordell focuses on the frustrations of the older sibling being copied. The illustrations are cartoon like, with plenty of funny details to savor at each page turn. Wonderful addition to the library of any soon to be older brother/sister.

We Are in a Book!

2012-02-05T23:30:00.000-05:00

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
Illustrated by Mo Willems
Published by Hyperion Books for Children
2010

It's been a while since I've written about Elephant and Piggie, two of my favorite characters. I just couldn't miss the opportunity to share with you We Are in a Book!. It is simply brilliant. I love when books play with metafiction and this one does it in such a fun way that I ended up enjoying it as much as my son and my students.
Elephant and Piggie notice that somebody is watching them: the reader. That's when they decide to have fun with the reader by making him say whatever they want to aloud, in this case, "banana." The best part comes when Elephant and Piggie realized that if they are in fact in a book, then that book will soon come to an end. And then, what will happen to them?
The format of the Elephant and Piggie books, with its cartoon speech bubbles, is perfect for early readers. The text is short, quick witted, and fast paced. As I've said before in previous blogs, I've yet to meet a kid who doesn't love those two characters. They are great books to read aloud, for partner reader, and even for quick reader's theater in the classroom. Check them out!

CelebriTrees. Historic & Famous Trees of the World

2012-02-04T22:56:00.000-05:00

CelebriTrees by Margi Preus
Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon
Published by Henry Holt and Company
2011

You know you have found a special non-fiction picture book, when you keep saying, "Wow!" aloud and you look around for somebody to share with all the amazing things you just learned. That's exactly what happened to me as I read CelebriTrees. This wonderful picture book profiles fourteen trees that have been labeled "Celebritrees" for their global fame and historical significance. There is Methuselah, a Bristlecone Pine in Inyo National Forest in California that is around 4,800 years old. Or General Sherman, a Giant Sequoia who's branches are "bigger than any tree growing east of the Mississippi River." The Bhodi Tree in Sri Lanka, said to be the tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. Or maybe your favorite will be the Major Oak in the Sherwood Forest, where Robin Hood and his men used to hide from pursuers. Each tree in this collection is more captivating than the next.
The illustrations by Gibbon capture the grandeur and beauty of each of the trees. At the end of the book, there is more information about each of the trees profiled, as well as environmental science resources and ways to help protect and grow new celebritrees. This a truly captivating non-fiction book that belongs in all classroom libraries.

Henry in Love

2012-02-03T20:02:00.000-05:00

Henry in Love by Peter McCarty
Illustrated by Peter McCarty
Published by Balzer + Bray
2010

Henry woke up to the smell of delicious blueberry muffins that his mom had made for him to take to school. Henry is a boy of few words, especially when it comes to his lovely classmate Chloe. Chloe can do awesome cartwheels, and she's not shy at all. And today of all days, the teacher has moved Henry's seat so that he's right next to Chloe! And it's snack time. He has saved the muffin all day and as he takes it out, Henry gives his beautiful blueberry muffin to Chloe.
Henry in Love is a beautiful book. The cream color pages and gorgeous illustrations by McCarty, set the perfect mood for Henry's love. When he thinks about Chloe, the pages fill with flowers. Henry in Love will appeal to even the shyest kid, with a sweet school crush. Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Keeper of Soles

2012-02-02T22:55:00.000-05:00

Keeper of Soles by Teresa Bateman
Illustrated by Yayo
Published by Holiday House
2006

Colin was a dedicated shoemaker and a very generous man. While he made a lot of money selling his shoes to the richest people in the kingdom, he used that profit to make shoes for those who couldn't afford them. One night, there was a knock at his door, and when Colin opened the door he found a tall figure wearing a long black cloak. The figure spoke and said that it was Death, "with a voice that spoke of graveyards and dark, starless nights." Death had come to take Colin's soul. Colin though about all the shoes he still had to make, about "all the feet that would go cold and bare." And that's when he noticed that Death was barefoot. Colin finds a way to distract Death from its mission by making him a pair of sandals. A confused Death walks away with a plan to return in four weeks to try on his new shoes. Time after time Colin is able to distract Death with new pairs of shoes. Years go by and Death keeps taking soles instead of souls.
I loved Keeper of Soles. It has a great plot --the kind that allows for oral retellings-- and the illustrations by Yayo are whimsical and brilliant. There are details to be savored over multiple readings, especially the amazing shoe designs Yayo has come up with. While the topic of Death at the front door might be a bit dark for the youngest readers, Colin's wit and good heart make it a bright and delightful book. Great find.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

2012-02-01T22:22:00.000-05:00

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by Paul Yalowitz
Published by Bradbury Press
1991

"Mr. Hatch was tall and thin and he did not smile." He was quite unsociable. Then, one day the postman delivers to him a gigantic box of chocolates in a heart shaped box with a note that read, "Somebody loves you." It was Valentine's Day. He was shocked to realized he had a secret admirer! "And then he did something he had never done before: He laughed. He laughed and danced and clapped his hands." And his joy was contagious. He suddenly became friendly, helpful, generous. He baked for the neighbors and lent a helping hand everywhere he went.
Months later the postman returned and admitted he had made a mistake and the box of chocolates was never supposed to have been delivered to Mr. Hatch. It was the wrong address. Mr. Hatch was heartbroken. But, when you give so much, all that love comes back to you. And this time, there was not one, but a whole town of admirers of Mr. Hatch ready to show him how much they loved him.
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is without a doubt my favorite read aloud to share for Valentine's Day. It's a great story, with a great plot, and with a long text perfect for the upper elementary grades. Great book to open up a conversation about showing others your appreciation and love.

Red Sled

2012-01-31T22:46:00.000-05:00

Red Sled by Lita Judge
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
2011

"Scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch scrinch scrunch." A young boy makes his way through the snow back to a cabin in the woods, carrying his red sled. He leaves the sled outside and as the night falls, a brown bear sees the sled and takes it for a ride. While having a blast sledding, he's joined by a rabbit, a moose, raccoons, a possum, a porcupine and a mouse (that's my favorite illustration: the porcupine holding onto the moose's antlers and shouting "whoa"). The bear returns the sled at the end of the night, and in the morning the boy finds the bear's tracks next to the cabin. As the snow begins to fall, he waits by the window, an eye on his red sled.
Red Sled is practically wordless, except for some spots of onomatopoeias. The joy of the book lies in its gorgeous illustrations. There is a sense of adventure and fun reflected in the facial expressions of the animals. Beautiful book to share during a snowy day.

The Ballad of Valentine

2012-01-30T22:22:00.000-05:00

The Ballad of Valentine by Alison Jackson
Illustrated by Tricia Tusa
Published by Dutton Children's Books
2002

Valentine lives in a small cottage in a remote canyon, where she goes about her daily chores without knowing that in the distance she has an enamored admirer. He has a question to ask her, but try as he may, he can never reach Valentine:

In a cabin, in a canyon,

Near a mountain laced with pine,

Lived a girl who was my sweetheart

And her name was Valentine.

Oh my darling, oh my darling,

Oh my darling Valentine,

I have written forty letters,

But you never read a line.

He tried to send her a letter, but the mailman couldn't find Valentine's address. He trained a homing pigeon, but it dropped the letter in Madagascar. He even tried to send smoke signals, but "a cyclone stole the message, and it vanished one more time." Meanwhile Valentine is baking a pie...and as the enamored boy sits in total despair hoping to one day ask her to be his Valentine, we see her climbing up to the hill where he lives.
The Ballad of Valentine follows the melody of Oh My Darling, Clementine, and I dare you not to start singing along after a couple of pages. The story is sweet and funny and the illustrations by Tusa are delightful. Great read aloud for Valentine's Day.

Stone Soup

2012-01-29T21:27:00.000-05:00

Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Illustrated by Marcia Brown
Published by Charles Scribner's Sons
Caldecott Medal 1947

Three soldiers in a foreign country were making their way home from an unnamed war. They hadn't eaten for two days and were very tired and hungry. In the distance they saw the lights of a village and hoped to find a bite to eat and a place to rest. But the villagers heard the approaching soldiers, and they "feared strangers," so they quickly decided to hide their food. When the soldiers reached the village, they went door to door asking for food and lodging but they always heard 'no' as an answer. Quick on their feet, the soldiers announced they'll just have to make stone soup, and tricked the villagers to bring all the ingredients on their wish list. When the stone soup was finally ready, the peasants end up bringing tables and they all shared the meal. "Never had there been such a feast. Never had the peasants tasted such soup. And fancy, made from stones!"
Stone Soup is a classic. The story has been retold many times since Brown's version of the French story was published in 1947. But hers is my favorite. Though the illustrations are done with only reds, whites and blacks, the facial expressions add so much detail that I didn't miss other colors. There is also a lot to discuss about the story: the peasants attitude towards the soldiers (it's during a war so their fears and selfishness might be warranted), the trickery of the soldiers, and the joy found in sharing -even with a stranger you once feared. Classic.

Underground

2012-01-28T21:12:00.000-05:00

Underground by Shane W. Evans
Illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Published by Roaring Brook Press
2011
Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrator (2012)

Underground is the story of a family's journey to freedom through the Underground Railroad. They start in the darkness, literally and metaphorically, and they escape. They run, hide and crawl on their way to the light, to freedom.
Talk about powerful. Underground has, on average, just two words per page. But those words combined with the amazing illustrations by Shane W. Evans, makes this a book you won't soon forget. The tension created by the words and the dark illustrations builds up. There are few spots of white light in the pages during their escape. Even when they are resting under the night sky, they can't be completely at ease, and we see the whites in the eyes of one of the men who watches over the rest of his sleeping family. As they get closer and closer to freedom, there is light in the horizon. And finally, there's the sun. "Freedom. I am free. He is free. She is free. We are free."
There is also an author's note at the end of the book talking about the Underground Railroad.
Wonderful book. This one should be shared at home and the classroom. Perfect for February, African American History Month.

When Giants Come to Play

2012-01-27T21:35:00.000-05:00

When Giants Come to Play by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Published by Harry N. Abrams
2006

I dare you to open up When Giants Come to Play, read the first lines and look at the gorgeous illustrations by Hawkes and not fall immediately in love with this book! I know I did.

Sometimes, on a summer morning, when the sun shines just so and the wind blows like this and like that on its way to somewhere else, giants come to play.

They come to play with Ana and they do all kinds of things together. The play hide and seek, marbles, catch and even jump rope. "On mild days, they gather flowers in the garden," and enjoy a cup of mint tea and chocolate cake. Those days when the giants come to play, leave Ana wishing they would just decide to stay.
When Giants Come to Play is gorgeous. Andrea Beaty has written a beautiful lyrical prose, that sings to the joys of friendship and imagination. Hawkes illustrations are captivating, and will make you wish his two giants would come to visit you as well. One of my favorite illustrations accompanies this text: "When giants come to play, they dangle their toes in the cool shady pond and whisper secrets until their shadows grow long and sleepy." Great read loud.

Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet

2012-01-26T22:05:00.001-05:00

Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet by Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrated by Bob Shea
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers
2011

For a goldfish, Gilbert is living the high life. He has a nice clean fishbowl with a magnificent stone castle, a treasure chest, and shiny tasty flakes of food fall from the sky just when he needs them. But there is one problem: Gilbert Goldfish really, really wants a pet. He dreamed about it all the time! He wanted to know what it was like to have something "to care for and love." One day, he thought his luck had changed when the heard barking outside his fishbowl. And for a while everything was great; "he swam around and around in happy circles. The dog ran around and around in happy circles too." But the dog barked and barked and even drank water from the fish tank! So Gilbert was actually relieved when the dog was gone.
A mouse came next, but after running around the fishbowl, getting Gilbert all excited, he realized the fish was not cheese and left. "Gilbert's little fishy heart went pitter-patter-plop." Then a fly...poor thing got squashed right in front of Gilbert. Brokenhearted, "he cried enough tears to fill a ten-gallon aquarium." And then, Gilbert sees the shadow of a new creature before him, with whiskers and a large body. Could this be the pet he had always wanted?
Gilbert Goldfish is delightful, cute and funny. The theme of someone wanting a pet has been quite popular during the last couple of years, but DiPucchio has found a refreshing twist with a surprising ending. Shea's illustrations are vibrant and exciting. And the last six pages are...you'll see!

One Little Chicken

2012-01-25T22:22:00.000-05:00

One Little Chicken by Elka Weber
Illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Published by Tricycle Press
2011

Leora found a chicken in her yard. She didn't know where it had come from but she was excited at the prospect of being able to have fresh eggs for breakfast everyday. But the chicken was not hers, and her mother, Mrs.Bendosa, reminded her: "You know the rule. Finders aren't keepers." The family is determined to return the chicken as soon as they find its rightful owner, and meanwhile they will take very good care of it. Soon the chicken has become a flock of chickens and they trade them for a goat. The goat makes enough cheese that they are able to buy a second goat. The pair of goats become a family and soon there are goats everywhere around the Bendosa's yard. When the owner of the chicken finally appears, the Bendosa's give him the whole herd of goats.
One Little Chicken will challenge kids to question "finders, keepers". There is something more rewarding about "finders aren't keepers", especially when it follows the example of One Little Chicken. The Author's Note at the end of the book explains the origins of this Jewish rule. The illustrations by Kleven are folksy, vibrant, and full of textures are details. Delightful read.

The Skywriter

2012-01-24T20:49:00.000-05:00

The Skywriter by Dennis Haseley
Illustrated by Dennis Nolan
Published by Roaring Book Press
2008

"Charles was kneeling by the dollhouse. He was talking to the figures, and they were talking back. He was just a little boy then." Charles would play with his three figurines: the airplane man, the soldier, and the baker. They would talk about flying on a plane, writing letters in the sky and visiting far-off lands.
As the years go by, Charles gets older and can't hear the figures talk anymore. One day, while he's cleaning his play room to prepare it for a new baby brother, he finds the figures again. He packs all his old toys in a box to be thrown out. That night, he goes back to the toys and though he can't hear them, he plays with them. He thought it was all a bit silly, but before he goes back to bed, he grabbed some chalk and on a scrap of paper he wrote "Here we go!", the same words that the airplane man would say he wanted to write in the sky. After he leaves, the toys come out of the playhouse and see the words written in their sky. The next morning, Charles runs to the curb and rescues the three figures before the garbage truck gets there.
The Skywriter is a heartfelt story about growing up. I couldn't help thinking about Toy Story as I read the book. The illustrations by Nolan are amazing. I especially loved the contrast of the lifelike images of Charles and his sister and brother, and the image of the figures coming alive.

Caldecott 2012

2012-01-23T22:04:00.000-05:00

The Caldecott Medal Winner and the Caldecott Honors were announced today by the American Library Association. "The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children."
I was very excited to see some amazing books receive the recognition they deserve. All of the books have been previously reviewed in this blog, so here are the links to each one.

Caldecott Medal Winner 2012
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Illustrated by Chris Raschka
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books
2011

Caldecott Honors 2012

Blackout by John Rocco
Illustrated by John Rocco
Published by Hyperion Book
2011
Caldecott Honor 2012

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Illustrated by Lane Smith
Published by Roaring Brook Press
2011
Caldecott Honor 2012

Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnell
Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
2011
Caldecott Honor 2012

The Dragon Prince

2012-01-22T21:36:00.001-05:00

The Dragon Prince by Laurence Yep
Illustrated by Kam Mak
Published by Harper Collins
1999

It's the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon, so to celebrate it, we read The Dragon Prince.
A poor chinese farmer is captured by a dragon who will eat him unless one of the farmer's daughters agrees to marry him. One by one, each of the daughters comes to where the dragon is holding the farmer, but all of them run away scared. All except for Seven, the youngest of his daughters. Seven agrees to marry the dragon, who takes her on his back and soars "over the hills and mountains, past deserts and seas, on and on, until the sleeping world became a ball of dark velvet and the lakes silvery sequins." The dragon takes Seven to a palace underwater. There, Seven sees beyond the outward appearance of the dragon and falls in love. The Dragon realizes he has finally found his match and turns into a handsome prince.
The Dragon Prince is a chinese version of the Beauty and the Beast. The story gets a bit clunky when Seven heads back to see her family and her jealous sister Three pushes her into a river to try to take her place. But overall, it's quite entertaining with lyrical language and breathtaking illustrations by Mak. A good choice to have some comparative lit discussions in the classroom and to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

My Heart Will Not Sit Down

2012-01-21T23:22:00.000-05:00

My Heart Will Not Sit Down by Mara Rockliff
Illustrated by Ann Tanksley
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
2012

It's the 1930's at the hight of the Great Depression in America. On other side of the "great salt river," in Cameroon, a young girl, Kedi, is at school. Kedi finds out from her American teacher that people are starving in New York and she knows she must do something to help. "All day, Kedi thought about the hungry children in New York, America, and her heart stood up for them in sympathy." Her heart would not sit down until she had found a way to help. She spent the day going all over her village asking everybody for money to send to America. Her mother gives her the only coin she had, and Kedi is sad that she has such a small amount to give to the teacher. But then, everybody she had talked to arrived at school to give the money they had.
Based on a true story, My Heart Will Not Sit Down is moving and memorable, with crisp text and vibrant illustrations. In the extensive author's note, we learn more abut the true event: "In 1931, the city of New York received a gift of $3.77 to feed the hungry. It came from the African country of Cameroon." The note also includes other stories from around the world, of people helping each other across continents. My Heart Will Not Sit Down is a wonderful read aloud to share in classrooms and inspire students to find a common cause and help. Beautiful book!

Bandits

2012-01-20T20:33:00.000-05:00

Bandits by Johanna Wright
Illustrated by Johanna Wright
Published by Roaring Brook Press
2011

"When the sun goes down and the moon comes up, beware of the bandits that prowl through the night." Wearing their black masks, the raccoons are ready to sneak around and do whatever they please. They'll go through our trash and they'll steal the fruit from our trees. And then they'll "head for the hills to split up the loot."
The cast of Bandits, is a family of raccoons that will change the way you look at those nighttime creepers. After taking the loot, they sit down as a family to have a picnic (using one of the clothing articles they've stolen as the picnic blanket). While the humans are waking up, the bandits are packing up and heading to their hideout, "laying low through the day," reading and playing at home. "But just until the sun goes down."
The illustrations by Wright are delightful and offer many details to engage the young readers. Cool group of Bandits.

Say Something, Perico

2012-01-19T22:27:00.000-05:00

Say Something, Perico by Trudy Harris
Illustrated by Cecilia Rebora
Published by Millbrook Press
2011

Little Perico, the parrot, lives at the pet store. A woman came to the store, saw Perico and asked if he could talk. She tried to get him to say "Polly-wants-a-cracker", but Perico was thristy so he said "Agua." Unfortunately, neither the pet store owner, nor the woman, spoke Spanish and they thought he said "opera." The woman, who loved opera, bought the parrot thinking it would accompany her to a performance that same evening. As expected, the trip to the opera was a disaster, and Perico was returned to his cage at the pet store.
The scene repeats with different potential owners. Everybody misunderstands Perico because they don't know he's speaking Spanish. So he's always returned to the store. Perico, afraid he'll never find a home, starts practicing at night all the English phrases that people have wanted him to say. Finally, a boy comes to the store and hears Perico speaking English and Spanish and, being bilingual himself, finds him to be the perfect pet.
Say Something, Perico is an entertaining and thought provoking picture book. I love the fact that at the end of the story, Perico is valued for being a bilingual bird. But the road to that resolution was heartbreaking at times, especially when he's called dumb by one of the people at the store, and we see the bird lowering his head, sad and feeling unwanted. At the end, though, there is a happy ending, and Perico is now considered a "clever bird," by the boy's mother.

School for Bandits

2012-01-18T22:09:00.000-05:00

School for Bandits by Hannah Shaw
Illustrated by Hannah Shaw
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
2011

Ralph was very well behaved, with impeccable manners, sweet, and tidy. Unfortunately for him, that's not what is expected of you when you are a raccoon. How could he ever become a great raccoon bandit like his Grandpa Cutlass or his Uncle Whiskers? His parents were really worried, so they decided there was only one solution: to send Ralph to Bandit School. With his necktie and peaceful spirit, Ralph didn't fit in at all. He failed all his classes miserably. He just didn't seem to get the idea, and his teacher Mrs. Mischief scolded him: "Ralph Raccoon! You MUST learn to take things that aren't yours WITHOUT asking.
At the end of the term, the teacher gave each raccoon a loot bag to fill during the break. Whoever gathered the largest loot, would win the BEST BANDIT IN SCHOOL competition. Ralph wasn't a bit interested, but when his good deeds around town earn him enough rewards to fill his loot bag, the rest of the raccoons find out that they can learn a thing or two from Ralph.
School for Bandits is a very witty picture book. Young readers will love the crazy bandit school and will root for the misunderstood Ralph. There is plenty of funny details in the illustrations to enjoy during multiple reads. Nice to see a raccoon with a behavior we can stand behind!

Ollie & Moon

2012-01-17T20:58:00.000-05:00

Ollie & Moon by Diane Kredenson
Illustrated by Diane Kredenson
Photographs by Sandra Kress
Published by Random House Children's Books
2011

Ollie and Moon are best friends living in Paris. "Moon loves surprises, and Ollie loves to surprise Moon." And the one thing that Moon loves even more than surprises is trying to figure out what they are. One day Ollie comes to Moon's house and tells her he has a new surprise for her. While trying to figure out what the surprise is, Ollie and Moon take us on a tour of Paris including the metro, a fromagerie (with what looks like a Camembert cheese purchase), a farmer's market, and even a boulangerie. Each step, gives Moon a new clue as to what the surprise might be: it's round, musical, it has lots of colors, fur, hooves, feathers, it's bright with lights and it spins. Can you guess what it is? And no, it's not "an elephant on a unicycle juggling animals while playing the French horn."
Ollie & Moon is a very entertaining picture book with two fun and likable characters. The mix of photographs of Paris (by Kress) with the illustrations on top of them (by Krendenson) works very well and gives the whole book a very cool feeling. Young readers will enjoy the character's antics, the cumulative tale, and will definitely try to guess what Moon's surprise will be. Great new friendship to explore in follow up books.

Snow White and Seven Dwarfs

2012-01-16T22:30:00.000-05:00

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs translate by Wanda Gág
Illustrated by Wanda Gág
Originally Published in 1938
Caldecott Honor Book in 1939

In response to the Disney's version of Snow White (1938), Wanda Gág offered a "freely translated and illustrated" Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Her translation brings back the original darkness of the Brothers Grimm. In Gág's translation, Snow White is visited three different times by the Queen. The first time she is suffocated by the Queen tightening her bodice until Snow White lost her breath. The seven dwarfs came home in time to cut the laces and save her. The second time, the Queen tricks Snow White into wearing a poisonous comb, but once again, the dwarfs are back in time to remove it from her hair and save her. The third time, the Queen tricks Snow White with the poisoned apple, and when the dwarfs find Snow White, they are unable to identify the source of her malaise and she lays unconscious for years. They stand watch everyday, while she lays inside a crystal casket, until a prince finds her and begs them to let him take her back with him to his castle. On the way to his castle, one of the Prince's servants who was carrying the casket, trips over a root. "This joggled the casket, and the jolt shook the piece of poisoned apple right out of Snow White's throat. And lo! she woke up at last and was as well as ever." Snow White and the Prince plan their wedding and when the Queen shows up at the gala, "she was given a pair of red hot shoes with which she had to dance out her wicked life." No kissing and no old witch falling off a cliff.
I was completely engrossed in Wanda Gág's translation and her wonderfully detailed illustrations. This is a classic worth revisiting and sharing.

Many Moons

2012-01-15T21:16:00.000-05:00

Many Moons by James Thurber
Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin
Published by Harcourt Brace and Company
1943 (Caldecott Medal 1944)

Once upon a time, there lived a ten year old princess named Lenore. "Lenore fell ill of a surfeit of raspberry tarts." The King came to see what could be done to help his daughter and offered to get her anything her heart desired. "I want the moon. If I can have the moon I will be well again." The King called, one by one, his most trusted advisors, but all explained that it was impossible to bring the moon to the Princess. Only the court jester ends up being wise enough to solve the problem (with a lot of help from the Princess herself).
Many Moons makes me glad I joined the Caldecott Challenge (I might not have read it had it not been on the list of Caldecott winers). I loved it! The story is long (I prefer the longer picture books) and truly entertaining...and hilarious. The list of things/accomplishments that each of the King's advisors shared is priceless: from the most outrageous claims (blue poodles), to the last items on each list which, they explain, were added by their wives. Also, for those of us that carry Harry Potter on our brains forever, I couldn't help smiling when I came across the Royal Wizard listing a philosopher's stone and an invisibility cloak.
Here is a little taste of the sense of humor in its pages:

The Lord High Chamberlain was a large, fat man who wore thick glasses which made his eyes seem twice as big as they really were. This made the Lord High Chamberlain seem twice as wise as he really was.

The Royal Wizard looked at his list again. 'I got you,' he said, 'horns from Elfland, sand from the Sandman, and gold from the rainbow. Also a spool of thread, a paper of needles, and a lump of beeswax -sorry, those are things my wife wrote down for me to get her.'

Many Moons will be undoubtedly added to my shelf of favorite picture books. Don't miss it!

Elsie's Bird

2012-01-14T21:25:00.000-05:00

Elsie's Bird by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by David Small
Published by Philomel Books
2010

Elsie is a city girl. She loves the sounds of the Boston Harbor, the songs of the birds and children, the sound of the horses' hooves on the stone cobbled streets. But when her mother dies, her father needed a fresh start and decided to go somewhere "far away from Boston and the sadness in his heart," to Nebraska. Elsie brought along her birdcage with her new canary, Timmy Tune, and during the long train ride, bird and girl sang to one another.
When they get to Nebraska, Elsie's unhappy. Her house was made of sod and there were no other houses around hers. "Here there is only grass and sky and silence." "The only sound at night was her own crying in her little bed, but she didn't let Papa know." Elsie spends her days within the walls of her new home, never hearing the sounds of the grasslands, the crickets and grasshoppers singing at night, the rain pounding the roof. She just dreamed of the sound of her Boston cobbled streets. She was afraid that if she left her house, she would "lose herself in the silence of the prairie." But one day, her canary flies away and Elsie heads out to run along the tall grass looking for Timmy Tune. It's during this journey to find the bird, that Elsie's heart and ears finally open to the beauty of the plains.
Elsie's Bird brought me back to my childhood reading and watching The Little House on the Prairie. The language is so beautiful, I found myself rereading whole passages. And the illustrations by David Small in brush and ink with watercolor and pastel are captivating. I loved Elsie. This is the rare kind of picture book that manages in a short time to make you care about the characters as much as a chapter book. Such a great find!

Sea of Dreams

2012-01-13T22:47:00.000-05:00

Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan
Illustrated by Dennis Nolan
Published by Roaring Brook Press
2011

A young girl builds a sand castle under the watchful eye of a seagull. As the sun sets she walks away leaving the castle behind. Night sets, the waves start to crash against the sandy walls and a light goes on inside the castle. As the building is overtaken by the water, the tiny inhabitants sail away towards a small island in the background. They're caught in a storm and one of the passengers of the boat gets thrown overboard and he's saved by mermaids. They reach the island where there already are others just like them living there. Next morning, the girl is back on the beach building a new sand castle...and the light goes on.
I'm in love with Sea of Dreams. Dennis Nolan has created an amazing wordless book that will have readers savoring each one of its stunning pages. Each time I read it, I noticed something new: like the seagull being the link between the two worlds or how the girl's bathing suit looks like the globe. This is a "can't miss it" sort of book. But don't take my word, just check it out and let me know what you think.

The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy

2012-01-12T22:19:00.000-05:00

The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy by Jacky Davis
Illustrated by David Soman
Published by Dial Books for Young Readers
2011

Sam, aka Bumblebee Boy, is ready for all sorts of adventures at home. He has pirates to defeat, fire dragons to capture, and Giganto the Giant Saber-Toothed Lion to tame. And he wants to do it all alone because "Bumblebee Boy wants to fly alone!" The problem is that his little bother Owen wants to be just like Sam, he wants to be a "soup hero too." Will Bumblebee Boy let Owen join in and become his sidekick?
Bumblebee Boy, a character introduced in the popular series Ladybug Girl, stars in his own adventure. The funny thing is that for me, the star of the book is Owen, the little brother. His persistence throughout the story, adding layers to his costume to become a "soup hero" like his older brother, is endearing and will bring a smile to the face of every reader. I especially enjoyed the details of his cape being made from the classic blanket newborns get at the hospital. The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy turns out to be a delightful story of the power of imagination and sibling relationships. Great read aloud.

Pigaroons

2012-01-11T21:24:00.000-05:00

Pigaroons by Arthur Geisert
Illustrated by Arthur Geisert
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company
2004

The Pigaroons are the descendants of Spanish pirates, and like their forefathers they love to steal things. On the other side of the river, lived the River Patrollers, honest, hardworking, and champions of the yearly ice sculpture contest. Every year, the River Patrollers would cut out a large block of crystal clear ice from their pond to carve the sculpture for the festival. But this year, their ice block was stolen overnight by, who else, but the Pigaroons!
The Pigaroons are good ice sculptures themselves and they create a magnificent carving of Hernando de Soto, the famous Spanish explorer. They are sure they will win the first prize this time. But on the other side of the river, the River Patrollers are coming up with a very ingenious plan to make sure the Pigaroons don't get away with their crime.
Arthur Geisert brilliant etchings will captivate readers of all ages who will savour the details that complement the text so perfectly. Like all his books, Pigaroons is a celebration of ingenuity and creativity. If you haven't seen any of his books, you are seriously missing out! He's a genius!

Jeremy Draws a Monster

2012-01-10T21:36:00.000-05:00

Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty
Illustrated by Peter McCarty
Published by Henry Holt and Company
2009

Jeremy lived on the top floor of an apartment building. From his window he could see kids playing outside, but Jeremy never joined them. He never left his apartment and never went outside. One day Jeremy took "his fancy pen" and drew a large blue monster. Immediately the monster starting making all kinds of demands: "draw me sandwich", "a toaster", "a checkerboard," "a comfortable chair." He never asked nicely, he never said thank you. Jeremy got tired of the monster so he finally drew him a one way bus ticket and a suitcase, and to make sure he didn't miss the bus (and never come back), Jeremy walked him outside all the way to the bus stop. While he was outside, the other kids saw him and asked him to join them and play. And he did.
Jeremy Draws a Monster is beautifully illustrated by Peter McCarty with ink and watercolors. Each page has a large white background which allows the characters to really pop, especially the large blue monster. The story is humorous and entertaining and at its core it shows the power of imagination triumphant over the monster: Jeremy's imagination brought out the monster, and while it ended up causing him trouble, Jeremy held onto the power with his wit and creativity (loved the "one way ticket" solutions). Delightful read aloud!

How to Catch a Star

2012-01-09T21:58:00.000-05:00

How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers
Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Published by Philomel Books
2004

"Once there was a boy and the boy loved stars very much." He watched outside his window and wished of having a star of his own. He would imagine all the things they would do together, like play hide-and-seek and take long walks along the beach. So he decided he would catch a star. He figured if he tried early in the morning it would be best "because then the star would be tired from being up in the sky all night." But he couldn't find one. He waited and waited and when a stars finally came out, he couldn't reach it, no matter how hard he tried. He saw one floating in the ocean, "the prettiest star he had ever seen!" but every time he tried to touch it, "it just rippled through his fingers." Walking sadly along the beach he knew he wouldn't give up and then "he saw it...washed up on the bright golden sand." "A star of his very own."
How to Catch a Star was Oliver Jeffers first picture book. It already has that illustration style that has become so recognizable. The illustrations are beautiful, filled with night blues and sunrise/sunset oranges and yellows. And the story is tender and memorable. I love the back page where we see the boy sitting on an armchair with the star by his side reading How to Catch a Star (what a cool detail!). This one fights for my #1 Jeffers picture book along with Lost and Found. Hey, now that I think about it the boys in both books are wearing the same striped t-shirt...our star hunter might be our penguin lover as well.

Wee Gillis

2012-01-08T21:57:00.000-05:00

Wee Gillis by Munro Leaf
Illustrated by Robert Lawson
Published by The New York Review Children's Collection
(1938) 2006 Edition

Wee Gillis lived in Scotland. "His real name was Alastair Roderic Craigellachie Dalhousie Gowan Donny bristle MacMac, but that took too long to say, so everybody just called him Wee Gillis." All his relatives on his mother's side lived in the valley raising long-haired cows. They were Lowlanders. All his relatives on his father's side lived in the hills and stalked stags. They were Highlanders. The Lowlanders and the Highlanders made fun of each other, thinking the other's livelihood to be a joke. And Wee Gillis didn't know which side he wanted to be on. So he spend half his time in the valley and half his time in the hills. In the valley he learned to shout loud enough for the cows to hear him, and in the hills he learn to hold his breath so no stag would hear him. This made his lungs incredible strong. When the time to decide whether to become a Highlander or Lowlander arrives, a surprising encounter with a bag piper gives Wee Gillis a new option to use his amazing lung strength.
Wee Gillis was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1938. Leaf and Lawson, the same team that created one of my favorite books, The Story of Ferdinand, gave us with Wee Gillis a book that transports us to Scotland with a sense of humor and beauty. The illustrations by Lawson are wonderful, especially the facial expressions of Wee Gillis. And the story is captivating, with cadence and a great narrative.

The House in the Night

2012-01-07T22:18:00.000-05:00

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

Illustrated by Beth Krommes

Published by Houghton Mifflin Company

2008

"Here is the key to the house. In the house burns a light. In that light rests a bed. On that bed waits a book." As a girl picks up the book, her imagination takes flight on the wings of the bird that lays inside it, and she takes us all the way to the moon and back to "the house in the night, a home full of light."

An old nursery rhyme collected in The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book (1955) begins with the verses: "This is the key of the kingdom: / In that kingdom is a city, / In that city is a town, / In that town there is a street..." (from Swanson's Author's note at the end of The House in the Night). This nursery rhyme was the inspiration for Swanson's beautiful book. The text follows a cumulative pattern and it takes you from the smallness of a key to the immensity of the sky and, then, backtracking, all the way back inside the house.

The House in the Night is a wonderful bedtime story, taking the readers on a journey to the vastness of the world, but always coming back to the comfort of the home and a warm bed. The text is beautiful, no doubt about it, but the real stars for me are the illustrations by Beth Krommes. They are nothing short of spectacular. They are made scratchboard style and there is no color, all black and white except for splashes of gold to highlight specific objects (the sun, the moon, the lamp, the book, the teddy bear). This is the kind of picture book that will stay with you because of its utter beauty. Just gorgeous!

The Heart and the Bottle

2012-01-06T23:13:00.000-05:00

The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Published by Philomel Books
2010

"Once there was a girl, much like any other whose head was filled with all the curiosities of the world." Her grandfather would sit in his armchair and read to the girl, opening to her a world of wonder, inspiring her imagination and creativity. "Until the day she found and empty chair." With her grandfather's passing the little girl found that the only way to protect her heart from pain was to put it in a safe place. "So, she put it in a bottle and hung it around her neck." While that helped the sorrow at first, she soon began to forget about the curiosities and wonders of the world. She grew up. And then she met someone younger who was still curious about the world and she felt it was time to take her heart out of the bottle.
The Heart and the Bottle is painfully beautiful. As I read it the first time I immediately choked up and had to go back and read it a second time to absorb all its gorgeous imaginary and illustrations. The way Jeffers showed the girls imagination is just magical. We see her laying in the grass next to her grandfather, whose dialogue bubble shows a picture of a constellation, while hers shows her seeing the sky as a bumble bee on fire. And then there's the heartbreaking image of her drawing on paper a bunch of doodles and, as she runs to show her grandfather, we see that in her head the picture is of her with a whale...and that when we turn the page to find the empty chair where grandpa used to sit. The thing about The Heart and the Bottle is that it feels like it's more for us the adults than for children; to reminds us to keep the inner child alive. The illustrations will entertain the young readers though, even if they don't quite "get it". Such a beautiful book!

Penguin

2012-01-05T22:10:00.001-05:00

Penguin by Polly Dunbar
Illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Published by Candlewick Press
2007

Ben got a very special present: a penguin. He wanted to play and talk with him, but the penguin just stood there saying nothing. Ben tried everything to get a reaction from the penguin: funny faces, silly dances, tickles, wearing funny clothes and singing silly songs. But penguin said nothing. Ben eventually got so frustrated he began to whine and scream. A lion was passing by and he got annoyed with all the noise so, as it often happens, he ate Ben (can't help thinking about Sendak's Pierre and his "I don't care"). And the penguin, well, this time he did do something.
Penguin is delightful, funny and endearing. The simple and clean illustrations by Polly Dunbar are wonderful, especially all the different facial expressions by Ben and the proportion contrast between Ben and the gigantic blue lion. At the end, Penguin is a story about friendship; one that starts with a lot of "nothing" and ends with a hero penguin. Great read aloud for the K-2 crowd and a fun bedtime story.

A Dog Is a Dog

2012-01-04T21:48:00.000-05:00

A Dog Is a Dog by Stephen Shaskan
Illustrated by Stephen Shaskan
Published by Chronicle Books
2011

"A dog is a dog, wether is it's naughty...or nice." Wether it's skinny or fat. A dog is a dog. Unless, he takes off his costume to reveal...he's a cat! And a cat is a cat, wether hairless or furry...unless it is...a squid!
A Dog Is a Dog is a delightfully funny read aloud. The text pattern will have young ones trying to guess what animal will show up next and laughing at the crazy situations (my favorite was the squid taking off his cat costume. The illustrations by Shaskan are bold and hilarious (check out the squid stuck in a bottle and the moose with a head lamp). Reading this book made me think of two things: the classic ending of old school Scooby Doo episodes and Bark George! by Jules Pfeiffer. Any one else? I also appreciated the circular form of the story, which makes it a great text to share in the classroom. Great read aloud.

The Secret Footprints

2012-01-03T21:18:00.000-05:00

The Secret Footprints by Julia Alvarez
Illustrated by Fabian Negrin
Published by Dell Dragonfly Books
2000

On an island in the Caribbean, not too long ago, lived a secret tribe called the ciguapas. They lived underwater and came out to hunt for food only at night. They were all beautiful women, fearful of being discovered by the humans who, they believed, would imprison them and force them to live on land. The ciguapas looked just like us except that their feet were pointed backwards. That's what helped them protect the secret of their existence, because their footprints always seemed to point in the opposite direction when they walked on land.
The Secret Footprints tells the story of guapa, on the ciguapas. Guapa (which means beautiful and brave in Spanish) was very curious and, against the advice of the queen ciguapa, she kept venturing inland to observe the humans. One day, following the smell of delicious pasteles, she gets too close and was seen by a family having a picnic. Guapa has to find a way to protect the secret of her tribe.
The Secret Footprints is beautifully written by Julia Alvarez and Negrin's illustrations full of blues, aquamarines, and the warm tones of the Caribbean, are a wonderful match. At the end of the tale, Alvarez adds an author note describing the Dominican folklore around the ciguapas. A great read-aloud to bring some magical realism into the classroom or home.

Cybils Fiction Picture Books Finalists. My journey as a panelist.

2012-01-02T21:19:00.000-05:00

This year -I guess is now last year- I had the honor and pleasure of being selected as one of the panelist for the first round of the Cybils Awards, Fiction Picture Books category. It has been one of the coolest things I've been able to do as a blogger and reader. Thanks the 250+ nominations, I got to read more picture books in a two month span that I ever thought was humanly possible. Some were good, some were, well, painful, and some were just awesome. I also got to connect with some brilliant teachers, librarians, and bloggers. I kept pinching myself wondering how I had ended up being part of such a brilliant group and at the end, it was a perfect ending to my first year as a blogger.
Coming up with the seven finalist was very difficult. We spent hours agonizing over what books to include/leave out...and here they are: Fiction Picture Books Finalists. Check each book out! You won't be disappointed. I promise. By the way, I reviewed all but one of them on this blog, so you might know them already.
And if you want to see the finalists under all the other Cybils categories, go here: Cybils 2011 Finalists. So there you go. Now go and make your TBR pile as big as possible!

ps: You get extra #nerdybookclub points for knowing that TBR is To Be Read

Drawing From Memory

2012-01-01T23:58:00.000-05:00

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say

Illustrated by Allen Say

Published by Scholastic Press

2011

Allen Say, the Caldecott Medal recipient for Grandfather's Journey, has created a marvelous book in Drawing From Memory. Part graphic novel, memoir, and narrative with a collage of drawing, sketches and photographs, Drawing From Memory is Allen Says first person tale of his journey to become an artist.

The narrative focuses on his youth in Japan, living through WWII, and battling his father's disdain for Say's artistic gifts. He's able to move out and live on his own by the age of twelve and finds his way to become the apprentice of Noro Shinpei, one of Japan's leading cartoonist.

Drawing From Memory grabs you from the beginning and won't let you go. It's inspiring, heart-breaking at times, but more than anything else, it's an homage to Allen Say's sensei, Noro Shinpei. It's a loving letter to the man who became his "spiritual father" as well as a thank you to all the teachers and peers that helped him on his path to become the artist he's today.

My New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-31T17:38:00.000-05:00

Every year I make not one, two, but a bunch of New Year's Resolutions. I know I should probably just make one and stick to it, but I like to make different resolutions for different facets of my life. So I make one as a teacher, one as a mom, one as a wife, a personal one, and one as a reader/writer. I won't bore you with all of them, I'll just let you know of my New Year's Resolution as a reader.
In 2012, I will read all the Caldecott Medal Winners and Honors Books from 1938-to the present. I'll track my progress on Goodreads and I'll blog about my favorites here. If you want to join the challenge go here: Caldecott Challenge.
I'm also joining the Newbery Medal Reading Challenge, but I know I won't be able to read all of them in a year, so this is a long term resolution (I'm shooting for 2 years).
I'm going to read the books from both challenges in chronological order, but to spice it up, I'm starting from oldest to most recent with the Caldecott, and from most recent to oldest with the Newbery.
So there it goes. It's written out so you can hold me to it (good thing I'm not sharing the other resolutions).
Have a wonderful new year full or love, laughter and good books!

-Natalia Ortega-Brown

ps: you can follow along on Twitter #nerdcott and #nerdbery

The Buffalo Are Back

2011-12-30T23:02:00.000-05:00

The Buffalo Are Back by Jean Craighead George
Paintings by Wendell Minor
Published by Dutton Children's Books
2010

"In the mid-1800s seventy five million buffalo roamed in North America. In little more than fifty years, there would be almost none." In The Buffalo Are Back, Jean Craighead George (Julie of the Wolves) explains in detail the historical events that lead these majestic animals to the edge of extinction. In very clear terms, with very accessible narrative readers take a journey to the prairies during the 1800s, the westward expansion and the Indian Wars. There is plenty to learn about the connections between the buffalo and the prairie and how the disappearance of the buffaloes eventually caused the prairie to become dust.
The Buffalo Are Back is a beautiful non-fiction picture book to add to any home or classroom library. The paintings by Wendell Minor are gorgeous. It connects to social studies and science curriculum but reads like a story. Wonderful find.

Swirl by Swirl

2011-12-29T22:05:00.000-05:00

Swirl by Swirl by Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by Beth Krommes
Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
2011

What do you get when you combine the amazing talents of Joyce Sidman (Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night and Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors) and Beth Krommes (The House in the Night)? Well, you get a marvelous book written just for me. Yep, you heard that right.
So here's something you might not know about me. I have been totally obsessed with spirals since I was a little kid. I buy everything a find that has a spiral on it. If I were brave enough to get a tattoo, it would definitely be a Fibonacci's spiral. Now, I know you know I love picture books and poetry, but another of my passions is Mathematics (love, love, Math). So now we have an amazing poet, a great illustrator, spirals, picture books, and math, all in one...and yes! This book was made just for me.
Swirl by Swirl is perfectly simple yet incredibly deep. It takes you on a journey observing nature and all the different ways spirals appear in it. From snuggling animals, to the curls of a fern, to the arms of the octopus, the spiral in the spiderweb, the tails of spider monkeys, the crest of a wave, the petals of the calla lily (my favorite flower...see? again...my book!). Spirals are everywhere. They are a "strong shape", "exploring the world," "clinging tight," "graceful and strong."
And my favorite. "It is bold" as in the breaking ocean waves:

Swirl by Swirl invites you (a lot like Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner) to observe nature closely, to see the world with a more careful eye and notice its wonders. At the end of the book, the author has included detailed information about all the spirals in nature she made reference to in the poem. She concludes by saying "while we don't always understand the reasons behind this patterns [spirals], something in us responds to them. They are beautiful, satisfying, and endlessly fascinating." Just like this book. I'm almost mad I didn't read this book till now or I would have included it on my Top Books of 2011 list. So there it goes, it's officially part of my favorites.

Squirrel's New Year's Resolution

2011-12-28T22:13:00.000-05:00

Squirrel's New Year's Resolution by Pat Miller
Illustrated by Kathi Ember
Published by Albert Whitman & Company
2010

It's January 1st and Squirrel just put up the new calendar. On the radio they're talking about New Year's resolutions, but Squirrel has no idea how you make a resolution. He heads out to see his friends and ask them about New Year's resolutions. Bear already has one: to teach skunk to read. Skunk already has one: to learn how to read. Mole and Turtle have one: to start a garden. Porcupine has one: to be less grumpy. Without thinking twice, Squirrel ends up helping all of his friends get started on their resolutions and along the way he finds a resolution of his own: to help someone every day.
Squirrel's New Year's Resolution is a great read-aloud to share on the first day back to school after the holiday break. I love having my students write resolutions that last till the end of the school year and keep them on display around the classroom to hold them to it. Have you made your resolution yet?

Apples & Oranges

2011-12-27T21:15:00.000-05:00

Apples & Oranges: going bananas with pairs by Sara Pinto
Illustrated by Sara Pinto
Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books
2008

What do apples and oranges have in common? If you said they are both fruits, guess again. What about a cupcake and an ice-cream? They're both desserts? nope. In Apples & Oranges, Sara Pinto surprises the reader at each page turn by coming up with unexpected and hilarious answers to the match ups. My favorite is How are trousers and underpants alike? With illustrations that will cause as much joy as the text itself, the answer becomes They both don't make good hats. Of course!
Apples & Oranges will keep the young ones coming up with their own answers and offers an open ended question to keep the conversation going. How are you and I alike? We both don't...

Migrant

2011-12-26T21:39:00.000-05:00

Migrant by Maxine Trottier
Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault
Published by Groundwood Books
2011

Anna is part of a migrant family that every springs leaves their home in Mexico and travels north harvesting fruits and vegetables. She is a Mennonite, a group of Low German-speaking migrants who moved from Canada to Mexico in the 1920's. She wonders what it would be like to be able to stay in one place, "to have your own bed, to ride your own bicycle [...] Now that would be something." "What would it be like to be a tree with roots sunk deeply into the earth"
On her way north Anna feels like a bird, "her family is a flock of geese beating its way there and back again." She's like a jack rabbit, staying in houses that don't belong to her family, "abandoned burrows." Her family works the fields like bees, "dip and rise over the vegetables, that is when all of them are bees." She's a kitten at night curled up with her sisters, her brothers are puppies growling in their sleep. She knows they stare at her and her family as they walk through town, sticking out and not speaking the language. And when the seasons change again, and fall arrives Anna leaves again "like a monarch, like a robin, like a feather in the wind."
Migrant is a beautifully written book that, through similes and metaphors, captures the feelings and apprehensions of a child in a migrant family. The language is lyrical, gorgeous, and the illustrations are enchanting, dreamlike. Wonderful book to use in the classroom for examples of figurative language and in social studies to discuss migrant groups. Gorgeous!

Mrs. Claus Takes a Vacation

2011-12-25T23:17:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Claus Takes a Vacation by Linas Alsenas
Illustrated by Linas Alsenas
Published by Scholastic Press
2006

Mrs. Claus is tired of staying behind year after year. She's never had a vacation in her life and she's tired of the snow. So she packs her bag, hitches a reindeer to the sleigh and says bye to Santa. While Santa worries each day that she's gone and misses her terribly, Mrs.Claus travels all over the globe. She goes to beaches in Brazil, dances in Romania, visits the Taj Majal and eats sushi in Japan. But after a while, everything starts reminding her of home and she knows is time to go back.
Mrs. Claus Takes a Vacation is a tender holiday story. Mrs. Claus' adventures around the globe are delightful with bright and large illustrations (and a reindeer hiding in each page). In contrast, Santa's pages, where we see him sad and longing for his wife, have smaller illustrations and are framed with holiday borders. She, for once, seems larger than life. Once she's back home, Santa gives her the world by inviting her to join him on his sleigh Christmas Eve. This surprisingly romantic holiday story is sure to delight young readers and adults alike.

The Night Before Christmas

2011-12-24T22:17:00.000-05:00

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
Illustrated by James Marshall
Published by Scholastic
2004

In case you didn't know it by now, I did not grow up in the United States. I spent most of my childhood in Venezuela and a couple of years in Spain. Christmas in Caracas, Venezuela was really different; It has become a lot more Americanized now, but when I was a kid, we didn't really talk about Santa Claus...for us it was Baby Jesus who brought the presents (how did a new born child manage to deliver the presents? don't ask...we didn't question it at all).
I'm now an American citizen, and Santa has become a big part of our Christmas, especially because I have a 4 and a 2 year old at home. We've developed some traditions around this time and one of them is reading The Night Before Christmas. I know there are many editions out there, but I love this one because of Marshall's illustrations. It brings a whole cast of droll characters into the story: cat, bulldogs, chickens...
I'm off to enjoy my Christmas Eve, so I leave you with:

But I heard him exclaim,

ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all,

And to all a good night."

The Santa Clauses

2011-12-23T22:27:00.000-05:00

The Santa Clauses retold by Achim Broger
Ilustrated by Ute Krause
Published by Dial Books
1986

The trouble started when newspapers published the story that there was no such thing as Santa Claus. The story spread like wildfire and soon children were distraught. Who were they going to sent their letters to? Who would bring them their presents? Charlie just didn't believe it. He knew Santa Clause had to be real. "Actually Charlie was right. But there wasn't just one Santa Clause, there were several -enough to go around at Christmas among all the children in the world."
The Santa Clauses called for an International Convention. They decided that since people didn't want to believe in them anymore, they might as well take a break and go on vacation. Meanwhile, Charlie was home, "moping around his room," thinking about Santa Claus. His father takes him to his work at the post office, and it is there that Charlie finds a postcard sent to one of the Santas from the others who were vacationing in Miami Beach. Charlie knows he needs to head to Florida and convince the Santa Clauses to get back to work.
The Santa Clauses is a quirky and entertaining story. It's lively illustrations and original tale make for a delightful read. At the end of the day, it goes back to this, Santa will always be real to those who believe in him...or them.

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes

2011-12-22T15:06:00.000-05:00

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes by Linda Glaser
Illustrated by Nancy Cote
Published by Albert Whitman & Company
1997

It was the last night of Hanukahh. Rachel couldn't contain her excitement, hopping from foot to foot while her mother flipped latkes in the kitchen. The house would soon be packed with friends and relatives. Then the phone rang, and Rachel's mother found out that even more people than expected were coming and she needed to make more latkes. She sent Rachel up to the cellar to get more potatoes but they didn't have enough. Rachel went to see if she could borrow some latkes from their neighbor Mrs.Greenberg. Every year Rachel's mom invites Mrs.Greenberg over for Hannukah but she never comes. Mrs.Greenberg has "a heart of gold, but she's as stubborn as an ox." So this time around they hope that borrowing some potatoes from her would convince her to come and join them.
Rachel ran over to Mrs.Greenberg's house and inside her house she noticed how quiet everything was...it just didn't seem like Hanukkah except for the menorah by the window. Rachel asked to borrow some potatoes and invited Mrs.Greenberg over, but she refused. As the night progresses, Rachel needs to go back to Mrs.Greenberg's multiple times to borrow different items, and she ends up formulating a plan that will convince Mrs.Greenberg to be part of their Hannukah celebration. They are running out of room inside Rachel's house...and there's plenty of room in Mrs.Greenberg's...
The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes is a beautiful story with a lovely message. Rachel understands that her neighbor is lonely and a bit stubborn, and she finds an creative way to bring the celebration to her. The watercolor illustrations are lively and filled with joy. It's a great book to share during the Hanukkah. celebration.

The Lump of Coal

2011-12-21T08:47:00.001-05:00

The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

Illustrated by Brett Helquist

Published by Harper Collins

2008

This is the story of a lump of coal with a dream. “Like many people who dress in black, the lump of coal was interested in becoming an artist.” He dreamed of a miracle “that one day it would get to draw rough, black lines on canvas or, more likely, on a breast of chicken or salmon filet by participating in a barbeque.” The first miracle? The lump of coal comes to life and rolls out of a bag of coals left out in a backyard. Second miracle? He rolls all the way to an art gallery. Unfortunately when he walks into the gallery, he's met by a very pretentious owner who tries to crush his dreams of being an artist. Third miracle? He finds a Korean barbeque restaurant but the owner -who's definitely not Korean and is using non-Korean spices (oregano)- kicks him out because she would only use one-hundred percent Korean coals.

He then runs into Santa, well, not really. "I'm not really Santa Claus. I'm an employee of the drugstore, dressed up and giving out coupons." The lump of coal asks Santa for help, "Do you have any use for me?" "I'm an artist at heart, but I'm very helpful when cooking meat." Santa has a different plan: his stepson has been disobedient this year, and he deserves to get a lump of coal instead or a gift for Christmas. Here's were the miracles start to work for the lump of coal. Jasper, the boy, is thrilled to find him in his stocking, "I've been wanting to create some abstract art featuring rough, black lines!" Jasper and the lump of coal become famous artists, travel to Korea, and end up buying the Korean barbeque restaurant.

I loved The Lump of Coal. It's funny, it has great vocabulary, it's quirky, and it actually has a beautiful message at the end. There are many miracles in life, says Snicket, like finding true friends and spending your time doing whatever you like to do. And the holiday, is the perfect time "to think about the miracles in your own life, and to be grateful for them." The illustrations by Helquist are wonderful as well. It makes you wish the format of the book was larger to truly enjoy them. Great find!

My 2011 Favorites Part III

2011-12-20T08:56:00.001-05:00

And to round up my favorites:

Blackout by John Rocco
Illustrated by John Rocco
2011

You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown
Illustrated by Peter Brown
2011

Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnell
Illustrated by Patrick McDonell
2011

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

2011

And last but not least:

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Illustrated by Jon Klassen

2011

What a great year in picture books!

My 2011 Favorites Part II

2011-12-19T22:12:00.001-05:00

Here are my next five favorites of 2011:

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Art by Christopher Silas Neal
Published by Chronicle Books
2011

Ice by Arthur Geisert
Illustrated by Arthur Geisert
2011

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet
2011

The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett
Illustrated by Poly Bernatene
2011

All the Way to America by Dan Yaccarino
2011

My 2011 Favorites Part l

2011-12-18T23:49:00.002-05:00

Since the end of the year is approaching, I'm starting my own list of my favorite books of 2011. I'm not going to write them out in any particular order (too hard), and I'll divide it into four blog posts. Today I give you Part l.
So here it is! My favorite picture books of 2011:

I Had A Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn
Illustrated by Julia Denos
2011

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Illustrated by Lane Smith
2011

Press Here by Hérve Tullet

Illustrated by Hérve Tullet

2011

These Hands by Margaret H. Mason
Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
2011

A Few Blocks by Cybele Young
Illustrated by Cybele Young

2011

The Legend of the Poinsettia

2011-12-17T21:41:00.000-05:00

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
Illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons
1994

Lucida lived in a small village in the mountains of Mexico with her family. She helped her mom cook and took care of her little siblings. "Each evening they went to the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe near the front gate to see if fresh candles were needed." The town was getting ready for Christmas and Father Alvarez asked Lucida's mom if she could weave a new blanket to cover Baby Jesus during the procession. Lucida's mother was honored and started working on the new blanket right away.
One day, while Lucida was at the church practicing the songs for the Christmas procession, a neighbor came running to let her know that her mother was sick and her father had taken her to the doctor. Lucida's parents wouldn't be home till after Christmas. Lucida tried to finish the blanket by herself but it was too difficult and the wool got all tangled. She cried, feeling like it was all her fault, "in her heart she felt that she had ruined Christmas." On the night of the procession, Lucida hid in the darkness ashamed. An old woman approached her and told Lucida her mother will be fine and she should go inside the church to celebrate Christmas. Lucida explained that she hadn't finished the blanket and she didn't have a gift for Baby Jesus, and the old woman told her "any gift is beautiful because it is given." Lucida looked around for something to give Baby Jesus and carried inside the church a bundle of green weeds in her arms. She looked back but the old lady had disappeared. As she lay the weeds down by the manger, she bowed down and prayed and then all the weeds changed color from green to red, like flaming stars. Even the weeds outside changed. "Lucida's simple gift had indeed become beautiful."
I love The Legend of the Poinsettia. It's such a beautiful story! It's message is worth spreading during the holidays when we might lose focus and spend too much in extravagant gifts. It is the gifts of love that really make a difference.

Too Many Tamales

2011-12-16T20:53:00.002-05:00

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
Illustrated by Ed Martinez
Published by The Putnam Publish Group
1993

Maria is feeling grown-up. It's Christmas and she's in the kitchen wearing her mother's apron and helping her knead the masa to make tamales. She was even allowed to wear her mother's lipstick and perfume. But the one thing she still wishes to wear is her mother's diamond ring. Her mom had set it on the counter while she kneaded the dough and when she left the kitchen to answer the phone, "Maria couldn't help herself." She grabbed the ring and put it on her thumb. She continued kneading the masa, seeing how the ring "disappeared, then reappeared in the sticky glob of dough."
The tamales where done and Maria's extended family arrives to celebrate Christmas. While Maria is playing with her cousins, she realizes she no longer has the ring. It has to be inside one of the tamales! There is only one way to find it before Maria's mom notices the ring is missing: the kids will have to eat all the tamales or Maria will have to fess up.
Too Many Tamales is a wonderful read aloud to share with the family. The story is entertaining and the theme of honesty and coming clean, will resonate with a lot of young readers. Aside from all that, Too Many Tamales is about family and traditions. It's warm illustrations help create the feeling of a family sharing and the facial expressions of the children in the book will have some smiling all the way to the kitchen.

The Christmas Boot

2011-12-15T22:17:00.000-05:00

The Christmas Boot by Lisa Wheeler
Illustrated by Michael Glenn Monroe
Published by Mitten Press
2007

Miss Hannah Greyweather walked through the forest on Christmas morning gathering kindling wood. As usual, she was all by herself, "she chatted to the forest, she talked to the mountains, but mostly she spoke to herself." On her way back to her ramshackle cabin she found a black boot. She had her hands full so she just "slipped her rag-wrapped right foot deep within it." The boot magically took the shape and size of her foot. That night she went to sleep only wishing she had the other boot. When she woke up, the pair was complete. As she wishes for different things that keep coming true, Hannah keeps wondering who the magical boot belongs to. When a round man with a white beard shows up at her doorstep, she welcomes him in and realizes she has found the true owner.
The Christmas Boot is a sweet, sentimental story. I did find the ending a bit sad -getting a new puppy but still living alone in a run down home wasn't the kind of happy ending you expect after dinner with Santa. Nice read aloud for the older elementary grades.

The Third Gift

2011-12-14T20:56:00.000-05:00

The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park
Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Published by Clarion Books
2011

My father collects tears. That is what they are called: the pearls of sap that seep out of a tree when the bark is cut. Maybe they are called tears because it seems as if the tree is crying.

In a barren and harsh looking landscape, a young boy and his father walked together searching for the perfect trees. The father is working, collecting the sap and teaching his son how to do it. Both of them walk side by side, diligently looking at each tree, touching them, finding the perfect spot on the bark to cut an "x" and wait for the sap, the tear, to seep out, and solidify just enough to be solid on the outside and tender in the middle.
They sell the tears to spice merchants at the marketplace. The tears are used as medicine, to flavor wine, and as embalming oils. "When you smell tears at a funeral, you know that someone truly beloved has died."
They have collected the largest tear yet. Their faces filled with joy. As they approach the marketplace, the spice merchant awaits for them with a special group of clients. They speak a foreign language. They are shopping for a special gift. "We have a gift of gold, and a gift of frankincense." They have found the third gift.
The Third Gift is a truly special book. The illustrations by Ibatoulline are breathtaking, each a work of art. Sue Park has paced the story beautifully, its quite sensibility and reverence coming through. It's a surprising development in a story we thought we knew. Sue Park explains in her author's note the origin of the story and its historical context. Like her, I too wondered when I was younger what myrrh was, but felt uncomfortable asking. I just wished I had had the pleasure of reading this book then. Beautiful and quite read aloud.

Little Owl Lost

2011-12-13T21:19:00.000-05:00

Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton
Illustrated by Chris Haughton
Published by Candlewick Press
2010

Owls are trendy, or so I've heard. They're supposed to be the new chicken or something like that. So here I have my first owl book, Little Owl Lost. And...yes, this little owl is very, very likable.
Little owl and his mom are perched atop a tree, eyes closed, sleeping. Little owl starts leaning over the edge and before he can react, he falls off.

As he bounces all the way down to the ground (in a scene that gave me some Angry Bird flashbacks), little owl realizes he doesn't know where his mother is and he's lost. A squirrel who saw him fall comes to his help, as a bear, a rabbit, and a frog, observe in the background. "Don't worry, little friend. I'll find your mommy. What does she look like?" Little Owl describes his mom as big so the squirrel takes him to the bear. He then describes his mother's pointy ears, so squirrel takes him to the rabbit. He tells him about his mom's big eyes, so squirrel takes him to the frog. Thankfully frog knows where to find little owl's mommy. Mother owl, squirrel, frog and little owl get together to celebrate atop the tree, and as little owl closes his eyes again, he starts to lean over the edge...
Little Owl reminds you of the classic Are You My Mother? but with a more contemporary touch given by its digital media illustrations and it's short simple dialogue. It's funny and young readers will connect to little owl and his search for mommy. Sweet read aloud for the lower grades and to set up as a mini readers' theater.

Shhh!

2011-12-12T21:02:00.000-05:00

Shhh! by Valeri Gorbachev
Illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev
Published by Philomel Books
2011

His baby brother is sleeping so he knows he needs to be really quiet. He makes sure he doesn't jump around or sing. "I walk on my tippy-toes." He goes around telling everyone to shhh! He tells the clown to stop laughing, the knights to stop fighting, the tiger to quiet down his roars, the pilot to ground his buzzing plane, the train conductor to stop the train, and the pirates to stop firing their cannons. "When my baby brother sleeps, it is so quiet in my house. I can even hear a fly!" He makes sure nothing wakes him up, because "I love my baby brother so."
Shhh! is a tender book about the love of a big brother for his baby brother. I really like the way the story is set up. At first, when the boy is telling us all the things he makes sure are quiet so as not to wake his baby brother up, we see him -in Gorbachev's beautiful illustrations- facing the pirates, knights, train...as if they were real. And then we see him sitting on a loveseat and next to him there is a toy clown like the one he had just told to be quiet before. As his baby brother wakes up, he see the boy interacting with all those characters who are now his toys, entertaining the baby. Gorbachev complements his story with his illustrations. It's a delightful book to share with all those big brothers out there.

Mooseltoe

2011-12-11T22:10:00.000-05:00

Mooseltoe by Margie Palatini
Illustrated by Henry Cole
Published by Scholastic
2001

Moose was ready for the season. "He was so full of ho ho ho's, even his moosetache had the holiday spirit!" He was incredibly busy taking care of all the things on his to-do list. He wrote Christmas cards, "shopped till he dropped," wrapped gifts, cooked all sorts of deserts, decorated the house and hung the stockings. He went down the list: check, check, double check. He made sure everything was "perfectly perfect." When Mother, little Sissy, Bucky and Junior looked through the house, they saw everything looked "quite fine indeed," except for one corner of the house where the tree should have been! Poor Moose had forgotten the tree! He went out in the cold desperately trying to find one but it was too late, they were all out. So he came up with a perfectly perfect solution, he and his moosetache became the tree.
Mooseltoe is a tricky read aloud. Sometimes it rhymes and sometimes it doesn't, so it takes at least a one-read-over to get the rhythm down pat. The story is delightful and there is plenty of opportunities for little ones to join in shouting "Check!" and "Perfectly Perfect" (this last one became one of my sons favorite sayings which he's used for the past year!). The illustrations by Henry Cole are quite appealing and the cover will attract readers from the start.

Stick Man

2011-12-10T21:01:00.000-05:00

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Published by Arthru A. Levine Books
2008

Stick Man lives in the family tree

With his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three.

One day, Stick Man decides to go for a jog and a dog catches him. He carries Stick Man all the way back to his owner who uses him to play fetch over and over.

I'm no a stick! Why can't you see,

I'm Stick Man, I'm Stick Man,

I'm STICK MAN, that's me,

And I want to go home to the family tree!

Unfortunately nobody seems to hear Stick Man's cries, and through a series of misfortunes he gets pass around. He's thrown into a river, becomes part of swan's nest, a flag pole of a sand castle, a sword for play fights, a hook for a bag, a pen, a bow, a bat, a boomerang, a snowman arm.

Stick Man is lonely, Stick Man is lost.

Stick Man is frozen and covered in frost.

Stick Man is weary. His eyes start to close.

He stretches and yawns and lies down for a doze.

In his slumber, Stick Man doesn't realize he's been picked up as kindling. As he lays in the chimney he's awaken by Santa who's gotten stuck. Stick Man saves the day and joins Santa on his sleigh all the way back to his family tree.

If you've followed this blog for a while, you'll know by now that we're big fans of Donaldson. I'm not easy to please when it comes to rhyming books, but Donaldson makes the rhymes flow with such ease, they just sound musical and never, ever, forced. Scheffler's illustrations are always a treat. Stick Man is a fantastic read aloud, sure to please and entertain readers of all ages. Great story, great pacing, smooth rhymes. What else can you want of a Holiday story?

Olivia Helps With Christmas

2011-12-09T19:55:00.000-05:00

Olivia Helps With Christmas by Ian Falconer

Illustrated by Ian Falconer

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

2007

Olivia is one of our favorite characters in this house. We love her spunk, attitude and more than anything, we love her awesome creativity.

It's the night before Christmas and Olivia can't contain her excitement. By four o'clock she's already impatiently looking up the chimney and checking outside the window for any sign of reindeer. She helps her mom untangle the Christmas lights-actually, she gets all tangled up in the Christmas lights. She helps her mom set the table, sings carols with the family, and puts the cookies out for Santa. As it happens to every kid on Christmas Eve, Olivia lays in her bed and tries to stay awake long enough to hear sleigh bells ring on her roof. Sleep wins. Its now Christmas Day and Olivia and her brothers rush down the stairs to open all of their gifts. They spend the day playing with their new toys (sled, skies and maracas). Olivia, being Olivia, gives her parents a humongous self portrait.
Falconer's illustrations are amazing, as usual. His charcoals and goache mixed with photographs are delightful. The couple of double page spread-outs offer surprises and laughs. We never get tiered of reading this one during the holidays.

Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers

2011-12-08T21:34:00.000-05:00

Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers by David Milgrin
Illustrated by David Milgrin
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
2010

Santa Duck is back. Nicholas has embraced his job as Santa's helper. This time around he has to deal with his pesky three little siblings. They want to help Nicholas but they keep driving him crazy. They are promising outrageous gifts to all the animals, like the Hoover Dam to the beaver and 50 bottles of perfume to the skunk. Nicholas tries to explain to his siblings the true meaning of Christmas and along the way they teach him a lesson too.
Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers is an entertaining read aloud. The cartoon like illustrations and dialogue bubbles will appeal to the youngest readers. Don't be afraid to sing along with Nicholas and his siblings as you read it aloud.

Over and Under the Snow

2011-12-07T22:53:00.000-05:00

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
Art by Christopher Silas Neal
Published by Chronicle Books
2011

On a winter day, as you venture deep into the woods to go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, you can hear the crunch of the snow beneath your feet. You might see a deer or a red squirrel and everything seems quiet and still. But "under the snow is a whole secret kingdom, where the smallest forest animals stay safe and warm." There are little tunnels where tiny shrews hide from predators, where voles looks for food, and fat bullfrogs snooze. Under the snow a bear sleeps with its belly still full of berries and trouts from the fall, and a queen bee "drowses away December, all alone."
It's hard to write about Over and Under the Snow without wanting to just quote the whole book. It's that good! Its beautiful language quietly flows from page to page, with a lyrical tone mirrored by the beautiful art created by Silas Neal. The images created by Messner's text place us inside the snowy forest, along for the ride with the father and daughter exploring the wonders of nature on a winter's day. And at the end, we can feel the slumber brought on by the trek, and "lean back with heavy eyes", enjoying a roasted marshmallow as the fire makes the "shadows dance in the flames."
Over and Under the Snow will open readers' eyes to the world of wonders that nature offers every winter. I doubt I'll ever walk through the woods of the Hudson Valley and not think about all that's hidden under the snow. At the end of the book, Messner has added a detailed explanation of the facts included in the book, with descriptions of each animal from the tale (as well as other resources to explore).
What a quiet gem! Simply beautiful.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

2011-12-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
Publisher: Holiday House
1985

It was the first night of Hanukkah and Hershel of Ostropol was walking in the snow towards the nearest village. He was tired and hungry and looking forward to celebrating Hanukkah with lights, songs and plates of potato latkes. But when he arrived to the town, he found not a single candle lit and learned that the villagers were not allowed to celebrate Hanukkah. Goblins had harassed them for years. They haunted the old synagogue, they would blow out the candles as soon as they were lit and throw out their potato latkes. Hershel offered to get rid of the goblins. The rabbi told him he had to stay at the old synagogue and light the menorah for eight consecutive nights, making sure that the last candle was lit by the king of the goblins. Each night Hershel confronts a different goblin and rises to the challenge of outwitting each one of them. He even tricks the king of the goblin to light the eighth candle, hence disarming him of all his powers.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is a thrilling read aloud. The illustrations by Hyman are wonderful and the text by Kimmel is completely enthralling. There is an appendix at the end of the book here Kimmel explains the meaning and history of Hanukkah, the menorah, dreidel and latkes. This is a great addition to the holiday libraries at home and at school.

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming

2011-12-05T23:02:00.000-05:00

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: a Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket

Illustrated by Lisa Brown

Publisher: McSweeney's Books

2007

In a tiny village a terrible noise is heard coming from the one of the houses. The house was "already regarded with some suspicion, as it was the only place not decorated with flashing colored lights at this time of the year." The noise is a loud scream, and the one screaming is a latke -a potato pancake. The latkes are a traditional part of the celebration of Hanukah. This night, a latke was thrown into a pan full of hot olive oil, and as soon as it felt the heat, it jumped back out and ran away screaming. On her way out of town, the latke runs past colored lights who are annoyed at her for making so much noise and stealing the spotlight from them. "We're the ones who are supposed to be dominating the neighborhood with our cheerful glow!" As the latke explains to the lights the origins of Hanukah, they seem to completely miss the point: "so you're basically hash browns." The Christmas lights try to fit the latke into their holiday framework, while the potato pancake tries to explain that she's something completely different. She has the same problem when she runs into a candy cane and a pine tree. Thankfully, a family who celebrates Hanukah finds the latke in the forest and brings her back to their home. Where, unfortunately, she screams again as she's being eaten.

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming is one of the most original and thought provoking holiday books I've ever read. It's quirky but full of message. Snicket uses some advanced vocabulary, followed by their definitions (a reminder of his work in A Series of Unfortunate Events...which I guess it's exactly while this was for the poor latke....) The story manages to entertain while teaching the story of Hanukah. The book opens up a door to a discussion in the upper elementary classrooms about diversity and different religions; about respect, restraint and community. There are a couple of nuances that only adults might catch. Overall, a fantastic find to bring to my students and everybody else this time of year.

Reindeer Christmas

2011-12-04T22:30:00.000-05:00

Reindeer Christmas by Mark Kimball Moulton
Illustrated by Karen Hillard Good
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
2008

On a winter night, two children and their grandmother step out into the snowy field with baskets full of treats for the forest animals. They noticed a deer laying in the snow, its eyes closed and a faint glow around him (in the illustrations we can also see a sleigh bell next to him). They bring the deer inside and take care of him, making sure he's fed and warm. Later that night, as the children are falling asleep in the room, one of them sees the deer flying across the sky. When Christmas day arrives, the children find that aside from the presents by the tree, there is a letter from Santa Claus, thanking them for having taken care of Donner. There had been a bad storm and Donner had lost his way. As a special gift of thanks, Santa Claus gives the family a little box filled with magic reindeer glow. "Hold this box and make a wish, then close your sleepy eyes, and you will see your wish come true before the next sunrise." What wish would you make?
Reindeer Christmas is a tender and touching book to add to the holiday read aloud shelf. It's written in rhyme. The rhymes and the beautifully illustrations with a frosty sepia touch give the book a timeless feeling. Heartwarming and sweet.

Neville

2011-12-03T23:43:00.000-05:00

Neville by Norton Juster

Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

2011

He has just moved into a new neighborhood. He wasn't happy to be there. "Nobody had asked him about moving." And they told him he would love it. "That's what they always said when they knew he wouldn't love something." So now he would have to face going to a new school and having no friends. And "that was the worst part, no friends." His mother told him to take a walk around the block. "Like you can make new friends just by walking down the block." But he did anyway. And the he stopped, took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of his lungs: NEVILLE. Over and over. Until other children joined him and started calling out "Neville" along with him. Soon, they were all talking and wondering where this boy Neville might be, looking for him and imagining what he must be like. Who's Neville? As he walks back to his new home, the boy has to admit the day turned out to be a lot better than he had first thought...

I love Neville. I've been a lifelong fan of Juster (The Phantom Tollbooth is one of my all time favorites), and Neville did not disappoint me in the least. He captures the feelings of a new kid on the block perfectly: the fears and the frustrations of not being totally in control of certain life changing decisions. The ingenuity of Neville to find new friends will delight readers of all ages. The illustrations by Karas are a perfect companion. Great read aloud! One of my favorites this year (I could read the first two pages over and over again...wait, I did).

Tree of Cranes

2011-12-02T23:54:00.000-05:00

Tree of Cranes by Allen Say
Illustrated by Allen Say
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
1991

A japanese boy narrates a story about the memory of his first Christmas. He comes home wet and chill after playing in a forbidden pond. He knows his mother will be upset with him and as he gingerly approaches her, he finds her folding origami paper into cranes. "Why are you making cranes?" the boy asked his mother. She explains that she wants to make a big wish. Before she explains what her wish is, she notices the boy is wet from the pond and with a frown and a silent stare, she sends him to a hot bath and bed. The boy wonders about his mother's silence and distance and his curiosity only grows when he sees her digging a whole by a tree in the garden. As the mom comes into the house carrying a tree they had planted to celebrate the boys birth, she explains that back in her homeland, America, they were celebrating Christmas and she wanted him to have that experience as well. They decorate the little tree with the paper cranes and candles as the boy learns about the Christmas tradition. Next morning, the kite he wished for as a gift is sitting by the tree.
Tree of Cranes is beautifully illustrated. The images as well as the text have a serenity about them. It's a good example of personal memoir to share in the classroom, and a nice addition to a multicultural holiday library.

Santa Duck

2011-12-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

Santa Duck by David Milgrim
Illustrated by David Milgrim
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
2008

Nicholas Duck has only one day left to find Santa and let him know what he wants for Christmas before it ends up being "another year of socks and underwear." As he heads out the door he finds a wrapped box at his doorstep. Inside the box there is a red coat and an "official Santa hat!" Singing Jingle Quack all the way, he looks for Santa, but instead of the big man, he runs into other animals who don't waste a second to start sharing with him all the things they want for Christmas. After all, he looks like Santa Duck! Fed up with all the animals never ending requests, he runs and runs until he runs into Santa himself. Santa Duck shares with Santa all the animals' lists and the big man is thankful and impressed with the duck's keen memory. Too bad he forgot to share his own list. But maybe being Santa's helper is gift enough.
Santa Duck is a blast. The cartoon illustrations by Milgrim are whimsical and joyful. The dialogue bubbles that accompany the illustrations, add to the personality of each character and offer plenty of funny exchanges (love to see a duck say "Whoa baby!" and "Has everyone gone bonkers?"). This is a fantastic read aloud for the home and the classroom. So glad to find this one to add to my holiday shelf.

Sweet Moon Baby and Author Interview

2011-11-30T20:51:00.002-05:00

Sweet Moon Baby: An adoption tale by Karen Henry Clark
Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
2011

A perfect baby girl is born in China. Her parents are poor and dream of a better life for their daughter. "She should have pretty things", "she should learn to read." As they send her in a basket down the river to find her new life under the light of the moon, the girl peacefully sleeps.
At the same time, but in the other side of the world, a couple hopes for a daughter of their own. They have waited for a long time for her, planting a garden in case she loves vegetables or pies, building a house with room for her, hoping she would like pretty things and books. The moon gives them the sign they were waiting for and they embark on a journey to find their little girl.
Sweet Moon Baby is beautiful, touching, lyrical, and memorable. The language is poetic and flows with ease: "from high in the warm sky, the moon's face glowed on the river, making a path as clear as the night's promise." The parallels in the phrases used by the parents in China and the American parents, frames the story and connects the two worlds before the beautiful baby becomes the physical link. As the girl journeys through the river, different animals watch over her (a turtle, a peacock, a monkey, a panda, and fish). Once the girl is asleep in her new home in America, we connect back to her beginnings in China when we see a peacock feather by her nightstand, a goldfish and her three stuffed animals: a panda, a monkey, and a turtle.
November is National Adoption Month, so what better way to close it out than reading this beautiful adoption story. I read it aloud today to my fifth graders and, though I had read it alone a couple of times, I couldn't help choking up. They were also very moved by it. Simply beautiful.
Here is a link to the book trailer: Sweet Moon Baby

As a special treat, I'm thrilled to share with you my second interview ever with the author of Sweet Moon Baby, Karen Henry Clark.

What inspired you to write SWEET MOON BABY?

Our daughter Maggie was eleven months old when we adopted her from a Chinese orphanage and little was known about her. I thought about how rich with information my own early life was because my mother saved so many things of mine, and we had great pictures of my early days. None of that was possible for Maggie, so I wrote a history for her. Her first English word was moon, which seemed incredibly dear to me. And she said it with such joy and certainty that it inspired me to believe the moon had been a significant influence in her life from the beginning.

Did your daughter participate in the process for the book?

She is so much a part of this book and the fact that I finally got published that it's a huge thing to try explaining it. I'll try. By the time I was four years old, I wanted to be an author. While other children played outdoors, I wrote books and drew the illustrations. I had no idea, of course, how to go from that to getting a printed book on a shelf, but life has a curious way of showing us how to make our dreams come true. By the time we adopted Maggie, I had given up writing picture books because I kept having "almost but not quite" experiences with editors. Then one day when she was in kindergarten, we were in a bookstore, and I read her a piece of a review I'd written several years before she was born. It was still printed on the novel's cover. "That's good, Mama," she said. "You should write more!" Her face was beaming at me, filled with faith that I could do it. So I started again by writing about her in SWEET MOON BABY. She often sat on my lap while I typed, and I would read it out loud to her. She was excellent at telling me what she liked and what she thought wasn't clear enough. So not only was she the subject matter, she was my first editor.

Are you working on other stories connected to the theme of adoption?

In a way, yes. At Christmas last year, we adopted two rescue dogs. One of them had never had a home and was found in the northern part of the state. She traveled a great distance to get to us and had been through plenty of hard times alone. She is the sweetest, bravest dog. I've started a story based on her journey.

What books influenced you as a writer?

As a first grader, I tried to understand why some books were interesting to me and some weren't. I worried about Dick, Jane, and Sally in our early readers because their lives seemed so awful because all they did was stand around and shout verbs at each other. At least that's how it seemed to me. I kept wondering what was wrong with them. My mother took me to the library each week, and I'd fallen head over heels for Curious George and Dr. Seuss's Horton. Now there were characters who were really living. I started writing my own stories that involved the long-winded tales of a rabbit family. They were always up to something. So I wrote to avoid dry literature and to create joyful literature.

What are three books every adult should read to their kids?

I'm not much into lists of "bests." What inspires one reader is easily disregarded by another. It's like telling a joke. Some laugh wildly, and others stare blankly at you. For instance, my husband has always loved Where the Wild Things Are, but it does not speak to me. I can admire the phrasing and art, but the story does not capture my heart. You should read whatever you love, whatever you remember fondly. Children are as impressed by an adult's devotion to a certain tale as they are by the plot itself. My mother read to me the stories she believed were important life lessons, although I didn't see it at the time. There was no room for princesses or magic spells in her lap. She read The Little Engine that Could and Henny Penny and The Little Red Hen. Consequently, she raised a determined daughter who never waited for a magic potion.

Anything else you would like our readers to know?

Because I've written a picture book, I cannot leave the beautiful art of Patrice Barton unmentioned. When the editor sent me her drawings, I showed them to a few people to watch their reaction. Even without words, tears would run down the faces of those adoptive mothers who turned through her illustrations. The heartfelt power of her drawings is undeniable. The story tells itself by what she's drawn. The book has been out for a while now, but I am constantly amazed by the lovely comments I receive. At a school reading, an adopted kindergarten Chinese girl told my husband, "I'm the REAL sweet moon baby." That she identified so intently with the baby's adventure is just the dearest thing to me. But, really, who wouldn't love to believe a peacock had carried them past the moon?

Thanks Karen for your time and kindness!

Dinosaur Dig!

2011-11-29T22:40:00.000-05:00

Dinosaur Dig! by Penny Dale
2011

What are two things most young boys obsess about sooner or later? Dinosaurs and construction equipment. Put them both together and you get Dinosaur Dig! On the inside front cover we are introduced to the ten different types of dinosaurs we will encounter in the book. Adding one by one, all ten dinosaurs come into the story, each using a different piece of construction equipment. They dig, shovel, dump, lift, mix, build, roll, pump, and spray paint. The whole time we wondered what they are working on until we see their finalized project: "Ten dinosaurs playing. Playing in their brand-new pool. The pool they built themselves!"
Dinosaur Dig! is guaranteed to be a hit with dinosaur loving crowd (and the digger lovers). Not only will they learn the names of ten different types of dinosaurs but, in the inside back cover, they'll also learn about ten construction equipment machines. The illustrations are big and bold.

Ice

2011-11-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

Ice by Arthur Geisert
2011

I'm a huge fan of Geisert. He always connects with a younger me, the one that dreamed up mousetrap-like contraptions and elaborate scavenger hunts. His latest wordless book, Ice, had me flipping its pages back and forth, admiring his detailed illustrations and ingenious solution to the main problem in the book. There is a group of pigs living on an island. The sun is shining down relentlessly, the ground is dry and barren, and the pigs' well is running out of water. Some pigs are trying to keep cool with fans, but they know they need to come up with something. Quick. In each page there is a hint, a clue, as to what's to come. We see a boat docked on the island. The pigs sail...actually, they fly their boat with balloons, all the way to the north pole to find a new source of water: ice. How will they bring the iceberg back to their island?
If you haven't check out any of Geisert's book yet, you must do so immediately. They are a treat. And as much as I love the written word, there is something quite special about wordless books. This is one of those that are worth sharing and looking at over and over again. In the classroom, wordless books like this can be used as a picture guide for students to write out the story the author has told us through his illustrations. Did I already tell you I'm a huge Geisert fan?

Other books by Geisert reviewed on this blog:
Lights Out

Willy

2011-11-27T21:53:00.000-05:00

Willy by Geert De Kockere
Illustrated by Carll Cneut
2011

Willy was an elephant with legs like pillars, a massive body, huge ears, and a tiny "insignificant little" tail with "a ridiculous little brush at the end." "And still Willy was invited everywhere." His huge ears made him a great listener. With his huge body he could push children who didn't want to go to school, or cars that stood in the way. With his little brush at the end of his tail, he could draw and write beautifully. He was welcomed everywhere. Sometimes, someone would make a comment mocking his ears or his legs like pillars, but "those remarks where brushed off very quickly" or "overruled." And then he was comforted by many who loved him.
At this point in Willy the author talks directly to the reader and the point of the story becomes clear: "So if you have legs like pillars or ears that flap in the wind or if you have a body as big as two [...] then think of him. Think of Willy. HE HAD IT ALL." And still he was loved.
Willy is an interesting book to share in the elementary classroom and discuss the topic of self-esteem and bullying. The illustrations by Cneut and the length and style of the text, give the book a feeling more connected with the upper elementary grades. Great book to show kids to own who they are, just like Willy.

Good-bye, Havana! Hola, New York!

2011-11-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

Good-bye, Havana! Hola, New York! by Edie Colón
Illustrated by Raúl Colón

In Good-bye, Havana! Hola, New York!, Edie Colón tells the story of a 6 year old cuban girl named Gabriella. The story is basically autobiographical, but Colón explains on a note at the end of the book that she decided to use a different name for the main character "so that I could have some distance from my story."
Fidel Castro has recently taken control of Cuba and under the banner of the Revolution, the government has taken control of all private property, including Gabriella's family restaurant. In search of a better life, Gabriella's parents move to New York. They travel ahead to get everything ready for their new life, while she stays with her grandparents in Havana. When her father comes back to take her to the Bronx, Gabriella must face the pain of leaving her adored grandparents behind, not knowing when and if she'll see them again. During the rest of the book, we see Gabriella dealing with the lifestyle changes after the move to New York. It is colder, more urban, she's far from her beloved ocean, and she doesn't speak the language. Throughout the school year, Gabriela makes new friends and learns to speak English. And at the end, she's reunited with her grandparents. The whole family is together again, but this time in their new home in the Bronx.
Good-bye, Havana! Hola, New York! is a good book to share in the multicultural classroom. As an ESL teacher, I know my English Language Learner students will relate to Gabriela's struggles, feelings, and fears. The story uses a lot of phrases in Spanish with an English translation immediately following (I found that since the phrases were long, the translations seemed to interrupt the flow of the story). The illustrations by Raúl Colón are simply beautiful, with a warmth of color that immediately brought me back to the Caribbean coast. This book would also be a great mentor text to introduce memoirs.

My Name Is Elizabeth

2011-11-25T21:27:00.000-05:00

My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee
Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
2011

Her name is Elizabeth. She loves how long her name is, how it feels when she says it, and that a queen was named after her. You know what she doesn't like? When people call her names other than Elizabeth. Like Beth, or Liz, or Betsy. When she finally explodes and lets them all know, she actually gets her way. With one exception.
Using dialogue bubbles, My Name is Elizabeth captures the frustrations of a young girl who can't control what adults call her. Or can she? With her quirky pet duck, two tone illustrations, this enjoyable picture book grabs you with its simplicity with a final scene that will have you smiling.

Stars

2011-11-24T22:02:00.000-05:00

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
2011

Stars appear in the sky, one by one, "and the dark that comes doesn't feel so dark." You can't catch them but you can make your own with shiny paper, cut it out and keep it in your pocket. There are many stars out there, like the one that shows you're the sheriff or the one at the end of your magic wand. Snowflakes and flowers are also little stars. And somedays you feel like a star, and others not so much. But at the end of the day, you can put your PJs on, look up at the sky and know that even if you can't always see them, starts are there every night, every where.
Stars is a beautiful book, perfect for bedtime. Ray's text speaks to children with a honest tone while remaining lyrical. Frazee's illustrations are spot on. Her portraits of children are delightful, and every page turn offers a new spread, with new tones and detailed expressions. Lovely.

Too Shy for Show and Tell

2011-11-23T23:41:00.000-05:00

Too Shy for Show and Tell by Beth Bracken
Illustrated by Jennifer Bell
2011

Sam was a very quiet little boy who kept to himself at school. "Nobody knew much about him." He loved trucks, chocolate cake, and dogs, but nobody knew it. The one thing everybody knew about Sam was that he didn't talk much. "Sam really didn't like talking in front of people, which is why Sam hated show-and-tell." So when his teacher announced that they would be having one at the end of the week, Sam got scared. He was so nervous, he felt sick and wanted to stay home. But his mom told him he needes to go school. Once at school, he tried to get out of it by telling his teacher he'd forgotten to bring something to show. As he sat on the rug watching his classmates share their items, Sam tried to gather up courage. And then it's his turn. He didn't faint or cried, and no one laughed. Today, everyone in class learned a little bit more about Sam, who's already thinking about his next show-and-tell.
Too Shy for Show and Tell is a sweet story to share with the pre-k and lower elementary classrooms, as well as with the shy kids at home. The illustrations by Bell are tender and welcoming (the kids are depicted as zoo animals and Sam is an adorable giraffe wearing a stripped turtle neck). I got to admit that the book had me at its dedication when it quoted The Smiths: "Shyness is nice, but shyness can stop you" ('from doing all the things in life you'd like to'). So "ask me, ask me, ask me," if I liked it.

When a Dragon Moves In

2011-11-22T21:22:00.000-05:00

When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore
Illustrated by Howard McWilliam
2011

A boy is enjoying a beautiful sunny day at the beach. With his swimming trunks on, wearing a towel as a cape, and with pail and bucket in hand, he builds a large sandcastle. "If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in." The boy and his imaginary dragon have a wonderful day at the beach: swimming, flying kites and roasting marshmallows. He tries to convince his family that the dragon is real by showing them a feather from his wing (a seagull feather) and one of his sharp teeth (a broken shell), but they don't believe him. When he starts getting in trouble for eating all the food (because the dragon was hungry) and for spraying his sister with sand (because she says there is no such thing as a dragon), the boy gets scolded by his parents: "I think we've had enough of this dragon business." The boy destroys his sandcastle and orders his dragon to leave. There is always tomorrow to build a new perfect castle.
When a Dragon Moves In is a fun read aloud. It follows the familiar structure of "if you...then." I've used this type of book in my classroom and had students create their own "if, then" picture books and they have a blast. The Illustrations by McWilliam are wonderful (I loved his work on the delightful I Need My Monster). Kids will enjoy the dragon's antics and the boy's imaginative play.

Betsy Who Cried Wolf!

2011-11-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

Betsy Who Cried Wolf! by Gail Carson Levine
Illustrated by Scott Nash
2002

In the same town where there was once a boy who cried wolf, Betsy has just turned eight and taken the Shepherds' Oath. She's ready to guide her sheep and protect them from any wolf who may try to eat them. Meanwhile, up on Rosenrise Mountain, Zimmo, the wolf, is hungry and lonely. He knows he needs food, and soon, so he comes up with a plan. As Betsy leads her sheep up the mountain, the wolf lets her see him and as soon as she calls for help, he hides. Nobody believes poor Betsy. The next day, Zimmo shows up again and Betsy calls for help once more. Afraid that this is a repeat of the lying boy from years ago, the townsmen send poor Betsy back to Shepherd School (where she must write on the blackboard "I will cry wolf only when I see a wolf", over and over again). When she's finally allowed to head back out to the mountain, she comes face to face with Zimmo. She calls for help, but nobody comes. This time, the hungry wolf runs towards Betsy and the sheep, but he only has eyes for her lunch: a delicious shepherds' pie. With a full belly, Zimmo turns out to be quite helpful and Betsy has a new assistant.
Betsy Who Cried Wolf! is a very entertaining twist on the old story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. The delightful illustrations by Nash, add a great touch with tons of funny details to be noticed in multiple reads. The styling of Betsy, with hooded sweatshirt and cut out gloves, give it a cool and modern touch. Excellent read aloud to pair up with the original story.

A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis

2011-11-20T22:44:00.000-05:00

A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt de la Peña
Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
2011

Back in college at Northwestern University, I took an amazing class titled "History and Anthropology of Sports." I grew up loving sports, watching all of them on TV and playing a couple of them as well. One sport I never had any interest in was boxing. And then I took that class...and read a biography on Joe Louis. During one of the weeks of school, I had to read two books: one on Joe Louis and one on soccer (my favorite sport). Well, I was so mesmerized by this boxer that I only discussed one book during the class meeting. My professor, who was my mentor and knew me well, couldn't believe I didn't even made a single reference to the soccer book. That's how amazing Joe Louis' story was. Needless to say, I was thrilled to find a new picture book about him.
A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis tells us about his beginnings as a child ridiculed for his stuttering. "Words spinning just beyond Joe's grasp, and with black skin he passed through childhood in shadows." We learn about his trips to the gym, learning how to box and "slowly stepping out of the shadows." He found a new home "between the ropes." Knowing that back then, as a black man, he would not win fights by a decision, Joe Louis had knock them all down. The book focuses on the most important fight Louis ever fought against the German Max Schmeling. That fight was about more than a world title, it was a battle between America and Nazi Germany, and all of the US, white and black, united to see Joe Louis defeat the German.
As I was reading A Nation's Hope, I couldn't help but think that the writing by Matt de la Peña flowed as smoothly as a boxer dancing in the ring. The illustrations by Kadir Nelson are nothing short stunning (the portrait of Joe Louis as young man, with his hands resting between his legs is hauntingly beautiful). Nelson plays with angles and perspectives that ad dynamic movement, as if our eyes are moving around the ring, following the boxers' feet. Gorgeous biography of an amazing man.

Picture a Tree

2011-11-19T19:43:00.001-05:00

Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid
2011

"There is more than one way to picture a tree." Depending of the seasons, its size and its type, a tree can be so many things. A tree could be a tunnel (when trees from opposing sidewalks touch each other over the street), an ocean (when seen from a high rise terrace, a city filled with trees) or a home. Trees can be the umbrellas that protect us from the sun on hot summer days, or can be skeletons in the winter. The fallen leaves of trees in the autumn are part of "a wild goodbye party", while the evergreens in the winter get to "put on snowsuits". Weather they are baby trees, young or old, they all hold spring in their branches, "sleeping like a baby." "Picture a tree. What do you see?"

Illustrating the book with her incredible Plasticine style, Barbara Reid has created a beautiful book that wows at every page turn. I stayed on each page for awhile, admiring the detail and vibrant quality of each spread. The text is lyrical with great use of figurative language to explore in the classroom and many possible extension activities. I will have my students "picture a tree" and write from the point of view of one of the trees in their neighborhood. This is a gorgeous book that I'm truly happy to have in my personal library now.