Happy Book Birthday to STUCK!

Bushel and Peck Books, 2025

 Happy Book Birthday to STUCK! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits, written by Joyce Uglow and illustrated by Valerya Milovanova.

From the dynamic cover to the murky-swirly endpapers, readers are immediately immersed in a dramatic and sinister place and time. It chronicles life in a more recent  scientific period than the many versions of events surrounding the era of dinosaurs. This story focuses on ice-age survivors of that great extinction, the more recent land-, water-, and air- dwellers of 10,000- 50,000 years. Those earlier organisms, the ones from millions of years ago, transformed into oil reservoirs that, eventually, worked their way toward the surface. These seeps formed sticky asphalt pools lurking unseen just below shallow waters of a thin-scrim of spongy land. This is the story of that gooey trap. 

Illustrations that swirl across the pages and suggest an omimous element reveal the passage of time as this underground ooze accumulated fossils into a bottom-of-page boneyard. Above that dark art are the lively habitats and dramatic movements of animals in flight or attack. Until, shockingly, they are stalled, trapped. Using lyrical minimal text that effectively incorporates science details, interactive animal dynamics of the past come alive. The words and lines either surge across the page, or settle into steady alignment when different approaches best serve the actions and abrupt pauses. The rhythmic and occasionally rhymed text encourage read-aloud that is both riveting and rollicking.

All life seeks water, so creatures (and flora) fell victim to that need, usually unaware  of the danger lurking beneath the water’s surface. Specific creatures call to readers for empathy as a sloth struggles and is STUCK! That makes it easy prey for a saber tooth smiledon, whose attack also succumbs to the tar trap. Their riotous struggle entices a pack of dire wolves, and so on. Birds, insects, scavengers, and even the largest of mammals have stacked and sunk into the grip of prehistoric mire. Tectonic churn and geologic shifts disrupted the skeletons and bits within the ooze, but scientific analysis reconstructs the sequences and time periods of those lost lives.

This compelling story continues through the past century of first discovery of the pits and on into modern times where, now excavated and counted but still unstudied, are stored crates filled with fossil materials awaiting detailed examination. That’s not for lack of effort by the many scientists involved in the investigations. It's a matter of keeping up with the unearthed evidence. The tar pits themselves continue their bubbling processes in the heart of a sprawling urban civilization, Los Angeles, California. Even a parking lot has an active, well- marked asphalt seep, and it’s not a manmade one.

 A recurring theme is the hope of survival, portrayed by a dragonfly appearing in early pages. A long-time descendent of that species reveals an escape that can be celebrated on the final double spread. Back matter provides clarity about the timing and processes across years, with examples of fossil types and further text/timeline. A full spread chart lists many examples of the countless species trapped by the tar, with a color key indicating their categorization from insects to mammals. The enticement of this fascinating slice of geologic history is undeniable, and the payoff does not disappoint.

Be sure to check back next week when I’ll be posting an interview with author JOYCE UGLOW. Her poetry appears in several collections, but this is her debut picture book release. She’ll share the back story for this remarkable book and its journey to publication.

Some interviews she has already done can be read HERE. And HERE.

For now, learn more about Joyce Uglow  HERE.

STUCK! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits is officially launched today, and can be purchased at 
BUSHEL & PECK BOOKS, HERE.

Also available at BOOKSHOP.org and AMAZON Books HERE.

I urge you to get your hands on this new nonfiction picture book. You'll be STUCK, trapped, and happy to bring others along for the ride after reading this one!

MORE Than Just a MONTH: Black History Matters

As I wrote during the early days of this blog, I have often felt ambivalent about BLACK HISTORY MONTH, since I've too often seen classrooms, even libraries, in which powerful picture books involving people and events and history of American Black culture are showcased during February, then virtually ignored for the rest of the year. in some cases even sorted back into "monthly tubs" for use when the following February rolls around. 

In a new reality in which governmental websites and agencies are having theme-month identities scrubbed from their programs and attention, my focus is to elevate and celebrate books that reveal the fullness of America (and then world), especially those stories and histories that have been denied, suppressed, and ignored.

Albert Whitman & Company

This is the last day of February, so I'm intentionally featuring a fantastic book that will lead right into MARCH MADNESS and then on throughout the year. It's about the history of professional basketball, and we all know that basketball as a LONG season, professionally and on courts for all ages throughout the year. (I'm a fan of basketball, but honestly was unaware of the important individuals and groups of Black men who made the sport what it is today.)

MORE THAN JUST A GAME: The Black Origins of Basketball, is written by Madison Moore and illustrated by Lonnie Ollivierre. This narrative starts with the awareness that more than 70% of NBA players are Black, but that was not always the case. The text is informative and well-paced, moving rapidly from the past to the present. The illustrations (starting with the cover!) splash across each double spread with the power and punch of actual games. After basketball was invented, it spread like wildfire, but in exclusively white spaces. (At that time, whether enforced openly in the South, or across the rest of the nation separation of white spaces from all others was universal). I was thrilled to learn that it was a Black gym teacher, Edwin Bancroft Henderson, introduced the sport to other teachers, who carried the news back to their students. The twist (I won't give it away) is the how and why that this introduction lacked space and opportunity to explode in the culture, and the unique way in which this hurdle, like so many other racial blockades, was overcome.

As the sport gained ground, the burgeoning NBA was whites-only, so a Black league developed, as with baseball history. That made total sense to me, but I was genuinely unaware of that side of sports history. What elevated the basic story was the seamless inclusion of remarkably talented individual player/leaders and recurring rivalries. In the vein of the boxer Joe Louis (The Brown Bomber) versus German Max Baer, the contests between all-white teams and teams from the Black league resulted in exposure to a wider audience, despite the multiple times when those contests revealed the superior play of the Black teams. 

The conclusion and back matter remind readers that knowing about this history is not enough. Many of the all-time record holders have not yet been admitted to the hall of fame or other basketball honors. These are outstanding players based on their own records, in comparison to any and all players. I urge everyone to read this and learn, then share it widely, providing it a space for public awareness that was once (and still is) limited.

QUICK NOTE: No Place Like HOME!

 

Eerdman's
Books for Young Readers
2024

When a  picture book gains wide acclaim, I realize that I need to squeeze in my own "AMEN!". That's true even though I had intended to take a few days off from posting. 

That's exactly the case with a picture book collection of poems entitled HOME. This remarkable book won starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness. It also made the Middle Grade NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK LIST from ALSC and is a A 2025 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book from American Library Association. That certainly will get my attention. I hope it gets yours, too!

I'm always thrilled to share another remarkable picture book that spans so many genres: poetry, science, empathy, all with phenomenal illustrations. Regular readers here will know I'm a sucker for bird books, and this is no exception. Actually, the poems and illustrations focus on twenty-seven different animal species, but still- look who made the cover! Written by Isabelle Simler and translated by Vineet Lai, the poems are elegant in their full text and absolutely glow with imagery and figurative language.

Some further thoughts about it follow:

This poems ih this gorgeous collection are inspired by distinctive animal homes/structures, including water and land creatures, animals from insects to sea critters to mammals and birds. The book format is narrow and tall, with full spreads that glow with both detail and impressionistic appeal. The poems incorporate accurate terminology yet sing with mood and style. It's no wonder this book has won awards. It belongs in classrooms, libraries, and homes.

So, despite not having time to post for today, here it is! I hope obsession to get this out to reader will inspire you not only to read and share the poems, images, and information, but also to take a closer look at the marvel of nature that surrounds us. Spring has its hand on the latch of the gate and will make appreances soon. Don't miss the show!

 

Featuring Fabulous NonFiction Titles from PHAIDON

Publishers sometimes offer an early view of new titles. When a publisher has produced reliably terrific titles in the past, my hopes are high. That's the case with four new offerings from PHAIDON PRESS (and Phaidon Kids) whose books I've reviewed HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. In each case the subject matter of those books was an iconic visual artist, from BANKSY to  dot-maestra Yayoi Kusama and more. Theirs are not the only picture books I've featured whose subjects are artists or art itself. But they especially impressed me with the ways in which they produced kid-friendly narrative, images, format, and quality that brought "high art" and artists' lives into the hands and hearts of the very young.

The list of new titles, though, is not about art and artists. Rather, they reflect a group of books focused on various aspects of our observable world. I explored those files eagerly and found them to be well-produced, with contents offering significant kid-appeal. I provide only a brief look at each below, but each merits your close examination. All provide the high quality production values of format, paper finish, vibrant colors and crisp images I've come to expect, with well-organized and appealing content organization. Each though, is quite distinct from the others.

PHAIDON PRESS, 2025

Up first is Superpowered Plants:Meet the Smartest, Strongest, and Sneakiest Plants is written by Soledad Romero Mariño and illustrated by Sonia Pulido. The introduction presents the premise that plant adaptations have made many "super" in their capacity to not only survive but thrive in wide-ranging conditions. Such an academic concept comes to life through vivid illustrations and page design throughout, which is better shown than explained (below). The choice of plants ranges around the world, and the traits/adaptaions featured rarely overlap, making each plant a new adventure to explore. Young readers (and their adults) will recognize many of these and become acquainted with some entirely new plant varieties. I expect many audiences may be eager for a trip to a local botanical gardens after adding this book, and will also be drawn to examine plants right outside their doors with new insights and attention. It's a bright and appealing offering.

Interior images, SUPER PLANTS, PHAIDON

Interior images, SUPER PLANTS, PHAIDON

 

From Baobab trees to prickly pairs to Titan Arum (the corpse plant) and more, you can see in the samples pages pictured above that key elements are 

highlig

PHAIDON PRESS, 2025

hted not only in text but with effective graphic design. The overall format includes a full text introduction, a colorful table of contents, and end pages that array the icon-emoji style circle images that occur throughout each spread and featured plant. Overall, kids will have fun and learn loads about individual plants, while gaining understanding of the processes of adaptation.

Next up is NATURE'S TINY CHAMPIONS: The Big Book of Little Creatures Doing Mighty Things, written by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Nic Jones. Ranging from the familiar (honeybees and dung beetles) to eye-opening surprises (chocolate midge and water bear), each double spread is a well-designed presentation of visually informative and intriguing images with narrative and spot text, labels, and inserts that provide further information to be accessed at first reading or dipped into on re-reads of investigations later.

Again, the quality of design and content offers something for any age, but kids will pore over and tell others about their discoveries.

Interior spreads, NATURE'S TINY CREATURES, PHAIDON 2025

PHAIDON PRESS, 2025

A third upcoming title is about adaptations of another of Earth's natural inhabitants, humans! GET DRESSED! A historical Guessing Game For Fashion Lovers is written by Katy Canales and illustrated by Erin Vanessa. In this title each set of  spreads reveals a time period and locale in society (notably including global cultures). As in the books above, m the information is transmitted through a rich blend and balance of text (naraative, spot, and captioned) with illustrations (full scenes, insets, and icons/symbols). 

The patterns of each culture allow readers to extend individual elements of society and its roles across time and geography, revealing the universality of humanity. 

Interior Images, GET DRESSED! PHAIDON

None of these new titles is locked into a single structure or format, but al have been designed to suit the material and capture the audience effectively. These are not simple encyclopedic displays, but tell big-picture stories about how patterns of nature (including human nature) can be inferred and sometimes directly observed by those who take the time to slow down, notice, compare, and consider closely. I hope you'll do the same with these exciting new nonfiction picture books.