BOARD BOOKS Bring on the ART

A catchphrase I often use when writing about or speaking about (or thinking about) picture books is "You never outgrown your need for picture books". On the flip side, you're never too YOUNG for picture books. 
Or for ART. 
That's especially true when provided via quality, sturdy, thoughtfully designed board books. 

Board Books is a category that has blossomed far beyond PAT THE BUNNY (although that book remains a timeless classic) to explore high concepts and stimulating subjects. In 2018 I was a Cybils panelist for this category and posted several times (HERE, HERE, and HERE) about how amazed I was at the variety, creativity, and overall awesomeness of board books currently being published.Take a look if you're shopping for a new baby or for shower gifts.
Among the remarkable board books I examined in 2018 were several released by PHAIDON.com. The latest of their releases to land in my lap is another of their titles with a forward-looking-interactive approach to ART! 

PHAIDON Publishing

ART THIS WAY is the product of the creative couple Tamara Shopsin and Jason Fulford. 
Following my notes about this book, consider clicking on the links I'll provide about early infant brain development, related to language, visual perception, and also the impact of screen time in infant development.

The approach to this sturdy and little-finger-friendly book is to reproduce images (in very high resolution) of innovative and eye-popping art, inviting twists, turns, flaps, colors, and offering some basic informative text. The cover art looks the same upside down, and the authors' opening  directive is to 

"Walk around, open up, 

look down, and up 

and in and out, 

look close, 

look behind, 

and keep looking."

Each reproduction can be explored through lift pages, flaps, mirrors, shifts in dimensions, and brief text prompts.The works include sculptures, photography, mobiles, screeenprints, and compilation installations. The final double spread repeats miniature images of each piece of art with attribution to the modern artist and the media. All are from the Whitney Museum's collection, featuring art by Calder, Christa, Herrara, Levitt, Lichtenstein, Marison, Sherman, and Warhol. 

If you are skeptical about the appeal of such a topic to the youngest audiences, just flash back to the way infant eyes and hands love to explore curls of ribbon, empty boxes, and sticky labels during the recent holidays. The impulse to explore, examine, contort and consider the world around them is a universal fact of infancy. One that is welcomed by this board book.
One that, sadly, diminishes rapidly with age (and with obsessive screen time.
Think about it. 
Screens require interactivity, but it is all dictated by the machine, not the child! If a device is reoriented, it straightens itself. Random twists, turn, flips produce nothing meaningful. Only preprogrammed actions and responses are productive. 
The child in your lap and arms has unlimited potential to CREATE ART, to IMAGINE possibility, to view the world from every angle. Whether or not their work is ever displayed in a gallery is not the question at stake. The crucial question is: 
Are we encouraging (or limiting) their development of  individual insight into, appreciation of, and curiosity about the physical world, and their internal world, too. Books like this one are better than screens by any measure.

And here's my evidence for that claim, with clicks to the content I promised about some of the more recent science findings regarding early infant brain development:

First, this is a reader-friendly summary of the advice from America's pediatricians;
next, this is a summary of the value of reading aloud ANYTHING with young children;
and here are even more board books, new and classic, to replace those screens.

I recently wrapped up my work as a round one panelist for CYBILS AWARDS in the nonfiction categories for elementary and middle grades for 2019. Stay tuned, HERE, for the announcements and blurbs for ALL categories, coming on New Year's Day. You're gonna LOVE these finalists!

A Twist on Tradition: Little Red RHYMING Hood

After my months of focus on nonfiction, here's a fun twist on a familiar folk tale that also addresses the all-too-familiar everyday problems of bullying, self-concept, friendship, and competitions. 

Albert Whitman, 2019

LITTLE RED RHYMING HOOD is written by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Petros Bouloubasis. 
When a little girl with a natural gift for rhyming is teased by a playground bully, Big Brad Wolf, she confides in her grandma that she longs to talk the everyone else does. Grandma boosts her spirits with a red hoodie and news of a poetry contest. With new-found confidence, Little Red embravces her talent and her new nickname, Little Red Rhyming Hood. She gnores the taunts of Big Brad Wolf. 
She hopes to make some friends at the poetry event, but...
Brad finally manages to startle her, and when he does- he scares the rhyming right out of her! In an ironic twist of fate, Brad is 
suddenly "stuck" in rhyming mode while Red is not, leaving them both unhappy.  Red is unable to enter the poetry contest, and Brad is miserable, demanding help. In the process, they discover they can alternate lines and rhyme together. As a rhyming team they win first prize, and find themselves actually enjoying each other's company. 
There's fun to be had in this clever mashup of a familiar tale, word play, and a narrative that combines prose text with intermittent rhymes- not an easy thing to pull off. Fans of the author's many other titles may wonder if there's a touch of autobiography in this latest Red character, but Fliess demonstrates that her storytelling transcends both prose and poetry.
The real strength of this book will be for readers/audiences who are familiar with the underlying, traditional folk tale, Red Riding Hood, which comes in MANY versions. There is actually a concern that many children today are growing up without hearing/reading these previously ubiquitous tales. 
For a brief insight as to WHY we should make it a point to keep these traditional cultural touchpoints in the lives and literature of young people, check this out.
Meanwhile, this story has contemporary relevance even for those not aware of the baseline tales. It will be a richer, more humorous, and funnier book for those with that broader folk tale experience, so I hope it will prompt a deep dive into the many versions and fractured approaches to the tale. And I'd love to be a fly on the wall as those readings and discussions emerge. 

LIZZIE Demands a Seat: And Demands to be Read

January brings me to the eighth anniversary of launching this blog about picture books. When I wrote my first post I had no idea I would continue this long or that it would lead me to so many other activities involving the picture book format I love and respect deeply . 
Now, I've moved far beyond featuring my own favorite or thematic titles, although that still happens. Since I've received more and more requests to review current releases, I included a page to describe my selection guides for choosing which titles to feature. I welcome such requests, but ask authors and publishers to check this page first.

Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills Press. January, 2020

When a copy of LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT: Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights  found its way to my inbox, there was no question that I would want to share it here. I know that the author, BETH ANDERSON, incorporates deep and detailed research that provides insights into her subjects' stories, intentions, and habits. Her historic narratives read with the urgency and relevance of contemporary events, inviting reflection and investigation into people and choices that shaped our current lives.
The illustrator for this title, E. B. LEWIS, was an equal guarantee that I would love this book. He calls himself an "artistrator" for good reason. Any single page or spread from any of his picture books can stand alone as admirable art. But in the context of each story, his images also enrich and engage readers with research-inspired details and artfully interpreted emotions in gesture, facial expressions, colors, and luminous focus.
For those reasons alone, I would have welcomed reading this advance copy (received from publisher as PDF). The subject matter added to my enthusiasm. I'm always longing to read more about hidden or underreported history, especially stories that take a step away from the most  common and popular subjects.That's especially true of stories involving civil rights and racism. 
All too often, the stories on these subjects that spring to mind involve Martin Luther King, Jr, Rosa Parks, or Ruby Bridges. They are typically placed in Southern states and explore widely publicized events. 
But each of the most momentous changes in our nation's laws and attitudes was preceded by many individual efforts, often with much less public attention or support.
I wrote about one such example in a prior post, HERE. 

THE FIRST STEP: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial. Written by Susan E. Goodman and illustrated by E. B. Lewis, the story of equal-education-seeking young Sarah Roberts couldn't be in better hands.

Did you notice that E. B. Lewis illustrated this picture book, too? Goodman makes the point in the back matter of that historic account that the equal rights case described in the story LOST when it reached the court. Even so, it was a first step of many that led to the eventual BROWN vs BOARD OF EDUCATION ruling. In addition, it revealed discrimination and inequality in lives in the northern states, not only in former slave states. A line Goodman uses midway through the story is this:

"Every big change has to start somewhere". 

LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT also demands to be read.

As a twenty-four-year-old free Black woman in New York City in 1854, Lizzie Jennings was not good at waiting- for anything. The illustrations reveal what back matter later articulates: Lizzie was educated, came from a well-to-do family of abolitionist activists, and lived a full life with many community responsibilities. In the opening scene, she relied on the horse-drawn streetcar to reach her church in time to play the organ, tapping her heels impatiently until it appears.

The "tradition" in NewYork City was that Black people could ride the public streetcars if no White people on board objected. If they did, then dirty, unreliable streetcars would eventually come by, displaying a sign: "Colored People Allowed in the Car."
The opening encounter reveals that Lizzie was denied a seat by the conductor, not because of complaints from passengers, but from his open racism- in a FREE Northern state! Lizzie confronted him, indicating the many empty seats. He shoved and shouted, but she held her ground. A crowd gathered as the streetcar and horses waited in place. Even after she was dumped on the street, she scrambled aboard and hung on tight.
The conductor resumed the ride, but hailed a police officer only five blocks further on the route. He soon put Lizzie out, despite her claim to prevent having her rights violated. The officer dared her to file a complaint, saying ti would have no success.
The following sequence of events reveals surprising support: from a White witness, from her internal debate about making things worse if she lost a case, and from an organized community determined to move ahead in the name of justice. 

"The gavel sounded, and the case began—

Elizabeth Jennings v. The Third Avenue Railroad Company."

Remember, this happened more than a hundred years before Rosa Parks's similar protest led to the bus boycott in Montgomery.  Despite a jury of only White men, Lizzie;s case had the support of a qualified attorney, a White male witness, and Lizzie's own willingness to assert her rights. 
She won the case.  
Others were inspired by her success and launched cases against other individual streetcar companies. They, too, helped move the balance of justice toward equality. 

This historical picture book has a satisfying and inspiring conclusion, followed by a note from the author that offers an equally stirring elaboration on the details of Lizzie's life and times. The primary and other resources cited in the back matter invite further investigations and allow readers to confirm details as they wish to do so. 

This book is an exemplary nonfiction title that will appeal to early elementary readers as well as older ones, including adults. Particularly at a time in which we might despair at local and global issues, this serves as a reminder that standing up, speaking up, and sustaining our sense of self is worth the effort. That being knocked flat, denied, and insulted will not lock the door on change. Like Lizzie, we can climb aboard and hang on, accept help from advocates, and seek support from our communities. 
Individual efforts can be cumulative, can become the stepping stones for those that follow. 
I urge everyone to share this book with youth of any age.

It releases on January 7, 2020, and is available for preorder now.

I received the PDF advance file for this title with no promise of a positive review. 

More Holiday Gift Suggestions: HELLO, CROW and MORE

A fantastic fiction picture book reached me just as I began gathering and reading nonfiction titles for this year's Cybils Awards. I've been shifting this lovely book to the top of a "future posts" pile since it released in September, and It has been calling to me ever since. I can't ignore it for even a moment longer, and I'm sharing it here just in time to suggest as a wonderful option for holiday gifting.

Greystone Kids, 2019
David Suzuki Institute

HELLO, CROW is written  by Candace Savage and illustrated by Chelsea O'Byrne. Franny frustrates her father by leaving things around the house, overlooking simple tasks, and ignoring nearly anything except NATURE. As the endpapers and title page reveal, Franny only has eyes for the wonders of the great outdoors and it's creatures.
Franny sees, smells, explores and hears the call of the wild, longing to connect with it.
This book was inspired by the true story of such a girl. In this version, Franny steps into the great outdoors daily. Many edible lunch bits surround her during one of her outdoor excursions. Crumbs catch the attentive eye of a crow. I love the way the crow eyes Franny cautiously, aware of human presence, and behaves naturally. 
In time, Franny is more intentional in sharing her lunch. Crow appears often, hopping in, then flying in to share lunch and and exchange conversational CAWs. 
Franny is convinced she has made a friend, but her father dismisses it as featherbrained dreaming. 
After many days sharing lunches, Crow delivers a special gift, left where Franny can't miss it. She treasures Crow's gifts of a button, then a bead. She insists to her father that they are proof of their loving friendship. 
When he denies it yet again as dreaming, Franny drags him along to meet Crow. 
Together they sit.
They wait.
They scour the landscape and sky.
No crow.
Just as Father is warming up for an "I told you so" speech, Crow swoops in and lands on Franny's head. 
I love the simple, direct language and charming story, sprinkled with clever word play that parallels familiar home scenes sprinkled with Franny's messy trails. These validate Father's frustrated annoyance and labeling. 
I spent several years working in wildlife rescue, some of which included memorable crows. With that experience, I'd have never doubted Franny's story, but the illustrations make it understandable that he did. 

Even so, this is an important story for parents and children to share, sparking discussions about how important it is to trust a child when they share their stories of daily life. 

The situation in this story reminds me of the kerfuffle about a Sesame Street character several years ago.
(If you missed it, check out the full story HERE). 
The running gag about SNUFFLEUPAGUS was that only the young (kids and characters) ever saw the big goofy guy, because he always left before adults arrived. That premise was dropped/corrected when it became clear that children NEED to know that they will be believed by trusted adults when they report what they see and hear. Helping children learn to explore imagination while being trusted with the truth is a crucial developmental landmark.

HMH Books for Young Readers, 2019

As for Crow's gift-giving of tiny found bits, that  is a well-documented pattern within many bird species, most especially crows, ravens, and magpies. Another book I highly recommend, especially at this season of excess consumption, features a rather greedy magpie who learns the hard way that  sometimes less is more. 
MORE, written by I. C. Springman and illustrated by Brian Lies, gets my full-throated praise in a review in a prior post, HERE. Originally published in 2012 and 2014, it was reissued in fall, 2019. 

So I hope you'll add these two titles to your shopping list, or shop for them with your holiday gift cards, or keep them in ind for future occasions.  Remember, too, that lifetime memories are formed by sharing library trips and treasures with kids. 
Happy reading!

Embrace Your Inner ODD DOG OUT!

For months I've been immersed in reading and evaluating nonfiction titles as a Round One panelist for  elementary and middle grade Cybils Awards nominees. Here's a holiday break in praise of title that is out of step with those books. It's timely to share it now, as a potential holiday gift and a suggestion to add to your own wish list for home or classroom or library. 

Harper, 2019

ODD DOG OUT is the creative work of award- winning author/illustrator. Rob Biddulph. It's also a delightful and welcome funny book, a lively lift for the eyes and ears. The title and cover reveal the problem: a free-spirited dog with a flair for fashion does not fit in with the buttoned-down, uptight "others" in a very busy city. The rhymed text moves line by line and scene by scene to reveal that this ODD DOG OUT bucks the trends and zigs when all the others zag. 
Conformity keeps that busy city humming along, at work or at play. Odd Dog is happy to play along, but on her own terms. Terms that are not always welcomed.
It's only when the Odd Dog resolves to leave that we become aware this is a female dog, as pronouns "she" and "her" are used. She admits defeat and embarks (See what i did there?) on a journey to find a place to fit in.
Her arrival in DOGGYWOOD brightens her eyes and adds a smile to her lips. She's found an entire city that hears the beat of her drum.
Until...

She spots one dog, an odd dog out, and offers a friendly bit of sympathy. To her surprise, this odd hound feels right at home, proclaiming that standing out in a crowd should make you proud!
That nibble of wise kibble sends her flying back home, ready to reclaim her place in the big city. To her surprise, she's welcomed back with cheers by the others who missed her distinctive style. In final page twists, many others had begun to explore their own free spirits,  discovering that uniformity isn't all it's cracked up to be! 
This is a timely and timeless message that will ring true from the littlest littles to awkward adolescents right through to adults. That feeling of not-fitting-in can be isolating and crippling, even for the most confident among us. 
In this case I was particularly pleased with the twist in which her journey to fit in led her to a place in which she was "matchy-matchy" with everyone else, but it didn't end there. 
I'll come back to that thought in my final note. 
First, though, kudos to Biddulph for the vibrant tone and detail of the illustrations. The art is distinctly digital with crisp edges, saturated colors, meaningful repetitive images, and page layouts that reflect his art director background. Tiny details (the eyes always have it!) and subtle idiosyncrasies defy those who might see this as stamped art. Young fans of WHERE'S WALDO will relish a chance to locate our ODD DOG. In fact, Waldo's perfectly round glasses with pinpoint eyes are charmingly similar to the eyes of these delightful dachshunds.
There are also many grin-worthy visual asides and quirky corners to explore. Below are just a few examples: an irresistible introduction to ODD DOG OUT on the cover, another invitation to examine each and every compartment on the commuter train to locate our Odd Dog, the sailing sea dogs whose uniforms are consistently, well, uniform, but whose windblown ears make me wish i could decipher semaphore signals, and the comical interpretations of ODD DOG's  heroic journey.

I'm a fan of this book because it offers something for everyone, at every level.  It's perfect to hold in your lap with a toddler, rhyming encourages rereading and eventual independent reading, the humor ranges from slapstick to sophisticated, and the philosophical questions invite discussion. Adults will recognize the buttoned up East Coast versus the free-spirited West Coast crowd.
Now for my only quibble:
When ODD DOG arrives in DOGGYWOOD, it's only natural that she would at first feel right at home. She found "her people", after all. I was just a bit disappointed that she "learned" to embrace her unique style through "mansplaining". I would have preferred that she spend enough time to miss "home" and friends and come to self-acceptance on her own.
PLEASE don't think this makes the book less appealing- it is a winner. Just consider the possibility that this subject, too, might merit some discussion, even with the younger ones. 
And the final page twists and surprises are some of the most fun images in the book, with a message all their own. 
Uncork your bottle, people, and let your ODD DOG OUT!

Postscript:  Creator Rob Biddulph replied that the pivotal advice of the ODD DOG in the sweater (jumper) and cap is NOT male. It's my error to have judged by clothing stereotyping, but his comment led me back to take a closer look at signals for gender. 
This, too, opens up a chance to explore gender stereotyping among even the very youngest readers!  
Love those layers!
And thank you to Rob for chiming in with that note. 

"JUST RIGHT" Gift Books for Picky Readers- and the Rest of Us!

Nearly everyone I know has used a field guide at some point in their lives. Birdwatching? Identifying tree leaves? Preparing a school report on insects? 
Field guides, while useful, are not what I'd call picture books in  any traditional sense. They are meant to be utilitarian, a convenient resource for occasional use.
And yet, some manage to offer many of the benefits and much of the appeal of great nonfiction picture books. 
Here's my post about some amazing field guides, two of my favorite nonfiction nominees for Cybils finalists from among the many outstanding titles I've been reading. Each is clearly labeled FIELD GUIDE, but each has won my heart with picture book qualities, and will do the same for readers of many ages. Each elevates the category of FIELD GUIDE through excellence in writing and design. Both broaden the appeal of truly unusual topics of study to audiences of many ages and backgrounds. And each utilizes a voice that reaches out to fully engage individual readers.

First, I'll celebrate CRYPTID CREATURES: A FIELD GUIDE, written by Kelly Miller Halls and cleverly illustrated by Rick Spears with retro style and color tones. I won't be the least bit offended it you pause right here to click on Kelly's name above to check out her website. 
You'll be gone a while, because her website is subtitled "WONDERS OF WEIRD", and it's almost impossible to look away. 
Kelly, you see, is a renowned writer, researcher, presenter, and expert on "cryptids". 
She explains in the introduction of her new book that CRYPTOZOOLOGY is the study of mysterious sightings.
Yes, this is science. 
In fact, if/when scientific investigations conclusively prove that a previously unknown creature is actually real, it moves from this crypto-label into a scientific classification within known categories, or even sprouts a new branch on our zoological tree. 
As you must know though, the vast majority of various unexplained sightings are more often disproved than proved, Often the  evidence leaves unexplained creatures hovering in the crypto-zone. 
This hand-sized manual will entice even the most reluctant reader to dive and delve deeply into the world of the weird. Author Halls is an established expert on the subject of unexplained/unconfirmed sightings and claims of lifeforms that have yet to be established in science. Her research involves travel, interviews, analysis of conflicting reports, and examination of artifacts and locales. Over time, her reputation for approaching claims of unexplained lifeforms elevates her writing to a level of mentorship for others in navigating the fine line of describing and defining the range of credibility and reasoning for each claim. 
Kids (and adults!) struggle to separate fact from fiction, even when hard data and direct observation are available. In cases of claims and hoaxes, Halls's field guide  examinations invite readers to identify standards of proof, to question claims without cynicism or gullibility, and to generate hypotheses and possible research to pursue further understanding. 
The creature-claims included here are classified by types, with added content threaded throughout offering individual pages of related subject matter, from cartoons to museums to rewards for hard evidence. Challenges to the reader's curiosity abound.
Hall's website (and her excellent prior titles) provide even further deep explorations of unknown and intriguing subjects for investigation. Her school visits and presentations are consistently a hit with audiences of any age, but especially with the kids who have struggled to connect with more typical topics and genre. I urge you to check out this remarkable title and share it with kids you know who need a portal to potential!

The next offering is MOLES, subtitled THE SUPERPOWER FIELD GUIDE. Cover captions like "Featuring Rosalie the Bionic Burrower!",  "96 Pages of Gobsmacking Facts", "Mole Illustrations Galore", and "ARMS OF HERCULUES! SUPERSONIC SNOUT FINGERS! BOOD OF THE GODS! AND MORE!" use a comic-book style dynamic. It felt a bit over-the-top to me at first, but I soon saw that was not the case with the kids who picked it up. 
Within minutes of opening the book I realized that author Rachel Poliquin had dug deep. (<<< See what I did there?)
And it shows.
Illustrator Nicholas John Firth brings comparable hyperbole and retro style to his illustrations with limited color tones and unlimited fun while adhering closely to the scientific facts about amazing moles. 
I'll admit that moles were low on the appeal-meter for me, even though I'm an animal-lover. I tolerate deer nibbling my foliage, squirrels and chipmunks uprooting my bulbs for tasty snacks, and rabbits raiding my veggies and can't suppress my smiles.
However, moles undermining my garden hovered in the irritation-zone, not far from cabbage worms and slugs.
This book won me over, though, and I've read it several times. My admiration for moles now is immeasurable! Those over exclamations are more than merited. 
The author manages to make clever comparisons from from page one- inviting readers to see a typical garden mole as potato sized-and-shaped critter. She backs up her raves about this  squinty-eyed, super-powered wonder with astonishing facts. 
Naming her model mole Rosalie, the author provides all the science detail you could imagine (and more!) while layering in humor and stacking up page after page of impressive accomplishments and adaptations for this little powerhouse. 
The writing itself is a perfect blend of lighthearted explanations and informed admiration for moles. After reading this field guide, it's easy to describe Rosalie and her relatives as charming. Back matter includes suggested further reading (both fiction and nonfiction) and  a helpful glossary. 
If you are wondering what kinds of books might hook a digitally-obsessed kid you know, or one who has been heard to say, "I can't find any books I like," these two titles are exactly what you need to add to your gift list for holiday shopping.

Three Biographies: Inspiring Performers!

A recent post profiled  the power of everyday people to change the world with a spotlight on biographies about FRED ROGERS (Mr. Rogers, of course) and TOD BOL (originator of LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES). In both cases, they drew on early intentions about doing good for others, about honoring the messages learned in youth, to generate ripple effects that continue beyond today. 

Whether starting from humble beginnings or nurtured from the earliest days, three remarkable creatives each made an impact that reverberates today.

Candlewick Press, 2019

Dipping back farthest in time (of these three titles) is a biography of perhaps the most iconic figure in cinematic history. SMILE: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry) is written by Gary Golio and illustrated by the remarkable Ed Young. Two award-winning talents were paired and do justice to the heart-tugging and surprising early life of little Charlie, to reveal the necessity and the inspiration for Charlie to develop his timing, his talent, his theater awareness, and his comfort on the stage. 

When, as an adult,  he found himself exploring characters in the new media, silent film, he led with his heart. While directors called for "More funny!" he discovered that audiences would laugh harder if the character they saw on the flat, black and white screen could reach out and connect. And audience could care enough to cry, if the story and the actor worked their magic together. 

Chaplin was proud to transform apparently everyday folks into everyday heroes by revealing seeming weaknesses into strengths. He did so with a grace that is still imitated but remains unmatched. Check out clips and further details of Charlie Chaplin at the official CHAPLIN site, HERE. Back matter in this book leads to other helpful information. 

Just a bit further into the twentieth century, young Lester Paul was growing up in traditional Waukesha, Wisconsin. He raced into the music room at his school with the enthusiasm for music that stayed with him throughout his very long life. 

His music teacher was not as enthused about his various attempts at instruments and informed his mother that Lester was NOT musical. 
GUITAR GENIUS: How Les Paul Engineered the Electric Guitar and Rocked the World documents how wrong a teacher can be.

Like Fred, Tod, and Charlie, Lester had a mother who believed in him, who encouraged his inventions and schemes, even when they involved sawing a chunk out the staircase or disassembling electronic and other household items. That confidence and encouragement keep Lester pushing and prodding and learning and playing, even though he never learned to read music. His list of awards and honors as a performer, an innovator, an inventor, a collaborator, and more led to lifetime achievement accolades in multiple Halls of Fame and numerous patents for his inventions. The text by Kim Tomsic and illustrations by Brett Helquist vibrate with Paul's unstoppable drive and energy. Back matter is informative on several layers. 

My personal disappointment with this book is that there is no mention, even in the back matter, of Paul's creative musical partner and love of his adult life, his wife, Mary Ford. She collaborated in the development of many of his inventions and innovations, and together they were dubbed THE GOLDEN DUO. As should be the case, this picture book is focused on his childhood. But enough pages touch on his adult accomplishments that this feels like an unhappy omission.

Schwartz & Wade, 2019

Finally, you'll want to have a close look at ELVIS IS KING, written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by RED NOSE STUDIO. If any rocker took the power of Les Paul's electric guitar and ran with it, it would be ELVIS. Although his original beat-up accoustic guitar was beloved, and he performed with accoustics often, his drive to create a sound that had never before been heard never left him.

Winter's text is laid out in blocky chunks, moving readers from age to age, page to page, and stage to stage, pun intended. The neon cover lettering and carved-puppet-dimensional profile hint at interior scenes. Each dimensional, stop-action spread reinforces the staging that Elvis mastered early in his life- including when he used dye and wax to turn his blond hair into the iconic masterpiece it was throughout his career. 

This rags to riches story is far more than a tribute to determination and dreams. Elvis, like Chaplin and Paul, harnessed incredible talent to change the world. 

30 Years Triumphs Books, 2019

If these lives have you in a musical mood, you should pick up THE HISTORY OF ROCK for BIG FANS and LITTLE PUNKS, by Rita Nabais and Joanna Raimundo. With a blend of field guide style and comic book illustrations, brief bios of the best known and most influential rockers are presented in chronological order. Whether because global rock favors -speaking performers or because the book is intended for American audiences, representation of international bands is limited. 
Even so, the change-makers, innovators, and icons of rock music are within these pages. Simple sidebar details enhance the short  summary paragraphs. Back matter includes a glossary of rock terminology, both technical and cultural. There is plenty of appeal to lead BIG FANS AND LITTLE PUNKS to search for, explore, and discover performers and music that might otherwise fly under their radar.