Advance Peek at ANTONIA: Thoughtprovoking Picture Book

 

MinEditions, 2021

In the midst of news about refugees, escapes, and heartache, I recently received a sample of a picturebook by Columbian author/illustrator, DIPACHO. ANTONIA: A Journey to a New Home will release on September 14 (2021) from MinEditionUS/Astra Publishing House. I try not to overdo being pushy in these posts, but this is an excellent example of how important every single aspect of cover designs can be.On first glance, it's easy to assume that ANTONIA is the lively, lighthearted dog. My assumption there was correct, but there is so much more to notice. 

First, Antonia is looking back, not ahead. Why is that? Is she escaping from someone? Leading the way? Playing with someone? And why is the subtitle "a" journey, not "her" journey? Any ideas?

As they say in the infomercials... wait, there's more! 

Any careful look at a well-designed book cover will include checking out the  back. Of course the text is intentionally helpful, hint-full. But before any words were added, you can compare the two halves of the story that meet a reader's eye before the first page is turned. The front is in bright and "happy" colors, familiar in the styles of the light-noted lively dog, its doggish smile, and a hedge that could be found in any neighborhood. In stark contrast are the color tones and visual suggestions on the back. Images are blurred and blue-er, from the ground up through the ominous sky. That horizontal herdgery is less vibrant, nearly suggesting fencing or barbed wire with a slight squint as you view. 

Any move has both good-and-bad aspects, as presented in books reviewed earlier this month, HERE, and in several other posts. This cover alone suggested to me that much higher stakes could be revealed once I cracked open the story. That's what the opening endpapers confirmed, as the dog is racing away from a lovely home with bags packed outside their door. Then, in several wordless pages that preceded the title page, the dog pauses, tongue lolling, at water's edge. He is soon joined by his young girl, arriving with a hug, followed by a boy with a duck on a leash.

Before the ongoing, eventful scenes unfold wordlessly, DIPACHO offers an introductory note to assure our understanding. He clarifies that many in his homeland, Columbia, are no longer safe in their longtime, lovely homes, but must escape to urban areas, at great risk and loss of their family heritage. Just as the back cover cautions, this introduction makes clear that "a journey" may be dangerous and difficult, and yet in the company of loved ones it is possible to find happiness and hope. 

I will not spoil the story by revealing what "difficulties" this migratory group will deal with, but I urge readers to keep your eyes peeled for the many little visual details that suggest answers to your questions. Who arrives? Who survives? What should be celebrated and what should be mourned? 

Sound like a lot? Well, current global events are "a lot", and without discussion and openness to questions from little ones whose big eyes and ears notice more than we realize, those can feel either unreal or overwhelming. Stories like this one, shared with trusted adults, can elevate empathy and expand understanding. 

While you're at it, give a look back at another kid-friendly but world-aware picture book, CROCODILE'S CROSSING: A Search For Home, reviewed HERE. 

I'm throwing in a bit of a Covid anchor here, too. The mandate against evictions in the USA is about to be lifted, and there will undoubtedly be countless families right around the corners from us who will be forced out of their "lovely homes" to seek "safe" shelter in unpredictable places and circumstances. This fall there will likely be exponentially more un-homed kids within our schools and among our acquaintances. Books like these can resonate with both those who suffer losses and those who can't imagine such losses. Please use books to open discussions that must be had in order to increase our capacity to empathize and actively help.

(Received from publisher without a promise of review.)

Ask Yourself: What Does It Mean to BE STRONG?

Roaring Book Press, August, 2021

That's the question author Pat Zietlow Miller asked herself in writing this companion book to her NYTimes Best Selling picture book, BE KIND. In this recent related release, BE STRONG, Miller's text is again paired with gifted illustrator Jen HIll.  

Schoolmates from the original picture book return, this time featuring the voice, family, insights, and growth of Tanisha. As first person narrator, Tanisha begins with the traditional sense that strength equals muscle power. By that standard, she is NOT strong-- at least not strong enough to climb the climbing wall, or even carry her own backpack at times. 

She does have what I consider the greatest strength of all, and that is to ask questions. She adds "smarts" to her strength by going to her most trusted source, her family. 

In short but intriguingly detailed scenes, she learns from her father that being strong can mean SHOWING UP, from her mother, that strength means SPEAKING UP, and from her Grandma Zee that being strong means NEVER GIVING UP. 

I particularly appreciate the way Hill's illustrations enhance those principles, and are dense with small interactions that could each be a story of their own, yet don't distract from the main narrative. The personality of each and every character, complete with daily clothing changes (not always shown in illustrations), distinctive styles, and varied interests and needs shine through on every page, for every age. Each and every one feels as if they are fully formed individuals with stories to tell, stories I'd want to read. To tell the truth, though, the one I'd love to hear from next is Grandma Zee!

I also admire the way Miller cycles back through those three family interactions to peel back the layers and expand the truths of each bit of advice about real strength, allowing Tanisha to apply their examples to her own life.  A major bonus is when she realizes something more on her own- that it takes strength to be willing to reach out and ACCEPT help, not just offer it. There is also an implied message that being STRONG means not worrying so much about comparing ourselves to others, or what they might think about us or our choices or attributes. All this and more, without a "teacher-y" or hint of didactic tone. That perfect balance is what makes BE KIND a favorite among teachers and librarians and families, as will certainly be true for this new title.

As someone who writes picture book text, and has been working on learning and improving that craft for decades, I'll recommend that you spend some time enjoying this video interview featuring Miller and her editor for this pair of titles, Connie Hsu. 

If you aren't interested in the process behind picture book development and publication, just skip this link.  https://www.crowdcast.io/e/bestron

If you ARE interested, be aware before viewing that the process they describe is rare on two major counts. It offers a very special, seldom seen, insider look at the magic of collaboration in making the best of the best picture books. Also, the course of this creation is about the farthest thing from typical that you'll find: A best selling picture book? An editor reaching out directly with a request to write a manuscript involving a preselected basic concept (*Be KIND)? Working with the same (dream) team to produce a companion book on a different abstract concept? The percentage of picture books created in this way is vanishingly small.

Even so, the conversational exchange between this talented author and collaborative editor is inspiring and exciting to view. Pat is, like Tanisha, someone willing to ask for and accept help, who shows up, speaks up, and never EVER gives up, resulting in  a book that belongs in every classroom, library, and home.

The best way to check out if you agree with my opinion is to get it into your own hands to appreciate it fully. 

If you decide to order, Pat is willing to sign copies if you order from either of these bookstores in her area:  MYSTERY TO ME   and       A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN. Both bookstores stock many of Pat's other books, too, which makes personalized books great options for gift shopping!

Personal Stories of Escape: Bringing History and Current events to Life: THE PAPER BOAT

 As Afghanistan scrolls across our screens and into our lives during these troubled days of exit and ending a two-decade war, we've been reminded that half the population of that troubled country is under twenty-five, with little-to-no personal experience with or memory of the ruthless Taliban control that existed from the late nineties until the battles began following 9/11/2001. Even so, their oppressive legacy makes the resulting panic and desperation to escape understandable, to say the least. (Link is to a short video clip from THE GUARDIAN).

Another wartime comparison that is being referenced across most media involves the final days of the Viet Nam War (one that was never actually declared a war) and the subsequent frantic escape by those who were well aware of potential consequences for anyone who was left behind. (Link is to a short documentary from WBUR/NPR). In that case, the vast proportion of Americans and global audiences are too young to have clear (if any) memories of those events as they actually occurred, even if they've gained s bit of information through subsequent movies, books, etc. Sadly, these are not lived experiences that might trigger intense empathy and urge actions to support Afghan refugees. 

A recent post featured three picture books created by individuals who lived those refugee experiences, books that allow readers to immerse themselves in a virtual experience and connect more fully than through most other media. As this current situation plays out in Afghanistan, I have no doubt that books of all kinds, including picture books. will emerge. Even in the accelerated publishing world, these will take time to reach us. Begin now to achieve that empathy with a look back at the titles I recommended HERE, and also at this remarkable picture book, created in wordless graphic-story format, with a single page author note at the end that is a must-read. 

Owl Kids, 2020

THE PAPER BOAT: A REFUGEE STORY is the work of THAO LAM. Thao resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she arrived with her family when she was only three. They escaped Viet Nam through a death-defying and lengthy process that is summarized in that concluding note. 

Her success as an author and artist has produced several picture books that are worth exploring, utilizing an art style that is appealing and powerful. In the case of her most recent work, THAO (Owlkids, 2021), she addresses the impact of having a name that elicits mispronunciation and other identity-denying patterns that undermine self-acceptance and community connection. I hope you will check it out HERE, especially if you are a teacher, coach, or other adult leader of children of any age. In it, she incorporates  childhood photo images into her characteristic collage-and-more illustrations. 

So, finally, I have reached the part of this post that discusses the featured title, THE PAPER BOAT: A REFUGEE STORY. Trust me, it is worth the wait. Other than the text on newspaper front pages that she illustrated in opening and final endpapers, this is a wordless story that tells readers all they thought that would want to know, and more. Those headlines, dates, and simplified photo images deserve as much careful attention and reflection as the body of the visual narrative panels and illustrations. They set the stage for readers, even those without the slightest sense of how the Viet Nam War unfolded and ended. When an ant appears on the title spread, a sheet of newspaper is rolled and used to swat it. There are symbolic and literal elements to that opening, even though the surface story is easily "read" as literal. In fact, I took that approach once I had my hands on the book. One mindful read-through produced a powerful and emotional journey of escape, a reading filled with high-stakes tension, characters I cared for, and complexity of circumstances that required sustained attention and interpretation.

After reading the graphic visual narrative, I read the author note and related content at the back, with a first response of diving right back into the full storytelling visual content. That led me to an entirely enriched experience, which made me wonder why the note had not been at the start. 

That thought led me back into the book yet again, this time to wonder at that question. This, to me, was a learning experience about the remarkable talent of Thao Lam, not only as an artist or storyteller. My appreciation of her creation in this work focused on the extent to which her intent and design produced a picture book for many ages: one that informs, sparks curiosity and empathy, and could also be studied in adult history and literature classes. As mentor text, her control of symbolism, sequence, and emotional connection can inspire and inform teachers, readers and writers across time. At the same time, this books serves as a passport to join Lam's personal journey, to learn by becoming a virtual traveler at her side, and to marvel at the discreet memories and experiences that remain significant in her life. 

That's a lot, right? 

For me, it also drew me into an intense consideration of current news though imagined individual lenses, wondering how each will fare, how those who survived would register the experiences, and how their stories might, eventually, be shared. They must be. And we, as well as readers to come, must read them thoughtfully and eagerly, seeking deeper awareness that  everyone in the human family, each and every one, is our closest relative. To never forget, we could be them.

 

Houses, Homes, and Changing Lives

I discontinued adding "Covid updates" or anchors to the content of my posts several months ago, mistakenly believing that readily available vaccines would lead the way out of this pandemic. Instead, we are facing rising positive Covid test numbers and hospitalizations for Covid Delta variants in unvaccinated folks that are again overwhelming our physical and human resources. The clock is ticking on the various economic support programs, including an end to the eviction moratorium looming in coming weeks. With so many uncertainties (and scary) circumstances surrounding kids, the prospect of moving is one more variable beyond their control. Or is it?

The current housing market indicates many kids/families will find themselves moving from the home they know to something else. In some cases that might be a "movin' on up" experience, but for many others it could be due to an eviction or job change/loss, or even involve time spent within temporary housing for unhomed folks, or foster settings. (If you missed it, please read my recent review of A KID IS A KID IS A KID, HERE.) Another review from last season strongly recommends THE BLUE HOUSE, by Phoebe Wahl. 

Candlewick, 2021

I mention these perspectives before sharing two picture books about families and homes that won my heart on first reading and then amped up that reaction on repeated readings. The first of these is THE HOUSE OF GRASS AND SKY, written by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrated buy E. B. Goodale. Narration adopts the perspective of "the house", while maintaining a knowing third person voice to explore the lived experiences of this house on a hill in the country. From its earliest fresh lumber smells to observing growing families,  the house learns words like "good-bye" and then "hello", until it sits empty for a surprisingly long time. The grass and sky and tire swing and blooms reliably remained. Seasons passed, but potential new family residents (with diverse identities and preferences) would come, discuss, then leave.

Rabbits waited to be chased, dandelions prepared to be wished on, and starry nights comforted the house through its bare windows. Until... one of those families returns. Restoring the home with caring attention and coats of paint indicate that, once again, the house, the hill, the sky will be the stage on which lives are lived and memories are made. I love that each prospective new owner-family is not the assumed "white" families often depicted in rural and renovation scenarios.

This perspective is both tender and persuasive, never suggesting that the house has its own "life", but rather that every house has a purpose in OUR lives. That purpose is to become a home.

BLUE DOT PRESS, 2021

Next up, author Margaret Wild and illustrator Ann James adopt an entirely different approach and perspective to the home-leaving, home-finding, home-making process. GOODBYE, OLD HOUSE shifts to the perspective of a canny and caring little character who is already owning their transition. The leaving process is revealed by lifting them off the impressionist-styled scenes to the forefront with a black-line-on-white, loosely drawn identity. This intentional child collects significant experiences for one last time: fishing, woodland runs, pony petting, and good-byes to each room and home-location. 

In each case, they convey a sense of peace about the departure; not joyful, but also not melancholy. 

Then, with the same deliberate, in-the-moment awareness of good-byes, they experience many "This is the first time..." "Hello" scenes in a new house-to-become-home. 

This is a story of a child who is able to make an empowered transition from a prior home to a new one, regardless of the reason for the move. It suggests that the geographic locations, physical properties, or particular details of the buildings themselves, HOUSES becoming HOMES depends on the embrace of their residents. The ability to do that, for children especially, is in direct proportion to preparation and attitude conveyed by their adult caregivers/family. 

This is a book that should be shared with/recommended to any adults who anticipate moving, for any reason. It is also a wonderful book for story time and story-sharing in libraries and classrooms. The child who inhabits this story is ambiguously gendered and aged, conveys familiar emotions that invite connection, and models an open and adventurous attitude while holding close the memories and experiences of their past. The art style itself allows young audiences to imagine themselves being overlaid on this experience of moving, viewing themselves as the constant and stabilizing factor in life changes. 

While there are no direct references to back-to-school, these two titles make a great lead-in to conversations about being "new", about saying "good-bye", and about seeking ways to connect those two things in meaningful activities and memories. 

What Is A Family? What Is A Kid? Changing Up Those Back-To_School Activities

 During my long teaching career, it was increasingly obvious that all kiddos (from preschool to teen) are  very different people, from very different families; ones that may not look or live like  the cookie-cutter, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER world in which I was raised.

It's wrong to believe that those familiar back-to-school, get-to-know-you questions are as comforting as we assume, whether in open discussion, on pre-printed posters, or in assigned essays. Families can be among the most loving and supportive ones, but still have young members who hesitate because their beloved family has a very different configuration or connections than a perceived "normal" family. The thought of describing or drawing a picture of one's family may be more stressful than positive.

Groundwood Books, 2019

That's why I urge anyone and everyone who will be interacting with "kiddos" in a back-to-school or get-to-know-you situation (that means ANY age) to get your hands on these two picture books and launch your discussions with these companion books by a gifted pair of creators.

Sara O'Leary is the wordsmith (evidence will follow) and Qin Leng is the brilliant illustrator. The first title, A FAMILY IS A FAMILY IS A FAMILY, launches this diverse and friendly-looking group into a classroom in which a single first-person voice responds with concern to the seemingly-safe teacher question- What makes your family special?

"I went last because I wasn't sure what to say. My family is not like everyone else's"

Moving on, page by page, each child's response is unnamed but recognized through quotation signals and delightfully distinct voices as child after child recounts a family in which love is secure but characteristics are distinct from others. The diversity on every level reveals families with few or MANY children, same-sex parents, blended families, divorced parents, extended generations until, finally, that hesitant speaker repeats what their foster mother said when asked which were her "real" kids. 

“Oh, I don’t have any imaginary children,” Mom said. “All my children are real.”

Each simple quotation and brightly depicted spread reveals child-centered persepectives, voices, and experiences. Like the line above, and like this:

“Because I live with my grandmother, people sometimes think she’s my mother. She’s not. She’s

my everything.”

The text alone would have won me over, and yet the illustrations deserve equal praise for their simplicity, personality, and individualism. They incorporate the full panorama of humanity in size, shape, style, skin tone, age, physicality, and expressions. The kids themselves are indistinct in age, allowing a wide spectrum of audiences to find themselves within the pages. Throughout each scenario, there is plenty of white space to imagine (and sense) the strength and extent of love that is present in each family. 

Groundwood Books August, 2021

With wide praise and three starred-reviews, it's no surprise this delicious and important  book now has a companion book, hitting the market just this month. A KID IS A KID IS A KID leads us into a celebration of individuality and community, beginning with the exuberant cover. But first, a similar opening anxiety is captured in perfect kid-speak and with exactly the right voice:

“Being the new kid is hard,” a child in the school playground tells us. “I can think of better things to ask than if I’m a boy or a girl.”

That sensitive reflection is followed by (again) unnamed quotations whose identity and personality are vividly evident in illustrations and voice. Each begins with "I get asked..." or something similar, relating the kinds of seemingly innocent (but insensitive and NOSY) questions that wound, or annoy, or even infuriate. 

Revealing both expected and unexpected diversity, the speakers embrace their identities or welcome those who speak out on their behalf. Then they propose a variety of BETTER questions to ask kids, like:

“Ask me what I can do, not what I can’t!”

“I wish you would ask me about my grandmother’s house. I was so happy there.”

The structure of this new title is an opportunity for an ideal shared reading experience of ways we feel, and can make others feel. It (entertainingly) offers ways we can reframe and imagine kinder, more welcoming questions. As with the original picture book, the individual kids display physical, social, and emotional diversity on spreads that will feel like "home" to "kids" of all kinds and ages. I won't spoil a perfect ending by giving away the final line and page turn, but only because I am counting on each and every one of you who reads this to get both titles and read them, too.

Don't disappoint me. The books won't disappoint you, I promise!

Nature Speaks To Us!

I'm a lifelong fan of nature in general, and some critters in particular (See CHIRP! Chipmunk Sings for a Friend review). Birds hold a special place in my heart, including the ones featured in a new picture book by prolific and award-winning author Janet Halfmann. Not only have their distinctive songs and calls provided the background music of my entire life, but I worked for several years as a licensed wildlife rescue/rehabilitator. Many of these amazing creatures were literally my "roommates" for various periods of time. During those years I learned to recognize not only species' song patterns, but also individual variations and seasonal ones. I was even able to imitate (or approximate) many of those songs to carry on "conversations" with my temporary tenants.

PenIt! Publications, 2021

That's why Halfmann's recent picture book really SPOKE (sang) to me.  WHO IS SINGING? is illustrated by Chrissy Chabot with crisp, simple images and coloration that are particularly useful for younger audiences at the first stages of bird observation and identification. This new offering is  a sort of "first field guide" for little ones with little hands, big ears, and enormous curiosity about the world. 

Halfmann limits her choices to some of the most familiar birds in the midwest (and much of the country), each of which still has large populations that can be found in urban, suburban, and rural locations. She also provides a winning pattern of question/response for page turns. The opening question includes a "readable" translation of familiar birdsong, followed by a page turn that depicts the bird interacting within typical habitat, including food/prey, diurnal/nocturnal setting, and some typical behavior. 

Interior images used with permission.

Halfmann's text patterns will also have young ones reading along and chiming in as each turn begins with the phrase, "Take a bow... " then repeats the bird's name. Those few lines incorporate the visual content regarding habitat, food, and species patterns.

As is typical in many of Halfmann's nature-focused titles, back matter includes useful learning content and ideas for activities. In this case, the content mentions the ways these "worded" songs were selected, that other wordings exist, and suggests ideas about creating our own versions of recognizable birdsong. It's easy to hear some of thesbirdsonge on YouTube. Just search for BIRDSONG. Share this delightful book with little ones, then take them, and yourselves, out into the wide world and LISTEN! 

This may be a useful tool to introduce young ones to the joy and science of nature observation. You might prefer to start with Halfmann's nonfiction title, GRANDMA IS A SLOWPOKE, or similar titles, reviewed HERE during EARTH WEEK. Either way, this new, bright, and lively book feels invaluable in the process of raising a generation who are attuned to and respectful of the natural world, connecting with and investing in preserving nature for the generations to follow.

Check out Halfmann's many other titles at her website, and stay tuned for countless more that will follow in the months and years ahead. 

LInks to books: https://www.janethalfmannauthor.com

This includes her very recent YAY FOR BIG BROTHERS! (Arbordale, 2021), another info-packed, kid-friendly, colorful look at the natural world with added fun in the back pages (also available in Spanish!)

Two Sides To Every Story... in Two AMAZING Picture Books, and ONE MORE.

 I'm a fan of poetry-- reading it, writing it, and enjoying the many forms available to talented poets. In a picture book reviewed HERE, two years ago, I celebrated the remarkable teamwork of a pair of poets and an illustrator, Kate and Jol Temple and Terri Rose Baynton. This book, ROOM ON OUR ROCK, is written in a lesser-used poetic form, the REVERSO. Stated simply (and appearing to be much simpler than it actually is!), a reverso poem reads in two parts, with the first half appearing to be the end, but with an expectation to continue reading it from that "ending" backwards, concluding with the first line of the poem. Only in this way will readers fully grasp the layers and levels of meaning. 

Kane Miller Publishing, 2021

Now, two years after their original success with that REVERSO picture book, this creative team returns with a companion  book in similar form and art style, MOVE THAT MOUNTAIN.

With the identical tagline, THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, the simple text appears to confirm the visual and common sense reality that even the most caring and committed puffins will not be able to rescue a beached whale...except. The REVERSO form is triggered on the final page with the line "Read it again from the back to the start." 

Clinging to the hope that directive provides, readers can proceed from a melancholy ending to a marvelous celebration of the powerful impact of cooperation and persistence. As with the original ROOM ON THE ROCK, what we expect, what we believe, and what we are willing to work for can reshape the reality in which we live- together. 

Both picture books in this pair have that quality I so appreciate and celebrate-- something to offer any and every age. Even the youngest will engage with the expressive animals, especially the colorful and caring puffins, with their empathic and remarkable eyes and energy, as well as that magnificent whale with its surprising grace and grateful, pleading eyes. Older readers will respond enthusiastically to the challenge of constructing a REVERSO text, while appreciating the impact and subtlety of flipping line orders and expectations. 

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021

Another new picture book offers a slightly different take on a TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY tagline. TURTLE IN A TREE is written and illustrated by Neesha Hudson. In this case, the story involves contrasting views of reality, as voiced by disagreeing, slightly disagreeable dogs. One sweater-wearing wagger insists that there is a turtle in the tree, while a necktie-wearing voice of reason insists it must, instead, be a squirrel. Their reasoned, reasonable discussion escalates to a shouting match, shaking the truth from the tree, not once, but twice. 

I can't describe the joy I felt when first one dog then the other admitted their presumed mistakes, accepting each others' acknowledgements graciously. Then their shared amazement and the recognition that they had experienced things differently offers each a wider world view. 

From cover to cover, the simple text, font choices, illustrations with expressive features and body postures all invite connection and identification by readers of any age. In contrast to the REVERSO "bounce back" endings above, this delightful ending, a page turn past the final copyright page, suggests that conflicting observations and arguments like these are far from over. Throughout, grins and giggles are spontaneous and immediate. 

This, too, will win fans in little lap-sitters, but also extends invitations to older readers to discuss and debate the ways in which argument, observation, evidence, and even common sense can foreclose our willingness to honestly investigate the truth. These appeallng little characters demonstrate the damaging impact of rejecting whatever is outside our own experiences. 

Some schools are already back in session, while others will resume soon. Kids may be returning to school from an extended period of semi-isolation and being surrounded by singular, strongly-held points of view within their families and social circles. Issues related to vaccines and masks have been treated as absolutes with accusations and arguments. Could there be a better time to share  picture books as we  appreciate and discuss and explore the many ways in which things are not always cut-and-dried, black-and-white, turtle-or-squirrel? 

CHIRP! Singing the Praises of Talented Creators

A Paula Wiseman Book, 2021

I'll get right to the point here: Get your hands on this new picture book and let your heart sing. 

When I first heard about CHIRP! CHIPMUNK SINGS FOR A FRIEND with words by Jamie A. Swenson and Illustrations by Scott Magoon, my imagination ran wild. I've been a fan of both creators for more than a decade, and the thought of their combined talents had me eager to see this July release. Swenson is a master of emotional nuance and she uses language to convey those emotions with the expertise of a symphony conductor. Magoon has created some of my favorite picture books (CHOPSTICKS, BREATHE, and STRAW, among others), each of which blend colorful and energetic images with lighthearted, aww-inspiring charm. I can't think of a pair I'd trust more to produce a memorable story starring my all-time favorite woodland (backyard) critters, chipmunks.  

When I first saw the cover on a screen, I imagined a large and expansive size, with room for the kind of forest scenes that made Swenson's A FALL BALL FOR ALL so gorgeous. (Get this timely choice while you're at it!) 

Then my library copy came in and I was DEE-LIGHT-ED to find a much smaller, kid-sized trim on this delightful new offering. Picture that cheeky chipmunk on the cover as true-to-life size, surrounded to scale, and you'll se why the size of the book feels utterly perfect for this character, Chipmunk. 

That's right, this singing little sweetie has no need for cutesie names. Her personality and mission say it all, conveying her gigantic heart and soulful self-assurance in story rather than descriptions or labels.

Every day Chipmunk sings her song: happy, bittersweet, or even "very sad indeed". She sings to the world, to her faithful rock (who is a very good listener) and to the sun and stars. But she craves a friend to sing along. Not a quitter, Chipmunk expands her world, appreciating each addition she discovers, but finally resigning herself to her destiny... to sing alone. That's when the power of her songs and her willingness to embrace her gifts, alone, releases songs with the sweetest of resolutions.

The nature of nature, and the nature of friendships, star equally in this unforgettable story. What we expect of each (nature, friendships, ourselves)  can and will shape our ability to find joy and satisfaction in the world. Acceptance of things for what they are, appreciation for the ways strength can surround us, and a willingness to follow our own natures are themes that rise to the surface of a seemingly simple animal story. That means this, like the best of picture books, is ideally suited to every age.

If you aren't sold from that synopsis, you've got a heart much harder than Chipmunk's faithful friend, rock. And you most certainly do not live with chipmunks surrounding you. As an unabashed squirrel and bird and bunny and fawn fan, I will readily admit that chipmunks are my favorites. Yes, they dig up gardens and eat bulbs and undermine my patio and ... more. Even so, it takes only a glance at one of my many chipmunk residents, perched under a window or on a rail or on the rim of a birdbath, to make me pause, mid-step, and wait for the song. 

From now on, I plan to sing along.

Next Stops for TINY TRAVELERS? Columbia and Lebanon!

 I featured some of the early titles in a board book series, TINY TRAVELERS, aimed not at first-months-old audiences, but at curious preschool and early school readers who often display an unlimited interest in the wide world. The TINY TRAVELERS tagline is: BE A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, certainly good advice for all ages!  My praise of the series in this earlier post included the advantage of "virtual" travel for young and old, as well as the durability and overall quality of the books to invite repeated examination and sharing in pairs and small groups. 

Two recent titles (I received from then publisher without a promise of a review) launch virtual visits to places that may be as unfamiliar to adults as they are to the little ones. Importantly, they retain the design pattern of the early titles, with each spread offering colorfully illustrated and categorical content that, when taken in total, suggest a storyline.  With insets for fun facts, the topics include kid-friendly pronunciation of vocabulary in local languages that labels familiar objects and introduces cultural elements, clothing, traditions, and FOODS! Each destination/title features a double page spread with a feast for the eyes and the appetite, a sprawling array of gloriously displayed and labeled edibles that will invite tasting experiences in real life. Even sampling some of the featured menus at home can enhance these virtual vacations for the whole household.

Also featured within each title is an evergreen favorite activity for young audiences, a seek-and-find "Treasure Quest" to locate a particular image/item on a page. The back pages compile the dozen-plus images  in stamp format as a checklist for success, followed by a simple world map with just-enough labeled locations and arrows (and vocabulary/pronunciation) to allow for success and entertainment while building global awareness and map-reading skills. 

Each book also continues the style of big-eyed, enthusiastic children of many skin tones and ethnicities, wearing clothing and displaying actions that imply full immersion in the experiences. In total the books generate an overall inviting atmosphere and offer appeal to readers of an age older than usual for board book formats. These latest titles LEBANON TREASURE QUEST and COLUMBIA TREASURE QUEST are available from the publisher, HERE. 

If any or all of this sounds appealing to kids you know, I urge you to take a closer look. I'll add the same disclaimer that I did in an earlier post about this series: I am the LEAST expert about these locations based on personal experience, extensive reading, or travel. I've thought of them from the point of view of overall appeal, presentation of content, and potential for reading/learning experiences. It is from that perspective that I recommend them, but cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of the cultural aspects presentations of the content. To my eye, as limited as that view is, they are respectfully and expansively presented and could benefit those to whom the topic is entirely new and also be valued by those whose identity connects with these countries and cultures, including things like finding the Arabic alphabet included in the LEBANON title when pronunciations in English are provided. 

Make your own decisions once you take a look, and I do encourage you to take that look!

Grandpas: Priceless Histories That Shape Lives

I'll begin with a brief grandpa story of my own, one that I just recently learned. My family roots on Mom's side are firmly anchored in Appalachia, with the rich voices of that region and deep storytelling traditions providing fibers that weave throughout my writing. A conversation with my older sister revealed a story about our Grandpa that I had never heard or had somehow forgotten. 

Grandpa turned eighty shortly before his death, but he was still living alone in a little four-room house he had built  at age seventy-five (with the help of friends and a grandson) on the side of a steep hill. It was exactly what he needed to remain independent. It lacked indoor plumbing, but the front porch faced a well-traveled road for waving at folks. The area produced frequent company and conversation, occupying his porch rockers in all kinds of weather. He faithfully worshipped at the church in the "holler". There the congregation had a practice that members would celebrate their birthdays by donating their "age number" on the nearest Sunday. In Grandpa's case, he produced his extra donation of eighty cents. That was a matter of pride, not worry, since most there lived at a similar edge of solvency and sustenance with a full commitment to their beliefs and community. 

TUNDRA Books, Canada, 2021

I learned about Grandpa's story while I was planning this post featuring two important new picture books starring grandfathers and grandsons. The first is also rural: ON THE TRAPLINE, a memoir-inspired story written by David A. Robertson and illustrated by the award-winning and immensely talented artist, Julie Flett. 

Robertson incorporates vocabulary from his Cree heritage, specifically the Swampy Cree language, easily understood in context and purposefully used to strengthen the depth and bond of the remembered trip he took with his grandpa to the "trapline". As he states in the author note, that journey was a homecoming for him as Cree man and for his grandpa it was a journey home. 

Flett's characteristic art elements of subdued earthy tones, slightly abstracted yet expressive characters, and  immersive scenes invite readers to accompany this quietly loving pair through their cultural homeland practices, With storytelling language that is direct and has a gentle momentum throughout, with characters often facing away from readers, we are led alongside this pair guiding the way into the past, present, and future of the Swamp Cree people. We readers are provided the privilege of learning with the boy. This shared experience deserves a wide and openhearted audience, one that can readily recognize ourselves in the individuals, their relationship, and the value of generational connections- at both ends of those generations. 

Lee & Low Books, 2021

KYOSHI'S WALK is written by Mark Karlins and illustrated by Nicole Wong.This grandfather (poet Eto) and grandson (Kiyoshi) are introduced in the kitchen of their urban home as Eto's delicate brush and ink strokes flick a lovely poem onto rice paper:

"The dripping faucet

Takes me back to my old home.

Raindrops on frog pond."

Kyoshi's simple question launches this daylong stroll of discovery throughout their urban area, with Eto inspired to generate poems from sounds, sights, activity, and feelings along the way. Kiyoshi knows that there is purpose to their shared journey, and does young Richard in the picture book above. 

Questions come naturally but do not pepper or pester the text in either case, and the grandfathers are not intent on direct instruction or dissertation. Instead, a nod of recognition or acceptance, a tilt of body posture indicate moments in which their bonds are growing with each boy's increased awareness of truths, heart, and history from the grandfathers depths. In Kiyoshi's case, his expansive understanding of poetry on the final pages reveal that poems come from the world around us and from the feelings in our hearts. Eto elevates that insight with this:

"Yes, and they come from the way the two come together."  

Not unlike the way the cross-generational lives coming together, in both picture books, elevates their relationships into a kind of poetry.

The author addresses the HAIKU form with simplicity and encouragement in a back note.

I hope that these two titles (and my opening note) will motivate you to share stories among your family and friends, not assuming that what you know/remember about those now gone are the only stories available to you. If you are privileged to have elders in your lives (or if you find that YOU are now the elder among your connections), make time and space and a structured welcome to infuse your relationships with quiet opportunities, like these, to merge meaning across generations.

And if these have you in the mood for more grandparent stories, I've reviewed others HERE,HERE, HERE, and HERE.