The Power of Voice: Two Picture Book Models

Ask anyone who writes, or teaches writing, and you'll quickly hear that VOICE is the feature of literature that most often captures the attention of readers, editors, and agents. And yet, when speakers are asked to elaborate, their frequent response is "I know it when I read it." 

Well, that's not especially helpful, even if it is true. In my recent review of THE LONGEST LETSGOBOY, (HERE) it was the author's amazing interpretation of a dog's voice that gained my praise. That book  is a fiction offering that reveals important truths about life.

In nonfiction picture books, VOICE also resonates, often through the author's attitude, style, or point of view. That was particularly true in the recent post about THE WORLD'S MOST POINTLESS BOOK ABOUT ANIMALS (HERE). VOICE can capture attention and engage readers, even mentor them in their own approaches to writing with a distinctive voice that evokes   connections and emotions.

VOICE, though, can be quite literal. It can refer to the capacity of an individual to express their identity, their needs, their values. Sadly, in real life, VOICES from outside the mainstream are too easily ignored. These two titles celebrate (and inform us about) readers using those voices, including  children and underrepresented members of society.

Workman Publishing, 2021

HEAR MY VOICE/ESCUCHA MI VOZ : The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States is compiled by Warren Binford and illustrated by Michael Garcia Bochenek. As the title indicates, this resulted from a project meant to assure that at least some of the actual young people who have been/are being detained at our border could speak about the experience from their deeply personal and individual experiences. What's more, the book guarantees that their voices will be heard and will persist across time. As they should be.

With a brief introduction to explain the project, a few spreads indicate colorfully illustrated speakers offering their own names, then their individual homelands. The very natural next lines indicate the HOW and WHY of their journeys, with the accompanying emotional reactions along the way. With speakers ranging from tots to teens, depicted in various detention settings, the emerging questions and concerns are shockingly ordinary. Until they are not. Their simple statements reveal ways in which life in detention is dehumanizing and even terrifying, not to mention leaving them hungry, cold, tired, and even sick. These simply-stated facts combine with illustrations that are slightly comic-style, but with tones and perspectives that enhance understanding and connections of mind, body, and emotions. 

There is a center-switch design, allowing readers to enter the book from the English text or the Spanish text by flipping the book upside down to read again. The contributing voices are named and featured in the alternate-facing center spread, and the words are theirs. The compiling author opens the story (in both approaches) with a vow of truth that sounds very much like a declaration in court. These are the actual words (and voices) of the children (detainees) they interviewed for the project. 

HARPER (HCH), 2021

Next up is SHARICE'S BIG VOICE: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman, co-authored by Sharice Davids with Nancy K. Mays. Narrated in Congresswoman Sharice Davids's first person voice, she reflects on the stages in her life that led to her current elected position. As a Native/indigenous woman she describes the powerful influence of witnessing her mother using her voice in conversation, especially with strangers. Sharice was a talker, too, enough so that it sometimes got her into trouble in school. Even so, her curiosity, her opinions, and her growing awareness of her Ho-Chunk heritage  revealed that their identity is PEOPLE OF THE BIG VOICE. (Learn more HERE).

While studtying in college she had many jobs that required her to problem solve, to listen, and to find resolutions. Those years included training in Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Capoeira, and mixed martial arts, building confidence, her competitive spirit, and reinforcing her mother's example of hard work leading to success. She describes becoming a lawyer, serving Native communities, and eventually working in the White House. Throughout her law career she learned how laws are made and also how rarely those making the laws understand the impact they would have on ordinary people. The closing pages reveal her grassroots campaign to become a lawmaker, leading to her election to Congress where her big voice could speak on behalf of those forgotten people.

Back matter includes notes from the authors, as well as several pages of information about Ho-Chunk Nation. Throughout this simply-told account there are personal insights that will connect with kids (she HATES onions on pizza!). The illustrations by Ojibwe Woodland artist Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley use strong, earthy tones in high-contrast colors, emphasizing geometric shapes and other Native references with bold black lines in powerful postures and profiles throughout.

These distinctly different nonfiction offerings have many important things in common. Both provide intensely personal looks at the power of using voice to gain justice and to resolve problems. Both indicate that using voice does not always result in being heard. Both point out that whose voice is heard can all too often depend on the amount of power they have, or don't. And on the color of their skin.

And both are outstanding nominees for CYBILS AWARDS in elementary nonfiction. 

Speaking of Animal Books... POINTLESS?

As I planned for this super-series of reviews about nonfiction picture books from among more than a hundred CYBILS AWARDS nominees, I scheduled a different title  for today. So much for plans. 

Let me explain.

When a nominated book is not available from local sources, publishers are asked to send a copy to each of the "Round One Panelists" to allow for thorough consideration before the evaluations end. I had just saved and scheduled the review for today when a delivery truck dropped off a package containing a nominated book. That's not unusual, and I expected to check it out to see if I would provide a review, or not. 

Let's just say this book decided for me.

Happy Yak/Quarto Publishing, 2021

TA-DA!  THE WORLD'S MOST WONDERFUL POINTLESS ANIMALS, is the irresistible creation of Philip Bunting. This is not his first dive i nto the alchemy of humor and animals in picture books. Click his name to see other samples of his work.

This is also not the first "cheeky" approach to picture books I've read, and they are often loads of fun and definitely kid-magnets. The shocking idea of having text crossed out, with sassy/snarky remarks inserted, RIGHT THERE ON THE PAGES OF THE BOOK, is a very successful hook, regardless of the content, both fiction and nonfiction. 

In this case, the oversized, traditionally designed format  suggests some giggly kid with a marker, sprawled in the stacks of a library, adding page after page of editorial commentary to a seldom-read resource book. Well, the hook and approach pulled me into a chair immediately, compelling me to at least take an initial browse.

A full hour later I closed the back cover and began this post. There are so many ways in which this book earns its place in my heart, in classrooms for many ages, on library shelves, and as mentor text for the countless teachers/students who complete animal research projects while learning to write expository/informational text. Often, illustrating their subject information along the way.

So, step up, young and old, to learn from Bunting. Using all the traditional patterns of an encyclopedic/scientific treatment of a subject, the author has included seventy-five animals, both familiar and lesser known, organized with a table of contents, and illustrated with cartoonish images that are both humorous and informatively accurate. The standard (seemingly original) text incorporates valuable details about each species, including both common and scientific names. That last detail is consistently crossed out, replaced with a pseudo-Latin descriptive tag. Some examples: MAYFLY (Ephemeroptera) Hereus Todayus Gonus Tomorrus, and CAPUCHIN MONKEY (Cobus imitator) Peepee stinkipaws. 

Come on... Can't you just see the cluster of kids leaning in around this open book?

Throughout the pages, the illustrations manage to reinforce actual science content while providing that giggly kid with opportunities for more short phrases pointing out various qualities and species details. These include scientific content but in that handwritten style and winking humor that will make the facts unforgettable. Within the style and language of traditional expository text used in the main passages, humor and surprises are sprinkled throughout to engage readers with the full text for fear they might miss something. For example, the MYOTONIC GOAT (the ones that fall over "dead" when startled) is described thus: 

"When startled-- say by an unruly dog or a breakdancing farmer-- ...will tense up, causing the  goat to fall to the ground as if it has fainted."  One of the inserted/handwritten comments on the illustration above text is this: "Somebody should teach them about the flight or fight response."

As I said... COME ON...!  That reference to "flight or fight" will either resonate for those with background knowledge or might generate an entire side exploration for some readers.

 I could go on, but I won't. Kids will.

With the benefit of readability from cover to cover (ask me about my unintended hour in a chair) or ready access for "dip and sample" reading, this unexpected offering from a very small press is a perfect example of an undiscovered nugget of immeasurable value. I highly recommend it as a gift for anyone. Some would be particularly suited audiences ("I don't like to read"-kids, "I read everything already"-kids, "Reading is boring"-kids, "I'm too busy to read"-kids, etc.) but also for every classroom, library, and individual teachers and kids. If you give it to a kid, please ask them to share it with you. 

Animals are irresistible anyway, and books about them often generate smiles (See a previous post, HERE). This approach, though, will amplify those smiles exponentially. Seriously.

Monkeys and Foxes and Brilliance, Oh, My!

Several of my recent nonfiction reviews here have focused on biographies or other profile-style narratives. Our CYBILS AWARDS nominees include many of these, but also books about science, technology, enginerering, math (STEM) and art (STEAM!). Check out some of these HERE, HERE, and HERE, with more to come in the next week or two. 

First, though, these two nominees explore facts about animals in brilliant ways. Everyone loves animals, right? It doesn't take much to catch a young reader's attention if the subject is an animal, right? On some level, perhaps that is true. 

And yet...

Some explorations are masterpieces, as are these.

Beach Lane Books, 2021

Melissa Stewart is the author of FOURTEEN MONKEYS: A RAIN FOREST RHYME. Stewart has justifiably achieved fame and status among writing, science, and literary types for her superb webinars, essays on nonfiction writing, and countless other platforms from which she guides and elevates the quality of nonfiction literature for young readers. I appreciate and follow those efforts, but I found her first through her picture books while working with kids. Her website offers a full array of the many titles, categories, and styles of her publications, as well as providing resources for readers, teachers, and writers. 

In this instance, her work is illustrated by Steve Jenkins, who is equally renowned for his picture books featuring animals of every type and in every conceivable relationship to the text. A quick click on either creator's name will take you to images of books that you recognize immediately as kid favorites. 

This latest is an outstanding example of the talents and expertise with which both are able to investigate unique aspects of seemingly ordinary topics in extraordinary ways. They each combine elements in their presentations that offer appeal and information across ages and levels of education so kids of many ages and their grown-ups (also of many ages) share in the awe and discovery of a specific strand of Earth's remarkable web of life. 

Stewart's successful approach involves parallel text: Simple rhymed lines in large font on white space pair with short passages of detailed explanatory text for older audiences. The structure of the text provides a conceptual frame passing from morning to night, layering potential for this as a bedtime book. All the while it is expanding vocabulary, lyrical language, and specific information about the fourteen monkey species that manage to find suitable habitat in a single  rainforest habitat, the Manu National Park in Peru. Somehow that small patch of resources and climate provides suitable living for the needs of distinctly different body types, food and space needs, and behavioral adaptations. 

Vibrant and dramatic illustrations by Jenkins incorporate vast amounts of information about the physical and behavioral features of each species and habitat, while offering a small inset of a rainforest tree silhouette that marks the layer and niche within it that is home to that particular species. The creatures are expressive and active on the page without losing any degree of their natural appearance or patterns. The leafy, textured realm is sometimes referenced in text but is informative on its own, depicting distinctive leaves, vines, branches and trunks that are unique to  our invaluable rainforests. 

Back matter is a treasure trove of appealing and expansive content, with a double spread compilation of the fourteen monkey species within the layers of a single/sample tree, followed by spotlight profiles of each, sources, further readings, and scaled-size comparisons. This is not the first time Stewart and Jenkins teamed up to make an outstanding nonfiction picture book, but this may just be my favorite among their many beloved titles.

Running Press Kids, 2021

HOW TO FIND A FOX is written by Kate Gardner and photographed by Ossi Saarinen. In this case, I was unfamiliar with either the author or the photographer, but oh, am I a fan of foxes. I learned that the photographer's nature images were the start of this story, and i can see why they inspired. The fact that such elusive, even skittish wild critters could be captured in these intense, spontaneous, and natural poses invites celebration and elaboration in text. 

The author, like Stewart, provides parallel text, combining several short lines that speak simply and directly to readers, indicating how they, too, just might find a fox. Then a short passage of small font text appears, unobtrusively, to provide more detailed understanding of the ways of foxes. Facts are reflected within the context of the photographic images, and that makes every bit of information cling in our thoughts, almost as if tied to a personal memory.

Both books are enchanting, intriguing, and worthy of everyone's attention. I hope you'll agree and share them widely.

TOGETHER WE MARCH: A Look Back At the Power of Peaceful Protest

 For short periods of time, young people have grown up without "marches" being in the news. This picture book is a valuable reminder that marching for a cause has always been a part of our American and global history and heritage. As the introduction says, when people combine the efforts of their feet, voices, signs, and mutual support, they become a force to be reckoned with. In the most basic sense, this is evident in sporting events, in which the cause is victory for your favored team.

On a more substantial note, though, are the many marches that seek/sought to serve the public good. Even when the specifics focus on a target need or identity group or rights, protesting and achieving progress toward equality and justice for those causes improves the broader society in which we all live.

Atheneum Books For Young Readers, 2021

TOGETHER WE MARCH: 25 Protest Movements That Marched Into History, is written by Leah Henderson and illustrated by Tyler Feder. It is yet another praiseworthy nominee  for a CYBILS AWARDS for nonfiction. I suspect that one of the challenges of compiling these twenty-five accounts involved deciding among hundreds that occurred (and MATTERED) throughout history. The author introduction ends with a note that the final cut includes "overlooked stories, revered moments, and courageous people" whose work to change the world provides lessons for all of us across time. Some will be familiar, even to young readers, and others will be   new introductions.

I respect that criteria and believe it has benefited the book and the young readers. Once those choices were made, a chronological approach was used, and that meant the first movement of this collection is the   leadership of MOTHER JONES, marching in defense of childhood and in protest of child labor.

That is a sure fire way to hook kids into reading and becoming inspired by these brief profiles. This march through time (pardon that pun) allows for some causes to recur, particularly related to race, peace, and rights. Each is a two page spread with colorful spot illustrations that anchor events in the general awareness of historic eras through clothing and other cultural details, with effective small spots to support comprehension (maps, flags, icons, etc.). The causes and their leaders are diverse, including various ethnicities, skin colors, global identities, abilities/disabilities, lgbtqia/gender identities. 

Many contemporary readers may be surprised to see concerns in current events reflected across continents and a century of marching: peace, voting, the environment/climate, immigration, labor, social justice, and more. The final entry accounts marches for social justice following the George Floyd murder, with a satisfying concluding note from the author. This is followed by a colorfully illustrated timeline, anchoring each of the twenty-five movements across the last century-plus. It's a helpful way to note patterns and similarities in causes, as well as diversity among those who choose to organize and march. The next page turn provides a selected bibliography that is also formatted with more kid-appeal than most- identifying each movement and citing the source of quotations. 

This is a powerful and very accessible approach to bringing background and meaning to the current political and other public protests, marked with visible indicators of the overall theme, reinforced through illustrated protest sign slogans. 

First and foremost is "TOGETHER WE MARCH", underscoring the power in unity and community. Also, and importantly, this theme rings true throughout each profile and as a summation of the book:

"NONE OF US IS FREE UNTIL ALL OF US ARE FREE"

 

Stories of Righteous Upstanders: Holocaust Heroes

The two titles featured today offer profiles of very different young men, neither of whom were  Jewish, but both recognized the rightness and the necessity of taking actions in the face of threatening and overwhelming power.  

Quill Tree Publishing, 2021

BARTALI'S BICYCLE: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero is written by Megan Hoyt and Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. I wrote  a trilogy involving the Holocaust years, taught this topic throughout my career, and now serve as a volunteer Holocaust Outreach Educator. What has always astonished me is the seemingly infinite stories of heroism during that horrific era that are little known. Despite my relatively deep background in the subject, this picture book featured someone entirely new to my information about the subject. 

Gino Bartali was a lifelong biker on his hometown cobbled streets of Florence, Italy when he decided to launch into training as a competitive cyclist. His progress was impressive and in 1938 he won the TOUR de FRANCE. When he lauded as a hero, he protested,"Heroes are those who have suffered. I am just a cyclist."

That year, 1938, marked the shift in political tyranny in Germany and Italy from carefully orchestrated and oppressive laws against Jewish people to outright attacks, invasions, and concentration/work camps, leading to the death camps and intentional murders of more than six million Jews and millions of others, too. The story of his heroic, risk-taking efforts to save lives of Jewish friends and strangers in the following years involved using his bike-riding identity and skill to deliver secret documents, exchange messages, communicate information needed for escapes, and even hide Jewish friends in his own home. 

Once the war ended, he avoided attention to his role, saying, "Good is something you do, not something you talk about." Over time, though, his heroic and humane choices were revealed and now his story is available to young readers. The vibrant and action-packed illustrations make a dramatic story even more compelling, with tension rising throughout. A timeline on back pages indicates other markers before and after his resistance life as well as some highlight dates/events during the war years. I'll be using this book in my outreach work and have recommended it to many others, adults and kids alike. 

Norton Young Readers, 2021

NICKY and VERA: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued is written and illustrated by Peter Sis. In this case the author/illustrator is world-renowned, and the featured Holocaust hero has gained considerable attention in recent decades. After his war efforts, he, like Bartali, never spoke of his rescue efforts. Only as the children he saved grew to adulthood and shared their individual stories did some investigative efforts reveal the man at the center of saving so many lives. 

The long view, from present time, is breathtaking and inspiring. But this picture book takes young readers right back to the start of his story. Nicky grew up in schools and with a family that encouraged curiosity, exploration, and travel. As a young man from England Nicky toured many European countries and learned about cultures and history along the way, becoming  fluent in many languages and an Olympic fencer.  In the same pivotal year as Bartoli's Tour De France, Nicky was invited to Prague, Czechoslovakia, in the heart of Europe where German Nazi forces were intent on conquering the world and establishing White/Aryan Supremacy. That growing threat would attempt to eliminate every Jewish person in the process, and followed through on their orchestrated effort that destroyed uncounted lives. 

That same year, Vera (from the title) was just ten years old, living a contented life in a village near Prague. When Nicky noted the advance of German troops, the malicious threats and assaults on innocent people, he returned to England to hatch a plan that might assist young people in escaping the assault. At that time, children under seventeen could receive visas to live their country. Before departing, he launched his own mission, to collect photos, names, and passports for as many children as possible, taking those details with him to England. 

At first, he worked alone and then found others to support his work, advertising for sponsoring families and safe homes, leading to trainloads of refugees on the KINDERTRANSPORT, 1938-1940.  Thousands eventually escaped and survived, but Nicky is personally credited with 669 children saved. Vera was among them.

It is important to acknowledge the bravery of Vera and her family and all of those others who left or were left behind. They had to separate from the ones they loved the most, knowing they might never see each other again, knowing that a choice was made from desperation and love, knowing that being courageous in departure would ease the pain of the others. 

When the iron grip of German forces ended the efforts, Nicky returned to England and spent his very long life doing good, quietly, but not sharing his story with others. He, like Bartali, believed that doing good is a choice, an action, not a ticket to fame. By pairing and paralleling the lives of 

Nicky and Vera, with informative but childlike illustrations, side text, and back matter, the lives of a young man and a child feel immediate and present in our lives.

Nicholas Winton is a widely recognized name in Holocaust history now, and you can learn more by viewing a 60 Minutes segment on Youtube, HERE (bring tissues).Watching it may be the best fifteen minutes you'll spend this year. You can see that he, too, was a young man at the time, barely ten to fifteen years older than the children whose lives he saved. 

Here's an image of Nicky with some of his rescued "children".

These two heroes are important subjects across time and at any time of year, but it is thrilling to share them here, together, among other outstanding nonfiction elementary nominees for this year's CYBILS AWARDS. I hope you will make time to read these, to learn more about their stories, and to stay tuned for reviews of even more wonderful nominees as nonfiction November ticks away.

THE LONGEST LETSGOBOY: A Picture Book You Must Not Miss

 Personal note: Dog books/stories enter my life with a head start, along with a bit of a handicap. I adore meeting dogs on the page, with or without pictures, and yet I open any dog book and turn pages with caution, knowing how easily their stories can break our hearts. Even so, the characters are often memorable, the stories reflect our lives, and the eventual endings often resonate with truths of deep significance. (See a few prior posts, HERE, HERE, and HERE, among many others). I had no qualms about reading and writing about this book, and I'm happy that I did.

Chronicle Books, 2021

My heart was drawn to THE LONGEST LETSGOBOY before even seeing the cover. That title told me instantly that the language would be dog-centered, allowing this first-person-narrator-dog to express himself with unleashed doggy-perspective and language of his lived experiences. Written by Derick Wilder and illustrated by Catia Chien, this achieves the highest levels of narrative and visual storytelling. As the cover suggests, this is a joyful, delightful book, but have a few tissues handy when you read or share it. 

This recent picture book release is a masterpiece, in my opinion, in both visual and narrative storytelling. I delayed writing about this one for more than a week, rereading it countless times. My  dilemma in beginning these notes came from pondering where to begin. I settled on summarizing the story, then tossed a coin to decide whether the author or illustrator would be first in line for the praise that would follow. 

From the opening endpapers to the final ones, an older dog's life and thoughts are revealed, including his exuberant embrace of life- from waking, to greeting his beloved "Little" (his foreverfriend), to walks through the "diggiedirt" into the "tallsticks", to the "gurgleburble", with a satisfying rest at the "smoothstump". Midway through the book our narrator reveals a gentle, happy, and glorious passage to another life, missing his Little and her pack of "twopaws", but thrilled to run and romp with vigor when he realizes that his "oldbones" feel new. Several page turns reveal passing seasons, holding Little in his caring gaze, then thrilling to the conclusion that I will not spoil. This resolution is so satisfying and joyous that I tear up as I type this, offering readers reassurance that it provides in every way both comfort and continuity in the cycles of life. 

Since the above provides samples of the remarkable voice, perspectives, and language of the narrator, "gooddog", its appropriate that author Wilder won the toss, so my praise will continue with his text. l've heard and read countless examples of smile-making word creations by preschoolers, and I've created a few words while playing with my own dogs over the years. I suspect most dog people have done so. I never doubted that my dogs incorporated my normal language as well as these dog-specific word, some with more ease than others. I was always certain that their responses to language revealed remarkable intelligence and understanding. 

Wilder appears to have been deeply connected to such dogs and to their concrete-descriptive-constructions. He speaks/writes in "dog-lish" superbly, with each use producing smiles and nods from this reader. They are laced through the text with a "just-right" frequency and fluency, never disrupting the narrative but rather enriching it with the sensory, innovative, heartfelt voice of the narrator. Readers/listeners of any age will translate automatically and engage with familiar experiences, but more deeply and fully through this voice. Reader immersion in "gooddog"s transitions and perspectives elevate a gentle and sensitive story by providing deep identifying and empathizing with these tender life experiences.

Illustrator Chien deserves equal praise for providing an immersive experience that fully captures the spirit and sensitive flow of this story. The colors, tones, crayon-like edges/fills, and matte finishes stretch across each spread with scenes and images that swirl with specificity and impressionistic style. Each spread sweeps across our view but also invites close examination. The expansive spreads interpret the text perfectly, plumbing the emotional and physical passages while anchoring the story in  the poignant and loving perspectives of "gooddog". 

Some folks caution picture book writers to not stretch such short text across long spans of time, unless intentionally addressing seasons, historic time frames, or are otherwise required to do so. In this case, the text implies a long expanse of time, but Chien serves that quality efficiently and masterfully with visual techniques. The opening endpapers incorporate spot sketches of "gooddog" and Little across years from infant to toddler to early childhood. The closing endpapers mirror that process with a flip I won't reveal. The use of a dayglo orange collar from that initial introduction provides a thread throughout every turn that, consciously or subliminally, carries reassurance and the delight of endless love from cover to cover. 

If my description in any way sounds melancholy or miserable, I have done the text and images an enormous disservice. There are other outstanding picture books dealing with dogs and their Littles and life cycles. I adore, have written about,  and recommend many of those, often. Even so, this exceptional blend of life-laughter-lingering-love, this unforgettable character with an instantly recognizable yet wholly original voice, these vibrant and soothing spreads combine to produce a picture book like no other. 

At the time I post this, THE LONGEST LETSGOBOY has received four starred reviews. With book awards season looming, I have no doubt that it will be seriously considered for and will win more accolades. Now that I've written a review/post about this book, I'll return my library copy. I've already purchased a copy to keep and one to gift, with more likely to pass through my hands to others. I hope the same will be true for you, too.

Nonfiction Fun- of the Chicken and the FLY Variety!

I've reached the end of a stressful week with a need for lighthearted humor with some actual substance at its base. Take a quick look at two unexpected and FUN nonfiction books, each on a topic that you might not suspect would  be appealing, engaging, or page-turning. That would be the wrong assumption to make. These two titles had flown beneath my radar during this year's releases, but came to me as CYBILS AWARDS nominees in the elementary nonfiction category.

It was joyful to take a close look at both of them, and I want to be sure that you haven't missed them!

CHICKENOLOGY: The Ultimate Encyclopedia is written by Barbara Sandri and  Francesco Giubbilini,  illustrated by Camilla Pintonato.

This cover had me instantly, and the content did not disappoint. I am not one of those folks who have become obsessive about chickens, but I do adore wonderful picture books. This encyclopedic approach introduces readers to all things chicken, from the familiar to the rare, from the descendants of dinosaurs to modern day hybrid and backyard cross breed dwellers. Along the way there are remarkable facts, relationships, comparisons, and oh, those illustrations.

 Download free Chickenology posters HERE.  Then stay tuned for the next title in this delightful approach- Pigology! I will be watching for it, too!

Charlesbridge, 2021

13 WAYS TO EAT A FLY is written by Sue Heavenrich and illustrated by David Clark.

This remarkable book manages to balance appeal and grossness, scientific accuracy and lively humor, a simple rhymed countdown text, and explanatory/expository paragraphs and illustrations that share knowledge effectively while entertaining and fascinating readers. In this book I learned more than I ever thought I'd want to know about flies of various kinds, and now I want to hand this book to readers young and old. 

The back matter extends the humor and information with a nutrition chart for a typical fly, as well as an anatomy diagram to indicate the most nutritious parts to consume. Add to that the sources and references provided, and the added knowledge about the predators who are consuming this "fast food" in various ways, and this seemingly simple picture book offers the powerful content of a text book, but with vastly greater appeal.

So, if you happen to own chickens and see one snapping up a fly, this will be a dynamic duo of books to enjoy. If neither chickens nor flies ar part of your life, I dare you to read these anyway. My guess? you'll enjoy every minute you spend with them.

Walking the Walk, Playing the Long Game

The past two weeks of COP sessions (and arguments and protests) have dominated the news regarding the current state of our planet and its looming future, for better or for worse. If each of the words exchanged had been a tree planted, or had been a dollar donated to a flooding island, or otherwise had any real action attached to it, we'd already be ahead in the battle to save Earth as a habitable planet. 

This post features two biography/profiles of individuals who moved beyond words to actions, who recognized serious problems early, then engaged with powerful political, social, and governmental forces for decades to make changes that saved countless lives and the environment.

One of these remarkable people had a relatively unknown name outside of Florida until there was a mass shooting at a school that was named to honor her lifetime environmental work in Florida, Marjory Stoneman Douglas. MARJORY SAVES THE EVERGLADES: The Story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas is written by Sandra Neil Wallace and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. 

This picture book is a testament to the power of a single individual dedicated to the study, support, and protection of nature and a world larger than themselves. The many ways in which Marjory Stoneman Douglas defied conventions, expectations, assumptions, and powerful forces set a template for young readers to look around, recognize a need for change, and "walk the walk" on behalf of important causes and issues.

Back matter is superb, and the occasional quotations by Marjory are all documented in sources, as well as making connections to present day environmental and other activists. Her rescue of the Everglades is jaw-dropping, but the truth that even her heroic efforts only managed to preserve/restore half of the original expanses is heartbreaking. Art enriches and expands the information and tone of a very powerful biography.

On an entirely different continent and dealing with quite a different issue, Joseph Bazalgette's commitment to improving the quality of life and prevention of disease in Old London is equally impressive. THE GREAT STINK: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem is written by Colleen Paeff and illustrated  by Nancy Carpenter. 

There is plenty to love about this book, despite it being about the disgusting and deadly deposits in the River Thames during the mid-1800s. Joseph Bazelgette brought phenomenal insight, engineering, and persistence to his understanding of and commitment to correcting the situation. The countless hurdles he overcame and the result of his efforts on a massive (and ever-growing) London population are inspiring. What might sound like a gross and uninteresting story are instead elevated in this biographic account to heroic status. The intricate and well-researched illustrations combine with dramatic and comedic elements in this topic to make it appeal across a wide audience of ages and interests. The patterns and voice within the narrative are appealing as well as supportive of language and vocabulary development, while the remarkable back matter answers questions and invites further investigation.

These are two nonfiction picture books that will leave adult readers impressed and informed while entertaining and inspiring young audiences. It is true that our feverish planet needs an all hands on deck approach to recover and survive, but it is equally true that one committed individual can rally support and make changes that others thought to be impossible.

The Power of the Pen: and Profiles from History That Inspire Today.

 Today's take on Elementary Nonfiction Nominees for CYBILS AWARDS shines a light on two of my favorite subjects: writing for real purposes, and historic figures whose lives offer brilliant examples for modern living. 

Albert Whitman & Company, 2021

First up, take a look at  DEAR MR. DICKENS, written by Nancy Churnin and illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe. It was quite a different world back in the day of Charles Dickens. He was perhaps the most celebrated and influential writer/innovator of his time (mid-1800's), serializing his books chapter by chapter, publishing them in cheap newspapers. That's how he could reach more readers and earn their loyal support. Using that massive audience throughout Great Britain, Dickens used fiction to speak out on behalf of social justice, developing entertaining stories and sympathetic characters to argue against poor housing, child labor, class oppression, miserable living/health conditions, and more. 

Eliza Davis was one of his biggest fans, admiring the way he used what today would be called his "platform" and "social media" to improve living conditions for all. Then she read OLIVER TWIST and some other novels in which the most evil of evil antagonists were depicted as stereotypical/propagandistic/antisemitic characters, not only designated as Jews, but often referred to in later passages as "The Jew" rather than by name.

Dickens received plenty of mail, and to his credit he responded to some. He did, in fact, respond to Eliza's thoughtful letter of complaint about this situation, saying that evil people could come from any background, and certainly there were Jewish villains in real life. 

Score one for brave Eliza to write, and another for Dickens to respond. But the story is just beginning here, and kids will certainly be hooked in these early pages to find out whether a popular and powerful author might actually consider making a significant change to a best-selling book. 

If anything serves as an example of the power of the pen, of the benefits of thoughtful reading, of speaking out about injustice, of supporting solid arguments with legitimate facts, THIS IS IT!

What a timely read this historical picture book is!

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021

While Eliza Davis recognized and expressed her voice eagerly, another ultimately successful British author was finding her own voice. A MOST CLEVER GIRL: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice is written by Jasmine A Stirling and illustrated by Vesper Stamper.

This picture book portrayal of Jane Austen reveals the depth and warmth of her childhood within a loving family. Many authors are avid readers, and that was true for Austen, except that none of the extensive collection of books available to her felt worthy. They were predictable, had shallow characters (especially the fanning, fainting women), and the stories were as dry as toast. She was an astute observer of social interactions and personalities, regaling her family with storytelling and writing her own novels as a young teen. Central to this path was the devotion and encouragement of her doting father.

As circumstances changed, Jane and her sisters lost their home in the country, and she sunk into struggles of emotions and inspiration and depression for several years. Eventually, when Jane could return to life in a countryside community, even with modest means, she recovered her spirit and resumed writing with her prior humor and plot twists, but engaging the depth of human emotion and insight that eluded her in the past. 

For the many Austen fans, this is a must-read to fully appreciate that her extraordinary intelligence and imagination were not as spontaneous as we may have assumed. She eventually wrote the books she would have loved reading while younger, but was unable to fully imagine and inhabit until she had a few years and more expansive emotions within her lived experience. As current folks know, her stories remain entertaining and timeless enough to become award-winning films in our modern lives.

Powerful voices, indeed, each writing for specific and compelling purposes and with success. 

Beaming Books, 2021

For more examples of ways that writing for real purposes can (and does) make lives better, (for ourselves and for others) check out this interview with the author of one of our Middle Grade nominees, MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD, Rochelle Melander.

Meanwhile, I'll keep using my voice to introduce you to more and more of our nominees in coming posts. 

VETERANS DAY: And TWENTY-ONE STEPS of Tribute (24/7/365)

Candlewick Press, 2021

There are many appropriate ways to observe VETERANS DAY, November 11. From this year forward, though, I hope that any and all acknowledgments of the day will include a shared reading of TWENTY-ONE STEPS: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, written by Jeff Gottesfeld and illustrated by Matt Tavares.

The cover suggests the glory and grace of this account of the history of our moving national monument and memorial, as well as the solemn dignity of honoring veterans of military service, especially those who have sacrificed their lives in war. 

From an opening text-only display of THE SENTINEL'S CREED, the page-turn lands on a title spread scene of sprawling battle trenches, barbed wire, explosive power with a glimmer/suggestion of light in the lower right corner of the spread. This somber opening turns to a subdued interior scene, with a framed photo of a Black soldier, honored in a family space on a sunlit and lovely surface in a loving home. Gottesfeld's choice is equally sensitive, revealing the history and significance of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier through the first person voice of that soldier, using minimal text, potent phrasing, and direct address to the reader. We learn in very few lines that our first WORLD WAR destroyed countless American soldiers of every identity and background, sending those mothers' sons to their death in a variety of events and battles. Some were identified and buried with honor, but others were unidentifiable, marked not with tombstones but only with photos on mantels and prayers of remembrance.

One of those nameless, faceless veteran warriors was selected to symbolize all the others, returned to American soil to be placed in a tomb of honor, representing all the others in our memories. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, in 1921, this unknown soldier was honored and laid to rest in the first recognition of what was then called ARMISTICE DAY. The opening pages of this book capture the powerful and moving memorial ceremony with text and images that draw on perspective, tone, and strategic use of light to place readers in the moment and emotion of the time.

An abrupt change occurs when the voice of the Unknown Soldier reports footsteps. The moonlit scene reveals the polished and tapped shoes, creased uniform, and timed steps of a designated  sentinel. The pace is intentional, symbolic, and reassuring (Click-silence-click-silence... timed to precisely twenty-one seconds apart, repeated twenty-one times, then marked with a turn on the mat to repeat again and again, minute after minute, hour after hour). Unknown Soldier could, from that night on, rest in peace, knowing that even unintentional disrespect or disregard could never again occur. In two hour shifts, these meticulously groomed, spit-shined, measured, and deeply committed sentinels, each one of the elite Tomb Guards patrol, demonstrate with each click and each step that the Unknown will never be forgotten. A sentinel seeks, competes for, and welcomes that post, executing it perfectly, not only during sunny and crowded times, but through the dead of night, through storms and cold and every condition in which the Unknown Solider might have fought.

Since that original internment and the initial steps of the never-ending sentinel duties, a single unknown from successive wars has joined the original resident of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier- one each from World War II, the Korean War, and the Viet Nam War. That last body was eventually identified with DNA and returned to his family for internment. Due to that technology, likely no others will occupy this memorial, though many more continue to die from service.The sentinel duty will continue, always honoring the countless veterans well as the three who remain within.

This is certainly a glorious book on many levels, but immeasurably so on Veterans Day. Both creators mastered a symmetry of awe and simplicity in portraying the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the powerful responsibility and achievement of the Tomb Guard Sentinels, and the timeless costs of war. I hope you will give this a close look, and then give it to someone who will appreciate it at any age.

TAD LINCOLN'S RESTLESS WRIGGLE: An Unbeatable Nonfiction Picture Book

Calkins Creek, 2021

Other than actually reading wonderful books, there are few things I enjoy more than supporting fabulous picture books. Perhaps the one thing that wriggles close to that special place in my heart is cheering for the talented creators of those books, since  I know I can count on them for even more wonderful books in the future. That's why I was  honored and excited to feature author BETH ANDERSON in an interview (HERE)  about her October release, TAD LINCOLN'S RESTLESS WRIGGLE: Pandemonium and Patience in the President's House, illustrated by S. D. Schindler. 

I deeply admire Abe Lincoln. Specifically,  I respect his humanity, his vulnerability, his morality. Even so, it's not as if we NEEDED another book about Lincoln for young readers, did we? If you want to test the limits of the internet, do a search for LINCOLN PICTURE BOOKS and be prepared to scroll endlessly! Despite that, we did, indeed, need this book.

Tad's story is a rarity, and is told to perfection in Anderson's new nonfiction offering. Tad's peculiarities and his relationship with his Papa have not been readily available for any of us, but especially not for young audiences. Before (or after) reading my thoughts and review, please take a moment to read Beth's responses to my questions about her process in developing this manuscript, including the ways that she researched and realized that her original story idea would become a subplot within a better story, one that would resonate with kids across time. 

Anderson's revelations and insights involving Tad encompass Civil War history, individual differences, social and political expectations, creativity, and patterns of daily life in THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE, now commonly referred to as THE WHITE HOUSE. Written with heart and humanity, the story of a tender and mutually supportive relationship between Abe and Tad stretches across the complex scaffolding of a year of grief, stress, and exhausting demands. High-energy and always innovating,Tad struggles with articulate speech and self-regulation while his Papa suffers the intense grief of his other son's recent death, the cruel pain and loss of life from Civil War battles, and the competing pressures for his time and attention from top echelon politicos to every day citizens with individual concerns. 

Interior, S.D. Schindler: Tad Lincoln's  Restless Wriggle
2021

Tad's introduction begins at birth, when his restless wriggle inspires Abe's nickname for him- Tad, as in tadpole. It's a perfect start to this narrative. The main text extends across a year of Tad's preteen life in which the course of the war, personal grief, and Tad's efforts to prove his worth emerge through a series of (well-documented) anecdotal episodes in which Tad tests the patience and tolerance of most adults in his world. Any young reader now, or in the future, will likely empathize with Tad's well-intentioned decisions and impulses that go both comically and crushingly wrong. The President is criticized often for being too easy on "the boy", for sparing the rod and spoiling the child. Just look at illustrator Schindler's  interior spread.

What Anderson's narrative and scenes reveal is a range of powerful and emotional bonds that strengthened and soothed Abe in his darkest hours.Tad's deep love of Papa and the solace he took from unconditional acceptance and encouragement, from sensing his father's respect and pride, allowed Tad to bear the teasing and open rebukes he faced from adults and children alike. 

S. D. Schindler, Interior, Tad and Abe at table

Before reading this I had often heard (and read) of Lincoln's wit and humor, of the effective ways he used that spirit to defuse tense situations, to elevate the entertainment value of his popular storytelling, and to emphasize a point without being offensive. That is an endearing quality in anyone, but especially in someone maneuvering the levers of power and burdened with the consequences of his choices. 

In this revelatory narrative about Tad Lincoln and his very special needs and strengths, that capacity for humor and wry insight served Lincoln's parenting immeasurably. That old saying about facing challenges is often true:

If you can't laugh, you'll cry. 

There was no lack of tears during Lincoln's life, especially during his presidency. The opportunity to chuckle, to put an upbeat spin on Tad's eager actions undoubtedly relieved inevitable pain and tears. From any number of accounts in adult writings, Lincoln struggled with depression/melancholy and Tad's loving, laughing spirits may have been the very balm Abe needed most. 

Back matter notes provide further indicators of the research and revelations that led to Tad's starring role in this new picture book. Anderson is careful to clarify how and why she selected her descriptions about Tad's physical or neuro-diverse patterns, since documentation was scarce and certainly limited by the era in which any form of evaluation was done. This is a characteristic of Anderson's writing, that students, teachers, and readers in general can rely on content presented to be verifiable and accurately described. 

Before reading this I expected to be impresses and entertained. I did not expect to be so moved and to gain even greater respect for Papa Lincoln, and nor for his son, Tad. For that, I am grateful to the author and to the illustrator. And, as I said above, I'm expecting future exciting offerings from both.

Beth Anderson
https://bethandersonwriter.com

@Bandersonwriter (Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram) 

FACEBOOK

TAD LINCOLN’S RESTLESS WRIGGLE: PANDEMONIUM & PATIENCE IN THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE, 

illustrated by S.D. Schindler, Calkins Creek 

OCT 5, 2021

As I hoped, Beth will have some exciting releases scheduled in coming seasons. Just note that the current issues with production and shipping may shift the indicated dates later. Even so, when publication details are confirmed, I'll be sharing news and reviews and maybe even interviews about these anticipated releases wen the time comes:

REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT: LEADING THE MINUTE WOMEN IN THE FIGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE,

illustrated by Susan Reagan, Calkins Creek. Spring 2022

FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, illustrated by Caroline Hamel, Kids Can Press, spring 2022.

THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE, illustrated by Jeremy Holmes, Calkins Creek, Fall 2023.