In the darkest of times, CLIMB ON!

NorthSouth Books, 2022

CLIMB ON comes from the brilliant pairing of author Baptiste Paul and illustrator Jacqueline Alcantara. (Previously paired on prize-winning picture book, THE FIELD).

Before I discuss the book itself, let me repeat my deeply-held belief that an excellent picture book is as powerful for older kids AND adults of any age as it is for the indicated target reader age. When I launched this blog in 2012, my initial post included my opinion that the best picture books can and do reach and teach and comfort and entertain adults every bit as well as they do for children. Layers of theme and emotion can be unconsciously absorbed by the very young through the joy (or care) in a well-told and illustrated story. 

But adults, who have experienced so very many more years of heart and power and honesty and deception, will find in these few colorful pages a force of therapy and thought that is worth far more than the  cost of the book or the effort to pick it up at the library.

That's what I hope  might happen for a few personal friends if they pause to explore within this vibrant and vital picture book. When loss and struggle and exhaustion and commitment drain the spirit from those who I have witnessed as tireless leaders and creatives, there is so little I can do to offer relief. The best I can hope for is to send them my concern and hopes for the strength they need to keep putting one foot in front of the other, when that feels challenging, or even impossible.

Which brings me back to the actual content of this new and heartwarming picture book. From cover to cover, from dedication to endpaper challenges, from lush interior spreads to luminous bilingual text (English-Creole), this is an irresistible picture book. The story, too, is magnetic, with a prepared. curious, determined young girl who holds her daddy to his promise to climb with her to the tippy-top of a jungle crest. Even though Daddy feels it is fine day to spend on the couch, streaming his favorite football club (obviously soccer!), daughter moves him and the story up, up, up, pursuing her own mission to CLIMB ON!

Along the way Daddy's reluctant attitude continues, despite daughter's discoveries, celebratory engagement, and repeated enthusiastic invitations. Until...

No spoiler here, but chance and parental commitment come into play to elevate determination for both, to reap the rewards of their efforts with awe and shared satisfaction, and top off the day with exuberant excitement and joyful abandon. 

There are so many things about this book that little ones will find thrilling and surprising and delightful, including the possibility of learning some simple Creole phrases to use in their own playful daily lives. My library copy was particularly helpful in NOT taping down the back of their protective case cover. The memory and visual challenge presented on the pasted-down endpaper would have meant little fingers prying loose their efforts anyway while trying to peek under a taped down case to find the visual search prompts during a second (and more) read.

I hope this description is enough to make this a family, classroom, or gift purchase. But give some added thought to anyone you know who is in the midst of  hard times, who is waking each day only to wonder how they will make it through to the end of that day, let alone resist depression and conclude whatever challenge they might be facing. Give this book a look with them in mind. Consider sharing it with folks who have always been the ones to step up and reach out to you and others. The folks who seem to be endlessly optimistic, to draw on a bottomless well of energy, using that effort for the good of others. Those same folks who you know (or suspect) might now be mired in really tough times. This joyful, inspiring, heartwarming, and encouraging story might be just what they need. Especially if it is delivered along with an offer of a listening ear, a sure hand, or a quiet "ask when you need help" in their ear. 

In other years of this blog I'd have likely emphasized the positivity and parental relationship and delicious eye candy that this book is. With the thought of friends who would love it with open arms, but whose arms and hearts are now filled with burdens, the depth of the story resonates with me at every page turn. 

This, too, this power of picture books to meet you where you are in different ways at different times, is why I continue to read, write, examine closely, and celebrate picture books. if you are reading here, I suspect you agree. I hope that you will give this one the reading it deserves, and read the needs of your friends, as well. 

And to my struggling friends, CLIMB ON!

Did You Know? AMAZON RIVER is AMAZING!

 When I say AMAZON RIVER, what do you think?

Flesh-eating piranhas?  But did you know about the vegetarian piranhas that eat underwater fruit and then deposit seeds many miles upstream and downstream in their poop?

Brazilian rainforests?  Largest river?  But did you know that includes mountain sources and sprawling tributaries crossing seven countries and thousands of miles of river basin/ 

And did you know? The actual AMAZON RIVER is only the surface layer for a three river system: a moist overhead aerial current, the flowing surface waters, and an underground river, miles beneath that surface, only discovered a few years ago? 

Let's be honest. Other than those who live in, study, or frequently visit the vast realm of the AMAZON RIVER, few would know these details, or most of the others that are throughly researched and thoughtfully selected for inclusion in this visual and well-written picture book journey of fantastic features and facts. The Amazon River truly is a natural wonder of our world.

Flying Eye Books, 2021

AMAZON RIVER is written by Sangma Francis and illustrated with Romolo D'Hipolito. This is a recent addition to an expanding catalog of nonfiction picture book titles from a publisher on a mission to combine powerful illustrations and perspectives that entice and engage readers with places in the world known to most of us only superficially. They specialize in capturing the talent and insights of international authors and artists to present a universally appealing view.

The sweep and allure of the contents of this book are undeniable, with brilliance in colors, points of view, revelatory information, and stylistic portrayal that are both realistic and inspiring. With a brief introduction from the author and a table of contents organized into four categories, a massive topic becomes manageable and intriguing. Each nods to subtopics that could (and do) fill other extensive books, yet highlights both discreet details and sweeping relationships, adding to the impact for readers of any age. 

Each section encompasses very brief chapters, often only a double-page spread, but dense with images and accessible content.  From SOURCE to SEA focuses on the physical science of the river at various stages, especially water-facts involving a water/land mass nearly the size of continental United States. WILDLIFE on the RIVERBANK, the next section, explores extraordinary wildlife (plant and animal) that make the air, land, and riverscapes of this basin their home. The next section is PEOPLE of the RAINFOREST, revealing a limited but important view of facts about the indigenous people who developed within and lived interdependent with the fantastic and diverse biomes throughout this complex habitat. And finally, LIFE ON THE RIVER is a section filled with examples of various ways that human societies, economies, and cultures interact with, depend on, exploit, and attempt to protect the Amazon River, in eras [ast and in the modern world.

I admire the design and production of this oversized and inviting book that competes successfully with video alternatives. Sure, watching clips would be a lovely extension of this book, but the slightly retro yet modern style and surprising information encourage individual or shared examination of each spread, while sparking curiosity to learn even more. The sturdy binding and paper stock will hold up well over the many rereads it deserves during a long shelf life in classrooms and libraries. This is another wonderful example of a picture book that might dwell in a reference collection, but is also beautifully suited for use in science, social studies, geography, and general nonfiction lessons, discussions, and classrooms. I suggest that you give it a try and then ask someone else about the AMAZON RIVER. It gives you a wonderful excuse to share some of these surprising and exciting details and recommend an exciting nonfiction book as well. 

Why not start with that question... Did you know...?

 

DOGS! And More DOGS! An ATLAS OF DOGS For Many Ages!

 Full disclosure: I'm a "dog person", and always will, be, even though not currently having a dog in my family. (Also a fan of cats, but with allergies they are permanently off the household list.) I am also a fan of many picture books that were originally produced in other cultures/languages and brought to an American/English audience. This is happening more frequently these days, with the high quality and universality of both fiction and nonfiction themes and topics as the reason for their success.

Albatross Media Group, 2021

ATLAS OF DOGS is written by authors Ester Dobiasova, Stepanka Sekaninova, and Jana Seflackova. Colorful, comical, and informative Illustrations are the creation of Marcel Kralik. This wonderful book first hit the market in Prague, the Czech Republic, in 2021, then made its way to my English-speaking eyes via Albatross Media Group for consideration for a nonfiction CYBILS awards a few months ago. I was delighted to have a close look and knew it would merit a full review.

An ATLAS approach to nonfiction content is rarely the kind of book that one might read cover to cover. Such a structure typically is used for research, shelved in a reference section. The rare accomplishment of this title is that it fully deserves the "ATLAS" designation and could provide searching readers with the specifics they might be seeking, but invites that cover-to-cover engagement. It provides a Table of Contents that is organized along the lines of dog show categories, grouping dogs by their function or heritage, and launching the pages with an overview of the species "DOG". 

But anyone seeking deep and detailed content would do well to use more comprehensive resources. This appealing ATLAS serves to provide a fully functional view of dogs, and provides a fun first step in feeling at home with reference materials and the ways they can explore factual content. In this case both the text and the illustrations present valuable details, including scaled sizes and breed features, with a colorful, kid-friendly approach that invites reading. In large part that is a credit to the overall page designs, using clear font, comfortable line spacing and background white pages, with brief text segments and spot illustrations that draw the eye (and the heart!) to want to know more.

HUMOR literally seasons every page and aspect of the book, with the dogs themselves claiming center stage in attitude, relationships, and unwavering, irresistible direct eye contact with the reader. Crisp asides are smile-bait: 

Title page sign:  KEEP CALM AND CRUNCH THAT BONE

Dedication: THIS BOOK BELONGS TO ALL DOG LOVERS

End papers: DICTIONARY OF DOG SPEECH

The back cover provides a sample of a distinctively clever feature. Throughout the atlas there are many pages from a dog-pubilshed periodical, DOGS' DAILY POST. The various "page" inserts include dog stories (many of dog bravery or remarkable skill), letters to and from the "editor", famous people and their pets, and tongue-in-dog-cheek advertisements.

For kids who have one or more dogs, and for those who are begging to get one, this book is a perfect fit. I can even imagine that the occasional child who has a fear of dogs might find it a safe and informative way to learn more about dogs, that all are not alike, that their body language can be "heard/read" in order to respond safely, and potentially even shift  beyond their learned aversion or anxiety. 

One thing I particularly admired about the illustration is how most of the dogs were ACTIVE, in motion, and in those cases revealed even more facts about each breed. Some reflected characteristic strides, gaits, postures, tail positions, and more, all of which seemed accurate, to my amateur eye. In every case the excitement of and enjoyment of the various dogs was reflected in relationships with humans and other canines, a truth that anyone who has ever had a dog will confirm. This picture book has many benefits as a first-atlas experience, but also has the warm appeal that will make it more of a go-back-to-often book than a look-something-up choice. Ask for it in your library and decide for yourselves!

SCURRY! and WOOF! Remarkably Magical Nonfiction Appeal

I have a friend who is a gifted writer, but in recent years she has turned her available creative time to photography. Examples of her photos are increasingly breathtaking. What's more, in this past year she has taken the bold step to learn and explore painting- using various media and attempting a wide array of subjects. The works that she's shared are as lovely, thought-provoking, and powerful as her writing and photography. 

Her versatility and talents came to mind when I read these two nonfiction picture books by author/photographer Annette Whipple. The first to consider is SCURRY! The Truth About Spiders.

Reycraft Books, September, 2021

After an initial AWE response to the images, a careful examination of these two books will reveal several strategies and craft techniques to account for their excellence. Whipple has made the world of spiders utterly appealing! 

Here are just a few ways she accomplished this magical achievement.The obvious place to start is with the many spectacular photographs that inspire awe and also inform. Any viewer of any image will be ensnared in the web of color, charisma, and complex life of each of the many species of spiders Whipple's photos reveal. 

Using the often-recommended "trick" of focusing on the eyes makes a powerful beginning, (something that works with snaps of babies and even ZOOM shots!), but the creator of this magic turns those images of eyes into unforgettable factual content. Reporting eight eyes for spiders (at least for most), she follows with the surprising fact that most still have rather poor ability to see! Nevertheless, those eyes and their patterns are one of the most visible traits used by scientists and hobbyists in distinguishing one type of spider from another. This comprehensive exploration of spider with its superb blend of photos and facts becomes even more powerful with the artful use of some occasional spider-speaking cartoon questions, challenges, invitations, and incidental facts. 

Can you imagine what happens when Whipple tosses in ...language of the main expository text that's kid-friendly and focuses on the kinds of questions that curious kids will want to know? Lively details like eight legs? And what happens if one leg is eaten or breaks off? What are those two other things that look like arms? How can spiders make that silky web-stuff? And really? Spiders can control how thick or thin the web fibers are? How sticky or smooth? And web fibers are stronger than steel, when compared in weight and size? Oh, and they eat HOW? What's with so much HAIR? Seriously? 

What happens is magical.

These are only some of the fascinating aspects of spiders that will have kids (and adults) inspecting the images in the books, sharing facts with others, and even shifting their attitudes about live spiders they encounter. Just in case some readers are not converted by facts and images, the author even provides a page of suggestions for desensitizing those with engrained fears. 

Back matter serves anyone seeking to explore further, to take on some challenges, or to consider photographing and writing about other creatures would do well to use this as mentor text. I am certain there are countless kids who will be captured in the appealing web of this book.

Reycraft Books, June, 2021

If by any chance the topic of SPIDERS isn't doing it for you, who can resist DOGS? WOOF! The Truth About Dogs is an irresistible presentation of DOG information, wisdom, and surprises. It also advocates for readers of any age to volunteer at rescue shelters as companions, playmates, and general helpers for canines waiting and hoping for a fur-ever home. 

The talent and strategies that shine in SCURRY! are center-stage in this picture book, beginning with the eyes on that cover! In this case, though, Whipple builds on the fact that so many DOG parts and patterns are familiar to readers. Then she uses photos and friendly phrasing to clarify, correct, and expand on readers' awareness of this ubiquitous but diverse species. The question/answer approach, compare/contrast text patterns, and the widely varied cartoon-comic dog characters with something significant to say keeps the pages turning and the information memorable. 

Back matter is kid-directed and also irresistible, with pages showing how to make a dog toy, compare breed facts and images, consider an instructional/safety page about how to app[roach an unfamiliar dog, images and insights revealing what volunteering might involve, and an answer to that frequent question: Are dogs just tame wolves?  

What, you can't really imagine I'd offer her answer here, can you? Get the book and read for yourselves!

These two titles belong in every library, many classrooms, and family homes. Both titles offer the allure of "coffee table books" in enticing and engaging casual audiences while also providing well-selected and curated informational content in ways that entertain and invite questions, further reading, or discussion. These titles also offer mentor examples for anyone considering writing nonfiction, for developing photographic skills, or even for those interested in using photos by others to enhance your text. 

Check them both out!

Seeking Freedom: Do NOT Miss Reading This Important Nonfiction Account

 When it comes to CIVIL WAR names and heroes, do you know this one… GEORGE SCOTT? 

Astra Books for Young Readers
Calkins Creek, 2022

I’m guessing you don’t.  I certainly didn’t. 

What’s more, the story surrounding Scott's contributions to ending slavery were unknown to me, and to many others. 

SEEKING FREEDOM: The Untold Story of Fortress Monroe and the Ending of Slavery in America is written by Selena Castrovilla and illustrated by the incomparable artist E. B. Lewis. The rich details, character, and intensity of the text are enhanced and expanded by those same qualities in the illustrations. Every dramatic element is made more so by such detail, from the lichen on the barks of trees to the opening note about when and why certain word choices were made, to revelations of personality and character, especially in George Scott and the other central player, little-known hero, Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler, commander of Fortress Monroe in Virginia. I can't begin to imagine the extent of research that preceded the writing and illustrating of this remarkable picture book. 

I won’t include spoilers in these comments, which limits the scope of what I can share. 

This much, though, is essential to understand. GEORGE SCOTT was, in the language of the time,  a “runaway slave” (actually a freedom-seeking enslaved man). He had spent two years in a wild-wooded area not far from the fort, surviving by intelligence, cunning, and sheer determination as states seceded and war with the North began. His encounter with General Butler takes place in the early pages of this book when he risked exposure and return to his “master” by entering the fort to offer to work in support of the North. 

Both men took remarkable risks in pursuing this course of resistance to the established law that said enslaved people were the property of their owners and were required to be returned to them. Butler chose to defy this process by calling freedom-seeking refugees from slavery “contraband”, using that legal “property” label to justify retaining them as living spoils of wartime, which could supersede the Fugitive Slave Act. He was depriving the rebels of a valuable war-making resource.

Could that tactic actually work? Would it destroy Butler’s career, returning the many desperate freedom-seekers to enslavement? Or would it challenge the institution of slavery and begin a process to settle that question once and for all? 

The historic account that provides answers to those questions, and more, is revealed with dramatic art and suspenseful storytelling. Scenes involve President Lincoln, Congressional action, spying, a near-death escape, as well as post-war developments. Be sure to read the impressive back matter that further explores the post-war lives of these two heroic men, as well as the political decisions affecting both of their lives, and more. Sources for research and quotations are provided with acknowledgements of the historic sites and their curators, without whose involvement this book could not have been completed.

The most essential questions and causes of our deadly CIVIL WAR are launched and confronted within these pages and I am still shaking my head in wonder that I had not heard this account before. I believe you will do the same. After you read it, and I urge you to do so, soon, I feel certain you will be recommending it far and wide, across many ages and interests. 

And I doubt you'll ever forget George Scott and his role in ending slavery in America.

 

Discover More About Another FAMILIAR Name: Margaret Wise Brown

Eerdmans
Books for Young Readers, 2021

ONLY MARGARET: A Story About Margaret Wise Brown is written by Candice Ransom and illustrated by Nan Lawson. Is there a parent or child anywhere in America who does not know the most famous of Brown’s books, GOODNIGHT MOON? The story of its inspiration (a dream) is included in this thoughtful biographic profile, but I was more delighted by the background story of MY favorite of her many beloved titles, THE IMPORTANT BOOK. 

While seeking an identity/career, even with established success in writing for children and working in publishing, she longed to write something IMPORTANT, which she imagined must be for adults. But that reflection led her, as her musing often did, to examining and considering everyday objects and what was IMPORTANT about each. I’m often surprised to learn that many people are unaware of this title, and I urge everyone to read it. In a sense, it is a poetic parallel to her own remarkable life. She aimed to live each day with lightness and full attention, always seeking understanding of WHAT WAS IMPORTANT about everyday objects, what really mattered, what nature could teach her. 

I found this story of Margaret herself to be more engaging than what I had learned before. She is so much more than a noticeably odd but likable woman with brilliant writing talent. Born in 1920, the same year as the passing of Halley’s Comet, the author effectively launches a premise that unfolds throughout her life: Margaret was rare, she sparkled and sought bright insights into everyday experiences. She was inspired by nature and children and viewing the world from new angles. The text never states this explicitly, but she lived a life of privilege and security, including travel and the luxury of discovering her own path over time without the necessity of providing safe shelter and food for herself. 

 

Her mantra could well be: “to boldly go where no one has gone before”. She certainly did that in amusing anecdotal scenes, as a child and as an adult. The more important way in which this attitude changed the world was her decision to apply her impulse and talent for writing to the inspirations she found in the sparkling lives and language of children. When she determined she should write books for children, books with pictures, books that would sparkle and delight, there WAS no such career, and certainly none for a woman. Her success paved the way for the rich and ever-expanding universe of children’s literature today. The truth is that publishing is a business and making money is important. The economic reality of her success continues to be the origin of an entire branch of publishing today. Her talent, fame, and personality paved the way for careers and children's libraries and literary lives for generations past, present, and future.

 

A while back I reviewed THE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT MARGARET WISE BROWN, written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Sarah Jacoby, published by Balzer  & Bray in 2019. Its focus, too, was on the quirky, unpredictable nature Brown displayed throughout her short life. I enjoyed it very much, and particularly appreciated the scenes in which she applied her quirkiness and persistence to succeed in having her early books included in library collections. 

 

I hope you’ll read ONLY MARGARET to your children, grandchildren, students, and story groups. The significance of Margaret Wise Brown in their lives, whether they know and love her books or not, is of historic IMPORTANCE. I would be great to also have the earlier profile available to read, as well as several of her better (and lesser) known titles. The reality of an adult still struggling to find her way in life, to satisfy her true calling makes this a valuable title to share with older readers, too, providng encouragement to consider forging new paths into a future they can imagine but don’t yet see in existence.

 

 

TO THE FRONT!

As I type this, Ukranians of every age, interest, gender, and background are finding "The Front" of an  uninvited, unwanted, and unjust invasion by Russia at their front doors. I wish them well and hope that their individual stories of bravery will make their way to a wider public, on the page or film or screen, after they have sustained a free and independent country against this onslaught. I listened to a report today by an emergency physician who is giving one-hour intensive lessons to everyday citizens to provide instruction and equipment meant to save lives- tourniquets, sutures, and other procedures that should require medical training to learn. Wash, rinse, repeat, hour after hour. I struggle to decide who is the greater hero, the doctor, exhausting himself and knowing the likely futility of his efforts and theirs, or the individuals who are willing to step up, to do SOMETHING to try to save lives and make a difference. None were giving in to feeling overwhelmed, they were simply moving forward.

Calkins Creek, 2022
Astra Publishing House

 

That's very much the frame of mind of Clara Barton and her crew of volunteer men. TO THE FRONT! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam is written by history-lover and storyteller Claudia Friddell, with evocative and informative illustrations by Christopher Cyr. This is a revelation of the early acts that distinguished Clara Barton as a brave, dedicated, and knowledgeable woman whose efforts were essential in saving lives and reducing suffering among the wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Friddell sets the stage for these harrowing scenes by blending actual text from Barton’s journals in blue font, paired with the author’s own free verse text in three-line stanzas and full paragraphs. This clear-eyed but dramatic account relates events through intimate perspectives of Clara’s wagon, Clara’s men, Clara’s hands, Clara and the doctors, her discoveries, her comforting, her endurance, her impact. 

Clara’s own words and the author’s text weave seamlessly but distinctly. Together they forge an effective trail that leads readers into the battlefields, into her makeshift and groundbreaking support efforts, and into connections and empathy with Clara, the doctors, the men who volunteered to serve as her team, and the victims of war. Back matter includes short perspectives on Clara, the consequences of her efforts, her personal missions before and after the war years, and her connections with other leaders of the time.

 

The bibliography and notes included offer a wealth of reliable resources to answer curious questions or launch further research. The illustrations are also a rich source of historic information, tone, social patterns, and gender expectations. The shifting perspectives of panoramic scenes and close portrayal of Barton’s reactions and worries feel theatrical and compelling, raising the suggestion that a nonfiction story told this well would make a valuable film or video. 

 

The name “Clara Barton” is one of the better known in American history, yet the extent of what most would know about her could fit on a JEOPARDY “answer” cue. A deep dive, as this is, dense with well-selected and appropriately placed primary source quotations, is exactly what it takes to waken all of us, at any age, to the full truths of Clara Barton’s life, and of our national history. 

MARY SHERMAN MORGAN: An Inspiring but Overlooked Woman of Science

Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers
2021

We're already three days into our current "THEME MONTH", Women in History.

BLAST OFF! How Mary Sherman Morgan Fueled America into Space is written by Chicago area author Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. When it comes to women in history whose stories are underreported, particularly those in science, Mary Morgan takes the cake. 

 Born in 1921, one year after women were legally allowed to vote, she was eight years old before the truant officer forced her family to let her go to school.  On a family farm, chores were not subject to a vote and even though she had to work overtime on studies to catch up for her late start, Mary completed her chores. Somehow, she found time to read, and read she did! 

 

By high school she proved herself to be a superior student, one who realized that chemistry was endlessly fascinating. Since her parents expected her to continue living at home and helping with chores, she worked multiple jobs, studied, saved, and applied for scholarships t go off to college. Her first two years of study gave her a good foundation, but her money had run out and she needed to stop school to work. At that time businesses hired women to do the work of men who had gone off to fight in the war, and Mary learned while earning money in an explosives factory making munitions for the war effort.

 

A few years later those men were back to compete for the job she wanted, and the boss at her dream company had 900 employees working on chemical fuels- all men! Mary made her case for being fully qualified, that man gave her a chance, and she was off to learn and develop advanced fuels and chemical combinations. I loved reading that her trusty sliderule was always on hand, her formulas were precise, and she double-checked every calculation. I celebrate her ability to VERIFY and CONFIRM computations, especially for a generation of readers who turn to handheld devices for math calculations, 

 

That proficiency and accuracy made her the lead scientist in a secret project to develop rocket fuel that could launch America’s first satellite. The pages detailing her thinking, experiments, failures and ultimate success are action-packed and compelling. Her determination was fueled by her fear that too many failures or false starts might make the public want to abandon space travel as too expensive. So she never gave up, and she led her teams to a successful launch, on schedule, with a promise that many more space adventures would follow. Back matter includes a timeline and extended details that provide curious readers with more about Mary’s life, American space programs, the Explorer 1 and Juno 1 rockets, and further readings. 

 

Mary Sherman Morgan was a woman who saw and pursued the potential within her and the potential beyond what she already knew. Her faith in science, in math, and in the uncharted opportunities of space should have been dramatized in film and books long before this, but it was worth the wait to read about her life and contributions now. Don’t let another day go by without reading her story. 

Sharing JULIA CHILD'S Story- So Much Kid-Appeal!

CALKINS CREEK, January, 2022

Plenty of adults know and love JULIA CHILD, but what could a kid possibly find to like about a big, old, loud woman with a cooking show on PBS? Here's a picture book that answers the question with full-throated joy.

BORN HUNGRY: Julia Child Becomes “the French Chef” is written by Alex Prud’homme and illustrated by Sarah Green. If you weren’t already of fan of Julia Child, this book will make you one, at any age. The character and personality traits that won over fans for her recipes, cookbooks, television appearances, and overall public persona shines through in this colorful and creative picture book. The opening lines capture her kid-appeal in a few, perfect words. 

“Julia McWIlliams wore size twelve sneakers, stood six feet, two inches tall, played basketball, laughed loudly, and was curious about everything. All this activity made her crave food- lots of food.”

The opening spread on which these words appear features GLORIOUSLY large, colorful, rich foods while the facing page presents Julia in her confident and take-it-or-leave-it young-girl glory, her clothes mirroring the vibrant food colors and her self-assured stance foreshadowing the familiar postures she assumed on her programs, whether in conversation or behind a pot or pan or bowl. Julia was a substantially non-typical girl who was absolutely fine with who she was and what she chose to do in life. And she adored food!  What's not to love?

 

Born into a wealthy family, she was always hungry but never considered cooking. Her family employed a very competent cook- why would Julia even consider cooking for herself? Her quest for a life of action and adventure led her far from home to work for an American “spy” service. To her surprise, she was assigned are a desk with a rather boring job. She was lonely and not very eager to continue.

 

Until a new co-worker moved into the next office. He was everything she was not- older, very quiet, but also a world traveler with far wider experiences in foods and culture. And he was as intrigued with Julia as she was with him, Paul. They spent many hours together, enjoying new things like food, books, and travel. He encouraged Julia, the girl who grew up inhaling food, to slow down and taste each bite, to fully experience food and the atmosphere in which it was served, the culture it represented. After the war ended (WWII), Julia and Paul married and  moved to France. Julie decided that a married woman should learn to cook. What better place to do that than in France at a leading culinary academy?

 

This book offers young readers a celebration of a spirited young girl who loved food, then applied that sense of adventure and curiosity to preparing amazingly delicious meals and desserts.  Was she always successful? Far from it. In fact, it was her attitude about mistakes and failures that entertained adults and will capture the love of young readers, too. The illustrations using bright colors and style to open this profile with vitality continue to turn Julia’s adult life into a kid-friendly world on the page. 

 

Back matter provides photos and details about her impressive career as a writer, entertainer, teacher, chef, food ambassador, and inspiration for all ages. The final spread shares her very FRENCH recipe for scrambled eggs, and seems as delicious as it is simple. It includes a caution that children should have adult assistance to make them because a hot pan is involved. I found myself eager to try it, since my approach does NOT produce the kind of eggs her recipe will.

Author Prud'homme is the grandson of Paul's twin brother, knew her well, and worked with Julia until her death on her adult memoir about the post-war years in France. The text is effectively sprinkled with quotations from Julia Child’s notebooks, programs, interviews, and cookbooks, with the last one appearing to capture her life story perfectly: 

“Find something you’re passionate about and stay tremendously interested in it!”

 

 I'm passionate about this new picture book, and I am certain kids of many ages will be, too.