Back With More NONFICTION Offerings!

 In case you missed several recent posts that celebrated a few of the nonfiction titles among our CYBILS AWARDS nominees, you can catchup with terrific suggestions HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Here's my take on three more wonderful titles.

If the title MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS does not ring a bell, PLEASE check it out. If it does, you'll be an automatic fan of this remarkable book. Mr. McCloskey's Marvelous Mallards: The Making of Make Way for Ducklings is written by Emma Bland Smith and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander.

Calkins Creek, 2022

"Make Way" for amazement at this account of the steps taken by writer/illustrator Robert McCloskey, creator of some classic, timeless, and deeply beloved picture books from mid-twentieth century. What does an urban-dwelling, budding author/illustrator know about REAL ducklings? His encounter with a mallard family waddling into Boston's Public Garden, seeking a safe spot for their newly hatched ducklings. That became a fixed memory for McCloskey and came to mind four years later when he had successfully published his first b book and was looking for another story idea.
This delightful picture book profile is focused on the period in McCloskey's early career when he was attempting to illustrate the story we all now know and love. 
To overcome his ignorance and break through to authentic characters and behaviors, he did what any urban, art studio dweller would do-- he brought a family of ducklings into his space to live, grow, and "model" for him. 
For several months those little ducklings grew among his sketches and observations, but his ongoing attempts were not quite right- for his editor, for McCloskey, or for the ducklings! What else could he do but bring home more ducks! and observe ducks in the wild. And fill the tub for the ducks. By the time they were resettled in a country pond setting, he reviewed his work, realizing he had finally captured the life of ducklings on the page., the rest is history. 
Back matter does a fantastic job of revealing archival details and images from sketchbooks and early efforts, making this thoroughly entertaining profile all the more informative. Highly recommended.

Next up is another "mister", MISTER ROGERS' LOVE OF MUSIC, written by Donna Cangelosi and illustrated by Amanda Calatzis.

Page Street Kids, 2022

The opening of this profile is perfection: Mr. Rogers singing to the world while little ones around the world sit in their homes and sing along. Community. Love. Sharing. This will come as no surprise to any reader.
But Fred reached that bench and that comfy sweater and that camera a long time after struggling through a very difficult childhood, which begins to unfold on the next page turns. Spending endless hours wrapped in sickness, longing, and loneliness, it was his grandfather's violin music that lifted his spirits and gave him hope. Despite ongoing years of illness and peer teasing, his fingers found joy on keyboards, his ear carried happiness, brightness, and hope to his heart and brain. His piano became a friend he could always turn to. 
Kids will connect with this portion of the book regardless of their status of acceptance or rejection, and then be fascinated by the transition of a gentle, wise man who never forgot those powerful feelings and the comfort he found in music into an ambassador to young children. The rest is history.
Back matter includes an author note and also an extensive bibliography.

Wrapping up here, take a quick look at another interesting profile, a genuine profile in courage from the recent past. The Mother of a Movement: Jeanne Manford -- Ally, Activist, and Co-Founder of PFLAG is written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Sam Kalda.

Imagination Press, 2022

This is an important and worthy book to share. Evaluating the text and art reveals it as informative and persuasive, clarifying what "founding an organization" involves, but mainly viewing Manford's life through the lens of her ability to listen, learn, and love. 
I am a fan of repetitive phrasing, but in this case it might occasionally distract some readers from the impact of the author's and featured subject's very important message about openness and leadership.

That's all for today, folks, but stay tuned for more to come. 

Expect  a very special post that's FICTION coming soon. Not a focus on fact, but holding enormous truth!