Nothing MOUSEY About These Books!

Since my "favorites" in all categories span wide timeframes, and especially so in the category of books, I'll use a "throwback" approach to this post. By featuring some prior reviews of outstanding titles, I'll maneuver my way to sharing a compact novel for adults that I read while on my recent hiatus. I've already added it to my Goodreads reviews, and shared it with friends, but I can't resist bringing ti to those of you who take time to read posts here. 

A star of that eventual review (below) is a mouse.

A thoroughly non-humanized mouse whose character and role i will never forget. 

When considering "mouse" characters in picture books, my thoughts immediately leap to PAUL O. ZELINSKY and BRIAN LIES.  Among the many Zelinsky titles I've praised are the fairy-tale-variant, CINDERELLA AND A MOUSE CALLED FRED (written by Deborah Hopkinson) and his much-earlier THE MAID, THE MOUSE, AND THE ODD-SHAPED HOUSE, which he authored and illustrated earlier in his career. Full disclaimer, Paul O. Zelinsky is also a fan of cats, featuring them in several picture books and personally in his life and family history. Even so, when a mouse breaks through in his work, it becomes a fully realized and celebrated character. 

Brian Lies has an undeniable penchant and talent for nature and rodent-y characters, though cats make appearances, too! My favorite of his MOUSE depictions is in illustrations for I. C. Springman's MORE, in which MAGPIE and MOUSE share a journey of transition and growth in a most exciting and fun way. (If you click MORE to find my brief review you can scroll down to find Brian's kind comments/interaction with the post!)

With those celebratory references to the potential for MOUSE characters in picture books, I segue into this novel-intrusion. It is a book for adults, but one that is suitable to youth, reading on their now or as read-aloud. I hope no one objects, because I am genuinely excited to think that some additional readers will find and enjoy this jewel of a book.

GODINE, 2024

Thank you to a social media friend who recommended this compact novel with the highest endorsement. I might not have picked it up without that, since my TBR pile was already high. I did, though, request it from the library and began reading as soon as it came in. 

The book in question is SIPSWORTH by Simon Van Booy. I loved every minute of the first read, realizing it would not be my last. In fact I read it twice again in as many weeks, because there is such a compelling arch to the overall plot, the development of each character, their interactions, and the time-spanning nest in which the story unfolds. 

The present-tense account of 83-year-old Helen Cartwright's "life" opens with passages that convincingly portray a woman who has lived a full and loving life but has prepared to simply wait for her own demise. I say convincingly because the reader is left with no cdoubt of her acceptance and resolve that her time cannot come soon enough, although there is no indication that she plans to hurry the process along. 

Her voice, that of the emerging characters in the story, and the unspoken voice of an unexpected and unforgettable rodent will stay with me forever. 

There are few books i choose to retain on my own shelves, knowing I can now always access through other means. A few though, and now this among them, NEED to stay in my possession. No, I am not stealing my library copy, but I have ordered one for myself as a "keeper".

I hope that's endorsement enough to encourage you to  give it a try. And, I promise, the next post here will celebrate an amazing NEW PICTURE BOOK! See you again then!

MEET THE MINI-MAMMALS: And a Masterful Creative Team

 Nonfiction picture books can take many forms, and the quality of creative productions varies widely. Author Melissa Stewart is widely acclaimed for the nonfiction books she writes but also for her support of other writers and teachers and families in finding and celebrating nonfiction offerings. She freely recommends works by others as much or more than her own. Anyone who enjoys reading and learning from nonfiction picture books should become familiar with Melissa Stewart.  I've reviewed some of her other books HERE, and HERE. 

When it comes to illustrations for nonfiction books, the range of styles and approaches is wide and effective in a variety of ways. BRIAN LIES is the illustrator of this and other picture books, many of which are intensely realistic while entirely fiction. Whether fiction or nonfiction, the characters/creatures involved are portrayed in their native habitat or holding a pointer and wearing a jacket and gloves, the actual animal details are accurate and revealing of the animals' natural ways-- posture, movement, behaviors, and more. In addition, each creature conveys an inner awareness and something of a  personality, with no attempt to humanize or anthropomorphize the creature/character. Even in fictional stories, the critters carry out their conversations and adventures within a context that retains a sense of their species identities and patterns. Examples of books I've reviewed are HERE and HERE, and HERE.

BEACH LANE BOOKS, 2025

These two talented creators combined their expertise in a new picture book, MEET THE MINI-MAMMALS: A Night at the Natural History Museum.  With the premise of inviting readers into a guided tour of the natural museum department of mini-mamals, Our well-dressed instructor/docent manages to wrangle the living specimens from page to page, though there are occasional spreads in which  a scattering of tails or other clues indicate the need for redirection to their respective displays. 

The text begins with a review of what makes a mammal a mammal, and a presents a challenge to learn more about some tiny mammals that might be less known and respected. Each double spread presents a species in a shadow-box frame-home, along with a bit of straightforward text content. The facing spread provides an image of the critter in its natural setting, including inset facts and comparison to the weight of the typical adult to something that would be more familiar. From matching to an Asian pear or softballs, the comparison objects become progressively smaller, slipping down to mini-marshmallows. 

We, as readers, follow this "tour" to determine which is actually the smallest mammal of all, then to a map room to find their global territories. The closing pages offer brief scientific fact sheets about each of the ten examples shared. What might have been an informative but solely scientific presentation of these same facts takes on a storytelling, collaborative connection with these unique and appealing little mammals, involving the reader as cohorts in a special "club" of sorts. It made me, as a reader, want to enter into their world, to learn more, and to meet their various animal-kingdom cousins. I think it is likely to do the same for you!

Meet WOMBAT, My New Best Friend!

 Think about the wombats you've met. 

What, you've never met a wombat? 

Truth be told, the only ones I've "met" have been in the pages of picture books and nonfiction books for young readers. There are some remarkable wombats in those pages, and I consider several of them "friends". 

PEACHTREE PUBLISHING, 2022

But then I got my hands on the very recent picture book release, WOMBAT SAID COME IN, written by the incredibly talented Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by the visual-narrative master storyteller Brian Lies.

Regular readers may notice that this is NOT nonfiction, which I've been immersed in since October as a Cybils Awards panelist in that category. I considered saving this post until late December when that process ends. 

Then I read WOMBAT SAID COME IN. 

Once. Twice. A half dozen times. 

I read the story first, noticing its serious subject matter  (an Australian wildfire forces animals to seek refuge). There's certainly nonfiction truth in that situation, truth that's likely (sadly) to occur again many times in the future. 

I read for craft next, a delightful narrative that uses prose storytelling with a rhyming refrain throughout. I was quickly chiming in at each repetition of the irresistible lines, as any young audiences will no doubt do. That includes reading the refrain with nuanced tone and attitude as the story progresses.

 That emotional nuance was my next focus in reading. These are anthropomorphized animal characters, Australian critters whose voices and patterns reflect their zoological and habitat realities. Each, though, (wombat, of course, and wallaby, kookaburra, platypus, koala, and sugar glider) reveals personality and behaviors that provide layers of humor and tension. Their behaviors and conversations  also reflect deeply universal feelings, responses, and complexities within families and friendships, ones that apply far beyond these specific animals and this situation. 

Finally I read the text once more, trying (unsuccessfully) to block out the remarkable illustrations that offer a complementary visual narrative that expands, enriches, and informs readers of the heart and the facts of this story. Eventually I resorted to typing the text and reading it separately for a last admiring look at how wonderfully it is written. 

Then, I dove deeply into the illustrations multiple times. In readings above I allowed the color tones, expressive faces, rich scenes, and lively actions to enhance the story as told by text. It was time to examine each page and spread closely, noting the choice and placement of the perfectly suited details to draw the audiences into the underground Australian life of WOMBAT. From the cover (look at that cover again, please!) anyone will recognize the artistic talent, skill. and affection Lies has for animal characters. Fans of his BATS books, MORE, and THE ROUGH PATCH will be pleased to meet this new collection of animal friends. 

Wombat's glance over his shoulder at his front door invites the reader to come right in to the story. End papers deserve more than a glance, opening with various paw/claw prints approaching Wombats welcome mat. The closing end papers suggest those same tracks walking away from the welcome mat, a gloriously subtle open and close to this story. A slightly ominous eye peeking out from a postal slot is followed by an inset image of a steaming mug (etched with an Australian bottle tree?) and a plate of cookies on the copyright page. There, a dedication from Deedy honors those who welcome refugees while the dedication from Lies celebrates friends who are masters of hospitality. The opening double spread after the title page reveals wombat in his comfortably decorated and maintained underground home, mug and plate in hand: A cozy light, bookcase, and furniture reassure us that the scorched and barren earth above ground is troubling, but not a threat to him. 

Before that page turns, a cry for help is heard, and wombat finds wallaby at his door, begging for refuge. Use your imagination for now to picture additional critters seeking aid from a friend, met each time by "Wombat said, "Come in!" then a rhymed refrain. Along the way the visual details are irresistible, including a cassowary (native bird) tea cozy, an Adelaide mug, a comfy chair with structural elements reminiscent of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, outback and fancy dress hats, and assorted Aussie-labeled open food containers. Wombat's country-style clothing suit him to a tee, though the portrait on his wall suggests he comes from more formal ancestry. 

These are only a few of the mindfully chosen, artfully rendered, and carefully situated details within the story that suggest Wombat's diminishing patience but bottomless wealth of goodwill and welcome, despite the many strains his "guests" impose. Every well-constructed story needs a satisfying conclusion, often followed by a bit of a surprise or twist. This new picture book provides those generously, in text and images. I won't spoil your reading with more than I've already provided, but you will ruin my day entirely if I've failed to get you to click a library hold or make a purchase to read and share this book.

Now I return to my nonfiction reading and assessments, but I intend to keep this book at hand for at least a few more weeks. Each time I crack the covers, or even glance at the front or back views, I smile and want to peruse it again. Wombat represents to me the better part of our nature, and certainly the aspects of my own nature that I need to nurture and practice more consistently. Welcoming those in need to share what we have, to recognize myself in their need, allows me to imagine myself having Wombat's heart. That's a goal worthy of my attention and effort. Yours, too?

Family/Friend Gatherings Amplify Joy: For Humans and For BATS

If you read this blog regularly you must have discovered that I am a fan of the talented writing and illustrations of Brian Lies (spelled like LIES but pronounced like CHEESE). I've reviewed many of his picture books, including one series feature a  colony of creative and distinctive bats (HERE). 

Several of his BAT titles are written in rhyme, but not all. In each, there is one little bat who, inexplicably, wears yellow floaties at the base of his wings. Little Bat often appears on the final page turn, snuggled against his mother's chest as she flies them home to sleep at dawn.

LITTLE BAT has garnered much attention over the years. Recently, LITTLE BAT IN NIGHT SCHOOL offered  Little Bat a starring role in his launch into night school, with a clever story told in prose. (Take this mention as a timely reminder for anyone preparing first-timers to school. The gentle humor and recognizably mixed emotions will open discussions and provide good-hearted reassurance.)

Clarion Books, 2022

Now, Little Bat is back in LITTLE BAT UP ALL DAY. Just a year or so older, he has grown bold and curious enough to defy his mother's warning to NOT go out in the daytime. Why? More noise, more animals, ones he has not met. Ones who sleep at night while bats are about.

But Little Bat feels compelled to know about them, to get answers to his questions, to find new friends. In each of the prior books, readers see that long nights are very busy (and exhausting), making daytime snoozes necessary. But Little Bat's curiosity overcomes his heavy eyelids, leading him through the louvres and into open daylight.

The blinding light, noises, and unfamiliar landscape confuse him, until his desperate chirp reveals an echo of his familiar home. With the confidence of knowing where he is, he begins his search for new friends. He mistakenly seeks the attention of a hawk, but Rusty squirrel saves the day. He sets Little Bat on a safe path to move about in daylight.

This friendship story is exhilarating and appealing, with delightful details in text, emotional expressions, and imaginative actions and locations. As Little Bat dozes off time after time, denying it time after time, he must finally admit that he is a nocturnal fella who needs to go to sleep. 

Thus, almost as if star-crossed lovers, they part with the sense that their friendship was "not meant to be", as we say. Even so, when Little Bat is out after dark he retraces their play trail, making a very satisfying discovering. 

I adore the character development and personalities in each of the bat characters, (or any animal character from any Lies picture book). In this bat series I especially appreciate the ways in which the illustration elements have a sort of Russian nesting doll quality, with bits from early pages appearing in some ways later in the story, layering rich connections and depth into the events and the individuals. The same is true from one book to the next. For example, Little Bat's foray into school builds the internal skills and tools he needs to make this latest book's resolution feel natural and irresistible. The pop-up book gingerbread house in BATS IN THE LIBRARY foreshadow the friendship setting of this current book, too.

Each time I read and share a book by Brian Lies, whether in rhyme or prose, written by others or by the illustrator, and starring familiar characters like Little Bat or a new cast (HERE), I urge readers to check them out and explore them thoroughly. Once again, please do just that. You won't be sorry, and I am guessing that you will immediately be thinking of a young audience for whom this book would be perfect.

* * *

 My brief hiatus involved travel and visiting with family. Then, more travel for a week in LA to celebrate a joyous wedding with family and friends, old and new. It was my first trip to that coast. As a lifelong midwesterner, I had routinely wondered aloud how anyone would choose to live with the looming dangers of earthquakes and mudslides and more. In only a week I began to understand the appeal of the climate, casual friendliness, and curiosities that would make each day there an adventure and a great place to live. Now, like Little Bat, I am safely home and settled into my midwest way of life. Even so, that exploration confirmed that I'll make it a point to reconnect with the coast again in the future! Here's wishing you joyous times with family and friends, and open eyes to search out new and exciting explorations!

BRI-I-I-I-N-NG!!! School Bells Ringing Soon

 There's no denying that "Back to School" will have an ientirely different ring to it than it did in September, 2020, or in the years prior, for that matter. Even so, there are some universal aspects to it that are undeniable, and that includes the need for some outstanding back-to-school picture books to share in the early days. That's because behind the many faces (no matter how many or how few, whether masked or not) sharing the experience of a new class, there will just that many different emotional and individual attitudes about the experience. The one thing each kiddo shares with the others is that their feelings are mixed. 

Recognizing this, I particularly appreciate back-to-school books that bring "all the feels" to the surface and allow us to experience them together. There are actually some great back-to-school read-aloud chapter books, but nothing beats the power of picture books in providing a complete, compact, and compelling moment of connection. I'll share two titles in this post, and tag on some come-along titles for each. 

Clarion Books, June, 2021

LITTLE BAT IN NIGHT SCHOOL stars a subtle but irresistible little regular among the many delightful bats in a series of "Bat" titles created by writer/illustrator BRIAN LIES. I've been a fan of LIES (rhymes with "cheese"), since I first encountered the picture book he illustrated by I. C. Springman, MORE. (That's your first bonus, and I hope you'll click to read my original review of that amazing book, but please read on about these school books first.)

Sorry, Little Bat, that I paused to make that connection. You've dealt with waiting for the spotlight through many books in the past, but you never lost that cheerful and curious personality of yours, or the  little yellow floaties that you sport in each appearance. And now you finally get to be the star of the story when you go to NIGHT SCHOOL! where else, when else, would a bat go to learn about the big wide world? And Little Bat was thoroughly prepared and pumped for this adventure, as the cover suggests. Even with Mama Bat at his side, the size and population of nocturnal animals in his new class casts a shadow across his brow. 

Mr.s C., the Raccoon teacher, extends a warm welcome, and Little Bat recognizes nighttime critters before he spots his target- other bats! In this parallel-to-kid-world, those bats are already friends and are not exactly welcoming to Little Bat. He turns to his cubby to unload supplies, where he meets little Ophelia Possum, who is also a tad timid, and is loaded with mistaken assumptions about bats. 

In page after detailed page, the two tentative friends ("I'll go if you will.") bolster each other through that first night of songs, art, math, snacks, and incredibly funny-punny scenes. In each, there is a steady tug of who is better at what, who is friends with whom, and how each lands in an assumed pecking order. Ophelia and Little Bat offer their thinking and energy to the rest in a building challenge and, as dawn approaches, they are weaving the ties that will make them into a class. When Mrs. C. closes the night with a read aloud that has them all begging for more, her reassurance that they'll all be back together the next night sounds like good news, agreeing that they'll all be coming back.

The magic of that transformation from individuals, friend packs, bold and timid kids into the foundation of yearlong family is undeniable, and Lies captures the process in these pages brilliantly. Just as undeniable is the magical quality of the art/illustration, encouraging close inspection of details, attention to all layers on each page with appreciation for the nuanced effects of "humanizing" the natural traits of each critter while generating smiles of recognition. Do not miss the fun of Little Bat's  "thumbs up" or the perfectly scaled school supplies and environment in relation to each animal. I could go on,  but I won't. 

Make Me A World, Random House. 2017

MY FIRST DAY demands our attention with that phenomenal cover, reminiscent of the iconic GREAT WAVE painting by Hokusai. This vibrant, vital story of a most unusual first day of school is the result of the combined talents of  Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien. In this remarkable story , a young Vietnamese boy is the first person narrator of his departure from home, by boat, on the great river, Mother Mekong. 

On page after glorious page, the first day of school jitters are magnified a thousand-fold by the fact that this will be the boy's first time taking the boat alone, through floodwaters and mangroves, cresting wild waves on the sea, navigating the sounds and teeming lives through the "hallways" of the forest, where fear "slithers like a python" through areas that feel unfamiliar when traveled alone. 

The language is just as lush and lovely as the images, with familiar school terms deftly applied to this dense and imposing wildlife: 

"(I) write my name across the blackboard of the river."

""The sky is a crayon box full of colors."

"Schools of fish glint beneath the waves."

Back matter is direct and informative about the twelfth-largest river in the world, the Mekong. I can't imagine a more appealing and effective book to explore the overwhelming but exciting sensations that accompany the adventure of starting school than this. Nor could there be a better way to explore the flora, fauna, and allure of the Mekong Delta ecosystem and the way of life it supports. Its lives contrast dramatically with many readers in western culture, and yet will be  surprisingly familiar to those who live in the Everglades or in Louisiana back country. The layering of familiar, universal back-to-school emotions and preparations with this glorious adventure through expanses of wood, water, and wonder is unforgettable.  This is a must-see, must-read, and must-share picture book.

The bonus is a title featured in an earlier interview with co-creator Baptiste Paul (with Miranda Paul), ADVENTURES TO SCHOOL. This appealing nonfiction book provides brief profiles of some of the most dramatic and amazing ways that children from around the globe travel on their adventures to school. With real-world examples from jungles to mountaintops to waterways and more, this is a perfect choice to have on hand when a young reader (or you!) reads MY FIRST DAY and wonders- would children actually travel to school in such astonishing ways? 

Yes, they would. They do.

And in LITTLE BAT's book you'll find an answer to the ongoing question, "Why floaties?" 

No matter how you get to school, in a boat, on a school bus, or as a LITTLE BAT, the trip will be worth it. 

More Holiday Gift Suggestions: HELLO, CROW and MORE

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

Greystone Kids, 2019
David Suzuki Institute

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

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

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

HMH Books for Young Readers, 2019

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

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

GOT TO GET TO BEAR'S: Get Your Hands on This Picture Book by Brian Lies

I recently wrote about THE ROUGH PATCH, written and illustrated by Brian Lies. I was not alone. The book was awarded a Caldecott Honor, among many other accolades, and I urge you to read it.

Houghton Mifflin Books

Just a few months after the release of that gorgeous and powerful picture book, GOT TO GET TO BEAR'S hit the presses. Also written and illustrated by Brian Lies, this picture book will tug your heartstrings and become a family favorite. The  remarkably appealing story involves adventure, internal rhyme, a few spontaneous and encouraging song lyrics, and a cast of characters with delightfully clever names. The nuanced language elements entertain but also enhance the momentum of their journey. The remarkable visual details provide rich resources for smiles and reveal each character's personality in wonderfully organic ways. Both voice and visuals entice readers to return to the book again and again.

This is a story to warm the heart, tickle the funny bone, fascinate the eye, and enjoy again and again. There are countless potential mentor moments- the importance of the apostrophe in "bear's", the voice of each cleverly distinct character, and the subtle visual details (many related to the story, and many others- not!). This cumulative adventure has a surprise component, a model of true friendships, and lilting language that leads readers to a satisfying, circle-story conclusion. 
Themes of loyalty, persistence, teamwork, kindness, and trust are woven throughout and emerge naturally in the course of the story. 

If you get the feeling that I'm a fan of BRIAN LIES you're nearly right. Actually, I'm a fan of his work, although I've never met the man. I look forward to each pending release, check them out of the library immediately, then feel compelled to purchase the book(s) for my own collection and as gifts. Yes, his illustrations are irresistible. Yes, I am a naturalist and deeply appreciate the ways his art and narrative capture the true nature of animals I adore. 
Good reasons to rave, right?
Yes, but my enthusiasm has as much to do with the undeniable heart in each distinct book, with the blend of humor and concern, with the hint of the unseen daily lives of the characters.   Here are some other suggestions to explore:

The Rough Patch: Wisdom for Every Age

I launched this blog many years ago to celebrate the joy, value, quality, and benefits of picture books for every age. If this is your first stop at this blog, you can read my manifesto about picture books in these early posts, HERE and HERE. 

Greenwillow/Harper Collins Children's Books, 2018

I take great joy in reading picture books (text and illustrations, which is how picture books speak to us).
I never planned to provide daily posts (and I'm still  in awe of those who manage to do so). I'm very selective about the books I feature here.

Deciding which picture books to discuss and how extensively to write about each book challenges me. I look for something unique in the books I feature, searching for something that attracts my attention, draws me back again and again, and allows me to uncover new elements in the text and the illustrations on each rereading. 
I share books that are multi-layered, both timeless and ageless, in my opinion. 
Even though it goes against my nature to name favorites among the many books I love, some continue to absorb my attention, even years after an initial reading or post.

THE ROUGH PATCH, written and illustrated by BRIAN LIES, will undoubtedly be such a book. I'm not alone in feeling this way. It has already garnered rave reviews and three stars. Check out what School Library Journal said (HERE), Kirkus Reviews (HERE), and Publishers' Weekly (HERE). Each outlines the story well and makes note of a few of the many distinctive details, like Evan's garden boots.

I offer these trusted sources to confirm that my opinion about this tender story wasn't unduly influenced by the fact that I faced a heartbreaking final good-bye to my own four-legged companion earlier this summer. In fact, if this book had been released in June I probably wouldn't have chosen to read it at that time. My emotions were still too new, too raw.
Having read it now, though, I wish it had been available to me then. 
There is as much comfort between the covers of this book as I feel when wrapped in one of my heirloom family quilts.

Yes, on one level, THE ROUGH PATCH is a story of loss. But it is so much more than that. It explores and celebrates the amazing capacity and power of friendship and love. It reveals the depths and strengths of human emotions, the importance of living in the moment, and, yes, the circle of life.
In fact, the initial opening spreads are joyous, vibrant, luminous. Evan (the Fox) and his friend (the Dog) savor every moment of their full, shared lives. Their companionship, comfort, and wordless communication shine on the pages and will be deeply felt by those who share their own lives wth dogs, cats, or other friends. 
The scant but potent text in each spread, throughout each stage, conveys Fox's joy, grief, anger, and eventual healing. Lies's writing perfectly suits the lives of this garden community: simple, direct, and pure. It reminds me of a free-verse Robert Frost.  In one achingly gentle double spread, Evan realizes that "the unthinkable happened."

The next several spreads follow Evan through his stages of grief: his isolation and anger, and his rejection of his formerly joyful garden. The metaphoric title plays out superbly in the middle portion of the book, in which "a good place won't stay empty for long". Evan destroys his formerly manicured garden, but nature abhors a vacuum. The space soon fills with growing things: weeds, thorns, and spiky intruders. Evan nurses that negativity, embraces it. In the process, though, he experiences the healing power of resuming his daily habits despite his aching, broken heart. 
Time passes, sun shines, and a "volunteer" vine creeps into the garden. 
When Fair Week finally rolls around Evan is open to a twinge of familiar excitement. Time and old habits have allowed his heart to begin to heal, to give himself permission to enjoy familiar joys. When a scrabbling tendril of possibility reaches out to him at the fair, he chooses to begin anew.

Throughout each page and stage, Lies uses his mastery of illustration to combine expressive features, shifting perspectives, light, shading, color, and detail to create scenes that beg to be examined closely while urging readers to turn the page and know the characters more deeply. Throughout it all I found myself walking hand-in-paw with Evan, wanting desperately to comfort him but knowing his was a journey to be traveled alone.

Lies has created many books I admire. His talent for capturing the nuance of expression, movement, habits, and postures in animals is incredible. I first described that talent in a post (here) about MORE, which he illustrated for author I. C. Springman. 
Apart from the elements within each scene or spread, I greatly admire the way he conveyed the emotional arc of this book through the continuity and transformations from first page to last. In THE ROUGH PATCH I noted his use of similar artistic tools, and yet he achieves distinctly different effects. In both cases, the transitions are so deftly accomplished that what might be considered simple circle stories instead become salvation stories, each ending with the characters transformed and strengthened in ways that are layered and lovely.

I recommend many books, but put THE ROUGH PATCH at the top of your list. 
Share it widely.
This fox and dog represent all of humanity.

New Titles, Old Souls

 Are you feeling the need to provide every bit of bling and bauble on someone's wish list? Before you use these final shopping days to run out and buy more, read MORE, by I. C. Springman, illustrated by Brian Lies, a book that extends far beyond the usual "less is more" mantra. I wrote about this title in a previous post, and now it's making the rounds on various Caldecott buzz lists. Check the comments on the post and you'll see I predicted that, which wasn't hard to do.

An even more recent release is SKY HIGH, by Germano Zullo, illustrated by Albertine, originally published in Switzerland. It's narrow, vertical format is perfectly suited to the ambitions of wealthy neighbors whose competitive and conspicuous consumption results in self-destruction and isolation, not happiness. (Zullo/Albertine's LITTLE BIRD is also making some Caldecott buzz lists.)

My recent post featured holiday titles by Patricia Polacco. She is undeniably an  icon among author/illustrators and has many fans.

Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin) 2012

Tomie DePaola surpasses the level of icon. He's a living legend, acclaimed for more than two hundred titles, the winner of countless awards. Among the prestigious winners of the Sarah Josepha Hale Award, he was the first to be known primarily for children's book writing. His stories offer something for everyone, every age, and wear well over time.

It's no surprise that his work never disappoints, and it takes no psychic power to predict that this latest will stand the test of time. In this seasonal release, THE BIRDS OF BETHLEHEM, he offers a unique view of the familiar and often retold story of the nativity. Page by page, in spare but poetic art and text, pairs of birds gleaning seeds in the field share their observations of noteworthy events: a long line of people traveling, a full inn, a couple resting in the stable, angels in the night sky.
They follow the shepherds, to learn more.
What they see there, watching from the stable rafters, is the greatest miracle of all: a mother, her husband, and their newborn child.
They witnessed the miracle of birth, of life, of family.

These pairs of birds recognized the greatest gifts when they saw them. We can, too.

And we can let our children know, daily, that even the birds in the trees celebrate their lives, that they are loved, that their lives matter.

Who needs to shop, unless it is for books like these?

Houghton MIfflin Books for Children, 2012

Chronicle Books, 2012

LOOK for MORE by BRIAN LIES

I hope you've already met BRIAN LIES (looks like "lies" but rhymes with "cheese").

Just in case you're not familiar with his work, the 2012 release of MORE, by I. C. Springman and illustrated by Brian Lies, is an ideal introduction.

An incredibly intense visual experience combines with a few perfectly chosen words to create a marvelous story arc in this recent release. This book uses a progression of descriptive "quantity" words to indicate increasing amounts from nothing to something to enough on to too much. Then, like a receding tide, the story continues back to less, ending at the start- but not quite where it began.

If you aren't already a fan of birds, mice, and nature, not to mention magpies, you will be by the end of this book. The multiple subplots and subtexts, the expressive faces and body language, and the depth of theme make multiple rereadings and close examination a treat. The intricacies and humor of the details are utterly irresistible.

While the obvious theme is "Less is More", it also explores friendship, community efforts, and loyalty.

As Levar Burton always says on Reading Rainbow: "But don't take my word for it..." Other rave reviews about MORE can be found at KIRKUS REVIEWS and GEEKDAD blog.

Then take a look at even MORE of Brian Lies's work.

I'm an admitted bird-lover. Have been since I was a child. I came to an appreciation of bats much later in life. Separating fact from myth about bats with third graders will do that for you.
So will reading Brian Lies's titles about bats: BATS AT THE BALLGAME, BATS AT THE BEACH, and BATS AT THE LIBRARY.

These bats exude oodles of adventurous and comical personality despite the appropriately dark-hued images in each book. Rhymed verse adds appeal. Considering the fantastic premise of each story, a remarkable amount of accurate information about bats is revealed within the context of the stories.

Do yourself and any kids you know a favor and spend some time with Brian Lies. (And that includes his many other titles!)

Then stop back and let me know what you think.

Be sure to check comments below- Brian Lies was kind enough to stop by with some thoughts about his illustration process for MORE.
Sal's Fiction Addiction blogged about MORE this week, too.