Two Irresistible Cybils Fiction Picture Book Nominees: Stories of Separation

Image alert:  My cover images are not uploading as of publication for the post, but I'll continue t work at adding them back in when the glitch is resolved. Meanwhile, click on each of the titles  in the text to view them at the Indiebound.org web page. 

Covid 19 note: 

Regardless of where in the world we find ourselves, the coming months will encompass many holidays. "Where in the world" may mean physically (in the USA or elsewhere), culturally (by ethnicity or religious identities), or simply finding ourselves connected to multi-generational traditions. One thing that will be true across these identities (and far beyond) is that 2020 holidays will NOT repeat all traditional celebrations and past practices. Finding ways to preserve the spirit and joy despite separations and limitations could be challenging, but IS possible, and merits our attention and effort. 

So, yet again, I'll  risk sounding like a broken record. I wonder how many readers know that phrase or recognize the reference to a "record" skipping, repeatedly producing the same phrase? At any rate, my repetitive claim, the one that launched this blog, is: 

"Picture books are for every age!"

Two titles among the many outstanding picture books I've been reading as a Cybils panelist for fiction picture books are ideal examples of this thesis. Both have much to offer in the way of wisdom and comfort during times of separation and change, especially when longing could overwhelm us. 

 EVELYN DEL REY IS MOVING AWAY is written by Newbery Award-winning  Meg Medina and illustrated by Sonia Sanchez. It's no surprise when Meg Medina's books channel the truths and hearts of young characters. In this case, her format is an expansive and vibrantly colored picture book about the parting of numero uno best friends, the narrator Daniela and her moving-away mejor amiga, Evelyn Del Rey. 

Readers quickly absorb the unlimited connection and affection of these friends who are "almost twins", revealed during the final hours while they are still neighbors. Their 'almost twin" bedrooms are connected by a rigged clothesline pulley between their windows). In those limited hours while the moving truck "gobbles up" Evelyn's family's boxes and furniture, they share lovely and lively experiences. Snippets of interactions include multi-cultural neighbors, understanding parents, and the deeply felt sadness despite understanding.

This story, these characters, and the powerful illustrations merit many re-readings. 
The dedication and the final spread underscore the reality that friendships span distance AND time, whether that means moving away or adjusting to new ways to celebrate a holiday. 

 

TWO BICYCLES IN BEIJING is witten by Teresa Robeson and is illustrated by Junyi Wu. Two brightly-colored bikes are the central characters in this charming tale set in Beijing, China. The sunny yellow bone and the robust red one leave the factory together, lean together in a shop window, and feel deeply connected. Third person narration is interrupted by the thoughts of the red bike, Lunzi, during alert travels as transportation of the buyer, a delivery boy. That launches the Lunzi's watchful attention in busy Beijing streets, alleys, and pathways, ever alert for a flash of yellow, the other bike, Huangche. In the course of a day, those flashes of yellow introduce readers to iconic locations and activities from the city, interspersed with a few Mandarin Chinese words and named landmarks. 
It is not easy to embue a couple of bicycles with personalities and emotions. That is especially so when it's achieved almost entirely with voice and subtle hints in the illustrations, not obvious facial features or other anthropomorphic details. The resolution arrives naturally, with an added sense of joyful discovery. It is an enormous challenge to create a picture book with kid-appeal featuring adult (or near adult) characters.Centering the focus on the bikes and their emotional motivations will hold natural appeal for little readers, inviting attention and curiosity about the visual and cultural hallmarks of Beijing. 

In both cases, these recent picture books are lovely stories featuring diverse populations (in both settings) and the centered characters are in densely populated communities. In both, the feeling that only one particular person (or bike) truly matters resonates from the ages and touch readers' hearts. 

In each case these characters are spending time out and about, in the "real world". Let this be a a reminder that Covid-induced isolation will eventually pass. Even then, we will regularly confront emotional losses. Separations and missing loved ones will continue to cause sadness and worry. 

Let's make sure we all get there, safely and well. It's worth the current sense of loss in missing traditional gatherings and travel to reduce the impact of this pandemic and preserve the health of those we love and care about so deeply. 

When the Best Laid Plans Go Astray... Make Pancakes!

Covid anchor in time:  

We are more than nine months into the pandemic, and the outbreak is rising alarmingly, especially here in the Midwest. I live in an area where patients are being admitted to an emergency hospital tent on the state fairgrounds. Very little in life is normal. Families are changing plans from lifetime traditions surrounding Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah celebrations. None of this is easy, but it is necessary.

In light of these larger concerns, Halloween should be a minor consideration. And yet... 

Breaking with tradition feels WRONG, it can cause anger, pain, disappointment, and depression. Here's a book with an upbeat take on the idea that it is worth the effort to adjust your frame of mind in the face of negative struggles. 

In an effort to preserve some joyful childhood traditions, social media is exploding with clips of people who will deliver Trick-orTreat candies to costumed kiddos via chutes, catapults, corn hole tosses, and mechanical extension arms. 

Minedition. October, 2020

THE SHARING PARTY is written by prolific picture book author Brigitte Weninger and illustrated by Eve Tharlet. It is far from a traditional Halloween story, but it reflects any number of elements typically found in those more familiar tales. This gentle friendship story is set in Fall harvest time, centered on a beloved tradition shared with friends. For reasons not at all related to Covid restrictions, their party is ruined. 

The six woodland friends are rendered in image and text with charmingly distinct and well-developed personalities, each of which may remind you of a child you know. Max mouse is the take-charge little  fella with big ideas for organizing and hosting an APPLE PARTY. His friend Henry Hedgehog is an eager helper and together they trek into the woods to harvest apples from Max's "secret" tree. (Friends share secrets.)

The apple tree is bare. the twosome are sad. On their return home they see that Rico Dormouse has the apples, and claims them all for himself! 

Max cancels the party in anger. Henry seeks an alternative solution, telling others along the way about the situation. Before you know it, Molly Mole, Freddy Frog, and Belinda Blackbird are working together to create a NEW party. They also confront Rico, who makes amends and contributes the  apples to their efforts. Only then does Henry face his own feelings of self-doubt. Max finds Henry and helps him contribute to their cooperative success.

Hmm... what does that have to do with Halloween?  Well, if Halloween isn't about sharing, I don't know what is. Plenty of curmudgeonly adults insist that Halloween is only about candy and cavities, but it is actually about the planning, the group experience, the giggles and goodies, the anticipation, expeditions, and surprises. All that and more are elements of this appealing story. These six woodland characters are as delightful for their spirit and collaboration as they are in their  expressive illustrations. That is saying a lot- just take a look at that cover! 

The creators are both from Europe, and their gentle dialogue, story development, and winsome characters combine in an old world style within a fresh story. Rico's insistence that the apples are his because he did the work suggests a touch of THE LITTLE RED HEN. The collective contributions to their eventual party have the spirit of STONE SOUP. And each personality suggests the quirks and qualities of little ones who, as we know, react to challenges quite differently. Their mutual support, forgiveness, shared work, and enjoyment of each others' company offer a model for all of us. The final endpapers even provide a link to a recipe for the party fare and a challenge math question.

The bottom line is that this book reminds us to make the best of difficult situations, turn to friends to help solve problems, and appreciate the value of shared experiences. If that means creating new traditions, dispensing candy at the end of a catapult, or creating a concoction of treats from what we can find in the cupboard, have fun with it! Celebrate what you have and who you can be with while doing so, even if that is on a digital platform. Things change. We are adaptable creatures, too, and have the ability to meet challenges. Friendship and sharing are traditions that we should never abandon. 

I received this book from the publisher with no promise of a review, but it is a fun picture book to support. I hope you agree.

A Tender, Terrific Book for Everyone

 

I read reviews of LOTS of books. Many of  those are picture books. I pursue and read ones that interest me most, often using my "PLATINUM CARD", my library card. I generally buy books as gifts, not as much for myself. Recently, I bought this picture book, thinking I might give it away later. Now that I have read it, i'm likely to keep it and perhaps buy additional copies to give away.

I love it. 

THEYTUS BOOKS
Schchechmala Children's Series, 2019

THE GIRL AND THE WOLF is written by Katherine Vermette and Illustrated by Julie Flett. From a glance at the cover, you can see why I guessed that this was a variant on a Red Riding Hood tale. The wording of the title and cover image combine to effectively suggest that this is a twist on the wolf as "bad guy", on the relationship between them as  antagonists. 

What I found was a treasure of a story that wrapped my heart in a joy and comfort that it desperately needed. (See note at the end of this post.) 

I'm a fan of endpapers. Readers of this blog will already know that. I often find that the images and text included on these "bonus" pages enrich and expand the content of the "main" pages. In this case, the end papers are solid color, very similar to the sky tone in the cover. The precise color value is so restful to my eyes and heart that I might keep this book just so I can match the end papers to paint samples for walls of a room in the future. Maybe a yoga room. This is not one of my go-to color choices, but I'm drawn to how remarkably calming it is. On one corner of the pages are three very subtle white-out silhouettes of butterflies in flight. Let that image settle in for a moment before I describe the story.

* * *

Now, the story:

A girl is in the woods with her mother, who is picking berries. The girl wanders, runs, until she is lost. Illustrations are emotive and abstract, allowing  even minimalist details in body language, angles, eyes, and natural elements to draw focus, to expand the relationships and drama of the story. The "tall grey wolf with big white teeth" sounds so much more dangerous than he seems, r but he retains potential  "threats" of strength, power, and speed coupled  with restraint and wisdom rarely associated with storytelling wolves. The girl is aware of her perilous position. Wolf responds to her predicament with questions and guru-like guidance:

"I don't know," she said sadly.

"Yes, you do," the wolf told her. "Take a deep breath. Close your eyes, then look. 

What do you see?"

That empowering prompt, repeated at several stages, allows the girl to draw on inner resources.

"That's good, little one," said the wolf. "Let's go."

in this way, the girl returns to safety with her family, But that is not "THE END". The girl shares her story with everyone, and her people suggest that she has been visited by a helping wolf. Wolves are, in fact, dangerous. But helping wolves might, in fact, appear when we need them most. 

The author's note indicates that that this is an entirely original story, not a retelling of a traditional tale. The author and publisher reference it as a twist on a classic tale, referring to the European trope of Red Riding Hood. In fact, the author is indigenous Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba from Treaty One territory. The illustrator is also Canadian indigenous, of the  Cree-Metis people. Retelling indigenous stories by non-indigenous people is flagrant appropriation of culture, but these creators certainly would be entitled. The author makes clear, though, that this is a story for of her imagination.

That should matter to us as readers. We should never assume that every story told by Native voices is limited to retelling cultural tales. I found this story all the more powerful for being an original tale that elicits connections to my traditional western traditions. It is even more important that it wrapped a contemporary Indigenous family in a powerful story with just enough cultural content to elevate my understanding and increase my sense of connection to their experiences and traditions.

The Cooperative Children's Book Center (associated with University of Wisconsin) has been collecting and analyzing data about ethnic diversity within children's picture books for many decades. This is one of the earliest organizations that called out the under-representation of other-than-White content, providing data to support the work of WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS. Since then this movement organized and is beginning to have an impact on the publishing industry. That impact has been encouraging, but diverse representation in satires and voices still lags far behind equitable. Sadly, First Nations voices and First Nations stories remain among the least published of all, along with Pacific Island stories. Here's the data from 2020, analyzed and released a few months ago:

CCBC Data for 2019

The shocking truth is that these numbers actually indicate improvements over prior years. It is impossible to overstate the importance of young people being able to see and read themselves in books. The same is true of the importance of young readers finding OTHERS in books and stories, revealing a wider and more diverse world than the ones in which they live. That is really difficult to do when the availability of authentic and quality books is limited. It is a JOY to share a book like this with any and every child. 

Help me do that. Please. Buy a copy (or several). Request it at your library. Review it on Amazon and Goodreads and wherever you can. Mention it to friends. 

Begin by reading it. 

Anchoring post in COVID19 time and BLACK LIVES MATTER:

During this Labor Day weekend, news stories report possible vaccine development, including doubts about how realistic this prediction is, about how safe and effective such a vaccine would be. Some other news is forecasting that, unless our broader American society takes more seriously the need for masks, distancing, hand-washing, and general cautiousness, the US COVID death toll could reach 400,000 by early 2021. That is not a typo. Denial and self-indulgence are not wise choices.

This is also a weekend in which protests continue, in which the political season is ramping up, in which the polarization and prejudices among Americans seem to be deepening, if that is even possible. There are ways to counter that trend, and I'm convinced it begins person-to-person, not political party-to-party. I was going to link some anchoring references to these various news reports, but choose instead to share this segment from a newsletter by a writing coach, Jane Friedman. It is meant as advice to writers, but feels very much like a call to action for all of us. I'll be back with the next post featuring a not-really-picture book about how our brains can combat stereotyping.

From Newsletter by Jane Friedman, September 5, 2020
Click HERE to learn more about Jane Friedman: 

Don't miss this one: The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn't

 Author Artie Bennett creates picture books that spotlight kid-magnet topics. Many of his offerings have garnered stars and praise from adults, too, including BELCHES, BURPS, and FARTS,Oh, My!, as well as   POOPENDOUS, and THE BUTT BOOK. Bennett's latest release offers yet another offbeat nonfiction picture book by introducing readers to a record-holding LOSER, The TRUE STORY OF ZIPPY CHIPPY, THE LITTLE HORSE THAT COULDN'T.

NORTH-SOUTH Books, 2020

It's a fact that everybody seems to love a winner. Zippy Chippy is delightfully brought to life on the page by illustrator Dave Szalay. I began reading with the assumption that this bright-eyed progeny of a long line of champions would, sooner or later, win at least one race. It's only a minor spoiler alert to reveal my mistake.  

Eventually win? NOPE. No WAY.  Unlike THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD, Zippy did not win, even once, before retiring after his very long racing career. 

 In fact, that "100" pictured on Zippy's wreath and ribbon are a reference to his record in The Guiness Book of Records- a thoroughbred horse who managed to run in one hundred authorized races without EVER winning. He won his  place in the record books by LOSING! (Be sure to check the closing notes for an ironic twist on THAT win, too.)

I can be excused from my mistaken notion because the  opening endpapers  supported my assumptions, featuring trophies and ribbons. The author's informative back matter clarifies Zippy's lifetime record and current status, along with a series of other facts about Zippy that I found to be every bit as entertaining as the main text.

The fun of this book for me, and I suspect will offer the strongest appeal for other readers of any age, was getting to know one truly unique horse with personality to spare. It's not as if he lacked the ABILITY to win, as he occasionally demonstrated in some second and third place finishes. He simply had a mind of his own. He was born to "do his own thing" and apparently  had no sense of obligation to his championship lineage, stretching all the way back to Man O' War! (Take a look at that magnificent, original "Big Red" champion HERE.)

A thoroughbred is not cheap to keep, though, and Zippy's quirky, stubborn, losing patterns had him headed to a glue factory or meat packing plant when a shrewd-eyed and big hearted horse trainer, Felix Monserrate, traded a VERY old pick-up truck for Zippy Chippy. This Puerto Rican horse trainer was no fool and he saw Zippy's potential. The story of what happens next unfolds with humor and charm, revealing that Zippy felt no sense of obligation to his rescuer. The author makes it clear that this horse had wit and willfulness, a big heart and equally big stubborn streak. 

I'm not sure I've ever met a kid who does not love horses and books about horses. it's rare, though, that books depicting horses, in fact or fiction, suggest anything less than valiant or glorious lives, or at the very least, hard-working or even tragic personalities. In this case, though, Zippy Chippy's quirky personality and sassy self-satisfaction, combined with his  insistence on having things his own way, will win the hearts of readers. Felix, too, is a hero for seeking out the best in Zippy and devoting himself to his life, despite the financial and other costs along the way. 

And that, to my mind, is a win that's more memorable than any sweepstakes trophy. 

If you love this horse as much as I do, be sure to read those back pages to get "the rest of the story". 

I received a copy of this book from he author with no promise of a review. 

Covid19 anchor in time:

it is 161 days since COVID19 resulted in the sudden closing of this country and most of the world. What has happened since then has involved reopening, testing, tracking, protecting, and confronting the artificially constructed debate about the value of wearing masks. It has also led to our current stressful debates about how schools should resume. Maybe we should be viewing this quirky year of 2020 as a one-of-a-kind challenge that is as unpredictable, irritating, and difficult to manage as Zippy Chippy, but with some hidden virtues that are worth exploring. 

 

Thank You, John Lewis. May Your Light Shine On

Congressman John Lewis

Until his passing on the day I write this, the last surviving speaker from the 1963 August MARCH on WASHINGTON was then very young John Lewis. He eventually became Congressman John Lewis, continuing to speak out and lead across generations. 
During that long career he worked tirelessly to secure justice, to eliminate racism, and to ensure equity and freedom for all.
His individual accomplishments are too long to list but can be examined in these links:

Brief biography
A UNIFYING FORCE in CONGRESS (The Atlantic)
JOHN LEWIS Profile: ACLU

In recent books for young readers, Lewis partnered with Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell at Top Shelf Productions to produce the multiple award winning series, MARCH, a graphic history of the past and recent present. In these astonishingly accurate and appealing graphic books can be found a story within a story, tracing Lewis's personal history overlaid on the template of our nation's changes. 
The first book spans critical points at which Lewis stood on that Lincoln Memorial stage fifty years ago to speak, and into the near-present when he sat in the audience in 2009 as a congressman,  witnessing the inauguration of Barach Obama. There he was within sight of that original gathering. 
At this writing I can simply repeat and endorse the many praises this work has garnered, included rave reviews, as this one in School Library Journal. and multiple well-deserved awards. 
The death of Lewis today was the sudden but predictable course of a recent Stage Four pancreatic cancer diagnosis, which he faced with the brilliance and courage that has marked his character throughout life. 

MARCH, BOOK ONE, was widely acknowledged as a groundbreaking effort to ignite young readers with the powerful sense of urgency of those Civil Rights Years. It was so widely acclaimed and used that it was soon followed by MARCH, BOOK TWO, which was also widely awarded and welcomed in schools, libraries, and individual lives. Among its many accolades are these:
New York Times Bestseller
One of YALSA's Great Graphic Novels for Teens
2016 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work - Winner
2016 Harvey Award for Best Biographical, Historical, or Journalistic Presentation - Winner
2016 Harvey Award for Best Graphic Album Original - Winner
2016 Street Literature Book Award Medal for Best Graphic Novel - Winner
2016 Denver Independent Comic & Art Expo Award for Best Work - Mid/Large Press - Winner

The concluding volume, MARCH, BOOK THREE, released in 2016 to conclude the dramatic and detailed story of Lewis and other dedicated Civil Rights leaders continuing the struggle throughout succeeding years. The trilogy captures the compelling voice of Lewis with the immediacy and inspiring tone that he sustained until his last breath.
Each book in this unequaled and essential series has garnered attention and I'm confident that they will continue to do so:
Winner of the 2016 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
#1 New York Times Bestseller
2017 Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner
2017 Michael L. Printz Award Winner
2017 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Winner
2017 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction - Winner
2017 Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature - Winner
2017 Flora Stieglitz Straus Award Winner
2017 LA Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature - Finalist

Nancy Paulson books, 2016

I dedicate this blog to picture books, but I've occasionally used the platform to call attention to the importance of graphic novels and nonfiction content in graphic format. These are perfect examples of the power of combining images and voice to convey stories with an impact that neither media alone would achieve. 
Even so, the audience for these is not the very young. That doesn't mean that the life of Lewis is not accessible and compelling, even for the youngest. Please also read PREACHING TO THE CHICKENS: The Story of Young John Lewis to learn more about the earliest years of his lifelong journey to lead us to a better world. His story is inspiring and more timely now than ever.
Lewis often referenced his early years in speeches, and it is a blessing to us all that his story was captured so beautifully in the text of Jabari Asim and the incomparably rich images of E. B. Lewis. 

Apart from the absolutely stunning illustrations of E. B. Lewis (no relation to the subject), this book is an invaluable early-childhood story of an American figure whose contribution to human rights is immeasurable. This book opens his life-story to even the youngest readers and all readers seeking insight to the origins of Lewis's commitment to causes greater than himself. He continues to teach us this through his lifetime examples and his words and accomplishments. 

Anchoring this in COVID 19 Time and #BLackLivesMatter movement:
This is simply a note in confirmation of some facts that Lewis lived and confronted throughout his life: 
Struggle never ends.
Truth is not found in the statements of the media or the perceived reality that is delivered by those with political agenda and investment in the status quo.
We are stronger when we stand up and speak up together, but sometimes we must have the courage to be the only voice among our circle of contacts. 
Whether we take on that challenge or not is a question of personal integrity.
This applies to deciding to wear a mask, return kids to schools, or walk (or sit) in protest.
Struggle never ends.
Be inspired by Lewis to examine your own moral compass and act on it.

Curious Kids Can Learn a Lot! (And a SLANG Challenge)

I'm always excited to hear about a new book from a talented, hardworking, and versatile friend of mine, Janet Halfmann. She is very prolific, and the style and target audiences for her many books range from infants to middle school, from folklore to nature, from family to historical biography, and even bedtime books. Her titles have won major awards, have been translated into many languages, and been named to countless "best of" lists.

Pen-It Publications, 2020

Her latest release is ideal for curious young readers who will love learning about Australian animals and slang expressions. A BOBBY-DAZZLER of a POUCH, written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Abira Das, releases this month and is jam-packed with the kind of fun and facts that have made her prior books such a success. As with several of her earlier books for this target audience (Star of the Sea, Home in the Cave, Fur and Feathers, Little Skink's Tale) this one reveals accurate information within the context of a story about delightful animal characters. It includes excellent back matter to highlight fun facts about kangaroos, other Australian animals, and a simple explanation for special  terms and expressions commonly used in Australia. 

In this story, the young 'roo, Joey, is learning to come quickly when Mum calls. His survival requires a speedy dive into his mum's protective pouch. Sounds like fun, but it's not so easy, since kangaroos travel in groups (a mob).  (Youtube video here.) 

Finding his own mum quickly presented a challenge. During practice, Joey seeks safe haven in an occupied pouch, annoys a pouchless male, and is determined to solve his problem creatively. In the process he makes friends with various native animals, each contributing colorful feathers, prickly quills, and more. His busy day continues into night with nocturnal creatures joining in. 
Along the way, Joey decorates his mum's pouch with a colorful pattern that will be easy to spot in a crowd and assure future success. His encounters introduce readers to some of Australia's most unique and appealing creatures, providing simple facts about their habits and habitats. In this story of creativity and friendship for little readers, nature and science facts are presented in digestible bites, including fun word play and Australian slang. 
The colorful and crisp illustrations have a cartoon-like quality that portrays the animals naturally but allows them to talk and interact in human ways. The style also softens the food-chain-predator reference when mum notices a dingo on the prowl and Joey's solution allows him to reach safety. The text and images together will have little ones drawing pictures and searching out new details about the amazing natural world "down under".

Among the many things I admire about Halfmann's writing is how well she creates high quality text for such varied purposes, subjects, and ages. In this and similar titles noted above, the language, sentence length, and word choices are appealing and entertaining for young folks, but also accessible for emerging readers eager to take ownership of the telling, and eventually the reading. In her traditional picture books she enhances narration with rhythms and patterns that elevate lyrical style (Grandma Is a Slowpoke). For older readers her biographies convey complex characters, unfamiliar historic times and settings, and tense conflicts with urgency and drama that bring the past to life. (Midnight Teacher: Lily Ann Grandson and Her Secret School, Seven Miles to Freedom, and The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls). In all cases, readers (and parents) can trust that information included is well-researched and accurate.

I encourage you to check out this latest book. It is bound to become a favorite for kids who love animals, especially Australian ones. While you're at it, click the active links in her other book titles above, and explore her full website, here:

CHILDREN'S AUTHOR Janet Halfmann

http://www.janethalfmannauthor.com

You can also follow her updates about  continuing releases, her glorious garden (and kitchen magic) and her beloved family by following her on Twitter @JanetHalfmann

and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janethalfmann

Anchoring this in COVID19 time and BLACK LIVES MATTER Movement:

Demonstrations continue, generally peaceful, informative, and effectively moving the conversations forward about ways to begin to unwind the racial injustices so deeply entrenched in our social, legal, and educational systems. 
Those participating in marches are usually wearing masks, which is more than I can say for the general public. As shown in this article in National Geographic, my Midwest area is the least compliant with the advice of health agencies and medical experts to wear masks in public. That's why I avoid going out unless necessary and don't always feel safe when I do. 

Australia has done a much better job getting Covid19 under control. They've had some slang fun along the way. They call corona virus "the Rona", isolation is "iso", and sanitizer is "sanny". I couldn't find a face mask slang term yet, so why not try creating your own personal or family slang? It could make the habit of wearing a mask more fun. 

I'll start the ball rolling with  "chin pocket", or "smile sling", or "nose nest". 
I am particularly bugged by folks who have a mask on but leave their nose hanging out, so that last one would be my choice. As in, "Hey, mate, your nose nest is slipping off."
Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments, or start a social media trend for funny names- it could make the idea of wearing a mask much more appealing!

Stay safe, speak out, and keep reading!

Independence Day Traditions- And Changes

July 4, 2020

This is surely the most unusual Independence Day since the original announcement of the Declaration. I can think of no better time to pause and reflect on what America's independence Day means, to whom, and why.
For a change, we are compelled to change our habits and traditions, which provides time and opportunity to broaden our view of what we've called "history", the narrow stories that led to a day of hot dogs and fire crackers. 
In light of COVID 19 and BLACK LIVES MATTER, there is no better place to begin to examine who WE are what WE are celebrating than this outstanding post from NPR. It requires only six minutes to listen to the words of Frederick Douglass, written and delivered more than 150 years ago. This amazing reading is done by his direct descendents, and is followed by some brief reflections from these inspiring young people. It is eerily suitable to our present times.
If six minutes sounds too long to you, remember that GEORGE FLOYD struggled for breath for nearly nine minutes before dying under the knee of a uniformed police officer in broad daylight... while being filmed! If you find that the words of Douglass make you uncomfortable, compare your discomfort to dying in a gutter while repeating I CAN"T BREATHE. 

Deal with your discomfort and listen:

CLICK Here to listen

Then, since this is a picture book blog, I'm linking you back to a post from seven years ago. It begins with a reflection about Superstorm Sandy and its disruption of celebrations, featuring reflections, some traditionally-themed titles, including one that attempts to shine a bit more light on George Washington as an enslaver. A last selection with my thoughts on why it (and other stories of community strength and support) should be celebrated on this holiday.
If you have the time and interest, CLICK HERE to read in full.

Just in case you used your available time viewing the speech delivery above, I'll save you that second  click by copying that final content here:

Finally, consider this story about another New York City icon, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. As the backmatter says, it has two nicknames, "Big John" and "Saint John the Unfinished". The cornerstone was set  back in 1892 and it is still under construction. ME and MOMMA and BIG JOHN, by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by William Low, tells this remarkable story through a fictional family based on real New Yorkers. How does this fit with the Fourth of July? Think about that line in the document Washington signed: the right to the pursuit of happiness. 
Work on this massive cathedral was halted to divert funds to the ever-present needs of the neighborhood community, to those who lacked the means for survival, let alone pursuing happiness. Eventually the need for trained workers and the need for jobs coalesced to produce an apprenticeship program for craftsmen AND craftswomen to complete the construction. This book wins the trifecta of story, story-telling, and visual power.


So, my wishes for your holiday are for some thoughtful reflections that allow deeper appreciation for the freedoms you have enjoyed  throughout your lives, and a broadening awareness of the many ways in which such freedom, respect, and SAFETY to pursue happiness as equals have been systematically denied to those who are not White. A first step toward remedies is recognition of the problem. As someone recently said, you can't treat a cancer until you realize you have it.

Storm Season: Thunderstorms and Protest Marches

Covid 19 note:

Government officials at various local and state levels have "opened up" completely, some are relying on data to do so gradually, and most are recommending  physical/social distancing and urging use of scientifically-justified masks. Some "open" places are requiring masks, with skirmishes occasionally ensuing when an attempt is made to enforce rules. Sadly, some with fewer restrictions are already reporting hot-spot increases in cases.

We are also in the midst of an extensive  BLACK LIVES MATTER protest movement. It began in Minneapolis, spread throughout the US, and has grown to global public demands for change. 

At first, a spontaneous reaction to the horrific murder of GEORGE FLOYD erupted. Floyd suffocated under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer who was immediately fired and is now charged, along with the three other officers who aided/allowed that to happen. The gut-wrenching horror generated by a nine minute video of Floyd's murder is undeniable. It awakened and mobilized (finally) those of us in the dominant culture who have not stepped forward sooner or stronger in the past. 

I use the expression dominant culture intentionally. The phrase "white privilege" raises defensive hackles among far too many, including those who counter BLACK LIVES MATTER with ALL LIVES MATTER. 

No, ALL LIVES CANNOT MATTER until and unless BLACK LIVES MATTER. 

Evidence is painfully clear that we live in a society in which that is not yet true. 

There is NO way to deny that our centuries-old social system was created/sustained by, and unfairly benefits, those with WHITE skin. 

I do not say RACE. Race is an artificial construct developed to sustain the dominant culture.

One's skin tone and ancestry do not change that fact of their humanity. 

We are ALL the HUMAN RACE. 

However, those among us with darker skin ARE NOT treated as equals, let alone human.

That is especially true of African Americans or anyone considered "BLACK".

Please DO NOT ask Black people to tell you what to do to help. 

It is OUR (Whites') responsibility to admit the truth and work to undo the trauma resulting from this system. That begins with learning-- reading, listening, becoming active allies. That requires work, on ourselves as individuals and on society at large. 

In the midst of a serious journey ahead, and amidst the horror of the video of George Floyd's murder, (and so many other clips of violence against Blacks, especially Back men and boys) it is crucial for all of us to also see and appreciate the joyful and natural and HUMAN aspect of BLACK LIVES. They DO MATTER. 

As summer arrives, severe weather will make today's recommendations especially timely. There are some humans who revel in storms streaked with lightning and shuddering with thunder. Other humans have instincts that rival any in nature when ominous storms approach. Many children require constant support to weather the terror they feel during storms. Wildlife lacks the option to snuggle safely under a quilt on a couch, but they do seek shelter and hunker down for the duration.

I'm happy to say that there is an expanding array of outstanding books portraying Black children in a wide range of ways, doing things that any/every child might be doing. Not as many as there should be (and will be), but the publishing industry is slowly improving. Resources for some recommended lists are also becoming more abundant, and I suggest starting with THE BROWN BOOKSHELF, United in Story.

As for these featured picture books, let's begin with WHEN THE STORM COMES, written by Linda Ashman and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. Click Ashman's name, above, to find links she provides for creative home activities for kids, and some helpful links for adults toying with the idea of writing picture books, too.

Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020

WHEN THE STORM COMES is a rhymed narration of how various living beings respond to an impending storm. The story begins and ends with humans, but along the way a range of Earth's air, land and water creatures react to their awareness of threatening weather in a variety of ways. 
In the process, storms of varying degrees are revealed and safety is sought. The reality is that storms cause damage, too, which is treated in a realistic but kid-friendly way. 
There is reassurance amid the informative sequence, with the final spreads bringing together human and some of the non-human characters to recover, repair, and reunite in a neighborhood that has weathered the storm.


Pair this book with another rhymed storm story that explores human and nature's response to storms, WAITING OUT THE STORM by JoAnn Early Macken (2010)

A Denene Millner Books,
Simon & Schuster 2020

The illustrations for WHEN THE STORM COMES are suited to the down-to-earth tones and tempo of the story, setting the events in familiar scenes with movement and familiar relationships. MY RAINY DAY ROCKET SHIP is written by Markette Sheppard and illustrated by Charly Palmer. Palmer's illustrations involve deeply saturated colors in wide and loose strokes that call to mind some of Chris Raschka's works. The sweep of the pages and density of tones provide a perfect opportunity for Palmer to showcase expressions, emotions, and details with masterful use of white and yellow highlights that lift the characters and action off the page. 

MY RAINY DAY ROCKET SHIP also uses simple rhymed/near rhyme text and features a young Black boy with a dog. In this case, as the rain arrives he imagines new ways to use  familiar indoor toys and materials to explore OUTER SPACE! 
This little boy greets the dawn through rain-drenched windows with a "been there and done that" eye on his toy box. His dreary prospects are lifted into worlds as yet undiscovered by a flash of imagination and clever engineering. The creativity is all his, but Dad and Mom play warmly supportive roles. The closing spread finds the boy and his dog tuckered out and tucked into bed. Basking in moonlight from a window with a bright urban skyscape, they are lulled to sleep under a solar system mobile.

Both books are warmly welcoming to all readers, both offer STEAM and MAKER connections, and both invite sharing of personal and family rain and storm stories. The next time you're looking for way to pass a rainy day, I hope you'll keep these titles in mind. 

Afterward: 
Whether you choose to act from home or join protestors on the streets, please protect yourselves by washing hands, wearing masks, and maintaining physical distance as much as possible. If staying home is your best choice, I respect that.
But please make the effort to grow and learn. (Click here for adult book titles, click here to find links for books for kids representing diversity, and take a few minutes to watch/listen to this reflection by Trevor Noah about social contracts.) 
When it comes to social contracts, by the way, I struggle to understand why anyone would resort to physical violence when told to wear a mask, a simple accommodation that increases the health of the community. Let's stay peaceful out there, folks, and if you don't like the rules in one store or restaurant, exercise your white privilege to take your business somewhere else.