Houses, Homes, and Changing Lives

I discontinued adding "Covid updates" or anchors to the content of my posts several months ago, mistakenly believing that readily available vaccines would lead the way out of this pandemic. Instead, we are facing rising positive Covid test numbers and hospitalizations for Covid Delta variants in unvaccinated folks that are again overwhelming our physical and human resources. The clock is ticking on the various economic support programs, including an end to the eviction moratorium looming in coming weeks. With so many uncertainties (and scary) circumstances surrounding kids, the prospect of moving is one more variable beyond their control. Or is it?

The current housing market indicates many kids/families will find themselves moving from the home they know to something else. In some cases that might be a "movin' on up" experience, but for many others it could be due to an eviction or job change/loss, or even involve time spent within temporary housing for unhomed folks, or foster settings. (If you missed it, please read my recent review of A KID IS A KID IS A KID, HERE.) Another review from last season strongly recommends THE BLUE HOUSE, by Phoebe Wahl. 

Candlewick, 2021

I mention these perspectives before sharing two picture books about families and homes that won my heart on first reading and then amped up that reaction on repeated readings. The first of these is THE HOUSE OF GRASS AND SKY, written by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrated buy E. B. Goodale. Narration adopts the perspective of "the house", while maintaining a knowing third person voice to explore the lived experiences of this house on a hill in the country. From its earliest fresh lumber smells to observing growing families,  the house learns words like "good-bye" and then "hello", until it sits empty for a surprisingly long time. The grass and sky and tire swing and blooms reliably remained. Seasons passed, but potential new family residents (with diverse identities and preferences) would come, discuss, then leave.

Rabbits waited to be chased, dandelions prepared to be wished on, and starry nights comforted the house through its bare windows. Until... one of those families returns. Restoring the home with caring attention and coats of paint indicate that, once again, the house, the hill, the sky will be the stage on which lives are lived and memories are made. I love that each prospective new owner-family is not the assumed "white" families often depicted in rural and renovation scenarios.

This perspective is both tender and persuasive, never suggesting that the house has its own "life", but rather that every house has a purpose in OUR lives. That purpose is to become a home.

BLUE DOT PRESS, 2021

Next up, author Margaret Wild and illustrator Ann James adopt an entirely different approach and perspective to the home-leaving, home-finding, home-making process. GOODBYE, OLD HOUSE shifts to the perspective of a canny and caring little character who is already owning their transition. The leaving process is revealed by lifting them off the impressionist-styled scenes to the forefront with a black-line-on-white, loosely drawn identity. This intentional child collects significant experiences for one last time: fishing, woodland runs, pony petting, and good-byes to each room and home-location. 

In each case, they convey a sense of peace about the departure; not joyful, but also not melancholy. 

Then, with the same deliberate, in-the-moment awareness of good-byes, they experience many "This is the first time..." "Hello" scenes in a new house-to-become-home. 

This is a story of a child who is able to make an empowered transition from a prior home to a new one, regardless of the reason for the move. It suggests that the geographic locations, physical properties, or particular details of the buildings themselves, HOUSES becoming HOMES depends on the embrace of their residents. The ability to do that, for children especially, is in direct proportion to preparation and attitude conveyed by their adult caregivers/family. 

This is a book that should be shared with/recommended to any adults who anticipate moving, for any reason. It is also a wonderful book for story time and story-sharing in libraries and classrooms. The child who inhabits this story is ambiguously gendered and aged, conveys familiar emotions that invite connection, and models an open and adventurous attitude while holding close the memories and experiences of their past. The art style itself allows young audiences to imagine themselves being overlaid on this experience of moving, viewing themselves as the constant and stabilizing factor in life changes. 

While there are no direct references to back-to-school, these two titles make a great lead-in to conversations about being "new", about saying "good-bye", and about seeking ways to connect those two things in meaningful activities and memories. 

Grandparents Day: Two Perfect Picture Book Gifts

I feel blessed to have memories of three of my four grandparents from my childhood. The last of the three had died by the time I was in high school. My heart swells with joy for those who have had chance to share their lives with grandparents long into their own adulthood, a true bonus of the increased longevity trend for seniors/elders. There are certainly joys on the grandparent-side of this relationship, too, but the grandchild-adult has a privilege many of us will never know. 
Even so, any and every grandparent relationship resides in a special place in our lives. I'd be willing to bet my very small life savings that this has always been true, and always will be. Honoring those memories matters every day of our lives.
Sunday, September 8, is Grandparents Day. So, even though I'll admit that holidays like this one are often contrived commercial ventures, I will contribute to the sales-side of things by recommending two picture book titles that would be perfect gifts for grandparents on that day, or any time.

Penguin Random House, 2019

MY GRANDMA AND ME is written by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by Lindsey Yankey.
While this is a very specific story and setting from actual childhood memories in Iran, the experiences and activities and resonance of emotion are universal. 
Note this line form the narrative:
"In this big universe full of many moons, I have traveled and seen many wonders, but I have never loved anything or anyone the way I love my grandma."
The opportunity to see special and unforgettable daily experiences unfold within this less familiar cultural context offers an invitation to recognize and appreciate our common humanity. It also reveals the similarity of childhood experiences on a global basis, embedding the beauty of the Iranian cultural images and practices within a story that feels like our own. 
I can easily see this being a gift to a grandma with the addition of a personal note inscribed about your own specific memories. Likely, many of your memories will mirror those noted in the pages of this book: quilts, cookies, playmates and prayers, to suggest only a few. 
As the quote above indicates, the text is lyrical and loving, the illustrations are delightfully detailed and subdued. And the story arc feels a bit like an extension of the book I featured in my previous post about the world-changing power of openhearted perspectives.

Candlewick, 2019

LOOKING FOR YESTERDAY is written and illustrated by Alison Jay. I love that this unique picture book opens (before the title page) with a quotation from Walt Whitman:
"Happiness...not in another place but this place, not for another hour but this hour."
What an ideal launch to this boy's earnest memory that "Yesterday was the best day." On each surreal double spread his memory of an amazing day spent with his grandfather leaves him long to go back in time, then calculating how he can make that happen. His evident knowledge of science integrating the speed of light with relative time and allows for some creative imagination about time travel and worm holes, humorously portrayed.When he turns to Granddad for advice, he offers the typical kid question: WHY? 
(Spolier alert- the ending is revealed next.) 
Together they examine Granddad's photo album, taking a virtual tour through his rich and rewarding past. He wisely advises that 
"Every day brings the chance of a new adventure. Why go looking for yesterday when you can be happy here...TODAY!"

In this case the trusting relationship between the two is also one that transcends their time, place, ethnicity, or specificity. Yes, they've shared memorable experiences, but the marvel of simply being together in the NOW merits appreciation and attention. On a side note, I was particularly pleased that in the revelation of memories, and the NOW, there was no evidence of handheld and other digital devices, allowing no role for those in making any day a "best day". 

Why give a picture book to a grandparent, especially if the "grandchild" is already a teen or even an adult? 
It saddens me to think you might ask that, but if the thought crossed your mind, please check one past post in particular. It shares an insight I gained when I gifted my own mom with a picture book many years ago (HERE).
And if your family's senior generation is dealing with disappearing memories, whether Alzheimers or for other reasons, please take a peek back at this post about WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.
If you have other grandparent or multi-generational titles to suggest, please add them in the comments. 

Too Much Rain? Noah Buillds an Ark

Candlewick Press 2019

Our recent astonishing spring rains, nearly Biblical in duration and volume, merit serious treatment. Flooding is generally disastrous. 
Even so, a picture book can bring a degree of comfort, or at least diversion. With hurricane season building fast, here's a story to warm your heart and offer a sunny respite from the worst of storms.
NOAH BUILDS AN ARK is written by Kate Banks and illustrated by John Rocco. In this layered story the young boy Noah is a devoted naturalist who appreciates the various wildlife in his urban backyard. Banks writes a direct but appealing narrative, interspersed with lyrical word choice, strong verbs, and delightful figurative language:

"It started with a cloud peeping over the hill like a curious ghost."

"The sun snapped off its light. A curtain of darkness drew across the sky."

"The rain splashed down like silver swords thrown from heaven."

The text provides parallels between Noah and his parents: using tools, stocking up food, preparing for the worst. Once the storm sets in, Noah's indoor story reveals both the worry and the comfort of a family surviving a multi-day storm, depicted in charming spot illustrations.  That clears the stage for expansive illustrations to reveal the parallels of outdoor survivors to indoor residents. The story is realistic and practical in many regards, although some kids will raise questions about the likelihood of these particular animals sharing close quarters for several days: Won't the toads each the insects? 

These observations and questions open doors to discussions of intentionally stretching realism, extending and comparing readings and research in other genre, and determining themes for picture books. 

Rocco's illustrations are luminous and nuanced, precise enough to verge on photographic, at times. The yard-dwelling creatures are not anthropomorphized, although alert and attentive. Young Noah and his family convey expressive features to suit the changing conditions throughout the story. Explorations of empathy and trust will spontaneously arise from these rich images and the engaging story.

The central character, Noah, wasn't the only thing that reminded me of a classic picture book.

THE SALMANDER ROOM is written by Anne Mazer and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. This book resembles NOAH BUILDS AN ARK in its illustration mastery of nature's plants and animals, of luminous focus and contrasting shadows, of shifting perspectives, angles, and distances, and of enhancing the text with layers of visual meaning. Originally published in 1994, it has been reissued in paperback, featured on Reading Rainbow, and read/discussed on You Tube, often.

There are so many ways to compare these two titles. Elements of the concrete story similarities and differences are only the first step. Explore the sensitive and attentive natures of the boys, their individual good intentions, and the surprising appeal of what are often considered yucky critters. The illustration techniques, effects, and page designs invite comparisons, too. 

The books also abound in contrasts. Note closely the use of dialogue for parent-child interactions, including use/lack of dialogue tags. Overall these books, taken together, offer prime material for a variety of graphic organizing tools: from simple Venn diagrams to T-charts, to pro-con lists delineating personal preferences and offering supporting evidence for opinions.

Despite those opportunities for developing analytic skills, please do the creators of both books the justice they deserve. Each is a work of art and craft, worthy of a fluent, mindful reading without disruption by commentary. Only then, following some moments for reflection, should the stories and books themselves be discussed as literary works. 

Finally, perhaps even days or weeks later, those analytic approaches are well-suited. But I urge you to keep the books readily available for readers to simply choose and repeat, examining and delighting in the remarkable power of well-crafted picture books.

Whether you are still recovering from Spring floods or anticipating hurricanes during summer months, or just looking for a great pair of picture books, I urge you to give these a try.