Feel Like Kicking Something? Follow the Lead of CATKWONDO!

 Covid 19 and Black Lives Matter anchor in time:

So, we are all aware of the stresses in our lives, including lack of reliable information, distortions and conspiracy theories, denials of social ills, education delivery models that turn on a dime (from preschool through university levels), and an overall sense of doom and gloom. If you haven't wanted to kick something by now, please share your secret for inner peace. If, on the other hand, you feel like kicking something, read on first.

Stress has different effects on each of us, and that goes for humans of every age, animals, and even plants! Our tolerance for stress and our inner nature are part of who we are. That doesn't mean we can't develop compensating techniques and constructive outlets for stress and negative energy. Personalities vary, too, as my recent post about a real-life horse with the actual name of ZIPPY CHIPPY indicates. If you missed it, I hope you'll take a minute to meet him through my review (HERE). 

Capstone Editions, 2020

Bringing the personality of a character (fictional or nonfictional) to life on the page is no small challenge. Author Lisl H.Detlefsen has demonstrated her talent to do just that through a variety of picture books. I interviewed her (Here) about a previous book in which an eager but overly cautious wannabe-swimmer eventually takes the plunge in 1, 2, 3, JUMP!

Her recent release, CATKWONDO, is illustrated by Erin Hunting.In this book Detlefsen's main character, a cat learning taekwondo, has the opposite approach to life. The illustrator's characteristic big-eyed style offers a cover hint to Kitten Jeje's assertive approach to being able to break a board. The sooner the better, if you please. 

The author has shown in each of her books that her talent is not only in writing appealing characters, but in mining the routine experiences of everyday life for picture book ideas. It's not a stretch to imagine the countless hours she observed her young sons' taekwondo classes, absorbing the terminology, ethos, practices, and even sound effects of individual moves and the overall study of taekwondo: "the art of foot and fist". 

The helpful glossary on back pages informs readers that this eager young cat is called "Kitten Jeje" because Jeje means "student of Taekwondo". Her progress from "When can I break a board?" to becoming a black belt requires patience, study, persistence, and managing frustration in the face of failure. There is a powerful student-master dynamic of encouragement with guidance that supports and challenges this cutie. 

Kids are often eager to learn martial arts, as Kitten Jeje is, but not as eager to absorb those larger life skills. This lively and instructive story combines the appeal of topic and anime-like action, developed on a scaffold of strong storytelling and character development. 

That impulse to break a board may feel surprisingly familiar to many of us these days, even those of us without aggressive urges in other circumstances. This book was conceived, contracted, illustrated, and then released before the Covid19 Pandemic transformed us all. Somehow, though, it feels like an ideally planned book for these stressful times. It's a light and fun diversion with a satisfying resolution. Beyond that, the "TAEKWONDO OATH" offers  useful guides for readers of every age with only a bit of adapted wording:

• Observe core principles.
• Respect instructors and those with more knowledge.
• Never misuse what you have learned.
• Be a champion for freedom and justice.
• Build a more peaceful world.

Kitten Jeje and I invite you to take a look! 

Notable Social Studies Tradebooks- 2016

Each spring I'm eager to get a look at the annual CBC (Children's Book Council) publication: Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. The 2016 edition did not disappoint.
In fact, it featured some of my favorite books from 2016, including fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, even some I had read and praised in the course of serving as a round one Cybils judge for fiction picture books last fall. 
One I particularly praised is Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spriti of New Orleans, by Phil Bildner. Here's just one sentence among the many I  used to praise the book in a prior blog post:

"This book bounces and  sings, capturing a city and culture as if they are characters. Scenes shift throughout, from the earliest pages where the grittiness is transformed to sparkling and appealing by the spirit (and hard work) of Cornelius."

This is only one of the many outstanding titles designated as notable biographies, and they represent a diverse array of historic figures. 
In the Environmental and Energy/Ecology category, I was equally excited to see the debut picture books written by two fellow-Wisconsin authors, Lisl H. Detlefsen and Miranda Paul.

Roaring Book Press

 Lisa's book, A TIME FOR CRANBERRIES, takes readers through the cranberry harvesting process as told by a young boy in the farming family. It's a story that incorporates family, rural/agri-business in a modern setting, and market economies.

You may be familiar with the iconic cheeseheads worn by sports fans and Wisconsin supporters in general, but you may want to start a petition drive to make cranberry hats the official state headwear after reading this thorough and thoroughly appealing book about one of the most important crops in our state. 

Millbrook Press

ONE PLASTIC BAG: Isatou Ceesay  and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul is another winner, but with an entirely different story to share. The power of a single woman on a mission to clean up and lift up her village is portrayed, celebrating the possibility for small individual acts to accumulate and accelerate change in communities. 

This only scratches the surface of outstanding titles honored for their outstanding contributions to young readers' literary world in categories as diverse as CONTEMPORARY CONCERNS, FOLKTALES, GEOGRAPHY/PEOPLE/PLACES,  HISTORY/LIFE/CULTURE, REFERENCE, RELIGION, RELATIONSHIPS, and WROLD CULTURE & HISTORY. I'm excited to find books by actual and virtual friends among them, to find so many titles I've read and reviewed this year, and to get an extra nudge to read titles that slipped under the radar of my "to-be-read" list. 

It's always thrilling for an author to receive an award or other public recognition. It acknowledges the many hours of research, revision, and reflection represented by a published book. It's equally thrilling for me, or for anyone who shares books with young people, because it means high quality books of enduring value will remain ON the radar for years to come. These annual lists remain available and are often used as starting points when making measured and meaningful selections for young readers, and often means titles will stay in print longer. 

All are reasons beyond the original ones to cheer for the best in picture books (and books for older readers, too).