HAPPY FRIENDSGIVING!

 Every day, in every way, I try to pause to be thankful. Sometimes it relates to a specific gratitude. Sometimes I simply note that opening line from e e cummings:

"Thank you god

for most this amazing day

for leaping greenly spirits of trees

for a blue true dream of a sky

for all that is natural

all that is infinite

all that is 

YES"

Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2025

With that in mind, HAPPY FRIENDSGIVING is a delightful book to share on Thanksgiving, in NewYork City, with a wide-ranging group of friends pouring into a joyful space from corners far and wide. Or anywhere! Written by Marcie  Colleen and illustrated by Laura Sandoval Herrera, this lovely depiction of a familiar event extends far beyond  formulaic. There are other countries that designate dates for official giving of thanks. Even so, here in the good old USofA, we seem to have staked a claim on what a THANKSGIVING DAY should look like. 

In fact, this artful and appealing approach blends  many iconic situations and images that you might expect. HAPPY FRIENDSGIVING lifts its story from that familiar platform to expand in specifics (diversity on many levels) as well as concepts (traveling, gathering, preparing, and more, but without labels of time, place, recipes) allowing folks in many locations and from many traditions to see themselves in this work and in such a joyous gathering. 

The illustrations are warmly colorful and convey genuine emotions without inserting features that clearly identify or label those involved. The range of activities, emotions, events, and experiences open the pages to every eye and hand. 

For some other recommended books on this topic, check posts HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE. The most important idea I took from this (and some of the prior posts) is that the name of the holiday matters little, whether THANKSGIVING, FRIENDSGIVING, HARVEST DAY, or INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY, whether your gathering has a parade outside the window or a farm field or a dirt track, what matters is drawing together, sharing, caring, and extending ourselves to others with welcome and respect. 

Now that's a reason for gratitude. 

Nonfiction Cavalcade Continues: More Elementary Cybils Awards Nominees

 The nominations for Cybils Awards, Round One, have closed, but the reading continues. That includes exciting conversations among our panel members. For anyone who has a blog or consistently shares ideas about books for kids on social media, let me assure you that THIS is the sweet spot of the process. Final decisions can be wrenching, but there is great joy in deep diving into a wide range of remarkable offerings, then sharing and comparing ideas about them among others who also appreciate books. 

Here are a few of the nonfiction elementary titles I've enjoyed so far, with more to come as often as I can pause the process to provide shout-outs here. These quick peeks are one plus to books that are nominated- winners or not. Here are two that had missed my radar until they popped up in the list. I'm aiming for many posts about books that might have flown under my radar all together, had they not been nominated in this category).

Creston  Books, 2021

BOARDWALK BABIES is written by Marissa Moss and illustrated by April Chu. This book reveals an utterly unexpected solution to the problem of saving lives of premature/undersized newborns long before modern neonatal units were readily available. The facts are presented clearly using an illustration style that emphasizes the "carnival exhibit" approach to gaining acceptance for the use of incubators. This will amaze and inform younger readers and astound adults who share the book with them.

Don't let the "performative" image of the cover fool you. The Boardwalk Baby exhibit was an "out of the box" approach that not only saved infant lives but revealed to the public what was possible in medical care, gaining support for financial and public investments that changed medical care for and survival rates of countless babies.

Little, Brown
Books for Young Readers
2021

Next up, with very different survivor theme, is SURVIVOR TREE, written by Marcie Colleen and illustrated by Aaron Becker. 

This book moved me in countless ways. 

To tears.

I have no doubt that young audiences will perceive the depth and power of the story and sense the connection to a historic event that is not part of their lived experience, and yet shaped the world in which they live. 

Everything about this book, from the finely crafted and reserved text, to the reassurances of repetition and pacing, to the color tones throughout (and particularly on the cover), to the art that evokes the heart of human reaction and the passage of many years over time, to the tall portrait trim size that supports the celebration of survival, this is a masterful creation and must-have book in classrooms, libraries, and families.

As the text quote on the back cover says:

"EVEN IN THE DARKEST TIMES, COLOR WILL ALWAYS RETURN TO THE WORLD."

That's a powerful place to end this post. I hope these two offerings provide an incentive to stay tuned in coming days and weeks for more  titles that celebrate the variety and appeal of nonfiction picture books.

Se you soon!