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!

The Shrinking World of Picture Books: Richa Jha

About five years ago I "virtually met" picture book author and enthusiast Richa Jha, despite the fact that she lived in Lagos at the time. Since then she returned with her family to live in India. We don't touch base often, but I view her as a kindred spirit, following her from half a world away. 

In her earliest picture books she incorporated the elements she believed would entice and engage readers: contemporary and relatable characters and situations, imaginative storylines, wide-ranging illustrations styles, and visual narratives as rich and layered as the text. 
Since our early online chats and contacts, Richa not only wrote and published several more books, she has become an entrepreneurial publisher! In doing so she expanded her platform to advance her passion for lively and innovative picture books, produced by and for Indian creators and readers. 
And she's leading the way to a picture book transformation in India.

I wrote about The Susu Pals (2013, written by Richa Jha with pictures by Alicia Souza) in a post at the time, here, noting that her venture was challenged by some as too bold a change from the traditional publishing market. You can read an interview with her at that time, posted here. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read her thoughts on market patterns and demands versus the need to change the direction of books for young readers in her country. You'll recognize the voice of a determined woman. 

In the next few years she pursued that personal mission: writing, launching a publishing company (PickleYolkBooks), and catching the attention of major reviewers. Read their take on Richa and other trendsetters, here.

PickleYolkBook

A package from Richa landed on my doorstep recently and I've been poring over her latest productions ever since. LOVE LIKE THAT, is written by Richa Jha and illustrated by Gautam Benegal. It has a distinct sensibility, and yet kids around the world will adore it. I did, on first reading, and each return to the cover and spreads make me love it even more.  Mama and joey kangaroos are off on a trek around the world. Konga and baby Kroo travel from their Australian home base to Asia, Africa, South America, North America, and then back home. At each stop the wildlife habitats and specific native species are depicted with a combo of fantasy and accurate detail, sparking curiosity from Kroo's observations to ask about each parent-child relationship. Each demonstrates love for the offspring, but none that  Kroo recgnizes from his life. The rich layering, in text and images, reveals similar ways that Konga loves Kroo, although he has taken it for granted. On the final leg home, Konga's special way of showing love is undeniable. This works equally well as a Mother's Day book and a STEM spark.
The mission to produce layered and engaging illustrations was entirely successful. Multi-media images, evidence of collage and crayon details, and some of the most expressive faces a few dots and lines ever created invite readers to examine details. There's a tiny mother-child mouse pair who shadow (and add humor to) the main story, along with Kroo's field notes to cleverly assist pronunciations of some unfamiliar place names and an introductory map in kid-friendly format. The pages drip with detail while feeling light and well-focused. Richa's word choice is equally eye-catching. Konga's loving nicknames for Kroo include darling, litling, totling, munchkin, and krooling. The charm is  accomplished with a light, loving touch and never cloys.
This is a book with something for everyone, including the same person returning on a new day.

PickleYolkBooks

In contrast to the animal characters starring in that book,  THATHA AT SCHOOL, by the same author/illustrator team, is a realistic, contemporary story. Little Ovi is overwhelmed with fear that her grandfather (Thatha) will appear at the school grandparents' day in his traditional dhoti, even though he dresses in pants and shirts for everyday events. Ovi's anxiety about protecting him from being teased is readily revealed as her own fear of peer disapproval and embarrassment if he goes. Her various attempts to prevent Thatha's participation escalate, but he goes anyway. Fear causes her to abandon him at school, but loyalty (and growing awareness of others' diverse grandparents) win the day. Similar praise for illustrations (as in LOVE LIKE THAT) are due to this book.
Even with all those assets, there are additional layers to unpack in this book,  too. The background scenes could take place anywhere in the "western world", as readers here might assume, and yet they are also authentic for many corners of the world  for which stereotypes have shaped young assumptions. The use of specific language (Thatha, dhoti) is seamless, made understandable from context and images without belaboring a glossary or explanation. A child's concern that a grandparent (or parent or sibling or other beloved relation) might be an embarrassment beyond the family's walls is certainly universal. The humor of her attempts and heart-tug of her emotions ring true around the world. As the first book used field notes and other asides to expand meaning, this uses faded school notebook pages in the background of some spreads on which the art is overlaid. It's a delightful challenge to explore the various lines that are readable in places.  

I'm always excited to examine new picture books, to discover and share ones that might be overlooked. In this case I'm thrilled to share these with a predominately US following, and to share with you a sneak peak at an author with big things ahead in the American market in years to come. This year at the Bologna International Book Festival, Richa and PickleYolkBooks made their first ever foreign rights sale! Marissa Moss's multi-award-winning Creston Books, US, bought the world English rights to a forthcoming title, The Manic Panic! 
Stay tuned. It's currently a challenge to get your hands on copies of the books featured here. My copies are signed with personal messages from Richa and I wouldn't part with them at any price. The great news is that her future books are coming to a bookseller near you in the coming years, and you'll be able to say "you knew her when..."!
Congratulations, Richa, Gautam Bengal, Pickle Yolk Books, and all of the innovative, trendsetting picture book folks in India!

Finding Inspiration in Biographies- Again!

Sincere apologies for the consistent misspelling of Gandhi's name in the initial posting. 

You might assume that Kenichi Zenimura (Zeni) (1900-1968) and Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) have a few things in common with no other information than this sentence. You might note that:

• They both have names that are non-Anglo-Saxon (at least not names most of us encounter on a daily basis).
• They both lived in the first half of the twentieth century, meaning...
• They both experienced very significant and historic times.

 Gandhi, of course, is an iconic and world-reknowned figure but Zenimura is less well known, if known at all. 

So here are a few more similarities to think about:

• Both men weighed about one hundred pounds, much less than average adult women, let alone adult males.
• Both were also shorter than most women. (Gandhi was five feet, three inches, and Zeni was only five feet tall.)
• Both confronted powerful government forces imposing unjust restrictions on their freedoms. 
• Both had prestigious careers before finding themselves living in meager circumstances.
• Both inspired others through the force of their personalities and deeply held values.
• Both provided a path of dignity and self-respect to people who were being treated unjustly.

Amazon Children's Publishing, 2013

Whether you're an expert on Gandhi's life or only vaguely aware of his accomplishments, you'll appreciate GANDHI: A March to the Sea, by Alice B. McGinty and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. The wide format double-page spreads capture the emotional depth and intensity of the times, the luminous settings, and the vastness of the 24 day march he led along the coast of "British India" to accomplish something as simple yet politically transformative  as drawing salt from the sea. 

 I rank Gandhi among my personal heroes, as the father of  non-violent protest and civil disobedience in the quest for freedom and equality. This book frames these days in his long life with a gentle lyricism, rhythmic repetition, and enough context to draw the reader into the deliberate step-by-step process that made his protests so effective.

The values he displayed in accomplishing his goals throughout his life served as inspiration to many, not the least among them Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Henry N. Abrams, 2013

It would be hard to find any figure in history who would not be lost in the giant shadow cast by Gandhi, despite his diminutive size. The life of Kenichi Zenimuru, though, shines through.  Read BARBED WIRE BASEBALL, written by Marissa Moss and illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, to see if you agree that Kenichi Zenimura displayed Gandhi's values in his own time and space.

The first time Zeni saw a baseball game he was eight years old. His family had moved from Japan to Hawaii and he was instantly determined to play. His parents called him a mouse and said he was too small. Discouraging messages followed him as he remained so small, but he achieved impressive success and even fame in professional baseball.  Through practice, determination, talent, and commitment he built a life as a player, coach, and manager in the decades that followed. 

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor the United States government chose to imprison Japanese Americans in "internment camps", barren desert settlements surrounded by barbed wire and armed guards. Rather than wallow in despair or bitterness with his wife and two sons, Zeni set about recreating normalcy for his boys and the rest of his community. 
He did that with what he knew best- baseball. He organized and led by example,  clearing, irrigating, planting, measuring and marking a baseball diamond. He scrounged and improvised, finagled and filched whatever was needed, at times even risking lives. Eventually he organized and outfitted thirty-two teams in three divisions with games scheduled every day. 
Regular readers know that I'm a die-hard baseball fan, and an even bigger fan of picture books. When these loves overlap I'm there prepared to cheer. (Type "baseball" in the blog search box to the right and find even more posts related to baseball.)
When picture books hit that remarkable sweet spot of image, text, subject matter and design, my cheers bring me to my feet. Gandhi and Zeni shared their passion and vision with others to inspire and restore dignity, earning the respect of their oppressors while achieving their goals. Books like these inspire us to learn more about history and its leaders, whether familiar or relatively unknown. 
Can you hear me cheering in the stands?