Time to Think Ahead to Winter- on Winter Solstice Hill

 No complaints, please, about the topic of this review. Ads for Halloween costumes have been showing up in social media reels, back-to-school sales are already fading, and stock-up-for Thanksgiving ads actually showed up this week. Weirdly early, all of the above. 

CHARLESBRIDGE. October, 2026

Yes, the date is correct... AUGUST!
But the book under discussion here is WINTER SOLSTICE HILL, written by Cathy Stefanec Ogren and illustrated by Rebecca Evans. Why now, you ask, when we have yet to reach Fall's equinox? I'll answer that important question at the end of the post.

First, check out this lovely cover. You can see, as I did, that the story has been portrayed visually by a very perceptive and talented illustrator. Rendered in natural tones with soft edges, the scenes throughout have a light-infused effect. Indoor spreads of  the worn-wood floors, hearth fire, and simple furnishings are softly glazed with a glow that offers a "comfort-food" impact. That's true despite the frosted windows and concerned expression on the face of Ella.

The text is fluent and perfectly matched to the welcoming and straightforward life portrayed. Art details include moving boxes to unpack, a baby sibling, and a joyful golden dog, none of which are mentioned in text. Such details flood the spread with multiple examples of both security and change. Readers quickly connect with Ella (tagged by Grandpa as Ella-Bella) on her quest. They will trudge to the top of the hill, Winter Solstice Hill, where Ella's great-grandparent settlers first stood on Winter Solstice to share a wish for the first time. Finally, Ella is old enough to take part in the tradition. 

Readers join the uphill traipse with Ella, Grandpa, dog, and toboggan to search for the perfect tree, then hope to view the first Solstice star at the summit. Ella is on a mission to make an important but unstated wish. 

The spreads immerse readers in the depth of family history and generational connection, supporting text clues that these generations will be sharing that family home on heritage land. Just as we join in the satisfaction of finding a perfect tree, the weather (and tone) shift, adding the tension of impending storms that will block a view of any stars. In fact, arrival at the summit will not be achieved on that solstice night. The resolve from that point forward allows readers to experience Ella's wide emotional range, and to share in the gratifying ending. Will the wish need to wait, or is another approach possible? 

Overall, this generational story allows the specificity of the characters to feel universal, offering the softening effects of a dusting of light snow. The mix of eagerness, anxiety, joy, enthusiasm, disappointment, and excitement invite discussion, as well as recognition that few feelings are singular. The illustrations contribute so much to an already appealing text, magnifying the well-told story and delightful characters.

Now, back to my opening promise to indicate why a book about Winter Solstice matters in August? This goes to the business side of publishing, in which books are in their final phases (preparing to print, ship, distribute, and sell) for several months before the actual release date. It has become a business model to offer presale of those books, which can even drive the number actually printed and sold. It's a measure of interest and appeal, allowing publishers to guard against overproduction. I'll fully admit that I buy fewer books these days, preferring to read library copies when possible. In this case I was provided a digital copy to preview because I wanted to read it and encourage followers here to consider preorders. This is a seasonal celebration of the ways we carry on traditions, share family stories, imagine ourselves in relation to others, and more. With the multi-cultural holidays that center around late December and relate their stories and celebrations to the Earth's shift from dark to light, this book serves as an axis for all those other books. The storytelling, tone, and resolution can be the foundation for endless family and broader holiday stories at that time of year. To assure that you can purchase enough copies for the many people you'll want to gift with this book and to encourage publishers to produce enough to meet demand, please give this one a close look and consider using the preorder option to support it. 

 

Abuelo Shares HOW TO REACH THE MOON!

 The genuine and uniquely deep love and connection of a child and their grandparent is undeniable. Many wonderful picture books center this special relationship, making it a major challenge for new stories with this framework to break through. To editors, to buyers, to readers. 

AMAZON CROSSING KIDS, 2022

HOW TO REACH THE MOON is written by Nicolás Schuff and illustrated by Ana Sender, with translation by Lawrence Shimel. It was successful in its original Spanish release, and now I've found it in English translation. I hope this commentary will help it find even more admirers. It goes without saying that picture books rely on partnerships between the author and illustrator, with advice and curation through the publisher's team of editors and art directors. In this case the translator was trusted with the original text that is both robust and exquisitely tender. 

During summer, Emilio travels by train to spend his vacation in the forest with his abuelo. In evocative illustrations perfectly paired with bright and colorful text, readers will find themselves joining Emilio at their rustic outdoor table, listening to Abuelo's imaginative stories, and dealing with questions about the moon. 

On one full moon night, Abuelo wakes Emilio to hike through the forest to meet the moon. Imaginative questions and descriptions lead them deeper until they reach a steep bluff at the edge of the forest. Could this be a secret path to the moon?

The answer to that question and what follows are moments I won't spoil by discussing them in these comments, other than to say that the magic is in the shared experiences, the relationship, and the possibilities that Emilio explores. 

Both the text/language and the glowingly dense art invite sensory engagement with these special two folks and their habitat, while the seemingly invisible work of the translator makes it feel as if the original language was English, in the best possible way. 

View this picture book is a gentle ode to multi-generational love and adventure, to nature's atmospheric impact on our hearts and minds, to the value of imagination to prepare us for the astonishing offerings of our very real world. This serves as a strong and memorable fictional story, but also as a bedtime story, a celebration of family, a virtual journey into the depths of nature, and more. That's a lot of promise, but this picture book delivers, with every word and spread. 

Where Is My Sister? A Gentle Reflection on Sibling Loss

 Few books address a child's experience of death, although some are so well done they merit call backs HERE (elders) , HERE (pets) , and HERE (Siblings).

WHERE IS MY SISTER, written by Shannon Gibney and illustrated by Huy Von Lee,  takes on the least-addressed topic in death, that of a child lost at or before birth. The extreme shift from glowing anticipation to fierce loss is a brave emotional journey to attempt, and these creators achieved something special and noteworthy. 

University of Minnesota press, 2026

In this case, the rarely addressed topic of siblings/children who die at birth is presented with  gentle nuance and deeply resonant validation of the process of grieving such an impossible loss. The cover image and many of the illustrations reveal the tragedy and loss felt throughout the family, with the father and older brother seeking comfort in faith and hope and pursuit of the spirit of the lost Toni, the coming sister whose life was so lovingly anticipated. 

But even-younger Salome struggles with the WHERE of her missing sister, not the why or how such a loss could have happened. This is quest story, Salome's quest is to find and keep her sister close at hand. Longing to believe that Toni might hear a story she reads aloud, that she is part of the family circle-hug, that she surrounds each of them throughout their day is reflected as "somewhat" satisfying when we see the final illustrations in which Salome's expression still holds sadness, but the prospect of better days and acceptance is evident. The strength of family loving resonates throughout the text and images.

I particularly appreciated that each member of the family was allowed a spread or more to suggest their personal journeys through their loss, with Mom clearly struggling the most. As in THE RABBIT LISTENED, among my all-time favorite picture books, Salome senses the value of simply staying near her mother, catching a tear and clinging to the hope that it might hold a bit of her baby sister Toni in its salty essence. 

This is certainly an ideal book for any family dealing with such an indescribable loss. As with so many other powerful books on difficult topics, it is also a superb book to share with everyone, since the experience is both heartbreakingly specific (building empathy) and also metaphorical about any tragic loss after extended anticipation and hope. That comparison is not meant to diminish the immeasurable suffering of families facing the loss of an expected child. It is meant to to suggest that everyone carries loss in different ways, and this book offers a loving portrayal of nonjudgmental and potentially helpful ways to struggle through painful times. 

This is not an upbeat or easy read, but it is one that opens conversations about deep feelings, especially among very young audiences. It does nothing to "fix" anyone else's loss, other than than to suggest that none of us are alone, and seeing the possibility of deep sadness in others can only make us better at being human to, and for, those around us as they experience  their journeys.

A PLACE JUST FOR ME: Priceless.

 The words of Virginia Wolff resonated from the moment they first appeared in her 1929 extended essay: A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN. That piece is a very adult reflection on creativity, identity, and independence. Even so, the impulse to have "space", to find yourself and be yourself, can be recognized in even the youngest among us. A PLACE JUST FOR ME, written by Loredana Baldinucci and illustrated by Melinda Berti, seizes that impulse and celebrates agency and self-awareness in a young mouse.

GREYSTONE BOOKS
2023

Beginning with the illustrations, Berti has captured the perspective and character of nature at mouse-scale, blending realism with lighthearted marvel. The youngest mouse in the family lives in the roots of a large tree in a sprawling meadow. That little mouse and family live a human-ized life that mirrors that of many young children. 

There is absolutely nothing WRONG with mouse's life, but something about it is just not RIGHT. Silver's many siblings and generations are busy mice, with space to pursue their interests. Silver seeks a place to do NOTHING, at least for a little while, amid the very busy household. This simply-stated narrative is enhanced with detailed scenes on white backgrounds, with clarity that even the youngest audiences will investigate but with enough simplicity to feel safe and comforting. Silver doesn't need to escape, he needs to FIND a place that is a good fit. This is a quest story at its heart.

The narrative and scenes allow Silver to explore among safe neighbors, and to recognize ones that are not safe. His journey offers growth and learning what does or doesn't work for him. He is only out and exploring for a few hours, and yet he acquires awareness that some of his dissatisfaction comes from within. The lovely conclusion reveals that his quest has been on Mama Mouse's radar. Carving out a niché for Silver leads to recognition that home is the right place: for doing nothing, for doing something, and for being HOME. 

DRAGONFLY BOOKS, 2017
(reprint)

Something about the visuals and the gentle sense of mouse-persona reminded me of Leo Lionni's mouse tales, especially FREDERICK.  The illustrations involve very different media and techniques, but both titles and visuals capture a lightness of spirit, insights into the mind of a sensitive young mouse, and calming resolutions that welcome repeated readings and imagined connections. Both the creators of A PLACE JUST FOR ME and FREDERICK are (were) from Italy. It makes me wonder what magical personalities those Italian mice must have!

When you or someone you know seems in need of a place of their own, or time and space to do NOTHING, share this book. Or both!

WALK With Me Through Powerful Picture Books

 Two new picture books share several things. Each includes WALK in the title. Each addresses topics or issues that could be (actually ARE) stressful and wrapped in grief, yet each provides a deep experience with the positivity and potential of our lives.

AND THEY WALK ON  is written by Kevin Maillard and illustrated by Rafael López. 

ROARING BROOK PRESS, 2025

Luminous illustrations offer hints (and some subtle indicators of the ethnic origins), providing a sunset endpaper spread with vibrant tones and a winding trail, then echoing the same landscape in the closing endpapers, viewing it at sunset. That unless cycle of our planet mirrors the sense that we habitants also have an endless quality. 

The text is simple and lyrical, but capture the voice of the narrator, who only occasionally clarifies that with some "I" phrasing. This gives the text a sense of the child's distance from his experiences in the early pages. Someone has "walked on" , someone he cares for deeply, but what does that mean? 

Will he see them again? Where have they gone? their room seems unchanged, and the kitchen, the "hearth" of their home still beckons. That kitchen and the family's activity there (making grape dumplings) brings the missing someone back into existence, "like a cauldron of memory".

The conclusion pages offer even more of the connection and identity of this family and its members, those present and others walking on.  The luscious language reveals shifting mood, from concern to acceptance, celebrating the cultural sense that people we love never leave us, we walk on through our lives alongside them. 

Back matter includes helpful notes from both author and illustrator, as well as receive for those grape dumplings. This certainly fits well in collections about dealing with grief, but it seems to me it has potential for helping young readers recognize the concept of Death before they even experience it. Everything about it makes me want to read it again and again.

A second book that captures big concepts through words and text that wrap readers in care and conviction is THE WALK, 

ABROMS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
2023

written by award-winning creators, among my favorites. Winsome Bingham wrote the compelling and upbeat text while E. B. Lewis sets the scenes with his recognizable style:  familiar faces that might often be overlooked, shifting perspectives to assure that each person and detail merits our attention, rendered in tones that offer both depth and glow. In this case the endpapers are solid color- a golden splash that assures good things are ahead. 

The story opens with a girl and her granny preparing for a walk. Along the way they encounter and encourage folks from their neighborhood, as the girl asks questions and granny offers bits of personal and social history in simple snippets and hints. "The walk" they are taking is longer now that it once was, but no political commentary indicates why that is, or confronts readers directly with debates about access to their goal. Granny's nods to those who came before, to those who managed past struggles and walks, is subtle but certain and sincere. 

The language is direct and accessible, incorporating onomatopoetic phrases and capturing the rhythm of the neighborhood with "just right" word and illustration choices. 

"A sea of faces swimming 

upstream like a school of fish."

while the spread casts the walkers on sharp white backgrounds  as their  shadows double their numbers. 

Then the girl's big question catches in my throat as I read aloud. They arrive at their destination, and she asks, "Why do people vote?"

Granny answers firmly, "For HOPE, baby. For HOPE!" This captures the story in a nutshell, lifting it beyond a stroll or civic duty and making it personal. "Voting lets grown folks speak up."

That's just what the girls Mama had taught her to do. 

BRAIDED ROOTS:Sharing Family History, Beyond Family

 Perhaps the greatest power of a picture book narrative can be the intimacy of experiencing the lives and limits of someone else (even fictional) with empathy and emotional connection. That is further expanded when those specific individuals and events resonate and reverberate with our own lives, regardless of how far removed from the specifics we might be. 

ORCHARD BOOKS, 2025

BRAIDED ROOTS is written by Pasha Westbrook and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight. There have been several recent picture books celebrating and exploring the care and history of hair, particularly for people of color. Several years ago, one of these, CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT, won so many awards that there was barely room for all the seals on the cover! 

In many of these the focus is on hair, its care, and the ways in which what has culturally been seen as "other" hair can  instead carry your identity and reasons for pride and celebration of personal history.

In the case of BRAIDED ROOTS, I can imagine a submission letter or pitch that mentioned any of the recent hair-topic picture books for tone of joyful pride and connection, but offering several key distinctions. First, the girl and her hair-braiding father are "mixed", harking back to their descendence from a Black enslaved woman with a White father  and other ancestors along the way that blended in two Native identities.  As noted in that earlier sentence, it is Dad who is doing the braiding and storytelling, similar to a few other picture books, but distinct in his reservation-born identity and his intentional and literal insistence that the braid itself carries strength, heritage, identity, and a promise. (You can do anything!) Illustration throughout draws on saturated colors of nature, and incorporates suggestions of braiding in the bank of the waters, ribbons of DNA, and more. Sprawling scenes and close-ups are equally balanced with a dream-forward focus and an immediacy and intimacy that call on readers to lean in and learn. 

This highly specific tale with its braid story, both literal and metaphoric, allows us to walk along, to sit and listen, to braid the history of these characters into our own lives. After reading, with a step back and a moment of reflection, I felt invited to recall and relive those moments when our own family (Dad, Mom, Grandparent, etc.) in which a regular practice helped us learn more about ourselves. 

I'll bet that the same will be true for you when reading and also for those with whom you share this very special story.

THE SLEEPER TRAIN... ALL ABOARD!

I'm very nostalgic about trains, though I only rode on one once, as a child, for a very short trip. (Or occasionally at the zoo with kids!). Sleeping at our grandparents' Kentucky home meant vibrating through the night to the rumble of trains as they passed by just thirty feet across the road.  Or "racing" trains on tracks parallel to the highway as Dad drove us to Kentucky and back to Ohio, counting train cars, hoping that the man in the caboose would wave back when they inevitably passed us up. My bucket list still includes a cross-country train trip. We'll see....

Candlewick Press, 2025

Meanwhile, back to picture books! THE SLEEPER TRAIN obviously appealed to me from the start. It depicts experiences rooted in a culture halfway around the planet but offering universal connection in its emotional explorations and memories. Written by Mick Jackson and illustrated by Baljinder Kaur, this is a delightfully illustrated story of a girl and her family as they travel to visit relatives. The train itself frames the story, as the girl's first-person narration reveals her family's journey, her excitement about using a fold-down bed in their cabin, and then her struggle to fall asleep. As might be predicted, readers join her in viewing the station, their night travels through and near cities, and her struggle to calm herself and fall asleep. Then, page turns each reveal her memory of strategies to deal with  sleeplessness. 

There will be plenty of readers who find the vibrant and detailed illustrations both welcome and familiar, a rare opportunity to see themselves and their homeland on picture book pages. For others, though, this will be less a mirror and more of a window or sliding door to a world filled with new images and locations, yet deeply familiar experiences. She activates her past efforts to find sleep, remembering happy times: a recent vacation, napping at the beach under a soothing sun, family camping, and even a scary time in the hospital when her family stayed at her side to comfort her. Her memories reveal that such universal experiences are global, while the specifics in culture, clothing, and styles clearly reveal their Middle-East/South Asian  setting. Morning brings the family to the dining car and the final page turn is utterly perfect. (Another memory to be recalled on some sleepless night in the future). 

For anyone traveling, during holidays or otherwise, this is a rich experience, a delight for eyes and hearts.💕 Trainlovers will be delighted, and parents of struggling sleepers will appreciate the self-regulation strategies described. Kids will be begging for train rides!  If that isn't in the foreseeable future (or even if it IS), check out Marsha Diane Arnold's recent BIG BOY, HERE.

WHEN AUGGIE LEARNED TO PLAY CHESS: You Can, Too!

 The holiday gift-giving season is well upon us! My book-of-choice today is one that makes a delightful gift across many ages (read the author note in back). Beyond that, though, the story it reveals suggests a gift of even greater value: spending time and learning with someone you love. Especially someone young.

Ann Schwartz Books, 2025

WHEN AUGGIE LEARNED TO PLAY CHESS is written by Meredith Rusu and illustrated by Stephen Costanza. This story offers many openings for kids to connect... 

1. Moving...

...Far away (from beachside to a neighborhood with cows and strong smells!)...

Navigating change...

Feeling alone...    in a crowded new school...

Rejection... it's hard enough to say hello to strangers, but then to be ignored? Yikes!

Big feelings... while parents are busy. EncouragIng, but busy.

Auggie notices something on a shelf in his new home-- a lovely checkered board and a pouch filled with intriguing carved characters. When Auggie's Tatâ (Daddy) notices and begins sharing both stories and skills, the gift of time and teaching allows Auggie to turn his mind away from distress and explore challenges and curiosity. The process offers connection for Tatâ and Auggie and a place of respite from change, anchoring them to a family heritage and to each other. 

Mid-story unfolds with some basic labeling and roles of the chess pieces, never slowing the pace but serving well in repeated readings for anyone trying to learn without a skilled Tatâ at their side. Auggie's growing knowledge leads to better days in his classroom, too, and the conclusion offers a suggestion of a satisfying beginning.The author's note and shares a personal story involving family chess heritage, assuring readers that anyone can learn chess, even the very young.

And even the very OLD! I learned chess as a kid, but never worked at developing competitive skill or learning gambits. MANY years later when my school was organizing "clubs" for kids at recess or activity times, mine was the only hand that went up when someone asked, "Who knows how to play chess?" That small act led me to host the "chess room" one day each week, wrangling 7-9 year olds and a few dozen game sets for both novices and talented players. I never claimed to have any knowledge beyond the basics, but over time those stronger players (and valued volunteer parent coaches) allowed me to learn more. After many years this surprising gift was presented to me> > > >

That's been several decades ago, and yet I can still get newcomers launched, settle confusions or disputes, and spot a mis-staged board from across a classroom. My point is, learning to play chess is a lifetime gift that can reach others at any level. There is no better time than the holidays, when family and friends gather, to have a chess board on hand. Someone in those spaces would raise a hand to admit knowing how to play, and someone else will be eager to figure out those curious characters that travel around the board following detailed rules. (Do me a favor. Avoid digital play, at least at first. Use an actual board and figures if at all possible. Learning to set up the positions, including stories about their relative power and playability, is a significant experience in itself.)

Auggie's story is one of family strength and connection, but it also celebrates the ways in which playing chess opens his mind to potential relationships and actions among strangers and friends. It reinforced his sense of agency, even when he felt himself to "only" be a pawn. The complexity of Auggie's journey will entertain and satisfy readers, but my guess is that the closing of the cover will be followed by "I want to play chess!" Consider a gift pack of a chess set with a copy of this book!

IT'S PICTURE BOOK Month Celebrate with a Perfect Pair

 We're more than a week into this month, and there are many things to catch our attention. After all, it's the month for gratitude and gatherings, for baking and decorating, for travel and "nesting" at home. It's also PICTURE BOOK MONTH, and all of the above busy-ness calls to mind many titles that lend themselves to special sharing experiences. 

 I'll celebrate this picture book month by featuring TWO titles by one very special author, Cynthia Schumerth, who brings memories and everyday inspiration to her work. Each picture book she's written offers layers of beauty, entertainment, science, curiosity, and lively language. 

SLEEPING BEAR PRESS, 2023

  EVERY LITTLE SEED is illustrated by Elisa Paganelli with, as the cover shows, a wealth of natural and ever-changing natural life. That lovely script travels throughout the text, alongside more familiar font that leads readers through the story of a young girl who explores nature on every level. The rhymed text names and offers details about various plants and the seeds from which they grow, while the flowing cursive font echoes a truth:

 "The secret of a plant lives in every little seed."

That signature line is preceded by another circle-of-life reference - 

"Grandpa told Mom and Mom told me..."

Three seasons unfurl, from early spring planning and planting, through summer's care and watchful protection from threats, and into fall as flowers fade and harvest time arrives- even harvesting seeds for the following year. Back matter is kid-friendly and offers inviting activities and expansion of the topic. Some pages label garden tools, others label invasive insects and show kid-safe techniques for combatting them. Page after page brings new discoveries and prompts curiosity. 

You can listen to Cynthia talk about EVERY LITTLE SEED in this recent video. 

SLEEPING BEAR PRESS, 2025

Now Cynthia has a new picture book that investigates the marvelous outdoors during a moonlit meander WHEN NIGHT COMES CALLING. It, too, is written in read-aloud-friendly-rhyme, describing a moonlight sibling stroll to see what they can see. 

The older sister is knowledgeable and enthusiastic, captured perfectly by illustrator Sheryl Murray. Her expansive, evocative spreads incorporate "image-bubbles" as if they are sprawling speech bubbles, featuring visual inserts of the many things she points out-- planets, Northern lights, and so much more. Somehow the informative and wide-ranging observations flow seamlessly through the rhymed text without missing a beat. 

When they move from the expansive skyscape into a woodland, the perspectives and big-eyed smiles avoid any sense of worry or fear that have often been associated with going "into the woods". The creatures found there, using all the senses, are named accurately and lovingly, until the young brother begins to weary. The piggy-back ride home across luminous landscape adds "bedtime book" to the many ways in which this story appeals. It, too, has back matter to offer further facts about those insert images of critters and sky-features. 

Those who try to write picture books are offered many valuable tidbits of advice from the best of writers and editors: Avoid rhyme- it rarely works well; build tension; focus on character change; "quiet" books don't sell well. This latest work from Schumerth shows clearly that such advice needs an addendum- 

Don't try to rhyme unless you can do it perfectly!

Tension is needed unless the story itself is utterly compelling.

Quiet books need to be very special, offer extra value. 

Relationships, when revealed well, can take the place of character change.

These books do all that and more. They are winners because of the science/STEM components, lovely language, masterful and moody illustrations (one book featuring sunlight effects and the other moonlight accents, by two separate illustrators) and characters who invite readers to "come along" through text and images. 

SLEEPING BEAR PRESS

If you are intrigued about what's next, see the news below. Cynthia's next book moves into that rollicking romp category. You'll just need to wait a bit, but have no doubt, you won't be disappointed! And you can celebrate this November PICTURE BOOK MONTH with a big bowl of POPCORN while reading an earlier book from Cynthia, LET'S POP! POP! POPCORN! 

LUCY SINGS ON LUCY STREET: It Shines!

HARPER, 2025

Inspired by a true story, LUCY SHINES ON LUCY STREET is written by Lawrence Roberts and Sally-Ann Roberts, with illustrations by Jestenia Southerland and an epilogue by Robin Roberts of GOOD MORNING AMERICA. With a team like this to support it, this new picture book doesn't really need my endorsement, but it has it! 

I sometimes request picture books of interest from publishers, which I then read as digital files or as physical books when provided by the publisher. I never promise a review of any kind, but only request those that hold great promise. In this case, a package arrived at my door unrequested, and it is a title that had missed my radar (despite that remarkable support team I mentioned). I'm happy it did, since this story is both entertaining and inspiring. 

The colorful but subtle art combine with the straightforward storytelling to take me back to a mid-twentieth century Akron, Ohio (1932, actually). It was a time and place in which kids ran through the neighborhood in happy packs, when the location allowed for integrated neighborhoods and wide acceptance of all. What it also provided was a sense of security and joy within the kid-crew despite the encroaching reality of the Great Depression.

 

Lucy looks up from a game to see that her home is being stripped of its time-payment furnishings, as other homes soon will be. Mother's reassurances that the family will be fine are received (by the characters and by readers) with less than full confidence. Lucy's grandparents live at the end of the block, another throwback image of stability in extended family life. There, Lucy finds comfort in grandpa Pastor George's hug, in the rhythm of the porch swing accompanying his familiar song: THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE...

"Singing is good medicine" is his advice, which extends to some foot-stomping fun that draws her neighbor friends to sing along. Reality, though, pulls Lucy back to reality when the song ends and the truck drives away with their furnishings inside. 

What follows is a series of scenes that reveal the power of sustaining hope and adjusting to new realities, to Lucy's effort to support her saddened parents, to the power of hope that echoes to other families through her singing, and ultimately to a wider, resilient neighborhood. The epilogue depicts Lucy as a young woman who is sharing her singing with a church class of children, and who then gets good news that will lead her into an even more secure future. 

There's much to recommend this seemingly simple story. It is a showcase of a specific time, place, and conditions. it retains a strong sense of family and strength despite the stark loss of the essentials of a safe home. It allows adults to be both vulnerable and stable resources. And it takes a widely familiar song, one that could seem childish/childlike and elevates it to the reality of its message. Letting our own lights glow, even in the worst of time, may do as much for those around us as for ourselves. Letting that glow grow, letting it rekindle the light in others, is profound. This lnew picture book celebrates that.

OLD BLUE IS MY HOME: A Bittersweet Beauty

 

ABRAMS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS, 
2025

Lita Judge is a talented and prolific author/illustrator who creates picture book experiences that resonate on every level. The storytelling is masterful, the illustrations are subtly soft but pack emotional and informational punch, the relationships (in this and other titles) are unquestionably authentic, and broader social issues scaffold the powerful blend of fiction she produces. OLD BLUE IS MY HOME is such a book, a very recent release depicting a timeless issue. 

(Check out THE WISDOM OF TREES, among other Lita Judge titles.)

A careful look at the jacket cover art will suggest that timely theme, a loving family who have adapted to a harsh reality. The title page gives visual evidence of their departure from a stationary, physical home, transferring their lives into the stability and safety of OLD BLUE. Throughout each  page turn readers will find narrative and illustration evidence not only of survival, but of resilience and love and the joyful pursuit of what many might doubt is a "good life". 

Each revelation or reflection within the narrative, told in first person voice of a child, provides more persuasive evidence that this family knows how to work, play, share, and learn within the restrictions of a life on not-so-fast wheels. Attending school and other interactions with a more traditional community can leave the child feeling like an outsider, "from nowhere", sad. Her perceptive parents are gently attuned to days like that and provide stability and comfort in the moment and beyond. They like their lives fully, until the time comes, and they all believe it will, when a forever home finds them. 

Please find OLD BLUE IS MY HOME, read it, share it.

New Delights to Share: Insha'Allah!

HOLIDAY HOUSE, 2024

Join me in welcoming and celebrating two new picture books that feature cultural situations and characters  but provide universal appeal and learning. The first is INSHA'ALLAH, NO, MAYBE SO, co-authored by Rhonda Roumani and Nadia Roumani and illustrated by Olivia Aserr. 

NEAL PORTER BOOKS, 2024

This picture book is an ideal example of ways in which stories depicting non-dominant cultures and patterns can transcend specific traditions or patterns to serve every child.

For decades (centuries?) it was conventional wisdom that all children and families who were NOT of the majority culture would still find themselves within stories featuring that single dominant culture. The truth is, all kids who ask for what they want are counting on hearing YES, in any language or culture. Anything less (we'll see, maybe, etc.) comes across as NO! That universal emotional expectation and response is portrayed in this story so well, for any child. It also reveals a family/cultural pattern that might be new or less than fully understood by others. It's a story in which EVERY child can find themselves nodding along.

The expression, Insha'Allah, is launched in INSHA'ALLAH, NO, MAYBE SO through the first-person voice of a child who calls out her mother for always saying Insha'Allah, meaning NO! Mama patiently explains that the expression means "God willing", not NO!. Mama listens closely as Rana reveals how it always feels like NO to her, and then her mother clarifies that it is used for things we WANT to happen, but don't know if they will. 

Examples are kid-friendly. (Go to the park? It might rain; Bake cookies? Not enough time before bed; Have a sleepover? Someone got sick.) Some things are NO, some are MAYBE SO, and some are INSHA'ALLAH... it is out of our hands, for now. 

The art in this new release is lovely, with saturated colors depicting figures with natural  edges, readable expressions, familiar settings, and a warmth that is undeniable. There's a humorous twist or two at the conclusion and the story's topic and appeal spans many ages. I highly recommend this lovely story.

Also a story with universal appeal is THE PLANT RESCUER, written and illustrated by Matthew Rivera. 

First line: "Manny and his dad come from a long line of gardeners."

The following pages reveal the lush and lively experience and skills Dad brings to developing and maintaining landscapes that are verdant and healthy. Manny and Dad live in a space without outdoor planting options, but Dad's love and skill turn their apartment into a lush "jungle". 

Manny accompanies Dad in his work, appreciating his evident talent and also celebrating his family heritage. But when Papa buys Manny his very own plant and urges him to keep it well and strong, problems arise. Manny has an expert close at hand to ask for help, but he opts to solve this himself, to earn and prove his place in this family lineage.  He draws on the boundless resources of a library to learn what he needs to know and do, to rescue his own plant, Amigo. The happy resolve to his worry allows Manny and Dad to share plants with their diverse neighbors as Manny claims his space as youngest among their long line of plant rescuers.

I really enjoyed the vibrant and phenomenal abundance of the plants throughout, making each page a celebration of life as well as an invitation to look closely, find out more, and appreciate the nuances of plant shapes and colors.

Both books offer warm and welcoming stories for all readers, providing mirrors to children who share their heritages, and windows to those of other backgrounds and identities. Both are going to be classroom and library favorites.

A Fathers Day Marvel: BUNNY SHOULD BE SLEEPING

NEAL PORTER BOOKS,
Holiday House, 2024

 BUNNY SHOULD BE SLEEPING may just be the most ideal Fathers Day picture book I've ever read. Written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Renata Liwska, the cover alone is likely to elicit "aw-w-ws" for the obvious and deft gentle tone and tender appeal of the character and the situation suggested by the cover (check the back jacket cover, too.)

My first awareness of it, including praise from other reviewers, left me eager to read it. I've now renewed my library copy and re-read it multiple times, preparing to share it with you at this special calendar timing in celebration of fathers. That was not my original intention. I imagined it would fit well among anyone's collection of bedtime books, portrayed by an appealing little bunny in need of yet another story or other delay to the inevitability of sleep. 

The images are warmly sleepy and comforting despite the cool colors filling each page. As the story unfolds, the drama increases. Readers share Bunny's worrying concern and mission yet travel within Bunny's safe and secure home, habits, and thoughts.  The text assures us of Bunny's soft blanket and warm toes while the glowing moon offers a haven from full darkness. Even so, Bunny lies awake, revealing his remaining need: 

"Come on, Dad! Check on me, check on me, check on me!"

Waiting is hard, and Bunny must take action. Once he collects the necessary items in his wagon, he takes them to Dad's room, who is asleep under that same glowing moon. When Bunny offers each of the comfort items from their prior routines, Dad sleeps on. Bunny's next move is more direct. The pages that follow are as tender and perfect as you might imagine, and utterly satisfying in the simplicity and power of the text and the images. Don't imagine that it is predictably "sweet", it is also surprising in wonderful ways. 

Whether your Fathers Day dad (defined however you feel at home with that title) is still in this young-child stage of life or long past it, I imagine many who would love this story and the appreciation and recognition it implies. The responsibilities of fatherhood/parenthood are immeasurable and often overwhelming, but this recognizes that "the little things" really do matter, and always will. 

I've written in prior posts about the significance of nightly read-aloud sessions with Dad, Mom, and my siblings. Among the many ways I benefited from my parents' habits and guidance, those nightly readings are priceless and irreplaceable in forming the person I am today. I've also written multiple  Fathers Day recommendations/reviews, easily located using the search box in the side menu. Whether you check those out or not, I certainly hope you will take time to read (and reread) this masterful picture book, for its powerful message, and to appreciate the talents and skills of its creators and book designers. 

CYBILS AWARDS Finalists: Early Chapter Books

 I hope you read my post earlier this week to share my thoughts about one of the EASY READER finalists for CYBILS AWARD for Early Chapter Books. If not, HERE it is!

(If so, you can skip this next section which was offered last time.)

From CYBILS, found here: 

"The Easy Reader / Early Chapter Book category includes the spectrum of titles for early children just learning to read and ranges from very basic books for emergent readers to longer, illustrated titles for kids who are not quite ready for kids who are not quite ready to read middle-grade novels on their own.

For easy reader nominations, we look for leveled readers with controlled vocabularies. These are books designed for kids to build vocabulary (e.g., "sight words") and practice their reading. Often they are parts of series with reading-related titles, such as “Step into Reading” or “I Can Read” and they can usually be identified by their large type, simple sentence structure, and colorful illustrations on every page. Easy readers are typically 32-64 pages in length. Well-known easy readers include series like Bink & Gollie and Elephant & Piggie.

Early chapter books (also called beginning chapter books or short-chapter books) can be a little bit more difficult to identify. Many books have chapters (including a lot of middle-grade novels), but only books designed for developing readers belong in this category. Compared to easy readers, early chapter books are a bit longer (up to 160 pages or so), and they have fewer illustrations. Instead of full-color pictures on every page, they may have just a few black and white line drawings sprinkled throughout the text. What distinguishes them from novels is that beginning chapter books use large print, short chapters, and simple plots, and they rely heavily on dialogue. Popular beginning chapter books include the Princess in Black, Dory Fantasmagory, and Magic Tree House series."

To see ALL the CYBILS categories with clickable links to their descriptions, check HERE.

Candlewick Press, 2023

Let's get right to the finalist title I was honored to write about, TOO SMALL TOLA GETS TOUGH, by author Atinuke and illustrated by Onyinwe Iwu.

TOO SMALL TOLA GETS TOUGH is a unique early chapter book set in Lagos, perhaps one of the largest urban areas in the world but rarely portrayed in typical American texts. In this series, and now this title, Tola's loving family is portrayed realistically in both dialect and circumstances that provide a window into daily life that is not unusual for the time and place portrayed. In this case it is set in circumstances surrounding the outset of the Covid pandemic and lockdown. 

The most unusual part of this early chapter book is not the rarity of material in this locale, or this cultural portrait, but the fact that Tola is the central character, yet the older siblings/family/characters carry the storylines through several chapters. Those sequences portray challenges that are much older than young Tola would have faced. In fact, though, this is a valuable presentation that proves to be engaging, appealing, and broadening in the natural and authentic way in which the story is told and the events unfold.

For more information about the other CYBILS finalists in this category (and others), click HERE.

Stay tuned for the announcement about the actual WINNERS in each category, shared on social media and online on the CYBILS blog, HERE.  And share the book love for any books you love!

TOGETHER WE SWIM: Don't Miss This!

 I am a genuine fan of author Valerie Bolling. Since her picture book debut she has consistently captured everyday magic in lives of young children and families, with a special gift for starring Black families within scenarios that once ignored them. Black Child Joy is authentically portrayed without glamour or exaggeration, and her titles welcome ALL children to recognize themselves within those  universal situations, emotions, and developmental learning stages. I reviewed her earlier title, TOGETHER WE RIDE, here, including my "rememory" (thank you, Toni Morrison for that priceless vocabulary addition) of learning to ride a bike with my dad.

Chronicle Books, 2023

A companion title has splashed on the scene, and it is equally welcome and celebrated: TOGETHER WE SWIM!, also illustrated by Kaylani Juanita. I'd like to say that learning to swim is a universal experience, since it is skill more vital to a long life/survival than bike riding and does not require much equipment. Sadly, some recent statistics indicate that about 70% of all Black Americans DO NOT know how to swim. (Check article here.)

Before my praise/raves for this book begins, I'll mention the dedications. 

From the author:

"For every child who's learned to swim and for those who one day will." 

And from the illustrator: 

"To Black mothers, aunties, grandmothers, and guardians. We celebrate the entirety of you."

These captured some of my favorite aspects of this new offering. The portrayals of a new-learning child in a family of successful swimmers is ideal, especially in his ambivalence of eagerness and anxious concern. It is the mom, in this case, who does the direct instructing and provides hands-on support that allows the child to take that first dip, to grip and eventually release, to risk and trust, to succeed. The rest of his supportive family notices, cheers, and welcomes him to their world of confidence and joy in the watery world, a second happy habitat for life and joy. 

All that can be found in images, including expressive features and body language, watery effects that begin and end on end papers, and a resolve that extends the learning of new things into a family bonding moment that stays with you. 

But that visual narrative only enhances Bolling's brilliant rhymed text. Those of us who write picture book text often hear (and repeat) only a slice of the message we receive from agents and publishers: "not interested in rhymed text". The ENTIRE message is actually more true, and Bolling's crisp, creative, compelling rhymed titles prove the rule: No one wants to read attempted rhymed text unless it is precisely written in rhyme and meter, unless it tells the story better than prose would, unless it reads well aloud and in natural language. Bolling is not an exception to a rule,  she proves it. Rhymed picture book text that was well done is ALWAYS welcome, especially in families with young children. Since her first picture book was published a few years ago she continues to create lively language, gaining fans among readers and those who MAKE books..

A brief example:

"Toe dip,"

"Side grip"

TOGETHER WE SWIM, Interior Spread

I'll bet those four words generate your own "rememories" of making your way into a pool before learning to swim. They're all that are needed for the first two double page spreads, in which we meet this young man and his family, swimming along on his journey. By my count the entire text is 76 words, each perfectly achieving  exactly what it should; no more, no less. The two-to-three word lines in rhymed couplets allow young readers to chime in, to read along, to eventually read on their own with the same gradual acquisition of skill and growth in confidence that this swimmer displays. 

Don't waste another moment of summer before reading and sharing this delightful book. And check in your community to see if there are ways you can support the teaching of swimming in Black communities for all ages. Like riding a bike, it's never too late to learn!

A few years ago I had several swimsuits in great condition but not being used. I checked and found an elementary school that sponsored after-school swimming lessons but found some unable to participate due to lack of swimsuits or the means to buy them. I was able to make those lessons possible for a half dozen kids and adults at no cost to me other than dropping off those suits or mailing them to an address they provided. 

INTERVIEW: Liza Wiemer, Author of OUT AND ABOUT: A Tale of Giving

 

KALANIOT BOOKS. August, 2023

Happy Book Birthday 

 OUT AND ABOUT: A TALE OF GIVING

It's my pleasure and honor to introduce you to LIZA WIEMER, the author of  a wonderful new picture book that released today: OUT AND ABOUT: A Tale of Giving.

As you no doubt noticed, the cover looks like this is a winter/holiday offering, perhaps getting a jump on the season. But don't be fooled. Let the chilly scene wrap itself around you during these hot-weather days, but also cuddle into the underlying story. It is one that will warm your heart and also make clear that the family's spirit and grace are practices suited to every day, every way, every season, every climate.

Last week I offered my review of the book itself, HERE. I was not alone in praising this important story. Kirkius review had this to say about it, in part: (Click to read more.)

"A beautiful and thoughtful message woven into 

a brief yet poignant story."

Liza was kind enough to make time on this exciting release day to share some thoughts about this career achievement and her insights about the story. 

SB: Liza, your work quality and voice for teen readers (and adults!) has been firmly established. What made you want to write a picture book for younger readers and their families? 

LW: Thank you so much, Sandy, for the opportunity to be on your blog and to answer these outstanding questions.

This picture book was inspired by a story my grandfather told me about his childhood and took me over 20 years to get published. The value of giving to others in need is one that is deeply important to me, one that I have shared with my children. When I taught preschool, I used to tell this story to my students, and they loved it. That motivated me to write it.

 

SB:There is a fine line between writing a book to “teach” a lesson and writing a book that touches hearts to reveal important ideas and values. With the thousands of words available to a novelist, writers have room to finesse that line. In writing picture books, your word count is drastically less. This is not unlike writing poetry, even when not rhyming. Missteps between telling readers what to think or feel and allowing readers to discover or conclude those thoughts and feelings are beyond awkward- actually painful to read for many readers. A real turn-off. How did you manage to negotiate that territory so successfully?

 

LW: This was something I thought about a lot during the writing process. I knew Daniel had to have his “ah-ha” moment but struggled with how to make that happen. A conversation with a college professor who analyzes picture books spurred on the final idea of how Daniel figures out what his parents are doing. Along the way, however, I wanted Daniel to reflect while also having fun using his imagination. I want kids to use their imaginations and decide what they think Dad and Mom put in the boxes that they gave away to help others.

 

SB: Was your  prior experience in writing poetry/free verse at all helpful in developing text for this picture book? You used repletion of phrases, cycles of awareness, and found a very effective resolve on the last page. Were you conscious of those patterns and other approaches to the text from prior writings, or did that all need to come to you fresh for work in a picture book?

 

LW: I don’t think I consciously was making that connection between my love for free verse poetry and the writing in this picture book, but now that you mention it, that’s an outstanding observation. I read my picture book out loud multiple times, listening for cadence and readability. The repetition of “out and about” was important because we want the reader to be able to answer the question posed by Daniel’s brother at the end of the book: Where did you go? And, of course, the answer was “Out and about.”  

 

SB: Since this picture book story was on such a longtime journey to reach young readers, is it a “one-and-done” in this format or are there others in the works that you'd be willing to share with us? 

 

LW: I have a few more ideas I would love to see become picture books. But for now, I’m keeping them hush-hush.

 

SB: That's very understandable. After all, allowing this story-of-your-heart the time it deserved to work its way onto the page has had a beautiful result. I know you’ve spent many hours working directly with young readers regarding your writing and theirs, but that has mainly been with teens. Have you had an opportunity to share this new picture book  with younger readers yet? If so, what was memorable about that/those experiences? If not, how do you plan to approach those groups?

 

LW: Great question! Other than sharing the story with my preschool students and family, I haven’t had the opportunity to read it to kids! I’m excited to do so. I love the illustrations. 

\

Interior spread, OUT AND ABOUT. Kalaniot Books, 2023

 

SB: I agree completely about the illustrations enhancing your text and inviting young audiences to put themselves into Daniel's shoes. I feel like the images entirely capture the idea that Daniel totally imagined that there might be exciting things for HIM in those boxes. His imagination definitely followed a typical young person's point of view, and that he did not seem to be greedy, just curious, excited, and typical of his age. That's another fine point of balance you achieved with this central character.

Thank you again, Liza, for sharing your time and insights with readers here. I want to add a reminder that the author note in back matter shares more details about the origins of this story in your own life. There is also additional information about Jewish cultural/religious values and practices and a brief glossary. 

Learn more about Liza Wiemer and her upcoming appearances, projects, contact information, and  teaching/discussion resources on her website, HERE.

 https://www.lizawiemer.com

Twitter:  @LizaWiemer

Instagram: LIzaWiemer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liza.wiemer

TikTok: lizamwiemer  

I hope you'll explore any of the above sources to learn more about Liza's writing journey, to view interviews and videos, and to check her calendar for appearances near you.

Mostly, as Levar Burton always said on Reading Rainbow,

"Don't take my word for it, read!"