THE OUTSIDE: Laugh and Learn About Prairie Dogs

 Classifying/categorizing books, especially picture books, is becoming harder and harder. When it comes to "labeling" books that provide reliable nonfiction information, but present that material through cartoonish or personalized characters, it's debatable. I find myself turning to library shelving choices or publisher descriptors. Is a particular title creative nonfiction? Or informational fiction? When both story text and sidebar facts are provided throughout, I (and readers) more clearly see this as nonfiction. (See recent post, HERE.) When the story incorporates factual content within anthropomorphized critters, but provides back matter about each of those factual elements, it gets a bit more challenging.

VIKING, 2024

And that's precisely how author-illustrator Gianna Marino left me perplexed but delighted with THE OUTSIDE.  Call it what you want, but take my advice and read it. As you likely know, prairie dogs live in extensive communities, often called prairie dog towns. Whether the extended group is small (as this one is) or massive, their interactions can make a lively and appealing model for many human relationships. 

In this case, the story unfolds with speech bubble narratives, delightful perspectives, and one prairie dog, Earl, who is afraid of going outside. He prefers dig-dig-digging underground where he feels safe. His above-ground buddies are on the look out for predators, but Earl fears rain. Earl's fears (of several kinds) play a role in his rescue of the group. Even so, despite their safe survival, Earl relies on his peer support to find security within himself and among his community. OUTSIDE!

This is an excellent offering for young readers to encourage social/emotional learning and discussion, to empathize with characters, to identify/predict storyline, and to flat-out enjoy a funny story.

The double spread back matter includes labeled illustrations of the ways prairie dogs dig complex intentional underground spaces to survive and thrive. I found Earl & Company to be unforgettable, and I hope you will, too.

Overcoming Fears... and a Giveaway!

And the winner is.... Cathy Stephanic Ogren! Hooray for you and your young readers. 
Love it if you'd stop back and let us know how they like it.
When I was just five years old my best friend lived half a block away. We both had older siblings and made it our mission to do anything and everything they did. That included having sleepovers. The first time we tried, though, with Cricket at my house, she woke screaming in the middle of the night. Through her sobs we figured out that she had wakened, seen a white robe hanging on the back of the door, and thought it was a ghost. Even with the lights on and  the robe examined, she was convinced there was a ghost in the room. After a phone call Dad carried her home to safety. Of course we had countless sleepovers after that without incident.

 This experience reminds me that the power of imagination, which we encourage and celebrate, can also work against us. A few years later, when we moved to a home with a stairway landing, my own imagination gave me some trouble. As a "morning" person I never resisted going to bed early, but it took my own superpowers to allow me to do so without asking for help. I was convinced that once the stairs disappeared from sight beyond the landing, night creatures were hiding in the walls and could reach out to grab me as I passed in the dark. 
Ta-Da! I solved this my deciding that they were small creatures, so I could stay safely centered on the stairs, just out of reach from either side! I can't say I wasn't afraid anymore, but I no longer felt helpless. There were things I could do (and believe) that allowed me to reach my goal.

Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2011

SUPERHERO JOE, by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman, drawn by Ron Barrett, offers readers a similar example of how imagination can be both an enemy and a friend.

I see this book as serving a very specific purpose: empowering those kids who, by their nature, experience anxiety/fear out of proportion to reality. While there are plenty of kids who are scary-brave in their approach to life, there are many others who limit themselves through their own imagination. In a culture that requires responsible adults to be watchful and convey concerns to kids, it's no wonder some see danger at every turn.
Weitzman and Barrett have tapped into this mentality with tongue-in-cheek humor, providing a model of a boy who harnesses his inner super powers to conquer his everyday fears.   

To celebrate my first blogiversary, I'm giving away a copy of SUPERHERO JOE. You can enter by commenting on this post, on titles/authors you'd like to read about in the year ahead, or even sharing a time when your own imagination worked against you.

1. Enter by leaving a comment below or on the contact page.
2. Winner's mailing address must be in the US.
3. Provide an email or twitter contact, or watch for winner's name to be announced here and on twitter. (@PBWorkshop)
4. Deadline- Friday, January 11, 11:00 PM CST.  Winner will be announced on Saturday.

Who's Afraid of Christmas?

If you had to think twice before answering that question, you haven't met SCAREDY SQUIRREL, by Melanie Watt. If you find yourself in that unfortunate circumstance, please move this titile to the top of your holiday wish list.

I've been able to make some progress on my holiday to-do list-- so far. Even though gift buying, decorating, and cookie baking have proceeded without major mishaps, I feel some familiar seasonal anxiety developing as the clock ticks and calendar pages turn.

Just in the nick of time, as he always is, Scaredy comes along with a new book to warn me and help me prepare for potential Christmas mishaps.

Kids Can Press, 2012

SCAREDY SQUIRREL PREPARES FOR CHRISTMAS: A Safety Guide for Scaredies is the definitive book for anyone who tends toward nervousness at holiday time. Scaredy carries out his precautionary directives in third person voice (I wonder if that is a germ-prevention measure?) and leaves no holly leaf unturned in his relentless pursuit of safety.

Before proceeding to the eight detailed and ditzy chapters, the reader confronts pages in which Scaredy introduces himself, warns about keeping the book away from germs and volcanoes, forbids its use by monsters, lobsters, vampire bats, or killer bees, offers an anxiety test, and even creates a surprisingly upbeat holiday horoscope.

This is a book that can and should be reread often, if only to assure that none of the minute details, throw-away lines, and subscripts are overlooked. Multiple readings are not a chore because Scaredy offers something for every demographic, a testament to the range and scope of his phobias and Watt's clever writing and illustration.

He wins me over with his proactive approach to fear, finding ways to explore a world that is as intriguing as it is scary. His no-nonsense advice is presented using informational text formats, making this a must-have title for anyone pursuing Common Core standards.

There's no end to Scaredy's helpful tips so be sure to check out his guides on other topics of concern:
Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, and Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party.

In this special holiday book, his final "Scaredy Tip" offers perfect advice:
"Why not mix panic with pleasure?"
In his case, when playing dead in the snow a little creativity and a few slow but graceful moves stretched out over two hours will produce a lovely snow angel!

My final advice for a perfect holiday season?
If you find yourself running out of time to complete that to-do list, drop everything and read a picture book!
Care to share the status of your seasonal to-do list, or some titles?