Compare/Contrast: CYBILS Nominees About Buildings

 Two picture books nominated in the elementary category for a CYBILS Nonfiction Award this year deal with the remarkable and appealing topic of BUILDING! They are both superb examples of pairing informational text with illustrations that strengthen, expand, and explore the facts by reflecting the style, color, and intent of the writing. These two titles are distinctly different in purpose and patterns, yet both are enormously appealing and will spark curiosity and connections. Their contrasting approaches deserve a closer look.

NorthSouth Books, 2022

First, author Susan B. Katz and illustrator Linda Schwalbe created an eye-popping, heart-tugging     revelation of Spanish builder and innovator, GAUDI: ARCHITECT OF IMAGINATION. This is a  remarkably interpretive depiction of a genius builder/architect. Gaudi comes to life on the page from early childhood challenges with his "bent" and weak legs. This situation led to his close examination of the curving, flowing, colorful complexities of nature, in matter and in creatures. He gradually celebrated and appreciated those patterns and life-embracing vibrancies. He explored ways that he could build structures as an architect who embraced life and design in new ways, with passion and vision.

The text is direct but sensitive, addressing the ways in which Gaudi impressed and also appalled observers, making some wonder if he might be "crazy". Even so, throughout Barcelona his structures attract tourists, bringing smiles and appreciation for his imagination, skill, and ability to build beauty from the pieces and bits that others might consider useless or unattractive. His most astonishing structure is, perhaps, the unfinished Cathedral of the Sacred Family, which is continually being debated and extended.

The illustrations throughout, from the cover and end pages through Saudi's childhood and schooling, and on into his lifetime of creations, is interpretive, vibrantly abstract, and as fluid as Gaudi's structures. Page after page calls out to the reader to follow Gaudi's lead, to try new things and build beauty from nature and objects in new ways. I followed my first reading by searching for photographic examples of these buildings and then reading more about his amazing life. 

BLOOMSBURY BOOKS FOR CHILDREN, 2022

The second nominee is entirely different in its approach. Rather than profiling a creative genius who challenged standards of planning and design, HOW WAS THAT BUILT? The Stories Behind Some Structures is analytical and instructive. Written by a structural engineer, Roma Agrawal, and illustrated by Katie Hickey, this is a dream of a book for kids (or their parents) who see built environments and ask, "How did they do that?"

Agrawal is as intentional and solid in her writing as these structures are in their design and execution, resulting in beautiful products. She uses direct address to readers throughout, but in an accessible, conversational approach that makes complex concepts seem very simple. (Try demonstrating how carbon makes steel stronger using malted milk balls and raisins.) There is enormous power in that style. From the introduction through the foundational pages (literally- everything is built on a foundation and there is SO MUCH to know about that!) this eighty-page illustrated book explores some of the most iconic and treasured structures on the globe, most of which boggle the mind as to how they could possibly have been built and how they continue to stand, safely.

This book offers conventions including table of contents, a glossary, and an "engineer's gallery" to allow readers to dip in and out. I recommend reading cover to cover, even if that means a chapter a day (or night). Aspects and examples of buildings span centuries, continents, materials, functions, climates, and even the future. The oversized format showcases illustrations that richly detail the stated examples and building concepts, also placing them in geographic and cultural contexts. Short passages are placed throughout the spreads where they will most clearly make sense and build on prior descriptions or explanations. My only concern about this fantastic book is that the size and color choices for font can be challenging. Very small print, always black, appears over dark-toned portions of the illustrations. Text might be missed, or this could make it hard to sustain focus and attention for young reeders (or their parents or teachers). Not a word of this text should be missed, and I fear some could be with this format design. 

Whether taking a block-by-block approach or a freelance, found-object tower attempt, kids of all ages are drawn to create and construct. These two titles might be the just-right choice for kids in your lives who could find, as I did, that they made me want to learn more, do more, and try more ways to view and appreciate my built environment. 

This recommendation holds true regardless of genders, by the way. The "E" in STEM is engineering, and these examples are perfect choices for STEM activities and inspiration. As a long-ago kindergarten kid, I was shocked and angered to see that the girls' and boys' "play corners" had such different elements. Girls were given toy versions of household items and some dress-up clothes and dolls, while the boys had mechanical toys, building materials, and even the art easel! These were the roots of my lifelong feminism! A wish from me: include everyone when you consider possible audiences for these books!

SKY WOLF'S CALL: A Photo/Illustration Masterpiece by Annick Press

The range of target ages for "picture books" can be debated, and this particular title and its related  books from recent years are certainly aimed at upper age elementary or middle grades. Even so, this is a picture book of outstanding value and appeal. With support, it can be a valuable resource with younger ages as well.

 

Annick Press, 2022

SKY WOLF'S CALL: The Gift of Indigenous Knowledge is written by the award-winning team Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger. (The other titles in this masterful series are WHAT THE EAGLE SEES and TURTLE ISLAND.) 

This latest addition to the titles about Indigenous People of North America (especially in the political area now known as Canada) reveals traditional knowledge and values related to WATER, FIRE and SMOKE, FOOD SECURITY, HEALING, SKY, and KEEPING KNOWLEDGE with the PEOPLE. The four foundations for all of these are stated on opening pages:

"Everything is connected.

The world is a gift.

The sacred is a vital part of knowing.

We are always learning."

The format for this title (and the series) incorporates traditional book elements (table of contents, index, picture captions, sidebars, chapter titles and subheadings, with back matter that includes glossary, bibliography, and added reading sources). The text itself is a readable and appealing blend of explanatory text, storytelling, and profiles of Indigenous knowledge leaders among past and contemporary communities. By spanning many centuries through legendary tales, historical practices, modern applications, archival photos and modern images with photos, illustrations, and diagrams, these brief but potent chapters are very user-friendly and also invite questions and participation from readers. I was especially pleased and impressed that the full presentation allows readers to see Natives as contemporary people in society, not as stereotypes or icons of some imagined/westernized past

 The author points out early that traditional tales are under the ownership and rights of the particular Native nations and may not be told/shared without permission. In this case he chooses to share stories from his own Pikani heritage.

 I first encountered these earlier titles through CYBILS AWARDS nominations and I welcome this latest addition. It is an ideal match for its intended yound audiences but is a worthy read for adults, too.

 

Viruses and Boo-Boos: Kid-Friendly Confidence With Health and Healing

 

I traveled recently for the first time in several years. Not far. Safely. With limited contacts and keen awareness of where and with whom I interacted. It was a first look, for me, of how some public life has changed dramatically and how other patterns were oddly, upsettlingly, unchanged. With no intention to rattle the platforms of anyone on a particular soapbox, I was reminded of the importance, from earliest years onward, to prepare kids with information and understanding about the ways their bodies work and how they can make choices to be and stay healthy.

SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Fall, 2021

A nonfiction series from SOURCEBOOKS has two titles I'm spotlighting, because both offer enormous kid-appeal while directly delivering facts about how human biology functions in a world that can (and does) present threats and can cause harm. The first is The Secret Life Of Viruses:Incredible Science Facts about Germs, Vaccines, and What You Can Do to Stay Healthy. Mariona Tolosa Sisteré and Ellas Educan Collective have produced a comic-style, readable, admirably disgusting and yet fascinating book about the science of viruses. 

Content includes:

• What viruses are and where they live
• How vaccines work and how your body fights viruses
• Why pandemics happen
• How to stop the spread of viruses and stay healthy
• and more!

This topic (Health, specifically viruses) has been an important one for years, but now more than ever. With comic-style illustrations that support and expand the text content, this picture book invites close thought and examination. The factual presentation is straightforward and accessible. Discussion and questions will occur spontaneously, generating conversations with other kids, teachers, and caregivers. A last page true-false check up, with answers provided, allows for independent reading and thinking, too.

SOURCEBOOKKids, May, 2021

That title was a nominee in the CYBILS nonfiction elementary category. Although it was not a finalist, it was discussed and admired among the panelists. Earlier in 2021 SourcebooksKids released The Secret Life Of Boo-Boos: The Super Science Behind How Your Body Heals Bumps, Bruises, Scratches, and Scrapes! by the same author, Mariona Tolosa Sisteré.  Cover copy says:"This bright and informative picture books includes: 

practical info and gross details about boo-boos and injuries
scientific fun facts about how your body heals
basic first aid tips for future boo-boos
and more  

The perfect book to empower kids with knowledge so they can face boo-boos with courage and curiosity." 

I couldn't agree more, and I recommend this pair of books for every household and classroom of young people. It wouldn't "hurt" adults to read them, too. Having actual, scientific facts at our disposal is invaluable, but even more important is the recognition that the world outside our bodies affects us, and what we do affects everyone and everything in that world, too.

NEW YORK TIMES Has Been Paying Attention, Changes its Tune About Picture Books

 A recent opinion piece in the NEW YORK TIMES is titled: 

YOUR KIDS AREN'T TOO OLD FOR PICTURE BOOKS-- and NEITHER ARE YOU!

it's not a good look to be an  "I-told-you-so" or "know-it-all", but what the heck, I'll go for it! I've been paraphrasing that NYT headline for decades as I work with kids of all ages, sharing picture books with eager audiences for many purposes. In addition to educational settings, I give picture books as gifts for every age and every occasion. And I read picture books for the sheer joy of it.

My voice is by no means the only one singing the praises of and celebrating the variety, beauty, bounty, and brilliance of picture books. 

Nearly a decade ago, a quickly disparaged New York Times article trumpeted the presumed demise of the picture book, asserting that picture books would find diminishing space and commitment in the publishing world. The piece (and its author) were objects of protest and even derision immediately after that article hit the streets and screens. It triggered a massive outcry on then-emerging social media. 

That piece provided a nudge I needed to launch this blog about the power of picture books. (First post ever: HERE)

Before that post, I had contemplated taking my mission to explore and elevate picture books into the blog-o-sphere. For several years I had been faithfully reading blogs on this topic, many focused on reviews and interviews, some providing suggested uses for educational purposes, and others aimed at guiding writers to outstanding mentor text in various picture book formats and types. I was interested in all of those. I had been leading professional development workshops, sharing ways picture books serve and develop readers and learners at every age. Writing a blog on this topic might amplify my tiny, local voice just a few decibels more power. But I was afraid to try. It felt like too great a challenge. 

That original New York Times article  (HERE) was the challenge I couldn't ignore. Such a misguided position on the value of picture books lit a fire under my intentions and burned away any hesitation. I was obviously a blogging novice, which showed, especially in my earliest posts. Now I am many weeks into my tenth year of writing this blog, I've served as a Cybils panelist for years, I've added a Goodreads review profile (HERE) that includes ratings and reviews of many of the thousands of books I read, and I feature select reviews and interviews on my website blog, HERE.

In a very real sense, I should thank that original NYT post for providing the nudge I needed.

I've change, and so has the New York Times. A quick search (above) indicates that picture books feature in their arts and opinion pages quite often in the years since that early post. During many struggles of the past decade within the publishing industry, including a year of Covid19 issues, children's publishing has been a stable and growing business. The picture book segment of children's publishing has been among the strongest. 

Major changes have happened, especially consolidation and shuffling of personnel. But specialty imprints provide boutique and focused professional services that can expand audiences and creative voices while accessing the services-at-scale for marketing and distribution within their parent organizations. 

Even more importantly, social media and activism and persistent, amplified voices have increased power among groups who are standing up and speaking up to support inclusivity, globalism, and reflections of richly varied lives. (Find links to outstanding resources HERE.) 

The need for continued effort and outreach for under-represented voices and lived experiences is undeniable. Shelves now contain some newer, better, more engaging and amazing picture books than ever before, with all indicators suggesting that this is not a "trend" but a renaissance and transformation. Picture books are here to stay, and growing in every good way.

Perhaps the recent post is just a "sign of the TIMES". 

Remarkably, this 2018 chart shows doubling and tripling of under-represented creators and images in the past decade, yet so much more progress is needed. 

Time With Family: A Trio of Titles Celebrating Diverse and Universal Family Love

 Grandmas can make everything better. So can Grandpas, and Mamas, too.

Three recent picture books explore special family relationships with stories populated by diverse and distinct characters, cultures, and situations. They all landed in my library bag as I am getting a head start at reading potential nominees for CYBILS FICTION PICTURE books worth noticing. They are wonderful stories told with skill and sensitivity, they are entertaining and engaging, and filled with heart and happiness. 

When Cybils Nominations open up on October first  (which is right around the corner), be sure to consider helping to get these onto the list. We're each  allowed only one nominee per category, so spread the word among your reading friends to support favorites and get them into the running!

PAGE STREET KIDS, 2020

SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA is written by Candy Wellins and illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan. As the cover suggests, George and Stella have spent a lifetime of Saturdays "making memories". Stella gives George her undivided attention, from ninja tournaments to fighting off aliens, and even baking cinnamon rolls "without popping open a tube". 

Stella never tires of giving George her undivided attention on Saturdays, and George keeps a running list of the best things about Stella,  including hugs, doing everything, and doing nothing. But always TOGETHER. 

Suddenly, shockingly, Stella is gone, and so are George's special Saturdays. Even when he tried remembering her by doing the things they shared, the fun, the taste, the effort always falls short and leaves him in tears. 

Time passes, despite the Saturdays he crossed off his calendar. With that passing time, baby Stella joins their family. George begins introducing her to the things he always loved on Saturdays, and eventually lists his favorite things about sister Stella. Those turn out to be warmly and lovingly similar to his earlier list. The author masters the most serious of challenges for picture books: the death of a loved one, the passage of time over several years, and complexity of events and emotions made accessible and appealing with pure and simple text. The illustrator does the same, resulting in a magnificent, huggable book.

Annick Press, 2020

An equally delightful new offering with an entirely different premise is MY DAY WITH GONG GONG, written by Sennah Yee and illustrated by Elaine Chen.In this case, first-person-narrating grandchild is spending the day with grandpa (Gong Gong), but reluctantly. The child does not  speak Cantonese, and Gong Gong does not speak English! 

Early in the day the child switches channels from hockey to cartoons when Gong Gong dozes. He wakes, gets up, and they go for a walk to Chinatown. Cantonese  greetings and comments are exchanged, appealing toys and foods are craved. Gong Gong appears unaware of those wishes and of the child's growing hunger.

Hopes rise when they stop for a snack, but only tea is ordered, followed by supermarket shopping and more walking... SLOW walking! A stop in the park sets up another frustrating time when Gong Gong and friends are speaking Cantonese and laughing. At what? Hungry and tired, frustrated and stained with pigeon poop, tears  flow. Gong Gong cleans things up, rescuing the situation with surprises. They agree on the word 'HOME", with more surprises and smiles along the way as they take their time getting there. A back page provides a glossary with Cantonese characters, English spelling of Cantonese words, and translation for the six phrases that occur throughout the book. 

The empathetic situation, escalating story/tension, and appealing illustrations combine to capture universal emotions and situations within a very particular time, place, and people. The simply drawn but expressive faces, body language, and perspectives between and surrounding the central pair elevate the stakes and the emotional connection that evolves. Reading this as an adult will be a very different experience from reading it to very young kids. Gong Gong's cluelessness could be stressful and worrisome, but his smiling gentleness offers comfort and optimism even when the going gets a bit tough.

A similar challenge is met quite differently in award-winning  DRAWN TOGETHER, written my Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat. If that has somehow missed your reading list, be sure to add it to this grouping.

A DINENE MILNER BOOK, 2020

ME & MAMA is the creation of author/illustrator Cozbi A. Cabrera. it, too, features a young character, first person narrator, who "want(s) to be everywhere Mama is". The illustrations are lush and colorful, nuanced and detailed. That visual story provides a rich landscape for text that conveys depth of detail in simple narration. Examples:

"Mama's cup goes clink, clink, clink...

My cup goes duh, duh, duh...

Sometimes things break, Mama says."

From brushing teeth to combing hair, from rainy day walks to nap time, this portrays a delightful day as the background tapestry for a loving, sensory, secure, and happy relationship. The language and images and heart will have even the littlest ones chiming in and acting along with the story. 

All three are circle stories, of a sort, and even bedtime stories. Each is heartwarming but not overly sentimentalized, and all three convey lives, settings, families, and cultures that are both warmly familiar and revealing of new worlds. Even if your intended readers are not among the very young, these are all worth a close read and look. For anyone attempting to write or illustrate picture books, these are even more important.

Anchor in time for Covid, Black Lives Matter, and politics:

We (USA) have passed 200,000 deaths with no sign of slowing. Reasonable projections indicate we could reach 350,000 deaths by the end of the year. Wisconsin, where I live, has become one of the national hot spots. I stay close to home and wear a mask everywhere I go, observing physical distance and crowded spaces. I urge you to do the same.

Charges have been filed in Breonna Taylor's death in her bed by police gunfire. one officer of the three involved was charged for the bullets that strayed into a nearby apartment. In other words, the only charges in her death are for the bullets that missed her. Protests continue in Louisville, KY and across other cities. Scholar Ibram X. Kendi has said the only conclusion is that she is responsible for her own death- a story that has been told in such cases for centuries.

I voted on Monday, turning my ballot in directly to the clerk, who signed as my witness. The next day I confirmed on line that my ballot has been received and will be counted. Our president has said that there may not be a peaceful transition of power. Ruth Bader Ginsberg is lying in state on the steps of the Supreme Court. A nominee for her replacement will be named on Saturday, and it appears that the vote will be pushed through before the election.

Warming Up for Cybils Nonfiction Decisions

I'm so excited to be knee-deep in Cybils Nonfiction Nominees for Elementary and Middle Grade readers. (Nominations are still open until October 15, 2019, so click on that link to look over this list and add your own nominee if it is not there!) My library hold list is long enough to wrap a Halloween mummy. My TBR (To Be Read) pile grows and grows. My stack of likely shortlist titles is NOT short at all! 
I had already posted reviews and comments on a few of these nominees earlier in the year when they first caught my eye. I'll share links to those posts next time. After that I'll begin posting new reviews and comments on many of the the other nominees in the coming days and weeks.

WORDSONG, An Imprint of Highlights

For now, though, I want to share one set of titles that combine the glory of informative, intriguing, and unusual nonfiction content about subjects found in nature, but do so using poetic forms. That means that they won't be evaluated in my nonfiction category. In fact, this trio of titles from talented author/illustrator teams were all published before the Cybils 2019 qualifying dates. 
But, oh, they do deserve some attention, and three are wonderful examples of the ways in which nonfiction books can sparkle and shine. 
They provide a closer look at a talented author, David L. Harrison, who writes and successfully publishes MANY books, including fanciful fiction and other appealing approaches to nonfiction content. Illustrator Julie Bayless is also prolific. Her style is hard to characterize, other than being very kid-friendly while incorporating both scientifically accurate details and playful twists on those details. 
For example, their recent pairing wins grins in lyrical nature romps: CRAWLY SCHOOL FOR BUGS: Poems to Drive You Buggy. 
The premise of this clever bug fest is a "bug school" located in a rotting log. Vaguely familiar school issues and relationships unfold, depicting the various personalities of 

"...hummers,

tweeters, 

SINGERS,

diggers,

LEAPERS, 

creepers, 

wingers."

The charming appeal of the rhymed verses  and colorful illustrations is their artful balance between scientific accuracy and anthropomorphized details in expressions and costuming. The premise is established with the school rule: NEVER EAT A FRIEND AT SCHOOL. Then various insects and other bugs each deal with species-specific coping lessons, ranging from ticks with sore bottoms (from being extracted), stink bugs who are unpopular, a wasp who zaps a nosy dog, a school nurse who tends toward drawing blood (mosquito, naturally), and a janitor who happily gathers muck and dung (Mr. D, the dung beetle) to name a few. Smiles are generated on every page, while science slips in as slick as slime.

CHARLESBRIDGE

NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON'T: Poems About Creatures That Hide takes the science a step hider, wider, and deeper. This light-hearted but image- and information-dense collection of verses is organized by animal classes: sea life, amphibians/reptiles, mammals, insects/spiders, and birds.

This title provides the back matter I longed for in the above book, offering common species names and latin labels, with just enough explanation to clarify references in the main text. Each  animal family page also provides a kid-friendly science resource for curious readers. 

The rhymed verses in this title are less giggly and more informative, as are the illustrations. Giles Laroche uses an artful layering of drawing, cut paper, painting, and gluing, with the resulting scenes suggesting an authentic natural world, but one that will likely inspire young artists to explore similar techniques. The verses, too, are laced with intriguing specifics and evocative moods, inviting further observation and investigation. 

CHARLESBRIDGE

A PLACE TO START A FAMILY: Poems About Creatures That Build is another creation combining the considerable talents of Harrison and Laroche. This, too, organizes the information about animal homes in categories: underground, on the land, in the water, in the air, (with a bonus surprise at the final turn). It, too, features the delightful rhymed revelations of familiar and unusual critters and their nesting patterns. Laroche's complex media and layering technique results in surprisingly natural and scientifically accurate scenes. 

The back matter is helpful in this title, too, and the "Learn More" resources noted for each category are ideal choices for curious young minds to pursue. 

When it comes to delivering information, details, and other facts- real facts that can be verified and confirmed- there are many formats to use, for any age. In these books the blend of rhymed verse, skillful art, helpful back matter, and reliable resources elevate entertaining books to learning tools. That's a winning combination for any age. 

More Board Books: Hide-and-Seek and Non-Fiction

I launched this blog almost seven years ago with THIS POST, in which I clarify my thesis: Picture books are NOT limited to books for babies. 

All these years I've been featuring books and author interviews for a multitude of ages and interests. I've tried to shine a light on how quality picture books can inform, entertain, and engage audiences of all kinds. In making my point I've often said, 

"Remember, picture books aren't baby books!"

 I don't mean to imply that BOARD BOOKS aren't important, only that they are just one of many formats of picture books and are targeted exclusively to the infant-to-toddler age. That means they are written, illustrated, and designed with very distinct guidelines suited to that age and developmental stage.

I mentioned that books for this very young audience include many genre in the previous post about some outstanding  Board Books among the Cybils Awards nominees. As this post title indicates, I'm back now to share examples from two more categories: Guess/Search books and nonfiction. 

The guess/search/puzzle format is as natural to babies as the universally human "peek-a-boo" game. GUESS WHICH HAND, written by Hans Wilhelm and illustrated by Ilaria Guarducci, is a delightful twist on a familiar game. 

I recommend this for a litany of reasons that you can read about in my Goodreads review, here.

Next up in the seek-and-find category is HERE I AM: A Finger Puppet Book, written by Sarah McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram.

You can read some of my thoughts about this appealing and interactive book in my Goodreads review, here.




Baby games, no matter how appealing and squeal-inducing they may be, are the flip side of an emerging category of board books, NON FICTION. This extends far beyond the familiar basic concepts topics of colors, numbers, letters and animals sounds and names, although some terrific choices in that category will be featured in my next post. A growing market for informational board books with vibrant illustrations and well-written text has emerged. You really should take a look at these:

EXOTIC FRUIT is created by author/illustrator Huy Voun Lee. This book is as delightful and appetizing as the featured fruits, and the variety of text (child focused and fine print adult messages) makes it a book that could grow with the child and family. Read what I had to say about it on Goodreads, here.

BOTANY FOR BABIES is one of the BABY 101 series. I am not a fan of cramming learning into tiny heads, so I approached this one cautiously. What I found, though, is a well-designed and appealing book that works on many levels. The "story" of plants in nature is developed simply and naturally with flair and fun. The book involves enough turns and surprises to keep the shared experience lively, and there are loads of familiar critters and details for tiny fingers to point out and later name. The parts of plants presented are colorful and simply designed to emphasize important elements. Many are labeled with dark, small  print. These labels do not distract from the overall plant narrative, presented in large, interesting font and layout. 

WE ARE MUSIC is written by Brandon Story and illustrated by Nick Radford. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can imagine it being shared with music playing, then turning household items into instruments.
Read more about it on this Goodreads review, here.

I'd love to read what you think about these in the comments, and read your own suggestions for classic favorites or new board books you've discovered!

Celebrating CYBILS: Poetry Titles You Won't Want to Miss

In case you missed it, my previous post was a celebratory thank you to readers marking the SIX YEAR BLOGIVERSARY of this site. One unexpected bonus from sustaining and developing this blog is that it led me to serve for the last three years on the CYBILS AWARDS round one panels: picture book fiction in 2015, picture book nonfiction in 2016, and poetry in 2017. My preference for working as a ROUND ONE panelist won't surprise readers here or others who know me: I dread the pressure of naming a single "Best" or "Favorite" or "Winner" of anything, but especially in the realm of books. Even narrowing the field can be stressful, and has been in each of these categories. 

This year I was faced with an even tricker issue: POETRY nominees spanned everything from preschool rhyming books to YA/teen novels in verse. 

Whew! 

The process made for some incredibly entertaining and inspiring reading, but decisions were nearly overwhelming. To see what I mean, check out the full list of poetry nominees, click here. Our finalists, now under consideration as the 2017 poetry winner, can be seen here, and I recommend ALL as wonderful reads. 

To make things a bit easier, though, I'll post here some brief notes about some of the picture books among the nominees that I particularly enjoyed, even if they didn't make the cut to be named as a finalist. I'm also sharing them here as an advance "I told you so" when upcoming awards are presented and some of these are among them. Trust me, they are REALLY good reads!

National Geographic

Up first, take a look at the gorgeously photographed and written ANIMAL ARK: Celebrating Our Wide World in Poetry and Pictures, by Kwame Alexander and Joel Sartore.
Breathtaking, truly stunning photography is no surprise when it is produced by National Geographic. The angles, perspectives, lighting, fold-outs, and EYES of these gorgeous creatures will make it a favorite across ages and interests. Kwame Alexander's use of free form Haiku works well to provide minimal but superbly selected words, as sharply hypnotic as the images.

Candlewick Press

Compare that with another amazing animal book, filled with images that will entrance and enchant readers of any age: SONG OF THE WILD:  A First Book of Animals, by Nicola Davies and Petr Horacek.
Without a doubt this is a gorgeous book of illustrations, sized to be a colorful tabletop book and to appeal to young eyes. Its bulk (and cursive text, complex organization) mean it will work best with support from adults. Even so, the various individual entries/descriptions will be favored or less favored throughout the book. At least that was my reaction. The organizing approach should make it well-suited to the youngest (Size/Color and Shape/Homes/Babies/Action) but it offers too little for older readers (no index, resources, or other back matter) and too much for the youngest to grasp the categorical approach due to lack of relative scale among the entries. 
Despite those concerns, this will hit a sweet spot for kids who are zoo fans, who can manage some independent reading, and who engage with the lush art and the lyrical lines that appear on various pages.

Both books are keepers, in the sense that young folks will want to explore them again and again, potentially wearing out the bindings, but treasuring them as books to share with their own children and grandchildren. Both, though, focus on full-scale animals with minimal attention to tiny creepy-crawlies. For that, turn to CRICKET IN THE THICKET: Poems About Bugs, written by Carol Murray and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. 
When it comes to content-specific picture books, this one has it all. The poetry is a delightful mix of rhymed and unrhymed verse utilizing varied forms. Melissa Sweet works her illustration magic on each double spread, shifting perspective, embedding numerous scientific elements within gorgeous and appealing images. The "Cricket Notes" in back matter elaborate (accessibly) on the brief info-box sidebars for each insect poem. Even cockroach and mosquito are equal parts intrigue and yuk-factor, with visual details that lend both accuracy and personality to these typically repulsive critters.This offers something for everyone- sparking curiosity, utilizing specific vocabulary, and charming readers on repeated readings and explorations.

Stay tuned for more suggestions in future posts, and I'll include several of those non-picture-book verse novels. For now, though, take a deep dive into any/all of these three books. Be prepared for an eye-popping, ear-pleasing, exhilarating feast of poetry.

The Statue of Liberty and Her Right Foot: Who Knew?

As a Cybils panelist last year my category was nonfiction picture books. This category is growing dramatically in the publishing world, in numbers and in the quality and variety of offerings. There are various reasons for this, but most importantly, in my book, is the fact that nonfiction books are consistently popular with kids.

(I've linked some previous  posts from my Cybils nonfiction year in the notes below.)

Among the things I enjoy most about nonfiction books for young readers, especially picture books, are those "AHA" moments they provide, no matter what the age of the reader.   

An added benefit of outstanding nonfiction books is that the "AHA" discoveries may come from a variety of sources. The rarity or oddity discovered may reveal an entirely "new" person or event. (HERE and HERE). Or, some unnoticed or unknown aspects of a highly familiar topic may be offered, like discovering a hidden sweet in the center of a salty snack. Books can provide quirky surprises about the very famous SHAKESPEARE (Will's Words), or insights into well-known modern folks like Anne Frank and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Stunning discoveries can be equally gasp-worthy when exploring plant and animal topics, geology, or space. 

Even though my category as a Cybils panelist this year is poetry, I continue reading widely and often in other categories. The end-of-year season for best-of books is upon us, and that includes lists devoted exclusively to nonfiction for young readers. The New York Public Library issues a "One Hundred Best" list without sub-sorting categories, but it is obvious when scrolling through the list that nonfiction (and poetry!) have firm standing among their 2017 recommendations. 

Chronicle Books, 2017

Making the cut on many of these lists, with my personal prediction of more awards to come, is HER RIGHT FOOT by Dave Eggers, with art by Shawn Harris. In fact  (pun intended), this book has earned enough starred reviews to fill the crown of our very own STATUE of LIBERTY, the subject of the book. From the distinct perspective of the cover, the retro art makes it clear that this is no ordinary litany of facts and figures. There is no shortage of picture books that will provide information and insights to the statue's creator, it's symbolism and role in American history, the poet and poem, and the impressive statistics about the statue's size, weight, and other dimensions. A great place to start, if that's what you're seeking, is this post on Written And Bound's Blog.

In this case, though, the author's perspective is as distinct as the artistic perspective on the cover and on each page within. The book's heft (104 pages), the sturdy paper stock, and the illustration shifts from raw edges to heavy backline art to collage images underscore the  reader's  sense of this iconic statue's massive but vibrant significance in our national identity. 

This is a remarkable book on many levels. The retro art and palette, the pacing and integration of complex information, the depth of content presented in accessible conversational style, and the ultimate conclusion combine to make this an ideal book for middle grade readers. Second person direct address voice is difficult to find in quality books, and this one does it with flair. There is an ironic, nearly snarky, tone at times, but one that doesn't overdo it for effect or undermine the serious significance of the subject. 

Eggers's text spans the years prior to the creation of the statue,  through its iconic era, plants the statue firmly among the issues of today, and then strides on into the future. Those transitions are impressively handled and I can't think of another recent book that so effectively links history to current events, spanning 150 years. 

Back matter provides additional fuel to my argument that this picture book was never meant for babies, but is instead an ideal match for the humor, curiosity, and cautious idealism of adolescents.

You can read more of the glowing reviews on Chronicle's web page, here. For now, though, 

I'll close with this quote from Publishers' Weekly starred review:

★ “Eggers’s crucial and timely re-examination makes Liberty an active participant in a debate that is more contentious than ever.”