A PERFECT DAY! A Perfect Picture Book-Meditation on Life

 My recent post featured a quiet book that explores the concept of beauty, HERE. 

Wm. B. Eerdmans BYR, 2021

Now let's consider and compare another picture book that presents a similarly simple concept, A PERFECT DAY. Written and illustrated by Jennifer Yerkes, this book fits perfectly into small hands and curious minds with an entirely different approach to text and illustration. 

The prior large format book effectively used sprawling art and color with occasional elements of white. A PERFECT DAY celebrates and expands white space on these much smaller pages, selectively positioning images created with a  blend of line and filled color pencil art and minimalist text. The colors are vibrant and pure in tone, capturing the essence of the various animals and scenes in tones that suggest pastels rather than jewels. 

The first page and closing pages offer lyrical language in direct and metaphorical sentences, but MOST of the pages move the story through  day outdoors with onomatopoetic expressions and even wordless pages. The result is a rhythmic, nearly musical impact. That sets the stage for the thematic flow and imagery of a perfect day in nature, one that begins in harmony, moves through a symbolic symphonic storm, with drum beats, waves of power, and satisfying, refreshing resolve. 

The natural world portrayed offers familiar scenes and mood, in sounds and critters, in weather and wings. I loved the portrayal of the storm as a natural and necessary part of that perfect day, revealed in line and pacing that suggests its necessity and value in nature. That can be appreciated in concrete terms by the youngest children but elevated to discussions with older readers to discuss that challenges and troubles in our lives play a healing, nourishing, strengthening role.

This delightful offering invites little audiences to chime in with animal sounds, to connect natural settings with the joys and insights of reading/books, and to absorb the subtle truth of the variety of experiences that comprise a perfect day. Kirkus Review (HERE) celebrated many of the same aspects of this treasure, ending with a one-word synopsis: EXQUISITE. I agree. 

Eerdmans provided a copy with no promise of review, but I'm excited to recommend this new picture book and advise those who search for it that there are others with the same title. Many of these ar ebooks i enjoy as well. It couldn't hurt to request them all from your library and celebrate the many ways that days can be perfect. just be sure to include this one in the mix, since it feels to me as worthy of extra attention. 

Poetry and Wishes- Paired in Perfect Personification!

 Some holiday wishes come true. Even so, very few folks have every wish granted. Most of us have no idea about the wishes that OTHERS have for us. That's why today, the day after Christmas, 2020, in our Coronavirus pandemic year, this feels like an ideal picture book to feature. Hope and trust are as much hallmarks of this endless-feeling year as are doubt and distrust. I can think of no better time than now to imagine the wishes on our behalf that have wrapped us in love and brought us this far.

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2020

NIGHT WISHES is an anthology of poetry, curated by gifted poet and editor Lee Bennett Hopkins. Sadly, Lee is no longer with us, but his brilliant work is still accessible (click his name) and his trademark quotation graces every page of this new release:

“Give children poetry. 

It is one of the best gifts 

you can give them… 

a gift to last a lifetime.”

Hopkins, gifted poet that he was, excelled at showcasing the talents of others and presenting their works within thematic and story frameworks that elevate the collection of selected poems to a result always greater than the sum of the parts. 

In this case, the collection of poems flips the familiar "Good Night Moon" from the child/parent perspective to the voices of those many bedtime elements that could surround human children as they sleep.

 
Sadly, our country, and most in the world, permit too many children to sleep without such security. The featured items, though, are not luxuries. These are elements that every child should be able to realistically have, or remember, appreciate, or hope for in the near-times and ever after. In a year in which we are all expanding our appreciation of everyday life, these poems can help children do the same.

Each poem/poet addresses a brown-skinned, dark-haired child of nonspecific identity, from bedtime to sunrise. Through voices of comfort, delight, charm, and adventure, their care for the child is evident and reassuring. Based on hair and clothing, this is likely a girl. Nevertheless, The universality of Child portrays someone exuberant and mindful, curious and committed to a big life.

Each poet speaks as BED, or PILLOW, BLANKET, CAT, DOG, CLOCK, ROCKING HORSE, BOOK, TEDDY BEAR, ANGEL, STARS, MOON, or NIGHT-LIGHT, before returning to BED just  as night ends and Child is rising. Each personifies the role and voice and insights of the focus object.

None (other than, perhaps, the rocking horse) imply luxury or privilege, so most children and families will be able to identify with the sleeper's experience. Using a variety of figurative language, poetic forms, word play, and tone, each poem in the collection provides mentor writing opportunities for kids with established literacy. 

No offense meant to the incredible Margaret Wise Brown, but I would happily endorse this as an alternative to GOOD NIGHT MOON. The art of Jen Corace is both ethereal and anchored in the details of each poem, from endpapers to the totality of the "story" that frames this anthology. 

Give it a close look and read, won't you? And keep in mind that Lee Bennett Hopkins quote, above. This would make a fantastic gift for a child in your life. 

Picture Book Series, Part 2 (Economics, History, Culture)

In a previous post I shared three of the five picture book titles in the    TRADE WINDS series by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
I wrote there:
The five titles in this collection are presented in picture book format and feature young characters in stories set during key periods in the history of global economics and culture.
Whew, that's a mouthful. 
As much as I advocate for using picture books across all ages, some intentionally instructive titles/series should be evaluated as academic tools rather than as picture books. 
That is NOT the case for the five titles in this set. Each could stand proudly on its own (and can be purchased separately). Each is a story featuring a young character whose narrative arc unfolds within a specific historic time and place. Each contains back page supplements, including a kid-friendly glossary and timeline, map anchors, and a few clarifying comments about the concepts presented, all of which are highly accessible to young readers. And each  is enhanced by elaborate illustrations that provide additional insights about the central concepts and cultures.

At this time in history, culture might be viewed as whatever meme last went viral, and economics can be seen as swipes of a card or chip or smartphone with little relationship to actual marketplace or economic principles.  We also live in a time in which wealth is amassed in inconceivable amounts and in fewer hands, making the money = power equation more relevant than ever before. Finding ways to anchor economic concepts within a broader global culture is a challenge, and these titles meet that challenge with engaging stories and helpful clarifications. 

The two remaining titles in this series convey important economic turning points in western history. GRANDFATHER WHISKER'S TABLE, written by Eun-jeong Jo and illustrated by Bimba Landmann, is another father-son story. In the mid-Renaissance era, Siena, Italy, emerged as the banking center of Europe. 

Enzo and his father visit to view the famous Palio de Siena horse race (which is still a thing!). Young Enzo is enthralled with the swirl of people, languages, and marketplace surprises, asking dozens of questions. He is particularly intrigued by Grandfather Whisker, who has settled on a bench in a marketplace stall with his strongbox. There he is saving, lending, and protecting valuables, exchanging currencies from around Europe, and recording each transaction in his book and providing receipts. (Did you know that BANK derives from the Italian word for bench?)
Enzo's story involves choosing a gift for a sibling, making a smart decision to ask the banker to hold it in safe keeping, then dealing with the dramatic loss of his receipt at the end of the race. The banker's lesson for Enzo is also valuable, and the specific banking vocabulary in back pages is still surprisingly current, even in our digital exchange era.
I found the illustrations to be evocative and I'm sure they will generate many curious questions from readers about the cultural patterns of that late medieval time: Complex buildings, walled neighborhoods, colorful clothing styles, heraldry, and more.

The latest period explored in this series is in LEATHER SHOE CHARLIE, written by Gyeong-hwa Kim and illustrated by Anna Balbusso and Elena Balbusso. The story opens in a small village in England during the Industrial Revolution. Charlie's grandfather is a master cobbler and the boy proudly sports his leather shoes throughout most of the book, earning his nickname and the title of the book. 
When his family (and most other families from small towns) moved to Manchester to work in the mills, readers are thrust into a 19th century mill town. Grimy tenement  housing looms throughout the pages, with Charlie's prized shoes soon offering the only vibrant color within the dull, suffocating images. Dangers and problems of child labor and unprotected industrial conditions are hinted at, with clarifying details developed in the back pages, including references to emerging labor organizations. 
One significant aspect of millwork forms the drama for Charlie's narrative. His mother develops a chronic and debilitating cough from the factory fibers and dust, but even with the whole family working they are not able to afford a tin of tea to sooth her throat. Charlie chooses to sacrifice his prized shoes to trade for tea. Even so, he can see a future in which he will leave the mills and train to be a cobbler like his grandfather. 

In both posts about the titles in this series, I've praised the informational content, the storytelling, and the scope and depth of the subjects and locations. When translating books from other languages, those qualities are not easy to accomplish. Credit goes to an author I deeply admire, JOY COWLEY, who served as editor for the series. She has a knack for writing in a down-to-earth yet creative and lyrical way, and her deft touch shines through in each book. It bears mention, too, that in each story there are aspects of kindness and generosity, family affection, and pursuit of learning. These elements make stories from long ago and far away feel relevant and recognizable to young readers.
I can't resist pointing out, and I hope young readers will notice as well, that the central characters are all males. Sadly, each culture and era portrayed was patriarchal. In that sense, the questions raised and comparisons made to gender equity in a modern world can lead to better understanding of how recently these changes have emerged and how many unfulfilled goals remain.
I hope that all of the above will give you reason to track down these books and give them a careful read. 

Full disclaimer here:  When My dad was a boy about Charlie's age his father died. That was during the depression, pre-social services safety net. He was the oldest son, so he worked with his cobbler uncle to earn enough money to feed his family. He handled deliveries and shop chores, but also learned enough of the trade to support his family throughout high school, repairing his classmates' shoes. As reluctant as I am to name favorites among any books, Leather Shoe Charlie has a special place in my heart. 

Eerdmans Books for Young readers provided a copy of the books in this set in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will donate this series to a local school and I recommend them to schools, libraries, and families. 

Some Educational Picture Books Worthy of a Second Look

Trade Winds is an educational series from Eerdman's Books for Young Readers. The five titles in the collection are presented in picture book format and feature young characters in stories set during key periods in the history of global economics and culture.
Whew, that's a mouthful. 
As much as I advocate for using picture books across all ages, some intentionally instructive titles/series should be evaluated as academic tools rather than as picture books. 

That is NOT the case for the five titles in this set. Each could stand proudly on its own (and can be purchased separately). Each is a story featuring a young character whose narrative arc unfolds within a specific historic time and place. Each contains back page supplements, including a kid-friendly glossary and timeline, map anchors, and a few clarifying comments about the concepts presented, all of which are highly accessible to young readers. And each  is enhanced by elaborate illustrations that provide additional insights about the central concepts and cultures.

I was intrigued by the subject matter- economics and culture with a world view. For kids growing up in a digital/swipe economy, one in which national and global policies are too often steered by massive corporate and individual fortunes, these are topics that deserve significant attention. I wondered if these would be books best used in the context of direct instruction and for older students, but my initial caution dissolved when I saw that the talented, prolific, and beloved author, JOY COWLEY, was the editor of all five books. I was confident that the stories would have both fluency and appeal. 
And I was right.

Three of the five titles will be reviewed here, with the remaining two titles considered in the next post. Each of the five can be read in any order and grouped/compared in various ways, but I chose to include in this post the three titles with non-European settings, stories that take place BCE (before the common era, or what we used to call BC). 

The earliest era portrayed is in THE WARLI PEOPLE, written by Hye-eun Shin and illustrated by Su-bi Jeong. It is the least story-based, in text. Instead, each double-page spread tells its story with a simple sentence, while the densely populated illustrations simulate the story/style of art and artifacts of the Warli People (from about ten centuries BCE). 
The core concept of this book is structured to reveal the many activities during the course of a year in an agricultural society in what is today coastal India. 
The Warli People had prospered into a complex agricultural civilization, one with an established and extended community structure: food production, recreation, specialized roles, social practices, and ceremonies. Most importantly, their secure economy allowed them to create a pictographic language using line art and geometric forms that are easily translated to imagine elaborate stories, rendering narrative text almost unnecessary. This book lays the groundwork for considering the cultural and economic concepts in subsequent titles. 
I can imagine readers of many ages poring over the elaborate visual narratives and telling/writing detailed stories of the events and characters pictured. Back content includes information revealing several Middle East civilizations that were comparably advanced during that era. 

The next story moves readers forward several centuries and many miles further north, depicting the SILK ROAD from eastern Asia (near modern Bejing) and extending across the desert and mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. 
FATHER'S ROAD, written by Ji-Yung Jang and illustrated by Tan Jun, follows a young boy on his first journey with his tradesman father. Wong Chung is old enough to begin his apprenticeship, learning the oddities, routines, and dangers of a camel caravan. His first person point of view and voice (directed to an imagined audience or perhaps a diary) draws readers into every aspect of what could otherwise be an alien experience. 
In the course of the book, Wong Chung enjoys spectacular views, surprising resources, and absorbs important lessons. He encounters bandits, a fierce sandstorm, and a chance to extend a helping hand. At the journey's end, the boy realizes that their destination, trading centers, are cosmopolitan intersections of people with varied languages, cultures, goods, and experiences from far-flung places, many he can't even imagine. 
For the youngest readers, this is a vibrant story that presents an adventure across global cultures and a vast time period. For older readers the story will intrigue, but the back matter provides a wealth of accessible content to expand understanding of the roots and relationships of global trade. 

In the previous books, exchanges involve bartering. At some point in our global economic history, "money" must come into play. LION, KING, and COIN, written by Jeong-hee Nam and illustrated by Lucia Sforza, shares, in story form, the origins of the first coins used in trade. In the sixth century BCE, in ancient Lydia (in present-day Turkey) Sardis was a large and prosperous village. The Pactolus River was also known as the Gold River because  
gold could be panned from it's sandy bottom. 
The young narrator, Laos, is the son and grandson of goldsmiths. Both smiths were renowned for their gold jewelry and other items. The boy describes the problems encountered on market day when a trader wished to purchase something, even something like a piece of fruit, but only had a large item, like an ox, to trade. 
In order to  improve transactions and to assure fair value during the trades, the king ordered that coins be minted. Each was stamped on the front with a lion emblem, a symbol of the king's authority. The back of the coins carried a special smith's mark, to prevent counterfeit coins. Various values were assigned based on the weight of gold in the coins. 

This charming narrative from the perspective of young Laos incorporates a story of King Midas to reflect a culture with oral traditions. The historic information is based on current archeological information about the first civilizations found to use minted coins. 
Once again, the back matter places this period in perspective with earlier and later periods, presents this village location in relation to the Silk Road, and explores precursors to traditional metal coins.

Stay tuned for an upcoming post about the two titles set in Europe in the modern era. Meanwhile, check out these titles and share links with educators and curious kids. There are far too few stories incorporating global history and economic basics. These books are very engaging and informative, making them a welcome addition to that limited pool of resources.


The five titles were originally written and published by Yeowon Media, Ltd. before being translated and published for an American audience by Eerdmans BYR. Copies of each book were provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.