MAKING THREE WISHES... for IMAGINATION!

Today I celebrate picture books that demonstrate and honor the irrepressible imaginations of young readers. George Bernard Shaw's quote is worth remembering:

“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”. 

The first is SUNDUST,

Kokila, 2025     CALDECOTT HONOR BOOK

written and illustrated by Zeke Peña. This adventure is set in the desert wildlife just beyond an urban 

landscape, beyond the "bulldozers and things that don't belong". There  cacti and hummingbirds thrive, there blossoms and scaled critters reveal themselves, there chrysalis develops and butterflies emerge, there sudden rains turn concrete drains into watery adventures. Throughout each step and discovery, the words are as crisp and revealing. The colors and lines, expressions and sprawls are expansive. As a vibrant, nearly-neon sun moves toward setting, the long day of exploration winds down and a mother's call is heard. Even so, the two friends linger long enough to watch the final sunset, gathering "sundust", feeling the universe of stardust within themselves. 

A day such as theirs is a gift, to them, and to  any reader lucky enough to open the covers of this book. Journey with them as they notice and appreciate nature at its finest. A marvelous world is waiting just beyond the edge of the everyday.

NEAL PORTER BOOKS
HOLIDAY HOUSE, 2020

Next up is a less reality-based adventure but one equally inviting. Author Philip Stead and illustrator Matthew Cordell have combined their creative talents in another cartoon-style picture book, but in an entirely different visual effect. Characters in SUNDUST feel firmly anchored in their habitat, even as their post-swim brown skin dries in cracks that resemble the hard-caked earth. In FOLLOW THAT FROG the text is more complex and adventurous, as are the various pages of full and spot illustrations. Speech bubbles combine with hand-letter sound effects, longer text, and cross-hatched and intricate drawings from quilts to chickens to dreamy-memory sequences related by Aunt Josephine. She recounts her youthful Peruvian adventure involving a giant frog who swallows an admiral's son. Succeeding pages reveal rides on ostriches and tortoise backs, pirates, misdirection, rescues. Throughout this surreal tale, a loud KNOCK continues. I leave it to you to fully explore (intentional word choice) the continents, critters, and comedy that bounces off these pages. 

NEAL PORTER BOOKS
HOLIDAY HOUSE, 2026

Finally (for today, at least) is a picture book that celebrates the cumulative creativity of kids left to their imaginations. Most cultures include the spontaneous game of ... "The floor is lava"... or some other assertion that requires survival by hopping from chair to couch, or even counter-surfing. In IF THIS WERE THE WORLD, written by Stephen Barr and illustrated by Ag Ford, the story spans one recess period in which various suggestions like the above example are shared, then each is countered by "we played that yesterday... or last week..."  or other indication that these imaginative kiddos are not afraid of big ideas. That's when a boy lifts a perfectly round orange from his lunchbox and challenges:

 "What if THIS... were the world?"

After sharing the juicy segments, other possibilities emerge- large spheres, a massive tree, and more. In each scenario they explore ways to use, share, and even over-use the supposed "world" in their imagination. Each fails to fully succeed. Finally, ... But I will not share the conclusion, despite the fact that I long to do so! There is such simplicity and depth to the conclusion that it feels nearly like a prayer. Not a formal or "religious" one, but a sense of awakening to ourselves and our place among our true world. The current moon mission has been sending color images of our amazing planet. That's a timely reminder of the power of awareness of just how precious our planet and our places on it and among each other really are. 

May you all, one and all, read these. And be inspired to PLAY!

Following Dreams: TO SEE AN OWL

The picture books i feature here are among those I consider the best of the best. THere's no denying that my choices are highly subjective, despite reflecting years of objective comparison among other offerings for readers. A big factor in my subjective choices is subject matter, whether fiction or nonfiction, informational or inspiring. Or any combination of the above. As regular readers here might have noted, and I openly admit, books about birds get a head start on my heart. Though I seek to feature books with wide appeal, in recent weeks I wrote about THE CRANE AND THE KEEPER (HERE), and THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST (HERE). Both are nonfiction with accounts that intrigue and entertain. 

RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO, 2023

It's about time I give a round of applause to a picture book that flies in the face of categorization. There's no doubt it is informative, and it is as uplifting as a whoosh of bird flight. TO SEE AN OWL is written and illustrated by award-winning creator Matthew Cordell. That cover alone suggests the ironic parallels within this story, the push and pull of an avid and curious admirer of owls (she's the one on the right) and an elusive, evasive great horned owl. Their eyes tell the story, in a sense, suggesting that the expertise of each (the sought and the seeker) rely on careful and intentional observation in their pursuit of what they most want.

This lovely offering of facts about owls couches the scientific information within the story of a girl with a lifelong dream. It's clear that her mother is in large part responsible for this girl's obsession since infancy, through shared books and encouragement of her interest and art. It's no wonder that even when less-than-enthused, her mother  tirelessly trudges along on many  sojourns to spot an owl. I've mentioned Jane Yolen's powerful OWL MOON in prior posts about books featuring this not-rare obsession, as in this post. Many of those who attempt to produce owl-pursuit picture books share a visual aesthetic with OWL MOON, and that's to be expected. After all, owls are sought in the the dark, in wooded areas, and more than occasionally in snow-covered times. That's when the ringing WHOOO resonates most clearly, floating above a moon-luminous, blue-lit snowy field or path. The art is often watery-washed and magical in tone, simply because such an eventual meeting is, indeed, quite magical and unforgettable.

Cordell's style and technique emphasizes line art, as the cover reveals. Color serves the story but often leans toward the subdued natural tones seen here. That technique underscores the storytelling in this restrained but heartfelt account of a devoted and determined young girl whose teacher turns out to also be a birder. One who affirms that spotting an owl is magical.

That connection is a bond that increases the girl's knowledge, skills, and intentionality in her pursuits. When the time comes to share her report, she has not yet seen an owl, despite her increased expertise. But her field map and accurate recordings of other sightings leads to a comment from her teacher that sparks hope. And the ultimate moment of meeting (really? that's a spoiler? No, it had to happen.) is powerful and direct, uplifting and gratifying, but not in the usual 'dreamy" way.

This is what I loved most about this book.This realistic, earnest character who recognizes magic without special effects. I continue to refer to "the girl", even though she is central to the story. The first person narration allows readers to find themselves seeing what she sees, feeling what she feels, dreaming along with her of a lifelong goal. One that doesn't win a prize or prove a point, but allows her to satisfy her dream. From the pre-title page art and text to the final page turn, the subtle art, the warmth of adult support and faith, the drive to learn and discover combine to produce a fully satisfying conclusion. 

If you read this one and come away without at least an urge to go owl-spotting, leave a comment and explain, please. Perhaps, instead, you followed the dream-pursuit journey to the place in your heart that will take you on an entirely different journey, but with no less dedication to making your dream come true. That's magical. The magic of picture books for any age.

 

EVERGREEN: A Sensitive Scaredy-Squirrel You'll Love

Fiewel and Friends, 2023

 How can you take even a quick look at that face and not long to read more about EVERGREEN? I couldn't ignore the cover, nor its author/illustrator/Caldecott medalist creator MATTHEW CORDELL. As someone who is besotted by birds, especially those in the wild, I've met plenty of outdoorsy folk who resent squirrels as "tree rats" and "piggies" who disrupt feeding stations intended for critters with feathers. I've never had that reaction, instead enjoying the antics of squirrels and recognizing distinctive personalities among those who do, in fact, consume the seed I intended for birds. During the first year of writing this blog I featured the CHRISTMAS edition of Melanie Watt's SCAREDY SQUIRREL, a deeply nervous critter whose many topic-titles entertain with humor and elicit empathy from countless timid young readers. In that series, Scaredy's worries center on very childlike concerns and are portrayed with cartoon-style, colorful  images on white backgrounds to enhance the connections with the real world of young children. 

EVERGREEN, however, manages to incorporate human elements within subdued, nature-toned full spreads and spot illustrations that  place kitchens and clothing and a little acorn-adapted soup container within seemingly realistic squirrel settings. Evergreen's adventures are depicted with pen drawings and watercolor, reminiscent of old-style folk tale illustrations. Keeping with that traditional approach, Evergreen's tale uses more extensive text than has been common in recent picture book publications, and the story unfolds in five parts, not unlike a classic dramatic arc for plays and novels. Each part sets up the next and presents challenges and obstacles for young Evergreen, resident of Buckthorn Forrest near Burr Valley. Most things make Evergreen afraid (heights, swimming, germs, thunderstorms - similar to Scaredy!). What comforts Evergreen is her mother's soup!

What troubles Evergreen is her mother asking for HELP. The first response of "I can't do it, Mama!"  is met with Mama's confidence in her, and explaining a compelling need. My first and ongoing thought in this first part was that this would be a squirrel version of Little Red Riding Hood, and there actually is a bit of that throughout. Soon though, as readers meet Briar the Rabbit (not a wolf in sight in this story), then Ember the Hawk (Yikes!), then Sprig and Squirt (toads), we realize that nature does provide threats or challenges, but also invites kindness and willingness to help those in need. If you've been keeping count, part FIVE is up next, and it brings the conclusion of the story. Will Evergreen arrive at Granny Oak's with Mama's healing soup? Will it help? And will that short resolve in Part Six allow Evergreen to arrive home safely? If so, will she be more confident or still frightened by everything?

This is a pure treasure as a picture book, but also lays a template for next-stage reading of short chapter books with more complex problems and characters, challenging simplified predictions, inviting compare/contrast discussions, and constructing complex character-development charts and cause/effect chains. I picked up my library copy of this book more than a month ago and have  read it and examined it a dozen times or more before writing this post. Evergreen is wonderfully modern in its adventurous and intricate situations and character portrayals. It is also richly retro in format, style,  and evocative narrative and illustrations/design, giving me a "comfort food" reaction just as effectively as Mama's soup comforted Evergreen. I really enjoyed this on every level and believe readers of many ages will, too.

A Trio of " Ones-That Got-Away" from our Cybils Finalists

When I began serving on the CYBILS Round One panel for fiction picture books I knew we'd read stacks and stacks of books. By the time the submission deadline arrived the list of eligible books topped out at 254! Long before we began the discussions that eventually narrowed our finalists list to seven, I was spotting remarkable books that were each, unquestionably, winners in their own right. 

With SO MANY amazingly impressive fiction picture books to consider, it was inevitable that not all would make it through to the finals. That in no way implies that non-finalists have "fallen by the wayside" or been "left in the dust". Quite the contrary. These and other titles not on our finals list are turning up in mock competitions in multiple categories. These decisions are difficult and undoubtedly subjective, regardless of best efforts to rely on objective critieria. 

The upcoming Winter Convention for ALA (American Library Association) will feature the official announcements of winners and honors titles in multiple categories. You can follow that news of the YOUTH MEDIA AWARDS on their press pages, here. I didn't bother buying a $2.00 Powerball ticket for a chance to win $800 million, but I'd put more than $2.00 down as a safe bet that more than one of these titles will be included among the honored and medaled titles in those announcements on Monday morning, January 11, 2016. Get a head start on reading them now, if you haven't yet, so you can feel smug and nod knowingly when the titles are officially listed.

Roaring Brook Press, 2015

Let's begin with a title from an author/illustration pair whose picture books have won a fair share of awards in the past, Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead. LENNY & LUCY  distinguishes itself for other stories about loneliness, fear, and change in ways tender and creative, 
shivering and reassuring.

I'd read so many glowing reviews about this before I got my hands on it that I half-expected to be disappointed. My reaction was quite the opposite. There are so many depths to plumb in this book, for readers, writers, illustrators and, above all, kids, that it is likely to remain a classic for generations. The background images (and color tones) are a story in themselves, but nothing outshines the subtle, gentle, powerful story of Peter and Harold, and Lenny & Lucy, and Millie, of course. 
Rather than rave (which is easy for me to do about this one) I urge you to get a copy for yourself ASAP. The library hold list on this one goes on forever. I try hard not to buy books if I can get them from the library, but even after reading and returning this one, I plan to own a copy.

Roaring Brook Press, 2015

Next up is a masterpiece written by Marsha Diane Arnold with pictures by Matthew Cordell, LOST. FOUND. This is a small miracle of a book in which two words lead readers on an epic, heroic journey from woodland walk to the establishment of a community of friends. The two title words form the total vocabulary for this story, so the reader must fully engage in each scenario as animal(s) depict a series of encounters with a colorful scarf. The illustrations romp, amuse, and propel page turns to reveal the unraveling of and eventual reconstruction of society itself. Creativity, cooperation, exuberance, and exasperation lead to confrontation then collaboration and eventual resolution. Humor and charm abound.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015

Both of the titles above are proving to be favorites of kids and adults. The same is true for those lucky enough to have discovered DRUM DREAM GIRL, written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez. This is destined to be a timeless classic and I hope everyone who reads it helps to make it so by recommending it far and wide.

It's a readable, very brief story in free-verse inspired by an actual multi-ethnic girl/young woman who overcame social taboos about girls drumming by force of her talent, determination, study and perseverance. Its category-bending nature mirrors the inspired and persistent girl's pursuit, couched in a book with rich visuals and language that can inspire readers, artists, and writers to follow their own dreams and talents. This story deserves more attention than it may garner in a crowded field of outstanding books, and should find a home with older readers as mentor writing text,  initiating discussions of social expectations and restrictions.

I'll feature even more titles in future days and weeks, celebrating announcements of winners like these and many others. Stay tuned to the ALA announcements and follow my blog for more amazing picture books, winners all: not because of medals awarded, wonderful as they are, but because these books are unforgettable and amazing. 

The Benefit of a Bad Example

This week I received the ARC for Gail Carson Levine’s new book of poems, Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell (Harper)


At only eighty pages, this little collection is jammed full of poems sharing the title, form, and unrepentant attitude of the famous William Carlos Williams poem:





This Is Just To Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold.

In an introduction that doesn't appear until page eighteen (after many poems have had their say), Levine lays out the simple pattern then challenges readers to write some, too. Her offerings involve topics ranging from fairy tale twists to sibling blackmail and beyond. Levine's wry perspectives and Cordell's wickedly clever line drawings put me in mind of a timeless favorite of my early years, Edward Lear.



As Edward Lear’s two hundredth birthday approaches, a year-long celebration of his life and life's work is underway.

There are many titles to explore, in books and online, but I love His Shoes Were Far Too Tight, by Edward Lear, Masterminded by Daniel Pinkwater, Illustrated by Calef Brown. Featuring colorfully portrayed favorites, this begins with Pinkwater’s biographic salute to Lear.

Lear was a game changer in children's literature, instrumental in generating a paradigm shift from “morality tales” about good boys and girls to stories and poems that were purely entertaining, (even if sometimes just a tad scandalous).

Pinkwater's blurb on the back fold shares his initial discovery of Lear. Like Pinkwater, I remember my first time, so to speak. I found a tattered collection of Lear limericks on a weekly library search and promptly proceeded to read anything with his name on it. Then I read them all again. And again.

From the inimitable "The Owl and the Pussycat" to his lyrical "A is for Apple" and on to his limericks (my personal pick as favorites), Lear never settled for the mundane, embracing nonsensical images and playful language that tickle the ear and the mind.
(Side note: Lear's line art can be seen on the introduction page of this book and in many online examples.)

I consider any comparison to Lear high praise indeed, and it's well-earned in Newberry-honored Levine's sassy and stimulating collection of false apology poems. I can't imagine anyone reading this without a smile.

And so, Ta-Da... my first give-away is officially launched:

Contest Rules!

Prize- One ARC of FORGIVE ME, I MEANT TO DO IT: False Apology Poems, by Gail Carson Levine, Illustrated by Matthew Cordell (Harper).

To Enter- Leave a comment on this post. Just say hello, if that’s all you want to do. But I’d love to read your thoughts about the post or the blog in general.

Deadline- Between midnight, February 26 and 6:00 AM, Wednesday, February 29.

Winner Selection: Selection from all entries will be completed using Random.org
If an alternate is needed, remaining entries will be resubmitted to Random.org.

Winner Notification- Winners will be announced on March 1, here and on Twitter @PBWorkshop. To be contacted directly, include your email address or twitter@ in your comment. Without contact information, winner must respond no later than Sunday, March 4 or another name will be selected.

Who May Enter- Everyone is welcome, but the prize will be mailed only within the USA. If you are from another country and want to enter anyway, the book can be mailed to someone you know in the USA.


Psssst- pass it on....