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! 

WHEN SCIENCE STOOD STILL (Not a Reference to Current Events)

I had the pleasure of working (virtually) with the author of this book while we shared responsibilities on a nonfiction CYBILS AWARDS panel. I enjoyed her thorough readings and comments, her balanced discussions and considerations of nominees, and her strong science background. That makes recommending this new nonfiction picture book a special pleasure. I would have endorsed it and encouraged readers to give it try if I had never met Shruthi, but now I can also feel an association with her success, although the credit for its excellence is all hers. And today is her new book's BIRTHDAY! Read on and join me in celebrating!

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2025

The opening lines of WHEN SCIENCE STOOD STILL: How S. Chandrasekar Predicted the Existence of Black Holes won me over immediately. They come before the title page and that is a design/editorial decision I fully endorse:

"When scientists get things right, 

Science leaps forward.

When they get things wrong, 

they learn from their mistakes,

and science still marches forward.

But sometimes, 

even when scientists get it right,

nobody pays attention.

Then, 

for a while,

science stands still."

Think about that. It certainly made me pause to think. And that 'think time" prior to reading really mattered to me. This new picture book, written by Shruthi Rao and illustrated by Srinidhi Srinivasan, reveals what is to me a heartbreaking astrophysics story. (Does that description also make you think? Heartbreaking and astrophysics in the same sentence?) There are plenty of heartbreaking stories of brilliance in sciences, math, the arts, etc. in which individuals and their discoveries or talents are overlooked or actively suppressed for a variety of reasons. Most of those reasons have to do with pride, power, prejudice, or pettiness of the general public or a specifically related access-group. 

I am a fan of both the illustrations and the fluid narrative text for this new story. The cover and the first pages reveal that this was a child, then a growing boy, who sought answers in math and science. He pondered the pages of adult texts in his grandfather's library and then pondered the night skies above the beaches at Madras, India. Weaving together hours of reading, puzzling, and imagining with confirmed facts of science, he arrived at a depth of understanding of how gases work inside stars. Eventually, while still very young, he combined equations and physics and insights to realize that dying stars could implode into black holes, something never yet known to exist.

Born in 1910, this conclusion came into his fertile mind at the age of eighteen. Science had no thoughts of such an entity, although today you could pose the question in many kindergartens:  "What is a black hole?" Most if not all of those littles would give a response that echoes Chandra's breakthrough theory.  At the time, though, this seemed a wild idea pulled from the dark, literally. Even so, his rationale and coherent theory about the nature and physics of stars won high praise among India's esteemed scientists.

The story reveals that this young, well-schooled, already accomplished Indian man longed to pursue further study and credibility in England, in part to prove his worth to those whose government had colonized, dominated, and too often dehumanized the people of India. With strong credentials, including multiple published astrophysics papers, he was given a scholarship from his home country and traveled to England.

Is anyone else guessing that his welcome and acceptance may not have been warm and approving? That was my prediction, but I was pleased to see that a prestigious professor praised and encouraged him, even sponsoring him at an academic gathering to present his paper. Here's where my age and experience had me feeling cautious, that things might not go well. The heartbreak comes with the strong negative reactions from that event, which I'll let you read for yourselves. 

Suffice it to say, it did not go well and the reasons behind it were potentially intentional. Possibly sinister, although that is uncertain. That response did, however, lead to Chandrasekhar eventually moving his studies to the United States, where he gained education, success, even fame for various accomplishments in his field. But not on this topic of Black Holes. What that early rejection did was to SHUT DOWN peer acceptance for his theory. His enthusiasm and solid data for his arguments could not get traction, leaving the concept of Black Holes in an academic black hole for decades. As the text so effectively and concisely states:

"Chandra moved on. But the science of stars stood still."

Eventually, other advances in science, including technology and computers, returned Chandra to this topic in collaboration with scientists from other fields. Advanced telescopes eventually revealed the first view of an actual BLACK HOLE, more than fifty years after he first argued for the concept with math and science to back him up. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in astrophysics. As much as this was a huge honor, he reported that his greatest thrill was having science finally acknowledge the truth of the science of stars. Illustration on the concluding pages offers a callback to the little boy still at the heart of a stargazing man, a personification of  the brilliance of stars. 

Back matter provides a thorough profile of Chandra's life, accomplishments, and intervening events. A timeline of the science related to this topic offers valuable sequential insights. Alongside are short passages relating the science of bombs with the science of black holes, some "Trivia" related to the subject, and resources. 

My heartbreak isn't that this took time (science does) or that a career was crushed (it wasn't) or that generations of students and scientists were denied access to studying this material earlier in their careers (they were). All of those realities are true, not only for this topic but for many others.  None of that is right or good, but is part of the reality within academia.  (SUBJECT TO FUTURE CHANGE, I HOPE?) 

My heartbreak is for that little boy who wanted to understand, who  was convinced answers existed, who found and argued for the truths of his theory, but was denied a legitimate audience for his thoughts. It's the SHUTDOWN of free discussion and consideration of ideas that is both emotionally sad and intellectually infuriating. This is also why this book is so important. 

Not only is this a celebration of a brilliant life. Not only is it an account of the long journey from initial theories to final proving and acceptance. It is a cautionary tale about ways in which truth can be suppressed, but assurance that truth can and will find its way to the light. Even in a black hole of denial. My recommendation to read this and share it could not be stronger. 

On a personal note:

I  share my own insights and values within these posts. I try to do so with openness and awareness that not all may agree with me, but I avoid political or direct conflict discussions. Even so, this book left me with some unavoidable contemporary connections that I feel compelled to share.

Today's news is filled with mixed beliefs, reactions, decrees, and distress, especially regarding the validity or reliability of confirmed science. That struggle is real, becoming more widespread, and makes this new book even more compelling. In a sense, the remarkable account of events in this nonfiction picture book left me with even greater concern about those who today deny proven science based on the claims of others. They might find justification in this approach at overturning proven science, thinking that the contrarian claims will one day be proven to be true, The difference, though, is that disputes with current issues (cause/effect of various conditions, effectiveness and necessity for vaccines, and even the reality of accelerated climate change through human actions) are not discoveries or investigations, math or science realities that reveal new facts. Or even science-based theories. They are, as most grounded thinkers affirm, simply claims. Many have been fully debunked through standard science evaluation. Many may be shaped by the same issues Chandra's work faced-- jealousy, power, even potentially sinister self-serving. None of this is mentioned or even implied in the book, but  such things floated through my mind during and after reading. That title, revealing how SCIENCE can stand still, is chilling. To some degree, the disruption of proven science threatens to make past progress and stability stand still, or worse. I hope you'll read this new book, and also reflect on the intent and background of those who are actively undermining science for their own purposes.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY, Shruthi! 
Readers, watch for an interview with Shruthi in a post coming soon!

WE CARRY THE SUN: Carry This Picture Book Home!

 

NORTON YOUNG READERS, 2025

Award-winning author Tae Keller's narrative talent is paired with luminous and thought-expanding illustrations by Rachel Wada in a gorgeous new picture book about... SOLAR POWER! Before assuming any preconceived opinions about current issues and attitudes regarding solar technology, read this, please. WE CARRY THE SUN is an examination of the all-important place of the sun in our human (and planetary) lives. Launched by intensely golden endpapers, the title page takes readers of any age back to those moments in which we view the sun's brilliance through tree tops. It entices us to stare but demands a raised hand to mitigate its intensity. The sun's incredible power to improve and enlighten our lives is captured in that image, while the title emphasizes the ironic reality that the power of the sun is both out of reach and immediately accessible. 

While this text describes advancing technology, it launches readers into the reality that the sun (which preceded even the formation of our planet) as essential to life. It became a concept in human lives only about six thousand years ago. The language in which this account unfolds  encourages readers to pair their lived experiences with those of the earliest humans just as they lift their faces to the radiant, warming sun. 

Within that same spread, questions arise. Could that natural warmth make its way into homes? Could the daily  and yearly arcs of the sun help predict lives through habits, temperatures, season, and migrations? Thousands of years of humanity's dependence on the sun for warmth and light quickly proceed to recent centuries in which fossil fuels provide some man-made benefits of the sun-- light and heat. Awareness of pollution is home/locale centered (soot and breathing issues), though some thinkers of that era realized that the wider community and planet could suffer as well. Even so, the central concern of the time was the possibility of running out of coal or oil. 

A series of less-that-famous thinkers have their pursuits described, from Augustin Mouchot's studies and experiments with heat traps for the sun and burning mirrors (used centuries earlier in China). A few decades later Charles Fritts explores those ideas further and finds ways to turn sun's light into electric current: the first solar panel! Then Bostonian engineer Aubrey Eneas moves to California for better access to sun and combines solar electric study with an ostrich farm!

Now you certainly must get the idea. Regardless of what you may have known about solar energy and technology, this exploration will take you to untraveled stories of those who contributed to technologies and innovation. Like Marie Telcos and Eleanor Raymond who together designed solar-efficient buildings. To israel where solar water heaters began with a black-painted outdoor tub to bathe a dirty child in warm water.

Even as the contributors continue their travels through time and the pages of this book, the illustrations incorporate lighting that mirrors the opening's glowing outline of the sun on a child's hand. The sun's light lifts, defines, and inspires humans.

As oil and other fossil fuels become more readily accessible (and profitable), the shift to sun as a resource is sidetracked, but not totally. A globe-spanning account of men and women see the need for clean, safe, efficient fuel. Their pursuits bring solar energy to tiny watches and computers and on into space travel, building design, and more. When voices of Earth-awareness advocates gain volume, ideas strengthen and extend to countries throughout the world.

The informative narrative is simple and direct, woven with lyrical phrasing and inspiring questions for readers, resolving as it began with the ultimate challenge: 

"What if we could do even more?"

The text and illustrations allow readers of all genders, ethnicities, locations, ages, and interests to find themselves within that challenge. The author note reveals that she began by wondering "who invented solar panels?". That led to this effectively broad account of various contributors to solar power discoveries and developments. Her note repeats a message I appreciated as subtly conveyed through the main text: every individual can contribute. It is essential that we do, and she provides simple ideas we can all do every day. That author note alone is worth reading aloud to kids and adults. A timeline of SUN power in human history takes two pages and back matter includes other resources for those who want to pursue more details. 

With that summary, it should be obvious that my praise for this nonfiction offering is at the highest level. Not only does the content provide accessible, exciting, and inspiring insights into what we too often dismiss or debate as as "solar power" alternatives. It uplifts our human curiosity and capacity to improve lives for our immediate needs and for future generations. A school-age child enjoying this book could well find toddler siblings sitting in rapt attention at their side, absorbing the illustrations as eagerly as we all look up at a sunny sky.

IT'S CORN PICKING TIME! A Must-Harvest New Picture Book

 In case you are unfamiliar, I want to call out author JILL ESBAUM as a master of rhymed text in picture books. Click on her name to see full shelves of titles she's created. Two of my favorite, most heart-tugging titles are WHERE'D MY JO GO? and TEENY TINY TOADY. I always think of Jill's books when I hear familiar advice to writers of picture books, that they should avoid rhyme. The second half of that advice is not always linked, but it matters the most...

UNLESS YOU CAN WRITE IN RHYME PERFECTLY! 

and, sometimes added...

UNLESS IT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL YOUR STORY.

That's a high bar indeed, and authors like JILL ESBAUM raise the bar even higher. Not all of her books are in rhyme, but those that are bring enhanced rhythm and pacing with lively and natural language to share the stories even BETTER than prose might. As someone who sometimes writes in rhyme, I consider Esbaum's books to be the gold standard for deciding if my rhyming efforts are improving the story or detracting from it. Her rhymed text, when she chooses to use it, make the results feel like those stories were BORN rhyming. 

 

NEAL PORTER BOOKS, 2025

IT'S CORN PICKING TIME, illustrated by Melissa Crowton, is an ideal example of excellence in rhymed text, with the added challenge that this is an excellent informational picture book!

The first lines made me imagine this would be a variant on "This is the house that Jack built." There are several superb picture books that use that template, and I had no doubt that Esbaum would do it well. But I was surprised and pleased to see that she used only that short intro phrase to explore (along with vibrant and only slightly abstracted images throughout) the people, places, tools, processes, and majesty of corn harvest on a modern farm. 

"This is a farmer, her hat and her gloves,

This is the farm, a land that she loves."

are the opening lines that set not only the launching scene for corn-harvest day but also the warmth and emotional depth of life on a farm. An effort to construct a cumulative text would not ahve allowed each of the elements of this remarkable process to shine on its own.

From the screeching barn door to the keys tucked on a high shelf, readers are invited into THIS SPECIFIC farm, to join THIS farmer in THIS harvest. It becomes a very personal experience, and the stages involved rise above what I know to be a dusty, hot, exhausting task into satisfying, gratifying, and important work. It is also clear that farming, though occasionally lonely, is not a solo operation. Various folks of diverse ages, roles, and conditions play important parts. Even random bugs have their very authentic place on the shed shelves. 

I was particularly impressed with the natural flow of language, with accurate terminology feeling natural and accessible within nearly musical text (chaff, auger, combine). The morning-to-night framework for the harvest story incorporates soaring scavenging birds, collaborative coworkers, prowling farm cats, a faithful watchdog, and young ones. 

This is a story in which the corn is the star, but the adult farmer (female, POC) orchestrates the performance. Another frequently stated "rule" of writing picture books is that kids need to play the lead role, to solve the problem, etc. As with the prior-stated advice, this is often true. Unless it can be done as masterfully as this. The adult farmer is in every way integrated with her own family, other workers, and even into a society at large. 

And the land. Always the land.

Back matter is handled equally well. Final spreads describe "LIFE ON A CORN FARM" through simple Q and As, along with enhancing spot illustrations. Jill and her husband live on a farm in Iowa, a home that has been in their family for over a hundred years. That suggests to me that the facts are reliable, but also that the heart of it is also authentic. As someone with farm family background, there's no denying that farming of any kind is demanding, wearing, and even sometimes heartbreaking. And yet farmers stay, and farm, and root themselves into the processes that feed us all. I admire this latest Esbaum effort  for its skillful informational content, for the natural cycle of a day on the farm, and, of course, for the perfectly written rhyme. Illustrator Crowton shares my the praise for the many ways in which the color, design, and details portrayed expanded the warmth and clarity of CORN PICKING TIME!

TALKING ROCKS AND MINERALS: A Winner in Nonfiction!

GROSSET & DUNLAP, 2025

Summer. 

It's the perfect season for outdoor life, including ROCK COLLECTION! It takes very little to spark an interest in that activity for kids, but TALKING ROCKS AND MINERALS: A Fact -Packed Guide to Geology will be invaluable for any kid. Written by Paige Towler and illustrated by Matthen Carson, this one will win hearts and heads of rock-loving folks of any age.

 Kids will love this lively take on a favorite topic-- rocks and minerals! In this case, intrepid little reporter, PEBBLE, carries the info-rich text from page to page and right into the eyes and hearts of readers. I mention those eyes because they are so effective-- sometimes simple dots or lines, sometimes very-much GOOGLY-eyed, and other times side-eyed or otherwise full of expression. Regardless, it allows the illustrator to achieve a very comic-like impression while actually rendering precisely-detailed examples of rocks, minerals, processes, and more accurate, integrated content. 

Labeled images start the work of text, adding short statements within image boxes then slightly longer narratives, as needed. This combination allows for accessible reading and acquiring essential facts without overwhelming. Processing time matters, especially when young audiences are so enthused and leap to conclusions. (I know I do, even though I'm far from YOUNG).This text approach, as snippets and labels and brief statements, allows time to examine, to reread, to think and connect.

This combo of user-friendly text and visual appeal also invites repeated readings with acquiring  even more info each time, from text and visual content. It is so easy to miss slight references and puns on a first read, ones that reveal themselves through repetition. Back matter includes a glossary (again, content is accessible), as well as activity ideas, useful resources for more information, and a brief but fun note from a marine geologist!

This blend of factual content, asides, puns, and figurative language make a wealthy resource for language development, too. Kids vary their  interests, of course, but rarely does a child walk past a colorful or intricately shaped rock without stopping to handle it, to peer closely, to wonder (internally or aloud) and likely to "save". This book at home, library, or classroom will be a bonus to any rock collector's shelf. 

Make Way for a WONDER: BIG BOY 4014!

Readers:

Here's a preliminary note about this book before my review. Arnold opens the account with this information, and it  says so much about what readers can expect from her level of research, insight, and accuracy:

“The trains are called Big Boys, but traditionally locomotives are referred

to as “she” by their engineers and crews. I have followed that tradition in

my story, referring to this iconic locomotive as “she.”

—Marsha Diane Arnold”

When author Marsha Diane Arnold takes on a subject, whether purely fiction (LOST. FOUND., or informational fiction (Armando’s Island and LIGHTS OUT), her writing is marked by deep understanding and accuracy in specificity and in the depth and  heart of the narrative. That’s true for the authenticity of emotional relationships as well as the factual frameworks that scaffold her heartfelt stories. The introductory note in this book reveals to readers that Arnold not only researched the  specific content, (the past, the process, and the present of these uniquely powerful behemoth locomotives), but also the formal and informal cultures surrounding trains and railroad enthusiasts. The use of she to reference engines conveys the affection and care they were given, while Arnold's opening note clarifies that the perspective and language of this new picture book should not be confused with conjecture or anthropomorphizing the engines based on that female pronoun. Arnold makes figurative language choices, creating lyricism and tone that invigorates inanimate hunks of steel and machinery to make readers care deeply while fully embracing the wonder of inanimate mechanics.

Now, on to the book!

SLEEPING BEAR PRESS, MAY 1, 2025

BIG BOY 4014 AND THE STEAM TEAM: THE WORLD’S LARGEST STEAM ENGINE ROARS BACK TO LIFE!  is written by Marsha Diane Arnold and illustrated by Adam Gustavson.Their combined talent allows BIG BOY 4014 to rumble off the page directly into readers’ hearts.

A description of this well-researched and expansively illustrated nonfiction book can’t be brief. Spanning more than a century of continental and engineering history, the contemporary opening provides a view of the massive locomotive engine, BIG BOY 4014, at her outdoor historical display. Arnold’s text masterfully blends the power and heart of BIG BOY 4014’s past with recent transformations that restored her status as a living legend. 

Details are intriguing, involving breathtakingly large measurements, functions, and accomplishments. Visual scales cleverly flip size relationships we typically experience when viewing scale model train displays. When BIG BOY 4014 hits the rails (originally or in restored condition) it's our human scale, correctly depicted, that appears as if miniaturized.

The narrative utilizes language laced with effective onomatopoeia, rhythmic repetitions that resonate, with language traveling over tracks and lyrical constructions that recur and link expanses of time. Not once is the massive engine personified, yet literary choices connect readers with the heart of the engine itself, across time and locations. Using “if steam locomotives could dream…” launches our imaginations, deepening our awareness of the original need for and impressive accomplishments of the original twenty-five oversized steam engines that made American expansion and development possible. 

The grand ambition of that original BIG BOY project would have been impressive enough, but this account, focusing on a single engine's return to work, BIG BOY 4014, lifts history to the realm of a journey/quest story while remaining firmly rooted in fact. It truly suggests a HERO'S JOURNEY, but with various heroes across more than a century. The heroes who first imaged such behemoth locomotives might be considered heroes for their grand imaginations and execution to open this continent from east to west. This is also about one survivor of that bygone era, one of eight BIG BOYS that avoided the scrap heap. BIG BOY 4014 benefited from its lengthy display and attentive care in an arid location, tended to by another set of heroes. Despite their care, heart-tugging descriptions ("cold ashes in the firebox", "cobwebs", "creeping rust"), and an empathetic narrative voice invite concern for the engine and underscore the magnitude of the STEAM TEAM heroes who dared to consider bringing BIG BOY 4014 back into operation. The heroes abound, including those with appreciation for its history.

The balance of factual information and inspiring “imagine if” tones are enhanced by the sprawling double spreads and ranging perspectives, billowing steam clouds, color choices, landscape backgrounds, and workspace views. As a reader I felt deeply invested in the ultimate success of their project. Readers will cheer alongside the illustrated crowds when BIG BOY 4014 takes part in an historic reenactment of the transcontinental railroad link with the GOLDEN SPIKE. 

Back matter takes those who are already interested (and I have no doubt most will be) into further stories surrounding this complex and continent-spanning endeavor. With a photo of BIG BOY 4014 in its restored glory and another with author Arnold hugging its grill, the empathetic responses of readers are fully satisfied. 

The author dedicated the book to the STEAM TEAM who did the remarkable work to plan and execute this transformation, and to railroad lovers. I have no doubt those folks will find and savor this account, but I suspect anyone who comes to the story for any other reason will leave it as railway fans, and that means they, too, are included in the dedication. 

I'm certainly not alone in praise for this new offering. How does an author capture such an enormous subject within the pages of a picture book, especially a subject with more than a century of history? Marsha Diane Arnold shared her thoughts about finding the heart of such an enormous story on a recent guest post with author Beth Anderson, whose books deal with similar challenges. I urge you to read it, HERE.

This post is scheduled for APRIL 30, 2025, the eve of the BOOK BIRTHDAY for BIG BOY 4014.

Join me in wishing a happy birthday to the book, sending congratulations to the author (who will answer a few interview question for us next week!) and the joyful journey of LOCOMOTIVE BIG BOY 4014.

An Invitation to the Botanical Gardens: Come Along!

 

In a past CYBILS AWARDS cycle I discovered an impressive nonfiction picture book written with the premise of a museum tour to reveal oddities within the human body, vestiges of once-important parts: THE MUSEUM OF ODD BODY LEFTOVERS: A Tour of Your Useless Parts, Flaws, and Other Weird Bits, Written by Rachel Poliquin and illustrated by Clayton Hammer. If you missed it, learn more about it HERE.) I found it to be an ideal blend of information, humor, discovery, and an irresistible invitation to learn even more. This treatment came to mind when I received a copy of a CYBILS nonfiction nominee for the current season. The tour approach is especially well suited for this VIP access visit, and the tone is both serious and appealing.

Get in line for this magnificent and memorable virtual tour.

Welbeck Books, 2024

Consider that  as your INVITATION TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, written by Charlotte Gullain and illustrated by Helen Shoesmith.

I was delighted with the excellence of this nonfiction approach to the function and contents of a botanical garden. The particular site used to illustrate the many aspects and appeals of a complex botanical garden is a place I'd like to visit... again and again. Just as I will revisit this book often.

The material within its many pages (and multiple fold-out expansions) can reach audiences of various ages. The detailed and colorful illustrations will absorb the attention of even quite young lap-readers, while the labels for each area and element are readable for slightly older ones, and are likely to spark conversations. The smallest text for each and every labeled component elaborates on the science and systems at work to make these distinct aspects  of a botanical garden contribute to the success of the whole. These details are specific and intriguing, making a fantastic approach in  developing content area information for older readers and adults alike! 
Careers can be found and pursued through using this book- from scientist to archivist to photographer to field worker to educator/docent to gift shop manager and more.
This is a book worth spending time on, and worth gifting to many potential readers.

WHEN BEAVERS FLEW... (You read that right!)

RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO, 2024

The lively title of this new picture book provides a first taste of its effective approach to sharing a highly successful environmental rescue operation. WHEN BEAVERS FLEW: An incredible True Story of Rescue and Relocation is written by Kristen Tracy and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. As the author note in back indicates, this was a project ahead of its time "to use coexistence techniques to peacefully solve problems". This was referencing directly the mixed blessing of beaver presence, but can and should be carried through to most conflicts we have with nature and humans.

What are those mixed effects of beaver habitation? On the plus side, beavers reshape the environmental design of their habitat: expanding wetlands, gnawing down trees, inviting a vast array of other wildlife to the area's offerings, turning rivers and creeks into ponds and lakes. 

On the negative side, see all of the above. 

When McCall, Idaho, began to grow from a rustic, lightly populated area, the increasing beaver population was seen as detrimental- an intrusion on buildable land, destruction of newly planted greenery and trees, and concern about rapidly multiplying beaver populations. This is as much an account of Fish and Game Warden Elmo Heter as it is a recognition that  the PRO side of beavers' engagements with nature can be managed successfully.

He realized that an excess of beavers would inevitably lead to a call to trap and kill them. His clever conception was to remove most of the beavers to an area in which they would benefit the environment, thrive in population, and allow local development with a manageable number of beavers to enhance that region naturally. His science and environmental background suggested non-invasive transport approaches (including pack mules!). The intended region for relocation was seriously inaccessible. Thinking "out of the box", he paired random information about excess parachutes available cheaply after the end of the war with brainstorming about ways to safely launch and land beavers into this wild paradise. 

STEM and science processes take center stage as the minimal text and easily understood illustrations reveal multiple examples of the many "NO"s that preceded eventual success. (No beavers were harmed in the process.) Finally, enough variables and test runs and resulting escapes to freedom were considered before a single beaver, nicknamed GERONIMO, was flown, dropped, landed, and successfully "sprung". Repeated tests encouraged a full program.

The various field science elements that went into making this such a success are briefly but clearly mentioned- weighing, aging, pairing, and identifying drop areas all led to the wide population of beavers that now inhabit an extremely isolated conservation area. Their protection (and survival) are well-documented, shared now after years in which this project and its originator were generally untold.  Geronimo and seventy-five fellow furry explorers transformed large swaths of what is now the largest protected roadless forest in continental United States. That's success on any scale.

Forgive me for including so much detail, but each element in this project was fascinating and begged to be shared. Elmo's efforts and success call for celebration through text that invites page turns, surprised and a very satisfying ending. The illustrator is from Bogota, Columbia and a back note explains the intricate indigenous stones wall art tucked behind a pack mule on one spread. Throughout, the territory is depicted with a blend of welcome and grittiness, with the actors (human and otherwise) offering appeal and admiration. Resources are included in the back matter, and  School Library Journal gave it a starred review. I hope you will, too!

ALMOST UNDERWEAR: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled From Kitty Hawk to the MOON and MARS!

 

Christy Ottaviana Books
Little, Brown and Company 2024

Did that headline get you? I can't imagine it didn't, and the cover of this new picture book will attract young readers as much or more. ALMOST UNDERWEAR: How A Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty hawk to the MOON and MARS is written and illustrated by Jonathon Roth. 

This delightful nonfiction picture book is a winner on many levels. 

First, progressively smaller swatches of sturdy muslin fabric (woven for use as the ubiquitous but unglamorous role of becoming underwear) are showcased in their roles in aviation history. Spanning the years from 1903, and experimental situations from Dayton, Ohio to Mars, this clever and true account of lesser known science history is gently personified with two eyes and a set of expressive eyebrows. 

That muslin cloth served as wing coverings for the Wright Brothers early attempts, with a small swatch honored as part of a travel pouch accompanying Neil Armstrong on the first Moon landing. Decades later an even tinier swatch from that original bolt of fabric became part of the experimental helicopter flight on Mars, launched by one of the Mars Rovers. This appealing cloth/character makes the span of more than a century read cohesively and compellingly.

Next, the illustration approach uses a visually clever technique, mounting full spreads or small inserts of photographic images from actual sites in Dayton, from Kitty Hawk, from the lunar module and the first Moon landing, on to helicopter test flights on Mars. Those dramatically anchoring images are inset with (or framed by) charmingly simple art that depicts the people and activities that are depicted.

Finally, the subject matter of flight, space exploration, following dreams, and innovation are strong hooks for many ages and backgrounds. The backmatter includes a helpful author note as well as an illustrated glossary/explainer about six of the advanced technology tools being used in space exploration. This will be a hit and offers a bibliography for anyone seeking further details!

Don;'t be surprised iff you need to wait on a library hold for quite a while, as i did. That might encourage you to purchase this as a holiday gift for someone who will love it!

HOW TO KNOW A CROW: The Biography of a Brainy Bird

Whether you already know what a fan I am of birds and bird books, or not, I'm telling you to READ THIS BOOK! 

Whether you already know, or not, that I support picture books for any age, but especially for use with older readers, I'm telling you to READ THIS BOOK!

Whether you think crows are pests or varmints or troublemakers of some kind, or not, I'm telling you to READ THIS BOOK!

Now let's get started...

HOW TO KNOW A CROW: The BIOGRAPHY OF A BRAINY BIRD is written by Candace Savage and illustrated by Rachel Hudson. 

Before I comment on the complex and compelling content of this remarkable book for upper elementary and middle grades, I want to say I was not surprised at its excellence. It was produced by a true dream team of creators. GREYSTONE BOOKS for KIDS is a Canadian small press with an intentional approach to producing books celebrating nature, indigenous people, and environmental themes for young readers. By inviting author Candace Savage to take on this project, they called on board an established nonfiction nature writer (and CROW expert in her own right), then enhanced the project by using an illustrator whose sole focus is nature, Rachel Hudson. The result is a picture book for older readers, one whose illustrations DO support and clarify the text, but also include science-based charts, insets, and other visual materials that enrich the content without disrupting the flow of thoroughly appealing narration. 

Savage's voice, language, and engaging style invite readers to be co-discoverers of the astonishing workings of a single, particular crow whose very nature will never have a  "single" mode. The familial and larger flocking patterns of crows, especially American Crows, are attributed to instinct but also to generational learning and innate intelligence. Those socialization processes are intriguing and sometimes even jaw-dropping. None are antropopmorprized or assigned human thinking or intentions. Trust me, crows are fabulous enough that they don't need us to pretend they are human.

Finally, enter the book with me. 

At 106 pages it is far from a typical early picture book. Text per page is usually several paragraphs, written in third person but as if able to closely accompany a first-to-hatch crow from a clutch of five. Oki is the designation for this seemingly fragile, utterly dependent crow. Its development and growth eventually lead readers to understanding AND appreciation of the inner and observable workings of American crows. We also meet and learn about Oki's immediate family, extended family, and broader crow society.

Each step along Oki's three year journey reveals further scientifically verifiable aspects of crows' lives and aspects of the science behind them. Examples of insets are identifiers of various crow subspecies, science diagrams, behavioral patterns, and much more. These have small icon tags called "CROW LAB" and encourage readers to actively engage with nature/science activities suggested. In most cases a short  "pro tip" is included to suggest direct connections to readers' lives. This text design and formatting allows readers of many levels and interests to read from front to back or dip in and out to follow trails of observation in the real world or simple curiosity.

Throughout these revelations, Oki's observed behaviors range from sound/song production, communication, intelligence, and brain structures to crow intelligence compared to other animals. And so much more. If you are imagining that this is dry or dull, think again. The familiar tone (as if spoken aloud to a nearby kid)  and related illustrations in each case pulls readers closer and closer to crows, providing tantalizing tidbits and facts but also developing a solid foundation of information about the high level functioning of crows. 

If you thought chimpanzees and other primates are the only species (other than human) capable of constructing and using tools, think again. If you have trouble remembering faces, get a crow tutor. Crows easily tell each other apart. Rarely can humans identify individual crows without tags or odd physical variants. Crows recall identified human faces and REMEMBER, as well as holding grudges when needed. 

Stop me now. I could (and would) go on and on about the many ways I admire crows and am more curious about them now than when I began. I'd put money down that readers will feel the same and enthusiastically tell others about what they learned. Back matter includes the usual nonfiction materials (glossary, index, etc.) but also bibliography and resources. The author's note clarifies something (includes a SPOILER about Oki), and allows readers to recognize the variety of ways in which animal science can serve us- in science laboratories as well as in the field. 

I also enjoyed a recent adult memoir by Amy Tan is THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES and it came to mind while I read this. In it, Tan recounts how she became a careful observer of birds, sketching and recording and learning along the way. The many Crow Lab insets and Pro Tips in HOW TO KNOW A CROW may yield a cadre of long-term bird-observers, sketchers, and journal-writers.

I hope you can feel how much I like this. Without scrolling back the top of page, READ THIS BOOK!

Girl Power and PHYSICS Forces!

 I have always enjoyed PHYSICS, and that was long before I took my first class to study it. Physics describes and explains and makes measurable the forces around us that keep us (and the universe) in motion and balance. I grew ups playing ping pong, pool, slinky, swimming, and all the other things that kids (who are lucky) can do. In each case FORCES were at work and I was figuring them out in the moment: gravity, buoyancy, spring, and more.

SOURCEBOOK EXPLORE, 2024

This new nonfiction picture book is an ideal resource for so many readers of many ages, from littles to adults. THE AMAZING POWER OF GIRLS: Meet the Universe's Most Powerful and Invisible Forces, with words by Maria Marianayagam and pictures by Skylar White. It's written in a quick-paced, clear-eyed way, framing the basic forces of physics (as above, and more) with examples and descriptions while offering parallel ways in which girls demonstrate and apply such force in their roles in the world. The overall premise suggests a lively science/STEM classroom of club space led by an engaging and inviting female teacher/leader and attended by a diverse, attentive, and clever batch of girls/young women. The application shifts take them from that dedicated space into the community and real ways that they have force and power without being forceful or threatening. That's unless you are threatened by empowered young women.

Some of the other forces explored include magnetism, nuclear power, tension, and friction. You can imagine the countless ways in which those forces, in terms of physics, can also reference women of any age in a world that sometimes tries to force them into or out of roles. The  overall text is lightly applied with elaboration in the illustrations, including simplified indicators of physics forces, including vectors, spirals, and more. Diversity displayed is extensive, suggesting identities, interests, adaptations, and potentials. The author note also indicates the importance of encouragement, with the author pointing out that her own engineer-father always provided opportunities for her to explore and engage with science and math throughout her life. 

STEM has taken center stage in many aspects of publishing and educational approaches, but this is a grand example that directing aspects of science principles and challenges at girls and young women is a natural and valuable approach with lighthearted sincerity and appeal.

Well worth reading and sharing!

A Woman Who Raced for the Stars: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut

 Everyone knows this hard truth: Becoming a NASA astronaut is a daunting challenge. 

BEAMING BOOKS, 2024

That has been true from the earliest days of space travel, and continues to be true today. JOURNEY TO THE STARS: Kalpana Chawla, Astronaut, co-written by Laurie Wallmark and Raakhee Mirchandani and illustrated by Maitreyi Ghosh, shares an impressive true story of a young girl who eventually reached that goal. 

What ARE the requirements? Check NASA's page, HERE. Better yet, read this terrific new biographic account of a remarkable young girl who grew up in love with the sky! The requirements are all in there, and she met/exceeded them but still faced setbacks. You may be one of those people who is afraid of heights of any kind, or one who loves flying, or even one who mountain climbs or otherwise enjoys extreme height sports. Kalpana Chawla knew, even as a young girl in India, that a view from on high was thrilling. She craved it. From her family home rooftop she would watch for passing pilots to wave and imagine herself up there, flying with them. 

That's just the opener for this chronologic profile of the first woman from India who followed her dreams and became a NASA astronaut, meeting every one of those requirements, and more. Author Laurie Wallmark is widely admired for her picture books that celebrate Women in STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math). I've reviewed several of her titles and posted interviews with Laurie HERE, HERE, and HERE, among others. 

In many cases, cultures, and eras, girls/women are actively discouraged from (if not outright denied) pursuit of their interest in STEM areas or access to  attend the institutions that help lead to successful careers. In the case of Kalpana, her parents provided both encouragement and opportunities at early ages. The steps and stages through which she proceeded toward her goal are described as straightforward and inspiring, revealing not only hard work and persistence, but also her  determination and joyful engagement in these studies. She also developed whole-person, whole life activities that assured the fitness, endurance, and broad knowledge that contributed to her eventual selection as a NASA astronaut.

Chawla's two space assignments were on shuttle flights, but she also fulfilled many other successful assignments. Despite various delays in training, she acquired those skills and worked in NASA's control center while preparing her for inflight experimentation and her role as controller for the robotic arm. Throughout it all, she fully embraced her identity as an American citizen but also her Indian cultural heritage, including foods, music, sports, and her own personal history. Co-author Mirchandani provides a  note on the back pages to share the importance of Chawla as a role model in her own life and in sharing those successes with her own daughter. Chawla is not the most widely known NASA astronaut, in part because her life was cut tragically short. I was impressed that this fact was not centered or used to launch her story, or even included in the main text. This woman's life and career is inspiring, based on her lived values and accomplishments, not just because she was one of several astronauts whose lives were lost in a NASA accident. Don't miss her honors listed on back pages, and the timeline will make clear how many impressive and courageous accomplishments she packed into her short life.

Illustrations are vibrant and exciting, with Chawla's fascination and enthusiasm for so many interests and pursuits shining through at every age and situation pictured. The quality of the pages/paper enhances the brilliant, saturated colors that offer contrast between the many deep indigo sky backgrounds and the colorful figures, expressions, and clothing, or even the background white-space on some pages. The spine and endpaper "astronaut orange" choice is ideal. I'm counting on each of you to share this with girls, especially, but with any child who has big dreams and might not be getting the validation and encouragement to help support them into their futures, where setbacks too often become stop signs. Chawla's life models the truth that delays or rejections can be seen as opportunities to forge stronger paths forward. And don't wait for (or limit this to) WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

Another Notable Nonfiction Picture Book: Meet Maria Mitchell, Astronomer!

CRESTON BOOKS, 2023

 In this post heading I chose to feature the subtitle of a new biographic picture book because Maria Mitchell deserves to have her name more widely known. HER EYES ON THE STARS: Maria Mitchell, Astronomer is written by the impressive and award-winning author, Laurie Wallmark, with powerful illustrations by Liz Wong. Wallmark has written both nonfiction and fiction titles, some of which I've reviewed here, here, and here. She is widely recognized for her focus on WOMEN IN STEM. 

In this important work, Wallmark again writes a story that engages readers with well-researched content, beginning with a scene of young Maria spending moonless nights on the rooftop of her home with her father, exploring the starry skies through his telescope. Tracking and making sense of those skies and patterns, safely viewing eclipses, watching the repeated patterns of the waxing and waning moon combined with nightly star-studies fill her with knowledge and questions.

I especially loved the description of an event revealing how knowledgeable she was though very young. She calibrated a whaler-captain's maritime chronometer-- an essential navigation tool --because his urgent request was made while her father was away. Maria's lifelong understanding of mathematics and astronomical instruments allowed her to provide the necessary answers, despite the captain's doubts of her ability at only thirteen years old. This was also despite Maria's birth into the early years of the nineteenth century, when girls and women were often considered uneducable, or at least not worthy of work beyond domestic shores. She lived a life that included a scientific father who believed his daughter had a brain, and in circumstances that allowed her to use that privilege and blessing to continue to examine the night skies with the attention and consistency of a dedicated scientist. 

This was an accomplishment of note, but the event that marked her for history was her identification of an as-yet unknown comet on October 1, 1847. She knew that her discovery should be reported officially, immediately, because others might also have noted the comet's appearance and location. When the esteemed official bodies of scientists made their final rulings, Maria was found to be the first woman ever to have identified a previously unknown comet. That marked her as a success, of sorts, within the astronomical community, but it was barely a halfway point in her long life and career as a scientist and studier of the night skies.

The back matter is (as always with Wallmark's nonfiction books) a rich and readable resource for those who finish the account of Maria's life in the main text with a sense of awe. There are plenty of additional facts and resources (timeline, bibliography, author note) and each is provided in ways useful to young readers and to the adults who might share the book with them. In this case that is especially suited to the life story of a girl whose parent became her mentor and guide, supporter and admirer, as she piloted the night skies where no woman had gone before. At least not with such success. 

The illustrations merit attention not only for their evocative and appealing tones and color choices, but for the extensive information they offer without intruding on the story itself. From double page spreads to insets and spot illustrations the images clarify science details, expand on aspects of the surrounding history and culture of Maria's lifetime, while conveying a quiet reserve and deliberation that seem to be good descriptors of her approach to life. 

Don't miss this title. And don't miss any opportunity to spend time in the dark outdoors on a moonliess night to see what it was that inspired Maria Mitchell to such greatness!

Happy Book Birthday to 365: How to Count a Year!

 When it comes to picture book releases, a celebration is always in order. Some, though, merit extra attention. That could be due to their unusual topic or treatment, the timeliness of the material, or connections with curriculum that hook readers from page one. Even more than those features (and others) are the track records of the author and illustrator who create the book. 

I am as excited as everyone else when a debut picture book creator knocks it out of the park. It is truly thrilling, and I watch for more offerings from those remarkably talented folks. That was the case for the debut picture book by author Miranda Paul (ONE PLASTIC BAG, ISATOU CEESAY AND THE RECYCLING WOMEN OF THE GAMBIA, Lerner). Since that initial publication, I have praised her picture books (both fiction and nonfiction) in several posts here, here, and here. Her work has garnered positions of honor  on "best of"  and notable lists, have earned many starred reviews, and developed more than a decade of fans among kids, parents, educators, and librarians. Just insert MIRANDA PAUL in the search option of the right sidebar here >>> and you'll see that I am a longtime fan. You'll also find a wonderful interview she participated in some years ago.

BEACH LANE BOOKS, 2023

Speaking of years, that is the topic of her latest release, launching TODAY (September 26, 2023). I was delighted to receive a signed review copy from Miranda (with no promise of my response) and am even more excited to share it with you on the book's birthday!

Of course there are plenty of calendar and season-themed picture books, as well as ones with math twists. In this case, the new release not only confirms that reliable creators are always producing books worthy of our attention. 365: HOW TO COUNT A YEAR also offers unusual twists on prior calendar-focused titles. 

Beginning with the straightforward (and familiar) starting point that most years have 365 days, the very next page-turn sparks engagement with references to 365 routine happenings, explored with humor and surprises. Yes, 365 good mornings and good nights, but also, "hopefully, 365 pairs of clean underwear". The fun continues with accurate, amusing, and curiosity-inducing narrative, shifting to the ways in which such big numbers  can be made friendlier by grouping into weeks or months. In a clever circle-story cycle, the text revolves back to the twelve months and a full year,  in which that long-awaited, once-a-year birthday returns. This is a seemingly simple subject that is executed with shining success in the text.

Now, about those illustrations! Julien Chung is a prolific illustrator whose characteristic approach is to make "out-of-the-box illustrations for children's books." He is true to form in this latest of at least twelve picture book creations, many of which deal with familiar topics in lively and smile-inducing, brain-stimulating ways. In this case, the cover illustration alone reveals that his vibrant but seemingly simple images are layered with levels of connections and comical appeal. That lion (irresistible, right?) travels throughout in countless roles: as the face of the morning sun, the model for that daily underwear change, and countless (pun intended) other ways. The cover also is a masterful approach to retaining focus on the big idea- 365 days make a full year, completed with that return of a birthday celebration. In fact, though, the overall images invite a pause to examine it more closely, hinting at the complexity of that year. Those include the solar system's role in creating one trip around the sun each year, the role of calendar concepts, and even aspects of this topic that are not directly addressed but allow for further investigation. Did you notice that MARCH is the calendar page LION is roaring toward, coming on strong? From jacket/cover, to front and back endpapers, to each colorful spread, time-related connections are revealed in the illustrations that are not directly addressed in text but expand understanding and inspire questions and "AHA" moments. (See yearlong phases of the moon on the "365 goodnights" spread.)

I urge you to celebrate this lovely release with me. For those of you who are new to Miranda Paul or Julian Chung, this is likely to nudge you to get your hands on more of their work. I have no doubt you'll agree with me that they are picture books worthy of cake and ice cream, but mostly, of reading and sharing.

Time-limited note: Until Saturday, September 30, 2023, this is a personal invitation to join her in celebrating her new release. Wish I could be there!

FROM MIRANDA PAUL: I want to personally invite all of you to join me for a Book Birthday Party at Lion's Mouth Bookstore in downtown Green Bay on Saturday, September 30 at 11:00 a.m. The event is free, and there will be FREE gourmet cupcakes and cake from the fabulous local bakery Bake My Day. (With some gluten-free ones!). I'll be signing books and doing a very short presentation. Mostly, we'll celebrate life and just hang out for an hour.