QUICK NOTE: No Place Like HOME!

 

Eerdman's
Books for Young Readers
2024

When a  picture book gains wide acclaim, I realize that I need to squeeze in my own "AMEN!". That's true even though I had intended to take a few days off from posting. 

That's exactly the case with a picture book collection of poems entitled HOME. This remarkable book won starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness. It also made the Middle Grade NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK LIST from ALSC and is a A 2025 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book from American Library Association. That certainly will get my attention. I hope it gets yours, too!

I'm always thrilled to share another remarkable picture book that spans so many genres: poetry, science, empathy, all with phenomenal illustrations. Regular readers here will know I'm a sucker for bird books, and this is no exception. Actually, the poems and illustrations focus on twenty-seven different animal species, but still- look who made the cover! Written by Isabelle Simler and translated by Vineet Lai, the poems are elegant in their full text and absolutely glow with imagery and figurative language.

Some further thoughts about it follow:

This poems ih this gorgeous collection are inspired by distinctive animal homes/structures, including water and land creatures, animals from insects to sea critters to mammals and birds. The book format is narrow and tall, with full spreads that glow with both detail and impressionistic appeal. The poems incorporate accurate terminology yet sing with mood and style. It's no wonder this book has won awards. It belongs in classrooms, libraries, and homes.

So, despite not having time to post for today, here it is! I hope obsession to get this out to reader will inspire you not only to read and share the poems, images, and information, but also to take a closer look at the marvel of nature that surrounds us. Spring has its hand on the latch of the gate and will make appreances soon. Don't miss the show!

 

Before There Was Old MacDonald: Don't Miss This!

CLARION BOOKS, 2025

May I present, for your reading and sharing pleasure, a recent fiction picture book that will make readers of any age smile. THE MAN WHO DIDN'T LIKE ANIMALS is written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by LeUyen Pham.

I'll avoid a spoiler here, but call your attention to my post title and the book jacket's tagline:

Before there was Old MacDonald, there was...

THE MAN WHO DIDN'T LIKE ANIMALS.

Deborah Underwood is a reliably entertaining and original storyteller, and this is a delightful offering that probes the ways in which people can change, and ways one thing leads to another. The cover illustrations (and throughout) enrich an already lively and appealing "series of events" tale with incidental details that actually build to the very clever ending. 

The hard case cover of the book is quite different from the jacket, but both reveal the essentials. The "animals" in the title are eager to appear and provide some surprises. The neighbors (and neighborhood itself) is a very pet-centric community. And the "man" of the title is caring, but NOT for animals of any kind. The man prefers a tidy home to animals. Plants, on the other hand, lend beauty without mess. 

Before the actual text begins, endpapers and dedication pages set the story in motion, revealing some untended animals and the least likely guy to offer help. Apparently, various animals in search of home missed the memo and are tolerant enough of his attitude to win him over, one (and more) pet at a time. Early on, the pet-loving neighbors display their satisfaction that he has changed his mind. In time, word among the animals spreads and surprising developments ensue. It's enough to change minds again, of the "man" and the neighbors. But with surprises. 

There is a definite shift in emotions throughout, from page to page and arrival to arrival. This is an ideal story to share with the very young, but also serves well for early readers who are just becoming aware of predictions and internal relationships. This offers benefits of patterns with similarities and slight shifts in the short but powerful trajectory of a single picture book story. The humor is suited and subtle, inducing smiles for kids and adults alike, even on repeated readings. The visual details throughout invite close examination on every read. Don't miss this one, and take a look at other books by this talented author.

CYBILS Awards Countdown.... Nonfiction Elementary GIft Ideas

 Here are a few short notes about several of the nearly one hundred nominees for elementary nonfiction books. From resource/reference books to superb storytelling, there are plenty of holiday gift ideas for young readers you know:

Creative Editions, 2024

Herbal Activities for Kids: 50 Nature Crafts, Recipes, and Garden Projects (Paperback) by Molly Meehan Brown will become a go-to favorite throughout the year. Also a superb gift idea for a teacher or youth leader.

The publisher's description of this lively content calls it a compendium, and it truly is that. With elements of the natural world intended as art and craft  media, the narrative text provides concise and accessible information about nature and science, while sparking awe at the diversity of our environment, its functions, and  its potentials.

This is a "just right" book for crafty kids (and adults) but will likely invite curious observers to examine its pages and perhaps give a few activities a try. Great for school and home libraries, or even as a table top book.

WELBECK CHILDREN'S BOOKS, 2024

MEET THE CATS, by Kate Peridot, is a title that will introduce readers to a series. If you love this one, check out the other nonfiction topics they offer.

This adventure-packed nonfiction picture book invites readers to tag along on a virtual global search for the "Big Cats" of the planet. Each depiction reveals distinct species differences but also provides parallels to other big cats and cats as a broader category. The repetitive patterns within the content presented allow for clear comparisons, and the premise of ma young child making the trip has deep appeal. The early notes to prepare with camera, notebook, and art supplies offer strong support for field work and full engagement in the process of observation and analysis in the field. 

The young adventurer uses the information provided to consider preferences and/or engagement.

The connection to the pet cat at home is not only charming, but allows for preview of facts and agency for the young observer.

And here's a title for those who savor flight, space, humor, and history: Almost Underwear: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon and Mars, by Jonathon Roth. I had this (and more) to say about it in a recent post:

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 miss other titles by this space-loving author!

And that's only a few of the many remarkable books I enjoyed reading and evaluating since nominations began. You can find more great titles in this link to other CYBILS nominees in nonfiction and other categories. HERE.  Books are a superb gift, at the holidays or any time!

HOW CAN WE BE KIND? An IMPORTANT Question.

 

The premise on which I launched this blog more than a decade ago is that picture books are for every age and should NEVER be considered just a "stage" that children move through and leave behind once they can read chapter books, even early ones. (I won't elaborate or link my thoughts on that, but if you are new to this blog, scroll down my archives and read a few posts from the earliest days of posting in which I actively present my point of view.) 

I have reviewed here many of the picture books by talented Pat Zietlow Miller, but not her New York Times best-selling BE KIND (Illustrated by Jen HIll). I love it and keep a stock of copies on hand to use as gifts, but readers were obviously finding it without  needing a boost from me. In it, Miller's kind-hearted main character struggles with the central question: "What does it mean to be kind?". The age of the characters, with a layered plot and interactions, make that book an excellent choice for sharing  and discussion with individuals and groups who are school age (and older!).

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, July 2022

That's why I'm excited to celebrate a new picture book by the equally talented and prolific Janet Halfmann, HOW CAN WE BE KIND? Wisdom from the Animal Kingdom. Her title question explores the same premise, but frames nonfiction text with animal groups as examples of ways that little ones can recognize in their own lives and those of their families and communities. Illustrated by talented Darla Okada,  this text incorporates global animal groups as examples of instinctive behaviors that increase the survival and comfort and FUN of living in groups and communities. While a few of the samples will be familiar to North American audiences, most will be new to little viewers (and their adult readers!), yet they subtly expand our awareness that caring for others, benefitting from companionship, support and security, is a universal and natural way to live. 

It is also a delight for those audiences who are still lap-sized, with no personal connection to the school scenes and situations in which the Miller's story unfolds. That's a fine way to reveal that academic world in a gentle and comfortable way while revealing that answers don't all come from walking through school doors or through direct instruction while seated at a desk. Some of the most important life lessons are learned through respectful interactions with others.

What I celebrate in this new offering  is the language and format of Halfmann's latest, both  perfectly suited to the littlest eyes, ears, and experiences. The opening spread frames the question with human faces of many ages and ethnicities/identities, visually confirming that people of every kind can find ways to answer this seemingly simple question in the following pages.  Double page spreads reveal that question with images of a particular species demonstrating caring behaviors, followed by more double-page-spreads with  different species before returning to that central question. Each turn provides the name of the animals shown within the natural text of the questions and responses, framed as "We can __________ like ________". Those things /ways we can be kind are accessible and natural in everyday life, offering even the youngest toddlers an opportunity to consciously choose to "be kind" as the ubiquitous mantra extols us to be. The things we can learn include looking after each other, sharing, making others feel welcome, working as teams, putting others first, and even making others laugh! The animal examples include globally familiar creatures like ants and bees, but also European badgers, capybaras, European jackdaws, and more. 

I was especially a fan of the animal choices, to expand the underlying universality of the messages which is direct but not didactic, and also because the choices of species are visually similar to other animal "relatives" from around the world, keeping the examples very relatable yet inspiring curiosity about "new" discoveries. Halfmann, as always, does reliable research and found a way to answer some initial questions in user-friendly back matter. Small inset illustrations of each animal is accompanied by a short passage describing the actual species patterns depicted. Care was given to assure that these sometimes big-eyed critters reveal, in colorful, natural ,cartoon-styled art, the actual look and behavior of the animals in GROUPS, with no exaggerated humanizing by walking on hind legs when that is not the nature of the animal, etc. By the way, I recently reviewed a CAPYBARA picture book which made a fan of me, and would be a great companion title for readers captivated by less familiar animals. 

The text and images combine with small-hand-friendly trim size to make this a direct and delightful nonfiction favorite among the youngest set, but one that has potential for becoming an individual's memorable treasure, or to spark eager exploration of animals and their behaviors. Even in a single read, it will generate a deep-seated sense of how to be KIND. Always. Every day. The text and presentation also makes this an ideal candidate for translation in many languages, which has happened for many of Halfmann's prior titles.

In a recent post I mentioned an older picture book by author Janet Halfmann, GOOD NIGHT LITTLE SEA OTTER. Halfmann's appreciation of nature and environment are relflected in these titles and in many others for this target age. A lifetime of writing has honed her skills in writing and directing the curious content she discovers toward the developmental interests at various ages and for the purpose of the book, especially for these youngest audiences. In the case of How Can We Be Kind? , as with WHO IS SINGING? (previously reviewed HERE) she demonstrates mastery of producing well-researched and appealing nonfiction content in delightfully age-appropriate non-fiction picture books that are lovable in themselves but also spark interest in learning more and exploring the natural world. If any of these books appeal to you, visit Halfmann's website, HERE, to learn more about her current and past titles, and to follow what's coming next.

Speaking of Animal Books... POINTLESS?

As I planned for this super-series of reviews about nonfiction picture books from among more than a hundred CYBILS AWARDS nominees, I scheduled a different title  for today. So much for plans. 

Let me explain.

When a nominated book is not available from local sources, publishers are asked to send a copy to each of the "Round One Panelists" to allow for thorough consideration before the evaluations end. I had just saved and scheduled the review for today when a delivery truck dropped off a package containing a nominated book. That's not unusual, and I expected to check it out to see if I would provide a review, or not. 

Let's just say this book decided for me.

Happy Yak/Quarto Publishing, 2021

TA-DA!  THE WORLD'S MOST WONDERFUL POINTLESS ANIMALS, is the irresistible creation of Philip Bunting. This is not his first dive i nto the alchemy of humor and animals in picture books. Click his name to see other samples of his work.

This is also not the first "cheeky" approach to picture books I've read, and they are often loads of fun and definitely kid-magnets. The shocking idea of having text crossed out, with sassy/snarky remarks inserted, RIGHT THERE ON THE PAGES OF THE BOOK, is a very successful hook, regardless of the content, both fiction and nonfiction. 

In this case, the oversized, traditionally designed format  suggests some giggly kid with a marker, sprawled in the stacks of a library, adding page after page of editorial commentary to a seldom-read resource book. Well, the hook and approach pulled me into a chair immediately, compelling me to at least take an initial browse.

A full hour later I closed the back cover and began this post. There are so many ways in which this book earns its place in my heart, in classrooms for many ages, on library shelves, and as mentor text for the countless teachers/students who complete animal research projects while learning to write expository/informational text. Often, illustrating their subject information along the way.

So, step up, young and old, to learn from Bunting. Using all the traditional patterns of an encyclopedic/scientific treatment of a subject, the author has included seventy-five animals, both familiar and lesser known, organized with a table of contents, and illustrated with cartoonish images that are both humorous and informatively accurate. The standard (seemingly original) text incorporates valuable details about each species, including both common and scientific names. That last detail is consistently crossed out, replaced with a pseudo-Latin descriptive tag. Some examples: MAYFLY (Ephemeroptera) Hereus Todayus Gonus Tomorrus, and CAPUCHIN MONKEY (Cobus imitator) Peepee stinkipaws. 

Come on... Can't you just see the cluster of kids leaning in around this open book?

Throughout the pages, the illustrations manage to reinforce actual science content while providing that giggly kid with opportunities for more short phrases pointing out various qualities and species details. These include scientific content but in that handwritten style and winking humor that will make the facts unforgettable. Within the style and language of traditional expository text used in the main passages, humor and surprises are sprinkled throughout to engage readers with the full text for fear they might miss something. For example, the MYOTONIC GOAT (the ones that fall over "dead" when startled) is described thus: 

"When startled-- say by an unruly dog or a breakdancing farmer-- ...will tense up, causing the  goat to fall to the ground as if it has fainted."  One of the inserted/handwritten comments on the illustration above text is this: "Somebody should teach them about the flight or fight response."

As I said... COME ON...!  That reference to "flight or fight" will either resonate for those with background knowledge or might generate an entire side exploration for some readers.

 I could go on, but I won't. Kids will.

With the benefit of readability from cover to cover (ask me about my unintended hour in a chair) or ready access for "dip and sample" reading, this unexpected offering from a very small press is a perfect example of an undiscovered nugget of immeasurable value. I highly recommend it as a gift for anyone. Some would be particularly suited audiences ("I don't like to read"-kids, "I read everything already"-kids, "Reading is boring"-kids, "I'm too busy to read"-kids, etc.) but also for every classroom, library, and individual teachers and kids. If you give it to a kid, please ask them to share it with you. 

Animals are irresistible anyway, and books about them often generate smiles (See a previous post, HERE). This approach, though, will amplify those smiles exponentially. Seriously.

YAY for Big Brothers: Interactive Nonfiction At Its Best

Arbordale Publishing November, 2021

When author Janet Halfmann has a new picture book, I pay attention. Her titles range from powerful biographies to informational historical accounts intended for established readers, to lively and light text for the youngest readers and their families. Among these she has won numerous awards/stars and praise from reviewers, organizations, states, and countless readers/fans. I've reviewed and recommended several of these in prior posts, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

 

Halfmann has a unique ability to find and explore unknown or seldom told histories/stories, as well as recognizing original approaches to everyday topics. Here's what she says about the inspiration for this latest release, YAY FOR BIG BROTHERS! 

"I was inspired to write this book when our toddler grandson became a big brother. Becoming a big brother is not always easy, and I thought all big brothers needed a book to celebrate them." 

That thought led her to investigate big brothers in the wild, resulting in this colorful and clever nonfiction picture book by Arbordale, a publisher whose special benefit includes appealing nature books. This title and their others include four pages of excellent back matter, a section called CREATIVE MINDS, offering age-appropriate learning activities and glossaries, extended facts, and Q/A based on charts and tables provided. 

 

In this interactive text, Halfmann writes approachable and informative examples of animal families in which sibling behaviors have been observed, ones that mirror ways human big brothers (or sisters!) might act. Crows help feed younger broods, wolves teach pack patterns through play, Tamarin monkeys and beavers carry siblings on their backs, while naked mole rats and African Wild Dogs babysit and keep smaller ones safe. 

On each spread, the example provided includes a prompt question framed as: Do you..., What can..., How does... ?  All of these allow potentially NEW big brothers or sisters to predict and imagine how they will interact with a coming younger sibling. This will continue to be valuable as siblings grow together and share experiences during ensuing years. 

The bonus in this approach is the likelihood that this will spark enthusiastic curiosity about familiar and unusual animals, sending kids to the back matter and beyond to investigate. I can imagine them noticing and more closely observing animals in the wide world of nature.That thought led her to investigate big brothers in the wild, resulting in this colorful and clever nonfiction picture book by Arbordale, a publisher whose special benefit includes appealing nature books. This title and their others include four pages of excellent back matter, a section called CREATIVE MINDS, offering age-appropriate learning activities and glossaries, extended facts, and Q/A based on charts and  provided. 

In this interactive text, Halfmann writes approachable and informative examples of animal families in which sibling behaviors have been observed, ones that mirror ways human big brothers might act. Crows help feed younger broods, wolves teach pack patterns through play, Tamarin monkeys and beavers carry siblings on their backs, while naked mole rats and African Wild Dogs babysit and keep smaller ones safe. 

On each spread, the example provided includes a prompt question framed as : Do you..., What can..., How does... ?  All of these allow potentially NEW big brothers to predict and imagine how they will interact with a coming younger sibling, and continue to be valuable as they share experiences during ensuing years. The bonus in this approach is the likelihood that this will spark enthusiastic curiosity about familiar and unusual animals  (all mammals), sending kids to the back matter and beyond to investigate. I can imagine them noticing and more closely observing animals in the wide world of nature.

Arbordale Interior, 2021 (Shennon Bersani)

Halfmann's illustrator for this book is Shennen Bersani, who captures a wonderful blend of accurate details and interactions in portrayals of animals in natural habitats, suggesting many of the parallels to human behaviors reflected from the text. 

 

If you've ever pondered what kind of gift to take to a baby shower, or a birth gift, this should spring to mind in the future for any families in which the newcomer will have an older brother. Easing that sibling into the spotlight, providing a gift directed at them specifically, and valuing their adjustments and altered responsibilities are gifts in themselves.

 

Check out the details in the interactions of these Wild African Dogs.

                    Arbordale, Interior YAY FOR BIG BROTHERS (Shennon Bersani)

This delightful new offering (available in both English and Spanish) was due for release in September, but delays in supply chain and shipping are affecting the publishing industry across all genres. If this sounds like a book you need sooner rather than later, for a particular child or for potential needs to come, it can be preordered now and shipped immediately on its new release date, November 2, using this link to book sales.

Learn more about what's coming next (and past publishing successes!) with the following links:

Janet Halfmann website: https://www.janethalfmannauthor.com

On twitter: @Janet Halfmann

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janethalfmann

 

 




A WHALE of a New Picture Book: WHOLE WHALE

 You've never met a child whose classroom experience involved  a daily "counting to one hundred" activity, or celebrated 100th DAY by preparing a collection of "one hundred somethings"? If not, I feel safe in betting that you've never met a child who goes to school. In fact, if you click above, you'll find more than a hundred Pinterest ideas/images that have been used for these activities  Or, just do an online search for 100th Day celebrations to find links for even more ideas, including links to this practice in other countries, cultures, and continents. 

Barefoot Books, 2021

That's why I'm expecting to hear global cheers for this new picture book, WHOLE WHALE, with words by Karen Yin and Illustrations by Nelleke Verhoeff. The premise of this oversized, colorful, animated (by active scenes and by an increasing array of animals), story far exceeds a simple number/concept book. 

Opening with the inviting expanse of a nearly bare, shiny-white, double spread, a few animals recognize a wonderful place to gather and play. Could they fit one hundred, even in such a massive space? The next pageturn challenges that- surely not a whole blue whale? Each successive turn adds a few rhymed lines in which types of animals are named and pictured. Some are familiar, many are not. Each is portrayed with cheeky-to-charming expressions, oddly-scaled sizes, in part and in whole, continually returning to that challenge- a WHOLE WHALE? Not likely!

That descriptor is, of course, important. Some arrive with evidence, but not "whole": scales, hoofs, etc. But a WHALE? A WHOLE WHALE would be entirely impossible, wouldn't it?

The rhymed text remains tightly-metered and story-propelling while incorporating quality vocabulary, less familiar animal species, and specifics such as  collective nouns: "a pod, a pack, a pride, a prowl". They come and go around and among pages, in full voice: "Just listen to them howl and growl."  

Mid-book, the question naturally arises- even if they could fit a WHOLE WHALE, could they all get along? With pleas to stop crowding, the essential line arrives on a very crowded page:

"When  everybody makes some space,

One more can always find a place."

I loved that the underlying theme of this book is as rich and dense as the language itself. The push is on by the assembled menagerie, not to eliminate or separate anyone, but to literally MAKE SOME SPACE, resulting in a double-gatefold that allows these large, glossy pages to unfold to arms' width- and more. Wide enough to allow a WHOLE BLUE WHALE to join them all as the one-hundredth  animal! A challenge is included on that last line, for little (and BIG) readers to find and count all one hundred, adding a final page turn that offers an illustratedl/numbered account of the full one hundred animals.

With ONE HUNDRED DAY experiences being ubiquitous, it's safe to assume that there are a vast number of picture books that focus on counting to one hundred. (Likely, there are more than a hundred titles, of  varying quality, but I didn't search or count.) I can assure anyone interested in pleasing a young learner or their teacher that ONE HUNRED DAY books and related items will be put to good use. I can even more confidently recommend that THIS book is a delight for a wide range of ages, and will be returned to often, certainly more often than a simple  number-concept book would be. It will also intrigue, generating curiosity about the actual size of a WHOLE WHALE, about the other animals and their sizes and habitats and names and more. It will also make a lovely touchpoint/reminder to MAKE SOME SPACE when things feel a bit crowded in groups or when someone is treated as if they are not a good fit. 

This is one of those picture books that I first read about, somewhere, and what i read caused me to check it out from my library immediately. Now, as i search for reviews and posts online, I'm not able to locate that original review, or blog post, or tweet or whatever first caught my attention. Barefoot Books is a small traditional press, but even so I expected this book to have more public praise by now (released in June). Wide praise is well-deserved. I hope that my post here will catch your eye enough to check it out and recommend it to others, if you find yourself to be as big a fan as I am. 

LAST CALL: Back to School with HUMOR and Deep Thoughts

 By today, the day after Labor Day, the last of the holdout schools will be back in session, even though many others have been whirring along since early August. These two picture books have in common that they will fit right into early days/weeks of classroom communities, one with humor and one with reflection about how and where we learn. 

Philomel Books. July, 2021

MY SCHOL STINKS! is cleverly written in first person diary format by Becky Scharnhorst and illustrated with delightful detail by Julia Patton. 

This is a laugh-inducing premise, involving a tentative and nervous student, struggling to be brave and prepared for a first day at a NEW school. Incorporating advice from parents that, while valid, prove unsuccessful (deep breaths, think happy thoughts). 

The illustrations are jam-packed with hints and giggles, demanding a close look on the first read but promising and delivering) even more surprises on return reads. In opening spreads our little bespectacled student draws a map that foreshadows the wrong turn that launches this surprisingly exciting and stinky school experience. With frequent word play, alphabet-linked characters like Charlie Crocodile (with enormous teeth), Betsy Beaver (who chews pencils) and George Gorilla (who picks nits), this diary-driven account of first schools days reveal the ways figurative language can be confusing. Reporting to parents that new classmates are wild animals does not elicit sympathy, since all kids are wild animals, right? 

There's humor-aplenty, and layers of details that will serve to spark discussions about fears/anxiety (deep breaths), making friends, and not judging others based on first looks or assumptions. The twist at the end is a delight and will leave more than a few adults nodding and blushing at themselves. 

TUNDRA BOOKS, 2021

Moving on from fiction/fantasy/humor to a nonfiction/reflective profile of an incident with the  daughter of Charles Darwin, this story travels back more than a hundred years and invites readers to share their walk  on the OVAL THINKING PATH that Darwin developed on his property. ETTY DARWIN and the FOUR PEBBLE PROBLEM is written and illustrated by Lauren Soloy. With earth-toned illustrations and a spotlight firmly fixed on young Etty, they tavel the thinking path to consider various questions. Among them is Etty's question about fairies. It's no surprise that Darwin, always a scientist, expects proof, while Etty wonders if the burden of proof should be on disproving their existence. 

This lovely father-daughter exchange and inquiry offers entertainment and enjoyment, In addition, it is a subtle feast for the eyes, suggesting appreciation for the many ways in which Darwin used observation to build his theories and draw his conclusions. Etty's attention, intellectual debate, and appreciation for her/their relative roles within the larger lives of planet Earth model an inquiry approach to learning. A short author note in back extends the experience by describing the roles Etty assumed as an adult who worked closely with her father in his writing and scientific studies, even though that was a rarity for women in the mid-19th century.

 Besides genre and era, there are multiple ways to contrast and connect these two books. In the first, the animals in school are frightening and fanciful, while the Darwins' walk inserts this gentle pair into nature itself, welcoming an opportunity to think among the critters who reside there. The first title is clearly fanciful while the second feels familiar and focused. the first reveals the story in a journal/diary writing style while the second is written in direct narrative voices. Both are styles of writing offering mentor texts for students own literary craft and growth. Last,  but not least, one is set in a classroom while the other is an example of home-based schooling, an apt comparison for the many students who have experienced both actress the span of a pandemic.

I encourage sharing these two titles in classrooms and homes, whether this is a first week of school or you are already heading into the second month of the school year. There's plenty to enjoy and learn from in each, and even more when they are shared/compared together. 

ROAR-Chestra: A Wild Story of Musical Words

 I'll attempt to be as concise, graceful, and compelling in celebrating this new picture book as the author and illustrator were in creating it!

KIDS CAN PRESS, 2021

ROARchestra: A WILD STORY OF MUSICAL WORDS is written by Robert Heidbreder and illustrated by Dusan Petricic. Take a moment before reading on to examine this remarkable cover and venture a guess about what awaits your attention within these remarkable covers.

ROARchestra is a masterpiece that strikes exactly the right balance of text, illustration, and page design to produce humor, information, poetic joy, and visual delight. 

Heidbreder, I discovered, is a widely celebrated Canadian poet, especially for children, but this was my first encounter with his work. It won't be my last. The seemingly simple intention is sharing the seven most familiar musical performance directives, drawn from Italian:

ALLEGRO  (lively)

ADAGIO  (slowly)

GLISSANDO  (gliding)

STACCATO  (short, crisp)

DOLCE  (sweetly)

FORTISSIMO   (loudly)

PIANISSIMO   (quietly)

The (genius) premise is that the maestro/maestra has gathered an orchestra of bow-tied animals   who will perform/demonstrate each directive using their natural voices and habits. Again, examine that brilliant cover!  A pattern unfolds across fifteen double spreads, as follows: The conductor is alone on a white double spread, a single directive from the above list appears on a musical staff, and that baton sweeps demonstratively to suggest the intent of the word.The page turn is "performed" by the "section of the ROARchestra" (my quotes) suited to that interprestation with a single line of lyrical descriptive text- as in 

"Quickly, swiftly-- race, run fly!" (text quotes). 

Go ahead, imagine that. Then get this book and go wild! 

Kids will. 

I did.

I'm certain you will, too.

The endpapers and cover suggest the full-throated commitment of the illustrator to celebrate the joyful exuberance of this premise, of the 29-total word text, and of the imagined music that could accompany these talented animals of air, land, and sky.

Do yourself a favor and read it. Then think of everyone you know who could find even more layers of musical love, laughter, and inspiration in this remarkable book. Music teacher? Music student? Class or family planning for a visit to an orchestra, now that things are opening up again? I can guarantee that anyone who explores this book will never again view the back of a conductor and not recognize their remarkable skill and talent to guide and reveal the sections of the orchestra, the masterful intent of compositions, and the life-force of music itself.

 

An Irresistible Nonfiction Winner by Melissa Stewart

Peachtree Books, 2018

Here's a recent picture book that will win fans at any age.  PIPSQUEAKS, SLOWPOKES, and STINKERS: Celebrating Animal Underdogs is written by the superb and prolific nonfiction author, Melissa Stewart. The illustrations by Stephanie Laberis are as appealing and impressive as the sparkling text.

Just look at that title! It speaks for itself about the delightful vocabulary, wordplay, humor, and figurative language that lifts this nonfiction picture book to that special category of books capable of entertaining as thoroughly as they instruct. Stewart's many awards attest to the ways in which she has refined her talent in this arena. It is on full display with this presentation. Stewart presents ways that some less-than-familiar animals use oddities of size, coloration, body parts, aroma, behaviors, and other traits that fall far outside those considered "cute". The illustrations by Stephanie Laberis manage to capture Stewart's lighthearted but accurate descriptions of animal adaptations that have allowed these unusual critters to survive beyond the more-familiar types of "camouflage". 
For example: instead of "small" or "tiny", there's a variety of frog who could "perch on your pinkie", "puny peewees" pursued by predators with huge teeth and razor-sharp claws. These alliterative phrasings and word choices delight on the first read and invite MANY repeated readings, including as mentor text for young writers. 
As is typical of Stewart's books, the back matter offers cameo illustrations of each of the twelve featured creatures with short accessible paragraphs revealing added facts. 
Stewart's dedication is to kids who feel bullied with a reminder that what others may see as weaknesses may actually be a strength. Laberis carries that thought forward to the various critters who have been served in a favorite wildlife hospital. Additional writing insights and teaching resources are available from Stewarts  website, where readers will find an abundance of titles that win hearts to science, and a reassure of resources for teaching and extending learning related to this book and her other titles.

Don't miss this stellar nonfiction picture book for any age. While you're at it, you may want to take a look at some of my previous posts involving amazing science writers, adaptations, predators/prey.

Countdown to Lifetime with Author Lola Schaefer

Author Lola M. Schaefer

I’m delighted to have this opportunity to interview Lola Schaefer about her very-soon-to-be-released picture book, LIFETIME: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives. I’ll admit I loved the concept as soon as I heard it described. Having a copy to read and examine cemented that feeling and I can’t wait to post my review of it on launch day, September 24.

Chronicle Books, 2013

I’m a fan of Lola’s books on many levels- as a reader, teacher, gift-giver, mentor, blogger, and workshop leader. Her titles offer something for everyone, ranging from picture books with stories that reflect many ages, to I Can Read titles, to titles that explore non-fiction topics for all ages, in partnership with some of the most incredible illustrators in the publishing world. When I featured AN ISLAND GROWS in a recent post we began some email conversations and she graciously agreed to answer a few questions about this latest release.

So, without further ado, welcome, Lola, and thank you for being here, virtually. (Lola's comments below are in blue.)

I always read every word of picture books, including author notes (which this one has) and every bit of the back matter. In the back matter for this title you mentioned that you were curious about animals’ lives and wanted answers not directly available, so you found a way to get your answers with math. How/when did these particular “wonderings” about animals first occur to you?

That’s a difficult question to answer, Sandy. I’ve always been fascinated with the natural world, so I assume that some of these questions have been simmering in the back of my brain for many years. The entire concept of LIFETIME came from my editor. It was her mindstorm, not mine. As soon as she told me about her idea and asked if I would like to write it, I began listing animals and behaviors that intrigued me. And like all research, one question about one animal leads to another and another and another.

 

Interior spread, LIFETIME, Chronicle Books, 2013

 I admire the language patterns and word choices you used for each double spread display. Each page begins with “In one lifetime…then states the fact simply. Yet the small additions of comments and animal sounds emphasize how distinct each species is. Was the writing as challenging as the research?

Oh, for this book the research was definitely more challenging. It nearly took eighteen months to find animals with features/behaviors that might work. The writing of the actual text was fun. Most of the comments either add a detail or a little humor. It’s playful writing, and I hope the reader enjoys it.

This reader certainly did!

 

Interior spread, LIFETIME, Chronicle Books, 2013

 The back matter makes it clear that your research included many more animals than those in the final publication. How did you go about choosing these specific animals, and then which to include and which to leave out?

The editor and I knew from the beginning that we wanted a series of spreads that would showcase features or behaviors ranging from 1 to 1,000. Initially, most of the creatures that I explored had numbers that were all too low or astronomically high. It definitely was a treasure hunt. The added challenge came from the fact that many of the statistics found online are inaccurate. So, I needed to get a general idea from those kinds of sources, but continually contact experts in the field to verify. Sometimes I would be excited about an animal and my editor would point out that the behavior would be too difficult for an illustrator to show. Other times we would agree that a chosen animal would be too blah, or boring for the book. In the end, after months of work, I chose fifteen animals. Of those, we agreed on the ten that are in the book. I have to admit that I was quite giddy when I found out that the female reticulated giraffe is 200 inches tall and has 200 spots. That double whammy really tickled me.

I’ll admit that the giraffe information was my favorite, and I especially admired the illustrations on that spread, which I’ll describe further in the upcoming review. I love that this book will appeal to every age and can be integrated in conceptual activities from the youngest to advanced readers. Was the additional back matter (further examples, demonstrations of your calculations, and a few simple word problems with data from other species) your idea, or your editor’s?

Many of the literary or narrative nonfiction titles that are published for children today include back matter. Both the editor and I knew that we wanted to offer more details than could be effectively used in the main text. We also knew that the different levels of information could reach a varied audience.

So far I've shared the book with a few student audiences - giving lots of behind-the-scenes explanation, of course - and they have been enthralled. The text has sparked lots of thoughtful questions. That's what I love – a book that stimulates critical thinking.

 

Interior spread, LIFETIME, Chronicle Books, 2013

Your illustrator, Christopher Silas Neal, also illustrated Kate Messner’s UNDER AND OVER THE SNOW. Both books have subdued tones on matte paper, both show simple figures with surprisingly accurate details, maintaining very natural images. Did you have any voice in the selection of your illustrator or the design of the book?

Each publisher works with authors a tad bit differently when it comes to signing an illustrator. What I like about Chronicle Books is that my editor will usually share a few names with samples of their work and ask me what I think. It’s not that my comments make or break the selection of an illustrator, but my opinion is taken into consideration. It’s a courtesy that I appreciate.

  

Your published books include both fiction and non-fiction. Can you tell us something about how you choose your projects and decide which to work on at a given time?

I typically have 3-4 picture book scripts underway at any given time. Each of those projects is at a different place. When one of them screams at me, I listen and devote the next few weeks to bringing it closer to a marketable manuscript. It’s always surprising and pretty stimulating to let my subconscious drive the process. Course, there are other times when an editor is requesting a second or third book, or asking for revisions. But even that is inspiring and motivational.

I can’t resist asking for a sneak preview of books you have in the works, what we can look forward to finding on the shelves in the next few years?

In 2014 I have three more books coming out. One is entitled SWAMP CHOMP and is a playful narrative of the food chain in the wetlands. Holiday House is the publisher. Disney/Hyperion will publish a second book about Spencer, the protagonist in ONE SPECIAL DAY. In this next book his younger sister Mia is trying desperately to get Spencer’s attention, but he is just too busy. That title is ONE BUSY DAY. And . . . I’m working on a completely different kind of fictional story with Blue Apple Books about a young girl named Maple who is delightfully naïve, honest, and resourceful. 

You’ve done lots of these interviews, but are there any questions you’ve wanted to be asked or something you’d like to add?

I’d like to say how much I enjoy speaking with my readers. When I am invited to a school as a visiting author or an author in residence, I come away with an even higher respect for their intellect and thoughtfulness. Kids ask the best questions. They are constantly reading between the lines, predicting, inferring, and making connections. There is no doubt that we have conscientious teachers to thank for this. Years ago, only some children were critical readers. But today with the use of reading workshop in so many classrooms, young readers are studying text in much deeper ways. It’s thrilling to watch their minds at work and to have conversations with them on intent, meaning, and the process of writing. For me, it’s the best part of my career!

Thank you, Lola, for sharing your time and thoughts with us here. I have no doubt this book will be a success. I’m excited about posting a review of it on launch day, September 24. As a library user I’ll urge everyone to use the few days until then to become acquainted with your other titles. Some personal favorites include  JUST ONE BITE, AN ISLAND GROWS, and WHAT’S UP, WHAT’S DOWN? Then snatch up LIFETIME as soon as it is available. This is a great choice to add to personal and classroom libraries as well, so keep it in mind for holiday gifting.

Thank you, Sandy, for reaching out to me and for showcasing LIFETIME in this interview. On a larger note, thank you for researching children’s literature and keeping your readers updated on what’s new. It’s a big job!

I’m very appreciative to Lara Starr at Chronicle Books for providing an advance copy to make this a timely interview and post.