Let's hear it for COMICS and GRAPHIX!

 As schools shift into high gear, teachers are actively evaluating the readers in their rooms. That's not only who CAN read what, but WHO each reader is, WHAT they like to read, and HOW they view themselves as readers. 

The above statement describes authentic assessment. Yes, there will be countless minutes and hours spent in formal testing and other arbitrary listings of "levels", but those are  far less significant or accurate than an experienced teacher will determine by observation, attention, and questioning. It is more important to identify where readers are going and ways to get there than to report if they are "behind" or "above" expectations. 

The above rant is brought to you by an educator who resisted excess standardized testing to the last minute of my classroom responsibilities. Finding the right book for every child, supporting each reader in their personal journey to literacy was a mission, and I'm still on it!

I've shared comments on comics and graphic stories in prior posts, with examples HERE, HERE, and HERE. These formats are variations on picture-books, although they are not shelved or marketed as traditional picture books. In fact, comics and graphic materials require a different subset of reading skills, but these involve and support all the skills and habits that an engaged reader needs to enjoy and succeed with  any material. (To read more thoughts on this, click the links I shared above). 

Macmillan, 2015

Someone who understood the powerful lure of comics was Charles Schultz, a creative talent who ranks among the very few universally beloved icons in a league with Dolly Parton. BORN TO DRAW COMICS: THE STORY OF CHARLES SCHULTZ and the Creation of PEANUTS is written by Ginger Wadsworth and illustrated by Craig Orback. In fact, Schultz began  doodling, drawing, imitating the "funny papers" that were part of his family life at his earliest age.

(Click on "Charles Schultz" above for a closer look at the details of his life with photo archives and more!)

This vibrant, comic-similar picture book opens with framed spreads and encircled text to hint at the media Charles embraced throughout his life. From his earliest moments, when he was dubbed with his lifelong nickname Sparky, readers will connect with the boy who laughed and drew from early on. His dog, SPIKE, a white and black beagle, gained Schultz his first publishing credit. Spike's ability to consume nearly anything and have no ill effects inspired Sparky to submit a drawing and text to RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT. It appeared in the newspaper nationwide!

This is a full birth-to-death biography of a famous figure, presented in a picture book with documentation and further details in back matter. It is a wonderful read, involving the depth and span of his life and influence. It's a celebration of  the effectiveness of picture book format to convey a long and complex life of influence while celebrating the power and validity of the comic format of literature. 

As such, this title is an effective read-aloud or read-share with kids of any age, but especially for older readers who have defined themselves (or been labeled) as "not a reader". Worse yet, as someone who CAN read but doesn't like reading. It not only invites them to see colorful and complex material presented in picture books and graphic forms as valid "reading" choices. It may help teachers and caregivers recognize that reading materials in these formats IS REALLY READING, not discouraging it as unimportant or childish. It also celebrates the child-Charles who recognized early in life what he loved doing, and he was encouraged to pursue it. Over time. Despite sad losses. While doing other work to get by. But never giving up. 

This is not a new release, but one that is as timeless as PEANUTS and Charles Schultz. 

BOOKS UP THE MOUNTAIN: A Packhorse Librarian Story

 Let's hear it for LIBRARIANS! (Pause for applause.)

For LIBRARIANS PAST AND PRESENT! (More applause, please.)

For LIBRARIANS matching readers to the materials they want, need, and love! (ROAR of applause!)

(Pause to recover.)

WAXWING BOOKS, 2025

BOOKS UP THE MOUNTAIN: A PACKHORSE LIBRARIAN STORY
is the lyrically told account of an unnamed librarian tagged Book Woman. But Book Woman does not work from a library building. Or a bus. Or even on a road. 

Talented author Caroline Starr Rose brings concise and compelling prose that contributes a lyrical tone to this history. Illustrations by Gabrielle Grimard are slightly stylized but offer the natural colors, familiar figures, and subtle finishes of a landscape from earlier times. The visual narrative reveals the joyful transactions as well as the challenging struggles of Book Woman and her clients. In this case Book Woman represents the many women who took on this important role, had a limited range of printed items to circulate, and adhered to their mission despite serious challenges. 

On sprawling spreads of soft-edged landscapes across changing seasons, Book Woman follows her route through valleys and hollows, around mountain trails and ridges, knocking at doors and windows. Children and adults alike know her schedule and watch for her, welcoming pamphlets, series books, recipes, and news from far beyond their view. Brief but beautiful lines read descriptively but as poetically as a psalm:

"A cluster of clouds crowds the skies.

Streams surge. Waters rise."

Combined with images of gusting willow limbs and a shift of emotion on her face, those lines let readers feel the tension of being isolated far from home, committed to her mission but aware of impending storms. Along the way Book Woman keeps company with the ill and aging, offers suggestions and readings for the young ones, and notates requests, observing needs. On weekends, Book Women gather to exchange inventory, repair books, stitch bindings, and discuss the needs of their mountain readers. They were hired during the depths of The Great Depression and crippling unemployment by the Works Progress Administration to infuse modest income into families in Appalachia while uplifting literacy and community.

This well-researched, lovingly written, and entertaining picture book is a treasure at any time. In our present world, librarians are under siege while information and entertainment access is a click away for kids of any age. This story from history offers an engaging invitation to recognize the value of literature and its delivery. It provides a step back in time with a nod to the dramatic change in circumstances, slowing down the absorption of the story and its impact through the power of poetic pacing and phrasing combined with lush expanses of nature's best views.

If you aren't familiar with other books by Caroline Starr Rose, do yourself a favor and check out her award-winning middle grade titles, verse novels, and picture books.

Some prior posts featuring picture books about extraordinary efforts of  librarians are available HERE, HERE, and HERE, with a link to a PBS documentary on the packhorse librarians HERE.

WOODY'S WORDS: Remember WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS?

 The author of that timeless novel for young readers was Woodrow Wilson Rawls, the "Woody" in the title of this picture book. WOODY'S WORDS: Woodrow Wilson Rawls and WHERE THE RED FERN RED FERN GROWS is a biography of the author, but also a celebration of the power of reading and writing. Actually, the focus is on a boy-grown-to-man and his drive to tell stories. Reading books changed his young life, and he vowed, "I don't care how long it takes me or what I have to do. Someday I will write a book, and it will have a dog in it." That powerful quotation appears on the title page in this picture book written by Lisa Rogers and illustrated by Susan Reagan. 

CALKINS CREEK BOOKS, 2025

I can hardly imagine that anyone raised in this country has not read (or heard aloud, or watched on film) WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. It is, indeed, a book, and it does, most certainly, center on a dog ands a boy. Woody's ancestors were Cherokee, and he grew up on family land assigned to those ancestors when they were relocated from their own territories. 

His education was at his mother's knee, and not only in simple reading and writing and arithmetic. When she first read a novel aloud to him, (The Call of the Wild) it transformed his sense of purpose. The simple and accessible narrative text  in this biography reveals Woody's deep engagement in rereading that book and then in writing and rewriting the world as he lived it, even when his available tools were limited to scratching words into soft mud with the point of a stick. For anyone who says it takes time and patience to become the kind of writer and storyteller who can win hearts, they could have been speaking about Woody.

Woody grew up in hard times and spent many young (and later) years bumming from town to town, from jail cell to jail cell, suffering from a lack of food or money but never lacking a good heart. No matter where or in what conditions he found himself, the stories moved through his mind and onto the page, even when those pages were soiled paper bags. He kept his attempts for many years, until he met and married.

He was so ashamed of what he considered his poor efforts that he burned all of the saved writings rather than show them to the woman he loved. After eventually confessing his need and desire to write a book, Sophie worked with him, correcting spelling and polishing some sentences. That finally-ready manuscript became a book, and he wanted people to read it. In his folksy, plain-spoken way, he visited schools and libraries and met readers where they were. Once he talked about his youth and his effort (over forty years) to produce a story of a boy, his dog, and life in the country, readers sought out his book and joined him in the story.

The account of Woody and Sophie and their eventual success is both heartwarming and inspiring. Back matter provides more details, as well as photographs of  moments before and after his book became an all-time success.  His next book, SUMMER OF THE MONKEYS, also featured a boy and his dog. Both books sold millions of copies.  Multiple pages of resources and research references attest to the depth of story-searching by Rogers. The illustrator's colors, sweeps of landscape, and suggestions of struggle have captured an authentic sense of rural life in the era and the yearning within a boy/man who had  something to say. It was clear with every word and image that Woody felt inadequate as a writer, but never gave up on his dream to share his stories in a way that made them last. 

Rogers wrote a dedication that hints at how moved she was by the storytelling drive of Rawls: 

"For those who have stories to tell and the librarians who celebrate them" then named several important librarians from her own life.

The structure of this narrative and account of Rawls's life holds no surprises, but the direct and simple language and sequential revelations of his persistence and outreach are best suited to this simple and plainspoken man. It mirrors the steady pace of his personal journey and the glowing satisfaction of his eventual success. 

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS has been a part of my literary life, but now Woody brings me back to reread it and to wonder at his determination and at the satisfaction he was finally able to achieve. 

FANTASTIC (Flying) BOOKS: Consider the Following...

 I read book this earlier, closer to its release date over a decade ago.Then a friend gifted me a copy with an awareness that books are central to my life and they thought I should be sure to read it. That was a touching reminder to me that my friends and family all know how central to my life BOOKS are. Admittedly, I'm a tad (HA!) hyper-verbal, and I apologize for that regularly. Even so, I'll never apologize for celebrating books, especially books for youth. Too many of the changes in contemporary life and society push for our attention, and BOOKS deserve all the cheerleaders they can get. 

MOONBOT BOOKS
 Imprint of ATHENEUM BOOKS FYR, 2012

(SPOILER ALERT- I will share the full circle of this story. It is older and most know it.)

In the case of THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MORRIS LESSMORE, written by William Joyce, the character in the story lives an exciting series of events with books. The story is magical and action packed (yes, a story about a man reading is action- packed) and was an outgrowth of Academy Award-Winning animated short film. Joyce and Joe Bluhm share illustration credits for this lively, extra long picture book filled with truth and wonder. A single reading will suggest the heart of the story and a central theme of the film. This is a visual feast with dramatic tension and imaginative joy throughout, quietly flooded with heart. 

A twist on a  famous movie line captures my original response to the first spread text: It had me at ...

"Morris Lessmore loved words.

He loved stories.

He loved books."

And that's all it took for me to feel that Morris and I are kindred spirits. Morris is also a writer, though many of his attempts end in upsets. When Morris broke his habit of looking down, the sepia-tones spreads shift to colorful, literally uplifting images. The world of books, personified and speaking to him directly, intervenes in his frustrating, worried, internal world. Books introduce possibilities, curiosity, and excitement that lead to sharing books with others. "Everyone's story matters," he says. 

His life of reading, sharing, tending books, exploring words, and and writing his own story led, in a page turn, to his eventual aging. Those beloved books read themselves to him, care for him, comfort him. When he writes the last page of his own book, when he steps out of life and into the eternal world of stories, his own book remains behind. The books understand, waiting... 

...for the young girl who enters the world of books left behind by Morris. His book flies to her hands, filled with his story, his joys and upsets and fears and excitement. That's where her story begins... with the opening of a book. A legacy passes hand-to-hand, page-to-page, generation to generation. 

This lovely circle story is both surreal and anchored in truth. It is both heartwarming and poignant. The illustrations are beyond my tools of description, and evocative of an animated film, of course, with letters and words assembling and disassembling, swirling on and off pages, enticing and exciting. 

Viewing the short film may feel like a significantly different experience from reading the book. It is a visual, wordless exploration of broader themes. Among those are the revelation that an old book, any book, only offers a life when it is read, when readers partner with the symbols and images on the page to give life to the stories within the covers. The central stories (book and film) are the same, but the lives of the books, their NEED for connection with readers is much more palpable in the film. Both deserve attention, and carry compelling messages without being didactic.

Both the book and film suggest that a simple, single person, someone with a life of their own, will discover a universe of stories in words and books, in libraries, in sharing books with others. Tomorrow, April 1, begins National Library Month. This feels like a fabulous way to celebrate books and libraries with young readers. They'll recognize the richness, color, and connection that books bring into an otherwise dull life. I hope you'll check out both the book and film, and share some love with local libraries and librarians.

The books and I thank you!

Come Visit With Me: THE LIBRARY IN THE WOODS

Coming up, April 6, is National Library Day. April is also National School Library Month. As with any and all other focus days or months, these call attention to what we agree is important, but risk the suggestion that the topic isn't noteworthy during the rest of the year. I'm happy to say that I (and so many others I know) find libraries to be a necessary and integral part of our lives, year after year. In fact, since retiring, I've used public libraries even more so than while working full time in schools (and I used libraries often then!).  

CAROLRHODA BOOKS, 2025

In the case of a new picture book offering, the availability of a public library was life changing. My limited access to libraries as a child were mentioned in a recent post, HERE, but my restrictions were matters of location, transportation, and the generally low quality of children's/youth offerings at that time. In THE LIBRARY IN THE WOODS, written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, the characters are residents of Roxboro, North Carolina in the era of Jim Crow. 

The author's lived experiences inspired this narrative that traces a family, one that must finally abandon their efforts to live independently on a farm due to natural forces beyond my control. That early, heartbreaking opening moves them to town, where the young boy narrator learns about a library, one that does not deny him entry and treats him with the respect he (and all people) deserve. Despite his awareness that he'd be refused entry to the town library, this one was operated and under complete control of the Black community. Access to so manny books was a dream come true.

That rarity, in his time and place, make a compelling and powerful story in itself. But the greater layers and further details of this story involve the family from which the narrative emerged. His choice of his three book allowance for each checkout included one for his father, one for his mother, and one for himself. Providing his father with a book (on George Washington Carver) leads to revelations for the boy, to learning ways that literacy can be shared, and to readers' empathy for the deep love and care shown from cover to cover. 

Both author and illustrator are multiple award-winning creators of works for young readers, and this merits similar attention and praise. The art is both familiar and informational about the historic period and location. The text moves smoothly, as if the boy is retelling the events to a neighbor or parent. The author note (and archival newspaper clipping form the actual Roxboro Library) indicate ays in which the story is literally taken from his life and ways in which it was changed for the sake of focus and pacing. 

Both the author's actual life history and this account of it are moving and powerful. This is a picture book that would work well in a social studies class related to the era in American history, or to literacy in America, or to economics in that place and time. I hope you'll consider your own relationships to libraries while in your young lives and across a lifetime. As Ramsey says in those closing notes, to have grown up with actual library access,  even if not "equal"  to the libraries from which he was excluded, was a privilege and joy beyond the reach of so many others of color in the South.The countless ways in which library access has improved my life are blessings beyond measure. 

Celebrate your own libraries in some meaningful way on April 6 or the next time you visit. A sincere "thank you", with a line or two about the differences libraries have made to you, will be welcome, I guarantee. 

I also  recommend , for adults who wish to be informed about the current assault on linaraies and access to books, a memoir/account of the status of that battle: That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones.

Carter Reads the Newspaper: A March Black History Post

Peachtree, 2019

This post is intentionally released on March 1, and it's an important new picture book that suits any age. The tag line says it all, yet not nearly enough: "Carter G. Woodson didn't just study history. He changed it."
I've been grateful, as a citizen and as an educator, for Black History Month which "ended" yesterday. It's a resource and reminder of the countless contributions of Black men and women to advance ALL people. Even so, I have long been concerned that annual attention to one specific month meant that many resources, especially picture books, end up relegated to a cabinet or back shelf after the month ends. 

A new picture book has me shifting my perspective on this repeated rant (here). CARTER READS THE NEWSPAPER is written by outstanding nonfiction author Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by the remarkable author and artist Don Tate.

This is a story of how Woodson (Carter) made it his life's work to develop literacy and, eventually, to turn Black history into an annual celebration. Inspired by his father's pursuit of knowledge, Carter's passion for history grew from a childhood in which the legacy of enslavement, including illiteracy, was evident among Carter's own family and friends. The hardships he suffered as a child are heartbreaking, including being injured in a mine accident. He pursued his own education at every opportunity, despite severe adversity. In 1926, as a history professor, he was able to establish a national Black History Week, the origins of our present monthlong designation.
This book is rich with images, names, dates, and taglines for both well-known and less famous Black innovators and leaders, as well as providing an author's note, bibliography, resources, and more. After reading this valuable biography of Woodson as a leader among his family and eventually for us all, I will temper my concerns about a designated "month" potentially limiting attention to neglected history-makers. Instead, I'll celebrate Woodson's leadership and encourage the reading and sharing of this book. Perhaps that alone will remind others to keep Black History books circulating all year long. 

Here are a few examples i've featured in the past that deserve attention all year long. Many more can be seen here, here, here, and here, among others: 

The recent Academy Award winning movie, THE GREEN BOOK, has been criticized for taking a white-savior approach. For a more authentic understanding of the need for and use of THE GREEN BOOK, read this historical fiction picture book.

RUTH AND THE GREEN BOOK, is written  by Calvin A. Ramsey and Illustrated by Floyd Cooper. It provides the immediacy of individual lives and relatable illustrations that evoke personal and visceral responses from readers of any age. Back pages provide further insights and explorations from the authors and offer resources for further exploration and research on the topics and characters portrayed. Now, more than ever, providing young people with the facts of our own history and the ease with which individual liberties were distorted and restricted is essential. It's not a bad time for adults to review these stories and resources, any month of the year.

More than Anything Else. by Marie Bradby, illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet. 1995

Description

After slavery ended a family struggles to survive, with father and sons shoveling salt from dawn to dark. The younger boy's compelling thirst is for the power of letters, of reading.  Only indirectly, on the last page, do we see that this story depicts the early days of literacy development for Booker T. Washington.

I hope my intentional expansion of this black history post into March (Women's History Month) will serve as a reminder that history (and picture books) matter and we should feel an obligation to open the eyes and hearts of others to our shared heritage all year long.

Never Too Young to Be a Booklover!

Is it book club time already?

Next best thing to a beach read!

So what's the right age to get books into the hands of a child?

Ahhh....books!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, these should say it all. My twin great-niece and great-nephew agreed to share their opinions about this topic as an introduction to our guest blogger. 

I'm proud to have a multigenerational reputation in my family as "the book aunt", but books alone won't create this result. These wee ones have had hands-on, ears-on lap time with books since they were born. This is obviously not a household that needs tips on ways to share books with tots. 

But not all parents were raised this way themselves, and not all have a wide repertoire of book-sharing skills on which to draw naturally and automatically.

Naptime books- so relaxing.

Hmm... Looks good.

My favorite author...

I couldn't agree more.

Is this the one you suggested?

So many books, so little time- until naps!

On behalf of this cutie twosome, I'm happy to introduce guest blogger Susan Marx. She and her writing partner, Barbara Kasok, are mothers, grandmothers, reading professionals, and consultants. Susan is also a parent educator who facilitates workshops on topics such as fostering children's self-esteem and school readiness.  Susan and Barbara have written HELP ME GET READY TO READ: The Practical Guide For Reading Aloud To Children During Their First Five Years. I'll add some comments about their book at the end of the post, but let's see what Susan has to say about tots and books based on information provided in HELP ME GET READY TO READ. 

"Creating a Love of Books and Learning

Parents often ask us how they can create a love of books and learning in their young children. We respond by telling them that there are three essential key ideas they should focus on to do so. Simply stated, they are:

• Provide a nurturing environment in which little ones can thrive.

• Choose good age-appropriate picture books to engage children in conversations about the text and illustrations.

• Read aloud effectively so that children acquire the early literacy concepts and skills they need to be ready to learn to read.

Creating a love of books and learning in our little ones begins with providing a nurturing environment. For children to blossom and grow into lifelong lovers of books and learning, they need to feel comfortable in their surroundings whether at home, at childcare or in a preschool setting. Also, they need to feel the gentle encouragement and support of the trusted adults who care for them as well as serve as positive role models in their young lives.

Reading aloud books to little ones in a nurturing environment has a tremendous impact on their healthy emotional, social, language, and cognitive development. During the read-aloud experience, caring adults foster young children’s self-esteem so they feel competent and confident in their ability to learn new things, and engage in creative and imaginative meaningful activities. Furthermore, reading aloud effectively in a nurturing environment ensures a close emotional connection between adult and child. It provides a source for wonderful memories by giving children the loving message:

I want to read this book to you because I care about you, I respect

you, and I value our time together.

Here are some positive parenting strategies for creating a love of books and learning in young children. They deal specifically with ways that a nurturing environment can be established by parents in the home as well as by childcare providers and preschool staff in group settings.

1. Foster children’s self-esteem and encourage conversation

• Keep in mind each child's age and stage of development, interests, and attention span.

• Give each child “Positive Parenting Praise!” by acknowledging the new skill that he or she has acquired. For example, “Good job holding the book” or “Good job watching as I move my finger under the words on the page.”

• Find a quiet place to read together, such as a cozy corner, sofa, or chair.

• Turn off the TV.

• Try not to answer the phone or respond to e-mails.

• Make connections between story events and children’s real life experiences.

• Point out similarities and differences between read-aloud books, such as story  characters, setting, or story events.

2. Establish reading routines so that books and learning become a part of children’s every day lives

• Set up regular reading times such as at naptime, bedtime, or story hour.

• Place books in a basket or on a shelf to make them accessible to children.

• Encourage children to select books that they want to hear.

• Take books along with you when you are away from home.

• Arrange library visits as a regular activity by signing up for children’s story hours, sing-a-longs, or other family early literacy events.

• Have book swaps with other families to ensure a variety of available read-aloud books.

3. Model having a positive attitude towards books and learning.

• Tell children how much you enjoy reading books with them.

• Give books as gifts to children on special occasions.

• Laugh with children when reading books that have silly words, story events or characters.

• Handle books with care.

• Look for opportunities to learn new things and be sure to tell your children about them.

• Read books during your own free time for enjoyment and relaxation."

Thank you, Susan, for providing such a strong statement and helpful advice on behalf of young children and literacy. As toddlers become more active and verbal some adults feel less able to keep their children engaged with books. Susan and Barbara have produced a well-organized and user-friendly guide especially suited for reading with children ages three to five. It provides developmentally appropriate "talk-abouts" and "follow-up activities" for more than a dozen excellent picture books, with additional titles suggested in the back matter.

I urge parents to read a book by Mem Fox, the award-winning author and internationally acclaimed literacy expert: READING MAGIC: Why reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever. Research and simple observation demonstrate that reading aloud to children in their earliest days and months of life has a dramatic positive influence on future language, learning, and literacy development. I have no doubt that adults who begin reading to a child from the earliest days and continue on beyond the school years give a priceless lifetime gift of love and literacy to that child.

Why not check these books out, and spread the word about the power of reading aloud to children at the earliest ages.