HOW THE SEA CAME TO BE... Mindblowing Nonfiction!

 

EERDMANS Books For young Readers, 2023

In many sources, "rules" are glibly stated about what does or doesn't work in writing picture books.HOW THE SEA CAME TO BE: And All the Creatures In It, written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Amanda Hall, is a glorious example of effective exceptions to those rules.

To what "rules" do I  refer? 

Well, though not inscribed in stone tablets, it is often said that:

1) Engaging characters are required to connect with young audiences.

2) Long spans of time will lose interest-  make the action immediate, with an easy to understand beginning, middle, and end.

3) Avoid rhyme! If there is a way to write in prose, do that instead, since rhyme is so challenging, and POOR rhyme will kill your chances.

4)When it comes to early earth history, dinosaurs appeal, maybe pterodactyls, but otherwise stick to fossils. Just maybe, some VERY specific, appealing extinct creature might appeal. If you are lucky.

I could go on, but I won't. This recent nonfiction picture book, spanning billions of years of transformation and evolution on planet Earth, does so using three sections. These transport readers from the earliest eras of swirling fiery fury through to a family strolling on a beach. Part one is the making of the seas, involving heating, cooling, evaporation, rainfall, and the eventual watery surface our entire planet. Part two reveals, within a few page turns, the shifts from pairs of cells to strings to complex building blocks of life: shelled, wiggling, tubular, wormy, faceted life. Part three, "All that the sea came to be", continues on, carrying readers through the transformations and developments of diverse sea life as we know it today.

Whew! Not a single creature starred in those processes, and I can think of no longer time span to depict. In fact, that unimaginable span is fully mind-blowing for this well-read adult. It's a good thing that young minds have greater plasticity and willingness to wonder in awe. All the action is underwater until the final spread on the beach, meaning NONE of it is part of any child's natural life experience. Wow, risky. 

And then there's the rhyme... WHAT?!?! Doesn't the above present enough of a challenge without trying to tell it in rhyme? Most might have assumed that to be true, but this author knew what she was doing. With one or two four-line stanzas on each densely illustrated page, science content is presented in perfect read-aloud rhyme that enhances reporting of the dynamic action, swirling settings, and swirling colorful creatures. Last lines and repeating refrains are especially kid-friendly to retain focus on the big-picture concepts:

"And life grew, and life changed, and life grew.

and

"And that was how life began in the sea."

After several readings I also recognized the brilliance of saving tech-y content for back matter, since the "scienc-y words" do not disrupt any of the rhyming lines. Even things like amino acids or cells or other rhyme-able words were avoided in favor of big concept, big process, big picture descriptions. And it works! The colorful, oversized images and lyrical rhythms and rhymes make this a potential favorite for the very young as well as for school age kids.

If you are getting the impression that this "rule-breaking" picture book achieves a win, you're agreeing with me. But wait... there's more! The back matter is equally impressive, with a full page note from the author and another from the illustrator, both of whom contribute accuracy and appeal in this fact-packed beauty. Back matter also includes glossary, key terms and concepts, resources (online and real world), and bibliography, which wrap around double gate-fold pages that offer a clarified timeline of development, unfolding to a double-wide simulation of our planet's eleven eons from original swirling heat to current times. 

This may not adhere to  a "story book" rules, (which it not intended to be), but captures the story of our planet's history in a gorgeous and readable, glossy, appealing nonfiction picture book. That's saying a lot. I'll just add, please get a copy and see (sea) for yourselves!

 

WATER: How We Can Protect Our Freshwater

 

Candlewick Books. 2023

Some very impressive new nonfiction picture books have captured my attention in recent weeks and will be featured in this coming posts. The first, perhaps because it occurred to me that without freshwater in the lives of Earthlings like us are, nothing else would matter, is WATER: How We Can Protect Our Freshwater is written by Catherine Barr and illustrated by Christine Engel. 

With direct but accurate and easy to understand text, the amazing importance of WATER on Earth is explained with kid-friendly language, lively and globally informative illustrations, and occasional and unintyrusive image labels. Also valuable are small inserts in which "FACE THE FACTS" sidebars effectively extend and enhance the main narrative with brief bullseye facts related to that page.

The distinction between "BLUE WATER" and "GREEN WATER" was particularly significant, indicating that the first term refers to water that is essential for human survival on the surface of our planet. GREEN WATER refers to water captured within the layers of the earth that is equally essential to the survival of plants, from the tiniest of fern or foliage to the mightiest of sequoias. These two kinds of freshwater survival water sources are not the most common water on our planet. Salt water is. But even such simple statements become awe-inspiring as this vibrant and very human story reveals how magically/scientifically wondrous freshwater is. We also encounter examples of ways it is polluted, wasted, controlled, and harming people (and every other living thing) by carelessness, bad habits, and even intentional efforts in order to obtain power, money, and more.

The credentials of the author are well-established and there are many action-ideas incorporated within some spreads, especially in the final double spread. A sense of helplessness is paralyzing, but this presentation is an empowering effort and might well "launch" many young activists. This decade, the 2020s, is designated the "WATER ACTION DECADE". That means getting your hands on this important book and sharing it widely is an important first step in making smart actions part of our daily lives.

TOGETHER WE GROW: Building a Peaceable Kingdom

 I've been called a romantic idealist. 

A cockeyed optimist.

I'm a silver-lining, glass-half-full person by nature.

I'm also a STRONGLY opinionated defender of human rights, civil rights, and any underdogs. I speak my mind freely and often (respectfully, but freely). As such, I am always invested in both changing minds and bending others to my opinion.

Despite that, I believe in listening to differences, to opinions other than my own. I have NO SPACE in my life for cruelty or violence or injustice, but I can make space for others, even if we are not on the same page.  How long that tolerance lasts can vary, but I'm not expected to spend every minute of my life with people who upset me, right? When it comes to people in need,  though, There is no litmus test that must be passed before attempting to offer help.

I can't be the only one who craves a peaceable kingdom, at least for short periods. We all find ourselves sharing this one and only planet, a country, a workplace, or a neighborhood.

Simon and Schuster 
Paula Wiseman Books, 2020

In that spirit, I share with you 

TOGETHER WE GROW, written in rhyming verse by novelist SUSAN VAUGHT and illustrated (glowingly, expressively)  by Kelly Murphy. 

The story is simple. A severe storm sends the farm animals into the barn. Wilder creatures follow after, but ones that often share outdoor spaces with the domesticated residents. Certainly not predators:

turtle
squirrel
chipmunk
sparrow
frog
rabbit
You get the idea.

Before the story launches, we can imagine a peaceable gathering through a look at the endpapers, which are some of the most informative and effective of any I've seen. They suggest the dramatic arc, the impending threats, the setting and mood. Both the troubled opening and the calm closing connect readers with familiar experiences:

Front end papers: TOGETHER WE GROW (Vaught/Murphy)

Final end papers: TOGETHER WE GROW (Vaught/Murphy)

You may have read (or written) a picture book story that is lovely (as this is), and wonderfully written and illustrated (as this is), but you completed it feeling that it was "very nice". Perhaps you may have felt  it was "slight" or "simple". On the other hand, if you've LOVED a seemingly simple story, it is likely because that story unfolded with layers and depth that were written and illustrated into it (as this is). 

That's how I feel about TOGETHER WE GROW. Before the minimal rhymed lines are launched in the opening text, we see that the pouring rain is flooding the den of Fox and her family. Fox investigates the barn, cautiously, from a broken window, seeking a safe haven. 

But, a FOX? A known ENEMY? In a crowded space with limited resources, among already anxious and storm-threatened beings, including those who have a RIGHT to the barn? Those who BELONG there?

Interior spread TOGETHER WE GROW (Vaught/Murphy)
"Go away! We're full today!"

The response of those huddled inside will not surprise you. Many would call theirs a perfectly reasonable reaction. Would you?

It only takes one to connect to the plight of Fox. 

To empathize. To take a risk.

Interior spread. TOGETHER WE GROW. (Vaught/Murphy)

It takes only ONE to offer hope.

Don't imagine that I've provided too many spoilers here, that there is no point in checking out the book for yourself now that I've revealed so much. I guarantee there are more depths to plumb. I have only scratched the surface. This is a book that will be beloved by the youngest toddlers, with character expressions and details and worry and joy and gratifying resolutions to explore again and again. It will also be loved by the adults who share it with them. 

It's also one of this picture books that I celebrate for use across all ages. Established readers will appreciate the beauty of the language, the complexity of the story arc, the relationships and perspectives of individual creatures, and the group dynamic among those seeking shelter. In fact, it invites analogous discussions about refugees and communities, including considerations, opinions, attitudes, alternative choices, and group dynamics.

Is this story realistic on the surface? Perhaps not. (If not, though, how did Noah supposedly manage competing interest on the Ark?)  

Are any among us able to become the ONE to offer hope? Are YOU?

Is this a book worth reading, sharing, discussing, and loving? 

In my opinionated view, yes. Please do.

Anchor in time: I've scheduled this for February 8, 2021, the week when the Senate impeachment trial begins. Too much of our nation's population continues to be polarized and hunkered down within like-minded camps. It feels like we live in a barn-door-slamming society. 

We are also beginning a second year of Covid time, with effective vaccines becoming possible but unequally available, schools operating in a variety of formats, and wide variation in availability of essential life resources to those who need them most. All too often, injustices of care and access in our society are based on race, age, and economic security. Self-interest also guides many who refuse to wear masks, socially distance, or otherwise protect the wider community.

I wonder if the wisdom of the animals could actually guide us. When needs are greatest, couldn't we agree to bring ourselves together? Not forever, not hoping to turn a snake into a sheep or a moose into a horse. Just consider working to tolerate each other with respect, knowing that underneath it all, we are all human. We are rational. We do not need to CHANGE each other, but simply abide each other.

Refugees? Immigrants? Assumptions and Stereotypes

My previous post (here)  focused on a recent picture book about the all-too-familiar condition of being a refugee: STORMY SEAS: Stories of Young Boat Refugees.The details of even a few people and events throughout history are heartbreaking and powerful. In many cases, the refugees depicted were also immigrants.
Words matter, and using them accurately matters even more.
Striving to understand and use words accurately can be an effective way to begin to understand ourselves and others.
So...let's explore these concepts, as you might with young readers.

Are REFUGEES and IMMIGRANTS the same? Are the words interchangeable?

Charlesbridge Publishing, 2015

In one important way they are all alike: 

Both refugees and immigrants are NEW.
That's why an ideal starting point is 
I'M NEW HERE, written and illustrated by Anne Sibley O'Brien.

There are countless ways in which REFUGEES and IMMIGRANTS are similar, and significant ways in which they are NOT the same. Rather than link to just any source, one  that might be considered biased or even political, let's take a look at the two terms linguistically, on THE GRAMMARIST.COM, here. What do wordsmiths have to say about the two terms.

 "A refugee is a person who is forced to leave his home and travel to another country in order to escape a natural disaster, war or persecution. ..."
whereas...
"An immigrant is a person who leaves his home and travels to another country in order to become a permanent member of the population. ..."

Not all refugees are choosing to "never return", and would, in fact, return to their homelands if it were safe to do so.
On the other hand, some have suffered to such a degree that they abandon any thoughts of returning to their homeland.
Not all immigrants are moving to a new homeland entirely by choice. Conditions may not be such that they must flee for their lives, but may include situations that limit their choices, hopes, and future.
On the other hand, some are eagerly seeking a new homeland despite leaving behind safe and loving people and comfortable settings. They may, in fact, face more struggles in the new land, but welcome the challenge and adventure of the move. 

A Venn Diagram of the two words would reveal many elements in common, but some that are critically different. Both are leaving behind homeland, family, and history. Both include a wide range of ages, health conditions, and educational levels. Both immigrants and refugees may travel illegally, while others travel legally.

Despite all of the commonalities, the distinction is:

REFUGEES = No CHOICE, running AWAY FROM danger, might return if they could

IMMIGRANTS = CHOICE, running TOWARD a new home, no plan to return

In fact, especially in recent times, this essential distinction has been blurred in the public consciousness. This confusion is compounded further by social attitudes toward poverty and dependence. 

Some refugees have multiple resources, but the ones who are destitute are the subject  of our opinions and public discussions.

Some immigrants have adequate financial means and social supports in place, but the ones who are destitute or struggling are more visible and are also the subjects of public discussions.

In debates (and rants) about refugees and immigrants, understanding the nuances of the terms (and the individuals) is worth the effort, especially when it comes to the next generation. In order to explore these confusions and assumptions, offering and discussing a wide selection of books provides many examples over the course of history and involving varied circumstances and ethnicities. Many outstanding picture books that are worth including are featured in the following blog posts, and I recommend them highly:

• Svenja's post on COLOURS OF US, a  blog devoted to multicultural children's books.
• Erica's post on WHAT DO WE DO ALL DAY? 
• Deborah Ellis's NYTimes review of recent refugee books.
• Laura Lambert's post on Brightly on immigrants.
• Lee & Low's recommended books involving immigration.
• Pragmatic Mom's post featuring immigration picture books.
• Finally,check out this entire site as a valuable resource: I'm Your Neighbor Books

More Oldies-But-Goodies!

Last week's post shared some memorable out-of-print titles that are worth the hunt to find on library and used-book shelves to share with readers of all ages. (No updates on finds so far, but don't give up, you'll love Edna Miller's classic,  Mousekin's Golden House!)

Houghton Mifflin, 1942

Here's an opportunity to enjoy some other classics that have, indeed, been reissued and continue to be available in print. (Woo-Hoo!) These are a series of similarly designed titles written and illustrated by Holling C. Holling, several of which have won Caldecott and Newbery honors, among many others awards.

TREE IN THE TRAIL was a Caldecott Honor book for 1941, setting the standard for other successful titles that followed. A cottonwood tree sprouts along the Sante Fe trail and stands witness to the unfolding of western American history, from Native American to Spanish expansion to homesteading, including the eventual use of its wood. Left-pages use text and black/white sketches, diagrams, inset charts, and maps providing well-researched information. Right-pages use full-color full-page art.

Houghton Mifflin, 1948 

PADDLE-TO-THE-SEA won the  Caldecott honor for 1948. It continues that layout pattern with a mobile story reference. A carved Indian figure in a canoe begins life in the high waters above Lake Superior and travels through the Great Lakes, into the Atlantic, ending in France. In this case the traveling witness takes the reader through the natural, social, technological, and ecological passages that make the Great Lakes a true Wonder of the World.

There is even a quirky little film/DVD of this one made in Canada.

In MINN OF THE MISSISSIPPI, the 1951winner of Newbery Honors, the traveling witness, a turtle hatchling, carries the reader from the headwaters of the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

PAGOO is yet another Holling title which offers a detailed exploration of a tide pool through the experiences of a hermit crab. Pagoo's reliance on his instinct drives his actions and reactions, allowing him to survive and navigate a tricky but beautiful biological habitat.

SEABIRD, 1948 Newbery Honor winner, is a carved figure that is the traveling mascot of four generations of seafarers, accompanying each on progressively more advanced means of transportation.

If you read one of these titles, you're likely to become addicted to the art spreads, the graphics, the text, the central characters, or all of the above. These are books that can be enjoyed by the youngest for their adventures and images, but can (and should) grow in significance with readers throughout school years.

These titles may continue in print because of their presence on the Caldecott and Newbery lists, but they could also have been written today by someone targeting the market for picture books with fiction/non-ficiton parallel text and content that can well-serve the widely adopted common core state standards.

Maybe it's true what they say, everything old is new again, at least if it was of the highest quality, and if it won enough awards to stay in print. Are there any other fans of these classics out there? Chime in with your comments!