Don't HIDEAWAY the Magic of Childhood Imagination!

 Far too many children in the world, at home and afar, are so occupied with survival that imagination must lie dormant. Others, also far too many, have outsourced their minds to screens. This picture book provides glorious casual insight into the magical space of early imagination could be just the right choice for those who DO indulge in self-generated world-building as well as for those who have abdicated the realm.

RED COMET PRESS. 2023

HIDEAWAY is written by Melania Longo and illustrated by Alesandro Sanna, with translation  by Brenda Porter. While I follow the latest releases, widely acclaimed or otherwise, I get especially excited when I encounter a picture book from prior years that missed my radar. That matters even more when it is from a smaller press and remains deeply relevant in the current moment.

Picture book production timelines are even greater when  foreign acquisition and translation play a role. Across the board, this book merited the time and effort involved. 

Knowing how lengthy the process is to take a picture book idea from origin to contract to full illustration and production, the 2023 release date indicates to me that some or most of this story emerged during the covid-lock-down years. At the very least, all creatives involved offer us a view through the gauze of a young imagination, or two. There's little we will miss about those years, other than beloved folks who were lost to the virus. One of the small things we can celebrate is the likelihood that more children rediscovered their imaginations during those imposed periods of isolation from intensely-scheduled lives.

This picture book feels like a capsule version of such a life, worth preserving and recovering.

The assertive narrator is fully self-possessed and also possessed of a vivid and expensive imagination. Her account of  the Hideaway of slender branches is revealed to readers in an authentic child voice that introduces her best adventurer friend (her brother with long legs that sometime disturb the structure but is worth the company). Nothing dramatic or explosive or heartbreaking occurs in this hideaway, unlike THE PERFECT SHELTER (reviewed HERE). I should clarify that nothing EXTERNAL of consequence happens. But this pair of adventurers find within the slender stems of their HIDEAWAY a world without walls. They travel with massive animals, play roles, recognize aspects of nature we too often ignore, and more. Across seasons, and in the course of a day, they exhaust the realms of their imaginations and instantly reboot with more to come. A bedtime return to the household is unavoidable, but the energy of imaginative spirits transforms their bedroom, too. Ultimately, even settling under covers suggests dreams filled with travel and discovery. 

The authentic voice of the narrator (kudos to both author and translator) is richly  enhanced by full spreads of fluid, visually-enticing elements, with colors and details that recapture attention at each rereading. Black line accents focus on the story line while shadows, white space figures, delicate swirls, and barely discernible lines suggest an ethereal quality in that borderland between nature and the surreal. 

Not enough can ever be said about the essential role of imagination in a child's life, but also in our collective futures. My current check says this title is on back order, so request it at your local library. If you enjoy it as much as I do, order one or more copies at your local indie-bookstore to gift to a child, school, or little free library. The invitation to imagination is worth sharing, and worth waiting for.

 

CHOOCH HELPED: Piling On with the Praise

LEVINE QUERIDO, 2024

This recommendation will be brief but utterly sincere. CHOOCH HELPED, written  by Andrea L. Rogers and illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz, is not only the 2025 Caldecott Medal Winner, it has been praised by the most noted reviewers, including stars from KIRKUS, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, HORN BOOK, and a feature interview on NPR. 

It's pretty obvious that this book has no need for my support, and yet it is just too darn good to ignore. It offers so many things that matter, perhaps even more in our current social climate than ever. The universal quality of the story confirms it will become a modern classic: 

Older sister Sissy finds two-year-old brother Chooch to be unfairly indulged, especially when his well-intentioned helping inevitably makes things worse. 

When writers decide to tell a story, they are urged to look for something original. Once again, this is obviously NOT the first time that an annoying sibling story has made it onto the pages of a picture book. But the things that elevate this version of that familiar relationship are unique, organically incorporated, resonant with anyone and everyone, opening a door to a culture that reflects an age-old story within the little-told context of contemporary Cherokee life. It serves those for whom this is unfamiliar as well s those whose lives are so rarely presented  in the broader culture. 

 

From opening end pages to closing, within each and every integrated detail (dress ribbons, color choices, butterfly-bird-flower images, and daily tasks within scenes, the simplicity and specificity reveal so much about their lives, and our own. Throughout the text various Cherokee words are used (with subtext-pronunciation) allow readers to proceed smoothly through the story. 

Within that immersive experience, the richest moments, to me, involved Sissy yelling at Chooch, then having her parents yell at her that yelling was wrong! Wow, that's a universal experience. The resolves, between parents and Sissy, between Sissy and Chooch, are heartwarming and realistic. In fact, it's a fine mentor text for anyone hoping to take a universal story and make it distinctive and original. Memorable. Valuable over time. Priceless.

Back matter provides a page of simple directions for making an air-dried pinch pot, a page of glossary and Cherokee Syllabary examples, both author note and artist note, and page design backgrounds throughout that could become a case study for Cherokee art, symbols, and history. 

I said this would be brief. Not so much,  it seems. I also said it is sincere, and it is, utterly. My praise for this book is without limits, indeed. I hope that you'll check it out, share it, spend time with it, and talk about it with others. 

TWO DOGS: Ian Falconer's Mastery of HUMOR

 Here's a quick weekend post about a picture book with something we all need more of- HUMOR! 

Michael DiCapua Books/HARPER COLLINS
2022

TWO DOGS, created by author/Illustrator Ian Falconer, will leave you smiling and recommending it to others. That's no surprise, since Caldecott winner Falconer is acclaimed for his talent as a visual storyteller/illustrator. In this case such praise proves itself merited, and not just because of the of the appeal of these two dachshund-brother characters, surprisingly upright and outrageous. He has captured their personalities with semi-realistic situations, poses, and personalities accompanied by minimal but clever text.

This seemingly simple work, an account of a day's adventure and its consequences, is a treasury of mentor content on ways to express and convey humor. The juxtaposition of what is expected versus simple surprises begins on that cover and is an effective device throughout. The tug/hug contrast of emotions among siblings adds another rich layer, as are curiosity, teamwork success and foibles, and more. 

Wouldn't everyone love to get a laugh, to tell or write humor in memorable ways? Check out this little masterpiece! And to learn more about dachsunds, click to see more, including their characteristic description: curious, friendly, spunky. Exactly like these TWO DOGS.

SIBLINGS Are Back: A Needed Subject For All Ages

I recently reviewed a remarkable and emotional picture book that reveals the tremendous power within sibling relationships, ME AND THE BOSS, HERE. If you missed that I urge you to take a look at my comments and then read the book.

Such deeply-rooted relationships among siblings are not always positive, but more often than not they are. They certainly have the potential to be the foundation and scaffolding of adult lives. The picture book I am celebrating today moves those sibling relationship topics into an area of complexity that is too seldom brought to the eye of the general public:

Incarceration of family members.

Did you know?

• The total number of people who have ever had an immediate family member incarcerated was an estimated 113 million, according to the study – about one in every two adults in the U.S. Around 6.5 million people “have an immediate family member currently incarcerated in jail or prison (1 in 38).”

Source: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/families/

Random House Studio, 2022

MY BROTHER IS AWAY is written by Sara Greenwood and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. This is Greenwood's debut picture book, released by a major mainstream publisher, so congratulations are merited on that accomplishment alone. The poignant but genuine narrative and point of view will readily lead readers of many ages to make connections to their own lives or those of friends and neighbors. The overwhelming reality that half of American families have had personal experience with some level of the prison system begs the question about why this topic is so rarely treated. 

Perhaps one insight into the lack of child-friendly books on this subject lies in the challenge of finding a suitable tone. MY BROTHER IS AWAY achieves a masterful touch in which this text and these illustrations are handled. The girl on the cover is the narrator, using first person, present tense voice and direct sentences to indicate that her brother is gone, but not forgotten. Several spreads allow readers to follow her into past tense to the things she used to do with her older brother, one who could lift her onto his shoulders and call her silly goose, teach her how to fly a kite. With that age gap, the illustrator assures that readers will also see  many signs of still-young boyishness in his bedroom. Greenwood deftly allows the girl to experience her shame, worry, loneliness, sadness, and anger while also wrapping up in the comfort of happier memories and her loving parents' efforts to keep the family connected. 

Never is the word "prison" used, but peer questions and accusations make it clear that the brother has not died, run away, or joined the military. He has been taken away and will not be back in their home any time soon. What he did is not specified but was in the paper, and his sister wonders why he would do such things. She is angry that his choices hurt her and her family so deeply. When they are finally able to go visit, will he still feel the same? Will she?

We join them on a lengthy journey and share awareness through prison visits that many families of many ages also have loved ones behind bars. She is not the only one suffering such a loss, and her life is closer to normal than she had imagined.

The mood and elaboration of story within illustrations are equally effective. Endpapers suggest an ambivalent sky, some clouds rosy and others deeply gray, some half of each. This suggests a powerful launch to the realistic emotional turmoil of the sister, and of families in such circumstances in general. I examined the front and back papers repeatedly, feeling certain that the colors, saturation, and tones had brightened on the ending papers. Then I realized that they are virtually identical, but the tone of encouragement and hope within the story had brightened my perception of those final endpapers as the  girl and her family adjust to their reality. Subtle elements in illustration merit close attention and repeated readings. As the family approaches "A building ringed with silver fences" our eyes meet an imposing dull-grey prison that matches the flat-tone of the ubiquitous fences around it, despite that "silver" perception of the child. I also appreciated that the family is depicted as a typical white family, while the girl's classmates and the other family/prisoner characters in scenes near the conclusion reflect the diversity of our population. For too many of us, the word "prison" or "prisoner" conjures images of Black or Brown individuals.

Interior spread: MY BROTHER IS AWAY

As is often the case, the Author Note at the end is worth reading. In this case, the author shares her own childhood photo and personal history as a girl whose brother "was away" until he returned home while she was in eighth grade. Her deeply-felt experiences resonate through this story and likely account for the nuance and sensitivity of the text. She provides a direct message to any children who have a family member in prison: You are not alone.

Please check out this important picture book and recommend it to families, teachers, librarians, scout leaders, librarians, and more.

SIBLINGS: ME AND THE BOSS!

 

Anne Schwartz Books, 2022

The subtitle for this very special picture book is: A STORY ABOUT MENDING AND LOVE. I have three other siblings and, at this stage of life, my sense of those relationships is one of gratitude, not worry or concern. Even so, thoughts of childhood flood with memories that we got along and loved each other, but there were plenty of days which might have deserved some mending. But there I go, reading that subtitle with my adult mind, assuming the meaning related to resolving a disagreement or some relationship trouble. Kids though, are literal critters, and they will understand immediately the very big and deep story behind the looks on the faces of these characters, on the cover and on the interior spreads.

ME AND THE BOSS: A Story About Mending and Love is written by Michelle Edwards and illustrated by April Harrison. The first seemingly simple lines target the heart of this story with the following words:

"I know big sisters. Zora, the Boss, is mine. 

I go wherever she goes and we are always home before dark. 

Those are the rules."

This is a likely-familiar scenario within many families, while each reader's take on it will be deeply refracted by their own relationships within a family cluster. Even the singleton child who always longed for siblings might ache for such an imagined older or younger "appendage", someone who might halve the worries and cautions of daily life.

Now read only that second sentence: "Zora, the Boss, is mine." 

Without the surrounding words, six-year-old Lee's first person voice states the foundation of his world, even within their loving, stable circle of caring and present parents. From waking to dusk, Lee belongs to Zora and is safe with her. His careful observations and gentle smile are not erased by her stern demeanor. She takes him into the world, insists he be allowed to participate, even with a needle and thread that could prick his fingers. She fibs about his age to assure he can take part. And he knows she does.

He does not shed tears. He does not give up. He watches, learns, and admires the Boss. He trusts her to be "mine". She will get them home before dark, heads down, and he will feel safer slipping his hand into hers, which she grips tightly.

This launches us into Lee's world and softens our view of his stern-faced sister. He is not a quitter. Lee is as stingy with words as his sister is. If Zora believes in him he can believe in himself. His overnight wakefulness provides time to practice, to calm his too-quick fingers on the needle, and accomplish his plans. He expands his sense of independence, achieves a goal for himself, then extends his newfound skill to offer a silent surprise to his sister. 

Much effort is currently being made in the publishing world to elevate and promulgate author and illustrator voices that share stories and images from previously underrepresented cultures and identities. Within that, the shift is on to share "Black Joy", as I've written about HERE, HERE, and HERE. It will take many such titles to provide celebrations of contemporary relationships, interests, and experiences that begin to balance the prior focus on stories of suffering and slavery and pain. Those historic stories are essential, but mirrors of daily life and lively engagements, like this one, need to be readily available and welcomed into the canon of children's literature. In this case the sibling roles within family, neighborhood, and community are not only contemporary but reminiscent of generations of families of every color. This, then, is a welcome version of the century of stories sharing such experiences in which the people on the page are white. conventional (exclusionary) policies claimed that "others" who read/view it will "see" themselves in it. Here, the same can be said for those who are not Black. These characters, this story, could belong to anyone. As illustrated by the powerful images of April Harrison, the family members are not mere darker-skinned generic people. They embody and project an undeniably rooted Black family and relationships, people I want to know. The dignity, strength, and synergy within this family are undeniable and enviable. They don't need for me to know them,  but they deserve to be known.

Examine those faces closely. Pay attention to every word, within the full story flow and also as single statements. Project their lives forward. Zora is not "forever" Boss, only to remain so as they age. Her demands of Lee and her defense of him are building within him a brother who will, one day in the future, separate himself from her Boss role and become the brother she loves and needs as there are now, side by side, equal sibling adults.

Baby Brothers are Just Ducky! Science At Its Funniest!

Chronicle Books, 2020

Anchoring this post in time:
Covid 19 "Safe-at-home" day 42. Here's an example of science-at-home for your little ones.

That's fledgling scientist Stella Wells on the cover, introducing you to her brand new baby duck! MY BROTHER THE DUCK is written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Daniel Wiseman. When I first heard about this book I was intrigued. As soon as the cover was released I realized how many sibling scientists I might have misled with various shower and new-baby gifts in the past.
With an eye toward gender-neutral themes, I've often selected infant ensembles with bright colors and animal themes (turtle, ducks, ponies, puppies, etc.) Not once did it occur to me that young siblings might form some strange hypotheses based on observable patterns.

But it did occur to Miller. Her lively latest offering features an observant (and open-eared) older sister. Stella splashes a loving dose of affection into her STEM-ish effort to prove that the latest addition to her family is, in fact, a duck. She sustains a scientific drive to gather evidence to support her theory while remaining alert to other possibilities. Along the way she engages with her science-minded friend, Carla Martinez, and their duck-obsessed principal. The punny word-play and artfully scattered evidences avoid offering mic-drop simplicity or a cheesy bottom line. Instead, the story holds layers of appeal at various stages and will invite requests to "read it again", when kids and adults will notice more each time through.

It would be very unfair of me to reveal too many examples of how the pitch-perfect text and  illustrations achieve such results. You'll have fun with each page turn.  But this snap from the opening pages gives you a taste of the talents I praise.
Stella is less than thrilled with the idea of a baby brother, but overhearing Dad suggest that Mom's "waddling" could mean she is actually carrying a duck is the last straw.
Notice how the humor of the parent spread contrasts with Stella's concern, along with evidence that she is an academic-minded girl, including that handy notebook for recording observations. I love the duck-yellow background, too, an indication that Wiseman's blend of humor, story, and emotion are balanced with a finesse that enhances Miller's text.

Pat Zietlow Miller's combination of observation and imagination came together in lively text  to create her debut picture book featuring the irrepressible, irresistible Sophie and her Squash. That first book garnered many awards and countless fans by offering an original premise and story, delightful characters, cleverly pun-filled text, and heartwarmingly bright and lighthearted illustrations. Sophie's Squash fans led to a sequel, Sophie's Squash Go To School. (On the very slight chance that you don't know these books, make it a point to read them as soon as possible!)

Since then, Miller has created a roster of warm and fuzzy stories, books that achieved NYT best-seller status, that grace annual "best-of" and "favorites" lists, and have spawned countless snuggle hours. (Seriously, click Pat's name above and check out her books. Read every one of them!) 

Here she has returned to her roots, spinning a character's entertaining journey to leave readers chuckling and cheering for Stella who never gives up. Spoiler- Stella pursues her STEM/Science investigations to their logical conclusions, always alert for new problems to solve.

It's delightful to read this clever and appealing  book, a perfect example of a gifted adult author who views the world through the eyes and heart of a child. I'll never shop for infant gifts again without imagining the impact of my choices on older siblings. Now I'm wondering how a big brother might view the addition of a baby turtle to his household!

THE SEVEN PRINCESSES: Sibling Struggles and Solutions

An adage in the world of publishing for kids says that there's always room for one more dog book, cow book, princess book, bear book or other familiar iconic characters if... and only if... something about the story makes it stand out from the pack.

A search of book titles including the word "princess" resulted in more than a hundred PAGES of links. What possible hook could an author imagine to make a story stand out in such a crowded field? 
How about one with SEVEN princesses? 

That's certainly a start, but it would need something else pretty special to hold an audience. Author/illustrator Smiljana Coh wasn't intimidated by that challenge. This new release isn't her first princess book. PRINCESSES ON THE RUN had a warm reception from Publishers' Weekly. It's no surprise that she had the confidence to have-a-go at another!

Running Press Kids. May, 2016

The spring release of THE SEVEN PRINCESSES, written and illustrated by Smiljana Coh, brings us a  princess book that is memorable on several counts and for several audiences.
The energetic and independent princesses will appeal to girls and boys, too. From the harlequin-patterned endpapers to the classic village and castle to the updated clothing and conventions, stereotypes are flipped for a contemporary treatment. These seven independent and self-sufficient sisters are recognizable and familiar despite their obviously privileged life. 
The palette shifts from comforting pastels to somber sepia-grays as the "kind-hearted, quick-witted, highly skilled" sisters slip into sibling spats. Anyone who has ever used tape to divide a shared bedroom or labeled special items "hands off" will identify with their squabbles and revel in their eventual solutions.
The visually diverse family is equally diverse in interests, including plenty of science, nature, arts, and athletics. The illustrations enhance the reality of a loving and complex family navigating the ups and downs of daily life. 
The story these sisters tell would be similar if they lived in one of the village homes at the base of the castle. But being "princess" sisters  provides initial appeal, allows elaborate execution of their decisions, and elevates their struggles and problem-solving with colorful detail and humor. 
This is a princess book that will be pulled from the shelves again and again: by educators, parents, and families seeking books dealing with conflict resolution, diversity, and family dynamics. More importantly, young readers will return to it once they recognize themselves in any one of the princess sisters, their varied interests, and the ambivalence of sibling relationships. 
If you want to read what others have had to say about THE SEVEN PRINCESSES, check other posts on the blog tour:

5/18 Anastasia Suen

5/20 Kid Lit Frenzy  

5/21 Mom Read It  

5/23 Reading Through Life

5/24 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books