Blog Archives

World of Wonder

4/28/2021

What the World Could Make: A Story of Hope
by Holly M. McGhee art by Pascal Lemaître

Without fail, I always have an emotional response to Holly McGhee’s books. Each is more than an enjoyable story. There will be a personal connection. What the World Could Make is a story of friendship and finding wonder. And hope.

Two charming little cottontails, Rabbit and Bunny view the world and their friendship through the lens of the passing seasons. In winter, they marvel at the falling snowflakes and share a giant snowball. Come spring, the sight and scent of blossoming lilacs prompt the gift of a handmade flower crown. Summer delights of sun and sea bring salty sea pickles to savor. The ginkgo tree carpets the ground in autumn with golden leaves which invite an afternoon frolic.

Each season the friends are in awe of the wonders of nature. They wish that each special moment could last forever.

"Forever?" asked Rabbit. "For always?"
"No...not exactly. Not that kind of forever."
"I think I know," Rabbit said.
"You mean the kind of forever
where you remember it even after it ends?"

McGhee has a way with words. The book's warm and reassuring message is precisely conveyed with a perfect turn of phrase. Narrative is poetic and sprinkled with lyrical cadences. Lemaître uses the full two-page spread, leaving plenty of open space for readers to pore over the friends' expressive faces. A limited color palette, with soft purples fading to greens, then golds, emphasizes the cyclical nature of life. This beautiful volume is a treasure to share with friends young and old as they marvel in the wonders of the world.

My World in 2020: A Story of Hope

Looking back on 2020, I realize that I have my own story of hope. While the scarf initials "R" and "B" obviously identify Rabbit and Bunny, they are also the initials of my husband and I. Here’s our story.
With the onset of 2020 we were dealing with cancer, the effects of chemotherapy and a suppressed immune system. Then the pandemic arrived and added more stress. The need to remain isolated became critical. Loneliness was inevitable. Remaining hopeful became a challenge.
Like Bunny and Rabbit, we tried to find joy in everyday wonders.

Did we want 2020 to go on forever? NO! Do we want to forever remember the joyful hopeful moments of 2020? YES! There are many sweet memories. What are your hopeful forevers?

More Books By Holly

Holly McGhee's books are little gems. Each speaks to readers in a way that is both personal and universal.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 4, 2021 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250268112

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Girl's Best Friend

4/22/2021

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Pawcasso by Remy Lai

The Chihuahua-sized fib that grew into a Great Dane lie.

From the imagination of Lai comes Pawcasso, a graphic novel about a dog, art, and honesty.

Hoping to escape the confines of a large family, Joanna Lin steps outdoors and discovers a most unusual sight. A basket-bearing dog is heading into town. Intrigued, Jo follows.
She learns that this pup is on a mission. The basket contains a list of items that the dog is expected to procure from local businesses.

Things get complicated when the dog enters Dog Ears, the local book shop. Jo discovers an kid's art class is in session. Young students are thrilled with the appearance of a friendly pup. This is a much more exciting model that an inert pear. They assume that Jo is the dog's owner and ask permission to sketch, paint, and sculpt the canine.
When the shop offers free books in exchange for using the dog as a model, Jo pretends to be the owner and agrees to the terms. In honor of their interest in art, the kids name their remarkable model Pawcasso.

Then Jo learns that the art workshop will continue for five more weeks and culminate in a special art show. She worries. Who is the dog’s owner and where does it live? How can she get the dog to come to Dog Ears with her every week?

To make matters worse, neighbors are concerned that a dog is wandering through town without a leash. The city is divided into two camps: those supporting strict enforcement of leash laws and those that want to make an exception for this endearing animal. Finally, Jo meet's Picasso's owners and confesses her deception. With a little help, Jo brings the opposing factions together to solve the leash law dilemma. She also heals a rift in a neighbor’s family and comes to terms with her father’s work-related absence. Bonus: There is ice cream for everyone!

A surefire hit for fans of mysteries, poop jokes, adorable dogs, and happy endings.

Lai packs her graphic novel with plenty of goodies.

Inventive word play: Pawcasso (canine version of the artist Picasso) Dog Ears (bookstore), Drippy Cone (ice cream shop) and Dippy (short for serendipity)
Contemporary artists Picasso and Marcel Duchamp
An ice cream recipe that is suitable for dogs and "hoomans”

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 11, 2021 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks ISBN: 978-1250774491

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Defining Moment

4/19/2021

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From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry:
The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement
by Paula Yoo

June 2012. Jarod Lew came face to face with his past, a past that he never knew existed. Eventually he would uncover a thirty-year-old family secret.

June 1982. Vincent Chin was sitting in front of a McDonalds when he was bludgeoned with a baseball bat. Days later, he died of massive brain injuries.

Yoo's narrative introduces several seemingly unconnected individuals and brilliantly interweaves their life stories. Jarod Lew wanted to understand his past. Vikki Wong fought for justice after the violent death of her son. Detroit auto workers Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz worried about job security when Toyota, Datsun, and Honda began to dominate the car market.
Vincent Chin's life and death is the common factor that connects these people. It is a real life drama: a heinous hate crime and the resulting mobilization of the Asian American community.

Born in China, Chin was adopted and raised by Asian American parents. To celebrate his upcoming marriage to Vikki Wong, Chin went with friends to a strip club. At the club’s bar he traded insults with Ebens and Nitz. When words escalated to a fight and a smashed chair, all were evicted by the bouncer. Vincent wandered Detroit’s streets and eventually sat down in front of a local McDonalds. Ebens and Nitz were driving around the area when they spied Vincent. Eben stopped, took a baseball bat from his car, and brutally beat Chin until his face was battered beyond recognition. Chin was taken to the hospital where he died days later.

A lengthy legal battle ensued. Initially Ebens and Nitz were charged with manslaughter but the sentence was reduced to probation with no jail time. The Asian American community was shaken by this verdict. They determined to no longer remain silent when faced with inequity and racism. Asians and Pacific Islanders united to protest, seek legal redress, increase media exposure, and join with other civil rights advocacy groups to combat overt and subtle forms of discrimination.

With excellent pacing and stunning detail, Yoo uses newspaper reports, court documents, and in depth interviews to recount events leading up to this tragedy and its long-term affects.

The work is well supported with extensive back matter: a detailed timeline, 311 source citations, numerous photos, and a bibliography. The author’s Afterward personalizes this defining moment in history and brings current events, especially the world wide pandemic into the equation. She suggests that reports of the virus have helped foster and exacerbate targeting Asians.

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement chronicles a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. It’s the story of a hate crime, the creation of the first pan-ethnic Asian American civil rights organization, and the genesis of the Asian Lives Matter movement. Compelling nonfiction.

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 20, 2021 Publisher: Norton Young Readers ISBN: 978-1324002871

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Migrant Children

4/12/2021

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Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:
The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States
compiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

The plight of immigrants arriving at the United States’ Southern Border is well documented. Politicians, media outlets, community leaders, humanitarian groups, and religious organizations have weighed in on the subject.

Sadly, the viewpoint of one faction is often overlooked.

Children. What do migrant children have to say about their situation? They live the experience. Day in. Day out.
Project Amplify documented what these minors had to say. Sixty-one young migrants from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Mexico describe in poignant detail their lives in detention centers. Warren Binford, a private citizen who inspects detention facilities, collected sworn statements of children ranging from ages five to sixteen. To protect each child’s identity, only the initial letter of a name identifies the author of individual testimonies.
This picture book offers a glimpse into the lives of migrants trapped in horrific conditions.

Seventeen Mexican and Mexican Americans artists illustrate the children’s descriptions of their current surroundings. These artists’ distinctive illustration styles offers readers a views of the migrant experience from multiple perspectives. Follow the links listed below to view the work of each visual artist.

Back matter contains historical context, basic information, and a description of current conditions. There are questions to ask, things to think about, and suggestions for individuals who want to help relieve the youngsters' difficult circumstances.

The heartbreaking messages and visually arresting art cannot be ignored. This dual English/Spanish picture book moves the frame of reference away from political dialogue. Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz focuses attention on those who are unable to help themselves. Hear what they have to say.

"I am holding both little girls in my lap to try to comfort them.
I need comfort, too. I am bigger than they are, but I am a child, too."

Want to help?

"Project Amplify is a national nonprofit (501c3) launched to establish legal protections for children in government care." Co-Founders Professors Warren Binford, Hope Frye, Erin Albanese work to shape legislation and provide legal support for child migrants. All royalties from Hear My Voice/Esucha mi voz will be donated to Project Amplify.

Meet the Artists

Acknowledging these generous artists and their incredible work.

Cecilia Ruiz, Yuyi Morales, Juan Palomino, Paco Santoyo, Adriana Campos, Salomón Duarte Granados, Flavia Zorrilla Drago, Bayo Flores, Edith Valle, Gloria Féliz, Mirelle Ortega, María Lumbreras, Addy Rivera Sonda, Raul Gonzalez III,
Beatriz Gutierriz Hernandez, Daniela Martín del Campo, Dominique Arce.

Stories to Read and Share

Picture books for young readers.

Chapter books for middle grade.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 13, 2021 Publisher: Workman Publishing Company ISBN: 978-1523513482

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Questions and Answers

4/6/2021

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Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treur

I was not just another Indian. No Indian really is.
Because we are so often imagined and so infrequently well understood.

It begins at the cover with intricate eye-catching beadwork created by Jana Schmieding (Lakota). The floral motifs, a hallmark of Ojibwe decorative arts, reflect the author's heritage. This book promises to be unique.

Treur has adapted his 2012 book of the same title for a younger audience. It follows a question and answer format and is divided into sections covering a variety of topics such as History, Religion, Culture & Identity, Tribal Languages, Economics, Education, and Social Activism.

The volume can be read cover to cover for a broad introduction the subject. Some readers may choose to take a deep dive into a specific topic. Others may opt to peruse the Contents or Index for questions of particular interest. Skimming through the book and pausing to digest fascinating factoids is another approach. It is possible to read the book differently each time you pick it up.

This edition presents bite-sized chunks of information that suit the needs and interests for a wide audience. It also considers contemporary issues such as racism, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and DNA testing.

A conclusion suggests ways for both Natives and non Natives to advance toward better understanding. Back matter contains Notes, Photo Credits, Acknowledgements, Recommended Reading by topic, and an Index.

Everything You Want to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask is universal in its scope and simultaneously deeply personal. Treuer, a professor with advanced academic degrees and the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, brings an educator's perspective to the book. The addition of personal anecdotes, clever asides, and family photos give the work a distinctive quality and "keep it real." An excellent addition to public, school, and classroom libraries.

Treuer talks about creating a book for young readers.

Questions. Many Questions.

This book considers over 175 questions. Here are a few:

How many tribal languages are spoken in the Americas?
What is the real story of Thanksgiving?
What's it like for Natives who don't look like Natives?
Can a non-Native person get an Indian name?

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 6, 2021 Publisher: Levine Querido; Young Readers edition ISBN: 978-1646140459

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The Wonders of Mars

4/2/2021

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Mars is Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, and Startling Surprises by Suzanne Slade

On August 12, 2005 NASA launched the Atlas V rocket, carrying the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) equipped with a remarkable camera. Seven months later the MRO was orbiting Mars. Soon its camera began sending photos back to earth.

The photos are astounding. Magnified images reveal Mars’ surface in detail showing rock layers, sand dunes, canyons, craters, volcanoes, and lava flows. The landscape changes continually. For example, the planet’s two polar ice caps are composed of dry ice. In spring, cracks begin to form in the ice, allowing gases to bubble up to the surface.

Each two-page spread features a close-up full color photograph. A poetic phrase in bold font on the facing page is accompanied by an informative paragraph. Mars is Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, Startling Surprises is also an artistic exploration of form and design. Stunning images and evocative descriptions enhance the sensory experience.

Back matter includes information on the mission’s technical challenges, an explanation of HiRise camera (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment), facts about the planet Mars, and a timeline of Mars Exploration highlights.

A 11” x 10 1/4” trim size suggests that the volume may be best viewed when opened flat and spread out on a table so youngsters can pore over the pages. Students interested in the sciences and/or the arts will be fascinated. Slade has created another picture book masterpiece.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 1, 2021 Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company ISBN: 978-1682631881

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Clay and Creation

4/1/2021

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Shaped By Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez
by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzales art by Aphelandra

“The Great Spirit gave me (hands) that work...but not for myself, but for all my Tewa people.”

Maria Povika Martinez created distinctive pottery that is highly prized by collectors. Her great granddaughter Barbara Gonzales and art educator Anna Harbor Freeman collaborated to tell her story with a picture book for young readers.

Maria lived in San Idlefonso Pueblo near Santa Fe, New Mexico where clay was an abundant resource. As a girl, she was fascinated with the process of creating pottery. When her early efforts were not successful, she turned to ko-kōo Nicolasa to teach her. Her aunt used Tewa traditional methods: combining clay with water and volcanic ash, rolling the mixture into coils, then building the pot’s walls and firing the vessels for hours in a pottery fire. Each step was accompanied by special prayers.

While still a young woman, Maria married and became a mother but never gave up her work as a potter.

Her earthenware came to the attention of an archaeologist who presented her with a fragment of black pottery. Maria was intrigued. She and her husband Julian experimented and discovered a process for making shiny black pots. Blackware fashioned by Maria and her family became a valuable collector's item.

In addition to describing pottery making, the narrative emphasizes culture, traditions, and religious practices of the Tewa. The authors use several Native terms which can be understood by using the illustrations and context clues for support. Aphelandra’s color palette of deep reds blending into rich golds and rising to a turquoise sky serves as a backdrop for Blackware. It is interesting to note that over time Maria's simple style of dress remains constant.

Shaped By Her Hands is a moving tribute to a great grandmother and her Native traditions. Excellent introduction to the technique of creating ceramics.

Back matter includes additional information on Maria Povika Martinez, Tewa People, San Idlefonso Pueblo, Authors Notes, and Selected Resources.

Blackware began as a joint enterprise for Maria and Julian. He is credited with painting many of the pot’s intricate designs. Currently, six generations of Maria and Julian’s descendants continue her legacy.

Maria's Blackware is considered fine art. Her signed pieces are worth thousands. She was awarded several honorary degrees and invited to the White House. She and her husband demonstrated pottery making in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Her work can be viewed online.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SkUGm87DE0k
http://indianartsandculture.org/exhibits/maria/index.html
https://kinggalleries.com/brand/martinez-maria/

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 1, 2021 Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company ISBN: 978-0807575994

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World of Wonder

What the World Could Make: A Story of Hope
by Holly M. McGhee art by Pascal Lemaître

My World in 2020: A Story of Hope

More Books By Holly

Girl's Best Friend

Pawcasso by Remy Lai

Defining Moment

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry:
The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement
by Paula Yoo

Migrant Children

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:
The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States
compiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

Want to help?

Meet the Artists

Stories to Read and Share

Questions and Answers

Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treur

Questions. Many Questions.

The Wonders of Mars

Mars is Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, and Startling Surprises by Suzanne Slade

Clay and Creation

Shaped By Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez
by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzales art by Aphelandra

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

World of Wonder

What the World Could Make: A Story of Hope by Holly M. McGhee art by Pascal Lemaître

My World in 2020: A Story of Hope

More Books By Holly

Girl's Best Friend

Pawcasso by Remy Lai

Defining Moment

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry:The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement​by Paula Yoo

Migrant Children

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United Statescompiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

Want to help?

Meet the Artists

Stories to Read and Share

Questions and Answers

Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treur

Questions. Many Questions.

The Wonders of Mars

Mars is Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, and Startling Surprises by Suzanne Slade

Clay and Creation

Shaped By Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzales art by Aphelandra

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

What the World Could Make: A Story of Hope
by Holly M. McGhee art by Pascal Lemaître

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry:
The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement
by Paula Yoo

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:
The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States
compiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

Shaped By Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez
by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzales art by Aphelandra