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Giant Leap

7/16/2019

Lunar Landing July 20, 1969

We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things,
not because they are easy, but because they are hard
John F. Kennedy

Fifty years ago, the United States made history when astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface of the moon. The Apollo 11 mission was the culmination of years of research and testing. Relive this momentous occasion with these stunning books for young readers. A picture book, historical fiction in graphic novel format, a comic book, and an illustrated volume of free verse brilliantly showcase this incredible accomplishment and the variety of formats authors employ to bring true stories to life.

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing
by Chris Gall

From childhood, Chris Gall has always been fascinated with rockets and space exploration. Go for the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing chronicles the parallel stories of the Apollo 11 launch and a young boy’s attempt to replicate the event on a personal and considerably smaller scale. His rocket is a water rocket that he transports via a little red wagon. He builds a lunar module from cardboard boxes and climbs inside. He and his brother replicate the difficulty of precisely reaching the moon with a soccer ball and a stone.

Gorgeously illustrated and chock full of fascinating facts, the generous trim size invites readers to experience the Apollo11 mission from a kid’s point of view. Grab a glass of Tang and share in the adventure.

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: June 11, 2019 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250155795

Rocket to the Moon!:
Big Ideas That Changed the World
by Don Brown

Big Ideas That Changed the World, a series created by Don Brown, "celebrates the hard-won succession of ideas that ultimately remade the world." Rocket to the Moon! is the first book in Don Brown's Big Ideas That Changed the World series This volume recounts the history and development of rockets.
A substantial portion of the book is devoted to the United States' space exploration, including the "space race" with Russia. The narrative culminates with the successful Apollo 11 lunar landing.
Line drawings, and link wash are clean and straightforward, moving the narrative along. The full-page panel of the moon's surface appropriately gives readers pause. Pacing shows the module’s slow descent to the Sea of Tranquility with a series of jagged-edge panels. Horizontal panels zoom in on one footstep as it descends the ladder to the moon's surface.

T-Minus:
The Race to the Moon
by Jim Ottaviani ill Zonder Cannon Kevin Cannon

Jim Ottaviani’s fictionalized retelling of the race between the USA and the USSR to reach the moon is a gripping, emotionally charged saga. T-Minus: The Race to the Moon chronicles the development of space exploration and the back stories of key players such as Robert Goddard and Sergei Korolev.

The failures, successes, political intrigue come to a climax when Apollo 11 reaches its destination and NASA's astronaut takes the first steps on the moon.
Hard to put down. Read the author’s notes for information on his storytelling process as well as suggested bibliography.

Inventive placement of rockets which break out of rigid panel frames and span the entire vertical space is noteworthy. The black and white line art is well-suited to the subject matter.

Public library copy.

Pub date: May 9, 2009 Publisher: Adallin ISBN: 978-1416949602

Countdown:
2979 Days to the Moon
by Suzanne Slade ill Thomas Gonzales

Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon chronicles events leading up to and concluding with the first lunar landing on July 20, 1969. The narrative begins with the challenge uttered by President John F. Kennedy in May 1961.
Suzanne Slade, a mechanical engineer who worked on several space projects including the development of Saturn V rocket, is well qualified to write this superlative work of nonfiction. Her lyrical text vivifies the marvel of space exploration. The free verse is accompanied by direct quotations, systematically describing each of the eleven Apollo missions.
Gonzalez' paintings are enhanced with infographic spreads located between chapters. Generous trim size (10.3" x 11") while accessible and easy to handle, gives added emphasis to the grandeur of this achievement. The book's text, with clear clean font is thoughtful placed, awarding the narrative added significance. For contrast, pages describing the Apollo 8 expedition as it moves to the far side of the moon are black with striking white text.

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 5, 2019 Publisher: Amulet Books ISBN: 978-1419734045

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date:Sept 1, 2018 Publisher: Peachtree Publishers ISBN: 978-0399246531

Video Resources

Field Trip

Take a cross-country tour of Apollo 11 celebrations throughout the United States. The Smithsonian has curated a list of cities around the United States that are holding a variety of events this summer to coincide with the anniversary, from exhibitions to rocket launches to parades. Commemorate the Apollo 11 mission and lunar landing in a city near you,

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Color Palette

7/15/2019

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All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker

Olympia lives in a world of artists: her mother a painter turned sculptor, her father an art restorer, and her father's studiomate Apollo. She enjoys assisting Apollo with grinding pigments and mixing his own paints. She too is an artist. But her medium is the Blackwing 602 pencil. She works strictly in black, white, and grey.
When events force her to temporarily give up sketching, she turns to watercolor. Her experiments with this medium reminded me of my early forays into the magic of pigments mixed with water and then applied to pristine white paper. I unearthed some of my childhood watercolors and paired them with some of Olympia's observations on color, art, and life.

I loved All the Greys on Greene Street for many reasons: the tender exchanges between a troubled mother and her anxious daughter, the vivid descriptions of lower Manhattan, sunny summer days on an island, friendships tested and remaining true, love for cats, and a young girl's discoveries of what it means to be brave. Thanks Laura Tucker for restoring a piece of my childhood.

"...a wash of blues...so deep and rich that looking at them made you feel like you were learning something."

"Apollo mixes colors for his own paintings too, which is why they're so beautiful they make your chest hurt."

It's not the worst thing, is it? To celebrate the extraordinary in the ordinary?

It was a relief to let things be a little blurry. I liked how forgiving watercolor was, how easy it was to pretend that you hadn't made a mistake.

"but there were hundreds of blues in there that I had no words for, smoky purples and faded teals, colors even Apollo might not have known the names for."

" learned that if I held the brush at the very end...and made a lazy stroke with my whole arm, I could lay down a luxurious swath of color."

"Dried gamboge doesn't look like much-just another sticky, ugly brown rock. But put a drop of water on it, and that rock will weep a tear so brightly yellow it will hurt your eyes."

"They turn difficult things into beautiful ones. They're the artists. And that's what you are."

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: June 4, 2019 Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers ISBN: 978-0451479532

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No Place Like Home

7/12/2019

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Home is a Window
by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard ill by Chris Sasaki

Home is what feels the same and sometimes what is new.

Home is a Window is a quiet little treasure. wrapping youngsters who face change in a reassuring embrace.
Title page features a busy urban neighborhood, filled with homes and shops, pets and people. Observant readers will notice a young girl walking her dog. With the first page turn, she steps off the street and enters her home.

Stephanie Parsley Ledyard's descriptive text enumerates the comforting familiarity of simple things: a basket for your shoes, someone to help, a blanket all your own.

As the narrative progresses, it becomes apparent that things are changing. Belongings are packed. The family piles into the car, leaving the city. A journey commences. Eventually the family reaches their destination. A new home. A new neighborhood. However, a sense of belonging, the familiarity of routines, and reassurance of family remain a constant. She realizes that this new place can become a home for her.

Note the book’s case nestled beneath the cover, resembling a warm and cozy patchwork quilt. This colorful blanket makes cameo appearances throughout the story. Endpapers appropriately frame the story, with a daylight urban neighborhood serving as an introduction and a suburban night scene bringing the story to a restful conclusion.

Chris Sasaki's illustrations feature a multiracial family joined together with warmth and love. Many images feature some form of an embrace: mother and daughter, husband and wife, friends and neighbors, father and daughter, dog and boy. Each reach out to touch another individual, providing a strong sense of connection. Joyous simplicity and tender reassurance permeate each image.

Share this book with those who have experienced change or anticipate a change.

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: April 23, 2019 Publisher: Neal Porter Books ISBN: 978-0823441563

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Mouthful

7/9/2019

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Big Mouth Elizabeth
by Rachel Vail ill by Paige Keiser

A tale of blood, a missing tooth, and learning what it means to be a friend.

Creating chapter books for early readers is a challenge. Stories should present readers with an interesting dilemma, introduce engaging characters, and feature lively dialog. In addition, the narrative needs a controlled word count in terms of the number of words on the page as well as the amount of text requiring complex decoding skills.
Format requirements include large-sized font, plenty of white space on the page, illustrations which support the reader's understanding of the narrative, and short chapters.
That’s a tall order!

Rachel Vail is up to the task. Her mastery of this form of storytelling is evident in every page of this series.

Big Mouth Elizabeth, a continuation to the A is for Elizabeth series, delights readers with the exploits of a plucky second grader.
In this installment, several of her classmates lose a tooth. They form the Big Mouth Club, an exclusive group open only to students missing a tooth. Elizabeth does not qualify for membership.

She is relegated to a lower social stratum i.e. those second-graders with no missing teeth. Elizabeth is distraught when classified with the slower-maturing students. Instead of joining the Big-Mouth-Club’s Members-Only trip to Playland she will spend the day with “Babyish Cali.”
Our little protagonist learns painful lessons about the effects of judging others, name-calling, and excluding individuals from your circle.

We are friends with everybody in the whole class.
It is not easy.

Keiser's line drawings capture the unique personalities of Elizabeth and her classmates in room 2B. Illustrations are brimming with vitality and charm.

Young readers may recognize a bit of themselves in this girl with a large attitude and definite opinions. Elizabeth is just the right mix of spunk, self-doubt, and honesty.
Shout out to the author and editor for making An A is for Elizabeth a series. More Elizabeth stories are planned. Hurrah!

More More More

Looking for appealing chapter books for beginning readers? Try these series by Rachel Vail.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 7, 2019 Publisher :Feiwel and Friends ISBN: 978-1250162175

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Turkish Delight

7/4/2019

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Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff

The intense action on the cover promises a rollicking adventure, and the interior pages certainly deliver on that promise.
Delilah Dirk has abandoned conventional court life and become a globe-trotting soldier of fortune. She is captured and held prisoner in 1800s Constantinople. Eventually she escapes, taking along the astonished Turkish Lieutenant Erdemogul Selim, whose quiet life centers around a proper cup of tea.
This unlikely pair embarks on a wild journey that includes flying a ship, outwitting the Evil Pirate Captain Zakul, and escaping burning buildings.

Characters vividly come to life with expressive faces and mannerisms. The bumbling, mild-mannered lieutenant serves as a perfect foil for Delilah's acerbic wit and considerable physical prowess. Her frustration with Selim's ineptitude results in recurring comical situations. Subtle humor and charming interchanges between these two unlikely companions, "Miss Dirk" and "Mr. Selim," will captivate readers.

Story construction consists of three distinct threads: Selim's narration, dialogue between the characters, and engaging visuals. These three often-differing points of view are intricately woven together into a storytelling tour de force.
Pacing of the tale is excellent, with tranquil moonlit nights and campfires setting up subsequent action sequences. Jewel-toned colors add to the rich visual experience.
The saga concludes as the two travelers, now companions, face a future brimming with possibilities. Delilah and the lieutenant are destined to join the ranks of such classic duos as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. A scrumptious Turkish delight.

2013 School Library Journal review Barbara Moon

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Undefeated

7/3/2019

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The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ill by Kadir Nelson

This is for you. And you. And you. This is for us.

When times are tough and faith gives only the thinnest glimmer of light, there is hope, there are heroes. Newbery Award-winner Kwame Alexander's poetry pays tribute to Black Americans who with determination, persistence, dignity, courage, and vision have survived and thrived.

The Undefeated honors some of the individuals, past and present, who embody the struggle to dream and achieve. Authors, artists, athletes, poets, politicians, Civil Rights leaders, and musicians are among those referenced through soaring verses which capture the dignity and grace of the human spirit.
Alexander also pays tribute to those who suffered, sacrificed, and lost their lives.

A heart-breaking image features the framed photographs of four young girls killed in the 1963 bombing of the Birmingham Church, their faces shown behind shattered glass. Lives shattered.
Probably the most moving spread is a blank page, devoid of any face, acknowledging those who did not survive.

Two-time Caldecott Honor-winner Nelson's close-up portraits capture a spirit of quiet strength and determination. The realistic style exudes countenances glowing with warmth and intelligence. Nelson uses a rich variety of skin tones and facial characteristics. Each an individual. Each unique. The faces also portray joyful and proud moments. Eyes shining with tears.

Back matter includes an Afterword by the author, describing his inspiration for this ode to Black America. References to individuals, historical events, lyrics, and speeches that inspired individual verses provide context and background information.

This book is for everyone. It speaks to the best in us. It inspires us all. Thank you, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Nelson

"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated."
Maya Angelou

Be Inspired

View The Undefeated trailer and an interview with the author and illustrator, filmed at the National Gallery of Art.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 2, 2019 Publisher: Versify. ISBN: 978-1328780966

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Monster Mash

7/2/2019

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My Big Bad Monster by A. N. Kang

What should one do when that first little niggling notion of self-doubt creeps into one's mind?

Author/illustrator A. N. Kang envisions this uncertainty as a monster. It begins as a tiny squiggle escaping from a young girl's line drawing. When she steps back to examine her finished art, the scrawl leaps off of the floor, confronting the artist and her finished work. The monster's mocking laugh shames the youngster and compels her to obliterate her drawing with dark scribbles.

The monster moves on, taking residence on her head with derogatory thoughts about her appearance, her performance in school, and her playmates. Each negative thought that the girl accepts feeds the monster and causes it to grow larger. The influence is so pervasive, that this sweet little girl is in danger of becoming a monster herself.

Quite by accident, she discovers a solution to her problem. Noise causes the monster to cower under the table. She wonders: what if she were to create a series of interesting sounds? Our inventive problem-solver sets to work with pipes and pans, bottles and spoons. Viola! She makes her own "spectacular” sound. The music is a welcoming invitation for others to join her in making music and making friends.

Kang uses expressive faces and an economy of words to tell the tale. The menacing squiggle of a monster contrasts with the girl's masses of red curls. As the monster grows, it covers the entire two-page spread. When music overpowers
negativity, the spunky little music-makers completely replace the monster and fill the pages with their unique sound effects.

My Big Bad Monster is a charming picture book celebrating overcoming destructive thinking and making one's own music.

Think Positive Picture Books

The Brain Storm by Linda Ragsdale Ill by Claudio Molina

Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: July 2, 2019 Publisher: Disney-Hyperion ISBN: 978-1484728826

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Giant Leap

Lunar Landing July 20, 1969

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landingby Chris Gall

Rocket to the Moon!: ​Big Ideas That Changed the World​by Don Brown

T-Minus:​The Race to the Moonby Jim Ottaviani ill Zonder Cannon Kevin Cannon

Video Resources

Field Trip

Color Palette

All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker

No Place Like Home

Home is a Windowby Stephanie Parsley Ledyard ill by Chris Sasaki

Mouthful

Big Mouth Elizabeth by Rachel Vail ill by Paige Keiser

More More More

Turkish Delight

Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff

Undefeated

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ill by Kadir Nelson

Be Inspired

Monster Mash

My Big Bad Monster by A. N. Kang

Think Positive Picture Books

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Go for the Moon: A Rocket, A Boy, and the First Moon Landing
by Chris Gall

Rocket to the Moon!:
Big Ideas That Changed the World
by Don Brown

T-Minus:
The Race to the Moon
by Jim Ottaviani ill Zonder Cannon Kevin Cannon

Home is a Window
by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard ill by Chris Sasaki

Big Mouth Elizabeth
by Rachel Vail ill by Paige Keiser