Blog Archives

A Flight of Butterflies

11/30/2021

Autumn signals that it's time for the migratory flights of the Monarch butterflies. We watch in wonder as they travel through Texas on the way to Mexico. It's an extraordinary experience.

Three generously sized picture books explore the anatomy and life cycle of these winged insects. They include scientific facts as well as flights of fancy.

Monarch Butterflies:
Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World
by Ann Hobbie art by Olga Baumert

Monarch Butterflies offers young readers an in depth look at these "winged wonders of the world." Hobbie doesn't shy away from using precise vocabulary. Spiracles, maxillary palps, cremaster, and proboscis are some of the terms which are accompanied by enlarged illustrations and succinct paragraphs.

Baumert's detailed illustrations present up-close inspection of these insects' anatomy, life cycle, and habitats.

The author devotes a considerable number of pages to ecological patterns, monarch conservation, symbiotic relationships, and caring for the environment. Readers will find information on caring for butterflies, a Glossary, links to educator guides, topics for additional research, and Day of the Dead celebrations.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 27, 2021 Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC ISBN: 978-1635862898

Señorita Mariposa
by Ben Gundersheimer art by Macos Almada Rivero

Artfully composed couplets trace the journey of Señorita Mariposa. Mimicking the butterfly's flight, text in English and Spanish are intertwined. Initially, English, the language spoken in the continent where the flight originates, appears first. Each phrase is followed by a Spanish translation. Midflight, the format changes. At the poem's conclusion each line of poetry is displayed first in Spanish, followed by an English translation.

Supporting matter includes a map tracing the migratory path from Canada to Mexico, an Author's Note, and a link to Gundersheimer's Mariposa Project website.

Rivero's joyful illustrations are awash with color, smiling animals, children with a variety of skin tones, and a wide-eyed monarch butterfly with fancy eyelashes.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 3, 2019 Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books ISBN: 978-1481492096

Moth & Butterfly: Ta-Da!
by Dev Petty art by Ana Aranda

Petty takes readers into the worlds of two flying insects that have obvious similarities as well as distinct differences. And that's a good thing. Moth & Butterfly: Ta Da! makes clear that both insect classifications are fascinating subjects for investigation.

Aranda uses a riot of color. Butterfly emerges from the chrysalis with an explosion of bright yellow and pink. Moth pops from the cocoon in shades of beige and blue. The effect is stunning.

The final page lists identifying characteristics for moths and butterflies.
Bonus: The end papers are stunning. I wish that I could purchase prints of these bold graphic designs.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: June 8, 2021 Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books ISBN: 978-1524740511

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We Are Still Here

11/29/2021

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We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
by Traci Sorell art by Frané Lessac

We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know introduces critical issues in a format that is readily accessible for young readers. The narrative features presentations for Indigenous People's Day on the topics of "Assimilation," " Allotment," "Indian New Deal," "Termination," "Relocation," "Tribal Activism," "Self Determination," "Indian Child Welfare and Education," "Religious Freedom," "Economic Development," "Language Revival," and "Sovereign Resurgence."

While the Native Nations Community School students are fictional, the history and ongoing conditions described are accurate.

Text simply yet precisely defines each concept, gives background information, offers concrete examples, and concludes with the powerful refrain "We are still here!"

Vivid folk art illustrations span each two-page spread and are representative of a particular time period. Cover art features tribal flags.

Back matter: Information, Timeline, Glossary, Sources, and Author's Note provide resources for further study.

Sorell and Lessace have created an excellent introduction to the story and ongoing struggles of Native Nations. Superb volume for classroom, school, and public libraries.

Electronic copy accessed via publisher.

Pub date: April 20, 2019 Publisher: Charlesbridge ISBN: 978-1623541927

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Animal Friends

11/23/2021

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Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

Beloved picture book character Amos McGee is back with a new story. Caldecott Award-winning duo Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead revisit this gentle zookeeper as he plans a special outing for his animal friends.

McGee is so involved with these preparations that exhaustion eventually sets in. He nods off at the bus stop and misses his ride. Eventually he arrives at work but falls asleep on the job.

His animal friends note their keeper’s exhaustion and decide to assume his duties. Elephant picks up a broom, turtle retrieves a forgotten hat, owl offers visitors important conservation guidelines, and rhinoceros feeds smaller animals. While the others are hard at work, thoughtful penguin ensures that their caretaker rests without disruptions.

Philip C. Stead's text glows with understated charm. The juxtaposition of large animals performing small jobs is part of the book's appeal. Erin E. Stead's line drawings paired with woodcut prints add just the right touch of whimsy. Her illustrations are filled with hidden surprises. Readers will observe that a teddy bear, bunny slippers, tiny mouse and bird inhabit the zookeeper's home, a fitting homage to his occupation. Turtle’s progress throughout the pages ingeniously marks the passage of time.

While it is possible to analyze the book, locating themes of friendship, forgiveness, helpfulness, and cooperation, perhaps like Amos McGee, it is best to keep things simple. This is a quiet little gem, to be savored and shared. It retains its charm with subsequent readings. Readers will love the characters, the dilemma, and the resolution. Quite simply, Amos McGee Misses the Bus is a book to love. Over and over again.

The Stead's have one more sweet surprise: a giraffe! His long neck rises above the sunroof, the foliage forming a heart shape. Note the license plate, soaring balloon, and bird mouse duo closing out the scene. So many charming touches to be discovered.

Illustration Technique: Wood block printing

Erin E. Stead explains the process of wood block printing. Try making prints using Styrofoam plates. Off the Shelf offers an online printmaking tutorial.

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: November 23, 2021 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250213228

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A Tale of Two Worlds

11/20/2021

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A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

“Recuerda nuestra historia.” Remember our history.

Little Badger has done it again: creating another storytelling marvel. Seemingly unconnected narratives spanning over eight years and alternating between two distinctive worlds are magically woven together.

Cottonmouth snake Oli lives in the Reflecting World, home of spirits and monsters. He is devastated when his friend Ami, a small spotted toad, disappears. Oli recruits three spirit animals who can assume human form to help him search for Ami who is gravely ill and faces possible extinction. The companions leave the Reflecting World and "fall" to Earth, hoping to locate and save one small toad.

On Earth, sixteen-year-old Nina is puzzled by comments made by her Great-Great-Grandma Rosita and seeks answers from her Grandma. Both women are an enigma. Why do animals mysteriously recover in Grandma’s presence? What accounts for Rosita’s unusually long life?

When a major hurricane is projected to make landfall near Grandma’s South Texas property, Nina along with her father and the spirit animals join forces to save Grandma’s home from destruction.

The two worlds are well delineated. Characters are fully formed with unique personalities. The narrative sparkles with numerous charming details: a nearsighted snake who wears spectacles, a cantankerous alligator with a score to settle, a father habitually consuming all the chocolates in the candy dish, a grandmother who delights in gifting garage sale purchases.

The story's conclusion is dramatic, taking on mythic proportions. A devasting hurricane. A species facing extinction. A mysterious individual who seems inordinately interested in Grandma’s property. Impossible odds.
Extraordinary forces are at work here: the ability to shape nature and the overarching power of love. A Snake Falls to Earth, a 2021 National Book Award longlist selection, is a fascinating tale and a literary masterpiece.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: November 23, 2021 Publisher: Levine Querido ISBN: 978-1646140923

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I Need a Hero

11/17/2021

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The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:
New Stories About Mythic Heroes
edited by Rick Riordan

A book that's like a box of chocolates.

An anthology, like a box of chocolates, consists of tasty little morsels. The one you select may consist of creamy sweetness, rich darkness, or be a little bit nutty. All look so tempting. Which one will you pick?

Discover new adventures from the worlds of: Sal and Gabi, Aru Shah, Zane Obispo, Tristan Strong, Nizhoni Begay, Paola Santiago, Sikander Aziz and Riley Oh. Bet you can't pick just one!

If a hero isn't ready to lose everything for a greater cause, is that person really a hero?
Jason Grace, The Tower of Nero

Rick Riordan Presents includes stories by Carlos Hernandez, Roshani Chokshi, J.C. Cervantes, Yoon Ha Lee, Kwame Mbalia, Rebecca Roanhorse, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Sarwat Chadda, Graci Kim, and SURPRISE! Rick Riordan, who introduces an Irish hero: boy a marked for death before he was born. Is he destined for greatness or destruction?

The multiverse is home to an assortment of fascinating characters: Gum Baby will give you two pieces of her mind "one for now, and one to take home and enjoy later." Riley is the only member of her family who does not possess supernatural powers, or does she? Nizhoni battles a demon-possessed drum that contaminates everything, including the fry bread she loves to eat.

There are numerous ways to enter these mythic worlds:
Relax and plunge through the floor into a different universe. Take the elevator to the Lower Levels of Hell. Descend six thousand feet to face plant on Seventh Avenue. Visit a New York deli to find a "Demon in the Trash." Locate the red cactus flower that your mind envisioned. Slip in and sample any one of the selections, finding stories that pique your interest. They can be read in any order.

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities is an introduction to mythologies and cultures that invite further exploration. Fans of the Riordan series will relish these stories chronicling additional adventures for characters featured in the addictive series. It's an enchanting potpourri brimming with danger, humor, courage, friendship, and magic.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 28, 2021 Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents ISBN: 978-1368070836

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Grand Ideas Told with Few Words

11/10/2021

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African Proverbs for All Ages
collected by Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Nelda LaTeef ill by Nelda LaTeef

Like the turtle, each one of us must stick out our neck if we want to go forward.

The vibrant and expansive legacy of African literature is beginning to be recognized and celebrated. Case in
point: anthropologist and educator Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole collaborated with author and illustrator Nelda LaTeef for this collection of African Proverbs for All Ages.

The compilation is organized thematically. A single painting with four accompanying proverbs illustrates such concepts as education, relationships, happiness, knowledge, experience, home, and family.
Book design allows readers to consider a general concept from several points of view. A map helps readers identify each proverb's country of origin.

LaTeef's detailed illustrations of scenes from nature and village life employ a colorful palette. Faces and body language reflect joy, determination, cooperation, and respect.

Whether you are young or old, proverbs can open your mind to a whole new way of seeing the world. We underestimate children when we assume they are incapable of understanding metaphor and deeper meaning. There are multiple ways that children learn, but for each method by which they learn, they need their imagination engaged and their visual sensibilities ignited. And as adults, we underestimate ourselves when we allow our lives to be about practical matters only. Proverbs can stir our soul and spark our imagination. --Johnnetta Betsch Cole

This Oprah book selection powerfully demonstrates the universal appeal of folk wisdom. Words and images combine for a rich reading experience that can be savored alone or shared with a group. An excellent addition to home, classroom, school, and public libraries. Readers young and old will delight in discovering these timeless truisms.

Electronic copy accessed via publisher.

Pub date: November 30, 2021 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250756060

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Past Present Future

11/5/2021

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We Overcome Shall Overcome by Bryan Collier

She’s dressed in yellow, proudly displaying a peace symbol on a fresh green leaf. Collier’s extraordinary picture book pays homage to the past, illuminates the present, and inspires hope for the future. Text is based on the gospel song which became a Civil Rights anthem.

We Shall Overcome opens with a young girl rising to begin a new day. Readers follow her as she leaves her home, walking through the community before boarding a bus bound for school. She travels against a backdrop of historic figures and sites shown in shades of black and gray. The nameless faces of countless individuals can be seen within each step she takes. The message is clear: people and events from the past determine where she will go, what she can do, who she will become.

One of the most touching scenes takes place on the bus. Rosa Parks sits alone on the bus. The page turn features a a closeup of several hands clasped together. People united, no longer separated or excluded.

Back matter offers rich resources including the history of the song "We Shall Overcome," background information on several seminal moments in the Civil Rights Movement: 16th Street Baptist Church, Rosa Parks on the bus in 1955, the Little Rock Central High School, and the Black Lives Matter Mural. A brief description of the artist's process eloquently expresses the message of justice, equality and peace. Compelling message. Powerful book.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: December 28, 2021 Publisher: Orchard Books ISBN: 978-1338540376

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A Flight of Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies:
Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World
by Ann Hobbie art by Olga Baumert

Señorita Mariposa
by Ben Gundersheimer art by Macos Almada Rivero

Moth & Butterfly: Ta-Da!
by Dev Petty art by Ana Aranda

We Are Still Here

We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
by Traci Sorell art by Frané Lessac

Animal Friends

Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

Illustration Technique: Wood block printing

A Tale of Two Worlds

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

I Need a Hero

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:
New Stories About Mythic Heroes
edited by Rick Riordan

Grand Ideas Told with Few Words

African Proverbs for All Ages
collected by Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Nelda LaTeef ill by Nelda LaTeef

Past Present Future

We Overcome Shall Overcome by Bryan Collier

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

A Flight of Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies: ​Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World by Ann Hobbie art by Olga Baumert

Señorita Mariposa ​by Ben Gundersheimer art by Macos Almada Rivero

Moth & Butterfly: Ta-Da! ​by Dev Petty art by Ana Aranda

We Are Still Here

We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Knowby Traci Sorell art by Frané Lessac

Animal Friends

Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

Illustration Technique: Wood block printing

A Tale of Two Worlds

A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger

I Need a Hero

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:New Stories About Mythic Heroesedited by Rick Riordan

Grand Ideas Told with Few Words

African Proverbs for All Ages collected by Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Nelda LaTeef ill by Nelda LaTeef

Past Present Future

We Overcome Shall Overcome by Bryan Collier

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Monarch Butterflies:
Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World
by Ann Hobbie art by Olga Baumert

Señorita Mariposa
by Ben Gundersheimer art by Macos Almada Rivero

Moth & Butterfly: Ta-Da!
by Dev Petty art by Ana Aranda

We Are Still Here: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know
by Traci Sorell art by Frané Lessac

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities:
New Stories About Mythic Heroes
edited by Rick Riordan

African Proverbs for All Ages
collected by Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Nelda LaTeef ill by Nelda LaTeef