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.

"...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."

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ill by Kadir Nelson

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.

Be Inspired

We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders
introduction by Harry Belefonte

Have you picked up a book and without cracking it open, knew that it was going to be something extraordinary? That was my initial response to We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders. ​The case features embossed lettering  and Dan Santat's illustration of a John Lewis quote. We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us.

Sixteen remarkable artists lend their talents to this project. Each illustrator selected a  a Civil Rights leader's inspirational words. Art is reflective of the message and unique to the artist's style.  Each illustrator's personal consideration of the quotation is included.  Images and text are compelling and profoundly moving.  The volume, inspired by the work of the American Civil Liberties Union, echoes a commitment to human rights. Harry Belafonte offers a thoughtful introduction.

Companion Resources

Anthology of poetry, essays, and art reflects and honors the ongoing struggle for justice, equality, and respect.

Barack Obama and "We are the change" Looking for opportunities to be involved in meaningful change? Try this site.

Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby

When you're in sixth grade, life can be difficult. When your mother leaves the family, life can be challenging. When your father suffers with a bipolar disorder, life is a burden that becomes impossible to conceal from others. Fig struggles under the weight of these difficulties. The daughter of a renowned composer and pianist who is no longer able to create music, it is up to Fig to maintain some semblance of order in her home and her life. Her father loves Fig and tries to be a good parent to his daughter. But often his illness prevents him from functioning in the role of care-giver to Fig. She is beyond terrified when her teacher notifies child protective services and a case worker arrives at her home. She knows that there are problems but is desperate to protect her father at all costs. ​She reasons that perhaps she can help her father if she better understands him. A science and math geek, she takes the plunge and enrolls in a painting class. Fig discovers Van Gogh. Drawn both to his work and his life story, she begins to see her father as Van Gogh, the troubled artist and herself as Theo, the supportive brother.

Art Imitates Life. Life Imitates Art

Additional Resource

Vincent and Theo by Deborah Heiligman is a thoughtful study of the van Gogh brothers. It received numerous awards including  2018 Michael L. Printz Honor Book, 2018 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award, 2017 Nonfiction Boston Globe-Nonfiction Award, and  SCBWI 2018 Golden Kite Award for Non-Fiction for Older Readers. Pair Hurricane Season with Vincent and Theo for an excellent fiction/nonfiction reading experience.

Anya’s Secret Society by Yevgenia Nayberg

Anya was born with a dominant left hand. She was also born into a Russian culture that considered the right hand as the "legitimate" hand. Even the word "right" meant not only a direction, but also "correct."  When this resourceful and determined little girl recognized that local norms frowned upon use of the left hand, she taught herself to use her right hand for most activities. Anya was able to master even difficult tasks with this hand. However, there was one activity in which it was impossible to use her right hand: drawing. Her brain could only process and create images with her dominant hand, her left hand.

Anya created a special stratagem to live within the confines of Russian expectations and still express herself: a secret society. She learned that great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelango, and Rembrandt were left-handed. When she was alone, she would put on a mask and pretend to be in the company of famous left-handed artists. The secret society was the place where she felt that she could safely create. Then life took a surprising turn. Her parents chose to leave Russia and immigrate to America. In addition to all the differences she encountered in this new country, Anya was astonished to learn that left-hand dominance was not considered wrong. Schools were equipped with scissors and desks to accommodate children with either dominant hand. Her teacher did not seem to notice or care which hand Anya chose to use.

Art: A Visual Treat

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

Twinkle feels that she is a "nobody." Ignored by her parents, she longs to be noticed at school. An opportunity to shine comes when Twinkle is asked to direct a movie for the local arts festival.  Film geek Sahil has offered to help produce her filmmaking debut. They brainstorm an imaginative story concept, turning the classic Dracula into a gender-reversal version. But Sahil clearly wants more than just a business relationship. Twinkle has an ongoing crush on Sahil's athletic superstar twin brother Neil. When she begins receiving anonymous emails from a secret admirer, Twinkle assumes (hopes) that the sender is Neil. Menon uses a series of imaginary emails that Twinkle sends to famous women of filmdom in this story of finding where one's heart lies.

Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith

​Fourteen-year-old Cassidy Rain Berghoff, still mourning the death of her best friend, agrees to photograph the local newspaper's story of this summer's Indian Camp, organized by her Aunt Georgia. Prominent members of this mostly white Kansas community protest the use of public funds for Indian Camp. Rain's heritage includes Muscogee Creek-Cherokee, Scots-Irish and Irish-German-Ojibway.  Her mother refers to the loving, close-knit family as her "patchwork tribe."  ​After introductory pages detailing her friend's  tragic death, readers follow Rain's  chronological description of nine days: June 26 to July 4.  Smith begins each chapter with a journal excerpt which gives the narrative intimacy and poignancy. ​​Rain uses her camera to help her face the world after her heartbreaking loss, acknowledge her heritage, and bring closure and peace to her heart.

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide
​by Isabel Quintero ill Zeke Peña

Quintero and Peña employ a mixed media approach to this biographical graphic novel illuminating the life and work of  Graciela Iturbide.  The pastiche of eloquent text, artfully arranged sequential panels, and photographs blend together seamlessly. Quintero's glorious text is rich with layers of meaning. Peña's realistic line drawings combined with black and white photographs and artful panel and page design provide a stellar reading experience. This biography is much more than a chronology.  It is a celebration of art, creation, and culture.  "I photograph and exist in the in-between: those spaces where unknown worlds, real and imagined intersect."

Babies. Beautiful babies. Anticipating the arrival of an infant is often a joyful occasion. Creating handmade items for mothers expecting the arrival of a little one is one of life's pleasures Here's the small "fish" shaped cap I knit for a newborn whose parents are  aficionados of the seashore. I decided to make this a thematic gift and include a few other items related to fish. It proved to be a terrific idea.

I wondered: Could I create thematic baby gift packages featuring my handcrafted items? If so, what would I include? The answer was simple: board books. Viola! a small, actually a teeny tiny, cottage industry was created: Story Stork The premise: pair a board book with a handknit infant hat. I was in business. The knitting needles began to fly. I would match cute little head toppers with a charming board book that would be just the right size and shape for chubby hands. ​Heads up. Hands down. This is one great gift idea!

The Story Continues

After I moved to South Texas, warm woolen items became a bit more problematic. The summer heat presented the opportunity for Story Stork to branch out and create something new.  Embroidered little cotton shirts and onesies are better suited to this temperate climate. It is fun to coordinate the gift wrap.  I like to use pages from picture book galleys as wrapping paper.  The excess paper strips make eye-popping decorative bows. The Story Stork strikes again!

Bonus

Bonus Part Two: Related Reads

Get your knit on or keep it going with delighful knitting-related picture books.

The Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2018

​Since 1952, we’ve convened a rotating annual panel of three expert judges, who consider every illustrated children’s book published that year in the United States. They select the winners purely on the basis of artistic merit. The judges this time were Leonard Marcus, a children’s literature historian and critic; Jenny Rosenoff, a children’s librarian at the New York Public Library; and Bryan Collier, the author and illustrator of many acclaimed picture books and a past winner of the award.

The ABCs of What I Can Be
by Caitlin McDonagh

Caitlin McDonagh explores possible life choices in this charming picture book. The alphabet serves as a template for exploring career options. Most pages are divided into quandrants showcasing a quartet of possibilities. For example, the letter L page illustrates a landscaper, lawyer, librarian, and lifeguard.  Amazingly, there are four careers for the letter X: xerophytic gardener, xylophone player, x-ray technician, and exobiologist. Less familiar careers can pique curiosity and send youngsters researching, which can promote some interesting discussions.  Personal note: As a Kindergartner, my son learned the word "paleontologist" and declared that was what he wanted to be when he "grew up."  For him, cool word equaled cool careers.

Meet Caitlin

Caitlin McDonagh is a 24 year old, Queens, New York native. She attended The Fashion Institute of Technology where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Illustration and minors in English and Art History. ​ Visit her online.

Everything and Everywhere:
A Fact-Filled Adventure for Curious Globe-Trotters
by Marc Martin

Martin has taken the appeal of infographics and combined it with detailed illustrations to create this fascinating volume overflowing with informational visual delights. It's a luscious "candy store" of world geography and culture. Trivia at its best. Beginning with Antarctica and circling the globe in a counterclockwise direction, readers explore fifteen locations. Stops include well-known metropolitan cities such as Hong Kong, Moscow, Cairo, New York City, and Rio de Janeiro.  Less famous, but equally fascinating are Alice Springs, Ulaahbaatar, Reykjavík, Galápagos Islands, and the Amazon Rainforest. The generous trim size (10.2 x 13.8 inches) invites students to spread out the volume on a floor space or table top where young readers can gather around and together discover the wonders of the world.

Companion Resources