• Home
  • Style Guides
  • Blog
  • Author Index
    • A - H Index
    • I - P Index
    • Q - Z Index
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
READING STYLE GUIDE

Moonstruck!

10/18/2021

1 Comment

 

The Children’s Moon by Carmen Agra Deedy art by Jim LaMarche

It’s not often that you will find a picture book that is a literary gem brimming with sparkling personality,  folktale-like mythology, poetic language, luminous art, and a STEM component. Deedy's enchanting storytelling and LaMarche's exquisite illustrations combine to tell a wondrous origin tale.
Text consists of a dialog between the moon and the sun.
As the moon rises, she hears a noise "like the daintiest of silver bells" and wonders what makes that sweet music. The sun informs her that the sound is made by children. Moon laments that she is unable to see the children and they cannot see her. Is there a way for her to see the children? Sun adamantly retorts that this is not possible.
​The day is mine.
​The night is yours.
Picture
With inventive thinking, the two devise a plan that will allow the sun to view the stars gleaming in the night sky.  Then the sun will shine on his friend in such a manner that the moon can see and be seen by the children.
It a beautiful mythology that explains an astronomical phenomenom.
Back matter includes detailed information on how to view a "children's moon" in the night sky, an infographic explaining phases of the moon, a collection of interesting scientific factoids about the moon. For example, the moon not only reflects light, it also radiates light. Interestingly, the moon is not a sphere, but egg-shaped. Links to online resources are provided.
The Children’s Moon is the perfect bedtime story and is also an excellent companion to an astronomy lesson.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: October 19, 2021 Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 978-1338216394
1 Comment

A New View

10/11/2021

1 Comment

 

Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel

Cat lovers and fans of the Caldecott Award-winning They All Saw a Cat can rejoice. Author and illustrator Brendan Wenzel is back with a fresh look at a domestic cat’s life with Inside Cat.
Remaining within the confines of a building, bound by walls and doors, ceilings and floors, this feline encounters myriad interesting phenomena.
There are shapes to identify, senses to experience, sweeping vistas to view, tiny vignettes to examine.
Picture
Wenzel maintains a soft blue background with simple suggestions of architecture and furnishings within the home. In contrast, the outdoors are rendered in full color with multiple charming details. 
The energetic cat sports a coat of fur drawn with a loose, free hand.  The immense wide-eyes are the dominant facial feature. 
Rhythmic, rhyming text begs to be read aloud. Repetitive words "wanders" "wonders" take on multiple meanings in a variety of situations.
The final page turn reveals a dazzling surprise and a satifying conclusion. End papers featuring interior and exterior cat views are not to be missed.
This book can serve as a springboard for individual observations. Hand this engaging picture book to youngsters and invite them to discover amazing worlds waiting to be discovered.

More Wenzel, Please

Enjoy these delightful pictures books from the inventive mind and creative talent of Brendan Wenzel.
Picture
Picture
Picture
C​​opy provided by publisher.
Pub date:October 12, 2021  Publisher: Chronicle Books  ISBN: 978-1452173191
1 Comment

What a Concept

9/13/2021

1 Comment

 

Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins

Ingenious!
With a few simple shapes and carefully selected words, Circle Under Berry invites readers to explore a range of concepts.
Bold, bright, hand-colored shapes on a stark white background are continually rearranged on each succeding page, allowing for multiple points-of view.
It's a visual treat, experimenting with color, texture, shapes, and graphic design. However, Higgins gives her readers so much more. This is a study in word play and a discovery of relationships. Readers will be delighted with the rhythmic language, multiple word meanings, and a fresh consideration of prepositions.
The appeal of this concept book is visual, auditory, and cerebral. The publisher suggests an audience of ages "preschool and up."
Picture
This makes an excellent read aloud selection, but it also works well for individual inspection, thoughtfully poring over each page. Because the text is not particularly linear, readers may choose to flip pages back and forth as they make new discoveries.
Students can expand on the ideas presented by creating cut paper shapes and then arranging those shapes in interesting ways that will display a variety of ideas and relationships. This book is a keeper. It belongs in early childcare centers, elementary and secondary classrooms, as well as graphic design studios.
C​​opy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 14, 2021  Publisher: Chronicle Books  ISBN: 978-1797205083
1 Comment

Girl's Best Friend

4/22/2021

0 Comments

 

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.
Picture
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.
Picture
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
0 Comments

Clay and Creation

4/1/2021

0 Comments

 

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. 
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
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.
Picture
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
0 Comments

Wishes and Waves

2/4/2021

0 Comments

 

The Old Boat by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey

Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, the team of brothers who celebrated the life of a well-used pickup truck are back with another picture book. The Old Boat chronicles the life of a small boat, a family, an island, and the ocean.
A young boy and his grandmother set out on a fishing expedition. Their time together on the water is filled a sense of awe at the expanse of water and myriad sea life. It’s an ode to the mesmerizing mystical quality of the ocean.
"waves and wishes, wants and wonders"
Time passes. The boy has grown. The pristine waters of childhood have become an underwater junkyard, filled with dirt and debris. A violent storm smashes the old boat and washes the vessel and it’s captain ashore. He surveys the seascape and knows that it is time to return the ocean to its former state.
Picture

While text is limited, poetic language and the accompanying illustrations convey an eloquent storyline. Aquatic plant and animal shapes are repeated across each two-page spread. Artful graphic design with a muted primary-colored palette hint at the passage of time. Attention to detail is evident. Watch the changes in the young man and his world as the tale progresses.
There is so much to see and experience here. The book is replete with themes: tides, time, renewal. One of the fascinating aspects of this book is the study of the effects of time, both positively and negatively. Time takes its toll on the boat. It slowly deteriorates. ​In the intervening years the effects of pollution take a toll on the condition of the seashore.
The boat rides the tide. It is the undertow and current that determine the boat's fate.
​​A new sailor turns the tide: People act, reversing the gradual destruction of coastal life. With time and effort the beaches and ocean return to the abundant aquatic life it once nurtured.
The Old Boat tells a tale of generations. This is not a "once and done" book. Each reading reveals more little gems.
Electronic copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: March 2, 2021  Publisher: Norton Young Readers  ISBN: 978-1324005179
0 Comments

Wonders and Delights

12/16/2020

0 Comments

 

Counting Creatures by Julia Donaldson ill by Sharon King-Chai

Looking for a picture book for gift-giving? Consider Counting Creatures. This more-than-a-picture book is an explosion of tactile wonders and visual delights. Presented as a counting book featuring various animal species and their young, it begins with one baby bat and sequentially progresses to ten piglets before leapfrogging to multitudes of caterpillars, tadpoles, and spiders.
This interactive volume invites young readers to predict what will be underneath the next flap. How many babies? What word is used to describe them?
​Many terms are familiar, but the young of some species are not well-known. A baby arctic hare is known as a leveret while baby turkeys are called poults.
Rhyming couplets and the repetitive line of text "Who has more babies than that? " make this an excellent book for sharing and reading aloud.
Picture
​Counting Creatures by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Sharon King-Chai has a wow factor to the max.
The generous size (approximately 8x10.5 inches) features a die cut cover with foil accents. Cut outs continue throughout the book, giving readers a hint as to the animals to be revealed. ​Art is stunning. Deep rich colors, gorgeously textured shapes, ingeniously designed flaps and tiny details sprinkled throughout the pages will send readers back the beginning to discover the answer to one final question.
C​opy provided by publisher.
Pub date: November 24, 2020  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN: 978-0593324530
0 Comments

Quiet Protest

12/10/2020

0 Comments

 

Lubaya’s Quiet Roar by Marilyn Nelson ill by Philemona Williamson

Lubaya is a quiet child, a solemn thoughtful child. While people around her instinctively interact with others, she prefers to silently listen and observe. She often finds herself tucked away with paper and colors. Art is her favorite means of self expression.
(she) "liked to be alone, happily watching the theater of her thoughts." Lubaya's Quiet Roar
Picture
Lubaya’s parents are activists. Their home is filled with posters used during a recent protest march. This quiet girl discovers that the plain backs of posters are an excellent surface for her drawings: friends dressed in pretty party clothes, children on ladders painting a rainbow, even a hip-hop frog! Her art often includes phrases that her family members say when discussing social issues.
When a another cause for protest arises, the family proudly displays the poster backs featuring Lubaya's art. Her drawings beautifully illustrate the movement’s issues, adding an additional way to look at important concerns.
Nelson's poetic language precisely captures Lubaya's personality. Her verses speak in general terms of the need for socially-conscious activism. Illustrations flesh out a few specific social issues at stake. The words "Freedom Now" and "Clean Water" can be seen on two of Lubaya's posters. Williamson's signature style featuring vivid shapes on solid color backgrounds is distinctly different from Lubaya's drawings rendered on white rectangles.
Readers learn that in Swahili Lubaya means “young lionesses.” Using her unique skills, a young girl is able to make her voice heard. Not every contribution to a cause can be uttered. However, each individual can find a way to contribute and be heard.
"a quiet voice can make history"
Copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: October 6, 2020  Publisher: Dial Books  ISBN: 978-0525555551
0 Comments

Digital Woodcutting 

10/16/2020

0 Comments

 

A B C Animals by Christopher Evans

Just when you thought that every possible approach for animal alphabet books has been published, along comes ABC Animals. Christopher Evans’ oversized concept book sets a new standard for elegant graphic design in children's picture books.
A two-page spread is devoted to each of the twenty-six featured animals. The left-hand page displays the animal name, inital alphabet letter using three different fonts (one with textures), and a soft beige silhouette.
However, the showstopper is the facing page: an enlarged close-up of the featured animal rendered as a digital woodcut. These are not photographs produced using special effects.
Picture
Using a technique similar to engraving, Evans creates exquisitely textured body coverings. From the prickly hedgehog to the gelatinous nautilus, the iguana scales to vulture’s multiple types of feathers, the variety and beauty of the animal kingdom is awe-inspiring. 
Back flap copy describes the artist’s process. Images are hand drawn with illustration software to create digital woodcuts, also referred to as modern-day engravings. “They are somewhere between an impressionist painting and a mechanical drawing.”
Readers of all ages will pore over the images, making new discoveries with each observation. Every page is a work of art worthy of framing. What a glorious tribute to the wonders of the animal kingdom and innovative artistic expression. Stunning!
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 15, 2020 Publisher: Peter Pauper Press ISBN: 978-1-4413-3463-3
0 Comments

Art and Nature

8/19/2020

0 Comments

 

Beatrix Potter, Scientist (She Made History)
​by Lindsay H. Metcalf ill by Junyi Wu

The connection between art and science is symbiotic. Scientists record observations with accurate representations of phenomena. Artists rely on a careful study of anatomy and physiology to inform their art.
It is no surprise that artist Beatrix Potter studied her surroundings and recorded her findings with precision. What is remarkable is that her published books are not scientific treatises, but instead are delightful fantasies.
Metcalf gives young readers fresh insight into the life of the author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Each summer Beatrix’s family would travel to Scotland. It was there that the young girl met Charles McIntosh , the postman who encouraged her study of life forms. She was a dedicated researcher, making meticulous drawings, examining small animal skeletons, and preparing slides for microscopic observation.
Picture
Potter's specific field of study was fungi: the study of mushroom spores. She made a breakthrough discovery on the germination of these spores and prepared a paper for the Linnean Society of London. She could not present her paper in person, as women were not allowed to join this scientific society. She withdrew her paper from consideration after the society said her findings needed more work. Shortly afterward, she discontinued her fungi research. History does not explain her abandonment of nature studies. A century later the Linnean Society apologized for the treatment of Beatrix Potter and other women.​
Metcalf enhances this picture book with backmatter that includes "More About Beatrix Potter," a Timeline, Bibliography, Source Notes, and suggestions for Further Reading. Wu's soft colored pencil illustrations honor both the wonders of nature and storytelling. Her style does not attempt to imitate the precision of Potter's studies. Her illustrations focus on Beatrix and her joy of discovery.
Beatrix Potter, Scientist explores the value of close observation in the fields of both science and art and speaks to the work of women in science. Add to biography and STEM collections.

More Women Who Changed Our World

She Made History: Women Who Changed Our World is an ongoing picture book series celebrating the contributions of women. In addition to well-known historical figures such as Helen Keller, Harriet Tubman, Phillis Wheatley, and Susan B. Anthony, the series introduces young readers to other women who have been change agents. Alice Coachman the first African American woman to earn an Olympic gold medal, Kathryn Johnston the first girl to play Little League baseball, and astronomer Nancy Grace Roman who led the NASA team which built the Hubble Space Telescope are some of the featured woman who have made history.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: September 1, 2020 Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company ISBN: 978-0807551752
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Author/Illustrator Index
    Get the latest updates delivered directly to you inbox:

    powered by TinyLetter

    Category

    All
    Activity Books
    Adventure
    Africa
    Alphabet Books
    Animals
    Anthology
    Art
    Asian
    Audiobook
    Author-interview
    Author-profile
    Awards
    Bilingual
    Biography
    Black Lives
    Board Books
    Book Awards
    Book-club
    Book Stores
    Book Trailers
    Classroom Connections
    Comics
    Coming Of Age
    Cosplay
    Creativity
    Diversity
    Early Readers
    Fairy Tale
    Family
    Fantasy
    Food
    Friendship
    Girls
    Grahic Novel
    Grief
    Halloween
    Historical Fiction
    Horror
    Humor
    Immigration
    Informational Books
    Latinx
    LGBTQ
    Library Activities
    Literacy
    Magical Realism
    Maker
    Math
    Memoir
    Middle Grade
    Music
    Mystery
    Mythology
    Native American
    Nonfiction
    Own Voices
    Picture Book
    Poetry
    Prose-and-comic
    Read Aloud
    Reading
    Reading Writing Connection
    Realistic Fiction
    Romance
    Self Acceptance
    Series
    Social Issues
    Sports
    STEM
    Storytelling
    Texas Connection
    The-margin-project
    Translation
    Wordless
    Ya Lit

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

    Professional Reader
    Picture
    Frequently Auto-Approved

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.