Why by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

​Why?  Why?  Why?

Why? ​Is there an adult who has not been on the receiving end of the one-word question that is frequently posited by youngsters? Vaccaro Seeger considers a youngster’s desire to understand the world by asking incessant questions.This picture book breaks with the conventional querying child trope, taking an unexpected story path. Title page features a frisky young bunny, scampering after a lumbering old bear. Successive pages follow the rabbit as it observes the bear engaging in simple activities: watering flowers, viewing the stars, stopping for a snack. Always rabbit asks "Why?' The massive friend patiently responds to each query with a gentle explanation. Time passes. Seasons change. The questions persist.

Just Asking

A Likkle Miss Lou:
​How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
by Nadia L. Hohn ill by Eugenie Fernandes

A picture book brimming with poetry, rhythms, and song, A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice introduces young readers to the early years of a native poet and performance artist.  Nadia L. Hohn describes Louise's fascination with the speech she that was an integral part of her daily life. Jamaican patois, an English-based creole language with a West African influence is spoken by the most Jamaicans. At school, she was required to restrict her language to what was considered "proper" English. Louise was reprimanded by her teacher when she included words and phrases from Jamaican dialect in her assignments. ​Fortunately, she became a student at Excelsior College, where acceptance and appreciation for her native tongue was encouraged. ​Hohn's narrative is rich and colorful. She captures the flavor and cadence of the language in this sumptuous feast of poetic expression.

Fernandes' illustrations tell their own tale. Louise's face moves from doubt and discouragement to wonder and joy. The animated faces of her classmates and native storytellers feature a variety of warm shades of brown. Back matter includes an extensive Note from the Author with details on the life and works of Coverley. Hohn describes her own introduction to the works of this poet. A glossary, with photos of peanut drops and water crackers, is helpful. References contains a citation list.

Spread out youself deh, Liza. Dress ooman a come.

Sing a Song: How “Lift Every Voice and Sing" Inspired Generations
​by Kelly Starling Lyons ill by Keith Mallett

It is a common occurrence for me to cry when I finish reading a book, it is uncommon for my heart to swell and tears begin to spill down my cheeks from the very first page. Sing a Song: "How Lift Every Voice and Sing" Inspired Generations had me instantly reaching for tissues. Kelly Starling Lyons has penned a soul-stirring recital of the Black National Anthem's story. Inspired by her family's history, she traces the song through five generations. Beginning with a birthday celebration of Abraham Lincoln, the anthem is an integral part of the family. The music journeys with the family through the Great Migration, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and culminates with opening of the National Museum of African American History.

Sing Along

Looking for More Inspiration? Try these books

Lunar Landing July 20, 1969

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. ​

Video Resources

Field Trip

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

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.

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

The King of Kindergarten
by Derrick Barnes ill by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Leaving the security of home and family to attend school can be a daunting event in the life of a five-year-old. ​That's not the case for this kid. The King of Kindergarten features a youngster who is capable and confident. He awakes early for his first day of school, washing up and dressing himself.  Well, almost. Shirt, overalls, socks. No problem. However tying shoelaces has yet to be mastered. Anyone who has worked with five-somethings will appreciate this visual detail. With preparation and encouragement from his parents, this guy is ready for the day's challenge!  He's got a bright smile, has practiced saying his name, is ready to give a friendly wave, and even brought a chocolate pudding cup to share.

Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis

Recent children's nonfiction has taken a quantum leap forward. Gone are the didactic, textbook-style approaches to informational books, Today young readers are treated to interesting information in a variety of print formats.  Hey, Water! is a stellar example of this current evolution in nonfiction. Portis has created a picture book that combines striking images, carefully selected text, and accurate information. The author employs an unusual literary device. Little Zoe, enjoying a bath, considers her surroundings and speaks directly to water, an everyday friend. Zoe itemizes her ongoing experiences with water and considers the properties of this essential substance.

The Little Guys by Vera Brosgol

Award-winning author/illustrator Vera Brosgol has a unique approach to this concept. The Little Guys are acorns, as observed from a variety of perspectives. The story begins with an aerial view of an island with several microscopic dots. Subsequent pages reveal that the tiny specks are a cluster of acorns. These nuts may be diminutive in appearance, but they have a mega-sized attitude. They proudly proclaim, as a collective force, they wield considerable power. ​​They are fearless:  scaling heights, moving what should be immovable, taking what they need. They are unstoppable.

​Little Things by Nick Dyer ill by Kelly Pousette

Little things are everywhere, but they’re never just little things. Nick Dyer celebrates the often the overlooked and under-appreciated. Meet a girl, exploring her world and marveling at small things that can potentially have long-lasting ramifications. Readers will observe that initial pages present a background that is slightly blurry. Progressing through the next few pages, this girl begins to examine her world closely. As this occurs, background becomes sharply focused and intricately detailed. Soon she has a pair of binoculars and a flashlight. She finds fascinating discoveries as she takes time to explore her environment,

Pint-Sized Fun

World's Smallest Tinker Toys

Miniature Library

Inchimals Measuring Toy

Hair Love
by Matthew A. Cherry ill by Vashti Harrison

Zuri is preparing for a special day and wants to have the perfect hairstyle. Daddy is napping. She reasons that he deserves a rest and decides that she can handle styling detail. The task becomes more challenging than she envisioned. ​I have hair that has a mind of its own. Sequestered on a bathroom stool, she searches her tablet for hairstyle inspiration. When the tablet clatters to the tile floor, dad wakes up and comes to investigate. He lovingly offers to help Zuri. "It'll be a piece of cake." Soon it is evident that this project is more difficult than he thought. Readers have the mirror’s perspective, viewing the reflected image of Daddy's repeated attempts at a variety of creative styles.

"You've got to be the prettiest supergirl I have ever seen"

Hello Matthew

While this is his first picture book, Cherry is a well-known personality. He transitioned from career as an NFL wide receiver to director of music videos and filmmaker. Hair Love is based on Cherry's direction of an animated short film.

Daddy and Daughter