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READING STYLE GUIDE

A Question of Love

1/27/2022

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What is Love? by Mac Barnett art by Carson Ellis

Just in time for Valentine's Day, a consideration of love. One simple boy, living a simple life, asks his grandmother a question, "What is Love?"  She responds, "I can't answer that." and encourages him to find the answer for himself. So begins his quest.
The search starts with a fisherman who declares that love is a fish, which "glimmers and splashes, just out of reach." The young man counters with his objections to fish.
The journey continues with an actor who loves applause because "You exist. You are seen." But the questioner is not convinced. Certainly love is more than applause.
He poses his question to a variety of individuals including a cat, carpenter, farmer, and soldier. The predictable pattern goes on. Everyone has a definition of love. When the boy refutes each response he is told "You do not understand."
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Barnett's pacing is noteworthy. When the boy encounters the cat, there is no time for a thoughtful response as a dog, tongue out and panting, chases the cat off the page.
The narrative takes a long and thoughtful pause when a poet, with pages and pages of words, considers the matter of love and asks the boy to sit down.
 Ellis' signature gouache illustrations give the tale a slightly fanciful quality while retaining the reassuring warmth of home. End papers are a intriguing continuation of the boy's odyssey and are not to be missed.
Written in first person, the boy eventually he returns home with his own answer to the question.  Young readers will recognize that an object of love is unique and deeply personal. "We love the things we love for what they are." Robert Frost
Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: December 28, 2021  Publisher: Chronicle Books  ISBN: 978-1452176406
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Golden Glow

1/15/2022

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I Am Golden by Eva Chen art by Sophie Diao

What do you see when you look in the mirror, Mei? Do you see beauty?
We see eyes that point toward the sun, that give us the warmth and joy of a thousand rays when you smile.
​We see hair as inky black and smooth as a peaceful night sky. We see skin brushed with gold.
It is difficult to image a more glowing, self-affirming picture book for a child than I Am Golden. This ode a Chinese American child exudes with positivity and gorgeous imagery. Text is laden with homages to a Chinese heritage: dragons, a phoenix, sizzling garlic, steaming bao, and lotus blossoms.
Mei and her parents left their home in China and immigrated to the United States where she lives the bifurcated life of an immigrant. She delights in popular boy bands and pizza at school but at home enjoys the comfort of Mandarin and soup dumplings.
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Chen poetically explores the concept of identity, emphasizing the characteristics which make Mei unique. Her individuality is her superpower.
Diao's luminous art casts a magical glow over each page. Using warm golden hues, Images clearly convey the message that distinctive hair, skin, and facial features are an asset. The warmth and support of generations from family members is particularly poignant as loving arms surround her.
A picture book that is both a window, allowing children to see and appreciate a culture they may be less familiar with, and a mirror for Asian American children to view themselves as admirable. Stellar addition to classroom and library collections. Bonus: The audiobook edition is read by the author.
The author's note offers context, describing the sting of a childhood incident that inspired the creation of I Am Golden.

Celebrate Each Child: Individuality is a Superpower

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Electronic copy accessed via Net Galley.
Pub date: February 1, 2022  Publisher: Feiwel  & Friends ISBN: 978-1250842053
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Process of Creation 

1/4/2022

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Opposites Abstract by Mo Willems

​“The artist may get to create the work—but the audience gets to create the meaning.” Mo Willems
I respectfully disagree with Amazon Books. The website entry for Opposites Abstract suggests that it is approprate for audiences ages birth - 2 years. An examination of this picture book suggests that it will appeal to a signicantly wider audience.
Willems has created a stunning masterpiece that is a treat for eyes and inquiring minds. A single concept is introduced with a question on the left side of the spread and a corresponding abstract illustration is placed on the right. At the book's midpoint, the page design is reversed with images on the left and questions on the right. Framing each illustration as a question invites readers to move beyond the basic concept of opposites and explore new ways to express ideas.
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IS THIS CALM ?
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IS THIS EXCITED ?
Each page turn, with two exceptions, pairs art representing contrasting descriptive terms: dark and light, soft and hard, mechanical and organic, intentional and accidental, etc.
The initial entry "starting" faces the title page and is expressed in the present tense. The concluding "finished" image appears on the final page and is written in past tense.
Willems has embedded the book with multple details awaiting discovery. This an excellent resource for introducing opposites, Beethoven, music appreciation, and elements of abstract art including color, texture, line, and form. This book will find its way into classrooms, studios, lecture halls, and schools for the fine arts. It's a book for creators and inquisitive minds of any age.
Mo is the inaugural Education Artist-in-Residence at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and a section of the Center's website is devoted to Willems and his work. An exhibit of the artist's large scale abstractions will run from January 8 to March 20, 2022. It is free and open to the public.
​Beethoven’s nine symphonies were the inspiration for the series of Willems' large abstract paintings. This year-long project became the genesis for Opposites Abstract.

​Watch as Yo-Yo Ma performs "Songs of Comfort" and Mo Willems responds to the music, creating an abtract work of art. Observe that the color choice, specific tool, and method of application change as the music progresses. Melody and tempo influence the images he creates. Masking the work space means he doesn't have to worry about "staying in the lines." The final touch is when he signs his art and dedicates it to the performer.

Try This

Try Willems' technique of fusing music and art to create a masterpiece. Listen to some music. Have a large piece of paper and crayons, markers, or colored pencils handy to create as you listen. You can also try painting or experimenting with other art forms as you listen.
View a flashmob performance of "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
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Listen to a symphony composed by Beethoven and create your own artistic response to this glorious music. You can learn a bit about all nine symphonies here.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 19, 2021  Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children  ISBN: 978-1368070973
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Sisters, Shells, & Storms

12/30/2021

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Maya's Treasure by Laurie Smollett Kutscera

In a tiny tropical village near the sea, sisters Alita and Maya carry on their grandmother's traditional craft: fashioning jewelry from seashells.  They scour the shore, searching for the best specimens.
Alita critically examines each carapace, choosing only the perfectly formed pieces. Maya has a different approach. She considers the intrinsic value in stained and broken pieces. Inspired by the words of her grandmother and the gentle island breezes, she uses shell fragments to 
​make wind chimes.
When loud incessant sounds of clanking shells waken the villagers and warn of an impending storm,  Maya's imaginative use of broken pieces saves villagers' lives.
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Maya's Treasure is a quiet little tale celebrating the inherent value in imperfection, creativity, a grandmother's love, dreams, wind power, and recycling. Lovely book.
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​Art is evocative of lush island life, brimming with a variety of golden hues, and deep shades of blue. Kutscera's illustrations show the vastness of the shore and days filled with sun-washed brightness.  In contrast, storm scenes are muted dark shades that suggest the terror of the squall. ​ Depictions of night have a dreamlike quality.
​While obviously siblings, each girl has her own hair color and skin tone. 

Sights and Sounds of Wind Chimes

Young readers can fashion wind chimes from an assortment of objects.  Chimes can produce a variety of sounds. The sonance depends upon material type as well as construction techniques.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 1, 2021  Publisher: Peter Pauper Press  ISBN: 978-1441337627
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Some Days 

12/2/2021

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Some Days: A Tale of Love, Ice Cream, and My Mom's Chronic Illness
by Julie A. Stamm art by Chamisa Kellogg

being different makes you unique and special
Meet Wyatt and his mother Rosie. Wyatt believes that his mom has superpowers. For example, she makes delicious chocolate chip pancakes, educates groups of people, and plan family adventures.
Mom also possesses one special superpower: the power to battle multiple sclerosis. Stamm ingeniously introduces this medical term as Wyatt struggles to correctly pronounce the two word diagnosis. The initials M.S. are also used as an identifier.
Narrative centers on the phrase “some days,” emphasizing the unpredictable nature of M.S. Wyatt knows that life with mom will include visits to museums, parks, and ice cream shops. But there will also be days when mom must rest at home, quickly locate a public restroom, or even go to the hospital for treatment.
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Despite challenges, Rosie and her son remain optimistic. A wheelchair is like a roller coaster ride. Her cane becomes a magic stick. Mom can be a "train" scooting her son around the floor.
Stamm suggests the family’s financial burden with a two-page spread highlighting a community-wide fundraiser to help offset the cost of treatment for this chronic illness.
Kellogg reinforces the picture book’s upbeat tone with jewel-toned images, smiling faces, and comforting mother son embraces. There are several illustrations that include a male caregiver who is present in family outings. He takes Wyatt’s hand when mother is hospitalized. The artist occasionally dresses Rosie and her son with capes, a subtle message that both mom and son superheroes.
Some Days: A Tale of Love, Ice Cream, and My Mom's Chronic Illness presents a realistic portrait of life with M.S. A story of acceptance, patience, courage, hope, and love.
Kindness is truly the best thing you can add to this world.
C​​opy provided by publisher.
Pub date: October 26, 2021  Publisher: The Experiment  ISBN:9781615198108  
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A Flight of Butterflies

11/30/2021

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​​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.
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​C​​opy 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.
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​C​​opy 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.
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C​​opy 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!"
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Electronic copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: November 23, 2021 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250213228
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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.
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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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Together We Build

10/24/2021

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Our Table by Peter H. Reynolds

Violet foundly remembered the table.
Violet, a girl with purple-hued hair, notices something bizarre is happening in her home. The family dinner table is shrinking. Eventually the table becomes so small that it vanishes.
So... she goes in search of answers. When she sneaks a peek at dad, he's watching big screen entertainment. Mom is fixated on her phone and brother is playing games on a tablet.  ​She wonders: is there a way to get back the table? This resourceful youngster has a plan.
Drawing upon the unique talents and interests of each family member, Violet enlists their help. Together, they design and construct a new table that will unite them.
Color is a key component of the narrative. When technology dominates individual lives, Reynolds monochromatic palette is based on shades of purple. When the family is seated around the table, illustrations are in full color.
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​This picture book is filled with charming touches: Violet sports a massive tool belt. The dog helps hold a measuring tape, and sneaks treats beneath mom's chair. The cat on the cover smiles knowingly at the audience.
A timely and timeless reminder of the importance of disengaging technology and engaging with family and friends. Reynolds offers a gentle tale of building and maintaining personal relationships.

Our Family Table

Our Table invites young readers and families to consider the important connections that happen when they choose to create screen-free events. Gather around "our" table for memorable moments
When is a family tradition nontraditional? 
​When birthdays are honored with a child's hand painted plate, and we eat ice cream cones instead of cake.
What can a gathering without a table look like?
Groups toasting marshmallows around an outdoor fireplace.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: November 2, 2021 Publisher: Orchard Books ISBN: 978-1338572322
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    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
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    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
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