Category: Picture Book - READING STYLE GUIDE

Small World

12/6/2018

Firefly Forest by Robyn Frampton ill Mike Heath

Whatever you need is what you will find among the green ferns and the fireflies.

When this magical little book arrived, it immediately elicited oohs and ahhs from an appreciative audience. Firefly Forest draws readers into a world of wonder and possibility.

We placed the book among the twinkling lights in our garden. It is the perfect book setting.

Frampton's rhyming text, often in the form of couplets, offers reassuring messages of hope and inspiration.

However, it's her fantastical creations: miniature homes and furnishings, created from natural elements and placed throughout the woodland setting that capture the imagination.

Firefly Forest existed in an Overland Park, Kansas. The author anonymously developed the gnomish village, one house at a time.

Heath's ingenious design and adroit photography give Firefly Forest a storybook quality. His use of light is particularly effective. Readers will linger over the images featuring numerous tiny details. Enchanting!

Small Wonders

Love the magic of woodland miniatures? Here are more elfin marvels.

Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand.

Purchase one of Robyn's miniature doors from her website.

Visit the delightful Garvin Woodland Gardens located in Arkansas.

Enjoy the New York Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Show.

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: March 13, 2018 Publisher: Imprint ISBN: 978-1250122636

Lunar New Year

11/29/2018

D is for Dragon Dance by Ying Chang Compestine ill YongSheng Xuan

Originally published in 2006, Compestine’s celebration of Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is a vibrant compendium of Chinese culture. Presented in an alphabetical format, readers observe youngsters as they prepare for and participate in this annual fifteen-day traditional festival.

Children anticipate New Year by crafting messages on red paper and getting haircuts. Enjoy mouth-watering traditional foods: noodles, oranges, roast duck, and dumplings. Join in the celebrating with kites, lanterns, incense, and firecrackers.

Xuan’s illustrations are replete with gorgeous jewel colors. Soft yellow backgrounds play up the vibrant reds.

He seamlessly blends images across the gutter, skillfully joining two distinct concepts into one image. Objects such as the imposing dragon figure span an entire two-page spread. This creature is magnificent!

The artist includes an interesting note describing the four different calligraphic styles used to denote a dragon. Characters from the Song Dynasty, the Wei dynasty, the Grass style, and the Han dynasty appear in the background. Close study of the illustrations is needed to discover each of the four unique dragon representations.

This updated edition is bilingual. Text accompanying each illustration is presented three ways: English, Mandarin Chinese written using the Latin alphabet, and ideographically with Chinese characters. Trim size has been expanded to a generous 8.5 x 11 inches. This neatly accommodates the expanded dual language format. Readers not familiar with Chinese calligraphy may notice some of the repetitive characters and language patterns visible throughout the text.

This update significantly enhances the original version. In the spirit of the new year, libraries will want to start the New Lunar Year by replacing the well-used and beloved older edition of D is for Dragon Dance with this sparkling masterpiece.

Background

The Chinese New Year 2019 or Lunar New Year will begin on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. This is the Year of the Pig, an animal that represents diligence, kindness, and generosity.
The holiday is observed in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Mauritius, and in countries with a large Chinese community.
A Chinese calendar is not like the Gregorian calendar. It is based on the phases of the moon. The first day of Chinese New Year starts with the new moon. The last day, known as Lantern Festival is celebrated with night lantern displays.

Celebrate the New Year

Additional resources to enrich your Chinese New Year celebration.

Newbery Award-winning author illustrator Grace Lin celebrates the New Year.

Learn to read and write basic Chinese characters with Chineasy created by ShaoLan.

Make delicious dumplings with author and cook Ying Chang Compestine.

Liu Na's graphic novel of her childhood in China.

Copy provided by publisher

Pub date: October 23, 2018 Publisher: Holiday House ISBN: 978-0823440290

Dear Santa

11/15/2018

Dear Santa, I Know It Looks Bad but It It Wasn't My Fault!
by Norma Lewis
ill Olivia Beckman

If you've ever gotten stuck in something, you know I'm the victim here.

It’s that time of year. Time to start making a wish list. Time to begin justifying all the reasons one is deserving of a Christmas gift. If you’re bending toward naughty rather than nice on the behavior scale, you will empathize with Scalawag. Mayhem seems to follow him everywhere he goes.

Ten days before Christmas:

The pet canary is missing,
There is cat poop in the neighbor's sandbox.
The cat's head is stuck inside an empty milk pitcher.

A week before Christmas:

Scalawag climbs up the holiday tree.
The tree topples over.
All the ornaments are shattered.
The tablecloth catches on fire.
Miss Violet is temporarily knocked unconscious.

Norma Lewis has her tongue firmly in cheek as Scalawag pens letter after letter to Santa. Attempting to justify his request for a Catman and Robin video game, his missives to St Nick are a countdown to December 25. He repeatedly explains to Santa that all these mishaps are not his fault. From this cat's point of view, these arguments based on his peculiar brand of logic are valid.

Oliva Beckman's illustrations capture this conniving feline and his waggish antics. Facial expressions and the body language of Scalawag, Violet, her friend Mitzi, and the canary amplify the humor.

Dear Santa, I Know It Looks Bad but It Wasn't My Fault is an excellent entertainment selection after a hectic day of holiday preparations. You don't have to be a pet owner to appreciate the sly humor. But just in case... Secure the bird cage, Watch out for candle flames. Purchase a backup set of ornaments.

Got your own holiday mischief-maker? Try these handmade gift ideas.

Porcelain Ornament

Pet Collar ID Tag

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 1, 2018 Publisher: Peter Pauper Press ISBN: 978-1441324214

Music! Music!

11/9/2018

Khalida and the Most Beautiful Song by Amanda Moeckel

Khalida and the Most Beautiful Song is a tribute to the power of inspiration and determination. Khalida is awakened from slumber by a melody stirring inside her. This young pianist heads to the keyboard in search of the haunting tune. Time and time again she sits down to the piano to capture the music in her head. Repeatedly she is told "Not now."
Not at home. Not at school. Not at her music lesson.

When the melody returns to her mind during a visit to the park, she races toward the piano located on the park's grandstand. Khalida is determined to capture this song. She begins to play the music that has been welling up inside her.

Music flowed through her fingers, onto the keys, and into the air.

As her song fills the outdoor space, people notice. A rapt audience forms around the piano. They are drawn to the compelling melody, momentarily forgetting their cares. Khalida allows the music inside her to find expression, bringing joy to the performer and to the listeners.

Moeckel's evocative illustrations capture the story's essence. Cool muted lavenders and grays dominate each page. The song inside her is represented with swirling light-hued patterns that are superimposed on each scene. It is only when she begins to play her music that the rising lyrical designs burst into color: vibrant variegated reds and purples.

The song ripples around Khalida as she sleeps.

She searches for the opportunity to bring her inspiration to life.

The young musician brings the music inside her to life.

Meet Amanda

Amanda is a 2015 MFA graduate from the School of Visual Arts. In addition to illustrating children's books, she also teaches, works for editorial publications, accepts personal commissions, and maintains a pet portrait business.

View the video trailer for her dummy picture book Only Good Dreams, her thesis project for the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program.

Book Trailer - "Only the Good Dreams" from Amanda Moeckel on Vimeo.

More Picture Books

Page Street Kids is a new publisher. The developing picture book collection contains charming stories with delightful art. Take a look at these titles including this review of Oliver: The Second -Largest Living Thing on Earth.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 18, 2018 Publisher: Page Street Kids ISBN: 978-1624145797

Award-winning Illustrations

11/7/2018

The Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2018

The New York Times has released the 2018 list of Best Illustrated Children's Books. It's a list that features a rich variety in subject matter and illustration style. Find copies of these excellent picture books at local libraries and bookstores.

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.

AYOBAMI AND THE NAMES OF THE ANIMALS
written by PIlar Lopez Aliva
illustrated by Mar Azabal

OUR CAR
written by J.M. Brum
illustrated by Jan Bajtlik

THE FOREST
written by Riccardo Bozzi
illustrated by Violeta Lopiz & Valerio Vidali

THE FUNERAL
written and illustrated by Matt James

RUN WILD
written and illustrated by David Covell

DREAMERS
written and illustrated by Yuri Morales

FLORETTE
written and illustrated by Anna Walker

SHE MADE A MONSTER:
How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein
written by Lynn Fulton
illustrated by Felicita Sala

THE HOUSE THAT ONCE WAS
written by Julie Fogliano
illustrated by Lane Smith

THE VISITOR
written and illustrated by Antje Damm

Great Spotties!

11/1/2018

Teach Your Giraffe to Ski
by Viviane Elbee ill Danni Gowdy

Snow! Slopes! Skis! Great spotties!

When a task is daunting, you sometimes need a little incentive. Take skiing. It's a sport that requires training and a measure of courage.
Meet a boy who is hesitates to try something challenging. Can he step away from his comfy chair and soothing hot chocolate?

Giraffe wants to ski and she is not waiting another minute. She's heading out to the slopes. Now. Our young protagonist realizes that without basic instruction this rash impulse portends disaster. Grabbing his skis, he heads out in the snow.

He teaches giraffe how to: put on a pair of skis, slow down "the pizza move," speed up "the french fry stance, "and turn "S shape maneuvers."

Things seem to be going well. But Wait! Our timid little skier is astounded when giraffe leaves the bunny hill and heads towards a VERY BIG slope. Shooting spotties!

Supporting his friend means that he must journey by ski lift to the mountain's summit and then push off, traveling at an incredible speed. Scary! It is going to require a massive dose of courage. There will be thrills and spills. There will be a few mishaps. But if he succeeds, it could be a fun adventure. A. Lot. Of. Fun.

Viviane Elbee explores the anxiety associated with attempting something difficult. It’s a story of overcoming one’s fears and being willing to take risks. She injects plenty of humor and whimsy, which prevents the story from becoming a heavy-handed moralistic tale.
Grab a copy of Teach Your Giraffe to Ski. Then be brave and try something new.

Giraffe Gyrations

I've always been intrigued with a giraffe's gait. Longs legs and knobby knees moving in parallel, front legs together followed by back legs. I have never pictured them as particularly limber creatures. Danni Gowdy playfully envisions giraffes entangled in a game of Twister, gracefully executing Yoga positions, and of course, traversing the snowy slopes. I’m now thinking about giraffes in a different light, Thanks Danni.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher

Pub date: November 1, 2018 Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company ISBN: 978-0807577677

ABC

10/26/2018

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.

Illustrations features young children, rather than adults in each of the occupations. Rather large heads imposed on bodies dressed in attire appropriate for the activity enhance a child's visual and emotional engagement. McDonagh uses a glorious array of skin tones, featuring multiple shades of browns and blacks.

Playfulness is amply evident. The environmentalists studying a tree appear to have arms around the tree (hugging). One nanny nestles two soundly sleeping infants while the other nanny holds a squalling baby. A cat meme appears throughout the pages. My favorite is the judge's bench with the scales of justice weighing a mouse and a piece of cheese. The cat hungrily waits below the scales. That cat steals the show! Finding all the cats is a delightful bonus.

The ABCs of What I Can Be is an excellent springboard for further exploration activities. These can include such things as: providing a box of costumes and props for dress-up and role playing, creating a personally illustrated "What I Can Be" booklet, or inviting community individuals to share careers and avocations. An author's note references the The United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook. She invites young readers to "try new things."

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.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: December 24, 2018 Publisher: Holiday House ISBN: 978-0823437825

Snow Day

10/18/2018

King Alice by Matthew Cordell

"Idea!" said Alice

A girl dressed in red. A family. Snow. King Alice and The Wolf in the Snow delight with charm and wit.

How does one follow up after an award-winning wordless book? Matthew Cordell ventures in a completely different direction, introducing readers to King Alice, a precocious girl who is filled with opinions, stories of her own creation, and ideas. Lots and lots of ideas. She does not want for words.

It's a snow day, which means that everyone in the household is homebound. For one regal young lady, its a day filled with possibilities: make-over for dad, tea party, writing a story, watching the TV show "Unicorn Buddies," creating a unicorn stampede.

Inevitably, Dad reaches his breaking point. The antics are too much. Alice is sent to time out. The King apologizes.
Dinner. Bath. Bedtime stories. Peace restored.

Dad and King Alice are the main attractions in this day's escapades, but a mother, infant, and cat have cameo roles.

The final page hints of further exploits for this King and her subjects. One hopes that she will make a return appearance.

Cordell's line drawings with watercolor wash capture the vibrancy of family life. Body language and facial expressions of this slightly stressed duo are counter-balanced by the calming influence of Mom. Two styles of illustrations, the narrator's line drawings and Alice's pencil and crayon renderings offer differing points of view. Page design is an essential story element. Build-up to the climactic afternoon is depicted in full page spreads: a family lunch (calm before the storm), the unicorn stampede, and the resulting time out.

Note: This book was shared at a recent multi-generational family gathering. From the youngest independent reader, to a sophisticated teen, parents, and even grandparents were captivated by King Alice. It is recommended that you share this book with a wide range of ages. It's a sure-fire can't-miss-hit, even on a day without snow.

More Matthew Cordell

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 25, 2018 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends ISBN: 978-1250047496

Makers Wanted

10/9/2018

Made by Maxine by Ruth Spiro ill Holly Hatam

"If I can dream it, I can make it."

Maxine, a thinker and tinkerer, joins the ranks of iconic young inventors. Her specialty is repurposing items to create something new and better. Our spunky little heroine is determined to create a habitat for her goldfish Milton. He is worthy of more than an ordinary round fishbowl. Maxine sets to work.

The result is astonishing. Not content to rest on her laurels, she enhances her invention with a pedal-powered fish feeder and a Makey Makey sound system. Cowabunga! Her problem-solving skills are put to the test when her teacher announces that the class will have a Pet Parade. How can she include her goldfish in this event? This dilemma proves to be her most daunting challenge to date. Multiple attempts to solve the problem result in multiple failures.

She had already discovered a million ways that would not work. Which meant she was getting closer to finding a way that would work.

Her hard work and determination eventually pay off. Maxine includes Milton in the Pet Parade with an invention Made by Maxine.

While messages of recycling and inclusion are woven into the narrative, it is Maxine's persistence in the face of setbacks that shines through. Spiro has created one determined little girl. Hatam's illustrations are brimming with clever and inventive touches. (Love the "wheelie delicious" fish-feeder that Maxine operates while reading Fish Tales.)

Let's hope that some little inventor shows up for Halloween dressed in sparkle shoes, a flouncy skirt and a knitted thinking cap with attached antenna.

Companion Resources

Meet this trio of young problem-solvers.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 9, 2018 Publisher: Dial Books ISBN: 978-0399186295

Places to Go

10/8/2018

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.

As is true for many factoid-filled books, Everything and Everywhere is destined to be a popular selection for browsing, sharing, and discussing. This compendium has potential for appeal to a wide range of readers. They will endlessly pore over these pages. It's in a librarian's best interest to order multiple copies.

Companion Resources

Our world is filled with marvels great and small. Discover more fantastic places, amazing facts.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 9, 2018 Publisher: Chronicle Books ISBN: 978-1452165141