"Is Children's Nonfiction Having Its Moment?" Judith Rosen, July 17, 2015 Publisher's Weekly
Looking over the proliferation of recently published informational picture books and the exceptional quality of many of these offerings, my answer is a resounding "yes!"
Rosen says "Kids have always been curious about the world around them and the way things work." Today's nonfiction addresses their inquisitive nature in exciting new ways. Rather than straightforward narrative with accompanying illustrations, today's nonfiction picture books employ innovative framework, creative design, and exceptional art.
Below are three stellar examples of innovative ways to help children explore the amazing world of animals.
Looking over the proliferation of recently published informational picture books and the exceptional quality of many of these offerings, my answer is a resounding "yes!"
Rosen says "Kids have always been curious about the world around them and the way things work." Today's nonfiction addresses their inquisitive nature in exciting new ways. Rather than straightforward narrative with accompanying illustrations, today's nonfiction picture books employ innovative framework, creative design, and exceptional art.
Below are three stellar examples of innovative ways to help children explore the amazing world of animals.
The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond
The premise of The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmond is this: a boy reading a book about whales. What makes it unique is that it is not just any book, but actually this book. Wearing a bright red crown, he shows up on the pages of this gorgeously illustrated tribute to the wonder of blue whales. He is living his own reading experience!
The water color medium is the perfect choice. It captures the vast and clear expanse of aquatic life, giving the pages a fresh and translucent quality.
Information on whales, including the fascinating comparisons, is presented with engaging infographics. Each page is a work of art in itself.
Desmond offers an informational, visual, and storytelling treat!
The water color medium is the perfect choice. It captures the vast and clear expanse of aquatic life, giving the pages a fresh and translucent quality.
Information on whales, including the fascinating comparisons, is presented with engaging infographics. Each page is a work of art in itself.
Desmond offers an informational, visual, and storytelling treat!
A Chicken Followed Me Home! Questions and Answers about a Familiar Fowl
by Robin Page
Check out Robin Page's A Chicken Followed Me Home! Questions and Answers about a Familiar Fowl. Beginning with the cover and a chicken following a sneaker, we watch what happens when a chicken follows you home. Obviously, this event provokes questions such as: What will my chicken eat? Will my chicken fly away? Is my chicken a hen or a rooster?
Answers are straightforward. The bold color art style is reminiscent of Steve Jenkins, a frequent collaborator with Page.
The page design, with plenty of white space around accurately and artistically portrayed chickens includes easy-to-read text.
The ending, following a bright yellow rain boot, brings the book to a satisfying but open-ended conclusion.
Answers are straightforward. The bold color art style is reminiscent of Steve Jenkins, a frequent collaborator with Page.
The page design, with plenty of white space around accurately and artistically portrayed chickens includes easy-to-read text.
The ending, following a bright yellow rain boot, brings the book to a satisfying but open-ended conclusion.
I'mTrying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton
In I'm Trying to Love Spiders Bethany Barton is working to overcome her arachnophobia by enumerating "amazing arachnid facts" while acknowledging her fear of spiders and her desire to "squish" each and every one.
Can she learn to like spiders? The fun comes with each page turn, as Barton vacillates between her absorption with interesting facts and her obvious arachnophobia.
Artwork has a cartoonish quality and is the perfect foil for the inevitable shrieks in bright red lettering whenever terror strikes and it's time to "squish" yet another spider.
My copy of this book suffered its own hysterical moment. Hence the less-than-perfect page images.
Can she learn to like spiders? The fun comes with each page turn, as Barton vacillates between her absorption with interesting facts and her obvious arachnophobia.
Artwork has a cartoonish quality and is the perfect foil for the inevitable shrieks in bright red lettering whenever terror strikes and it's time to "squish" yet another spider.
My copy of this book suffered its own hysterical moment. Hence the less-than-perfect page images.
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