2016 Picture Book Month, Week Five

Four more for the last of Picture Book Month! The first two books are fine pre-school storytime choices; the last two can be shared with older children and will certainly garner discussion.

Hooray for Today! by Brian Won

The story of an owl that is not sleepy at night and keeps all her friends awake is nothing new. But Won’s cheerful retro-style depiction of this story is one that will be welcomed for storytimes at the library and at home. Pair it with Won’s Hooray for Hat for a big Hooray party.

 

A Hop is Up by Kristy Dempsey, illustrated by Lori Richmond

Verbs and adjectives and thick lines — this easy-to-read romp with a friendly dog will be a fun addition for early-readers and for doggie-themed storytime. Grab this one for toddlers or your classroom and explore language and movement as you enjoy the ink & watercolour art.

 

Home at Last by Vera B. Williams, illustrated by Chris Raschka

This is one to share one-on-one or with a small group. Williams’ last book before she died will not disappoint her fans; this is another insightful, loving story of childhood. An orphaned boy is adopted by two dads. Life is good, but unsettled, until Wincka the dog saves the day. Raschka and Williams collaborated on this, and it shows in the warm watercolour art. There’s an audience waiting for this story, and those who find it will be moved.

Last, but certainly not least, is Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie. A seemingly simple poem about a very complex issue, this book is a history lesson about slavery and oppression, yet also a paean to the human spirit. Christie’s folk-art inspired paintings set the tone, and show the backbreaking work that Louisiana slaves endured. One scene shows the slaves in their cabins, recalling drawings of slaves packed into ships. This is not a happy-go-lucky preschool storytime book. It addresses mature themes, as one would expect. But is also shows the joy experienced, ever so briefly, once a week:  look at this dancer, swaying to the rhythm of music. The first part of the book is all stiff shapes and hard lines. In Congo Square the lines become fluid, the movement changes, the art dances. The colours in this part of the book are yellows and oranges, warmth and light. The art in this book is amazing. It dredges up uncomfortable images, and then shows us joy. The Forward, Glossary, and Author’s Note extend the short text, making it a very teachable book. The paintings extend the story even further, putting unforgettable images into our minds and hearts. **Side note- -this one has taken the lead in my current favourite for Caldecott. It is scooting Ada’s Violin over to second place.

That’s it for this November… but there will be more picture books to come, and next November will once again be Picture Book Month!

 

 

Picture Book Month – Tattooable books, 2016

Kid-lit tattoos are a Thing. I know, I have one. The Caldecott 2015 Committee has several tattoo stories. It is not unusual to spot a picture-book tattoo at ALA conferences. Last year in Orlando, at least 3 people at my table had tattoos from books, including this one from Miss Mary Daisycakes.  So, I started thinking about what might be the most tattooable books of 2016. I have my own favs, but I also thought I would ask the experts (aka, the other members of the 2015 Caldecott Committee who got tattoos).

Roger Kelly chose the little monkey from The Airport Book by Lisa Brown, Roaring Brook Press. I can definitely see this charismatic character as a tattoo, and I can see why Roger chose it. Besides being cute, this little monkey serves to move the story forward in a visual manner. Monkey provides tension and story, relevant to a young reader,  in a book that would otherwise just be about taking an airplane  trip.

Adrienne Furness chose the “shifty-eyed turtle” from Jon Klassen’s We Found A Hat;  Candlewick Press. She says “every single time I look at this book, which has been a lot, he makes me laugh.” I agree with Adrienne; those eyes do so much to tell the story and show us the complicated emotions of the turtle characters.

Sharon McKellar weighed in with a book I was not very familiar with, but have since come to appreciate. The art is something to pore over, and would certainly be lovely as a tattoo. Sharon chose the foxes from 123 Dream by Kim Krans; Random House. I wonder if these two baby foxes appeal to her mother-of-twins heart. That mama fox is fiercely watching over those kits. Sharon says she’d put this on the back of her shoulder. If  you don’t know this book, take a look at it. Beautiful pen and ink renderings of flora and fauna.

Ok, now for my choices. I couldn’t pick just one. Good thing I don’t live near a tattoo shop like Black & Blue in San Francisco (where Roger, Sharon, Victoria Stapleton, and I got our Caldetatts). Because I’d likely have very little ink-free skin if I did! My first choice would be a large back piece of the tree dragon from The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers; Schuster Books for Young Readers. I love the detail and all the leaves. This tattoo would probably hurt like the dickens because in order for it to be effective, it would have to be a whole back piece, maybe with those tree trunks wrapping around the waist. This whole book is gorgeous, but this dragon really stopped me in my tracks.

Next up is a playful choice from Thunder Boy Jr., by Sherman Alexie and illustrated by Yuyi Morales; Little, Brown, and Company. The colours and movement in this book are so appealing, and there are so many little details to look at. This little alligator toy really makes me happy, though, and I would certainly be fine with having it permanently on my skin.

So, do tattooable books make award winners? We will just have to see, won’t we? I certainly think all of these books have amazing illustrations. They all speak to picture-book lovers for some reason. What do you think? Do YOU have a tattooable choice for a book published in 2016? Tell me in the comments!

 

Picture Book Month: Carpool Book Club

If you just tuned in from Carpool Book Club, Episode Two, here’s the promised list of books we discussed. If you missed Carpool Book Club, quick, go watch the latest episode RIGHT HERE. I promise, I will give you the booklist, but first, a little about Carpool Book Club. The idea came about after an hour-long drive with a friend who loves picture books as much as I do. We spent the whole drive talking about books. And we thought it would be fun to turn that concept into a video. A year later, we’ve started to try it out — so far it has been Jai Soloy and myself, Angela Reynolds. But we hope to have guests in the future, and we hope to talk about all sorts of books. We are still working out technical and sound issues, but we are having fun with it.

The books! (if I have previously blogged about these, links go there – if not, links go to our library catalogue).

Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat

 

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen

 

There’s a Part Two of this episode in the wings. Let us know in the comments if you want to see it!

2016 Picture Book Month, Week Two

Here are a few more books that crossed my path and made me take note.

The King of the Birds by Acree Graham Macam, illustrated by Natalie Nelson

Hand-drawn &  collage chickens, peacocks, and other fowl strut across the thick paper pages of this book based on Flannery O’Connor’s youth spent with birds. This book fits into the “absurd children’s books” category, but it works. An odd story about a girl who loves birds, and a bird who needs a bit of attention, this will likely appeal to any child growing up on a farm. City kids will be enchanted as well. The illustrations are really fun, and the story is a charmer.

 

Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol

A skeleton-faced granny with a big family has to go to the moon to get some time to knit. But on the moon, there are lots of curious aliens. The only quiet place is inside a wormhole. This is what might be described as a mashup of the Old Woman Who Lived in A Shoe and Star Trek, but as odd as it sounds, it works. The illustrations are funny and the cartoon style works perfectly – excellent pacing, white space, and layout. Anyone who has tried to find a quiet space to get away from the crowd of family, but then misses that companionship will relate. A fun discussion book for classrooms, and will work in storytimes, too.

 

Mervin the Sloth is about to do the Best Thing in the World by Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Ruth Chan

Sometimes, simple IS better. The design of this book is what drew me to it. It uses text as part of the illustration – the text is repeated, but the story moves along with lively pacing — it feels like a wordless book, and yet it has words. Simple line changes and introduction of characters in the illustration tell the story – and you really do want to know what Mervin the Sloth is about to do. As the cast of characters increases, the story builds. The illustration takes the lead; the cartoon animals joyfully wait to see what Mervin is going to do, as will readers.

 

 

What are your current picture book favs? Tell us in the comments!

 

Picture Book Month 2016– Week One

Fsor Picture Book Month, I will be posting new books each week. This week I want to feature one book that I am particularly fond of.  Last year my PBM favourite, Finding Winnie, happened to win the Caldecott Award. Just saying.

The book I am loving right now is Ada’s Violin by Susan Hood, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. First off, let’s talk about the story. This is based on the true story of a small town of Cateura, Paraguay, which is the location of the main garbage dump for the capital city of Asuncion. Garbage is the main employer of most of the town’s residents — they spend their time picking through looking for something of value to sell or recycle. As you can imagine, poverty is rampant, and life is hard. Ada, the main character, wants more than joining a gang. Her grandmother signs her up for music lessons, and when Ada and the other children arrive, the find there are only a few instruments and they all have to share. An enterprising man builds them instruments from garbage, and an orchestra is born. You may have seen this on YouTube or on social media, their story has been shared often. This book tells the story for a younger audience without talking down to them, and yet putting the social issues at the forefront.

The story is one that will grab readers of a wide age range.  The illustrations are what grabbed me. Comport uses light and shadow to visually draw our attention to important parts of the story. The text does not point this out, and so Comport’s illustration deepens the story and extends the meaning for readers. In this spread, Ada notices the gangs of teens hanging out in alleys. She and her sister are in shadow as well, as though they are uncertain if their future is to be in the sunlight playing, like the middle of this spread, or like the teens in the alley.

Her use of yellow to denote light is seen throughout the book. A simple line of yellow paint shows light on a face, a drum, a violin. An she uses line to draw the eye along the page, using crisp triangles that remind us of the spotlights that later shine on the orchestra as they play onstage. This spread, of Ada playing her landfill violin, is a fine example of both light and line. You can also see the little bits of paper collage, with music notes on them. She’s used reclaimed materials in the art which remind us of the reclaimed materials used for the instruments.

Take a look at this one – you will be amazed at the art and the story. I would not be at all surprised if the Caldecott Committee is taking a look at it as well. Have you seen this book? Leave your observations in the comments.

Come back next week for more picture books!