Picture books

Ninita’s Big World: The True Story of a Deaf Pygmy Marmoset by Sarah Glenn Marsh, illustrations by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Clarion Books

Image result for ninita's big world amazon

Summary:  Ninita is a pygmy marmoset, the smallest kind of monkey in the world, who was born deaf and abandoned by her parents after a few weeks.  Rescued by humans, she found a new home at the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation in Florida, where she thrived. Eventually, she was introduced to a male pygmy marmoset, Mr. Big, and the two now live together at the Foundation.  Includes additional information about pygmy marmosets and the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation, along with a couple of photos of Ninita. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This cute animal story with its messages of love and friendship will undoubtedly appeal to a wide variety of young readers.  

Cons:  There’s quite a bit of anthropomorphism, e.g., “Ninita wished she had a marmoset friend to share her adventures.”

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Image result for ninita's big world

Make a Wish, Henry Bear by Liam Francis Walsh

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Image result for make a wish henry bear amazon

Image result for make a wish henry bear

Summary:  Why do Henry Bear’s parents insist on keeping him up late at night, feeding him chocolate cake three times a day, and suggesting he stay home from school to watch TV?  Turns out Henry made a wish on his last birthday that his parents could be more fun. It’s been a year now, and Henry is ready to go back to some rules. When he finally gets to school on his birthday (late, thanks to Mom and Dad), he meets a new girl, Marjani, and invites her to to his house, where they discover, to Henry’s horror, that they’re having candy instead of cake for his birthday dinner.  With no candles to blow out, is Henry doomed to have another year of fun parents? Marjani just might have the solution. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  There’s a moral to this story, but it comes wrapped in a beautifully illustrated (Henry’s city is inspired by Ticino, Switzerland) and humorous package, that kids won’t mind at all.  

Cons:  If Henry’s new birthday wish doesn’t come true, Mom and Dad Bear might be getting a visit from the child welfare authorities.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Image result for make a wish henry bear

Hector: A Boy, A Protest, and the Photograph That Changed Apartheid by Adrienne Wright

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Page Street Kids

Image result for hector a boy a protest and the photograph that changed apartheid

Image result for hector a boy a protest and the photograph that changed apartheid

Summary:  In 1976, Hector Pieterson was an ordinary 12-year-old boy living in Soweto, South Africa.  He went to school, played soccer, did chores, and hung out with his friends. On June 16, he went to school like he did every day; when he got there, he discovered a student demonstration going on to protest a new law forcing them to have half their lessons in Afrikaans instead of English.  A single moment is shown from three different perspectives: Hector, his older sister Antoinette, and Sam Nzima, the photojournalist who took a picture of Hector getting shot by police. The police confiscated all the film, but Sam managed to hide a roll in his sock. His picture of Hector’s lifeless body appeared in The World newspaper the next day, ending Sam’s career, but opening up the eyes of the world to apartheid in South Africa.  48 pages; grades 3-8.

Pros:  I didn’t know this story, and was shocked when Hector was killed at the end of it, much as Hector’s family must have been shocked by the turn of events on June 16, 1976.  This is an important book for American kids, many of whom are probably unfamiliar with South African apartheid.

Cons:  It’s difficult to know what ages to recommend this for.  It definitely could be disturbing to younger kids, and would be best read with some adult discussion.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Popcorn Country: The Story of America’s Favorite Snack by Cris Peterson, Photographs by David R. Lundquist

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Boyds Mills Press

Image result for popcorn country cris peterson amazon

Summary:  Who can resist a bowl of buttery, salty popcorn?  It’s one of the top snacks in the U.S., this book tells us, with an annual consumption of four and a half billion gallons.  If you’ve ever wondered how the popcorn gets to your movie theater, you’ll find some answers here, beginning in the Corn Belt, where over ninety million acres of corn are grown each year.  You’ll learn about the different types of corn, how popcorn is processed, and what causes the hard kernels to explode into the light, fluffy snack. There’s a brief history of popcorn at the end, along with a list of books and websites for further research.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The straightforward writing with kid-friendly explanations (“plants that stretch so tall that they could tickle the chin of a young giraffe”) and lots of photos showing a diverse group of kids make this a great nonfiction choice for preschool and early elementary ages.

Cons:  I guess it’s unknowable, but I’ve always wondered how the first consumers of popcorn figured out that those hard kernels could pop.  This book doesn’t offer any speculation on that.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Sarah Jacoby

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Balzer + Bray

Image result for important thing about margaret wise brown amazon

Summary:  “The important thing about Margaret Wise Brown is that she wrote books.”  And some of the important things about this book about Margaret Wise Brown are that it’s 42 pages because she lived 42 years.  That it celebrates the quirkiness of both Brown and her books. That the illustrations pay homage to many of Brown’s works. That critics of her works are humorously but firmly put in their place (Anne Carroll Moore, New York City’s children’s librarian, does not fare well here).  That you may not learn everything there is to know about Margaret Wise Brown, but you will learn interestingly odd facts like that every copy of the first edition of Little Fur Family were covered in fur.  That “sometimes you find a book that feels as strange as life does…Margaret Wise Brown wrote books like this, and she wrote them for children, because she believed children deserve important books.”  42 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Mac Barnett is not afraid to go way outside the box in this picture book that pays tribute to Margaret Wise Brown, her art, and her books.  It is full of the kinds of details that kids will love, like the fact that, as a child, Brown skinned one of her pet rabbits after it died and wore the pelt around her neck.  Or that she bought every flower on a flower cart after selling her first book, then had a big party in her flower-filled house. Any readers who aren’t familiar with Brown’s books will want to go looking for them after reading this one.

Cons:  Some will definitely find this book odd.  On the other hand, isn’t that kind of the point?

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Image result for important thing about margaret wise brown jacoby

The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Schwartz + Wade

Image result for girl who named pluto amazon

Image result for girl who named pluto elizabeth haidle

Summary:  Growing up in Oxford, Venetia Burney loved learning.  Her grandfather, the former head librarian at Oxford University, encouraged her curiosity.  When Grandfather shared a news item with 11-year-old Venetia about the discovery of a new planet beyond Neptune, she thought of how frozen, dark, and lifeless it must be.  It reminded her of the underworld in Greek mythology, and so she suggested naming it Pluto. Her grandfather sent a letter with her suggestion in it to a friend at the Royal Astronomical Society; he liked it, and eventually the name was voted on by astronomers.  Fast forward more than 70 years later: on the day before her 89th birthday, Venetia, still active and curious, gets an invitation to the Observatory Science Centre, where she finally gets a chance to see the planet she named. Includes an author’s note with additional information about Venetia and Pluto–including the change in its designation from plant to dwarf planet–and a bibliography. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  A fun story for kids learning about space; they will be inspired to hear how a planet was named by a kid, albeit one with a wealthy, connected grandfather.

Cons:  I think we all still feel a little sad about the fate of former planet Pluto.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Salaam Reads/Simon and Schuster

Image result for bilal cooks daal

Image result for bilal cooks daal

Summary:  Bilal invites his friends over for dinner to sample some of the daal his father  is cooking.  The kids help get things started, but when his friends think the ingredients look and smell funny, Bilal is worried. Dad starts the cooking, then tells them to go outside to play, as it will take a long time.  They have fun together playing hopscotch, swimming, and hiking, but after each activity, they stop back at Bilal’s to check on the daal, only to hear “Daal takes time”. Finally, as the sun sets, the daal is almost ready.  It’s time for Dad and the kids to add some herbs and spices, then sit down to eat it with some naan and rice.  Bilal can breathe a sigh of relief as his friends dig in and give the dinner two thumbs up. Includes an author’s note and recipe for chana daal.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Suffice it to say that this very cute book has inspired me to plan on trying out the recipe myself next week.

Cons:  The recipe doesn’t specify how many servings it makes.  I may be eating daal all week.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Atheneum

Image result for you are home turk

Image result for you are home turk

Summary:  “To the chipmunk in her burrow, sleeping beneath the leaves to keep warm; to the resilient bison in the steaming oases of of an endless winter: you are home.”  Evan Turk goes on to welcome animals and humans from all over America to more than 20  national parks: children in the city, children on farms, children who have just arrived to the United States, as well as those whose ancestors predated the United States by centuries are all welcomed.  The accompanying illustrations show scenes from the parks, each one captioned with a small label to identify it. The author’s note tells more about the history and importance of the parks, as well as the need for changes to preserve them going forward. There’s also a note about the art that encourages kids to experience some of the parks by creating art in them.  56 pages; ages 5 and up.

Pros:  This touching and beautiful ode to America’s national parks would make a perfect read for Independence Day, and is sure to inspire readers of all ages to spend some time in a national park or two this summer.  A Caldecott contender for sure.

Cons:  I guess the word “ode” in the title should have tipped me off, but I was hoping for more travel guide type information about each park.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Camp Tiger by Susan Choi, illustrated by John Rocco

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons for Young Readers

Image result for camp tiger amazon

Image result for camp tiger john rocco

Summary:  It’s the last weekend of summer; the narrator is about to start first grade and isn’t sure he wants to leave kindergarten.  When he and his family go on their annual camping trip to Mountain Pond, they’re surprised when a tiger comes to join them. He asks if he can borrow a tent, and he and the boy hang out inside.  The tiger joins the family as they hike, canoe, and fish, and the boy finds himself doing things that in the past have been difficult, like catching a fish and steering the canoe. The two go on a nighttime adventure the final night, but when the boy wakes up the next morning, the tiger is gone.  When the family gets home again, he draws a picture to show his first grade teacher and to help him to remember the tiger. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Kids will be kept guessing about the tiger–is he real or imaginary?–as they connect with the boy discovering his own tiger nature and becoming braver about trying new things.  John Rocco’s illustrations are amazing and possibly worth some Caldecott consideration.

Cons:  Some of the symbolism introduced by Yale professor and Pulitzer Prize finalist Susan Choi may be a bit over the heads of the intended audience.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Image result for camp tiger john rocco

Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Margaret Ferguson

Image result for field trip to the moon amazon

Image result for field trip to the moon john hare

Summary:  At the start of this wordless picture book a school bus approaches the moon, and a group of space suited kids and adults head out to explore the surface, peering into craters and jumping over chasms.  One child hangs back, eventually propping herself up against a rock and using crayons and a pad of paper to sketch the Earth. She nods off, waking up to a deserted moon and a glimpse of the flying bus in the black sky.  With nothing else to do, she gets out her art supplies again. As she draws, a group of blobby gray aliens surround her to watch. They’re intrigued with the colors, and when she offers them crayons, they use them to decorate the gray moon rocks and each other.  When the bus reappears, they scatter. An adult comes out and hugs the child, then insists she clean the drawings off the moon rocks. The two go off to board the bus, as alien hands holding crayons rise out of the moon’s surface to wave goodbye. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This ode to imagination stands out from the plethora of moon books being published this year in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.  There’s plenty to see on each page, yet the story is straightforward enough for kids to understand (something I sometimes struggle with in wordless books).

Cons:  What teacher doesn’t take attendance when the kids get back on the bus?

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Image result for field trip to the moon john hare