Picture books

Sea Bear: A Journey for Survival by Lindsay Moore

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Greenwillow Books

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Summary:  A polar bear explains how she uses the sea ice to travel and to hunt.  As summer ends, the ice has thinned, and she spends more time swimming.  For much of the story, she is trying to reach land, which entails a long swim past other Arctic creatures like narwhals, walruses, and a whale.  Finally, after an exhausting three-day swim, she reaches land, where she will eat kelp and wait for the ice to thicken again so she can hunt seals.  Includes a page of information on sea ice, polar bears, and the implications of global warming; as well as a page describing some of the other animals shown in the book.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The lovely watercolor and ink illustrations perfectly capture the blues and whites of the Arctic, and the spare text introduces a lot of information about the polar bear.

Cons:  The global warming aspect makes it a sad story.

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What Is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by April Harrison

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Published by Schwartz and Wade

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Summary:  After James Otis’s father dies, life gets hard for him and his mother.  They are barely making it, but when Reverend Dennis announces that the church will be delivering Valentine’s love boxes to the needy, Mama says they have to contribute.  In particular, a girl named Sarah and her mother need help after losing their home in a fire. As the days go by, James Otis takes stock of his meager possessions as he tries to imagine what Sarah might like.  He thinks about giving her the one book he owns, but then has a better idea…he creates a special book just for Sarah called From My Heart to Your Heart.  At the church on Valentine’s Day, he gives her the book in person, and she is thrilled.  James Otis feels good that he has given something from his heart, and is rewarded with his own love box waiting on the doorstep when he and Mama return home.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A final story by the late Patricia McKissack would make a touching read-aloud for Valentine’s Day, with maybe a follow-up activity about giving from the heart.  The collage illustrations by newcomer April Harrison add interest to the story with plenty of colors and textures.

Cons:  I couldn’t tell from the pictures if this was a contemporary story or historical fiction.

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Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Paola Escobar

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by HarperCollins

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Summary:  Pura Belpré wasn’t planning to stay in New York City when she visited from Puerto Rico in 1921, but before long she had found a job at the New York Public Library.  She discovered the children’s room didn’t have any of the Puerto Rican folktales she had grown up with, and began sharing her stories with kids who visited the library.  Later, she found other ways to tell these tales, through puppets she created and books she wrote.  Her legacy lives on through the Pura Belpré award, given each year to Latinx authors and illustrators. Includes author’s note, additional resources (books, archival collections, articles, films, and a list of Pura Belpré’s stories mentioned in the book). A Spanish version of this book, Sembrando Historias, was published simultaneously with the English one.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A beautifully written and illustrated book about a woman whose work with books and libraries continues to have an influence today.  Spanish words and phrases are scattered throughout the story, but with enough context to be understandable.

Cons:  Books about “celebrity librarians” can be a hard sell with the elementary crowd.

If you would like to buy the English version of this book on Amazon, click here.

If you would like to buy the Spanish version of this book, click here.

Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Jessica Lanan

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Published by Roaring Brook Press

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Summary:  Are we alone in the universe?  Going back to ancient astronomers, this book quickly traces the history of what humans have learned about the place of Earth in the galaxy.  It then details how scientists are looking for a “just right” planet–not too big, not too small, not too hot, not too cold–that might support life.  Huge telescopes sitting on mountaintops or floating through space gather information on stars and the exoplanets around them. The illustrations show a girl and her family visiting a planetarium, then getting her her own telescope as she learns about the universe.  The last several pages speculate on what life on other planets might be like, and how we might communicate with those life forms. Includes a page of additional information; a bibliography; books and websites with additional information; and a timeline of space exploration on the front and back endpapers.  48 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Packed with scientific information, the author does a great job of making a complicated topic accessible to elementary kids; the illustrations of the girl and her family help make it kid-friendly as well.

Cons:  Some of the information was a bit over my head…but readers will still find something interesting, even if they don’t understand it all.

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

Meet Miss Fancy by Irene Latham, illustrated by John Holyfield

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

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Summary:  Frank is excited to hear that Miss Fancy, a former circus elephant, is moving to Avondale Park near his home in Birmingham, Alabama.  Unfortunately, the “No Colored Allowed” sign at the park’s entrance prevents him from going to visit her. He can climb up in a tree and throw peanuts to her, but it’s not the same as getting to stroke her trunk the way the white kids can.  When Frank hears that Miss Fancy has been escaping from the park, he has an idea. He leaves a trail of peanuts from the park entrance to his house, and the next morning, Miss Fancy is at his front door! Using his bag of peanuts, Frank lures the elephant to the zoo, where he is rewarded by the police officer there with a ride on her back.  He triumphantly rides her all the way into the park. Includes an author’s note with additional information and a photo of the real Miss Fancy. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A lively, energetic story about a boy who uses determination and ingenuity to solve a seemingly insurmountable problem.  The colorful illustrations add to the fun.

Cons:  Although Frank’s wish comes true at the end of the story, the “No Colored Allowed” sign is still posted at the entrance to the park.

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

The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome

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Published by Aladdin

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Summary:  On each page, the bell rings, and the narrator’s family gets ready for another day of working in the plantation fields.  Her father gathers wood, her mother cooks, and her older brother Ben offers her a pat on the shoulder, a wave, and one day, a new doll that he’s made.  It turns out to be a farewell gift, because the next day Ben and two other boys are gone. The other two are caught two days later, but Ben never returns.  Did he make it to freedom, or die along the way? The family has no way of knowing, and the last page shows the girl looking at the bell, with a look that suggests she may be thinking of escape as well.  An author’s note tells how so many stories of enslaved people running away focus on the escape and not on the ones left behind. 40 pages; grades 1-6.

Pros:  This simple but haunting story, taking place over the course of a week, gives a different and thought-provoking perspective on slavery.

Cons:  While most reviewers recommend this for ages 4-8, it might be appreciated more by kids in upper elementary grades.

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

The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by little bee books

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Summary:  With just 16 lines (or bars) of text, the author and illustrator do an amazing job of introducing the history of hip-hop and rap.  Beginning with a nod to poets Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar and singer James Brown, the narrative continues to the early rappers of the 1970’s, graffiti artists, break dancers, and DJ-run block parties.  The graffiti-inspired illustrations enhance the brief text. Notes from the author and illustrator tell of their personal connection to hip-hop and give a bit more history. Includes a glossary and hip-hop who’s who.  48 pages; grades K and up.

Pros:  This is a brief history, but a good introduction to many artists, portrayed with a huge energy by illustrator Frank Morrison.  

Cons:  It’s difficult to recommend an age range: the format would appeal to preschoolers and early elementary, but the content will probably be of greater interest to older readers, who will want to move on to YouTube or other resources to learn more.

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

There Are No Bears In This Bakery by Julia Barcone-Roach

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Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  The cat narrator is a tough detective, prowling through the night to investigate unusual sounds. Last night, when he checked out what he thought was a gigantic mouse behind the bakery, he discovered a bear cub.  “The problem was clear. And I was on the case,” he says, but the pictures tell a different story, showing him helping the bear access cake, donuts, and other treats. Just as they’re finishing up, the mother bear appears, scaring the cat.  “Lights out!” he exclaims, as he is engulfed in darkness…but it turns out he’s just being wrapped in a giant bear hug. Mama Bear explores the bakery, and then all three animals go their separate ways. The sun is rising as the cat returns home, curling up for a nap after a hard night’s work.  The last page shows the baker standing open-mouthed as she surveys the wrecked bakery; the shadows of the two bears can be seen outside the window. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  There will be plenty of laughs over the antics of these three animals, and the discrepancies between the cat’s narration and the illustration.  The language is rich, and could serve as an introduction to similes or a mentor text for mysteries.

Cons:  The baker has a tough day ahead of her.

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

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Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn

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Published by Henry Holt and Co.

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Summary:  Janet Collins was determined to be a dancer, even though she faced discrimination from an early age.  Her mother was a seamstress who paid for her dance lessons by sewing costumes. Janet was turned away from ballet schools and told she could only join a professional company if she painted her skin white.  She refused, and found other ways to dance. Finally, in 1951, the ballet master at the Metropolitan Opera House saw Janet dance, and hired her to be the first African-American prima ballerina there. An author’s note gives more biographical information, including two photos; sources and websites are also included.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The story is told in simple rhyming text, each verse starting with “This is” (“This is the girl/who danced in the breeze/to the swoosh, swoosh, swoosh/of towering trees”).  Young readers will enjoy the illustrations depicting Janet in various dance costumes, and will be inspired by her perseverance that eventually led to success.

Cons:  The text is so brief that many details are omitted, and some of the people are just referred to as “the teacher” or “the man”; some of those characters are identified in the author’s note, but more information sources would be needed for any kind of research report.

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Elvis Is King! by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Red Nose Studio

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Schwartz and Wade

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Summary:  “Elvis Is Born!” proclaims the first page, and each page thereafter has a headline that tells what happened to Elvis Presley for the first couple decades of his life.  He grew up in Mississippi in poverty–his father spent 14 months in jail for forgery–and moved to Memphis when he was 13. His mother bought him his first guitar for his 11th birthday, and music proved to be his ticket to a new world.  As a teenager, he dyed his hair black, started sporting some pretty funky clothing, and left his shyness behind every time he got on stage. After making a record for his mom at Sun Records, he was recruited to make a real record and became an overnight star.  The book ends with the release of “Heartbreak Hotel” that became a number one hit, and the simultaneous arrival of the hordes of screaming teenage girls. An author’s note gives more information and includes three photos of Elvis in 1937, 1956, and 1957. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Elvis may have been dead for over 40 years, but the legend lives on, and kids still enjoy reading about him.  The southern twang of the text and the outrageous three dimensional Red Nose Studio illustrations are a perfect combination to tell Presley’s story.

Cons:  A list of resources would have made a nice addition to the author’s note.

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