Picture books

Draw the Line by Kathryn Otoshi

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  Two boys are drawing lines in this wordless book, their backs to each other.  When they bump into each other, they connect their lines, and the line becomes a string.  The string is fun to play with, until the play turns mean.  As they engage in a tug-of-war, a chasm appears, gradually widening and pushing them further apart.  A shared smile creates the means for closing the gap, turning it into a path that they can travel on together.  48  pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This simple story and black-and-white illustrations could be a starting point for all kinds of discussions about friendship and conflict resolution.

Cons:  A review I read mentioned color in the illustrations, and there are colors in the picture (above) that I found online, but the copy of the book I had was all in black and white.

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

Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say

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Published by Arthur A. Levine Books

Summary:  James Castle was deaf, mute, and autistic.  He never learned to read or speak.  He spent a good portion of his childhood in the loft of an unused icehouse, and later lived in an abandoned chicken coop.  His parents and teachers actively discouraged him from art, but he kept creating it any way he could.  He would collect scrap paper, and use a burned match and saliva to draw.  The people and animals he created from cast-off cardboard became his friends.  His nephew, Cort Conley, loved to watch him draw.  When Cort went to art school, he showed one of his teachers his Uncle Jimmy’s work.  The professor was so excited, he drove to Boise, Idaho to meet James, and later organized an exhibit in Portland, Oregon.  Other exhibits and sales followed, and when James Castle died, he left behind over 15,000 pieces of art.  An author’s note explains how Allen Say came to write this book after being asked by his friend Cort to create a portrait of his uncle.  64 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  A sad but fascinating story of a man who was pretty much treated like trash by everyone who knew him, including his own family, yet continued to create art whenever and wherever he could.  Much of Allen Say’s art is done in the style of Castle’s, and may very well be considered for a Caldecott.

Cons:  I wasn’t sure if the illustrations were done by Castle, or by Say in Castle’s style.  If they were the originals, some captions would have been helpful; if they weren’t, I would have liked to see some of the originals at the end of the book.

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The Wooden Camel by Wanuri Kahiu, illustrated by Manuela Adreani

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Published by Lantana Publishing

Summary:  Etabo dreams about being the best camel racer ever.  His older brothers and sisters make fun of him, saying he’s too small to race camels, but he doesn’t care.  His dreams are put on hold, though, when his family has to sell all the camels to buy water.  Then his older siblings have to leave to find work, leaving Etabo at home to take care of the family’s goats.  When he prays to Akuj the Sky God, Akuj replies, “Your dreams are enough.”  His older sister is sympathetic, and spends her free time carving Etabo a set of wooden camels.  Encouraged by his new camels and his family’s love, Etabo realizes that his dreams are, in fact, enough for now.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A simple story that will introduce children to the Turkana people of Kenya, and a boy with dreams that kids around the world will understand.  The illustrations capture the beauty of the Kenyan landscape.

Cons:  Some back matter with more information about Etabo and his home would have been useful.

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Cancer Hates Kisses by Jessica Reid Sliwerski, illustrated by Mika Song

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Published by Dial Books

Summary:  The two young narrators in this story have a mom who has been diagnosed with cancer.  In their eyes, Mom is a superhero who “kicks cancer’s butt hard”.  She is strong and brave as she goes through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.  She has “warrior wounds” from surgery and looks fierce when she loses her hair. Sometimes she has to rest and sometimes she cries, but the family discovers what cancer hates:  kisses, hugs, laughter, smiles, high fives, dance parties, and love.  Includes notes from cancer specialist Dr. Elisa Port and the author, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when her daughter was a baby.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An excellent resource for children with a family member who is dealing with cancer.  The optimistic tone and light-hearted illustrations provide a good balance for the serious subject.  Surgery, chemo, and radiation are not sugarcoated, either in the text or the pictures, but the strong, upbeat tone gives kids reason to hope for the best outcome.

Cons:  Despite the optimistic presentation, it’s hard not to get a lump in your throat when reading this.

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

 

Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, illustrated by Shawn Harris

~ Janet Dawson ~ 5 Comments

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  Think you know about the Statue of Liberty?  Chances are, you will learn something new if you read this book.  It starts in France, where the Statue herself started, and describes the creation and construction of it, first in France and then again in the United States.  It was brown for about 35 years until the copper turned its current shade of green.  The author relates some quirky details about different parts of the statue, then focuses on one specific part: her right foot, which is lifted as though she is walking away.  Where is she going?  He concludes that she is an immigrant, like all the other immigrants she has welcomed over the years.  Immigrants don’t stand still.  They are always moving forward, and like them, the Statue of Liberty is moving toward the ocean to greet the people who continue to come to the United States.  Includes a page of sources for further reading.  104 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  A quirky, moving book that is part history and part celebration of immigration, told in a conversational tone and beautifully illuminated with unique cut-paper illustrations.

Cons:  Nonfiction? 104-page picture books?  About the Statue of Liberty?  Or immigration?  It’s hard to know how to categorize this 104-page picture book that jumps from one topic to the next.

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

The Wolf, The Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  On page 1, a mouse meets a wolf.  On page 2, the wolf eats the mouse.  End of story, right?  Of course not…turns out life inside the wolf is pretty good.  A duck has already set up housekeeping there, and is living the good life, no longer afraid of being eaten.  “I have been swallowed,” says the duck, “but I have no intention of being eaten.”  The two celebrate with feasting and dancing.  Good for them, not so great for the wolf, who gets a terrible stomachache.  Then one day, a hunter is after the wolf.  Just when it looks like it’s all over for him, the two friends pop out and save his life.  To show his gratitude, the wolf lets them stay, willing to put up with the pain.  And that is why, every night, the wolf howls at the moon.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pro:  Another quirky and inspired tale told by Mac Barnett and illustrated with a brown and gray palette by Jon Klassen.  Like the wolf with the mouse, kids will eat it up.

Cons:  Personally, I’m not a huge fan of this duo; I’m generally scratching my head by the last page.  But I love reading them to kids, because there’s always an enthusiastic response.

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

There Might Be Lobsters by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by Laurel Molk

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Eleanor is ready for a fun day at the beach, but her little dog Sukie isn’t so sure.  For everything that Eleanor proposes–going to the beach, chasing a beach ball, swimming–Sukie has a long list of worries, always ending with a concern about lobsters.  When Eleanor jumps in the ocean, Sukie sits at the water’s edge with her favorite stuffed monkey, Chunka Munka, and watches.  But when a rogue wave catches Chunka Munka and carries him out to sea, Sukie forgets her fears and dives in after him.  She even swims past something that might be a lobster to make the rescue.  Back ashore, Eleanor tells Sukie she knew she could do it.  The friends spend the rest of the afternoon playing in the sand, eating ice cream, and watching for lobsters.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fun summer story (sorry to be reviewing it in October) about overcoming your fears.  Sukie is adorable, and Chunka Munka is pretty cute too.

Cons:  Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach!

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

Full of Fall by April Pulley Sayre

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Published by Beach Lane Books

Summary:  “September sun is low in the sky/So long summer/Green, goodbye!” So begins this homage to autumn.  Each page has a few lines of poetry, describing the colors as leaves change from green to red and gold to brown.  Large, colorful photographs show the stages in detail, as well as animals often associated with the season, like squirrels and geese.  “Goodbye, leaf show/Winter is coming/Oh, hello, snow!”  The last page provides a perfect transition to check out a similar book by the author, Best in Snow.  Includes two pages that give more scientific information about what is happening on each page of the book.  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  Another gorgeous book about the seasons from April Pulley Sayre (see also Raindrops Roll).  Combine this with In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes (see my 9/22 review) for a perfect autumn story hour.

Cons:  All that raking.

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

After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  Yes, Humpty Dumpty got put back together again, but “there were some parts that couldn’t be healed with bandages and glue.”  Humpty is now afraid of heights–he sleeps on the floor rather than in his top bunk, and is forced to buy Bo-Rings cereal rather than the enticing Sugar Bunny and Rainbow Bites that are stocked on the top shelves.  Worst of all, though, he misses the birds he used to watch from his perch atop the high wall.  Inspired by a paper airplane, Humpty creates a flying bird, but is dismayed when it lands on top of his old wall.  Determined, the egg overcomes his fear, and slowly climbs up the ladder on the side of the wall.  At the top, he cracks again…only this time, a beautiful bird emerges and soars into the air.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Dan Santat tells a remarkable story, making a fairy tale connection and using humor that preschoolers will enjoy, but conveying a message for all ages.  The illustrations may be worthy of another Caldecott for the illustrator.

Cons:  The “Sad Clown” cereal that is one of Humpty’s options on the grocery store’s lower shelf.

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

How to Be an Elephant: Growing Up in the African Wild by Katherine Roy

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Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  When a baby elephant is born, she has a lot to learn; good thing she has a protective family and herd to teach her.  From walking to using her complex trunk to figuring out the different smells in her environment, the youngster will spend several years learning all the elephant ways.  Labelled diagrams and full-page illustrations complement the text to impart all the intricate knowledge the elephant needs to survive.  Includes a note from the author about her research and the endangered status of African elephants, and a list of resources for further information.  48 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  Readers will learn a ton of information about elephants, both through the text and the illustrations, which should be considered by the Caldecott committee.

Cons:  While the book has the look and feel of a picture book, the information and vocabulary is pretty advanced for primary grades.

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