Picture books

A basketball ace, a designer of space, and an ultramarathon race

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Wat Takes His Shot: The Life & Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka by Cheryl Kim, illustrated by Nat Iwata (Lee & Low Books, 40 pages, grades 2-5). Wataru Misaka was an active child, growing up in Utah as a second-generation Japanese American, or Nisei. His father taught him the Japanese word gambatte, meaning to do your best, and Wat took the lesson to heart, pushing himself to work hard in school, on the basketball court, and later, after his father died, to help support his family. During World War II, Wat’s family escaped being sent to concentration camps, since they didn’t live on the coast, but they still faced discrimination. At the University of Utah, Wat slept under the bleachers in the gym when the segregated dorms were full. He made the college basketball team, but at first didn’t get to play and was barred from away games. When he did get on the court, spectators yelled racist slurs at him. Keeping in mind gambatte, Wat never gave up, eventually leading his team to a national championship. He was recruited by the Knicks, becoming the first player of color in the BAA (later the NBA). After being released from his contract, Wat returned to school and got his engineering degree. He excelled throughout his life, at work, in the community, and on the golf course and bowling alley. The last page shows him exchanging jerseys at a meeting with Asian American NBA star Jeremy Lin. Includes a lengthy author’s note, a photo of Wat in 2008, and a list of sources.

Basketball fans will enjoy this biography, although it’s a bit lengthy with quite a bit of historical context, making it perhaps a better choice for older kids. The history is fascinating, though, with lots of action-packed illustrations, and the lesson in perseverance is an inspiring one.

Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei by Julie Leung, illustrated by Yifan Wu (Quill Tree Books, 40 pages, grades 1-5). As a boy in China, Ioeh Ming Pei was fascinated by the volcanic rock statues in his grandfather’s hometown of Suzhou that took shape over many years from water falling on them. His love of structure continued as he grew up, sketching buildings he saw being built in Shanghai before coming to America at the age of 18 to study architecture. He rose to fame in 1964 when Jackie Kennedy selected him to design the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. His innovative designs and ways of seeing shapes led to other famous buildings like the Louvre Pyramid and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He returned to Suzhou at the age of 90 for the installation of an art museum he had designed for the city, admiring once again the rock statues he had seen as a child. Includes a timeline and additional resources.

Although I’ve heard of I. M. Pei I didn’t know the many famous buildings he designed. His innovative way of thinking and problem solving is emphasized in the text and especially the illustrations, which show of the beauty of the modernistic architecture Pei helped create.

Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez by Belen Medina, illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades K-4). Lorena Ramírez has become an unlikely ultramarathon champion, competing in races wearing the traditional clothing of her Rarámuri (meaning “light-footed”) people: a skirt and rubber-soled huarache sandals. The story takes place over the course of sixty-mile race, during which she reflects on her past that has brought her to this point. Growing up in a remote corner of Mexico, she became a strong runner by herding goats and cows, playing ball games with her siblings, and walking for hours to buy food. At the end of the race, she is the first to cross the finish line. Includes a two-page note with additional information about Lorena and a list of sources.

Lorena Ramírez’s story is fascinating, the way she has become a champion in an unconventional way, holding onto her people’s traditions and honoring them in the way she dresses. The beautiful illustrations show the people, animals, and landscape of her home. I do wish books like this would give the introductory information at the beginning so the reader (at least this reader) isn’t trying to figure out what is going on throughout the whole story.

Memories of China

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Growing Up Under a Red Flag: A Memoir of Surviving the Chinese Cultural Revolution by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Xinmei Liu (Rocky Pond Books, 40 pages, grades 2-6). Ying grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution, with parents, both doctors, who were targeted for being part of the educated class. Her father taught her English and told her stories of his days studying in San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge became a symbol of that life. Ying recalls the day her dad was forced to burn all his English books and papers, hiding his ties to the west from the government. Shortly after that, he was arrested, and life grew increasingly difficult for Ying and her mother, with food shortages and worries about the future. After Mao’s death in 1976, the family was reunited. Ying eventually moved to the U.S. to study, and the final picture shows the family eating with her father’s teacher, Dr. Smith, the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Born Naughty: My Childhood in China by Jin Wang with Tony Johnston, illustrated by Anisi Baigude (Anne Schwartz Books, 112 pages, grades 2-5). Imagine Ramona Quimby living in 1980’s Mongolia, and you’ll have a good idea of the vibe of Jin Wang’s lively childhood memoir. Living in a one-room mud hut with her parents and two younger brothers, Jin embraces all of life experiences, whether it’s traveling with her father to fetch the family’s precious water supply, beating the boys at tree-climbing, harvesting mushrooms and potatoes, or learning calligraphy. Real dangers are never far away, and her story of being attacked by a potentially rabid dog is harrowing. The last chapter shows the family taking a break from their demanding lives to celebrate the new year together. In the authors’ notes, Jin Wang shares more details of her life, including a 2019 trip back home that affirmed her happy childhood memories, and she and Tony Johnston relate how they met in yoga class and created this book together.

These two very different memoirs offer contrasting views of Chinese childhoods just a decade apart, one of a middle-class family dealing with government persecution and hardship, the other of a much poorer rural family facing different hardships but able to lead a freer life. Jin Wang’s memoir would make a great book club choice for second or third graders. There are plenty of similar stories for this age group that would make an interesting contrast to Jin’s childhood. While Ying’s story is a picture book, it may appeal to older students up into middle school, who might have a better understanding of the Cultural Revolution and what it meant to the people living through it.

Animals, dead and alive

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Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Jason Chin (Neal Porter Books, 48 pages, grades 2-5). When a 90-year-old blue whale dies on her annual northern migration, her body slowly sinks a mile before settling on the bottom of the ocean. Scavengers like hagfish and sleeper sharks, attracted by the chemicals released to this rare source of food, start devouring the whale meat. This process can go on for years until only the skeleton is left. A second stage begins with a new set of scavengers (hello, bone-eating zombie worms), who feed on the whale remains for decades. 150 years later, the bones are still releasing chemicals that feed algae, which in turn feed krill. The krill is eaten by a pregnant blue whale, thus completing the cycle of life that includes the old blue whale and the new one. Includes additional information about blue whales, ecosystems, and the four phases of a whale fall ecosystem, as well as additional resources.

This beautiful, well-written science book is sure to be a contender for the Caldecott and the Sibert awards, both of which amazing illustrator Jason Chin has won before. The information is fascinating, with descriptions of a process and animals that exist so far under the sea that scientists are just beginning to learn about them. There’s a lot of text and scientific information, which made me wonder if the book would hold the attention of younger elementary readers. If it’s too much, you can direct them to Melissa Stewart’s Whale Fall.

I Was: The Story of Animal Skulls by Katherine Hocker, illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Candlewick, 40 pages, grades 2-5). A skull says, “I was,” as the teeth, bones, holes, and cracks help tell the story of the animal it belonged to. Each two-page spread shows a skull with the voice of the animal describing part of the skull that hints at its identity. Turn the page and see the animal as it looked when it was alive. There’s a lynx, a deer, a beaver, a hummingbird, a wolf, and an owl. The last few pages celebrate the human skull, which protects the brain that allows us to understand the world around us. Includes a labeled diagram of a human skull with additional information about different parts, more information about the animals in the book and the human skull, and a few additional resources.

The large, vivid illustrations capture both the skulls and the animals beautifully. I always enjoy a book that gives kids the opportunity to guess what’s coming next, as it makes for a more engaging read-aloud. I found the premise kind of sad, though, with dead animals describing themselves when they were alive, and I wish the name of the animal had been included with the picture.

Survival of the Fittest: Who Will Come Out on Top? by Rebecca Donnelly, illustrated by Misa Saburi (Henry Holt and Co., 112 pages, grades 2-5). A reality TV show has six animals competing for the best engineering feat, with a hermit crab serving as host and three sharks judging. A chameleon, humpback whale, gecko, elephant, peacock mantis shrimp, and diabolical ironclad beetle each make a case for why it should be the winner, showing off a unique adaptation that allows it to survive. A winner is declared in the final chapter, and additional information about each animal’s “invention” is given on the last few pages.

Billed as book 1, this looks to be the start of a graphic novel series that may appeal to fans of the Who Would Win series. It’s cute and funny, with some interesting animal information, although not nearly as much as Who Would Win provides. The winner seemed like kind of a random choice, but I guess that’s more or less in keeping with the nature of reality TV.

Poetry for scientists

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A Planet Is a Poem by Amanda West Lewis, illustrated by Oliver Averill (Kids Can Press, 40 pages, grades 2-5). An introduction explains that a planet is a poem, and a poem is a planet, setting the stage for the integration of science and poetry. There’s a poem for each planet, as well as for the sun (but, surprisingly, not the moon), the Kuiper Belt, Arrokoth (an object located in the Kuiper Belt), and one for future astronomers. Each poem is on a page that unfolds to a gatefold that contains additional information on both the subject of the poem and the poetic form, with illustrations that expand as well. It’s a clever concept that educates about both planets and poetry, but I’m hesitant to get this for my library, knowing how even one gatefold page tends to get destroyed pretty quickly. Back matter includes information about writing your own poem, with facts about Planet X to serve as possible inspiration; a glossary of space terms; and a list of sources and resources.

The City Sings Green & Other Poems About Welcoming Wildlife by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Ginnie Hsu (Clarion Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). In a dozen poems, Erica Silverman describes projects around the world where a single person or small group has made a difference with conservation. Each poem is spread over two or three pages, accompanied by colorful illustrations and a paragraph describing the project. From rewilding the playground in Los Angeles to cleaning a beach and restoring a sea turtle habitat in India to creating a bee “highway” in Norway, these projects will inspire kids to find ways to make a difference. With plenty of resources in the back, this would make a great starting place for a unit on ecology that might inspire hands-on projects.

June holidays

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They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park by Tonya Duncan Ellis, illustrated by Jenin Mohammed (Balzer + Bray, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas tells its history, beginning on June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas learned that they were free. Most of the spreads begin with the words “they built me”: “They built me to celebrate,” “They built me to show they were strong,” “They built me to play.” Illustrations show Black people building a park on the ten acres they purchased, enjoying picnics and barbecues, swimming in a pool that allowed them access, and enjoying a baseball game. The park eventually fell into disrepair, but a new generation restored it and rededicated it in 2017. An afterword gives more information about the park, including a brief paragraph at the end about Juneteenth.

This lovely book celebrates Emancipation Park, and, to a slightly lesser extent, Juneteenth. Although the holiday provides the starting point, much of the book is dedicated to Black people persevering to create a beautiful park for themselves that allows them to experience joy, community, and celebration, which is captured in both the text and the illustrations. I wish the afterword were a foreword, as the book is more interesting with some background knowledge.

With Dad by Richard Jackson, illustrated by Brian Floca (Neal Porter Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). A boy reminisces about a magical camping trip he took with his father, fishing, eating the fish cooked over the campfire, and sleeping in a tent from which they can hear the hoot of an owl. The last few pages fast forward to winter, when Tim and his mother are reading an airmail letter from Dad, who is overseas fighting in a war. “I want Dad home safe and soon and warm,” Tim says, planning to pick up where they left off with another camping trip.

Wow, the end of this book just about broke me! Good picture book memoirs aren’t easy to create, and this one is phenomenal, with so many details of the camping trip that show a loving father teaching his son without ever being overbearing, all enhanced by Brian Floca’s beautiful illustrations. While not explicitly about Father’s Day, this would make a perfect gift for the holiday.

More summer reading

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Heatwave by Lauren Redniss (Random House Studio, 40 pages, ages 4-8). A child and dog seek relief from a brutally hot summer day, heading for the beach after a basketball game is cancelled. Even that doesn’t provide much respite, as a man reads a newspaper with the headline “Record heat across globe” in a nod to climate change. Then a wind blows, clouds roll in, and a single blue raindrop appears across the red page. A downpour changes the red to blue, as the sun sets, the moon rises, and the weather cools, just in time for sleeping.

I’ve been reading Doug Salati’s Hot Dog to classes recently, and this reminded me of that book, with its spare text and warm and cool colors that convey the heat of a summer day and the relief of finding coolness.

Summer Is Here by Renée Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 40 pages, ages 3-7). A young girl takes readers through a typical summer day, personifying summer as she wakes the girl up with her early morning light. There’s swimming, double Dutch jump-roping, a cookout in the park that includes a water balloon fight, an ice cream truck, and bubbles. As the sun goes down, and the girl gets ready for bed, she whispers a wish to the moon that summer could stay.

The narrator reminded me of a young Ryan Hart from Renée Watson’s chapter book series. It’s a kinder, gentler introduction to summer than Heatwave, with both the text and illustrations capturing many joys of the season and could serve as a prompt for kids to write about their summer memories.

A picture book potpourri

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Everyone Gets a Turn by Marianne Dubuc (Princeton Architectural Press, 60 pages, ages 4-9). When friends Bear, Mouse, Turtle, and Hare discover an egg, each one wants to take it home. The egg provides the answer: “Everyone gets a turn!” Mouse found the egg, so he brings it home first, getting to know the egg and learning how to keep it comfortable. Next is Bear, who gets a surprise: the egg hatches, and Little Bird arrives. Hare and Turtle figure out how to feed and care for a young bird, and by the time the visit with Turtle ends, Little Bird has built her own home and is ready to take care of herself. There’s a housewarming party, at which time Little Bird declares she will henceforth be known as Clara, and the five friends and neighbors “continue to grow, each in their own way.” The story could hardly be any cozier or more heartwarming, and the longer page count and graphic novel format will make it appealing to older readers as well as younger kids. I’d love to know the story of how this came to be published by the Princeton Architectural Press.

The Bicycle: How an Act of Kindness Changed a Young Refugee’s Life by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar, illustrated by Yas Imamura (Balzer + Bray, 40 pages, grades 1-4). Mevan tells the story of her childhood, beginning with idyllic early years surrounded by family in Kurdistan. When the Iraqi government begins persecuting the Kurdish people, Mevan and her family are forced to flee, first to Turkey, then to Russia, and finally to the Netherlands. Mevan learns to make herself as invisible as she can. In the Netherlands, she watches people outside her window riding bicycles, but she rarely leaves the apartment herself. It feels like no one sees her, but it turns out that Egbert, the building’s handyman, has noticed her, and one day he brings her a red bicycle. His gift makes Mevan feel “a hundred feet tall,” and before long, she’s outside riding with the rest of her neighbors. An epilogue describes the miraculous reunion she had with Egbert as an adult, including a photo of the two of them, and an author’s note describes her life as a refugee, how it has made her feel like an outsider, and the miraculous power of kindness. This is a touching if bittersweet memoir with an emphasis on the power of one person’s kindness to make a difference. I like how the epilogue ends, describing the ripple effect of her story of finding Egbert: “In a world where there are many people running from war, from hunger, from hatred, people everywhere, of every age, asked themselves: What’s one kind thing I can do?”

The Elephant and the Sea by Ed Vere (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Gabriel is an old elephant when we meet him on the first page, sitting in the harbor and remembering his younger days. Back then, he loved to visit the lifeboat crew and dreamed of helping sailors at sea, singing “Heave away, haul away, heave-HO!” But then Gabriel grows…and grows, and the other animals say he’s too big for the lifeboat. He refuses to give up his dream, though, and spends his days collecting driftwood and building. When a storm hits that’s too strong for the lifeboat crew, Gabriel is ready with his own boat that he uses to haul in the entire fleet. “Brave Gabriel, our hero!” the animals hail him. “Can we join you?” “Of course,” Gabriel replies. “But we might need a bigger boat.” And Gabriel enjoys a career of lifesaving, bringing us back to the old elephant remembering. It’s a cute story with a nice theme of perseverance and determination, with a fun “Heave away” repeating refrain. This would make a nice companion to read with Swashby and the Sea.

In which we learn what some Caldecott artists have been up to

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Being Home by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Michaela Goade (Kokila, 32 pages, ages 4-8). A family decides to move from the crowded city to the Cherokee reservation, where they can be close to nature, family, and community. The narrative begins on moving day in the city, continues through their journey, and finishes up in their new home, where they’re greeted with a feast and lots of children for the young narrator to play with. There are kid-drawn pictures showing a map of their trip, while other illustrations incorporate people, animals and symbols from the Cherokee Nation. Pink is the main color used to celebrate this family’s new life.

Both Traci Sorell’s (Cherokee) beautiful poetry and Michaela Goade’s (Tlingit) gorgeous illustrations celebrate indigenous communities that honor nature and help each other out through their connection. There’s always so much to see in Goade’s art, so be sure to take your time to appreciate how the colors she uses and shapes and figures she weaves into the main illustrations help tell the story.

Signs of Hope: The Revolutionary Art of Sister Corita Kent by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Melissa Sweet (Harry N. Abrams, 40 pages, grades 2-5). A student narrator describes what it was like to study art with Sister Corita Kent, learning to pay attention, breaking the rules, making prints inspired by words and pictures from magazines. Sometimes the students would take field trips to museums to learn about Pop Art, or to protests, where Sister Corita’s signs spoke out about peace and justice. After studying with Sister Corita, her students were ready to go into the world to express themselves through their own art. Includes an author’s note with biographical information about Sister Corita Kent, an illustrator’s note, a timeline, and additional resources.

Melissa Stewart’s style is a natural fit to celebrate Sister Corita’s joyful, playful art. The first-person present-tense narration brings an immediacy to the story that’s as vibrant as the illustrations. The text may be a bit confusing to a reader not familiar with Sister Corita Kent, but the author’s note adds helpful details about her life. I was disappointed that Matthew Burgess’s excellent Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Corita Kent wasn’t included on the resource list.

Ursula Upside Down by Corey R. Tabor (Balzer + Bray, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Ursula is a catfish who happily enjoys the beauty of her undersea world. But her view gets flipped when a fish asks her why she’s upside-down. “Just look around,” says the fish, and when she does, Ursula realizes she’s the only creature swimming her way. She tries turning over but gets so disoriented that she leaves the water altogether. A bat comes along and rescues her, and back in the water, Ursula observes the bat hanging upside down from a tree. “Upside down?” says the bat. “Says who?” This gives Ursula the confidence to go back to her old ways, and she’s happy once again, seeing things her own way. An author’s note introduces the upside-down catfish of the Congo River Basin and asks readers to consider that we might be the ones who are upside down.

Another cute picture book by Corey Tabor that involves flipping the book around a couple of times like some of his other works. My favorite is still the Caldecott honor book Mel Fell, but I’m sure kids will enjoy getting to know Ursula (and Vern the bat), and the story delivers a nice message about doing your own thing.

Dog days

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Dog vs. Strawberry by Nelly Buchet, illustrated by Andrea Zuill (Random House Studio, 40 pages, ages 4-8). When a dog’s owner gives her a strawberry, it’s time for “the greatest race of all time!” With a sportscaster narration explaining what’s going on, the dog races around the living room, taking down a lamp and a plant before exhaustion takes over and she has to take a nap break. Meanwhile, the strawberry remains cool and collected on the living room floor. It’s anybody’s race right up until the very end when the owner returns, and–unwittingly–decides the winner.

Dalmartian: A Mars Rover’s Story by Lucy Ruth Cummins (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 4-8). When some dog-shaped aliens visit Earth to collect specimens, one of them gets left behind. Stephen, the boy living in a nearby house, discovers the alien and invites him in. Although it resembles a dog, the creature has some clear and decidedly un-doglike preferences: no dog food (bacon is good), no leashes, no fetch, and no pooping in the dog park. Once they begin to understand each other, the two bond quickly. One night, while they’re both sleeping, the spacecraft returns, and Stephen’s guest gets on board to return to the home planet. But partway through the journey, the creature realizes its mistake and turns the ship around. In the morning, the two friends are reunited, this time for good.

Finding Things by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek (Greenwillow Books, 32 pages, ages 3-6). “If you found a ball on the grass and it was there for days, you could take it home.” Similarly, flowers growing in a sidewalk crack and a box by the curb on garbage day are other treasures that can be rescued. A kitten? If it’s crying, doesn’t belong to anyone, and you get permission from everyone, then it’s yours. And that lucky kitten will have a pretty flower to look at, a ball to play with, and a box to sleep in.

Here are three dog books that preschool and early elementary readers will enjoy. Finding Things isn’t really about the dog on the cover, but it perfectly captures the childhood joy of discovering unexpected treasures and is short and simple enough for the youngest readers. Slightly older readers will get a big kick out of Dog vs. Strawberry, both the action-packed illustrations and the sportscaster-style storytelling. And you can move right on to Dalmartian, with its cute doglike character, alien storyline, and a few good bathroom jokes.

Dan Santat draws some dragons

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Roar-Choo! by Charlotte Cheng, illustrated by Dan Santat (Rocky Pond Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). When a dragon catches a cold, its phoenix friend wants to help it slow down and rest. But the dragon insists that dragons are strong and never quit. By the end, not only has the dragon come to understand that rest can be a good thing, but the phoenix realizes that being patient and cheering can also be exhausting. The last page sees them napping together. Includes an author’s note explaining that in the Chinese tradition, the dragon represents male strength and bravery, and the phoenix, female grace and generosity. She chose to write the story without pronouns to make these traits more universal.

Built to Last by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Two friends who resemble a young Minh Lê and Dan Santat meet when they’re about preschool age when they discover a mutual love of building things. As they get older their creations grow in size–and so do their failures. When they’re little, they can laugh these off, but as time goes by, that gets harder to do. When their biggest project of all doesn’t work out, they’re ready to call it quits on being friends. But remembering all their good times together leads to the reconciliation of a friendship that’s been built to last.

I wasn’t overly impressed by either one of these stories, which both seemed a bit didactic. I was a bit disappointed since one of my favorite read-alouds is the Minh Lê/Dan Santat creation Lift. But Santat’s illustrations in both books are gorgeous, and any dragon fan will be drawn to them immediately.