Picture books

How Kate Warne Saved President Lincoln by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk, pictures by Valentina Belloni

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Albert Whitman and Company

 

Summary:  When Kate Warne walked into the Pinkerton Detective Agency in 1856, Allan Pinkerton had never considered hiring a woman to be a detective.  But Warne convinced him that women could go undercover in a variety of ways that men could not, and soon she was a valuable member of the world’s first detective agency.  She successfully worked on a number of cases, but her most famous was helping to thwart an assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln as Lincoln traveled from Illinois to Washington, D.C. to begin his term as President.  Kate infiltrated the group that was planning to kill the President, and learned that they had vowed to not let him leave Baltimore alive.  She and other detectives from the agency worked all night to make sure Lincoln got safely through the city, onto Philadelphia, and finally to Washington.  An author’s note tells a bit more about Kate Warne’s life, although little is known; a brief bibliography is also included.  32 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  Kate’s escapades make interesting and exciting reading, particularly given how difficult it was for women to have successful careers in her time.  The bright cartoon-like illustrations are appealing.  See last year’s The Detective’s Assistant by Kate Hannigan for an entertaining fictional account of Warne’s life.

Cons:  It’s frustrating that Kate Warne’s early life is a complete unknown.

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton, illustrated by Don Tate

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Published by Charlesbridge

Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions: Barton, Chris, Tate, Don: 9781580892971: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  When Lonnie Johnson was growing up in Alabama, his small house and large family didn’t leave him with much space to do what he loved best…invent.  Still, he had supportive parents (when his rocket fuel caught fire in the kitchen, his mom just sent him outside) and a lot of perseverance.  His hard work paid off in high school, when his robot won first place at a science fair at the University of Alabama—a school that African-American students like Lonnie hadn’t been allowed to attend just a few years before.  Lonnie graduated from Tuskegee, then went on to work for NASA, but he kept inventing in his spare time.  While testing an environmentally-friendly cooling system, he serendipitously invented the Super Soaker water gun.  This hit toy has given Lonnie enough income to allow him to continue working on his inventions full-time.  The author’s note explains how he learned about kids’ stereotypical ideas about scientists, leading him to write a biography of a man who doesn’t fit those stereotypes. 32 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Kids will connect with this hard-working, but fun-loving scientist who invented a much-loved toy; teachers will make connections to science and African-American history curriculum; and librarians will enjoy using this book to tie in with their maker spaces.

Cons:  It seemed to me that Lonnie Johnson was a bit hasty in disregarding the advice, “Don’t quit your day job”.

Nobody Likes a Goblin by Ben Hatke

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Published by First Second 

Summary:  Goblin has a happy life in his dungeon, visiting his friend Skeleton each day to play together with their treasure.  Then one day, a greedy band of adventurers invades the dungeon and steals everything, including Skeleton.  Goblin, determined to rescue his friend, sets off into the world.  The first creature he meets is a troll, who points him in the right direction, but warns him that “Nobody likes a goblin”.  His second meeting, with a farmer, confirms the truth of this statement.  Goblin manages to rescue Skeleton, but the two of them are chased into a cave by a mob of pitchfork-wielding villagers.  Just when it seems like they are doomed, a group of goblins emerges from the cave, crowns Goblin king (he happens to be wearing a crown), and fights off the enemy.  Everyone returns to the dungeon for a happy ending.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A surprisingly engaging tale, illustrated in fantastic detail by graphic novelist Hatke.  The illustrations have a comic book-medieval feel to them that draw the reader into the story.

Cons:  The troll tells Goblin that the adventurers took his Honk-Honk, and Goblin promises to get it back. I studied the pictures in the rest of the book, but couldn’t figure out what the Honk-Honk was, and no mention was made of it again

Dorothea’s Eyes by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Gerard DuBois

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Published by Calkins Creek 

Summary:  Young Dorothea was a keen observer, often feeling like an outsider after a childhood bout of polio left her with a limp.  At the age of 18 she decided to become a photographer, even though she had never handled a camera.  She worked in a number of studios, first in New York, then in California, where she learned the art of taking pictures, eventually setting up her own portrait studio in San Francisco.  But she felt unfulfilled taking photos of wealthy people.  In the midst of the Great Depression, she took to the streets, photographing the poor and neglected, traveling across the country, and waking people up to the poverty that was sweeping the nation.  Although she was plagued with ill health for many years, Dorothea continued to be a crusader with her camera, both in the United States and abroad.  End matter includes several of Lange’s photographs, an author’s note, a timeline, and resources for further research.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  An interesting biography of an inspiring woman who followed her heart to do work that made a difference.  The unique illustrations have an appropriately vintage feel to them.

Cons:  I really liked Dorothea Lange’s quote on the bibliography page.  Too bad it couldn’t have been worked into the text.

The Storyteller by Evan Turk

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Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers 

Summary:  Many years ago, in Morocco, people were sustained by the cool water of their fountains and the refreshing tales of their storytellers.  As life got easier, though, the storytellers began to die out; at the same time, the fountains started to dry up.  When a young boy goes in search of water, he finds a storyteller perched on the edge of a dried-up fountain.  After listening to the storyteller’s captivating tale, the boy finds his cup is full of water.  Each part of the story ends with a cliffhanger, and the boy returns each day until the fountain is full again.  When a djinn from the Sahara desert threatens to destroy the drought-stricken city, the boy becomes the storyteller, keeping the djinn at bay until the people of the town unite to fill all the fountains and save their city. An author’s note tells of Morocco’s storytellers, whose traditions have been being replaced by TV and the Internet, and a recent move to preserve their art. 40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  A beautiful tale that explores the power of stories in humans’ lives.  The unique blue-and-gold themed illustrations may put this book on the Caldecott contenders’ list.

Cons:  A little difficult to classify the genre; while it has the feel of a folktale, it is not a traditional story.  The publisher calls it “an original folktale”.  .

Penny & Jelly: Slumber Under the Stars by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Thyra Heder

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

Summary:  Penny is excited about the upcoming “Sleepover under the Stars” sponsored by the local recreation department.  As she gets ready, though, she notices the “No pets allowed” line on the flyer, and is sad that she can’t take her dog, Jelly.  She tries different ways to make a Jelly to take with her, using paper, yarn, fleece, and a host of other materials.  Nothing is as satisfactory as the real thing.  Finally, Penny and Jelly put their heads together and come up with the perfect solution.  Penny gets on the phone and calls her friends, and they have their own sleepover under the stars in Penny’s backyard, complete with pets.  32 pages; ages 4-7.

Pros:  A companion to last year’s Penny & Jelly: The School Show, this is an engaging slice-of-life tale of a girl and her dog.  Penny is a resourceful girl who works to solve a problem without any adult help.  Cute illustrations and a satisfying end.

Cons:  What Penny’s room must look like after creating a marshmallow Jelly, a shaving cream Jelly, and a jelly Jelly.

This Is Not a Picture Book! By Sergio Ruzzier

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Published by Chronicle Books 

Summary:  A duckling finds a book, but when he discovers it has no pictures, he kicks it aside.  Contrite, he picks it up again just as his bug friend comes along.  “What is that?”  “It’s a book with no pictures.”  “Wacky. Can you read it?”  To his amazement, the duckling CAN read some of the words.  The two friends walk through a changing landscape that reflects the words…funny, sad, wild, and peaceful.  The words carry them away, then bring them home to read the book all over again.  40 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  A great introduction to the magic of words and reading.  Perfect for a newly independent reader.  The duck and bug are pretty cute, too.

Cons:  Kids who are struggling to read independently might not quite be feeling the magic of words.

Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus by John Hendrix

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Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

Amazon.com: Miracle Man: The Story of Jesus (9781613758717): John ...

 

Summary:  The story of Jesus’ life is told from a Christian perspective, with an emphasis on miracles he performed.  The narrative begins with him calling his disciples from among the fishermen, then continues with various healings, Jesus calming the waves and walking on the water, and the miracle of the loaves and fishes.  His last supper is recounted, followed by his crucifixion, which is alluded to, but not shown in the pictures (something this reader, who was traumatized as a child by a book called The Easter Story for Children, appreciated).  The resurrection is covered in two pages, one showing a wrapped body lying in a tomb, the next showing Jesus in white, standing outside the tomb, and the sentence, “But God’s Son, Jesus, the Miracle Man, had in store one last glorious miracle…”  An author’s note explains how he came to create this book, and the process of choosing from among the stories of Jesus in the Bible, which necessarily left out some of the story.  40 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  The beautifully designed illustrations, incorporating some of Jesus’ words into the pictures, are worthy of Caldecott consideration (would a group of 21st-century librarians recognize a book that is clearly written from a Christian perspective?).  The simple text is a good introduction to Jesus’ miracles and many aspects of his life.

Cons:  As noted by the author, this is a selection of stories, and some key parts of Jesus’ life (birth, John the Baptist, Sermon on the Mount, Mary Magdalene) are excluded.

Hensel and Gretel Ninja Chicks by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Dan Santat

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by G.P. Putnam’s Son 

Summary:  Brought to you by the same team (with new author Gomez) that produced The Three Ninja Pigs, Ninja Red Riding Hood, and Goldi Rocks and the Three Bears, here’s another martial arts-inspired fractured fairy tale told in rhyme.  Hensel (renamed from Hansel and now a girl…or “chick”) and Gretel use their martial arts training when they discover their parents held prisoner by a fox in a cornbread house.  Hensel gets stuck in a cage, but Gretel’s stealthy ninja moves rescue her.  The two chicks combine forces to free their parents and stuff the fox in the cage.  Result?  “Justice, not dinner was served.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros: As in previous books, the rhymes and vocabulary are hilarious, and Caldecott medalist Santat provides plenty of visual accompaniment.  A great read-aloud.

Cons:  Nothing will ever top The Three Ninja Pigs.

A Fairy Friend by Sue Fliess, illustrated by Claire Keane

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Published by Henry Holt and Co.

 

Summary:  Fairies are all around us, but they can be shy and hard to find.  You have to really seek them out.  The best way is to build a house with soft, fun furnishings, and some flower petal stew to eat.  If you’re lucky, a fairy will move in and become your friend, teaching you to fly and keeping you safe with her magic.  She may not stay forever, but you should never trap a fairy.  Let her go, and some day she and her friends will return.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Rhyming text and Disney-esque pictures (the illustrator is a former Disney animator) will spark the imagination of young readers, who will undoubtedly want to try to lure a fairy or two to their own homes.

Cons:  It would have been nice to have a boy join the girl protagonist.  I bet boys would enjoy making fairy houses, too.