Picture books

The World in a Second by Isabel Minhos Martins, illustrated by Bernardo P. Carvalho

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Enchanted Lion Books

     

Summary:  What goes on around the world in one second?  This book looks at what occurs at the exact same moment (8:32 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) in 23 different places around the world.  While a boat is tossed on the waves of the Baltic Sea, a volcano erupts in Papua-New Guinea.  A boy in Angola rides his bike for the first time while a girl hurries home from school in Iceland.  Each incident is illustrated with a two-page spread showing a great variety of perspectives.  The final page shows a map of the world with all 23 locations labeled.  Ages 8 and up.

Pros:  This Portuguese import offers an intriguing look at life around the planet.  The illustrations are amazing, large graphic art portrayals of each location, teeming with activity.  Students could use this book as a springboard to research places around the world or to write more about what is going on in the different scenes.

Cons:  Although this looks like a picture book for younger kids, it could be a difficult book to fully appreciate before third grade or so.

Sail Away poems by Langston Hughes, art by Ashley Bryan

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Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Sail Away | Book by Langston Hughes, Ashley Bryan | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

Summary: 15 of Langston Hughes’ poems, all having to do with the sea or water, are presented here, illuminated by award-winning illustrator Ashley Bryan, still going strong at age 92. The pictures are collages with swirls of bright color that perfectly capture the sea and the ships and people that travel on it.  40 pages; ages 5-10.

Pros:  I confess my knowledge of Langston Hughes is limited to “Harlem” (“What happens to a dream deferred?”).  I was surprised that he wrote so many beautiful poems about the ocean.  They’re accessible for young children, with language and imagery that could be appreciated by older ones.  Readers will love the brightly colored illustrations and may be inspired to try their hands at collage.

Cons:  There was no author’s note.  I would have loved to learn more about Hughes and how he came to write these poems.

North Woods Girl by Aimee Bissonette with illustrations by Claudia McGehee

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Published by Minnesota Historical Society Press

Summary: Grandma doesn’t look like other grandmas. She’s tall and bony, and she likes to tuck her pants into her boots and go tramping through the woods.  She doesn’t bake cookies, but she knows how to grow and can tomatoes and string beans.  Grandma’s daughter worries about her living alone in the woods, but her granddaughter knows she would be unhappy if she had to live away from the animals and birds that she loves.  As the two of them lie in the snow out by the pond on a moonlit night, the little girl hopes that she will grow up to be just like Grandma.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A beautiful intergenerational story illuminated with lovely illustrations showing Grandma’s cozy cabin and the woods surrounding it.  This would be a great mentor text for characterization.

Cons:  I can’t help thinking there must be a real “North Woods Girl”, but there was no author’s note.

The Boy Who Fell off the Mayflower, or John Howland’s Good Fortune by P. J. Lynch

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Published by Candlewick 

Summary:  John Howland describes his voyage from England to the New World, working as a servant to John Carver.  He does, indeed, fall off the Mayflower, right in the middle of the storm, and is extremely lucky to be seen and pulled back on board.  For much of the trip, he dreams of his family back in England, and of returning to London to start his own business.  During the first tough year in Plymouth, Carver dies, and Howland is a free man.  When a ship arrives with another group of residents for the new colony, John thinks he will go aboard and sail back to England.  But his friend Lizzy Tilley convinces him to stay with his new community and help build the colony.  An author’s note explains that John and Lizzy got married and had ten children, certainly doing more than their share to populate the New World.  64 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  P.J. Lynch is known more for his illustrations than writing, and the pictures here capture the wild sea and sick misery of life on the Mayflower.  The writing is engaging, as well, with John’s voice a perfect blend of 17th century words and 21st century wit.  The whole group of Mayflower passengers really come to life as this story unfolds.

Cons:  Too bad I didn’t read this a few weeks ago.  Oh well, only 50 weeks until next Thanksgiving.

What James Said by Liz Rosenberg, illustrated by Matt Myers

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Published by Roaring Brook Press 

Summary:  The narrator is in a fight with her best friend James because James said that she thinks she’s perfect.  How does she know?  Because James told Aiden, who told Hunter, who told Katie, who told Dante, who told Anna, who told Emily, Anna, and Declan, who told his little sister, who told the narrator.  Now she is mad at James and won’t be friends again, even though he tries to find out what’s wrong and is extra-nice to her.  At the end of the day, there’s a big art show.  The narrator’s painting is on display.  “It’s perfect,” says James.  “That’s what I tell everyone.”  The misunderstanding is uncovered, and the narrator is so happy, she doesn’t hear the art teacher announcing her name as the winner for Best in Show.  When she finally gets her ribbon, she changes it to Best of Friends, which is what she and James are once again.  Ages 4-8.

Pros:  An entertaining look at the damaging effects of rumors and gossip.  The big, bright illustrations, decorated with children’s handprints and other artwork, complement the story perfectly.

Cons:  I think someone owes James an apology.

My Wild Family by Laurent Moreau

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Published by Chronicle Books 

Summary:  The narrator compares each member of his/her family to an animal.  “My little brother. Flighty and a dreamer, his head is often in the clouds.  He’s also an excellent singer.”  The illustration shows a bird perched on the back of a desk chair in a classroom full of children.  Mom is a giraffe, tall and beautiful who prefers not to stand out.  Uncle is a bear who devours anything and everything.  The book is oversized, and the pictures are so large, it may take kids a few seconds of hunting to find the animal.  The last page invites readers to think about what makes them special.  Ages 3-5.

Pros:  A good introduction to metaphor.  Kids would have fun coming up with their own comparisons for themselves or friends and family members.

Cons:  The grandparent characterizations were a little stereotypical—the sweet, generous grandmother who likes to stay home and watch TV, and the tired and slow grandfather.

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard Simon and Tanya Simon, illustrated by Mark Siegel

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Roaring Brook Press 

Summary:  After the Night of Broken Glass, Oskar’s parents put him on a ship to America.  His father’s last words to him are, “Even in bad times, people can be good.  You have to look for the blessings.”  Oskar arrives in New York City on the seventh day of Hanukkah, which is also Christmas Eve.  He has to walk over one hundred blocks to find his Aunt Esther.  As he walks, he looks for blessings.  An old woman feeding pigeons gives him a loaf of bread to eat.  A boy playing in the snow gives him a pair of mittens.  And Eleanor Roosevelt herself gives him a few kind words.  As night falls, and the Hanukkah candles begin to glow in windows, Oskar at last reaches his destination and finds a new home.  Grades 1-3.

Pros:  A beautifully illustrated, moving story about finding good in the world during a bleak time in history.  An author’s note explains that the events of Christmas Eve 1938 are historically accurate, including Eleanor Roosevelt’s visit to New York City.

Cons:  While very young children would enjoy this story, it does require at least a basic explanation of Nazi Germany and the beginning of the Holocaust.

Happy Hanukkah!

My Family Tree and Me by Dugan Petricic

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Published by Kids Can Press 

Summary:  A boy traces his family tree from both sides.  Starting at the beginning of the book, we meet his father’s family back to his great-great grandparents (who look to be of European descent).  The last page of the book shows his mother’s great-great grandparents (apparently Chinese).  Working forward or backward, the reader is introduced to great grandparents, grandparents and parents, until the two families meet in the middle with a two-page family portrait of the narrator with his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  Studying the pictures, it’s easy to see how physical traits have been passed down from both sides of the family.  Ages 3-7.

Pros:  A fun introduction to family structure and inherited traits.  Kids will be inspired to trace their own family trees.  The cartoon illustrations with somewhat exaggerated features will produce some chuckles.

Cons:  It’s a pretty basic introduction to the topic and doesn’t take into account today’s wide diversity of family structures.

 

Sonya’s Chickens by Phoebe Wahl

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Published by Tundra Books 

Summary:  Sonya loves her three new chickens, and is very responsible about taking care of them.  She gives them food and water every day, cleans the coop, and is thrilled when she finds the first warm brown egg.  One night, she hears a loud squawking and is heartbroken to discover that a fox has found a hole in the fence and gotten one of her chickens.  Sonya’s father comforts her by telling her a story about how the fox needs food to feed his family.  “Even though it’s sad for us,” he explains, “we can understand why he did it.”  The family has a chicken funeral and fixes the fence, and Sonya goes back to taking good care of her chickens.  She is rewarded one day when one of the brown eggs hatches, and she now has three chickens again.  Ages 4-8.

Pros:  The cycle of life and death on a farm is well explained in a story that young children will be able to relate to.

Cons:  It’s not clear how two hens manage to produce a fertilized egg that hatches.

Simple Machines by D. J. Ward, illustrated by Mike Lowery

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Published by HarperCollins 

Summary:  Machines make work easier.  The six simple machines—lever, wheel and axle, pulley, screw, ramp, and wedge are all around us, helping us in our everyday life.  This book looks at each simple machine in turn, describing how it works and showing common examples.  Compound machines are briefly explained.  End matter includes a lever activity called “Seesaw Cents”, a glossary, and a couple of websites to check out for more simple machine information.  Grades 1-5.

Pros:  I am a huge longtime fan of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series.  Started in 1960, it’s an amazing resource for explaining scientific concepts to young children.  There are two levels (Simple Machines is level 2); level 1 could be used with preschoolers, and level 2 is appropriate for all elementary grades.  They provide basic but thorough explanations told in a down-to-earth tone with plenty of real-world examples and fantastic illustrations.  I challenge anyone to find a basic scientific concept that hasn’t been written about in a Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science book.  (Okay, I once tried to write an article for The Horn Book on this series, but it was turned down for being too promotional.  Gee, imagine that).

Cons:  You might not get all your questions about how simple machines work answered in this book.  It’s a good starting point, not a comprehensive treatise.