Picture books

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Stick and Stone are all alone until one day when Stick sticks up for Stone against the bullying Pinecone.  They become best friends, exploring the world together, until one day a hurricane blows them apart.  Fortunately, Stone finds his friend, stuck head-down in a puddle, and is able to affect a rescue (“You rock, Stone,”).  Together, they make a perfect 10.  Recommended for preschool – grade 3.

Pros:  A delightful story of friendship.  The illustrations perfectly complement the rhyming text.

Cons:  I would have liked to see some redemption for Pinecone.  It is merely hinted at on the last page.

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Sydney Smith

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Groundwood Books

Summary:  In this wordless picture book, a little girl in a red coat is walking home from the grocery store with her busy, distracted (think cell phone) father.  As they walk, she finds flowers growing in sidewalk cracks.  Their trip through the city is drab and gray, with her coat and the flowers the only bits of color.  Halfway through, they enter a park, and she starts leaving the flowers as gifts—on a dead bird, with a man sleeping on a bench, tucked into a dog’s collar.  Arriving home, she distributes the rest to her family. As soon as she starts giving away the flowers, the pictures become filled with color.  On the last page, she tucks one final flower behind her ear as she watches a flock of birds overhead.

Pros:  More and more, I love wordless books.  This one has so much to look at, with multiple panels on many of the pages.  The message is simple but beautiful.

Cons:  I felt like there was some greater significance to the last page that I didn’t quite get.

The Grasshopper and the Ants by Jerry Pinkney

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Why do those ants work so hard?  The Grasshopper can’t understand it, and urges them to enjoy the spring, summer, and fall.  He’s a musician, traveling around with his banjo in his hands and a drum set on his back.  When winter comes, though, he’s out in the cold while the ants enjoy the cozy home they have made.  Finally, the Queen Ant ventures out into the snow to invite him in for a cup of tea.  A gracious guest, the Grasshopper repays her kindness by providing all the ants with music for a cold winter’s night.

Pros:  Jerry Pinkney doesn’t disappoint with another gorgeously illustrated fable that could be a Caldecott contender.  The story is simple, but the pictures are filled with details all rendered in beautiful watercolors. Kids will pore over all the activities in the ants’ winter home.

Cons:  Maybe it is the subject matter (grasshopper versus lion), but for me, this book is a notch below The Lion and the Mouse.

Drum Dream Girl : How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael Lopez

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, a Chinese-African-Cuban girl growing up in 1930’s Cuba, dreamed of playing drums.  But only boys were allowed to be drummers.  She kept dreaming, though, and practicing any way she could, until finally her father allowed her to take drum lessons.  By the age of 15, she was good enough to play at President Franklin Roosevelt’s birthday celebration, and she went on to perform with many of the great jazz players of her time.

Pros: This is really a poem inspired by the story of Zaldarriaga.  It’s a celebration of following your dream, illustrated with eye-popping neon colors that perfectly capture the celebrations and street cafes where Millo hears the music she loves.

Cons: You’ll need to give some context for kids to understand what this book is about. The historical note at the end is a good place to start.

I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A young frog wants to be another animal, maybe a cat, a rabbit, a pig, or an owl.  Frogs are too wet, slimy, and bug-eating.  His father argues that there is nothing wrong with being a frog, but his son remains unconvinced.  Along comes a hungry wolf, who tells the young frog that cats, rabbits, pigs, and owls are all on his menu, but that frogs are too wet, slimy, and bug-eating.  “I guess you can’t fight nature,” concludes the frog at last.  “We are what we are.”

Pros:  A lesson in self-acceptance, well-disguised in an entertaining story; with lots of funny dialogue related through cartoon bubbles, and vibrant comical illustrations.

Cons:  Wolves eat kitties and bunnies?

The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage by Selina Alko, illustrated by Sean Qualls and Selina Alko

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Arthur A. Levine Books

Summary:  Yes, the couple who took their fight for legalizing interracial marriage all the way to the Supreme Court was named Loving.  Richard Loving and Mildred “String Bean” Jeter were both from Central Point, Virginia.  When they decided to get married in 1958, they had to travel to Washington, D.C., because Richard was white and Mildred was part African-American and part Cherokee.  They moved back to Central Point, but a few weeks later they were jailed for “unlawful cohabitation”.  Eventually, they made a home in Washington, D.C., but they took their case to the Supreme Court.  In 1967, the Court decided it was unconstitutional to make marriage illegal based on race, and the Lovings were finally able to move back to Virginia.

Pros:  This is a fascinating story, particularly in light of recent changes in laws around gay marriage.  The illustrators are also an interracial couple, and the author’s notes about their marriage and the blending of their artwork are interesting as well.

Cons:  There’s only one photograph of the Loving family at the end of the book, and it’s kind of hard to see their faces.

Growing Up Pedro: How the Martinez Brothers Made It from the Dominican Republic All the Way to the Major Leagues by Matt Tavares

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Candlewick

In honor of Opening Day at Fenway Park!

Summary:  The book opens with this 1998 quote from Pedro Martinez: “Ramon is the biggest reason I have gotten where I am.  He is the great one in this family.  I am still Ramon’s little brother.”  Tavares then relates the story not only of pitching great Pedro Martinez, but of his older brother Ramon, also an MLB player, who inspired Pedro to work as hard as he did.  Growing up in poverty in the Dominican Republic, the brothers dreamed of playing professional baseball.  When Pedro was 12, his brother began his pro career training at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dominican academy.  Pedro tagged along and learned alongside Ramon.  Eight years later, both of them were playing in Los Angeles.  Pedro went on to a legendary career, including leading the Red Sox to a World Series victory in 2004, but his ties to his brother and his home in the Dominican Republic remain strong.

Pros:  Add this to Matt Tavares’ list of great baseball biographies, along with Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Ted Williams.  Sports fans will be inspired by the brothers’ rags-to-riches story and will enjoy the large, vivid illustrations.

Cons:  It would be interesting to know more about what Pedro and Ramon are doing now via the author’s note.

Glamourpuss by Sarah Weeks, illustrated by David Small

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Scholastic Press

Summary:  Unlike other cats, Glamourpuss isn’t expected to catch mice or rid the closets of moths.  Her one and only job is to be glamourous, and she excels at it.  She’s shortened her “Meow” down to a single syllable, “Me”, which works nicely when she asks her mirror, “Who is the most glamourous of us all?”  Glamourpuss’s reign over the household comes to an abrupt end one day when her owner’s sister comes for a visit and brings her dog, Bluebelle.  Bluebelle’s tricks and adorable outfits charm everyone until the day Glamourpuss discovers Bluebelle in her room, devouring her cute clothes. Glamourpuss realizes Bluebelle hates these clothes and really only wants to be…glamourous.  A friendship ensues and harmony is restored for all.

Pros:  A fun and funny story with a good message about misleading first impressions.

Cons:  The glittery pink cover will probably turn off boy readers, many of whom would actually enjoy this story

Cat and Bunny by Mary Lundquist

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Balzer and Bray

Summary:  Cat and Bunny have been friends since birth.  They love playing together, especially their Made-Up Game, which has rules only the two of them know.  But one day other kids want to join in, and Bunny lets them.  Cat is hurt, and goes off by herself.  A kitten comes along, and the two of them start a new Made-Up Game.  When Giraffe finds them and asks to join, Cat says, “Of course!” and before long all the kids, even Bunny, are enjoying the new game.

Pros:  This is a great introduction to friendship that is simple enough for preschoolers to understand.

Cons:  All the characters look like kids dressed up as animals except for the kitten which is…well, a kitten.  What’s up with that?

Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Beach Lane Books

Summary:  Gorgeous photographs illustrate simple text about the rain.  First a storm is brewing and tiny animals take cover.  Then the rain begins (“Rain plops/It drops/It patters/It spatters), and finally, it stops.  But even after the rain storm is over, the drops remain, magnifying, reflecting, revealing, until slowly they dry up in the sun.  The last two pages offer “A Splash of Science”, explaining more about some of the photographs.

Pros:  This is a fabulous introduction to rain and water.  It’s also a book that encourages the reader to slow down and observe the natural world.

Cons:  Keep a towel and umbrella handy while reading.