Picture books

Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Daniel Miyares

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Balzer + Bray

Summary:  Before children climbed the giant pecan tree, Nell planted a seed.  Before they ran races to the base of the tree, Nell watered a sprout and made sure it had sun.  Before grandchildren helped their grandmother Nell bake goodies with pecans from the tree, Nell dug a hole and planted her sapling.  Over the years, that sapling became a tree, putting down roots and spreading its branches as Nell grew up, too, and created a family in the house next to the tree.  At sunset, that family eats at a long table beneath the spreading branches of the giant pecan tree.  Includes notes from the author and illustrator.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A celebration of trees and families, and the long-term commitment needed to see both of them flourish, with beautiful illustrations that help tell the story.  I love the final spread with its gorgeous sunset colors and the tree sheltering the family.

Cons:  It looked like Nell had at least three kids, but only one made it back for the dinner under the tree.

You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce! The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce by Chiquita Mullins Lee and Carmella Van Vleet, illustrated by Jennifer Mack-Watkins

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Kokila

Summary:  In this fictionalized story about real-life artist Elijah Pierce, a boy and his dad enter Mr. Pierce’s barbershop.  The shop is full of wood carvings, and Mr. Pierce is happy to share stories about his life and art.  The boy has some new colored pencils and is trying to get an idea for a picture.  Mr. Pierce tells him how his art often came from stories, whether they were from his own life, the Bible, or something someone told him.  After the haircut and the stories are finished, Mr. Pierce gives the boy a carved elephant.  “I think I know what I want to draw…” he says as he and his dad leave the shop.  The final page shows a father and son (I think the father is the boy who is now grown up) about to enter a museum with an exhibit of Elijah Pierce’s work.  Just like the dad at the beginning of the story, the man tells his son, “You gotta meet Mr. Pierce!”  Includes a timeline of Elijah Pierce’s honors, additional information about the exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., places to see Elijah’s work, and notes from the author and illustrator with additional information about Elijah Pierce, the book, and the illustrations.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  A charming story about a little-known artist who will get some well-deserved recognition with this book.  The fictional format is engaging, and the folk-art inspired illustrations are the perfect complement.

Cons:  I found the ending a little confusing, as I couldn’t figure out what the boy had decided to draw, and I wasn’t sure who was pictured on the last page. 

To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton, illustrated by Lauren Semmer

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  The story begins with the author recounting how her family loved watching the original Star Trek, particularly because of Lieutenant Uhuru, acted by Nichelle Nichols, a Black woman who played the communications officer on the Enterprise.  The narrative then goes back to Nichelle’s childhood where she was encouraged by her parents to do whatever she wanted.  She loved performing, first as a ballet dancer and later as a singer and actress.  This gave her confidence when she got the part on Star Trek, but that confidence began to wane when she experienced racism on the show.  She told Gene Rodenberry that she was quitting, but changed her mind when she met a fan–Martin Luther King, Jr. who told her Star Trek was the only show he and his wife let the kids stay up late to watch.  He convinced her to stay on the show and serve as a role model to Black children.  Includes information on Nichelle’s role with NASA helping to recruit a more diverse workforce, including Mae Jemison and Guion Bluford; also an author’s note.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  I’m excited to read this book to several of my classes beginning today.  The subject matter, the engaging writing style, and the colorful illustrations make it an excellent choice for sharing Black history…and the cameo by MLK was a fun surprise!

Cons:  No additional resources listed.

Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story About an Amazing Swimmer by Lynne Cox, illustrated by Richard Jones

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Anne Schwartz Books

Summary:  Yoshi the sea turtle gets another picture book about her record-breaking swim from South Africa to Australia.  After getting entangled in a fishing net, she was rescued and sent to Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa, where she lived for the next twenty years.  She spent 18 months training to swim in the ocean before being released with a tracker attached to her shell.  The tracker showed when she left Africa and began heading to her native Australia.  Over the next twenty-six months, Yoshi swam 22,998 miles, the longest recorded swim of any animal.  She found her way back to where she had started her life, laying eggs on the very same beach.  Includes a note from the author, who is also a long-distance swimmer, with additional information about Yoshi and sea turtles.  40 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  Like Yoshi and the Ocean, this picture book will appeal to animal lovers, telling Yoshi’s story with a sense of awe that is reflected in the gorgeous underwater illustrations.

Cons:  I wouldn’t have objected to a larger font.

9 Kilometers by Claudio Aguilera, illustrated by Gabriela Lyon, translated by Lawrence Schimel

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Summary:  It’s still dark when the boy leaves to walk the nine kilometers (5.5 miles, 15,000 steps) to school.  His walk takes him through the forest, across a stream, and under a barbed wire fence that he props up with a forked stick.  Some days the walk feels like “a stone inside a worn-out shoe” while other days it is “as sweet as a handful of blackberries or a ripe apple.”  He meets up with friends as he approaches the school, a small building in the middle of acres of farmland.  The last several pages tell about kids in other countries who walk as much as 30 kilometers round-trip to get to school.  There are also descriptions of all the birds the narrator sees on his trek.  56 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  This book, originally published in Chile in 2021, reminded me of My First Day, with its beautifully illustrated description of a child in another country traveling to school.  The back matter showing other kids’ journeys is an important part of the book: “We hope that their steps guide us toward the construction of a society in which education is a right and not a privilege, and we hope that their footprints serve as a reminder of one of the greatest inequalities of our world.”

Cons:  Imagine all the reasons–disability, illness, fatigue, bad weather–that would make this journey to school impossible.

Milloo’s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women’s Education by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Hoda Hadadi

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  The author of Unsettled tells the story of her grandmother, Milloo, who grew up in India in the early 20th century.  Milloo loved school, but her parents told her at the end of fifth grade that she was done with education.  Milloo launched a campaign all summer long and finally got her parents’ permission to enter sixth grade.  She went on to finish high school and college at the top of her class, then became a teacher herself.  After getting married, she tried staying at home as her husband wanted, but found that cooking and sewing were not her thing.  She started a girls’ school in her home, and when classes outgrew that space, she founded a series of schools.  The author’s note tells that the Happy Home Schools in Karachi, Pakistan are still thriving.  40 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  Both the text and the collage illustrations exude a bright energy that reflects Milloo’s enthusiasm and passion for education.  File this away to read for Women’s History Month next month.

Cons:  I was a bit confused by Milloo being referred to as Maryam in the subtitle, which was not explained until the author’s note (Milloo was her father’s nickname for her, and she’s referred to by that name throughout the story).

Dim Sum, Here We Come! By Maple Lam

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  A girl is excited to be heading out for a weekly dim sum family gathering.  She and her parents and sister head to the restaurant where they meet up with extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Everyone sits at a big round table with a lazy Susan in the middle that is soon filled with baskets of yummy food.  It’s hard to wait for her favorite dishes to make their way to her, but Grandma reminds her that waiting shows respect.  Finally, the basket with the last char siu bun makes its way to her, and she peels off the paper, blows off the steam, breaks it in half, and shares it with her sister.  Dim sum means everyone gets to share, and sharing dim sum means “I love you.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Another great story featuring food and family.  Anyone who has enjoyed dim sum will get to savor some happy memories, and anyone who has not (like me) will want to find a place to give it a try soon.  The cute illustrations extend to the endpapers, where various dishes are shown in the front and empty plates and baskets are pictured in the back.

Cons:  Having a little more information about what dim sum is would have been helpful to those of us who have never experienced it.

Abuela’s Super Capa by Ana Siqueira, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary: Luis loves Saturdays, because Abuela comes to visit and plays sidekick to his superhéroe. When his sister Isabel tries to join in, he pushes her away, telling her that she’s too little. One Saturday, though, Luis’s parents tell him that Abuela is in the hospital. They visit her there, but even after she comes home, Abuela isn’t “superhéroe ready”. Luis tries everything he can think of to help her feel better, but nothing works, and eventually Abuela tells him she has to hang up her capa. One day, Luis is with Abuela when he sees Isabel running around with both capas. At first, he tells her no, but then he notices Abuela’s eyes are shining “like estrellas.” He puts his own capa on Isabel and Abuela’s around his own shoulders, and the two of them become superhéroes who can push Abuela in her wheelchair. Includes a glossary of Spanish words. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros: A touching story about a kid dealing with a grandparent’s illness and figuring out a way to still enjoy his time with her. The illustrations are colorful, joyful, and also manage to convey Abuela’s decline in a way that feels realistic.

Cons: I was worried that Abuela was not going to make it to the last page.

The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  In this follow-up to The Proudest Blue, Faizah is happy to be heading to school in the red dress that has been worn by both Mama and her older sister Asiya.  Her teacher has the class brainstorm about what kind of world they want to live in, and the kids put their ideas into practice on the playground, helping and including each other in their games.  After recess, the class lines up for picture day, Faizah feeling great in her new dress.  But when her classmates’ siblings come to pick them up, she notices that many of them are dressed alike, unlike her and Asiya.  Her best friend Sophie saves the day, taking off her red sash and wrapping it around Faizah’s head just like Asiya’s hijab.  Includes an author’s note about her experiences she used to write this book and a photo of her with her older sister and brother.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  I was excited to see this book, because I have several girls in my school who wear hijab, and they love The Proudest Blue.  Two of them have checked it out a total of five times in the last year.  I’m sure they’ll enjoy this new story with its focus on kindness, friendship, and family.

Cons:  I couldn’t quite figure out why all the siblings were dressed alike.  Were they also being photographed in family groups?

Very Good Hats by Emma Straub, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Rocky Pond Books

Summary:  You may think you know what a hat is, but you are probably limiting yourself.  Acorn caps (as well as raspberries, chewed-up gum, tortellini, and doll shoes) work well if you’re a finger, and a pudding cap will do just fine if you’re a stuffed bear.  Humans can wear their pets as hats, or books (if they have good posture) or bubbles in the bathtub.  Some jobs come with a hat, like cowboy, chef, and pirate.  Hats are everywhere!  Because anything can be a hat if you believe it is.  32 pages; ages 3-6.

Pros:  A book filled with quirky fun, both the text and the illustrations, and one that is sure to inspire creativity in making hats and thinking of what non-human objects could use for hats.  Also, you will get to say the word “haberdashery.”

Cons:  I try so hard to discourage kids from putting their library books on their heads, and then this book comes along.