Picture books

Frances in the Country by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Sean Qualls

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  Frances is a city girl, but “the city never seems quite right for Frances.”  The crowds and small spaces make it hard for her to run and shout the way she likes to, and it seems like someone is always telling her to stop what she is doing.  When she goes for a visit to her cousins in the country, she loves the field and barns that allow her to play the way she wants to.  But her sisters and her mother are missing her back in the city, so the visit must come to an end.  Returning to the city, Frances appreciates the music and bustle of the streets there and is happy to be welcomed home by her family.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Frances leads an exploration of the eternal “city vs. country” question which is enhanced by Sean Qualls’s distinctive collage-style illustrations.  Frances is an energetic and likable protagonist who seems to flourish (most of the time) in any environment.

Cons:  Does not definitively make the case for either the country or the city.

Two by Phillip C. Stead: Every Dog in the Neighborhood illustrated by Matthew Cordell and The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer illustrated by Erin E. Stead

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Both published by Neal Porter Books

Summary: In Every Dog in the Neighborhood, a boy wishes for a dog. When his grandmother tells him there are enough dogs in the neighborhood, he decides to find out the exact number. Watching his grandmother write to city hall about an issue of her own, then get to work when she receives an unsatisfactory reply, the boy decides to do a dog census himself. As he knocks on doors and collects his doggy data, Grandma is seen working in an abandoned lot nearby. The boy learns there are 20 dogs in the neighborhood, but dog #20 needs a new home. He gets his dog, and all the dogs in the neighborhood get to enjoy the dog park that Grandma has created. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

It should come as no surprise that both the sun and the farmer are late in The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer. This worries the mule, the milk cow, and the miniature horse, who are concerned that they may not get breakfast. They consult wise Barn Owl, who sends them on a journey out of their familiar barnyard to the very edge of the world (or the farm, depending on your perspective). “Bring Rooster,” the owl tells them. “Rooster will know what to do.” So off they go, following the route and occasionally ruminating on such questions as what do sheep dream about? When they reach their destination, Rooster lets out a tremendous “Cock-a-doodle-doo” practically under the farmer’s window. The last page shows her, coffee in hand, leading the three animals back to the barnyard. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros and cons: I sometimes find Philip Stead a bit esoteric for my admittedly lowbrow tendencies, and I quickly skimmed Every Dog in the Neighborhood months ago and dismissed it. Fortunately, the publisher sent me a free copy which has been in my library, and when I saw The Sun Is Late, I decided to give it another try. I really loved it this time and appreciate Matthew Cordell’s quirky drawings of the dogs and their owners (with a few jokes that will probably go over kids’ heads but will be appreciated by their adults). The Sun Is Late borders on that esoteric line, but it’s a sweet story, almost like a folktale, and kids will surely enjoy the animals and get a chuckle from their big quest.

Elephants Remember: A True Story by Jennifer O’Connell

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Published by Tilbury House Publishers

Summary:  When Lawrence Anthony gets a call saying that a herd of elephants will be shot if he can’t rescue them, he quickly sets up his wildlife reserve to accommodate them.  The animals have been traumatized after having members of their herd killed by poachers, including the matriarch and her baby.  Lawrence names the new matriarch Nana, and after the elephants trample the reserve’s electric fence and escape the first night, he sets out to earn Nana’s trust.  Slowly, she begins to let down her guard and allow Lawrence to come closer to her.  Over the years, Lawrence distances himself from the growing herd to help them remain wild, but he always keeps a connection with Nana.  When Lawrence dies of a heart attack, Nana leads the herd to his house and does so again on the same day for the next two years.  Includes an author’s note and three pages of additional information about elephants and Lawrence Anthony.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  An incredibly moving story of a man dedicated to helping African wildlife and the amazing connection he made with elephants.  

Cons:  Some photos would have been a nice addition.

The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chin

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  In Your Place in the Universe, Jason Chin starts with a group of kids, then gradually moves out into the farthest reaches of the universe.  In this book, he goes in the opposite direction, beginning with the smallest bird–a Calliope Hummingbird–landing on a girl’s hand, then moving to the hair on her skin, then to cells, DNA, atoms, and eventually to elementary particles.  From there, the journey continues back outward, inviting a sense of wonder that everything in the universe is made of the same molecules, yet combines in a way to make a unique human.  Includes additional information on the building blocks of matter, as well as an author’s note and a note about the illustrations.  40 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Another mind-blowing offering from last year’s Caldecott medalist, Jason Chin, with amazingly detailed illustrations, some of things that are too small to be seen with the human eye.  A contender for a Caldecott or Sibert, both of which Chin has already won.

Cons:  I’m more wowed by the larger universe than the subatomic one.

Polar Bear by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  The award-winning team behind Giant Squid, Honeybee, and Strongheart has created a new book that explores the world of a mother polar bear and her two cubs.  Emerging from five months in the den, during which time she gave birth and nursed her offspring, the mother bear emerges emaciated and hungry.  She heads for the ice where she knows she can hunt seals.  The narrative follows the bears through the year, showing how climate change affects their ability to hunt and perilously strands them on some floating ice.  They survive the dangers, and the final pages show them back on the ice in the 24-hour darkness of an Arctic winter.  Includes a two-page labeled diagram of a polar bear, additional facts about polar bears and the effects of warming in the Arctic, and a list of resources.  32 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Another breathtaking science book with poetic informative text and detailed realistic paintings of the polar bears and their environment.  With a Sibert Medal and Honor on their resumé, this team can expect awards consideration again for this book.

Cons:  As always, I found it stressful to read about the effects of climate change.

Wibble Wobble BOOM! by Mary Ann Rodman, illustrated by Holly Sterling

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Peachtree

Summary:  Claire is excited about her first skating lesson, but reality rears its ugly head when she’s placed in the beginners’ group called the Snowplows and given brown rental skates.  The kids have to practice standing up off the bench before they’re even allowed onto the ice, and once they’re finally there, Claire is surprised at how hard it is to skate and how easy it is to fall.  She’s a keen observer, though, and noticing how the teacher pushes and glides across the ice leads to her being the first in the class to do some real skating.  Ultimately, Claire is glad to be a Snowplow, because snowplows work hard, and she’s excited for the next class and her dreams of being a real figure skater.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An engaging story that I am going to add to my list of books about persistence and grit, as Claire keeps going through some disappointing turns of events to ultimately find some success.  The cute illustrations portray a diverse cast of characters.

Cons:  The “hockey boy” in Claire’s class who keeps heckling her when she falls. “Know why you’re called a Snowplow? ‘Cause you clean the ice with your bottom!”  Let’s hope Claire checks him in the next class.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost, illustrated by P. J. Lynch

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  in this illustrated version of Robert Frost’s poem, a young woman in a long dress is riding her horse through the dark woods on a snowy night.  Each page contains a line or phrase from the poem with a realistic illustration of the girl, who eventually dismounts and pauses to observe the snow.  The endpapers are part of the story, with the front cover showing her riding through a lighted village and the back depicting the sun rising on a snowy landscape.  32 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  A beautiful introduction to a classic poem.  The female rider makes a nice new twist and spreading the text out one line at a time allows the reader to savor both the words and the gorgeous illustrations.

Cons:  Personally, if I got caught in a nighttime snowstorm in the woods while wearing a long dress, I would get on that horse and ride, not “stop by” for a lengthy meditation.

Too Early by Nora Ericson, illustrated by Elly MacKay

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  “I wake up very early,” says the child narrator on the first page.  Mom gives a kiss and a warning not to wake up the baby.  Dad sleepily puts on his glasses and heads downstairs for coffee, grumbling, “You wake up too early.”  As dawn arrives, the two sit on the porch, looking at the moon and finding Venus.  Birds start to sing, the baby starts to cry, and the light starts to change.  As the sky turns from dark blue to bright yellow, the narrator says, “I wake up just in time.”  32 pages; ages 3-6.

Pros:  A lovely early morning book, kind of the antithesis of a bedtime story.  Kids and parents will find a lot to relate to, and the illustrations do a magnificent job of using color to show the changing time of day.

Cons: Flashbacks to early sleep-deprived days of child-rearing.

Luminous: Living Things That Light Up the Night by Julia Kuo

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Published by Greystone Kids

Summary:  A mother and child travel through the night, walking, boating, and swimming to observe bioluminescence in many different forms.  The pages are all in black, making the colors glow brightly.  Each page has a single phrase or sentence in a larger font, then a few sentences in smaller print that give additional information.  A sense of wonder is conveyed in the last few pages, sharing the information that many life forms have yet to be discovered, and encouraging readers to look closely at the world around them.  44 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  A beautiful introduction to bioluminescence that will encourage kids to look for other wonders in the world as well.  The illustrations are striking and there is plenty of interesting information.

Cons:  No back matter.

Snow Horses: A First Night Story by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Micha Archer

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Summary:  A young woman named Jenny guides her two horses, Tom and Tim, out into a snowy night for a New Year’s Eve celebration.  First, they pull a sleigh full of children around town before dropping them off at their houses to snuggle into bed.  They next go to the manor to pick up the older people, who enjoy reminiscing about their childhood days on their sleigh ride.  Finally, the two horses are led back into the barn where they are bedded down for the night.  Everyone falls asleep as New Year’s Eve turns into New Year’s Day.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The lyrical text and gorgeous collages capture a snowy night filled with celebration.  The colors and textures make for some amazing illustrations by Caldecott honoree Micha Archer.  A perfect addition to winter holiday collections.

Cons:  It’s a bit more slow-moving and contemplative than some other holiday stories.