Picture books

Nobody Owns the Moon by Tohby Riddle

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Berbay Publishing

Nobody Owns the Moon: Riddle, Tohby: 9780994384195: Amazon.com: Books
Nobody Owns the Moon | Book by Tohby Riddle | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster AU

Summary:  “The fox is one of the only wild creatures in the world that can successfully make a life for itself in cities.”  One such fox goes under the name of Clive Prendergast (his real name can only be pronounced by other foxes).  He lives in a one-room apartment and works in a factory, putting together the same two parts over and over without ever knowing what they’re for.  Clive pretty much keeps to himself, but he does have one friend: Humphrey, a donkey who is faring less well in the city, with no fixed address or steady job.  One day, Humphrey finds two tickets to the theater, and the friends get to enjoy the premiere of a play called Nobody Owns the Moon, including fancy hors d’oeuvres beforehand and free cake afterward.  As the two of them walk home together, they look at the lights and hear the sounds of the city, declaring, “This is our town!” before hugging each other and parting ways.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Cute animal tale or stinging indictment of capitalism?  One of the best decisions I made around the blog this year was to start reviewing more from small presses, which led me to some really original books like this one.  This could be shared with preschoolers or used with much older kids/people to start what could be a very interesting discussion.

Cons:  I simultaneously loved this book and was totally bummed out by it.

Art Is Everywhere: A Book About Andy Warhol by Jeff Mack

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Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Art Is Everywhere
Art Is Everywhere

Summary:  Andy Warhol narrates his story, starting with his job drawing shoes.  “All day long it was shoe, shoe, shoe, shoe, shoe, shoe, shoe.  I felt like a robot in a factory.  It was so cool.”  Soon he was drawing other everyday objects as art like Campbell’s soup cans (“Do you like soup? We all like soup”) and boxes of Brillo pads.  He made an eight-hour movie of the Empire State Building and prints of Marilyn Monroe (“Did I make her famous? Or did she make me famous?”).  He started a magazine and made a TV show.  At the end, he predicts the future of media where there will be things to watch, things to follow, and things to share.  Astute readers will realize that that future is already here.  Includes an author’s note with additional information that speculates on how Andy Warhol might be making art if he were still alive today.  48 pages; grades 2-5.  

Pros:  This unique biography really captures Andy Warhol’s art and voice, and would serve as an excellent introduction to use in an art class.  There’s humor and some interesting questions for readers to ponder, as well as references to Warhol’s accessible pop art that will undoubtedly pique kids’ curiosity to learn more.

Cons:  Since there’s not a lot of biographical information, a list of additional resources would have been helpful.

Happy Diwali! by Sanyukta Mathur and Courtney Pippin-Mathur illustrated by Courtney Pippin-Mathur

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Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Happy Diwali!: 9781250257468: Mathur, Sanyukta, Pippin-Mathur, Courtney, Pippin-Mathur, Courtney: Books - Amazon.com

Summary:  A girl and her family prepare for Diwali by cleaning and decorating the house, cooking food, and dressing up.  Family and friends arrive for a full day of ceremonies, feasting, gift-giving, and more.  As night falls, everyone enjoys sparklers on the lawn before saying their goodbyes.  Includes additional information about Diwali, a glossary, and three recipes.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A good simple introduction to the holiday of Diwali with brightly-colored illustrations and a glossary to help out with words and phrases that may be unfamiliar.  The story is based on the authors’ experience, and they make it clear in the note at the end that there are a variety of ways to celebrate.

Cons:  It seems like a not-so-great editorial decision to release this book on November 16 when Diwali was the first week of November this year.

The Big Bath House by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House

The Big Bath House: Maclear, Kyo, Zhang, Gracey: 9780593181959: Amazon.com: Books

The Big Bath House: Maclear, Kyo, Zhang, Gracey: 9780593181959: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  The author recalls her childhood visits to a Japanese bath house with her female relatives.  It begins at her grandmother’s (Baachan’s) house, where she and her mom and aunts gather and change into robes and wooden sandals.  They clomp down the street to the bath house, disrobe, then wash up before blissfully sinking into the steamy heat of the big bathtub.  Afterward, there are soft towels to wrap up in and sweet shaved ices to slurp before heading for home and bed.  Includes an author’s note telling of her summers spent in Japan and how her visits to the bath house made her more comfortable with all types of bodies.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A lyrical memoir showing readers a body-positive environment that brings together family members.  The whole experience feels luxurious, relaxing, and loving, with the illustrations capturing all of those feelings, as well as plenty of details of the Japanese setting.

Cons:  Given the current mad rush to censor, I’m sure this book will receive more than its share of challenges.

The Shape of Home by Rashin Kheiriyeh

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Published by Levine Querido

The Shape of Home: Kheiriyeh, Rashin: 9781646140985: Amazon.com: Books

The Shape of Home - Rashin

Summary:  It’s the first day of school for Rashin, who has recently moved to the U.S. from Iran.  She tells readers about her morning, with an emphasis on shapes: the bear-shaped bottle of honey on the table, the round wheels on the cars, the unfamiliar shapes of letters in the classroom.  The teacher asks her new students to tell her where they’re from and starts off the discussion by sharing that she’s from Benin, a country that is shaped like a flashlight.  Other kids are from Japan, shaped like a seahorse; Italy, shaped like a boot; and India, shaped like a Hindu goddess.  When it’s Rashin’s turn, she compares Iran to a cat–a Persian cat–and amuses her classmates with her cat pose.  They decide the United States looks like a whale, and an illustration shows them all riding on its back.  “By the end of the day,” says Rashin, “my classroom is shaped like home.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A perfect combination of a first-day-of-school book and a celebration of the diversity that immigrants bring to a group.  The countries are shown as the kids mention them, but you’ll want to have a world map handy to locate each one.

Cons:  Come to think of it, a world map would have been a nice addition at the end of the book.

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread by Carla Hall, illustrated by Cherise Harris

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Published by Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Carla and the Christmas Cornbread: Hall, Carla, Harris, Cherise: 9781534494695: Amazon.com: Books
Carla and the Christmas Cornbread: Hall, Carla, Harris, Cherise: 9781534494695: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Carla is excited to be going to her grandparents’ house for Christmas with her sister and mother.  The anticipation builds as the family enjoys Christmas Eve dinner, including Granny’s delicious cornbread.  Carla and her sister get ready for bed, deciding to do a puzzle before they go to sleep.  As her sister lays out the puzzle pieces, Carla takes a big bite of a sugar cookie she sees out on the table.  Too late, she realizes the cookie was meant for Santa, and worries that she will now be on the naughty list.  Granny saves the day, assuring Carla that Santa still loves her and probably gets tired of so many cookies; she helps Carla make a small skillet of cornbread to leave instead.  In the morning, the skillet is empty except for a single slice left behind for the baker.  Includes recipes for cornbread and cinnamon butter.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Another heartwarming Christmas story featuring a Black Santa, this one by celebrity chef Carla Hall.  The illustrations place the story in the early 1970’s, but the family holiday story has a timeless feel to it.

Cons:  When you realize that the interior design fashions of your childhood have really not stood the test of time.

Santa in the City by Tiffany D. Jackson, illustrated by Reggie Brown

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Published by Dial Books

Santa in the City: Jackson, Tiffany D., Brown, Reggie: 9780593110256: Amazon.com: Books
Santa in the City: Jackson, Tiffany D., Brown, Reggie: 9780593110256: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Deja’s excited about Christmas, but not all of her friends share her belief in Santa.  But all their reasons why the jolly old elf can’t possibly exist are countered by her mom, who offers one explanation after another throughout the season.  At a family Christmas Eve celebration, other relatives back up Mom’s logic.  Finally, Deja, like so many children before her, decides to wait up for Santa, but ultimately falls asleep.  When she wakes up Christmas morning, she finds a pile of presents…and a photo of a smiling Santa.  32 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  A heartwarming Christmas story that makes Santa accessible to children of color and those who live in city apartments.  The brightly-colored digital illustrations bring the warm family holiday scenes to life.

Cons:  It wasn’t clear to me how the photo of Santa was created.  Christmas magic, I guess.

If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving by Chris Newell, illustrated by Winona Nelson

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Scholastic

If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving: Newell, Chris, Nelson, Winona: 9781338726374: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Those of us who grew up reading Scholastic’s books like If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 or If Your Name Was Changed At Ellis Island will recognize the question-and-answer format of this book that traces the history and culture of the Wampanoag people, the Europeans who sailed on the Mayflower, and what happened when their paths crossed.  This story does not end with the 1621 harvest feast that these groups shared, but continues on to what happened in the years afterward as Europeans increasingly moved onto indigenous lands and killed many of the people with wars and disease.  It also tells how Thanksgiving came to be a national holiday, more than 200 years after the event it purports to celebrate, and concludes with a discussion of American holidays  (or the lack of them) that recognize indigenous people.  Includes a glossary.  96 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  I enjoyed these books as a kid, and this one provides a much-needed correction to the traditional Thanksgiving story, with a greater emphasis on the Wampanoag history and culture, and a look at some of the history after 1621.  Definitely a resource that should be added to elementary school classrooms and libraries where Thanksgiving is part of the curriculum.

Cons:  Given the many, many questions around the traditional telling of the history of Thanksgiving, I was disappointed that this book didn’t include source notes, additional reading lists, or any information about the author. 

Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill, illustrated by Brizida Magro

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Albert Whitman and Company

Saturday at the Food Pantry: O'Neill, Diane, Magro, Brizida: 9780807572368: Amazon.com: Books

Saturday at the Food Pantry: O'Neill, Diane, Magro, Brizida: 9780807572368: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  When the food supply dwindles at Molly’s house, her mother tells her they’re going to the food pantry on Saturday.  “Everybody needs help sometimes,” says Mom, lifting her chin a little higher.  Waiting in line, Molly says hi to Caitlin, a girl from her class, but Caitlin turns away.  When Molly walks over to her, Caitlin says she doesn’t want anyone to know she and her grandmother are there.  Molly convinces Caitlin to draw pictures with her while they wait in line, and they cheer people up with their creations.  Inside, Molly and Mom fill their cart, and they walk out with Caitlin and her grandmother, who turn out to be neighbors.  They decide to eat lunch together, the adults sharing stories of job loss and illness, and the two girls remembering how their drawings made people happy.  Includes a note about food insecurity from Kate Maher, CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A realistic look at what it’s like to shop at the food pantry with important messages addressing the stigma that kids might pick up on from adults.  

Cons:  There are too few books that address issues faced by low-income families.

Circle Under Berry by Carter Higgins

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Published by Chronicle Books

Amazon.com: Circle Under Berry: 9781797205083: Higgins, Carter: Books
Amazon.com: Circle Under Berry: 9781797205083: Higgins, Carter: Books

Summary:  Nine shapes of different colors are introduced on the front endpapers; nine animals created from those shapes appear on the back ones.  These 18 objects are used to demonstrate prepositions and the concepts they denote.  The yellow circle is under the red berry on one page; the berry is under a green square on the next.  Sometimes an object is referred to by its shape, sometimes by its color, and sometimes by its animal name.  The concepts of right and left, here and there, and up and down are all introduced as well.  The last pages circle back to the first with the circle under the berry and the berry over the square.  52 pages; ages 3-6.

Pros:  A concept book featuring collage art on the white backgrounds brings to mind Eric Carle, and this book will surely appeal to a similar audience.  It has board book covers with paper pages, making it a good early book for young children.  Kids will love the animals and identifying shapes and colors.

Cons: 52 pages felt a little long for preschoolers.