Picture books

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley, illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Millbrook Press

The Floating Field - By Scott Riley (hardcover) : Target
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field Book Review |

Summary:  Prasit Nemmin and his friends could only play soccer a couple of times a month, since the sandbar they played on in their island village of Koh Panyee, Thailand was underwater the rest of the time.  Watching the World Cup on TV made them want to play every day, inspiring their plan to build a floating field.  Using cast-off wood and old barrels, they were able to build a platform that could stay afloat on top of buoys.  They practiced just about every day, and their persistence paid off with a third-place win at a local tournament.  Includes a two-page author’s note with photos and maps, and a note from Prasit about how and why he and his friends built the field back in 1986.  His love of soccer endures, and his son has played on the national champion Panyee Football Club.  Also includes some soccer words in Thai and a bibliography.  40 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  A great read for soccer fans and anyone who enjoys a good underdog story, with an emphasis on the importance of teamwork and persistence.  The back matter adds extra dimensions to the story.

Cons:  It looked like a huge nuisance to have to go into the water any time the ball went out of bounds. 

How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Matt Ottley

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Published by Candlewick

How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay: 9781536215267 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
Matt Ottley | Matt Ottley

Summary:  A young artist creates a bird: tiny hollow bones, feathers, a rapidly-beating  heart.  But a statue of a bird isn’t a bird, so the artist stands at the window and lets her creation go.  As it rises into the air, the bird comes to life and flies off, disappearing into the sky without ever looking back.  “And feel your slowly beating heart fill with a kind of sadness, a kind of happiness.  For this is when you will know that you have really made a bird.”  32 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  With its beautifully written spare text and gorgeous illustrations, this haunting meditation on the creative process perfectly captures the bittersweet nature of letting a creation go out into the world.

Cons:  The central message may be a bit over the heads of the intended audience.

The Museum of Everything by Lynne Rae Perkins

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Published by Greenwillow Books

The Museum of Everything: Perkins, Lynne Rae, Perkins, Lynne Rae: 9780062986306: Amazon.com: Books
The Museum of Everything: Perkins, Lynne Rae, Perkins, Lynne Rae: 9780062986306: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  “When the world gets too big and too loud and too busy, I like to look at all pieces of it one at a time.”  The child narrator proceeds to do that, imagining museum exhibits for a Museum of Islands, a Museum of Bushes, a Museum of Hiding Places, and more.  In each one, they slowly savor the different objects that could be on display, wondering about various aspects of each one.  After they’re done spending time in their museums, they are ready to go back into the busy, big, and sometimes noisy world.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An author’s note reads “If you like to be in a quiet place sometimes [even if it’s only in your mind], or if there is a lot that you wonder about, or if you like to make things, I made this book for you.”  It’s a book to invite wonder and slowing down and noticing things.  The illustrations (described by Perkins as being “the most fun ever”) to create could definitely be considered for a Caldecott.

Cons:  Personally, I prefer more of a story, so, while I could admire and appreciate this book, I didn’t really love it.

Wilbur Wright Meets Lady Liberty by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Wendell Minor

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Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Wilbur Wright Meets Lady Liberty | Robert Burleigh | Macmillan
Wilbur Wright Meets Lady Liberty | Robert Burleigh | Macmillan

Summary:  On September 29, 1909, Wilbur Wright flew for six and a half minutes around the Statue of Liberty, the first time either of the Wright Brothers had flown over a body of water.  His feat was witnessed by a large crowd of New Yorkers, including 10-year-old Juan Trippe, whose conversation with his father bookends the main narrative of this story; Trippe would grow up to found Pan Am Airways.  The story is supplemented by extensive back matter, including an author’s note with additional information about the Wright Brothers and their New York flights (a few days later, Wilbur took a longer flight down the Hudson River).  There’s also a list of facts about other aspects of the story, an illustrator’s note, and a bibliography.  Front end papers show a newspaper article reporting the event, and back papers show a map of the flight.  40 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  This veteran author-illustrator team has created a picture book that perfectly captures the tension and excitement of Wilbur Wright’s flight, while also conveying the peacefulness of flying.  The extensive back matter adds a lot of information, and is written in a way that is accessible to younger readers.

Cons:  I wish the back matter had included a few photos.

If You Go Down to the Woods Today by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas

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Published by Magic Cat Publishing

Amazon.com: If You Go Down to the Woods Today (Brown Bear Wood) (9781419751585): Piercey, Rachel, Freya Hartas: Books
Amazon.com: If You Go Down to the Woods Today (Brown Bear Wood) (9781419751585): Piercey, Rachel, Freya Hartas: Books

Summary:  Bear takes readers through a tour of his forest, beginning in the early spring and traveling through the year until he settles in for a long winter’s nap.  Each spread features a poem and a list of about 12-15 items (mostly other animals) to find in the illustration.  The last few pages are a “nature trail”, with a dotted line connecting circular pictures taken from the main illustrations; kids can turn back to find where they came from on the previous pages.  Also includes a list of nature resources and poetry resources (all websites).  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This utterly charming book feels like a throwback to an earlier era.  It made me want to brew a cup of tea, wrap up in a cozy afghan, and snuggle in with small children on either side of me to read some poems and hunt through the illustrations for the hidden objects.  

Cons:  At a little over a foot tall, this book may not fit on every library’s shelves.

This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by Sean Rubin

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Amazon.com: This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth (Audible Audio Edition): Sean Rubin, Jennifer Ceci, Macmillan Young Listeners: Audible Audiobooks
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth: Rubin, Sean: 9781250788504: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  A Callery pear tree narrates its experiences, beginning with its earliest days in a plaza near the World Trade Center.  It was buried on 9/11, and near death when discovered in the rubble several weeks later.  Moved to a different location, it survived against expectations, and in December 2010, it was dug up and replanted in a new plaza near its former location.  Surrounded by other trees that give it strength, the Survivor Tree helps the people who come to see it by giving them peace, hope, and the promise that spring will always come again.  Includes an author’s note; a two-page history of the World Trade Center, 9/11, and the Survivor Tree; a note on the illustrations; and a list of six sources.  48 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  A beautifully written and illustrated story that makes a unique introduction to the events of 9/11 and also speaks to anyone who has survived a traumatic event.

Cons:  The events of 9/11 are not described at all (“It was an ordinary morning.  Until it wasn’t”), so kids will definitely need an introduction before reading this book.

Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist by Laurie Lawlor, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

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Published by Holiday House

Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist: Lawlor, Laurie, Stadtlander, Becca: 9780823439591: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Growing up in Victorian England, Marianne North was never encouraged in her passions for art and botany.  Self-taught in both, she stayed home and cared for her “irritable, demanding” father until his death when she was 40.  When an elderly widow invited her to be a traveling companion to North America, Marianne jumped at the chance.  This trip led her to Jamaica and the tropics she had long dreamed of seeing.  She eventually circumnavigated the world several times, seeking out exotic plant species that she could paint.  When her paintings crowded her London flat, she arranged to have a gallery built for them as part of the Royal Botanic Gardens.  The Marianne North Gallery opened in 1882 with 627 paintings on display.  She spent the last few years of her life at home in the English countryside, gardening, painting, and writing her memoirs before her death in 1890 at the age of 59.  Includes additional information on her legacy and writings, as well as sources and a who’s who of people Marianne encountered throughout her life.  44 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  This fascinating account of a woman who defied social expectations to lead an adventurous life makes for an inspiring read.  Her single-minded passions, preference for being alone, and discomfort with social situations made me wonder if she was neurodivergent.  The brilliant illustrations capture the spirit of North’s work, and make sure to check out the endpapers for reproductions of some of her paintings (identified in the back matter).

Cons:  The small font of the text.

A Day for Rememberin’: Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day by Leah Henderson, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

A Day for Rememberin': The First Memorial Day: Henderson, Leah, Cooper, Floyd: 9781419736308: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Eli misses his dad, who’s been working long days for the last week and a half.  He wants to help, but his parents tell him school is the place for him.  Now that the family is free, Eli’s parents want him to get all the education he can.  Finally, on day 10, he’s allowed to go paint the fence surrounding the new cemetery where Union prisoners of war are buried.  The next morning, everyone dresses in their best clothes, arms full of flowers, to march together in honor of those dead soldiers.  The children lead the way to the cemetery, where everyone decorates the graves with the flowers.  They spend the rest of the day listening to speeches, praying, and celebrating their hard-won freedom. Includes an author’s note, additional information on the origins of Decoration Day, a timeline, two photos; notes, and a bibliography. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  A fascinating look at an early (maybe the earliest; the history is unclear) celebration of Decoration Day, the holiday that eventually became Memorial Day.  Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper has captured the day magnificently, and the text, combined with the extensive back matter, will give kids a new perspective on the day.

Cons:  There was a of information covered for a picture book. If you’re doing this as a Memorial Day read-aloud, plan on spending some time…I had to go back for a second read to get it all.

Training Day (El Toro & Friends) by Raúl the Third, colors by Elaine Bay

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Versify

Training Day | HMH Books

Summary:  El Toro has a big match coming up, wrestling The Wall.  His trainer, Kooky Dooky, has lots of ideas about how to get him ready, but first he must get El Toro out of bed.  This proves challenging, as El Toro doesn’t want to eat breakfast, stretch, or go for a jog…he just wants to sleep.  Finally, though, he is ready for action and, cheered on by his fans, he zips through every challenge Kooky Dooky puts before him.  When it’s time for the big match, El Toro defeats The Wall with one big “Pow!”.  56 page; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Raúl the Third brings the fun of his ¡Vamos! books to this new early reader series that is sure to be a hit.  There are many Spanish translations of English words and phrases in the text, with the Spanish in a purple font to make it readily distinguishable.  Book 2 (Tag Team) was published simultaneously.  Let’s hope this is just the beginning.

Cons:  After all that training, I wish the wrestling match had been longer than a single page.

Toasty by Sarah Hwang

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Published by Margaret Ferguson

Toasty: Hwang, Sarah: 9780823447077: Amazon.com: Books
MICA Book Illustration: Toasty by Sarah Hwang

Summary:  Toasty is a piece of bread who dreams of being a dog.  He can see there are differences–he doesn’t have fur, he has two arms and two legs, and he sleeps in a toaster–but he’s sure he can overcome these.  He can bark like a dog, so he confidently decides to head out to the dog park.  When he tries to play with the other dogs, they see him as a tasty snack to chase, and Toasty is forced to hide in a sandwich.  Just as a girl is about to eat him, he starts barking.  The girl is delighted: she’s always wanted a dog, but is allergic.  The two become fast friends, and the final page shows them snuggling down to sleep.  32 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  Quirky? You bet, but strangely sweet as well.  Kudos to Sarah Hwang for creating illustrations of a slice of bread that is as endearing as a puppy.

Cons:  Will there not be a mold issue?