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Creativity

Papa's Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming with illustrations by Boris Kulikov

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One of many good things about working with children and young adults over the years is their ability to think outside the box. Their vision of everyday life, problems, solutions, from the big picture to the tiniest detail, is unencumbered. Some of the best moments in education are listening, watching and rereading the recorded brainstorming sessions of and with students. Their creativity never ceases to amaze me.

It is fortunate indeed when that freshness is maintained in someone's mind throughout their life; when their wonder continues. Where would our world be if not for the inventors pursuing their passions with persistence? Papa's Mechanical Fish (Margaret Ferguson Books, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers) by the versatile Candace Fleming with illustrations by Boris Kulikov delves into the possible world of Lodner Phillips, an inventor who fashioned one of the first submarines in the 1850s.

This is my papa.
And this is his backyard workshop, where he spends his days thinking...
tinkering...
and inventing things.

The young narrator, daughter Virena, goes on to note the unique, helpful, unusual and playful, items made which are never quite what they are expected to be. Papa is not one to give up even though perfection continues to allude him. What he really needs is the right idea!

A trip fishing at the pier along Lake Michigan and a casual question asked by Virena has Papa dropping his pole and running from his family back to his workshop. The right idea has found its way into his imaginative, fruitful mind. Weeks later his newest work is displayed for the family, a small barrel-like contraption with a breathing tube and a pole for pushing the vessel along the lake bottom. Will Papa be able to move under water like a fish?

Like his other projects, this one is not near perfection...yet. Whitefish becomes Whitefish II, and Whitefish III each bigger with more innovations, making them more and more fishlike thanks to the inquiring minds of Virena, Mary, Cyril, the baby, Wilhelmina, and Rex, the bulldog. They are better but still flawed. After much noise and secrecy, Papa reveals his latest invention, Whitefish IV. Papa has exceeded their wildest dreams. Ever practical in each situation, Mama has brought along lunch for what promises to be an unforgettable ride.

From the opening page Candace Fleming requests readers to join in the story by having the daughter speak directly to us. She makes us further feel welcome with her descriptions of the sounds coming from inside Papa's workshop and on each excursion to the lake. We are part of the story when the narrative switches to dialogue between the family members. The undercurrent of humor adds to the warmth and generosity of this family toward their inventor father and husband; the children's comments and Mama always seeming to have at hand exactly what is needed for the moment. Here is a passage from the story.

"Almost," I say. I think some more, then ask, "Papa, how do fish know where they're going?"
"Can they see underwater?" says Cyril.
"Do they have good eyes?" adds Mary.
"Peekaboo!" squeals the baby.
"Woof!" barks Rex.
"I'm so glad I brought along these oars," says Mama. She rows toward shore.
But Papa is too deep in thought to notice.
When I recently meet Candace Fleming at the American Library Association Exhibit Hall, I remembered her mentioning, when we were speaking, why this family was similar to her own. In further conversations she states she became intrigued with Lodner Phillips's story when conducting research in her home town of Michigan City, Indiana, where he also lived. The characters in this story are based upon her sisters, brother, father, mother and herself. I love being able to share these connections and interesting details of the writing process with our readers, making authors and illustrators more than names on the page. Many thanks to Candace Fleming for sharing this with me.

Before you even open the cover, the matching jacket unfolded demonstrates the distinctive style of illustrator,Boris Kulikov, his cutaway pictures, wide-open expressive eyes and details adhering to the title's theme. His cutaway on the cover, several others within the story, the blueprints of Papa's vessels and showing readers the above water and below water scenes make readers feel as though they are participants in this family's adventures. On the back jacket and cover Kulikov pictures a close-up of a seagull perched on pilings, the ISBN hanging from one by a nail, the blueprints grasped in the seagull's bill. On the title page the two "o"s in Books are bolts.

When characters are talking many times they are looking out the page at the reader, especially the bulldog, Rex. There is so much life in his illustrations, constant movement and expression enhancing the humor found in the story. His altering of size and perspective keep pace with the narrative; two page spreads move to single pages or three or four panels stretched across two pages. Sometimes we are looking at a visual straight on, from the bottom up, the dog's eye view or from above. His full color illustrations, bright but more earth tone shades, are rich and in keeping with the time period in which the story is set. One of my favorite pictures is of Papa's hanging on the dock after swimming there with Virena kneeling and leaning over to him as a close-up of Rex looks out at the reader. There are so many moments where laughter will be unavoidable.

With every reading I find myself liking the combination of Candace Fleming's writing with Boris Kulikov's paintings in Papa's Mechanical Fish more and more. The author's note at the conclusion titled It's Almost True gives more information about Lodner Phillips followed by a list of sources on the final page. I'm giving serious thought to placing this book in my Mock Caldecott unit.

Be sure to follow the links embedded above to the author's and illustrator's websites. This link gives readers a view of eight more pictures at the publisher website.

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One of many good things about working with children and young adults over the years is their ability to think outside the box. Their vision of everyday life, problems, solutions, from the big picture to the tiniest detail, is unencumbered. Some of the best moments in education are listening, watching and rereading the recorded brainstorming sessions of and with students.

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Creativity

Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett with illustrations by Matthew Myers
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-hare-raising-episode.html

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Creativity

It's An Orange Aardvark! by Michael Hall
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/06/colorful-creativity.html

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Art

The First Drawing by Mordicai Gerstein

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When we see, taste, touch, smell, hear or do something for the first time, it leaves a lasting impression in our memories. Everything about this will never be exactly the same again. If what we've experienced is out of the ordinary, it is only natural to want to share it with others. We have a desire to recreate this event; to capture it, to preserve it.

I freely admit to not taking this a step further; wondering about the first time anyone sees, tastes, touches, smells, hears, or does what I have. In his newest title, The First Drawing (Little, Brown and Company) Mordicai Gerstein does wonder. From a clue, an imprint left in a cave, Mordicai Gerstein makes a story.

Imagine...
you were born before the invention of drawing,
more than thirty thousand years ago.

A young boy lives in a cave with a host of relatives. One of his greatest joys is spending hours watching all the animals living around his home. By his side in these daily adventures is a wolf, Shadow.

This boy sees what others do not. They see clouds or stones but he sees shapes of creatures. At night when he should be sleeping, as the flames from the fire flicker on the walls, he sees even more animals moving along the rough rock.

He is given a nickname because of his abilities. It's not meant as unkindness but only a statement of the others' understood truth. One day as the boy is working with his father, a chance meeting alters the course of everyone's lives.

He, alone except for Shadow, has a very close encounter with a Woolly Mammoth. As the seconds tick by, his mind is recording every sensory perception. Later as he tries to explain it to his father, his father sighs the sigh of a long-suffering adult and shakes his head in puzzlement.

Sleep eludes the boy that night. His memories are conjuring up a living, breathing likeness of the very Woolly Mammoth he saw earlier. Unable to contain his excitement he awakens all the others in the cave. As surely as if it is standing before them, he can see it on the wall. All the others, his parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, cannot.

Impulsively, needing them to see what he does, the boy grabs a stick from the fire. From the darkened end, lines form a shape. A frightened shout causes him to stop. This has to be magic!

It is with the introduction, three simple but intriguing sentences, Mordicai Gerstein says, "Come readers, turn the page and follow me." Each statement, or group of statements, on the following pages employs an economy of words but the point of view gives those phrases emotion. Within the text, Gerstein adds dialogue to bring familiarity to the telling. We readers become the boy's shadow. A favorite passage of mine is during his meeting with the Woolly Mammoth.

It sniffs you with its trunk,
then stands perfectly still.
So do you.
You're afraid to move.
It's like a fur-covered mountain
with eyes that look into yours. ...
Through his artwork Caldecott Medalist, Mordicai Gerstein has the ability to take us wherever he desires. Unfolding, spreading open the matching jacket and cover, we see the title over a boy drawing on a cave wall by the light of a fire as a wolf rests watching. On the back the same wall with the same drawing is featured with a noticeable exception. A present day boy is looking at the picture, pencils in hand, a roll of paper under his arm. His faithful hound walking before him points his nose at the footprint of a child and the paw print of a wolf. The words above them read,

Can you imagine who made the world's first drawing?
This image is repeated inside on the first page followed, with a turn of page, by another of the boy and his dog looking at an elephant in a zoo within the verso on the left-hand side. Under the text on the title page, on the right, the boy is hanging up his paper. On the next two pages as the present-day boy stares at the paper, Gerstein shifts us to thirty thousand years in the past to tell his story showing the boy from the past with Shadow looking up at a cloud formation.

In a series of illustrative portrayals rendered in acrylics, pen and ink, and colored pencil, single pages filled with spirit, smaller images grouped on a page brimming with movement and emotion, and dramatic two-page spreads, Mordicai Gerstein makes us believe, in a flicker of spontaneous inspiration, a first happened. His color palette of mostly brown and blue hues with his intricately drawn lines takes us effortlessly into the past. One of my favorite illustrations is of the boy sleeping next to Shadow in the cave. As he dreams of running among the animals whose shapes he sees in everyday things, they appear on the cave wall glowing in the firelight.

As surely as magic must have surrounded people when they looked upon the first painting on a cave wall, readers will feel it too as they read The First Drawing by Mordicai Gerstein. Not only is this a marvelous tribute to the act of drawing, but it causes us to wonder about other firsts. Don't miss this beautiful book!

In an author's note on the final page, Mordicai Gerstein speaks about the inspiration for his telling of this story. Follow this link to an interview at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

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When we see, taste, touch, smell, hear or do something for the first time, it leaves a lasting impression in our memories. Everything about this will never be exactly the same again. If what we've experienced is out of the ordinary, it is only natural to want to share it with others.

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Art

Henri's Scissors by Jeanette Winter
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/01/cutting-up-color.html

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Art

Draw! by Raul Colon

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All it takes is one good book. With this any reader's life has the potential to be changed regardless of their situation. This single volume starts a fire which will continue to be fueled by works from the same author or illustrator or new authors and illustrators.

For those fortunate enough to have classroom and school libraries, public libraries or homes filled with reading materials and who are supported by dedicated certified staff and/or caring adults, transformation is guaranteed. Draw! (A Paula Wiseman Book, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers) by Raul Colon is a visual offering giving evidence to the power of reading and individual imagination. Entirely without words, it will leave you speechless, stunned by the images and the story they tell.

On the first page a boy is sitting on his bed, leaning against several pillows, reading a book with AFRICA on the cover. Next to him is a safari hat. On the floor, leaning against the bed, is a sketch book. A glass of water and several pencils have been placed on his bedside table.

With a page turn, the illustration and our perspective grow. An inhaler is also on the table, perhaps explaining the boy's presence in his bedroom. He is now drawing. A pair of binoculars, an umbrella, a stack of books and a sandwich on a plate have also been added. But that is not all...a thrilling shift in the story is taking place.

A series of bolder, more vibrant pictures, moving from left to right, increasing in size, are superimposed on this visual. They begin next to the boy's head. In each of them, he is walking across an African landscape, wearing his safari hat, a canteen, an easel and a backpack while carrying his sketch book. Readers know a kind of magic is beginning to unfold.

In the next series of single page illustrations, he befriends an elephant accompanied by a small white egret. After completing a drawing of the elephant and bird, he rides on the elephant's back toward a herd of zebras. Each time he completes a picture we are drawn deeper into his journey.

Giraffes running across the grasslands, lions lying lazily and standing majestically on a rocky outcrop, gorillas sitting among trees, water buffalo grazing, a hippo wading in shallow water, a charging rhino and monkeys quenching their curiosity fill page after page. The adventuring artist climbs trees, shares his sandwiches, hat and pencils, hangs from vines, runs like the blazes and embraces a pachyderm pal. We are definitely fortunate, as are his fellow classmates, to experience this fascinating day with him because of his talent; a talent to read, dream and do...through his drawing.

Raul Colon has a distinctive illustrative process. Each picture in this title invites readers to pause. Opening the dust jacket an original piece features the boy drawing the charging rhino, intent but ready to run. On the left an interior page from the book shows the boy on the back of the elephant holding his binoculars in one hand, a sandwich in the other. In the background, a now calm rhino is staring at his portrait placed against a tree. The book case is a different single illustration taken from the book of the giraffes running as the boy draws.

On the title page three pencils, the binoculars, a safari hat and a backpack stuffed with sandwiches and an umbrella give readers a peek at events to come. All of Colon's visuals glow due to his technique of beginning with a golden undertone wash; thus illuminating his other colors. A palette of browns, blue, greens and hues specific to each animal spread from edge to edge on single or double pages.

A sense of warmth not just because of the color choices but because of the acceptance (well except for the rhino) of the animals toward the boy is present. They are as comfortable with him as he is with them; certainly this is due to his elephant guide. Colon interjects easy, playful humor into some of his pictures; the gorillas holding the boy's hat and eating a sandwich and the monkeys drawing a picture of the boy in his sketchbook on the easel.

One final point is the two pages of the rhino charge. Four small illustrations on a single page show him getting closer and closer to the boy. With a page turn the action bursts forth across double pages.

My favorite illustration, which I would hang in my home in a heartbeat, is the boy, eyes closed, standing next to the elephant at the day's end. The elephant's trunk is curved around his body, brushing against his ear. Colon brings us up close to this scene focusing on the boy and the lower two-thirds of the elephant. It is very moving.

When I read Draw! by Raul Colon last night at the end of my day, I was astonished at its beauty. I immediately read it again and again. Hand this to your art teacher, young artists and those who need or want to see the power of reading and imagination. My Mock Caldecott list grew by one more title.

For more information about Raul Colon follow the link embedded in his name to the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. Here is a link to a site, Illustrated Friday, where Raul Colon answers ten questions about his work and process. Here is a link to an interview at School Library Journal. Enjoy the videos below.

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All it takes is one good book. With this any reader's life has the potential to be changed regardless of their situation. This single volume starts a fire which will continue to be fueled by works from the same author or illustrator or new authors and illustrators.

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Art

Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/07/out-of-heart-comes.html

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Bats

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon Activity Guide from the Screen Actors Guild website Storyline Online

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Bats

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

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By Janell Cannon. Read by Pamela Reed. When Stellaluna is separated from her mother before she is old enough to fly, she finds out that not all winged creatures eat fruit. Swallowing food that crawls is just one of the amazing things this little bat must learn to do.

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Bats

Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame, Bats at the Beach and Bats in the Band

written and illustrated by Brian Lies

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Bats

Nightsong by Ari Berk with illustrations by Loren Long
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2012/11/sight-in-night.html

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Holidays

A Very Fuddles Christams by Frans Vischer
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/11/christmas-cat-astrophe.html

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Holidays

Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914 by John Hendrix

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The year is 1818. In a small parish church in Oberndorf, Austria at the evening mass on December 24th, a new song, sung by the writer and composer, is heard for the first time. They are accompanied by a single guitar and the choir. Assistant Father Joseph Mohr had penned the six stanzas in 1816. Local school teacher and organist, Franz Xaver Gruber, from the nearby town of Arnsdorf had been asked to write the music that very day. Silent Night, Holy Night is the song.

Over the years whenever I've heard this music, I've immediately thought of my mom. It was her favorite Christmas hymn. After reading John Hendrix's new title released yesterday, Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (Abrams Books For Young Readers) this melody has new meaning. It began an unprecedented event.

One hundred years ago, a horrible war began.
It was the biggest conflict the world had ever seen. Journalists would call it the Great War, but it wasn't great at all. It was dreadful. Today, we call it the First World War.
With that introductory paragraph, it's as if we've just heard Once upon a time. We realize we are in the capable hands of an informed storyteller. Five succinct explanatory paragraphs about this European conflict follow taking us into the treacherous trenches found in France during December 1914.

A young British soldier is writing a letter home to his mother. In the first few sentences we learn he has been in the same location under increasingly difficult conditions due to terrain, weather and the nearby position of the German soldiers for almost four months. His descriptions of the mud, rats and their bunkers read like a definition of deplorable.

He continues his letter recounting the happenings of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a sense of awe. As darkness fell over the war zone he and his buddies were gathered around a fire when he heard singing. Who would be so thoughtless as to announce where they were? When he gathered his courage and peeked over the top of the trench, he couldn't believe his eyes or his ears.

Lined up along the trench on the German side were a row of tiny evergreen trees lit with candles and lanterns. The German soldiers were singing boldly and bravely, Silent Night, Holy Night. A Christmas Eve celebration was happening in the last place it should have been. All night the voices could be heard.

Christmas Day morning brought more surprises and a question was shouted out to the British soldiers. No Man's Land became a place where comrades were laid to rest, small tokens and stories were exchanged and the traditions inherent in a holiday were observed by men from all walks of life who decided peace was possible. When an enraged officer appeared as the British returned to their side, his orders for the time being were, as Charlie told his mother, followed to protect what they had experienced.

Again and again, what elevates a picture book to excellence is the passion the author and/or illustrator have for their project. If it is there, it shines like the brightest beacon in pitch black darkness through the words and pictures. Every part of this volume created byJohn Hendrix is luminous.

By including the initial enlightening two pages we are given enough background of the larger picture before the focus shifts to the specific days of the Christmas Truce. This portion is written clearly enough to be easily understood, especially when using the example of dominoes. It's a great technique to use something known by most to explain something probably not known as completely.

By having a young solider (he finished school only months before) write to his mother and sign his name at the end of the narrative, makes the experience more personal for readers. When he relates the conditions within his trench and the surrounding area it gives us a true sense of time and place. Specific details garnered from research make our involvement all the more real. Here are a couple of sentences as an example.

Rain means more mud.
The mud here is like none I've ever experienced. When it rains, a thick, loamy foam churns up from the ground and fouls everything we own.
Of course I first opened the dust jacket removing it from the book case. To my total delight they are different. The rich brown extends from flap edge to flap edge acting as a frame for two important visuals. On the right flap John Hendrix includes a portion of the beginning of the letter and on the left we see a section of the signature at the letter's end. The illustration on the front signifies the beginning of the truce as told by Hendrix. On the back we see the men engaged in one of the activities of the day with a key line beneath.

WHY CAN'T WE JUST GO HOME---
AND HAVE PEACE?
My favorite illustration from the book spans across the book case. In shades of blues and browns, the area of the trenches and No Man's Land on the night of Christmas day is shown. Stars and a moon shine overhead. A small glowing Christmas tree is left on the German side, soldiers peering over the edge, one arm raised in greeting. Charley has stood up after finishing the letter, waving his hand in return.

The same shade of blue in varying intensity is used on the opening and closing endpapers. There are two different pictures of Charley in his trench. The first shows the length of the trench as he moves along carrying his weapon and gear. In the second only a portion of the trench is seen as Charley leans against the wall with his letter. These both appear in more complete color inside the body of the book.

These illustrations by John Hendrix were

drawn with graphite, fluid acrylic washes and gouache on Strathmore Vellum Bristol.
Most of them flow across both pages drawing readers deeply into the story. When necessary to the pacing, a single page, framed or unframed or a smaller illustration will be placed into the overall design.

Details in the scenery, the man-made embankments and bunkers, the equipment and uniforms increases the authenticity. Another nice touch is to have some portions of the text appear to be handwritten, others in text and still others, the spoken words of the Germans, in another font style. I think it's important to note Hendrix begins with two pages of wordless illustrations, except for a date, and concludes with the same.

The first time I read this, where I was sitting literally pulled away. I was in the trench with Charley as he wrote the letter and when he experienced those two miraculous Christmas days. Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914 eloquently written and exquisitely illustrated by John Hendrix is a must have title. At the end of the book an author's note, glossary, bibliography and index are included. Be sure to read the dedication.

Update: On Christmas Day 2014 Julie Danielson, author, reviewer at Kirkus and blogger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast posted an interview with John Hendrix at Kirkus.

For more information about John Hendrix and his work follow the link to his website embedded first in this post. If you follow the second link it will take you to his Tumblr page dedicated to this title. He has posted several illustrations. I am so appreciative of this book I am giving away a copy.

Be sure to head on over to Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by educator Alyson Beecher to see what recommendations other bloggers are including this week in the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge. I am aware that my title is a fictionalized account of true events but felt compelled to include it in the challenge because of the thorough research employed by the author/illustrator.

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The year is 1818. In a small parish church in Oberndorf, Austria at the evening mass on December 24th, a new song, sung by the writer and composer, is heard for the first time. They are accompanied by a single guitar and the choir. Assistant Father Joseph Mohr had penned the six stanzas in 1816.

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Holidays

Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood with illustrations by Claudia Rueda
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/11/now-what-cat.html

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Holidays

Here Comes The Easter Cat by Deborah Underwood with illustrations by Claudia Rueda
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/04/holiday-treats-feline-fantasy.html

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Holidays

Boris and Stella and the Perfect Gift by Dara Goldman
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/12/two-bears-one-love.html

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Holidays

Gifts of the Heart by Patricia Polacco
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/12/open-to-giving.html

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Farm

Big Bug by Henry Cole
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/07/point-of-view.html

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Farm

Otis and the Scarecrow by Loren Long
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/08/silence-shared.html

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Farm

Go To Sleep, Little Farm

by Mary Lynn Ray with illustrations by Christoper Silas Neal
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/09/dusk-and-dreams.html

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Cats and Dogs

Dream Dog by Lou Berger with illustrations by David Catrow
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/02/if-wishes.html

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Cats and Dogs

Cat Napped! by Leeza Hernandez

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Cat Napped has 162 ratings and 28 reviews. Sheri said: A cozy cat awakens from a nap and finds herself far from home. Sad, scared, and hurt, she is disco...

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Dinosaurs

The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy by Martha Brockenbrough with illustrations by Israel Sanchez
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/06/plik-plik-plik.html

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Dinosaurs

The Greatest Dinosaur Ever by Brenda Z. Guiberson with illustrations by Gennady Spirin
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/11/which-is-it.html

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Dinosaurs

Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled by Catherine Themmish
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-science-of-art.html

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Fairy Tales

Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett
Here is my link to this blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/12/from-ashes-dreams-come-true.html

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Fairy Tales

The Three Little Pigs and The Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/07/three-plus-one-equalsfun.html

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The three little pigs and the somewhat bad wolf

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Fairy Tales

Ninja Red Riding Hood by Corey Rosen Schwartz with illustrations by Dan Santat
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/06/hes-big-hes-bad-and-hes-backagain.html

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Music

May The Stars Drip Down by Jeremy Chatelain with illustrations by Nikki McClure
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/in-land-of-dreams.html

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Music

Rock & Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story by Sebastian Robertson with illustrations by Adam Gustavson

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With strong roots in older styles such as blues, gospel, county and rhythm and blues, rock and roll music took the world by storm in the 1950s. If you think the appeal of the beat found in these songs has lessened over the years, start playing a selection for a group of children. Within moments first one, then another will start to move. Before long all the guys and gals will be dancing to their hearts' content, loving every single minute of it.

A title slated to be released on October 21, 2014 proudly presents the lifetime achievements of one of music realm's greatest musicians. Rock & Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story (Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company) written by Sebastian Robertson with illustrations by Adam Gustavson chronicles this man's road to renown. His focus never faltering this man is still living his dream.

The Last Waltz
On Thanksgiving night in 1976 the crowd cheered wildly, stomping their feet, demanding the return of their favorite band. Having just completed a five-hour set of songs, The Band, came out for one more. "You're still there?" Robbie spoke into the microphone, exciting the fans further. ...
From this opening page the clock is turned back to 1945. As early as two, Robbie was listening to popular tunes of the day coming forth from the family radio. Frequent trips to the Six Nations Indian Reservation, where his mother had been raised, instilled a love of storytelling in his soul. Gatherings of relatives, many bringing instruments, increased his desire to make and write music. He lived and breathed it playing his guitar for hours.

How many kids at the age of thirteen have their own band which later becomes the opening act for a popular group? Robbie and his buddies did. He went on to write two songs for Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks, this same band, which appeared on their next album. Robbie was on his way to the big time; New York City to learn with some great musicians and later a chance to play with The Hawks.

Beginning as the bassist, then as guitarist, Robbie practiced non-stop. How many people sleep with their guitar? Robbie did. He was further inspired by seeing and being with musicians such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly. Then came a phone call bringing about more transitions.

It was Bob Dylan. The year was 1965. They toured with Dylan, lived at his home in Woodstock, New York and recorded more music with him. They became simply The Band, but the music they were developing was anything but simple. Their sound, a blend of many, contributed to what is known today as Americana Music.

By 1970 Robbie and The Band commanded a huge presence in their field. How many North American bands make the cover of Time? They did. And they did it first.

Author Sebastian Robertson is the son of musician Robbie Robertson, bringing a deeply personal perspective to the writing. He divides the narrative into sections; each one emphasizing a significant event. These are noted with headings such as:

Sleeping, 1945
We Are the People of the Longhouse or
Endless Highway---"Hey, Robbie? Ready to Take a Shot?"
This close relationship with the biographee, who is still living, gives the readers a more intimate look with the inclusion of numerous anecdotes. The writing style is informal but informative.

Opening the dust jacket the illustration on the front shows a younger Robbie seated with his guitar on the back of the Cadillac driven by The Hawks from gig to gig. It is set in a more rural scene depicting their cross county travels in the American South and all across Canada. A beautiful full page portrait of a thoughtful, experienced Robertson covers the back.

Each time I read a book illustrated by Adam Gustavson his realistic paintings in oil seem ready to come to life. His illustrations heighten the narrative. The layout, design and size of his visuals are dictated by his interpretation of the text. Some pictures have borders; others flow from edge to edge and still more are smaller insets, elements stressing a portion of the storyline. He uses light masterfully.

One of my favorite illustrations is of a younger Robbie lying in bed. Resting against the side, near his head, is pictured the top portion of his guitar. Above his head on the shelf is a transistor radio playing softly. He is deep in thought, intent on the music. Light, shadows and the color palette convey a sense of tranquility.

The best thing about nonfiction picture books is each reader brings to the book a certain amount of knowledge. Sometimes you think you have an understanding of the topic but after reading a particular title, all you can think is "Wow, I never knew that before reading this?" In reading Rock & Roll: The Robbie Robertson Story by Sebastian Robertson with illustrations by Adam Gustavson my knowledge of this particular musician grew by leaps and bounds. For younger readers it will certainly serve as an inspiration. A thorough annotated timeline with photographs is found at the back. Sebastian Robertson also includes a two page question and answer with his dad.

For more information about the work of Adam Gustavson please follow the link embedded in his name. To discover more about rock and roll follow the first link in this post to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website. This link will take you to the publisher's website. They include eight interior illustrations from this title.

This review/recommendation was written based upon an Advance Reader's Edition I received from my favorite independent bookstore, McLean & Eakin Booksellers located in Petoskey, Michigan.

Every single week I am thankful to be participating in the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge at Kid Lit Frenzy hosted by Alyson Beecher. Be sure to check out the other recommendations listed there.

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With strong roots in older styles such as blues, gospel, county and rhythm and blues , rock and roll music took the world by storm in the 1950s. If you think the appeal of the beat found in these songs has lessened over the years, start playing a selection for a group of children.

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Music

Harlem Hellfighters by J. Patrick Lewis with illustrations by Gary Kelley
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/11/with-courage-and-music.html

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Dance

Flora and The Flamingo by Molly Idle
Here is the link to my blog post about the title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/02/to-seeto-be.html

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Dance

Penguin Cha-Cha by Kristi Valiant
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/12/put-on-your-zoo-dancing-shoes.html

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Dance

A Dance Like Starlight: One Ballerina's Dream by Kristy Dempsey with illustrations by Floyd Cooper
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-dream-wishes-and-hope.html

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Cats and Dogs

Bits & Pieces by Judy Schachner
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/01/thats-some-cat.html

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Cats and Dogs

I'm My Own Dog by David Ezra Stein
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/08/confident-canine.html

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Cats and Dogs

Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrision
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-place-for-all.html

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Popplet list of books for each day

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Popplet is the best app for sharing visual ideas.

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Cats and Dogs

Shoe Dog by Megan McDonald with illustrations by Katherine Tillotson
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/05/footwear-fascination.html

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Babies

Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk with illustrations by Alexandria Neonakis

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It doesn't have to be at the end of the day. It could be anytime. Pausing to appreciate someone, something or somewhere simply is not done enough.

Yesterday I wanted to stop at the top of a hill I have descended hundreds of times, so struck by the beauty of the swath of colorful trees bordering along and up from the shores of a harbor in a nearby town. I knew the other motorists speeding by would not be appreciative. For more than the thousandth time as I walked my marvelous old dog last night, I felt a huge thankfulness and affection for the sound of her breathing as she slowly paced along a well-known path. When we acknowledge the importance of someone, no matter their age, both parties are the better for it.

When reading Sweetest Kulu ( Inhabit Media Inc., November 1, 2014) by Celina Kalluk with illustrations by Alexandria Neonakis, I felt a sense of deep compassion. Most notable within the narrative is the birth of a child as an occasion to be revered and celebrated. The natural world is tightly woven into, an intricate part of, the Inuit culture.

Sweetest Kulu,
on the day you were born, all of the Arctic Summer was there to greet you. Smiling Sun shone so bright and stayed through the night,
giving you blankets and ribbons of warm light.

Each element of the Arctic world bestows words of wisdom on the child whether asleep or awake. From the wind comes the necessity to listen to stories. Snow buntings bring seeds and flowers to the baby as reminders to grow and bloom having faith in your abilities.

Gifts from the Arctic hare show love can be freely given. Not a minute is to be wasted nor the opportunities to help others are words spoken by the fox. Tenderness, creativity, gratitude for the many colors, and the willingness to begin and the bliss at completing a task are offerings shared by creatures of the water.

Sheltered by the muskox, Kulu hears of the importance of standing tall and finding strength in one's ancestry. Looking toward the night sky is a way to anchor your path, find direction and be a guide. The polar bear advises the child to honor animals recognizing their importance.

This Earth, the ground beneath our feet, is a support for all things. As the voice gently continues the song to Kulu, who has again fallen asleep, safety is assured. Kulu is love and loved.

Every single page turn without exception is an ode to the beauty and blessing of a new baby. The words of Celina Kalluk radiate calm with their genuine warmth. Each time a sentence is read, a new adjective is added to the name of Kulu; sweetest, charming, admired or magnificent to name a few. By having the sun, wind, land, each animal and the mother voice their hopes, readers will understand the value of each. Here is another passage.

Seal, whose favourite colour is ice blue,
heard about Arctic Char's adoration of you.
Seal loves creativity, and surrounded you with colour, nicest Kulu.
Opening the book case readers see a tender illustration of the baby sleeping on the back of the caribou. Snow buntings watch from the antlers as a polar bear mother and cub and a fox lean in for a closer look. The cool soft colors blended with the warm browns radiate peace. Opening and closing endpapers are a pale green with sketches in gray of all the animals patterned edge to edge. A snow bunting brings a floral sprig to the baby resting in the grass beneath the title.

All of the images span across both pages altering perspective according to the narrative. For the opening two pages Alexandria Neonakis brings us close to the sleeping child held by the mother. We see the entire face of the baby but only a portion of the mother, her hair sweeping outward from the left to provide a background for the text on the right.

In another picture Kulu lies among a field of lupine as the fox approaches from the right. The tail, a swirl of white, supplies a path for the words. Each illustration is filled with sensory beauty; a compilation of flowing lines and a natural palette.

As a caribou stands looking out over a mountain lake, snow-covered peaks surrounding the shores, with leaves whirling among the grasses, I immediately knew this would be one of my favorite illustrations. The majesty of the land and the power of the wind are evident. Even without the words each reader will feel the presence of something beyond their control, something which needs their attention.

Sweetest Kulu written by children's book debut author Celina Kalluk with illustrations by Alexandria Neonakis is a gift. It's perfect for any time of the day but truly lovely at bedtime. For children living in the Arctic it's wonderful to see themselves and their world depicted in an outstanding book. For other children it's an open door, an invitation to enter another culture.

If you would like to learn more about Celina Kalluk please follow this link to Debbie Reese's website, American Indians In Children's Literature, for her review and further links. Alexandria Neonakis has many more pictures of her work at her website; the link embedded in her name.

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It doesn't have to be at the end of the day. It could be anytime. Pausing to appreciate someone, something or somewhere simply is not done enough. Yesterday I wanted to stop at the top of a hill I have descended hundreds of times, so struck by the beauty of the swath of colorful trees bordering along and up from the shores of a harbor in a nearby town.

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Babies

The Baby Tree by Sophie Blackall
Here is the link to my blog post about this title: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-question-as-old-as-timewell-almost.html

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Birds

Baby Penguins Everywhere by Melissa Guion
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyre-heretheyre-theretheyre-passel-of.html

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Babies

Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents by Lita Judge

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You may forget the exact time of day. The details will fade from your memory. The way you felt as you watched the puppies being born remains. Over the course of hours, days and weeks, the relationship of the mother and her new children is fascinating to watch. How she and they interact in the outside world is a montage of images, increasing the feeling of being witness to one of nature's marvels.

Naturalist, author and artist Lita Judge's new title, Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents (Roaring Brook Press, October 21, 2014) discusses many of the adaptations new babies face in our world. We travel to varied habitats on six of our seven continents. New and familiar, prevalent and endangered members of the mammal family are featured.

A baby is born.
This is the first of nine single sentence headings. Following each, two pages highlight how different mammals, usually three, address each area of their newborns' lives. Let's see how similar or unlike us they are.

I'll bet you will never look at a squirrel the same way again when you realize baby polar bears are the same size when they are born. Rather than be food for large cat predators, at least two African newborns are ready to run in hours. Now threatened grizzly bear cubs drink their mother's milk for two to three years.

I wonder how many of you have walked by a fawn hidden in the grass, staying still for protection for days after birth. Even as an adult I like the idea of a herd of musk oxen surrounding me if danger is near. Imagine how safe their calves must be.

Homes in woven grasses, tunnels underground or hollowed trees gave babies needed shelter. The pouches and backs of marsupials are nature's baby strollers. Extended families act as teachers and offer protection.

Elephant trunks, cougar tongues and chimpanzee hands offer cuddly comfort. The fun of play leads to required acts for survival. Learning by watching and doing can take mere minutes or as long as ten years depending on the skill and the animal. At any time or any place on our planet, mammals are being born and seeking survival.

With the reading of each nonfiction title written by admiration grows at her skill in presenting knowledge about her subject, as if in conversation she reveals captivating details. It's a gift to supply information by placing it in the proper perspective so readers can see the connections between nature and their world. It's as if we have traveled with her to each of these animals' homes, observing them with their young. Here is a sample paragraph.

A musk ox calf is strong enough to endure harsh Arctic
storms but she is defenseless against hungry wolves. With
sharp horns, snorts, and stamps, the entire herd forms a tight,
protective circle around the little one, guarding against attacks.
On the dust jacket and book case elegant portrayals of a mother giraffe nudging her curious baby and a small orangutan with closed eyes on the back of their mother convey the essence of each relationship. Plain opening and closing endpapers are the same color as Born and Wild on the front which in turn is a shade similar to the orangutans' fur. An inviting design and layout has already captured readers' interest.

On the title page and each of the nine introductory pages a double page depiction of a mother or family with the newest members brings us close to the selected activity. The pages in-between each of these frame smaller memorable images with white space. Lita Judge's realistic drawings enhanced with watercolor are simply stunning as she brings you into the intimacy of the moment.

It's very hard to pick a favorite illustration but one of them is the interior visual of the older orangutan with the baby on its back. They are together among bunches of branches. The parent with out-stretched arms is showing how to take the leaves forming them into a nest.

Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents written and illustrated by Lita Judge is nonfiction at its best. Each illustration elevates the text which informs every single reader. Judge has supported her work with meticulous research as evidenced by the list of written and online sources at the book's end. She has included a glossary of eight terms in which younger readers might not be acquainted. Four pages are dedicated to supplying more information about the twenty-six mammals showcased in this title. You might like to use this with Robin Page's and Steve Jenkins' book, My First Day.

Please visit Lita Judge's website to learn more about her other wonderful titles by following the link embedded in her name. Eight images from the book are shown at the publisher's website. On author Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog, Cynsations, Lita Judge visits for an interview about this title.

Please stop by Alyson Beecher's blog Kid Lit Frenzy to read about the other nonfiction titles chosen by bloggers participating in the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge.

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You may forget the exact time of day. The details will fade from your memory. The way you felt as you watched the puppies being born remains. Over the course of hours, days and weeks, the relationship of the mother and her new children is fascinating to watch.

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Birds

Feathers Not Just For Flying by Melissa Stewart with illustrations by Sarah S. Brannen
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/functional-fantastic-feathers.html

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Birds

Mama Built A Little Nest by Jennifer Ward with illustrations by Steve Jenkins
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/08/snug-as-can-be.html

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Cows

Fourteen Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy with illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez

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Jambo! Welcome to the online home of the children's book, 14 COWS FOR AMERICA. You can view a book trailer, be introduced to the book's team, read a review in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Newsday , find out more about the Maasai, learn what happened to the cows, download a Teacher's Guide, and discover ways to explore concepts of Ubuntu.

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Cows

Chilly Milly Moo by Fiona Ross
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2011/11/now-this-is-one-cool-cow.html

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Cows

Cow by Malachy Doyle with illustrations by Angelo Rinaldi

Stunning illustrations fill this ode to cows; a shining achievement

http://www.malachydoyle.com/mdpage1.html

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Forest

The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins with illustrations by Jill McElmurry
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/10/she-saw-trees.html

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Forest

The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward with illustrations by Lisa Falkenstern

http://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/html/books.html

http://www.jenniferwardbooks.com/BUSY%20TREE%20CURRICULUM%20GUIDE.pdf

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Forest

Where Once There Was a Wood by Denise Fleming

http://www.denisefleming.com/pages/activities-wood.html

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Pancakes for Supper! by Anne Isaacs with illustrations by Mark Teague

http://anneisaacs.com/content/pancakes-supper-0

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Buddy And The Bunnies In

Don't Play With Your Food! by Bob Shea
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/01/whats-that-you-say.html

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Food

Catch That Cookie! by Hallie Durand with illustrations by David Small
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/11/theyre-getting-away-again.html

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School

Dinosaur vs. School by Bob Shea
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/07/see-you-in-september-1.html

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School

Chu's First Day of School by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by Adam Rex
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/07/doing-what-you-do-best-see-you-in.html

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School

Clark The Shark written by Bruce Hale with illustrations by Guy Francis

http://brucehale.com/clark1.htm

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Visit http://www.clarkthesharkbooks.com for more information! Clark is a shark with zing, bang, and BOOM. Clark zooms into school, crashes through the classroom, and is rowdy at recess. Clark loves life-but when his enthusiasm is too much for his friends, Clark's teacher, Mrs. Inkydink, helps him figure out a way to tone it down.

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Llamas

Maria Had a Little Llama/Maria Tenia Una Llamita by Angela Dominguez

http://www.angeladominguezstudio.com/post/84988565858/maria-had-a-little-llama-bilingual-buy-the

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Maria Had A Little LlamaBilingual NEW: Read Out Loud: Maria Had a Little Llama * Buy the book: * Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Indiebound * Honors: * Junior Library Guild Honor * Pura Belpré Honor *...

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Llamas

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Guarino with illustrations by Steven Kellogg

This is a delightful rhyming introduction to animal babies and their mothers. For over more than two decades, it has entertained children.

Here is a link to a two-part interview with the author. http://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/part-2-interview-with-deborah-guarino-author-of-bestselling-children%E2%80%99s-book-is-your-mama-a-llama/

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Llamas

llama llama red pajama by Anna Dewdney

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The official home of the New York Times bestselling Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney!

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Family

The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline
Here is a link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/04/matched-memories.html

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Family

Little Treasures: Endearments from Around the World by Jacqueline K. Ogburn with illustrations by Chris Raschka
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2012/03/sweet-nothings-that-mean-everything.html

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Family

The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/01/to-family-to-life-to-tradition.html

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Books

Miss Smith Reads Again! by Michael Garland

Miss Smith, Zack's second grade teacher, opens her special book to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World. This blast into the past could have gigantic consequences.

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Books

Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland

Zack's second grade teacher has a book where the characters literally leap from the pages surrounding he and his classmates as the stories are read. At the tale's end the characters go back inside the book. One day when Miss Smith is late Principal Rittenrotten reads to them from the book. Chaos ensues! Laughter too!

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Books

The Best Book in the World by Rilla
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/10/a-tribute-to-power-of-single-book.html

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Books

This book just ate my dog! by Richard Byrne

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Most people who have been chosen by canine companions can attest to quickly learning to keep their pals close at all times. Otherwise you and your friend might be taking a tomato juice bath after a close encounter with a skunk or making an emergency visit to the vet to remove porcupine quills looking like acupuncture gone wrong. It's important to observe leash laws at all times to protect our dogs from vehicles, other dogs and a multitude of other potential problems their noses might lead them into within seconds.

I am here to warn all humans who love their furry friends to beware of a heretofore unheard of hazard. This book just ate my dog! ( Henry Holt and Company, September 30, 2014) written and illustrated by Richard Byrne reveals the consequences of getting too close to a badly behaved book. You will need to keep a wary eye on those stacks and shelves in book shops, libraries and even in your own home.

WALKIES!
LET'S GO!
Bella was taking her dog for a stroll across the page when...
Wait a minute! You have got to be kidding me! Bella's dog has all but disappeared into the gutter of this book. Yes, I am talking about the very book I am holding in my hands right this minute.

Now all that's left is a very taunt leash Bella is struggling to hold. Balloon-holding Ben comes meandering down the page. Bella shouts out the horrible news. One curious boy has vanished. This can't be good.

To Bella's delight in the nick of time the dog rescue truck roars into view...and then it disappears too. It happens again and again. No one, nothing, is safe near this book. Stella decides to take matters into her own hands. Now what? I am holding a book void of characters and objects that has just burst forth with the most revolting noise.

Incredulous to say the least, I am further surprised when an envelope pops out of the center. It's a written request from Bella asking me to perform a specific task over and over and over and over and once more. I would like to report everything is currently perfectly perfect, but I can't.

I'll wager there's not a single school librarian who has not received a book returned after it's been partially consumed by a family dog. Using a minimal amount of text,Richard Byrne completely switches this scenario with hilarious results. His use of words creates an appropriate atmosphere;

very odd
disappeared
investigate
zoomed
vanished.
There is a back and forth rhythm put into place. Initially it cautiously invites readers to participate. A single sentence or portions of a sentence (with the exception of the note) are the only text on a page supplying flawless pacing. It leads them to the wholly unexpected burst-out-laughing ending.

Removing the dust jacket and lifting the flaps, readers are treated to an illustration spanning left to right across the back and front. A very surprised Bella is leading her dog. On the back we read:

The flap on the left shows a smaller version of Bella. On the right we see the rear section, tail and two legs, of her dog. Beneath the jacket, the book case in the corresponding vivid turquoise blue has a single sentence printed repeatedly,

I promise not to be a naughty book
Opening and closing endpapers feature outlines, white on pale blue, of the emergency vehicles. They are identical with a glaring exception which I will not reveal. The verso and title page picture begins the story with the sleeping dog being called for a walk.

Straight wide brush strokes in gray and tan are a backdrop for the full color portrayals of the characters and trucks. Red is used for the text, leash, and as a major color or accent on the other elements. The smallest lines for eyes, noses and mouths serve to feature contentment, shock, fear, good cheer, bewilderment, joy, anger, surprise and relief. Careful readers will notice all the tiny details.

One of my favorite illustrations is the first one when the narrative begins. Bella and her dog walking along the page are carefree and enjoying this activity together. The dog's tail is wagging in pure pleasure. This picture serves to introduce readers to the two main characters and sets the stage for the surprising contrasts ahead.

You can't read this title, This book just ate my dog!, written and illustrated by Richard Byrne without smiling the entire time, page after page. I know with certainty when the last double-page illustration comes into view readers and listeners alike are going to roar with laughter. The dog knows. You know. But Bella is blissfully unaware. I recommend getting multiple copies. Plan on a chorus of read it again when the cover is closed.

To visit Richard Byrne's official website please follow the link embedded in his name. If you are like me, after reading this title I know I need to read more of his work. Here is a link to a single page activity provided by the publisher.

Macmillan Children's Publishing Group has graciously agreed to give away a copy of this book to one lucky winner. Please complete the form below. Good luck!

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Most people who have been chosen by canine companions can attest to quickly learning to keep their pals close at all times. Otherwise you and your friend might be taking a tomato juice bath after a close encounter with a skunk or making an emergency visit to the vet to remove porcupine quills looking like acupuncture gone wrong.

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Robots

Clink by Kelly DiPucchio with illustrations by Matthew Myers

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Official site of New York Times Bestselling Children's Book Author Kelly DiPucchio.

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Robots

Oh No! (Or How My Science Fair Project Destroyed The World) written by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Dan Santat
Here is a link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2010/12/science-awry-who-knew.html

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Robots

R Is For Robot: A Noisy Alphabet by Adam F. Watkins
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/07/stacking-em-up-letter-by-letter.html

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Numbers

One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura Gehl with illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/10/it-all-started-with.html

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Numbers

Count The Monkeys by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Kevin Cornell
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/08/count-where-are-they.html

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Numbers

Baby Bear Counts One by Ashley Wolff
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/01/its-bear-y-good-thing-again.html

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Parties

How to Behave at a Tea Party by Madelyn Rosenberg with illustrations by Heather Ross
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/09/polite-protocol.html

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Parties

Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by K. G. Campbell
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/10/craving-cookies-and-super-surprise.html

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Parties

Tea Rex by Molly Idle
Here is the link to my blog post about this title: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/08/tea-rrific.html

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Superheroes

Superdog: The Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Buehner illustrated by Mark Buehner

A little dog decides to follow his passion; the heart of a hero grows.

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Superheroes

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man with Moskowitz the Awesome Dog by Michael Chabon with illustrations by Jake Parker
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2011/10/dont-look-now-but-its.html

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Superheroes

Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod

Alliterative descriptions for each letter

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(psst! Hey, kids! Hold your mouse over and around the ABC for a surprise!)

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Superheroes

Nina! by Arree Chung

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When something is of value to us, it finds a place of importance in our lives. If it's a skill to be learned we observe, listen, study and practice. We devote time; it becomes a joyful commitment. Another component is passion. It needs to find a place in our heart.

For some another element may be discovered sooner or later in pursuit of this special endeavor. In the first picture book he has written and illustrated, NINJA!( Henry Holt and Company, June 3, 2014), Arree Chung introduces us to a boy with exceptional purpose. Shh! Let's follow Maxwell on his latest mission.

A ninja needs a thick ninja stick, silent ninja footwear, sticky ninja gloves, an unbreakable ninja rope, and a bouncy ninja paddle.
Once he has the tools of his trade, confidence needs to be declared with gusto. Maxwell proceeds to acquaint readers with other traits of a skilled champion; the nimble actions of an Olympic gymnast. With the goal in sight, every impediment must be overcome (including moving the family dog peacefully sleeping).

Exact care must be taken to advance effectively; a warrior needs to dig deep within himself relying on his inner fortitude. Nothing is more important, not a single thing, than catching your subject off guard and scaring them witless. (It looks like Dad's nap on the couch is over.) With this objective fulfilled, it's on to phase two.

Into the kitchen our fearless warrior sneaks. His younger sister is about to have a snack of cookies and milk. To ensure continued success he must maneuver with extreme caution avoiding his mom at all costs.

Barely breathing, with measured movement and faith in his abilities at an all-time high, Maxwell leaps, climbs and balances into action. With two cries ringing out, the scales are tipped. The only honorable thing to do is done. A young boy has found the final element.

Rich in language with not a single wasted word,Arree Chung gives us a window into the marvelous mind of Maxwell as he fulfills his desire for all things ninja. As each item this ninja uses is listed notice the descriptive adjectives. In relating his movements a simple beat is created by the word choices; continuing as he tells us of a ninja's inner qualities and movements during the final stage of his mission. This builds wonderfully and in contrast to his boyish glee at his accomplishments. It also prepares us readers for the final two pages revealing the heart of a true ninja.

Flap edge to flap edge the dust jacket unfolds in a series of illustrations left to right, back to front, giving us glimpses into the narrative. Beneath the book case with a wood grain background (closet doors) we see Maxwell on the front swiftly moving across the space declaring his status. On the back is his sister happily observing her brother. Both the dust jacket and book case feature the main character initially but focus on the importance of the younger sister if we fully extend them. A pattern of folded paper ninja stars on a woven background (the same as the rug in the house) cover the opening and closing endpapers.

Rendered in acrylic paint on Rives BFK paper, found paper and Photoshop, the color palette is a direct reflection of the story line; shadowed for stealth, the background shifting to a royalty red (my description alone) with the luminous golden dragon when Maxwell's imagination is highlighted, lighter hues as he moves into the kitchen, total darkness when the discovery is made and back to light on the final pages. Arree Chung changes from one image size to another, two pages, a series of geometric panels across two pages or an individual page, or a single page, as the action dictates. The expressive facial features on the characters (and body movements) enhance the text providing readers with a hearty dose of humor.

Two of my favorite series of images are when he defeats the angry beast, a series of panels on a single page, and the two pages of panels bursting with action prior to his completed mission. The design and layout, the changing perspectives and colors make readers feel like they are participants. Seriously though, all the illustrations in this book are evidence of this boy's love of being a ninja and the imaginative gifts he uses to live his story.

Grab a bag of ties, hand them out to your listeners and let the distinctive words and pictures spin a tale of wonder and laughter as Maxwell's escapades unfold in NINJA! written and illustrated by Arree Chung. I am certain you will need more than one copy available to your readers. This is sure to prompt discussions of other imagined adventures. You could fold paper ninja stars having listeners write a phrase for or draw their favorite parts on the points.

Please follow the links embedded in Arree Chung's name to access his website and blog. His website has numerous fun-filled ideas. Many bloggers featured posts about NINJA! on its release date or during the release week. You can learn more about the book by reading their thoughts and interviews of Arree Chung. (These are the ones I could find. Please list any others in the comments.) Here are their names along with their blogs:

Cynthia Alaniz, teacher librarian Librarian in Cute Shoes
Niki Barnes second grade teacherDaydream READER
Alyson Beecher, educatorKid Lit Frenzy
Carter Higgins, author, teacher librarianDesign Of The Picture Book
Debbie Ridpath Ohi author illustrator
Katherine Sololowski, fifth grade reading and language arts teacherRead, Write, Reflect
John Schumacher teacher librarianWatch. Connect. Read.

UPDATE: Here is the link to an interview given at

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When something is of value to us, it finds a place of importance in our lives. If it's a skill to be learned we observe, listen, study and practice. We devote time; it becomes a joyful commitment. Another component is passion. It needs to find a place in our heart.

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Superheroes

Super Hairo and the Barber of Doom by John Rocco
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/08/hair-today-gone-tomorrow.html

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An interview of Mini Grey at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

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October 8th, 2008 by jules

I'm so pleased that British illustrator Mini Grey has stopped by for breakfast this morning here at 7-Imp. If you were to ask me who I thought some of the most inventive, imaginative illustrators working today were, why, Mini's name would most assuredly come up. She's a favorite of mine, delivering mixed-media visual treats at each turn, whether it's the detailed world of the unstoppable Traction Man, what Publishers Weekly called the swashbucklin' nursery-rhyme romance of The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon, or the cookie carnage of Ginger Bear. Best of all, there is a slightly twisted humor to her work, which I love, a twinkle in the eye, a little bit of mischief, a refusal to talk down to children. She always intriques, and she always keeps you on your toes.

Spread from Ginger Bear (or Biscuit Bear, if you are in the UK),
Alfred A. Knopf (first American edition), 2007

And, if you're a fan of the aforementioned Traction Man, you're in luck, since Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog-the sequel to 2005's Traction Man is Here! (Knopf Books for Young Readers), winner of the 2005 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the category of Picture Books-has just been released.

Yes, Traction Man and his faithful pet Scrubbing Brush are back for more heroic rescues - this time Traction Man must rescue Scrubbing Brush, since the family chucked him after a trip to the northwest slope of Mt. Compost Heap ("it's just so unhygienic, it must be FULL of germs..."), though it takes Traction Man a while to figure this out while he's off having adventures with the battery-operated Turbodog. In Grey's further tributes to the imaginative play of children-not to mention the very real bonds wee ones have with their toys-Traction Man meets up with Handbag Dwellers, the Lone Sock, the Grand Sofa Canyon, the Dark and Terrible Underworld of the Bin and its Evil Creatures and Bin-Things, and much more. I'll invoke the words of Publishers Weekly again, since they nail Grey's particular charm: "{H}er real gift is in transforming an ordinary household into both thrilling stage and supporting cast (who knew an old mascara wand could be so emotive?). To create a fantasy world is one thing, but to trigger a gestalt shift in the way kids look at their own environments is quite another."

So, Mini's going to sit down with me for breakfast-"a big cup of strong coffee with milk; toast with butter, marmite and banana on top; lots of very cold cranberry juice (low sugar!)"-to chat about her work as an illustrator, and I thank her immensely for stopping by. Let's get the basics while we set the table here . . .

Mini : I am an author-illustrator. Well, I make picture books.

Mini : My books to date: Egg Drop; The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-To-Be; Ginger Bear (AKA Biscuit Bear in the UK); Traction Man is Here!; The Adventures of the Dish and The Spoon; Traction Man Meets Turbodog.

{Ed. Note: Here is my short history of Mini-Grey reviews here at 7-Imp: Ginger Bear in June '07 and Traction Man Meets Turbodog last month. But let's not forget her cover and interior illustrations for Lyn Gardner's , reviewed here in July '07.}

: I usually use watercolour, ink, pencils and collage bits and bobs on heavy watercolour paper. I am keen on Quink ink and bleach. I love splattering. And I use a computer quite a lot.

Three spreads from The Adventures of the Dish and The Spoon,
Alfred A. Knopf, 2006

Mini : The main difference is how much of the story the pictures are telling. In my picture books, the pictures are telling a lot of it. The more words there are in a book, the less work the pictures seem to need to do. To me, a picture book is a unique way of story-telling -- words and pictures work as a double act where neither is necessarily in charge -- and I do think they are for people of all ages.

Mini : I live in a little house in Oxford, UK. I am near the river and parks and hills but also near Oxford city which is full of historic buildings.

Mini : I started out being a (penniless) theatre designer, then worked as a teacher for six years before deciding to try to plunge into book-making. I was very lucky -- I did a postgraduate MA in illustration, and my tutor introduced me to my UK editor, who bravely decided to publish Egg Drop.

Mini : Whoops I don't have one (yet..!)

Mini : Always fun and enthusiastic (the children, that is!)

Okay, the table's set. Mini's got her coffee-I love how she specifies that it's a big cup and a strong brew; this is a coffee-drinker after my own heart-and we're ready to sit down and talk more specifics. Many thanks again to Mini for the visit!

Mini : I go plundering about looking for a starting place -- nursery rhymes and fairy tales are fertile hunting grounds. I sort of think of a question and try to collect lots of ideas about it -- I doodle little pictures of the ideas. I collect everything in my sketch books {pictured below} -- doodles, scribbles, newspaper cuttings, inspiring pictures, sweet wrappers, anything. If it turns into a story, I am overjoyed -- getting the story to work is the trickiest bit. Then I build a sort of rough model book of the story and play about with what the rules of the book are going to be (a bit like secret obsessions or a secret identity) and don't worry too much about it being an unpublishable mess. That's the most fun bit. Then there's storyboarding it into a (probably) thirty-two-page picture book and working out exactly what's going to go where. And then there's actually making the proper pictures.

Mini : Very cluttered pandemonium, it just won't stay tidy. I work in the back bedroom of my house, it looks out over the garden. The room is full of books and little things. The little things include: model insects, boiled sweets, eggcups, knitted cacti, kaleidoscopes, tiny theatres, puppets, robots, old telephones, toy TV sets -- etc. etc. I used to think it was a bit lonely working at home, but now I have a two-year-old little boy, I think it works quite nicely thank you (except for always running out of time.)

Mini : The first book I bought was One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss from a school jumble sale when I was about five. I was amazed and riveted -- it was like opening a door into a bizarre barmy universe with different creatures on every page. Later, I loved Finn Family Moomintroll, the Narnia books, and everything by E. Nesbit. My illustrational hero is Lane Smith, and his (and Jon Scieszka's) book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is what made me want to try and make picture books when I was working as a teacher.

: I'm just too shy, but what I would really like is to have a drink with my heroes of animation - Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, who made the Clangers, and Nick Park, who makes the Wallace and Gromit films.

: If I am writing things, then I don't hear anything that's going on, but I do have Concentration Music (e.g. Penguin Café Orchestra), which helps getting on with thinking about things, and Getting On With It Music, which might be more dancy. The louder and faster the music, the louder and faster I can paint.

Another spread from Ginger Bear,
Alfred A. Knopf (first American edition), 2007

Mini : I am programmed to self-destruct if I tell you.

7. 7-Imp: Is there something you wish interviewers would ask you - but never do? Feel free to ask and respond here.

Mini : "Tell me ALL about your pet!"

Answer: My pet is a cat called Bonzetta, who is a stripeless tabby, loves butter, and helps sing my son, Herbie, to sleep every night.

* * * * * * * The Pivot Questionnaire * * * * * * *

Mini : Today's favourite word is: pudding.

Mini : Today's unfavourite word is: deteriorate.

Mini : Cream cakes, scientific discovery, and open-mindedness.

Mini : Religion and greed.

Mini : I tried writing it down, but it only really works if you say it nice and loudly after hitting your thumb with a hammer.

Mini : Birdsong, overemotional music.

Mini : Scrapy fingernails on blackboard, electric shaving machines.

Mini : I would like to have a job wrapping up presents in inventive ways.

Mini : Anything where I had to get up at an unearthly early hour in the morning.

Mini : I fear he/she/it would disappear in a puff of improbability. If not, I'll be all agog and expectant - I can't imagine where they might begin.
Photos of Mini, her sketchbooks, her studio, and the devastatingly cute Bonzetta-and all featured illustrations here-reproduced courtesy of Mini Grey. All rights reserved. All titles from featured illustrations published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

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Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

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October 8th, 2008 by jules I'm so pleased that British illustrator Mini Grey has stopped by for breakfast this morning here at 7-Imp. If you were to ask me who I thought some of the most inventive, imaginative illustrators working today were, why, Mini's name would most assuredly come up.

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The Very Smart Pea and the Princess-To-Be by Mini Grey

Told from the point of view of the pea, this is a very unusual take on the traditional tale. This royal family is decidedly different. It would be a splendid book to use for comparison. The illustrations by Mini Grey would make for lively discussions.

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Mini Grey | Books | The Pea and the Princess

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Here, for the first time, straight from the Pea, is the truth about this much-loved, oft-repeated fairytale. From pod to palace - the real story of the princess and the pea...

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Royalty

Princess Pigsty by Cornelia Funke with illustrations by Kerstin Meyer

Once upon a time there were three princesses who

had everything a princess could possibly wish to have.

Every day everything was done for them for a host of servants

in the castle. One day the youngest, Princess Isabella decided

to rebel. She wanted to work, get dirty, wear pants and sleep

with the pigs. What's a father to do?

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Royalty

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2012/11/princess-i-think-not.html

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Ocean
Wave by Suzy Lee

At day spent along the ocean shore

is portrayed without words as a little

girl interacts with the water and waves.

This is simply beautiful.

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In this evocative wordless book, internationally acclaimed artist Suzy Lee tells the story of a little girl's day at the beach. Stunning in their simplicity, Lee's illustrations, in just two shades of watercolor, create a vibrant story full of joy and laughter. Music by Squeak E.

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Zoo

Pssst! by Adam Rex

One day when a little girl is at the zoo, various

animals request the oddest assortment of items.

Yes, they can talk. Little does she know, they are using

her to put an ingenious plan into action.

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Insects

The Ant and the Grasshopper by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

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Insects

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost

with photographs by Rick Lieder

A single lyrical ode to insects is illuminated

with stunning pictures.

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Elephants

Hiding Phil by Eric Barclay

Simple text and playful illustrations

tell the tale of the elephant Phil who is

discovered by two brothers and a sister.

The true humor comes when they try to

hide him from their parents.

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Ocean

Breathe by Scott Magoon
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/04/dont-forget-to.html

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Ocean

Peanut Butter and Jellyfish by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/04/p-b-and-j-lead-way.html

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Seasons

Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J Muth
Here is the link to my blog post about this title: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/in-silence.html

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Seasons

Winter Is Coming by Tony Johnston with illustrations by Jim LaMarche
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/09/an-expected-arrival.html

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Seasons

Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems

by Paul P. Janeczko with illustrations by Melissa Sweet
Here is the link to my blog post about this title:  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2014/04/seasons-of-poetic-bliss.html

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Zoo

What's New? The Zoo! by Kathleen Krull with illustrations by Marcellus Hall

Travel the globe and through history learning all about zoos.

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What's New? The Zoo! by Kathleen Krull | Scholastic

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Zoo

Penguin Cha-Cha by Kristi Valiant
http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2013/12/put-on-your-zoo-dancing-shoes.html

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Insects

Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi

with illustrations by Brendan Wenzel

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Careful gardeners spend much of their time at plant level, working the soil and tending to the growth of the flowers, vegetables and shrubs. When doing this, they are greeted by intriguing sights. Hikers who realize they are alone in a forest, depending on the time of year, will find the silence gradually filling with sound. These beings we see and hear may be small, but they are mighty in importance.

Their communities fill our undeveloped landscapes, backyards and cities. Just in time to herald in another spring Some Bugs ( Beach Lane Books, March 4, 2014) written by Angela DiTerlizzi with illustrations by Brendan Wenzel inched, leaped and flew into readers' hands last week. Let's go for a walk on the buggy side of life.

Some bugs STING.
Some bugs BITE.
Some bugs STINK.
And some bugs FIGHT.
With those four statements we are winding our way down the possibility path of questions and answers. Which bugs do which things? Which bugs would never sting, bite, stink or fight? Let's explore some more to get it right.

These interesting, incredible insects either move on land, through the air, over and under water slowly, quickly, smoothly or in spurts. They can form a ball to make themselves appear small. Is that a leaf, a twig, stem or stalk? Hiding to stay safe, you won't hear them talk.

Later, danger departed, their noise fills the air like a crazy critter band. They create, carry and search according to some internal command. Let's seek, peek and find these living prizes whether wearing their finest or sporting disguises.

Angela DiTerlizzi certainly know her audience; conveying the realm of insects with a rhythm and rhyme certain to generate interest and movement in equal measure. Using the title words repetitively she encourages a give-and-take relationship between the reader and the narrative while pointing out the individual characteristics of her bug personalities. When authors piece words together to form a cadence, a musical melody takes shape. DiTerlizzi takes readers up to a delightful crescendo, dropping down to a softer moment before releasing us to partake in a joyous adventure.

Upon opening up the dust jacket covering the matching book case, we see a single illustration stretching from flap edge to flap edge. We zoom in on the bug's world as if we have become one of them. It's a mixed media montage of color, light and suspended sound. The bright golden yellow in the flower petals becomes the solid background of the opening and closing endpapers.

On the initial title page a single bug peeks out from blades of grass. The two page spread for the formal title page begins the illustrative story; a cat walks outside down a stone pathway, insect nets and a glass jar in sight. A lone ladybug crawls down a stick from the rain gutter. (On the final page, the verso, the ladybug is crawling back up into the spout.)

All of the visuals span across two pages; each a bug's eye view except for the final two. What Brendan Wenzel does is to focus on certain sections of a greater whole, until the wide angle view of the entire backyard. It's a wonderful concept, beautifully executed.

To tell you the truth, it's almost impossible to pick a favorite illustration. What Wenzel does with a single sentence is fantastic and fun. His pictures for

Some bugs curl up in a Ball.
And some bugs TAKE.
are lighthearted and captivating. For the first we see a raccoon peering over a log with fungus ledges at a forest floor covered in mushrooms, pill bugs, a lady bug and a woolly bear caterpillar. In the second we see an army of ants busily removing items from a picnic basket above and below the ground.

No matter how many times I've read this book, Some Bugs written by Angela DiTerlizzi with illustrations by Brendan Wenzel, I end up smiling. It's a lively look, a bright and busy book, about a world within our world. Prior to the publication information and dedication, two pages are dedicated to identifying all the pictured insects.

I can see using this book as a reader's theater or turning it into a small play. It could be paired with by Gail Gibbons, Bugs Galore by Peter Stein with illustrations by Bob Staake or Bugs by the Numbers: facts and figures for multiple types of bugbeasties by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss. For more information about Brendan Wenzel please follow the link to his website embedded in his name above. Follow this link to a recent interview of Angela DiTerlizzi at John Schumacher's website, Watch. Connect. Read.

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Careful gardeners spend much of their time at plant level, working the soil and tending to the growth of the flowers, vegetables and shrubs. When doing this, they are greeted by intriguing sights. Hikers who realize they are alone in a forest, depending on the time of year, will find the silence gradually filling with sound.

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Insects

Handle with Care: An unusual butterfly journey by Loree Griffin Burns with illustrations by Ellen Harasimowicz

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It's still somewhat of a miracle to me, not having grown up with computers and the Internet, how quickly information spreads and expands in content on almost any topic imaginable. Toward the beginning of this month author Kate Messner ( Over and Under the Snow, Capture the Flag, Wake Up Missing) posted the following tweet on Twitter.

On my blog: Cold-but-lovely photos of Lake Champlain, a gorgeous new book, & the equine version of my author photo. http://t.co/ln7T7Wt9wy
- Kate Messner (@KateMessner)January 7, 2014

This led me to her blog post, Happy 2014!, discussing, among other things, the title of a new book by one of her critique partners. On a wind-howling, frigid-temperature, snowy afternoon a few days ago, it was delivered to my doorstep.

Whether you see them flitting past in your very own backyard, when out trekking through the countryside or walking through a place of wonder like The Butterflies in the Garden at the 4-H Children's Gardens at Michigan State University, your viewpoint will be positively changed after reading this book. Author Loree Griffin Burns and photographer Ellen Harasimowicz collaborate again in their new release, Handle With Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey (Millbrook Press). Thousands of miles away from the United States, a unique farm exists.

A mysterious package has arrived at the museum. It's shiny and has traveled a long, long way.
This package carries precious cargo from Costa Rica. When opened there are rows of butterfly pupa placed in foam. If you are unaware of the term pupa, it is defined succinctly as being a stage of insect life.

As a reader you might at this point be wondering why a box of pupa have been shipped from Central America to Boston, Massachusetts. We begin...at the beginning. Eggs are being laid by a mother butterfly.

The difference between this butterfly, and others you and I may have seen, is it lives inside a screened greenhouse. On this particular farm, El Bosque Nuevo, three structures serve as residences for the butterflies. When the eggs hatch, caterpillars eat, molt and grow over and over until they are ready to become pupae.

Farmers work tirelessly to make sure the caterpillars have plenty of leaves to eat as well as making crushed fruit and sugar water available for the adult butterflies. Endless hours are spent each day making sure no enemies of these herds...yes, herds...of larvae enter the enclosures. Watching and waiting, the farmers move elder caterpillars to the final home, the puparium.

Here they will hang until their departure. Some go back into the forest, others to the screened greenhouses and many arrive in places far away wrapped carefully in layers for their journey. How fortunate for all of us there are people, farmers, tending these gardens in order to preserve their land and to bring beauty to those who wish to see.

As I gaze out upon a snowy landscape, snug inside my home, it's a joy to be able to read about something I never knew existed due to the efforts of author,Loree Griffin Burns. In sentences the youngest of readers can understand, she takes us on a circular tour from museum to forest and back to the museum. Each portion of the journey, interesting details about the insect stages and the farmers who care for them, is expressed in a conversational manner. It's as if we are there with her at El Bosque Nuevo. Here is a sample passage.

This is a butterfly pupa. Some people call it
a chrysalis. Really, though, it's an ingenious
package. Inside its sturdy skin, a butterfly
larva---you might call it a caterpillar---is
quietly changing into an adult.

The matching jacket and cover is only a welcoming preface to what can only be described as a stunning photographic display within the pages of this title. Opening and closing endpapers feature panels of various grouped pupae and breathtaking adult butterflies. Opposite the title page is a colorful collage composition of insect, handbook and flower. Stretching from right to left, leaving space for the dedication and publication panel, pupae hanging in rows are pictured.

Ellen Harasimowicz has masterfully documented the narrative with her visuals. Using accent colors of celery green to frame pictures and purple to feature captions, readers are treated to a seamless layout and design. Photographs range in size and perspective; a close-up of an adult laying her eggs, a landscape view of the farm, farmers working among the leaves inside the greenhouse or the step-by-step opening of a single pupa.

One of the most fascinating photographs is of the puparium. Seeing those white screened cabinets housing thousands of caterpillars, is a marvel. A farmer is placing fresh leaves inside one of the homes for those larvae still eating.

Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey written by Loree Griffin Burns with photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz is a captivating read about a topic of which many students will be unaware. After reading this book, I guarantee their appreciation for their world and those caretakers in it will increase. The closing pages of the title include Insects and their Life Cycles, Insect Words, a Glossary, Further Reading, a Selected Bibliography, an Index and an Author's Note.
Please follow the links embedded in the author's and photographer's names to access their websites. Here is a link to thepublisher's website allowing you to view more pages from the book. I think you might be interested in this tweet which I received from author, Loree Griffin Burns.

The photographer, Ellen Harasimowicz, watched that pupa for about six hours to catch that cover shot! @mselke01 @readerroberts @Loveofxena
- Loree Griffin Burns (@LoreeGBurns)January 30, 2014

I am excited to be participating in Alyson Beecher's 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted at her blog Kid Lit Frenzy. Make sure you stop over there to see all the other nonfiction picture books showcased by other bloggers.

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It's still somewhat of a miracle to me, not having grown up with computers and the Internet, how quickly information spreads and expands in content on almost any topic imaginable. Toward the beginning of this month author Kate Messner ( Over and Under the Snow, Capture the Flag, Wake Up Missing ) posted the following tweet on Twitter.

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Elephants

Emma Kate by Patricia Polacco

In this delightful tale about best friends,

Patricia Polacco gives readers a charming twist

at the end.