The newest title in the Construction Site series of books, this one focuses on garbage trucks.
Rinker has her finger on the pulse of kids that love truThe newest title in the Construction Site series of books, this one focuses on garbage trucks.
Rinker has her finger on the pulse of kids that love trucks. This time, the construction crew must rely on the brigade of garbage trucks to help them clear out the junk and garbage from a neighborhood that is slated to undergo urban renewal. Working together with other construction trucks, they make short work of this project. Her rhyming text is just right.
Artwork by A.G. Ford were rendered in Neocolor wax oil crayons and, again, seamlessly capture the style of Tom Lichetenheld's original Construction Site books. The garbage trucks all maintain the same charm as the others in the in series.
A fine addition to add to the wildly popular series. Highly Recommended for ages 3-8.
NOTE: Reviewed from a final copy from the publisher.
What would you expect from a book with a palindrome title? A story told and illustrated as a palinNOTE: Reviewed from a final copy from the publisher.
What would you expect from a book with a palindrome title? A story told and illustrated as a palindrome, of course!
A young boy, grieving from the loss of his mother, leaves his father and home behind to go on a quest to search for her. Alone in the woods, he encounters curious creatures, nearly loses his life, meets a water serpent, washes up on a desert shore, enters an abandoned castle, and asks a statue the Big Question. When he receives his answer, the boy returns home the way he came.
Nayeri has delivered a masterpiece of simplicity. The story and book itself is a palindrome. The text on the first 2 page spread matches that of the last spread. The second mirrors the next to last. This pretty much continues until the middle of the book, which contains the Big Question. The text of two spreads needed a word or two adjusted between its mirror page in order to make the story fall into place. The first half of the book reflects the boy's grief; the second half, his joy. The spare text is practically perfect in every way. Nayeri's pacing and tempo are perfection, as well.
Stunning illustrations by Matt Rockefeller stand in stark contrast to Nayeri's words, as they are filled with so much detail they expand the story in so many ways. Most have a beautiful border around each illustration, with some borders in the first half of the book carrying a gloomy tone (ex. thorny vines growing around the illustration, cold kitchen warmed only by sunlight streaking through a window and no food on the plate in the border, etc.) while the second half finishes with a brighter overall color palette and both hope and joy in each image and their borders. Artwork was created using Mitsubishi Hi-uni pencils on Arches Hot Press watercolor paper and painted digitally with custom brushes in Adobe Photoshop.
A beautiful story, beautifully executed, this would be an excellent exemplar to pair with Marilyn Singer's Mirror, Mirror for students to read, study, and write their own palindrome stories or poems. Grief counselors might find this story is a useful tool to get conversations started with young clients.
Include in units on creative writing, literary devices, fantasy, adventures, and grief.
A stellar tribute to the shared history of Asian Americans.
Each verse of this poetry collection is inspired by actual people, places, events, and moveA stellar tribute to the shared history of Asian Americans.
Each verse of this poetry collection is inspired by actual people, places, events, and movements of groups of people and focuses on a different aspect of the Asian American experience. They include the importance of the sun/moon and flowers to Asian cultures, why groups of Asian people migrated to the U.S. and why Americans came to their country, how people of Asian descent have been treated and why the hostility, how Asian Americans have proved their loyalty, why they had to fight for equality and justice, and how Asian Americans are standing up for themselves today. Backmatter includes discussion questions for each stanza and starting points to learn more and both Author's and Artist's Notes.
Ho's lyric text is magical and light, creating a picture of the topic using words as a paintbrush. It is evident she has done deep research on every aspect covered in this book. She does not directly speak the challenges Asian Americans have faced, rather she gives positive spins on all to show a strength of the people and gives them a call to action. She achieves this through the use of beautiful metaphors throughout the book.
Digital artwork by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya was created usig Adobe Illustrator. One could spend hours looking at every detail in this incredibly beautiful book! From the secret cover to the endsheets with cranes in flight, each page is glorious in design, with strong patterns and textures delivered in bold, bright colors. It features a range of emotions - pride, happiness, determination, fear, hope, strength, anger, and spirit - in the faces of the men and women, young and old. Cultures are revealed in the flowers throughout the book, written language, cultural touchstones such as a junk (ship) and dragon, jewelry, hairstyles, and costuming.
Due to the nature of this book, it would best be introduced to upper elementary and middle grade students as part of a unit of study of Asia, migration, U.S. History, or World History when its meanings can be studied and discussed.
Another stunning addition to Wenzel's canon of work.
As the sun rises in the day, its golden rays infuse the world withNOTE: Reviewed from an ARC copy.
Another stunning addition to Wenzel's canon of work.
As the sun rises in the day, its golden rays infuse the world with life. Each living thing it touches becomes golden. When touched by another creature, it transfers that golden radiance. It begins with the sun's rays touching a flower to bee collecting its pollen to beehive with its honey to bear eating the honey...and so on until the setting sun's last rays touch the boy's face.
Once again, Wenzel has created a beautiful concept book. This one shows how something light, joyful, and hopeful can be passed along without end. The spare, lyric text sings as the power and light of the sun is transferred from one thing to another. The focus of the text stays on the sun, while the images tell another story. The images show three vehicles of light transfer (the source of the light, the next to carry it, the transfer of light, and the new source of light) on each 2-page spread. The tet is smooth and reads aloud beautifully. Readers will enjoy predicting what comes next.
Wenzel's illustrations, created with mixed media - including cut paper, watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, crayon, all digitally manipulated - zing and sing off the page. Starting on the front endsheets with dawn and the rising sun, the sky changes from dark to dawn to mid-day to twilight to dark on the back endsheets. Wenzel skillfully shows the transfer of golden light and the effect without having to depend on text to do this.
Use this in units of predicting what comes next, the sun, nature, and how actions have consequences.
Kwame never ceases to amaze me with his wordsmithing; this book is no exception.
Kwame Alexander gives a quick 32-page surveNOTE: Reviewed from an ARC.
Kwame never ceases to amaze me with his wordsmithing; this book is no exception.
Kwame Alexander gives a quick 32-page survey of music appreciation, as listened to by Black Americans from the "fireside chorus of the motherland" to "the sweet sound of a people surviving and thriving" today. He touches of so many musical styles: spirituals, blues, jazz, scat, bebop, bossanova, pop/rock, soul, rhythm & blues, reggae, funk, hiphop, rap (among others). Each musical "era" is grouped together under a poem, with the poems listing such things a singers/musicians, song titles, sights, and other highlights. It frequently reads with a hiphop rhythm that is often found in Alexander's poetry. Backmatter includes explanation of terms mentioned in each poem, extending the depth of the reading experience.
With (what appears to be) gouache, Charly Palmer adds sizzle and pop to Alexander's lists. The bold strokes and brilliant colors pop off the page as actual people mentioned in the text and others who might have been are shown performing their music. Many of the recent musicians are easily recogniezed, such as The Fisk Singers, Billie Holiday, Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Tina Turner, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Sean "Diddy" Combs. (Personally, I noted visually absent was Michael "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" Jackson.) Good use of open space for fonts (of various sizes for emphasis) and differing font sizes to set off the titles of poems and also show areas to bring out (stress) when reading the text aloud.
A fun introduction to pull out for music appreciation, survey of Black music in America, among others.
This made me want to grab my old boom box and crank up some L.L. Cool J. (OK, I own it - I'm old!)
Carole Boston WeaNote: Reviewed from an ARC edition.
This made me want to grab my old boom box and crank up some L.L. Cool J. (OK, I own it - I'm old!)
Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford celebrate rap and build both understanding and appreciation for the artform in this rhythmic, rhyming romp. In it, a young boy grabs a mic and raps about how he began writing and performing rap. He explains his process, makes suggestions of literary terms, places to find rich vocabulary, and forms to use when writing a rap. This is all presented as one rhyming rap, complete with a rhyming rhythm that needs nothing more than a scratchy turntable and a little percussion to make it sing when read aloud. Backmatter includes an author's note from Jeffrey and a glossary of the literary terms in the book.
Artwork by Ernel Martinez is, in a word, exquisite. Reminiscent of Floyd Cooper's reduction artwork, there is a softness and fuzziness to the bold and bright colors found throughout the book. The joy felt by everyone listening to the rap of the text is infectious. It makes the reader "feel good". It gives a great peek into this boy's world that is, at the same time messy, cluttered, focused, and fun.
English teachers should take a deep dive into this, as it points out so many literary devices and gives many examples. Pull this out during poetry units, music classes, and anytime you need a pick-me-up!
Highly Recommended for grades Pre-4. (could be used in classroom instruction up to grades 8.
With the title taken from a phrase in her book Song of Solomon, PinkneyNote: Reviewed from an F&G copy.
A beautiful introduction to a beautiful soul...
With the title taken from a phrase in her book Song of Solomon, Pinkney's poetic tribute picture book/biography of the winner of a Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize, and Presidential Medal covers highlights of her life growing up to become an editor for a major publishing house, author, and mentor to many up-and-coming Black American writers. From her humble beginnings, she set off for Howard University and later New York where she began her literary career. It highlights some of her most famous efforts and awards, closing with many of the points of light she left behind. Backmatter includes notes from author Pinkney and illustrator Daniel Minter, a photo of Morrison and short synopsis several accomplishments not included in the text, timeline of her life, bibliography of her works (for adults and children), and a list of reference sources.
As always, Pinkney's use of words is exquisite. They are spare and often use repetition and lists as vehicles to make this a joy to read aloud. Minter details his mixed media approach to the artwork that includes acrylic wash, a central figure for each 2-page spread, and white line adornments that focus on and point back to the focal point of the art. It is stunning in its range of color and vitality. Pairing these two - beautiful words and rich, expansive artwork - will keep young readers spellbound to think about this book multiple times.
There are so many ways to use this book, as it would also be appropriate to share when opening a unit of study about Morrison to all ages, from grades 4-12. Also tuck into collections about African-American literature, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Poetry Month...
Reviewed from an ARC given by the publisher. Many thanks for sharing an early look at this very special book.
A divine partnership is born...
In preparaReviewed from an ARC given by the publisher. Many thanks for sharing an early look at this very special book.
A divine partnership is born...
In preparation for the launch of NASA's Europa Clipper in October 2024 and bound for Jupiter's second moon, current Poet Laureate of the U.S., Ada Limón, was asked to write a poem that will be on the spacecraft. She has delivered spare, yet powerful lyrical text that embodies the essence of this planet that we call Earth, celebrating human curiosity and emotions about our planet - both things known and unknown - and offers a message of hope, friendship, and peace. The text washes over the reader/listener and opens up new images and ideas with each stanza. My favorite passage makes reference to the childhood nursery rhyme about wishing on a star (which I still often do!), as it immediately drew me emotionally into the text and made it personal.
The stellar text is equally matched with breath-taking illustrations by the award-winning illustrator Peter Sís. In his signature style, using the blues, greens, and whites of Earth, he shows how mankind experiences our world. It is full of stellar, lunar, and constellar constructs of things we have a limited knowledge of, comparing them with earthly constructs of whales, birds, and trees that we still have much to learn about, with water in its many forms linking the two heavenly bodies (Earth and Europa). Sís departs from his finely detailed illustration style when he compares the seas of the two; here he uses a style reminiscent of Van Gosh's popular masterpiece "The Starry Night" to show the vastness and fluidity of oceans in space. He closes with celestial images of humans and their need to understand their world and beyond.
Backmatter includes page with the text of the poem and an Author's Note about the significance of the poem.
Use this in science classes, poetry writing, as a poem to recite, and just for sheer pleasure. One to pour over and over again.
Just as they did with Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water, and Viento, Vientito / Wind, Little Wind, Team Argueta and Alcántara strike gold again.
This Just as they did with Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water, and Viento, Vientito / Wind, Little Wind, Team Argueta and Alcántara strike gold again.
This unusual book, the winner of the Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature, is told in a bilingual Spanish-English format, with a translation of the poem into Nahuat (indigenous language of El Salvador). This bilingual celebration of the Earth is joyous and lively. The text dances off the page (both in Spanish and English). The digital (?) artwork by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara is just as joyous.
Use this to reflect the many wonders of Earth on Earth Day. It would make a great reader’s theater script. Recommended for grades K-3. ...more
As they did in Swirls, Sidman and illustrator Beth Krommes explain the concept of branches in the simplest of terms, giving concrete examples of thingAs they did in Swirls, Sidman and illustrator Beth Krommes explain the concept of branches in the simplest of terms, giving concrete examples of things that spread and connect in this beautifully constructed book.
Sidman’s careful selection of text, keeping it at a minimum, with a sentence or two on each two-page spread. The poetic text dances off the pages. Two pages of backmatter help explain the purpose of branches – to grow, support, flow, spark, crack/freeze, repeat, and are alive – with a paragraph and image of each.
Krommes’ stunning artwork, rendered as B&W images on scratchboard panels, then transferred onto paper, with watercolor added, is glorious. The endsheets and throughout the book feature full of bright, colorful images that are bound in heavy black lines, with each illustrated branching thing clearly labeled.
Useful in poetry collections, science classes, and recreational reading. Highly Recommended for grades PreS – 3. ...more
The rhyming lyrics of Fred Small's song have been slightly adapted in this beautiful picture book.
A young girls plays with her diverse group of friendThe rhyming lyrics of Fred Small's song have been slightly adapted in this beautiful picture book.
A young girls plays with her diverse group of friends, sees an adult who has a disability as a friend of her parents, LGBT adults in the park, and rests comfortably within her family to the lyrics of the song. Bright colorful 2-page spreads show the joy and love surrounding this girl.
Backmatter includes background about the origin of the song. Perfect for helping build self-esteem and seeing others as they are.
Weaving together two Nahua traditional tales (one that the Rabbit was placed on the moon by the Feathered Serpent and the other that Lord Opossum stolWeaving together two Nahua traditional tales (one that the Rabbit was placed on the moon by the Feathered Serpent and the other that Lord Opossum stole fire from the gods to keep humans warm), a new beautiful tale emerges.
The full moon shone in the sky until Rabbit drank some of its light. He climbs down the tree to refill it with aguamiel (honey water) from the first and holy maguey (type of agava plant). Opossum spies Rabbit refilling the moon and, jealous of Rabbit, taps into the moon for the aguamiel. Rabbit sees Opossum with his jar of the glowing liquid and scolds him for being so selfish. Ashamed, Opossum goes to the center of the Earth for some fire, scorching his tail on the way out. He sets the fire in the sky as the sun. Together, they become the Guardians of Light.
Backmatter includes a note explaining the significance of The Great Ceiba, Rabbit and the Moon, Opossum and the Sun’s Fire, Maguey and Aguamiel, and the weaving of stories. Published simultaneously in English and Spanish, Bowles’ lyric language flows beautifully when read aloud.
Mexican illustrator David Álvarez created the story, putting it down in beautiful illustrations in 2017, with Bowles writing the beautiful words in 2023. Álvarez’s illustrations, created with acrylics and oil paints (later digitized), pop off the black background. There is a lovely luminous feeling from the moon and the aguamiel.
A lovely choice to include in folklore collections.
Highly Recommended for grades PreS-grade 3....more
**spoiler alert** Hill's poetic text and Collier's incredible artwork bring to life this largely unheralded artist from the mid-1800's and whose pots **spoiler alert** Hill's poetic text and Collier's incredible artwork bring to life this largely unheralded artist from the mid-1800's and whose pots were created as an act of resistance and are sought out by collectors today. ...more
Langston Hughes' moving poem-vision of hope for the future, set to incredible illustrations by Bryan Collier. Collier has very cleverly set it againstLangston Hughes' moving poem-vision of hope for the future, set to incredible illustrations by Bryan Collier. Collier has very cleverly set it against the past of the Pullman Porters. His artwork, rendered in mixed media, is always both amazing and exciting to view, as one sees new things each time it is read.
The second of a trilogy of picture books celebrating and affirming Black culture.
Like they did in All Because You Matter (Scholastic, 2020) this dynamThe second of a trilogy of picture books celebrating and affirming Black culture.
Like they did in All Because You Matter (Scholastic, 2020) this dynamic duo team up again with Charles' lyric poetry and Collier's amazing artwork. The focus here is on a young girl. The text talks about the past and expresses hope and possibilities for the future, doing this with spare and elegant text. Collier's artwork, rendered in collage with Winsor & Newton watercolor paint on 300 lb. Arches watercolor paper, is nothing short of spectacular. He includes identifiable role models from the past - from Muddy Waters to Ella Fitzgerald to Marian Anderson to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to George Floyd - each one inspirational. He maintains his quilt-like texturing of illustrations that provide a feast for the eyes and works well with Charles' words for the soul.
Include in units on diversity, self-esteem, and just because.
Kwame does what Kwame does best: builds bridges for people through poetry. In this case, it is about how to teach the topic of slavery to a classroom Kwame does what Kwame does best: builds bridges for people through poetry. In this case, it is about how to teach the topic of slavery to a classroom of today's children.
This is a painful story that starts in Africa, talks frankly about what slavery was - how it came to be, how it traumatized those who were enslaved, and how it took many brave people to speak up to end it.
In reaction to an incident in his daughter's classroom, Alexander wrote thisd poem to be read aloud to children by teachers who want to introduce the concept of slavery in their classrooms and conduct conversations about it. He describes the joy felt by the people prior to their enslavement, the trauma and terrors they were forced to undergo when crossing the ocean, the forced unpaid labor they provided, the suppression they experienced, the pride and strength and the punishment felt, what standing up and speaking out meant, and the love and courage to dream about tomorrow. He interjects questions during this story, as if a class of students is asking these tough questions of their teachr. Across 23-double page spreads, he leaves plenty of white space and uses these questions for teachers to stop and talk with young people. This is close and very personal. Alexander's powerful words cut straight to the gut here.
Debut artist Dare Coulter's first picture book, she used a combination of spray paint, acrylic paint, charcoal, graphite, ink, digital painting and manipulation along with both ceramic and polymer clay sculptures that she painted with acrylic and spray paints. The sculptures are so lifelike and real, it is scary. The endsheets open with a full moon on a cloudy night and close with a bright, sunny day. Coulter's artwork is beyond stunning. The sculptures of people from the past are so colorful and life-like and contrast so well to the simple digitally manipulated charcoal and graphite illustrations of children of today who are listening to the painful tales and asking questions so they can learn and remember the pain of the past. The images are all extraordinary!
Using poetry inspired Octavia E. Butler's (OEB) life, prose comments about OEB's life, quotes from OEB, and a handful of primary source materials abouUsing poetry inspired Octavia E. Butler's (OEB) life, prose comments about OEB's life, quotes from OEB, and a handful of primary source materials about OEB, long-time OEB fan Ibi Zoboi gives middle grade readers a loving tribute to the award-winning adult science fiction author Octavia E. Butler. Also included are several pages about Zoboi's interactions with OEB. Backmatter includes the author's acknowledgements, endnotes for OEB quotations, and photo credits.
I found this book to be a bit difficult to read and stay with. Zoboi uses many forms of poetry to tell OEB's story, including haiku, couplets, free verse, and concrete poetry. Each poem is intriguing and is accompanied by a page or two of prose that explains the poem's meaning as it relates to the life of OEB and a quote or two by OEB that relates to the topic of the poem. This type of presentation makes for a choppy flow of reading, difficult to see a through timeline of OEB's life, and - at times - a bit preachy. For this reason, this book would not be suitable to use to find information about OEB for reports. There is no timeline in the book to pull the events together or set them in context, no index to topics, and no bibliography to lead young readers to other places to read more about this amazing woman. While Zoboi makes reference to short stories OEB wrote, there are no lists of short story titles appropriate for young readers or where to access to any of them. To her credit, Zoboi does list all of the books written by OEB within the text block. I almost wonder if this would have been better set up as a collection of poems in picture book format with the prose edited into one narrative as backmatter; the page number of the relevant poem could be cross-referenced in the prose text.
One may wonder why no books have been written about OEB for younger readers. I would venture to guess because children are not adults - which were OEB's audience - and have not read her books. (The only film adaptation I could find of her books was "The Kindred" (2022), airing on Hulu with a rating TV-Mature.) This book could serve as an introduction to her inspiring life for upper middle graders, but should be used as a gateway to her works only for mature high school students who may want to read/have read one of her books and want to learn more about OEB. Be advised that both age groups may be turned off or feel put down by the tone of the prose and the poetry format as the means to deliver information. This book could also serve as an inspiration to both girls and POC children (during Black History Month, Women's History Month, or in a unit on creative writing, for example) to encourage them to write whatever they imagine - particularly if they don't see themselves in books or see others like them as authors.
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