Nino Wrestles the World

Nino Wrestles the World written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Roaring Book Press, 2013. ISBN 978-1-59643-604-6

Reader's Annotation: Nino, possibly the youngest and smallest Lucha Libre wrestler ever, bravely faces an array of frightening opponents. But when challenged by a dreadful set of twins, who just happen to be his little sisters, will he be triumphant?

Summary: Nino may appear to be an average boy, but when he swaps his regular clothes for his Lucha Libra mask and trunks (really his underwear), he becomes a fierce wrestler, ready to take on all challengers. Mummies, ghosts, and even the devil himself are no match for Nino, who uses such moves as the Tickle Tackle and the Popsicle Slick to defeat his opponents. He feels no fear, and  outmaneuvers each opponent with sharp wit and lightning quick agility.

But then, Nino is confronted by his toughest match yet: the double trouble pairing of his two little sisters. Will Nino emerge as a winner, or will these ruthless challengers defeat him once and for all?

Critical Evaluation: Yuyi Morales has crafted an action-packed tale full of the dramatic spirit of Lucha Libre wrestling. Every detail in Morales' illustrations, from the typeface, the sound effects, and the stylized representation of the characters, adds to the overall authentic feel of this exciting tale.

The potentially frightening opponents are tamed by the lighthearted style utilized by Morales, and children familiar with these spooky Mexican monsters and legends will be emboldened by Nino's brave moves and triumphs.

The depictions of each of Nino's challengers on the book's endpapers provide a humorous back story for each wrestler, along with pronunciation guides for non-Spanish speakers. Included in the text are many Spanish terms which are faithful to the world of Lucha Libre, but whose meaning is easily determined through context.

This is a fun account of a boy's love for wrestling, and will appeal to children who love stories filled with action and silliness.

Age or Interest Level: Pre-K to Grade 2

Lexile Level: 260L

Awards:Pura Belpre Illustrator Award, Charlotte Zolotow Award / Highly Commended, Horn Book Fanfare, ALSC Notable Children's Book

Why Included? This is a wonderfully unique introduction to the world of Lucha Libre wrestling for those unfamiliar with this aspect of Latino culture.

Tar Beach

Tar Beach written and illustrated by Faith Ringgold. Crown Publishers, 1991. ISBN 0-517-58030-6

Reader's Annotation: Cassie Louise Lightfoot can do something that we have all, at some point in our lives, wished we could -- fly! In the evenings, she soars over her Harlem neighborhood, above the tall buildings and among the stars.

Summary: On hot summer evenings in Harlem, Cassie's family heads up - to the cooler air on the tar-papered roof to enjoy picnic style dinners with the neighbors. As Cassie and her brother lie on a mattress gazing at the stars, she floats up to fly above the George Washington Bridge and the construction projects her high-steel worker father has helped to build.

Cassie believes that her power of flight allows her to raise her family above the racial prejudice and financial struggles that they face at ground level. She will buy the bridge, the skyscrapers, and an ice cream factory and give them to her father. Her mother will be happy, and she will teach her little brother to fly too. There is just no stopping this brave heroine in her search for freedom and equality.

Critical Evaluation: Ringgold provides an approachable explanation, even for the very young, for the discrimination that many minority families experienced in our nation's history. By telling the narrative from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl, children can more easily grasp what life was like for a biracial child of this era.

Ringgold based the illustrations and text on a story quilt that she created in 1988, and portions of the quilt's fabric squares are shown within the colorful patchwork border on each page. The acrylic on canvas paintings are folk-like in style, and the colors Ringgold uses are vibrant and hopeful, just like Cassie's spirit.

The author has captured this family's summer evening experiences so clearly, you can almost hear the buzz of adult conversation in the background, and feel the warmth of the day's heat rising from the tar paper rooftop.

Age or Interest Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Lexile Level: 790L

Awards:A Caldecott Honor Book
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book
Winner of the Parents' Choice Gold Award

Why Included? The colors! The patchwork! Cassie's dream of freedom!

Some Bugs

Some Bugs. Words by Angela DiTerlizzi, bugs by Brendan Wenzel. Beach Lane Books, 2014. ISBN 978-1-4424-5880-2

Reader's Annotation: There is a whole world of bugs waiting to be discovered in every backyard! Follow along with an inquisitive ladybug to see who she meets throughout her day.

Summary: Rhyming, lighthearted text describes the different sorts of bugs that inhabit the small world traversed by a ladybug in her day's journey. She emerges from her home in a downspout and encounters many different insects doing what they do best.

"Some bugs sting. Some bugs bite. Some bugs stink. And some bugs FIGHT!" Not only do the bugs interact with each other, they also react to visits by larger creatures like birds, raccoons, and a curious cat. Ants steal food from a picnic, click bugs click, and roly-poly pill bugs curl up in balls. The friendly ladybug leads the reader through a buzzing, bustling landscape full of insect life, and children will be inspired to take a closer look the next time they go outside.

At the end of the text, the author and illustrator have included a two-page spread featuring every insect included in the book along with its name, which could be extremely useful for young backyard explorers.

Critical Evaluation: With simple, rhyming text and ridiculously delightful insect characters, DiTerlizzi and Wenzel have crafted a charming picture book that is sure to cause a new appreciation for bugs among young readers. The text is written at a level that can be utilized both as a read-aloud for story time, or as a selection for new readers to enjoy.

Wenzel has created a marvelous world of bug personalities with incredibly expressive eyes. There is a joyful silliness in the way they have been drawn, and their movements capture the characteristics of each type of insect going about their typical activities. The colors and textures in the illustrations are cheerful and lush, which add to the happy vibe of the book.

Some Bugs is charming on its first reading, but with so many details to examine on each page, and the variety of comical insect characters to observe, subsequent readings will be just as enchanting.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 2 to 6

Lexile Level: 200L

Awards: ---

Why Included? As a backyard bug hunter myself, I found the illustrations endearing, and while anthropomorphic, the expressions given to the bugs by Wenzel are priceless.

Hondo & Fabian

Hondo & Fabian written and illustrated by Peter McCarty. Henry Holt & Company, 2002. ISBN 0-8050-6352-8

Reader's Annotation: Hondo and Fabian, each doing what dogs and cats do best, spend their time very differently. Yet, the two friends have a great deal in common after all.

Summary: The day begins with Hondo the dog and Fabian the cat sleeping in their favorite places. From this starting point, Hondo's day includes an expedition to the beach to play in the waves with his dog pal, Fred, while Fabian settles in for some quieter time at home with the baby. They enjoy themselves, but are happy to reunite at home again for dinner, and then settle in for another contented night of restful sleep close to each other.

Critical Evaluation: This soothing tale of friendship story is told from the alternating perspectives of Hondo and Fabian on each two-page spread, and both the text and illustrations are spare enough to allow the focus to remain on the two animals as they experience the world around them. McCarty's pencil on watercolor paper illustrations capture the joy and playfulness expressed by this animal pair, as well as the affection between them.

The artwork is finely textured, muted in color and shading, and practically glows with soft light. Hondo and Fabian look so soft, and their surroundings are depicted in such a cozy manner, that children and parents will long to step into the story and inhabit McCarty's inviting world for a while.

McCarty excels in offering contrasts between the pair's activities, while simultaneously highlighting similarities. For example, Hondo gets hungry at the beach and eyes the fisherman's catch. At the same time, Fabian gets hungry and wishes he could eat the turkey sandwich on the counter at home. Children will enjoy noticing these patterns within the story as they follow the animal pair through the course of a day.

McCarty's soothing text and softly textured illustrations combine to create the perfect bedtime story for the very young. The bond of friendship and love between these two animals is beautifully depicted and elegantly told.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 1 to 4

Lexile Level: 180L

Awards: 2002 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year and Notable Children's Book of the Year, and a 2003 Caldecott Honor Book.

Why Included? I would like to live in Hondo and Fabian's world.

Warning: Do Not Open this Book!

Warning: Do Not Open this Book! Written by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. Simon & Schuster, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4424-3582-7

Reader's Annotation: Monkeys! Toucans! Alligators! In the spirit of There's a Monster at the End of this Book, readers are repeatedly cautioned not to turn the page, but who can resist such a warning...

Summary: With cautions such as "This book is super-dangerous", and "Go back! Wrong way!", the stage is set for catastrophe and silliness. Monkeys are released into the book with a turn of the page, and begin to paint messily and tamper with the text. When things seem to have settled down somewhat, and the monkeys are resting, a flock of toucans is loosened and craziness ensues. When an alligator who wants to eat the monkeys and toucans appears, all hope of returning to a quieter, less chaotic state is lost.

Can the reader, with the help of the narrator, figure out a way to contain the silliness? Will the monkeys, toucans, and alligator be caught and their mayhem contained? Keep turning the pages to find out.

Critical Evaluation: Lehrhaupt has created an extremely silly interactive book that begs to be read again and again. With simple text that becomes a part of the design of each two-page layout, and suspenseful pacing that encourages page turning, even while the narrative warns against it, this picture book encourages laughter and engagement. 

Forsythe's digitally rendered illustrations are restrained in color, being composed of mainly earth tones, but the movement and energy he captures in his depictions of the animals are nothing but lively. The facial expressions and goofy posturing of the monkeys are irresistible, and children will delight in their antics.

In a world full of rules, this book offers children an opportunity to not follow directions, and safely explore the outcome. Young readers may recognize themselves in the mess-making behaviors of the animals, and will enjoy playing a key role in solving the problem of the escaped animals.

The solution is cleverly proposed, and even the back cover of the book becomes part of the narrative. This book would be a wonderful read-aloud for a preschool or Kindergarten story time, with guaranteed participation from all listeners.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 2 to 6

Awards: ALA notable book, 2014 E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor Award

Why Included? As a longtime fan of Grover, the premise of this interactive book really appealed to me, and it did not disappoint. 

Maria had a Little Llama = Maria tenia una Llamita

Maria had a Little Llama = Maria Tenia una Llamita by Angela Dominguez. Henry Holt & Company, 2013. ISBN 978-0-8050-9333-9

Reader's Annotation: Maria's little llama follows her everywhere, through to countryside and into the town, but what will happen when he follows her to school?

Summary: Dominguez has created a Peruvian take on the familiar nursery rhyme, Mary had a Little Lamb, with text in both English and Spanish. "Maria has a little llama, whose fleece was white as snow". Maria and her llama are inseparable, and explore the landscape and Incan landmarks around their home together. One day, the llama follows Maria into town and right into the village school!

Maria's fellow students are delighted to have a llama in class, but of course, the rules won't allow it. Maria's teacher kindly sends the llama outside to wait. And what a joyful reunion they have when the school day is over! 

Critical Evaluation: This charming re-imagining of a classic rhyme offers a window into the world of village children in this region of Peru. With bilingual text, and illustrations featuring regional dress and the village band performing at the end of the rhyme, Dominguez has successfully incorporated many cultural details into this simple story. 

The tale highlights the loving bond that develops between children and their pets in every country around the globe, no matter the continent or type of animal. The roughly shaded illustrations include a multitude of textures and patterns, well-suited for depicting the mountainous landscape surrounding Maria's home and village. 

While the book ends rather abruptly, it is true to the original children's rhyme, and the sweetness of Maria's musical celebration with her llama helps to make up for the sudden finish. Although geared to a younger audience, the inclusion of a map featuring several Incan ruins, and the depiction of Peruvian musicians and instruments could spark an interest for further research in slightly older readers.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 2 to 5

Awards: 2014 Pura Belpré Award, Honor, Illustrator; ALA 2014 Notable Children’s Books, Younger Readers

Why Included? It is wonderful to imagine a place so different from my own small village. Where we have dogs and cats, Maria's village has llamas. We have the sea and Maria has mountains. Our oldest buildings date to the 1600's, while Maria is surrounded by ancient Incan monuments. Fascinating!

Hogwash

Hogwash by Arthur Geisert. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008. ISBN 978-0-618-77332-9

Reader's Annotation: What's a mama pig to do when all of her piglets spend the day romping in both mud and paint? Clean them up, of course, but the pigs in Hogwash accomplish this with an ingenuity never before seen in the porcine world!

Summary: Geisert, author of such wordless classics as Ice and Nursery Crimes offers another timeless tale about children getting dirty, and their mothers getting them clean again. In a neat and tidy settlement of pigs, piglets emerge from their homes in the morning and head off to play. They arrive at a wallowing pool and, with the addition of water from the pump and extra dirt gleaned from the banks of the pool, proceed to get filthy. 

Next up is an abandoned paint factory, where the piglets jubilantly tip over vats of primary colored paint and end up looking like muddy rainbows. When the mama pigs arrive to round up their children, they take the piglet's state of uncleanliness in stride because they have an amazing mechanical device for situations such as this.

Children with an interest in the way things work will be enthralled by Giesert's detailed depiction of the hogwashing machine. As the piglets travel through the device on their journey to cleanliness, each step of the process is illustrated in such an intricately elaborate manner that readers can actually see how such a contraption would operate.

Critical Evaluation: Geisert's wordless picture books allow his images to take center stage. Without text to describe the illustrated scene or direct the reader's attention to particular aspects of each spread, each child, no matter their age or developmental level, will have an opportunity to view the imagery from their own unique perspective.

As Geisert's focus shifts between long-distance and extremely close-up viewpoints, he is able to place his characters within a larger landscape setting while simultaneously providing a fine level of detail that expands on the personalities of the piglets, and on the inner workings of the mechanical devices.

For any child who loves to get dirty, or who wonders how things work, Hogwash will provide them with a fascinating account of a day in the lives of a group of piglets. This is a story that children can enjoy again and again, as new details can be discovered with each reading. It would also be an inspiring starting point for a school unit on inventions or very basic principles of physics. 

Age or Interest Level: Pre-K to Grade 3

Awards: ---

Why Included? Geisert's many stories about pigs have long been a favorite of mine. His style of etching is visually appealing, and sharing a wordless book with a child can open up a world of conversation, even more so than with a book which includes narrative text.

Home

Home written and illustrated by Carson Ellis. Candlewick Press, 2014. ISBN 978-0-7636-6529-6

Reader's Annotation: What do pirates, the old woman who lived in a shoe, and a raccoon have in common? Homes! Carson Ellis has captured the unique character of each of the residences highlighted in this compendium, which are simply perfect for those who live in them.

Summary: From country to city, land to sea, and the Earth to the Moon, Ellis has compiled a wonderfully imaginative selection of homes, which are depicted with charm. Beginning with a dove leaving its nest, each two-page spread illustrates a certain home, whether it be a home for people, animals, a mysterious small creature, or a space dweller.

Some of the homes are familiar, or are drawn from nursery rhymes, while others introduce new concepts such as the lost city or Atlantis, or a Russian Babushka.The simple text is gently paced, and often is phrased to provide clues about the home pictured. In some instances, open ended questions, such as "Whose home is this?" invite the reader to fully engage their imaginations. 

Children will enjoy following the dove from scene to scene, and one of the final illustrations shows Ellis in her studio, which includes artifacts and knick-knacks representing items from each of the previous homes. These clever details transform the simple tale into an interactive search and find. 

Critical Evaluation: The interactive capabilities inherent in the questions posed, the repeated use of the dove in each spread, and the combining of items from each illustration in the artist's studio serve to expand the levels of possible engagement between children and the work.

Ellis' illustrations are naive in style, with a flat look, but this does not detract from this book. Instead, the style of her illustrations adds an appealing quaintness that allows the fine details of the images to shine. The restrained and muted palette serves to connect the diverse homes and characters, and gives a feeling of continuity through the work.

This would be an ideal choice to introduce a unit or storytime on homes, both local and around the world, to preschool through Grade 2 students. Children could then be encouraged to create a picture showing their own homes, or the home of their dreams.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7

Why Included? I loved Ellis' illustrations for the middle-grade series Wildwood, and am equally impressed with this work for younger readers.

Demolition

Demolition by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock. Candlewick Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-7636-5830-4

Reader's Annotation: "Thud! Creak! WHAM!" Few things are more exciting to many young children than big construction equipment, except, of course, when that same machinery is used for demolition.

Summary: The day begins with the work crew putting on their gear and getting right to work preparing a derelict high rise for demolition. With rhyming text that includes plenty of sound effects at every stage of the project, readers can follow along with the de-construction project from beginning to end. Once the wrecking ball and excavators have done their work, site clean-up can begin. But what will the crew build once they have a clear lot to work with?

Sutton has included a useful "Machine Facts" illustrated glossary at the end of the narrative, which includes the names of each piece of equipment featured in the story, and a description of exactly what it does. Readers will enjoy every stage of this demolition project, and will reach the final page with a feeling of satisfaction for a job well done.

Critical Evaluation: Sutton's rhythmic, highly descriptive text, which is full of action words, sets a mood suitable the busy de-construction site. Her frequent use of onomatopoeias in a larger typeface will allow early readers to more easily participate in a read-aloud of the narrative.

There are plenty of details to examine in Lovelock's illustrations, which complement the narrative at each step of the demolition project. The equipment itself figures prominently in the artwork, and the dusty, speckled look of the illustration backgrounds is just what would be expected at a job site of this type in real-life.

This work would serve to satisfy the curiosity of children who want to know how things are put together, as well as how they are taken apart. Sutton and Lovelock have also collaborated on two similar picture books, Roadwork and Construction.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 2 to 6

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book

Why Included? This title could really engage the full attention of young fans of heavy equipment. The action sound effects would be great fun in a story time to encourage audience participation.

Firefly July: a Year of Very Short Poems

Firefly July: a Year of Very Short Poems. Selected by Paul B. Janeczko, illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Candlewick Press, 2014. ISBN 978-0-7636-4842-8

Reader's Annotation: For anyone who experienced poetry as a child as something to be drilled into memory, or picked apart and analyzed, prepare to be astounded. This is how poetry should be first introduced and experienced!

Summary: Beginning with spring, poems that are just the right length for young children express the feeling and mood of each season. With selections from poets such as Carl Sandburg, Langston Hughes, and Emily Dickinson, this illustrated work provides a perfect introduction to the world of poetry. The included poems are about many things that a child would be familiar with, like animals, nature, weather, cities, and people.

Sweet's illustrations capture the essence of each poem, and welcome the reader to pause and savor the details included in each piece of artwork that accompanies each poem. Perfect for browsing, or for reading straight through, preschoolers and early elementary children can enjoy this book in whichever quantity they prefer.

Critical Evaluation: Poetry can be somewhat intimidating, but the selections included here are so approachable, and deal with such everyday happenings, that the way is made clear for children can discover that poetry is simply another way to express ideas and feelings. With Sweet's illustrations playing such a prominent role in each poems one or two-page coverage, children familiar with picture books will feel comfortable while exploring this new narrative style.

The watercolor, gouache, and mixed media illustrations highlight the key ideas contained in each poem, and together provide a full experience of the work for children to explore. The subject matter and narrator's voice switch quickly from one poem to the next, but Sweet's illustrative style provides a constancy that unites the individual, disparate works into a continuously flowing whole.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 4 to 8

Lexile Level: 540L

Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children 2015, Younger Readers; Parents' Choice Gold Award

Why Included? I was one of the unfortunate souls whose introduction to poetry was unpleasant, but this book would have provided me with a completely opposite experience. If I could time travel, I would take a copy of this beautiful book to my six-year-old self, and hope for a different outcome.

Rosie Revere, Engineer

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2013. ISBN 978-1-14197-0845-9

Reader's Annotation: Rosie invents all sorts of engineering marvels: wouldn't you love to try a pair of helium pants? But after an embarrassing failure, Rosie faces her most difficult challenge ever: to rebuild her dream of becoming a great engineer.

Summary: Shy Rosie loves to invent and build gadgets and machines, but only late at night when she is alone in her attic bedroom. When she was younger, she boldly created invention after invention, and all out of bits and pieces of things that she collected. After a favorite uncle laughed at her creation of a cheese hat to keep snakes off of his head, she had given up on her dream of engineering for fear of failing again.

When Rosie's great-great-aunt Rose (who just might be Rosie the Riveter) arrives for a visit, Rosie's desire to grant her aunt's one unfulfilled wish to fly overcomes her reluctance to experience failure. Rosie gets to work on a heli-o-cheese-copter that could carry her aunt into the air. Will she succeed? Will she learn that the only true failure is allowing discouragement to triumph over the will to try again? Could great-great-aunt Rose, with her spunk and lifetime of experience turn Rosie's fear around?

Critical Evaluation: Beaty's narrative is wonderfully rhythmic with rhyming phrases that lend themselves to an enjoyable read-aloud experience. The text is accompanied by finely detailed illustrations full of the bits and pieces Rosie uses to create her amazing machines. The inventions themselves are represented at a level that invites closer examination to see exactly how they operate and how they are put together.

Not only is this book a worthy read, it is also a fine example of children's literature that challenges gender stereotypes. Rosie's engineering mind, and her great-great-aunt Rose, and the millions of other women like her, who stepped outside of a woman's traditional role during World War II, are sure to inspire young girls to expand their own horizons and consider possibilities that might at first appear to be mainly open to boys.

The inclusion of a historical note at the end of the text regarding women during the war effort, as well as a detailed excerpt from Rose's notebook highlighting firsts in flight by women aviators and inventors serve to reinforce the book's message of "We can do it!", and encourage further reading about strong women and the accomplishments that can result from following your dreams with persistence.

This is a lovely companion volume to Beaty and Roberts' prior collaboration, Iggy Peck, Architect.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7

Lexile Level: 860

Awards: 2013 Parents' Choice Award Gold; 2014 Amelia Bloomer Project List; Geek Dad Best Books of Year; Reading is Fundamental Multicultural Collection; 2015 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award Nominee

Why Included? This book has it all: engaging text, illustrations with a scientific bent, great read-aloud potential, and an inspiring message that encourages young readers to see failure as a step necessary to reaching success. With a strong female protagonist, Rosie Revere bucks gender stereotypes and reveals the importance of creativity and determination.

Part-time Princess

Part-time Princess by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cambria Evans. Disney Hyperion Books, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4231-2485-6

Reader's Annotation: With fires to extinguish, dragons to cheer up, and trolls to befriend, this spunky princess is unstoppable.

Summary: When we first meet the young protagonist, she is having a completely normal day: spelling tests, a pesky younger brother, and not being allowed to do things like stomp in mud puddles. But at the stroke of midnight, when the world is asleep, she becomes a princess and travels to her kingdom by coach. She is no ordinary princess, all frilly and pink; instead, she rushes off to put out a dragon-set fire. 

After discovering that the dragon is irritated because of its own annoying younger brother, the princess invites him to tea and makes a new friend. After eating lots of pink cake with a visiting queen (who resembles her mother), and splashing about with the frogs in the Royal Mud Puddle, the princess and the queen prepare for the Royal Ball, where the princess saves the day again by making a group of hairy trolls feel at home.

When she meets a handsome prince, this spunky heroine considers marrying him one day, "but right now I'm too busy". She truly is, because she rushes off immediately to put out another fire. When the flames have been doused, she returns home to her bed and to begin another day as a normal girl. Was it her mom who visited her the day before as a queen? And why do they both have sparkles in their hair? Young readers will love puzzling out the connections between the princess' two worlds.

Critical Evaluation: This story is a wonderful counterpoint to the typical princess story and shows that girls can demonstrate bravery, ingenuity and heroism, without being limited by the constraints of a traditional feminine role. While the princess loves eating cake, and dressing up for the ball, she also saves the kingdom repeatedly from disaster, and romps wildly in mud puddles. This message, which highlights the strength that can be found in the character of girls and women, is an important one for young girls to hear. 

Evans' cartoon-like illustrations are drawn with a light hand, and her palette is made up mostly of pinks, purples, and greens, with plenty of sparkling accents, but the overall mood of the work is not overly girly, as there is plenty of action and high-spiritedness as well. 

The narrative is paced nicely to keep the attention of even very young girls, and turns many of the typical aspects of fairy tales upside down with light humor and creativity. This is an empowering tale that encourages girls to reach outside the boundaries of what is expected of them, and to become the very best possible version of their true selves.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7

Lexile Level: ---

Awards: ---

Why Included? Growing up a tomboy, and never identifying with princess stories, I would have loved reading this book as a girl. This princess is an inspiration to us all and reminds us how much we truly are capable of.

Biblioburro: a true story from Columbia

Biblioburro: a true story from Columbia written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Beach Lane Books, 2010. ISBN 978-1-4169-9778-8

Reader's Annotation: Luis loves books and reading so much that he wants to share them with the people of his country, Columbia. But how to get the books to the isolated villages? Book burros!

Summary: In the heart of the Colombian jungle lives a man named Luis who loves books so much that he fills his house with them. He decides to share his books with people who have none, and that the best way to reach these isolated people is with burros. Luis buys two strong little burros and names them Alfa and Beto, and builds special crates for them to carry that will be filled with books. He paints the word, "Biblioburro" on the side of the crates, which means "The Burro Library".



Every week Luis and his burros travel to remote villages on lonely, sometimes even dangerous trails, but once they reach the people of the village, they are far from lonely. The children that run to meet him are thrilled to see him again, and Luis reads them a story before they choose a book to borrow. Luis and his burros then make the long trek back home, back to dinner, and rest, and reading late into the night. Winter concludes with an illustration that demonstrates the impact that this one kind man has made on the people of the hills of Colombia. 

In the Author's Note, Winter explains that the story of Luis and his book burros is true, and provides a more detailed account of his life, as well as the growth of the burro library program. 

Critical Evaluation: In an interview on the website PaperTigers.org, Winter states, "I am drawn to true-life stories, and true stories that relate to world events.  Stories about brave and courageous individuals are personally so inspiring to me, and I want children to know about these people.  I feel that children have the capacity to understand the big issues of our lives, if in a simplified way." Winter's excels at taking an inspiring life story and adapting it for children without losing any of the important details that show the effect that each person can have on other people and wider society as a whole.

In telling Luis Soriano's story, Winter also highlights how valuable books truly are, which is something that children who grow up in an affluent country may not realize. To share the risks Luis takes, and the trouble he goes to to get books to the people of Columbia, Winter provides a perspective on reading that may not have been considered before reading her work.

Winter's illustrations are vibrant and jewel-toned, and her folk art style of drawing is ideal for telling the story of Luis and his burros. She includes plenty of native flora and fauna in her art, and her portraits of Luis contain a quiet dignity and sense of purpose.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 6

Lexile Level: 640L

Awards:  Americas Award Commended Title; CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council); NCTE Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts

Why Included? This is a story worth sharing with every child in your life. Luis Soriano has criss-crossed a region which has been severely impacted by a guerrilla war, even putting his life in danger, so that he can get books into the hands of isolated children. Reading is powerful, and so is what Luis has accomplished with his traveling library.

Before John was a Jazz Giant: a Song of John Coltrane

Before John was a Jazz Giant: a Story of John Coltrane written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Sean Qualls. Henry Holt and Company, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8050-7994-4

Reader's Annotation: When John Coltrane was growing up, he heard sounds of all kinds: birds, instruments, music, parades, singing, and turned them into his own kind of sound.

Summary: John Coltrane was a star in the world of jazz for his abilities on the saxophone, but growing up in the South in the 1930's, John was just a child listening to the sounds around him. From natural sounds like the singing of birds, to musical sounds like his father playing the ukulele, and his mother playing their gramophone, John took it all in. At church he heard hymns and preaching, and outside he heard the whistle of steam trains and the music and marching of parades.

The saxophone solos on the radio called to John, and when he picked up a horn and blew into it, all of the sounds he had heard melded together into his own signature style of music. John grew up to become an incredibly talented musician, and Weatherford's picture book biography of Coltrane provides a window into his early influences.

The Author's Note provides an in-depth account of Coltrane's life, from his childhood in North Carolina, to his time in the Navy, and highlights from his lengthy musical career. Suggested recordings are included, to allow young readers to hear Coltrane's music for themselves. Additionally, items for further reading are recommended to expand a child's understanding of John's life.

Critical Evaluation: The narrative text, illustrations, and information included in the author's note and biographical references combine to provide a complete portrait of one of our nation's greatest saxophonists. The narrative includes simple repetition, rhythmic phrasing, and a focus on the auditory qualities of everyday life. The illustrations are primitive in style, but are full of movement, and representative of life for African Americans in the South of the 1930's. 

The palette is restrained, mostly blues, grays, blacks, oranges, and pinks, which may be a result of the illustrator not wanting the visual aspect of the story to compete with the focus on the sounds Coltrane heard and played. Each spread includes ribbon-like clouds of sound, as well as bubbles and circles to represent what John was hearing.

With mentions of popular culture of the era, such as Bojangles and Jitterbuggers, the author and illustrator have provided just enough detail through context and imagery to pique the interest of curious children who may want to find out more. This picture book biography has been well-researched, and invites the reader to explore the early days of jazz culture through both sound recordings and further reading.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 4 to 8

Lexile Level: 1090L

Awards: 2009 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book; 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Why Included? This is a wonderful picture biography of a jazz legend. The rhythmic text and the movement in the illustrations almost form a musical statement themselves, and made me want to go put some jazz on the radio.

Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan

Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Beach Lane Books , 2014. ISBN 978-1-14814-2294-9

Reader's Annotation: Here are the true stories of two brave young people, Malala Yousafzai and Iqbal Masih, who were both shot for speaking out for freedom and education in Pakistan. 

Summary: Malala was born in 1997 in a small town in Pakistan, and greatly enjoyed her studies at the local school until the Taliban began to make it difficult for girls to attend. When Malala was eleven, she began to speak out about the rights of girls to have access to education, but due to her brave public statements, she began receiving threats, and was gravely injured when a Taliban fighter shot her on her way home from school. 

Malala was rushed to hospitals in Pakistan, but when the Pakistani doctors did not have the ability to heal her, she and her family flew to England where she was treated and began to recover. As Winter so eloquently states, "The shot fired at Malala is heard the world over". Malala's story does not end here, but continues as Malala transcends above the hatred and ignorance that wounded her, and carries on in her efforts to fight injustice.

Fifteen years before Malala was born, Iqbal was born in another village in Pakistan, but unlike Malala, who was lucky enough to attend school, Iqbal began working at the age of only four, as a bonded worker in a carpet factory. He was shackled to the loom each day, and his existence was little better than a slave's. 

When Iqbal was ten, he was freed from his bond by the Bonded Liberation Front of Pakistan, and began to speak out against child labor. His brave words were heard around the world, and he traveled internationally to share his childhood experiences. Iqbal dreamed of studying law, to help others who continued to suffer under unjust labor practices, but when he was just twelve, he was shot and killed as he was riding his bicycle. His murder was never solved, but it is suspected that the assassin was hired by the carpet industry. 

Critical Evaluation: Winter has taken a difficult subject, and adapted it with sensitivity to the developmental level of her young readers. Her passion for the rights of children everywhere is clearly evident in her telling of these two biographical tales. By combining these two life stories with the picture book format, Winters has created a lovingly crafted tale that can be shared with children much younger than the typical reader of juvenile biographies.

The illustrations are representational of the true accounts of these child heroes, but are drawn in such a way, and with a jewel-toned palette, that the combination of the text and images never allows the tone of the work to become frightening or overly graphic. 

The two stories are published back to back, and are connected by a single spread that can be enjoyed as it is reached from either segment of the book. It shows Malala and Iqbal flying kites towards each other across the night sky and the mountains of Pakistan. This page can be appreciated at numerous levels, literally, spatially, or spiritually, depending on the maturity of the children who are reading the book. 

In our modern world, where an appreciation for multi-culturalism, and an awareness of global human rights issues are necessary, Winter's picture book biographies provide an excellent starting point for young children to develop these character qualities.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 5 to 9

Lexile Level: 640L

Awards: Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature, Best Multicultural Books of 2014; Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People - 2015, Kindergarten to Second Grade; 2015 Amelia Bloomer Project List, Early Readers, Nonfiction

Why Included? The sharing of stories like Malala's and Iqbal's is so very important in our country, where children are born into freedom. Growing up without an awareness of the plights of others less fortunate will result in a child who takes his or her own freedom for granted, and who may be less likely to realize that part of a free person's responsibilities is to help those who are not free themselves.

How did that get in my Lunchbox? The Story of Food

How did That get in my Lunchbox? The Story of Food by Chris Butterworth, illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti. Candlewick Press, 2011. ISBN 978-0-7636-5005-6

Reader's Annotation: One of the best parts of a school day is opening your lunchbox to see what's in there. Find out how the food in your lunch, from fruit to cookies, was grown, harvested, made, and transported so that it could end up in your lunchbox for you to enjoy.

Summary: Young children know that their parents buy food at the grocery store, but where did the food at the store come from? Butterworth has taken a typical selection of lunch food and traced each item from it's source until it is transported to market. Bread, cheese, tomatoes, apples, carrots, chocolate chips, and clementines are followed on their journey from harvest to lunch time.

At the end of the text, the author has included two-page spread which demonstrates a full plate of food which has been divided proportionately into the food groups that make up a balanced diet, with a short summary about each group. With a deeper understanding of where food comes from, and how much effort goes into getting it to our grocery stores, children will hopefully gain an increased awareness of why we should not waste food. Reading this book to a picky eater will most certainly be more persuasive than the old, "Clean your plate, there are children starving in China" strategy.

Critical Evaluation: Butterworth has created a wonderfully informative picture book that includes a large amount of detailed, step-by-step processes, but that does so in small, manageable bits that are appropriate to the reading and interest levels of the audience. Gaggiotti's illustrations complement each segment of the text, and demonstrate exactly how each step happens. For example, the process of making bread is described and illustrated during the stages of harvesting with a combine and tractor, grinding the grains at the flour mill, mixing the flour into dough at the bakery, and finally baking the loaves. 

The mixed media illustrations are one-dimensional with a very retro feel. The illustrated figures are drawn as cartoon figures, yet are represented in a realistic fashion as they go about their work with the food. Just enough detail is incorporated into the illustrations of the machinery and equipment used to harvest and process the food to present an accurate depiction of the methods used, while still ensuring the content is not over the heads of young readers. Furthermore, Gaggiotti's use of vibrant color in the artwork has resulted in an eye-catching and attractive informational text that invites close examination.

Age or Interest Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Lexile Level: 870L

Awards:American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Book of the Year 2011; NSTA (National Science Teachers Association)-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Books For Students K-12 2012.

Why Included? Our food takes quite a journey to reach us! This book is a lovely way to explain and visually represent that journey. I'll certainly never look at a chocolate chip in the same way again, now that I understand the complete chocolate making process.

Weeds Find a Way

Weeds find a Way by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, illustrated by Carolyn Fisher. Beach Lane Books, 2014. ISBN 978-1-4424-1260-6

Reader's Annotation: "Weeds find a way to live where other plants can't grow". This is an eye-opening read that will have you not only looking for weeds, but appreciating them as well.

Summary: A little girl and her dog explore the outdoors together and encounter weeds growing in the most unlikely of places. From sticky burrs that get stuck in socks and fur, to weeds growing in sidewalk cracks, to sprouting seeds in a birds nest, weeds are everywhere!

The text follows the girl and her faithful companion throughout the seasons, and readers will learn how weed seeds are carried by rain and wind, how they defend themselves, why they flower, and how they wait out the winter. At the end of the narrative, the author has included an in-depth explanation about native and invasive plants, and how they reproduce and spread, as well as an illustrated listing of the weeds featured in the text with additional information about each plant.



Critical Evaluation: This book is a marvelous introduction to plant reproductive strategies which is written at a level that can be easily understood by preschoolers, yet the inclusion of more detailed information about each featured weed species will appeal to first and second graders.

The light-hearted approach to describing the weeds in the narrative, such as "Weeds find a way [by]...surprising hungry insects with sap so tart, it could turn a tongue inside out", makes nature approachable, and gives the plants personalities. Each two-page spread contains just enough text to keep the attention of the youngest readers, and the even pacing would make this a fine read-aloud.

Fisher's digital collage illustrations are vividly colored, and are filled with movement. The textures in the artwork are highly variable and range from strong paintbrush stokes in the fur of the dog to fuzzy chalk lines and wispy clouds, but always add depth and interest to the somewhat naive style of illustrating.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7

Lexile Level: 910L

Awards:ALA Notable Children's Books; Eureka Nonfiction Honor Book

Why Included? This accessible guide to the world of weeds will give children an appreciation of plants that many adults love to hate. 

Take me out to the Yakyu!

Take me out to the Yakyu written and illustrated by Aaron Meshon. Atheneum Books, 2013. ISBN 978-1-4424-4178-1

Reader's Annotation: Baseball is the great American pastime, but did you know that it is also very popular in Japan? Experience baseball in both countries, as well as a look at cultural differences, through the eyes of a young fan.

Summary: "I love baseball...in America...and in Japan", begins Meshon's text, narrated by a young boy lucky enough to have family in both countries. The boy attends a baseball game in America with his Pop Pop, and in Japan with his Ji Ji. Through a depiction of many aspects of his day, such as transportation to and from the game, stadium food, the cheers of the crowd, and the seventh inning stretch, readers will gain an appreciation for the many differences between the games and cultures half a world apart.

Each two-page spread includes the American experience in blue on the left, and the Japanese counterpart in red on the right, which allows readers to discover the many similarities and differences between the two. The narrative includes many Japanese words which are easily understood through context, and by comparison to the American account of the boy's day.

The author has included a listing of words relating to baseball, other objects, and people that children will be familiar with in both English and Japanese. Additionally, there is an extensive author's note covering baseball culture and history in both countries, which provides further background information for parents, teachers, and inquisitive young people.

Critical Evaluation: Through contrasting illustration panels, Meshon has created an engaging exploration of American and Japanese culture, which centers around the love of baseball in both countries. Children will enjoy examining the adjacent accounts as they follow the main character through his day with his family in America and Japan. The author has succeeded in presenting the culture of both nations with respect and equal regard. 

Meshon's illustrations deserve special notice because of his unique style. The vibrant acrylic colors that he uses are glorious in themselves, but he has also created a pattern through the heavy use of blues for the American scenes and reds for the Japanese scenes. This provides a visual key for determining where each illustration takes place as the narrative's location switches back and forth from page to page. 

The artwork manages to convey the absolute ease with which the young boy experiences the world around him, even when he is very far from home, by depicting the love and trust between the boy and his grandparents. This is a lovely book about family, baseball, and the common threads that tie the people of the world together.

Age or Interest Level: Ages 3 to 7

Lexile Level: 610L

Awards: ALA 2014 Notable Children’s Books, Younger Readers; 2014 Ezra Jack Keats Award, New Illustrator Honor

Why Included? Meshon's artwork is captivating, and rather unusual. Even the Japanese baseball team mascot, a cicada, is drawn with pizazz. Meshon's second work for children, Tools Rule! is another winner in my book, and I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.