October Recommendations

BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE, written by Lisa Rogers and illustrated by Il Sung Na, delves into what’s behind the music of this avant-garde artist who tried to use “all the sounds” in his compositions, as well as “curlicues and dots and more curlicues and squiggles” rather than musical notes, and “stuck erasers and bolts and screws” inside a piano, and “composed a piece of piano music without any notes,” and set his pants on fire during a concert, and… By framing this book as a series of “what if” questions, the text encourages readers to think, explore, and listen. Art uses “shapes and colors to represent each sound,” and back matter provides more context. It’s an excellent, kid-friendly intro to Cage and to nurturing your own unique vision.

A BUCKET OF QUESTIONS almost answered by Tim Fite (the “wiki-wonky, giggly-googly, jingly-janky, and 100% pooky-pooky” person who wrote and illustrated this picture book) resists following the usual rules and instead creates something new. We begin with a bucket full of questions, and proceed to answer and/or evade them completely. “Why do seals clap?” “Why do kids lose their teeth?” “What are hot dogs (actually) made of?” It’s random unless it’s not. It’s also fun, so give it a try!

LAST FLIGHT, written by Kristen Mai Giang and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk, vividly describes the tension-filled experience of living in Saigon during the Vietnam War, and rushing to get out on the last American plane to leave the city before the North Vietnamese marched in. “As the war close[s] in” around one young girl and her family,” they navigate all kinds of difficulties until ultimately “the plane race[s] for [their] lives down that runway.” This highly personal account is an evocative recollection of the author’s escape from Saigon, with illustrations that perfectly communicate both the drama and hope in the situation.

In THE WELCOME HOME, by Amy June Bates, Mr. and Ms. Gargleson-Bittle are “missing something.” They want a “soft,” “waggy,” and “lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-its-belly-and-chase-its-tail” sort of thing, so they get… a snail. Which they love, but they want “something more.” And more. And more, until their house fills up, with a whale and a cat and some goldfish and “a tiny armadillo named Cauliflower,” and on and on until one more something shows up on their doorstep and everything is perfect. This is a warm, fuzzy, inclusive kind of a book that’s sweet and silly and feels just right.

In THE PET STORE WINDOW, written by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, translated by Elisa Amado, a girl finds a puppy and brings him to the pet store where she works. Every evening, Ana goes home, and the now-grown-and-unsold dog wonders why he’s not “walking down the street” with her. Until the uncaring owner of this “very small store” tells Ana the store will be sold, and even though Ana and her grandmother can’t afford it, they take in the leftover pets: the dog, a rat, and a hedgehog—because “it’s good to be together.” This creative duo has produced some noteworthy books (including Afterward, Everything was Different, and Drawing Outdoors) and this one should satisfy, as well.

CHINA, written by Songju Ma Daemicke and illustrated by Jam Dong, is a delightful board book (in the Barefoot Books Our World series) which welcomes the youngest of readers to spend a day in China. From “a fluffy kiss on my cheek,” through dumplings for breakfast, kite-flying, paddle-boating and fruity treats, then on to ink-grinding, dinner, and a sweet bedtime, CHINA is a lovely treat for little ones. The text is bright and cheery, and so is the art!

--Lynn