THE MANGO TREE (La Mata de Mango), by Eden Rodriguez, is an extraordinary wordless picture book. On an island, a pair of friends eat, sleep, and play together in a magnificent mango tree. One day, a terrible storm knocks the tree over, and sweeps both it and one of the boys out to sea. The boy is carried to a new island, where nothing looks the same. Until he and his newfound friends plant the last mango from the tree, and a new tree sprouts, bringing joy to all. The brightly colored illustrations—woodblock prints that are assembled digitally—tell a touching, fantastical story with plenty to pore over in repeated readings. An author’s note gives some context and further enriches the story.
NO BEAR ANYWHERE, by Leah Gilbert, has all the ingredients for a fun and funny read-aloud. Bruin, a cute little kid in a bear hoodie, is hopeful they’ll get to see a REAL bear. He and his mom, with baby Pip in the stroller, set off down the trail. Each time readers think Bruin has found a bear—“Oh, Mama, LOOK!”—a dramatic page turn reveals a pinecone, or flower, or stone, or some other perfect thing to collect. Unbeknowst to Bruin, a family of bears follows along, always lurking just out of his sight. After the hike, Bruin ultimately doesn’t mind that he hasn’t seen a bear because the day has turned out “just fine.” The digital art is cute and adds to the story, as do the endpapers. Parents can explain later why bears are dangerous.
In ELBERT IN THE AIR, written by Monica Wesolowska and illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey, beginning “shortly after he [is] born,” Elbert floats. In the air. The neighbors suggest his mother, who has to stand on her tiptoes to feed him, “net him like a butterfly,” or even “deflate him…like a balloon.” But his mother replies that if he’s “born to float, I will let him.” Elbert feels lonely hovering by himself, and wishes for company. He wishes to fit in. But hIs mother continues to encourage him to be himself until one day, by floating ever higher, he finds—something fantastic! Wesolowska’s text is buoyant yet shows a range of emotion, and Pumphrey’s digital illustrations are in a print-making style; even when Elbert is feeling down (though not literally), they provide a lightness that perfectly suits the text. ELBERT IN THE AIR uses a playful premise to deliver a deeper message about being yourself, besides, who doesn’t want to float through the air?
HOW TO DRAW A BRAVE CHICKEN, and HOW TO DRAW A HAPPY CAT, written by Ethan T. Berlin and illustrated by Jimbo Matison, are fun and interactive. In the first, the text and illos demonstrate how to draw a chicken in a few easy steps, but “um, wait… she doesn’t look very brave.” Drawing “a suit of armor and a mighty steed” works, but then she wants to fight a dragon! Chaos ensues, including feeding the dragon ice cream on the moon, and drawing “the scariest party ever.”
In the second book, Cat “doesn’t look very happy,” so she’s given a cool T-shirt, a stuffy, and a skateboard. She’s “totally happy” for a while, but then Cat wants friends and a ramp, and after that she’s “scared of landing from this high up.” So Cat gets an airplane, and pizza, and parachutes, and readers are instructed to draw “the most awesome party ever!” The text is lively and the uncluttered digital art is shape-based so kids can actually try following the drawing instructions. Lots of energy and silliness should make these popular choices.
--Lynn
