Shelf Awareness--The Quiet Crocodile Goes to the Beach

PB Review: The Quiet Crocodile Goes to the Beach

The Quiet Crocodile Goes to the Beach by Natacha Andriamirado, illus. by Delphine Renon (Princeton Architectural Press, ages 2-6, 9781616898014)

Fossil the Quiet Crocodile loves the beach. While his many friends float, paddle, bob, dive and boogie board, Fossil prefers to "contemplate the waves, look for shells, take a nap, enjoy the moment." Observation might suggest he isn't moving, but he is engaged in active pursuits like "teach[ing] his friends how to swim, how not to splash" and "how to kick." But there's something "gnawing" at Fossil, "bothering him, and stressing him out." Although it seems impossible for a giant, beach-loving crocodile, "Fossil is scared to go in the water." Thank goodness he is surrounded by friends, who encourage him with kindness--and floaties. As the tide creeps up, Fossil finds that he can face his fears and enjoy the ocean after all.

This follow-up to Andriamirado and Renon's first book about Fossil (The Quiet Crocodile) is endowed with even more charm and off-beat humor than the original. The text is straightforward and feels as if it's being delivered with an affectionate smile, and the detailed colored-pencil and pen illustrations manage to depict plenty of activity and an abiding sense of calm at the same time. The gentle, mostly stationary Fossil is joined by a large cast of active, personable animals, such as Fippo the Hippo and Sonny the Bunny, all of whom are introduced in the endpapers, each sporting elaborate beachwear. A note instructs readers to "find, name, and count all of [Fossil's] friends as they play in the water," as well as to look for additional specific "hidden" objects, including rings and racquets, a fishing net, some chewing gum and "the sparrow, aboard a tiny boat." Young readers will surely dive into the fun! --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Discover: Fossil the Quiet Crocodile loves spending time on the beach, but when the tide rolls in, he may to have face his fears and join his friends in the water.

April Recommendations

Novels:

A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY, by Brigid Kemmerer, is my favorite novel of the year, so far. It’s an inspired retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with Prince Rhen under a nasty curse that dooms him to repeat his eighteenth year over and over, until he finds a woman who can love him--even though he turns into a monster and kills any living thing in his path. Harper is the 327th such woman, brought over from “real world” Washington, DC, for Rhen’s last chance to save his kingdom. Harper is tough enough to change things up, and might just be the one, but that Enchantress and her curse are so strong… (YA)

DRY, by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman, is another high concept story from the prolific National Book Award winner, writing here with his son. When Southern California taps run dry from prolonged drought, it doesn’t take long for social norms to break down. Sixteen-year-old Alyssa finds herself teaming up with Kelton, her Boy Scout--and survivalist—neighbor and classmate, trying to find her missing parents and keep ten-year-old brother Garrett safe when things get really crazy. It’s fast-paced and entertaining. (YA)

Picture Books:

I finally got a look at JULIÁN IS A MERMAID, by Jessica Love. Inspired by a book he’s reading--and three women on the subway--Julian decides he’s a mermaid. He uses his abuela’s flowers and window curtain to dress up and, rather than getting angry, she donates a strand of beads, then takes him join the rest of the mermaids in a parade. The watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations are gorgeous and, aside from the uplifting themes, it’s a terrific look at how an artist can incorporate fantasy elements into an otherwise realistic setting.

In KITTEN AND THE NIGHT WATCHMAN, written by John Sullivan and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo, we follow the watchman as he leaves his family and drives to work, where he “makes his rounds, alone.” The night gets a little less solitary when a stray kitten joins him. The digital art makes great use of color and perspective to bring this gentle story—featuring plenty of construction equipment--to life.

THE VERY IMPATIENT CATERPILLAR, by Ross Burach, is how The Very Hungry Caterpillar might act if he gobbled his way through entirely too much sugar. THIS caterpillar wants metamorphosis to happen right away, and finds it extremely difficult to "let nature take its course.” Plenty of scientific facts are woven into the text, which is presented solely using speech bubbles, and the comical art will keep kids laughing as they learn.

In WHEN SPRING COMES TO THE DMZ, Uk-Bae Lee cycles through the seasons of this singular place, contrasting the innocence and beauty of the natural world with the sadness of the “razor wire fence,” and the "warships from South Korea and North Korea [that] face off in the sea near the island.” A boy and his grandpa visit throughout the year, and Grandpa gazes across the land, wishing he could just go home.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Sweet Dreamers

PB Review: Sweet Dreamers

Sweet Dreamers by Isabelle Simler (Eerdmans, 80p., ages 4-8, 9780802855176)

Whether in trees or in caves, in mud or the ocean, animals take their rest in myriad ways. Animals may sleep "vertically," like the humpback whale, or "rolled up, wrapped up," like the hedgehog "safely in his shelter." They might sleep like the snail "tight inside his twisting shell," with "dreams spiral[ing] out," or like "the spider... on a tightrope--/ the lacework pattern of his sleep/ hanging by a thread." Maybe they rest as the horse does, "standing up,/ in the middle of the herd" while "her thoughts break free."

Sweet Dreamers is a soporific bedtime book filled with distinctive facts and delivered in poetic language (translated from the original French by Sarah Ardizzone) that gets right to the heart of each of the featured animals. Each illustrated, double-page spread presents a close-up of the slumbering animal, along with a wider view of its surrounding habitat. Isabelle Simler's (The Blue Hour) digital art is comprised of lines of vibrant color that coalesce into shimmering images worthy of framing. Bold pinks, oranges, greens and browns are all grounded in a judicious use of black, conjuring up the magic of our natural world. Wordless landscapes are interspersed at regular intervals throughout, adding to the feeling of peace and repose. Additionally, the nonfiction material lends itself to use as an artful introduction to wildlife study.

Whether "slung like a hammock," "bundled into a ball" or "in full flight," all of the animals in this lyrical ode to slumbering take their rest with distinct flair, including the human child at the end, who "all night long... dreams beneath the moon." --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Discover: In Isabelle Simler's picture book, poetic text and distinctive digital illustrations highlight the very different ways that animals slumber.

April's Book of the Month--Hello Lighthouse

April’s Book of the Month is this year’s Caldecott winner, HELLO LIGHTHOUSE, by Sophie Blackall.

This lighthouse “is built to last forever,” and even though changes happen as the years go by, the lighthouse remains steadfast, always “sending its light out to sea,/guiding ships on their way.”

Repeating circular motifs in the art reinforce the circular nature of the text. We begin “on the highest rock of a tiny island/at the edge of the world,” where a new keeper arrives to polish the lens, trim the wick, wind the clockwork, and do all tasks necessary to tend the light. HIs wife arrives, and then a baby. Storms come and go. By story's end, we are still on that “highest rock of a tiny island/at the edge of the world,” even though the keeper and his family now gaze at the light from a house on the mainland. The keeper has been replaced by a machine, but readers understand that all is well, and surely all will continue to be well, with the lighthouse on the job. Which is actually an interesting twist—it’s the lighthouse that’s the main character, and although the keeper, his wife, their daughter, and occasional visitors add a touch of humanity to the picture, they are only passersby. HELLO LIGHTHOUSE is a tribute to the lighthouse.

Blackall has found so many ways to depict water in this book! Chinese ink and watercolor illustrations are delicate, yet vibrant, with jewel-toned colors. Many pages have circular insets, which offer multiple scenes and perspectives on their spreads. The text is rhythmic and repetitive, feeling quite a bit like the ebb and flow of the sea. The book itself is tall to accommodate the vertical shape of its title character.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Gondra's Treasure

PB Review: Gondra's Treasure

Gondra's Treasure by Linda Sue Park, illus. by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion, 40p., ages 4-8, 9780544546691, April 2, 2019)

Gondra is a dragon. Her "mom's family comes from the West" and her "dad's family is from the East"; Gondra "was born somewhere in the middle." In Linda Sue Park and Jennifer Black Reinhardt's second collaboration (Yaks Yak), young Gondra playfully explores the benefits of inheriting two very different cultural backgrounds.

This charming narrative unfolds in bantering dialogue among the three family members. Gondra's mother explains that "in the West, dragons breathe fire," while Dad says that "in the East, dragons breathe mist." When Gondra shares a baby photo of herself, she points to "a teeny tiny flame... coming from one nostril and a wisp of mist from the other." Young readers will understand perfectly that lucky Gondra reaps the benefits of both branches of her heritage--in particular, "mist is great for hide-and-seek" and fire comes in handy at a barbecue. The affection between Gondra's parents is always obvious as they cheerfully tease each other about their attributes: Dad thinks fire is dangerous; Mom thinks mist is "pretty boring" ("compared to fire," that is). Certainly, both adults agree that Gondra was "adorable... the most beautiful baby ever."

Gondra goes on to explain other ways her Eastern and Western roots merge. Both of her parents can fly, but "Mom has wings," while "Dad uses magic." If Gondra's wings grow and she inherits flying magic too, she'll "be the fastest in the family!" As for scales, Dad's are "mostly blue and green" and Mom's "side of the family has bronze scales." Gondra herself is "mostly bronze," but the end of her tail is starting to turn the bluish green of her "dear old dad." When Gondra starts talking historical habitat, readers learn that "Mom's ancestors lived in caves full of treasure," while Dad's "family lived in lakes or rivers," their only treasure "a magic pearl that [they] could hold in one claw."

Reinhardt inventively illustrates the various points of Gondra's narrative, perfectly expressing the enthusiasm and awkwardness of the not-quite-grown protagonist. The colorful ink and watercolors depict a cozy, if slightly zany, household, where mist causes rain to fall in the living room if Dad gets too excited. The character design may be somewhat silly but the dignity and grace of Gondra's dragon family is undeniable and, though they have their differences, the love they share is evident at every turn. An interesting author's note provides some historical information on dragons, but the focus of the story is clearly on Gondra's ancestry, and how she is the beautiful product of her mixed heritage. Her loving parents don't need caves full of treasure or a "magic pearl to control the weather" because "times change," and Gondra is "the best treasure ever." --Lynn Becker, blogger and host of Book Talk, a monthly online discussion of children's books for SCBWI.

Shelf Talker: Gondra, daughter of an Eastern dragon and a Western dragon, muses about the attributes of her mixed heritage that make her unusual.

March Book Picks

Novels:

SMALL SPACES, by Katherine Arden, is top-notch creepy suspense. Sixth grader Ollie and the rest of her class go on a field trip to a local farm that’s got lots--and lots—of scarecrows. Things get especially spooky when the school bus breaks down, the mist comes up, and the weird bus driver issues a cryptic warning: "Avoid large places at night…keep to small." It’s beautifully crafted and kids should gobble it up. (MG)

ECHO NORTH, by Joanna Ruth Meyer, is a retelling of the East of the Sun, West of the Moon folktale, with shades of Beauty and the Beast. Echo Alkaev has had a nasty scar on her face ever since she was attacked by a great white wolf as a child. Years later, when her beloved father goes missing, she finds him in the woods with the same wolf and, in exchange for her father's freedom, agrees to live with the wolf in his enchanted home for one year. It’s a gorgeous, magically-told tale. (YA)

SPEAK, The Graphic Novel, by Laurie Halse Anderson, with art by Emily Carroll, is a terrific reworking of Anderson’s classic into the graphic novel format, making it accessible to an even wider audience. In this powerful story, an assault victim spends her freshman year of high school as an outcast, after she called the cops at a party the previous summer. Melinda's struggles to keep it together and find her voice are brought to life by Emily Carroll’s fine artwork—she won the Eisner award for her previous graphic novel, Through the Woods. (YA)

Picture Books:

In UP THE MOUNTAIN PATH, by Marianne Dubuc, Mrs. Badger is very old but, every Sunday, she hikes up the small mountain behind her house. She greets friends and helps out if she can. One day, she meets a cat named Lulu, who joins her. "Mrs. Badger shares with Lulu all the secrets of the mountain." Until a time comes when Mrs. Badger can’t make it up to the peak anymore, so Lulu brings her own discoveries to share with Mrs. Badger. Tender, moving, wise, and fun, with picture-perfect watercolor and colored pencil art.

Using only 32 words, GOOD BOY, by Sergio Ruzzier, tells a complete, satisfying, and increasingly fantastical story of a boy and his dog --or a dog and his boy??? From doing tricks around the house to a surprise journey to the moon, the action flows and ebbs with masterful timing. Ruzzier's color and line are unique and inspirational!

CARTER READS THE NEWSPAPER, written by Deborah Hopkinson and illustrated by Don Tate, tells the story of Carter G. Woodson, who supplemented his meager education, and “got his first glimpse of the wider world," by reading the newspaper aloud to his father. Later, after working all day in the coal mines, Carter read the newspaper to other miners. Eventually, Carter finished high school and college, earned a PhD from Harvard, and made it his life’s work to celebrate a history of America “that includes all people.” It’s an excellent NF picture book bio about a “hero we sometimes forget.”

--Lynn

March's Book of the Month--Merci Suárez Changes Gears

March’s Book of the Month is the 2019 Newbery winner, MERCI SUÁREZ CHANGES GEARS, by Meg Medina, a middle-grade look at family, friends, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Attending Seaward Pines Academy on a scholarship means that Merci Suárez gets extra community service and always has to be on her best behavior. Being in sixth grade means she's coping with changes that include homeroom and lockers, embarrassing health class topics, and an escalating feud with popular—and rich--Edna Sanchez. But there are changes happening at home, too. Her beloved grandfather Lolo has been acting really strangely. He’s forgetting stuff, making mistakes, and getting angry for no reason, and no one is telling Merci what’s going on.

I love how Medina has created a vibrant, well-intentioned character in Merci, one who navigates her way through upheavals at home and at school with plenty of strength and honesty. Balancing a rich, multi-generational home life, budding friendships with kids in her classes, and all of Miss McDaniels’s rules at Seaward Pines, Merci learns to appreciate the changes of a memorable sixth grade year.

--Lynn