August's Book of the Month--Your Forest

August’s Book of the Month is the board book YOUR FOREST, by Jon Klassen.

“This is your sun. It is coming up for you.” Thus begins a seemingly simple offering from Klassen. But there’s a lot going on. The child is immediately centered in the narrative, with the one and only sun rising just for them!

The book continues: “These are your trees. They can go over by the sun.” Then comes the cabin, and “maybe some rocks. Not too many though.”

To me, this feels like a call to creativity. The trees, cabin and rocks can be placed anywhere, though for now they will go where the narrator thinks they should go. Someday, however, the child might place them differently!

And the ghost! The “forest ghost,” who is “nice” but “only comes out at night.” I want a nice, friendly ghost like this to hang around nearby!

The stream means the child will always have water, and the bridge means they can always go home. The sun sets, and “everyone is closing their eyes.” And finally, because the forest is asleep, the child can sleep too and think about all they “will do there tomorrow.” As a lovely final touch, the last spread shows that nice ghost is keeping watch.

So sweet, so simple, so empowering!

--Lynn

July's Book of the Month--The Papaer Bridge

July’s Book of the Month is the exquisite picture book, THE PAPER BRIDGE, by Joëlle Veyrenc and Seng Soun Ratanavanh.

Anya lives in the village of Paperlee, where people are “paper-thin and paper-light.” Residents are happy, except for the five-and-a-half days a year when strong winds blow and they keep stones in their pockets so they’re not lifted away. But when windmills suddenly appear on a neighboring mountain, home to the village of Forestlee, the anxious people of Paperlee suddenly need to carry stones with them all the time!

Anya realizes she must go to Forestlee, but first she must design a bridge to cross the chasm that divides the two villages. Using skills gleaned from the papercraft of kirigami, the bridge is built and Anya bravely crosses, only to discover that things are very different in Forestlee. Nevertheless, Anya explains the plight of her people, helps to solve a problem, and in doing so she finds a friend.

Joëlle Veyrenc uses the language of folklore to bring this gorgeous, hopeful story of interconnectedness and problem solving to life. Equally important are Seng Soun Ratanavanh’s meticulous illustrations, which use kirigami, pencil, and watercolor on paper, hand-cut and arranged into scenes, then photographed (back matter shows samples of what the constructed art looks like). Let this mesmerizing tale sweep you away!

--Lynn

June's Book of the Month--Jim!

June’s Book of the Month is JIM! SIX TRUE STORIES ABOUT ONE GREAT ARTIST: JAMES MARSHALL, written and illustrated by Jerrold Connors.

The book opens with a story about how James Marshall’s friend Harry was “full of wild ideas.” Apparently, Harry called “Jim” one night to tell him “Miss Nelson is missing!” The next day, Harry brought over the story, written out, and pretty quickly Marshall “whipped Harry’s story into shape” with sketches and a name for the substitute teacher (based on a teacher of his own who told him he would never be an artist).

Story Number Two is about how Marshall hated when his work wasn’t taken seriously, so he tried playing classical viola. But he liked drawing better. He also meets his partner Billy in this chapter.

Story Number Three is about his friendly rivalry with Maurice Sendak and it’s pretty sweet. Arnold Lobel makes an appearance as a James Marshall-style pig with a mustache, while Sendak is a bulldog.

Story Number Four describes how much Marshall wanted to win an award for his work, with a few fun thoughts on his illustrations for The Owl and the Pussycat.

Story Number Five offers some pertinent wisdom during a school visit, and Story Number Six describes how sick Marshall eventually became, without specifically mentioning AIDS (that’s in the backmatter.)

I love, love, love this picture book biography about one of my kidlit heroes, James Marshall. The narrator is a fox, based on the character he thought was most like him. Text is broken up into six distinct stories (or chapters), and it’s paced like the chapter books Marshall wrote. The excellent backmatter enriches the book with context and additional, thoughtful information. Ink and watercolor illustrations, digitally enhanced, are reminiscent of Marshall’s “cartoony style,” but don’t call them “cute” or “zany”—Marshall hated that. Connors even includes a colorful timeline which graphically displays some of the elements in this picture book. It’s not the easiest of reads—it’s hectic, chaotic, and full of depth, but it feels like the biography James Marshall would want and deserves.

--Lynn

May's Books of the Month

May’s Books of the Month are two distinctive biographies, both illustrated by Lauren Soloy.

The first, TOVE AND THE ISLAND WITH NO ADDRESS, is written and illustrated by Soloy. It describes how, the summer when she is seven, Tove Jansson and her family pack a boat with what they deem “essential” and “[move] to an island with no address.” There aren’t many people on the island, but there is plenty for young Tove to do, including “dangerous things, boring things, digging things, exploring things…” all of which she sets out to accomplish on the very first morning. She “visit[s] the grotto where her secret friend live[s],” offers to take his daughters for a walk, and gets caught in a terrible storm—during which the girls blow away! The book is atmospheric, fantastical fun, and hints at the creative mind of the woman who eventually was responsible for the wonderful, classic Moomin books. Back matter gives a bit more context, and Soloy’s text gets us into Tove’s head nicely.

The second, A TULIP IN WINTER: A STORY ABOUT FOLK ARTIST MAUD LEWIS, is written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Lauren Soloy. Young Maud is a content child, playing with her brother, “stroking the cats, listening to music, and playing piano.” But other kids tease her “for her crooked walk, and how small she [is].” As her fingers grow more stiff and bent, she turns from music to painting, and, as she grows up, “colour flow[s] through her days.” But adulthood is hard for Maud. No one will hire her, and after her parents die she becomes a live-in housekeeper for the “gruff as a billy goat” fish peddler Everett Lewis. Right away, she brightens the house with her colors, and when they run out, Everett scavenges some more. Maud and Everett get married, and drive around the countryside selling her paintings and his fish—until they have to sell the car because it’s too expensive. Through it all and until her death, Maud paints “all the beauty she had ever seen in nature.” Back matter here, too, is welcome for context.

In both books, Soloy’s colors are strong and lush, employing descriptive black outlines as needed, to achieve her moody-yet-whimsical, solemn-yet-mischievous, decidedly enchanting digital artwork. These are welcome additions to the picture book biography genre!

--Lynn

April's Book of the Month--A Universe Of Rainbows

April’s Book of the Month is A UNIVERSE OF RAINBOWS, a fascinating celebration of art and science, with poems selected by Matt Forrest Esenwine and illustrated by Jamey Christoph.

Seventeen accomplished poets contribute twenty-one uplifting entries, each of which delve into a different facet of the beauteous phenomenon that is the rainbow. We begin with a poem by Nikki Grimes which bemoans a rainy day devoid of sunshine, hopscotch, and soccer, only to end with the wonder of “the storm’s apology.” It’s accompanied by an explanation of how rainbows are created, some terms for talking about them, and the suggestion to make one of your own with a garden hose. Following are poems about sun dogs, moonbows, prisms and crystals, rainbows in water, rainbows on trees, rainbows on wings, and more. So many kinds of rainbows! The book winds down with Garden of Stars, by Georgia Heard, along with its explanation of the rainbow nebula, then the book finishes with a long list of resources and a glossary.

This intelligent book has it all— evocative poems, bright, eye-catching illustrations, and a good amount of science on the side.

--Lynn

March's Book of the Month--Bog Myrtle

Fun, eccentric, and mildly spooky, BOG MYRTLE, written and illustrated by Sid Sharp, is a terrific modern fairy tale—one that sits comfortably on my shelf next to Extra Yarn, The Spider in the Well, The Wooden Robot and the Log Princess, The Queen in the Cave, and The Skull. And Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden.

It’s the story of two sisters who live together “in a hideous, drafty old house on the edge of town.” Beatrice is sweet to a fault, and Magnolia is ceaselessly nasty. They’re too poor to afford yarn for a sweater, which Beatrice wants to knit to keep Magnolia warm, so Beatrice tries to trade a stone, a twig, and a cicada shell for it at the yarn store in town. The shopkeeper throws her out. When Beatrice returns the objects to the forest, the swamp woman, Bog Myrtle, threatens to turn her into a fly and eat her, but the pair end up bonding over their shared love of forest treasures and Bog Myrtle spins magic silk for Beatrice to make the sweater. When Magnolia sees the wonderful, magical sweater all she sees are dollar signs, and she sets up a factory in the basement, where she forces Beatrice and the spiders who share their home to churn out sweater after sweater for hundreds of dollars each.

I think that’s all of this quirky plot that I’ll share, but the story satisfies and the art delights. Indeed, this pro-union and -sustainability graphic novel is a treat from start to finish. The art was created with “pencil, gouache, watercolor, ink, beet juice, and dirt,” and it’s SO lovely, with bright colors, fun design elements, and characters who are varying levels of grumpy and/or cheerful. The book is well designed and uses good, thick paper that feels nice to hold. I’ll treasure my copy for years to come!

--Lynn

January's Book of the Month--Poetry Comics

January’s Book of the Month is the musing, meditative POETRY COMICS, written and illustrated with sequential art by Grant Snider.

“I want to put down/on paper the feeling/of possibilities.” So begins this gentle collection of poems, broken into seasons. Spring allows for imaginings and growth, what-ifs like Reflections (in the still pond/the same world/but blurred), If I Were a Tree, and Becoming. Summer is a “festival of fireflies,” a time for “sinking baskets/to the applause/of the setting sun;” it’s time to ride a Roller Coaster and engage in Cloudspotting. Fall brings Fishing, and “stars in conversation,” and waiting for the Late Bus, while Winter offers “a new page” where “words huddle close/to keep warm.”

The text is thoughtful yet full of activity, and offers a nice balance between exploring inner and outer worlds. Pen, marker, and Photoshop illustrations are laid out in inviting panels, with plenty of earth-and-sky pastels punctuated by primaries; characters are rendered simply yet expressively. Both text and art are uncluttered and accessible, and the book feels fresh and inspirational—like an ode to creativity and pondering the universe!

--Lynn

December's Book of the Month--I Know How to Draw an Owl

December’s book of the month is the gorgeous, heartfelt I KNOW HOW TO DRAW AN OWL, written by Hilary Horder Hiply and illustrated by Matt James.

When Ms. Rio’s class draws owls, Belle’s picture stands out from the rest for its wise eyes, and the way it “almost looks alive.” Belle won’t tell how she was able to do this, but apparently she and her mom once had a home, just like the other kids. One day, though, they packed all their things into their old blue car, and “drove and drove” until they got to a park. “The perfect place,” Belle’s mom said.

Belle was still awake when the hoot owl called. “Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo! Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoooo!” She badly wanted to see that owl, but night after night she only heard his “hooty lullaby.” Until one night he didn’t sing. The moon rose and suddenly the owl appeared on a nearby branch—“big and wild, that owl”—and so near, Belle was able to look into his “two wise eyes” and see him looking back. Belle doesn’t think she’ll ever explain about her owl drawing, but one day, a new boy comes to school, dropped off from an old blue car just like Belle’s, and she takes him under her wing.

Hiply’s text is gently matter-of-fact, and full of feeling without being overly sentimental. I love how she uses the riddle of the owl drawing as a compelling way to entice readers into Belle’s world. Matt James has created a lush and beautiful world in which to immerse readers. Moody acrylic-on-masonite paintings using full, rich colors, dramatic lights and darks, and stylized figures bring this story to life. Don’t forget to check the book’s cover underneath its dust jacket, and don’t miss this beautiful book!

--Lynn

November's Book of the Month--Stella and Marigold

STELLA AND MARIGOLD, written by Annie Barrows and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, is a smart, endearing, and beautifully illustrated chapter book for readers aged 6-9.

Stella only remembers four things from before Marigold was born but, afterwards, she remembers “everything.” When Stella’s parents bring newborn Marigold home from the hospital, Stella whispers into “Marigold’s squishy pink ear" that she’s going to tell Marigold “all the secret things…forever and ever.” And she does!

Most of the story takes place when Stella is seven and Marigold is four. They live with their parents in the bottom half of a house (the “lucky half”) in a city. When Marigold insists to her mother she did not take the drain cover off and drop a hairclip down the bathroom sink on purpose, Stella comforts her sister by explaining that it must have been the clips and pony bands, the brush and toothpaste, all walking around, as they do, for four minutes every night.

After Marigold gets lost in the Meerkat Mound at the zoo, Stella is there to soothe with another story, this one involving the Vice President and a medal. And, when Marigold’s turn at being Sprout of the Week ends badly, Stella takes her sister on a trip to Japan by rocket, with the moon and snow monkeys and hot baths in warm pools, until Marigold is ready to go home again for dinner. Marigold, in her turn, looks out for Stella, even when doing so includes eating barf-inducing eggs, and especially when it involves wearing her favorite Halloween bunny suit.

This book showcases a delightful understanding between the two siblings. When Marigold has trouble navigating her world, Stella’s stories are just what the younger girl needs and Marigold rewards her older sister with unconditional love, trust, and a healthy amount of adoration. Blackhall’s gorgeous, full-color illustrations adorn every spread and elevate the narrative into an especially lovely book to hold and treasure. I’m hoping for many more gentle adventures with this pair.

--Lynn

October's Book of the Month--The Ofrenda That We Built

October’s Book of the Month is THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT, written by Jolene Gutiérrez and Shaian Gutiérrez, and illustrated by Gabby Zapata.

This sweet picture book is a rhyming look at the way one family builds an ofrenda for Día de Muertos. Included, among other things, are “cloth, embroidered by Amá,” “candles, glowing and bright,” tamales “that Papi prepares for the spirits to eat,” and “photos, reminders so dear.” Step by step, THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT weaves together all the many items this family gathers with care and tenderness to honor their “loving abuelo, who’s no longer here.”

Clever, cumulative text based on The House that Jack Built is enriched by vibrant, colorful, cartoony art which brings the complex scenes to life. There’s plenty of backmatter, too. It’s a joyful, heartfelt tribute to family and tradition that’s beautifully done!

--Lynn

September's Book of the Month--It Is Okay

IT IS OKAY, by Ye Guo, is a charming, understated story of two “very different” friends who discover that—together—they can cope and even thrive amidst life’s many ups and downs.

Every morning, Goat enjoys a cup of coffee and canned grass on toast. One day, there’s no canned grass, so Goat heads to the supermarket, where he bonds with Bunny over which brand to choose. From then on, the two new friends meet up for coffee and canned grass. They find they like a lot of the same things, but not all, and that this "is okay.” Goat and Bunny both enjoy exploring, and when Bunny feels they’ve gotten lost, “it is okay,” because “Goat can always find the way back.” When they miss their train, “it is okay,” because Bunny realizes they can take the next one. And when Bunny ask Goat over for dinner and Goat “cannot fit through the door,” guess what—“it is okay,” because they can picnic outside!

The elegant text is subtle and full of heart. Delicate, quirky illustrations (pencil, pastel, watercolor pen, ink, and collage on mono print backgrounds) highlight the bond between the friends, and the detailed art adds depth and emotional impact—also, it’s fun! This story exudes a gentle geniality that assures readers, without being didactic, that all will indeed be okay.

--Lynn

August's Book of the Month--Ahoy!

August 2024's Book of the Month is AHOY!, a gem of a book about the joy of imaginative play by two-time Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall.

When a parent who’s vacuuming wants to know what their child is playing, the answer is a definitive “I’M NOT PLAYING!” Apparently, there’s a storm coming: the rug is a rising ocean, and the parent is instructed not to dillydally or they’ll both be eaten by sharks. The pair happily draw a map, raise a mainsail, hoist a burgee, and swab a poop deck. They set sail in a fabulous vessel (laundry-filled basket and chairs), but when the phone rings, they hit the doldrums. Soon, though, they’re at it again, as a giant squid attacks right before the storm rolls in—and they end up on an iceberg! Luckily, a distress signal brings help, and it’s “not a moment too soon!”

A universe of fun fills these pages as imagination transforms chore time—and the living room—into the scene of a fantastical, seafaring adventure. Blackall brilliantly brings AHOY! to life with a text that’s all dialogue and energy, and enriched by fun nautical terms. The illustrations are bright, whimsical, endearing, and equally energetic, and the roly-poly, hatted characters look like they could be toys themselves. Color and line-work are superb, as always. Be sure to take note of gorgeous endpapers and look under the dust jacket.

As someone whose kids made royal thrones out of egg cartons, I love a good book about imaginative play, and this one does not disappoint. It’s sparkling, creative, dynamic—don’t miss it!

--Lynn

July's Book of the Month--Millie Fleur's Poison Garden

July’s Book of the Month is the charming, fantastical MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN, by Christy Mandin.

In Garden Glen, “prim, pastel houses, each one like the next,” line the streets, except for “one tumbledown house on a scruffy hill at the edge of town.” That’s the place Millie Fleur La Fae and her mom move into. Millie Fleur loves her new home, but one thing is missing—fortunately, Mom has brought seeds and Millie Fleur springs into action. She fills her new garden with plants like fanged fairy moss, sore toothwort, and tentacled tansy. Grumpy gillyflower and glowing jack-in-the-bush.

Of course, “picture-perfect” Garden Glen’s Rosebud Club finds the garden odd, unruly, and unacceptable. But Millie Fleur believes her “wild, weird little garden” is special, and when she brings her class home for a tour, they agree! Before long, “bits of Millie Fleur’s garden [begin] to take root all over town,” and Garden Glen is, happily, “forever transformed.”

Packed with puns, wordplay, and an appreciation of the off-kilter, MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN is a delightful celebration of individuality, and the joys of following one’s own passions. It’s also about standing up for what you think is right. Mandin’s text is clear and clever, and the same can be said of her digital illos, which have their own punny references and imbue the plants with plenty of personality. There are faces everywhere and Millie Fleur’s frog sidekick adds a nice touch.

MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN is dark—but not really. Like the titular garden, this book celebrates the “wonderfully weird” in a cozy, accessible way.

--Lynn

June's Book of the Month--June Moon

June’s Book of the Month is my own recently released board book, JUNE MOON, beautifully illustrated by Nate Carvalho and published by Familius. Since I wrote it—and am a bit shy about summarizing it myself—here’s what the publisher says:

Rising moon, shining moon, magic as a June moon.

In a story of seasides and summertimes, the rising and setting of the moon mirrors a child’s imaginative play and bedtime routine, all bathed in the natural magic of an evening in June. With gorgeous illustrations and seamless transitions between reality and the fantasy of a child’s view of the night sky, readers of all ages will reach for this lilting bedtime poem again and again.

I hope you’ll take a moment to find and support JUNE MOON, perhaps by buying a copy or requesting one from your local library, and sharing it with a young child!

--Lynn

May's Book of the Month--Everyone Starts Small

With its lyrical text and vibrant, colorful art, EVERYONE STARTS SMALL, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Dominique Ramsey, offers an inspiring ode to our living planet that ends with some gentle encouragement to help Earth “recover, regenerate, and look after itself.”

“Everyone starts small,/in seed or sky or rocky bed.” The story begins with Sun’s beams, Grass’s blades, and Cloud’s exuberance, but soon “everyone sprouts and bursts/and hatches and spreads.” Tree “reaches and widens,” Water “tumble[s] end over end,” Grass, Sun, Bug, and Berry, “rise and ripen.” But then comes Wind, and Sun grows too hot. And so does Fire. Then Rain, who is wet, calms everyone down. And they’re all tired, but “Soil holds on,” and slowly “threads of life” again burst forth.

The language is so smooth and wonderful to say, I couldn’t help reading it aloud and over-quoting it to describe the story. Liz Garton Scanlon is a master, but the illustrations completely hold their own, with bright colors and swirling, organic shapes adding to the sense that Earth is always in motion, always growing and dying back and growing again. It’s a delightful read.

--Lynn

April Books of the Month

Two of my longtime critique buddies, Dianne White and Karen Jameson, have three inspiring, wonder-filled books newly out in the world: FINDING GRATEFUL, IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE, and WAKE UP, WOODLANDS!

“Mama says you don’t need a map to find grateful.” In Dianne White and Faith Pray’s FINDING GRATEFUL, after their car breaks down, a child relates how her mama encourages her to notice "this thing/that thing/anything, really.” The child realizes she can find grateful in a smile, or “a cold spray on a hot day.” She pays attention to wiggling toes, and the smell of honeysuckle, indeed, to all the wonder of the here and now. The uplifting, lyrical prose will sweep readers along, and it’s deftly illustrated in an appealing, fully-rendered yet sketchy style that conveys movement and enthusiasm. This child’s eye view of mindfulness is a lovely and comforting read.

IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE, also written by Dianne White and this time illustrated by Nanette Regan, is an inspirational, board book take on growing up and becoming your best self. Opening verses (“There’s a time to begin/and a time you will wait./A time when you're early./A time when you're late.”) are accompanied by an infant in a crib and a toddler learning to walk, followed by the child aging up and growing her life experiences. “There’s a time for inside/and a time to go out./Small moments of quiet./Big moments of SHOUT!” The text is smooth and song-like and begs to be read aloud, while illustrations, loose and evocative, are active or contemplative in turn. IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE, with its gentle push for this child to “show the world who you are: confident, courageous, a bright rising star!” is sweet and lovely. This book would be a terrific gift for new parents, or graduates of any age!

WAKE UP, WOODLANDS, written by Karen Jameson and illustrated by Marc Boutavant, is the rhyming, beautifully illustrated follow up to 2020’s WOODLAND DREAMS, created by the same talented team. As a group of kids emerges from a cabin to celebrate the end of winter, the text calls out to a succession of sweetly nicknamed critters to do the same:

Wake up, Tiny Whiskers.
No more storming
Woods are warming
Sweep your sleepy dreams away.
Scamper out to meet the day.

Smoothly written stanzas “croon a song” of spring, and bright, bucolic illustrations showcase children and animals alike, as they make their way across these colorful pages. WAKE UP, WOODLANDS works as a lovely companion to WOODLAND DREAMS, a story about bedding down for winter, or on its own as a paean to spring.

--Lynn

March Books of the Month

PEDAL, BALANCE, STEER: ANNIE LONDONDERRY, THE FIRST WOMAN TO CYCLE AROUND THE WORLD, written by Vivian Kirkfeld and illustrated by Alison Jay, is a bright and engaging biography of a strong woman who vows “to do something no other woman had done before.”

Annie isn’t afraid of hard work. She bustles here and there, caring for her family and selling ad space to newspapers. She’s never ridden a bicycle, but when she learns that “two rich businessmen” will pay ten thousand dollars to “the first woman who pedal[s] around the world,” she knows she will try. She has no end of hardships, including learning how to ride, leaving behind her three children, and sleeping on “stony ground” some nights with little to eat.

But, PEDAL! BALANCE! STEER! Annie perseveres! She battles time, injuries, and bandits. She lectures, sells photos, and cuts wood. And when Annie finishes her race fourteen days early, she proves that “a woman ha[s] the right to determine her own path in life.”

Vivian Kirkfeld’s lively, well-researched storytelling is a joy to read, and Alison Jay’s signature illustrations, rendered with oil paint on paper, impart the perfect, old-fashioned flavor to dynamic, attention-grabbing layouts. This picture book of a woman who “stepped up” to a challenge, and “stepped out of the role society envisioned for her” is an inspiration.

ACCIDENTAL HERO: A MOSTLY TRUE WOMBAT STORY, written by Laura Roettiger and illustrated by Debbie Palen, is an entertaining, kid-friendly account of the way “animals ranging from wallabies to skinks to echidnas” survived the 2020 bushfires in Australia “by sheltering in wombat borrows.”

“G’day, Australia!” As bushfires rage through New South Wales, caused by “the driest year on record,” animals “that can’t be found anywhere else on earth” are in danger, report Koala and Emu in their live newscast on WMBT. Scenes of animals fleeing make way for an interview with Wombat, who has “become something of a real hero to the locals.” It seems that when Wombat headed out from her burrow, she was overcome by wind, fire, and smoke. She heard cries for help from those animals whose homes were already lost and who needed “shelter from the heat and smoke.” What’s a kind-hearted wombat to do? Echidnas, skinks, “a mama rabbit and her fluffle,” and wallabies all learn “what real friendship is all about,” as the animals cuddle in Wombat’s cozy underground home, safe and sound. Back matter includes information about animals of Australia, facts about forest fires, and tips to help prevent them.

Cleverly formatting her story as a television newscast, Laura Roettiger takes a frightening event and makes it completely accessible to younger readers. She underscores her work with themes of kindness and hope in the face of tragedy. Debbie Palen’s illustrations are a treat, with endearing, expressive, cartoony animals imparting just the right amounts of drama and cheerfulness to match their situations. This imaginative offering should inspire kids to create their own newscasts or might be readily adapted into classrooms as reader’s theater.

--Lynn

February Books of the Month

We’re going with three Books of the Month for February!

TADPOLES, by Matt James, is a gorgeous ramble of a picture book, wherein one boy touches on, among other things, two-headed frogs, ponds, clouds, rain, “neat old junk” that includes a rusty bike and a piano, swear words, love, and… tadpoles. James’s art is so stunning, I’m always willing to see where he takes me, and the unexpectedness of this particular journey is gently and surprisingly affecting. The boy’s dad has moved out of their home, but that’s not the focus—the focus is on the magic of the world and the time they spend together. Plus, there’s some non-fiction that includes frog spawn, froglets, and ephemeral ponds to enrich the whole thing.

In DIM SUM PALACE, by X. Fang, Liddy is too excited to fall asleep because tomorrow she and her family will go to Dim Sum Palace. When a delicious smell wafts into her bedroom, she follows it to an actual dim sum palace. There, she finds “baos, buns and bowls of congee! Dumplings, shumai and lots of sweet treats!” Liddy falls into a bowl of dumpling filling, and after some folding and pinching, Liddy meets—and avoids being eaten by—an empress, stays for delicious dim sum, then falls asleep “on a warm bun.” When she wakes, Liddy is hungry again and ready to go to the real Dim Sum Palace. Using graphite on paper and digital color, X. Fang’s blocky, stylized art is full of personality, as is Liddy herself. Shades of Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen, help DIM SUM PALACE to serve up a veritable feast for a reader’s imagination.

In GRAVITY IS BRINGING ME DOWN, by Wendell Van Draanen illustrated by Cornelia Li, all of Leda’s fumbling and stumbling, slipping and tripping, splattering, slopping, and tipping, are due to the fact that “gravity [is] in a bad mood. Again.” Alas, Zero-G isn’t an option. Ms. Jameer teaches Leda’s class some fun facts about gravity, then Mom takes Leda to a science discovery center. It’s only then that, finally, “Leda and gravity [seem] to have declared a truce.” Leda is able to hop and skip, dance, whirl, and leap, until gravity manages to “bring her down” safely into her bed. Van Draanen’s got a terrific premise here, and she manages to work the science into the plot smoothly enough to not feel forced. Cornelia Li’s analog and digital art is active, buoyant, and perfectly suited. It’s fun!

--Lynn

January's Book of the Month--Fire Flight: A Wildfire Escape

January’s Book of the Month is FIRE FLIGHT: A WILDFIRE ESCAPE, written by Cedar Pruitt and illustrated by Chiara Fedele.

A wildfire moves swiftly through a California forest, “crunching dry branches, bark, and heartwood,” and stranding one little owl. There is “nowhere to go, but the owl [can’t] stay.” It bursts out of the trees, spies “a fellow flier” (a fire-fighting helicopter), and soars “right through the helicopter’s open window!” The story generates plenty of suspense but, as the flames die down, so does the intensity, and readers will land, with “a beautiful glide,” back home amid the now-burnt branches of the forest.

Based on an actual event, Pruitt’s focused, poetic text brings the chaotic scene to life with terse sentences and plenty of onomatopoeia, including the “beat-beat-beat” of the owl’s wings, the “chop-chop-chop of a fire-fighting helicopter,” and the “drip-drip-drop of water quenching flames.” Pairing perfectly with the text are the vivid colors, dramatic angles, and close perspectives of Fedele’s art, which pull readers through smoke and flames, and right into the helicopter to experience the uneasy alliance between fellow fliers. An author’s note at the end adds context to this dynamic offering.

Having myself been forced to flee from a California wildfire (the Buckweed fire of 2017), this gripping story really hit home for me!

--Lynn

December's Book of the Month--Thank You, Moon

December’s Book of the Month is the lyrical, informative, beautifully-rendered THANK YOU, MOON, written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Jessica Lanan.

I love books about the moon! I have two full shelves devoted to picture books which feature Earth’s magnificent nightlight. So when I heard about this book, I immediately knew I would seek it out.

From “guiding tiny turtles to the sea,” to “giving lions a chance to feed their families,” to its “ever-changing beauty, night after night,” THANK YOU, MOON pays tribute to some of the ways the moon’s illumination benefits us. Stewart’s text introduces species of wildlife who live and forage under the moon, and depend on it for safety, as well as basic science about the moon itself. Lanan’s stunning watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are steeped in nighttime blues as they dramatically portray the animals in their habitats—and always, the bright, white light of the moon.

Read it once for the beautiful, lyrical language and art, a love poem to our moon. Read it a second time for all the explanatory science embedded within the lines. And, finally, turn to the back matter for an even more complete picture of what’s being discussed. It’s a fine, multi-layered look at the wide-ranging effect our moon has on Earth and its inhabitants.

--Lynn