Gracias-Thanks by Pat Mora

Illustrated by John Parra. Lee & Low Books, Inc., New York, 2009.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 978-1-60060-258-0.

Parra's rosy-cheeked boy leads us through a busy day filled with gratitude for graces large and small, crucial and zany, beginning with:  "For the sun that wakes me up so I don't sleep for years and years and grow a long white beard, thanks." The paint on wood of the illustrations, the colorful exotic flowers, and Hispanic decor give this modern story an old world feel.

Each double page spread features Spanish text on the left page and English text on the right. An author's note, also bilingual, exhorts the reader to look for things to be thankful for, and enumerates the author's own blessings. She adds, "Listing what I'm thankful for always makes me happy."

Helping children live a life looking on the bright side is of great social and personal benefit. This book reminds us that our American Thanksgiving holiday is not the only time to be grateful, but that every day we have a fresh opportunity to remember the good things.

ALA Notable Book, 2010
Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2010
Texas Library Association 2X2 Reading List, 2010
CCBC Choices, 2010
Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration, 2009
Belpré Illustrator Honor Book, 2010
Booklist Starred Review

Before John Was a Jazz Giant by Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by Sean Qualls, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2008.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 978-0-8050-7994-4.

A Song of John Coltrane, jazz legend, saxophonist extraordinaire....

Weatherford and Qualls create a seamless stream of music with lyrical text and visual sound pictures which flow from page to page. Qualls' imaginative evocation of sound using bubbles, ribbons, and streaming shapes depicts both the audible and the moving transitory aspects of music. John is shown as a child, listening, considering, absorbing, remembering, internalizing the melodious, rhythmic harmonies of the world around him.

"Before John was a jazz giant,
he picked up that horn,
blew into the mouthpiece, pressed his fingers on the keys, and breathed every sound
he'd ever known into a bold new song.
Before John was a jazz giant,
he was all ears."

A full page biography of John Coltrane is provided in an Author's Note, with a facing page containing a limited discography, and a short bibliography of further reading materials both in print and online.

This book begs to be read with Coltrane's music playing softly in the background. It would be a terrific centerpiece for a program on music or sounds for preschoolers, and lends itself to discussion of sounds around us.

Coretta Scott King Award, Honor Book
ALA Notable Children's
Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
CCBC Choice Book
NCSS-CBC: Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Golden Kite Honor Book for Picture Book Text
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
Michigan Great Lakes Great Books Award Master List

Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young

Philomel Books, New York, 1992.
Hardcover edition, 48 pages, ISBN 0-399-22261-8.

In a splendid recreation of the old wisdom fable, Young sets each of  the seven differently colored mice to visit the unknown object on a different day of the week. The black background creates a metaphor for the mice's blindness, and acts as a foil for their brilliant hues, as well the collage textures of their imagined visions. Only on Saturday does the White Mouse finally traverse the entire "Something", and put together the ideas generated by all of the mice to finally "see" the whole as an elephant.

"The Mouse Moral: Knowing in part may make a fine tale, but wisdom comes from seeing the whole."

Can be read and enjoyed by younger children learning their colors and the days of the week, but really requires a bit more philosophical savvy and discussion to help them internalize the concept conveyed by the moral.

Caldecott Honor Book
Boston Globe Hom Book Award
California Children's Media Award

Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco

Philomel Books, New York, 1990.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 0-399-22231-6.

Polacco draws on the old world flavor of her Russian heritage in this tale about overcoming fear.

Loud claps of thunder herald the onset of a storm, while Granddaughter shivers terrified under the bed. Grandma (Babushka) entices her out with the promise of baking a Thunder Cake. Together, they locate a recipe and set about assembling the ingredients. First come the frightening obstacles of obtaining eggs from "mean old Nellie Peck Hen" and milk from "old Kick Cow".

All the while lightning flashes, and Grandma counts until the thunder roars to calculate how far away the storm is--one mile per second. It's getting closer and closer as Granddaughter enters the scary dry shed for flour, sugar and chocolate. The last formidable task is to climb high on the intimidating trellis to pick three overripe tomatoes.

The time gap between lightning and thunder is closing quickly as they hurry to mix up the cake and get it in the oven. Waiting for the cake to bake, Grandma commends Granddaughter for being so brave. She had overcome her fear in every step of collecting the needed staples. Why should she be afraid of a sound?

As the rain pours down, the lightning flashes and the thunder booms, Grandma and Granddaughter enjoy their sweet Thunder Cake without a care. Granddaughter "never feared the voice of the thunder again."

Polacco includes the recipe for Thunder Cake on the last page. It makes a nice snack to end a storytime following this book. I love to read this one dramatically with all of the KA-BANGs and BAROOOOMs of the thunder. Although it is a little long to read aloud at a program, the pace can be expedited as the characters hurry to keep ahead of the storm. Children also love to help count as the storm gets closer.

Narrative skills may be enhanced by relating the sequence of gathering items for the cake, and the encroaching nature of the storm. On an emotional level, young ones may learn that fear can be overcome when you focus on some other purpose.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

HarperCollins Publishers, New York. 1964.
Hardcover edition, 64 pages, ISBN 0-06-025666-4.

This incredibly poignant classic wisdom tale relates the love story of a tree and a boy throughout the span of their lifetimes. When the boy is young, he spends much time enjoying the simple pleasures of climbing, swinging, eating apples, and resting in her shade. "And the tree was happy."

As the boy ages, something essential changes in the nature of their relationship. He is gone a lot. He has need of money and a house. The cost to the tree becomes sacrificial as she gives him her apples and branches. "And the tree was happy."

Years pass before the tree sees him again. Older yet, he wants to get a boat to sail away. The tree gives up her substance, her trunk to help him. "And the tree was happy."

After a very long time, he returns again, tired and old. The tree has nothing left but her stump for him to sit and rest on. "And the tree was happy."

There are many philosophical discussions to be had here. In human relationships, there are often people who seem to give sacrificially and joyfully all that they have, and those who are content to take until there is nothing left. Some choose to interpret this tale as a commentary on man and the environment, making moral distinctions as to what was good and appropriate for the boy to ask, and what was not.

With young children, we are just whetting the appetite for these kinds of conversations. They are not yet able to consider and understand all of the ramifications for these issues. To some, this is merely a sad story. To others, this may begin to trigger broader thinking.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1943.
Hardcover edition, 44 pages, pre- ISBN.

This depiction of life in a small town buried by a huge snowstorm may not seem terribly unrealistic to those of us from northern climes. Katy, an anthropomorphic snowplow reserved for only the deepest of snows, saves the day by carving out a route to rescue trapped people and restore essential services to Geopolis. The meandering pathways she cuts through the snow provide an overall layout of the town, giving small children an early sense of mapping and overall geographical layout. The pages are bordered with repetitive minipics of Katy at work, some with blue to frame and relieve the unrelenting whiteness of the snow. This book also serves to teach young ones about the components which make up a community--police, hospitals and ambulances, schools, post offices, airport, etc.--as well as the oft overlooked highway department of which Katy is the heroine.

This book can be read in small groups to children with more of an attention span. The detailed borders demand close-up inspection most suitable for individual reading. Great for winter or snow-themed storyhours.

Narrative skills may be enhanced by the sequencing of each subsequent rescue.

Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant

Illustrated by Arthur Howard. Harcourt Children's Books, San Diego, 1994.
Hardcover edition, 44 pages, ISBN 978-0152562557.

Stories for small children about elderly people other than their grandparents are somewhat lacking in number, but are essential in forming an understanding of social relationships. Rylant's wry observations about old age bring a gentle humor and poignant quality to this first in a series story about the meeting of new friends, countering prevailing cultural preferences for youth and beauty, and celebrating the value of true friendship.

Mr. Putter is lonely. He has much to offer, but no one to share it with. He wants a cat. Not a kitten, but a cat. " 'No one wants cats, sir,' said the pet store lady. 'They are not cute. They are not peppy.' Mr. Putter himself had not been cute and peppy for a very long time." He meets an old yellow cat at the animal shelter. "Its bones creaked, its fur was thinning, and it seemed a little deaf. Mr Putter creaked, his hair was thinning, and he was a little deaf, too.... And that is how their life began." Mr. Putter and Tabby become inseparable friends, sharing all the best things in life together and enjoying "the most perfect company of all--each other."

The book is a transitional reader divided into three short chapters with lots of white space around Howard's relaxed, slightly rumpled drawings highlighted with watercolor. Although the reading level is clearly for primary grades, the story can be shared with preschoolers in a smaller group. On an individual level, it makes for excellent discussion about older people and the roles which they play in our lives.

Good for practicing narrative skills.

Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie

Illustrated by Robert Ingpen. Bantam Books, Toronto, 1983.
Softcover edition, 40 pages, ISBN 0-553-34402-1.

This is hands down the best book I have ever encountered on the subject of death for children. Mellonie simply delineates the fact that lifetimes of all natural things have "beginnings and endings and there is living in between". The pace is slow and deliberate as he describes the general characteristics of long and short lifecycles of plants, birds, fish, trees, insects, animals, and finally people. Ingpen's muted earthtones reflect the solemnity of the topic.

Because there is no spiritual element to this book, it can be appreciated by literally everyone as a gentle recitation of biological processes. There are many other excellent books which introduce belief systems or deal with the practical outworkings of loss and grief, but this one gives reassurance that death is an entirely natural eventual outcome for all living things. Death is merely a part of life.

This is not a book that I would probably ever use in a program situation. I would highly recommend it as a parent resource.

Bugs! by David T. Greenberg

Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Megan Tingley Books, Boston, 1997.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 0-316-32574-0.

Greenberg will have you twitching and scratching in icky dismay with this no-holds-barred tribute to the grossness of all sorts of creepy crawly insects:

"Bugs with pincers, claws, and hair,
Bugs much fiercer than a bear,
Buggies in your underwear--
Tearing at you, BUGS!"

Accompanied by Munsinger's all too realistic drawings, he describes ways in which bugs could be found useful, including torturing other members of your family, garnish for salad, jewelry, Christmas tree decorations, and dozens of more fanciful ideas. In this hilarious poetic assault on your comfort zone, he then turns the tables and suggests that a child could become the pampered pet of an assortment of bugs, with surprising consequences!

"And then one day they'll polish you
Lovingly with wax,
Attach you to a wall
With bubble gum and tacks.
How lucky can you get?
For that's where you shall stay,
In their Human Being Collection
On permanent display."

This story is especially effective for preschool storyhour about insects when accompanied by a show and tell bug collection. Make sure that you have lots of insect books available for checkout!

This is a great vocabulary stretcher because so many different varieties of insects are named.

A Fish Out of Water by Helen Palmer

Illustrated by P.D. Eastman. Random House, New York, 1989.
Hardcover edition, 64 pages, ISBN 0-394-90023-5.

Otto, an innocuous goldfish purchased from Mr. Carp's pet store, becomes the sensational victim of a young boy's good intentions in this hilarious cautionary tale. Despite Mr. Carp's dire admonition to "never feed him a lot.... Never more than a spot, or something may happen! You never know what...", the boy feeds poor Otto an entire box of fish food and the adventure begins. Otto starts growing and growing, outgrowing his bowl, pots and pans, the bathtub, and the basement (now filled with water). Emergency workers are called in to haul Otto to the municipal pool, where angry swimmers are temporarily displaced. Finally, Mr. Carp reappears garbed in scuba gear to save the day by mysteriously shrinking Otto back to his original size. The drama draws to an inevitable close with the young man solemnly resolving never to feed Otto too much ever again, highlighting the unintended consequences of not following directions.

Palmer in this adaptation of her husband, Theodore Geisel's Gustav the Goldfish, creates a wonderful sense of panicked urgency in this little morality tale. The characters, portrayed in green and orange-toned drawings by Eastman, are perfectly portrayed with astonished facial expressions and broad gestures which heighten the sense of crisis.

Even though this is essentially an early reader for elementary-aged children, I love to read this exciting story aloud dramatically to smaller story hour groups. Although it is a little long, the action moves forward very quickly and rivets attention. The small book format limits the size of group which can easily see pictures.

When We Go Camping by Margriet Ruurs

Illustrated by Andrew Kiss. Tundra Books, Toronto, 2001.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 978-0887764769.

The acrylic paintings in this book are lovely, and make the Canadian wilderness and wildlife come alive with richly-hued textures. The text is a child’s simple description of the wonders of the natural world surrounding the campsite, and of the activities traditionally engaged in while camping. At the end, a legend directs you back to each painting to locate an animal, and gives a short factual paragraph regarding characteristics or behavior common to that creature. 

While this book will work as a group read-aloud about camping, the animal details and real natural beauty depicted are best seen close-up by one or two. Unless children have experienced camping at a very young age, the content may be best understood by those aged 3 and up.

My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman

Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Crown Books for Young Readers, New York, 1996.
Hardcover edition, 32 pages, ISBN 978-0517596005.

     Before a horrified audience, little sister proceeds to devour a succession of hilarious and disgusting creatures. Her unseen sibling acts as narrator chanting a progressively repetitive counting rhyme. "We thought she'd throw up then and there. / But she didn't." The explosion comes when little sister innocuously eats ten peas. Hawkes creates alarming facial expressions, highlighting the "ick" factor for 3-4 year olds and beyond. Younger children may be slightly disturbed by the dark, scary setting, and unable to fully appreciate the humor.

     A terrifically funny read-aloud for dramatically enhancing counting skills. Kids love to fill in the rhyming words at the end of each section. Also helpful individually pointing and counting out the edible objects with a single child.

1998 - Virginia Young Readers Program Award

1999 - South Dakota Prairie Pasque Award
1999 - Indiana Young Hoosier Award