Today is Isaiah “Ice” Abernathy’s birthday and he’s a bit salty.
In his own words he says, “In parts of Texas, it’s illegal to sell Limburger cheese on Sunday or shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel,” but “no one saw fit to make it a crime for a kid to do chores on his birthday.”
Salty or not, by the end of the first page, readers are rooting for Isaiah, a likable, hard-working kid who loves animals and hopes to be a vet one day. Isaiah rolls the wheelbarrow across the farm, checking in with his “four feathered divas,” Aretha, Mariah, Rihanna, and Whitney as they cluck to the music on Isaiah’s playlist and strut out of their coop.
Isaiah stops to chat with the horses, Dolly and Buster, and then Seth, his brother, shows up, ready to pounce. It’s Isaiah’s birthday, after all, which can only mean one thing – a good old-fashioned birthday tickle war.
Life is good. Theirs is a happy family. The two boys are not just brothers, they’re best friends. Soon, Seth will be going off to college, which means that the boys have a lot of memories to create before the big day arrives.
And then… their world falls apart. A serious accident lands Seth in the hospital and life becomes a situation no family ever imagined they’d be called upon to live through.
Will this tight knit family be able to handle the pressures of their new normal? How will they pull through? And will the bond between brothers be enough to bring the family a measure of hope?
Inspired by real life events, Crystal Allen has written a deeply moving book of hope in the face of impossible circumstances. From the moment I started reading BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS, until the time I finished and for days afterwards, I’ve held these brothers and their family in my heart and mind.
In an author’s note, Crystal writes that “It took eight years to finish this story… The plot, characters, dialogue, and most of the names… are fictitious. However, the heartaches, the anger, the hopes, and triumphs… are real.”
Told with Crystal’s signature humor and grace, BETWEEN TWO BROTHERS is a story of a family ultimately able to face the unimaginable by leaning on their faith, the love and care of their friends and community, and their trust and belief in one another.
It’s a book I will remember for a long time to come.
Nai Nai is Lyn Lyn’s beloved grandmother. Each year, she crochets a special new hat for Lyn Lyn. Now she wants to return the favor and make a special hat for Nai Nai. But it’s not easy! Every time she tries, her stitches are too tight, too loose, or just plain weird. Lyn Lyn is determined, but still needs help.
That’s when she comes up with a plan. She’ll tell Nai Nai she is making a hat for her very best friend. Can Nai Nai help?
Kim-Hoa Ung’s debut, A GIFT FOR NAI NAI is a warm intergenerational story full of heart, and the reminder that “small things become great when done with love.”
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Do you or a special someone want to learn how to crochet? Enjoy these video tutorials created by the author and learn to crochet the hat that Lyn Lyn made for Nai Nai!
If you’re not already familiar with Stephanie Parsley Ledyard‘s picture books, I’m excited to introduce you to her work, and her newest, SUPERBABY, an adorable and energetic ode to all things baby.
The story begins with this sweet introduction:
Indeed, she is not!
Superbaby is UP! UP!
and awake…
BOOOOOOOOMING in for kisses.
Watch out for drool!
Superbaby is a bundle of energy, perpetually on the GO — flying through the air, building cities, and then? Knocking them down. KA-POW!
Her “supersonic sound waves” are “OUT of this world. WAAAA-AAAAAA-AAAAAAAH!” No matter what she is up to, it’s hard to ignore this sweet, irresistible baby.
After a long day of play, food, and fun, Superbaby is ready for “a bubble and a scrub,” three books, and kisses. Best be quick, her “powers are fading fast…”
SHHHHHHHHH.
This is no ordinary baby.
Superbaby needs her rest
to get ready for another
BIG
day.
With adorable illustrations by Lincoln Agnew and charming text by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard, Superbaby is a delight to read aloud and makes the perfect gift for babies (and caregivers) everywhere!
Check out this super fun, SUPERBABY Activity Kit! (I especially love the “Mr. Stuffie’s Dot-to-Dot, and the Superbaby coloring pages.)
In a world where it it can seem like the loudest voices are those that seek to separate and divide us from one another, the truth is that no matter who we are or where we live, we all have the same basic needs and share much in common – to feel loved and protected, to have food and shelter, and to be surrounded by family, friends, and community.
SAME HERE! The Differences We Share by Susan Hughes and Sophie Casson is about exactly this and more. Organized by topics such as “We All Need to Communicate” and “We All Need to Dream” each section introduces readers to children in different parts of the world. In “We All Need to Play: What Do You Do for Fun?“, the section begins:
My name is Adowa, and I love cooking with my mom and playing with my friends.
Most mornings, before school, I help get the food ready for our supper. It’s too hot to cook later in the day….
After school, my friends and I go straight home to do chores. But we always try to finish quickly so we can have time to play outside before supper. I love playing with my friends.
Gorgeous illustrations by Sophie Casson show Adowa working outdoors over a cookfire at home in Ghana. Turn the page and readers learn more about the things a child from Brazil, Russia, and Spain like to do in their free time (skateboard, listen to music, play chess with grandma, take coding classes).
Based on extensive research (with backmatter that includes a list of selected sources as well as books for further reading,) SAME HERE! The Differences We Share is ideal for middle grade readers (and younger readers, too!) interested in accessible informational text that provides snapshots about customs and cultures around the world.
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Enjoy this interview with the author and illustrator on “Creator Corner.”
I’ve admired Maria Gianferrari‘s work for years, and 2023 has been an especially busy time for her as this year Maria released 5 new books! Today, I am thrilled to share her recently published, FUNGI GROW, illustrated by Diana Sudyka. This ode to fungi is a delight to read aloud as well as a must-have for all home and school libraries. The text is lyrical and informative and the art is truly stunning, some of Diana Sudyka’s finest work. Writers will find FUNGI GROW is the perfect mentor text for the best science-based picture book nonfiction being created today.
Here’s the publisher’s description:
Above ground, below ground, all around, fungi grow. They root and fruit and twist and twine everywhere on earth. Some are edible, some are medicinal, some are even poisonous. Step into this book and discover the amazing array of mushrooms and see how they multiply. Learn how fungi heal and help humans. Explore the incredible underground fungal network that helps forests thrive. And so much more!
As soon as I laid eyes on FUNGI GROW, I knew I wanted to interview Maria about its creation. I’m so glad she said YES!
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DIANNE: Thanks for joining us on ReaderKidZ, Maria. I’ve been a fan of your books for ages, and I’m so excited to talk to you about one of your newest, FUNGI GROW! You mentioned in an interview with Andrea Wang on Picture Book Builders, that the inspiration for Fungi Grow began while researching your book, Be a Tree!
MARIA: Thanks for having me on ReaderKidZ, and likewise, Dianne! It was lovely to finally have met you at NCTE, and of course, we share both a love of words and a beloved illustrator in Felicita Sala. [DW: Indeed. Felicita is the best!]
DIANNE: You mention in your Picture Book Builders interview that your “discovery draft” began with a focus on mushrooms, but eventually led you to the underground world of fungi. I’ve heard novelists use the term discovery draft, but I’m not sure I’ve ever heard an early draft of a picture book referred to in exactly that way, and I’m curious. Do you write a full draft with a certain focus in mind and later decide that you want to zoom in on a particular aspect of your original idea, or –in the case of Fungi Grow — open up the idea to include more? Can you share a little about your process?
MARIA: Every project is a little bit different. Sometimes, though rarely, things come out in nearly full form—I hear the voice and the sentences form in my head, and I am in the zone. The words flow. That was the case for Be a Tree! as well as another picture book, Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness. For those, the editing process was only a bit of paring and re-arranging. It’s so nice when those “gifts” from the universe happen (or with the latter, I think of it as a gift from my late and very beloved dog, Becca). But alas, most often, it’s a process of finding the right voice and tone and structure through trial and error and experimentation—that’s why I think of it as a discovery process.
Be a Tree! led me to the world of mycorrhizal fungi—the kind that partner with trees and other plants, and the magic of mycelium, the roots of fungi. The first draft I wrote, called Marvelous Mushrooms, was a direct celebration of mushrooms themselves. It sparked the interest of editor Andrea Welch who requested a revision. After a wonderful conversation, we both agreed that it wasn’t quite there yet. So that’s when the “discovery” aspect happened—I had to try a lot of different formats to figure out how and what I most wanted to say. Sometimes that involves taking on different structures to see how things take shape, the way a sculptor chisels and hones. We do that with our words. Once I came up with the “fungi grow” refrain, and decided to take a circular life cycle approach, beginning and ending with spores, then things came together.
DIANNE: Ah, yes! That makes sense! Our writing processes sound very similar in that sometimes an idea comes fully formed, and other times, it’s all about play and experimentation with the form and shape.
Fungi Grow reads like a poem in free-verse and your use of language (alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, rhyme and more) makes the read-aloud experience rich and enjoyable. Do you have any favorite lines? Or a sentence that popped out and you immediately knew it was perfect?
MARIA: Thanks, Dianne. It’s magical when that happens! This section sprouted in full form. I love Diana’s art—so lush and lovely.
DIANNE: There’s a journey in this book – from spores to mycelium roots to fruit – the mushrooms that we’ve all seen sprouting in the woods or on our lawns. Their story could have been told in any number of ways, but you chose to write a lyrical ode to all things fungi. I bet it was challenging, but also fun! What was that process like?
MARIA:One thing I really wanted to share with readers is the idea of this hidden world beneath our feet—miles and miles of mycelium we only know is present when mushrooms form into fruit (unless we turn over old branches, or dig in the leaf litter). The kingdom of fungi is so fascinating, and there is so much out there yet to be discovered!
So, I began with spores, and the different ways that they are dispersed—through gills, teeth or pores, via wind, or water, or creatures, and the amazing ways that mushrooms have found ways to reproduce. I adore the way that Diana hand-lettered the onomatopoeic words and incorporated them so they blend with the art so seamlessly—it’s brilliant (and beautiful). Once I had this idea in mind, the life cycle structure emerged—starting with spores, they root, form hyphae, stretch and spread into mycelium. I really wanted to showcase the magic that’s happening underground. The next natural step was to focus on the various mushroom types, mycorrhizal, saprotrophic (decomposers) on to the explosion of the fruiting bodies of mushrooms in all their beauty and glory, and then back into the specific ways they work their wonders.
DIANNE: Can you talk about the embedded STEM information you include on many pages? Did you know from early on which types of fungi and related information you wanted to include? I’m also curious about any collaboration you might have had with the editor and illustrator as the sketches came in and the layout of text and art and “sidebars” were discussed?
MARIA:There were some really STEM-amazing things that I knew I would definitely include right from the start like hulk bugs—who knew fungi could thrive in radioactive conditions? Plus, I love the humorous name.
Zombie ant fungus is way too cool not to have included. It basically invades an ant’s brain, forcing it to leave its nest and lock its jaw on a leaf. The ant then dies and a mushroom pops out of its head and rains spores on the ant colony below where it infects event more ants! Cordyceps really became popularized last fall in the series, by The Last of Us. But this fungus’ parasitic reproductive strategy evolved over millions of years and is specific to ants. Mycologists say that it’s unlikely to infect humans, but if it did, that too would probably take millions of years.
Mushrooms are sustainable and master recyclers—their mycoremediation properties are astounding: they can digest powerful pollutants, such as petroleum, chemical waste, and even heavy metals like mercury, so I knew their superpowers had to be celebrated in the book.
I love weaving in scientific language which can also be quite poetic; STEM concepts and poetry truly go hand-in-hand, like the way that hyphae release enzymes—they “spit/from hyphal tips,” a process of making new soil as they unmake whatever it is that’s being digested. Another example is this process called “puffing,” the wondrous way cottony rot fungus actually makes its own wind to spread its spores even farther. How cool is that?
Having a dual text can appeal to readers of different ages. A main text that is spare, poetic and lyrical can be read on its own to the younger set, separate from the more detailed STEM-ish sidebars which can appeal to older kids (and adults). When I read it at events, I begin by just reading the main text, and then I go back and re-read it with the sidebars. In that way we can delve into the science more and see the art anew too.
We collaborated and did our best to get the science right—we wanted to be as mycologically accurate as we possibly could. Some of the sections focused on specific mushrooms/fungi, like the shaggy ink cap which is so strong it can sprout through cement, or stinkhorn mushrooms that smell like rotten meat to attract flies, while others, particularly in the middle of the book, were left wide open for Diana to work her magical creative powers and visual artistry.
For example, this was the only text for this spread:
“Mushrooms bewitch, beguile and multiply.”
And from those mere words, Diana created this stunning spread featuring a wide variety of bright and beautiful mushrooms.
And Diana is such a nature lover—I love how she “peoples” the book with all manner of small creatures from snails and salamanders, to moths and millipedes, bees and butterflies and an abundance of toads. That would be another fun thing to do with littles—ask them to find the hidden creatures in the book.
DIANNE: Thanks for walking readers through the genesis and development of your truly beautiful picture book.
You’ve had a busy year, with five new books out in 2023. Congrats! What’s up next?
MARIA: I’m looking forward to a quiet 2024—I will not have any books releasing, but I can continue to share this year’s releases in ways that will be less hectic, with meaningful tie-ins. My next book, a fiction picture book called Rain and the Reading Horse, with gorgeous art by Hannah Salyer, will be published in spring 2025 from Clarion Books. Hannah has a magnificent new picture book this year called Ancestory, that’s garnering a lot of well-deserved accolades.
As a picture book author, I feel so grateful and fortunate to work with such amazing artists and illustrators and visionary editors! It’s always such a delight to get those first sketches—to see the words brought to life in the art.
Stay tuned for a couple of nature-y book announcements to come :-).And thank you for featuring our Fungi Grow, Dianne!
DIANNE: Thank YOU, Maria. I can’t wait to hear more about your upcoming books. And, I hope while we’re waiting, readers will check out your website, where they can find out more about both your 2023 books and ALL the books that came before.
Each month, I read stacks of picture books. Not just because I want to stay on top of what’s new from week to week and month to month, but also because, when I teach classes about writing picture books, I like to share new favorites with students.
Those of us who write them know that picture books are deceptively hard to get just right. On top of that, there really is no end to the many shapes and forms of successful picture books. For that reason, I’m always trying to better understand what makes a book work structurally as well as how authors create stories that resonate with young readers and the adults who read to them. Recently, as part of a assignment, a student shared BRAVE LITTLE BEAR with our class. I was smitten!
It’s the end of winter and Arlo’s sister, Eva is awake and eager to explore the world beyond their cave. Arlo prefers things just as they are. He likes to “curl up and fall asleep next to Eva and his mother…” But all this will change because “today, the three of them would travel from the only home Arlo had ever known.”
When Arlo’s mama whispers in his ear, “Follow me, my brave little bear,” Arlo isn’t sure. He wants to be brave, just like Eva, but will he be able to find enough courage for his first adventure into the unknown?
This sweetest of picture books, written and illustrated by Steve Small, is a heartwarming and cozy read, as well as reminder that we are all braver than we think. For writers, BRAVE LITTLE BEAR is also the perfect study of a character-based picture book with a strong emotional throughline.
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Enjoy these Activity Sheets to accompany Brave Little Bear, and this Read Aloud with the author:
It’s been busy times around here. Last week I attended the annual National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) conference in Columbus, Ohio and being there among so many passionate educators, librarians, authors, editors, publishers, publicists, and booksellers is one of the reasons I’m feeling especially grateful this season.
Rather than sharing about one book this week, I thought I’d share a few photo highlights from the conference, along with a number of books that I picked up or plan to add to my collection in the near future.
This was my second time presenting at an NCTE conference, and my fourth attending, and I have to say that this year topped all the years that came before. One reason was the opportunity to present with two stellar poets, authors, and friends: Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Megan Litwin. It’s hard to believe we’ve only known each other for a couple of years, and entirely online, no less. We worked on Zoom for a good many months and had a great time putting together our presentation, The Promise the Poetry:Building a Connected Community of Learners through Poems and Picture Books. We’re already thinking ahead to next year!
Enjoy these highlights!
(And… if you happen to be reading this on your phone, you’ll notice the text and images are not mobile friendly! I had to disable that plug-in, but change is coming very soon and, when it does, things will line up again. Thanks for your patience!)
Here we are, right before we began our presentation.
And afterwards, with a few of the poets and writers who attended.
Then, we were off to Jyoti’s signing of her newest book, Desert Queen.
While in Columbus, we visited the most enchanting bookstore — COVER TO COVER.Their speciality?
Books for kids! We signed our books and bought a few new favorites to bring home.
