From the Tops of the Trees

Posted on 11/27/2022

Carolrhoda Books | 978-1541581302

 

What does the world look like beyond the fences of the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp? This is the question young Kalia asks her father. She hears the aunties talk about the little-known Secret War in Laos and the river they crossed as Hmong refugees fleeing to Thailand. But Kalia, having been born in Thailand, only knows her life in the refugee camp.

“You’re safe,” Kalia’s father promises.

He takes one of my small hands in his big one and tells me,
“Look at your hand.” He points down at the tips of my toes
and says,”Look at your feet.”

He says, “Your hands and your feet will travel far to find peace.”
His eyes are as serious as his voice, so I say, “Yes, they will.”

When Kalia wonders if all the world is a refugee camp, at first, her father has no answers for her. But the next day, he asks her mother to put her in the nice dress and hat she wears only on the rare occasion when she is having her picture taken.

Dressed in her fine clothes, with her hair combed, her father waits with a borrowed camera.

At the base of the tallest tree in the camp, her father tells Kalia to hold tight to his neck, eyes closed. Hand over hand, her father climbs to the top of the tree!  From there, she sees the world beyond the walls.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE © text by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrations by Rachel Wada

“Father, the world is so big.”
“Yes it is,” he says.
“One day my little girl will journey far into the world to the places her father has never been.”

FROM THE TOPS OF THE TREES is the true story of author Kao Kalia Yang‘s childhood in a refugee camp. In tender, lyrical prose, with stirring illustrations by Rachel Wada, the author provides young readers with a heartfelt and honest story of resilience and hope in the midst of the harsh realities of life in a refugee camp.

 

  • Enjoy this INTERVIEW with author Kao Kalia Yang on the Lerner Books Blog
  • Learn more about the book in this INTERVIEW with the author on “The Picture Book Buzz” blog

 

Twinkle, Twinkle Winter Night

Posted on 11/13/2022

 

Clarion Books | 978-0358572046

 

Stars shimmering, lights glimmering, snowflakes “dressing trees in coats of lace. ” Is there anything quite as magical as a sparkly winter night?

Megan Litwin‘s gorgeous poem and picture book debut,Twinkle, Twinkle, Winter Night, (a lovely twist on the nursery rhyme), brings the season into focus, reminding readers of the warmth and coziness – the wonder – of winter. “Everywhere you look there’s LIGHT.”

“From quiet wood to busy town…” readers will delight in discovering the seasonal symbols of light from a variety of winter celebrations: Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Christmas.

With luminous illustrations by Nneka Myers, this dreamy book is an invitation to slow down, snuggle up,and gently tuck into bed where sweet dreams surely await… ✨⭐✨

 

 

 

My Paati’s Saris

Posted on 11/06/2022

978-0593324608 | Kokila

 

My Paati’s Saris is a vibrant expression of the special relationship between a grandmother and her grandchild. But it is so much more! It is colors – bold blues, muted tones – scents – jasmine and musky rose -and tastes and sounds – laddoos and spices, peddlers selling their wares, and family and friends dancing.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © text by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrations by Art Twink

Paati’s sari swirls and sings, inviting her young grandchild to “EXPLORE. DARE. BE.” Jyoti Rajan Gopal‘s powerful text, gorgeously illustrated by Art Twink, is a beautiful celebration of heritage, tradition, comfort, and acceptance.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © text by Jyoti Rajan Gopal, illustrations by Art Twink

 

The Dark Was Done by Lauren Stringer

Posted on 10/24/2022

S&S/ Beach Lane Books | 978-1534462922

 

A world without dark is hard for us to imagine because we’re always surrounded by light. Not only during the day. But, also, at night. Our cities and towns, homes and bedrooms are ablaze. “Nightlights, streetlights, flashlights, and table lamps…” All push the Dark away.

Often, we don’t appreciate the Dark, afraid of what we can’t see lurking in the shadows.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Words and illustrations by Lauren Stringer

“Even the boy who loved the song of crickets was afraid of the Dark under his bed.”

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Words and illustrations by Lauren Stringer

“And so…
the Dark decided to go.
All the world over,
continent by continent,
ocean by ocean,
the Dark left and did not return.”

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Words and illustrations by Lauren Stringer

After the Dark leaves, the world glows with yellow light. Everyone feels safe. No one misses the Dark. At first …

Then, one day the boy remembers the crickets. Along with their song, he misses the hooting owls, the flying bats, the twinkling stars.

And so begins a journey to bring back the Dark – its shadows and mysteries, poems and twinkling stars.

Written and beautifully illustrated by Lauren Stringer in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, THE DARK WAS DONE is a gorgeous invitation to welcome the gifts of the night.

 

Pair this book with: 

The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Flashlight by Lizi Boyd

Blackout by John Rocco

 

 

 

The Underpants by Tammi Sauer

Posted on 10/16/2022

Scholastic Press | 978-1338740271

 

Put the word “underpants” in a picture book and you’re guaranteed laughs – lots of laughs. Put the word in the title and it’s as good as finding the golden ticket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 🙂

Tammi Sauer is a master picture book author with over thirty books to her name. THE UNDERPANTS, adorably and hilariously illustrated by Joren Cull, is her latest – a retelling of the Ukranian folktale about a lost mitten – but with an important twist. Instead of a mitten discovered in the snow, THE UNDERPANTS begins with an unexpected discovery on the top of a fresh pile of Farmer’s laundry:

“Ah!” said Kitty. “I love this cozy coat.”

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Text by Tammi Sauer, illustration by Joren Cull

The coat fits perfectly and off Kitty saunters for a trip around the barnyard. As you might imagine, other animals, each in turn, spy Kitty sporting the “coat.”

“Kitty,” said Dog, “what are you doing in those underpants?
Kitty looked as proud as a kitty could.
“It’s a coat,” said Kitty.
“Oh,” said Dog.
“Is there room enough for me”
And there was. Barely. “

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Text by Tammi Sauer, illustration by Joren Cull

As one animal, then another spies Kitty and her friends wearing the underwear/coat, things begin to get extra cozy, until…

Well, you can imagine what happens when too many animals try to squeeze inside the underwear. Ah-AH-MOO-CHOOOOO!  All six friends tumble into the air and out! What a day they had!

And Kitty? She still loves her cozy coat – even the now very-very-very stretched out version of it!

It’s difficult to imagine a more perfect update of Alvin Tresselt or Jan Brett’s The Mitten than this one. And while it’s hardly fair to compare The Underpants to The Mitten, in case you want to, here are the links to both!

THE MITTEN by Jan Brett

THE MITTEN by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Yaroslova

 

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion

Posted on 10/09/2022

978-0593109694 | Dial Books

 

 

This is a story of music.
Of obstacles.
Of strength and hard work.
Of all you can accomplish when you dream.
If you only… shhhh…

                              listen. 

From the time world-renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie heard her first notes and learned to play the piano by ear, music was in her bones and heart. Sadly, soon after, her hearing began to deteriorate and Evelyn was told that, as a deaf girl, she would never be a musician.

Evelyn refused to be discouraged. Could she learn to listen in a new way and create extraordinary music by feeling sound, as if she were a drum, through her body?

 

            CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustration by Devon Holzwarth

Although Evelyn was determined, that did not mean she had it easy. The first time she auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in London, she was turned down. No one imagined it possible for her to have a career in music as a deaf person. But Evelyn knew better. She fought for the chance to have a second audition and, this time, the judges welcomed her to the academy.

Today, Evelyn Glennie is known as the first full-time solo percussionist in the world. Hers is a story you won’t want to miss!

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustration by Devon Holzwarth

After reading LISTEN: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, take the time to hear Glennie herself talk about craft in her Ted Talk,  “How to Truly Listen.”

 

Learn more on Evelyn’s website HERE.

 

Rick the Rock of Room 214

Posted on 10/02/2022

Simon & Schuster | 978-1534494640

Rick lives on the Nature Finds shelf in Room 214. Beside him sit an acorn, a clump of moss, and a piece of bark. They’ve been side-by-side companions for as long as anyone can remember.

One day the teacher starts a new unit.
“A rock is a mix of mineral matter,” says the teacher…
“Rocks are strong. They hold up the world,” says the teacher.”

CLICK TO ENLARGE  © Illustration by Ruth Chan

Rick is beside himself with excitement! When will he get to have all the adventures the other rocks are having – spewing out of volcanos, posing majestically on mountains, and tumbling down steep cliffs?

Rick is made for adventure and he is not going to find adventure sitting on the shelf!

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustration by Ruth Chan

Lucky for Rick, one day he tumbles into a student’s backpack and is carried outdoors into the bright sunshine.

When he discovers he’s surround by rocks – “real outdoorsy rocks” – Rick can’t wait to get the scoop!

“When do you explode out of volcanos?” he asks.
“No one explodes here. We already exploded… We’re done with that now.”

Well, that doesn’t sound terribly exciting. In fact, it’s all rather boring, and before long, Rick is more lonesome than ever…

Being on his own isn’t all he thought it would be… But how will he get back to the friendly faces of Room 214?

Silliness abounds in this newest book from Julie Falatko  and Ruth Chan. Rick Rocks!

 

 

 

  • Join illustrator, Ruth Chan, in a quick lesson on drawing Rick the Rock and his friend, Acorn!