Creeping Around the Picture Books #5 (History Lessons)

It’s obviously been a while since I’ve written this type of post. I hadn’t visited the library in months. Actually, I was really busy this fall…busy being depressed over not having a full-time job. I spent a lot of time eating nachos, and lying on my bed, watching episodes of The Wonder Years on my laptop. But now I’m back! And I’m ready to read books that were not technically designed for people my age. Yay! That’s far less depressing.

Anyway, if you’ve stumbled on this site and haven’t read my previous posts: What I do is walk through the “Youth” section of my local library, and pretty much check out any book that catches my eye (so, yes, I’m judging a book by its cover); and then I review them from the comfort of my own home because I’m not going to read a picture book around parents who think I’m a predator.

However, this time I around, I’ll also be reviewing some books I’m able to read via NetGalley. These books have not been released. NetGalley allows writers with blogs or popular Goodreads accounts to read soon-to-be released books and give honest feedback/reviews. My blog isn’t all that. I had to send about ten requests to get even three titles…but I got them! And I’m finally going to get around to reviewing them. So, let’s start with those NetGalley titles!

Helen Thayer’s Arctic Adventure (March, 2016) by Sally Isaacs / Illustrated by Iva Sasheva: This book is about Helen Thayer’s exploration to the “magnetic North Pole.” At the age of fifty, in 1988, Thayer became the first woman to reach that height solo. The book also features the Inuit Husky who accompanied her, whom she named Charlie. I think this a really great book for the classroom. It’s informative and very straight-forward…but a bit too straightforward. I appreciate the book’s simplicity, but I would have liked if the book had a little more emotion and a deeper look into Thayer’s mind/psyche (for example, what really motivated her to go on this journey? Why did she keep going?) Maybe some more background on Thayer would help. I think that’s the thing that would elevate this book from being a really great story for the classroom to a really great story for any setting. But I think kids who read this will be impressed with Thayer’s journey (particularly the scene where she’s almost mauled by a polar bear.) The illustrations are big and lifelike, but they probably won’t be winning many awards. Published by Capstone.

Too Many Carrots (Feb, 2016) by Katy Hudson: This one is about a Rabbit who likes to collect carrots. He’s pretty much a hoarder. When his house becomes too crowded for the carrots, he starts looking for other places to sleep, making things tough for his animal friends. It’s a cute story with some very animated (and sometimes clever) visuals. Sometimes, it was hard to enjoy the story because Rabbit acts like a selfish jerk for the majority of it. But, of course, he learns his lesson. In the end, sharing is better than hoarding. It’s the kind of story that could and should be read to the very young. But older kids can at least appreciate the pictures, since they’re so detailed. Published by Capstone.

Little Red (April, 2016) by Bethan Woollvin: This is pretty much a twist on the classic story of “Little Red Riding Hood.” In the end, Little Red outsmarts the wolf and makes a jacket out of his fur. It’s a very quick read. The illustrations stand out. They’re sparse and simple (mostly black and white except for Little Red’s hood and boots, and a couple other things). I can see kids really liking this, even if the end is a little grim (spoiler alert: the eaten Grandmother apparently stays eaten and dead). However, as someone who grew up with the Roald Dahl telling of this story, there’s nothing about this adaptation that truly surprised me. The “twists” for both stories are pretty much the same. So, I was a little disappointed by the conclusion. But, this is Woollvin’s first published book (I’m guessing she’s around my age, maybe even younger). I think she has a bright future ahead. Her illustrations are great, and I hope she truly excites me with her next book. Published by Peachtree.

OK…now onto some other already published books I swiped from the library.

The Boston Tea Party (1998) by Steven Kroll / Illustrated by Peter Fiore: I’m not quite sure why I chose this book. Nowadays, the phrase “Tea Party” sends uncomfortable shivers down my spine. But, I suppose there was a time when the actions of a group that referred to themselves as “The Tea Party” were justified. Anyway, this is obviously a book made for the classroom. With the large, blurry, watercolor pictures, this book is a bit more interesting than the standard textbook. The book does its job…but I guess I was hoping the text wouldn’t be so dry. The text is dry, and I feel like so much information is thrust on the reader. On the other hand, I suppose it’s nice that Kroll really acknowledged the complexities of the Boston Tea Party. (It’s not just that a bunch colonists got angry over paying taxes so they threw tea in the ocean…there are more parts to the story). Anyway, the book does what it does, but I wish I was moved more. I know I’m asking too much.

Lillian’s Right to Vote (2015) by Jonah Winter / Illustrated Shane W. Evans: I think this book might end up being one of my favorites from 2015. It tells the history of voting rights in America for African Americans from the early slave days to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to today. It’s from the viewpoint of Lillian, a 100 year old woman who, while walking up a large hill to the voting place, has visions of the difficult past and the hardships black people had to face in order to secure the right to vote. The illustrations are wonderful. They’re bold, and very expressive. I like how the people are shaded all one color in order to make the Lillian character stand out among the illustrations. The prose is beautiful and poetic and straight up inspiring. And, especially considering all the protests that are happening now, this book is very relevant to today’s world. Unfortunately, as the author notes in the very end, a key provision in the Voting Rights Act has been struck down by the Supreme Court that would make it hard for many poor people in rural communities to vote. But this book might give the young reader hope that change and progress can happen, if only slowly.

An “A” from Miss Keller (2015) by Patricia Polacco: I nearly jumped up in excitement when I saw this book displayed in my library. I’m a huge fan of Patricia Polacco. Pink and Say is probably my favorite picture book of all time; and An A from Miss Keller does not disappoint at all. Inspired Polacco’s own childhood, it is about a girl named Trisha (so I guess “Patricia”) and her relationship with her very strict writing teacher Miss Keller. We also meet her next door neighbor, Pop, who helps her along the way and inspires her to persevere. There are many moments in this story I found funny as a Writing major in college myself. However, like any Polacco book, the ending made me tear up a bit. This story is so beautiful and sentimental (in a good way). And, of course, Polacco creates illustrations with so much character and emotion. This is definitely a book every aspiring writer should read and relate to. And Polacco is a fellow Michigander so of course I love her!

The Little House (1942) by Virginia Lee Burton: OK, so I didn’t exactly “find” this book. I remember watching the short film adaptation for this book when I was in elementary school. I guess I wanted to relive my childhood. Burton won a Caldecott for this book in 1943, and it’s not hard to see why. This is one of the greatest picture books ever created. It’s more than a book about “urban sprawl.” Even Burton apparently denied that this book wasn’t necessarily supposed to be a critique of that. It’s a book about change and growing up. I think the years when the little house is in the country represents her innocent childhood. The “city years” represent adulthood. And, in the end, when the house is moved to another untouched countryside…I guess that can represent multiple things. The book is one giant metaphor with gorgeous, detailed, full-color illustrations (somewhat uncommon for the 40’s, even among Caldecott honorees). I only checked this out of the library, but I think I want a copy for my bookshelf. To Amazon!

Creeping Around the Picture Books #2 (Books starring African Americans)

On WordPress, there seems to be a very large community of book and writing blogs. I’ve written 14 posts since I began this blog (this is my 15th post). My two most “successful” posts are one that I wrote about Rowan Blanchard (which is 100% because Blanchard graciously linked to the post on her Twitter) and my very first edition of “Creeping Around the Picture Books.” These last couple of days, I’ve had a surprising amount of new blog followers and likes. It has really meant a lot, and it would be really cool to be part of this community, even if my blog isn’t solely dedicated to literacy. If you follow my blog, I’ll follow you back. I’ve enjoyed reading and discovering the blogs that have come my way.

Anyway, I enjoyed writing my last blog post so much, that I couldn’t wait to review even more picture books. However, since it was Labor Day Weekend, the library was closed. So, instead, I decided to borrow some books from Open Library. Open Library is a nice, convenient way to read picture books online, without going to the library. No, not every book is available (particularly newer books). And if an ebook has already been checked out by another person, then you would have to join a waiting list until that book is available. But I still think it’s a nice resource. Usually, the point of these posts is to randomly and freely pick out books I had never read from the library; however, I have to admit, these are all books I remember reading when I was very little. I can’t wait to read them again and relive my youth!

So, I guess, for this edition of “Creeping Around the Picture Books,” I’m not technically “creeping.” But, don’t worry, for the next edition, I’ll go back to being creepy and awkward, and I’ll take books from the top shelf, preventing little kids from getting them first.

Amazing Grace (1991) by Mary Hoffman / Pictures by Caroline Binch: OK, I have so many thoughts about this one. Don’t worry, they’re good thoughts. I don’t know what the kids are reading now, but when I was in elementary school, this was the “Go-to” book all the teachers used during Black History Month. This book could be used as lesson on tolerance, acceptance, perseverance, and straight up anti-racism. I revisited this book last year; it had been the first time in over a decade I had read the book, yet every panel/picture was instantly recognizable. And, as an adult, I appreciate the book more. Despite this book’s popularity, it was not nominated for a Caldecott, because (who knew?!) this book was written and illustrated by two white, British women! Caroline Binch was instead nominated for a Kate Greenaway, which is the British equivalent to a Caldecott. Apparently, there are more books to this series and I hope to seek them out soon. Obviously this book is a 10/10 for me.

Although, I have to laugh every time that Raj kid tells Grace she can’t be Peter Pan because she’s a girl. Honey child…

The Snowy Day (1962) by Ezra Jack Keats: Another book from my youth. This Caldecott Award winner is probably the most adorable picture book about a boy playing in the show EVER. And that’s pretty much the entire plot of the book. I love it. The paper cut illustrations are perfect. They really are product of it’s time…and a spiritual precursor to South Park. Along with the pictures and the simplicity, I love how Keats (who is a white man) represents a little black boy. This book was published during the early 60’s. Stereotypical depictions of black people and, most disgustingly, children were either still being created in the media, or earlier works were still being widely distributed. Peter could have been any race…because his race doesn’t define his childhood experience. The book, at the time of its release, received some criticism from the black community because his race isn’t acknowledged. It’s a fair point, and later picture books starring black youth will address race more. However, there’s something so refreshing and relatable about what Keats is doing here. This is truly a landmark book, and I hope kids are still reading it today.

Chicken Sunday (1992) by Patricia Polacco: I’m a HUGE fan of Patricia Polacco. She has another picture book called Pink and Say, which is probably in my top 5 of all time. Chicken Sunday is also a really great book about community, friendship, respect, and, again, perseverance. Based on Polacco’s childhood, the book is about a Jewish girl and her two black friends, who decide to buy their grandmother, Miss Eula Mae, a beautiful Easter bonnet. Polacco does a really great job of writing an engaging story with an emotional punch in the end; and, like Pink and Say, this story still makes me sad every time I read it. Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful story with distinct illustrations.

Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (1987) by John Steptoe: You know how in the recent Cinderella movie, the main thesis seemed to be “Be kind, and you will be rewarded?” That same thesis applies to this book. Actually, you could say this book is sort of an “African” Cinderella. It’s about 2 sisters: one is nice, one is not nice. When the king announces he is looking for a bride, the father sends his daughters to the city to be considered. You can kind of guess what happens in the end. I remember reading this when I was little. Although, as a 24 year old, I do notice that there are a couple problematic things about the text (like not setting the story in a specific African country, just “a certain place in Africa” whatever that’s supposed to imply), the story is still engaging. The illustrations are dynamite (Caldecott Honor Book, yo!). They’re lifelike. They’re detailed. They’re beautiful. Give this book to your kids…just be sure to tell them that Africa isn’t a country.

John Henry (1994) by Julius Lester / Pictures by Jerry Pinkney: I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired (it’s taken me 3 days to create this post) or what, but I had a hard time engaging with the text. To Lester’s credit, he does sprinkle the words with some personality here and there, as if this were “2nd person” as opposed to 3rd. I will say that Pinkney (who won a Caldecott Honor for this) is as well known and beloved as his illustrations. When you open a Jerry Pinkney book, you know what to expect from the illustrations: a sort of free, smudgy, blurry paintstroke thing going on. Anyway, any kid who loves tall tales and legends will enjoy this one.