‘Round’ explores roundness all around in nature

Round

Written by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by Lisa Congdon

Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 2020

Young children will enjoy looking for all of the round things in the beautifully illustrated picture book, “Round.”

The words are simple and repetitive. The story begins:

“Up round. Down round.

Nature all around is round.”

The rest of the words are rhyming pairs, two words to each page.

“Coiled round,” with a picture of a coiled snake.

“Foiled round,” along with a picture of a fox looking at the snake slip away.

The story points out round things in spring and summer, then fall, and finally winter.

At the end, it sums up with a two-page spread showing much of what came before: the sun, flowers, mountains, deer, a rabbit, a tree, and a bird. The words say,

“Nature all around is …”

Then the book concludes with a two-page spread of planets circling the sun, and the word, “Round!” in all caps.

 Lisa Congdon’s colorful illustrations are bold, vibrant and beautiful. They have sharp edges against a solid background, giving them a geometric look.

About the Author

Jennifer Ward is the author of many nature and nonfiction books for children, including “Mama Built a Little Nest,” illustrated by Steve Jenkins; “How to Find a Bird,” illustrated by Diana Sudyka; and “Feathers and Hair, What Animals Wear,” illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong. She writes from her home in Edwardsville, Illinois, where she enjoys the circular cycle of the seasons and is easily distracted by everything outside her windows, especially birds’ round eyes, the round flowers in her native gardens, and the round spots on the leopard frogs that splash in her round pond. Visit her at JenniferWardBooks.com.    

About the Illustrator

Lisa Congdon is a fine artist and illustrator. She has written and illustrated several books for adults, including “A Glorious Freedom: Older Women Leading Extraordinary Lives;” “Whatever You Are, Be a Good One: 100 Inspirational Quotations;” and “The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic.” Lisa is an avid cyclist, and loves spotting round things in nature. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit her at LisaCongdon.com.    

‘Latkes for Santa Claus’ targets blended families

 

Latkes for Santa Claus

Written by Janie Emaus and illustrated by Bryan Langdo

Sky Pony Press, 2020

‘Latkes for Santa Claus’ begins after Anna has written an email letter to Santa saying she is about to celebrate Christmas for the first time because her new dad and stepbrother do. She thinks Santa must be tired of cookies, so she plans to leave him a special treat.

Her stepbrother Michael spins a dreidel, and tells Anna that Santa is happy with the sugar cookies he leaves him. But Anna wants to leave Santa a Jewish treat.

She considers matzo ball soup, but Michael tells her that Santa can’t eat matzo ball soup with his fingers. She imagines him with a bowl of matzo ball soup on his sleigh, matzo balls flying around and soup spilling all over.

Then she thinks about giving Santa a piece of noodle kugel, but it would be too messy, too. Finally, she imagines him loving Aunt Sarah’s tzimmes, a fruit and vegetable stew. But again, it would slop and spill all over Santa on his sleigh.

Anna goes to her thinking spot and her mind spins with ideas. Finally, she comes up with the perfect treat – potato latkes.

Christmas morning all of Michael’s cookies and Anna’s latkes are gone. Anna gets an email from Santa saying he loved the latkes and asking for the recipe.

Langdo's colorful illustrations complement the words beautifully. 

At the back of the book, there are recipes for potato latkes and sugar cookies, so children can try both at home.

About the Author

Janie Emaus is the author of the young adult novel “Mercury in Retro Love.” She writes both fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Her articles and stories have been published in numerous magazines, anthologies, and websites including the “Los Angeles Times” Kids’ Reading Room Page, “The Washington Post,” AARP, “Country Living,” “Good Housekeeping,” and “Woman’s Day.” "Latkes for Santa" is her debut picture book. She lives in Winnetka, CA, and celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah.   

About the Illustrator

Bryan Langdo has illustrated more than 30 children’s books and authored two, “Tornado Slim” and “The Magic Cowboy Hat,” which won a 2012 Spur Award for Storytelling from Western Writers of America. He lives in central New Jersey with his wife, two children, and an assortment of pets.  

Bear learns how to make friends in sweet story

 

Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light

Written and illustrated by Apryl Stott

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020

Bear and Coco, a little girl, are good friends even though they are different. Bear is big and Coco is small. Bear is shy and Coco is brave.

They are also the same in some ways: both are kind, and both enjoy dancing. The two friends enjoy being together, but Bear is upset because the other animals don’t like him. They think he must be mean because he is so big.

Coco tells Bear her grandmother’s saying, “When life gets dark as a winter’s night, share some kindness, bring some light.”

They decide to bake cookies to share with the other animals, and to make lanterns for them. 

But when they try to give away their gifts, the animals turn them down. They don’t trust them.

By chance, they hear someone crying out for help. They find Baby Deer, who has gotten stuck in deep snow. They rescue the fawn, allowing Baby Deer to climb onto Bear’s back.

They find the other animals searching for Baby Deer. When they hear the story of Baby Deer’s rescue, Mama Deer is overjoyed, and the rest of the animals talk about how lucky they are Bear is big. They realize he is brave, friendly, and kind.

Bear doesn’t understand why the other animals didn’t want the cookies or lanterns. Mama Deer tells him the lanterns turned out to be helpful but rescuing Baby Deer really showed Bear’s kindness.

The lesson Bear learns is that kindness is about giving away love instead of gifts. “It’s doing something nice without expecting to get anything in return.”

The warmth of this sweet story is accentuated by its beautiful color illustrations. It would make a good holiday gift for 4- to 8-year-old children.

About the Author-Illustrator

Apryl Stott grew up drawing and making delightful creative messes. She wrote her first story, “How to Get Rid of my Baby Sister,” when she was in the third grade. Since then, she has learned how to be kind to her sister and how to clean up after herself. Mostly. She spends her days working in her studio, listening to podcasts, and cleaning up her daughter’s delightful creative messes. “Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light” is her first picture book. She earned a degree in illustration and design from Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. She lives in Reno, NV, with her family and dog. Visit her at aprylstottdesign.com.  

Gustavo conquers his shyness in sweet ghost story

 

Gustavo the Shy Ghost

Written and illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago

Candlewick Press, 2020

Gustavo enjoys doing ordinary ghost things like passing through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. He loves playing the violin, and he has a secret crush on Alma, the prettiest monster in town.

But Gustavo has a problem. He is shy. His shyness makes some things feel incredibly difficult – like standing in line for ice cream and making friends.

He is afraid to talk to the other monsters. He tries to get them to notice him by hanging around, but no one can see him. He feels lonely and longs for a friend.

He writes a letter to the other monsters, inviting them to his violin concert on the Day of the Dead in the cemetery at the next full moon. He worries that no one will come.

He goes to the cemetery with his violin and waits. No one comes. 

So he plays his violin, and the music makes him happy, so happy that he glows.

Finally, others begin to show up, until the cemetery is crowded with monsters. They apologize for being late and tell him they got lost but then they heard his music and saw his glow.

From then on, Gustavo has friends. The others discover that even though he doesn’t talk much, he is best at helping and protecting his friends. He surprises them with fun things like flashlight puppets. And his friends love him.

Drago’s mixed media illustrations are bright and detailed in a folk-art style. Children will enjoy finding the smiling skeleton fish, the skull party decorations, and many other details. Adults may find references to Mexican culture in this seasonal book.

About the Author-Illustrator

Flavia Z. Drago was born and raised in Mexico City. This is her debut picture book. She was shy as a child, so she wrote about a character who conquers his shyness. About this book, she says, “When I was in kindergarten, every lunch break I used to sit on a bench and wonder how the kids were able to play and talk to each other so easily. It was a mystery to me.” She is an artist and lives in Mexico.

‘Bears and Boos’ offers Halloween fun

Bears and Boos

Written by Shirley Parenteau and illustrated by David Walker

Candlewick Press, 2020

‘Bears and Boos’ is a sweet Halloween read-aloud for youngsters. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, young children can enjoy this story in the Bears on Chairs series.

The story, told in rhyme, begins with a box full of costumes. The excited bears come running. They dig through the box grabbing costumes for Halloween.

The small bears shout and tussle over the items in the box. Finally, little Floppy is knocked to the ground. When he gets up, nothing is left in the box.

Fuzzy Bear offers him a golden gown and apologizes for knocking him down. Quickly, one bear after another gives Floppy something, a wand, a necklace, and a jeweled belt that doubles as a glittering crown.

Floppy smiles and shouts, “Ta-da! Thanks to my friends, I’m the holiday queen!”

Then the bears parade outside in their costumes.

“Their costumes look great,

And their smiles do, too!

The bears shout together,

‘It’s Halloween! Boo!’ “

The story ends by saying, “When the bears all share, the bears all win. Let the Halloween celebration begin!”

David Walker's simple, brightly-colored illustrations are cheery and will please youngsters.

This year, the Covid-19 pandemic will change how children celebrate Halloween. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages traditional Trick or Treating and Halloween parties. Safer alternatives include a scavenger hunt for Halloween treats at home, a virtual Halloween costume contest, walking or riding around the neighborhood with the family and admiring Halloween decorations, and carving and decorating pumpkins at home.    

About the Author

Shirley Parenteau is the author of seven other books about the bears, as well as the Friendship Dolls series of middle-grade novels. About this book, she says “Halloween! Costumes! Fun! But what if there aren’t enough costumes for every bear?” Shirley lives in Elk Grove, California.    

About the Illustrator

David Walker has illustrated many children’s books, including the seven previous Bears on Chairs books and the Peep and Ducky books by David Martin. David lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  

Disabled girl triumphs when she finds way to dance

 

I Will Dance

Written by Nancy Bo Flood and illustrated by Julianna Swaney

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020

Eva dreams of dancing. She can think of nothing else.

At her birthday party, she has only one wish: a pink tutu to dance in.

She watches other dancers and imagines joining them.

But she has cerebral palsy. She can hardly move. She is in a wheelchair and can only move her head, her arms, and her fingers.

Mom tells her to imagine she is dancing. She doesn’t want to imagine; she wants to dance.

Her teacher tells her to pretend she is dancing. She doesn’t want to pretend; she wants to dance.

“I want to feel the music, sway, swing, fly over and under. Together. Not alone,” she says.

Then one day, Mom sees an ad in the newspaper, “Audition for Young Dancers --- all abilities, all ages. All are welcome.”

Eva is afraid. Maybe the others will stare and whisper. They’ll say she can’t move, she can’t dance.

But she reads again, “all abilities, all ages.” She decides to try. She and Mom go to the dance studio. There she sees others with canes, crutches, walkers, and wheels.

At first, she is nervous again and turns away, but the others reach toward her and welcome her. The instructor dances up to her, touches her, and nods.

She turns to the person next to her and swirls her fingers around. He reaches, echoing her movement, adds one of his own and passes the torch until the circle is complete. 

The instructor helps the students listen to the rhythm in the music. The students partner up and move across the floor, mirroring each other. They dance.

They continue to try different moves, moving across the smooth, wooden floor. They practice again and again.

Finally, they perform.

“Lights dim. A hush falls. Music begins, swells. I count the beats.”

They swirl and glide across the floor. They dance! The lights pour over them.

“I roar, spin my chair, circle around, soar.”

After the dance is over, they line up at the front of the stage. Eva hears clapping, whistles, and cheers.

“For me, for all of us, together: Dancers. Not imagine. Not pretend. Not alone. I dance!”

The joyful ending is satisfying. Children learn to see disabled people differently. Also, the story encourages them to believe in themselves, and not to give up on their dreams.

The watercolor illustrations by Julianna Swaney move the story along and help communicate Eva’s emotions.  

About the Author

Nancy Bo Flood has worked with families and educators on the Pacific island of Saipan to develop educational programs for students with disabilities. She is the author of award-winning books including “Warriors in the Crossfire,” “Cowboy Up!: Ride the Navajo Rodeo,” and “Soldier Sister, Fly Home.” She has a PhD in experimental psychology and child development. She lives in Colorado. Visit her at nancyboflood.com.

About the Illustrator

Julianna Swaney is an illustrator whose delicate watercolor paintings are inspired by whimsical details of daily life and a childhood spent outside in nature. She has illustrated many books including "Dr. Jo: How Sara Josephine Baker Saved the Lives of America's Children," by Monica Kulling and the New York Times bestselling "We Are the Gardeners," by Joanna Gaines. She lives in Portland, Ore. Visit her at juliannaswaney.com. 

Story focuses on cat’s adventure when family sleeps

 Only the Cat Saw

By Ashley Wolff

Beach Lane Books, 2020

“Only the Cat Saw” is a beautifully illustrated read-aloud for children. All the colorful illustrations are full-page or double-page spreads. Looking at the pictures is a joy.

The story is simple. It tells about a young, brown-skinned family going through their evening and nighttime routines. While they are busy eating dinner, giving young Tessa a bath, reading before bed, nursing baby Sam, and sleeping, their marmalade-colored tabby cat explores the farm.

We go back and forth between the family and the cat. We learn about each activity the mom, dad, sister Tessa, and baby Sam does. Then the story repeats the refrain, “So only the cat saw …” Children are invited to look at the double-page spreads and complete the sentence again and again.

When the family eats dinner, the cat gazes outside at the sheep.

Tessa has finished her bath and Father is singing to Sam. The cat plays with fireflies.

Mother and Father read, while Tessa reads under her covers. Meanwhile, the cat watches an owl hunt a mouse. 

The story continues as the cat watches a rainstorm from the porch and sees the sunrise from the roof. In the morning, the perspective shifts to Tessa as she watches the cat sleep through a window. Her mom is busy cracking eggs and dad is feeding Sam.

The author Ashley Wolff has set new illustrations to a story she first published in 1985. Several modern adaptations include how the family is ethnic and the father shares in housework and childcare. The intimacy of the story is enhanced with pictures of the mother nursing her baby and Tessa sitting on the toilet.     

About the Author-Illustrator

Ashley Wolff is a children's book author and illustrator who lives in San Francisco, CA. She has authored or illustrated over 40 books. She loves to be outdoors, whether gardening, watching birds, or hiking and skiing. She is married to a newspaper reporter and the mother of two teenage boys and a border collie named Lucy. Visit her at ashleywolff.com.

 

Migrant children face dangers, share hope for better life

 

A Journey Toward Hope

Written by Victor Hinojosa and Coert Voorhees and illustrated by Susan Guevara

Six Foot Press, 2020

Four children from different Central American countries join forces during their long and perilous journey to America in “A Journey Toward Hope.” They are “unaccompanied minors,” but they find strength in one another.

Ten-year-old Alessandra of Guatemala and 14-year-old Rodrigo of Honduras intend to rejoin their parents, who came to America seeking a better life for their families. Laura, 13, and her brother, Nando, 7, of El Salvador plan to live with their aunt and uncle. Their parents are sending them to America so they will have better lives.

Award-winning illustrator Susan Guevara brings the story to life with beautiful, colorful two-page spreads. She adds Central-American folk art-influenced details to her artwork.

“I’m coming to meet you, Mama,” whispers Alessandra as she begins her journey.

Nando cries and says he does not want to leave. His sister Laura comforts him.

”I’ll be with you, Nando,” she says. “We can be strong together.”

Rodrigo leaves a note on his sleeping little sister’s bed before he leaves. He tells her that soon the whole family will be together and be happy.

Alessandra and Rodrigo meet in El Ceibo as they are about to cross into Mexico. Right away, both sense that they can trust one another. 

Soon the two of them meet Laura and Nando. Then the four children form a team to complete their journey. 

Halfway across the Suchiate River, Laura slips off the raft and tumbles into the rolling water. A stranger rescues her. Nando hugs her tightly.

The four children continue to face hunger and danger along the way, but they also enjoy the kindness of strangers and the friendship of one another. Together they dream and hope for bright futures. The author says Alessandra will become an artist, Rodrigo will be a doctor, Laura will be a chef, and Nando will be a track star.

This book is a collaboration between Baylor professor Victor Hinojosa, his students, and children’s author Coert Voorhees. Every year, about 50,000 unaccompanied minors arrive at the U.S. – Mexico border seeking asylum and related visas. Most of them are fleeing poverty and violence in Central America’s Northern Triangle (Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala}. Hinojosa and his students wanted to tell their story to children.

Four pages of backmatter in the book tell more about the problems raised by the book, the Global Hunger and Migration Project at Baylor University, and illustrator Guevara’s folk art-influenced artwork.   

“A Journey Toward Hope” is a moving story and an important one, especially in the current political climate. It will help children and adults alike better understand the plight of migrant children.

 

About the Authors

Victor Hinojosa, PhD, is an associate professor of political science in the Honors Program at Baylor University. His primary research is in Latin American politics and U.S. – Latin American relations. He directs the Global Hunger and Migration Project, a social innovation laboratory at the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. In this project, faculty and students address the challenges of child migration from Mexico and the Northern Triangle of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador). Dr. Hinojosa lives in Waco, TX.

Coert Voorhees is the author of the Grammaropolis and Storm Wranglers children’s book series. He also wrote the novels “On the Free, In Too Deep,” a Junior Library Guild selection; “Lucky Fools,” a Junior Library Guild selection; and “The Brothers Torres,” which was named to the ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults.

About the Illustrator

Susan Guevara has illustrated more than 20 children’s books including the best-selling “Chato’s Kitchen.” She is two-time winner of the Pura Belpre Award. Visit her at susanguevara.com.

 

'Hurry Up!' urges children to slow down, enjoy life

Hurry Up!

Written by Kate Dopirak and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Simon & Schuster, 2020

Told in rhyme, “Hurry Up!” addresses the reader, urging us to stop hurrying and slow down.

“Slow things down. Take a break. Look around for goodness’ sake.”

The illustrations show a girl, who starts out looking anxious as she hurries out of bed, down the stairs, onto the school bus, and to school.

Finally, there is a double spread and the capitalized word, STOP.

The girl lies in the grass and looks at a snail as her dog looks on. The story urges the reader to breathe slowly, make a wish, take a walk, listen to the forest talk.

“Go explore. Make new friends. Find out where the rainbow ends.”

The girl looks more relaxed and happier after she slows down.

The day ends as the girl and her dog sit in the grass and look up at the stars. The girl smiles in the glow of a firefly she holds in her hands as her dog looks on.

“Mosey home. Stretch and yawn. Race is off, and rest is on.

No more fast – slooooow instead. Dreams and lazy days ahead.”

The colorful illustrations help to tell the story, making it about one girl and her dog.

This book urges children to slow down, so they can notice more and enjoy life. It is a good lesson because today children's lives are often so busy and over-scheduled. It was published posthumously after the author died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare degenerative brain disorder. 

About the Author

Kate Dopirak wrote several picture books including “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car,” illustrated by Mary Peterson and “You’re My Boo,” illustrated by Lesley Breen Withrow. She passed away in 2018 of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare degenerative brain disorder, leaving behind her husband and two sons.

About the Illustrator

Christopher Silas Neal has illustrated many award-winning children’s books including “Over and Under the Snow,” by Kate Messner, “From Tree to Sea,” by Shelley Moore Thomas and his own “I Won’t Eat That.”