‘Barn at Night’ gives glimpse of rural life with bedtime story

 

Barn at Night

Written by Michelle Houts and illustrated by Jen Betton

Feeding Minds Press, 2021

“Barn at Night” tells a sweet story of a girl and her father going out to the barn before dawn and again after dark to do chores.

Michelle Houts’ poetic text and Jen Betton’s soft, glowing watercolor illustrations combine to create a warm and comforting bedtime story.

The narrator, a young girl, tells how her father wakes her up early in the morning when it is still dark. The two of them bundle up and walk across crunchy snow to the barn.

They open the barn door and their steer Ed and mule Miletus greet them by pricking up an ear and braying.

Tabby cats and a Siamese cat hurry over to sit by the milk pan and wait to be fed. The girl pets them.

The narrator and her dad feed the calves a milky mixture and the cattle hay.

The girl pets the velvety muzzle of  Eleanor, a brown mare.

At night, the girl and her father return to the barn to feed the animals again. They discover that Eleanor has given birth to a foal. They watch as the baby horse gets up and takes his first steps.

When they open the barn door, they see it has started snowing outside. An owl flies overhead. The story ends as the girl thinks about how she feels safe in the barn at night.

This quiet picture book will make a nice bedtime story, and teach children about life on a farm. The publisher, Feeding Minds Press, is a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, whose mission is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education.

About the Author

Michelle Houts is an award-winning author of a dozen fiction and nonfiction books for children. She writes from her restored one-room schoolhouse in Ohio. The author of “The Beef Princess of Practical County,” and “Silent Swoop: An Owl, an Egg, and a Warm Shirt Pocket,” illustrated by Deb Hoeffner. She enjoys writing about rural life and nature. Find out more at www.michellehouts.com.    

About the Illustrator

Jen Betton is both an illustrator and a writer. Her other books include “Hedgehog Needs a Hug,” winner of Pennsylvania’s Keystone to Reading Award, which she both wrote and illustrated, and “Twilight Chant,” written by Holly Thompson. She grew up playing on friends’ farms in Pennsylvania. Illustrating “Barn at Night” gave her a delightful excuse to lurk around old barns and feed goats. She lives with her family near Dallas. You can see more of her work at www.jenbetton.com.  

Brooklyn boy grows up to become America’s doctor

Dr. Fauci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor

Written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Alexandra Bye

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020

“Dr. Faucci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor” tells the story of how a curious boy from Brooklyn grows into America’s doctor helping to guide the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kate Messner tells the story in a simple way, so that young children can understand it. Alexandra Bye illustrates the book with colorful digital images.

As a child, Anthony always asks questions. He wants to know how everything works. He asks about the tropical fish in his aquarium, the oceans of sea life, the stars in the sky, and the planets in the pictures of his encyclopedias.

Whenever he struggles with his homework, his father encourages him. He tells Anthony every problem has a solution. He should think carefully and try to work it out.

Anthony’s Brooklyn neighborhood is full of tough guys. Although Anthony isn’t big, he learns to get along with people. He is good at talking and listening.

He decides he wants to be a doctor when he is in high school. He attends medical school and graduates first in his class. Later, he becomes one of the nation’s top experts on disease.

He works with other scientists studying new diseases when they appear in the population. These include AIDS, West Nile virus, SARS, and Ebola. Each one is a mystery to solve. Where did it come from? How did it spread? How could it be prevented until researchers found a cure or a vaccine?

One of the most difficult challenges comes when a new disease shows up at the end of 2019. It is called Covid-19 and it is caused by a coronavirus.

Within weeks, the virus spreads all over the world. Hospitals become overwhelmed so many people are sick. Stores, gyms, and theaters shut down. People work from home, and children study at home.

Faucci remembers what his father told him as a boy. Don’t be discouraged. Think carefully and try to work it out. He works with scientists from all around the world.

The scientists teach people simple things they can do to be safe while researchers develop medicines and a vaccine. Stay at home as much as possible. Wash your hands frequently. Social distance by staying six feet apart from one another. And wear a mask.

Within a year, vaccines are developed and people begin getting them. These shots allow people to go back to school, back to work, back to hugging their families, and back to playing with their friends.

The book ends with backmatter, providing more information about vaccines, Fauci’s tips for future scientists, a timeline of Fauci’s life, recommended reading, and photos of Fauci growing up.

About the Author

Kate Messner is the author of many award-winning children’s books, including picture books like “Over and Under the Snow” and “The Brilliant Deep;” novels including “All the Answers,” “Breakout,” and “Chirp;” nonfiction like “The Next President” and “Tracking Pythons;” and the Fergus and Zeke easy readers, the popular Ranger in Time chapter books, and the History Smashers illustrated nonfiction series. Before becoming a full-time writer, Kate was a TV news reporter as well as a middle school teacher. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family. Visit her at katemessner.com. 

About the Illustrator

Alexandra Bye is a freelance illustrator who has illustrated many children’s books as well working in other media like advertising and animation. Other children’s books she has illustrated include “Weenie: Mad about Meatloaf,” written by Maureen Fergus; “The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family,” written by Sarah Kapit; and “The Only Woman in the Photo,” written by Kathleen Krull. She lives in Vermont. Visit her at www.alexandrabye.com.

Picture book honors essential workers during pandemic

Keeping the City Going

Written and illustrated by Brian Floca

A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021

“Keeping the City Going” is a story about the essential workers who kept New York City going during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic when people quarantined at home.

“We are here at home now,” the story begins, “watching the world through our windows, and wondering what will happen next.

“Outside, the city is strangely still. Store doors are locked and their windows are dark and our neighbors all stay hidden. The voice of the city is low, and the streets are almost empty.”

Floca’s muted illustrations in watercolor, ink, acrylic, and gouache, beautifully create the quiet city. His lyrical words work with the images to tell the story.

“There are still some people out on the streets,” Floca writes, “driving this and that, heading from here to there. They might be family, friends, or strangers. They’re there because we need them. They’re the people keeping the city going.”

Floca mentions food delivery people riding bicycles, truck delivery people, bus drivers, subway workers, and grocery store employees.

He also tells of the taxi drivers, sanitation workers, mail carriers, package delivery truck drivers, and those who keep the water, gas, and electricity flowing and the phones and internet working.

Finally, he remembers the fire fighters, police, paramedics, EMTs, doctors, nurses, technicians, aides, clerks and cleaners.

The story concludes with a description of how New Yorkers quarantined at home go to their windows every evening at seven o’clock. They hang out of their windows, clang pots together, and cheer for the essential workers.

“We hear the city say to us – and we say back to the city that we are still here, and we are here together,” he writes.  

“We hear the city say, and we say with the city – and we all say together --- thanks to the people still out on the streets, driving this and that, going from here to there, and taking care of the sick. Thanks to the people keeping our city going.”

This is a nice tribute to the essential workers. Children will enjoy looking at the pictures and remembering the early days of the pandemic. Parents can talk with them about how everyone depended on the workers who kept the city going.

About the Author and Illustrator

Brian Floca is the author and illustrator of “Locomotive,” winner of the Caldecott Medal and a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book; “Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11,” a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book and Sibert Honor Book; and “Lightship,” also a Sibert Honor Book. He has illustrated numerous other books, including Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan’s “Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring,” Laura Amy Schlitz’s “Princess Cora and the Crocodile,” and Avi Poppy Stories’ novels.  Brian lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. Visit him at brianfloca.com.

‘Cougar Crossing’ tells story of heroic Hollywood cougar

 

Cougar Crossing: How Hollywood’s Celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for City Wildlife

Written by Meeg Pincus and illustrated by Alexander Vidal

Beach Lane Books, 2021

A puma was born in the Santa Monica Mountains, but when he became an adult, he couldn’t find a territory of his own in the national park. He wandered down into the city.

Eventually, he reached freeways, and by some miracle, he made it safely across twenty lanes of traffic. He ended up in a city park, Griffith Park. This was 17 times smaller than a typical cougar territory.

There were no other cougar scents around, but he found prey – mostly deer, and sometimes a coyote or a raccoon. He hid from humans and slept during the day.

After a few weeks, wildlife biologists tracked him down and tagged and collared him. They gave him the name P-22. That meant he was the twenty-second puma in their study.

Soon P-22 became famous when the news media did stories about him. People became interested in making a wildlife crossing. This is a wide animal bridge covered in trees and grass to connect the city’s last natural spaces to mountain ranges and open land to the north.

This would allow P-22 and others like him to safely cross expressways, and find their way to natural habitat where they could find mates and live.  

“Cougar Crossing” concluded saying P-22 was a hero because concern about him spearheaded a movement to build an animal crossing in Los Angeles.

At the back of the book, facts are given about the mountain lions that live in Los Angeles and efforts to build an animal crossing in Liberty Canyon over the 101 freeway. This crossing is projected to break ground in 2021 and be completed in 2024. It will be the largest animal bridge in the world.

Illustrator Alexander Vidal’s digital images help to tell the story both in the main narrative about P-22, and sidebar conversations between two wildlife biologists.

Children would enjoy learning about this true-life story about one heroic puma and how special bridges can help wildlife live safely in a large city.

About the Author

Meeg Pincus has written many children’s books including the acclaimed “Miep and the Most Famous Diary” and “Winged Wonders.” She grew up in and lives in Southern California. Visit her at MeegPincus.com.    

About the Illustrator

Alexander Vidal lives and works in Los Angeles at the edge of Griffith Park, the park where P-22 lives. He is an illustrator who specializes in nature and wild animals. He has worked with clients including the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. His books for children include “I Love Birds: 52 Ways to Wonder, Wander & Explore Birds with Kids” by Jennifer Ward and “So Many Feet” by Nichole Mara. Visit him at AlexanderVidal.com.

Spring Fling Kidlit Writing Contest

Crickets Sing Me to Sleep

By Elizabeth Voss

Goodnight, Sweetheart," says Mom. She bends to kiss my head.

But I’m not sleepy yet; I peek outside instead.

 

Blink-BLINK-blink-BLINK-blink-BLINK.

The fireflies’ lights flick on.

And off and on and off. They’re lighting up the lawn.

 

Flit-FLIT-flit-FLIT-flit-FLIT.

Moths dance in beams of light.

They spin in dizzy rings to celebrate the night.

 

I’m getting kind of sleepy – I lie back down.

I close my eyes and listen; night is full of sounds.

 

Vroom-VROOM-vroom-VROOM-vroom-VROOM.

A car goes rumbling by.

Bump-BUMPing on the road, then fading like a sigh.

 

Croak-CROAK-croak-CROAK-croak-CROAK.

The toads cry out a song.

They raise their voices in a happy sing-along.

 

RiBBIT-riBBIT-riBBIT, the frogs are chanting too.

They cluck and whistle: it’s a hullabaloo.

 

Creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE.

Crickets sing me to sleep.

Creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE-creee-CREEE. They’re lulling me so deep.

 

Purr-PURR-purr-PURR-purr-PURR.

It’s Sylvie, sweetest pea.

She crawls along my legs and snuggles next to me.

 

Zzzzzzzzzz...

Gorgeous book celebrates both art, New York City

 

Mona Lisa in New York

Written and illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg

Prestel Publishing, 2021

Mona Lisa from the famous painting at the Louvre in Paris one day decides she wants to go to New York City so people from far away can admire her beauty.

She sails across the ocean and goes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New Yorkers line up to see her and admire her beauty.

On her last day in the city, Mona Lisa secretly leaves her painting so she can explore the city. She gets lost and then meets Tag, a character created by a Brooklyn graffiti artist.

Together the two listen to jazz in Harlem, eat pizza in the Bronx, dance salsa on the High Line, and go swimming at Brighton Beach.

Tag brings Mona Lisa back to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and sadly walks across the Brooklyn Bridge heading back home.

When he gets home, he can’t believe his eyes. There’s Mona Lisa smiling her mysterious smile.

“My home is Paris,” she says. “But my heart is in New York City.”

The author-illustrator Yevgenia Nayberg creates a beautiful book with her collage illustrations. Hidden in the pages are many images from paintings by Sandro Botticelli, Jan van Eyck, Filippo Lippi, and many others.

At the back of the book, Nayberg gives a thank-you to all of the paintings she has referenced in her images. Children can have fun looking up the paintings and then searching for them in the pages of this book.   

Like Mona Lisa, Nayberg is not a native New Yorker. She was born and raised in Kiev, Ukraine. In this book, she shares many of the places she has come to love in New York City.

About the Author/Illustrator

Yevgenia Nayberg is a children's book author, illustrator, painter, and set and costume designer. She has written and/or illustrated many children’s picture books including “Anya’s Secret Society” and “Typewriter,” which she both wrote and illustrated; “Martin and Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Martin Luther King and Anne Frank,” written by Nancy Churnin; and “Drop by Drop: A Story of Rabbi Akiva” by Jaqueline Jules, for which she won a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal. Her illustrations have also appeared in magazines and on theatre posters, music albums, and book covers; her paintings, drawings, and illustrations are held in private collections worldwide. Nayberg was born and raised in Kiev, Ukraine, but now makes her home in New York City.

Little girl conquers night-time fears in sweet story

Mindi and the Goose No One Could See

Written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Linda Olafsdottir

Candlewick Press, 2021

Mindi is afraid of a big goose in her bedroom that no one else can see. Illustrations show shadows of a curtain rod and a lamp frightening Mindi at night.

Her parents try to convince her that the goose isn’t real, but she doesn’t believe them. They talk about what they can do after she runs into their bedroom and falls asleep between them.

Her dad comes up with the idea of asking for help from Austin, a wise old man in their village. He walks halfway up Shelling Hill to visit Austin, where he lives with many farm animals.

He tells Austin his story and watches the old man give a young goat a cuddle and feed him an apricot. Then Austin tells him to bring Mindi to him.

“Make sure she knows I live a long way away,” he says. “Make sure she knows that she is going on a journey.”

Her dad and Mindi set out on their trip. When they arrive, the old man introduces them to his animals, including two noisy geese. They go inside for juice, and the young goat pokes open the door and walks in.

Austin hands an apricot to Mindi to give the goat. Then he lets her name the goat. She names her Black-and-Whitey.

A week later, Austin brings Mindi the goat as a gift, but he tells her she needs to give him an animal in return. He asks for her goose that no one else can see.

Mindi sits on the floor next to her pet goat feeding her plums and whispers, “I love my Black-and-Whitey.”

Two months later, Mindi’s dad goes to visit Austin and thanks him. He says Mindi hasn’t spoken of the big goose that no one else can see since she got her new pet goat.

Mindi’s dad wants to pay him something, but Austin says, “Oh, I’ve been paid well enough. Come and see.”

He guides him through the farmyard until they come upon three thriving geese. The joke is that Mindi’s imaginary goose has become real.  

This book is being published posthumously by Sam McBratney, who passed away on September 18^th, 2020 at the age of 77.

The mixed media illustrations complement the warm tone of the story. The characters’ faces are expressive, helping to tell the story.   

 About the Author

Sam McBratney wrote more than fifty books, including several best-selling and award-winning ones for children. His best-known book is “Guess How Much I Love You,” which is illustrated by Anita Jeram. Now considered a classic, “Guess How Much I Love You” has sold over fifty million copies worldwide and has been translated into fifty-seven languages.   

About the Illustrator

Linda Olafsdottir is the illustrator of several books for children, including “Play?” which she also wrote and “In Grandma’s Garden” by Brenda West Cockerell. This is her first book with Candlewick Press. Her artwork has also appeared on stamps, cereal boxes and children’s clothing. Linda Olafsdottir lives in Reykjavik, Iceland.