Picture books is
where it’s at with this post. Since gaining a nephew, I figured I would buy
more picture books, but that hasn’t yet been the case. I suspect that’s because
he’s still in board books, and when I buy those, I gift them to him and don’t
normally pause to post about them.
Hsinping Pan, illustrator.
Kids learn
quickly that a cow moos and a pig oinks; they soon learn what a kitty is or a
bunny, but do they know that a southern
red muntjac barks like a dog? That an axolotl
is known as a walking fish, but is actually a salamander with a surprisingly
cute face? Do kids you know know that a wombat’s
poop comes out in the shape of a cube due to its slow digestive process or that
a markhor goat’s horns are so long
that the goat can scratch its own back? These unusual critters – some actually
cuddly, others definitely not – are each accompanied by fascinating facts.
The second in the “Big Words for
Little Geniuses” series by wife-and-husband duo Susan and James Patterson is a delightful
treat of unique facts, radiant illustrations and family fun. The illustrations
are adorable and almost caricature-like, because, let’s be honest, some of
these “cuddly critters” are not only not
cuddly at all, but downright dangerous and others are not so cute as their
illustrations may make them seem. That doesn’t stop me from reveling in the
adorableness of this picture book!
Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes (Nov. 6, 2018) by Eva Chen.
Derek Desierto, illustrator.
There is nothing
like a favorite pair of shoes. It doesn’t matter how worn they are or how
boring, for favorite shoes will be favorites per the owner’s own reasons. What
does one do when favorite shoes go missing? That is Juno’s dilemma, but imagine
her surprise when searching the innermost depths of her closet deposits her in
a vast hall of shoes. It’s “a cornucopia of shoes! A feast of fashion!” What
must it be like to step into the footwear of Cleopatra, Frida Kahlo, Oprah
Winfrey or Lady Gaga? Juno can let you know.
A debut picture book from Instagram
superstar Chen (I’d never heard of her, but that’s only because I’m not much for
social media), this story manages to be precocious and empowering to girls
within a fashion footwear fairytale. Juno is clearly a vivacious character, and
I think it will be easy for readers to like her.
The Night Before the Snow Day (Oct. 11, 2016) by Natasha Wing.
Amy Wummer, illustrator.
It’s a school
night and a big storm is blanketing the town in snow. How much will fall? Will
there be a blizzard? Will school be canceled tomorrow? The featured girl in the
story certainly hopes so as she’s dancing her snow dance and dreaming of
snowball fights.
Rhyming stories are not for
everyone, I realize, but I enjoy them. Wing’s follows the tone of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The
story is uncomplicated but sweet. And whether your kid-self preferred reading
in front of a cozy fireplace (me) or building snow forts in the backyard (my
brothers), I think we can all agree that an unplanned day off from school for a
snow day was a welcome day off!
Winter is
fast-approaching, and Hedgie, a young hedgehog, takes one last walk around the
farm before settling into hibernation. As he wanders and various animal members
of the farm tell him of things he will miss, Hedgie realizes that he doesn’t
want to sleep all winter long like last year. But staying outside as it gets
colder and colder doesn’t keep him awake. Lisa, a young girl living on the
Danish island of Funen, brings him inside to warm up, and he’s able to observe
so much winter liveliness. After his adventure from the inside of a warm, cozy
home, Hedgie succumbs to his long snowy nap, and Lisa returns him to his
burrow.
In this adorable companion to
Brett’s classic “The Hat,” the author writes and illustrates another story that
is liltingly sweet. Her trademark border illustrations continue to tell a tale
of their own, ending with all of the non-hibernating friends paying Lisa’s
house a surprise visit. Brett’s meticulous and finely-detailed illustrations of
soft watercolors and gouache illuminate a winsome story. This is a winter
idyll.
Sulwe (Oct. 15, 2019) by Lupita Nyong’o.
Vashti Harrison, illustrator.
Longing emanates
from Sulwe, whose skin is the color of midnight. She prays for light skin like
her mama, “the color of dawn,” or her sister, Mich, “the color of high noon.”
Instead, she is teased for the dark shade of her skin. But one night she is
born away on a star (like her name means) and hears the story of Night and Day.
Two sisters, they were close until Night became fed up with the hurtful words
people threw at her. She left until Day searched for her. Like Sulwe, Night
never felt beautiful or accepted as she is. As Day says to Night when they
reunite, “When you are darkest is when you are most beautiful. It’s when you
are most you.”
Yes, this debut picture book is from
the Academy Award-winning actress, and it is a story as beautiful as Sulwe. It
is an enthralling story that shines light on the painful realness of colorism,
but in a tender and nurturing way. This story is smart and the illustrations
are sweeping and lovely. I love the galactic iridescence. I appreciate the
thoughtfulness of the story regarding the subject matter, and I hope this story
shows up in so many classrooms and libraries. It’s a story for adults and kids
alike; we should find the beauty within ourselves and know we are beautiful on
the outside no matter what we look like.
At the end of the story, Nyong’o
shares her own past experiences with the hurtfulness surrounding her
complexion. Many of us know what it’s like to be teased for something we cannot
change: the shape of our eyes or the color of our skin, for example. It does
hurt, and it is painful. Love yourselves and empower others. Do not tear others
down, as it only makes you a bully, too.
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