A non-fiction book for all ages is the Update of the 1962 book, LIFE STORY by Virginia Lee Burton (Houghton Mifflin, 1962, copyright renewed 1990, 2009. $22.00). For almost a half century this book has been informing and amazing readers of all ages, Ms Burton in a very direct almost simplistic style explains the history of planet earth.
WE TROUBLED THE WATERS Poems by Ntozake Shange, Paintings by Rod Brown (Amistad An Imprint of HarperCollins 2009, $16.99) arrived yesterday and my mind is still mulling over the message found here.
The first image to hit the reader comes from the title page. Minimum amount of text giving pertinent data about the book at the top of the two page spread. One’s eyes instead are drawn immediately to the body of a black man floating the stream on the bottom half of the page. No words other than the book data. What a shocking sight. It helps set up the reader for what is to come.
On a more serious note another picture book by a friend introduces Michelle Obama. The book MICHELLE by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by AG Ford ( Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2009, $17.99 ) comes soon on the heels of many television reports talking about the heritage of this remarkable First Lady. The book opens with scenes from the inauguration of her husband as the first black man elected to the presidency. The text then shifts to following the life of Michelle.
One delightful little character is back for her second adventure, DON’T BE AFRAID, LITTLE PIP by Karma West, illustrated by Jane Chapman (McElderry Books, Simon and Schuster, 2009, $16.99 ). Learning to swim frightens our young penguin, Pip. All the young penguins are assembled at the shore and their swimming teacher, Mr. Tucks, is going to teach them how to swim properly.
Humor needs to play an important part in reading with youngsters. One graphic picturebook which should guarantee a chuckle or two, maybe even a giggle or four is TWO BAD PILGRIMS by Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by John Manders (Viking, 2009, $16.99). This text, while loaded with good information about the Pilgrims and the settlement at Plymouth Rock, has a counterpoint delivered by two young scamps.
A new book, MUKTAR AND THE CAMELS by Janet Graber, illustrated by Scott Mack (Henry Holt, 2009, $16.99) takes our young reader into an orphanage on the Kenya and Somalia border. An orphan Muktar dreams fondly of his family when he tended their camels. One day a visitor arrives with camels and books. However one of the camels is injured and Muktar offers his help to the traveler. The traveler is a librarian working for the Kenya National Library Service and not particularly adept at handling camels. Muktar is taken on and promises to return often to the orphanage to replenish their supply of books.
I feel it is never too young to introduce young readers to Biography. No, one does not want to burden them with all of the details of a person’s life. But rather select one special event or characteristic upon which to build a story introducing the person.
I like to classify these picturebooks or storybooks as “Near-Biography”. A recent publication, LOUISA THE LIFE OF LOUISA MAY ALCOTT by Yena Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Bethanne Andersen (Henry Holt, 2009, $17.00) brings the childhood and early writing career of this remarkable writer to a young audience today.
A lovely seasonal book done by two friends of mine is BANSHEE by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCulley. (Clarion Books, 2009, $16.00. available now.
Terry is awakened from sleep by a noise. Could it be a night-prowling cat or that horned owl who lives nearby? No, he is convinced it is the Irish legend, the Banshee who wails outside a house when death is near. But who could the Banshee be coming for? Terry’s Ma, his da, or brother Liam? He musters his courage and heads out to beg the Banshee to go away.
Wordless picture books were a popular trend when I opened shop in 1982. They have continued since on what I would call a lesser degree. However, a new and exciting wordless book is now available. THE BORED BOOK by David Michael Slater, illustrations by Doug Keith (Simply Read Books, 2009, $16.95) opens in a living room scene where an adult and two children are spending an afternoon.
THE PLOT CHICKENS by Mary Jane and Herm Auch (Holiday House, 2009, $16.95) contains marvelous advice for those who wish to write for children. Maxine the hen borrows books from the local library to read to the girls in the coop. One day she decides she could write her own. Thus begins a clever tale illustrating 8 rules an author of children’s books should follow.