I Know How to Draw an Owl

Posted on 11/11/2024

Neal Porter Books | 978- 0823456666

In Belle’s class one day, the teacher announces that the kids will be drawing an owl.

A round head and oval body;

talon feet and a small hooked beak;

folded wing and two big eyes.”

Every child’s owl turns out slightly differently, but the owl that Belle draws has wise eyes and “almost looks alive!” The kids wonder how she does it. Belle knows why, but isn’t ready to share.

The story continues:

Mom and I once had our own home, too —

with a table and chairs

and a sleepy cat.

But now we live in our old blue car.

It’s hard for Belle to fall asleep in this strange, new place, in a shady park with branches and tall trees.

And then, “Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!”

Their car is parked near a tree where a hoot owl lives! Belle’s mom assures her that the owl is “keeping an eye on” both of them.  Its “hooty lullaby” soothes them through the night, but Belle wants to see the owl, not just hear it.

One night, she does.

Oh! He was big and wild, that owl…

I could almost touch his wings

as I looked in his two wise eyes

and he in mine.

It’s a transformative moment, but not one which Belle is anxious to share with her classmates. Until, that is, a new boy arrives at school in a old blue car with a suitcase on top that reminds Belle of her and her mom’s situation.

At that moment, Belle knows what to do. Reaching out, she introduces herself and takes the boy’s hand, her actions speaking for themselves to say, “I’m here. I understand. I’ll keep my eye on you.” 

I KNOW HOW TO DRAW AN OWL is a tender story about a situation – housing insecurity – that is familiar to more children than we know. A study in 2022 by Children’s Healthwatch found that 1 in 6 children in the US, aged 0-17,  have experienced unstable housing at one point or other in their lives.

In her dedication, author, Hilary Horder Hippely, a teacher of young children, writes about a time when she was walking by a lake and came upon a student of hers living with her mother living in their car.

“I have been so moved by these families – the bravery of the students who come to school each morning, and the bravery of the parents who try tirelessly to keep hope alive.”

Hippely’s moving text, paired with Matt James‘ approachable and soothing illustrations of acrylic on masonite, make this an extraordinary book, suitable for home, classroom, and school libraries.

 

Sister Friend

Posted on 11/04/2024

Abrams Books for Young Readers | 978-1419767210

“At Ameena’s school, it was always a play-by-herself day.

It had been so ever since she arrived a few months ago.

Kids had looked her up and down like she was something strange.”

Feeling out of place is an experience many of us have known at one time or another. Ameena, the main character of SISTER FRIEND felt this way, too. Why did the other children at her new school seem to ignore her? “Was it the twist in her hair? Her brown skin?” Ameena felt invisible. “No one looked her way. No one saw her. No one heard her.” At least that’s how it felt. And so, Ameena learned to take her sad feelings and stomp them away with her a “play-by-herself” game her mother had taught her.

Then a new girl, Sundus, arrived in her class. She wore a hijab, just like Ameena wore to masjid, the mosque. Ameena couldn’t help but be excited. The words spilled out. “YOU! You’re Muslim!”  Sundus balled up her fists, and gasped, “So what!”

Even though Ameena’s intentions had been good, her words came out all twisted and Sundus had not understood that Ameena had only wanted to be her friend.

Later that week, at masjid, as the grownups listened to the iman, Ameena and her friends played. There, she saw Sundus hiding in a corner. Ameena waved, but Sundus frowned, eyes fixed on her shoes.

Ameena wondered why no one from school — including Sundus — would say hi to her.

The following day, Ammena decided what her next words to Sundus would be:

From that moment on, the old “play-alone” game became a “play together” game, perfect for two sister-friends.

This deeply moving story by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, and Shahrzad Maydani celebrates the importance of finding a special friend who understands and appreciates you for who you are. Loosely based on the author’s experience of racism in first grade, she writes:

“One day, my teacher sent me to another classroom to give something to another teacher. In this class, the students were having free time and all the kids were talking except for one girl. I immediately noticed that she looked so lonely – just like me. And I suddenly understood that our loneliness was for the same reason. We both had hair with little braids and twists, and we both had dark skin when no one else in our classrooms did. I didn’t have the language to describe what that was, but I understood…

Sometimes when I visit schools, I see a lone non-white child in the class, and I wonder what their experience might be. I wonder if other kids might be urged to see how they make others feel invisible in their classrooms.”

By sharing SISTER FRIEND with the kids in our lives, I hope they’ll be encouraged to put themselves in the shoes of others and help them feel welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Draw a Happy Cat

Posted on 10/28/2024

Hippo Park | 978-1662640049

Sometimes I read a picture book and I’m very curious to know how the author came up with the idea. Such was the case with HOW TO DRAW A HAPPY CAT.

What was the inspiration behind a book about drawing when the author didn’t illustrate his words? I have no idea, but what I do know is that Ethan T. Berlin writes and teaches comedy, has written for both kids and adults, and once upon a time created a daily web comic series. He’s obviously a creative guy with all sorts of ideas and this book (and the sequel, HOW TO DRAW A BRAVE CHICKEN) are fun, interactive read-alouds that invite kids on a hilarious journey, while also using simple shapes and lines to create characters that they’ll be anxious to draw for themselves.

Similar to books like PRESS HERE by Hervé Tullet, How to Draw a Happy Cat, breaks the forth wall, speaking directly to the reader as they read, draw, and interact with this fun story.

Jimbo Matison‘s illustrations are created with common shapes that kids can easily replicate. He even provides a drawing lesson video HERE! And more lessons HERE.

Check out these adorable stories today!

 

Small Things Mended

Posted on 10/21/2024

Rocky Pond Books | 978-0593529812

A friend recently told me about a new picture book — SMALL THINGS MENDED by Casey W. Robinson and Nancy Whitesides – and because there’s something about “small things” that has always appealed to me, I knew I’d need to pick up a copy from the library.

This tender book begins as a kind older gentleman, Cecil, who appears to live alone, hears something unexpected – “a bright happy sound” –  outside his window.

“Cecil could see Lily from next door

carwtheeling and laughing and — whoops!

Something shiny flew out of her pocket.

Uh, oh! Can Cecil fix it? He’s good at mending, but it had been a while and he’d “forgotten how much he liked fixing things.”

The next day, Lily’s friend Alfred appears at the door.  Can Cecil repair his broken music box? Tools in hand, Cecil “tweaked and tied until PLINK PA-PA PLING! a jaunty tune sprang to life.”

The older man continues happily repairing “small things” until one day a girl arrives holding her small stuffed elephant. Can Cecil fix Daisy’s broken heart? One thing leads to another, and though, at first, Cecil isn’t sure what to do, eventually he comes up with an idea.

I won’t give away the ending. Suffice to say that this Kid’s Indie Next List Pick, and 2024 New England Book Award Winner is a heart-warming story about community and the ways healing can arrive unexpectedly.

What is Given from the Heart

Posted on 09/30/2024

Schwartz & Wade | 978-0375836152

WHAT IS GIVEN FROM THE HEART by Patricia C. McKissack and April Harrison is a beautiful story about finding gratitude in very difficult circumstances and then sharing what little you have with another. 

Things had been tough for James Otis and his mama, but when Daddy passes, they go from bad to worse.

“It was a rough few months for Mama and me.

We were already poor, but we got poorer last

April, when Daddy went to sleep on the front

porch and never woke up. Mama cried and cried,

’cause Daddy didn’t have a suit to be buried in.”

In spite of it all, mother and son manage to scrape by. 

Months later, when another family in their community loses everything to a fire, Mama says:  

“James Otis, we need to help out.” 

“How we gon’ do that, Mama? We aine got nothing ourselves.”

It takes a while to decide what he might contribute, but eventually James Otis remembers a special book his Mama had found at the resale shop. He’d read it every night until he had memorized every word.

And that’s when he knew exactly what he would do. He’d write, illustrate, and put together a book just for Sarah. The title? “From My Heart to Your Heart.” 



It turns out that, even though Jame Otis and his mama have little to spare, a “gift from the heart” is the best gift of all.

This tender story about gratitude, compassion, and sharing what you have with others makes a perfect book to pair with other books with a similar theme.

  • Check out the Children’s Book Council’s Fall 2024 “Small Moments of Gratitude” for a diverse collection of other books on the theme of gratitude. (Including Finding Grateful, illustrated by Faith Pray and written by me!)
  • Discover additional picture books and resources to share with What is Given From the Heart HERE.

Before the Ships: The Birth of Black Excellence

Posted on 09/22/2024

Orchard Book | 978-1338849974

“For the longest time, I wondered about the impact of teaching young children that they are descendants of slaves without exploring the rich history that came before their enslavement: a beautiful history of Africans that is too often overlooked in studies of world history.”  –  Maisha Oso, Author’s Note

In writing Before the Ships, Oso shares their story and rich history of “strength, ingenuity, and resilience…”

Here’s a snippet of the author’s gorgeous poetic language:

On the grasslands of the Mara and the sands of the Sahara,

we dreamed —

Our magical minds uncovering the mysteries of the galaxy.

From mathematics, to astronomy, to engineering,

many modern-day sciences stem from our genius.

And another peek at Candice Bradley‘s stunning illustrations:

BEFORE THE SHIPS has received 3 starred reviews to date! Here’s what Booklist has to say:

”This lyrical and reaffirming picture book seeks to give young readers a sense of Black history far beyond the limits of standard school curricula that start with the slave trade and concentrate on African interactions with Westerners… an accessible and fresh perspective and should be considered for most collections.” — Booklist (starred review)

Have you had a chance to read Before the Ships yet? This important picture book deserves to be in every school, classroom, and public library.

 

Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice

Posted on 09/15/2024

Alfred A. Knopf | 978-0593372760

Kids who aren’t familiar with the name James Earl Jones, will definitely recognize the deep, resonant voice behind Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in the Star Wars series. But did you know that Jones kept his voice mostly to himself for eight years because he struggled with a stutter? Although he was able to communicate with family and the animals on the farm, his stutter was painfully embarrassing and, early in his life, he “gave up trying to speak properly.”

No more asking questions.

No more sharing ideas…

If he didn’t talk,

he wouldn’t stutter.

ODE to GRAPEFRUIT, beautifully written by Kari Lavelle with stunning illustrations by Bryan Collier tells the story behind the actor’s silence and his journey to finding his voice through poetry.

When Jones was fourteen, Professor Donald Crouch, a retired college professor, joined the faculty of Dickson High School. There, Professor Crouch learned that Jones shared his love of poetry. Though he knew Jones avoided reading aloud, one day in class, he challenged him to read a poem he’d written.

“The best way for you to demonstrate that

you wrote this poem yourself is for you

to say it aloud to the class.”

Though James was terrified, he was also angry. He had written Ode to Grapefruit using the same rhythm as Longfellow’s The Song of Hiawatha, and so, with that pattern in his head, he presented his poem to his classmates, reciting the words all the way through. It was teh beginning of a breakthrough.

Kids will be inspired to read and learn more about Jones and the remarkable story of the well-known voice behind so many memorable and acclaimed plays, television shows, and movies.