Courage Hats

Posted on 04/17/2022

Chronicle Books | 978-1797202761

I have admired author Kate Hoefler‘s picture books for some time now. Her newest, COURAGE HATS, illustrated by Jessixa Bagley is a beautifully layered look at the ways in which expectations – our own and those of others – change when we’re willing to start small, take one step in a chosen direction, and leave room for surprises along the way.

The story begins when Mae has to take a trip on a train.

“For Mae, the train went deep into bear places.
A bear was big and ate small things.
And Mae was small.”

Bear was taking a trip, too.

“For Bear, the train went deep into people places.
A person was small and ate big things.
And Bear was big.”

They would both need to be brave. What could they do? Without courage in their hearts, they would need to find another way.

And so, each set themselves to the task.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustrations by Jessixa Bagley

Maybe Mae’s hat would make a bear think she was just another bear. And Bear’s hat would make a person think he was another person.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustrations by Jessixa Bagley

On board the train, Mae found a grown-up to sit with. And Bear found a small cub to sit beside.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustrations by Jessixa Bagley

The ride on the train was long. “The train went places where it’s easy to get lost.” But the train was never lost and, as it weaved its way through bear places and people places, the two travelers became friends.

This beautiful book is more than a story about finding courage. It’s about new experiences, an unlikely friendship, and the power of stepping outside your comfort zone to explore both.

 

Enjoy these “behind-the-scenes” interviews and learn more about COURAGE HATS:

 

Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place

Posted on 04/03/2022

Candlewick Press | 978-1536211290

The face of homeless women is our face. She is our mother, our sister, our daughter and she deserves more than three hots and a cot as the saying goes.

— Kip Tiernan

As a young child growing up in her granny’s house, Kip Tiernan “learned to be generous and to care about others.” Even with a large family living in Granny’s home, there was always food for “those who knocked on her kitchen door.”

Years later, as an adult, Kip took up the call to help those less fortunate. She sold her advertising business and began volunteering at St. Philip’s/Warwick House, a Boston-based Catholic civil rights ministry. At that time in the early 70s, there were no shelters for homeless women, who disguised themselves as men in order to get a meal and a bed in a men-only shelter.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustration by Victoria Tentler-Krylov

Determined to help, Kip visited other cities, looking for solutions.

“Kip hoped to open a women’s shelter different from the dreary ones she had seen, where men slept with their shoes under their pillows to keep them from being stolen.

She wanted a sanctuary with flowers and music where women wouldn’t be reminded they were poor, a shelter with no chores, no questions asked, just good meals and warm beds.”

CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustration by Victoria Tentler-Krylov

On Easter Sunday, 1974, Kip along with four other volunteers opened up Rosie’s Place, the first women-only shelter in the United States.

Over the years, Rosie’s Place has become much more than “three hots and a cot.” Today, they are a multi-service community center with a range of support and outreach programs that help some 12,000 women/year.

Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place, written by Christine McDonnell, a former educator at Rosie’s Place, is the sensitive and inspirational story of a woman who had the drive and vision to make a lasting difference in the lives of countless women and their children. Rendered in soft colors with watercolor and digital media, illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov embues the book with warmth and emotion. This beautiful biography will remind readers that each small kindness can build, bringing hope and possibility to those in need.

 

 

Yours in Books

Posted on 03/27/2022

Cameron Kids | 978-1951836207

It’s noisy – too noisy – where Owl lives at the “top of the oak, near the clearing.” He has a problem and an idea about how to solve it. He’ll write a letter to the owners of Pine: A Bookshop:

Dear Sirs:

I received your marvelous catalog in the mail and
spent many  long hours reading the descriptions of
all the books. Enclosed is my order form for How to 
Soundproof Your Forest Dwelling,” so that I might read
in peace, alone.

Sincerely yours,
Owl T. Fencepost

 

Ever helpful, B. Squirrel sends her reply: the book is out of stock. Is there another he’d like? Of course, there is: The Can-Do Guide to Moving to a Remote Tropical Island. And so begins a on-going conversation of letters sent between Bessie, the owner of the bookstore and Owl.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustrations by Gabriel Alborozo

While Owl, annoyed by the noisy neighborhood children who knock on his door hoping he’ll read to them, continues to search for the perfect book to bring him peace and quiet, Bessie, the ever patient bookseller supplies one book after another until The Art of the Tea Party gives the children an idea.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustrations by Gabriel Alborozo

This sweet tale, written by Julie Falatko with warm and inviting illustrations by Gabriel Alborozo is a lovely tribute to books, new friendship, and the ways in which Story can bring people together.

 

  • Enjoy this INTERVIEW with the author on the blog, Max’s Boat.

 

 

 

The Shape of Home

Posted on 03/22/2022

Levine Querido | 978-1646140985

 

Earlier this month, the wonderful Tucson Festival of Books returned after a two year hiatus. It’s one of my favorite book events because I get to spend the entire weekend hearing wonderful authors share about their process, books, and upcoming projects. Even better, I’m sometimes introduced to authors and illustrators whose work I’d somehow missed.

One look at author/illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh‘s vibrant art and uplifting text and you’ll know why I decided to include her newest book, THE SHAPE OF HOME on ReaderKidZ.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Rashin Kheiriyeh

It’s Rashin’s first day of school in America. She’s nervous, yes, but also a little excited. At the table, she notices the shapes of breakfast – a smiley-face pancake, a bear honey bottle, even happy eggs!  On the walk to school, Rashin sees a bakery which reminds her of  the fresh bread – shaped like her braided hair –  in Mr. Hassan’s shop back home in Iran. Everywhere she looks, there are shapes – on the walk to school, in the classroom, which is “bright and happy,” even “the letters have funny shapes…”

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Rashin Kheiriyeh

Once the kids settle in, the teacher invites them to introduce themselves and share the shape of their country. Benin, looks a little like a flashlight. Japan reminds Akiko of a seahorse! And Rashin says that Iran looks like a Persian cat.

I loved this very tangible way of introducing children and their homes and places of origin to others in the classroom. I was born in Lousiana, which reminds me of boot. What about you? What’s the shape of your country or state? An bunny? A whale? A heart?

THE SHAPE OF HOME is a colorful and imaginative look at the first day of school as a place of joy and acceptance where you’ll sure to find a classroom shaped like home.

 

Check out this interview with Rashin to learn more about THE SHAPE OF HOME and her writing/illustrating process.

 

Lubna and Pebble

Posted on 03/06/2022

Dial Books | 978-0525554165

 

Lubna’s best friend is a pebble. She found Pebble on the beach the night they arrived. When she awoke the next morning, surrounded by a World of Tents, Lubna trusted that Pebble and Daddy would keep her safe. And they did.

Lubna told Pebble everything.
About her brothers.
About home.
About the war.
Pebble always listened to her stories.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustration by Daniel Egnéus

One day a boy named Amir arrives.

At first, he had no words.
Just blinks and sneezes
and stares.

Lubna, Pebble, and Amir become friends. Then, one day, Daddy shares good news. Soon, he and Lubna will be leaving for a new home! It is exciting! But also sad. What will Amir do without his friends?

He doesn’t have to wonder for long. Lubna prepares Pebble’s special shoebox bed. She’ll leave Pebble, and the shoebox with Amir. She’ll also leave a pen so that Amir can paint Pebble’s face back on, should it begin to fade over time.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustration by Daniel Egnéus

Lubna and Pebble, brilliantly written by Wendy Meddour and illustrated by Daniel Egnéus shares a timely, yet hopeful story about the power of friendship in the midst of uncertainty and the dislocation of refugee children and their families.

 

 

  • Read more about author Wendy Meddour and the writing of LUBNA and the PEBBLE here.
  • Teaching resources to use with the book, prepared by the National Education Association.
  • Listen to the author reading LUBNA and PEBBLE:

 

Nigel and the Moon

Posted on 02/27/2022

Katherine Tegen Books | 978-0063056282

 

At night, Nigel is many things. An astronaut. A dancer. A superhero. His dreams shine brighter than the moon and stars.

“But even with dreams so bright,
he isn’t ready for the world to see.”


CLICK TO ENLARGE © illustration by Gracey Zhang

It’s career week at school, and Nigel and his classmates browse the library books, choosing their favorite jobs, “… but a dancer like him cannot be found.”

When the teacher asks what the kids want to be when they grow up, “Nigel shrinks in his chair… He can’t bring himself to whisper the word: superhero.”

Each night, when the moon appears, Nigel shares his dreams and wonders if his wishes are too much.

“What if I wish to be too many things?”

CLICK TO  ENLARGE © illustration by Gracey Zhang

When the teacher asks about the kids’ parents’ careers, Nigel asks to be excused. His parents don’t have fancy jobs. He worries that the class will laugh. He’s not ready to share his truth with the world.

On the final day of career week, guests arrive to talk about their work. When two special guests — his parents — join the others to share their stories, Nigel’s heart swells with pride. He finds courage and his voice.

This stunning debut by Antwan Eady, with luminous illustrations in ink, gouache, and watercolor by Gracey Zhang speaks to every reader. Its super power is its ability to gently tackle large themes of race, socio-economic status, and gender expectations.

This is a book for every child – even, and most especially – for the quiet dreamer waiting for the moon and the world to remind him or her to unabashedly dream big.

 

Enjoy these extra resources: 

Let Me Fix You a Plate: A Tale of Two Kitchens

Posted on 02/14/2022

Neal Porter Books | 978-0823443253

 

As you might guess from the title, LET ME FIX YOU A PLATE: A Tale of Two Kitchens is a wonderfully rich and affectionate tale of family, food, and celebration. The story begins…

“Once a year, on a Friday night,
my family leaves the city
and drives for hours and hours…
… to a mountain in West Virginia.”

Author/illustrator Elizabeth Lilly immediately transports the reader to Mamaw’s midnight kitchen. “Let me fix you a plate,” she says, as the three girls drag in, sleepy-eyed and exhausted after hours of traveling. There are hugs, and cake and a comfy couch awaiting.

Soon… Mamaw’s morning kitchen welcomes the family with “sausage sizzling in the skillet, blackberry jam on toast…” and matching coffee cups, one for Papaw, one for Daddy. The warmth of family and food and time together fills each and every page.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustration by Elizabeth Lilly

Before long, the family is back on the road, driving and driving “south and south and south to a little orange house on a patch of scratchy grass in Florida.”

This time, when the family pours out of the car, the air is sticky and hot. Abuela runs out to hug one and all. “Hay comidita adentro.” A little bit of food is inside, that “-ita” at the end of “comida” conveying all the love baked into the meal.

There is laughing and aunts and uncles, everyone talking over one another in “loud Spanish words” that the child doesn’t understand.

Soon, Abuelo is teaching his granddaughter all the words… “Boca” means mouth. “Nariz” means nose. “Oreja” means ear.

CLICK TO ENLARGE © Illustration by Elizabeth Lilly

After three days, the family vacation must end and everyone piles back in the car. “…tummies full, hearts fuller…”

My heart was certainly fuller after reading this gorgeous book about family, food, and the many different ways and memories of our diverse traditions.

 

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