The Pleasure of Wordless Picture Books

 

I'm going through books, getting ready for when my young readers are back from vacation. I have found that one of the most successful category of books to use with younger kids is wordless picture books. They provide kids with a way to tell a story in their own words, eliciting language and using imagination. Here are four I plan on permanently adding to our small Wordless Picture Book Library now that they have been read and enjoyed by my young readers.  

A Day for Sandcastles by JonArno Lawson,

illustrated by Qin Leng

Candlewick Press, 2022, 48 pages

A family - mom, dad, and three siblings - arrive by bus to spend a warm summer day at the beach. Pails and shovels in hand, older brother, middle sister and a toddler are ready to build a sandcastle at the water's edge. Proud of their first small castle, it is quickly washed away when a wave comes in. And so they begin again, and again, and again. Each sand castle meetings it own beachy fate. But the siblings never give up, working together as a team. What I love about this book is not just the message of teamwork and perseverance, but the feeling of being at the beach that each illustration brings. The ink and watercolor illustrations are detailed and while the focus is on the three siblings, there is the usual beach activity all around them - people swimming, others walking along the shoreline, people reading under umbrellas, kids playing ball - all captured on one and two page spreads, some with smaller, close up montages. And who hasn't encountered pesky seagulls while eating lunch at the beach, or the wind blowing someone's hat away. This day at the beach was anything but static. I could feel the sea breeze and the feeling of it blowing sand into my hair, and smell the sun screen, and the tide coming in as the day worn on and the position of the sun changes. This is a beautiful wordless picture, (and for me, nostalgic) day at the beach and I can't wait to see what my Kiddos have to say about it.     

All Around Bustletown Nighttime

written and illustrated by Rotraut Susanne Berner

Prestel Publishing, 2022, 14 pages

Welcome back to Bustletown! Previously, we read book about Bustletown throughout the seasons, and no matter what time of the year it is, it is a pretty busy, busy place. It is, after all, a wimmelbook. Is Bustletown just as busy at night as it is in the daytime? This book follows the same format as the previous books, beginning with a home where everyone is getting ready for bed, and the kids are camping out in the backyard. But, there is still activity on the street. The bus is still running, the gas station and the train station are open, just not quite as busy as in the daytime. The market is closed, and there is a sleepover for kids at the Cultural Center. But, uh oh, someone is trying to break into the bookstore. Luckily, the police have just arrived. The department store is closed, but there a window shoppers out for an evening stroll. Cara and John are out and strolling through the pages, but where are they going at night? It seems the Park Cafe is open and there are lots of people enjoying a meal with friends, plus they can watch the fireworks lighting up the night sky. Bustletown has a different look to it at night than it has during the day, but readers will meet the same people and see the same places as in the earlier books, giving all the Bustletown books a nice continuity. The illustrations are just as charming and colorful as before, but with a dark blue nighttime sky. And each of the two page spreads are elaborately detailed and each page connects to the one before and after it, providing lots of stories that kids can make up as they read their way through Bustletown, making this a great interactive book. 

The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky

written and illustrated by Kim Jihyun

Floris Books, 2021, 24 pages

In her afterword, the author says she hopes this book will help readers connect to nature much the same way she did one summer and experience the same serene feeling she felt. In this story, a young boy, his parents, and their dog leave their bustling city behind and drive to the countryside to visit his grandparents. Soon after arriving, the boy and his dog go for a walk on a winding trail in the forest behind the house. The further they walk, the more the boy notices the wonders of nature around him. Eventually, he and the dog discover a lake with a dock, and the boy dives in, exploring the wonders of underwater nature. Afterward, boy and dog lay on the dock to dry off before heading home at the end of the day. What is remarkable about this wordless picture book how the author manages to convey so much in each illustration, all of which are done using writing ink and a slow-drying blending medium in a palette of grays and whites, with only touches of blue. Each image is filled with details, whether it is the street where the family lives, or the lushness of the forest with it varied flora, the long late afternoon shadows over the countryside, or a sky filled with stars. My only problem was that the boy went swimming alone in the lake. I have drummed it into my Kiddo's head to never ever swim alone, and had to give the same warning to my young readers when we read this book. Otherwise, it is a brilliant wordless picture book that really elicited lots of talk among my kids.     

The Dog Walk

written and illustrated by Sven Nordqvist

Floris Books, 2021, 32 pages

Follow a young boy in a red cap as he takes his Grandmother's big white dog for a jam-packed adventurous walk in this wordless fanciful Wimmelbook. Pulled along by the dog, the two ride a train to places where there are tree houses piled one on top of the other, people from different time periods, people and animals of exaggerated size (both large and small), and all kinds of animated objects, among other  imaginative things. Boy and dog climb mountains, cross tropical seas, explore toy and antique shops, visit overgrown villages and castles surrounded by moats, and a town where only cats live. The sights the boy and dog see are wildly imaginative, at times fun, at other times rather dark. And just like that, they return to Grandmother's house at the end of their adventure. I was a little hesitant about reading this to my young readers, but they loved exploring the pictures and I guess they've watched enough silly things on TV that they had no problems making up stories about the boy and dog on each page after they found them in all the chaos, all of them brilliantly illustrated using watercolor, acrylic, and ink.  

What are some of your favorite wordless picture books?

The Marvellers (Marvellerverse #1) by Dhonielle Clayton

 

Ella Durand comes from a prominent New Orleans family of Conjurors and although she is only 11-years-old, she is about to make history. She will be the first Conjuror to enter the Arcanum Training Institute for Marvelous and Uncanny Endeavors and Ella is beyond excited about it, even if her mother isn't. And she isn't the only one not happy about Ella attending this school. Once Ella arrives, she finds she has three roomates, two of which believe Conjurors don't belong in the school and only one of which is even remotely friendly. She is also assigned a mentor, Masterji Thakur, who will help her learn the Marvellian Way, and a guide, Jason Eugene, the youngest of an illustrious Marvelling family and the youngest of four siblings in the school. At first, Ella rejects Jason's help, determined to do everything on her own as part of her need to prove that she belongs. 

The first thing that happens is that Ella is moved from her dorm with three roomates to one she will share with unfriendly Brigit Ebsen from New York City. Unlike Ella, Brigit does not want to be in the Arcanum Training Institute and plans on running away as soon as she can. Brigit also continuously knits images onto squares, but doesn't know why, who the images are, and seems to go into a trance when she is knitting. 

It's not just students who don't want Ella at their school, some of the teachers feel the same way and she begins to get demerits for things she hasn't done. But, little by little, she and Brigit become friends, and Ella warms up to Jason enough to call him friend too. But when a prisoner, Gia Trivelino, who calls herself the Ace of Anarchy, escapes from the Cards of Deadly Fate, a prison made out of powerful conjure cards and then Masterji Thakur disappears, students and teachers are quick to point their finger at Ella. All the while, Ella keep wondering just what her Marvel is. 

Click to Enlarge

Marvels are a light within a person that is strongly linked to one of five Paragons. Paragons are similar to the five senses (vision, touch, sound, taste, smell) except smell has been replaced by spirit. At the end of the school year, there is an exam where kids find out their Paragon. Since all of the kids who are in Ella's class come from Marvelling families, they already have an idea of what their Paragon will be, with the exception of Ella and Brigit. I found myself wondering just what Ella's Paragon would be that would really work for a series. Then I thought, duh, she has at least two friends who can help with their Paragons. And then it occurred to me that wondering what will happen is part of the fun of reading The Marvellers. 

And there is a lot of fun stuff in this book because Clayton's worldbuilding is just so wonderfully imaginative. Sure, some of it may remind you of Harry Potter, but there is just so much originality that the comparisons fall away quickly until you are only left with one - they are both fantastic school stories. And astute readers will definitely chuckle at the names of some of the teachers in Ella's school.

But don't get me wrong, there is plenty of serious stuff going on. Ella is marginalized right off the bat when she must change rooms and live with Brigit, the other marginalized student. And with marginalization, comes bullying by students and collecting demerits because Conjurors are not welcomed by every teacher in the school.  

I have to admit when I first began reading The Marvellers, I had a hard time getting into it, but after a few pages, I was totally hooked. And I could go on and on about how great it is because there is just so much to this story, but maybe you should just read the book. It is well worth your time. Maybe I'll reread it.  

End: 48 Hour #MGReadathon

 

First, I would like to thank Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads for bringing back and hosting the first #MGReadathon in a long time. It's been fun and even though I wasn't very good a doing check-in during the 48 hours, I did get a lot (for me) of reading and in some cases, rereading books this weekend. It was just the diversion I needed while caring for someone with cancer. 

Here are the books I enjoyed reading and I hope to write reviews on them soon:

National Geographic Kids' Ultimate Food Atlas Blog Tour and Giveaway

Welcome to the Ultimate Food Atlas Blog Tour!

This week, join us for a fantastic food journey around the globe as we celebrate the release of the Ultimate Food Atlas (National Geographic Kids Books, ages 8-12).  Five blogs across the web are featuring posts from the book as we "travel" from continent to continent to discover a rich diversity of foods and food celebrations from many different countries. Ready for a captivating around-the-world culinary adventure? Read on!
 

AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA - FEASTING OFF THE LAND AND SEA

Australia, the smallest continent, is also a country. Because it’s in the Southern Hemisphere, its northern coast—closer to the Equator—is tropical. Sugarcane and tropical fruits such as bananas and mangoes are produced in the northeast. The south of Australia has a mild climate, good for producing wheat and other grains. The interior, or outback, is largely desert. About 1,300 miles (2,092 km) east of Australia is New Zealand, a lush green country known for its many sheep. Thousands of other islands of Oceania are scattered to the north and east across the Pacific. On these islands, coconuts, papayas, and many other tropical fruits thrive, and fresh seafood is plentiful.

Traditional Australia and Oceania Seafood Delights

Australians along the coasts take full advantage of the fresh seafood available to them. On the islands of Oceania, men and women continue traditional fishing practices. Across the continent, freshwater lakes and streams offer other tasty local options. Batter-fried fish, grilled crustaceans, and succulent seaweed are just some of the dishes made from this region’s seafood.

BUGS (Australia) In Australia, local species of lobsters are the Moreton Bay Bug and Balmain Bug. Unlike other types of lobsters, these flat-shaped crustaceans do not have big claws, and only their tail meat is edible. Grilled with herb and garlic butter, you’ll find these seafood bugs served at picnics and in fine restaurants.

KOKODA (Fiji) Any fresh, locally caught fish, such as mahi mahi, can be turned into kokoda. Just marinate it in citrus juices and mix it with some coconut cream, onions, tomatoes, and chilies. This favorite festive dish is often served in a large clam shell of coconut shell. 

SEA GRAPE SALAD (Fiji)  The seaweed called nama in Fiji is known as sea grapes, or even green caviar, elsewhere in the world. The little bubbles of green on this algae are soft but pleasantly crunchy when eaten. Nama is usually eaten topped with lemon juice or a little coconut cream as part of a fresh salad.

WHITEBAIT FRITTER (New Zealand)  This fish dish specialty of New Zealand is made using tiny freshwater fish such as inanga or other fresh catch from local rivers. The fish are cooked with eggs and butter and served with lemon. There’s a friendly competition between North Island and South Island folks as to who has the better recipe. 

POISON CRU (French Polynesia) This island specialty is freshly caught raw fish, usually tuna, diced and marinated in lime. For a Tahitian version of fish-and-chips, try it with a side of taro chips.

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Buy | Add on Goodreads

Exploring the world has never been more yummy and fun! Discover how unique foods are grown, eaten, and celebrated by people all over the planet, get recipes for delicious dishes, and so much more!

Pull up a chair and dig into this bold and vibrant world atlas full of fun food facts, fascinating information about crops and farming, easy-to-read maps, recipes, and games from around the world. On the menu: vegetables, grains, meats, dairy products, and foods harvested from the water. Highlights include appetizing attractions, cool places to eat, and food festivals, and sustainable eating is promoted throughout. It's a treat for kids who are interested in food and a valuable reference about geography, agriculture, and culture across the continents. Absolutely stuffed with mouthwatering tidbits for every reader! Kids are sure to come back to the table hungry for more!

About the Authors

Nancy Castaldo has written award-winning books about our planet for over 20 years from New York’s Hudson Valley. Her love of reading and writing outdoors began in her childhood, when she wasn’t searching for frogs, turtles, and salamanders, and climbing trees. Her curiosity led her to study science. As an environmental educator, Nancy combined all of those interests. She still enjoys spending her time exploring in the wild as she did while researching over two dozen books and many articles. Nancy writes to inform, inspire, and empower her readers about the world around them. Visit her online at nancycastaldo.com.

Christy Milhaly's book Diet for a Changing Climate: Food for Thought (co-written with Sue Heavenrich) explores this issue and offers pointers on preparing environmentally friendly―and tasty―meals using invasive plants,animals and insects.  She has published other nonfiction books on topics including nature, history, politics, and crafts. Milhaly earned degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of California, Berkeley. Visit her online at christymihaly.com,

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GIVEAWAY

• One (1) winner will receive a hardcover of Ultimate Food Atlas
• US/Can only
• Ends 7/17 at 11:59pm ET
• Enter via the Rafflecopter below
• Visit the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!

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Blog Tour Schedule:

July 4th — From the Mixed-Up Files of Middle Grade Authors
July 5th — YA Books Central
July 6th — Pragmatic Mom
July 7th — Mrs. Book Dragon
July 8th — Randomly Reading

Pink in Not a Color written and illustrated by Lindsay Ward

 

Pink is Not a Color

written and illustrated by Lindsay Ward

Two Lions, 2022, 40 pages

When my Kiddo was a little girl, there were two truisms in her life: 1) there was never enough glitter, and 2) there was never enough pink. Pink is probably the favorite color of most little girls at some point. After all, Pink is a happy color and the world is a rosier place thanks to it. 

So when Pink ran into the Primaries Red, Blue, and Yellow getting ready to have a Rainbow Extravaganza, Pink was excited to help. 

The Primary colors were all going to be at the Rainbow Extravaganza, as were the Secondary colors, Orange, Green, and Purple, and there would be balloons, streamers, and a great big rainbow colored banner. It was going to be an awesome party, with all the colors of the rainbow there, and Pink was so up for it...until the Rainbow Colors reminded her that Pink is not a color in the rainbow. 

And even though they encouraged Pink to come to the party anyway, Pink's excitement was more than a little deflated. Pink leaves the Rainbow Extravaganza thinking about how super popular she is and all the things that are pink - bubble gum, cupcakes with sprinkles, tutus, bunny slippers. Everyone loves pink, so why isn't she in the rainbow? And if she isn't, is she even a color,? And if she isn't a color,  just what she is?

The next day, still feeling low and confused, Pink runs into the Brown, who is a Shade and the Tints - Corel, Mint, Buttercup, Lavender and Sky - who invite her to color with them. Feeling validated that she is a color after all, Brown explains the difference between a Shade, like himself, and a Tint, like Pink. But is a Tint a real color, she wonders? 

Leaving Brown and the Tints behind, Pink encounters Gray and tells him about her midcolor crisis. Gray says that in his book, Pink is definitely a color in his book. But is an appearance in This Book is Gray enough to convince Pink that she is a color even if she isn't in the rainbow? Leave it to Gray to show Pink all the different ways in which she colors the world, including mornings and evenings. 

Some of Lindsay Ward's books are truly adventures in color. There's This Book is Gray, followed by Between the Lines, and now there is Pink is not a Color. Each book has something to teach kids about colors and this one answers the question: what is a color? It begins with a Color Glossary right there on the front end page. And while kids are learning the difference between Primary Colors and how Secondary Colors, Shades, Tints Achromatic Colors are created, there is also an important message about self-doubt.

Pink was pretty happy and self confident until the other colors preparing for the Rainbow Extravaganza said she wasn't a color in the rainbow. They were certainly happy to have her join in the festivities, but Pink immediately sunk into a midcolor crisis, as though not being in the rainbow made her not a color - so what is she? Self-doubt is something that can happen so easily to kids, and often, as it happens with Pink, it is the result of a something that wasn't even said to be mean.  Hopefully, adults reading this to children will realize what hurtful words can do to a child's self-esteem, so thy can help kids if they find themselves in a situation like Pink's. And children hearing this story will hopefully be able to see that they are just as important and have things to offer, just like Pink. 

I loved the digitally created illustrations and the bright, colorful palette used throughout. These different colors used add so much to the color characters, and no one color overpowers Pink, since it is her story. One of other things I like is that the colors are represented by that little triangle at the end of every crayon.  

Pink is Not a Color will be a wonderful and important book to share with young kids, either in school or at home and should generate lots of good conversations afterwards. I know I can't wait to share it with my young readers when we get back together again. 

What's being said about Pink is Not a Color?

“Ward’s cast of colors, pink-cheeked and wearing accessories, speak in color-coded speech bubbles; appropriately, pink hues dominate the exuberant art. A rosy take on selfhood.” ―Kirkus Reviews

Meet the Author: Lindsay Ward is the creator of the Dexter T. Rexter series as well as Between the Lines, Scooper and Dumper, Rosie: Stronger than Steel, This Book Is Gray, Brobarians, Rosco vs. the Baby, and The Importance of Being 3. Her book Please Bring Balloons was also made into a play. Lindsay lives with her family in Peninsula, Ohio with her husband, three boys, one dog, and eight ducks. When she’s not drawing, Lindsay loves to bake. Pink-frosted cupcakes are her favorite. Learn more about her online at www.lindsaymward.com.

Twitter: @lindsaymward

Instagram: lindsaymward

Check out activities and more here on Lindsay Ward’s website!

Bank Street Children's Book Committee Best Books for 2022 (published in 2021)

 

It's July 4th and I know everyone is having fun, but it won't be long before summer vacation boredom can set in. And while I have lots of summer book suggestions to blog about over the coming days and weeks,  I thought I would begin with something that is close to my heart:

The Best Children's Books of the Year

2022 Edition

Inside the annual edition of this Best Books list, you will find over 600 books, all of which have been read by at least two committee members, and often by a young reviewer. This list is a boon to librarians and teachers who will no doubt be making their reading list for the coming school year soon, and who may also have kids at home looking for something to do this summer. It is also geared towards parents, and includes a helpful list of Tips for Parents to help them encourage their kids to read more. 

The books are divided into age groups and within each age group into genres. Within each genre, books are listed by category. Each book is annotated to give potential readers an idea of what it is about, and includes publisher, ISBN, and price. For example, page 1 of Fiction for readers ages 5 to 9 looks like this:

There is also a list of the given the Committee's annual awards. This year's award winners are

Here's the good news  - you can download your own copy of The Best Children's Books of the Year:

• The Best Children’s Books of the Year 2022 Edition (pdf)
• Best Books of the Year 2022 Under Five List (pdf)
• Best Books of the Year 2022 5-9 years-old list (pdf)
• Best Books of the Year 2022 9-12 years-old list (pdf)
• Best Books of the Year 2022 12-14 years-old List (pdf)
• Best Books of the Year 2022 14 years-old and Up list (pdf)