More Picture Book Joy

Reading is Fun

 

Candlewick Press always has so many wonderful picture books sometimes it's hard to choose what to share with my young readers. Here are a few that I have chosen and which I am sure will become everyone's new favorites:

My Red Hat written and illustrated by 

Rebecca Stubbs

Candlewick Press, 2021, 32 pages

In this intergenerational story, a loving grandfather passes down his red hat to his granddaughter and tells her about all the different possibilities the hat holds for her and which are clearly based on his own life experiences. The hat, he says, can simply be used to keep her warm or dry, protect her from the sun or the rain, help her stand out in a crowd, or hide in one. The hat can hold her dreams, secrets, and fears and it is full of possibility - places to go, things to see, people to meet until home calls her back. Using simple landscape line illustrations, done in a limited palette of colors, Stubbs captures the idea of a child's connection to her family and home while encouraging her to go out and to confidently explore her internal and external world courageously, knowing that there is always place where she is loved and has roots. This is a warm, tender, thought-provoking story for your young readers. Sometimes grandparents can encourage kids to follow their dreams in ways that parents can't because of the different relationship a child has with the two generations.  

Over the Shop written by JonArno Lawson,

illustrated by Qin Leng

Candlewick Press, 2021, 48 pages

In this wordless intergenerational story, a young girl lives with her grumpy grandparent in a rather run down building with their general store on the ground floor, where the granddaughter helps out when not in school. There's a alley cat who is the grandparent's nemesis, but to whom the girl brings cans of food. Above the shop is an empty apartment that they need to rent. A for-rent sign is hung in the window and a variety of people come, look, and leave. Until one day, a mixed race couple come to look at the apartment and decide to rent it, and though grumpy grandparent doesn't seem to want them, the granddaughter does. Slowly but surely the couple fix up the apartment throughout the fall and winter, with the girl's help and when spring comes round, the work is done, and even the little balcony attached to the apartment is alive with window boxes and plants. Next thing you know, the couple is helping out in the store and the girl is so happy, she even manages to lure the cat up to the apartment where it finds a home. What I really loved about this book was watching how the grumpy grandparent's face changes over the course of the story to one that is happy and smiling by the end, demonstrating how important it is to have caring friends and neighbors. Because this book is wordless, readers need to rely on the wonderfully detailed ink and watercolor illustrations to see to story's progression. Interestingly, the dedication is to trans activists of all ages. I just love the subtleness of gender in this book about inclusiveness. 

No Buddy Like a Book by Allan Wolf, 

illustrated by Brianne Farley

Candlewick Press, 2021, 32 pages

In this book extolling the wonderful things readers can find in books, they are reminded throughout that a book is nothing without a reader and their imagination: "But Books are only smears of ink/ without the reader's mind/  to give the letters meaning/ and to read between the lines." The unnamed narrator focuses on nonfiction and what readers can learn, like how icebergs stay afloat, or how to learn something like cooking and baking. Books can teach readers about space and how to build a telescope or take them on journeys anywhere in the world they would like to go. The only thing a reader needs besides knowing how to read is their own imagination. Told in an ABCB rhyme scheme, this lyrical tribute to books and reading will delight young readers just starting out on their own "...aboard the Book Express." Where will it take them? Wherever they want to go. The mixed media illustrations for this charming oversized book are bold and colorful, and includes diverse group of young readers. One of the things I used to tell my very reluctant fourth grader readers is how a book can open up so many new worlds and adventures for them. How I wish I had this book to read and show them what I was talking about. 

Ellie's Dragon written and illustrated by

Bob Graham

Candlewick Press, 2020, 40 pages

One day, Ellie finds a tiny dragon. Holding it in her hand, its little claws tickled her and so she named it Scratch. At first, she made scratch a little bed out of a match box, but when he grew some, he took up residence in her dollhouse. Ellie and Scratch spent lots of time together, even if her mom couldn't see him. At first, Ellie took Scratch everywhere, even to preschool where the other kids loved him, but, like Ellie's mom, the teacher couldn't see Scratch. But when Ellie went to kindergarten, she forget to bring Scratch with her. By Ellie's 8th birthday, Scratch had learned to fly, though sometimes Ellie still took him places with her. As Ellie grew, Scratch began to fade, until one day, he just slipped away out the window while she slept. Ellie sometimes still thought about Scratch, but the fully grown dragon soon found a new home with a little boy down the street, who now takes him everywhere. This is such a wonderful example of how imaginary friends begin, bring comfort and companionship, and when the time is right, slip away, but are never completely forgotten. Graham's watercolor and ink illustrations are simple, colorful, and whimsical, the writing is straightforward, with humor and warmth. Though the story has been compared to the song "Puff the Magic Dragon" because it does have a touch of the same kind of melancholy, Ellie's Dragon has a much happier ending. 

Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See

by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Linda Ólafsdóttir

Candlewick Press, 2021, 40 pages

Mindi is afraid of a great big goose that no one else can see. You couldn't call it an imaginary friend, though, since she was so fearful of this goose. And no matter what her parents do to keep it away, even though they couldn't see the goose, it just doesn't leave. So her dad decides to consult with Austen, a wise old man who has help other people before. The plan is simple enough - take Mindi on a long journey to his farm. While there, a young goat wonders into the house and Austen tells Mindi to give the goat an apricot, and that if he likes her, the goat will return the pit to her hand. Sure enough, the goat returns the pit and Austen even lets Mindi name the little goat. A week later, Austen comes to visit Mindi and her parents, and brings the little goat along. Seeing how Mindi has taken to the goat, Austen makes a suggestion that they trade - he'll take the big scary goose, with the understanding that she will never see it again because his farm is so far away, and she can have the little goat. Is this the happily-ever-after end of the story? Not quite - there's a bit of a surprise at the Austen's farm that no one would have expected. Though not quite as charming as McBratney's stories about Little Nutbrown Hare, this is still an excellent book about dealing with children's fears and anxieties. The mixed media illustrations are beautifully done, ranging from colorful full page images to spot illustrations. 

I received these book from Candlewick Press in exchange for honest reviews.

Four Picture Books About Grandparents

Grandparents have so much to give to and to share with their grandchildren. Here are four diverse books about that wonderful grandparent/grandchild bond. 

My Day with Gong Gong by Sennah Yee,

illustrated by Elaine Chen

Annick Press, 2020, 36 pages

May isn't terrible happy when her mom tells her she will be spending the day at Gong Gong's house. He doesn't speak English, and she doesn't speak Chinese. When Gong Gong falls asleep watching hockey, and May changes the channel, he turns off the the TV and they head out for a walk. Gong Gong greets all the neighbors, saying funny things in Chinese, but May doesn't understand what's making them laugh. The same thing happens inside the gift store, and at the dim sum restaurant - Gong Gong is so busy chatting he doesn't' seem to notice May is so hungry. When they stop at the grocery store to buy food, May hopes they will go home and eat soon, but first Gong Gong stops by the park to greet more friends and play some cards. Just what does he say that makes they laugh, too, just like the people in the gift store, the restaurant, and the grocery? But when a pigeon poops on the shoulder of her jacket, May's had enough and bursts into tears. Gong Gong gently cleans her up, then hands her the toy monkey she wanted at the gift store. Not only that, but he even has pork buns, her favorite, from dim sum restaurant. On their way home, they pass the same people from earlier in the day, only now, May gets a pleasant surprise when they all know just who she is. May's day turns out to be completely different from what she expected. Now, she and Gong Gong have a loving bond, and she even begins to learn a little Chinese starting with "Ngo oi nei" (I love you). I think Sennah Yee has perfectly captured May's frustration not understanding what is going on in the first part of this story and thinking her grandfather didn't much care about her, when it turns out to be just the opposite. As the two walk around Chinatown, the watercolor and pencil crayons illustrations show a friendly, welcoming place, much like Gong Gong himself, but it is not something May notices until things turn around. There are a few Chinese words used throughout and there is a glossary in the back that includes Chinese characters with pronunciation and translation.  

Bindu's Bindis by Supriya Kelkar,

illustrated by Parvati Pillai

Sterling Children's Books, March 16, 2021, 32 pages

Bindu loves to wear the different bindis her Nani sends to her from India. She wears them to temple, at home and on holidays. And she has bindis for whatever was going on in her life - even a squiggle bindi that says "I'm Unique!" But when Nani comes to visit, bearing new bindis, Bindu's excitement quickly changes from happiness to worry. At the airport, they meet protesters who want foreigners to go home. But Nani just tells Bindu to march by with pride. At home, Nani teaches Bindu some Indian dancing for the school talent show and the two have fun choosing the perfect bindi to wear for it. But at her school talent show, Bindu suddenly doesn't want to feel unique, to wear her bindi and do the dance Nani taught her when she sees people laughing at them. So Nani gets up on the stage all by herself and begins dancing alone. After watching her Nani dancing with a big smile and a sense of pride, Bindu decides to get on stage so they can dance together for everyone to see. This is a great story about learning to appreciate and be proud of who you are despite what others may think, and about the strong bond that exists between grandparents and grandchildren despite distance. There is spare text, and sometimes the illustrations tell more of the story than the words do, but if your young readers are like mine, they will pore over each illustration and fill in the missing words. That said, this story is as joyful as the beautiful, boldly colored cartoon-style illustrations. 

Grandpa Across the Ocean

written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum

Abrams BFYR, April 27, 2021, 40 pages

A young Korean American boy travels with his mother across the ocean to Korea goes to visit his grandfather, but he isn't very happy about it. Everything is unfamiliar - the smells, the food, even the way his grandpa bows to say hello. He can't understand anything grandpa says and grandpa doesn't hear well, plus he naps a lot in his chair. But when this ill-tempered boy breaks a potted plant playing ball in the house, instead of being mad, his grandpa proves to be quite caring and concerned, offering his contrite grandson some sweet peaches. Next thing you know, the two are playing together and have a great time laughing at the TV, going to the plants] store, enjoying some ice cream (both love chocolate). At the beach, Grandpa has more energy than is grandson, but both have a wonderful time together. Grandpa even begins to teach his grandson some Korean words. Naturally, when it comes time to return home, the boy is sad, but can't wait to return next summer. Grandpa Across the Ocean looks at the strength of family bond despite a language and distance barrier. The color pencil illustrations are bright and open, some are quite detailed, others are more like spot illustrations. I loved seeing the changes in the demeanor of both the grandfather and grandson as they get to know and understand each other better, and you can just see the feelings of mutual affection growing. There are a few Korean words in characters used throughout the book, but there is also a translation for each.   

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker,

illustrated by April Harrison

Schwartz & Wade Books, 2020, 40 pages

When Zura's elementary school teacher reminds her students that Grandparents Day is coming up soon, all the kids in her class are excited except her. The other kids can't wait to show off what makes their grandparents special. Alejo thinks his abeulo is a great fisherman, Bisou thinks his mimi is "the best dentist in the world," but what makes Zura's Nana Akua so special? After all, Zura has seen kids and grownups stare at her grandmother because she looks different. Nana Akua, who was born in Ghana, has tribal symbols marked on her face that her parents had done when she was young according to old African tradition. Nana Akua's marks represent beauty and confidence. But what if Zura's classmates laugh or make fun of her grandmother, her favorite person in the world? But her wise grandmother has the perfect solution. On Grandparents Day, she and Zura arrive with the quilt Nana Akua had made for her and which is covered with Adinkra symbols. Nana Akua talks about the symbols and what they mean and why she has two symbols on her face. Then, she invites the class and the visiting grandparents to pick Adinkra symbols to have (temporarily) painted on their faces. You can find the symbols and their meanings on the endpapers. This is such a beautiful book about family, tradition, and cultural diversity. Nana Akua teaches Zura's class an important lesson in accepting differences in others, and provides her granddaughter with an example of how to handle the kind of situation she was afraid would happen with pride and a positive attitude. The mixed-media collage illustrations are perfect for this story, done in a palette of earth tones. 

My First Picture Book Roundup of 2020: Celebrating Grandparents

This is my first roundup of 2020 and for it, I chose books about grandparents. My young readers really enjoy picture books about grandmothers and grandfathers and these are some of our favorite books of 2019 that we have been reading over and over again. Have you read them, too?

My Grandma and Me by Mina Javaherbin, 

illustrated by Lindsey Yankey

Candlewick Press, 2019, 32 pages

Now an adult, Mina lovingly remembers her grandmother who was living with her family during her childhood. As a child, Mina loved to do everything her grandma does. Every morning, Mina and her grandmother would greet the day with prayer. Afterward, they would await the delivery of their daily bread, part of which they would share with their neighbors, Mina's best friend Annette and her grandmother. Later, in the garden, while grandmas knitted, Mina and Annette played. When grandma sewed some new chadors, Mina would use the chadors to build a pretend rocket ship, draping them on the table. During Ramadan, Mina always ate with her grandmother, even when she was too young to fast. Grandma sewed Mina's first chador when she was older and together they walked to the mosque. There, grandma prayed that Annette's grandmother would go to heaven, and at church, Annette's grandmother prayed that Mina's grandma would also go to heaven. This warm tribute to her grandmother is also a nice introduction to Islamic traditions and an inclusive Iran unfamiliar to today's kids. The mixed media illustrations are done in soft pastels with lots of Persian elements included. This is an engaging story that should get kids talking about the things they like to do with their own grandparents.

Our Favorite Day written and illustrated by 

Joowon Oh

Candlewick Press, 2019, 32 pages

Every day, an elderly man gets up and follows the same routine: drinking tea, watering plants, tidying up, getting dressed and going downtown. He walks through town, gets an idea, goes to a restaurant for his favorite dumplings, then heads home. The next day, he repeats his routine, except this time he stops in the craft store, gets dumplings to go, and picks some flowers on his way home. Why the change in routine? Thursday is the day his granddaughter visits, and they have a wonderful time together. After eating their dumpling lunch, the two get busy with some new craft supplies, making a beautiful butterfly kite that they take out and fly. Thursdays are definitely their favorite day! This is a debut picture book for Joowon Oh and it is a winner. The illustrations compliment the simple text, and are as sweet as the relationship between grandfather and granddaughter.  

Looking for Yesterday written and illustrated by

Alison Jay

Old Barn Books, 2019, 32 pages

A young boy wishes he could return to yesterday. It was his best day, a day spent with his Grandad, having all kinds of fun and he wants to live it all over again. He spends some time trying to think of ways to go back, like traveling faster than the speed of light to travel counterclockwise, building a time machine, or a super hypersonic rocket. But in the end, nothing seems very plausible, so he asks his Grandad for help. Wise Grandad pulls out his photo album and shows his grandson all the wonderful, happy days he has experienced throughout his life. Granddad's message to his grandson is that the boy still has so many great days ahead of him, there's no need to go back for a do-over since every present moment, every day holds the possibility of being great. The text is fun and a nice blend of science, philosophy and whimsey fully accessible to young readers. Using her signature style, Jay's playful illustrations are done in soft earth tones, adding a coat of crackle varnish to Granddad's old photos to give them an aged look.   

Leila in Saffron by Rukhsanna Guidroz,

illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova

Salaam Reads, 2019, 26 pages

Sometimes it takes a wise grandma to make a kid see just who she is. Every Friday night, Leila goes to her Naani's house for a family dinner with her mom and dad. One night, Naani tells her that the saffron color buttons on her dress really compliment Leila's dark eyes. The compliment makes her feel very happy. So does spending Friday night with her aunts, uncles, and cousins, looking at Naani's Pakistani ornaments, all the books written in Arabic, and helping her grandmother make the chicken curry for their dinner. One night, just before Leila and her parents leave, Naani takes her upstairs to show her some of her beautiful scarves. Leila loves her grandmother's scarves and asks if she can try one on. The sparkle and shine of the saffron color scarf she picks is perfect for Leila and makes her feel exactly like who she is - a beautiful Pakistani girl proud of her heritage. And this beautiful warm mixed-media illustrated book done in a palette of bold oranges and greens with touches of other colors nicely conveys the Pakistani heritage that Leila loves so much. 

Ojiichan's Gift by Chieri Uegaki,

illustrated by Genevieve Simms

Kids Can Press, 2019, 32 pages

Every summer, Mayumi travels to Japan to visit her grandfather. Together, they work on his lovely garden that Ojiichan had began before Mayumi was born. The garden is made up of large and small stones, and edged with plantings and a sheltered bench for relaxing and sharing a lunchtime onigiri or rice ball bento. Over time, Ojiichan teaches Mayumi everything she needs to know about caring for the garden, and that has become such a special place, loved by granddaughter and grandfather as much as they love each other. But one year, when Mayumi arrives at her grandfather's house, she sees that the garden has been neglected and is overgrown. Grandfather is no longer able to care for it, and in fact, he can no longer live alone his home. As Mayumi's parents pack up the house, she tries to think of a way to keep their beloved garden alive for both of them. Sure enough, using their lacquered bento box that once held their lunch, Mayumi creates a lovely tribute to Ojiichan and their garden. This is a lovely intergenerational affective story with watercolor illustrations that are a gentle and poignant as the text. 

When I Found Grandma by Saumiya Balasubramaniam,

illustrated by Qin Leng

Groundwood Books, 2019, 32 pages

Maya, whose Grandma lives far away in India, really wishes they lived closer together the way her best friend Kim and her grandmother do. But when Grandma comes to visit, Maya's excitement doesn't last very long. When Grandma comes to school to pick her up wearing a colorful sari and lots of bangles, Maya is embarrassed and refuses to let her hold her hand. And why can't Grandma call her Maya instead of Mayalakshmi? But when Grandma wants to go to the temple to pray before going to the amusement park, Maya angrily storms back into her room. Grandma, trying to please Maya, changes her sari for a pair of pants, then buys a red baseball cap, calling it her "all-American hat." Later, when Maya gets lost at the park, it's that red baseball cap that helps her find her way back to her family. That night, Maya decides to give Grandma a second chance. This is a skillful intergenerational story about accepting cultural differences and learning how to compromise. Slowly, Maya goes from angry and embarrassed by her grandmother to feelings of affection and love, and learns to appreciate who her Grandma is. Leng's ink and watercolor illustrations harmonize perfectly with the text, capturing the whole range of Maya and her grandmother's emotions.

Where Are YouFrom? by Yamile Saied Méndez,
illustrated by Jaime Kim
HarperCollins, 2019, 32 pages

When people keep asking a young girl where she's from, and where her mom or dad is from, she tells them all she's from today, like everyone else. When they still aren't satisfied with her answer, she turns to the person whom she believes knows everything - her Abuelo. Going for a walk together, he tells her she is from the Pampas, a region in Argentina. Where she descends "from the gaucho, brave and strong," where there is a cleansing river, that feeds the land, which feeds the people. And she is from Puerto Rico, the land of warm blue oceans, and palm trees, a land "where our ancestors built a home for all, even when they were in chains because of the color of their skin." As her Abuelo answers his granddaughters question, they walk through beautiful two page watercolor spreads of the different landscapes for the places he is telling her about. Told in lyrical prose, this is a loving paean to one child's different cultural roots and "the love of all those before us, from those who dreamt of you because of a song sung under the Southern Cross or the words in a book written under the light of the North Star...You are from all of us." This is just such a beautiful book on understanding the connection between identity and heritage. A perfect book for Americans, almost of all whom come from somewhere else.

Hey Grandude! by Paul McCartney,

illustrated by Kathryn Durst

Random House BFYR, 2019, 32 pages

I don't usually do celebrity books, but I made an exception here because it isn't a famous person ego trip, just a picture book. It's a grey, drizzly day out and Grandude's four grandchildren, whom he calls Chillers, are bored and grumpy. Cheerful Grandude pulls out a pile of postcards and a magic compass, utters the magic words "See the compass needle spin,/let the magic fun begin!" Next thing they know, they find themselves on a sunny beach. And it's great fun until, uh oh, suddenly the beach is crawling with pinchy crabs. Grandude pulls out his magic compass, utters the magic words, and he and the Chillers are off to a warm desert, having fun riding horses until, uh oh, a herd of buffalo comes rushing at them. Granddude repeats the magic words again and it's off to another adventure that also ends unpleasantly. Finally, the fourth adventure brings them home, tired and safely tucked in bed. I wasn't that crazy about this book, but my young readers loved it, so much so, we read it a number of times in one sitting. Their conclusion about the magic compass and the adventures Grandude and the Chillers went on - they didn't really go anywhere, but Grandude made up great stories and they just felt like they had left the house. Their other conclusion - sometimes home is the best place to be. The enthusiasm of my young readers was good enough for me, and it led to a wonderful lesson on the compass and what it is really used for

I Miss My Grandpa 

written and illustrated by Jin Xiaojing

Little, Brown BFYR, 2019, 34 pages

In this lovely picture book, a young girl goes on a journey to find out about the grandfather she never knew. She begins by asking her Grandma what her Grandpa looked like. Grandma's answers send the girl to her Uncle Mason, her Uncle Chang-zi, her Uncle Leo, her Aunt Zai-zi, her cousin Aiden, and finally her mom. Each of these relatives adds more about who her Grandpa was to what her Grandma had said, until finally she tells her granddaughter that he is still living within all these family members, including his grandchild, who also happens to have his hair. This is such a wonderful celebration and tribute to those who are no longer in our lives themselves, but how we nevertheless carry them with us everyday and pass them down to our future generations. My Kiddo never knew my dad because he died when I was still in my teens, but like the young girl in this book, she often asked about him. I read this book with her on her last visit from China and it really generated a different kind conversation about my dad and who he was. Also, the story is translated into Mandarin on the back end papers. My Kiddo read it to me in Chinese and even though I didn't understand everything I heard, it still sounded lovely (and yes, over time I have picked up some Mandarin). Jin Xiaojing's visually textured illustrations, using colored pencil, watercolor, oil pastel and dip pen, are done mainly in blue, red, and yellow shades, adding a dreamlike quality to the text. An original story that celebrates the people who make us who we are, even if they are no longer living.   

You can find even more favorite picture books about grandparents HERE

Picture Books to Share on Grandparents Day

Grandparents are such special members of families and Sunday, September 9, 2018 is Grandparents Day, a day to honor them. It's also the perfect time to explore some picture books about the wonderful relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

Drawn Together by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat

Disney-Hyperion, 2018, 40 pages

A young American boy is dropped off at his Thai grandfather's house for the afternoon. He's not too happy to be there since grandson and grandfather have nothing in common with each other. They don't even speak the same language. They don't even eat the same food: grandfather eats ramen with chopsticks, grandson eats a hot dog and french fries. Bored, the grandson pulls out his art supplies and begins drawing. Grandfather quickly gets his bottle of ink and brush, and both begin drawing their ideas of a superhero warrior. At last, grandson and grandfather have found a connection in their love of drawing, and creating "a new world that even words can't describe." It's wonderful, until a dragon appears and separates them again. Will they be able to draw themselves back together again? This almost wordless picture book has so much to say about intergenerational relationships and how wonderful they can be when the grands find common ground. The mixed media illustrations, both color and black and white, really capture the different emotions and changing attitudes experienced by grandson and grandfather throughout. There is a bit of Thai dialogue, the translation of which can be found on the copyright page. This book was a delight to read with my young readers and it really elicited a conversation about their own, different relationships with their grandparents.  

Sing to the Moon by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl, 

illustrated by Sandra van Doorn

Lantana Publishing, 2018, 40 pages
Available October 1, 2018

A young Ugandan boy wishes to go to the moon or maybe just Zanzibar, to the old spice markets, and to eat a monstrous feast. But when he wakes up, he finds heavy rain and hours of nothing to do ahead of him. But to his surprise, his Jjajja (grandfather) has been waiting for him. The two begin working in their storeroom while Jjajja tells his grandson about his childhood best friend and the things they used to do. Later, while making fish stew together, Jjajja tells his grandson about fishing with his own father as a boy. As evening draws in, Jjajja says it's time for their night adventures and reveals a stack of books filled with age old fables about African kingdoms and lost cities. And finally grandfather and grandson go outside to listen to the night sounds of the world around them. It is the end of a perfect, shared day with Jjajja. Told in gentle rhyme by the grandson, this is a endearingly serene bedtime story based on rainy days the author spent with her family in Uganda and she has included much Ugandan culture and tradition in the pages. The grandfather's stories, whether age old or just from his life, demonstrate the importance of handing them down to a younger generation in order to build that important connection between past and present that they need in order to realize their place in the continuum.Van Doorn's beautiful but simple folk art style dry pastel illustrations add the perfect dreamlike feelings evoked by text. A lovely story that will be enjoyed again and again.

Ocean Meets Sky written and illustrated by

Terry and Eric Fan

Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2018, 48 pages

I always look forward to books by the Fan Brothers because they are always so magical, and this one didn't disappoint. On what would have been his grandfather's 90th birthday, young Finn looks out the window and can hear his grandfather say "it's a good day for sailing." And to honor his grandfather, Finn decides to build a boat and go on the journey they had planned together. After it's done, Finn falls asleep and waking up, he finds his boat has already begun the journey. Looking for where ocean meets sky, Finn asks a golden fish (who looks strikingly like his grandfather) if he knows where it is. The golden fish leads him to Library Island with roosting bookish birds, then to an island of giant shells, through a sea of moon jellies, and to what may be the magical place where ocean meet sky. After exploring in his little boat, Finn hears a voice calling his name. It's his mother waking him up from his nap for dinner. Looking out at the sea, Finn decides it had indeed been a good day for sailing. Beginning with the front endpapers and ending with the back endpapers and all the pages in between, the graphite and digitally colored illustrations have a dreamlike quality that transports readers alone with Finn on this imaginative journey. Be sure to look carefully at the page showing grandfather's study to get hints about Finn's journey.

Storm (Seasons with Granddad) written and illustrated by Sam Usher

Templar Books, 2018, 40 pages

In this fourth Seasons with Granddad offering, it is a blustery autumn day and colorful leaves are flying and falling. A young boy wakes up and can't wait to go out. When his granddad suggests flying a kite, they look all over the house trying to find it, but finding instead other things that remain them of a past fun day spent together. The kite is finally found and off they go to the park to fly it with all the other kite flyers. As the wind becomes stronger, the boy loses hold of the kite, but luckily granddad catches it. A storm is coming and it's time to head home. There the boy and his granddad have their tea and talk about the day, safe and cozy while the storm rages outside. "The best adventure is an adventure shared" granddad tells his grandson, who couldn't agree more. I just love the relationship granddad and grandson have in these picture books. It's just so comfortable and loving, and you can how much they enjoy being together. Usher's watercolor illustrations, done in a palette of fall reds, yellows, blues and stormy greys add to the atmosphere of an overcast fall day, but the dreariness is broken by birds-eye view of the various colorful kites flying. Usher may follow the same structure in all his Seasons with granddad books, but they are all unique in their own special way.

Grandma's Records written and illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Walker BFYR, 2001, 32 pages

Every summer, as soon as school is out, Eric would go to spend his vacation with his grandma in Spanish Harlem, or El Barrio, in NYC. There, they listen to records and dance away their days, while grandma tells her grandson stories about growing up in Puerto Rico. They listen to a wide variety of Latin music and sometimes grandma would even let Eric pick out what they would listen to. But, he notices, there is one special song that always causes his grandma to put her hand on her heart and close her eyes as she sings along. Grandma's nephew plays in the famous Rafael Cortijo Band, and one day, they all show up for some of grandma's good home cooking. As they leave, they give grandma tickets to hear them play, and it is at their performance that Eric learns why the special song is so meaningful to his grandma when he sees everyone doing the same gesture his grandma does - putting their hand on their hearts. The song, he learns, is about coming to a new country and leaving the country you love behind, and the gesture shows that their heart is still in Puerto Rico. This is a lovely story of a grandmother and grandson connecting - here it is over music, culture, and heritage. Velasquez's illustrations are realistically painted, capturing the warm love between grandmother and grandson. There are a few Spanish sentences with translation, and the back matter includes short biographies of the musicians in the Rafael Cortijo Band. 

Our Granny written by Margaret Wild, pictures by Julie Vivas
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt BFYR, 1998, 32 pages 

In this lyrical picture book, a brother and sister list the different characteristics of granny's, pointing out that they can come in all shapes, sizes and styles, and then personalizing it by telling the reader where their granny fits in. Each characteristic follows the same format, beginning with Some grannies... and ending with Our granny: "Some grannies wear,,,/ jeans and sneakers / pantsuits/ silky dresses/ big bras/ baggy underwear/ lots of jewelry/ high heels/ sensible shoes/ or comfy slippers. Our granny wears a funny bathing suit." There is nothing mean spirited about the comparisons, there is not better or worse, simply the kind of things kids would notice. What makes this brother and sister's granny special is that she loves them and they love her, but that would be true of any granny and her grandchildren, so they are all special. Vivas' colorful watercolor illustrations compliment the warm humor of the text, offering a wide variety of diverse grannies and presents them from various perspectives. Kids will certainly look for their grannies characteristics in those listed throughout this book and that can spark some lively conversations, as it did with my young readers.

Most stories about grandparents and grandchildren show a loving relationship between the two generations, helping children feel connected to the past in a particular, personal way. But sometimes a grandparent's memory begin to disappear, cultural customs are forgotten and special occasions get lost as a grandparent ages. Sadly, that is a part of life for some families, which is why I am including the following book on a day when we celebrate grandparents.

The Remember Balloons written by Jessie Oliveros,
illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte
Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2018, 48 pages

Using balloons to a metaphor for memories, young James tells readers he only has a few balloons, unlike his grandpa who has more balloons than James, his little brother, and his parents put together. grandpa has lived a long full life, and James loves hearing about the memories in his balloons. For memories that they share, they each have the same color balloon, like the time they went fishing together. Then, one day, grandpa starts having a problem with his balloons. One would get stuck and he would tell the same story over and over, even though he had just finished it. Or grandpa's balloons would float away and he didn't even notice it. Eventually, grandpa has no more balloons. James is very sad to see this happen, but then his parents point out all the new balloons he has, balloons that once were his grandpa's are now his to share. Memory loss in grandparents caused by age-related dementia or Alzheimer's disease is difficult to explain to children, ever when they see it happening as James does here. I thought that using balloons to represent memories is one of the best way to explain what many grandchildren are probably witnessing in their own grandparents. Each of grandpa's memories is depicted in a different color balloon, and it's an idea kids can understand, after all, what child has witnessed balloons floating away. This is a poignant story, sensitively told, and with a hopeful ending as James becomes the bearer of his grandpa's memories to share with his family.

Blog Tour: What a Beautiful Morning by Arthur A. Levine, illustrated by Katie Kath

Noah loves to spend his summer days with his Grandpa.  Together, they sing each beautiful morning in with a big, booming song.  Then, after bringing Grandma a hot cup of coffee, they take the dog out for a long walk, rain or shine, singing the whole way. When they come home, there's cinnamon French toast, thanks to Grandma. And after breakfast, Grandpa always asks Noah the same question: "what's on the docket" for the rest of the day.

But one morning, Grandpa forgets how to cut his French toast, followed by more and more forgotten things, until one day, Grandpa doesn't even remember who Noah is and the time Noah and Grandpa spend together is changed forever.  But thanks to wise Grandma, the good days aren't completely over once she tells Noah that they must learn to appreciate what Grandpa still has, not what he has lost.

And Noah discovers just how he and Grandpa can connect with each other again - by singing big, booming songs together.

Like so many kids nowadays, Noah is learning how to accept that fact that his Grandpa is suffering from memory loss, most likely Alzheimer's though nothing specific is mentioned, and that forgetting is going to happen more and more frequently, even forgetting a beloved grandchild.  This has to be a difficult thing for a child to understand, especially one who is used to seeing a grandparent who is active, happy and loving.

What a Beautiful Morning is a well-done book that doesn't shy away from the reality of what a memory loss disease like Alzheimer's can do to an older person and how it impacts those around them.  I think Arthur Levine has really captured Grandpa's confusion when he wakes up and doesn't know who Noah is and Noah's despair as he runs out of the house "breathing hard, a painful lump in his throat."

Illustrations should always reflect what the text says and Katie Kath's line and watercolor illustrations are a beautiful melding of word and picture from beginning to end.  Kath captures the joy that a smiling Noah and Grandpa feel when things are going well in her colorful illustrations and the sadness they both feel when Grandpa doesn't remember things in her black, white and gray illustrations giving the sense that all the joy has drained out of their lives.

What a Beautiful Morning is a lovely and sad book, but it is a story that needs to be told to young readers so that they may understand should their lives ever be impacted by a grandparent's memory loss, and/or feel empathy should one of their friends be in a position like Noah.  But whether you can relate to Noah or Grandpa or not, it is a book that should be read by everyone.

Alzheimer's directly impacted Arthur A. Levine life when his father was diagnosed with it.  It is one of the reason's this book feels so authentic, rather than a story from his imagination.  And he has posted some very useful and important Alzheimer's Resources on his blog to help you and your family understand and deal with this disease better.  You can find them HERE

This book is recommended for readers age 4+
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Running Press

Be sure to visit these other stop of the What A Beautiful Morning Blog Tour:

8/2 Flowering Minds

8/3 MomReadIt

8/4 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books

8/5 Stacking Books

8/6 #Kidlit Book of the Day

8/8 Enjoy Embrace Learning

8/9 Unleashing Readers

8/10 Two Writing Teachers

8/11 Bildebok

8/12 Geo Librarian

8/13 Randomly Reading

The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen by Mitali Perkins

Sunita Sen, 13, is a typical California teenager who likes to play tennis, eat pizza, do well in school and really likes Michael Morrison, with whom she has just spent the summer.  She also has a best friend since first grade, Liz Grayson, and a riva for Michael's affections - the very flirty LeAnn Schaeffer.  Oh, yes and Sunita is an Indian American who has really not given a lot of thought to her Indian heritage.  That is, until her grandparents, Dadu and Didu - arrived from Kolkata for a year long visit with Sunita and her family.

Suddenly, her professor mother goes from wearing tailored suits and silk shirts to wearing sarees, a red dot on her forehead and red powder stripe in her hair to indicate she is married.  She even quits her university job for a year to stay home and cook Indian food for her family. And when she tells Sunita no boys in the house, not even to play ping pong in the basement, she apparently drives Michael right into the arms of LeAnn.  Sunita has cut herself off from Michael anyway, not wanting to tell him about her grandparents and thinking he wouldn't like her Indian family.

As her grandparents settle into the Sen household, Dadu decides to plant an elaborate garden of flowers and vegetables in the backyard, while Didu becomes hooked on American soap operas, in particular, one called Endless Hope, even deciding to participate in the Endless Hope Plot Solution Contest (this is a very funny side-storyline).

But as time goes on, and Sunita misses Michael, and resents his apparent attraction to LeAnn, and as she watches her mother's attempt to be the perfect Indian daughter for her parents, she becomes angrier and angrier and begins to withdraw from everyone.

Can Sunita learn how to happily be both Indian and American?

The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen is what I like to think of as a journey or process novel. The single event, her grandparent's visit, that brings on the conflict of cultures that Sunita feels is the start of her journey towards understanding who she is.

And Sunita is an interesting character.  At first, she is somewhat bratty, pouting, getting angry, and even lashing out at home and school, totally stunning her parents when she finally, angrily, tells her mother what she thinks of everything.  But the beauty of coming of age novels, is that there is generally definite positive growth for the main character, and Sunita certainly does grows.

Sunita seems to epitomize the dilemma of adolescents who are standing between cultures and feeling like they must choose one over the other.  Feeling confused, lost and alone, she turns to her grandfather for company, gradually realizing how very wise he is about human nature, so that, ironically, it takes this visit from her Indian grandparents to teach Sunita how to embrace both cultures.

Original 1993 Cover

I really liked The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen.  It takes a serious topic and handles it with a nice measure of respect, seriousness and humor. And along the way, the reader learns a good bit about Indian culture and customs.  And I loved the way Perkins has treated the intergenerational theme.  I thought they were realistically drawn, avoiding the kind of grandparent stereotypes so common in a three-generation household.

It was originally published under the title The Sunita Experiment in 1993 and I believe it is Mitali Perkins's debut novel. I thought that Perkins did a phenomenal job capturing Sunita's personality and her conflicted feelings about her heritage.  I read this on the heels of Born Confused, Bombay Blues and a few other more current books about Indians or Indian Americans, and I felt that even though this came out 23 years ago, it doesn't feel at all dated except that no one has a cell phone.

Actually the only thing I didn't like was Sunita's daydreaming scenes related to her favorite movie Casablanca.  Even though I got the significance of them in terms of her awakening awareness of how other cultures are presented in movies (and books), I still felt it interfered with the narrative flow, but not to the point that I wouldn't still highly recommend this book to readers.

You can find some thought-provoking discussion questions for The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen HERE

This book is recommended for readers age 11+
This book was purchased for my personal library

MAY IS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

#Cybils 2015 Finalist Review: Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai

Mai, or Mia as she is called in school, 12, wants nothing more than to hang out with her best friend Montana on Laguna Beach now that summer vacation is finally here, and maybe even speak to her crush and even get to know his name.  Unfortunately, Mai's parents have other plans.  Every summer, her surgeon father travels to the remote mountainous areas Vietnam to fix children's cleft palates and acute burns.  Mom will be staying in Laguna for a big trial she's been working on for three years.  And Mai's grandmother, Bá, has finally heard from the detective she had hired to find someone with information about her husband, Ông, who had died in imprisonment during the Vietnam War.  Someone needs to accompany Bá and look out for her.  After all, she's 79 now and hasn't been back to Vietnam since she and her children fled after the war.

Mai and Bá stay with family, including a tomboy cousin sporting a buzz-cut named Út, who has a fascination with frogs.  While the rest of the village and family warmly welcome Mai and Bá, it's clear the two girls are not liking each other too much.  Mai, who can understand Vietnamese better than she can speak it, finds herself with a translator named Minh, a teenage Vietnamese boy who goes to boarding school in Texas.

It doesn't take long for Mai and Bá to settle in.  Her hope is the Bá will find out what she wants to know and they can get back to Laguna the sooner, the better.  But things don't work out quit like that and as the days go by, Mai settle into a routine as she learns more and more about her Vietnamese roots.  As the pull towards her heritage grows stronger,  she begins to really understand her grandmother's quest for some closure regarding her husband.

And finally, the detective brings news that someone has been found who was with Ông when he was in prison and had left a message for  Bá, a message they must travel to Saigon in order to see.  And little by little, Mai and Út become more tolerant of each other and there is the possibility of a real friendship between them.

At first I wasn't sure I was going to like Listen, Slowly.   Mai struck me as a spoiled, selfish girl who was just interested in herself and her beach life.  She calls her father Dr. Do-Gooder - if it weren't for those kids with cleft palates and burns, he could have take care of Bá and she could have gone to the beach as planned.  Mai is also an overachiever, already throwing SAT possible words into her narration to the point of irritation, so I wasn't sorry when she decided not to do that anymore to pay her mother back for sending her to Vietnam with Bá.

But as the mosquitoes eat her alive, as she suffers a heat rash and a terrible bout of diarrhea, and as this otherwise unknown part of her family embrace her (well, she does have to work a little harder for that to happen with Út), Mai's trip to Vietnam truly becomes a journey of self-discovery for her.  By the end, my whole opinion of Mai changed for the better.

I thought the characters were all believable and I loved cousin Út with her  buzz-cut and frog, as well as love-sick translator Minh.   Mai really turns out to be other than what you think she is.  Thanhha Lai's descriptions of Vietnam all came to life for me - from the crowded hustle and bustle of Saigon to the lush landscape to the quieter village of Mai's relatives, and even the smells of food and other things.

Listen, Slowly is indeed a wonderful story of family, love and belonging and a little bit of comeuppance, too.

This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL