Rest in peace, Harper Lee

"An' they chased him 'n' never could catch him 'cause they

didn't know what he looked like, an' Atticus, when they finally saw him,

why he hadn't done any of those things... Atticus, he was real nice..."

His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me.

"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them."

~from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

We learned this week that Harper Lee -- author of the beloved To Kill a Mockingbird -- passed away. Her one and only published novel has held significant meaning for generations of readers. For me, the soothing descriptions of the streets of Maycomb, the hilarious exploits of Scout, Jem, and Dill, and the gentle, assured presence of Atticus -- at home and in defending Tom Robinson -- made a book worthy of rereading and emulating and appreciating with fresh eyes each time.

When my husband and I had been married six months, we got our first pet -- a reclusive, mysterious cat -- and named him Boo Radley. Boo is aging, but still as ornery as ever, and he continues to remind us of a favorite literary character. It's probably time I read this wonderful book again -- it's the best.

Happy Sunday...

~Jen

5 New Picture Books to Honor Black History Month

With February being Black History Month, I wanted to check out some of the newer picture books (all released in 2015) that feature diverse characters and life circumstances. Today's selections aren't historical stories, but stories set in our modern age. They are all wonderfully engaging, well-designed, and highly acclaimed.

1. Last Stop on Market Street

I was so excited to finally get my hands on this book. The buzz surrounding it has been incredible, so to finally bring it home was such a thrill. Winner of the Newbery Medal, a Caldecott Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, Last Stop on Market Street tells the story of CJ and his grandma on a weekly routine after church. They ride the bus to serve at a soup kitchen, and CJ wonders why they have to wait in the rain, why they don't have a car, and why they always have to go to the soup kitchen. Grandma answers each question reassuringly (you will LOVE Nana!), and she teaches CJ what an honor it is to mix with the people that they do. Matt de la Pena's text is rich and moving ("The outside air smelled like freedom, but it also smelled like rain, which freckled CJ's shirt and dripped down his nose.") And Christian Robinson's illustrations show an urban landscape that is vibrant, varied, and beautiful. This book is truly a gem!

2. Lizard from the Park

Leonard decides to cut through the park on his way home from school one day, and he discovers a very unusual egg. He takes it home, and the next day a baby lizard pokes through. In time, as the lizard grows and grows, Leonard cannot make enough room for him, and the lizard seems sad. So Leonard devises a plan to return the lizard to its real home...and the reader is left wondering what exactly was real. Mark Pett's text is simple but engaging, and combined with his sweet and silly illustrations, make a book a young child will smile about.

3. Monster Trouble

This delightful story, written in verse, tells of Winifred Schnitzel and her trouble with monsters. She's not afraid of them -- quite the opposite: she finds them amusing! -- but they are really interrupting her sleep. She's rendered too tired for math, ballet....so she studies up on how to make monsters go away. She sets traps....and nothing works. Until, quite by accident, she discovers what it is monsters hate most of all!

This is another great story with a strong, smart, female lead. I could see Winifred being made into a TV show. :)

4. One Word From Sophia

Oh I adore this book! I read this book before I read it to my kids, and I wondered if the language would be too "over their heads." But...it wasn't! They loved it, too.

Sophia has one true desire: a pet giraffe. As her birthday approaches, she argues her case with each member of her family: her mother, a judge; her father, a businessman; her uncle, a politician; and her grandma, who was very strict. :) Each argument is very wordy and well-thought-out, with support for her cause. But each person tells her to be less wordy, until she is left with the most moving argument of all.

Yasmeen Ismail's illustrations in this book are soft and playful, and they depict a family of mixed races. Author Jim Averbeck said, "I was surprised by the multi-racial cast, because it wasn’t evident in the line sketches. But I was also completely delighted, since I actually believe that #WeNeedDiverseBooks. Plus, the multi-racial family in the book reflects my own family, to whom I’ve dedicated One Word from Sophia. I wondered how Yasmeen knew that." (Full interview here.)

 

Sophia is one smart little girl.

5. The Red Bicycle

The final book on today's list tells "the extraordinary story of one ordinary bicycle." Leo has saved and saved to buy a bicycle, and he names his bike Big Red. He rides it everywhere, until he outgrows it. He wants someone who will love his bike as much as he does to have it, and learns about an organization that sends used bikes to a faraway country to those who need transportation. Big Red lands in Africa, where it serves Alisetta and her family, and then serves as a bicycle ambulance. The final pages of the book outline "what you can do to help" and contain ideas for parents and teachers. This is a meaty book with a lot of heart that will hopefully inspire acts of service in those who read it. 

Have any of these books been meaningful to you? I'd love to hear about it!

Henry's Freedom Box

In 2007, Scholastic published Henry's Freedom Box: a True Story from the Underground Railroad by author/illustrator team Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson. To sum up this book in one word, I would say:

Wow

Levine tells the incredibly moving true story of Henry "Box" Brown, who was born a slave and was torn from his family as "leaves are torn from the trees." When he marries and has children of his own, he one day witnesses them being carted away, sold at auction, and never to be seen again. He devises a dangerous and costly plan to mail himself in a shipping box to freedom in the North, and he succeeds.

This book is sharply different from some of the more light-hearted and whimsical stories we've discussed. It is a beautiful narrative of strength and hope, but also a heavy and heart-breaking story of a painful history. Levine's words are gentle but honest; you want the book to have a happy Hollywood ending, but she stays true to Brown's journey.

In tandem with Levine's text are Nelson's beautiful illustrations.

Nelson's full-page watercolor spreads capture the emotion that Brown and his loved ones were feeling, set against beautiful and colorful backdrops containing themes in the book. You can see in their eyes the sadness, grace, and determination in which they confronted their situation.

Together, Levine and Nelson created a powerful and important work of history and art. As a mother, it is not easy to read this book...to imagine what Brown and his mother were feeling in the picture above when they learned he would be sold...to imagine the pain he later felt when his own children were taken from him. It is worth reading over and over and having a conversation with our kids.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this book...

~Jen

Taft in the Bath

Perhaps you've heard the story of our 27th president, William Howard Taft, and how he once got himself stuck in a bathtub. No one is quite certain that this story is true (though there are published news stories of Taft once overflowing a bathtub in a hotel, wherein the water then trickled down onto the diners in the dining hall). Well, true or not, consider adding President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath to your list of Presidents' Day picture books. :)

Published in 2014 (Candlewick) and written by Mac Barnett (highly talented author of Extra Yarn, Leo: a Ghost Story, The Terrible Two series, and more), President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath imagines what might have transpired the day that the Chief Executive found himself unable to get out of his bath. Taft calls in members of his cabinet to help find a solution: the vice president is ready to be sworn in as president, the secretary of agriculture suggests an enormous vat of butter to grease him out, and the secretary of war suggests dynamite. Ultimately, it is the First Lady who comes up with a solution.

This book is filled with humor, old-timey colloquialisms, and history. And beyond being simply a fun and playful tale, kids will also learn about the various members of the president's cabinet and what they do. Win-win.

I especially like the author's note at the end that details "Some Facts Pertaining to President Taft and Bathtubs." Apparently he really liked a good soak.

Enjoy!