Sharing Stella's Starliner

Wells, Rosemary. Stella's Starliner. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2014. Print.

When I first came across this book at my local public library, the silver starliner caught my eye. It is silvery enough to make you pick it up, so shiny and pretty.

I picked it up not knowing at all what to expect, never having heard of it before. I was rewarded with the art and the story, both of which are memorable.

First, about the story:
Stella is a sweet, sweet little fox. She lives with her mother and father in a Starliner in the woods. Her father works during the week, then comes home to the little trailer and his adorable family on Saturday, where he brings home "all the money in his pocket", fishes with little Stella, eats pancakes, then heads back to work down the road.

Stella and her mom live a peaceful life during the week and their little starliner has all the comforts! As the author writes, "Stella had everything she needed in her silver home." Their lives are made more perfect when a little bookmobile drops by! You see, Stella and her mom are readers! (That's my favorite part.)

But then -- and I didn't see this coming -- a "band of weasels" comes by, and they turn out to be very mean weasels.  They do a very mean thing: they make fun of Stella for living in the Starliner.  This part broke my teacher librarian heart. And it will probably break yours, too.

Stella keeps this to herself, until she finally tells her mother, who, in a comforting way, helps Stella cope with the cruelty and brings her out into joy again. As Moms and Dads do!

Soon they travel on, and find another place to live, where Stella finds a cute group of bunnies who adore her little Starliner. Those bunnies are adorable, too!

There is so much to that story, isn't there?

Now, about the art:

After the cover, you will notice the end papers. Dotted stars swirl on silver paper. It reminded me of constellations you look for in the sky. Everything has a silver sheen to it, and that is a good thing. Done in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil on sand paper, the illustrations will literally dazzle you -- but not overwhelm. Even though everything is shiny, it isn't over the top. Frames on silver backgrounds contain homey scenes with Stella and her mama. Trees stand elegantly in lavender, and leaves swirl in  swishes of white and green. The other foxes in the little town Stella lives in are happy and you know this by their bright eyes. Stella's contentment is evident on her face when she looks up at her daddy at the table as he eats his pancakes. Happily.

And the pages where Stella is dealing with her troubles are surrounded by tracings of those menacing weasels. They are on her mind. These illustrations support and add to the story in every way. And also give us so much to enjoy and savor.

Another wonderful part is the round window in the Starliner. Notice the window throughout the book. Mama and Stella look outside at the end and see a stunning night sky.

My favorite art is a double page spread where the trailer is traveling in the air!

You really just need to get a copy of this book to fully appreciate what I am describing.

Rosemary Wells, thank you for this picture book and all its shiny silvery magic. But thank you most for little Stella -- a little fox who reminds us all about the happiness of home and the importance of  being kind with our words.

Visit Rosemary Wells at her website if you haven't already.

I Waited for The Midnight Library

Kohara, Kazuno. The Midnight Library. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2014. Print.

While attending ALA Midwinter last year, I came across a poster in the exhibit hall. The title and colors caught my eye.  

I walked up to the publishing staff at the booth and asked about the book featured on the poster. (I picked up one of the free posters available and hung it in the library when I returned home. Every day in my library, I walked past the poster and remembered how much I wanted this book). I wondered if they had a galley I could take a look at, but was told there wasn't one available. That didn't stop me from wanting to know more about the book and keeping it on my TBR list (the one I memorize).

I marked down the release date in my phone calendar, but didn't get it until a week after it was released. Late for me! There are always so many books I want to buy. Always. 

So--  when I finally had The Midnight Library in my hands, it was very much a treat. 

I immediately noticed that the book is square-shaped and medium-sized. Not tiny at all. Little ones can hug it tight, and hold on to it well! 

Next, I took a long look at the cover. I think the colors struck me first: gold framed in blue and black, and a tiny bit of white. In trying to think about the artist's choice of colors, I thought that perhaps Kazuno Kohara was using the yellow to convey star light, and the blue/black combo to represent dusk. (If you look at the sky at that time, that's what it looks like.) Also, if you look at the letter i in the title, you'll notice that each of them is dotted with a star! 

I opened the book to closely look at the front endpapers. There's blue and black, and the owl helpers are waiting inside the dark library, probably prior to opening. When you take a look at the back endpapers, you'll see the owls there, too. But this time the lanterns are lit up. Little fun details! 

Now, after leafing throughout the rest of the book to think more about the color, I noticed that the librarian and all of the animals in the book are always in gold, while the books and almost every other object is in blue. 

There is also lots of movement on the pages. This is what a real library is like! There is always something happening in a library! Kohara echoes the movement and the variety in a library by using double page spreads, panels, and centered illustrations. We can see patrons entering the library, using adjacent stairs, or happily entering through the front doors as they chat with friends. 

Also, patrons in this library are little animals! How cute is that? Very cute!! The "little librarian" is a little girl, and she's the only human in the entire book. These animals read and they read just about anywhere: on the floor, or under the trees. (Yes, there are trees in this library.) 

I also loved that the "little librarian" has little owl helpers.  The owls are perfect for this nighttime library as they are, of course, nocturnal! 

This "little librarian" also works really hard! She is always shelving, helping patrons, welcoming them, handing out library cards, and even manning a storytelling corner. At the end, she even solves a bit of a crisis! Librarians are very good at that! 

 After waiting over six months for this title, I have found a new favorite in this sweet book. 

So, if you are a librarian, you will love The Midnight Library. And if you love libraries, you will also love this book. 

I can't wait to share it with readers in the fall! 

I

Schneider Family Book Award Blog Tour & Giveaway

Today,  I am happy to participate in a blog tour with friend Alyson Beecher (@alybee930 on Twitter). Alyson is the chair of the committee for the Schneider Family Book Award given by the American Library Association each year. Actually, the year 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the award, and we are celebrating this occasion with Alyson this week. At the end of this post, you will find a list of participating blogs.  Make sure you drop by and read about the different books that have won this prestigious award.

To give you some background, you must first know that the award is given annually to "an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences". The book may be either a work of fiction or nonfiction. For more information about this award, please visit the webpage at Schneider Family Book Award. The award winner is announced at ALA's Midwinter conference each year, and it is always exciting to be present to hear which book has won! 

Because I also have been thinking a lot lately about the need for diverse books, I decided to share the following title which happens to be one of my all-time favorites:

Ryan, Pam Muñoz. Becoming Naomi León. New York: Scholastic, 2004. Print. ISBN 0439269695. 

I recently reread Becoming Naomi León (the 2005 Schneider Award Winner) and loved it even more the second time. I saw this book with different eyes (experience and the passing of time make a difference), and parts  of it literally took my breath away. Books do have that effect on me. Does this happen to you?

About this book:
Naomi León Outlaw and her brother Owen first came to live with their great grandmother in Lemon Tree, California when he was a year old and Naomi was four. Their mother dropped them off at Gram's doorstep when she could no longer care for them and decided she needed to find her own life. (Owen faces physical challenges and even after several surgeries, must visit the doctor regularly.) At the start of this book, they live safely with Gram in her Airstream trailer (Baby Beluga) and neighbors Fabiola and Bernardo are close friends. 

Naomi is a bright fifth grader who loves to make lists, and she has a talent for carving figures out of soap. The kids at school make fun of her name, so she takes refuge in the school library where she eats lunch every day. Her librarian, Mr. Marble, is one of my most favorite librarian book characters ever, and Naomi describes him as the "absolute best person at Buena Vista Elementary" (Ryan, 2005, p. 8). This was one of the nice little details I picked up on my second reading.

One day their mother returns, and readers get the sense that their mother has ulterior motives. She shows up with her new boyfriend Clive and lavishes Naomi with gifts but ignores Owen, a smart 2nd grader who always thinks positively. Without giving away any of the story, the rest of the book involves a custody battle, and a search for Naomi's father in Mexico. 

This is a story with so many rich parts. Naomi is an endearing protagonist WE give our hearts to, and in Gram, Fabiola, and sweet Owen, Ryan gives US characters we won't forget. With the trip to Oaxaca and its famous radish festival, Ryan gives readers cultural insight and a better understanding of Naomi's heritage. 

Both a coming-of-age novel and the story of one family's difficult journey, this book will definitely tug readers' hearts.  Ryan's writing style will draw readers in from the very beginning. The characterization will evoke sympathy for Naomi & Owen and all who have cared for them, and the opposite for Skylar, Naomi's mother.  

I appreciated the Spanish language integrated in the book, and the paperback edition has excellent back matter, including an interview with the author, segments on soap carving and Oaxaca's radish festival, and a note about collective nouns (the chapter titles). 

One last reflection: 

How I would have loved to have read this book as a 5th grader! It would have meant so much to me! I am grateful that books like this exist in the world. I extend heartfelt thanks to Pam Muñoz Ryan for this work. 

Besides winning the Schneider Family Book Award, Becoming Naomi León was also named an ALA Children's Notable Book and was the winner of the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award (among others). It also received starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. 

To read more about Pam Muñoz Ryan, visit her website by clicking here. 

Blog Tour Participants and Dates: 
July 6, 2014 Nerdy Book Club July 6, 2014 Kid Lit Frenzy July 7, 2014 Nonfiction Detectives July 9, 2014 There is a Book For That July 11, 2014 Kahtie Comments July 14, 2014 Librarian in Cute Shoes July 15, 2014 The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog July 16, 2014 Read, Write, and Reflect July 17, 2014 Read Now Sleep Later July 18, 2014 Unleasing Readers July 20, 2014 Maria’s Mélange

In continuation of the 10th anniversary celebration, you can enter a Schneider Book Award giveaway here: 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have You Read THE TROUBLEMAKER Yet?

Castillo, Lauren. The Troublemaker. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. ISBN 054772991X.

One of the very best parts of summer for me is extended time for reading. Of course my reading turns into fun research for books I want to purchase for the library. So it's work/fun but really just fun.

One book I finally picked up was The Troublemaker by Lauren Castillo. I know I'm really late to this party, but I finally arrived! I think it's impossible to read everything, but I always want to try! Do you every feel badly for not being able to read everything? I do!

First, the story is a playful one. A little boy is bored, and his family members are all otherwise occupied. So he plays with his stuffed animal and causes a bit of mischief with his sister's toy. Mom and sister are not happy about this. Then it's the boy's turn to be the object of mischief, and there we have our story. I won't give away any more of the plot because there is a little surprise in the book. I really love when a book makes me think or turn back pages to figure things out.

The art is also worth MANY looks. The reds and greens draw you in and invite you into a world that's fun to visit. The family's home is in the woods, and it makes you think of a great summer by the lake. Soil and water are drawn/painted texturally and perfectly. There is a tomato plant that's part of the story, and tomatoes are the objects of the endpapers. I love endpapers! There are rosy cheeks, long shadows, forest greens, lovely stripes, wispy moons, and playful eyes. There are pages in black and white making you think, trees framing pages, and a two-page spread of nightfall. So much to dig into here!

I can see me using this in the library with stuffed animals as props. And there will be lots of drawing, too.

I'm so glad to have this one in my collection, and I can't wait to share it with readers in the fall. Also,  be sure to look out for Lauren Castillo's next book Nana in the City (release date Sept. 2, 2014). Check out her website here.

By the way,  I hope you can join the Sharp-Schu Book Club  on Twitter July 23rd. The Troublemaker is one of the books up for discussion that night!

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus - A Review

Bryant, Jen. 2014. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus. Ill. by Melissa Sweet. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 0802853854

Both informative biography and work of art, The Right Word tells the story of Peter Roget and how his need to make order of the world resulted in the creation of the famous thesaurus. Readers see Roget in various stages of his life, beginning with the early and impactful loss of his father. Bryant's expertly crafted text highlights Roget's love of language and his passion for learning, while also telling a satisfying story. Word lists and synonyms are expertly placed throughout the book, framing the text artfully. 

A timeline, bibliography, and author/illustrator notes add a delicious layer of richness to the book. Sweet offers stunning front and back endpapers, along with delicately sketched lettering, creative backgrounds, and vivid illustrations that are best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.  Advice for readers: catch everything and miss nothing.

The Right Word is the right book for any nonfiction picture book collection. 

Bryant and Sweet have created yet another masterful work, having previously collaborated on A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin (Knopf, 2013), a Sibert Honor Book and winner of both the Orbis Pictus Award and Schneider Family Book Award in 2014.