Holiday Break Reading

One of the best parts of the holiday break is the extended time one has for reading. We have more time to dig into that book we know will require our complete attention. We can digest the book a bit more slowly and fully appreciate it. And while we are reading, we can change our minds about what to read because we have choice! We can try out a genre, pick up a book we meant to read along the way but didn't, or reread a classic or favorite. Put simply for me, the joy of winter break reading comes from knowing that you don't have to put the book down!

I already had stacks of books waiting for me, so I knew I would never run out. Prior to the break, I reminded the young readers in my library to make sure and create their own book stacks.

So --  in this post, I wanted to share with you what I have been reading so far. I really didn't have a plan, other than to try to read a book a day  (to participate in Donalyn Miller's #bookaday) and catch up on some 2015 titles before Jan. 1st.

After looking back at this list, I can see that:

I read some books I had put on my to-read shelf a long time ago.
I read a book that won't be published until 2016.
And I noticed that I was also bridging my own book gaps (a phrase I learned from Donalyn Miller referring to books you missed).

I have read exactly what I needed to read.

Here are some of the books I have read so far:

Brooks, Gwendolyn. Bronzeville Boys and Girls. Illus. by Faith Ringgold. New York: Amistad, 2006. Print.

I love poetry, and I learned about this at #ncte15 this November. I enjoyed the illustrations as well as the rhythm of the poems. I also loved reading this one aloud to myself! I've already reread it several times.

Meyer, Marissa. Cinder. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2012. Print. 

This one was definitely a book gap for me. I owned a copy of it, but had never picked it up. This young adult novel was a page-turner, and I am going to do my best to read the entire series before break is over!

Moore, Inga. A House in the Woods. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2011. Print. 

A pleasant and lovely picture book a fellow librarian recommended to me. I'm glad my public library owned a copy of it! 

Sepetys, Ruta. Salt to the Sea. New York: Philomel, 2016. Print. 

This work of historical fiction (young adult) will be released in early February. I couldn't put it down. I'm still thinking about this one. 

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. A Shiloh Christmas. New York: Atheneum, 2015. Print. 

This is the fourth book in the Shiloh series, and it was the perfect book to start with my holiday break. Several viable themes here (family, for one), and the story's Christmas setting plays an important part.

Baptist, Tracey. The Jumbies. New York: Algonquin, 2015. Print. 

This one was one of those 2015 titles I needed to read before Jan. 1st.  Based on Caribbean folklore, the main character bravely fights to save her father and her island home from the "jumbies". This one is also a page-turner! 

Mora, Pat. Tomás and the Library Lady. Illus. by Raul Colón. New York: Knopf, 1997. Print.

I'd read this one years ago, but wanted to reread it. Based on a true story in the life of Tomás Rivera, (the late poet, author and educator), it is a beautiful example of how librarians can help readers on their learning journeys. Also, I love to follow the work of author Pat Mora, founder of Día (Children's Book Day, and the 2016 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Award Lecturer.

Although I did meet my Goodreads Challenge for 2015, I am still reading. And I can't wait to pick up the next book -- although I'm not quite sure what it will be! (That's the beauty of reading during the winter break!) But I also can't wait to hear from the readers in our library and celebrate their winter reading, too!

Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano

With the holiday season comes newly published holiday books. For the past several years, I have purchased a book or two to add to my personal collection, and treasure them so very much. (See my previous posts about Santa Clauses.) They go on display on my coffee table and mantel, and each year, I love pulling them out again. And just like my special holiday ornaments, I get reacquainted with them, remember where I acquired them, and relive what they've meant to me.

Last year I was very excited about The Night Before Christmas (Knopf, 2014). I am still excited about it and consider it a lovely new tradition to reread and "re-enjoy" this book. Roger Duvoisin's illustrative work is of particular interest to me, and his classic style is simply lovely. (Duvoisin won the Caldecott Medal in 1948 for White Snow, Bright Snow (Lothrop, 1947).

And this year, I am enjoying this picture book by Sonia Manzano (yes, Maria from Sesame Street!):

Manzano, Sonia. Miracle on 133rd Street. Illus. by Marjorie Priceman. New York, Atheneum, 2015. Print. 

This very colorful picture book tells the story of José's family during the holiday season.  José's mother is trying to cook a roast, but their oven is too small. His father gets the idea to ask the neighborhood pizzeria owner if they can borrow his oven. On the way down the stairs in the building, they meet up with their neighbors, each lamenting their holiday troubles (rambunctious children keeping mothers busy during holiday break, grandparents sad that their families cannot visit, parents dealing with the high cost of gift-buying, etc.) The roast is finally cooked, and in its pick-up and return, their holiday festivities take shape  -- and also bring joy into their neighbors' Christmas Eve. 

Priceman's illustrations are lively, feathery, and playful: José's family in their cozy apartment, bright patterns on clothing, characters floating in the air as they walk down city streets. Wispy swirls in white and light blue represent pleasant scents and aromas one can almost smell. Emotions are shown with on-the-mark facial expressions consisting of closed eyes, rosy cheeks, or a gaping mouth. The pizzeria owner is clearly joyful as he tosses pizza, and we see that through a declarative smile under a curly mustache. Pets are part of the story (look for them in each scene), whether as terrified cats escaping playful children, or a scared dog hiding under a blanket, reflecting his owner's fear of leaving his apartment at night. Tall, bright city buildings are the backdrop for many of the scenes, but only after the neighbors begin to connect; the world opens up to them as they reach out. And as these city dwellers bond on a cold holiday night, the city becomes more welcoming. And so does the world. 

Manzano's story is uplifting, a light fun trail to follow. But José's family is sharing a message, too --  finding joy through friendships, and immediately making everyone's day better with one kind invitation. The pace is bouncy and moves readers along at a perfect speed: we enjoy the adventure, but the treasure of the story stays with us. Readers will fall into a delightful rhythm as they turn each page. In its entire package, Miracle on 133rd Street becomes a holiday experience that readers can enjoy each year and be inspired by as well. 

Read more about Sonia Manzano's books here. 

Marjorie Priceman won a Caldecott Honor Medal for Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin.

Gingerbread for Liberty by Mara Rockliff

I read Gingerbread for Liberty early in the fall, but I didn't share it with readers until this very week: the week before the holiday break. It turned out to be the perfect time to read it, as fifth graders were studying the American Revolution and had just finished some research into the time period.

The curriculum tie-ins were great, but most of all I was happy to share a narrative nonfiction book, and the story of a lesser-known historical figure. 

Gingerbread for Liberty (HMH Kids, 2015) is the story of Christopher Ludwick, a German baker who helped soldiers during the American Revolution.  Told in a picture book format and colorfully illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch, Ludwick's story is engaging and interesting, and will inspire readers to learn more American history. 

The cover captures the spirit of the book right away: Ludwick is stepping forward with a tray, smiling and himself looking like an iced colorful cookie. The blue/brown color combination work well on the cover art, as well as in the interior of the book. White "icing" trims houses, soldiers, and ships, and makes the entire book "delicious". There are leanings of figures over one another, such as when Washington faces Ludwick in a double page spread and warns of him the dangers he faces. And then there is the part where Washington faces his soldiers as they inform him of trouble in the ranks. 

The composition of the visual elements (faces facing each other, the length of an object across the gutter of the book, and the dominance of the browns and blues) make this book a standout. That some figures are larger than others, while others are much smaller (the Redcoats ships all lined up on a page) give readers more to look at and appreciate -- and still have me thinking. 

Readers connect with Ludwick and his zeal to help fight for the cause of liberty, even if he is no longer in prime condition for battle. Ludwick can bake very well, and this talent is what he brings to General George Washington. But he can also speak German, and this combined with energy, make it possible for Ludwick to indeed assist Washington and his men during the war. The book discusses some of the main conflicts between the two sides, while also celebrating Ludwick. The story itself is a fairly quick read, so there is more than enough time to take in the Author's Note, which offers other interesting details about the baker. 

Indeed, after you read this book, you will want to do two things:

1.) Bake gingerbread

2.) Read more nonfiction picture books. 

To learn more about Mara Rockliff, visit her website here. 

To learn more about Vincent Kirsch, visit his website here. 

"Hour of Code Week" in the Library

Last week, we participated in the "Hour of Code" in our library!

Prior to book checkout and after a few book talks, I talked about coding and how we depend on devices that are programmed with coding.

I introduced the tutorials on the Hour of Code Week website and played the introductory video for the Minecraft version. Our learners loved hearing from one of the developers of Minecraft (Jeb) talk about how he started programming when he was 11 years old. Check out that video here.

In pairs and individually, learners tried out the tutorial with great success. (We used both iPads and desktops to code.) When they faced a challenge or weren't sure about what to do, they talked it out with each other. It was great to watch them collaborate and learn from one another. They persevered and work through each challenge, and I could see the pride on their faces when they reached the next level. I heard "Coding is fun!" several times. (I really like that the tutorials all had a translation feature, too!)

There wasn't enough time to complete the tutorial in the library, but students continued in their  classrooms. Some chose to do it as part of their #GeniusHour projects later in the week. Teachers were just as excited about coding, and I made sure to share more resources with them (apps such as Daisy the Dino and LightBot and my own Coding Symbaloo). Some of our learners had already been using Scratch and Kodable.

The coding will continue in the library -- next week and beyond. I can't wait to participate again next year!

Make sure to check out the #HourofCode hashtag on Twitter to see how others observed this week!

Christmas Poetry -- SANTA CLAUSES: SHORT POEMS FROM THE NORTH POLE

There's something special about holiday books. I can't quite explain it. I think it's the fact that not only are you going to enjoy the holiday, but you will have a great book that goes with it -- illuminating a memory, and creating anticipation for you own celebration. 

And when that book is poetry, that is made even more special. 

So, as the holiday season gets in full swing, I thought I'd share a poetry book I've been rereading recently: 

Raczka, Bob. Santa Clauses: Poems from the North Pole. Illus. by Chuck Groenink: Carolrhoda Books, 2014. Print. 

In this picture book, Santa shares the poetry he has written, inspired by a gift from Mrs. Claus --a book of haiku. Kept as a journal for the month of December, the light, wispy verses give us a glimpse into Santa's busy month. Along the way, he thinks about eggnog, watches Mrs. Claus make a snow angel, helps her untie the Christmas lights, and observes the nature around him. I was struck by the poignancy of the moments caught in each poem, such as on Dec. 19th when Santa takes a moment to enjoy a candy cane -- or when he reads "A Christmas Carol" by the fire to Mrs. Claus. Santa (Raczka) has picked the most simple and perfect of moments to spotlight with text. 

Honestly, Santa won my heart here --by writing crisp, simple, and very authentic verse.

An introduction explains the premise of the book and the haiku form.  The text is appropriately presented as a paper in the typewriter Santa uses to write his poetry. 

Each verse is illustrated by Chuck Groenink, and these pages reveal a quaint and pleasant life: star garland hung over the fireplace, a happy cat sitting by the fire, and an elf checking his cell phone when he's supposed to be asleep. Pages alternate between nighttime and daytime scenes, both outdoors and in Santa's home, and will make readers feel as if they are spending time with Santa -- staying over for the holidays, enjoying his hospitality. Some illustrations are two-page spreads, and some are panels -- framed like windows into Santa's world. Blues are dusk-midnight-glowing-in-the-moonlight-perfect, and the slightest hints of red are warm and classic. Elves are whimsical and lively, and appear as if moving across the page -- and the workshop. 

In these scenes, I noticed Santa's love for books and reading. That won my heart over yet again. 

Excellent mentor texts? Yes -- for anyone wishing to write haiku. For anyone wishing to write about themselves. 

And for anyone who enjoys the spirit of Christmas.

Read more about Bob Raczka's work here. 

Check Chuck Groenink's website here. 

NCTE Moments: Kadir Nelson and BABY BEAR

I remember the first time I saw Kadir Nelson's Baby Bear (Balzer + Bray, 2013).  It was an F&G (fold and gather advance copy) at the Harper Collins booth at a conference in 2013. My friend Susan and I were pouring through the book together, and as we turned the pages and read silently, we gasped. Our breath was literally taken away. It continues to be a shared memory we both recall fondly.

Our place setting and Nelson's latest book If You Plant a Seed  (Balzer + Bray, 2015).  

Fast forward to NCTE 2015. The guest speaker at the Children's Literature Assembly Breakfast was Kadir Nelson himself. To say I was happy about this doesn't begin to describe my joy.

The Children's Literature Assembly celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
I had a great seat for Nelson's presentation. 

Nelson spoke to us about his career as an author and illustrator, and looking back now as I blog here I wish I'd taken better notes so I could recall every word. (I was so engaged in his words that I could only managed to tweet out a few bits here and there.) He shared photos of early drawings he'd done as a child. These were fascinating to me because, of course, I think about our students and the drawings they create at school every day. (I sometimes find these in books in the library, tucked between pages, forgotten bookmarks left behind for others-- and this librarian --  to discover.)

At one point, Nelson brought up libraries (one of my favorite parts of the speech). Specifically, he talked about how his favorite books to check out as a child were the How to Draw books. Nelson used these books to learn techniques, and to practice, and as he showed us a few sketches -- his talents were already clearly evident.  I once again thought of those students who walk through the doors of our library every day and select these books for themselves. They check the book out, then immediately ask for paper to sketch right there in the library (which I happily provide), unable to wait a second more until they go back to their classroom.

As his career began, Nelson worked in the movie industry, his illustrations the basis for some amazing camera shots. I found it fascinating that in this work as well he was developing his craft.

And speaking of craft, this photo of a page from Baby Bear is particularly stunning. I didn't crop it because I wanted to show Nelson's hand on the right - he is pointing to it as he talks about it.

You can see the moon in Baby Bear's eyes, and can sense his determination and hope. He is immersed in the light, and being drawn in. The shading of the fur, the upturn and placement of the nose, and that slight formation of tears at the bottom of each eye all work to give readers a sense Baby Bear's appreciation of this point in his journey. 

As Nelson discussed his books, I made a decision to go back and reread the titles I was familiar with,  and find ones I'd missed somehow. (I will see them all with fresh eyes having heard Nelson speak.) I also decided I would order even more drawing books for our library. In our midst, and walking through our library doors, there are authors and illustrators who seek to improve their skills. As a school librarian, it is a privilege to serve them and support their learning. 

To learn more about Nelson's work, visit his website here. 

Sunday Night Edition: Books By My Side

About this time of year, I am feeling the pressure to finish some books before the Youth Media Awards in January. I am also thinking about the books I will be sharing in the library this week -- and I should tell you that this toppling stack of books consists of titles from 2015 and pre-2015 as well.

So, with that said, I might also add that my book stack combinations are always interesting to me because I think they give the week a certain kind of flavor! I think about them alot, and just might bring them up in conversation. Sometimes they steer me to do some research, or learn more about the illustrator or backstory.

Here are the books I am reading/rereading/sharing this week:

I'm sharing this one in the library along with a lesson on writing citations for books used in research. I have blogged about this one before, and I first learned about it at an NCTE conference a few years ago because it was named an Orbis Pictus Honor Book in 2013. This one is a wonderful example of narrative nonfiction.

This one is a classic published in 1940! I reread it recently because I received a copy of the sequel: More Caps for Sale (HarperChildren's, 2015). It's very lively and filled with patterns and repetition, and there are many possibilities here for storytime fun. 

I will also be sharing Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh (Macmillan, 2015). In particular, I am sharing it to highlight narrative nonfiction with 3rd graders. They've learned about text features, and I can't wait to give them an example of how truly engaging nonfiction can be. This one has photographs in the endpapers, and the illustrations complement the text very well. 

And at this time, I am reading this book:

I thoroughly enjoyed Three Times Lucky and The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing (Books 1 & 2, respectively, in the Mo & Dale series), and it is the right time to read this book.  I should also add that Ghosts of Tupelo Landing is a 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee. Last year, Sheila was kind enough to Skype with one of my 4th grade classes and it was such a wonderful experience for all of us.

What books are by YOUR side this week?

How to Tell a Story Blog Tour

Storytelling is so much a part of reading and enjoying books in the library! I know any time I read a book aloud, inevitably hands go up! Our readers make wonderful connections with other stories and always want to tell their own.

A connection or prompt can help young writers craft their own stories. One open-ended question can lead to a draft. A shared memory can also do wonders. But I also have seen the power of pictures and objects to help tell stories, too.

This week, I am joining Jen at Teach Mentor Texts, Ally at KidLit Frenzy, and Jennifer at Reederama in sharing our experiences with a game set called HOW TO TELL A STORY from Workman's Publishing. The game consists of a guide book and a 20 colorful 6-sided storytelling cubes.

The guide book is written by Daniel Nayeri, and illustrated by Brian Won. In the book, Nayeri writes about the process of storytelling. Reading through the introduction of the book, I felt as if I were listening to Nayeri speak on a panel or at an author visit! Very early in the book, Nayeri explains the way the cubes work, and that the colors each relate to a different part of speech: red: People and animals; blue: things; yellow: descriptions and emotions, and so on. Each cube has a wonderfully illustrated picture (inside the back and front covers readers will find all of the cube sides identified). I tried to familiarize myself with the cubes before trying them myself.

Watch the video here:


In "playing" with the cubes by myself first, I found it helpful to break it up in pages and try one activity at a time. I then got so caught up in the story beginning I had created that I stopped in the middle of the book. I had to remind myself it was a guide and a resource when using the cubes. I gave myself permission to use the book as needed.

I pulled cubes by myself first, and created a good story starter with a red, yellow, and orange following the prompt on page 20:

Once upon a time there was a (yellow) (red) who dreamed of visiting a faraway (orange).

Red: A wild boy= People and places
Yellow: Scared/fearful = Emotion
Orange: Magical Forest = Place

My story is now this: Once upon a time there was a scared wildboy who dreamed of visiting a faraway magical forest. Now, that is a great story starter!

I tried out a few more of the activities myself, then during a quiet moment in the library on a Friday afternoon, I had three students try out a few prompts. (They first wanted to look at all the cubes, so I happily had them do that!)

On page 32, I found this prompt: Pick a (yellow) and imagine the backstory of (red) feeling (yellow)

The first student picked a (yellow) that  was: heartbroken/sad, and their (red) was a mummy.
The student then had his prompt: Imagine the backstory of a mummy that is heartbroken. 

That is an amazing prompt! I had him write this in his journal for a future story. 

With another student, I followed a prompt on page 46: A (red) wanted nothing more in this world than a (blue).

The student chose a cat  for (red) and a throne for (blue).

A cat wanted nothing more in this world than a throne. 

That was another awesome prompt!

After trying out these cubes and the book in my own way (with a small group and as part of a sort of mini-writing workshop during this Friday time) I think I would love to try out more of the game set in this way. I can see myself coming into the classroom to do this OR creating a mini-writing station in the library. I am excited to continue to try them out!

If you would like to win a set, enter the RaffleCopter below! You will need a U.S. mailing address.

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Lost.Found Blog Tour: Interview with Matthew Cordell

While I was at the ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco this summer, I received an advanced copy of the book Lost. Found (Macmillan, 2015) at a Macmillan event.  I listened to editor Neal Porter talk about the book there, and loved the cover. I had a good feeling about it. 

I read the book at home, and reread it a few more times, thinking about the story, and how different it was-- Imagine telling a story using only two words! 

In the book, a bear loses his red scarf in a snowy forest. Several other animals each find the scarf, and use it for different purposes. Each of them in turn also loses the scarf. When the scarf is lost once more,  the animals (who are together at this point) all come across the scarf at the same time. They immediately start to tussle for it. The bear happens upon them, discovering that his scarf has been completely unraveled. How does the story end? Get a copy of the book to find out! 

Lost. Found was published this week, and today, I am hosting Matthew Cordell, the illustrator of this book, on my blog! You can imagine how happy this makes me! (Very!) 

My interview questions are in red, and Mr. Cordell's answers are in black. 

Matthew Cordell: Image courtesy of MacKids Books

Matthew, you have illustrated so many books! (Find a link to his website below.) Tell us about what you hope to do as an illustrator with each book.

I’ve definitely been incredibly fortunate over the years, with all these opportunities to work on a so many incredible manuscripts. And also given the opportunity to write and illustrate my own picture book passion projects. And in all that time, I feel like I’ve slowly figured out my place in all of this. I’ve grown—little by little—more comfortable with opening up and showing a lot more of myself in my work (the good and the bad). I’ve evolved and, I hope, become more accepting of taking risks. But there are two things that have been constant markers in my work in books from day one. Selfishly, I want to satisfy myself. (And believe me, it ain’t easy.) I’m always trying to push myself in the ways I know how—in my artistic media, a very loose and free pen and ink line with very loose and free watercolor brushwork. Secondly, (not necessarily second in importance, of course) I hope to satisfy the children who will be looking at and reading my books. I’ve always got those little eyes, hearts, and minds in mind from start to finish. How will kids respond to this character? These expressions? This scenery? These colors? Quite often now I read many of the books I’ve written and illustrated to kids at schools all over. I know I’ve got to get this just right. I owe it to them. I owe it to myself. Otherwise I’m totally bombing in front of those kid crowds. And nobody wants that.

I remember reading hello! hello! (Disney-Hyperion, 2012) for the first time and thinking about it long after I read it. What have you heard from readers about the story/message in this book? How did you come about writing it?

I love to hear that it had that affect on you. This book holds a very special place in my heart. It was the first book I wrote that was entirely inspired by one of my own children (our first born). More specifically, I suppose, it was inspired by my shortcomings of being a dad! At least in this one particular moment. I was playing with my daughter, who was about 2 years old at the time, when I felt the lure of a nearby laptop. The ever-addictive Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. I thought if I snuck over to this computer and did my thing, surely my daughter wouldn’t even notice I was gone. I was wrong. It only took a few minutes and from across the room I heard her little voice squeak out, “Dada, stop checking email and play.” It was quite an awakening. I felt: 1) shocked that my 2-year-old new the word “email” and 2) horribly guilty that I was on the computer doing something selfish and lame instead of being present for her. Afterwards, I kept thinking about what had happened and it occurred to me that this must be playing out with families all over, all the time. And I knew that a picture book (a book that is read by both child and adult) was the perfect format to bring up this sort of commentary. Never at any time in making this book did I mean for it to be some sort of finger-wagging session. I really just wanted it to be observational. Like I said, I fully own up to letting technology time-to-time wedge it’s way into my parent-child relationships. Working from home especially, it’s a very real situation in my life. And continues to be. I don’t like that it is, and when I realize I’m doing that I stop. With hello! hello!, I never wanted to preach. I merely wanted to suggest… observe, accept, understand, and evolve. I mean this DOES happen. Most people, I think, appreciate it and can enjoy what I did, how I rendered it, on that level. But I think there’s others who—for whatever reason—will just be annoyed by any book that they think is trying to, I guess, scold them. And those people aren’t really into hello! hello!. Such is life…

Matthew, can I tell you how much I adored Special Delivery? There is so much color and detail within the pages of this book! And thank you for the gift under the dust jacket! Can you tell us about your work on this book? What was the partnership like between you and Philip Stead?

Wow, thanks so much! Special Delivery was an absolute treat to work on from beginning to end. It was a whole lot like three friends and kindred spirits just… messing around. I mean, really having fun. (Those three being Phil, me, and our editor Neal Porter.) And in the process we were making pictures, story… music. I think at some point I likened it to free jazz. The story and art are so very topsy-turvy, yet painstakingly put together like that.

Phil and I had known each other for a while, having met and hung out at various ALA and other conferences over the years. And Neal too. We all got along so well (similar tastes in books, life, and laughs) that at some point it was suggested (probably by me) that we should really do a book together. Sometime later, Phil mailed me the manuscript for Special Delivery. (Snail mail, not email. Natch!) I knew as soon as I saw Phil’s manuscript that I NEEDED to do it.

As I read it the first time, images were already materializing in my brain, and I simply had to get that stuff out! And I couldn’t wait. It’s not everyday that one gets the opportunity to illustrate a picture book that includes an attempt at mailing an elephant, a plane crash, a train robbery, a ride in an ice cream truck… and more! And I’m so pleased to say that the wildly unspooling thread of Special Delivery will continue to… unspool. I’m currently working on sketches for Phil’s next chapter of Sadie’s story, titled The Only Fish In the Sea.

Matthew, this book news you've given us here is so wonderful to hear! So glad we will be hearing more from Sadie, and thankful that you and Philip Stead will give us another book! 

(Back to our interview:)

Your most recent work and the focus of this post is Lost.Found. I first saw this book at ALA Annual this past summer, and it is such fun to able to blog it about here!!

The book contains only two words: lost and found, and Marsha Arnold truly uses these words brilliantly to tell an eventful story.  When the single word “lost” is paired with your illustrations, the end result is so powerful! Several spreads in Lost. Found. show this. What was it like to illustrate this book?

Your illustrations show every movement and emotion of each animal who comes across the scarf. 

I had such a great time with Marsha’s wonderfully inventive and creative text. Which might sound odd, since there are only two words in this book. But for me, the experience of creating the spaces in between those words and even how I first read the manuscript… these things will always shape my understanding of how I have read and will read this book then and now and forever. I barely notice that there are only two words!

When I first read Marsha’s manuscript, there was a little bit of “stage direction” so to speak. It wasn’t the kind that steps on top of the pictures-to-be, not at all. Not very particular or detailed. It was simple description of what animal (bear, raccoon, beaver, etc.) has the scarf what it or they do with it and how it’s ultimately lost. And repeat. There was just enough description to outline the thread of the thing. Once I really got into the sketches, there were one or two sequences that had to be tweaked to make better sense in one way or another. But otherwise it stayed true to Marsha’s vision of how this book plays out. I love how it can be, at times, campy and fun, and other times quiet and warm and sincere. It’s a lovely blend. A blend I often like to achieve in many of my books, in fact.

And thank you for your note about the nuances of animal expressions! When one works with an economy of line (as it has been done here) the slightest curl or wrong turn of a line—a misshapen circle or line around an eye for instance—it can throw an entire drawing off. Simple line work is only deceptively simple. In the making of a book, I will throw many a drawing in the trash. Not only because maybe my wrist snapped too quickly and the pen went the wrong way. But sometimes a line is TOO clean and uniform. Or is TOO illegible and messy. No one would ever now, right? My strife!

The readers in my library always want to know what inspires authors and illustrators. How do you get your ideas for your illustrations?

When it comes to my art and images, I think a great deal of it is a cobbling together of bits and pieces of me and my life experiences. The things I find funny or not funny, animals I think are distinct and characteristic in one way or another, etc. In terms of inspiration, it can’t be any secret that I’m over-the-moon inspired by the many loosey-goosey pen and ink greats who’ve come before me. Namely William Steig, Jules Feiffer, Quentin Blake. I love their lines so much. So free and fearless, all of them. When it comes to story, I used to try and lean on experiences from my own childhood to conjure up book ideas. (With a hazy memory of it all, this yielded wildly mixed results.) I’m sure my kid life is still a little in there when I’m working on writing my own books. But now that I’m a dad, I get SO many ideas from my kids. I often say—as an author and illustrator of picture books—that my kids are my best investments. Truth be told, I actually get a little nervous when I think about them getting older! (I mean, for more reasons than just this one.)

Before we end this interview, please tell us about your work with Julie Sternberg on illustrating the Eleanor books! These are such a favorite in my library!

So nice to hear that! Those books have been a real joy to work on. It’s another great example of being able to ride the line between silly and sincere. Julie is terrific at bringing out the right amount of humor in a moment but not send it right over the top. And like I said, beyond that, there are so many poignant moments in Eleanor’s books that were so great to finesse and get just right a picture to go along with. In the beginning, it wasn’t always easy to find that balance, but once I tuned into it, it was smooth sailing. I loved collaborating on those with both Julie and our lovely Abrams editor, Tamar Brazis. Such fond memories!

What else would you like to tell readers about Lost. Found. and your work?

Lost. Found. is a book about a group of individuals that find friendship and community. Albeit after a long day of being wildly self-interested. 

Having said that, it’s been a lot of fun spending some time with you, Cynthia, after having been connected via social media for a while now. Thank you for taking the time to connect further and for having such thoughtful things to say and questions to ask!

And I love to expand community and friendships online with others too. Folks can find me on Twitter: @cordellmatthew and Facebook: facebook.com/cordellmatthew (but no other social media… My poor lil’ brain can only handle so much!)

I am so grateful to Matthew for appearing on my blog today and answering my questions! Learn more about Matthew Cordell's work by visiting his website here. 

To read more about Lost. Found, check out the other stops on the blog tour below: 

Blog Tour Schedule

November 3: SharpRead and Nerdy Book Club

November 4: KidLitFrenzy

November 5: Read. Write. Reflect. 

November 6: Librarian in Cute Shoes

November 7: Watch. Connect. Read

Picture Book Month Begins

November is Picture Book Month! Before I became a librarian, I celebrated this month by reading many -- and I do mean many -- picture books with my class. I remember fondly that my students would count how many they'd read and post a chart on butcher paper to keep track! Now as a librarian, I share them daily with everyone! All the time!

To find out more about #picturebookmonth, click here. 

I love reading picture books, and I especially love to buy them (and give them as gifts, too). I've written here before that they are like puzzles to me: readers can look at the text, then the illustrations, then how the two work together. There is so much to appreciate and understand about them! Within the page of a picture book, a reader can find not only a story, but also an experience! Of course, they can also be good examples of writing and help readers develop their thinking skills.

 

If you love picture books and need more titles, make sure you check out the hashtag #picturebookmonth on Twitter. I will be sharing picture books here and will do my best to post a book a day!

Here is a picture book I've been rereading recently: 

Zagarenski, Pamela. The Whisper. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2015. Print. 

 

I'm writing a blog post about this one. When I recommended the book to a colleague, I told them this: "If you love reading, you need to read this book."

 

Read more about this book here.

 

Happy November, and Happy Picture Book Month!

 

 

 

 

The Boy Who Knew Everything by Victoria Forester

When I read a really engaging book, and I find out it has a sequel, I usually try to read it. Do you? As a reader, I am curious about how the story will continue, and what new adventures await our main character.

This summer I read The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester (Feiwel & Friends, 2008), a middle grade novel about a very interesting character with a very special gift. Piper McCloud can fly, and this doesn't sit well with her parents, traditional farmers living a very traditional life. When she is sent to a boarding school to help her deal with the challenges brought about by her gift, she meets another interesting character -- a boy genius named Conrad. (He has his own interesting past.) As students at the school, they are surrounded by others with their own special gifts, and everything seems perfect --  until they start to see that it's all wrong!


This one was a page-turner -- filled with plot twists and exciting events -- a book that will hook anyone who loves a lot of science with their adventure. 

I finished the book, feeling like I had really been entertained with a smart story. 

Then recently, book 2 was published:

The Boy Who Knew Everything (that boy is Conrad) takes the story much further (it is longer and more complex), and readers get answers to some of the questions from Book 1. We see Piper's friends and Conrad work together as a team, and each plot twist leads to another storyline. Although the story is exciting and filled with scary moments, I also found some parts of it strangely comforting -- the way the characters help each other and find acceptance within the group. Betty and Joe McCloud  (Piper's parents) were also fascinating to me. They both become surrogate parents to Conrad and Piper's other friends, and supportive in all they endeavor to do -- even if it means major disruption to their lives.

Overall, the book is very smartly written, and will appeal to readers who love science fiction (middle school and older). It reminded me a bit of Patrick Carman's Atherton series with a futuristic feel -- yet also brought to mind Kelly Barnhill's The Witch's Boy. It has intrigue, detailed descriptions, and events you don't see coming.  Readers will come to see Conrad in a new light, and his character was the most thought-provoking for me. He yearns for acceptance and faces his own challenges -- and readers will devour the book to see how he handles them. 

This sequel goes farther and introduces characters we never could have imagined. We meet Conrad's grandmother, and a new character named Max. (I won't tell you if he's an enemy or a friend!)

To read more about the books click here. 

I will continue to read sequels! And wait expectantly for them! 

Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller

Miller, Pat Zietlow. Sophie's Squash. Illus. by Anne Wilsdorf. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2013. Print.

In October, I display all of the pumpkin, apple, and fall books we have in our library. (I am grateful to have a wonderful volunteer who helps me do that!) The colors have a way of bringing in new life and a sense of expectancy. We know that change is in the air, and that there may be some turkey and pumpkin pie in our future!

But one book I kept and pulled aside for storytime was Sophie's Squash (Schwartz & Wade, 2013).

When I decided to read it this year, I knew a prop would be necessary. In the story, a young girl named Sophie buys a squash on a trip to the farmers' market with her parents. When she brings it home, she paints a face on it and wraps it in a blanket, becoming very attached to it and even naming it Bernice. She takes it to story time, plays with it in the garden, and rocks it to sleep. (Her parents' reactions to this in the story are lovely!)

But as time passes, Bernice eventually begins to rot and wear, and despite her dad's attempts to divert her attentions to a toy or a pet fish, Sophie is loyal to her squash! When she asks a farmer for advice on keeping Bernice in good shape, she follows it! The story has a pleasant end, and no matter how many times I read it, I still enjoyed it!

As I read the story, I emphasized words like "supper" or any other repetitive phrases. I had Bernice sitting right by me, and I even bounced her on my knee like Sophie did.

In the story, Bernice did a few somersaults in the garden. And while I read the story, our own Bernice did a couple of tumbles, too! Albeit unplanned! But perfectly timed!

When I finished the story in one class, I was surprised to see students spontaneously line up to rock Bernice and hug it. I had not given them any directions to do so! They responded to the story in such a heartfelt way!

The book and Bernice 

Although I had planned to eventually cook the spaghetti squash for dinner, I quickly realized I couldn't go through with that. (I ended up buying another spaghetti squash!)

Once Bernice is ready, I will take her out to our own school gardens! 

Sophie's Squash is a delightful story of friendship, and a must-have for a library's fall seasonal collection.