THE NUTCRACKER COMES TO AMERICA by Chris Barton

The Nutcracker Comes to America. By Chris Barton. Illus. by Cathy Gendron. Millbrook Press, 2015. 36 pages. $19.99. 

It will be September 1st when this post goes up. I consider summer a memory (although the heat here in Texas doesn't want to let up). Isn't it a wonderful idea to be thinking about the holidays? 

The picture book I am sharing today is serene  enough to bring us gently into that fall-November-then-holiday bustle -- without compelling worrying thoughts about shopping lists -- or getting the perfect gift. 

Indeed, Chris Barton has already given us one. 

In The Nutcracker Comes to America (Milbrook Press, 2015), author Chris Barton (of Shark vs. Train fame!) chronicles the true story of the Christensen brothers, William, Lew, and Harold. Their family owns a dancing school, so they are always dancing and their passion is indeed dance! (I love that part.) Life's circumstances separate them all sporadically throughout the early 1900s. Then brother William learns about a ballet named The Nutcracker - and true to the venturing spirit of this family he decides to put on a smaller portion of it -- in June! More time passes, and soon, William and Harold work on another full show of The Nutcracker  while Lew serves in the army. (This time the show is in December.) With perseverance and a driving goal, the brothers overcome obstacles such as time, distance and lack of funds to eventually put on The Nutcracker together - with history-making impact. 

The back matter in this book is substantial (though not overwhelming). Included are an author's note, an illustrator's note, a timeline of the brothers' life with black and white photographs, a summary of The Nutcracker story, and a bibliography. 

Written in a friendly, storytelling kind of way, young readers are drawn in, and Gendron's illustrations give them reason more to move forward. Illustrations are soft yet pronounced -- and a book about dance that must show movement on paper absolutely does - with lush color and expert placement of elements and details. 

A particularly stunning spread in the book is one in which dancers chat back stage at William's first production of The Nutcracker while others dance to  the Waltz of the Flowers. With their joyous smiles and the soft purple light up top as banners on the page, one can almost feel as if they are behind the curtain, too, experiencing the buzz of a brilliant dance performed. 

Barton narrates the brothers' tale skillfully, chronicling the ups and downs of their collaboration, and by the end, the reader understands this is indeed a holiday story but also more. The Nutcracker Comes to America is about family and how sometimes, what connects you to them is what you all love to do together. 

This book is history, tradition and storytelling all in one. I believe it will be part of many holiday traditions, displays, and book lists for years to come. 

Read more about the book here. 

Books I Reached for This Week

Well, school has begun and the books are being read once again! Hurray!

Everything gets into full swing next week, and there are many projects to work on each day. My to-do lists morph into more lists, and I rely heavily on my non-fancy planner, Paper Mate Flair pens in many colors, and polka-dotted washi tape. Writing tasks down with a cute pen helps me remember to do them.

Though my list is in flux, my love for reading is constant. And this week, the following books held my attention when I could have so easily worked on more projects.

Consider these mini book talks.

Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America. By Susan Campbell Bartoletti. HMH Books for Young Readers, 2015. 240 pages. $17.99

Although I'd already read another book about the subject, this one told the story of Mary Mallon in a very different way. Written in a narrative style, this work of nonfiction kept me turning the pages even though I knew how everything turned out in the end. The writing helped me consider a new perspective. I'd consider this one YA. The references and citations at the end are extensive. Susan Campbell Bartoletti is an award-winning author, recipient of both a Newbery Honor and a Sibert Medal.

Moving Target. By Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Scholastic Press, 2015. 256 pages. $17.99.

At TLA 2014, I reunited with author Christina Diaz Gonzalez, and most recently also at TLA 2015.  We first met when I presented with her and other friends in a panel about multicultural literature at NCTE 2013 in Boston. Her latest novel was published this week. Moving Target is fast-paced and adventure-filled, and the main character is a young American living in Rome with her father. When someone tries to kill him, their lives change, and Cassie must find out why they are being targeted. The answers lead to more questions, a secret in their family bloodline, and lots of mystery!

And on a sidenote: I received a signed Moving Target poster from Christina this week along with bookmarks! 

Revenge of the Angels. By Jennifer Ziegler. Scholastic Press, 2015. 256 pages. $17.99

Jennifer Ziegler is a Texas author. Back at ALA Annual 2014, Donalyn Miller shared her copy of Revenge of the Flower Girls (Scholastic Press, 2014) with me. Revenge of the Angels is the second book in the series. Set in Johnson City, with lots of Texas flavor, these books and these triplets have won my heart with their love for their family, and their lighthearted adventures. This one has a mystery, Christmas spirit, and the added detail that their older sister is studying library science!

Sharing the Bread. By Pat Zietlow Miller. Illus. by Jill McElmurry. Schwartz & Wade, 2015. 32 pages. $20.99.

I picked up the F&G (fold and gather) for this book at TLA 2015. (I love reading galleys for picture books.)  I am using an appropriate description when I say that this books is a feast for the eyes as well as the heart. Set sometime in the early 1900's, this picture book is about a family preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. Every member plays an important part, and each role is described rhythmically in a poetic verse that sings like music. It's the perfect book for fall and November and family. I can hardly wait to buy a final copy!

I am happy to share this books with you here! Now I will go back to my reading, my planner, and crossing things off those to-do list(s)!

--Cynthia

A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME by Phil Bildner

A Whole New Ballgame. By Phil Bildner. Farrah Straus Giroux/Macmillan Children's, 2015. 256 pages. $15.99.


Recently, I blogged about books set during Hurricane Katrina. One of these books was Marvelous Cornelius (Chronicle, 2015) by Phil Bildner.  Today, I am featuring another book by Phil Bildner, but this one is a middle grade chapter book. (Yes, Phil has been busy!) It's called A Whole New Ballgame (MacKids, 2015). Set in a 5th grade classroom, this work of contemporary realistic fiction centers around the friendship between two main characters, Rip and Red, who have a very strong bond. Their teacher (and their basketball coach) Mr. Acevedo is also an integral character in the story.

Read more about the book here.

I received an advanced copy of this book last spring and had the opportunity to interview Phil Bildner, himself a former middle school teacher in New York City Public Schools for 11 years. My questions are in black print and his replies are in blue. 

You've published many successful books -- Shoeless Joe being a favorite of my students. How does A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME fit into your bibliography? 

Back in 2004, the students of Texas chose my book as their favorite book. My first book, Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy won the Texas Bluebonnet Award. It’s one of the reasons why I love Texas so much (and why I have a bluebonnet tattooed on my forearm).

Winning the Bluebonnet Award was like leading off a game with a grand slam homerun. It created so many opportunities for me. It opened the door to all of my Texas school visits. A decade later, I still visit more schools in Texas than anywhere else. Some districts and schools I’ve visited six and seven times. The award also enabled me to write more baseball. I wrote two other baseball picture books, The Shot Heard ‘Round the World and The Unforgettable Season, and Loren Long and I wrote the middle grade series, Sluggers.

While I love baseball, I wrote about other things, too. My last picture book was The Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope and Apartheid in South Africa, and my current one is Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the spirit of New Orleans.

A Whole New Ballgame is my next other thing. It’s about basketball -- which was always my favorite sport -- and teaching. I now get to write a four-book middle grade series about two of my favorite things, basketball and teaching. I get to fill these books with diverse characters, relevant matters, and meaningful times.

Boo-yah!

What impact has your teaching career had on your work as an author? How does it help during author visits? You were wonderful with our students! 

First, thanks for the compliment!

Second, full disclosure, I visited Cynthia’s school last November, and let me tell you, she knows how to host an author visit. I had custom-made Phil Bildner water bottles! At the visit, she showed me Raul Colon’ s Draw! That’s where I first saw one my favorite picture books from 2014.

Book memories.

Okay, back to the question.

I’m often asked do I miss being a teacher? Do I miss the classroom? Absolutely, I do. One of the things I miss most is developing that bond with a student and seeing that student learn and blossom from September to June. I also miss sharing books with students – placing a book in a student’s hand, discussing a character, making text-to-real-world connections.

My school visits definitely help fill that void, but only to a point.

I consider myself a teacher first and an author second. In many ways, I see my writing career as a means to an end. I love being an author, and everyday, I acknowledge how fortunate I am that I get to write for a living. But truth be told, the writing is merely the vehicle that allows me to still be a teacher, a teacher on my terms. I visit schools, connect with kids, and talk about books, reading, and life.

Of course, my classroom experiences help my school visits. I have a small window of opportunity to make a lasting and impactful expression. My classroom time has shown me how to maximize this time. In addition, as a former teacher, you go into the visits with realistic expectations as to how the day will unfold. You have a greater willingness to roll with the punches. You have a much greater appreciation and understanding of the herculean effort that goes into coordinating an author visit.

Basketball plays an important part in A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME. What connections do you make between sports and education? 

I’m so glad you asked this question!

One of the “twists” earlier on in A Whole New Ballgame is that new teacher Mr. Acevedo is also new basketball coach, Coach Acevedo. There are so many parallels that can be drawn between a well-managed classroom and a well-coached team. There are also many overlapping life lessons, life lessons kids don’t even realize they’re learning.

Both settings are ideal for community building. You learn what it means to be part of a community. You interact with others – sometimes with individuals you don’t necessarily know or like -- you forge relationships, and you work toward common goals.  

The cornerstones of community building are the foundations of teamwork. The most effective teams are made up of individuals who trust one another, listen to one another, and care about one another. Find me a classroom where those elements exist, and I’ll show you a classroom that not only functions, but thrives.   

The best teams and the most effective classrooms then take that caring to the next level. The caring turns to empathy. The individual members are able to walk in each other’s footsteps. This enables us to persevere in the face of disappointment and to show resilience and resolve when things don’t work out the way we want.

What makes a great teacher? 

The ability to listen.

Earlier this year, I read Lynda Mullaly Hunt’s terrific new middle grade novel, Fish in a Tree. When Lynda was a guest on Matthew Winner’s podcast, “Let’s Get Busy,” she talked about how every child has a currency and how every kid wants to be seen.

I wholeheartedly agree. Kids want to be heard. They want someone to listen to them. They want someone to value and respect what they have to say. 

I am grateful to Phil for letting me interview him on my blog and I look forward to many more books from him! And as a Texas librarian, I appreciate his love for our state!

I am also grateful for his kind words about his author visit to my school library last year. One of the many great parts of the day was sharing books with Phil! You can read about that visit here.

Other links:

Phil Bildner's books

Texas Bluebonnet Award Winners (Past and Present)

Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Ruby on the Outside. By Nora Raleigh Baskin. Simon & Schuster, 2015. 176 pages. $16.99. 

I read Ruby on the Outside in the middle of June, and though I read many books during  #summerreading 2015,  this one was especially memorable. I thought the cover was quite striking, and after reading the book, I see why it is so well-suited for the story. Matt Roeser designed the cover.   (I met Matt at #ILA15, and so it was a wonderful surprise to recognize the name on the title page.) 

As I decided how I would blog about this book, I decided I would not give you a summary. Instead, I would tell what I found in it, and why it was indeed memorable. 

You should know that the main character is 11 years old (starting 5th grade). Her name is Ruby and she lives with her aunt. The reason she lives with her aunt is the core of the story, and the reason this book is so powerful. 

Ruby lives with her aunt because her mother is in prison. (That isn't a secret or a spoiler, so don't worry, I haven't given anything away. I'm the last one that would want to do that to a reader.) 

With her mother in prison, Ruby's life is, of course, affected in obvious ways, but also in ways that the reader may not have expected -- and Baskin shows us this through school incidents, memories Ruby shares, or her responses to situations -- things Ruby struggles with at school, her inner conflict, and her deep need for friendships. 

Though Ruby keeps her story a secret from kids at school, a new potential friendship might make this even more difficult for her.  The reader experiences each challenge alongside Ruby through sensitive storytelling. There are some suspenseful moments, and many honest ones. Ruby wants to understand her mother and why she is in prison. She has many questions that need answers. 

Compelling and poignant, this well-crafted book gives a glimpse into how children cope with -- and live through -- very difficult circumstances such as this. 

Ruby on the Outside is a quiet book with a confident voice showing the importance of family and friendship. With careful unfolding of story, Baskin has written a touching realistic fiction novel that many will find as memorable as I did. 

My #PB10for10 Post

My summer is officially over this week. But before it ends, I wanted to share some books with you here in my post for #pb10for10 (10 Picture Books on the 10th) a meme hosted by Cathy Mere and Mandy Robek. (Make sure to follow the hashtag on Twitter!)

These are all 2015 books. Each has influenced my thinking regarding other picture books, and each of them has nurtured my undying affection for the genre as a whole. 

Please note these are not reviews, but simply snippets and thoughts! I recommend them all! (There were more I could have included, but I could only mention 10, and at some point, I had to go to sleep!) 

Sidewalk Flowers. By JonArno Larson. Illus. by Sydney Smith. Groundwood Books, 2015. 32 pages. $16.95. 

I picked this one up at TLA 2015 in Austin. When I reread this wordless book for this post, I noticed the endpapers again -- filled with colorful flowers. This one reminded me of Wait (Roaring Brook, 2015). What beautiful thing do you walk by every day and do not notice? 

It's Only Stanley. By Jon Agee. Dial, 2015. 32 pages. $17.99.

Stanley, the Wimbledons' dog, is very busy in this book. During one sleepless night, he makes stew, he fixes the oil tank, etc. etc. The best surprise is at the end. This lively picture book will make you turn the page with wonder. 

Growing Up Pedro: How the Martinez Brothers Made It From the Dominican Republic All the Way to the Major Leagues. By Matt Tavares. Candlewick, 2015. 40 pages. $16.99.

A nonfiction picture book biography about Pedro Martinez and his rise to stardom as a Red Sox pitcher. The grand illustrations made me feel as if I were on the baseball field, too! Skillful with movement and composition, Tavares brings the story to life on each page. I can't wait to share this one with sports fans in my library!

The Grasshopper & the Ants. By Jerry Pinkney. Little Brown, 2015. 40 pages. $18.00.  

Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney illustrates this fable with glorious color. Every time I read it, I feel as if I am entering a garden. The poetic and musical text illustrates two life lessons. It's entirely lovely. 

My Pen.  By Christopher Myers. Disney-Hyperion, 2015. 32 pages. $16.99. 

With black and white detailed illustrations by Christopher Myers (2015 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner), this book ignites imagination and wonder. I first saw this one at ALA Annual in San Francisco with my friend Alyson Beecher. I'll never forget that. 

Wait. By Antoinette Portis. Roaring Brook, 2015. 32 pages. $16.99.

A child takes a walk with his mother. She wants to hurry. He wants to wait and notice things. Two words tell the whole story. My favorite part is the double page spread where the boy is picking out ice cream. Or is it the one where he's drinking raindrops?

The Night World. By Mordicai Gerstein. Little Brown, 2015. 40 pages. $18.00. 

A boy and his cat Sylvie explore their house and the outdoors in the dark of night. Stars shine like crystals, and wonder abounds. Sylvie introduces him to the animals and plants. When morning arrives, it is made all the more stunning by the night. 

Boats for Papa. By Jessixa Bagley. Roaring Brook, 2015. 40 pages. $17.99. 

This is a beautifully written story about family and loss-- and treasuring loved ones. Each page captivated my complete attention, and the end of the book took my breath away. I loved every sweet and wonderful thing Mama did and made -- and their little home was so picture book-perfect. When you read it, you will want to talk about it. 

The Skunk. By Mac Barnett. Illus. by Patrick McDonnell. Roaring Brook, 2015. 40 pages. $17.99. 

I blogged about this one earlier this month. Read my post here. 

Float. By Daniel Miyares. Simon & Schuster, 2015. 48 pages. $17.99. 

I love holding this book. A wordless picture book about a boy and his paper boat on a rainy day. The grey/yellow color palette is magical, and the endpapers are part of the story. As with each of the books mentioned here, it is a must-have. Make a toy boat today and celebrate with it! 

As I end this post now, I am entirely surrounded by these books. They are around me as I sit at my kitchen table, gathered for their help here. Before I send them back to my bookcase, I will read them yet again. 

I just cannot help it. 

Books with Hurricane Katrina as Setting

Because I think I know myself as a reader, I know I don't usually choose to read two books consecutively about the same topic. I just know I am always looking for a captivating, well-written story. But sometimes after I read a few books, I see a theme.

Recently, I noticed that I had indeed read two books this summer about Hurricane Katrina. (August 29th marks the 10th anniversary of this sad, tragic event in our nation's history.) Immediately, three other books came to mind (although these were books I read awhile ago). So, I though I'd share them here. 

First, my most recent read:

Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans. By Phil Bildner. Illus. by John Parra. Chronicle, 2015. $16.99. 

This is the latest from Phil Bildner, author of many books including Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy, the 2004 Winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award. (Phil was also my first author visit as a librarian, so he holds a permanent spot in my librarian memory.) Marvelous Cornelius (Chronicle, 2015) is a picture book biography of a New Orleans hero. Cornelius Washington was a sanitation worker in New Orleans, doing tricks and singing and dancing while he worked, popular in his neighborhood. In this book, Bildner tells readers of Cornelius in folktale style and true storytelling fashion. Paired with  John Parra's vibrant and colorful illustrations, the book conveys the spirit and sense of community in New Orleans as its citizens worked together to rebuild. Bildner skillfully uses alliteration and repetition, with musical text and a poetic feel. I am still rereading it and enjoying it. 

Another Kind of Hurricane. By Tamara Ellis Smith. Schwartz & Wade, 2015. 336 pages. $16.99. 

This middle grade novel came to my attention via Twitter this summer. I read it fairly quickly, and before I did, I admired the cover. This books is about two boys, Henry (from Vermont) and Zavion (from Louisiana). Both have been touched by tragedy, as Henry's best friend has just died, and Zavion  and his Papa are living in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina. Their stories come together as they each (separately) go on their own quest. The writing is well-crafted and provided another layer of understanding for me in regards to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. 

Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere. By Julie T. Lamana. Chronicle, 2014. 320 pages, $16.99. 

Although I read this one last summer, I won't soon forget it. Armani, the main character, is very excited about celebrating her 10th birthday, but Hurricane Katrina is approaching, and everything in her life changes once it does. The story is gripping and tragic, and I read it through several pages through tears. Family and survival are the themes here. This book showed me that though I had seen the news reports about the storm, the true story is more heartbreaking than I will ever know or realize. When I closed the back cover on this one and read the last word, I was changed.

Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina.  By Rodman Philbrick. Scholastic, 2014. 192 pages, $16.99. 

My Goodreads review of this book: Zane Dupree has been sent by his mother to New Orleans to reconnect with his great-grandmother and his late father's side of the family. But he arrives just before Hurricane Katrina, and through a turn of events, becomes one of the many trying to escape the dangers and aftermath of the brutal storm. The story is told through Zane's eyes, and the narrative is gripping, honest, and many times, heartbreaking. A suspenseful page-turner, and a study, fresh example of historical fiction, the story is supplemented by a hurricane map, timeline, and author notes. 

This book is also on the 2015-2016 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List. 

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival. By Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery. Illus. by Jean Cassels. Bloomsbury, 2008. 32 pages. $16.99. 

I read this picture book to my fourth graders when I was a classroom teacher a few years ago, and they absolutely loved it. It's the true story of two pets who stay together as they survive Hurricane Katrina. My students really connected with this powerful story, and I'm so grateful to Kirby Larson and Mary Nether for bringing it to readers.




I know that there are other books about Hurricane Katrina that I didn't include here. They are definitely on my to-read list.

As the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina draws near, and I look back on these books, I think about how stories can help young readers understand events in history. Through characters' lives, and plot twists, and the powerful writing we find in historical fiction, readers of all ages (including me) have another tool to help them make sense of the world.