Tony by Ed Galing

I have a particular penchant for picture books. Below is a review I wrote of one you won't want to miss. (Plus two bonus titles with reviews coming later.) 

Review: 

Galing, Ed. Tony. Illus. by Erin E. Stead. New York: Roaring Brook, 2017. Print. 

This illustrated poem in picture book form introduces readers to a gentle horse named Tony and his driver, Ed --  a bygone milk delivery team. Readers get a glimpse of a treasured memory as Tony and Ed go about their work in the early morning hours, pulling a wagon down the street, earning the young narrator's admiration and fondness. Gallon's succinct and tender verse endears Tony to readers (and spotlights a special friendship), while Stead's pencil illustrations bring the horse to life. Effective use of scale brings readers closer into moments, and farther for perspective -- in wordless spreads or full pages. Soft, nostalgic hues of yellow and blue capture the warmth from streetlights or homes, and the quiet beauty of pre-dawn. A sweet childhood recollection, this title is a must have for both poetry fans, as well as fans of the work of Caldecott winner Erin Stead. 

Two other picture books I have read recently: 

Narrative Nonfiction: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis

Gibbs, Kathryn Davis. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Illus. by Gilbert Ford. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. Print. ISBN 9780547959221.

I'm not sure where I first about MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL. I grabbed a copy of this title as soon as I could and recently was fortunate enough to meet the author when she visited our area.

In this nonfiction picture book, author Kathryn Gibbs Davis recounts the history of the invention of the Ferris Wheel by introducing readers to George Ferris. Already an engineer of bridges and tunnels and an expert in the use of steel, Ferris challenged himself to design a structure that would be chosen for the Chicago World's Fair. A childhood memory of a water wheel influenced his thinking, and he submitted a plan for a design that "would dazzle and move" (Davis, 2014). But the World's Fair judges rejected his proposal. After considering many copies of the previous winner, the Eiffel Tower, the judges finally accepted his idea, but decided not to fund it. Determined, Ferris asked banks to lend him money, but his idea was met with ridicule. Finally, armed with his own savings and money from a few investors, Ferris began building the structure. Despite encountering challenges such as an icy surface and unexpected (deep) quicksand, the wheel was finally built in 1893. Ferris and his wife (along with several other guests) rode the wheel for the first time, and after its first successful spins and rides, the wheel indeed became a star attraction of the World's Fair as intended. After a successful 19-week run and 10,000 rotations, the wheel was shut down. It was eventually renamed the Ferris Wheel and inspired many copies.

With narrative paragraphs on the left page, and nonfiction text on the right, Davis gives readers both a story and a history lesson. Gilbert Ford's blue, pink, and golden illustrations done in digital mixed media with watercolor and ink help young readers comprehend the magnitude of Ferris's accomplishments and lend appeal to the subject.

As a nonfiction work, this book would be appropriate and helpful for units in engineering, design, building, and biographies.

Davis creates a portrayal of Ferris as a thinker, problem-solver, and dreamer who persevered. Today's young readers will no doubt apply the story to their love of Legos, and Davis smartly makes this comparison on one page.

Back matter includes a list of websites, a photo of Ferris, a bibliography, and list of quoted sources.

Awards for MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL include:

2015 Orbis Pictus Honor Book (NCTE)

2015 Bank Street College Center for Children's Literature Cook Prize (STEM) Honor Book