Clements, Andrew. Frindle. Illustrated by Brian Selznick. Scholastic, 1996. ISBN 9780439607278

If you are looking for a good author to help you introduce chapter books, Andrew Clements' books are classics. I wouldn't consider Frindle to be a very first chapter book (Nate the Great by Sharmat or Cam Jansen by Adler are excellent "first" chapter book reads), but this title by Clements is the next stepping stone. 

Nick, inspired by the idea of slang in language, decides that "frindle" is just as good a name for a pen as "pen", and sets out to discover whether he can drum up enough common usage of the word so as to have it added to the English dictionary. 

His teacher, a stout rule-follower and lover of the dictionary, demands that he not use the word in her classroom. Thus begins the challenge, and soon it grows beyond Nick to include classmates, parents, the school principal, a local paper, national news, a visit to late-night TV, and more. 

Personally, I went back and fourth on this story. I loved the cleverness of the plot and the engaging characters. Selzneick's illustrations helped drive the story, giving the characters more personality as well as keeping things kid-friendly. 

The main character, Nick, is one of those active boys that you can't help but love. He plays tricks and pushes people's buttons, but in the end you know he simply has an active mind searching for an entertaining outlet. 

What I did not appreciate was some of the portrayal of authority figures in the story. Nick, in his smiling, clever, way, was openly defiant to his teacher. Furthermore, his parents did little to address this issue. 

The saving element was the teacher in question. She was resilient, and understood Nick completely, even though he never knew it. In reality, she was playing the same games, and her clever moves are not revealed until the very end of the book. 

Frindle was written in 1996, so some of the objects and names will not resonate with children today. Things like print dictionaries, print newspapers, and "The David Letterman Show" won't have any significance. 

However, these elements do not detract from the story enough to make much of a difference, and the descriptions of the the dictionary and Nick's homework may even help children understand more about language and research.

Over-all, this was a good read. It kept me engaged, wanting to know how everything was going to turn out. And the ending didn't disappoint. 

Non-Fiction for Young Readers

I'm a HUGE fan of non-fiction for young readers. In fact, as an adult I often start with a Middle Grade non-fiction before moving on to the more complex adult books on any new subject. 

I find NF for young readers has better timelines, cuts clutter, and more clearly highlights major points and important info. 

This New York Times article discusses the idea of non-fiction for the young, and lists some interesting titles. 

For some young readers, particularly boys, NF is the only way to go. Forcing someone to read Anne of Green Gables when he or she would rather read a harrowing but true account of the Donner Party is a violation of one of the Five Laws of Library Science: "Every reader his or her book." 

Let young readers pursue their interests! There's a wealth of knowledge and books written just for them. 

 

Glassbourg, Michael. Learn to Speak Film. Illustrated by Jeff Kulak. Owlkids Books, 2013. ISBN:  978-1926973852

I’ve talked to parents who desire to promote a love of reading in their children, but some of the best-loved fiction titles don’t hold their child’s interest. This is when we start to explore individual interests, and non-fiction options.

Part of the Learn to Speak series, this title would appeal to any middle-grade or tween reader who loves film, directing, acting, art and set design, or dreams of writing a screenplay.

The layout and design of the book is appealing, with block color contrast and lots of bold silhouettes and lines. Displaying a “hipster cool” visual vibe, it does not feel like an educational read, although it is filled to the brim with advice, step-by-step procedure, and appreciation for the artistic and creative elements of the craft.

Everything from the format and look of a screenplay, to organizing a shoot, to storyboarding, film festivals, musings from current filmmakers and lists of jobs in the industry are found in this title. This book is not overwhelming, and gives just the right amount of information about each subject.

 

Green, Roger Lancelyn. Tales of the Greek Heroes. Puffin Classics, 2009 (this edition). ISBN: 978-0141325286

“Before Luke Skywalker, before Batman, before even King Arthur, there were the Greek heroes. Those guys knew how to fight!”

And so begins author Rick Riordan’s introduction to Greek Heroes. In this simple sentence we can see that our love of super heroes—those who excel beyond the limits of mere mortals—comes from a long, rich history of mythological stories.

Green writes a fine anthology. It is the perfect introduction for any middle grade reader who may be enticed by modern tales of Olympians to learn more about the roots of the genre.

The book opens with the beginning—when Zeus fought the Titans and with the Cyclops made thunderbolts for thrusting at foes, a trident for Poseidon to stir up the sea, and a helmet of invisibility for Hades, so he could sneak up on his enemy.

Is that exciting, or what?

With short chapters and extra features that include a “Who’s Who” of mythological beings and a map, Green keeps this work within reach of young readers, and not overly wordy or detailed.

Riordan goes on to say that this book “was one of my first introductions to the amazing world of Greek mythology. If it weren’t for this book, I probably never would have written my own books about a modern-day demigod, Percy Jackson.”

 

Keller, Laurie. Bowling Alley Bandit (The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut). Henry Holt and Company, 2013. ISBN: 978-0805090765

For people who are fans of Saturday morning cartoons (and I mean the good kind, where every other line is either a joke or a humorous set-up) and for those who appreciate silly humor, puns, and who don’t take themselves too seriously, The Adventure of Arnie the Doughnut: Bowling Alley Bandit might be right up your alley. (Get it? Alley?)

Oh, and it’s a fun read for kids, too.

Think Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Captain Underpants and you will have a pretty good idea of how this book reads.

About two thirds of the story is scene-setting and humorous situations, and the last portion is a quick turn at solving a “who-donut mystery”. There’s really not much to the story, nor is there any positive messages or educational value.

It’s a book to be read simply for the fun of it. And sometimes, amidst homework, required reading, and preparing for tests, a silly book is exactly what you need.

Heartbeat

 

Creech, Sharon. Heartbeat. HarperCollins, 2004. ISBN: 0060540222

I can't say enough positive things about this book. Lovely prose, realistic characters, coming of age, and simply beautiful. 

The story is essentially about three things: running, drawing, and change. In a way, those three elements combine to represent everything that is happening in twelve year old Annie's life. 

Her male best friend is changing, and she doesn't understand his moods. Her mother is pregnant, and her grandfather is aging before her eyes. 

But through it all she remains steady: running and drawing. Not for glory or prize, but simply for the discipline of enjoying what she loves. 

An excellent read with depth. Creech does a wonderful job of introducing ideas with showing rather than telling, leaving the young reader plenty of room to ponder. 

Frost, Helen. Hidden. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011. ISBN: 0374382212

Frost takes an unlikely premise and spins a warm tale of friendship, healing, and understanding, and does so without compromising a realistic middle grade perspective.

Books written in fluid, poetic formats sometimes have trouble with flow and scene building. This is not the case for Hidden, which grips the reader tightly with fast-paced suspence from the first page, and then deposits us in a summer camp setting—complete with cliques, humor, boys, counselors and traditions.

Wren, hiding in the back of her mother’s car as an 8 year old, is accidentally kidnapped during a store robbery and carjacking gone wrong. The beginning of the book details her encounter with precise words and pauses, while also introducing us to the opposing protagonist, Darra. Darra is the same age as Wren, but on a far different sphere of the social spectrum.

Wren escapes, and Darra’s father goes to prison.

Fast-forward to summer camp at age 15 when the two girls cross paths for the first time. Wren must suddenly deal with repressed emotions. Darra must deal with her sense of loss and the blame she placed on Wren for her father’s arrest. All of these elements come to a head when the girls learn Darra’s father will soon be released from prison.

This story is beautiful. There is a realism that is not overly dramatic or sappy. The girls act like 15 year olds, and must learn what it means to walk in another person’s shoes. The summer camp setting keeps the tone light and often playful. A perfectly scenic and thoughtful summer read.

A Murder for Her Majesty

 

Hilgartner, Beth. A Murder for Her Majesty. Houghten Mifflin, 1986 ISBN:  0395414512

This book was utterly enjoyable. The characters were likable and had believable traits. A good mixture of action, scene-setting, and dialogue kept the pages turning.

In some respects, it was reminiscent of "The Five Little Peppers" by Sidney or "Eight Cousins" by Alcott in that it dealt with poverty, generosity during hard times, takes place in a historical setting, and features rambunctious boys.

Some of the vocabulary will be over the head of anyone not familiar with Catholicism, as nearly the entire story is set inside a cathedral, rotating around the daily activities of a boys' choir. But any unknown words are easy to understand contextually, and should be beneficial to young readers.

I love when a book gives you a good feeling at the end. This one did not disappoint. 

Difficult Topics Done Well

Lowry, Lois. Number The Stars. HMH Books for Young Readers; Reissue edition May 2, 2011 (originally published 1989). ISBN 0547577095

Bauer, Marion Dane. On My Honor. Yearling, 1987. ISBN 0440466334
 
Yes, yes. I know. Anything 5 to 10 years old is typically not going to catch the attention of a tween. I've been told this by seasoned children's librarians, and know that newer, more relevant chapter books should replace outdated ones frequently. 

Unless, of course, the book is so stellar and well-written it should not be ignored. And this is especially true if the topic and content of the book transcend the changing fads of the decade. 

What I absolutely love about both of these titles is the author's ability to truly tell the story from a middle grade point of view. I felt their fear in a way that reminded me of being that age. I could completely understand the decision making process, and even the distractions that masked the "bigger picture" that only an adult could truly grasp. 

And both of these books are excellent introductions for their prospective topics. 

Number The Stars is a title I would recommend to a young reader who is first coming to learn about and grapple with historical genocide and Nazi Germany. It's not overly political, and neither is it gory or overly depressing. The story simply takes the reader and drops them into the shoes of an average middle-grade girl living in Nazi-occupied Denmark. She's simply trying to go about the business of living while noticing changes in her society, worry on her parents' faces, and sensing that secrets abound. 

Soon, her best friend (who is a Jew) comes to live with her and assume the role of her sister. Annemarie understands that something important is at stake, and yet does not grasp the full gravity of the situation until the climax of the story. Ideals of an ultimate sacrifice - giving one's life for another - are demonstrated through minor characters. This does not lessen the impact or realism of the tragedy, but instead realistically tells it in a way a young reader could more easily handle. 

And it was not all dreary. It had beautiful moments, fun moments, and a heartwarming description of the bonds of family that extend beyond blood relation. 

On My Honor is an exploration of traumatic accidental death, as experienced by a middle grade boy. 

This book is heavy, and it doesn't offer clear answers or a happy ending. 

But it can explain to a young reader (or an old one) the cataclysmic wave of emotions and thought processes that one goes through in such a circumstance. 

Shock, fear, regret, anger, and finally acceptance played out across this small volume in about a 24 hour period. There are no gory details. The friend is there and then simply isn't. 

But the emotions are real, and the characters are genuine. A young reader will be left with a lot of questions that will spark an introspective examination of their own feelings and gut reactions. It may even help cultivate empathy. 

These are books that should be read and discussed. If you are a religious person, it will open the doors for deeper conversations about free will, accidents, life, choices, and sacrifice that you could coincide with belief and scripture. 

If you are not religious, the questions of faith (the Jews under Nazi Germany) and the afterlife (a boy asking his father if there is a heaven) will be raised. This will be an excellent opportunity for discussions about tolerance, empathy, and facing the unknown and seeking answers. 

I highly recommend both of these reads!

 

Crosetto, Alice and Rajinder, Garcha. Death, Loss, and Grief in Literature for Youth: A Selective Annotated Bibliography for K-12. Scarecrow Press, 2012. ISBN: 9780810885615

This is an excellent resource for any librarian, teacher, parent, or youth worker. Stories and literature are a reflection of the human heart and soul. Our aspirations, pains, and joys can all be played out before our eyes in the form of a fictional character. By seeing this from a distance, we can connect, think, and reflect. 

But this title does not only survey fiction. Nonfiction, online resources, and other media are also explored. 

Broken into sections covering topics such as "Death of a Family Member", "Death of a Classmate or Teacher", or "Non-Fiction", detailed annotated bibliographies of books covering said topic are presented.

I was pleased to see some of the books I have read listed in the bibliography, as well as the fact that the books chosen included both classics and recent titles.

Another helpful feature was the appendixes. There were several of them, arranged to cover such topics as award winners, by author, etc.   

If you are a parent or work with youth, you will not be sorry you added this title to your collection. It can lead you down a literary path that will spark discussion, address questions, and perhaps foster healing when in conjunction with guidance from a caring adult.  

Ender's Game

Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game. Tor Science Fiction, 1994. ISBN: 978-0812550702

First things first: this is a great book. It thoroughly satisfies as a science fiction, as a philosophical journey, and as a well-written story.

And it is not necessarily a tween's book. Although there are many tweens who may be ready to grasp the dark concepts presented, we must remember that tweendom is that volatile  stage between child and young adult, where individuals develop at different paces depending on their life experiences and natural maturation. 

Like Collin's The Hunger Games, themes of violence, loss of innocence, totalitarian government, and premature death are prevalent. The reader must wrestle with ideas of religion, science, bullies and loneliness.  

But, for those who can grasp abstract concepts and existential ideas, it is excellent. 

And it's a lot of fun, too. What young person does not dream of being "special", a genius plucked from society and destined for greatness? Especially appealing to boys and active girls, tweens will be able to conjure up images of floating through weightless space, training for missions, and going on a fantastic journey. 

Ender's Game is a wonderful contribution to young adult science fiction that should not be overlooked. I would recommend it for ages 12 and older, but only tentatively. If you are an adult, read it for yourself and decide if your tween is ready.  

And since it is being made into a major motion picture in 2013, this is the perfect opportunity to enter into literary and topical discussions with your tween prior to the movie release. 

Across Five Aprils

Hunt, Irene. Across Five Aprils. Berkley, reprinted in 1986. ISBN 0425102416

Slow-paced in the beginning, but overall an excellent read. The book was published in the 1960's and the author draws upon stories her own grandfather relayed to her about life during the 1860's. Extremely well researched, this book brings to life the family struggles, heartaches, and triumphs of the "five Aprils" that spanned the American Civil War.

Might be difficult for young readers due to the slower pace and the verbiage (the author captures the speech patterns and poor grammar of backwoods families in Southern Illinois). However, a stronger reader would enjoy it immensely, especially the coming-of-age elements found in the main character as he grows from a young boy of nine to a teen who is forced to become the "man of the farm." His self discovery (when he first realizes his speech could be a source of ridicule, when he decides to keep difficult decisions from his ailing father, when he struggles between being the "baby" of the family while also being on equal terms with his older siblings, when he learns that gossip is not always true...) is appropriate and believable. I was a bit disappointed at the abruptness of the ending. The story seemed to simply run out of steam.

Civil War battles, generals, and events are woven in and out of the tale, making this work of fiction and wonderful companion resource for anyone learning about the Civil War.

Funke, Cornelia. Ghost Knight. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2012. ISBN 978-0316056144

Elements I found worthwhile in this book: appropriately written for the age level, with just enough kick to make it interesting, Funke's illustrations, the element of a ghost story without being overly scary or dark, and the characters. 

I've always been a Funke fan, and I appreciate that she is able to write for differing age groups. I would not recommend Reckless, for instance, to many young tweens. However, this read I could. 

Boys will like the male character and the element of mystery mixed with a somewhat scary paranormal. There is also a female heroine, and the setting - a cathedral and boarding school from the 13th century, is ideal for the story. 

It's a fun, easy, paranormal read.    

101 (Plus) Read - Alouds

There is an interesting blurring when it comes to the audience of a middle grade book. Initially, one would think a book like Chronicles of Narnia or A Wrinkle In Time would be appropriate for eight and up (roughly). 

However, many GREAT middle grade classics also make excellent read aloud books for kids! 

One of my first literary memories are of sitting outside and hearing my mother read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and of lying in bed as she tucked me in with a chapter from The Mouse and the Motorcycle. 

At the time, these books were above my reading level. But that does not mean I wouldn't enjoy listening to them as a child, reading them as a middle grade, and then rediscovering them as an adult. 

Here is a list of 101+ read aloud books that a mother compiled, and I am happy to say nearly all of them are titles I would recommend as well.

http://www.graspingforobjectivity.com/2012/05/read-aloud.html

Chapter Books

A good chapter book is hard to find. This, the reader's first introduction to long-form books, must have a quality mixture of entertainment, depth and reading challenge. If it is too wordy or deep, the young reader will give up. If it is too shallow or cheesy, he or she will lose interest just as easily. 

Here are three I just finished reading that I think do a pretty decent job of finding the Chapter Book sweet spot:

Bayars, Betsy. Keeper of the Doves. Puffin, 2004 
ISBN 0142400637

It is not an easy task for an author to write a story dealing with heavy subjects (family discord, mental illness, death) that is aimed at 7 to 10 year olds. However, Bayars does an excellent job of not only covering them, but embracing them as an intricate and necessary part of the story. What I loved about this book was that it came from the point of view of a child, as she would see it. Life just seems to come at her from nowhere (family members just show up. Mom is suddenly pregnant and about to give birth. Discoveries about her own story, told through other people...) and yet she has a playfulness and overall contentment throughout. 

Amie, the protagonist, has a way with words, and sees the world through her poems. This gives her a special connection to her father and grandmother, and allows her to notice many things others miss. Especially when it comes to the strange old man who lives on their property and takes care of the doves (whom her twin sisters are afraid of, and make up wild tales about). 

This story held my interest, and was not overly heavy. It would also be a great story to read aloud to younger readers who are not quite ready to tackle a Chapter Book on their own. 

Gannett, Ruth Stiles. My Father's Dragon. Illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett. CreateSpage, 2010 (originally published in 1948) ISBN 1453782052 

As an adult, this tale was a tad boring due to the predictive, redundant nature of the story. However, this redundancy is also a useful tool when creating a Chapter Book. Predictability is comforting, and often helps beginner readers push through when the text may seem long. 

Still, the characters were fun and interesting. A young boy ("my father" as the narrator of the story begins) finds a talking cat. His mother hates the cat and throws it out, but feeling sorry for the cat, the boy befriends him and agrees to go on an adventure on the cat's behalf in order to save a dragon who is enslaved by talking animals on a wild island. 

The creatures are creative, and as the boy meets set after set of them, each time he is afforded the opportunity to use his cleverness to outsmart them, and eventually save the dragon. The illustrations definitely help the story along, as some parts are a bit tough to grasp, and they also provide a bit of comic relief. 

  

 Evans, Douglas. Apple Island, or The Truth About
Teachers. Illustrated by Larry Di Fiori. Scholastic, 2002
ASIN: B000VHE3CI 

I loved this book! I found it highly entertaining, funny, and extremely clever. 

As a kid, did you ever think that there was no possible way your teachers were ever kids, or did normal things outside of school? They practically lived at school, right? And furthermore, they never seemed to age. Some were crabby, and some were nice, and that was that. 

In The Truth About Teachers, we discover that this is exactly right! Teachers come from an island, where half live on the nice side and half live on the crabby side. The island is full of school-isms: Chalk Mountain, "Shhhh" Canyon, Office Palace, where Prince Apple ("principal") lives, a Big Book Building where Miss Library rides her motorized sliding ladder from section to section and never sees the light of day...everything that defines school was created and exists on Apple Island. 

When a group of students are kidnapped to this island, it is up to one of them to discover the truth about teachers and find a way to bring them all home. A truly fun read.  

Staying Nine and Silver For General Washington

This month I couldn't decide which book to review, so I am doing two. Both are aimed at the same age range, but one is geared more towards a girl, while the other a boy would enjoy reading. 

While taking juvenile literature classes in grad school, I was vehemently told to stick to new books only. My professor explained that young children and tweens cannot identify with children from even a decade ago and, with the exception of classics, (which are usually read by older tweens and teens) I would be doing them a disservice by introducing them to older books. 

However, I feel that relevancy plays a huge part in this. If the book covers certain feelings, circumstances and truths that will not fade with time, it will not only stay relevant for today, but can also be a treasured volume to read. 

  

Conrad, Pam. Staying Nine. Illustrated by Michael Wimmer. HarperCollins, 1990 ISBN 0064403777


The reason this book is so appealing, is because it deals with a subject every child and tween experiences: that in-between stage, when one is no longer a baby, but not yet an adult. I distinctly remember these emotions. 

In one particular example, I remember stomping around the house, and my grandmother admonished me to "walk more like a young lady." At that moment, I felt an almost overwhelming desire to not become a "lady". I didn't want to grow up. I didn't want to stop being a kid who could climb trees and stomp around the house. However, it was also at that moment that I realized the hand of time could be stopped by no one. 

Heather, the young protagonist in this Chapter Book (suitable for readers who are not yet ready for a Novel, but too old for Easy Readers) does not want to grow up. She decides to try and stay nine by having an unbirthday party and wearing the same clothes as last year for the school picture, among other things. This causes conflict with friends at school who do not understand her need, but is offset by a supporting mother. (These moments, both humorous and somber, are enhanced beautifully with Wimmer's detailed pencil sketches.)

One fear of Heather's is that growing up will take the fun out of life. No more make believe, no more climbing up the door frames, and no more fun. However, in probably the best moment of the story, a 23 year old friend takes off her shoes and stealthily climbs up the door frame -- thus proving that you can choose to stay young in the ways that matter most to you. 

Meadowcroft, Enid LaMonte. Silver for General Washington: A Story of Valley Forge. Scholastic, 1974. ASIN: B000PC5CYM


I wanted to mention this title because, like the above title, I have a memory associated with it. To refute the idea that, unless a book is a classic, tweens and teens will not read older books, I remember my brother and I both reading Silver for General Washington more than a decade after it was first published. 

The only reason I read it was because my older brother said that he had loved it. I balked at first (it looked like a boring war book, and the cover art harkened back to the 70's -- SO old!) but since my brother insisted it was good, I decided to give it a go. 

It didn't take long before I was swept into the world of two cousins living at the time of the revolution. Their patriotism and decision to risk taking a a dangerous journey to retrieve their family's stash of silver, for the sole purpose of giving it to General Washington (in order to help with the war effort), was instantly appealing to me. 

Would I have taken such an adventure? Why did it mean so much to them? What must it have been like, to live during the time of the revolution?

The excitement of the story kept my interest, even though the protagonists were boys. In fact, by the end of the book, I longed to take such a journey on my own. My brother had been right: it was a good book!

Summer of My German Soldier

Green, Bette. Summer of My German Soldier. Speak, 1999 ISBN: 014130636X

In one of my previous posts, I did a somewhat unfavorable review of a book that is garnering critical praise for being relevant and important in tween and young adult fiction. I stated that I disagreed with most critics, and found it irrelevant, shallow, and inappropriate for MOST tweens. (The book in question was Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging, and you can read the review here: http://lneeleylibr264digitalrecord.blogspot.com/2010/06/angus-thongs-and-full-frontal-snogging.html) 

In this review, I will change course a bit and do a somewhat favorable review of a book that has been challenged and even banned in some schools. 

A twelve-year-old Jewish girl meets and then agrees to hide a German Nazi POW who has escaped from a military prison just outside her small Southern hometown. Sounds like all the makings of a romantic thriller, right? And although I must agree that Summer of My German Soldier IS inappropriate for some audiences, it may be very profound and challenging to just the RIGHT audience. 


If I were to recommend this book to a tween, I would need to know that he or she is at a maturity level where there is an ability to process complex ideas, and I would warn against the offensive language which, in this book is more reminiscent of language one would find in To Kill a Mockingbird or Tom Sawyer (also banned books), where the words make sense in the setting and context of the story. 


And so does the racism. In fact, this book is ABOUT racism. However, what I like about the story is the challenging viewpoint it takes: the German Nazi is the good guy, the Jewish father is the bad guy, and the daughter is caught somewhere in between. 


Another fact about this book you may not find mentioned in other reviews is that the author has an obvious negative bias towards religion. This does not come through strongly at all, but in a very subtle way in specific, non-vital snippets of the story. 


Despite all of this, I appreciated and enjoyed the book. Contrary to the cover, it really is not a love story. Instead, it is a story about a very normal girl in very difficult situations. The author uses perfect visual words to create images of a small, isolated southern town in the midst of a stifling hot summer, where the slightest excitement is grasped onto until it spins out of control, landing our protagonist in a very unanticipated predicament. 


Some would say this book does not have a happy ending. I think it does. I feel that the realism of this story will inspire certain mature tweens and teens towards questioning their own life decisions, visualizing the fact that every action has an all-too-real consequence. By walking the journey with our heroine that lands her in court and eventually a reform school (rather than a romantic, unrealistic outcome to her choice to hide an enemy of the state unbeknownst to her parents), the reader will see that although life has its difficulties, the rocky parts of the journey are what mold us into who we will eventually become. 


Would definitely be a good title for discussions about coming-of-age, race, life-altering choices, and WWII. 

Picture Books that Made Me Cry

Yes, yes. I know this is a site aimed at materials for tweens, and you may be wondering why I would dedicate an entry to Picture Books.

The simple answer is this: the marriage of art and words is a thing so beautiful, one can never outgrow the emotional and inspirational impact. An artist's touch gives flavor to the ideas of a storyteller in a way nothing else can. Furthermore, the discipline of telling a story in a simplified manner is a practice that cuts to the heart of the matter, slicing through unnecessary hyperbole and filler sentences.

No matter your age, an appreciation of a story well told is paramount to the human existence. 

Definitely brought a tear to my eye...
 

Rappaport, Doreen. Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. Hyperion Book, ISBN 0786807148

The pictures and simple sentence structure are the powerful element in this book. There are no artificial characters or dreamed up, unlikely scenarios. Instead, this book is about a little boy who admires his father, a preacher, and vows to one day "get big words too." 

The simple portrayal of everything that happens afterwards serves as a canvas on which the immense power of these "big words" will one day be painted, and tragically snuffed out. Age appropriate for children, yet impact-full enough for adults, with beautifully detailed paintings that recall memories of sitting in church pews, family, and all that we love and hold dear. 

Bunting, Eve. Twinnies. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Sandpiper, ISBN 0152024018

I really can't explain the exact reason this book brought tears to my eyes. And the water works did not happen until the last page. Perhaps it is the all-too realistic way Bunting describes the tumultuous love/hate relationships of siblings. Or maybe it was the watercolor illustrations, expertly depicting the expressions, stance, and situations of the adults and children. It could also be the narrative build-up, releasing finally, after a few humorous turns, to the reconciliation between a young girl and the twins she is so jealous of. 

Whatever it was, it worked.  

Polacco, Patricia. Welcome Comfort. Puffin, ISBN 0698119657 

Oh, man. This one really got to me. I can absolutely say it was Polacco's illustrations that did it. This incredibly talented author/illustrator has a knack for capturing emotion on her character's faces in such a way that even the hardest of hearts will empathize.  

Imagine being a foster child, tossed from home to home. Next, imagine being overweight. Finally, imagine being named Welcome Comfort. This gives you a little insight into the main character. 

However, Polacco does not dwell on the negative. In fact, it is so slightly mentioned, it instead becomes the thing that makes the other main character's good deeds so believable. A large, jolly school janitor and Welcome form a friendship that goes beyond the boundaries of school, hometown, and time. 

Polacco uses the pictures to set the emotional tone, and the words to spin a simple tale of acceptance, hope, and family. 

No tears, but was certainly moved...

 
Sieqel, Siena Cherson. To Dance, A Ballerina's Graphic Novel. Illustrated by Mark Sieqel. Atheneum Books, ISBN 0689867476

Yes, I know. A Graphic Novel is different than a Picture Book. But the same principal applies here: the pictures telling the story, equally or more so than the words, complimenting each other in such a way that their final impact could never be achieved separately. 

This is the true memoir of a world class ballerina, told in illustration by her husband. It follows her life in a perfect pace, highlighting both the good and the bad. The shining moment is a two page spread, beautifully illustrated with emotion and movement, in which Siena dances a tribute to her teacher who had passed away. Difficult subjects are hinted at, including the pressures to stay thin and perform despite injury, but the sheer beauty of the illustrations gloss over any overly serious moments. 

This book is a true work of art. 

Polacco, Patricia. The Keeping Quilt. Alladin, ISBN 0153052120

Polacco understands the bonds of family. She understands the passing of time, and the blessings shared and passed on through generations. In this book, a quilt is created when a young woman makes the immigrant passage to America. This same quilt survives several generations, taking on various forms and roles: a blanket to wrap a baby in, a banner to hang over a newly wedded couple, a covering for the sick...

Times and traditions change. Dress, customs, and people change with the the passage of time and the assimilation into a new culture. But the quilt never does. It "keeps". 

Polacco tells the true story of her great grandmother, and the following owners of the quilt with her simple text and emotion-evoking drawings. 

Funazaki, Yasuko. Baby Owl. Illustrated by Shuji Tateishi. Methuen, ISBN 0416307213   

I loved the detailed, pencil and charcoal drawings by Shuji Tateishi, and the imaginative world of night where Baby Owl lives alone, yet  is surrounded by his friends the moon, stars, rocks and stream.

It takes Baby Owl time to recognize this, however. He tries to play with the Squirrel, but the Squirrel is asleep. So is the Rabbit, and Monkey. No one is awake, and Baby Owl is left alone. 

Or is he? The revelation that companionship takes many forms, and that one is never truly alone gives this story value. The world of night is mysterious and beautiful, and Baby Owl must learn to embrace his lot in life, finding joy where it blooms naturally. 

Recommended by others...

 

Review of City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems from School Library Journal: 

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2—Spare, poignant, and ultimately upbeat, this tale depicts the natural cycle of friendship from an enthusiastic first encounter to contented companionship to the heartbreak of loss and eventual emotional renewal. Presented with a comfortingly consistent narrative structure, the events are set against the backdrop of the changing seasons, reassuring readers that winter will turn again to spring, sadness to joy. In "spring," City Dog runs free in the countryside for the first time ever and discovers an unfamiliar creature perched on a rock. Asked, "What are you doing?" Country Frog smiles and replies, "Waiting for a friend…but you'll do." The two play Country Frog games ("jumping and splashing and croaking") and when reunited in "summer," they enjoy City Dog pastimes ("sniffing and fetching and barking"). In "fall," Country Frog is tired, so the friends spend their time remembering. When City Dog arrives again in "winter," Country Frog is nowhere to be found (a wordless spread shows the pooch sitting on the rock, looking small and forlorn against a stark winterscape). In "spring again," a sad-looking City Dog befriends another critter with a familiar line, and then beams "a froggy smile" (shown in close-up, this warmly illustrated grin guarantees that Country Frog will not be forgotten). Making expert use of color and texture, Muth's expressive paintings clearly convey the tale's emotional nuances. This understated picture book allows plenty of room for young readers to interpret the animals' feelings for themselves and perhaps discuss their own emotions.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal
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Review of The Wall by Eve Bunting by School Library Journal:

Grade 1-4-- A boy and his father have come to the Vietnam War Memorial to look for the boy's grandfather's name among those who were killed in the war. They find his name surrounded, but far from lost, in the rows of print that "march side by side, like rows of soldiers." "I'm proud that your grandfather's name is on this wall," says the boy's father. The boy agrees, adding, "but I'd rather have my grandpa here." Before this powerful book is half finished, readers will be deeply moved. Bunting's understated prose captures the meaning of the memorial to the American people, especially to those who lost loved ones, without being maudlin or heavy-handed. Himler's gauzy watercolors are a perfect accompaniment: impressionistic enough for the characters to appear as everymen. A sensitive and moving picture book, and a great discussion book as well. --Catherine vanSonnenberg, San Diego Public Library, CA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc