95 International Journal of the Whole Child 2019, VOL. 4, NO. 2 Page Turners: Books for Children Maria T. Genesta, Katrina Bartow Jacobsb, Carla K. Meyerc, Michelle J. Sobolakd, Patricia A. Crawforde aLa Roche College, bUniversity of Pittsburgh, cDuquesne University, cUniversity of Pittsburgh, eUniversity of Pittsburgh Picturebooks Good Morning Snowplow! Written by Deborah Bruss Art by Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic), 2018. ISBN 9781338089493 The hardworking snowplow is the hero of this picture book, quietly working all night long to clear the roads while the snow falls and the cars slide nearby. The illustrations contrast the bright colors of the snowplow against the various shades of blue and white of the winter night landscape. The rhyming text offers a window into the world of the snowplow and its driver, navigating the streets in a way that is both familiar to those of us who live in colder climates, engage those of us who do not, and for all, provide fascination with this winter ritual. Ages 3-6. (MTG) The Three Little Superpigs: Once Upon a Time Written and Illustrated by Claire Evans Scholastic Press, 2017. ISBN 97813382454486 Evans’ whimsical spin on the classic tale of The Three Little Pigs is sure to engage today’s children. In this clever spin, Evans positions the pigs as aspiring superheroes. In their quest to attain this status, they move to Fairyland complete with residents such as Little Red Riding Hood, a cast of grandmothers, Mary and her little lambs and, of course, the Big Bad Wolf. As the classic tale unfolds, the pigs finally attain superhero status by outwitting the wolf and gaining the new title of superpigs! Children will be engaged by the connection to superheroes, the witty text, and the vivid illustrations. This text would be an excellent and lively read loud or bedtime story that would likely be requested again and again. Ages 3-5. (MJS) 96 Vanishing Colors Written by Constance Orbeck-Nilssen Illustrated by Akin Duzakin Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2017. ISBN 9780802855183 Orbeck-Nilssen created a poignant and timely tale of a young girl and her mother who are living in a war-torn town. Alone and afraid, the girl dreams of a protective bird that keeps her and her mother safe at night. The bird supports the girl in remembering how colorful and vibrant her town and life once were. Most importantly, the bird gives her hope that if she and her mother stay together and never give up, there is hope for a better tomorrow and They will indeed persevere. The illustrations support the story by alternating between dark and ominous to vibrant and rich. This text provides an age appropriate gateway into the challenges that are ongoing in the world and that many refugees faced in their home countries. Ages 5-9. (MJS) Inside Outside Illustrated by Anne-Margot Ramstein and Matthias Arégui Candlewick, 2019. ISBN 9781536205978. Sometimes perspective makes all the difference! Such is the case in this clever wordless concept book. Each double-page spread features one page with an inside perspective, followed by a second with an outside one. For example, one page shows red ants busily moving about inside their anthill. The next page reveals an expanded view, revealing that they were oblivious to the anteater who is ready to eat them up. In some cases, the differences between the inside/outside perspectives are dramatic; in others they are more subtle. In all cases, the detailed oversized visual sequences invite readers to look again and again. An excellent book for supporting visual literacy, perspective taking, and rich text-based conversation. Ages 4-8. (PAC). Believe: A Pop-Up Book of Possibilities Written and illustrated by Robert Sabuda Candlewick, 2019. ISBN 9780763663971. With sparse text and Sabuda’s characteristic solid white pop-ups, this book invites readers to dream big and set the course to live up to their potential: “When I dream of the future/ I will dream big./ When I build my life/ I will reach high”). Although aimed at a young audience, it is hard to imagine that children and adults of all ages would not enjoy Sabuda’s inspirational words and mesmerizing, complex paper engineering. A good choice to read with children or to share as a giftbook to mark special occasions or milestones. Ages 3-8. (PAC). 97 Plume Written and Illustrated by Isabelle Simler Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2017 (English version). Originally published in French under the same title in 2012. ISBN 9780802854926 In exquisite detail, Simler created a nearly wordless picture book that takes a close look at the plumage of various birds, ranging from the common chicken to the more exotic ibis. Each page features a full illustration of the bird, the name of the bird, and a close-up illustration of the bird’s different feathers. To add whimsy, each page features the tail, paw, or head of a black cat (also featured on the cover) that is clearly intent on the birds. The end of the book brings a charming, and surprising, resolution to the cat’s interest in the feathered friends. This text would be useful to teachers looking to link science and nature to literacy, and as a bridge between fictional and nonfictional texts. Ages 5-8. (KBJ) Where’s the Baby? A Spotting Book Written and Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup Big Picture Press (Candlewick), 2018 Elephants are trumpeting and thundering, while geese are honking and splashing their way through this colorful, engaging picture book for young readers. Bursting with rhyme and sophisticated vocabulary, this spotting book encourages the reader to find the baby animal on each page. Teckentraup has embedded facts about each animal within the rhymes so readers learn while they search the illustrations. This text is one of a series of spotting books by this author and would be a captivating addition to any library for young children. Ages 2-5. (MTG) Chapter Books Flights of Fancy: Creative Inspiration from Ten Award-Winning Authors and Illustrators Written & illustrated by various noted authors and illustrators Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781536205367. In this profusely illustrated anthology, ten acclaimed creators of children’s books explore the inspirations and influences that guide them. Each chapter is written and illustrated by a British Children’s Laureate. Prose and illustrations provide inspiring, workable ideas for nurturing the creative potential within each reader. Individual chapters could serve as an excellent mentor 98 texts for budding authors and illustrators, giving readers an opportunity to learn from the likes of Michael Rosen, Anthony Browne, Lauren Child, and many more. Ages 10-14. (PAC). Poetry I See the Moon: Rhymes for Bedtime Compiled and Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw Nosy Crow, Candlewick Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781536205794 With illustrations that (literally) sparkle, this peaceful book provides a collection of short poems on the theme of night and sleep. Ranging from traditional lullabies to poems by authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, colorful illustrations adorned with silver are sure to catch the ears and eyes of even the youngest readers. This text would be a wonderful addition to a PreK or kindergarten classroom for use during quiet time; it also could provide a strong mentor text for older children on how to pull together a collection of poems around a single theme or concept. Ages 3-8. (KBJ) Graphic Novels New Kid Written by Jerry Craft HarperCollins, 2019. 256 pages. ISBN 978-0062691194 Middle schooler, Jordan Banks longs to attend art school where he can hone his artist abilities and pursue his first love, drawing comics. Unfortunately, his parents have different plans for Jordan. They enroll Jordan in an elite private school in which he is one of the few students of color. The author/illustrator, Jerry Craft, expertly uses humor to introduce challenges such as implicit bias and microaggressions to young adolescents. Craft embeds the topics neatly into the familiar topic of middle school life such as awkward first crushes, making new friends, and striving for good grades. New Kid, exemplifies the graphic format using both words and illustrations to tell a compelling story that young adolescents will not only learn from, but as well enjoy. Ages 8-12. (CKM) To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel Written by Harper Lee and Fred Fordham Harper, 2018. 288 pages. ISBN 978-0062798183 99 Transforming a beloved classic like To Kill a Mockingbird is always a risk. Fortunately, Fred Fordham does an excellent job using the medium to beautifully tell the story. The graphic novel stays true to the original while integrating stunning artwork that enriches the story. Fordham’s version will easily satisfy the purest who originally fell in love with the print version while introducing the story to fans of the graphic medium. The graphic novel definitely deserves a place in the English curriculum alongside the original. Ages 12 and up. 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