Phoebe and Digger

Author: Tricia Springstubb
Illustrator:   Jeff Newman
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Publication Year:   2013
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   featured in CCYAL Best of the Best 2013

Summary:  When Mama got a new baby, Phoebe got a new digger. At the park, Mama & the baby sit on a bench while Phoebe & Digger play in the dirt. A big mean girl comes and steals Digger even though Phoebe uses her words to ask for Digger back. Phoebe begins to feel a cry coming but Mama makes the mean girl give Digger back and Phoebe realizes Mama is still there for her too.

Classroom Ideas: A wonderful addition of a strong female character who wears red & green and plays with a digger. There is the idea of problem solving and the reassurance that mothers have enough love for all their children.

My Father's Arms are a Boat

Author: Stein Erik Lunde
Illustrator:   Oyvind Torseter
Publisher:  Enchanted Lion Books
Publication Year:   2013
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Norwegian Ministry’s Culture Prize for the Best Book and “Most Beautiful Book Award” for best picture book, Kirkus starred review

Summary:  A boy can't sleep and goes to sit on his father's lap. The two discussion the trees and birds in the forest and then that the boy's mommy will never wake up. The two go outside into the night for a while and then return inside where the man reassures the boy that "everything will be all right." "Are you sure?" "I'm sure." The subject is addressed in a straight forward way with no melodrama and shows the loneliness of both characters. The mixed-media illustrations are strange, but realistic. Kirkus describes them better than I can: "They seem grounded in reality, yet they are dreamlike, giving the impression one has been privileged to see someone else’s memory. A breathtaking masterpiece."

Classroom Ideas: Wow, the language in this book- "crackling of he fire" "tongues of fire like his face"  "the moon that looks like a boat" "eyes, black as night, are dark and deep in his face"
Although this is a picture book, both the words and the theme make it appropriate for older children.

Rain!

Author: Linda Ashman
Illustrator:   Christian Robinson
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin
Publication Year:   2013
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Kirkus starred review

Summary:  A grumpy man who's mad about the rain lives next door to a boy who's excited about it. The engaging paint and collage illustrations use a dark palette for the man contrasted with a bright one for boy. The man hates his galoshes and overcoat while the boy is excited to don his rain gear. The two characters move through their days, interacting with those around them and spreading their moods to everyone. When they meet at a cafe, the boy's acts of kindness infect the man and his spread suddenly becomes bright too.

Classroom Ideas: The theme of the power of attitude is told subtly but can be understood by even the youngest reader.

I'm Bored

Author: Michael Ian Black
Illustrator:   Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Publisher's Weekly starred review, NYT Notable

Summary:  A girl dramatically proclaims her boredom until a potato shows up. The potato is bored too. The girl tries all kind of scenarios to prove to the potato that she's fun, but the potato continues to claim boredom.The illustrations are fun drawings on a wide expanse of white background, and the playfulness of the font adds to the story. As the girl uses her imagination, the illustrations become more detailed until finally the girl loses her patience with the cranky potato.

Classroom Ideas: This is a great treatise on the power of imagination and would pair well with HELLO! hello!

Everyone can learn to ride a bicycle

Author & Illustrator:   Chris Raschka
Publisher:  Schwartz & Wade
Publication Year:   2013
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus & School Library Journal starred reviews

Summary:  A girl in a big helmet chooses a bicycle and practices a lot. Her very patient father helps her take off the training wheels and try over and over again until she finally learns. The retro inspired illustrations are watercolors with blocks of color. There are very few words, but the true story is told in the pictures of the girl and her father. She falls again and again and continues to try. He hugs her and encourages her: "Don't give up. You'll get it. Find the courage to try again......until by luck, grace, and determination, you are riding..." Sure to bring a tear to every parent's eye.

Classroom Ideas:  A character study of the unnamed girl and her father with an extremely strong moral told with very few words. Beautifully touching.

The Girl with a Brave Heart: A Tale from Tehran

Author: Rita Jahanforuz
Illustrator:   Vali Mintzi
Publisher:  Barefoot Books
Publication Year:   2010
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Cool Mom picks, featured on Seven Impossible Things,
Summary:  An Iranian-born author (and pop star), used a traditional tale as a basis for this book. Shiraz, a Cinderella like character, goes to find a red wool ball that was left by her mother when he falls into her neighbor's courtyard. She meets an older lady who asks her to smash everything in her house, but Shiraz disobeys and cleans everything. The lady returns her wool and tells her to bathe in two pools in her backyard. She does and becomes incredibly beautiful. Her stepsisters tries to mimic her but turns ugly instead. The pools made them both become the way they feel on the inside.The illustrations are bold, guache paintings with scribble outlines.

Classroom Ideas: A classroom study of other cultures would be enhanced by this traditional tale and the realization that the same lessons are taught everywhere. Because the moral is clearly stated at the end, it would be a good introduction to theme/moral for younger students.

Rabbit's Snow Dance

Author: James & Joseph Bruchac
Illustrator:   Jeff Newman
Publisher:  Dial
Publication Year: 2012  
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Elizabeth Burr/Wozalla Award honor,

Summary:  An Iroquois pourquoi tale that tells about Rabbit, who was short on patience, and couldn't wait for the snow to come. Even though it's summertime and the other animals are ready for cold weather, Rabbit does his dance ("I will make it snow, AZIKANAPO!"). The snow comes and Rabbit just keeps going until he has to take a nap. When he awakes, he has an accident that explains why Rabbit has a small tail today! The illustrations are amazing line drawings and the colors are beautiful.

Classroom Ideas: The retelling of a traditional story is ripe for a classroom/library study of pourquoi tales. Rabbit is a perfect character for studying the effects of his impatience and perhaps the lesson he learned (moral).

It Jes' happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw

Author: Don Tate
Illustrator:   R. Gregory Christie
Publisher: 
Publication Year:  
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Lee & Low New Voice Award, Booklist Top Biographies, Ezra Jack Keats New Writer honor, Kirkus Best Book, Booklist Best Book, Bank Street College Best Books

Summary:  Bill Traylor grew up as a slave in the cotton fields in Alabama. His family worked as sharecroppers after the Civil War was over, and Bill saved the memories of that lifetime as he grew older. After his wife died, he became a homeless resident of Birmingham living off the kindness of others. Finally, in 1939 at the age of 85, he began to draw with pencils on scrap papers. Passersby admired his work until a young artist named Charles Shannon began visiting him regularly. He brought Bill art supplies- colored pencils, paints, paintbrushes, and papers. In 1940, Mr. Shannon arranged an exhibition of Bill's paintings in a local gallery, and many people came to appreciate Bill's memories of his life.

Classroom Ideas: Fascinating story of a life lived in slavery and after the Civil War. A theme that involves success being possible at every age.

Extras: Author's note & source listing, Afterward telling the continued story of Bill Traylor's life and the renown that came to him posthumously

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin

Author: Jen Bryant
Illustrator:  Melissa Sweet
Publisher:  Alfred A. Knopf
Publication Year: 2013
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Parents' Choice gold award, Junior Library guild selection, Booklist, Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly & School Library Journal starred reviews

Summary:  The story of African-American artist Horace Pippin (1888-1946). Pippin loved to draw for everyone. When he won an art prize of a box of paints, he began to paint for everyone. When he was in eighth grade, he had to quit school to support his family, but he still loved drawing for people. Even when he joined the army during World War I, he continued drawing pictures for his soldier friends. After he is injured, he returns home and marries but his injury keeps him from working or drawing. Finally, he forced himself to move his injured arm and started painting again. Soon, Horace's paintings became famous and he continued to paint holding his weak arm up with his strong one. The mixed-media collages by Melissa Sweet incorporate many of Horace Pippin's sayings and actual artwork, and the story is incredibly inspiring.

Classroom Ideas: This book is about the World War I era, and the artist was a true hero. The theme of the story is one of perseverance and believing in yourself.

Extras: Historical note that with a biography, author's note, illustrator's note, list of further resources, quotations sources. The endpapers have a map of the museums where Pippin's art can be found in American museums.

Homer

Author & Illustrator:   Elisha Cooper
Publisher:  Greenwillow
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Kirkus Best Book, Booklist & Publisher's Weekly starred reviews

Summary:  The old dog Homer sits on the porch thinking about how he wants to spend his day. He doesn't want to run around the yard with the young dogs, explore the field, walk to the beach, swim, or run. He looks out out a beautiful landscape of ocean and yard, and soon everyone comes and joins him on the porch. As the sun sets, he heads into the house to relax with his family all around. The watercolors are beautiful and absolutely draw the reader into the mood of a dog who's content with his life.

Classroom Ideas: The theme here is one of contentment and old age. The book perfectly captures the mood of the old dog.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Author & Illustrator:   William Joyce
Publisher:  Antheneum
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Kirkus starred review, inspired the Academy Award winning short film

Summary:  Morris Lessmore loves books and then a storm comes and destroys his house and the book that he was writing. (And the illustrations go from color to sepia) He looks up and sees a lovely lady being pulled by flying books (Back to full color now) and she sends him his own flying book. The book takes him to an amazing library where the books are all alive. Morris starts to take care of the library and share the books with everyone. He starts to write his own book again. The years pass until Morris has written the last page of his book. He flies away and a little girl comes and begins to read his finished book.

Classroom Ideas: The book opens with a beautiful metaphor: "His life was a book of his own writing..."  There's also a great deal of alliteration: "happy bit of happenstance" "lovely lady" "festive squadron of flying book"  The whole story is based on personification as the books in the library are alive.

Extras: there is an ipad app as well as a short film based on this book

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

Author: Eric Litwin
Illustrator:   James Dean
Publisher:  Harper
Publication Year:   2012
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Dubuque Picture Book Award, Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Award, ALSC Notable,

Summary:  Pete the cat loves his favorite shirt with its groovy buttons so much that he made up a song about them. As buttons pop off of his shirt, Pete writes a subtraction sentence about it and then modifies his song. When each of the four buttons pops off, Pete notices his belly button and keeps on singing. "I guess it simply goes to show that stuff will come and stuff will go. But do we cry? Goodness, NO! We keep on singing." The brightly colored paintings are childlike and perfectly suited to the book.

Classroom Ideas: This book would be an excellent introduction to subtraction for the youngest readers, and Pete's philosophy teach an excellent message.

Sam, Bangs, & Moonshine

Author & Illustrator:   Evaline Ness
Publisher:  Henry Holt
Publication Year:   1966
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   ALA Notable, Caldecott Medal

Summary:  Sam was a fisherman's daughter who lied all the time. Her father warned her to talk REAL and not MOONSHINE, but she continued to send her neighbor Thomas on wild searches for her pet kangaroo. Unfortunately, one day a search gets Thomas and Sam's cat Bangs stuck on a rock in the middle of high tide. Bangs gets washed into the sea, but he shows back up that night. Sam apologizes to Thomas and gives him a baby gerbil that her father has given her (that looks like a kangaroo!) The illustrations perfectly show the fantasy of Sam's dreams against the reality of the story.

Classroom Ideas: Sam learns the importance of telling the truth and the difference between reality and fantasy. 

Always Room for One More

Author: Sorche Nic Leodhas
Illustrator:   Nonny Hogrogian
Publisher:  Henry Holt
Publication Year:   1965
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Caldecott, ALA Notable

Summary:  Lachie MacLachlan and his wife & his ten "bairns" lived in a "wee house in the heather." He invited every traveler who came by to come and stay with them and promised there was always one room for one more. There is a big party and soon the house is so full that they all tumble out. Then they all work together to build a new house. There is a glossary of Socttish dialect in the back to help readers understand the story. The illustrations are striking-- the backgrounds are beautiful watercolors that use only two colors, a dark green and a beautiful pinkish purple while the figures are made with only back hatched lines.

Classroom Ideas: The theme of the book is about hospitality and being welcome to all. It is a wonderful example of dialect and, of course, of artistic style.

The Treasure

Author & Illustrator:   Uri Shulevitz
Publisher:  Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
Publication Year:   1978
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   Caldecott honor, ALA Notable, NYT Best Illustratred

Summary:  A retelling of a well-known folk tale with a surprising ending. Three times, Isaac has dreams that instruct him to go to the capital and look for treasure under a bridge by the Royal Palace. He walked a long way until he finally reached the bridge but it was always guarded. The captain of the guard laughs when he hears Isaac's story and tells him that he has had the same dream about treasure under the stove of a man named Isaac. When he gets home, he finds the treasure buried under his stove. "Sometimes must travel far to discover what is near."

Classroom Ideas: Asking children to explain this theme would make for an interesting writing exercise. The idea is very abstract, so it would be difficult to put into words. As characters, comparing the Guard Captain to Isaac would be interesting, too.

The Scrambled States of America

Author & Illustrator:   Laurie Keller
Publisher:  Henry Holt
Publication Year:   1998
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, IRA-CBC Children's Choice, Bank Street College Best Book, Publisher's Weekly Best Book

Summary:  When Kansas is in a bad mood because he's bored in the middle of the country, they decide to have a party with all the states. The states decide that they should switch places to see the rest of the country but soon discover that they aren't happy in their new spots (Arizona switches places with South Carolina but doesn't like ocean ruining her hairdo). So they all decide to return home (theme: There's no place like home.)  The collage illustrations are such fun and kids will be loving all the little comments along the way!

Classroom Ideas: Classroom study of the USA- in the back there is a gallery of each state with its nickname, capital, area, and population.

The Secret Plan

Author & Illustrator:   Julia Sarcone-Roach
Publisher:  Knopf
Publication Year: 2009 
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   UBIE award, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book

Summary: Milo the elephant loves playing with his neighbor kittens Henry, Hildy, & Harriet; but Bedtime! always ruins their fun. So Milo come up with plans to thwart bedtime (my favorite is the one where he paints himself with green stripes to match the walls...no one will notice a green painted elephant, will they?) but they still got caught. Finally, Hildy got the idea to sneak into the attic and it worked! But when they get sleepy, they come up with a super secret, silly plan! The gorgeous acrylic paintings pulled me into the world of these sweet friends. The endpapers include blueprints and Morse code, while each spread includes a hidden mouse-- what kid can resist that?

Classroom Ideas: The characters here are sweet-- it's a story of friendship, but also one of a little naughtiness that any kid can relate to. The plans are silly and perhaps kids could come up with their own ideas of how to put off bedtime.

Strega Nona

Author & Illustrator:   Tomie de Paola
Publisher:  Prentice-Hall
Publication Year:   1975
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:     Caldecott Honor Award, ALA Notable Children's Book, Kirkus Choice, Horn Book Honor List, Nakamori Prize, Brooklyn Museum & Public Library Art Books for Children Citation

Summary:  This is a story about Strega Nona, or "Grandma Witch." Big Anthony goes to work for her and she warns him not to touch the pasta pot. When Strega Nona uses the magical pot, Anthony sees part of the spell but not all of it. So, when Anthony tries to use the pot himself to prove to the villagers that it exists, the pot starts to overflow. Pasta begins flowing out of the pot and taking over the village. Finally, Strega Nona returns and ends the spell correctly. For Anthony's punishment, he must eat up all of the pasta and clean up the village! He learns to pay attention to details and that perhaps there's a reason when you're asked not to do something.

Classroom Ideas: Students could tell stories about times that they disobeyed or didn't listen to details and got in trouble. Big Anthony is a rich character-- what kind of person is he and how would you describe him?

Spinster Goose: Twisted Rhymes for Naughty Children

Author: Lisa Wheeler
Illustrator:   Sophie Blackall
Publisher:  Antheneum
Publication Year:   2011
Location: Knox County Public Library- Lawson McGhee

Awards:   Bank Street Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Best Books

Bank Street Best Books of the Year
Great Lakes Great Books Master List (MI)
Kirkus Best Children's Book
- See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.net/Spinster-Goose/Lisa-Wheeler/9781416925415#sthash.cbfb5gmj.dpuf

Summary:  The conceit behind this collection of poetry is that Mother Goose sends bad children to the reform school run by Spinster Goose.  ("Bean after bean, the kids turn green. They sweat, and shake, and drool. As stomachs turn, the kiddies learn the motto: Life is Gruel.")

Classroom Ideas: There is, of course, rhyme and rhythm in these poems. The vocabulary is quite rich and sophisticated for the intended audience (mottled, abhor, sordid, bleak). The theme will absolutely appeal to children who completely agree that misbehaving children should get what's coming to them!  ("The pinchers get pinched, and the pokers get poked...") There are also some fun puns included.

Extras: table of contents

Knuffle Bunny

Author & Illustrator:   Mo Willems
Publisher:  Hyperion
Publication Year:   2004
Location: Knox County Public Library- Halls

Awards:   Caldecott Honor, Irma Black Medal,Charlotte Zolotow

Honor, ALA Notable Book,IRA Children's Choice, Child Magazine Best Book, NY Public

Wanda Gag Read Aloud Honor ,CCBC Choice Book ,School Library Journal Best Book, Horn Book Fanfare, Kirkus Review  Editor's Choice


Summary:  Trixie, Daddy & Knuffle Bunny go to the laundromat but disaster strikes when Knuffle Bunny is left behind. Trixie tries everything (she fusses, she bawls, she goes boneless) to show unhappy she is, but Daddy doesn't understand. Trixie's Mommy immediately realizes that Knuffle Bunny is missing and the whole family runs back to the laundromat. Daddy finds Knuffle Bunny in the bottom of the washer and then Trixie says her first words, "Knuffle Bunny!" This book always gets to me because my daughter had a beloved Lambie who now lives in a hotel room in Alaska! Willems's groundbreaking technique of inserting his sketches into true photographs of NYC was used for the first time in this book.

Classroom Ideas: The familiar themes would appeal to any young reader. An art teacher could introduce the artistic technique here and have kids try it for themselves.