Nonfiction

Review: The Quite Contrary Man by Patricia Rusch Hyatt

| Tasha

quite contrary man

The Quite Contrary Man: A True American Tale by Patricia Rusch Hyatt, illustrated by Kathryn Brown

In 19th-century New England when people lived and dressed plainly, Joseph Palmer most certainly did not.  It was his beard that made him different, since all the other men were clean shaven.  But Joseph did not just have a normal beard, his was huge, long and wide.  His neighbors were scandalized and tried to shame him into shaving, eventually trying to shave him by force.  His attackers headed to court before Joseph could get there and claimed that he had attacked them.  The judge fined him $10, but Joseph refused to pay it.  So he was jailed for a full year.  The rule in the jail was that prisoners had to be clean shaven, and you can guess how that went with Joseph.  As the tale twists and turns, readers will be in turns inspired by Joseph Palmer’s strength of conviction and appalled by the system that persecuted him.

Hyatt has found a true story that really speaks to what being an American means, down to the most basic rights of deciding how you appear.  While modern children may be shocked by the fact that beards were scandalous, this is a great book to start discussions about what sorts of things are taboo today that may also not make any sense.  Hyatt’s writing is engaging and rollicking.  The spirit of the book matches Palmer’s own strength and humor.

Brown’s illustrations are done in fine lines and soft colors.  They depict the glory of Palmer’s beard with enthusiasm.  On alternate pages, she creates a rustic frame from illustrations of branches tied together with vines, which adds to the feeling of the book being set in an earlier time.

An American hero, Joseph Palmer’s is an inspiring story of a regular man who stood up for his rights.  He would also make an intriguing hero to discuss in units.  Appropriate for ages 6-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Review: Celebritrees by Margi Preus

| Tasha

celebritrees

Celebritrees: Historic and Famous Trees of the World by Margi Preus, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

This book carries readers through the stories of fourteen “celebritrees” which have made a name for themselves.  Many of the tress are very old, some are special in different ways, and all are fascinating.  Here you will visit Methuselah, the oldest known single living organism on earth, and General Sherman, the biggest living inhabitant of earth, and Hyperion, the tallest tree in the world.  There are trees famous for events around them, trees that have objects stuck in them, and even a tree that owns itself.  This is an inviting book of trees that is a pleasure to spend time in.

Preus paints pictures of moments in history to help tell the amazing stories of these trees.  From the events they witnessed to the events they were at the heart of, the trees are much more than simply largest, oldest, and tallest.  Here they have stories that bring them fully to life. 

Gibbon’s art has a simplicity that is almost that of folk art.  There is a richness to the color palette and a flatness to the perspective.  The trees are central to the art, as they should be, and the book celebrates them in browns and greens.

It is great fun to wander through this a veritable forest of famous trees.  Enjoy the journey, I certainly did!  Appropriate for ages 7-10.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston

| Tasha

butterfly is patient

A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

This third book in their series together continues the beautiful detail and natural information of A Seed Is Sleepy and An Egg Is Quiet.  Here the subject is butterflies and the book begins with the egg and caterpillars, moving quickly into metamorphosis with the clear knowledge of where exactly children will be intrigued.  The book speaks to butterflies’ roles in pollination as well as their camouflage, drinking, and poisonous capabilities.  Readers will be intrigued with the scaly close-up of a butterfly wing and with the long-travels of the migrating monarch.  This book is full of great details that will have everyone understanding that butterflies are many things as well as lovely to look at.

Aston and Long create books that have readers lingering.  When I share them with my son, we take our time on the pages, talking about our favorite names of the butterflies, our favorite caterpillars, the most lovely butterflies.  He has used the fact about butterfly scales on their wings at least twice in conversations I have overheard since we read this.  When we found a dead monarch in our driveway, he was elated to be able to touch the wing and talked about how it felt “as soft as air” for a long time afterwards.

These are gateway to science books, offering just the right tone and perfectly selected facts.  Add the illustrations that are large, interesting and filled with details.  You now have the ideal package to get children interested in the nature right in their own backyards.

If you haven’t read any of these books, run to your library and get them!  This is one gorgeous and inviting look at butterflies.  Appropriate for ages 6-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Review: Magic Trash by Jane Shapiro

| Tasha

magic trash

Magic Trash: A Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art by J. H. Shapiro, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This is the life story of Tyree Guyton.  Tyree grew up in Detroit in a large family.  He was always picking up stray objects and creating things with them.  At age nine, Tyree decided he wanted to be an artist.  But as the years passed, he worked many jobs, none of them artistic.  When he returned back home, his street has changed from a bustling neighborhood into a stretch of dilapidated  houses.  So Tyree went to work, painting everything he could find.  Houses got polka dots, bright colors were everywhere, found objects were incorporated.  But not everyone loved Tyree’s work, they considered it garbage.  Houses were knocked down by the city, until finally after years, Tyree’s art was safe.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Heidelberg Project, certainly something to celebrate!

Shapiro has written this book with a sparkle and jazz that suits the subject.  Her storytelling is impressive as she creates moods that change from one page to the next as the story progresses.  She weaves in rhyming lines at times, adding to the distinctive feel of her words.

Brantley-Newton’s art is done in mixed media, incorporating found objects, torn pages filled with words, painting, pattern and texture.  Her art is bright, beautiful and vibrant.  Against the distinctive backgrounds, her characters stand out with great charm.

A look at street art that is part of the street, this book will be enjoyed by art teachers and budding young artists alike.  Appropriate for ages 6-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Charlesbridge.

Review: Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner

| Tasha

bugs by the numbers

Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss

The creators of Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types return with a bug book where it is all done by the numbers.  After an energetic introduction, readers turn pages to see bugs made up of numbers.  The numbers have special reference to that insect, whether it is the number of legs, number of eyes, or how far they can jump.  The design of the book is eye-catching and very engaging.  The ground is bright colors that change from page to page and the bulk of the numbers are explained there.  But other pages have large flaps that open:  wood for the termites, a tree for the walking stick, and leaves for the caterpillar.  This is a vibrant book that will have everyone engrossed in learning facts about bugs.

The typographical design is truly amazing with the insects fully rendered in numbers, used in different sizes and amounts of boldness.  The backgrounds are primarily white with large areas of color, leaving the detail to the insects themselves.  It is a strong design that is intriguing and great fun.

This book worked particularly well read-aloud, which is something I had not expected.  The facts read naturally and provide lots of opportunities for further discussion.  There are facts that are well known and others that are strange and intriguing.  It makes for a great book for kids to nod along that they know the information and then in the next sentence to be learning something new.

A great bug book, this deserves a place in every public library.  I know it will be one of my picks for holiday presents for any nature-loving kid.  Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

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Book Review: The Mangrove Tree by Susan L. Roth

| Tasha

mangrove tree

The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore

This book tells the true story of Dr. Gordon Sato in picture book format.  The village of Hargigo in the African country of Eritrea was dry and the animals could not find enough to eat.  Dr. Sato had the idea of planting mangrove trees on the shore of the salty Red Sea.  The trees can survive the salt and would give women in the village a way to earn money close to home from planting the trees.  The trees also help by giving off oxygen too.  The goats and sheep ate the leaves from the trees and grew stronger, living longer and having healthier babies.  The mangrove trees also changed the habitat along the shore, creating hiding places for sea creatures that helped the fish grow larger and the fishermen improve their catch.  This is the story of Dr. Sato, who through science changed the lives of people not only in Hargigo, but around the world.

Trumbore has written a clever dual story here.  On one side of the page, a simple cumulative story is told of the mangrove trees by the sea.  On the other side, readers get much more detailed information about the science and impact of the planting of the trees.  Finally, at the end of the book, readers can see photographs of the actual villagers, the trees and Dr. Sato. 

Roth’s illustrations are eye-catching and inventive.  Using collage, she has created such texture, color, and natural feel.  Her illustrations have depth, showing the people at work, giving individual coats to the sheep and goats, and celebrating the bright colors the people wear.  It is a very rich illustration that celebrates the setting and the work that went into the project.

Highly recommended, this book is a beautiful mix of nonfiction and picture book that is ideal for elementary science about the environment.  It celebrates the impact that one man can have on the world, inspiring youth to think about what they can contribute too.  Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by BookDragon.

Book Review: The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss

| Tasha

bravest woman in america

The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss, illustrated by Andrea U’Ren

Ida Lewis loved the sea, from the crash of the waves to the bite of the ocean air.  When her father got a job as a lighthouse keeper, she was thrilled.  He had to cross back and forth twice a day to check the light, and he took Ida with him, teaching her how to row.  He also taught her to care for the lamp and how to rescue people without capsizing herself.  When Ida turned 15, her family moved out to live next to the lighthouse.  Ida dreamed of becoming the keeper herself one day.  That day came early when her father got ill and could no longer care for the lighthouse.  So Ida helped more and more.  Though she had never rescued anyone, she rowed out to save some boys in a sailboat that capsized.  It took all of her determination and strength to save them, but she did.

This book works on so many levels.  It is a true story about a real hero who defied what society expected of her and became what she dreamed of.  Additionally, it is the story of a girl who was strong, brave and amazing.  A girl who relied on her own strength and wits to save others rather than to be rescued herself.  Beautiful. 

Moss writes the story with drama and action, yet is never heavy handed.  She builds up to the accident nicely, showing it happen and then building to the climax of the rescue.  This is an rescue story that will have readers cheering.

U’Ren’s art is done in watercolor, ink and acrylic.  The colors are deep and lovely, from the changing colors of the sky to the blues and greens of the water that change with the storm.  Ida Lewis is always shown as a young lady, never masculinized at all.  It adds to the charm and drama of the story.

Highly recommended, this is a great book choice for women’s history units or for any child to learn that girls are heroes too.  Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from copy received from Tricycle Press.

Book Review: Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale

| Tasha

bringonthebirds

Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale

This is a bright and bold picture book about birds.  Written in simple, rhyming text, the book is a celebration of the diversity of birds around the world.  It shows birds of different sizes, colors and habitats.   Some are active, others sitting, and still others hang upside down.  There is a section at the end of the book that has more information on each bird as well as a list of nonfiction titles about birds for children to explore. 

The text here is so simple that it glides past.  The rhythm and rhyme is gentle and unifies the book.  The illustrations are the glory of the book offering simple backgrounds that the birds shine against.  Even in their simplicity, the illustrations manage to convey the birds’ habitat and size. 

Definitely not for the birds, this is a very successful nonfiction picture book for young readers.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from copy received from Peachtree Publishers.

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Book Review: Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz

| Tasha

meetbedlamfarm

Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz

This is the very engaging story of the four dogs who live with the author at Bedlam Farm.  Each of the dogs has a particular job that they do and do well.  All except for Lenore, she doesn’t have a clear job to do.  Rose, a border collie, helps out with farm chores like herding sheep.  Izzy is also a border collie, and his job is to visit people who are sick as a therapy dog.  Frieda, part rottweiler and par German shepherd, guards the farm, even chasing the farm cats up trees.  But what does Lenore do?  Lenore reminds Rose that it is OK to play.  She showed Izzy how to live in a house and eat from a bowl.  She shows Frieda how to be friendlier.  She has the most important job of all, creating a family from the individual dogs.

Katz has captured the personality of each of his dogs in both his writing and his photographs.  He tells the story of each of the dogs, how they came to live at the farm, and portrays the jobs that each of them have.  The book is engagingly written with a repeating question of “But what is Lenore’s job” at the end of each section on another dog.  The details of their lives are funny, touching and underline the connection of this family of canines.

An ideal addition to any public library, this book will fly off the shelves and into the hands of dog lovers.  Happily, it is also a nonfiction book that will work when shared aloud, so consider it for your next dog-themed story time.  Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Henry Holt & Company.

Also reviewed by BookDragon.

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