HONOR BOOKS
A Place Inside of Me by Noa Denmon, written by Zetta Elliott
The Cat Man of Aleppo by Yuko Shimizu, written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha
Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Outside In by Cindy Derby, written by Deborah Underwood
WINNER
We Are Water Protectors by Michaela Goade, written by Carole Lindstrom
Picture books kept me going this year during the pandemic. So many of them were marvelous reads, written by ownvoices authors, and powerfully showing the experiences of children in our world today. Here are my picks for the best of the year, though the list could be so much longer!
All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrated by Bryan Collier (9781338574852)
“This book grounds children, showing they matter and that Black people matter, period.”
The Barnabus Project by The Fan Brothers (9780735263260)
“This is the first time that all three Fan brothers have worked on a book together. If they make things this great as a team, they should keep on working with one another.”
Being Frog by April Pulley Sayre (9781534428812)
“It’s a picture book distinctly from a human point of view, wondering about nature and giving space for those moments of thought for both the reader and the frog alike.”
Birrarung Wilam by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy (9781536209426)
“The writing embraces the Aboriginal words, creating swirling and flowing lines of text that move like the river itself. Reading it aloud really lets the words sing out, evoking a place full of natural wonders.”
Black Is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy, illustrated by Ekua Holmes (9781626726314)
“Joy’s writing is powerful, singing on the page like a hymn. She writes simply but with great imagery and drawing in references to powerful African-Americans along the way.”
The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl (9781984893369)
“The focus here is on quality of life rather than wealth, on home rather than real estate, on love rather than land.”
The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann (9781536207361)
“The picture book reads more like a comic book with panels and lots of speech bubbles. The Black family at the heart of the book gives it a fresh and inclusive take on being outside.”
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, illustrated by Sonia Sanchez (9781536207040)
“This is an entire world of apartments and friendship.”
Every Color of Light by Hiroshi Osada, illustrated by Ryoji Arai, translated by David Boyd (9781592702916)
“Illustrated with glorious paintings that show nature and the changing light, the book shimmers and shines. The changing light sweeps on the pages bringing sun shafts, pink lightning strikes, dark night, and a bright moon.”
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, Gordon C. James (9780525518778)
“This is a book all about empowerment, of seeing your own identity and holding it clear against what society may say about you. It’s a book that all children need, but Black boys most of all, as they are targeted and threatened by the world they live in.”
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith (9780823445592)
“The words around the boy in the morning connect with his inability to speak at times, the pine trees sticking out from his lips, the crow cawing from his throat, the moonlight shining from his mouth. Each of these gives readers a new way to experience a stutter, each beautiful and haunting.”
If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall (9781452137797)
“Each item is marveled at for a bit, rather like picking up a gem and then moving on to the next amazing jewel. The entire book is a delight, looking at the earth and at humans as something to be proud of, to care for, and to adore.”
In a Jar by Deborah Marcero (9780525514596)
“There’s a beautiful tension between the beauty on the page and also the normalcy of it all.”
Little Fox by Edward van de Vendel & Marije Tolman (9781646140077)
“Throughout there is a feeling of joy and marvel, such as the memory of licking drops of water off of a deer’s nose. The book is also peppered with smaller moments, blackberries, birds, and orange balls.”
Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera (9781534454217)
“It’s a beautiful look at the small pieces of our days that create such deep connectivity.”
The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khoa Le (9781541561915)
“Yang vividly tells the story of her childhood, inviting readers into her childhood home to see the care and love there.”
My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki (9781534427228)
“A warm look at first friendships.”
My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Francesca Sanna (9780811879101)
“Sanna’s art is bold and lovely, showing a young brown-skinned Earth playfully interacting in the world.”
Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker, illustrated by April Harrison (9780525581130)
“A celebration of diversity that show how openness to being different creates community.”
Nesting by Henry Cole (9780062885920)
“Expect this one to have award buzz, it’s exceptional.”
The Old Truck by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey (9781324005193)
“Delightfully modern and retro, this picture book is very special.”
The Ocean Calls by Tina Cho, illustrated by Jess X. Snow (9781984814869)
“A picture book about resilience, challenges and tradition.”
On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex (9781452181547)
“Hilarious, this is one you are bound to stick with until the end.”
An Ordinary Day by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic (9781481472623)
“Beautifully illustrated and written, this quiet book about death and life is a gem.”
Our Little Kitchen by Jillian Tamaki (9781419746550)
“Positive and kind, this is a community kitchen that everyone will want to join.”
Outside In by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby (9781328866820)
“It’s a book that insists that we not only look outside, but acknowledge our connection to nature and the outdoors and get outside!”
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (9780544707375)
“This picture book is a stellar marriage of story and illustrations.”
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade (9781250203557)
“The importance of standing up and of Native people being visible as modern members of our society is vital here.”
Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera, illustrated by Ana Sender (9781525304774)
“This book not only supports that but explains the complexity of emotions and how they change and develop.”
You Matter by Christian Robinson (9781534421691)
“An anthem for all of us to hold in our hearts.”
I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood, illustrated by Julianna Swaney (9781534430617)
A little girl with cerebral palsy makes a birthday wish that she gets a pink tutu and can dance. When Eva was born, she wasn’t expected to survive more than a short while, but she is now ten years old. She wants to dance but can’t move more than her head and her arms and fingers. Eva can’t use her legs to run and move like other children can. Then her mother discovers a new dance program for people of all ages and all abilities. Still, will they let her join in even though she is in a wheelchair? Yes! When Eva arrives there are children of all sorts of ages, sizes, and who have a variety of assistive devices they use. Soon they are not only dancing but creating a performance where they do more than pretend and imagine. They dance!
At the end of the book, the author explains that a program called Young Dance inspired this picture book. The Executive Director of the Young Dance program also shares information on the program and its opportunities for children of all abilities. This picture book is inspiring on a variety of levels, for children who may think their limitations would prevent them from dancing, certainly. Plus it also shows everyone else not to make assumptions about what is possible and whether a dream can come true. Still, it is based firmly in reality, and as the book points out takes imagination and makes it real.
Swaney’s illustrations are lovely, showing both Eva’s physical limitations and also the beauty and freedom she first sees and then discovers herself in dancing. The use of sparkling energy to show the movement and magic of dance works particularly well.
A book that is inspiring and breaks stereotypes through dance. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from copy provided by Simon & Schuster.
Birrarung Wilam by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy (9781536209426)
Take a journey down the Yarra River near Melbourne, Australia in this Aboriginal picture book that celebrates native creatures and plants. Told using many words from the Woirurrung language, the book is a mixture of evocative language and poetic phrasing. Starting with a starry night sky, the picture book shows the path of the Birrarung as it winds along. It goes past trees where possums make their homes in hollow trees. Rain falls and the bright-blue fairy wren chases insects near his mate. Cockatoos fly past looking for pine cones and their seeds. Kangaroos gather where the river slows and platypus burrow with their babies. Ravens, pelicans, eagles, ducks and more fill the pages alongside the trees, water and river that create this unique ecosystem.
Because they use so many Woirurrung words, the book is almost a word game. The writing embraces the Aboriginal words, creating swirling and flowing lines of text that move like the river itself. Reading it aloud really lets the words sing out, evoking a place full of natural wonders. Here is the opening line to give you a taste of the style:
As ngua rises,
turning clouds over the distant city red,
Bunjil soars over mountain ash,
flying higher and higher as the wind warms.
Below, Birrarung begins its long
winding path down to palem warreen.
The illustrations done in acrylic show the various scenes along the river. They also allow readers to piece together what creatures and plants are being described in the text, finding the platypus, eagles and kangaroos. The illustrations are filled with Aboriginal art touches, the dots and patterns creating ripples of water, breezes and layers of earth.
Enchanting and full of wonders, this picture book is a resounding success. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Reviewed from library copy.
The Cybils are the long-running Bloggers’ Literary Awards given to books for children and teens. I’ll be breaking the finalists into three groupings based on reader age. This first one is for the youngest readers and includes the finalists for Fiction Picture Books, Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books, and Elementary Nonfiction:
FICTION PICTURE BOOK FINALISTS
The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann
Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley
I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James
I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith
In a Jar by Deborah Marcero
The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Pascal Campion
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade
EASY READERS
The Best Seat in First Grade by Katharine Kenah, illustrated by Abby Carter
Cat Has a Plan by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Fred Blunt
King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Nancy Meyers
See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Ty’s Travels: All Aboard! by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Nina Mata (I nominated this one!)
What about Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins
Yasmin the Gardener by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly
EARLY CHAPTER BOOKS
Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business by Lyla Lee, illustrated by Dung Ho
Monster and Boy by Hannah Barnaby, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillo
Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem: Tales from Deckawoo Drive by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
ELEMENTARY NONFICTION
Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
The Fighting Infantryman by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann
The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s Presidents by Kate Messner and Adam Rex
No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History by Lindsay H. Metcalf (Editor), Keila V. Dawson (Editor), Jeanette Bradley (Editor/Illustrator)
The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Duane Smith
Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery by Meeg Pincus, illustrated by Yas Imamura
Here are 16 picture books released this month that are getting starred reviews!
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho
The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership and Legacy by Kekla Magoon, illustrated by Laura Freeman
I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne, illustrated by Julia Kuo
Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara
Moose, Goose, and Mouse by Mordicai Gerstein, illustrated by Jeff Mack
Oona by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
Outside Inside by LeUyen Pham
Over the Shop by Jonarno Lawson, illustrated by Qin Leng
The Passover Guest by Susan Kusel, illustrated by Sean Rubin
Runaway: the Daring Escape of Ona Judge by Ray Anthony Shepard, illustrated by Keith Mallett
Seeking an Aurora by Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Anne Bannock
Ten Beautiful Things by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Time for Kenny by Brian Pinkney
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
We Wait for the Sun by Katie McCabe, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
What’s the Matter Marlo? by Andrew Arnold
Mr. Brown’s Bad Day by Lou Peacock, illustrated by Alison Friend (9781536214369)
Mr. Brown has a very important business job and carries a very important briefcase. He was always busy going to meetings and signing papers. But no matter how busy he is, he always makes time every day to go to the park for lunch with his important briefcase. On this day though, Mr. Brown didn’t notice a little baby grabbing his briefcase. Mr. Brown soon spots his briefcase heading away in a stroller. But before he can reach it, it gets hooked onto an ice cream cart. From the cart, it is soon snagged by a rider on the Ferris wheel. By the time Mr. Brown got through the line and onto the ride, the briefcase was carried onto a bus. Mr. Brown had lost his hat, his jacket and was quite the mess, but he borrowed a tricycle and headed after the bus. After all, his briefcase held very important things. Mr. Brown never caught the bus until it was already stopped at the school. He headed home with his briefcase held close. Once at home, he opened the briefcase to make sure all of his important items were still there. They were! But you may be surprised by what was in the briefcase.
Peacock takes a child’s view of business work in this picture book that is far more about the chase and the briefcase than Mr. Brown’s important work day. The wild chase around a delightful park and then through town is great fun with plenty of anticipation as the Ferris wheel turns or the bus chugs away. Peacock adds tension in the book, some of which is a marvelous surprise when the important contents of the briefcase are revealed.
The illustrations are warm and dynamic. The park is a delightful green, inviting and filled with all sorts of animals enjoying their day outside. There is a sense of community throughout the book, whether it is spending time together in a park or offering a tricycle to a grownup.
A busy book full of friendly animals and one very important briefcase. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Candlewick Press.
111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh, illustrated by Marianne Ferrer (9781525301209)
Part of the Citizen Kid collection, this nonfiction picture book explore the story of how one village in India came to celebrate the birth of girls. Sundar grew up walking with his mother to get water through the heat. until she is killed from a snake bite. After this, Sundar takes comfort in hugging trees, thinking of his mother. Sundar grew up and taught his children to love nature as much as he does. He works for a mining company and grows so worried about what they are doing to the local environment and their unwillingness to plant trees to help that he leaves his job. He runs for election and becomes the head of the village. When his daughter dies, he plants trees in her memory. He has an idea, declaring that every girl born in the village will be welcomed by the planting of 111 trees. Sundar is mocked for this idea that goes against customs, but he does not give up. He steadily speaks with people, convincing them of the impact they could have on the local environment by planting these trees. As the trees grow, life in the village changes. Now the women don’t have to walk long distances to get water, the fruit of the trees help feed the children and families, and girls can go to school with the boys as the gender inequality is overturned.
Singh builds her story with care, showing Sundar’s childhood with his mother and then his loss of her as the deep inspiration for his idea. She demonstrates how one man’s quest to fix the environment can make an enormous difference not just for him but for an entire community, the future of the girls that grow up there, and the quality of life for all. Singh does not lecture, instead showing how resilience and perseverance can eventually pay off. The Author’s Note at the end of the book offers more information on Sundar and the other customs that he has ended, including child marriage.
The illustrations show the changing landscape as the trees are planted. From a desert-like wasteland, the steady increase in trees transforms the landscape and the pages to lush green. The images focus on the interplay between human and nature, showing a community that even when skeptical continued to listen.
An inspiring picture book that tells the true story of one man’s quest to bring back trees and stop gender inequality. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Kids Can Press.
The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrated by Lauren Semmer (9781523507498)
Offer even the smallest children a look at Black history in the United States with this alphabet book. Told in rhyming stanzas, this picture book invites exploration beyond its covers. It begins with A is for anthem, a call for voices to rise in song and to call for freedom. B is for beautiful, with that and other letters, the book speaks to the importance of not listening to voices that put you down. B is also for bright, bold, brave, brotherhood and believing. That use of multiple words continues through the book, offering a feeling that there is so much to say with each letter, so much to do, so much left to accomplish together.
This alphabet book is several things at once. It’s a call to action for people of all ages to vote, to protest, to be heard. It is also a look at history, so there are letters that focus on artists, writers, teachers, scientists, and more. It is also a statement for self-esteem for Black children, to see themselves as valued, beautiful and able to bring change. It’s a book about how much has been accomplished, but also how much is yet to be done. The end of the book is filled with additional information on the people depicted under each letter as well as resources for further exploration.
The art is filled with bright colors. The images are flat, hearkening back to folk art even as it looks forward to the future and change happening. The art is filled with Black people, unknown and famous, full of urban setting and farms, protest signs and portaits.
A colorful and optimistic look at Black history and a call for Black lives to matter in the future. Appropriate for ages 3-7.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Workman Publishing
Waking Brain Cells 