Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
Along a Long Road by Frank Viva (Little Brown, 2011) is a simply illustrated story about a man riding a bike down a long road. The illustrations are somewhat subdued graphic designs. The book uses only a few colors and a few words on each two-page spread to create a world, road, and people to
Although I’d never before heard of the collagist Romare Bearden, the fictionalized account his inspiration was not only interesting, well written, and creatively illustrated, but I’m now quite interested in the artist himself. My Hands Sing the Blues: Roman Bearden’s Childhood Journey by Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (Marshall Cavendish, 2011) reveals a blues-like rhythm
Tashi’s grandfather Popola is very ill in Tashi and the Tibetan Flower Cure by Naomi C. Rose (Lee and Low, 2011), but after reflecting on her grandfather’s stories of the traditional Tibetan healing power of being out in a garden, Tashi decides to help him get well by surrounding him with flowers, even in the American world they
Cinderella: An Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani and illustrated by Shireen Adams (The Islamic Foundation, 2011) is simply what the title indicates: a retelling of the Cinderella story using an Islamic context. I am not as familiar with Islamic traditions as I am with Hispanic or Judeo-Christian traditions and so forth, and this book was
Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Patterson and Pamela Dalton (Chronicle, 2011) is one that I love for its simple beauty, although I can’t get my son (age 4) interested in it at all. A retelling of a hymn of praise by St. Francis of Assisi, Brother Sun, Sister Moon is made spectacular by the careful cut-paper illustrations which
Baby Santa and the Lost Letters by M. Maitland DeLand (illustrated by Phil Wilson; Greenleaf, 2011) is a rather silly tale of how Santa’s son (Baby Santa) saves Christmas by finding the missing Christmas letters, which had been sent to the South Pole instead of the North Pole. This stood out to me because it emphasizes world
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (Chronicle, 2011) captures the fascinating natural worlds below the snow. As a child cross-country skis with her father, she learns about the animals hiding underneath her feet. In beautiful illustrations, the over and under natural worlds are revealed. Raisin loved finding the mice, bears, bullfrogs, and so forth in
In Little Pig Joins the Band by David Hyde Costello (Charlesbridge, 2011), Little Pig does not feel like he fits in with his family, and he does not like being called “Little Pig.” When his family pulls out some instruments and starts getting a band ready, Little Pig wonders where he can fit in. After
In Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Julie Fortenberry (Holiday House, 2011), young Danny asks his mother a series of “what if?” questions, particularly about Danny joining a ship full of pirates. For each question, his mother has a way to bring him home safely again. Reminiscent of Margaret Wise Brown’s classic The Runaway Bunny, Pirate Boy likewise reassures
In Lola’s Fandango by Anna Witte, illustrated by Micha Archer (Barefoot Books, 2011), the young Lola wants to be like her talented, beautiful older sister. When she discovers that her mother once was a talented flamenco dancer, she is determined to learn to dance too. With her father’s help, she masters the skills needed and
In Ella May and the Wishing Stone by Cary Fagan and illustrated by Geneveive Cote (Tundra, 2011), Ella May believes herself to be extra important today since she found a specially marked rock during her day at the beach. To her surprise, her friends are not happy for her, but jealous. When no one wants
Subway Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach (Knopf, 2011) tells the story of Jessie, one particular subway car built in the 1960s for the subways of New York City. She loves her life of carrying people around the city, but as the years go by, she becomes one of many outdated city cars. After years of neglect, she was
Page [tcb_pagination_current_page] of [tcb_pagination_total_pages]
