When aviator James Banning and mechanic Thomas Allen flew across the United States from Los Angeles to New York in 1932, they encountered ridicule, mechanical difficulties, bad weather, and prejudice. For they were the first African Americans to make a transcontinental flight. Illustrations that capture the emotions of the main characters give this story its personal feel within the context of history. The text brings forth their determination in the face of many obstacles, as well as the adventurous spirit that kept them going. The book puts readers in the seat of that early aircraft to make them feel the heat and the wind, to see the scenery of America, to feel hunger when they were not allowed to eat in restaurants, and to hear each other call “Hallelujah” whenever they made a good landing. This fictionalized version about real people and a real event will introduce Banning and Allen to children for whom this story will be an inspiration and a high-flying adventure.
Blake, Robert J. 6–9 years
SWIFT
Illustrated by Robert J. Blake
New York: Philomel/Penguin, 2007 | 978-0-399-23383-8
Looking for heart-pounding action? This story, set in the wilderness of Alaska, brings it on—with intensity. A bear attacks a boy and his father. Pa, with a broken leg, sends Johnnie and his dog, Swift, off for help. A snowstorm, a fall in a river, and that now-wounded bear are just a few of the terrors they must face. Realistic oil paint illustrations capture the forest and tundra, as well as the pain, cold, and fear. Endpapers showing the routes taken by Pa and Johnnie will appeal to listeners who enjoy maps. Those who oppose hunting may not be able to get past the scenes of both the boy and his father with guns, but those who are willing to accept this reality of the setting will find a story of faithfulness, growing up, and the human-animal bond. The author’s note at the end recounts his experience with, and information about, homesteading families in Alaska.
Brown, Peter 4–8 years
THE CURIOUS GARDEN
Illustrated by Peter Brown
New York: Little, Brown, 2009 | 978-0-316-01547-9
Imagine going from a smoky and drab cityscape to a green and flowery one. That progression happens from the first page spread to the last in this story of Liam, who decides to take care of a few plants. He starts small, watering and pruning the sad specimens on an abandoned railroad track. But soon the garden spreads, and eventually other people join in and transform the city. The illustrations, acrylic and gouache, range from small, quarter-page, and unframed, to multiple framed illustrations on a page, to full two-page spreads. Several pages show the expansion of the garden with illustration only. The text, quiet and matter-of-fact, reflects Liam’s personality. The illustrations add information, such as Liam singing to his plants, which is not explicitly stated in the text. The change of seasons occurs, and even winter keeps the hero of the story busy with plans for planting in the spring. Brown adds a touch of whimsy with the illustrations of topiary animal shapes. A must-read for gardeners and conservationists who hope to pass on their love of growing things to a younger generation.
Bunting, Eve 5–8 years
POP’S BRIDGE
Illustrated by C. F. Payne
Orlando: Harcourt, 2006 | 978-0-15-204773-3
This book takes a fictional look at historical fact—the building of the Golden Gate Bridge—witnessed through the eyes of a young boy whose father works on its construction. He and his friend, Charlie Shu, whose father is a painter on the bridge, observe its construction, a terrible accident, and its completion while watching over their fathers with binoculars. The illustrations, full one- and two-page spreads, show both the scenes of the huge project and the up-close emotions of the boys. The faces of these characters, plus others in crowd scenes, offer fascinating detail, capturing the feel of the 1930s. The first-person text perfectly blends the personal—a son’s pride, worry, and elation—with the big picture. Fascinating perspectives, such as the reflection of the bridge in the binoculars in one such scene, make the illustrations noteworthy. A note from the author with further information about the construction of the bridge concludes the book.
Chen, Jiang Hong 5–10 years
LITTLE EAGLE
Translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick
Illustrated by Chen Jiang Hong
New York: Enchanted Lion, 2007978-1-59270-071-4
First published in France, this captivating book takes readers to China, where Master Yang rescues an abandoned orphan. Lyrical storytelling combines with magnificent illustration as the young boy discovers that his guardian is a master of eagle boxing, a form of kung fu. The boy becomes Little Eagle, training with the master for years. Gorgeous art depicts all phases of his life; an especially evocative series over two pages displays the exercises he performs during each of the four seasons, each in a different hue. As the master ages and the two enter into battle with their enemy, the action peaks. It ends as one generation passes on to the next. The large size of the book makes it a natural for reading aloud, although children who are into any of the martial arts will enjoy paging through it on their own. Follow the real eagle throughout the book, his presence a symbol of courage and discipline.
Connor, Leslie 4–9 years
MISS BRIDIE CHOSE A SHOVEL
Illustrated by Mary Azarian
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004 | 978-0-618-30564-3
Beautiful woodcut illustrations lend an old-fashioned feel to this fictional story of a young woman who leaves her home in 1856, travels to a new land by boat, and builds a life for herself, all with the help of a shovel. The cover illustration portrays the title character setting off with shovel in hand, and every illustration throughout the book includes the shovel. Each illustration is bordered in black, with the text outside of the border or, in some cases, in a black-bordered box within the illustration containing and picking up the black outlines of the woodcuts. This book could be used as supplementary material in social studies, with its scenes of life from the second half of the nineteenth century. Emigration, a woman’s life span from teenager to grandmother, rural living, love and loss—all these themes combine in this rich story.
Conway, David 4–8 years
LILA AND THE SECRET OF RAIN
Illustrated by Jude Daly
London: Frances Lincoln, 2008 | 978-1-84507-407-4
Readers and listeners will almost feel the heat of the atmosphere in this story, in which a Kenyan village teeters on the verge of drought. Lila worries, especially after hearing her mother talk about consequences of no rain, so she consults with her grandfather. Acting on a story he relates, she climbs to the top of a mountain and begins to tell the saddest things she knows. With a welcome onset of rain, the people of her village celebrate. Dry-dust browns dominate the illustrations, with a large golden sun in the daytime pictures. The reader views the scenes as if from far off, enhancing the feel that this takes place far away. Stories told by the grandfather and Lila appear in gray with splashes of red, providing a contrast to the warm colors of the majority of the illustrations. The text, beautiful in language, gathers the reader in and makes the ending believable. In combination with the art, it becomes a total package that will transport listeners to the African desert.
Cooper, Elisha 4–9 years
BEACH
Illustrated by Elisha Cooper
New York: Orchard/Scholastic, 2006 | 978-0-439-68785-0
Interesting perspectives make this illustrated story of a day at the beach memorable. Taking the long view, the artist shows the beach gradually filling with people at the beginning and emptying out at the end. In between, small watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, sometimes more than two dozen to a page, illustrate sunbathers, swimmers, animals, clouds, boats, and more in what is almost a sketchbook of all that an artist can observe. It is as if that artist were sitting on a hill looking at the beach and painting, giving a plein air feeling. While the drawings exhibit an undetailed, almost unfinished look, they go well with the text, which is detailed in its observations, except for a few pages t
hat are wordless. The large-size format of the book affords plenty of room for all the illustrations, lots to look at, and a good size for sharing with a group.
Cooper, Ilene 6–9 years
THE GOLDEN RULE
Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
New York: Abrams, 2007 | 978-0-8109-0960-1
All the major faith traditions follow some version of the Golden Rule, and in this story, a young boy, in talking with his grandfather, discovers what this is and how to put it into practice. Impressionistic illustrations incorporating the symbols of various faiths provide a thoughtful and rich visual experience. Drawings of angels, animals, Hindu gods, Madonna and child, and decorative elements surround the boy and his grandfather. Especially moving is their dialogue about war, when soldiers and knights and airplanes in moody black-and-white sketches fill the two-page spread. A wonderfully evocative introduction to this concept for the young. Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Native American forms of the Golden Rule are included.
Da Costa, Deborah 6–10 years
SNOW IN JERUSALEM
Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman, 2001 | 978-0-8075-7525-3 | paper
Avi, a young boy who lives in the Jewish quarter, and Hamudi, a young boy of the Muslim quarter, both believe that a white cat who occasionally visits belongs to him alone. When Avi follows the cat one day, he discovers Hamudi, and the two boys argue about ownership of the animal. A rare snow in their city leads them to follow the suddenly missing cat, and they track down her kittens. Muted colors with rich textures capture the streets of Jerusalem and two of its quarters. Note the realistic facial expressions of the boys. An author’s note provides more information about the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. A glossary lists pronunciations and definitions for the Hebrew and Arabic words in the text. This beautifully told and illustrated story serves as an introduction to this part of the world and as a story about problem solving.
Ehlert, Lois 4–8 years
LEAF MAN
Illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Orlando: Harcourt, 2005 | 978-0-15-205304-8
From the forms of the leaves to the colors and shapes of the pages, this book presents a complete package of the wonders of fall leaves. In Ehlert’s author’s note, she describes her passion for collecting leaves from all over; color copies of them became the illustrations. Her clever positioning turns them into chickens and pumpkins, cows and carrots, as well as the Leaf Man. Exquisite textures and sumptuous colors of orange, gold, brown, and green take the reader into a fall day no matter what the weather outside. The upper edges of the pages, die-cut into scallops and scoops and zigzags, create the mountains, meadows, forests, and rivers of the story setting. The text flows, matching the ever-moving course of the book and the floating Leaf Man. A unique and lovely book to fall into.
Elliott, David 4–8 years
IN THE WILD
Illustrated by Holly Meade
Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2010 | 978-0-7636-4497-0
A collection of poems, each focused on one animal, make up this gorgeously illustrated picture book. The animals represent many habitats and continents, from the lion that begins the book to the polar bear that ends it. Each two-page spread features one animal and its poem, which ranges from four lines to thirteen. The illustrations—woodblock prints and watercolor—depict the animals large and in motion for the most part. The physical size of the book makes it ideal for sharing in a group setting. A wonderful cross-curricular source, this book could be used in science, language arts classes studying poetry, and nature studies. It is also sure to be a favorite for students who want to look at it on their own and enjoy the beauty of the art and the animals.
Evans, Freddi Williams 5–9 years
HUSH HARBOR: PRAYING IN SECRET
Illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks
Minneapolis: Carolrhoda, 2008 | 978-0-8225-7965-6| library binding
Secret meeting locations where African American slaves can worship as they please, free from the eyes of their overseers, become places of refuge and hope in this story. A young boy is deemed old enough to be entrusted as lookout during worship. Through his eyes and ears, readers and listeners see the fieldwork, listen to the old stories, discover a runaway, and hear the singing and prayers for freedom. Expressionistic illustrations in rich browns, greens, and reds convey the experiences of young Simmy and the other slaves. The text focuses on characters, such as Uncle Sol, Simmy’s mother, and Mama Aku, giving a personal touch to history. With its compelling story and informational author’s note, this book would be an excellent supplementary source for social studies. Hush Harbor offers an affecting look at the religious life of slaves, which is not usually covered in picture books as thoroughly as other aspects of their lives.
Fern, Tracey E. 4–9 years
BUFFALO MUSIC
Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
New York: Clarion, 2008 | 978-0-618-72341-6
From late nineteenth-century Texas comes this historical fiction based on a real pioneer woman who took in orphaned baby buffalo, nursed them to health and maturity, and eventually sent them off to national parks and wildlife refuges. Told in first person, the story reveals Molly’s motivation for saving buffalo clearly and with a bit of humor. The illustrations depict the hard work of farming and ranching, the devastation of the buffalo kills, and the heartwarming appearance of the buffalo calves. An author’s note provides information on Mary Ann Goodnight, the real woman behind the story, plus sources for further information.
Fleming, Candace 5–9 years
BOXES FOR KATJE
Illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen
New York: Melanie Kroupa/Farrar Straus Giroux, 2003 | 978-0-374-30922-0
Based on events in post–World War II Europe, this story captures the excitement and gratitude of a Dutch girl receiving a box containing soap, socks, and chocolate from young Rosie in Indiana. A correspondence between the two ensues, and more boxes arrive for Katje and the cold and hungry people of her town. Exuberant illustrations depict the emotions of the characters; insets of square illustrations, often with handwritten letters, look like photographs that convey what is happening on both sides of the Atlantic. The pages become fuller as the story proceeds, reflecting the bigger, more numerous boxes and the explosion of Rosie’s project to include many other people in her town who want to help. The ending, in which the Dutch people send tulip bulbs to their American friends, is just perfect.
Fletcher, Susan 6–10 years
DADBLAMED UNION ARMY COW
Illustrated by Kimberly Bulcken Root
Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 2007 | 978-0-7636-2263-3
A combination of the serious and the lighthearted, this story puts a fictional spin on the historical cow that traveled with the Union Army. During the Civil War, a young man enlists and his cow follows him through marches and battles and even his hospital stay. Although a lot of trouble, she also provides milk and winter warmth to the soldiers. Pencil-and-watercolor illustrations do this cow justice: she and the men show a wide range of emotions in the variety of situations pictured. An author’s note concludes the book with information about the real cow. And just to remind readers who the most important character is, a painted expanse of textured cowhide makes up the endpapers.
Franco, Betsy 3–7 years
BIRDSONGS
Illustrated by Steve Jenkins
New York: Margaret K. McElderry/Simon & Schuster, 2007 | 978-0-689-87777-3
A book about birds. A counting book. A wonderful example of collage illustration. All these descriptions suit Birdsongs, which is framed by the rising of the sun at the beginning to its setting at the end. In between, readers meet ten different species of birds, each of which fills the page—either singly or in a flock—and which voices (in written words) its distinctive sound. The text of these coos and caws and quacks surround and in some cases cover the birds, in a different font siz
e and usually in a different color from the main text. In descending order from ten to one, these sound words and the birds spread over each set of two pages accompanied by a tree, a nest, a feeder, or other habitat. At the end, after the sun sets, the mockingbird appears to mimic the other birdcalls, all of which appear on the page around her. A concluding section called “Feathery Facts” presents information about the birds shown. Large illustrations, full of color and texture—as well as the possibility of some creative sounds—make this ideal for a read-aloud.
Frank, John 6+ years
HOW TO CATCH A FISH
Illustrated by Peter Sylvada
New Milford, CT: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook, 2007 | 978-1-59643-163-8
From Tobago to Florida, from Ireland to Japan, fishing takes a variety of forms in this collection of poems, which visits thirteen places in all. The words express beautifully the techniques for catching fish, usually a certain type of fish, and in a very up-close manner; the reader or listener will feel as if he or she is right there. The illustrations in impressionistic style match the beauty of the text. The colors include more than the expected blue or green of the sea; colors of sunrise and sunset, plus reds in clothes and lighthouse also appear. Each picture is labeled with the type of fishing depicted (ice fishing, surf casting, spearfishing, dip-netting, etc.) and the place where it occurs. The book concludes with a child and father fishing, a nice personal touch.
George, Jean Craighead 4–8 years
THE LAST POLAR BEAR
Illustrated by Wendell Minor
New York: Laura Geringer/HarperCollins, 2009 | 978-0-06-124067-6
Writer George and illustrator Minor, both prolific in their fields, take readers to the Arctic in this story that combines a dreamlike encounter and the stark realism of climate change. Young Tigluk meets a polar bear that seems to want him to follow her. With his grandmother’s help, Tigluk journeys to a remote area of the Arctic Ocean, where he discovers what the mother bear wanted him to find. Beautifully textured artwork depicts the blue-white of snowy skies, the yellow-gray of the polar bear, and different colors of the ocean. The double-page spreads of the ocean journey present moving scenes: Tigluk and his grandmother paddling their kayak in a sunset-orange ocean, a huge walrus with a baby on the shore of a blue sea with pink and yellow sky, and a large polar bear head peeking out of the green water. Beautifully rendered visuals combine with a text that blends an exciting story and timely message.
Picture Books for Children Page 11
