Lauri Fortino's Blog, page 69
March 25, 2015
Never Underestimate the Power of a Picture Book…
Check out this great cause!
Originally posted on Michelle Eastman Books:
I am celebrating the power of picture books through an initiative called #MARCHingBookstoKidshttps://www.facebook.com/PBPiO Please join us by donating a book to a child of an incarcerated parent.
The Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa, Storybook Project is collecting books for children birth-17 years of age. Each month, VNS volunteers record an incarcerated parent reading a book to his/her child. The book and...
March 23, 2015
Picture Books At The Library
In my position as a technical processing assistant at the DeWitt Community Library, I catalog a lot of new picture books. Unfortunately, I cannot review them all, but I do read them all and have assigned a :) to my favorites. Finley Frog’s favorite is marked with a *. Below are a few I’ve cataloged recently. (Whenever possible, summaries have been taken directly from the books.)
:) Dot is about to get a lesson on just how important he is–because there’s a special spot for every dot in this w...
March 16, 2015
Picture Books At The Library
In my position as a technical processing assistant at the DeWitt Community Library, I catalog a lot of new picture books. Unfortunately, I cannot review them all, but I do read them all and have assigned a :) to my favorites. Finley’s favorite is marked with a *. Below are a few I’ve cataloged recently. (Whenever possible, summaries have been taken directly from the books.)
As soon as the sun comes up, Camille opens her eyes. She has so many things to do!
Moe is little. But he is good at many things.
:) From her soft kisses and soothing hugs to her tasty tea and warming mug, Bird sweetly expresses her love to Fox so he knows that no matter how big he gets or where he goes, she is always with him.
To celebrate Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of a new month in the Jewish calendar, a family camps out in the Negev Desert in Israel and learns about the phases of the moon.
A delightful celebration of those nudie moments between bath and bed time.
:) The queen is devoted to her cats and they know they are loved, but when they try to win the king’s affection, they drive him right out of the castle–at least for a while.
* As an act of kindness, or mitzvah, six Jewish frogs secretly prepare a delicious pot of matzo ball soup for Minnie Feinsilver’s Shabbat dinner.
Ewe and Aye are very different but both dream of flying, so when Ewe’s love of wheels and Aye’s knowledge of wings come together, they finally get off the ground.
As a child, Elva asks for a violin so that she can make beautiful music, but many years pass before her dream can come true.
:) A picture book comically following one girl through each of the four seasons
:) When Mama tells Baby that she’s made a lovely lunch for her, she doesn’t know that the animals are listening at the window. And they are much hungrier than Baby.
:) Duck and Cat discover that being yourself makes for being the best of friends.
:) Just a friendly monster out taking a walk…that is, until he sees some Bunnies!!!
It’s time for The Best Pet Monster In The World Competition, and Albert can’t wait to enter his very own monster, Sidney!
By not covering his mouth or washing his hands, Simon spreads his cold to his teacher and classmates, much to the delight of three germs named Virus, Protozoa, and Bacteria.
One day the artist Henri Matisse cut a small bird from a piece of white paper…
March 15, 2015
Our Big, Beautiful World: The Importance of Diversity in Children’s Books by Karen Kilpatrick
Two Books From…
…Karen Kilpatrick’s Pumpkinheads Series
Diversity in children’s books is a hot topic right now. But it’s certainly not a fad. I believe most in the children’s book industry (e.g. publishers, authors, illustrators, agents, librarians) agree that diversity in children’s books is important. Children need to see other children just like them, children they can relate to, in their books. Whether we’re referring to appearance, aspects of culture, or a disability they may have, children need to see how they fit into the world around them. Books can help them do that.
On the other hand, children need to see children who are different from them in their books, in order to foster awareness, understanding, and acceptance of other people in, as guest blogger, children’s book author, and mother of 3 multi-racial children, Karen Kilpatrick calls it, Our Big, Beautiful World.
Our Big, Beautiful World: The Importance of Diversity in Children’s Books
By Karen Kilpatrick
“Mommy, why don’t any of the girls in my class have hair like me?” my young daughter came home from preschool asking one day.
“Because everyone is different,” I answered. “It’s hair that not a lot of people around here have. But there are a lot of little girls with hair just like yours.” Then I asked, “Your hair is one way that you are different from the girls in your class, but what other ways are you the same?”
We came up with a long list of traits that she shared with her classmates, and a shorter list of traits that she didn’t. We talked about, in simple terms, how differences are what make people beautiful, and how boring the world would be if everyone looked exactly the same.
From that day forward, we spent a lot of time noticing appearance. I am mainly Italian and part German, my husband a mix of Bahamian, Native American, and African American. My three children were born with caramel skin, curly hair, and brown eyes, quite different from my straight blond hair, blue eyes and freckles and my husband’s chocolate brown skin. They didn’t start to notice how different we all look from each other, and how different they looked from most of their classmates, until they were about four or five years old. And it wasn’t with concern, just curiosity, as to why they look the way they do, and why other people look they way they do. If they had attended school in a different neighborhood, it may have been them who looked like the majority of people.
Wherever we travel in life, I tell them, within the same city even, we will be surrounded by different groups of people. Sometimes we will look like the majority, and sometimes, we will not.
What has been so important to me in raising my children is that they feel comfortable around anyone. That whether they are with brown people, peach people, caramel people, chocolate people (we have identified such a variety of skin tone shades – and there are many more!), and whether they are in the majority or minority, they know and understand that differences are to be celebrated and not feared.
But the only way they would know not to fear difference is to experience difference. My children can visit myriad relatives, of all different shades, who live in a wide variety of economic circumstances. They can experience differences firsthand. However, another way to expose children to the beauty of differences is through books, and the diverse characters found in those books.
Children learn through storytelling. Storytelling, through books, can introduce children to the wide, wonderful, beautiful world of differences that they may not otherwise experience. Which is why, as an author, I am particularly careful that my books reflect a variety of characters. It is important that children recognize and see themselves in characters but equally important that they are exposed to characters who do not look like them. In order for this to occur, we have to have diverse characters in books, and not just in terms of skin color, but disabilities, ethnicity, culture and more.
It’s a big, beautiful world out there, filled with a variety of people, and books are the perfect starting point in exploring and understanding that world.
Author and entrepreneur Karen Kilpatrick, a mother of three multi-racial children, is a former attorney, who left her large law firm position in 2009 to start and grow two successful online legal services websites. Kilpatrick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctorate from NYU School of Law. She established her own publishing firm, Nina Charles Publishing, and launched the Pumpkinheads® series in 2013. She resides in Parkland, Florida, with her husband and three children.
For more information on Karen Kilpatrick or her award-winning Pumpkinheads® series, please visit: www.pumpkinheads.com.
The Pumpkinheads® series titles include Carmin Cares (ISBN 978-1938447068), Love Monster Lulu (ISBN 978-1938447037), Sage’s Song (ISBN 978-1938447013), Danza’s Message (ISBN 978-1938447020), and Ella’s Toys (ISBN 978-1938447006 ).
March 9, 2015
Wally The Warm-Weather Penguin by Stephanie M. Ward
Title: Wally The Warm-Weather Penguin
Author: Stephanie M. Ward
Illustrator: Vanessa Landin
Publisher/Year: Forwards Press/2014
Summary: Travel to the Galapagos Islands with Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin in this delightful rhyming picture book with vivid illustrations and experience the wonders of this very special place.
The weather is finally beginning to warm up here in New York, and it’s a good thing too because I was just about to pack my bags and join Wally the Emperor Penguin on the warm, tropical shores of the Galapagos Islands. Wally, who comes from the anything-but-balmy beaches of Antarctica, had the right idea. He was tired of wearing his boots, hat, and scarf (I can relate!) while playing outside, so he set sail for the Galapagos Islands.
What he discovered when he got there was a whole new world, completely different from where he came from, with strange new creatures, and most importantly–it was warm! I think Wally will be staying for a while. Can you blame him?
Children will enjoy the clever rhyme and bright illustrations of Wally The Warm-Weather Penguin, and will most likely ask to read it again and again. Parents will appreciate the Fascinating Facts section in the back that gives more information about all of the animals mentioned in the story, including, Emperor Penguins, Blue-Footed Boobies, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Galapagos Penguins, Galapagos Giant Tortoises, and Marine Iguanas. Overall, it’s a fun book!
Favorite line from Wally The Warm-Weather Penguin: He threw off his scarf, his boots, and his hat, and jumped straight in the ocean with a SPLISH, SPLASH, SPLAT!
Picture Books At The Library
In my position as a technical processing assistant at the DeWitt Community Library, I catalog a lot of new picture books. Unfortunately, I cannot review them all, but I do read them all and have assigned a :) to my favorites. Below are a few I’ve cataloged recently. (Whenever possible, summaries have been taken directly from the books.)
When Shredder, a little shrew who lives alone, overcomes his worry and sets out to explore what lies beyond the forest, he finds himself in trouble and discovers a new friend.
Hank relates to a friend a dream in which he flies to the sea, past the trees, and over the clouds.
:) When Violet decides to write a book, she insists that her twin brother help because he has good ideas, but Victor would rather count his pet worms.
Red wants to be friends. But his jokes make bunny mad.
Mia’s big sister teaches her that there is more to being a ballerina than just putting on the right clothes.
When the sheep on a farm go on strike rather than having their warm coats sheared off, the other animals begin taking sides until, at last, a compromise can be reached.
:) Tiger, Gibbon, Water Buffalo, and Gecko are sitting among the ruins of ancient Angkor Wat, wondering which of them would make the best king. The appearance of a mysterious visitor leads them to discover their true selves in a race to a distant hilltop.
:) Far away, where snowflakes twinkle like stars, little Wellington the penguin dreams of growing a garden.
:) Nature-loving sisters Maple and Willow smooth over a rough patch in their friendship in their own unique way.
As the only guinea pig left in Mrs. Pinkerley’s pet shop, Titch is getting lonely and anxious. All he wants is his very own Big Person.
Amy loves her blankie, her bear, her bunny, and her bird very much. “Mine!” she proudly crows. But what will happen when baby Joe and twins Zak and Jack want to join in and play too?
A walk through the park becomes an exuberant celebration-there are so many kinds of dogs to love!
If kids ruled the world…There’d be no such thing as bedtime. You could wear anything you like. You could have all the pets you want. And every day would be your birthday! But best of all? No one would ever be too old to PLAY!!!
Can a dog with more sweetness than smarts become a hero? (The revised and re-illustrated 35th anniversary edition)
March 7, 2015
How Can I Read More Picture Books?
Spreading more library love…
Originally posted on An Awfully big adventure:
Everyone agrees that if you hope to one day craft picture book stories you must start by reading as many stupendous, exciting, and beloved examples of published picture books as you can lay your eager writer hands on.
But averaging $15 a pop for new copies, paying for a pile of PBs might not be the most budget-friendly choice.
So what’s the next best alternative? When it comes to checking out new and popular releases, I like to spend time in the children’s section of book stores flipping through freshly pressed pages and reacquainting my knees and back with the joys of floors and tiny plastic furniture. Don’t judge!
But those big book stores aren’t as plentiful or as near to home as they were only a few years ago. Making time to visit them regularly can be a challenge.
That’s why libraries are my second favorite haunt. Sure, their…
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March 2, 2015
The Peddler’s Bed Is Now Available For Pre-Order On Amazon!
I am pleased as punch to announce that my first picture book The Peddler’s Bed (illustrated by Bong Redila and published by Ripple Grove Press) is available now for pre-order on Amazon! The official release date is not until September 1, 2015, but I couldn’t wait to share my happy news. Please click on the Amazon page below for more information.
Picture Books At The Library
In my position as a technical processing assistant at the DeWitt Community Library, I catalog a lot of new picture books. Unfortunately, I cannot review them all, but I do read them all and have assigned a :) to my favorites. Below are a few I’ve cataloged recently. (Whenever possible, summaries have been taken directly from the books.)
:) Tiger wants to bake a cake. It doesn’t go exactly to plan.
Say hello to the airplane as it takes off on an exciting adventure: gliding through the night sky, skimming above the clouds, and soaring into a bright new morning.
:) Have you ever seen the rabbit-in-the-moon? Folktales from many cultures explain how the rabbit came to be there. This is one such tale.
One autumn morning, Farmer Brown gets on his tractor and heads to town. Along the way, he picks up a cat with a hat, a goat in a coat, an ox in socks, and more!
:) Fritz can’t wait to turn five! His birthday starts off well when he eats all five of his birthday pancakes and gets brand new sneakers that fit perfectly. But when he looks in the mirror, nothing has changed.
This beautiful bedtime poem, written by acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts given to a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic.
:) No matter what kind of messes a little bunny experiences through the day, bath time makes things fresh and new.
The same thing happens every night. After this little boy’s parents say good night and turn off the light, strange creatures descend from the black hole where the ceiling used to be.
Gracie’s special star shines for her every night-but every morning it fades away. If only Gracie could keep her beautiful star with her all the time!
:) Flo promised to take Wendell on a real adventure…
Bugs happily living in an empty lot are in trouble when a gang of rats moves in and takes over, but when a group of volunteers arrives to clean up, not only do the bugs get their lot back, they learn about recycling, composting, and garbage dumps.
This tender story of finding the courage to listen to the creative spirit within is sure to move even the shyest of souls to joyful expression.
February 26, 2015
Caldecott Quick Thoughts 2015
In this annual post, I share my thoughts on the Caldecott medal winner and honor books.
If you are as intrigued by the selection process as I am, you may be interested in the following link that I originally posted back in 2011:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottcomm/caldecottcommittee.cfm. Everything you ever wanted to know and more about the Caldecott medal and the awards process can be found there at the American Library Association’s extremely comprehensive site.
Congratulations to Dan Santat! His book The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend (Little, Brown and Company) is the recipient of this year’s Caldecott medal. This book proves the power of the imagination, not just because author/illustrator Dan Santat used his awesome imagination to write and illustrate it, but also because main character Beekle is imagination. He’s an imaginary friend who does extraordinary things. Instead of waiting to be imagined by a real child who will be his friend, he embarks upon a quest to find a child. And even though his travels take him far away from the island of imaginary friends, and he must face a scary, new world, he succeeds in the end. Good job Beekle!
Six, that’s right, six honor books were chosen! Looks like the Caldecott committee had an extra difficult time choosing this year.
Nana In The City (Clarion Books) by author/illustrator Lauren Castillo has a beautiful, quiet strength, both in story and illustration. The mix of vibrant and muted watercolors perfectly depict life in a bustling city, as well as a special relationship between a boy and his grandmother. I like how Nana helps her young grandson to feel brave by fashioning him a super hero cape, and how she helps him to appreciate the sights and sounds of the city.
One of three honor books this year that feature famous people, The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art (Alfred A. Knopf) is an interesting look at the life of abstract artist Vasily Kandinsky. Through Barb Rosenstock’s descriptive text and Mary Grandpre’s dazzling, full-page illustrations, we get a window view into what it was like to be a boy growing up with a condition called synesthesia. According to the author’s note, “In people with synesthesia, one sense triggers a different sense, allowing them, for example, to hear colors, see music, taste words, or smell numbers.” Fascinating!
Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s book Sam & Dave Dig A Hole (Candlewick Press) is just so much fun! Designed primarily with deceptively simple text on one side and “earthy” illustrations on the other, this book stars two young boys, friends or perhaps brothers, who decide to dig a hole, and they won’t stop digging until they find something “spectacular”. But every time they get close, they decide to change directions, completely missing each successively larger gem. I totally understand why kids love this book. They are in on a secret. They know the gems are there even though our main characters do not. I can picture a classroom of children during story time pointing, yelling, and laughing, and having a great time listening to this story.
Viva Frida (Roaring Brook Press) by Yuyi Morales is lovely. I feel as if Beekle must have edged Frida out by the narrowest of margins for the medal. This book is about well-known Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The super-colorful mixed media illustrations are gorgeous. I especially like the spread that shows a closeup of Frida’s face, along with her monkey and dog friends, peering into a chest. What wonders will she find in there? The text is quite sparse, yet surprisingly, by the end of the book, I felt like I learned a lot about this creative spirit, Frida (in less than 35 words!). But for those who want to learn more, there’s an author’s note in the back.
I don’t talk a lot about nonfiction picture books on my blog, but that may change in the near future thanks to books like The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus (Eerdmans Books) by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. Jen and Melissa have presented a book about the life of Peter Roget, and they did so in a manner that feels very story-like and engaging, both in interesting text and eye-catching illustration. This is the kind of book that children will learn from without even realizing they are learning, because it will capture their attention from beginning to end.
This One Summer (First Second) by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki caught me off guard. It’s not a picture book in the traditional sense, that’s because it’s a graphic novel. Although I do occasionally read manga, I’m truly not up on what constitutes a good graphic novel. Based on the art alone, I can see that it’s nicely rendered in black ink with great details and shading. But as I read through the story, though well-written, it struck me as being for an older audience than the other books on the Caldecott list. Despite my vague thoughts on this one, I’m glad that graphic novels are being considered for prestigious awards such as the Caldecott and that they are getting the recognition they deserve. Any and all books that get kids to read are winners!
