Mitali Perkins's Blog, page 25

Lent Reads #23, 24, 25: A Trio of Picture Books

I'm back in Boston after a week of author visits in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C., so here are my last three quick, wonderful reads:








History, art, and innovation, all given in joyful service to God.





The life cycle of a tortilla reads much better in Spanish.





They weren't allowed to knead Wonder Bread dough back in the day,
but they could--and did--change the world.

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Lent Read #22: RAIN SCHOOL by James Rumford

What if you had to build your school with your own hands before starting the school year? You might treat it with more respect, and eagerly receive your lessons, like the children in RAIN SCHOOL by James Rumford, published by Houghton Mifflin.



In this vibrant, cheerful picture book set in Chad, we meet a smiling, beautiful teacher and a group of eager, hard-working students. My favorite line? "The students' minds are fat with knowledge. Their notebooks are rumpled from learning." Even when the rains wash away the building, it can't take away what's been learned. That stays forever, whether it's here or in Chad.

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Lent Read #21: LALA SALAMA by Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

I'm on the road for author visits, so this week will feature several picture books. But with my nest recently emptied, what joy to return to this genre after so many years! Obviously I'm going to have to borrow babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers on a regular basis.







Along the shores of a Tanzanian lake, a young mother and father carry their baby through a day of work, love, laughter, and peace. This spare and lovely lullaby by the Newbery Medalist, published by Candlewick, is an excellent way to introduce even the very tiny to the existence of other cultures beyond our borders. Yes, the paintings inside by Elizabeth Zunon are all as glorious and joyful as the cover art. LALA SALAMA means "sleep peacefully" in Swahili, and I did, taking a nap in my quiet inn this afternoon after reading this
book.

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Lent Read #20: CYCLE OF RICE, CYCLE OF LIFE by Jan Reynolds

As Jan Reynolds explains in CYCLE OF RICE, CYCLE OF LIFE, a stunning photo/picture book from Lee and Low, the so-called Green Revolution almost destroyed sustainable farming practices in Bali. CYCLE OF RICE is a tale of hope, illuminating for kids how an ecologist with vision can help local people restore the land and revitalize their economy. Read this with your kids before eating a bowl of rice.

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Lent Read #19: TWICE AS GOOD by Richard Michelson, Illustrated by Eric Velasquez

In TWICE AS GOOD (Sleeping Bear) Richard Michelson tells the true story of the late, great golfer Bill Powell , architect of Clearview in Canton, Ohio, the only course designed, built, and owned by an African-American. Perseverance, big dreams, and the sheer love of sport defined Powell's against-the-odds success—not handouts, reliance on outsiders, or backing down an easier road. Eric Velasquez 's paintings glow with life and movement, making readers feel like we've met Bill and his family in person. An inspirational sports read, and even more so when you consider Powell's daughter's contribution to the planet .

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Lent Read #18: THE YEAR OF GOODBYES by Debbie Levy

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," said George Santayana. In THE YEAR OF GOODBYES (Hyperion), Debbie Levy recounts in simple verse the gripping story of her mother's escape from Hamburg, Germany in 1938.



Levy stays true to an eleven-almost-twelve-year-old's voice, and as we follow the narrative of one girl's family, we realize with great unease that (1) the ascendancy of Hitler and the Holocaust happened not too long ago, and (2) such a tragedy could happen again. I'm not surprised that this powerful book was starred by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews.



Meticulously researched and poignantly illustrated with handwritten excerpts from Jutta Levy's poesiealbum, THE YEAR OF GOODBYES is perfect readaloud for parents who want to remember with their children. The afterword will and must break your heart, as Levy describes the fate of each friend who inscribed poetry in her mother's treasured album.

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Lent Reads 14, 15, 16, 17: A Quartet of Picture Books

Since I was in bliss for four days (see above and name that beach), whisked away by my love, I'm posting briefly. Here are four days worth of picture books I read and enjoyed for Lent, each encapsulated by one word.




attitude





celebration





solidarity





hospitality

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Lent Read #13: SWEET MOON BABY: An Adoption Tale by Karen Henry Clark

"Was it something I did?"



"Is something wrong with me?"



A child who is adopted asks questions, some aloud and some in secret, about why she doesn't find herself with her birth family. In SWEET MOON BABY (Knopf), a peaceful picture book by Karen Henry Clark, illustrated by Patrice Barton, the text starts with a clear declaration about the worth of the child: "One summer night in China, a baby girl was born. She was perfect."



Next, in a tribute that's rarely found in books dealing with adoption, Clark and Barton devote two full spreads to the child's birth parents. They are both "happy and sad," acknowledging the difficult gains and losses of adoption for a family unable to keep a child. A wise reader will pause, let the child's eyes dwell on the loving hands tucking the baby into a basket, and wait for questions.



If none come, we move on, reading and seeing the miracle of protection through the baby's wait for a family, and the growing love and desire of the waiting parents (also "happy and sad," as are most people waiting for babies through adoption.)



With each quiet spread, the reader and hearer of the story are given space and grace to comment, notice, and question—a key part of healing in the adoption journey. Through this soft, loving story the child grasps the fact that for her, too, the adoption experience is allowed to be both "happy and sad."

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Lent Read #12: THE WAKAME GATHERERS by Holly Thompson, Illustrated by Kazumi Wilds

Cook up a steaming pot of Wakame Miso Soup (recipe included in the book) and settle down to read this tale of two grandmothers. THE WAKAME GATHERERS by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Kazumi Wilds (Shen's Books), introduces us to the joy of gathering wakame seaweed in the surf crashing on a Japanese shoreline. Thompson's heartfelt story and Wilds' lively art illuminate the tension of inheriting two cultures which in the past have been enemies, as well as underline this generation's call to retain a costly peace.

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Lent Read #11: YUMMY by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke

Can a children's book help redeem a senseless tragedy? It can certainly play a part, at least in the case of YUMMY: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri, a graphic novel stunningly illustrated by Randy DuBurke (Lee and Low). In this gripping true story, we're introduced to a Chicago boy who at age 11 not only murdered but was murdered. Was Yummy villain or victim? In either case, he did have some choices, and young readers must grapple with the reality of them as his story goes from bad to worse.



As I read it, I was struck by the fact that now, through the gift of a many-starred and lauded story, this young man's life is given meaning and value of which he had no inkling when he died. Readers who reflect on the circumstances, challenges, choices, and consequences of Yummy's short life are likely to "choose wisely," as Neri advises in his postscript, and help others to do the same.
















Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty from Greg Neri on Vimeo.

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