10 New Picture Books That Made Me Smile (and Think)

Bruchac, Joseph. (2018). Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story. Illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company. (Starred Kirkus review).

History is often hard to address largely because it is not one tone. Joseph Bruchac knows this. In his newest picture book biography, Bruchac tells a full story of how a Navajo boy forced to attend a boarding school learns that the language of home was not to be tolerated. He goes on to become an American hero who uses that first language during World War II to code classified messages and how his wartime experiences haunted him.  The illustrations are by Liz Amini-Holmes, an artist whose works I admire greatly. You can see more of her work here. 

Buitrago, Jairo. (2018). On the Other Side of the Garden. Illustrated by Rafael Yockteng. Translated from Spanish by Elisa Amado.Toronto, ON:  Groundwood Books.

Not your usual picture book. But then if you have read any of Jairo Buitrago's other books your know that already. I love how Isabel, the teller of this story, is able to let go of sorrow as she answers the call of an owl, a frog, and a mouse. Isabel reminds me that it isn't simply time that heals the heart. It's also curiosity. Rafael Yockteng's digital illustrations offer only a small bit of color set against the largely cadet blue tone. But those bits of color pop.

illustration by Rafael Yockteng from On the Other Side of the Garden.

Díaz, Junot. (2018).  Islandborn. Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. New York: Dial Books.

I loved Junot Díaz's books and short stories and couldn't wait until his debut picture book was published. It is a grand story. Like Lola, I came to America as an infant leaving my island (Ireland) behind before I could store memories.   Leo Espinosa's paintings are artful. I love how the illustrations suggest, rather than tell. This book is a jewel: story and images. Read it.

from Lola: Edición en español de ISLANDBORN.

Also available in Spanish: Lola: Edición en español de ISLANDBORN.

from The Street Beneath My Feet

Guillain, Charlotte. (2017). The Street Beneath My Feet. Illustrated by Yuval Zommer. Lake Forest, CA: words & pictures.

I poured over this book when I received it enjoying the journey to the center of the earth and back.  A visual treat and a fascinating look at what is beneath our feet.

James, Matt. (2018). The Funeral. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. (Starred Reviews by Kirkus, Booklist, School Library Journal & Publisher's Weekly)

I was a child when my grandmother died, not too young to not understand and yet still excited to see cousins and family. This story reminded me so much of the mixed feelings I had at that time.

from The Funeral

Light, Steve. (2018). Black Bird Yellow Sun. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

The entire time I read this I was thinking of Wallace Stevens and how he would have loved this board book. Bold. Bold. Bold.

from The Word Collector

Reynolds, Peter H. (2018). The Word Collector. New York: Orchard Books.

Like Jerome, I have been collecting words most of my life, "stringing words together. Words" I had "not imagined being, side by side." If you love words and the many novel ways we join and unjoin words, this will be a treat.

Stein, David Ezra. (2018). Honey. New York: Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books. (Starred Reviews by School Library Journal)

This is such a sweet story and I loved the jubilance that Bear has for honey. The illustrations give definition to the word, joy. Makes me wish that my 19-year-old son was 5 again.

from They Say Blue

Tamaki, Jillian. (2018). They Say Blue. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. (Starred Reviews by Booklist, School Library Journal & Publisher's Weekly)

Like the girl in this story, I too weigh what I have been told against what I observe. This picturebook is a celebration of color and the surreal.  Any book that begins and ends with crows is a book for me. Loved it.

from Thunder Underground

Yolen, Jane. (2018). Thunder Underground.  Illustrated by Josée Masse. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.  (Starred Reviews by Kirkus & Publisher's Weekly)

21 poems about things that are under (I'd pair this with The Street Beneath My Feet). The poems (especially first and last) made me think well beyond the page.  My favorite poem was "Seeds." I love the brevity of it and how it connects writing and the shift from winter to spring. Just lovely. The mixed media illustrations work well against the poems.

Hearing Language: Focus on Ruth Forman

In this first video, poet Ruth Forman discusses the power of language and performs poetry from Prayers Like Stones and offers advice to the writer.



In the next video, Ruth performs May Peace Come (2009).



In this video, Ruth performs Stoplight Politics.




In the last video, Sandra Roberts reads Ruth Forman's children's picture book, Young Cornrows Callin' Out the Moon which is set in South Philly.

Forman, Ruth, & Cbabi Bayoc (Illus.). (2007). Young cornrows callin out the moon. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. 





This is an audio of Ruth Forman reading the book and NPR interview (link).

30 Children's Books about Standing Up and Making Change

Helping children to explore ways to stand up for their convictions and why doing so is important is represented in this list of recent books. 

1. Abouraya, Karen Leggett. (2012). Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt's Treasured Books. Illustrated by  Susan L. Roth. New York: Dial.

2. Burleigh, Robert. (2013). Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer. Illustrated by Raul Colon. New York: Simon & Schuster.

3. Chin-Lee, Cynthia. (2005). Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World. Illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing. 
4. Chin-Lee, Cynthia. (2006). Akira to Zoltan: Twenty-Six Men Who Changed the World. Illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing. 



from We March

5. Evans, Shane W. (2012). We March. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
6. Gandhi, Arun & Bethany Hegedus. (2014). Grandfather Gandhi. Illustrated by Evan Turk. New York: Atheneum Books.
7. Giovanni, Nikki. (2007). Rosa. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. New York: Square Fish.
8. Hopkins H. Joseph. (2013). The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever. Illustrated by Jill McElmurry. New York: Beach Lane Books.
9. Innosanto, Nagara. (2013). A is for Activist. New York: Triangle Square.

   

   from Red Kite, Blue Kite

10. Jang, Ji-li. (2013). Red Kite, Blue Kite. Illustrated by Greg Ruth. New York: Hyperion.
11. Lewis, J. Patrick. (2012). When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders. Illustrated by  Jim Burke, R. Gregory Christie, Tonya Engel, John Parra and Meilo So. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books
12. Markel, Michelle. (2013). Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909.  Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. New York: Balzer & Bray.



from When Thunder Comes: Poems for Civil Rights Leaders

13. Maier, Paul L. (2004). Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World. Concordia Publishing.
14. Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. (2013). Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table. Illustrated by Eric Shabazz Larkin. Readers to Eaters.
15. McGinty, Alice B. (2013). Gandhi: The March to the Sea. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. New York: Amazon.
16. Nelson, Kadir. (2013). Nelson Mandela. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.                     






17. Pinkney, Andrea. (2012). Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. New York: Hyperion.
18. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2010). Sit In How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down.  Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
19. Shabazz, Ilyasah. (2014). Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X. Illustrated by A.G. Ford. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

    

    from The Composition.

20. Shaw, Maura D. and Robert Coles. (2002). Ten Amazing People: And How They Changed the World. Illustrated by Stephen Marchesi. Woodstock, VT: Skylight Paths Publishing. 
21. Skarmeta, Antonio. (2003).The Composition. Illustrated by Alfonso Ruano. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
22. Tafolla, Carmen & Sharyll Teneyuca. (2008). That's Not Fair/No Es Justo! Emma Tenayuca's Struggle  for Justice/La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia. Illustrated by Terry Ybanez. San Antonio, TX: Wings Press.



from Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation.

23. Tonatiuh, Duncan. (2014). Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
24. Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2007). Freedom on the Menu: the Greensboro Sit-Ins.  Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Puffin.



from Mumbet's Declaration of Independence.

25. Wiles, Deborah. (2005). Freedom Summer. Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Aladdin.
26. Woelfle, Gretchen. (2014). Mumbet's Declaration of Independence. Illustrated by Alix Delinis. Carolrhoda Books.
27. Woodson, Jacqueline. (2012). Each Kindness. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
28. Tamasaki, Katie. (2013). Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by One Family's Experience in an American Interment Camp. New York: Holiday House.
29. Zalben, Jane Breskin. (2006). Paths to Peace: People Who Changed the World.  New York: Dutton Books.
30. Zhang, Ange. (2004). Red Land Yellow River: A Story from the Cultural Revolution. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.

Recent & Upcoming Poetry Books for Children and Teens

Glass, Linzi. (2006). The Year the Gypsies Came. NewYork:  Henry Holt. (South Africa during the 1960s).

Paintings by Rogé. from Haiti My Country: Poems by Haitian School Children. 

For K-4

Chatelain, Jeremy. (2014). May the Stars Drip Down. Illustrated by Nikki McCure. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Chatterjee, Debjani & Brian D'Arcy. (2014). Lets Play! Poems About Sports and Games from Around the World. Illustrated by Shirin Adl. London, UK: Frances Lincoln.
Chatterjee, Debjani & Brian D'Arcy. (2014). Let's Celebrate: Poems from Around the World. Illustrated by Shirin Adl. London, UK: Frances Lincoln.
Cleary, Brian P. (2014). If It Rains Pancakes: Haiku and Lantern Poems. Illustrated by Andy Rowland. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa. (2014). Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson: Taking the Stage As the First Black-and-white Jazz Band in History. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. New York: Holiday House.

cummings, e.e. (2014). I Carry Your Heart with Me. Illustrated by Mati Rose McDonough. Petaluma, CA: Cameron + Company, Inc.
Davidson, Jordan. (2014). Rubber Boots: Poetry for Rainy and Not-So-Rainy Days. Tate Publishing.
Elliott, David. (2014). On the Wing. Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Elliott, David. (2014). In the Sea. Illustrated by Holly Meade. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Florian, Doug. (2014). Poem Depot: Aisles of Smiles. New York: Penguin.
Frank, John. (2014). Lend a Hand: Poems about Giving. Illustrated by London Ladd. New York: Lee & Low Books.
Giovanni, Nikki. (2014). The Sun is So Quiet. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan. New York: Square Fish.
Gray, Rita.(Compiler). (2014). One Big Rain. Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. Watertown, MA Charlesbridge.
Holland, Loretta. (2014). Fall Leaves. Illustrated by Ella MacKay. New York: HMH Books.

April Chu's illustration from Summoning the Phoenix: Poems and Prose About Chinese Musial Instruments.

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. (2014). Manger. Illustrated by Helen Cann. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
Janeczko, Paul. (2014). Firefly July and Other Very Short Poems. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Jiang, Emily. (2014). Summoning the Phoenix: Poems and Prose About Chinese Musical Instruments.  Illustrated by April Chu. New York: Shen's Books, an Imprint of Lee & Low Books.

Illustration by Wendell Minor from Sequoia.

Johnston, Tony. (2014). Sequoia. Illustrated by Wendell Minor. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

Luján,Jorge. (2014). Numeralia. Illustrated by Isol. Translated by Susan Ouriou. Tornoto, ON: Groundwood Books.

Muth, Jon J. (2014). Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons. New York: Scholastic.
Raschka, Chris & Vladimir Radunsky. (2014). Alphabetabum: An Alphabet Album. New York: NYR Children's Collection.

Rogé from Mingan My Village: Poems by Innu School Children.

Rogé. (2014). Mingan My Village: Poems by Innu School Children. Illustrated by Rogé. Markham, ON: Red Deer.
Rogé. (2014). Haiti My Country: Poems by Haitian School Children. Illustrated by Rogé. Markham, ON: Red Deer.
Sidman, Joyce. (2014). Winter Bees and other Poems of the Cold. Illustrated by Rick Allen. New York: HMH Books.
Spinelli, Eileen. (2014). Polar Bear, Arctic Hare: Poems of the Frozen North. Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.
Winters, Kari-Lynn & Lori Sheritt-Fleming. (2014). Count Us In! Illustrated by Peggy Collins. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.

For Grades 4+ 

Bouchard, David. (2014). Voices from the Wild. Paintings by Ron Parker.  Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
Clarke, George Elliott. (2014). Lasso the Wind: Auriélia's Verses and Other Poems. Illustrated by Susan Tooke. Halifax, NS: Nimbus Publishing.
Engle, Margarita. (2014). Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal. New York: HMH Books.
Engle, Margarita. (2014). Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck. New York: Square Books.
Koyczan, Shane. (2014). To This Day: For the Bullied and the Beautiful. Illustrated by 30 International Artists. Toronto, ON: Annick Press.




Lewis, J. Patrick. (2014). Harlem Hellfighters. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
Lewis, J. Patrick. (2014). Freedom Like Sunlight. Paintings by John Thompson. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
Lewis, J. Patrick. (2011). And the Soldiers Sang. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.
Lewis, J. Patrick & George Ella Lyon. (2014). Voices from the March on Washington. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.
Nelson, Marilyn. (2014). How I Discovered Poetry. Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. New York: Dial.
VanHecke, Susan. (2014). Under the Freedom Tree. Illustrated by London Ladd. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
Woodson, Jacqueline. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.

Novels in Verse

Alexander, Kwame. (2014). The Crossover. New York: HMH Books.
Brown, Skila. (2014). Caminar. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Burg, Ann E. (2013). Serafina's Promise. New York: Scholastic.
Finneyfrock, Karen. (2013). The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door. New York: Viking Juvenile.
Kehoe, Stasia Ward. (2014). The Sound of Letting Go. New York: Viking Juvenile.

from Dust of Eden: A Novel.

Nagai, Mariko. (2014). Dust of Eden: A Novel. Park Ridge, IL: Albert Whitman & CO.
Sones, Sonya. (2014). To Be Perfectly Honest: A Novel Based on an Untrue Story. New York: Simon & Schuster. (High School/Adult)