creative
Fellow LJer and WFMAD maven, Laurie Halse Anderson offers some up some of the pieces missing from American history in INDEPENDENT DAMES: WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The format is reminiscent of a grown up version (read, more serious) of the Ms. Frizzle books. By that I mean there is information coming at readers in many different ways. Within the illustrations and the standard text, certainly, but there is also information in time lines, in back matter, and in side bars and call out boxes. Shades of content area literacy! What a perfect book not only to fill in the role of women and girls, but also to assist kids in navigating informational texts in more meaningful ways. Matt Faulkner's illustrations strike a perfect balance with the text. At least one figure looked familiar. Laurie, am I seeing things or were you in there??? This is a perfect example of how picture books need to find an older audience to be fully appreciated. (Note: Scout found this book, apparently, tasty.)
This lovely collaboration between poet Betsy Franco and illustrator Steve Jenkins needs to find its way into the science classroom. The poems describe animals who patterns and shapes can appear within nature unexpectedly. The poems are simple (not simplistic) and the colors are bold and muted as dictated by the animal.
I adored Margery Cuyler's HOORAY FOR READING DAY, one of the Jessica Worries books. Jessica is in a reading group because she has some difficulty with her reading aloud. However, she discovers those problems seem to disappear when she reads to her favorite pet, Wiggles (aptly named).
The lyrics of George M. Cohan and the paintings by Norman Rockwell are a lovely match in YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG. I tend to think the audience for this one are older, much older readers. I know my Mom would have loved this book.
Finally, we have the newest book from Demi, THE PILLOW. Our young boy learns an important lesson from a magician who offers him a pillow that can make all his dreams come true. As always, the book is a visual feast.