Janet Squires's Blog

 

Papá'sMagical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo with illustrations by Eliza Kinkz

 

This 2024 Pura Belpré Honor Award book is alively story of good intentions gone awry!

Little Jesus is determined to be the besthelper ever when he gets to join his for a dayof work in his landscaping business.  Jesusis given a very important job. He will be in charge of the magical water-jugclock. Papá explains that by the time the jug is empty their day’s work will bedone. But landscaping is dry, dusty work! The sun is hot! And kind-hearted Jesusis soon offering drinks to an amusing collection of thirsty animals encounteredat their various jobs—a sweater-wearing dog, an assortment of old of cats, even aflock of peacocks. When he and Papá need cups of water, the jug is empty andit’s only noon!

Kinkz’s vibrant artwork pairs perfectlywith Trejo’s spirited prose. Together they convey the joyful chaos that followsJesus with every turn of the page.

Spanishwords are skillfully integrated into the story-telling providing readers achance to learn some vocabulary and making the whole reading experience morefun!

Papá'sMagical Water-Jug Clock would be a delightful addition to home or schoollibraries.

 

Natthe Cat Takes a Nap:Ready-to-Read by author/illustrator Jarrett Lerner.

Natthe Cat is built on a simple, but clever premise. He wants to take a nap, buthis efforts are consistently thwarted by a narrator who interrupts to describeNat’s actions as portrayed in the illustrations. The resulting confusionprovides plenty of silly fun that will have youngsters laughing.

PoorNat grows more and more grumpy as he struggles to cat-nap and fails to get morethan a few ZZ’s before he’s awakened, again! As if the incessant chatter isn’tenough, the narrator further complicates matters by misinterpreting Nat’sremarks. When Nat exclaims, “Oh brother!” after being awakened yet again, thenarrator confidently concludes, “Nat is calling for his brother,” sending thestory spinning in a new direction that ultimately leads to a satisfyingresolution.

Withbeginning readers in mind, Lerner employs short, three-to-five-word sentencesand basic, repetitive vocabulary. The simple, action-packed illustrations pairedwith strong facial expressions, provide plenty of visual clues to aid inunderstanding.

Three-to five-year-olds will enjoy the story and build confidence at the same time.

 

Scrollby Hui Li is a wonderfully imagined story of discovery and adventure.

Thisis Li’s debut author/illustrated book for young readers and it is a delight onso many levels. What a clever and fun way to introduce children and adults tothe beautiful history and culture of this ancient art. A two-page introductionprovides an easily understood background about Chinese calligraphy. The storythat follows quickly immerses the audience in stunning illustrations combiningwater colors and flowing ink strokes that carry the story forward with Lulu’sremarks enhanced with speech bubbles.

Chinesecharacters labeled in English appear at the top of each page to provide contextand challenge viewers to find their match in the story.

Inan Author’s Note, Hui Li shares her memories of growing up in China. Inparticular, she discusses her experience learning the art and history ofChinese characters. In choosing to draw upon this special passion, she hascrafted a marvel we can share.

Thetarget age for Scroll is 4-8, but I would encourage both children and adults totake this opportunity to expand their cultural knowledge with this engagingread.

Recommended for homes,schools, and libraries.

I always love seeing the many imaginative and fun ways my books find audiences! Lasso a good book and READ!

Hidden Gem byauthor and illustrator, Linda Liu, offers a clever portrait about findingconfidence in being yourself. 

“I rock and roll and tumble,”says a little pebble as curiosity draws it to the Museum of Rocks to see theWorld’s Most Beautiful Gem. Once inside, the pebble encounters rocks in everyvariety of shape and color. The discovery leads the pebble to wonder how tobecome as special as the others. It imagines how it might need to change until…it finally comes face to face with the most beautiful gem of all. The littlepebble sees it’s reflection in the gem’s glowing surface and understands, atlast, that “…being special is being me!”

Liu’s minimalist rhyming text ispaired with bold visuals that allow the art to do much of the story telling,while the words define the narrative.

Designed for readers 4-8, thisbook is a charming reminder that we are all special in our own way. The subtlemessaging provides parents and teachers with a variety of talking points forconversations about self-confidence, inclusion, and acceptance of ourselvesand, by extension, others.

Recommended for home and schoollibraries.

 

Beneath by authorand illustrator

Did you ever have one of thosedays when you just wanted to stay in bed with the covers pulled over your head?Today is one of those days for Finn who “doesn’t want to talk about it!”

Even when Grandpa coaxes Finninto taking a walk in the forest, the quilt goes too. That’s okay with Grandpa.“I’ll remember to think of what’s beneath,” he promises. Over the course of thewalk, Grandpa gently draws Finn’s attention to what’s beneath in nature—theroots of massive trees, the teeming aquatic life under the quiet lake waters,the delicate eggs snug beneath a nesting bird—to name a few. Eventually, Finn’scuriosity leads to a question about whether or not their observations apply to people.  Finn learns that beneath appearances areexperiences, beneath differences are similarities… and best of all… empathy andunderstanding.

Doerrfeld’s approach to thisdelicate subject matter is simple, honest, and straight forward honoring thechild’s feelings without becoming preachy.

The lovely artwork provides lotsof visual clues for young readers to find and decode. The images not onlyfurnish insight into what’s beneath in nature, but also offer hints to what isgoing on with the assortment of hikers encountered later in the story.

Pairing the child’s emotionalplace with the hidden depths of the natural world discovered on the forest walkcreates ample opportunities for a conversation about hidden feelings that canoften be hard to identify or bring into the open. That conversation is further enhancedby the addition of a broad variety of individuals who may require a second lookto learn more about them—a subtle reminder to look past first impressions.

BENEATH offers a wonderful meansto introduce a discussion about feelings and experiences and I can imagine somethoughtful SEL lessons predicated on this nature-as-a-metaphor theme.

Recommended for home and schoollibraries.

Elena Rides by author and illustratorJuana Medina is a lively tale of challenge and persistence that is sure toproduce smiles in beginning readers.

 Elena, the elephant, is determined to learnhow to ride her two-wheeler, but success doesn’t come easy. Falls and tumbleslead to tears, but she’s not alone. A little red bird is with her at every turnoffering encouragement. She tries again and goes, goes, goes… right into her biggestcrash yet! She’s ready to quit! And then…she gives it one more try. AND ELENARIDES!

Boldartwork—this is a purple elephant after all—sets the tone and fullyembraces the storyline. The crashes fill double-page spreads and seem to leapoff the paper with each surprising scene. And Elena’s determination is fully ondisplay!

Childrenand their parents will recognize and appreciate Elena’s struggle to master anew skill and share some giggles along the way.

Recommendedfor home and school libraries.

 

Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends,written and illustrated by Kaz Windness, is an entertaining and informativestory for beginning readers in the popular graphics style.

Whata happy way to learn some very basic details about two of nature’s creatures asthey compare and contrast their lives. Worm eats dirt: caterpillar eats leaves.Worm crawls on his belly; Caterpillar has legs. But both of them fear hungrybirds!

Andin the process of learning about each other, these two face a real challenge totheir friendship when Caterpillar undergoes metamorphosis. Is that change goingto be one difference too many? “Can we still be friends?” asks Worm. “Yes, bestfriends,” answers Butterfly.

Windnessoffers an introduction to graphic format and provides simple information abouthow to recognize speech and thought bubbles with a reminder to read each pageleft to right and top to bottom. Short sentences, basic vocabulary, and brighteye-catching visuals make for an altogether fun read.

Windnessalso provides additional enrichment with pages illustrating the life cycle of aworm and a butterfly along with simple step-by-step instructions on how to drawboth.

ThisTheodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book would be a charming introduction to a naturestudy of these two creatures. It would be equally useful as a resource for adiscussion of friendships as it conveys the value of recognizing andcelebrating both our differences and similarities.

Recommendedfor home and school libraries.

 

Maribel’sYear by Michelle Sterling withillustrations by Sarah Gonzales

Ayear can feel like a very long time when you’re missing someone you love. ForMaribel, the year is not only long, it begins in a new country, eight thousandmiles away from her home, and most importantly, her Papa. Month by month,Maribel offers insights into her experiences as she tries to find her place.The struggle feels very real, but Maribel consoles herself with recollectionsthat create sharp contrasts between present and past—gray, rainy March is nomatch for her memories of swimming in the warm sea of the Philippines beneath adazzling canopy of stars. The passing seasons fill her days with hopefulmoments as she makes friends and discovers new-found pleasures in her firstThanksgiving.  But beneath each joy liesa yearning for her heart’s desire. Until… her wish is granted and Papa’sarrival makes home a reality.

Sterling’snarrative is a tender and heart-warming story that brings into clear focus theexperience of new immigrants and offers readers a charming glimpse into Filipinoculture. Maribel’s perspective is honest and simply stated enabling readers toeasily empathize with her experience. What could be more universal than findingone’s way in unfamiliar situations and missing a loved one?

Gonzales’clever artwork is rich in detail. And her use of color reinforces the text byoffering bold contrast between the traditional American landscapes of graywinters and bronze autumns with the vivid tropics of Maribel's homeland.

Recommendedfor home and school libraries.

 

 

The Only Way to Make Bread by Cristina Quintero with illustrations bySarah Gonzales

Oh, good times! Every once in a while, Icome across a book that strikes a personal note—as a life-long bread baker—thiswas one.

 

Quintero’s celebration of all kinds ofbread is also a celebration of cultures. Built on a framework of the process,the narrative unfolds from selecting a work space to breaking bread with afriend. There’s a delicious variety: Challah, Focaccia, Shokupan, CanadianDinner Buns, Arepas, Puri—eleven in all described at the end. What’s yourfavorite?

And just in case this enticing listtriggers a sudden need from some fresh, warm bread, recipes for Arepas andPandesal are included, too.

Gonzales’s warm, soft-edged drawings pullthe reader in to explore the rich depth of detail and create an intimacy pairedwith a sense of fun.

Loaves, rolls, buns—baked, steamed, orfried—hearty or delicate—stuffed or sliced…

Whatever your preference, make it yourway.  And always add a pinch of love!

Here’sa wonderful story to share with young readers, introduce them to the languageof food, and explore worldwide cultures.

Highlyrecommended for home and school libraries.

 

WINNER of theEzra Jack Keats Best New Illustrator Award, 2024

PRAISE FOR TheOnly Way to Make Bread:

 

"You’ll want to make bread after reading this book . . . the story ensures nothing about this process comes off as preciousexcept the time spent together. This is . . . a unifying addition toconversations around community and food literacy." —STARRED REVIEW,Booklist

 

"The art, combined with Quintero's graceful text,results in a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the ordinary, love-filled lives ofindividuals from various cultures." —STARRED REVIEW Shelf Awareness

 

"The warm tones and textures of Gonzales’s coloredpencil illustrations evoke the feeling of being in a kitchen baking bread withloved ones. . . . A celebration of differences and the commonalities that uniteus." —Kirkus Reviews

 

"There’s excellent chemistry between Colombian-Canadiandebut author Cristina Quintero’s playful, immersive text and Filipino-Canadianillustrator Sarah Gonzales’s softly textured, coloured-pencil artwork withtoasty ochre tones and steamy swirls of buttery yellow . . . The Only Way toMake Bread is perfect for savouring and sharing." —Quill & Quire

 

"This livelycelebration of bread offers a welcome emphasis on diversity and collaboration.A warm and engaging read-aloud, it is also an excellent resource for caregiversand teachers." —School Library Journal

 

"The OnlyWay to Make Bread proves itself to be a new family favourite. With a timelessmessage and adorable graphics, this book is certain to be a good read no matterhow old you are." —Young Adulting

 

"[A]sappealing as a warm, freshly baked loaf of bread." —CM: Canadian Review ofMaterials

 

"With softlycoloured illustrations, children will explore different ways to make bread. . .. Recipes at the back of the book will have young chefs excited to try thesedelicious variations." —Calgary Herald

About the Author

CRISTINA QUINTEROis a first-generation Colombian-Canadian of both Afro-Colombian andIndigenous-Colombian descent. As a child of immigrants, she understands theimportance of stories that go beyond trauma and struggle and instead highlightthe everyday joy that is created within immigrant communities. She grew up in aneighborhood where one mama filled in for another, so while it was not alwayseasy, her childhood was always delicious. Thus was born her lifelong love offood and ideas about community-building through food.