Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine DressWritten by: Christine Baldacchino
Illustrated by:
Isabelle MalenfantPublished by:
Groundwood BooksPublished on: May 13, 2014
Ages: 4+
Morris Mickelwhite, son of Moira and roommate of Moo the cat, is a character. He's creative and strong and unique. When he hits a snag he takes a moment out then dusts himself off and comes back up again.
Morris loves to play dress up in a tangerine dress, and I'm sure you can imagine the comments he gets from school mates. These comments about something he love give him a stomachache. Taking time off to regroup with his mother, his cat, and his imagination gives him the confidence to go into school and blaze his own path.
I have read a lot of "issue" books and it just doesn't work if the quality isn't there. In this case the storytelling, the character building, and the artwork are well beyond what you would expect of a normal picture book. Baldacchino uses great use of onomatopoeia to bring interest to younger readers as well as older readers who will enjoy the story and characters.
Morris isn't the only the star character. Malenfant uses the same deft hand for the moving expressions on Morris' face as she does to bring the tangerine dress to life. Make no mistake, this dress will be as fascinating to most readers as to Morris. Malenfant's charcoal, watercolour and pastel illustrations draw your eye to that dress and make you realize just why he has such a yearning for it.
This is more than just an issue book. Yes, it breaks gender stereotypes and gives a great role model for going your own way, but the reason you'll re-read it is because of the stunning artwork and the way the words work perfectly together.
Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own BackyardWritten and Illustrated by: Annette Leblanc Cate
Published by: Candlewick Press
Published on: March 12, 2014
Ages: 4+
Provided by the published for review. All opinions are my own.On February 14, the winners of the annual
Cybils awards for children's literature were announced. I was lucky enough to be on the nonfiction panel and we chose Look Up! as the best nonfiction book of 2013.
Look Up! isn't just a title, it's an invitation to a whole new avian world. Annette Cate gives a plethora of information about birds, how to find them, and what to look for, as well as sketching tips useful to the burgeoning bird watcher.
The detailed information provided by Cate is only improved by the engaging narrator, who adds flair and humour. Look Up! A Guide to Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard is sure to convert plenty of new bird-watchers. It is Cate's unbridled passion which really makes this book.
The Voyage (
CAN,
JP,
US,
INT)
Written by: Veronica Salinas
Illustrated by:
Camilla EngmanTranslated by: Jeanne Eirheim
Published by:
Groundwood BooksPublished on: September 17, 2013
Ages: 4+
Book provided by the publisher for review. All opinions are my own. "You are who you are" is such a simple message but one that can take a long time to sink in. It's nice of this adorable duck who learns this lesson to want to share with us.
This wee duck is in a strange forest and he can't understand the people he meets. He feels out of sorts until he meets another creature who looks a bit like him who gives him the confidence to keep going and meet new people.
The book really reminded me of how I felt when I first showed up in a tiny town in the Japanese countryside and didn't know the language. But someday, after a lot of work, something just clicked and I started to understand a lot, and I felt really at home. This book would be great for a kid (or adult!) going on a trip to a new country or new immigrants.
The limited palette of mostly browns and greys is really stylish and makes me think of Scandinavia. There are a lot of little details that make these illustrations, like Easter eggs in a video game. Engman has coloured sketches of tiny animals doing cute things on each spread, like the ant going sailing in a lake of tears.
An adorable book great for kids who feel out-of-place.
I love Engman's work! First saw her in an Uppercase magazine. Can't wait to read this. I love lots of details like in Mouk.