Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph

Jazz Day: The Making of a Famous Photograph
by Roxane Orgill; Illustrated Francis Vallejo
Candlewick Press (March 8, 2016)
Nonfiction * Music * Jazz
Audience: Grades 3 to 7
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
What happens when you invite as many jazz musicians as you can to pose for a photo in 1950s Harlem? Playful verse and glorious artwork capture an iconic moment for American jazz.

When Esquire magazine planned an issue to salute the American jazz scene in 1958, graphic designer Art Kane pitched a crazy idea: how about gathering a group of beloved jazz musicians and photographing them? He didn’t own a good camera, didn’t know if any musicians would show up, and insisted on setting up the shoot in front of a Harlem brownstone. Could he pull it off? In a captivating collection of poems, Roxane Orgill steps into the frame of Harlem 1958, bringing to life the musicians’ mischief and quirks, their memorable style, and the vivacious atmosphere of a Harlem block full of kids on a hot summer’s day. Francis Vallejo’s vibrant, detailed, and wonderfully expressive paintings do loving justice to the larger-than-life quality of jazz musicians of the era. Includes bios of several of the fifty-seven musicians, an author’s note, sources, a bibliography, and a foldout of Art Kane’s famous photograph.

Quick thoughts on the book:
Recently, I was chatting with a friend about picture books. One of the things we were talking about is how some books might need to be taught. JAZZ DAY: THE MAKING OF A FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPH maybe one of those books that are beautiful but may not find its way into the hands of children without the support of an adult. 

Orgill brings to life the history behind Art Kane's 1958 jazz photo through a series of poems. 

Vallejo's paintings are gorgeous and capture the mood and setting of the day and the energy of the day. 

Along with the poems, Orgill includes an introduction, an author's note, short biographies of various jazz musicians, source material and bibliography. I can see using this book as part of a poetry unit but also to share with students a piece of history including the music of the musicians featured in the photograph. When students are exposed to poetry and music, there is a level of learning that goes beyond the simple academics of history and poetry. Jazz Day is definitely one of those books that with a little support can emotionally connect with students.  

Look for a copy of Jazz Day at your local indie bookstore or community library. 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: 

Waiting for Snow Blog Tour: Waiting and Patience and Dreams - Oh, My!

Waiting for Snow
by Marsha Diane Arnold; Illustrated by Renata Liwska
HMH Books for Young Readers (November 1, 2016)
Fiction * Nature * Weather
Audience: Preschool to 3
Indiebound | WorldCat
 

About the book: 
Badger loves snow and he just can’t wait for it any longer! Patience does not come easily to Badger. He bangs pots and pans and shouts, “Wake up, Sky! It’s time to snow.” His animal friends, Hedgehog, Rabbit, Vole, and Possum, try to help by using other tricks and superstitions, but snow is taking its time. Sensible Hedgehog explains that everything has its season and all that’s required is waiting. But what can they do while they wait? Be a friend?

Waiting and Patience and Dreams - Oh, My!

I’m just going to blurt it out. I love anthropomorphic animals, absolutely love them. Indeed, I like anthropomorphic plants, rocks and dishes (especially that one who ran away with the spoon.) Deep inside me, I believe all things are sentient, just as small children do. So writing about Badger and his friends was an absolute delight. Indeed I followed Waiting for Snow with two more Badger stories, which may someday find their way into book form...with a little bit of patience.

Waiting for Snow is about seasons, a second Badger story involves searching for sunshine, and a third is about seeds. Obviously, my Kansas farm girl roots are showing. There’s no doubt my father’s influence is in Waiting for Snow. As a farmer it was his job to understand the earth and the rhythm of each season. “Everything in its time,” he often said. As a nature-lover, he knew every wild flower in the county. He often consulted the Farmer’s Almanac, which might have been a good idea for Badger too.

But why did I write about patience? Perhaps because I am so lacking in it myself! A friend of mine once traveled the country in two “gypsy” wagons along with about twenty animals: donkeys, goats, and chickens.  He parked his wagons in what he called “the margins” along the sides of the road. When he found a new friend willing to share their water, he would carry the water in buckets with a yoke, from source to his twenty-some animals. If anyone required patience, John did. I can hear his words in my mind still:  “You have to take your time and do things right. If you hurry, you just mess things up.”

Badger and his friends tried to hurry snow. It didn’t work well. They were rained on by pebbles, got sore feet, and wore uncomfortable pajamas to bed. Though it was hard, it was better to wait – to play together, cook, read, and knit a warm hat for a friend until the snow arrived.

How lucky I am to have my editor Kate O’Sullivan and illustrator Renata Liwska as teammates for this story. Years ago, when I was a California gal, I was in a writing group with Deborah Underwood during the time she was writing The Quiet Book. Deborah waxed poetic about her amazing editor and illustrator. It was then I put a wish in my heart that someday I would work with these two shining stars. But honestly, I didn’t hold out much hope. I would never have expressed my wish outloud.  So when it did come true, it was like a wonderful surprise present.

Here I am, some 8 years later, with a book edited by Kate O’Sullivan and illustrated by Renata Liwska! Of course, the dedication had to be: “For Kate O’Sullivan and Renata Liwska, a dream editor and illustrator worth waiting for.”

Renata Liwska’s vision for the art in Waiting for Snow is so brilliant. She added things like the classroom, the telescope, and the disco ball. Although I often have images in my mind for my stories, I can’t recall having a lot for Waiting for Snow. The text came to me almost as a meditation: “The sun comes back every day,” said Hedgehog, “and the stars every night.”

Renata’s characters and images, like the mushrooms on Hedgehog’s back, bring the story to a wonderful kid-friendly level. Indeed, my three-year old granddaughter’s favorite image in the book is the first page with mushrooms sticking on Hedgehog’s back. Look carefully at Hedgehog later in the story. Renata has now whimsically painted him with quills holding yarn for knitting. Hedgehog quills are so useful!

I hope my readers don’t have to wait long to find Badger and his friends in their bookstore or library.  But if they have to wait a bit, I hope they find as many fun things to do during that time as Badger and his friends did. 

About the author: 
Marsha Diane Arnold is an award-winning author with over one million books sold. Waiting for Snow is her 14th book with four more coming soon.

Her popular Writing Character-Driven Picture Books course can be found here: http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/writing-character-driven-stories.html. There’s a special going on in November in honor of Waiting for Snow’s birthday!

Follow the blog tour: 
October 31st, Monday - Cynthia Alaniz, Librarian in Cute Shoes  
Nov 1st, Tuesday - Alyson Beecher, Kid Lit Frenzy
Nov 2nd, Wednesday - Dylan Teut, Reading with Mr. Teut 
Nov 3rd, Thursday - Mia Wengen, Pragmatic Mom 
Nov 4th, Friday - Margie Myers-Culver - Librarian’s Quest 
Nov 6th, Sunday - Matthew Winner - The Best Book Ever (This Week) 
Nov 7th, Monday - Niki Ohs Barnes, Daydream Reader 
Nov 8th, Tuesday - Bridget and the Books 

If You Give a Mouse a Brownie - Blog Tour & Giveaway

If You Give a Mouse a Brownie
by Laura Numeroff; Illustrated by Felicia Bond
HarperCollins (October 18, 2016)
Audience: Ages 4 to 8 years old
Fiction * Humor * Read Aloud
IndieBound | WorldCat
Click for Activity Book

Description of the book:
You’ve given a mouse a cookie, but what happens if you give a Mouse a brownie? Mouse is back in this delicious new story in the #1 New York Times bestselling If You Give series, which has sold over 14 million copies, from author and illustrator duo Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond. This book is also the first one to feature Mouse in 14 years.  With its spare, rhythmic text and circular tale, If You Give a Mouse a Brownie is perfect for beginning readers and storytime.

Thoughts on the book:
First let's stop for a moment....

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. This makes me feel a bit old, since there was only this book at the time and I used it a lot in my first few years as a teacher. Though I have enjoyed the other books, I am particularly excited to see that the adorable mouse has returned. 

Numeroff and Bond have paired up again to bring readers another If You Give books. We haven't seen mouse in 14 years. In similar format to the original story, mouse and his friend start off by enjoying a brownie. Yet, you can't have a brownie without ice cream. Well...ice cream leads to an impromptu drumming session and the adventure is back on.  Young readers will delight in how one action triggers another moment and another one until things circle back to ice cream and brownies are 

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the first book and now the newest book, I made chocolate chip cookies into bars and added in a layer of caramel. 

Sorry no kitchen pictures because seriously....the kitchen somehow became a disaster. And though it looked like it could be a scene in one of Numeroff's Cookie books, I was way too embarrassed to photo document it. However, I did share this with a friend and packaged up the rest for other friends. 

Look for a copy of If You Give a Mouse a Brownie at your local indie bookstore or public library, or enter the giveaway below.

Don't miss the giveaway: 
If you give a child this prize pack, they are going to want another book!

One (1) winner receives:

·         If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Give a Mouse a Brownie.

Open to US addresses only.

Prizing and samples provided by HarperCollins.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Fun Science

Fun Science: A Guide to Life, the Universe and Why Science is So Awesome
by Charlie McDonnell
Quadrille Publishing/Chronicle (October 18, 2016)
Audience:  Ages 12 and up
Nonfiction * Popular Science
IndieBound | WorldCat

 

Description from GoodReads: 
Welcome, fellow humans (and others), to the the world of FUN SCIENCE! I'm Charlie, also known across the internet as charlieissocoollike.

In my book, I'll be taking you on an awesome journey through the cosmos, beginning with the Big Bang through to the Solar System and the origins of life on Earth, all the way down to the particles that make up everything around us (including you and me!).

Expect frequent digressions, tons of illustrations of not-so-sciencey things (NB a microwave flying through space), and pages packed with my all time favourite mind-bending science facts.

So, get ready for a faster-than-the-speed of-light (OK, not quite) tour of all of the best and most interesting things that science has to offer us… and most importantly: WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE!

(Written by a Science Fan NOT at scientist!)

Official Book Trailer:

Quick thoughts about the book:
Usually when I begin reading a book, I just dive right in. As a non-scientist, I prefer my science in the least geeky and non-techy manner as possible. So I will preface, I have no idea if the science within this book is 100% accurate or not. I will also say that those who are fans of Young Adult author, John Green and his brother Hank and follow their vlog posts, this is your kind of science. Below is a taste of Charlie and his style.

Charlie talks about how he wrote the book:

By watching some Charlie's videos, I felt that I was able to catch the flow of the writing of the book and also carry over Charlie's enthusiasm and passion for science from the videos into the book. 

This is one of those books that the right 10 or 12 year old might enjoy but can also be enjoyed by an adult. 

The font changes and sizes and illustrations provide as much voice and personality as the writing itself contributes to the book. Despite the general seriousness of the topic, there is also quite a bit of humor laced throughout. 

Though this book may seem as if it is for kids and adults who love science, it could also be a fun read for those who are fascinated by science. Look for a copy at your local indie bookstore or public library. 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews:

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring

The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring: The Accidental Invention
of the Toy that Swept the Nation
Written and Illustrated by Gilbert Ford; Photographs by Greg Endries
Atheneum Books for Young Readers (September 13, 2016)
Nonfiction * Inventions * Technology
Audience: Ages 7 to 10
Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
With magnificent dioramic illustrations, Gilbert Ford captures the joy, creativity, and determination behind the invention of an iconic, one-of-a-kind toy: the Slinky!

One day, a spring fell from the desk of Richard James, an engineer and a dreamer. Its coils took a walk…and so did Richard’s imagination. He knew right away that he had stumbled onto something marvelous.

With the help of his wife, Betty, Richard took this ordinary spring and turned it into a plaything. But it wasn’t just any old trinket—it was a Slinky, and it would become one of the most popular toys in American history.

Some quick thoughts on the book: 
I am not one of those people that remembers all of their toys from when they were children. However, there were a few that I remember fondly....

Play-Doh

Silly Putty

and this one really dates me but a Show and Tell Record Player. I loved this one. 

Another one of those toys I remember distinctly was a metal slinky...

I remember watching to see if it would go down the staircase without getting all tangled up. 

Imagine my surprise to find out that there is a nonfiction picture book about the couple who created the slinky. Gilbert Ford, who has illustrated the Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch and also the illustrator of Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis, has written and illustrated his own nonfiction picture book and its about the slinky. What a brilliant choice for a book. 

As with many inventions, an idea came from an every day observation. And with the help of his wife and son, the idea of the slinky was born. 

With a small loan and 400 slinkies, Richard had to find a way to encourage interest. A chance demonstration at a department store just before the Christmas holiday was just the break the couple needed to launch their new business.

In addition to providing young readers with some information about how the slinky was created and came to be, Ford moved from his typical illustrative style to the use of mixed media and dioramas. Each spread is meticulously created in 3D form. (See below for a link to a video of Ford's process.)  

Definitely worth adding this one to your collection of nonfiction picture books. Also, great as a discussion starter about creativity and imagination and inventions. Look for a copy of The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring at your local indie bookstore or community library.

Check this link to a video where Gilbert Ford talks about the process he went through to make The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring. Check Ford's blog for more information about the making of The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring. 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: