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librarybonanza
Age: preschool - second grade
Media: watercolor
Illustrator style: vibrant watercolor images full of detail and a calming reassurance that aligns with the theme of the story
Reassuring a child’s fear towards a parent not loving her or him, this story’s daughter questions the potential of her mother to love her. Even becoming several threatening animals “you are still you” and her mother still loves her daughter. Accompanied with a glossary, this tale of an Inuit family provide excellent exposure of another culture to a child while allowing them to empathize with the child.
Media: watercolor
Illustrator style: vibrant watercolor images full of detail and a calming reassurance that aligns with the theme of the story
Reassuring a child’s fear towards a parent not loving her or him, this story’s daughter questions the potential of her mother to love her. Even becoming several threatening animals “you are still you” and her mother still loves her daughter. Accompanied with a glossary, this tale of an Inuit family provide excellent exposure of another culture to a child while allowing them to empathize with the child.
Age: preschool to third grade
Media: watercolor, ink
Illustrator Style: excellent movement of actions, array of situations from child's imagination, bold use of watercolor
Set in Africa, amidst the Maasai tribe, a son lays out an array of questions for his dad about the potential tests of his love for his son, from the son’s possible carelessness to the son’s threat of a lion attack. Although some words and the setting may be unfamiliar to a child or parent (2-page glossary provided in back), the concept of unconditional love prevails across cultures.
Media: watercolor, ink
Illustrator Style: excellent movement of actions, array of situations from child's imagination, bold use of watercolor
Set in Africa, amidst the Maasai tribe, a son lays out an array of questions for his dad about the potential tests of his love for his son, from the son’s possible carelessness to the son’s threat of a lion attack. Although some words and the setting may be unfamiliar to a child or parent (2-page glossary provided in back), the concept of unconditional love prevails across cultures.
Age: 2nd - 5th grade
Media: oil on canvas
Illustrator Style: Blend of traditional Mexican folk art, cubism, and expressionism
Diego Rivera’s daughter recounts special memories behind thirteen paintings of Rivera’s. Guadalupe explores Mexican traditions, rural life, and family life—including her father’s interactions with her as the subject of his paintings. Both in Spanish and English this is a great introduction to another language (both for the reader and the listener).
Media: oil on canvas
Illustrator Style: Blend of traditional Mexican folk art, cubism, and expressionism
Diego Rivera’s daughter recounts special memories behind thirteen paintings of Rivera’s. Guadalupe explores Mexican traditions, rural life, and family life—including her father’s interactions with her as the subject of his paintings. Both in Spanish and English this is a great introduction to another language (both for the reader and the listener).
Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Media: acrylic paint and black pen
Illustration Style: varying use of space, action and suspense compliments story
When Rani’s mother focuses her attention and love on a pet chicken, Rani gets jealous and remorseful. But when the chicken disappears, Rani helps her mother look and, when the chicken appears to gone, Rani consoles her mom. But, a surprise awaits them in the cupboard! Set in Pakistan, this humorous look at a “sibling” rivalry unfolds with simple, yet vibrant images for young and old eyes alike.
It's always nice to have a multicultural book that doesn't necessarily point out the non-Anglo American culture, it's simply a story that exposes children to different appearances of families and children just like them.
Media: acrylic paint and black pen
Illustration Style: varying use of space, action and suspense compliments story
When Rani’s mother focuses her attention and love on a pet chicken, Rani gets jealous and remorseful. But when the chicken disappears, Rani helps her mother look and, when the chicken appears to gone, Rani consoles her mom. But, a surprise awaits them in the cupboard! Set in Pakistan, this humorous look at a “sibling” rivalry unfolds with simple, yet vibrant images for young and old eyes alike.
It's always nice to have a multicultural book that doesn't necessarily point out the non-Anglo American culture, it's simply a story that exposes children to different appearances of families and children just like them.
Age: Preschool to Kindergarten
Media: Watercolor
Style: Warm and red colors to emphasize cooking and foods used, open scenes when outside, cooking scenes are action-oriented
A boy describes a typical day at his dad's restaurant surrounded by family. Without outright descriptions of the characters' personalities, the boy narrator is seen as a hard worker, doing all he can to help out his family with enthusiasm. This would be an interesting book not only for Chinese and Chinese Americans but for kids who love Chinese food.
Media: Watercolor
Style: Warm and red colors to emphasize cooking and foods used, open scenes when outside, cooking scenes are action-oriented
A boy describes a typical day at his dad's restaurant surrounded by family. Without outright descriptions of the characters' personalities, the boy narrator is seen as a hard worker, doing all he can to help out his family with enthusiasm. This would be an interesting book not only for Chinese and Chinese Americans but for kids who love Chinese food.
Age: 4th grade
Media: Ink & oil?
Illustration Style: imitation of Dutch masters (Rembrandt), softened edges (to emulate child's point of view), darker paintings, focus on people
With an advanced storyline and darker pictures, this book is made to be read to an older audience that may be interested in older settings. Taking place in the 17th century, 5-year-old Hana shares a particularly fond relationship with her father. When he becomes wrapped up in Holland's tulipomania, his genuine affection towards his daughter dwindles. Hana, as his "Renowned Physician," sets out to find a cure, asking the people in her life. In the end, she decides to paint him tulips which allows her father to see his daughter's loving concern.
Media: Ink & oil?
Illustration Style: imitation of Dutch masters (Rembrandt), softened edges (to emulate child's point of view), darker paintings, focus on people
With an advanced storyline and darker pictures, this book is made to be read to an older audience that may be interested in older settings. Taking place in the 17th century, 5-year-old Hana shares a particularly fond relationship with her father. When he becomes wrapped up in Holland's tulipomania, his genuine affection towards his daughter dwindles. Hana, as his "Renowned Physician," sets out to find a cure, asking the people in her life. In the end, she decides to paint him tulips which allows her father to see his daughter's loving concern.
Age: Preschool+
Animal: Pet parrot
Sense: Sound
Country: Paris, France
This book is begging to be read-aloud with all the sound effects--and Dicmas must have labored over the spelling of each sound effect because they are just perfect when read aloud. The artwork is fantastic and pairs well with what is happening in the story. This is also a great book for accepting one's special identity when Harold finds his own sound/voice.
Animal: Pet parrot
Sense: Sound
Country: Paris, France
This book is begging to be read-aloud with all the sound effects--and Dicmas must have labored over the spelling of each sound effect because they are just perfect when read aloud. The artwork is fantastic and pairs well with what is happening in the story. This is also a great book for accepting one's special identity when Harold finds his own sound/voice.
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Culture: Chinese Moon Festival
A unique pairing of three Chinese folktales that involve the moon and a little girl celebrating the Moon festival with her family. The illustrations are gorgeous and the stories are just short enough to illicit imagination yet not bore. What a delightful addition to the collection!
Culture: Chinese Moon Festival
A unique pairing of three Chinese folktales that involve the moon and a little girl celebrating the Moon festival with her family. The illustrations are gorgeous and the stories are just short enough to illicit imagination yet not bore. What a delightful addition to the collection!
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Familiar Experience/Emotion: Embarrassment
Country: Turkey
The artwork brings this traditional fable to life with amazing and unique angles and colors. I particularly enjoyed the white space for whenever Nasreddine and his father prepare the donkey to go to market.
Familiar Experience/Emotion: Embarrassment
Country: Turkey
The artwork brings this traditional fable to life with amazing and unique angles and colors. I particularly enjoyed the white space for whenever Nasreddine and his father prepare the donkey to go to market.
Age: High School
Culture: Brazil
I couldn't do it. I can't finish it. There was an INSANE amount of promise for this book: distopian set in Brazil, impending doom for a main character, the protagonist (June) is a rebel graffiti artist, mother remarries another woman, sex is not taboo. So much hope. But the arc of this book is so confusing. There's all this buildup to June's frakking awesome, artsy light display and then it happens for about 1 page and is ignored. The only residual effect of this scene in the story and amongst the characters is the alteration that the Summer Prince creates in the light show.
The science fiction aspect felt so strong and on par with the creativity of the classics but the writing felt incomplete. I had no care for the result of the technophiles vs. traditionalists because the protagonist had absolutely no investment in either side--for reasons I cannot figure out.
Finally, I think what really caused me to stop reading was the confusion of the plot. Nothing felt fully fleshed out. I think a contributing factor to this was that Johnson writes in a way that describes rather than feels and this probably created a disconnect between June and I. Perhaps the story should have been written in 3rd person omniscient narrator.
A sad ending for such promise, but Johnson did have some poetic moments that I wish had more attention given to them instead of being drowned in June being forever indecisive and emotionally disconnected from everything around her.
In this passage, June comments on technology's ability to allow immortality, but at the cost of humanity: "A disembodied collection of data can dance forever, but how much would that be worth without the tension of pushing up against the limits of the body?"
Culture: Brazil
I couldn't do it. I can't finish it. There was an INSANE amount of promise for this book: distopian set in Brazil, impending doom for a main character, the protagonist (June) is a rebel graffiti artist, mother remarries another woman, sex is not taboo. So much hope. But the arc of this book is so confusing. There's all this buildup to June's frakking awesome, artsy light display and then it happens for about 1 page and is ignored. The only residual effect of this scene in the story and amongst the characters is the alteration that the Summer Prince creates in the light show.
The science fiction aspect felt so strong and on par with the creativity of the classics but the writing felt incomplete. I had no care for the result of the technophiles vs. traditionalists because the protagonist had absolutely no investment in either side--for reasons I cannot figure out.
Finally, I think what really caused me to stop reading was the confusion of the plot. Nothing felt fully fleshed out. I think a contributing factor to this was that Johnson writes in a way that describes rather than feels and this probably created a disconnect between June and I. Perhaps the story should have been written in 3rd person omniscient narrator.
A sad ending for such promise, but Johnson did have some poetic moments that I wish had more attention given to them instead of being drowned in June being forever indecisive and emotionally disconnected from everything around her.
In this passage, June comments on technology's ability to allow immortality, but at the cost of humanity: "A disembodied collection of data can dance forever, but how much would that be worth without the tension of pushing up against the limits of the body?"