LIS 721 - Picture Book Review

 It's Time to Review Five Picture Books!

I am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James.

Barnes, Derrick. I Am Every Good Thing. Illustrated by Gordon C. James. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020. 32 pages. ISBN-13 978-0525518778. $18.99

Summary: "The confident Black narrator of this book is proud of everything that makes him who he is. He's got big plans, and no doubt he'll see them through--as he's creative, adventurous, smart, funny, and a good friend. Sometimes he falls, but he always gets back up. And other times he's afraid, because he's so often misunderstood and called what he is not. So slow down and really look and listen, when somebody tells you--and shows you--who they are. There are superheroes in our midst!" - Amazon

Review: The book starts off with dedications to Tamir Rice. Trayvon Martin, EJ Bradford, Michael Brown, Jordan Davis, and Julian Mallory. With this in mind, the illustrations throughout the book depict the active lives and dreams of African American boys in the medium of oil painting. The layout of these illustrations bare some resemblance to wall murals. This style of art paired with the themes of self-love and a celebration of identity create a powerful message of empowerment and confidence. The artwork is expressive and encapsulates the energy of the line it is paired with. This book highlights the diversity within the Black community with the inclusion of various skin tones emphasizing representation for children. In an NPR interview, James states, "When I read it, I imagined it being just all these different boys representing every boy". Overall, I believe that I am Every Good Thing empowers boys everywhere to believe in their full potential.

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

Lindstrom, Carole. We Are Water Protectors . Illustrated by Michaela Goade. Roaring Book Press, 2020. 40 pages. ISBN-13 978-1250203557. $17.99

Summary: "When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth And poison her people's water, one young water protector Takes a stand to defend Earth's most sacred resource. Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth's water from harm and corruption". -- From front cover.

Review: We Are Water Protectors is a beautiful book that can be used as an introduction to environmental activism and indigenous traditions. The story emphasizes the importance of water for all living things and incorporates flowing watercolor paintings in its illustrations to show that water is in everything. Shades of blue, green, and purple are used in most the the illustrations to demonstrate interconnectedness and visualizes the contrast of pollution in nature with the introduction of black and red once the "Black Snake" is introduced. The switch between the gentleness to aggressiveness in the color palette supports the tone of the narrator in their fight to protect the water. This motif is also demonstrated in the lines of the art, where the illustrations referencing the narrator and her tribe portray movement and fluidity, the snake is depicted as angular. Overall, I believe that this book honors native cultures and emphasizes our role in protecting the planet.

Mel Fell by Corey R. Tabor

Tabor, Corey .R. Mel Fell. Illustrated by Corey Tabor. Greenwillow Books, 2021. 40 pages. ISBN-13 978-0062878014. $19.99

Summary: 

"Sometimes, you might fall

down,

down,

down,

before you learn to fly

up,

up,

up...

An innovative and charming tale about a plucky little bird, from the award-winning author-illustrator of Fox the Tiger". -- From front cover

Review: Mel Fell is a dynamic and interactive book following Mel adventure of learning to fly. The illustrations are bright, simple and done crayon which can be seen as emphasizing the innocence of Mel's journey. The reader is able to rotate the book to follow her progress, which is an interesting and fun way to introduce perspective to young readers. Overall, I think that this book was so fun and depicted the feeling of courage and persistence very well for young audiences.

When You Can Swim by Jack Wong

Wong, Jack. When You Can swim. Illustrated by Jack Wong. Orchard Books, 2023. 48 pages. ISBN-13

978-1338830965. $18.99

Summary: "In this exploration of what it truly means to swim, expansive vignettes introduce sandpipers, tannin-soaked lakes, and the feeling of a small waterfall on sun-soaked shoulders. But what about those who are afraid of the water’s mysterious ways and resist learning to swim? Painting a compelling picture of the many joys and surprises that the water holds, artist and author Jack Wong has delivered an empowering, poetic journey that invites children to discover their confidence within to receive the warmth and wonder of the natural world" -- From front cover

Review: When You Can Swim explores the feeling of freedom and confidence that comes with learning how to swim. The artwork brings to life the nature of different bodies of water. The art style brings a sense of nostalgia for those who grew up swimming in lakes and oceans with the softness of the illustrations and the style of narration. It feels as if the parent speaking to the young girl is reminiscing on the feeling of learning how to swim as they encourage the girl to learn how. The illustrations also recognizes the power of representation. Each page depicts people of different skin tones, sizes, and genders to show that anyone can learn how to swim and enjoy it. Overall, I think that anyone learning how to swim or anyone who wants to read about the potential of learning a new skill should read this book. 

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

Martinez-Neal, Juana. Alma and How She Got Her Name. Illustrated by Juana Martinez Neal. Candlewick, 2018. 32 pages. ISBN-13 978-0763693558. $17.99. 

Summary: "If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all—and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her 2019 Caldecott Honor Book, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names". -- Amazon 

Review: Alma and How she Got Her Name is a beautiful story of a young girl connecting to her family heritage by learning about how she got her name. The illustrations in the book are soft and detailed making it feel like a flashback to the lives of the family members she is named after. The shading style portrays the history each family member carries. With each ancestor Alma learns about she grows more confident in her name. The audience can see this in the differences in the first illustration we she of Alma and the last. She starts leaning over her desk writing her name and finishes standing tall with a book of her history. Overall, I thought this story was a wonderful way to show how family heritage and culture can form connections and identities with younger family members.