National Women's History Month books! 3.15.23

 March is National Women's History Month, and I always enjoy sharing some new picture book biographies that celebrate some amazing women!   Here are a few new ones for your collections.

Love is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement

written by Sandra Neil Wallace

illustrated by Bryan Collier

From the duo who gave us Between the Lines, now they introduce us to Diane Nash, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement.  Leading with love, Diane Nash stood up for what she knew was right and fought for the rights of all Black people.  The way she lead within the Civil Rights Movement is something to be celebrated.  Diane Nash is a women that needs to be celebrated this month!

Pitch Perfect and Persistent! The Musical Debut of Amy Cheney Beach

written by Caitlin DeLems

illustrated by Alison Jay

A musical prodigy and pioneer, Amy Cheney Beach led the way for women musicians after fighting her way to play throughout her childhood.  And not at public music places, but in her own home!  Amy's mother fought her for many years because she didn't think young Amy should be playing.  However, her talent won out and her musical prowess became known!

The Brilliant Calculator: How Mathematician Edith Clarke Helped Electrify America

written by Jan Lower

illustrated by Susan Reagan

I rely on a calculator to do math that I should be able to figure out in my head.  I have that handy machine all thanks to a woman in our history!  Edith Clarke and her mathematical brain helped create a calculator that was widely used by engineers.  She fought her way to be accepted and included in the engineering field.  My non-mathematical brain thanks her!

Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine

written by Kate Hannigan

illustrated by Sarah Green

It never fails, an appliance breaks and that's when you realize you can't live without it.  I can't imagine washing all of my dishes by hand.  And now I know who I have to thank for this marvelous invention - Josephine Cochrane!  Young readers will learn the perseverance Josephine showed when inventing and then marketing her amazing machine.  And we're glad she did!

A Take-Charge Girl Blazes a Trail to Congress: The Story of Jeannette Rankin

written by Gretchen Woelfle

illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

Ever wonder who was the first Congresswoman?  It was Jeannette Rankin, a take-charge person who came to Congress with a take-charge attitude!  Which she needed when she was elected since it was 1916!  I'm sure the Congresswomen in the United States are thanking Jeannette for paving the way!

Want to add some of these books to your library?  Courtesy of Mr. Schu (yup, he gave me a copy to giveaway!) I have a copy of Love is Loud to give away to one winner and courtesy of Calkins Creek, I have a copy of Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine to giveaway (US addresses only for both).  Enter to win by March 20th!

A Beginner's Guide to Being Human - a review 10.19.22

I'm just going to start with this - EVERYONE needs this book.  ALL libraries, ALL classrooms, ALL humans.  Because, honestly.... it seems like many of us have forgotten what humanity is.  Or what is should be.

A Beginner's Guide to Being Human

written by Matt Forrest Esenwine

illustrated by André Geolin

published by Beaming Books

Author Matt Esenwine reminds us of what humanity should be.  It's families.  Of all shapes and sizes and colors and numbers.  I love that he even says that you don't have to be related to be considered family.

Esenwine goes over empathy, compassion, and most importantly, kindness.  Through the text and illustrations, readers see both the good and not-so-good examples of humans showing these things.  Because, after all, as Esenwine says, humans do make mistakes too.  

Follow along with the pro-tips of how a little bit of kindness or compassion or empathy can go a long way!  And while these tips may seem to be something we all know, it's a good reminder for all readers to practice them in the future!

And at the end, what's really important is the love we can have for one another.  What a perfect reminder.

I was fortunate to be able to ask author Matt Esenwine a couple of questions:

Q:  How did the idea of this one come about?

A:  It was a really challenging book to write, not because it was difficult but because it was wasn't even my idea, ha! It's actually the first time I’ve ever written and published a book specifically requested by an editor. I had submitted a completely different manuscript with a similar title to Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books, my editor for ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME and although she didn't feel it was a good fit for her list, she really liked it and told me about an idea she’d had for a different book, written in the same sort of style but focusing on emotions and feelings. She said we could title it A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO BEING HUMAN and asked if I'd be interested in writing it, knowing there was no guarantee she’d accept the new manuscript. Fortunately, she liked it!

Q:  You talk about this book being creative nonfiction.  Tell us more about that!

A:  Creative nonfiction is a really cool genre that has been gaining popularity the past few years. It presents elements of nonfiction - facts, information, etc. - by using creative devices like narrative, dialogue, lyricism/poetry, etc. Examples of creative nonfiction are Lita Judge's WISDOM OF TREES, Joyce Sidman's DARK EMPEROR, and Melissa Stewart's FEATHERS NOT JUST FOR FLYING. 

Thanks, Matt!

This book should be shared at the beginning of the year, and probably at the middle and end, as well!  The simple text doesn't preach, doesn't feel like a lesson, but gives us a little check of how we should be taking life day-by-day.  The gorgeous illustrations by  are authentic and diverse.  

More about author Matt Esenwine:

Matt Forrest Esenwine spent a good part of his life writing and publishing poetry for various national journals and anthologies like the Donald Hall tribute, Except for Love (Encircle, 2019). Then his debut picture book, Flashlight Night (Astra Young Readers, 2017), received a Kirkus starred review and was included in Encyclopedia Brittanica’s list of “11 Children’s Books That Inspire Imagination!”

Matt now has nearly a dozen books to his credit including Once Upon Another Time (Beaming Books, 2021), co-authored with Charles “Father Goose” Ghigna, and I Am Today (POW! Kids Bokos, 2022). His children’s poetry can be found in anthologies like The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2015) and Construction People (Wordsong, 2020). Connect with Matt and order personally-signed books here.

I know you'll be wanting to get your hands on a copy of this book!  Author Matt Esenwine and publisher Beaming Books have donated a copy for a blog reader!  Winner will be selected on Wednesday, October 26th.

Ice Cycles - a review 10.12.22

My least favorite season is coming - winter.  For many others, they are celebrating all that comes with winter - the cold temps, snow, and the outdoor activities that involve snow.  Snow looks pretty in a picture.  And the ice that accompanies it can have beautiful designs and swirls.  Have you ever thought about that ice you see in the winter?  What about the ice that forms in bodies of water?  Maria Gianferrari helps us dig into ice a little further in her new book....

Ice Cycle: Poems About the Life of Ice

written by Maria Gianferrari

illustrated by Jieting Chen

published by Millbrook Press

I love that Maria helps us think about ice in a lyrical and alive way.  She talks about the way ice moves, forms, and makes noises.  She digs into how ice changes and that it doesn't stay the same.  And all along, we feel the sense of movement and change with her lyrical poems.  While young readers are learning about the ice in their world, they are doing so through poems that make the words dance and stretch and move through Maria's beautiful writing.

I am a big fan of Maria's writing.  Whether through poems or prose, she brings nonfiction to life.  I asked Maria about this, and I think her response is something to share with young readers to make them think more about their own writing and writing processes.  I'll let Maria take over now!

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Tips for Translating STEM Topics into Poetic Texts

I’m delighted to be back here at Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook, a favorite and go-to blog for book recommendations. Thanks for having me, Michele!

Today I’ll be talking about translating STEM and scientific research into lyrical writing. For me, science and poetry go hand-in-hand and are complementary. I love how poetry can distill and encapsulate images and how scientific language and vocabulary can also be quite poetic in nature.

Research & Pre-writing: 

During my research process, which often includes some kind of field research, like walking in the woods, taking photos of things that I observe, or noting other sensory details like smells and sounds and textures, I take notes to collect my thoughts and impressions by hand in a notebook. Writing by hand is slower, and it makes me feel more of a connection to the material that I’m working with, which helps me to reflect. Then I type up and print my notes, highlighting interesting vocabulary, images and phrases to see what patterns emerge. Next, I focus freewrite to explore my thoughts on the topic including voice, structure and theme.

Sensory Lists: 

Make lists that include your sensory observations. What interesting visuals emerge, and how can you describe them in a fresh and fun way? I try to paint a picture in words. ICE CYCLE is dedicated to my editor at Lerner, Carol Hinz, whose gorgeous photos of feathery frost like this one on Instagram first inspired the idea for the book. 

I was wowed by this photo and the visually stunning fern-like and feathery frost crystal formations, and highlighted those shapes in my poems about frost.

photo credit, Carol Hinz

And this intricate needle ice I found in my yard.

photo credit me ☺

Seek out sounds. I was amazed to discover that ice has many evocative and poetic-sounding names. As I mentioned above, I think poetry and science are complementary, and that scientific vocabulary is often poetic in and of itself. I loved the sounds of these sea ice names: hummocks and bummocks and shuga.

It doesn’t get more magical and evocative than pancake ice and dragon-scale ice, does it? 

photo credit Guy Williams

Have you heard of a brinicle? I hadn’t, before researching for this book. What does that evoke for you? I loved the sound of it, and watching videos of them pluming and blooming as they spread underwater. 

Watch a brinicle form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAupJzH31tc

What other senses can you incorporate into your manuscript. Taste? Texture? Scent? Is there a unique way to bring your lists together?

STEM Strands: 

Part of the process of translating the stuff of STEM into lyrical poetic writing includes weaving in scientific facts, processes and vocabulary. For example, in HAWK RISING, I described the red-tailed hawk’s flight as “kiting.” Without even seeing Brian’s gorgeous art, one can easily visualize what’s happening as the hawk hovers in place. It’s scientifically accurate as well as poetic. 

In WHOO-KU HAIKU, the Great horned owl mother, “mantles.” Can you picture a cloak or a cape? “Mantling” is the act of a bird spreading out its wings when feeling threatened to appear bigger, or to protect something (in the book’s case, her eggs). What about “pipping?” Doesn’t it sound like chipping, delicate and lovely? It’s onomatopoeic—and the sound and act of a hatchling chipping out of its shell with its egg tooth. Using these kinds of scientific vocabulary help make a text feel authentic.

Vivid Verbs:  

Vivid verbs are a writer’s best friend for all kinds of writing! They paint pictures, evoke emotions, store sounds, and the sound of those verbs is crucial when writing lyrically. There is nothing that’s quite so effective and evocative as a verb that can create an image as well as a feeling through its flowing and sonorous syllables. 

I love the sounds and images and movement in the frost section of ICE CYCLE, and had fun morphing nouns into verbs. It begins, “Frost ferns,” which evokes shape and flow with the repetition of the fricative “f” and liquid “r” sounds. 

As that poem continues, I tried to evoke the visual pattern as well as movement incorporated into the shapes and textures of frost using assonance and rhyme: frost fronds “curling” and “unfurling” as well as “binding” and “unwinding” feathery spines.  Verbs such as fanning, forking and flowering flow with alliterative “f” sounds, and also evoke both shape and energy and dynamism because they are “ing,” in process.

There is also rhythm and flow in the various ways ice moves: floes flow, riding, gliding, drifting, shifting, because ice is in flux, depending upon the weather conditions.

Be Playful:

In the “Ice Plays” section of ICE CYCLE, I used vivid and active verbs and sound to highlight the unusual visuals, beautifully depicted in Jieting’s fabulous art: Cat ice whorls/Swirl and twirl. Pancake ice stacks/Smack and crack, etc. 

Word play is fun! This spread ends with an ice tongue that licks and ice foot that kicks. 

I also literally played around with sound and used vivid, loud and onomatopoeic sounding verbs in “Ice Speaks,” as well as alliteration, assonance and consonance to emphasize the aural nature of ice.

Voice and Structure: 

How do you find the right voice and structure for your project? Will it be narrative in nature, or more expository? Sometimes I know from the beginning what the structure will be, as in the case of WHOO-KU HAIKU. It’s one of the rare cases when I knew the title first. It evolved as a series of lyrical vignettes and narrative haiku poems within the general seasonal Great horned owl life cycle from nesting, to egg laying; from hatching to fledging. 

Time and seasons prove to be logical, circular and grounding structures for translating STEM into lyrical language. As I mentioned above, WHOO-KU HAIKU as well as BOBCAT PROWLING have a winter to fall/spring life cycle seasonal structure, while both COYOTE MOON and HAWK RISING have circular nocturnal/diurnal structures. 

The subtitle of ICE CYCLE, POEMS ABOUT THE LIFE OF ICE reveals its circular structure: ice is born, or formed due to dropping temperatures, and dies when temperatures rise. But it’s again re-born as temperatures plummet again—the ice cycle-life cycle. I used headings for each section and played with the verbs there as a hint of what’s to come in the poems. Ice grows, flows (and floes) goes, plays, speaks, sprouts and ages.

One of the best ways to figure out structure is to read and study a variety of mentor texts to see how other kidlit creators organized their material. Be sure to check out Sibert-honor winning author and science writer Melissa Stewart’s blog, “Celebrate Nonfiction,” where you can learn about all kinds of narrative and expository approaches, text structures and features, voice, and more.

Read Aloud:

If you write picture books, reading your manuscript aloud is key. You can hear where the language is awkward, or faltering. As you revise, pay attention to your words. Are you being as economical as possible? Get out your poetry toolbox and explore image, word choice, figurative language, line breaks, rhythm and rhyme. You might want to re-examine your lists—how can you make your words sing?

Poetry’s imagistic nature helps to distill language to its most essential elements, which is perfect for both STEM topics and picture books.

Experiment:

As with science, translating STEM content into lyrical writing (and all writing) involves experimentation, and play, trust and letting go—not being wedded to our original drafts so that we can literally re-envision what we’re writing. Failure and rejection are part of the discovery process. 

I am fascinated by mushrooms and fungi, and my original manuscript called MARVELOUS MUSHROOMS was a concept book that had lyrical moments, but things weren’t coming together on paper quite in the way I was envisioning it in my head. Luckily it still sparked the interest of editor extraordinaire Andrea Welch of Beach Lane who requested a revision. After a great conversation and many, many revisions, I took a new approach favoring vivid verbs to blend science and poetry and wonder and it evolved to be FUNGI GROW, with swirling and gorgeous art by Diana Sudyka! I wrote the book with Diana’s illustrations in mind, so I was thrilled when she signed on to illustrate! I can’t wait to share our book with the world next fall. 

What STEM things delight you and make you wonder? Let your curiosity and awe lead you along the road of research. And then write lists, find patterns, listen to your inner voice and experiment, mix and meld and blend to find the ways that fuse science and poetry into your own unique work of wonder.

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Thank you so much, Maria, for stopping by and sharing your writing expertise with us!  

More about author Maria Gianferrari:

Maria Gianferrari thinks ice is nice. After seeing editor Carol Hinz’s feathery frost photos on Instagram, she was inspired to find out more. During her research, Maria was amazed by all the diverse kinds of ice that exist, and this book was born. Her favorite form is pancake ice. Maria lives in Massachusetts with her family, where winters usually bring ice and snow. You can learn more about Maria at her brand new website, mariagianferrari.com.

I bet after reading that you want your own copy of this gorgeous book!  Maria and publisher Millbrook Press, have generously donated a copy for a reader.  Winner will be selected on Wednesday, Oct. 19th!

Annette Feels Free - a review 9.21.22

A woman who championed women's rights, who had a disability and said "I can do this anyway", and was a swimmer?  Annette Kellerman is definitely a woman I wanted to know more about!

Annette Feels Free:

The True Story of Annette Kellerman, World-Class

Swimmer, Fashion Pioneer, and Real-Life Mermaid

by Katie Mazeika

published by Beach Lane Books

Annette was a fierce and joyful young girl, but after an illness, she suffered muscle loss in her legs and needed to wear braces for support.  Feeling constricted left Annette feeling quiet and sad and she wasn't the happy girl from before.  It was her father's idea to bring her into the water and see what she can do.  It was there that her freedom to move returned.  Annette could dance, kick, and move about in the water and it brought joy back into her life.  As she continued to grow, she found new ways to show her artistry in the water by putting on water dance shows, and ways to show her athleticism by swimming - and winning - in swim races across her homeland of Australia.  But there was one thing holding her back - what she had to wear in the water.  Annette was swimming during a time when women not only had to be covered in their attire, but it was also appropriate for their swim attire to be loose and flowy.  Hard to win when your material is causing a lot of drag!  Annette solved her own problem by creating her own swim attire, more similar to what a man would wear, but that was not ok with law enforcement!  Annette pleaded her case in court, and won!  Not only a pioneer for a women's right to wear appropriate swimwear, but also a pioneer of sport.  From competitive swimming to the sport now known as artistic swimming, Annette Kellerman lead the way!

Too often I hear people saying how "inspiring" people with disabilities are.  I've heard from many disabled athletes, including my own, who hate being described as that.  From what I understand, it makes them feel that their accomplishments are only looked at as inspiring because of their disability.  I think creator Katie Mazeika has done a wonderful job showcasing Annette's amazing accomplishments first, with a smaller note of how they came about.

I really love how Annette was described in the backmatter as, "a woman who pushed boundaries and advanced women's rights.  And we can all thank Annette for the freedom of wearing what we feel best in at the beach."  In a time when we question the rules, who makes them, who benefits from them, here is a great story of the person who helped women to the place we are now.

More accolades for Annette Feels Free:

A Junior Library  Guild Selection

“Annette’s legacy in competitive, artistic, and recreational swimming is undeniable, and Mazeika’s text deftly balances her subject’s varied career. . . . Swim-pressive!”—Kirkus Reviews

“An enthralling introduction to a remarkable woman.”—Booklist

About creator Katie Mazeika:

Katherine Mazeika is an author and illustrator with a BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design. When she isn’t in the studio, she likes to spend time at the theater, in her garden, or getting lost in a good book. She lives in Ohio with her husband, two kids (Lillian and Jack), and two dogs. To learn more, and download a free curriculum guide, visit her website at katiemazeika.com. Twitter: @kdmaz Instagram: @kdmazart Facebook: Katie Mazeika Illustration

Thank you to Barbara at Blue Slip Media for the review copy.

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - 7.27.22

I know, it's been awhile for a nonfiction post!  I've got some books in my lap so I figured I would take a moment and share them.  

Happy Sloth Day!

by April Pulley Sayre and with Jeff Sayre

I've had this book in my pile for a long time, but have felt very bittersweet about reading it since April's passing this past spring.  I've always loved her poetry and the way she and her husband worked together (photos for her books), always made me smile.

This book also made me smile because with April's trademark poetry, it was such a joy to read.  Of course reading about sloths is always fun but you can just stretch out the lines in the poetry and make it so fun!  Full of additional facts spread throughout the book and in the backmatter, this book is one you'll really want to read slowly... you know, like a sloth!

Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard Drama

written by Loree Griffin Burns

photos by Ellen Harasimowicz

A couple of years ago I fell in love with Burns' You're Invited to a Moth Ball.  I've used it every year with students and have found them to be fascinated with the sequencing of the story.  This one is definitely one to add to my collection and I hope you find it too!  With the honeybee population lowering in numbers, this is a perfect book to teach young readers what to do if they find a swarm of bees.  They can be habitat heroes and help the bee population!  I read this book cover to cover and then had more questions that I quickly had to research.  This is a must have for your nonfiction collection.

One Turtle's Last Straw: The Real-Life Rescue That Sparked a Sea Change

written by Elisa Boxer

illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens

If you ever wanted to get a child (or adult!) to stop using plastic straws, this is the story to read!  It might be a bit much for younger readers, but it certainly will make everyone think twice about what happens to those plastic straws you throw away!  This is the story about a true rescue of a sea turtle that got a plastic straw stuck in its nostril.  Without the rescue from some marine biologists, this animal probably would not have survived.

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky

written by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

illustrated by Daniel Minter

Never really thought about the history of a color before.  Because, you know... colors are just always there, right?  But they have a history, and I never really thought about how fascinating they could be!  Brew-Hammond not only brings the history of the color to light, but also talks about connections to common blue phrases.  

And the illustrations?  Well, let's just say there's a chance we'll be hearing this one mentioned during award season.

Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild

written by Joshua David Stein

illustrated by Dominique Ramsey

So often we teach groups of animals, but what about those animals that choose to be alone?  An interesting look at a few of them.   Be sure to read the Q&A at the end of the book because it most likely answers questions that aren't in the text.

Footprints Across the Planet

written by Jennifer Swanson

A beautiful poem about the footprints we leave across the planet - both physically and metaphorically.  With poetic lines, Swanson leaves us with some big ideas about the footprints we leave all around us.  Beautiful, full-layout photos go along with the lines that will leave readers thinking about these big ideas.  Going from animal footprints to human, to those we see on the ground (for long and short times), to the footprints we are leaving on this earth that show we are here (some good, some bad).  The backmatter has additional information about the photographs and ideas in the layouts.  Whether you share this book around Earth Day or at any point in the year, it's a great springboard for talking about the environment.

Blips on a Screen

written by Kate Hannigan

illustrated by Zachariah Ohora

Video gaming is well-known by young readers, but how did it get its start?  This biography goes step by step of how Ralph Baer started with the idea of gaming on television to making it happen.  The backmatter gives loads of more information, including that Baer also invented the game of Simon - that's one that provided lots of gaming time in my youth!

The Mystery of the Monarchs

written by Barb Rosenstock

illustrated by Erika Meza

This was a fascinating story!  The monarch is Illinois' state insect, and I always make sure to plant some flowers and plants to attract monarchs to my backyard every year.  

We know that monarchs migrate south every year, even know that many make the trek all the way to Mexico.  But how did we discover that?  That's Fred Urquhart's story!  Rosenstock tells us about Fred's love for these winged insects and his curiosity about where monarchs went when it got cold.  It's really interesting to read about all the steps and travels they took to find the answer to the mystery!

My Blue-Ribbon Horse: The True Story of the Eighty-Dollar Champion

written by Elizabeth Letts

illustrated by Kayla Harren

There seem to be quite a few books written lately about true stories of horses and this one will be a welcomed addition!  It's the story of a horse that was saved from being sent to the slaughterhouse.  Never thought to be more than a horse students could ride, this special horse went on to be a champion jumper!

The Rise (And Falls) of Jackie Chan

written by Kristen Mai Giang

illustrated by Alina Chau

I know who Jackie Chan is, I've seen him in some movies.  I mostly know him by his fighting in movies and those faces he makes!  I loved being able to dive into his past and learn more about him.  I'm glad he is someone who knew who he was and wasn't going to change that to fit into the mold others wanted!

Moving Forward: From Space-Age Rides to Civil Rights Sit-Ins with Airman Alton Yates

written by Chris Barton

illustrated by Steffi Walthall

This is fascinating and equally frustrating to read.  It's about Airman Alton Yates' life - going from the work he did in the Air Force, including putting his body through crazy stunts all to improve safety for those protecting the country's freedom.  Then going back home to segregated Florida and not be served at counters or be given the same rights as whites.  Then Yates put his body through new rigors - some physical, some verbal and mental.  All to protect basic freedoms.  

Hope you found some new nonfiction books to add to your collection this fall!

Before Music, a review - 06.22.22

Musical instruments - I bet we've all had the opportunity to play one at some time in our lives.  Maybe it was a school instrument - from the wooden sticks and blocks to the triangle to the recorder in music class.  Or maybe we tried our hand at an instrument as a child in band or orchestra.  I bet many of us have had the opportunity to see professionals play at a concert, or even in a worship choir.  But have you ever thought about where those instruments got their start?

Before Music:

Where Instruments Come From

written by Annette Bay Pimentel

illustrated by Madison Safer

published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

Author Annette Bay Pimentel explores that idea and take a look at some different instruments.  Each section starts with a narrative that begins with, "Before music..." and she tells us a little story about the early starts of an instrument.  In the following pages, the reader gets more information.  Maybe it's about the history of the instrument - and spoiler alert - an instrument did not usually start in the form we know it as.  Pimentel gives us the history behind the instrument and details perhaps the science behind it, or the creativity in its early beginnings, or how a person lent their talent to use this instrument in a new way.  Next, we see a variety of instruments that use a similar fashion of being played.  Some of these instruments are familiar, many are historical and are not used in the same way.  I took my time looking at the different instruments and where they were originally used.  Pimentel says early in the book, "humans are makers" and it is evident in the vast number of instruments included in this book!

Beautifully illustrated by Madison Safer, the bright illustrations done in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencils stand out on each page.  Another stand out is the size of the book - it stands at 14 1/2inches tall!  But with all of the information it covers, I love that there is more room on the page to tell and show the information.

The backmatter contains sources and information about how instruments are classified called organology (I would not have guessed that's what the word meant!).  And if the book has called you to play an instrument, well, there are some ideas for making your own in the backmatter!

I am grateful that author Annette Bay Pimentel agreed to answer some questions about her book.  Thanks, Annette!

1.  I love the perspective of thinking about how instruments got their start.  What gave you the idea to write from this perspective?

My kids play string instruments, and I always loved hearing our violin teacher talk about how violins are made. In fact, years ago I wrote a rhyming text about the natural materials in violins. But this book really took off when I attended a session about geography at the conference of the National Council of Social Studies. I started thinking about how each culture is connected to the ecosystem of a particular place. I realized that it's not just violins that have an interesting origin story. Every instrument starts with a creative person figuring out how to shape natural materials to make music. To me, the most awe-inspiring thing is that we humans, throughout the entire world and for even longer than we have records, have always made music with whatever is at hand.

2.  I'd love to know more about the research for this!  How did you find the information and then how did you decide to structure the writing?

I can't write or even research effectively until I have an idea of the structure I'm building. So I started by reading about organology, which is the science of classifying musical instruments. I already knew the Western classification system--string instruments, brass, woodwind, etc.--but I discovered that other cultures have classified musical instruments in startlingly different ways. The organization of my book is inspired by the classical Chinese system of organizing instruments by the material they're made of, and by Indian and Javanese systems that organize instruments by the action the musician takes to make music, plucking, rubbing, striking, or whirling, etc..

Once I had a framework for my idea, I started looking for instruments. I live near two universities, so I spent a lot of time in their libraries (thankfully most of the research was done before the libraries closed during the pandemic!), but I also used online databases of musical instruments. I spent a lot of time exploring The Grinnell College Musical Instrument Collection and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Musical Instruments Collection. 

3.  There are lots of instruments mentioned in the book.  Which one would you like to play, if you had your choice?

I love the idea of making music by whirling stuff around. In fact, I was so intrigued by the idea that I bought both whirling pipes and a thunder tube. They're really fun to play, and I'm excited about sharing them with kids when I do author visits.

Thank you, Annette, for stopping by!

Would you like to add a copy of the book to your collection?  Annette and Abrams Books for Young Readers have generously donated a copy for giveaway.  Enter below for your chance to win!  Winner will be selected on June 29th.

Kid Scientist series - 4.22.22

Calling all future scientists!  Would you like to know more about the scientific world?  There is a new series that is letting young readers dive (or dig) into the science fields!

     

Kid Scientist series

Marine Biologists on a Dive

Archaeologists on a Dig

written by Sue Fliess

illustrated by Mia Powell

published by Albert Whitman

In the first two books of the Kid Scientist series, young readers get to explore the field of marine biology and archeology.  So whether you want to dig or dive, author Sue Fliess and illustrator Mia Powell have you covered!

Both texts feature fictional scientist teams that are in the field for a specific purpose.  In the marine book, the scientists are studying a whale pod.  Each diver has a specific task they are working on and studying.  Some studies include whale sounds and communications, others are behaviors of the whales in the pod, and the health of the food the pod is eating.  Animal conservation is also mentioned because the biologists even help a young whale that has been entangled in a fishing net.

The archaeologist book has readers visiting one of the world's biggest religious temples, Angkor Wat in Cambodia.  Sam's team is looking for artifacts to learn more about the people and history from that time period.  The author shows us step by step the process archaeologists take when searching for artifacts in an area, and then what happens once items are discovered.  I loved learning about a process scientists use to figure out how old an artifact is by using a machine that uses thermoluminescence lighting.  A piece of the artifact is crushed and added to the machine.  It is heated up and based upon the amount of light it gives off, the machine can calculate how old it is.  So cool!

I like that each book mentions the scientific method.  Readers get a feel for how scientists might use it in that field of study.  The steps of the scientific method are included in the backmatter.  And speaking of backmatter, each book has even more information about the scientific fields at the end of the book.  Between additional sources, a deeper explanation of that particular scientist, and how to become a scientist in that field, readers will leave with a new sense of understanding of that scientific career!

These texts are perfect for a read aloud and will absolutely inspire some young scientists in your classroom!

Would you like to add a copy of these books to your library?  Publisher Albert Whitman has generously donated a copy of each book for giveaway!  Enter by Friday, April 29th for your chance to win (US residents).

Bobcat Prowling - a review - 3.23.22

I bet you have some touchstone texts that you use year after year.  Those mentor texts that have more than just the story inside the cover in them.  One of mine is Coyote Moon by Maria Gianferrari.  We use it every year and I love how the story and the information draws in readers with every read.  Now the creators are back with another story that I'm sure will be a new favorite!

Bobcat Prowling

written by Maria Gianferrari

illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

published by Roaring Brook Press

This time we follow Yearling Bobcat.  He's just been pushed out of his territory by his mother because it's time for her to mate and raise a new litter.  Yearling must find his own territory now.  As he travels the area, multiple children get a view of Yearling as he hunts for food and searches for a new home.  Similar to Coyote Moon, we learn about an animal's hunting style, predators of the animal, and how the animal lives.  There is excitement as we hope Yearling finds something to eat, yet also hope the prey gets to see another day!  After some time, Yearling is now an adult Bobcat, and we eventually get to see him find his own territory (and a meal)!

I love Gianferrari's lyrical tone to these books.  While readers are gaining lots of information, you can't help but be enthralled with the way the words seem to dance as you read.

Ibatoulline's illustrations are just fantastic.  Readers always note the realistic drawings, and they really do feel like you can reach in and touch the animal's silky, soft fur!

I think one of my favorite parts of these books is in the backmatter.  Gianferrari adds an "All About" section that contains some fascinating facts and information!  Each fact adds to something Gianferrari has in the main text - for example, we know Yearling stays with his mom for a certain amount of time, but in this section Gianferrari tells us that yearlings (1-2 year old bobcats) typically leave their mother anywhere from nine months to two years old.  Of course my favorite fact is when Gianferrari asks us what a bobcat's favorite activity is?  It's inactivity!  Sometimes that doesn't seem like such a bad idea!

Within the first several pages, I thought we were going to learn more about the mother bobcat and her child.  But very quickly, we end up learning that we would be following Yearling's story.  I thought that was a great choice and asked Maria to tell us more about it.  Welcome, Maria!

A few years ago I gave a workshop on revision at my then local SCBWI chapter in Maryland. One of the ways I invited attendees to think about revising their projects was in terms of theme—what are the themes that they frequently explore, and how can amplifying those themes enrich their current WIPs? 

For me, the idea of home—as a place of comfort and safety, as a feeling of calm and community, is one which threads throughout all of my projects, both fiction and nonfiction. When I began to write the manuscript, I knew that having a young bobcat main character who’s searching for a home would blend drama, excitement, tension, and that finding that space would be the ultimate satisfying resolution, so it made sense to tell the story from the yearling’s perspective. In fact, the working title of the book was A Home for Bobcat, though during the revision process we decided to make it more active to emphasize the search for home, and prey, and to have it complement its companion predator books, Hawk Rising and Coyote Moon.

I love hearing more from an author.  It always gives me a new perspective of the story.  Framing it by the idea of home makes so much sense.  I need another read now to think about that theme that runs through the story!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you pick up a copy of Bobcat Prowling for your readers!

More about author, Maria Gianferrari:

Maria Gianferrari is a community scientist, self-taught naturalist, and bird nerd who holds an M.A. in Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English. She is the author of narrative nonfiction picture books which celebrate urban ecosystems, the natural world and our wild neighbors. She also writes engaging expository nonfiction. And as a lover of dogs, Maria’s fiction picture books star dogs as main characters and explore the human-canine bond. She writes from her light-filled, book-lined study in Massachusetts with rescue dog, Maple at her side.

Would you like to win a copy of Bobcat Prowling?  Maria Gianferrari and Roaring Brook Press have generously offered a copy for giveaway (US Residents only).  Winner will be selected on Wednesday, March 30th.

Women's History Month, part 3 - 3.16.22

Welcome to the third and last Women's History Month post!

Don't miss:

part 1

part 2

Today we're focusing on space and food!

Like a Diamond in the Sky:

Jane Taylor's Beloved Poem of Wonder and the Stars

written by Elizabeth Brown

illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

I think "Twinkle, twinkle little star" is probably one of the first songs I sang to my daughter when she was born.  This is the story of the author of that song, that was first published as a poem.  Jane Taylor was always attracted to the stars and poems seemed to be all around her.  But in a time when women were not published, both Jane and her sister had to publish under pen names.  Not one to give up, Jane continued writing her entire life, eventually being able to see her name in print!

How to Hear the Universe:

Gaby Gonzalez and the Search for Einstein's Ripples in Space-Time

written by Patricia Valdez

illustrated by Sara Palacios

What a fantastic STEM book for Women's History Month!  We've all heard of Einstein and his work on gravity, which is actually based on movement through space and time.  He also wondered about ripples - specifically if colliding stars could create ripples in space-time.  It wasn't until fifty years later that young Gaby Gonzalez started wondering about stars and space.  Years later, with her work on a machine named LIGO, and with other scientists, did she prove that these ripples do exist!

Written by the author of Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor, Patricia Valdez, and illustrated by one of my favorites, Sara Palacio, this book is a joy to read.

Blast Off! How Mary Sherman Morgan Fueled America Into Space

written by Suzanne Slade

illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

I love that we are hearing so many amazing women who are actually behind so many science accomplishments!  Who knew that the rocket fuel that astronauts and rocket scientists relied on was actually concocted by a woman?  Yup, it was Mary Sherman Morgan who worked at all the equations needed to put this dangerous, yet needed, fuel together. 

I love the illustrations by Sally Wern Comport, they absolutely radiate the feel from that time period!

Now on to the foodies!

Born Hungry: Julia Child Becomes "the French Chef"

written by Alex Prud'homme

illustrated by Sarah Green

I apparently did not know anything about Julia Child!  I thought she was French, had no idea she was American!  I also thought being a chef was something she just always was.  I loved learning more about this dynamic woman!  Although I still don't think there is any hope for me becoming a cook in my later years :)

Alice Waters Cooks Up a Food Revolution

written by Diane Stanley

illustrated by Jessie Hartland

If you've ever had your own garden, you know first of all the taste of your food is so different than what you get at the store.  You also know that the food lasts way longer; it's definitely more fresh!

All of these facts are things Alice Waters discovers.  And when she travels and lives and studies in France, Alice finds out this is how the French always eat.  When she gets back to California, it takes a few years of figuring things out, but eventually she opens her own French restaurant.  Filling it with people who want to be there and try new things, her restaurant blossoms and then thrives.  Alice eventually travels to local farms and starts buying produce that is fresh and serving whatever she has on hand - just like when she was younger and just like in France.

Definitely a fun book for the foodies in your school!

Hope you have found some new books over the past three weeks to share with readers this month.  Let's go mighty women and continue to learn and grow!