Mr. Gumpy's Outing

By John Burningham

Mr. Gumpy kindly permits anyone who promises to behave onto his boat for a ride. It is a lovely day and at first all the children and animals mind their manners. Until they all end up doing exactly what Mr. Gumpy asked them not to do. And all at once! The children squabble, the rabbit hops, the chickens flap, and so on until chaos quickly ensues. Nonetheless, Mr. Gumpy realizes it is simply their nature, and handles the rest of the day with calmness and a tea party. The humour of everything going exactly the opposite of how Mr. Gumpy had hoped will appeal to young children.

The illustrations add a lot of detail and information to the text. Burningham’s line drawings are enhanced with crayon, wash, and other media, and in doing so, he has created a signature style that invites readers to pour over the pages. His sensitive treatment begins with the delicate sepia line drawings and continues with gleaming areas of coloured cross-hatching and luminous ink washes to create a charming English countryside setting.

Awards: The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award (1972 )

Kate Greenway Medal (1970)
Parent’s Choice Paperback Award
A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book
An ALA Notable Children’s Book

Change Sings: A Children's Anthem

 

Change Sings: A Children's Anthem

By Amanda Gorman

“I can hear change coming
In its loudest, proudest song.
I don't fear change coming,
And so I sing along.”

Amanda Gorman's rhyming verse calls out to children on the first page alongside the image of a girl with brown skin and textured hair, sitting crossed legged with her guitar. It is suppose to represent Amanda as a child; it is suppose to represent every child. The following page is an explosion of colour and an expression of movement, as the girl walks past a dynamic mural of Martin Luther King Jr. The segments come together like a stained glass window, and Loren Long's illustrations become a rhymical beat of its own.

Gathering neighborhood kids to follow her in a musical parade, the children teach themselves that the power to change things in the world - big or small - rests within themsleves.

At 22 years of age, Amanda Gorman, a National Youth Poet Laureate, was the youngest to be invited to speak at a presidential inauguration. Gorman’s charisma while reading her compelling poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was unmistakable, as she brought into this world an iconic quote, “for there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” 

 

Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!

By Marie-Louise Gay

By Marie-Louise Gay

Roslyn wakes up one morning knowing full well what is on her agenda for the day. Dig a hole to China, of course! Or perhaps the South Pole so she can finally meet a penguin. Enthusiastically she bounds down the stairs and recounts the plan to her father at the breakfast table, to which he simply inquires, “Will you be home in time for lunch?” While digging, she encounters some resistance from a worm and from a mole but does not allow this to dampen her energy. However, at one point she begins to lose hope that she will ultimately succeed until her father brings a picnic lunch and her imagination is sparked once more.

Clearly the pictures give information that the text does not as they portray Roslyn’s dynamic, childlike nature. We see her spring out of bed, send her breakfast cascading, and can feel as if we are there, watching her move zealously in a kaleidoscope of movement and colour. Torn paper and mixed media renderings are met with dashes of vivid colour accenting an earthy palette. Charming details are discovered with multiple readings, such as Roslyn’s stuffed pig with wings or her bunny slippers.

 

Samira Surfs

Samira Surfs

by Rukhsanna Guidroz, illustrated by Fahmida Azim  

11-year-old Samira and her family are Rohingya refugees who have traveled by boat to Bangladesh. Unregistered, they must live outside the camp, are banned from formal employment, and are resented by some of the locals. This middle-grade novel starts off at Samira’s new home, “made of bamboo choppy by Baba’s bare hands”, a leaky roof, and a single room for their family of four. The tightly woven verses take us to the beach where Samira sells eggs to beach-goers. She would love to use some of the money for school, but her father wouldn’t send her even if they could afford it because she’s a girl. Fortunately, her older brother, Khaled, gives her English lessons.

We cheer for Samira as she sets out with quiet determination to show everybody how she can work to make money for their family, learn English, and learn to surf. After meeting a group of girl surfers at a local surf club where there’s an announcement for a contest with a cash prize, Samira is empowered to overcome her fear of water that developed after her grandparents died falling into the water from the boat when coming to Bangladesh.

Azim’s lively illustrations bring Samira’s world to life, highlighting both the beauty of Bangladesh and Samira’s spirit.  

Verse novel. 9-14

 

“I’ve learned that belonging, having a home, having a country, means everything, is everything.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unspeakable: the Tulsa Race Massacre

Unspeakable: the Tulsa Race Massacre

by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper Picture book Illustrator and author Floyd Cooper passed away recently at the age of 65. He received a Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations in The Blacker the Berry and 2 Coretta Scott King Honors. Starting out as a 3 year old writing on the side of his house, he grew up in low-income housing in Tulsa Oklahoma and went on to receive a scholarship for art. In 1984 he moved to New York City to pursue his career.

Known for his candid, bold, and dramatic illustrations, Cooper always remained positive and stated, “Giving kids a positive alternative to counteract the negative impact of what is conveyed in today’s media is a huge opportunity.” His picturebook collection would make a fine library for any child with subjects ranging from a normal beach trip to a special day for a ring bearer, to a more heart wrenching topic such as the civil rights movement. His hope was for children to learn about the world at large, their place in it, and how they connect with it.

When Unspeakable came out this year there was thought that this could finally be Cooper's year to win a Caldecott, the award issued to an illustrator for the "most distinguished American picture book for children" I wonder, will Floyd Cooper be the first to be awarded a Caldecott Award posthumously?

Richmond Public Library has a selection of Cooper’s work, including his 2021 Unspeakable: the Tulsa Race Massacre in a streaming video read along format. Please make a purchase suggestion if you are interested in works we don’t presently carry. UPDATE: Unspeakable won a 2022 Caldecott Honor.

Learn to pronounce

Library Lion

By Michelle Knudsen

Ms. Merriweather has strict rules in her library. When, a lion saunters into the children’s area he is allowed to stay because after all, there are no rules forbidding lions. After a nap on the pillows, he joins story time, causes quite a commotion, and is spoken to by Ms. Merriweather. With renewed understanding of the rules, the lion becomes a cherished fixture with the children and staff until one day, he must decide between keeping out of trouble and helping a friend the only way he knows how. The themes of friendship and following rules are clearly present and the outcome satisfies.

Keven Hawkes uses acrylic and pencil to complete his drawings. The illustrations work together with the text, endearing us to the lion immediately. Although the lion does not wear clothes nor stand on two feet, he nonetheless displays human body language and feelings. The colours are warm and soft golds, purples and blues, lending a cozy, safe feeling to the library environment. The pictures either share the page with the text on the left, or are vignettes on the right, beginning and ending the book with a double page spread. Expressions and humour are especially well portrayed.

Awards: NAIBA Book of the Year for Picture Book (2007)

School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2006
A New York Times best seller.

At the Same Moment, Around the World

By Clotilde Perrin 

Originally published in France as Au même instant, sur la Terre (2011)

This jam-packed, delightful concept book takes the reader around the world, exploring what different children are doing at the same moment, whether it be night or day where they live. Different cultures are examined as Benedict drinks hot chocolate, Ravshan and Yuliya return from the market on a donkey, and Pablo has magical dreams. But are they more different or more similar to one another? Early timekeeping, the invention of timekeeping, and Greenwich Mean Time are addressed in an extensive glossary. Also at the back of the book is a large pull-out map of the world that labels each character’s home.

The book is presented  in a vertical format with rich, detailed illustrations that provide clues to the unique and special characteristics of its place. There is a whimsical nature and the art is reminiscent of vintage fairy tales. The pencil drawings are colourized digitally, making the hues luxurious and the overall tone bewitching.