30 Days of Diverse Picture Books - Firebird by Misty Copeland

It's Day 21 of our 30 Days of Diverse Picture Books. Last night we finished rereading Charlotte's Web to Sprout - his kindergarten teacher read it to the class and he loved it so much, he checked it out from the school library and brought it home to reread. I adore seeing Sprout's fondness for books deepen and grow, and to hear him say, as we finished the last chapter, "I just love that story." Melts this mama's heart!

Tonight's pick is one that also melts my heart, because it's such an important example of representation. Firebird is a picture book by acclaimed American ballerina Misty Copeland. Copeland is the third African American soloist in the American Ballet Theatre, the only one in the past twenty years. She's written Firebird as though she's speaking to a young dancer who dreams of being a professional ballerina, but feels her goals are out of reach. Copeland explains in her author's note that she never saw herself in books about ballet when she was a child, and hopes to change that with this book.

Christopher Myers did the illustrations for Firebird, and as you might expect from Myers, the pictures are amazing. Somehow he's captured the fluidity and light and motion of ballet in static images, using color and texture to set off the figures that fly across the pages. Copeland's text is poetic and lyrical, sure to be an inspiration to young ballerinas. And it's lovely to see ballerinas with gorgeous brown skin, their costuming a match for their incredible athleticism. Major points to Copeland for using her fame to increase representation for young ballerinas of color.

Firebird is a stellar title that belongs on every aspiring ballerina's bookshelf -- while celebrity picture books rarely make my must list, this one deserves its place!

Firebird by Misty Copeland, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons

30 Days of Diverse Picture Books - Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales

It's Day 18 of our 30 Days of Diverse Picture Books. I'm often asked where I find so many great diverse titles to share. The truth is, they are out there but it sometimes takes a little bit of digging to find them! I have an advantage, being that I get paid to spend 40 hours a week working for the library (pinch me!). But I have begun to compile a list of recommended resources -- still a work in progress, so check back often.

Tonight's title is by the incredible artist Yuyi Morales: Viva Frida, a picture book homage to the artist Frida Kahlo. When this book arrived at my library, we really wrestled with where to put it, as it's an unusual take on a biography. We ended up putting it in the picture book section because frankly it's absolutely brilliant and I wanted it to get the widest audience it could, not be buried in biography. So there.

Morales's artwork is on full display here as she pays tribute to Frida Kahlo's life and work. There's an appearance by Diego Rivera, her self-portraits, her mystical realism, all of it. And the arresting imagery is accompanied by snippets of poetry that speak volumes. The final spread merely reads, "Vivo - I live!", but that's all the text that's needed, as Morales's image of Frida surrounded by animals and light and wearing vibrant clothing captures the essence of the artist entirely. It's a tremendous title, and would be the perfect starting place for an art unit inspired by Frida Kahlo's work. (An afterword fills in more details about Frida Kahlo's life.)

Pair Viva Frida with other art-infused picture books like Georgia's Bones or Vincent's Colors for an exploration of life, art and the world at large.

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales, published by Roaring Brook Press

30 Days of Diverse Picture Books - Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown

It's Day 3 of 30 Days of Diverse Picture Books. We're having a great time rereading some old favorites and checking out new books in order to select the titles for our 30 Days. Terrific stuff is coming your way!

Today's pick is a new title by debut picture book author Katheryn Russell-Brown -- Little Melba and Her Big Trombone. Russell-Brown joins the ranks of a number of authors who have turned the lives of Black Americans into engaging picture book material. In this case, Russell-Brown tells the story of Melba Liston, the first woman to achieve prominence in the jazz scene for her trombone playing.

And what playing it was! The book takes us back to Melba's youth, growing up in Kansas City "where you could reach out and feel the music". Melba longed to play an instrument, so her mother bought her a trombone. Melba set about teaching herself everything there was to know about that horn, achieving prominence as a composer and performer who worked with famous musicians of all sorts.

Melba Liston was a trailblazer, and it's wonderful to see her story brought so vividly to life (we especially love the jazz-infused style of illustrator Frank Morrison). Read this one with your kiddos and get ready to dance - 'cause Melba's story won't keep you in your seat for long!

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, published by Lee & Low

30 Days of Picture Books - What a Wonderful World, illustrated by Ashley Bryan

It's Day 30 in our 30 Days of Picture Books. We made it! Can't believe how quickly that 30 days -- and 30 books -- zipped by. At the beginning of the project I always feel as if I'll never have enough selections to fill up 30 days, and then by the end I'm compiling a list of titles for next year's picks. I hope you've enjoyed reading along with us as much as we've enjoyed sharing these books with you. The research is tough, but someone's got to do it! :)

Tonight we're sharing a pick that seems to sum up the feeling we have at this time of the year, when thoughts turn to giving and sharing, and being grateful for all the blessings we've been given. Ashley Bryan's What a Wonderful World distills those thoughts nicely, using the classic lyrics by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele. Kids and parents alike will recognize this song, made famous by Louis Armstrong, just from the title alone. Sprout can't stand for us to read the words of this one -- we have to sing it, which is just fine by me.

Bryan's version has been around for quite some time, and it stands out as an example of how vivid illustrations can breathe new life into a familiar theme, or in this case song. Bryan brings his signature multicultural perspective to this work, weaving together people of various ethnicities through the storyline of a group of children putting on a puppet show. Louis Armstrong makes a cameo appearance, even working the puppet version of himself in the finale, where all the children gather to sing the last line of the song. It's a fantastic example of diversity, in which each individual is distinct but together makes a beautiful panorama.

Pick up What a Wonderful World at your library or bookstore, and share this one with a child this holiday season. It's an easy read that's impactful both in image and meaning, and one that reinforces the message we always try to send -- that the difference and variety between people, all people, is what makes this indeed a wonderful world.

What a Wonderful World, illustrated by Ashley Bryan, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Nonfiction Picture Book - Minette's Feast by Susanna Reich

So normally this would be Wayback Wednesday, but since today is Julia Child's 100th birthday, this seemed like a more appropriate post.

An especially fantastic trend in picture books of late are the fictionalized biographies of real-life individuals. Technically, since the stories are usually told from an alternate perspective and some details are invented, they aren't strictly nonfiction. And yet, because they have a basis in reality, these accounts can make an excellent bridge for young children from the fiction section to the nonfiction section, or vice versa. Kids who only want "true stories" could be induced by a whiff of whimsy to try something else, or those whose fare leans toward the imaginary might be convinced that real life can be just as engaging.

One of my favorite recent examples of this trend is Robbin Gourley's Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You A Pie. In a similar vein comes Susanna Reich's Minette's Feast, a peek into the life of Julia Child via her cat, Minette Mimosa McWilliams Child. Told through the perspective of this very blessed feline, Julia Child's early life in Paris and the beginnings of her culinary career are lovingly rendered and beautifully illustrated. Minette does in fact lead a charmed life, and she knows it - she came into the household thanks to Julia's belief that "(a) house without a cat is like life without sunshine!". Minette is famously finicky, and though she won't eat food out of a can, she's not entirely convinced by her mistress's delicious dishes either. Much better is a fresh bird, or maybe a mouse she's caught herself - now that's delightful. Still, Minette is Julia's constant companion as she undertakes the process of improving her cooking, first through self-study and then by enrolling at Le Cordon Bleu. (Minette polishes her own hunting skills in a similar fashion.)

This is a simply charming book, one that presents the story of Julia Child in a format that appeals to young chefs and cat lovers alike. The illustrations by Amy Bates are beyond fantastic, the kind of homey warmth you just want to linger over. For one thing, she captures the capriciousness of Minette perfectly - one minute resting quietly, then suddenly pounce! But Bates goes far beyond Minette's own actions to bring Julia's story to life as well. Her depictions of a younger Julia stirring, tasting, whisking, chopping fairly burst from the page, as the famous woman's boundless energy come through on every spread. A picture of a dinner party at the Child home is particularly spot-on: the all-but-salivating guests, including Child's husband Paul; the beaming Julia, bearing a fragrant turkey still steaming from the oven; and the ever-proud Minette, taking her place in the hostess's spot (it's only the way things should be, after all). Delectable!

Whether you're a fan of food or felines, Minette's Feast is a sure-fire hit. I'll be rooting for this one come award season - it's a gem that truly stands out on every bookshelf!

Minette's Feast by Susanna Reich, published by Abrams
Ages 7-12
Source: Library
Sample: "Sometimes the 'nice old fish lady' at the marketplace gave Julia luscious fish heads for Minette. Julia would cook them up in a pot. Perhaps she'd add a dollop of scrumptious 'chicken liver custard.' / Minette might even take a nibble. / But it seemed that mouse and bird were really much preferred."
Highly recommended

Bonus: an outstanding interview with illustrator Amy Bates from the blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast