My Art Book of Peace by Shana Gozansky

Today's read hits the shelves in about a week and is aimed at the very young readers out there, ages 2 to 4. One glance at the cover, and it's clear these pages will hit the theme 'Peace'. And how? Well, this is where it gets really interesting. The author uses famous works from the artworld to highlight aspects of peace. Will this combination really be for this age group? Let's take a look and find out!

MY ART BOOK OF PEACE

by Shana Gozansky

Phaidon Press

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 2 to 4

COMING APRIL 15th!!!

A tender, lyrical celebration of peace in all its forms, this keepsake children’s book introduces the concept of peace in a new and accessible way: through art

Pairing 35 famous artworks with charming, read-aloud text, My Art Book of Peace illustrates the complex idea of peace through familiar scenarios, such as finding peace in the company of friends and making peace through kind gestures. The book’s heartwarming words and colorful design invite children to connect their everyday experiences to those they see in the artworks – allowing them to truly engage with the book’s theme, while building an appreciation of art.

My Art Book of Peace features a diverse array of vibrant paintings, drawings, and sculptures by famous artists ranging from Hilma af Klint and Franz Marc to Joy Labinjo and Noah Davis. With each expertly curated image accompanied by the work’s title and artist’s name, this book is sure to become the foundation of a child’s art book collection.

Featuring sturdy pages and an eye-catching, stylish cover with holographic foil, t his luxurious-feeling board book is a beautiful gift for babies, toddlers, and young children, as well as new and expecting parents. It is a stunning addition to Phaidon’s bestselling My Art Books series of beautiful board books, which explore big feelings through famous artworks and were selected as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2023.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

A wide variety of artwork combines with simple prose to highlight the meanings of peace.

These pages combine two directions into one message: peace. The book begins with a simple text, each page only holding a few short words to keep it simple and fitting for the youngest age group. The words mention various forms of peace and a broad array of ways in which it is demonstrated and shown: friendship, hugs, calm moments, and the like. To bring more emphasis to each word and let the atmosphere sink in, the photograph of a work of art is placed directly above the word. These include everything from sculptures to paintings and more. Each comes from a famous artist, and the works range from well-known to lesser known ones. At the very bottom of the page, the name of the work and artist's name is given. At the end of the book, each piece of art is picture again with a little information.

This book invites young listeners to explore and works especially well when combined with interactions of the older individual, the person reading it aloud to them, since they can express the thoughts and feelings they see in the artwork. No doubt, some images will connect better with readers than others, but then, art is always a very individual experience. These pages to a lovely job at bringing readers into the realm of artwork and lets them gently explore what they see with a nudge of direction through the text and theme. 

And here she is...

Shana Gozansky wears a lot of hats. She writes books for kids and their grownups, directs plays for everyone, and coaches parents. She is the author of Phaidon’s My Art Books series, How to Be a Witch (with Gabrielle Balkan), and has more books on the horizon. She holds an MFA in Directing from the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs and is a graduate of Bard College. She lives in Massachusetts with her spouse, tween, and a dog named Miss Piggy. Visit www.shanagozansky.com to find out more.

Penelope Positano Sees It All by Katie Cotugno

Today's read suddenly popped up in my mailbox, and luckily, I just happened to have a day suddenly open up for a review. This is part of a series of books about Penelope Positano, a little girl with a big heart...and as far as I can tell, it's the first in a new series. Aimed at beginning readers, I'm hoping to see a little fun, situations readers can connect with, and some animal cuteness...tons of animal cuteness.

Let's see if this one hold all of that or something else!

PENELOPE POSITANO

SEES IT ALL

by Katie Cotugno

Illustrated by Amy Jindra Hodgson

Amulet Books

Children's Fiction

80 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING APRIL 14th!!!

From bestselling author Katie Cotugno and illustrator Amy Jindra Hodgson comes a charming new chapter-book series about a plucky seven-year-old who can see things other people miss, perfect for fans of Ivy & Bean

For two hours every day, seven-year-old Penelope Positano wears an eye patch. Her eye muscles don’t quite match, and wearing the patch on her strong eye helps her less-strong eye catch up. And whenever she wears her eye patch, Penelope notices things that other people overlook.

The Positanos are getting a dog, and it’s Penelope’s job to find the perfect pup for her family. Her mom thinks they should pick the most obedient dog, and her dad wants the dog that likes his music the best, but Penelope’s not sure. Her best friend Gus said she would know which dog was meant to be hers, but the more Penelope looks, the more she worries that her dog isn’t out there.

It’s only with the encouragement of her grandma—and the help of her trusty eye patch—that Penelope realizes the perfect dog might be closer than she thinks.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

The search for a pet brings unexpected difficulties, which this little girl is sure to overcome with style.

Penelope's parents inform her that she's allowed to have a pet dog, and she's to choose one from the shelter. Not sure how she'll ever know which dog is perfect, she asks her best friend, who already has a perfect pup. He tells her that she'll know when she meets the dog meant for her...which isn't extremely helpful. Each trip to the shelter is proving to be unsuccessful, too, as her mother wants a dog to meet everything on some checklist, and her father wants the dog to enjoy his music. Only grandma seems to be truly willing to let Penelope decide, and even then, it's not simple.

Penelope has tons of personality, and yet, is hesitant enough to make her very approachable and sympathetic. Her family offers  a wholesome foundation, and while she doesn't always agree with each member, the family goodness and care flows. Especially the grandma offers quirky fun with her independent attitude and will have readers wishing they could meet her, too. The author keeps the dog-finding realistic as Penelope doesn't find the right one immediately, and there's a big twist at the end on that end (when she finally finds her dog). The author also weaves in a little tolerance for others as Penelope wears an eye-patch a few hours each day to help strengthen her one eye. This weaves lightly into the plot but doesn't overtake it, either.

The text slides nicely in with those readers, who are sure of their words, and just want more practice with shorter reads. The vocabulary does promote a little word-building on the skills end. The chapters are kept short and the illustrations help show the scenes and add some fun.

It's an enjoyable read with a character to enjoy and opens up to many more adventures to come.

And here they are..

Katie Cotugno is the author of more than a dozen books for readers of all ages. She is also the co-author, with Candace Bushnell, of Rules for Being a Girl. Her books have been honored by the Junior Library Guild, the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee, and the Kentucky Association of School Librarians, among others, and translated into more than fifteen languages. Katie is a Pushcart Prize nominee whose work has appeared in The Iowa Review, the Mississippi Review, and Argestes, as well as many other literary magazines. She studied Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College and received her MFA in fiction at Lesley University. She lives in Boston with her family.

Amy Jindra Hodgson is an illustrator from Cleveland, Ohio. Growing up, her parents read to her every night, and she fell in love with the art of storytelling and creativity. She knew at a young age that her imagination and love for the arts would lead her to the world of children's book illustration. Amy's creative inspiration is driven by her wonderful family, friends, and good sushi,

Happy Book Birthday, Just One Oak by Maria Gianferrari!

It's time to shoutout another book birthday! This one also fits wonderfully to this time of year as it heads out into nature, and in this case, takes a look at the life of a tree. At least, I'm assuming that these pages will explore all of the purposes or tasks that a single oak tree fulfills. I'm hoping for inviting illustrations and a hint of the joy of life. Oh, and cute creatures, too! 

Let's open this one up and see what it holds!

JUST ONE OAK

by Maria Gianferrari

Illustrated by Diana Sudyka

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

Explore an oak tree, from its leafy crown to its roots underground, and learn all the amazing ways it supports the animals, plants, and habitat where it lives in this surprising and enlightening nonfiction picture book companion to the award-winning Fungi Grow.

An oak tree is so much more than meets the eye. From tiny fungi to mighty mammals, this amazing tree contains a whole world.

For insects and birds, the oak’s leaves, branches, and bark are a home. For bears and squirrels, the thousands of acorns the oak produces are a nutritious superfood. Owls, deer, foxes, and many more creatures are drawn to the rich and healthy environment an oak creates. Because of a single oak tree, its many neighbors flourish.

GOODREADS    /   PUBLISHER    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

The wonders of nature meet facts and animal recognition to form a well-balanced read.

These pages look at the life surrounding one oak tree with the broad variety of life surrounding it, its life-cycle, and more. Each two-page spread holds a scene created in watercolor, which showcases an oak tree, but more importantly, the creatures which are connected with it. From birds to worms to frogs and more, the massive variety is showcased in a lightly playful and, yet, identifiable way. For example, there are cicada nymphs nestled underground near the roots or a red fox stands patiently under the limbs, which provide shade. It's not only about season and the growth cycle (although both are covered to a certain extent) but goes beyond to show how busy and intertwined nature can be. 

The main text is written in flowing rhyme, which describes the portrayed scene and situation in a simple and enjoyable way. Combined with the lovely illustrations, this makes it an nice read-aloud for younger groups. In each illustrations, listeners/readers can discover various creatures, and the name for these is written in much smaller font. At the bottom, right corner of the spread is a short paragraph, which explains certain facts surrounding the scene with much more detail. This is thought for the older reader/adult and can be read directly to older listeners or used when explaining the information to younger ones. These information paragraphs go into everything from how many acorns an oak produces over its life to the formation of roots systems and more. This holds interesting tidbits and is sure to bring new information to even little tree experts.

But this isn't the end of the knowledge goodness as the last pages dive into more explanations (such as oak leaf shapes), how to sprout oak saplings, the tree's life cycle, and a list of other places to find more information. So, this can easily be used during an entire theme surrounding trees, nature, ecosystems, and the such.

It's a rich read, which not only works as an enjoyable, short read-aloud but can expand into so much more.

And here they are...

Maria Gianferrari is a picture book reader/writer, tea-drinker, dog-lover, and birdwatcher. Maria writes books that honor our bonds with creatures both domestic and wild and that celebrate the natural world around us, including Fungi Grow and Just One Oak, illustrated by Diana Sudyka; Ice Cycle: Poems about the Life of Ice, illustrated by Jieting Chen; Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness, illustrated by Pete Oswald; Bobcat Prowling, illustrated by Bagram Ibatouilline; and Be a Tree!, illustrated by Felicita Sala. She lives with her family in Massachusetts in a house encircled by trees. To learn more about Maria, visit her website: MariaGianferrari.com.

Diana Sudyka is a Chicago-based illustrator. Early on, she created screen-printed gig posters for musicians but currently her illustration work focuses on young adult, middle grade, and children’s books. She has illustrated several volumes of the award-winning book series The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley, as well as the picture books Would You Come Too? by Liz Garton Scanlon, Sometimes Rain by Meg Fleming, What Miss Mitchell Saw by Hayley Barrett, How to Find a Bird by Jennifer Ward, and Fungi Grow and Just One Oak by Maria Gianferrari. Visit her at DianaSudyka.com.

The Marsh Fellows by Anna-Laura Sullivan

Today's read caught my attention thanks to the cover. The energetic, elderly couple with an overly excited teen in the background promises silliness and all sorts of unexpected situations. I know that you can't judge a book by its cover, but it can give some insights, anyway. This one is a graphic novel and, which surprised me, a dystopian. It heads off into a world, where nuclear war has changed everything, and a teen is trying to assist the couple in reaching a safe haven only to discover some dark secrets. So, I'm not sure if it will be humorous or darker or...who knows.

Only one way to find out! So, off we go!

THE MARSH FELLOWS

by Anna-Laura Sullivan

Top Shelf Productions

YA Dystopian  /  Graphic Novel

152 pages

COMING MAY 19th!!!

Beloved online cartoonist Anna-Laura Sullivan makes her graphic novel debut with a captivating adventure about misfits exploring the dark edges of their world! After a nuclear war plunged the world into darkness, the last beacon of hope is the island utopia called Slumber City. In this rainy, happy town, one angst-filled urchin doesn’t see what there is to smile about. But after being taken in by the elderly Marvin and Pearl, Urchin is pulled into their quest to solve the dark, damp riddles lurking outside Slumber City—and uncover the plans of its mysterious mayor.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

A city survives behind walls with light and positive attitudes keeping the constant rain from wearing down and the citizens alive. Due to the danger in the outside world, no one is allowed to visit the swamps beyond the walls. When Urchin's latest foster parents insist on sneaking out to collect trash from these outer swamps, he's not sure what to think. He already knows they are odd, but they are his last chance before landing in juvie thanks to his lean toward mischief and accidents. When they let him visit the amusement park as a treat for helping them with the garbage, he can't believe how kind they are, but his accident proneness catches up quick. Before he knows it, he accidentally puts the entire city under a blackout. The mayor demands that one of the four lights, which keeps the city alive, be turned off to provide enough energy for the rest of the town, but that also means that an entire section of the city is no longer livable. Urchin decides to convince his mechanically-gifted foster father to head to the light and fix it, but that means an illegal and dangerous trip beyond the walls. Luckily, his foster mother is a pro with experience in the swamps, and soon, the trio finds themselves underway to somehow save the day. But what they find is nothing any of them could ever have suspected and flips everything they thought they knew on its head.

At first, I thought this might be the beginning of a new series, but the entire tale unfolds within these pages. The author dives right into the world, letting necessary backstory trickle in with the plot. This keeps the pacing steady the entire way through. It also guarantees large twists and turns as the characters aren't even aware of many things, allowing the reader to uncover the secrets right along with them. The characters pack visual and personality quirks, making them interesting and adding spice. Especially the grandma holds a sharp edge, which brings her to the border of unlikable...but the author is able to weave in just enough of underlying softness by the end.

The illustrations are bold and carry an unique twist, especially on the color scheme. This fits well to the world and characters, since the entire thing borders on ludicrous while still carrying serious tones and more than a little fuel for thought. The text flows well, sticking mostly to dialogue to balance with each scene. While this is sold for the young adult audience, it is no problem for upper middle graders to pick-up and dive in and is appropriate for this age group as well. It reminded me a bit of City of Embers but with a quicker pace and more quirks.

And here she is...

Originally from Nebraska, now living in bustling Brooklyn, Anna-Laura Sullivan is a traditional artist and graphic novelist. Her storytelling recognizes the magic in the mundane, offers reminders of cosmic nostalgia, and celebrates presence. She has gathered an audience of over a million eager hearts on social media through pint-sized parables.

Happy Easter!