All the Dirt: A History of Getting Clean

Truth is stranger than fiction.  And the facts of the history of how people have achieved cleanliness seems strange, and yet, each of the ideas presented show the evolution of societies.  For example, when Paris decided to provide public urinals to prevent people from just going on the sidewalk, a German doctor decided an outdoor shower was a good idea too.  It didn’t catch on.

Full disclosure, I make deodorant.  Like, in my kitchen, by hand.  And I am one of the “small but vocal movement of people…taking a new approach to clean” mentioned on page 90.  So this book was a page turner for me.  I am friends with several soap crafters and the history of soap, cleanliness, oils, etc. is personally fascinating to me.  “All the Dirt” presents a balanced approach to cleanliness and customs around the world and throughout history.  As a school library media specialist interested in media literacy, the advent of advertising and the soap opera chapter also speaks to why certain cultures are more concerned with cleanliness than others.  Namely because they were targeted by convincing advertising tactics.  As in the past, there is disagreement over which approaches to cleanliness are “right” or “healthy”.  One thing that is definitely good for you is a good read, like “All the Dirt: A History of Getting Clean.”

http://www.ashenburg.com/ 

http://www.capucinemazille.com/ 

Title: All the Dirt: A History of Getting Clean

Author: Katherine Ashenburg

Illustrator: Capucine Mazille

Published 2016 by Annick Press

ISBN: 978-1-55451-790-9

This copy was received from the publisher for purpose of review.

Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk

Will’s Words combines history and the history of words and expressions originated by Shakespeare that have seeped into our “household words”.  The history of London in Shakespeare’s time, including the globe, actor, and audience tendencies reside on the left hand side of each spread.  Each of these text sections includes 1-3 phrases or references and on the right hand side, the explanation is given of their origins from plays written by Shakespeare.  Jane Sutcliffe embeds each word or phrase into the story to highlight their usage and the elaborates about the definition of each.  John Shelley’s depiction of the crowded Globe Theater full of audience members waiting “with bated breath” shows the mass of people shoulder to shoulder to take in the great Shakespeare’s latest play.  His cross sectioned illustrations showing the inner workings of the theater from top to bottom helps the reader understand how “special effects” were achieved in the 1600’s.  

Recently, after visiting a holiday shop at school, my daughter gave me a clue (that I did not ask for) about the gift she chose for me.  “It’s fashionable,” she said.  Do you want to know who coined that term?  None other than Shakespeare himself.

Will’s Words is not “too much of a good thing,” but it certainly is a good thing.  “Hurry” to check it out and read to your “heart’s content!”

http://www.janesutcliffe.com/ 

http://www.jshelley.com/

Title: Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk

Author: Jane Sutcliffe

Illustrator: John Shelley

Published 2016 by Charlesbridge

ISBN: 978-1-58089-638-2

This copy was received from the publisher for purpose of review.

Wild Animals of the North

The size of this book alone will be a huge draw to young readers eager to gobble up animal facts.  Dieter Braun’s illustrations are captivating and the way animals are grouped is helpful for kids to learn the animal’s habitats.  I like that there was an index included to reference back to the individual animals but it is in page order instead of being in alphabetical order by the animal’s names.  The lack of a bibliography or other sources is disappointing.  I’m excited that this looks to be the start of a series (or at least a pair of books) with Wild Animals of the South being advertised coming soon.  

Title: Wild Animals of the North

Author and Illustrator: Dieter Braun

Published 2016 by Flying Eye Books

ISBN: 978-1-909263-96-3

This copy was received from the publisher for review.

Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

What an awesome story!!  Truly, out of trash comes treasure.  In a town built on trash, literally on a landfill, ingenuity springs to craft the types of instruments that the residents cannot afford.  This is the type of book that gives a great deal of information but still leaves me wanting more (in the best possible way).  The author included information about a number of videos and websites to find more information that I intend to include here and check out as well.  The illustrations by Sally Wern Comport have trash collaged throughout, specifically sheet music and faraway places, as if foreshadowing what is to come for the orchestra and Ada.  The primary sources offer a teachable moment about how to incorporate interviews with the subject of research when the story is current.  

susanhoodbooks.com 

artatlargeinc.com 

recycledorchestracateura.com 

landfillharmonicmovie.com 

Title: Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

Author: Susan Hood

Illustrator: Sally Wern Comport

Published 2016 by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 978-1-4814-3095-1

This copy was borrowed from the public library for purpose of review.

*Better late than never, a copy was received from the publisher!

Preaching to the Chickens

While I was updating nominated titles in the CYBILS database, I came across this title and instantly knew who it was about.  I had JUST listened to the Reverend John Lewis, Congressman from Georgia, speak about the March graphic novel trilogy at the SLJ Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. and he spoke about his chickens.  And preaching to them.  So, when I read the title, I realized this must be about John Lewis.  And it was.  A friend of mine is a US Congressman and had posted a selfie (you can’t make this stuff up) of himself with John Lewis in July when Democratic representatives stayed at the Capitol to call for a vote on legislation and, as a result, had their own sit in.  

That was the first time I heard of John Lewis and began to do some research, then I heard him speak, and then this book comes across my lap.  I’d venture to say this is the year of John Lewis, though I’m sure others would argue it’s not his first, just for me.  

*Further update - March: Book 3 won loads of awards.  Totally a good year for John Lewis!

All that to say that author, Jabari Asim, and illustrator, E.B. Lewis, bring the story of John Lewis’ childhood, and his chickens, and the lessons this experience instilled in him to life in beautiful fashion.  Through caring for his chickens, he learned to speak up for those who couldn’t speak for themselves.  He continues to do so to this day.

www.facebook.com/jabariasimwriter 

www.eblewis.com 

Title: Preaching to the Chickens

Author: Jabari Asim

Illustrator: E.B. Lewis

Published 2016 by Nancy Paulsen Books

ISBN: 978-0-399-16856-7

This copy was borrowed from the public library for purpose of review.

Princess Cora and the Crocodile

My 3 year old son has a penchant for nonfiction, specifically dinosaurs.  He enjoys picture books and loves sitting on my lap to read together.  But he doesn't have much patience for longer stories.  And Princess Cora and the Crocodile is just that.  It is illustrated (fantastically by Brian Floca, need I say more?!?) but it is a chapter book and 74 pages long.  So I had been planning on this particular book being something I would read with my 7 year old daughter.  And yet.  My son spied it on my bedside table the first night I brought it home and asked to read it.  I shall never deny such a request, so we did.  He made it halfway through before tiring.  He IS 3.  But he asked if we could finish it the next night.  Perfectly reasonable.  He (and I) LOVE Princess Cora and the Crocodile.  Belly laughs throughout.  He continues to ask to read it again (and again, I will always comply) and refer to the characters and their antics.  I love that this story of empowerment and finding your voice features fun as well.  I love that Cora's mother and father and nanny learned to really look at her (for goodness sake, they confused a crocodile for her all because of a dress and a mop for a wig) and see their expectations from her perspective.  And I love that Cora was able to explore and wander and build and discover.  And three baths a day is just excessive for anyone.  Next time I step on a cow pie, I hope to declare like Princess Cora, "I'm having an adventure." Find a copy of Princess Cora and the Crocodile to begin your adventure.

This particular quote speaks to me as a school librarian.  Freedom to read is essential for our youngest reader to discover their passions and learn about topics of their own choosing.  Don't pigeonhole kids with expectations that are beneath them.  Let them rise to the challenge.

"From now on, I want to choose my own books.  I want to read about sharks and tigers and fairies." ~Princess Cora from Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

Likewise, my dino loving son doesn't JUST love dinosaurs.  He has diverse interests.  Like princesses and crocodiles.  And so much more.

Title: Princess Cora and the Crocodile
Author: Laura Amy Schlitz
Illustrator: Brian Floca
Published 2017 by Candlewick Press
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4822-0

This copy was received from the publisher for review.

Giant Squid Finalist Blurb

The following is the blurb that was submitted for Giant Squid as a finalist for CYBILS.

From the delay of the title page to Eric Rohmann’s murky deep sea illustrations, Giant Squid is a mystery just like the creature represented in its pages.  Candace Fleming’s choice of poetic text and the squirming, writhing layout of each line keeps the reader swaying as if being rocked by the ocean’s tides.  More forceful spreads when the giant squid captures its prey are accompanied by thick, powerful paragraphs.  A more traditionally labelled diagram following the story will help young readers identify each part of a giant squid and the author’s note goes into further detail about what we do and do not yet know about the giant squid.  I love the font choice of each back matter header.  The inclusion of an extensive bibliography as well as other books about giant squid will keep young scientists busy.  The acknowledgements indicate collaboration  with experts in the field and the section “Searching for Giant Squid Online” includes websites, but more intriguing, some of the first ever captured video footage of giant squid by Dr. Edith Widder.  Just as the giant squid has eluded predators and scientists, the squid portrayed on the pages by Eric Rohmann escapes us as well in a cloud of ink and a vanishing tentacle.  Fortunately, readers will love to seize this book and not let go, learning more about this creature hidden from view and yet, brought to life on these pages by Fleming and Rohmann.

{This blurb was written shortly before they were due, sometime over the holidays.  Today is 1/23 and the ALA Youth Media Awards were announced this morning.  Giant Squid won the honor for the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for the most distinguished informational books for children.}