29 August 2015

When it Rains, it Pours: 50 More Picture Books From a Stellar 2015

Note: This post originally appeared in the Huffington Post on 8/24/15

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(FLOAT by Daniel Miyares from Simon & Schuster)
As far as I'm concerned, 2015 could have closed up shop months ago and it still would have been a landmark year for picture books. Back in February, I said that this year may well prove to be a high water mark for picture books. However, there was no guarantee that the year would continue its torrid pace.
But apparently, when it rains, it pours because much to my delight, wave after wave of great books has continued to roll in. As a result, this year's quality of books is matched only by its unfathomable depth. So, prepare to clear some space on your shelves as we dive into some of the best books from the rest of 2015 (in alphabetical order).

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Bernice Gets Carried Away by Hannah E. Harrison (Penguin): Compared to the limited emotional range of media-darling Grumpy Cat, Bernice is the Meryl Streep of the feline world. Harrison's vibrant art and clever (but not too clever) play on words makes Bernice the perfect companion for any mood.
Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley (Macmillan): A touching book about love and loss, sponsored by Kleenex (or at least it should be). If this debut is any indication, the prodigiously talented Bagley will have reduced us all to helpless puddles of tears before we know it.
The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, ill. Oliver Jeffers (Penguin): The team behind the runaway bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit is back, this time following the harrowing adventures of lost and forgotten crayons. Like The Godfather II, it's a sequel that not only stands on its own merit, but may be even more colorful than the original.
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The Dog that Nino Didn't Have by Edward van de Vendel, ill. Anton Van Hertbruggen (Eerdmans): A story about an imaginary friend that is interwoven with fraying threads of realism, Nino is a refreshing change of pace in the expansive imaginary friend genre. Rendered in scorching earth tones, this Dutch import might be the most visually jaw-dropping book of the year.
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick, ill. Sophie Blackall (Little Brown): Long before the Hundred Acre Wood, there was a Canadian soldier (the author's great grandfather) and his rescued pet bear. And by the way, did you know that Winnie the Pooh was Canadian? Maybe that explains his mild temperament and excellent manners.
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Float by Daniel Miyares (Simon & Schuster): Following the rainy day adventures of a boy and his newspaper boat, every square inch of this book is a treat. The drama and disappointment hit when the boat floats away, but an uplifting twist leaves readers with their spirits soaring. And though it's a minor detail, I appreciated how, while racing down the street after his escaped boat, the boy still takes the time to look both ways before crossing the street. Safety first, people!
It's Only Stanley by Jon Agee (Penguin): It's only Stanley. It's only a mystery. It's only a slapstick comedy. It's only science fiction. It's only a love story. It's only all of these things, which makes it one of the best picture books of the year.
The King and the Sea by Heinz Janisch, ill. Wolf Erlbruch (Gecko Press): A charmingly unconventional book, The King and the Sea follows a fumbling monarch through a series of absurd encounters. With wisdom and humor to spare, each of the vignettes (which read like Zen koans) expose the limits of the king's power. By the end, the king realizes that he's better off tossing aside his crown and going for a swim.
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Lenny & Lucy by Philip C. Stead, ill. Erin E. Stead (Macmillan): People often quote FDR's "There is nothing to fear but fear itself," as if that's supposed to be comforting. But FEAR ITSELF?! Now that sounds absolutely terrifying. Lenny & Lucy gets that life isn't always about conquering your fears -- that sometimes, when faced with a threatening darkness, the best you can do is huddle up with a friend.
Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett, ill. Christian Robinson (Chronicle): Despite it being such a strong year for picture books, between this and Last Stop on Market Street, it still wouldn't surprise me if Robinson came away with both a Caldecott Medal and an honor (a rare feat last achieved by Jon Klassen). While his pages are usually bursting with color, here Robinson limits his palette to mostly cool blues, giving Barnett's clever ghost story a chilled but not creepy feel.
Little Elliot, Big Family by Mike Curato (Macmillan): In a modern era when people often live so far from their loved ones, Curato hits close to home with a story about creating family wherever and however you can find it.
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Lizard from the Park by Mark Pett (Simon & Schuster): Pett is a master of quiet illustrations that subtly pack an emotional punch. It may seem odd to use the word subtle about a book featuring a boy, his dinosaur, and a daring escape during a New York City parade, but trust me, it's fitting. It's in each of the tiny gestures, perfectly-angled head tilts, and touching in-between moments that the full extent of Pett's skill shines through. That being said, the daring escape is pretty awesome too.
The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes (Flying Eye): Through economical text and luscious illustrations, Hughes captures the daunting challenge (and sometimes despair) of environmental stewardship. However, she ends her story on a hopeful note as the Little Gardener's seemingly futile efforts inspire others to take up the cause.
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Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina, ill. Angela Dominguez (Candlewick) Mango is a talking pet parrot, but more importantly he is an ingenious narrative device for a story about language acquisition. Mia and her grandmother have trouble navigating their language differences, but with a lot of persistence and a little help from Mango, they are able to close the language gap in no time.
One Bear Extraordinaire by Jayme McGowan (Abrams): A rambling musician goes in search of a missing element to his song and ends up finding so much more. McGowan's intricate papercut art and playful cast of characters are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and leave you howling with delight.
The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton (Scholastic): A multiracial warrior princess from the creator of Hark! A Vagrant? Sign me up!
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Red, Yellow, Blue (And a Dash of White, Too!) by C.G. Esperanza (Sky Pony): A true feast for the senses, the first thing I thought of while flipping through this book was Basquiat after a Skittle binge. There is a level of confidence to Esperanza's style that is unique in a debut author -- his control of the page is such that he is unafraid to loosen the reins and let the colors run a little wild. The result is thrilling and hypnotic.
Sidewalk Flowers by Jon Arno Lawson ill. Sydney Smith (Groundwood): On a walk with her father, a girl quietly picks stray flowers along the way. As they navigate the city, she gives away the flowers, adding much-needed color to the drab landscape and leaving traces of beauty and compassion in her wake.
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Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl (Tundra): Sonya raises chickens on her home farm, but following a deadly fox attack, she must learn to cope with loss. And with the help of her father's timely storytelling (way to use that teachable moment, pop), she receives a valuable lesson about empathy. A warm hug on a crisp morning, Sonya's Chickens is The Lion King's Circle of Life... minus the soaring orchestral arrangement.
The Specific Ocean by Kyo Maclear, ill. Katty Maurey (Kids Can Press): Like the ocean itself, this book shimmers quietly on the surface but contains an unexpected depth. A valuable reminder that just because you can't take something with you, doesn't mean you have to leave it behind.
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To the Sea by Cale Atkinson (Disney*Hyperion): A story about the importance of being seen, Atkinson illustrates his story about friendship with a bold palette (mostly richly dark blues and radiant oranges), adding a level of high drama to this heartwarming book.
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. Ekua Holmes (Candlewick): Told in a lyrical first person narrative by the prolific Weatherford (a master of picture book non-fiction), Hamer's inspiring life story is further elevated by Holmes' powerful artwork. A fine artist making her debut in children's literature, her work is both grounding and transcendent, somehow taking the tactile qualities of collage and paint and infusing them with the otherworldly glow of a stained glass window. A fitting tribute to the woman known as "the spirit of the civil rights movement."
Wait by Antoinette Portis (Macmillan): Similar in theme to the aforementionedSidewalk Flowers, we find ourselves again in a preoccupied and hurried world. It takes a child to remind us to slow down and notice the beauty around us. That being said, have you ever been in a hurry and tried getting somewhere with a toddler? It's adorable but absolutely maddening. I can already see the satirical version of this book from the parent's perspective called, That's Great Sweetie, But We Really Do Need to Go, So Let's Just Try to Focus and Keep Moving. One Step at a Time. There We Go, One Step at a.... ARGHHHHH!!!!! Not Another $#*(%^! BUG!!!
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(THE WHITE BOOK. Copyright 2013 by minibombo. English translation copyright 2015 by Walker Books, Ltd. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA on behalf of Walker Books, London.)
The White Book by Silvia Borando, Elisabetta Pica, and Lorenzo Clerici (Candlewick): A child paints the walls of his room only to find that each color reveals a special secret. An absolute charmer of a book that doesn't need any words to cast its spell on readers of all ages.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin (Random House): Martin didn't just write a book, she took all the hopes and dreams that we have for our children and turned that into a heat-seeking missile aimed straight at the heart. If you're in the market for a baby shower gift, look no further than this stylish book about loving someone no matter who they grow up to be.

More Favorites (Seriously, I wasn't kidding about depth):
  • The Bear Report by Thyra Heder (Abrams)
  • Black Cat, White Cat by Silvia Borando (Candlewick)
  • Boo-La-La Witch Spa by Samantha Berger, ill. Isabel Roxas (Penguin)
  • A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat by Emily Jenkins, ill. Sophie Blackall (Random House)
  • Funny Bones: Posada and His day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams)
  • Good Night, Firefly by Gabriel Alborozo (Macmillan)
  • Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. Jamey Christoph (Albert Whitman)
  • How to Catch a Mouse by Philippa Leathers (Candlewick)
  • I Will Fight Monsters for You by Sati Balmes, ill. Lyona (Albert Whitman)
  • Imaginary Fred by Eoin Colfer, ill. Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)
  • Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter, ill. Shane Evans (Random House)
  • Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff, ill. Iacopo Bruno (Candlewick)
  • Poet: the Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton by Don Tate (Peachtree)
  • Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova by Laurel Snyder, ill. Julie Morstad (Chronicle)
  • The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi (Kids Can Press)
  • Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson (Scholastic)
  • Traveling Butterflies by Susumu Shingu (Owlkids):
  • Two Mice by Sergio Ruzzier (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
  • Two White Rabbits by Jario Buitrago, ill. Rafael Yockteng (Groundwood)
  • Waiting by Kevin Henkes (HarperCollins): Like an Arthur Miller play
  • What James Said by Liz Rosenberg, ill. Matt Myers (Macmillan)
  • The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenski (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
  • Welcome Home, Bear by Il Sung Na (Random House)
  • Wish by Matthew Cordell (Disney*Hyperion)
  • Zen Socks by Jon J Muth (Scholastic)

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