Author Archives: Annette McQueen

Clouds

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Clouds in varying shapes, sizes, and colors are shown in this book for emergent readers

Big beautiful color photos of clouds high in the sky and low to the ground let young readers see this weather/climate phenomenon.

There is a 3 step graphic on “How Clouds Forms” (p 15) , a “Question” ( What shapes do you see in the clouds?”) [p21], and a graphic “Cloudy Day Activities” chart (p 19) . Four science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic (example- droplets), are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.

There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe “factsurfer.com” website.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Wind

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Gentle breezes to stronger winds are shown and talked about from cooling, to creating power, to causing damage in this book for emergent readers..

Big beautiful color photos of wind blowing through palm trees and meadows of grass let young readers vicariously feel the benefits of wind.

There is a 3 step graphic on “How Wind Forms” (p 15) , a “Question” (Have you ever felt a very strong wind?”) [p21], and a graphic “Windy Day Activities” chart (p 19) . Six science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic (example- turbines), are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.

There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe “factsurfer.com” website.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Rain

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Young emergent readers will see rain as a good part of nature that occurs “all over the world.” (p 8)

Big beautiful color photos of dark rain clouds, people in rain coats joyfully standing out in the rain or under umbrellas, lush plant-life, and a thirsty fox will let young readers experience rain as a wonderful gift to the planet.

There is a 4-step graphic on “How Rain Forms” [p 15], a “Question” (What do you do when it rains?) [p 19], and a graphic “Rainy Day Activities” chart [p 21]. Four science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic (example- ‘evaporates’), are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.

There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe “factsurfer.com” website.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Thunderstorms

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Thunderstorms should not be frightening for young readers once they learn how they are formed and the storms are part of nature.

Big beautiful color photos of lightning, wind blown trees, and driving rain will let young readers see the lightning bolts that disappears so quickly as it happens in real time . One young observer has his fingers in his ears from the thunderous ‘booms’, while another is watching out a window wide-eyed in shear amazement to the storm outside. These two boys do not look scared.

There is a 4-step graphic on “How Thunderstorms Form”, “Question” ( Have you heard thunder or seen lightning during a thunderstorm? [p 19]) , and a graphic “Stormy Day Activities” chart .

Six science vocabulary words, appropriate to the topic, are given in the glossary each with a definition and color photo.

There is more information available on-line through Bellwether Media’s safe ‘Factsurfer.com’ website.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong.

Zion National Park

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The expanse of Zion National Park comes to life in the scenic beauty of its landforms, to the inclusion of its wildlife, to our responsibility to preserve it for ourselves and future generations, all while being able to see and enjoy Zion first hand comes through loud and clear in this 32 page book.

Zion National Park has me yearning to revisit this national park. The ‘Factsurfer’ websites on page 31 include: Britannica Kids, National Geographic Kids, and the National Park Service. The National Park Service site includes a 23 minute video that deepens this yearning all the more.

This book is a job well done by Chris Bowman and the various photographers who gave us the ability to see and experience Zion National Park vicariously.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Good Morning, World I Love You So: A Little Book of Gratitude

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Eight little rhyming phrases accompanied by large simply drawn pictures young children will recognize.

“i love you wind i love you trees i love you honey made by bees” might depict nature, while “i love you food i get to eat i love you friends i get to meet” might depict an every day occurence?

The phrase’s rhyme but do not relate well to each other by topic, other than gratitude.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

How do Meerkats Order Pizza? : Wild Facts about Animals and the Scientists Who Study Them

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Seventeen scientists and their seventeen different research projects are very briefly introduced mixed in with animals cracking jokes all along the way. I should have guessed from the book’s title that this book was not going to be giving mountains of valuable information. Each of the seventeen scientists has an average of ten pages dedicated to them and their work. I wished for more information and less humor.

I did like the diversity of animals being studied and their diverse locations throughout the world. I liked the listing of equipment being used, for example: sunglasses, waterproof notebook and pencil, and waders. I enjoyed the mentioning of the scientists’ early interests as a child.

The is no Table of Contents, no Index, no numbered pages. There is a 17 word Glossary.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong.

Twinkle Makes Music

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Not all people who love music can play an instrument well. The same is true for fairies( (and this reviewer) .

Twinkle, the fairy, loves music as do her friends Pippa and Lulu. When Fairy Godmother announces she is having a celebration party and wants all of the fairy students at The Fairy School of Magic and Music to play at the celebration, they are all happy but Twinkle. The notes from Twinkle’s flute are never anything but “strange noises”. Pippa and Lulu help her with extra practice, but Twinkle’s flute is still only makes “funny whistles and squeaks.” Their teacher tells Twinkle to “ask your forest friends to help. There are many kinds of music we can play.” Tweeter the bluebird’s song gives Twinkle her inspiration to sing instead of playing her flute. Perfect solution.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

The Talk

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Racial bias necessitates children of color receive “the Talk” while children of “White Priviledge” do not.

Jay, Jamal, Eboni, and Bryant love running and jumping and racing around in their childhood neighborhood. Hearing stories of Olympic Game heroes, getting their chubby cheeks pinched by Nana, and getting measured on the growth chart by mom. Eventually, mom determines (while seeing a TV news cast of street violence) it is time she and the adults of Jay’s family sit Jay down for “the Talk”. The Talk of how adults in society will look upon Jay and his friends with eyes of suspicion for reason of the color of his skin. Briana Mukodiri Uchendu illustrates this in seven wordless scenes of avoidance, hurt, anger, and police pat downs set in shades of purple. THOUGHT PROVOKING conversation starter! The talk ends in a loving family embrace. Life goes happily on, but now Jay is prepared for the future of being a person of color.

Written for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

The Bird Feeder

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Find out how a bird feeder, a grandchild, and hospice combine to make a loving generational story in THE BIRD FINDER. “Grandma’s been staying with us since she got sick. That means now I can visit with her anytime I want. She brought her bird feeder. It’s my job to fill it.” So begins this touching tale of time shared with grandma before she enters a hospice center. The time between the grandchild and grandma is spent watching the birds flocking around the bird feeder through grandma’s window, drawing birds, and chatting. First at home and later at hospice. Grandma sleeps and sleeps more and more until finally she is gone. Though sad at her passing, the grandchild will continue to remember grandma whenever filling the new bird feeder at their home.

The sadness is not over the top, but realistic, filling a needed niche in an extended family’s life cycle.

Illustrator Dorothy Leung’s grandchild, perhaps 8 years old, is drawn in such a way it could be either a girl or a boy.

Reviewed for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Piglet Comes Home :How a Deaf Blind Pink Puppy Found His Family

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Based on the true life experiences of a blind deaf puppy (Piglet) rescued into a loving forever home of six dogs, turned seven dogs. The story is told from the point-of-view of the dogs. Each of the seven dogs had a key role in the dynamics of this loving family, and Piglet was no exception!

Make sure you read “The Story Behind the Story” at the end.

Written for Annette McQueen by M.K.P.

Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes: The Adventurous Life of the First Giraffologist

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Before there was Jane Goodall, there was little Anne Innis who wanted more than anything to know everything there was to know about giraffes. Anne visited the Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo when she was four years old. It took Anne until she was in college to make her dream come true to learn all about giraffe. Anne was met with opposition all along the way. This was the 1950s — “A woman traveling the world on her own? A woman studying animals in the wild? Unheard of!” But Anne persevered and studied giraffe in South Africa. After her study, being a woman kept her from being hired as a university professor, so Anne turned to being a writer. “Eventually, Anne’s adventures caught the attention of someone who turned Anne’s story into…a movie!”

It was a long hard road but Anne Innis Dagg’s perseverance won out in the end to the world’s betterment.

Written for Annette McQueen by M.K.P.

Hiders Seekers Finders Keepers: How Animals Adapt in Winter

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Three different ways in which different animals in the wild to make it through the winter are named and given very brief descriptions. The illustrations provide added details.

There are the animals which hide: snakes, snails, bumblebee queens, chipmunks, wood frogs and more.

There are the animals which seek warmer or different areas: Canada geese, elk, pronghorn antelope, Ruby-throated hummingbirds, green darner dragonflies and others.

There are the animals which find a way to stay throughout the winter: white-tailed deer, red foxes, mice, gray jays and more.

The Author’s Note includes definitions for diapause and brumation, as there is no glossary.

(M.K.P.)

When the Sky Glows

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Ten celestial phenomenon which often emanate ooohs and aaaahs from viewers are presented and explained in the gorgeous vibrantly illustrated book. The phenomenon include: sunrise, sunset, lightning, rainbows, solar eclipse, volcanoes, fireflies, meteors, auroras, and the moon.

(M.K.P.)

Little Red and the Big Bad Editor

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The Big Bad Wolf Editor actually saves Little Red from being eaten fives times in this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Who could have guessed the wolf, turned editor, cared more about the rules of good composition than in eating his prey? When Red runs into the Wolf on her way to Grandma’s house with her basket of goodies, topped off with a thank-you note, the editor in the wolf wins over time and time again. Wolf is compelled to correct Red’s composition mistakes: no finger spaces between words, no capital letter at the beginning of each sentence, and no greeting salutation or signature at the end of the note.

Combine that with the ‘cool as a cucumber’ similes, onomatopoeia, and colorful verbs the wolf with his pencil behind his ear are doomed to not enjoy a human meal today. Who would have guessed the IMPORTANCE of a great thank-you note!

Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf Editor

I AM NOT A TIN CAN!

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When is a robot more than a robot and become more of a person? A little boy and Number 808 banter back and forth along the lines of what it takes to be more than a ‘tin can’ / robot. Number 808 can play music, do strange things with his arms, and do math. But Number 808 does not have a brain or a heart points out the little boy. The little boy is won over to Number 808’s point-of-view in the end.

Geraldine Pu and Her Lucky Pencil, Too!

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So glad this is part of a series! Geraldine Pu is a cute rambunctious little Asian American girl with a story to tell. This time her story evolves around writing a story about her family for part of an assignment at school. She discovers her everyday family members have a history she does not know about neatly stored in boxes and scrapbooks down in their basement dealing with the family’s immigration from Taiwan.

Geraldine gives helpful instructions on to how to read a graphic novel ( from box to box), for first time graphic novel readers, Then at the end of the book, Geraldine gives readers helpful instructions on “HOW TO MAKE A SCRAPBOOK” like the ones she discovered in her family’s basement.

The Goody

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The Goody, written and illustrated by Lauren Child, is an important book about both good and bad behavior being a little mixed up.  It’s a lovely story of siblings, one who always does what he is told (the goody) and the other who does whatever she likes regardless of ramifications to herself or others. Children in K-2 will appreciate this story as they can relate to not always being able to be good, and most importantly, having that uncomfortable-tummy feeling when one misbehaves. The book is a subtle laugh-out-loud using a narrator to emphasize an overall message that states “being nice when you can be nice can make you feel good”. Child’s use of the double negative, such as “he never forgot to remember this,” and “the least favorite of all his least favorite vegetables,” produces a nice rhetorical effect that young readers are sure to enjoy. The writing is quirky and humorous, creating a need to read and read again. The illustrations are composed of delightful paper cuts complete with patterns that look like fabric and create an interesting texture. The sweet life-lessons pointed out by the narrator and shown in red print are sure to capture the students’ attention and help them realize that when we are nice or when we share with others, it actually makes us feel better.

That’s Betty! The Story of Betty White

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That’s Betty! The Story of Betty White by Gregory Borsignore is a quick and fascinating tale about Betty White’s remarkable 80-year career. The story begins with a student confidently wearing his Betty White t-shirt stating he will research her for his biography assignment about a trailblazing woman. One of his dads is supportive, but the other is not so sure, asking if maybe his son should pick somebody more traditional. But all along the reader knows a mysterious character appears on the pages with a big hat, dark glasses, pearls and a scarf who looks an awful lot like Betty White. It’s no surprise that the character is Betty herself and in true Betty fashion she is ready to tell her story with a confident flair. Together the two review all of Betty’s great accomplishments as the young boy discovers she co-hosted a live TV show in 1949 that ran for 51/2 hours a day and 6 days a week! Betty also wrote and produced her own show, The Betty White Show in 1954 when very few women were involved in TV. At this time, she casted talented Black singers and dancers and stood up to prejudice push back from the television studio. Betty simply  said  “live with it” and then gave performers such as Arthur Duncan twice as much air time as before and the audiences loved it! The illustrations are fun and colorful, taking readers on an extra special adventure in show business. The book ends with a timeline of Betty’s life, including a list of all her awards, honors and other extraordinary details about a woman with the courage to lead her life in a nontraditional way.

King of Ragtime, The Story of Scott Joplin

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by Stephen Costanza, illustrated by Stephan Costanza

Oversized, rich warm illustrations, chronicling the life of Ragtime musical composer and artist, Scott Joplin. Born in 1868 or 69 in north Texas, to a father who was a slave, Scott was able to tag along with his mother who cleaned wealthy white people’s homes and practice the piano while mother traded for cleaning. He had a natural talent and no one could deny it.

As he become older and more skilled, he began to compose music, riffing from tunes already written and “jazzing” them up. He played at church socials, dances, and the annual Juneteenth celebrations. From there, he went to honkey tonks and ultimately the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Because he was black, he was not allowed to play at the fair, but instead played in the surrounding cafes. Later he worked as a piano teacher and put himself through the George R. Smith College for Negroes. He famously wrote the OOM-pah with syncopated rhythms and called it, “Maple Leaf Rag.” He convinced John Stark to publish it, event though he was an unknown African American composer. It become famous! Just as he did.

The back pages of this book contain rich information about the story of his life in the form of an author’s note. Also Recommended Listening and a Bibliography.

Little Red and the Cat Who Loved Cake

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by Barbara Lehman and illustrated by Barbara Lehman

This wordless book is rich in illustrative storytelling The story chronicles a cat’s love of cake and the distress it is experiencing as the cake he sees being baked is obviously not intended for him. He follows Little Red as he goes to visit his grandmother, in hopes of receiving a piece of this cake. Instead, he settles for it in his dreams that night.

The story becomes endearing, at the end, when the author challenges the reader to find 24 lost sheep scattered thougouht the illustrations in the story. After this hunt, it really begins.There are four pages of pictures from the story, which have references to fairy tales or nursery rhymes and the reader is asked to find them Also included, is the full verse to every nursery rhyme and title to every fairy tale referenced. This book is recommend as a tool to open up rich discussion and discovery with a young child or classroom!

Trees

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by Tony Johnston, Illustrated by Tiffany Bozic

Large picture book with artistic pages celebrating the beauty of trees and the natural world. The artwork by Tiffany Bozic is stunning. The words are in prose, like a long poem separated into stanzas or lines on each page. This book would make a beautiful addition to a unit on trees, natural world, earth day, poetry month, or simply to revel in the beauty of the written words and artistic talent.

A nice addition is the last two pages of this book have an author’s note with additional facts and information about trees and forests, including the idea of of nine year old Felix Finkbeiner known as Plant-for-the-Planet. In order to stop global warming, children of all countries could plant one million trees. Also, Illustrators not about trees and Suggestions for Further Reading, and Resources as well as a sweet List of Trees in This Book, including thumbnail pictures.

All Star, How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball

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by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Cannaday Chapman

Larry Doby may be a little known name, but he was the first Black player in the American League, and the second in major-league baseball overall. And, the first Black athlete in Major League Baseball, to hit a home run in the World Series!

Larry Doby was born in South Carolina in 1923, during a time when racism was overt and pervasive. Although he played baseball with all kids of all colors in his neighborhood, they attended segregated schools. As he became an adult athlete, Jackie Robinson, 11 weeks ahead of him, became the first Black athlete in the major leagues. He faced terrible racism. Threats were made against him. Larry was the second Black athlete signed in. Although Larry faced racism by some of his own teammates of the Clevnland Indians team, the team owner Bill Veeck treated him without prejudice or bigotry. While traveling with the teammates, he often couldn’t stay in the same hotels or eat at the same restaurants. Then came the world series where Larry Doby hit the famous home run which propelled his team to championship. A famous picture of him (black) hugging Seve Gromek, (caucasian) was circulated and discussion ensued as these two men look gleeful and joyful in each other’s embrace. Although change has been slow, we have come a long way and continue to grow and change. To date of this publication, the Cleveland Indians have yet to rename their team.

Just Help, How to Build a Better World

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by Sonia Sotomayor, Illustrated by Angela Dominguez

This lovely picture book story, with simple yet bold illustrations, is Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s childhood family memories. Her family worked to be productive and contributing citizens of the United States. Each morning when Sonia work up, her mother would as her, “How will you help, today?” Her parents both contributed to the community both through their work and their generosity of time, spirit, and material items. Sonia helped gather items to be shipped to soldiers overseas, items to be donated to the hospital, and helped her mother remind all people in their neighborhood to vote.

This books calls us home, to our duty, as citizens of the United States of America, to have compassion, care, work ethic and contributing to our community, as part of our daily lives.

Wildfire!

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by Ashley Wolff, illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Rich, acrylic paint illustrates the beauty and fragility of our forests. Our story begins with a buck noticing a small fire and spreading the news throughout the forest and to the other animals who in kind alert others. Soon the humans in the look out tower spot the fire, as well. Airplanes with fire retardant come to make their drop. The animals all work to flee, while human wild land firefighters come to battle the blaze. By the end of the battle, all are exhuasted and life resumes after the fire is out.

In the back of the book are an Author’s Note regarding the history of forest fires and what we can do to prevent them. And how this problem is being exacerbated by climate change. It also has Firefighting Terms, Firefighting tools, and additional sources. This books is recommended reading, teaching and learning about the realities of forest fires.