Tag: Picture Book Reviews

Picture Book Review: My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott

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My Baba’s Garden
Author: Jordan Scott
Illustrator: Sydney Smith
Neal Porter Books
7 March 2023
32 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/​Operator of Only Picture Books) and new OPB friend, Olga Herrera.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

Jordan Scott’s My Baba’s Garden promises to be an unusual–perhaps magical–journey right from the start when the first-​person narrator states “My Baba lives in a chicken coop beside the highway” and that chicken coop is near a sulfur mill that’s “shaped like an Egyptian pyramid.” Pretty cool!

What we quickly realize is that the young boy narrator has an imagination that’s as wide as the ocean. By the second spread we see it in action again as he notices distant mountains that “look like whale bellies.” Of course, Sydney Smith obliged with terrific art that has the right undulations and curves that do suggest whale-ish-ness.

It’s interesting that Dad regularly drops off the child to spend the day with the child’s Baba who is “hiding in the steam of boiling potatoes.” I’ll bet plenty of young readers know life situations like this that are anything but the Leave It to Beaver family that just isn’t realistic any longer. Seeing this kind of alternative childcare situation should prove welcome to those readers.

While Baba lives in a tiny space that indeed might’ve once been a chicken coop, it’s “crammed with food from her garden,” and food becomes a way to connect grandparent and child. “We don’t talk very much,” the boy observes, and it seems clear that there’s a language barrier that’s easily overcome by food, tenderness, and familial love.

After feeding the boy breakfast, his Baba walks him to school. When it rains, however, she pauses and loads up a glass jar with all the worms she can find wriggling on the pavement and in the grass. Later, we find out that she releases the worms in her garden where they do their worm-​work that’s healthy and welcome for any vegetable garden. It’s one of many quiet but important lessons that Baba teaches the narrator (and readers).

But one day, Baba “leaves her chicken coop home and moves in with us.” The reason why isn’t explained, though it’s easy enough to infer that it’s for the health reasons. Leave it to this observant boy to notice that a new big building now stands where her house used to be, and her garden has turned into an uncared-​for jungle.

I won’t spoil the ending, but even though their situation has changed, the boy and his Baba continue to have a special, tender relationship that’s wondrous to witness. Coupled with Sydney Smith’s fine art, the ending of this book is delightful and full of heart.

Even without knowing Jordan Scott’s background as a poet (I recommend his debut collection Silt), I’d recognize the careful, precise use of language one expects from a wordsmith. With sound repetition (“sees worms squirming” and “kneel next”) and vivid similes (“My Baba hums like a night full of bugs when she cooks”), this story is a pleasure to read.

It’s no surprise that an Author’s Note reveals that the narrator had a Baba in his life that did most of the things the book’s Baba does. We should all be so lucky as to have a loving Baba like that in our lives.

Well done, Jordan and Sydney.

4.5 out of 5 pencils

 

–Olga’s Review of the Illustrations–

Sydney Smith’s illustrations in My Baba’s Garden perfectly complement this beautiful and emotional story.

Sydney has painted memories!

Looking at the illustrations in My Baba’s Garden, I feel I’ve entered her home and should whisper as I read this book. Sydney’s loose watercolor helps us see these memories through sometimes teary eyes or when the sun comes through a window and causes you to squint a bit. His expert use of lighting is dramatic and impactful, and so beautiful. In every scene, the light is like a friend, welcoming.

The effect of this dramatic lighting is most pronounced when we meet Baba, the grandmother in the story. The spread where we first see this important character is filled with gorgeous pops of bright gouache color on a muted background and grounded by the strong shadow cast by the grandmother. This spread said everything you need to know about the character, her lifestyle, and her routine. It is breathtaking how much detail is available to us without the use of line.

The simplicity of the character design and the objects themselves balance the complexity of the illustration. Sydney provides just enough information to allow your eye to finish the rest of the story.

I found his use of color, predominantly yellow, very intentional in each panel. It is sparingly used and reserved for areas that are meant to call our attention. In a muted palette, the spots of vibrant yellow and a few reds are gorgeous and feel to float and be more solid than the rest of the painting. These pops of color are like the gestures of love the grandmother shows her grandson with no need for words. It’s no accident when you realize the color yellow is reserved for the boy’s raincoat.

In the spread where the boy explains what has happened to his grandmother’s unique home, we are invited to sit quietly with him in deep thought. It is such a powerful moment–expertly illustrated. The boy’s isolated eye draws us in while we slowly take in the information of what is happening outside of the room, all through reflections on the window. It is breathtaking.

Throughout the book, you will find patterns on cloth, or dishes, that give you a clear understanding of the rich tradition of the grandmother.

The gesture of kissing the food when it falls down is a tradition I am familiar with in my own family, and that moment when the boy kisses the apple slice made my heart ache. Sydney conveys emotion so well, and he does it quietly and elegantly. Speaking of quiet moments, the panel where the close-​up of Baba’s face with lighting from the window and the love in her eyes is gorgeous and wasn’t lost in me how juxtaposing it with the rain scene below ties the two characters in different worlds now. The noisy rain versus the quiet room. And both characters see each other.

In these two connecting scenes, the red of her smiling lips bounced on his boots and cheeks. Once again, a splosh of color balances the sadness of the scene with the love of the relationship.

Painting emotion is one of Sydney’s fortes, and My Baba’s Garden is the perfect harmony of nostalgia and love.

5 out of 5 crayons

Olga Herrera (she/​her) is an author and illustrator of children’s books. She earned her bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the Ringling College of Art and Design with a major in Illustration.

Olga’s hilarious and endearing debut picture book, The Unwelcome Surprise, will be published in April 2023 by Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan.

One of her passion projects is the podcast she co-​founded, Illo Chat, a podcast about the journey into professional Illustration and the world of children’s book publishing.

As a long-​time member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), she has served as a writing and illustration mentor for her regional chapter (MD/​DE/​WV) and has won several illustration competitions.

Olga is multicultural, Cuban and Ecuadorian, and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Ecuador, a beautifully diverse country that remains close to her heart. As a teenager, she returned to the United States, where she began her interest in the arts. She is a visual storyteller, often looking for a napkin and pen to jot down some fantastic idea that is sure to disappear in the blink of an eye. When she is not creating her content, she teaches Illustration in traditional and digital techniques or creative writing for fiction picture books.

She lives in the picturesque state of Maryland with her husband, two children, and too many pets who patiently listen to her ideas.

You can find out what projects she is working on by following her on Instagram @olgachildrensillustrator, and on Twitter @OlgaIllustrator.

Her website is www.OlgaHerrera.me

Picture Book Review: Wombat Said Come In by Carmen Agra Deedy

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Wombat Said Come In
Author: Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrator: Brian Lies
Peachtree
6 October 2022
48 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/​Operator of Only Picture Books) and Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration Professor (and OPB pal) David C. Gardner.

 

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

Give most writers a story about hiding out from an Australian brushfire and you might have a scary story. Not so with Wombat Said Come In. From the start, Carmen Agra Deedy is playing with language as you can see with the sound repetition in “Wombat was not worried,” or “Walleeooooo, Wombat!” That’s fun. And to ensure young readers aren’t worried, there’s “Fire had passed over his burrow before.” Whew. That distances the danger even more, so we can focus on the “crazy quilt” or the tea and cookies in Wombat’s hands.

The story quickly becomes one of constant interruptions. First, Wallaby hops by because he can’t get safely back to his own home. Whether you recall the title or not, of course Wombat invites Wallaby inside his cool, safe underground home. Soon, we’ve got Kookaburra, Platypus, Koala, and Sugar Glider joining the group–one after another–in the safety of Wombat’s home.

Worse, they’re making a mess, sleeping in his quilt, wearing his slippers, and using his handkerchiefs. The art does a splendid job of showing how displeased Wombat is growing. Eventually, “days passed,” and finally it’s safe to go outside. Wombat might like the guests, but he says it plainly: “GO HOME! It’s safe for you to rove and roam, and time for me to be alone. Skedaddle! Shoo! Go home!”

That seems like the end of things, but Sugar Glider (who is oh-​so-​cute in the art) says, “No home-​home to go to-​to.” So, of course, Wombat responds with, “Come in.”

It’s a story of gentleness and generosity, though it’s also about setting limits. You could also easily use this story as a launching point for discussions on gratitude, patience, and how house guests should behave. I’m also a fan of how this book quietly presents the challenges of dealing with a natural disaster without letting that aspect overpower the story.

There’s a lyrical read-​aloud quality to this book, too, that will help make young readers want to hear Wombat’s story again and again. Perhaps Wombat’s inviting refrain will inspire others to be equally generous in times of need.

4.5 out of 5 pencils

 

–David’s Review of the Illustrations–

Acclaimed author Jane Yolen maintains that the best children’s book illustrations don’t just decorate the book. They deepen it.

Brian Lies does just that in Wombat Said Come In. He wordlessly builds anticipation and sets the scene for the story even before the title page. In a clever cross-​section of Wombat’s underground home, Wombat is reading in his cozy den. You could spend an afternoon exploring the illustration’s charming details, a Lies trademark. Next, a double spread takes a striking high-​angle view of the path leading up to Wombat’s front door. In the red Australian soil, assorted animal tracks suggest the animals we’ll encounter by the end of the book. A welcome mat is an important detail. The single image conveys one of the themes: All are welcome here.

In addition to his use of clever, fresh, and surprising details, Lies is known for his capturing of light, which is especially strong throughout. His technique of layering acrylics and sculpting with light and shadow, using vibrant colors so delicious, I had to catch my breath at a few page turns. The light is so convincing at times, the characters seem to leap off the page.

When the story begins, Wombat answers the door with his comfy quilt and cookies and tea, which makes the interruption of all his animal neighbors all the more disruptive and funny. The pictures are consistently lighthearted, painted in vibrant jewel tones. Lies conveys Wombat’s growing frustration amidst his neighbors’ chaos with a light touch, so the character never comes across as mean. And the fire blazing outside is never shown, only indicated by smoke, so the book is never scary.

Every page is fun. The pictures bounce with variety, inventive layouts, and plenty of action. They send us tumbling forward along with Wombat, building to the requisite climactic party scene, a striking spread with a background of rich orange, the burrow’s wall, characters flying everywhere, and a single line of text. Poor Wombat is hopelessly trapped underground with the craziness. Could things get any worse?

In fact, things get better.

Wombat emerges the next morning. The fire has died. It is safe for his neighbors to leave. Lies adds a lovely grace note, deepening the text again: a tiny, green seedling catches the light. The light on the final welcome mat illustration, repeated from the beginning of the book, has gone rosy and warm with morning, sprigs of new grass sprouting. Lies beautifully extends the hope in the text, hope that springs from Wombat’s kindness, with this final image of new growth.

5 out of 5 crayons

David C. Gardner is an award-​winning illustrator and visual development artist. A former artist for Walt Disney Animation Studios, he has illustrated numerous picture books, including Write On, Irving Berlin! by Leslie Kimmelman (which appeared on OPB in May 2018). Published by Sleeping Bear Press, that book won a 2021 Charlotte Award from the New York State Reading Association. It tells the true story of little Izzy Baline, who immigrated to New York City in 1893 and grew up to become Irving Berlin, one of the most well-​known composers of popular music in America. David teaches illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design.

To learn more about David’s own work, please visit FlyingDogStudio.com.

Picture Book Review: Wally, the World’s Greatest Piano-​Playing Wombat by Ratha Tep

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Princeton Architectural Press
18 October 2022
40 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/​Operator of Only Picture Books) and longtime OPB friend (and Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration Professor) John Herzog.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

I’m a sucker for a picture book cover that screams READ ME and wow, this one does that. The title is silly and full of alliteration, and Wally himself just seems like the type of wombat I want to spend 32 pages with. And yes, it’s partially due to the blue tuxedo tailcoat.

This debut picture book by frequent The New York Times contributor Ratha Tep starts fast. By the third spread, we know that while Wally wants to be the world’s best piano-​playing wombat, he’s not–a wombat in a red tuxedo tailcoat does it better. Wally isn’t daunted by that realization, however. He adds more and more to his act until he’s tap dancing, ball twirling, AND playing the piano. Surely he’s the greatest at all of that?

He’s not. That same red-​dressed wombat can do all of that better.

At that realization,Wally quits. But like anyone with a dream, he finds it’s hard to give it up completely. He keeps thinking about that piano, and when the other wombat is “lurking around Wally’s piano,” Wally takes action.

The other wombat (Wylie), though, offers a cookie. Then he says that he missed Wally’s playing because it made playing the piano fun, and it made him try harder and play better. Wally realizes that Wylie’s playing made HIM play better, too. Over a chocolate chip cookies and milk snack, the two new wombat friends create a plan. Not just any plan, but the WORLD’S GREATEST plan.

The two perform on stage as the “World’s greatest blindfolded, unicycling, flamethrowing, hula-​hooping, piano-​playing wombats ever!” And it’s amazing. Until they realize someone else can do it better.

Even though Wally is discouraged at times, the book showcases the power of healthy competition and the delicious joy of doing what one loves. In an interview at Picture Book Builders, Tep discusses how, as a child, she had experiences similar to Wally’s but that “things also exponentially improved for me once I started accepting that there would always be someone better. I don’t mean this in a defeatist way; if anything I find it a liberating frame of thought. It frees you up to do what you really love.”

I think that affirmative, empowering focus comes through effectively in this story. Even when Wally has his minor eruption, he immediately comes around after the simple kind act of Wylie offering him a cookie.

Even though this is Tep’s debut picture book, I have to note that she did an admirable job keeping the text tight and focused. I think that’s partially why the artwork is so effective–she purposefully left a lot of room for Pintonato to play with, explore, and spotlight.

In sum, while this is a debut author at work and the publisher isn’t one I’ve encountered before, the product is memorable, amusing, and well worth reading again. Highly recommended.

4.75 out of 5 pencils

 

–John’s Review of the Illustrations–

“Wait, what?”

These are the two words I repeated to myself at least three or four times while I read Wally the World’s Greatest Piano-​Playing Wombat. Not because I didn’t like the book–I absolutely love this book, and it will probably end up being my favorite picture book of 2022. I said those words because Wally genuinely surprised me with its sophisticated themes, and how universal yet specific it is. It’s a two-​person, high-​wire balancing act, with Ratha Tep’s snappy prose beautifully balanced by Camilla Pintonato’s charming, vintage-​style illustrations.

This is a book that speaks to anyone who aspires to anything, spending hours and hours honing and perfecting their craft only to realize that there’s someone out there who does it better than you. This conflict is at the core of our story, which involves a piano-​playing wombat named Wally who discovers that there’s another wombat named Wylie who can not only play the piano, but can tap-​dance and twirl a ball and play the piano at the same time. Naturally, Wally decides to take his ball and go home (a sentiment I very much relate to). But that doesn’t last for long, as he and Wylie discover that they both motivate each other to become better and strive for more.

This story resonated very deeply with me. It’s easy to get jealous and competitive when you’re around others who do what you do, but do it better. I’m surrounded by immense talent at Ringling College from both faculty and students alike, so I can definitely relate to Wally’s frustrations.

And if anyone were to get me thinking seriously about taking my ball and going home, it would be Camilla Pintonato. Her illustrations for this book are so vibrant, fun, and well-​designed that it makes me sick. This Italian talent is today’s equivalent of Mary Blair, in my opinion. And I despise her for it.

Only kidding. Or am I?

At the beginning of each semester at Ringling, I like to give a presentation to my students that sums up some of my philosophies when it comes to being a working artist. One of these philosophies is this:

You are not climbing a mountain. You are on a never-​ending road of discovering and learning.

Sometimes, the road is quick, smooth, and easy. Sometimes you’re in wall-​to-​wall traffic going two miles per hour. Sometimes the road has a lot of bumps and potholes. Sometimes you’re off-​roading in the jungle, unsure of what lies ahead. There will always be people behind you on this road, and there will always be people ahead of you on this road. The key is to stay on the road, to continue moving forward. And Wally the World’s Greatest Piano-​Playing Wombat sums that up beautifully.

Dammit.

5 out of 5 crayons

John Herzog is an illustrator and educator. He has created work for Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Little, Brown and Company, Highlights for Children, DreamWorks TV, and Hasbro. He also teaches illustration at Ringling College of Art and Design.

John is a member of the National Cartoonists Society and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where he received the 2018 SCBWI Magazine Merit Award. He lives in Florida with his family.

John is represented by Kayla Cichello at Upstart Crow Literary.

Picture Book Review: Five-​word-​reviews on Five Picture Books (Abbreviated Hurricane Ian Version)

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In case you didn’t know, the OPB mother ship/​home base/​lair is in Sarasota, FL, and Hurricane Ian caused a bit of havoc with my house/​yard and my ability to get online to handle the blog. Since my illustrator review partner for October also lives in this area, the OPB plan regarding today’s post went kablooey.

I considered just skipping a week, but decided to simply go with a change of pace instead. Here it is–my five-​word reviews on five new picture books!

**For those who are concerned, my house is still safe to live in, I have power and Internet (thanks, FPL!), and my family is doing well. But I’m sending supplies down to Lee County, though, which took the real brunt of Ian’s strength here on the Gulf Coast of Florida. I encourage others to do whatever they can to help, too.**

Author: Larissa Theule
Illustrator: Steve Light
Candlewick
27 September 2022
32 pages

Ryan’s five-​word review: Engaging. Eye-​opening. Surprisingly fun. Solid!

4.75 out of 5 concrete blocks

Author: Ashley Spires
Illustrator: Ashley Spires
Dragonfly Books
6 September 2022
40 pages

Ryan’s five-​word review: STEM and magic? Discussion worthy.

4 out of 5 magic wands Bunsen burners

Author: Evan Turk
Illustrator: Evan Turk
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
20 September 2022
40 pages

Ryan’s five-​word review: Luminous. Richly emotive. Child-​like curiosity.

4.25 out of 5 moon phases

Author: Bethan Woollvin
Illustrator: Bethan Woollvin
Peachtree Publishing
30 August 2022
32 pages

Ryan’s five-​word review: Small voices matter. Appropriately clever.

4.5 out of 5 Viking axes

Author: Laurie Keller
Illustrator: Laurie Keller
Christy Ottaviano Books
20 September 2022
32 pages

Ryan’s five-​word review: Jam-​packed fun. Asking questions = good.

4.25 out of 5 coconuts

Picture Book Review: Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune by Helen Docherty

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Author: Helen Docherty
Illustrator: Thomas Docherty
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
6 September 2022
32 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/​Operator of Only Picture Books) and Connecticut-​based author/​illustrator Abi Cushman.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

In this simple rhyming book by Helen and Thomas Docherty, Blue Baboon shows up at a park where an animal music trio is jamming. Since Blue Baboon notices a bassoon just waiting there for someone to play it, she gives it a shot. Only she’s not musically talented, so Elephant yanks back the instrument.

A storm ends the scene, and leaves a drippy Blue Baboon wandering until she sees a hot-​air balloon. As the balloon goes up, up and away, Elephant hands her the bassoon as Blue Baboon sails off to a sand dune where she runs into Green Baboon–someone who appreciates her out-​of-​tune music at last. Why? Because Green Baboon croons out of tune.

The text is minimal–perhaps a few dozen words in total, with most of them rhyming with “Baboon.” As so often happens with such a strict adherence to rhyme, the story gets a bit illogical (like the sudden appearance of a monsoon, or how Elephant inexplicably gives away a bassoon), but overall, early educators and parents can use this book to introduce very young readers to colors, animals, musical instruments, and rhymes.

The selling point is the fine artwork and the cute animals, which I’ll let Abi discuss in full, though I’ll note that even I noticed the teensy red balloon with a heart in it on every spread. Charming.

All in all, it’s a fun, sweet book.

4.25 out of 5 pencils

 

–Abi’s Review of the Illustrations–

In Blue Baboon Finds Her Tune, Thomas Docherty’s playful illustrations are a real delight. They are bright, bold, and fun. I love the energy and vibrancy he instills in the nighttime city scenes and his expressive, endearing characters. With this sparse text, which is primarily driven by the sound of the words, Thomas does the heavy lifting when it comes to storytelling. Kids will not only enjoy watching Blue Baboon on her adventure, they will also have fun following the red balloon that drifts into the sky and makes its way into all the subsequent scenes.

With music being a major part of the story, Thomas was tasked with finding a creative way to SHOW music, and he does a wonderful job of this, portraying sounds–both harmonious and out of tune–with whimsical stars and colored lightning bolts. The expressions on the surrounding characters’ faces when Blue Baboon doesn’t quite hit the right note really amps up the humor in the story as well.

Thomas includes several hints in the illustrations of what’s to come. For example in the initial scene, we see a sign advertising Nighttime Balloon Rides. In the scene where Blue Baboon is playing the bassoon, we see part of a cloud rolling in. But I think he could have pushed this even further and included even more of these hints and Easter eggs in the illustrations. Perhaps we could have seen a peek of the umbrellas that were apparently behind the bear in earlier scenes or a peek of Green Baboon’s tail behind the dune.

One illustration that might get a lot of attention is actually located on the back endpapers. Thomas brings all the characters back in a hot-​air balloon scene, like the cat family who lost the red balloon and the ducks from the park. Kids will enjoy flipping back through the book to follow those characters’ storylines more carefully.

All in all, I found Thomas’s illustrations to be chock full of kid appeal, and I think young readers will enjoy poring over these pictures again and again.

4.5 out of 5 crayons

Abi Cushman is the author-​illustrator of Animals Go Vroom! (Viking), Soaked! (Viking), and Wombats Are Pretty Weird (Greenwillow), which hits shelves in summer 2023. She has also worked as a web designer for over 15 years, and runs two popular websites of her own: MyHouseRabbit.com and AnimalFactGuide.com, which was named a Great Website for Kids by the American Library Association. In her spare time, Abi enjoys running, playing tennis, and eating nachos. (Yes, at the same time.) She lives on the Connecticut shoreline with her husband and two kids.

For exclusive sneak peeks, wombats, and special giveaways, subscribe to Abi’s newsletter.

Picture Book Review: Library Girl: How Nancy Pearl Became America’s Most Celebrated Librarian, by Karen Henry Clark

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This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/​Operator of Only Picture Books) and longtime OPB friend, Austin McKinley.

—Ryan’s Review of the Writing—

Karen Henry Clark’s new picture book, Library Girl, shares the story of how Detroit native Nancy Pearl transformed her childhood love for books into a lifelong mission. From the start, Nancy was able to ignore how her peers teased her because her best friends were in books (“all those characters tucked into pages”). Clark cleverly uses bookish language throughout the text, such as how when the school librarian told Pearl about a nearby public library that was open on Saturdays, “Hope fluttered like pages turning in Nancy’s heart.”

Two sweet librarians at the public library encouraged Nancy’s imagination and her love for horses (Nancy had toy horses in her bedroom and she even imagined her bicycle was a horse named Charger). Though she hid her new library books to avoid more teasing, Nancy “read through rows of fantasies, trilogies, diaries, anthologies, dictionaries, histories, biographies, and mysteries.” And as so often happens to voracious young readers, all those stories led to this powerful realization–“I can be anything when I grow up.”

Nancy didn’t remain a solitary bookworm. When her librarian friends asked her to give a talk about horse books to the other kids, she couldn’t say no. Their belief in her was that strong, though she was understandably nervous. Even a spill on her bike en route to the library to give the talk didn’t spoil things. The other kids were “spellbound,” and when she was done, they clapped and the librarians “glowed.” I’ll let Austin talk about the art but I’ll add that many of the spreads have a magical glow to them, even when Nancy’s imagination isn’t being depicted in action.

After Nancy’s successful talk, the book fast-​forwards to where she has found her future as an adult librarian who helps other kids discover their own magic in books. An Author’s Note explains some of Nancy’s successes as a champion for books, reading, and libraries, though one of the most memorable moments is Nancy’s response to being challenged to write a six-​word memoir: “Girl discovers books, then discovers life.” The back matter also briefly lists awards Nancy won, books she wrote, and recognition she received.

While Nancy Pearl isn’t a household name, her sweet, empowering story will resonate with many readers. Book lovers, teachers, and librarians in specific will surely see some part of themselves in Library Girl.

4.5 out of 5 pencils

 

—Austin’s Review of the Illustrations—

It may seem obvious to say the work of an illustrator is to supply the “show” in “show and tell;” to provide tone and context beyond the reach of words alone. That’s exactly what Sheryl Murray’s depictions of the world of librarian Nancy Pearl’s childhood in the early 1950s accomplish.

Of the five books Murray has illustrated to date, Library Girl is the only one with a non-​fiction, biographical subject, but Murray’s fanciful sensibilities serve her well here, infusing Nancy’s experience with constant companions in sparkling azure shades, especially horses. Each scene is suffused with a magical pastel glow, a consistent palette perfectly suited to the romanticism of Nancy’s imagination. We would be remiss, however, if we failed to appreciate the subtle clues that set the mise en scene firmly in its historical context–the rolled-​up jeans, the milkman, and who could fail to be inspired by the palatial renderings of Detroit’s Parkman Branch Library?

An author herself as well as an illustrator, Murray’s firm grasp of visual storytelling are on dramatic display here. Beyond the warmth and approachability of Murray’s style, her framing and inclusion of evocative elements of the narrative add a textural richness to the reading experience: the dotted line of the map to the library, the bird landing nearby when the text mentions fluttering pages. The pulled back pictures that underscore Nancy’s emotional state when she feels small and insecure, the shots over her shoulder that put us in her black and white saddle shoes, which is especially appropriate in the story of a librarian who famously encouraged everyone in Seattle to read the same book at the same time. Murray’s illustrations allow us to see through Nancy’s eyes without telling us exactly how to feel. They give us permission to ask ourselves–as Nancy’s librarian mentors do–what helps us feel brave?

Nancy Pearl’s accomplished career as a librarian focused on outreach has been about understanding through shared experiences in books, and Murray’s charming compositions help enrich just such an experience for us–the readers of Nancy’s story.

4.5 out of 5 crayons

 

Austin McKinley makes comic books, cartoons, movies, video games, screenplays, novels and novellas through his company, Flying Car. He shot and appeared in the award-​winning feature documentary The New 8‑Bit Heroes alongside director Joe Granato. His comic illustrations have also been published by Image Shadowline, Devil’s Due/​1st Comics, Alias/​Blue Water Press, Avatar, Boom!, Blue King Studios, and FC9. He wrote and illustrated Squareasota, a weekly cartoon in the Sarasota Herald-​Tribune for seven years.
Most recently, he illustrated Tales of Mr. Rhee vol. 5: Rockstar Paranoia, a graphic novel for Source Point Press.