Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman

AMIR: The garden’s green was as soothing to the eye as the deep blue of that rug. I’m aware of color—I manage a fabric store. But the garden’s greatest benefit, I feel, 

was not relief to the eyes, but to make the eyes see our neighbors.

This book is such an interesting discovery. It is a book for Young Adult readers but I am sure adults will enjoy the way this book is written as a jigsaw puzzle where we meet a diversity of characters all linked through their connection with a community garden. (In the UK this might be called an allotment). Seedfolks was published in 1997 - I read an ebook version. The good news is the paperback [9780064472074] from 1999 seems to be available to order from your favourite independent book seller.

Publisher blurb: A Vietnamese girl plants six lima beans in a Cleveland vacant lot. Looking down on the immigrant-filled neighborhood, a Romanian woman watches suspiciously. A school janitor gets involved, then a Guatemalan family. Then muscle-bound Curtis, trying to win back Lateesha. Pregnant Maricela. Amir from India. A sense of community sprouts and spreads. 

Characters

• Kim: A Vietnamese girl mourning her father, who plants beans to connect with him.
• Ana: An elderly Romanian woman who initially distrusts Kim but later helps tend the garden.
• Wendell: A school janitor who supports Kim and contributes to the garden.
• Gonzalo: A young Guatemalan boy who feels responsible for his uncle and finds purpose in gardening.
• Curtis: A muscle-bound man trying to win back his ex-girlfriend through gardening.
• Leona: A passionate woman who fights to clean the lot and grows goldenrod, believing it has healing properties.
• Maricela: A pregnant teen who learns to care for plants and finds hope for her future.
• Amir: An Indian immigrant who grows eggplant, sharing his heritage with others in the community.
• Tío Juan: Gonzalo’s uncle, a farmer who finds joy in sharing his knowledge with children.
• Sae Young: A Korean woman who finds solace among neighbors as she tends to the garden.

Here is the Kirkus review. There is a link to book club questions on the publisher web page. Wikipedia have more plot details. 

Listen to a discussion about his book with All Things Considered.

Quick facts (Source Audible blog)

• Seedfolks features 13 distinct narrators, each telling their own chapter of the story.
• Despite its large and diverse cast of characters, the book is only 80 pages long.
• The story is set in Cleveland, Ohio, and spans one year, from the planting of the first seeds to the following spring.
• Seedfolks was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 1998 and won the Buckeye Children's Book Award for ages six to eight in 1999.
• Seedfolks has been adapted into a play and performed on Broadway.
• The audiobook version features 13 different voice actors to represent each character.

Here are a few text quotes:

KIM: All his life in Vietnam my father had been a farmer. Here our apartment house had no yard. But in that vacant lot he would see me. He would watch my beans break ground and spread, and would notice with pleasure their pods growing plump. He would see my patience and my hard work. I would show him that I could raise plants, as he had. I would show him that I was his daughter.

WENDELL: There’s plenty about my life I can’t change. Can’t bring the dead back to life on this earth. Can’t make the world loving and kind. Can’t change myself into a millionaire. But a patch of ground in this trashy lot—I can change that. Can change it big. Better to put my time into that than moaning about the other all day. That little grammar-school girl showed me that.

LEONA: There were probably lots of folks who’d want to grow something, just like me. Then I studied all the trash on the ground. Don’t know why anyone called that lot “vacant.” The garbage was piled high as your waist, some of it from the neighborhood and some dropped off by outside people. The ones who don’t want to pay at the dump, or got dangerous chemicals, or think we’re such slobs down here we won’t mind another load of junk. ...  The gardeners had made some trails through it. But I knew precious few would join ’em until that mess was hauled away.

NORA: That small circle of earth became a second home to both of us. Gardening boring? Never! It has suspense, tragedy, startling developments—a soap opera growing out of the ground. I’d forgotten that tremolo of expectation produced by a tiny forest of sprouts. What a marvelous sight it was to behold Mr. Myles’ furrowed black face inspecting his smooth-skinned young, just arrived in the world he’d shortly leave. His eyes gained back some of their life. He weeded and watered with great concentration.

Paul Fleischman grew up in Santa Monica, California. The son of well-known children's novelist Sid Fleischman, Paul was in the unique position of having his famous father's books read out loud to him by the author as they were being written. This experience continued throughout his childhood. Paul followed in his father's footsteps as an author of books for young readers, and in 1982 he released the book "Graven Images", which was awarded a Newbery Honor citation. In 1988, Paul Fleischman came out with "Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices", an unusually unique collection of poetry from the perspective of insects. This book was awarded the 1989 John Newbery Medal. Factoring in Sid Fleischman's win of the John Newbery Medal in 1987 for his book "The Whipping Boy", Paul and Sid Fleischman became to this day the only father and son authors to both win the John Newbery Medal.

The King and Nothing by Olivier Tallec translated by Nick Frost and Catherine Ostiguy

"There was once a king who had everything."

Stop and think about this sentence and the title. Now go onto this sentence:

"He lacked almost nothing."  

Wait a minute the king interprets this as he lacked Nothing. He needs Nothing. He is a collector and so he is missing this 'thing' called nothing.

Perhaps Nothing is something tiny - like a microbe. Or maybe he can find Nothing in the desert or perhaps in the vast night sky. The king demands everyone in the castle - someone must bring him Nothing. Even a tiny leaf is actually something and burning it just leaves ashes. He cannot even do nothing because that leads to daydreaming. He decides he might find Nothing if he gives everything away. He has an amazing collection of stuff but it all needs to go. The end page is sure to give you and your group of older students some thing to think about. 

Bookseller blurb: There once lived a king who had absolutely everything—and we mean everything. From elephants without trunks, to caramel-flavored ice skates, to caterpillars on bicycles, and even storm clouds that refused to make lightning. Yes, there was simply nothing you can imagine that this king did not have . . . well, except for nothing itself. From author-illustrator Olivier Tallec, The King and Nothing is the wonderfully whimsical and philosophical take of one person who searches high and low for nothing, only to encounter something at every turn. Just how far will the king go to find nothing?

Heady stuff, but potentially thought-provoking fare for budding existentialists. Kirkus

Despite his important anti-materialist message, the book’s cartoonish characters all sport big noses and googly eyes, which add to the fun. Even very young children will be able to grasp that the king’s library and cabinet of curiosities (bulging with rain clouds, sandwiches, bats, cacti, and moon boots) contain more than enough stuff for a lifetime. A timely message about how the chaotic mess of too many possessions can be countered with thoughtfulness, a desire for simplicity, and a deep clean out of one’s closet. YS Book Reviews

"He'd always been told you can find anything in books, so surely they would also be a good place to find Nothing. But the king quickly realised that although he had millions of books, their pages were always filled with something, a prince in love, different ways to repair a spaceship, or simple ways to prepare French-fry cakes. Decidedly, Nothing was not hiding in his library."

The French title is: Le roi et Rien.

Olivier Tallec graduated from the Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Graphiques in Paris and worked in advertising as a graphic designer before devoting himself to illustration. He has done many illustrations for newspapers and magazines and has illustrated more than thirty books for children. He lives in Paris.

One of the things I miss now that I no longer work in a school library is connecting books either in our library sessions or for staff. If I was sharing The King and Nothing these are the two books I would use as comparison texts (or just read for fun!).

The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne the King

IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art auction - Meet Gabrielle Wang

Begin with my previous post about Gabrielle Wang.

Gabrielle Wang is an award-winning Australian author and illustrator whose stories often blend Chinese and Western culture with elements of fantasy. A former Children’s Laureate, she draws on her rich heritage and love of art to create imaginative, heartfelt books for young readers.

Our IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece auction has over 45 pieces including this very special illustration by Gabrielle Wang. The auction begins on 14th November.

This piece is titled Sweet Hammock

Here are some recent books by Gabrielle:

Silken Thread

Zadie Ma and the Dog who Chased the Moon

Here is the illustrated card made by Gabrielle Wang for the opening of the Melbourne Bookshop - The Little Bookroom. Twenty-Five illustrators were invited to interpret the famous bookshop logo which you can see below the piece by Gabrielle.

IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece Art Auction - Meet Dub Leffler

Dub Leffler is an illustrator, writer, animator and mixed media artist, working in the arts through books, film, television, muralism and art education. ...  He is a prominent children’s book illustrator and author, collaborating with Sally Morgan, Banksy, Coral Vass and others, and is known for his soft realistic portraits and emotional landscapes. He is descended from the Bigambul and Mandandanji people of southwest Queensland as well as being of French, Syrian and Irish heritage. ... His award-winning bestseller picture book Once There Was a Boy (2011) received international recognition, was acquired by the Library of Congress and was featured several times at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. More recently, Leffler illustrated Sorry Day (2018), written by Coral Vass, which won the 2019 Eve Pownall Award for Information Books from the CBCA. Black Cockatoo (2018), which he illustrated, was also an Honour Book that year. At last count, Dub has created 25 books. (Source Dub Leffler)

In 2011 Dub Leffler spoke with Kids' Book Review about his work 

Here are the two pieces Dub Leffler has generously donated for our IBBY Australia online Mini Masterpiece art auction:

From Rocky and Louie (see book cover below)

From Sorry Day (see book cover below)

And here are some of his books (all of which are sure to be in your local or school library):

Our Dreaming was submitted for the CBCA awards in 2022. Here are some judge's comments (I was one of the judges):

I do hope there will be an audio version of this or perhaps a video version so children can hear the Gundungurra words. The illustrations in this book add a gentle mood and beautifully compliment the wisdom of the text. The lines “it is our identity, purpose and responsibility to our community” are so powerful. The dedication by Dub Leffler is wonderful and would be a perfect way to begin a discussion about this book with a group of students. This book will show readers the importance of respecting and sharing dreaming stories. The reader is taken on a gentle journey of discovery too, with Gundungurra words used in such a natural way. The word list and pronunciation guide will give Non indigenous readers an opportunity to engage with and learn new words. Dub Leffler’s illustrations are perfect, drawn in muted, earthy tones, that also reflect the colours of the land. His work has a lightness of touch. Some pages are almost tactile. 

From the delicate watercolour/mixed media illustrations to the gentle tone of this almost sacred poem this book calls the reader into it ... Saunders has captured this voice, and Leffler generously invites us in. The production of this book including artistic endpapers that are like watching an orchestra tune up, matte buff stock, a text type which echoes the transparent nature of the watercolour images and a cover sprinkled with foil stars/ make this a book to be proud of.

I really love how the Indigenous words are integrated seamlessly into the English text to create this bilingual celebration of culture – and I fully appreciate the glossary and pronunciation guide at the back. The Australian life depicted in the illustrations are wonderfully realistic ... we get different views – some close ups, some long shots, some birds’ eye views – to get a real sense of place. It’s refreshing that the central characters are echidnas; a perfect choice for this slow and contemplative journey across the land. This is a book that will enrich readers’ experiences and understandings – of Indigenous culture, history, and language.

Bindi

Frog finds a Place

Dub also has an illustration in this book:

The Bicycle (2011) features separate illustrations from internationally acclaimed artists - including Quentin Blake, Shaun tan, Tony Ross and Freya Blackwood - which celebrate the liberating joy of two wheels. Read this from Kids' Book Review

In 2020 Dub Leffler created our IBBY Australia New Year greeting card which was shared with the 85 sections of IBBY.

Look, See, Find me by Sandra Severgnini

"Animals use camouflage to change their appearance, helping them to survive, find food and avoid being eaten. Camouflage can also help attract a mate, protect eggs or young, 

or communicate as a warning when danger is nearby."

Notice the magnifying glass on the cover of this new book. When you turn inside the front end papers contain lots more magnifying glasses - all empty - then on the back end papers you can spy a close up of all the hidden creatures. The end notes give further details about each of the 25 camouflage experts hidden on the pages of this book. I am sure your school library already has a good collection of titles about this fascinating topic and popular. This one will be a very welcome addition because it contains insects, fish, birds and reptiles and scrumptious rich illustrations. I think my own favourite is the Goldenrod crab spider which as the name suggests looks like part of a flower but when an unsuspecting insect lands on the yellow petals expecting to find some pollen instead they become a tasty snack!

This is a new title from CSIRO Publishing released this week. The rhyming text makes this book perfect to share with your youngest students or preschool group. As a bonus this book contains some rich vocabulary - textured; ornate; knobbly; blend in; and there is a useful glossary.  The publisher page has a link to some useful teachers notes.

Here is the publisher blurb: Explore the world of animal camouflage and find the camouflaged animals hiding on each page! Take a journey into the world of animal camouflage and uncover what may be right under your nose! Discover frogs that look like leaves, spiders disguised as flowers, crabs concealed as sponges and seahorses hidden in coral. See if you can spot the species hidden among stunning illustrations, and learn about these elusive animals in Look, See, Find Me.

Hidden in dead leaves on the ground,

can you see us hopping around?

Hidden on the page above and the one beside it there is a black spotted sticky frog and a Malayan horned frog. These are both found in South-East Asia.

Sandra Severgnini is an author and illustrator of numerous award-winning books. She has a background in botanical illustration, but her passion now is with picture books, especially those featuring environmental and nature subjects. Sandra’s fascination for the amazing world around her inspires her words and brings sensitivity and humour to her illustrations. She is also the author and illustrator of Dung Beetle on a Roll and these:

Bapa's Last Canoe by Maree McCarthy Yoelu illustrated by Samantha Campbell

"Bapa is a traditional canoe maker. 

He makes them out of kapok trees."

Today we are going for a long canoe ride to fish and visit family - we have done this before but this trip is special because it will be last one. 

The repeated refrain will make this book easy to share with your youngest students but it also (if read slowly) could help add that all important layer of poignancy and sadness for your older readers and lead to a discussion about loss of culture and loss of cultural traditions. 

On the way we sing, we tell stories, we fish, we listen, 
we look, we laugh! I love my country!

"We must leave our country ... I don't want to leave my home."

"Bapa lets the canoe go and it drifts away."

Baba's Last Canoe was published last month by Magaba Books - thanks for my review copy.

Publisher blurb: Bapa’s Last Canoe is a simple, heartfelt picture book about Bapa, the author’s grandfather, a traditional canoe maker, and the making of his last canoe. Bapa takes his three daughters (the author’s mother and aunties) away on a canoe ride to connect to family and Country for the last time before his daughters leave for school in the city. They set off on the long journey and along the way they camp out and meet family, fish, roast periwinkles and longbums on the fire, tell stories and laugh.

“I love my country so much. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye, but I know one day we’ll all return… and we’ll sing, tell stories, fish and laugh again like we used to in Bapa’s canoe.”

• Take a look at this detailed review by The Bottom Shelf.
• Listen to an interview with Maree McCarthy Yeolu on ABC Darwin. 
• Read about the Kapok Tree.
• Read about canoe making.

This book is based on the story of Liman (Harry Morgan) who was a respected Wadjigamy man born at Mandjimamany (Point Blaze) in the Northern Territory in 1916. He was a canoe maker, hunter, community mediator and family man, who lived off the land and travelled the seas. Lipman frequently travelled the coasts with his wife Kitty and their kids in their canoe visiting family and exploring country. The author's mother shared her memory of the last canoe journey. "I could see in my dad's face, that he was sad, he was sad."

Maree McCarthy Yeolu is also the author of Brother Moon. Read more about Samantha Campbell here.

I would pair Bapa's Last Canoe with this book:

Leaving home behind and sending children to a faraway (white) school reminded me of this book from Canada which explores lost culture (Content warning this book is for older and very mature readers). 

The Rainbow by Gary Crew illustrated by Gregory Rogers

"My plans seemed alright when I drew them, but I soon notices that my design was too complicated for the boys to follow. So, after a few arguments, 

we agreed to make it up as we went along."

"By the time the sandwiches were gone we were ready to launch the boat. I had bought a tin of purple paint that my mother didn't want and a brush ... so I painted the name Audrey on the front. I named it after myself, since it was my idea to build it."

The first thing to notice about this book is the slightly fuzzy or out of focus illustrations which emphasise the nostalgic feel of this story which recounts the memory of a past summer spent 'mucking about' on the river - just three kids - Geoffrey, Bruce and Audrey (our narrator).

The boys are perhaps young enough to accept a girl into their group and luckily for them she is the brains of the operation. 

"A creek runs through the bush near our house. On summer afternoons, my brother Geoffrey and his friend Bruce - an me of course - go down there to see what we can do. ... The footpath on the highway is the best place to see the creek after heavy rain in the hills."

The kids decide (without much discussion) to build a boat.

"I had prepared the drawings for this vessel during the week, getting my inspiration from the book Robinson Crusoe which Mrs Chamberlain had been reading to our class. Mrs Chamberlain is the best teacher I ever had at reading aloud. She reads with expression but isn't ridiculous like some teachers who overdo it ... "

Amazingly their boat does float and so the trio follow the creek on their adventure not knowing they will make a slightly disturbing discovery and not knowing this will be their last summer as kids who just 'muck about' together. 

Gary Crew says so much in this story but never directly - readers are left to join the dots. Audrey recalls her father using the expression 'sweet as a nut' - this is in the past tense so it is clear her father is no longer with the family. The kids take their boat to the tip and the way Audrey talks about this you know this is also an ending of this part of their lives - perhaps an ending of their childhoods. 

The title links with two parts of the story or maybe three (if you think about nostalgia or seeing the world through 'rose tinted' glasses). The kids reach a tiny weir on the river and the way the water is splashing in the sunlight it looks like a shimmering rainbow. Later, on her own, Audrey finds a crystal - a piece of quartz near where the kids originally built their boat. 

"And, when I held it to the sun, all the colours of the rainbow beamed onto my shirt, like the rainbow over the water, down by the weir."

Gary Crew and Gregory Rogers come together for the first time since the highly acclaimed Lucy's Bay to create this poetic picture book. For Audrey, the journey 'down the creek' in her tiny boat is one that marks not only the myriad changes to the physical environment she passes, but a journey within herself. She comes face to face with death, the challenges of growing up and the need to accept and move on from loss. Fantastic Fiction

The Rainbow is a quiet book - it would be good to share this with one child or a small group perhaps just before the summer holidays. I found this book at a recent charity book sale - I was so surprised because I somehow totally missed this book back in 2001. You might be lucky and find a copy in a library here in Australia. Gary Crew was our IBBY Australia Hans Christian Andersen nominee in 2024. 

Companion book:

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis

Gary Crew has won numerous prizes and awards include CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers for Strange Objects and Angel's Gate (1991 and 1994) which also received widespread international recognition; CBCA Honour Book for Memorial (2000), CBCA Picture Book of the Year for First Light (1994); CBCA Picture Book of the Year for The Watertower (1995); The Lost Diamonds of Killiecrankie was a notable book in 1996. He is also the author of The Viewer and Mama's Babies, which were CBCA Notable Books for 1998 and 1999 respectively. Gary was the editor of the After Dark series and author of the picture books Bright Star, Troy Thompson's Excellent Peotry Book, Troy Thompson's Radical Prose Folio, Leo The Lion Tamer and Valley of Bones.

Gregory Rogers studied fine art at the Queensland College of Art. He worked in the public service for many years before taking up illustration in 1987. He illustrated scores of book covers and children's picture books, including Tracks by Gary Crew and four titles in the Lothian After Dark series: The Bent-Back Bridge, The Island, The Rings and The Fort. In 1995 Gregory became the first Australian artist to win the Kate Greenaway Medal for his illustrations in Way Home. He died in 2013.