Pablo Neruda Poet of the People by Monica Brown illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Last week IBBY Australia hosted an IBBY delegate from Chile and during a visit to a wonderful school library she mentioned Pablo Neruda. The skilled Teacher-Librarian quickly pulled this book from her shelves. This didn't surprise me because I know she loves the illustrator Julie Paschkis. Our IBBY Chile delegate is also a published poet.

Author site blurb: Once there was a little boy named Neftalí who loved wild things wildly and quiet things quietly. From the moment he could talk, he surrounded himself with words. Neftal' discovered the magic between the pages of books. When he was sixteen, he began publishing his poems as Pablo Neruda. Pablo wrote poems about the things he loved-things made by his friends in the café, things found at the marketplace, and things he saw in nature. He wrote about the people of Chile and their stories of struggle. Because above all things and above all words, Pablo Neruda loved people.

Pablo Neruda won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. He died in 1973. His poetry is written for adults and older teenagers and there is some controversy about his life which is only appropriate for an adult audience. Here is a some information you could use with an Upper Primary group. 

This book for young children is just stunning. The way in which the words (both in Spanish and in English) weave around the page in bright vivid colors (illustrated in a folk-art style by Julie Paschkis), demonstrate how Neruda could make words flow from his pen in magical patterns evoking colors and seasons and animals and most of all, emotions. Rhapsody in Books

The art by Paschkis is extraordinary.  Her paintings combine moments throughout Neruda’s life with words.  The words grow on leaves and trees.  They show in the sun and the moon.  They form the very ground.  It is an expressive way to show the power of words in Neruda’s life as well as how they came from all that surrounds him. Waking Brain Cells

Pablo Neruda Poet of the People was published in 2011 and while it is still available the hardcover edition is very expensive and I am sure well out of reach for most school libraries. There is a bilingual paperback edition , however, which is only around $20. Search for this ISBN 9781250812537. This book would be useful for High School libraries who may be studying the poetry of Pablo Neruda. 

Here are some other books illustrated by Julie Paschkis:

Here are some other biographies by Monica Brown:

Do Something for Someone Else by Loll Kirby illustrated by Yas Imamura

Do Something for Someone Else: Meet 12 real-life children spreading kindness with simple acts of everyday activism.

"The children in this book teach us that when each of us does something to face a problem we re passionate about we can change the world together."

This book is published by Magic Cat Publishing but here in Australia it is distributed by Walker Books. You can see inside this book here. You can see the author reading an extract from her book here. 

Many years ago I used to focus on children just like those found in this book. Young people who demonstrated amazing empathy, problem solving, determination and compassion. Today this list would also include the wonderful Greta Thunberg. 

I used to talk about:

Ryan Hreljac from USA

Iqbal Masih from Pakistan

Craig Kielburger from Canada

Daniel and William Clarke from Australia

If I was using this book (Do Something for Someone Else) with a class I would focus on one of the children each day over two or three weeks.  In this book we meet twelve children from around the world. Here is a list of their projects:

Sant Jordi from Spain "Preventing loneliness in older people".

Kesz Valdez from Philippines "Protecting children who live on the streets".

Havana Chapman-Edwards from USA "Diversity in children's books".

Winter Vincent from Australia "Providing clean water".

Marie-Astrid Mence from France "Encouraging the next generation of young Black ballet dancers".

Selin Örnek from Turkey "Using robotics to help blind people".

Katie Stagliano from USA "Growing a healthy end to hunger".

Emily White from UK "Supporting and campaigning for disabled people".

Christopher Kleynhans and Reece Slade from South Africa "Raising awareness of mental health issues".

Mohamad Al Jounde from Syria "Education for refugee children".

Elena Meyer from Germany "Inspiring children to engage with music".

Yuqiu Chen from China "Providing medical care for vulnerable people".

This beautifully composed picture book is a source of inspiration for primary aged children and the beginning to a generation of activists. A key literary addition to our schools, libraries, and homes. Reading Time

I mentioned Yas Imamura (Love in the Library) a couple of days ago and so my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything loaned me Do Something for Someone Else.

Mikki and me and the Out-of-tune Tree by Marion Roberts

Alberta is a keen boogie boarder. It is the Summer holidays in her small Australian coastal town. Alberta is looking forward to five weeks of freedom spent in the ocean. But, you knew I was going to say but didn't you, but Alberta, who is known as Birdy, is knocked off her bike and it is not an accident. Her arm is broken so there will be no boogie boarding for Birdy. Six weeks in a plaster cast.

Luckily Mikki Watanabe lives in her street. He has no interest in the ocean. His family, who originally come from Japan, have a beach house at Kingfisher Bay. Mikki and Birdie team up to investigate the forest area nearby and they make an amazing discovery. There is a small grove of towering pine trees. Mikki has a spiritual connection to trees. He is keen to make a video about their discovery and Birdie is equally keen to stand in front of the camera. Then they discover the council have plan to bulldoze this special area. Can their YouTube videos gain enough coverage so that this special place can be saved?

I did like the way Marion Roberts included the video chat and comments into her story along with advice from the book by Birdie's mum - Tammy's Bracken's guide to Modern Manners. I was not quite so interested in or convinced about Tammy's mental health issues and shoplifting. I really liked the community activism and the way Birdie and Mikki navigate the complexities of local government. This harks back to a very old classic Australian book - Battle of the Galah Tress by Christobel Mattingley. I also kept thinking about the television documentary made with Judi Dench "My passion for trees". 

This film follows Judi's experience through the seasons and her mission to understand the role of trees in history and the future. Judi joins tree scientists and historians to unlock the remarkable secret lives of trees and the stories that they cannot tell. With scientific techniques and equipment at her disposal, she is able to truly understand how trees work and gain an insight into their secrets. She meets a designer with a microphone to hear the trees around her, and a scientist with 3D scanning technology reveals her favourite oak in a new light.  BBC One

Marion Roberts mentions this book (for adults) as one that inspired this story:

You might also enjoy A Good Day for Climbing Trees.

This book will be published in April, 2022. Thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy. 

Butterflies Belong Here by Deborah Hopkinson illustrated by Meilo So

 

"I wondered if I'd ever be brave enough to speak up, take charge, and be noticed."

First off let's take a close look at the full title of this book:

Butterflies Belong Here: A story of one idea, thirty kids, and a world of butterflies

Butterflies belong here implies something has gone wrong. That the butterflies are no longer in this place. We have to ask why?

A story of one idea and thirty kids - it must be time for activism and this will be led by the children beginning with one child and her idea.

A world of butterflies - hooray they have come back but why did they disappear in the first place?

Our young narrator explains:

"Monarch butterflies are soft and gentle, like my baby brother. Some monarchs make a long, long journey, just like we did. They have to be strong to fly so far."

Image Source: National Geographic kids

In Summer our narrator begins to look for monarch butterflies with their large black and orange wings. She has read about them in a library book. (I love the Teacher-Librarian in this book).  There are none to be found. Why?

"Monarchs need a special plant called milkweed. ... (but) Milkweed is in trouble, and so monarchs are too. I learned that in 20 years, the number of monarchs has fallen by 90 percent. The problem is big and butterflies are so small."

The young girl keeps reading about this precious creature and she discovers a solution. They need to make a monarch way station - a garden filled with milkweed and nectar flowers. After sharing this idea with her class everyone joins in the project. The children build a way station.  Then the class project expands into the whole school and from there to the local council.

This is one of those truly special books which combines a narrative as described above interspersed with double pages of facts and practical suggestions presented in an easy to read style with colourful scientifically accurate illustrations. This book would make a splendid addition to any school library collection. And as a bonus the illustrations by Meilo So are simply perfect. Meilo So was born in Hong Kong and educated in the United Kingdom. She lives with her family in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.  Take a look inside this book here. Here is a web site for Deborah Hopkinson.  

Deborah Hopkinson’s moving and educational story combines a fictional account of growing up with scientific information on butterflies. The structure is exceptionally effective in showing kids and adults that some children find their voice, discover a talent, or overcome hesitation or shyness when they become involved in a cause or activity they believe in. Celebrate Picture Books

Meilo So’s gorgeous and tender illustrations portray vibrant scenes of flower bedecked balconies, blooming community gardens, and a busy, colorful town. So cleverly depicts the library’s stacks of books in similar floral hues, connecting the nurturing of children and butterflies. Celebrate Picture Books

Images from: Books 4 Your Kids

I was excited to discover Meilo So illustrated the cover of Bronze and Sunflower. Here are some other books illustrated by Meilo So:

The Tale of the Whale by Karen Swann illustrated by Padmacandra

 

When you open this book you will see a lighthouse on the title page. You may already know I adore lighthouses of course this book is not really about lighthouses but this is where the story begins and perhaps where the small child lives. 

"Where land becomes sky and the sky becomes sea, I first saw the whale ... and the whale first saw me."

The whale invites the child to come on a journey. The pair have a glorious time diving deep into the ocean and exploring icy land until the whale shows the child the ocean is filled with our waste.

"I stared at the whale as he stared back at me - I understood now what he'd brought me to see."

Now that the child has seen the problems we have created is it time for action. 

"I gazed in his eyes as I stood on the sand, and I made him a promise to tell the whole land the tale of the whale and the plastic soup sea - you've heard the whale's story please change it with me."

I had not heard of the illustrator Padmacandra. On her site there is an extended video where the author and illustrator talk about their book.  Padmacandra grew up in Scotland, lives in Norfolk and graduated from the Cambridge School of Art. She is a Buddhist, poet and artist and currently works part-time as a carer. (UQP). The tale of the Whale is a debut picture book for Karen Swann. She lives in the UK. This book is due for release on 4th May this year. Karen has lots of craft ideas to use with this book.

Here are a set of teachers notes from UQP. This book has beautiful illustrations, a carefully constructed rhyming text which will work well as a read aloud along with an important and urgent message for all of us. There are some lovely words in this text: rocking-horse sea; dolphins that waltzed; carpets of colours; and the soup of the ocean.

This is the debut picture book for both author and illustrator and it’s one where words and pictures work in perfect harmony.  Redreadinghub

This book would be an excellent text to share with young children as part of a topic on care of our environment and environmental activism. I would pair this book with these:

Here are three collections of titles from my friend at Kinderbookswithevery thing

Sustainability

Climate Change for young children

Must have books about the Environment

Boot - The Creaky Creatures by Shane Hegarty

Boot is back with his loyal friends Rusty, Noke and Poochy. Boot sees a toy robot on the city street - a little pig called Mr Piggles. Boot follows Mr Piggles because he feels some connection to this odd broken down toy robot. After a crazy chase the friends find themselves in an inner city park. The park is a beautiful space, a refuge in the middle of the noisy and chaotic city. Boot remembers he has been to this park before with his original owner and friend Beth and her grandmother but this memory does not give Boot a warm and fuzzy feeling. He feels unwell. His tummy is upset. He feels angry and sad and utterly distressed but he does not know why. In the park he meets two very special human children and an interesting assortment of partially repaired toys. There is a unicorn called Killer, a dinosaur called Sprout, a huge bear called Slippers and Herman the hypno hamster. You can see Slippers, Boot and Noke in this illustration.

Publisher blurb: Boot was once a toy robot, but it has come a long way since it was scrapped and woke back up with only two-and-a-half glitchy memories. When Boot catches sight of a robot pet it used to know - Mr Piggles - our hero and pals follow it to a beautiful green square in the city of skyscrapers.  Here they find not just real nature, but also a haven for broken and rejected pets. They also meet the children who look after the pets, and for whom this green space is a sanctuary too. But Boot is distracted by its emotions, swinging from happy to sad ... maybe Boot is broken? Can it work out what is wrong, with the help of its friends?

It is not often that I persist with a series but I adored Boot Small Robot Big Adventure (Book 1) and Boot - The Rusty Rescue (Book 2) so much that I was delighted to see this third instalment in a bookstore yesterday and even more delighted to read the whole book early this morning. 

As with the first two books, you can read this third instalment on different levels.  I really enjoyed the parallel commentary about consumerism; the distraction of gadgets and phones; our need for green space; urban development; the power of protesting; community action; and the importance of recognising our emotional responses to unfair or distressing situations. But of course this is also just a terrific story, a wild romp about teamwork, robots and good friends who help one another.

I highly recommend this whole series as an essential addition to every primary school library and that's not just because I do enjoy books about robots! Here is an audio sample from page 5 onwards.

Because this third instalment of Boot is all about robots and emotions I would pair this book with these:

The Book Tree by Paul Czajak illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Nestled in the branches of a tree, Arlo opened his book and breathed in.
Beginnings were always the best part. They smelled as if anything were possible.

Contrast this with the words of the mayor:

Books are dangerous! I don't trust them. 
They act like seeds, which grow into ideas, and ideas turn into questions.

What happened? Well a book fell on the mayor's head. So now he aims to remove all books from his jurisdiction.  Every book in every library, every house, every shop.  All are destroyed - ripped into tiny shreds. Only one single page survives blown on the wind before landing in the mud.

Without books the world becomes a dismal place. No story time at school. No recipe books for restaurants. No theatre because there are no plays. Arlo needs to solve this problem. He draws some words into the dirt and bingo he realises he can write new books! He writes about giants, dragons, a magical swan and as he reads his stories aloud a sprout comes up - it is in the place where that one page was buried. The sprout grows into a magnificent tree filled with books. Unfortunately the Mayor walks past again and another book hits him on the head. He is furious and once again plans to destroy all the books but Arlo stops him. Arlo points out all the benefits of books in their town. Five star restaurants and theatre performances. And the mayor himself starts to read a wonderful book which captures his attention and delights him.

"Books did all of this?' the mayor asked, astonished.
'No' Arlo said, as he handed the mayor a freshly picked story. 'The book was just the seed."

An excuse for Czajak to share his love of books with children, this story’s optimistic view of creativity and resistance is fairly irresistible. Kirkus

The Book Tree eloquently captures society today,making it a cautionary tale as much as it’s an inspirational one. Rashin Kheiriyeh’s oil paint and collage artwork gives a lovely crispness to the work,and brings the books to life by making them stand out against the page. Mom Read it


I have said this before but there are some publishers of children's books who always deliver quality titles - Walker Books (Candlewick US), Nosy Crow, Gecko Press, North South, Andersen Press, Tundra Books, Tiny Owl, The Chicken House, Kids Can Press, Flying Eye, David Fickling Press, Lantana, and Barefoot Books - the publisher of The Book Tree.

You can see the book trailer on the publisher web page. Here is the web site for Paul Czajak and one for Rashin Kheiriyeh. You can hear Rashin talking about her work here. She has published over 70 books for children. There are some discussion questions for The Book Tree here.

I would pair The Book Tree with The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne the King.

A Good day for Climbing Trees by Jaco Jacobs

I have said this in the past but I need to say it again. I love the discovery of books translated into English. The process is so serendipitous. Just think about the way these books pass through so many gate keepers before reaching a different language audience.

A good day for Climbing Trees was originally written in Afrikaans (see covers below). The English translation is by Kobus Glendenhuys. I don’t remember where is saw this book mentioned but I had it on my to read list and recently I added it to a book order. I am so glad I did.

Leila is an activist. She wants to save a tree in the local park. Manus, who feels invisible in his family, is drawn into her passion. Both of them sit in the tree refusing to move when the council bulldozers arrive. Manus is patient with Leila but her true reasons for wanting to save this tree seem hard to unravel. Leilia’s Mum is supportive but Leila barely acknowledges her.  The bowling club caretaker is kind, he brings coffee and drinks and keeps his eye on them although we don't discover why until the final scene. Mrs Merriman, who lives nearby is also very supportive. She believes people should fight for important causes such as saving this tree. Then the media and local greenies get involved and things begin to go badly wrong.

This book will surprise you. It is packed with real emotion, real honesty and two very real kids.  Take a look at the trailer. This would be a terrific book to use with a middle grade class studying government. Here are some teacher notes.

The book deftly handles issues around family life, as well as activism, with a light-hearted touch. With lots of humour and a cast of weird but wonderful characters, and Jim Tierney’s modish illustrations, this is the perfect feel-good book from one of South Africa’s top children’s authors. BookTrust

The Book Uncle and me by Uma Krishnaswami

So much about this book intrigues me.  I have questions but my copy of the book cannot answer them.

The Book Uncle and me was the 2011 winner of the Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA). I have not heard of this award.  Is it open to any book published in Asia? Or only titles from Scholastic?  What is the criteria for this award?  An Asian author, Asian setting, a book in an Asian language?

An internet search reveals SABA is a joint initiative by Scholastic and the National Book Development Council of Singapore, the award is an attempt to recognise and celebrate children’s writers of Asian origin and books that reflect Asian experiences.

Most intriguing of all though, for me, is who did the illustrations for this book - I love them and was this book originally written in English or another language?  The imprint page lists Scholastic as the copyright holder of the illustrations. This does not help me.

Book Uncle is not Yasmin's uncle - Uncle is a title used by the community as a form of respect to an older person.  The Book Uncle is, however, a book person.  In his retirement from teaching he has set up a barrow lending library in a busy Indian city. He happily lends books to anyone for free - the perfect library!  He is also happy to recommend books.  Yasmin herself is the perfect customer.  She has set herself a target of reading "one book every day, forever. I started last year right after I turned eight, which ready feels like a billions years ago, because now I am past four hundred.  Books, I mean."

This book is about activism.  The city planners are now requesting a huge licence fee from the Book Uncle.  He cannot pay this and thus packs up his library and heads home.  Yasmin is devastated.  Then she finds an effective way have this unjust requirement reversed.  In schools we often look for books that show democracy in action and Book Uncle and me is perfect for this purpose.  I really enjoyed Book Uncle and me - it is quick to read, and celebrates a strong sense of community.

If you enjoy this book you might also look for The Battle of the Galah Trees by Christobel Mattingley or My name is Will Thompson by Robert Newton.