Obadiah's Ghost (1990)

 Obadiah's Ghost by Richard M. Wainwright (1990) has a much greater word count than most of the books reviewed in this blog. It's a long story packaged similar to a picture book. I think it would make a better story if the word count was dramatically reduced. This is a story about overcoming one's fear, a familiar theme. Tommy is afraid of the dark. He's so afraid that he doesn't go trick-or-treating with his friends on Halloween. He's not afraid of the spooky, falling-down mansion near his house though, nor the ghost he meets inside. This ghost, or rather spirit, is Obadiah. He's been afraid of spiders. "And it was written that I should remain here with only Tobias and friendly spiders until I helped someone learn that courage is stronger than fear." And there you have it. The story writes itself now. Obadiah gives Tommy a pair of glasses that make the night appear as day. That's on page 13. There are 20 more pages to go. Jack Crompton's illustrations are pretty standard fare for such a book. 

Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind (2006)

 Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind by Judy Finchler & Kevin O'Malley (2006) stars an elementary school age boy who does not like to read. Actually, this main character is never given a name, but hangs with three male friends. They love to play video games. This child's school is participating in the Everybody Read in America program. The school will read 1,000 books by June 12, at which point the principal will dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof. This student's teacher, Miss Malarkey gives her students a wide variety of books to choose from. Gradually, this student's three friends play fewer video games and read more books because Miss Malarkey succeeded in finding books they actually enjoy. Will our main character find any book fun? Of course he does. Kevin O'Malley's illustrations remind me of those by Harry Bliss. The characters are crisply defined and speech bubbles complement the text. 

*Wake Up, Woods (2019)

*Wake Up, Woods by Michael Homoya and Shane Gibson (2019) has a copyright by the Indiana Native Plant Society. The beautiful illustration on the cover by Gillian Harris fooled me into thinking this was a story for very young children. This is actually a book for the budding botanist in elementary school. Each plant featured takes up a two-page spread that includes its common name, scientific name, a rhyme, and detailed descriptive text. The fine art pictures are essential in this kind of nonfiction. There’s a glossary, appendix, and several pages of additional information at the end of the book. This book belongs in every elementary school science room! 

*I’d Know You Anywhere My Love

*I’d Know You Anywhere My Love by Nancy Tillman (2013) is simply one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. Her illustrations are stunning works of art. The premise and rhyme of the text flow gently as a lullaby. She explains on the first page that this is a story about being “different one day” without any risk of becoming unrecognizable. How do you rhyme rhinoceros? Here it is: “If one day we’re walking and talking, just us, when you’re abracadabra, a rhinoceros. . .” Tillman’s illustration is a woman smiling down at a young, gray, (cute?) rhino. The woman is not appalled, not judgmental, nor frightened. Her unconditional love is obvious in her expression and open palmed gesture. Successive pages highlight Tillman's artistry. They include paintings of furry animals and feathery birds. Children change daily, even hourly. This story assures them that strict adherence to a prescribed persona is not required to receive a parent’s (or caregiver’s) love. This book is the perfect gift for a young child. 

*APT.3

*APT.3 by Ezra Jack Keats (1971) is another succinct and powerful book. How does EJK combine strong minimalist visuals with just enough text to draw one into his scenarios? As I write this, I think, maybe his strategy is to demand readers fill in the details. Keats makes readers work. It’s the reader who decides how scenes look and feel as they turn the pages. Readers must draw upon their own lives to fill in gaps. When Sam looks out at a page of blurry rain beating against his windows, we remember what raindrops actually look like as they have fallen outside our own windows. This particular story focuses on sound. We’re guessing what “Crunch, crackle, crunch!” could be before turning the page and learning it’s the sound of someone eating potato chips. We remember how salty and crunchy they feel. When Sam hears arguments behind closed doors, our insides tighten at the memory of arguments in our own lives. The ending of this book is a satisfying surprise. Sam is someone we like. 

*The Tiny Seed (1987)

*The Tiny Seed is another gorgeous book by Eric Carle (1987). This is one of the few books that I’ve seen by Carle with few creatures in it. The star of the story is a seed that travels over many landscapes. Colorful trees that show off red, orange, green, and yellow leaves decorate a horizon, but there are no animals in the green fields. Snowy mountain peaks and hot desert sands are minus inhabitants. A single bright yellow fish punctuates a deep blue/green ocean. A lone mouse,  one dog, and multiple butterflies and birds complement the seed as it eventually grows into a giant flower. And, of course, seeds burst forth from the flower at the end of the story, so the cycle of plant life is complete. 

*Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster (2012)

*Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt (2012) is a book for my bedside table. Here’s a story that persons of any age can relate to. Adult versions of this theme appear on bookstore shelves in a wide variety of disguises. Nelson-Schmidt has distilled the basic idea into an easy to remember rhyme. “Some Whatif Monsters like to hang out, and fill up our heads with worry and doubt.” Yep. After a cute little Whatif Monster nags Jonathan all through the first half of the book, Jonathan pushes back. “But what if you’re wrong?” he asks, and refutes every one of the Whatif Monster’s worries.