Common Ground (1997)

 Common Ground: theWater, Earth, and Air We Share by Molly Bang (1997) is a plea to readers to beware of using up the earth's resources. It begins with a little history; "Long ago, a village was built around a commons." This common ground belonged to everyone in the village. All residents had the privilege of grazing their sheep on the common ground. However, this became unfair when owners with more sheep used more of the land than owners with few, or no sheep at all. Eventually, the common area was grazed into oblivion. Some people moved away. Bang uses this story an an analogy when describing how oceans are over fished, forests are felled, and fossil fuels are extracted. "So then, here is our common question: . . . what will stop us from destroying our whole world--our common ground?" It's a frightening book when I think about how powerless young children may feel. 

*Round Trip (1983)

 *Round Trip by Ann Jonas (1983) is a clever little book. The illustrations are 2-page, black and white silhouettes. This is a story about a road trip. After reaching the final page YOU TURN THE BOOK UPSIDE DOWN TO READ THE SECOND HALF OF THE STORY. The landscapes apparent in the first half of the story also make visual sense as the book is read from back to front, upside down. 

Chanticleer and the Fox (1948, 1958)

 Chanticleer and the Fox: adapted from the Canterbury Tales and Illustrated by Barbara Cooney (1958) is a story about a trickster fox. Chanticleer is a rooster that lives on a small farm. One night, he has a dream of danger. Alas, this danger appears in the form of a sly fox. The fox allays Chanticleer's fear with flattery. "Except for you I have never heard anyone who could sing as your father did in the morning," says the fox, and instructs its prey to close its eyes and stretch its neck to produce the best song possible. Of couirse the fox pounces and carries the rooster off. This tale ends with a wiser rooster. Chanticleer escapes--this time. 

What to Bring (2023)

What to Bring by Lorna Schultz Nicholson (2023) is a story for our current times. Malia smells smoke. Far in the distance are huge white-and-gray clouds. Two pages in flames appear on the horizon. Milia's father comes home from work, "and it isn't even dinnertime." Her family must evacuate. Mommy and Daddy are kind as they repeatedly inform Malia that she can't bring so many of her toys with her when they leave. She creates a pile of stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, and books. That's too many. She can choose only three things. The moral of the story is only implied. Ellen Rooney shows us that Malia put her her plush Rabbit and Turtle in her back pack, but we never learn what it is she whispers to her mother. The final image shows the family arriving at an unidentified home and the text reads, "Malia knows she brought what is important." What, exactly?

Pamela Camel (1984)

Pamela Camel by Bill Peet (1984) is another of his stories about coping with a life changing event. Pamela is a disrespected camel in the Brinkerhoff Brothers Big Top Circus. She could never do "something clever or sensational to excite the crowds." Consequently, she's just an ordinary camel that stands beside other animals for visitors to look at. Sadly, she's ridiculed; she's called bad-tempered, stupid, and dumb. One day, she walks away from circus life. She has no idea where to go, so she walks down a railroad track. When she comes upon a break in the track, she worries. She knows that a train will wreck on such a break. Toss in a thunderstorm and nightfall to keep Pamela close by. Then Peet gives Pamela conviction and courage. Here comes a train. What will she do? Her actions cause her to become the star of the circus show. 

*Stopping by Woods on a Snowing Evening (1923, 1969)

*This publication of Stopping by Woods on a Snowing Evening by Robert Frost (1923, 1969) is illustrated by Susan Jeffers (1978, 2001) Her stunning painting of snow covered trees and wildlife in a forest are as beautiful as I've always seen her picture book illustrations. She offers meaningful context for this famous poem. She gives us a elderly gentleman bundled up in a red plaid coat, green striped scarf, and blue blanket with gold stars driving a one-horse sleigh.  This man is happy to ride through this winter wonderland. When he stops "without a farmhouse near", he plops into the snow to make a snow angel. When his curious horse "gives his harness bells a shake", this gentleman has unloaded a armful of hay from the back of his sled. He carries it and a large bag of seed into the woods that "are lovely, dark and deep. . ." Now Jeffers can call upon her skills at depicting wildlife. Deer and birds, rabbits, chipmunk, and squirrel feast upon this gift. An author's note at the back describes briefly how her mother taught her to paint. While painting the illustrations for this book, she was living on a small farm in the midst of snowy fields. 

Imagine a Night (2003)

 Imagine a Night by Sarah L. Thompson (2003) seems to have text written specifically for Rob Gonsalves' unique paintings. This is a large book so as to highlight the artwork. The book jacket compares Gonsalves' paintings to "the richness of a Chris Van Allsburg". I guess so, because I'm not sure who else paints surrealism with such precision for children. Let me try to describe the cover art: A landscape of tall evergreens and cloudy blue sky are reflected in a lake. The spaces between the reflections of the trees gradually transforms into a line of young women emerging from the water. Thompson's text is: "Imagine a night. . . when moonlight spills across the water to make a path for the lightest feet." These images depict "that delicious time between sleep and wakefulness. . ." 

I'm also reminded of the art in The Painter and the Wild Swans   and possibly the art of David Wiesner .