Toto The Tornado Kitten (2012)

Toto The Tornado Kitten by Jonathan Hall (2012) appears to be a self-published book about a true story. Toto was born a wild kitten. When a tornado blew through the landscape, Toto landed in a tree. It was rescued and eventually adopted. Illustrations by Carol Ruzicka show Toto’s journey through many kind, helpful people. More information is at www.totothetornadokitten.com 

*What You Know First (1995)

 *What You Know First by Patricia MacLachlan (1995) is a stunning book. It’s one of those very special treasures I sometimes find at library book sales. This copy was actually on the free shelf because it didn’t sell at the sale a few days prior. The dark silhouettes on the cover don’t attract like the brightly colored digital art so common nowadays, I guess. The enigmatic title invites only the thoughtful to open the book. Barry Moser’s illustrations are engravings based on photographs from Patricia MacLachlan and Barry Moser’s family albums. The copyright page reads “The images in this book were engraved in Resingrave, a synthetic wood engraving medium manufactured by Richard Woodman in Redwood City, California. They were printed from the blocks by Vance Studley at the Archetype Press, Pasadena, California.” 

The story is about a child’s resistance to her family's move move off a farm on the prairie. There’s an emphasis on the people and the special landscape of the child’s home. We never do find out out why the family is moving, but we know the parents are sad about it. Mama cries about selling the farm. “And Papa took a long walk when they came to take the cows away after he whispered good-bye to Bess after she leaned against him the way she always does.” The message is not to forget; remember what you first knew. 

*Time Train (1991)

 *Time Train by Paul Fleischman (1991) is a wonderful concept that Claire Ewart illustrates with a helping of humor. This is the story of a class trip to see dinosaurs. In New York City, they try to purchase tickets for the Rocky Mountain Limited train that will take them to the Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. But the ticket seller instead books them on the Rocky Mountain Unlimited. As this train crosses the country, it also travels back in time. In Utah, the teacher and her students land in a prehistoric never land. As the teacher sits baffled beside her suitcases that night, the children sleep in a gigantic dinosaur footprint. The dinosaurs are real and friendly. The children have a wonderful time working on class projects. Fortunately their teacher hears the Rocky Mountain Unlimited making returning and the students arrive home. Only their teacher, Miss Pam, looks worn out. 

Blueberries for the Queen (2004)

 Blueberries for the Queen by John & Katherine Paterson (2004) is based on a true story. And, I think, b Susan Jeffers found away to include horses in it. William is the younger of two brothers who live in the countryside of Lee Massachusetts. It’s the time of World War II. Williams’s father works in a factory, his mother helps at the Red Cross, and his older brother works on a farm growing vegetables for the army. William is “too young to do anything to help win the war.” But he dreams that he’s a brave night, armor clad, riding a magnificent horse, fighting dragons. Then one day, the queen of Wilhelmina rents a nearby estate to escape the dangers in her home country, The Netherlands. Despite his brother’s harassment, William brings blueberries to the queen. Jeffers blends fantasy and reality: William both walks to the nearby estate but also rides rides a magnificent steed to the castle of the Queen. After handing her the blueberries, he runs home to tell his father that she was disguised as a grandma. The final page is an historical note describing the true tale.

*Little Red Riding Hood (1983)

 *The copy of Little Red Riding Hood I found at a library sale is an Anniversary edition published in 2003. It is retold and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman and won a Caldecott Honor award. There’s a forward by Jason Chin that praises the art of Schart Hyman. And it's the kind of beautiful and detailed story illustration I never see  in contemporary picture books. The story is “retold” but it closely resembles the version I recall hearing as a child. Maybe an investigation of the the many revisions of Little Red would make an interesting Wordpress post. But for now, I can echo Chin’s forward—this is a beautifully illustrated picture book. 

Now One Foot, Now the Other (1981)

 Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie dePaola (1981) is an emotional story about the relationship between a young boy and his grandfather. We watch the grandfather teach the young boy to walk and play with blocks. The grandfather tells stories, especially the one about teaching the little boy to walk. Then one day, the grandfather has a stroke and is hospitalized for months. When he returns home, he cannot walk or talk or even recognize family members. But the little boy helps him heal. Roles reverse. The little boy helps his grandfather to eat, to talk, and to walk. Illustrations are classic de Paola; this time the pallet is limited to shades of blue, beige, and green. 

The Hermit and the Well (2003)

 The Hermit and the Well by Thich Nhat Hanh (2003) is intended to be a simple story with a profound message. It’s written in the first person and describes a day in the life of a child whose age is unknown. This child takes a class trip to the top of a mountain to visit a hermit. When the class reaches the hermit's hut they find it empty. The narrator is so disappointed that he leaves the group and climbs further up the mountain. I couldn’t help but worry that the hermit had been eaten by a tiger. I couldn’t help but wonder if the classroom teachers panicked at noticing the narrator missing and what dangers he might find in the forest alone. Of course, the story was more spiritual than that. The narrator is extremely thirsty and finds a pool of water clear and delicious. He is very happy. He is calm and peaceful. He returns to his group. Now an old man, He councils readers regarding the hermits they meet. “Maybe it was a rock, a tree, a star, or a beautiful sunset. The hermit is the Buddha inside of you.” Illustrations by Vo-Dinh Mai somewhat ethereal.