Isabel's House of Butterflies (2003)

       Isabel’s House of Butterflies by Tony Johnston is a story about nature and humans struggling to coexist. The setting is a tree beside Isabel’s home. It’s a tree that Monarch butterflies depend upon for their very survival. Young Isabel cherishes the butterflies, and her mother thinks it’s a miracle that they return every autumn. Isabel’s Papa may need to chop down this precious tree and sell the wood for his family’s very survival. This year has had little rainfall—in the family’s garden, the “beans are few” and the “ears of corn are stubby and small”. It’s a heartbreaking choice. “It hurts my heart ,” says the father. “I love this tree. But I love my family more. We cannot eat butterflies.”  Isabel has an idea that may bring in more money for the family and save the tree. Time will tell if her idea is successful.  Susan Guevara’s paintings illustrate the family’s emotional conflict and the special Mexican landscape in which they live.

 

     This story is read aloud online by Laura Rodriguez.

      My Picture Book Talk lesson for this story is here.

     This lesson is read aloud on my YouTube channel.

On Call Back Mountain (1997)

      The name Eve Bunting and the promise of a story about wildlife prompted me to pick up On Call Back Mountain. The painting of two children and a dog on the cover drew me in. But wait--that's not a dog. It's a wolf. 

      Barry Moser did create stunning illustrations for this picture book about . . . what? I couldn't quite comprehend the story. It's a loosely connected series of events with minimal closure. We meet two young boys on their farm at the bottom of Call Back Mountain. Bosco visits in June on his way up to the fire tower. He's accompanied by two mules, Aida and Traviata. There's reference to "the fire a few summers ago that drove the wolves away, the wolves and coyotes and the other animals, too." This fire was deliberately set, but there's no follow up to help the reader cope with such an evil act. We skip over that inconvenience to Bosco's promise that the forest will soon be thick and healthy again. 

     Bosco heads on up the mountain. He and the family exchange light signals each night. "All through the summer we send out good nights across the darkness, and it's as if Bosco is still with us. Until, one night no light answers ours." Yes, he's dead. 

     At the end of the story, the children see a wolf. "That wolf had the longest, skinniest legs." (Unlike the canine on the book cover.) And that's it. Bosco promised that the wolves would return. They have. The howl of a nearby wolf is supposed to be comforting considering the abrupt death of Bosco. 

     This story felt unfinished to me. Like a beaded necklace an artist didn't have time to complete, I'm left wondering if Eve Bunting was going to miss a publishing deadline if she'd worked on this story a bit more. 

Super-Completely and Totally the Messiest (2001)

     Super-Completely andTotally the Messiest by Judith Viorst is brilliantly illustrated by RobinPreiss Glasser. The text leaves lots of room for interpretation, and Glasser’s joyful, curly-haired, redhead protagonist brings the words to life. We meet young Sophie on the cover. She drops books and rain gear on the floor with an  enthusiasm that evades the question of who will clean up.

     This story has a subtle rising action, but no obvious beginning, middle, and end. It’s just a story of how Sophie manifests messiness by showering joy everywhere—and on everything. Glasser shows how Sophie can create a mess while carrying a plate that holds a piece of chocolate cake—we can’t look away because it’s slapstick comedy. Sophie’s family doesn’t scold her. They ask her to try: try to be neat, to be careful, to pay attention. But Sophie forgets. And we forgive.

     This book is read aloud online by Lyons Learning Lab.

     My Picture Book Talk for this story is here.