Picture Books
In this book inspired by Korean folklore, Baek tells the story of a night so hot that the moon melted. One hot summer night, the residents of an apartment building had their air conditioners and fans at full speed to help keep away the heat. This was working well until the power went out and the residents were left without a way to cool off. What only one resident -- Granny -- realized was that because of the heat, the moon was melting. Granny ran outside to catch the moon drops and had the great idea to make them into popsicles which helped keep the residents cool. Unexpectedly, two rabbits showed up to Granny's door and explained that their home (the moon) had melted and that they needed help. With the leftover moon drops she had collected, Granny was able to grow the moon back. This book does not contain much color, which helps keep the main focus on the brightness of the moon and keeps it as the main focal point. While the story is short and straightforward, it ends with a happy ending for all of the characters and contains a mystical aspect.
Five Stories is a book about diversity in New York's Lower East Side. Using each floor of the five story building as a representation of different families, cultures, and timelines, Weinstein tells us the stories and journeys of the immigrants who have come to New York. The Epsteins (1914), the Cozzis (1932), the Martes (1965), the Torreses (1989), and the Yes (present time) all represent a floor. The story takes us through the families' backgrounds and why they emigrated.
What makes this story stand out aside from the colorful illustrations depicting the crowded New York streets with its bustling businesses, is the way it connects each generation of characters. For example, Jenny Epstein later becomes Anna Cozzis's teacher. The story shows the reader that although each generation has adapted to life in America through the language and customs, they still hold value to their roots and keep in touch with family members still living in their native country.
Seales, Stephanie. (2024). My Daddy Is a Cowboy (Esperanza, C.G., Illus.). Abrams Books for Young Readers. Gr. P-3.
My Daddy Is a Cowboy uses oil painting illustrations on watercolor paper. This technique makes each page vibrant and eye-catching. This story is about a young girl who goes out riding horses with her father. During this activity, the young girl feels close to her father and gains an appreciation for the horses they ride. While riding, the young girl is very observant about her surroundings, taking in the beauty of everything around her and gaining a sense of confidence and pride as onlookers admire their horses.
Seales uses very descriptive language to describe the surroundings. For example, when the young girl and her father pass a bakery, she compares the changing color of the sky to the three-tiered cake they see at the window. Through their journey riding around town, the reader gains a sense that the girl greatly appreciates time with her father, admiring his hobby and understanding that she wants to follow in his footsteps.
Vandeever, Daniel W. (2017). "Fall in Line, Holden!" Salina Bookshelf, Inc. Ages 4-7.
Vanderveer's "Fall in Line, Holden!" uses rhymes to catch the reader's attention. The book is about a young boy who sees the world differently than others. Even though he is told to "fall in line," Holden imagines his everyday surroundings as amusing and fun. Although the story does not explicitly state that he is imagining something different than what he sees, we see through the illustrations that this is what is happening. For example, while he passes a game of dodgeball at his school gym, he imagines the students as gladiators engaged in a battle. Vandeveer also uses color to tell the story, as the students mostly start off drawn in black and white; however, as the story progresses and they fall out of line, they show up in color.
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