Welcome to fall! I’d like to say that I have lots of happy books this month about crunching leaves and sipping hot cider, but my picks this time are a bit heavier. I guess you could say my themes are about belonging and death? If you’re just looking for cozy things, I get it! Ask a librarian for recommendations, and they can give you all the options! But if you’re ready for something deeper, read on.
Picture Books
“I Will Eat You in the End” written by David Duff and illustrated by Marianna Coppo
I’ve got the perfect book to finish off our dinosaur-filled summer! Spoilers ahead, because this book is about death and I think it’s important for you to know the story going in. A large dinosaur accidentally squashes a worm. The worm’s friend, a bowler-hatted worm named Frank, chides the dinosaur for not being more careful, then nonchalantly says not to worry about it because “my buddies and I will eat him later.”
The dinosaur is shocked and apologetic, and Frank candidly explains the role that worms play in the circle of life. By eating everything that dies, worms create nutritious soil for more life to grow. Frank and the dinosaur form a deep friendship, and when a meteor is spotted in the sky, the dinosaur has one last request. “If something does happen to me, after you eat me, can you turn me into something nice?” The worm replies, “You got it, big guy.”
An epilogue set millions of years later reveals the dinosaur’s fossils beneath a field of beautiful yellow flowers. There are a lot of books out there about death and grieving for kids, but this book is one that you can read any time, not just after the loss of a loved one. The refreshing lack of sentimentality makes a great jumping-off point for discussing death in a factual context.
“Frog Face” written and illustrated by Blythe Russo
Frog is having a fantastic day, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her. She’s always had a frowny face, and the other animals always comment on it. Frog enjoys spending time by herself in her cozy home, but an empty cupboard forces her to venture outside in search of snacks. She’s instantly bombarded by comments about smiling more and offers of hugs to cheer her up.
Frog’s wonderful mood slowly turns sour until she feels as grumpy as everyone thinks she looks. It isn’t until she finds a friend who appreciates her for who she is that Frog’s day improves again. This book is obviously relatable, especially for adults, but I think kids will get a lot out of it too. Use it to start a conversation about how even well-meaning comments about others’ appearances are not generally welcome. Discuss how outward appearances may not tell the whole story. And of course enjoy the absolutely adorable illustrations!
Chapter Books
“Hometown” written and illustrated by Shaun Tan
A narrator tells us about the mundanities of her life, how she does chores and spends time with friends and family, all the while wondering if there’s something more, if “things could be a bit more interesting. You know, just different.” To the reader, the illustrations show a life that is plenty interesting! The girl is the sole humanoid on a planet filled with creatures and plants both lushly strange and slightly menacing. She introduces her family, from a big sister we see as only a scaly, giant, clawed foot, to a grandma who is a floating blob in the air.
What’s truly strange for the girl is when a visitor crash-lands from outer space. A visitor who looks just like her and claims she doesn’t belong in her own hometown. He invites her to fly away with him, to a planet with millions of other humans like them, and she has to choose between the home she loves and the promise of something more. This gorgeous and thought-provoking book exists somewhere in the space between a picture book and a graphic novel.
“The Forgotten War: a World War II Battle on American Soil” by Candace Fleming
Did you know that the only WWII battle on American soil took place in Alaska? I certainly didn’t! The author dives into this little-known battle with excellent research and a compelling dual narrative. Divided into three sections- before, during and after the Battle of Attu- Fleming follows the story of her own father, who served as a medical orderly in Alaska.
For the Japanese perspective, she tells the story of a young surgeon who received his training in the U.S. before returning home to Japan just before the war. The surgeon’s diary was discovered after the conflict and provides an illuminating and heartbreaking counterpoint to the American experience. Though one of the bloodiest conflicts in the Pacific, Attu was rarely publicized in the U.S. Fleming speculates that perhaps it was because of how ill-prepared the Americans were for the frigid conditions and hostile terrain, which ended up causing more deaths than enemy fire. An engrossing narrative, rounded out by archival photographs and quotes from survivors, and a poignant reflection on the cost of war.
