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Illustrators We Love: Vashti Harrison

Posted on Monday, March 16, 2020 by Megan

Hair Love book coverIf you’ve read our blog before, you know that we mostly focus on the authors of the books we love. However, today I’ve decided spotlight one of my favorite illustrators! (She’s actually a triple threat—illustrator, author and filmmaker.) So, without further ado, let me introduce Vashti Harrison!  Harrison is originally from Onley, Virginia, but her talents and dreams took her all the way to California, where she studied with the greats from Disney and Dreamworks.

Her children’s books vary from board books to chapter books, and she has collaborated on books with other authors as well as written her own. The book “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry and illustrated by Harrison was recently turned into an Oscar, winning animated short. Personally, I love her illustrations for “Cece Loves Science” by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes. In this work, Cece is a girl with a lot of questions and a natural curiosity about the world around her.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History book coverI also adore her books about famous people. “Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History,” “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History” (and the board book equivalent “Dream Big, Little One”) are all about prominent African Americans. “Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World” is a book of women creators from around the globe.

Each of these books pictures a lovely portrait of a renowned person and a brief bio of what made them great! All of the illustrations feature the famous person in the same pose—eyes cast down and just a hint of a grin. Harrison says that “a subtle smile is one of serenity.”

Harrison has been inspired by such classic children’s illustrators as Roger Hargreaves and Mary Blair, but her style is all her own. Harrison also portrays the people as children playing dress up so that kids can imagine themselves in the shoes of the person featured in the biography. You can even make your own little leader by downloading this coloring page.

Have fun reading ALL of Vashti Harrison’s books! You can find them at your favorite branch or on this list.

Brianna’s Books: March Favorites 2020

Posted on Thursday, March 12, 2020 by Brianna

As I sit at my computer ordering books, I just get so excited about so many of them! There are too many to share, but I’m delighted to be able to tell you about some of them here. For all the rest, make sure you keep an eye on our new book shelves at your library.

Picture Books

“Hike” written and illustrated by Pete Oswald

I love wordless picture books. Not only are they beautiful, but they encourage readers to develop their visual literacy and storytelling skills. This nearly wordless book looks like a great choice for that. “Hike” captures the quiet wonder of a hike through the mountains, and careful readers will spot the reason for their hike. As the weather warms up and spring approaches, this book could be a great way to get your children excited to explore outside.

“Whoo-ku Haiku: A Great Horned Owl Story” written by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Jonathan Voss

Anyone that has visited the Columbia Public Library has likely seen our owl by the Children’s Services desk. Did you know that she’s a Great Horned Owl? If your child has been on a school tour here, they could likely tell you all about it! When I saw this book that describes the life cycle of the Great Horned Owl through haiku, I knew we just had to have it. Sometimes nonfiction can be a little wordy for young readers, but the haiku format makes the information accessible enough for little ones to enjoy. Plus, haiku is a super fun form of poetry—and National Poetry Month is right around the corner!

“My Singing Nana” written by Pat Mora, illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez

This book explores how to cope when a loved one has dementia. Billy’s Nana has started to forget things more and more, but she and Billy still love singing and baking together. The back pages in the book offer advice and conversation starters to discuss dementia and Alzheimer’s with children. This is the kind of book that everyone can enjoy, but it will be especially valuable for kiddos with dementia in their families.

“Be You!” written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

You don’t have to read every book straight through; some books are enjoyed best by flipping to different pages when you need them. Reynolds’ latest picture book is filled with affirmations and beautiful illustrations that illuminate them. Reynolds exhorts his readers to be kind, curious and persistent and shows vibrant pictures of children doing just that. Keep this book nearby, and use it for teachable moments with your child.

 

Chapter Books

“The Best of Iggy” written by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sam Ricks

Getting in trouble isn’t the goal, it’s just the side effect of really good ideas. Iggy may be a troublemaker, but he’s a good kid, and he doesn’t exactly regret any of his escapades—except for one. This slim chapter book will be hard to put down and will keep readers laughing the whole way through.

“Show Me a Sign” written by Ann Clare LeZotte

Here’s a fascinating #ownvoices book. LeZotte is part of the deaf community and has written this historical fiction based on the deaf community in Martha’s Vineyard. This book takes place in the early 19th century, a time when Martha’s Vineyard had such a high deaf population that everyone on the island used sign language and didn’t consider deafness a disability. When an overeager scientist comes to study the inhabitants of the island, tensions rise and the protagonist must avoid becoming merely a “live specimen.”

“From the Desk of Zoe Washington” written by Janae Marks

Zoe Washington is almost a seventh grader, living with her mom and stepfather and dreaming of entering Food Network’s kids baking challenge. On her 12th birthday, she receives a letter from her incarcerated father whom she’s never met. As they continue to correspond through letters and the occasional phone call, Zoe is convinced of her father’s innocence and becomes determined to prove it. This book explores systemic racism and the criminal justice system through the eyes of a relatable middle-schooler.

“King and the Dragonflies” written by Kacen Callender

The acclaimed author of “Hurricane Child” is back with another powerful novel about love, loss and identity. When King’s older brother dies, King does his best to live up to his brother’s expectations while dealing with his grief—even when those expectations go against truths King is beginning to admit to himself. Set in the bayou of Louisiana, this book expertly navigates homophobia, grief and family.

Family-Friendly Documentaries

Posted on Thursday, March 5, 2020 by Adam

True/False is here again! For the 17th year in a row, Columbia’s premier nonfiction film festival will bring in thousands of people for a long weekend of film premieres, concerts, parties and a parade that marches down 9th Street. Whether you’ve got little ones and can’t make it out to all the great films this year or you just want to supplement the festivities with your own little documentary fest at home, the library has a plethora of family-friendly nonfiction films, many of which have screened at True/False and/or at Ragtag Cinema downtown. Here’s a short list of some of the most notable and popular ones:

“Spellbound,” from 2002, follows eight kids competing in the 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. We watch the contestants, all from very different backgrounds, prepare and move from their local bees to the national finals. And then the tension mounts as they all try to hang in until the final round. “Spellbound” was one of the first documentaries to become a genuine box office success, which helped usher in a wave of popularity for nonfiction films.

Co-produced by the National Geographic Society, “March of the Penguins” vividly depicts the yearly journey of the emperor penguins of Antarctica from the ocean to their ancestral breeding grounds. If penguin parents successfully hatch a chick, they must make multiple trips between the ocean and the breeding grounds over the ensuing months to ensure the chick’s survival. “March of the Penguins” is the second-highest grossing documentary film of all time, and won the 2006 Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.

Like “Spellbound,” “First Position” tracks the lives of a diverse group of young people preparing for a competition, but this time it’s ballet instead of spelling. Six dancers compete in the Youth America Grand Prix to earn spots and scholarships in some of the best ballet schools and companies in the world, and we see the lengths that these young people will go to in the service of their art.

France’s Chauvet Cave contains the world’s oldest surviving paintings, some of them around 32,000 years old, and legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog takes you inside to see them up close in “Cave of Forgotten Dreams,” from 2011. Herzog and his crew used 3D cameras to capture the bulges and contours of the cave walls, which are incorporated into the paintings.

Documentary filmmaker John Chester and his partner, Molly, move out of their small Los Angeles apartment and onto a 200 acre farm in Chester’s film, “Biggest Little Farm.” John and Molly want to build a bio-diverse and sustainable farm, but the land they’ve bought is drought-ridden and depleted of nutrients. The film, which documents their eight years of hard work, planting thousands of new trees and hundreds of different crops to try and realize their dream, shows the beauty, power and unpredictability of nature.

“Maiden” is the story of the first-ever all-female crew to compete in the Whitbread Round the World yacht race in 1989. Led by 26-year-old skipper, Tracy Edwards, the crew of the Maiden defied the odds and, with an old boat and without the massive financial support of other teams, finished the grueling 32,000 mile race and made history. This rousing doc uses original footage from the ship’s videographer to help tell the thrilling story of how Edwards’ risky gamble on her unseasoned crew paid off.

Resources We Love: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Posted on Monday, March 2, 2020 by Jessica S

Love STEAM crafts?

Incredible LEGO® Creations from Space with Bricks You Already Have - Dees, SarahWhen I need craft and STEAM ideas, I usually look through my trusted social media sources for new ideas. Pinterest is great, YouTube is good if I need to watch a how-to and often I’ll go through DBRL’s free online resource Creativebug for guidance and ideas.

However, earlier this year, I came across this magnificent Baby Yoda LEGO® project. That Baby Yoda is just the cutest, right?!

This adorable construction was found on a website called Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls, created by Darah Dees, a homeschooling mom who dedicates her blog to super-fun projects and activities. These are the categories that she has sorted her blogs into:

Want more LEGO® resources?

Feel free to grab Sarah’s books from our collection or place a hold on them! So far, she has four different LEGO® books filled with fun creations.

“Incredible LEGO® Creations from Space With Bricks You Already Have”

This spaced-themed book focuses first on the types of bricks. To make sure that the directions are clear, Dees introduces the names of the bricks and where to find the serial numbers (in case there is a need to purchase additional bricks or replacements.) Build space ships, rovers and more! Continue reading “Resources We Love: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls”

The Kleenex Awards

Posted on Thursday, February 27, 2020 by Tess

Do you ever just need a good cry?

You watch the ASPCA commercial (curse you Sarah McLachlan). You click on the video of the soldier returning home to surprise their family. You listen to the band play as the Titanic sinks. You binge-watch Hallmark movies all winter long.

You know my favorite way to get out a good cry? Picture books! The author and illustrator only have about 30 pages to draw you in and then break your heart. No visual effects, animations or sad music. The books need a universal theme that kids can understand and also an extra layer that is deep enough to destroy us adults. 

The youth services staff here at the library have spent the past month sharing picture books to make us cry, and we’ve voted on our favorites. Here, for your boo-hooing pleasure, we present: 

The Kleenex Awards!

 

#1, with a rating of 7 tissues is…

“Ida, Always” by Caron Levis, illustrated by Charles Santoso

Image result for ida, always"

Based on a true story, two polar bears, Ida and Gus, spend their lives together at the New York Zoo. They eat, sleep, play and cuddle together for many years. One day, Ida gets sick and doesn’t get better. Told from the perspective of Gus, “Ida, Always” is about learning to love people to the end and beyond. 

 

#2, with a rating of 6 tissues is…

“Stormy” by Guojing

Image result for stormy book"

“Stormy,” a wordless picture book about a stray dog finding a forever home, is the original inspiration for this post. The use of light and color in this story says more than words ever could, and I promise, your tears will be happy tears.

Continue reading “The Kleenex Awards”

We Love Our Pets!

Posted on Thursday, February 20, 2020 by Molly

Pets come in all shapes and sizes. Some have fur or hair, others are feathered, some sport scales, while others use fins. They are our companions and our friends with no strings attached. They shower us with unconditional love, comfort us when we are sad and teach us about important things, such as responsibility, nurturing, kindness and compassion. For children, owning a pet can encourage outdoor play, help them make friends and feel safe. Overall, our pets bring out the best in us, for they show us how to give and receive love.

Not surprisingly, pet populations continue to rise. According to a Gallup poll, sixty-eight percent of Americans currently own pets, a number that is expected to increase in the future. “As millennial and Generation Z consumers have come into adulthood, they have embraced the pet-owning and pet-loving lifestyles to a far greater extent than their elders.”

American Author, John Grogan, who wrote “Marley and Me” sums up our love for these special family members in this way: “Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.”

On February 20 we celebrate National Love Your Pet Day! So, whether your pet runs or crawls, swims or flies, or, maybe you are adopting a pet for the first time, be sure check out DBRL’s large selection of pet-themed books!

Just for fun, here are a few books about some unusual pets.

Brianna’s Books: February Favorites 2020

Posted on Thursday, February 13, 2020 by Brianna

One of the most exciting things about working in a library is seeing all the new books come in. While I will happily re-read books forever, I love to make time for new favorites too. As the Youth Materials Selector for DBRL, I get the inside scoop on upcoming books, so I’d like to share some of these awesome titles with you!

Picture Books

“I’m Brave! I’m Strong! I’m Five!” written by Cari Best, illustrated by Boris Kulikov

cover of "I'm Brave! I"m strong! I'm five!"

Bedtime can be scary; even as an adult, strange shapes in the darkness can be unsettling. The protagonist in this story finds the courage to face these fears on her own. Knowing that her parents are just outside her room, she repeats her refrain “I’m brave! I’m strong! I’m five!” and tackles each unnerving sight and sound. This book is a great choice for little ones seeking to gain confidence and bedtime independence.

 

 

“My Monster Friends and Me: A Big Kid’s Guide to Things That Go Bump in the Night” written by Annie Sarac, illustrated by Alice Brereton

cover of "My Monster Friends and Me"

Try this book for another approach to bedtime fears. Or any time fears! In this story, the child narrator shares a secret: by naming your fears, they can become friends instead. As each fear is named and given a friendly personality, the illustrations change from dark to cheery. Read this book together with your kiddo, then try this strategy at home!

 

 

“The President of the Jungle” by Andre Rodrigues

cover of "The President of the Jungle"

In this vibrantly illustrated picture book, the animals in the jungle decide to elect their next ruler. Instead of Lion as king, the animals follow a democratic process to vote for a president. This nonpartisan book is a great way to introduce little ones to elections, and it incorporates plenty of terms like “ballot” and “candidate.”

 

 

“Moo, Moo, Chew, Chew” written by by Jennifer Shand, illustrated by Barbara Vagnozzi

cover of "Moo, moo, chew, chew"

If your child isn’t ready for election information, try this animal sounds book instead! Not quite a board book, this picture book will make your toddler feel more grown up while still enjoying farm animal sounds. Supposedly the pages are resistant to tearing, but no need to test us on this!

 

Chapter Books

“Baby-sitter’s Little Sister: Karen’s Witch” written by Katy Farina, illustrated by Braden Lamb

cover of "Karen's Witch"

Moving on to chapter books! This first pick is a graphic novel, and it is already flying off the shelves. In case you hadn’t heard, they are adapting Ann Martin’s Baby-sitter’s Club Little Sister books into graphic novels. After the wild success of the original series graphic novels, young readers are eager to get their hands on these. Follow the link to place a hold, and delight your young fans of Raina Telgemeier.

 

 

“Pencils, Pens & Brushes: A Great Girls’ Guide to Disney Animation” written by Mindy Johnson, illustrated by Lorelay Bové.

cover of "Pencils, Pens & Brushes"

Do you have a child who absolutely loves to draw? What about one who is in love with all things Disney? Here’s a great choice. This adaptation of “Ink & Paint: The Women of Walt Disney’s Animation” details the history of women in animation. Aspiring artists will enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at the industry, as well as the stories of inspirational women.

 

 

“Consent for Kids” by Rachel Brian

cover of "Consent for Kids"

Bodily autonomy and boundaries matter! It’s never too early to let kids know that they can set their own boundaries about their bodies. The author uses humor and kid-friendly analogies to communicate this important subject. Read it and discuss with your kid, and let your discussion be a foundation for their future growth.

 

 

 

“Normal: One Kid’s Extraordinary Journey” by Magdalena and Nathaniel Newman

cover of "Normal: One Kid's Extraordinary Journey"

Did your family enjoy “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio? Palacio was inspired to write “Wonder” based on a picture of Nathaniel Newman, a boy with Treacher Collins syndrome. Now Nathaniel and his mom have written this memoir together, to give the true story of growing up with Treacher Collins syndrome. The book is filled with examples of love and resilience and is an excellent choice for fans of Auggie.

Spotlight on Studio Ghibli

Posted on Thursday, February 6, 2020 by Adam

Founded in 1985, Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio that has created some of the best-loved and most highly acclaimed animated films of all time. The name, Ghibli, comes from an Arabic and Italian word for a hot desert wind, with the idea that the studio would ”blow a new wind” or be a breath of fresh air in the Japanese animation industry. At least part of the reason why Studio Ghibli’s films are so beloved by children and parents alike is the beauty of their hand-drawn animation, their fantastic, enchanting narratives and the continuing relevance of their themes—personal, environmental and political. Here are a few of most popular Ghibli films that we have at the library:

“My Neighbor Totoro” was the first film for Studio Ghibli directed by one of it’s founders, Hayao Miyazaki, who has since become Japan’s most commercially successful filmmaker. It begins when two young girls and their father move into an old house to be close to their mother while she is recovering from an illness. Feeling lonely in their new surroundings, the girls befriend a large creature they call Totoro, who introduces them to other magical beings in the forest that only the girls can see. “My Neighbor Totoro” is a lovely, gentle story about imagination and the ways in which kids cope with difficult passages of childhood.

One of my personal favorite Ghibli films, “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” is the story of a thirteen-year-old witch named Kiki who leaves home for a year to develop her powers and learn to fend for herself. Kiki takes her talking black cat, Jiji, with her and flies on her broomstick to a large port city, where she starts a delivery service out of a bakery. Kiki’s struggles with self-doubt and depression in the big city lead her to briefly lose her powers and, with spirited away coverthe help of a local artist named Ursula, she starts to regain her confidence and purpose as a witch. Continue reading “Spotlight on Studio Ghibli”

Authors We Love: Deborah Underwood

Posted on Monday, February 3, 2020 by Jessica S

Need a new author to follow? Try out one of my personal favorites, Deborah Underwood.

Growing up, Underwood dreamed of being an astronaut, a singer and a writer. Nowadays, she’s a published children’s book author and a singer for her local choir. While that’s only two out of three, Underwood lets outer space play a role in her books, especially in the art of some of her newer titles.

Why should you love Deborah Underwood? She’s quirky and silly, her books are fun and she always sticks to books that have a classical feel but a whole new story to tell. Underwood also picks talented illustrators to work with her, including people like Claudia Rueda, Meg Hunt and more.

Claudia Rueda’s illustrations are cute, often depicting animals. Some of her works include the “Hungry Bunny” or “Bunny Slopes” books, which feature the cutest little white bunny that gets himself in all sorts of trouble, needing the reader’s help to get out.

Meg Hunt goes a different direction with her illustrations. While the backgrounds are dark, they are offset by the brilliantly colored characters. Hunt worked with Underwood for the titles “Interstellar Cinderella” and “Reading Beauty.” As we near our Summer Reading 2020, themed “Imagine Your Story,” these titles fall wonderfully into the mix as beautifully updated versions of “Sleeping Beauty” and “Cinderella.”

These are some of my favorite books by Deborah Underwood:

Interstellar Cinderella - Underwood, Deborah“Interstellar Cinderella” (2019) illustrated by Meg Hunt

“Interstellar Cinderella” is a magical retelling of the original “Cinderella” story. Interstellar Cinderella wants to be a mechanic and fix fancy starships. While she fixes more common appliances like dishwashers and tiny robots during the day, she studies ship repair by night. When the prince announces a space parade, Cinderella leaps at the opportunity but is marooned on a planet by her stepsisters and stepmother. With some help from her fairy godrobot, Cinderella is able to make it to the parade. There, she sees amazing starships that make her swoon. When the prince’s suffers a mechanical failure, Cinderella rushes to save the magnificent ship. She fixes it, goes to the ball with the Prince, but as the clock strikes midnight, she rushes home. The Prince follows and offers to marry her, but Cinderella just wants to be his chief mechanic. Continue reading “Authors We Love: Deborah Underwood”

2019 Missouri Building Block Winner!

Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2020 by Kristy

Can I Be Your Dog book coverA whopping 22,000 preschool and kindergarten voters participated this year, picking “Can I Be Your Dog” by Troy Cummings as the 2019 Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award winner! Second place goes to “Cookiesaurus Rex” and third place goes to “I Just Ate My Friend.”

If we went by our young voters just here at DBRL, the winner would have been “I Just Ate My Friend” by Heidi McKinnon followed closely by “Cookiesaurus Rex” and “Beware the Monster!”

Check out the official page of the Missouri Building Block Award to see past winners, get activity sheets and more! (In case you were wondering, our 2020 nominee announcement is just around the corner. Keep an eye out for an announcement in February!)