Amazing Places 
More Than Anything Else 
Around Town 
Silver Packages 
Momma, Where Are You From? 
My Brother Martin 
Saturdays & Teacakes 
Something Beautiful 
Molly Bannaky 
So far from the Sea 
Peacebound Trains 
The Last Dragon 
Coolies 
Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor 
Where is Grandpa? 
Brothers 
America The Beautiful 
Happy Birthday To You! 
Amazing Faces 

Disclaimer: Book Availability:  Sometimes the publishers decide to stop printing a book, which makes it difficult for us to get our hands on it! If a title in your order becomes unavailable because it is out of print, please don’t worry. We will hand-pick a replacement book that ensure your order arrives complete.

The post SET OF BOOKS appeared first on .

“Illustrated with large, handsome watercolor portraits, the 16 poems in this anthology celebrate the rich diversity of American kids—what makes each one special and the connections between them. Most poems are original to this collection, except for the final, “My People,” by Langston Hughes, which is paired with a close-up view of a huge crowd of parents and kids of many backgrounds that also appears on the cover. A sad kid is not accepted by the in-crowd in Jude Mandell’s “I’m the One.” In contrast, Pat Mora’s poem features a Latino boy who finds bliss in solitude (“I like to count the stars”). Jane Medina’s “Me x 2” includes Spanish translation of the lines and shows the riches of bilingualism: “I do twice as much.” And Jane Yolen’s “Karate Kid” is a fun read-aloud (“Chop / Kick / Peace / Power”) and features a dynamic portrait of a girl in action. A great collection for sharing at home and in the classroom.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: MAY 2010

““You can read many things in her face,” says Joseph Bruchac in describing Aunt Molly Sky, a venerable Native American storyteller. Aunt Molly is one of 16 people, varied in age and ethnicity, whose everyday lives are reflected in this picture-book anthology. Faces figure prominently in some poems as Hopkins and Soentpiet celebrate America’s diversity. “Amazing Face” belongs to a chortling Asian baby who is addressed by a blond mother, and the concluding poem, Langston Hughes’s “My People,” is paired with a multiracial crowd waving flags in a city fireworks scene. Some of the voices and warm watercolor portraits are necessarily specific–Chinatown’s child who lives “above Good Fortune/where they catch crabs fresh” or “Latina, abuela, she is everyone/of us come from otherwhere.” Some experiences–dreams, loneliness, the heroism of a returning soldier or a smoke-smudged firefighter–are universal. Varied in shape, each poem is set on an ivory half-page next to a broad scene–sometimes a single child, other times a small group or an energetic crowd. This appealing package of poetry and ideas will be enjoyed by children, parents, and teachers. There are many bits to savor, and the underlying theme is so well executed that it could easily stimulate interest in finding more people in poems.”

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: (STARRED REVIEW) MAY 2010

“The focus of this excellent collection of disparate poems is not strictly faces but people. The poems–contributed by writers such as Joseph Bruchac, Nikki Grimes, Pat Mora, and Jane Yolen–include character sketches, vignettes, and descriptions of people from all over multicultural America. Soentpiet’s (Saturdays and Teacakes) astonishing watercolors unify the book’s theme as he concentrates each illustration on the faces of Americans who live in both small towns and cities. His paintings are lifelike, full of shadows and depth, and astonishingly precise. They allow readers to see a variety of emotional scenes, featuring a Native American storyteller, a soldier returning home, an insouciant Mexican-American girl, a firefighter, flirting teenagers, and a busy street in Chinatown. Especially noteworthy is Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s opening poem, “Amazing Face,” a touching portrait of a parent’s hopes for a new baby (“Amazing, your face./ It shows you will watch from a window,/ whisper to a friend,/ ride a carousel…”). The ending reveals a sea of faces and fireworks to accompany Langston Hughes’s “My People,” a fitting celebration of Americans in all their diversity.”

Read more reviews and blogs about “Amazing Faces” by clicking on the following links:

Enjoy and Embrace Learning: Poetry Friday
Amazing Faces – Robyn Hood Black – children’s author
Through the Looking Glass Book Review: Poetry Friday
Review from Washington Parent
GregLSBlog: Amazing Faces
Sal’s Fiction Addiction

The post AMAZING FACES (paperback) appeared first on .

About two years ago, I was preparing to give a speech at a teacher conference. Distracted in my preparations, I wasn’t fully aware of the person introducing me. As it turned out, that person was Mrs. Christine King Farris, sister of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She sat through my presentation and afterward asked if I would be interested in working with her on a project-a book about her childhood with her brother. Of course, I was incredibly flattered. As a youngster, I had idolized this remarkable human being. She went on to say that I and the things I said during my presentation reminded her of her brother. I felt truly honored.

Christine and I kept in contact and soon Mrs. Farris’s editor at Simon and Schuster contacted me. Within a matter of weeks the book was underway. My first course of action, a trip to the King Center in Atlanta where Mrs. Farris, our editor, and I walked through the places of Dr. King’s childhood-his home, his church, the neighborhood firehouse where he and his friends spent much of their time-all while discussing what we thought this book should be. I snapped photographs and listened while Mrs. Farris regaled us with recollections of a childhood spent with a little boy who would grow up to change the world. I was moved beyond words and left Atlanta with the feeling of being a part of something historic.

I returned to Atlanta for a second time with my camera, lighting equipment, backdrop, and clothes for the models to wear. Because I paint realistically I need to use live models to ensure the main characters look the same from one angle to another. Christine greeted me at Ebenezer Baptist Church with southern graciousness and charm. She personally chose each model to represent the character in her story.

The boys who portrayed Martin Jr. and AD are Christine’s grandnephew. Christine’s daughter portrayed “Mother Dear”. The current pastor at Ebenezer Baptist portrayed “Daddy” King. Even Christine’s young granddaughter was an eager model. The rest of the cast were personal and close friends of the King family. The models shared with me interesting stories of their time with Dr. King, which helped me visualize the illustration process. All the models agreed their participation was a special tribute to Dr. King’s legacy.

Christine’s presence added another element of authenticity to my photo shoot. For example, did you know Aunt Ida did not go to church-so I made sure I did not paint her in a church scene.

As part of my painting process, I also sketched the original King’s childhood home on 510 Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, which is now preserved by The King Center.

The spirit and generosity from Mrs. Farris, the staff at both the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the National Historic Site, and the King family helped to make my work on MY BROTHER MARTIN as genuine and authentic as I think possible. It is my sincere hope that the part I played in the creation of this book helps Dr. King’s vision of justice and harmony live on. – Chris Soentpiet

Learn how you can preserve Dr. King’s legacy by visiting The King Center.

BOOK REVIEWS:

“A delightful biography for children.”
– ESSENCE

“…glimpses of the home that nurtured King’s dream.”
– PARENTING

“Anyone-especially kids-can relate to the warm family scenes depicted in the book.”
– TEACHING K-8

“This stunningly beautiful picture book for children of all ages features sunny watercolors that capture the King family at home with warmth and love. A few black and white watercolor paintings that focus on King’s adult life bring up the end, along with Mildred D. Johnson’s poem “You Can Be Like Martin” and an author’s afterward. Few books are a “must read. This is one.”
– Deborah Abbott (Chicago Sun-Times. Jan 2003)

“Farris’s stirring memoir of her younger brother “M.L.” focuses on a pivotal moment in their childhood in Atlanta. The conversational narrative easily and convincingly draws readers into the daily life of Christine and her two brothers, M.L. and A.D., as they listen to their grandmother’s stories, stage pranks and romp in the backyard with two white brothers from across the street. The adults in the King family-Daddy, a minister; Mother Dear, a musician; maternal grandparents (the grandfather is also a minister) and a great-aunt-try to shield the children from the overt racism of the times; the family rarely took streetcars, for example, because of “those laws [segregation], and the indignity that went with them.” When the white boys announce one day that they cannot play with M.L. and A.D. because they are “Negroes,” the young Kings are hurt and baffled. Mother Dear explains, “[Whites] just don’t understand that everyone is the same, but someday, it will be better.” M.L. replies, “Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn this world upside down.” Soentpiet (Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor) illustrates this exchange with a powerful watercolor portrait of mother and son that encapsulates many emotions, including hope, pain and love.”
– Publishers Weekly 2003

“In the straightforward style of a master storyteller, Farris recalls the birth of her two younger brothers and relates anecdotes that demonstrate both the mischievous exploits of the siblings and the love and understanding that permeated the close-knit multigenerational family in which they grew up. Using plain language, she describes conditions in the South during her childhood that separated blacks and whites- “Because they just don’t understand that everyone is the same, but someday, it will be better.” From their father’s church sermons and his actions when confronting the hatred and bigotry, the children learned the importance of standing up for justice and equality. The warmth of the text is exquisitely echoed in Soentpiet’s realistic, light-filled watercolor portraits set in the King home, in their Atlanta neighborhood, and at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The simple directness of this short biography will help young children understand the concept of segregation and the importance of Dr. King’s message. An appended poem by Mildred D. Johnson reflects Farris’s own message: ” – it is important for young people to realize the potential that lies within each of them –.” This outstanding book belongs in every collection.”
– SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH)

“In the years since his death, too many biographers of Martin Luther King Jr. have made him so much larger than life that to the current generation of children he has become more of an idealized heroic icon than a real person. By sharing her memories of their childhood, Farris has opened a window to show Martin as a small boy in a loving extended family, a sometime prankster, protected for a while from the harsh reality of racism. When that reality became impossible to ignore, he and his brother and sister have the example of the strong faith, the encouragement, and the strength of their parents to guide them. Young Martin promises his mother that he will be an agent for change, that he will one day “turn this world upside down.” Farris tells the story simply and gently, remembering Martin as her little brother and as the man who indeed turned the world upside down. Soenpiet’s (Dear Santa, Please Come to the 19th Floor, p. 1628, etc.) watercolors are both meticulous in their detail and beautifully expressive of the family’s emotions. Farris’s afterword, graced by childhood photos of Martin, further explains her need to share these memories. A poem by Mildred D Johnson, written in 1968, is included as a reminder that all children have the potential for greatness. A very welcome addition to the King story.”
– KIRKUS REVIEW

“In this picture-book biography, Martin Lunter King’s older sister adds a personal stamp to King’s childhood experiences that other books have lacked. When Martin asks his mother why the white boys across the street have been forbidden to play with the King children, she explains about prejudice, prompting Martin to say, “Mother Dear, one day I’m going to turn the world upside down.” The richly detailed illustrations capture the times and are striking portrayals of the individuals, with Soentpiet including a note describing his use of King family members and friends as models. The respectful tone of the text is augmented by the large, handsome design, with metallic-blue endpapers and halftone photographs used to accentuate front and back matter. A one-page poem by Mildred D. Johnson, “You Can Be Like Martin: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” follows the short text, and an afterword adds context and personalizes the book. A testament to one person making a difference, the book is intended to be inspirational–and, in both art and text, it is.”
– BOOKLIST (Julie Cummins)

“Most people remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the man who had a dream to change the world of its prejudice views. But what was he like before he became that famous man? Join his sister Christine along with their brother A.D. and find out what life was like growing up in the King household. Would you like to know what Martin’s nickname was? Did you know that he liked to play pranks? Find out about one that he played on his piano teacher. Learn how it was to grow up in a community where Martin could go anywhere and play with the neighborhood children. But one day he learned that he was not allowed to go certain places because of his skin color. Feel the hurt of the King family as they had to deal with the people who ignorantly treated them differently. However, there was hope, because as a child, Martin was determined to “turn the world upside down.” This book gives personal insight into the childhood of a great man as told by his sister. The illustrations are beautifully and realistically drawn. Teachers will enjoy using this book anytime of the year in their classroom.”
– CHILDREN’S LITERATURE (Simon and Schuster, White)

AWARDS

Parents Magazine Best Children’s Book of the Year 1998

National Parenting Publication Award Honor Book, Selectors’ Choice

NCSS-CBC Notable Trade Book in Field of Social Studies 1998

IRA Notable Book for a Global Society 1998

The post MY BROTHER MARTIN (paperback) appeared first on .

“Peacebound Trains” is my first picture/chapter book. The author, has a talent for detail, and as she described how Sumi watches trains wind through the valley below, hears the lonely sound of their whistles piercing the air, and longs for the day when her mother will return, I was there with her. Going back to South Korea for the research of this story was another reason I decided to illustrate this story. It gave me a chance to visit my biological brother and three sisters whom I haven’t seen since I was adopted at 8 years old. It was a happy reunion. A year later, the illustrations for this book received a gold medal from the Society of Illustrator’s Original Art Show in New York City. That honor is a wonderful and humble tribute to my family in Korea. – Chris Soentpiet

WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR, HAEMI BALGASSI:

My inspiration for this story was a gift from two courageous women: my grandmother and my mother. When I was a young girl, my grandmother shared with me the story of her harrowing rooftop train ride during the first harsh winter of the Korean War. My grandmother passed away when I was eleven, but her story stayed with me. When I was in high school, I asked my mother to tell me what she remembered of that rooftop train ride. My mother added another layer to my grandmother’s story-the memories she’d carried since she rode the train as a five year old. Her sisters, my aunts, also made the trip. I knew then that, one day, I would write a story based on my family’s experience in the Korean War. And a decade later, I did. I titled it PEACEBOUND TRAINS, after the train that has haunted me since my grandmother told me about it all those years. – Haemi Balgassi

BOOK REVIEWS:

“A lovely combination picture book/chapter book based, on family memories about the trauma of leaving a beloved home for fear of an invading army; in this case, there is the added tragedy of civil war, with brother fighting brother as South Korea and the Communist North battle over Seoul. In expressive watercolors, Soentpiet provides an accurate look at Korean culture of the 1950s as well as Sumi’s contemporary setting.” – Kirkus Reviews

“The text, divided into short chapters, is gracefully written and told with great emotion. The richly colored illustrations are splashed with light, and convey the unfolding drama. Facial expressions are particularly effective. Readers will come away from this book with the understanding that the struggle for peace is universal and timeless, and that sometimes sacrifices must be made to achieve it.” – School Library Journal

“Powerful Narrative” – The New York Times Book Review

AWARDS:

Society of Illustrators Gold Medal 1966

American Bookseller Pick of the List 1996

IRA Notable Children’s Book for a Global Society

NCSS/CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies

Smithsonian’s Notable Book 1996

San Francisco Chronicle’s Best Book List

Notable Children’s Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 1997

The post PEACE BOUND TRAINS (hardcover) appeared first on .

After having so much fun working together on our first book COOLIES, Yin and I decided to collaborate again on “Dear Santa – Please Come to the 19th Floor.  Since I’ve been working on many historical books, I wanted to illustrate a lighthearted story. When Yin first showed me the manuscript, I thought it really captured the true spirit of Christmas. I was excited to start painting right away! Did you know, I sketched the outdoor and stairway scenes from Yin’s childhood apartment building? – Chris Soentpiet

WORDS FROM THE AUTHOR, YIN:

Growing up on the 19th floor of an apartment building, I always dreamed of living in a big house with a chimney that Santa Claus could tumble down. The characters were inspired by my friends from my old neighborhood in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Though Santa Claus never visited my apartment, my belief in the spirit of Christmas is very much alive in my heart. Now I live in a big house… with a chimney!

BOOK REVIEWS:

“Best friends Willy and Carlos live in a rundown apartment building in a rough urban neighborhood populated by winos as well as hardworking neighbors. Carlos, who has had a spinal-cord injury and is in a wheelchair, is angry and depressed, believing he will never be able to play basketball again, so Willy e-mails Santa with a special request on behalf of his friend. When he looks out his window on Christmas Eve, he sees Santa parallel park his sleigh across the street and rushes down to meet him. They find that the elevator is broken and climb the 19 floors, handing out gifts along the way, including a new basketball for Carlos, when they reach his apartment. This is a powerful, poignant book about dignity and hope in the midst of poverty and despair. Soentpiet’s beautiful, realistic watercolor illustrations contrast starkly with the gritty setting, complementing the mood of the text. This is lengthy for a picture book, yet it is a successful combination of fantasy and realism with an important underlying message: the real gift is that of hope.” – M. W., School Library Journal, 2002

 

“Santa never comes here to this neighborhood,” says Willy, a Hispanic boy who lives in a high rise. Nevertheless, Willy secretly e-mails Santa a request to visit his dejected best friend: “My pal Carlos is in a wheelchair now and could use a good surprise.” Carlos, meanwhile, lobbies Santa on Willy’s behalf. Santa indeed shows up on Christmas Eve bearing gifts-and hope. The urban setting is a welcome addition to the season’s lineup. Soentpiet’s brings high-wattage lighting and a high-contrast palette to his realistic watercolor scenes.” – Publishers Weekly, 2002

 

“Yin and Soentpiet collaborate for the second time (Coolies, 2001) with this long first-person story narrated by a Hispanic boy named Willy. His best friend, Carlos, is in a wheelchair and they both live in a New York City high-rise apartment building in a neighborhood that Willy calls “scary and rough.” Willy sends Santa an e-mail asking for a gift for Carlos, and Carlos does the same for Willy. On Christmas Eve, Santa arrives in the street outside and, after a long climb up 19 flights of stairs, shedding his garb along the way, gives Carlos a basketball (even though he can’t use it in his wheelchair) and Willy a telescope. The basketball and Santa’s visit are supposed to give the boys hope, and perhaps they shall, though it’s a stretch. Soentpiet’s realistic watercolor illustrations give each character an individual personality, and Santa seems quite real, especially when he arrives in the street, as he struggles to make it up the stairs with his pack of heavy gifts, and in the cover illustration as he looks at his computer screen. Though the overall story is a touch sentimental, its realistic urban setting, not seen enough in picture books, will help it find its audience.” – Kirkus Reviews, 2002

 

“A truly touching story about how Santa climbed up stairs to the nineteenth floor to visit Carlos, a young boy who recently had a bad accident and is now confined to a wheelchair. At the beginning of the story, Carlos questioned why Santa would ever want to visit a boy in a wheelchair. Not only was Carlos sure that Santa would not want to visit him because of his wheelchair, but Carlos was positive that Santa would not want to climb up nineteen stories to his family’s apartment. Willie, Carlos’ best friend, noticed how upset Carlos had been lately and decided to e-mail Santa and request that he visit Carlos. In the e-mail, Willie walked Santa through the steps on how to get into the apartment without having a key to the lobby, he instructed Santa on what apartment to go to, and where Santa should park his sleigh so that he wouldn’t get a ticket. The joy that Carlos experiences when he sees Santa at his door is indescribable. A wonderful Christmas story that shows in pictures and words the hope and magic that Santa Claus brings to the holidays. The illustrations are exquisite. Soentpiet captures human emotion better than any other that I have ever seen.” – Jayme Derbyshire, www.childrenslit.com, 2002

The post DEAR SANTA PLEASE COME TO THE 19th FLOOR (paperback) appeared first on .

Experiencing the beauty of Aspen, Colorado for the first time gave me so much inspiration for the illustrations. I wanted to capture the clean air, the sound of the wind, the trees and the river over the rocks. The story of WHERE IS GRANDPA is very poignant and it tells of a boy who recalls spending time with his beloved grandfather. It is written by TA Barron and the subject of death is not an easy subject to write about however the author does it with such sensitivity and warmth which helps the readers feel at peace with their own personal loss. – Chris Soentpiet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

T.A. Barron grew up in Colorado ranch country, traveled widely as a Rhodes Scholar, managed a successful venture capital business in New York, and then changed careers to become a full-time writer and conservationist. His passion for the wonders of nature, his deep concern for humanity and our fragile planet, and his belief in the heroic potential of every person, radiate through his books—many of which are international bestsellers.

BOOK REVIEWS:

“Here is a poignant, touching, and spiritually evocative tale. I heartily recommend it to families everywhere.” – Robert Coles, M.D. Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Children of Crisis” and “The Spiritual Life of Children”

“Barron makes a heartfelt tribute to a deceased loved one in his picture-book debut, which is given stirring visual expression in Soentpiet’s dazzling, crystal-clear mountain landscapes.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Barron’s (The Lost Years of Merlin) debut picture book, which the flap copy describes as autobiographical, offers a humanist response to death and grieving. On the day that Grandpa dies, a boy listens as his sister, brother and parents share memories of this generous, dynamic man. But he can’t bring himself to join in, despite his own fond memories of spending time with Grandpa in the tree house Grandpa had built overlooking the Rockies. At last, the boy asks, “Can anybody tell me… Where is Grandpa now?” Fumbling for a definition of heaven, the father concludes, “Maybe you could say that heaven is any place where people who love each other have shared some time together.” Kids may need some help fleshing out this concept, even as the child recalls the wonderful spots he and Grandpa had visited together. Thinking of his grandfather “in all of those places” frees the boy to return to them and, presumably, to carry on with a life that Grandpa has greatly enriched. Depicting stagily lit daytime scenes, electrically hued sunsets and starry nights, Soentpiet’s (More Than Anything Else) watercolor tableaux amplify–and perhaps exaggerate–both the natural theater of the majestic mountain setting and the human drama of Barron’s graceful story. A useful springboard for dialogue between bereaved adults and children.” – Publishers Weekly

“The universality of the response to the child’s query of ‘Where Is Grandpa?’ makes this book appropriate for people of all belief systems. The staff within our hospice program has found this to be a most valuable aid in helping children understand and find peace in the loss of a loved one. I only wish that such a book had been available when my children were struggling with the death of their dear grandmother.” – Connie Holden, Executive Director Hospice of Boulder County

“The day Grandpa dies, the two brothers and sister try to help their father face his father’s death. The mother begins by remembering the day she met him, and how comfortable she was with him. The older children take turns talking about Grandpa, remembering the good times, until it’s the young narrator’s turn. He doesn’t really feel like talking, and claims not to remember the wonderful things he and Grandpa did together. What he wants to know is, “Where is Grandpa now?” The father says “heaven,” but that’s not quite enough for the child. He needs a more detailed explanation, and somehow the father manages to overcome his own grief and give a lovely description of “any place where people who love each other have shared some time together.” The child lists all the places he and Grandpa have been, and concludes that yes, that’s a good idea. The father and son almost smile, and begin to heal. A touching story, with beautiful illustrations, appropriate for any family. No religious restrictions apply. A gentle way to help a family remember a dearly loved grandfather.” – Children’s Literature

AWARDS:

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio: Gold Award Winner 2000

Maryland Children’s Book Award Nominee 2001

Texas Bluebonnet Award-Nominee 2000

The post WHERE IS GRANDPA? (paperback) appeared first on .

Eve Bunting is one of my favorite authors. The way she can take a complex issue and make it simple and inviting is marvelous. She writes with honesty and sensitivity about issues that are important in our country’s history. – Chris Soentpiet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eve Bunting is the author of more than 150 books, Bunting has written something for every age group – everything from young adult novels to picture books, on subjects ranging from homelessness (Fly Away Home), a modern-day look at a Civil War battlefield (The Blue and the Gray), the Irish village of Maghera where she was born (Market Day), and Smoky Night, about the Los Angeles riots, illustrated by David Diaz and winner of a Caldecott Medal.

Look for another Eve Bunting and Chris Soentpiet collaboration, Jin Woo.

BOOK REVIEW:

“Political history becomes personal narrative in this evocative story about a family’s connection to Manzanar, one of the WWII camps where Japanese- Americans were interned. Prior to moving from California to Boston, the Iwasaki pay a last visit to the grave of Grandfather Iwasaki. Gazing across acres of empty space that once housed close to 10,000 prisoners, Mr. and Mrs. Iwasaki share vivid memories of camp life with their two young children, Thomas and Laura. As they struggle to explain the unfair treatment accorded her ancestors, Laura listens quietly, then just before leaving, places one final memento on her grandfather’s grave. Bunting’s spare prose effectively matches the developmental level of the ages for which this book is geared, and will generate questions that both educators and parents will find difficult to answer. Stark watercolors of the present alternate with black-and-white drawings representing scenes from the past. Together, text and illustrations create and sustain a mood reflection and reminiscence suited to the topic.” – Kirkus Reviews, April 1998

AWARDS:

Parents’ Choice Picture Book Recommendation 1998

Junior Library Guild 1998

FOCAL Award Best Book Winner 1999 – Friends of Children and Literature Central Los Angeles Public Library

The post SO FAR FROM THE SEA (paperback) appeared first on .

Did you know the first African-American mathematician Benjamin Banneker’s grandmother was an indentured servant?

Researching this story was difficult because there weren’t many books with illustrative histories of 17th century America. I wanted my paintings to reflect that time in history. In one scene, I painted a black and white, Holstein cow. After I finished the artwork and “Molly Bannaky” was published a year later, a book reviewer approached my publisher at a reading convention and commented that the cow could not have existed during the 17th century in America (although it did exist in England). Naturally, my publisher was concerned.

 
The publisher asked me for the resource of that Holstein cow. Because I was already working on another project, I honestly could not remember the name of the book that documented the Holstein cow’s existence in America at that time. I wasn’t able to sleep for many nights. I was nervous that I may have messed up by painting a Holstein cow in the wrong era. I also worried that the wrong cow would ruin the book for the author and my publisher. After three weeks, I found the Holstein Cow Association. What a relief! They acknowledged that Holstein cows existed in America during the 17th century! They sent me a letter as proof and I showed it to my publisher. Sure enough, the book went on to win many awards including the Jane Addams Award and the International Reading Association Book of the Year. – Chris Soentpiet

BOOK REVIEWS:

“The oversized format and stunning watercolor paintings turn this fictionalized biography of the grandmother of Benjamin Banneker into an exciting visual experience. In clear, straightforward prose, McGill tells the story of an English dairymaid sent to the gallows for accidentally spilling “his lordship’s milk,” but saved because she could read from the Bible. She is exiled to America where she serves seven years as an indentured servant in Maryland. When finally granted her freedom, Molly Walsh stakes her claim and starts a farm attempting to grow tobacco, but soon realizes that she needs help. Colonial She purchases an African slave, Bannaky, vowing to treat him well and to set him free once her land is cleared. The two grow to love one another and break Colonial law by marrying. The story then jumps to the next generation and ends with Molly teaching her grandson Benjamin to read and telling him of his proud heritage. A historical note fills in some additional details. The large, double-page spreads throughout, in which Soentpiet brilliantly uses pace, tone, texture, and color, particularly in lighting up portions of each painting, bring depth and drama to the next. The lush green of tobacco leaves: the dark blue of ship, water, and sky: and the pervasive glow of candles, fires, and sunsets augment subtle symbols in composition and vivid characterization communicated through body language and facial expression. A good story in a fabulous artistic package.” – School Library Journal, Starred Review, October 1999

“Her grandson was Benjamin Banneker, the famous self-taught African American astronomer and mathematician; but Molly Bannaky’s own life story is just as astonishing. This handsome, large-sized picture book shows her as a woman who was strong enough not only to survive harsh times but also to break new ground. The historical fiction story starts in seventeenth-century Britain, where she is a dairymaid who is saved from the gallows because she can read the Bible. After being extradited to America, she is freed after seven years as an indentured servant. She stakes her claim in the wilderness and buys a slave, Bannaky, to help her. They fall in love, marry (even though it is forbidden by colonial law), build a successful farm, and bear four daughters, one of who marries an ex-slave and has a son, Benjamin. In the final double-page spread, Molly Bannaky is teaching her grandson to read and write. An afterward fills in the history, but the book’s focus is on the big, richly detailed watercolor narrative paintings that combine historical pageantry with close-up portraits of a towering woman and her family.” – BookList, September 1999

AWARDS

Jane Addams Book Award 2000 – an award promoting peace, social justice and the world community

International Reading Association (IRA)- Children’s Book Award 2000

International Reading Association (IRA)- Teachers’ Choice Award 2000

Skipping Stones Honor Award – a magazine promoting multicultural, international, and social awareness, as well as ecological sensitivity in children’s literature.

The post MOLLY BANNAKY (paperback) appeared first on .

While illustrating for “The Last Dragon” book,  I had the wonderful opportunity to work with editor, Dorothy Briley at Clarion Books. At the time, the Chinese New Year celebration had passed just as I was about to start my illustration process. So I missed the opportunity to take pictures of the event in San Francisco. However, I was able to recreate the festivities with help from the Chung Wah Senior Citizen center in New York’s Chinatown. While taking pictures at the center, I had no shortage of volunteer models. They shared with me how they celebrate the Chinese New Year, many Chinese customs and what the dragon means to the Chinese community. An interesting fact is  that although Susan Miho Nunes wrote this story based on San Francisco’s Chinatown, I illustrated the story to reflect New York City’s Chinatown. – Chris Soentpiet

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan Miho Nunes is very interested in the mix of cultures that make up American life. Nunes, a native of Hawaii and now a resident of California, has Japanese and Portuguese ancestry. Her son and nephews share this background, as well as different combinations of Jewish, Persian, African American, and American Indian ancestry.

Her interest in blended cultures is reflected in Nunes’s book The Last Dragon. She explains, “My mother used to say that the problem with children is that in time they wipe out yourhistory. Indeed, here in America that history is sometimes lost in the great brew. On one level, then, The Last Dragon is about a child who discovers something unique about himself and his culture. But I hope this ‘message’ doesn’t drown out other points. There is something about this dragon.” – Chris Soentpiet

BOOK REVIEWS:

“When Peter Chang’s parents send him to Chinatown for the summer to stay with his great aunt, he feels alienated and homesick-until he discovers a worn-out dragon, large enough for 10 men to carry, crammed in a shop window. His aunt reluctantly agrees to let him take it home, and he embarks on a summer long quest to restore the wrecked bundle of silk and wood to its former glory. He involves many others in the project: the tailor, Great Aunt’s mahjongg friends, the kite-maker, the herbalist, an artist, and, at last, the Buddhist priest, all of whom are touched by Peter’s determination. Watercolor paintings, reminiscent of Ted Lewin’s work, lovingly depict in glorious and enticing detail a close-knit Cantonese community in an unnamed big-city Chinatown…The well-written text, as substantial as the artwork in specific and authentic details, draws readers into Peter’s new world. A welcome story about contemporary Chinese life.” – School Library Journal

“Nunes text builds to a satisfying conclusion. The expansive watercolor illustrations are warm, colorful, and full of details unique to Chinatown.” – BookList

AWARDS

American Bookseller Pick of the List 1995

New York Public Library Top 100 Titles

Notable Children’s Trade Books in the field of Social Studies 1995

Smithsonian’s Notable Book 1995

The post THE LAST DRAGON (paperback) appeared first on .

This story is set in the author’s hometown, Heflin, Alabama. I traveled there to get a feel of the place, take pictures, sketch and look for models to portray the main characters in the book. With the help of the town’s local elementary school, I met Luke. I asked him if he wanted to be in my book. The eight-year-old Luke grinned an aw-shucks grin and deflected his sweet smile.

Next, I needed a model for the grandmother. I was thrilled that the author’s own mom volunteered for the role – making this book an even better tribute to his remarkable “Mammaw”.

I read books and studied pictures from the 1960s to make sure the bike, clothes, tools in the kitchen, gas pump, and even the lawn mower in the paintings represented that time. – Chris Soentpiet

BOOK REVIEWS:

“Readers will have a hard time resisting this cover: a grinning boy of nine or ten is lord of the pile of treats in front of him: teacakes he bakes with his grandmother as the culmination of their Saturday visits. Also on the weekly agenda: mowing Mammaw’s lawn and enjoying sandwiches crafted with her just-picked tomatoes. Set in 1964 in Heflin, Alabama, there’s little tension in this vignette–riding his bike there safely through the rural countryside is the hardest part of the boy’s day. The impeccably rendered paintings illustrate with astonishing accuracy the slightly long text and capture the details of the time: gasoline pumps and automobiles in the service station, the boy’s bicycle, and kitchen furnishings that suggest an even earlier time. The author crafted this as a tribute to a childhood tradition with his grandmother, to whom the book is dedicated; while not all of us had his childhood, filled with sunshine and smiles, this nostalgic look back offers up the childhood many of us wish we’d had.” – Kirkus Reviews, February 2004

“Every Saturday morning, the young narrator pedals his bike through town, passing familiar landmarks like the bank and the gas station, until he reaches his grandmother’s house. The two share a special day talking, doing chores, and finally baking and feasting on Mammaw’s special teacakes. Drawing on his childhood in Heflin, AL, the author splendidly re-creates those nostalgic scenes, carefully bringing the memories to life by describing the sunny kitchen, the crunch of gravel under bicycle wheels, and the sweet aroma of the cakes. The brilliant watercolor paintings glow with light and idyllically capture the world of yesterday. Older readers may enjoy sharing this book with their grandparents, and teachers might incorporate it into lessons about writing descriptive memoirs.” – School Library Journal, April 2004

“In this heartwarming nostalgic book, the narrator recalls spending his childhood Saturdays with his grandmother. Every part of the day — riding his bicycle to her house, mowing her lawn, baking and eating sugary teacakes together — is expressed in elegant, evocative prose and resplendent watercolor illustrations.” – Child Magazine, February 2005

“Every Saturday morning, the young narrator pedals his bike through town, passing familiar landmarks like the bank and the gas station, until he reaches his grandmother’s house. The two share a special day talking, doing chores, and finally baking and feasting on Mammaw’s special teacakes. Drawing on his childhood in Heflin, AL, the author splendidly re-creates those nostalgic scenes, carefully bringing the memories to life by describing the sunny kitchen, the crunch of gravel under bicycle wheels, and the sweet aroma of the cakes. The brilliant watercolor paintings glow with light and idyllically capture the world of yesterday. Older readers may enjoy sharing this book with their grandparents, and teachers might incorporate it into lessons about writing descriptive memoirs.” – School Library Journal, April 2004

“The book tells the wonderful story of a boy’s memorable visits to his grandmother every Saturday afternoon. Lester explores that special love between a child and his grandmother with great honesty and integrity, for the story is autobiographical. The time-out-of-time interlude described brings all of us back to our own childhood’s enchanted moments.

The art is by Chris Soentpiet and is nothing less than extraordinary. The detail is so beautiful that the reader is totally enveloped in the magic of the world recreated by Laminack and Soentpiet.

Although the publisher states this books is for ages 4-8, we can see it as a lovely read at many levels, including being read to older family members and friends. We feel it’s something children will go back to again and again for the feelings of comfort and stability it engenders. Just $16.95 for this treasure at your local bookstore.” – Patricia Broderick and Allen Raymond for Teaching K-8, April 2004

AWARDS

Kansas State Reading Circle 2005

The Southeastern Booksellers’ Association

Georgia Children’s Picture Book Award 2005-2006

Children’s Book Sense 76 Pick 2004

Master Reading List, Volunteer State Book Award 2006-2007

Annual Exhibition of the Society of Illustrators 2005

BOOK & CD EDITION AVAILABLE

A book and DVD edition is also available  for purchase. Narrated by the author, Lester Laminack, the total running time is about 24 minutes.
ISBN # 978-1-56145-513-3;  $19.95
 

The post Saturdays and Teacakes (hardcover) appeared first on .