Tag Archives: Art

MG – Chunky Goes to Camp

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Mercado, Yehudi. Chunky Goes to Camp. Katherine Tegen Books, 2022. 978-1-668-83618-7. 188 p. $19.99. Grades 3-7.

It’s not easy being the class clown, but Hudi is up to the challenge. During the school year, he combines his love of comedy and art to make everyone laugh, but unfortunately, his antics land him in detention more often than not. When summer starts, Hudi’s parents decide he needs a change of scenery. When Hudi arrives at Camp Green, a Jewish sleepaway camp, he makes sure to bring Chunky, his personal mascot who is invisible to everyone except him. Hudi is nervous that he won’t make any friends, but when he meets Pepe, everything changes. For starters, Pepe is also a Jewish-Mexican comedian like Hudi. But what’s even more fantastic is that Pepe can actually SEE Chunky! Their friendship blossoms quickly, and the trio decide to prank some of the snobby kids at the camp. However, when some of the pranks go too far, Hudi realizes that Pepe is not just trying to make people laugh. In fact, he has a different, darker motive, and Hudi isn’t sure he wants any part of that. Hudi has to decide whether his friendship with Pepe is worth being labeled a troublemaker for the rest of his life.

THOUGHTS: In the sequel to his autobiographical graphic novel, Yehudi Mercado once again delivers. It is both heartwarming yet hysterical with jokes peppered throughout the story, proving that the real-life Hudi is as funny as he is a talented storyteller. Mercado’s books could be a great option for reluctant male readers in middle school.

Graphic Novel          Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD

Elem. – Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son

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Parra, John. Growing an Artist: The Story of a Landscaper and His Son. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-5344-6927-3. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

Heading off to help his father at work, a young boy is excited and eager to learn about landscaping. He learns to mow lawns that look like baseball fields and to shape and trim bushes. He enjoys the satisfaction of working hard and creating something beautiful. Together the father and son visit a gardening center to purchase new plants and the dump that will recycle the yard waste collected throughout the day. The final stop of the work day is at a prospective client’s home. The new client wants to transform an overgrown yard. The young boy is an artist. Throughout the day he sketches in his notebook. When he sees the overgrown yard, he is inspired to create a landscape architecture blueprint. His father is thrilled and praises his son. The new client loves the plan, and father and son work together to create a beautiful new outdoor space. Landscaping is hard work. As the father admits, many people look down on landscapers as merely laborers and do not think of them as artists. As the boy is working, he sees a classmate and eagerly waves hello, but the classmate turns and pretends he never saw the boy. His father gently explains that working hard and loving what you do and having the opportunity to be creative in that process are worthy endeavors that can bring one a great sense of pride and self-worth.

THOUGHTS: This book is visually stunning. The story is sweet and gentle with a wonderful message. Hard work, perseverance, and loving what you do all are important and worthy. The author’s note explains this is the story of John Parra’s childhood. John Parra’s parents were migrant workers from Mexico. His father started his own landscaping business, and John helped him at work from the age of seven, performing landscaping tasks and eventually helping in the design and implementation of landscape architecture plans for clients. Encouraged by his hardworking family to develop his creative talents, John Parra grew up to become a renowned award-winning illustrator. This is the first book he has both authored and illustrated.

Picture Book          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – Beautiful Useful Things: What William Morris Made

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Kephart, Beth. Beautiful Useful Things: What William Morris Made. Cameron Kids, 2022. 978-1-951-83633-7. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades 2-4. 

While adults may be familiar with the work of William Morris, this picture book may be a child’s first introduction to the famous designer. As a young boy growing up in 19th century England, Morris loved the outdoors and enjoyed the beauty of nature. As he grew older, he studied medieval crafts and incorporated them into his signature designs, but with a Victorian touch. This was the time of the Industrial Revolution and many items were being mass-produced with little variety or style. William believed that factories were causing a disruption of the environment and peoples’ lives and advocated for workers’ rights. Morris opened a workshop where he treated his employees well, as they fabricated wallpaper, tapestries, furniture, rugs, stained glass windows and fabrics, created by hand and drawn from nature. He understood that while things should be useful, it was just as important for them to “honor beauty.” In his later years, William produced handmade books and created new fonts for his own Kelmscott Press. In the author’s note, Kephart remarks that Morris laid the groundwork for the Arts and Crafts Movement. Some of his designs, like “Strawberry Thief” are still produced today. Melodie Stacey, a British illustrator, is an admirer of William Morris, and her colorful drawings are a tribute to his fabulous motifs.

THOUGHTS: This biography of a classic “maker” is a good choice for art teachers and for makerspace activities. Suitable for elementary collections.

Biography          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member
92, 921. 709.2

YA – It’s My Whole Life: Charlotte Salomon, An Artist in Hiding During World War II

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Wider, Susan. It’s My Whole Life: Charlotte Salomon, An Artist in Hiding During World War II. Norton Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-324-01531-4.$19.95. 160 p. Grades 7-12.

Illustrated with original drawings and photographs, this brief biography of an obscure Jewish artist living through World War II brings to light a sensitive soul living a troubled life in a troubled time. In a flashback from Charlotte Salomon’s student days at the United State Schools for Applied and Fine Arts in Berlin, the book traces her life from a lonely childhood to her dismissal from the art school–despite her superior talent–to the days in hiding in France at American heiress, Ottilie Moore’s Villefranche. In the midst, the reader learns of the introverted Charlotte’s obsession with art, her rocky relationship with her stepmother, and the cycle of depression and suicide on the maternal side of her family. Charlotte experiences unrequited love with intellectual Alfred Wolfsohn and finds mutual love with co-habitant, Alexander Nagler; they marry, get pregnant, but stay at Villefranche and are sent to their deaths at Auschwitz before she was thirty years old. Charlotte Salomon spent her last years making a visual autobiography entitled, Life? or Theater? She left this important package for her parents to find after the war. Since then, this life tribute has made its way into history gradually. The works of art show a special artist; those with an interest in World War II and the Holocaust will appreciate. 

THOUGHTS: Charlotte Salomon may well pass under the radar in this period of history. However, her distinctive artwork and commitment to her art make her memorable. The mental health issues underlying Charlotte’s background reveal pain others may suffer. One puzzling characteristic of Charlotte is her reluctance to save herself during these turbulent times, though it seems she had some opportunities to escape or keep herself hidden. There is also a connection between Charlotte’s parents and Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank. 

Biography          Bernadette Cooke, School District of Philadelphia

YA – Numb to This: Memoir of a Mass Shooting

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Neely, Kindra. Numb to This: Memoir of a Mass Shooting. Little, Brown and Company, 2022. 978-0-316-46208-2. 304 p. $24.99. Grades 8-12.

The impact of a mass shooting continues long after the crime scene has been restored and the headlines pivot to a new story. Kindra Neely learned this firsthand after she survived a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, which left ten people dead and as many injured. (Ironically, Kindra’s mother had relocated them to Oregon in part to escape the gun culture/violence in their small Texas town.) After graduating from UCC, Kindra attempted suicide when her feelings of pointlessness and numbness overwhelmed her. She kept this attempt secret for years. Later, after matriculating at Georgia’s Savannah College of Art and Design, she continued to suffer from racing thoughts and panic attacks as a result of the trauma she had experienced. Ongoing news alerts to other mass shootings re-traumatized her time and again. Eventually, she began to heal and found a way to use her artwork to share her story. The end result is this lovely, introspective graphic memoir in which Kindra bravely shares her survivor’s journey. The color palette is generally cued to Kindra’s emotions; in particular, depictions of her panic attacks are visceral and vivid. She includes moments of despair, anger, hope, and gratitude. She also includes resources for gun violence survivors and suicide prevention. 

THOUGHTS: This graphic memoir deserves a spot in every library for teens. As mass shootings continue, sadly the need for survivors to voice their stories will, too.

Graphic Novel          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

Elem. – I Cannot Draw a Horse

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Harper, Charise Mericle. I Cannot Draw a Horse. Union Square Kids, 2022. 978-1-454-94594-9. 48 p. $17.99. Grades PK-3.

In Charise Mericle Harper’s I Cannot Draw a Horse, a simple shape is turned into a cat, who DESPERATELY wants the author to draw it a horse. But the author cannot draw a horse, so she instead draws a variety of other creatures from the same shape, who then send the cat on a romp through the pages of the book. Fear not!  Charise Mericle Harper is nearby with her pencil to draw helpful features like hills and skateboards, all which develop the story. At the end, cat is delighted when the author realizes she CAN draw it the horse of its dreams.

THOUGHTS: In addition to being a fun read-aloud that will make readers laugh through its pages, the illustrations in I Cannot Draw a Horse will encourage readers to try their hand at creating characters as well. The message is straightforward: Anyone can draw…if they only try! This book will provide young artists the inspiration and confidence they need simply to TRY (and succeed!). Recommended for anyone looking to add humor and art themes to their collection.

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

Elem. – Drawing Outdoors

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Buitrago, Jairo. Drawing Outdoors. Greystone Kids. 2022. 978-1-771-64847-9. $18.95. Grades K-3.

In many places, schools may have a gym, library, computers, and a playground. Deep in the mountains, however, is an extraordinary school that is a little bit different. It does not have the items a typical school would have. It does have an amazing teacher who leads the class outside on a drawing adventure. What will they draw? Why dinosaurs of course!

THOUGHTS: A unique book about a drawing adventure! What student would not want to go outdoors to draw dinosaurs? A fun story that young dinosaur lovers will enjoy.

Picture Book            Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Creepy Crayons

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Reynolds, Aaron. Creepy Crayons. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-668-87995-5. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Jasper Rabbit is struggling to pass math and spelling in school. He knows he needs to study more, but he has trouble focusing. On the way home from school one day, he finds a purple crayon in the gutter. Intrigued by how happy the crayon seems to see him, Jasper picks it up and brings it home. That night, even though he knows he should be studying for his spelling test, Jasper spends the evening watching TV before falling asleep. The next day, he decides to use the purple crayon on the spelling test. Shockingly, when he gets his test back, he has aced it! At home, his father asks him to complete his math homework. But when he picks up his math textbook, he finds a strange message written on the cover in purple: “Who needs math when you have Bunny Brawl 3?” Truer words were never spoken for Jasper, and he settles in to play the video game. The next day, Jasper uses his purple crayon on his pop quiz in math and  – surprise! – he gets every problem correct. He starts noticing other messages left by the crayon, such as “Jasper + Crayon 4ever! on his backpack and “Don’t ignore me!” on his table. Suddenly, Jasper realizes that even though he loves getting As on his schoolwork, this crayon is too creepy to keep around. Jasper has to find a way to discard the crayon for good before it makes a big mess of his life.

THOUGHTS: Jasper already has survived Creepy Carrots and Creepy Pair of Underwear and in doing so, he has become a favorite character among students in grades K-3. Young readers will love revisiting Jasper and reading about the chaos the crayon causes in his life. The creepy carrots make an appearance in this book as they did in Creepy Pair of Underwear, and illustrator Peter Brown’s signature black and white is punctuated with a powerful purple in this third creepy installment.

Picture Book         Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD

Elem. – If You Find a Leaf

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Sicuro, Aimée. If You Find a Leaf. Random House Studio, 2022. 978-0-593-30659-8. $17.99. 40 p. Grades PK-2.

This is a delightful, rhyming tribute to the pleasures of autumn. A single leaf sends a young child on a day spent imagining scenes that could be created using colorful fall leaves. Leaves are turned into boats, hammocks, a dog bed, hot air balloons, and so much more. Beautifully illustrated in ink, charcoal, watercolor, photographs, and collage. Detailed instructions on how to preserve leaves to create art based on the illustrations are included. A picture book celebration of autumn and creativity.

THOUGHTS: A wonderful, gentle read aloud that would be a lovely companion to Ehlert’s Leaf Man.

Picture Book          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – One Thursday Afternoon

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DiLorenzo, Barbara. One Thursday Afternoon. Flyaway Books, 2022. 978-1-974-88837-1. $18.00. 40 p. Grades K-3.

When Granddad picks Ava up after school on Thursday, she just wants to go home. She is having a bad day and would just like to be alone. Granddad suggests the two go for a picnic and to the woods to paint together. He promises not to talk so that the two can be alone together. Granddad drives to a nature trail, where he and Ava have a quick snack and then set up to paint. Granddad encourages Ava to use all of her senses before she uses her paintbrush. Ava takes time to be aware of the smells, sights, and sounds of the woods, and she finds herself suddenly overcome with emotion. She explains to Granddad that she is upset because her school practiced a lockdown drill today. Granddad listens patiently, gently acknowledges Ava’s feelings, and admits that he too was scared of emergency drills when he was in school. As the two continue to paint and talk, Ava begins to feel better. Talking helped, as did being in nature, concentrating on her senses, and creating art. Throughout, Granddad provides an excellent example of how to be a good listener and how to approach discussing difficult and scary topics with young children. 

THOUGHTS: Simple and straightforward, this is a beautiful picture book that will be an excellent addition for school library Social-Emotional Learning collections. DiLorenzo is careful never to detail the specifics of the lockdown drill or the reasons schools have to practice them. Granddad only promises to listen and be present for Ava. A well-crafted story that models active listening and provides an excellent example of how to handle tough conversations with children who are anxious. 

Picture Book          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD