Elem. – You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce: The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce

Lee, Chiquita Mullins, and Carmella Van Vleet. You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce: The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce. Illustrated by Jennifer Mack-Watkins. Kokila, 2023. 978-0-593-40650-2. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades 1-3.

This fascinating picture book is a fictionalized account of the life of the African American folk artist Elijah Pierce. Born in Mississippi, Elijah was given a penknife as a young boy, which he used to whittle wood from a forest, creating animal figures or “…anything that came to mind….” Pierce learned the barbering trade and opened a barber shop in Columbus, but his passion for the wood arts remained with him his whole life. In this story, a boy comes into the barbershop with his dad, who tells him, “You gotta meet Mr. Pierce.” The barber-artist displays all his artistic creations in his shop and proceeds to show them to the boy after his haircut. Some are carved sculptures of a tiger and lion. Others are wall art like The Place of My Birth (1977), a carved and painted relief of a log cabin. Others depict stories from Pierce’s personal life, such as when he was falsely accused and accosted by an angry mob. Also displayed is what many call his masterpiece, The Book of Wood, created in 1932. Mr. Pierce carved Bible Stories on wooden panels, painted them and pasted them on cardboard to make a book. The unnamed boy, who was unsure of what to draw with the colored pencils from his mother, is now inspired to turn his own stories into art like his mentor. The artwork here is stunning. Mack-Watkins uses mokuhanga printmaking techniques and mixed media collages to create her drawings. The colors of the printed images are bold and vibrant and the observant reader will be able to pick out actual photos of a few animal carvings and of the artist’s family done as an overlay on the busy pages. The illustrator has truly captured the heart and  soul of this underrecognized African American’s talent. There is an author’s note that provides more details of Elijah’s life and an artist’s note that explains her techniques and preparation. Also included in the back is a gallery of Pierce’s art with titles and dates and a list of museums displaying his art.

THOUGHTS: This book is highly recommended for all elementary collections. Children will enjoy examining the images for the small details of the Caldecott quality art. This story could be paired with Bryant’s A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin to do a compare and contrast activity of the two African American folk artists.

Picture Book
Historical Fiction

Elem. – Rivka’s Present

Wallmark, Laurie. Rivka’s Present. Illustrated by Adelina Lirius. Random House Studio, 2023. 978-0-593-48207-0. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

In 1918 on New York’s Lower East Side, Rivka enthusiastically proclaims to all who will hear that it is her first day of school. Heartbroken, Mama tells Rivka, that she cannot begin school. Papa has influenza, and Mama must work to support the family. Rivka must care for her little sister. Upset, Rivka tears out of the apartment, crashing into a sandwich board in front of the grocery store. Apologizing to the shop owner, Rivka admires the writing on the board, and asks the grocer to teach her how to write. Mr. Solomon carefully explains he is too busy to take on teaching Rivka how to write. But when Rivka bargains to help around the shop in exchange for writing lessons, Mr. Solomon agrees and even allows Rivka to bring her little sister along. Papa is no better, and Mama works long hours. By the time the leaves fall from the trees, Rivka knows her alphabet and can sound out basic words. While running an errand at the tailor’s shop, Rivka admires Mr. Cohen’s ledger of neat arithmetic. Offering to make deliveries in exchange for math lessons, Rivka quickly begins learning a new skill. Unfortunately, Papa has shown little improvement. When the first snow falls, Rivka helps a neighbor across the hall with baking and cleaning. She discovers that Mrs. Langholtz is studying to take her citizenship exam. Rivka politely asks Mrs. Langholtz to teach her about American history. By the time spring rolls around, Rivka can name the states and sing the anthem. One day Papa is well enough to join the family at the dinner table. As the flowers begin to blossom, Papa sends Rivka on an errand. When she returns to the apartment, she is surprised to find Mr. Solomon, Mr. Cohen, and Mrs. Langholtz, who have all arrived at the apartment for a party to honor Rivka and all of her hard work. Each neighbor brings Rivka a present that she will need to finally begin her first day of school.

THOUGHTS: Rivka is plucky and eager to learn. This is an adorable story about hard work and determination in the face of great challenges. Beautifully detailed painted illustrations by Adelina Lirius add to the wonder and delight as Rivka spends the seasons learning new skills.

Picture Book

Elem. – Salat in Secret

Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah. Salat in Secret. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Random House Studio, 2023. 978-1-894-84809-3. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

On Muhammad’s seventh birthday his father gives him a salat (prayer) rug. Muhammad is proud to be old enough to pray five times a day. He prepares for his evening prayers feeling very grown up and mature. In the morning he is happy to pray, but is worried about what mid-day will bring. Will he find a place to pray at school? Muhammad hopes to find a secret place but is unsure how to ask for privacy. Daddy drives an ice cream truck and takes breaks during the day to pray very openly. Sometimes people on the busy streets jeer at Daddy, but he is always brave. Muhammad tucks his salat into his backpack, determined to find a place where no one will see him praying. At school Muhammad realizes the coat room might be a place to pray in private. He attempts to ask his kind teacher, but Muhammad gets too nervous as he remembers how people sometimes treat his father when he prays in public. Muhammad is determined to find another appropriate, but secret, place.The bathroom does not seem like a good choice, so Muhammad decides to bring the rug to recess. He quickly finds that it is hard to play soccer with his salat rolled under his jacket. The coat room really seems like the best option. After recess Muhammad lingers as his classmates enter their classroom. Muhammad places his salat on the coat room floor and rushes to finish his prayers, but he is interrupted by a concerned classmate. Embarrassed, Muhammad rolls his rug and returns to class. On the way home he decides he will pray for bravery. After school Muhammad joins Daddy in the ice cream truck. As the sun sets, Daddy unrolls his salat on the sidewalk and begins his evening prayers. A woman walking by stops and glares, attracting police officers. Daddy does not interrupt his prayers. Muhammad takes his own salat and bravely joins Daddy in prayer on the sidewalk. Muhammad sees Daddy’s hands tremble and realizes how brave Daddy truly is. The next day at school Muhammad nervously approaches his teacher and asks for help in finding a place to pray. He has learned that being scared sometimes comes with being brave. 

THOUGHTS: This is a beautiful picture book with many themes to explore about acceptance, bravery, and love. Hatem Aly’s illustrations are absolutely endearing. A wonderful read-aloud.

Picture Book

Elem. – Mine!

Fleming, Candace. Mine! Anne Schwartz Books, 2023. 978-0-593-18166-9. $18.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

Mouse spies a perfect apple, high up in a tree. She imagines how happy she will be when it falls. Hare comes along next and spies the apple. He imagines how happy he will be when the apple falls. Fox, Deer, and Bear follow, each animal dreaming of enjoying the apple and  proclaiming it  will be “MINE!” When the apple finally does get blown off the tree, all of the animals charge to get it and a melee ensues. The apple rolls away and is found by a shy possum. Possum instantly finds a friend to share the apple with and proclaims “OURS!” This is an adorable storyline with a bouncy rhyming rhythm and repeating refrain. Black line relief prints on stained tissue paper by Caldecott winning Eric Rohmann are absolutely delightful. 

THOUGHTS: A fun read aloud for younger students.

Picture Book

Elem. – Fungi Grow

Gianferrari, Maria. Fungi Grow. Beach Lane Books, 2023. 978-1-665-90365-3. 40 p. $18.99. Grades 2-5. 

Fungi grow all around us, and this book introduces readers to their mysterious world. Fungi grow from spores which form threads that spread and create a complex network of roots. Mushrooms are the fruit, and they can be found both above and below ground. The lyrical text is supplemented by fact boxes that share additional information about how spores are spread, how some mushrooms can absorb enough water to crack cement, and how fungi are also used to create antibiotics. The gouache watercolor and digital illustrations include a wide variety of labeled fungi. Additionally, many pages also feature word art visualizations of how spores move and grow, detailing how they puff, plop, poof, sprout, branch, poke, splash, swirl, and multiply. Backmatter includes a warning to never eat wild mushrooms until their identity is confirmed by an expert as well as a glossary and a list of blogs and websites for further reading. Information about how fungi help the environment, fun fungi facts, and a diagram of the fungi life cycle are also featured. 

THOUGHTS: There are many books about the life cycles of animals and plants, but this title will fill gaps about how other living things grow, change, and impact the environment. This is a visually interesting title to browse, or share it with science-loving students.  

579.5 Fungi

Elem. – Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love

Mir, Saira.  Always Sisters: A Story of Loss and Love. Illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-665-90156-7. Unpaged.  $18.99.  Grades 1-3.

Raya and Samir are young siblings who are eagerly awaiting the birth of their new sister. Her name will be Nura, which means “beautiful light” in Arabic. The brother and sister discuss all the wonderful plans they have for her. They will play dress-up, eat ice cream, take her on piggyback rides and watch cartoons together. One day their parents go for a checkup with the doctor and are very sad when they return. Mama and Baba gently break the news of the pregnancy loss to the children, telling them that Nura will not be coming home. Understandably, older sister Raya is sad and confused.  Her parents console their daughter and suggest that she share the love she feels for Nura with others. So Raya draws pictures and participates in a group counseling with other children who have experienced loss. Together the family plants a tree in the baby’s memory.  The tree reminds them that Nura will always have a place in their hearts. The softly colored chalk pastel and watercolor illustrations by Maydani create a comforting and reassuring tone. In the author’s note, Mir explains that her reason for writing this book was her own family’s experience with pregnancy loss. She hopes that this story will provide support for children who are also suffering with such a loss.

THOUGHTS: This poignant story is an important contribution to bibliotherapeutic literature for those who are grieving. The text handles the topic in a sensitive and approachable way for young children. Share this one with counselors, teachers, or parents. 

Picture Book

Elem. – Big

Harrison, Vashti. Big. Little Brown and Company. 978-0-316-35322-9. 32 p. $19.99. Grades K-3. 

When you’re young, hearing that you’re “a big girl” is a compliment. People marvel when you grow and become independent. Being big is good, until it isn’t. This story chronicles an unnamed girl’s experience with body image and ultimately, self-acceptance. She is a dancer, and pink words, including “caring,” “graceful,” “smart,” “creative,” “kind,” and “imaginative” float around her. However, as she grows older, she also becomes conscious of others’ reactions to her and the words they use to describe her. “Whale,” “moose,” “cow,” and “too big” float around her in black, and these words make her feel small. The words sting, and they’re hard to forget. The young girl begins to feel out of place, and her self-esteem plummets. She finally lets all her emotions out and makes the brave choice to hold on to the affirming pink words and hand the hurtful black ones back. The final spread features her dancing peacefully and confidently, once again comfortable in her own body. The predominantly pink illustrations are created digitally and with chalk pastels, and the main character is the only one portrayed in color – all other adults and children appear in shades of brown and gray in the background. 

THOUGHTS: This is a book to share with guidance counselors as they discuss ideas like body image and self-esteem with students. It could also be used during Morning Meetings to tackle topics such as the lasting or harmful impact our words can have on others. 

Picture Book

Elem. – Cone Dog

Howden, Sarah. Cone Dog. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. Owlkids Books, 2023. 978-1-771-47514-3. $18.95. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2.

When Emma comes home from the vet with a plastic cone on her head, she is very perturbed. The cone makes digging more difficult, and it makes the other dogs stare at her. All she wants to do is lay around and sulk. Before long, however, a game of catch leads to a surprising discovery: there are actually benefits that come from wearing the cone! For instance, Emma is able to catch more than one ball at a time. Best of all, she is able to use the cone in a creative, hilarious way to scare off Keith, the sneaky neighborhood squirrel who loves to tease her. Maybe the cone isn’t so bad after all! But will Emma be okay when it’s finally time to take the cone off?

THOUGHTS: This humorous story is a great selection for young animal lovers. Readers will appreciate its subtle message about finding the silver lining and making the best of any situation. For double the fun, pair it with Cone Cat (2020), another amusing story by the same author/illustrator team.

Picture Book

Elem. – Gift & Box

Mayer, Ellen. Gift & Box. Illustrated by Brizida Magro. Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. 978-0-593-37761-1. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2.

When Grandma places her granddaughter’s gift into a box, the gift and box become a package. Together, they take a voyage through the postal system. Throughout this journey, they encounter many obstacles, including bumps, seasickness, and smelly exhaust fumes. However, they eventually reach their destination and bring great pleasure and excitement to a young girl named Sofia. They say their goodbyes to each other, but are ultimately in for a delightful surprise.

THOUGHTS: Not only is this a lovely story of friendship, but it also provides readers with insight into how packages get from one place to another. It would be the perfect story to read before taking a field trip to the post office. Another idea would be to pair it with Antoinette Portis’s Not a Box (2006) or Kim Smith’s Boxitects (2019) and encourage students to come up with their own cardboard box creations, as Sofia does with the box at the end of the story.

Picture Book

Elem. – 100 Chapatis

Mascarenhas, Derek. 100 Chapatis. Illustrated by Shantala Robinson. Owlkids Books, 2023. 978-1-771-47563-1. Unpaged. $18.95. Grades K-3.

Breaking the tension of waiting for a new baby, Simon and his grandfather, cook up a plan: making 100 chapatis–just like Pappa did when he waiting for Simon to be born. Large font and lots of white space are a perfect background for the simple and clear cut illustrations accompanying the text. Simon’s parents are preparing for the new baby, which sometimes means taking over some of Simon’s things. Pappa takes Simon through the steps of making the chapatis. Simon thinks of how he likes to eat chapatis different ways, and worries that his chapati doesn’t look round enough. Pappa tells Simon they look like the map of India. The pair spend the afternoon together piling up chapatis, a welcome distraction as they wait for the new addition to the family. Students can share favorite foods, figure out sequence of events, or swap birth stories. Or extend the lesson with a multicultural flair by introducing tacos, flatbread, empanadas, and, or course, chapatis.

THOUGHTS: This simple story with its large illustrations will make a good read aloud.

Picture Book