November 2014 Picture Book Month Passes the Halfway Mark

“When we reached the top, there were over a hundred children gathered on the hillside, some of whom had walked miles to hear a story.” – Sophie Blackall from her Picture Book Month Essay

“If a picture book and an iPad got into a fight, a picture book would totally kick an iPad's butt.” – Aaron Reynolds from his Picture Book Month Essay

Picture Book Month has just passed the halfway mark. Around the world, schools, libraries, booksellers, and book lovers are coming together to celebrate the print picture book during the month of November. Now in its fourth year, the initiative is a viral phenomenon.

The website, PictureBookMonth.com, features essays from thought leaders in the children’s literature community. Each day in November, a new essay is posted. This year’s Picture Book Month Champions are: Chris Barton, Aaron Becker, Kelly Bingham , Sophie Blackall, Arree Chung, Anna Dewdney, Johnette Downing, Ame Dyckman, Jill Esbaum, Carolyn Flores, Lupe Ruiz-Flores, Robin Preiss Glasser, Deborah Heiligman, Marla Frazee, Stefan Jolet, Kathleen Krull, Rene Colato Lainez, Loreen Leedy, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Brian Lies, Kelly J. Light, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Alexis O'Neill, Sandra Markle, Ann Whitford Paul, Aaron Reynolds, Judy Schachner, Linda Joy Singleton, and David Schwartz.

New features this year include “Curriculum Connections” by Education Consultant, Marcie Colleen. Every day, a new activity and curriculum connection is posted based on the Author/Illustrator’s book. In addition, the multi-page Picture Book Month Educator’s Guide, correlating picture books across the curriculum, is available as a free download for educators and teacher librarians.

We are pleased to also announce that Reading Rainbow has recently joined as a Picture Book Month partner. Support for the initiative continues with partners such as the American Booksellers Association, the American Association of School Librarians, the Children’s Book Council, Reading is Fundamental, and SCBWI as well as industry trade journals such as Hornbook, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. New 2014 partners also include The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and Friends of Tennessee Libraries.

A downloadable promotional kit is available as well as certificates, posters, and bookmarks created by Joyce Wan. Katie Davis’ Brain Burps About Books Podcast, the #1 kidlit podcast on iTunes, is dedicating the entire month of November to Picture Book Month with new episodes airing every Friday. The PBM calendar created by Elizabeth Dulemba lists all the Picture Book Month Champions as well as the daily theme. The daily themes are used to plan story times, book displays, and blog posts.

Founder Dianne de Las Casas says, “People are joining the celebration from countries such as Ireland, Jamaica, and Singapore, as well as across the entire United States. We love that school libraries are reporting virtually empty picture book shelves. It’s not too late to join the celebration!” Follow Picture Book Month on Twitter, @PictureBkMonth, and Facebook, and use the hashtag #PictureBookMonth. Visit www.picturebookmonth.com.

“A picture book is a simile that shivers. A metaphor that melts. A not-a-poem, yet Every. Word. Counts. Picture books excite the eye, the ear, the heart.” – Alexis O’Neill from her Picture Book Month Essay

¡Obamos a leer!

Almost every political figure has a picture book and our new president and presidential candidates are not the exception.

¡Obamonos a leerlos!

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes. Illustrated by Bryan Collier.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 26, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416971440
ISBN-13: 978-1416971443

Product Description
Ever since Barack Obama was young, Hope has lived inside him. From the beaches of Hawaii to the streets of Chicago, from the jungles of Indonesia to the plains of Kenya, he has held on to Hope. Even as a boy, Barack knew he wasn't quite like anybody else, but through his journeys he found the ability to listen to Hope and become what he was meant to be: a bridge to bring people together.

This is the moving story of an exceptional man, as told by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier, both winners of the Coretta Scott King Award. Barack Obama has motivated Americans to believe with him, to believe that every one of us has the power to change ourselves and change our world.


My Dad, John McCain by Meghan McCain. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen.

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Aladdin (September 2, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416975284
ISBN-13: 978-1416975281

Product Description
Born the son and grandson of military men, Senator John McCain from Arizona was destined for a life serving his country in the armed forces. Like many great men, he occasionally struggled with authority, but once he found his true calling -- flying naval aircraft -- his ideals and commitment to his country took him far.

From the low point of five years as a prisoner of war to the high points of raising a large, happy family and being chosen as the Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential election, Senator McCain has lived an incredible life driven by a love of his country and a desire to serve it to the best of his ability.

This picture book biography, written with great love and insight by his oldest daughter, writer Meghan McCain, shows us the public John McCain and the personal John McCain in a way we've never seen before -- making this American hero come to life before young eyes.

About the Author
Meghan McCain is a blogger who documents life on the campaign trail with her father and muses about fashion, music, and pop culture. Check out her blog at McCainBlogette.com.

Meghan is the oldest daughter of John McCain, U.S. senator from Arizona and the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, and Cindy Hensley McCain. She was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated from Columbia University, where she majored in art history. McCain interned at Newsweek magazine and Saturday Night Live.

Dan Andreasen is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including By the Dawn's Early Light: The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner by Steven Kroll, which was named an ABA Kids' Pick of the Lists and a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies; A Quiet Place by Douglas Wood; and Sailor Boy Jig by Margaret Wise Brown. He has also authored several picture books, including With a Little Help from Daddy and A Special Day for Mommy. Dan lives with his family in Orlando, Florida.



Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight by Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Amy June Bates.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 26, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416971297
ISBN-13: 978-1416971290

Product Description
When Hillary was young, she wanted to be an astronaut, to soar as high as the stars above. She kept reaching up and up as she grew. There were people who told her no. But she didn't listen to them. There were people who didn't think she could do it. But she believed in herself. And Hillary has been making history ever since. This is the inspiring story of a girl with dreams as big as the open sky.

About the Author
Kathleen Krull is the author of A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull, illustrated by Jane Dyer, and Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought), illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt, as well as a number of other acclaimed biographies for young readers. She lives in San Diego, California.

Amy June Bates has illustrated many books for children, including The Dog Who Belonged to No One by Amy Hest and You Can Do It! by Tony Dungy. She graduated from Brigham Young University and now lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with her husband and three children. Illustrating books has always been her dream.
Product Details

lookybook.com- A new way to look at Picture Books

By René Colato Laínez

I want to share with all the amigos of la bloga a great site to read picture books on line. Visit lookybook.com and you will find many books to read just by clicking your mouse. It was great to find two books by Yuyi Morales JUST A MINUTE and LITTLE NIGHT. There is a section for Hispanic American books. The selection is short but lookybook is looking for more picture books to add to their lists. Publishers please send your books to lookybook.com to have more selection on the Hispanic American section. There will be cool to add a section for bilingual books.

This is what lookybook says:

Welcome.
Picture books are for looking at- so we’ve made it possible to view entire books from cover to back, in all their splendor.

We’ll never replace an actual book in your hands, but we hope to show you new books and help you make informed choices for you and your kids.

Every book can be reviewed, rated, shared, put on your bookshelf, and purchased by the regular reviews and ratings of our viewers.

And now una probadita, a little taste. Click and read Just a Minute written and illustrated by Yuyi Morales and Fiesta Fiasco by Ann Whitford Paul. Illustrated by Ethan Long.

Click on the eyeballs to view a larger version on lookybook.

Picture Books for Navidad

René Colato Laínez

Feliz navidad a todos. Take a look at these great books.

N Is for Navidad by Susan Middleton Elya and Merry Banks. Illustrated by Joe Cepeda.

Bienvenidos! to a celebration of Christmas, Latino-style! From the ángel (angel) hung above the door to the zapatos (shoes) filled with grass for the wise men s camels, each letter in this festive alphabet introduces children to a Spanish word


Feliz Navidad: Two Stories Celebrating Christmas by Jose Feliciano. Illustrated by David Diaz.

The famous bilingual Christmas song is now a picture book. Feliz navidad próspero año y felicidad.





Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada! by Virginia Kroll. Illustrated by Loretta Lopez.

A little girl guides the reader through each step of a posada, a Hispanic holiday tradition celebrated on the nine nights before Christmas.





The Farolitos of Christmas by Rudolfo Anaya. Illustrated by Edward Gonzales.

With her father away fighting in World War II and her grandfather too sick to create the traditional luminarias, Luz helps create farolitos, little lanterns, for their Christmas celebration instead.





The Gift of the Poinsettia/ El Regalo De LA Flor De Nochebuena
by Pat Mora and Charles Ramirez Berg. Illustrated by Daniel Lechon.

As he participates in the festivities of Las Posadas, preparing for the birth of Christ, a young Mexican boy worries about what gift he will have for the baby Jesus.





Mimi' s Parranda / La Parranda De Mimi by Lydia M. Gil. Illustrated by Hernan Sosa.

Mimi is disappointed when she learns that her family won't make their annual trip to Puerto Rico. She doesn't want to miss her parranda, but her friends have a plan.



The Christmas tree/El árbol de Navidad : a Christmas rhyme in English and Spanish by Alma Flor Ada. Illustrated by Terry Ybáñez.

A cumulative rhyme describes the decorating of the family Christmas tree.






The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola

When Lucida is unable to finish her gift for the Baby Jesus in time for the Christmas procession, a miracle enables her to offer the beautiful flower we now call the poinsettia.






The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola

At the annual celebration of Las Posadas in old Santa Fe, the husband and wife slated to play Mary and Joseph are delayed by car trouble, but a mysterious couple appear who seem perfect for the part.



Carlos, Light the Farolito by Jean Ciavonne. Illustrated by Donna Clair

When his parents and grandfather are late on Christmas Eve, it's up to Carlos to take over his grandfather's role in the traditional Mexican reenactment of the Nativity called Las Posadas.

The Spanish Children's Blog, Los Bloguitos, is growing! Take a look.

www.losbloguitos.blogspot.com