With kids off of school for a couple of weeks, it is the perfect time to pick up some enchanting new children’s books. Whether it’s picture books to read together or graphic novels that older kids will want to read solo, I have some great suggestions for books that look amazing but have wonderfully moving stories as well.
Picture Books
Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman
What I always love most about picture books is the visuals and I have three books to suggest that certainly capture the imagination with their artistry, the first of which is Amanda Gorman’s Something, Someday. It is illustrated by Christian Robinson and has a real Ezra Jack Keats The Snowy Day vibe with the images created in collage in collage, paint and digital manipulation. Amanda Gorman is a presidential inaugural poet and activist, so the book has elegantly powerful text too.
Gorman writes about how sometimes little ones can see the problems of the world but are often asked to sit back and not worry about them. She explores children’s emotions and their their desires to make a difference. The key, she tells us, is to find a friend like you, who also believes in hope and the power of small gestures, to relate to – what a beautiful sentiment!
My second suggestion is written and illustrated by a picture book favourite, David Shannon. Gold! presents a retelling of the Midas myth, demonstrating to children the perils of being too greedy. I found this to be an accessible way to explore the theme of privilege with my own children. Shannon’s oil painting illustrations are bright, bold and very complex. He captures funny details – for instance, the main character, a boy named Max, wears a blingy gold “M” necklace and pink bunny slippers in each image. He also brings humour to the fable with his text; Max’s first word is “Gold!” and he sells lemonade by the sip in order to increase his profit margin. Of course, we all know that too much of a good thing can be detrimental and eventually Max comes to learn that lesson as well.
The third book that I want to recommend is Big by Vashti Harrison. It is a stunning book dealing with body image and self-acceptance. The images here were created with pastels and digital manipulation and they are absolutely remarkable. While there is text in the story, a whole section of the book is wordless and involves images of the young girl who is being called “big” feeling confined by the limits of the page size. Watching how she breaks free is so beautifully depicted. The story is in part inspired by Harrison’s own childhood, and she explores the power of words and importance of self-love with great command.
Graphic Novels
A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat
I cannot say enough good things about this first graphic novel that I wanted to suggest, A First Time For Everything written and illustrated by Dan Santat. This is an autobiographical piece about an awkward 13-year-old boy who comes to find himself, his confidence and his people on a school trip to Europe. Taking place in 1989, there is a lot of nostalgia for an adult reader like me. You can even use a QR code in the book to hear the mixed tape that he listens to in the story, which includes the Talking Heads, U2 and Debbie Gibson! Santat’s illustrations, digitally created in Adobe Photoshop, are so visually contemporary that kids will easily fall for them as well. It is, however, all of the specifics that Santat offers that really bring this story to life, like the main character Dan trying his first beer in Munich (and being disgusted by it!); or Dan being introduced to the phenom that is French Rap music; or watching him navigate new friends and crushes in entirely embarrassing and bumbling ways. This is a wonderful coming-of-age story that both tweens and their parents will surely enjoy.
Hoops, written and illustrated by Matt Tavares, is another inspiring account based on a true story. This one is set in Indiana in 1976 and follows the creation of a high school girls’ basketball team. Tavares interviewed several of the women that these characters are based on, and the story of these young girls working to overcome adversity and seeking equality is amazing. The best sports stories always have you rooting for the underdog, and this is definitely one of those tales. These young female characters are seeking a goal that some might have thought to be unconventional at the time and they are willing to fight with incredible tenacity to achieve it. Go Bears!
Check it out 