Benito's Dream Bottle

Haunting illustrations evoke the mystery of dreams, in an imaginative tale centering on Benito's efforts to help his dreamless grandmother fill up the magical bottle that pours dreams into us.  (Goodreads)

I find a common thread in Naomi Shihab Nye's literary works whether it is through her poetry, novels, or picture books.  I feel she likes to share and show her readers the importance of different cultures.  I found her story a bit confusing reading it the first time but then tried to look at it with more innocence and simpler life of a child and grandparent.  I look at this book more as confusing poetry than a straightforward story.

Baby Radar

A baby's view of the world from her stroller as she encounters people, animals, and other things around her.

I enjoyed Baby Radar and having my eyes opened to the fact that everyone sees the same world through different eyes and different views.  I thought it was fun to travel in the stroller with the baby but had to wrap my mind around the structure of the words throughout the book.  More poetic than narrative.

19 Varieties of Gazelle, Poems of the Middle East

Award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye has brought together a collection of her poems about the Middle East, shedding powerful, tender light on a region filled with rich history and much turmoil. Nye, who is of Middle Eastern descent herself, speaks from the heart, capturing an entire culture in strong images -- especially in "Biography of an Armenian Schoolgirl," "Rock," and the poem that gives the anthology its title. Both remarkable and enlightening, this collection of poetry will help foster understanding in young and old alike for an area of the world most of us know only through nightly news broadcasts.  (Goodreads)

Poetry is not my favorite reading.  But I did enjoy those that were easier to interpret and understand.  I appreciate the fact that Nye is trying to introduce and expose the reader to Middle Eastern culture through poetry and literature.

Going Going

Sixteen-year-old Florrie turns political activist when she takes notice of the changing landscape of her beloved San Antonio hometown. Upset by the loss of small independent businesses to money-hungry corporations, she first begins her grassroots campaign with her family, who own their restaurant, encouraging them to support other local businesses and to avoid the chain stores. Supported by her family and a few close friends, she organizes rallies and calls for her fellow residents to refuse to patronize all franchises for the last 16 weeks of the year. The boycott begins strong with support from local businesses, but eventually wanes at what seems like an impossible task. However, Florrie never gives up her fight to preserve the past and encourage independent retail. The plot offers a good look at the life of a high school activist and all the work involved in fighting for something one believes in.  (SLJ)

This book had me hooked only pages into it taking me down memory lane.  Being raised in San Antonio for the first 15 years of my life, I found myself recognizing many names, places, and streets that Naomi Shihab Nye mentioned.  My mom would be able to give details of each place and street mentioned and I suppose that is where I got my knowledge.  San Antonio was struggling during my time there so we did not venture into downtown very often but since, the city has been partially restored to its glory.  While reading I felt I could walk along with Florrie as one of her friends and support her cause.

A Maze Me, Poems for Girls

Familiar thoughts of young teen girls written through poetry, easy to read and understand, inspired by girls' thoughts, feelings, and changes through this time in their life.

The poems read like short stories of life covering all kinds of things you find in your daily common experiences.  I especially like that the poems are easy to read and understand.

Habibi

Fourteen-year-old Liyana Abboud loves to hear her father call her habibi--Arabic for "darling". But she's not prepared for her family's decision to move from St. Louis to Jerusalem. This provocative first novel from the acclaimed poet builds a bridge to the Arab world, introduces a family readers won't soon forget, and offers a hope for peace.  (Goodreads)

It is hard for any teenager to move away from friends, school, and all that is familiar especially when moving to another country.  She is thrown into a culture and land that is foreign to her but she learns to love her father's homeland and her family she has never met before now.  This book also helps the reader see and understand that not all people and cultures are stereotypical of what they see in the media.

Going Home

Although a Mexican family comes to the United States to work as farm laborers so that their children will have opportunities, the parents still consider Mexico their home.  The children do not consider Mexico home but come to realize and love their heritage during their Christmas visit.  They realize their parents have made great sacrifices and left the home they love to give their children a chance for a better life.

Illustrator, David Diaz, uses his distinguishing artwork and features to add life and love to Going Home.  His bold colors and black outlined drawings support the story by showing so much detail.  The background to the text and illustrations are collages of Mexican Christmas culture.

The Pot that Juan Built

Quezada creates stunning pots in the traditional style of the Casas Grandes people, including using human hair to make brushes and cow dung to feed the fire. This real-life story is written in the form of "The House That Jack Built," and relays how Juan’s pioneering work has changed a poor village into a prosperous community of world-class artists. Illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner David Diaz.  (Goodreads)

David Diaz incorporates a second style of artwork for a few of his illustrated books.  This book does not have the typically seen black outlines of his drawings but Diaz still uses wonderful color to complement the cultural background of the story.  Although not black, the use of lines in the illustrations still have distinct characteristics.

Wilma Unlimited

Before Wilma was five years old, polio had paralyzed her left leg. Everyone said she would never walk again. But Wilma refused to believe it. Not only would she walk again, she vowed, she'd run. And she did run--all the way to the Olympics, where she became the first American woman to earn three gold medals in a single olympiad.  (Goodreads)

I have a difficult time trying to change my description of David Diaz's illustrative style.  I could probably open a book now and determine whether he is the illustrator.  I do like how the black outlines of his artwork makes the details of his illustrations clear and stand out.  His work is very striking and bold even though it is similar throughout the books he illustrates.

Smoky Night

This is a story about cats -- and people -- who couldn't get along until a smoky and fearful night brings them together.
The Los Angeles riots made author Eve Bunting wonder about what riots meant to the children who live through them -- and what we can all learn from such upheavals. She has written more than 100 books for children and young adults, including Night Tree and Summer Wheels, and many deal thoughtfully with difficult issues.
Smoky Night was the winner of the 1995 Caldecott Medal; an American Library Association Notable Children's Book; a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; and a Parent's Choice Award.  (Goodreads)

David Diaz's artwork in Smoky Night is not atypical of his style of illustrations but he has captured the mood of the story with his color choices.  The collage backgrounds are very distinctive and interpretive of each page's text.  I can understand why this work above his others earned him the Caldecott.

Cesar Si, Se Puede Yes, We Can!

Born in 1927 in Yuma, Arizona, César Chavez lived the hard-scrabble life of a migrant worker during the depression. He grew to be a charismatic leader and founded the National Farm Workers Association, an organization that fought for basic rights for his fellow farm workers. In powerful poems and dramatic stylized illustrations, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and David Díaz pay tribute to his life and legacy.  (Goodreads)

David Diaz complements the biographical story of Cesar Chavez with his artistic interpretation using color and lines.  He still makes his artwork stand out using a outlining glow behind his characters instead of the bold black lines you often see in his work.  Colors are bold but also have a soft quality about them.

Anansi's Narrow Waist

David Diaz's artwork brings to life this African folktale about why spiders have eight legs and a narrow waist.  Bold colors with black outlines, typical of Diaz's work, add to the interest of the reader.

Colors and black outlines typical of David Diaz's artwork show the comical features of the spider along with the African folktale.  He gives a clear interpretation of the text through his illustrations.

Flora's Very Windy Day

When Flora and her pesky little brother, Crispin, are whisked away by a swirling and swooping wind, she gets the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to give her brother away. With tempting offers from a dragonfly, the man in the moon, and even the wind itself, she will find it difficult to choose. But Flora would do anything to get rid of Crispin, wouldn’t she?  (Goodreads)

Jeanne Birdsall must like the theme of family and adventure.  You can find similarities in her picture book with the Penderwick family of her novels.  It is refreshing to see the picture book and the imagination of Flora while taking care of her little brother.  She struggles with wanting to leave him elsewhere but in the end the love for family and responsibility wins out and they are home.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette

When summer comes around, it's off to the beach for Rosalind... and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as well as their old friend, Jeffrey.

That leaves Skye as OAP (oldest available Penderwick) - a terrifying notion for all, but for Skye especially. Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage, with a rocky shore, enthusiastic seagulls, a just-right corner store, and a charming next-door neighbor. But can Skye hold it together long enough to figure out Rosalind's directions about not letting Batty explode? Will Jane's Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion after she meets the alluring Dominic? Is Batty - contrary to all accepted wisdom - the only Penderwick capable of carrying a tune? And will Jeffrey be able to keep peace between the girls . . . these girls who are his second, and most heartfelt, family?  (Goodreads)

Off on summer vacation once again but with a few members of the family missing.  This third book of Birdsall's series is still capable of finding more adventures and problems to solve for some of the Penderwick sisters and their friend Jeffrey.  Everyone is growing up and changing whether they want to or not.  The girls are getting a bit predictable, though.

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street

THE PENDERWICK SISTERS are home on Gardam Street and ready for an adventure! But the adventure they get isn’t quite what they had in mind. Mr. Penderwick’s sister has decided it’s time for him to start dating—and the girls know that can only mean one thing: disaster. Enter the Save-Daddy Plan—a plot so brilliant, so bold, so funny, that only the Penderwick girls could have come up with it. It’s high jinks, big laughs, and loads of family warmth as the Penderwicks triumphantly return.  (Goodreads)

After spending summer vacation with the Penderwick family in the first book of Jeanne Birdsall's series I was glad to be able to go home with them to Gardam Street and see what their everyday lives were like.  Not much different from their vacation, they were able to find adventures on their very own street.  The sisters are still working together to solve problems and support each other.  A lot seems to happen to the family in the short time covered within the pages of the book.

The Penderwicks

While vacationing with their widowed father in the Berkshire Mountains, four lovable sisters, ages four through twelve, share adventures with a local boy, much to the dismay of his snobbish mother.  (Goodreads)

What adventurous sisters.  The loss of their mother to cancer after Batty was born has taken its toll, but their father has managed to raise four daughters who stick together through thick and thin.  Many lessons are learned throughout the book but all in a lighthearted way that will appeal to the younger reader capable of tackling a YA novel.  It is a timeless story that any family can relate to.  Well deserving of the National Book Award received.