Books, books, books!
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"The Day You Begin"
Jacqueline Woodson's story and Rafael López's pleasing illustrations are an incredibly powerful story about finding the courage to make new connections with others. "There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you." A colorful, dynamically illustrated book, "The Day You Begin" is an encouraging look into the importance of sharing stories and building community. |
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"All Around Us"
written by Xelena Gonzalez and illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia Artists can use art to share what they remember, what they notice, or to learn more about themselves. In the story "All Around Us" Gonzalez and Garcia use a theme of circles to explore tradition, life cycles, and nature. They focus on what the characters see and use the story as a way to remember family traditions. A circle is a line the moves all the way around to greet itself at the beginning. This story is beautifully illustrated, with circles throughout it. "Grandpa says circles are all around us. He points to the rainbow that rises high in the sky after a thundercloud has come. 'Can you see? That's only half of the circle. That rest of it is down below, in the earth.'" "All Around Us" is an excellent read for people who want to be inspired by digital illustration, what we see and what we don't see, and people inspired by nature. You can find this book at the Independent Study center! |
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"Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut"
written by Derrick Barnes (pictured here) and illustrated by Gordon C. James Artists can use art to express themselves. In the story "Crown: Ode to the Fresh Cut" Barnes and James collaborate to create a story filled with expression and emotion. Haircuts have the power to transform people to feel “Magnificent. Flawless. Like royalty.” This 32-page book with impressively painted illustrations and rhythmic writing pays homage to barbershop culture while following the story of a young boy getting his haircut. An excellent book for a read-aloud or a great source of inspiration for portraiture, "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut" celebrates the beauty and humanity of black boys in a way that is engaging and brilliant. “You came in as a lump of clay,” Barnes writes, “a blank canvas, a slab of marble./ But when my man is done with you,/ they’ll want to post you up in a museum.” This is highlighted by the artist. Painting with big strokes, bright colors, and intentional details, James' portraits show how it might look to feel confident and important after a haircut. You can find this book at the Storytelling Center! |