BY JO PERRY
Celebrate spring and Earth Day with three interesting new books:
The Falling Raindrop by Neil Johnson & Joel Chin tells the story of the water cycle through the journey of a single drop as it emerges from the turbulence of a storm cloud and descends to earth. The brave little blue water drop is sure to be a hit with kids afraid of thunder, or timid about change.
We Planted a Tree by Diane Mudrow, illustrated by Bob Staake. New Yorker fans will recognize the work of illustrator Bob Staake in this story of two trees—one planted by a family in Brooklyn, the other by a family in Africa. What I like best about this colorful book is the way the trees affect their worlds—bringing shade, food and life to those who planted them. I think the simplest of Staake’s illustrations are more successful than those with dizzying perspectives, but the joyful colors work every time and the complex images reward close inspection.
S is for Save the Planet: A How-to-Be Green Alphabet by Brad Herzog, illustrated by Linda Holt Ayriss. Beautifully illustrated, this alphabet has earth-friendly information delivered in poetry, with sidebars containing more complex information appropriate to older readers or adults. Covering recycling, litter, conservation, global warming and other topics—the book is upbeat and fun to read. I especially like Ayriss’s detailed illustrations of diverse children and families.
Jo Perry has a Ph.D. in English, taught literature and writing, and worked as a college administrator and as a television writer and producer. She is a reviewer for BookBrowse.com and is an ongoing contributor to kidsLA Magazine for which she writes about the city, children’s books, and conducts interviews. For two years she wrote the Kids’ Book Club column for the L.A. Times’ Kids’ Reading Room page.
About Karen Young
Thanks again for digging up the perfect kids’ books each season, Jo. Very helpful.