Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub -- Review

Thought for the Day:

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” ~Hans Hofmann, painter~

Some Gifts for My Writer Friends:

I have been working on a collection of poems lately and find that writing poetry often inspires me to write other things as well. One of the nicest poetry blogs around is by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, author of one of my favorite collections, Forest Has a Song. You can check out her blog by clicking HERE. 

Carol Federlin Baldwin has a fascinating post HERE on writing from two points of view.

Nancy Sanders always has something about writing, mostly picture books or early readers, on her blog. The link HERE will take you to a post she did on non-fiction picture book words counts. If you write for the younger set, you might want to peruse her archives. 

Last week for Perfect Picture Book Friday, I was able, through the generosity of  Nancy Bo Flood, to offer an autographed copy of The Hogan That Great-Grandfather Built. (I just realized I added Great-Grandfather's name Jack to the title on my blog!! Yikes!! My face is soooooo red. So sorry, Nancy.) Anyway, I think I had more responses than I've ever had before and got some new subscribers and followers. Congratulations go out to Joanne Roberts, our winner this time. (WooHoo, Joanne!!) Joanne is a children's book illustrator and, it looks like to me, a writer as well. If you go to her blog by clicking HERE, you will see a very cute fractured fairy tale she wrote for Susanna Leonard Hill's contest. Joanne, I will be in touch.

This week for Perfect Picture Book Friday (thanks Susanna Leonard Hill!) I am reviewing an e-book. I don't often read e-books. I have a Kindle, but am a true Luddite, and I also love the feel and smell of paper books. This book is also available as a printed book. But I received an e-book copy of Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub, and I couldn't help myself. I mean, once I saw the cover, I had to read this gorgeous book.

Title: Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub

Author: Darcy Pattison

Illustrator: Kitty Harvill

Publisher: Mims House

Intended Audience: 4 - 8

Date: January 2014

Topics: Conservation, endangered species, co-existing with wildlife

Opening: "In the far south, in Brazil, a puma cub was born in the early spring month of October 2012. The cub and its mother lived too close to people, in sight of skyscrapers. It was a dangerous place to live.

This is a lovely, gentle story that will fascinate youngsters. Many children recognize we are sharing our homes with wild creatures. In our neighborhood, we are visited by wild turkeys, skunks, rattlesnakes, raccoons, and other creatures who wonder why we have built and planted and fenced what used to be their homes. We live in a fairly densely populated suburb. I have friends who live in cities and have much the same experience. But there are wildlife corridors and green spaces being saved. It is in that kind of place Abayomi was born. His mother finds hunting difficult, the game she usually hunts is scarce. She has little choice to take what she can so she and Abayomi can survive. When she takes some chickens, the farmer sets a trap and the mother puma is caught and dies. Abayomi is left in the wild. The story of what happens to Abayomi and the people who work hard to not only save him, but to

Darcy Pattison

keep him able to survive in the wild is heartwarming and educational. Darcy Pattison has written a compelling story. The watercolor paintings that illustrate this book are glorious. Kitty Harvill is an extraordinary talent, and little ones who cannot read will probably spend a lot of extra time just savoring the beautiful art. 

The back of the book has additional information on Abayomi, Our Urban World, the Corridor Projects, and some suggested additional readings. Some of the links included are:

Conservation Corridor: http://www.conservationcorridor.org/

Kitty Harvill

Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (ANCF)/Asian Elephant Research and
Conservation: www.asiannature.org

The Cougar Network: www.cougarnet.org

This really is a Perfect Picture Book, especially with the new emphasis in the Common Core on non-fiction, but honestly, non-fiction is something kids just eat up. Make sure you check Susanna Leondard Hill's blog by clicking HERE for more Perfect Picture Books this lovely Friday. Sorry I don't have a giveaway for you this week, but be sure to check back next week. I have another fabulous picture book and will have a giveaway for you then.

 

The Hogan that Great-Grandfather Jack Built -- Review and Signed Copy Giveaway

Thought for the Day:

"Words are never too big for children as long as they are the right words." ~ Jane Yolen ~

Some Gifts for My Writer Friends:
Christie Wright Wild has been running a series of posts on her wonderful blog looking at story elements in picture books. Click HERE for the link for the latest one which looks at Patterns, but they are all worth checking out. If you are not reading her blog regularly, you are missing a lot. She also gives away picture book critiques. Check it out.

Writers Helping Writers has another wonderful post. Click HERE to find five writing exercises to get your writing juices flowing. 

I was visiting Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), Tara Lazar's wonderful blog which you can find by clicking HERE,  and she was telling about a new group blog for kids writers called GROG (GRoup blOG -- get it?). It's pretty cool. Take a look by clicking HERE.

Last week, I offered a copy of Shadows on My Wall by Timothy Young for one of you who was a follower with a U. S. address who left a comment. Grandmamiller met the criteria and her name was pulled as the winner this week. Congratulations, Grandmamiller! WooHoo!! I will be sending the book to you this week. If you didn't win, stay tuned for a very special giveaway.

There was a great deal of interest a couple weeks ago when I reviewed Nancy Bo Flood's wonderful picture book Cowboy Up! here. Several people mentioned being grateful for a book about the Navajo people. I was really glad to see that, because I knew what I had on deck for this week. Nancy has another terrific picture book about the Navajo culture. That's what I'll be reviewing today.

Title: The Hogan that Great-Grandfather Jack Built

Author: Nancy Bo Flood
Illustrator: Peterson Yazzie

Publisher: Salina Bookshelf, Inc.

Year: 2012

Intended Audience: Ages 3-7

Opening Line: This is our home, our Navajo hogan, that long, long ago, Great-Grandfather Jack built with his hands out of earth, water, and trees.

Peterson Yazzie

This lovely book is loosely based on This is the House that Jack Built and follows that structure to some degree, but is much richer. The story introduces the reader to the large, extended family of a Navajo family from the oldest to the youngest. Everyone in the family makes contributions to the well-being of the family in many ways. Great-grandmother greets the sun and gives thanks for all they have. Grandfather cuts and stacks wood for the winter, but also teaches the children games and star names and tells stories of the history of their people. Father works and brings home food. Mother weaves and the children help where needed. Grandmother cooks fry bread and mutton stew. And they all live in the hogan that Great-Grandfather Jack built.

Nancy Bo Flood

There is a wonderful musical quality underlying this sweet story that shows the closeness and caring of this family and presents some of what is important in their culture. All of this is presented on marvelous illustrations made with the colors of sunset and desert. I'm not sure what medium artist Peterson Yazzie uses, but the art has the softness of oil chalk. Throughout Yazzie weaves in shapes and designs that, with the colors he uses, call up Navajo images we would be familiar with through the pottery and blankets and rugs we've seen in museums and shops in the Southwest. (You can see more of his wonderful art by clicking HERE.)The combination of Nancy's story and Peterson Yazzie's artwork is stunning. This is a book that will be enjoyed by a far wider audience than young children. This is a Perfect Picture Book and to find more Perfect Picture Books, please visit Susanna Leonard Hill's blog by clicking HERE. She always has a picture book review and links to many others.

I'm happy to report Nancy has offered to send a signed copy of The Hogan that Great-Grandfather Jack Built to one of you. If you are a follower or subscriber, please tell me that and leave a comment. If you have a U.S. address, I will put your name in the hat and draw one out next week. Thanks for reading and don't forget to leave a comment.