PPBF: On Meadowview Street

In light of Poetry month, the National Library Week, and the celebration of Earth Day,
today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick is



On Meadowview Street, by Henry Cole

On Meadowview Street

Written and illustrated by Henry Cole

Greenwillow Books, 2007
GradesPK-5, 449 words, 500L


Themes:
Gardens, Community, Empowerment


Opening:
"It was a big day. Caroline and her family were moving into their new house on Meadowview Street.

"After things were unpacked, Caroline's dad decided the grass was too tall and got busy mowing the lawn. Caroline was about to explore the new street to see if there was a meadow on Meadowview Street when she noticed a small blossom."

Synopsis:
Caroline and her family move into a new house on Meadowview Street, which looks rather like any boring subdivision in any average suburban neighborhood. Not a meadow in sight. When her father begins mowing the overgrown backyard, Caroline fences off one small spot where a wildflower grows. She has to enlarge the area as the wildflowers spread. Caroline notices animals in her yard, too. And soon the family is building birdhouses and digging ponds. Before long human visitors are stopping by. This amazingly sweet story proves that one pair of hands, no matter how small, can make a difference in the world.


What I Love:
This book fits so well with Earth Day's message to be better stewards of our environment. The plot is kid-powered, fitting with the empowerment theme for School Library Month. And, of course, the outstanding words and pictures work so well together, it's a great choice to add to the Perfect Picture Book Friday family.

The text and art are almost perfectly balanced. The illustration style is homey and alive, including plenty of details for young readers to pore over.


Bonus: 
1. Last year, Longwood Gardens featured this book for #CommunityRead Day. There are highlights from an interview with the author/illustrator, and suggestions for creating your own environmental revolution. While your there, why not plan a trip to the famous gardens which started as an arboretum in 1798!

Luz Makes a Splash, by Claudia Davila

2.  You absolutely need to share Claudia Davila's outstanding graphic novel, Luz Makes A Splash, with the kids in your life. It's entertaining, informative, and well-written. And it includes a detailed plan for using waste water to transform your community into an oasis in a smart and environmentally friendly way.

3. I love the suggestions from BirdSleuth for sustaining animal habitats, along with their review of this book.

4. The Humane Society suggests 13 ways to make your yard more critter-friendly.

5. National Library Week starts April 9th. The theme is "Libraries Transform." Meadowview Street is transformed in today's featured book. Why not stop by your local branch, take out some books on backyard gardening, and transform your neighborhood?

6. National Library Week's spokeswoman Julie Foudy's mission is to empower young women to impact their communities. Check out her Sports Leadership Academy.

7. Christians sometimes downplay Earth Day as skewing the relationship between man, God, and His creation, but I believe our task of stewardship is often neglected. Suggestions for crafts and activities can be found on Growing Kids Ministry. Participation with perspective can be found on Keepers of the Home.

8. I've included a video reading of the book below.

9. Check out these and other related Perfect Picture Books at your local library.

Reviewed by Beth

Reviewed by Patricia



Reviewed by Vivian

Reviewed by Joanne





Reviewed by Patricia

Reviewed by Erik





Have you reviewed a Perfect Picture Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!

Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday
for Friday, April 21, 2017 available on Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.

*I do not necessarily endorse the ministries listed, but recommend the content of the links provided.

Multicultural Children's Book Day

Celebrate January 27, 2014

Congratulations to Mia Wenjen and Valarie Budayr for their initiative to promote diversity in books. To celebrate cultural awareness, several participants in Perfect Picture Book Friday chose books with cultural themes or subplots. Follow the link to see my review of Mice and Beans.

Check back this Friday, my PPBF Pick will continue the theme with a review of  Laundry Day, by Maurie J. Manning

JumpIntoABook lists useful resources and culturally focused reading lists. They also have a giveaway scheduled for this week, so make that your next stop!

In addition, Here are some of my favorite cross-cultural reads from 2013. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

by Uma Krishnaswami

by Candace Fleming

by Gary D. Schmidt

by Thanhha Lai

And these picture books
Grandfather's Journey, by Allen Say
Unspoken, by Henry Cole
Uncle Jed's Barber Shop, by Margaree King Mitchell and James Ransome
The Sandwich Swap, by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah, Kelly DiPucchio, and Tricia Tusa
A Child's Calendar, by John Updike and Trina Schart Hyman
Bearskin, by Howard Pyle and Trina Schart Hyman
The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women, by Katrin Tchana and Trina Schart Hyman

PPBF: Unspoken, A Story from the Underground Railroad

Today's pick

Unspoken, A Story from the Underground Railroad
Written and Illustrated
by Henry Cole

Scholastic, 2012, Historical Fiction, ages 6-9, wordless

Themes:
Civil War, slavery, history, decision-making



Opening: The story begins with the main character watching Confederate soldiers riding past her farm.

Synopsis:
This wordless picture book is based on events in Henry Cole's family history. When a runaway slave hides on the family farm on his way north, a little girl must decide between right and wrong, compassion and duty.

Courtesy Henry Cole

What I Love:
Being wordless gives it a secretive air. Being rendered in pencil evokes not only a historical tone, but a pensive mood appropriate for the moral struggle it portrays. The fascinating back matter explains more about the Cole family history, setting, and the impetus for the books creation. Unspoken is a beautiful book which begs discussion of important subjects: human rights, loyalty vs virtue, moral decision-making.

Bonus:

Visit Loudoun County, VA

1. Visit a civil war or underground railroad historic sites. Don't forget to discuss.
2. Sharpen your non-verbal skills. Tell a story in pantomime or play some charades.
3. Revisit your own family history by rummaging through old photos and telling family stories and legends.



Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday for May 31, 2013 from Susanna Leonard Hill.

A more detailed synopsis for last week's pick: Tallulah's Tutu will be posted here tomorrow, but linked from this post. Thanks.