Jill Lorenzini

Nearly 15 years after 9/11, the images of the day are imprinted on our collective mind, but many parents and educators struggle to discuss this complex, frightening topic with children. Projected onto this tragic picture, however, are our heroes—first responders as well as ordinary citizens—who stepped forward in extraordinary ways.

One such story is that of the 500,000 people who escaped the chaos and destruction by boat. Responding to the Coast Guard’s call for assistance and risking danger themselves, the captains and crews on boats of every kind carried people and supplies. Saved by the Boats is a moving tribute to those who sailed forward.

Both author Julie Gassman and illustrator Steve Moors were in New York City when the towers fell, lending their story a unique authenticity. Gassman was among the enormous crowds desperately waiting to leave Manhattan. Her vivid, descriptive language tells the story clearly, accented by quotes from witnesses that include boat crewmembers and bystanders. Moors gives us a sense of the city’s chaos through his detailed line drawings. Muted tones convey the gravity of the day, and the pages become progressively darker, while a vivid blue sky echoes throughout the story.

While the events of 9/11 are accurately portrayed, neither the illustrations nor the text are graphic or overtly frightening, making this an honest but accessible tool for elementary-age discussion. Like the two birds who take flight early in the story and reappear at the end, stories like Saved by the Boats are a reminder of freedom and hope. 

Just steps from the subway stop, a single leaf leads two children on an adventure into the wild—both far away and tucked into their own backyard. Readers—particularly those who love bustling cities but harbor a secret admiration for ditch dandelions and resolute climbing ivy—will find their attention captured from the first beckoning willow branches in Finding Wild.

Megan Wagner Lloyd makes an imagery-filled entrance into the publishing scene as she taps into the collective nostalgia we humans share: the desire to climb mountains and dive into clear lakes, the urge to take shelter from thunder. Lloyd’s bold, imaginative words and alliteration collide in an invitation to feel, smell and taste.

Abigail Halpin’s illustrations are distinctive and energetic, transporting us into the beauty—and danger—of nature. Pages unfurl with shades of green, and a jam-packed cityscape bursts with rushing color. A scrapbook-type collage taunts with bees and scorpions, sticker plants and stingers. Little eyes will keep busy finding tucked-away birds and branch-disguised snakes. The initial leaf makes periodic appearances, lending a sense of continuity and flow, even while the children journey through a variety of landscapes.

An enchanting storytime book, Finding Wild is also a delightful gift for anyone with an affinity for determined city blossoms and wide, green spaces. It would also be a delightful addition to any curriculum on descriptive writing. 

Finding Wild reminds us that wild beauty persists in the busiest of cities, even in our bustling urban lives.

This article was originally published in the May 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

There is something magical about a book that can help rock a newborn to sleep, whose illustrations can intrigue curious toddlers and charm adults as well. Author Linda Ashman and illustrator Jane Dyer walk us through a year, beginning with spring and ending with a mother’s embrace. With its tender underlying message of love, the story focuses on nature: blossoming plants, humming bees, animals above and below the ground. All We Know reassures children with its familiar scenes and animals, as frogs and lambs, rainstorms and the sunrise are recognizable and comforting.

Award-winning author Ashman’s text is simple and direct. Anybody who has read a child to sleep knows the importance of easy, song-like rhyming patterns and calm, familiar words. Ashman expertly uses the mother’s voice to narrate, telling this bedtime story directly to your little one. Daytime reading gives curious children an introduction to the world outside, from tunneling critters to the sky above.

Dyer’s beloved, soft illustrations underline Ashman’s message. Her animal creations—from kittens and swallows to bears and crabs—have gentle, welcoming faces. Even the thunderstorm seems cozy when you're safe in a mother’s arms. Dyer’s illustrations have a somewhat nostalgic feel, a gentle and perfect world best visited in pajamas and a rocking chair.

With its timeless appeal (the hallmark of a new-baby classic), All We Know will stand among your favorite nighttime reads. A must-have for every newborn nursery and every toddler’s bookshelf, this is the perfect book to bring to your next baby shower. 

Bunny Dreams begins simply enough; bunnies hop, bunnies eat, bunnies cuddle in tunnels to sleep. But when they dream, bunny imaginations take flight, and a surprise awaits little readers—wings and stripes adorn frolicking, ABC-learning bunnies. But the biggest wonder of all is what they see when they wake up under a full bunny moon. Both a charming story and a captivating metaphor, Bunny Dreams will have you taking a second look at your backyard friends.

Peter McCarty’s latest book, while wandering into the realm of fantasy, retains the comfortable, cozy feel he has perfected. Fans of Hondo and Fabian will recognize McCarty’s distinct illustrative style with its realistically soft fur, sweet expressions and subdued colors. Each page is awash in springtime, with a kindly sun, swaying grass, bees, butterflies and a stray chicken. McCarty’s lighthearted text keeps pace with his illustrations, adding another storytelling layer.

Children will love the silliness of bunnies holding pencils and writing their names, and numbered rabbits and alphabet-strewn pages provide plenty of learning opportunities for the littlest readers. Objects of a bygone era (model cars, a rotary phone) add an aura of nostalgia and whimsy for adults.

This unpredictable story comes full circle, with the bunnies once again on solid, grassy ground. However, even as the bunnies’ dreams slip away, remnants of their imaginings remain, lingering in details. Perfect for cold winter nights, Bunny Dreams invites cuddles, giggles and just may spark conversation: What does your bunny dream?

No microwaves or football kickoffs here; a cast-iron stove, candles and a hand-pump sink fill the background in Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story. Pat Zietlow Miller and Jill McElmurry collaborate to bring us this charming peek into America’s past, reminding us that while the trimmings may have changed, our Thanksgiving tradition of family and feasting remains strong.

Told from the perspective of a young boy, Sharing the Bread brings readers into an 1800s farming family’s home, where everyone has an important job. But even before the turkey is ready, the family is celebrating. The kitchen crowds with loved ones, honoring each contribution, sharing the cooking tasks and anticipating the feast. As dinner comes together—bread rising, cider jug emptying—readers may be surprised at how familiar it feels.

Miller (Sophie’s Squash) uses rhyme and alliteration to create a story that feels both fresh and sweetly old fashioned. She recreates a voice that has been handed down from generations before, engaging us with fun, song-like patterns. Two-line refrains break up the narration, keeping the message focused on the meaning of Thanksgiving. McElmurry, illustrator of Little Blue Truck, invites us into every page with warm country colors, a variety of textures and patterns, and food that looks warm and tasty. Each scene is comfortable and cozy, a nostalgic event that brings us together every autumn.

Whether you read this story aloud before your own feast, or curled up later—turkey-full and content—this story will help keep the Thanksgiving feeling alive all season. Every family has their treasured Thanksgiving traditions; Sharing the Bread is bound to become one as well.

Knowing that the sun will reach its destination renders its trip—and this book—no less miraculous. Author-illustrator Bob Graham presents this everyday event in a way that will delight children and remind us of the one thing that unites every creature on Earth.

Graham’s sun is delightfully personified, playfully traveling from snow-covered forests to cities large and small, touching birds and planes, kids and camels alike. Finally arriving at Coco’s house, the sun wakes Coco and her friends for a day of snowy fun.

Gentle, soft-lined illustrations catch the reader’s eye, as the sun’s rays brighten each page, inviting us into every scene. Graham’s people may have vastly different lives from our own, or travel paths utterly foreign to us, but his skillful, tranquil illustrations create a sense of familiarity. Precise, poetic text enhances Graham’s illustrations, describing the varied ways the sun interacts with people, animals, buildings and the natural world. Expertly catching minute detail, Graham allows readers to appreciate the unique moments the sun brings to the world around us.

Going beyond telling a sweet story, Graham (The Silver Button, Vanilla Ice Cream) uses simple, slightly vague characters to tap into a sense of universal understanding and knowledge. Even more, he shows us places we may never see—sand dunes and camels, whales beneath the waves—warmed by the same sun that greets us daily.

This uplifting sun story is perfect for chilly-day cuddling, bedtime reading and a first science lesson for the littlest ones. Graham reminds us that, wherever we are, the sun—for a moment, everyday—unites us all. This charming book will do the same.

Like an insect flying around your living room, Bug in a Vacuum by Mélanie Watts grabs your attention. A vacuum may seem an easy way to get rid of pests, but to one fly, this undignified “end” is actually a beginning. Snatched from his life mid-journey, the fly is initially in awe of the wondrous, nebulous world in which he has landed. Flying among the myriad items also caught in the vacuum’s voracious belly, the fly eventually realizes he’s trapped. Now his real journey begins, through the Kübler-Ross stages of grief (as advertised and summarized by household cleaners, a microwave dinner and a box of tissues).

Attempting to escape, the fly tries everything—including arming the dust bunnies—before he settles into his new (permanent?) home among the dice, broken crayons and paperclips. Echoing his grief is the family dog, Napoleon, who tries to rescue his similarly trapped chew toy. Is this really the end of our spunky friend?

Watts (Scaredy Squirrel) has created an irresistible tale that will have readers rooting for her buggy-eyed hero and eager to know what’s next. Watts cleverly keeps the narrating text to a minimum, so her fascinatingly detailed illustrations move the plot and tell the story. Watts’ art perfectly captures the vacuum’s vast collection; one might suspect she spent significant time poring over an open vacuum bag. Adding to the hilarity is the fly’s nonstop chatter, in familiar idioms and exclamations, directed toward the vacuum’s inanimate residents.

While significantly longer than most picture books, the story moves quickly with its vibrant pictures and our hero’s fidgety determination. Bursting with witty, all-ages-friendly quips, Bug in a Vacuum will pull you in, happy ending guaranteed.