Picture This: Tricky Vic

Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower by Greg Pizzoli 

“In 1890, the man who would one day be known by forty-five different aliases was born to the Miller family, in what is now the Czech Republic. His parents named him Robert.”

So begins the tale of ultimate con man Tricky Vic (often known as Count Victor Lustig). He was a good student, but before finishing his studies at the University of Paris, he left to pursue a life of deception. His exploits include posing as a count in order to cozy up to rich ocean liner passengers and rob them at the dock, conning Al Capone into thinking he was an honest man, convincing men to buy his money making machine, and, of course, selling a contract for the rights to the Eiffel Tower and its scrap metal. This is a fascinating tale about a liar for the ages.

I think one of the many things that sets this book apart is that it’s a biography for children about a bad guy. No didacticism or heroism to be found, just one unbelievable tale after another, always interesting. Pizzoli’s design-heavy, graphic mixed media illustrations complement the story. He cleverly represents Tricky Vic’s face as a fingerprint, and draws on archival photographs and newspaper articles, as well as his own photographs to create textures and shapes. If you look at this post on him and this book at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast you can see all the wonderful details he put into the book, some of them almost like secret references to Paris. (that texture? Comes from the floor of the Eiffel tower) He includes the occasional sidebar explaining such things as prohibition, this particular part of the Eiffel Tower’s history, and counterfeiting to provide a little more context and historical background for young readers. Very well done all around.

Picture This: The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water

The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water by Gemma Marino

"Once upon a time, there was a little crocodile. And this little crocodile didn't like water."

Indeed he looks on wistfully as his brothers and sisters play in the bathtub, in the lake and in the pool. He buys  an inner tube (swim ring in the book b/c it's British) with saved tooth fairy money, bound and determined to swim and have fun with the others. But it doesn't work out. He definitely hates water.

Such a fun story. When little crocodile sneezes out fire, he and everyone else realize something--he's not a crocodile. Little dragon, once he figures out who he is, is much happier and can share his gifts with his crocodile siblings. When I read the story a second time, I noticed all sorts of things I didn’t notice before (indicators of little dragon’s true identity). Even the endpapers tell a part of the story. I loved Marino’s illustrations—the style, textures, and expressiveness of her little reptiles. This one is a winner!

Recent Read: It's What I Do

It's What I Do by Lynsey Addario

Lynsey Addario is perhaps most famous to the general public for being kidnapped and held by the Libyan government for five days days in 2011. Hopefully that will change with the publication of this book, because what she should be better known for is her breathtaking photography, and now, her stunning memoir.

Addario got into the business of breaking news photography in her mid-twenties. She moved abroad, even did a story about women in Afghanistan in 2000 that no publication was interested in buying. Imagine that.

After 9/11 and the start of the war, she entered (and fell in love with) the world of conflict photography. Over the years she covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Congo, and Darfur, to name a few. She is the recipient of a Pulitzer, a Getty Images grant, and a MacArthur Fellowship. But all you need is to see are a few of her gorgeous photographs to know she is the      real deal.

It’s What I Do takes us inside her world, introducing us to her roots, and bringing us through the most important parts of her career and personal life--those times that shaped her as a person and as a photographer. Every single page is fascinating.

I love this book for so many reasons:

• The photography. Lynsey Addario is has produced some of the most stunning photographs I’ve ever seen. She is a true artist.
• The adventure. Addario hasn’t lived in the US in 15 years. She's seemingly always on the go--from one remote location to another. She sees so much of the world, becomes familiar with the people and the cultures in ways most of us can only dream about. For her to invite us to see and learn about these places and people with her is a gift. 
• The human side. At the heart of all of it are the stories of individual people. That’s what much of her work is about. She sees the human cost in these conflicts, sometimes at the hands of evil men and regimes, other times an unintentional price of a war. Take, for example, this piece that was just published in the New York Times about an emergency women's shelter in Afghanistan where women can seek refuge from honor killings. 
• The power of photography. She knows (as do some of her subjects) that by taking photographs and taking them home, she can get aid to those in need. It’s given me a newfound respect for photojournalists and journalists at this level—their passion, their genuine concern for other people, the risks they take to bring scenes home to us that we would be ignorant of otherwise.
• Her presentation. Her writing is excellent. But perhaps, more important, her story is honest. She has a way of presenting the events of her life in a way that is personal and yet fair. Though she feels compelled to do her work as a way of drawing attention to causes and informing the American public, she never pushes an agenda. She acknowledges and describes the limitations (both real and imagined) of being a woman in her field, without ever sounding like a feminist activist. She intimates her own personal realizations and feelings, but largely, she lets her experiences speak for themselves, and that is more than sufficient
• Love. Addario’s own personal story of family and love is as compelling as the rest. It’s very difficult for her to sustain relationships with all her comings and goings. Her passion and drive is something no partner seems to fully understand. She expects to stay single and never have children, and yet, she meets a man who understands her photojournalist side, her need to constantly be on the go, and he accepts and loves her as she is. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by saying they have a child, and her descriptions of new motherhood are beautiful, as well. (Plus, there is the most gorgeous baby photo I HAVE EVER SEEN.)
• Perspective. There is definitely something about seeing and hearing (and for Lynsey, witnessing first-hand) how other people (especially women) live in other places around the world to put your own life in perspective. One of my favorite quotes in the book: “The women ... put my life of privilege, opportunity, independence, and freedom into perspective. As an American woman, I was spoiled: to work, to make decisions, to be independent, to have relationships with men, to feel sexy, to fall in love, to fall out of love, to travel. I was only twenty-six, and I had already enjoyed a lifetime of new experiences.” Have you ever thought how lucky you are just to be able to make a decision? Wow.
• Gripping. I did not want to put this book down. Plus, it had a similar effect on me as Into Thin Air: I felt warned off her profession, while also wishing I could get out there and do what she does.

Lynsey, you are so cool. I wish I could be friends with you.

Recent Read: The Thickety: The Whispering Trees

I want to review the excellent second novel in the Thickety series, but I don’t want to spoil anything that happens in Book 1, which is a nearly impossible task. This is one of the best and most exciting new children’s fantasy series. So if you haven't, go out and get The Thickety: A Path Begins.

In The Thickety: The Whispering Trees, Kara and her little brother Taff are alone in the darkness of the Thickety, and Sordyr, the evil forest demon, is after them. They have no choice but to trust Mary Kettle, a witch infamous for the ease with which she traded children’s lives for her own magical gain. The only way out, Mary tells them, is to get past Imogen, once a girl, now more of a monster. (And I'll leave it at that, so as not to give away much of this or the last book.)

White maintains the momentum and excitement of the first book throughout the second. This one is a little more like a quest. Kara faces different challenges as she learns to use her gifts and navigate the morality of this magical world. I was constantly amazed by White’s creativity—the creatures (and magic and evils) he invents are oftentimes beyond my wildest imaginings. Once again, White concludes this portion of the story, while still opening a door to the next chapter in what will be a four-book series. I can't wait for the rest!

Picture This: Little Roja Riding Hood

Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Susan Guevara

I think you all know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, Susan Middleton Elya has written a modernized one with fun rhyming and rhythm, the incorporation of Spanish words, Hispanic cultural references, and a gutsy Red Riding Hood that doesn't need anyone else to save her. Susan Guevara, who just won a well-deserved Pura Belpre illustrator honor, has created fun, lively illustrations to match. Red Riding wears a patterned cape and cowboy boots, while her mother watches telenovelas in the background. That house has a satellite dish on top and a Jesus figure inside.Three blind mice follow Red Riding through the story, as do trouble-making duendas, or trickster elves. Lots of fun.

ALA Youth Media Awards 2015

CALDECOTT
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo
The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art, illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock
Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant
This One Summer, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki

What were they smoking? First, 6 honors? Wow. And then, This One Summer. I'm sorry but I think This One Summer has absolutely no business in the Caldecott category. It’s neither for children nor a picture book. It contains mature content including language and sexual topics. I think it’s about time ALA considered creating awards for graphic novels and changing the cap age for children’s awards to 13 instead of 14, because there is some mature stuff that can slip in with that number 14.

As for the other honors, they were mostly pretty good. You know how I feel about Viva Frida (blah) and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole. Nana in the City is a nice book (though I like Castillo's Melvin and the Boy more).

I'm most happy about the The Right Word and Beekle--what a surprise! Beekle is a real crowd-pleaser and the more I think about it, the more wonderful I think it is. There's real depth and application to life beyond the imaginary friend. And, of course, the illustrations are beautiful! Very happy about that one.

NEWBERY
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

El Deafo!!! Yay!!! I am so happy about the choices here. The Crossover was excellent. And I was thrilled to see El Deafo on the list. It could have easily been overlooked because it’s a graphic novel. Shocked though that it wasn’t even on the list for the Schneider (books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience). I haven’t read Brown Girl Dreaming—I started it a couple times, had a hard time getting into it.

PRINTZ
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson 
And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard 
The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki

I've only read This One Summer and I think the recognition is well deserved in this category. Interesting that We Were Liars is nowhere to be seen. I've given up a little on the Printz because I just lose my patience with the overworked and pretentious, so...

GEISEL
You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang, illustrated by Christopher Weyant
Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard
Waiting Is Not Easy! by Mo Willems

I had the winner on my to read list, but it’s not available at any library in LA. (but it came out in August. ?) Mr Putter…eh, blah, boring. Waiting is by Mo Willems, so of course it’s good.

YALSA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen

Uh, what? The finalists included Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin and The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming. How this beat them is baffling to me. Popular is good; it's...nice. A 13-year-old's diary edited and given some perspective. And then you have the masterful telling of a complex story of the Romanovs in the context of Russia at the turn of the century. And you have a little-known story of civil rights, told with the excitement of a courtroom drama. Baffling.

SIBERT
The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh

There's Candace Fleming. At least someone saw sense. And Neighborhood Sharks!!! So happy!! Surprised not to see Port Chicago 50.

Also worth noting are Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, for which Frank Morrison received a Coretta Scott King illustrator honor (great illustrations full of movement, and, seemingly, rhythm) and Little Roja Riding Hood by Susan Middleton Elya, for which Susan Guevara received a Pura Bepre illustrator honor (fun and clever writing and illustration).

I hope this year will convince ALA to get with the program and create graphic novel categories. They are not picture books; they are not novels. They are their own medium and deserve to be recognized as such. Plus, there is such a wealth of quality graphic novels for children and teens out there.

My Vote: ALA Youth Media Awards 2015

MY PICKS

Caldecott
I would be happy if any book in my top ten won.

Newbery
El Deafo by Cece Bell
of all the titles, this is the one I'm routing for the most.

Geisel
Is The Princess in Black too old?

Printz
The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming

Seibert
Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
The Family Romanov by Candace Fleming or Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin