Photographer Spotlight: Marcus Bleasdale

Photo by Marcus Bleasdale, from an article in Newsweek

I just went to the Annenberg Space for Photography's exhibit: The Power of Photography, celebrating 125 years of National Geographic photography. This photo certainly demonstrates the power of photography. My jaw dropped when I saw it. Marcus Bleasdale is a documentary photographer who uses his photographs to advocate for human rights. He has spent a great deal of time in Congo documenting the conflict and the mines that fund rebels. Rebel groups recruit children for their armies and their mines.

While blood diamonds have gotten a lot attention, other minerals come from conflict mines--gold, tungsten, tantalum, tin. These are the kinds of minerals used not just in jewelry, but in computers, cell phones, and other electronics. In 2010 the Dodd-Frank financial-reform bill "called for publicly listed American companies to disclose whether any of their products included minerals from mines controlled by armed groups in or around Congo." Read more (and see more photos) in this article from National Geographic. Said Marcus about Congo:

"A report in 2004 said that more than four million people had died in what is now called Africa's first world war, and I just couldn't believe that no one was talking about this horrific death toll. That enraged me." 

"A boy waits his turn for spoonfuls of rice and beans in Pluto." Photo by Marcus Bleasdale

A child at work in a militia-run mine in Watsa. Photo by Marcus Bleasdale.

The thing about his photos is how beautiful they can be despite the (ugly implications of the) subject matter. The photo below--I could look at it for hours. It's as if it were a carefully composed painting.

Workers rip the earth apart in search of gold. Photo by Marcus Bleasdale.

Shameless Plug

I have cool people in my extended family: Night of the Living Deb.

Recent Read: Paper Valentine

A serial killer is murdering middle school girls the quiet city of Ludlow. But that’s not the only thing on Hannah’s mind. She’s being haunted by her best friend who died six months ago.

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff was a great read. It immediately got me interested—she’s haunted by the ghost of her best friend? And her best friend essentially starved herself to death over a period of years? And there’s a murderer in town? I was intrigued and invested in just a few pages. Much of that is thanks to Yovanoff’s writing and the talent she has for giving you a lot of meaning and information in few words.

The mystery drives the plot, building slowly to a nail-biting climax. But equally, if not more, intriguing is the relationship between Hannah and her dead best friend, Lillian. Existing as the worst version of herself, Lillian follows Hannah around, making it impossible for her to move on or find out who she is without Lillian. Meanwhile, Hannah finds herself drawn to one the local delinquents, who she trusts more and more, even as she wonders if he could be behind the murders. As Hannah navigates through a world of ghosts, and absent best friends, romantic delinquents, and cruel murders she starts to learn more about who she is and what she’s made of. This one is fast, page-turning, eerie, and satisfying. And how 'bout that cover?

Picture This: Look Up!

Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate

Who knew bird-watching could be interesting! Cate starts by explaining her own interest in bird-watching and how it started. She became interested in bird-watching as she spent time outdoors to sketch scenery. Soon she noticed the many birds "flitting around the edges of [her] drawings." She was hooked.

Cate tells readers where they can start, how to watch, and how to record what they see. Each spread is jam-packed with information and full-color illustrations. The pages detail the many identifying features of birds--colors, shapes, the way a bird flies, body types, beaks, feet, decorative feathers, tails, and more! She also discusses observing bird behavior, seasonal changes in appearance, sounds, habitats, geography, and field guides. She explains what a bird-watcher can learn from these features and characteristics and why they have them. She even teaches a mini-lesson on classification. Birds, characters, and Cate herself make comments in little speech bubbles throughout for a little extra liveliness. There's as much to look at on the page as there is outside.

It's an engaging and fun introduction to bird-watching, and I think it might inspire some kids to take up a new hobby.

Picture This: The Watermelon Seed

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Crocodile loves watermelon. He eats it for every meal. But disaster strikes when he swallows a seed. He knows it will grow--he can feel it. But he doesn't want a watermelon growing in him. "I don't want to be in a fruit salad!"

Kids will love this silly book about a crocodile and his hysteria over swallowing a seed from his very favorite food. It's told through bold, funny illustrations in a watermelon-colored palette. Pizzoli knows how to communicate a lot with a few words and simple illustrations. The pacing and layout maximize the humor and fun.

ALA Youth Media Awards 2014

hm, not as exciting this year.

CALDECOTT
Locomotive by Brian Floca
Journey by Aaron Becker
Mr Wuffles by David Wiesner
Flora & the Flamingo by Molly Idle

Well, I've read all of them, but two of them haven't been featured on my blog because I wasn't particularly excited about them. Locomotive I found well illustrated, but BORING. And Mr Wuffles was good, but in the end not as memorable or special. At least Journey got something, and Flora and the Flamingo was quite good. I think the choices are okay. I'm not outraged over any of them, but I'm most disappointed about Locomotive's win.

NEWBERY
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
Doll Bones by Holly Black
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
One Came Home by Amy Timberlake 
Paperboy by Vince Vawter

Yet another Newbery for Kate DiCamillo. I started Flora and Ulysses (it's a big year for Floras, isn't it?), thought it was pretty funny, and then had to return it before I could get past chapter 4.

PRINTZ
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susan Cokall
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

How bout that? I read very few 2013 YA books, but I've read two of the winners. If you want to know my thoughts on Midwinterblood, see my GoodReads review. In short, I liked it, I couldn't stop thinking about it, but I couldn't tell you that it's excellent. It's so very literary, therefore a typical and unsurprising choice for the Printz. Eleanor & Park, everybody loved. I started Maggot Moon, took an immediate disliking to it, and returned it. Navigating Early wasn't on my radar for the Printz at all because her last book won the Newbery. I really want to read the Kingdom of Little Wounds. Sometimes I don't know if a Printz win is a recommendation or the opposite since pretentiousness and literariness often seem to be the bread and butter of the Printz. I was really hoping to see Boxers and Saints somewhere in there, but I guess it was a long shot, considering the companion book format.

GEISEL
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Ball by Mary Sullivan
A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes

I was very pleased with this category. All of them are well done and so much fun. I wrote a draft of The Watermelon Seed that I should probably publish. It's silly and funny. I don't even bother to review Elephant and Piggie books (Mo Willems) anymore because it's a given that they're all excellent and hilarious. A Big Guy Took My Ball is very funny, and introduces a hilarious whale into the mix. You know how I feel about Penny and Her Marble. Ball is a humorous book about a funny-looking dog and his all-consuming love for his ball. What I don't understand, is how it's an easy reader? There's only one word in the entire book.

I thought the Sibert was somewhat disappointing when I think about what could have won. I was happy to see Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard got a Sibert honor, and A Splash of Red was good, too. But Parrots Over Puerto Rico? eh.

My Vote: ALA Youth Media Awards 2014

Tomorrow's the big day!

I don't feel as legit this year beacuse I didn't read as much. Of the books I read that were published in 2013, there were
130+ picture books
9 young adult books (counting Boxers & Saints as one)
2 middle grade/crossover
2 children's

So I definitely don't feel as qualified as last year, but I loved Boxers & Saints so much, I'm going to name it as my pick anyway.

MY PICKS

Caldecott
Journey by Aaron Becker
(honestly, it's hard for me to conceive of why this wouldn't win)

Geisel
Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes

Printz
Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang