Old Bear, Kevin Henkes

Prolific children’s book author Kevin Henkes is the creator of the beloved mice Julius, Wemberly, Chester, Lilly, and Owen, but some of his best picture books are about other animals. Kitten’s First Full Moon won the Caldecott Medal in 2005 for its black and white illustrations; last year’s A Good Day was a clever comment on the power of a small shift in perspective. Henkes’ newest picture book, Old Bear, is the very simple story of a brown bear who dreams vividly of all four seasons as he hibernates, then awakens to find a dream come true. I can’t think of anything I’d rather read as we teeter at the top of the precipitous descent into another Maine winter! (Brita Zitin)

About the Author: Kevin Henkes is an author and illustrator whose dreams really have come true. At 19, he left his home in Racine, Wisconsin with a portfolio of his work to seek a publisher in New York City. Greenwillow Books published his first picture book, All Alone, in 1981, and since then, Henkes has found eager readers everywhere.

When the Moon is Full: A Lunar Year, Penny Pollock, illustrated by Mary Azarian

This lovely children’s book begins with a poem about full moons and their travel patterns, then leads into a month-by-month description of Native American names for each month’s full moon. The poems are charming, clever (in April, spring peepers are calling to one another "Come, my love, my love, my love, come be mine tonight"), and followed by a sentence explaining the origin of that month’s name. The illustrations are typical Mary Azarian: detailed woodcuts with enough beauty to please adults and enough action to interest even the youngest child (bears are enjoying a pick-your-own strawberry field in June, and raccoons are making the most of an August cornfield). This book serves a variety of children’s ages quite well. For infants, the contrasts are stark and the poems rhythmic and soothing. For toddlers, there is much to point to. For preschoolers, there are many conversations that can develop, from how beavers build their lodges (November, the Beaver Moon) to how maple syrup is made (March, the Sap Moon). My son’s favorite month has always been January, the Wolf Moon, as howls sung high and low make a natural accompaniment for the text. It is no surprise that this book was a gift to him from Born to Read director Denise Pendleton; it fits in perfectly with that program’s goals. (Diane Magras)

About the Author & Illustrator: Penny Pollock is the author of many captivating stories for children, including Turkey Girl, Ants Don’t Get Sunday Off, and Garlanda. She lives in New Jersey and spends time in Florida and New York. Mary Azarian is a woodcut artist, living in northern Vermont on a farm. Her farming experience, and her years creating woodcuts with her own press, have produced an iconic body of work. Her work is current in galleries in Vermont and Massachusetts.

The Rain Before It Falls, Jonathan Coe

This new novel is remarkable, not only for its story, which is well—crafted, but for the way in which Coe shares this tale. Spanning the time from the Blitz in World War II London to the present day, it relates the lives of three generations of women, tied together by both the highest highs and lowest lows of life.

The story itself is interesting, but Coe’s telling of it through illustrative descriptions is what makes this gripping. Rosamond, an elderly woman who is nearing the end of her life, is the main character. Through a series of tragedies, she has lost touch with Imogen, a younger blind relative. Too old to find her, she collects twenty photographs, paintings, and news clippings that she feels depict the story that leads to the “inevitable” life of Imogen. In each chapter, Rosamond vibrantly describes the imagery on cassette so that Imogen will be able to ‘see’ her history. Intertwined with this tale is the life of Gill, Rosamond’s niece and executor, who, in listening to the tapes, finds meaning in her own recollections and life. Through this brilliant portrayal of these graphic ‘snapshots’, Coe’s tragic story comes alive. (Martina Duncan)

About the Author: British novelist Jonathan Coe was born in 1961 in Birmingham. His work has often been a satirical take on current events and society, from the government of Margaret Thatcher in What a Carve Up! to The Rotters’ Club and its sequel The Closed Circle, about the lives of three teenager (later adult) friends in Birmingham.