Be Strong: The Rise of Beloved Public Art Sculptor Nancy Schön Written by Darcy Pattison

 Be Strong: The Rise of Beloved Public Art Sculptor Nancy Schön

Written by Darcy Pattison; Illustrated by Rich Davis

MimsHouse Books. 2024

Have you ever been to Boston, Massachusetts and seen the Make Way for Ducklings sculptures in the Public Garden? If so, then you have seen the work of Nancy Schön. 

Born near Boston on September 24, 1928 (I got that from Wikipedia), Nancy became interested in sculpture at her cousin's Halloween party. 

    "For one game, each child was asked to chew a piece of gum and use it to sculpt something. Her hands shaped a tiny cup and saucer. She won first place!"

She graduated with a degree in sculpture from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Despite being married and raising her children, Nancy still found time to teach art and make sculptures. It was in 1979, that the idea of what she wanted her art to be came to her. 

"Right then, I saw what I wanted for my art. I wanted my sculptures to be outdoors in parks, where people of all ages could touch and enjoy them."

This picture book biography focuses on Nancy's creation of the duck sculptures based on Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings. Once installed, there was no holding her back. Other sculptures she created is the Tortise and Hare at Copley Square, which is the finish line for the Boston Marathon, as well as, other sculptures that are installed in parks around the world.

Woven into this charming story is a message of Be Strong, a message she received while creating the ducklings from artist whose studio was across the hall from Nancy. She took that message and kept it close to her heart and thought of it throughout her life when she had a hard day.

Quotes from Nancy Schön are throughout set off in purple. 

The illustrations are colorful and reflect what is being said in the text.

Back matter includes more information on Nancy Schön, and a listing of her public art sculptures. To write this engaging story the author conducted personal interviews with the artist and read the book, Make Way for Nancy: A Life in Public Art by Nancy Schön. (Boston: David R. Godine. 2017)

A fun book to share with budding artists of all ages, at an art adventure story time, and especially, after reading Make Way for Ducklings. 

The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America's Cook Emma Bland Smith

The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America's Cook

Emma Bland Smith; Pictures by Susan Reagan

Calkins Creek, an Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2024

In the 1800's, when Fannie was little, she learned to cook from her mother with recipes that were passed down generation to generation. Directions were not like now. Instead, they were pretty vague. "If Fannie had asked, "How much salt should I put in this soup? her mother might have answered, "Oh, a goodly amount." 

Though she loved to good, and she was quite good at it, her dream was to attend college and become a teacher. Unfortunately, at age sixteen, Fannie contracted polio. She lost the use of her legs and had to lay in bed for several years. Unable to fulfill her dreams, as a way to keep busy Fannie took up cooking. "Her passion for cooking and baking rose up like a severn-layer cake."

This picture book biography follows Fannie as she attends the Boston Cooking School and, eventually, becomes a teacher and the head of the school. Her scientific mind had her realizing that using precise measurements instead of the vague directions she grew up with, were absolutely necessary to insure a recipe would come out the same each time you made it. 

Fannie didn't stop with the publishing of her cookbook. She started her own cooking school, lectured all over the country, and taught at Harvard Medical School. 

Paired with the engaging narrative are Reagan's very colorful, historically accurate illustrations that combines traditional watercolor with digital drawing. Peppered throughout the book are quotes by Fannie set off in a larger font. 

A great read aloud to all ages (I really believe middle and high school students can benefit from reading picture books), share with anyone who has an interest in cooking. 

Backmatter includes how to research nonfiction, Fannie's influence on today's cooks, (think Julia Child), a timeline, resources for more information, and a bibliography.

You'll want to be sure you have something yummy to snack on while reading. 

Click here to watch an interview with Emma Bland Smith.

Skybound! Starring Mary Myers as Carlotta Daredevil Aeronaut and Scientist Written by Sue Ganz-Schmitt

Skybound! Starring Mary Myers as Carlotta Daredevil Aeronaut and Scientist

Written by Sue Ganz-Schmitt; Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

Calkins Creek, an Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2024

My youngest son's partner is a hot-air balloon enthusiast. She travels to different events around the world to participate in many aspects of ballooning. Even going up in them! So I was super excited to share this engaging story of Mary Myers, a.k.a. Carlotta, and her daredevil flight to collect scientific data on just how well the balloons she and her husband, Carl, designed. 

Just who was Mary Myers? 

Mary Myers was born Mary Breed Hawley on August 24, 1850, in Pennsylvania. From a very early age, Mary dreamed of flying. When ballooning came to the United States from France, Mary thought this might be her chance to get up in the air.

At age twenty-one, she met Carl Myers, a photographer, engineer, and scientist. Together, Mary and Carl developed a groundbreaking balloon fabric. Needing some scientific data to know which balloon shape performed best, "Mary and Carl realized they needed two flight professionals in one. Someone who could record scientific data and electrify the paying crowds at fairs. (Building better balloons cost money, after all!)

After her thrilling solo flight, her career as Carlotta, Lady Aeronaut, began.

Beautiful illustrations, done in colored inks on paper, are historically accurate and mirror what is being discussed in the text. 

Backmatter includes more about Carlotta, a timeline, and a selected bibliography and suggested reading.

This appealing picture book biography will have readers of all ages dreaming of their endless possibilities. 

Bird Girl: Gene Stratton-Porter Shares Her Love of Nature With the World Written by Jill Esbaum; Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

Bird Girl: Gene Stratton-Porter Shares Her Love of Nature With the World

Written by Jill Esbaum; Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

Calkins Creek, an Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2024

When I first began working in a public library on an island in Maine, the most popular book was, A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter. It wasn't until reading Bird Girl did I learn that Stratton-Porter was the first bird photographer in America. 

Born in Wabash County, Indiana, in 1864, Geneva Grace Stratton loved birds. As she watched them, she would wonder, "How do they decide where to build their nests? What do they feed their babies? Does all that chirping and singing mean anything?"

After rescuing one bird and raising it back to health, the following summer Geneva watched over sixty-four nests, visiting them every day. It was as an adult, now called, Gene, that her family bought her a camera for Christmas. Gene could now use her photos of birds taken at her favorite place, Limberlost Swamp, to illustrate her bird stories. 

Gene would go on to be a prolific writer and photographer. She died in a car accident in December of 1924. She was sixty-one years old. 

The illustrated, done in acrylic ink and colored pencils, by Rebecca Gibbon. They reflect the playfulness and curiosity of the subject.

Backmatter includes an author's note, a short biography of Gene Stratton-Porter, bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and a list of selected works of Gene Stratton-Porter. 

An engaging, fun, and inspiring picture book biography.

Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park Written by Lori Alexander

Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park

Written by Lori Alexander; Pictures by Jenn Ely

Calkins Creek, an Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2024

Just how Minerva Hoyt convinced a nation, and a United States President to care about the Mojave Desert, located in southeastern California and southwestern Nevada is the basis of this charming picture book biography. 

In 1897, Minerva and her husband, Dr. Albert Hoyt lived in Pasadena, California.  "When Minerva needed a break from the buzzing city, she took trips. First by horse and wagon. Later by automobile. Her favorite place was the Mojave Desert." It was like no other place she ever visited. But, as the 1920's brought more cars, roads, and lots more people to the area, the desert oasis quickly was destroyed. People took plants, dug up the Joshua trees hoping they would survive in their backyard gardens. Just how could she make people love the desert as much as she did? How could she convince them the Mojave Desert was a place that needed to be preserved, to become a national park? 

Minerva created a desert display, complete with cactus, Joshua Trees, and wildlife (she had taxidermists as friends). Seeing the strange and beautiful landscape at the 1928 International Flower Show, people feel in love. On August 10, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a law that created the Joshua Tree National Monument. In 1994, President Bill Clinton gave the area more protection by signing the California Desert Protection Act. It expanded the area and established the Joshua Tree National Park. 

Peppered throughout in darker and a larger front are quotes from Minerva Hoyt. The book's illustrations by Jenn Ely are mostly done in acrylic gouache, with some smaller bits of colored pencil and collage. They are lively, engaging, and really colorful. 

Backmatter includes more information on Minerva Hoyt, wildlife in Joshua Tree National Park, an author's note, tips for environmental activists, and a selected bibliography.

An important story that highlights the importance of protecting our natural wonders. 

A Review of Three Picture Book Biographies

As the year is coming to a close, we have more books than weeks left to post reviews. To keep the momentum of posting new titles, Cathy and I thought we would offer a combined post of some delightful and engaging recently published picture book biographies. One of the attractions of picture book biographies is a great introduction to the life of someone who changed the world. We look at it as whetting a persons appetite just enough that they want to know more.

We will go alphabetically by author.

Traveling Shoes: The Story of Willye White, US Olympian and Long Jump Champion
Alice Faye Duncan; Illustrated by Keith Mallett
Calkins Creek. An Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2023

Born in 1939, Willye White was born to black parents but she “was an oddball baby with green eyes and reddish hair. My body was a lump of dark blue veins and light-bright cocoa skin.” At three days old, her parents ran away and left Willye to be raised by her maternal grandparents. In 1950, at age ten, Willye was running on the high school track team. At age 16, in 1956, Willye qualifies for the Olympic women’s track team in the long jump. Told in poetry and prose, Duncan incorporates quotes by Willye at the beginning of each chapter. Mallett’s digital illustrations complement the narrative. The author weaves the turmoil and uncertainty of the Civil Rights Movement into Willye’s life. Included is a brief biography of Willye’s life, a timeline, author’s note, and bibliography round out this excellent title.

Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage
by Lisa Rogers; Illustrated by Il Sung Na
a.s.b. anne schwartz books 2023

John Cage believed the sounds that surrounded him every day were music. 

“a garbage truck screeching/feet skipping/pigeons scattering/tires whispering/cats hissing/children giggling/balls bouncing/dog tags clinking/taxis vrooming…” The narrative is posed to readers as “What If’s.” “What if people stormed out of these concerts and said your music wasn’t music   but you still believed it was? Answer: “Then you’d be like John Cage.” The illustrations by Il Sung Na are a bit abstract and perfectly complement this inspiring and unusual composer. Added backmatter include an author and illustrator’s note, quotation sources, and a selected bibliography. The endpapers are amazing.

Shining Star: Vera Rubin Discovers Dark Matter
by Suzanne Slade. Pictures by Susan Reagan
Calkins Creek. An Imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers. 2023

Vera Rubin loved the stars. At night, she would study how the “twinkles of light slid across the sky. She memorized the names of constellations. Sometimes, she stayed up all night considering colossal, cosmic questions: Why did starts travel along curved paths? How did people tell time by watching stars move? Why did different stars appear in different seasons?”

Dr. Rubin’s work was important to the scientific community. She also worked hard to encourage women to study science and helped them obtain equal opportunities. Included is an author’s note, a brief description of Dr. Rubin’s Dark Matter Discovery, a timeline, additional reading, and lack & white photos of Dr. Rubin. Quotes by Dr. Rubin are placed in italics on every double page spread. The illustrations by Reagan, created with hand-painted watercolor washes and ink lines that are combined and enhanced digitally in Photoshop, reflect back the words and life of this very important female scientist.

Each book would be an excellent read aloud for all ages.