Author Archives: Anne Hales

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

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Words by Jack Norworth; Illustrated by Gary Clement

A young boy tries to convince his father to take him to a baseball game with the words from classic baseball Anthem, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. The boy in his blue striped shirt acts out all the important roles; concession worker, fielder, pitcher, base runner, and umpire. With his success in convincing his dad, the two drive into town and munch crackerjacks in the stadium stands.

Cartoon-like illustrations vibrantly show the motion and excitement of a baseball game. A great read-aloud choice for young sports fans. 

My Towering Tree

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Written by Janna Matthies; Illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Take a deep breath and enjoy the world found under a towering tree. A young girl centers herself as she sits under a tree and absorbs the world around her. A buzzing bee, a zigzagging squirrel, the soft warm sun all share the space with her. The rhyming predictable text sets a soothing cadence reinforced with rich warm illustrations. Use as a read aloud to inspire nature-lovers or as a mentor text for mindfulness.

A Festival for Luana

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Written by Joana Pastro; Illustrated by Duda Oliva

Luana cannot contain her excitement to reach her grandparents’ house in Brazil. Her arrival feels like a carousel as her grandpa swings her around. It’s only when her grandma introduces her as “my American granddaughter” that she starts to feel like she doesn’t belong. As Luana prepares with her family for the celebration of Festa Junina, her creativity transforms her pretty dress from America into something that represents both her American and Brazilian sides. Now that Luana feels like she belongs, she’s ready to jump right into the dancing. The story reinforces the message that identity doesn’t have to be exclusionary.

Portuguese words are used sparingly to support the story. The illustrations’ warmth helps portray the joy and love of the extended family. Back matter shares the author’s connection to Festa Junina, provides a glossary of Brazilian Portuguese words and includes a recipe for Bolo du Fuba.

Taking Flight

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By Kashmira Sheth; Illustrated by Nicolo Carozzi

Taking Flight tells the story of three refugee children from different parts of the world.. All three leave all they have ever known, face an exhausting journey only to end up living in a tent at a refugee center. Finally they move on to their new home with hope for a better future. Chesa from Tibet, Karim from Syria, and Yanna from Ukraine remain nameless until they reach out and name themselves to the children at their new school. Through those new friendships, they come to see the similarities between themselves and the people around them. They feel like they belong. Incredible illustrations reinforce the feelings of sadness, exhaustion, fear, and finally hope faced by refugees.

Highly recommended for all libraries.

Landing in a New Pond

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Written by Marisa Ramel; Illustrated by Jennifer Doehring

A young boy, his mother, and younger sister move to a new home. He misses his friends. The only friends he makes are 41 ducks. Caring and interacting with the ducks becomes an essential part of his days. When the ducks eventually fly south for the winter, the boy is devastated. Only then does he connect with his younger sister. As she grows to an age more able to play, that growing relationship starts to bring him joy.

The precious illustrations show the expressions that move across a young child’s face as he experiences the upheaval leaving a familiar place. This is a story about moving, finding connections, and building relationships. It is based on the author’s experience of moving with young children during the pandemic.

The River of Caregiving

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Written by Jocelyn Chung; Illustrated by Sarah Gonzales

Using a river as a metaphor for the love and care that flows throughout an extended multi-generational family, a young child explains how acts of kindness and support are not one directional. Familial titles used in the story are Taiwanese in origin. On first reading, the uncertainty of the meaning of those words helps make the story feel universal. The interconnectedness of support from acts of caregiving strengthens the whole family and the care of any lost member will continue to be felt through the lasting impact of past caring (the fruit trees planted by A-gong or Great Auntie’s knitted clothing). The change in flow, speed, or adjustment of course of the caregiving is to be expected, respected, and celebrated.

How to Explain Aerospace Engineering to a Grow-Up

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Written by Ruth Spiro; Illustrated by Teresa Martinez

A young girl and her mother are on a trip to visit a space center. Along the way the young girl explains the concepts behind flight and the difference between airplane and spacecraft flight. Science books for children often struggle with a balance of keeping concepts simple enough to understand yet detailed enough to provide accurate details. This book accomplishes this beautifully with some engaging humor thrown in. Added to that, this is a young girl explaining the concepts which makes it a wonderful example of the importance of understanding audience in informational writing.

The illustrations show the girl and her mother throughout their trip as well as embedded labeled diagrams explaining aerospace concepts. Back matter provides a variety of spacecraft and their purposes and a glossary. This book is part of a four title series How to Explain.

Piet Finds a Home

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Written by Carina Wohlleben and Peter Wohlleben; Illustrated by Rachel Qiuqi

The forest is full of stories. In Piet Finds a Home, the wonders of the forest are discovered as Piet finds a home in the different seasons of a forest. Peter, the forester educates the reader through both dialog and notes. Learn about the many ways trees change and how they provide for forest creatures.

Written by Peter Wohllenben, the author of The Hidden Life of Trees and his daughter Carina Wohllenben, the two books featuring Piet the squirrel are great way for young people to learn about forestry.

The Great Gathering Place

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Written by Naomi McIlwraith; Illustrated by Onedove

This book is an invitation to come along to the Great Gathering Place with the Cree people. When you arrive, the gathering gives thanks to “our Grandfathers, Sky and Buffalo”. One thank you after another, associating the world around as family reinforces the interconnectedness of the natural world. This book then gives guidance to all that whether you agree or disagree to always be gentle, always be generous, always be kind, and always love. Part of each phrase is translated in Cree with pronunciation provided. Illustrations merge everyday surroundings and activities with personified natural elements.

This is a perfect book to share in November to offer a Native perspective around Thanksgiving time.

When We Go Home

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By Heather Beaumont and illustrated by Nátali de Mello

A father and mother reminisce about home as a young family plans their trip to Jamaica. Marlee doesn’t think of Jamaica as home; she’s never even been there. As her parents reconnect with their families and the places of their youth, Marlee is unsure she feels as if Jamaica is home. Her dad says that a person can call two different countries their home. As Marlee connects with the beauty, experiences, and people of the island she recognizes it as a home away from home.

A sweet story that can provide comfort to any child who has moved and feels a connection to more than one place. The story also highlights the experiences of families that have recently settled in a new country.