Author Archives: Candy Ranney

About Candy Ranney

Candy is an elementary school librarian in Shelton, WA at the school where she was a student (so many years ago!). Her library is unique in that she brings her background and love of biology to her students in many ways. Not only does she have an awesome selection of science books; she also has a beaver, bobcat and mink sitting on her shelves and a variety of jarred specimens for her students to study. When she's not in the library, she is taking care of her baby trees on her tree farm and hanging out with her family and many pets. * 2025 WA Library Association School Librarian of the Year

A Place For Us

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by James E. Ransome

A wordless picture book about a mother and son, who live with the reality of homelessness. The story begins with a mother waiting for her son outside his school, one of the many parents standing near the school. They walk to a fast food restaurant for dinner and then to the library, where the boy completes his homework as his mother reads a book. They leave as the librarian closes up and end at a bench to settle in for the night. The boy lays his head on his mother’s lap and sleeps while she watches over him protectively. The morning comes, he changes his shirt and brushes his teeth at a park fountain and they head to school for another day.

This beautifully illustrated book uses the power of pictures to tell a painful story. A loving mother that will maintain some sense of normalcy for her child in the harsh reality of homelessness that strikes a vast number (any number is too many) of people in the United States. An even larger group is the rather cliched “one paycheck away” from the same fate. A note from the author at the beginning of the story relates the intent of this book – to encourage thought and discussion about our responsibility to those that don’t have even the basic necessities. This book will certainly do just that. And, the youngest of readers will be able to reflect as a result.

An Abundance of Light: A Story of Matisse in Morocco

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by Lauren Stringer

Matisse is weighed down by the drab dreariness of a grey, wet French day. He can’t see the light and, therefore, can’t paint. A friend suggests a trip to Morocco, where the light is beautiful and bright. Unfortunately, he arrives to more drab, dreary weather and feels trapped by it all. He awakens one morning to the bright light and colors he needed. He sketched and painted and the colors were glorious. Interestingly, he realized that so many of the colors around him in Morocco reminded him of home. He packed up his completed paintings and sketches an returned to France, where he continued to create and remember the vivid colors of Morocco even when it was drab and dreary outside.

This story of Matisse is well told in accessible language and beautiful accompanying illustrations that lead the reader to feel the a hint of the weight of darkness and grey and the burst of light and color that Matisse must have felt. In these illustrations, he is as grey and drab as his surroundings and becomes as colorful as his new environment in Morocco. Upon his return to France, he remains colorful amid the the grayness, still painting his beautifully colorful pieces. The illustrations tell the story alongside the written words.

More information is given about the artist at the end. The endpapers at the back of the book define unfamiliar words for the reader and are accompanied by colorful drawings.

This book is a wonderful addition to your biography section, especially if you are in need of books about the Arts. It won’t disappoint!

School’s in Session

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Written by Elizabeth Dennis and illustrated by Clarice Elliott

How do kids around the world go to school? What do they do when they get there? These questions and more are answered in this Ready-to-Read (level 2) book. Three short chapters the daily lives of school children worldwide. Chapter one shares kids walking, riding bikes, gondolas, boats, trains and buses and even a snow machine to school. Chapter two talks about what school looks like, i.e. where it’s held and who is there. Chapter three is about lunch, recess, homework and school day length. In the end, it’s noted that whatever school looks like around the world, it’s still kids learning just like the reader. A map and added activity (create your own school) are nice extras.

Three simple chapters have longer sentences and color illustrations. High interest vocabulary and unfamiliar words are bolded with pronunciation in parentheses. Characters are diverse and the schools span the world, giving a nice global perspective that is not Eurocentric. This interesting book will be a great addition to your library and a nice opening book for the new school year. Highly recommended.

Central Park Ghost

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Written by Ellen Potter and illustrated by Sara Cristofori

Cordelia and Isaac receive a message via carrier pigeon from their friend, Fenton (a rat), asking for their help in Central Park Zoo. A mysterious creature is scaring the animals. This time, the sea lions saw the scary creature with glowing white eyes and the with pointy ears and a bushy tail. Cordelia offers to catch it. They meet Viola, the Central Park Zoo groundskeeper , and tell her all about it. She solves part of the mystery by telling them that the sea lions must have seen a coyote, the same one that has been spotted all around Central Park. She also shares that it is lonely, because it doesn’t have a pack. Cordelia and Isaac vow to help. They want to question other animals and decide to enlist Fenton’s help asking the dogs in Central Park if they know anything. After all, Fenton know s how to speak dog language. Princess Cha-Cha leads them to the coyote’s den after Fenton helps her dodge her owner by being chased by other dogs. They locate the coyote, named Ghost, and decide that the best way to help him find his pack is to take him to Viola. How to do that? Dress him up in Princess Cha-Cha’s spaghetti and meatball outfit and join a parade with dogs and baseball players. All goes well until the dogs realize that Ghost is a coyote and things get a dicey. Cordelia asks the dogs (through Fenton) to help Ghost find his pack – first, by protecting him from an approaching dog catcher. The dogs rally round Ghost and chase the dog catcher away and the parade resumes. Cordelia, Isaac, Fenton and Ghost finally make their way to Viola, who promises to help Ghost and plans to take him to a wildlife rehabilitation center where he can get the help he needs.

Cordelia, Isaac and Fenton end the day in the tree house in Central Park for a sleepover. Shakespeare, the squirrel, tucks them in and Cordelia thinks about her next adventures, knowing that wherever they take her, she’ll always come home to Central Park and the Squirrel that raised her.

This sweet story is the third in a series, Squirlish, about an intriguing young girl that lives in Central Park, knows squirrel language and helps her animal friends whenever they ask. This is a great book for younger readers that are moving into chapter books that are a little longer. Black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the story and chapters are short. Kids will love that Cordelia is not only a friend to animals, she can also speak to some of them! How cool is that? Add this to your library. It won’t stay on the shelves very long. Highly recommended.

Alpacas Here, Alapacas There

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Written by Carrie Tillotson and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

Everything a young reader would want to know is packed into this picture book! Simple, rhyming text winds through the pages of alpacas in both Peru and North America. Denser informative text blocks run along the bottom of the right page (recto) of each two page spread. The end of the book includes a glossary, author and artist notes, select sources and more about the alpacas (including their origin as domesticated animals in both areas).

This highly informative book takes a different approach than the typical nonfiction book for younger readers. It can be read as a simple story or a reader can delve much more deeply into the facts about this prized camelid. The accompanying illustrations are vibrant and bold and culturally appropriate.

There is much to learn about alpacas and this book takes on the topic in a unique and playful way. Readers won’t even realize how much they are learning until they reach the end of the book! Recommended.

Qué es un poema?

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Written and illustrated by Jovi de la Jara

What is a poem? This question is answered, first in Spanish and then in English. Short, playful text tells us the many things a poem can be. In the end, we see that a poem can really be anything. As the author notes, “A poem is a mirror inside your head”.

Black line illustrations on a vast white background playfully draw the reader along through the pages. They add to the whimsy of the words and together open a world of creative thought. Recommended.

One Hen and Then…The Story o a Small Loan and a Big Dream

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Written by Katie Smith Milway with Mary Beth Leatherdale and illustrated by Tequitia Andrews

Kojo has a plan and big dreams. HIs family doesn’t have much and his mother borrows money to buy a sewing machine. He asks he to loan him the extra coins and buys a chicken. This chicken lays enough eggs for his family and a few more each week, which he sells and pays his mom the loan back. He turns his profit into more chickens, which lay more eggs and add more profit. Kojo uses that for more chickens and glasses a school uniform. He attends school and eventually goes to college. After college, he buys land and wants more hens. His local bank thinks he’s too risky, because his family is poor. So, he goes to the city to talk to the bank president, who gives him the loan. He gets more chickens and hires workers. As he earns more profits, he invests in more hens and more workers, who can now earn enough to send their own kids to school. These workers had big dreams as well and Kojo started giving out small loans so that the workers could act on those dreams and hopes, whether it was sending a child to school or starting their own business. Kojo became the biggest chicken farmer in Ghana and helped many other with their dreams through Sinapi Aba, an small savings and loan program.

Based on a true story about a young Ghanian boy, who achieved so much due to his perseverance and drive. Sinapi Abe still helps so many people achieve their dreams and the a perfect book to share about savings, loans and business. Author’s note at the back of the book introduces readers to Kwabena Darko, “Kojo” from the story. Also at the back of the story is an explanation about microfanancing, study questions and “Disover More” links to more information about the program.

The story is told from Kojo’s point of view and most text is a sentence or two within a two page spread filled with colorful illustrations of Kojo’s journey from starting a business with one hen to becoming the “Poultry King” of Ghana and a source of financing for other dreamers in his country. The illustrations convey Kojo’s determination and movement through the story.

This book is part of the “Citizen Kid” series and is a clear example of entrepreneurship with loans, payments, investments and building slowly. Its addition of micro-financing and discussion of its value at the end of the book is a wonderful introduction to this program. Highly recommended.

Bear Feels Sad

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Written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman

Bear is SAD! All of his friends are off doing other activities, like digging holes and writing poetry and he is alone and lonely. He eats a snack. But, just doesn’t taste the same without friends. He builds a fort and it isn’t fun either. Bear decides to take a walk to pass the long, dreary hours and discovers a field filled with lovely flowers. He find the perfect flower for Mouse and then picks a bouquet of flowers for his friends. He doesn’t feel quite as sad as he walks home to his den with his flowers. Bear hears his friends as he nears his den and they are there to give him gifts from their day. He hands out their flowers and they listen to Raven’s poem. And, Bear is GLAD to be with his friends.

Karma Wilson is the author of several books about Bear and his friends and each rhyming story is more lovely than the one before it. These woodland creatures care for each other and share a wonderful, friendship. This story is a testament to that friendship. The rich, bright colors of the accompanying illustrations are perfect and convey Bear’s melancholy to happiness shift in a natural way. Add this to your library collection!

Bookie y Cookie

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by Blanca Gómez

Bookie and Cookie are best friends with very different tastes. Bookie loves books and is surrounded by books at his home. Cookie loves cooking and baking and his home is shown with a kitchen and table central to the illustration. They always hang out at Cookie’s and Bookie suggests they change and go to his place. Cookie doesn’t want to do something different and a disagreement occurs. Both parties end up alone and unhappy in their own spaces. Bookie bakes some cookies and they come together at his home for a snack. Then, they read together at Cookie’s home. They work out their differences and their friendship is preserved.

Text is spare and conveys the main points of the story succinctly. Illustrations are colorful with lots of white space, which provides a clean background for the story. Emotions are clearly noted as the characters’ relationship becomes strained with even a few tears. Their happiness at the resolution of their disagreement is also shown. Characters are diverse. Reviewed copy in Spanish as translated by the author. Recommended.

Where Are You, Brontë?

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Written by Tommy dePaola and illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Tomie de Paola’s last story has been published posthumously with illustrations by Barbara McClintock. Tomie shared the life of his canine companion, Brontë, from their first moment meeting at the airport when Tomie picked him up. Their twelve years together are detailed, from sharing many walks to snuggling together in Tomie’s bed. The story is from Tomie’s point of view as he raises an energetic puppy (in a cute pink collar) to adulthood and into his senior years and slow decline, losing his eyesight and eventually passing. Tommy is so sad until one day when he’s out for a walk and realizes that Brontë is with him in his heart and always will be. He rushes home, creates a picture of Brontë to frame and places it next to his bed, where he dreams about their wonderful times together.

I LOVE this book! Tomie’s gentle, loving story is a tribute to Brontë and the bond they shared. Their happiness together is clearly depicted in Barbara McClintock’s accompanying illustrations. Tomie’s grief is genuinely addressed and his eventual realization that Brontë will remain in his heart is comforting for the reader as well. There is a note after the story and Barbara describes her work – wanting to honor Tomie’s rich talent while still putting her own touch on the artwork. The addition of some of Tomie’s own characters at the spaghetti dinner was a thoughtful nod to Tomie.

This book needs to be in every library for many reasons. It will serve as a comfort to those that are grieving loss of a loved one. It will remind us of the rich literary legacy that Tomie left behind. It will be on the shelf with Strega Nona, Big Anthony and all the other wonderful books by this prolific author/illustrator. And, it will become a treasured story for many, many readers to come. Buy this book now! Highly recommended.