Featuring: Molly Ruttan, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, Pat Zielow Miller, Becky Scharnhorst, Jaclyn Sinquett, Phil and Lily Rosenthal
On a recent visit to our local library, I checked out a stack of books to share with my granddaughter. Without a doubt, every single one of these titles is a phenomenal story!
One of the reasons I love Everybody Books is the partnership between text and illustrations. Each reminds me of the beauty of sharing and building on each others’ gifts – the writer and the artist – telling a story together. I felt like I had checked out artwork from the library. These titles are not just sweet stories for children, they are a reminder of the power of honesty, patience, support, humor, confidence and perspective. Keep your eyes wide open and enjoy!
A Girl Can Build Anything by e.E. Charlton-Truillo and Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Keisha Morris is a delight for all. The opening page states: “A vision. A sketch. And a plan to create what you’ve only imagined.” It is an inspiration from the beginning to the final page. The story reminded me to keep pushing forward, not just with the physical build but for any idea/project. What is it that you want to create? “ Because a girl can build everything.”
On a different note, I want to learn more about the collaborative work between these authors. I’ll be interviewing Pat Zietlow Miller later this month and look forward to learning how this story came to life.
How to Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst and illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett is one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time. Have you ever tried to get an octopus ready for school? It can be pretty hard, especially if the octopus is nervous about going. But take your time to look at every single illustration, as you’ll find surprise and delight on every page. I especially loved all the different outfits that an octopus can wear. Scharnhorst and Sinquett are a power team!
Molly Ruttan is both author and illustrator of Something Wild, showcasing the emotion of performing. Hannah is a violinist, but prefers playing by herself. The thought of an audience frightens her and she hopes that ‘something wild’ will happen to keep her from performing. Her imagination is creative and silly at times. Working through her fear, she winds up making it to the stage on the day of the show. This is a book to celebrate the magic and joy of a live musical production.
Just Try It by Phil and Lily Rosenthal is a family affair and oh so sweet! The interaction between text and illustration will captivate readers with humor, honesty, and curiosity. Trying new things can be hard, but Lil and her dad have a rule…Just try it. As they embark on a trip to a food truck festival, Lil is reminded to eat new foods. Multiple times. But it’s hard. An ultimate turn of events comes when Lil challenges her dad to remember the rule to “Just Try It.” My granddaughter especially loved this one. It is a must read.
Check out these incredible titles and share with another human! It doesn’t matter how old you are. These titles are truly EVERYBODY books!