Reviews for 10/20 titles for the year 2022, in no particular order or preference.
Note: Parents can always translate books freely, or ask questions or make observations about illustrations in Spanish when reading a longer book in English. This is usually how I read books which are too time consuming to translate or whose language flows better in English due to rhyme or rhythm. My translation difficulty tips below take into consideration how difficult it would be to provide an accurate, thoughtful translation (word for word) of the text.
Mel Fell
Written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor
I don’t have to try too hard to sell you this 2022 Caldecott Honor Book title. A charming story about a royal blue Kingfisher bird that mirrors the similarities between swimming and flying. The illustrations are vibrant and humorous, and Mel a valiant protagonist. Great Spring and Summer read, toddler friendly. Translation Difficulty: Medium. The paragraphs are brief enough to translate on the spot, but parents will want to read the story first to ensure they have all vocabulary handy, especially for younger readers.
Wonder Walkers
Written and illustrated by Micha Archer
Another Caldecott Honor Book (Four Named this year by the American Library Association), this one has impressive illustrations that play tribute to nature. Two siblings walk around the expanse of the world asking questions like “are rivers Earth’s veins?” I understand the wonder the book is trying to impart but it left me wanting as an adult and thought the text did not live up to the illustrations. My son read it and smiled at a few concepts. I felt it could have been stronger if not every page contained a question and rather stated a wonderous statement. My son was surprised by the questions but read most of the them with a hint of silliness instead of transcendence, haha. Oops. We failed at this one. This was a title that you can read to toddlers and babies because of its brief text but the comprehension level definitely requires an older audience. Translation Difficulty: Easy In Spanish, the language may become even more poetic, amplifying the sense of wonder.
Circle Under Berry
Written and illustrated by Carter Higgins
A concept book is one that covers the alphabet, shapes, and/or colors. Authors and illustrators usually get very creative with these basic concepts and one realizes how kindergarteners can be creative geniuses given the basics. Higgins’s take is both mathematical and verbal. His narrative is born out of relating how the shapes are relative to each other. Included are basic shapes, as well as an octagon and trapezoid to match the less known “scarlet” “emerald,” “goldenrod,” and “indigo” colors. Both Yago & Mila enjoyed this title, Yago even read the book himself. The simple(ish) shapes featured in the book can launch crafty parents to create them and make the figures (or new shapes) as inspired by the book. Translation Difficulty: Easy. The book does read long, you may have to skip a few pages with younger readers.
Don’t Hug Doug (He Doesn’t Like It)
Written by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
I can definitely see the need for this book, especially in households with children with Asperger’s or on the autistic spectrum. However, this book does well to explain that many of us are actually like Doug, and accept hugs in a case-by-case basis! While the title is a bit over-explanatory the narrative is wholesome. Doug has a distinct personality (he likes to collect things, plays the harmonica and is a “master of high-fives”). There is enough character development, humor, and rhyme in the book that the big message of respecting boundaries does not hit readers too hard over the head. Definitely one to keep in mind with young ones, reminding them that not liking hugs does not mean they do not like people or are not liked by friends. Translation Diffculty: Medium. Rhyme may be sacrificed but the overall story will be able to be translated after a few English readings.
Inside Cat
Written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
As we are Wenzel fans please read the following with the appropriate bias. My son even said Inside Cat looked like el gato Mateo from They All Saw A Cat (Wenzel, 2016).
Unlike the mysterious cat who we see through many eyes in 2016, we get an intimate look into the mind of Inside Cat in the 2021 version. The first couple of spreads begin with minimal drawings focusing on the rhythm of the story which echoes throughout his exploration. Suddenly, readers are flooded with Inside Cat’s musings, theories and conclusions, many comical and linked by earlier events. Hours could be spent studying the nooks and crannies of this book as Inside Cat tries to fill the gaps of the many sights he sees through the many windows of his (particularly shaped) building. The grand discovery at the end does not get any less grand with repeat reads. If anything, it is well worth the slow progression to see a new reader’s reaction. Translation Difficulty: Difficult. I hope a Spanish translation pops up. Wenzel’s language is lyrical, despite the humor, that sitting down and translating word for word may be necessary prior to attempting to read in Spanish, to keep the story’s essence. Despite its busyness, this title is still toddler friendly, and one of Mila’s favorite reads.
My First Day
Written and Illustrated by Phung Nguyen Quang and Huynh Kim Lien
This Vietnamese author and illustrator duo create a seamless work that could have come from one source. Like Wonder Walkers, this one is definitely a lyrical, heavier read. Readers follow a boy in his coming-of-age journey across the Mekong River to his first day as a ______. I do not want to entirely give away the ending as that is part of the surprise of the story. Upon second reading, the story does include plenty of clever allusions to his destination. The illustrations warrant attention of their own and play tribute to the Mekong Delta region. Cotton-candy like clouds, Poseidon waves, and dark, flying eels add to the suspense of the epic. The shades of the landscape go from darker to much warmer tones once he reaches his destination. The illustrations captivate a lot of the wonder, so that despite multiple readings the book still feels new. Readers will no doubt want to journey with the boy again, and again, however, to ensure he arrives safely at the end.
Backmatter highlights the journey some Vietnamese children take for education and will open up conversations about privileges held by first-world nations students. I love reading translations of foreign books because it exposes us to different type of artistic and narrative styles! Translation Difficulty: Difficult. Attention must be paid to the choice of words the writers chose for their nuanced narrative. Studying the illustrations and summarizing the story may serve best for toddlers.
Not Now, Cow
Written by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Troy Cummings
Brief rhyme alongside expressive characters and the bud of the joke, Cow, who seems obsessed with Winter until Winter actually arrives will make this a favorite with all readers. A bit of a struggle, but brief and repetitive enough for beginning readers to tackle on their own. As a children’s librarian, I could not help but consider this a funny and engaging “Seasons” read, especially for Toddler Time. Translation Difficulty: Easy. Despite losing the rhyme, the text is brief enough to translate on the spot.
Norman Didn’t Do It! (Yes, He Did)
Written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins
Norman carries the aura of one of Higgins’s many distinctive characters. We walk into Norman’s life midway through his living: He has existed before this book was written and will continue to exist once the book closes. Norman is best friends with Mildred, a tree. A story that could begin boring as could be with Norman never leaving Mildred’s immovable side, and even finding amusement in playing “tree,” turns out to be quite the study of a criminal mind, ha ha. Norman becomes a little unhinged when another tree pops up near Mildred, and his jealousy drives him to commit a terrible crime. Children and parents will giggle at Norman’s shifty-eyed scheme and his shrugged-off denial. Higgins’s minimal but expressive illustrations drive much of the storyline. Children and adults alike will sink into the perfectly colored dark shades of Norman’s delinquency. Toddler approved! Translation Difficulty: Medium. Since there is a bit of text to translate finding the right words prior will make a Spanish reading go smoother.
One-osaurus, Two-osaurus
Written by Kim Norman, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby
Definitely add this one to the list for any dinosaur obsessed toddler. The repetition makes it perfect for beginning readers to attempt on their own. A cute concept book of counting in “osauruses” the seconds it takes to hide from the big mean predator! A dinosaur book that is flawlessly illustrated and carries enough cleverness for parents to read many times over, without getting too sick of it, ha ha. Translation Difficulty: Easy. This is one of those titles so married to its sing song rhyme that it is much easier to focus on translating the numbers and identifying the dinosaur names in Spanish.
Bodies Are Cool
Written and illustrated by Tyler Feder
This title is evasive (universal) enough to dodge explaining to younger children but definitely carries LGBTQ+ undertones in text and illustrations. The book features all body types (rolls and rolls), skin shades (vitiligo included) and textures (pimples, scars, and body hair). It encourages readers to celebrate and love their bodies, but also supports ‘rearranging’ them (a bit conflicting). The illustrations definitely make up for what the evasive text lacks. Aside from the many body shapes of cisgender abled-bodied people, it features androgynous, homosexual, trans and disabled individuals. Scars are apparent in what appears to be trans men with double mastectomies. As parents, you can choose whether you are ready to discuss transgender concepts with your child or wait until they’re a little older. A good introduction for how people may relate to their bodies. Translation Difficulty: medium. With its rhythm and -ing endings, translation may be a little complicated but manageable.
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