Seven days, Seven books. Day 7. Outside In by Deborah Underwood, illustrated Cindy Derby

I end the week with a beautiful and lyrical picture book, Outside In, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Cindy Derby.

In this story, Outside is personified as loving entity that reminds us of its unconditional presence in everything we do, even when we are indoors and set apart from what lies in the world outdoors.

Simply put, this beautiful book begs for conversation and contemplation in the spaces between listening to the soothing words and soaking in the emotive illustrations. 

I highly recommend this Caldecott Honor Book. I imagine it is one that will beg for revisiting, time and again, much in the same way the outdoors calls to everyone, young and old. 

Seven days, Seven books. Day 6. Where are You From? by Yamile Saied Mendez, illustrated by Jaime Kim

Today is Multicultural Children's Book Day (#ReadYourWorld), which is organized to celebrate and spotlight diversity in children's books. 

In that spirit, I'm sharing the beautiful, lyrical picture book Where are You From? written by Yamile Saied Mendez and illustrated by Jaime Kim (HarperCollins).

This poetic and heartfelt picture book addresses a question that I'm sure is part of many family discussions in recalling history and roots of ancestors. The lyrical text exudes universal feelings of love, comfort, and pride in ancestry, while also acknowledging some difficult truths about the treatment of some people based on the color of their skin.

Yet, the beautiful, soft kernel of Where are You From? remains throughout the story--words full of pride and love. 

This book begs to be reread, and lends itself to being shared in any setting, whether that be at bedtime or story time at school. Children love to hear stories of themselves, and to talk about their own stories, as well as look toward future possibilities of what they might become. This book opens the discussion into personal histories of all.

I highly recommend adding Where are You From? to your library and sharing it with the little ones in your life.

Seven days, Seven books. Day 5. On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex

Okay. 

As a parent, I can attest to having lived through the experience of dealing with gum caught in the hair of at least one of my children. I won't say who, but if you were to guess any of their names, you would be right.

Although I'm sorry to admit that our experience in the detangling of gum was not nearly as fun as the romp that Adam Rex brings his readers on in his new picture book, On Account of the Gum (Chronicle Books).

If you think you know how this story goes, because you've had children, or know young children, or are a professional gum chewer, I can assure you that you are wrong. And I can most assuredly say that I'm right in asserting that when you read this book, you will be surprised at what happens,... all because of the gum.

Any child will love this book, and if they don't laugh out loud or gasp at the illustrations, then perhaps they need a little reining in, because their life probably is far more wild than I could ever have dreamed, or Adam Rex could have thought up....Maybe. I can't really speak for him. But I do speak for myself, and I highly recommend this book! 

Enjoy!