Some of 2024's Best Kid's books from Candlewick Press [Reviews & Giveaway]

The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker

ISBN: 9781536227680

My thoughts:  Aaron Becker is the "pro" or "go-to" wordless book author and an artist whose work is always a delight to gaze upon and peruse its intricate detail. In The Last Zookeeper he delves into a futuristic world where the Earth is inundated by flood waters with humanity and the animal kingdom at peril of extinction.

To the rescue is NOA (a futuristic nod to the Biblical account of Noah and the world wide flood) a huge robot who seems to have its power from wind turbines and solar panels. A story told by highly detailed, beautifully drawn and colored pictures relates a world seemingly inhabited only with animals and only a single huge robot - and not a single human - remaining as the world floods. Kind hearted NOA builds a boat (an ark?) and helps the animals onto it. A further storm causes more problems. As they become shipwrecked, a sweet ending emerges in the story and a bright future awaits.

What I don't like about the book...... It is a "take" on a Biblical story that I hold dear as I do all of the Bible. The world seems to have no humans and only a robot can save the world. Question is who keeps the robot in repair, programed, etc. 

What I do like about the book..... As with other Aaron Becker books, this provides the child the opportunity to closely and in-depth peruse the illustrations to find the story and expand on the story to his or her heart's content. Also, I love Becker's illustrations and choices of colors.

About the book: A master of the wordless form imagines a futuristic Noah’s Ark in a luminous sci-fi parable for our changing world.

Look closely. NOA the robot is huge. He scoops up animals and lifts them
onto boats, islands, hot-air-balloons, rescuing them from the flood.

The Earth has flooded. The only signs of humankind are the waterlogged structures they left behind. Peeking out from the deluge are the remnants of a zoo, home to rare and endangered animals, survivors of long neglect. Tender-hearted NOA is a construction robot who’s found new purpose as the caretaker of the zoo’s beleaguered inhabitants. Bracing for the next storm, NOA builds an ark from the wreckage in search of new land and a new home, only to discover something even more profound. With boundless compassion and sweeping scenes of sea and sky punctuated by detailed wordless panels to pore over, Caldecott Honor–winning creator Aaron Becker delivers a timely and concrete message about the rewards of caring in even the most difficult of times that is sure to inspire the dreamers among us. Secret word: compassion

They Call Me Teach: Lessons in Freedom by Lesa Cline-Ransome & illustrated by James E. Ransome

ISBN: 9780763681555

My thoughts:  An evocatively illustrated picture book that tells the sad, yet uplifting, story of a young slave who had learned to read while a companion of a young son of the Master's. Later when the son was sent to school and the slave a young man, the slave was allowed to use his reading and math skills while working in Master's store. But he was not permitted to read, write, and or do math outside the store without severe personal ramifications.

Nevertheless, he slipped around and found moments he could help by teaching his fellow slaves to read a little.

A sad story. An encouraging story. A story of seeking and finding a way to freedom. 

About the book: In this stirring and powerfully illustrated story, an enslaved young man uses his ability to read and write to educate others in the pursuit of freedom.

Back inside the store
I write up receipts
for Master’s deliveries
for Master’s orders
In ’tween
I write up a receipt
for her freedom

The young man known as Teach secretly learned to read, write, and use numbers growing up alongside the master’s son. And although on this Southern plantation these are skills he can never flaunt, Teach doesn’t keep them to himself: In the course of a week, he’ll teach little ones the alphabet in the corner stall of a stable and hold a moonlit session where men scratch letters in the dirt. He’ll decipher a discarded letter bearing news of Yankee soldiers and forge a pass for a woman hoping to buy precious time on a perilous journey north. And come Sunday, Teach will cross the swamp to a hidden cabin, reading aloud to the congregation God’s immortal words to the pharaoh: Let my people go. With a spare, moving first-person narration told in an era-appropriate dialect, complemented by stunning watercolor illustrations, the celebrated duo of Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome honor the bravery and generosity of spirit behind countless untold acts of resistance during the time of slavery. An author’s note highlights the vital role of literacy and education toward the securing of freedom, both historically and to the present day.

Beti and the Little Round House by Atinuke & illustrated by Emily Hughes

ISBN: 9781536225181

My thoughts: This is a charming book that will bring joy just by looking at it. Just the right size book. Text is printed appropriately sized and spaced for ease of reading. And there is an abundant of sweet illustrations scattered throughout - some are small black and white while some are full page and in beautiful color. There is exquisite detail showing the woods with trees, plants, and flowers beautifully enveloping the little round house that Beti and her Mam, Tad, and baby sibling live in.

They seem to live quite a rustic life even keeping the milk cooling in the stream. A bit of an off-the-grid type of existence. 

The story is portioned into four chapters and each takes place in a season - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Beti's life on a day-to-day basis and encounters with her family, her friends, and mama Goat and baby goat, "Naughty," are very nicely told in middle-grade level understanding and vocabulary. Pleasant. Charming. Delightful.   

About the book: From beloved storyteller Atinuke comes an enchanting new collection of stories featuring an endearing new character.

Beti lives in a little round house in the green woods under the mountains with Mam, Tad, baby Jac, and her very own tiny goat named Naughty. Beti loves the little round house, where there is always the promise of adventure with Naughty, Jac, and her friends—whatever the season! With charming black-and-white and color illustrations throughout, this warm and lyrical collection is alive with themes of endurance, friendship, and the power of self-belief. It celebrates the gift of the seasons and the art of living simply and joyfully in nature.

GIVEAWAY

A copy of: The Last Zookeeper

Begins January 4, 2025

Ends February 4, 2025

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize book is provided and mailed/shipped directly to the winner by Candlewick Press or its publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.