SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: POOKA & BUNNI
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.jzartworks.com/
CITY: Carmel
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 325
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; husband’s name Romeo (a designer and web developer); children: Olivia, Elyse.
EDUCATION:Indiana University, B.A. (with honors), 2003.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator. Creative Expressions Group, graphic designer, 2003-06; JZ Artworks, owner, 2005—; MediaSauce, creative director, 2006-08; Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel, IN senior assistant librarian, 2008-14. Speaker at schools. Artwork featured in Children’s Museum of Indianapolis exhibit.
AVOCATIONS:Reading, cooking, biking, ballroom dancing.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
AWARDS:Recipient of Mom’s Choice Awards gold medals.
WRITINGS
Contributor of illustrations to periodicals, including Ladybug, Highlights High Five, and Clubhouse, Jr. Author of a blog.
SIDELIGHTS
Jennifer Zivoin has provided the artwork for dozens of books for young readers. Zivoin’s warm and expressive digital illustrations grace the pages of (open new) books by authors, including Frank J. Sileo, Jeanie Franz Ransom, Danielle Dufayet, and Sheri Rose Shepherd, as well as the works in the “Pirate School” series of chapter books by Brian James and the “Great Katie Kate” nonfiction series by M. Maitland Deland. In 2020, she illustrated a children’s book version of the song, “Sweet Child o’ Mine” for the iconic 1980s band, Guns N’ Roses. “It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities when you get to work on something that’s iconic,” she told Mark Ambrogi of the book in an interview on the Current website.(close new—more below)
Zivoin developed an interest in the creative arts as a child. As she recalled to an interviewer on the Magination Press website, “I have always loved reading, drawing and writing, but when I was in elementary school, I saw The Little Mermaid in theaters, which was a transformative moment for me. Seeing that movie, and later visiting the ‘Inside the Animation Studio’ at Disney World, made me realize that I wanted to pursue visual storytelling as a career.” A graduate of Indiana University, Zivoin worked as a graphic designer and a creative director before turning to illustration full-time.
Ransom offers an unusual take on “Little Red Riding Hood” in Big Red and the Little Bunny Wolf, which features Zivoin’s “playful, bright, and inviting illustrations,” Brianne Colombo noted in School Library Journal. In A World of Pausabilities, Sileo encourages youngsters to live in the present. School Library Journal reviewer Kathia Ibacache noted that the author’s rhyming narrative is “supported by imaginative illustrations.”
According to Booklist critic Francisca Goldsmith, Zivoin’s “colorful, bouncy illustrations” enliven All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism, a work by Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer. Zivoin also drew praise for her contributions to The Great Katie Kate Tackles Questions about Cancer, part of a series designed to alleviate children’s fears about illnesses. “Zivoin’s bright, cartoon characters have expressive faces,” Wendy Smith-DArezzo explained in School Library Journal.
(open new)Serious topics are also featured in Did You Hear?: A Story about Gossip by Sileo and Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard. In the former, readers are shown how hurtful spreading rumors can be. A Children’s Bookwatch critic described it as “unique, effective, and very highly recommended.” The latter discusses police shootings of unarmed Black people, which were receiving much attention when the book was published in 2018. A writer in Children’s Bookwatch asserted that the volume “respectfully and honestly deals with a paramount social problem and is worthy of the highest recommendation.” Zivoin’s illustrations also appear in Danielle Dufayet’s Fantastic You, which teaches kids about self-love and about which a Kirkus Reviews contributor stated: “[It] skillfully provides the language to help readers remember—or learn—their abilities to treat themselves and others with gentleness.”
In 2020, Zivoin released her first self-illustrated book, Pooka and Bunni. In this volume, she tells the story of two siblings, who have a gap in age. The younger sibling, Pooka, idolizes Bunni. Creative Bunni constructs a castle but leaves it behind when she has to go to her whistling lesson. Though Bunni has asked Pooka to leave the castle alone while she is gone, Pooka cannot resist the urge to tinker with it. She accidentally makes the structure collapse. When she is unable to recreate Bunni’s design, Pooka constructs her own castle. Instead of being angry, Bunni is impressed when she returns. “Zivoin is never preachy, allowing young readers to absorb the gentle lesson,” noted a Kirkus Reviews critic. The same critic called Pooka and Bunni a “tender and loving tale.”
In an interview with a contributor to the Magination Press website, Zivoin explained the difference between illustrating for other authors and illustrating her own work. She stated: “When I illustrate a book by another author, the framework for the story is already there. My job as an illustrator is to add to the storytelling through imagery. However, with Pooka and Bunni, I created this book the exact opposite way of how a book by another author would come together. I think in pictures, so instead of the text coming first, I illustrated the entire book without words. Then, I wrote the text for the pages to fill in any gaps in the storytelling.”(close new)
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 1, 2015, Francisca Goldsmith, review of All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism, p. 61.
Children’s Bookwatch, January, 2018, review of Did You Hear?: A Story about Gossip; May, 2018, review of Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice.
Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2019, review of Fantastic You; October 1, 2020, review of Pooka and Bunni.
Palaestra, fall, 2014, review of “Great Katie Kate” series, p. 58.
Publishers Weekly, December 19, 2017, review of A World of Pausabilities: An Exercise in Mindfulness, p. 125.
School Library Journal, August, 2010, Wendy Smith-DArezzo, review of The Great Katie Kate Tackles Questions about Cancer, p. 74; December, 2011, Elaine Charnow, review of Jack and the Toddler, p. 89; February, 2016, Brianne Colombo, review of Big Red and the Little Bunny Wolf: A Story about Bullying, p. 72; March, 2017, Kathia Ibacache, review of A World of Pausabilities, p. 164.
ONLINE
Children’s Illustrators, https://childrensillustrators.com/ (March 4, 2021), author profile.
Current, https://www.youarecurrent.com/ (September 29, 2020), Mark Ambrogi, author interview.
Jennifer Zivoin blog, http://jzartworksblog.blogspot.com/ (March 4, 2021).
Jennifer Zivoin website, http://www.jzartworks.com (March 4, 2021).
Laura Sassi website, https://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/ (June 20, 2016), Laura Sassi, “An Interview with Jennifer Zivoin.”
Magination Press website, http://maginationpress.apabooks.org/ (December 15, 2015), “From Sketch to Book: Jennifer Zivoin;” (November 2, 2020), author interview.
MB Artists website, https://www.mbartists.com/ (March 4, 2021), author profile.
About the Artist
Jennifer Zivoin has illustrated more than 40 children’s books, and her art has appeared in children’s magazines, including “Highlights High Five” and “Clubhouse Jr.” Several of her titles have been recognized with gold medals by The Mom’s Choice Awards. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the world’s largest children’s museum, featured her art in a special “Pirates and Princesses” exhibit. Jennifer provided artwork for celebrity picture books, including those by Bill O’Reilly, James Patterson, and Guns N’ Roses. Recently, Jennifer made her debut as an author with her book “Pooka & Bunni.” Jennifer lives in Indiana with her husband and daughters, whose daily adventures, explorations, and imaginings inspire her illustrations.
Jennifer is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators and is represented by MB Artists.
About me
Gender FEMALE
Industry Arts
Occupation Illustrator
Location Indiana, United States
Introduction Jennifer Zivoin has illustrated more than 40 children’s books, and her art has appeared in children’s magazines, including “Highlights High Five” and “Clubhouse Jr.” Several of her titles have been recognized with gold medals by The Mom’s Choice Awards. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the world’s largest children’s museum, featured her art in a special “Pirates and Princesses” exhibit. Jennifer provided artwork for celebrity picture books, including those by Bill O’Reilly, James Patterson, and Guns N’ Roses. Recently, Jennifer made her debut as an author with her book “Pooka & Bunni.” Jennifer lives in Indiana with her husband and daughters, whose daily adventures, explorations, and imaginings inspire her illustrations.
Jennifer Zivoin is represented by MB Artists.
Interests Children's Illustration, Childrens Illustration, Illustration, Art, Books, Childrens Books, Children's Books
Jennifer Zivoin has illustrated more than 40 children's books, and her art has appeared in children's magazines, including "Highlights High Five" and "Clubhouse Jr." Several of her titles have been recognized with gold medals by The Mom's Choice Awards. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the world's largest children's museum, featured her art in a special "Pirates and Princesses" exhibit. Jennifer provided artwork for celebrity picture books, including those by Bill O'Reilly, James Patterson, and Guns N' Roses. Recently, Jennifer made her debut as an author with her book "Pooka & Bunni." Jennifer lives in Indiana with her husband and daughters, whose daily adventures, explorations, and imaginings inspire her illustrations.
Jennifer Zivoin has illustrated more than 40 children’s books, and her art has appeared in children’s magazines, including “Highlights High Five” and “Clubhouse Jr.” Several of her titles have been recognized with gold medals by The Mom’s Choice Awards. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the world’s largest children’s museum, featured her art in a special “Pirates and Princesses” exhibit. Jennifer provided artwork for celebrity picture books, including those by Bill O’Reilly, James Patterson, and Guns N’ Roses. Recently, Jennifer made her debut as an author with her book “Pooka & Bunni.” Jennifer lives in Indiana with her husband and daughters, whose daily adventures, explorations, and imaginings inspire her illustrations.
Below are her most recent projects, Pooka & Bunni (Magination Press),Sweet Child o' Mine by Guns N' Roses (Jimmy Patterson), God’s Surprise Gifts by Sheri Rose Shepherd (Focus on the Family), Fantastic You by Danielle Dufayet (Magination Press), A Princess' Prayer & A Hero’s Prayer by Sheri Rose Shepherd (Focus on the Family), You Are Your Strong by Danielle Dufayet (Magination Press), Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano PhD, Marietta Collins, Ann Hazzard PhD (Magination Press), Did You Hear?: A Story About Gossip by Frank J. Sileo (Magination Press), A World of Pausabilities by Frank J. Sileo (Magination Press), Pirates and Princesses exhibit of Children's Museum of Indianapolis, opens on January 30th. Featuring local artist Zivion Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf by Jeanie Franz Ransom (Magination Press), All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer (Magination Press), The Summer Fairy by Elizabeth Kelly Gillihan (Cherished Reflections), Riley Mae Series by Jill Osborne (Zonderkidz), How Can I Help? God's Calling For Kids by Mary J. Moerbe (Concordia Publishing), Putter And Sandy's Great Golf Adventure Series No.2 & The Club in My Bag by Kris E. Wilson (The Littlest Golfer Inc), NogginStik Developmental Light-up Rattle guidebook for SmartNoggin, The Lily Series by Nancy Rue (Thomas Nelson), Jack and the Toddler by Sindy McKay (Treasure Bay Inc), The Great Katie Kate Series by M. Maitland Deland (Greenleaf Book Group Press), and Reuben Rides the Rails written by B.G. McLaughlin (AuthorHouse).
Jennifer Zivoin is a children's book illustrator living in Carmel, Indiana. Although she has been trained in media ranging from figure drawing to virtual reality, her passion is bringing stories to life through her paintings. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with highest distinction from the honors division of Indiana University. She then began her professional career as a graphic designer, and later became a creative director at a multimedia design company. Today, she enjoys living out her dream of creating art for children's books. In addition to illustrating, Jennifer's hobbies include reading, baking, biking and ballroom dancing, especially tango!
About Jennifer Zivoin
Jennifer Zivoin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, and has illustrated more than 40 children’s books, including Pooka & Bunni, which was the first book she also wrote, A World of Pausabillies, and Something Happened in Our Town, which was a Notable Social Students Trade Book for Young People book and an Action Book Club selection. Her artwork has appeared in children’s magazines, including Highlights High Five and Clubhouse Jr., at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and in books by Bill O’Reilly, James Patterson, and the band Guns N’ Roses. She lives in Carmel, IN. Visit her online.
QUOTED: "It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities when you get to work on something that’s iconic."
Carmel illustrator lands assignment with ties to Guns N’ Roses, James Patterson 0
BY MARK AMBROGI ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2020CARMEL COMMUNITY
Jennifer Zivoin pauses with the first book she authored and illustrated, “Pooka & Bunni.” (Submitted photo)
Carmel resident Jennifer Zivoin has illustrated more than 40 children’s books, but none is quite like the one that was released Sept. 1.
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” is based on the Guns N’ Roses song and published by Jimmy Patterson Press, which was launched by best-selling thriller author James Patterson. The book is based on the niece and daughter of one of Guns N’ Roses managers.
“It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities when you get to work on something that’s iconic,” she said. “So many people have said to me since they heard I was doing (this project), ‘I sang this to my kids when they were little’ or ‘This is one of my favorite songs.’ It’s almost surreal to be a part of it. It makes you want to do your best work because it’s something being connected to something iconic and you want to do it justice.”
The competition to get the assignment was stiff.
“I had to submit sample art with other illustrators being considered for the project,” Zivoin said. “It was a long process of being selected.”
The 1999 Carmel High School graduate was chosen as the illustrator in February 2019.
“It took the rest of the year because James Patterson had his ideas of what he wanted to see in the book,” Zivoin said. “The band and their manager had ideas and concepts. A lot of things got rejected and a lot got accepted. The book (was) finally finished at the end of January 2020.”
Jennifer Zivoin of Carmel illustrated “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” a book based on the Guns N’ Roses song. (Submitted photo)
Zivoin said with two of the original band members being from Indiana, including lead singer Axl Rose, it made sense to set the book in the Midwest.
“A lot of the scenes I used are from here in Indiana, places where I’ve taken my own kids,” said Zivoin, who has two daughters, Olivia, 9, and Elyse, 5. “The landscapes are inspired by places people in central Indiana have been.”
Zivoin was working on a few projects at the time, including the first book she has authored and illustrated, “Pooka & Bunni,” which will be published in November by Magination Press.
“When you are a storyteller either with words or visuals, you love to tell your own story,” Zivoin said. “This is something that was in the back of my head as something I’d like to do, authoring and illustrating my own book. But I was waiting for the right story and waiting for the right moment and this was it. I reached the point in my career where I felt confident in my illustration ability. I think all parents have moments from their kids’ lives that they like to tell.”
For more, visit jzartworks.com.
QUOTED: "When I illustrate a book by another author, the framework for the story is already there. My job as an illustrator is to add to the storytelling through imagery. However, with Pooka & Bunni, I created this book the exact opposite way of how a book by another author would come together. I think in pictures, so instead of the text coming first, I illustrated the entire book without words. Then, I wrote the text for the pages to fill in any gaps in the storytelling."
Pooka & Bunni: Interview with Jennifer Zivoin
Jennifer Zivoin November 2, 2020 12:29 pm
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPSSIBLINGS
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Siblings can have complex relationships. They love each other, but sometimes they irritate each other, too. Pooka & Bunni explores the bond between sisters and how a big sister can still learn something new from her little sister.
Here’s an interview with the author and illustrator of Pooka & Bunni, Jennifer Zivoin, about how she created this book and other titles for Magination Press.
Magination Press: What was the inspiration for Pooka and Bunni?
Jennifer Zivoin: Pooka & Bunni was inspired by my daughters, who were ages 4 and 8 when I wrote the book. I was actually working on a completely different manuscript which was just not coming together. Then, one day while my older daughter Olivia was at school, my younger daughter Elyse started playing with Olivia’s Lego creation and broke it. She tried to put it back together, but when Olivia came home, she could definitely tell that all was NOT as she had left it! This sort of scene would play out in my house almost every day: Elyse idolizes and loves her big sister, and Olivia is loving and inclusive to her sister, but sometimes the age gap creates conflict.
MP: Do you have a sister or brother?
JZ: Yes, I have a younger sister AND a younger brother!
MP: Pooka & Bunni is the first book you’ve written and illustrated. How was that different from illustrating a book that someone else has written?
JZ: When I illustrate a book by another author, the framework for the story is already there. My job as an illustrator is to add to the storytelling through imagery. However, with Pooka & Bunni, I created this book the exact opposite way of how a book by another author would come together. I think in pictures, so instead of the text coming first, I illustrated the entire book without words. Then, I wrote the text for the pages to fill in any gaps in the storytelling.
MP: What was the hardest part of making Pooka & Bunni? What was the most fun?
JZ: The hardest part of creating Pooka & Bunni was coming up with the designs for the characters. Pooka and Bunni are based on my own children, but they also had to be their own unique selves as characters, and their looks and designs had to reflect that. In early sketches, Pooka and Bunni were going to be rabbits, but I just could not get their personalities to shine through, and they kept looking like animal caricatures of my daughters. Then, once I threw all structure out the window and went with monsters, that is when the character designs finally started to take shape. Monsters could move and look however I wanted, and so their designs became all about communicating Pooka and Bunni’s feelings and personalities. You can tell just by looking at them what is going on inside of their heads. That was the most fun—drawing the characters in their many poses and expressions! Every time I drew Pooka, she just made me smile!
I also had difficulty coming up with the design of the couch castle that Pooka builds at the end. It needed to be grand, but also something that she could build herself. So, I actually tore apart my living room and built a couch castle, with Elyse’s stuffed penguin standing in for Pooka, so that I could see what it could look like!
MP: Some of the books you’ve illustrated for Magination Press are about very serious issues: racial injustice, bullying, gossip, and autism. How do the themes of the book affect your illustrations?
JZ: Illustrations are supposed to enhance and build on the story through visuals, so the theme of each book affects how I approach the illustrations.
For Something Happened in Our Town, that book deals with very serious social issues. So, I chose colors that were deeper and muted, not playful. You can feel the heaviness of the mood hanging over the characters just by the colors. I also went with almost a comic-book-frames type of structure, so that I could show quick flashes of scenes, emotions, flashbacks and memories all together on one page.
For Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf, I used line to help convey mood. In scenes where the little wolf is being bullied, the trees are sharp and angled so that they are closing in around him, giving that “trapped” sort of feeling. On pages where the wolf feels safe or empowered, the scenes open up and have more light and color. Big Red’s personality is aggressive, so she has lots of sharp lines and geometric shapes in her design, while Little Bitty Wolf has softer, more flowing lines to show his gentle nature.
In All My Stripes, I wanted Zane to be a special character. His design is all about math, which is his favorite subject. But, he is different from other kids in some ways because of his autism. He likes order. He likes routine. So, all of his stripes are geometric and grouped in prime numbers. Zane is also the only zebra in the story to wear shoes. There is a scene in which he uses a paint brush because he doesn’t like the feel of paint on his hooves. So, I figured that he would not like the feel of mud on his hooves either. So he wears shoes. Another detail is that throughout the story, you can see his “autistic stripe” on every page, except for the last page, when Zane finally feels like a whole individual who can love ALL of his stripes.
MP: What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
JZ: My daughters are virtual learning right now due to the current virus situation, so I spend a lot of time supporting them in their education and helping with their music practice. I love to read and to play piano. As a family, we like to be outdoors, especially swimming in the summer. In the fall we go to corn mazes, apple orchards, hiking in the woods, horseback riding or just hang out together and roast s’mores over a fire. Board games are also pretty serious in our family!
MP: Do you have any fun facts about yourself that readers might not know that you’d like to share?
JZ: I just recently adopted two pet chinchillas. I named them Frodo and Sam, and they are now my “studio buddies”! I also have a secret talent. I can make up a song about pretty much anything on the spot. My kids get a huge kick out of this. Each day they get spontaneous humorous songs about everything from chores to ice cream to taxes to chinchilla poop!
MP: Did you have a favorite book as a child? What was it and why is it a favorite?
JZ: In elementary school, I read every book I could about dinosaurs or unicorns. Why were these favorites? Because I was obsessed with dinosaurs and unicorns. Seriously, I could name the scientific Latin names for dinosaur species. I can’t do that anymore, so don’t ask me to. I can draw dinosaurs and unicorns, though.
Fantasy has always been my favorite genre. My favorite book series in elementary school was The Chronicles of Narnia. My favorites from the series were The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I loved the magic, the world-building, the memorable characters, and the adventure….and the talking mouse with a sword. You really can’t go wrong with a talking mouse and sword. Just look at The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo!
To see a video of Jennifer describing the process of creating Pooka & Bunni in more detail, click here.
To see other books Jennifer has illustrated for Magination Press, click here.
Jennifer Zivoin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, and has illustrated more than 40 children’s books, including Pooka & Bunni, which was the first book she also wrote, A World of Pausabillies, and Something Happened in Our Town, which was a Notable Social Students Trade Book for Young People book and an Action Book Club selection. Her artwork has appeared in children’s magazines, including Highlights High Five and Clubhouse Jr., at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and in books by Bill O’Reilly, James Patterson, and the band Guns N’ Roses. She lives in Carmel, IN. Visit her online.
QUOTED: "Zivoin is never preachy, allowing young readers to absorb the gentle lesson."
"tender and loving tale."
Zivoin, Jennifer POOKA & BUNNI Magination/American Psychological Association (Children's None) $16.99 11, 10 ISBN: 978-1-4338-3214-7
Two siblings discover they can accomplish amazing things together.
Bunni is older, clever, and inventive. Pooka is little, also clever, and wants to do everything that Bunni does. Bunni draws a plan and builds a castle from objects in the room. Upon leaving for a whistling lesson, Bunni warns Pooka not to touch. Of course Pooka must investigate and is mightily impressed by the creation. A bit too much enthusiasm leads to the collapse of the structure and a big “Uh oh.” Pooka tries to fix it, but nothing works. Instead she decides to move small things and create a whole new design. When Bunni returns, it is the older sib’s turn to be impressed and amazed, only to accidently knock this one over also. But no tears, no recriminations—they will build a better castle together. Zivoin is never preachy, allowing young readers to absorb the gentle lesson about sibling love, acceptance, and just getting along. Bright, colorful illustrations depict the pair as incredibly nonfrightening furry monsters with heaps of personality. Bunni is purple and has pigtails tied with bows; Pooka is bright green with red and pink horns on her head. The pictorial details beautifully enhance and flesh out the tale with charming details.
No sibling rivalry in this tender and loving tale. (Picture book. 3-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Zivoin, Jennifer: POOKA & BUNNI." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2020. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A636727045/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d4d387da. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.
QUOTED: "skillfully provides the language to help readers remember--or learn--their abilities to treat themselves and others with gentleness."
Dufayet, Danielle FANTASTIC YOU Magination/American Psychological Association (Children's Fiction) $16.99 9, 3 ISBN: 978-1-4338-3028-0
A diverse cast of children speak kindly to themselves, practice self-care, and display gratitude.
The narrative of this book is written like a pep talk one could imagine hearing from a person with fully realized emotional intelligence. Growth mindset, positive self-talk, resilience, empathy, perspective-taking, and other learned skills from the domain of social-emotional learning are demonstrated through first-person action statements. A brown-skinned child looks in the mirror: "I'm going to give myself the same love and kindness that I give the people I love." A clearly disappointed, light-skinned child is cuddled in the lap of a caring adult: "When cheering myself up doesn't help, I try not to keep feelings inside." A dark-skinned girl with textured hair practices martial arts: "Sometimes loving me means I stand up for myself." Many strategies for exhibiting self-love chosen by the child protagonists employing them are shown as valid, reinforcing that there is no one perfect way, just as there is no one perfect person. Zivoin's illustration style is expressive and playful, but her mood can feel melancholic at times. The occasional series of vignettes on white space alleviates this sense with much-needed breathing room.
Skillfully provides the language to help readers remember--or learn--their abilities to treat themselves and others with gentleness. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Dufayet, Danielle: FANTASTIC YOU." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2019. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A594857404/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=78d2da70. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.
QUOTED: "respectfully and honestly deals with a paramount social problem, and is worthy of the highest recommendation."
The Social Issues Shelf
Something Happened In Our Town
Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, authors
Jennifer Zivoin, illustrator
Magination Press
c/o American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.maginationpress.com
9781433828546 $16.95 amazon.com
Something Happened In Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice is a children's picturebook that directly addresses a serious social issue: police shootings, especially lethal police shootings of unarmed black people. In the story, two families (one white and one black) talk about the police shooting of a black man in their local community. Something Happened In Our Town is designed to be accessible to children 4-8, but its greatest value lies in its eight pages of notes to parents and caregivers about how to teach children about racism and violence in a dangerous and sometimes unjust world. There are also several sample dialogues prepared and suggested for black families and for white families, each of which may face unique issues when educating their children. Something Happened In Our Town respectfully and honestly deals with a paramount social problem, and is worthy of the highest recommendation for public, school library, and family picturebook collections.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Source Citation
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MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Something Happened In Our Town." Children's Bookwatch, May 2018. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A542244402/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=645d60a0. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.
QUOTED: "unique, effective, and very highly recommended."
Did You Hear?: A Story About Gossip
Frank J. Sileo, author
Jennifer Zivoin, illustrator
Magination Press
c/o American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.maginationpress.com
9781433827204, $15.95, HC, 32pp, www.amazon.com
The collaborative work of author Frank J. Sileo and illustrator Jennifer Zivoin, "Did You Hear?: A Story About Gossip" uses serious and silly rumors to illustrate the concept of gossip and how it spreads and transforms to children ages 4 to 8. While gossiping is a natural human behavior, "Did You Hear?" also describes what hurtful gossip feels like, how can be like bullying, and what to do to stop it. Illustrations take readers through a day in a little girl's life and the gossip around her as the kids around her ask "did you hear?" A "Note to Parents and Caregivers" is included that describes how gossip can have negative effects, whether intended or not, and what can be done to prevent it. As entertaining as it is informative, "Did You Hear?" is a unique, effective, and very highly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Social Issues for Children picture book collections.
Please Note: Illustration(s) are not available due to copyright restrictions.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/index.htm
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Did You Hear?: A Story About Gossip." Children's Bookwatch, Jan. 2018. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A526996553/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=8002798a. Accessed 13 Dec. 2020.