SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Heartfelt
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.samanthacotterill.com/
CITY: Schenectady
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: SATA 376
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: two sons.
EDUCATION:Attended University of Wisconsin-Madison; attended Kendall College of Art and Design.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Textile designer, artist, author, and illustrator. Has worked as a ceramicist, oil painter, and fiber artist; founder of mummysam (fiber art company). Exhibitions: “The Original Art,” Society of Illustrators, New York, NY, 2017.
AWARDS:First and Best list, Toronto Public Library, 2017, and Best Children’s Books of the Year selection, Bank Street College of Education, both for Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin; Best Children’s Books of the Year selection, Bank Street College of Education, 2020, for This Beach Is Loud!; Virginia Reader’s Choice title, 2020-21, for Just Add Glitter by Angela DiTerlizzi.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
A textile artist based in upstate New York, Samantha Cotterill broke into the publishing world with her crafting book Fanciful Felties from Mummysam: Sew People to Meet, Places to Go and Things to Do. She later turned to producing self-illustrated picture books, including No More Bows, a tender but humorous look at relationships, as well as the “Little Senses” series aimed at readers on the autism spectrum. Cotterill has also illustrated a number of other books for young readers, including Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin and The Secret Rhino Society by Jonathan E. Jacobs.
No More Bows concerns the relationship between Hugo, an amiable pooch, and his owner, Milly. After spending the morning playing tea party and dress up, Hugo leaps at the chance to go for a walk. To his astonishment, Milly places a fancy red bow on around his neck, and after being humiliated in front of the other neighborhood dogs, he quickly disposes of the offending item. Alas, Milly has a number of frilly, sparkly bows at her disposal, and a frustrated Hugo runs away to the big city. Once there, however, the canine realizes how much he misses his owner, and he returns home with his own plans for sartorial elegance.
Cotterill’s debut picture book garnered strong reviews. According to a Kirkus Reviews writer, the tale’s “basic take-away is ‘life is better with friends’ but also perfectly demonstrates how to reframe new experiences to allow joy over discomfort.” In Booklist, Shelle Rosenfeld observed that “Cotterill’s cartoonish, retro-like illustrations incorporate vibrant colors, patterns, and details, comically conveying Hugo’s many emotions,” and a Publishers Weekly critic similarly noted that the author-illustrator “uses a broad, bouncy cartooning style reminiscent of mid-1960s animation.” “From its vibrant and expressive illustrations to its hilarious and heartwarming story, this is a book to be savored and shared,” Sally James commented in School Library Journal.
The bond between a child and her pet is also the focus of Charlotte and the Rock, by Martin. A devoted animal lover, Charlotte Grey longs for a pet to call her own. On her sixth birthday, the youngster receives a most unusual gift from her parents: a large, round rock. Undaunted, Charlotte makes the best of the unusual situation, and her patience is rewarded when the rock undergoes a transformation. “Vintage-style illustrations with spare coloring add to the appeal of this heartwarming story,” Jasmine L. Precopio explained in School Library Journal, and a Kirkus Reviews critic stated that “Cotterill’s pen-outlined drawings and minimal color palette give her cartoon art a breezy feel that matches well with the silliness of the text.”
Based loosely on a Talmudic story, The Forever Garden by Laurel Snyder explores the relationship between a curious young girl and the kindly neighbor who teaches her how to care for the vegetables that grow in a backyard garden. Critiquing the work in BookPage, Deborah Hopkinson reported that “Snyder’s gentle, lyrical text is brought to vivid life by Samantha Cotterill’s exuberant illustrations.” School Library Journal contributor Barbara Spiri wrote that the “digitally colorized pen-and-ink illustrations are soft and heartwarming.”
In The Secret Rhino Society, an imaginative tale by Jacobs, three unusual companions—a hippo, an earthworm, and a lightbulb—form a club to share their passion for rhinoceroses. When the trio finally meet a rhino, however, her gentle demeanor fails to impress her admirers. “Cotterill’s delicate yet exuberant hand-built three-dimensional cardboard illustrations are a perfect foil to the book’s theme of navigating expectations and assumptions about others,” a writer observed in Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist critic Kathleen McBroom noted that the “amazing illustrations … perfectly complement the offbeat humor” of the story.
For her self-illustrated “Little Senses” books, Cotterill drew on her experiences growing up on the autism spectrum, as she was eventually diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. She relates in a Kid Lit Frenzy essay, “I grew up in the late 70’s/80’s where autism wasn’t known or understood the way it is today, and most definitely not on the radar during the formative years of my childhood. I was just a very awkward kid who had a lot of ‘issues.’ I felt like an alien trying desperately to fit in and belong, often being teased and bullied by others for my ‘odd’ or ‘weird’ behaviors.” Her intent with her “Little Senses” books is to write stories that are “both entertaining and educational, while ultimately giving the reader a feeling of being ‘heard’ and understood.” She also aims to use humor to promote engagement and offer children on the autism spectrum “tools to help maneuver overwhelming moments.”
Nope. Never. Not for Me! begins with a young triceratops-costumed toddler being persuade by her mother to try broccoli, which she finds repulsive—but her mother is content that she tried it. The girl goes on to try other new foods and uses a dinosaur chart to plot out the foods she likes and does not like. In School Library Journal, Kelly Roth called the book “a good choice for children who have sensory issues or are simply picky eaters.” Observing that the book befits autistic children but “has broad applicability to neurotypical audiences as well,” a Kirkus Reviews writer called Nope. Never. Not for Me! “a delightful book that reminds us all to try something new, even if it’s ‘yacky!’”
A boy with a snorkel mask adjusts to his first day at the seashore in This Beach Is Loud! The sand is itchy against his skin, the splashes are startling, and some of the noises are overwhelming, but with help from his father and some clever strategies, the boy is able to relax and enjoy himself. In School Library Journal, Danielle Jones admired how Cotterill “subtly shows tools the family uses to prep for new experiences and for when things become overstimulating, paving the way for dialogic reading and conversations.” A Kirkus Reviews writer observed that “everyone can feel affected by a new scenario,” and This Beach Is Loud! helps children envision how they can “overcome their anxieties and have a beautiful day at the beach.”
In Can I Play Too?, a pair of boys join forces to build a track using their classroom’s train set. When one of the youngsters begins to dominate the activity, however, the other grows frustrated and a struggle ensues. With an assist from a patient teacher, the boys learn a new strategy for coping with strong emotions. It Was Supposed to Be Sunny, the fourth installment in Cotterill’s “Little Senses” series, concerns a girl whose careful preparations for a birthday celebration are ruined by an unexpected storm.
According to a critic in Kirkus Reviews, Can I Play Too? offers “a simple lesson in empathy that can go a long way,” and Booklist contributor Shelle Rosenfeld explained that Cotterill “relies predominantly on dialogue and expressive pencil-and-ink illustrations, which nicely telegraph the emotions and reactions in the two boys.” In a critique of It Was Supposed to Be Sunny, a Kirkus Reviews writer stated that the work presents “a nonjudgmental approach for gently teaching how to deal with life’s setbacks.”
[open new]
In Elaine Vickers’s picture book Thankful, a girl writes down the things she’s thankful for throughout the year. She writes each item on a thin piece of paper, then creates links for a long chain, revealing the long list of good things in her life, like her warm house, friends, loving parents, dreams, love, and a shining moon and sun. Cotterill illustrates with evocative, hand-built 3-D diorama sets made from paper and cardboard, with the various family members and other characters collaged into the scenes. Calling the dioramas “quite remarkable. Charming, engaging, and chock-full of little details,” a Kirkus Reviews critic concluded: “A visual delight, best used to motivate appreciation of the world around us.”
In an interview online at Let’s Talk Picture Books, Cotterill explained that she used a variety of materials, such as cardboard, balsam wood, paper, ink, paints, and drawers of unused crayons to build the 3D sets. She also enjoyed Vickers’s text, saying: “I’m a very aesthetically driven person, and having a chance to illustrate how those little joys come together to create an atmosphere I’m grateful for was one I couldn’t wait to jump on.”
Cotterill used the same 3D diorama technique to illustrate Jean Reidy’s A Grand Day, which celebrates the fun that parents, grandparents, and grandchildren have together. The family enjoys various days playing in the park, having a picnic, playing dress-up, dancing, making breakfast, gardening, and making art. The diverse family has different skin tones and one child uses a wheelchair. In Kirkus Reviews, a writer remarked: “Cotterill’s stunning mixed-media, three-dimensional illustrations flesh out the tale and depict every activity and setting in minute detail.”
Vickers and Cotterill teamed up again for Heartfelt, in which a child makes paper hearts to give to her teacher, friends, family, and neighbors. Along with sharing her hearts, she learns about other ways to show love, such as drawing pictures for a friend, delivering cooking, and reading her younger sibling a story. The book encourages children to perform acts of service to family and community. Praising Cotterill’s 3D illustrations, a critic in Kirkus Reviews commented: “The child’s handful of paper hearts pop off the page…Movement and depth are so effectively conveyed that some images feel like video stills.”
[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, December 1, 2016, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of No More Bows, p. 64; March 1, 2017, Julia Smith, review of Charlotte and the Rock, p. 72; April 15, 2017, Connie Fletcher, review of The Forever Garden, p. 54; March 15, 2020, Kathleen McBroom, review of The Secret Rhino Society, p. 75; February 1, 2020, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Can I Play Too?, p. 50.
BookPage, May, 2017, Deborah Hopkinson, Deborah, review of The Forever Garden, p. 30.
Horn Book, March-April, 2017, Julie Roach, review of Charlotte and the Rock, p. 73.
Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2016, review of No More Bows; January 15, 2017, review of Charlotte and the Rock; April 1, 2019, review of Nope. Never. Not for Me!; April 15, 2019, review of This Beach Is Loud!; December 15, 2019, review of Can I Play Too?; March 1, 2020, review of The Secret Rhino Society; January 15, 2021, review of It Was Supposed to Be Sunny; August 1, 2021, review of Thankful; May 1, 2022, review of A Grand Day; November 1, 2024, review of Heartfelt.
Publishers Weekly, October 31, 2016, review of No More Bows, p. 76; April 13, 2020, review of The Secret Rhino Society, p. 61.
Resource Links, June, 2017, Tanya Boudreau, review of Charlotte and the Rock, p. 5.
School Library Journal, January, 2017, Sally James, review of No More Bows, p. 69; May, 2017, Jasmine L. Precopio, review of Charlotte and the Rock, p. 64, and Barbara Spiri, review of The Forever Garden, p. 69; June, 2019, Danielle Jones, review of This Beach Is Loud!, p. 59, and Kelly Roth, review of Nope. Never. Not For Me!, p. 62; February, 2020, Jessica Marie, review of Can I Play Too?, p. 47; April, 2020, Robbin E. Friedman, review of The Secret Rhino Society, p. 115.
Story Monsters Ink, July, 2019, review of This Beach Is Loud!, p. 55.
ONLINE
Books2inspire, https://books2inspire.com/ (May 11, 2020), Kira Parris-Moore, “Interview with Samantha Cotterill.”
Kid Lit Frenzy, http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/ (June 18, 2019), “Autism & Sensory Learning Campaign: Guest Post with Author, Samantha Cotterill.”
Let’s Talk Picture Books, https://www.letstalkpicturebooks.com/ (November 2, 2021), “Let’s Talk Illustrators #196: Samantha Cotterill.”
Mile High Reading, https://readingwithmrteut.wordpress.com/ (February 6, 2018), Dylan Tuet, “Interview with Samantha Cotterill!”
Novel Mind, https://www.anovelmind.com/ (January 4, 2020), Sally J. Pla, “Samantha Cotterill: Little Senses, Big Impacts!”
Samantha Cotterill website, https://www.samanthacotterill.com (August 15, 2021).
Watch. Connect. Read., http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/ (June 18, 2019), John Schu, “The Little Senses Series” (interview with Cotterill).*
Samantha Cotterill is an award winning picture book author and illustrator of many books for children. Samantha has been featured in The New York Times (as illustrator for Just Add Glitter, written by Angela Diterlizzi and A Grand Day, written by Jean Reidy) and The Wall Street Journal for her art in The Jinx and The Doom Fight Crime! (written by Lisa Mantchev). She has recently launched a book series for kids on the Autism spectrum and/or with sensory issues entitled Little Senses, with This Beach Is Loud! chosen for Dolly Parton's 2020, 2021 and 2022 book list for The Imagination Library. Over 1,000,000 copies have been distributed nationwide through this program. Samantha contributes regularly as a resident host for the 3 Point Perspective Podcast, and as instructor at the School of Visual Storytelling.
Samantha is represented by Kirsten Hall of Catbird, and works out of her studio in Upstate New York.
PUBLISHED/UPCOMING BOOKS:
Look written by Gabi Snyder - (Simon and Schuster, April 2024)
-2024 NSTA/Children's Book Council Outstanding Trade Science Book
-2024 Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
-Society of Illustrators Original Art Show Selection
A Grand Day written by Jean Reidy - (Simon and Schuster, Spring 2022)
-New York Times Review- "Picture Book Worlds You'll Want to Reach In and Touch"
-Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
Thankful written by Elaine Vickers- (Simon and Schuster, Fall 2021) - Society of Illustrators Original Art Show 2021
-CBC Books Tradebook List 2021
-A Mighty Girl's Best Books of the Year
-2022 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
-Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
Little Senses Book Series for kids with Autism and/or SPD written and illustrated by Samantha Cotterill (Penguin, 2019/2020/2021)
This Beach Is Loud! - Dolly Parton's Imagination Library 2020, 2021 and 2022 Book List
*Starred Review School Library Journal
A Bank Street Books Best Book of the year 2020
Time Out New York selection “101 Best Books for Kids of All Ages”
Nope! Never! Not for Me! - CeCe Bell award finalist 2019
Can I Play Too? - Clel Bell award 2020
It Was Supposed To Be Sunny- Clel Bell award 2022
The Secret Rhino Society written by Jonathan E Jacobs - (Simon and Schuster, Summer 2020) *Starred Review Booklist
Just Add Glitter written by Angela Diterlizzi - (Simon and Schuster, Fall 2018) - New York Times Review "Sparkle of Genius"
- 2019 Mass Book Awards Selection
- 2020 Virginia Reader’s Choice
Once Upon A Slime written by Andy Maxwell - (Little Brown, 2018) - Junior Library Guild Selection
Charlotte and the Rock written by Stephen W Martin - (Penguin, 2017) - Junior Library Guild Selection, Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year, Society of Illustrators Original Art Show , Toronto Public Library First and Best of the Year, Chocolate Lily Awards Finalist, Golden Sower Award Finalist
Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime! written by Lisa Mantchev - (Simon and Schuster, 2018) - *Starred review Kirkus
Wall Street Journal Review
Bank Street Books Best Book of the Year Selection
No More Bows! written and illustrated by Samantha Cotterill - (Harper Collins, 2017) - *Starred Review Kirkus , Society of Illustrators Original Art Show, Society of Illustrators Annual Exhibition selection
November 2, 2021
Let's Talk Illustrators #196: Samantha Cotterill
I was so lucky to get a chance to chat with one of the most versatile illustrators I've ever met, Samantha Cotterill! If you take a look at Samantha's body of work, it's clear she works hard to create a unique illustration experience based on the tone of the text she's illustrating, and Thankful was created in her incredible diorama style (one of my favorites!). Samantha let me pick her brain, and our chat is below--enjoy!
About the book:
I am thankful for a home where I am safe and warm.
Thankful for parents who read me stories and comb my hair gently, gently.
Who whisper the same poem every night when they tuck me in.
When the first snow falls, a little girl writes down the things she's thankful for on strips of paper and links them together. As one idea leads to another, her chain grows longer. There's so much good in her life: a friend, things that are warm, things that are cold, color, things that can be fixed. This beautiful story is a much-needed reminder to observe and honor life's small joys.
Peek underneath the dust jacket:
And check out the book trailer:
Let's talk Samantha Cotterill!
LTPB: How did you become the illustrator of Thankful? What were the first images that popped into your mind when you saw Elaine Vickers’ text?
SC: I was asked to illustrate Thankful by my editor at the time for Paula Wiseman Books, Sylvie Frank (We had previously worked together on Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime by Lisa Mantchev and The Secret Rhino Society by Jonathan E Jacobs). Elaine Vicker’s lyrical narrative about gratitude based on a tradition in her own family was a perfect match for working in a 3-dimensional format (3D paper chains...I mean, that’s kind of a given).
The first image that came to mind when reading Elaine’s poignant book was one of a cozily lit bookstore. There’s nothing quite like the sensory experience of walking across creaky floorboards, surrounded by the wonderful aroma of books as you find that cozy little nook for curling up to a good book. I’m a very aesthetically driven person, and having a chance to illustrate how those little joys come together to create an atmosphere I’m grateful for was one I couldn’t wait to jump on. (And I’m slightly obsessed with interior spaces, so there’s that too.)
LTPB: What ended up being the most rewarding and most challenging moments for you in creating these illustrations?
SC: The most rewarding moment in creating Thankful comes from the simplest visual spread in the entire book. Elaine so wonderfully wrote “I am thankful for a friend that waits for me at recess, and a teacher who knows when I am trying my best,” and little did I know how challenging this second stanza was going to prove for me visually in terms of supporting and enhancing her prose. Thankfully, I have an incredible team at Paula Wiseman, and my art director Lizzy Bromley knows when I need to put a pin in something and just give it time to percolate. Thinking is just as important of a step in making books, and the ideas that come from the numerous walks, baths, and household projects during this time support that belief. There are usually two spreads in each sketch dummy that are left blank, with bold lettered statements of “I NEED TIME ON THIS ONE” sprawled across where illustrated linework should have gone. Not every image will come during the sketch phase, and sometimes I need to be in the throws of final art to let those parts reveal themselves. For this particular moment, trying to visualize a moment where a child is trying their best in a manner that’s 100% positive, supportive, and inspiring proved much harder than anticipated. I spent many a day banging my head against the wall on this one, and worried that I’d fall short of finding that missing piece of the puzzle. It wasn’t until I remembered my son’s Montessori days of learning to spell thorough the focus on letter sounds did it suddenly come into focus. The minute that light bulb moment happened (no doubt during bath number 3 of the day), everything came into place fast.
As far as the most rewarding moment, I’d have to direct that answer towards the “I am thankful for color” spread. Figuring out how to weave multiple paper hot air balloons without wreaking havoc on my rheumatoid arthritic hands was an obstacle I was determined to conquer. Two things I’ve learned with chronic disease and art: 1) Be adaptable. 2) Be flexible. The hot air balloon pieces had to be large enough to hold and weave without pain, so everything was scaled up in size to allow that to happen. And having a flare up during the creation of this spread meant a digital approach to adding small figures to the background and baskets instead of cutting them out. Basically it comes down to determination and will. If you really want to make something, find a way to do it.
LTPB: What did you use to create the illustrations in this book? Is this your preferred medium? How does your process change from book to book?
SC: The illustrations for Thankful were made using cardboard, balsam wood, paper, ink, paints, and those drawers of unused crayons you have accrued after buying kids’ school list supplies every year from Kindergarten on. (When you have an 18 and 16 year old, that’s a lot of crayons over the years). Each set was built on a surface area averaging about 3’ x 4’, and subsequently lit and photographed with a DSLR camera. 3D for me just comes more naturally than working 2- dimensionally, and while it may seem like a lot more work, time goes by faster as I’m more zoned in and just enjoying the process. The added ability to jump around between different stages of the book-making journey also satisfies this ADHD brain very much so. Boredom can come very easily to me, so keeping things fresh with the opportunity to change things up is key (probably why I loved reading only short stories or choose your own adventure books as a kid. I like being able to jump around vs going in a linear order from beginning to end). Having the choice to focus on either drawing, construction, set building, photography, or post photography editing on a particular day limits my chances of losing interest and keeps engagement in check.
In terms of process from book to book, I try to sit back each time and let the heart of the story direct the visual direction it needs to go. While 3D is my preferred mode of working, it’s not suited for every story, and some benefit from a focus on 2D instead. That being said, Thankful was pretty much a no-brainer when it came to heading down the 3D path. A book about strips of paper linked together? Well, that was a perfect opportunity to use all that unused school construction paper up too :). With Thankful's story centered around a meaningful kid friendly activity, I set out to create accessible spreads that could inspire further craft exploration. By seeing the edges of cardboard and materials used in a more raw state, kids will hopefully find themselves rummaging through drawers of supplies to create their own dioramic worlds of art.
LTPB: What are you working on now? Anything you can show us?
SC: I’m currently in the stage of sketching for an upcoming book by Gabi Snyder, entitled Look. This particular manuscript is about a child who seeks out patterns in the world in order to make sense of it (When things feel jumbled, look: can you find new patterns?): zigzags, concentric circles, checkerboards—all can be found when we take the time to look closely. Naturally, this one will be in 3D as well. Right now I’m fighting through my usual imposter syndrome phase that seems to be required with every book I start.
In July, my next 3D book with Paula Wiseman will debut. Jean Reidy authored an incredibly warmhearted story entitled A Grand Day. Through this rhyming wonder, readers will follow all kinds of family configurations as grandparents and grandchildren celebrate togetherness. I really enjoyed creating some of the interior spaces in this one, AND finally got over my fear of nature scenes...for now.
LTPB: If you got the chance to write your own picture book autobiography, who (dead or alive!) would you want to illustrate it, and why?
SC: If I don’t want to be disowned, I better say my mum. (She’s a fantastic painter. Patricia Cotterill. Look her up.)
A million thanks to Samantha for taking time to answer questions! Thankful published earlier this season from Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books!
Special thanks to Samantha and Paula Wiseman for use of these images!
Vickers, Elaine THANKFUL Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster (Children's None) $17.99 9, 7 ISBN: 978-1-5344-7734-6
A child enumerates all the things to be thankful for throughout the year.
At the beginning of each year, a child starts making a “thankful chain” to last through December, writing on each paper link something to give thanks for. As the child moves through the daily routines, there are many things to be thankful for, both at home and out and about. Though the sentiment is worthy, the text feels more adult-driven than childlike. It is hard to imagine a young child expressing thanks for “love and dreams, night and morning. For a moon and sun that always come back” or saying, “I am thankful for a heart that beats, and every breath, in and out.” Nevertheless, the book could be used as a springboard to help children notice, appreciate, and enjoy the small gifts of life. The illustrations for the book are hand-built 3-D dioramalike sets, made from paper and cardboard, that are quite remarkable. Charming, engaging, and chock-full of little details, they will transfix readers. The family—mother, father, infant sibling, and the narrator—appears to be an interracial one. Mother and children have dark hair and olive skin; the father present White. They and other characters are represented as paper cutouts, drawn with lively lines and colored, then collaged into the scenes. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A visual delight, best used to motivate appreciation of the world around us. (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Vickers, Elaine: THANKFUL." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A669986432/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=27e6590f. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Reidy, Jean A GRAND DAY Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster (Children's None) $18.99 7, 5 ISBN: 978-1-5344-9976-8
Every day is a grand day when family members have fun together.
Children and parents and most especially grandparents gather to enjoy one another's company while sharing a wide variety of activities. Brief, simply expressed rhymes capture the excitement the children feel while participating in each adventure. The rhymes appear within brightly hued double-page spreads that enlarge and enhance every aspect of the events. Families are seen enjoying breakfast on the porch, backyard gardening, making art, and visiting the park to play, have picnics, and read. They cook together, play dress-up, dance, discover treasures in the attic, have a family feast, and roast marshmallows around a fire pit. Cotterill's stunning mixed-media, three-dimensional illustrations flesh out the tale and depict every activity and setting in minute detail while conveying the love and joy of the extended families with laughter and loads of hugs and kisses. Family members are diverse in skin tone; one child uses a wheelchair. The phrase grand days has a subtle added meaning, referring to both the fun of the day and the special closeness children feel with their grandparents. "Family ties so strong and true / Part of me / is part of you." Young readers and their grown-ups will appreciate this homage to familial love and will return to it again and again.(This book was reviewed digitally.)
A heartfelt, exuberant ode to intergenerational bonding. (Picture book. 3-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Reidy, Jean: A GRAND DAY." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A701896683/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=dbc00354. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Snyder, Gabi LOOK Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster (Children's None) $18.99 4, 16 ISBN: 9781665905404
In this companion to Listen (2021), illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, Snyder encourages children to develop perceptive looking and pattern-seeking as coping tools for the frequent visual overwhelm of daily life.
A pregnant parent and a child--both ginger-haired and white-presenting--navigate a busy autumn day, with stops at a garden, a farmers market, a pond, and a wooded trail. The child carries a sketchbook gifted by the parent, making drawings of patterns spied in textiles, butterfly wings, and the starry night sky. Throughout, the text directly addresses readers, pointing out patterns, encouraging them to find others, and suggesting physical activities that add kinesthetic possibilities for pattern-finding. Snyder identifies the striped pattern made by a kitchen chair's cast shadow--"Light, dark, light, dark"--then asks, as the pair leave the house, "Where else can you discover stripes?" Cotterill's hand-built mixed-media constructions, replete with 2-D painted inserts of diverse people, flora, and fauna, embody the visual cacophony of Snyder's text. A lively farmers market scene contains visual depth, colorful details, and plenty of discoverable patterns. The walk home leads the parent and child through woods teeming with mushrooms, bright leaves, and wildlife. The occasional blurring of the photographed backgrounds is a bit jarring, evoking more a camera's eye than a child's visual experiences.
A warm invitation for children to find mastery and calm in looking. (glossary, pattern activities) (Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Snyder, Gabi: LOOK." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A782202625/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=eee8888b. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Cotterill, Samantha HEARTFELT Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster (Children's None) $19.99 1, 7 ISBN: 9781665929769
A youngster spreads love throughout the community.
The tan-skinned narrator makes tiny paper hearts. "The hearts don't say 'I love you,'" explains the protagonist, "but, kind of, they do--when you share them." The child gives the hearts to friends, family, and neighbors while finding other ways to show love: drawing a picture of a cat for a pal, delivering cookies to a neighbor, and reading a story to a younger sibling. With the paper hearts now all gone, the child comes to an important realization: "I find love everywhere, being shared in a hundred different ways from hearts of all shapes and sizes." Cotterill's illustrations--hand-built sets that were then photographed--bring the narrative to life, giving it a three-dimensional, textured feel. The child's handful of paper hearts pop off the page, while the bag of cookies looks real enough to hold. Movement and depth are so effectively conveyed that some images feel like video stills. This moving story will empower children to find ways to positively influence their own communities. The acts of service are practical and realistic, making this a perfect tale to share with preschoolers and early elementary school students. In her author's note, Vickers discusses how she drew inspiration from an activity she implemented years ago at children's classes at her church. People depicted vary in terms of skin tone and ability.
A kid-friendly demonstration of how we can all make the world a more loving place.(Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Cotterill, Samantha: HEARTFELT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A813883636/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f17536fd. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.