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ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: APPLE AND MAGNOLIA
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.lauragehl.com/
CITY: Chevy Chase
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: SATA 360
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; husband’s name Ryan; children: Kevin, Nathan, Seth, Tessa.
EDUCATION:Yale University, B.A.; Georgetown University, Ph.D.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Teacher on the high-school level; former science researcher; Science Weekly (periodical), former senior science editor. Presenter at schools and libraries.
AVOCATIONS:Biking, walking, hiking, skiing, travel, square dancing, classical music.
AWARDS:Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended selection and Honor Book designation, International Literacy Association, both 2014, both for One Big Pair of Underwear; New York Public Library Best Books selection, 2018, for My Pillow Keeps Moving.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
A former teacher and science writer, Laura Gehl now entertains and enlightens young children but creating humorous picture-book texts, and her stories include My Pillow Keeps Moving!, Dibs!, Except When They Don’t, The Ninja Club Sleepover, and The Hiking Viking. Gehl shifts her focus to the toddler set in her “Peep and Egg” and “Baby Scientist” board books, and she highlights a talented but overlooked female scientist in her picture-book biography Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer. Praised for their upbeat characters and creative plots, her stories have been brought to life by a range of illustrators, among them Tom Lichtenheld, Sarah Horne, Daniel Wiseman, Joyce Wan, Gareth Lucas, Fred Blunt, and Marie Hermansson.
Gehl launched her popular “Peep and Egg” picture-book series with I’m Not Hatching, which was based on her experiences raising her own four children. “With four kids of my own, I spent many years hearing I’M NOT every day. And by every day, I really mean every minute,” she recalled in an interview for the Tara Lazar website. I’m Not Hatching was followed by I’m Not Trick-or-Treating, I’m Not Taking a Bath, and I’m Not Using the Potty.
A chicken with an unusual talent for organization is the star of I Got a Chicken for My Birthday, and Gehl’s chronicle of the bird’s efforts to fulfill the wish of a doting Abuela is captured in Horne’s colorful images. “This utterly seamless blend of story and art is an ingenious treat for all ages,” asserted a Kirkus Reviews critic in appraising the tale, while Randall Enos quipped in Booklist that Gehl’s “story is … as good as a ticket to an amusement park.”
Illustrated by Christopher Weyant, Gehl’s story in My Pillow Keeps Moving! finds an older man increasingly befuddled as he mistakes a stray dog for a pillow, and then for a variety of other objects, among them a fur collar. “Little readers will delight in being more sharply tuned to events than the confused gentleman,” predicted a Kirkus Reviews contributor, “and will gleefully point out the visual clues.” A junior sleuth faces a more-complex mystery in Juniper Kai: Super Spy, and this youngster’s ability to solve a local mystery will make her “a read-aloud favorite for little supersleuths,” suggested a Kirkus Reviews critic.
Sibling rivalry is Gehl’s focus in Dibs!, as toddler Clancy watches older brother Julian stake claim to all the best things rather than make an attempt to share. When the savvy child masters the same verbal trick—calling dibs” he takes it to such extremes that his aspirations eventually include occupying the White House. Praising the brightly colored illustrations by Marcin Piwowarski, a Kirkus Reviews critic recommended Dibs! by citing the “increasing suspense and silliness” in Gehl’s “simple narration.”
Always Looking Up was inspired by Gehl’s conversation with a friend who works for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He “suggested I consider writing about Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, best known for her role in making the Hubble Space Telescope a reality,” she told online interviewer Melissa Stoller. “I started reading everything I could find about Dr. Roman, and I was hooked! She lived quite close to me, and I was able to interview her in person. The best part was that she shared her childhood photographs and memorabilia with me—including a school essay she wrote about Galileo, and another about the moon. Dr. Roman died before Always Looking Up came out, and I regret that she never got to see the gorgeous illustrations. But she did get to approve the final text, and I’m glad she at least knew that lots of kids would get to read about and be inspired by her life.”
Also focusing on science, the “Baby Scientists” board books include Baby Botanist, Baby Oceanographer, Baby Paleontologist, and Baby Astronaut, and are illustrated by Daniel Wiseman. In the first book, a purple-haired toddler shares basic plant facts, while Baby Paleontologist introduces youngsters to dinosaurs and the study of fossil evidence. A toddler space traveler and her owl friend prepare to blast off in Baby Astronaut, while in Baby Oceanographer an infant in flippers takes a dip in the ocean and meets several new friends. Gehl’s “Baby Scientists” books pair simple concepts with “illustrations [that] are uncluttered and engaging,” noted a Kirkus Reviews writer in praise of Baby Astronaut. Writing in the same periodical, another critic noted of Baby Botanist that Gehl’s “simple and straightforward” text pairs with artwork that is “colorful, uncluttered, and humorously engaging.”
(open new)In the picture book, May Saves the Day, young May runs the Word Saver, Inc. business, where she uses letters to change words to reduce any threats the original word may contain. The bees going to the playground become beets. The snake in the classroom becomes a sneaker. She shuns Stu’s offer to be her sidekick but changes her mind when she sees his skills with a lasso can also fix words. A Kirkus Reviews contributor found it to be “a clever presentation of literacy in action.”
With Happy Llamakkah, a group of llamas and alpacas are spinning dreidels, frying latkes, and lighting candles in preparation for the holidays. The book’s title returns frequently in a rhyming refrain with the festive activities. A Kirkus Reviews contributor pointed out that “there’s not enough substance built around the refrain to fill out even this slim book.”
Who Is a Scientist? showcases fourteen types of scientists from the 21st century, using two photos and simple text to describe what they are working on. The types of scientists range from astronomer to neuroscientist and illustrate their varied work environments. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that the book offers “convincing evidence that readers, too, might become scientists.”
In the picture book, Bat Wings! Cat Wings?, Gehl looks at why some animals have certain attributes while others don’t. While a moose has antlers, a goose does not. This comparative approach shows the animals with their iconic attribute and then another animal with it as well, indicating that it is not right. A Kirkus Reviews contributor said that the picture book is “mildly humorous, attractively illustrated, but too slight to be of significant value.”
With the picture book, Apple and Magnolia, Britta is determined to safeguard her favorite types of trees: the apple tree and the magnolia tree. With Nana’s help, the young girl finds a way to keep the magnolia tree’s branches from dropping too much by connecting it to the apple tree. Writing in School Library Journal, Joan Kindig stated: “Beautifully told and illustrated, this book is a gem on many levels.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor queried: “What’s not to love about this endearing and effervescent picture book?”
In the picture book, The Hiking Viking, Leif is not like his peers. While they prefer more aggressive activities, Leif is content to walk around and admire the countryside. His family tries to get him interested in other things “more appropriate” to his status and culture, however, he isn’t interested. When his clan ties another one in a competition, though, it is Leif’s love of nature that helps them win the tie-breaker. Booklist contributor Shelle Rosenfeld claimed: “Couched in a lively, entertaining read, the positive and supportive messages are evident.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor found it to be “a neat Nordic tale about the importance of valuing nature–one’s own and the world’s.”
Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly features a unicorn named Donut who lives happily with its friends in the forest. The problem is that Donut wants to fly but cannot. Donut’s friends create a pair of wings from sticks and leaves, but that does not work. Eventually they construct a basket for the birds to carry Donut in the sky. A contributor to Publishers Weekly reasoned that “given the minimal text, art by Zuill … does a lot of heavy lifting … and it excels.”(close new)
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, September 15, 2014, Maryann Owen, review of One Big Pair of Underwear, p. 60; February 1, 2016, Anita Lock, review of I’m Not Hatching, p. 53; March 1, 2018, Randall Enos, review of I Got a Chicken for My Birthday, p. 54; February 15, 2022, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of The Hiking Viking, p. 53.
Horn Book, September 1, 2014, Robin L. Smith, review of One Big Pair of Underwear, p. 85; September 1, 2016, Sian Gaetano, review of I’m Not Trick-or-Treating, p. 72.
Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2014, review of One Big Pair of Underwear; December 15, 2014, review of Hare and Tortoise Race across Israel; February 1, 2015, review of And Then Another Sheep Turned Up; November 1, 2015, review of I’m Not Hatching; August 1, 2017, review of Koala Challah; September 1, 2017, review of I’m Not Taking a Bath; December 15, 2017, reviews of My Pillow Keeps Moving! and I’m Not Using the Potty; January 15, 2018, review of I Got a Chicken for My Birthday; August 1, 2018, review of Delivery Bear; March 1, 2019, review of Dibs!; June 15, 2019, review of Baby Astronaut; July 1, 2019, review of Juniper Kai: Super Spy; October 15, 2019, review of Baby Botanist; February 15, 2020, review of Baby Paleontologist; May 15, 2020, review of May Saves the Day; September 1, 2020, review of Happy Llamakkah!; July 15, 2021, review of Bat Wings! Cat Wings?; October 1, 2021, review of Who Is a Scientist?; December 1, 2021, review of Apple and Magnolia; December 15, 2021, review of The Hiking Viking.
Publishers Weekly, June 30, 2014, review of One Big Pair of Underwear, p. 61; January 12, 2015, review of And Then Another Sheep Turned Up, p. 63; November 23, 2015, review of I’m Not Hatching, p. 65; August 1, 2016, review of I’m Not Trick-or-Treating, p. 65; August 14, 2017, review of Koala Challah, p. 78; November 13, 2017, review of My Pillow Keeps Moving!, p. 63; January 15, 2018, review of I Got a Chicken for My Birthday, p. 59; April 1, 2019, review of Except When They Don’t, p. 60; February 7, 2022, review of Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly, p. 62.
School Library Journal, August 1, 2014, Kathleen Kelly, review of One Big Pair of Underwear, p. 71; March 1, 2015, Heidi Estrin, review of Hare and Tortoise Race across Israel, p. 116; February 1, 2016, Amy Nolan, review of I’m Not Hatching, p. 66; September 1, 2016, Robin Sofge, review of I’m Not Trick-or-Treating, p. 110; November 1, 2017, Amelia Jenkins, review of I’m Not Taking a Bath, p. 55; February 1, 2018, Gretchen Hardin, review of I’m Not Using the Potty, p. 52; February 1, 2018, Sarah Webb, review of My Pillow Keeps Moving!, p. 58; January 1, 2022, Joan Kindig, review of Apple and Magnolia, p. 62.
ONLINE
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, http://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.com/ (November 6, 2015), Deborah Kalb, author interview; (February 1, 2016) Deborah Kalb, interview with Gehl”; (October 26, 2017) Deborah Kalb, author interview; (October 13, 2020), Deborah Kalb, author interview.
Laura Gehl website, http://www.lauragehl.com (May 1, 2022).
Lerner Blog, https://lernerbooks.blog/ (September 1, 2021), author interview.
Lerner Books website, https://lernerbooks.com/ (May 1, 2022), author interview.
Math Is Everywhere, https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/ (October 28, 2021), Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez, author interview.
Melissa Stoller, https://www.melissastoller.com/ (December 2, 2019), Melissa Stoller, author interview.
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators website, https://www.scbwi.org/ (May 1, 2022), author profile.
Tara Lazar, https://taralazar.com (February 29, 2016), author interview.
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), https://taralazar.com/ (March 24, 2022), author interview.
Zoobean, https://www.beanstack.com/ (January 26, 2022), author interview.
About Me:
Approximately 99% of my brain power goes to thinking about family, friends, books (my own and other people’s), dark chocolate, and ice cream (current favorite flavor: coffee Oreo).
My Past Life:
I have a B.A. in psychology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Georgetown University. Before becoming a full-time children’s book author, I taught high school, did research in a neurobiology lab, and worked as a science writer.
My Official Author Bio:
Laura Gehl is the author of nearly two dozen popular picture books, board books, and early readers. Her books include One Big Pair of Underwear (Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, International Literacy Association Honor Book, Booklist Books for Youth Editors’ Choice); the Peep and Egg series (Parents’ Choice Recommendation, Amazon Editors’ Pick, Children’s Choice Book Award Finalist); My Pillow Keeps Moving (Junior Library Guild selection, New York Public Library Best Books of 2018 selection); I Got a Chicken for My Birthday (Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2018 selection); and Baby Astronaut (A Mighty Girl Best Book of 2019 selection). Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children. She is represented by Erzsi Deàk at Hen&ink Literary.
Some of my favorite books from when I was a kid:
A Birthday For Frances by Russell and Lillian Hoban
The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater
The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
The Macdonald Hall series by Gordon Korman
The Anne of Green Gables books by L.M. Montgomery
Two Truths and a Lie:
I have lived on three different continents.
I have been chased by an angry elephant.
I love to shop.
Answer:
The lie is #3. I loathe shopping (except for books and ice cream). The other two are true. I lived in Ecuador and Morocco, and the elephant chase took place in South Africa.
Other Things I like:
Walking anywhere (I walk very fast, which makes people think I know where I am going…but the truth is that I have a terrible sense of direction.)
Travel
Dolphins and whales
Biking
Lima beans (Really! They are delicious!)
Musicals
Pandas
Blue irises and pink tulips
Hiking
Square dancing
Classical music
Garlic
Skiing
Sing-a-longs
Swimming in lakes
Summer watermelon
Trees
Spring is Here…with APPLE & MAGNOLIA by Laura Gehl (plus a giveaway)
March 24, 2022 in Picture Books | Tags: APPLE AND MAGNOLIA, Laura Gehl, Patricia Metola
Ahh, spring! Can I go outside now?
Well, I live in New Jersey where spring weather is a bit iffy—75 and sunny one day, a blizzard the next. Best to keep my nose buried in the books a while longer.
Thankfully, a gorgeous book just arrived! Meet APPLE AND MAGNOLIA by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Patricia Metola.
What a sweet cover! And it earned THREE starred reviews! Thankfully, Laura Gehl agreed to an interview!
Laura, you know this blog is all about story ideas…so how did this idea germinate?
The seed for this idea came from research I read several years ago about how trees communicate with one another. That research is more widely known now, but at the time it was completely new to me. The fact that trees can send one another nutrients, and can warn one another of danger, struck me as something extraordinary and amazing. APPLE AND MAGNOLIA grew out of my desire to write about this real, special relationship between trees.
But this story isn’t just about trees, is it? Tell us how Nana’s character came into play.
You’re right, the story isn’t just about trees. The story is also about Britta’s unwavering belief in the face of doubters. Britta is convinced Apple can help when Magnolia falls ill, and she doesn’t let Dad and her older sister Bronwyn dissuade her. But I wanted Britta to have a supporter in addition to the doubters…because I hope all kids can find a supportive adult in their lives, whether a relative or a teacher or a coach. That’s where Nana comes in.
How did the story grow from early drafts to the final?
Britta’s attempts to help the two trees feel closer to one another (the scarf, the string telephone, the lights) changed over time…I remember my critique partners helping brainstorm ideas for that! As I got closer to the final draft, I added in tree language, like “Britta felt a seed of hope start to grow” and “Britta’s hope blossomed too.” Also, my initial title was TWO TREES, which of course grew into APPLE AND MAGNOLIA.
Why did you choose those two trees, an apple and a magnolia?
Choosing two trees was hard. I wanted trees with beautiful spring blossoms, I wanted one to be a fruit tree, and I wanted trees with names that sounded somewhat like human names (sorry, Brazil nut tree!). I liked that apple trees and magnolia trees can both have pink flowers but that the two types of blossoms don’t look similar in shape or size. Also, I have a magnolia tree in my yard, which I love!
What do you hope readers will take away after reading APPLE AND MAGNOLIA?
I hope kids take away from this book that trees are connected to one another, that we are connected to trees, and really that all living things in our world are connected. I also hope young readers leave this story with the realization that when they face doubters in their lives…even bigger, older doubters…they don’t have to listen. When kids disagree with adults, sometimes kids are the ones who know what they’re talking about!
Amen to that! Kids can be so much more intuitive than adults.
Laura, thank you for sharing this beautiful book with us. I understand there’s also a discussion guide and activity resource at flyawaybooks.com/book/apple-and-magnolia.
And blog readers, you can win a signed copy of APPLE AND MAGNOLIA! Just leave one comment below.
A random winner will be selected next month.
Good luck!
WHO IS A SCIENTIST? Q&A WITH AUTHOR LAURA GEHL, A BOOK TRAILER, AND MORE!
Who Is a Scientist? Q&A with Author Laura Gehl
Scientists work hard in the lab and in the field to make important discoveries. But who are they really? Read on to learn more about Who Is a Scientist? coming October 5 from author Laura Gehl, including a book trailer, interview with the author, science careers flowchart, and teaching guide.
It turns out they are just like us! Scientists can be any race. And any gender. They can wear lab coats, jeans, or even tutus. And they are people who love to fly drones, make art, and even eat French fries! In Who Is a Scientist? author Laura Gehl introduces readers to fourteen phenomenal scientists who might just change the way you think about who a scientist is. An “if you like this, you’ll like that” flowchart in the back of the book helps students identify science careers they might be interested in (you can also see it if you keep reading this blog post!).
Watch the book trailer below and read on for a Q&A with Laura Gehl, who shares what motivated her to write the book and how she hopes the book will inspire readers.
What inspired you to write Who Is a Scientist?
Since I was in high school, I’ve seen articles and studies stating that most kids think of scientists as white men (see below for a few recent articles). Over the past few decades, there has been some progress in this area . . . but not nearly enough. I wrote this book hoping kids would see that scientists don’t fit into any one box. I wanted young readers to understand that all great scientists DO have a few traits in common—curiosity and determination—but that everything else can be different.
50 Years of Children Drawing Scientists (Edutopia)
What We Learn From 50 Years of Kids Drawing Scientists (The Atlantic)
Study: Elementary School Students Tend to View Scientists as White and Male (Univ. of Va)
Uncovering Students’ Thinking about Science and Scientists (National Science Teaching Association)
What do you hope young readers will take away from this book?
I want this book to make scientists relatable to kids. I hope readers come away from the book with an awareness that scientists are not ONLY excited about science. Scientists have other interests too—interests that many kids share, like sports and pets and art and junk food. Also, I want readers to realize that that not all scientists work in labs with chemicals while wearing white coats. Scientists work in many different places and study many different topics. Just as I hope readers see that scientists are not all the same, I hope they realize that science is not any one thing. Science is dinosaurs, and planets, and bugs, and brains, and submarines, and so much more! No matter where a reader’s interests lie, there is a scientific field waiting to welcome them. Most of all, I want young readers to come away from the book thinking, “I could be a scientist!” or “I want to be a scientist!”
Did you like science when you were a kid?
Yes! My dad, to whom I dedicated this book, ignited my love of science at a young age. He took me to collect pond water and look at it under a microscope, helped me grow bacteria in petri dishes, taught me the names and songs of different birds, and showed me Saturn through a telescope (I could actually see the rings!).
Did you like reading books about science when you were a kid?
Yes! I had a book about chemistry that I carried around with me in elementary school. I wanted to memorize the whole periodic table. I also loved reading biographies of scientists. Two of my favorite books were about Marie Curie and Louis Pasteur. (I still love reading biographies of scientists, by the way. Two of my recent favorites were Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson and Rebecca Huang; and Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez and Felicita Sala.)
Did you ever work in a science lab yourself?
I did research in a neurobiology lab, studying a neurotransmitter called N-acetylaspartylglutamate. I vividly remember when I realized—partway through graduate school—that being a scientist means actually adding new information to the sum total of knowledge that exists on Earth. It completely blew my mind. I mentioned this epiphany to my advisor, and he just grinned and said, “That’s why I love coming to work every day.”
Your undergraduate degree is in psychology and your doctorate is in neuroscience. But if you had to go back in time and become a completely different kind of scientist, what career path would you choose?
Well, I once saw a job posting for an institute in Switzerland in need of chocolate-development scientists. That would be very high on my list. But I would also love to go to Antarctica and study penguins. It’s a toss-up between those two, I think.
Flowchart: What Kind of Scientist Do You Want to Be?
Guide budding scientists and show them the vast variety of jobs in scientific fields with this handy flowchart from Who Is a Scientist.
Scientist flow chart
Who Is a Scientist?
Interest Level: Grades PreK-3
Reading Level: Grade 2
Who Is a Scientist? Book cover.
Read another interview with Laura on Mr. Schu’s blog or download a free teaching guide for the book.
Connect with Laura Gehl
Follow the author on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and her website!
Want more interviews with Lerner authors? Click here!
Author Interview and GIVEAWAY with Laura Gehl about her picture book WHO IS A SCIENTIST?
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez Giveaway, Interviews, Kidlit, nonfiction mondays, Picture Books, Writers October 28, 2021 9 Minutes
Hi Math is Everywhere Readers,
I’m ecstatic to have one of my favorite authors back on the blog today, Laura Gehl! Today we’re talking about another absolutely brilliant book of hers, WHO IS A SCIENTIST?
Info about WHO IS A SCIENTIST
Scientists work hard in the lab and in the field to make important discoveries. But who are they really?
It turns out they are just like us! Scientists can be any race. And any gender. They can wear lab coats, jeans, or fancy dresses. And they are people who love to fly drones, make art, and even eat French fries!
Meet fourteen phenomenal scientists who might just change the way you think about who a scientist is. They share their scientific work in fields like entomology, meteorology, paleontology, and engineering as well as other interesting facts about themselves and their hobbies. An “if you like this, you’ll like that” flowchart in the back of the book helps students identify science careers they might be interested in. Scan a QR code at the end of the book for a video of the scientists introducing themselves!
“Both selection of information and presentation have been thoughtfully designed to appeal to young readers. Convincing evidence that readers, too, might become scientists.” —Kirkus, starred review
Kaitlyn: Hi, Laura, thank you so much for joining us!
Laura: Thank YOU so much for having me, Kaitlyn! I always love “chatting” with you!
Kaitlyn: It’s the best! To start, can you share what inspired this story and a bit about its journey into the world?
Laura: I’ve seen studies for years about the way kids view scientists. When asked to draw a scientist, kids will typically draw white men in white coats, maybe with some test tubes. In the past few decades, kids’ perceptions of scientists have changed, but not as much as you would hope. I wanted to show kids that scientists don’t look or work any one way...that scientists can wear bright red lipstick or a hijab (or both!), that scientists can have tattoos or crutches (or both!), that scientists can work in a lab or in the desert (or both!). As far as the book’s journey, it started with a proposal. Once I sold the book to Millbrook, I went about recruiting the scientists, and then recruiting the photographers. This was my first book where the majority of the work happened after the sale rather than before.
Kaitlyn: That’s such an amazing story behind the story, and I love that this book will help everyone see scientists for who they are. Can you share why you think stories like these are so important for our little ones to read about?
Laura: I remember one of my teachers telling a story about his son. The son wanted to dress up as a scientist for Halloween but felt like he couldn’t because, “I am Black and scientists are White.” I hope this book helps kids see that scientists don’t come from any one background or fit into any one mold, and that anyone who is curious and wants to learn about a cool topic like bugs or space or dinosaurs can become a scientist.
Kaitlyn: Wow, that was such a hard statement to read, but I’m so glad that hopefully with your book, the next generation won’t feel the same way. One thing that really sets this book apart, and also makes it extra beautiful in my opinion, is that you’re not just focused on what these people do for a living but who they are as people. How did you come up with this concept of showing kids such an important part of people- that they’re more than just their jobs?
Laura: I think being able to imagine yourself having a job starts with knowing people who do have that job, and realizing they are just like you. Because I used to work in a science lab myself, I personally know lots of scientists. I know that they are just regular people who watch Netflix and eat potato chips. They go fishing and play with their cats. I wanted kids to see that side of scientists...that they aren’t sitting around reading giant scientific tomes and spouting equations in their spare time but rather doing the exact same things that kids like to do. It was important to me to show each scientist at work and at play so that kids would see how much they have in common with scientists. I actually did a school visit yesterday where we read this book, and after reading about a scientist who likes eating chocolate, I said, “Raise your hand if you like chocolate too.” And after reading about a scientist who likes playing video games, I said, “Raise your hand if you like playing video games too.” Needless to say, there were lots of hands raised! The more that scientists feel relatable to kids, the more kids can imagine themselves being scientists one day.
Kaitlyn: Yes yes and yes! I felt the same when I was doing my NASA internships. One of the most valuable thing I learned was NASA scientists are just people like you and me, they just happen to have an extra cool job, too. I’d love to know how you and/or your team went about finding these amazing people and getting these wonderful pictures of them as well. Can you share a bit about this process?
Laura: I found the scientists primarily through social media. Once I put out the word about my project and what I was trying to accomplish, some scientists volunteered themselves, and others were suggested by friends. For the photos, I needed to find a photographer in each location where the scientists lived (Seattle, Boston, DC, and a variety of other places). I used one photographer I knew, one referred by a friend, and then a number of photographers I found on the Internet! I definitely didn’t realize how much work it would be to find the photographers and coordinate photo shoots, permissions, payments, etc. And we had some surprises along the way, such as one scientist ending up in the hospital. COVID definitely didn’t help either!
Kaitlyn: WOW! What a mission, but after reading this book, I know it was worth it! Can you share who your editor was for this book, and what you enjoyed about working with this editor?
Laura: I worked with two editors on this book, Carol Hinz and Jordyn Taylor. From the beginning, the editorial team at Millbrook shared my enthusiasm for this project, and they helped come up with all kinds of amazing back matter for the book (there’s a flow chart, a pronunciation guide for each scientist’s name, and a QR code that links to a video where kids can see and hear the scientists talk about their work).
Kaitlyn: Carol is so amazing and it sounds like Jordyn is too; I’m so happy you had such an amazing team for this book! For those who don’t know who your agent is, can you share who your agent is and also how your agent went about finding the best publisher for this wonderful book?
Laura: My agent is Erzsi Deàk. Many of my author friends think their agent is the best (I know your clients do, Kaitlyn!!!), but I honestly can’t imagine doing my job without Erzsi. She is a friend/cheerleader/editor/advocate/sounding board all rolled into one. In this case, I think we both knew Millbrook was the right home for this book. They do such a great job with photo-illustrated nonfiction. So thank goodness Millbrook felt the same way!
Kaitlyn: Aww, that’s the best (and you’re too kind!). I love that you knew it’d be the right home and congrats on the Millbrook loving it too. I agree; they make absolutely stunning photo-illustrated books like this one! Can you share some advice you like to give to aspiring authors?
Laura: Sure! In no particular order...Find a critique group. Write A LOT. Read A LOT. Don’t be afraid to completely start over. Pick one thing about your story that you wouldn’t change (the message, the main character, the setting, etc.) and be willing to change everything else as needed. Support other kidlit authors by interacting with them on social media, reading their books, reviewing their books, and requesting their books from your library. Try writing different types of picture books (nonfiction, lyrical, STEM, biography) or different genres (board books, chapter books, MG). DON’T GIVE UP!
Kaitlyn: Yes to ALL of these things, and please remember to read and review Laura’s books, too! Can you please share with us what’s next for you or what you’re working on now?
Laura: Oh, I have so many books coming up that I am excited to tell you about! In the spring, Apple & Magnolia, illustrated by Patrice Metola, comes out from Walker Books UK and Flyaway Books US. It is the story of a little girl who is positive that the two trees in her yard are best friends. When one tree gets sick, she knows the other tree will help. This was inspired by an area of science that didn’t even exist when I was a kid, which is how trees actually communicate with and help one another. Patrice’s illustrations of the trees are gorgeous. Then Andrea Zuill and I also have Donut coming out from Schwartz and Wade, about a unicorn who wants to fly. Andrea is one of the funniest illustrators out there, so I am thrilled that we got to create a book together. And I have The Hiking Viking, illustrated by Timothy Banks, coming out from Capstone. That book was inspired by my own love of hiking. It features a little viking, Leif, who would rather spend time by himself at the top of the fjord than battle and brawl like his friends. It is a bit like a modern The Story of Ferdinand, which was a favorite of mine growing up.
Kaitlyn: Wow, those all sound amazing! I can’t wait to read those, too! Finally, if you could meet your favorite author, illustrator, scientist, or mathematician would you chat by a fireside or go on an adventure?
Laura: Adventure for sure! Maybe I could meet a scientist who studies penguins in Antarctica and they would invite me down to help out with their research? I would even be willing to collect and measure penguin poop! Although now that I think about it, after visiting Antarctica, I would probably be ready for a nice fireside chat. Can I have both? Please????
Kaitlyn: Always! You can always have both; as long as I get to come too! Haha. Thank you so much for sharing and for joining us today, Laura!
Laura: Thank you, Kaitlyn! It was a complete joy for me to answer your questions and talk about this special book!
Kaitlyn: I’m so glad you had as much fun as I did; it’s always such a pleasure to chat with you, and I’m halfway through the Nevermoor series on your recommendation; I’m obsessed! Thanks so much again for chatting; now back singing for Wunder.
Book links
https://lauragehl.com/books/picture-books/who-is-a-scientist/
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55784712
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/55784712
Author Bio and links
Dr. Laura Gehl holds a B.A. in psychology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Georgetown. She has nearly twenty years of experience teaching and writing about science for preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students. Many of Laura’s two dozen books for young readers have scientific themes, including Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer; the Baby Scientist series; Odd Beasts; and I Got A Chicken For My Birthday, which features a brilliant engineering chicken. Laura is a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and community centers, bringing elements of math, science, and engineering into her interactive presentations. Visit her online at www.lauragehl.com and follow her @AuthorLauraGehl on twitter and Instagram.
Kaitlyn’s Review of WHO IS A SCIENTIST?
This book is absolutely brilliant! Showing children that scientists are just like us is exactly what this generation needs. As a teacher, mom, and former NASA intern, I recommend this book to every kid in your life! Plus, the pictures are stunning!
Giveaway of a copy of WHO IS A SCIENTIST?
To enter the random drawing, do any/all of the following options, then come back and write all of the things you did in ONE blog comment. (If you forget something, feel free to reply to your first comment ;))
Share that you added WHO IS A SCIENTIST? to your Goodreads “Want to Read” list and/or your Amazon Wishlist
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Thank you all once again for supporting such amazing creators, and I hope you’re enjoying this fall weather like I am!
Sincerely,
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Q&A with Laura Gehl
Laura Gehl is the author of the new children's picture book Happy Llamakkah!. Her many other books for kids include One Big Pair of Underwear and Koala Challah. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area.
Q: How did you come up with the idea of llamas celebrating Hanukkah?
A: Like many of my books, including One Big Pair of Underwear and Koala Challah, this book started with the title. At first, I tried writing a Hanukkah story for older kids featuring a human family encountering a llama family while backpacking. That story didn't quite work. But when my critique partners suggested I take the story younger and use the title as a refrain, everything clicked.
Q: What do you think Lydia Nichols's illustrations add to the book?
A: I love the color palette that Lydia used. She took the traditional Hanukkah dark blue and gold, and then she added pastels. It's a great combination of traditional and modern. One of my favorite illustrations is for the verse "Snow cold and white/Window is bright." The little llamas are building a snow llama outside, and the fully-lit menorah is glowing in the window.
Q: How much do you think kids need to know about Hanukkah to appreciate the book?
A: Kids don't need to know anything about Hanukkah to enjoy the story. There is an author's note at the end to explain the history and traditions of the holiday.
Q: You have some other books out this year--can you say something about them?
A: Yes! The fourth book in the Baby Scientist series came out in February: Baby Paleontologist, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman. The book is a first look at paleontology, and we were thrilled that it received a starred review from Kirkus.
In June, my very first early reader came out: Cat Has a Plan, illustrated by Fred Blunt. Learning to read was not easy for my daughter. As a result, I checked out huge numbers of early readers from the library, and bought many more.
I could see how much those books, written in such a thoughtful way to support emerging readers, helped my daughter, and I became determined to try writing in that genre myself. Now Fred and I are working on three more early readers together.
I also had three picture books release over the summer:
The Ninja Club Sleepover, illustrated by Mackenzie Haley, is about a girl named Willa whose best friends don't know she's a werewolf. It is a story about how we all have secrets, or things we're embarrassed about...about how true friends will love us anyway...and about being brave.
Judge Juliette, illustrated by Mari Lobo, is about a girl named Juliette who runs a courtroom in her backyard. The book introduces legal vocabulary in a humorous way.
May Saves the Day, illustrated by Serena Lombardo, is about a girl named May who runs her own business saving people from danger by changing scary words into harmless ones. It is packed with wordplay, which made the story extra fun to write.
(Apparently strong girls was my picture book theme for this summer! Probably not a coincidence that I wrote all those books as my daughter was transforming from the baby of the family into an amazing, confident "big kid" with strong convictions.)
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Like many authors, I'm finding it harder to be creative during the pandemic. Losing my dad this year has also affected me greatly. My stories are usually funny or joyful, and I haven't felt very funny or joyful recently.
But one thing that DOES bring me joy is seeing sketches for some of my books that will be coming out next year. Patricia Metola's sketches for Apple & Magnolia, coming from Walker Books, literally made me cry--but in a good way. And Gareth Lucas' work on Weird Animals, coming from Abrams, is the perfect balance between portraying animals accurately yet in a wholly original way.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I miss connecting with readers in person, but I'm having fun connecting with readers all over the country virtually. I even talked to kids at a school in India last week! If preschool or elementary school teachers would like me to read Happy Llamakkah to their classes, they should feel free to get in touch: authorlauragehl@gmail.com.
Also--the cover of Happy Llamakkah has shiny blue foil, so it would make a great Hanukkah gift for any little llamas! If you order a copy from an independent bookstore by Nov. 23, I will send your child(ren) a personalized Hanukkah card with llama and Hanukkah stickers and a personalized bookplate. Just email me at authorlauragehl@gmail.com to give me the address and name(s) for the card.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Laura Gehl.
Posted by Deborah Kalb at 9:16 AM
Meet Laura Gehl: #WinterRead2022 Author Spotlight
The Zoobean Team
Jan 26, 2022
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Welcome to our #WinterRead2022 Read for a Better World Author Spotlight Series! We’re thrilled to be featuring 6 incredibly talented authors from our 2022 sponsor Lerner Publishing Group as a part of our 5th Annual Winter Reading Challenge.
This week, we’ve interviewed Laura Gehl, author of nearly two dozen popular picture books, board books, and early readers, including Who Is A Scientist?, featured in our Winter Reading Challenge. Check out our interview with her below, and learn more about her work here. Follow her on social media on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
What are you currently reading?
I am always reading several books at once. Right now I am reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, and Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard.
Where is your favorite place to read?
In a beach chair on vacation!
What is your favorite thing you've written? Book or otherwise!
Asking an author to choose a favorite book is like asking a mom to choose a favorite child. I definitely don't have a favorite (and wouldn't admit it if I did!). But I am really excited about three new picture books I have coming out next spring: The Hiking Viking, illustrated by Timothy Banks; Apple & Magnolia, illustrated by Patricia Metola; and Donut, illustrated by Andrea Zuill. I love every one of them for different reasons, and the illustrations in each book are fabulous.
What’s your favorite book by someone other than yourself?
Again, I can't choose a favorite. But one book I love is Hard Laughter by Anne Lamott.
What is your favorite word and why?
I don't have a favorite word, but I enjoy the word "bushwhack" because it sounds exactly like what it means.
How does reading help us create a better world?
Reading is a way for kids (and adults) to develop empathy for, and develop a greater understanding of many different types of people.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? And/or how did you become a writer?
I have always loved writing, and the idea of creating a book always seemed like an amazing and magical thing to do, but it was when my son was born 17 years ago that I first decided to try writing books for kids.
If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring writer, what would it be?
Read a lot, write a lot, find a group of other writers to get feedback from, and don't give up! (Is that cheating? I guess it is 4 pieces of advice in one sentence.)
How does your work encourage conversations around diversity, inclusion, or other social and emotional concepts with parents, educators, and young readers?
My recent picture book Who Is a Scientist? introduces young readers to fourteen scientists who are diverse in a variety of ways. Each scientist is shown in beautiful photos both at work and at play. Seeing a scientist who is Black, a scientist who wears a hijab; a scientist who has full-sleeve tattoos; a scientist who is Indigenous; a scientist who uses forearm crutches to get around; a scientist who is Latinx, etc...and seeing that all of these scientists are real people who love science but also love sports and dancing and playing with pets and eating junk food...helps kids to realize that ANYONE can be a scientist, including them.
I have also written picture books that center around themes of friendship and bravery (The Ninja Club Sleepover); perseverance and determination (Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer); and gender stereotypes and being who you are (Except When They Don't).
Stay tuned for future Lerner author spotlights throughout #WinterRead2022, and encourage your community to keep reading!
LAURA GEHL
Laura Gehl is the author of nearly a dozen picture books, board books, and early readers including And Then Another Sheep Turned Up and I Got a Chicken for My Birthday. A former science editor and reading teacher, Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children.
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INTERVIEW
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Too many to list—but a few favorites included the All of a Kind Family series, Bread and Jam for Frances, and anything by Richard Scarry or Susan Cooper.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“I said that I thought the secret of life was obvious: be here now, love as if your whole life depended on it, find your life’s work, and try to get hold of a giant panda.”
This line is from Anne Lamott’s Hard Laughter. Not a children’s book, but a terrific book, and good advice for anyone.
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Again, I can’t pick just three! But for today I will say Gordon Korman, Richard Scarry, and Susan Cooper.
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I have loved reading books for as long as I can remember—and I am a speed-reader, so I read hundreds of books every year. For a lifelong lover of books, getting to be part of creating a book always seemed like a too-good-to-be-true kind of job. It still does! I can’t believe I get to do this important job every day.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Join a critique group, write every day (but don’t give yourself a hard time about the days when you can’t manage it), and never give up.
ABOUT LAURA GEHL
Laura Gehl is the author of more than thirty picture
books, board books, and early readers, including One Big Pair of Underwear (Charlotte Zolotow Highly
Commended Title, International Literacy Association Honor Book, Booklist Books
for Youth Editors’ Choice); the Peep and Egg series (Parents’ Choice Recommendation,
Amazon Editors’ Pick, Children’s Choice Book Award Finalist); My Pillow
Keeps Moving (Junior Library Guild selection, New York Public Library Best
Books of the year selection); and I Got a
Chicken for My Birthday (Kirkus Best Picture Books of the year selection). Upcoming releases include The Elevator on 74th Street (Simon & Schuster); Climate Warriors (Lerner); and Who Made the Mess?
(Capstone). Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four
children. Visit her online at www.lauragehl.com.
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Gehl, Laura BAT WINGS! CAT WINGS? Creative Editions/Creative Company (Children's None) $15.99 8, 10 ISBN: 978-1-56846-374-2
Why do animals have the physical attributes they have—and not others?
Everyone knows that a moose has antlers, but a goose does not. It’s the same with the rest of Gehl’s rhyming animal pairs: Clams have shells, but lambs don’t; an eagle has a beak, but a beagle doesn’t; bats have wings, but cats don’t; a hog has a snout, but a frog doesn’t; a grouse has feathers, but a mouse does not. The final set breaks the pattern: A kangaroo has a pouch, but you and I don’t…except “maybe sometimes.” The turn of the page reveals a baby sweetly tucked inside their parent’s cozy sweater-cum-pouch (both present White). The text is terse and patterned: “Moose antlers? Yes! / Goose antlers? No!” Each pair is positioned on a double-page spread, the silly one always appearing on recto. The animals are done in what looks like watercolors and pastels, realistic except for the absurd appurtenances on the second animal in each pair. The artwork belies the reductivism of the concept. Several of these animals will not be familiar to very young children, and they are unlikely to understand the weirdness of showing antlers on a goose’s back instead of wings, or the lamb’s shell ears. Aside from a response of wonder or incredulity—and the thrill of yelling No at the book—it is hard to imagine what a child would glean from reading this or how a caregiver would attempt to meaningfully explain the concept.
Mildly humorous, attractively illustrated, but too slight to be of significant value. (Picture book. 3-5)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gehl, Laura: BAT WINGS! CAT WINGS?" Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A668237897/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1c2b93a3. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
Gehl, Laura WHO IS A SCIENTIST? Millbrook/Lerner (Children's None) $27.99 10, 5 ISBN: 978-1-5415-9799-0
Profiles of a diverse selection of 14 21st-century scientists reveal a wide range of specialties and avocations.
To answer her title question, Gehl introduces working scientists, spread by spread, with a relatively simple text and two photographs--one at work and one at play. From meteorologist to agroecologist to software engineer, from laboratory to desert to forest, her examples represent a variety of occupational fields and workplaces. Their hobbies--painting, cooking, surfing, playing basketball or soccer, listening to live music, and so forth--are equally varied. The photographs also reflect the world's diversity: There's a White woman with magenta hair and colorfully tattooed arms, a Black belly dancer in classic costume, a Puerto Rican champion of Indigenous food systems, and a White man who uses forearm crutches to get about in the field. A neuroscientist wears a Sikh turban; an astronomer, a headscarf. As might be expected with such a range, some readers may find some scientists' names challenging to pronounce, but the backmatter includes a phonetic guide to every single name--even the neuroscientist author's. A final spread summarizes what scientists do and invites readers to imagine themselves among this group. Both selection of information and presentation have been thoughtfully designed to appeal to young readers. This will be useful in many a second or third grade classroom, and the publisher has made a teaching guide and video available.
Convincing evidence that readers, too, might become scientists. (Nonfiction. 6-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gehl, Laura: WHO IS A SCIENTIST?" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A677072867/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=64c9ea5c. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
Gehl, Laura APPLE AND MAGNOLIA Flyaway Books (Children's None) $18.00 2, 8 ISBN: 978-1-947888-35-7
With support from Nana, Britta sets out to help one of her favorite trees heal.
Britta is a capable, vivacious girl who insists that her two favorite trees--Apple and Magnolia--are best friends. Exuberant artwork with vigorous brush strokes depicts brown-skinned, curly-haired Britta smiling up at her arboreal friends in the daytime and dancing near them as they sway at night. When Magnolia's branches begin to droop, irresistible Britta, flanked by her pets, brainstorms ways to help Magnolia connect with Apple, measuring the distance between the trees as the months progress: She creates a cup-and-string telephone, knits an enormous scarf, and hangs a string of lights, all in a determined attempt to connect the two trees. Britta's light-skinned, bespectacled Dad and her dark-skinned, plugged-in older sister, Bronwyn, are skeptical of Britta's efforts. In an effective use of repetition, her father "nicely" rejects Britta's ideas, and Bronwyn pooh-poohs everything with the qualifiers absolutely, positively. Wise, dark-skinned Nana encourages Britta by sharing wisdom, prompting ideas with questions, and joining in her tree-healing campaign. As the author's note mentions, cutting-edge science underlies this seemingly whimsical story, and observant readers will notice that Britta's observations, measurements, and data-keeping capture the scientific method in action. Nana's assertions about the power of "unusual friendships" encourage readers to consider this heartwarming tale in both literal and figurative ways.
What's not to love about this endearing and effervescent picture book? (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gehl, Laura: APPLE AND MAGNOLIA." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684108386/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=32864659. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly
Laura Gehl, illus. by Andrea Zuill. Random House Studio, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-37625-6
Donut wants to fly, but actually doing so is another matter entirely: despite valiant efforts and a supportive forest friend group, the unicorn remains stubbornly earthbound. Gehl (The Hiking Viking) chronicles these attempts through brief rhyming snippets, as in a sequence in which Donut tries a set of wings that the animal friends fashion from leaves, twigs, and vines: "Donut sails!/ Donut flails!" leads, a page turn later, to "Donut wails!" Finally, the group hits on a winning idea: building a nestlike basket in which the birds can carry the unicorn into the sky (amid what looks like a hot air balloon festival). Given the minimal text, art by Zuill (Regina Is NOT a Little Dinosaur) does a lot of heavy lifting, literally and figuratively, and it excels on both counts: her elegant ink line, enhanced with warm digital color, articulates moments of slapstick, ingenuity, despair, and triumph. Donut is awkward, funny, and sweet, with a big pink nose and a long fringe, and the unicorn's lessons of persistence, kindness, and collaboration land with the lightness of a zephyr. Ages 4-8. Agent (for Gehl and Zuill): Erzsi Deak, Hen&ink. (Apr.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 PWxyz, LLC
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"Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 6, 7 Feb. 2022, pp. 62+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A694283094/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c2e026a3. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
Gehl, Laura THE HIKING VIKING Capstone Editions (Children's None) $17.99 2, 1 ISBN: 978-1-68446-427-2
Not every Viking wants to brawl and battle.
Waifish and bright-eyed Leif would much rather peacefully hike the craggy hills around his Viking village than howl at the moon with the rest of his clan. While other Vikings his age, who are all big and burly, ask for spears and poleaxes for their birthdays, Leif requests a hiking stick. His mother tries to get him to wrestle, his father forces him to practice spear throwing, and his sister drags him off to practice lifting heavy rocks, because the Viking Games are approaching. Leif attempts to explain his love of nature to them, but they are having none of it. With the honor of his clan at stake, Leif gives the Games his best shot. When the competition ends in a tie, it is decided that whichever clan can show the judges "the greatest treasure by sunset will be the winner." Everyone rushes to fetch their finest booty, and it seems that the other clan will win until Leif surprises the whole village with a treasure beyond all earthly goods. Gehl's tale relays its message about the value of self-authenticity and open-mindedness without being preachy. Banks' bright illustrations of White Scandinavians in a green, mountainous landscape are reminiscent of cutout animation, endowing each spread with an immersive motion-picture quality. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A neat Nordic tale about the importance of valuing nature--one's own and the world's. (Picture book. 2-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gehl, Laura: THE HIKING VIKING." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A686536716/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=25feff03. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
The Hiking Viking.
By Laura Gehl. Illus. by Timothy Banks.
Feb. 2022. 32p. Capstone, $17.99 (9781684464272). K-Gr. 3.
Young Leif isn't like other Vikings. Rather than "battle and brawl," he prefers exploring the natural world. He doesn't want a spear or axe for his birthday but a hiking stick for his forays beyond the village to enjoy the fjord's quiet magnificence alone. However, the Viking Games are approaching, and, determined to win and protect their clan's honor, his family literally pulls reluctant Leif into practicing. But on the day of the games, whether wrestling or stone lifting, Leif's efforts fall short. At the end of the day, his clan is tied with another, and the victor will be determined by whomever "can show us the greatest treasure." Turns out, Leif knows exactly what that is: the fjord at sunset, where "stone cliffs gleamed like polished silver ... water below glittered with gold." Vibrant, animated illustrations blend over-the-top, often amusing depictions of the Viking characters and events with expansive, artful landscapes. Couched in a lively, entertaining read, the positive and supportive messages are evident, from the rewards of pursuing individual interests to discovering--and sharing--nature's beauties.--Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Rosenfeld, Shelle. "The Hiking Viking." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 12, 15 Feb. 2022, p. 53. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A695925855/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e58a8c88. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
GEHL, Laura. Apple and Magnolia. illus. by Patricia Metola. 40p. Flyaway. Feb. 2022. Tr $18. ISBN 9781947888357.
PreS-Gr 2--The striking cover art of the night sky, bright and alive, putting two trees into stark silhouette lures readers into this stunning book. Britta loves these trees and has decided they are friends, and that the trees help one another. Dad and her annoying sister, Bronwyn, tell her she's wrong. But Nana tells Britta that friendships can be unusual and sometimes they are the most powerful of all. Buoyed by her idea, Britta devises a plan to help these two tree friends, Apple and Magnolia, connect to one another even more when Magnolia begins to look poorly. With string and cups as a "telephone," she hopes the trees can talk to one another, and with a long, shared scarf wrapped around them, they will each benefit from the others' warmth. As time passes, Britta swears that the trees have grown closer to one another. Nana suggests that Britta measure and chart the distance between them each morning and, over time, the distances shrink. There are naysayers, but the numbers don't lie. Beautifully told and illustrated, this book is a gem on many levels. The relationship with wise Nana illustrates the importance of intergenerational stories; Britta's determination shows how strong girls can be, and it shows that we all have an impact on the natural world. VERDICT Pair with Lita Judge's recent The Wisdom of Trees: How Trees Work Together to Form a Natural Kingdom and let the children brainstorm how Apple and Magnolia may have relied on one another.--Joan Kindig
Caption: Apple and Magnolia (Gehl) [C]2022 by Patricia Metola, p. 62
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kindig, Joan. "GEHL, Laura. Apple and Magnolia." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 1, Jan. 2022, pp. 62+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A688744181/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3f8c8ce5. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
Gehl, Laura MAY SAVES THE DAY Capstone Editions (Children's None) $17.95 8, 1 ISBN: 978-1-68446-102-8
May is a successful businesswoman who does not need a sidekick…until she does.
May, a brown-skinned girl with puffy hair, has a booming business called Word Saver, Inc. She fields calls to “save [the] day” in emergency situations, when she uses her letters to change words and neutralize threats. Angry bees heading for the playground? May dashes over with her “T” to turn them into beets. A snake in a classroom? May throws in a few letters to turn the snake into a sneaker. Her adoring fans love her, but Stu, a blond, white boy in a wheelchair, wants to be her sidekick. His skill is with a lasso, which May sees no use for, and besides, she is a small business owner, not a superhero in need of a sidekick. But one day, as a runaway train hurtles toward town, May has an accident, and Stu arrives just in time to lasso the T, turning the TRAIN into RAIN. May is impressed. On the next emergency, they work together with great success, and May decides she could use his help after all. The cartoony pictures capture the excitement and urgency of the word emergencies, and the white lettering of the magic words is large enough for early readers to follow how the words change.
A clever presentation of literacy in action. (Picture book. 3-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gehl, Laura: MAY SAVES THE DAY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A623602895/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1b0f634e. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.
Gehl, Laura HAPPY LLAMAKKAH! abramsappleseed (Children's None) $14.99 10, 13 ISBN: 978-1-4197-4314-6
Members of the camelid family celebrate Hanukkah.
In a cozy house, llamas and alpacas perform all the standard holiday activities, including lighting candles, spinning dreidels, frying latkes, and wrapping presents. The action is written in tercets, with three rhymed lines: “Latkes to fry. / Ribbons to tie. / Friends stopping by.” The title of the book is the oft-repeated refrain, with llama and Hanukkah combining for an amusing portmanteau. Unfortunately, the innate appeal and soft, wooly hugginess of llamas and alpacas are lost in the spare, stylized digital illustrations. Even those characters who are presented with a bit of extra fleece don’t look particularly fluffy. One scene of a menorah on the windowsill depicts the candles placed left to right, instead of the traditional right to left. All in all, there’s not enough substance built around the refrain to fill out even this slim book. A two-page author’s note describes the Hanukkah miracle and then provides further information on the various Hanukkah traditions lighted on in the book. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Not a must-buy. (Picture book. 2-5)
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"Gehl, Laura: HAPPY LLAMAKKAH!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A634467342/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=350a206a. Accessed 1 Apr. 2022.