At first, a young girl is embarrassed when her family wades in a ditch off the side of the road to collect watercress growing wild. But when her mother shares a story of her family's time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.
Pick by Minh Lê, Drawn Together:
WATERCRESS
Written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin
Publisher: Holiday House/Neal Porter Books (March 30, 2021)
What inspired you to write Watercress? AW: "Watercress is based on a memory that I couldn't get out of my head. At first, it seemed like a pleasant childhood memory of picking watercress with my family, but as I began really examining how I felt about the experience I realized that there were more complicated emotions associated with it. Writing the book was my way of exploring those layers of emotion and memory."
Minh Lê wrote that Watercress "deftly captures the complex emotions of assimilation in a way that makes it a modern-day classic." What are some other picture books you love for how they explore assimilation? "Wow, thanks for the incredibly kind words, Minh! Other picture books I love for how they explore assimilation are: A Different Pond by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui, which is about a young Vietnamese boy who goes fishing with his immigrant father in the pre-dawn hours; The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang and illustrated by Khoa Le, where a young Hmong girl longs for braces but discovers the true meaning of beauty; and Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho, which is a heartfelt, joyous celebration of the feature that connects an Asian girl to her heritage."
What did you love reading to your sons at age three? At age five? "I loved reading all of Grace Lin's picture books to my sons when they were those ages. I also loved hearing them laugh, so I read lots of humorous books to them like Ice Cream Bear by Jez Alborough, Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley, and Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray, and illustrated by Audrey Colman."
What would be on your list of 100 best picture books of all time? "We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade is so much more than a book about fighting an oil pipeline. It is at once a heartbreaking example of what people are doing to the environment as well as a rousing call to action, reminding us that we are all connected to each other and to the earth, and together we can effect change. Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by the late Floyd Cooper is a heartrending yet sensitive depiction of the worst racial attack in U.S. history -- an event that wasn't simply forgotten, but actively covered up for 75 years. It's imperative that historical events like this are brought to light and the stories shared as widely as possible, if we are to forge a more just and equitable future for our children."
The narrator wants to play hide and seek with Gordon and the reader. But what if Gordon doesn't want to hide anymore, and wants to stand out instead?
Max's Boat Pick:
HAVE YOU SEEN GORDON?
Written by Adam Jay Epstein and illustrated by Ruth Chan
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 28, 2021)
What inspired you to write Have You Seen Gordon? "When my daughters were little, I would read each of them a few books every night. Each of them would always pick at least one search and find style book. They love the interactivity of it and I enjoyed watching them have the moments of victory when they discovered something they were looking for. But there was one thing that was always missing from those books: A story. So for many years I thought about writing a search and find with a story. Then, I had a thought. What if the main character in a look and find book was proud of who they were and no longer wanted to hide? What would that do to the book? Suddenly an idea that had seemed funny now felt important and could have a message as well."
You're known for your middle grade fantasy series The Familiars and Snared. How did writing your first picture book differ from writing for middle grade? What do you think the best picture books do? "Writing a picture book is all about rhythm and cadence and repetition. Every word in a picture book requires careful thought and planning. It is closer to writing poetry than it is to writing a novel. I think that the best picture books leave both the child and the adult who is reading the book changed for having read it. Picture books are often more about a shared experience than they are a solitary and personal one."
What are some of your favorite "look and find" books? "One of my earliest reading memories is being read Each Peach Pear Plum by Allan Ahlberg and Janet Ahlberg. While not fitting the conventions of the present look and find books, it perfectly captured the spirit of finding hidden things within the picture that would propel you to the next page. You can't discuss look and find books without calling attention to Where's Waldo? by Martin Handford. His busy and cluttered pages set the stage for everything that would follow. Another pivotal look and find source in my life was Highlights magazine which had a search and find in each issue. There is no question that that magazine fostered an interest in that genre of book in kids across America."
What are some favorite picture books that break the fourth wall? "Well the first one that blew my mind as a kid was The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone and Michael Smollin. I remember reading this book over and over and thinking that it was magical how it felt as if I was changing the story by turning the pages of the book. You felt mischievous for turning the page even though Grover begged you not to. Plus it had one of the all-time best twist endings.
I think The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers is a brilliant example of having the characters in the book talk to the reader in a way that feels fresh and exciting. You can hear each of their voices so clearly in your head and when you read them aloud it's fun to do a silly voice for each of the crayons.
I think another powerful version of breaking the fourth wall occurs on the very last page of The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss when the book asks the reader the question of whether they would tell their own mother what happened on that rainy day."
What was your favorite picture book as a child? "There are so many books that I loved as a kid but I will pick a pair from when I was very, very little. These are the two that my mother and father said that I would ask to be read over and over. Both are by the absolutely incredible Margaret Wise Brown - The Friendly Book and The Color Kittens. Both of which I still consider to be fantastic. The moment in The Color Kittens when the tree turns to a magical silver upon counting to three is one of the great page flips in all of children's books."
Do you remember what you loved reading to your daughters at age 3? At age 5? "This is a really interesting question. Because you're not asking what my girls loved having read to them but what I loved to read to them. At 3, Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann was always a favorite read. I would always add the line "there's a gorilla in my bed" at the appropriate part when the lights are flipped back on. Also that book is a secret "look and find" because the balloon appears on nearly every page getting smaller and smaller.
Another book I loved reading to them when they were younger is Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace. It is both funny and emotional at the same time with a great twist that comes deep into the book."
What contemporary picture books do you think will be the new classics of the future? "I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen is a new favorite of mine. There are few books that make me laugh as much as that one does. I loved the experience of reading Aaron Becker's Journey. I wanted to live in that book and all the amazing places that it took me. I Dissent by Debbie Levy and illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley was a tremendously moving read and I think a very important book."
What would be on your list of 100 best picture books of all time? "Wow. I'm the kind of guy that might be tempted to give you a hundred options here. But I will limit myself to just a few. First of all many of the books that I've written about in previous questions would be on my list of top 100. (The Color Kittens, Little Pea, The Day the Crayons Quit, The Monster at the the End of This Book, The Cat in The Hat) I will add a few that are so powerful that I think that every adult should read them, too. William Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is one of the most moving books I have ever read. I recall in fourth grade having it read to me by a school librarian and it made an incredible impression. When I read it to my own daughters I wept uncontrollably after. Fables by Arnold Lobel is one of the most contemplative and thoughtful collection of stories. At the end of that book I feel motivated to change the world and push for greater things in my own life. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss is such a pleasure to read and have roll off your tongue."
Welcome to Chez Bob, which seems like a real restaurant...until you realize...it's on an alligator's NOSE! Bob's got a hidden plan for his customers: "Birds will come to eat, but I will eat the birds!" But what happens when the birds fly in to dine on Bob's face—and stay?
Max's Boat Pick:
CHEZ BOB
Written and illustrated by Bob Shea
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 21, 2021)
What inspired you to write Chez Bob?
"Chez Bob had been an idea in my notebook for years. When I lived in a tiny apartment in Manhattan, the place that did my laundry would always call out my name, “Shea, Bob” and I thought that would be a great name for a fancy French restaurant.
The idea of a lazy alligator is not autobiographical, I am not lazy and probably not an alligator. Selfish, awful characters always interest me, especially if they aren’t very bright. In the case of Chez Bob, it was fun to have Bob’s avian-gluttony run headlong into his desire to make the restaurant a success. Once you contrast the silliness of opening a restaurant on your nose to catch birds with the realities of owning said restaurant, you get a lot of opportunities for absurd, dry humor.
Also, drawing birds is fun."
You're known for your laugh-out loud picture books, and Chez Bob is no exception. Are there other writers you admire for their humor?
"Sergio Ruzzier is the funniest author working today. His Fox and Chick series is funny and completely dry. After seeing an early version, I gave Sergio some suggestions on how I felt it could be improved using my sense of humor as the lens. Mercifully, he ignored me. It’s a great series.
Julie Falatko is relentlessly hilarious and her sometimes partner in crime, Ruth Chan, is also very funny and fun. Also a nice person. Oh and Ruth is a delightful INFP like me. She’s WAY nicer than me, so I think I may have taken the test wrong. What’s a misanthropic INFP? Maybe I’m an LMNOP.
I also like Laurie Keller a lot. We’re really good friends even if she never returns my texts and keeps calling me Tim Miller and asking 'How’s Snappsy?' Her books are smart and ridiculous. Potato Pants is completely absurd. One of my all time favorite children’s books is Arnie the Doughnut. My son used to pull it off the shelf at bedtime just to hear me laugh. He liked it too, obviously. Never took to my books…"
Sneaky villains don't get much love in picture books, do they? Are there any other sneaky villains (besides Bob, of course) that YOU love?
"Oh my gosh, my friend Charise Harper wrote a book called When Randolph Turned Rotten. It’s great. Randolph is a beaver and his friend is a swan. The swan is going to a sleepover and Randolph is rightly jealous and annoyed. So Randolph does everything he can to ruin the trip. He’s so awful."
Do you remember what you loved reading to your son at age 3? At age 5? "I have one son, Ryan. As I mentioned, I would foist a lot of Laurie Keller on him and he avoided my books like the plague. Not really, but once in awhile he’d hand me one of mine to read and I could tell he was just trying to be nice to me. He was four so I saw right through his trick.
He handed me Big Plans, which is my favorite of my books to this day. I looked at him said, “Really buddy, you want to read this?”
He said, “Uh, yeah, maybe we can read one that’s not so boring…”
I started laughing so hard that he thought I was upset. He was being incredibly sweet.
As punishment I made him sit through me reading it twice. Kidding! We read The Polar Express for the millionth time, I’m sure."
What contemporary picture books do you think will be the new classics of the future?
"Anything by Christian Robinson, Lane Smith and Jon Klassen.
Klassen is another one I can do without. I talk to the guy and sometimes just nod because he said some really smart perceptive thing and I can’t follow along. Fortunately, I diffuse my mental discomfort by suggesting we get ice cream and he’s usually up for it. I can talk about going to get ice cream for hours, so now I look smart. Hope he doesn’t read this and find out my trick.
Lane Smith is one of my best friends. I am not bragging, he just is. We have a nice time gong for hikes or walking around. Then we’ll have lunch and he’ll show me something he’s working on and I’ll think, 'Oh yeah, he’s Lane Smith…'
I’ve only met Christian Robinson once. He was very nice and seemed like a really kind person. Once I realized that I excused myself. Kind people never want to hang around me.
Wait! That’s not true! One of my other favorite authors is Kelly DiPucchio! She is a friend and I see some early versions of her work and they are so wonderfully crafted. Kelly inspires me to stop trying. Just write the Bob Shea™ books. Which I’m sure are fine, I’m not that familiar.
Oh, I forgot! I haven’t seen him in awhile. Greg Pizzoli. His books always have a classic feel to them. So simple and perfect. I hate him, too. Oh, I mean, 'I draw inspiration from his work.'
Who else bugs me, let’s see… so many…
Travis Jonker should hang it up. His simple erudite stories make me feel like I am not doing my best. I don’t like feeling that way. He’s a bad friend.
I’m really getting worked up about these authors, so let me throw an illustrator under the bus.
ZACH OHORA SHOULD STOP PAINTING.
I don’t need to see fully-formed personalities just by looking at his modern characters. Come on!"
What would be on your list of 100 best picture books of all time?
"The books of all the people I just mentioned. Along with The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach, Big Rabbit's Bad Mood by Ramona Badescu and Delphine Durand, The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon I’m-not-even-gonna-try-and-spell-his-last-name and Lane Smith, anything by Roger Duvoisin, Monkey Business and the Mr. Lunch books by Vivian Walsh and J.otto Seibold. So many more, but I’m getting pretty tired."