Community

Beginning with a child’s first community–family–the world soon broadens to include neighborhood and the various people who live and work there. Not unlike “Miss Bindergarten’s” class, early childhood groups often take field trips to the police and fire stations, library, bakery, and other community sites. These outings can lead to mapping activities and discussions of how a neighborhood has changed or improved over time. To this end, this bibliography includes many titles about community organization–how a group of individuals works together to make improvements or accomplish something–plant a garden, build a house, raise a barn, feed the hungry.

Further expanding on the student’s world, many of the titles describe different types of communities such as the city, farm, or suburb. Both Louise Borden and Kelly DiPucchio take readers across America from big coastal cities to the prairie, desert, mountains, and ranches. Many of the books included also examine city versus country life.

Finally, some offerings reveal our broader world community, which is becoming smaller and more intimate as technology advances. Perhaps Ann Morris’s photo essay, Teamwork, best illustrates the subject, beginning with families working together and helping each other and ending with the United Nations.—Barbara Auerbach

BAKER, Jeannie. Home. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2004. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-623935-4; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-623934-6.

Gr 1-4 –This wordless picture book illustrates the decline and gradual revitalization of a neighborhood in stunning, intricate collage. Through Tracy’s bedroom window, readers get a wide-angle view of the area, which evolves from her birth through the birth of her own child, each full spread marking another two years. Graffiti, empty storefronts, and decrepit concrete give way to lush greenery, refurbished buildings, and streets filled with people.

BORDEN, Louise. America Is…. illus. by Stacey Schuett. S. & S. 2002. RTE $16.95. ISBN 0-689-83900-6. pap. $6.99. ISBN 1-4169-0286-4.

Gr 2-4 –Sparse, eloquent text paired with vibrant acrylic, gouache, and ink illustrations helps define the broad community that is America. Fields of corn and wheat, fast-paced cities with skyscrapers, the tall prairie grass, freezing Minnesota winters, Western rodeos, snow-capped mountains, and hot, dry deserts are all part of the 50 states. An excellent introduction to the diverse landscape and population of our national community. Video and audio versions available from Spoken Arts Media.

BRETT, Jan. Town Mouse, Country Mouse. illus. by author. Putnam. 1994. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-399-22622-2. pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-698-11986-X.

Gr 1-4 –When two mouse couples swap houses for a much-needed vacation, they soon discover that “there’s no place like home.” The city mice miss the “hustle and bustle” of town life, and the country dwellers find the lure of a stocked pantry diminished by high shelves and mousetraps. Readers will delight in the visual humor of this lavishly illustrated fable that contrasts the pleasures and perils of city versus country life.

BROWN, Craig. Barn Raising. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2002. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-029399-3; PLB $17.89. ISBN 0-06-029400-0.

K-Gr 4 –After a fire ravages Jacob’s family’s barn, friends and neighbors come together for a barn raising. They work hard in the hot sun and enjoy a hearty lunch around long picnic tables, completing the building in the space of a single day. Told in simple, eloquent language and illustrated in earthy pastels and pen and ink, the story captures an Amish community’s spirit of hard work and good will while portraying a rural lifestyle in a warm, appealing light.

CASELEY, Judith. On the Town: A Community Adventure. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2002. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-029584-8; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-06-029585-6.

PreS-Gr 3 –As Charlie explores his suburban neighborhood with his mother,. he draws and labels colorful pictures of important individuals and landmarks including the barber, postal worker, fireman, librarian, florist, teachers, garbage collector, train station, pharmacy, bank, school, luncheonette, pizza parlor, police station, and–best of all–home. Children will be eager to tour and document their own neighborhoods with pictures, maps, and interviews.

COLLIER, Bryan. Uptown. illus. by author. Holt. 2000. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-8050-5721-8; pap. $6.95. ISBN 0-8050-7399-X.

Gr 1-4 –The simple phrase “Uptown is…” allows the author to share what his beloved Harlem neighborhood means to him. He sees the “caterpillar” Metro-North train and the “chocolate” brownstones in a row from his window. “Uptown is weekend shopping on 125th Street”…The Apollo Theater…a barbershop…summer basketball,” but most of all “Uptown is home.” Striking watercolor-and-collage illustrations reveal the warmth and respect Collier feels for his community.

CRONIN, Doreen. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. illus. by Betsy Lewin. S. & S. 2000. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-689-83213-3.

K-Gr 3 –Life on the farm will never be the same after the cows discover an old typewriter. When Farmer Brown refuses their first written request for electric blankets, the determined cows go on strike. In a bold act of community organization, they convince the hens to join them, and soon the baffled farmer is out both milk and eggs. Neutral Duck arbitrates with hilarious results. Lewin’s watercolors are as big, bold, and outrageous as the animals’ demands. Video and audio versions available from Weston Woods.

CRONIN, Doreen. Duck for President. illus. by Betsy Lewin. S. & S. 2004. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-689-86377-2.

Gr 1-4–Farmer Brown and his activist animals are back in this hilarious look at government. Tired of his chores, Duck decides to hold an election and challenges the incumbent, promising a “kinder, gentler farm.” Voter registration, ballots, recounts, campaigns, town meetings, speeches, and parades take the web-footed candidate from the farm to state governorship and on to the White House. Readers will have great fun learning with this playful poke at American politics. Video and audio versions available from Weston Woods.

DIPUCCHIO, Kelly. Liberty’s Journey. illus. by Richard Egielski. Hyperion. 2004. RTE $15.99. ISBN 0-7868-1876-X.

Gr 2-4 –Early “one foggy morn,” Lady Liberty leaves her pedestal to explore the country. Beginning with a city neighborhood, she follows the railroad west–past a farm, a country fair, ranchers driving cattle, desert sands and canyons, all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Smelling the ocean air, she suddenly misses her harbor home and travels back to be greeted by a parade of New Yorkers who’ve been searching for her. Colorful cartoons are a perfect match for the rhymed text.

DISALVO, DyAnne. A Castle on Viola Street. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2001. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-688-17690-9; PLB $17.89. ISBN 0-688-17691-7.

K-Gr 4 –Andy lives with his family in a crowded apartment that never seems to get enough heat. At the laundromat, a flyer for Habitat for Humanity explains that people willing to work on renovating old houses can qualify for a home of their own. Even Andy helps with the work, and within a year, his family is notified that the next house will be theirs. Appealing full-page illustrations in bright colors carry the story, and children will be fascinated with the idea of helping to build an actual house.

DISALVO, DyAnne. Spaghetti Park. illus. by author. Holiday House. 2002. RTE $16.95. ISBN 0-8234-1682-8.

K-Gr 4–Angelo and his grandfather play bocce at the local park, even though it’s run-down and a hangout for a neighborhood gang. At a community-board meeting, Angelo suggests building a new court. Initially, the tough kids sabotage the effort, but eventually everyone works together to make the park a better place. Local politics and a unifying cause seasoned with family pride and tradition cook up a delicious tale while expressive gouache illustrations capture the community’s spirit with warmth and realism.

DISALVO-RYAN, DyAnne. City Green. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 1994. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-688-12786-X.

Gr 1-4 –Since the city tore down a nearby condemned building, Marcy describes her block as “a big smile with one tooth missing.” She and Miss Rosa circulate a petition to lease the empty lot for a community garden. The city provides tools while the residents clean and add a brightly painted fence. Neighbors plant strawberries, carrots, and flowers, and even crotchety Old Man Hammer secretly sows some seeds to make it special. Warm watercolors illustrate the activity, while the final page provides advice on starting a community garden.

DISALVO-RYAN, DyAnne. Grandpa’s Corner Store. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2000. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-688-16716-0; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-688-16717-9.

Gr 1-4 –When the construction of a new supermarket threatens the future of her grandfather’s store, Lucy rallies the community to help. The beloved store gets a facelift, boosting the old man’s spirit and giving him the courage to remain in business. Endpapers feature a colorful map of the neighborhood that includes a compass rose, houses, and landmarks such as a police station, school, post office, library, fire station, church, park, and railroad.

DISALVO-RYAN, DyAnne. Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen. illus. by author. Morrow. 1991. Tr $16. ISBN 0-688-09165-2. pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-688-15285-6.

Gr 1-4–In this enlightening story about helping a neighborhood’s homeless and hungry, a boy spends the day at the soup kitchen where his uncle works. Though not far from his home–just past the school, market, drugstore, bakery, and laundry–it seems like another world. While helping to prepare the huge platters of food, he realizes just how important the kitchen is to the members of his community, some who are even children like himself. Once again, Disalvo-Ryan’s good-natured illustrations add warmth and charm.

FLEMING, Candace. Boxes for Katje. illus. by Stacey Dressen-McQueen. Farrar. 2003. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-30922-1.

Gr 2-4 –Based on a true story, the book tells of how one little girl from Indiana made a difference to a whole village in Holland during World War II. When a box containing soap, socks, and other items arrives for Katje from the United States, it prompts a correspondence that leads to the delivery of many more boxes filled with much-needed provisions–enough for everyone in Katje’s small town. Colorful, folk-art illustrations capture the joy of both communities. Video and audio versions available from Spoken Arts Media.

FLEISCHMAN, Paul. Sidewalk Circus. illus. by Kevin Hawkes. Candlewick. 2004. RTE $15.99. ISBN 0-7636-1107-7.

PreS-Gr 3 –This wordless picture book portrays a busy street through the eyes of an imaginative young girl. After she notices a marquee advertising the “World-Renowned Garibaldi Circus,” the people around her begin to change. A construction worker becomes a tightrope walker, a falling skateboarder is likened to a red-nosed clown, and a pancake chef becomes a juggler. Colorful acrylic illustrations are both clever and amusing. Children will enjoy identifying the various players in both their real and imagined roles.

HEST, Amy. How to Get Famous in Brooklyn. illus. by Linda Dalal Sawaya. S. & S. 1995. Tr $15. ISBN 0-689-80293-5.

Gr 2-4 –Janie records her impressions of the neighbors and shops, from Mary’s Hair Palace, which smells like “too much perfume,” to Bibi’s Old World Bakery with the “best black-and-white cookies money can buy.” Block life means jump rope, bike riding, baseball, and store credit at Moe’s Deli. Spiral-notebook pages with childlike illustrations are juxtaposed against folksy acrylic paintings of this multicultural community, and youngsters might be prompted to keep similar journals of their own.

KERLEY, Barbara. You and Me Together: Moms, Dads, and Kids around the World. National Geographic. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-7922-8297-3; PLB $25.90. ISBN 0-7922-8298-1.

PreS-Gr 4 –Striking single-page and full-spread color photographs speak volumes in this universal celebration of the family. A Masai boy poses with his pet goat and his father; two girls watch their Gypsy mother cook dinner over an open fire; a veiled Muslim woman plays with her daughters on the swings; and a New Mexican boy sleeps on his cowboy father’s lap. An endnote implores parents everywhere to stretch the boundaries of their familial responsibilities to include children born into abuse, poverty, or war.

MORRIS, Ann. Teamwork. Lothrop. 1999. Tr. $16. ISBN 0-688-16551-6; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-688-16995-3.

K-Gr 3 –Provocative color photos illustrate how people work together toward common goals. From a barn raising in Amish Pennsylvania to the rice fields of Vietnam or a basketball court in Salt Lake City, people cooperate to get a job done. “The best team of all is the family–working together…caring for one another.” The final spread of the General Assembly at the United Nations recognizes that “the biggest and most important team is the world’s family…working together…to make peace.”

MYERS, Christopher. Black Cat. illus. by author. Scholastic. 1999. RTE $16.95. ISBN 0-590-03375-1.

Gr 1-4 –A lone black stray explores the streets he calls home in this poetic ode to the city. Creeping down concrete, sipping from hydrants, transfixed by siren lights, the cat roams past the projects, into subways, and onto the chain-link fences of playgrounds and schoolyards. Bodegas, fire escapes, and rooftops are all home to this free-spirited feline. A combination of photographs, collage, ink, and gouache, the illustrations capture the city landscape and its vast possibilities.

NEUBECKER, Robert. Wow! City! illus. by author. Hyperion. 2004. RTE $16.99. ISBN 0-7868-0951-5.

PreS-Gr 2 –The illustrator documents his young daughter’s impressions of her first trip to a big city. Oversized pages depict the crowds and bustle from the busy airport to the taxi ride through heavy traffic to the skyscrapers, fire stations, waterfront, park, museum, bus, subway, and streets–and all Izzy can say is “Wow!” Brightly colored frenetic drawings offer a sharp contrast to the peaceful snow-laden Utah mountains left behind. Youngsters will love the simple captions and larger-than-life portraits.

ROSTEN, Norman. A City Is. illus. by Melanie Hope Greenberg. Holt. 2004. RTE $16.95. ISBN 0-8050-6793-0.

Gr 1-4 –Short, simple poems celebrate the seasons of New York City. A bird’s-eye view of the island shows Manhattan’s bridges and piers as Rosten playfully wonders, “Is it better for a river/to go around a city/or go under it/or through it?/Has anyone ever seen a river go over it?” Postal, fire, tow, and sanitation trucks are pictured as well as the people who ride the ferry, play in the park, rush to the subway, or just relax at a sidewalk café, all in childlike, full-color gouache illustrations.

SÍS, Peter. Madlenka. illus. by author. Farrar. 2000. Tr $17. ISBN 0-374-39969-7.

K-Gr 3 –“In the universe, on a planet, on a continent, in a country, in a city, on a block, in a house,” lives Madlenka. She travels around the world on her New York City block telling her neighbors about her loose tooth. Mr. Gaston bakes croissants and madeleines, reminiscing about Paris. Mrs. Grimm tells German fairy tales, and Eduardo’s store is like a Latin American rain forest. Colorful thumbnail sketches frame a map of the child’s square block, offering glimpses into exotic lands.

SLATE, Joseph. Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten. illus. by Ashley Wolff. Dutton. 2001. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-525-46710-6; pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-14-240139-0.

PreS-Gr 2 –The youngest set will enjoy this interactive walk around the neighborhood with their favorite kindergarten canine. Miss B’s students cut cookies and ice a cake at the bakery, hold the hose and “stop, drop, and roll” at the fire station, weigh packages and choose stamps at the post office, and read books and play on the computer at the library. The community tour culminates with a picnic lunch at the park.

SMITH, Lane. The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! illus. by author. Viking. 2003. RTE $16.99. ISBN 0-670-03594-7; pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-14-240297-4.

Gr 1-4 –Mr. and Mrs. Hocky move out of the city in this irreverent look at country life. A visual comparison reveals that common words acquire new meaning in the country: shoes (heels vs. rubbers); rattle (baby toy vs. snake); mower (push vs. John Deere); garbage collector (uniformed worker vs. raccoon); and milk (container vs. cow). Country sights, smells, and sounds are explained with humor. Fifties-style stick figures on brown paper in earthy tones and picnic tablecloth endpapers complete the package.

STEVENS, Janet & Susan Stevens Crummel. And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon. illus. by Janet Stevens. Harcourt. 2001. RTE $17. ISBN 0-15-202298-8.

K-Gr 3 –The nursery community takes action when the dish and spoon fail to return from their nightly romp. Little Miss Muffet, Bo Peep, the Big Bad Wolf, and Humpty Dumpty help Cat, Cow, and Dog locate the AWOL dinnerware before bedtime. Children can be encouraged to think about favorite book characters as part of a larger literary community, and hone their mapping skills as they follow the map of the animals’ search. The oversized illustrations, particularly of Dog in her party hat and polka-dot tutu, are hilarious.

STEWART, Sarah. The Journey. illus. by David Small. Farrar. 2001. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-33905-8.

Gr 1-4 –A young Amish girl leaves the farm behind for a week in Chicago. Once the horse and buggy drop them at the bus terminal, Hannah and her mother enter a world of skyscrapers, department stores, cars, buses, and museums. Alternate spreads depict busy city scenes contrasted with a bucolic landscape and plain folk quilting or doing chores. Small’s signature artwork wordlessly conveys all the contrasts of city and country life.

WILLEMS, Mo. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. illus. by author. Hyperion. 2004. RTE $15.99. ISBN 0-7868-1870-0.

PreS-Gr 3–Toddler Trixie and her beloved Knuffle Bunny accompany dad through the park, past the school, and to the laundromat. On the way home, Trixie realizes that bunny is missing. Unable to communicate the problem, she becomes hysterical. The instant they reach home, Mom sees the trouble. They retrace their steps until dad retrieves the toy from the wash. This amusing, universal tale is cleverly illustrated with hand-drawn cartoons juxtaposed onto digital photographs that reflect a well-traveled and familiar city neighborhood route.