Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up

Written by Jane Whittingham

Illustrated by Emma Pedersen

Pajama Press

978-1-77278-067-3

32 pp.

Ages 3-7

Release March 2019

Queenie Quail may always be the last one to catch up to her parents and nine siblings when the flock goes out but she's the first to see danger when it's lurking in the grass. Seems being a dawdler has its advantages.

From Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up by Jane Whittingham, illus. by Emma Pedersen

Whether quail or human child, the dawdler is not an uncommon concern for parents. And for Mama and Papa Quail, keeping ten little ones together is always necessary when snakes and foxes and raccoons and cats–oh my!–are always searching for prey.
With the rhythmic sounds of heads "bob bob bob"-ing and the "tap tap tap" of little feet, the "ten round bodies went hurry hurry hurry" but Queenie can't keep up, no matter how often they stop to cheep at her.  She's distracted by the pink blossoms and the green grass and the shiny stones and the fuzzy caterpillars and more.

From Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up by Jane Whittingham, illus. by Emma Pedersen

But one morning when she stops to admire a feather, she spots

An unusual flash of orange.
A furry kind of orange.
A moving kind of orange.

Finally given reason to hurry, Queenie alerts her family and her parents squawk into action. Not surprising that Queenie's siblings learn the value in stopping to really see along their daily treks from then on.

Though quails are usually very quiet unless startled, Jane Whittingham gives them voice in Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up and your little ones will enjoy the repetitive chirps of the quails as they move and urge Queenie to hurry. Moreover, by boldly colouring certain phrases or words, including those repeated three times in succession, even non-readers will be able to pick up on key words and read along. Beyond the text, the story content has important embedded messages about sticking together for safety as well as taking the time to really see along the journey.  Queenie Quail may be a challenge for her family because she doesn't march to the same drummer as they do but that same difference also makes her an asset. Her observational skills and appreciation of what she sees around her is a testimonial to the benefit of mindfulness, taking in the moment and all it entails.

Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up is Toronto artist Emma Pedersen's first picture book and she does Queenie and her family, as well as Jane Whittingham, proud. Though Emma Pedersen ensures that the quail are truly quail-like, with their head plumes, known as topknots, of which Queenie's is bi-coloured, and elongated bodies for adults and rounded-bodied young, she has given them her own personal stamp of cuteness. In fact, with the adorable facial expressions on the chicks and parents, Emma Pedersen anthropomorphizes the quails just enough to help children see themselves and their families within. Similarly, the landscapes Emma Pedersen creates of stylized plants are both real and fantastical, enriching each page of the story.

From Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up by Jane Whittingham, illus. by Emma Pedersen

While the basis of Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up may be appear to be a scolding at an errant youngster, it delightfully turns into a lesson about the value in stopping to smell the grass and the blossoms and see the amazing in our surroundings, to the betterment and safety of all.

Never Give Up & Reptile Flu

Never Give Up: A story about self-esteem

Written by Kathryn Cole

Illustrated by Qin Leng

Second Story Press

978-1-927583-60-9

24 pp.

Ages 5-8

April 2015

Reptile Flu: A story about communication

Written by Kathryn Cole

Illustrated by Qin Leng

Second Story Press

978-1-927583-61-6

24 pp.

Ages 5-8

April 2015

This new  I’m a Great Little Kid series from Second Story Press will be a bonus to teachers or parents looking for a literature-based lesson for teaching positive life values such as communication and self-esteem, especially as there are addenda called “For Grown-ups” that explain the concept on which the book is focused and provide guidance to addressing each.  Each book is a wonderful package of story and lesson, lovingly illustrated by Canadian artist Qin Leng whose artwork graces picture books from the quirky A Flock of Shoes (Sarah Tsiang, Annick Press, 2010) to light-hearted but poignant Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin (Chieri Uegaki, Kids Can Press, 2014) and Norman, Speak! (Caroline Adderson, Groundwood Books, 2014).  Now Qin Leng’s light touch will be recognizable as the one that lends an innocent air to the I’m a Great Little Kid series.  Lucky Kathryn Cole and Second Story Press.

In Never Give Up, Nadia watches as her friend Shaun continues to try to ride his two-wheel bicycle.  Learning that Shaun is good at skipping, the very skill she is trying to master, and that he does not give up on his bike and its training wheels, even after a bunch of kids laugh at him, Nadia enlists her father’s help to get Shaun balanced and riding successfully.  Reciprocating, Shaun helps guide Nadia, and funnily enough her father too, to become a successful skipper, even enlisting the help of those children who’d laughed at Shaun before.

With the class studying reptiles in Reptile Flu, Ms. Cosby, their teacher, plans a trip to the museum.  Kamal, for whom “The very though of reptiles sent shivers down his spine”, is less than thrilled.  But, he can’t find the words to tell his teacher, or even his classmates when they display their reptile drawings to him.  Instead, he endures nightmares and has ineffective conversations with his teacher, parents, sister and peers in an attempt to share his fears, all to no avail, until the day of the trip.  Finally, Kamal finds his voice and Ms. Cosby finds a way for Kamal to feel OK about his fears and even enjoy the trip.

Kathryn Cole’s messages in Never Give Up and Reptile Flu are so positive and told in such familiar scenarios that all young readers will easily find themselves empathizing with the characters who try to develop new skills or face difficulties with communication.  And, even better, they will actually see themselves in the book, so incredibly inclusive in the families displayed and the skin, clothing, names, and body types of the children within.  There’s Lin, Kamal, Claire, Nadia, and Shaun.  There are children in leg braces, in head scarves, with glasses and not, thinner, heavier, white, brown, black, poorer, richer–everyone is there!  And they are all given voice to share their likes, their fears, their needs. There is no better way to learn a life lesson than by seeing yourself, sort of, within the safety of a book, where no one can laugh at you or see your mistakes or weaknesses.  If Never Give Up and Reptile Flu are an indication of the wisdom and significance of the I’m a Great Little Kid series¬–even the series name works to promote a positive message!–I think all youngCanLit readers and their parents and teachers should be anticipating more worthwhile titles to add to their libraries, personal and school.

Willow Finds A Way

by Lana Button

Illustrated by Tania Howells

Kids Can Press

978-1-55453-842-3

32 pp.

Ages 3-7 

March 2013

I know that school has only been out for a few days but with a relevant and delightful story like Willow Finds a Way, it really doesn't matter whether it's read in school or out of school.  When a child finds the means to deal with a classmate who coerces loyalty with the carrot of a birthday party, this life lesson could be useful for any one of the millions of circumstances in which people behave badly. If an author provides a strategy for young people to deal successfully with such situations, I say we publicize it as much as we can, especially if it is as subtle and non-preachy as it is in Willow Finds a Way.

In Lana Button and Tania Howell's sequel to Willow's Whispers (Kids Can Press, 2010), Willow's classmate Kristabelle announces that she will be having a fantastic birthday party and she has made a list of those who are invited.  Willow and her classmates are relieved to see that on a pink sparkly paper Kristabelle has listed all their names.  But Kristabelle doesn't just make a list.  She holds it over everyone as a bribe to encourage them to do just as she asks:  play on the climber, sit at her table, allow her to be line leader, wear pink.  If anyone doesn't comply, Kristabelle crosses their name off her pink sparkly list.  Around her, children want to do different activities, sit other places, wear different colours and enjoy their own choices, but no one comes to the aid of those whose names are removed so publicly from the list.  As in Willow's Whispers, shy Willow must find her voice again and do what she believes is right and she does, all without hurting anyone's pride.

The austere text and simple drawings by Lana Button and Tania Howells respectively acknowledge the commonality of the circumstances of Willow Finds a Way.  No child wants to be the ostracized by his or her peers, experience friendlessness, or feel coerced instead of compromising. Likewise for adults for whom these same circumstances could be witnessed in any workplace.  Without shaming Kristabelle, Willow finds a way to send her the message that it is not OK to treat others as she does by threatening to take names off her list.  By allowing Kristabelle to examine the situation and amend it herself, every one can keep their frail egos intact.

It's a rare day when you'll read a review of a children's book in Canada's national newspaper, The Globe & Mail, nowadays.  At one time, a "Children's Books" column could be found every second Saturday in their Books section, sharing reviews of a number of children's books, Canadian and otherwise.  So imagine my surprise to see the cover of Willow Finds a Way on a Book page in the June 22, 2013 edition of The Globe and Mail!  A delightful contribution of reviews by author Andrew Kaufman (Born Weird, Random House Canada, 2012) and his children, Frida and Phoenix, starts with Willow Finds a Way.  To have this book win the attention of Andrew Kaufman and company in this rare promotion of children's books should tell readers how special this book is in challenging children to see beyond the obvious and stand up to injustice, even if it is only in regards to a birthday party.  But, as you may recall from your youngest days, birthday parties are a very, very big deal to the young.  By solving these kinds of problems, young readers may be more resilient, all courtesy of Willow, Lana and Tania, when more significant problems arise.