friday's five, the power of observation

Young children could teach adults a thing or two about the power of observation. In my years of teaching preschool, I quickly learned that little kids notice things most grown-ups do not, and there is an innate sense of curiosity in children that often disappears as people age. I've tried to take that knowledge to heart, and I especially enjoy tuning in and trying to notice as much around me as possible when outdoors or in a new environment. This week, I'm sharing five picture books that encourage this kind of curiosity and engage young readers in looking closely.

To the books!

1. A House that Once Was written by Julie Fogliano and illustrated by Lane Smith

This picture book is a visual delight for both young and old readers! Two young children stumble upon a house deep in the woods that "once was but now isn't a home". As they proceed to explore it, their imaginations run wild with all the possibilities of the house's past. The house remains full of items belonging to its former residents, and the children approach these as clues to feed their wondering. Smith's illustrations-- done in two distinct styles to separate the current day scenes and the imagined happenings of the past-- are magnificent and encourage lingering on each page long after the text has been read.

2. On Gull Beach written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Bob Marstall

In this third installment of the On Bird Hill & Beyond series, Yolen and Marstall bring a New England beach alive, complete with tons of gulls all vying for a lone starfish lying vulnerable on the shore. A boy follows the gulls as they toss the sea star around, and while he does so, he points out the many sights that are to be seen on a beach in Cape Cod-- rocks, sea glass, dunes, crabs, and more. While the gulls featured in the book are Herring Gulls, the notes at the end of the story give information about several more types of gulls, along with other creatures featured in the book. Grab this book for a moment of beachy fun on a cold winter day!

3. Hello Hello written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

This book is a pure delight for the eyes with its bright colors and adorably big-eyed animals of all kinds! The text is simple- just a short greeting on each page that acknowledges a similarity in otherwise fairly different animals. Younger children will surely love to point out the ways the animals are alike, from funny curves to pointy horns, and adults reading this aloud can prompt children's observations with questions that encourage a closer look. The author's note in the end takes a bit of a more serious tone as he talks about some of the featured animals' troubling statuses as threatened, vulnerable, or endangered species. He also identifies each of the NINETY-TWO animals in the book and pushes children to learn more about them in the hopes that more people will care enough to protect them.

4. Deep Underwater written and illustrated by Irene Luxbacher

Be ready to allot some extra time to this one, because each page just has so much to see. A young girl named Sophia introduces herself and then invites readers to join her as she dives down deep into the sea by which she lives. Sophia is an expert observer, and she happily shares her knowledge through the journey. The illustrations in this one are beyond amazing, a dazzling array of gorgeous colors and design. This is one of those picture books whose images I want to have blown up and framed for my walls!

5. This is My Eye: A New York Story written and photographed by Neela Vaswani

Take a journey through New York City through the eyes of a child! Vaswani has created a narrative here of a nine-year-old girl's view of her home city and the result is just magnificent. Through the lens of a camera, things can absolutely look different and a young photographer is focused on details that otherwise might be missed. Even if you have no affiliation with or reverence for NYC itself, this book still engages readers with its curious and joyful tone, and the images are remarkable. Giving a kid a camera, in my experience, has always brought about funny and surprising photos, and Vaswani has successfully captured that magic in this book.


Keep those eyes open!