Amos & Boris, by William Steig -- Day 39

Amos the mouse loves the ocean and, dreaming of faraway places, he builds a sturdy boat, loads it with provisions and sets sail full of zest for life. Sadly, even as he rests on the deck marveling at the beauty of the sky, he tumbles into the sea. Calmly treading water and hoping for a happy resolution before fatigue overcomes him, Amos meets up with Boris the whale and discovers, despite their differences, that they are both mammals! Boris agrees to ferry Amos back to his home on the way to a whale conference near the Ivory Coast, cementing their friendship. Years later the pair meets again, when Boris is beached by a huge storm and unable to move back into the water. Tiny Amos recruits two elephant friends to roll Boris into the waves, grateful that he can return a life-saving favor to his friend. The grace, lucidity and gentle humor of William Steig’s writing has enchanted children and adults for decades, and those qualities have the perfect complement in his illustrations for Amos & Boris. Adult readers may be familiar with Steig’s wry New Yorker covers and cartoons. The story of Amos and Boris’s unlikely friendship needs no embellishment, yet it is easy to imagine it as an allegory for human friendships that can bridge big differences when people have the chance to spend time together and become acquainted. Ages 5-8.

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life, by Ashley Bryan -- Day 38

In Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life, Ashley Bryan imagines the realities, hopes and passion in the hearts of eleven individuals whose worth was measured only in dollars and labor by their plantation owner. Bryan drew inspiration for his moving narrative poems and vibrant artwork from actual documents of a slave owner’s estate in 1828. Each person’s role on the plantation is described and then, in a parallel profile, each individual establishes his or her preferred name, most valuable skills and the “precious secret” each holds inside – a dream of freedom. In January 2017 Bryan received the Newbery Honor award and the Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator awards for this powerful book. In numerous books for young people throughout his distinguished career, poet and artist Ashley Bryan has conveyed the richness of African American culture. Ages 7-12.

The Tree Lady, by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry -- Day 37

Katherine Olivia Sessions grew up among the redwoods of northern California and simply loved trees. In 1881, she became the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science. She headed south to San Diego to teach, but, dismayed by the area's lack of trees, she left teaching to establish a nursery, identifying species of trees that might thrive in this dry desert climate and terrain. Kate sought seeds from horticulturists far and wide, taking care that plantings be well suited for the conditions, and by the turn of the century her energy and commitment had transformed San Diego’s City Park into a verdant oasis. When Balboa Park was chosen to be the site of the Panama-California Exposition in 1915, Kate wanted thousands more trees – oaks, eucalypti, palms – to be planted. Through the efforts of countless volunteers and widespread support, the gardens of the exposition became truly spectacular, the fair stayed open an extra year, and Kate’s efforts established an enduring green legacy for the city. Author H. Joseph Hopkins’s picture book biography The Tree Lady is delightful for reading aloud, particularly with the repeating refrain “…and Kate did” as she met challenge after challenge. Jill McElmurry’s generous, joyful illustrations show just the right amount of detail, including identified tree varieties, and artfully support the story of a remarkable woman’s passion and accomplishments.  Ages 5-10.