64. His Fairytale Life

 

 

64. His Fairytale Life: A book About Hans Christian Andersen. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Brooke Boynton-Hughes. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, picture book biography, j nonfiction]

First sentence: He was a boy
who lived with a mother
who could not read,
but remembered every fairy tale
she'd been told,
and a father who built things
out of wood, sturdy but graceless,
and a grandfather
who danced in the forests of Denmark
without clothes,
but with flowers in his hair;
a boy who wanted to be a poet,
but did not know his ABCs,
who longed to be a writer,
but had never been to school,
who finally, in his teens,
sat with the three-and-four-
and five-year-olds in class,
learning all he could;

Premise/plot: I give up on finishing the first sentence. His Fairytale Life is a picture book biography of Hans Christian Andersen written as a narrative poem....and also possibly the world's longest sentence. (Not really. I'm sure there are longer sentences about.)

My thoughts: I really enjoyed the illustrations for the most part. The narrative style was unique and unusual. I haven't decided if I liked it or not. I like the idea of liking it. And overall, I do think this is an accessible biography that one could read aloud to children. Particularly if you are a teacher studying a fairy tale unit. The sentence may be LONG but it is packed with information. I'm not quite sure I understand *why* his life was more like a fairy tale than a life. Even after reading it twice.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

114. The Fastest Drummer

114. The Fastest Drummer: Clap Your Hands for Viola Smith. Dean Robbins. Illustrated by Susanna Chapman. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Nonfiction picture book] [5 stars]

First sentence: Five girls played together in the Smith Sisters Orchestra. Irene on trombone. Erma on vibraphone. Edwina on trumpet. Mildred on violin. Lila on saxophone. Was there a spot for the sixth sister, Viola? Almost every instrument was taken...except for the drums. 

Premise/plot: The Fastest Drummer is a nonfiction picture book biography of Viola Smith. It celebrates music, jazz, women's history, and history-history. 

My thoughts: I have a weakness for music-related picture books, especially jazz-focused picture books. (I blame Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb one of the greatest early readers ever.) This one is a biography of a musician, a drummer, Viola Smith. I had not heard of Viola Smith, however, famous drummers--particularly jazz drummers--aren't something I'm particularly familiar with at all.  

What I LOVED about this one was the narrative. The storytelling AND in particular the descriptive word choices make for a super rhythmic read aloud. I loved, loved, loved how the narrative combines with the illustrations to make for a fantastic read.

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

21. The Fabulous Fannie Farmer

The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America's Cook. Emma Bland Smith. Illustrated by Susan Reagan. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: In a house near Boston in the late 1800s, Fannie Farmer sat at the kitchen table, swinging her legs and peeling potatoes. Or so we can imagine. Like many girls across America, Fannie likely grew up learning to cook from her mother, making dishes that had been passed down for generations. Now, back in the old days, recipes were different from today. Both in books and out loud, the instructions were often cloudier than clam chowder, and the measurements could be downright silly! "A suspicion of nutmeg," "sugar to your taste," "as many yolks of eggs as may be necessary," "yeast sufficient to make them light," "a good lump of dripping or butter."

Premise/plot: The Fabulous Fannie Farmer is a nonfiction picture book--a biography--about Fannie Farmer and her cookbook. Farmer was instrumental in the field. She is the "mother of measurement" and helped revolutionize modern recipes--that is HOW recipes were written. The book is great at contrasting before and after. 

The book includes two of her recipes.

My thoughts: I loved this one. The narration was great--plenty of engaging storytelling. I loved the inclusion of back matter. This one is a good example of a DELIGHTFUL nonfiction read. They sure didn't write biographies like this when I was a kid.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

292. I Am Mister Rogers

291. I Am Mister Rogers. Brad Meltzer. Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. 2023. [October 31] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. 

Premise/plot: This one is a picture book biography--with graphic novel elements--of Mister Rogers. It tells of his life and his life's work, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It includes all the highlights--everything you could want with a kid-friendly delivery. 

My thoughts: I love, love, love Mr. Rogers. I do. I really do. For so many decades there were no picture book biographies of Fred Rogers. Then around 2019 or 2020 they started flowing in. Now there are choices. I must say I really loved the text of this one. I can't say that I am crazy in love with the illustrations--when comparing them to the other picture book biographies I've read. But the text more than makes up for it. The illustrations aren't bad--let me make this clear. It is just a very comic/cartoon style. It is an artistic choice that I may not personally love, but it is consistent throughout this series. So it make sense for the series, for sure. I would definitely recommend this one. I loved all the information.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

279. Beulah has a Hunch!

Beulah Has a Hunch! Inside the Colorful Mind of a Master Inventor Beulah Louise Henry. Katie Mazeika. 2023. [October 17] 40 pages. [Source: Library] [2024 Cybils Eligible in Nonfiction Elementary]

First sentence: Beulah Louise Henry was frustrated. Again. Scritch...scratch...erase! Beulah had a hunch, a new idea for an invention. She could see it clearly in her mind, and she desperately wanted to draw it in perfect detail. But no matter how precise the image in her head was, the drawing on her slate was a mess.

Premise/plot: Picture book biography of Beulah Louise Henry. Chances are you've never heard of her, I certainly hadn't. But she was a MASTER inventor earning the nickname "Lady Edison." The back matter elaborates just how many patents she had and some of her inventions. (To name a few, she invented dollies that open and shut their eyes and gave dolls voice boxes. But that's just the smallest fraction of what she thought up.) 

My thoughts: I learned so much from reading this one. I love to learn from children's books. I do. Sometimes I'm familiar with a subject, sometimes it's completely new. This falls into the completely new category. But if someone wanted to do a historic take on Shark Tank as an educational program, she'd keep popping up and making appearances. This does make me curious how many hundreds--if not thousands--of 'untold' stories there are out there.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

263. Good Books for Bad Children

Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula Nordstrom. Beth Kephart. 2023. [September] 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book biography; nonfiction]

First sentence:  Ursula Nordstrom
was a grown-up
who never forgot
what it was to be a child.

Premise/plot: Chances are children are clueless when it comes to knowing who Ursula Nordstrom is. (Perhaps most parents as well.) But there's a HUGE possibility that you've read aloud to your little one a book edited by Ursula Nordstrom. Nordstrom was a children's book editor. 

My thoughts: I greatly enjoyed this book celebrating books. I loved learning more about her contribution to the world of children's books. I had heard of her before--having studied children's literature at a graduate level. 

I loved the way this one was written.

My favorite quote:

And she would remind anyone who called stories
too naughty, funny, or scary
that there were all kinds of children who need all
kinds of books:
books for children who feel sad
books for children who get mad
books for children who feel different
books for children who are lonely
books for children who have secrets.
Once, when Ursula was asked
to explain why she, a grown-up
who had not gone to college,
who had never been a teacher or librarian,
had any business making books for children,
she declared:
"I am a former child, and I haven't forgotten a thing."

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

193. The Story of Barbie

The Story of Barbie and the Woman Who Created Her. Cindy Eagan. Illustrated by Amy June Bates. 2017. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [Nonfiction; picture book biography]

First sentence: Ruth Handler loved to invent. She was always thinking of new ideas for fashionable jewelry and dollhouse furniture. 

Premise/plot: This is a picture book biography. Is it of Ruth Handler? Yes. In part. Is it of Barbie? Yes. In part. It is perhaps slightly limited in scope. It is the story of how Ruth Handler created/invented/marketed a doll, Barbie. It is about Ruth's vision for the doll, and the ongoing, continuing vision for the doll. That vision, that persona has changed--evolved--through the decades.

My thoughts: I think the 'wow' factor of this one (if it has one) is the artwork. Amy June Bates was able to 'capture' the many, many, many, many, many 'looks' and 'styles' of Barbie as she has involved from 1959 to the book's publication in 2017. These illustrations will pack NOSTALGIA for adult readers. For children, perhaps, more of an opportunity for context and backstory. It might be a good introduction to all Barbie has been and has meant--in the past. Of course, Barbie is never solely defined by her past. She's never solely defined at all. 

I think one of the strengths of the narrative of this picture book is that while, yes, Barbie is a "singular" icon packed--for better or worse--with meaning, she is also defined by each and every child who has a doll. She is WHO YOU imagine her to be.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers

138. The Corgi and the Queen

The Corgi and the Queen. Caroline L. Perry. Illustrated by Lydia Corry. 2022. [November] 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Elizabeth of York wasn't a storybook princess. Her younger sister, Margaret, loved playing dress-up in their mother's fancy gowns and twirling around her room in a diamond tiara. But Elizabeth was happiest wearing normal clothes and playing fetch with the family's dogs, Dookie and Jane.

Premise/plot: This picture book biography highlights Queen Elizabeth II's love of dogs--particularly Corgis. Her first Corgi was Susan. And many--though not all--of her doggie companions were descended from Susan. The picture book tells the story of their friendship--in part. But it is also a brief introduction to the life/reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

My thoughts: I loved this one. Particularly I loved, love, loved the illustrations in this picture book biography. I loved that the book ends with a family tree of the Queen (up to date too!) and of Susan! This one is a good introduction to the life and times of the Queen.

 

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers