Here and Now

by Julia Denos

Other authorsE. B. Goodale (Illustrator)
Hardcover, 2019

Status

Available

Publication

HMH Books for Young Readers (2019), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages

Library's review

From Kirkus Reviews, www.kirkusreviews.com, "Following Windows (2017), Denos and Goodale reteam to offer a guided meditation through reading.

The inviting cover shows a little black child touching the reflection in a stream as creatures fly about and the moon rises behind into a starlit sky. The
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first spread is white space with two pairs of hands positioned as if holding the book. “Right here, right now, / you are reading this book.” The simple text continues to bring awareness to the present moment: the placement of the book, the position of the reader’s body, the floor and Earth beneath us, the spinning of the Earth in space. Next, the reader is invited to imagine how “many, many things are happening” while they read this book—rain is forming, a phone somewhere is ringing, an “idea is blooming.” Finally, the text circles back to the reader: “Right here, right now, / YOU are becoming.” The ink and watercolor images complement the text beautifully, with close-ups and panoramic views shifting to cozy vignettes, all emphasizing the focus on emotional connection between characters. The illustration accompanying “Unseen work is being done” shows two people, the black child from the cover and an Asian-presenting older figure, embracing in the field. These characters, followed intermittently throughout, are reading their own copy of Here and Now, which allows several opportunities for playfulness in the pictures, which tell their own story.

Readers will find themselves returning for a thoughtful moment again and again. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-12)"
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Awards

Massachusetts Book Award (Must-Read (Longlist) — 2020)

Language

Original language

English

ISBN

1328465640 / 9781328465641

Barcode

1206
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