From mountaintops to ocean depths

Books Up the Mountain

Caroline Starr Rose
Waxwing Books, 40 pages

This lyrically-worded picture book introduces children to the work of packhorse librarians, who served poor, remote Appalachia communities in Kentucky during the Great Depression. Gabrielle Grimard’s pencil, watercolor, and oil paint illustrations show Book Woman riding atop her trustworthy mule as they plod along winding trails and across slick streams so she can deliver books to adults and children, spreading joy throughout the seasons: “Loyal to her people. Faithful to her rounds. Bearing words that bring the world to readers in these mountains.” The concluding author’s note includes vintage photos of packhorse librarians and a short history of the Pack Horse Library Project, which put books into the hands of more than 100,000 residents in over 30 counties. Ages 4–8 —K.C.

The Big One

Dashka Slater
Random House Studio, 40 pages

Nana, the oldest elder in a seaside town, dreams of the day she will lure in the storied fish. Marina, a curious child, wants to be part of the search. They set out to catch “the big one” together. Day after day they jump in the boat, but when they don’t catch anything, Marina’s hopes start to wane. “We’ll need four hands to haul it in and two mouths to tell the story,” Nana reminds Marina. This story teaches lessons of patience, per­severance, and the beauty of a relationship between grandparent and child. Illustrations by Myo Yim feature cool hues and pleasant pastels as the story moves from land to sea. In addition, the book includes interesting animals and small objects readers can search for in the beautifully detailed pictures. Ages 4–8 —J.C.

Heaven on Earth

Randy Alcorn & Lisa Tawn Bergren
Waterbrook Children’s, 40 pages

This book opens with a question many parents have heard their children ask: “What will heaven be like?” The subsequent pages set out to answer that question by discussing in child-friendly terms what the Bible has revealed about heaven while also surmising about details that are not definitive (e.g., “Will we have pets on the New Earth?”). In the story, a father and mother field heaven-­related questions from their son and daughter while the family embarks on a backpacking adventure through God’s creation. Their dialogue incorporates the gospel message and assures their children that they can look forward to all that God has promised when He makes everything new. Note: One of James Bernardin’s illustrations portrays Jesus’ face. Ages 4–8 —K.C.

Elisabeth Elliot

Megan Hill
B&H Kids, 32 pages

The newest addition to the Here I Am! biography series introduces young readers to Christian missionary Elisabeth Elliot. This engaging picture book provides a mostly age-appropriate summary of Elliot’s life. The story begins with Elliot’s childhood in Belgium and goes through the highlights of her life. Some parts add unnecessary details instead of solely focusing on her determination to serve God in the hard Ecuadorian jungle (e.g., a brief mention of when her translation work was stolen and a quick summary of her second and third marriages may go over little heads). The stylized images use soft, playful colors, but on some pages the text feels cluttered next to the graphics. But for those teaching early elementary students about missionaries, this resource can be a helpful addition to any picture book library. Ages 4–8 —J.C.