Articles & Interviews

Articles & Interviews

Book Awards & Reviews

CELIA PLANTED A GARDEN

Root and Schmidt describe Celia’s seasonal activities with great admiration, carefully naming the flower and bird species to which she felt so deeply connected. Sweet’s lush, detailed watercolor, gouache, and mixed-media illustrations greatly enhance the text. . . . A splendid introduction to a lesser-known nature poet and the landscapes that inspired her. —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The quiet, precise text tells of a person who brought beauty to a barren place. . . Sweet’s vivid, beautifully crafted illustrations capture the story’s period setting and quiet, reflective subject. This handsome picture-book biography will resonate with those who love flower gardens and long for the sea. —Booklist

Sweet’s illustrations follow the text’s lead. . . Thaxter’s devotion to her titular garden shines bright. —The Horn Book

Vivid nature writing infuses this picture book biography of New England artist and poet Celia Thaxter (1835–1894). . . . In mixed media, Sweet showcases florals on every page, weaving in quotes from Thaxter’s own writing. —Publishers Weekly

Celia Laughton Thaxter was a New England poet, artist, gardener, and nature lover. In this picture book biography, authors Root and Schmidt introduce young readers to the passion that Celia had for natural beauty. —School Library Connection

Twin Cities writer Phyllis Root, author of more than 50 books for children, has teamed up with Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt in this inspiring biography of Celia. Melissa Sweet’s watercolor, gouache and mixed-media collage illustrations depict the bountiful gardens, tender blossoms and raging sea to perfection. —The Star Tribune

Melissa Sweet’s illustrations are delicate and graphically the book is a joy, with flowers, drawings of the town, a picture of Celia and her husband, all filling every page with energy. —The St. Paul Pioneer Press

BEGIN WITH A BEE

“The real queen in this colony is the striking artwork . . . Close-ups of the bees alternate with views of a lush countryside and its other denizens. It’s an inviting book on any shelf, and the story is concise enough for longer storytimes. Educators, caregivers, and young readers will all be buzzing with delight. This book is the bee’s knees.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

A handsome introduction to an endangered bumblebee. — Booklist

Extraordinary book, with illustrations created in earth tones and similar to Mary Azarian’s wood cuts, shows us exactly what the bees’ life is like above and below ground. Three well-known authors give us the complete life history of this bee. — Youth Services Book Review

THE LOST FOREST

“Finely wrought plainspoken poetry (“If you have ever walked through the woods/ you know that the land doesn’t care/ about straight lines”) covers a lot of ground, supplemented by endnotes explaining the ecology of old-growth forests and the history of surveyors. Bowen’s moody, saturated illustrations of layered landscapes and historical journals add heft to the text’s implicit message that the natural world is something more than a measurable commodity.”
— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY  (starred review) 

“An engaging consideration of happy accidents and lucky environmental mistakes.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS

“The writing is engaging, telling a true story and inviting us to use all of our senses to explore the story. Betsy Bowen’s illustrations cause us to linger, examining each page carefully.”
— BOOKOLOGY MAGAZINE (review and interview)

ANYWHERE FARM

Book of Outstanding Merit
Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year for Under Five

Shortlisted for The Nature Generation 2018 Green Earth Book Award

“This must-have picture book will be especially beneficial for school units on plants and seeds and for library storytimes with a spring or gardening theme.”  —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)

“The joyful text makes growing flowers and vegetables seem easy, showing plants spilling out of alternative containers as well as more traditional raised beds and the concluding, large garden plot.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS  

ONE NORTH STAR

Northeastern Minnesota Book Award 2017

John Burroughs Association Riverby Award 2017

Midwest Independent Booksellers Award 2017

“A bright, populous countdown for nature lovers, Midwestern or otherwise.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS

PLANT A POCKET OF PRAIRIE

John Burroughs Association Riverby Award 2015

“In lilting, free-verse passages, [Root] lets kids know that even small plots of native plants can replicate prairie conditions. Bowen’s woodblock illustrations lend the right low-tech, homemade feel to the pages.” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“Could well inspire a new generation of conservationists.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Although the description here is of the inhabitants of a Midwestern prairie, the conservation and restoration message is universal.” —HORN BOOK

“Plant a Pocket of Prairie is one of the spring season’s most beautiful and useful books.” —PIONEER PRESS

SCRAWNY CAT

Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2011

LILY AND THE PIRATES

Smithsonian’s Notable Books for Children 2010
Delaware Diamonds Award Nominee 2012

“[An] enjoyably preposterous, emotionally resonant, library-revering adventure.”  —KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)

BIG BELCHING BOG

Northeastern Minnesota Book Award Nominee 2010

“In simple, lyrical prose, the author builds suspense and an air of mystery appropriate to “the loneliest, quietest place on earth….Not a nature guide but a lovely appreciation.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS

CREAK! SAID THE BED

Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2010

“The cozy, humorous story is guaranteed to invite giggling kids into their parents’ beds… “this story begs to be enjoyed over and over again by both babies and their grown-ups, who will find themselves chanting it rather than reading it a second time through.”

“This story begs to be enjoyed over and over again by both babies and their grown-ups, who will find themselves chanting it rather than reading it a second time through.”   —KIRKUS REVIEWS

FLIP! FLAP! FLY! A BOOK FOR BABIES EVERYWHERE

“Root and Walker introduce readers to a whole springtime full of babies taking that first thrilling step toward independence.” –THE HORN BOOK

“This story begs to be enjoyed over and over again by both babies and their grown-ups, who will find themselves chanting it rather than reading it a second time through.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS

PAULA BUNYAN

“Given this green and feminist fable, you will not be surprised to learn that its author also wrote “Big Momma Makes the World,” where the almighty creator is imagined as a take-charge woman with a baby on her hip.” —NEW YORK TIMES

LOOKING FOR A MOOSE

Texas Reading List 2007

“The rhyming text revels in tongue-tickling descriptive phrases (‘the treesy-breezy, tilty-stilty, wobbly-knobbly woods’) and resounding sound effects (‘squeech squooch!/squeech squooch!’ go the children through the swamp) that will make this a readaloud tour de force.” —BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS

“…the buoyant rhymed text makes for a stellar read-aloud.  An excellent addition to any collection.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS

LUCIA AND THE LIGHT

McKnight Loft Award for Children’s Literature 2006

THE NAME QUILT

Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2004

IF YOU WANT TO SEE A CARIBOU

John Burroughs Association Outstanding Nature Book for Children 2004

BIG MOMMA MAKES THE WORLD

Boston Globe Horn Book Award 2003

“Among the many creation retellings and variations, this one takes the cake.” —THE HORN BOOK (starred review)

RATTLETRAP CAR

Sheffield Children’s Book Award shortlist 2002

Nebraska Golden Sowers Award Nominee 2003

“A picture book that passes the fun test with flying fizz.” —BOOKLIST

ALL FOR THE NEWBORN BABY

“To go with reverent, lovely manger scenes, Root draws images from several Christmas carols and songs for a tender lullaby in which birds, livestock, a spider, even a cherry tree attend on the holy infant.” —KIRKUS

KISS THE COW

Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Honor 2002

“With simple language, predictable rhythms and repetition, and flawless pacing, [Root’s] story begs to be read aloud. . . . Hillenbrand’s immense attention to detail is gratifying” —KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review)

AUNT NANCY AND COUSIN LAZYBONES

Missouri Show Me Readers Award Nominee 2000-2001

WHAT BABY WANTS

Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 1999

ONE DUCK STUCK

“Perfect for reading aloud, this counting book not only contains bright bold illustrations but also has lots of . . . sound effects that children will love to replicate.” —BOOKLIST

AUNT NANCY AND OLD MAN TROUBLE

Minnesota Book Award 1997

Storytelling World Award Honor Book 1997

MOON TIGER

Reading Rainbow review book 1989

Florida Reading Association 1988-1989 Nominee

Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award, 1987-1988