I Might Be Little But...: Three Books about Defying Expectations

Blizzard, written and illustrated by John Rocco.  This triumphant look at a little boy who helps his family and neighborhood out during a huge snowstorm proves to be a worthy follow-up to Rocco's lovely Caldecott Honor title Blackout.  I remember the very blizzard Rocco talks about here, and the book transports me back to 1978 when the hills of snow towered over us kids.  After the titular event occurs, leaving everyone snowed in (and with dwindling food and supplies) the resilient boy (who would be great friends with Brave Irene) takes it on himself to travel by foot to help everybody.  I love how uses snow to spell out the changing days of the week (accumulated snow, tracks in the snow).  Touches of humor are a bonus, and despite the fact that the beautifully rendered scenes evoke an icy cold feel, the warmth of the story shines through.  Perfect for a wintry story time.

Lion Lion, written by Miriam Busch, illustrated by Larry Day.  Ah, I love trick endings.  And wow, this one certainly tricked me.  A flashlight-bearing lad seen yelling "Lion!" encounters a rather fierce beast seeking lunch.  Having the lion speak in a bold font while the little boy's words appear smaller on the page is a nice touch.  The kid tries to help the lion find some food, pointing out grass (but the snapping turtles in the grass make that particular meal "too snappy" for him--I laughed at the googly-eyed turtle chomping on the lion's tail).    Hedgehogs cause the mushrooms to be too prickly, skunks make the berries too stinky, and bird feathers tickle the large animal's nose.  In a great touch:  all of these animals come together to take down the lion by being snappy, prickly, stinky, and tickly.  Another great twist reveals that there is another character named "Lion" who needs to be saved.  I wouldn't dream of spoiling who "Lion" is and how the boy performs an amazing feat of daring to save "Lion".  A sweet winner of a book that invites repeated readings.

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, written by Katheryn Russell-Brown, illustrated by Frank Morrison.  Morrison's (really cool) signature illustrations, with his characters possessing long limbs, is a perfect match for this picture book biography of Little Melba Liston who needs to stretch her arms to play her beloved trombone.  At a young age, Melba discovers a love for music, and Russell-Brown's lively prose captures this little girl's affection for the "plink of a guitar, the hummm of a bass, the thrum-thrum of a drum...".  This concise work manages to hit on all the high notes of Melba's life, showing, for example, how her Grandfather taught the prodigy to handle the cumbersome trombone.  In a manner younger children can understand, the text also describes how she encountered sexism and racism even after she became a successful musician.  Young readers will enjoy seeing photos of the real Little Melba and Her Big Trombone in the very informative back matter.  A rousing tribute to a music great.