Betsy Franco

A poetic meditation on the concept of zero, something defined by the absence of value, rather than by its (quantifiable) presence, Betsy Franco's Zero Is the Leaves on the Trees takes an idea that can be rather complicated (witness the fact that children’s counting books tend to start at 1, not 0), and simplifies it beautifully for younger readers. Essentially a list of things that "zero is" - "the leaves on the bare, brown arms of the oak tree (0 leaves)... the sound of snowflakes landing show more on your mitten (0 sounds)" - Franco’s simple but effective narrative is accompanied by Shino Arihara's lovely gouache illustrations, making this a concept book that is both informative and beautiful.

I don’t know that I’ve ever really considered how the idea of zero might best be presented to young children - and I have no recollection of having learned about the subject in school, although I must have, at some point – but Franco’s book seems like an excellent place to start. Her repetitive narrative reinforces the idea that she is trying to communicate, while the artwork creates a sense of fun and adventure, subtly conveying the impression that mathematical concepts are a natural part of life, and have significance beyond the classroom. All in all, a sweet little book, one that is definitely more than a zero! show less

Thirty-four concrete poems about our feline friends are paired with colorful, attention-grabbing illustrations in A Curious Collection of Cats. From landing on their feet (in balancing act) to defending their territory (Prickles vs. the Golden Retriever and a tomcat's yard is his kingdom), the cats in Franco's book are true to form, affectionate and destructive by turn. My favorite of the lot is probably A Tree for Samantha:

"Some cats can sense the way you feel - my Sam was one of those.
She show more knew my sad, my angry, my bummed, my happy-down-to-my-toes.
The older she got, the slower she got - her life came to a close.
To honor her, we bought an oak. It's planted by the rose.
The oak is strong, and it will make good climbing when it grows.
But it will never guess I'm sad and kiss me on the nose."

But each selection in this entertaining picture-book has charm, and the entire collection makes for good read-aloud material. The poems take on the shape of what they describe, in clever designs that will keep young readers occupied, and the deep hues of Michael Wertz's art creates a sense of visual frenzy that is quite appropriate to the topic. show less

This book is different from anything I've read. It's almost like the literary equivalent of abstract art or interpretive dance. What you see & get from it will depend on your point of view & life experience. The plot hangs on a mystical premise & the theme may be interpreted in a number of ways. Through the relationship of two people, it explores love, jealousy, hatred, abuse & forgiveness.
Jesse is 19, troubled by his home life & eager to leave the nest. He's heading to film school in the show more fall but will spend the summer working at the grocery store & taking a class in performance art at Stanford. He prefers either place to home where he dodges his father's fists as his invalid mother sews her quilts. The desire to retaliate is strong & this, along with an increasingly distant girlfriend, adds to the anger that simmers inside him.
On the way to his first class, he passes through the Rodin Sculpture Garden. One piece in particular, "Meditation", calls to him & he can't resist touching the rough bronze. Surprisingly, the statue of a young woman feels warm.
After he leaves, something magical occurs. Out of the statue steps the naked girl who posed for it. Understandably, she's a little confused. What just happened & where is she?
Thus begins the story of their relationship. Jesse encounters the secretive woman & over time is drawn to her. He brings her food, art supplies & his problems. She lives in the garden, stealing what others leave behind. She seems to have intimate knowledge of Rodin & his famous protegee, Camille Claudel. Slowly, she realizes who she is.
Both the main characters are at pivotal points in their lives & change is inevitable. They are dealing with anger stemming from the treatment of someone in their lives & are trying to move on. What each needs is to learn the art of forgiveness. Jesse is portrayed as a typical teen, struggling with a parent's disapproval while attempting to start his own life. Cat deals with her own issues in flashbacks but success will result not in the start but the end of her existence.
For me, this book is ultimately about forgiveness. It can be hard to give but you have to try, even if it's only as a gift to yourself. You'll have to be brave enough to honestly examine your role & might not like what you see. In the end, you're responsible for only your words & actions & must accept others for who they are, not who you want them to be. But sometimes a random encounter with a stranger can change your perspective.
I won't reveal the ending, no spoilers here. And whether or not you consider this an HEA will depend on your point of view. This novel would be an excellent choice for a book club. Debate is guaranteed & who knows, maybe a random comment by one of the members will help you see your situation in a new light. show less

Ovid's got a lot on his mind, and he pours it all into the pages of a notebook. Inspired by his namesake, he wryly records his classmates' dramas as modern-day Roman mythology. There's Sophie and Caleb, the Psyche and Cupid of cyber-couples; poetic Paula, who pursues filmmaker Franny like Apollo chasing Daphne; and graphic-novelist Duwayne, a Proserpina shuttling between divorced parents. Meanwhile, Ovid hides his own Olympian struggles and a disturbing secret.

Spoiler - contains profanity, show more graphic sexual situations, and drug use. show less