NPR's Book of the Day: Exploring Nature and Identity in Children's Literature

Release Date: April 18, 2025

NPR's "Book of the Day" episode delves into the enriching world of children's literature, spotlighting two new books that emphasize the natural world as a catalyst for personal growth. Hosted by Andrew Limbong, the episode features in-depth conversations with authors Kiese Lehman and Brian Pinkney, exploring themes of identity, safety, and environmental consciousness through beautifully crafted narratives and illustrations.

1. "City Summer, Country Summer" by Kiese Lehman

Exploring Identity and Softness

Kiese Lehman's latest work, City Summer, Country Summer, is a poignant exploration of identity and personal growth set against the backdrop of contrasting environments. Lehman, a MacArthur "Genius" grant recipient, shares his inspiration and the nuanced themes embedded in his storytelling.

Key Themes:

• Contrast Between Urban and Rural Life: The protagonist, a boy from New York City, spends his summer vacation visiting his grandmother in Mississippi. This geographical shift serves as a metaphor for exploring different facets of his identity.
• Black Boy Softness: Lehman emphasizes the importance of depicting black boys with depth beyond societal stereotypes. He seeks to highlight emotions, vulnerability, and the capacity for joy and experimentation.

Notable Quote:

“I wanted to create art and read art where black children are allowed to be lost. Because being lost is a kind of experimentation.”
— Kiese Lehman [04:50]

Illustration Insights: The book's illustrations by Alexis Franklin are described as "lush" and play a crucial role in conveying the story's emotional depth. The natural settings, including forests and gardens, symbolize safety and love, contrasting with the external unsafety in the world.

Highlighted Passages: Lehman reads a touching excerpt where the protagonist feels both fear and satisfaction while wandering the Mississippi woods, illustrating the internal conflict and the comfort found in nature.

“Wandering through those cool spots in those Mississippi woods was too much for New York's body. We didn't speak this. New York didn't speak this, but our bodies knew.”
— Kiese Lehman [04:27]

Discussion on Safety vs. Safeness: Lehman differentiates between "safety" and "safeness," emphasizing that while external environments may be unsafe, the emotional and psychological feeling of safeness is cultivated through familial love and nurturing relationships.

“I think there was, like, a bodily, psychological, emotional feeling of safeness when I was at my grandmother's house. And my grandmother's, like, touch when she could see me.”
— Kiese Lehman [06:21]

Healing for Adults: Lehman hopes the book serves as a healing tool for adults as well, allowing parents and caregivers to share expressions of joy and love with children, fostering a sense of security and belonging.

2. "The Littlest Drop" by Sasha Alpert and Brian Pinkney

Continuing a Legacy of Illustration

The Littlest Drop is a collaborative effort between author Sasha Alpert and illustrator Brian Pinkney, the son of the legendary Jerry Pinkney. This book represents Brian’s homage to his father, blending his unique artistic style with Jerry Pinkney's foundational techniques.

Key Themes:

• Environmental Awareness: The story centers around a tiny hummingbird who, amidst a forest fire, bravely collects a single drop of water to help extinguish the flames. This act symbolizes hope and responsibility towards environmental conservation.
• Hope and Resilience: The narrative underscores the importance of maintaining hope and taking small actions to effect change, especially in the face of overwhelming challenges like the climate crisis.

Notable Quote:

“I'm doing what I can.”
— Hummingbird Character [10:09]

Illustration Process: Brian Pinkney discusses the delicate balance of honoring his father's detailed and expressive animal illustrations while infusing his own fluid and impressionistic style. The collaboration involved expanding Jerry Pinkney's initial sketches and integrating broader brushstrokes and vibrant colors to bring the story to life.

Notable Quote:

“The collaboration between the two of you is so beautiful because your dad did have such an amazing way, with just the extraordinary expressiveness of animals... and I just think that it's so beautiful together.”
— Brian Pinkney [12:33]

Artistic Challenges: Brian shares the challenges of stepping into his late father's shoes, particularly in illustrating numerous animal characters and maintaining the integrity of Jerry Pinkney’s original vision while incorporating his distinct artistic approach.

Illustrative Highlights: A standout illustration features a two-page spread of fire, symbolizing both destruction and the small but significant efforts to combat it. This visual representation captivates young readers, as noted by Brian:

“There are lots of characters. And I also saw the fire as a character. So it was important that the fire kind of grow and have a presence in the book, and then the presence diminishes as the fire goes out.”
— Brian Pinkney [14:07]

Broader Impact: While initially an environmental story, Brian reflects on the broader implications of hope and collective action, encouraging children to believe in their ability to make positive changes in the world.

“Children are dreamers and they need to keep hope. Children now are facing an incredibly challenging world in so many ways, and they are going to have to do what they can...”
— Brian Pinkney [15:10]

Conclusion: Celebrating Potential and Healing Through Literature

This episode of NPR's "Book of the Day" not only highlights the creative journeys of Kiese Lehman and Brian Pinkney but also underscores the profound impact children's literature can have on both young readers and adults. Through City Summer, Country Summer and The Littlest Drop, these authors and illustrators celebrate the possibilities of personal growth, emotional depth, and environmental stewardship, offering stories that inspire, heal, and educate.

Listeners are encouraged to explore these books to witness the delicate interplay of narrative and illustration that brings these meaningful stories to life.

Credits:

• Host: Andrew Limbong
• Guests: Kiese Lehman, Brian Pinkney, Sasha Alpert
• Producer: Samantha Balaban
• Production Team: Chloe Weiner, Megan Sullivan, among others

For more information and other engaging conversations, visit npr.org Picture This.