Featured books by Melissa Sweet
Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade
Tony Sarge grew from a boy who liked to figure out how to make things move to the man who invented marionettes controlled from below. It was Sarge who invented huge "articulating" balloons that have been the focus of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1928. Mixed media art combines with lively text to present Tony Sarge, his creativity, and contributions.
Books illustrated by Melissa Sweet
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
Horace Pippin was born in Pennsylvania in the late 19th century to become a talented — and ultimately recognized — 20th century artist. Mixed media illustrations and simple text present an overview of Pippin's life and times, including overcoming a disability.
Baabwaa and Wooliam
Although Baabwaa likes to knit and Wooliam likes to read, they both long for an adventure. They find a different and quite literary adventure when they meet a “rambunctious” wolf in sheep’s clothing in this hilarious story with equally funny, expressive watercolor illustrations.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909
In the early 20th century, Clara Lemlick and her family immigrated to the United in search of a better life. The tough garment work in New York City didn't deter Clara who persevered and helped better life for both women and men workers. A simple text combines with mixed media illustrations for a glimpse into early activism and unions.
Cricket in the Thicket: Poems about Bugs
Short poems present a range of familiar insects from crickets to Monarch butterflies. Each is accompanied by brief information about the critter (with additional information at the end), and illustrated with playful, animated, colorful art in Melissa Sweet’s charming signature style.
Easy as Pie
Jacob learns a great deal from his favorite television baker, Chef Monty. And he puts those skills to great use just in time for his parents' anniversary making dessert — a peach pie — the celebration's first course. Jacob's good humor and problem solving skills (with a little help from his sister) make for sweet reading.
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
Seasons are celebrated from spring when "Rain beats down,/roots stretch up…" to a cold winter night as "A welcome mat of moonlight/on the floor…" entices a child to snuggle in a warm bed. Accessible, jewel-toned illustrations add setting and movement to a wide range of appealing and very short poems.
Girls Think of Everything
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. And the women readers meet here certainly seem to support that notion. Have you ever seen a baby in a “snugli”? It was invented by a woman who wanted to keep her baby calm. How about “Scotchgard”? This woman came up with it to help wipe away stains. Meet these inventors and others who had good ideas, skill, and stick-to-it-ness.
River of Words
Though he practiced medicine, William Carlos Williams never stopped writing poetry. This picture book biography celebrates the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.
The Sky's the Limit: Stories of Discovery by Women and Girls
From pulsars to a new solar-heat method for pasteurizing water (recently developed by a 14-year-old), breakthrough insights recorded by female investigators have illumined our world.
The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town
From A to Z, the 26 lowercase letters rowdily get ready for bed. Told in verse and illustrated with slightly eccentric but appealing mixed-media illustrations the letters bounce and cavort until the uppercase "parent" letters put their kids to bed.
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