Tween Pics: Christina Balit

Sometimes younger tweens (and older tweens for that matter) want to settle down with a good old picture book.  This is a common occurrence when the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders from the local charter school come in to check out books, someone always asks if they can borrow one of the pop-up books from the display behind the reference desk, many times they will check out a combination of chapter and picture books.  I try to keep an eye out for picture books that tweens will enjoy.  A main criterion for me is that the illustrations are complex, challenging, creative, and beautiful, much like the tweens that come into the children’s room.

One illustrator that I fell in love with at first book is Christina Balit. 

Once Upon a Starry Night: A Book of Constellations by Jacqueline Mitton illustrated by Christina Balit, 2004

Her illustrations are colorful and many times contain mixed media, making the images tactile and therefore engaging.

 Kingdom of the Sun: A Book of the Planets by Jacqueline Mitton illustrated by Christina Balit, 2008.

Also, the books she illustrates tend to contain information that tweens might find interesting, and Balit’s illustrations add even more incentive to delve into these topics including constellations, mythology and history.

The Adventures of Odysseus by Hugh Lupton illustrated by Christina Balit, 2006

I would recommend her books for anyone from 3^rd to 8^th grade, even though I love looking through the pages of her books, too.