Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Color

by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
Houghton Mifflin, 2009
Illustrations: Mixed media paintings on wood and computer illustration.

From spring to summer and on through the seasons, colors are characters that change mood with every season. For example, in spring, “Yellow slips goldfinches their spring jackets,” while in fall, “Yellow grows wheels and lumbers down the block, blinking: Warning–classrooms ahead. The poetry is fresh and full of engaging images: “Pink prickles:/warm fingers/against cold cheeks.” And is fun to read aloud; try this:

White dazzles day
and turns night
inside out.

A wrestle, a romp,
a feast:
Mmmmm…
winter tastes white.

As good as the poetry is, the illustrations steal the show. Big, bright scenes of great detail and brilliant hues stretch the page. Words and letters are found in interesting places, such as on a collar, in leaves, and making up roofs of houses. The scenes are full of whimsy; in spring, a roof of a house tips up and open to let out red birds, and musical notes fill the air. The rich, delicious colors are beautiful to behold; from the green green in spring to the orange of fall, the rich, delicious colors are beautiful to behold. The extraordinary detail of the hummingbirds, grasshoppers, Canada geese,  and winter trees found in backgrounds that tell a story in themselves is amazing.  These are the kind of paintings in which you see something new each time you look at them.

A vibrant, fanciful, clever romp through the seasons in an entirely unique way–you won’t want to miss this book!

How to Build Your Own Country

By Valerie Wyatt, Illustrated by Fred Rix, Kids Can Press, 2009

An exceptionally good book introducing kids to all the various components of building and running a country, using real-life examples. Everything from finding a chunk of land and staking out your identity to keeping the peace is included in step-by-step directions. The conversational, friendly and funny narrator is a pleasure to read. The cartoons add fun to the whole process. All together a great book and exercise for elementary classrooms, a family project, or any adventurous kid.

From the Citizen Kid series, “A collection of books that infor childen about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens.”

A Gift of Days: The Greatest Words to Live By

By Stephen Alcorn, Atheneum, 2009

52 relief-block portraits are interspersed within this book of days that not only marks birthdays of famous writers, scientists, artists, actors, inventors, leaders of all kinds, and much more, but includes an inspirational quote from each.

The portraits won’t be labeled  by one style or another; while they are all clearly block prints, some are colorful and some are black and white, some are strong representations of a person’s face and others are more abstract, some are painterly and some more like drawing; some look ancient and some modern;  many are literal portraits but some include other elements that honor the person. For example, Jesse Owens is pictured in a starting block position, with large wings coming off his back–beautiful.

The artist/author offers us a window into the inspiration for the book which he traces to his art studies in Italy, the importance of the humanities stressed there, and his first viewing of a 15th century  illustrated manuscript. As inspired by the people and places he is in his life, he hopes to pass on the inspiration of each “noble spirit” offered here.

Perhaps my favorite portrait and quote is that of Frida Kahlo; her strong features and finely decorated portrait are accompanied by her words, “Feet, what do I need for you when I have wings to fly?”

Other examples of inspiring words:

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Sir Edmund Hillary

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude. ” Colin Powell

“Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” Jimi Hendrix

“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” Winston Churchill

The people and the quotes range across centuries, continents, races, professions, and more.  The whole is handsomely put together with colorful borders and patterned backgrounds.  

It is not quite accurate to call this a “children’s book.” It is marketed as such, but is really a book for all ages, schools from pre-k through high school, and  even adults with no children.

An excellent collection of wisdom and beauty.

Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin

The adorable little feathered friends are back, just in time for fall harvest and Halloween. Thistle, of all creatures, has a beautiful pumpkins, and Duck and Goose set out in search of one, as well. Toddlers and young preschoolers will delight in the search as Duck and Goose look EVERYWHERE for a pumpkin, except of course, a pumpkin patch. The delightful expressions, soft landscapes, and colorful world of this innocent pair are not to be missed; as fun as can be.

My Uncle Emily by Jane Yolen

I love My Uncle Emily!

The illustrations are reminiscent of turn of the century children’s literature in color, tone, and texture, and much to the overall charm of the book. The writing is easy and unhurried, as if inviting a reader to sit back and relax while reading this tale of family and loyalty, right and wrong, truth and untruth.

It’s around 1880, and six-year old Gib is given a poem for his teacher by Uncle Emily. Of course, she is not really an uncle; it’s a family joke. They share a special bond and he doesn’t want to offend her, but he doesn’t want kids to laugh at him either, or say mean things about his somewhat reclusive relative, Emily Dickinson.

It’s a beautiful tale of a boy struggling with big issues, and how the love of his family brings him along to a good place. Timeless and well-done.

My Uncle Emily by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, Philomel, 2009.

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

The Magician’s Elephant by Kate Di Camillo, illustrated by Yoko Tanaka, Candlewick Press, 2009

Well, she’s done it again! The Magician’s Elephant is another masterpiece by the talented Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, Mercy Watson books).

“At the end of the century before last,” a boy named Peter is sent to the market by his guardian, an old, somewhat senile soldier, to buy food. The lure of the new fortuneteller tent is too much as he has had a question on his mind for a long time. When she tells him to find what he is looking for by following the elephant, it seems preposterous. And yet, not impossible at the same time. 

Full of delightful surprise and suspense, characters from another time and place that are so real and familiar, and writing that never talks down but instead reaches up to children. From Chapter One:    

 

 

 

That day in the market square, in the

midst of the entirely unremarkable and

absolutely ordinary stalls of the fishmongers

and cloth merchants and bakers and silversmiths,

there had appeared, without warning

or fanfare, the red tent of a fortuneteller.

Attached to the fortuneteller’s tent was a

piece of paper, and penned upon the paper in

a cramped and unapologetic hand were these

words: The most profound and difficult questions

that could possibly be posed by the human mind or

heart will be answered within for the price of one

florit.

 

 

 

 

Peter read the small sign once, and then

again. The audacity of the words, their dizzying

promise, made it difficult, suddenly, for him

to breathe. He looked down at the coin, the

single florit, in his hand.

 

 

Will he or won’t he? What is possible and what is believable? The well-developed cast of main characters have essentially one thing in common, they long for a better, but improbable life–an elephant, a magician, an orphan, a crippled cathedral sculptor, a policeman with a tender heart, the nun/gatekeeper of the orphanage door, Peter, and more. Their stories intertwine in fascinating ways, and they all come to believe in the possibilities of  life. Kate DiCamillo says that the story is about hope, redemption, faith, love, and it made her believe in happy endings.

The Magician’s Elephant is a treasure that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

 

Lulu’s Pajamas by Luci Papineau

Lulu’s Pajamas by Luci Papineau, illustrated by Stephane Jorish, Kids Can Press, Fall 2009

Lulu is an adorable, energetic little mouse and she knows comfort when she feels it. Her favorite pajamas are “as soft as a butterfly kiss.” So soft and comfortable, in fact, that Lulu decides one morning to never take them off.

And so, Papa takes Lulu to school in her pajamas, except he is wearing his pajamas too. Naturally, her friends laugh. During art time, Lulu spills some paint on her beloved pjs; making a caterpillar,  glue drops on them; dancing makes them dusty; spaghetti makes them even more coloful. By the end of the day, she is so dismayed, she decides never to wear them again, and decides to sleep in her orange ballerina dress. Mama and Papa are wise and gently nudge her in the right direction, but in the end it is Lulu who makes the decision about when to wear which garments.

The watercolor paintings have beautiful colors and fine lines on warm cream-colored background, adding to the cozy feeling of the story. The expressions on the mice are subtle, but paired with some great body language, characters like Lulu come brightly alive.  This artist also illustrated another great Kids Can Press book, Suki’s Kimono.

Lulu’s Pajamas is a charming, sweet story of a little mouse struggling to learn what she likes and what is appropriate when–a theme all young children can relate to. Well done.

Available at Amazon–click on book cover for more information.