Fiction Friday (124)

 

After reading a few heavier titles, I wanted to take a quick swing through some Middle Grade. Having finished my last book on a Friday, and knew I'd be in the library on Monday, I went through my To-Read shelf and pulled out a book that's been there 17 years. I figured it sort of fit with my Alice readings from last year. I was glad I picked it up.

Alice in Blunderland by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

(Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003)

Alice is 9 years old, and one thing she knows for sure is that being in fourth grade is very, very hard. Having an older teenage brother that tells you lies because you are gullible and trusting is also very hard. Having lost your mother when you were too young to remember isn't hard, it's just unfair.  If all of that wasn't difficult enough, being prone to making embarrassing mistakes makes being 9 years old practically impossible.

Best known for Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor has been a fixture in Middle Grade fiction for decades. This book is one of several prequels to her beloved Alice series. I wanted to read it as part of my Alice in Wonderland exploration, though I knew this was related by title only. But like "Alice", Naylor's Alice is an intelligent, curious, and wonderful character. 

For younger readers, this book is an affirmation that the difficult and embarrassing things that happen to you, happen to everyone. For adult readers, especially parents, it's a reminder of how trying it is to grow up and what a struggle it can be to come to terms with life. 

Fiction Friday (118)

 

As I've mentioned in other recent Fiction Friday posts, I'm so thrilled that my daughter is now old enough for me to read novels with at bedtime. A few months ago, we read the first Mary Poppins book and she really enjoyed it. I'd had the second book for years, but had never ventured to read it, so it was a treat to be able to read something with her that I had never read before. Sometimes there are classics that don't hold up well, and then there are books like Mary Poppins...

Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers

(Harcourt 2006, First Published 1935)

The world's most famous nanny abruptly left the Banks family of Cherry Tree Lane at the end of the first novel, leaving Jane and Micheal wondering if they'd ever again see the stern woman they'd come to love. But one thing they never lost sight of was that Mary Poppins is full of surprises. So one day, while flying a kite in the park, they are not at all surprised to find Mary Poppins descending on the string after the kite disappears into the clouds.

During her second stint as the nanny for the Banks children, her stay is once again riddled with unbelievable and impossible occurrences that leave Jane and Micheal perplexed and mesmerized. Of course, being the proper English lady that she is, Mary Poppins never admits that their fantastical adventures together ever truly happened, but the children know better. 

The joy of these books, beyond the pure imaginative escapades, is that there is no moral lesson being thrust upon the readers. These are books are entertainment and fun. They are filled with clever word play, wonderfully true dialogue, and unexpected adventures...all the ingredients that make for a timeless story.

Fiction Friday (114)

 

I don't always review the books here that I've read with my daughter, but when they're novels, I tend to...and thankfully she's that age now where I can read longer stories to her over the course of a few weeks. Our latest read-aloud was a book that I hadn't read since childhood, but from the movie, I know inside and out. It was a pleasure to revisit this story with her. She is currently referring to it as her favorite book.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

(Harper, 1952)

Friendships, especially those we make when we are young, are some of the most special bonds we can make. Wilbur, the lovable pig from E.B. White's story, makes two very special connections when he's a piglet. The first is Fern, the girl who first saves his life by protesting that a runt doesn't deserve to die simply because he is small. She serves as his mother, until he is big enough to live on her uncle's farm. That's when he meets Charlotte, he first real friend.

Everyone knows the plot of this story, knows how Charlotte's cleverness saves Wilbur from the slaughterhouse by spinning words into her web. And the story is memorable, very well defined and well written, but it's the theme of friendship that makes this book so very special. It demonstrates to young children how we rely on the support of our friends, and how true friends are willing to go the extra step to help. It also deals with loss in a profound and age appropriate way, and more importantly, illustrates the cycle of life and healing that is to come when some one close passes on.

There are some timeless tales that are considered timeless for a reason, and this is certainly one of them. Though it was written almost 70 years ago, it doesn't feel dated.

Fiction Friday (108)

After finishing the last book I was reading, and with the library still closed, I went into my "Unread" shelves in my office. I came across this book, which I've had for almost twenty-five years. In collage, I kept this face out on a shelf of treasured things, because of obvious reasons. I figured it was about time to read it.

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet  
by Eleanor Cameron
(Little Brown, 1954)

David and Chuck's adventure all begins with a mysterious ad printed in green that appeared in the newspaper. "WANTED: A small spaceship about two and half metres built by a boy, or by two boys, between the ages of eight and eleven...". The continues, asking the boys to bring the ship as soon as possible to an address that doesn't seem to exist.

Being a grown-up, David's father is convinced it is a joke, but being a boy of the ages described in the paper, and being completely interested in space, David is convinced it's real. 

Enlisting the help of his best friend Chuck, the two boys gather scraps and proceed to build a spaceship with remarkable ease, almost as if something is guiding them.

And that address that doesn't exist...turns it does, and when the two boys deliver their ship to the strange little man who lives there, they discover that their adventure is just beginning. 

Though very much a story of it's time, this piece of 50s nostalgia holds up as a well structured story about the power of childhood belief.

Fiction Friday (80)

Shockingly, I'd been reading a non-fiction book the last couple of weeks, but a little more than half-way through, I needed to pause to read some fiction. One of the best things about working at a library is seeing things that people have returned. Last week, someone returned this book and the cover grabbed my attention. Then I noticed that my friends at Feiwel and Friends published it, and that the author is the author of 11 Birthdays, a book that I enjoyed when it came out. SO, I simply checked it out to myself before ever returning it to the shelf.

Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
(Feiwel and Friends, 2018)

Nearly 11 year old Livy is returning to Australia to visit her Gran for the first time in five years. Though she was five the last time she was there, she oddly doesn't recall anything about the trip, even though there's something inside screaming that there was something very important that she was supposed to remember.

That something exists in the attic of her bedroom. It's a smallish creature who has been waiting five years for her to return. The problem is, there's a magic attached to Bob (the creature), a magic that makes people forget him unless they are in possession of a charm. Once Livy remembers, the adventure begins. Together, her and Bob must solve the mystery of what Bob is, where he came from, and how to get him home.

This is a quick read, but don't let the thinness of the book deceive you. The story's depth is far bigger than the slightness of the pages. Part fairy tale, part mystery, the surface story is perfect for upper elementary school children. But there is a deeper level to the story, one about a girl trying to come to terms with the five year old she used to be. This is something every child goes through, trying reconcile who they've become with who they were and accept that we are always only one person. 

A sweet and touching story that is nicely done and never sugar-coated.

Fiction Friday (78)

While waiting for the second book in the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend to come in from library, I decided to pick up a brief book to fill the gap. This is a book that I originally read when it came out sixteen years ago. The sequel to it has been in my "to-read" pile for years and I kept meaning to re-read this one because I couldn't remember what happened. I took the opportunity to refresh my brain and will tackle the next book after finishing the Nevermoor title.

Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter
(Philomel, 2003)

Olivia Kidney is NOT crazy! Of course, she has a hard time convincing others, especially the school psychiatrist. That's because she often talks to her older brother, who has recently died. 

Olivia has taken an interest in seances in hopes of being about to actually speak to her brother, who she misses too much to let go. However, one strange afternoon in the strangest apartment building in New York City will change Olivia's life forever...and her perspective on life in general.

Much like the inhabitants Alice meets in Wonderland, the people living in Olivia's apartment building seem to be from another world, one that functions differently from the rules Olivia is accustomed to. And like Alice, Olivia is set adrift to navigate through the bizarre escapades of those around her, trying in vain to make sense of the nonsensical. Along the way, the reader is treated to stories filled with danger and flights of imagination. And while Olivia is often unnerved by what is happening, the reader remains confident, as we are with Alice, that she is clever and resourceful enough to find her way out any predicament.

This is a much darker story than I remembered, with a hint of brutality running under the surface for most of the story. It's also much more sophisticated in terms of story structure than I remember and by the end, all the threads come flawlessly together.

Fiction Friday (76)

It's time for another Fiction Friday and my thoughts on the book I've most recently finished reading. I've been working on a Middle Grade story and therefore have been finding myself drawn to Middle Grade fiction. I'm not entirely sure why it took seven years from the time I read the first Billy Bones until I picked this one up off the shelf, but it did...yet I'm glad to say it didn't take anything away from my enjoyment.

Billy Bones: The Road to Nevermore by Christopher Lincoln
(Little Brown, 2009)

While the first installment of Billy Bones read like a tight little mystery surrounding the secrets of the Afterlife and how they blend into the real world, this story reads like a quick adventure tale, steeped in the spookily entertaining setting of the Afterlife. The corruption of the bureaucratic Afterlife that was exposed in the first story comes back to haunt young Billy (now-human once again) and his cousin, the resourceful and brave Millicent. The children unexpectedly get caught up in a dastardly plot hatched by high ranking officials from the Lightside and Darkside. When Millicent is whisked away and held prisoner in the hidden shadow world of Nevermore, Billy must recruit the help of a few outlaw skeletons and take on the menacing Shadewick Gloom and his legion of evil creations before time on Earth unfreezes, leaving Millicent trapped forever.

There is a quirkiness to these books that I find really appealing, and unlike the mass number of books out there for younger middle grade boy readers (though it should be noted that this is certainly not a boy only book). It's imaginative, has plenty of thought provoking moments, and moves quickly from beginning to conclusion. It's a perfect primer for children not quite ready for slightly older dark fantasy and the vast worlds and casts of characters they bring.

Fiction Friday (56)

As I mentioned in the last Fiction Friday, I recently began reading James Joyce's Finnegan's Wake and it's just about as impenetrable as I expected. While I'm continuing to read it, very slowly, I took a quick break and spent the other day reading a children's graphic novel that I bought when it came out. It sat on my shelf for years, and little did I know that in the meantime, it has become kind of a phenomenon. After reading it, I can see why.

Zita the Spacegirl: Book One Far from Home by Ben Hatke
(First Second, 2010)

Some of my favorite stories are ones where children accidentally find themselves in middle of a chaotic situation only to discover that they are the hero the story has been searching for. When a mysterious device transports Zita to another world on the brink of disaster, she must rely on her own instincts and courage to rescue her friend. 

Despite the obvious peril looming over this strange new place, Zita remains determined to save her friend who has been captured by a group of aliens who believe the little boy is destined to save the planet. Her kind spirit wins over other outcasts like herself, and with a bit of luck and a lot of grit, the reader is never in doubt of her ability to succeed. But that's not to say the action isn't any less enthralling.

This is easily one of the best graphic novels targeted to children that I've encountered. Unlike much of the releases in recent years, this was obviously conceived of as a graphic novel and relies on the interplay between the art and the text to tell a deeper, more complicated story, which is what graphic novels do best. The story is adventurous, suspenseful, and witty...three perfect ingredients for a children's book. Though the main character is the clear star, each of the major characters are well developed and lovable. Superb storytelling in every way!

Fiction Friday (51)

So, this isn't really a true Fiction Friday in the sense that I have not furthered my reading goals. But it is a Fiction Friday in that I'm going to discuss a work of fiction. While looking on my office shelves the other night for a new book to read with my daughter as I tried to convince her to eat her dinner, I came across The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss, nestled between a handful of Seussian classics which are still a little too advanced for her. But The Foot Book, that's perfect! 

My daughter loves feet.

She loves silly pictures.

She loves rhyming words.

I pulled it off the shelf and it has been an instant hit. We've read it multiple times and she especially loves lifting her feet in the air during the "In the Air" feet page. 

I was a little unfamiliar with this book before our reading. Sure, I'd read it, but not for years, and not from a more mature point of view. And though I'm a huge Seuss fan, this book highlighted an aspect of his work that I hadn't thought about before. In addition to his gift for rhyme and imaginative stories, he's also a master of nonsense in the tradition of Edward Lear. This book demonstrates that gift particularly well.

Fiction Friday (49)

Last January, I set a goal for myself to read more books than I had in the previous year. It's been hard to keep that goal with a toddler running around, work, and my sudden decision to pursue a Master's degree. However, I did manage to make ten entries in the the Fiction Friday category in 2016, which isn't anything to sneeze at. I was hoping for at least one book a month, but it is what is. This edition of my book review postings features the second book in a series that I was turned onto a few years back. This is always the time of year that I enjoy talking animal fantasy books, so it fit in just perfectly. Next year, I hope to make my goal. Enjoy. 

The White Assassin by Hilary Wagner
(Holiday House 2011)

The second book in the Nightshade City chronicles was just as delightful as the first. This story picks up three years after the rats of the Catacombs overthrew the ruthless Billycan and Killdeer. However, the rats of Nightshade are still searching for the fugitive Billycan, who has taken refuge in the swamps with a new band of rats.

With the help of an unknown traitor, Billycan has been planning an invasion of Nightshade with his new horde. However, the rats of Nightshade are aware of his plans and secretly infiltrate the swamp horde and thwart his plans. From there, the mystery only grows and we learn more about the origins of Billycan and the rats of Nightshade.

The book starts off slowly. It also presents a few leads that never seem to get answered, but I suppose they are building blocks for future installments. The story really heats up about a third of the way in, and that's when it really hooked me. Easily one of the best animal fantasy series since Redwall, and fans of that series will like this, as it takes the same in depth approach and challenges readers in a similar way.

Fiction Friday (42)

On this Friday, I've decided to post a review of book that I've known quite well for decades but which my opinion about has changed drastically in the past few months. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a person of strong opinions and usually have stubborn convictions on said opinions. So for me to have a change of heart, especially on a book, is quite rare. I'm pretty pleased to say this is the first thing on which my daughter has changed my opinion, though I'm quite certain it won't be the last.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
(HarperCollins 1947)

When I worked in Children's publishing as buyer, I hated this book. I'd read it many, many times and never saw what people liked about it. It was dull. It was boring. It was a book that I crusaded against as one that had seen its time and needed to be retired. 

I was wrong.

Of course when my daughter was born, this book was one that was given to her. When she was about three months old, I read it to her for the first time, without much excitement. At the time, I still believed what I believed. We didn't read it very many times after. Then, about two months ago, I read it to her again as we were getting her ready for bed and saw how how much she liked it and how it soothed her. 

We read it a few more times, and soon she started pointing at the things as I read about them. My interest in the book grew. We began reading it every other night. For the first time I understood the genius in the rhythm of the text. I began to appreciate the nonsense quality of the items and the randomness of things chosen. And I discovered the art of reading it aloud and how it lends itself to a magical, peaceful ending. 

So goodnight old opinions. Goodnight criticism. Goodnight nobody. And goodnight mush.

Fan Mail Friday

As I've said many times in the past, one of the best things about being a children's book author is getting letters from children who loved the books. They are always fun, and always make me smile. Most have a character that is all their own. The reason I love this letter so much is that she loves the pony book, not because it has ponies, but because it has kitties. Brilliant!

This letter is in response to a Hello Kitty book that I wrote about ten years ago. For those who didn't know, I've written three Hello Kitty books. Of all the media related tie-ins I've done, these are my favorite, probably because I'm also a huge fan of Hello Kitty (she was my first cartoon crush back in first grade).

Paddington, Please!

Today is Michael Bond's birthday, the author of Paddington Bear. Paddington was my favorite series when I was in second grade. It was also the first series I remember seeking out on my own to read. I wasn't much of a reader as a child. I was a good reader in school, but did little reading in my free time. I much preferred to play with toys and have them act out stories of my own creation. But something about Paddington spoke to my stuffed-animal obsession. I fondly remember checking out many books from the school library, and buying quite a few at the book fair. 

On a trip to London a few years ago, I bought the Paddington bear in the photo above and took him around with me in my pocket. Then I snapped this picture of him in front of Paddington Station. There's something about the books you love as a child that influences you throughout your life, which is one of the many reasons that I love what I do. So thank you Michael Bond for sharing your imagination with us all, and have a wonderful birthday!

Fiction Friday

Somehow, I always seem to fall behind on posting book reviews here. And since I've been reading so much this year, I have a wealth of reviewed books to choose from. Reading is, of course, the most important activity one must do in order to be a writer. It's rare that I'll read a book and not learn something about the craft of writing. I'm still reading a lot of Middle Grade fiction these days, mostly because these are currently the most imaginative books being published. And while I've been working on my Middle Grade writing skills, a new genre for me, I've been trying to incorporate this wide-open imaginative style into my newer YA projects like Life is But a Dream and Afterworld. So I'd like to think my time spent in children's fantasy worlds is time productively spent...and if not, well, at least it's fun.

Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner

(Holiday House, 2010)

Always a sucker for middle grade, talking animal fantasy, I naturally had to read one that has been so positively reviewed. Having been a huge Redwall fan for over a decade, I admit to being a little skeptical of Nightshade City because of the publisher's obvious attempt to make the book 'look' like that series. I was actually pleased that the story doesn't resemble those books in tone or spirit, but rather is a very original story with wonderfully formed characters. Hilary Wagner certainly knows how to bring the world of the Catacombs to life. The barbarism of the Kill Army and its commanders is palpable and well-defined, as is the heroism of the rats of the newly formed Nightshade City. The story moves quickly, with enough action mixed in to keep the pages turning. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.

However, the book did leave me with some questions. In the beginning of the book, there is a dark cloud that hangs over the plot. There is foreshadowing of a rape, which never occurs but still surprised me for a book geared to ages 9 and up. As an adult, I found it added to the sense of danger and was handled well, but as a children's author, I was simply surprised. But given that it was there, I was even more surprised that the concluding action of the plot is handled with so little violence. The entire book builds to a massive battle which never occurs. Which is noble, and also fits in with the theme of reason over brutality. But I couldn't help feeling that it somehow didn't fit the narrative structure set up in the beginning. None of this prevented me from thoroughly enjoying the book, and most people probably wouldn't notice these things, but as a writer, I found it a fascinating aspect of the book that I thought worthy of note.

The Time Travelers: Book One in The Gideon Trilogy

by Linda Buckley-Archer (S&S, 2007)

There are lot of things that are done really well in this book. Intrigue abounds in the plight of Kate and Peter after they are transported back to year 1763 during a freak accident. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of two modern twelve year olds navigating a grim and grimy eighteenth century London. (I love time travel even more than talking animals).

Rather than glorify the past as many stories are apt to do, Linda Buckley-Archer chose to present the horrid along with the charm. She didn't shy away from creating a vivid picture of the elements of past society which would shock modern readers, whether it be the foul stench, the deplorable food, the injustices of the legal system or the wretched conditions of the poor. I think it's important for a children's book to recall these times, not just as a way of illustrating how far we've come, but also as a way of considering how far we still need to go in order to end these practices today. However there was quite a bit of glorification of the present that I thought was ill-earned considering the lingering existence of many of these issues in today's world, even if to a much lesser degree. Still, I felt the book did a good job of showing today's world as being more convenient than anything else. It didn't hide the fact that problems still exist, they are just easier to take care of in many ways.

Despite my joy in reading The Time Travelers, I felt that the story dragged a bit with too many instances of repetition of similar predicaments facing the characters. Though each of these scenes were well-written and entertaining, I personally believe that limiting them to one example would have given the scene greater impact. I also felt the science aspect of the story to be glossed over, which stood out given the wonderful detail placed on the historical elements. With a topic of time travel, one of my favorites, I felt the science end of it needed more attention than it got. Obviously there is no right or wrong science when it comes to traveling through time, which gives the writer more freedom to be inventive. In this book, it simply felt as if there wasn't much thought put into creating a compelling way to illustrate it. I also wished Kate and Peter were a little more dynamic. Oftentimes they were overshadowed by their supporting cast (which was excellent by the way). Still, given all of that, the book was a page turner and never left me bored. Plus the James Jean illustrated cover is rather nice.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week!

Allow me to share a big dose of fun for this week's Picture Book selection. This week has been one of those weeks when I've felt the need for some reassuring good reads. There are some books that make me remember why I got into the children's book racket, books that bring to life the magical world that we once saw as children and have to struggle to maintain as we get older, knowing the payoff is worth the effort. Here's one of those books that take me there and for that, I'm grateful.

What do you do with a Kangaroo? by Mercer Mayer

(Four Winds Press, 1975)

What do you do with a Kangaroo

who jumps in your window, sits on your bed, and says.

"I never sleep on wrinkled sheets,

so change them now and make them smooth,

and fluff up the pillows if you please."

So the young narrator asks her readers on the first page of this delightfully silly book. Then page after page, another preposterous critter after another disrupts the little girl's day with ridiculous demands.

An Opossum uses her toothbrush, a llama wears her favorite jeans, a tiger steals her tricycle and a thirsty camel drinks her bath water. What is a spirited little girl to do? You throw him out, that's what you do. This is her answer to every problem. Only at night, when she finds all of the creatures in her bed and she's much too exhausted to throw them all out, there's only one thing to do. Let them stay.

Mercer Mayer's brilliant illustrations are packed visual jokes that bring this character and story to life. I also love how it portrays a child's stubborn, imaginative spirit in a way that isn't critical or stylized. The girl just is as she is and eventually comes around on her own. Kids will delight in her attitude and the absurd situations the book presents, while also eagerly anticipating the repeated refrain. A wonderful read-aloud that is also good to read to yourself with grin that grows wider at every turn of the page.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week!

For the first Picture Book pick of the new year, I've chosen an old favorite of mine. I used to live right up the hill from this lighthouse, and in the winter, if the trees were blowing just the right way, I could catch a glimpse of it under the George Washington Bridge from my balcony. I used to love to stroll down the path to hang out by the water and think about how this week's book helped save it and make it, along with the Alice statue in Central Park and Eloise's Plaza, one of the great Children's Book landmarks of New York City. Enjoy.

The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge

by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lynd Ward

(Harcourt 2002 first published 1942)

'Once upon a time a little lighthouse was built on a sharp point of the shore by the Hudson River.

It was round and fat and red.

It was fat and red and jolly.

And it was VERY, VERY PROUD.'

This is the story of the last remaining lighthouse on Manhattan Island in New York City, a place once home to many such lighthouses. In the classic picture book tradition, this functional object is imbued with the friendly qualities equal to its usefulness. The reader cheers for the heroic lighthouse and fears for it when the men come to build the Great Gray Bridge right over it's head. Just when it seems the lighthouse will become obsolete, it once again saves the day.

The language is fun and the illustrations are quite brilliant. There's a William Blake quality to the lighting that is quite striking. Our friend the lighthouse beams on the page.

This is not only a delightful story, but it's also a very important book that illustrates the power of children's books. After it's publication, so many children wrote letters wanting to save the little red lighthouse, that eventually it was spared. Now, once a year, the city holds a Little Red Lighthouse Day where it's open to the public and to this day, children still flock to it. To the authors and the children who were moved by this book, we all owe our gratitude.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week

A few months back, I wrote about my love for the BBC cartoon, Charlie & Lola based on the picture books by Lauren Child. I've been watching the show ever since, getting in at least one episode per week. It honestly may be the best cartoon I've ever seen, even repeated viewings crack me up. This week, I thought I'd review on Lauren Child's earlier picture books. In many ways, this book serves as a first draft for the Charlie and Lola books. Artistically, the main character is simply a rough version of Lola and the dialogue seems a meeting of what would later become two voices. Beyond that academic curiosity, this is also the first of Lauren Child's books that I encountered over a decade ago and it's a wonderful book on it's own.

I Want a Pet by Lauren Child

(Tricycle Press 1999)

'I really want a pet' an unnamed girl announces at the start of the book, but picking the right one proves to more difficult than she anticipates. Her mom wants her to pick one without much fur, Dad suggests one that lives outside, and her Grandad believes stuffed pets to be best.

The little girl desires something a little more...exotic. But with each of her choices, one family member points out something wrong with it. Lion, wolf, and octopus are quickly ruled out as are other possibly fun critters. Just as it seems there isn't any solution to her dilemma, the little girl decides on the perfect pet. She just won't know what it is until it hatches.

I love this kind of picture book whose main purpose is simply to have a laugh. Lauren Child has always had the ability to capture the humor that comes with being a kid and trying to figure things out. There's something genuine in her characters that don't trivialize childhood difficulties, but never forget the silly joy in them as well. She has a subtle humor that can only come out in a picture book where the expressions add to the jokes in the dialogue. I Want a Pet is one of those books that can be read over and over.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week

I never cease to find inspiration inside the pages of a good picture book. I know I missed making a recommendation last week, but I figure everybody was either out buying incredibly cheap and incredibly worthless items from the endless sea of shopping malls or still too stuffed to bother turning on their computers. But it's time to get back to routine and so I'd like to share one of my personal favorites, a little known fable about a boy and his obsession with dogs.

Leonard: A Fable by Wolf Erlbruch

(Orchard 1995)

Leonard is a little boy who absolutely LOVES dogs. He loves them so much that sometimes he pretends he is one. He barks in the morning. He carries a bone around. Sometimes he even bites onto strangers pant legs.

Leonard loves dogs, but he doesn't have a dog because there's a slight problem...he's also very terrified of dogs, especially their teeth. One night, a fairy comes to visit and grants Leonard one wish. Of course, he wishes to become a dog. This doesn't turn out so well for Leonard as he quickly becomes afraid of little boys.

This humorous fable, translated from German, is one of those perfect light-hearted looks at some serious issues. It's a wonderful story for talking about fears and about wanting to be something you are not. It's also one of those picture books whose tone is perfectly matched in the illustrations. With very sparse text, it is great for younger children, but is entertaining enough for slightly older children too.

(Side Note: This book was given to me by a co-worker ten years ago because I always wore turtlenecks and had Leonard's haircut. I've had an attachment to it ever since. The illustration on top of the post partially inspired the 'Dogboy' nickname for Benji, a character in Perfect World and Dirty Liar.)

Feeling Thankful for Arthur Rackham

I'll be away for the next few days celebrating all the things to be thankful for. In that spirit, I share with you some illustrations by Arthur Rackham. He is truly the master of the craft.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week

Snow flurries fell again this morning, so I figured it was the right time to feature another one of my favorite snowy books for this week's Picture Book. As the category suggests, there are some Picture Books whose artwork is so compelling that it becomes the story. This is the case for my choice this week. Enjoy.

Is That You, Winter? by Stephen Gammell

(Harcourt 1997)

Old Man Winter wakes up grumpy as he heads off to work, covering the ground with snow as it falls from from the back of his beat-up clunker of a pick-up truck. After taking a nasty spill on the slippery road and falling into a snow bank, he begins to wonder why he even makes it snow in the first place.

In a wonderful shift in perspective, Old Man Winter is seen to be a toy, discovered by a little girl bundled for the weather. Despite her friends taunting, the little girl adores this ratty toy and the snow he brings just for her and can't wait to enjoy the day with her old friend.

This is a joyful book that's part folklore and part Toy Story. It certainly works best when time is taken to thoroughly pour over every detail. The sparse text really serves as a means to enhance Gammell's truly glorious illustrations. Few artists have the rare ability to create entire new worlds in their paintings and Stephen Gammell is certainly one of them. His style incorporates so much movement that the pictures seem to jump from the page and come to life. Perfect for a cold day, preferably after playing in the snow until you're half-frozen.