Little Red

Little Red by Beatriz Martin Vidal
(Logos, 2012)

I recently received this absolutely stunning wordless picture book that tells the tale of Little Red Riding Hood in all of its darkness. Beatriz Martin Vidal is one of the artists that I've been enamored with over the past few years, and this books reminds just why I've been so blown away. The paintings are intense, the fear and mystery is palpable. And the altered ending creates a story where Red triumphs on her own, destroying the wolf simply by the pureness of her being. Breathtaking and beautiful. 

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!

This week I was once again reminded of how diverse and interesting the world of picture books can be. Not that I ever really forgot, after all I wouldn't bother to do this post each week if I didn't love picture books. But this week I spent several quality hours with non-traditional picture books, that is to say, they were not storybooks, and was once again struck by the fact that there is often as much to learn in a picture book as a novel. This week's pick is a slice of life cartoon book that is furry bundle of funny. Enjoy.

Cats Are Weird by Jeffrey Brown

(Chronicle, 2010)

This comical study of cat behavior looks at the many remarkable qualities of feline nature. Staples of the animal's evolutionary oddities such as the inexplicable fear of the vacuum, the inability to sit without wandering in circles first, the impromptu sneak attack, and a cat's instinctive desire to prevent humans from accomplishing work at a desk are all covered here in hilarious detail.

Any cat owner will recognize the many instances that Jeffery Brown chooses to illustrate. The take on peculiar cat behavior is spot-on and the simple, expressive drawings capture the joy we find in observing such peculiarities. Told in one page cartoons, or two-page spreads, the panels tell a slice of life story in comic strip fashion. Readers of all ages will find some moment in these pages to laugh out loud.

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

Welcome to the obligatory Holiday edition. 'Tis the season when the Picture Book shelves in stores are overtaken by good cheer, magical snowmen, and Santa, the most loved man in human history. This week, I felt obligated to choose a holiday story. Mostly because I'm pretty much a sucker for a good secular Christmas tale and always have been. But in addition to the holiday nod, I wanted to spread some joy to the neglected genre of Beginning Readers, which in my mind are essentially picture books since the images tell the stories in these books, leaving the text to narrate the action. This week's selection is two gifts in one.

The Littles Have a Merry Christmas

Based on the books by John Peterson

Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers

(Scholastic 2002)

Adapted from the popular novels from the '70s, this reader visits in on The Littles as they get into the holiday spirit. As a special surprise for their uncle, Tom and Lucy journey to Trash City to bring some of his friends together for Christmas.

The appeal of The Littles stories is same as in stories about fairies. The idea of little people living unseen lives all around us is irresistible. Naturally, the visual interpretation of this world can be equally irresistible. In my opinion this series brings that world to life in a wonderful way. I've always loved Jacqueline Rogers' work. She's done many amazing books in the begging reader genre and there's something about her watercolor style that really reminds me of early elementary school.

Personally, I enjoy the art of writing primers. It's one of the oldest styles of children's writing, using direct sentences with high frequency words to tell a story. Sure, many of them can be dry and dull (I'm talking to you Dick and Jane). But a well written one can be just as fun to read as anything else (I'm talking to you Cat in the Hat). I've written several books in this genre and really enjoy it. There's something special knowing that kids will remember these books for being the first books they read by themselves.

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.)

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.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week

Perhaps the best part of this 'Picture Book of the Week' feature that I've started is that I've gotten to go through my library and reread a lot of these books that I absolutely love. As a writer, I find Picture Books incredibly inspirational. They never fail to engage my imagination and get me thinking about different ways storytelling. For this week's pick, I chose a little known book from a well known illustrator. This book makes me laugh every time I pick it up. I hope you get the chance to enjoy it, too.

Pinocchio the Boy (or Incognito in Collodi) by Lane Smith

(Viking 2002)

This delightful story picks up where the classic novel ends...after a clever one page, tongue-in-cheek summary of course. However, it seems Pinocchio was changed into a real boy while he slept. When he wakes, he is completely unaware of his transformation. So as he ventures into town to earn a little money to buy soup for Geppetto, sick with a cold from spending a night in a fish, Pinocchio doesn't understand why everybody is reacting so oddly toward him.

They boo him off the stage when he attempts a puppet show where previously he was a big hit. They think he's lying when he tells them about his little nose problem. He is even scoffed at by his talking cricket who doesn't recognize him. Luckily a little girl takes pity on this boy who she can only assume has a few loose screws and befriends him.

Told in very minimal text, this book is deceptively advanced. The humor in this book is very subtle, yet extremely witty and sophisticated. Older children will certainly appreciate the jokes more than the younger ones. However, every one is sure to love the illustrations. Lane Smith, best known for his award winning illustrations for Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man, is a master at playing with perspectives and styles. There is so much to see and admire in every illustration that you could literally spend hours staring at them.

Spooky Treats! Picture Books of the Week

'Tis the Season for things that go bump in the night, may they be under the bed, in the back of the closet, or simply waiting in the dark corner of a dark room. Picture Books have always explored the seedy world of our fears. Something about the medium of illustration allows for the horrifying to seem beautiful and in the safe world between the pages, they reassure us that there's no such thing as monsters.

Well just for that, I've chosen two stories that debunk that myth. Monsters are very real in these stories...even if they are not all that scary. Also, for a change of pace, this week I decided to review Picture Books for older audiences. The first is for adults and the second is for children in grades two and above. And because Halloween is coming, I'm treating you with two reviews. Enjoy.

The Art of Monsters, Inc. by Pete Doctor

(Chronicle 2001)

In my opinion, Monsters, Inc. is far and away the very best of Pixar's movies. Not only that, it's one of the most imaginative stories I've ever encountered in the way that it links our world with another ala Wonderland or Neverland or Oz. If you agree, than this insightful look about the development of that world is a must read.

This oversized picture book is exactly what the title says it is: the art of Monsters, Inc. Published in the book are dozens of sketches and concepts created by several artists, each revealing an entirely different look for the story. Among the artists hired to dream up their ideas for the story were top name Children's Book illustrators such as Lane Smith and J. Otto Seibold. Comparing the different art styles is a great study of imagination while also allowing you to use your imagination to envision the movie in new ways.

Arranged by different themes such as character and setting, the reader really gets to see the artists' visions side-by-side. In most cases, you can see the elements from each that went into the final look. One of the most fascinating studies is the evolution of Boo. I love the final version of this classic character, but honestly, all of them would have done fine in the role. The study of the different monsters is great too. Each person pictures monsters differently. In the many, many pages of monster pictures, readers get to see some the best artists put their version of childhood spooks to paper.

As a writer, this book has another dimension that I loved. Before I write a book, I often sketch out the world in which it will take place. I sketch out the characters and try to pinpoint the "look" of the narrative in my mind. It was interesting to see this process applied to illustration.

Scary Godmother by Jill Thompson

(Sirus 1997)

It's Hannah's first Halloween trick 0r treating with the big kids and she's a teeny bit afraid that there will be monsters. However, she trusts her older cousin to protect her. Big Mistake!

It turns out Hannah's older cousin doesn't want to be slowed down. He and his friends come up with a plan to spook poor Hannah so badly that she'll want to go home. But when they trick Hannah into entering the scariest house in town, they only get spooked themselves.

Hannah on the other hand isn't so afraid anymore, not after she meets her Scary Godmother who shows her that the monsters are nothing to be afraid of. They befriend her and even help her get back at the meaner older kids, making her the truly brave one.

Published outside the major New York children's houses, this book is very different than the average picture book. I can't imagine many mainstream houses allowing a story where the older kids are so rotten and treat Hannah in such a manner, even though it's an incredibly realistic portrayal of kids being mean. In this way, I think it would really appeal to and be meaningful for slightly older children.

Another interesting aspect of the book is that it's told in a combination of traditional picture book style and graphic style. There's a ton of art in the book. I can see the style turning some off, and there certainly are weaker panels, but overall I really love that it doesn't look like everything else out there. And Jill Thompson is able to do extreme expressions about as good as anyone. Definitely for the collector of unique picture books.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week

This week's featured Picture Book is one that's very important to me personally. I came across this book when I was in college and it heavily influenced my own writing. In fact, the very first draft of my novel Thief included an opening scene where the main character discovers this book in a book store and steals it (she's thief after all). I ended up cutting the scene early on, but the spirit of this book's main character can be found in mine. So, I'm pleased to share with you this little known book in honor of the first flurries fluttering outside my window today.

The First Snow by David Christiana

(Scholastic Press 1996)

A long time ago, Mother Nature was just a little girl who loved summer. She loved it so much that she never wanted winter to come. "I hate Winter," she would say. "And that friend of his, The Wind, is a monster." She decides to try to scare off Winter, but every season must have it's turn and eventually Winter comes.

Essentially, The First Snow is a new imaginative myth. It takes an element of our world that we take for granted and views it in a unique way. It's also a very creative way of presenting a story of compromise and making new friends. Through sparse dialogue and brilliant illustrations, the two child characters come to life and feel incredibly real in their stubbornness, confusion, and ultimately their compassion. An absolutely beautiful book perfect for early elementary school children.

Picture That! Picture Book of the Week

Last week I posted about my love for Picture Books in a response to an article discussing their increasingly perilous place in the publishing world. I figured, as someone well studied in the genre, I should do more to promote some of my favorite and lesser known Picture Books as a way of bringing them at least the meager attention my blog receives. Hopefully you will enjoy my weekly spotlight and discover some wonderful little books.

Little Monster Did It by Helen Cooper

(Dial 1996)

Told in the voice of a little girl, this delightful book takes a fun look sibling rivalry. When a new baby arrives, the little narrator isn't so excited. "Can't we send the baby back?" she asks at one point. Whereas most stories like this focus on some type of jealousy toward the younger sibling's attention from the parents, this book looks at it from a slightly different angle. The baby disrupts the young girl's routine. Her frustration stems less from the sibling and more from the idea of a child's first realization for the need to be considerate to others needs.

The girl's beloved stuffed animal, Little Monster, is her scapegoat in the story. A nice complex touch for young readers is that the stuffed animal is always presented as a real creature. It's up to the reader to eventually make that connection. Another aspect of the book that I love is the girl's point of view throughout the story. Even when she's in the wrong, she doesn't present it that way. I've always enjoyed that type of child character. It adds humor to the situation and forces the reader to identify the misbehavior in the character and ultimately in themselves...much like Olivia or Eloise. And as always, Helen Cooper's artwork is wonderful.

Why the World Needs Picture Books

(from Maggie and the Pirate by Ezra Jack Keats)

There was a disturbing article in the New York Times yesterday about the perilous future of the Picture Book. (You can read article here). The article addresses the dwindling sales of picture books as well as the shrinking number of them being published. It also talks about parents pushing children away from picture books because they wrongly see them as too simple.

Now having worked for years in Children's Publishing as a major buyer of Picture Books for Scholastic's Kindergarten Book Club, I can say with confidence that in the past fifteen years there have been WAY TOO MANY picture books published. When too many titles are published, there are undoubtedly terrible titles making it to the market and the good titles suffer. I see this happening in the YA market currently. It also happens in music. And unless a consumer has the time (and who does except for us fanatics) to devote endless hours to research, it may be hard to weed through the bad to find the quality titles. So more selective publishing isn't a bad thing in my opinion.

What really frightens me is the other aspect of the article. Picture Books are not simple. Not the really good ones anyway. Picture Books are extremely valuable for children. The marriage of text and pictures is how we learn to visualize a written story and how to let our imagination expand the story. Certainly there is also a need to have children read chapter books. I LOVE chapter books. But they serve a completely different place in the learning to read process.

Chapter Books are perfect for encouraging independent reading. But independent reading is only part of the child's learning to read process. Learning to read can't simply be about vocabulary and testable skills. The key to raising a child who loves reading and not just a child who can read, is the magic of storytelling. Picture Books are some of the most perfect examples of storytelling that we have developed as a culture. They are not simply for teaching toddlers the alphabet or to count or that apples are red. There are many complex and rich stories contained in that section of the store, not to mention many of the finest pieces of art produced in the last century.

Next time you're in a bookstore, do yourself a favor and spend some time in the Picture Book section. Pick one up instead of that new James Patterson or Nicholas Sparks novel...I promise you'll get infinitely more from its pages.