I don’t know of anyone who isn’t aware of the oil spill in the Gulf, but do you know how to do something about it? Though I live off the Gulf Coast, I felt removed from the situation… reading about the oil’s progression and tsk tsk-ing those who drag their feet in it’s resolution. So what can we do?
It takes someone like Kelly Light and her daughter to begin a movement!
They have created a blog called Ripple where you can purchase an Artist Trading Card and the donations will go directly to the cause. Each sketchcard on the blog is $10.00. The $10.00 is a donation to help the animal victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Every penny is donated. The two Non-Profits that are benefitting are The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center.
This crisis is so heart wrenching and it’s the innocent who are suffering! Please won’t you visit the Ripple blog and donate. If you are an artist perhaps you want to donate your work in the form of an art card. The information for doing so is on the Ripple blog.
I’ve created two cards. One will be on it’s way to a kind person in Hawaii on Monday the other, a sea turtle, will go up on the Ripple blog and will be for sale along with the other artist created cards.
Ripple A small sketch- a small donation-each small act helps!
Growing up, my dad had a red station wagon, and every summer we kids (sibling and cousins) would pile into the back and off we would go to the beach. It was probably an hour outside the city, but it seemed to me like it was an endless drive before we saw water. Read more [...]
Have You Seen the NY Times Best Illustrated Books of 2008 Slideshow?...
If you haven't, here's the link.
I think Menena Cottin and Rosana Faria's The Black Book of Colors is quite amazing, and came across well the way they shot it. The cover on Amazon looks pretty flat and sort of un-amazing. I really want to see this one in person. And touch it.
The striking simplicity of Suzy Lee's Wave also makes me want to run across the street to B&N--and it's nice to see a beach when there's snow on the ground, my skin is dry, my hair is full of static, my lips are chapped, and it gets dark at 5 o'clock. Summer--and humidity--sounds so awesome.
Do you think it would be OK to get everyone on my Christmas list a picture book?
Wave by Suzy Lee
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 16, 2008)
ISBN-10: 081185924X
ISBN-13: 978-0811859240
Source of book: Review copy from publisher
This gorgeous and wordless picture book tells the story of a little girl's day at the beach. When she first arrives at the ocean, she's a little shy and uncertain as she looks at the daunting wave before her. As she grows more comfortable, she roars at the wave as it recedes into the ocean, and she finally musters up the courage to jump in and splash around. The wave, however, gets the last laugh and drenches her, but she soon forgets as she sees the treasure that washes ashore.
I have to tell you that this wordless book nearly rendered me speechless the first time I flipped through it. It's a universal story that every person who has been to the ocean will be familiar with. You don't NEED words to tell this story. The stunning images open up the senses and evoke emotion. I could smell the ocean, feel the spray on my face, hear the little girl's laughter, and feel her awe and reverence toward this powerful force of nature along with her delight.
Photo courtesy of Chronicle Books
It's the simplicity of the book that makes it truly powerful. The black and white panoramic drawings of the girl, her mother, and the seagulls are accented with splashes of the ocean's brilliant blue. When the wave finally engulfs the little girl at the end and recedes back into the ocean, the pages also become engulfed in blue--the sky, the girl's dress, the sea shells, etc.
This book makes me want to go to the beach. It conjures up my own memories of my childhood, and makes me reminisce about the innocence of childhood and the magic of the ocean. Accessible to children and parents of many cultures and languages and accessible to children who can't yet read or who are struggling with reading, I give
Wave my highest recommendation.
Visit
Suzy Lee's website to see more illustrations from
Wave.
What other bloggers are saying:
Mindy's Book Journal: "A day at the beach has never been as lovely as it is in this book. Pair it with
Flotsam or savor
Wave on its own for its beautiful simplicity, but don’t pass this by. Perhaps a favorite of the year for me."
Do you have a review of
Wave? If so, leave your link in the comments, and I'll include it here.
From the Stacks Reading Challenge 07
November 1, 2007 - January 30, 2008
5 Books--ANY five books from our stacks, but they cannot be *new.* You're not to search out things, be tempted by things, and go out to find more books to add to your stack. This is your time to play catch-up and read the books you already own.
My list
1) Before, After, and Somebody In Between by Jeannine Garsee
2) Memoirs of A Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
3) Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You by Peter Cameron
4) Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor
5) Boy Toy by Barry Lyga
Alternates
1) Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
2) Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
3) Lessons From A Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
4) No Talking by Andrew Clements
5) The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles
Wow! Some of those illustrations are just stunning! Thanks for the link.
They were really spectacular! I especially loved Kadir Nelson's book. However, as a kindergarten teacher I have often wondered why TEACHERS aren't, at the very least, consultants to some of these big publishing houses. Aren't we the ones who read a BAZILLION books a week? huh.
Awesome illustrations! Thanks for posting the link. I'll have to check those out at B&N, especially the WAVE. I am already wishing for summer, and winter just started.
And I'd have to agree with the prior comment. I'm a teacher too, and I would absolutely LOVE to review and recommend books. I have so many favorites!
Guess my style's come and gone...
http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=PYXX
Hmmm....
Haste yee back ;-)
I think picture books would make great presents! Sort of a fun coffee table book for those that don't have kids. Especially with how beautiful some of the illustrations are.
And even though I don't have snow, the beach sounds nice. Sigh.
I love coffee tables like I love pancakes. Large, luscious photos and illustrations are very decadent to me. No wordy headtrips, just huge splashes of images. I love it!!! Thanks, Alice!