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Apparently, to find out if the stranger you just invited in from the pouring rain is truly a real princess, you must hide a pea under layer upon layer of mattresses and feather beds and wait until the next morning to see if she noticed it.

Who knew?

I was a big fan of Hans Christian Andersen when I was a kid. That could be why the first thing that came to my mind when I heard the word “layer” is the bed that the very bruised, extremely sleep-deprived princess in “The Princess and the Pea” slept in. Either that or the way I have to dress, living in the ever-changing weather of Southern California these days.

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So, killing two birds with one stone, I threw together a sketch for Illustration Friday and an upcoming celebration we’re having, over at the Doodle Diner, of “Tell A Fairy Tale Day” on Saturday, February 26th. I’m hoping to get this all finalized and colorized by then! Also looking forward to seeing what my fellow Doodle Diners come up with!

Once upon a time--in February 2009 to be exact--I blogged about reports that the Pet Shop Boys were working on a ballet based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen. That ballet is now finished and will start its run at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London from 17-27 March. I envy all you lucky Londoners who can go see it! I will have to content myself with the two-disc soundtrack which will be

Blackaby, Susan. Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox. Illus. by Carmen Segovia. Sterling, 2011. Ages 4-7.

If you’re seeking a whimsical read-aloud for Groundhog’s Day, you’ve found it. Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox sparkles with wit and sly charm. Brownie is a clever groundhog that meets a hungry would-be predator on a cloudy February 2nd. The fox tells her, “Hold still…. I’m trying to eat you for breakfast.” Brownie’s flip response is that it’ s simply too late for breakfast. The two find they both hate to wait. Brownie suggests the fox work up an appetite by clearing the snow off the pond. Segovia’s humorous image shows the fox putting his fluffy tail to good use. Alas, after all that effort, it’s too late for lunch, says Brownie. Then the tricky groundhog leads the fox to a tree and winds her scarf around and around the fox, binding him to the trunk.

Brownie’s little heart is touched, though, as she hears the fox’s plaintive cries. She decides it’s time to share what’s in her basket: cocoa and cinnamon toast. The crumbs attract a robin — the first sign of spring! The two new friends leave for home, pondering their next adventure. The illustrator’s note describes how Segovia first conceived of this engaging character one winter as she sketched a groundhog. Her wintry palette, splashed with the fox’s red, is as refreshing as that impromptu picnic.

Enhance a snowy story with the cold facts, perfectly described and displayed in

Cassino, Mark and Jon Nelson. The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder.. Chronicle, 2009. Ages 4-9. You’ll be singing songs of snow, glorious snow after reading this snappy little informative book. Cassino and Nelson reveal the scientific nature of snow by using an accessible format featuring a brief fact in a large type size, then giving details in smaller text. Readers will learn of the three major types of crystals (star-shaped, plate and columnar), as well as other interesting facts. (It’s the molecular structure of water that creates the six-sided crystals, for instance.) The superb illustrations include both spectacular photographs that beg to be shared and Aoyagi’s ink and watercolor diagrams that show how a crystal develops from a speck of soil, pollen, or other substance, and then develops into an intricate six-sided beauty. Also noteworthy are the clear instructions on catching and examining snow crystals — just the trick for getting readers to venture outside to explore wintry wonders.

More and More Snow …

Alarcon, Francisco X. Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems. illus. by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children’s Book Press, 2001. Fresh poems, often written with an unusual perspective, grace bright and beautiful pages showcasing poems in both Spanish and in English.

Andersen, Hans Christian. The Snow Queen. Trans. and retold by Naomi Lewis. Illus. by Christian Birmingham. Candlewick, 2008. Ages 8-10. Don’t miss Andersen’s most beautiful fairy tale, a source of inspiration for C.S. Lewis and other fantasy writers. Of the many versions available, Lewis’s is the one you want. This memorable wintry tale begs to be read aloud: “The cloak and cap were made of snow, and the driver ah, she was a lad

Classic Treats That Never Grow Old

By Bianca Schulze & Phoebe Vreeland, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 6, 2010

You love to give books as gifts, but you want to give a book that will be cherished and kept to be shared with future generations. Right? What you’re looking for is a classic. Something well-written, tried and tested, but perhaps with updated illustrations that will tantalize any young mind. Feast your eyes on the following delights …

Snow White: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm

by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (Author), Charles Santore (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 6-9

Hardcover: 48 pages

Publisher: Sterling (October 5, 2010)

Source: Publisher

Complete with a beautifully patterned ribbon marker, this is a nice retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, Snow White, illustrated by award-winning artist Charles Santore. Santore has also illustrated an Aesop’s Fables, The Wizard of Oz and  The Little Mermaid.

Add this book to your collection: Snow White: A Tale from the Brothers Grimm

Rapunzel

by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (Authors), Dorothée Duntze (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 24 pages

Publisher: North-South Books (September 1, 2005)

Source: Publisher

A softer version of the original Grimm tale. The illustrations are happy and sunny.

Add this book to your collection: Rapunzel

Aesop’s Fables

Selected and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: North-South Books; illustrated edition edition (April 1, 2006)

Source: Publisher

This is not the ultimate collection of Aesop’s Fables, however, it is a cleanly illustrated compendium carefully selected by the uber-award-winning artist Lisbeth Zwerger.

Add this book to your collection: Aesop’s Fables

J.K. Rowling (pictured) has won the newly established the Hans Christian Andersen literature award. She accepted the 500,000 kroner (approximately $75,000) award at a ceremony at Odense, Denmark.

The Guardian reports: “Rowling said she was ‘humbled and deeply honoured’ to receive the prize, saying ‘Hans Christian Andersen is a writer I revere, because his work was of that rare order that seems to transcend authorship,’ and praising Andersen’s “indestructible, eternal characters.’”

Next month marks the release of the first part of the film adaptation of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. The second part will be released next July–which every Potter fan knows is Harry’s birth month. Potter and Rowling share the same birth date, July 31st.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

This, the most beautiful of book trailers, was produced by animation studio Andersen M. for the New Zealand Book Council and promotes New Zealand writer Maurice Gee's 1993 novel Going West.



And here is another, slightly spookier trailer done by Andersen M. Studio for Kate Morton's forthcoming novel The Distant Hours.


As for what this has to do with children's literature?  
Well, on this site for the Odense City Museums,  you can view 
the paper cutting talents of another Andersen: Hans Christian.  
You can read about them here in an article by 
Andersen biographer Jens Andersen

Title: Wag A Tail
Written and Illustrated by: Lois Ehlert
Hardback: 40 pages
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc.
Ages: Baby-Preschool
ISBN: 978-0152058432
Publication: April 1, 2007

Wag a Tail is a fantastic book with great images and quick, rhyming text.

The beginning of the book has an author’s note, which explains how the book was put together. Ehlert says the book was created quite similarly “like a quilt.” Fabric scraps and bits and pieces of papers were used to form the beautiful collage images. Ehlert used scrap pieces from her other books, such as “Leaf Man” and “Top Cat.” The images in the book are vibrant and eye catching and they add a lot of appeal, especially for younger readers.

The book starts off with a sign pointing to “Farmer’s Market” (thataway!). From there, readers discover a wonderful singsong adventure between graduate dogs of the “Bow Wow School.”

“Wag a tail.
Wag a tail.
We know how.
Wig Wag Zig Zag
Let’s play now!”

The language is colorful and it sings off the page like jazz. The end of the book has a “guide” that identifies all the dog graduates from the “Bow Wow School.” But can these city dogs be obedient at the city market? What makes these “Bow Wow” graduates so cool? This book is guaranteed to educate and entertain!

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Reviewed by Sylvia C. Hall

Title: Listen to the Ghost
Written by: Beverly Stowe McClure
Soft cover: 159 pages
Ages: 12 & up
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
ISBN: 1-933353-51-1
Publication: 2003

Jade Dalton is at the threshold of her eighteenth birthday and is to spend summer vacation at her grandparents’ home in Charleston, South Carolina with her brother David and her best girlfriend, Elaine. Strange occurrences happen to Jade, from musical sounds at night to pink mists.

“Out of the corner of her eye, Jade caught movement. Ha! I see you. She swung around. She blinked. She blinked again. She rubbed her eyes and stared in awe at a faint pink mist hovering over the fireplace mantel on the far wall.”

Over time, events and auras are seen by all, and a journey of past truths is the path Jade must take to put the spirit to rest. As the summer progresses, it is revealed through the resident ghost, Phoebe, that the lives of Jade, Matt, and her ex-boyfriend Kurt are intertwined with the past. To be able to fit all the pieces together, Jade is more determined then ever to solve the mystery and reunite past loves, so all involved can continue on their paths…whether it be in this life or the afterlife.

Beverly Stowe McClure places you in the midst of the action from the get go. And her expertise brings you along for Jade Dalton’s mysterious journey with the feeling that you are there and you can’t help but cheer the heroine on.

Visit Beverly Stowe McClure’s website.

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Reviewed by Donna McDine for the National Writing for Children Center

Reviewed by Hazel Booth

Title:The Bearskinner: A Tale of the Brothers Grimm
Written by: Laura Amy Schlitz
Illustrated by: Max Grafe
Hardback: 30 pages
Ages: 8 and up
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 978-0-7636-2730-0
Publication: October 2007

Bearskinner is the tale of the bargain that a poverty-stricken, wayfaring soldier accepts with the devil. He must travel the world for seven years in a rotting, bug-ridden bear carcass without washing, cutting his hair, trimming his beard, or filing his nails. He must not commit suicide. He must tell no one of the bargain and he must not pray to God. In exchange, he will be a man of infinite wealth, drawn at will from a pouch within the bearskin.

“You must follow my rules,” the devil cautions. “If you break them, your soul is mine. Otherwise, you will be rich your whole life long—and your soul will remain your own.”

Determined not to become the devil’s slave and burn in hell, the Bearskinner travels the world, first as a wealthy man in a bearskin, but all too soon as a social outcast. Reeking and repulsive, in a heavy, rotting carcass full of maggots, he dreams each night of drowning himself in the river. In his third year as the Bearskinner, he finds renewed hope of defeating the devil: He uses the devil’s wealth to feed the poor people he meets and they, in turn, protect and bless him with their prayers.

Through his heroic strength, his generosity, and compassion, the Bearskinner finds love and fortune to last a lifetime. Max Grafe’s dark, muted illustrations are a perfect counterpoint for Shiltz’s hopeful retelling of this Brothers Grimm tale, a vivid and compelling story of the power of good over evil. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

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Hazel Booth is a freelance writer and a student at the Institute for Children’s Literature. She reviews picture books for the National Writing for Children Center and is currently working on nonfiction articles for kids.

Here is the pencil rough for a new painting I'm working on. I want to get my portfolio up to about twelve pieces and I want to have more well known stories illustrated in my work. I've taken a while to decide in what direction I want my portfolio to take. I had to look at my work and think about what kind of work represented me most. So, I'm working on my portfolio and at the same time working in the Josephine Pebbles story. I'm up to a second draft on the Pebbles story. For my next painting I'llbe doing a scene from Jack And The Beanstock. I'd really like to illustrate more African folk tales. Does anyone know some really great ones?

When I was growing up, I had one book by Hans Christian Andersen. I believe it was called Andersen's Fairy Tales. I also believe it was green. It may stil be around here somewhere. But it was as an adult that I become a true Andersen aficionado. I think the tale that turned the tide was "The Old Man is Always Right." And then not long ago I came across a beautiful 1912 film of the Andersen story "The Match Seller."



A few years ago my interest tipped briefly over into obsession after I read a fabulous biography of Andersen by Jens Andersen, alongside a fabulous new translation of the Fairy Tales by Tiina Nunnally.

And now I have a copy of The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen, edited by Maria Tatar (Norton). It's Andersen! It's annotated! I love both those things. (I spent one whole wonderful summer dallying with Ulysses Annotated).

One of the wonderful things about this annotated edition is the variety of illustrations. I always knew that I loved Arthur Rackham.


~ Arthur Rackham, The Emperor's New Clothes

But Harry Clarke is pretty wonderful too:


~ Harry Clarke, "The Tinderbox"

And look how lovely this is:

~ Edmund Dulac, "The Princess and the Pea"

This Norton Annotated Andersen is full of treasures. One of the lesser known stories here is "The Goblin and the Grocer" which begins:

There was once a student who was living in a garret. He owned absolutely nothing. There was once a grocer who was living on the ground floor of that very house, and he owned the whole place. The household goblin was devoted to the grocer, for every Christmas Eve he was given a bowl of porridge with a big pat of butter right in the middle of it.

In this story a book of poetry is brought home by the student after he finds it being used to wrap cheese by the grocer. Given the choice between buying the cheese or buying the book being used as wrapping paper, the student chooses poetry. Takes me back to my own student days.

Thanks to Alina at Penguin for this one. I'm curious to see what other Annotated treasures are in store.

Started in 1967, International Children’s Book Day takes place on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, April 2nd, and is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books. The event is sponsored by IBBY, The International Board on Books for Young People, a non-profit organization which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together. Each year a different National Section of IBBY has the opportunity to sponsor International Children’s Book Day, deciding on a theme and inviting prominent talents from their country to work on a message and design a poster. These materials are used in different ways to promote books and reading. Many IBBY Sections promote ICBD through the media and organize activities in schools and public libraries. Often ICBD is linked to celebrations around children’s books and other special events that may include encounters with authors and illustrators, writing competitions or announcements of book awards.

The 2009 sponsor of International Children’s Book Day is EBBY - The Egyptian Section of IBBY and the theme this year is “I am the World.” Illustrator and storyteller Hani D. El-Masri designed the poster. Click the images below to enlarge the poster and read Mr. El-Masri’s message and biography.
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It's International Children's Books Day!...

After a day of foolin' around, we get a day to celebrate the children's book.

Since the late '60s, the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has celebrated International Children's Book Day on (or around) April 2nd, the anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth, "to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children's books."

From IBBY's website:

Each year a different National Section of IBBY has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of ICBD. It decides upon a theme and invites a prominent author from the host country to write a message to the children of the world and a well-known illustrator to design a poster. These materials are used in different ways to promote books and reading. Many IBBY Sections promote ICBD through the media and organize activities in schools and public libraries. Often ICBD is linked to celebrations around children's books and other special events that may include encounters with authors and illustrators, writing competitions or announcements of book awards.

This weekend is Bede's third annual GoPlay Northwest gaming convention, and while he's come home late at light, Lucia and I are pretty much on our own during the day. School's out, camp hasn't yet begun, so I decided we'd do something we don't normally do: watch movies!Lucia saw Disney's version of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid for the first time on Friday, and we found this short