Two things that made me smile today. First this ....
By Tina Vasquez, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 28, 2011
The Crows of Pearblossom
by Aldous Huxley (Author), Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 28 pages
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (March, 2011)
Source: Publisher
For anyone who’s ever taken a high school English class, the name “Aldous Huxley” may ring a bell. That’s because the English writer was the author of Brave New World, a now classic piece of literature about a futuristic society. In the children’s book The Crows of Pearblossom, we get to see a different, softer side to the prolific writer.
In this charming tale we’re introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Crow, who live in a cottonwood tree above an old rattlesnake. Mrs. Crow, a devoted wife and avid homemaker, has wanted baby crows of her own for years and can’t quite figure out what happens to her eggs when she goes off to the market each day. The astute reader will quickly figure out that the old rattlesnake is the one eating Mrs. Crow’s eggs each day, but when she finds out one afternoon it comes as quite the shock.
When Mrs. Crow informs her husband of what the rattlesnake has been doing, Mr. Crow and his friend Old Man Owl devise an ingenious plan to teach the rattlesnake a lesson and keep him from eating any more of Mrs. Crow’s eggs.
It’s a simple, sweet story, but what really brings it to life are the brilliant illustrations created by Sophie Blackall, who gives each creature in The Crows of Pearblossom an infinite amount of charm and character. From Mr. Crow’s hat and briefcase and Mrs. Crow’s pearl necklace and polka dot dress to the rattlesnake’s “rattle watch” and Old Man Owl’s bunny rabbit slippers, Blackall has created an intricate world that these soon-to-be-beloved creatures inhabit. Hopefully, this delightful tale will become a classic, much like Huxley’s other works.
Add this book to your collection: The Crows of Pearblossom
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By: J.F. Durante,
on 2/20/2011
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Books of Wonder and Wisdom
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I’ve been marveling at Jacqueline Woodson’s finely wrought fictio
n for years, so it seems fitting that I feature her in this fourth of four posts on outstanding African-American authors or illustrators. Her latest picture book, Pecan Pie Baby (Putnam, 2010), is another treat. Mama’s little Gia isn’t wild about having a new baby in her family. In fact, all the fuss about that “ding-dang baby” is just plain annoying. When Mama says the baby’s wanting some pecan pie, Gia says, “Well, … I love pecan pie. And you love pecan pie. So that baby’s just being a copycat!” Sophie Blackall’s ink and watercolor illustrations clearly portray the child’s worried, sometimes exasperated expression. At Thanksgiving, engulfed in the family’s incessant talk of “baby this and baby that,” Gia explodes: “I’m so sick of that DING-DANG BABY!” Sent to her room, a teary little Gia sits on her bed feeling “real, real, real alone.” The illustrator’s perspective of looking down on Gia from a distance captures her forlornness. Later, Mama comes upstairs and tells Gia how she’ll miss those special days shared by just the two of them — just the message she needed to hear. The night ends with cuddles and a plate of pecan pie for all three. Growing families will find this a sweet, reassuring book to share with children ages 4 to 7.
More Timeless and Touching Picture Books …
Coming on Home Soon. illus. by E.B. Lewis. Putnam, 2004. Ages 6-9. Set during World War II, Ada Ruth’s mom has left to seek work. She’d heard “they’re hiring colored women in Chicago since all the men are off fighting in the war.” Her grandmother tries to comfort Ada Ruth, but it’s just not the same. Lewis’s lovely watercolor paintings capture the changing emotions of the girl as she waits. One full-page illustration shows her sitting in an old-fashioned hardback chair, gazing out the window at the snow and trying to recall her mother’s smell: “like sugar some days.” A little black stray kitten arrives and gives Ada Ruth some comfort. The pet stays nearby as she and her grandmother listen to news on the radio. Ada Ruth prays for the soldiers who won’t return anytime soon. And she thinks proudly of her mama, washing the trains up in Chicago. At last, Mama’s long-awaited letter arrives with much-needed money and with the words Ada Ruth has craved: she’s coming on home soon.
The Other Side. illus. by E.B. Lewis.Putnam, 2001. Ages 6-9. 
In this sensitive story, there’s a split-rail fence that separates a rural black community from the white. Young Clover lives in a yellow house on one side of the fence; a new girl, Annie, lives on the other. Clover watches red-headed Annie sit on the fence and sta
By:
Betsy Bird,
on 2/10/2011
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A Fuse #8 Production
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I’m not telling you anything new by bringing this up now, but for those of you who may yet be unaware, the great Brian Jacques of the Redwall books passed away last weekend. I only had the pleasure of meeting Brian once at an event at the Campbell Apartment, and he was charming. I determined that the best way to speak to him was to bring up The Wind in the Willows, a book he adored. When I mentioned the Pan chapter he became wildly enthused, quoting whole passages verbatim. Later in the evening he would tell tales of fellow author and friend Paula Danziger (also deceased) and how she once leapt into a ball pen where she got firmly stuck. There are a couple obits worth mentioning of the man. Over at The Guardian Alison Flood recalls her talking animal phase while Julia Eccleshare writes his obit. The Telegraph gave their two cents. The Liverpool Echo had a great obit too, though it left me wanting to know more about the schoolteacher that taught Jacques, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, so thank you @PWKidsBookshelf for the link. Even the Audubon Magazine had a sweet take on the Jacques legacy (thanks to @MrSchuReads for the link). Can’t say I’m the world’s biggest fan of this British cover, though. A bit too symbolic for me.
Needs more fur.
- Speaking of British covers, I was a little surprised to see that the British edition of When You Reach Me (which they seem to have only just now brought over there in paperback) sports the same Sophie Blackall cover as the one we have here in the States. Almost the same, I should say. Can you spot the difference?
Someone explain that one to me, please. I’m baffled. Anyway, I think I like the Aussie cover best an
In the seventh book in the series, second-graders Ivy and Bean take on a pretty big challenge: saving the world from global warming. After Ms. Aruba-Tate's class hears a report by fifth graders on the subject, they take the problem to heart. Their wise teacher channels their concerns into a project for the science fair. Their mission? To cool down the Earth. Bean and Ivy team up, but each new idea they come up with gets squashed. Their decision to toss ice cubes into the sky is ridiculed by Bean's older sister and her snobby friend. They bind their wrists so that animals will have a better chance of survival only to find themselves at the mercy of a small child who forces them to play Bad Orphanage. They attempt to pound energy out of rice and are again mocked for their efforts. Then, while watching an ant colony, the girls finally get their big idea.
On the night of the science fair, Ivy and Bean show their parents the other projects, the funniest of which is classmate Vanessa's. She has her siblings hold their breath 1 minute 15 times a day in an effort to cut down on carbon dioxide. Then it's time for Ivy and Bean's project. With the help of Ms. Aruba-Tate, the girls shepherd all the parents outside and have them stretch out on blankets under the starry night sky. The parents grumble at first but gradually unwind as they experience nature. Not clear what this has to do with global warming? Let Bean and Ivy explain. "We wanted you all to feel happy in nature." (Ivy) "So you would care about global warming." (Bean)
Oh, I see. Well, truthfully, I don't. But that one of the strengths of this series. Author Annie Barrows has an unerring instinct for getting inside a second-grader's mind. From Ivy and Bean's perspective, anything is possible. So go outside and throw some ice cubes into the sky. It can't hurt, and, who knows, it just may do some good!
Ivy + Bean: What's the Big Idea?
by Annie Barrows
illustrations by Sophie Blackall
Chronicle, 128 pp.
Published: November 2010
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By: Jenny Miller,
on 11/23/2010
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How could ants fussing about in the grass help Ivy and Bean come up with their best idea ever?
Read this delightful book and you too might see how instructional a colony of uptight bugs can be.
Thanks for stopping by Day 2 of the Ivy & Bean Blog Tour! I hope you enjoy my review and share a comment below.
Everyone who comments now through Dec. 3 automatically will be entered in a drawing to win Book 7 in the series, What's the Big Idea?
Be sure to leave a way to contact you, either in the comment itself or by emailing me with your email address.
Then scroll down to the end of the review for live links to more blogs on the tour!
Ivy & Bean: What's the Big Idea? (Book 7)
By Annie Barrows
Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Chronicle, 2010
$14.99, ages 6-10, 128 pages
Best buddies Ivy and Bean may not know much about global warming, but they sure know about grownups -- and teaching them to relax might be just the trick to stopping a planetary melt-down.
In this 7th book in the beloved Ivy & Bean chapter-book series, the gals with big ideas and a knack for mischief take on cars, cow poop and other stuff mucking up the planet one group of parents at a time.
When Ivy and Bean's 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Aruba-Tate, asks the class to come up with ways to cool down Earth for the Emerson School science fair, the light bulbs start going on over Ivy and Bean's heads. Well, sort of.
Ivy and Bean are determined to come up with the best science project ever and become the most famous best friends in the world. Now, if they only had a couple of white lab coats and shimmering pink potions.
Hmmm. They might really have to think about this one. You know, sit there stock-still, with Ivy sucking cream cheese out of her hair and Bean squeezing her head between her hands until her eyeballs almost pop out.
Af
By:
Annie Beth Ericsson,
on 10/4/2010
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Walking In Public
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image: Sophie Blackall – Big Red Lollipop
As is now routine, I moseyed through the park and did my weekly grocery shopping at the Grand Army Plaza greenmarket on Saturday. This time, though, I wasn’t too loaded down with pickles and goat cheese, and actually had the energy to stop at the Central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.
I’d been meaning to hit the BPL because, though I’ve always been a huge library supporter (it’s in my blood, thanks mom and dad), lately I’ve been in the bad habit of buying books instead. But with student loans looming this November (it’s been nearly 6 months already?!), it is time to tighten the finances and catch up on my reading – for free.
I was disappointed that I didn’t find anything super fresh and exciting in the YA section… but I guess it’s good that teens are checking them all out. Next time, I’ll have to bring a bigger list. I DID get the chance to see the Drawn In Brooklyn! exhibition of children’s illustration – and that, in itself, was worth the trip.
Drawn In Brooklyn! is a 4-month long festival of 34 local artists, celebrating the borough with the largest concentration of children’s book illustrators on the planet. In close proximity to Manhattan, illustrators can network with the publishing and art worlds first-hand… but then find both community inspiration and a bit of creative peace back here. No wonder Brooklyn is home to, well, almost everyone I admire.
image: Peter Brown – Chowder
In the vast display of work in the Grand Lobby of the BPL, there were many, many familiar names, including personal heroes (Leo and Diane Dillon, Ted and Betsy Lewin, Paul O. Zelinsky), current favorites (Sophie Blackall, Peter Brown) and former professors (Pat Cummings, Megan Montague Cash). Also, a few illustrators I’d never heard of before: both Daniel Salmieri and Sergio Ruzzier‘s whimsical, quirky characters made me smile. Here they are below!
image: Daniel Salmie
Big Red Lollipop is a heartfelt, and heartbreaking, picture book about a girl named Rubina who is invited to her first birthday party. It is also a book about sibling relationships. It is also a book about the immigrant experience. It is also, in my opinion, a story about parental failure--a big, fat reminder of how much we forget about being children once we grow-up, and how parents demand
I think they are unique and charming but have you seen her Missed Connections blog? It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Basically, she has two blogs. One is her
Sophie Blackall blog where she talks about her books, home, and such and the other is her
Missed Connections blog. It brings me great joy when she posts a new illustration on it. Here is why...she pulls from classified ads on Craigslist, Village Voice and Web sites exclusively dedicated to the digital message-in-a-bottle style listings and illustrates them.
Here are a few of her blog entries to get you started...
Saturday, October 17, 2009
- m4w
We shared a bear suit at an apartment party on Saturday night.
I asked for your number and you gave it to me, but somehow I don't have an area code written down. I had a great time talking with you, and I don't trust Chance enough to wait until I see you in the elevators...
Thursday, December 31, 2009
- m4w - 32
You had on a furry hat with ear flaps and you crashed into me at Wollman Rink today. You are a terrible but adorable skater.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
- m4m - 29 (astoria)
we were both swimming around 5-6 in astoria pool. we ended up walking the same direction in the park for a while but didn't talk. i wish i had said hi...so i figured i would on here.
worth a shot.
There's a very good interview with the wonderful Sophie Blackall over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.
I've blogged here before about Blackall and her work with Meg Rosoff, including most recently the brilliant Googily and Jumpy Jack.
In this interview, Blackall talks about working on illustrating a story of her own for the first time. It's called Are You Awake, and will be published in fall 2009. There is a sneak peak at an illustration for the work-in-progress on the 7-IMP site:
Ooh, I do love a little boy in a stripe-y shirt. I'm looking forward to reading this one ... Blackall definitely has a sensibility all her own.
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By:
Just One More Book!!,
on 1/22/2008
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Author: Shirin Yim Bridges
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall (on JOMB)
Published: 2002 Chronicle Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0811834905 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
The hush of dependable peaches and greens gently gives way to a crescendo of red in this thoughtfully unfolding, true story of a young girl with a dream — and the patient, respectful cracking of cultural constraints that made her dream come true.
You can help make a dream come true today by joining the effort to provide schooling and stability for autistic children in China. To learn more click here.
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I don't actually have any. In fact, I was just at Weight Watchers, where I have managed to consistently change my weight by 1.6 pounds for each of the last two weeks. Only I don't think you are supposed to go up.
Interested in learning more about my adventures with haircuts and manicures? How about my approach to writing - told only in two-word answers? I'm on Laura Bowers blog today. She is the author of Beauty Shop for Rent, which got a starred review from Publishers Weekly, not that I'm jealous or anything.
After the interview came out, she sent me a postcard. I still have it.
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Ivy and Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go: Book 2. Best friends Ivy and Bean are back and looking for adventure in the second installment of this engaging new series. This time they’ve made an amazing discoverya ghost in the school bathroom! Ivy and Bean can see its cloudy form and its glowing eyes. They can hear its moaning voice. This is the best thing that ever happened at schooluntil the teachers find out. Now Ivy and Bean have to figure out how to get the ghost out of the bathroom. Will they succeed? Maybe. Will they have fun? Of course!
2 Comments on Snail Mail, last added: 7/17/2012
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We didi it again! :.) This is now officially snail week.
Love your collection (and luckily it is quite different from mine), especially Alberto Cerriteno and Allan Ahlberg.
Ah Laura has announced that after yours and her posts:
http://theanimalarium.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/spiral-living.html
It is now officially snail week sounds good to me :D