By: John Mark Boling,
on 3/25/2008
Writer and critic Alexandra Mullen pays tribute to the genius of P.G. Wodehouse in a wonderful essay on the two new Overlook reissues, Sam the Sudden and Big Money: "Take heart that Overlook Press has already released about 58 handsomely produced and reasonably priced hardcover Wodehouses; only about another 50 or so to go. Now there's one of the best blessings of a reader's existence -- dive in anywhere."
By: Aline Pereira,
on 8/24/2007
One event I will be missing this year, being on the wrong side of the Atlantic, is the exhibition of Allen Say’s work to celebrate his 70th birthday, which is currently running at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art – but if you can get to Amherst, Massachusetts before 28 October, I should imagine it would be well worth doing so. Writer, Lois Lowry certainly recommends it…
We love reading Say’s books together. Particular favorites are Under the Cherry Blossom Tree: An Old Japanese Tale, which appeals especially to 
my younger son’s sense of the absurd; and Kamishibai Man, which has inspired my older son to create his own storyboards. We also read Home of the Brave recently, following the discussions arising from A Place Where Sunflowers Grow. Say’s rich illustrations here and the slightly abstract conveying of the story stretch young children into asking questions… the bedtime storytime can certainly be drawn out beyond the deceptive brevity of the story. As Karen Edmisten says, it is “not a happy book but an excellent one”.
Podcast Just One More Book has reviewed Emma’s Rug and I think they sum up Say’s work as a whole when they say: (more…)
I do love Kamishibai Man. What a wonderful book. I will have to look for Under the Cherry Blossom Tree. Thanks for that recommendation. My son studied Japan last year in second grade, and he has enjoyed hearing the traditional Japanese stories ever since.
Wow, lucky boy! I’m sure he’d enjoy Under the Cherry Blossom Tree - the ink illustrations are very different in style to Say’s later paintings - I would say they reflect more his early background in cartoon drawing. I love them!
Yes! Stories that can be read again and again. Stories like you said that “open(s) up their minds.”
and you can never have too many of them! I’ll have to seek out the titles I don’t know from the list of books you recommend on your blog…