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With Comic Con NYC later this week, publisher previews on the rise, and various work-related meetings, talks, and speeches I’m just the teeniest tiniest bit busy this week. But no matter! It is you, dear readers, that give me what for and how to. For you I would forgo all the sleep in the world. And as luck would have it, my 5-month-old baby is currently taking me up on that offer.
Onward!
Sometimes when I am feeling pensive I attempt to figure out which authors and illustrators currently alive today will, in the distant future, be so doggone famous for their works that people make pilgrimages to the homes they once lived in. I suspect that the entire Amherst/Northampton area will become just one great big tour site with people snapping shots of the homes of Norton Juster, Mo Willems, Jane Yolen, and so on and such. Thoughts of this sort come to mind when reading posts like Phil Nel’s recent piece A Very Special House in which he visits the former home of Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson. It is entirely enjoyable, particularly the part where the current owners reenact a photo taken on the porch with Ruth and Crockett 65 years later.
So they announced the Kirkus Prize Finalists last week. Those would be the folks in the running for a whopping $50,000 in prize money. The books in the young reader category are split between two picture books, two middle grade titles, and two YA. You can see all the books that were up for contention here and the final books that made the cut here. Heck, you can even vote on the book you’d like to see win and potentially win an iPad for yourself. I don’t think they needed the iPad as a lure, though. I suspect many folks will be voting left and right just the for the fun of it. Thanks to Monica Edinger for the links.
In other news, we have word of a blog made good. Which is to say, a blog that figured out how to make a living off of its good name. When people ask for YA blog recommendations I am not always the best person to ask. I don’t monitor them the way I monitor children’s book blogs. Pretty much, I just rely on folks like bookshelves of doom and The Book Smugglers to tell me what’s up. Now The Book Smugglers are becoming publishers in their own right! eBook publishers no less. Nice work if you can get it.
Louise Rennison wrote a rather amusing little piece about how her British slang doesn’t translate all that well across the pond, as it were. Fair enough, but don’t go be telling me we Yanks don’t know humor. That’s why I was pleased to see that at the end of the article it says, “Louise Rennison will be discussing humour on both sides of the pond, and other interesting things, with her fellow countryman Jim Smith (author of Barry Loser and winner of the Roald Dahl Funny prize 2013) and American author Jon Scieszka (author of many hilarious books including Stinky Cheeseman and most lately Frank Einstein) – in a panel event chaired by Guardian children’s books editor Emily Drabble, run with IBBY at Waterstones Piccadilly, London, on 7 October 2014.” Why that’s today! Give ‘em hell, Jon! Show ‘em we know our funny from our droll. Then find out why their Roald Dahl Funny Prize is taking a hiatus. It’s not like they lack for humor themselves, after all.
*sigh* That Jarrett Krosoczka. He gets to have all the fun. One minute he’s hosting the Symphony Space Roald Dahl celebration and the next he’s hosting the upcoming Celebration of E.B. White. I mean, just look at that line-up. Jane Curtin. David Hyde Pierce. Liev Schreiber (didn’t see that one coming). Oh, I will be there, don’t you doubt it. You should come as well. We’ll have a good time, even if we’re not hosting it ourselves.
This may be my favorite conspiracy piece of 2014 (which is actually saying something). Travis Jonker lays out 6 Theories on the End of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. Needless to say, I’m firmly in the “dog as Jesus” camp.
And speaking of conspiracy theories, were you aware of the multiple theories that abound and consist of folks trying to locate the precise geographical coordinates of Sesame Street? There’s a big Sesame Street exhibit at our Library of the Performing Arts right now (by hook or by crook I am visiting it this Sunday) and that proved the impetus for this piece. Lots of fun.
Hey, how neat is this?
On Saturday November 8, 2014, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art (NMAA) in Washington, DC will host the 22nd annual Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA). CABA was created by Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association* to honor authors and illustrators who have produced exceptional books on Africa for young people.
And who’s that I see on the list of nominees? None other than Monica Edinger for Africa Is My Home! Two Candlewick books are listed, actually. Well played there, oh ye my fellow publisher.
Daily Image:
I admit it. I’ve a weakness for paper jewelry. Today’s example is no exception:
Wood pulp. A marvelous invention. Thanks to Jessica Pigza for the image.
0 Comments on Fusenews: Knowing your funny from your droll as of 10/7/2014 6:05:00 AM
Book: Comics Squad: Recess! Authors: Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm, Jarrett Krosoczka, Raina Telgemeier & Dave Roman, Dan Santat, Dav Pilkey, Ursula Vernon, Eric Wight, and Gene Luen Yang
Pages: 144
Age Range: 7-10
Comics Squad: Recess! is a new collaborative book produced by a team of today's top cartoonists/illustrators/graphic novelists. It features eight stories, all told in comic strip format. The stories are set in an elementary school environment, and are relevant to the concerns of younger elementary schoo kids. Oh, and they are funny, of course.
Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, creators of the Babymouse and Squish series, and Jarrett Krosoczka, creator of the Lunch Lady series, are the editors. Babymouse and Lunch Lady make a few cameo appearances before and between the other stories - I guess you could say that they are the informal hosts to the book. Babymouse also appears in one of the stories, repeatedly thwarted in her "Quest for Recess" ("Typical!". Lunch Lady is actually out sick, but Betty is on the job (and stocked up with new inventions) in "Betty and the Perilous Pizza Day".
As I've personally read most of the Babymouse and Lunch Lady books already, I was interested to see what the other authors would come up with. It's quite a varied lot. I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor of Gene Yang's "The Super-Secret Ninja Club", and the frankly adorable cupcake in Eric Wight's "Jiminy Sprinkles in "Freeze Tag"". Ursula Vernon's "The Magic Acorn" features squirrels meeting up with a tiny alien in an acorn-shaped spaceship. "The Rainy Day Monitor" by Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier celebrates the joys of pretending (with some pretty funny, mostly fake celebrity cameos). Dan Santat, on the other hand, mocks the idea of writing a 300 word essay on The Giving Tree, while giving the teeny-tiniest hint of a middle grade romance.
My favorite story was Dav Pilkey's "Book 'Em, Dog Man". Pilkey writes this as if it were the work of a pair of comic-obsessed young boys. The story is introduced with a letter written by the disapproving teacher of the boys, like this: "As you will see, this comic book contains multiple scenes of stealing, violence, and unlawfulness... and don't get me started on the spelling and grammar!" Personally, I thought that the second-grade-appropriate spelling was hilarious ("desidid", "excape", etc.).
But it's all fun. Though the tone and style of the eight stories varies, a common orange and black color palette across the book lends a certain visual consistency.
Comics Squad: Recess! is dedicated to The Nerdy Book Club, which I thought was a particularly appropriate touch. The Nerdy Book Club members, like the authors of Comics Squad, dedicate their working lives to ensuring the kids find reading fun.
Comics Squad: Recess! is an excellent introduction for younger kids to graphic novels. Including a range of authors ensures that each reader is bound to find at least one story that resonates. This is a book that all elementary school libraries will want to carry (probably in multiple copies). Just be prepared for requests for more of Comics Squad! Fortunately, the authors have other titles available. Comics Squad: Recess! is the absolute epitome of "kid-friendly". Highly recommended. I'll be keeping my copy for when my daughter is a tiny bit older.
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (@RandomHouseKids)
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher
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Don’t you hate it when you’ve saved oodles of links for a Fusenews only to find your computer apparently ate them without informing you? Fun times. So if I promised some of you that I’d post something and then I didn’t, remind me of the fact. Clearly me brain is running on fumes.
Stop. Before you go any farther I will show you something that will make you laugh. It is this post by my sister on making a particularly unique gingerbread creation. If nothing else the photos at the end will make you snort in a distinctly unladylike manner.
Please remind me the next time I wish to garner outrage to simply tap Philip Pullman. The man has sway. Big time sway.
This is fun:
The SCBWI is proud to announce the winner and honor recipients of the 2013 Jane Yolen Mid-List Author Award. Congratulations to winner Eve Feldman, author of such works asBilly and Milly Short and Silly (Putnam) and Dog Crazy (Tambourine). Eve has been a children’s book author and SCBWI member for over twenty years. To learn more about Eve visit www.evebfeldman.com.
Two Honor Grants were also awarded to authors Verla Kay and Deborah Lynn Jacobs. Verla Kay is the author of Civil War Drummer Boy (Putnam) and Hornbooks and Inkwells(Putnam) among others. Learn more at www.verlakay.com. Deborah Lynn Jacobs is the author of the young adult novels Choices (Roaring Brook Press) and Powers (Square Fish). Learn more at www.deborahlynnjacobs.com.
Gift giving to a young ‘un when you yourself are without young ‘uns? Well, this post A Message to Those Without Children is dead on. She doesn’t mention alternatives but I can: What about books instead? Board books! Give it a whirl, prospective gift givers.
The most amusing part of this Harry Potter Swimsuit Line to my mind isn’t the content so much as it is the models they got to wear the outfits. Most of them don’t seem to have any clue what they’re wearing. However, #2 in the Snape dress model appears to have been cast solely for the part and #3 has the decency to look slightly embarrassed to be there at all. Thanks to Liz Burns for the link.
Speaking of HP, we all knew that the covers of the Harry Potter books were being re-illustrated here in the States. But how many of us knew that the Brits were planning on releasing full-color illustrated books with art by Jim Kay? Does the name Jim Kay ring a bell for you, by the way? You might be thinking of the art he did for A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. That was a far cry from that cutesy Harry picture included in the article. Suddenly I can’t wait to see what the man can do with Dementors. Thanks to Ben Collinsworth for the link.
Doggone it. Yet again I delayed posting my Fusenews a day and failed to mention Jarrett Krosoczka’s Joe and Shirl Scholarship Auction in time. Sorry Jarrett! Fortunately, the man is no stranger to auctions of every stripe. This past Sunday there was a big fundraiser for First Book Manhattan at Symphony Space. The actors involved were HUGE and Jarrett was the lucky guy who got to host (he even played Glowworm to Paul Giamatti’s Centipede).
As part of the fun, Jarrett created this cool art. The Dahl estate then signed off on it to be auctioned off to continue to benefit First Book. Like what you see? Then buy here!
Bidding ends on Friday at 5 p.m.
0 Comments on Fusenews: Nailed It! as of 12/10/2013 2:33:00 PM
There are certain words and phrases that are instantly hilarious. Kalamazoo is one of them. Platypus is another. All the more reason to combine the two. That’s my logic. When I heard that Jarrett Krosoczka (he of the Lunch Lady GN series as well as a stunner of a TED talk, amongst other accomplishments), had a buddy cop middle grade coming out called Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked, I had to have it. And as luck would have it, it’s great. Why no one has ever thought to do a buddy copy chapter book (if you can name me one other you earn yourself a cookie) I do not know. Clearly it’s meant to be.
Folks at Walden Media got wind that I liked the book (review forthcoming) and asked if I’d like to premier some of the art. The book’s not slated for shelves until May 7th so here’s a bit of a peek into some of the pieces I’m particularly fond of and why.
So first off, the book is set in Kalamazoo City, which is not to be confused with Kalamazoo, Michigan (my beloved hometown). Here’s a bit of a glimpse into some of the lower income parts of the city. From what I can tell, Kalamazoo City sports a pretty large population. One of our heroes in the book lives here.
I refer to the book as in the “buddy cop” style, but as you can see, Krosoczka isn’t averse to dropping a bit of noir in as well.
Then there’s the standard getting-dressed-down-by-the-chief scene. Of which this book had in abundance. I like this shot.
Should I read too much into the fact that the librarian in this book is a bird? A bird with a thing for young handsome platypuses, no less. She clearly has good taste. I’m going to lay claim to her in any case.
It’s like me mudda always used to say: Never trust a koala. Particularly a koala sporting elastic on his upper arms..
This just a small smattering, but it gives you a taste for the book in its entirety. Thanks to Walden Media for letting me show you the goods. It’s a grand little book. No fooling.
4 Comments on Sneaky Peek: A Glimpse of Platypuses Packing Heat/Boomerangs, last added: 3/28/2013
This looks hilarious and awesome and utterly dual-audience parent/kid-satisfying in the way of Punk Farm, yay.
I suppose it’s too much to hope that one of the platypus cops is on the eve of his retirement and keeps saying “I’m too old for this shit.”
Elizabeth Bird said, on 3/27/2013 9:46:00 AM
Only in a perfect world, Marjorie. Only in a perfect world.
Samantha R. Vamos said, on 3/27/2013 1:08:00 PM
Wow. On my list now (thanks for the heads-up). As soon as my son spots this one, I am betting I will be hearing, “Platypus Police Squad, Mom” over and over. Try saying that three times fast!
Liz said, on 3/28/2013 1:35:00 PM
About words and phrases, I’ve always liked “Cucamonga,” especially since a little boy at my first job out of college kept saying “I’m sending you to Cucamonga!” When my now 24 year old son was 2, he said, completely out of the blue, “Lazardos and Lizard on the Lam, Cops Confused.” He was right, it is a pretty great phrase.
Who says you need to be Ed Emerley to make fingerprints dance? A canny bit of book promotion, this title is out this year but I certainly hadn’t heard of it until now (Laurence King Publishers, anyone?). Now I’ll need to see it for myself. It’s Let’s Make Some Great Fingerprint Art by Marion Deuchars. Thanks to Julian Hector for the link!
Altogether now . . . awwwwwwwwww.
Okay, book trailer time. Full discloser, Mr. Eliot Schrefer is in my writing group and I read this book, Endangered, in manuscript form. The man can write. I mean, really write. I don’t see much YA in a given year, but I saw this and it was glorious. But, in the words of the immortal LeVar Burton, you don’t have to take my word for it.
Then there’s Mr. Jarrett Krosoczka. Or, as I like to think of him, the hardest working man in show business. Now I only assume this, but surely he teaches other authors how to use social networking and technology to connect with fans, yes? I only wonder since he’s sort of really good at it. Example A: a recap of a webcast his did with kids recently. Theme song and all:
Example B: The comics that were made during the workshop. I rest my case.
Finally, my off-topic video that isn’t very off-topic. If I’m going to be honest, I almost opened the post today with this bad lip-reading of Twilight. What can I say? It made me laugh very very hard (on the second segment anyway). Forgive me if there’s a political ad before it.
0 Comments on Video Sunday: That cake’s my most bestest creation as of 10/7/2012 5:20:00 AM
First, I know it's Thursday and I will post a storytelling thingie before midnight. I promise - but...
Over on A Fuse #8 Production, Betsy Bird is popping up with all kinds of awesome links. Check out Jarrett Krosoczka's double-dog dare to guys...(Hi, Jarrett! Remember when you came to the Parkland Community Library back around the time of Baghead and Annie Was Warned? That YS librarian? That was I!)
Howdy-do, folks. Today I am off to the Yonkers Library to participate in a Charles Dickens panel with some experts in the field. Why me? I don’t precisely know but I’m honored to be asked. Plus the train ride will allow me to read my new Lemony Snicket book (this would be the children’s literature equivalent of bold as you please name dropping).
Onward!
First up, some nepotism, uncut. The resident husband has a tendency to be brilliant (not that I’m biased or anything). Recent evidence of this can be found on editor Cheryl Klein’s podcast Narrative Breakdown – Creative Writing, Screenwriting,Young Adult Lit, TV shows and More. With partner-in-crime James Monohan, the two of them have a habit of talking about writing in all its many forms. Mr. Bird appears on the episode called “Scene Construction 1 > Character Expectations and Tactics” on 9/8/12 which was described as, “what may be our most ambitious episode yet.” In related news, Mr. Bird has restarted his blog Cockeyed Caravan in all its wild advisory glory. I just like this picture he came up with when talking about the roles individuals play in teams:
Wow. This post outlining how creating a book trailer meets Common Core Standards is fantastic. Many thanks indeed to Joyce Valenza for the link!
And now your daily Jarrett Krosoczka links. As per usual. Jarrett’s been a busy man recently, making him a pleasure to link to. If he isn’t daring our nation’s boys to read books starring girls then he’s creating the ultimate author mix and match or sneaking some well-known librarian into his Lunch Lady series. I hold out hope that I was the inspiration for the photographer. I can totally make my neck do that thing in the first panel.
Travis calls it a little harmless spitballing about the Newbery. Using the recent Goodreads thread on Newbery potential winners he speculates on the up-and-comers (reminding me in the process that my fall prediction list should come out soon). It ties in nicely to Monica Edinger’s recent Educating Alice post Thoughts on Newbery: The Problem with Popularity Contests too.
In case you weren’t aware of it, the Onion A.V. Club has decided that young adult literature is interesting enough to highlight on occasion (articles equating it with chick lit and meritless copyright suits notwithstanding). In the series YA Why? they split their time evenly between new hot titles and older fare. Stay for the new stuff but eschew the looks back in time. Odds are whatever title you see there, the Fine Lines column by Lizzie Skurnick did it better.
“…the critic is someone who, when his knowledge, operated on by his taste in the presence of some new example of the genre he’s interested in…hungers to make sense of that new thing, to analyze it, interpret it, make it mean something.” Flatterer. As an aspiring book critic of children’s fare, I was much taken with the Darryl Campbell Millions article Is This Book Bad, Or Is It Just Me? The Anatomy of Book Reviews which seeks to not only summarize in brief the spats and spits in the adult literary criticism world (a fine and fancy recap if ever there was one) then goes so far as to define the four classical elements of literary appraisal (“Reaction. Summary. Aesthetic and historical appraisal”). This one is your required reading of the day. Many thanks to Marjorie Ingall (who will be part of the literary criticism panel at this year’s KidLitCon) for the link.
List this one under Good Folks Doing Stuff You Should Know About. Now tell me everything you know about The Foundation for Children’s Books. Not to worry. If you don’t live in Boston you might not have heard about them. I’m a New Yorker but I know all too well the good works of the Bostonians, and this organization is particularly keen since they “bring acclaimed children’s book authors and illustrators into underserved K-8 schools in Boston for visits and workshops focused on writing and illustration.” Folks like Barbara O’Connor, Grace Lin, Mitali Perkins, Bryan Collier, and many many more. From what I hear, this year they’re hoping to expand their work in six schools, increase the number of donated books they bring to each school, and start a “Books for Breakfast” professional development series in Boston classrooms where they focus on particular “libraries” of new books–for example, “great non-fiction for 4th and 5th graders,” and then donate the books that they highlight to those classrooms. FYI!!
Movie news time! As you may know I tend to get my heads up from Cynopsis Kids. This week they threw out a little piece of info that I almost missed. I was reading up on future children’s movie projects when the title Happy Smekday floated past. Happy what now? Apparently I missed Adam Rex’s June post that mentioned that an official announcement had been made about a True Meaning of Smekday movie from Dreamworks Animation. More to the point the press release (and IMDB page) report that it will star Jim Parsons and Rihanna. Which . . . is perfect. Blooming bloody perfect. Clearly J.Lo will be played by Parsons and Tip by Rihanna. I’m a little floored. Mind you, the description of the film that they provide is a bit ugh. “In Happy Smekday! an alien race invades Earth and uses it as a hideout from their mortal enemy. When one lowly alien accidentally notifies the enemies of his whereabouts, he is forced to go on the run with a teenage girl. The two become unlikely buddies and embark on a comical globe-trotting adventure to right his wrongs, in which our alien hero learns what it really means to be human.” As I recall J.Lo discovers “what it really means to be human” insofar as it means taking road trips and wearing a sheet over his head. Ah well. All I ask is that they include my favorite line in the book when he looks at Tip’s car and says with sweet condescension “Oh. It rolls”.
There’s other book news on the horizon too, so look lively. Cynopsis Kids has been busy. To wit:
“Universal looks to Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci to produce its feature film adaptation of author Dugald A. Steer’s popular kid’s book series Dragonology (12 books so far), per Heat Vision. Kurtzman and Orci have a first look deal with Universal under their banner K/O Paper Products Dragonology is part of that agreement. Dragonology was to be written by Leonard Hartman who will now serve as an executive producer. A new writer has not yet been named. Kurtzman and Orci, who wrote and produced Star Trek 2, are also set to write and executive produce the Amazing Spider-Man movie sequel.”
And very very exciting news:
FilmNation Entertainment acquires the feature film rights to the popular kid’s book A Tale Dark & Grimm by author Adam Gidwitz. FilmNation is partnering with Marissa McMahon of Kamala Films to finance the development and produce the live-action movie with FilmNation Entertainment’s Aaron Ryder and Karen Lunder. Jon Gunn (Mercy Streets, My Date with Drew) and John W. Mann (Mercy Streets) will pen the screenplay. Based on some of the more gruesome Grimm Brother’s stories, A Tale Dark & Grimm follows the adventures of two unsuspecting kids who hold the key to breaking out of the dark ages. McMahon explains, “Gidwitz’s A Tale Dark & Grimm is a smart, addictive, and hilariously gruesome narrative that turns familiar fairy tales on their head, much to the delight of both children and parents.” FilmNation recently completed filming on the new teen-targeted comedy Premature, which they are producing from writer/director Dan Beers.”
Not so sure about the whole “hold the key to breaking out of the dark ages” part (and you know the devil is totally going to get cut) but still good news for the author. Have no idea how they’ll do it, though. I mean, there is a LOT of blood in that book.
Daily Image:
It came out a couple months ago but I never linked to it. You’d do well to discover this great Flavorwire post on 10 Wonderful Libraries Repurposed from Unused Structures (though really, how can you link to one jail and not mention the greatest courthouse-to-library conversion of all time, the Jefferson Market Branch?). Here’s a converted railcar to library:
But I always pictured a Smekday movie as live-action (with a digital J.Lo) and Grimm as an animated one. I think you could get away with more blood that way. Shows what I know…
Genevieve said, on 9/13/2012 11:08:00 AM
Jim Parsons and Rihanna – perfect!!
Kate Milford said, on 9/13/2012 7:37:00 PM
Yay for Adam Gidwitz! I’m with you, though…what are they talking about in that summary line? Weird.
Christine Bird said, on 9/17/2012 1:10:00 PM
Matt Bird, brilliant? You are not biased at all. He truly is.
At approximately 9:22 EST on Friday, July 27th I sent the following Tweet to the interwebs:
These are the kinds of serious thoughts that course through my brain on a given morning. I might hear a One Direction song (yes, I’m a 34-year-old mother, what of it?) and think “That song could be a lot better if it just had some children’s authors involved.”
So I tweeted. And to my infinite joy the tweets blossomed and bloomed to the point where we now have a serious task before us, people. Namely, name this boy band.
The members would include Tom Angleberger (the shy one), Mac Barnett (the dreamy one – evidence here), Michael Buckley (the big brother), Tony DiTerlizzi (the one who understands you), Jarrett Krosoczka (the street smart one), and Dan Santat (the goofy one <— Jarrett’s suggestion).
Names that have been bandied about include (but are not limited to): D-Zine, Vizual Literacy, Reluctant Readerz, 32Pagez (my personal favorite), The Endpaperz, The Krosoczka Effect, the Origami Lunch Ladies and their Sidekick Dan, The Spine Tinglers, Cloth Overboardz, The Flappet Jacks (but only if it’s a jam band). Surely there are more named to be had here. Let’s have a redo of the time I asked you for good roller derby names. Boy band names . . . GO!
After all, where were you the last time you heard the pop hits:
U Don’t Need a Newbery (To Know I Luv U) – Suggested by T.S. Ferguson
Rad Bladz
Advance Praise
Blurb Me – All three suggested by Alison Fargis
OH NO! I did it again - Suggested by Mike Boldt
Edit Me Badd – Suggested by Cece Bell
These would all be from the album “Wordz+Picturez” (as suggested by Jarrett).
And yes, I’ll talk about the opening ceremonies at the Olympics yesterday soon. I just need to process it is all. So many Mary Poppins . . . . so many . . . .
It was kind of a kooky idea, I admit it. I’ve seen plenty of sites where artists will reinterpret someone like Maurice Sendak in their own styles. What I wanted was something a little different. I wanted to see what would happen if great children’s book illustrators illustrated one another. If a Lobel illustrated a Bemelmans. If a Carle illustrated a Silverstein. Trouble is, famous folk have a way of not bothering to illustrate one another (to say nothing of the fact that a bunch of them are dead as doornails). The solution? To offer a silly fun challenge. And so the Re-Seussification Project was offered: To re-illustrate any Dr. Seuss book in the style of another illustrator.
Now there was some question at first about revealing the identities of the people making the mash-ups. Some folks thought this fun contest was unfortunate because I wasn’t celebrating the great talents of up-and-coming artists. So as a compromise, I’ll present the art first and then the names of the artists at the bottom of the page. Makes it a little more streamlined anyway.
And now . . . the moment you’ve all been waiting for . . . in the order of the faux artists, here’s the lot!
So, we’re all friends here, right? Right off the bat I’m going to make a confession. In offering this contest all I really wanted was for someone somewhere to do an Eric Carle. It was a lot to ask since we’re talking about an artist dealing in the medium of cut paper. It looked like it wasn’t going to happen. Then, last night, the final submission was sent in and it was . . .
1. GREEN EGGS AND HAM IN AN ERIC CARLE STYLE
A brilliant way to start us off!
Next up, I’ve fond memories of this book. As a child of Kalamazoo I was slightly obsessed with any and every mention of my hometown, no matter where it might be. Dr. Seuss was one of the few authors to understand the true glory of my hometown’s name and for that I shall forever be grateful. It lifts my heart a little then to see him memorialized in the form of . . .
2. HORTON HATCHES THE EGG IN A LAURENT DE BRUNHOFFSTYLE
I particularly like how worried Babar appears. One thing’s for certain. That elephant bird is gonna be one snappy dresser.
This next image didn’t go the easy route, no sir. Some illustrators have styles that are easier to imitate than others. For this next one I was incredibly impressed by the sheer details at work. From the border to the font to the colors to the fact that this looks like an honest-to-gosh watercolor. Hold onto your hats folks, for you are now in the presence of . . .
3. GREEN EGGS AND HAM IN A TOMIE DEPAOLA STYLE
The best part is that his name is signed with dePaola’s customary little heart. THAT is the attention to detail I crave.
10 Comments on Re-Seussification Project: The Results, last added: 3/1/2012
Holy cow – that is some serious talent! I am so impressed! And entertained! I bet all of the imitated artists would be delighted to see “their” new creations
Anne Marie said, on 3/1/2012 5:04:00 AM
Those are fabulous! I’m so glad you issued the challenge!
laurasalas said, on 3/1/2012 5:11:00 AM
These. Are. Genius.
Fantastic project–makes my day:>)
Zoe said, on 3/1/2012 5:45:00 AM
Genius! I want them all on my wall!
Linda Boyden said, on 3/1/2012 5:46:00 AM
If you give an illustrator an idea…! Great stuff.
Leslie Muir said, on 3/1/2012 5:50:00 AM
FANTASTIC, all.
Maria Simon said, on 3/1/2012 5:58:00 AM
Love. Love. Love.
Thank you everyone!
rockinlibrarian said, on 3/1/2012 6:12:00 AM
My going-on-three-year-old looked at the Klassen-style cat and said indignantly “THAT’S not the Cat in the Hat!” But I thought these all were AWESOME. My favorite is 12.
Bernadette Mount said, on 3/1/2012 6:14:00 AM
Wow! I’m honored to be featured with all these true artists. I love the whole idea of this project and wish there were more to see. I will share all these with my 6th grade classes and tell them they “made the blog.”
PS #12 is actually One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. I know this because it was the featured Suess book for the 3rd graders today (and then they drew their own Suess-style fish – I’m using this art project how ever I can!)
Elizabeth Bird said, on 3/1/2012 6:21:00 AM
Good catch, Bernadette. I have corrected accordingly.
That author/illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka. He’s a good egg. It’s not everyone who founds their own youth scholarship, y’know. For the second time Jarrett will be hosting the 2nd annual auction for the Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarships. The auction is already live as of this past Monday morning and it’s benefiting a great cause. You see, Jarrett named it after the grandparents that raised him and with it the Worcester Art Museum provides tuition to underprivileged children who are in unique familial situations. As for the auction itself there are all sort of great things up for grabs, including originalart (I sure hope someone buys the Lunch Lady art and gives it to an actual lunch lady) and lunch with Jarrett in his studio. Yet to my mind nothing but nuthin’ beats the idea of having Jarrett design your school’s mascot. I suggest that even if your school doesn’t have a mascot you make one up just so that Jarrett can illustrate it. You could be the Fightin’ Banana Slugs (after all, we know he has experience in that area) or the Seething Dust Bunnies. The possibilities are endless. And as of right now the bidding is a mere $51. Y’all better snap that up or I’ll do so myself and just find a school interested.
All hail our new fearless leader! Y’all might have heard that our beloved SLJ editor Brian Kenney upped and left us for the library world (doggone worthy that). So, in essence, I was floating about without a commander-in-chief. Who knows what kind of mischief I could have gotten myself into! Thank goodness Rebecca T. Miller is on hand to whip me into shape. Things to know about this new editor: “With a background in journalism that began at the Utne Reader . . .” Sorry, sorry, I’d say more but I’m sort of hung up on how fabulous that sentence looks. Wow. The Utne Reader. Love it. Welcome, Rebecca.
The holidays are almost upon us and I know exactly what you’re wondering. You’re wracking your brain trying to figure out what to get the children’s literary enthusiast who already has everything (even the newly annotated Phantom Tollbooth). I have the solution. Why not give them me? Or rather, why not give them 25 seconds worth of me. Some of you might recall the documentary Library of the Early Mind: A grown-up look at children’s literature that played in select libraries and library conferences around the country. I bet a bunch of you missed it and wished you could see it. Well happy days are here again because the producer of the film is selling both a
“Jarrett Krosoczka is one of 25 hottest children’s authors in the nation.” So said Henderson City Mayor Andy Hafen when presenting Mr. Krosoczka with the key to the city. I’ll just say that again. The mayor of a city mentioned Jarrett being part of my old The Hot Men of Children’s Literature series when presenting him with that city’s key. Geez o’ petes. Looks like I’m going to have to restart that series one of these days (though I KNOW I did more than just twenty-five!). Credit to The Las Vegas Review Journal for the image.
In my children’s room we have two copies of Florence Parry Heide’s The Shrinking of Treehorn. It is regularly requested throughout the system, though sometimes difficult to find thanks to its small size (it will occasionally meander over to our Little Books Shelf when it’s in a wandering mood). Thus it was with sadness that I learned that Ms. Heide passed away recently at the age of 92. We should all reread Treehorn (or any of her other works, for that matter) in her honor.
Wow. I am in awe. Here we have a really amazing and worthwhile piece over at Teach Mentor Texts charting a teacher’s changing attitude towards Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back. From initial disgust to grudging appreciation to possible enjoyment. It’s a testament to keeping an open mind after a first reading, and the amount of self-awareness at work here is amazing. Folks sometimes tell me that my reviews of picture books are far too long, but I think this post makes it infinitely clear how there is to be said about the power of that format.
Remember that picture book manifesto that aired recently? Well at Fomagrams there’s a piece from David Elzey called of picture books and amnesiacs that gives that document a thorough once over. Everything from the statement on “robust criticism” to the relative honesty or dishonesty of “tidy endings” is examined thoroughly. Today I appear to be linking to posts from folks unafraid to use their brains. A nice trend.
Is 90% of everything crap? Jonathan Hunt says so, sparking a variety of different comments from his regular readers. Heavy Medal is always good for thoughts of this sort. In fact, I recently decided that the site has given me a chance to examine my own personal Newbery book prejudices. Prejudices, I would add, that most committee members share, but prejudices just the same. More on that when I tally up the final predictions at the end of the year, of course.
That is an interesting observation- that ‘The Secret Garden’ is like a child’s ‘Jane Eyre’! Very true. Now this I must share with my co-contributors on Saffrontree!
Gah, an orca drowning its trainer? It’s too soon for that joke.
Brooke Shirts said, on 11/2/2011 8:29:00 AM
Thank you so much for pointing out the Edward Ormondroyd interview. David and the Phoenix was my husband’s favorite childhood book, and we read it together when we were first engaged. Can’t wait to share it with him!
Liz B said, on 11/2/2011 8:51:00 AM
Vanity Fair had an article about Brown back in 2000, BUNNY DEAREST. I’m pretty sure they discussed the fur book.
Marc Tyler Nobleman said, on 11/2/2011 3:27:00 PM
I agree with Brooke, Betsy – thanks for pointing out the Edward Ormondroyd interview.
Good old Black Cauldron. So glad to see the Boogie Woogie Kids trying their hand at synthesizing it into its most essential parts. By the way, is it just me or do other people always hear Gurgi’s voice as that of Grover from Sesame Street? Big time thanks to Aaron Zenz for this link.
Oh, New York schoolchildren. Ain’t no one got voices like yours. These budding Broadway stars . . . aw, who am I kidding? These kids have probably all been in shows for years, for all I know. In any case, these kids perform What’s New at the Zoo?, a new children’s book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with illustrations by Travis Foster while at a party hosted by Tony Award winner Phyllis Newman. The book is based on a song from the musical Do Re Mi. You can skip to 2:34 if you’d just like to do hear the music. It’s kinda catchy, no?
Thanks to Rob Shaeffer for the link.
When I say the term “viral storytime” the librarians amongst us are immediately going to think of all those unique and interesting germs that get passed around during an average toddler time. In this particular case, however, I’m referring to this grand experiment Jarrett Krosoczka has cooked up. For his latest book Ollie the Purple Elephant, Jarrett will drum up some interest by reading his book each hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on this coming Tuesday, October 11th. Interested? Then log on to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/studiojjk and use the chat feature to send him questions after each reading. Rocco Staino wrote more about this in his HuffPo piece, and Jarrett has a page for it here.
I showed a making of video for this book some Sundays past. Now here’s the trailer itself, straight up:
My husband the screenwriter has introduced me to a term that his business uses when a project seemingly repeats itself. “Well, that’s a hat on top of a hat” they’ll say. That phrase came to mind recently when I heard that the French had turned Herve Tullet’s brilliant Press Here into an app. Now I am all for picture book apps, but since I regard the book itself as an almost direct rejection of the app notion to begin with, I was skeptical to say the least. In the end the app designers have taken the book more as a starting point for interaction and games rather than concentrating on story. I wonder when we’ll be seeing it over here.
Somewhere along the way I completely missed this Percy Jackson video in which everyone from Brian Selznick to a moustachioed Eoin Colfer (when did that happen?) chat it up. Video #2 contains a bit of advice that John Rocco actually had to contend with when he made the jacket for The Lightening Thief: “Green covers don’t sell.” I love mistaken common publishing wisdom.
Kids these days. I dunno what to do with them. With their electronic thingymajigs and their Facebook whozaz and their cries to not ban books . . .
Thanks to Marjorie Ingall (who discovered this on her iPhone).
Full credit to Travis Jonker for finding this one. He’s right. Orrin Hatch totally whipped out a Harry Potter reference (psst. . . . nobody tell him which HP character Scalia actually resembles).
Now here’s an idea. Book trailer as music video. Surely this has been done before, right? Surely? In any case, here’ A Train With Wings for the book Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver. Harper Collins hired transmedia firm Radiator to create the trailer. I think the visuals are great. The song could have benefited if it had made the song less pop rock/Glee-ish and more haunting, but it’s still okay.
Thanks to Stephen Barbara for the link.
Finally I’ll get off-topicy with you but I will at least say that I could see these creatures as characters in a book for kids. Easily. Make sure you watch until they start walking.
Jon Scieszka is the National Ambassador for Children’s Literature emeritus and the bestselling author of more than twenty-five books for kids, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Math Curse, Robot Zot!, and the Time Warp Trio series. Jon founded Guys Read to encourage a passion for reading among young boys, with the philosophy that boys love to read most when they are reading things they love. A former elementary school teacher, Jon lives in Brooklyn with his family.
About the book:
This is the second installment in Jon Scieszka’s Guys Read Library. If you’ve read volume one, Guys Read: Funny Business, you already know what you’re in store for: ten stories from young readers’ favorite writers. In Guys Read: Thriller, you’ll find a teenage terrorist, the world’s worst private detective, a roomful of snakes, and more, from the likes of M.T. Anderson, Patrick Carman, Gennifer Choldenko, Matt de la Pena, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Bruce Hale, Anthony Horowitz, Jarrett Krosoczka, Walter Dean Myers, and James Patterson, not to mention illustrations from Brett Helquist.
My take on the book:
This latest book in the Guys Read series is an incredibly entertaining anthology. I was really impressed with the diversity of the stories in this volume. The stories differ in style, location, ethnicity and moods. There’s a lot of variety in this collection and definitely something for every middle reader.
I was really pleased to see a few of my favorite authors included in this series (Walter Dean Myers and Jarrett Krosoczka). There were also a few authors in this anthology I wasn’t familiar with so their inclusion here was a nice introduction for me. I especially enjoyed Patrick Carman’s “Ghost Vision Glasses.” It was not only a terrific read, but a great way to end this collection. Another of my favorites was Matt De La Pena’s “Believing in Brooklyn.” De La Pena was completely new to me and this story has motivated me to check out more of his work.
Teachers and librarians should welcome this anthology into their classroom with open arms. The stories make excellent read-alouds and librarians can display other books written by the authors in this collection. Just maybe one of these stories could spark a middle reader to want to check out more books from an author they enjoyed, which is exactly the purpose of Jon Scieszka’s Guys Read series. Every story included in here has the potential to do that, which makes it a must-have in opinion.
1 Comments on Review: Guys Read (Thriller), last added: 8/29/2011
Review: Guys Read (Thriller) | Books in the News said, on 8/29/2011 1:33:00 PM
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It’s hard to have a favorite part of the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet to look forward to, but definitely up there is the red carpet interview portion. Each year Jim Averbeck whips out the camera and questions and has the luminaries of the field give their thoughts and opinions on a variety of schtoofs. 2011 was no different and he was joined in his efforts this year by fellow co-hosts Kristin Venuti and our own Katie Davis. Here is one of the many videos Jim has placed on the marvelous Kidlit On the Red Carpet blog. Extra points for interviewing bloggers like Liz of Tea Cozy and Sondra Eklund of Sonderbooks in addition to authors and illustrators like David Diaz, Yuyi Morales, Ellen Hopkins, Jenny Han, John Rocco, Katherine Paterson, Clare Vanderpool, Margi Preus, Alan Katz, Javaka Steptoe, Kirby Larson, Lin Oliver, Duncan Tonatiuh, Kimberly Marcus, Jeanette Larson, and Adrienne Yorinks. Check out the Facebook page if you’ve half a mind to do so.
Now let us begin today’s trailerfest with a remembrance of notable librarians past. The great children’s librarian Anne Carroll Moore had no tolerance for children’s books that she considered gimmicky. Pat the Bunny, for example, was hardly up her alley. So one wonders what she would make of this children’s book coming out this November from McSweeney’s McMullens. It’s called Keep Our Secrets by Jordan Crane and I can honestly say I’ve never seen a book for kids do this before . . .
Apparently the ink never fades and works like this every time. They say that, but when I was a kid we had hypercolor shirts. So I’ve been burned before, McSweeney’s. That pain of seeing what happened to my shirt when it went through the wash never really went away. Oh, the humanity.
Let’s do a more traditional picture book trailer now. Thought: Can you can something “traditional” if the medium itself has only been in existence a couple of years? In any case, I rather liked this trailer for David Mackintosh’s Marshall Armstrong is New to Our School.
Thanks to Pamela Paul for the link.
Of course it’s an extra special treat when a trailer includes the author and even gives some background on the creation of the book itself. And look! Behold the remarkable Jarrett Krosoczka and his first new picture book in years!
your neighborhood librarian said, on 7/31/2011 5:02:00 AM
Mmm, that Jordan Crane book just became my new favorite gift for a second or third birthday! But it’s going to be a bit short-lived in the library, I think they’re going to try to scratch off the black ink.
Elizabeth Bird said, on 7/31/2011 6:11:00 AM
That’s what I’m wondering too. I mean, how easy would it be to scratch? That might be a fun blog post right there. Hand the book to five-year-olds and then record the damage they do. Little fingers are marvelous at destruction.
Julie said, on 7/31/2011 7:58:00 AM
Wonder what the policy is for cleaning books like Keep Our Secrets? Would it be cleaned? Is it along the lines of a board book (which has a tendency to be chewed, licked, pawed, etc.)? Because personally I would have been the kid who’d lick the book, just to see if that’d work. It’s shocking I’m still alive today.
I like the idea of a Consumer’s Digest blog post. I too wonder if the ink would wear away.
Miranda said, on 7/31/2011 8:56:00 AM
I know that recently we have explored more interactive features of books online; however, “Keep Our Secrets” is more interactive physically. I wonder if there will be more books of this kind?
Elizabeth Bird said, on 7/31/2011 9:53:00 AM
Now there’s a blog post! Physically interactive books. This, Press Here, tactile books as whole, books that break down the fourth wall, etc.
All righty. Fun movie trailer time. Thanks to 100 Scope Notes I was made aware of the brand new Voyage of the Dawn Treader trailer that’s out and about (better check and see how many copies I have ready to go on my library shelf). It’s a nice enough preview but I do have one objection. That trailer needed about 500% more Eustace Scrubb. He sort of gets forgotten in the midst of it all. One hopes he’ll make a bigger presence on the screen.
And while we’re on the topic of movies, Debbie Reese of the American Indians in Children’s Literature blog recently posted this trailer for a documentary about how American Indians tend to be portrayed in cinema. She says, “I think it holds great promise for helping critique portrayals of American Indians in the books we give to children.” I for one like the editing.
I think I’ve cracked the whole can-only-embed-YouTube-videos conundrum. My evidence: This interview between Jarrett Krosoczka and a fellow who goes by the moniker Daddy Clay from a V-Blog site called DadLabs. Full credit to DaCla (and I shall now refer to him). He knows how to pronounce “Krosoczka”. Now let’s get Scieszka and Telegemeier on the show as well!
I was pleased as punch to see that Peter Sieruta of Collecting Children’s Books has gotten into the video game. Not . . . not into a video game. That would be bizarre. Especially if it was Joust. I mean, he’s gotten into creating his own videos for YouTube. In this one, he shows us a gorgeous bookshelf-lined room, then pans across his collection of first edition (FIRST EDITION!) Newbery Award and Honor books. Hoo-wee, mama! Talk about a dream collection.
Recently I’ve started receiving books from the publisher Zondervan. Generally speaking, Christian publishers don’t tend to dip their toes into the greater world of the Kidlitosphere, but Zondervan appears to be different. For one thing, they’re not afraid to send a couple copies of titles to a relatively secular blogger for review. For another, they get big names. Names like “Nikki Grimes” and the l
4 Comments on Video Sunday: Pep, last added: 7/12/2010
Why ON EARTH did they change the cover for the MAGICK book?! You are so right – the first cover is so much more kid friendly. I guess marketing departments have their reasons…
Sharon said, on 7/11/2010 6:49:00 AM
“Reel Injun” is a great film – very enlightening and entertaining.
Kristin said, on 7/12/2010 11:21:00 AM
I’m sure we’ll get plenty of Eustace. The trailer is just focused on the characters viewers already know.
Genevieve said, on 7/12/2010 1:47:00 PM
Whoa – on the 100 Scopes Notes link about Dawn Treader, it says that When You Reach Me has been optioned for a movie . . . .
Must agree about the need for much more Eustace Clarence Scrubb. But I did like the look of the trailer.
...and the Cyborg Substitute...and the League of Librarianswritten and illustrated by Jarret J. KrosoczkaAlfred A. Knopf 2009There's evil afoot, and Lunch Lady is there with her trusty hair-netted sidekick Betty to thwart it. Whether its a league of librarians who plan to intercept all the new video game consoles coming in fresh off he boat, or the mild-mannered teacher who created a robot
0 Comments on Lunch Lady as of 9/5/2009 12:16:00 PM
Over a year ago now, I blogged about the beautiful poem Outback written by the then eight-year-old Annaliese Porter and published by Magabala Books in Australia, in a stunning edition illustrated by renowned artist Bronwyn Bancroft. I recently lent our copy of Outback to a friend to use with her class of eight-year-olds here in the UK, when they were learning about aboriginal art, and it was an eye-opening experience for them to work with a book written by someone their own age.
Now Magabala have done it again - they recently published Joshua and the Two Crabs by Joshua Button, “a young man with a keen interest in the saltwater country he has grown up in”.
It’s a delightful story, told with humour, as Joshua chases the two crabs around the beach, telling them,
‘I can see you two!’
‘Well, we can see you too,’ said the crabs.
The three-fold repetition of this satisfying formula perhaps lulls young readers/ listeners into a false sense of this being a wholly imaginary, anthropomorphised tale - so it comes as a bit of a shock when Joshua catches them and then throws them onto the fire to cook for lunch! However, Joshua’s matter-of-fact tone is quite in keeping with the descriptive narrative… I would say the story is a perfect example of a child’s ability to weave fact and fiction together in one breath. We adults sometimes walk a tightrope here. How often have you found yourself in a no-win situation? Either you go along with the imaginings and are berated for saying something which is obviously not true, or you are likewise reproached for throwing in the cold water of fact! Well, Joshua Button seems to have got the blend just right, judging by Little Brother’s reaction.
He was chuckling for a long time that Joshua carried a bucket and spear at the beach - and he loved the pictures - he liked the textures and layering. They are indeed stunning - the colors bring the sea and the creek alive; the crabs are wonderful, as are the vignettes of the waders - and I especially loved Joshua peering down at the crabs in his very goggly goggles!
A while after reading it together, it bcame apparent that Little Brother had been mulling it over:
“Joshua Button does exist.”
“Yes, he does.”
“Do you think this is a true story?
“Yes, I do.”
“But the bit about talking crabs is fiction.”
“Probably.”
“Well, it could say that”
“But it’s a story - fundamentally it’s a story, isn’t it?
“Well, it did happen. It’s a story about two crabs.”
…and he is now thinking about writing his own book. In my post yesterday, I quoted Jarrett Krosoczka and the effect on him of a comment from a visiting author to his school - how much more aspirational then to read a book in print that is written by someone your own age! Not only has Joshua Button given children all over the world the opportunity to find out about a a fun family day out in his corner of Australia, he has opened them to the possibility that they could do it too. Thank you, Magabala Books!
0 Comments on Books at Bedtime: Joshua and the Two Crabs as of 2/8/2009 7:16:00 PM
Sally sent the link to this new video to us all by email - it made me laugh so much, I just had to try and put it onto the blog. I say try because I’ve never uploaded a video before but here goes…
I love the way video is becoming more and more a way to promote new books: all these wonderfully imaginative authors create some pretty wonderful footage - and this has to be one of the best yet! It’s actually a spoof documentary made by picture-book writer Jarrett Krosoczka. There are lots of other authors/ illustrators in it and they must have had a lot of fun making it - spot the Blue Rose Girls, and the reference to Fuse #8, high in the celebrity stakes!
Jarrett unveiled it last week at the US SCBWI conference in New York, where he gave the opening address. In his blog posting about it he makes this very thought-provoking observation:
I was excited to hear Mr. Gantos speak. I would say I’ve never seen him speak, but that wouldn’t be a complete truth. I saw him speak when I was in the 3rd grade. He visited my school and I remember this clearly - he walked by my desk, pointed to my drawing of Rotten Ralph and said, “nice cat”. That had a profound impact on me.
Cloudscome has already picked it up, and she got it from Miss Rumphius Effect, who challenges us to name everybody before the credits roll…
I’m not sure this is quite the thing for those kids of an age to be reading the book, though - the irony was a bit wasted on my two and they were more inclined to take the whole thing literally… But silly me, of course Jon Sczieska pretends to be an answer phone whenever he doesn’t want to speak to someone!
0 Comments on The making of a book…!?! as of 2/7/2009 6:01:00 PM
I've been a fan of Jarrett Krosoczka's books for awhile now, so when I came across the link for his video that aired at the SCBWI 10th Annual Conference, I had to check it out. Man, am I glad I did! It is HILARIOUS! If you're looking for a good laugh and want to be entertained, this is it...
"On Wednesday morning, Josh had an idea. A very BIG idea. A very BROWN idea. A very BIG, BROWN, BAG idea..."
Josh sports a brown paper bag and heads off to school and soccer practice. His parents, bus driver, teacher, and soccer coach don't understand how he can go about his daily activities with a paper bag on his head, but Josh proves them wrong. It's funny that none of the adults ask WHY Josh dons a bag, until his little sister finally speaks up at dinner. "Why are you wearing a bag, Josh?" The answer to Josh's bag is revealed at the end, and his sister comes up with a creative solution to Josh's problem. This story will have your young readers wanting to create their own bagheads!
Jarrett Krosoczka's bold, bright and expressive illustrations are a staple in his books, so also be sure to check out his many other titles, including Max for President that was just released in paperback this week!
Lori, you review the cutest books. Your blog is full of information and great articles.
If you don't mind me asking here. How did you get a 3 page template with blogger. I didn't know they had one. I have been wanting one for a long time. Would you tell me how you did it please?
This looks hilarious and awesome and utterly dual-audience parent/kid-satisfying in the way of Punk Farm, yay.
I suppose it’s too much to hope that one of the platypus cops is on the eve of his retirement and keeps saying “I’m too old for this shit.”
Only in a perfect world, Marjorie. Only in a perfect world.
Wow. On my list now (thanks for the heads-up). As soon as my son spots this one, I am betting I will be hearing, “Platypus Police Squad, Mom” over and over. Try saying that three times fast!
About words and phrases, I’ve always liked “Cucamonga,” especially since a little boy at my first job out of college kept saying “I’m sending you to Cucamonga!” When my now 24 year old son was 2, he said, completely out of the blue, “Lazardos and Lizard on the Lam, Cops Confused.” He was right, it is a pretty great phrase.