By: Kim T.,
on 9/1/2015
McToad likes Thursdays. Thursdays are the days he gets to mow Tiny Island! Travel with McToad and his trusty lawnmower on trucks, trains, forklifts, airplanes, helicopters, boats, and cranes to get to Tiny Island! From Tom Angleberger, author of the bestselling Origami Yoda series, and wonderfully illustrated by John Hendrix, McToad Mows Tiny Island is [...]
By: Betsy Bird,
on 6/15/2014
A couple thoughts on that video. First off, it is sung by author Deborah Underwood (whatta pretty pretty voice, eh?) and editor Arthur A. Levine (whatta pretty pretty voice, eh?) at what Vimeo calls an “agency retreat in Brandon, Vermont”. So I had to wonder what precisely an “agency retreat” really is. Well, there’s a perfectly logical explanation for it right here. I wouldn’t mind having the chance to go on a retreat but what I really want is to be in a band. Anyone wanna start one with me? I can’t play any instruments but I do know all the word to “Shoop” by Salt n’ Pepa. Does that count for anything?
And now, ladies and gentlemen . . . . why we love LeVar Burton.
Thanks to Jules for the link!
Our Kickstarter video of the day (since we always have at least one per Video Sunday these days) is a good one. Remember the Slate article that came out earlier this year called “This Is What a Librarian Looks Like”? Well the fellow behind the piece wants to go to ALA and do something with a huge swath of librarians. And for a modest sum of $3,000 too. Granted he’s already doubled his goal, but no reason why he shouldn’t triple it, eh?
Oh my! A hat tip as well as a big thank you to Travis Jonker for locating this video of author/illustrator John Hendrix. As a big time fan of his work, I found this a real treat.
Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the link.
I wasn’t able to make Book Expo this year and, by extension, wasn’t able to attend the BEA Children’s Breakfast. So this Mem Fox speech at said breakfast is NOT persuading me that I wasn’t missing anything, people. Doggone it.
And for your off-topic video of the day, ain’t nothing hotter than women who make classical musical funny and incredibly difficult all at the same time. Love this stuff.
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 5/15/2014
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 7, 2012
A Boy Called DickensBy Deborah Hopkinson; Illustrated by John Hendrix
Reading level: Ages 4-9
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (January 10, 2012)
Source: Publisher
What to expect: Charles Dickens, London—19th Century, Fiction
In honor of the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth—February 7—Random House Children’s Books has published A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by John Hendrix.
Deborah Hopkinson has created an incisive and thought provoking picture book that introduces children to one of the greatest and most treasured writers of all time. Although it is fiction, Hopkinson has based the story on real moments from Dickens’ life. The captivating illustrations created by John Hendrix add mystique to the text. Graphite and pen-and-ink provide the gloominess and dinginess of old London, while fluid acrylics add personality to the people and rosiness to their cheeks—the time period in history is captured well.
Illustration copyright © 2012 by John Hendrix
Growing up extremely poor, Dickens had four things going for him: a pencil, a slate, a love of books and a dream to write stories of his own. Even though times were very tough and the young, hungry, penniless Charles Dickens had to work in a rat-infested blacking factory, he still managed to hold onto his dream. It is this theme that makes the story not only interesting, but empowering to young readers. A Boy Called Dickens is a Junior Library Guild selection—if you’re looking for a little slice of history a la mode, you’ll find this book to be delicious.
Add this book to your collection: A Boy Called Dickens
©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.
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By: Betsy Bird,
on 5/22/2011
If I want to depress myself on a given day I’ll compare the list of biographical subjects that kids in school are handed to pick and choose from with the biographical subjects that I had to pick and choose from when I was a kid some twenty odd years ago. It’s disheartening. Essentially, it’s the same list. Teachers always include Edison, Einstein, Washington, Tubman, Keller, etc. Once in a while someone will fall out of favor (Benjamin Banneker) to be replaced with someone new (Matthew Henson) but that’s just the way of things. How I long for the day when the core biographical subjects are thrown out the window and kids can take full advantage of the range of amazing stories in their libraries’ biography sections. That’ll be the day when a kid has an assignment to find a historical female hero who fought in a war and I can hand them Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero. Until then, I’ll just have to hawk the book on its own merits. Fortunately, this is not too terribly difficult to do.
I’m sure you’ve all heard stories of those women who cut their hair, donned men’s clothes, and joined the armed forces during the Civil War. Many a woman did this, but few were as brave and inventive as Sarah Edmonds. Having run away from home at the age of sixteen to escape an arranged marriage, Sarah had been living as a man for three years when she returned to Michigan to join the Union cause. On the field she proved a brave nurse, soldier, and eventual spy. When told to spy on the enemy, Sarah became a believable black male slave and managed to extract some much needed information across enemy lines. An Author’s Note at the end explains how the rest of Sarah’s life went and how she became “the only woman invited to join the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the association for Civil War veterans of the Union Army.”
Marissa Moss is best known for her Amelia’s Notebook series, an early chapter book grouping of titles that served as the precursor to the current Diary of a Wimpy Kid journal boom we’re now in. I was under the distinct impression that fiction was Ms. Moss’s one and only bag, and this feeling was helped in no small part by the biographical sketch of her that appears on this title’s bookflap. Dig a little deeper, however, and you see that Ms. Moss has a longstanding appreciation of history that has manifested itself in a variety of different ways over the years. Penning everything from historical novels like Galen: My Life in Imper
By: Fernanda Cohen,
on 6/29/2010
So, among many of the hats I wear in the illustration field, I’m the vice president of ICON6, which is the only creative conference in the US that focuses exclusively on ILLUSTRATION.
It’s been 2 years of a lot of work to plan an unforgettable event people leave with A LOT from, making it worth their money, energy and time.
Now, we’re almost there, merely 2 weeks away, and I can say with certainty that we, the board, have proudly achieved our goal: This is the best ICON ever, packed with art directors and art buyers, illustration stars, educators and a couple of networking events (full disclosure: I’m the events chair too) that will make sure you don’t remember what you did last night.
The conference rate is about to go up, so hurry! If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, I can assure you won’t regret it- and I’m supposed to be the queen of networking and self-promotion.
Speakers include The New York Times, creatives from the illustrated United ad campaign, Christoph Niemann, DreamWorks, Yuko Shimizu, Random House, Tim Biskup, Wired, Taschen and Bil Donovan among others.
ICON6 – LA July 14-17, 2010
www.theillustrationconference.org
See you there!
Fernanda Cohen
ICON6 Vice President & Events Chair
By: Amanda,
on 2/15/2010
Jacket description:
"John Brown was a man who would stop at nothing to end slavery. In the late 1850s, many men and women spoke out against slavery, insisting that all people should be free. But few did more than talk. John Brown backed his beliefs with action and became one of the most well-known white abolitionists in history and one of the most controversial Americans of the nineteenth century.
Based on new scholarly research and findings, John Brown: His Fight for Freedom explores the life of this complex figure for a new generation. This compelling book is a fitting reminder that all men and women are created equal...and that some things are worth fighting for."
Author/illustrator John Hendrix has done a remarkable job at telling us Brown's story. Both the text and the illustrations are shown in eye-catching and bold ways, through beautiful illustrations and unique fonts for standout sentences. I was very impressed with the impact such a short telling could have, both educationally and emotionally. John Brown was a incredibly powerful man with a big voice, a huge heart, and the determination of a thousand men. You'll gain that...and so much more from this book.
An author's note is included at the back of the book, expanding on the information gained from the story version and again, emphasizing the passion Brown had for freedom for all.
Overall rating: 5 out of 5
This one is a must-have for libraries and for homeschooling families looking for a fantastic telling of John Brown's story. Great for Black History Month!
John Brown: His Fight for Freedom
John Hendrix
40 pages
Non-Fiction Picture Book
Abrams
9780810937987
October 2009
Review copy received from publisher
To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon. I am an Associate and will receive a small percentage of the purchase price. Thanks!
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 11/24/2009
By: David Elzey,
on 10/19/2009
A Tall, Thin Tale(Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend)by Deborah Hopkinsonpicture by John HendrixSchwartz & Wade / Random House 2008If in 2007 a book appeared by a 90 year old author claiming to have been a boyhood friend of JFK, relating an experience where the two as boys nearly drowned in the Charles River of Boston one summer day, where the author saved the young JFK's life and thus
By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 10/5/2009
This month's bulletin board features My Life in Pink & Green Scholastic Paperback, Wimpy Kid Catalog page and ABRAMS web site banner, Hereville interior page, page 28 color proof of Mama, Is It Summer Yet?, Laura Lee Gulledge's upcoming debut graphic novel Paige by Page, Secrets of the Cicada Summer paperback cover sketch by Amy Bates, Map of Italy —VACATION!, Just Like Mama original art by Julia Gorton, Title page sketch for La Noche Buena by Angela Dominguez and lastly just because I like looking at it John Hendrix's John Brown which has received 2 starred reviews and was selected into the Society of Illustrator's Childrens Art show on October 22nd.
By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 2/27/2009
This new sketch compositionally was better than the last, it definitely had action. I loved how the type was developing but now John Brown appeared to be crazy pants rather than a 'hero' . How where we to make him appear to be a 'hero'. At first this was a hard thing to do. mainly because of his beard. It made him look Joaquin Phoenix / Una bomber crazy. This had to change. I suggested thinking of Superman crossed with Moses.
Interview Adventure Series • 4 •
By: Chad W. Beckerman,
on 7/28/2008
http://johnhendrix.blogspot.com/
I’ll be your backup singer.
You really need to look up Rachel & the Treeschoolers.
While Reading Rainbow was blowing the tops off the media, etc, this little known gem managed to eke its way to its goal for 3 more episodes to be filmed.
We have episodes 1-3 and are REALLY enjoying it. It is preschool by the creator behind Signing Time videos and is FANTASTIC.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twolittlehands/rachel-and-the-treeschoolers-three-brand-new-episo