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by Keith Negley (Flying Eye Books, 2015)

The kind folks at Flying Eye sent over a preview of this book, thinking it was right up my alley.

It’s right up my alley.

The theme: yes. The design: yes. The snappy, bold, in-your-face look at tough guys plus the snappy, bold, in-your-face look at feelings: yes.

I chatted with Keith Negley, and learned a lot about this debut effort. I hope there’s more from him, and I hope you enjoy this peek into the brain of a picture book creator.

Hi Keith! Can you talk about where this story came from? And what the process was like for its creation?

It all started when my son Parker who was 6 at the time stole a soccer ball from a friend during soccer practice and his friend got upset and they fought over it. Parker was angry at first, but then felt embarrassed and ashamed because he knew he did something wrong. I could tell he was struggling with how to handle all these new emotions that were happening to him at the same time. He walked away from the group and sat down to be by himself because he didn’t want anyone to see him cry. Later that night, I explained to him that it was totally natural to cry and that everybody does it. I told him sometimes even I cried, and he looked up at me and asked, “grown ups cry too?”

It blew his mind that even adults cried because he thought it was something only kids did. I wished I had a book I could read to him that let him know that frustration and crying is a natural thing not to be ashamed of. The next day the idea for the book popped into my head.

You’ve done a lot of editorial illustration, but this is your first children’s book. Can you tell us the how and why you got into books?

I always liked the idea of making picture books for children, but it wasn’t until I became a parent and started reading a ton of picture books to my son did I realize there was a lack of the kind of books we enjoyed. Honestly the books I’ve been working on were born out of necessity because I wanted to read them and no one else had made them yet.

Your tumblr tag line is spectacular: part man, part negative space. Can you explain where that came from and why it represents you so well?

Ha, I find tragedy to be the greatest muse. The subjects I enjoy working with the most are the ones that break my heart. It’s cathartic somehow, and I feel like I really get to put a piece of me into the work. What ends up happening is I have a portfolio of rather depressing subject matter. But I’m always striving to create beautiful images with it. That juxtaposition is challenging and rewarding for me.

Add to that I tend to utilize negative space as a compositional tool fairly often and so I thought it tied the content in with the image making nature of the blog.

Who are some of your story heroes?

I’ve been a huge fan of Lane Smith for years and years. Jon Scieszka is another one. Ezra Jack Keats. Jack Kent’s Socks For Supper is one of my all time favorites as a kid and it still holds up today.

What do you remember about picture books from your childhood?

I remember my mom reading them to me and how she would make different voices for all the characters. I try to do that for Parker but he’s not into it at all unfortunately.

What is your favorite piece of art hanging in your home or studio?

Not sure if this counts, but I like to make music in my spare time and I’m a huge nerd for vintage synthesizers. I currently have a 1979 Korg 770 sitting in my studio and just looking at it makes me very happy. I consider them works of art.

What’s next for you?

Trying to schedule some reading events for the fall/winter and I’m in the middle of working on my second book for Flying Eye which should be out in time for Father’s Day next year!

Thank you, Keith! And vintage synthesizers totally count as works of art.

PS: Congratulations to the winner of the The Story of Diva and Flea giveaway, Ashley! And thanks to Flying Eye for the images used in this post.

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by Stella Gurney and Natsko Seki (Phaidon, 2013)

Do kids’ books have room for one more smart pigeon? You’ll be glad you let this one in, because Speck Lee Tailfeather is another flier with a healthy confidence and a chatty nature.

Speck’s mission is world travel, focusing on buildings from a bird’s point of view. He sees things differently.

His words are a travel journal of sorts to his pigeon friends. To his love, Elsie. And to us.

There’s a lot to look at, from speech bubbles to side bars to fascinating tidbits. The layout and voice are both unusual in the very best way. And if you just shake off what you expect from picture books and settle in, your flight from city to sky and back will be worth it.

Your tour guide, after all, is an expert in the unusual.

This one is for treasure hunters, trivia fanatics, architecture buffs, or anyone hungry for some off-the-wall-pigeon-fare. You never know.

Pair it with A Lion in Paris. Speck travels farther than France, but matching up the Parisian buildings (not to mention the books’ head-to-head size battle and their animal points of view) would be a fun thing for storytime.

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by Ruth Krauss and Margot Tomes (Four Winds Press, 1973)

I’m not a real wild-and-crazy kind of person.

Last Saturday I took a Pilates class at 3:30, and the teacher said it’s always such a weird time because most people like to spend their afternoons at the beach or the ballpark. Or perhaps they have to get ready for their evening cocktail hour, and finishing close to 5:00 doesn’t work. But I told her that it’s my favorite time, because then I can be home in pajamas having sort-of-flat champagne before it’s even dark out.

She looked at me funny.

But on some of those pajamas and champagne Saturday nights, I go vintage book shopping online and find things like this.

I love this book.

I love Ruth Krauss.

I love the way her words describe the bizarre and complex world of kids’ heads. And their perfectly simple and sensible world. It’s kind of all wrapped up together for kids anyway, which is strange and endearing and other-worldly.

Each spread has one line, a bright orange to the illustrations’ muted browns. The only other color is the blue on the cover.

And the page turn acts as a sort of puzzle: the last bit from the page before starts the new thought.

Each thing is little. Each thing snuggles up right under the towering mushroom. Each thing is so firmly kid.

The tiny stories ramble on underneath, in those playful monologues that might seem like nonsense. This is where kids are experts.

Grownups, consider this. You might not understand. You might not have any use for a little potato. But, as the girl with the bow in her hair promises, “Little potatoes are especially nice.”

It’s weird. It’s wonderful. And if it fits under a mushroom, it’s fair game.

 

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by Beatrice Alemagna (Tate, 2014)

First of all. This book opens the wrong way. I mean, it’s completely right, but it is unusual in all of the most wonderful ways.

Also, it’s huge. It’s the size of a cookie sheet or a throw pillow, which is also unusual in all of the most wonderful ways.

After all, how else can you contain a lion?

He was a big lion. A young, curious and lonely lion. He was bored at home on the grasslands, and so one day he set off to find a job, love and a future.

This is such a perfect picture book setup. We meet our leading man and instantly understand what’s he like and what he wants. Succint, confident, and interesting in both visuals and voice.

Something about the massive white space for the text and the intricate illustrations on opposing sides of the gutter. It’s cinematic almost–reminiscient of that silent movie era where a title card precedes the action. The frame on each side of the gutter even approximates the golden rectangle of today’s high definition aspect ratio.

They are pleasing boundaries for storytelling. The pictures don’t need to leave physical layout space for the text, and the text gets a chance to stand alone and confident as well.

The people were hurrying around with a strange kind of sword under their arms, but nobody thought of attacking him. That surprised him.

When he went out into the street, it started to rain. That made him think of his lovely sunny grasslands and he felt sad. He turned all grey and shiny like the roofs around him.

So off course, things will get strange and sad for our gentle giant before his journey is through. But isn’t that true of many lionhearted luminaries?

This is a book for anyone who wrinkles a forehead and grins a little at smart design. It’s also a book for anyone who feels a little lost, a little rainy, a little roar-y.

It’s for anyone who is looking for that perfect place to be still and happy.

PS: Tate is a British publisher, not to be confused with the notorious scam-ish publisher in America of the same name.

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I love science. I love theories. I love natural history. But, loving something doesn’t always equate to ‘getting it’; just ask my husband. With the escalated advance of technology allowing our newer generations the most informed and complete exposure to their existence on this planet than ever before, how do we encourage them to appreciate […]

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by Karina Schaapman (Dial, 2014; originally published in the Netherlands in 2011.)

This book.

This book is massive and mini all at once.

Its press release calls it Beatrix Potter meets I Spy. A fitting description, that one, but I might call it George and Martha meets The Ultimate Alphabet meets a craftier Cardboard Challenge.

This is the Mouse Mansion.Karina Schaapman spent years creating this architectural wonder, dreaming up more than 100 rooms and passageways and outdoor spots to explore.

She also dreamed up Sam and Julia, the teensy mice who live in its walls. Here they are. (Click to enlarge.)The Mouse Mansion is oversized and so is its book. It holds the best of treasures to look at and imagine. Sam and Julia have seventeen chapters of adventures together. They are small stories with big trouble, small creatures with big heart.

Sam and Julia don’t have enough pennies for the white chocolate with rice bubbles, so they buy broken cookies.

They smile about it.

Sam plays the violin and gives Julia the shivers.

But she’d never tell him how terrible he is.

They burn pancakes and make powdered sugared messes, but agree that pancake day is the very best day.That’s what best friends do.

My favorite of all of their escapades is their interaction with Sam’s grandpa, down at the fish market. Julia is shocked to see the pictures of an anchor on his arm and a pirate on his tummy.

Julia is very curious. “Why do you have all those drawings?” she asks. “What are they?”

Grandpa smiles. “They are not drawings,” he says. “They’re tattoos. And each one tells a story.”

Yes, you do. You need this treasure chest of a picture book. You need to see these two critters overload the washing machine and hoist barrels of lemonade up to the loft.

Just try not to squeal too loudly. The triplets are sleeping.

For more pictures of the Mouse Mansion’s bitty charm, check out this post by Julie Danielson at the smorgasbord that is Seven Imp.

Thanks to Amanda and Caitlin at Penguin for the images and a review copy of the book. Thoughts my own.

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by Sophie Blackall

published 2014 by Nancy Paulsen Books, at Penguin KidsAbout a year ago, I heard Sophie Blackall give a keynote at SCBWI Western Washington. She wears great tights and shoes and is a total riot. She had this effervescent spirit that had the whole room in stitches. It felt like watching one of her illustrations bounce right off the page and into the room.

See, I’m a big fan. Ivy and Bean are soul sisters. I gushed about The Crows of Pearblossom and The Mighty Lalouche over at Design Mom, and still stand by this tweet from the end of 2013.

Her work has sprinkles of fairy dust or something in it – something enchanting and mysterious and compelling and darn beautiful.

And this, her latest offering, is both calming and humorous, sweet and sassy. It’s a bound and beautiful answer to the dreaded where do babies come from?

She’s so in tune with the vast (and sometimes creepy!) imagination of a youngster, and look at how that plays out in this art. Real life is a spot illustration, surrounded by white space and unknowns. But the what if bleeds to the edge of the page, filling every millimeter with color and wonder and possibility. Not only is it stunning to see, it’s intentional storytelling.Hat tip, always, to Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast for the interview that revealed that delicious tidbit. Check out her interview (and more art!) with Sophie here.

Sophie works in Brooklyn with other illustrators Brian Floca, Ed Hemingway, John Bemelmans Marciano, and Sergio Ruzzier. Can you even imagine spending an hour in that studio, soaking it all up and trying not to faint and fall in it? Dream field trip, for sure. Their kinship and support of one another has always been so apparent. Look here, and here, and here to see what I mean.

But also, look inside The Baby Tree for a glimpse at their love and support of one another. What’s our pajama-clad wonderer reading with Mom and Dad, all cozied up in bed? I won’t spoil it for you, cause it was a gasp-moment for me. If you’ll bust without knowing, check out Danielle’s post over at This Picture Book Life about allusions in picture books. (And stay there a while even once you see what I’m talking about, cause how brilliant is that?!)

You’d like a copy, right? Penguin has two to give away to you! (And you!) Just leave a comment on this post by Monday at noon PST, June 2^nd. I’ll pick two, and have the stork deliver The Baby Tree right to your doorstep. Good luck!

Review copy provided by the publisher, all thoughts and love my own.

 

Tagged: book trailer, composition, full bleed, giveaway, nancy paulsen books, penguin, sophie blackall, spot illustrations, the baby tree, white space

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by Édouard Manceau

published March 2014 (tomorrow!) by Twirl Books, distributed in America by Chronicle Books

What a treat to give the new Twirl books a whirl! (They are doing something right when a thirtysomething-ed lady squeals over a box of board books, right?)

This one is perfect for grabby hands and curious minds. Check it out in action.

This is a board book that’s been on a steady regimen of spinach and milk. It’s big and beefy. That’s a great thing, because there’s a lot to experience on these pages.

Here’s how it works. The left page shows two seemingly unrelated nouns, loosely connected by a narrative. Sometimes it’s lilting and sometimes a bit labored, but since it’s a translation, all text-clunk is forgiven. Besides, the real treat is in the visual and tactile experience.Swinging a shape or two or three around transforms one picture to another. It’s simultaneously simple and sophisticated. And just plain fun to see and do.Some standard fare lives here: Rabbit, Teapot, Owl. And then there’s Bowl of Salad. Bowl of Salad! Thank goodness for the French. What a delight!I’m teaching an introductory Photoshop and graphic design class this summer. To 3rd – 6th graders. My brain exploded with ideas for projects when I saw this book. You better believe we will be creating our own Presto Change-os! 

Stay tuned.Here’s a bit more about Twirl Books.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Tagged: Édouard Manceau, board books, chronicle books, color, shape, size, twirl books

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by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Lisa Brown

published 2014 by McSweeney’s/McMullens

Do you know Because of Winn-Dixie? (Have I told you about the time I told Kate DiCamillo I wrote because of Winn-Dixie and obviously meant because of Because of Winn-Dixie but she cackled and my heart soared?)

Anyway. There’s a thing called a Littmus Lozenge. It’s a candy that makes you taste your sorrow and your sad and your sweet, all at once. Maybe it’s the thought of a lozenge sounding like something medicinal, or maybe it’s cause this pharmacy gave me both comfort and the heebie-jeebies, but reading this book felt a little like tasting a Littmus Lozenge.Something unsettling hovers around this place, but it beckons me, too. And I’m not alone in that: those two myth-collectors/busters are at once intrigued and terrified.

It’s weird and charming and confusing and a head-scratcher all at once.

I think that’s exactly what makes it a successful story for kids. Everything doesn’t have to make sense. Offbeat is okay.

Because let’s face it: kid are weird and charming and confusing. They teeter in that fuzzy place between wonder and reality. This is a book that honors this and celebrates that. Is it suspicious, a lady going in and coming out in the same outfit? No. Not necessarily. But see: you are an adult. You are past your prime of delighting in the bizarre and making sense or screwballs out of it. When you read this, rest in it. Let it catapult you from being a grownup. It’s good for you. And then share it with a kid. They’ll get it.Physically, I love the compact trim size because it feels like a manual, like a notebook, like some peculiar pamphlet to some oddball prescription in the pharmacy. It’s like a secret. A hush.Then! The cover unfolds to show the depths of the Swinster Pharmacy. When you flip it over, there’s a map of the town. Don’t ask me why I didn’t show you that. Just trust me. (If you dare.)

P.S. – Another numbered book I loved recently is How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers, by Mordecai Gerstein. A total must read if you love quirk and lists like me.

The publisher provided a review copy of 29 Myths on the Swinster Pharmacy, but thoughts and love are my own.

Tagged: cover design, lemony snicket, lisa brown, scale, trim size

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written by Jesse Klausmeier, illustrated by Suzy Lee

{published 2013, by Chronicle Books}Did you see that teensy update on my bio over there? I took out the former, cause I’m back to the library, y’all. It’s such a dream. My natural habitat. I see students for the first time next week, and have been anxious to share this with the littlest. I want it to be our signature story, the one that represents what we do together – opening book after book after book.

I’m also trying to figure out how to recreate this thing as a bulletin board. The engineering and the math and the genius and whoa. Stay tuned.

Check it out in action:

Jesse Klausmeier dedicated this to Levar Burton, which is especially sweet given that this little book is a real love letter to books everywhere. Color distinguishes each character’s little book. Distinct and vibrant, belonging to each reader.Shape and scale do, too, and not in the most obvious way. The first character we meet is Ladybug. She’s in a red book, reading a green book. And inside the green book is Frog, who opens an orange book.

So, the bigger the character, the smaller the book!And that’s what causes a bit of sticky situation when it’s time for a Giant to join the fun.Oh, and the texture! There’s a vintage and well-loved appearance to the pages. It feels like a book that’s already been well-loved and flipped through so many times. Such a small choice, such big heart behind it.

This book’s design is a frame that allows the connectedness of story and readers to shine. I bet you won’t be able to stop opening and closing this little book. It’s addicting.

Tagged: chronicle books, color, illustration, jesse klausmeier, levar burton, scale, shape, suzy lee, texture

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by Janice Lovoos

{published 1966, by Golden Gate Junior Books}

I was in Seattle a few weeks ago. You remember the library, right?

I went to Pike Place Market, because of course, but also because flying fish and dudes in galoshes are a spectacle worth checking out. And I also wanted to get up close and personal with some bluefin tuna eyeballs.

There’s a real reason for that, trust me. But they didn’t have any tuna, so this happened: 

There’s not a real point to that story except that I adore that tweet (and those two Favoriters) and it’s what I did just before I wandered into Lamplight Books.

It’s like I stole something. Fifteen dollars? Sixty quarters? It still has that magical, musty smell of hidden secrets. And it was mine in a fraction of a split second. That fast.

Because…behold:

 I’m in love. From the texture of a porcupine, to the form of mountains and weeds, to the repetition inside a squash, design is everywhere.

Design is a Dandelion ends like this, with truth and a charge:

Design is everywhere. It is for everyone. All you have to do is to learn to see it. Open your eyes and take a big, long look.

Tagged: design, form, line, nature, shape, space

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Well, I've finally made it into panel 5 (and it's turned against the side wall of the garge - hence, turning the corner)! 

Just started mapping out the floor tiles and fixing some proportions.  While the projector was incredibly handy, working from a very small original painting means that little distortions are increased in my tracings - mole hills become mountains.  So, some adjustments to the chef are necessary.  Also, the floor tiles are taking a little bit of time to get a sense of fairly balanced visual perspective without being overly hard-edge and mechanical.  But, I'm enjoying working on something different for a while.

The toasting figures are in a good place for now - I'm content with the direction that they're going.  I was not able to capture much detail in the original proposal because the scale was too small, so I've been making them up as I paint.  I'm not working from any models either - they're basically imaginary composites.  

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After a wonderful Easter Vacation where I was able to spend big chunks of the day working on the mural, an unexpectedly extended trip out of town and the start of schoolwork again makes it feel like I've been away from the mural for a long time.  We found out as we drove into Lancaster (after 4 hours in the Friday downpour) that all the State Cup games had been moved from Saturday to Sunday - soooooo, since we were already there, we ended up staying longer than planned.

Not quite there...but closer.  Photos can help you see flaws that you didn't notice when you were working on it

Today, I had a full day of CoOp, art classes, mom-taxi, and dinner-making, but I was determined to get out to the garage and at least make some adjustments.  In my last post, I explained how the scale of the toasting figures was a bit on the wimpy side.  So, this evening I figured I'd start reworking the proportions.  Not only did the figures have to change, but so did the barrel.  To understand the changes made, if you look at the male figure, the top point of the hair of the original guy fell just below the jawline of the current guy.  In other words, he gained a whole head in height.

Cheers - his chin's a bit skinny, but I'll fix that...

It's very "cartoon-ish", but I'm just trying to get the shapes the way I want them.  It's not quite there, but it's closer than it was.  And, having to draw this out REALLY made me appreciate the projector I had at the beginning. I was constantly stepping back to see how it actually looked and it made me wonder how Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling - it's not like he could easily take a step back every few minutes to see if the proportions were right.

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There wasn't as much time to work today as I had an art class to teach and we're getting ready to go out of town again.  What I did do today was focus on panel #4 and some changes that I wanted to make. 

Figures are about 1 foot taller than before

The first thing that was bothering me was the scale of the toasting figures.  I like to sit back and observe (analyze) what's in front of me - what I've done and what I have yet to do.  The figures looked fine in the smaller proposal painting, but something didn't seem quite right on the full-size panels.  They seemed kind of wimpy and small.  I felt that they needed to be more of a presence in that panel.  So, part of today's work involved "growing" the figures.  Since I didn't have any mushrooms from Wonderland, I had to redraw them, adding about a foot to their height.  I think it was a good call.

In my original design, the grapes were dark purple (like Concord grapes) and green.  But, with all of the green leaves and veggies, I decided to change the green grapes to red.  This required a field trip to the produce department at the grocery store to study the color of red grapes.  Upon close inspection, there are a lot of colors happening in red grapes - purple, reddish purple, and even green.  I've mixed some color options but, they're not quite right...yet.  So, know that what you see is NOT what you will get.

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The Knight and the Dragon (Paperstar Book) by Tomie dePaola (G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1998)

A knight and a dragon are always expected to fight each other, right? It's just the way of the world. When a knight and a dragon realize what they're calling is supposed to be in life, they begin training for the big fight. Turns out, it's not their true calling in life, since both are pretty horrific at it. Fortunately, when the big fight comes, they realize that they're better at barbeques. The book contains very few words, but the pictures aid in telling this engaging story, especially at the end. This is what makes the book unique- you don't see books that solve the problem of the story with a picture!


The Horn Book sent out their first FREE newsletter yesterday. For those of you who didn't sign up and are interested, visit the Horn Book website. It's perfect for parents and anyone else who is looking for good new books for children and teenagers. Each monthly issue features interviews with leading writers and illustrators, brief recommendations of noteworthy titles, and the latest news from the children's book world.

The Writer's Market online is planning on having the Children's Writer's and illustrator' s Market on line, hopefully by the end of the year. Go to writers digest's website and request that they put the CWIM online. The CWIM is such a valuable tool for children's writers and illustrators, it would be great to have updated information online.

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The Great Show-and-Tell Disaster by Mike Reiss (author), Mike Cressy (illustrator); (Price Stern Sloan, Oct. 2001)

I LOVE this book! This has earned a place with my faves! I coax my son into reading this one, a lot. Mike Reiss is a former head writer for The Simpsons, a show for which he has won four Emmy awards. He is also a graduate of Harvard University. Reiss has quite the resume, so his creativity and unique voice shine through in this book. Poor Ned has show and tell and can't think of anything to bring, until he invents his own machine out of the trash in his room- a Mixed-Up Ray. This invention changes his AUNT into a TUNA, PEAS become APES, and even his classmates at school get mixed up. CATHY becomes a YACHT, NAT an ANT, BRIAN a BRAIN, and, my favorite, KRISTEN becomes a STINKER. Ned makes up for most of his wrongs at the end and goes home to contemplate his next creation. This book is so creative with the anagrams that Reiss comes up with throughout the book and it's also written in rhyme which makes it a fun read. Mike Cressy's illustrations rank up there with my faves, too! The cartoon-like illustrations are amazing, fun, and eye-catching. This is one FUN book!

I can't wait to read some of Reiss's other titles. . .
How Murray Saved Christmas
The Boy Who Looked Like Lincoln (Picture Puffin Books)
Merry Un-Christmas

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Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull (author), Yuyi Morales (illustrator); (Harcourt, 2003)

Follow Cesar Chavez's life in this beautifully told story by Kathleen Krull. At the age of 10, Cesar Chavez lived a happy life at his grandparent's home surrounded by family, but a drought forced his family to move to California where they became migrant workers. They suffered awful working conditions, so as Chavez grew up, he became determined to improve the working conditions of migrant farmworkers in California. Chavez organized a 340-mile march to protest the working conditions that produced the first farmworkers' contract. This story is told in such a way that it will appeal to younger readers. You learn what Chavez's life was like as a boy and grow with him along the way - an inspiring tale of somebody who changed the world.

Kathleen Krull is the author of many fabulous nonfiction titles. Visit her website and check out her other titles.
I'm really excited to read her upcoming book that comes out this summer titled

Fartiste. One day a baker with butter and yeast, and the next—voila! –he was JOE, the Fartiste. The Fartiste doesn’t sing, he doesn’t dance, and he doesn’t act. But that doesn’t stop him from taking the stage at Paris’s famed Moulin Rouge, where he performs his much-loved act for celebrities and royalty with the funniest talent of all – Joe is the man who has perfected the art of the fart. Gotta love it!

Other titles by Krull. . .
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman
Isaac Newton: Giants of Science (Giants of Science (Viking))
Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought)
Leonardo Da Vinci: Giants of Science #1 (Giants of Science (Viking))
Sigmund Freud: Giants of Science #3 (Giants of Science (Viking))

You might also enjoy her article, 'Writing Biographies for Inquiring Minds' from Booklist.


Don't forget to check out Anastasia Suen's Picture Book of the Day blog for the Nonfiction Monday Round-up.

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Estelle Takes a Bath by Jill Esbaum (author), Mary Newell DePalma (illustrator); (Henry Holt and Co., 2006)

This story, told in rhyme, starts with Estelle relaxing in her warm bubble bath. Outside is a shivering mouse who sneaks inside and makes his way to the bath to get warm. The two have a face-off, and scare each other causing a chase around the house. The illustrations of Estelle in the buff are creative in the ways that certain areas are strategically covered! Estelle chases the mouse and the mouse, unexpectedly, falls into the tub. It's apparent that the mouse can't swim, so Estelle has a change of heart and comes to the rescue.

Check out these other titles by Jill Esbaum and visit her website. . .
Ste-e-e-e-eamboat a-Comin'!
Stink Soup

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The Blues of Flats Brown by Walter Dean Myers (author), Nina Laden (illustrator) (Holiday House, 2000)

"This here's the story of Flats Brown, the blues playingest dog you ever heard of," and an excellent picture book tribute to the blues. Flats, a junkyard dog from Mississippi, just wants to play the blues, but his owner, A.J. Grubbs, wants Flats and his other dog, Caleb, to step into the dog fighting ring. Flats isn't a fighter and Caleb is just too old, so they escape. Their adventures take them to Memphis, where Flats records a hit record. However, A.J. Grubbs tracks them down, so Flats and Caleb flee to New York City where they get a gig at a NYC blues club. A.J Grubbs tracks them down, yet again, but, this time, the music of Flats touches the heart of his owner. The use of dialect in this book will make you feel like you're right in the heart of the action and the illustrations bring the blues to life. This is a wonderful story that has several themes- two animals want to follow their dream to play the blues; fighting is not something you have to do; and in the end, Flats decides that money isn't what's important.

Walter Dean Myers has written many children's books with musical themes. Both his book "Jazz", as well as "Blues Journey", are illustrated by his son Christopher.

Jazz (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Blues Journey (Bccb Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award (Awards))

Also, check out the American Library Association's list of the 2008 Notable Children's Books.

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Epossumondas Saves the Day by Coleen Salley (author), Janet Stevens (illustrator) (Harcourt, 2006)

Epossumondas (a possum in a diaper! The whole reason I love children's books!) and his Mama live in Laurel Valley on Bayou Lafourche (a real place located in Southern Louisiana). It's Epossumondas's birthday and he can't wait for Mama's strawberry shortcake, but (Oh No!) Mama's all out of sody sallyraytus! If you're like me and have no idea what this is. . .Sody Sallyraytus is an old Southern term for 'baking soda.' She sends out some guests to get more, but they never return. Turns out, they come face to face with a great, huge, ugly Louisiana snapping turtle! Finally, Mama makes the trip and suffers the same consequences. Epossumondas sets out to find his guests because without any guests, there's no birthday party. He runs into the great, huge, ugly Louisiana snapping turtle and has to act fast to save the day! Variations of this story have been told in the South for generations, but with Salley's creative and repetitive phrases and Stevens' funny visual details, this one makes for a fun and delightful read.

Visit Coleen Salley's website for information on her books and literacy foundation.

If you like Epossumondas, check out these other titles. . .
Epossumondas (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards)) (2002)
Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail (2004)

Do you like reading blogs? Then you'll love a blog carnival! Visit Anastasia Suen's picture book of the day where she's hosting the Carnival of Children's Literature. The February theme - in honor of Leap Year- is Leap into a Book! Visit for a collection of blog posts about children’s books: book reviews, interviews, stories from parents and teachers about their kids’ adventures with books, peeks into the studio of children’s book authors and illustrators, and more. A great way to find new blogs and children's books! For 'Lori Calabrese Writes,' you'll see Catherine Ipcizade's author interview for "Twas the Day Before Zoo Day."

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Little Granny Quarterback by Bill Martin Jr., and Michael Sampson (authors), Michael Chesworth (illustrator) (Boyds Mills Press, 2001)

Granny was a star quarterback in her youth so when she hears that her team is in trouble, she jumps on the football field ready to go just like any other sports fan! Cheer Granny on as she tries to win the game against football players five times her size. The rhyming verse and hilarious illustrations combine to make this one silly tale.

Check out the website of Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson.

Also, if you're interested, The Horn Book is starting up a new free electronic newsletter that will offer news about good books for children and teens. Visit their website to subscribe- it begins in March.

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The Featherless Chicken by Chih-Yuan Chen (Heryin Books, Sept. 2006)

What's a featherless chicken to do when he sees four beautifully feathered chickens on their way to go boating? He asks if he can go, but the other chickens don't want to be seen with a featherless chicken. You'll sympathize with the main character, but thanks to a puddle of mud, the featherless chicken transforms himself into a work of art and the others invite him to come along. The newly made over bird lets out a sneeze and blows his cover, but, in the end, it's the beautiful birds that also end up exposed, just like the featherless chicken. The underlying theme of we're all the same underneath is a twist on the ugly duckling and will have you wanting this featherless chicken to be your friend.

Other titles by Chih-Yuan Chen:
Guji Guji (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards))
On My Way to Buy Eggs
The Best Christmas Ever

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It's a Hummingbird's Life by Irene Kelly. (Holiday House, 2003)

Irene Kelly gives all the information that will appeal to someone about the ruby-throated hummingbird. What is a hummingbird's life like? It’s busy, busy, busy! From morning to night, spring to winter, these tiny birds work nonstop. Did you know that a hummingbird's wings beat at the rate of 3000 times per minute? Find more fun facts like that and admire the illustrations in pen-and-ink and watercolor that add dazzling color to the book. The text is thoughtfully designed to fly and flutter around the page just like the hummingbird.

Be sure to visit Irene Kelly's website to see more of her books.

Other books on hummingbirds. . .
The Secret Lives of Hummingbirds
The World of the Hummingbird

Don't forget to check out Anastasia Suen's picture book of the day blog for the nonfiction Monday round-up where you can search through other great nonfiction titles.

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