Seasons, Silliness And Something Special

Without question I am considered an ardent fan of winter.  Hiking or snowshoeing through the woods or across an open field with my canine pal, Xena, tops my list of favorite things to do.  Crisp clear air, sun making the snow sparkle like diamonds, the pop and crackle of trees and the chirping of chickadees are my idea of the outdoors at its finest.  With that being said, this winter, the winter of 2015, is free to go at any time.

It began in earnest in the middle of November and then the much-loved snow depths faltered leaving us with crunchy crust, ice, howling winds and bitter temperatures.  From chatter on social media I am well aware most people along the east coast are probably taking pages from seed catalogs using them for wallpaper.  They are trying to substitute scenes of spring and summer for the snow piles seen outside their windows...that is, if they can even see out their windows.

Venturing outside is falling into the category of only when absolutely necessary; wearing so many layers you could probably win a mummy championship.  That's why last night, after putting another log on the fire and burrowing under a pile of blankets, I found myself laughing out loud over and over.  Reading A Wonderful Year (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, January 6, 2015) written and illustrated by Nick Bruel is like taking a hilarious trip through the four seasons with a guide who really gets the essence of each one.

"IT'S SNOWING!"
said the girl.  

This bright-eyed bundle of energy introduces readers to the first of four stories beginning with winter.  She can hardly wait to get outside.  Who can blame her?  It's been months since the last decent snowfall.

It seems members of the household (even a can of beans) want her to slow down suggesting first one than another seven articles of clothing she needs to wear.  You can well imagine how bundled up she is by the time they are done.  When she opens the door to step outside your already mounting laughter will burst forth loud and long.

With the advent of spring our character is full of all the giddiness this change brings.  Trading in her red sweat pants and sweatshirt for jeans, a t-shirt, tank top, tennis shoes and a tutu she runs outside singing a Fairy Princess song.  Waving her princess wand and wearing her princess star headband, she gleefully notices daffodils, butterflies and her loyal pup.  He declares himself her knight and off they go.

Everything nearly comes to a halt when the family cat, dozing under the nearby tree is less than eager to play.  Captured and then crankily crying out, a revealing conversation ensues.  Finally the feline finds a way to enjoy the best of both worlds.

As the story for summer opens the girl and Louise, the large purple hippopotamus living in her home, are trudging down a sidewalk in the sweltering heat.  Our gal is so hot she turns into a puddle in front of her friend.  Never one to falter in the face of adversity, Louise has a plan.

Figuring prominently are a cup, a straw and the freezer in the refrigerator.  A television show featuring a can of beans nearly causes a disaster.  Ever the clever one, Louise knows exactly what to do to save the day.

Our girl, leaning against the trunk of the large tree, is reading a book.  The tree begins to ask her about the contents of her book.  As their conversation continues it becomes clear which book she is reading.

An act of bravery is disclosed.  As colors change and leaves fall a gift is given.  One final word of advice brings us full circle.


Nick Bruel has a talent for portraying the humorous aspects of larger concepts; the bundling up needed for winter exploring, spring fever's frenzy, and the unbearable heat of summer.  With equal skill he shifts the mood; our thoughts becoming reflective.  When he assigns the ability to speak to the dog and cat it adds more fun but when we are introduced to Louise who also talks, readers know they are in for more playful prose.  Without spoiling anything these three are not the only ones who have the gift of gab.

The section for spring written for the most part in rhythmic rhymes is an open invitation for readers to start humming or singing along.  The sounds Louise makes and her use of

GADZOOKS! 

when problems arise in summer are flawlessly presented; comedic timing perfection.  By now we are more than happy to follow this girl into autumn.  Bruel slows the pace with the questions and answers exchanged between the tree and girl.  And we are glad he does.  Here is one of the rhymes from spring.

Behold a Fairy Princess!
A Princess!
A Princess!
Behold a Fairy Princess,
A fair maiden she!


The bright colors on the matching dust jacket and book case ensure readers' attention will be drawn to the book.  Nick Bruel cleverly displays iconic images of each season within the letters of year.  It's the positioning of the orange and yellow cat, the red dog and a large wide-eyed purple hippopotamus, that will have readers wondering exactly what this story entails.  On the back of the jacket and case, a very puzzled cat is popping out from a pile of brown leaves. (This continues the end of the story wonderfully.)  Turquoise endpapers hold our interest as Bruel begins the story visually on the title page.  The girl, yawning, heads toward the front door of her home.

As she gazes across a double-page snow covered landscape on her street, the dedication is tucked into the left-hand corner and the short story title is displayed on the opposite page.  Each illustration, rendered in ink, watercolor, gouache, and collage on paper, compliments the text by altering image sizes.  A full page accompanies the first piece of text.  It is followed by three single pages divided into fourths horizontally then with another double-page illustration before closing with a final single page divided again into fourths. This first narrative, as are the others, is not only celebrated but enhanced by the pictures.

Body postures and facial expressions will have you grinning in minutes.  Louise steals the show in summer.  One of my favorite illustrations (because I love to laugh) is the series of panels of Louise when the girl has melted in the summer heat.  Louise is first looking directly at the reader uttering her characteristic exclamation with her constant bird friend aflutter.  The execution of her plan with the appropriate sound effects will have you more than eager to turn the page.


If you don't have a copy of A Wonderful Year written and illustrated by Nick Bruel, run, don't walk, to your nearest book shop to pick up not one but at least two copies.  You'll want one for home and another for your students. This is one of those books you have to read aloud even if it's to an empty room.  There is lots of joy within these pages.

To discover more about Nick Bruel visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  If you go to the publisher's website you can view eight interior pages.  Here are links to the first two guest posts by Nick Bruel at teacher librarian extraordinaire, John Schumacher's blog Watch. Connect. Read., Are you Ready to Have a WONDERFUL Fall? and Are You Ready to Have a WONDERFUL WINTER?  Don't miss this outstanding interview of Nick Bruel at author and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

UPDATE:  Nick Bruel has visited Watch. Connect. Read. again.  Get ready to laugh when reading Nick Bruel's Letter to SPRING.  Nick Bruel finished his letters to the seasons with this touching ode at Watch. Connect. Read.

Life With A Cat, Life With A Dog

Every single night I say I love you before falling asleep.  Every single morning I say I'm glad we get to share another day together.  Not for the first time I hope my dog understands what I am saying.  I also wish she would tell me why it takes so long to find the perfect spot.  I want to know why she stands still in below zero temperatures in a blinding snow storm, pouring rain or with seemingly hundreds of mosquitoes swarming around us, to catch a whiff of every single scent in the air.  I hope she knows how thankful I am when her sniffing keeps us out of danger.

Without the gift of speech it's a guessing game as to the moods of our pets.  Is it the full moon?  Is it the drop in barometric pressure?  What is making them crazy?  Something has one crabby cat whipped into a frenzy in Nick Bruel's latest title, BAD KITTY: Puppy's BIG DAY (A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Book Press, January 6, 2015).

PART ONE

PUPPY LAW

In case it's not obvious, Kitty is in a very, very

VERY

bad mood today.

And nobody knows why.

This case of increased crankiness tops all others and is cause for calling in reinforcements.  It's up to Uncle Murray to save the day taking Puppy for a stroll.  In their haste to leave the house (Bad Kitty freaks out.), Puppy's leash is forgotten. 

A warning from an unseen police officer and one ticket later, Uncle Murray decides to use his belt for a leash.  (Oh, boy...I am sensing another problem with this choice.) Before Uncle Murray can even attach the belt, a discovery is made and a deposit is left, prompting another ticket.  This is not Uncle Murray's day for catching a break.  Ticket number three is issued upon their arrival at the wrong park with no dog license and the reveal of the pattern on Uncle Murray's boxer shorts.

The correct park, the designated dog park, is reason for celebration but a female dog with love on her mind creates all kinds of problems including Uncle Murray climbing a tree for safety and the disappearance of the canine duo.  Uh! Oh!  Animal Control nabs them and it's into doggy jail they go.  Two other current residents, an old timer who constantly repeats his name and a whippersnapper with outrageous plans for escape, keep Puppy and the affectionate bulldog busily engaged in conversation.

At the exact moment when the flame of hope is nearly out, Uncle Murray shouts out his entrance.  His appearance cannot have been timed better.  A hairless cat attendant and mouse assistant help with the paperwork.  Wait a minute!  Uncle Murray came looking for Puppy.  How many dogs does he have now?

By page two (six) readers will be smiling at the descriptive narrative penned by Nick Bruel.  By page twelve (sixteen) the outbursts of laughter will start in earnest.  By page forty (forty-four) you will be hard pressed not to be rolling on the floor unable to control the gasping giggles.  Nick Bruel portrays the human canine relationship perfectly in all the nitty-gritty details. 

The two-page asides by Bad Kitty, discourses if you will, on 

Why Do Dogs Need To Be Walked?

Why Do Dogs Sniff Butts? and

Why Do Dogs Lick Faces?

are hilarious.  Within the story of a dog-walking day gone wrong, Bruel includes a gentle message about life for dogs placed in a shelter.  He gives us the human, canine and feline perspective with masterful flair.  Here are two more sample passages.

WHOA! That was intense! We were lucky to get out of there alive, pooch!  Sometimes I'm not convinced she really is a cat.  I'm thinking she's more like a weird cross between an electric eel and a howler monkey. (Uncle Murray)

But not dogs.  Dogs need to be walked at least twice a day so that they can relieve themselves anywhere and everywhere they want regardless of the weather outside.  It could be raining baseball bats and you'll STILL have to take that dog outside for the privilege of picking up his droppings with a bag.  Lucky you. (Bad Kitty)

The look of total drooling bliss on Puppy's face with Bad Kitty glaring in the background on the book case gives readers a ready glimpse as to the tone of this title.  Nick Bruel's black and white illustrations heighten his text; for each of the four introductory sentences describing Bad Kitty's current mood

The Daily Nooz

headlines with snippets of the article accentuate each statement.  His narrative says one thing but his images explain it even further.  For the two simple words 

Too late.

two pages with four pictures visualize Bad Kitty on the tear with Puppy loving the chase.  

The layout and design have the words merging with the illustrations flawlessly generating the tempo of the story.  Bruel alters his picture size and the viewpoint depending on the plot point.  It's the facial expressions and body movements of all the characters which bind readers to these books.  

One of my many favorite pictures is of Uncle Murray petting Puppy's head in front of the counter at the shelter.  He is on his way back into the kennels.  At the counter the hairless cat attendant in a top hat, wearing a collared shirt with a tie, is being asked a question by the mouse.

I was in the bathroom.  What did I miss?

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that fans of the series are going to read this book over and over, delighting in the text and illustrations.  Dog lovers are going to be howling with total glee.  BAD KITTY Puppy's BIG DAY written and illustrated by Nick Bruel is full of fun from beginning to end.  

To learn more about Nick Bruel and his other work, please visit his website by following the link embedded in his name.  Make sure you stop by the web pages devoted to the Bad Kitty books. Here is a fabulous interview of Nick Bruel by author and blogger Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Enjoy the video.

Cherished Creatures

Within a heartbeat they can tell you.  Not only do they have an answer but they want to know what yours is.  No matter how many books the library may have or resources you provide, it's simply never enough.  Truthfully over the years I have learned more than I ever knew I wanted to know about a large variety of animals because of students' quests to discover everything about their favorite animal, domestic and wild.

The extent of their interest is not limited to facts either; each having an uncanny ability in their individual style to recreate their animal visually.  How exciting for all of us that Eric Carle and thirteen other illustrators decide to share their choices.  What's Your Favorite Animal? (Henry Holt and Company, January 2014) not only answers the question but entertains with text and pictures by each.

I have always liked all animals.  

So begins the story Eric Carle tells of his cat who liked to chase and fetch a string bean until she decided it was better off tucked away from view.  A ladder would definitely be needed to see eye to eye with Tom Lichtenheld's animal friend after a trip to Africa or the zoo.  You will be hard pressed not to gasp and utter yikes after seeing the smile on Mo Willems' crawling critter's face.

A Christmas tradition with a happy ending, especially for the main course, is a tale with timeless appeal as revealed by Peter Sis.  Giving us a whole new perspective on one of nature's slowest movers, Chris Raschka reminds us patience has great rewards.  Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty is up to his typical tricks.  Could it be because of a favorite animal choice?

Let's see now.  Who could possibly like a high-jumping bunny, these-pillows-are-my-spot dog, or a boastful elephant?  It might be Rosemary Wells, Lane Smith, Jon Klassen, Susan Jeffers, or Peter McCarty?  Or perhaps one of them has voiced their love of a duck (without a hat) or a herd of wild white horses?

A memory of cows coming to life at night, a kinship felt with penguins and a colorful connection to leopards fill the pages by Lucy Cousins, Steven Kellogg and Erin Stead. (No, I did not put them in order.) Just when you think you might suffer from happiness overload due to the wonderful words and colorful pictures on these pages, the final two host childhood pictures of each artist with a short biographical sketch.  Who could ask for anything more?


An amusing incident, a whimsical poem, a message of hope, personal reflections from now and then, and tales full of hilarity reach out, pulling readers into the realms of these fourteen individuals who, fortunately for us, populate the children's literature community.  All the wit and wonder we love about their work is condensed into these two page spreads; how they choose to speak about their favorite animal is a direct reflection of them as authors and illustrators.  You will find yourself alternating between a slow smile, a giggle, a guffaw, a sigh, and nod of understanding more than once. These fourteen people say much with few words.


Eric Carle's notable cut-paper collage decorates the front dust jacket with a list of the contributors and their animals on the back.  Upon removing the jacket readers see all fourteen creatures spread across both sides of the cover with the artists' signatures next to their work.  The pristine white background makes all the elements pop off the pages.  Sunny golden opening and closing endpapers brushed in paint announce the total joy to be found in this book.

Even without their name as part of the text or a signature within the illustration, each visual clearly identifies the creator; vividly displaying their unique styles and mediums.  The deft paper cuts for a cat's fur, the fluffy cloud cleverly becoming a beehive hairdo for the ruby-lipped giraffe, the loose swirls of orange, amber and blue making a home for a snail, small delicate lines and softened brush strokes bringing the essence of penguins to the page or cow paintings papering a wall as a boy dreams one into life, not only feature an animal but the considerable talents each illustrator brings to this book and everything they do.  Every single one is a masterpiece.


This variety in selected animals, narratives and illustrators is exactly what makes What's Your Favorite Animal? by Eric Carle and Friends a true treasure that everyone should read and own.  It's like holding an art gallery in your hands.  The end flap states:

All royalties from this book will be donated to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art which was founded by Eric and Barbara Carl in 2002.  

Links to each of the contributors' websites (when possible) have been placed in their names above.  Follow this link to the publisher's website for a peek inside this title.  Enjoy the videos collected by some of the artists.  If you have other videos you would like me to include feel free to leave a link in the comments below.