The Grass Is Always Greener

It was undeniably a rite of passage in our neighborhood.  As each child reached a certain age, when the first cutting of the lawn came in the spring, you could see them proudly pushing a mower.  If the yards were bigger and they were older you might see them riding on a big green John Deere.

Even today there is something satisfying about the lines made in a freshly mowed lawn and the memory-laden smell of the cut grass.  Humans are not the only ones taking pleasure in mowing.  An exceptional amphibian singles out a special day each week to complete his task.  McToad Mows Tiny Island (Abrams Books For Young Readers, September 1, 2015) a transportation tale by Tom Angleberger with pictures by John Hendrix is an extraordinary journey filled with amazement and laughter.

McToad likes Thursdays.

McToad is fond of Thursday because this is the day he gets to mow Tiny Island.  His home is on Big Island.  On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday he mows Big Island.  

It's no easy hop, skip and a jump to get to Tiny Island.  In fact, it's quite a process to arrive at this destination.  To begin McToad fires up his red riding lawn mower moving it from the shed up a plank into the back of HIS McToad Lawn Care truck.

With the ease of a true expert McToad loads his mower from the truck using a forklift to the flat bed car of HIS train.  This train soon arrives at the airport.  (I don't know about you but at this point I am wondering how big Big Island is.)  A handy dandy conveyor belt takes his faithful grass cutter to HIS airplane.

Three vehicles, one machine and a structure of wood later, the mower and McToad land on Tiny Island.  Our audacious landscaper thoroughly enjoys his time on this plot of land in the middle of the ocean; even pausing to sip a lemonade drink.  With an equally involved return trip home the caretaker and his machine come to rest as the sun slowly sinks on the horizon.


With the first three words Tom Angleberger has our attention.  We can't help but wonder why McToad likes Thursdays.  Sentence by sentence he builds an and then kind of story.  We can feel the anticipation growing.  That's what makes the sentence in the narrative which matches the title utterly fantastic.  If you don't burst out laughing, you're probably not breathing.


Opening up the dust jacket readers can readily see John Hendrix has created another illustrative masterpiece in color, design and typography.  His use of rich reds, vibrant greens and golden yellows are warm and inviting.  McToad looks pleased beyond measure as he does what he loves best.  We want to join him.

On the back, to the left, a series of wide red arrows point out the pathway, transfers and stops McToad and his mower make on the return excursion home.  Pages from an account book with the noted property, date and amount columns filled in carefully cover the book case.  The opening endpapers feature McToad beginning a lawn with several diagonal strips indicating his progress as he faces the reader.  On the closing endpapers his work is nearly done as he putts along wearing his patched worn hat with his back to us.

Before the title page, which hints at future events, McToad stands wiping his brow, holding a walking stick with his hat on top of it.  Rendered in pen and ink with fluid acrylic washes on Strathmore Bristol vellum most of the illustrations span two pages, edge to edge.  When the narrative asks us to pause Hendrix shifts to single pages for pacing and impact.

Attentive readers will note Hendrix's nod to his children and his The Holy Ghost graphic episodes and to Tom Angleberger's middle grade novel characters.  His close-ups of McToad as he stands in front of the map in his shed and adjusts the mirror in his truck as well as when he mows Tiny Island convey pure contentment.  One of my many favorite illustrations is of McToad flying HIS helicopter to a large boat moored to a dock.  Both hands are gripping the controls as he carries the mower hanging in a tarp from the bottom of the vehicle.  He is, of course, wearing goggles.  From left to right the perspective shifts from in the air with McToad to a bird's eye view of the land.


For pure entertainment McToad Mows Tiny Island with words by Tom Angleberger and pictures by John Hendrix is unlike any other transportation tale you've read.  You can't help but feel the fun in the blend of text and images these two stellar artists must have had bringing this story to readers.  Start your engines everyone, it's time to get going and mowing.

To discover more about Tom Angleberger and John Hendrix please visit their websites by following the links attached to their names.  John Hendrix has a page dedicated to this book here.  If you go to Twitter and search under the title of the book, many people have sent out messages about this book.  I will include some of them below.  Tom Angleberger is interviewed at Reading Rockets in a series of videos.  Teacher librarian, Travis Jonker, reviews this title on his blog 100 Scope Notes at the School Library Journal site.  John Hendrix is a guest at teacher librarian, Matthew C. Winner's Let's Get Busy Podcast #186.  UPDATE:  November 20, 2015 Author, reviewer and blogger, Julie Danielson, features art from this title on her blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast,  along with a link to her discussion of the book at Kirkus last week.

McToad buttons for the launch of "McToad Mows Tiny Island" tonight at @subbooks 5:30pm! pic.twitter.com/CWYryiVgyf

— John Hendrix (@hendrixart) September 29, 2015

Behind the scenes peek at McToad Mows Tiny Island! Secret screen tests that @hendrixart and I used to… https://t.co/ovyA9N4UUY

— OrigamiYoda (@OrigamiYoda) September 1, 2015

#Bookaday McToad Mows Tiny Island by @OrigamiYoda & @hendrixart https://t.co/4DJ3ShdBh9. I want McToad Lawn Care to cut my grass!

— John Schu (@MrSchuReads) August 21, 2015

Gliding With Grace

For a young girl growing up with the family nickname of Moose the chances of her parents spending their hard-earned money on dance lessons was slim.  Instead she watched her younger sister go to ballet lessons year after year.  She attended each and every recital amazed at the beauty of not only her sister dancing but the others with her on the stage.

You have to wonder if there had been another book other than the classic Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling would this girl have persisted in following her desires.  Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova (Chronicle Books, August 18, 2015) written by Laurel Snyder with illustrations by Julie Morstad is a book this child would have cherished.  She would have read it over and over feeling the hope and inspiration found in this dancer's life.

The city is big,
Anna is small.
The snow is
everywhere
and all around.

One winter's night Anna and her mama ride in a sleigh to the ballet.  Seeing a story told by dancers on a stage, watching their movements convey emotion, changes Anna's life.  Now her arms, legs and body twirl, dip and sway from place to place gaining even the attention of tiny creatures outside their apartment window.

Mama finally takes her to the ballet school but Anna is not accepted.  Two years pass.  Anna still twirls, dips and sways among the hanging laundry her mama washes for a living.  When they visit the school this time Anna's flair for expression draws the attention of the instructors.  Every position is precisely practiced repeatedly.

It is intense work.  It is exactly what Anna has wanted to do.  When she takes the stage the audience knows they are seeing a ballerina unlike any other.  Her style, her interpretation, is unique.

As Anna dances alone the first time as a swan, the swan, those in attendance feel the magic of her transformation.  Traveling around the world her fame continues to increase.  While Anna enjoys performing for the rich and famous, she does not forget from where she came.  She brings her dancing to those less fortunate in places ballerinas would normally not go.

Anna believes in spreading the joy of ballet everywhere to everyone.  She teaches.  She dances.  And then...  A train stop and a walk in the snow slow her steps.  Wings fold.  Breathing stills but her flights are remembered.


Sometimes we cry in sadness.  Sometimes we cry at the breathtaking elegance touching our lives.  Sometimes we cry in sheer delight.  When reading the words written with truth and respect by Laurel Snyder in this book, readers will find themselves deeply moved to tears for all those reasons.  Snyder's love of language is evident in each sentence on these pages.  Some of them are short and descriptive; others string together like sections of a symphony.  We become Anna and watch her life at the same time.  It's an incredible experience.  Here is the passage as Anna and her mama attend the first ballet together.

Then---ah!
The lights.
The lights!
Something is happening ...
There's a swell of strings,
a scurry of skirts.
A hiss and a hum and ...
HUSH!
It's
all
beginning!


If you close your eyes when first holding this book and opening the pages, you will feel the softness of the matte finished paper and heavy stock.  Your sensory experience with these illustrations has started.  Opening the matching dust jacket and book case Anna as a child, one arm extended with a wing, holds promise for the passion which will willingly consume her life and which she will gladly share with the world.  You can't see it but on the dust jacket the feathers are etched in iridescence.  To the left, on the back, is a single black chair, flowers painted on the back, with a pair of pink ballet slippers hanging from the top rail.

The opening endpapers, on a white background except for the floor in a shade of gray, show Anna gazing out the window of her home.  Laundry hangs from a crisscross of lines.  On the wall is a portrait of her and her mama.  This design is carried forth on the closing endpapers with changes to the items hanging from a line and the larger portrait on the wall.  The chair...oh, the chair.

On the initial title page, a single word, Swan, in graceful cursive is tipped with rose branches.  On the formal title page Anna practicing before being accepted to ballet school poses within the text.  Rendered in ink, gouache, graphite, pencil and crayon Julie Morstad exquisitely portrays each scene with authenticity, warmth and emotion.

Morstad's use of white space as an element in her design is exceptional drawing our eyes into the moment regardless of the size of the image.  Varying from two-page pictures to a series of smaller vignettes to depict the passing of time, each can be viewed individually or as part of a seamless whole.  Soft muted colors in a limited palette pair perfectly with the settings and historical period.

One of my favorite illustrations, besides the striking swan picture, is of Anna dancing in their apartment with a broom as her mama hangs up laundry.  We are on the outside looking through a window.  Two squirrels sit watching on the sill as snow falls.  It's a peaceful scene full of love.


You have to remind yourself to breath as you turn each page of Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Julie Morstad.  All readers will be inspired by the life choices of this woman dedicated to the art of ballet.  It's a remarkable portrait by this author and illustrator.  At the close of the book Laurel Snyder includes two pages of additional information along with a bibliography and quotation sources.

To learn more about Laurel Snyder and Julie Morstad please follow the links to their websites attached to their names.  At the publisher's website is a teacher's guide.  John Schumacher, the Scholastic Ambassador for School Libraries, talks about his love of this book in one of his Saturday video chats with Colby Sharp and Lauren Castillo.  This book is highlighted by teacher librarian Jennifer Reed on her blog, Reederama.  Southeast publisher rep Teresa Rolfe Kravtin featured this title on her blog, A Rep Reading.  Laurel Snyder is interviewed and the book is showcased at this picture book life.  Julie Danielson, author, reviewer and blogger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast speaks about the book and shows us some art. Teacher librarian Matthew C. Winner speaks with both Laurel Snyder and Julie Morstad during the Let's Get Busy podcast number 179.


This is my first post for the 2015 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy in six weeks.  I am happy to be back to more regular blogging.  Stop by her site to see what the other bloggers have highlighted this week.

Hidden In View

As the sun sets on a summer afternoon filled with freedom or on one of those final warm days in autumn, a chill seeping into the air, neighborhood guys and gals gather for a rousing game of hide-and-seek.  Each player searches to find the perfect spot out of sight or blending in with their surroundings and standing as still as stone.  Excitement swirls around the participants, each thrilling at their ability to elude the one hoping to find them.

The enjoyment in this ability to evade discovery is heightened when shared.  In Where's Walrus? (Scholastic Press, February 1, 2011) Stephen Savage introduced readers to a quick-witted walrus and a frustrated zookeeper.  Those two have returned in a companion title, Where's Walrus? And Penguin? (Scholastic Press, August 25, 2015).  This time Walrus has a willing partner in Penguin.  The laughter doubles as these two boldly blend in wherever they go.

If you remember the first story involves a swimming event and the zookeeper's kindness toward Walrus's fondness for diving.  On the title page, executing a perfect swan dive into his pool, Walrus is silently observed by a penguin.  Next Walrus knowingly looks right at the reader.

With rain steadily falling, the zookeeper holds open the gate for patrons and those with children, umbrellas overhead keeping them dry.  As they file out, Walrus and Penguin join them at the end of the line.  A shocked zookeeper scurries to find them, first checking the subway.  Those two clever creatures mirror other occupants.  Readers will burst out in giggles.

A newsstand on the street, a pigeon-feeding bench in the park, a crew team gliding on the river, a busy street in the city center, a night at the opera and a baseball game provide fun and entertainment for the escapees.  These places also act as the ultimate venues for disguises.  Walrus tends to favor a variety of hats.  Penguin usually uses his natural physical attributes.

After a fly ball has Walrus zigging and zagging on the field the game is over for the tricky twosome.  The trio, Walrus, Penguin and the determined zookeeper, find themselves in a location where hiding is not an option.  Love, as they say, will find a way.


Opening the dust jacket, the design on the front is reversed on the back to reveal the zookeeper, net at rest, standing in front of the newsstand, wondering how Walrus and Penguin could have disappeared so quickly.  They are, in fact, in plain sight which begins the first of numerous hilarious episodes.  Exhibiting his first-rate design skills Stephen Savage blends his name and the ISBN into the cityscape.  The primary and secondary colors pop when combined with the gray, black and white.  (As he did in the first title, Savage adds just the right amount of shades of pink exactly where and when they are needed.)

Having Walrus, in a close-up, stare at us, his mouth forming a grin with its natural shape, on the verso and first page, Savage asks us to join the adventure.  A single drop of rain on Walrus's flipper starts the story.  You know even before you turn the page, Walrus has a plan.

In each of the two-page images, drawn and created digitally, readers pause for several reasons. We are looking first and foremost, as is the zookeeper, for Walrus and Penguin.  The exquisite layout and design using geometric shapes and simple but expressive lines hold our attention in appreciation.

One of my favorite illustrations of several is the busy city street.  In front of buildings filled with windows, among the cars and trucks, are three limousines.  Moving to the left of the page is one with Penguin as the chauffeur and Walrus, sporting a top hot, riding in the rear seat.  In the foreground is a yellow taxi cab heading to the right.  The zookeeper looks out the window at us, almost as if he knows we know where those two rascals truly are.


As well-created as the first title, Where's Walrus? And Penguin? written without words and illustrated by Stephen Savage is a fine and playful achievement.  It's a brilliant example of less is more. I can't help but wonder (and hope) if we will see these characters in another lively romp away from the zoo.

To discover more about Stephen Savage and his work please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  If you haven't read his interview by author, reviewer and blogger, Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, make sure you stop there now.
Enjoy the book trailer.



Here's Stephen Savage reading this title out loud at KitLit TV.



Update:  March 9, 2016 Stephen Savage appears again on KidLit TV talking about this title and several of his earlier books.

A Bit Of Wonder In Winter

It happens every single year without fail.  In three of the libraries in which I have served one entire wall is a bank of windows.  When the first flakes of snow fall, whether the students are five or fifteen, chairs are pushed back, reading is suspended, computers are abandoned and a collective hush falls over the room as all gather at the windows to watch.  No matter how many times it's seen there is no denying the magic of winter beginning.

Author Emily Jenkins and Paul O. Zelinsky have collaborated in the past to entertain readers with the chapter books, Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2006), Toy Dance Party: Being the Further Adventures of a Bossy-Boots Stingray, a Courageous Buffalo, and a Hopeful Round Someone Called Plastic (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2008) and Toys Come Home: Being the Early Experiences of an Intelligent Stingray, a Brave Buffalo, and a Brand-New Someone Called Plastic (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011).  On September 22, 2015 a picture book, Toys Meet Snow: Being The Wintertime Adventures Of A Curious Stuffed Buffalo, A Sensitive Plush Stingray, and a Book-Loving Rubber Ball (Schwartz & Wade Books) featuring these beloved characters was released.  This trio celebrates the joy of welcoming a new season.

Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo.  StingRay is a plush stingray.  Plastic is a rubber ball.  She can't help it that her name doesn't match her body.

The Little Girl, who is on winter vacation, is the toys' caretaker.  On the window sill the three gaze outside upon a wintry landscape.  Lumphy asks why it snows.  StingRay believes it's an emotional response.  Plastic, the reader of the group, states with certainty that it's a combination of rain and below zero temperatures.

They, with three individual reasons, can hardly wait to get outside.  After donning appropriate attire there is the dilemma of getting the door open.  Hooray!  They're in the snow!

Lumphy thinks the snow has transformed a familiar tree into an entirely new one.  StingRay is sure it's now a sweet treat tree.  The voice of truth, Plastic, confirms it as the original one.  As they continue exploring, Lumphy's curiosity provides more questions.  Replies are beautifully poetic and thoroughly bookish.

With effort and teamwork a snowman takes shapes.  Guess who ends up as the head?  Discoveries by the friends lead to more fun.  As the sun sinks toward the horizon another query prompts a descriptive and tasty comment and one happy surprise.  Cuddled together inside again Lumphy, StingRay and Plastic, now warm and cozy, all agree this day is one to be cherished.


After reading this title, you will want to read the chapter book series whether you have read them before or not.  Emily Jenkins uses language to draw us into this story endearing us to her three characters.  The narrative, told almost solely in conversation, showcases their distinctive personalities which complement their friendship.  Simple sentences, many times in groups of three, supply pacing, reading like a musical score.  Here is one of StingRay's responses.

"A snowflake is a tiny ballerina," says StingRay.  "If you look closely, you can see it dance."


Tiny fingers (and mine too) will enjoy caressing the front dust jacket rendered by Caldecott medalist Paul O. Zelinsky.  The snow on and around the companions is raised and glittery even on the F & G, which I have.  The initial title page takes the outlining color from the text on the front for the font color.  Enlarged snowflakes, no two alike, surround the words.

On the gorgeous two-page image for the title page, the yard is nearly covered in snow.  A fallen leaf and a holly plant are placed in the foreground. The house sets back on the left.  A car, tail lights glowing, is leaving.  Like the master he is, Zelinsky knows how to set the scene for storytelling to start.

Layout, design and illustration sizes are impeccable enriching the written words.  Two-page spreads edge to edge will have readers pausing in sheer delight.  When panels are used across both pages, it's as if they are one single picture flowing flawlessly.  You will want to wrap yourself in the color palette as if it's a blanket.  It captures the essence of winter inside and outside.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is for the words

It is the first snowfall of the year.

The text, in white, is divided with the beginning on the left at the bottom along the window sill and the words, of the year, on the right.  It's a close-up of Plastic, StingRay and Lumphy, in that order from left to right, looking out the kitchen window above the sink.  You can see part of the faucet and a scrubber on the far left side.  StingRay's tail is around Plastic as if in a hug.  The snow is softly coming down, coating the trees like frosting.


The collaboration of Emily Jenkins and Paul O. Zelinsky in Toys Meet Snow has fashioned a cheerful, charming winter tale.  I can't imagine a collection, personal or professional, without this title on the shelves.  I am certain you will want to have a brown buffalo, a turquoise stingray and a red rubber ball on hand when this story is shared over and over again, as children will each want to hold their favorite characters with each reading.  I will most certainly be adding this book to my Mock Caldecott list.

Please follow the links attached to Emily Jenkins' and Paul O. Zelinsky's names to access their websites.  It's a great way to learn more about them and their work.  Additional images can be viewed at the publisher's website.  This creative duo was interviewed at The Compulsive Reader about this title.  Julie Danielson featured Paul O. Zelinsky's artistic process for this book at her blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Mighty Messages

More than two thousand years ago, as the ancient historians write, a slave may have won his freedom with his storytelling.  These tales he told were not long in length but each contained a powerful moral lesson.  The slave was Aesop and his stories are called fables.

Many fables use animals as characters helping readers to see faults or imperfections which may or may not be a part of their life choices or personality.  These short instructions have been a part of our literary history for so long; they have been assimilated into our everyday lives.  With the success of Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists (First Second, October 11, 2011) and Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists (First Second, September 24, 2013) First Second brings to readers another timeless treasury, Fable Comics edited by Chris Duffy (September 22, 2015).

Twenty-eight fables are portrayed through the artistic interpretations of twenty-five graphic artists and authors.  Each brings their signature talent to the page in a colorful depiction sure to entertain (you will find yourself laughing out loud more than once) as well as educate.  Most use a series of panels with speech bubble conversations to convey the narrative but one uses five full-page spreads to tell the story.  Some in the tradition of classic fables include the lesson at the end.

As one of the bloggers celebrating the publication of this title, I was thrilled to have been selected to focus on The Dog And His Reflection by Graham Chaffee.   In this fable a dog sees a chance to acquire a bone by stealth.  He trots away carrying his prize, only to discover what he believes is another dog with another bone.  Using a full-color palette with a series of varied layouts, Graham Chaffee presents the original fable without words set among conversations between humans and the landscape of the human condition.  Below you will find my questions and Graham Chaffee's answers relative to his perspective on this classic tale.

In your website biography you note attending and graduating from Art Center College.  Students will want to know what inspired the shift from freelance illustrating, teaching illustrations and writing and illustrating graphic novels to becoming a tattooist as your main artistic form of expression.  Would you please tell us?

I was getting a lot of tattoos at the time (early 90s) and fell in love with the folk-art quality of traditional American tattooing---illustration was barely paying the bills, and tattoo seemed like a decent way to make a living as an artist---still does ☺


Did you study to become a tattooist?  How does the process for creating a tattoo differ from creating a print illustration?  Are your steps different?

I am largely self-taught---got my equipment from a mail-order catalog and practiced on myself and a few of my dumber friends until I had enough pictures to build a little portfolio and find a shop.
Tattoos are made in much the same way as any graphic artwork.  You begin with a line-drawing and gradually add black shading and color.  The tools and canvas are different but the overall process is the same.  The biggest difference is the technical difficulty inherent in the craft.  Simple things like circles or parallel lines, which are no big deal on paper, can be a real challenge on the skin---you can't use a ruler for one thing, and skin is an unpredictable surface to work on.  Being able to control the quality of your linework involves years of practice---solid color is a technical triumph---stuff a conventional artist takes for granted, becomes a real obstacle course for a tattooist.  Also, you're hurting people and they tend to wiggle around, which can dramatically affect the quality of the tattoo...


Could you briefly tell us the process for illustrating The Dog And His Reflection?  Do you design thumbnail sketches first?  Do you storyboard?

I drew layouts in a sketchbook---rough pencil things to get the panels in the right order, but nothing too elaborate---most of the art was developed right on the page.


What medium did you use to make these visuals?  Do you work traditionally or digitally?

I use a 2h pencil to draw everything, a 00 brush for inking (Higgs Black Magic) and Dr Martins dyes for the color---I have a little kid's watercolor palette to mix my colors in and a cup of tap water for diluting the hues---I do use the internet as a giant reference file for pictures of factories and telephone booths, so that part is digital ☺


You tell the fable without an actual narrative.  The panels with humans appear to be a commentary on the moral of the story.  I think this will make for great discussions.  Why did you decide to add the human component?

I never use narration boxes in a story---show it, don't tell it is my motto---so I had to build a (very human) narrative environment of materialistic achievement around this animal.  America is the land of "more is better" and seemed like a natural fit for this particular fable---it's a super American story, all the way from ancient Greece...


In several of your other graphic novels dogs are featured.  Do you have a dog?  If you do would you tell us the breed and name?

I had a dog years ago---Sophie, a pound-rescue mutt---but my current living circumstances make pet ownership problematic.  If I ever get into a proper house with a yard, I shall certainly get a dog to go with it. ☺

Thank you Mr. Chaffee for stopping by the blog today and answering these questions.  It was a pleasure to learn more about you and your work.  If you desire to know more about Graham Chaffee please follow the links attached to his name to access his website and additional pages there.

At the publisher's website you can see eight interior images from this title including one of Graham Chaffee's images.  At this School Library Journal site dedicated to comics Chris Duffy speak about this book plus there are interior pictures.  Gina Gagliano of First Second has included lots of visuals of this in her blog post.  At the end of the title Chris Duffy offers commentary and there are short paragraphs about each of the artists.


  To visit other blogs and their featured artists follow the list below.

Fables are a wonderful way to learn – and they have been for many centuries!  Chris Duffy organizes this great collection of an all-new take on fables … in comics format!  In this blog tour, we’ll feature each of the authors and fables from the collection with reviews and interviews.  Join us for a fabulous adventure!

SLJ Good Comics for Kids features Fable Comics editor Chris Duffy, 9/21 http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/

Charlotte’s Library features James Kochalka and ‘The Fox and the Grapes,’ 9/22 http://charlotteslibrary.blogspot.com/

Musings of a Librarian features Tom Gauld and ‘The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse,’ 9/23 http://musingsoflibrarian.blogspot.com/

Sharp Reads features George O’Connor and the ‘Hermes’ fables, 9/24 https://sharpread.wordpress.com/

Fly to Fiction features Sophie Goldstein an ‘Leopard Drums Up Dinner,’ 9/25 http://flytofiction.blogspot.com/

Supernatural Snark features Charise Harper and ‘The Belly and the Body Members,’ 9/26 http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com/

It’s All Comic to Me features R. Sikoryak and ‘Lion + Mouse,’ 9/27 http://itsallcomictome.blogspot.com/

Ex Libris Kate features Jennifer L. Meyer and ‘Fox and Crow,’ 9/28 http://exlibriskate.com/

The Roarbots features Eleanor Davis and ‘The Old Man and Death,’ 9/29 http://theroarbots.com/

Fleen features Jaime Hernandez and ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf,’ 9/30 http://fleen.com/

The Book Monsters features Simone Lia and ‘The Crow and the Pitcher,’ 10/1 http://thebookmonsters.com/

Librarian's Quest features Graham Chaffee and ‘The Dog and His Reflection,’ 10/2 http://librariansquest.blogspot.com

Librarian in Cute Shoes features Maris Wicks and ‘The Dolphins, The Whales, and The Sprat,’ 10/3 http://librarianincuteshoes.blogspot.com/

Women Write About Comics features Vera Brosgol and ‘The Hare and the Pig,’ 10/4 http://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/

The Busy Librarian features Kenny Widjaja and ‘The Demon, The Thief, and the Hermit,’ 10/5 http://www.busylibrarian.com/

The Book Rat features Corinne Mucha and ‘The Elephant in Favor,’ 10/6 http://www.thebookrat.com/

Watch. Connect. Read. features Liniers and ‘The Mouse Council,’ 10/7 http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/

Cherry Blossoms and Maple Syrup features Mark Newgarten and ‘Man and Wart,’ 10/8 https://innocencewalker.wordpress.com/

Jenuine Cupcakes features Israel Sanchez and ‘The Milkmaid and Her Pail,’ 10/9 http://jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com/

Bumbles & Fairy Tales features Ulises Farinas and ‘The Great Weasel War,’ 10/10 http://bumblesandfairytales.blogspot.com/

Graphic Policy features R.O. Blechman and ‘The Sun and the Wind,’ 10/11 http://graphicpolicy.com/

The Book Wars features Graham Annable and ‘The Hare and the Tortoise,’ 10/12 https://thebookwars.wordpress.com/

Sturdy for Common Things features John Kerschbaum and ‘The Grasshopper and the Ants,’ 10/13 http://www.sturdyforcommonthings.com/

Kid Lit Frenzy features Braden Lamb and Shelli Paroline and ‘The Thief and the Watchdog,’ 10/14 http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

Maria’s Melange features Gregory Benton and ‘The Hen and the Mountain Turtle,’ 10/15 http://www.mariaselke.com/

Read Write Reflect features Roger Langridge and ‘Demades and His Fable,’ 10/16 http://readwriteandreflect.blogspot.com/

Numbering The Unexpected

Every single day is filled with surprises in all sizes.  There is the kindness of complete strangers helping you to reach something high on a shelf in the grocery store or allowing you to merge in traffic.  A typical visit to the car wash can turn into a humorous moment long remembered.  Handing the attendant a twenty dollar bill, I ask for eight bucks back.  Instead of reaching in his pocket for change, he disappears for a lengthy bit of time.  When he returns he hands me this note.


A sudden hug from a grateful student will last long beyond the day in which it is given.  A worst case scenario can reveal unknown benefits.  Sometimes you have to look long and hard but they are there.  In his newest title for younger readers, Two Mice ( Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, September 1, 2015) Sergio Ruzzier presents us with a series of challenges faced by utterly charming characters.

One house

In this single little home one mouse with brown spots wakes up looking over at its sleeping companion.  In the next scenario there are three cookies, two glasses of milk, and a single red pitcher sitting on the kitchen table.  The first mouse is happily munching on two cookies.  Hands on hips, the second mouse is grumpily staring at the remaining cookie.

In what will be a turn of events the duo set out to explore, finding three boats and two oars.  This time

one rower

works to move them across the water.  It is the mouse who greedily consumed the two cookies.  The white mouse is lounging with eyes closed in the stern.

As they coast toward shore numbers one and two promise them a delicious treat but three gives them not one but two shocks.  Our friends find themselves in troubled waters.  An island with trees promises them relief but OH! NO!

Now airborne their misfortune is tripled.  With sinking hearts they look upon... a clever change of events.  HOORAY!  Hand in hand the two mice walk as readers count one...two...three and three...two...one.  There's plenty for both at day's end.


With warmth and wit Sergio Ruzzier blends counting from one to three and three to one not once but four times into a timeless tale of short-lived misadventure, startling discoveries and enduring friendship.  We move merrily from hope to discouragement and back again as Ruzzier demonstrates his gifted use of language.  Groups of three two-word phrases are punctuated with periods, a question mark and an exclamation point to provide readers with emotional impact and a cadence carried throughout the story.


When you hold a book by Sergio Ruzzier in your hands the signature style of his illustrations and unique color palette are a welcoming invitation to open the cover and let your mind soar.  Seeing those two mice gleefully running across a Ruzzier landscape on a sunny day with soft clouds in the sky makes you want to join in the fun.  The use of red in the title text and along the spine offers further encouragement.  On the back of the matching dust jacket and book case, to the left, on a background of blue are the three cookies with a bite missing from one and two glasses of milk.  A shade of salmon (daybreak) colors the opening endpapers and a deeper blue (early evening) covers the closing endpapers.

A page turn shows the house with smoke rising from the chimney and the first two words of the story.  The title page follows but also continues the tale.  Mint green walls and a hexagonal, floral pattern in tiles on the floor form a room for the mice's two iron beds.  I love seeing a book peeking out from beneath one of the beds.

All of the images span across two pages except for the final one.  Using pen and ink and watercolors Ruzzier supplies mood and movement with his tiny details, fine lines, brush strokes, shading, facial expressions and body movement.  His pictures alone reveal every facet of the narrative.

One of several favorite illustrations is for the text

One island
Two trees  .

The mice are near the land eager to be out of the water.  Both, even though they are wet and have lost their transportation, are wearing big smiles.  Careful readers will see what they cannot see.  The two trees have claws at their root bases.  These are no ordinary trees.  Anticipation is already building as the page is turned.


Small in size, perfect for the hands of his intended audience, Two Mice written and illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier is a tiny treasure waiting to be found over and over by readers.  And believe me, you will be asked to read it repeatedly, counting but also following these two best buddies in and out of their difficulties.  It is simply enchanting.

To learn more about Sergio Ruzzier and this title please follow the links attached to his name to access his website and one of several special pages for this title.  In a link to the starred Horn Book review Ruzzier answers questions about the trim size for this title.  In a wonderful interview at Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast Sergio Ruzzier talks about this book sharing the process and artwork.  Update: November 6, 2015 Sergio Ruzzier writes a guest post at Elizabeth O. Dulemba about his process.  He includes lots of sketches. 

Blue Ribbon Bedlam

Within the last thirty days my wonderful four-footed furry friend and I have traveled from Michigan to Montana and back and then out to Montana to our new home.  During these trips one thing has been abundantly clear; people with dogs enjoy the ride with more leisure.  Rest areas and places of interest are evidence of frequent pauses and longer periods of rest.  Our canine companions' needs are telling us to slow down, stop and smell the scent of a gazillion dogs.

Another observation and lesson humans sometimes fail to learn is the spontaneity of dog behavior.   We may think we know how they will act in any given situation but they can and will continue to surprise us.  Maybe this is why each of us embraces the unique personalities of our beloved pals.

Those lovable characters introduced to readers in How to Behave at a Tea Party, Julia, Charles, Rexie, the frog and the brothers McKagan, have returned in How to Behave at a Dog Show (Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, September 15, 2015).  Author Madelyn Rosenberg and illustrator Heather Ross collaborate to highlight the lighter side of sharing a life with a dog.  To be the best depends on those giving meaning to the word.

First, you fill out the form:

Julia is happily completing all portions of the Happy Tails Kennel Club, Sixteenth Annual Best of Breed Dog Show official entry with the exception of the breed blank.  Locating the dog for beautification is a must.  As she and Charles ready the bath, Rexie quickly slips away with the stealth of a ninja.  Making sure the soap is actually soap is equally important.

As a dog handler classic attire is essential.  Once the dog is located yet again, digging, playing fetch and making friends with a skunk are to be avoided at all costs.  A speedy arrival is now at the top of the agenda.  Grooming before presentation is better without the skills of a pesky brother and his rascal neighborhood friends.

Ignoring the remarks and the plugged noses of the judges, interpretations of commands, the love-at-first-sight antics of contestants, and a runaway shoe thief are easier said than done.  YIKES! Rexie is on the move.  Charles, the McKagan brothers, the frog, a bicycle, a skateboard and a seesaw are not a good combination.  Did I forget to mention the dog show is sponsored by Sloppy Kisses Dog Food?  To showcase their product a pyramid of cans is holding the golden cup for first prize.  This will probably not end as planned.

True to her stalwart spirit Julia rallies the group, Rexie, Charlie, the frog and the McKagan brothers, as they head for home.  She, of course, has a plan.  It's a spectacular, unprecedented happening accentuating talents with attention given to every last detail...even if it lasts until the stars fill the sky.


Using her gift of infusing humor in a narrative, Madelyn Rosenberg gives us laughter with each page turn.  Masterfully mixing what should be with what actually is we are willing participants in every merry moment.  Her lively characters and the hilarious situations in which they find themselves are utterly believable.  She is most definitely in tune with children, brothers and sisters and of course, dogs.  Here is a sample passage.

That's not soap, Charles!

Sigh.  You must hope the judge thinks
Rexie is a Bluetick Coonhound.


Rendered digitally the fun found in the illustrations by Heather Ross begins with the dust jacket.  Bright colors mirror the animated characters and their antics.  You know, without a doubt, prim and proper Julia is in for a challenge thanks to Charles, Rexie and the frog.  Their looks mirror pure mischief.

On the back, to the left, an interior visual gives a hint as to judges' true feelings about Julia and her dog.  The title page foreshadows the ending as the verso begins the interpretation of the narrative.  From the beginning Julia and Rexie already have entirely disparate ideas about a dog show.

A series of vignettes, single page images and double-page pictures proclaim with clarity the contrast between Julia's point of view and what readers see happening.  Fine lines replete with details depict the sheer laugh-out-loud scenes; Julia and Charles wearing goggles to bathe Rexie, a trail of blue leading to the escaped Rexie, the tiny eyes peering from the darkened tree hollow, and the flies buzzing around Rexie.  The facial expressions on all the characters, primary and secondary, are marvelous.  Careful readers will eagerly look for the frog's role in this rollicking romp.

One of my favorite illustrations of many is a single page image at the start of the story.  Julia and Charles are ready to wash Rexie but he has run away... again...out the window.  The screen is torn into a dog shaped hole and the curtains are hanging in disarray from a broken rod.  The goggle-wearing duo is standing next to the tub with water spilled all over the floor.  The frog is peering out over the side of the tub.


If laughter is what you are after, How to Behave at a Dog Show written by Madelyn Rosenberg with illustrations by Heather Ross is the title for you.  Readers learn as do Julia and company, there are all kinds of best.  Sometimes what others might not consider best is what makes an individual extraordinary and lovable.  Going with the flow, enjoying what you have, is the true key to happiness.  I certainly hope Rosenberg and Ross have another adventure starring these characters in the works.

To learn more about Madelyn Rosenberg and Heather Ross please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites. Madelyn Rosenberg has developed an activity for Hosting Your Own Pet Show for Teachers and Librarians.  She has also started a Tumblr for posting pet pictures and stating their best something.  32Zoo interviewed Madelyn Rosenberg about this title and her other new book.  Enjoy the book trailer.  (Can you find Xena?)