A Pompous Pilferer

If there is a body of water, regardless of its size, it is likely they will be there.  Their constant cawing chorus creates a discordant melody with the wind and waves.  They strut on the beaches like royalty.  They search from the air like super spies.  When they find what they desire, their speed at acquiring it is the stuff of legend.

Who are these master thieves of land and water?  Seagulls!  With much hilarity Smug Seagull (Little, Brown and Company, May 26, 2020) written and illustrated by Maddie Frost tells the tale of a bird with an abundance of cleverness about to be tested.  He discovers he does not have a corner on cunning.

Don't waste your time looking at the boring copyright stuff.

If you want to see something exciting,
watch this . . . .

SWIPE

With an expert swoop and grab, readers are privy to a first bird narration by this seaside food burglar.  He points out his deft techniques.  In his not-so-humble opinion he believes others agree with this assessment of himself as evidenced by a restaurant bearing his name, a beach sign about feeding seagulls and his ardent fans, sea lions.  They must be shouting praise, right?

If we are not already charmed by the seagull's characteristics, he performs a series of dance moves.  As he falls to the sand, he sees a small red crab carrying a large, crispy french fry.  It isn't easy, but he manages to filch this tempting treat from the crustacean.  Before he can boast about his success, the crab snatches it back.

The crab's abilities, and, then, disappearance under the water makes the seagull crazy.  Donning goggles and carrying a net, he dives through the waves to get the french fry back.  He is repeatedly obstructed from his endeavors, before being terrified.  Back on the sand (thankfully), the seagull decides to return to what he can do best, but something has happened.  His prowess has vanished.  He has been bested by a small red crab.

In a dramatic monologue, the seagull tries to plan his next move.  Two things transpire in quick succession, signaling a change of plans.  As the saying goes---Two savvy food foragers are more fortunate than one who flies solo.


Every available opportunity to spin this story is skillfully used by author Maddie Frost.   The comedic text begins on the dust jacket, continues on the verso and title pages, remains throughout the body of the book, and concludes on the closing endpapers.  The voice of the seagull provides a constant commentary, and precise pacing with perfect pauses for the images to extend the words.  We are happily entertained from beginning to end, laughing out loud repeatedly.  Here is a passage.

All right, listen up, Short Stuff.
Nobody, I mean NOBODY, swipes
from me!

Don't you know
who I am?
Didn't you read my sign?

Well, pal, I just so
happen to be the---

PLIP (The crab dives into the sea)


(Note:  I am working with an F & G.  My hard copy has not arrived yet.)

We meet Seagull in all his exuberant glory on the front of the dust jacket.  He is already informing us of his signature attribute with an example clasped in his wing.  The raised eyebrows on the crab is a bit of foreshadowing.  To the left, on the back, we are shown a scene from the interior of the story.  It's another hint at the craftiness of the little red crab.  Seagull is not happy at the french fry now in the claw of his challenger.  The sand and sea continue flawlessly across the spine and to each of the flap edges.  Along the spine are teeny examples of snacks seagulls love to acquire from beachgoers.

On the opening and closing endpapers is a panoramic view of the beach and the sea with the sand full of people enjoying a variety of activities.  Among them are eight seagulls being pests.  Our protagonist has flow in his amazing swipe from the left to the right with a pizza slice in his beak.  A surprised boy is chasing him.  On the closing endpapers the sun has set.  The same people have moved around a bit, shifting from daytime experiences to settling in for the evening.  Eight seagulls are there now, snacking, hiding and even lounging in a chair.  Our new pals are flying overhead.

Each of the illustrations varying in size from double-page pictures, to a group of panels framed in white on a single page (or crossing the gutter in a dramatic display), and full-page images are highly animated.  Rendered by

using scanned mixed media and Kyle T. Webster brushes in Photoshop with text set in Smug Seagull, and the display type hand-lettered

the pictures heighten the humor and the cadence of the narrative.  Sometimes Maddie Frost brings us very close to the action, and other times we get a bird's eye view.  The facial expressions, especially the eyes enrich the laughter factor.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations takes place after the little red crab steals the french fry back from the seagull.  It is a vertical underwater scene on a little less than one-half of a page.  It is framed in white with rounded edges.  Seagull is wearing a set of purple goggles and carrying a darker teal net.  He is looking disgustedly to the right.  The little red crab is hanging on to the french fry in one claw and gripping a fishing line with the other claw.  He is surrounded and protected by five lavender smiling, and zapping jellyfish.  Clearly the crab has the upper claw.


This book, Smug Seagull written and illustrated by Maddie Frost is burst-out-laughing funny.  In this title there is a stellar blend of words and visuals.  It is a perfect choice for a summer, vacation, beach, humorous, or a bird-themed storytime.  It is one of those titles which will be requested for a reread again and again.  I know you'll have to have a copy for your personal and professional collections. (I have one on its way for mine.)

To learn more about Maddie Frost and her other work, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  Maddie Frost has accounts on Instagram and Twitter.

Grab your snacks and join @_maddiefrost on her backyard beach day as she shows us how to draw the seagull from her new picture book, SMUG SEAGULL! pic.twitter.com/aZ9pfkg9u5

— Little, Brown Young Readers (@LittleBrownYR) May 27, 2020

Enjoy this addition video about Maddie Frost and Smug Seagull.

Sand And Water, Water And Sand

When standing on the shore at the edge of an ocean, a sea or Lake Michigan, looking to your left and to your right, the sand stretches as far as the eye can see.  This sand has been sculpted endlessly by the waves.  It awaits eager hands armed with buckets, shovels, found objects and ideas.

For hours, days and sometimes weeks all a solitary soul needs are the water and the sand.  Hum and Swish (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, June 11, 2019) written and illustrated by Matt Myers requests our presence for a day at the beach.  Like the little girl, we find solace and inspiration.

Jamie and the sea are friends.
Jamie hums.  The waves swish.

Curious beach walkers want to know what Jamie is making.  She does not know.  Another passerby remarks on her ingenuity.  Jamie does not know about that either.

People keep asking but Jamie has no answer for them.  Sometimes what people say and do, does not make Jamie happy but the sea soothes her.  To Jamie the sea reveals answers but never questions.

Her father and mother visit her; each interested in her creations and progress.  Her replies are vague.  She continues fashioning her beach designs and objects until someone new captures her attention.

She does not ask Jamie anything, but Jamie questions her.  The woman's response is exactly what Jamie has been saying to everyone.  Jamie and the woman work in companionable silence.  When Jamie finally speaks, the woman does, too.  They both display surprises.


This narrative written by Matt Myers with carefully chosen words has a rhythm similar to the sounds of the waves washing up and back on the sandy shore.  The refrain using the words hum and swish is repeated to supply a seamless flow from one portion of the narrative to another.  The dialogue makes the story more personal; we feel a kinship with Jamie in her solitary pursuit.  The arrival of the woman adds another layer to the story.  While we might be alone in our endeavors, there are others who see and understand us.  Here is a passage.

Jamie's mom brings a juice box.  "When do you
think you might be finished with your project?"

"Not sure," Jamie says.

Hum.  Swish.

Someone else comes.


For those who've ever dreamed of a day near the sea or for those who have memories of days on a beach, the open and matching dust jacket and book case are breathtaking perfection.  The waves, the gathered found objects and the little girl crouched and forming something special in the sand is a scene to cherish.  The water and shoreline extend over the spine to the left, on the back.  A curious seabird is watching the child work.

On the opening and closing endpapers in hues of blue and white, waves move toward the beach.  Sunlight peeking through a hazy, cloudy sky casts a glow on the water on the title page.  The girl is shown walking along the beach, head bent and carrying one of her discoveries.  Her hair blows in the breeze.  Across the verso and dedication pages the water washes on the shore as she bends down to start her work in the sand.  Nearby people walk along the beach.  Others are seated under umbrellas.

Rendered in acrylic and oil paint the illustrations are double-page and single-page pictures, edge to edge.  When the text is placed on a crisp white canvas opposite a painting, Matt Myers includes a smaller element; seabirds, one of Jamie's "beings" or a bucket filled with her precious treasures found along the beach.  At one point two smaller visuals are placed on a single page to enhance pacing and a shift in the narrative.

Readers will be captivated by the details in each image.  Facial expressions on all the people, especially Jamie convey a range of emotions.  The use of light and shadow is exquisite.  Sometimes Matt Myers will shift his perspective; we might only see the legs of a person questioning Jamie or we move farther back to see an entire beach scene.

One of my many, many favorite illustrations is on a single page.  It is a close-up of Jamie.  She is seated in a small pool connected to the sea.  Behind her are some large stones, sand and cliffs with a line of evergreen trees.  The faint outline of a seabird is against the fluffy clouds.  Next to her is her yellow bucket brimming with wonders.  Jamie is holding a scallop in her hands.  A look of joy and content is evident on her face.


Hum and Swish written and illustrated by Matt Myers is a luminous portrait of the solitary bliss of creativity, of the wonder of spending time with sand and the sea and of meeting a kindred spirit.  This is a book for summer, trips to the beach, of growing an appreciation for natural wonders, of experiencing peace and being free to be yourself.  I highly recommend this title for your professional and personal collections.

To learn more about Matt Myers and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  Matt Myers has a special page dedicated to this book with art and a bit of writing about his process.  This is his first picture book as author and illustrator.  Matt has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  I believe you will enjoy this video about his process.


UPDATE:  Julie Danielson, author, reviewer and blogger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast shares process art from Matt Myers, August 23, 2019.

Water, Wind And Wave-Tossed Treasures

On the northwestern side of the shores of Lake Michigan, wanderers can expect a sensory experience.  If you close your eyes, you can still feel the sun, a breeze, steady drops of rain or the grit of sand on your feet.  You can hear the sound of waves on the beach, the screech of water birds, the barking of dogs or the laughter of children.  Breathe deep the odor of beach grass, flowers and wet sand.  When you reach to pick up a stone or piece of driftwood, the texture is smooth.

If you are most fortunate, an unexpected hue different from the natural tones of beach, seaweed, wood or stones will grab your attention.  It may be a faded shade of blue, green, brown, white or even red.  You have discovered beach glass.  Sea Glass Summer (Candlewick Press, May 21, 2019) written by Michelle Houts with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline is about a memorable summer of discoveries, dreams and stories.

Some years ago, a boy named Thomas spent the summer at his grandmother's island cottage.

Early during this visit, Thomas's grandmother gifted him with a magnifying glass which had belonged to his grandfather.  Thomas loved to look at found objects through that magnifying glass.  As they walked along the shore, his grandmother found a piece of sea glass.

Thomas was intrigued by her explanation of the sea glass's possible origin.  He was even more fascinated by a saying his grandfather had about sea glass.  A story was attached to every piece.

During the night, Thomas dreamed about the story attached to that piece of sea glass.  It had to do with the christening of a ship in the United States Navy in 1944.  The broken green glass of the champagne bottle fell into the water.

All during the summer Thomas longed to find sea glass and dream of the stories bound to each one.  On his last day on the island, the boy searched and searched for sea glass, hoping for one more dream and one more story.  There was no sea glass.  There was no dream.  There was no story.  Life has its own way of making our wishes come true even if it takes decades and another summer of sea glass sightings, dreams and stories.


Memories made in summers are memories, many times, to be cherished.  Author Michelle Houts uses found objects to present stories within a story.  She skillfully weaves history into the not-too-distant past bringing readers to the present.  Through a blend of text and dialogue, she shows readers stories are everywhere and we are tied to each other through the marvelous manner in which stories work.  Here are portions of two connected passages.

Once Thomas found a real treasure:  a large chunk of sea glass with a few letters---SON---just barely raised on its surface.  Thomas wondered what word the letters might have been a part of and what story this piece of glass might tell.

When Thomas slipped between the cool sheets that night, he dreamed of wind and waves and a terrible storm.

The captain's shouted orders could barely he heard over the roar of the wind as men scurried to their stations. 
"Lower the sails!" . . .


When readers look at the open and matching dust jacket and book case they are given a glimpse into Thomas's summer adventure on the front through a realistic depiction of a rocky island seashore and a peek at one of his dreams on the back.  Bagram Ibatoulline's attention to detail and color palette are nearly photographic.  We get a very real sense of Thomas's excitement and purpose on his daily beach hikes.  Listen and you will hear the waves fall on the shore.

To the left, on the back, using one of the hues in the sky as a canvas, a small circular portrait is outlined in a thin red border.  A woman from the past is smashing a bottle of champagne against the side of a ship.  We can place her at a certain point in history by her clothing.  Above and below this image are the words:

They say that each piece of sea glass
has a story all its own.

Just imagine the tales the ocean might tell. 

The opening and closing endpapers are the same blue as the sea on the jacket and case.  On the initial title page, a single sea gull flies above the text.  For the formal title page we are brought close to a group of shells, sea glass and pebbles resting on the sand.  This illustration is between the text.

Each image rendered in watercolor by Bagram Ibatoulline is a stunning representation of moments not only in this story but also of the past.  Readers can tell by the architecture, clothing and vehicles in which time period the scene is placed.  Bagram Ibatoulline alters his perspective and picture sizes to heighten the emotional intensity of the narrative.

On the first double-page picture we are given a large view of Thomas's grandmother's cottage on the island beach.  She is hanging towels on the porch railing while Thomas skips a stone into the sea from the shore.  In the next single page picture, it's as if we are looking up those cottage steps as Thomas walks down.  His grandmother stands at the top looking out at the sea, a hand raised to shade her eyes.  Opposite this, text is placed on a wooden-like surface and framed in a fine blue-gray line.  The picture there is a close-up of the magnifying glass and a clamshell.

When Thomas dreams, those paintings are done in shades of gray.  The text for his dreams is framed and placed on the left or right over the double-page picture.  Several wordless illustrations tell their own powerful story.  After an initial reading, it's a given readers will go back and look at the visuals more closely, noting the beautiful use of particular elements like the color of Thomas's tennis shoes.

One of my many favorite illustrations is at the end of the summer.  It is a single-page picture.  The sun has set.  Breathtaking shades of pale orange, pink and purple color the sky and sea.  The rocky beach is close to us but stretches back and to the left giving us more than one point of view.  Thomas in his familiar clothing has added a denim jacket.  He is carrying the magnifying glass as he bends over, looking intently for one final piece of sea glass.


Sea Glass Summer written by Michelle Houts with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline is a marvelous integration of the past and present through thoughtful, truthful words and exquisite artwork.  This title captures the magic of summers then and now and connects them and other events through story.  There is a soothing harmony in this book.  I highly recommend it for your personal and professional collections.

If you wish to discover more about Michelle Houts and Bagram Ibatoulline and their other work, please access their websites by following the links attached to their names.  Michelle Houts maintains accounts on Instagram and Twitter.  At the publisher's website you can view an interior image.  They also have a special page with a note from the author.  At Penguin Random House you can see several initial pages.

A Piece of Time

For anyone living or visiting northern Michigan the beaches along the Great Lakes are a treasure trove of all forms, shapes and sizes of rocks.  It is indeed the only place on earth to find the coveted Petoskey stone.  In fact, you don't have to go very deep on any piece of property to find sand, gravel and rocks.  Nearly daily I am unearthing rocks from walnut-sized to as large as a fist, mine and the Hulk's mighty clenched hand.

You find yourself wondering about the path taken by any single rock.  From where did it originate?  Is it part of a larger whole?  How long has it been here?  Was it present at a significant historic event?  A Stone for Sascha (Candlewick Press, May 8, 2018) conceived and illustrated by Aaron Becker, without words, takes readers on a passage through time and discovery of self.

A beloved canine companion is dead.  A girl morns the loss as the family lays the animal to rest near their home.  Shortly thereafter they leave for their camping vacation; one member is absent this year.

Taking a bucket to the beach to the girl searches along the sand and notices another girl with another dog.  As dusk blankets the area that night, a cosmic crack gives us a vision into the past.  In the time of dinosaurs a meteor strikes the planet; later large portions of it are found by early people.  It is taken from place to place and eventually appears as a carved monolith. Kingdoms and wars cause it to be broken and transported in pieces to other locations.

As a keystone it survives decades of time to be formed later into a precious and intricate work of art.  It is a gift.  It is plunder.  It is lost.  When finally found time has smoothed its edges and size to fill a hole in a saddened heart.  It becomes . . .


The beauty of this book, beside the glorious illustrations and profound story, is it will resonate differently with each reader.  It, like the stone, will heal and connect us to something larger than ourselves.  We will, thanks to the imagination and perception of Aaron Becker, take with us in the visual reading of this narrative a greater understanding of the passage of time, life and death.  We are all in this together.


When you open the dust jacket you see the girl gazing at the lake from the beach at her camp site.  Standing next to the bucket of rocks, she holds her golden treasure.  The flow of the complimentary colors is soothing to the soul, allowing us to feel a similar peace she now perceives.  To the left, on the back, on a canvas of light royal blue, is the ornate carved golden chest from ancient times.

The book case covered in a darker textured blue is bare except for the center of the front.  A golden dog tag, heart-shaped, inscribed with the word

SASCHA

holds this spot.  The text on the spine is also embossed in gold.  The opening and closing endpapers are two different maps, chronicling the journey of the stone.  Aaron Becker includes dates and place names.

On the title page a framed photograph of the girl and Sascha seated together is centered between the text.  The girl is hugging the dog as the dog leans into her.  The dedication and verso are placed on a two-page breathtaking illustration (all the illustrations are painted digitally) of the girl picking flowers to put on the dog's grave.  Her family watches in the distance.

A blend of small images on white, single-page visuals framed in white or placed edge to edge, and grand two-page illustrations fill our eyes with wonder.  To delineate the passage of time a series of vertical or horizontal panels are designed to cover one page.  Aaron's realistic colors are muted, softened, to take us back in time and to supply a specific emotion.  To accentuate meaning, his point of view shifts, bringing us very close to the moment.

One of my many favorite pictures is of the girl on the beach on their arrival at the camp site.  The curve of the water meeting the sand is a partial oval in front of her.  Behind her the bucket is overflowing with stones as she reaches into the water for another one.  To her left in the back is another group of campers.  Although she is reaching into the water, she head is lifted up and to the right.  A girl runs along the beach carrying a disc as her dog runs along with her.  A beach volleyball game is in the background.  Amid all this activity her thoughts are drawn to Sascha.  (One key technique to note is Aaron places yellow in every picture tying places and time together.)


There is hardly a reader who has not experienced the loss of a beloved family member, friend or cherished animal companion.  This book, A Stone for Sascha conceived and illustrated by Aaron Becker, gives solace.  Through his perspectives we are able to find our own.  I highly recommend this title for your personal and professional collections.

To learn more about Aaron Becker and his other work please follow the links attached to his name to access his website and Tumblr pages. Aaron visits super school librarian Travis Jonker's website, 100 Scope Notes at School Library Journal, to chat about this book.  I believe you will appreciate the video.  The cover for this book is premiered at All The Wonders.  At publishers' websites, Penguin Random House and Candlewick Press you can view interior images.  Candlewick Press also has a Q and A with Aaron.  Enjoy the other videos.


A Stone for Sascha - official trailer from Aaron Becker on Vimeo.

A Day At The Beach

In the state of Michigan the season of summer signals numerous things, as it probably does in other states, but without a doubt for many residents and visitors it means days at the beach.  With more than eleven thousand inland lakes you are never far from a sandy shore.  It is said you are always within eighty-five miles of one of the Great Lakes no matter where you are standing in Michigan.

A day at the beach here can be spent swimming, floating on a raft, constructing sand castles, searching for Petoskey stones, walking, skipping stones, throwing water toys for your dog to retrieve or sitting in a sand chair in the water reading your favorite book.  No one who enjoys hours in any of these pastimes, or something else entirely, expects to completely transform themselves.  In David Ezra Stein's newest title, Ice Boy (Candlewick Press, April 11, 2017), that is precisely what happens to one very bold ice cube.

Ice Boy had a normal life:
goofing around with his brothers and sisters...
dodging tough cubes from the back of the freezer.

Every so often one of the cubes would disappear to be used to chill some human's drink.  This was considered the highest honor according to Ice Boy's parents.  Ice Boy did not agree.

He wanted more.

Despite his parent's warnings to never to outside of the freezer and his doctor's strict advice to avoid the sun at all costs, Ice Boy left the freezer.  Ice Boy went out into the sun.  And the first place he visited was the beach.  He was thrilled to be playing in the water.  Then something unexpected happened.  He changed into Water Boy.

He never imagined he would be able to greet sea birds, get tickled by a crab or feel the fuzz on a beach towel.  As he basked in the sun on the soft surface, something else unexpected happened.  He shifted into Vapor Boy.

Floating up higher and higher he developed into a drop.  He was dancing the day away on a thunderhead when it turned freezing.  He plunged down, down, and down falling as hail.  He was Ice Boy once more.  Turning and tumbling topsy-turvy he headed toward a neighborhood, a house and a backyard.  Somehow, more than one cube ended up having the time of their lives.


What makes this book particularly pleasing for the intended audience is the blend of conversations and comments in the form of speech balloons with the narrative text.  These extras contain just the right amount of humor and puns. The story is completely fictional but David Ezra Stein has cleverly woven an introductory lesson on the wonder of water into this book.  (It is also the only chemical compound that occurs naturally on Earth's surface in all three physical states:  solid, liquid and gas.)  Here is an example passage.

Vapor Boy was light as air.  He wafted so high,

POP!

[Am I dense, or did I just become a liquid again?]

he became a little drop.


As soon as you look at Ice Boy standing on those cubes, hands on his sides and a grin on his face wearing tube socks, you know this is no ordinary ice cube.  No sir, this ice cube craves adventure.  It's a marvelous technique David Ezra Stein uses around the central element of character and title text.  It's like they are floating in water.  To the left on the back on a white canvas is an interior image.  Ice Boy is leaving the freezer exclaiming

Hello world!

The opening and closing endpapers are a pale steel blue.

Rendered in mixed media on watercolor paper the illustrations vary in their size from double page spans, edge to edge, single page pictures, edge to edge and loosely framed insets on single pages.  In some of the smaller images a portion of an element will break through the border.  These fluctuations contribute and accentuate the pacing.

The physical features on the ice cubes, particularly Ice Boy, endear the characters to readers.  They all have delicate feet, arms, eyes, and mouths.  Ice Boy's father has a mustache.  Some of the ice cubes are wearing bows on top of their heads or hats.

One of my favorite of several illustrations is when Ice Boy first leaves the freezer.  He arrives at the beach.  Most of the image is a wash of sky and sea with waves breaking on the sand.  Up the dune in the distance we see a life guard and several people playing along the shore.  We zoom in on Ice Boy arms thrown in the air as he tosses his socks which he removed.  He is jumping in the air ready to greet the waves grinning in total joy.


I believe educators and younger readers are going to appreciate the fun (and learning) found on the pages of Ice Boy written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein.  The mix of straight text with comments and conversations in graphic style will be appealing to readers.  I can't wait to use this title as a read aloud.

To learn more about David Ezra Stein and his other work please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  The link initially takes you to a wonderful post about The Making of Ice Boy.  At Penguin Random House and Candlewick Press you can view interior images.  David Ezra Stein talks about this book with Nick Patton at All The Wonders, Picturebooking, Episode 77.  Author illustrator Matthew Cordell and David Ezra Stein chat at Season 2, Episode 1, Number Five Bus Presents...  


I am aware this book is a work of fiction but because it contains nonfiction portions I am including it for this week's 2017 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge title.  Be sure to visit educator Alyson Beecher's Kid Lit Frenzy to view the other choices of bloggers this week.

By The Sea, By The Sea, By The Beautiful Sea

In exactly eleven days an official holiday will signal the unofficial beginning of summer.  Memorial Day weekend is when many individuals will meet with family and friends to travel to the nearest parks and lakes to enjoy a little rest and relaxation for the first time this year.  It's a time to reap the benefits of unhindered sunrises and sunsets, sand and hopefully some solitude.

For others living along one of the coasts, the days will bring about an entirely different kind of adventure.  Those large bodies of water hold mysteries within their depths.  You never know what might wash up along the shores.  In their newest undertaking Cordelia, her younger brother, his teddy bear companion, and her prehistoric pals, Rex, Alan, Rosemary and Clarence, whose delightful antics we've enjoyed in Tea Rex and Camp Rex, are headed for some seaside merriment.  Sea Rex (Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), May 26, 2015) is sure to send you packing for your next excursion with a smile on your face.

READY for a carefree day of fun in the sun?
Gather your friends...

Upon arriving at the beach one must take precautions to fully appreciate all this trip has to offer, keeping safety in mind.  This might mean staying within eyesight of the life guard.  If you don't use the proper amount of sunscreen, the sun's rays will keep you uncomfortably warm for days.

Tiptoeing into the water is far too slow.  Go for the cannonball jump!  Watch out for those sudden colossal waves which are a surfer's delight but can create mayhem on the shore.  Everyone knows the sand along the sea reveals endless treasures.  Cordelia and company find seashells to be full of surprises; sharp, loud and gigantic.

When you flip open the lid on your picnic basket new friends will flock to your side.  In fact, they might get carried away (or carry someone away).  If you should race to the rescue, kindly observe the cardinal rules for swimming.  You simply never know what lurks beneath the surface.

This is a day for making memories or sand castles.  It's full of snoozing, floating and snacking.  It's best done with Rex and his roomies.


Charming as ever, like a guide from a bygone era, Molly Idle gives voice to an unseen speaker.  With each statement we are privy to numerous pieces of particular recommendations and several golden nuggets of life advice.  Key words add to the anticipation of searching for the discrepancy between the narrative and the images.  As soon as I read carefree I knew the opposite was going to be true on more than one occasion.  Our fearless formal friend seems to be the recipient of things gone awry which simply creates more fun for the reader.


Beginning with shades of blue on the front and back of the dust jacket (I'm working with an F & G), Molly Idle takes us to the water with its cool colors.  You can't help but rejoice in the playful nod by Idle to another classic cover of a swim at sea.  Readers familiar with the two previous titles will be as happy as Rex and Cordelia to see the two friends reunited.

In this title the crown over Rex is formed from anchors to maintain the theme.  Details like this spell excellence.  The red and white in SEA are those found in a life tube. The opening and closing endpapers contain similar elements but subtle changes point to the storyline; how we begin and finish.  A bug-eyed crab has been busy.

Rendered in Prismacolor pencils on vellum finish Bristol each illustration tells its own story starting with the title page; Cordelia, her brother and teddy bear dressed and ready for a trek to the seashore. With skill Idle supplies pacing in her picture sizes; alternating between small insets, framed single pages, two-page, edge to edge visuals and smaller framed pictures on a single page.  Idle's layout is impeccable.

Mood, motion and lots of humor are generated with facial features, body postures and intricate line work.  You can't help but laugh when you see the tiny sailor hat on the head and the teeny pail and shovel in the hands of Rex. Careful readers will see that even with a pail full of sunscreen one member of the crew seems to have acquired a rather unique sunburn.

One of my many favorite illustrations is a wordless double-page span of Rex, Cordelia, her brother, his teddy bear and a persistent seagull.  Rex is resting on his back, wearing a toothy grin, holding Cornelia's umbrella with the seagull on top over his face and his inner tube's face.  Cordelia's brother is sleeping on Rex's stomach.  The teddy bear is perched on Rex's curled tail peering over the side.  Cordelia is stretched on her beach towel, her hand holding a spot in her book, as she looks up at Rex.  She is definitely wondering why her umbrella has been moved.


Whether you have read the companion titles or not, you are going to thoroughly enjoy Sea Rex written and illustrated with mastery by Molly Idle.  Each character will charm you as the contrast between the text and images depicts one moment of comedy after another.  At the conclusion you will want to give each one a hug after you have walked to the beach to sit beside them.  This book is meant to be shared.

For more information about Molly Idle and her other titles please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  This interview at Andrea Skyberg|Author & Artist gives us a tour of Molly Idle's studio.

His Heart Leads The Way

Some fictional characters, like their human counterparts, no matter their age look at their world with curiosity and hope.  Seeing something new on a daily walk, exploring a place away from home or looking for love, can fill your days with delight if your heart is open and your spirit in generous.  Treasures are waiting to be found, if you look with the right kind of eyes.

Sometimes, seemingly disparate things can have an important connection. Let's look at a pinecone, a crab and yarn.  What these three items have in common is a very special character created by author illustrator, Salina Yoon.  In October of 2012 she introduced us to Penguin in Penguin and Pinecone; a story of an endearing friendship, of a love which grows and spreads.

This year we lucky readers have two new titles featuring this huggable, lovable bird.  In April, perfect for our summer months, Penguin on Vacation (Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury, April 16, 2013) arrived.  Our friend decides he needs a change of scenery.

"I need a vacation."
Penguin sighed.
Snow again?

I'll wager many people in the northern climates, especially in the last few weeks, can identify with Penguin.  He feels like he's exhausted all previous snowy activities of skiing, sledding and skating.  This feathered creature craves sun and sand.

Suitcase by his side, beach ball in his flippers, he travels by floe to the beach of his dreams only to discover it's not quite what he expected.  Hazards such as sea shells, coconuts and hot sand make exploring a bit difficult.  His favorite pastimes of skiing, sledding and skating don't work as well or not at all.

A little red pal appears ready to acquaint Penguin with the finer points of vacationing at the beach.  Crab knows all about creating castles, climbing palm trees, and surfing.  Penguin can't believe his good fortune found with his new friend.

We all know vacations must come to an end.  Reluctantly Penguin begins the long float home.  Startled by a movement in the water, the return trip reveals exciting new possibilities.  Penguin is able to return many kindnesses and the gift of a tiny scarf and tiny mittens. Another return makes an appearance by the book's end to the delight of more than one penguin.


In the simple sentences telling this tale, Salina Yoon conveys thoughts and emotions but most importantly the presence of innocence.  Both Penguin and Crab are eager to extend the hand of friendship to one another, unencumbered by any assumptions.  The main narrative is broadened with the smaller text; additional thoughts and exclamations by the characters.  You can tell Yoon loves playing with words giving a cadence to some of her sentences.  She also likes to include a wee bit of humor.  Here are a couple of examples.

Ninety-nine balls of snow on the ground...

They whooshed and pushed.
They fished and wished.


When opening up the cover of this title, Salina Yoon gives you hints about how the story will unfold picturing Penguin's arrival at the beach with Crab on the sand, the back cover showing the conch shell, an important element to the story.  The beginning endpapers are diagonally lined with multiple Crabs, red on pale yellow.  On the back endpapers he is still there, clad now in Penguin's newly knitted gifts.

To accentuate the narrative flow, illustrations vary in size from two pages, to single pages, small cutouts on pure white backgrounds, and single pages framed in her signature heavy black lines surrounded by white space.  With only black dots for eyes, Yoon still conveys her characters personalities with warmth and conviction.  The tiniest of details add to the book's charm; Penguin's beach outfit, Crab's beach bag used in travel and Penguin pulling Crab on a spare skate as if he is a skier behind a boat.  My favorite illustration is of the two of them drinking from the same coconut, using long straws, lying on their respective beach towels and wearing sunglasses.


Less than ten days ago Penguin in Love (Walker Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Bloomsbury, December 3, 2013) could be found in bookstores.  As in the first title, Penguin comes across an unexpected item.  It begins an interesting chain of events.

One day, Penguin was looking for love.
What's this?
Instead, he found...

It looks like a mitten but there are no signs from where it might have come.  Grandpa (It's great that Grandpa has a part in all the books.) and several others penguins say it is not their mitten, although they are missing other things.  What Penguin does not know is his friend, Bootsy from Penguin and Pinecone, is busily knitting cozies on the other end of the ice.

Like Penguin, Bootsy knits with purpose, to help others and fill her solitary heart.  To Penguin's surprise two puffins land near him and his latest knitting project, a partner for the sole mitten.  Guess what?  It's not a mitten but a bill cozy which the puffin is thankful to receive.

Those two puffins, a match made in heaven, have a plan.  Penguin's yarn disappears.  Bootsy's yarn vanishes.  In searching for their yarn, Penguin and Bootsy meet again.  They have a mystery to solve, though.  A line of clues have been left for them.

Following these trails of yarn, the two knit and knit and knit and knit, binding themselves together in warmth, fun, comfort and kindness until a terrible storm separates the two.  All they have left are their individual clues.  It's not easy but they discover the greatest adventure of all waits.


When you read the first sentence of this narrative, you are completely captivated.  You imagine how Salina Yoon might have Penguin find love.  It's interesting how she uses her sentences like a knitter uses yarn, stringing them together, in and out, over and under, having Penguin and Bootsy follow paths to each other creating the best kind of garment for warmth, love.  Additional interest is added in this title with the introduction of the puffins, other penguins by name, the seal pup and the whale. Again we see the playful nature of Yoon in the song sung by her characters out at sea. The final three pages of text are guaranteed to create a sigh, a glow lighting every reader's heart.


As she did in the previous title, the opened cover provides foreshadowing; the heart-shaped ice floe, the yarn making a letter o and the needles making a letter x on the front.  The tip of the ice extends to the back with the two puffins looking forward at Penguin, a heart drawn in the snow reading P + B.  On both the starting and closing endpapers on a white background are lines of brightly-colored yarn, making loops and hearts.

You have to smile at the inclusion of a telescope in Penguin's flippers when he is looking for love and the magnifying glass he holds examining the single mitten.  Another delightful interpretation by Yoon is when Penguin lays out a sign for Bootsy to find; he spells her name in yarn with a knitted bow crossing the t and a heart woven into the tail of the y.  As in the other titles, cheerful colors sparkle on every page with the white backgrounds and bold black lines lifting them into view. My favorite illustration spreads across the bottom of two pages; in a line are the whale, two puffins on an ice floe, and the seal pup on a floe too with the heart-shaped floe in the lead, occupied by Penguin and Bootsy as all are singing.


Penguin on Vacation and Penguin in Love written and illustrated by the very talented Salina Yoon are charming with a capital C.  You can't help but fall in love with Penguin and his friends as they enjoy each other's company.  All of these books are first and foremost to be enjoyed but think of the wonderful conversations you can have about friendship.  Share them with as many people as you can, repeatedly with joy.

To discover more about Salina Yoon and her books, please follow the link attached to her name to access her website.  This link takes you to a pictorial interview at BookPage.