A Trio Of Seasonal Treats

Autumn does not officially arrive until Tuesday, September 22, 2020, one week from today, yet people's thoughts have been turning to the solace found during December holidays as evidenced by the #Lightsforlife hashtag on social media in March of this year.  Lights and holiday decorations appeared outside homes to spread cheer and support for others during this pandemic.  In times of darkness people seek the opposite, they hope for the opposite.  

A trio of Christmas titles, two last week, and one today, are contributing to the comfort.  Each one tells a different story, but each presents the magical merriment found during this season. Happy Narwhalidays (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #5) (Tundra Books, September 8, 2020) written and illustrated by Ben Clanton continues the delightful tale of two friends, a narwhal and a jellyfish, who, more often than not, view the world through contrasting perspectives.  In six short sections replete with their exuberant personalities and some fabulous facts, readers will find themselves singing in their minds, hearts, and maybe out loud.

Jingle Shells, Jingle Shells, Jingle All The Way!

Oh, What Fun It Is To Sing While Swimming In the Bay!

Jingle Shells, Jingle Shells, Jingle All The Way!

Narwhal is happily swimming wearing a red-and-white striped scarf with red ribbon wound around his tusk. Jelly, wearing a ski hat, is anything but happy.  Jelly is shivering in the cold.  Narwhal, in reply to Jelly, states the best part about this time of the year is the arrival of the Merry Mermicorn.  

As you might expect, Jelly is completely skeptical about a being you can't see. Moving through the water, Jelly finds a mysterious package addressed to him.  It contains six mittens.  Jelly is sure Narwhal left this package.  Now Jelly needs to find the perfect present for Narwhal.  It is not easy, not easy at all.

After consulting with Shark, Octopus, Turtle, Shelly, Star, and Otty, Jelly is no closer to finding a gift for his friend.  Suddenly Narwhal greets Jelly, noticing the wrapped gift.  Instead of opening it, Narwhal imagines all the possibilities of what could be inside.  To Narwhal, this is better than knowing.  To Jelly, it is a relief.

The duo then writes a charming story about Super Waffle and Strawberry Sidekick and their encounter with a grumpy green jelly bean whose flavor is

pickle-scum

snail-slime puree.

At the close of the book, Narwhal offers something to Jelly.  Jelly discovers the unexpected can be the best present.  The holiday spirit spreads from the tip of Narwhal's tusk to the ends of Jelly's tentacles and out from the pages of the book.

With the exception of the two pages of Cool Facts and parts of The Mean Green Jelly Bean most portions of this book are told in the witty dialogue between Narwhal and Jelly.  Author Ben Clanton reveals what readers have come to love about these characters in everything they say.  Their conversations also offer much for readers to ponder about holiday celebrations and friendship.  His use of puny language elevates the humor.  Here is a passage.

And you've seen this

Merry Miracle-Corn

before?

Nope!

I think she

might be

invisible.

So how do you 

know she exists?!

I can feel

it in my 

flippers! She is

REAL!

Narwhal, that might

be frostbite you're

feeling.

Using his signature color palette for the Narwhal and Jelly books, illustrator Ben Clanton brings in the crisp shades of blue, white, red and yellow accented with his heavier black outlines.  The contrast between the thinking of Narwhal and Jelly is evident on the front of the book case.  Narwhal is joyous.  Jelly is nearly freezing in the cold.  The red color is in foil.  On the left, back, four square panels further explain the difference in the duo's attitudes.  And yes, you'll be smiling or laughing before you even open the book.

The opening and closing endpapers, in deep sea blue and white, are a pattern of Narwhal and Jelly in their winter attire.  Jelly is still shivering.  On the title page the twosome is placed inside a snow globe.  On the verso and dedication page we read:

To GWEN! It is a gift to

be your papa!

(This says a lot about the heart and mind of Ben Clanton as reflected in his writing and artwork in this book and other titles in the series.)

The contents word is spelled out in red and green lighted bulbs on a string over the list of six sections.  The art 

was rendered in colored pencil, watercolor and ink, and colored digitally.  The text was set in a typeface based on hand lettering by Ben Clanton.

Image sizes shift in excellent pacing to the narrative, double-page pictures, single-page pictures and panels grouped by six, three, five, two, or four.  Most of them are outlined in a black line for framing.  Sometimes a single element will break that border.

One of my many, many favorite pictures is on a half page, framed in black.  The background is a radiating yellow.  We see the upper portion of Narwhal's body from the bottom of the image.  He is smiling with his eyes closed in contentment.  In one of his flippers is the present from Jelly, with the tag For Jelly Narwhal on it.  I wonder how many readers notice when Narwhal or Jelly are smiling, their mouths form a heart.

This newest title, Happy Narwhalidays (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #5) written and illustrated by Ben Clanton, in a well-loved series will be read repeatedly by individuals and shared from reader to reader.  It's a marvelous blend of writing, illustrations, and words of wisdom.  I can't imagine a professional or personal collection without a copy of this book.

To discover more about Ben Clanton and his other work, please access his website by following the link attached to his name.  Ben Clanton has accounts on Instagram, and Twitter.  Narwhal and Jelly have their own Facebook page and website. At the publisher's website you can listen to an audio clip and get a sneak peek at some interior images.  Here is a link to an activity kit.

In a worst-case scenario, the old saying, dating back to Aesop, referring to wishes and their results, has come true for none other than Santa Claus.  Activity at the North Pole, mere days before Christmas, has come to a screeching halt.  All the elves are in a tizzy.  Santa Baby (Henry Holt And Company, September 8, 2020) written by Jonathan Stutzman with illustrations by Heather Fox explains exactly what happens when wishes are granted in an extraordinary manner.

THERE WERE ONLY

four days until Christmas, and

Santa Claus was feeling old.

Let's face facts, folks.  Santa Claus is old, very old.  This year everything about his physical appearance screams his age!  He is finding it harder and harder to control the reindeer, wander around on rooftops, slide down chimneys, and deliver presents.  Every muscle and bone in his body creaks and cracks.  His Christmas spirit is gone.  He does not feel Ho! Ho! Ho! But he will not disappoint all the children around the world.

Santa Claus does the only thing he can think to do.  He wishes using Christmas magic to be young again.  It works!  He goes from ancient, to middle age, then to young adult, and to a preteen.  Does his anti-aging stop?  It does not.  Before Santa Claus knows what is happening, he is a baby!  

All his attempts to communicate with the elves sound like baby talk.  They panic.  They try to teach this baby version of Santa Claus about the reindeer, chimneys, and presents.  He eats the list of children and their gifts and will not eat vegetables to make him grow.  And this baby does what babies do best, he cries.

Santa Claus knows it's up to him, even in this baby state, to save Christmas.  It's Christmas Eve.  He finally manages to utter three very important words which spur the entire population at the North Pole to act.  When it seems as if a miracle is happening, another disaster befalls Santa Baby.  Just as suddenly, a single act shapes the words for the best wish of all.

Sentence by sentence author Jonathan Stutzman sets the stage for Santa Claus's desperate wish by enumerating in descriptive detail all his dwindling physical and emotional attributes.  When his wish backfires epically, the comedy just keeps coming with the endeavors of the elves failing over and over again.  This leads us merrily to the almost miracle when calamity strikes again.

He cried with the fury of a thousand carolers.

We are, as is Santa Baby, happily surprised when the past becomes a part of the present.  Jonathan Stutzman cleverly weaves the true spirit of the season into the final moments of the story.  Here is another passage.  

Santa Baby tried to calm the elves.  He explained what happened, then laid out an easy, three-step plan for how to change himself back to normal.

But all the elves heard was . . .

Ga-ga goo-goo

GA-GA GOO-GOO,

GOO-GOO goo-goo

GA-GA goo-goo!

Christmas was in serious trouble.

The rich darker red canvas highlights the brighter red and white on Santa Baby's (and older Santa's) suits. The Santa Baby text is in a muted gold foil as is the framing, edging on the holly and berries and snowflakes.  These details create a classic feel to the illustration.  To the left, on the back, the same framing, holly and berries showcase a crying Santa Baby.  Beneath him the text reads:

THIS CHRISTMAS,

THERE WILL

BE NO

SILENT NIGHT.

The book case features the Santa Baby and Santa Claus figures without the text and framing.  On the opening and closing endpapers, with the same deep red background, are rows of snowflakes in several sizes and white dots.  On the title page Santa Baby, wearing only a diaper and Santa hat, is looking at readers clearly bewildered.

Each illustration rendered by Heather Fox digitally in her unique style conveys a multitude of moods, comedy, and tiny details like allowing readers to read the words written on letters to Santa.  She manages to depict a range of facial emotions on Santa, Santa Baby, and the elves with the tiniest lines.  Her images may be single-page pictures, edge to edge, a collection of smaller circular visuals on a single page, three horizontal pictures on a single page, or dramatic two-page illustrations.

One of my many, many favorite images is a full-page picture with a two-tone, radiating light red background.  In the center, toward the bottom, is Santa Claus from the waist up.  His arms are raised as he holds the star representing Christmas magic over his head.  His eyes are closed, and his mouth is open as he exclaims:

"Make me

young again!"

Expect peals of laughter when you read Santa Baby written by Jonathan Stutzman with illustrations by Heather Fox aloud.  You'll also be hearing requests of "read it again."  The text and images combine in wondrous hilarious timing.  Collections of Christmas stories, personal and professional, will not be complete without a copy of this title.

To learn more about Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox and their other work, please visit their respective websites by following the link attached to their names.  Jonathan Stutzman has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Heather Fox has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  The cover reveal for this title was hosted by Dylan Teut, executive director of the Plum Creek Children's Literacy Festival, on his blog, Mile High Reading.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images.

After nearly two hundred years, the words of this poem never fail to resonate with those who read or hear it.  Numerous times in the month of December over the course of my career with students engaged in a variety of activities, browsing for books, reading books, researching online, or completing a lesson, I would stand in a central location and say:

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Each one of them stopped what they were doing.  They moved toward me.  We sat down and they leaned in to hear the rest of the words.  This is the power of shared storytelling, to connect us to history and a celebration.  Of my personal one hundred, sixty-two plus December holiday books, another seven are editions of the Christmas poem sometimes known as The Night Before Christmas.  When I read this new edition, The Night Before Christmas (Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, September 15, 2020) by Clement C. Moore with pictures by Loren Long, I was immediately struck by the lovely, thoughtful, and loving visual interpretation.  

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.   

If you look closely at the bottom of the dust jacket and matching book case, in framing similar to the outlines of buildings, Loren Long gives readers an initial hint of his intentions.  On the opening endpapers, on a canvas of white, there are four sets of children, preparing for Christmas.  There is tree trimming, letter writing, the drawing of a large picture of a fireplace, and a table full of various stages of cookie making.  On the closing endpapers, on the same crisp white background, we see the same children after the visit from St. Nicholas.

In an author's note prior to the beginning of the poem, Loren addresses his portrayal of St Nicholas based on specific words in the poem.  Do you remember them?

He continues his commentary to readers about the universal impact of Christmas regardless of 

who we are, where we live, or how we celebrate.

This author's note on the left and the title page on the right are placed in an enlargement of the four places shown on the jacket and case.

With a page turn we find ourselves for the first two phrases inside the living room of a farmhouse. Stockings hang from a mantel, and a trimmed Christmas tree is on the opposite side of the room.  Three sets of children's boots are scattered across the floor in front of the fireplace.  Between the fireplace and sofa, a table holds a plate of decorated cookies and a bunch of carrots for the reindeer.  A beagle is curled and sleeping on the sofa.  Through the main window is a barn, silo, and windmill coated with snow.

We next travel to the interior of a trailer.  Two children are sleeping in another room in bunk beds.  Their father is sleeping on the sofa in the living room with the family dog curled on a mat in front of the door.  In the corner of this room on a card table is a small Christmas tree with the word LOVE stretched across the front.  There are Christmas cookies on a plate there.  A note over a coffee maker which says Santa with an arrow pointing down invites him to make a hot drink.  Over the main window is a drawing of a fireplace with stockings hanging above it.  On another table is a lighted Nativity creche.

From here we enter a room with two sleeping boys of different races.  They have identical beds, bedspreads, and matching dressers on opposite sides of the room.  Floating stars, crescent moons, gold Christmas ornaments, a rocket ship, and an airplane hang above them.  Between them is a small table with a tiny Christmas tree on it.  Four kittens are sleeping in three different spots in the room.  Through their window is a snow-covered cityscape.

Inside the fourth home, a mother leaps from her bed, grabbing her glasses from her nearby dresser. Her hair is wrapped in a leopard print scarf. 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Through double glass doors, bordered with lighted Christmas lights inside, we see a large full moon, homes with adobe sides and tiled roofs.  Palm trees tower over the homes.  Palm boughs can be seen near this home through the doors.  A large wreath hangs in the center of the double doors.

Each subsequent page turn takes us to varying scenes inside and outside each of these four places.  We see them from different perspectives, sometimes a bird's eye view or sometimes as if we are in the very room being featured.  As the poem progresses, the details within the places change. A red-headed and bearded man looks out the upper window of the farmhouse.  A Black man looks out the window of the city home.  There is the silence of snow and Christmas lights over the entire trailer park. The brown-skinned mother peaks around the corner of the entrance to the living room as Santa comes down the chimney into a fireplace tiled in colors of the sea.

Closer inspection of the elements in the rooms reveals more about the occupants of these homes and how they celebrate.  In the living room of the city home on the mantle is a Nativity creche and a Menorah.  It is a children's Menorah with the candle holders as dogs.  (This is an actual Menorah used by the son of librarian Susan Kusel.)  On the plate of Christmas cookies in the home situated among palm trees is a piece of key lime pie.

Rendered using

acrylic paint and colored pencil

these illustrations by Loren Long are exquisite.  Children from different racial or religious backgrounds, with a disability or different family structures will see themselves in these pictures.  Each page turn invites a closer and longer look.  Perhaps readers will see a character from one of Loren Long's previous titles.  

I simply could not select a favorite illustration.  I love them all.  The play of light and shadow, the inclusion of details, and the progression of changes within each home are charming, fabulous, and the best of the best.  

This edition of The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore with pictures by Loren Long needs to be in each personal and professional collection.  It is a splendid blend of the past with the present. It is memorable.

To learn more about Loren Long and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  Loren Long has accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  At the publisher's blog, Loren Long talks about four illustrations in this special book. 

Splendid Scenarios Under The Sea

When precious personalities from books make a return appearance readers rejoice.  When you find yourself smiling just from looking at the book case, without reading a single word, you know laughter is sure to follow.  The cheerful nature of the characters is contagious.   This is something you are more than willing to spread.

Last autumn we meet two very likable sea creatures who also happen to be best friends in Narwhal: Unicorn Of The Sea (A Narwhal And Jelly Book) (Tundra Books, a division of Random House of Canada Limited, a Penguin Random House Company, October 4, 2016).  The second book in the series Super Narwhal And Jelly Jolt (A Narwhal And Jelly Book) (Tundra Books, a division of Random House of Canada Limited, a Penguin Random House Company, May 2, 2017) written and illustrated by Ben Clanton adds three more marvelous chapters in the adventures of one unique narwhal and jellyfish.  Prepare to be entertained.  Prepare to have your heart swell with love for these two remarkable pals.

Ahoy, Jelly!
Hey, Narwhal!  What's up?
I was just about to go for a swim.  After that I'll have something for lunch, probably a waffle, and then...

Narwhal announces with great exuberance his intentions to become a superhero.  When Jelly points out the obvious fact you can't become a superhero instantly, Narwhal asks exactly what is needed.  During the course of their conversation the idea of super outfits, a superhero name, a secret identity, the necessity of a sidekick, and a superpower clearly demonstrate the truth of Jelly's statement.  Of course, Narwhal, with his usual super positive outlook on everything is not discouraged.  He lives for looking on the bright side.

One evening when out for a swim, Narwhal comes upon Star (a starfish) resting on a rock.  Star would much rather be shining in the night sky.  Ever helpful, Narwhal suggests several possibilities for Star's wish to come true, even attempting some of them.  It's the final effort which will give readers a hint of Narwhal's true power.

In the third episode Narwhal is moving through the sea wearing his secret identity when he discovers Jelly is feeling rather sad.  In perfect form Narwhal transforms into Super Narwhal using his awe-inspiring nature to work wonders on Jelly.  Before long readers and Jelly will be laughing.  The lively twosome lead by Super Narwhal continues to alter their entire briny blue realm.

Super-fied!


As soon as you start reading the dialogue penned by Ben Clanton you feel your spirits start to soar.  The exchanges between Narwhal and his sea friends, especially Jelly, are lively and positive.  Narwhal is always looking for solutions within each situation.  The humor comes in the answers and questions by Jelly and in the word play.

Through the contrast in the personalities of the characters readers are given the opportunity to place themselves in similar situations and ask themselves how they would respond.  Are they more like Narwhal or Jelly or a little bit of both?  As in the first book in the series Ben Clanton adds two extra chapters to shift the cadence.  He includes Super Sea Creatures which shares some fun facts about the mimic octopus, dolphins, blue whales, crabs, flying fish and sailfish.  A new escapade showcasing Super Waffle and Strawberry Sidekick (written by Narwhal and Jelly) will have you groaning at the puns and smiling nonstop.  Here is a sample passage from the book.

I've never had a mustache, Super Narwhal.
Too Bad! You'd look really great with a mustache.
Is that why you're blue?  Because you've never had a mustache?
Huh?  It has nothing to do with a mustache.
Did you accidentally set your hair on fire?

HAIR?  FIRE?
We're underwater!


The smiles on the faces of Narwhal and Jelly on the front of the book case set the tone for the entire title.  Readers will wonder what new excitement awaits these sea creatures turned superheroes.  To the left, on the back, readers can enjoy four square panels.  In one Narwhal is speaking, in two Jelly is adding to the fun and together in the fourth panel, the duo announce their new names.  Beneath the visuals we read:

Ben Clanton (A. K. A. Clantoons) is faster than a stationary bullet, more powerful than a toy locomotive, and can make super stories like this one and Narwhal: Unicorn Of The Sea!

The opening and closing endpapers done in two hues of golden yellow show miniature Super Narwhals and Jelly Jolts respectively on the first and second sets.

The limited color palette of a washed ocean blue, yellow, black, white and gray heightens the delight factor while also allowing for the punch which comes when adding spot color and full color in the Super Waffle And Strawberry Sidekick story.  Rendered in colored pencil, watercolor, ink and colored digitally the images span full pages, edge to edge, framed single pages, groups of panels on a single page and two full pages.  Shifting the sizes clearly contributes to the wonderful pacing.  All of the text is hand lettered by Ben.

The facial features Ben Clanton creates with dots, curves and lines are fantastic.  You can't help but be connected to his characters.  Their emotions and moods are experienced by everyone.

One of my favorite of many illustrations is a full page panel with a heavy black line and generous white space for a frame.  It's a close-up of Narwhal in his secret identity.  All we can see is the portion of his body from his tie up to the tip of his horn.  His is looking straight at the reader wearing a yellow tie, mustache and spectacles with a fin raised.  He's exclaiming:

Sounds like a job for...


Super Narwhal And Jelly Jolt (A Narwhal And Jelly Book) written and illustrated by Ben Clanton is a fun-filled read, silently or aloud.  These under-the-sea buddies are sure to find a place in each reader's heart.  This is a graphic novel series you will want on your personal and professional bookshelves.  Ahoy!

To discover more about Ben Clanton and his other work be sure to visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  There is a link there to his Instagram account.  By going to the publisher's website you can view some interior pages.  Narwhal and Jelly have their own website here.

Marvelous Moments Under The Sea

Even on your most super fantastic day, laughter is still welcome.  You can never have enough laughter in your life.  The next best thing is having someone to enjoy the laughter with you.  Certainly every single person can remember being in a group when quiet is demanded but you and one other person (or more) get a case of the giggles over something ridiculous.  You try to smother the laughter but it keeps bubbling to the surface.  Once you get control of yourselves again each one feels uplifted, a glow of goodness spreading throughout your being.  That's the power of shared laughter.

Leave it to the creative mind of the man who brought us It Came In The Mail to breathe life into two distinctive characters in the first of a new graphic novel series. Narwhal: Unicorn Of The Sea (A Narwhal And Jelly Book) (Tundra Books, a division of Random House of Canada Limited, a Penguin Random House Company, October 4, 2016) written and illustrated by Ben Clanton matches unlikely marine animals together for three wonderful episodes.  Get ready for giggles and grins!

NARWHAL IS REALLY AWESOME
ONE DAY WHEN NARWHAL WAS OUT FOR A SWIM, HE FOUND HIMSELF IN NEW WATERS.

WHOA!  WHAT ARE YOU?

ME?  I'M NARWHAL THE NARWHAL!



 Narwhal has run into Jelly who can't quite believe Narwhal is real.  Narwhal turns around and asks Jelly if he is real.  Narwhal has never seen a jellyfish.  Jellyfish has never seen a narwhal. They are both wondering if the other is a figment of their imagination.  The comedic conversation continues until they come to a mutual agreement about pals and waffles.  I know what you're thinking. Waffles?  Under the sea?  That's only the beginning of the fun in this book.

In their second adventure Narwhal has read online (he has a computer) that narwhals travel and live in pods.  He can't find his pod.  Ever the glass-half-full kind of creature, Narwhal is going to make his own pod.  Going from animal to animal each one is gifted with a horn when they join.  Someone is not happy about being forgotten until the word party is mentioned.

When Jelly swims up to Narwhal in their third encounter, Narwhal is reading his favorite book in the world.  When Jelly sees the inside of the book, he is shocked and completely puzzled.  (You will be, too.)  With his upbeat, silver-lining outlook on life, Narwhal proceeds to teach Jelly about the possibilities and potential of having a book like his favorite one.  (There might be a sea monkey involved.)


You can sincerely appreciate the skill of Ben Clanton in fashioning this narrative when you read it aloud.  The contrast in the personalities of Narwhal and Jelly is enough to promote hilarity but still allow them to compromise.  Or, to be truthful, to allow Jelly to adjust his disposition.

The pacing is perfection.  Each conversation builds to an ending which will generate smiles all around.  To pause the story Ben Clanton has inserted Really Fun Facts, More Really Fun Facts and The Narwhal Song between chapters one and two and two and three.  Here is a continuation of the opening dialogue.

A NARWHAL?
YEP! UNICORN OF THE SEA!
ARE YOU REAL?
LAST TIME I CHECKED.
ARE YOU?
AM I WHAT?
REAL!
UM...YEAH, I'M A JELLYFISH.
JELLYFISH? heehee! THAT SOUNDS FUNNY!


In soft sea blues, black, white and yellow, Ben Clanton begins his limited color palette which contributes to the charm of this title.  Who can resist the cheerful Narwhal on the front of the book case?  Jellyfish is looking rather alarmed.  Who is this Unicorn of the Sea?  To the left, on the back, four square blue panels on a yellow background, two with Narwhal speaking and two with Jellyfish talking, promote this book and waffles. On the opening endpapers tiny Narwhals cover the space.  Miniature Jellies cover the closing endpapers.

These images are rendered in colored pencil and colored digitally.  All the text is hand-lettered by Ben Clanton.  Wider, heavy black lines frame each panel and the elements in each picture.  The panel sizes vary from square to rectangle and to full page pictures.  At times Clanton will place a square within a larger visual for emphasis.  For a big "WOW" factor there are several two page illustrations.

It should also be noted that the limited color choices open the door to the zing we get when more realistic color is introduced in the final chapter.  The quality of facial expressions and emotion Clanton gets with a few lines and dots is amazing.  These characters are ready to leap from the sea into your space.

One of my many favorite illustrations is on page nine.  The background is white with light blue bubbles surrounding Jelly who is looking rather grumpy in the center of the page.  His brows are furrowed (a straight line across his eyes).  Two of his six legs are raised to look like arms as he looks directly at the reader making an appeal with his statements.  I dare you not to burst out laughing at this page.

Narwhal: Unicorn Of The Sea (A Narwhal And Jelly Book) written and illustrated by Ben Clanton is a wonderful beginning in what promises to be a delightful series.  I guarantee you will fall in love with these characters after the first few pages.  I can hardly wait for the second book to be released.  According to IndieBound.org it will be May 2017.  Podtastic!

To discover more about Ben Clanton please visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  You can get a peek at some of the interior by following this link to the publisher's website. Narwhal and Jellyfish have their own website here.  This book is featured at All The Wonders in a post.  This title is one of the School Library Journal Top 10 Graphic Novels | 2016.

@AmySetoMusser can't believe I'm actually posting this! But here it is . . . pic.twitter.com/CpdB9obkyF

— Ben Clanton (@Clantoons) December 8, 2016

Pen Pal Power

Day in and day out, usually six days a week, people everywhere it is delivered check some form of a mailbox to see what has arrived.  They might have to go to the post office to open their designated space, walk to the edge of a roadway or simply step outside.  No matter how many times this is done, when first opening the door there is a hint of anticipation in the moment.  Our head is telling us the mailbox will be holding bills, sales promotion flyers or the latest welcome magazine subscription.  Our heart is hoping for a little bit more.

On those rarer-then-they-used-to-be days when a letter or unexpected package appears, it's a wee bit magical.  Our eyes stray from our name to the return address.  Who could have sent this letter or package?  What is inside? It Came In The Mail (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, June 21, 2016) written and illustrated by Ben Clanton is a fabulous journey into fantastic possibilities. 

Liam loved to get mail.

HOORAY!

Liam's dilemma is no matter how often he checks his mailbox, it's always empty.  Playing with a friend one day, a thought suddenly occurred to Liam.  This was no ordinary thought; this was a plan.  Liam decided in order to get mail, he needed to send mail.

With no particular recipient in mind, he addressed the letter and the envelope to the mailbox.  No sooner than the letter was placed inside the mailbox, it started to shimmy and shudder, making all sorts of noises.  After the sounds settled, Liam bravely opened the door.  Whoosh!  

Fire burst forth and there was a dragon; it had been delivered to Liam. This was indeed the best mail day ever!  It was instant love between the boy and his dragon.  Grateful to the mailbox, Liam wrote another letter.  He asked for more.

An assortment of things living and not living but still able to speak came through the mailbox.  And Liam, having gone so long without any mail, asked for even more.  It was like a volcanic eruption of stuff!  In fact, it was too much for Liam.

Without warning another thought popped into Liam's head. With the mailbox's help, this needed to work.  And it did.

There is playfulness in the words written by Ben Clanton.  His blend of text, correspondence and dialogue is loaded with humor appealing directly to children and those of us that are kids at heart.  By the second page I was laughing out loud.  

During the course of the narrative Clanton inserts words with double meanings, allowing different interpretations in his illustrations.  

But then, on a day much like any other,

an idea struck Liam. 

We are introduced to the kind of personality Liam has through his letter-writing and response to all the stuff he gets.  His letters express gratitude, politeness and generosity.  With the pureness of childhood Liam never questions the arrival of everything from the mailbox.  This approach by Clanton makes this title golden. Here is one of Liam's letters.

Dear Mailbox,

Thank you for the

fire-breathing dragon.

It is just what I

always wanted.

Can you send me more 

stuff? PLEASE!

Love,

Liam

P. S. You are the best

 mailbox ever!

Rendered in pencil and watercolor, and assembled digitally the fun of the illustrations begins on the matching dust jacket and book case.  Certainly readers will be wondering how the boy was able to get a dragon delivered to him in his mailbox.  On the back, to the left, letters looking as do those in the title, stamped, read

MAGIC MAIL

OPEN CAREFULLY.

This text appears above and to the right of Liam nearly buried under all the mailbox arrivals.  The ISBN appears within a postage stamp frame.  The opening and closing endpapers in tones of black and gray are a collage of old postcards and envelopes placed on pieces of notebook paper.

Heavier matte-finished paper is the canvas for Ben Clanton's images.  For many of them white space acts as an additional element focusing our attention on the more colorful items.  Envelopes and postcards are an added background for Liam and all the deliveries.  Picture sizes and perspective bring the story to the reader and endear us to Liam.  Careful readers will be rewarded with the wonderful details Clanton includes; a light bulb with wings flying onto Liam's head, scorched paper upon the dragon's appearance, multiple snails, a crown (a nod to Where The Wild Things Are?), an eye-patch wearing pig, and red postal stamps with various messages.  The text in the speech balloons matches the penmanship in Liam's letters.  

One of my many favorite illustrations shares the page with another picture.  It's at the bottom, a paper with singed edges.  The grinning dragon is extending his head and neck from the mailbox wearing the For Liam tag.  Liam standing with a blackened face and upper body, smoke coming from his head, is pointing at the dragon.  His eyes are wide and he is wearing a huge grin.  You can feel his total joy.  

It Came In The Mail written and illustrated by Ben Clanton is sure to "fire-up" imaginations of readers.  It also might produce an increase in creative letter writing to mailboxes or postal workers.  The benefits of the tactile experience of letter writing and envelope making and addressing are hard to refute, even if a dragon does not arrive in your mailbox.  (But wouldn't it be great if one did?)

To learn more about Ben Clanton and his other work be sure to visit his website by following the link attached to his name.  By following this link to the publisher's website you can view interior images from the book.  Ben Clanton is interviewed at Writers' Rumpus.  You might want to pair this book with Sergio Ruzzier's A Letter For Leo.

UPDATE:  Ben Clanton is interviewed at Avery and Augustine July 22, 2016 about this title.