Small Adventures Of Discovery

When you've been involved in the realm of children's literature for nearly forty-five years there are authors and illustrators whose contributions and creations have been partners with you.  You have had the distinct privilege to read almost every book they've brought into the world, marveling at their singular styles in writing and in their artwork.  Many of their books are your best friends.  You've witnessed how they've touched the hearts of readers.

There is one such author and illustrator whose bears, real and teddy, call out his name.  In his newest title, Baby Bear's Book of Tiny Tales (Little, Brown And Company, February 13, 2018), David McPhail further endears readers to his charming furry characters.  This little guy has a knack for finding what needs to be found.

Baby Bear Finds a Boot
Baby Bear was fishing.  He did not catch a fish.  Instead, he caught a boot.

In this first of four short stories Baby Bear's kindness in returning the boot to its proper owner introduces us to his forest friends.  Timmy Squirrel, Bobby Raccoon and Daisy Skunk all have perfectly good reasons the boot is not their boot.  With a bit of homonymic humor Ollie Owl cannot give Baby Bear a straight answer.  A sleepy Papa Bear finally provides a solution.

One day walking in the woods, Baby Bear finds a flower of exquisite beauty.  His first thought is to pick it for Mama Bear.  Daisy Skunk warns him to not pick the flower due to its rarity.  When Baby Bear learns the meaning of rare he has to agree with Daisy.  In a burst of ingenuity Daisy has a surprisingly excellent idea.

Leaning against a tree trunk in the third story, Baby Bear is startled by the presence of a baby bird that falls out of its nest.  First scaring away a hawk, Baby Bear decides to stay with the tiny creature until the mother returns.  Her plan to get the little bird back in its nest does not work but Baby Bear's method works wonderfully.

As Baby Bear goes from one friend's home to the next he finds himself in the forest alone. No one can play with him.  Suddenly hearing voices he decides to explore.  To his delight a little girl is picnicking with three of her toys, her best buddies.  After sharing sandwiches and tea together the little girl has a secret to share with Baby Bear.  Her revelation leads to four more surprises. 


In each of these four stories readers will be charmed by Baby Bear, his friends and parents.  David McPhail has a gift for knowing what will appeal to his younger readers (and those reading to them). The majority of each tale is told through conversations but when narrative is woven into those chats, it is done so with skill.  Here is a passage.

"What is rare?" asked Baby Bear.
"It means that this flower could be the only one left in the whole wide world," said Daisy.
"Oh dear," said Baby Bear.  "But I wanted to take it home to Mama Bear."
Baby Bear and Daisy Skunk sat down beside the flower.
They were quiet for a long time.


Upon opening the dust jacket, the golden yellow background patterned in tiny stems and leaves extends over the spine to the edge of the back on the left.  Each of the four tales is represented with the eight tiny images of Baby Bear on the circle of leaves surrounding the title text.  The circle of leaves is replicated on the back.  Within the circle we read about the book's contents.  Four new pictures of Baby Bear reflect the contents of each story.  (I am working with an F & G.  To see the book's case cover @LittleBrownYR tweeted out a picture today.)

On the opening and closing endpapers the same intricate pattern of stems and leaves is found in two shades of a sage green.  Beneath the text on the title page within a tiny border of leaves, Baby Bear is leaning over the edge of the stream watching his bobber float in the water.  A lovely frame of branches and leaves surrounds the verso information and the table of contents.  Cupped by branches are a tiny picture of Baby Bear, a red boot, a rare flower (lady's slipper), a baby bird (robin) and a waving little girl.  These branches, leaves and small illustrations head the beginning of each story.

Rendered in pen and ink and watercolor on Strathmore Drawing Paper the illustrations are softly framed in white on single pages.  They are loosely circular.  In each of the tales there is one picture which spans two pages.  The fine lines and delicate details are sure to prompt sighs and attract readers to each depiction.

One of my many favorite illustrations spans two pages.  It is in the first story when Baby Bear is trying to find the owner of the red boot.  Tired from searching, Baby Bear is resting against a tree in the forest next to the stream.  His fishing pole with the bobber attached is leaning against the same tree.  What Baby Bear can't yet see but what readers can see is Papa Bear fast asleep sitting on the bank of the stream.  His feet are dangling in the water as he clasps his fishing pole.  One of his feet is decidedly different than the other.  (I can hear the gasps of readers already.)  The watercolor shading is gorgeous in this picture.  It's breathtaking in all of them.


For a title on friendship and items found, this collection of stories, Baby Bear's Book of Tiny Tales, written and illustrated by David McPhail is happiness you can hold in your hands.  Baby Bear has a huge heart and his ability to extend compassion in any given situation will appeal to all readers.  You will want to add this title to your collections to use during a story time featuring beloved bears.

To learn more about David McPhail and his other work please follow the link attached to his name to access a website featuring him.  You will appreciate his handwritten note with a painting highlighted there.  This is an older but great post about David McPhail at author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson's Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

 

Drifting Dozily Down to Dreamland

Sleep, the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are rested (Merriam-Webster), sometimes eludes those who crave it, comes to those who wish for a little more awake time and is rarely on the immediate agenda of a little boy or girl, unless they're too pooped to protest.  Depending on the little bits and pieces of everyone's day, now brought together, bedtime is either frustrating or a golden opportunity for parents and their children.  The ritual of reading or telling a story when all else has quieted, once begun, lasts a lifetime.

A magical connection is manifested in these moments.  All the Awake Animals Are Almost Asleep (Little, Brown and Company, October 2, 2012) written by Crescent Dragonwagon with illustrations by David McPhail is a tip-toeing alphabetical adventure into the world of animals at day's end.  Soothing slumber will soon follow...guaranteed.

My little one, lay down your head.
It's time to doze, it's time for bed.
You tell me, "I'm not sleepy now."
"Just try," I say.  You ask me, "How?"

With the heart of a true storyteller a mother weaves words to invite her child to sleep.  Beginning with antelope all the way to zebra she creates a picture of each settling into repose.  Sometimes the animals are alone, with siblings, a parent or in a family group.

Her tale travels from grassy plains to barnyards to a cozy couch to leafy jungles to sandy deserts to forest floors, gardens, treetops, still pond waters, expansive oceans or up to the Arctic.  Floating across continents like a magical feather in flight much ground is covered in a single night.  As her story draws to a close, she suggests to her child, like the creatures in her story, would not sleep be a good thing now?


Crescent Dragonwagon opens and closes her book with a series of gentle, rhyming couplets.  As each animal, or sometimes more, is mentioned she shifts to an alliterative phrase describing how each finds a perfect place to pause.  By using this technique she nicely separates the stories within the story of a child not quite ready to call it a day.

Fox, fading fast, 
finds rest in the forest,
while frog just floats, letting her feet flop
until they find firm footing near the ferns.


The cover art is a thing of beauty, worthy of framing; as are many of the watercolor and ink illustrations  drawn and painted by David McPhail in this volume.  When the jacket is removed readers discover a new visual, taken from within the book's pages, spanning the front and back showing a large pond with nearly all the animals, quiet and sleeping, around the edge. The deep, rich blue on the jacket covers both the beginning and closing endpapers.

Turning to the title page a small circular picture sits beneath the words showing the backs of several animals peering into the child's glowing bedroom window.  At the turn of page some are entering the room, more come in through the door, watching and waiting.  As the mother speaks each animal receives a single page with a fine, scrolled capital letter blended well with the overall piece.  When more than one creature is described two pages are used spreading across the gutter from one scene to another, merging seamlessly.  A wide range of colors in muted shades clearly conveys a sense of peace as the setting sun or rising moon does the time of day.


With illustrations softly radiant by David McPhail wrapping around the lovely, lullaby-like language of Crescent Dragonwagon, All the Awake Animals Are Almost Asleep welcomes readers to snuggle in, relax and listen.  Certainly a treasure for bedtime or for a quiet break during the day but the potential for introducing the alphabet, a variety of animals in their habitats or the use of alliteration is there.  I am happily adding this title to my personal shelves, recommending it for school collections and as a gift for children.