U R The Raisin My ♥ Is Happy

Who doesn't love a little mystery or a puzzle to solve?  Secret code books have consistently been popular titles in the nonfiction section of school libraries.  Students are amazing in their ability to discover answers because they think outside the box without the constraints adults seem to acquire.  Not only do they like to decipher problems, especially if they can be seen as a game or quest, but they like to create them for someone else to figure out.

Queen of colorful collage illustrations, Caldecott Honor winner for Color Zoo, and maker of marvelous titles for the very youngest readers, Lois Ehlert, has a new book.  Heart to Heart (Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, January 3, 2016) is like holding happiness in your hands.  Its cleverness is cozy and comfortable; a rebus brimming with puns.

On the first two page illustration we read in our minds

I've been thinking of you.

Ehlert shows it as

I've (two string beans side by side as cross-sections showing the beans) thinking of U.   She follows this with a question shortened by using two single letters in place of two words. 

An avocado continues to express the affection one being feels for the other.  This individual is quiet but has decided to speak playfully perhaps roaming the stalls of a market for inspiration.  From endearments an invitation is declared with hope for an affirmative answer.

An explanation follows as to the emotional state felt by the speaker before finding this soul mate. Then more pages are dedicated to fruitful revelations of devotion.  Seeing this kindred spirit generates complete bliss in the narrator

from my head down tomatoes (A trio of tomatoes is pictured.)

Vegetables are part of further inquiries.  These are followed by two objects from the outside natural world before the vegetables make an appearance again as final sentences offer possibilities.  Will 1 ♥ reach another ♥?


Considering how long it took me to fashion the title of this blog post, I can't even begin to speculate on the amount of time each sentence formed with vegetables, fruits, numbers and single letters took the masterful Lois Ehlert.  As you read each one you can't help but wonder how she might have done this.  The entire narrative is a conversation, a love letter, to the other individual.  What's fabulous is each thought is flawlessly tied to the next one without feeling forced.  It's completely sincere and open although very funny.  To provide pacing she sometimes splits one sentence between two pictures.  Here's one of those sentences shown in two separate images.

Whenever U turnip, (A turnip is featured.) (page turn)
lime (A picture of a lime is shown.) ha P U R there.


Younger gals and guys are going to gravitate toward the six inch by six inch trim size of the title immediately.  This dimension, the vibrant colors, heart symbol and the number 2 are an open invitation...read me, read me, read me.  To the left on the back of the matching dust jacket and book case on a background of golden yellow, Ehlert was written

Who do U ♥?

The title page is part of the opening endpapers.  The publication information is part of the closing endpapers.  Classic background colors used by Ehlert are different with every page turn, turquoise, red, pink, darker turquoise, red again, purple, grass green, golden yellow and back to red before another color shift is shown.  Her fonts for words and single letters and numbers are larger for her intended audience.

Next to each vegetable and fruit she has spelled out their name.  Cut papers form the rebus elements.  I can easily hear listeners calling out the specific items before the sentences are read.

One of my favorite two illustrations of several is near the beginning of the book.  On the darker turquoise canvas a sliced avocado is followed by

 crush on U,

before you turn the page.  Red reaches out to you with the words and symbol saying

but my ♥ is shy.


Whether you snuggle up close and read this one on one or with a group of students in a story circle or projected on a white board, Heart to Heart written and illustrated by a true children's literature treasure, Lois Ehlert, is a book you will joyfully place on your professional and personal bookshelves.  This offers the opportunity to talk about words, how to play with words and objects, how to express friendship and declare love.  This book is a classic gem.

To see interior images of this book please visit the publisher's website.  To learn more about Lois Ehlert and this title you might enjoy reading a recent interview at Publishers Weekly.  Lois Ehlert was interviewed by author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson at BookPage several years ago.  She was also showcased at The Horn Book about the same time.  Earlier interviews at Reading Rockets can be viewed here.  

Piecing Together A Life

Some people have the gift of looking at something, realizing its potential to be almost anything.  They see the world in hues of color, assorted textures and a plethora of designs. These colors, textures and designs are gathered into their minds; many times they are literally collected to be used later. Their life is lived outside the box.

For nearly three decades author illustrator Lois Ehlert has created, with her wonderful sense of color, use of texture and uniquely designed collage illustrations, picture books for people of all ages.  We are entranced by their beauty as we follow a story or learn more about the simple, everyday things which surround us inside and outside our homes.  In her newest title, The Scraps Book:  Notes from a Colorful Life (Beach Lane Books), page by page, picture by picture, she takes us on a joyous journey, the evolution of her life as an artist, an author and an illustrator.

When I was little,
I read all the books
on the library shelf,
and I thought
maybe someday
I could make
a book.

Fortunately for Lois, both her parents encouraged her artistic undertakings.  As a seamstress her mother had many pieces of fabric and embellishments she shared with Lois.  From her father's workshop she was given pieces of wood.  Both passed on their skills to her and shared their tools. (She still uses her Mom's pinking shears and her Dad's paintbrush.)

A cherished childhood art table, art school, a job in an art studio by day and nights filled with book ideas, fed this artist's soul.  Grocery stores, gardens, a mischievous squirrel, a visit to an aquarium or a family member's home provided ideas which became stories.  Once written she sketched out the entire book page by page.

It was (and still is) a slow process perfecting the precise combination of text and images to tell the envisioned story.  Then the art was (is) painstakingly formed; cutting, painting, shaping and gluing everything into its predetermined space.  Bits and pieces were everywhere as Lois worked; a portion of a pizza pan became a dog's tag, a zipper his mouth and a pop can top his nose.

Photographs, painted, real and found objects, crazy tools for one-of-a-kind patterns all contribute to the style that is Lois Ehlert's alone.  If what she needs is not in her work space, she walks outside until she finds the special necessary element.  A page is not complete until it's utterly flawless.  All you have to do is open any of her books to know this is true.


Using the same informal simple sentences found in all her books, Lois Ehlert explains to readers how

Art chose me. 

from the time she was a little girl. In addition to these one, two or three sentences expressing a thought or process, she has labeled photographs, illustrations from previous books, artistic materials, notes, dummies, sketches, and personal collections on every single page.  On the final four pages she poses a query, offers encouragement and like a fairy godmother sends a wish out to the reader.

Using white to make the cheerful colors on the matching dust jacket and book case call out a welcoming hello to readers, Lois Ehlert envelopes us in her artistic world.  The opening and closing endpapers feature collages of photographed good stuff.  The formal title pages continue this theme; a collection of fonts spelling out Scraps.  With a page turn we are greeted with a frog found in two of her books on the left.  On the right in a bright, bold square text we read:

DON'T 
READ
THIS
BOOK
(unless you love books and art)

Pages are illustrated with photographs, artwork from her books, artistic tools, materials, notes, sketches, preliminary narratives, word lists, and book dummies; many held in place with paperclips.  Some of them convey a single thought on a single page with a separate visual.  Many of the illustrations cross the gutter in a splendiferous array.

I enjoyed every page in this book.  Those including sketches and book dummies with the finished artwork are wonderful.  One of my favorite two pages of illustrations are taken from Ten Little Caterpillars and Waiting for Wings.  They are filled with warmth and vibrancy.


During my first day at the American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2013 in Chicago last June, I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Lois Ehlert.  As I was waiting in line to speak with her, I was given a mock-up of this book to read by her (I think) editor, Allyn Johnston.  At the time I knew it would be an amazing book.  Trust me when I say, The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life written and illustrated by Lois Ehlert is amazing with an A+!  It's a museum of her life's work.  It will find a place in my selection of Mock Caldecott books for 2015.


For each of the years I have worked with elementary students, I have done an author study of Lois Ehlert during the time when I am conducting the Mock Caldecott unit with the older students.  One of the highlights of this time is the viewing of her video Get to Know Lois Ehlert (Harcourt Brace).  As with Skype visits this personal connection to authors and illustrators makes their work come alive for readers.

In my personal collection of Lois Ehlert books I have nineteen of the thirty-five titles pictured at the end of this book.  I feel very luck to have one of the original Hands books in the shape of a glove.

Please follow this link to the publisher's website to see pages from this book.  Here is a link to an interview conducted by Julie Danielson at BookPage.  Robin Smith conducted an interview at The Horn Book.  Enjoy the video interview conducted by Reading Rockets.  Here is the link to their site where there are five videos all together.  

I really enjoy participating in the 2014 Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy each week.  It is one of the best spots to see what nonfiction picture books others are reading.

Creeping, Crawling...Then Taking Flight

Bill Martin Jr. is a household name in the field of children's books.  His Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? was the springboard for three additional similar titles.  His collaboration with author/illustrator Lois Ehlert on Chicka Chick Boom Boom, garnered the duo numerous awards.

Once again they have paired to produce a picture perfect title, Ten Little Caterpillars.

With every other line rhyming Martin created counting verses with a catchy cadence.  Readers follow each of these ten caterpillars into their habitats of flowers, fruits, vegetables, a pool, weeds and even the sea matched by close encounters with fowl, fish and feathered friends of the backyard, woods and field.  They are never idle, always in motion; crawling, wriggling, climbing, falling or scaling.  When the number ten is reached that little caterpillar hangs in stillness awaiting the change the spring will bring---miraculous metamorphosis.

Lois Ehlert is without a doubt the reigning queen of collage.  Before beginning her illustrations she immerses herself in the subject; she walks, wanders and observes absorbing textures, colors and individualistic details. 

The three word title, Ten Little Caterpillars, is immediately elevated to the potential for exceptional possibilities with the cover illustration of ten different caterpillars merrily munching around the heart-shaped leaf.  The hue and feel of the leaf is carried to the endpapers.  The body of the book bears her bold, bright realistically shaded watercolor images meticulously layered.

Ehlert's interpretation of the text is to give readers a tour of the flora and fauna as if it is a biological/botanical collection spread before them delicately labeled.  One of my favorite illustrations is of the line:  The fifth little caterpillar sailed a garden pool.  She choose to picture maple leaves colored by fall floating across the pool; a caterpillar atop one gliding along. 

At the book's end she shows the passage of time with three separate two page spreads of the same apple tree branch in summer, fall and then spring. 

Ehlert extends the narrative by closing with the number, caterpillar, its eating habits and the winged beauty each becomes.  She is ever the educator making information accessible to younger readers.

The work of Bill Martin, Jr. has been continued since his passing in 2004 by Michael Sampson a long-time collaborator.  Ten Little Caterpillars brings together two of the best in the world of children's literature.  It is a gem to be treasured.

Canine Conversations

Each year during the month of January when Caldecott fever spreads throughout the picture book world, we at Charlevoix Elementary School catch it too in the form of author studies and a Mock Caldecott Election.  Our first grade classes study author/illustraor Lois Ehlert, Caldecott Honor Award winner for Color Zoo.

What some call trash Lois Ehlert sees as treasure.  With an artist's practiced eye for detail she views everyday items as potential parts for her bold, creative collages.  Bits and pieces of our natural world make their way into the pages of her books. Ehlert sees possibilities everywhere. Her newest offering, RRRalph, is a classic example of her artistic talents and her less-is-more writing style.

As the story begins an unseen narrator states, I bet you won't believe me, but our dog can talk.  On the opposite page sits the dog in question. Made of torn and cut textured black and white papers sporting a multicolored striped collar with a zipper for a mouth, a flip-top from a can for a nose and button-like eyes he eagerly awaits  the narrator's first of many questions, What's your name?  Turning the page a two page view meets our eyes with our doggie character upright on his two legs as he speaks: RRRALPH  RALPH

 

Throughout the story our unobserved speaker continues to pose questions which can be only answered as canines can.  Vivid colors as if spilled from a box of crayons are the backdrop for the numerous poses of Ralph and his varied forms of dog speak.  Ehlert's  genius as a storyteller is revealed in the matched responses and queries; What's on that tree?  BARK BARK BARK 

Whether shared one on one or as a read aloud RRRalph is a rousing romp inviting reader participation.  Trust me, listeners will sit and stay once this tale begins.

Beneath the interesting author's note about the book's inspiration title information states the illustrations for this book were made from zippers, wood, buttons, twine, metal, tree bark, screws, hand-painted and handmade papers, and textile fragments.