When you have small children or pets as members of your family (depending on the type of pet, of course) you get in the habit of checking as to their whereabouts before you open any door of your home. The lure of the outside world is strong. You would think the music of the Sirens is calling to them. If they are faster at running through the opening than you are at closing the door, they are soon speeding away like a cheetah. You imagine them yelling at the top of their lungs, "I'm free! I'm free!" (If they are little children, they probably are shouting and laughing these very words.)
The truth is, sometimes being loose in the world is not an entirely positive experience. The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His A B C's (the Hard Way) (Little, Brown And Company, September 5, 2017) written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell follows the adventures of a family feline that makes an escape. As soon as he leaps off the front porch, races down the hill and starts on a straightaway, he realizes he has made a mistake. Without the benefit of words but with award-winning artwork inviting and prompting a story in our minds, we eagerly turn the pages as our twenty-six letter alphabet dictates the flawless flow of action.
The first frightening encounter is with an alligator and is quickly followed by a meeting with a bear. As the trio passes a coop, a chicken joins the line of runners. Not watching as wisely as they should be, they nearly ram a sleeping dragon. This frightens the chicken so much another runner joins the group. Can you guess who (what) it is?
Everyone knows what an angry dragon breathes. This necessitates the five frantic fleeing critters to don protective eyewear. Now there are six on the move. One dreams. Six slip and slide. After passing through a habitat better suited to primates, they are noticed by royalty. One of them points to a poster.
As the middle of the alphabet is reached, the six seek new heights, again not paying attention. Fortunately (Remy Charlip) an invention is handy. Where are they now? Do they need a break? What time of day is it?
As in most tales with a bit of magic, when they least expect it and can hardly take another step, help arrives. Greetings are given and six are soothed. A crescent moon shines down, guiding some one way and one little red cat in another direction. It's been a long day. There's no place better than one's own bed.
When looking at the opened dust jacket (I am reading the F & G.) you can immediately feel a grin start to form. That little red cat is most definitely in a bit of trouble. The design and layout are superb introducing us to the six prominent characters chasing through the title text. The black and white checks on either side of the spine add a touch of classic to the overall effect. There is even a tiny little red cat above the Little, Brown And Company logo.
To the left, on the back, a tumbled group of alphabet letters in black except for A,B, and C are chasing the cat. The opening and closing endpapers are an array of larger alphabet letters, all twenty-six. A, B, and C are in their respective colors. There seems to be a mix of words in the arrangement. Can you find any?
Right after the opening endpapers, Patrick McDonnell begins the story. Something wakes up the little red cat. One eye pops open. (This is just like Mulan who is dead-to-the-world asleep until I open the refrigerator door.) Spread across two pages an image shows the open front door before the title page text starts. Opposite the verso, the little red cat runs out the door and across the porch.
The use of white space as an element is exceptional. This allows for a more stunning effect when it is replaced with snow, trees and vines, and a changing sky color as the day shifts into night. All of the illustrations with the exception of seven allow a single page for each letter. The others have larger, two-page pictures for a single letter. For some of the letters two pages combine two letters in a single image. You even get to turn the book for a surprising vertical visual.
One of my many, many favorite pictures is for the letter E. Even thinking about it makes me laugh out loud. And that's all I'm going to say except this illustration with all the little extra details throughout the title reveals a super sense of humor on the part of Patrick McDonnell.
If you are looking for your next new favorite alphabet book, The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His A B C's (the Hard Way) written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell is the book for you. If you want lots of excitement and adventure, this is the book for you. If you want to talk about plot and pacing, this is the book for you. If you want to laugh and hear your readers and listeners say, "Read it again!" this is the book for you. I highly recommend this title. To discover more about Patrick McDonnell and his other work including his famous Mutts comic strip, follow the two separate links attached to his name to access websites. Enjoy the book trailer.
For quite some time I've been toying with the idea of starting a series using picture books, each one with a common theme, which combine older titles with recent titles. When you've had the opportunity to read many books over decades, it's interesting to see patterns and to pair similar books together. When participating in the Picture Book August 10 for 10this past summer, I wrote about and selected titles highlighting the welcome quiet at the end of the day when parents, guardians and caregivers can share books at and about bedtime with children. Here are seven recommended titles, three more than twenty-eight years old and four released within the last six months of 2015.
Goodnight Moon (Harper & Row, 1947) written by Margaret Wise Brown with illustrations by Clement Hurd
You have to stop and wonder how many times this book has been read to children in the past sixty-nine years. The first four lines refer to colors and well-known objects and the next several phrases focus on nursery rhymes and a fairy tale. There is comfort in the familiar. A rhythm is established with the repetition of goodnight followed by listing items inside and outside the room. It's a lullaby of gratitude.
In the great green room There is a telephone And a red balloon And a picture of---
Bright primary and some secondary colors on double page images alternate with shades of black, gray and white used in single page pictures loosely framed using a liberal amount of white space. The pictures on the wall, the kittens playing with the yarn and the crackling fire create a mood of serenity. The adult rabbit knitting in the rocking chair, staying in the room until the bunny falls asleep brings a sense of safety and love to the story.
There have been numerous parodies and critical observations about this book but the fact remains it is and always will be a timeless classic.
The Napping House (Harcourt Children's Books, 1984)written by Audrey Wood with illustrations by Don Wood
As rain falls outside it's quiet in the house; all are sleeping. A granny, a child, a dog, a cat, a mouse and a flea doze without the apparent knowledge one is stacked upon the other until the final tiny being does what comes naturally; bites the mouse. One after the other reacts to the scaring, clawing, thumping, and bumping. A broken bed, laughter and a rainbow signal a change in more than the weather. A cumulative tale builds throughout with one sentence added to the next. Audrey Wood knows how to tell a story supplying gentle tension and a delightful resolution.
There is a house, a napping house, where everyone is sleeping. And in that house there is a bed, a cozy bed in a napping house, where everyone is sleeping.
Rendered in oil on pressed board the illustrative work of Don Wood in hues of blue progressing to the golden light of a sunny day is brimming with energy and humor. The varied positions of the sleeping granny, child, dog, cat, and mouse along with their facial expressions are sure to generate giggles and grins. When they each start waking up expect to hear guffaws. Careful readers will notice the flight of the flea.
Follow the link attached to Audrey Wood's name to access information about the work of Audrey and Don Wood at their website. Here is a link to Harcourt containing an interview with Audrey and Don Wood. At Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Sitethere are discussion topics and activities regarding this title.
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? (Candlewick Press, 1988) written by Martin Waddell with illustrations by Barbara Firth
After a day of playing outside Big Bear is ready to read his Bear Book in his cozy chair by the fire. In the darkest part of the cave he has tucked Little Bear into bed. Little Bear is not one bit tired and he is afraid of the dark.
Three times Big Bear goes to the lantern cupboard getting increasingly bigger lights to dispel the darkness. Each time he is a few pages closer to the good part of his book. When Little Bear admits to being as uneasy about the night, Big Bear takes him outside.
Final lights in the night, wise words and warm arms work their magic. Martin Waddell uses a repetition of key phrases to invite readers to participate in the story. The conversations between Big Bear and Little Bear are genuinely adorable.
"Can't you sleep, Little Bear?" yawned Big Bear, putting down his Bear Book (with just four pages to go to the interesting part) and padding over to the bed. "I'm scared," said Little Bear. "Why are you scared, Little Bear?" asked Big Bear. "I don't like the dark," said Little Bear. "What dark?" asked Big Bear. "The dark all around us," said Little Bear. "But I brought you a lantern!" said Big Bear. "Only a teeny-weeny one," said Little Bear. "And there's lots of dark!"
The illustrations rendered in watercolor, ink and pencil with the exception of three double page spreads, edge to edge, are framed in rounded arches, as if we are looking inside the cave. Some elements in the images break the lines to give a sense of openness. The antics of Little Bear in the bedroom are completely endearing. Readers will be drawn to the realistic items in the living room and Little Bear's bedroom.
Here is a link to a page created by Candlewick Press where Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth talk about their work on all the Big Bear and Little Bear books.
Ask Me (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, July 14 2015) written by Bernard Waber with illustrations by Suzy Lee
This story takes us on a day long jaunt shared by a father and his daughter. We stroll through a park and past a pond filled with geese. We look closely at butterflies flitting among flowers. We visit a small carnival and a playground. As they romp and rest among the leaves, our understanding grows. At the close of day their conversations continue as she gets ready for bed, is tucked in and good nights are exchanged.
Told through a series of questions and answers Bernard Waber takes an ordinary day lifting it into the realm of marvelous. The freedom felt by the daughter to begin with
Ask me what I like.
and her dad's willing response
What do you like?
allows us to see the special bond between them. Their chatter is like listening to a symphony.
Ask me what else. What else? I like rain. I like splishing, sploshing, and splooshing in the rain. Splishing, sploshing, and splooshing. I like those words. They're rain words. I made them up.
I know. Suzi Leebegins and ends her illustrations rendered in pencil on the opening and closing endpapers. We first see the father putting on a hat and his daughter putting on her coat in their entryway. At the close both pages are filled with fireflies, one of the girl's favorite bugs. Her color palette is introduced on the matching front dust jacket and book case and continued throughout the book filling the pages with affection and the brilliance of the season. All of the pictures cover two pages except for one. Perspective shifts to match the importance of the narrative.
To discover more about Bernard Waber and Suzi Lee and their other work please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.
The Full Moon at the Napping House (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, September 1, 2015) written by Audrey Wood with illustrations by Don Wood
Without fail if squirrelly behavior is noted in children, dogs or cats, a check of the moon phase calendar will reveal a full one is in the offing. In a companion to their 1984 bedtime classic, Audrey Wood and Don Wood take us back to the napping house. Granny, the child, the dog, the cat and the mouse are sleepless, fidgety, playful, prowling and worried. A wee nighttime visitor pays them a visit reversing the spell cast by the moon.
Using repeating phrases Audrey Wood welcomes us into the luminous atmosphere of a single night. As words are added the activity increases until a pause announces the guest. Verbs follow canceling the effects in a peaceful rhythm.
And in that bed there is a granny, a sleepless granny in a wide-awake bed in a full-moon house, where everyone is restless.
Using open acrylics on stretched and grounded watercolor paper Don Wood begins with a moon rising over rolling hills. As the story progresses you can tell by the look on Granny's face and her eyes, the actions of the child, dog, cat and mouse are driving her a little crazy. Careful readers will enjoy watching the movement of the mouse and the visitor. The use of light and shadow is as masterful here as in the original title.
Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! (Little, Brown and Company, September 8, 2015) written by Todd Tarpley with illustrations by John Rocco
A pajama-clad boy moves down the hallway with his three robot pals to get ready for bed. After scrubbing up in the bathroom it's time for all four to snuggle and sleep in their individual places. The problem is the robots. They simply can't get settled. One mechanical complication after another seems to plague them. Their boy is getting more frustrated by the minute. A trick as old as time works wonders. Mission accomplished! No more beeping only sleeping.
Told in rhyme Todd Tarpley lulls us with his words into the bedtime ritual. His use of robotic terms fits as smoothly as a well-oiled machine into the story. By having the automated companions interrupt the boy's rest once, twice and three times before his irritation causes a verbal explosion, the fourth and final request is more surprising and satisfying.
Three little robots, time for bed. Time to dim your infrared.
On the front of the dust jacket readers can readily see the friendship between the boy and his rambunctious robots. To the left, on the back, silhouettes of the three robots are shown jumping on the boy's empty bed with the full moon in the background. The color from one of the robots and the book in the boy's hand provides the canvas for the book case. On the right are the three robot faces. To the left Beep! Beep! appears in large bold letters. The spine is the same pattern as the wallpaper in the home. The opening and closing endpapers are used to introduce and conclude this rollicking romp.
At the close of the book John Rocco talks about the mouse we see on all the pages as being his daughter's idea. This little being ups the hilarity with his liveliness in every scene. Rendered in pencil, watercolor and digital paint the images are warm and reminiscent of the recent past. The decor and items in the home and the style of the robots mirror treasured childhood memories or those worth making.
Please follow the link attached to John Rocco's name to access his website. There you can learn more about him and his other work. He also has additional images from this book at his blog. At Todd Tarpley's blog you can view illustrations and read his comments about this book. Simply follow the link embedded in his name.
Thank You and Good Night (Little, Brown and Company, October 6, 2015) written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell
As the day closes with a sunset, a wee bunny, Clement, is getting into his pajamas with help from his human friend Maggie. A doorbell ring announces the arrival of two friends, Jean, an elephant, and Alan, a bear. Both are wearing sleepwear. It's time for a Pajama Party!
The three take delight in bed bouncing, learning the chicken dance, participating in a funny face contest and a timeless favorite game, a bit of yoga and treats. They might pause more than once wondering if they should go to sleep but they are having too much fun. There does come a time when their activities are becoming quieter with looking, wishing and listening.
When they ask the question they have been voicing during the evening, Maggie finally says yes. The trio performs nighttime rituals and toddle toward bed. Tucked in tight they listen and then recite their thank-yous before whispering good night. A tender surprise awaits readers.
Patrick McDonnellwrites words that wrap around readers with the cozy comfort of their very own bed. His simple sentences, stating the obvious, pair beautifully with his images quietly and softly leading us into his story. The voices of the three friends are shown in speech balloons adding to the charm. Even though they would not trade in a single minute of their play, they ask from time to time in a gentle refrain
"Is it time for bed yet?"
The front picture on the matching dust jacket and book case is sure to have you gasp aloud or whisper "Aww" in your mind. Rendered in pen and ink, pencil and watercolor on handmade paper each illustration inspires a sense of calm. On the back, to the left, the three are sleeping all in a row, sharing the same pillow, in a bed. This picture, a circle, is loosely framed in a cream color. The opening and closing endpapers are blue on blue like stars in a sky.
Heavy matte-finished paper in cream is the canvas for the art work of Patrick McDonnell. Each image has a brush stroke frame or smaller pictures are placed on the page. The details are sure to have you hugging the book. When they are jumping on the bed Alan jumps right out of his pajama bottoms, their funny faces are roll-on-floor hilarious, Jean's hiding place in hide-and-seek is sure to make you laugh out loud and the attire of the singing night bird will make you smile. This book is loaded with love.
To learn more about Patrick McDonnell please follow the links attached to his name to access two websites about him and his books. Patrick McDonnell was a guest at Scholastic's Ambassador of School Libraries John Schumacher's website, Watch. Connect. Read.
Seven books speak about the time we take to rest. We follow the stories about a simple, ordinary but memorable conversation during a day, special events or as bedtime approaches beloved rituals. I predict many readings of all these titles for the comfortable connection they will create between readers and listeners.
One animal given a wide berth by humans is a skunk. If you have a dog, your vigilance is continually on high alert. The slightest glimpse of a furry flash of black and white will send your heart racing. A skunked dog is a miserable incident for everyone but the potent pest. A peek in pantries of people with pooch pals should show baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and liquid dish soap at the ready, specifically for a deodorizing concoction.
Despite all precautions, these smelly critters have a way of appearing as if from thin air. The Skunk (Roaring Brook Press, April 14, 2015), story by Mac Barnett, art by Patrick McDonnell, offers readers a preposterous possibility. It will leave you with more questions than answers.
When I left my house there was a skunk on my doorstep.
Wait a minute! Stop right there! There's a skunk on your doorstep? Not only is there a skunk on this fancily-attired man's porch but after edging past him with extreme caution, the skunk trails behind him on the sidewalk.
As they get closer to the city, the man is fairly certain the skunk is shadowing his every move. Regardless of his speed or random turns, the skunk is persistently in pursuit. In apparent desperation, the man inquires as to the skunk's intentions.
Obviously, he receives no reply. But then again, how often do skunks follow in your footsteps? Frustrated to the max, the man takes a taxi to his destination. So does the skunk. (Yes, you read this correctly.)
Upon his arrival at the opera house, the man takes extra measures. Once inside he sighs with satisfaction, sure he has evaded the determined follower. Guess who shows up on the head of the woman seated next to him?
Panic filling him from head to toe, the man runs from the performance. There seems to be nowhere he can go without the skunk. As a last resort he sinks into the sewer system.
Appearing above ground after some distance, the man makes a series of decisions. The skunk seems to have made some choices too. With great care, dressed in black and white, a creature moves through the night.
You have to wonder what triggered the idea for this book in the mind of Mac Barnett. I seem to recall several close encounters his dog had with a skunk from posts on Twitter. However it happened, readers will laughingly agree this book is like no other they've previously read.
Each sentence is an attentive phrase in a symphony of silliness building to a startling and remarkable conclusion. Readers are up close and personal with the man due to the first person narration. It's like reading an entry in a diary but the puzzle has missing pieces. Here is the passage where Barnett sets readers up for a huge dose of hilarity.
Success! I bounded up the steps and took my seat. I was relieved to find myself between a lady and a gray old officer. But then of course skunks can't buy tickets to the opera! ...
When you open the dust jacket you are introduced to the color palette used by Patrick McDonnell throughout most of the book. The similarities between the man and the skunk, the fur and red nose and the tuxedo with a red tie, accentuate the ridiculous situation in which the man finds himself. On the back, to the left, a circle is set in a red background. The man is running from the skunk.
Six large black and white stripes supply the canvas for the front and back of the book case. A circle on the front repeats the illustration found on the jacket. The opening and closing endpapers continue the black and white pattern with representations of the two characters respectively. Above the red text on the title page, a zoological, textbook-type image of the skunk is shown.
McDonnell has provided page after page of gentle tension, comedy and surprise. With the subtlest of shifts in the characters' eyes and through the use of body language we are taken into the moment. Regardless of the landscape in which the characters appear, we first look at them. All of the illustrations are single pages or several on one page. Most are loosely framed by white space.
One of my favorite illustrations in this title is the first one. The man is looking out his front door nose bent toward the nose of the skunk. All we see is his face and stunned eyes behind his glasses. Calmly looking up is the skunk seated on the porch. There is the barest hint of the house siding with a blooming rose bush and grass along the bottom. Ever time I see this, I laugh out loud.
When you finish reading The Skunk written by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Patrick McDonnell, you can't help but read it again immediately. You are seeking solutions. This book is filled to the brim with possibilities. This is a story leaving you wanting more. It's up to you now.
Of one thing you can be certain, nothing is rarely ever certain. Predictions can be made using the best possible scientific evidence or research but one tiny unknown or slight imbalance can shift the results. There have been many times when I have been hauling hoses to water gardens when one hundred per cent chance of thunderstorms moved above or below our region or spent hours shoveling one foot of twenty per cent chance of snowfall. You truly have to be prepared to expect the unexpected.
It's in those what-are-the-chances-of-this-happening minutes we can learn and flourish. Patrick McDonnell, creator of The Monster's Monster and Caldecott Honor winner of Me...Jane has written and illustrated a new title, A Perfectly MESSED-UP Story (Little, Brown and Company), destined to generate quite a bit of conversation. It's a joyous example of life's little accidental incidents and how one can choose to respond.
This is Louie's story. Once upon a time, little Louie went skipping merrily along.
He was also singing a merry little song. We all know skipping and singing mean nothing, absolutely nothing, is wrong. Suddenly Louie skids to a stop.
There is an irregular-shaped gooey blob smack dab in the middle of his pastoral scene. Hmm...it smells like jelly and it tastes like jelly. Louie is flabbergasted someone would eat a jelly sandwich while reading his book. Before he can even process the audacity of this, a huge glob of peanut butter lands on his face. What?!
Wait a minute! Black fingerprint smudges are appearing all over the pages. This is a catastrophe! Can it get any worse?! It sure can and does.
In a truly earnest monologue Louie states the value of books and asks to continue his story again sans surprises. Alas, it is not to be. Crayon scribbles appear like an alien cloud in the sky. Louie's request for assistance elevates the eyesore. As you can imagine, Louie is more than a little irritated.
This story, his story, is in a shambles. In fact, Louie gives up. Heedless of his down and out statements, the narrator finally finishes the third sentence. With that final word, Louie makes a startling discovery. Way to go and grow, Louie!
The combined word choices and sentence structure fashioned by Patrick McDonnell are brimming with pizzazz and emotion. The contrast between Louie's storyline, the narrative, and his spoken reactions are fantastically funny. It's like you have a lighthearted tune being played by a piano and flute suddenly interrupted by a cymbal crash. Here is a small sample.
For in his heart, Louie knew everything was just HEY! HOLD ON. WHAT'S THAT!?!
Opening up the dust jacket there stands, beneath a contrasting typed and hand-drawn title, a somewhat baffled- looking, book-holding Louie amid jelly, crayon scribbles, an orange juice ring and numerous black fingerprints. When your eyes look to the left one of the pages from the book is featured upside down.
Things don't always go by the book.
appears above Louie who states resignedly, in a conversational speech bubble,
WHATEVER.
Lightly golden checked opening and closing endpapers are identical except for the words in a small book plate on each. The closing endpapers also hint at additional events.
Rendered in pen and ink, brush pen, crayon and watercolor on watercolor paper, the illustrations by Patrick McDonnellare lively using a full-color palette. Each single-page picture has a softly-defined edge which creates a border using the heavy cream-colored paper. When Louie despairs, believing his book is destroyed, the background scenery fades away to nothing. It's just Louie and his voiced thoughts until his magic moment of realization.
One of my favorite illustrations is the third one in the book. Louie is skipping across a hilly field of flowers with trees, clouds and blue sky in the distance. He is singing his song,
Tra la la la la
Wearing his one-piece yellow suit with the two tiny red buttons, his face full of happiness and mouth open, he is the ultimate picture of bliss. It's the perfect set-up for the following page as well as depicting the strength of Louie's character which is recognized by everyone, Louie too, at the end.
A Perfectly MESSED-UP Story written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell is sheer delight on every page. It portrays in the best possible way, through humor, of how everyone's story can continue even though messes appear. Readers of all ages will fall in love with Louie.
This is a great read aloud. I can see having children act out the story after it has been read through one time first. Get ready for a reader's theater romp and props as messy as you dare.
For more about the work of Patrick McDonnell please follow the link embedded in his name. It takes you to a special publisher's website showcasing all his books. There are lots of extras complimenting his earlier titles. Update: Patrick McDonnell was interviewed at Watch. Connect. Read. teacher librarian extraordinaire, John Schumacher's blog on November 21, 2014.
This review is based upon an uncorrected proof which I received from my favorite independent bookstore, McLean & Eakin Booksellers located in Petoskey, Michigan. I can't wait until the projected release date of October 7, 2014 to get a copy of the hardcover.
What is it exactly about monsters that kids find so fascinating, scary and most of the time, fun? Books about Nessie and Bigfoot are rarely on the shelves, constantly checked out as soon as they are returned. At Halloween one of the most popular stories I tell to my older students is The Night of the Sasquatch.
Monsters, more home-grown, are said to be in closets or under the bed. Oh, yes, I remember the days of not hanging any portion of my body over the bed at night; you couldn't be too careful. Monsters come in all shapes, sizes and dispositions but the best kind of monsters are full of surprises.
Patrick McDonnell, Caldecott Honor winner for Me...Jane, illustrator of the popular Mutts comic strip and other books containing those irresistibly lovable characters, has written and illustrated a new title for us to enjoy. The Monsters' Monster (Little, Brown and Company),recently released, is one of those stories where sometimes what you want is not what you need. You never know, based on the exterior, what the interior will reveal.
Grouch, Grump, and little Gloom 'n' Doom thought they were monsters.
If living in huge, gloomy castle perched on a tall, formidable mountain casting a shadow on a charming village below counts as monster criteria, these three fit the bill. They're loud (smash, crash and bash), constantly cranky and definitely negative; no being their favorite word. Whining about nothing, having fits of anger, moaning in woe, and fighting about who is the most monstrous of all has their calendar filled in month after month.
Then the trio hatch a plan to construct---
The biggest, baddest monster EVER!
In true Frankenstein style, during a dark and story night, their wrapped giant is lifted into the air, lightning striking him into life. Amid the elated cheers of Grouch, Grump and little Gloom and Doom, this colossal creation staggers forward arms outstretched. Uttering two words which completely flabbergasts his new companions, he gathers them up in a group hug.
The Monster opens the window letting in the sunny morning light, he greets all the creepy crawlies in the room and in a burst of true gratitude crashes through the wall. Oh boy, the threesome are gleeful now; this is true-blue monster behavior. They follow him down the mountain, down the street and wait restlessly outside a shop.
Where are the screams and moans of despair and fright? In silence he leaves, bag in hand. Like cars on a train they follow him to the beach. In the stillness of the sunrise they receive his treats, speaking what they have learned and...being monsters is the last thing on their minds.
The cadence of Patrick McDonnell's narrative sometimes using repetition, rhyme, a series of questions or a single word, all carefully selected, is magical. The sentences and phrases roll right off your tongue into your storytelling heart, a smile beginning to form on your face. Readers become a part of the tale so much so that when it ends, they want to stay.
Opening up the book's jacket on the back the three little troublemakers are hopping around, arms raised wondering what they could possibly have done. The gray on the jacket is deepened on the cover with only a single, different visual on the front taken from the book. The orange with black endpapers suggest storm clouds in the front and a sun rising above the sea in the back.
I love the heavy paper used in making this book, beginning with a gray tone background which becomes lighter, warmer near the end. Despite the dusky, muted hues for most of the book, there is a playfulness present in the splashes of black ink, the monsters' movements and facial expressions (some will elicit peals of laughter). Full page closeups, two page spreads, small vignettes, go hand-in-hand with the text, complimenting every descriptive thought, action or piece of dialogue.
Patrick McDonnell has written and illustrated a story filled with the improbable becoming possible; a peek at what an attitude of gratitude can bring. The Monsters' Monster is a visual joy filled to the brim with zip, zap and wow. For Halloween this title is perfect but really any time of the year will do, because readers just can't get enough of those monsters.
Here is a link to an interview with Patrick McDonnell about this book at Publishers Weekly.
I own, enjoy and treasure these books, The Gift of Nothing, Art, Just Like Heaven, Hug Time, South and Wag! by author/illustrator, Patrick McDonnell . McDonnell is the brilliant artist of the acclaimed Muttscomic strip. He is passionately involved in organizations for the protection of animals and the preservation of our planet, Earth. Having admired Dr. Jane Goodall, McDonnell read her autobiography, Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey. In that autobiography is a picture of her holding her childhood friend, Jubilee, a stuffed toy chimpanzee. That was the spark for the fire that became Patrick McDonnell's beautiful title, Me...Jane.
I think I've mentioned before that I am one of those people that take joy in the entire package known as the book. For me the book jacket is like the ribbon, the cover is like the wrapping paper, the endpapers represent the box and inside the box is the story. Me...Jane is a true representation of the saying, a book is a present that one can open again and again.
Warm, soft, amber-toned watercolor illustrations spread across a cover that imitates a journal, scrapbook or photo album beckoning the viewer to be part of something personal. Jane is in the center with the animals looking at her but at this point she is not part of their environment but a photograph.
In removing the jacket the cover maintains the journal, scrapbook or album motif but instead of McDonnell's portrayal of Jane the photograph that inspired this book is pictured among naturalistic engravings from the 19th and 20th century with two tiny touches of McDonnell's own artwork. The endpapers are the same comforting brown color as the book's corners and spine with an additional light brown done in an African tribal design.
McDonnell begins Jane's story with the gift of Jubilee. Jubilee is ever at her side as she roams outdoors watching with keen eyes all the life big and small in her world as a young girl. By reading books she increases her knowledge at every opportunity. He highlights her observation of a chicken laying an egg; which answered her question on the origin of eggs.
For most of the book McDonnell has the engravings stamped beneath the text on the left with his original illustrations on the right. It is his two page spreads that are so endearing, memorable and uplifting. There are four; two with his own artwork, the third a combination of engravings and his watercolor and India ink visuals and the fourth is Jane's original drawings as a young girl for her club, The Alligator Society. It is the second of the four that is the book's center; Jane is shown climbing her favorite tree named Beech on the right with engravings on the left that bleed across the center. It is this blending of the precise with the creative that McDonnell says accentuates Jane Goodall's character as a scientist and an artist.
As this part of Jane Goodall's early life is told to us by McDonnell it will become clear through his specific word choice, that gift he has of saying so much with so few words, that Jane made her dreams come true and she did it with heart.
She would lay her cheek against its trunk and seem to feel the sap flowing beneath the bark.
For those fans of the Tarzan stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs, yes, this book's title is a result of Jane's fondness for those tales.
Take a moment to enter the life of young Jane Goodall as told to us in words and pictures by Patrick McDonnell. This is not just a biographical portrait but a tribute to a woman who has inspired many and will continue to do so for generations to come.
At the book's end is more information about Dr. Goodall, a letter from her and a piece of artwork, a cartoon, that she drew. By clicking on Patrick McDonnell's name you are linked to his books' web site where there is a video interview with him about Me...Jane. If you click on Jane Goodall's name the link will take you to her web site for the Jane Goodall Institute.
Shelving books and year end inventory do have their benefits beyond the obvious. Without fail each time I look through the books on the shelves in either the elementary or middle school library media centers I find those special volumes about which I have forgotten. Today I became reaquainted with four very special books by gifted authors and illustrators.
The secret remedy book: a story of comfort and love by Karin Cates and illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin is heart-warming in every way. Lolly's wish of visiting her Auntie Zep without her family finally comes true; she is so excited! But after they leave much to her surprise she misses them and starts to cry. Auntie Zep has the perfect solution--
The Secret Remedy Book. After locating a special key, a trunk in the attic and the book itself, together they complete each remedy. But in order for the remedies to work all must be completed before the first hoot of an owl. Each remedy is delighfully pictured by our own Michigan Halperin in her signature style. Her illustrations invite closer examination as the reader views stories within the story. At her web site Halperin offers extensions for teachers not only for this book but for some of her others.
Patrick McDonnell creator of the award-winning comic strip Mutts has also found his nitch as an author of children's books illustrating them with his Mooch and Earl characters. The Gift of Nothing and South are on our shelves. With simple expressive drawings and spare text he manages to convey messages of friendship, compassion and love. Don't miss his web site about Mutts. It is loaded with potential classroom applications especially having students create their own comics. (Hmmm...working on remembering that web site about comic creation for students...now where is it? Stay tuned.)
Author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds of The Dot and Ish fame (wonderful books about self esteem and art) penned So few of me in 2006. Needless to say the message is timeless and for all ages. No matter what we do or how hard we work wouldn't it be easier if we could clone ourselves? The words have hardly left Leo's mouth when another Leo shows up to assist him in his never-ending supply of things to do. Before the tale ends there are ten of Leo! Peter Reynolds will have you smiling as he presents Leo with the perfect answer which each of us should practice each and every day. [Please note: when I went to Reynolds' web site it seems that he has another book which we should have, The North Star.]
The truth is, sometimes being loose in the world is not an entirely positive experience. The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His A B C's (the Hard Way) (Little, Brown And Company, September 5, 2017) written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell follows the adventures of a family feline that makes an escape. As soon as he leaps off the front porch, races down the hill and starts on a straightaway, he realizes he has made a mistake. Without the benefit of words but with award-winning artwork inviting and prompting a story in our minds, we eagerly turn the pages as our twenty-six letter alphabet dictates the flawless flow of action.
