Back To The Place Called Home

Now, after two weeks, when pressing my face into her fur it triggers new sensations.  There are odors of sunshine, evergreens, lake breezes and wild.  Her soul is new too, her spirit soaring as we traverse paths and roadways through northern Michigan woods.  Startled deer leap in front of us.  At any given moment my canine companion will freeze, listening and sniffing the air.

Today in the very early hours of the morning after finishing, for the second time, The Wild Robot Escapes (Little, Brown and Company, March 13 2018) written and illustrated by Peter Brown, later, during our first walk, my mind wandered in different directions.  It was wonderful to compare the second title with the first, The Wild Robot (Little, Brown and Company, April 5, 2016).  Using my senses to take in these pristine surroundings and all they offer, it was easy to think of ROZZUM unit 7134 affectionately known as Roz.  It was easy to imagine her walking along beside us or appearing in the woods when she believed we meant her and her friends no harm.

Without divulging too much, at the end of the first title, Roz is forced to leave those and that which she loves most.  I know what you are thinking.  How can a robot love? Roz is an extraordinary being.

Chapter 1
THE CITY
Our story begins in a city, with buildings and streets and bridges and parks.  Humans were strolling, automobiles were driving, airships were flying, robots were hard at work.
Weaving through the city streets was a delivery truck.

Picking up speed this truck zooms away from the city and past vast stretches of country landscape until it reaches one specific farm, Hilltop Farm.  It stops and drops out a crate.  Inside is a ROZZUM unit.  It is number 7134.  Roz.

What the farmer, Mr. Shareef, his dog Curly, and his children a daughter, Jaya, and a son, Jad, do not know and cannot know, is Roz will exceed the required work needed to be done on the dairy farm.  (After the death of his wife and an injury, Mr. Shareef, is desperate to save this family land.)  That first night, the cows in the barn, like the animals on the island, discover Roz's mind does not function as the technology in other robots does.  She speaks their language.

Day after day a routine forms as Roz repairs the other automated equipment and maintains every aspect of this farm.  She is as content as one can be when living two lives and longing for home. As the seasons shift, flocks of geese stop at the pond on the property. Conversing with them, she gets a promise.  She starts to plan . . . her escape.

It does not miss the attention of the children that their robot has special qualities.  Storytelling sessions begin.  There are stories of a wild robot on an island and her son, a goose named Brightbill.  Jaya and Jad are completely captivated.

A pack of wolves, a wild tornado, a summer night around a campfire, the existence of an old barn, the arrival of a special flock of geese and a startling revelation alter relationships.  More secrets are kept and an expanded plan is put into action.  Spring brings renewed hope as well as increased fears.

Readers' hearts will race as surely as the heart of Brightbill and the survival mode wired into Roz as they attempt to reach a goal.  Danger is a constant companion.  At any moment they realize they might never see each other again.  At any moment they realize one of them could die.  Expect the unexpected as this breathtaking companion title thrills us until the final word is read.  That word will sound in every soul.


When a book starts with

Our story begins

readers are immediately drawn into the plot.  We step into this narrative as if it's our own.  From time to time throughout the story, this unseen narrator will carry on casual conversations with us.  This technique is brilliantly employed by Peter Brown and it is as successful here as it was in the first title.

Short chapters with short definitive titles propel us forward as quickly as we can turn the pages.  The end of each one connects flawlessly with the following chapter.  A blend of conversations and narrative text give us insight into the characters thoughts, moods and motives.  Vivid descriptions of setting further envelope us as we move from one landscape to another.  Here are some passages.

Nobody knew quite what to think of the strange creature in their midst. And soon all the cows were voicing their thoughts.
"I think the monster is harmless."
"I think the monster is unnatural."
"I think the monster is moving!" 
The herd fell silent as the monster marched out from the shadows and into the middle of the barn.  And then she did the impossible.  She did the unthinkable.  She spoke to the cows in the language of the animals.
"I am not a monster, I am a robot.  My name is Roz."

The cows and the humans spent hot days indoors.
Only when the sun finally set and the air began to cool would they venture outside.  The herd strolled out to graze under the stars, the children ran out to chase fireflies, sometimes even Mr. Shareef stepped out to stretch his stiff legs.
Leaves rustled in the evening breeze.
Heat lightning flickered on the horizon.
Cicadas sang from tree branches.

"Running away might be easy for you, but not for me," said Roz.  "Your father can track my movements.  If he sees me trying to escape he will think I am defective, and he will send me away to be destroyed."
An uncomfortable question popped into Jaya's mind.  
"Roz, don't take this the wrong way," she began, "but is it possible that you are defective?"
"Don't say that, Jaya!" cried her brother.
"No, it is okay," said the robot.  "I have asked myself that same question.  I do not feel defective.  I feel . . . different.  Is being different the same as being defective?"
"I hope not," said Jaya.  "Otherwise we're all a little defective."

Even way out there in the wilderness, she wanted to go unseen.  What Roz didn't realize was that she was already being watched.


Having read an ARC generously supplied by the publisher, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of a completed book to see the illustrations Peter Brown provides.  The cover (The cover reveal is at School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production, by Elizabeth Bird.) gives readers a huge hint.  Where is Roz and why is she there?  Let me simply say prepare to be on a roller coaster ride of emotions.


This title, The Wild Robot Escapes, written and illustrated by Peter Brown is, like the first title, a classic.  It addresses the issues of our interconnectedness with all animals, domestic and wild. It asks us to seek peaceful solutions to every question.  It promotes discussions on the part technology plays in our lives.  Think about the fact that with all the advancements available to those children, the storytelling with Roz was their favorite thing.  I can't imagine a professional or personal collection without several copies of this title.  It's spectacular!

To learn more about Peter Brown and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website.  I know you will enjoy this post by Peter dedicated to the work in creating this book.  At Little, Brown and Company, you can listen to a podcast where Peter talks about The Wild Robot Escapes.  Here is a link to a Book Club Guide for the first title.  Author, reviewer, and blogger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast Julie Danielson writes about this book at Chapter 16.  Peter Brown is interviewed by songwriter and singer Emily Arrow at Musing, a laid-back lit journal.  Enjoy the audio book excerpt.

The Gleam Of Green

When the world of reality collides with the realm of imagination within the pages of a book, it's easy to find yourself gasping, sighing, laughing or crying in the most public of places.  You're so thoroughly a part of the story; you literally forget where you are.  Everything and anything is possible.  We all know what is perfectly normal can be transformed into something frightening, outlandish, unpredictable and unforgettable.

Five years ago Creepy Carrots! (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, August 21, 2012)(2013 Caldecott Honor Book) left readers warily wandering through the vegetable section of their neighborhood grocery stores.  As these roots now become a part of our meals or snacks, we half expect them to talk to us or walk out of the kitchen thanks to collaborators, author Aaron Reynolds and illustrator Peter Brown.  Two days ago standing in the middle of a Scholastic Book Fair, it was exceedingly difficult not to burst out laughing while reading the companion title, Creepy Pair of Underwear! (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, August 15, 2017).  Our bewildered bunny is back!

Jasper Rabbit needed new underwear.
On Thursday Mom took him to the underwear store
and grabbed the last three packages of Plain White.

Before they could pay and leave, something caught Jasper's attention.  It was an enormous display for Creepy Underwear.  They were neon green, with a Frankenstein face on the front.  After Jasper reminded his mom he was no longer a tiny tyke, she agreed to a single pair of creepy underwear.

Jasper proudly put on the new ghastly undies before heading to bed.  He declined his dad's request for the hallway light to be left on. In the deep dark of his bedroom he noticed something for the first time.  The cranky creature's countenance glowed in the dark!

You never saw a rabbit move so rapidly.  In a finger snap, the offending attire was stuffed in the hamper and replaced with Plain White.  Imagine his surprise to awake up in the morning wearing the creepy underwear!  What?!

No matter where Jasper put those shimmering pants, where he sent them, or what he did to them, they found their way back to their favorite rabbit.  There was no one to tell.  Who would believe him?  It was time to steer his desperation in another direction.  No one was more surprised than Jasper Rabbit at the results.


When Aaron Reynolds writes about underwear, the usually response, laughter, is replaced with shivers and shudders.  He adeptly uses repetition and alliteration in his depiction of Jasper's actions and the description of the underwear.  Each time Jasper tries to rid himself of the underwear, the fright is gradually replaced with funny in the form of subtle humor.  This leads us expertly to the dual conclusion.  Here is a sample passage.

He closed his eyes.
He pulled up the covers.
He buried his face in his pillow.
But it didn't help.
He could still see that 
ghoulish, greenish glow.


The limited color palette, the blend of black, gray, white and green, and the ingenious use of light and shadows not only on the matching dust jacket and book case but throughout the title focus our attention on precisely how creepy these techniques can be.  The neon glowing green hue paired with the white eyes filled with fear on Jasper reaches out and grasps readers.  We realize the rabbit is genuinely terrified.

On the front of the jacket and case we are brought close to him sharing his dread.  To the left, on the back, is a duplication of an interior illustration. Jasper is standing in his bedroom window on the first morning when the creepy underwear has somehow moved from the hamper back to his body.  On a background of black on the opening and closing endpapers are rows of plain white undies except for one pair of creepy underwear.  Careful readers will note the difference between the two.

Each illustration has rounded corners with black frames, like pieces of film or a screen on the first black and white televisions.  Rendered in pencil on paper and then digitally composited and colored by Peter Brown the pictures portray varying perspectives.  Many times it's as if we are indeed watching a movie or television show but we also feel as though we are in the scene with the characters.

The expressions on Jasper's face convincingly convey his jitters but at the same time readers know he's trying to demonstrate he's a bigger bunny, more grown up.  He's also filled with a sense of determination and at times, elation.  The humor increases when readers notice the altered looks on the Frankenstein face on the creepy underwear.  Several will undoubtedly prompt outbursts of laughter.

One of my many favorite pictures is when Jasper first discovers the creepy underwear glow in the dark.  Across two pages, we get a bird's eye view of Jasper's bed.  It extends from the right-hand corner, filling the page, at an angle across the gutter to beyond the center of the left page.  The quilt, patterned in squares like the floors and bathroom tile, is pulled back and held by Jasper to reveal his body.  The creepy underwear is gleaming brightly with an angry scowl on its face.  Jasper looks shocked.


As sure as the full moon casts a spell on the earth below, readers will request this title, Creepy Pair of Underwear! written by Aaron Reynolds with pictures by Peter Brown, to be read to them repeatedly.  It's scary but not too scary and the conclusion will have them howling at the humor.  Readers, like Jasper, will understand rather than trying to hide from your fear, the better outcome might be to face it.  I highly recommend this title for your professional shelves.  It will never be there, passed from reader to reader.  Your personal collection will need a copy too.

To learn more about Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown and their other work, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites.  At the publisher's website you can view interior images from the book.  There is also a four page activity kit.  Aaron Reynolds is featured at PictureBooking, Episode 86.  On The New York Times Books Facebook page under Videos Peter Brown draws art from this book, reads portions aloud and chats about his process.

Survival Of The Most Intelligent

When a plan is in place, preparations are made to support it.  Every action taken focuses on the goal.  We all know though, plans, preparations and actions combined do not always equal the desired result.  Mother Nature has a way of throwing the proverbial monkey wrench into the mix.

Rain cancels picnic feasts, blizzards cancel a day on the slopes and too much sun cancels a hockey match on the neighborhood pond.  In his debut middle-grade book Peter Brown (Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, My Teacher Is A Monster!: (No, I Am Not.)) begins with weather on the rampage.  The Wild Robot (Little, Brown and Company, April 5, 2016) is first a story of survival but each chapter broadens and deepens the very definition of the word.

Our story begins on the ocean, with wind and rain and thunder and lightning and waves.  A hurricane roared and raged through the night.  And in the middle of the chaos, a cargo ship was sinking.

Aboard this ship was a load of crates; each filled with a single robot.  In the morning the only sign of the ship was five floating crates which traveled until a small rocky island was in sight.  Only one was lifted by waves undamaged to a safe position on the shore.

Poking about the robot wreckage in the early light of the day was a group of sea otters.  They were unable to resist the shininess of the body parts and the damaged but intact crate.  In their eagerness to grasp the spongy protective layer inside the crate, one of them brought the enclosed machine to life.  And this began a tale like none other.

ROZZUM unit 7134, Roz, adapted as she was programmed to do. Her desire to survive first finally had her blending in as part of the flora, allowing her to learn from the animal inhabitants on the island.  At one of their Dawn Truce meetings she presented herself but the animals wanted nothing to do with her.  Not a one of them wanted to help or teach her.

A fox in need, an opossum with first-class acting skills and an orphaned gosling started to shift the animals' assessment of this uninvited resident.  In her endeavors to care for Brightbill, a name given to the gosling by the elderly goose, Loudwing, Roz made connections with the beaver and deer families.  Skills were traded with everyone a winner.  As the spring passed into summer Roz was assimilating more into the animal culture on the island as Brightbill adeptly, with his Mama's help, increased his goose swimming and flying abilities.

As autumn approached an unprovoked attack left Roz a little less herself.  Winter brought frightening challenges but the arrival of spring was celebrated until terror visited the island.  Edge-of-your-seat tension continued chapter after chapter as heroes were born.  As long as there was hope change for the greater good would be accepted.


As soon as chapter one is read, readers know this is going to be an extraordinary book.  The narrator, when speaking, directly addresses the readers personally involving us in this story.  We are privy through Roz's thoughts and the animals' observations and all the conversations, how this robot becomes not only a part of the community but vital to the survival of many members on the island.  Peter Brown through the character of Roz also directs our attention to respect for the natural world, how each species are integral, environmental concerns and the place and purpose of technology.

The technique of short chapters replicates real life; our day is composed of many linked moments.  Each one ends with a carefully crafted sentence, sometimes a statement of fact, but they encourage us to continue.  Vivid descriptions of the island help us to create pictures of the landscape in our minds.  We come to understand how the animal inhabitants live, die and survive.  The relationship between Roz and Brightbill evolves into a heartwarming bond; a beautiful blend of logic and love.  Here are some sample passages.

Animal sounds filled the forest.  Chirps and wingbeats and rustlings in the underbrush.  And then, from the sea cliffs, there came new sounds.  Heavy, crunching footsteps.  The forest animals fell silent, and from their hiding places they watched as a sparkling monster stomped past.

When Roz first stomped across the island, the animal squawks and growls and chirps had sounded like nothing more than meaningless noises.  But she no longer heard animal noises.  Now she heard animal words.  

"Have you done any acting?" asked the opossum.
"I have not," said the robot.
"Well, you should!  You might enjoy it.  You can start by imagining the character you'd like to be.  How do they move and speak?  What are their hopes and fears?  How do others react to them?  Only when you truly understand a character can you become that character..."

"Should I stop calling you Mama?" said the gosling.
"I will still act like your mother, no matter what you call me," said the robot.
"I think I'll keep calling you Mama."
"I think I will keep calling you son."
"We're a strange family," said Brightbill, with a little smile. "But I kind of like it that way."
"Me too," said Roz. 

Throughout the book Peter Brown has drawn images in black and white.  Their size varies according to the passage, point in the story, they enhance.  Each one evokes an emotional response in the reader.

 One of my many favorite illustrations is inside the Nest.  There is no fire going at this moment.  Roz and Brightbill are facing each other.  Brightbill has just pressed the button.  The expressions on their faces speak volumes.


The Wild Robot written and illustrated by Peter Brown is a memorable, moving tale of survival, community and family.  Whether read silently and individually or as a read aloud, this book will be counted as a favorite of readers for this year and as a cherished title for many, many years to come.  No collection, professional or personal, should be without a copy.  Thank you, Peter Brown.

To learn more about Peter Brown and his other work, please visit his website by following the link embedded in his name.  The second of the two links takes you to the page describing the journey this book made until its publication.  To read an excerpt please stop by the publisher's website.  Peter Brown is interviewed at Publishers Weekly and at the Barnes & Noble BNKIDS blog.  Peter Brown is also a guest at All The Wonders, Let's Get Busy, Episode 247 with teacher librarian Matthew Winner.  You might want to listen to one of the chapters read aloud by following a link in one of the tweets.

@MrSchuReads @lbkids I need 2 finally meet Kate so I can thank her 4 her tremendous contribution 2 kid lit...and 4 her endorsement of 🌲🤖!

— peterbrown! (@itspeterbrown) May 13, 2016

@Loveofxena Thank you! I poured everything I have into this book. So so glad it resonated with you!

— peterbrown! (@itspeterbrown) May 11, 2016

As the sun set, my 9yo read WILD ROBOT by @itspeterbrown out loud to me while I planted grape vines. Not sure I've ever been happier.

— Dan Gemeinhart (@DanGemeinhart) May 2, 2016

@itspeterbrown Son loved THE WILD ROBOT. Only complaint: "I wish it were longer. I want to see what happens to Roz next."

— Linda Urban (@lindaurbanbooks) April 12, 2016

I chat up @itspeterbrown's THE WILD ROBOT, with a little help from my daughter.https://t.co/x3sdNpqOho

— Jarrett J. Krosoczka (@StudioJJK) April 6, 2016

The Wild Robot LIVES! Hope to see you on my book tour! https://t.co/F12ZxiCKC5 #TheWIldRobot #robots pic.twitter.com/hlqyIuQWwg

— peterbrown! (@itspeterbrown) April 5, 2016

New song THE WILD ROBOT by Peter Brown, Read by Kate Atwater- Audiobook Excerpt by HachetteAudio just went up, lis… https://t.co/LUN4ElRow3

— Kevin Seawright (@KevinSeawrightt) April 4, 2016

@MrSchuReads @LibLaura5 The Wild Robot feels like a web 2.0 version of Hatchet.

— Mr. ©olby Sharp (@colbysharp) March 24, 2016

I'm loving The Wild Robot. Has anyone read it? I'd love to know your thoughts. https://t.co/UXmPVrIlN3

— Mr. ©olby Sharp (@colbysharp) March 22, 2016

One Saturday Morning-Peter Brown

Just a little over twenty-four hours ago, I made a thirty-minute trip to a nearby town.  It is the beginning of the annual Venetian Festival in downtown Charlevoix, Michigan.  As I drove down Bridge Street (the main street) old and antique cars lined the parking spots and were scattered across the green bordering the marina.  It was also the yearly Art in the Park in the city of Petoskey, my destination.

After parking my car, walking several blocks and up a hill, I found myself standing in front of the Carnegie Building, site of the former public library. McLean & Eakin Booksellers, my favorite independent book store, had a display at the base of the steps announcing the visit of author illustrator Peter Brown.  Stepping inside this lovely old building was like going back in time.  A large open area held seating for all the guests with a spot for the children near where Peter Brown would address his readers.

Peter Brown began his session by telling us about his childhood love of drawing and writing showing us examples.  His presentation was filled with the wit and charm found in his books.  His focus was on his newest title, My Teacher Is A Monster! (No I Am Not.).  He explained his inspiration for creating this particular book before reading it to his guests.  It's a wonderful experience to hear an author illustrator read their own book aloud, giving emphasis to those parts they feel are most important.  Ms. Kirby's voice could not have been better.

Finishing up his session Peter Brown demonstrated how Ms. Kirby came to life drawing her in stages so we all could see the combination of shapes and lines.  I was the final person to have my books signed.  Listening to Peter Brown interact with his readers was a true joy.  He loves what he does and it shows.

He Says Yes, She Says No (See You In September #2)

Having a reputation for being one of the best sixth grade language arts teachers, she presided over her classroom for decades like none other.  We were too scared not to learn.  Clear as a bell, I can see her standing at the blackboard diagramming sentences with us dutifully mirroring her every line and word.

One day a classmate was spinning a coin on his desktop during a lesson.  Unfortunately he lost control of it.  In a room where you could have heard a pin drop, the clinking of the nickel sounded like the tolling of a gong.  With surprising speed, she pinpointed the culprit, walked down the aisle and whacked his desk with a ruler.  Needless to say, the entire room looked like a game of Statues had begun.

I'll wager that most of us have teachers in our lives who are memorable for one reason or another.  I'll even go so far as to say some might have thought their teachers downright dreadful. (My teachers were all wonderful.  Maybe that's why I wanted to become one myself.) My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.) (Little, Brown and Company) written and illustrated by Peter Brown acquaints readers with Bobby's teacher who most definitely looks like a monster...a big cranky green monster.

Bobby had a big problem at school.
Her name was Ms. Kirby.

She screeches his full name, Robert, when he flies a paper airplane, stomps her feet demanding people move as if she is parting the Red Sea and bellows for her students to be quiet once and for all.  Her rule about missing recess for flying paper airplanes in class is the last straw.  This teacher is no lady.  This teacher IS a monster.

Luckily Bobby has a sanctuary on the weekends from all this scariness.  He looks forward to going to the park on Saturdays.  To his utter shock one Saturday, Ms. Kirby is at the park.  YIKES! His fear draws him to her like a magnet.

Careful to keep his distance he sits at the opposite end of the bench from where she is.  As if they are in the classroom he raises his hand.  Ms. Kirby replies that out here in the park that is not necessary.  A polite conversation begins but stalls.

The silence is broken by a stiff breeze sending Ms. Kirby's rather large hat sailing.  Running, quacking (quacking?), climbing and piloting supply the needed ingredients for an astonishing transformation.  Change really is in the wind.


Beauty and the Beast has been a beloved fairy tale of mine for as long as I can remember.  For some reason this narrative by Peter Brown seemed to have similar elements.  Ms. Kirby's response to Bobby's airplane flying is like Beast's response to the rose being picked.  When rules are broken there will be consequences even if the rule breaker does not understand.  The person in charge is or can appear to be a monster.  When common ground is reached or experiences are shared each person, each character, reaches a greater understanding.  Perceptions fade; replaced by truth.

Brown's choice to focus on the paper airplane incident will find a wide audience; the urge to fly these creations is universal.  Comedy is introduced when Bobby raises his hand to speak in the park and with the duck quacking serenade.  Word choices and sentence structure will appeal to the intended audience, striking a beautiful balance in pacing.


I can't help but laugh when I look at the matching book case and dust jacket of this title.  The expressions on Ms. Kirby's face combined with the wide eyes and cowlick hair of Bobby are hilarious.  Both are equally sincere in their beliefs.  For the most part Peter Brown continues to use white space throughout the remainder of the book as he does here to highlight his characters and their interactions.  The bright sky blue seen on the back as well as the opening and closing endpapers is the only exception.

Rendered in India ink, watercolor, gouache, and pencil on paper then digitally composited and colored, the illustrations retain the same color palette on all the pages establishing a sense of security, a comfort level necessary to tell this story.  Reader interest is maintained with the alteration of picture size; two pages, a single page, or smaller visuals grouped on a full page especially when Ms. Kirby and Bobby are speaking to one another in the park.  There is such strength in Brown's illustrations he chooses to have no text on several pages.

Perhaps my favorite visuals are the wordless ones when Bobby and Ms. Kirby initially see each other at the park and when they are with the ducks.  The contrast in these two situations is evident.  No text is necessary.


According to a post on his blog, Pete Brown did extensive personal research prior to developing the final narrative for this book.  This is evident when readers follow the story of My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not).  There is a realistic sincerity in all the conversations and situations.  That is exactly what makes this book an A++ winner. Make sure this title is part of your personal and professional collections.  I will be placing this on my Mock Caldecott list.

Please follow the link embedded in Peter Brown's name to visit his website.  This link takes you to an Activity Kit!  This blog post explains the process for developing this book with plenty of artwork included.  This link takes you to a chat between Peter Brown and Julie Danielson of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast at Kirkus.

Pick up a copy at your local indie book seller.  I got mine at McLean & Eakin in Petoskey.  Or visit your nearest library.

Goodbye Status Quo!

Our lives are governed by rules, by laws, principles of etiquette.  Some are written, others are understood.  Within the structure of these guidelines, individual beliefs play an important part.

For some following what is, what always has been and will continue to be so, is easy.  For others, it's confusing, frustrating and not where their heart directs them.  Mr. Tiger Goes Wild (Little, Brown and Company) written and illustrated by Caldecott Honor award-winning Peter Brown (Creepy Carrots!) is about being brave enough to break the mold.

Everyone was perfectly fine
with the way things were.
Everyone but Mr. Tiger.

Propriety was pushing Mr. Tiger to his limits.  It was simply too ho-hum, too confining and left no room for play.  The beauty in being a tiger is being wild after all...right?

So Mr. Tiger decided to try something a bit different.  Instead of walking upright like all his fellow friends, he boldly lowered his body to stride out on all fours.  Not surprisingly, it was the right thing to do.

Mr. Tiger was shedding the skins of confinement.  And he liked it.  He liked it so much he did more and more each day.  He ran, he chased, he climbed and he roared a very loud roar.  Let me tell you though, there was a lot of tut-tutting going on by his fellow townies.

The day he jumped into the fountain in the central square, loosing all his clothes, was the final straw for his up-to-that-point tolerant pals.  Sternly asked to leave, he joyfully departed for the wilderness.  Away from the buildings, streets, clothing, and orderly lifestyle, Mr. Tiger went completely wild!

The freedom was exhilarating but something was missing, the comfort of the familiar.  Making his way back to his town, friends and home, he made a startling discovery.  Mr. Tiger's fearlessness had paved the way. ROAR!


In direct spare statements and examples our narrator makes it quite obvious that Mr. Tiger is ready for change.  Peter Brown's word placement and pacing create the same tension and energy for the reader that Mr. Tiger is feeling.  By placing dialogue in speech bubbles along with the narration the story becomes more personal.  We are intimately involved.  We want to roar (and will probably do so with abandon).

Toward the end of June Peter Brown and I exchanged a series of tweets.

ROAR!!! My very first copies of Mr. Tiger Goes Wild arrived! It might have been worth all the hard… http://t.co/rKIWRf2QDE
— peterbrown! (@itspeterbrown) June 25, 2013

@Loveofxena Why YES, the case cover IS different! I was wondering if anyone would notice that little detail...
— peterbrown! (@itspeterbrown) June 25, 2013

It's the care given to every facet of this book, which makes readers want to go wild themselves.  Peter Brown even goes wild in the illustrations created by trying a new technique, using a different combination of mediums, India ink, watercolor, gouache, and pencil which are digitally composited and colored.  If you look closely you will notice the fifth color, orange, which was included in the printing of the book on paper.

The jacket is a double page spread with Mr. Tiger in the wilderness.  The quote on the back,

There is a time and place for everything---
even going wild.

alludes to the changes which will occur as does the front and back cover, a textured pattern of stripped tiger fur, rough to the touch.  The opening endpapers of taupe, gray bricks are a sharp contrast to the closing endpapers done in hues of green in the stylized ferns found in Brown's forest.

The placement of elements on each of the illustrated pages, whether they are two page, single page or several smaller ones on an individual page, is impeccable; the conversation between Mr. Deer and Mr. Tiger,  the movement of Mr. Tiger as he gets his wild idea, the tall building he climbs in the gutter of two pages, or a potion of his, now, unclothed body running off the right page.  Liberal use of white space draws the reader's eye exactly where it needs to go.  Mr. Tiger's facial expressions convey his moods precisely.  One of my favorite illustrations is the two-page spread of toucans in the air, fish in the water, the series of waterfalls cascading over cliffs , trees, ferns and Mr. Tiger roaring.  You can feel joy in the air.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild written and illustrated by Peter Brown is your ticket to a roaring good time. It's an invitation to be yourself, to be brave and perhaps change those around you.  Some rules whether written or understood are meant to be broken.

Enjoy Peter Brown speaking about Mr. Tiger Goes Wild.




Follow this link to a Q & A with Peter Brown at Publishers Weekly.  Peter Brown was interviewed at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast about the process for bringing this book to readers.  Follow this link to begin the blog tour of Mr. Tiger Goes Wild.  This link has a couple of fun activity sheets.  This links to a new post Peter Brown composed for his blog, Mr. Tiger Gets Styled.

And whatever you do, remember to Roar! at least once this weekend.

What's Orange, Crunchy and...Scary?

Since I read Peter Benchley's Jaws (eons ago), I have not been in the ocean; not even my big toe.  When  I saw the movie, I was one of the viewers gasping for air and lifting my legs up from the floor.  The combination of textual narrative and visuals will do that to you.

I don't think I'm ever going to feel the same sense of freedom or safety walking through the produce section in the grocery store any more either.  Author Aaron Reynolds has penned a title, Creepy Carrots! (Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, August 21, 2012) about a very peculiar bunch of veggies.  Eerie illustrations by Peter Brown pay tribute to Rod Serling's Twilight Zone in the best possible way.

Jasper Rabbit has a passion for carrots.  And the carrots that grew in Crackenhopper Field were the best. 

Actually Jasper Rabbit has an obsession with carrots.  Every single time he passes this particular patch of land, home to these crunchy munchies, he grabs as many as he can.  But these are no ordinary carrots, these carrots are...ALIVE!

This carrot-craving bunny is not so far gone though that he cannot help but notice some strange sounds.  What's that noise?  Could it be the sound of roaming roots?

No, carrots can't move.  It must be this little hopper's overactive imagination.  Right?  Wrong!

Soon he sees them in the bathroom, the tool shed, in his bedroom and well, just about anyplace he goes.  The goosebumps-on-the-flesh part is he's the only one seeing them.  Then a hundred carat idea sprouts into Jasper's brain; the stupendous proportions of this plan are staggering.

It's surprising what fear-fueled adrenaline will do for one small rabbit.  But then, wasn't that the plan all along?  Whose plan was it really?

Reynolds's narrative is as crisp as those wily wandering plants.  His succinct sentences employ verbs actively creating a vision of Jasper's love of this food; pulled, yanked and ripped without costing him a single cent.  He makes JR's life seem as normal as the next person's...er...hare's...with his mention of school, little league practice, and home life.  There, of course, is nothing normal about

...creepy carrots creeping EVERYWHERE.

Peter Brown, an author ( You Will Be My Friend, Children Make Terrible Pets and Chowder, to name a few) and illustrator, brings his talents to these pages to create a deliciously, delightful spooky spin on the story. Initially drawing in pencil on paper the illustrations are put together digitally and colored to give us the chilling black and white, browns and oranges of his visuals.  His cover catches the reader's eye immediately, causing one to wonder if those angry Creepy Carrots! are going to do more than give the frightened rabbit the heebie-jeebies.

Endpapers show rows of carrots, like an advancing army of one's nightmares, with the occasional grin on some; careful readers will note the difference between the front and back depictions. The title, across two pages, mirrors a television screen at the introduction to a new episode.  In fact, the entire book is like watching an old television show; the art takes you back to an older time, a time when imaginations could and did run wild.

You have to love the way Brown conveys the range of emotions that flicker across Jasper Rabbit's face, appreciation, glee, questioning, panic, all the stages of fear and triumphant determination. Then too, there are the carrots.  Who knew eyes and mouths on vegetables could say so much.  My favorite flash back to the past is Jasper, bug-eyed and gasping with fright, splayed across a swirl of fiendish carrots.


Aaron Reynolds spins a haunting tale where "what-ifs" rule the day as Peter Brown works his illustrative magic.  This team gives new meaning to the word creepy in Creepy Carrots!  If you are out walking about in your local town, walking past that field or vacant lot that all towns have, whatever you do, don't touch anything; definitely don't pick the carrots!

Before this gem hit bookstores, I watched this video about the illustrative process Peter Brown used to create his artwork.  I knew I had to have this book.   I do love this book; another copy is on its way to my home.



The Creepy Carrots Zone from Peter Brown on Vimeo.
This video was recently posted on YouTube.

Still Smiling and Lovin' That Lucy!

The cover of Peter Brown's second book centering on character, Lucille Beatrice Bear, says it all; Lucy shouting out loud in her bold, boisterous, conspicuous demeanor, You Will Be My Friend!, animals within range startled and heading for the hills as fast as their legs or wings can carry them.  With Lucy there is never a doubt as to her  intent.  Everything Lucy does,  she does with deliberate purpose. (My review of the first "Lucy" book, Children Make Terrible Pets, is linked here.)

Brown begins this new episode in the life of Lucy on the title pages as the excited bear bursts from her bedroom exclaiming, MOM! MOM!  A brainstorm popped into Lucy's mind when she awoke; today is the day when she is going to find a new friend.  Nothing, and I mean nothing, will deter her in this effort.

When her Mom inquires as to how this will be accomplished, her positive personality oozes with optimism.  The woods are bursting with possibilities of friends to be made.  Lucy is brimming with ideas of what they can do together. 

Her frolic in the frog pond does not end well nor does her tree climbing to question the giraffe.  Scrubbing the skunk to rid him of his odor and asking the ostrich about her flying skills is a total bust.  No matter what Lucy does with any of the critters, including the squeakers (humans), nothing seems to work. Even an egg resting in a nest, she'll wait, is not the answer.

On the next double page illustration, bigger than life, Lucy, taking deep calming breaths, talks to herself:

You can do this.
You can make a new friend.

Just be yourself.

Over the course of three sets of double page reveals, Lucy is herself; loudly frustrated, desperate and pensive.  But readers will see what Lucy can not.  Something special is happening.  Something that will brighten her mood and change her life.  Friends can do that.

Peter Brown's handlettered word balloons done in shades of Lucy's tutu pink, are loaded with her mind's inner workings lending emotional depth and insightful humor to the already hilarious illustrations and narration.  His graphics done with pencil on paper with cut construction paper and wood, presented on heavy cream colored paper coupled with his palette of colors makes the reader feel like they can just jump in and join the rest of the critters in the forest.

 And speaking of critters, I really like that Brown does not limit his choice of woodland inhabitants. In Lucy's world bears can live with giraffes, frogs, ostriches, skunks, monkeys, rabbits, kangaroos, beavers, pond fish and turtles, bees and flamingos.  Bears can live in houses like humans and ride bikes.

Brown has rounded all the corners on his visuals placing them in narrow frames of various textured wood conveying warmth and welcome.  His choice of graphic size per page adds interest to the overall storyline and pep to each part of that story.

Through his words and pictures Peter Brown spins an enchanting tale of friendship found.

Can't stop smiling...

Peter Brown states at his web site,

I say as much as I can with my paintings, and whatever I can't say with the art I say with words.  

Brown freely admits that he is a man of few words but when an illustrator creates visuals using pencil on paper with cut construction paper and wood and just a dab of digital tweaking as skillfully as he does, who needs words?!  To give intimacy to the story he handlettered the word balloons.

The overall sepia tones give credence to the book being about bears and for bears.  Brown's technique of varying image sizes and character placement on the pages heightens the interest and general flow of the tale.  His gift of injecting humor through dialogue and facial expressions is the shining touch.

Beginning and concluding with endpapers that give clues as to the story's plot line, readers are introduced to Lucy, a charming young bear, in a pink tutu twirling through the woods as Children Make Terrible Pets (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) starts.  Using her enhanced smelling abilities she discovers the cutest critter in the WHOLE forest who can only emit a squeak every so often, thus she names him Squeaker.  Her Mom warns her that children make terrible pets but Lucy gets to keep him on one condition---he is her sole responsibility.

From that moment on they are inseparable; playing together, eating together, and napping together.  On the flip side potty training does not go well, furniture ends up ruined and in fact, Squeaker has a knack for being a problem just about everywhere he goes.  Lucy is at her wits end when disaster strikes---Squeaker disappears.  Her nose comes to the rescue leading Lucy to the conclusion, after much thinking, that her Mom was right about children as pets.  Lesson learned...well almost.  Brown throws in one more hilarious twist at the end that will have readers howling and rolling on the floor. 

After reading Children Make Terrible Pets I just had to go back and reread another of Peter Brown's books in our library media center, Chowder.  Quirky is an understatement when it comes to this bulldog.  It is just as hilarious as it was the first time that I read it.  I have since discovered that Chowder has his own web site.

Just click on his name to enjoy the fun.