Passionate Potential

There's something magical about the combination of two little words, What if...? with pencil and paper. Whether you are writing or drawing you are only limited by the wandering of your mind as it leaps from one possibility to another.  No matter your age, child, teen, or adult, dreams are a source of endless delight full of potential.

In his E. B. White Read Aloud Winner, If I Built a Car (Dutton Books for Young Readers, May 5, 2005), author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen introduced readers to Jack, a young man with hidden talents and a very vivid imagination.  His new title, If I Built a House (Dial Books, Octber 25, 2012) brings eight-year-old Jack back along with his marvelous musings.  A step through the door into Jack's world is a step into wacky, wild wonder.

Jack, in the backyard, said to his mother,
This house is OK, but it's like any other.
It's boxy and boring and basically bland.
It's nothing at all like the house I have planned.

Jack is thinking leaps and bounds into days yet to come, designing like an engineer with all the cozy comforts of home sweet home.  His mother and dog step into his vision as easily as clients during a real estate tour.

From kitchen to living room to bathroom and bedroom each amazing accessory is duly noted.  There's an astonishing Kitchen-o-Mat to prepare meals and do clean-up, too.  Spinning chairs, a series of trampolines and a pit full of balls provide for playful pastimes in the family space.  A car wash style Scrub-a-Dub-Dub leaves you squeaky clean before you zoom up, up, up to the glass tower for sleeping with a view.

Sliding down from the scenic heights Jack and company have more rooms to investigate.  Yes, there's an Art Room with a wall for drawing, a Flying Room with no gravity at the flick of a switch, a Racetrack Room complete with cars and a suspended route with loops, dips and curves, and a Fish Tank Room completely underwater with creatures of every size and weight.  With a jet-propelled whoosh, one more room is left to enjoy.  Yes, that Jack is quite the boy.


Never forced, flawless, flowing, every two lines of the narrative by Van Dusen rhyme with a rhythm paced to perfection.  His protagonist speaks with an emcee's flair, a knowledgeable guide, leading his family here and there, up and down and all around.  Word choices roll off the tongue, stimulate the mind and create an atmosphere of futuristic fun filled with humor.


Using gouache to render all his illustrations Chris Van Dusen begins to engage readers with his matching jacket and cover; unfolded the back has Jack's dog sniffing a small house with the words, Think big! above.  The opening endpapers picture blueprint miniatures of eleven house designs.  Jack's completed drawings for his house cover the closing endpapers.

A bright, bold color palette reminiscent of the 50s and 60s in turquoise, teal, shades of green, red, orange and golden yellow, cheerfully invites readers to participate.  Items from the title page painting are placed on the dedication page tying the two together.  Details such as bits of Tinkertoy, Lincoln Logs, an Alexander Calder mobile suspended from the ceiling in the living room, and pink and black tile in the bathroom all recreate the feeling of this era. With the exception of the first and last pages the remaining illustrations are spread across two pages; blissful exuberance in every single one.


Readers will be more than happy to repeatedly join Jack, his mother and perky puppy pal as they travel from room to room in If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen.  I guarantee readers and listeners alike will be anxious to plan their own unique spaces replete with gadgets and extras straight from their fertile fields of fancy.  Who wouldn't want to live in a house with all the fascination of an amusement park?

A link to Van Dusen's website is embedded in his name above.  It includes an excellent FAQ.  This is a link to a fascinating video Reading Rockets interview.  International Reading Association Reading Today Online posted an article, 5 Questions With...Chris Van Dusen (IF I BUILT A HOUSE) which offers hints of extras included in his illustrations; nods to another famous author/illustrator.

...From Sea To Shining Sea

Katharine Lee Bates taught English literature for forty years at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  As the story goes in 1893 after a trek by wagon, mule and foot to the top of Pike's Peak, she was so inspired by the landscape spread before her, she wrote a poem in her journal. Two years later it was first published and has since evolved into one of our nation's most cherished songs, America The Beautiful.

For eight years my two favorite books of this song were both published in 2004.  In his debut picture book illustrator Chris Gall depicts the poem in stunning visuals.  Here are two sentences from the review at Kirkus (March 1, 2004)

Gall, an actual descendant of Bates, illustrates the four verses of this country's other national anthem with bold, clean-lined, heroic American scenes, from a sturdy rural couple contemplating their "amber waves," to firefighters raising a flag over the ruins at Ground Zero.  This broadly idealistic art is infused with a spirit of inclusiveness, as blind Justice towers over a woman in judicial robes, a Tuskegee Airman poses heroically atop his fighter, and in the concluding spread, East meets West in more ways than one at Utah's Promontory Point.

In the middle of October paper engineer, Robert Sabuda gave readers his interpretation.  In a starred review Kirkus (October 1, 2004) states:

The wizard of pop-ups has created a masterpiece---in design, in execution, in boldness of vision, and in artistic and historic integrity.  

In an effort to fill my book gap challenge, several days ago when participating in one of my favorite pastimes, browsing in a bookstore, my attention was completely captured by a new joyful cover of a book titled, America the Beautiful Together We Stand (Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.).  Ten notable illustrators, Bryan Collier, Raul Colon, Diane Goode, Mary GrandPre, John Hendrix, Yuyi Morales, Jon J Muth, LeUyen Pham, Sonia Lynn Sadler and Chris Soentpiet have each contributed in their unique illustrative styles to give a new vision to this poetic song.  The result is as varied and resplendent as the land in which we live.


Beginning with O beautiful for spacious skies, the luminous paintings of Chris Soentpiet display a group of happy, shouting, singing children from all ethnic backgrounds holding and waving small American flags with fireworks blossoming above them.  The play of light on each of the faces is a joy to behold.  The detail is nearly photographic.

The pastel painting of Mary GrandPre lights up For amber waves of grain, showing children at play.  A large tree branch in an open field has become their ship adorned in colored cloths for sails and flags birds flying in the sky around them.  They are joined by a happy barking dog.

Raul Colon's distinctive use of watercolor paper, watercolor washes, etching, colored pencils and litho pencils breathes beauty into For purple mountain majesties.  His representation of these words is one of the finest I have ever seen.   Mountains provide a backdrop for five children, (equal in size to the mountains) engaged in activities, basketball, paper airplane flying, skateboarding, baseball and jumping rope.

Sonia Lynn Sadler's usual medium is colored scratchboard.  Her depiction of Above the fruited plain! is a gathering of people from all walks of life of all ages gathered around a large quilt which they are stitching together.  The pieces of the quilt are pictures of Americana from East to West.  Everything is outlined in a fine white line accentuating this colorful array.

America! is shown in a powerful image by Bryan Collier in his technique of watercolor collage.  A faint dark sky blue image of our flag provides the background for tree branches showing faces.  Prominently displayed is a young child hands firmly grasped in front over the tree.

The second America! done in soft greens by Jon J Muth shows a forest glen.  His watercolor artwork focuses on two children tending to a newly sprouted tree.  One child is kneeling next to it as the other carries a watering can, a small turtle crawling away to the left.  A feeling of serenity permeates.

With shades of red overtone, Yuyi Morales renders her signature illustration in acrylics.  God shed His grace on thee is vividly visualized by a close-up of workers in a field of green taking a break in their labors, eating and drinking, small children with them.  As two hummingbirds flutter by, music drifts out from the portable radio in one of the worker's pockets.

Diane Goode's pen and ink drawings highlighting And crown thy good in pale teals, browns, a brighter green, red, white and blue intricately depict historic moments and accomplishments.  Towering over these is a young adult handing off a crown of laurel leaves to another four, hands linked.  All are balanced on stepping stones in water.

LeUyen Pham who in an interview stated she likes to keep people guessing about her medium, brush pens, watercolor, gouache, pencil or computer, has masterfully painted rows of children not only resembling the American flag but the shape of the United States.  Her illustration is on the front cover and interprets with brotherhood... .The playful pyramid nearly rings with laughter.

The final two pages, From sea to shining sea! drawn by John Hendrix are extraordinary.  On the left we see an old sea vessel floating above the clouds manned by children garbed in attire from various time periods.  As the clouds part on the right mountains turn in a landscape showcasing a geographical tableau replete with all manner of buildings and landmarks as his circular, starry, stylistic  fireworks are placed across the golden sky and page.  Every time I gaze at this illustration I see something new, something particular to our country.

When unfolding the jacket from the cover readers are treated to a vertical colorful portrait display of all forty-four presidents; a poster.  Rich, blue endpapers, front and back, display rows of white stars.  A turn of page lists each of the illustrators in alphabetical order alternating the color of their names in red and white on the same blue background.  After the simple title page the series of exquisite nearly two page illustrations begin, each interpreting a portion of the song.

Alternating first on the right side, then on the left, each pictorial representation leaves a small column in which a presidential quote appears.  Above each quote is a significant national landmark or symbol. At the close of the song these items are listed in the order they appeared with an explanation.  The final two pages include all four verses of the song, a small paragraph titled Our Democracy followed by a Thomas Jefferson quote and a small biographical paragraph about Katharine Lee Bates.


This is by far the longest review, assessment, of any book for which I have posted on this blog.  I wanted to focus on the artwork of each individual illustrator knowing how much time each invested in their depiction of their given words.  America the Beautiful Together We Stand is an absolutely gorgeous array of artwork; an exhibition of various mediums from masters in the field of children's book illustration.

I can see multiple uses for this title; a study of the poem becoming a beloved song, a study of various artistic styles and mediums or examining the representations for the words each illustrator chose.  I have embedded links to each illustrator's website or if they had none, the most recent discussion of their work.  This title comes highly recommended; it's stunning.

Twitterville Talk #82

Happy New Year to everyone! It's been a wonderful week of chatting about all things related to education, reading, books and technology as it ties in to those things.  Have a wonderful weekend.  Keep reading.  Enjoy life.


Before you know it March Is Reading Month (Michigan) and the NEA Read Across America campaign will be upon us.  I'm thinking this, Ten Facts About Dr. Seuss Books,  would be a great poster to use in the celebration.

Thanks to Christine Sturgeon, K-12 teacher/librarian/technology integrationist and blogger at christinesturgeon for this tweet.



This is wonderful, well-deserved news, Illustrator Quentin Blake knighted in New Year Honours List.  Please enjoy the delightful video interview by following the link.

Y. A. to Watch for: The Winter 2013 Preview  I've still got shelves of 2012 books to read but these titles look very interesting.

Many thanks to Children's Bookshelf of Publishers Weekly for these tweets.



I've seen this before but it bears listing again with March, 2013 just a few short months away.
30 Dr. Seuss Quotes You Should Never Forget

Thanks to Donna Macdonald, teacher/librarian/technology integrationist and curator at dsmacdonald.



Every single time I've watched this I've shed tears.  This is an amazing interview of the late Maurice Sendak with artwork by Christoph Niemann.

I have become a fan of infographics.  They show so much visually.  Check out 2012: the Year in Graphics from The New York Times

Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo of Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... for these tweets.



Lots of ideas here for Minibook Gallery, Book Making for Little Hands.

Thanks to my Twitter friend and educator @kbport714 for this tweet.



Not too long, but just right.  This is a post for lovers of the printed word. the quietest and most constant of friends  Read it, you'll be glad you did.


Thanks to Lisa J. Dempster, ACL (Head) Library/Teacher/Librarian.




This could explain why Twitter sometimes has trouble loading tweets. 14 Twitter Statistics You May Not Know

The 2012 Cybils Finalists have been announced. There are ten categories in the field of literature covering K-12.

Thanks to Teri Lesesne, a prominent educator in the field of reading and literature for all ages, and blogger at The Goddess of YA Literature for these tweets.




Author, Augusta Scattergood, gives her thoughts on the characters that appear in her writing in a post titled Real People

Don't forget to keep checking Mr. Schu's Book Release Calendar for the latest and greatest in 2013.

Make sure you have the date of January 16, 2013 to join others on Twitter for the #SharpSchu Book Club.  The time is 8:00 PM EST.  It's going to be a Tom Angleberger and Michael Buckley kind of night.  This first person who can tell me who illustrated Michael Buckley's Kel Gilligan's Daredevil Stunt Show in the comments or on Twitter will win a copy of the book.

Mark your calendars---World Read Aloud Day is March 6, 2013.

Incredible resource of questions asked of authors all year by Mr. Schu---Mr. Schu, you should have asked me...

And he's done it again---100 Memorable Books This is a reader's resource dream.

Thanks to John Schumacher, teacher/librarian, 2011 Library Journal Movers & Shakers, and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. for these tweets.




I cannot remember when I started following the blog of Julie Danielson at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.  If you love children's literature you should never miss going to this feast of information and illustrations.  Her interviews are EPIC.  This post is classic Danielson and a labor of love, One Very Possible 2012 7-Imp Retrospective Before Breakfast.  It's a showcase of all her posts this year.

Thanks to Julie Danielson for her blog and this tweet.


Artist Gerald Kelley has generously offered up a PDF of 38 pages of sketches for your enjoyment and to celebrate the Happy New Year.  I can think of many students who would enjoy this.

Thanks to Gerald Kelley for this tweet and his graciousness.



If you are an avid reader you should join Goodreads.  It is a wonderful way to track your reading, meet like minded people and discuss/comment about anything related to books, reading or writing.  They have posted the 2013 Reading Challenge.

Thanks to Goodreads for this tweet.




Alyson Beecher, educator and blogger at Kid Lit Frenzy is hosting Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge for 2013.  Head over to her blog for the details.

Thanks for hosting this challenge and for the tweet.



This world of children's literature lost many giants in the field this year.  Here is In Memoriam 2012.

Thanks to School Library Journal for this tweet.







For fans of Neil Gaiman this is indeed good news.  Neil Gaiman's Graduation Speech 'Make Good Art' To Become Book Designed by Chip Kidd  This article also hosts the video in case you want to watch it again.

Thanks to HuffPost Books for this tweet.




Besides making me as happy as the proverbial clam, there might be more to my piles and shelves of books throughout my home.  How Many Zeroes is 007 Worth?  Catch a glimpse of the dollar value of these books.

Thanks to Travis Jonker, teacher/librarian and blogger at 100 Scope Notes for this tweet.




Don't miss #titletalk this Sunday at 8:00 PM EST hosted by Colby Sharp, teacher extraordinaire and blogger at sharpread and Donalyn Miller, educator and author of The Book Whisperer.  The topic is setting reading goals with kids.  

Thanks to both Donalyn and Colby for their tweets.

Is 'Charlotte's Web' A Literary Masterpiece?  Thanks to Debbie Alvarez teacher/librarian currently in Hong Kong and blogger at The Styling Librarian for this tweet.






These are a few of my favorite tweets and quotes of the week.

Paper books rule.That is all.
— Michael Buckley (@michaelwbuckley) December 29, 2012

Where the heck did I put the 2013 Resolutions I was working on? twitter.com/SandyBoynton/s…
— Sandra Boynton (@SandyBoynton) December 29, 2012

Twitter is the best place I know to find kindred spirits. #tip #twittertip
— Fantasy Author (@BrianRathbone) December 30, 2012

If there is one thing I truly appreciate about each passing year is that I always end with a greater understanding of myself.
— Dan Santat (@dsantat) December 31, 2012

Happy New Year folks!!! instagr.am/p/T6v-JHxV9Z/
— Ms. K (@ThatLibraryChic) December 31, 2012

I share @neilhimself's wish for a marvelous New Year. twitter.com/donalynbooks/s…
— Donalyn Miller (@donalynbooks) January 1, 2013

How come nobody warned me? twitter.com/SandyBoynton/s…
— Sandra Boynton (@SandyBoynton) January 1, 2013

Happy New Year's, all! An I'M BORED doodle to start off the year: bit.ly/VXJdYv
— Debbie Ridpath Ohi (@inkyelbows) January 1, 2013

I never, in a million years, thought I would be on Twitter, learning so much AND loving every minute of it! #PLN
— Kristen Kilpatrick (@kkilpatrick7) January 4, 2013

U r never 2 old 4 picture books!
— PhilBildner (@PhilBildner) January 4, 2013

@kkilpatrick7 there's a support group for that...it's called the #nerdybookclub ! ;-)
— Susan Dee (@literacydocent) January 5, 2013

Spirited Strength

One of the things about being an educator that has always and continues to amaze me is the resilience of children.  That they still come to school every day after what they may have suffered or continue to endure, makes them, every single one, heroes in my eyes.  Their strength fills me with overwhelming compassion and a desire to never falter in giving them my very best.

When authors shine a light in biographies or historical fiction on people in similar circumstances, real or imagined, it links them to all readers, allowing the readers to see their strength in the face of adversity, giving them in turn hope.  Christopher Paul Curtis has consistently given readers strong characters in his historical fiction, The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 (1996 Newbery Honor winner, Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner) and Bud, Not Buddy (2000 Newbery Award Medal winner, Coretta Scott King Author Award winner).  His protagonist, Deza, in The Mighty Miss Malone (Wendy Lamb Books, January 10, 2012) is no exception; to have her as a friend would be an honor.


"Once upon a time..."
If I could get away with it, that's how I'd begin every essay I write.

The date is May, 1936.  The place is Gary, Indiana.  For almost seven years the Great Depression has gone through the lives of the American people like a scythe through a field of grain.

Twelve-year-old Deza Malone, working on a final essay requirement for her beloved teacher, Mrs. Needham, introduces readers to each member in her family, her mother, father, and older brother, Jimmie, and herself.  Their respect and love for one another is clearly evident in this first chapter.  She concludes the essay with the family motto:  We are a family on a journey to a place called Wonderful.

Their journey chronicled in Deza's voice shows a strong family severely tested over the course of a year.  Beginning with smaller ups and downs; her brother's theft of a pie but meeting Dr. Bracy, her disappointment in not getting a "A" on the paper but finding Mrs. Needham to be a huge ally, the friendship of Clarice Anne Johnson and their daily visits to the library, abject poverty as evidenced by them eating buggy oatmeal, school bullies, Jimmie's beautiful voice but his not growing for more than three years, and the burden of her father not being able to find work.  Then their few ups are overshadowed by a terrible tragedy; a failed fishing trip on Lake Michigan.

After weeks of worry the pall cast by those events becomes even darker when Deza's physically and mentally damaged father leaves Gary returning to his home town of Flint, Michigan to look for work.  When Deza's mother loses her job, it leaves the family no choice but to try to find her father, who seems to have vanished into thin air.  They have no form of transportation, no home, no prospects for work, just determined hope

Riding the rails, Hooverville living, dealing with the ugliness and horror of prejudice leaves the trio shaken.  Jimmie's singing offers opportunities, her mother works two jobs and although school for Deza is fraught with unfairness, she finds solace in the public library, in her spunk and intelligence. Poverty continually haunts them and life still has blows for this family's shoulders to bear but their love for one another is a thing of beauty, very powerful.


Few can bring history to life through vivid characterizations better than Christopher Paul Curtis.  The dialogue between his characters rings true regardless of the historical setting because Curtis knows and understands the human condition, he knows people.  He clothes them in a historical setting and a specific series of events as vivid as if it happened yesterday through his careful research.

With a single sentence he can create a shift in mood, an air of mystery or paint a more detailed understanding of a person's depth of character.  We readers become a part of his stories, turning the pages as quickly as we can.  We need to know, we have to know regardless of the final outcome.  It's the pull of great storytelling at work.  Here are some examples of his writing from this title.

My dearest friend, Clarice Anne Johnson, has a horrible and completely un-understandable crush on Jimmie.  She says she bets you could pour cornflakes in his dimple and eat then out with a spoon.


"Time? What am I supposed to do? Should I tell Jimmie, 'Son, hold on, we just need a little time before we can get you to a doctor who'll tell us why you haven't grown in three years'? And what about Deza? Am I going to tell her, 'Hold on, darling, in another year or two we'll get those teeth taken care of.  In the meantime just snap the bad ones off at the roots'?"
His pacing stopped.
"Roscoe, stop and listen to yourself.  All we need is a little more time and---"
"We don't have any more time, Peg, we've run out."
Mother's tone changed. "Oh, so since time's run out, your answer is for you to run out too?"
There was silence, then, "I'm sorry.  I have to go. I'll write soon's I get settled. I love you."


It's horrible what one tiny word can do to you.  You can talk yourself into believing that you're tough, then one tiny three-letter word gets said and smashes everything apart.


By reading The Mighty Miss Malone written by Christopher Paul Curtis readers see the Great Depression's effect through the eyes of a young African American girl.  As her family struggles with poverty and prejudice the pictures we see are gritty, life-changing and life-affirming.  Historical fiction should alter a reader's views, expanding what they may or may not know or understand.  This book, these characters; they will not leave you.  You will be different, better.

Be sure to follow the link embedded in Christoper Paul Curtis's name to go to his website at Random House.  Here is a link to an Educator's Guide for The Mighty Miss Malone.  PBS has created a simple timeline of the Great Depression which can be found here.

This video is Christopher Paul Curtis speaking about his books, about The Mighty Miss Malone.

In The Eye Of The Beholder

I have always been fascinated with combinations of color.  In fact in kindergarten about the only drawings I brought home (and which my Mom saved) were those of rainbows.  Even today, decades later the sight of a rainbow will stop me in my tracks.  It's like everything is spread before you, inviting you to mix and match.

This and my desire to work on my book gap challenge as highlighted by Donalyn Miller, educator and author of The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child, in a post at the Nerdy Book Club, prompted me to pick up a book in the nonfiction section at my favorite indie bookstore last week.  Written by Marjorie Blain Parker with illustrations by Holly Berry Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Artist Henri Matisse (Dial Books for Young Readers) is an impressive, inspirational introduction to the life of one of the most notable artists of the twentieth century. It's a book not only about daring to dream but pursing your dream with a passion.

Years ago a dreamy boy gazed out his bedroom window.  He lived

in a deary village in France.  It was an industrial town---choked with

factories, clanking looms, and smoking chimneys.

Although the town itself seemed cloaked in a dismal gray, spots of color came and went with the seasons.  One constant source of brightness in an otherwise dull landscape was in the mind of Henri Matisse.

His noticeable inability to focus on anything which his hard-working parents deemed important was a source of concern.  It seemed Henri's greatest asset was his ability to imagine; to picture in his mind what he might do.  His parents felt a sense of hope when as a young man he left to study law in Paris.  

As readers without turning the next page we know this is not a good arrangement.  Henri becomes very ill spending a lengthy stay in the hospital.  While there he requests a set of paints from his mother.  

It's as if a cosmic gear has clicked into place  After painting at every opportunity his current job afforded, to his parents' distress, he decided to leave the law profession to pursue a full time career in art.  Years of study, hard work for something he clearly loved and determination fueled his deep desire to succeed.

Family, painting, travel, painting, patrons and painting filled Henri's life.  His distinctive style, his passionate pursuit of his art, eventually brought him the attention he deserved and desired.  In his later years illness caused him to follow another form of expression, cut-paper collage, drawing with scissors, which heightened his fame.  His life closed as it began when he was a little boy...with color; only now it surrounded him.

By acquainting readers with Henry when he is a boy, describing his town, his family and contrasting it with his boyish hopes and aspirations, Marjorie Blain Parker immediately creates a connection with which they can identify.  This connection continues when she uses anecdotes such as his pea-shooting

abilities while clerking or the painting on legal documents for practice as part of his story. What she chooses to tell us about this artist not only makes him real, coming to life within these pages, but conveys without a doubt his dedication to his work.  Her choice of words, the rhythm generated by her sentence structure and length, are those of a storyteller.  

When unfolding the matching jacket and cover, readers are immediately drawn to the vivid palette and differing styles of medium arranged across the two sections, focusing on the boy, surrounded by his adult art on the front and on Matisse's future home and travels on the back.  The bright sky blue of the endpapers becomes a hand squeezing out swirls of red, yellow, blue and green from a paint tube on the title page.  Using colored pencils, acrylic paint, watercolor, ink and collage on rag paper Holly Berry forms illustrations delineating between the two worlds in Henri's life; before and after discovering art.

Her delicate, detailed drawings of the town of Henri's youth (a tiny mouse crossing the cobblestones, the goods in his parents' store, an old milk can) overlaid with the colorful collages of his youthful dreams are splendiferous.  She includes important items such as the doves in the young boy's musings. (Matisse had doves around his home in his adult years.) Most of the pictures of life prior to his assured success are one page crossing the gutter to include half of the other with a narrow framing line to separate the portion used for the text.  Throughout these pages small intricate drawings enhance a single idea within the text.  The remainder of the book is an explosion of color mirroring his style in painting and finally in collage.  Stunning.


The narration written by Marjorie Blain Parker and illustrations by Holly Berry in Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Artist Henri Matisse are as lively as the subject covered within the pages of this book.  A note about Henri Matisse is included on the final page as well as two additional resources and a list of museums housing his art.  Please visit the author and illustrator websites by following the links embedded in their names above.

This is a video which might be used in conjunction with this title.

This is a link to a PBS site where children can make their own virtual Matisse-like collages.  This is a link to an art teacher's website, Art for Small Hands, for a unit on Matisse.

Treasured Trailers

This past Sunday I stopped over to author Grace Lin's blog to read and listen to her post, Sunday Chinese School.  When I was there I noticed the book trailer for her most recent title, Starry River of the Sky.  I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, writing my review shortly before it was published.  I had completely missed the book trailer prior to the book's release.  It's short, captivating and truly lovely.





My mind being what it is, I next thought about all the book trailers I'd personally watched and subsequently shown to my students during 2012.  I decided to gather some of my favorites in one spot with a post.  I've only included books read and reviewed here at this blog.  The reviews are embedded in the books' titles.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed watching them again and again.


Our new year began with the publication of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate on January 17, 2012.  Like many in our online book community Ivan's death broke our collective hearts.  I wrote a post about this also.





One of the most lighthearted book trailers with a tune you will be humming all day long is from the equally funny book, Another Brother written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell published January 31, 2012.





How appropriate that the book birthday for Wonder by R. J. Palacio was February 14, 2012.  The power of kindness, of love, in all its many forms touched readers everywhere.





Another book filled with hope celebrated a birthday on February 14, 2012.  And Then It's Spring written by debut author Julie Fogliano with illustrations by Caldecott artist, Erin Stead.





If you are a regular reader at my blog you know I love and collect alphabet books.  I was thrilled with this new title, Z is for Moose written by Kelly Bingham with illustrations by Caldecott artist, Paul O. Zelinsky finding a place on shelves February 28, 2012.




To welcome in spring of 2012 on March 27 Green written and illustrated by Caldecott artist Laura Vaccaro Seeger found its way into the hands of readers.  They repeatedly remark on the beauty of this book, the skill of the die-cut alignment.




I was completely captivated by Jennifer A. Nielsen's The False Prince published on April 1, 2012.  It's one of those books filled with non-stop twists and turns causing it to never be on the shelf.




Hilarity at every turn of page and in every frame of the book trailer is what Chloe and the Lion written by Mac Barnett with illustrations, using everything but the kitchen sink, by Adam Rex has in store for readers.  This book's birthday was on April 3, 2012.





A picture book about a lasting but unusual friendship was released on April 10, 2012, Boy + Bot written by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino.  John Schumacher, teacher librarian and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. celebrated this publication by uploading the trailer on YouTube.  He is also the inspiration for this entire post.  




There is simply too little laughter in our world.  But author Christoper Healy remedies that in spades with the first title in a new series, The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom published on May 1, 2012.  It's an insider look at fairy tale favorites guaranteed to brighten any day.





One of the many rewards of reading is learning about places, people and events.  Fiction has taught me as much as, if not more than, nonfiction.  Well-written fiction urges me to find out more about a place, a person or an event mentioned or the focus of a title.  Chained, released on May 8, 2012, by Lynne Kelly is one of those books.




Here is another book touching on the rarest of friendships; what one is willing to do for another.  On June 5, 2012 A Home for Bird written and illustrated by Philip C. Stead was sent out into the world.
It is my understanding that Mr. Stead also does the music for his videos.




One of the most spellbinding fantasies I read with the speed of light this summer was Seraphina written by Rachael Hartman.  Even now, months after it's date of publication on July 10, 2012, the characters, events and world linger in my mind.




In the middle of August, the 16th to be exact, a book celebrated its birthday.  This book told the story of  a family who grew to live and love the middle of the night.  The Insomniacs written by Karina Wolf with illustrations by The Brothers Hilt, a debut endeavor of all of them, is stunning.




The 4th of September, 2012 rolled around with the publication of Bear Has A Story to Tell written by Philip C. Stead with illustrations by Caldecott artist Erin E. Stead.  It's a beautiful, sweet tribute to the power of friendship, patience and story.





As I finished reading Because Amelia Smiled written and illustrated by Caldecott artist, David Ezra Stein, the phrase, No one needs a smile as much as he who has none left to give, kept rolling around in my mind.  We never know how a smile will touch those who see it.  This book was published on September 11, 2012.




Readers were fortunate this year to have a variety of fractured fairy tales introduced into the book world.  One such release on September 27, 2012 was The Three Ninja Pigs written by Corey Rosen Schwartz with illustrations by Dan Santat.  Action, outstanding visuals and a girl-power twist bring this to the top.




A question asked by his daughter prompted Matthew Cordell to write and illustrate hello! hello!  We lucky readers got to read the results on October 30, 2012.  I personally purchased ten copies of the title to give as gifts.





Already a fan of the two previous titles in the series, Mal and Chad: Belly Flop! was a hit.  It made the month of December even better with its book birthday on December 6, 2012.  Never have there been a boy and his dog quite like these two and author Stephen McCranie made sure this new book hit the scene with a splash.





One of my favorite videos this year about the illustrative process is the one by Peter Brown for his work with Creepy Carrots written by Aaron Reynolds, published on August 21, 2012.





One of the highlights of 2012 for me was to meet and briefly chat with author, Lauren Oliver.  Even though Liesl & Po was published on October 4, 2011, the book trailer remains one of my favorites of all-time.



I hope you are able to enjoy and use these book trailers to enrich the reading experience for those whose lives you touch.  If you would like to see one added to the mix, please feel free to comment below.

Winged Wonders

I feel very fortunate that, for whatever reason, for as long as I can remember, I have been aware of the natural world around me.  When the birds migrate south for winter, I am acutely aware of the heavy silence left by their absence.  But in that silence the cheerful call of a nearby Black-capped chickadee, when Xena and I are walking in the snow, is made all the sweeter.

With every nonfiction title I read about our world and its inhabitants, the importance of passing this mindfulness on to other generations is becoming increasingly important.  There are more than a few books in the 2012 Nerdy Book Club Award nominees which will would work well in this regard for readers of all ages.  One standout title is Birds Of A Feather (Chronicle Books, September 26, 2012) by Bernadette Gervais and Francesco Pittau.

Within twelve, yes only twelve, pages a vast array of interesting, intriguing information is presented through a series of flaps, fold-outs, using stunning artwork.  At the first turn of page (this book measures 15 1/2 inches tall, 11 1/4 inches wide) readers are greeted by four stark black flaps featuring white silhouettes of bird heads on the top and bird feet on the bottom.  Initially you might think the head and feet are matched pairs but when the flaps are lifted, each reveals a single important fact about four different birds colorfully displayed in their entirety.

White with black bird head silhouettes covering the entire page, facing one another, follow.  For these two the whole page lifts up to showcase the silhouetted bird stating a little-known attribute next to a large portrait of each, reminiscent of Audubon.  Twelve flaps in total cover the next two pages; each a close-up of a bird's feathers.  With a lift readers discover a new fact about each as well as seeing a full body view of the bird.

Sixteen eggs of varying sizes, each converted to lift, cover the next two pages.  When they are lifted a feat of paper engineering displays a replica of the bird as a pop-up whose egg is highlighted with an accompanying bit of information.  Whether you are a fan of mix and match flaps or not, the ninth and tenth pages are a treat focusing on six different birds.

Ending as it began the concluding pages are black.  Each are a series of four inter-locking puzzle pieces with a single circular die-cut on each piece giving a peek as to what is pictured below.  As each piece is opened a single quality on the underside is written in white; full page illustrations of two different owls appear.


Simple sentences state a unique detail about the more than forty featured birds.  Pittau and Gervais somehow have managed to introduce a precise bit of information you never knew, but now you're glad you do know.  Ostriches are the fastest two-legged animals on the planet.  Emperor penguins can stay underwater longer than any other bird.  Zebra finches pass their songs from father to son.  Common buzzards attract their mates by spiraling downward in flight.  Their characteristics make each special; a part of our planet to be preserved.


Even not knowing the medium used for the illustrations, their realistic portrayal is captivating in its authenticity.  The contrasts of white on black, black on white, alternating with full color when coupled with the lifting of flaps, bring a sense of discovery to the reader much like looking for treasure.  Impeccable design and layout add to the symmetry; throughout all the birds on the left are facing those on the right and vice versa.


As a team Bernadette Gervais and Francesco Pittau have completed more than forty books.  Birds of a Feather is a visual and factual tribute to their considerable skills.  I foresee multiple purchases necessary to satisfy the demand for this wonderful volume.

To celebrate the first day of 2013, I will give a copy of this book to the first person who can tell me in the comments or on Twitter, one of the two states in the United States which has the Black-capped chickadee as their state bird.