The Lonely Book - a book review

                                 This is my quote of the day!

Title:  The Lonely Book

Author:  Kate Bernheimer

Illustrator:  Chris Sheban

Do books have feelings?  Do they have a pulse or a message they deliver in a soft whisper to your mind and heart? I think they definitely do.  Were you ever browsing in the library or your local bookstore,  sorting through titles, when one shouts to you, "Pick me!" You need to hear what I have to say right now about what is happening in your life's journey."  I bet you have. 

This fabulous little book will tickle a book-lovers ears. The illustrations are soft and muted and beautiful to behold.  Much of the setting of this lyrical narrative transpires inside a library with new books arriving daily ...

"The library was busy every day with children looking for books about everything in the world, and the moss-green book about the girl in the forest was often chosen and taken home. Whenever the book was returned, it was placed on the shelf where the newest books lived.  There was a long list of children waiting for the book, and it hardly ever slept at the library."

After many encounters with eager new children wanting to read "the book" eventually the well-loved book became worn and tattered looking and less in demand and then.....completely forgotten.  

"Dropped in a dark corner by a daydreaming child, and not even the librarian found it." Until a dark-haired girl discovered it, rescued it from obscurity, brought it home, and enjoyed its soft whisperings."

Alice accidentally left the precious book at the library, and try as she might both she and the kind librarian assistant could not locate her favourite book.  Then one day.....no....not spoiling ..... You will have to check out the book and find out for yourself.  Did Alice finally find her book?  Where had it been living?  All these are good questions that need answering dear reader.  I know you will be very happy with the ending as all stories should have a happy ending (in my opinion) and everyone should live happily ever after, even if you are a  lonely book.

About the author:

Kate Bernheimer is known as a fabulist vanguard—widely recognized for her role in igniting a contemporary fairy-tale movement. She has publishednovels, stories, children’s books, creative nonfiction, and essays on fairy tales, and has edited four influential fairy-tale anthologies. 

Her most recent book is xo Orpheus: 50 New Myths (Penguin Books 2013), which follows her bestselling and World Fantasy Award winning collectionMy Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me: Forty New Fairy Tales with original stories written upon her invitation.  For these collections, authors invited by Kate revisit traditional wonder tales in diverse styles and affects.

Her 2010 story collection Horse, Flower, Bird is “a collection readers won’t soon forget, one that redefines the fairy tale into something wholly original” (Booklist). Published by Coffee House Press, it includes illustrations by Rikki Ducornet.  A second story collection called How a Mother Weaned Her Girl from Fairy Tales is forthcoming from Coffee House Press in 2014 and is illustrated by Catherine Eyde.  A trio of novels about three sisters—The Complete Tales of Ketzia Gold, The Complete Tales of Merry Gold, and the forthcoming The Complete Tales of Lucy Gold—were published in 2001, 2008, and 2011 by one of the US’s oldest independent publishers, the innovative Fiction Collective 2.  Kate’s first children's book, The Girl in The Castle inside The Museum(Random House/Schwartz & Wade Books), was illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli and was named one of the Best Books of 2008 by Publishers Weekly. She is proud to have published two more children’s books—The Lonely Book (with illustrations by the fabulous Chris Sheban), and The Girl Who Wouldn’t Brush Her Hair (illustrated by the phenomenal Jake Parker)—both also with Random House/Schwartz & Wade Books. Kate has also published fiction and literary nonfiction in such journals as Tin House, Western Humanities Review, Poetry International,Puerto del Sol, and The Massachusetts Review.  Kate’s previous anthologies include Mirror, Mirror on The Wall: Women Writers Explore Their Favorite Fairy Tales (Anchor/Vintage 1998), and Brothers and Beasts: An Anthology of Men on Fairy Tales (Wayne State University Press’s Series in Fairy-Tale Studies, 2008).

In 2005, she founded, and currently remains editor of, Fairy Tale Review, the leading literary journal dedicated to fairy tales as a contemporary art form. With her brother, Andrew Bernheimer of Bernheimer Architecture, she has been co-curating and authoring a series of designs for fairy-tale houses, published with the international magazine Design Observer / Places; they were awarded an AIANY Merit Award in the “Unbuilt” category for the first installation, called “The House on Chicken Feet.” You can see the designs here, and watch for more to come in late 2013. 

If you are especially interested in her aesthetic theories on fairy tales, please check out her recent essay in The Volta and her miniature tour of Orpheus retellings for The New Yorker’s book blog, “Page-Turner"

Kate teaches in the Department of English at the University of Arizona. If you are interested in having Kate lecture on fairy tales or offer a fiction reading or fairy-tale workshop to your students, please contact her via this website.  She tends to book such engagements around a year in advance, with some exceptions of course.

About the illustrator:

 I grew up in Boardman, Ohio and attended Kent State University in 1976.  After two additional years of graduate work, I moved to Perugia, Italy where I worked for a year as a graphic designer and part-time illustrator.  Then it was off to Chicago where I’ve been ever since. Most of the work I do currently is in the children’s book market.

HONORS

Chris’ work has appeared in PRINT magazine, Step-by-Step Graphics, and numerous Communication Arts Illustration Annuals. He’s been awarded three Gold and three Silver medals from the Society of Illustrators in New York.

THE PROCESS

I sketch on tracing paper because I prefer its surface texture over other papers. These rough sketches are usually very small, 2 - 3” tall at most. I find it easier to see the entire composition this way. Once I’m satisfied with the rough sketch, I’ll enlarge it on a photocopier. This also darkens the faint lines of the original. I’ll use this photocopy to make a rough color study. I tape the copy to my desk then paint on it with watercolor and pastel.  I’ll refer to this color sketch when working on the finished art.

To begin the finished piece, I’ll take the photocopied sketch and enlarge it to a comfortable working size, usually about 14 – 18” tall, depending on the amount of detail involved. Using tracing paper again, the drawing is refined at this larger size. Onto stretched (stapled, no patience with tape) Arches watercolor paper, I apply a medium-dark wash of watercolor. The color and value will vary depending on the piece. The drawing is then transferred to the painted paper by rubbing pastel on the back of the refined sketch.  Using Prismacolor pencils, the drawing is slowly built by layering colors atop one another. Watercolor is applied throughout the process for darker areas. Drawing on the rough surface of the watercolor paper results in the grainy, pebbled texture in the finished art.

Book review rating:  8 (fantastic!)

Read on and read always!  Have an amazing day!

Sassafrass Jones and the Search For A Forever Home

Quote of the Day:  
                     " A good book has no ending."  - R. D. Cummings

           Title: Sassafrass Jones and the Search for a Forever Home
       Author:  Cathleen Smith Bresiani with Richard Eldredge


This classy book was fortunate enough to be created by a team of extremely talented people who have a passion for animals with disabilities and finding homes and love for all types who need a "forever home."  The majority of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Humane Society of New York, The Canine Companions for Independence, and other like charities.

First off let me tell you that I was smitten with Sassafrass Jones from the very first time that I saw her.  Her sensitive eye malady made her even more endearing to me and those chartreuse cat glasses she wore made her unique and stand out from the rest of the mundane animals around her.   It saddened me greatly that she had to spend two long years in the "Last Chance Adoption Centre," not getting picked for a "forever home." This adorable, abandoned, little Pekingese thought she was ugly, a throw-away, and that no one could possibly want her or love her.  My heart ached when the other animals around her called her rude names and belittled her constantly.

Mr. Spotswood, the adoption centre director, assured his favourite little dog that she was not different  from the others but truly special. My heart leapt for joy when a tiny milliner mouse, named Madeline, and her mother hurried into the shelter on Adoption Palooza Day at the last moment and guess who Madeline fell madly in love with?  She had come to adopt a kitty but was so enamoured by Sassafrass Jones that she made up her mind right then and there that this precious dog was going to be hers forever.

Sassafrass's life was about to change drastically.  Once in her new home she became the the perfect model for the beautiful hats that Madeline created and all the forest creatures clamoured to be just as fashionable. She was very loved and adored by Madeline and they did everything together and became inseparable.

 A surprising opportunity arose that could be the answer for corrective surgery for Sassafrass's eye problems.  With the help of her best friend Madeline, Madeline's mom (who was a baker extraordinaire and ran her own pie shop)  and many loyal friend, Sassafrass learned not only the meaning of having "a forever home" but having "forever people" around her who were willing to commit themselves to give her the best quality of life ever because they genuinely loved her!

This book is inspiring and a delight to read. Visually it is stunning. The magical, whimsical illustrations feature more than 50 full-colour pages of beautifully detailed photos of vintage Steiff animals and miniatures by photographer Tomas Espinoza, and sets (yes actual sets, like on a stage) created by Christopher J. McClellan.  It also comes with a high-quality CD narrated by Fred Schneider (B-52's front man who also is an animal activist) that will have your child mesmerized and coming back again and again to listen to the positive message of the importance of having a "forever home" and  "forever people" and every day being grateful for these wonderful gifts.

The Team:

To find out more about each member of the team and their invaluable input to make this book a success please check them out at:  www.sassafrassjones.com

About the Author:

Cathleen Smith Bresiani, who lives in Atlanta in a home she refers to lovingly as "Animal Eclectic" with her husband and four rescued dogs, explains that this book is an homage to her 35-year collection and love of vintage collectible Steiff toys.

Book Review Rating:  8 (Fantastic!)

The book is available at Amazon.com/ca

Also available at:  www.sassafrassjones.com

Read on and read always!

Have an awesome day everyone!

An extraordinary poem for you today - enjoy

"I love to lose myself in other men's minds. When I am old not walking, I am reading; I cannot sit and think. Books think for me."
                                        - Charles Lamb

Author:  Edna St.Vincent Mellay
Illustrator: Beth Peck

Make sure you check out Johnny Cash (1932-2003) reading the Pulitzer Prize winner's poem below.

The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver

The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

"Son," said my mother,
When I was knee-high,
"You've need of clothes to cover you,
And not a rag have I.

"There's nothing in the house
To make a boy breeches,
Nor shears to cut a cloth with
Nor thread to take stitches.

"There's nothing in the house
But a loaf-end of rye,
And a harp with a woman's head
Nobody will buy,"
And she began to cry.

That was in the early fall.
When came the late fall,
"Son," she said, "the sight of you
Makes your mother's blood crawl, –

"Little skinny shoulder-blades
Sticking through your clothes!
And where you'll get a jacket from
God above knows.

"It's lucky for me, lad,
Your daddy's in the ground,
And can't see the way I let
His son go around!"
And she made a queer sound.

That was in the late fall.
When the winter came,
I'd not a pair of breeches
Nor a shirt to my name.

I couldn't go to school,
Or out of doors to play.
And all the other little boys
Passed our way.

"Son," said my mother,
"Come, climb into my lap,
And I'll chafe your little bones
While you take a nap."

And, oh, but we were silly
For half an hour or more,
Me with my long legs
Dragging on the floor,

A-rock-rock-rocking
To a mother-goose rhyme!
Oh, but we were happy
For half an hour's time!

But there was I, a great boy,
And what would folks say
To hear my mother singing me
To sleep all day,
In such a daft way?

Men say the winter
Was bad that year;
Fuel was scarce,
And food was dear.

A wind with a wolf's head
Howled about our door,
And we burned up the chairs
And sat upon the floor.

All that was left us
Was a chair we couldn't break,
And the harp with a woman's head
Nobody would take,
For song or pity's sake.

The night before Christmas
I cried with the cold,
I cried myself to sleep
Like a two-year-old.

And in the deep night
I felt my mother rise,
And stare down upon me
With love in her eyes.

I saw my mother sitting
On the one good chair,
A light falling on her
From I couldn't tell where,

Looking nineteen,
And not a day older,
And the harp with a woman's head
Leaned against her shoulder.

Her thin fingers, moving
In the thin, tall strings,
Were weav-weav-weaving
Wonderful things.

Many bright threads,
From where I couldn't see,
Were running through the harp-strings
Rapidly,

And gold threads whistling
Through my mother's hand.
I saw the web grow,
And the pattern expand.

She wove a child's jacket,
And when it was done
She laid it on the floor
And wove another one.

She wove a red cloak
So regal to see,
"She's made it for a king's son,"
I said, "and not for me."
But I knew it was for me.

She wove a pair of breeches
Quicker than that!
She wove a pair of boots
And a little cocked hat.

She wove a pair of mittens,
She wove a little blouse,
She wove all night
In the still, cold house.

She sang as she worked,
And the harp-strings spoke;
Her voice never faltered,
And the thread never broke.
And when I awoke, –

There sat my mother
With the harp against her shoulder
Looking nineteen
And not a day older,

A smile about her lips,
And a light about her head,
And her hands in the harp-strings
Frozen dead.

And piled up beside her
And toppling to the skies,
Were the clothes of a king's son,
Just my size.

Have an awesome day!

Read on and read always! 

Poetry for Young People: Edna St. Vincent Millay

Amazon Price: $3.62
List Price: $6.95

Johnny Cash - Ballad Of The Harp Weaver [With Background]

Lovable Monsters working in rhyme

Quote of the Day!

"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."
                           - Leonardo da Vinci

Title: Monster Poems for Monstrous Kids  (Book 4)
Author and Illustrator:  Melinda Kinsman
Ages: 3-5

I would like to introduce you to Melinda Kinsman who has a wonderful series of rhyming books that I am sure your kids will love.  She has created her own world she calls "Top of the Wardrobe Gang."  If you drag a chair across the room, get up on it and peek way up to the top of the wardrobe you will find a very busy and exciting world indeed,  created by Melinda to spark your child's imagination.

 Book #1 in the series presents to you the gang:  P.D. Monkey, Oscar Rabbit, Burton Bear, Odd Sock, Terry Tiger (TT), Buster Dog and of course Melinda herself who is the mastermind of all the projects they churn out from there.  The adorable little monsters live in Billy's room on the top of his wardrobe (or in the Penthouse Suite) as the gang likes to call it. Billy started school in September so that left all the little monsters lonely, bored and looking for a purpose in life.  They discovered they all love words, especially ones that rhyme AND writing stories.  Co-operating, and working in harmony, they go forth and start to create rhyming books both to their great delight (and hopefully the delight of their readers!).  Here are a list of the books they have successfully created so far:

1. Introducing the Gang!
2. Hello from the Gang!
3. Our Poems for Kids
4. Monster Poems for Monster Kids

Here is a taste of one of the poems from "Monster Poems for Monster Kids":

What Makes A Monster Scary?

What makes a monster scary?
Is it his big jaws?
Is it his long arms,
Or is it his sharp claws?

What makes a monster scary?
Can it simply be his size?
Can it be how loud he BELLOWS,
Or the glinting of his eyes?

What makes a monster scary?
Well, I know what does for me;
It's THE DARK that makes them scary,
And the things I THINK I see...

What STOPS a monster being scary?
Turn the light on and you'll see...
They all turn and run away -
They must be more afraid of me!

Here is one of her adorable monsters....

Yep, there's Odd Sock and she hangs around in the small sink in the bathroom knitting socks and collecting rocks which she loves dearly.




Here's Melinda herself and a little bit about her life:

Melinda Kinsman was born in Stoke-on-Trent. She lives on a peninsular in the UK called The Wirral, which lies just to the north of Wales. She is very new to being an author, having created her first ebooks at the end of 2013. She loves climbing mountains and rock-climbing (both abroad, and in her local mountains of Snowdonia), and she has always had a soft-spot for cuddly toys!

As Melinda has to lie down a lot each day, due to health issues, she now spends most of that time using her iPad to write and illustrate her new books. (Drawing can be especially challenging, as she needs to keep the iPad steady by balancing it with one leg up in the air - much to the amusement of her family!)

Melinda originally wrote a book of poems for her 6 year old niece a few years ago, but never dreamt of trying to publish them, or of trying to illustrate them herself. The advent of ebooks and handheld tablets now makes self-publishing an exciting possibility for her!

The Top of the Wardrobe Gang series of books are credited to both Melinda and a motley crew of cuddly toy characters. This bunch of cuddly toys live on the Top of the Wardrobe - they like to call this the "penthouse suite"! They enjoy reading, and want to try writing their own books. Most of the cartoon gang characters are based on "real" members of Melinda's cuddly toy family, though some have had to have their names and appearances changed to allow their inclusion!

You can find out more about Melinda, the gang, and their books from their website at http://topofthewardrobegang.weebly.com

You can catch up with Melinda on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TopoftheWardrobeGang

Her books are available on iBooks and on Amazon. 

                                Book Review Rating: 8 (Fantastic!)

      Read on and read always!  Have an awesome day everyone!

Jasper John Dooley: NOT in Love - a book review

"How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book."
          -Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Title: Jasper John Dooley: Not in Love  (series, volume 3)
Author: Caroline Adderson
Illustrator: Ben Clanton
Ages: 5-8

Man what is a guy to do when a girl targets you, is in love with you and even wants to marry you?  It sure can mess up your life if you are an early grade schooler. All you want to do is play with your best friends, Ori, Leon and Paul C., slaying dragons at recess not be dragged into marriage.

 Jasper has a real girl problem on his hands and is trying to find a way to solve it.  Isabel, a classmate, is smitten by him and wants to play babies with him a recess and is even planning their wedding. Poor Jasper gets further sucked into the relationship when his mom accepts a playdate on his behalf at Isabel's house.  After hair brushing and jam eating Isabel finally invites him to jump on her trampoline and Jasper gets the trampoline-bug and thinks maybe she is not so bad after all.  These conflicting feelings make him feel frustrated and embarrassed but he decides that marriage is not for him and he must concoct a way to end this overbearing girl from stocking him and trying to control his life.

The cast of characters are appealing and recognizable. The storyline is hilarious and I am sure many kids will be able to identify with it.    Will Jasper be able to hatch a plan to put this crisis behind him?  Will he succeed in convincing Isabel that he is not in love with her but just wants to be left alone with his friends?  With the help of his loving parents, his grandmother and his friends his world is finally reconfigured and he does get his life back to normal.  Whew!  Love can make life complicated can't it?

About the author:

Caroline Adderson is a Canadian novelist and short story writer. She has published three novels, two short story collections and two books for young readers.Wikipedia

Born: September 9, 1963 (age 50), Alberta

Education: University of British Columbia

Movies: Tokyo Cowboy

Nominations: Governor General's Award for English-language fiction

About the Illustrator:

'm Ben.  I'm a story-scribbler, picture-squiggler, book aficionado, child advocate, dragon tamer (someday), and avid sock wearer (especially of the striped variety).  I have spent most of my time on this planet reading, drawing, sleeping, gardening and eating chocolate.  I live next to a pond in an old brick mill with my wife, Kelsey (a photographer and designer!), and a wild goldendoodle named Gigi.

Ben Clanton

clantoons.ben@gmail.com

Represented by: 

Marietta Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency

facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Clantoons

My Books:
REX WRECKS IT - fall 2014
Jasper John Dooley: Not in Love - spring 2014
MO'S MUSTACHE - fall 2013
The Table Sets Itself - fall 2013
Jasper John Dooley: Left Behind  -  spring 2013
Max Has a Fish  -  fall 2012
Vote for Me!  -  spring 2012

Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week  -  spring 2012

                            Book Review Rating:  8 (Fantastic!)

Read on and read always!  Hope your weekend was amazing and the week ahead even better.  

I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love - a fabulous book for you

"A good book has no ending."
                -R.D. Cumming

Author and Illustrator:  Nancy Tillman
Ages: 3+

Nancy Tillman is one of my favourite author/illustrators.  Her pictures are realistic, beautiful and  well suited for framing.  Her writing skills dove-tail perfectly with her stunning visuals.  This book sends a message that both parent and child totally comprehend.  The unconditional love, the you are unique and mine, the I will love you no matter where or what you are, rings true on every page.

"There are things about you quite unlike any other.
Things always known by your father and mother.
So if you decide to be different one day,
no worries...I'd know you anyway."

Her gentle rhymes convey to the child his uniqueness and no matter what changes occur that his mother will recognize him and  love him no matter what.  Children will delight in the fact that if they choose to become a giraffe, a bear, or an owl that mother will always be there for them, loving them every step of the way, no matter what they may choose to become.

About Nancy Tillman:

                                      

Nancy Tillman is an American author of children's books. Her picture books focus on the love parents have for their children, and the last page in each of her books says "You are loved." Wikipedia

Books: I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love

1. Animals figure prominently in your books. What is your favorite animal? 

My favorite animal is my pug, Figgy.  That’s the truth!  Fig is my mascot… he sits beside me every day as I write and illustrate.  Other than that, every animal has special characteristics that draw me to it. Everyone is unique and wonderful in its own way…and each one suits a child differently.  Giraffes are so tall they are perfect to help children pick apples.  One can easily cross a stream upon a hippo.  Who better to have a water fight with than an elephant?

2. If you could be any animal, what would you be? Why? 

I suppose I’d be a big, beautiful bird.  It would be so wonderful to fly.  I’d drop in on all the other animals. Maybe I’d be a flamingo.  I’ve always been enchanted by them. 

3. Why do you think children relate or are drawn to animals?

Children are drawn to things that stimulate them or nurture them. Animals are full of joyful surprises and funny noises… and many are great cuddlers, too.

4. The child in I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love pretends to be many different animals.  Why do you think children enjoy pretending to be different people, animals, or things?

It comes naturally to them, probably because pretending is so developmentally helpful. By trying on different personalities, children learn social differences and empathy for others, among many other things.  Plus, it’s FUN! 

5. When your own children were growing up, how did you encourage them to use their imaginations?  

Here’s one way that I’ll share with the parents out there.  I often told my children they could scream if they did it silently.  I still have memories of my son’s silent screams.  He could let a lot of energy out without a sound!  Try it! My daughter, Tess, had an alter ego by the name of Jessica Reindeer.  Jessica had a dog named Candybreath.  I loved to listen to their adventures.  Once Jessica told the neighbors that her dad had died from eating junk food.  I had to explain that it was Jessica’s dad, not Tess’s dad.

6. What was the inspiration behind the story of I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love?

I wanted to give children the joy of becoming another creature with the comfort of knowing their parent would always recognize them.  And I always love to create interactive pages that allow children to “be” the animal either in action or in sound. 

7. Is the cover image of I’d Know You Anywhere, My Love inspired by the photograph of you with a giraffe that is featured on the back of the book?  

Yes it is!  My publisher, Jean Feiwel, loves that picture and asked me specifically to create an illustration inspired by it.  Children I’ve met on tour always tell me they love that picture, too.  That picture was taken in Kenya.  The giraffe, Lynn, licked me all over my face.  I was holding food in my mouth.

8. Your books are heartwarming and very comforting but always close with the phrase “You are loved.” Why? 

Quite simply, it’s a message no one gets enough of.  It’s the bottom line take-away of all my books, so I always want to end with it. 

9. Millions of families across the nation have grown to love your books dearly.  What is it about your stories that you think creates such a special connection with your readers – children and parents alike?

I try to give parents words to say what they already feel for their children.  Most parents really deeply feel those words, and their children can tell.  In their early years, children are little sponges. I love knowing parents are getting those messages of love into their children before many of the world’s other messages make their way in, or before barriers go up. 

10. Can you describe your creative process? How do you choose a subject? Do you have a favorite place where you go for inspiration or to work out any blocks? Do you write or illustrate first? Are you inspired by friends, family, scenery, other? 

I am inspired by the natural beauty of the world around me, and the beautiful faces of young children looking up at me.  When I succeed in reaching those children, I want to do it again and again.  Yes, there are special places that are especially inspirational to me… many countries in Africa have provided me with beautiful memories to work from.  But I could just as easily be transported by a crow that talks to me on a morning walk, or fog over a wheat field.  As much as I can I try to paint wide open spaces that children can imagine themselves in.

Generally, I write first, although there are illustrations that I can already see in my mind.  Sometimes I envision an illustration that might influence text. 

                                                                (re-post from book divas.com)

 Book Review Rating: 

                                                                      8 (Fantastic!)


Read on and read always!   Have a super weekend everyone!