Sergio Ruzzier

Tove Jansson pictures

2012-01-08T17:29:00.000-05:00

All these pictures were stolen from this website celebrating Tove Jansson.

What James Marshall said

2012-01-04T21:48:00.001-05:00

Leonard Marcus interviewed James Marshall (author of George and Martha, among many other books) for Publishers Weekly in 1989. The same interview was included in Marcus' book Ways of Telling.

- I think I became an artist because I wanted a studio, because I wanted to buy art supplies.

- I quickly realized that I would die of a stroke if I had to teach high school for the rest of my life. That's when I started drawing. That's when the doodling began.

- I think I also got into doing children's books because I thought it would be easy. It's a lot of fun sometimes - but it ain't easy.

- Doing two- or three-page stories is the hardest thing.

- I've ruined so many books with no-good endings.

- I really cannot stand it if something in a picture is misplaced.

- I have the beginnings, I guess, of a hundred stories that never went anywhere, which I know somebody could finish.

Since I couldn't find any good pictures of our James Marshall, I'm posting a portrait of this other James Marshall, second President of Coe College (1887-1896).

What else Arnold Lobel said

2012-01-02T17:28:00.005-05:00

- There's a statue in Central Park of Hans Christian Andersen with children climbing all over it. Hans Christian Andersen was a fussy, prissy, old maid of a bachelor, and I don't think he would have children anywhere within 10 miles of him.

- We've all met children who don't seem to have a sense of humor and they grow up to be adults without a sense of humor.

- I think one of the most personal books I've ever written was Owl at Home. It came out last year. It's more personal than any of the other books.

- I notice that all of my books are rather home-bound.

What Arnold Lobel said

2012-01-02T12:46:00.005-05:00

Quotes from an old interview in The Lion and the Unicorn.

- I began writing for children because I couldn't do anything else.

- I really don't quite know what I'm doing.

- Toad is a neurotic and Owl is a psychotic.

- You tend to like your friends' work. You meet people in the field, and if you like them, you like their work. If you don't like them, you don't like their work. It's very strange. And sometimes a terrible thing is, you meet an artist whose work you hate but you like him and you don't know what to do.

Unobtrusive genitalia

2011-12-30T10:50:00.000-05:00

From an Amazon customer review of the anthology Guys Write For Guys Read:

[...] there is also an illustration of a monster, drawn when the artist was in fifth grade, I believe, that shows the monster's genitalia. It's unobtrusive, but its [sic] there. I'm having to black it out with a felt-tip so I can make the book available for my middle school students.

He's talking about my Sprokostagorubolonoso. Unobtrusive is probably the worst thing one can say about a penis.

Here's the culprit:

The Hey Diddle Diddle Picture Book by R. Caldecott

2011-11-30T14:14:00.000-05:00

The Underground Sketchbook

2011-11-28T14:55:00.001-05:00

Today is Tomi Ungerer's birthday (and mine too!)
Here's a book of his published by Viking in 1964.

Some More Love for Tweak Tweak!

2011-11-27T19:52:00.001-05:00

Tweak Tweak is one of Jules Danielson's Top 10 Picture Books of 2011 she chose for Kirkus! Thank you Jules!

Emperor Hirohito reads Amandina

2011-11-21T15:26:00.000-05:00

Having heard that Amandina will soon be published in Japan by Mitsumura, Emperor Hirohito got himself a copy of the American edition to familiarize with it. He seems to really enjoy it!

Mao Tse-Tung

2011-11-16T18:44:00.001-05:00

Mao Tse-Tung, in his formative years, reading with profit Hey, Rabbit!

The Dallas Titans Get Ready for Bed

2011-11-16T15:53:00.000-05:00

Weird Islands

2011-11-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

While I was away

2011-10-30T17:50:00.004-04:00

While I was in Connecticut at Maurice Sendak's, my friend Steve Savage sent me this:

And my friend Gerardo Blumenkrantz this:

The Agony in the Kindergarten

2011-10-27T16:37:00.000-04:00

The Sendak Fellowship

2011-10-22T22:30:00.004-04:00

Miracle occurred in the woods of western Connecticut in the Fall of 2011, as visually recorded by Ali Bahrampour.

Pius Pelosi wishes you a good summer

2011-06-29T12:08:00.003-04:00

Page from my book The Room of Wonders, published by Frances Foster in 2006.

The Story of Hansel and Gretel

2011-06-17T12:07:00.001-04:00

Hallucinatory flowers

2011-06-16T13:53:00.001-04:00

In her very generous review of Tweak Tweak on The Horn Book, Martha Parravano suggests to "check out those hallucinatory flowers."

Here's a sampler.

Some elephants I like

2011-06-15T12:03:00.000-04:00

Little Elephant and her mom, from Tweak Tweak.

An old Steiff elephant on wheels.

From a medieval English manuscript.

A grass family.

Babar, of course.

Found on eBay.

From Arnold Lobel's Uncle Elephant.


Jacob van Maerlant, Der Naturen Bloeme. Flanders or Utrecht, circa 1450-1500.

Tweak Tweak at Books of Wonder in NYC

2011-06-14T15:17:00.000-04:00

This Saturday, June 18th, from 12 to 2, I will be at Books of Wonder to talk about Tweak Tweak. With me there will be other authors and illustrators: Javaka Steptoe, Chris Raschka, Greg Foley, and Teresa E. Harris.

My interview with "Le figure dei libri"

2011-05-30T12:01:00.000-04:00

Read it on Anna Castagnoli's blog Le figure dei libri

Tweak Tweak: School Library Journal Review

2011-05-25T18:19:00.003-04:00

While on a walk, Mama Elephant’s baby holds onto her tail and “tweaks twice” to ask a question. Little Elephant’s curiosity is piqued many times along the way. The parent-child discussion is sweet and encouraging: “‘Mama? What is that?’ ‘That is a frog.’ ‘What is he doing?’ ‘He’s jumping.’ ‘Can I jump?’ ‘No, because you are not a frog. You are a little elephant. But you can stomp your foot and make a big sound.’” [...]

Ruzzier’s ink and watercolor illustrations charmingly capture the youngster’s imaginings as she leaps over cliffs (with worried frogs looking on) and croons to an audience of bemused birds. The gentle text is perfect for sharing with toddlers.

Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Nursery Rhymes

2011-05-25T12:56:00.004-04:00

I love chapbooks, especially for children. I recently bought this one on eBay. It must be English, probably 1830's or 40's, even though it bears no indication of publisher, place, or date.

Tweak Tweak: The Horn Book (Starred!) Review

2011-05-04T11:12:00.002-04:00

[...] The pairing of Bunting’s traditional text, powered by an elegant repeating structure, with Ruzzier’s offbeat art is unexpectedly fabulous. The surreal, rather Seussian landscape (check out those hallucinatory flowers and purple hills) makes the transition to the spreads of Little Elephant’s imagined experiences effortless; the spare spikiness is also a salutary contrast to the elephants’ rounded forms and general adorableness.

Martha V. Parravano

Seven Impossible Tweaks Before Breakfast

2011-04-24T10:50:00.003-04:00

http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=2122

Histoire de Perlette

2011-04-20T16:38:00.001-04:00

In Milan, Italy, were I was born and grew up, there is a big, monthly flea market on the canal called Naviglio Grande. There, years ago, I found this little, flimsy book. It's the story of a drop of water, Perlette, which in French means little pearl. Béatrice Appia was the illustrator.

Happy Easter

2011-04-20T15:59:00.000-04:00

Heather Burnell's Picture Book List

2011-04-13T14:25:00.000-04:00

I'll let Heather introduce herself, but please take a look at her blog, Frolicking Through Cyberspace.

I LOVE picture books. Lucky for me, as a librarian and mom of three, I am constantly immersed in them. There are so many picture books that I love, it’s hard to narrow them down to ten. I didn’t want to just list all my favorite books from childhood but I am quite certain that my picture book, BEDTIME MONSTER, was somehow inspired by my love of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE when I was a kid. This is a list of some of the picture books that I go back to time and again. (I didn’t include THE ROOM OF WONDERS because this is Sergio’s blog, but man I love that little collector!)

1.    RICHARD SCARRY’S WHAT DO PEOPLE DO ALL DAY? was my absolute favorite book when I was a kid. (The original 94-page version, not the abridged.) There is just so much going on in this book. I love everything about this book down to the endpapers that feature all of the Busytown characters. I love how the characters do all sorts of silly things wrong, yet still manage to keep Busytown going. I love that the book simply shows the things that people do. I learned about commerce, building, mail, travel, policemen, firemen, farming, forestry, electricity, cotton, bread, water, and no, I did not feel like I was learning. The cutaway drawings showing what goes on inside of things like a ship and a paper company are fun. There is so much detail on every page. I’ve spent hours poring over that book. I still have my original copy. The cover has come loose but I still keep it on a special shelf. This book definitely has a place in my heart.

2.    PUT ME IN THE ZOO by Robert Lopshire is another favorite from childhood that I rediscovered at a book sale. There's a big animal who has red spots and he wants to live in the zoo. Why shouldn't he? He's big and spotted and of an unknown species. But the zookeepers don't think he's any good. When they throw him out he runs into two kids and shows them why he should be in the zoo. He can do all sorts of tricks with his spots like change their color, put them on things such as a cat and a hat, juggle them, and even make them into socks! It's got fun rhyming text and great simple visuals.

3.    APPELEMANDO’S DREAMS by Patricia Polacco is about a boy who lives in a drab town, but his dreams are so vivid that they come right out of the top of his head. His friends love his dreams but when it rains and Appelemando’s dreams start painting the town there is trouble. But, dreams save the day. Awesome.

4.    BILLY’S BUCKET by Kes Gray is one of my go to books for when I need a quick pick for a library storytime or at home. It’s so fun. Billy wants for his birthday so, after unsuccessfully trying to talk him out of it, his parents take him to the bucket store. Out of the thousands of buckets there he picks one special bucket that he insists is the one. When he fills his bucket with water it becomes a window into the ocean. Billy sees all sorts of cool ocean creatures and tries to share it with his parents, but they don't believe him. They even tease him! When Billy's dad uses Billy's bucket to wash his car he discovers the truth. It cracks me up that Billy's parents heckle him but Billy keeps right on being chipper about all the cool things he's seeing. I love how the illustrator, Garry Parsons, has Billy's head peeking in at the edge of the bucket in so many illustrations, like a full moon, as he gazes into the ocean.

5.    FRANK WAS A MONSTER WHO WANTED TO DANCE written and illustrated by Keith Graves is just plain funny. It’s a little rhyming ditty about a zombie who puts on his best shoes and goes out to dance on the stage. As he dances, he falls apart. It’s great for a laugh!

6.    In I’M NOT AFRAID OF THIS HAUNTED HOUSE, Simon Lester Henry Strauss, is not afraid, and he's funny! There's loads of spooky stuff in this book, but Simon Lester Henry Strauss isn't afraid of any of it. He's so darn brave, which makes the ending all the more hilarious. This book inspired my youngest to eat a spider, actually, but hey, he was fine. Everyone should try eating a spider once I suppose. Everyone... except me. I'm Not Afraid of This Haunted House is written by Laurie Friedman and illustrated by Teresa Murfin.

7.    Okay, I'm a bit of a sucker for holiday books. PETER CLAUS AND THE NAUGHTY LIST by Lawrence David is one of the best in my opinion. Peter is Santa's kid and he is on the naughty list—again. He feels bad for all the kids on the naughty list because he knows how it feels to have no presents under the tree on Christmas morning, so he decides to do something about it. Peter sneaks out with the reindeer and collects all the naughty kids because he thinks Santa needs to find out why they did naughty things before he decides they get no presents. The reasons the kids share for being on the naughty list are humorous. The things they say they will do to make up for the naughty thing they did are sweet. Delphine Durand’s illustrations are quirky and adorable. And there are some great lines in this book including, "I don't remember being bad this year." The answer, “Nobody ever does." Peter manages to save Christmas for the naughty kids as well as himself, while making his dad quite proud.

8.    I like the quietness of BIG RED BARN by Margaret Wise Brown and the way it shows life on the farm so simply. Felicia Bond’s illustrations are sweet and perfect. It’s a beautiful little book.

9.    BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE: A FRACTURED TEXAS TALE by Helen Ketteman, illustrated by James Warhola is a super fun read aloud. Bubba is the "Cinderella" of this tale. He's the stepson of a wicked rancher and has some really mean stepbrothers. His fairy godmother is a cow. The voice is so spot-on in. This story will have you talking like a cowboy in no time.

10.    WHEN PIGASSO MET MOOTISSE by Nina Laden is a story about two artists, Picasso and Matisse – if they were a pig and a cow. Need I really say more?

A Bevy of Bunnies

2011-04-09T17:56:00.001-04:00

A few days ago, School Library Journal published a piece on books about bunnies, and kindly included my Hey, Rabbit! Among other things, which you can read on SLJ's website, the article says: Ruzzier's sprightly watercolors reveal a cast of characters with expressive features and a dreamy setting perfectly suited to the tale's tone of wish-fulfillment and wonder.

Hey, Rabbit! goes to college

2011-04-04T13:19:00.003-04:00

Hey, Rabbit! was included in The Bank Street College of Education's 2011 Best Children's Books of the Year. It's their 100th anniversary edition!

Floors

2011-03-28T18:05:00.001-04:00

During a recent visit to Public School 295 in Brooklyn, NY, a first grader notices that the cat's floor in Hey, Rabbit! is similar to Pius' floor in The Room of Wonders, which he had read earlier. Here I show the other kids that he is right.

Tweak Tweak: Kirkus Review

2011-03-24T19:56:00.002-04:00

This book presents a pretty and friendly world, in which Mama Elephant is blue, Little Elephant is white and rosy, the sand is peach and every animal wears an expression of contented amusement. (...) As they walk, Little imagines climbing an acacia tree like the monkeys, flying with a very anthropomorphic and beruffled butterfly and singing like a bird, only to learn what elephants do instead. Mama praises her for asking questions, so she can learn and grow to be "a big, strong, smart, beautiful elephant"—just like her Mama, suggests Little Elephant. In a nice touch, it is Little who leads Mama back home, past all the animals they saw on their walk.

Captures exactly and sweetly a developmental ideal for both child and parent.

Tweak Tweak: Booklist Review

2011-03-24T16:26:00.000-04:00

On a walk in the wild, Little Elephant asks her mother about each creature they see: What is it? What is it doing? And can Little Elephant do that, too? "Can I jump like a frog?" she asks on one spread, and the soft-toned, line-and-wash illustrations show the young animal imagining herself leaping from a cliff. (...) Young children will enjoy following Little Elephant's fantasies, depicted in the uncluttered, double-page spreads, all the way to the story's climax, which celebrates what Little Elephant really is, as well as the big, strong creature she will grow up to be. Along with the imaginative silliness, the nurturing parent-child tenderness is the core of the story.

Hazel Rochman

Tweak Tweak: Publishers' Weekly Review

2011-03-21T12:33:00.007-04:00

In this tender story from Bunting (Will It Be a Baby Brother?), Mama Elephant advises Little Elephant to "tweak twice," by pulling on her tail, if she has any questions while they go for a walk. And at almost every turn of the page, Little Elephant does. Ruzzier's delicate lines and subdued colors match the tenor of the text, as Little Elephant asks her mother to identify various animals (a frog, a monkey, a bird, etc.), then wonders if she can also jump, climb, or sing. "Can I sing like that?" Little Elephant asks. "No, because you are not a bird.... But you can trumpet--like this. RO-OAR!" Ruzzier (Hey, Rabbit!) warmly conveys the small elephant's emotions and the reactions of other animals in fantasy spreads that show the elephant leaping between cliffs, swimming, and soaring through the sky. Despite the quiet plot and gentle tone, ample sound effects give the story pep, and the tail-pulling is a fun elephantine analogue to the way toddlers pull on a parent's pant leg or skirt hem with questions of their own.

Skype school visit

2011-03-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was very happy to welcome to my studio a whole second grade class of Hanna Woods Elementary School, from Ballwin, Missouri. I had a great time showing them sketches and drawings and answering their smart questions. They were so kind to send me a bunch of beautiful drawings, of which I'm happy to share a few.

Here is a kind note from Amy Johnson, the Technology Integration Specialist:
The second graders in Mrs. Mask's class at Hanna Woods Elementary had the pleasure of "meeting" Sergio Ruzzier via a Skype video call. After reading several of Mr. Ruzzier's books through an author study in communication arts, the students formulated questions about the books, the writing process, and what it is like to be an author and illustrator. The opportunity to have their questions answered firsthand was an invaluable learning experience. As Mr. Ruzzier sat in his studio in New York, he talked to the students about the craft of writing and illustrating a book from beginning to end. The students continue to make connections based on their learning from the Skype session. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to him for providing such a rich learning experience for our students.

From the Spring 2011 Clarion catalogue

2011-03-02T13:15:00.004-05:00

To see the whole catalogue go here.

Original art for sale

2011-02-22T17:11:00.002-05:00

powerHouse Arena and The Book Maker’s Dozen present The Art of the Picture Book.
New York-based children's book illustrators cooperative The Book Maker’s Dozen, which I'm proudly part of, will have original drawings and paintings from some of our picture books on display and for sale at powerHouse Arena. My piece in the show is from my book Amandina.

The show opens Friday, March 4, from 6-8 pm and will go on until May 1st.

The powerHouse Arena is in Dumbo (37 Main St. Brooklyn, NY).

Amandina on the real stage

2011-02-18T18:14:00.000-05:00

Noemi Bresciani and her dance company Fattoria Vittadini, based in Milan, are putting up a show based on my picture book Amandina, that is about a little dog who puts up a show. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend, but if you are in Milan on Febraury 21 or in Bologna on February 28, please go see it!

Ho visto una nave navigare

2011-02-11T11:50:00.002-05:00

Beni Montresor in the late Fifties

Ho visto una nave navigare is one of the very first books I have ever touched.

It was published in Italy by Emme Edizioni (that published many wonderful books) in 1967, same year as the American edition (Knopf), titled I Saw a Ship A-Sailing. It's Beni Montresor's interpretation of some classic nursery rhymes. In the Italian edition, there are English words and sentences here and there, which were part of the illustrations, like "Not on me! Not on me!" or "Very new shoe". As a kid I didn't understand what those English words meant, but they stayed with me forever, as did these dreamy drawings.

Lisa Siebert's Picture Book List

2011-02-11T11:42:00.004-05:00

Lisa Siebert, originally from Goleta, California, is a nursery school teacher in Berlin, Germany.

This is a list of her favorite picture books:

1. Kleinen Maulwurf, der wissen wollte, wer ihm auf den Kopf gemacht hat by Werner Holzwarth, illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch. Somebody did their business on the mole's head and he is determined to find out who.

[Published in the U.S. in 2007 as The Story of the Little Mole Who Went in Search of Whodunit.]

2. Winnie Flies Again written by Valerie Thomas and illustrated by Korky Paul. Lovable Winnie keeps bumping into things while traveling on her broomstick until she discovers the reason why. Winnie the Witch is a much loved series from Britain.

3. One two three me illustrated by Nadia Budde and put into English by Jeremy Fitzler. Nadia is an illustrator who is waiting to be discovered on the other side of the ocean. This is the only gem available in English, none of her other books have been translated, as far as I know. I wish I could show you a picture but things aren't working for me that way at the moment! Her website is under construction but worth waiting for!

4. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are an award winning dream team (as are all of the non-American titles mentioned here) who have produced many a treasure...The Gruffalo is about a clever mouse who outwits his predators including the now famous Gruffalo of the "knobbly knees and turned out toes".

5. Tigerprince by Chen Jianghong. With breathtaking illustrations combining classical Chinese drawing with modern, western visual language, Chen Jianghong tells the moving story of a mother-son relationship between a little prince and a tigress.

6. Fast Food by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers. These guys create characters using fruits and vegetables and black eyed peas. My favorite is the banana airplane.

7. Une soupe au caillou by Anaïs Vaugelade. Based on the fable. A wolf visits a hen and suggests they make stone soup. The neighbors are concerned and come to call, each bringing a vegetable to contribute. After they dine together the wolf leaves and we wonder what he would have done if the neighbors had stayed at home.

8. Traction Man by Mini Grey.
I love the way this title celebrates children's imagination.

9. Sorry, but I have to say: anything by Mo Willems.

10. Lon Po Po by Ed Young. As with Chen Jianghong, I appreciate (and I think children also appreciate) when authors are not afraid to tackle our fears. (I like the dedication to the wolf at the beginning.)

Il bambino solo

2011-02-01T15:43:00.004-05:00

This is the first in a series of posts about picture books from my library.

Roland Topor is one of my favorite artists ever. I even met him, when I was still a kid, in Piazzetta Reale in Milan, after the opening of a big exhibition of his work. His signature on my invitation is all messed up by that evening's raindrops.

This book I'm showing, Il bambino solo (The Lonely Boy), is the Italian edition published by the praiseworthy Milano Libri. The French original title was Le petit garçon tout seul. I don't think this book was ever published in English, but let me know if I'm wrong.

But the princess, who was shy, preferred to sit on the branches.

Cristiana Clerici's Picture Book List

2011-01-29T15:20:00.009-05:00

Cristiana Clerici writes about children's books on her blog The Tea Box and on Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. I'll let her introduce herself.

I was born in Parma, Italy, where I still live with my two cats. I was a very lucky child, because I had the best granny in the world: she was the one who used to tell me the most incredible stories at bedtime, though my favourite has always been Cinderella (for the three balls and the three dresses she had, at least in my granny's version, not for Prince Charming nor for wedding! I start to think I've been quite coherent after all!). Granny was the one who gifted me with fascination for children's literature. I took my University degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures, in specific English and French, the further step was then quite a natural one to me: speak French and English + love literature, and in specific kidslit, + a bit of craziness = start studying the subject and writing about it, first for a few specialized magazines, then on my own blog(s)!

1 – NELLA NEBBIA DI MILANO by Bruno Munari

Bruno Munari has been a brilliant mind and a free soul, to me he represents all the good qualities of our country: he was a wise free thinker, someone with an excellent sense of aesthetics and color and a man gifted with a powerful creativity. Nella Nebbia di Milano is, to my opinion, his masterpiece. Though dated 1968, it's a timeless picture book, where words and images contribute to plunge you into a real foggy day, with a little surprise in the middle. His use of tissue papers and graphics recalls the imperceivable softness that wraps up everything on a foggy day. Though, being such a fan of colored papers, he could not renounce to a colorful heart: the great circus is in town, and even if everything around is gray and black and all mingled, inside the circus everything is color! The text is essential and full of poetry: “Gli uccelli fanno piccoli voli nella nebbia.... e tornano subito” (birds make short flights when it's foggy... and they come back immediately).
[This book is also available in its English translation as "The Circus in the Mist".]

2 – THE SNOWY DAY by Ezra J.Keats

This is another timeless masterpiece I discovered only quite recently. What I appreciate more in Keats is the immense sense of child's perspective he has: his way of looking at the world is exactly the way children look at it, with that same enchantment. The Snowy Day to me represents exactly this: marvel and joy, playing, a metamorphosed world loosing its usual boundaries and becoming the perfect place for new discoveries. His use of color is incredibly masterly, he never exceeds and this not just because he's describing a snowy day, but because he has a great sense of balance. I love the way Keats portrayed his main character, not simply because he portrays a black boy (and I believe we would need many more book characters in Europe belonging to other ethnic groups others than white), but because he decided to outline Peter very simply, he avoids being too descriptive, so that anyone can identify with him, which leads to another important message: though different in our being individuals, we are all the same.

3 – ABC, WORD BOOK by Richard Scarry

This is the book I literally worn out when I was a kid: Scarry's images are always on my mind and every time I look at them I feel home somehow. I remember spending hours on the book looking at all the little details. Amid all the animals populating the book cats were my favorite (why on earth would I be surrounded by cats otherwise??), and the table I loved most was the one representing the Firemen House. Amid all the other picks I made, this is a real emotional choice and most probably it's the book I would still select were I still a child. Of Scarry's illustrations I really love the thin lines, the colors and his urban scenes full of details and warmth. And, one last thing, the cottage: this is where I always wanted to live. Remembering this makes me think of how much a children's book can determine the perception a child has of the world outside!

4 – LA VISITE DE PETITE MORT by Kitty Crowther

Kitty Crowther is one of my favorite authors/illustrators, I was right there when she received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award last year and I was so happy and moved and empathic that I ended up crying like a baby! Well, besides this... La Visite de Petite Mort is a book that affords a difficult theme like death in such an incredibly sensible way it is a real life lesson for anyone, adults and children likewise. Kitty Crowther always deals with difficult topics, and this book is no exception. When I found it book I felt so deeply touched I could hardly refrain from turning all emotional: Petite Mort is a child, a very kind child everyone is afraid of, they all tremble with fear when they see her, and she resents this very much, until she meets Elsewise who is a child as well, a child who has been hill for a long time. Elsewise welcomes Petite Mort, they play together and they become friends. I won't give the ending away but it is such a beautiful book I would talk about it for hours, this is why I'd better stop here!

5 – LES ARBRES PLEURENT AUSSI by Irène Cohen-Janca, illustrations by Maurizio A.C. Quarello

In Les Arbres Pleurent Aussi, the main character is the horse-chestnut tree that was in front of Anne Frank's hidden shelter, in Amsterdam. It's the tree that tells us about her, we will know her name only towards the end of the book, until then it's just a tree and a girl observing each other and the world all around getting darker and crazier. Both illustrations and text are of such rare beauty that I wouldn't know where to start: few books about Anne Frank were able to reach such high degree of poetry and intensity. It is such a powerful book, all played around the idea that the tree and the girl are both powerless, we know what their destiny will be and still we are stuck to the pages, watching them living their lives despite everything else. It contains all the sense of injustice and misery that comes with wars, whatever war they are.

6 – ICI LONDRES by Vincent Cuvellier, illustrations bu Anne Herbauts

Talking about war: Ici Londres is a brilliant book whose text is formed by the secret messages French people, exhiled in England, sent through BBC Radio during the Second World War, including the very famous: “Les sanglots longs / des violons / de l'automne / blessent mon coeur / d'une langueur / monotone.” In the preface, that gives unity to the whole book together with the beautiful illustrations, the author tells how he used to listen to the encrypted messages, hidden behind a pile of stumps. It's interesting the way he describes his boyish dreams upon the strange messages he couldn't fully understand and the way he gives that sense of secret urge and dread: he knew something forbidden was happening, he knew that in occupied France listening to BBC was illegal and, from his hidden corner, he could share his part with adults. Anne Herbauts is an extremely interesting Belgian illustrator, whose works always represent facts from a very original perspective. In this book, through the mysterious messages it contains, she could give way to all her inner being. With the book there is a CD with the recorded messages and a special musical accompaniment.

7 – MIGRANDO by Mariana Chiesa Mateos

Migrando is a wordless book about migration: past and present. It's a book that goes to the very heart of emigration issues, it offers no resolution, it gives no judgment. The author identifies with those who were, and still are, migrating. It's both a personal story and a common one that ties together all different sorts of people. It's a double-face book: on one side past times, on the other present times. What is touching and true about this book is that it lets you understand it's never easy to leave your own country, even if it can be necessary. The author shows this through the eyes of her characters: those looks with their sad smiles seem to be telling us that the past is always relevant, that the needs we had in the past are the same we have nowadays and that, in the end, men never change. In small clips, Mariana Chiesa Mateos gets to illustrate with cleverness and sensibility, the story of a girl leaving with her parents: we know almost nothing about her, we only know she feels sad, that she would like to fly back to where she belongs and one day she will. It's a book that received an important recognition from Amnesty International.

8 – L'ANGELO DELLE SCARPE by Giovanna Zoboli, illustrations by Joanna Concejo

This book is the work of two women I appreciate and love for the grace they both have in approaching their subjects. L'Angelo delle Scarpe is a story that tells about a lonely child, whose father is too busy working to take care of his own son. Nothing more common nowadays. One day the child sees someone on the balcony and calls his father, but he won't listen to him: he's too busy making and selling shoes, and when he doesn't work he thinks of business. The child cries out for attention, breaking the perfect silence of his father's thoughts. All this crying will at last force the man to leave his armchair, and his plans, to make a sensational discovery that will change his life forever. The man on the balcony is an angel, only the father cannot see it at first: he just realizes he has no shoes, until... Well, I won't spoil the ending. Joanna Concejo's refined drawings make a perfect counter-singing to the text, they enrich it with their perfect tones, the pale colors and their delicate touches of a rare sensibility.

9 – ISIS by Silvina Ocampo, illustrations by Pablo Auladell

Before being a real artwork this picture book is a cultural operation of excellence: the publishers in fact selected this amazing text by Silvina Ocampo, who was born in Buenos Aires at the beginning of the 20^th century, where the main character somehow reminds her for that same sensible soul, for those same silences, for that inner wish to be something else or somewhere else. This text was not necessarily meant for children, though its beauty, with its dark sides and irony, with its ferocious portrait of humanity and its brilliant ending is such that it has become an amazingly beautiful picture book. It's a story about a strange metamorphosis that will change the main character into a wild animal: a quite twisted perspective but, let's be honest, haven't we all dreamed of becoming a wild and free creature sooner or later? This operation wouldn't have been possible without Pablo Auladell, he is to me one of the most promising Spanish illustrators: extremely versatile, his interpretation of the stories he narrates is unique, with a touch of the first Picasso and a very personal hint, he gives body and soul to this story as none else could have done. His use of color and perspective, the atmospheres of his works are simply brilliant.

10 – L'ULTIMA SPIAGGIA by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrations by Roberto Innocenti

How could I not love Roberto Innocenti? The true is that America was the first country where his genius was fully understood and recognized, this is why all my perpetual gratitude goes to the enlightened publisher who brought him to light! This said, what if Innocenti is in couple with J. Patrick Lewis? Well, the result could just be amazing! L'ultima spiaggia is a strange mingling of classic characters that a Novel-weirdo like me could just adore!! With their peculiar sense of irony and mocking approach, this fantastic duo of artists brought together some of the most improbable companions, both from fiction and reality, such as Huckleberry Finn, Long John Silver, the Little Mermaid, Peter Lorre, Jules Maigret, Antoine de Sait-Exupery, Moby Dick and many others, into one single book. How can this be? Well, they're all guests at the same hotel where the main character arrives on a solitary trip. No need to say this book is simply hilarious, refined, full of cultural references and enriched by Innocenti's masterly and unmistakable illustrations.

Megan Montague Cash's Picture Book List

2011-01-15T13:31:00.013-05:00

Megan Montague Cash is an author, illustrator and designer specializing in works for children. Her resumé includes toys, games, paper-engineered cards and numerous children’s museum exhibits. Megan has published a score of children’s books and her collaborations with cartoonist Mark Newgarden include Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug which won the Gold Medal at the Society of Illustrators Original Art Show in 2007 (among other awards). She teaches design and illustration at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where she lives with her partner, the aforementioned cartoonist.

Click here or here to see Megan’s work.

Here are Megan’s Top 10 Favorite Children’s Books

(in chronological order)

There are plenty of recent children’s books that I love, but my most beloved were created years ago.

1.) Robert Francis Weatherbee: The Boy Who Would Not Go to School

by Munro Leaf (1935)

Propaganda for children? Perhaps. In book after book, Leaf uses his gentle Jujutsu powers of influence. He teaches manners. He teaches safety. He teaches peace. In Robert Francis Weatherbee, he uses humor and common sense to illustrate the value of an education. Sadly, this charming book is no longer in print.

2.) Goodnight Moon

by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd (1947)
Brown, Hurd, the old lady rabbit, the young rabbit and the active little mouse have been putting children to sleep continuously for over 50 years.

3.) Finn Family Moomintroll

by Tove Jansson (1948)

Spend some time meandering in Jansson’s world. The quirky text and exquisite images of Finn Family Moomintroll are pure pleasure. But don’t stop there. Every Jansson chapter book, picture book and comic strip compilation is just as good. Keep an eye out for the extraordinary die-cut The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My which is back in print after many years. The Moomin characters will follow you around long after you’ve returned the books to their shelves.

4.) Charlotte’s Web

by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams (1952)

Unparalleled storytelling and art. Make sure to keep a box of tissues handy when you read this classic about love, loss and renewal. The original cover art for Charlotte’s Web recently sold at auction for $155,000, but this invaluable book can be found online for 25 cents.

5.) How to Make an Earthquake

by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crockett Johnson (1954)

Possibly the best children’s books ever. It is storybook? No. Is it a chapter book? No. It’s kind of a “how to” book for kids. Like how to “Make a tunnel of love for kittens without a mother” and how to have “Fun at the Post Office”. Krauss and her husband Johnson most certainly knew how to make children happy. Since this masterpiece is not easily categorized into any of today’s cookie cutter publishing formats, it is of course, long out of print.

6.) Play With Me

by Marie Hall Ets (1955)

This subtly gorgeous picture book illuminates the benefits of patience and mindfulness. It’s the perfect quiet book for an increasingly loud world. A well-deserved Caldecott Honor has helped keep this book in print.

7.) Sparkle and Spin

by Ann and Paul Rand (1957)

Paul Rand was arguably the quintessential graphic designer of the mid-20^th century. Ann was his partner in life and children’s books. Sparkle and Spin pretends to be about words but it’s really about pictures. Both words and pictures were brought back in print a few years ago.

8.) Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present (1962)

by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Maurice Sendak

No favorite children’s book list is complete without the work of Maurice Sendak. A girl and a surprisingly large rabbit share a leisurely pastoral stroll. In this colorful and poetic classic, the two find a satisfying solution to a familiar problem. Another Caldecott Honor winner that’s easily available.

9.) Miffy

by Dick Bruna (1963)
Bruna is master of the deceptively simple. Don’t confuse Miffy with Hello Copy Cat. Plenty of Bruna’s timeless children’s books are still in print and they’re all good. The weirder out of print ones like The Apple are also worth investigating. If you’re a graphic design fan, you might want to explore Bruna’s beautifully designed book covers for grown-ups. The books themselves may be rare, but the cover images are easy to find.

10.) The Sunshine Family and the Pony

by Sharron Loree (1972)

Written and illustrated by my mother, this is a true story about group of people who leave the city to form a commune. This picture book represents a transitional and idealistic time in American history and in the lives of my family. As all things must pass, it’s no surprise this period piece is no longer in print. (FYI: I’m the blonde girl on the cover.)

Aileen Leijten's Picture Book List

2010-12-20T11:47:00.002-05:00

Aileen Leijten was born and raised in Belgium. After graduating from college, she moved to the U.S. to continue her studies in Animation Film. She graduated with an MFA in 1994. Her films were nominated nationally and internationally, and Sugar & Plastic won an award at the Sinking Creek Festival in Nashville. After that, Aileen worked for companies such as Steven Spielberg’s non-profit, Starbright, Hanna-Barbera, Sony Studios, Mattel Media, and Walt Disney Imagineering (theme park design). In 2003 she illustrated City Hall, her first children's book. Together with her husband, author/illustartor John Rocco, she decided to move to New York to focus on children's books. She illustrated: Bella & Bean, written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, and she wrote and illustrated Hugging Hour, Penguin/Philomel 2009. You can learn more on her personal blog.

This is a list of ten of her favorite picture books:

1. The Doubtful Guest - Edward Gorey
This is my favorite Edward Gorey book, it encompasses everything I love in a picture book. The text is brilliant in itself, but Gorey adds so much extra with his quirky, wonderful and very funny illustrations. A truly inspirational masterpiece.

2. The Rabbits - John Marsden & Shaun Tan
    I was so happy when I discovered this book at the bookstore. I couldn't get enough of it and I bought many more of Tan's books because of it. The illustrations are gorgeously sad and the text poetic and so moving. This devastating tale about colonization says everything that needs to be said, and the illustration capture the essence of what the colonized and their land are enduring.

3. In the Night Kitchen - Maurice Sendak
    Sendak approached this book in a very graphic novel-like way, and the result is stunning. The thick, black, pen and ink line is beautiful and the colors make this dreamlike environment come to live. It's hard to believe that this book has been ranked 25th place on the "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000" list compiled by the American Library Association.

4. The Tomten - Astrid Lindgren & Harald Wiberg
    I never get tired of reading this book to my daughter. It's so calming, soothing and beautifully illustrated. No other book captures the long cold winter feeling, snowy silence. People and animals huddle together and this magical creature the Tomten watches over everything. So sweet.

5. Anatole - Eve Titus & Paul Galdone
    Anatole is a smart, sweet, compassionate and generous mouse. From the first page, one immediately cares about his little French hero. The illustrations are basically black and white with a some blue and red added here and there, they capture all the necessary actions and emotions and are perfect for this book.The story is smart, sweet and fun. Another book i will never get tired of.

6. Santa Calls - William Joyce
    The story is charming, but the illustrations are beyond beautiful. This was the first picture book I ever bought for myself. Joyce's style has this old art deco feeling and he fills the pages with incredibly intricate details, reminiscent of Little Nemo in Slumberland (btw, does that count a s a picture book, because I'll have to add it to the top of my list!)

7. Doctor De Soto - William Steig
    I had to pick one of Steig's books, they are all so good and so funny. Doctor De Soto is great, meaningful, suspenseful, and funny. It won the Newberry Award, that says it all.

8. The Swineherd - Lisbeth Zwerger
    Lisbeth Zwerger is one of, if not my favorite illustrator ever. I love her delicate lines, subtle watercolors and swirly pen and ink work. I grew up with the Anderson fairy tale, and have always loved it, but Zwergers fluid illustrations make this book stand out, even from her other picture books.

9. The Lion and the Mouse - Jerry Pinkney
    I like wordless books, this one in particular. The drawings are so detailed and realistic yet very personal and humorous. Again, those swirly lines and the incredible masterful use of watercolor, makes me swoon. A stunning book.

10. The Story Blanket - Ferida Wolff /Harriet May Savitz - Elena Odriozola
The story is sweet and warm and good. The illustrations are great original, new and refreshing.Every single page is beautiful. The layouts and use of white space is perfect, the bright colors complement each other well and the character design is fresh.

Christine Kettner's Picture Book List

2010-12-16T16:46:00.010-05:00

Christine Kettner is currently Art Director for Clarion and Harcourt Children’s Books, imprints of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in New York City.

She was art Director for Hyperion books for Children and design supervisor for Harper Collins. In her long and adventourous career she has had the privilege to work with Rosemary Wells, William Joyce, John Scieszka, John Rocco, Sergio Ruzzier and Stephen Marchesi and many, many others.
About her work she says:
“Nothing is more rewarding than working with artists to make words come alive through pictures creating a tangible book that a child can hold in their hands, expanding their world.”

Here's her list:

1. The Snow Cat by Dayal Kaur Khalsa

2. Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

3. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

4. Puss in Boots illustrated by Fred Marcellino

5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd

6. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

7. How Pizza Came to Queens by Dayal Kaur Khalsa

8. George and Martha by James Marshall

9. Uncle Elephant by Arnold Lobel

10. Shrek by William Steig

David Gavril's Picture Book List

2010-12-08T10:50:00.005-05:00

David Gavril is a picture book writer and illustrator. His books include, Hector and the Noisy Neighbor, Penelope Nuthatch and The Big Surprise, and Chicken Soup, a collaboration with author Jean Van Leeuwen. He lives with his wife and daughter in Brooklyn, New York.

I’m pretty heartbroken to not have any books on here by the Provensens or Richard Scarry but thought a few of these lesser known books might be deserving of some attention.

The Tomten and The Fox by Astrid Lindgren illustrated by Harold Wiberg
Wiberg's beautiful watercolor illustrations of the winter night really make this one shine. There's another book by them called simply 'The Tomten" that is its equal, but this is the one I fell in love with first.

Possum's Harvest Moon by Anne Hunter
Anne Hunter’s illustrations are wonderful and she has a real gift for portraying the natural world. This contemporary book is very underrated.

Yummers by James Marshall
Most James Marshall books are masterpieces, even the more obscure books (of which there are many, he was as prolific as he was brilliant). This one was created in 1972, about the same time as the first George and Martha. If you are lucky enough to find a hardcover copy with dust jacket there is a wonderful picture of James leaning over his drawing board. George and Martha are pretty cool too.

Who Needs Donuts by Mark Allen Stamaty
When I was a kid this book really blew my mind and it still does. Its main messages/themes: run away from home, talk to strangers and eat a lot of junk food, probably won't win over too many parents, but the richness of Stamaty’s imagination just might. My mom, children's writer Jean Van Leeuwen, actually edited this book (it was difficult). She remembers Mark at the time as being very poor and often hanging around the office hoping someone would buy him lunch. Small in the Saddle, a picture book from around the same time period is also pretty great.

Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
I love anything by Arnold Lobel. Of course Grasshopper, Uncle Elephant, and Mouse Tales are all terrific but I think Owl equals the Frog and Toad books in terms of flat out undeniably classic stories. Read Tear-water Tea, Strange Bumps, Upstairs Downstairs, The Guest and see if you don't agree.

The Bear and the Fly by Paula Winter
Some years back when I worked in a second hand children's book store I discovered this wordless gem. The dark humor and (most likely) small sales history will probably guarantee that it is never reprinted but it deserves to be rediscovered.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz
I love the mood of this book. The illustration of the woman on the television saying "No snow" is probably one of my favorite all time illustrations. No two Shulevitz books are alike and I continue to admire his versatility. Best snow book ever! (Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser is also a winner in the snow book category.)

Amos and Boris by William Steig
William Steig was a childhood favorite. His original book Shrek (long before the movie) actually inspired me to try my hand at children's books. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble might be the more popular pick but Amos and Boris is still the one I like best.

The Shrinking of Treehorn by Florence Parry Heide illustrated by Edward Gorey
I'm a huge fan of Edward Gorey's drawings, but I often find I like his work best when he is working as an illustrator. The Treehorn books are all wonderful; I find them unbelievably sad and maybe just a little wordy. Abrams did a great anthology collecting them all in one volume. When I was first starting out I saw some of the original art for Treehorn and was struck by the large amount of white out used. "There is hope!" I said to myself.

On My Beach There Are Many Pebbles by Leo Leonni
Here Leonni is like Philippe Petit walking the high wire and he pulls off something miraculous. I don't think we have to worry about any of our celebrity author friends attempting a children’s book like this (come on Madonna, try it!). This book is more like Mozart or Picasso, great art by a master.

Julie Fortenberry's Picture Book List

2010-12-01T15:47:00.001-05:00

Julie Fortenberry is the illustrator of Pippa at the Parade by Karen Roosa (2009), Sadie’s Sukkah Breakfast by Jamie Korngold, and Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting (both to be released in 2011). You can see Julie's work on her website. She also has a very inspiring blog on picture books.

This is a list of ten of her favorite picture books:

1. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig -- An emotionally moving fairy tale with funny animals.

2. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

3. Cottonball Colin by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross

4. I Am A Bunny by Ole Risom, illustrated by Richard Scarry -- Simple, poetic text with illustrations to match.

5. The Stray Dog by Marc Simont

6. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

7. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

8. It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale illustrated by Margot Zemach

9. The Animal Fair, a Giant Golden Book by Alice and Martin Provensen -- A big collection of animal stories illustrated in colorful midcentury style.

10. How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham

The Learned Owl Book Shop

2010-11-23T09:37:00.000-05:00

This Friday, November 26th from 3 to 4 p.m., I will read and sign copies of my books at the charming independent bookstore The Learned Owl Book Shop (204 N Main St. Hudson, Ohio).
If you are in the Cleveland or Akron area, and getting annoyed by your relatives, please come by!

A Picture Book Is Worth One Thousand Words

2010-11-20T18:33:00.002-05:00

An interesting conversation on picture books on North Carolina Public Radio, in which, among other things, they talk about the book Franklin's Big Dreams, illustrated by my friend Boris Kulikov.

Jennifer Laughran's Picture Book List

2010-11-17T13:06:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Laughran started her career in children's books with her first bookstore job, at age 12, and in later years went on to be a buyer and events coordinator for indie bookstores across the country. She is now an agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, focusing on books for children and young adults. Her clients include Daniel Pinkwater, Calef Brown, Matt Faulkner and Kate Messner among others.

You can follow Jennifer's thoughts on her blog and on Twitter (@literaticat).

Here's what she writes:

This list is only people who are NOT clients and whom I don't know personally, and in no particular order:

LILLY'S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE by Kevin Henkes: I love all of Kevin Henkes' Mouse books a lot, but this one was the first one I read, and it never fails to make me feel a bit choked up. I love the teacher Mr. Slinger. And I LOVE LILLY and her red boots and movie star sunglasses!

SEVEN SILLY EATERS by Mary Ann Hoberman & Marla Frazee: This is a modern classic about a huge family in which every kid is ridiculously picky about what they will eat, and the frazzled mom who has to keep up with it all. The rhyme is catchy and just perfect - and Marla's illustrations are so, so gorgeous, always.

LITTLE FUR FAMILY by Margaret Wise Brown & Garth Williams: I thought Goodnight Moon was ok, but I LOVED Little Fur Family. "There was a little fur family. Warm as toast, smaller than most, in little fur coats, and they lived in a warm wooden tree." Could anything be cozier and more adorable? OH YES! Because the little fur child finds "a little tiny tiny fur animal, the littlest fur animal in the world. It had warm silky fur and even a little fur nose." AHHH SO CUTE! You can get this in a fake-fur covered "deluxe" edition, which mimics the rabbit-fur bound first edition. Mine was just a falling-apart paperback.

PIERRE by Maurice Sendak: I love pretty much all Maurice Sendak books of course, but I always had a special fondness for Pierre. He is a wretched little misanthrope who doesn't care about anything, much to his parents dismay, and then he gets eaten by a lion. Ha!

MAX MAKES A MILLION / OOH LA LA MAX IN LOVE / MAX IN HOLLYWOOD, BABY / SWAMI ON RYE by Maira Kalman. Max is a poet. Max is a dreamer. Max is a dog. This is 4 books, but it really constitutes a saga: in the first book, New York dog Max sells some poems and gets rich. Then he goes to Paris to find the love of his life and be a real bohemian. Then he gets a film deal and goes out to LA, but with all the money and fame, he gets a big head, so in the final installment, he goes to India to find enlightenment with a guru, and becomes a father. Genius, and truly just as much for grownups as kids.

FABLES by Arthur Lobel. I loved this book when I was a kid because the fables are quite weird and subversive. And there are a bunch of them, which each constitute their own complete story, so it is like having 20 oddball picture books in one. And there is a bear on the cover wearing a pan for a hat and brown paper bags for shoes.

EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON by Mercer Mayer: My father gave me this storybook when I was probably six or seven, and I found it completely mesmerizing. It is a long, complicated, sad and scary fairy tale, beautifully illustrated. Though the length of the text and painterly quality of the illustrations make this slightly old-fashioned for publishing tastes today, wow, do I wish this style of book would come back into fashion.

TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO by Arlene Mosel & Blair Lent: Apparently this book is considered not "politically correct" nowadays. I still think it is awesome. I remember it as being a favorite for librarian read-aloud time when I was a little one, and our entire classroom delighting in chanting (say it with me): TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO-NO SAH REMBO-CHARI BARI RUCHI-PIP PERI PEMBO (gasp) HAS FALLEN DOWN THE WELL!

MISS NELSON IS MISSING by Harry Allard & James Marshall: The students in room 207 are terrible and their lovely young teacher can't get them to pay attention. When she vanishes and awful witch Viola Swamp comes in as a substitute, they wish Miss Nelson would come back... But Miss Nelson has a secret of her own (and a creepy black dress in her closet!). This book is so funny, I must have read it a thousand times as a kid.

OFFICER BUCKLE AND GLORIA by Peggy Rathmann: Officer Buckle knows more about safety than anyone else in Napville, and he loves to give presentations about his safety tips to local schools. But nobody else loves his presentations... until his dog Gloria gets into the act, upstaging him in hilarious ways. A sweet story about friendship and sharing the spotlight, as well as totally off-the-wall funny, with hidden gems in every image. And (after learning it the hard way) I will never forget Safety Tip #77: NEVER stand on a swivel chair!

Another nice blogger's review of Broom, Zoom!

2010-11-14T22:03:00.002-05:00

The former librarian Susan M.'s blog From Tots to Teens recently posted a wonderful review of Broom, Zoom! in which she points out, among other things, that while this book is about a witch and a monster and the moon, it is definitely not a Halloween book. They do not reference the holiday at all, making it a wonderful book for sharing and reading at any time during the year.

Thank you!

P.S.: only one note: while it is true that the color was done digitally, the line was my usual good old pen & ink on paper!

Aaron Zenz's Picture Book List

2010-11-12T20:26:00.003-05:00

Aaron Zenz has illustrated 12 books to date, two of which he also wrote: The Hiccupotamus and the forthcoming Chuckling Ducklings. He runs a family book review blog with his kids called Bookie Woogie: his family has around 3000 children's titles in their personal collection.

Take a look at his website.

These are ten of Aaron's favorite picture books:

10. LEONARDO THE TERRIBLE MONSTER by Mo Willems
A main character with great personality. The use of space in the compositions is bold and brilliant. Flawless story beats and perfectly placed page turns.

9. THE SPOOKY OLD TREE by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Regardless of how a person feels about the direction the "Bears" books eventually took (whether good or bad), I dare you to revisit this title and evaluate it on its own merits. It does indeed rock.

8. THE THREE PIGS by David Wiesner
I love metafiction, and this book is perhaps - perhaps - the only example to surpass Grover's classic "Monster at the End of this Book." Leave it to David Wiesner...

7. WHO NEEDS DONUTS? by Mark Alan Stamaty
The art is a shock to the system. Stunning. Overwhelming. Crazy. You could spend a lifetime combing the pictures. And the story is equally absurd and delightful with great themes and text-echoes.

6. SHARK AND LOBSTER'S AMAZING UNDERSEA ADVENTURE by Viviane Schwarz
So. Much. Fun. This is how you tell a story.

5. THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO AND POLO by Dieter Wiesmuller
My favorite illustrations in any book. Crisp cools, rich warms. Lush and lavish.

4. THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan
No other book like it. It's epic. It doesn't just "tell" an immigrant's story, it magically (or I suppose, skillfully) brings us INTO the very experience.

3. THE CINDER-EYED CATS by Eric Rohmann
The images are so powerful, it would have been a great wordless book. It's the picture book that captured my heart, compelling me to create my own worlds. For that I will always be thankful.

2. SHADOW by Suzy Lee
This book JUST came out, but already it rocketed high up my list of favorite books of all time, and will stay there for all foreseeable future. Wow, wow, wow. Full of drama, beauty, emotion, enchantment, play... How did she achieve all this in 32 pages??? It is so perfect, I've wanted to cry while reading it.

1. BLACK AND WHITE by David Macaulay
After the Bible, it's my favorite book of any kind. Four stories? One story? Who knows. The number of interconnecting details from story to story seems limitless. I've discovered some new hidden surprise literally every time I've revisited the book. The sheer number of playful components that tie this book together, then pull it apart, only to tie it back together, always keeps it at the top of my list.

Annie Beth Ericsson's Picture Book List

2010-11-09T17:20:00.028-05:00

Annie Beth Ericsson is a design assistant at G.P. Putnam's Sons (Penguin Young Readers Group), a recent graduate of Pratt Institute, and the illustrator of board books What's In My Garden? and What's In My Toybox?. She chronicles her experiences in becoming a children's book illustrator and designer on her blog, Walking In Public. Annie lives in Brooklyn, NY, where she spends a lot of time painting watercolors of sea turtles (and other creatures). You can view her illustration work on her website.

These are Annie Beth's top 10 favorite picture books:

RECHENKA'S EGGS by Patricia Polacco - This is my favorite picture book of all time. While Polacco's more familiar Chicken Sunday never fails to make me sniffle, I prefer this equally heartwarming story of the old babushka finding an unlikely companion in a wounded goose and her miraculously-painted Ukranian eggs.

THE YEAR OF THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE by Barbara Cooney - The one I have to read every Christmas Eve. I always insisted on finding a Balsam fir, just like Ruthie and her Mama brought to the village from high on the rocky crags. I still cry every time Mama makes Ruthie an angel costume from her wedding dress "the color of cream, all trimmed with ribbons and lace", and again, when Ruthie's father comes home from the war just in time to see her in it.

ELOISE by Kay Thompson, illustrated by Hilary Knight - Of all classic children's books, to me, this is the best-best-best. Her language is uniquely hilarious, and Knight's illustrations literally scamper across the page with gusto. She's the ultimate exciting, mischevious bad-girl. Oooooo I absolutely love her!

MIRETTE ON THE HIGH WIRE by Emily Arnold McCully - I wrote my college admissions essay on how much this book inspired me to dream big. Mirette's intrepid balancing act, her fear of falling, and her ultimate conquering of the tightrope and stepping into the sky? It's all a metaphor, baby.

THE PAPER BAG PRINCE by Colin Thompson - Nestled in an endless world of trash is the bittersweet story of recycling and rebirth for both discarded people and things. The illustrations are easily the most complex I've ever seen, and I always discover something new and beautiful in the piles of junk.

THE STORY OF MAY by Mordecai Gerstein - Forget Hop On Pop... this was the first book I read on my own. Something about the soothing, cyclical journey of little May traveling through her family of months was the perfect bedtime story. I used to go through the year over and over again... 'til I actually started reading!

CHRYSANTHEMUM by Kevin Henkes - Of the many, many Henkes books that I adore, it was tough to choose between mice like Lilly and Owen. But something just kept saying in my head, "Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum!" What can I say... she's one of a kind.

ISH - by Peter H. Reynolds - Artists are often their own worst critics, and sometimes they need a little encouragement from others. When I feel like my work isn't measuring up, all I have to do is take a look at Reynolds' whimsical illustrations and remember that it's okay to be "ish"!

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL KID IN THE WORLD by Jennifer A. Ericsson, illustrated by Susan Meddaugh - I'd be crazy if I didn't mention the picture book about me, written by my mother (a children's book author). As the story goes, I loved to dress up in weird outfits, and busted them out at some inopportune moments, like fancy dinner parties. I may have outgrown the tutu, but this book captured my individuality in print for the rest of my childhood!

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS by Robert McCloskey - Since Boston is the closest city to my hometown, I not only grew up with this story, but I experienced it annually by making the trek during the city's Duckling Day Parade. McCloskey's sensitive sepia drawings are nothing short of perfect, and I'll be cheering on the little homeward-bound ducks for generations.

Library of the Early Mind

2010-11-05T13:27:00.000-04:00

The other night I went to the New York Public Library for the screening of the interesting documentary Library of the Early Mind. a collection of interviews with children's book writers, illustrators, editors and historians.
Here's a brief note on the pleasant evening.

Stephen Savage's Picture Book List

2010-11-03T18:21:00.063-04:00

Stephen Savage has illustrated 3 picture books so far: the bestselling Polar Bear Night (written by Lauren Thompson), The Fathers Are Coming Home (written by Margaret Wise Brown), and the forthcoming Where's Walrus (written by no one -- it's wordless!): here's a video preview.   His editorial illustration has appeared in dozens of major newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic, Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly and The Wall Street Journal. In 2008, he was the recipient of a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their daughter.     

Here are his top 10 picture books:   

1. THE WHALES GO BY - by Fred Phleger, pictures by Paul Galdone.
 This is the first picture book I ever fell in love with. It's very simple... just a story of whales migrating to their winter home in Baja, California. In some ways, though, I feel like I look at the world through the lens of this book. I always wondered how/why the artist put my sister and I on the cover.

2. THE SNOWY DAY - by Ezra Jack Keats.  
Keats is just brilliant in this book (and in all of his books). He  really knew how to make words and pictures dance together without  making them step on each other's toes. From the text: "And he found something sticking out of the snow that made a new track."[next page]: "It was a stick". Talk about activating the imagination.  

3. THE STORY OF BABAR - by Jean de Brunhoff.  
I am forever traumatized by some of the imagery in this book, namely the old king eating mushrooms and falling ill AND the brutal shooting of Babar's mother. And though you'd never get away with that sort of storytelling these days, those low moments help you experience (and buy into) Babar's transformation later on in the story. It's one of the seminal stories from childhood... almost like "The Wizard of Oz".

 4. ARROW TO THE SUN - by Gerald McDermott.  
I've always been interested in stylized and minimal forms and had a  thing for Navajo Sand painting when my 3rd grade teacher showed us the animated film version of this Pueblo Indian tale. I'm still amazed that something so 'abstract' and stylized can tell a story.  

5. THE GIVING TREE - by Shel Silverstein.  
I first worked in children's books 20 years ago and illustrated my  first picture book 6 years ago and only read this book for the first  time last year (probably because my 15-month-old daughter handed it to me). I dunno... something about those bare line drawings never  attracted me. By the end of the reading, my daughter was looking at me like, "daddy... why are you crying?". It's crazy how those line  drawings bring the tears.

 6. GO DOG GO - by P.D. Eastman.  
My older brother told me recently, "You used to squeal with delight  when the little poodle dog would ask, "do you like my hat? No, I do not!" This is a book that has so much happy energy. I still love the dog party at the end. What a blast. And Eastman's deceptively simple drawings move in space.

 7. THE ORANGE BOOK - by Richard McGuire.  
This book came out while I was a MFA Illustration student at the  School of Visual Arts. I took one look at it and said, "I will also try to illustrate a kid's book when I get out of school." Nice that it's BARELY narrative. Richard told me later: "the book is really just a list of things".

8. EMILY'S BALLOON - by Komako Sakai.
 My daughter was obsessed with balloons earlier this year, so during  one of her visits to her auntie's house, she received this book as a  gift. "Oh no", we thought, "not another balloon book!". But as I got  to the end as I was reading it the first time, my throat got tight and  my eyes got watery. It's just beautiful. There's a sadness and a  longing there, just like in Miyazaki's animated classic "Spirited Away". The Japanese storytellers really know how to do melancholy.  

9. LEAVES - by David Ezra Stein.  
My wife discovered this gem at a local bookstore and it's become our new fave. The text is perfect. Not a word out of place. I've been  reading it a lot at bedtime lately and I can't believe how quickly the  story goes by. You miss it when it ends. And Stein's drawings speak in the same voice as the words. A reviewer used the word "seamless". Amen.  

10. HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON - by Crockett Johnson.
 This book is totally / completely / absolutely original. I read  recently that Spike Jonze had intended to film the story (before he  started Where the Wild Things Are), but dropped his plans halfway into development when he discovered it was un-filmable. Uh... duh.

Erica Perl's Picture Book List

2010-11-02T12:48:00.034-04:00

Erica S. Perl is the author, most recently, of Dotty, illustrated by the talented Julia Denos. Her other picture books include Chicken Butt!, Ninety-Three in My Family and Chicken Bedtime Is Really Early. Look at her website for more.

In addition to writing for children, Erica works for the national non-profit organization First Book, which has provided over 70 million brand new books to programs and schools serving children in need.

Here she goes:

A List of Twelve of My Favorite Picture Books (Masquerading as a List of Ten):

My favorite picture book of all time is SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE by William Steig. I love everything about this book: the subtle humor, the matter-of-fact dictation of events, the rawness of the emotions, and the riskiness of the premise. But I think Steig’s pacing and his creation of tension more than anything is what is astonishing. When Father and Mother Donkey sit down to have their picnic, even if you know what’s coming next, you can’t help holding your breath.

Arnold Lobel was a genius, and I would certainly have mentioned OWL AT HOME or one of his Frog and Toad books, except I think of them as early readers. GIANT JOHN is a picture book and it is a great one. My favorite pages involve visual depictions of the Giant family’s suffering: the two potato chips in their cupboard, and Ma Giant about to dine on her shoe as John bursts through the door with his bag of gold.

I’m also a huge Russell and Lillian Hoban fan, so I’m going with A BIRTHDAY FOR FRANCES, which introduces the excellent imaginary character “Alice” as well as Frances’ angry creative spelling and the wonderful “Chompo bar” episode.

MAY I BRING A FRIEND by Beatrice Schenk des Regniers, illustrated by Beni Montresor. Bliss. I grew up thinking it was a book about a child’s friendship with animals (which I related to very strongly) and enjoying the unconventional yet beautifully structured meter of the verse (which is sort of like a mobile, with dangling parts that all balance each other). Now, I see it as a book about grandparents and unconditional love. Weird, huh?

Speaking of poems, some of the best picture books are, essentially, poems. For example, Dr. Seuss’ THE SLEEP BOOK (which I think is his best work) and Amy Schwartz’s A TEENY TINY BABY. These two are very different from each other (one lives in the land of fantasy, while the other is rooted in realism), but both treat their subjects with reverence and perfect attention to detail.

Next up: FISH IS FISH by Leo Lionni. I hate “message” books. Good thing this isn’t one. It’s just a great story about cross-cultural friendship, being comfortable with who you are, and cows with wings and feet.

I will always be in awe of ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY, though the Judith Viorst book that I perhaps love the most is THE TENTH GOOD THING ABOUT BARNEY. I practically can’t say the title without starting to sob.

BABAR AND ZEPHIR by Jean de Brunhoff. True story: we had this book on a phonograph record, which included songs. If anyone finds it on eBay, let me know. I love the monkey village and the secret mermaid promises and kidnapped monkey princess (Extra! Extra! Monkey Princess Vanishes!) and the petulant monsters and the bizarre elaborate premise of this book. Not much Babar here, but enough Zephir to make up for it!

THE STUPIDS DIE by Harry Allard, illustrated by James Marshall. Extra points awarded for the title alone. This book and others in the series broke new ground in terms of serious silliness. For which all of us who write, read and appreciate humorous children’s books are extremely grateful.

Kate Coombs' Picture Book List

2010-11-01T00:39:00.002-04:00

Kate Coombs writes, blogs about, and fervently collects children's books. Her first book, The Secret-Keeper, was an original folktale illustrated by Heather Solomon. She has since written two comic fantasies for middle grades, The Runaway Princess and The Runaway Dragon. Her next picture book, a retelling of the Grimms' tale Hans My Hedgehog, is being illustrated by John Nickle and will
come out next summer. (She has a third picture book, The Tooth Fairy Wars, awaiting an illustrator and a publication date.) You can learn more about her books on her website.
Kate grew up in Southern California, the second of seven adopted children of various ethnicities. She rather inexplicably speaks Spanish and has a day job teaching homebound children for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Her current crop of students are all teenage boys, which means her assignments include analyzing Nirvana lyrics and writing character descriptions of evil ex-girlfriends.
Kate also reviews children's books at Book Aunt, where her love of fairy tales and subversive picture books occasionally rears its gobliny little head. She actually has dozens of favorite picture books
(Classic Picture Books, Most Beautiful Illustrations, Best Read-alouds, etc.).

The following, she writes, is a relatively idiosyncratic selection.

1. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak

Some books don't live up to their hype. This one does. Still the most perfect blend of art and story ever created, illuminating the inner world of the child without resorting to obnoxious pop psychology. At the same time, it manages to be a heroic quest tale.

2. THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan

It's hard to know where to shelve it, but who cares? This evocation of the immigrant experience is one of the most moving, lovingly crafted, creative books ever published. I suspect its poignancy and beauty will never be surpassed. Watch for the ocean voyage as depicted by a journal of cloudscapes and the way Tan depicts the fears that overtake the refugees' homelands.

3. THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A FLY by Simms Taback

A crazy-cool rendition of the classic children's song. My favorite part is seeing the animals appear in the old woman's stomach when you turn the die-cut pages over. Taback did his manic art in crayon brights on a stark-black background. (Check out the running commentary from some of the animals!)

4. FRIDA by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Ana Juan

Biography is not my favorite genre, but this book is just wonderful. Take a look at the stunning
illustrations, especially the one representing Frida's chronic pain after her accident as briars. I also like the way Mexican folk art characters and motifs enhance the strange beauty of the story.

5. THE WHOLE GREEN WORLD by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Elisa Kleven

One of the happiest picture books I've ever read, offering idyllic scenes of childhood with a refreshing lack of sentimentality. The writing is pitch-perfect, as well, and the result is a lively, rolling ode to joy.

6. JULIUS, THE BABY OF THE WORLD by Kevin Henkes

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse may be better known, but I adore this picture book about a little mouse girl irked by the arrival of a new baby brother. Henkes captures Lilly's strong personality with just a few inked lines set off by his cheerful watercolor palette. Look for Lilly's "story" about her new brother, especially her youthfully ruthless metaphors.

7. "LET'S GET A PUP!" SAID KATE or HOW TO HEAL A BROKEN WING by Bob Graham

It's a tie, okay? "Let's Get a Pup!" wins for humor, but How to Heal a Broken Wing is more tender and offers up some striking cityscapes. In both his language and his artwork, Graham is particularly good at evoking the extraordinary power of the ordinary love within a family.

8. MY LIGHT by Molly Bang

Science has always seemed so marvelous and magical to me, and this book captures that spirit richly as the Sun tells its own story of giving light and energy to the earth. My favorite illustrations have deep midnight blue backdrops with light/electricity gleaming yellow in the
foreground. In all of her spreads, Bang uses color with a strong, clean style that seems almost symbolic.

9. ELSIE PIDDOCK SKIPS IN HER SLEEPS by Eleanor Farjeon, illustrated by Charlotte Voake

Apparently a favorite of professional storytellers, this lengthy classic is about a girl who can jump rope better than anyone, including the fairies. Charlotte Voake's light lines are as graceful as jump ropes and fairies and Elsie Piddock herself.

10. MANY MOONS by James Thurber, illustrated by Marc Simont

Another long, whimsical read-aloud, this one about a princess who is ill and decides that being given the moon will make her feel much better. The king and his court go through contortions trying to fulfill her request. An earlier edition illustrated by Louis Slobodkin won the Caldecott Medal, but I really like this new version by Marc Simont, with its luminous fairy tale feel.

Happy Halloween, Picture Books!

2010-10-29T17:23:00.000-04:00

Andy Rash's Picture Book List

2010-10-29T14:47:00.002-04:00

Andy Rash wrote and illustrated several picture books including Ten Little Zombies: A Love Story, Are You a Horse?, and Agent A to Agent Z. He has illustrated several more such as Superhero School, Fat Camp Commandos, and Sea Monster's First Day. His illustrations also appear in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time Magazine. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Jennifer and son Joe. This is Andy's website.
And this is his picture book list:

DRUMMER HOFF by Barbara Emberly and Ed Emberly

The gorgeous woodcuts in this book blow me away. The last image of the destroyed cannon is mysterious and poetic, and seemed that way to me even as a little kid.

OWL AT HOME by Arnold Lobel

Don't get me wrong, I love Frog and Toad, but Owl is my favorite. He isn't very bright for an owl, but he's an extremely likable guy. Lobel was amazing.

BLUE MOOSE by Daniel Pinkwater

This one isn't strictly a picture book. More of a chapter book but with enough illustrations that I thought I could get away with including it. It's because of this book that I got the crazy idea that you could center a children's book story around a human adult. Sooner or later I'll make that happen!

THE OBJECT-LESSON by Edward Gorey

I must have watched the opening credits for the television show Mystery! hundreds of times yet never made it through the rest of the program. The reason was Edward Gorey's incredible animation. It wasn't until college that I found his books. I would like to quote the first line from this book: It was already Thursday, but his lordship's artificial limb could not be found; therefore, having directed the servants to fill the baths, he seized the tongs and set out at once for the edge of the lake, where the Throbblefoot Spectre still loitered in a distraught manner.

Show me a better first sentence in all of literature! I dare you!

WHAT WAS I SCARED OF? by Dr. Seuss

The spookiest Seuss I can think of. Our pale yellow, lamblike protagonist is terrorized by an empty pair of green pants!

GO DOG GO by P. D. Eastman

"Simple" doesn't mean the same thing going and coming in art. Go Dog Go is so simple only a genius could have created it.

CARS AND TRUCKS AND THINGS THAT GO by Richard Scarry

Where's Goldbug? Somehow I never memorized everywhere that Goldbug was hiding. There's so much going on in this book, you barely even notice it's about a family of pigs.

THIS IS NEW YORK by Miroslav Sasek

I'll admit, I came to this one really late. Illustrator David Small told me he assumed I was a big fan of Sasek before I had even heard of him. I guess what actually happened was that I was a fan of everyone Sasek was a fan of and everyone who was a fan of Sasek. All of his This Is books are incredible, but I like New York the best because I like New York the best.

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by Shel Silverstein

Not a picture book? There's pictures on every spread! I can't in good conscience make a list of favorites without including Shel Silverstein. My concept of what sort of content is acceptable to be included in children's books came from him.

THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

In 1992, I was trying to figure out what to do with my life, or rather how to do what I wanted to do with my life and whether I could. This book and a few others that came out around the same time (Tuesday by David Wiesner, for instance) showed me the path.

Tanya Lee Stone's Picture Book List

2010-10-27T22:26:00.015-04:00

Tanya Lee Stone is the author of many books for children and young adults, including the picture books Elizabeth Leads the Way, illustrated by Rebecca Gibson, and Sandy's Circus, illustrated by the great Boris Kulikov. A forthcoming picture book called Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? is being illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. Just on the shelves now is her The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie. A Doll's History and her Impact on Us.

Check out her website.

Here's Tanya's list:

These are not ranked in any particular order and include favorites I have shared with my kids, as well as books I teach to writing students.

- DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS by Mo Willems.

The single easiest way to show voice to students.

-A HOUSE IS A HOUSE FOR ME by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Betty Fraser.

I keep buying copies of this, I probably have 11.

- KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON by Kevin Henkes.

Just kind of perfect.

- BARK, GEORGE by Jules Feiffer.

Laugh out loud every time.

- WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak.

Given to me as a baby and cherished ever since.

- HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON by Crockett Johnson.

Heavily influenced my childhood.

- CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin.

Hilarious and brilliant.

- HARRY THE DIRTY DOG by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Graham.

Another childhood favorite, the pictures are burned in my memory.

- THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS by Mordicai Gerstein.

Elegant, beautiful, poignant.

- MILLIONS OF CATS by Wanda Gág.

The beginning of it all!

Pam Coughlan's Picture Book List

2010-10-27T12:13:00.001-04:00

Pam Coughlan writes the blog MotherReader (where she recently posted a great answer to the infamous NYT article on picture books), administrates the website KidLitosphere Central, and contributes to the blogger book awards, the Cybils, as the Fiction Picture Book organizer.

Here's her entry:

When Fuse#8 was working to put together the incredible list of the Top 100 Picture Books, I submitted my contribution as books that came top-of-mind quickly. So I have my own favorites as a child, my first favorites to read to my kids, and my first favorites as a librarian. There are hundreds of
picture books I have loved and do love, but these are the ones that jumped out.

THE KING by Dick Bruna
The king was sad because all he wanted was a friend, not a crown. I drew teardrops all over this book, bless my heart.

BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCES by Russell Hoban

Picky eaters unite! I loved all the Frances books and can only choose this as a favorite by a slight margin.

THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK by Jon Stone, illustrated Mike Smollin

Grover talking directly to the reader made this book absolute genius.

THE GROUCHY LADYBUG by Eric Carle

It's hard to pick one Eric Carle book, but I really like doing the grouchy voice while reading this aloud.

ON THE DAY YOU WERE BORN by Debra Frasier

I never get through this book without tearing up. It's a great baby shower gift.

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU by Sam McBratney
This book does a wonderful job of reflecting the love and relationship between
parent and child.

CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, by Bill Martin

If you think this book is fun to read, watch the video or listen to the CD of
the music. Catchy.

DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! by Mo Willems

Funny, clever, and the perfect read-aloud. Mo-tastic.

KNUFFLE BUNNY, A CAUTIONARY TALE by Mo Willems
Again: funny, clever, and the perfect read-aloud, but with the bonus
of being feeling familiar to moms and dads.

HOW TO HEAL A BROKEN WING by Bob Graham
I'll stand by the 2008 Cybils winner as being an outstanding book about courage,
kindness, and love.

Julian Hector's Picture Book List

2010-10-26T16:07:00.000-04:00

Julian Hector was born in Los Angeles, and raised by two evil biologists outside of Austin, Tx. For solace, Julian studied the fauna of Texas, and would often draw them wearing cloths, standing upright, and entertaining themselves with high-tea, and various candlelight suppers. On the weekends, Julian was forced to go to Sunday school, where he would sculpt the Sea Quest DSV submarine out of clay, disregarding the "must be present in the bible" creativity rule. When Julian was 11, he was kicked out of Sunday School for supporting abortion, and being Jewish, via his mother. In high-school, he was berated for drawing in the margins of his homework assignments, so, to express himself, he auditioned and was accepted into a theatre class, using a monologue from Seinfeld. Due to creative differences with several cast members, Julian's time in theatre was short, and to this day, he harbors an obstinate distrust of thespians. In 2002, Julian entered the Parsons School of Design, with the intent of becoming an architect for Sir Norman Foster. Julian wisely switched to illustration, when he discovered that chocolate and cotton candy were not sound construction materials. In Illustration, Julian recalled his days of animal drawing, and found a happy home in children's publishing.

Julian's latest book The Gentleman Bug was published this spring by Atheneum.

Here's his list:

- THE ARRIVAL by Shaun Tan. My absolute favorite Book! I don't know what else to say; the book is an experience.

- THE STORY OF FERDINAND by Munro Leaf, Robert Lawson. I love this book to the point that my first picture book was told from a Matador's point of view.

- THE BUTTERFLY BALL AND THE GRASSHOPPER'S FEAST by Alan Aldridge and William Plomer. My first textbook in anthropomorphism. To this day, I imagine that wasps wear armor and sword-fight, and that old snails ride on butterfly drawn leafs.

- AMPHIGOREY by Edward Gorey. I like all of Gorey's compilations, but Amphigorey has the "The Gashlycrumb Tinies," "The Doubtful Guest," and "The Hapless Child."

- THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by E.H. Shepard. This is my second textbook in anthropomorphism.

- MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS by Robert McCloskey. I like this book for a lot of reasons, but these days, I look at for its construction. From its size, to the creamy paper, chocolaty ink, green jacket, and the fonts, I think that it's one of the best built picture books.

- AND TANGO MAKES THREE by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole. My favorite family story.

- MOMMY? by Maurice Sendak, Arthur Yorinks, and Matthew Reinhart. This is one of the most fun books to open.

- BRUNDIBAR by Maurice Sendak and Tony Kushner. I really like the backstory behind this book, and Tony Kushner's rhyme at the end is both haunting and honest. This is a great book for dealing with bullies.

- OLIVIA by Ian Falconer. This book was published during my sophomore year of high-school, and I'll always love it for bringing picture books back into my life. It's surreal to me that I now share Ian Falconer's editor and art director.

Travis Jonker's Picture Book List

2010-10-25T21:45:00.003-04:00

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian living a stone's throw from the banks of Lake Michigan. Since 2007 he has been writing about, promoting, and giving a hard time to children's literature at 100 Scope Notes. He is the founding member of the "No More Socks on Book Covers" support group and occasionally puts on a suit and combs his hair to review books for School Library Journal.

Here's Travis' list of ten of his favorite picture books:

10. CURIOUS GEORGE by Margaret and H.A. Rey.

Originally published in 1941, it’s a testament to the enduring appeal of Curious George that this title, and its multitude of subsequent books are still widely circulated, and familiar to young readers. I can see why. Kids can relate to George’s innocently mischievous behavior and his relationship with “The Man With the Yellow Hat”, who acts as parental figure. In a format extended beyond the typical 32 page picture book standard, the simple text and humorous illustrations continue to draw readers in.

9. STREGA NONA by Tomie dePaola.

I must have a thing for bowls that duplicate stuff. Strega Nona in many ways mirrors the 4th title on this list, The Full Belly Bowl. But unlike Aylesworth’s book, Strega Nona focuses on humor to get its point across. dePaola’s 1979 classic takes an original tale and makes it feel timeless – no small feat.

8. ARNIE THE DOUGHNUT by Laurie Keller.

An absurdist masterpiece in both writing and illustration. Our hero goes through a lot in one day: being created, finding a home, avoiding consumption, and eventually welcoming his new role in life as a doughnut dog. Hilarious even after multiple readings with subtle themes of belonging, Arnie the Doughnut (published in 2003) has more personality in its publication page than some picture books have in total.

7. JUMANJI by Chris Van Allsburg.

Look no further than the cover artwork to witness Van Allsburg’s eerie, draftsman-like precision on full display. Jumanji (published in 1981) takes a story that could have turned out silly and crafts a hauntingly beautiful title through illustrations that speak volumes.

6. DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS by Mo Willems.

Willems wasn’t the first picture book author to break down the “forth wall” and have his characters speak directly to the reader, he’s just proven to be the best at it. When Pigeon debuted in 2003 it became an immediate read aloud smash and reminded everyone that yes, books are entertainment – and that’s a good thing.

5. THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle.

Never has there been a more universally loved picture book. While other titles on this list may split audiences, Eric Carle’s 1969 classic is bulletproof. Through its perfect story, wonderful pacing, and inventive illustration, this rep has been earned.

4. THE FULL BELLY BOWL by Jim Ayleswoth, Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin.

Some stories are best read alone, others reach their full potential when shared. Aylesworth’s 1999 tale of an old man who receives a magical gift from a stranger falls squarely in the latter category. A read aloud champion that pulls readers into the story, making them wonder what they would do with a bowl that can duplicate whatever is put inside it – including money.

3. FLOTSAM by David Wiesner.

There is no finer example of unbridled imagination than Wiesner’s 2006 wordless story about a boy who finds amazing things inside old camera washed up on a beach. As the storyline unfolds, the reader discovers that undersea life may be much more sophisticated (and whimsical) than previously thought. A cyclical ending shows the camera washed up again, ready for the next passerby to continue the story.

2. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Dr. Seuss.

Books set during Christmas are akin to songs on top 40 radio – tons of people enjoy them, but critics don’t give them much credit. Don’t get it twisted: Seuss’ 1957 Yule time tale deserves all the credit it can get, if for no other reason than the creation of The Grinch, one of the most indelible characters in picture book history.

1. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak.

The evolution of picture books can be broken down into two time periods: Pre-Wild Things and Post-Wild Things. Sendak’s 1963 book was that instrumental in ushering in the modern age of picture books. While tackling themes of anger and loneliness, Sendak created one of the few picture books that still seems fresh after decades in print.

Julie Danielson's Picture Book List

2010-10-24T18:04:00.004-04:00

Julie Danielson (in her own words) has conducted approximately eleventy billion interviews and features of authors and illustrators at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, also known as 7-Imp, a children's literature blog, focused primarily these days on illustration and picture books. When forced to count, she thinks it's more like between 250 and 300 features of book-creators over the past three years. Give or take a two. Having devoted the beginning of her professional life to Sign Language Interpreting, she then got her Master's degree in Information Sciences at The University of Tennessee, with a focus on children's librarianship. Her most recent librarian position involved putting the two degrees together and working at the Tennessee School for the Deaf. She now works from home, while raising two young imps of her own, and is writing this year with Elizabeth Bird and Peter D. Sieruta about the edgier side of children's literature and its untold stories in a book which will see the light-of-day in Fall 2012 from Candlewick.

This was difficult. I'm a tremendous picture book nerd. In fact, in grad school, I had to narrow my favorite picture book titles down to my own personal "Best 100" after spending the semester reading a whole heapin' ton of picture book titles from past and present, and I found even 100 difficult. Needless to say, narrowing to ten was challenging.

I decided to choose older titles. The most recent one on this list is 2001. Including more contemporary picture books would have made it even crazier for me, so having this focus helped me a bit. I hope that works. Yes, I decided to make up my own rules here.

1. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak, 1963. But of course. I'll always remember Chris Raschka's comment about this book. He visited the blog in 2009 and recalls the first time he ever saw the book as a child, sitting on his friend's kitchen table. There was "something mysterious and nearly exotic about the book," he told me. Yeah. THAT. I had the same response as a child. I didn't own it, but my friend across the street did, and even just the cover captivated me, though I was too shy to pick it up and read it then. I didn't truly discover it till adulthood. It is a force of nature.

2. GEORGE AND MARTHA by James Marshall, 1972. Best Picture Book Duo Ever. I almost don't care who comes along next. No one can top them. I do unsightly snort-laughs whenever I read Story Number Three, "The Tub": "George was fond of peeking in windows." Gets me every time.

3. IN THE FOREST by Marie Hall Ets, 1944. She was a master of books for early childhood, and she made it all look easy. A quiet hush falls when I read her books. I could pore over them for days.

4. MILLIONS OF CATS by Wanda Gág, 1928. Maybe not a surprising title for this list, given that it's the oldest American picture book in print and we talk and talk about it and study it and revere it for its wonderfulness and Gág brought us the double page spread and this story with such momentum and amazing line and shape and all this and all that. But my favorite thing about it? How funny it is. It really is a hoot in spots.

5. FLOSSIE AND THE FOX by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrated by Rachel Isadora, 1986. For its joy. For the way Isadora depicts sunlight in those woods.

6. THE OTHER SIDE by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis, 2001. A poem of a picture book.

7. MR. GUMPY'S OUTING by John Burningham, 1970. Burningham is a genius. This book is flawless. I'm VERY fond of hyperbole -- in fact, with the white-hot intensity of a skerjillion suns -- but it's all true. He's brilliant. And I love how there's a wordless feast in so many of his titles. Mmm.

8. THE GARDENER by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small, 1997. For the look on Uncle Jim's face when Lydia Grace gives him his cake, the look on his face when he hugs her, and the rays of sunlight on the final spread.

9. THE HAPPY DAY by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Marc Simont, 1949. For that one little flower growing in the snow. Oh, that yellow!

10. HENRY HIKES TO FITCHBURG by D.B. Johnson, 2000. Daniel Pinkwater visited the blog in 2009 and told it like it is: "D.B. Johnson is a genius."

Since I already made up my own rules for doing this, can I cheat and do 12 titles?

11. SAM, BANGS AND MOONSHINE by Evaline Ness, 1966. So much emotion. Giant tomes could be written about this book and what Ness does with line and shape and color and composition. Beautiful.

12. THE STINKY CHEESE MAN AND OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith, 1992. For the design (the great Molly Leach). For making me want to study children's lit. For the wicked humor of "The Really Ugly Duckling" and its last line.

Emily Jenkins' Picture Book List

2010-10-24T15:54:00.026-04:00

Portrait by Heather Weston

Emily Jenkins is the author of Love You When You Whine, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier (me!), plus other picture books including Skunkdog, That New Animal, both illustrated by Pierre Pratt, What Happens on Wednesdays, illustrated by Lauren Castillo, and The Little Bit Scary People, with pictures by Alexandra Boiger. She won two Boston Globe/Horn Book honors for picture book writing and also wrote Toys Go Out and Toy Dance Party, both for middle-grade readers, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. I do hope to work with Emily again soon.

Let's see what are ten of her favorite picture books:

Here is my own list, though it's a bit off-the-cuff. I'm so glad you asked me, as it made me think about what I value in picture books.

1. A VERY SPECIAL HOUSE by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Maurice Sendak. This book has such amazing rhythms and it's like a window into the mind of a child. She was just a phenomenal writer.

2. A GLORIOUS DAY by Amy Schwartz. I think Schwartz is the best picture book writer working today. This is maybe my favorite, but I also love What James Liked Best and A Teeny Tiny Baby. I love them all, actually. A Glorious Day follows the kids in a single, small apartment building through their day. It is an ordinary day -- but glorious. She has such an ear for truth and humor in small things.

3. MEET WILD BOARS by Meg Rosoff, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. This just makes me laugh. Those boars are so wonderfully horrible. I would love to be able to think up something like this book.

4. TRACTION MAN IS HERE! By Mini Grey. She is operating at so many different levels here. And it just makes me happy. "Traction Man is guarding some toast." I love that he figures out how to deal with his horrid knitted green romper by unraveling it into a tight little bathing suit. Joy!

5. MR. GUMPY'S OUTING by John Burningham. Mr. G invites all these creatures to ride on his boat if only they don't behave as their natures dictate they should. The children mustn't squabble, the pig mustn't muck about, etc. And in the end, they all collapse and do what they mustn't; they capsize the boat - and he invites everyone back for tea and says they should come again. It's just true, about people and their foibles, and none of the foibles mattering in the end.

6. WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT by Michael Rosen, illus. by Helen Oxenbury. It's an old finger-play game, masterfully retold. I see something new in Oxenbury's illustrations every time I've read it. The family is so connected, the bear so menacing yet so lonely, the dog so loyal and yet skeptical.

7. FIRST TOMATO by Rosemary Wells. This one chokes me up every time, with so little ammunition. A bunny has a bad day, and envisions an alternate reality where her mother sends her to to see if any tomatoes are ripe. There's only one ripe one, and she wants to eat it -- but abstains, and brings it home as she was asked to do. Later, her mother serves her "first tomato soup, because I love you so."

8. BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL by Robert McCloskey. This book makes you notice things. It makes you pay attention. To words, rhythms, sounds, life.

9. THE SNOWY DAY by Ezra Jack Keats. It is just a perfect book.

10. SEVENTEEN THINGS I'M NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANYMORE, by Jenny Offill, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. This, like Meet Wild Boars, is a naughty book. Like A Very Special House and Traction Man, it is a look into the mind of a child that is not at all what other people wish the mind of a child to be. I love it. And Nancy Carpenter pulls out all the stops here. The illustrations as hilarious and incredibly inventive.

Oh dear. I have left off so many, many books that I love.

Marc Tyler Nobleman's Picture Book List

2010-10-24T15:19:00.014-04:00

Marc Tyler Nobleman is the author of more than seventy books for kids, including the picture book Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman, illustrated by Ross MacDonald. He is also a cartoonist, even though he admits he doesn't know how to draw Sponge Bob. He has a blog where he writes the stories behind the stories he writes.

Here's Marc's entry:

I love lists and I love picture books (natch) but I know I'm leaving out many favorites with this list, plus ask me again next week and it may be different:

(in no order)

- WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak. Lyrical and almost hypnotic when read aloud.

- THE CAT IN THE HAT by Dr. Seuss. Another I love to read aloud, particularly the last few pages (starting with the clean-up session, which I can't help but read fast).

- THE STORY OF FERDINAND by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson. I love the inviting illustrations.

- THE MILKMAN by Carol Foskett Cordsen and Douglas B. Jones. A contemporary (and low-key) book about a bygone era (rare in picture books, in my experience) with a sweet subplot.

- THREE LITTLE GHOSTIES by Pippa Googhart and Anna Laura Cantone. Another one that is very fun to read aloud. Great wordplay.

- THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS by Chris Barton and Tony Persiani. An adroit blend of sharp subject, strong prose, and original research.

- THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS by Mordicai Gernstein. A real-life adventure with a tragic overtone that will chill adults without upsetting kids. It somehow makesbreaking the law seem okay, if there is a higher (figuratively and literally) purpose.

- MADELINE by Ludwig Bemelmans. Yet another that is addictive to read aloud.

- ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY by Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz. Genuinely funny and heartfelt.

- MOOSE by Michael Foreman. A favorite from my own childhood and very hard to find these days. I used to pore over certain illustrations and imagine that I was in them.

Matthew Cordell's Picture Book List

2010-10-22T16:06:00.033-04:00

Matthew Cordell seen by Matthew Cordell

Matthew Cordell is the children's book illustrator of such titles as Toby and the Snowflakes by Julie Halpern, Mighty Casey by James Preller, Toot Toot Zoom! by Phyllis Root, and Justin Case: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters by Rachel Vail. Matthew is the author and illustrator of Trouble Gum.

He lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife, author Julie Halpern, their daughter Romy, and a very sturdy cat named Tobin. You can see his work on his website and his blog. He was the first one to send me his list with ten of his favorite picture books.

Take a look at his website and blog.

Here's Matthew's list:

1. GORKY RISES by William Steig. This one is probably one of my three favorite Steig picture books, including SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE (of course) and AMOS AND BORIS. I choose GORKY for my top ten because I'm a sucker for a boy (frog) who can fly book.

2. GRANPA by John Burningham. John Burningham is so freaking good. I love his humor and his grace and his fearless, fearless art. GRANPA is so much of that.

3. MOUSE TALES by Arnold Lobel. I do love Arnold Lobel and this book is brilliant. But to be fair, I lift this favorite from my wife's list of favorite pic books. I wouldn't know a thing about picture books if it weren't for her. And I'm so glad she shared this one with me.

4. THE ENEMY by Davide Cali, illustrated by Serge Bloch. I only recently came upon this one. I suppose it's written for the older set because it's about war and peace. I love it. Serge Bloch is one of my big faves.

5. WHAT DO PEOPLE DO ALL DAY? by Richard Scarry. This is one I can remember digging as a kid. So much detail and so much animal craziness going on. What's not to love? I'm still in awe.

6. LEAVES by David Ezra Stein. I like D.E.S. I like how each of his books is different from the last. And he always keeps it loose and fresh, which I really admire. I really like this one. I like his line and washes and I like the innocence and sweetness and enthusiasm of that bear.

7. MOON MAN by Tomi Ungerer. This is another fairly recent find for me. Super stylish and cool groovy vibe. I especially like the soldiers, weird scientist, and all that black.

8. MARTIN PEBBLE by Jean-Jacques Sempé. J.J. Sempé is one of my all time favorites for pen/ink. I also love his sense of humor and storytelling. His art in this book is super loose and sparse and very limited in color. I love it all. Beautifully designed.

9. MADELINE by Ludwig Bemelmans. Very cool and romantic and timeless and actually kind of strange. LB's art is amazing, of course. I also like how it goes from full color to limited color illustrations. I assume this was done to save money in printing the original edition, but it works really well in design.

10. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak. I can't imagine leaving this off. I probably take it for granted a lot. Every now and again I like to pull it down and have another look. Never disappointed.

Toad's List

2010-10-21T11:15:00.000-04:00

I'm very glad to say that many people have already sent me their Picture Book Lists, which I will start posting in the next few days. Please keep sending!

But today I wanted to share with the world, or part of it, a recent acquisition: an Arnold Lobel's original and signed pencil drawing of Frog and Toad. It shows Toad loosing the list with the things he was supposed to do that day, from the "List" episode from Frog and Toad Together.
Arnold Lobel is one of my very favorite authors, and I still can't believe I was able to get this.

Picture Book Lists

2010-10-20T16:02:00.004-04:00

I'd like to invite anyone who loves picture books to send me a list with ten of their favorite picture books, for kids or not. The books can be from any time and any country. I'd like to keep the definition of picture book as wide as possible. For example, one of my books will probably be William Steig's The Agony in the Kindergarten, which was a collection of one-liners illustrated in black&white, about but not exactly for kids.
You can be an author, an illustrator, an editor, an art director, a bookseller, a librarian, an agent, or anyone who has a passion for picture books.
Please send me your list with, if you want, a mini-bio, a picture of you, and a link that I can add to the post. And any comment on the books you choose. Send to sergio(at)ruzzier(dot)com

Thank you!

P.S.: this of course doesn't want to compete with Betsy Bird's amazing Top 100 Picture Book Poll.

Amandina

Original Art Show

2010-10-20T13:02:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow evening the Society of Illustrators in New York City will host the reception for the opening of the Original Art Show, with some of the best (according to this year's jury) picture book illustration of this past year.

Photograph from the Society's website.

I was one of the judges and, coincidentally, one of my books was selected. Ah-hem.

Here's the drawing I chose to be in the show, the cat spread from Hey, Rabbit!

A conversation with Caron Lee Cohen, author of Broom, Zoom!

2010-10-06T18:37:00.004-04:00

Illustrators don’t necessarily get to know the authors of the books they work on. I consider myself very lucky, then, to have met or even befriend most of the writers I have collaborated with: Karla Kuskin, Emily Jenkins, Lore Segal...
A few months ago, after illustrating Caron Lee Cohen’s Broom, Zoom!, Caron kindly came to one of my Hey, Rabbit! signings in Brooklyn and we have become friends since. Caron is the author of a bunch of picture books and easy readers, including How Many Fish? and Three Yellow Dogs, this last one illustrated by the great Peter Sís.

Caron Lee Cohen

Recently, Caron and I have had an email exchange in which we shared thoughts about Broom, Zoom!, bare landscapes, and other things. I’m posting it here hoping that others will also find it interesting and entertaining. (To see more Broom, Zoom!-related posts, go here.)

Here it goes:

Sergio
In one of our first email exchanges, you told me: "I was astonished that the characters live on a bare cliff, a perfect match for an interior landscape of my own! I have a book where outlaw-dogs live on a bare cliff - in Death Valley."

Bare landscapes and cliffs (and empty interiors as well) are always been present in my drawings, since I was a kid. I guess that this fascination comes from different places, and I can name a few: 14th and 15th Century Italian paintings, like that beautiful Saint Anthony by the Maestro dell'Osservanza now at the Metropolitan Museum in New York;
old comic strips, especially George Herriman's Krazy Kat and Elzie C. Segar's Popeye; a movie by Pier Paolo Pasolini, "Uccellacci e Uccellini" ("The Hawks and the Sparrows"), which I saw when I was 7 or 8 years old. And also the neighborhood where I grew up, in Milan in the '60s and '70s, which at the time was at the edge of the city, with many empty lots, where herds of sheep would still walk by a couple of times a year. Or maybe it's just easier to draw empty landscapes, and not worry about buildings, forests, roads...

Maestro dell'Osservanza

George Herriman

Can you tell me more about that "interior landscape of your own"? What was the Death Valley book?

Caron
I'll get to those questions, but those rich influences that shaped your fascination with bare landscapes are worth a closer look. So I was delighted to get your e-mail with a few images of what you'd mentioned. They blew me away!

Pier Paolo Pasolini, Uccellacci e Uccellini

The image from The Hawks and the Sparrows - of a father and son conversing with a black crow while journeying on a road that goes endlessly into the distance - is potent and hypnotizing. In the Saint Anthony painting, the richly robed saint and the spooky bare trees create a haunting scene. And the Krazy Kat comic image with spindly cliffs bursting out of a flat landscape and a two-tone moon, makes a zany picture. A painting, a film and a cartoon, spanning 500 years, and so enormously different! But after much looking, I was struck by similarities. All three have roads that wind around from the foreground to the background. And on these roads are characters who all happen to be directing their attention sideways! That's gotta be a fluky resemblance. But another resemblance isn't a fluke. In each of these, I see unexpected, or out of the ordinary elements, fantasy elements - like the unreal trees along the road where Saint Anthony walks. The trees gripped me while I wondered, pleasantly perplexed, what they were about. The fantasy elements in all of these have a lot to do with the spell they cast on me. The three images provoke thought and emotion - enough to make lasting impressions.

A couple of lasting impressions that found their way into a book of mine, are nowhere near as fascinating as Renaissance art. My 50’s childhood--after the fairy tales--was loaded with cartoons (Popeye was my fave!) where characters routinely fall off cliffs and spring back alive, and Westerns where landscapes are bare and desert-like, with hills, canyons and rolling tumbleweed. A few decades later I got going on the bare cliff book, Bronco Dogs, the story of cartoonish outlaw dogs in the old-time West. They needed a hideout. I looked on a map. There was Death Valley! And Comma-Ti-Yi-Yippi-Yippi-Yea Peak was born - a sizzling cliff in a terrain so perilous, no critter alive would chase them there. It's the only home the dogs have, but the cliff is a seesaw - the downside, is falling off of it; the upside, is sleeping under the stars. This landscape with its multitude of trials, fits them like a glove. It fulfills their needs for better or for worse. I always grow fond of my characters. I adore them. In this case the dogs and their landscape are inextricably linked: I adore the cliff too. It has a place in my imagination. In that e-mail, I called it an interior landscape of my own. And what a surprise when I saw the cliff landscape in Broom, Zoom!

Broom, Zoom!

By the way, the broom in the book: I have the same one at home. I've had it for 35 years. I've never checked to see if it flies.

Do you feel fondness, or maybe you'd use another word, for projects you work on? You've said you enjoyed working on Broom, Zoom! very much. Are there any particular reasons you can mention?

Sergio
Well, the text was so perfect and minimal, that I felt absolutely free to give my own, personal interpretation. Even in the creation of the characters, I knew that I could do whatever I wanted, because there was no clear description of how they were supposed to look like. That’s always a blessing for an illustrator, or at least for me. I felt fondness for them right away, after reading your words, even before drawing the first sketches.

Caron
It's wonderful to hear you say that! About feeling free because of the text. That's absolutely how I felt when I saw the art.
You sent me on a journey as a result of your questions; and in the process, I've given quite a bit of thought to the art in Broom, Zoom! And now, another surprise! I see substantial differences in our cliffs. My story is a fantasy with talking dogs, cows and ghosts. But Comma-Ti-Yi-Yippi-Yippi-Yea Peak is somewhere near Badwater in the sink of the Amargosa River, surrounded by volcanic craters, then hills and canyons, and finally salt flats on the fringe of Death Valley. That's the real terrain. That fantasy cliff seems pretty conventional at the moment, while the cliff in Broom, Zoom! is completely unconventional, creative and original. You've brought elements together in an unexpected way. And what would be expected, is omitted. Little Witch and Little Monster live in a world with no grocery stores, no chairs, no table . . . no one else. There's a broom, because they need it. There's a sky, because they fly it. There's no road, because they don't need one. This art is not limited by any real-world givens. Little Witch and Little Monster don't have the pressures of a technologically complex and hectic world. They won't grow up too fast on this cliff. As a writer I rejoiced at seeing this, because their world is pure. You've made them sweet and lovable. They are beautifully naive, free to develop from their own good natures. I'd enjoy exploring how their sweet natures would play out. Like the images you sent, where fantasy increased my interest - the world in Broom, Zoom! works magic, drawing me in and charming me. Unlike those images, where the fantasy can be jarring - in Broom, Zoom! the unexpected comes into the world seamlessly! The result is whimsical and dear.

Your art for the book is almost exclusively bare. So where it isn't bare, draws my attention and makes me wonder. The house has striking features--a back porch, smoke from the chimney and more. It hints at being alive! Can you tell me why you've developed the house in particular?

Sergio
As I was reading your manuscript for the first time, I knew I wanted the house to be looking like a witch house, but small and gentle. It’s a childish haunted house, the same way the witch and the monster are little kids. Maybe when the three grow up they’ll be scary and threatening, who knows, but for now they’re just sweet and innocent.
I think it’s interesting to see how such a small house can have a potentially never-ending inside, with huge rooms and no ceilings in sight.
One of the good things of doing this kind of drawings is that you can take so many poetic licenses. You can create worlds with their own rules. It’s the same thing with writing, I guess.

How did you learn to write?

Caron
I learned to write, because I longed to write. And it was quite a challenge. As a child, I always created stories, but I struggled with reading and writing. Spelling was my worst enemy. In high school I was praised for my ideas, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't overcome the spelling and grammar obstacles. At 35 I started a story, and when the first character needed to speak, I realized I didn't know where to put the quotation marks! I got two used high school grammar books and read them all the way through, taking notes, writing examples, doing practice exercises. After grammar, I read about story structure, character, suspense, and all the rest. I read lots of fiction and scrutinized how stories worked. I began to write. Then I joined a workshop at The New School [in New York City] led by the legendary Bunny Gabel, whose exceptional guidance has resulted in many published children's books among devoted workshop members. Of course, I learned to write by writing, and to write what matters by listening to my imagination.

Sergio
Your writing has being rightly praised for its simplicity and minimalism, and everybody agrees that simple doesn't mean easy, but is it really true? Are we sure it's not just an excuse to be lazy? How long does it take you to write a book like Broom, Zoom!?

Caron
Simple isn't simply putting down a few words. It's getting a real story into just a few words. It's cutting back as far as possible to achieve a small text and vocabulary. The value of each word needs to be weighed. A small story feels like a puzzle. I make up my own rules, and try many solutions. I want the best sound combinations, repetition, rhythm and symmetry. I keep working until the story falls into place with simplicity and grace. That's elegance. It isn't easy; it's challenging. It isn't lazy; it's tireless. Simple is no more lazy than bare landscapes are easy. These choices are dictated by our imaginations.

As for the time it takes to write a book, it takes all the years of my life. I have a book coming out next year, One Was Gone, with about 40 lines, that I began writing 25 years ago. There was a lot of excess in the early manuscript; it had knots that I didn't know how to untie. It was a story about a lamb at that time. Now it's about a bird! Editors had seen it and offered suggestions. I became more proficient over the years: I learned how to untie some knots. The shortest time it took me to write a book, was 15 minutes. But those few minutes were the culmination of education and experience. I was a doctoral student at Columbia TC, studying how children learn to read, and in the midst of poring over material for one of the courses--1000 pages of it--my patience gave way, and I stopped. Instantly an idea rushed through my head. I jotted it down; it was Three Yellow Dogs. Another book took one day to write. Another took a week. Others have taken years. Plenty are still in process after many years, and some will never be completed. I have a lot more knots to untie.

There's a little more to say about simplicity. With only 54 words in the text and a sixteen word vocabulary, Broom, Zoom! works for the newest readers, and charms toddlers as well. But as slim as it is, it is not slight. Reviewers have hailed its theme of conflict resolved by cooperation, but there's more. The conflict is over sweeping the floor versus flying the sky. At first, the floor sweeper doesn't even see what's enthralling outside the window. But the sky flyer is able to put off her desire. In just a few words there's a valuable message: work diligently, but don't lose sight of your dreams!

Tweak Tweak

2010-10-05T16:27:00.000-04:00

I am very happy to announce that next spring Clarion will publish my next book: Tweak Tweak, a picture book for little children written by Eve Bunting. For the few who don't know this, Eve Bunting is an extraordinary writer who has written more than 250 books so far. You can learn more about her in a lot of places, for example here. Reading Rockets has a charming video interview with Ms. Bunting.

Here's the cover!

Drawn in Brooklyn

2010-10-05T12:58:00.000-04:00

Alaya, the beautiful and sweet daughter of John Rocco and Aileen Leijten, was kind enough to pose in front of my originals from The Room of Wonders, Amandina and Hey, Rabbit! in the Brooklyn Public Library's Grand Lobby.

Drawn in Brooklyn: Process Cases

2010-10-03T16:02:00.002-04:00

Here are my three process cases, part of the Brooklyn children's book illustrators show at the Brooklyn Public Library.

First case: various sketches, a pen&ink and watercolor drawing of Rabbit and an introductory note written by John Marciano, curator of the show (I know, you can't really read it here, sorry!).

Second case: the evolution of the "rain forest" spread in Hey, Rabbit!, where the toucan finds his leaf. From the thumbnail sketch (top left), to the dummy (front center), to the preparatory pencil drawing (top right) the the printed page. The finished art is in the main exhibition in the Library's main hall.

Third case: one original finished drawing from Amandina and two from The Room of Wonders.

A bunch of drawings

2010-09-23T17:04:00.000-04:00

These past few days I have received a bunch of new drawings. Anyone who wants to contribute, please go to my website.

Juliette, from Tampa, Florida, gives us a condensed version of Hey, Rabbit!

This is by Renee from Thetford, VT.

Crazy Shep, also from Thetford, says hi.

Daniel doesn't seem to be among the biggest fans of Rabbit.

But Secret Admirer from Lake Toho, VT, more than comforted me.

Mr. Man is a pure minimalist.

Thank you, Clara from Vermont!

Asa Bob knows something we don't know about Rabbit.

Old Joe from Somewhere draws nice woolen hats.

And Lillian tried to hide Rabbit, but we can still see him!

Drawn in Brooklyn opens this week

2010-09-20T16:16:00.000-04:00

The Brooklyn children's book illustrators exhibition Drawn in Brooklyn opens this week at the Brooklyn Public Library. I have four drawings in the main lobby, from The Room of Wonders, Amandina and Hey, Rabbit! and three cases in the Youth Wing with lots of sketches and process drawings.

Here's a clickable list of all the artists in the show:

Brooklyn Book Festival

2010-09-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

Reading Hey, Rabbit! and Amandina last Sunday at the Brooklyn Book Festival.

Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn Borough President, stopped by and said hi.

Just before signing thousands of copies.

Brooklyn Book Festival this Sunday

2010-09-09T19:14:00.001-04:00

This Sunday, September 12th, at 1.30pm, I'll be at Borough Hall reading and signing Amandina and Hey, Rabbit! at the Brooklyn Book Festival.

Other children's book writers and illustrators will be there with their books, including Chris Raschka, Matthew Reinhart and my friends John Rocco and Brian Floca.

Drawn in Brooklyn

2010-09-03T13:38:00.000-04:00

Broom, Zoom!: Booklist review

2010-08-30T17:20:00.000-04:00

I am very grateful to Randall Enos for this recent review of Broom, Zoom!
[...] The economical text, with an average of about two words per page, coupled with minimalist illustrations featuring only the appealing duo, a few props,and vast backgrounds filled with large swathes of color, makes this appropriate for the youngest of audiences. It's a beginning lesson in cooperation and sharing as well as an introduction to witches and monsters. [...]

Broom, Zoom!: Publishers Weekly review

2010-08-19T17:32:00.001-04:00

A brief tussle between a girl witch and a green goblin over the use of a broom is neatly resolved in this short but absorbing story. The witch wears a too-long purple robe and a huge, pointy red hat; the goblin has ears that stick straight up and wears a diaper. Each page contains a line of monosyllabic dialogue that perfectly expresses their me-first desires. [...]

Cohen's (Everything Is Different at Nonna's House) text carries just the right degree of force, and Ruzzier (Hey, Rabbit!) uses line and color effectively in his drawings to convey the small world in which the witch and the goblin live. Readers will easily recognize themselves in this duo.

Broom, Zoom!: The Horn Book review

2010-08-18T12:20:00.000-04:00

A little monster (the green, red-tailed kind) and a little witch (the pointy-hat kind) discover that sharing can be more satisfying than being selfish. [...]

Far from scary, the witch smiles sweetly and the monster wears a diaper. Words with recurring vowel sounds but different initial consonants (moon/broom, sky/fly) combine with sight vocabulary (I, want, need) to form increasingly sophisticated sentences that don't appear contrived. Bold shades of limited colors, including purple, gold, apple green, and red, also repeat, creating a gem for emergent readers in its self-contained simplicity. Betty Carter (The Horn Book, September-October 2010)

Broom, Zoom!: Kirkus review

2010-08-17T16:17:00.002-04:00

The first reviews are coming! Here's what Kirkus writes:

"Two friends briefly come into conflict and then resolve it in this sweet drama that is played out entirely in dialogue. Little Witch wants the broom; Little Monster needs the broom. “I want it and I need it!” insists Little Witch. “I need it now,” responds Little Monster, opening the door to reveal a spilled sack of flour. “Yikes!” says Little Witch, and, need established, she helps Little Monster sweep up. But the sky still beckons, and Little Witch still needs the broom—and off the two friends go into the night. Ruzzier frames this little play within simple compositions, allowing emotions plenty of room.

Little Witch wears a purple robe and giant, red pointy hat; Little Monster is a fetching, Martian green and, fittingly for this tale of peacemaking, wears a dhoti. Charming."