Tim Warnes's Blog: My Life in Books, page 12

February 26, 2021

Storytime: A connection like no other

The parent-child relationship is strengthened through authentic and meaningful interactions, such as reading stories.

From It’s Bedtime, Charlie! by Tim Warnes (DMind & The Prince 2020) | © 2020 by Tim Warnes

I am surrounded by packing boxes in anticipation of moving home next Friday.

My collection of children's books is still on my shelves and will likely be among the first boxes opened at the other end.

Some of my earliest (and fondest) memories are of bedtime stories - like Maurice Sendak's tiny collection, Nutshell Library, which I still have. I remember my mum and grandma reading to me - but even more so my dad. Dad was an excellent narrator. He really threw himself into it, using different voices to bring the cast to life and dramatise the reading! Recurring favourites include Dick Bruna's Miffy, who spoke with a permanently stuffy nose; Brer Rabbit (with those convincing William Backhouse illustrations); and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

It was also the good old days when teachers had the luxury of reading a chapter each day from a book at the end of the morning or afternoon lessons. (Always the best part of the day!) Undoubtedly, these childhood storytimes helped forge my career as a writer. And I'm not alone - it's something many writers and creators of picture books have in common. (Eric Carle and Richard Scarry, for example, both cite being sat as children on their father's laps listening to stories as influential.)

Being enfolded in loving arms, snuggled up to someone who loves you.

The quiet, hushed tones;

the scratch of dad's stubble.

Summer light glowing through pulled curtains.

The warmth of the bedside light on evenings when the dark has long crept in.

I find that sense of togetherness - of connection through stories - powerful and appealing. It's been ingrained in me; it's the same togetherness that I relished during storytime with my own boys.

From I Love You More Than Christmas by Ellie Hattie & Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2020) | Illustration © 2020 by Tim Warnes

Reading stories with your kids creates a connection like no other.

Conversation and curiosity flow as the story is paused and discussed.

Don't get me wrong - I loved snuggling up in front of the tv, too. But sharing a story together - where you are entering a world of imagination, rather than merely having it presented - that's something special.

Maureen Healy, author of The Emotionally Healthy Child:

The parent-child relationship is strengthened through authentic and meaningful interactions, such as reading stories (or telling one from your imagination).

Image © @iamkelmitchell | Used with permission

Connecting you with your kids through stories worth sharing has become - and will remain - the focus of my work. (My website will soon be updated to reflect this). I look forward to continuing sharing my insights and excitement with you.

Just got to get moved first…

SOURCESWhy Do Toddlers Love Books? Experts Explain Your Mini Bookworm by Ashley Jones (romper.com)

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Published on February 26, 2021 04:13

February 19, 2021

Safe and snug with Daddy Hug!

Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy.

— School Library JournalI’m proud (and grateful for the opportunity) to have been a hands-on dad when my boys grew up.

My identity as a father is core to my being. So it irks me that in the world of picturebooks, dads are short-changed. Yes - male characters dominate. But too often in stereotypically masculine roles - with mothers being assigned the caring, parental role.

By contrast, fathers barely featured ... unless accompanied by a co-parent …This reflects a skewed version of the world which is bad for boys as well as girls. The lack of fathers, for instance, steers [boys] away from an interest in nurturing and caring behaviour…

- Must monsters always be male? Huge gender bias revealed in children’s books by Donna Ferguson

So when an opportunity presents itself, I try to redress the imbalance. And in that category, I would include my story, Daddy Hug, illustrated by Jane Chapman (Harper Collins 2008). It’s written in simple rhyming couplets which remind us that daddies come in all shapes and sizes:

Described by Booktrust as a ‘beautiful picture book’, Daddy Hug has an ‘adorable but realistically portrayed cast of animals’ parading through the pages - daddies interacting and watching over their young.

I especially like the opening spread featuring Daddy Spiky (a porcupine) and Daddy Fluffy (an ostrich). Those baby porcupines are oh so cute!

From Daddy Hug by Tim Warnes, illustrated by Jane Chapman (HarperCollins 2008) | Illustration © 2008 by Jane Chapman | Used by permission

[Chapman’s] animal families are warm and loving, with expressive faces, and she keeps their interactions and activities natural. A cuddly tribute to all the things that make a dad, Dad...and not a bad way to reinforce a child’s concept of adjectives and verbs, either.

- Kirkus reviews

I wrote Daddy Hug to be fun to read aloud. I didn’t give much thought to what animals the daddies were. The resulting ensemble - from familiar farmyard friends like sheep and ducks to more exotic creatures - hummingbirds and walruses, celebrates the Animal Kingdom in all its shapes and forms!

Daddy Hug had a real impact on one particular father, Mr Dan Courtine. He wrote to me in 2019, describing how he’d enjoyed reading it with his young boys and savoured those precious moments of connection as they shared the book. “We acted it out… We laughed, and we bonded.”

Dan continues:

There were three rules we had while reading Daddy Hug.

Rule 1 was that we had to just BE together, be in the moment and enjoy it.

Rule 2 was that when we saw the moose on the opening pages, we had to put our moose antler hands in our ears and MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE as loud as we could. We scared mom many times with this part, but a rule is a rule.

And Rule 3 was that the snake page had to be read as quickly as possible.

Dan’s eldest son, Jameson, tragically (and unexpectedly) passed away in 2019, aged just nine years old. “This tragedy has left a tremendous hole in my heart as I can’t give him any more Daddy Hugs,” writes Dan.

Amazingly, Jameson’s parents used the family’s tragedy as a spark to create ways to serve others.

They set up a foundation, Jameson’s Joy, to honour their son’s memory, creating opportunities for parents to intentionally connect with their children through various programs and activities. One way is by providing copies of Daddy Hug - one of Jameson’s favourite books - to fathers of young children. This year, Jameson’s Joy has partnered with Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC to gift 5000 copies of Daddy Hug to fathers when they leave with their newborns.

How amazing is that!

Dan Courtine is an inspiring father. He epitomizes Daddy Strong. He uses his grief to create something beautiful and share something special - connection to children through stories.

The gentle rhyme [of Daddy Hug] sets the tone for bedtime, and the final spread is the perfect segue to sleep, with a group of daddies hugging their children close.

- Kirkus Reviews

Jameson’s Joy reminds and encourages us to intentionally spend more time investing in our children and less on those things that leave no legacy. Because one way or another, childhood is short. So let’s make it sweet for our kids.

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Daddy Hug by Tim Warnes and Jane Chapman

Good to Read because:

The bouncy, rhyming text is fun to read aloud and aids speech development.

The unusual parade of animals will spark questions (For example, when will the baby porcupines grow spikes? Are baby snails born with shells?)

Curiosity = conversation = connection!

It pretty much guarantees a hug for daddy - good for his well-being and stress levels!

It sets the tone for bedtime with its gentle rhyme and final spread of daddies hugging their babies.

Shortlisted - Booktrust Early Years Award (Best Book for Babies) 2008

Good to Read

In celebration of dads

Only My Dad and Me by Alyssa Satin Capucelli, ill. by Tiphanie Beake (HarperFestival 2003)

Just Like You by Jane Chapman (Little Tiger Press 2018)

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman, ill. by Dave McKean (Bloomsbury 2004)

Daddy Hug by Tim Warnes, ill. by Jane Chapman (HarperCollins 2008)

Do you enjoy my articles? Then perhaps you might consider making a donation to the Daddy Hug fundraiser to connect fathers with their newborn babies. Support jameson's joy Safe and snug with Daddy Hug - Storyteller Tim Warnes 19/02/2021

Safe and snug with Daddy Hug - Storyteller Tim Warnes 19/02/2021

SOURCESOpening quote: School Library Journal Must monsters always be male? Huge gender bias revealed in children’s books (The Guardian, January 21 2018)Daddy Hug (Kirkus Reviews, may 1 2008)Jameson’s Joy Foundation© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)**** USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on February 19, 2021 01:25

February 12, 2021

Look and wonder with ‘Sam Vole and his Brothers’

Sam Vole and his Brothers by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth (Walker Books 1992) | Illustration © 1992 by Barbara Firth

A healthy and happy childhood spills over with wonder and imagination, for the simple reason that through the eyes of a child, beauty is abundant and mystery is everywhere.

— Brian ZahndI’m taking part in an online creative writing course this month.

One of our assignments was to dig deep into our senses and observe the world around us. Here’s a sample of what I wrote from the woodland floor:

I roll over onto my front now. It annoys me that to see anything close with clarity, I have to put on my specs. They reveal a tiny snail shell, barely 5mm across.

…I push my nose into the soft flannel of damp moss. Is this what frogs smell like?

To my left, caught in a praise position, lies a dead woodlouse. It forms a perfect C, and its underbelly is exposed.

It doesn’t matter anymore. He’s dead like the snail, whose shell lies empty.

Don’t bother knocking. Nobody’s at home.

Lying there, down in the leaf litter, I felt alive.

And I thought of Sam Vole.

Sam Vole and his Brothers by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth (Walker Books 1992) was a favourite read when my two boys were young.

Sam Vole had big brothers, Arthur and Henry.

Sam wanted to do things all by himself, but wherever he went his brothers went too.

This is an interesting spin on so many picture books: Usually, it is the smallest sibling who follows (and pesters) the elder. Here it’s the other way round! It’s a lovely touch and speaks warmly of the protective nature of so many older siblings.

The story continues:

I’m going voling for nuts,” Sam told his mother. “I’m going voling all by myself.”

I love the fact that Waddell indulged in a bit of creative play and turned the noun ‘vole’ into a verb. Some readers have criticised him for it (‘[it] struck me as really odd and became distracting’). But it doesn’t jar with me one bit! (In fact, we adopted the word, and would often go out and about voling, to see what we could find.)

Unfortunately for poor Sam, his big brothers always accompany him on his voling expeditions to find something for Mother. And they always return with ‘enough for them all.’

I’m sure many younger siblings will relate to Sam’s dilemma - there’s always someone else who can do something faster, bigger, better.

(Which raises philosophical questions like, What is my purpose?)

There’s a real warmth to the simple storyline. But it’s the illustrations that really captivates me!

Firth captures so much personality in her drawings. (I especially love the image of Sam, striding back to Mother with pride, a cobnut under each arm.)

Sam Vole may be a simple story - but it is a powerful lesson in mindfulness, developing our observational skills - and connecting with nature. And for me, that is its most significant gift. By presenting a wonderful vole’s eye-view of life below our feet, Firth encourages us to lay on our bellies and look - really look. Her attention to detail is exquisite, with each page packed full of hidden treasure:

Sturdy toadstool tables, acorn cups and nutshells dishes;

Mushroom recliners, leafy bedspreads and a bottle top mirror.

And yes - lots and lots of tiny insects (including a pair of beetles playing cards). Together, they combine to create a believable, secret world, down among the grass.

Sam Vole and his Brothers by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth (Walker Books 1992) | Text © 1992 by Martin Waddell. Illustration © 1992 by Barbara Firth

Firth extends this attention to detail to the voles themselves - and she absolutely nails it! Her voles - although totally anthropomorphic - remain lifelike, authentic and utterly charming. (In this sense, her work reminds me of Beatrix Potter’s and Jill Barklem’s Brambly Hedge, who are both experts at this.)

Whenever I find a dead rodent, I take a good look. Sometimes I will even give it a stroke. Please don’t be grossed out - it’s my naturally inquisitive mind (and a habit that harks back to my days as a young naturalist). If you’ve ever done the same, you, too, will delight in how Firth captures the voles’ paws and plump little bodies.

When they all went to bed Sam could not sleep. He lay awake thinking; I want to do something all by myself.

Early next morning, he did it. He slipped out of the house and into the garden and he went voling alone.

At first, Sam’s newfound independence brings him joy, ‘for he liked it a lot without brothers.’ But Sam is small and easily lost. His pleasure dwindles (‘he still liked it a bit without brothers’) and then dries up.

[Sam] stopped and he stood and he listened. He didn’t like it at all without brothers.

Uh-oh.

A brief moment of mild peril - and then Arthur and Henry come to the rescue. The brothers vole happily home - with Sam carrying a special and unique gift for Mother - a blue feather for her hair.

One final observation: there is no Father Vole.

Mother Vole’s sons have become the men of the house. So while she stays at home to bake and knit, her boys are off hunter-gathering. Does Sam Vole perpetuate gender tropes? Absolutely! But to its credit, the story also reflects a realistic alternative to the traditional two-parent family.

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Sam Vole and his Brothers by Martin Waddell and Barabra Firth

Good to Read because:

It’s a quick read if needed.

It’s a more extended read when you have time to explore the illustrations.

Looking for hidden details in the illustrations will increases your child’s awareness and observational skills.

It will inspire creative play:

Go voling! What treasures can you find?

What small items can you find around your home that Sam and his family might enjoy using?

It will restore your sense of wonder!

Good to Read

Picture books featuring Tiny Worlds

The Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem

Monty and Milli - the Totally Amazing Magic Trick by Tracey Corderoy, ill. by Tim Warnes

The Very Noisy Night by Dian Hendry, ill. by Jane Chapman

For older readers

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

‘The story conveys so clearly the joys and fears of seeking independence…’

- Child Education, Best Books

‘Cute little tale about being independent, and the value of family. :)’

- Jax Gross, Good Reads buy uk SOURCESSam Vole and his Brothers by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth (Walker Books 1992) Becky B’s Review > Sam Vole and his Brothers (Good Reads, 22 August 2016)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)**** USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on February 12, 2021 00:47

February 5, 2021

Tiger Wild

From Tiger Lily by Gwen Millward (Egmont 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Gwen Millward

He’ll disappear the day that childhood ends
And reality descends.
I’ll never forget you my imaginary friend.

— The Divine ComedyCreativity - in the various guises of painting, dance, writing, music etc. - enables us to express ourselves.

We use creativity to convey ideas and emotions. Kids, on the other hand, are often creative for creativity’s sake. (A value too often lost when it comes to our own grown-up lives.)

There’s something else we lose, too which kids have in their creative arsenal: Imaginary friends!

Lots of children have them. (My sister had a troupe of Pekinese dogs!)

Born out of creative play and often necessity (because it’s a lot easier to dream up a unicorn than receive one on your birthday!), they may act as alter egos, helping a child express complex emotions. (Wouldn’t it be great if we still had imaginary friends to blame for our mistakes?!)

Last week’s Story Worth Sharing was about the gentle and imaginary Snow Lion. This week we have the complete opposite - the exuberant and wild Tiger from Tiger Lily by Gwen Millward (Egmont 2018). (Published as Tiger Wild in the US.)

The story opens with the line, “Tiger did it.”

And there he is - just visible behind the sofa on which Lily - a picture of wide-eyed innocence - sits.

The sofa is the stuff of parental nightmares! Spilt paint and inks, brushes and sheets of paper and patches of bright colour leaking and squoozing from tubes and overturned pots. It’s a chaotic scene, described as ‘a kid-crafting disaster zone’ by Kirkus Review.

This quietly anarchic beginning sets up the story’s premise: Lily has a friend called Tiger, who is (in Lily’s own words) ‘very naughty’.

Special strawberry fairy cakes go missing; knitting yarn is trailed throughout the house.

“Did Tiger do that as well?” asked Penny, crossly.

“Yes,” said Lily. “And he isn’t sorry,” she added.

Which was true, he wasn’t.

Two can play at this game! So Penny sends ‘Tiger’ to his room until he’s ready to say sorry.

But instead, Tiger ramps things up!

“Come on, Lily,” roared Tiger. “Let’s run away and have some fun. We can do anything we want. We can be wild!”

Lily knew running away was bad. But she did it anyway.

I love the illustration that follows: Against a city backdrop, Lily rides high on Tiger’s shoulders as they wade through a wild field of green.

The wild was good.

Tiger and Lily felt free.

Millward’s illustrations have a joyful, childlike quality that I adore! She expresses Lily’s exuberant defiance with scribbly marks and loopy lines. Playfully created with a brush pen, china marker, watercolour paint & acrylic ink’, the illustrations look spontaneous and are full of energy.

Picture book characters can sometimes feel relatively two-dimensional. This is often due to the constraints of trying to fit a story into the limited space. (Meaning characters end up being little more than placeholders for a bigger idea to be shared.) What I love about Lily is that she is so well rounded - and believable. She remind s me a lot of a little girl I once knew called Nita. She was teeny-tiny, with a fiery spirit. She often pretended to be a dragon - and when she held your eye and roar, it felt like a fierce act of defiance!

There’s something about Lily that reminds me, too, of Little My the Mymble from Tove Jannsen’s Moomin books.

True, Lily is a softer, gentler version. But still, there are similarities.

Little My is fiery and irritable – but also happy and friendly. [She] is brave and fearless … eager to join the Moomins on their adventures. Sometimes she really seems to love small catastrophes.

Mess and untidiness don’t bother her at all: in fact, life is much more exciting that way.
- Moomin.com

Being wild makes Lily hungry.

But - uh-oh! - What’s happened to the provisions she packed?

Millward adds a surprising twist to Tiger and Lily’s relationship:

Tiger looked at Lily.

Lily looked at Tiger.

And then realised…

The sandwich was in Tiger!

So was the chocolate milk and the binoculars!

And worst of all…

The map!

Tiger does what many small children do when being told off - he misbehaves more! He wants to be wild forever (no need for that map, then!). So he throws caution to the wind - and eats Lily’s shoes!

Which is one Tiger Trick too many.

“Stop it, Tiger! You’re too naughty! Go away!” shouted Lily.

She didn’t want to be wild forever. So she ran.

Children will find these characters so relatable. Just look at Tiger’s expression - he embodies every child who realises they’ve taken it a step too far and feels that sudden rush of remorse. (If your child can’t relate personally, they will undoubtedly recognise friends in him.)

As darkness falls and Lily attempts to find her way home, Millward’s art and text work in tandem, gently increasing the tension.

Just enough to grip a little one, nothing more.

And then - sweet relief!

Penny comes to Lily’s rescue. And after hugs and apologies, all is well again between adult and child - and Lily and Tiger.

One review had these criticisms of Tiger Lily:

Tiger isn’t made to fix or replace anything he’s damaged;

It’s not clear whether he actually exists or is a naughtier part of Lily’s consciousness.

Picture book creators have to decide what to leave in and leave out to create the best book we can. (Ultimately, the decisions are made by editors anyway.) Having the Tiger fix his messes might please the morality police, but it wouldn’t add anything to the story’s heart. Likewise, whether Tiger actually exists or is ‘a naughtier part of Lily’s consciousness’ is not important.

Imaginary friends (naughty and nice) are hard to define. They are undoubtedly alive for the child.

Do they exist?

Who’s to say?

Imagination is real.

Dreams are real.

Why do grown-ups have to spoil the fun?

Personally, I’m glad Tiger isn’t made to make things right.

As Lily tells Penny,

‘[Tiger’s] sorry for being naughty, too,’...

And he was.

Very, very sorry.

And sometimes, that is enough.

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Tiger Lily by Gwen Millward (Egmont 2018)

Good to Read because:

It celebrates creativity!

The childlike illustrations affirm children by placing value in their art.

It offers the opportunity to discuss emotions.

It promotes kindness: Does your child know someone like Tiger? How can they offer friendship?

It teaches that being naughty isn’t always as fun as it might first feel.

It teaches that there’s a time to be wild (and a time to be mild).

It demonstrates the importance of forgiveness.

GOOD TO READ

Picture books with big friendly tigers

Tiger Lily (aka Tiger Wild) by Gwen Millward

The Sea Tiger by Victoria Turnbull

Augustus and his Smile by Catherine Rayner

BUY THE BOOK Tiger Wild, Storyteller Tim Warnes

‘

[Brought to life by] the scribbled, energetic illustrations which have a child-like quality and exuberance!’

- Feather Reading

‘Ablaze with humor, insight, and love.’

- Kirkus, starred review Buy UK Buy US* I earn commission from these links #AD

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SourcesOpening quote: My Imaginary Friend by The Divine Comedy, lyrics by Neil HannonTiger Lily by Gwen Millward (Egmont 2018) Tiger Wild Review (Kirkus Reviews, June 30 2020) Tiger Wild (Penguin Round House)Instagram: @gwenmillward Tiger Wild (Publishers Weekly, June 2020)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on February 05, 2021 01:38

January 29, 2021

An Aslan for picture book readers: The Snow Lion

The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones (Simon & Schuster 2017) | Illustration © 2017 by Richard Jones

Love is essential; gregariousness is optional.

— Susan Cain (Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking)I’ve recently finished listening to the audio version of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain.

A friend (who’s introverted) recommended it. I always knew I had introvert qualities (why else would I be happy working by myself day in day out?) but I hadn’t realised the extent to which I fit the mould.

Quiet covers introversion’s ‘cousins - sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness’ As I listened, the more enlightened and affirmed I felt. Here the author describes her perception of the legendary civil rights heroine, Rosa Parks:

I had always imagined Rosa Parks as a stately woman with a bold temperament, someone who could easily stand up to a busload of glowering passengers. But when she died in 2005 at the age of ninety-two, the flood of obituaries recalled her as soft-spoken, sweet, and small in stature. They said she was “timid and shy” but had “the courage of a lion.
- Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

I love that: Timid and shy but with the courage of a lion.

This description of Parks reminded me of a gorgeous picture book on my shelves: The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones (Simon & Schuster 2017).

The Snow Lion is a quiet, gentle book.

The art is soft and beautiful, the uncluttered story heart-warming.

Words and pictures combine to create something rather magical: the imaginations of a little girl, Caro.

She is quiet, shy (dare I say - introverted!). And she’s facing a significant change in her life:

Caro and her mum went to live in a new house at the top of a hill.

A car heads up the hill, its bright lights piercing the darkness. .The dark illustration suggests a long drive. Perhaps Caro and her mum have left their previous home (and dad?) far behind.

Turn the page, and the contrast of the interior of their new house is stark.

The walls were white, the ceilings were white, even the doors were white.

It’s not yet their home.

It’s a blank page.

A new start.

Caro begins exploring but wishes she had someone to play with. Fortunately for her, she has the active imagination of an introvert!

‘How about a game of hide-and-seek?’ said a deep gentle voice.

Caro turned around.

There stood a lion, as white as snow.

‘Where did you come from?’ Caro asked.

‘Oh, here and there,’ said the lion.

He leant against the white wall and vanished.

The wall winked at her and Caro laughed.

In an author interview, writer Helmore says the idea came from a conversation he had with his three-year-old-daughter:

“I was explaining the idea of camouflage to my three-year-old daughter when she suggested that if a polar bear stood against our white kitchen wall, we wouldn’t see it.

Helmore’s first draft featured that polar bear.…

[B]ut my editor had seen some lion illustrations that she loved by the illustrator Richard Jones. It was her suggestion to change the character to a white lion, which worked perfectly, being that much rarer and strange. … Richard’s illustrations are incredibly beautiful and slightly ethereal, which suit the story perfectly. … [H]is use of color and texture … gives the book an almost dreamlike feel.
- Author Interview: Jim Helmore on The Snow Lion (The World of Peachtree)

The magical Snow Lion is a gentle giant, tender and wise. As Bookbag notes, he is ‘kindly and reassuring [with] a quiet dignity and authority … like a wise and thoughtful parent.’

He reminds me of Aslan.

Because like Aslan, he is a source of strength, comfort and hope.

In the Peach Tree interview, Helmore says he was quite shy as a child, ‘especially in new situations or with new people and I think my daughter feels the same. So this story is for her and anyone who might find it harder to make new friendships.’

That doesn’t surprise me. I don’t think an extrovert could have written this. (Besides, most writers - with their solitary lives - are more often than not introverts.)

When asked how he would ‘encourage children to break out of their shells and explore beyond what feels safe’, Helmore replied:

Carefully. I don’t believe you should force people to do something they feel uncomfortable with. Perhaps it’s more about making a child feel as confident in themselves as possible, [to] then feel able to explore outside their comfort zones. I hope that by reading The Snow Lion and seeing Caro grow in confidence as she makes new friends, this might help.

- Author Interview: Jim Helmore on The Snow Lion (The World of Peachtree)

As the days pass, and Caro is happy playing with her new friend. From the safety of her house, Caro looks out at two boys playing.

One of the boys waved, but Caro looked away shyly.

The lion doesn’t force Caro into a situation which causes her stress. Instead, he continues to play with her. I adore the illustration of Caro lying back with her feet stretched up against the lion. It feels so relaxed - simply two friends, hanging out and chatting!

When sensitive people are in environments that nurture their authenticity, they laugh and chitchat just as much as anyone else.
- Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

As they race and chase each other around the house, Caro becomes more settled and self-assured.

The lion is encouraging and patient.

One day, he looks at Caro thoughtfully and asks:

‘Have you tried the slide in the park?’

I like playing here with you,’ said Caro.

“I’ll still be here when you get back,’ the lion replied.

So Caro went to the park.

The lion is Caro’s anchor, gently encouraging her to step outside her comfort zones and broadens her horizons. Note that she’s not forced (or left to sink or swim).

She’s given choices.

I think there are some profound truths here for all parents—especially those with the more sensitive child.

‘I don’t believe you should force people to do something they feel uncomfortable with,’ says Elmore. ‘Perhaps it’s more about making a child feel as confident in themselves as possible so that they then feel able to explore outside their comfort zones. I hope that by reading The Snow Lion and seeing Caro grow in confidence as she makes new friends, this might help too.’

Pretty soon, Caro is at Bobby’s house, playing with his friends.

Caro’s mum senses her opportunity:

‘I think it’s time to put some colour into this house, don’t you?’

‘I like it white,’ said Caro, uncertainly.

Incidentally, we never get to see Caro’s mother. Perhaps she’s the magical Snow Lion?

Anyway, she organises a painting party. Caro’s new friends lend a hand, and soon their home is full of oranges, reds, blues and greens - leaving nowhere for Caro’s imaginary lion to hide.

But that’s ok! Snow Lion’s work is done! He’s helped Caro find confidence - and new friends.

Like Aladin’s genie, the lion’s free to leave the confines of the house and explore the world.

I hate goodbyes. And The Snow Lion inevitable ends on one of those bitter-sweet moments: Caro and the lion have a farewell hug - in the snow.

‘The lion smiled. ‘And I’ll miss you too. But if you need me, you’ll know where to look.’

The final page acts like a PS.

It’s summertime now, and Caro is playing with Bobby on a beach.

Looking down on them, up high in the clouds, is the ethereal (and camouflaged!) Snow Lion.

As the cover blurb reminds us: ‘[S]ometimes all you need is a special friend to help you find the courage hiding inside.’

STORIES WORTH SHARING: The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore, ill. by Richard Jones

Good to Read because:

It’s a touching, heart-warming story. Reading it feels comforting, like a warm blanket.

It would help reassure young children who are facing significant change, like moving house.

It’s a gentle reminder to parents to be kind and patient.

Little kids will enjoy the hide and seek element as they try and spot the lion against the white backgrounds.

Helps explain what it’s like to be an introvert - great if you have one or two kicking about the house!

Good to Read

Picture books with imaginary friends!

Big Rabbit’s Bad Mood by Ramona Badescu, ill. By Delphine Durand

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

Leon and Bob by Simon James

The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas

Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator! by Mo Willems

BUY THE BOOK The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones (Simon & Schuster 2017) - Storyteller Tim Warnes

‘magical, heart-warming … perfect for snuggling up and reading aloud.’

- Childcare & Education Expo

‘a comforting read for children who are facing change in their lives’

- Chikaruba Blog Buy UK Buy US* I earn commission from these links #AD

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SOURCES
The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones (Simon & Schuster 2017) Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (Penguin 2013) Author Interview: Jim Helmore and The Snow Lion (Peachtree-online.com, October 12th 2018) The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones (Thebookbag.com, september 2017)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on January 29, 2021 02:29

January 22, 2021

On the magic of books

From The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2018 Tim Warnes

Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.

— Carl Sagan I’ve written about The Big Book Adventure before on my blog.

Because you know what? I’m really proud of it! It’s been well received by readers and has been recognised with two awards. So I’m pleased to recommend it to you again this week as my story worth sharing.

The opening illustration sets the scene for what is a celebration of story and the power of reading. We are introduced to the key characters - Piggy (sat, cross-legged and fully engrossed in a book) and Foxy (departing with a wagonload of books). Two friends united by their love of reading! Their preferred hang-out? Maple Leaf Book Club, nestled in the embrace of the giant tree’s roots.

Libraries and book clubs.

Anyone remember them?

The very idea seems almost quaint.

Much of the planning and drawing for the book was done at my local library. But I haven’t stepped foot in it for nearly a year now. Pre-Covid, the UK library service was already suffering from crippling austerity cuts. (Almost 800 UK libraries have permanently closed since 2010.) I fear many more libraries will face the same fate once lockdown is over.

The story takes the form of a conversation between Foxy and Piggy. The premise is simple enough: they excitedly describe their imaginary adventures, inspired by the books they’ve read.

The rhyming story communicates the transformative power of reading by placing the characters – and readers – into the middle of beloved fairy tales and exciting new adventures, including a spaceship voyage and a dragon ride.

- Mom Read It

To coin a phrase, they’ve been away with the faeries, (quite literally, in the case of Foxy) roaming imaginary lands.

When you stop to think about it reading is like magic.

But it’s not the reader who is the magician. The book is!

What a fantastic gift to give your kids!

Carl Sagan (scientist, astronomer, and author), describes this magical power so well:

What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. … Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.

- Carl Sagan - Cosmos, Part 11: The Persistence of Memory

Truth be told, I very nearly didn’t work on The Big Book Adventure. Not because I didn’t like it - I loved the concept! As I recall, I felt overcommitted with other work. (Plus, the commissioning publisher wanted children for the main characters. Back then, this was enough to steer me away from a project!)

But some things are just meant to be.

It gnawed away at me.

The idea of the characters entering different stories - and the opportunity to use different art styles for each - was so appealing!

Unable to resist, I sent the publisher my initial ideas (including the decisive sketch of Piggy sat at the Mad Hatter’s tea table), and we were off!

So as I said, I’m proud of my work on the book. As it happens, The Big Book Adventure turned out to be a pivotal project for me, expanding my skills and confidence.

What makes The Big Book of Adventure truly delightful is the rich variety of illustration styles that accompany every new adventure the friends describe. From classic to collage, comic book to painterly, the styles transport you with every page turn.

- Books 4 Your Kids

Take the spread inspired by Treasure Island, for example. This was the first time I’d experimented with cut-paper college (yeah, yeah, I know - digital is easier) - and the addition of those tropical birds made my heart sing! Feeling inspired, this gave me the confidence to integrate both collage and birds into my next project, Only You Can Be You!

(This particular image might have turned out looking very different: I originally played around with spoofing Red Rackham’s Treasure by Hergé. It fitted the theme of the spread, and at the time Levi was enjoying the Tintin series.)

Development sketch for The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, Illustrated by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin, 2018) | Illustration © 2017 Tim Warnes

The Big Book of Adventure ends perfectly with one friend saying to the other, “I’d love to see the things you’ve seen . . .” To that, the friend replies, “You lend your books to me, and I’ll lend mine to you!”

- Books 4 Your Kids

Right now, of course, these two friends would encounter complicated social distancing issues.

*Sigh*

How lovely we still have books - and our imaginations - to escape into…

STORIES WORTH SHARING: The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, illustrated by Tim Warnes

Good to Read because:

It encourages reluctant readers by modelling the joy of reading

With its short, rhyming text, it makes a quick bedtime read

When time allows, the illustrations open up plenty of opportunities to get creative and discuss the adventures.

With a multitude of art styles, it’s visually rich. Budding artists should find the possibilities inspiring

2019 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards - Silver Winner (Children’s Picture Book 0-3 years)

Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Winner - 2018 GOLD Winner (Picture Books, Early Reader)

Good to Read

Stories that celebrate the magic of books

It’s a Book! by Lane Smith

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Book? by Lauren Child

Little Nelly’s Big Book by Pippa Goodhart, ill. by Andy Rowland

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, ill. by Tim Warnes

On the magic of books, Storyteller Tim Warnes, 22/01/2021

SOURCES Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show by Alison Flood (The Guardian, Dec 6 2019)The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford, ill. by Tim Warnes (Silver Dolphin 2018) Opening quote by Carl Sagan ( JamesClear.com) The Big Book Adventure by Emily Ford and Tim Warnes (Books 4 Your Kids, May 23 2019) Go on a Big Book Adventure with two friends! by Rosemary Kiladitis (Mom Read It, July 22 2019) Super Isaac: What makes him different makes him great! by Tim Warnes (Storyteller Tim Warnes, Aug 28 2020) © 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)**** USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on January 22, 2021 00:54

January 15, 2021

This tiny little fly will empower your child!

From Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Kevin Waldron (Walker Books, 2010) | Illustration © 2010 Kevin Waldron

The winter fly I spared
Was captured by
The cat

— Issa Storytime should be part of every child's daily routine.

The very act of engaging with your children on an intimate, focussed level is as important as reading the story itself. This is particularly true with babies and very young children since there is so much at stake:

Study after study shows that early reading with children helps them learn to speak, interact, bond with parents and read early themselves, and reading with kids who already know how to read helps them feel close to caretakers, understand the world around them and be empathetic citizens of the world.
- Why it's important to read aloud with your kids, and how to make it count

So storytime may not always go as smoothly as you'd like.

So what!

Interruptions.

Toilet breaks.

Parents nodding off. (Guilty!).

Maybe your child just wants to tell you about a digger they saw earlier that day. Perhaps they are intent on racing ahead to find their favourite part of the story.

That's all OK - and normal!

Still, for all these reasons (and more), it's often the most straightforward stories that work best for little ones. They help focus the attention. They don't last too long.

Frankly, they are often a breath of fresh air.

One such book is Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Kevin Waldron (Walker Books 2010).

Spotting this oversized picture book on display in a Foyles in London was a memorable experience. With its blazing orange tiger on the front cover, it practically leapt off the shelf at me, roaring, "Pick me up! Open me! Read me". And when I did, I fell in love with its beautiful design.

From the choice of aged, background papers and faux typeset lettering, Tiny Little Fly has a lovely, antiquated (and retro) feel. For me, this is part of its charm. (A deliberate move on the part of illustrator Waldron: "The idea that a book has been around for decades and appreciated by different owners appeals greatly to me".)

Former Children's Laureate Micheal Rosen makes Tiny Little Fly feel deceptively simple. He is, of course, a master wordsmith. So each word is used to maximum effect, expressing a surprising amount. His rhyming text is fun, 'full of movement and drama' and an absolute joy to read aloud. Why describe an elephant as 'stomping' when you can up the drama and write TRAMP! CRUSH! TRAMP! (as Rosen does) instead?!

There is, of course, plenty of buzzing from Tiny Little Fly - denoted by trailing, loopy lines (which kids will enjoy tracing with their fingers). Fly may be small, but he's a cheeky chap, zipping through the jungle to pester the other animals. Whenever he encounters someone new, the animal is only partly revealed, inviting your child to guess its identity.

My oh my,

Tiny Little Fly!

Tiny Little Fly

Sees great big toes…

All is revealed when the page is turned.

Tiny Little Fly

Sits on Elephant’s nose.

After Elephant, Great Big Hippo - then that glorious tiger!

Fly is tiny. The other animals are SO BIG, they have to be squashed to fit the book's confines. Spilling over and across onto subsequent, sprawling spreads emphasises their size difference. And each time, the reader is left to search for Tiny Little Fly.

On this subject, Rosen notes,

I'm always looking to see how illustrators keep a child's eye active. The miracle of the best books is that a child's eye is taken to all four corners of the page, to and fro. The child's eye can't rest.

And neither can Tiny Little Fly!

The whole book feels like a game: Cheeky Fly buzzes about, pestering the other animals - leading to the repeated refrain, My oh my, Tiny Little Fly!

(Regular readers will note that I often single out such repeated refrains. Why? Because their familiarity is engaging, empowering even the youngest to join in. When this happens, your child is practising her language skills, experiencing the joy of reading, and - best of all - connecting more deeply with you.

Tiny Little Fly also contains the Holy Grail of picture books: A giant fold-out spread. It allows the sprawling animals one last attempt to catch their nemesis, who appears even smaller and quick-witted as he escapes off the page: Fly! Fly! Fly!

Little ones will enjoy everything about this book. Had it been around in the 70s, Tiny Little Fly would undoubtedly be one of those iconic stories from my preschool years that seared itself into my memory.

Big, juicy animals!

The rhyme!

The fun!

Right down to the enjoyment of tracing the fly's flight path across those big, open pages…

Finally, it's Great Big Tiger's turn. She winks one eye and says to herself, "I'm going to catch that fly!"

Like Elephant and Hippo before her, Great Big Tiger fails.

Tiny Little Fly almost - but never quite - gets himself obliterated!

No wonder Tiny Little Fly is so relatable to young kids! In the character of the fly, they see a kindred spirit.

He is a hero (of sorts) for all small, put-upon individuals dictated to left, right and centre (and told to buzz off).

So however tempted Rosen may have been to satisfy his urge to rhyme, he puts his readers first.

The fly does not die.

No matter how hard the great, big animals try.

(Their attempts to catch him don't even make him cry.)

Why?

Because he's a super fly guy!

And readers everywhere will be delighted that he survives to pester someone another day.

Tiny Little Fly,

Winks one eye…

"See you all soon.

Bye, everyone, bye!"

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Kevin Waldron

Good to Read because:

It's joyful, lively and funny!

It engages children on several levels:

With the repeated refrain, My oh my, Tiny Little Fly!

The descriptive verbs - TRAMP! CRUSH! ROLL! SQUASH! SWOOP! SNATCH! - encourage kids to act out;

The fly leaves a satisfying trail to trace with your finger!

As a predictive text - the illustrations encourage children to guess what will happen next.

For newly independent readers, the 'large font, and predictable language will allow for success.'

Kids will relate to, and be empowered by, the little fly!

Good to Read

Big-Small Animal Stories.

Big & Small by Elizabeth Bennett, ill. by Jane Chapman

Bartholomew and the Bug by Neal Layton

Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, ill. by Kevin Waldron

Horton Hears a Who by Dr Seuss

DANGEROUS! by Tim Warnes

Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, Illustrated by Kevin Waldron (Walker Books, 2010) | Illustration © 2010 Kevin Waldron

‘Immediately engaging and quite unforgettable. With rhythmic text and clever use of sound words, this is a great read-aloud.’

- Love Reading 4 Kids

‘As a read-aloud, this book will have children joining in, chanting, "My, oh my, Tiny Little Fly!" As an independent read, the text-picture correspondence, large font, and predictable language will allow for success.’

- The Classroom Bookshelf Buy UK* I earn commission from the link above #AD SOURCESTiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, ill. by Kevin Waldron (Walker Books 2010)Haiku: Classic Japanese Short Poems translated by Hart Larrabee (Amber Books 2016) Why it's important to read aloud with your kids, and how to make it count by Amy Joyce (Washington Post, 16 Feb 2017)Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen and Kevin Waldron - Review by Marzena and Dominic (The Guardian, 7 Oct 2012) Tiny Little Fly (Books Trust) I Love It When An Illustrator Surprises Me (Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, 16 Dec 2010) Tiny Little Fly (Hot Cross Mum, 27 Oct 2010) Why Pre-Readers Should Get to Enjoy Books Independently (And How to Help Them Learn to Do It) By Lindsay Barrett (Readbrightly.com) Tiny Little Fly (theclassroombookshelf.com, 3 Jan 2011) © 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)**** USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on January 15, 2021 01:34

January 8, 2021

Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert

Magic is more important than mess.

— Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert

I love the ability children have to slip in and out of reality at the drop of a hat (or wave of a wand).

Both my kids had very active imaginations - Noah’s, in particular, was off the charts! He spent most of his early years dressed up and in character, to the point of often refusing to answer to his own name. Thanks to them both, I got to enjoy the company of Virgil Tracey, Captain Scarlet, Jane the Diver, Tina Turner, Dinosaur Jack, Little Eagle (native American brave), Police Dog Handler man and a multitude of cowboy personas.

So I have a natural affinity for this week’s recommendation: Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood, illustrated by Ella Okstad (Simon & Schuster 2018).

Written in the first person, it’s a masterclass in portraying the depth of a child’s imagination. In this case, Sophie Johnson (an ‘earnest girl in oversized spectacles’) - who is obsessed with unicorns! Everyone has unicorn potential - baby brother, dolls, teddies, the dog - and each receives a makeshift horn - even the goldfish.

(Well, everyone apart from the cat. Remarkably, it manages to escape humiliation and remain aloof. How very cat-like of it! I love the way Okstad added this incidental character, which enriches the text. Her illustration showing the smug cat, side-eyeing the affable dog, speaks volumes.)

It was Okstad’s delightful unicorn that initially drew me to this story. It’s not, perhaps, the typical unicorn of picture books, looking like a mash-up of a Thelwell pony, a Moomin, Barbapapa and a hippopotamus! We meet it right at the start, strolling through a magical landscape of pink cotton candy, candy canes and rainbows, carrying a suitcase in its mouth.

Rotund and placid, with rainbow mane and tail and, the wide-eyed unicorn wanders into the world of Sophie Johnson: unicorn expert (and keeper). But Sophie’s way too busy lecturing her unicorn trainees to notice the benign, wide-eyed presence sneak in and join her class. The unicorn’s suitcase suggests it was on a mission - perhaps to find out how to be? I like to think of it as a sponge, absorbing everything a unicorn needs to know about magic, hunting for food - and the dangers of balloons.

In contrast to the undemonstrative unicorn, Sophie is a tutu-wearing, twirling ball of energy! Okstad does an excellent job of capturing the chaotic mess that Sophie’s games create. She could have chosen to introduce a majestic, strong-willed unicorn who stands tall and proud above the chaos. So it’s rather lovely that Okstad decided instead to depict a ‘small, round, white but sparkling with magic’ unicorn. Which, as Books for Keeps notes, ‘provides a small patch of unmissable quiet in the proceedings’.

Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert is gently humorous, and the joyful illustrations are often allowed to tell the story by themselves. This was a deliberate choice on the part of the author, Morag Hood (herself an illustrator):

One of the things I like most about the format [of picture books] is the tension that can be created between the words and the pictures. I’ve always especially enjoyed books where the reader knows what is going on better than the characters themselves. I think I am probably quite in touch with my inner four-year-old and I seem to remember relishing that feeling of being in on the joke and being smarter than the characters in a book. ... [W]ith this in mind ... I started playing around with the idea of the main character being oblivious to what is going on around them, and Sophie started to emerge.

- Morag Hood does A Little But A Lot: Sophie Johnson edition

Sophie Johnson is exuberant and confident - too busy Being an Expert to ever notice the unicorn in her midst. At the end of the story, it leaves just as quietly as it arrived: sedate yet wiser, trailing a flurry of rainbow magic behind it.

A few years back, my nephew Isaac couldn’t get enough of unicorns. I’m glad my sister just went with it. I wonder how many parents have discouraged their sons’ interest (the same goes for books on fairies and mermaids)? My advice would be: Let kids be kids. Follow their lead. If your daughter wants nothing but pink princess and unicorn books, that’s cool. But don’t be concerned if your son does too. Likewise, if he wants to read about trains and diggers and warrior knights, go with that.

Something tells me that Sophie Johnson has a fair few of those titles on her own shelves, too.

Squeezed in between Unicorn Volumes 1 - 12.

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood, ill. by Ella Okstad

This book is Good to Read because:

Sophie Johnson is a creative role model - brimming with self-confidence and imagination!

It’s a celebration of being an individual.

It’s open to interpretation, so encourages creative thinking:

what would the land of unicorns look like?

What do unicorns eat?

The story relies heavily on the illustrations to tell the story, this is a great one for supporting visual literacy.

It helps breaks down gender tropes - Sophie may love unicorns and wear a tutu, but she’s also a badass princess warrior!

Good to Read

Characters who believed in themselves

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses by Ian Falconer

Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson

Sophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood, illustrated by Ella Okstad

Anton can do magic by Ole Konnecke

BUY THE BOOK

'The story will undoubtedly be loved by all young unicorn fans and might even inspire some creative unicorn making.'

- Kids Book Review

'Perfect for unicorn lovers of all ages, this is a clever and funny book where the text and pictures work together harmoniously, providing an extra layer of humour on each page.'

- Book Trust

Buy UK

Buy US

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SOURCESSophie Johnson: Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood, illustrated by Ella Okstad (Simon & Schuster, 2018)Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert (Kirkus Reviews, 2018)Ella Okstad – Expert Unicorn Illustrator - Interview (Picturebooking.com, May 05, 2019)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)**** USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on January 08, 2021 01:04

December 18, 2020

Celebrating the True Meaning of Christmas

Jesus’ Christmas Party by Nicholas Allan | © 1991 by Nicholas Allan |Used by permission

Tis the season to be jolly

This coming Covid-Christmas already looks and feels very different to what we've become accustomed to.

Sure, there's still plenty of trimmings - Santas and snowmen; ribbons and reindeer. But to me, it feels more empty and hollow than usual.

It's an appropriate moment, then, to ask, What is the true meaning of Christmas? And how can I share that through picture books?

Don't get me wrong - I haven't gone all Scrooge on you! I have created many Christmas picture books over the years, and they all celebrate positive aspects of the holiday season and the love of family and friends.

But despite these qualities, they don't address the True Meaning of Christmas.

The birth of Jesus Christ.

(Yes, I know that the Bible doesn't give a date for the birth of Christ. I know the 25th December is random, but that's what we're given, But it is Jesus the Christ who lends His name to Christmas. And ironically, He doesn't get much of a look in when it comes to the season's festivities.)

Surprisingly, it's tricky to find a picture book about the Nativity that is more than a simple recap. Goodnight, Manger by Laura Sassi, ill. by Jane Chapman (Zonderkidz 2105) is excellent one. It puts you slap bang in the action of a noisy stable. I also have fond childhood memories of Dick Bruna's The Christmas Story. (One year my Dad helped us recreate it on the wall in giant paper cut-outs!)

So I’ve decided to highlight Jesus' Christmas Party by Nicholas Allan (Hutchinson 1991) again as my story worth sharing this week. Described by Books for Your Children as ‘[f]unny, robust yet reverent’, it is sweet and charming - and perfect for connecting with your kids this Christmas.

Jesus's Christmas Party is a delightful (and dare I say, inspired) retelling of the Nativity, told through the eyes of a grumpy innkeeper who 'liked [nothing] more than a good night's sleep.' (Allan even gets in a story twist right at the end.)

As the night draws on, the innkeeper becomes increasingly grumpy and frustrated with each rude awakening. First, by Joseph's request for a third, smaller blanket; then by shepherds.

And each time, the innkeeper's refrain - 'Round the back!' - is repeated with comedic effect as he stomps back to bed.

There's another knock at the innkeeper's door:

'We are three shepherds.'

'Well, what's the matter? Lost your sheep?'

'We've come to see Mary and Joseph.'

'ROUND THE BACK,' said the innkeeper.

Fellow believers needn't be concerned that Allan is trivializing the Nativity. As the Kirkus Review explains, '[i] t's a gentle nudge to the reader's imagination: What would it really have been like to be there?'

Isn't that the mark of a great story? To nudge our imaginations, to draw us in deeper?

Like Goodnight, Manger, Jesus' Christmas Party has also faced criticism. 'Some people thought it was blasphemous,' says Allan, 'because it was funny.'

And it is! (Funny, that is.)

According to the Sunday Times,' [t]he funniest, most endearing version of the nativity story for many years.'

The chorus of angelic singing is the final straw for the poor innkeeper!

'RIGHT - THAT DOES IT!'

So [the innkeeper] got out of bed,

Stomped down the stairs,

Threw open the door, went around the back,

Stormed into the stable, and was just about to speak when -

And here we reach the most charming part of Jesus' Christmas Party. As the innkeeper gazes upon the baby Jesus, he is transformed. Allan's illustration, simple and light, speaks volumes.

I don't know Allan's intent behind creating Jesus' Christmas Party. But if you're after a story about the True Meaning of Christmas that is both fun and thought-provoking, then look no further. Because whatever your belief system, it won't disappoint.

On a deeper level, it reveals the True Meaning of Christmas. Jesus came so that we could encounter the Father and have our hearts transformed. Just like the grumpy innkeeper.

And the Grinch, come to think of it.

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Jesus’ Christmas Party by Nicholas Allan

Good to Read because:

It’s funny and a little subversive

It has a repeated refrain (little kids will love joining in!)

Puts the focus back on the True Meaning of Christmas

Good to Read

For the True Meaning of Christmas

The Christmas Story by Dick Bruna

Jesus' Christmas Party by Nicholas Allan (Hutchinson 1991)

Goodnight, Manger by Laura Sassi, ill. by Jane Chapman (Zonderkidz 2105)

With thanks to Nicholas Allan for granting permission to reproduce his work.Read my review of Goodnight Manger HereBUY THE BOOK

Jesus' Christmas Party, Cover, Storyteller Tim Warnes, 18/12/2020

Jesus' Christmas Party, Cover, Storyteller Tim Warnes, 18/12/2020

‘[Jesus’ Christmas Party] is a tradition that it is told on Christmas Eve at the dinner table with sound effects (foot stomping and door slamming acted out on the table top). [My children] laugh and love the alternative perspective on the story - even though they are currently 10 and 13! Highly recommended.’

- Good Reads

Buy UK

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SourcesJesus' Christmas Party by Nicholas Allan (Hutchinson, 1991) Jesus' Christmas Party (Kirus Reviews, October 1, 1991)The Author (Spring 2019) Nicholas allan .co.uk (nicholasallan.co.uk) Jesus’ Christmas Party (Good Reads)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on December 18, 2020 03:20

December 11, 2020

Toot & Puddle - Bringing Christmas home!

From Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown 2007) | © 2007 by Hollie Hobbie

The first snowfall had turned Woodcock Pocket into a sparkling wonderland. Everything was ready. Everything was perfect.

— I'll Be Home For Christmas, Holly Hobbie

For people of a certain age, the name Holly Hobbie instantly conjures up a cat-loving girl in an over-sized bonnet.

The character (who bore her creator's name) was a 1970's sensation. I am so glad the real-life Holly Hobbie didn't get pigeon-holed by the phenomenal success of her creation. Because she went on to create the endearing book characters, Toot & Puddle!

The piglet pals have a 'caring, odd-couple rapport' (think Frog and Toad or Chalk & Cheese) - and they are irresistibly charming. They are also very different from one another. Toot loves to travel (fans of the series will spot him in such far-flung places as Mont Blanc, Egypt and the Solomon Islands). Puddle, on the other hand, is a homebody. Their home at Woodcock Pocket is 'such a perfect place to be that Puddle never wanted to go anywhere else'. And having spent time with the books, I totally get it!

It's their different personalities which form the basis for many of the stories, which all celebrate true friendship.

As Publishers Weekly notes: ‘Children will be reassured by the message that friends can have different interests and still enjoy one another.’

I first discovered Toot & Puddle in the public library - and they blew me away! To say Hobbie is a skilled watercolourist is an understatement. Her techniques for capturing light and shade and atmosphere is superb. I work a lot in watercolour and know what an unforgiving (and happily haphazard) medium it can be. Hobbie's paintings are masterful - and hugely inspiring to me.

Toot and Puddle, with their big, flappy ears, are so expressive! ‘Subtle facial expressions and childlike poses (and outfits) render the diminutive, piglet pair instantly endearing.’ (Publishers Weekly)

From I'll Be Home for Christmas by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown 2001) | © 2001 by Hollie Hobbie

Hobbie generously gave us two Christmas-themed Toot & Puddle books (I'll Be Home For Christmas and Let it Snow). In this article I’ll explain why they're my Good to Read recommendations this week.

I'll Be Home For Christmas by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown & Company 2001) sees Toot off on his travels.

This time, he's in Scotland, visiting an ancient Aunt! His postcard home sets up the premise for the book:

P.S. I'll be home for Christmas.

And in the spirit of just about any feel-good Christmas movie you could name, it's going to take more than cancelled flights, blizzards and snowdrifts to prevent Toot from making it home in time.

Toot hiked far from the city. The night was cold and the snow was deep. He trudged on until, at last, he could go no further.

Hugging himself to keep warm, Toot takes hold of the lucky nut in his pocket - a special gift from Great-Great-Aunt Peg.

(The scene reminds me of the time Pa Ingles gets lost in a four-day blizzard (On the Banks of Plum Creek). He survives by eating his daughters' Christmas candy - before being reunited with his family on Christmas Eve. ("But by jinks," Pa says, "I brought the oysters home!"))

As with the Little House series (and again, countless Christmas movies) Home for Christmas celebrates the kindness of strangers. In this case, it's Santa who helps out by giving Toot a ride on the last leg of his journey home. What's rather charming is that the pigs seem oblivious to the kind stranger's identity!

Toot told his friend of his adventure and how he finally got back to Woodcock Pocket.

"I loved the sleigh ride," he said. "It felt like we were flying."

"I wonder who that driver was," said Puddle.

When Home for Christmas is read aloud, it feels a little staccato. There are pages where there is no text at all, and the illustrations tell the story. There are pages where the text is little more than a caption ('Meanwhile… at Woodcock Pocket') to provide context to the illustration. It makes the reader's job more challenging, true. But don't let that put you off. Because it will also makes for a really satisfying book to share, one-on-one with your child. There's plenty for you to discuss and explore in the illustrations. Sometimes, a little more effort is called for - but your storytime will feel even more intimate.

Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown & Company 2007) is the final book in the Toot & Puddle series. And it seems Toot has learned his lesson, because this time he’s taking no chances - he’s at home in Woodcock Pocket as the preparations begin.

Let it Snow with a vignette of Puddle. He’s staring forlornly at unused snow paraphernalia (shovel, sledge, snowshoes and skis).

Christmas was just around the corner, and Puddle hadn't seen a single snowflake yet.

Immediately we have two open story loops.

1. What shall I get for my best friend?'

2. When will it snow?

It's the second question that kids relate to the most. So it is the one that Hobbie resolves first (while exploring that present problem along the way). I remember how my own kids empathised with the pigs. The southwest of England is where we live - and it's not famous for its snow. So, when will it snow? was a frequently fielded question.

About half way through the book, it happens!

'The snow that had been silently falling through the night now blanketed everything with a hushed, gleaming luster', writes Hobbie. Such beautiful prose - it compliments her atmospheric paintings perfectly. The following day, the pigs go off skiing through the woods.

"I wish I could take this morning and put it in my pocket and keep it forever[," said Puddle.]

"Me, too," Toot sighed. "It's perfect."

But their dreams of a white Christmas are shattered overnight by torrential rain. The following morning, 'the glorious snow was gone.'

Hobbie captures the piggy pals' disappointment so beautifully. And the way she handles the rain is genius! It's as if we are looking at Toot and Puddle through a rain-smeared window (precisely the same effect the glum pigs would have). She captures the moment (and a very wet Woodcock Pocket) perfectly.

This is a surprising twist for a Christmas story. But it leaves us, of course, with the vexing question of what to give your best friend for Christmas?'

[Toot] knew that the best present was usually something you made yourself, a one-of-a-kind thingamajig, not just a whatsit anyone could buy in a store.

I love Hobbie's use of language!

The story, notes Kirkus Review, 'has a touching and gently expressed theme of the joy of giving to others on Christmas, rather than anticipating one's own presents.' It ends with the friends presenting their gifts:

a go-kart with skis: "It's for sledding - snow or no snow."

and a painting: "It's you and me. … That snowy day in the woods."

I could pour over Hobbie's illustrations for hours. There are so many subtleties - from the heavy snow blanketing branches to flurries of icy snowflakes driven by the wind. Puffs of warm piggy breath on cold air. The bright, warmth of sunlight and lamps; the cool shades of snow at night. They are full of lovely little touches. Hot embers crackling up the chimney, cold coals around the hearth; sticky-taped parcels; flurries of icy snowflakes and a basket of pine cones.

Hobbie's work is often described as winsome. When I first read my own work being described as such, I cringed (I thought it was a slur)! Now I take it as a compliment. Merriam Webster defines winsome as 'generally pleasing and engaging ... a childlike charm and innocence. Cheerful, lighthearted.'

I think those are pretty good qualities for a picture book to have. So I'm pleased to be put in the same camp as Toot & Puddle!

STORIES WORTH SHARING: Let it Snow! And I'll Be Home For Christmas!

These Toot & Puddle books are Good to Read because they:

Capture that seasonal glow and warmth that make Christmas feel so special

Celebrate the importance of family and friends

Model kindness

Encourage visual literacy - and conversation about the story.

The art is first-rate - packed full of expressive piggies

With more complex language, these are great transitional books for children moving into longer fiction

(Let it Snow and I'll Be Home For Christmas are part of the 12 part' Toot & Puddle' series - all of which I highly recommend.)

‘Hobbie's chipper text and alternately cozy and funny watercolors are as winning as ever.’

- Publishers Weekly

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From Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown 2007) | © 2007 by Hollie Hobbie

‘Toot and Puddle are … classics in the tales of friendships.’

- Chicago Tribune

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Buy US

* I earn commission from this link #ADSOURCESToot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown & Company 1997)Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home For Christmas by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown & Company 2001)Toot & Puddle: Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie (Little, Brown & Company 2007) Toot & Puddle Review (Publishers Weekly) Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow Review (Publishers Weekly) Let It Snow, From the Toot & Puddle Series (Hobbie, Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2007)On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingles Wilder© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

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Published on December 11, 2020 03:48

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My Life in Books

I have been fortunate enough to inhabit, in one way or another, the world of Children’s Books for nearly 50 years. It’s a world that has brought me solace, joy, excitement, knowledge, friends - and a ...more

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