Tim Warnes's Blog: My Life in Books, page 13

December 4, 2020

Celebrating family and Christmas with some festive bears

I Love You More Than Christmas! by Ellie Hattie, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2020)

The holidays are only as good as the love that comes with them.

— YA and Kids! Books Central

Can you believe it’s that time of year already? Yikes!

I remember when my boys were young, celebrations began on December 1st. There were the advent calendars (of course) - and a big box of Christmas themed books, CDs and DVDs that came down from the loft.

Our Christmas collection contained old classics like How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Father Christmas and my favourite - Raymond Briggs’ magical, The Snowman.

My sister wraps up 24 Christmassy books for my nephew, one for each day of Advent. That’s dedication! Maybe you have a similar tradition? If you’re in need of a new Christmas story for the kids, then here’s a new one from me worth sharing: I Love You More Than Christmas! It’s hot-off-the-press - and features a family of bears (of course)!

Cover Sketch from I Love You More Than Christmas! by Ellie Hattie, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2020) | Illustration © 2020 by Tim Warnes

The author, Ellie Hattie, and I have written a blog piece about it for Little Tiger Press: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year… In it, Hattie explains how she tackled the brief by asking: What says Christmas to me?

‘I started to list every single thing about the festive season that makes me smile,’ she writes. ‘[T]he tinsel, the baubles, the food, the songs, the gifts and presents. The friends! The family!’

Likewise, I approached the project with this question:

Aside from bears, what does everyone expect to find in a Christmassy picture book?

Because as the illustrator, that’s my job: To evoke Christmas cheer and an abiding sense of homely cosiness. (Good ol’ Mom and Apple Pie, if you will!).

So I compiled a list, too:

Lamps and firelight.

Mugs of steaming drinks.

Plates of cakes.

Swags of evergreen.

Quilt/blanket

Hats and scarves

Kettle

Logs

Cuddly toy

Big, comfy armchair.

Cushions, pillows.

Rugs, books.

All of which I included in my illustrations.

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

Warnes’s winsome images include lots of homey detail and depict a furry family overjoyed to decorate, bake, dance, and just be together.
- Publishers Weekly

Kids get super-excited around Christmas. Hattie’s exuberant Little Bear is no exception!

‘The character’s joy radiates from the page with every furry smile and outstretched paw!’ she said.

I’m glad she feels I’ve done her character justice. (I think Little Bear would be exhausting to be around!)

The editorial team asked me to tone the excitement down for the penultimate spread. It’s the obligatory bedtime scene - and in my sketch, Little Bear was still buzzing! In the final illustration (below) I duly made little bear calmer, and the scene more conducive to bedtime. And it became one my favourite spreads!

Writing this article, I’ve suddenly realised something: Little Bear is never identified in the story as being male or female. Meaning all kids can relate equally to the character, both boys and girls. (Which will keep the scholars happy!)

I Love You More Than Christmas! is a full-on Christmas splurge (in a traditional, lets-go-cut-the-tree-ourselves-and-bake kind of way)! But running throughout is an important, underlying message. However fabulous the season is, there’s something that Little Bear loves even more. The little bear tries telling Mummy and Daddy Bear, but every time is interrupted before he/she completes their sentence.

Hattie cleverly wrote these parts to rhyme. I say clever because thanks to it’s cadence and repetition, young children will soon latch onto the meaning immediately, allowing them to interact with the storytelling.

The only thing better than the images in this book is the message. It teaches that no matter how great Christmas is, it’s not the most important thing. The holidays are only as good as the love that comes with them.
- Good Reads

A final aside - the little group of carol singers were directly inspired by EH Shepherd’s illustrations in The Wind in the Willows. As you can see from this picture, they are very tiny - but pack a big emotional punch!

From The Wind in The Willow, Kenneth Grahame, ill. by E.H. Shepherd (METHUEN 1926)

I guess we could be accused of overloading the sentiment. But after the year we’ve had, perhaps that’s just what families need.

Stories Worth Sharing: I Love You More Than Christmas!

This book is Good to Read because it:

Places value on being part of a loving family.

Emphasises the joy of being in a community.

Models kindness.

Encourages participation (its repeating rhyme: “but the thing that I love more than Christmas is -” almost guarantees even the youngest kids to shout, “YOU!”)

Mixes up some gender roles (Mummy hauls decorations down from the attic; Daddy is seen baking)

Is packed with festive feel-good cheer!

BUY THE BOOKS

Powered by Bookshop.org | Supporting local bookshops

“definitely one to be read aloud and shared with little readers.”

- AMAZON REVIEW

“gorgeous and completely adorable”

- Good Reads

Buy UK

Buy US

I earn commision from these links #AD You can read our article for the Little Tiger Press blog here!SourcesI Love You More Than Christmas! by Ellie Hattie, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2020) Review for ‘I Love You More Than Christmas ’ (Ya Book Central,September 29, 2020) The Most Wonderful Time Of The Yea r (Little Tiger Press, December 1, 2020)I Love You More Than Christmas! review (Publishers Weekly)THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS BY KENNETH GRAHAME, ill. by E.H. Shepherd (METHUEN 1926)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 04, 2020 02:08

November 27, 2020

WARNING! This odd-couple is funny!

Mole & the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing © 2018 by Tim Warnes

There are particular books from my career (spanning 26 plus years now!) which I have a soft spot for.

Positioned firmly in that category, you will find Mole and the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing!

The odd-couple make their first appearance in DANGEROUS!, followed by a companion title a few years later: WARNING! This Book May Contain Rabbits! (Published as WARNING! Do Not Touch! in the U.S.)

And I love them!

In many ways, Mole and the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing are complete opposites - and that’s partly their appeal.

One is BIG, the other is small. Their personalities are very different, too. The Lumpy-Bumpy Thing is outgoing, approachable and - as we discover in WARNING! - rather cavalier in his behaviour. To me, he’s a bit of a Tigger!

In contrast, the diminutive Mole is cautious, verging on the timid (as many small creatures are). He is also a wordsmith, self-soothing with the vigorous and obsessive labelling of things.

These different personality traits create further conflict between them and drive the stories forward.

The books have been well received - but they have not been without criticism. Some people have knocked them for the labelling aspect.

Labels are hurtful, they say. Labels aren’t helpful.

From WARNING! This Book May Contain Rabbits! by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2016) | © 2016 by Tim Warnes

Yes, labels can be hurtful. That was the essence - ‘the hook’ - of the original story! But the story begins with Mole uses his senses to describe the unusual thing:

Lumpy.

Bumpy.

Because crocodiles are lumpy and bumpy! These are non-judgemental descriptions. (Admittedly, some of the adjectives - if applied to a human rather than a swamp-inhabiting crocodile - would be hurtful, even if accurate: e.g. warty, slimy, peculiar…)

But then Mole makes a judgement - ‘that thing looks dangerous’

That is the pivotal moment (or, in writer’s speak, the ‘inciting incident’.)

And I think it’s what makes him a believable character.

Mole makes a snap judgement based on first appearances. Haven’t we all done that before?

It could be argued that Mole was right to be cautious. He is, after all, a small prey animal. (What do we teach our kids?: Don’t talk to strangers.)

But Mole’s failing lies in the fact that he had a closed mind. He wasn’t open to learning more about the strange Lumpy-Bumpy Thing. He naturally sensed potential danger (the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing does have a terrifying yawn full of snippy-snappy teeth, after all!). But once it became clear that the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing posed no threat, Mole became disgruntled.

He was rude.

And unreceptive.

Mole was unwilling to be open to a new experience.

His ‘no brain’ was in control.

In my defence, it’s hard to convey the totality of a message within the confines of 32 pages! Sometimes the reader is left to do some of the work. (At the very end, in the endpaper illustration, we learn that Mole acknowledges his friend as kind and gentle - but only from ‘reading’ the new labels.)

The important thing is that Mole leads by example. He realises his mistake and is sorry.

He understands how hurtful he’s been.

He empathises with the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing.

And he recognises that the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing, rather than being dangerous, can be his friend.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we all had open ‘yes brains’ like that?!

The story seed for WARNING! was a quick sketch beside a top hat labeled: WARNING!

So I asked the question: What if?

What if the two friends found a hat labeled WARNING! Do not touch!? How would they react?

Mole would be cautious; the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing would mess about with it.

“Quick! Take it off!” cried Mole. “It could be dangerous.”

What if the magic started working?

What if white rabbits started appearing from the hat?

“Holey Moley!” gasped Mole. “That hat’s magic!”

The bunny jumped down and gave Mole a great, big snuggle.

“I suppose it’s safe enough,” Mole grinned. “After all, they ARE just bunnies.”

How would the characters react?

The Lumpy-Bumpy Thing just wants to play and make friends.

He’s in Bunny Heaven!

But a small mole would feel quickly overwhelmed and out of control.

Unsurprisingly then, it is Mole who shouts, “Make it STOP!”

I recently recommended WARNING! to a friend who wanted a funny story for her nephew. I thought the anarchy of the snow bunny explosion and the energetic artwork (described by Kirkus Review as ‘Looney Tunes-esque’) might do the trick! It makes me laugh!

The Kirkus reviewer, however, wasn’t terribly enamoured with my book:

Responsibility for meddling with the off-limits hat is never acknowledged, sharing the garden bounty with the fluffle is never considered, learning from mistakes is skated over, squashing and scaring the bunnies is actively pursued.

And they’re right! All of those things are true - but as I said, it’s tough to cover everything (and keep my editor happy!)

If Mole had shared his garden bounty, the story would have fallen flat. There would have been no conflict, and the problem of the bunnies would not have been resolved.

And I’m ok with the active ‘squashing and scaring’ of the bunnies. Mole and the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing were desperately trying to defend themselves against the tide of bunnies, and it was deliberately done with humour. It’s the equivalent of swatting your hand at a pesky fly. The illustrations clearly show that the bunnies are totally unphased and continue with their antics. No harm is done.

Learning from mistakes though - now that’s something that makes me question my ending. The Lumpy-Bumpy Thing notices something: a magic wand with a label, “Warning! Do not touch!” As Kirkus puts it: ‘Once bitten, twice not the least bit shy.’ The result is an influx of white doves - although I think it’s clear from the illustration: the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing finally learns his lesson!

As Karen on Good Reads puts it:

This book was cute. And the moral of the story: Always read the labels. Mole didn’t do all that hard work just so you could ignore them. ;)

- Good Reads

From WARNING! This Book May Contain Rabbits! by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2016) | © 2016 by Tim Warnes

WHY DANGEROUS! AND WARNING! ARE GOOD TO READ

The adventures of Mole and the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing:

Are great fun to read aloud.

Will make kids laugh.

There’s plenty to discuss in the detailed illustrations.

They are a little subversive.

They’re jam-packed with labels to help improve your kid’s vocabulary

They help promote discussions about feelings, supporting the development of empathy and compassion (emotional literacy).

They are good transitions to chapter books for children starting to read independently.

BUY THE BOOKs

Powered by Bookshop.org

Supporting local bookshops

Please note: WARNING! Do Not Touch! is the US version of WARNING! This Book May Contain Rabbits! Same book, different covers.

Nominated - Kate Greenaway Medal 2015Finalist - Coventry Inspiration Book Awards 2016

“[As] well as a great story, DANGEROUS! provides a beautiful demonstration of nouns and adjectives in play.”

— ANGELA INNS, LIBRARIAN (READINGZONE.COM)

Buy UK

Buy US

* I earn commission from these links #AD

WaRNNG COVER.jpg

Shortlisted - Independent Bookshop Week Book Award 2016

"[T]he funny and entertaining sequel to the hugely popular Dangerous! … the perfect picture book for a young child just starting to read independently.”

- Love Reading 4 Kids

Buy UK

Buy US

* I earn commission from these links #ADOther articles featuring Mole and the Lumpy-Bumpy Thing!SourcesDANGEROUS! BY TIM WARNES (LITTLE TIGER PRESS 2014)WARNING! This Book May Contain Rabbits! BY TIM WARNES (LITTLE TIGER PRESS 2016)WARNING! Do Not Touch! Review (Kirkus Review, January 15, 2016)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 27, 2020 01:48

November 20, 2020

From boys to men: how picture books can shape the future

From Thank You, Lord, for Everything by P.J. Lyons, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Tim Warnes

[T]here remains a genuine and fundamental human need to find our own identity and to define our place in the world. Men, women, all of us.

— Forbes

Yesterday - Thursday 19th November 2020 - was International Men’s Day (IMD).

Included in the aims of IMD are:

Making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys.

Confronting the negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers.

Promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity.

So this week I am highlighting some positive portrayals of boys and men in picture books. They feature male characters who don’t fit neatly into typical roles, who demonstrate aspects of masculinity and fatherhood that I think are worth celebrating this International Men’s Day.

But first, buckle up! We’re taking a trip to Richard Scarry’s Busytown!

Here is a familiar Busytown scene: Mummy Rabbit is cooking, while Daddy plays with fire. The sisters sew and play with dolls; the brothers are raring to get outside to Huckle (riding a tractor).

From Richard Scarry’s ABC Word Book by Richard Scarry (William Collins Sons and Company Ltd, 1972) | © 1972 by Richard Scarry

Nothing inherently wrong with that. Lots of mummies cook. Most daddies love playing with fire. (And frankly, those bunnies should feel grateful there’s no giant pickle truck crashing into their house!) The problem arises when outdated, and gendered, behaviour is repeated over and over to the exclusion of other models - a criticism frequently aimed at Scarry in these more enlightened times.

In Scarry’s Busytown, it was always female characters doing the domestics and pushing prams. What about the daddies?

I was a hands-on dad, sharing the child care at least equally. 21 years ago that was pretty unusual. (I got pretty used to changing nappies in ladies’ toilets.) Now times have changed for the better. You see lots of dad’s out alone with the kids. It’s common for men to cook at home now (and off the top of my head, I can even think of five men who knit or sew). But picture books are slow to reflect these new attitudes.

Perhaps Scarry - whose work has been updated to reflect a more PC Busytown - has been singled out just because he crams so much into each book? Meaning gender stereotypes are really in your face. (For the record, I LOVE Busytown!)

And to be fair to Scarry, it was a pretty accurate portrayal of the times. But the point is, times have moved on - albeit slower than some would like.

So the question is, where are the new men reflected in kids books?

Here’s my pick for IMD 2020 of picture books that expand masculine tropes.

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies

Noi lived with his dad and six cats by the sea. Noi himself is shown to be caring, demonstrating positive traits more usually identified with female roles:

Noi did everything he could to make the whale feel at home.

He told stories about life on the island.

Noi’s dad - a big, burly fisherman - expresses love and intimacy with big hugs and holding hands.

From The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2013) | © 2013 by Benji Davies

Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies

This demonstrates a believable, intimate relationship between a boy (Syd) and his grandfather. It is joyful but bittersweet, with one last farewell from Grandad - and another big hug.

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

Perhaps the most controversial one on my list - but it carries an important message. A celebration of free self-expression and acceptance.

From Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick 2018) | Copyright © 2018 by Jessica Love

So Much by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

A celebration of a family’s love for a baby - including physical demonstrations of that love by Uncle Didi and his male cousins.

From So Much by Trish Cooke, ill. by Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994) | Illustration © 1994 by Helen Oxenbury

Why is the family gathering? They are waiting for Dady to come home from work so they can celebrate his birthday.

Then Daddy rub the baby face

against the whiskers on his chin…

William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrations by William Pène du Bois

I really like this story (but I have to confess the illustrations don’t do it for me, partly because they look so dated). William wants a doll - and of course, he is ridiculed.

A book that is as endearing for its tenderness as for the message it conveys: there is nothing, but nothing wrong with boys who play with dolls.
- Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.

My Levi had a Baby Dave, complete with a pushchair. My nephews have had favourite dolls, too. But sadly, the message of William’s Doll (written in 1972) still feels pertinent today.

[William’s] father was upset.

“He’s a boy!” he said

to William’s grandmother.

“He has a basketball

and an electric train

and a workbench

to build things with.

Why does he need a doll?”

William’s grandmother smiled.

“He needs it,” she said,

“to hug

and to cradle

and to take to the park

so that

when he’s a father like you,

he’ll know how to take care of his baby…”

Such a beautiful sentiment.

My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, illustrations by Øyvind Torseter

This is a powerful picture book about grief. It features ‘a gentle, steady father’ who calms his anxious son - and himself - during a long winter’s night.

From My Father's Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, ill. by Øyvind Torseter (Enchanted Lion Books 2012) | Illustration © 2009 by Øyving Torseter

I climb onto [my dad’s] lap.

He puts both his arms tight under my knees.

My body is curled up like a ball.

I rest my head against his shoulder.

So what about my own books? Where and how do they fit in?

Over the years, I have illustrated many fathers playing with, and taking care of, their children (the latest being the newly published I’m Going To Give You a Polar Bear Hug by Caroline B. Cooney).

From I'm Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! by Caroline B. Cooney, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2020) | Illustration © 2020 by Tim Warnes

From I'm Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! by Caroline B. Cooney, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2020) | Illustration © 2020 by Tim Warnes

Then there’s I Love You to the Moon and Back. In my mind, the big bear is male (because I was drawing upon my own experiences as a father). The bear is, of course, often referred to in reviews as ‘mummy’, although the joy of the text is that it can be read any which way!

I suppose in the context of my own picture books, Daddy Rhino from the Archie/Otto series (written by Tracey Corderoy) is my favourite. At the time, my kids were young - so I pushed for him to be the primary carer in the family. At least, that’s how I view him! (Although to be honest, the domestic roles are pretty evenly distributed with Mummy Rhino.)

So we see Daddy Rhino doing the preschool run and playing with Archie. Daddy is there to comfort when Archie is sad. Daddy cooks, brushes teeth and of course - reads bedtime stories!

From NOW! by Tracey Corderoy, ill. by Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2016) | Illustration © 2016 by Tim Warnes

But the character of mine that feels the most fleshed out is Daddy Munchie from Gus Munchie: My Lockdown Diary:

Fat Tony’s a full-time House Hamster. He cooks and cleans and takes care of us pups, and does a pretty good job, too. I mean, nobody’s died or lost a limb.

Yet.
- Gus Munchie

All these examples of male characters are significant. Why?

They provide alternative, more liberated versions of masculinity - genuine role models for young boys to aspire to. (As these young boys become men, they will feel less to prove, and society will become safer.)

They challenge misogyny.

They are shaping the future.

They give permission for both boys and girls to express their emotions and fulfil their potential.

It’s a two way street. Both boys and girls will reap the rewards.

But once again, it’s up to parents and carers to share the right books and do the hard work.

Because society needs you.

Good to Read

Picture books that portray masculinity in a positive - and alternative - light.

My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, ill. By Øyvind Torseter (Enchanted Lion 2012)

So Much by Trish Cooke, ill. By Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994)

Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2015)

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2013)

William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow, ill. By William Pene Du Bois (HarperCollins 1972)

I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! By Caroline B. Cooney, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2020)

Thank You, Lord, for Everything by P.J. Lyons, ill. By Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2015)

NOW! By Tracey Corderoy, ill. By Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2013)

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick Press 2018)

Buy the Books

Powered by Bookshop.org

Supporting local bookshops

Im going to give you a Polar Bear Hug, cover

‘This is the book I would want my kid to fall asleep with and then me falling asleep feeling safe.’

- Good Reads

Buy UK

Buy US

* I earn commission from these links #AD

now!, cover

‘Cheeky but charming, Archie will win the hearts of all readers.’

- mumsnet

Buy UK

Buy US

* I earn commission from these links #AD Shop all of the books featured on Bookshop.org

Buy UK

Buy US

* I earn commission from these links #ADSources Should We Be Celebrating International Men’s Day? (Frost, November 19, 2019) International Men’s Day: Male staff discouraged by bosses to take on parental duties if it affects their work (Mcquaid November 19, 2019)My Father’s Arms Are a Boat by Stein Erik Lunde, ill. By Øyvind Torseter (Enchanted Lion 2012)So Much by Trish Cooke, ill. By Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994)Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2015)The Storm Whale by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster 2013)William’s Doll by Charlotte Zolotow, ill. By William Pene Du Bois (HarperCollins 1972)I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! By Caroline B. Cooney, ill. by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2020)Richard Scarry’s ABC Word Book by Richard Scarry (William Collins Sons and Company Ltd, 1972)Thank You, Lord, for Everything by P.J. Lyons, ill. By Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2015)NOw! By Tracey Corderoy, ill. By Tim Warnes (Little Tiger Press 2013)Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Candlewick Press 2018)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 20, 2020 06:32

November 13, 2020

Bullies, tyrants and Baker Cat!

There is another cat living inside your cat. Strip away the “creature comforts” ... and there you’ll find that “other” whom I call the Raw Cat.

— Jackson Galaxy

I recently adopted a ginger tom by the name of Ed. He is absolutely adorable - terribly affectionate, yet timid.

It’s the best £75 I ever spent!

He’s from the local rescue centre, and was in a poor state when they took him in. On one side of his mouth, both canines are missing, and he shies away from even looking outside - leaving me wondering what kind of experiences he had on the street.

Now with the guidance of ‘Cat Daddy’ Jackson Galaxy's book, Total Cat Mojo, I'm working to create a rhythm of life for Eddie which mirrors that of his wild ancestor - the Raw Cat:

Hunt, Catch, Kill, Eat, Groom, Sleep - and repeat.

(Ed is very good at sleeping.)

His hunting prowess is gradually improving. But it would be a lie to say Ed is a natural born killer. In many ways, he's like Baker Cat!

Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds (Jonathan Cape, 2004) has a cast of delightfully anthropomorphic animals. A mash-up of Cinderella, The Elves and the Shoemaker, and the tales of Beatrix Potter, it’s a must-have for any self-respecting children's bookshelf. And by the time I finished writing this article, I also realised - Baker Cat can be read as a parable of the 2020 American presidential election (you’ll see why).

It's a pretty unique book, thanks to writer-cartoonist Posy Simmonds, who seamlessly blends comic-book devices into the traditional picture book format.

Simmonds is best known for her regular work as a satirical cartoonist for The Guardian newspaper, and her graphic novels for adults (Gemma Bovery, Tamara Drewe and Casandra Drake).

No surprise, then, that Baker Cat (as with her other picture books) is packed with funny - and dramatic - sequences. And as usual, Simmonds uses plenty of speech bubbles, full of natural-sounding, hand-lettered dialogue.

The story begins with 'a mean old baker' (who threatens to make the cat into fur gloves - "Fur gloves, you hear!?") and his lazy wife, who 'couldn't bear cats'.

And the hero of the piece: a put-upon protagonist known merely as 'the cat'.

From Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds (Jonathan Cape, 2004) | © 2004 by Posy Simmonds

The cat must have had a name, but nobody really knew what it was.

The baker called him:

"Useless!"

"Cloth-ears!"

"Mangy fur-bag!"

Like Cinderella, the poor puss is ‘made to do all the work’ (mixing dough, peeling, slicing, rolling, icing etc.)

The cat is also the Master Baker.

Even so, he’s still expected to moonlight as Pest Control and catch mice:

[E]very single night, without so much as a scrap of supper, the cat was shooed into the storeroom.

But the exhausted cat's always too tired to hunt - so he seldom has any mouse tails for the baker.

The brilliant thing about Baker Cat is that it withstands repeated reading. Meaning it becomes embedded in your family's memories. Looking at my copy once more, I remember snuggling up on the sofa and under duvets with Noah and Levi. We loved pouring over the illustrations together - all those tiny, jacketed mice and delicious-looking baked treats! That’s a memory I treasure. (And I still fancy one of the cat’s croissants!)

And how we felt for that cat! Yes - it's heartbreaking to read that 'his breakfasts grew mingier and mingier.' But it will help develop compassion and empathy in your children.

Seeing 'the poor over-worked cat [grow] thin and tired and very tearful' eventually becomes too much, even for the mice. They resolve to help the cat and step into the role of Guide. Calling a truce, the parties strike a deal - and the mice put Stage One of their master plan into action.

The next spread is always fun to read! Having raided the shop round the corner, the mouse alliance manufacture fake mouse tails, while the cat sleeps:

(There’s the connection with the Elves and the Shoemakers and Beatrix Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester. Come to think of it, those Bagpuss mice on the mouse organ too!)

In the morning, the mean old baker is fooled - and the cat is rewarded with a kipper and cream!

It's a win-win!

In exchange for their help, the cat allows the mice to continue helping themselves from the store. Sounds like a plan, right?

Wrong!

'[L]eft in peace in the storeroom, [the mice] held ENORMOUS parties for all their families, friends and relations.'

Can you see where this is going?

Everything was just fine…until the day the baker ordered the cat to make thirty meringues, forty jam tarts and four dozen walnut brownies. When the cat went to the storeroom he found…

"NO JAM?

NO CHOCOLATE?

NO NUTS!!!

?

NO SUGAR!

Where's it all GONE!?"

The mice hatch another plan. ('Hurry!' 'Help the cat!')

[A]ll night long, behind the storeroom door there was a skittering and scuttering and a chorus of tiny squeaks …

Whatever are those chanting mice (wind the wool, together - PULL!) up to?!

The next day, the baker and his wife are surprised, disgusted and fooled by their woolly creations:

"Eeuuk!"

"Worms!"

"Eeeee!! A snake!"

"Eeeee!! MICE!!"

They villainous couple flee, never to return. (Good riddance!)

Like Ed, Baker Cat may not be a natural born killer. But left to run the bakery (with the help of those cheeky mice!), he finds his confidence and Cat Mojo - and finally reveals his name…

'With their multiple levels of reading,’ writes comic scholar, Paul Gravett, ‘Posy proves that the best children's books can be enjoyed by any age and are for the child in all of us.'

Posy Simmonds’ picture books certainly satisfy me - I just wish she’d create another!

Simmonds is adamant that children's stories “have got to have something true in them, however much is wrapped up in fantasy.”

I suppose the universal (and harsh) truth of Baker Cat is that not everyone is friendly or nice. Some people are down-right mean. Given the chance, many will ride rough-shod over your feelings and will exploit the weaknesses of others for their own gain.

But sometimes, what's needed is for someone to call a truce and work with the opposition. Because we have more in common with our enemies than we may like to believe.

See, I told you Baker Cat is a parable of the American presidential election!

WHY Baker Cat IS GOOD TO READ

It has plenty to discuss in the detailed illustrations.

It is fun and exciting

It withstands (and deserves!) repeated reading.

Longer to read than a typical picture book - perfect for an extended cuddly storytime (and a good transition to Early Readers).

It introduces children to the shorthand of comics and graphic novels (supporting visual literacy).

It will develop empathy and compassion (supporting emotional literacy)

BUY THE BOOK

Powered by Bookshop.org

Supporting local bookshops

‘ One of those bedtime stories you are genuinely glad to read every night and don't feel compelled to hide, unlike other picture books I could mention... ’

- Mumsnet

‘Posy Simmonds delights as ever with a subversive story rich in humour and glorious in its bakery details.’

- The Guardian

Buy US

* I earn commission from this link #ADCURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE FROM BOOKSHOP U.K.

From Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds (Jonathan Cape, 2004) | © 2004 by Posy Simmonds

SourcesTotal Cat Mojo by Jackson Galaxy (Tarcher Perigee, 2017)Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds (Jonathan Cape, 2004) Posy Simmonds: Essentially English (Paulgravett.com, June 3, 2012) ‘Does anyone else love Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds?’ (Mumsnet.com, May 31, 2008)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 13, 2020 01:58

Baker Cat: overcoming bullies and tyrants

There is another cat living inside your cat. Strip away the “creature comforts” ... and there you’ll find that “other” whom I call the Raw Cat.

— Jackson Galaxy

I recently adopted a ginger tom by the name of Ed. He is absolutely adorable - terribly affectionate, yet timid.

The best £75 I ever spent!

Now with the guidance of ‘Cat Daddy’ Jackson Galaxy's book, Total Cat Mojo, I'm working to create a rhythm of life for Eddie which mirrors that of his wild ancestor - the Raw Cat:

Hunt, Catch, Kill, Eat, Groom, Sleep - and repeat.

(Ed is very good at sleeping.)

His hunting prowess is gradually improving. But it would be a lie to say Ed is a natural born killer. In many ways, he's like Baker Cat!

It's a pretty unique book, thanks to writer-cartoonist Posy Simmonds, who seamlessly blends comic-book devices into the traditional picture book format.

Simmonds is best known for her regular work as a satirical cartoonist for The Guardian newspaper, and her graphic novels for adults (Gemma Bovery, Tamara Drewe and Casandra Drake).

The story begins with 'a mean old baker' (who threatens to make the cat into fur gloves - "Fur gloves, you hear!?") and his lazy wife, who 'couldn't bear cats'.

And the hero of the piece: a put-upon protagonist known merely as 'the cat'.

The cat must have had a name, but nobody really knew what it was.

The baker called him:

"Useless!"

"Cloth-ears!"

"Mangy fur-bag!"

Like Cinderella, the poor puss is ‘made to do all the work’ (mixing dough, peeling, slicing, rolling, icing etc.)

The cat is also the Master Baker.

Even so, he’s still expected to moonlight as Pest Control and catch mice:

[E]very single night, without so much as a scrap of supper, the cat was shooed into the storeroom.

But the exhausted cat's always too tired to hunt - so he seldom has any mouse tails for the baker.

And how we felt for that cat! Yes - it's heartbreaking to read that 'his breakfasts grew mingier and mingier.' But it will help develop compassion and empathy in your children.

The next spread is always fun to read! Having raided the shop round the corner, the mouse alliance manufacture fake mouse tails, while the cat sleeps:

(There’s the connection with the Elves and the Shoemakers and Beatrix Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester. Come to think of it, those Bagpuss mice on the mouse organ too!)

In the morning, the mean old baker is fooled - and the cat is rewarded with a kipper and cream!

It's a win-win!

In exchange for their help, the cat allows the mice to continue helping themselves from the store. Sounds like a plan, right?

Wrong!

'[L]eft in peace in the storeroom, [the mice] held ENORMOUS parties for all their families, friends and relations.'

Can you see where this is going?

Everything was just fine…until the day the baker ordered the cat to make thirty meringues, forty jam tarts and four dozen walnut brownies. When the cat went to the storeroom he found…

"NO JAM?

NO CHOCOLATE?

NO NUTS!!!

?

NO SUGAR!

Where's it all GONE!?"

The mice hatch another plan. ('Hurry!' 'Help the cat!')

[A]ll night long, behind the storeroom door there was a skittering and scuttering and a chorus of tiny squeaks …

Whatever are those chanting mice (wind the wool, together - PULL!) up to?!

The next day, the baker and his wife are surprised, disgusted and fooled by their woolly creations:

"Eeuuk!"

"Worms!"

"Eeeee!! A snake!"

"Eeeee!! MICE!!"

They villainous couple flee, never to return. (Good riddance!)

Like Ed, Baker Cat may not be a natural born killer. But left to run the bakery (with the help of those cheeky mice!), he finds his confidence and Cat Mojo - and finally reveals his name…

'With their multiple levels of reading,’ writes comic scholar, Paul Gravett, ‘Posy proves that the best children's books can be enjoyed by any age and are for the child in all of us.'

Posy Simmonds’ picture books certainly satisfy me - I just wish she’d create another!

Simmonds is adamant that children's stories “have got to have something true in them, however much is wrapped up in fantasy.”

But sometimes, what's needed is for someone to call a truce and work with the opposition. Because we have more in common with our enemies than we may like to believe.

See, I told you Baker Cat is a parable of the American presidential election!

WHY Baker Cat IS GOOD TO READ

It has plenty to discuss in the detailed illustrations.

It is fun and exciting

It withstands (and deserves!) repeated reading.

Longer to read than a typical picture book - perfect for an extended cuddly storytime (and a good transition to Early Readers).

It introduces children to the shorthand of comics and graphic novels (supporting visual literacy).

It will develop empathy and compassion (supporting emotional literacy)

BUY THE BOOK

Powered by Bookshop.org

Supporting local bookshops

‘ One of those bedtime stories you are genuinely glad to read every night and don't feel compelled to hide, unlike other picture books I could mention... ’

- Mumsnet

‘Posy Simmonds delights as ever with a subversive story rich in humour and glorious in its bakery details.’

- The Guardian

Buy US

* I earn commission from this link #AD

From Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds (Jonathan Cape, 2004) | © 2004 by Posy Simmonds

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 13, 2020 01:58

November 6, 2020

There is a Tribe of Kids

A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong.

— BRENÉ BROWN

We all belong somewhere. Whether you define it by economics, social class, qualifications, sexuality, or political affiliations, we can align ourselves with a tribe.

(Even if it is a tribe of social misfits.)

But finding our tribe(s) is a journey - a search for belonging and acceptance.

Which is precisely what Lane Smith’s award-winning There Was a Tribe of Kids (Roaring Book Press 2016) is about. And the twist? It centres around collective nouns.

I love collective nouns, too, and had a lot of fun playing around with them for my online comic strip, Chalk & Cheese.

Collective Confusion from Chalk & Cheese Comics | © 2012 by Tim Warnes

For There is a Tribe of Kids, Smith began by compiling lists of animal groups. But the concept alone wasn’t enough. “[I] didn’t want it to be only an album of illustrations,” he explains. “I wanted a story. So after much noodling and toiling, a narrative began to take shape” - and the idea of a journey began to form.

“A herd of goats is called a tribe, and infant goats are called kids. So I thought, what if there was a lost boy - a kid - and he was trying to get back to his family, his tribe?”
- Lane Smith

The wonderful, natural world that surrounds this lost boy teems with life - but he is devoid of human company. Which begs the questions:

Where does he come from?

Where are his parents (or siblings)?

And although the text never describes the boy as lonely, Smith’s art speaks volumes.

“He wants so badly to belong,” explained Smith in an interview with Shelftalker. “And who wouldn’t want to take him in? You can tell he’s a loving kid. He keeps hugging everyone he meets.”

Unfortunately, as soon as the kid befriends a new creature, they move on - leaving him isolated (and lonely) once more.

Smith describes himself as a visual person, which explains why he’s so good at visual storytelling! He demonstrates this skill using many multi-panel sequences, which rely entirely on the illustrations alone to tell the story. (The story consists entirely of the phrase, ‘There is a ...’ (Fill in the blank with a collective noun.))

‘These wordless frames are the heart of this lovely picture book, and they often express the joy of interaction between the boy and his new animal friends, followed by a quiet sense of loneliness when they part ways.’

That combination of joy and loneliness, noted one NYT reviewer, ‘[e]xudes a Chaplinesque charm, skillfully blending slapstick and melancholy.’

Let me give you an example.

After being deserted by the turtles (who turn off the path while the boy naps), we see the boy walking alone through the rain. (Interestingly, in light of the Chaplin reference, with a cane-like stick). He shelters under an apple tree, and after eating, sits with his back to the tree. All this is told through a series of wordless panels.

As the boy rests, a tiny caterpillar crawls up his leg - followed by an entire army. The boy has fun mimicking the caterpillars’ contortions, shown in eighteen stamp size panels. Then he hangs upside down with a big smile on his face alongside his caterpillar friends (who have become chrysalids).

But all too soon that bitter-sweet moment comes: the butterflies hatch and fly away.

There is a Tribe of Kids is full of little moments like this.

You may be thinking: Looking at pictures is not reading! But visual literacy (the ability to decode images and symbols) is a crucial life skill. It’s not just about learning the potentially fatal repercussions of drinking from a bottle marked with a skull and crossbones. It extends into the ability to interpret the multitude of signs and symbols thrown at us by our environment, including the media.

I’d also argue that it makes for a richer, more demanding reading experience, which empowers the reader. Instead of handing us the answers on a plate, the book asks: I’d like to know what you think is happening.

As with so many of my Good to Read recommendations, Tribe of Kids is deceptively simple. Re-reads reveal more depth and nuance, such as this beautiful and poignant moment towards the end of the book that features a sprinkle of fireflies (and a family of stars):

“[T]hese lightning bugs … light up all around [the boy’s] body to create a kind of faux constellation … that connects with a real star constellation of a mom and a dad. It’s a literal depiction of what the boy wants more than anything, to be a part of a family. Of course, the lightning bugs fly away, breaking up his little family of stars and he’s alone once again.”
- Lane Smith

Driving the point home, Smith illustrates the boy next to a vast ‘ocean of blue’. He falls asleep in ‘a bed of clams’, into a night of dreams.

Smith leaves it open to interpretation - but his take is that this is ‘a real night of hope, a night of wishing. The boy is dreaming he’ll be accepted someday, and the next morning his dream comes true.’

And indeed it does - the boy follows a trail of shells along the beach to a tribe of human kids. I love this ending! Full of joy, life and hope, it reminds me of Peter Pan’s Lost Boys (with the bonus of girls!).

‘[E]veryone is dressed in eclectic leaf garments similar to the [boy’s]. Is it a homecoming for the boy... or a discovery? Either scenario is cause for giddiness, along with some clever pantomiming of the boy’s adventures and more hugs, too.’
- Shelftalker

For me, the whole book has a feeling of Eden (or a glimpse into a renewed Earth) about it. Indeed, Smith says that he ‘saw it as a tale of survival and the very first kids’:

“We never know if the little boy is lost from his family or if he started out a kind of solitary child on a quest to find his place. He goes through different tribes, herds, flocks, and families of animals until he finds a group of humans; kids living in this Eden-like setting wearing leafy garb and living in a big treehouse[.]”
- Lane Smith

Why There is a Tribe of Kids is Good to Read

It celebrates the wonders of the natural world.

It’s open to interpretation - making it excellent for group discussion.

It’s a timely reminder of the importance of play and exploration.

It’s educational (learn about collective nouns).

It supports emotional literacy (How do you think the boy is feeling?)

With detailed illustrations, it supports visual literacy. For example,

1. Right at the start, the boy uses twigs as horns to fit in with the goats.

2. The constellation of stars forms the outline of a mum and dad.

BUY THE BOOK

Powered by Bookshop.org

Supporting local bookshops

Winner of the 2017 Kate Greenaway Medal‘Loneliness, longing and quirky collective nouns combine to endearing effect.’- Wall Street Journal

Buy US

Buy UK

* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THese LINKs #AD SourcesThere is a Tribe of Kids By Lane Smith (Roaring Brook Press, 2016)Kid’s Maximum Shelf: There is a Tribe of Kids (Shelfawareness.com, March 10, 2016) Chalk & Cheese Comics (Tim Warnes) An Interview with Lane Smith (Art of the Picture Book, July 2020)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on November 06, 2020 12:07

October 30, 2020

Tip Tap Went the Crab

Worlds can be found by a child and an adult bending down and looking together under the grass stems or at the skittering crabs in a tidal pool.

— Mary Catherine Bateson

Last week, my big kids and I stayed in a fantastic apartment right on the seafront at Westward Ho!, North Devon.

(I love the fact it has an exclamation mark in its name!) From the balcony, we could see (and hear) the waves crashing at high tide. At low tide, oystercatchers, turnstones and the occasional little egret could be seen hunting in the weedy rock pools. Each day I joined them, and it reminded me of many happy hours rock pooling.

The rock pools also reminded me of the picture book, Tip Tap Went the Crab by Tim Hopgood.

It’s a counting book; and like Cockatoos by Quentin Blake, it has a story, too.

Once there was a crab who lived under a stone in a little rock pool.

The pool was beautiful. It was full of colourful shells, strange-looking plants and tiny sea creatures.

Hopgood’s crab is simply adorable!

But she is tired of life in her rock pool - so one day, she goes off for a sideways walk...

And in a very natural way that flows beautifully, Hopgood introduces the counting element:

Tip-tap went the crab, past one noisy seagull standing on a rock.

(Repeating a phrase - in this case, Tip-tap went the crab - is always a hit with small kids, so is a commonly used device. And it’s an important one too. Why? Because it empowers children by encouraging them to join in - and read-along! No wonder Nursery Education Plus described Tip Tap as an ‘excellent interactive book.’)

And so the little crab continues on her way, tip-tapping across the beach and through the book. Past sleepy sea lions, pointy starfish, dancing jellyfish and fluttering seahorses.

Hopgood’s art is stylish and full of energy. He trained in graphic design and once worked for magazines such as iD and Vogue. Perhaps that’s why his art looks so bold and self-assured? Nominated for the Kate Greenaway medal, Hopgood’s illustrations (digital collages) are full of detail and texture, yet retain a (deceptively) simple charm.

Aside from the juicy art, there are a few things to point out that elevates this simple story above the crowd.

1. Hopgood’s text may be sparse, but his use of language is lovely.

For example: ‘fluttering seahorses that floated through the reeds’ and a shoal of fish that ‘swished left and then right.’

2. Hopgood uses the counting element to guide - rather than rule - the pacing of the book.

How? By interrupting the counting element with sections of straightforward narrative. Meaning we are spared the monotony of a mere counting book - and get a more satisfying read.

For example: after numbers 1 to 3, Hopgood breaks the pace:

Tip-tap splash! Went the crab, sideways into the big blue sea. The little crab stopped to look all around.

The counting element is then reintroduced with each new discovery of the crab’s.

3. It is educational.

At the start, we are told: Crabs have 10 legs - 8 back legs and 2 more a the front that have grasping claws, called pincers. OUCH!

In more subtle ways, kids learn that:

Crabs walk sideways (in and out of water).

The bottom of the sea is cool and dark (with hidden treasure troves!).

All kinds of amazing creatures inhabit the ocean!

I love the extra twist at the end of the story: it turns out that the little crab is a mummy crab - with ten tiny babies!

You’d have to have a heart of stone not to be delighted by how adorable they are, each carrying a piece of loot from the treasure chest back home.

Allowing kids to count to 10 again in search of the gold coins, now hidden in the crabs’ rock pool!

Why Tip Tap Went the Crab is Good to Read

It’s a fun introduction to numbers and life in the ocean.

It will instil curiosity and wonder.

Perfect for preschoolers!

(So basically, an irresistible opportunity to snuggle up and coo over cute crustaceans!)

Good to Read

Beach-themed picture books

The Storm Whale by Benji Davies

Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton

Tip Tap Went the Crab by Tim Hopgood

Sally and the Limpet by Simon James

Sources AZQuotes.com Tip Tap Went the Crab by Tim Hopgood (Macmillan 2010) © 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 30, 2020 13:32

October 23, 2020

The importance of diversity in children's books (revisited)

From Only You Can Be You! by Nathan and Sally Clarkson, ill. by Tim Warnes (Tommy Nelson 2019) | © Tim Warnes 2019

Inclusion is not a matter of political correctness. It’s a key to growth.

— Jesse Jackson

Diversity and inclusion (or lack thereof) are hot topics in children’s publishing.

They were back in March 2019 (when I wrote the article that I have based this piece on). They seem even more pressing today. And thanks to the visual nature of picture books, the lack of diversity is glaringly apparent. It is out there for all to see (rather than hidden away under statistics).

And after a run of projects featuring human characters (Only You Can Be You!, It’s Bedtime, Charlie! and I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug!) - this question of diversity is still at the forefront of my mind.

Diversity in Picture books matters because:

Seeing themselves reflected adds to children’s sense of identity

Information absorbed in the early years informs children’s subconscious - and future social preferences.

A lack of exposure to racially diverse books can negatively influence racial bias in children as young as babies.

Conversely, exposing and familiarising young children - even babies - to racially diverse experiences provide an opportunity for positive, societal change.

“The stories that children read at a young age tell them who matters and who doesn’t matter, explains Philip Nel, professor of English at Kansas State University - “who’s human and who isn’t human. A story doesn’t have to tell us that explicitly,” he adds. “It can tell us that by failing to represent certain groups of people -- omission tells us that these groups of people are not important”. [1]

From I’m Going To Give You A Bear Hug! By Caroline B Cooney, ill by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz 2016) | © Tim Warnes 2016

Books from the first 20 odd years of my illustration career, don’t feature human characters (aside from a run of Santa books). This was mostly through choice, as I lacked both skill and confidence. Then in 2016, I was commissioned to illustrate I’m Going to give you a Bear Hug by Caroline B. Cooney (Zonderkidz).

I felt trepidation - not only at my own limitations but also because of the debate around diversity in children’s books. What colour should the main character - a little boy - be? I worried about being accused of tokenism if I illustrated a black kid - and I found it hard to imagine him as anyone other than my youngest, Levi - complete with his mop of tousled blonde hair.

Did I do anything wrong? I don’t think so.

(Interestingly, a dark-haired mother once wrote to say how much she appreciated seeing herself - with her blonde-haired son - reflected in the book.)

But still, it niggled at me.

As the saying goes, Writers should write what they know. But if most picture book creators come from the White majority (which they do) - then we risk being stuck with the status quo: Picture books dominated by White characters (which they are). I recognise that I come from a privileged background. I have a responsibility to make sure that children of all colours get the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the books they read.

I live in an ‘ethnically challenged’ environment - rural Dorset, England. So sticking with what I know best is not only a cop-out, but also unfair on the global audience I seek to serve.

Hmmm.

You know what would be better? Picture books produced by creators from more diverse backgrounds.

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

Ever heard this argument: What’s to stop ethnic people writing their own books?

On a small scale, it does happen, of course. But unfortunately, circumstance and a lack of opportunity work against ethnic minorities - in this industry, as in many others. Even when mainstream publishing houses take on black authors, they face inequality in terms of their advances.

So it’s heartening that non-profits like We Need Diverse Books offer mentorships to aspiring creators of kids’ books from minority backgrounds, which will help contribute to a positive change - and, ultimately, a more diverse range of picture books for us all to enjoy.

Hot on the heels of Bear Hug! came Only You Can Be You - What Makes You Different Makes You Great! The former features African Americans; the latter, all kinds of kids - with different skin colours, interests and personalities (for example, artistic, athletic, sensitive and rambunctious kids). This project stretched me in many ways - and I am so pleased with the final book! I hope it will become regarded as an excellent example of an inclusive picture book.

I had further opportunity to be more inclusive when working on It’s Bedtime, Charlie! and I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! - both of which will help create more diverse bookshelves.

From I’m Going To Give You A Polar Bear Hug! By Caroline B Cooney, ill by Tim Warnes (Zonderkidz) | © Tim Warnes 2020

Now it’s over to you - parents and carers, teachers and librarians. We each have a part to play in forming a better, more just future - and you have a responsibility to consider the books that you share - and the values that you present - carefully.

And the best part is, your kids won’t even know it’s happening. It will work as if by magic!

Buy the books

‘Colorfully and creatively illustrated’

‘As the mom of three (two of which are special needs) makes me love this message even more.’

‘be inspired by the diversity of children and animals throughout the book’

‘The message … is so needed in this divided world.’

Buy UK

* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD

Buy US

* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD

’Love this book! The simple rhyming text is fun to read and the illustrations are fantastic.’

‘One of the best books we've purchased in a long time. My daughter wants me to read it again and again and again!’

‘Adorable book…’

Buy UK

* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD

Buy US

* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD

‘The book is full of imaginative ways to give and receive hugs. A thread of kindness and joy shows up in each scenario stitching the theme together perfectly.’ - Good Reads

Buy UK

* I EARN COMMISSION FROM THIS LINK #AD

Only you can be you - cover

I'm going to give you a bear hug - cover

It’s Bedtime, Charlie! is scheduled for release in December 2020 Good to Read

Other Inclusive Picture Books that I Love

The New Small Person by Lauren Child (Puffin 2014)

So Much by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books 1994)

Leon and Bob by Simon James (Walker Books 2008)

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking 1962)

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love (Walker Books 2018)

Yumi by Annelore Parot (Chronicle Books 2012)

Sources Picture This: Mahogany L. Browne on the Need for More Diversity in Picture Books (bookish.com) Can diversity in children’s books tackle prejudice ? (Katie scott, cnn, october 23, 2018)[1] Was the Cat in the Hat Black?: The Hidden Racism of Children’s Literature, and the Need for Diverse Books by Philip Nell (2017)© 2019 and 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 23, 2020 12:18

October 16, 2020

Max at Night: A perfect bedtime read

From Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books 2015) | Illustration © 2015 by Ed Vere

A kitten is the delight of a household. All day long a comedy is played out by an incomparable actor.

— Champfleury

I thought I’d continue with last week’s cat theme.

Not another pure white one like Monet’s cat. This week, it’s a jet black kitten called Max.

There are three Max books in all. (I wish there were more.) They are all worth sharing - but it’s his second adventure, Max at Night (Puffin Books, 2015) that is today’s recommendation.

Created by Ed Vere (Booktrust’s Illustrator in Residence), The Sunday Times ranks Max in its ‘100 Modern Children’s Classics’. Vere describes his character as being ‘a combination of curious, feisty and tenacious’. And what’s more - this kitty is oh-so-cute!

Vere’s illustrations are simply drawn, minimal and direct. So minimal in fact, that I hadn’t noticed - Max has no mouth (although he does speak). Max is, effectively, a silhouette.

“I only have his eyes and his body posture to tell you how he’s feeling,” says Vere.

And oh! Those eyes! Enormous and yellow, they shine out like headlamps from the subdued flat-coloured backgrounds, amplifying Max’s naive, kitten charm.

In some ways, Max reminds me of those classic cat characters, Krazy Kat and Felix (and the more contemporary Mooch from Mutts, Patrick McDonnell’s comic strip). There’s also something of the silent movies - and mime artists - about him. (I’m reminded of two classic children’s book, too - but more of that in a minute.) And the way Max slips between walking on all fours to standing upright - à la Peter Rabbit - is seamless.

In keeping with the illustrations, Vere’s story is perfectly distilled.

It’s way past Max’s bedtime - and he is very sleepy.

‘Goodnight Fish,’ says Max.

‘Goodnight Box,’ says Max.

‘Goodnight Spider,’ says Max.

‘Goodnight Moon,’ says Max.

Most good stories have an inciting incident (the thing that launches the action), and here it is:

The moon is nowhere to be seen.

‘Moon… Moon! Where are you Moon?’ says Max.

Curiosity leads Max outside ‘into the starlit night’ in search of the moon. ‘Maybe I’ll see Moon if I get a little higher,’ thinks Max.

He clambers on top of a sleeping dog…

‘Up a tall, tall tree’…

Then higher still, ‘up amongst the rooftops.’

‘Oh, Moon. Where are you Moon,’ says Max.

Max’s search takes him to the top of the Tallest Building, and finally ‘to the highest of the high hills, where the wind blows cold and strong.’

I love the next spread. Out of sheer frustration, Max yells: ‘Mooooooooon! Where are yoooouu?’

It’s essential children see themselves reflected in books: Their fears, frustrations, dreams and everyday lives. It reassures and grounds them. So it’s no bad thing that Max has a bit of a tantrum.

And just as a good yell and cry can chase those highly charged emotions away, so the wind ‘blows and blows and blows the clouds away’ - to reveal Moon, ‘full and brilliant in the night sky.’ Again, an experience children will easily relate to. (Even now, I love watching the moon roll out from behind the clouds!)

Max is tired and happy. Satisfied, he traces his way back home,

And ‘sleepy, very sleepy - he climbs the stairs to bed.’

By the time you reach the end, the pacing of the words and pictures (and the soporific language) should have everyone nodding off - making this a great one to share at bedtime!

There is something familiar and reassuring about Max at Night.

In many respects, it reminds me of the classic kids’ books, Goodnight Moon and Are You My Mother? They share a gentleness and simplicity of language. They are repetitive and soothing.

Like Margaret Wise Brown’s language in Goodnight Moon, Vere’s is deceptively simple and gently poetic (For example, ‘the tall, tall tree only rustles in the breeze.’).

It’s as if Vere’s adopted the look and feel of Moon, and taken Max on a similar journey to the baby bird. But instead of looking for his mother, Max is searching for the moon. Vere uses flat areas of solid colour (reminiscent of Hurd’s illustrations in Goodnight Moon) to focus our attention on Max. (His bright yellow eyes even evoke the light from the doll’s house in the great green room.)

From Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, ill. by Clement Hurd (Harper & Bros. 1947) | Illustration © renewed 1975 by Trustees of the Edith and Clement Hurd 1982 Trust

In this way, Vere captures the essence of those classics - then brings them bang up to date with an injection of gentle humour that they lack.

There’s one other thing that I realised. Just like the baby bird in Are You My Mother?, Max the kitten climbs up onto a sleeping dog's head. I fell in love with that story at pre-school. Maybe that’s part of the connection for me?

From  Are You My Mother?  by P.D. Eastman (Random House 1960) | Illustration © 1960 by P.D. Eastman. Renewed 1988 by Mary L. Eastman

Why Max at Night is Good to Read

Kids will love the adorably cute Max.

The illustrations are expressive and stylish.

The story is gentle and soothing.

As with the other Max books, it will withstand repeat bedtime readings.

Good to Read

More picture books starring cats

Mr Pusskins by Sam Lloyd

Monet’s Cat by Lily Murray and Becky Cameron

Posy by Catherine Rayner

There Are Cats in this Book by Viviane Schwarz

Baker Cat by Posy Simmonds

Ginger by Charlotte Voake

Buy the Book

Max at Night (Cover)

‘Max’s plight and nighttime quest will ring true for any child who has ever called out from a dark bedroom for comfort. - Kirkus Reviews

Buy UK

* I earn commission from this link #AD

Buy US

* I earn commission from this link #ADSources Opening Quote (Champfleury, Shutterfly.com, September 14 2020)Max at Night by Ed Vere (Puffin Books, 2015) Ed Vere Interview (The Book Baby, November 7 2014) Interview with Ed Vere (picturebookblogger.wordpress.com, June 2 2016) Ed Vere’s Website (edvere.com) Max at Night (Kirkus Review, September 3 2016)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 16, 2020 03:27

October 9, 2020

Monet's Cat

Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.

— Claude Monet

When Noah started at first school, I was surprised - and delighted - to see the corridors decorated with children's art inspired by the 'great' artists.

Historically significant painters such as van Gogh, Kandinsky, Picasso - and French Impressionist Claude Monet.

You know when I first discovered Monet? When I was studying Art History A-Level. Thanks to my dad, I was au fait with the Old Masters - but Monet hadn't shown up on my radar.

"You'll recognise Monet's work from biscuit tins and chocolate boxes," decried my art teacher, Mrs B. She was right - I did! But I had no idea about his work, or what it represented.

I eventually got to connect with Monet's work in Paris. Being surrounded by his enormous (and iconic) waterlily paintings at the Musée de l'Orangerie was a genuinely memorable - and serene experience. (Even though I was ticked off by the attendant for leaning in too close!)

My Good to Read recommendation this week introduces young children to explore and enjoy Monet's work - with the help of a magical cat!

I discovered it on Instagram and had to get a copy myself - it's Monet's Cat by Lily Murray and Becky Cameron (Lomart, 2020)

I love how the book begins:

Monet was a famous painter with a magic cat. Her name was Chika.

Brilliant! The author dispenses with formalities and explanations - and grabs our attention with Chika, the magic cat!

She was made of delicate pottery, and lay on a cushion, cold and still, until… Monet tapped her three times with his paintbrush. Then Chika came alive!

And guess what? Monet really did have a ceramic cat: a little white figurine, curled up with its eyes closed. Author Murray was inspired to write the story when she read an article reporting that the sculpture (sold after Monet's death and which consequently vanished) had recently been auctioned. The buyer - a Japanese dealer - then 'generously donated it to the Fondation Claude Monet, which runs the Giverny house and garden.' . The cat was returned to the house, 'where it now sleeps once more on a cushion in the dining room'.

Exactly where Monet kept it, ninety years earlier.

Photographs of Claude Monet reveal he was visually appealing - and Cameron has done him proud! She portrays him as a cheerful (though slightly harassed) grampa-come-Santa figure. Rotund and ruddy-cheeked, wearing a loose-fitting suit, with braces and a tatty straw hat!

Image source: Widewalls

Chika, meanwhile, is full of feline attitude!

I love the sense of resignation when Monet spots her, inside his painting (well, she is magical, after all!).

"Chika!" said Monet. "Come out of there."

But Chika wasn't listening.

"Oh dear," sighed Monet. "Here we go."

Monet's Cat by Lily Murray & Becky Cameron (Lomart 2020) | Text © 2020 by Lily Murray | Illustration © 2020 by Becky Cameron

Illustrator Cameron visited The National Gallery for a closer look at some of Monet's original paintings:

"I have always loved Monet's work but knowing I would have to recreate them was both daunting and exciting! I am no oil painter but I decided I needed to use materials that could be applied quite thickly and layered up."

Cameron's exploration helped her figure out how to show two worlds in the same book - one real, the other imagined.

"I used a mixture of ink and watercolour for Monet and Chika in the real world and then more textured gouache and soft pastels to recreate Monet's paintings. Monet and Chika are drawn in the same style throughout the book so you can differentiate them from the objects and characters in the paintings.”

Cameron's decision paid off - her use of gouache and pastel captures the essence of Monet's oil paintings without looking like poor imitations, which is no mean feat!

After lunch, naughty Chika leaps out of that painting, and into the next - Monet's depiction of the station at Saint-Lazare.

…The thrill of the engines. The clanking metal. The rushing feet.

Monet chases Chika through the steam and the smoke, but the little cat disappears into the busy crowds.

"Stop that cat!" called the stationmaster, blowing his whistle.

Too late - Chika boards a train, and off it puffs to the the beach at Trouville, where the artist finally catches his cat, and they share an ice cream on the sand.

"I don't want our adventure to end quite yet," said Monet. "Let's visit one more painting."

Their final destination is none other than Monet's beloved garden at Giverny. -a fitting climax to the tour of Monet’s work.

‘It is in Giverny that you should see Monet in order to know him,' wrote his friend and champion, the French art critic, Gustave Geffroy, 'his character, his taste for life, his intimate nature. This house and this garden, it is also a masterpiece, and Monet has put all his life into creating and perfecting it.’

Monet and his magic cat stand look out across his famous waterlilies from the arched Japanese bridge. "It's so peaceful," remarks Monet.

He speaks too soon: The mischievous Chika leaps into the lilypond after a frog - then trots inside, leaving a trail of muddy pawprints through the house!

Murray's magical tale has a satisfying ending: With three taps of his paintbrush, Monet transforms Chika back to her former, 'delicate pottery' self. Cool and still once more, asleep on her cushion - lit by the setting sun.

"What beautiful light," said Monet, picking up his paints.

The book concludes with photographs of the Monet paintings that Chika has been romping through. I thought this was a nice touch - and it put Chika's adventures into context. Those paintings are:

The Boardwalk on the Beach at Trouville, 1870;

The Luncheon, 1873;

The Gare St-Lazare, 1877;

The Water Lily Pond, 1899.

Here's why Monet's Cat is Good to Read

It has excellent characterisation.

It introduces children to a significant artist and art movement (and that cheeky cat makes it fun)

It’s magical

It provides plenty of scope for discussion (especially when Monet looks back at his paintings which Chika leaves in 'a terrible mess’.

It presents the paintings as invitations into stories, encouraging us to be playful and childlike.

Monet's Cat is a simple story - effectively a game of chase (or hide and seek). But the quality of writing (for example, Flags fluttered, parasols twirled and clouds raced across the sky), and its unique subject matter put it on top. And it's so imaginative! I mean, it would have been impressive enough if the story simply took us 'behind the scenes' of Monet's famous paintings. The fact that Murray ties that idea in with Monet's actual ceramic cat - and then introduces that magical element - is a stroke of genius! Paired with Cameron's lively characterisation and confident techniques, and we have a story worth sharing.

Good to Read

Picture books about famous artists

Monet’s Cat by Lily Murray and Becky Cameron (Lomart, 2020)

The Boy Who Bit Picasso by Antony Penrose (Thames & Hudson, 2010)

Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter (Beach Lane, 2013)

This is a charming story that will help children get interested in Monet and other artists/masters. The illustrations are incredibly done by Becky Cameron, who has recreated Monet's masterpieces and brought them to life for the child reader. A delight from beginning to end!

- C. Cotteril

Buy UK

*I earn commission from this link #adSourcesMonet’s Cat by Lily Murray and Becky Cameron (Lomart, 2020) The Most Famous Claude Monet Paintings Everybody Adores (Widewalls, june 7 2014) Claude Monet's Glazed Biscuit Kitty Cat Returns to the Artist's Home (Jason Daley, The Smithsonian, July 24, 2018)Monet's beloved pottery cat comes to life in children's book (Martin Bailey, The Art Newspaper, february 19, 2020)Japanese Cat Returns to Claude Monet’s House After 90 Years (Mina Mitsui, Japan Forward, september 3, 2018)© 2020 BY TIM WARNES (UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.

View more on Tim Warnes's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on October 09, 2020 09:22

← Previous 1 2 … 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 … 22 23 Next →

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

Tim Warnes's profile
30 followers