Lisa Dalrymple's Blog, page 3

Up Cat / Up Dog – Hazel Hutchins, ill. Fanny

Preschool – Kindergarten (Annick Press, 2012)

Charmingly appropriate is the idea that a board book, or in this case two, would be created around one of the first words that toddlers learn – up.

Up Dog follows Dog through a straight-forward, yet eventful, kind of day. Hazel Hutchins uses 40 words to describe how Dog digs up a bone in the yard and then manages to muddy up the entire house. The dog is penned up while the owner cleans up, wipes up and hangs up the washing to dry. At this point, Dog is then free to race up and back into the house. After Dog too is cleaned, the story ends with it enfolded in its owner’s loving arms. Eyes closed, Dog snuggles up soundly.

While Hutchins has accomplished the almost impossible task of laying out a complete story in such few words, Quebec illustrator, Fanny has also performed the impressive task of creating a pictorial foundation that allows the story to flow smoothly without seeming to jump or jar. Her illustrations pair perfectly with the text, appealing to young readers with bright but simple backgrounds and also ensuring that key elements pop directly into focus.

In both Up Cat and Up Dog, the expressions on the animals’ faces contribute much to the story. In one particularly evocative illustration, Dog perks up, displaying puppy-dog eyes and a wagging tail that foreshadow the happy ending that is certain to follow. In a similar manner, Cat’s expressions reveal the further meanings behind its actions, such as when Cat is being haughty or sneakily “up to no good.” Dog even makes a brief appearance in the pictures for Up Cat, sneaking up on Cat as it is washing up and prompting Cat to “puff up” with an arched back and wide eyes.

Up Cat may not involve as much drama as Dog’s story, but perhaps this is in keeping with the protagonist’s character. Cat moves through its day, lapping up milk, leaping up on furniture and curling up in the sun. It does get into trouble, ripping up a ball of yarn, and accidentally finding itself scrunched up in a box, and is eventually lifted up onto a window sill and out of harm’s way, but the same story arc or connection between cause and effect doesn’t feel as apparent in this book.

While these books are simple enough to engage audiences as young as 2, they are also appropriate for beginning readers in Kindergarten. Up is one of the first words young children say and it is also an appropriate first word for them to read. These companion books are sure to appeal to both “cat people” and “dog people” alike.

Review originally published in Canadian Children’s Book News, Summer 2012

In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up – Monica Kulling, ill. David Parkins

Grades 1-3  (Tundra Books, 2011)

In the Bag: Margaret Knight Wraps It Up is the newest release in Tundra’s Great Idea Series. It is the biography of Margaret (Mattie) Knight who in 1873 became the first woman awarded a patent in the US.

As in All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine and It’s a Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph, Monica Kulling engages young readers by introducing them to the titular character as a child. Mattie is twelve when she designs her first invention, a safety feature later installed on all looms.

While the books in this series may have historically relevant stories to impart, they hold a greater significance too. Knight, McCoy and Eastman each had many hardships to overcome before their work was completed and recognized. Of course, a woman in Knight’s time was not expected to know anything about machines and, confident in this belief, Charles Annon registered Knight’s original design for a flat-bottomed bag machine as his own. Knight stood up, fought him in court and won, proving herself not only an ingenious inventor, but a worthy role model as well.

In the illustrations for this book, David Parkins finds a terrific balance, picking up on the atmosphere Bill Slavin brought to the earlier books, but infusing this volume with his own touches. A full-colour Knight, with her wild and wiry red hair, leaps off backgrounds of muted factory workers.

With its subtle humour and depth of content, In the Bag! has much to offer to kids in Grades 1 through 3.

My Name is Elizabeth – Annika Dunklee, ill. Matthew Forsythe

Preschool to Grade 2  (Kids Can Press, 2011)

Elizabeth loves her name. She loves that it’s nine letters long. She loves the neat things her mouth does when she says it. She loves that there is a queen named after her. But, most of all, she loves that it’s her name to use however she chooses. And she does NOT choose to be called Lizzy, Liz, Beth or Betsy.

In 130 simple words, My Name Is Elizabeth shows Elizabeth standing up and telling the world politely, but straight-forwardly, exactly what her name means to her and what we may call her. As she’s explaining, she is independently dressing for school, flossing, leashing up her pet duck and growing increasingly frustrated as well-meaning people greet her with various nicknames. Elizabeth eventually plants herself atop a hill and announces “My NAME is ELIZABETH Alfreda Roxanne Carmelita Bluebell Jones!! But you may call me Elizabeth.” She speaks and is heard. Her wishes are respected so that, by the time she returns home, Elizabeth is happy to make an exception for the little brother who approaches her, questioning ‘Wizabef?’

Forsythe’s illustrations are wonderfully distilled down to integral elements and pair beautifully with Dunklee’s text. They convey action, message and a full range of emotion in deceptively simple two-toned drawings. The entire book takes a perfect approach to issues of negotiating one’s own identity and self-esteem. It is highly recommended as an addition to any library or classroom bookshelf – as long as an extra copy is also kept at home.

Review originally published in Canadian Children’s Book News, Winter 2012

Cairo Kelly and the Mann – Kristin Butcher

Grades 4-8  (Orca, 2002)

Pitched perfectly at boys aged 10-14, Cairo Kelly and the Mann tells the story of two kids who love and respect their favourite umpire almost as much as they love baseball.  When “the Mann” is removed from the Umpires’ Association after his refusal to write a test proving the skills he has honed over 20 years of umping, Midge and Kelly struggle with issues of fairness, pride and standing one’s ground.

From the opening lines, Butcher’s prose rings true as the words of a 7th grade boy:

“I swear on my baseball glove – Kelly and I had nothing to do with that fire.  Oh, sure, we were there.  I’m not denying that.  But we didn’t start the fire.  As a matter of fact, we were the ones who put it out and cleaned up the mess.  But did nosy old Mrs. Butterman see that from her kitchen window?”

The baseball action will keep readers turning pages.  However, the insights into family dynamics and depth of description offer yet an additional layer to this story. Midge describes a brief mental picture of his dad as “something warm – like the feeling you get when you put on a shirt straight from the dryer.” This is something all readers, regardless of age, can connect with.  Just as all readers, but particularly baseball lovers, will connect with this book.