Jamie Michalak's Blog, page 29

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

Small Blue and the Deep Dark Night
by Jon Davis  

What it's all about . . .
When Small Blue, a rabbit, wakes up in the middle of the night, she thinks of hungry things . . . and warty things . . . and hairy things! But Big Brown the bear is there to show her that the things in the dark aren't as scary as they seem. 

Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .
Funny and refreshingly original, this bedtime book is sure to have kids looking at the dark in a whole new way. 

Our favorite lines . . .
"I bet there are warty witches and clackety skeletons, sniff-sniff-sniffing, waiting for me in the dark," whispered Small Blue.

"There could be," said Big Brown. "But I can imagine the kitchen playing host to a retired-pirates' annual sock-knitting jamboree. Can't you?"

Our favorite illustration . . .
From SMALL BLUE AND THE DEEP DARK NIGHT. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jon Davis. Why kids will love it . . .
The smiley spacemen's zero-gravity birthday party and the doggy unicycle convention will have kids giggling and imagining silly scenarios in their own bedrooms.

Why grown-ups will love it . . . 
This entertaining read-aloud offers a practical approach--a sort of game--for helping children get over a fear of the dark. 

Books to Discover . . . David and the Phoenix

 [image error]Cottage contributor Rebecca Rupp shines the spotlight on an extraordinary -- and somewhat forgotten -- gem for today's fantasy fans.


DAVID AND THE PHOENIX
by Edward Ormondroyd

Edward Ormondroyd’s 1957 novel David and the Phoenix is still – just barely – in print, in a skinny, non-illustrated, paperback edition, though you can still get your paws on the original online at Project Gutenberg.

And you should. Trust me.

Actually there’s every reason for me not to like this book – I’m a scientist by training, after all, and the villain of the piece here is a Scientist with a capital S – but I can’t help myself. I just love the Phoenix.

David and the Phoenix begins when David and family move to the foot of a mountain which David – in spite of his Aunt Amy’s quibbles about landslides – promptly sets out to climb. There at the top he encounters an enormous and marvelous blue-and-gold bird, talking to itself and studying Spanish. (”Vivimos, vivis, viven. That is simple enough, you blockhead. Now, then, without looking...”)

Boy and bird become friends and the Phoenix decides put his imminent departure for the Andes on hold – he’s trying to escape the pursuing Scientist – and instead to take David’s education in hand. Off they go together, David riding on the Phoenix’s back, to have adventures with Fauns, Sea Monsters, Witches, Banshees, and the confusingly named Gryffins, Gryffons, and Gryffens.

From DAVID AND THE PHOENIX. Illustration copyright by Joan Raysor.The Phoenix has a wonderful vocabulary and talks like an Oxford don – he addresses David as “my dear boy” – but he’s also endearingly clueless. He gets caught in his own snare; his attempt to set up a signaling device – he tries to tap into the power lines – leads to near-electrocution; he’s repeatedly taken in by a practical-joking Leprechaun, toting exploding cigars.

Ultimately, though, he’s a true Phoenix: an ancient, honorable, and noble bird.  At the end of the book – yes, SPOILER – the Phoenix, after celebrating his 500th birthday with cookies and ice cream, builds a pyre.

David is distraught, but the Phoenix does his best to reassure him.

“Please, my boy. Do not take on so! It is not in the least horrible, I assure you. My Instinct tells me so.”

And finally, out of the ashes, steps a new, young, and magnificent Phoenix, a pure gold bird with amber eyes.

It brushes David’s forehead with a golden wing and then – with the Scientist in hot pursuit – it flies, soaring over the valley “sparkling, flashing, shimmering…diminishing at last to a speck of gold dust, which glimmered twice in the distance before it was gone altogether.”

“Oh,” my kids said. Then we all cried.

My book The Dragon of Lonely Island owes a lot to the Phoenix.

Rebecca Rupp is the award-winning author of nearly two dozen books for both kids and adults, among them The Dragon of Lonely Island, The Waterstone, Journey to the Blue Moon, Sarah Simpson’s Rules for Living, Octavia Boone’s Big Questions, and After Eli. She maintains an education resources blog at http://www/rebeccaruppresources.com and blogs for National Geographic at http://theplate.nationalgeographic.com.

A Mr. Pig LIVE Special . . . with Eric Litwin!

Hello, Mr. Pig here. Hey! Do you hear music? 

It must be Eric Litwin, author of THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE and the first four Pete the Cat books, at the door! Eric is today's guest on my hit talk show, Mr. Pig LIVE! Can you dig it?

Welcome to the Cottage, Eric! Have a seat. I want to hear all about you, Pete the Cat, and your latest book, THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE, illustrated by Scott Magoon.




But first, let's play The Nuts music video for the folks at home. . . .
 

MP: I've enjoyed reading, singing, and dancing along to THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE. Did you have dancing in mind when you wrote the story?
EL: Yes! This book bridges the gap between early literacy and disco music. The idea is for parents to disco and dance their children to bed. This book can be read during the day for fun or as a bedtime book at night. It ends with a lullaby. Readers can find music and movements for THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE at TheNutFamily.com.
 
Where did the idea for the Nut family come from? 
Every family I know is nutty, and that’s a good thing. It’s important for us to be able to talk about being unique and fun. The Nuts are like I lot of families I actually know. Mama gives unconditional love, clear instructions (although the kids might not listen to them at first), and structure. They're completely loving, healthy, and nutty.

From THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE. Illustration copyright 2014 by Scott Magoon.

Just like the Cottagers. What was your reaction to Scott Magoon's illustrations? 
Scott hit it out of the park! I love his sense of humor from his past books, and I admired how he was able to bring inanimate objects, such as a spoon and chopsticks, to life. He brought my puns to a whole new level. Adults, too, will appreciate these funny elements. And of course, kids love the “Nut Butt” line.


From THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE. Illustration copyright 2014 by Scott Magoon.
I must confess, that's my favorite line, too! What makes a good book? 
For me, a good book must have all of these qualities--a positive message, a great song, an interesting ending, puns and humor, a good story, a fantastic opening line, and an educational aspect. For example, in THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE, kids learn about big, bigger, and biggest. Because I'm a former teacher and interested in interactive literacy, my books include music, movement, call and response, and repetition.
 
Do you usually write the story or song first? 
I once read about a sculptor who said that the knew the stone had a sculpture in it, he just has to find it. The story is there and I’m discovering it, but it takes time. I give hundreds of performances and will tell a story hundreds of times before it’s done. So in a way, I’m writing it in front of a live audience. If the story works great as a performance piece, then it will work as a read-aloud. Rhyme, meter, repetition, and movement to words--these help kids memorize sight words. The first lines of THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE are easy to remember because of the rhyme and rhythm.
 
Could we expect more books about the Nut family? I hope so!  
Yes. THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE is the first in a series. Book two is called THE NUTS: SING AND DANCE IN YOUR POLKA DOT PANTS. We hope there will be more books and even easy readers.



 
Nutty fun! Now let’s talk about YOU. What one word best describes you? 
Persistent. 

You’ve had enormous success in your career. What has been the highlight for you? 
Reaching beginning and emergent readers. I’ve received many letters and emails from parents sharing how their children were non-readers or non-verbal until they read my Pete the Cat books. One parent wrote that her child’s first words were ‘I love my white shoes!’ What’s happened with the first four Pete the Cat series has gone beyond anything I could have imagined.


What’s your favorite dance? 
Mama Nut’s disco dance. In THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE, she does moves from KC and the Sunshine Band and Travolta. The next book about the Nuts, THE NUTS: SING AND DANCE IN YOUR POLKA DOT PANTS, includes lots of good dance moves, too.
 
What would you say to seven-year-old Eric if you could travel back in time? 
Follow your dreams. You can do it!

Excellent advice. Thanks, Eric! And now it's time . . . to disco! Hit it, Eric.

About Eric Litwin
Eric Litwin (Mr. Eric) is a guitar-strumming, book-writing, harmonica-blowing, song-singing, folksy, fun type of guy. He is the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of the first four Pete the Cat picture books and the author of the new musical series The Nuts. Eric's books have sold over 1.5 million copies, been translated into seven languages and won 15 state and national awards including a Theodor Geisel Seuss Honor Award. 

He has also recorded award winning music CDs. Eric is a popular performing artist who plays guitar, sings, tells musical stories and brings books to life. He is also a nationally respected keynote speaker on interactive literacy and music. Eric is the co-creator of The Learning Groove which offers parent and child music classes and preschool music curriculum. Eric likes music, books, and coffee.

To learn more about Eric's books, visit his website. 


About THE NUTS: BEDTIME AT THE NUT HOUSE
by Eric Litwin, illustrated by Scott MagoonLittle, Brown; July 2004ISBN-13: 9780316322447 

It's bedtime at the Nut House, but little Wally and Hazel Nut aren't ready to go to sleep."We're Nuts! We're Nuts! We're Nuts!"

Why go to bed when you could be singing and howling at the moon? But Mama Nut insists... "All little Nuts need to go up to bed!"

Who will win this bedtime tug-of-war?

In an unforgettably catchy bedtime adventure, bestselling author Eric Litwin and artist Scott Magoon invite readers to chime in and join the nutty fun!

Quote of the Week

"Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance.” 

― Laurie Halse Anderson, Speak

Mr. Pig Visits. . .Chris Van Dusen!

Howdy, folks!

Today, I'm paying visit to the studio of talented author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen! How about a little vocabulary lesson on the way. Here's our word of the day... Prolific: producing a large amount of something. Chris Van Dusen is not only talented, he's PROLIFIC! Meaning he has made so many wonderful books I love, I almost can't name them all. But I'll tell you my favorite: Mercy Watson, of course! That's one amazing pig. Oh, but I also love Circus Ship! And President Taft is Stuck in the Bath... and...and...oh, I am so excited to read Chris's latest collaboration with Kate DiCamillo: Leroy Ninker Saddles Up. (Leroy's going to be on Mr. Pig Live, you know!) 
Well, would you look at that... I've been going on and on, and here we are! Chris's studio is on the second story of a barn attached to his house here in Maine. 
<<knock, knock>>
Hi, Mr. Pig!
Hello, Chris! Thanks for inviting me.

My pleasure, Mr. Pig. Shall we get started? As you can see my commute (from the kitchen) takes 20 seconds!
How convenient! And what a beautiful, sun-filled space you have here. 

Thank you! This is the giant drawing board where I create my illustrations. In the background you can see my light table which helps me to trace my sketches (although it's covered with reference books right now!) and behind my chair are my flat files and robot collection. I love robots!

Me too! You should do a book about a pig robot. I bet that would be a big hit.
Hmm...not bad...I'll remember that. Looking across my drawing board, you see an illustration in progress. It's for my next book titled "Hattie & Hudson" which will be published by Candlewick Press spring 2016. Beside it is a finished painting from the same book. I often will refer back to completed illustrations so I can keep the colors and details consistent. Everything has to be in the same place and the characters have to look the same from page to page. Believe it or not, that's really hard to do!

These are my messy paints. All my illustrations are painted with gouache. It's easy to remember gouache because it rhymes with squash. Gouache is like an opaque watercolor. I mix the paint on cheap plastic plates. If you look closely, you can see I've written "distant shore-base" on the rim of the plate. This tells me what I've used that color for and I can use it again throughout the book.

Gouache-squash. Got it.
Over in the corner of my studio, on a bookcase, I have a model of a Chevy pickup towing an Airstream camper. I like to surround myself with toys and fun stuff!

On my flat files, my robots stand guard! In front of them you can see more of those plastic plate palettes in ziplock bags. I can use and reuse these paints for the whole book.

This is the front of my flat files where I keep all the materials I use to make a book. The labels refer to the titles of my books.

Looking back down the flat files, you see the rest of my robots and some of the finished art for "Hattie & Hudson." I would really love to have a wall where I could put my illustrations up and see them all together, but since my studio is under the eaves, I don't have the space. This is what I do instead.

My Iron Giant (one of my all time favorite movies) mechanical bank with President Taft in front. Again, more fun stuff.

Great film. I reviewed it for Pigs Weekly. Gave it five out of five oinks.
Two plush Mercy Watsons sit on top of my boxes of original art in another corner of my studio. It was pretty neat how the company that made these stuffed animals took my flat drawings and turned them 3-D! I think they did an amazing job. They really LOOK like Mercy!

Oh, they do. You wouldn't mind if I just... um... cuddled them, for a moment, would you? Our readers will want to know how cuddly they are.
Not at all, Mr. Pig. Go right ahead.
Thank you. Please proceed...
This is a detail from one of the finished illustrations for "Hattie & Hudson." This is Hattie. She's my first ever female main character.

Under my flat files is a long bookcase containing mostly children's picture books I love. But I'm also fascinated with animation, so I collect these "Art of..." books, too. I love looking at the character development sketches. 

Another studio view with my robots on the right, drawing table on the left and between the windows on the back wall hang my two Lupine Awards given by the Maine Library Association for the best Maine picture book of the year.

Congratulations! Well-deserved.
Thanks! Speaking of awards, here's a collection of some I've won for my books- along with a tiny pickup.

Another view of my flat files, robots and finished art. You may recognize the robot with the red body as B-9 from "Lost in Space." I received one of these for Christmas when I was six years old. Not the same one pictured here, however.

Thank you, Chris, for showing me around your amazing studio!
Anytime, Mr. Pig. But um... can I have my Mercy Watson back?
Oh, er... right, ha, ha. Of course. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Van Dusen was born in Portland, Maine on St. Patrick’s Day, 1960. As a child, he spent hours drawing pictures with his brothers.

After high school, Chris studied fine art at The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and graduated with a BFA in 1982. He worked for more than ten years as a freelance illustrator doing editorial work for magazines like Nickelodeon, Family Fun and Disney Adventures.

While freelancing, Chris began thinking about drawing a picture of a boat stuck high up in a tree. "I thought that would be a really funny and intriguing illustration,"says Chris. At the same time, a refrain kept running through his head: “Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee/ Hopped in the car and drove down to the sea." The combination of these two things eventually became his first book, Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee , which was published in 2000. He's been busy writing and illustrating children’s books ever since.

Chris has collaborated with award winning author Mac Barnett on President Taft is Stuck in the Bath ; and two-time Newberry winner Kate DiCamillo on the popular Mercy Watson series, as well as the newly released follow up in the series Leroy Ninker Saddles Up, in addition to his own titles:  Circus Ship;   King Hugos's Huge Ego;   Randy Riley's Really Big Hit;   If I Built a House  and others.

He now lives in a beautiful little town on the coast of Maine with his lovely wife Lori, his two tall sons, Ethan and Tucker, and a yellow lab named Pearl. For more about Chris visit his website: http://www.chrisvandusen.com
Leroy Ninker Saddles Up (Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Book One)by Kate DiCamilloillustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick (August 26, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0763663391

“DiCamillo has always been at her best when dwelling on the good and the bad in relationships between humans and animals, and Van Dusen knows precisely how best to present Leroy to us.” —The New York Times Book Review
“DiCamillo effortlessly slips back into the comfortable rhythms of Mercy’s world, infusing every chapter with subdued wit, warmth, and heart. Van Dusen matches the text stride-for-stride, delivering caricatured art of the Pinocchioesque Leroy and the four-toothed, spaghetti-loving Maybelline.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“DiCamillo’s quirky, eccentric characters speak in flowery sentiments and employ charming wordplay. Along with Van Dusen’s well-matched illustrations, there’s a sweet, retro innocence reminiscent of McCloskey’s classic ‘Homer Price.’” —Kirkus Reviews

“DiCamillo’s use of inventive and colorful language and Van Dusen’s stylized gouache illustrations make this story click.” —Booklist

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

If You Want to See a Whale 
by Julie Fogliano and Erin E. Stead


What it's all about . . .
A quiet journey about a boy and his dog and a little bird, who go looking for a whale.

Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .
The art of patience isn’t a subject often tackled in picture books, and this one is a winner.

Our favorite lines . . .
If you want to see a whale you will need a window and an ocean and time for waiting and time for looking and time for wondering “is that a whale?”

Our favorite illustration . . .

[Illustration Copyright 2013, Erin Stead, Roaring Brook Press]

Why kids will love it . . .Who doesn’t want to look for a whale?! With your dog?! And a bird?!

Why grown-ups will love it . . . It’s a precise and perfect tale about looking and finding. Worthwhile discoveries take patience. And this book reminds readers that it’s important to appreciate the journey.

Loved to Pieces. . . with Elise Broach!

Welcome to the Cottage, ELISE BROACH!

Elise Broach is the New York Times bestselling author of The Miniature World of Marvin and James, Masterpiece, Shakespeare’s Secret, Desert Crossing, Missing on Superstition Mountain, Treasure on Superstition Mountain and Revenge of Superstition Mountain, as well as several picture books. Her books have been selected as ALA notable books, Junior Library Guild selections, a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book, a New York Public Library Best Book for the Teenage, an IRA Teacher’s Choice, Time magazine's #1 Children's Book of the Year, an E.B. White Read Aloud Award, and nominated for an Edgar Award, among other distinctions.

Elise, what favorite childhood book have you brought to share with us today?

"It is too hard to choose a favorite book!

I read constantly as a child; it was hands-down my favorite thing to do. But here are two much-loved books from my childhood that flood me with warm memories whenever I touch their tattered covers. The first is The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett.


See the inscription? From my Grandmamma and Granddaddy Broach when I was six years old, it reads: 'This is a book to keep for future enjoyment, while a little girl grows and grows till she is a big, big girl.'



The Secret Garden had everything I loved in a book: a bold, independent heroine, an exotic setting, high stakes, an engaging boy-girl friendship, and an incredibly satisfying, almost magical trajectory from dire straits to a happy ending. Truth be told, I liked A Little Princess even better, but The Secret Garden introduced me to the joys of reading Frances Hodgson Burnett. And the illustrations by Tasha Tudor were spectacular, every so often colonizing a page in gorgeous color.

The second book is Daphne Du Maurier's Frenchman's Creek, which I still consider one of my all-time favorite books. I remember the day I found it on a shelf in the deep, walk-in closet of my Grandma Lomont's farm house in Indiana. I started reading it, and when she saw how engrossed I was, she told me it was mine. This was what she wrote inside: 'To a sweet granddaughter - So glad to have you add this to your library - even tho it's 'old like me.' Frenchman's Creek swept me away.


A great book is like a long, deep, thoughtful conversation, not just with the author, but with yourself, and with the person who gave it to you. When I look at these books, I think of the people who wrote them, and who I was as a child, and my wonderful grandparents who gave them to me. That's what makes them cherished."


**********************
ELISE BROACH is the author of 17 books for children, ranging from board books to young adult novels. Her middle-grade mystery, Masterpiece, was a New York Times bestseller and the winner of the E. B. White Read-Aloud Award of the Association of Booksellers for Children. Her picture book When Dinosaurs Came with Everything was named Time magazine's #1 Children's Book of the Year. Her newest books are the award-winning Superstition Mountain mystery trilogy, set in Arizona, and The Miniature World of Marvin and James, which is the first in an early chapter book series based on the Masterpiece characters.

To learn more about Elise's many award-winning books, visit her website.

Elise's most recently released titles include:


REVENGE OF SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN
Superstition Mountain Mysteries (Book 3)
by Elise Broach
Henry Holt and Co (August 26, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0805089097

Praise for the series:
* “Broach builds on the daring escapades and eerie tension . . . in this stellar sequel. Readers will be eager for the next installment.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “Classic horror and thriller elements combine with modern touches in Broach’s page-turner, a very promising start to this series.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“[An] engrossing mystery. . .  Broach reserves plenty of suspicious characters, spooky landscapes and loose ends for the slated sequels, which both boys and girls will savor.” —Kirkus

THE MINIATURE WORLD OF MARVIN & JAMES
The Masterpiece Adventures (Book 1)by Elise BroachIllustrated by Kelly Murphy
Henry Holt and Co.  (February 4, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0805091908
"Page-turning adventure." —The Horn Book
"This winsome series debut is both a sweet story of cross-species friendship and a sobering new way to look at pencil sharpeners." —Kirkus Reviews

Praise for MASTERPIECE:
"Inventive . . . [Broach] packs this fast-moving story with perennially seductive themes: hidden lives and secret friendships, miniature worlds lost to disbelievers . . . Broach and Kelly show readers something new."―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Delightful intricacies of beetle life . . . blend seamlessly with the suspenseful caper as well as the sentimental story of a complicated-but-rewarding friendship. . . . Murphy’s charming pen-and-ink drawings populate the short chapters of this funny, winsome novel."―Kirkus

* A New York Times bestseller
SPRINGTIME BABY
by Elise Broach
Illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld 
LB Kids (January 21, 2014)
ISBN: 978-0316235266

"Broach's tight-as-a-drum verse and Doerrfeld's cheerful artwork easily match the enthusiasm of their young backyard explorer." —Publishers Weekly

"[A] cheerful ode to the wonders of spring. . . . This joyful lift-the-flap adventure will inspire little ones to head outdoors to see if spring has sprung in their neck of the woods."—Kirkus

Quote of the Week

"Let children read whatever they want and then talk about it with them. If parents and kids can talk together, we won't have as much censorship because we won't have as much fear."
 — Judy Blume

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

The Midnight Library  
by Kazuno Kohara 

What it's all about . . .
Once there was a library that opened only at night. Managed by a young librarian and her three assistant owls, everything at the library was peaceful and quiet, until it was overrun by a band of squirrels, nearly flooded by mysterious tears, and occupied by a certain very sloooow reader.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . .
A library for nocturnal readers (not unlike certain Cottagers we know), portrayed in moody autumnal tones, featuring cuddly woodland creatures? Where do we get our library cards?

Our favorite line . . .
“I must stay until I finish reading this book,” said the tortoise. “I only have 500 pages left!”

Our favorite illustration . . .

From The Midnight Library. Copyright 2014 by Kazuno Kahara.Why kids will love it . . .
A dreamy, cozy setting, and a perfect bedtime story.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
A great way to encourage a love for books, reading, libraries, and nighttime.

Literary Lunch . . . Louise Loves Art

Louise Love Art , by Kelly Light, is a beautifully illustrated book about the importance of creativity. In Louise's own words, "I love art! It's my imagination on the outside." But working on a masterpiece is hard when your little brother is working on his own masterpiece at the same time. This sweet and imaginative story is a great book for all budding artists out there! 

To celebrate all creativity, Nina from Mamabelly's lunches with Love packed a lunch anyone could imagine in their lunchbox:strawberries with a purple crayon decorationcorn puffs with fruit leather handprintsand a Louise chocolate-filled tortilla with melted chocolate and fruit leather decorations