The Scraps Book

THE SCRAPS BOOK by Lois Ehlert. Simon and Schuster, 2014.

Artist Ehlert's life
Collecting, using, making
Art for all to see.

BTW, this book has a Lexile of 640, DRA 50, GRL U-W. Interesting how that limits the audience for this book, huh?

What's your favorite animal?

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL? by Eric Carle and Friends. Holt, 2014.

Nick Bruehl, Mo Willems, Peter Sis and a host of other illustrators write about and draw their favorite animals in this collection. Kids will love seeing what animal was selected by their favorite authors and illustrators.

Black and Blue

IKE'S INCREDIBLE INK by Brianne Farley. Candlewick Press, 2013.

Ike needs just the right ink. How can he possibly gather the ingredients he needs? As the inside picture belwo indicates, Ike is dedicated to finding just the perfect formula.





MY BLUE IS HAPPY by Jessica Young with illustrations by Catia Chen. Candlewick Press, 2013.

Blue does ot always mean sad. Sometimes grey is comforting. And all the other colors can have lots of meaning as our young protagonist discovers in this book that explores how we decide which colors relate to which feelings, events, etc. in our lives.

Artful

THE MUSEUM by Susan Verde with illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds. Abrams, 2013.

A visit to a museum causes many responses in our young protagonist. A still life makes her hungry, swirling patterns cause her to twirl until she, too, is dizzy. But it is the sight of a blank canvas that sends her running for her tools, itching to paint something of her own. This would be a lovely introduction to museums and art for children. Tie this to the WHAT MAKES A MONET A MONET? art series and to OLIVIA as well.

color everywhere

MONET PAINTS A DAY by Julie Dannenberg with illustrations by Caitlin Heimerl (Charlesbridge 2012) gives young readers a chance to meet Impressionist painter Monet as he travels across the countryside painting outdoors. Using snippets from his letters and journals, Dannenberg shows the process Monet used in his painting. Appendices give more information about the techniques of the Impressionist painters and more about Monet's life. <327>




MONKEY COLORS by Darrin Lunde with illustrations by Patricia Wynne (Charlesbrisge 2012) is a nonfiction book about the various colors and color combinations of monkeys. Simple text shows monkeys of all hues, and an appendix provides more information about each type of monkey in the book. <328>

Pablo Picasso

JUST BEHAVE, PABLO PICASSO! by Jonah Winter with illustrations by Kevin Hawkes (Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic 2012) is a perfect example of narrative nonfiction. Here is a biography of gifted artist Picasso from his childhood as a prodigy to his adulthood where he was both lauded at first and later decried when critics failed to see Picasso's vision. Hawkes' illustrations are rather cinematic, serving to draw readers into the text and the illustrations (and sometimes, the text is part of the illustration). Picasso is fresh faced and larger than life in some double page spreads. In others, he appears arrogant, determined, and ultimately serene. An afterword discusses Cubism and other aspects of Picasso's art. Hawkes manages to work some of Picasso's masterpieces into the illustrations as well. A good pairing might be one of the books in the series "WHAT MAKES A ____ A ___________?" (what makes a Van Gogh a Van Gogh?). <195>

The Arts

MOUSTERPIECE by Jane Breskin Zalben (Roaring Brook, August 2012), an intrepid mouse named Janson resides in a museum. She loves drawing and painting and begins to use the masterpieces of the museum to inspire her own work. When the modern art wing of the museum is closed for renovation, Janson hangs her own pieces. Voila! A new talent is discovered. Pair these with the incredible nonfiction titles that include WHAT MAKES A VAN GOGH A VAN GOGH and OLIVIA. <95>




EXTRA YARN by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Jon Klassen (HarperCollins 2012) is the tale of a young girl who finds a box of yarn. She begins to knit away and never seems to run out of yarn. Soon, all the residents of the town are adorned in sweaters and caps. The knitting continues as our heroine makes coverings for buildings and other objects in the town. Soon, a greedy archduke comes to steal the wondrous box. He does not get what he bargains for, however, and all ends happily in this "yarn." <96>




Meet THE CHANDELIERS: Daphne, Maximillian, Granny and Granddaddy, Daffodil. They are the featured players of THE CHANDELIERS by Vincent X. Kirsch (FSG, August 2012), a book about theatrical giraffes who are assisted by the small Rufus whose tasks are all behind stage and curtain. Rufus, though, plays a big part in the success of The Chandeliers and is rewarded for his part. <97>

Freedom!

FREEDOM'S A CALLIN ME by Ntozake Shange with illustrations by Rod Brown (Amistad 2012) is a collection of poems Shange wrote in response to Brown's paintings. They tell the story of slaves who are longing for freedom, for escape from the harsh reality of their lives. The poems begin in the fields and move slowly along the Underground Railroad and, ultimately, to freedom. Beatings, being hunted by dogs, running away, losing family: Shange and Brown do not shy away from the difficult truths. <76>

family and friends

THE HERO OF LITTLE STREET by Gregory Rogers (Roaring Brook Press, March 2012) is the third book in the boy bear series (and it is not necessary to have seen the other two to enjoy this one). it is a textless adventure in picture book/graphic novel format that follows a boy escaping a gang of bullies. Readers can tell their own story as they follow our "hero"into a museum and then into a painting. <34>




THE FAMILY TREE by David McPhail (Holt, March 2012) presents the story of a tree that has been in one family for a long time. When the family first arrived, they left one tree standing for shade and shelter. As time passes, the tree grows taller and is slowly surrounded by new members of the family. One day, the tree is scheduled for destruction; it will be cut down to make room for a new highway. However, one young boy is determined to save the "family tree." <35>

The inimitable Eric Carle

Is there anyone out there who knows children's books and does not immediately recognize the work of master illustrator Eric Carle? Unlikely. And the arrival of a new book with his vibrant collage illustrations is always reason to drop everything and read. Here is THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED A BLUE HORSE by Carle (Philomel 2011), Carle's tribute to German painter Franz Marc whose outlandish paintings of animals, mostly horses, in unconventional colors, is celebrated in the simple text and incredible collages that are the hallmark of Carle's work. <532>

Lyrical Art

THE MASTERWORK OF A PAINTING ELEPHANT by Michelle Cuevas with pictures by Ed Young (FSG 2011) can be deceptive at first glance. It appears to be a slim, small book for young readers. However, open the book and read Chapter One, and it is readily apparent that the intended audience is a tad older and more rich in literary experience. For what follows is a lyrical allegory about family, about friends, about art, about love, and more. Birch, a white elephant, works in a car wash doomed to a life of spraying water to rinse the cars as they pass along. What he wants to do is to paint, to create art. He also secretly longs to reconnect with the graceful acrobat who once danced on his back. Into his life comes Pigeon, a young boy whose parent abandon him at an orphanage. Pigeon, though, crawls away. Somehow Pigeon and Birch connect. Now Pigeon lives on Birch's back. The two are inseparable, the bond that connects them as strong as Birch's trunk and Pigeon's belief that one day he will find his parents. To tell more would deprive you of the rare reading experience in store for you. This book begs to be read aloud (and even studied, though please not so deeply that it loses its charm for the reader). Tie this one to THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT, THE DREAMER, PETER NIMBLE AND HIS FANTASTIC EYES, THE GIRL WHO CIRCUMNAVIGATED FAIRYLAND IN A SHIP OF HER OWN MAKING, and so many more titles that connect the heart of this story. <524>

Arrooooo for Hound Dog True!

HOUND DOG TRUE by Linda Urban (Harcourt 2011) demonstrates once more the power of this author who gave us the impossibly unpredictable A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT. In HOUND DOG TRUE readers will meet Mattie Breen. Mattie is getting ready for yet another new school: this time it will be the one where her Uncle Potluck (yes, that is what the family calls him) is the janitor. Mattie finds comfort in being his assistant in the weeks leading up to school. Perhaps, she thinks, she can assist him instead of sitting by herself at lunch or recess? Things have a way of working out even if they are kind of a "crooked perfect" at the outset. <507>

Telling you any more about the story would deprive you from the sheer pleasure of reading and turning the page and reading more. Mattie is a memorable character as is Uncle Potuck and the Sweet family next door. Add in the principal of Mattie's school and Mattie's mother and you have a story that will touch you in places unexpected. Thanks to Kate Messner for giving me a heads up on the book and to Harcourt for being so kind to send me an ARC which will certainly be handed on to more readers.