From: SHAWN BROMMER, YOUTH SERVICES - STLS <STL_SHAWN>
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 15:20:26 -0500 (EST)

Thanks, Megan, for introducing the discussion of the CSK illustrator books. Ever since I received it last summer, the one book I've used several times is THE HUNTERMAN AND THE CROCODILE (Baba Wague Diakite), a CSK Illustrator Honor book. I've presented the story in oral storytelling programs for children, YAs, and adults. (It is a story which, after a few more tellings, will be a standard in my repertoire - the language, dialogue, and sounds of the animals are perfect for storytelling.) After I tell the story, I bring out the book and informally page through it and ask questions. I've found that after hearing the story once, many children are able to tell me the story by looking at the illustrations. In discussing the book with school-aged children, one observant girl commented that "the borders make the drawings look like pictures from a play." The dramatic, bordered illustrations are like looking through a window into another culture; the stark white space of the glossy pages draws readers' attention to the illustrations.

The amber and russet backgrounds and a steadfast, smiling sun remind readers of the dry terrain and set the stage for this folktale from West Africa. Just as plants and animals of the desert conserve water, Diakite sparingly uses color. The importance of water, a crucial, life-giving force, is accentuated by the brilliant blue hues of the river and somber blue crocodile tears in an otherwise muted color scheme.

I've discovered that once this book is introduced, it finds an audience.
(Or, an audience finds it.....??) In the last few weeks, I've discussed the award and honor books (Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, Batchelder) with youth services librarians and children. (WRINGER and I KNOW AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY are favorites here.) I find that it is the adults who are more likely to look past THE HUNTERMAN and turn to the comfort of familiar illustrative styles of THE GARDENER and I KNOW AN OLD LADY. Many children are intrigued by the story and the illustrations and are fascinated with the fact that the illustrations for this book were painted on ceramic tile, a fitting medium for this folktale. (In the future I want to create an entire program based on this book and then experiment with painting on tiles - but now I am straying from the subject.)

While I find the text on the last page a bit awkward and out of synch, the response to this book has been overwhelmingly positive. I sense a sigh of relief from listeners when they discover that the crocodile tears that save Dosno's wife are shed out of joy, rather than out of fear or sorrow. The personal author's note is informative and has led readers to similar folktales. I look forward to learning others' responses and experiences with THE HUNTERMAN AND THE CROCODILE and the other CSK award & honor books.

Shawn Brommer, Youth Services Consultant Southern Tier Library System Painted Post, NY stl_shawn at chstls.org
Received on Tue 24 Feb 1998 02:20:26 PM CST