From: steven engelfried <stevene>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 10:29:14 -0800

I've only had a bookstore look at "Joseph" so far, but would like to comment on one of the Honor Books, "When Sophie Gets Angry..." This is a book that gets better the more you look at it. My first reaction was lukewarm, but looking closer and hearing others comment about it at a Mock?ldecott event really changed my view. The childlike figures and aggressively bright colors really reflect the child point of view that's so key to the story. The way Sophie's outline color gradually mellows as she calms down, the way she gets smaller in relation to the world, the pleasing circles that dominate the last spread...these are all very effective at conveying emotions. And I think that's the real key to the book, showing these powerful feelings without using many words. Even if you don't conciously notice the drooping of the trees or the color shifts, they still affect you. I also get a kick out of seeing a kind of garish looking book like this ranked alongside the gorgeous "Ugly Duckling" and the amazing "Sector 7," reminding us that a picture book doesn't have to look beautiful to be effective. "Sophie" is a also a good companion to Bang's own "Picture This," showing how powerful simple changes in color and shape can be.

- Steven Engelfried, Children's Librarian
  Deschutes Public Library System, Bend Branch
  601 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97701
  ph: 541a7p72 fax: 541a7p73
  e-mail: stevene at dpls.lib.or.us
Received on Thu 20 Jan 2000 12:29:14 PM CST