CCBC-Net Archives
Winding Down the Peter Sis Discussion
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 15:46:33 -0500
Some of us have had the opportunity to hear Peter Sis speak in person about how he came to create children's books, and we gain a sense of the many layers of meaning in his books, even in his easiest books such as Fire Truck (inspired by Kafka, as I'm sure you've already figured out).
A few within the CCBC-Net community were part of the jam-packed auditorium at the Elvehjem Museum of Art at UW-Madison on June 27 to hear Peter Sis speak. He emphasized the "map of his world," in that particular speech, pointing out the importance of literal borders between nations during his childhood and adolescence along with many other connections to his career and books. That speech will be web cast on the CCBC web site in the future. We'll let you know when it's available.
One of the things he said on Wednesday was that in creating the opening maps in Madlenka, he made a mistake by making a clearly identifiable map of Manhattan. He intended to the book to be universal, in that in every part of the world, children Madlenka's age experience the first loose tooth. He was "thinking" without borders, but he drew Manhattan. Now he regrets that he was so literal - in one respect - particularly since Madlenka concerns imagination.
It's impossible to bring Peter Sis's books to life in the medium of an electronic discussion, and I realize that even more after seeing his original art framed and mounted in the Elvehjem Museum of Art. His works are miniatures, carefully painted and much more delicately detailed than any of the books actually can represent. He enjoys hearing what individuals discern within each of his books, but like most artists, he leaves that to each of us to discover. We complete each of his books, and though this discussion is formally completed, we aren't finished thinking about them - or even seeing their many layers when we hold them in our hands.
Join us in the journey through Peter Sis's many worlds, by looking closely at each of his books. And - if you can - join us in Madison this summer while his works are on exhibit in Madison http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/sis.htm . He's going to give one more public talk on campus. It will be hosted by the International Institute on Thursday, July 24 http://www.wisc.edu/international institute/ This informal talk will focus upon Czech Film Making and Animation: A Personal Journey. Will we see you there?
Thanks to everyone who ventured comments about Peter Sis's books during June. If you have something more to say - anyone - please do so over the weekend.
And thanks to each of you who especially greeted Katy Horning and me whenever you saw us during the American Library Association conference in San Francisco earlier this month.
Cheers, Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison
Received on Fri 29 Jun 2001 03:46:33 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 15:46:33 -0500
Some of us have had the opportunity to hear Peter Sis speak in person about how he came to create children's books, and we gain a sense of the many layers of meaning in his books, even in his easiest books such as Fire Truck (inspired by Kafka, as I'm sure you've already figured out).
A few within the CCBC-Net community were part of the jam-packed auditorium at the Elvehjem Museum of Art at UW-Madison on June 27 to hear Peter Sis speak. He emphasized the "map of his world," in that particular speech, pointing out the importance of literal borders between nations during his childhood and adolescence along with many other connections to his career and books. That speech will be web cast on the CCBC web site in the future. We'll let you know when it's available.
One of the things he said on Wednesday was that in creating the opening maps in Madlenka, he made a mistake by making a clearly identifiable map of Manhattan. He intended to the book to be universal, in that in every part of the world, children Madlenka's age experience the first loose tooth. He was "thinking" without borders, but he drew Manhattan. Now he regrets that he was so literal - in one respect - particularly since Madlenka concerns imagination.
It's impossible to bring Peter Sis's books to life in the medium of an electronic discussion, and I realize that even more after seeing his original art framed and mounted in the Elvehjem Museum of Art. His works are miniatures, carefully painted and much more delicately detailed than any of the books actually can represent. He enjoys hearing what individuals discern within each of his books, but like most artists, he leaves that to each of us to discover. We complete each of his books, and though this discussion is formally completed, we aren't finished thinking about them - or even seeing their many layers when we hold them in our hands.
Join us in the journey through Peter Sis's many worlds, by looking closely at each of his books. And - if you can - join us in Madison this summer while his works are on exhibit in Madison http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/sis.htm . He's going to give one more public talk on campus. It will be hosted by the International Institute on Thursday, July 24 http://www.wisc.edu/international institute/ This informal talk will focus upon Czech Film Making and Animation: A Personal Journey. Will we see you there?
Thanks to everyone who ventured comments about Peter Sis's books during June. If you have something more to say - anyone - please do so over the weekend.
And thanks to each of you who especially greeted Katy Horning and me whenever you saw us during the American Library Association conference in San Francisco earlier this month.
Cheers, Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu Cooperative Children's Book Center www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/ A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison
Received on Fri 29 Jun 2001 03:46:33 PM CDT
