From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 18:01:51 -0500

Whenever there's a lull in the CCBC-Net exchanges, people begin writing to me and others here at UW-Madison, asking if they've missed something, are they still connected, etc.? It's OK to have a lull from time to time, and early June is a good "lull" time. In the U.S. Midwest, the school year is over. In New England, it's winding down. Whereever we live or work, we're probably in transition. We're coming, and we're going. We're moving fast, and we're slowing down. But we aren't slowing down here at UW-Madison where we're preparing for the arrival of Peter Sis who will be here all summer http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/friends/sis.htm. That's just one reason why your comments and questions are so helpful to me at this time. We'll be hosting several book discussions, and any comments you make or dilemmas you voice will inform our discussions here at the CCBC in June & July.

Dean observed that "Like "Tibet" and "Madlenka," ["The Starry Messenger"] works on a number of levels, and every time you open the book you can see new things... As Galileo changed the way people saw themselves in relation to their universe, Peter Sis changes the way we see Galileo, and thereby enlarges our world, too... Peter Sis keeps the focus on the man who didn't 'follow tradition...' "

Kathy remembered that "Our discussions [in her classroom] always bring out our admiration for a man [Galileo] who can stick to his own beliefs, and the evidence of his own eyes and experience, in the face of public disapproval. It is lovely to have big ideas presented in such an engaging way. Sis is a master of presenting ideas as well as information through illustration as well as word, and my students, who are more visually adept than verbally sophisticated, appreciate that."

Megan pointed out "I find even the end papers of the book ["Starry Messenger"] stirring--the deep blue darkenss of the sky and shadowed images of buildings against the night, and high up in one is a solitary figure gazing at the stars. I see immediately that this was a singular and passionate figure, bringing what I know of Gallileo to the picture when I open the book. For children, it underscores the experience of the book itself, I think."

Beth wrote "I've been fascinated by them since a CCBC book discussion where someone pointed out that one endpaper depicts Galileo's time, while the other depicts a visually similar scene in the present. That's Galileo in the window in the first scene, but who has the telescope in the second scene? Visual puzzles like this one are one of the little extras that make Sis' work so intriguing. Barbara responded by saying that: I'd cast my vote for: the child reader. Surely Sis hopes children will keep thinking about the stars, just as Galileo did."

Barbara pondered whether or not "Follow the Dream" is fact or fiction, while Beth observed that even while writing about a real person such as Galileo, Sis incorporated fantastic imagery within the multiplicity of other images and representations of texts.

Jeffrey asked Peter Sis in an interview http://www.chapters.ca/kids/spotlight/peter_sis.asp about the connection between the books T"ibet" and "Madlenka." Peter responded there, as he did to a related question in Tana Elias's interview http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/friends/sis.htm, that everything is connected - whether or not that was intentional.

Katy suggested at the beginning of our discussion that "Madlenka seems to combine the qualities of both categories, as Sis brought his more creatively complex use of the picture book plane into play in a book for younger children."

I agree that "Madlenka" appears to be the link between the complexity of "Tibet" and the seeming ease of exercises in a young child's imaginary play or activity ("Fire Truck," "Trucks Trucks Trucks,"
"Ship Ahoy!" and "Ballerina!")

It seems to me that Peter ventures the idea the individuals in history to whom he pays tribute have an unusual amount of imagination combined with courage. Where does imagination begin? Where is it nurtured? In the imaginary play of a young adventurer. Peter's consistently European perspectives along with his unique but yet recognizable European visual images are transformed by his imagination. In "The Starry Messenger" "Tibet," and "Madlenka," his images are also informed by his knowledge of animation. They are also created out of his staunch personal admiration for people who stand their ground, who don't do what's expected or traditional, who in many instances suffer for their commitment to an idea or an ideal.

Do you want to move on to think together about "Tibet" or "The Three Golden Keys" each of which is autobiographical in its own way. Here again we see the fantastic figures, the dragons and gargoyles. And we see them in full force in the Prelutsky anthologies and in "Komodo."

Any and all comments and queries are welcome. Even if you're in transition. Maybe especially if you're in transition? As if you're moving through one of the animations in a Peter Sis book? Cheers, Ginny

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, USA Open during summer school Monday - Saturday 9:00 - 4:00 CDT
Received on Wed 13 Jun 2001 06:01:51 PM CDT