From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2002 13:38:10 -0800

Madlenka's Dog" by Sis is one of my favorites of the year. I don't always get Sis' work, but this one seemed just right. He uses surprising color combinations, unusual perspectives, and lift-up flaps, all of which reveal Madlenka's imagination, along with the memories of her dog-owning neighbors. It's fun and touching (but mostly fun). Another favorite is Howitt's "The Spider and the Fly," with amazing black and white illustrations by Tony DiTerlizzi. Dark humor that I think would be great to use with older kids. There's all kinds of enjoyably grim details within the illustrations, but not they're not overdone. The scene where Fly is finally caught and we just see the Spider's shadow (including his tall chef's hat) is appropriately menacing, but you also notice the funny glasses and top hat of other captured bugs, the mounted beetle head on the wall, and one of Fly's four poking-out hands clutching her purse and you can't help but smile...

Steven Engelfried, Children's Division Librarian Beaverton City Library 12375 SW 5th Street Beaverton, OR 97005 503R6%99 sengelfried at ci.beaverton.or.us
Received on Wed 04 Dec 2002 03:38:10 PM CST