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Favorites of 2002
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From: Connie Rockman <connie.rock>
Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 21:48:14 -0500
I'd like to second Susan Patron's mention of Jon Muth's The Three Questions. There is a simplicity and gentle lilt to his retelling of Tolstoy's story, and he has added touches that are very appealing to children - the personalities of the boy's animal friends, especially. His watercolors are simply stunning, but they never overpower the story.
And I agree completely with KT about Giggle, Giggle Quack - it's a sequel that stands on its own. The picture of Duck at the pencil sharpener is classic picture book art; the expressions on all the animals' faces are great.
An Aside: Two years ago I did a mock Caldecott with our town's
(Stratford, CT) elementary art teachers, and one teacher fell in love with Click, Clack Moo. Last year she invited me to a production at her school where she collaborated with the first grade teachers and the music teacher - the entire first grade performed a musical version of Click, Clack Moo. And just last week I went to see this year's first grade production of Giggle, Giggle Quack. The music teacher writes original songs and uses American folk songs in between acts....One class plays the hens, one class plays the cows, etc. And here's the brilliant part: the art teacher hand-painted ties with a picture of Duck and sent them to the Superintendent and Asst. Superintendent of schools with their invitation to the show. Both arrived wearing their ties proudly how could they resist?
My top favorite picture book of this year is When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan, illus. by Brian Selznick. The powerful evocation of Anderson's character and music and that wonderful double page spread of the Lincoln Memorial concert, giving the reader the sense of actually being in the audience with the everyday folk - it all works for me as a holistic picture book experience.
Connie Rockman
Received on Tue 03 Dec 2002 08:48:14 PM CST
Date: Tue, 03 Dec 2002 21:48:14 -0500
I'd like to second Susan Patron's mention of Jon Muth's The Three Questions. There is a simplicity and gentle lilt to his retelling of Tolstoy's story, and he has added touches that are very appealing to children - the personalities of the boy's animal friends, especially. His watercolors are simply stunning, but they never overpower the story.
And I agree completely with KT about Giggle, Giggle Quack - it's a sequel that stands on its own. The picture of Duck at the pencil sharpener is classic picture book art; the expressions on all the animals' faces are great.
An Aside: Two years ago I did a mock Caldecott with our town's
(Stratford, CT) elementary art teachers, and one teacher fell in love with Click, Clack Moo. Last year she invited me to a production at her school where she collaborated with the first grade teachers and the music teacher - the entire first grade performed a musical version of Click, Clack Moo. And just last week I went to see this year's first grade production of Giggle, Giggle Quack. The music teacher writes original songs and uses American folk songs in between acts....One class plays the hens, one class plays the cows, etc. And here's the brilliant part: the art teacher hand-painted ties with a picture of Duck and sent them to the Superintendent and Asst. Superintendent of schools with their invitation to the show. Both arrived wearing their ties proudly how could they resist?
My top favorite picture book of this year is When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan, illus. by Brian Selznick. The powerful evocation of Anderson's character and music and that wonderful double page spread of the Lincoln Memorial concert, giving the reader the sense of actually being in the audience with the everyday folk - it all works for me as a holistic picture book experience.
Connie Rockman
Received on Tue 03 Dec 2002 08:48:14 PM CST
