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[CCBC-Net] Garmann's Summer
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From: Barthelmess, Thom <Thomas.Barthelmess>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:22:31 -0600
I think that Garmann's Summer succeeds in just about every possible way.
As a text, it marries a lyrical, colorful narrative with an ambling, utterly child-like structure. You sense that you're experiencing Garmann's apprehension and disquiet personally, because it's presented in so genuine a fashion.
And the artwork, with it's own marriage of the poignant and the ridiculous, crafted in vibrant collages of snippets and details, has a nostalgic quality that is accessible and discomforting, all at once.
And then, the text and the illustrations come together, leaving the reader with an indelible impression of what it feels like to be scared.
Wow.
My $.02. Thom
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Megan Schliesman Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:27 AM To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: [CCBC-Net] Batchelder Award
I want to echo Tessa's appreciation for "Garmann's Summer." When I first read it I didn't know what to make of it--visually it's so unusual. But the story struck me as extraordinary, especially given its length. While it's a long text for picture book format, the depth and richness of the narrative was striking to me--I felt like I was reading a novel, full of backstory and character development. I had been dropped into the middle of Garmann's life and mind, but everything I needed for a satisfying story and literary experience was contained in the pages of that slim volume.
I thought the Batchelder winner, "Moribito," was fascinating. It works on one level as a fantasy adventure story, but I thought the author deftly examines weighty ideas along the way, most notably, the understanding that "history" is often a version of the past from the perspective of those who conquer. The setting of this story--in an imagined world meant to evoke medieval Japan--brings specificity to that idea as the future of the kingdom becomes dependent on someone remembering the stories and rituals of the indigenous people whose traditions--if they can be remembered in time--reflect the truth about the past, and hold the answer to the immediate crisis surrounding the fate of the 12-year-old prince. (Now I've made it sound heavy-handed, and it isn't at all.)
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
608/262-9503 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Fri 20 Feb 2009 12:22:31 PM CST
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:22:31 -0600
I think that Garmann's Summer succeeds in just about every possible way.
As a text, it marries a lyrical, colorful narrative with an ambling, utterly child-like structure. You sense that you're experiencing Garmann's apprehension and disquiet personally, because it's presented in so genuine a fashion.
And the artwork, with it's own marriage of the poignant and the ridiculous, crafted in vibrant collages of snippets and details, has a nostalgic quality that is accessible and discomforting, all at once.
And then, the text and the illustrations come together, leaving the reader with an indelible impression of what it feels like to be scared.
Wow.
My $.02. Thom
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Megan Schliesman Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 9:27 AM To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: [CCBC-Net] Batchelder Award
I want to echo Tessa's appreciation for "Garmann's Summer." When I first read it I didn't know what to make of it--visually it's so unusual. But the story struck me as extraordinary, especially given its length. While it's a long text for picture book format, the depth and richness of the narrative was striking to me--I felt like I was reading a novel, full of backstory and character development. I had been dropped into the middle of Garmann's life and mind, but everything I needed for a satisfying story and literary experience was contained in the pages of that slim volume.
I thought the Batchelder winner, "Moribito," was fascinating. It works on one level as a fantasy adventure story, but I thought the author deftly examines weighty ideas along the way, most notably, the understanding that "history" is often a version of the past from the perspective of those who conquer. The setting of this story--in an imagined world meant to evoke medieval Japan--brings specificity to that idea as the future of the kingdom becomes dependent on someone remembering the stories and rituals of the indigenous people whose traditions--if they can be remembered in time--reflect the truth about the past, and hold the answer to the immediate crisis surrounding the fate of the 12-year-old prince. (Now I've made it sound heavy-handed, and it isn't at all.)
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
608/262-9503 schliesman at education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Fri 20 Feb 2009 12:22:31 PM CST
