From: Payne, Rachel <R.Payne_at_BrooklynPublicLibrary.org>
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:34:57 -0500

I'm glad a discussion is getting started on AMOS McGEE. I am glad that our mock Caldecott and the award itself forced me to take a closer look at this classic in the making. I love the gentle use of color in the book. The red balloon provides a lovely accent of color throughout (including on the book's spine!) along with the rhinoceros's scarf, the owl's book, and the penguin's socks. There is also an interesting use of vertical lines throughout the art, the ironwork bars at the zoo, Amos' wallpaper and pajamas, and his bed frame. The red balloon is one more vertical element in the book's visual vocabulary. I also love how the balloon has a mind of its own, following the animals to Amos' house. The book is all about lifting someone's spirits and what better way to represent that than through a balloon?

Best, Rachel

Rachel Payne Coordinator, Children's and Family Services Brooklyn Public Library, Neighborhood Services 10 Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, NY 11238 Tel: 718.230.2233 ~ Fax: 718.230.2784 r.payne_at_brooklynpubliclibrary.org BPL's websites for kids & teens: Resources for parents & teachers at BPL:
Received on Fri 21 Jan 2011 04:34:57 PM CST