There’s a lot going on in Blogistan, what my husband calls the world of kidlit blogging of which I am a part. There’s the Robert’s Snow multi-blog 2007 snowflake and illustrator features, entitled “Blogging for a Cure”; we at 7-Imp recently attended the 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference; and the Winter Blog Blast Tour, a multi-blog, cross-posting series of interviews with children’s and YA authors at approximately fifteen blogs, is about to be launched. However, I find myself yet again, when given the opportunity in a new spot in cyberspace, wanting to talk books, books, and more books.

And lately, in particular, I’ve had my mind on picture books whose illustrators, in one way or another, play around with the notions of size and perspective, as well as the abundant number of books out and about now which focus on one’s community and circle of friends. I chose a handful of them to review today, so let’s get right to it, shall we? There’s never enough time to talk about books.

Oh yes, size matters . . .

Monster Hug! by David Ezra Stein; Putnam Juvenile; September 2007

I think an up-and-coming picture book illustrator we all can get most excited about this year, other than the obscenely talented Jonathan Bean, is David Ezra Stein. He hasn’t made a misstep yet; even the one title of his -- out of four thus far in his career -- that I think is least exciting is still a good one. And then he had to go and create Leaves, released this August. It is a quiet, unassuming, and introspective title, not unlike a poem, and it instantly sealed with a fix-all-super-glue-adhesive-type strength my budding adoration for him. Monster Hug!, his latest title, features the same heavy black outlining – even heavier – that he used in Cowboy Ned & Andy (2006) and even more of an intentionally unpolished, flat-out messy style (disheveled has never looked so good) that sings with spontaneity, fitting for a book about the rambunctious, untidy play of friends. In this case, those friends are two mammoth monsters – that’s Scaly Monster and Hairy Monster if you don’t zoom past the title page spread – and they are having some BIG fun playing Monster Ball (with the sun and the nearest tree), Monster Splash and Monster Squirt (with the ocean and an octopus, respectively), and breaking for a Monster Feast (on some ocean liners, airplanes, mountains, and semis, no less). It’s all fun and games, Stein reveling in and paying tribute to the raucous, imaginative play of children, and all spread out on the hugest scale possible. They climb over buildings and even use them as props in their play. But wait! Stein has a surprise up his sleeve in the way of playing with size and perspective: Their even huger parents show up, thus suddenly dwarfing them in size and ordering them home – but not ‘til after Scaly and Hairy get in a super-sized hug, ‘cause they’re tight, y’all: Even though they’re happy to return to their safe and snug homes (a volcano and an ocean bed), they needed to seal the deal with that Monster Hug. It’s one of the most visually striking, child-magnet picture books I’ve seen this year, and I can’t wait to see what Stein brings us next.

Big and Little by John Stadler; Robin Corey Books/Random House; August 2007

Don’t let your eyes deceive you: When it comes to size, things are simply not what they seem in this flap book by funny man John Stadler. Welcome to the Big Top, as Ellie the elephant is nervously climbing a very tall ladder, prepping herself for a high dive into a tiny glass of water down below. Our mouse emcee on the stage floor builds the excitement and tension as he instructs Ellie with as much enthusiasm as he can muster. After she slips and unwillingly takes the dive . . . well, whew! She lands in the cup of water after all. “Ladies and gentlemen! TA-DAH! Well done, little Ellie!” our rodent emcee exclaims. And it’s at this point we see that what seemed big was, indeed, little and vice versa – and that it’s all about perspective: It’s not until the close of the book that we see the duo side-by-side and realize that the miniscule glass of water was just the size for the pocket-sized Ellie, who can fit in the mouse’s hand. The story literally unfolds before you with the book’s gatefold flaps and works well as an easy reader with its short sentences and simple vocabulary. And let me say, for the record, I hate to provide such a huge spoiler for the book’s ending, but in order to point out the book’s all-around goodness as a not-to-be-missed size-matters picture book, I had no choice. Just make sure you share this playful title with your favorite wee children and watch their surprise as they discover how easily an artist can deceive by playing with size and scope and one’s point of view.

Where the Giant Sleeps by Mem Fox and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky; Harcourt; October 2007

Where does the dragon lay his head? Where does the fairy doze? Why, on an archipelago, which Radunsky -- previous winner of a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year -- shows us on each spread is the home for a dreaming wizard, an ogre, a goblin, and much more. But it’s on the book’s opening spread that we see from an aerial perspective that this chain of islands is more than what it seems: It’s a sleeping giant, whose hair is the forest and eyes are the nearby houses and whose left foot is topped off with a lighthouse. A child, who we discover at the book’s close is dreaming, is rowing his boat in the waters and taking in the wonders of the night with his spyglass: He spots the dozing fairy in the forest; a sleeping pirate near the houses (a dog trying his best to slumber); sleeping pixies “in petals soft and round”; and the seven dwarfs “in caves beneath the ground.” Only the elves are awake “to make a quilt of moons and stars to wrap you in . . . tonight.” Radunsky’s dreamy, soft-focus illustrations, many seen through the clouds drifting through the sky, are well-matched to the simple, rhythmic bed-time rhymes of acclaimed author Mem Fox. And if that’s not enough of a captivating peek into the wonders of playing with size for you, then enjoy the final spread of the sleeping child, whose room is scattered with the toy versions of what is seen on the sleeping archipelago giant: a toy lighthouse here, a wizard puppet there -- and a dreaming boy, covered up by his stars-and-moon quilt in the quiet of the night.

. . . and so do one’s friends and neighbors:

Bobbie Dazzler by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Janine Dawson; Kane/Miller; September 2007

You know how young children delight (and delight again. And then delight a few more times) in the smallest of achievements? Well, here’s a title for them from, arguably, the kidlitosphere’s favorite (and, not arguably, most blogger-friendly) independent publisher, Kane/Miller. Bobbie, a Red-necked Wallaby of eastern Australia (I love the short note on the CIP page  – Author’s? Illustrator’s? I don’t know, but I’m glad it’s there -- describing the animal on which Bobbie is based), can jump and bounce and skip and whirl ‘n’ twirl and somersault – and even hop on one leg. Her devoted friends at their coastal forest home are impressed. Bobbie can’t do the splits, though, and she’s bothered – a lot. “Never mind,” say her friends. After some help from her mates, she reaches her goal and her friends give those splits a shot as well. There’s much humor here for wee children, what with all Bobbie’s determined friends and their stumbles as they try to both aid her and do their own gymnastics. The final illustration will damn near make you tear up: Group Hug! Dawson’s illustrations, well-ventilated in ample white space, also bring observant readers the native vegetation of the Australian landscape – bottlebrushes, eucalyptus, banksias, and kangaroo paw. It’s a picture book brimming with joy.

Rabbit’s Gift: A Fable from China by George Shannon and illustrated by Laura Dronzek; Harcourt; Release date: November 2007

Turnip potluck, anyone? If you treat yourself to any one snowy, winter-time book this year, let it be this sparkly gem of a book, an adaptation of a centuries-old Chinese folktale. Snow is coming, and Rabbit is prepared with two turnips for the winter. But, remembering Donkey alone on the hill, he “gently butted his extra turnip to Donkey’s house,” thus beginning a pay-it-forward, domino-like wave of generosity as each animal then does the same for his neighbor. In the end, when everything comes full-circle and Rabbit stumbles upon that very turnip at his door, all the animals have a cozy meal together in the forest at night. Shannon does the folktale justice – plus some – with his reverent, uncluttered re-telling. Dronzek treats us to spreads that bleed to the very edges, bringing this vibrant wood to life, but also frames each animal in its own portrait as he stumbles upon the gift at his door. Shannon includes an Author’s Note, which traces the story’s source, making lovers of folktale adaptations everywhere happy (we get twitchy if source notes are not included). Best of all? The Chinese symbols for each animal are included in this heartening tale of true friendship.

The Baby Shower by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Judy Love; Charlesbridge; July 2007

Bunting’s characters from her 2003 Charlesbridge picture book, The Wedding, are back – this time they’re celebrating the impending arrival of Ms. Brindle Cow’s firstborn child. Told in rhyming couplets, the brisk narrative takes us to the home of each excited animal in this tight-knit community: Chipmunk, Rabbit, Duck, Pig, and more. Then they’re on their way, singing a joyful song all the while, to deliver gifts to Brindle and Bull. They delight in the unexpected arrival of twins, once they make it to Brindle. Judy Love’s ornate illustrations amuse with details, and her palette doesn’t shy from a bold use of color. There’s a touch of the old-skool, conservative bygone and time-worn here with things like a big, pink bow atop the female calf’s head, a blue bonnet for the boy, and Duck ready to launch the newborn-baby prayer. Taking in Love’s night-time spread, the animals silhouetted and marching to Brindle, is a like giving yourself a little gift. In the end, the animals suggest that, since baby showers are so much fun, Brindle spawn again. Ouch! Let’s give her a bit of a rest first, shall we? Needless to say, here’s a fitting baby shower gift. You do give books at baby showers, don’t you? Do we need to have a talk?

And don’t forget Bunting’s exuberant Hurry! Hurry!, illustrated by Jeff Mack and released by Harcourt in March.

Waking Up Wendell by April Stevens and illustrated by Tad Hills; Schwartz & Wade Books (Random House); September 2007

Here’s not only a picture book focusing on a neighborhood – the fictional Fish Street of suburbia-world – but it’s a perfect title for the cause-and-effect units of study for the elementary teachers and librarians of the world. How can a chain of events wake up every inhabitant of Fish Street, and what starts it all off? Well, it’s a little yellow bird, hopping out of her nest and taking a deep breath, singing “a very loud and whistley song: TWEEET-TWEEET-TA-TA-TA-TWEEEEET . . .” Mr. Krudwig, owner of Krudwig’s Bicycle Shop and dreaming of pancakes as he sleeps at #2 Fish Street, is awakened: “Oh, for crying out loud!” He gets his day started by letting his dog out, who wakes up Mrs. Musky at #3 Fish Street with an enthusiastic “Rappity-rappity-rap!” And so on. In the end, the puddin’ cute newborn, Wendell Willamore at the last house on Fish Street, is awake, his mother lifting him up in the air while singing “my little bird . . .” and bringing us full circle with this lively community of folks starting their day. There’s an entertaining dose of humor -- Mrs. Depolo, kindergarten teacher at #4 Fish Street, oversleeping, throwing her clothes on, “SCREEEECH!”ing and “GLEEEEEEP!”ing in her car, and then flying down Fish Street to work. Not to mention the Darjeeling family in house #6 who can’t put their foot down when it comes to co-sleeping children. Tad Hills, illustrator of the beloved Duck & Goose dramas, scores again with his sunny oil and colored pencil illustrations.  

A Box Full of Kittens by Sonia Manzano and illustrated by Matt Phelan; Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster); June 2007

Want to wrap up with the book most energetically capturing “the rhythms and period details of a bustling, friendly community” (Publishers Weekly)? In this case, it’s an intimate Hispanic community in this title by “Maria”-of-Sesame-Street by day and author by night, Sonia Manzano, and illustrated by Matt Phelan, another one of my favorite new illustrators. Our protagonist, Ruthie, loves Superman -- and kittens. In fact, she wants to be Superman and thinks she’s actually been given her chance to be such a hero when she’s asked to go sit with her aunt Juanita, due to give birth any second. Off she goes, leaping up steps at a single bound, to retrieve snacks from the piraquero and the coquito vendor for her aunt, each time interacting with another member of her community. But, after getting distracted by the titular container of kittens, she misses the beginning of her aunt’s labor, feeling less like Superman and more like a failure. In the end, Juanita has a confession for Ruthie that makes her feel like a winner after all. This one – with Phelan’s graceful, glowing illustrations – celebrates family as well as community. Manzano’s inclusion of Spanish words in the text never feels forced, and an Author’s note in the beginning explains a few of the terms.

Coquito? Mmm. I don’t think I have any coconut cream on hand, but I do have some eggnog (yes, no matter the month, one must always have eggnog nearby). Picture books? Huh? What was I saying? My refrigerator is calling.

Enjoy these playful titles. Until next time . . .

Posted by: Julie Danielson and Eisha Prather