Picturebook Review: Komodo!

Komodo! by Peter Sis

Published by Greenwillow Books, 1993

Pen and ink watercolor paint

Goodreads Description:
 
They don't breathe fire or grow wings or lay siege to castles, but there are dragons on the Indonesian island of Komodo nevertheless. For a kid who loves dragons more than anything, could there be a more magical place in all the world to visit?

My Review:
Peter Sis's illustrations are, as always, filled with delight and detail. This story illustrates the vast wonder of a boy's fascination with dragons, particularly the Komodo Dragon. The images are full spreads with intricate detail; they display secret dragon images throughout the pages, especially the jungle scenes. The visual narrative alone engages young readers and invites them to explore the images for small details. From the first page, readers are prompted to scout the illustration when Sis writes, "It is always easy to find me in school pictures because of my dragon T-shirt," accompanied by an image of a very large school group. 

The boy's curiosity about dragons is stretched from the inside cover, across each page, and again on the back cover. His imagination has him trimming bushes in shapes of dragons and picturing dragons in the stars. From the immediate beginning, this book engages young readers to enter the fascination of the story's protagonist. 

The text is kept short and simple, easy for readers to understand, yet allows the illustration to carry part of the narrative. The story is fun; it's about a boy whose parents fly him to Komodo Island to see his favorite creature, where the boy has his dream encounter with a live Komodo dragon. The story was interesting, and a great way to teach about Komodo dragons without reading a book that just lists facts about the reptile. I will say I found the story a bit dull. The Komodo facts were interesting and the images were great, but it felt like the story only existed to support the images and to display facts about the Komodo. I would have liked it better if the visual and verbal narratives worked together a bit more. Also, the colors are very uniform. I think the illustrations could have used a touch of added color or perhaps a single image that stood out a bit more from the rest. 

I give this a three out of five foxes. It is a great book to read for learning as it isn't too didactic. The images are filled with detail, displaying the vast imagination of the boy who loves dragons. Komodo! is a good book to read with young ones and encourage them to use their own imaginations about something particular they love.  

Picturebook Review: Creepy Carrots!

Creepy Carrots!
Words by Aaron Reynolds
Pictures by Peter Brown
Published by Simon & Schuster, 2012
Illustrations are in pencil and paper, then digitally composited and colored

Goodreads Description:
 
The Twilight Zone comes to the carrot patch in this clever picture book parable about a rabbit who fears his favorite treats are out to get him. Jasper Rabbit loves carrots - especially Crackenhopper Field carrots. 

He eats them on the way to school. 
He eats them going to Little League.
He eats them walking home.

Until the day the carrots start following him...or are they?

Celebrated artist Peter Brown's stylish illustrations pair perfectly with Aaron Reynold's text in this hilarious eBook with audio that shows it's all fun and games... until you get too greedy. 

My Review:
Perusing the aisles at the Scholastic Book Fair, my eyes landed on this book and I knew I had to have it. 
The story is about a child rabbit who stops by the same carrot patch too often in order to eat the best carrots. But how do you think the carrots feel about that? Little Jasper didn't take any time to consider the effects of his over-consumption until one day, the carrots give him a scare of a lifetime... or so it seems. 

From beginning to end, these silky pages are sketched in all black and white, except for very bold orange highlights. Orange and black remind me of Halloween, but this book isn't geared for any holiday. It's just a fun book about a carrots revenge. 

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was suspenseful, yet the images didn't make it too scary. Also, with a touch of humor, the book came together nicely. I especially love the spread that features Jasper in a trance of fear, bright carrots forming around him and shadows all across is body. On the following page, when Jasper gets an idea (complete with lightbulb above the head), the scene becomes perfectly normal, Romantic even. Beautiful!

The whole story plays out in what seems like framed vignettes, or like scenes from an old film. It was a lot of fun to read and I think that black and white illustration was a bold, yet wise choice by the author. Especially considering the readers of this book; children could easily be offset by a bland image, but the images in this book are broken down to individual frames, many with the hint of orange in them if not major highlights of orange to offset the scene. 

While this was a fun read, suspense and humor in one, it wasn't quite as awed by it as I'd thought I'd be. The plot and illustrations were unique as well as entertaining, but I wasn't left with any great, compelling feelings after finishing it. A paranoid rabbit and some carrots that don't like to be eaten makes a fun story, but in the end, what was the point? I'm not saying some books can't just be written for fun, but something about this book is seriously twisted. Should Jasper not eat carrots then? what should he eat instead? Many validate the story's happy ending, but truly I'm not certain it has one. Not that its a bad ending, just that one should be wary how they interpret it. 

I give this a three out of five foxes. 

Picturebook Review: Art & Max by David Wiesner

Art & Max
by David Wiesner
Clarion Books, 2010
Illustrations in acrylic pastel, watercolor, and India ink.

Goodreads Description:

Max and Arthur are friends who share an interest in painting. Arthur is an accomplished painter; Maxi is a beginner. Max's first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max in inexperienced  he's courageous - and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion. Beginners everywhere will take heart. 

My Review:
Wiesner never disappoints me. He's wonderful at exploring new forms and challenging boundaries. And this book is no different. 
The story is a cute one. Art and Max remind me of siblings, the initially unwilling leader (Art) is overwhelmed by the young energy of his new follower (Max). Max is convinced that he can paint too, which Art only sourly agrees to let him try. Max's energy leads to many unconventional paint forms - mostly at Art's expense. And while he seems to be a little ball of chaos, it turns out that Max has one talent that Art may not, which he proves to very worried Art (read the book, and you'll understand his worry!) The story is cute and remains very simple. The text is very brief and entirely dialogue between Art and Max. Much of the deeper interpretation is left to the reader. Don't worry though, the message is clear. 

The book explores many different art forms that could be discussed with readers, but the book does not simply explore different art forms - it explores boundaries and tests conventions. The relationship between Art and Max, though undefined at the start of the novel, suggests that the two have bonded through their artistic adventure. In fact, at the conclusion, the two seem to have earned many insights about the other; though this, of course, is only implied. This book makes art look fun (but when do kids not think art is fun). It's more than that too. It's about discovery - and not just discovering new ways to draw and color.

The illustrations are amazing. From the book cover to the last page, I loved all of the artwork. Very soft backgrounds brought a lot of the focus to the foreground, filled with vibrant, moving colors. The detail is great as well! I could probably go on for a while about the illustrations, but I want to bring attention to the jacket cover and the actual book cover. You'll have to buy the book to see it, but the jacket cover (pictured above) is a delightful work that captures much of the plot expectations and emotions. However, beneath the sleeve is the hard cover is a splatter-work of paint drops and large swoops, all in colors of bright red, orange, yellow, and grey. It's fun, inviting, and it proves that the book itself is a work of art. It's a very clever paratext in my opinion; hidden beneath the initial image is the beautiful chaos that Max truly represents. 

I'm going to give this book a four out of five foxes. It's a fun book and begs to be read aloud!

Picturebook Review: Perfect Square by Michael Hall

Perfect Square
by Michael Hall
Published by Greenwillow Books
Illustration is acrylic monotype ink prints

Goodreads Description:
 
A perfect square is transformed in this adventure story that will transport you far beyond the four equal sides of this square book. 

My Review:
Perfect Square is one of my favorite picture books! I'm really excited to share this one today. 

I was first attracted to this book by the crooked smile on the book cover. It is very welcoming and carefree, which is a perfect introduction to this book. 
The endpages are bright orange and flipping through the pages creates the most colorful array of pages. This book is meant to be fun, playful, and even played with. 

It is the story of a perfectly happy square who becomes increasingly less square. Yet the square, though clipped, crumpled, and torn, makes the best of each change. It even creates beautiful images. Every new transformation is something creative and playful. This book could be used for so many different purposes. Besides being a very entertaining read, it displays shapes, art, days of the week, and adaptation. 

The illustrations are beautiful as well. The pages are very bright and the repurposed square even changes textures. The artwork is simple yet powerful; it is perfect for the intended audience. The pages are all very bold and filled with positive space. The font is large, bold, and contrasts the colorful images. I really can't find anything I don't like in the illustrations.

At the end of this story, readers may find that a perfect square is much more confining than they once thought, and a few small changes can have endless possibilities. 

I give this five out of five foxes for being a fantastic read and experience. 

Picturebook Review: The Dark by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Jon Klassen

Picturebook Review:  The Dark
Words: Lemony Snicket
Pictures: Jon Klassen
Published by Little, Brown and Company, 2013
Illustrations done in gouache and digitally

Goodreads Description:
Laszlo is afraid of the dark.

The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't come into Laszlo's room. But one night, it does.

This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark.

With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear. 

My Review:
Opening the book with thick black endpapers and young Laszlo illuminating the story about to unfold, I was immediately drawn into the story. The title page is in the cone of light from the assumed flashlight. It's as if to say, 'these words have been lit for the sole purpose of telling this story, and as soon as it is finished, will be swallowed again by darkness'. It appears a bit mischievous really. A little scary even. 

Being a long-dedicated fan of Lemony Snicket, and more recently Jon Klassen, I had high expectations for this book. It is difficult to judge a book without regards to its author's and/or illustrator's reputation, so I will do my best. The Dark is a wonderful book, and it reflects Snicket and Klassen's reputations well. However, I must say I (just  as an aside!) I missed Snicket's sharp wit. His writing was still very clever, but this book is much more tame in comparison to some of Snicket's other works. Okay, I'm done with that now. Let's get on to the story!

As written previously, this is a really wonderful book. The story is simple, yet animated.   The dark is personified by Laszlo. It has a voice and invites Laszlo into his "room". The reader does not know the dark's intentions, so there is much anticipation what will happen to Laszlo as he enters the dark alone. The unknown, that fear, was livable throughout the story. Laszlo followed the dark, and even with his flashlight to light his path, he was still always surrounded by dark. "[A]nd even though the dark was right next to Laszlo, the voice seemed very far away."It certainly sounds suspicious. And truly, my favorite part of this story, is that even after all Laszlo overcomes, the fear isn't instantly or entirely eradicated. The dark will always be mischievous and Laszlo continues to linger in the light. 

I really enjoyed the illustrations as well. As touched on earlier, the lighting was masterfully done, and its relevance to the story personified through the verbal narrative. Klassen does a great job at reflecting Laszlo's childhood fears with color and size. Every color had some dark hue or shadow to give the setting of the story and offer a visual narrative that correlates with the verbal. Also, Laszlo is always very small. Chairs, doors, and stairs seem to tower over his small body. I don't think I need to interpret this any further, but I thought the illustrations were combined perfectly with the text. The two narratives really came together to tell the story. Snicket and Klassen make a great team. Character and anticipation were developed throughout the book with a satisfying, yet slightly unresolved ending. 

I'm going to give this book 5 out of 5 foxes. It was fantastic. It is a simple, you might even say common, story. However, it is very powerful, especially good for young readers with fears of their own. This book is clever in that much of what the book states, is actually unsaid in the narrative. It has a lot of feeling, and I think young readers can appreciate Laszlo's learning experience. Especially since it doesn't simply announce that one should not be afraid of the dark, rather to acknowledge the fear and welcome it. 

Picturebook Review: Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B Johnson

First, I’d like to take this time to introduce this new project of mine. I realize at this point my blog has mostly been dedicated to YA literature, but I recently made the decision to make a weekly picturebook feature. This idea came to me from my sister, who is about to enter into student teaching and is looking for books to fill her future classroom with. I know she’ll be an amazing teacher, but her search for classroom books has sparked my interest in producing the best classroom materials for her.

I find the picturebook to be a unique and fascinating genre. There is so much to explore between the verbal and visual contexts. I will take time to discuss different elements of the text and the art as well as include a brief review of the plot.

A note to those with young children in their care (parents, siblings, teachers, and other guardians): You’ve all heard that reading to your child is important. And it is. Very important in my opinion. But I also believe that we should be choosy about which books we introduce to new and young readers. Picturebooks are meant to be fun, cute, playful, moralistic, and instructional. However, some books, simply take one or more of these elements too far. For example, a book about cars with wheels on it probably puts too much playfulness in the book. Children are meant to want to open and read the book, not use it like a matchbox car. That’s why I’ve taken on this project. For those of you who already read to children or who will one day soon. My purpose is to display quality books for you to share with young readers. If you have read one of these books to a child I would love to hear your feedback! I like to read to my niece and nephews, but they’re growing quickly and won’t be reading picturebooks for too long now. 


Picturebook Review: Henry Hikes to Fitchburg 
by D.B Johnson

Published by Houghton Mifflin, 2000

Illustrations – colored pencil and paint on paper

Goodreads Description:
 
Inspired by a passage from Henry David Thoreau's "Walden," this wonderfully appealing story follows two friends who have very different approaches to life. When the two agree to meet one evening in Fitchburg, which is thirty miles away, each decides to get there in his own way and have surprisingly different days. 

My Review:

This story features Henry David Thoreau as a bear. He and his friend choose different paths to an agreed meeting place. The juxtaposition between the two is paralleled on each page spread; Henry walks and experiences a nature-filled path while his friend chooses to work different labor jobs to earn a train ticket.

It’s an adorable story. The theme of enjoyment and connection with nature is evident on each page, but is in no way pedantic. Henry’s path is filled with adventure and curiosity, and child readers can relate to Henry’s curiosity and appreciate his calm.

The art in this book is phenomenal. Color and line guide the illustrations and tie in the verbal text to the visual. The colors reflect the sunlight on every page. Shadow and Sun are evident in the colors and almost seem to be in some sort of tug-of-war. A vibrant green fills the spaces in each illustration, and the red and blue theme appeals the adventure of the story.

My favorite part of the illustrations is the use of line. The illustrations use line to compare the paths of Henry and his friend. The lines contrast in direction and shape, which convey feelings of leisure or discomfort. Lines surrounding Henry tend to be round while his friend is most often illustrated with slanted and vertical lines to convey the hectic surroundings of city life compared to the peace of nature.

While reading this book, stop to ask the child what he or she sees in the illustrations. Point out color and line and see what they can interpret. There are so many unique details in the illustrations, such as Henry’s friend’s pocket watch. This is definitely a book to read multiple times. Honestly, this a good story for adults to read with children because I’m sure many parents and guardians would enjoy this book just as much as the child. 

I would give this book 4 out of 5 foxes