Metropolitan Museum of Art Hosts Binding Symposium – The Fine Books Blog
image©2011 Karina Schaapman, photo by Ton Bouwer. Reproduced with permission from Dial Books.
The Mouse Mansion, written and created by Karina Schaapman, photographed by Ton Bouwer; Dial Books, $18.99, 60 pages ages 5-8.
Usually when there’s a mouse in the house, the human inhabitants run for the hills. Here, debut children’s book author Karina Schaapman created a home just for those furry creatures. Her six foot wide, ten feet tall, hundred-room mouse mansion is made of cardboard boxes and paper mâché, and each room is filled with to the brim with all the trappings one would expect in a home – diapers and formula in the nursery, armoires overflowing with tiny undergarments, bookshelves bursting with miniature versions of Charlotte’s Web and Winnie the Pooh. The carefully shot photographs are by Ton Bouwer, and the folio-size pages allow for careful examination of each object.
This mansion isn’t for ritzy city murines; it gives off a warm, nubby, cozy feel, and the accoutrements appear pulled from a romp through an attic that hasn’t been touched since 1970. Families of gray and white cloth mice live here, and two young friends, Sam and Julia, scamper from room to room in search of adventure and fun. There’s laundry to sort, a bakery to visit, and even a Friday night Sabbath to attend, complete with a tiny table covered by challah, candles and wine. Schaapman’s detailed artwork is accompanied by thoughtful and informative text, and though the book clocks in at 60 pages, each chapter can easily be read as a unique tale. Pouring over the abundant detail on each page will captivate readers of all ages, and makes an excellent reading choice for snuggling up and spending a wintry afternoon with little readers.
@StaceyFriedberg
This week’s Throwback is from 2011, with Karina Schaapaman’s magical Mouse Mansion.
(Children’s) BookNotes, Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Alice in Wonderland, Soviet fairy tales, and even Simon Cowell make news this week in the world of children’s books.
The Guardian ran this story on how the Soviets rewrote children’s stories while also sparking a new wave of illustration.
A New Chapter for First Edition of Alice in Wonderland, over on The Fine Books Blog.
The Bookseller staff reports that Simon Cowell says children’s books are ‘quite boring’ as he reveals plan to write his own: http://bit.ly/1XtBpBJ
We’ll Always Have Pop-Ups
Pop-Up Paris, by Andy Mansfield; Lonely Planet Kids, $9.99, 8 pages, ages 3-6.
When readers can’t travel, well-crafted pop-ups offer wonderful opportunities to learn about the world around them. Lonely Planet Kids, an imprint of parent company Lonely Planet, recently launched three children’s pop-up books to coincide with its line of family-friendly tour guides and on-the-go activity books.
The first in the series, Pop-Up Paris, is a charming introduction to six must-see, kid-friendly sites in the City of Light, from the Pompidou Center to a tower of sugary macarons. Short on textual detail, the book is clearly geared towards a pre-k through first grade readership, providing a snippet of information to inspire children to learn more about the topic at hand. Hyper-pigmented illustrations, bordering on neon, are hip without pretense. In short, this is a book that knows it’s fun.
Easy to tote, easy to read, the Lonely Planet Kids Pop-Ups series has found a way to hook young explorers on the richness of traveling, even from the comfort of home.
Check out a 30-second video highlighting all three titles here.
Living Legends
@twomurrows
@candlewick
The Whale, by Ethan Murrow and Vita Murrow; Candlewick Press, 32 pages, $17.99.
It’s puzzling that the world’s largest mammals are also the most difficult to see, yet the thrill to observe them has gripped the minds of ocean-goers for centuries. In this mostly wordless picture book by debut author-illustrator duo Ethan and Vita Murrow, a pair of intrepid youngsters set out to prove the existence of the Great Spotted Whale, a mysterious beast sighted fifty years ago, but never confirmed. Readers have no choice but to dive right in alongside the plucky voyagers as they gather all sorts of equipment, ready their vessel, and after capsizing their boat, finally lay eyes on the magnificent animal.
Ethan Murrow’s graphite black-and white illustrations are meticulously rendered, evoking the gray, salty sea-spray-covered ocean landscape and all the flotsam therein. The Whale celebrates a quixotic accomplishment with an amazing tale that radiates youthful energy, and should be part of any explorer’s library. Here’s hoping the Murrows set their sights on another project soon, and invite us along their next great adventure.
VanCAF! It’s where our authors (nameless Faith Erin Hicks and Tony Cliff) will be this weekend – how about you?
I Am Henry Finch
I am Henry Finch, by Alexis Deacon, illustrations by Viviane Schwarz; Candlewick Press, $16.99, 40 pages, ages 3-6.
Henry Finch knows he’s destined for greatness, but until now, all he’s done in life is flutter from tree to tree, outwitting the hungry beast who prowls below. One day Henry has enough of the lubmering creature eating his friends, and realizes this is his chance to be great. Well, Henry ends up in the belly of the beast, but what he does there is a charming ode to courage and resilience. Author Alexis Deacon (llustrator of Russell Hoban’s Soonchild) confirms with wit and humor that heroes can appear from the least likely of places. The birds are rendered as red thumbprints and stick figure illustration (courtesy of There Are Cats In This Book author-illustrator Viviane Schwarz), a reminder that we are all unique and capable of soaring high.
@Candlewick #TBThursday goes to the birds.
(Children’s) BookNotes
@MEComicArtsFest @casablancacomics @Scholastic @chicagotribune
Lend your eyes to this week’s noteworthy stories! (Please remember to submit your news as well.)
Planning a trip to Portland, Maine this June? Make sure the Maine Comics Arts Festival is on your itinerary.
Scholastic News Kids Press Corps Now Accepting Applications for 2016-2017 School Year
Kids with “a nose for news’ are encouraged to apply. Find out the details and the application here.
From the Chicago Tribune:
BookExpo comes to Chicago with some new faces
@HMHCo
A Whale of a Tale
A Whale in the Bathtub, by Kylie Westaway, illustrated by Tom Jellett; Clarion Books, $16.99, 32 pages, ages 3-6.
Little Bruno has cried wolf (or in this case, walrus), one time too many regarding bathtime impediments. But now, there really is something in the tub; a huge blue whale bathing in bubblegum-scented soap bubbles, and Bruno’s family won’t fall for his tall tales anymore. How’s a boy to get clean when a 100-ton kroll-crunching mammal is blocking your way? Bruno’s solution will charm young readers and perhaps spark a little creative thinking as well. Debut picture-book author Kylie Westaway deftly captures the child’s despair at not being believed, while fellow debutant Tom Jellett’s plucky, quirky illustrations have a distinct, slightly retro flair. Prepare for a whale of adventure on the soapy high seas.
Literary Features Syndicate 