literaryfeatures

Posted on March 12, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

My Secret Guide to Paris, by Lisa Schroeder; Scholastic Press, $16.99, 216 pages, ages 10-13.

Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower, written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli; Viking Juvenile $17.99, 48 pages, ages 5-9.

With the snow slowly melting here on the East Coast our thoughts suddenly turn to Paris in the springtime, and these two titles are just the thing to tap into that certain je ne sais quoi that captivates visitors to the City of Light. Lisa Schroeder’s My Secret Guide to Paris is an effervescent story about a young girl who adores everything about Paris. Even though Nora has never actually visited the city, she falls in love with it by listening to her grandmother’s tales of the Eiffel Tower and chocolat chaud. Just before they are set to visit Paris together, grand-mere passes away, leaving behind a sort of scavenger hunt for Nora, who, in the process of uncovering her grandmother’s mysteries, also learns how to heal her grief. Lifelong Francophiles will adore sharing this sweet romp with young readers, and the sprinkling of mots français throughout lends just the right air of authenticity.

Meanwhile, Greg Pizzoli’s uproariously true story about master con-man Robert Miller will fascinate readers from start to finish. At a surprisingly hefty forty-eight pages, Tricky Vic stands out from the standard picture-book fare, (most offerings meet the industry standard 32 pages) but that shouldn’t deter interested parties; every page is full of bold, retro-graphic style illustrations accompanied by a story as wild as it is factual. In 1925, the Eiffel Tower was, at the grand old age of thirty-six, already in a state of disrepair and exceedingly unpopular among Parisians. Enter Robert Miller, aka “Count Victor Lustig”, aka “Tricky Vic,” a lifelong con man who made his living defrauding aristocrats through cardgamess and selling fake counterfeit money-making machines. He even managed to con Al Capone as way to gain the mobster’s trust. Miller’s biggest score was tricking a French scrap metal dealer into buying the Iron Lady. Would you believe he even tried to sell the Eiffel Tower twice? What child wouldn’t want to read about someone this delightfully despicable, someone who so fully embodies the meaning of the word chutzpah?

Posted on March 11, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

By Clementine Sourdais from PUSS IN BOOTS copyright Gestalten 2015

By Clementine Sourdais from LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD copyright Gestalten 2015

Puss in Boots, by Charles Perrault, illustrated by Clementine Sourdais; Little Gestalten, $16.95, 32 pages, all ages.

Little Red Riding Hood, by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, illustrated by Clementine Sourdais; Little Gestalten, $16.95, 32 pages, all ages.

Just as every generation reinvents Shakespeare to suit its own needs, we also reimagine classic fairytales. Here, the beloved tales of “Puss in Boots” and “Little Red Riding Hood” are accompanied by the intricate cut-paper illustrations of French artist Clementine Sourdais. Designed to be read like a traditional book, the cutouts on each page fold onto each other, creating a complex masterpiece visible from both the front and back boards. Sourdais employs a spare color palette of black and white, plus an accent color – blood red for “Little Red Riding Hood” and regal yellow in “Puss in Boots.” When opened accordion style, each image is full of vibrant detail. Another surprise awaits readers if they take a flashlight to the books and project the pictures of wolves, cats and wayward little girls onto a wall. These tiny, charming treasures – each volume measures a dainty 5.5 inches by 6 inches – breathe new life into stories almost two centuries old and will delight young readers and pop-up collectors alike.

Posted on March 10, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

Peace is an Offering, by Annette le Box, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin; Dial Books, $16.99, 32 pages, ages 3-6. (March 2015)

Award-winning author Annette le Box makes a peace offering in her seventh book for children with a deceptively simple poem that spreads the message of attainable and shareable peace. Uncomplicated themes appear in the form of birthday party invitations and sharing a great joke with a friend. Le Box demonstrates that peace comes through sharing time, patience and kindness, especially when loved ones are gone. Le Box manages to evoke 9/11 in a touching scene where she writes “And even in the wake of tragedy, even then, you might find her. In the rubble of a fallen tower. In the sorrow of your darkest hour.” Adults will understand the reference even if children don’t, especially with Stephanie Graegin’s pencil and watercolor illustration of a family sitting on a park bench looking out on New York City. This volume’s sweet words nurture tender seeds of love and friendship, showing what wonderful fruits kindness can bear.

Posted on March 6, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

STAND THERE! SHE SHOUTED. Text copyright © 2014 by Susan Goldman Rubin. Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Bagram Ibatoulline. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville,

Stand There! She Shouted: The Invincible Photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, by Susan Goldman Rubin, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline; Candlewick Books, $16.99, 74 pages, ages 12 and up.

Born in India, raised by her grandmother in France, married at age twenty-two to a man nearly double her age, Julia Margaret Cameron defied the odds to become one of the most prolific photographers of the Victorian era. Veteran children’s book author Susan Rubin (Andy Warhol: Pop-up Painter; Edward Hopper; Painter of Light and Shadow) has crafted another outstanding biography of a globally admired artist. Cameron didn’t touch a camera until almost she was fifty years old, and her unorthodox technique for taking portraits became her hallmark for which she is recognized as one of the greatest photographic portraitists ever. Rubin’s fascinating biography is accompanied by Bagram Ibatoulline’s sumptuous acrylic paintings, evoking a world full of excitement and adventure. Several of Cameron’s portraits are interspersed throughout the text as well. Complete with bibliography and a list of museums displaying the photographer’s work, Stand There! is an eloquent testament to a pioneer’s life behind the lens.

Posted on March 3, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

Newts, Book One: Escape from the Lizzarks, by Doug TenNapel; GRAPHIX, $10.99, 192 pages ages 10-13.

Graphic-novel fans, rejoice: Author-illustrator Doug TenNapel (Ghostopolis; Bad Island) has created another a classic adventure story with Newts, the first of a proposed series featuring a young amphibian named Herk who overcomes adversity to win the day. Herk isn’t like his counterparts; stumpy, misshapen legs keep him from joining his able-legged friends hunting and playing. Relegated to the baby pool, the boy creates fantastic imaginary scenes under the watchful eye of his protective mother, until one day their village is attacked by Lizzarks, a warring reptile tribe. Herk’s parents die in the attack, but he escapes, and while navigating this strange and mysterious world, he makes friends, overcomes his disability and demonstrates that brains triumph over brawn. TenNapel’s expressive illustrations of Nnewts, Lissarks and other magical creates fills the pages and will completely enthrall comic aficionados.

Posted on February 27, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

Reproduced with permission from Grosset & Dunlap

The Noisy Clock Shop by Jean Horton Berg, illus. by Art Seiden. G&D Vintage, $7.99
My ABC Book, illus. by Art Seiden. G&D Vintage, $7.99
The Too Little Fire Engine by Jane Flory. G&D Vintage, $7.99
All: ages 3-5.

Grosset & Dunlap, the original publishers of the iconic Dick and Jane series, just reissued four of its classic mid-century children’s picture books in a bid to reach a new genearaion of readers yet to discover these adorable titles. The publishing house has over 200 similiar out of print books hailing from its Wonder Books imprint. (G&D plans to release four more later this year.) These titles are prime examples of books published during the era many in the industry call the ‘Golden Age’ of children’s book publishing. Many artistic flourishes that appear in these books no doubt provide inspiration to today’s crop of illustrators. While G&D changed little from the original editions, savvy readers will notice that these reissues are slightly larger than the original Wonder Books. None of the books have lost their charm with age, and young children will delight in the stories much as their grandparents did almost sixty years ago. We’re looking forward to seeing more of these treasures in 2015, which are also a real bargain at $7.99 each.

Posted on February 24, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

(images ©2015 Christian Robinson, reproduced with permission from Penguin Putnam)

UPDATE: Matt de la Pena was awarded the 2016 Newbery Medal 2016, and Christian Robinson received a Caldecott Honor.

Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt de la Peកa, illustrated by Christian Robinson; Putnam Books, $16.99, 32 pages, ages 4-6. (January 2015)

CJ and his grandmother board the Market Street bus after church every Sunday, and spend the afternoon working in the soup kitchen of a homeless shelter. One day, the boy wonders aloud why his family doesn’t have a car or an MP3 player, and his wise and patient grandmother responds with encouragement, gentle humor and love by showing CJ that there is beauty even in the muddy and mundane city streets. Brooklyn-based author Matt de la Peកa (A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis) captures the child’s inquisitive spirit as well as the time-worn perspective of an older generation with short, snappy sentences that convey just enough detail about class inequality without weighing the story down. (When CJ and his grandmother board the bus, Peកa’s ‘They sat right up front" recalls Rosa Parks and the civil rights movement in one simple sentence, and it’s perfect. ) San-Francisco native Christian Robinson (Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade; Josephine) expertly captures the charm and vibrancy of the City by the Bay with illustrations done in bright acrylic paint and collage. This celebration of life’s simple gifts and reminds us that what matters most isn’t the acquisition of stuff, but the time we spend with each other.

Posted on February 19, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

Seeds of Freedom: The Peaceful Integration of Huntsville, Alabama; by Hester Bass, illustrated by E.B.Lewis, Candlewick Press, $16.99, 30 pages, ages 6-10.

While violent protests and confrontations marked a large part of the American civil rights movement, many communities chose nonviolent activism, such as the citizens of Huntsville, Alabama. Author Hester Bass (The Secret World of Walter Anderson) tells the story of the summer of 1963 and how Huntsville’s black community used creativity and problem-solving to combat racism rather than fighting and rioting. Starting in January 1962, Bass sets the stage by exploring the inequities between the black and white communities – black children must carry pictures of their feet to shoe shops because they aren’t allowed to try on merchandise, and black families are routinely locked out of restaurants. Slowly, like the first signs of spring, people act – black men and women eat at diner counters and frequent bowling alleys and public parks reserved for whites. The real test comes in September 1963, after a summer of peaceful demonstrations, when schools are federally mandated to desegregate. Will the school doors remain locked? Bass’s rhythmic, sonorous writing weaves this important moment in American history, while Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator E.B. Lewis’s watercolors evoke the pain and struggle of people working together to be free. Complete with an informative author’s note (Bass spent a decade in Huntsville) and carefully curated bibliography, this is an excellent introduction to the civil-rights movement for elementary-aged students, and sucessfully champions the notion that people can change without resorting to violence.

Posted on February 17, 2015November 9, 2016 by literaryfeatures

Unstoppable Octobia May, by Sharon G. Flake; Scholastic Press, $16.99, 276 pages, ages 8-12.

In 1953, most children are expected to be seen and not heard, but that’s certainly not the case with ten year old Octobia May, a plucky self-styled detective with a heart condition who is certain a vampire is rooming at her aunt’s boarding house. Coretta Scott King Honor Award winning author Sharon G. Flake (The Skin I’m in) weaves a vivid portrait of the Eisenhower era and explores topics such as racism, gender inequality, and the Holocaust. Flake’s unique novel will attract vampire chasers and history buffs alike, while offering encouragement to young readers that it’s alright to speak out againt injustice, even when others might prefer to maintain the status quo.