passionately sharing, discussing and admiring children's picture books
Last Wednesday I began a discussion on wordless picture books and some of my tips on how to read them. It is such an interesting category of picture books and I am ecstatic to be able to share more excellent wordless picture books on Wednesdays for a while. I have quite a pile forming of wordless books to highlight, but today I want to start with one of my favorites from childhood.
Continue reading “Wordless Wednesday: A Boy, A Dog And A Frog By Mercer Mayer”
Two years ago, while I was acting as a judge for the Cybils and reading even more books than normal in a given year, I noted the inordinate amount of wordless picture books that had come out in 2013. It even turned out to be the Caldecott year for wordless picture books as the 2014 honor awards went to three wordless picture books: Journey, Flora and the Flamingo, and Mr. Wuffles!. It was an unheard-of year for wordless picture books. I even frequently refer to 2013 as “The year of the wordless picture book.” Clever, no?
I’ve discussed wordless books occasionally, the most important for me being South by Patrick McDonnell; but I tend to avoid discussing them as they are intimidating as a reader, and especially as an illustrator. They can be lovely and they can also be frustrating. The tendency to just barrel through each page and not pause too long is even greater because there are no words to guide you. They can be delightful to savor by yourself, but groan-inducing when brought to you by a child with full expectation of you putting on a great ad lib read.
But, a well-executed wordless picture book has gone beyond creating lovely pictures and has buried a story so deep that words cannot express it. The illustrations must do double-duty. They must draw you in, yes with their actual drawn nature; but also with their ability to tell the story with every detail, every expression, every movement and page turn.
I do not have what I would consider the ultimate grasp on how to read a wordless picture book, but I thought I would share a few pointers I have gleaned to help make them less intimidating and perhaps invite you to experience them more fully. I plan on sharing a wordless picture book review every Wednesday for a while, and so I hope this serves as an intro on how to approach all the amazing picture books that come out “quietly.” I took a ton of pictures from the cast of 2013 wordless picture books, so I am going to illustrate my reading tips using those books. Taking a cue from 6 of the stellar wordless books from 2013, here are my 5 tips to reading a wordless picture book:
Continue reading “How To Read A Wordless Book”
One of the many things I already love about city living is the many museums that surround us. We have visited three art museums so far and are anxiously discussing and planning our next available days to visit more. I am overjoyed to pass on our love of art to our daughters and what better tool to aid that endeavor than gorgeous picture books that celebrate and discuss art museums! Have a look at three picture books that revel in the joys, etiquette, mystery and adventure that comes with visiting an art museum.
Continue reading “Let’s Read Three: Art Museum Books”
It is two days from the first day of fall which can only mean two things: First, the best month and season have arrived, and second, I forgot to do anything to celebrate this little blog’s first birthday. August 22, 2012 was my first post here and that date has come and gone unnoticed. So, although I’m a month late, I still prefer to celebrate great birthdays in September and I’m going to celebrate today with a marvel of a little book about a sweet shrew mouse’s birthday. Completely wordless, but incredibly stunning; this is nothing but a little masterpiece from a fantastic illustrator. So come to a party with me in Shrewbettina’s Birthday by John S. Goodall, 1970.
Continue reading “Book Review: Shrewbettina’s Birthday By John S. Goodall”
Hello friends! My apologies at the lack of posting due to sickness, family visits, and an American holiday weekend. I hope your days were lovely and I’m itching to get back to sharing some favorite picture books. Today’s book is a bit different, but it has made quite an impression on my illustration heart and I need to share it in the hopes that someone else comes to love it too. A wordless book, with the exception of a note to readers in the front and a note to parents and others in the back, this is a unique book about counting, math, details and observation. Let’s hope I do it some justice in my explanations. Here is Anno’s Counting House by Mitsumasa Anno, 1982.
Continue reading “Book Review: Anno’s Counting House By Mitsumasa Anno”
Sickness, company, and first birthdays are keeping this house busy and unfortunately making the posts sparse. Bear with me until I can get back to regular postings. Until then, I’ll pop in as possible with beautiful pieces such as this trailer for the newest Bob Staake book, Bluebird. It looks positively lovely.
Three Books a Night 