Emily's Literary Gazette

2012-02-15T13:55:00.001-05:00

The Smurfs #3: The Smurf King by Yvan Delporte
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

With each episode I like this series more and more.

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2012-02-13T20:23:00.000-05:00

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The heartbreaking experience of reading this book can be counted as gift.

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A Cover Puzzler

2011-12-26T17:07:00.002-05:00

The Moffat Museum by Eleanor Estes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Estes excels at relating difficulties with a light touch rather than a heavy hand, such as when Joey quits school to go to work.

Cover art note: that huge meteor behind the stanchion is Tricia Tusa channeling Jane's imagination. All the Moffat museum had in it was "stardust". And the meteors weren't that large even before they were dynamited.

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Regarding Harry, or Why Harry is Always in the News

2010-08-01T16:00:00.020-04:00

Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli

My concise but probably too-cryptic review of this book on goodreads.com is, "When the Harry Potter circus was in town, I worked as an usher. This book re-played for me the parts I had missed."

Here, where I have space to elaborate, is my story. I was too busy being the bookseller during the unfolding of the Harry Potter Phenomenon to enjoy the antics. There were many significant events which I only heard mentioned in passing, missing out on the full story. The metaphor of having worked as an usher really suits, because as an usher you are right there at the show, you even have backstage access; but you are fulfilling obligations which prevent you from having the complete (audience) experience.

In Ring #1 of the HP circus: The Big Bad Warner Wolf huffs and puffs! By which I refer to Warner Brothers' cease-and-desist letters sent to fan websites. Upon aquiring the movie rights to HP, WB flexed their muscle and told website founders (many of whom were minors!) that they must cease using terms from the HP books, because those terms were now the property of WB, even though the sites had been using those terms for years. Yes, I heard one solitary mention of that in the news at the time, but got no follow up. Melissa Anelli reports and concludes the story, including comments from website founders, J. K. Rowling, and WB staff.

In Ring #2, a tragedy in my own time: The splitting off of children's titles from the New York Times Fiction Bestseller List, specifically because Harry Potter was dominating it too much. Not only was HP chronically hogging three spots on the list, it had even begun to corrupt book buyers into buying Brian Jaques and Newbery honor books at such a rate that they crept onto the list, too. Someone needed to put kiddie lit in its rightful place, making room for "real" books like John Grisham thrillers and Danielle Steele romances. Charles McGrath, the NYT book review editor, said that this move would not "ghettoize" children's books; however, that's precisely the concept they furthered. It's hilarous to me that he used that exact word to deny it was taking place. (The June 2000 article announcing this move is at NYTimes.com. )

In Ring # 3, the Phenomenon--why Harry Potter had meteoric success:
A. Publication of HP coincided with rapid expansion of the internet into average homes. Prior to the late 1990's, fans were connected by message boards and listservs, but the world wide web created myriad places to meet fellow fans, discuss the books, and celebrate. Fan websites provided up-to-the-minute news about the books, movies, author, and publicity. Fan fiction exploded when publishing it became a click away rather than dependent on snail mail.

B. HP in the United States just happened to be published by the children's publishing house with the biggest pocketbook, able to publicize, support, and--most importantly--respond when HP took off. And, think back, what was it that made Scholastic's pocketbook so big? The Goosebumps/Fear Street craze! J K Rowling owes a debt of gratitude to R L Stine for her success-he paved the way both figuratively and financially for her.

C. Excellent ideas were tried and expanded upon. First Bloomsbury's after-school release date/time for book 3; second, the arranging of simultaneous UK and US releases for book 4; and lastly, the midnight release time.

D. A decent story, with an author who turned out to have long-term ability to develop and realize her magnum opus. Wait a minute, what?? I said, "a decent story"?? Didn't I mean to say amazingly stupendous? No, not really. Don't get me wrong--I really like HP; J K Rowling did a nice job. But starting off, the books were not particularly outstanding. Book 1 was pretty good--but most books I bother to read are pretty good. Based on the "pretty-good"ness of book 1, I did not get around to reading books 2-5 until 6 was about to come out. Taken as an entire series, though, HP is an above-average story, certainly deserving of success.

My point is that HP has #1 standing in the history of book publishing not because it is the "world's best children's book", or "world's best-written children's book". It is simply the children's book that went the farthest in sales. And of course it takes a good book to achieve that. It's just that being the most successful does not mean it has something intrinsically different that makes it number 1.

E. Speaking of money, I want to comment on the significance of the record-setting advance J K Rowling received from Arthur Levine Books for the US publication of book 1. Much is made of it because at that time Rowling was still unpublished. However, telling it that way is technically true, but misleading. At that point, there was already a long line of people, with clout, who saw merit in her book and potential for success--Bloomsbury, her UK publisher, which was just 4 weeks away from the book's UK release; Christopher Little and staff, her literary agent; and even the unknown awarder of the grant she received, which allowed her to write full time instead of having a day-job. Yes, Arthur Levine was taking a risk with giving her the biggest advance in juvenile book history, and that's what publishers do. They invest money at the beginning of the process in hopes that the investment will pay off. Levine was not a rookie in the business--he had an eponymous imprint to prove it. Furthermore, with this advance Levine started up the publicity machine vital to every publishing success. Harry Potter made headlines a month before its UK release via that advance. The HP Phenomenon is the story of how it managed to stay in the headlines for 10+ years.

Melissa Anelli's book looks into the HP Phenomenon from the perspective of a Big Name Fan. There are still niches available for other slants on the story, such as the business aspects that piqued my interest. I wonder if any are in the works. Maybe such a book is meant to be written by me.

The Book Thief, Round 2

2010-07-20T18:25:00.004-04:00

I reviewed The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak once already on this blog, April 14, 2009. But since then, I honed a super-short "review" for a staff selection blurb at work. I'm very proud of it. So here it is.

The tragedy of war, versus the beauty of kindness, friendship, and love.

A ride fraught with worry, but fun too

2010-07-20T18:13:00.003-04:00

2009 Newbery Honor, Savvy by Ingrid Law.

The more that Mibs tries to take control of her sticky situation, the more outrageously out of hand it becomes. Larger-than-life personalities and fun.

A Great Dog Story

2010-07-20T18:10:00.002-04:00

2001 Newbery Honor, Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

A lot in common with The Higher Power of Lucky (girl, single parent, small town, hot summer, trailer living), and just as charming.

Seafaring Adventure

2010-07-20T18:06:00.001-04:00

2001 Newbery Honor, The Wanderer by Sharon Creech.

Three uncles, two boy cousins, and 13-year-old Sophie, by sailboat from Connecticut to England. Took only a single afternoon to read, and I loved it.

A Novel in Free Verse

2010-07-20T18:05:00.002-04:00

1998 Newbery Medal, Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.

How does poetry manage to convey so much meaning in so few words?

Friendship: Owner's Manual Needed?

2010-07-20T18:02:00.001-04:00

2007 Newbery Honor, Rules by Cynthia Lord.

A 12-year-old girl navigates the waters of making new friends while coping with the quirks of her younger, autistic brother.

Recommend for Boys!

2010-07-20T17:59:00.003-04:00

2010 Newbery Honor, The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick.

A lively journey from 1863 Maine to the battle of Gettysburg, full of Dickensian villains and valiant heroes.

At that Awkward Stage

2010-07-20T17:57:00.002-04:00

2004 Newbery Honor, Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes.

Captures the feeling I most remember from being a 12-year-old girl: uncertainty how to behave, when you are not a child anymore, but not a grownup yet.

Su-spense!

2010-07-15T17:06:00.005-04:00

Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Everything the book jacket said it would be--riveting, gripping, can't-put-it-down suspense, and "like an accident you can't turn away from watching".

The Dead and the Gone (Last Survivors, #2) by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Terrifying, yet perfectly plausible.

This World We Live In (Last Survivors, #3) by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Even more shocking yet perfectly believable events. The characters from book 1 and 2 meet, and things do not go as planned.

World Civ. at Grandpa's Knee

2010-07-15T16:52:00.004-04:00

1922 Newbery Medal (the very first one!), The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Willem van Loon

The author writes to children as though they are gathered around him at the hearth, being entertained and educated at the same time. His explanation of Europe's wars during the 19th century led right into the reasons for WWI. I had never gotten a good picture of those events unfolding, until now.

Plenty of Heroes, For a Change

2010-07-15T16:44:00.006-04:00

2010 Newbery Medal, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Two reviews for the price of one!

1) The off-topic review:
Featuring a rare occurrence in literature--a mother's boyfriend who is a kind, loving person, friend to the daughter, and someone whom the reader WANTS the mother to marry.

2) The more-to-the point review:
There are many heroes in this story. I can't reveal them without spoiling the intrigue. Please do yourself a favor--read this book and enjoy discovering them.

Ghosts and Goblins, not my usual fare

2010-07-15T16:35:00.006-04:00

2010 Newbery Medal, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

All the fantasy I've read up to now has been the kind with wizardry. It was refreshing to me to enter this completely new setting.

What can I say?

2010-07-15T16:08:00.010-04:00

Despite great interest in finding out the Newbery medalists and honor books each January, I have not gotten around in the last 10 or so years to actually READ most of them. That's changing this summer--I'm catching up.

As I finish each book and post a review on Goodreads, I know my review is just one of millions. What can I say that hasn't already been said about such a widely-read book? For a plot summary, people can read the dust jacket. A generic "It's great, you should read it" would be waste of time. So, my goal in reviewing is to be brief and personal. How brief? Not always tweet-worthy, but 20 words is the target. How personal? Focusing on what I liked best, learned, or was led to think about. And just to except my own rule, I may still sum up the plot--if I feel I can do a better job than the dust jacket. Posts to follow!

The All-Star Team

2010-04-16T16:43:00.003-04:00

If I were playing fantasy baseball with books, here's who I'd want on my team. These All-Star picks of mine, I suspect, most people are missing out on. I want these books to stay on the staff picks display not for the usual 30-60 days, but forever--until everyone in the world has enjoyed them! And make no mistake--although these are children's books, I want adults as well as children to have the pleasure they bring, regardless of whether they have a child in their life sharing the experience.

Pitcher: A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck. This one has the advantage of a male protagonist--de riguer when recommending to boys. Grandma Dowdel is one character you'll never forget. Follow up with A Year Down Yonder and Fair Weather.

Catcher: Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath. The most unexpected happy ending ever. Follow up with The Trolls.

1st Baseman: A Bargain for Frances by Russell Hoban. It's never too early for a little girl to be warned about potential cattiness in a playmate. And if, Like Frances, you can give as good as you get, you can still remain friends! Follow up with the other Frances books by Hoban.

2nd Baseman: Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James. A story of imagination, friendship, and ecology. It's a shame, but I betcha haven't even heard of author-illustrator Simon James. And he'll never win a Caldecott, 'cause he's a resident of Britain.

Shortstop: C D B! by William Steig. If you know your ABCs, that's all you need to read these ear-puzzles. Follow up with C D C?

3rd Baseman: In the Town All Year Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner. A rich reading and perusing experience at any age; can even be "read" by those who don't know their ABCs yet.

Right Fielder: Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. Okay, so this did win a Newbery Medal. I love it so much, however, that until I find something less well-known to replace it, it's on my list.

Center Fielder: In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord. Baseball as seen through the eyes of Shirley Temple Wong, a young Chinese immigrant in New York City, 1947.

Left Fielder: Yucka Drucka Droni by Eugenia and Vladimir Radunsky. Even exceeds the zaniness and tongue-twisting of "There's a Gnuthbrush on my toothbrush".

When the Plot Summary Applies to Any Book By That Author

2010-04-16T16:18:00.005-04:00

I just finished reading Voices in Summer, my fifteenth or so book by Rosamunde Pilcher (only two more to go!). Like Nicholas Sparks, Rosamunde Pilcher stories are all formed from a predetermined list of setting, character types, and events--not a bad thing, as both authors' success shows.

Here are the required ingredients for any of her charming stories: 1) Cornwall or Scotland, or both. 2) Female orphan at center of story, who has no money worries, and neither does anyone else. 3) Multiple generations, often including bohemians among the younger folks. 4) An impromptu house party at the modest ancestral home. 5) Long-lost relatives and/or childhood friends reunited. 6) Everyone neatly paired off at the story's end.

Betsy Bliss

2010-01-25T18:29:00.005-05:00

Book review: Betsy and the Great World by Maud Hart Lovelace

I didn't know about the Betsy-Tacy series as a child, but I'm so glad to have found it as an adult. Once introduced, I got as far as Betsy and Joe, book 8 of 10. At that time the series was out of print*, and to my dismay, my library only carries the first 6. Used copies proved to be too expensive. So there I was, stalled. I managed to "look inside" at the first 2 pages on amazon.com. My waiting finally ended this fall, when Harper brought out the last 6 books in Perennial Classic editions. I think it makes sense to put them in editions for the adult market. My slight regret is that they aren't matchy-match with books 1 through 8 already on my shelf.

Maud Hart Lovelace, recounting her own life story via the fictional Betsy, depicted the outbreak of World War I as she experienced it. Betsy's year in Europe comes to an abrupt end, fraught with the worry that she may be stranded across the ocean from her family and friends. Rather than the omniscient, analytical angle that a history book gives, Betsy's experience is from the angle of "a man on the street". Betsy and her friends watch as the political dominoes fall that summer, but wonder why it must add up to war. Seeing it from their point of view, I felt the same way. I would like to learn more about the Great War.

I'm going to wait a while before reading Betsy's Wedding, the second half in my Harper's Perennial Classics edition. It'll be my last Betsy book, and I want to savor the experience as long as I can! After that, I can occupy myself by compiling a Betsy-Tacy Songbook. What would the Maud Hart Lovelace Society think of that?

*HarperCollins has let the later books in the series go out of print, rather like clockwork, twice in the last 15 years. Fodder for another blog post.

Reading Tastes

2009-09-10T15:30:00.003-04:00

Thoughts on tastes in reading:

1) When discussing with a Borders co-worker whether I would want to actually read our latest "Key Item", Home by Marilynne Robinson, I noted that the very-common Women's Lit theme of family relationships just doesn't spark my interest. There seem to be endless piles of books about "woman returns to the small town she grew up in and revisits her relationship with her mother"(ugh) or "Celebrating the bond of sisterly love" (double ugh).

2) Lelac Almagor notes in a Horn Book article that "we used to laugh that all the children's books we knew prepared our students for waking up one morning to find that they were required to save the world...Even the texts that didn't feature the vanquishing of grave magical threats were about leaving behind home and family to...return (or emerge) as heroes."

This prompted me to acknowledge that I'm not particularly interested in the One-Person-Must-Save-the-World premise, either. Too simplistic. One person can make a difference, yes. But single-handedly fix everything? Nah.

Harry Potter, scholarly examinations of

2009-07-23T16:40:00.007-04:00

Shouldn't Hermione be in Ravenclaw rather than Gryffindor?

Can American children understand a book that uses "foreign" language like Mum instead of Mom or trolley instead of cart?

Was it right for the New York Times to alter their Bestseller List parameters in order to cease HP's domination of the fiction list?

The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon, edited by Lana A. Whited is pithy stuff; I love examining/analyzing/beating to death anything I read or watch. And I definitely consider the Harry Potter series worthy of closer attention.

The article having the greatest number of quotes I want to memorize is "Crowning the King: Harry Potter and the Construction of Authority" by Farah Mendelsohn. Here is a juicy tidbit, condensed from page 171: "Hufflepuff: a house dedicated to the sidekick and creating the mentality of the faithful follower. ...it is perfectly acceptable to kill off Cedric Diggory...in order to provide our hero with a motive to hold out and allow Dumbledore to deliver his 'consolatory' speech. ...For those readers who know their Star Trek, members of the Hufflepuff house wear the red shirt." Amen to that.

"Hermione Granger and the Heritage of Gender" by Eliza T. Dresang points out that Rowling imposes stereotypical hysterical/fearful/whining behavior [on Hermione] and uses words like shriek, squeak, wail, squeal, and whimper, verbs never applied to male characters in the book. These descriptions are at odds with Hermione's basic role of "intellectual, problem solver" and seem to arise from stereotypes associated with her female gender rather than her own characterization.

Another great discussion assesses the translation of Harry and Co.'s British English into American, for the Scholastic editions. Verdict: Unnecessary. Thankfully, the amount of translating reduced dramatically with Goblet of Fire (You Say "Jelly," I Say "Jell-O"? Harry Potter and the Transfiguration of Language" by Philip Nel).

More food for thought was consumerism and conspicuous consumption; it is not limited to the Dursleys, says Elizabeth Teare in "Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic."

"Specters of Thatcherism" by Karin E. Westman examines power structures: pure-bloods vs. Muggleborns, house-elf controversy, prejudices against giants and werewolves, and what the persecution of Muggles at the Quidditch World Cup reveals about widespread wizardly attitudes.

Since these essays were published after Book 4 was published but prior to Book 5's release, I am on the lookout for other volumes which will take scholarly HP studies further. Perhaps I'll start with Jack Zipes' Sticks and Stones: The Troublesome Success of Children's Literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter, and I'll let you know what else I find.

3-D illustrating

2009-07-13T13:41:00.003-04:00

Remember the beginning of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, when the camera floats over the miniature set of buildings? I always found that view fascinating, and wished that the whole show featured those little buildings. Home, a wordless picture book by Jeannie Baker, offers views on a city neighborhood in a somewhat similar fashion. The illustration technique is relief collage. I feel a bit tardy on "discovering" Jeannie Baker as an illustrator, because she has been publishing since 1977. Home was a 2005 ALA Notable book, originally titled Belonging, when it was published in Australia. This summer I have caught up with Ms. Baker by reading Home, Grandfather, and Where the Forest Meets the Sea.

Another noteworthy illustrator, Salley Mavor, makes "fabric-relief." She takes broadcloth, felt, knits, ribbons, eyelet, buttons, yarn, and painted wood, and then sews, embroiders, crochets and arranges them into pictures. My two favorites among her work are The Hollyhock Wall by Martin Waddell and In the Heart by Ann Turner. In both books, the magic of a high-quality story is added to by intricately detailed illustrations. A quote from Salley Mavor herself, from the book jacket of The Hollyhock Wall, helps describe how this works: "she chose to illustrate Mary's garden-fantasy world in this medium because 'sometimes the vivid world of fantasy seems more real than real life.'" In art, realism has a place, but the audience often benefits more when guided to see things through a filter which the artist provides.

Engaging and spooky

2009-07-10T15:22:00.002-04:00

Novel of the week is A Curse Dark as Gold, by Elizabeth C. Bunce. This retelling of the story Rumpelstiltskin is told in first-person by the miller's daughter. In a small English town in the late 18th century, the mill is plagued by bad luck: accidents, breakdowns, and inexplicable 'refusals' to stay in good repair. The townsfolk have many superstitions, lore, and simples to try to combat ill luck and danger. The traditions and lore seemed to be empty superstitions at first, but as the story progressed, it became evident that the practices and perceptions were tied to historical events. And those historical events were genuinely spooky! Charlotte Miller was searching for long-buried secrets from the past which would explain the mill's curse and allow her a chance to set things right. The melding of folklore with magic was the hook for me, as it had been also in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's as though the oral traditions are another form of myth, striving to express truth through symbolism and fiction.

(Review of) a non-fiction book about a fiction book

2009-06-27T14:56:00.005-04:00

Books about other books are right up my alley. I recently enjoyed J. R. R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth by Bradley J. Birzer.

Tolkien said The Lord of the Rings was not an allegory. In his foreword to the second edition, he asserted, "As for any inner meaning or 'message,' it has in the intention of the author none." This was said in opposition to interpretations of Lord of the Rings as representing World War II, and the One Ring being nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Tolkien did say that "his Catholic faith was the most important or most ‘significant’ influence on the writing of the work.”

Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth examines many elements which Tolkien drew on, namely his Catholic faith; his view of the role of myth, that “myths express far greater truths than do historical facts or events”; his love of languages, especially Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Gothic, and Welsh; medieval literature and studies, such as Beowulf; and Christian humanist philosophy.

God is never directly mentioned in Lord of the Rings, but Christian themes and symbols pervade. As Tolkien was mentally immersed in the ideas of sin, redemption, kings, prophets, priests, sacraments, Creators, angels, fallen angels, and so on; he made those things intrinsically part of the story. The story does not repeat the gospel in code as an allegory would, but it is a re-expression of the true concepts of redemption, heroism, overcoming evil, the continual return of evil, and so on.

To me, Birzer’s most fascinating explanation is how Frodo is a priest “who carries the Ring—the cross of Christ, the sins of the world—into the heart of hell (Mordor).” This representation complements my own Christian belief that sin is the power by which Satan strives to enslave humanity. Sam Gamgee is the story’s protagonist—the saint, his character sanctified and defined by loyalty. The story ends with Sam’s return to life as it should be, becoming a husband and father in the Shire.

Birzer’s book explains a great deal in a short space, just 138 pages of commentary plus notes/index. I will want to refer to it again, and recommend it as “what to read next” when Lord of the Rings has been enjoyed.

Goat in shining armor

2009-06-23T13:13:00.007-04:00

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry has several elements in common with the story of Cinderella, but is not merely a retelling of it. There are a prince, a ball, a cruel aunt serving as wicked stepmother, and a benevolent godmother of sorts. However, the Amaranth plot is more exciting, and the events more plentiful than in Cinderella. And there is an unexpected hero--an affectionate goat named Dog, who rescues the damsel at several different times of distress.

For me, this novel was quick, light reading. I read all 306 pages in just 5 hours or so. The reading experience was both pleasurable and an accomplishment--actually reading a book start to finish in a couple of days! When reading for pleasure, I am easily bogged down in /distracted away from regular-length books. My usual pattern is to start, enjoy 100 pages or so, then leave it unfinished. (This does not mean that I didn't like what I had read thus far!) Years later I return, the bookmark inserted where I left off, but nonetheless I must re-start from the beginning, because I can't recollect enough to support picking up right where I left off. Therefore, I really tip my hat to authors who hold my interest long enough for me to complete the book in one "session."

With my literary "attention span", I appreciate YA and middle-grade books for their brevity, but I would certainly not invest in them if they were not also highly engaging. A post today by Roger Sutton on his Read Roger blog, http://hbook.com/blog (which discussed a different topic on YA literature) has an astute comment posted by Walter Underwood, observing that YA books have "momentum, excitement, and no fat." Ditto to that! The Amaranth Enchantment is an engaging and concise novel which fits the bill for me.

A very cozy story

2009-06-18T12:50:00.005-04:00

Jan Karon fans, here is another cozy author for you: Elizabeth Goudge, author of The Little White Horse. This story is full of little doors, caves, tunnels, hidden passages, and piles of delicious food. When I described the book to my husband, he came up with this quote, entirely made up, but entirely representative of the spirit of the story. To be said in a British little-old-lady voice, "Oh, bother, I fear we may run out of cream horns!"

But let me not mislead you--lack of strife in this book, and in cozy books in general, doesn't make them any less enjoyable. Like a simple meal with mild flavors, it is quite satisfying.

Credit goes to two literary celebrities for steering me towards Elizabeth Goudge. The first is J. K. Rowling. George Beahm's book Muggles and Magic: J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter Phenomenon relates that The Little White Horse is Rowling's "favorite book, which she credits as a big influence on the Harry Potter novels." I myself didn't see any particular parallels between Goudge and Rowling; just that The Little White Horse is imaginative and fantasy-oriented.

The second literary celebrity who pointed me to Goudge is Nancy Pearl, America's de facto librarian laureate. Book Lust lists The Little White Horse under the Cozies category as "a special treat." I fully agree.

The Orchestra--Snicket Tells All

2009-06-09T14:55:00.005-04:00

The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket is rife with puns and wordplay, as well as inside scoop about the orchestra. Snicket reveals personal traits about the instruments, all of which have the ring of truth. For example, the clarinets and oboes are sneaky and manipulative. And doesn't it sound perfectly right that the Tuba is a bachelor who stays at home and plays cards with his landlady? The accompanying CD is not just a ho-hum reading aloud of the text. The music, composed by Nathaniel Stookey, wonderfully expands the experience in the same way that quality illustrations extend the storytelling in good picture books.

Lemony Snicket, the narrator on the CD, has improved his performance since the days of his audio readings of the Series of Unfortunate Events books 3 to 5. His deadpanness (if I may coin a word) then was likely a conscious decision to complement the series' theme, but for me he was downright boring. Others seem to have agreed, because Tim Curry picked back up narrating books 6 to 13. For The Composer Is Dead, however, Snicket is sufficiently and fabulously dramatic, even operatic. He has come into his own on this reading.

Carson Ellis, the illustrator, was recognizable to me as the artist who does The Mysterious Benedict Society and, I thought, perhaps a Decemberists album cover. A little Googling reveals that she is married to Colin Meloy of the Decembrists, and drew many (or all?) of their covers. Her blog, at http://littlelittlegreenhouse.blogspot.com/ has lots of great work available to view.

A definite thumbs up for all three creators of this picture book/music/audiobook in all its formats. I would call it a Listening Experience.

Goldilocks--the Best Version

2009-06-05T15:17:00.002-04:00

In my opinion, the best version of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is as retold by Jim Aylesworth and illustrated by Barbara McClintock, 2001. It has the flavor of dramatic fireside storytelling. Goldilocks is a likable character in this version, because her motivations are explained sympathetically. Rather than coming across as the usual greedy, inconsiderate boor, Goldilocks is shown to be a curious little girl who at times just forgets her better self. For example, it is explained that she eats up Baby Bear’s porridge “without really meaning to.”

Aylesworth employs the old storytelling tool of repetition, describing how on this day Goldilocks keeps forgetting “not to do what her mother told her not to do.” She forgets “not to go into other people’s houses without being invited”, “not to touch other people’s food”, “not to use other people’s things without permission”, and “not to be nosy about other people’s private business.” She finally comes to herself at the instant the Bears wake her up, by remembering “not to talk to strangers”, and so she runs home.

Old-fashioned storytelling flavor comes from little, added words and phrases, like miniature commentaries, revealing the narrator’s presence and opinion of the events. Instead of merely reporting that the porridge smelled delicious, the narrator savors it, “And mmm, yes! That porridge smelled so delicious…” After Baby Bear’s chair crashes to the floor, the narrator offers, “Well, you might think that being dropped on the floor like that would have put a stop to her being so curious, but no, it didn’t, sadly no.” The narrator emphasizes the shock of Goldilocks’s misbehaviors by reinforcing with “Yes she did” or “No, indeed, she didn’t!” These informalities make the story seem like a juicy piece of gossip shared over the back fence. “And from all that I’ve heard, Goldilocks’s scary experience there in the woods that day did wonders to improve her young memory.”

Barbara McClintock’s illustrations show a great range of expressions on Goldilocks’s face as she proceeds on her adventure—glee, curiosity, disdain, gusto, and discomfort of several kinds. And as always, McClintock sets her pictures in the late nineteenth century period. I found two inside jokes. First, Goldilocks is holding a book in her room which just may be the Aylesworth-McClintock Gingerbread Man. Second, she loses a shoe while hastily descending the bears’ staircase.

The book ties in with three earlier Aylesworth-McClintock nursery tales by featuring a recipe for Mama Bear’s Porridge Cookies. The Gingerbread Man (1998), Aunt Pitty Patty's Piggy (1999), and The Tale of Tricky Fox (2001) each has its own recipe on the dust jacket.

This outstanding version of what is a very old story is a witness to the power of nursery and fairy tales to inspire writers and captivate readers even after many years and versions.

Weeklies, briefly

2009-05-30T14:55:00.006-04:00

My picture book of the week is The Secret Circus, written and illustrated by Johanna Wright. This depicts a circus in Paris, about which only the mice know.

My novel of the week is Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien. I have spent so much time this week thinking about this epic story and reading passages from it, that I haven't finished my intended novel of the week and its review. Lord of the Rings fascinates me continually. I can't get enough of the history of the rings, the peoples and creatures of Middle-Earth, and comparing differences between the Peter Jackson-directed movie trilogy versus the books.

"To Seek Out Strange New Words"

2009-05-23T10:06:00.005-04:00

Novel of the Week is The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry. "A novel nefariously written and ignominiously illustrated by the author." Rather than a regular review, these are random notes from my reading experience.

Lowry makes ample use of fancy words in The Willoughbys. She also supplies rather subjective and tangential definitions for these fancy words in a glossary at the end of the book. The subjectivity is a good spin. Although lexicographers usually write in such a way as to remove themselves from the scope of the writing, they are in truth individual persons interpreting the meaning of the words. Lowry retains her identity as the narrator in the glossary, acknowledging that she is an individual relating these words, rather than an invisible authority.

I have a suggestion which would help readers use the glossary all along in the reading experience rather than just finding it after "The End". I suggest placing a footnote at the first word in the text which has a glossary entry. The footnote would direct readers to the glossary, bringing it to their attention early in the reading, and allowing them to use it repeatedly as they encounter new words.

Speaking of authors who supply idiosyncratic definitions of fancy words, I am reminded of Lemony Snicket. Was he the first to do it?

Alpenhorn, a word which I had never seen before, was not in the glossary, so I had to look it up myself. I'm used to pausing in my reading to do that, ever since I read Jane Eyre. When I read Jane Eyre, I found myself consulting the dictionary so often, that I eventually went back through the book and made a log of all the words I had looked up. I specifically remember physiognomy, Resurgam, and cadeaux.

I encountered the word squalor, followed by a faulty(?) declension into squalorous (I believe the adjective wanted is squalid).

I did not know that fondue was of Swiss origin. Now I do!

I love the many allusions to themes and characters of classic children's literature. Lowry supplied a bibliography to refer readers to the works mentioned along the way. Very nice. As librarian Nancy Pearl has said, "I never know where a particular book will take me, toward what other books I will be led." The bibliography allows The Willoughbys to lead to other books outright.

Great paintings--this is why I love picture books!

2009-05-18T12:40:00.005-04:00

My picture book of the week is Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, which relates the story of Henry "Box" Brown's escape from slavery, by having himself mailed in a crate from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The trip took 27 hours.

The book jacket says that Kadir Nelson's paintings for this book were inspired by an antique lithograph of Henry Box Brown, made in 1850. To give the feel of the lithograph, Nelson crosshatched pencil lines, then applied layers of watercolor and oil paint. These illustrations are outstanding, and a great example of why I love picture books. They reproduce fine art, making it available to many people at one time, inexpensive, easily transportable, can be enjoyed an unlimited number of times, and most importantly, easily shared with children.

The crosshatched texture and rich color in Nelson's paintings really make them exceptional, so it's no surprise that this book was awarded a Caldecott Honor. I've been behind on my reading of award winners, and I couldn't remember what was the medal winner that year, so I assumed I must not have read it. I undertook to look it up and compare, wondering, "How is it that Henry's Freedom Box didn't merit the medal--what book published the same year could possibly have been better?" When I looked up the award list, I was reminded that the winner was The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. My mind had drawn a blank on 2008's medal winner because I was trying to remember something in the 32-page format, which Cabret was not. I don't need to quibble over who got the #1 spot--both books deserved recognition. How wonderful it is that there are so many marvelous and beautiful books, and new ones every year, to enjoy. Long live picture books.

Plug of the Week: Joseph Beth Kids

2009-05-06T11:22:00.002-04:00

Joseph Beth bookstore in Cincinnati has a wonderful kids section. This week I perused a great spring/gardening themed display, which brought to my attention many worthy books I would otherwise have missed.

Their website is www.josephbeth.com

How to Be Green, for Wee Ones

2009-05-06T11:10:00.005-04:00

Picture book of the week: Big Earth, Little Me written by Thom Wiley, illustrated by Kate Endle. Short and sweet. The day I ran across this book I read 18 picture books, and Big Earth, Little Me was the best one of the day! I picked it up because I have a thing for cut paper collage illustrations. Seeing the wonderfully simple and succinct message of ways you can help the earth won me over. The 16 pages are made from sturdy cardstock and include flaps to further the action. Printed with soy ink. Published by Scholastic, 2009.

Novel of the week: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

2009-05-04T15:38:00.006-04:00

The Chosen One is a fictional story of a thirteen year-old girl named Kyra, who is a member of a polygamous community, like the real-life ones in southern Utah and northern Arizona. The community’s “prophet” assigns Kyra to become the seventh wife of her sixty year-old uncle. By custom and by doctrine, Kyra is not free to refuse this marriage. Horrible as that sounds, it’s not far off from real-life situations in these communities. Kyra’s escape is highly dramatic, but is only a slight escalation of the real experiences of defectors from polygamy. Two recent bestsellers, Escape by Carolyn Jessop, and Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall, give firsthand accounts of the great difficulties these women faced in leaving their closed communities.

Both Carolyn Jessop and Elissa Wall were members of the FLDS Church, which entered the public eye in 2006 when the FLDS “prophet” Warren Jeffs was arrested. He was subsequently convicted on two counts of accomplice to rape. Elissa Wall, married at Jeffs’ order to her first cousin at age fourteen, was the star witness against Jeffs. The court determined that because Wall was a minor, because her marriage was not entered into by consent, and because she was not free to leave it, her reluctant sex with her husband was not consensual and constituted rape.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is also known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, I am sensitive to my Church being often mistakenly lumped in with these various polygamous groups. The FLDS church fashioned its name after the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but is not affiliated with it. To the contrary, the FLDS was founded in the 20th century by people who left the LDS Church and lived contrary to its teachings. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for people unfamiliar with Mormons to know the distinction. The LDS church, with 13 million members throughout the world, doesn’t often make the news, yet the FLDS church, with a few thousand members, has popped up frequently in the news within the last five years.

I regret that the negative publicity earned and deserved by Warren Jeffs and men like him is sometimes incorrectly reflected onto the LDS Church. However, I welcome light being shed on the issue of contemporary polygamy in the United States. I am glad Jeffs was convicted, but I suspect it will take much more than that one incident to loosen the terrible grip of oppression that the polygamists exercise. I hope that the The Chosen One will help to bring polygamy further out into the light of public scrutiny, so that help for its victims will be more available when they seek it.

Plug of the Week: The Blue Marble bookstore

2009-05-02T13:38:00.000-04:00

Having been recently released from the clutch of Borders, my freedom has opened up such that I have been able to make new friends. While I worked as a manager at Borders, I of course shopped there out of loyalty, contributing to its bottom line. Now that my loyalties are not tied there, I have discovered the delightful and super-friendly Blue Marble children's bookstore in Fort Thomas, Kentucky (within 10 minutes of downtown Cincinnati). From my first visit to the store, I found staff members ready to recommend books and invite me to upcoming signings and events. The Blue Marble is not only an "indie" bookstore, with all the good things common to them, but it is even a star within the indie class.

In early April I attended a discussion and signing with illustrator Will Hillenbrand, celebrating the publication of his 49th and 50th picture books, One Fine Trade by Bobbi Miller, and Louie, which Hillenbrand both illustrated and wrote. I not only listened rapturously during his wonderful presentation and got books signed, but I was introduced to him. This was a top-notch experience.

I have also attended a Bookaholics Night, held in the Blue Marble's Great Green Room (fashioned after the room in Goodnight Moon). It was simply a chance for Blue Marble staff, educators, librarians, and child. lit. fans to talk about what we've been reading lately. I look forward to the next meeting on Tuesday, May 12, the last one before summer hiatus.

Visit their website, www.bluemarblebooks.com, and sign up for their email newsletter. The unofficial holiday Buy Indie Day was yesterday (May 1), but I think we should all re-celebrate as often as our wallets allow.

Graphic "Novel" for the Youngest Eyes

2009-05-02T13:22:00.000-04:00

Picture book of the week: In the Town All Year 'Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner

A nod to Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy Town. This picture book, originally published in German in four volumes, is divided into four seasons, with eight picture spreads for each season. The first spread shows characters and gives the reader hints as to what to watch for. The other spreads are wordless, except for a few street signs. Buildings are shown in cut-away, revealing the goings-on inside. The high level of detail is reminiscent of the Where's Waldo books by Martin Handford. But the recognizable characters and continuity from season to season allows the reader to observe the passage of time, and the changes in scenery move the plot forward. There is even a budding romance between two characters, culminating in a visit to the travel agent for honeymoon plans. This is a great book to read with someone else next to you, so you can point out the "aha!" moments to each other.

The Seven-Letter S Word

2009-05-01T14:22:00.001-04:00

Novel of the week: The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron, 2007 Newbery Medal Winner

This brief and satisfying novel is about a ten year-old girl named Lucky, age 10, who lives in Hard Pan, California, population 43. Lucky has an absent father, and when Lucky's mother died two years ago, Brigitte entered Lucky's life. Brigitte came all the way from France on the spur of the moment to care for Lucky. Lucky has a part-time job cleaning up after 12-step meetings, at which she has heard attendees talk about finding one's Higher Power. Lucky is in pursuit of her own Higher Power when she observes Brigitte's moments of homesickness. Lucky fears that Brigitte will soon give up being Lucky's guardian and return home to France, leaving Lucky to fend for herself in an orphanage. The only solution is for Lucky to run away.

Now that I have read this book, I am ready to weigh in on the controversy that accompanied its publication--the use of the word scrotum, when a dog is bitten in the scrotum by a rattlesnake. I am shocked--shocked that anyone would find this scandalous, since it was handled with perfect decorum.

The opponents of the s word said it was gratuitous, reasoning that Patron could just as easily have had the dog bitten elsewhere, avoiding this private anatomy in a story for young children. My argument in favor of using it is that young boys aren't avoiding referring to this rather private anatomy themselves in everyday conversation. Children age 7 or 8, the audience of this book, hear the scrotum referred to frequently, as a place to be kicked in. This crass usage should not block the possibility of usage in polite and appropriate contexts. On the contrary, referring to it within the bounds of good manners helps counteract the rudeness associated with the other context.

I really enjoyed the insights into Lucky's thought processes, including those prompted by the s word. Thumbs up.

Plug of the Week: Children's Bookshelf Newsletter

2009-04-23T18:09:00.002-04:00

I really enjoy Publisher's Weekly's "Children's Bookshelf" email newsletter. My personal highlights from this week's edition are an interview with Mark Teague, another with John Burningham, a list of the bestselling picture books, and an article about annual industry-wide sales projections for children's books, 2009 and beyond. I additionally enjoy the "Shelftalker" blog on the PW website. Tidbit I just learned today from the newsletter: John Burningham is married to Helen Oxenbury.

Novel of the week: East by Edith Pattou

2009-04-23T17:49:00.001-04:00

East is based on one of my favorite fairy tales—“East of the Sun, West of the Moon”, originating in a group of Norwegian tales collected by Peter Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe in the late nineteenth century. I admire the strong heroine, the enchantment of the white bear, and the personification of the four winds. Yet somehow I've allowed myself to ignore this novel-length retelling. Finally getting around to reading it this week, I was well rewarded.

When I sat down with East in my hands, I looked forward to seeing how Edith Pattou would treat the elements of the original tale. Although she eliminates one of my favorites—the personification of the four winds—she introduces many details which complement the story well. For example, Pattou uses compass points as a motif. The protagonist, Rose, comes from a family of mapmakers, her mother is superstitiously concerned with which direction mothers face during childbirth, and her father draws a compass rose for each of his children. There is lots of adventure in this story, including a sea voyage on a Viking ship and a journey across Greenland by foot, kayak, and ski.

Pattou provides yards of background to fill in between the lines of the original story. She describes the trolls’ culture and location in the Arctic, why the troll princess kidnapped the human prince, and how the enchantment was made by the troll king. She attends to every detail, such as inventing a drink called slank that enables the humans to survive in the brutal cold. I constantly marveled as she blended her own creations flawlessly with the original short tale.

Girl to the Rescue

2009-04-20T19:16:00.000-04:00

Audio/Picture book of the week: East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Rabbit Ears Productions.

This story’s original version is a folktale collected by Asbjornsen and Moe, the Scandinavian equivalent of the Brothers Grimm. Compared to the original, D. J. MacHale’s retelling is leaner, excising a wicked stepmother and a few steps of plot after the girl arrives at the castle. The story does not suffer from this paring down, but instead is better focused on the girl’s courage and determination. She is in league with Clever Gretchen, Tatterhood, Mastermaid, and other feminists of the folklore world, the opposite of a passive maiden in distress.

Max Von Sydow’s voice and Lyle Mays’ music are the stars of this show. Rabbit Ears productions are picture books with an audio CD, and the readers are Hollywood stars. I can’t think of a better choice than Swedish actor Max Von Sydow for this Scandinavian folktale. For me, Von Sydow’s deep voice conjures up images from "The Seventh Seal" and other “ultra-serious” Ingmar Bergman films. Lyle Mays’ musical score, synthesized rather than orchestrated, is like the weather in the way it shifts, swells, dies away, and returns. It perfectly reflects the characters of the four Winds in the story.

I love the mystery surrounding the nightly visitor to the girl’s bedroom, and the dual nature of the white bear’s enchantment. I wonder whether the screenwriter(s) for the movie “Ladyhawke” had this enchantment in mind when they began their own story. Another thing I like is the twist that the Beast in this story is perfectly well-behaved, whereas it is the short-sighted Beauty whose heart needs refining. I like the pattern as the girl goes in turn to each of the four Winds, and I like the repetition of the question, “Are you afraid?” from both the bear and the North Wind.

Vivienne Flesher’s illustrations are like vague recollections from dreams: floating, fuzzy, and primitive, yet richly colored. Like Egyptian murals, only essential objects and people are shown, and they are portrayed as flat. Washes of color are placed behind each scene instead of detailed backgrounds. This style keeps the essence front and center with no distractions.

Several hints of the Middle East are placed throughout, such as domed architecture, turbans, golden sand, and toga-like costumes. They don’t seem to be in harmony with the story, but there is only one case in which the tropical setting can be said to specifically contradict the story. The first line of the story states that the peasant farmer and his family live “hidden deep in the blue forest of Norway,” but a depiction of their newly-prosperous dwelling a few pages later includes a palm tree and an elephant in the yard.

A new, exotic setting for this story could work, but to be genuinely done would require even more than just the elimination of the word “Norway”. The author would need to be involved, using words to convey climate, geography, culture, and so forth, fully grounding the story in its new time and place. As it currently stands, the exoticism comes across as a flawed attempt, and it’s not clear whether an editorial oversight occurred. It’s possible that the editors chose to leave this discrepancy in place, reasoning that the pictures are meant to be dream images and therefore don’t have to be tied to physical setting. Truth be told, for me, who listens to the audio in the car, captivated by Max Von Sydow’s deep intonations and carried aloft as the music swells, the book itself isn’t needed.

Credits: written by D. J. MacHale, illustrated by Vivienne Flesher. Read by Max Von Sydow, Music by Lyle Mays. Copyright 1991 (the year I graduated high school!), this is still in print as a Playaway Audio or as part of the CD "Rabbit Ears Treasury of World Tales, Vol. 1". Yes, this is the same D. J. MacHale who has gone on to write the Pendragon series in juvenile fantasy.

Twilight Hubbub

2009-04-17T14:50:00.000-04:00

Hot topic today on Alice Pope's CWIM blog by a guest blogger: Is Edward an abusive boyfriend?

http://cwim.blogspot.com/2009/04/edward-bella-abusive-relationship.html

The Twilight books are still on my "To Read Sometime Later" list, so I cannot personally weigh in on whether Edward is abusive, nor whether Bella is a bad role model for teenage girls (which issue was raised in the comments to the post). But isn't it great that readers are so up-in-arms about it? I enjoy hearing lively discussions like this, even when I haven't read the book in question. I don't fear having details "spoiled" in advance. I like having advance context in which to ground my own reading experience. By now I have plenty of fuel for my fire, so I really must get around to reading Twilight. And after that, on to watching the movie, which just yesterday I overheard a teen at the library circulation desk say is "stupid". I predict that I won't agree with her on that.

Pleasure reading and Reference all in one

2009-04-15T14:46:00.002-04:00

This plug is for Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market, by Alice Pope, published by F & W Media. Who knew good ol' Cincinnati, Ohio was such a shining star in the kid-lit-osphere? I didn't, until just this year. I have begun searching for a way to align my professional life with my passion for children's books, and I picked up this book as part of that career-change research.

This book is mainly a directory of children's book publishers and other info, geared to writers and illustrators as they try to get published. However, it's much more--each edition has something new to enjoy, because it also contains articles and author interviews! My favorite interview in the 2008 edition was with picture book author-illustrator Mo Willems. I so enjoyed learning how he "became acquainted" with the Pigeon--Willems says he was working on a project and the Pigeon kept appearing in the margins of the sketches, criticizing them. Oh, that pesky Pigeon!

My favorite features in the 2007 edition are the articles "U.S. vs. U.K. Children's Fiction" and "Creating Books for the Youngest Reader". The latter is a roundtable discussion with six people who write, edit, and/or publish board books. It was fascinating to learn the current issues with marketing this niche. I really nodded my head along with Emily Jenkins, who in response to the question, "What are the most common misconceptions about baby board books?", said,

"...that quality doesn't matter. People assume a junky, badly written thing is fine for a baby, because the baby doesn't know the difference and is only going to suck on it anyway."

There are many other great points raised in that article. The 2007 edition also contains interviews with Christopher Paolini and William Joyce. For anyone interested in children's literature, even if you don't plan to write or publish your own, CWIM is a must-read. Enjoy!

Novel of the Week: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2009-04-14T15:01:00.000-04:00

The book thief is a young German girl who is taken in by foster parents in Munich in 1939. She is terrorized by nightmares about the recent death of her younger brother. Her foster father sits by her bedside at night to comfort her, and helps her learn to read. This is a story about the lives of civilian Germans during the Second World War. Tough times, indeed. The narrator of the story is Death. He sees a lot as he traverses the world, bearing away the souls of the dead. He is an unusual observer to hear from, because he has so much contact with humanity but remains an outsider.

I enjoy how what I learn from one story expands my reading of another. Recently I watched a movie about the life of Pope John Paul II (title is "Pope John Paul II"), and it taught me about the experience of civilians in Poland during the 2nd World War. First they had Fascism thrust upon them, which restricted their freedom of worship, reduced their political choices, and tried to remove their national identity as Poles. They were then rescued by the Communist invasion, coming from the east and ousting the Fascists oppressors. However, the Polish people soon found that they were no better off, because Communism occupied and oppressed them in the very same ways. Another story, which further expanded my reading of The Book Thief, was The Sisters (about the Mitford family, by Mary S. Lovell). Learning about the Mitfords demonstrated for me the waves of political ideas in Europe in the 20's and 30's. Communism and Fascism were competing schools of thought, present as political parties in many countries, not just in Russia and in Germany.

The Book Thief helped me to be less judgmental of German citizens who lived through and "participated in" the Nazi regime. It demonstrated that there were people who joined the Nazi Party out of necessity, but didn't necessarily agree with it--they joined out of fear of retaliation if they didn't go along. And they could not know whom to trust. That atmosphere reminded me of the culture of denunciations and arrests in Communist Russia, as described in The Gulag Archipelago by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

A good movie I'd like to see again, after having read The Book Thief, is "The Nasty Girl," made in Germany in the late 1980's or early 1990's. It's about a young wife who investigates the involvement of people of her parent's generation in the Nazi regime. What's so intriguing is, these people are the older citizens right there in her hometown, still living, and they do not want that terrible time dredged back up. She finds that everyone has behavior they're not proud of.

The Book Thief is a powerful story. I should mention that it has quite a lot of profanity, but despite that, it was edifying. It saddened me, but also surprised and rewarded me. I recommend it for teens and adults.

Picture Book of the Week: Bedtime for Frahnces

2009-04-13T14:17:00.001-04:00

My first featured picture book is the gem Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams. Since it has been around since the 1960's, I don't feel the need to describe its plot. I have heaps to share about it in other regards.

The h in Frahnces in this posts's title is not a typo. I first encountered this book read aloud by Glynis Johns, on a long-playing record, which my family checked out from the Lane Public Library in Hamilton, Ohio. If you haven't heard Glynis Johns reading the Frances books, you have missed one of the most charming experiences available in the audiobook world (the recordings are currently available on CD from HarperCollins Audio, titled "The Frances Collection"). Ms. Johns' British accent pronounces the name as Frahnces, and after hearing it that way thousands of times, so do I, my siblings, and their children.

For those reading who may not otherwise know Ms. Johns, I will inform you that she is an actress, possibly most frequently seen in her film role as the mother in Disney's "Mary Poppins". I was delighted decades later to see her as the grandmother in the romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping".

The illustrations by Garth Williams depict Frances and her parents as badgers, although in the text that identity is not specified. Russell Hoban wrote the story picturing Frances as a little girl, but via Williams' pencil she became otherwise. I very much like the dynamic between the text and illustrations. The story is told sparingly, with no reference to whether the family lives in a house or in a burrow, no mention of paws versus hands, yet on every spread there is more "story" available in the pictures, such as observing Frances' sweet little snout as she reaches up to her mother, or seeing that when Frances and her father brush their teeth, they each have 4 large fangs. The illustrations expand the story, but the text also stands perfectly on its own. Perhaps that is why the audio versions succeeded with my family despite the absence of the books. The experience is like a good radio show, where you never miss having pictures.

I note that in the 1990's, HarperCollins "updated" all the black and white illustrations of the Frabces books by inserting splashes of color in the latest editions. Although it was done subtly, I am surprised they felt it was necessary, and it seems to indicate short-sightedness. I suppose they came to the conclusion that if Garth Williams and Lillian Hoban--who illustrated all the other Frances books besides Bedtime--had full color at their disposal when they made the illustrations, they would have used it; they only kept to pencil because of the limitations of the printing process at the time. My response is that a talented artist does not need to be second-guessed 30 years later. Williams did in fact publish many full-color illustrations, such as his Little Golden Books, and therefore his choice to work in a different style should not be written off as "financial limitations" which we moderns are now free to revise. This is not the only instance I have seen of HarperCollins "revising" classic children's books in various ways (which tangent I will probably pursue in a later post). Suffice it to say that I have given over to shaking my head and muttering, "Remorseless Philistines!".

Hoban uses repetition in his writing, which sets the reader up for wonderful surprises. I love the exchange between Frances and her Father, when her antics have continued past Father's bedtime, and she has succeeded in waking him up. He informs her that the reason the wind is blowing the curtain is because that is the wind's job, and if one does not do one's job, one will be out of a job. However, we learn that if Frances does not do her job, which is to go to sleep, she will not be out of a job--she will be in big trouble.

In conclusion, I invite readers of all ages to pick up this book and savor it--whether for the first time or the umpteenth. Frances has a special place in my heart.

A Blog Down Yonder

2009-04-13T13:33:00.000-04:00

This blog is intended as an outlet for me to write about my principal hobby--children's books. I will share my favorite picture books and middle readers, as well as any general information that suits me. Everyone with a fondness for picture books is invited on this Best Friends' Outing.