Drawn to Read: Mo's Mojo

It's "Drawn to Read" time! I am highlighting illustrators of picture and chapter books, that are creating exemplary work — adding style and life to current children's literature. I welcome your suggestions for future illustrators and comments on the one's I post. So fare we have featured "Images of Christmas," with Elise Primavera and Jon J. Muth. We also devoted a week to Adam Rex. Let's give the illustrator's their due and have a good conversation about their work.

Winning a Caldecott Award once in a career would be enough to let most writers retire happily. So what can you say about an author/illustrator who has been awarded the Caldecott three times? Well, you would have to concede that they are pretty darn good. Mo Willems is good. Awarded the Caldecott for "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!," "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale," and "Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity" hasn't slowed him down one bit. He seems to bounce through the world of children's literature like a child on Christmas morning. He's having fun and so are his readers. So let's take a closer look at Mo Willems.

Mo Willems was raised in New Orleans where, as he has said on occasion, he was surrounded by characters. This is good for the reader because that is where his books begin — with the character. Willems has an illustration style, which on the surface, appears very simple. Children can relate to the flat shapes and bright colors. But most people don't understand the difficulty that lies in offering an entire character in just a few lines. This is the talent Willems has with his storytelling. He can tell so much with just one small eyebrow mark or the omission of a few words. His characters drive the stories and their own development as illustrations.

Willems is a prolific writer with many wonderful characters so I'll have to contain myself and highlight just a few of his stories. Like many readers I first learned of Willems when I read "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" I was amazed. It was a brilliant idea driven entirely by the pigeon's character and desire to, well, drive the bus. But Willems tapped into the psyche of a child and understood that children are told "No!" all day long. They want to have power and be able to release their pent up frustration as well. So the book becomes an interactive story time. With a few strokes of a pencil Pigeon comes to life. His attitude is conveyed through bolder or lighter lines, placement of an eye, it's shape, or hatch marks. It seems so simple, yet it's the simplicity which makes it so difficult to do well. Willems nailed this character and now Pigeon is featured in numerous stories, including "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late," "Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog" and "Pigeon Wants a Puppy."

Next I came across a book that was truly helpful — "Time To Pee!" My oldest son was potty training and this book made it fun. Filled with illustrations of mice holding signs and explaining the process of using the toilet. It was silly and made potty training fun. The book came with stickers. of different mice embellished with congratulatory sayings, to give to your child when they used the potty. Truth be told, we've actually read the book many times in the years since just because it is funny. The illustrations are so very expressive you can't help but giggle.

Then my family discovered "Knuffle Bunny." We've had our share of Knuffle Bunnies in our family so relating to this tale was easy. When Trixie, a toddler who has yet to speak, loses her Knuffle Bunny she tries desperately to tell her father. He just doesn't understand. She bawls and protests to no avail. When it is discovered that Knuffle is missing there's an all out search until it is discovered and Trixie screams her first words, "Knuffle Bunny!" Unlike other Willems' books this one and its follow-up, "Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity," uses cartoonish drawings over black and white and muted sepia tone photographs of New York City neighborhoods. It's an interesting technique, that allows the city to become a character in the tale. However the beauty of the story is in the personality development. The stylized characters capture all the signs of distress. Trixie grimaces, goes boneless, stands gape-mouthed and bug-eyed. And it is easy to see the confusion and embarrassment in dad's face. Adult and children alike will see themselves in the characters. 

Lately I've been reading the "Elephant and Piggie" books with my youngest son. Like all of Willems' tales they are character driven. Elephant is glass half-full kind and Piggie is happy-go-lucky. They are very different, but they are best friends. These books are designed to encourage early readers to continue learning new words. They are fun and entertaining and designed so that reading distractions are limited. The illustrations are simple and clean.

Willems' success has not slowed him down. He keeps producing new stories. Some with familiar characters and others with new ones destined to become favorites. Look for "Leonardo the Terrible Monster," about a monster who can't seem to scare anyone. He's terrible. There's "Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct," who bakes chocolate chip cookies for everyone, "Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed," "Time to Say Please!," and his newest release, "Big Frog Can't Fit In," a fun pop-out.

Mo Willems began his career on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards. He probably could have stayed there and been very successful. Instead he took the knowledge of character development and kid-centric story lines that he learned on Sesame Street created a catalog of amazing children's books. 

If you would like to see more Mo Willems visit www.pigeonpresents.com, www.mowillems.com, or his blog, www.mowillemsdoodles.blogspot.com.

Get Smart: Nerds, Geeks, and Outcasts Become Heroes in New Children's Books.

As long as there have been nerds, geeks, and "smart kids" there have been stories written to give schoolyard outcasts a reason to stand up and cheer — a reason to be proud of who they are. I recently read two such books for children 6 – 10 years old.

"The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow"
By Tim Kehoe
Illustrated by Guy Francis and Mike Wohnoutka
For ages 7 – 10
Vincent is a unique individual. He is a middle school student with very big ideas. His ideas are not big in that he is thinking about curing diseases or visiting other planets. No, Vincent's thoughts are much more whimsical than that. He is an inventor of strange and unusual toys. Vincent has designed Rainbow Rocketz, Biting Beast Balls, Sky Writerz, Mixablez and much more in a secret lab his mother helped him build behind the closet in his room.


When his mother passes away and his father remarries Vincent begins to truly understand what it means to be an outcast, both at home and at school. We're not talking Cinderella — turn him into the house servant type mistreatment— but the family tension is central to Vincent's outcast persona and helps propel the story along.

Vincent is ready to give up on inventing but then Howard G. Whiz, a world famous toy inventor sponsors a toy inventing contest. Vincent sees the contest as his chance to become more than an outcast. Unfortunately there are many other talented inventors competing and some will stop at nothing to win the contest.


"Vincent Shadow is a fun-filled romp through creativity and teen angst. It stays light, so young readers will take to the "no boundaries" imagination and adventure inspired by "The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow" without being bogged down in a deeper plot.



"The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook"
By Eleanor Davis
For Ages 6 – 10
This graphic novel helps every science geek, outsider, or misunderstood student escape into the life of a super hero. Extraordinarily smart, Julian is beginning a new year of school at a new school and hopes to shed his science geek reputation. Julian hides who he is, the best that he can, until he finds himself making friends with other misunderstood outcasts — a "dumb jock" and a "maniac."


It doesn't take long for the trio to find they have more in common than their outward appearances would suggest. They form a secret society, The Secret Science Alliance, build an underground command center, and begin inventing amazing and creative gadgets. When a famous, albeit, nefarious scientist steals the Science Alliance's notebook, our three heroes must foil his dastardly plots.


"The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook" is creative and fun adventure. Like "Vincent Shadow" the deeper plots of acceptance and being proud of yourself are in the story, but kept light — allowing young readers to get the moral but concentrate on the fun.

Drawn to Read: Illustration Rex!

The second installment of "Drawn to Read" is here! I am highlighting illustrators of picture and chapter books, that are creating exemplary work — adding style and life to current children's literature. I apologize I missed last week. Due to illness I just didn't have the strength. However it's a new week and a New Year. I welcome your suggestions for future illustrators and comments on the one's I post. Let's give the illustrator's their due and have a good conversation about their work.

It isn't often you come across someone who is as adept at using their illustrative tools as they are with language and words. Sure, Dr. Suess and Shel Silverstein come to mind, but their illustrative styles were limited. Wonderful, but limited. Douglas Adams had an amazing talent with the English language, but no illustrative ability. That brings me to Adam Rex. 

Adam Rex is the author and illustrator of several very creative and entertaining books, including: "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich," "Frankenstein Takes the Cake," "Pssst!," "Tree-Ring Circus," and "The True Meaning of Smekday." He has also illustrated several books by Mac Barnett. But we'll focus our attention on the books he has both written and illustrated.

I was first introduced to his work in "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich." This very creative collection of poems tells the stories of all your favorite monsters. Frankenstein, Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and The Mummy. Even Dracula's son and the Invisible Man make an appearance. The smooth, witty, seemingly easy rhymes capture each subject's personality and voice to perfection. Children and adults see the humor and can't help but laugh out loud. The vignettes with the Phantom are a special treat. Rex masters an impressive array of styles and techniques in illustrating the collection, yet each seems to work within the context of the book without clashing about. Pen and ink, black and white sketches, oil, acrylic, it all seems to flow just as easily from Rex's hands as words from a precocious nine-year-old's mouth. The illustrations of Frankenstein capture the classic monster with an added goofiness that makes children giggle. Rex manages, again and again, to add just enough style and wit to make these classic images modern and fun.

Rex revisited the monsters in "Frankenstein Takes the Cake" which follows the wedding and surrounding festivities of Frank and his bride. This is interspersed with blog posts from the Headless Horseman and recurring glimpses into Poe's study as he tries to overcome writer's block. Once again the writing is spot on and the illustrations cover multiple techniques and styles with ease and sophistication.

In "Psst!" and "Tree-Ring Circus" Rex sticks to oil and mixed media to illustrate animals galore. Both tales are appropriately silly. The illustrations in both books will have children studying the pages, trying to remember each image's nuances and laughing out loud at the visual jokes.

Rex rounds out his portfolio with a book for children 8 – 14 years old, "The True Meaning of Smekday." It deals with alien invasions, a Disney-like park, a cross-country trip and friendship. In "Smekday" Rex plays with language and quirky ideas like chips dancing around a poker pro's fingers. No idea is too "out there" to try. Therefore the story takes you on a trip you could never predict nor expect. Liberally sprinkled with pen and ink illustrations this tale is a must read for sci-fi and humor buffs. 

Rex is the kind of illustrator that makes other artists yearn to keep studying their craft in the hopes of capturing just a little of his style and character development. Rex makes other writers remember why they began writing and hope that the next story they write will capture just a little of the wit and creativity he seems to freely toss around.

Adam Rex... I am inspired by his craft, envious of his skill, and a fan of his books. Thank you for your work. I look forward to more.

Sick and Tired!

I am sorry the updates have not come in a timely manner this week. I have been knocked out of commission with strep. I'll get back to the updates tomorrow with a new "Drawn to Read." I also plan to institute a new weekly column that features older books we may have missed along the way. I welcome your suggestions for older books to review and illustrators to highlight.

Have a happy and safe Newy Year's Eve and as Bing says, "We'll start the New Year right."

Bedtime Stories: Gliori's New Tale is a Treat for All Ages

A few years ago my sister-in-law gave me a book titled, "No Matter What." My family and I have fallen in love with the tale of Small and his mother, a pair of foxes. Small is grumpy and tests his mother, Big, throughout the story by saying she doesn't love him. Every parent has heard this at least once. But Small's mother handles the situation perfectly and in so doing we end up with a wonderfully snuggly book for bedtime. Well, Big and small are back in another touching tale. 

"Stormy Weather" 
By Debi Gliori 
For ages 3 – 7
Big and Small return in another great story time picture book from Debi Gliori. Author of the "Pure Dead..." series for children 9 – 12 years old, and illustrator of numerous picture books, it is Gliori's tales of Big and Small that I never hesitate suggesting to other readers.

In this tale the weather has turned foul. Small is having a difficult time sleeping with a storm knocking around outside. Small needn’t worry, Big will watch over her child even while he sleeps. Big explains that even if he were a big polar bear, a bunny or a tiny snail, she would keep watch over him at night.

Gliori brings her characters to life in the adorable illustrations and creates a poignant message of love in her simple rhyming text. The warm, expressive nature of each character will have you and your children lingering on each page. Like "No Matter What," this inviting story will soothe your children during a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful story time before bed. It is a great addition to the Big and Small story and I can't wait for her to write and illustrate another.

Drawn to Read: Images of Christmas

It's time to highlight illustrators of picture books, that are creating exemplary work, adding style and life to current children's literature. That is why I will focus on one or two illustrators each Tuesday in a new column I am calling Drawn to Read. I welcome your suggestions for future illustrators and comments on the one's I post. Let's give the illustrator's their due and have a good conversation about their work.

Since Christmas Eve is a couple days away, this week's Drawn to Read features two illustrators who added a little cheer and wonder to my Christmas holidays: Elise Primavera and Jon J. Muth.

Elise Primavera is probably best known for her "Auntie Claus" series, the newest of which was published this year. She also authored "Louise The Big Cheese," was the author and illustrator of "The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls," and illustrated "Raising Dragons."

Primavera's Auntie Claus books have become holiday classics — must-reads. Although the stories are fun and touching, it is the expressive and festive illustrations that drive these wonderful tales. With gouache and pastels Primavera captures the bustle of the city, the silver bells and holly greens of the holidays, and the fun of Christmas in an approachable style that begs children to keep looking. She has a deft ability to add expression with a few well placed highlights and shadows, making it easy to connect to the characters and live the story along with them. 

So I say thank you Elise Primavera for your contribution to children's stories and for enlivening our story times with your illustrations.

Jon J. Muth is probably best know for his Zen books: "Zen Shorts" and "Zen Ties." Both received rave reviews from numerous critics, including Child Magazine,  and the New York Times . 

Muth's watercolor and pastel creations have a very calming and, appropriately enough, Zen-like quality to them. His style blends perfectly with Lauren Thompson's poetic and intimate approach to Santa Claus in "The Christmas Magic." Muth uses gentle muted tones that have a wonderful wintery feel and makes one just want to bundle up in front of a fire and roast marshmallows. The soft edges and touches of rich color added to the toys and sleigh offer a dreamlike vision that is sure to get those sugar plums dancing. 

"The Christmas Magic" is a perfect example of illustration and story working hand-in-hand to create a tale families will want to read each year as they prepare for the Christmas holidays.

Thank you Jon J. Muth for illustrating my favorite Christmas book of the year. I look forward to finding more of your work enhancing the pages of my children's books.

Christmas Secrets Revealed

I will finish my holiday book reviews with just one or two more picks. Then next week we are going to check out some talented children's book illustrators before heading into the realms of books with CDs and three-dimensional (pop-up) books. 

"Secrets of a Christmas Box" 
By Steven Hornby 
Illustrated by Justin Gerard 
For ages 8 – 12
Ever wonder why pine needles from your Christmas tree are found in rooms no one has been in? Or why no matter how well you pack your Christmas ornaments at least one is always found broken the next year? These are a couple questions posed on the liner notes for “Secrets of a Christmas Box.” The notes also suggest you read one chapter of “Secrets of a Christmas Box” each night during December. With 24 chapters you would conveniently finish the tale during bedtime stories on Christmas Eve. The notes piqued my interest so I began reading but, the pacing is weak and it takes several chapters to develop any interest in the characters or their situation. So one chapter a night may not work.

The magic and wonder "Christmas Box" are great. Larry the Snowman wakes up from his yearly sleep to find that his brother has not made it back to the tree. Unwilling to except that "some ornaments just don’t make it back," Larry, his girlfriend, Debbie, and a newcomer named Splint buck the rules and head into the house and beyond in search of Larry's lost brother.

The family cat, snow and other hidden dangers await the rescue party as they make their way to the box. Upon arrival they uncover a dastardly plan set in motion by the Tree-Lord, a pinecone shaped light that watches over the tree. The action really takes off as an army of tree lights then try to stop the crew from exposing the awful truth of broken ornaments.

Yes, "Secrets of a Christmas Box" could have been a truly wonderful Christmas tale. I so wanted it to be the next classic. Instead too many choppy paragraphs, poor pacing, and weak subplots, left me only willing to say that it's okay.