*Peter's Place (1995)

 *Peter’s Place by Sally Grindley (1995) is a child’s introduction to an oil spill. It’s beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman. Peter’s place is a shoreline of wind-torn beaches and ravaged cliff faces. “Guillermots, shags, kittiwakes, eider ducks, and long-tailed ducks screeched and squawked and gossiped to one another while in the turbulent ocean below, seals and otters bobbed and weaved and played and feasted on the sea’s riches.” As you can see, this is gorgeous text. The location is lucious, until a storm causes the wreck of a passing oil tanker. The tanker leaks and a “slick blackness was everywhere.” Sealife suffered and died. Rescuers search for damaged wildlife and scrub the sticky slime covering everything in sight. While much of the cleanup is successful, it’s not complete. “For, not far below the surface, little nooks and crannies, between rocks, under the sand, are ugly black scars that can never be washed away.”

*Each Peach Pear Plum (1978)

*Each Peach Pear Plum (1978) is a wonderfully clever book. It won the Library Association's Kate Greenaway Medal in 1978. The text is rhyme, two lines per page. The first line describes the illustration; the second line prompts readers to search for a somewhat hidden character. Content from one rhyme carries over to the next.  Here's an example: "Tom Thumb in the cupboard / I spy Mother Hubbard" (turn the page)"Mother Hubbard down the cellar  / I spy Cinderella". The illustration for the first rhyme shows the interior of a country style room. A tiny boy sits on a shelf eating jam. A person in a yellow dress extends beyond the frame, so all of Mother Hubbard isn't visible. The illustration for the next rhyme shows all of Mother Hubbard stepping out of a basement and the extended arm of a child dusting shelves. Turn the page and all of Cinderella appears. Notice how complex and cohesive these lines of text  and these illustrations are! Janet and Allan Ahlberg created a masterpiece here. 

Duke Ellington (1998)

 Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney (1998) is the story of an amazing musician. We meet him as young Edward Kennedy Ellington who told everyone to call him Duke. “Duke’s name fit him rightly. He was a smooth-talkin’, slick-steppin’, piano-playin’ kid.” Duke was bored with traditional piano practice. But when he heard ragtime, his focus turned seriously back to the piano. Ellington soon composed his own melodies and by age 19 entertaining audiences in a variety of settings. He formed his own band, the Washingtonians. In 1927 the group got a gig at the Cotton Club in Harlem. The band grew and became Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. Each band member contributed to the bands' growing popularity. In 1939, Duke hired Billy Strayhorn, and they worked as a team. This book has a brief summary and a list of sources at the back of the book. Brain Pinkney’s illustrations have a rich, colorful palette. Not my favorite, but effective just the same. 

*Tomfoolery! (2023)

*Tomfoolery!: Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Coming-of Age of Children's Books by Michelle Markel (2023) is the story of Randolph Caldecott. Inside the front and back covers are examples of his illustrations. Barbara McClintock's illustrations bring the liveliness required for this particular biography. 

I'd just finished reading about Randolph Caldecott in Marurice Sendak's Caldecott & Co.: Notes on Boos and Pictures . I requested Markel's book and one published in 2013 from my local library, and I discovered they both cover the same territory. Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing by Leonard S. Marcus is appropriate for the middle school student and older, while Markel's book is for the younger crowd. Marcus goes into much more detail with exponentially more text and a multitude of illustrations. Both books have back matter for ongoing study. 

"In 1937 the leading librarians felt the time had come to establish an award honoring distinguished achievement by an American children's book illustrator. they named the new prize the Caldecott Medal and awarded it for the first time the following year. Writing in 1946, on the one hundredth anniversary of his birth, the American novelist and critic Hilda Van Stockum said of Caldecott: 'He was always aiming at the next picture; his very figures seem to be pointing to it; one cannot wait to turn the page and see what happens next.'" (Marcus, p. 60) 

I learned that an illustration by Caldecott from The Diverting History of John Gilpin (William Cowper, 1878) is the image on the Caldecott medals. What a treat to find these biographies about an artist who changed picture books forever. 

The House that Jack Built (1954, 1982)

 In The House That Jack Built illustrated by J.P. Miller (1954, 1982), every character is smiling, except a few chickens, the rat, and the dog. I'm referring to a Little Golden Book Classic. This book is a happy-go-lucky rendition of a story in the public domain. With blueprints in hand, Jack builds a small house. As he stands on a ladder to hammer the roof, his tools are scattered on the ground. The cat chases a rat, sits in a tree to escape the dog, and smiles as the dog sails through the air (tossed by the cow). The man all tattered and torn serenades the maiden with his guitar as she stands blushing on the opposite page. The dog is beside them as they await the arrival of the priest riding up on his bicycle. On the last page, Jack and the maiden are in the house living happily ever after.  

I compare this book to Randolph Caldecott's version here. 

*Pancakes, Pancakes! (1990)

The magical manner in which Eric Carle combines color always makes me smile. Pancakes, Pancakes! gives him the opportunity to assemble a magnificent rooster crowing beside a bright, orange and yellow morning sun. As the rooster crows, "Jack woke up and thought, 'I want a pancake.'" Alas this does not mean reaching into the refrigerator or driving to the local restaurant. For Carle to create animals, Jack must cut wheat and load it upon a donkey. He then takes the wheat to a miller where it's turned into flour. Carle gives us chickens to provide an egg and cow to give milk. After churning butter, Jack finds jam in a dark basement full of colorful jars (color muted by the darkness). A cat, dog, snail, and a few birds add color here and there. Finally, Jack and his mother mix together the ingredients into a bright yellow batter that cooks up into golden deliciousness. 

*The Night Gardener (2016)

*The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers (2016) is a story of hope and good will. There’s not much text, but it doesn’t need much. When you’ve got a good story and complimentary illustrations, all you need are the basics. A young boy  named William appears to live in an orphanage on a sad little street called Grimlock Lane. When trees in the neighborhood are sculpted into animal topiaries, the mood on Grimlock Lane lifts. William learns who the secret artist is and spends a night helping transform trees in Grimlock Park. People come together to see these marvelous creations, and when they do, they create community.

13 Words (2010)

 13 Words by Lemony Snicket (2010) perhaps represents the definition of enigma. I think maybe the story flew over my head. What I need is a well-informed person to explain this book to me. It has a clever format. The story structure is provided by 13 words that have been sewn together into a story. Or, this unusual story was organized by selecting 13 words after it was written. A mezzo-soprano visits a dog and a bird at the end of the story; she sings about the story events. For example, “The goat suggested a convertible drive, To purchase a cheering-up Hat. At a Haberdashery with a Scarlet door, And a baby to sell them just that.” Right. There is no copyright page in the book I found at a library sale. However Goodreads says it was published by Harper Collins in October, 2010. Maira Kalman’s illustrations are fitting for this story, I guess. 

*Old Bear (1986)

 *Old Bear by Jane Hissey (1986) is a warm and cuddly story about warm and cuddly plush toys. Duck, Rabbit, and Little Bear recall a day when Old Bear was sequestered away into the attic for safe keeping. The story is about their multiple attempts to rescue him. When they build a tower of blocks, it tumbles down. They make a tower of themselves: Little Bear climbs on top of Rabbit and Rabbit climbs onto Duck. This attempt also fails. They bounce on the bed and climb up a tall plant. Then, they come up with a successful plan and find Old Bear. Now, how to get him out of the attic? I’ll let you discover the resolution to this tale. The illustrations in this book are wonderful. This book deserves the adjective “charming.” 

The Money Tree (1991)

 The Money Tree by Sarah Stewart (1991) is a book I requested from the library after I read The Library by this same duo. I was so impressed by The Library that I had high expectations, but I was disappointed with the illustrations and the story. The story confused me. What is the message? Miss McGillicuddy has no idea what money looks like? And when increasing numbers of people visit her tree and walk off with its “leaves",  she doesn’t talk to them? I suppose the obvious take-away is that money creates a craving in people to want more of it. But Miss McGillicuddy has no personality. Her face has a consistent look of boredom. And while the illustrations were similar to those in The Library, the same supremely clever design is absent. And, upon closer inspection, I see that Small drew only a few faces in The Library. 

I also borrowed Stitches: a Memoir by David Small. It won awards as a graphic novel about “a childhood from hell”. The illustrations of people in this story were unnerving. It’s a disturbing book that, I admit, I could not finish. And then, I couldn’t unsee the creepy faces of Stitches when I read The Money Tree nor when I read Company’s Coming by Arthur Yorinks (1988). 

Something, Someday (2023)

Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman (2023) describes hope becoming action and action creating change. The text is philosophical. Christian Robinson took Gorman’s  invitation to put her words into any context. As a young child of color notices a  pile of trash, the text begins: ”You are told That is not a problem. But you’re sure something is wrong.” The story validates the young child’s perspective, despite messages they receive to the contrary. This child cleans up the trash.  Two more children help transform the small space into a garden.”Together, working. Together beginning, over and over And over and over. Until you’re  no longer beginning, You’re winning.” I think this is a story with the potential for many interpretations. I look forward to seeing how other illustrators place Amanda Gorman’s universal story into a variety of contexts.

Flower Garden (1994)

Flower Garden by Eve Bunting (1994) is brought to life by illustrator Kathryn Hewitt. This book is written in rhyme. Only one sentence, in a large font size, graces each gorgeous two page spread. A young child and her mother purchase flowering plants and carry them home on the bus to their city apartment. Father and child assemble a window box that brightens up their own space and the exterior of the building. I’ll leave the motivation for you to discover. This is a book for very young readers. The characters are people of color.

*Puffling Patrol (2012)

*Puffling Patrol by Ted and Betsy Lewin (2012) is an astonishingly beautiful book. The authors are both Caldecott winners. It seems to be a nonfiction description of their experience in Iceland learning about pufflings. The illustrations are stunning. The text is for the older elementary school or middle school reader. This story is about young puffins that accidentally fly onto into town instead of out to sea. People on the island save these young birds and toss them into the ocean. There are two pages of “Atlantic Puffin Facts”, Glossary and Pronunciation Guide, a description of “The Volcano of 1973”, and “Vestmannaeyjar’s Puffins Today “ at the back of the book. A few references complete this artistic masterpiece.

The Pain and the Great One (1974)

The Pain and The Great One by Judy Blume (1974) that I found is two stories in one book published with illustrations copyrighted in 1984. It's a clever format. This is another story about sibling rivalry. Blume’s approach is to tell each sibling’s perspective separately. First we read about how an older sister feels about her younger brother. Then we read about how the younger brother feels about his older sister. There’s parallels in their list of complaints. Irene Trivas captures the emotional drama well. This is a timeless story that deserves being reprinted many times over.