Picture Books

Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. 1st ed Volume 1. Illus. various artists. New York: Bradbury Press.
ISBN 0027242455


SUMMARY
Pat Cummings’ book includes short autobiographies and interviews with 14 gifted illustrators. Some of the illustrators included in the book are Caldecott medalists (Chris Van Allsberg, David Weisner, African Americans (Jerry Pinkney and Leo Dillon), women (Victoria Chess, Lois Ehlert, and Amy Schwartz). The interviews touched on childhoods, educations, family, daily lives, and their inspirations for their illustrations. Of interest are the commonalities of the artists. For instance, each of them started drawing at very early ages 4 yrs. to 9 yrs. old, each had a love of drawing, and each artist drew for their own entertainment. Also mentioned is how many of the illustrators had someone in the artistic community guiding them in developing their talent.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Cummings’ book is a well designed easy read for children aspiring to become artists. It contains pictures of the artists, examples of their childhood drawings, as well as a more current work. The art examples are in various mediums from pencil and crayons, colored inks, acrylics, watercolors, etc. The formulated questions in the interviews were obviously compiled with children in mind. There is a table of contents with information on each artist, a glossary with art terms, and a compilation of other titles the artists have either illustrated or written. The book is a valuable guide for anyone wanting to know how illustrating jobs is a genre in itself.

BOOK REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
School Library Journal
“All say that “practice, practice, practice is the key to success.

Booklist
“The sunny dust jacket invites kids to sample the book's friendly, forthright conversations, while the full-color reproductions will carry them right on through.”

CONNECTIONS
Provide a collection of books illustrated by the artists in Cummings book. Explain to the students that many of the artists practiced their techniques by also copying other artists drawings and pictures.






Allen, Debbie. 2000. DANCING IN THE WINGS. Illus. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Puffin Books.
ISBN 0803725019


SUMMARY
The story in this book revolves around Sassy, an aspiring ballerina who because of her unusual stature and big feet is viewed as an awkward specimen. Sassy endures being made fun of by her brother and his friends, and taunted and isolated by her fellow dance mates. Offering encouragement is Sassy's mother who obviously believes in her daughter's talent when she tells her "your big feet will make your legs look longer and prettier in your ballet shoes." Another supportive fan is Uncle Redd who seems to appear when Sassy needs him the most. When Sassy shares her insecure feeling of being too tall he responds emphatically "you gotta look at that as a gift." A lesson that can be learned from this story is that sometimes being different may prove to be a positive attribute. After all Sassy's "tallness" lands her in an exhilarating dance performance in Washington, D.C.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Allen's book teaches a valuable lesson where being different can be viewed as a unique attribute. The text and gestures in the book are carefully chosen to bring the reader into a commonality of language and expression often heard and seen in Black American culture. The oil paints and pencil drawings used to exaggerate and emphasis the characters' emotions and attitudes add a touch of humor. This book is a wonderful resource for teaching lessons about being different, tolerance to indifference, family, perseverance, culture, and dance (ballet).

BOOK REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Publishers Weekly
"I was too big for the boys to pick up, and too tall to be in line with the other girls. So I watched from backstage, dancing in the wings, hoping that if I just kept dancing and trying, it would be my turn to dance in the spotlight."

School Library Journal
This charming picture book focuses on the world of ballet classes, and children's cruelty toward those who are different. The story is sure to build self-esteem in those readers who can empathize with Sassy and they'll cheer when she takes center stage in a dance festival in the nation's capital.

CONNECTIONS
After holding a discussion on feelings and emotions ask students to describe them. Write student responses on chat paper. Examples should include feelings of sadness, being happy, angry, excited, etc. Have students sit on the floor and separate them into groups of 4 or 5. Give each group a mirror and a long sheet of paper. Using the mirror as a guide have each student draw four faces across the paper, each face reflecting four emotions they have chosen. When these drawings are completed, students can choose to paint their most expressive face using colors that reflect the emotion portrayed.









Juster, Norton. 2005. THE HELLO, GOODBYE WINDOW. Ill. by Chris Raschka. New York: Michael Di Capua Books
ISBN: 0786809140






ANNOTATION

Winner of the 2006 Caldecott Medal

Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2005

SUMMARY
This is a wonderful story that affectionately showcases the love between a little girl and her grandparents. In this story a child describes the daily routines of Poppy and Nana with an enthusiasm filled with fun and adventure. The house is big with lots of window and only particular one in the kitchen where things happen. Nana tells the child that this particular window is magic, "It's a magic window and anyone can come along when you least expect it!" The little girl with an active imagination sees a dinosaur through the magic window "He's extinct, so he doesn't come around much", she also see the pizza boy "Pepperoni and cheese, he knows that's my favorite." The window is very special because the little girl also uses it to play jokes on the grandparents and at night Poppy and the little girl use it as a mirror. In reading the story you find that there is very little plot just the voice of little girl describing her special time spent with Poppy and Nana.

CRITICAL REVIEW
The Hello, Goodbye Window book subtly paints pictures of a happy, biracial family through ornate swirls and jewel tones. Throughout the book the illustrations could stand alone to tell the story. The pictures are whimsically childlike full of bright and bold colors with squiggles of color-on-color crayon, and watercolors. Some of the pictures though rather abstract are bright and bold. Raschka throughout the book applies the use of black lines to outline faces and objects.
The way the text is written sound as if it is actually coming from a child. The pictures are made to look like a child has drawn them. The pictures and lanugage of the child is probably what children enjoy about this book, they can make connections with their own experiences. Adults can also have fun with the book as it can be a reminder of fond memories shared with their own grandparents. The book is fun, full of experiences, and lots of love!

BOOK REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Child Magazine
This sweet slice-of-life pays homage to a loving grandparent-grandchild relationship. A little girl describes the everyday magic of time spent with her grandparents, insightfully using the kitchen window as a reference point because "the kitchen is where Nanna and Poppy are most of the time." Through it they greet the day, look at the stars, and blow kisses when saying good-bye. Both the wonder-filled text and the loose, impressionistic paintings are endearingly childlike, communicating a profound respect for the young. (ages 4 to 6)

Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
A young girl takes us to her Nanna and Poppy's house to see a very special window. Most of the time her Nanna and Poppy are there in the kitchen so she can tap on the window, then hide, or they can wave at her when she arrives. We share her joy in the fun she has with Poppy's harmonica playing, watching reflections in the window at supper, saying goodnight to the stars with Nanna, looking through the window at the garden, playing outside. The personalities of the grandparents and their loving interactions with the narrator make this an engaging tale, while the artist's imagination forms something special from a bit of childhood. Sometimes through the window she sees people; sometimes her imagination fills it with other more amazing sights.

CONNECTIONS
This book is an excellent introduction to a social studies discussion and activity on family. Begin with a discussion on a favorite time with a family member. Children can write down ideas in a journal as they discuss experiences. Set aside a time for children to draw pictures to coincide with their writing. Encourage the use of different art mediums. Use large brown grocery bags children can illustrate for their story book covers. This completes the book cover for the "My Favorite Time" story. Next bind the text in the book cover using string or raffia.