Joan of Arc

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday 

hosted today by A Curious Thing

Marshall Cavendish Childrens

(pub. 9.1.2011)  40 pages 

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top

A uthor and illustrator: Demi

C haracter: Joan of Arc

 

O verview from the jacket flap:

        "As a young girl in a small village in France, Joan prayed daily that France would be delivered from the English and Burgundian invaders who were ravishing the country. When Joan was thirteen, she had a life-changing experience. The archangel Michael appeared in a vision and told her that she would save the kingdom of France and lead the dauphin (heir to the throne) to Reims Cathedral to be crowned king. Calling herself the Maid of God, Joan set off to gather an army, win a number of crucial battles, and install the dauphin on the French throne..."

 

T antalizing taste: 

       "'Joan's great confidence inspired everyone, and soon the battle for Orleans began ... With her banner that said, "Jesus, Maria' raised high, she gave great courage and hope to all the soldiers... Never stopping for a moment of praise ..."

and something more:  Exquisite is truly the word that comes to mind when I savored Demi's illustrations.  The jacket flap explains that "Demi has drawn Joan’s battles and triumphs with exquisite detail inspired by the stained glass, architecture, painting, and sculpture of the fifteenth century." 

Demi so aptly conveys the bleakness of Joan of Arc's situation when she was "shut up in a dungeon at Rouen ... guarded night and day by soldiers and forced to endure their brutality" by rendering the illustration of the curving stone stairs and ceiling of the dungeon in pen and ink on a gray background with only the people in color -- such a contrast to all the illustrations of radiant color and glimmering gold.  Exquisite!

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Diego Rivera

His World and Ours

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday 

hosted today by books together

Abrams Books for Young Readers

(pub. 5.1.2011)  40 pages 

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top

A uthor and illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh

C haracter: the artist Diego Rivera

 

O verview from the jacket flap: 

         "Diego Rivera, one of the most famous painters of the twentieth century, was once just a mischievous little boy who loved to draw. But this little boy would grow up to follow his passion and greatly influence the world of art ...
          Duncan Tonatiuh, who has also been inspired by the art and culture of his native Mexico, asks, if Diego was still painting today, what history would he tell through his artwork? What stories would he bring to life?  Drawing inspiration from Rivera to create his own original work, Tonatiuh helps young readers to understand the importance of Diego Rivera's artwork and to realize that they too can tell stories through art." 

 

T antalizing taste: 

     "'Diego imagined everyone - men and women, boys and girls, of all ages and nationalities - living together and caring for one another.  Today Diego is not around to make this happen. So it is up to us to make our own murals and bring them to life."

and something more:   I was intrigued by the author/illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh's inspiration for Diego Rivera - His World and Ours as he described in the Author's Note: 
        "What I admire most about Rivera is the way in which he looked back at the art of ancient Mexico and was able to incorporate some of its aesthetic into his own work. He combined that ancient art with the art of the modern era and was able to create something new and exciting, but also relevant to an entire nation In my artwork I look back to ancient Mexican at also. I combine these ancient art styles with the art of the digital era.  I remember standing on the stairs of the National Palace in Mexico, looking at Rivera's mural and thinking what would he paint nowadays? What would he paint in the world of cell phones and the web 2.0? And with that thought this book was ignited." 
          What a great idea for a picture book  -- to not only describe Diego Rivera and his art, but to compare the focus of Rivera's art to modern day activities (such as factory workers on production lines compared to students plugged into music and computers).  It made me wonder, what might the focus of other artists be if they painted today?  Perhaps Degas' hip hop dancers?  Any other ideas?
     

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Drawing From Memory

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday 

hosted today by Playing by the Book

Scholastic Press

(pub. 9.1.2011)  72 pages 

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top

A uthor and illustrator: Allen Say

C haracter: himself - Caldecott Medalist Allen Say

 

O verview from the jacket flap: 

         "This is Allen Say's own story of his path to becoming the renowned artist he is today. Shunned by his father, who didn't understand his son's artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan's leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his 'spiritual father.' As World War II raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him. He worked hard in rigorous drawing classes, studied, trained and ultimately came to understand who he really is." 

 

T antalizing taste: 

     "'You are going to the great land of freedom,' he said. 'But remember that no man is entirely free of anything. Artists are bound to their art. Be true to your art, Kiyoi, and journey well.'
     'Show them how good you are,' Tokida said, and he gave me a smile to remember.
     'Good-bye, brother. Good-bye, Sensei.' I was glad they didn't look back. I was sobbing in public."

and something more:   I was fascinated not only by the autobiographical story of Allen Say and his artistic journey and connections, but also by the format of Drawing From Memory -- part memoir, part graphic novel, part narrative history, complete with photographs and illustrations by Allen Say.
       In the touching Author's Note, Allen Say refers to an old Japanese saying he first heard from his mother - "Let your dear child journey."  I think that's so lovely, and truly a goal for me as a children's book author.  And I echo the wish for all creative people, especially children's authors,"Be true to your art ... and journey well."

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