Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea

A Fairly Fabricated Story
of a Pair of Pants

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday 

hosted today by Gathering Books

Harcourt Childrens Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

(pub. 9.13.2011)  32 pages 

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top 

A uthor: Tony Johnston
and illustrator:  Stacy Innerst

C haracter: Levi Strauss

 

O verview from the publisher: 

        "What's a California miner to do when gold dust sifts right out of his holey pockets? With such a raggedy wardrobe, he may as well be mining in the vanilla - that is, his birthday suit!  Good thing Levi Strauss is out west, ready with his needle and a head full of bright ideas. With some quick thinking, quicker stitching, and handy arithmetic, Levi keeps all the gold rushers clothed - and become a modern American hero."

 

T antalizing taste: 

       "GOLD! somebody yelled. Next thing anybody knew, the whole world rushed to California an started digging up the place. The trouble was, they rushed so fast, they lost their pants.'"

and something more:   In Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea, Tony Johnston weaves, sews and tailors a wonderfully humorous tale about Levi Strauss.  I love that Stacy Innerst chose to paint the pictures on old Levi's.  Since I live in Levi Strauss territory (San Francisco area), I often walk through the lovely Levi Plaza. And there's a fun set of displays featuring the history of Levi's in the visitors center at Levis headquarters there at 1155 Battery Street.  Gotta love Levis!

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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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The East-West House

The East-West House
Noguchi's Childhood in Japan

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday 

hosted today by Jean Little Library

Lee & Low Books 

(pub. 8.1.2009)  28 pages 

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top 

A uthor and illustrator: Christy Hale

    

C haracter: artist Isamu Noguchi

 

O verview from the jacket flap: 

"Isamu was a boy of the East and the West. Born in the United States to a Japanese father and Scoth-Irish American mother, Isamu grew up in Japan. From his earliest years he felt the tug of his biracial heritage, never quite fitting in or thinking he belonged. Pleasure came, however, from the natural world... Noguchi created a vast array of innovative sculptures, stage sets, furniture, and public spaces. The East-West House is a tribute to the artistic beginnnings of this pioneering modern sculptor and designer."

T antalizing taste:  

                          

"With the world in his hands his imagination soared. And where emptiness once lived, Isamu created home."

and something more:  

Two of my Bay Area writer friends, Amy Novesky and Amy Gibson suggested the picture book biography, The East-West House, for my blog written and illustrated by another local author, Christy Hale.  Christy's lyrical text and Japanese-inspired illustrations captivated me as I learned about Noguchi's childhood and the influences which contributed to his beautiful sculptures.

I've always been fascinated that Noguchi collaborated with the modern dancer pioneer, Martha Graham, and designed theater sets for her performances.  I liked what Christy says in the back matter: Noguchi's sets "allowed dancers and objects to move freely through space. Noguchi came to think of sculpture as more than just static, three-dimensional objects. His sculptures expressed movement. They presented different views and changing patterns of light and shadow, and gave space a sense of depth."  The perfect type of setting for modern dance!

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Around the World on Eighty Legs

Around the World on Eighty Legs:
Animal Poems

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday 

hosted today by Apple With Many Seeds

Scholastic Press

(pub. 3.1.2011)  56 pages 

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top

A uthor: Amy Gibson
     and illustrator:  Daniel Salmieri

C haracters: animals from around the world

 

O verview from the jacket flap: 

"Pack your bags and put on your travelin' shoes ... There's an animal adventure waiting for you!  Awake with the howler monkeys, twist into a pretzel like a quetzal, hang with a sloth, be willy-nilly like a chinchilla.

Squawk with an auk, bump your rump like a camel, be silly with a bilby, and drift off to sleep in the deep of the outback.

Fun-filled and fact-packed, Around the World on Eighty Legs is the ticket to an unforgettable adventure!"

T antalizing taste:
                          WEDDELL SEAL

                          

                          "The Weddell seal's

                           a poor landlubber,

                          lumbering under

                          all that blubber.

                          But in the sea,

                          the joke's on you -

                          He's toasty warm.

                          You're turning blue."

and something more:   I met the wonderful children's book author, Amy Gibson, this past weekend at the northern California SCBWI Fall Conference held at Mills College. Amy and I were on a panel together, and the other terrific speakers included agent Deborah Warren (East/West Literary Agency), editor Andrea Welch (Beach Lane Books), senior editor Schuyler Hooke (Random House Books), agent Paul Rodeen (Rodeen Literary Management), and children's book authors Deborah Lee Rose, Eric Elfman, Nikki Smith, Naheed Hasnat, Rose Cooper, and Diana Greenwood. 
     Amy spoke about the road to the publication of this fun and informative picture book, Around the World on Eighty Legs. And thank goodness the book was published because kids, families, teachers and librarians will love this "trip around the world."
     The "Menagerie of Facts" at the back of the book is filled with intriguing information about all the animals.  I loved these facts about the Weddell seal -- "Weddell seals spend lots of time beneath the ice, diving over 2,000 feet and holding their breath for over an hour. They look like they're smiling. Perhaps they are ..."  Of course, I had to search for Google images of the Weddell seals ... and they DO look like they are smiling!

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Odetta

The Queen of Folk

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday 

hosted today by Practically Paradise

Scholastic House
(pub. 12.1.2010)  40 pages

A True Tale with A Cherry On Top
  
A uthor of the idea and Illustrator: Stephen Alcorn

      and Poem: Samantha Thornhill 

C haracter: Odetta

 

O verview from the jacket flap: 

        "Born in Birmingham, Alabama, this child soon learned to make a whole heap of noise on her auntie's piano. Then she discovered her own instrument - a voice full of brass and thunder! And, oh, did she have songs to sing - spirituals gospel, and work songs. With the help of Baby her guitar, Odetta blazed a musical trail for a generation of folksingers. Her life and times are presented here in a poetic narrative embellished with luminous paintings that create a loving tribute to folk music's queen."

 

T antalizing taste:

       "Odetta found freedom by accident the day she opened her mouth, then closed her eyes and sang. For once she saw no color. That's when she shook hands with Harmony!"

and something more: "Ode to Odetta" at the end of Odetta - The Queen of Folk includes a wonderful photo of Odetta and Stephen Alcorn taken by his wife, Sabina Alcorn.  I was fascinated to learn that "Odetta is the one Bob Dylan credits for his decision (made while still a teenager) to trade in his electric guitar for an acoustic one, thus heralding his entry into the realm of folk music."  What a gift that was to music!

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