Nicholas and Nicholas Again

Title: Nicholasand Nicholas Again
Author: Rene Goscinny
Illustrator: Jean Jacques Sempé
Publisher: Phaidon

Jean Jaques Sempé (the brilliant French cartoonist most Americans know thanks to his covers for The New Yorker) and Rene Goscinny, another French humorist, first started producing the "Nicholas" series of stories and comics in 1959. Classics of French Children's literature, the Nicholas Stories were published here in America, in a translation by Anthea Bell, by art-house publisher Phaidon over the last 6 or 7 years, and are terribly amusing for young and old. These books are hilarious and wonderful, and as I love Sempé, I found myself enjoying the story so much I almost forgot to look at the pictures.

The stories are told, first person, by Nicholas--an approximately-7-year-old french school boy--as he chronicles the activities of his daily life. The stories are like those long stories eagerly told by young kids at the dinner table: they have interesting minutia of detail; they always introduce their friends with the same information ("My friend Alec, who is always eating," "Alec, my freind who lives down the block and is always eating"); and their analysis of situations is hilariously naieve. (For example, after a catastrophic field trip to the Art Museum, their teacher, worn out by the boys, says she never wants to see another painting again. Nicholas concludes: "So then I realized why teacher hadn't looked very happy about spending the day in the art gallery with us. She isn't really fond of pictures at all.")

I couldn't tell you my favorite adventures. There was the soccer game that never got started because they spent the whole time arguing about who would be goalie, only to discover they didn't have a team to play against (see below illustration). Then there was the time he and Alec (the "fat friend who is always eating") decide to take play hooky, and spend the whole time "having fun"--that is, being bored with their freedom and wishing they were in school with their other friends. And (see above) the day he stayed home from school and managed to stain his sheets with pen ink first, then chocolate, then soup.

Though there is a certian timelessness in Sempé's illustrations, this is not the stuff of nostalgia. This isn't "The Sandlot," "A Christmas Story," or "Stand by Me." Instead Goscinny's tone is straight, and the humor is found in a certain "kids say the darndest things" quailty of the narrative. Even the adults are teased; during one chapter Nicholas and Alec smoke cigars, get sick, and upon returning home can only manage to say the word "smoke." Mom finally has an excuse to throw out Dad's pipe. And the adults might have a thing or two to learn from their son's childish innocence:

"Mom asked if this was anytime to get home from a business dinner. 'Oh really,' said Dad, 'It's not at all late.'
'It's exactly 11:58 p.m.' I said. I felt very proud of myself [and my new watch], because I do like being helpful to Mom and Dad."

(Alec ends up breaking his watch--see illustration below--for which his parents are grateful!)


In reading these books I have to wonder how kids will react.  It seems to me a lot of the humor is aimed at adults who can see the irony of a child's perspective. But the adventures are fun, so I think some kids will enjoy them all the same. Any mother of boys, and any teacher of young kids ought to read them--it will bring some much needed levity to those days when all they do is fight each other, or collect tadpoles and spiders and leave them on your pillow.

The other volumes in the series (which I have not yet had the pleasure of reading) are:
The Chronicles of Little Nicholas
Nicholas on Holiday
Nicholas in Trouble
Nicholas on Vacation
Nicholas and the Gang

Thursday Classics: A Hole Is To Dig

Title: A Hole Is to Dig
Author: Ruth Krauss
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Publisher: Harper Collins

I initially wanted to run this Thursday Classics series because there are so many great books from the 20th century that aren't readily available at your local big box bookstore. Barnes and Noble and Borders carry many classics (Runaway Bunny, Dr Seuss, etc.), but there are real gems that they miss while catering to new tastes.

Maruice Sendak and Ruth Krauss's A Hole Is To Dig: a First Book of Definitions is a perfect example. This tiny picture book filled with Sendak's singularly charming illustrations, is a litany of child-given definitions. It is charming, silly, engaging, and (yes!) educative. And, it ought to be on every child's bookshelf.

The book is engaging for adults and children alike. And adult is struck by the childlike definitions--definitions that are almost self evident for children:

The ground is to make a garden
Grass is to cut
Grass is to have on the ground with dirt under it and clover in it
Maybe you could hide things in a hole

A party is to say how-do-you-do and shake hands
A party is to make little children happy

Arms are to hug with
Toes are to wiggle
Ears are to wiggle

Honestly, what are toes for, if not to wiggle them? Honestly, I can think of no better reason to have them.

This book is ideal for children ages 3-5, though I think youger children will like the rythm of it, and older children will laugh at the silliness, as they start to realize that definitions are not as simple as they once thought.

Eric Carle in London Times

There is a great interview of Eric Carle, the author and illustrator of such classics as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: 40th Anniversary Edition and The Very Hungry Caterpillar
, in the London Times this week:

Question: Do you have a favourite part of the book [A Very Hungry Caterpillar] and is it the cupcakes?!

EC: I am especially fond of the endpapers in The Very Hungry Caterpillar, tissue papers with holes, because they remind me of how the book started: from punching holes with a hole puncher.

Question: Are you still surprised by the fact that the book is huge, all over the world?

EC: It is surprising. The story has been translated into more than 47 languages! For a long time, my editor and publisher and I sort of looked at each other wondering why it had become so popular. But over time I have come to understand that its hopeful message has struck a chord.

Read the full article here.

The Adventures of Cow Too!

Title: Adventures of Cow, Too
Author/Illustrator: Marshall Taylor and Lori Korchek
Publisher: Tricycle Press

In January I blogged about the silliest book I've ever read The Adventures of Cow. Soon after that I discovered that there is a sequel! I jumped for joy, and when I found it in the local bookstore I bought it immediately. (Actually, I was standing in line to purchase some Spanish books for The Biblioteca Project, and saw it, grabbed it, read it, laughed out loud on several occasions, and got three withering glances from the clerk. Honey, if you don't think this is funny, you shouldn't be working in the Children's department.)

Ok, on to the book. This one is not as funny as the first, but it's still pretty awesome. Cow goes to the grocery store because Cow's Mom has a chipped nose (she's a porcelain hippo). He has a lot of adventures buying apples and oranges, and ice cream, looses track of time, but makes it home successfully, where he and his family spend the evening watching T.V.

This book is silly beyond belief, and would be a delightful addition to any library. It's perfect for reading aloud, if only to insist that, though it looks like an orange, it really is an apple--and let your toddler outsmart you.

Little Pea and Little Hoot

Title: Little Pea
Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrator: Jen Corace
Publisher: Chronicle Books

Happy first day of Spring!

It's going to get pretty redundant if I keep saying to you: "Today I am going to share one of my favorites"--but today I really am going to share a favorite. Little Pea, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jen Corace. I discovered it on a shopping trip for Spoon's daughter, G, and had to buy two copies; one for her and one for me!

Little Pea is a bright cheerful green Pea, who does all the things a good Pea should do. He plays on the playground with his buddies. He loves his Mom and Dad. But he doesn't like to eat his dinner. This classic setup (I like to call them "Eat your Vegtables" books) is flipped on its head when we discover that Little Pea's dinner is a plate full of candy. He manages to choke them down ("One, two, three, four, five!"), and is allowed to have dessert: a big bowl of Spinach.

The story is matched with equally silly drawings by Jen Corace. It's a delightful read aloud book for parents with toddlers. Rosenthal and Corace have also teamed up for a second time: Little Hoottells the story of an owl who wants to go to bed! And in April, Little Oink(third in the series) will be released by Chronicle. I like Little Hoot, and will surely like Little Oink, but nothing matches the charm of Little Pea.

The House in the Night

Title: The House in the Night
Author: Susan Marie Swanson
Illustrator: Beth Krommes
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

This lovely goodnight story, published in 2008, and written by Award winning author Susan Marie Swanson, and illustreated by Beth Krommes, is a true "all ages" book.

The real star of this book is Beth Krommes' rich graphic illustrations. Depicting a family returning home, a child going to bed, and then the wide open countryside (and indeed the night sky and sun and moon--see below) the illustrations are done in only three colors: black white and gold. They are, as a result, graphic without being harsh, bold and gentle. They would entrance the youngest eyes. But for an older child, it will be equally delightful and fruitful. Krommes has added layers and layers of detail, with characters (like the cat, and the child) moving from panel to panel, adding stories of their own. An older child could get lost in those illustrations, venturing with the little child home, into its bedroom, into a book, and then out into the wide world through imagination. Everywhere the eye looks there is something to treasure, and explore.

Matched with the calm rythm of Susan Marie Swanson's prose, this book would be an excellent choice for any parent to read aloud at night. Tender but not too sweet, soft, but not dull--I dare say even the parent won't get tired of reading this one.

The Books of the Irish

Well, it's St. Patrick's Day, as if you couldn't tell by the hints of green in everyone's outfit today. It's a little silly the way Americans get worked up about St. Patrick's Day, but I don't mind because he's a great saint, and a great character. My favorite literary incarnation of St. Patrick is in Time Catby Lloyd Alexander (reviewed here), but I thought I'd pass along a few other St. Patricks (or generically Irish) picture books for your reading pleasure:

Tomie DePaola has, as usual, a silly and witty story for the occasion; Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potatotells about a lazy farmer who grows the island's biggest potato. There's a sequeltoo, which looks as silly as the first!

St. Patrick's Day in the Morningby Eve Bunting (She has several other
Irish tales) and illustrated by Jan Brett.

On a more serious note The St. Patrick's Day Shillelaghis a touching story of an immigrant from Ireland. By Janet Nolan (Author), Ben F. Stahl (Illustrator)

A Fine St. Patrick's Daypicks up on familiar themes of sacrifice and doing good; it's the pictures that make this books a real treat. The green hills and small villaged practically pop off the page. By Susan Wojciechowski (Author), Tom Curry (Illustrator)

This Is Irelandis part of a series written and illustrated by M. Sasek, which I will be reviewing in its entirety soon. (Pictured above.)

I bought Fiona's Luckfor someone once, but can't remember who. A plucky young lass outsmarts a nasty Leprechaun in this clever little tale.

Thank you!

Friends:

Thank you all for your overwhelmingly kind and generous response to my blog. I am so excited about this project, and reading all your comments, emails, and praise has given me so much encouragement to carry on. It was just going to be a fun little thing I did, but I see now that there is a real need for this, and I am excited to be the one sharing these books with you.

Thank you too, for your recommendations! I went immediately to the library and checked out a bunch of the titles you shared with me, and cannot WAIT to share them here on the blog.

Happy reading.
Margaret

Bruno Munari's ZOO

Title: Bruno Munari's Zoo
Author & Illustrator: Bruno Munari
Publisher: Chronicle Books

While Bruno Munari is known for his Italian Modernism, he should be loved for his illustrated children's books. I just can't resist sharing with you his book Zoorecently republished by Chronicle Books. Eric Carle says it is one of his favorites, and that is high praise coming from the master of picture book animals.

Munari's work is visually stunning. (Someday I'll write a book about how modernism is best suited to Children's books, and that is a very good thing indeed.) His highly stylized, and rather simple in form animals nearly pop off the page, done in the bold bright colors of the early 70s. His drawings are witty, and perfectly embody the animals they represent. The kangaroo (above) always makes me laugh! Look at that smile. He thinks he's pretty great...but we know he looks pretty silly, with those long long legs.

The artistry would make this book a winner, even if there was no text--but luckily we are blessed with very very silly, and very delightful captions for the different Zoo animals. "The Polar bear is the Umpire of the Zoo" (he is!) and "The tortoise is as old as the hills" (also so true!). The flamingos below "know they are beautiful / and strange, / and play at symmetry." As a faithful flamingo lover in my childhood, I know this is true.

The book is a visual delight, and the story witty and playful--exactly the sort of book to dive into with your child. I promise, you'll be delighted.

Thursday Classics: Blueberries for Sal

Title: Blueberries for Sal
Author and Illustrator: Robert McCloskey

Today I broke my "buy only what's in-season" rule, and got some blueberries on my frozen yogurt. I felt terribly guilty, but as I was sitting there, eating slightly sour but oh so yummy blueberries, I was wondering where they came from. Certainly not America's blueberry homeland, Maine, which is still under several feet of snow, no doubt. And is the inspiration for one of my favorite Children's books: Robert McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal.

McClockey's stories had a huge influence on me and my imagination--so much so that on my 18th Birthday, on my first day in Boston, I rode the swan boats featured in Make Way for Ducklings and it was a dream come true. Blueberries for Sal has all of McCloskey's delightful storytelling matched with his clean ink and line drawings.

You know the story, right? Sal and his mother go up the mountain to pick blueberries. Meanwhile a bear cub and his mother are also hunting for berries. Sal loves the sound of the berries falling into his pail. But he also likes to eat them. Eventually both Sal and the baby cub loose track of their mothers. But don't worry, everything turns out ok in the end.

It is essentially told from Sal's perspective. We hear the berry fall in the bucket as Sal does, and are instantly transported to that sunny hill in Maine. It deals with universal themes as well, of course: discovering nature, the world, something "other" (the bear). McCloskey's combination of these large and important themes into a sweet story with just about the best illustrations ever (I always crave blueberries while reading it!) make this book a timeless classic, and a real treasure.

I see from Amazon that it is currently out of print, so if you run across it at your local bookstore and don't own a copy, I'd recommend grabbing it right away; who knows when they'll bring it back in print!

For all the Thursday Classic posts, go here.