Another picture book author and illustrator we met at the conference!
(The caption is in Singe Singe’s voice, p.s.)
His illustrations are awesome and so are his stories.
I have been reading one “Every Friday”.
And I plan on asking for a shovel for Christmas.
What’s that about a shovel?
Mystery revealed in this post!
Title: All the way to America
Published by: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011
Written by: Dan Yaccarino
Illustrated by: Dan Yaccarino
In one word: I-want-a-special-shovel!
In one sentence: A shovel gets passed down from family member to family member and documents their lives in Italy and in America.
Favorite pages:
Likes:
- the entire story. I want a shovel. I REALLY DO.
- (When I met Dan Yaccarino, I told him that!)
- The illustrations are so heartwarming I just want to hug them.
- The colors are really vivid and I love the way some of the figures stand out because they are more colorful, while the background images are blue.
- It is remarkable how the story flies through generations but is still held together nicely.
Learns:
- Your life story (or parts of it) could make a great picture book manuscript! I have one that’s based on something my mom used to always trick us with…we’ll see if that comes along…
- traditions are important, and after reading this book, I bet people will want to start one!
Woo-hoo day 16!
Bookshelf time:
Has anyone read this book?
Do you have any fun family traditions?
Or anything that has been handed down over the generations?
Enjoy your Tuesday!
Enthusiastically yours,
Kathy Ellen and Singe Singe
Such a great book. Dan Yaccarino was the keynote speaker at the NJ SCBWI Conference in June and shared this book. I agree. It really makes you want a family tradition…and a shovel. 🙂
Today I read a childhood favorite of mine…CAPS FOR SALE by Esphyr Slobodkina. I love the mischevious monkeys and the repetition. I hadn’t read it in so long, but I have fond memories of my mother reading this story for me. We used to take it out of the library all of the time. And one day when I was a grown up I bought a copy of my own. I still had to fight the urge to mimic the peddler like the monkeys when he is mad about his caps. 🙂
Originally published in 1940, this is a classic.
I love CAPS FOR SALE!! We have an audiobook version that has cool music and chimes!
Wow, Caps for Sale!
I used to read this to my kids when I taught 2 year olds and I would motion with my hands to indicate all the caps…so much that they would do it! We “performed” several picture books like this…me reading and them doing motions that they copied from me over many reads. I love that you loved it even as a kid!
I love your book pick, Katthy…it kind of has the flavor of a Tomie de Paola book…like Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs.
I do believe it is important to keep (or create) family traditions…kids appreciate the sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. 🙂
Today I read “Extra Yarn” written by Mac Barnett and illustration by Jon Klassen. Here’s another story that doesn’t conform to the ‘rules’ of picture books A little girl finds a package of piesces of yarn of many colors and begins to knit sweaters…for herself, her dog and everyone else. Then a mean archduke steals the box and puts a curse on the little girl that she will never be happy again…but she is. Hmmm. I’m going to read it over again, because I didn’t quite get it…other than the fact that we make our own happiness and no one can take it away from us. 🙂
Extra Yarn is so sweet….glad you read it, Vivian!
I met Mac and Jon too…they’re pretty funny together 🙂
You know what, Kathy…you need to write a book/journal of all of the kidlit writers and illustrators you have connected with!
When Singe Singe asked for a shovel, I wondered if he was up to something sinister. Like he had murdered a hitchhiker and planned to dispose of the body. I feel much better after reading the rest of the post. 🙂
Today I re-read THE LOST THING by Shaun Tan. I love the design of the Lost Thing and the collage technique throughout the book. I think I read somewhere (maybe in the papers of the book itself) that the backdrop consists of bits from his father’s science old textbook. There’s a political comment buried in the text somewhere (one of my Australian professors pointed it out to me), but I forgot where it was. Shame on me.
I heard he was going to the NYSCBWI conference in 2013. If somebody gives you the money to go, you will love him.
The Lost Thing is so awesome!
I doubt I will get money to go, but I think I’ll ask my friend to get me some signed books. I normally don’t like getting signed books unless I’ve met the author, but, for Shaun Tan, I’ll make an exception! I love all his books and his collage technique is simply amazing.
You meet the coolest people, Kathy Ellen!
Today I read “Hush, Little Dragon” by Boni Ashburn, illustrated by Kelly Murphy. (As a lover of puns, I think it’s quite appropriate that a person named Ashburn should write a book about dragons…) I liked the idea of the book — a dragon version of “Hush, little baby” with a mother dragon trying to get her little child to go to sleep, but ALL the things in the song are various people (damsels in distress, knights, kings, etc.) that the dragon can eat for a bedtime snack. That part didn’t go over well with me. Some kids would love it, but this kid (old kid, but still…) wasn’t keen.
This sounds really cute…but yeah, eating people playing such a prominent role may be a bit problematic!
I got to hear Dan Yaccarino speak this summer too! He has been busy!
Tonight we read THE HUEYS in THE NEW SWEATER by Oliver Jeffers. This book was interesting — i think i need to read it a few more times before i judge it completely. It had a SNEETCHES feel to it, but not quite. On the first read through, I liked the illustrations – simple, lots of white space. I also like “THE HUEYS” they are pretty cute.
Oliver Jeffers…Marcie’s read a few of his books…I have to check him out.
That’s cool that you saw Dan this summer too!
I read “Wink, the Ninja Who Wanted to be Noticed” by JC Phillips. Great premise as this ninja wants to do well in ninja school; however, he’s a little on the wild side and cannot please his master.
I’ve heard about “All the Way to America,” just haven’t read it yet. How cool to have met this author/illustrator, too!
This book sounds good, Tina.
I’m ALWAYS a sucker for Ninjas.
Hi Kathy!
Dan Yaccarino was the key illustrator at my city’s Children’s Festival of Reading this past May. Dan and Amy Dyckman both autographed their book Boy + Bot for my booth at the festival. I had over 350 autographed books and swag items to give away from children’s book authors around the country as part of my author promotion and giveaway!
Today I read Haunted House, Haunted Mouse by Judy Cox and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. What a cute, cute story! Little mouse peaked out of his hidey-hole and discovered trick or treaters at the front door. Oh, how he wanted some of that delicious candy! Mouse thought it would be simple to scamper into a trick or treaters candy bag and get his fill, but the that is where the adventure begins as Mouse deals with everything from being seasick to finding himself inside a haunted house to trying to find his way home safely on Halloween night. You’ll just have to read the book to see if he makes it!
Donna L Martin
http://www.donnalmartin.com
http://www.donasdays.blogspot.com
I remember your giveaways from the Facebook group posts, Donna, but I didn’t realize you got 350 things to give away! Good for you….and a doubly signed Boy and Bot? AWESOME!
I like that you’re reading all these fun halloween books!
I’ll have to check them out!