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Dear Book Lovers, Welcome! I am delighted that you have found The Through the Looking Glass blog. For over twenty years I reviewed children's literature titles for my online journal, which came out six times a year. Every book review written for that publication can be found on the Through the Looking Glass website (the link is below). I am now moving in a different direction, though the columns that I write are still book-centric. Instead of writing reviews, I'm offering you columns on topics that have been inspired by wonderful books that I have read. I tell you about the books in question, and describe how they have have impacted me. This may sound peculiar to some of you, but the books that I tend to choose are ones that resonate with me on some level. Therefore, when I read the last page and close the covers, I am not quite the same person that I was when first I started reading the book. The shift in my perspective might be miniscule, but it is still there. The books I am looking are both about adult and children's titles. Some of the children's titles will appeal to adults, while others will not. Some of the adult titles will appeal to younger readers, particularly those who are eager to expand their horizons.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Poetry Friday - A review of Because I Could Not Stop My Bike And Other Poems

There are many people out there who are intimidated by poetry. "It is hard to understand" they say. "Why can't poets say what they mean," they cry. Today's poetry title is a treat because in it readers will find poems that are very easy to grasp. They are amusing and creative takes on a number of classic poems. I imagine that young readers who enjoy the poems in this book might be tempted to take a look at the original poems they are based on.

Karen Jo Shapiro
Illustrator:  Matt Faulkner
Poetry Picture Book
For ages 7 to 10
Charlesbridge Publishing, 2005, 978-1580891059
Have you ever heard the poem "How do I love thee" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning? In this famous poem Browning writes: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways / I love thee to the depth and breadth and height/ My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight/ For the ends of Being and ideal Grace." It is a beautiful poem of course, but do you really understand it, and does it say anything to you? If not then you might enjoy Karen Jo Shapiro's version in which she writes "How do I love ketchup? Let me count the ways... / I tried it first on burger and fries / that's all I did for many days."
   Using similar rhythms and meters to the ones used in the original poems, Shapiro has taken twenty-six classic poems and turned them into twenty-six kid-friendly poems that are funny, clever, and highly entertaining. She has taken passages from Shakespeare's plays, along with poems by such poets as Sir Walter Raleigh, Christopher Marlowe, William Blake, Robert Burns, Emily Dickinson and others. She turns "O My Luve's like a red, red rose/ That's newly sprung in June" into "Oh! My nose is like a red, red rose/ That's newly burnt in June."  It is hard to read this and not to laugh, for most of us have got a sunburned nose in summer at one time or another.
   Children will love these poems, and the funny illustrations that go with them. Adults who are fond of classic poetry will be hard pressed not to laugh at and appreciate these "apologies" which Karen Jo Shapiro has so skillfully created.
                                                                                                           

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book Ninety-eight

It seems to me that there is a very little good news in the news these days. Everywhere you look, people are arguing or fighting, using words or weapons. To say the least, this is extremely depressing. Feeling that we could all do with a little boost in the peace and harmony department, I decided to review Peace Week for Miss Fox's Class. In this book at least, children find creative ways to avoid conflict and strife, and the tone of the book is a hopeful one. 

Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by Anne Kennedy
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Albert Whitman, 2009, 978-0-8075-6379-3
   For days, the children in Miss Fox’s class have been squabbling and bickering. Finally, Miss Fox announces that they are going to have “Peace Week” in the class. For one whole week there will be “no more squabbling.” Miss Fox invites the children to decide what else they will do during Peace Week, and in response, they come up with some wonderful ideas. Miss Fox is hopeful that there will be a better atmosphere in her classroom for at least a little while.
   For the rest of the week the children face the usual challenges that come along. They experience big sisters yelling, mean children teasing, little children fighting, old turtles scolding, arguments about chores, and other trials. They could respond to each annoyance by getting angry, but instead they remember that it is Peace Week, and they try to find a peaceful solution to every problem that comes along. How long will they be able to keep this up?
   The world is so full of conflicts, big and small, many of which make people unhappy. In this picture book, Eileen Spinelli shows young readers that they can make their own little world a happier place by finding peaceful ways to resolve conflicts that they encounter. They don’t have to respond to meanness with more meanness. They actually have a choice to take a different path.
   With sensitivity and humor, Eileen Spinelli gives young readers a story that has an important message to convey. 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

A letter from Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, author and illustrator

Planting Seeds (Board Buddies)A few weeks ago I reviewed a board book called Planting Seeds by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace. The pictures in the book were created using cut paper and other materials, and I thought they were charming. Being a curious sort of person (always!) I decided to write to Nancy to ask her about how she got interested in creating children's books, how she creates her art, and what inspires her. This is what she wrote.

Dear Friends, I’ve never met,

Hello! So, how did I become children’s book author and illustrator?  I gave up my day job and found out, too late, the CW about writing children’s books is – Don’t give up your day job! My day job had been working, for many years, with hospitalized children.

So, I signed up for 2 adult education courses that fall.  One was a 3 session traditional scherrenschnitte (you have to say that carefully) and the other was a 10 week children’s book writing and illustration course, that turned out to be 3 writing sessions and 7 illustrating.  Everyone in the class had art backgrounds, except me! The artist teaching the scherrenschnitte class brought in origami paper and said, “have fun!”  I did.  And then I thought, OK!   I’ll cut paper illustrations for the other class.  The instructor said, “You’ve found your medium!”

I use origami paper for my collage illustrations. The colors are so beautiful and vibrant. I use art papers and recycled paper - envelopes, bits of wrapping paper and doll house wall paper, brown paper bags and cardboard coffee cup holders, onion bags and even … dryer lint!  I use a glue stick, tiny scherrenschnitte scissors and very pointy tweezers to pick up the tiny pieces, rub them on a glue stick and place them.  The hardest things to cut are eyeglasses and snowflakes!   I also use photography in some of my books - real shells and seeds and real works of art in the LOOK books, NASA photographs in the STAR book and real objects for the sets in Ready! SET! 100th Day.

Where do I get my ideas?  I’m inspired by SNOW, walking on the beach and finding SHELLS, taking LEAF WALKS in all seasons,  going APPLES APPLES APPLES picking,  gazing up at the night time sky at the STARS  STARS  STARS.  Out in nature, looking …listening… touching… I am filled with WONDER and questions. I love doing research and learning and having those  WOW!  I didn’t know that, moments!

The idea for POND WALK came not from a pond WALK but from a pond KAYAK… One summer day, my husband Peter and I carried our kayaks to the beach at Grout Pond. There were two boys scooping up salamanders, so we did too. We looked and touched and took photographs of them, then let them go. I tracked down a croaking frog sitting in a forest of cattails along the shore and he posed for his photo.  Floating on the pond were ducks and geese, quacking and honking.  There were dragonflies and damselflies flitting in the air. The damselflies, with their bright turquoise bodies, landed on our arms and hats. During our circumnavigation, we paddled by water lily pads with lovely white blossoms. Four turtles sunned themselves on a partially submerged log. As we approached they plopped into the pond and I knew this would make a great Buddy book!

 My Mom’s life-long role modeling of caring for others and our environment inspired me to write The Kindness Quilt, The Valentine Express, Recycle Every Day! and Count Down to Clean Up!  I guess I have BIG hopes for my books - that children will make mindful choices to be kind to others and the environment;  and that they will spend time outdoors in Nature and be filled with WONDER!

Happy spring!

Sending my warmest and best,

Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book Ninety-Seven

I grew up reading the Tintin books, The Adventures of Asterix the Gaul, and the Lucky Luke books, and I have never lost my affection for comics and graphic novels. For this reason, I am delighted to see how many splendid graphic novels are making their way into the world of children's literature. Today's book is a wonderful title that is presented by Peter H. Reynolds (of Ish fame) and his company Fablevision. 

Sharon Emerson
Illustrated by Renee Kurilla
Graphic Novel
For ages
9 to 12
Simon and Schuster, 2010, 978-1-4169-9525-8
   Vita has a used guitar and the name for a band, Zebrafish, but if she is going to be a part of a real band, she is going to need more people. Eager to make her dream a reality, Vita holds auditions and Tanya, Walt, Jay, and Plinko turn up. The problem is that none of them really know how to play a musical instrument. Then Jay suggests that they create a virtual band and make a video. Walt can create the art, Plinko and Jay can animate it, Tanya can write the words to the songs, and Vita can play the songs to accompany the video.
   Somehow, as the months pass, the five teenagers make progress on their video and they also find out things about each other. Vita finds out that Tanya is battling leukemia, and she also learns that her own big brother, who is studying ways to fight cancer, needs an expensive machine to make faster progress with his experiments. Since Vita’s mother died of cancer, she feels a special connection to Tanya, and she decides that they should use the band and their songs to do something meaningful, something that will help young people like Tanya.
   In this unique graphic novel, the author and illustrator have created a story that explores the way in which one girl’s dream builds and evolves, and the way in which she and her friends end up doing something that is bigger than all of them. The story shows that anyone can do something to make the world a better place.
   With wonderfully colorful and expressive illustrations and a great story, this is a book that graphic novel fans will want to add to their collections.
   Readers who enjoy this book should visit the Zebrafish website where they can watch movies of the story, listen to Vita’s song, play a game, and more.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book Ninety-Six

For spring break, just a few weeks ago, my family and I went away for tens days and I had a blissful time not working and not doing dozens of chores every day. I slept and dozed, and I realized that I was completely exhausted. I also realized that I am a bit of a workaholic. I take on so many writing and editing projects that I find myself scrambling to get everything done. I spend my life trying to keep up. Today's picture book is about a woman who discovers that too much work and no play really is not a good thing, which is something I need to keep in mind too.

Ingrid and Dieter Schubert
Picture Book
Ages 4 to 7
Lemniscaat, 2003, 978-1932425024
   Kate is a highly organized, very tidy, and extremely efficient sort of person, but she isn’t in the slightest bit friendly. In fact, one could even go so far as to say that Kate is downright grumpy. She likes things done her way, and all things messy, untidy, and disorganized irritate her. The sad thing about Kate is that she misses out on some of the fun things in life. When a huge, scatterbrained, messy, but extremely charming and friendly giant moves in next door, Kate is not pleased. She wants nothing to do with him, his animals, and his fun-loving and rather lazy ways.
   So, all summer Kate works and works, and the giant plays, sleeps, and loafs. Then the winter starts to approach and in no time at all a ranging storm has blown away the giant’s flimsy hut.  Now Kate may be an unfriendly sort, but she isn’t cold-hearted, and she soon has the giant in her house, out of the cold and the wet. What follows is a most extraordinary encounter between two very different kinds of people. The giant suggests that he should make a bit of soup, but of course Kate doesn’t want to use any of “her food” to make it. The giant has to become very resourceful and sensitive to overcome their differences. Can these two very opposite people find a middle ground?
   With wonderfully busy, detailed illustrations that are the delight of small children, and with a touching and simple story, the creators of this book amuse and entertain us. They also give us pause to think about the nature of people, and how too much of anything is not always a good thing, be it hard work, or hard play.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Ninety-Five

Ollie & MoonEvery week I receive dozens of packages and boxes of books, and my daughter and I have a terrific time opening everything and exclaiming over the books I have been sent. Recently I got a big box from Random House, and one of the books in the box was today's picture book title. The moment I saw the cover I was intrigued. It shows a picture of the Eiffel Tower (I love Paris), and two cartoon cats riding a bicycle ( I love cats and cartoons.) When I read Ollie and Moon yesterday I found out that it is just as good on the inside as it is on the outside. What a wonderful way to start a new week.

Photographs by Sandra Kress
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Random House, 2011, 978-0-375-86698-2
   Ollie and Moon are a pair of cats who live in Paris and they are the best of friends. Ollie loves to surprise Moon, and Moon loves Ollie’s surprises. Actually, what Moon really enjoys is “trying to guess” what Ollie’s surprises are.
   One day Ollie arrives at Moon’s house and he buzzes his friend’s intercom. Ollie tells Moon that he has a surprise for her. Of course, Moon is delighted to hear this, and soon the two friends are walking through the streets of Paris so that Ollie can show Moon his surprise.
   On the way, Ollie gets hungry, so the friends stop at a cheese shop (there are lots of cheese shops in Paris) and Ollie gets some Brie to snack on. Ollie tells Moon that her surprise is round, just like the Brie. In the Metro (this is what they call the subway in Paris) Ollie does some funky dance moves for his friend and he tells her that his surprise is musical. Now Moon knows that her surprise is round and it is musical. What other hints is Ollie going to give Moon as they travel around Paris? When is he going to tell her what her surprise is?
   In this unique and utterly charming picture book, young readers will get to meet a pair of cats who are the best of friends. Ollie goes out of his way to give his friend Moon a surprise that she will never forget.
   Using photos of Paris that are overlaid with comic style illustrations, Diane Kredensor gives her readers a wonderful adventure that will keep them guessing. In addition, young readers will get to enjoy a bookish mini tour of Paris. Ahhh, c’est magnifique!  

Monday, April 4, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book Ninety-Four

Recently my family and I vacationed on the island of Kauai. We enjoyed the beach, admired the palm trees and the orchids, and we ate lots of seafood. We also were amazed to discover that the island is overrun with feral chickens. Truly. Everywhere you go there are wild chickens pecking for food, walking around, and crowing. The cocks seem to have to sense of time, so they crow all day long. Having dogged chickens for ten days, it seemed fitting to review a book about a very large chicken who has a unique problem. If you need a little humor in your life, then this is the book for you.

Keith Graves
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Chronicle Books, 2010, 978-0-8118-7237-9
   One day a chicken that lives in an “itty-bitty” coop on a “teeny” farm lays an absolutely enormous egg, and when the egg hatches an enormous chick pops out. None of the chickens in the coop know what the chick is. Then one not very bright chicken suggests that the chick is an elephant, and all the chickens decided that the “indoor elephant” is much too big to live in the coop. The poor chick is forced to leave the coop and he thinks about how he doesn’t “feel like an elephant.”
 The humongous chick soon learns that the chickens are not very clever at all. In turn, they think that the humongous chick is a squirrel, an umbrella, and a sweater. They simply cannot understand that the chick is actually a chick, albeit a very very large one. How is the humongous chick going to show the chickens that he is actually one of them?
   Young readers are sure to enjoy this loud-out-loud funny picture book with its often ridiculous characters and its unique artwork. They will find it hard to resist the gargantuan chick who wants so much to be recognized for what he really is. 

Sunday, April 3, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book Ninety-Three

Almost every morning I have to remind my daughter to make her bed, and almost every morning she rolls her eyes and sighs as she goes to her room to complete the onerous task. Today's picture book takes a look at how generations of children in one family have complained about having to make their bed, and how generations of mothers have dealt with their complaints. I guess some things are truly timeless and universal.

Wade Bradford
Illustrations by Johnna van der Sterre
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Random House, 2011, 978-1-58246-327-8
   One day a little boy asks his mother, “Why do I have to make my bed?” He has done all his other chores and he does not understand why he has to make his bed if it is “just going to get messed up again.”
   In response to this question, the little boy’s mother tells him that his question reminds her of a story about his grandmother. When she was little, the little boy’s grandmother did all her chores but she complained about having to make her bed. Her mother told her that she is not the only one to complain about having to make her bed; her grandfather did the exact same thing! After fetching water from the pump, dusting the phonograph, and picking up his toys he asked his mother, “Pray tell, Mother, why do I have to make my bed?”
   Generations of children in the little boy’s family have asked this question over the years. A girl in 1801 asks the question, a boy in 1762 asks the question, a girl in 1630 asks the question, and so it goes until a boy in 40,000 B.C. asks “Why me have to make bed?” What will his mother say?
   This amusing picture book explores the idea that some things never change. For hundreds and hundreds of years children have complained about having to make their beds, and for hundreds of years their mothers have been giving them the same answer.
   At the back of this book, the author provides his readers will information about Chores Through the Ages, which will show children that the chores that they do now, in the 21st century, are a great deal easier than the ones that their ancestors had to do. Imagine having to plow fields, carry water from the pump or river, and collect cattle droppings to use as fuel for a fire! Perhaps making a bed is not so bad after all.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration: Book Ninety-Two

When I was growing up one of my favorite subjects in school was geography. It distresses me to no end that my daughter is not being taught much in the way of geography in school, so I try to supplement her reading with books about distant places. Today's picture book is about how one young student's imagination takes him on a very unique journey around the world. I like the fact that the author includes lots of information about real seas and oceans at the back of the book. 

Ellen Jackson
Illustrated by Bill Slavin and Esperanca Melo
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 8
Eerdmans, 2011, 978-0-8028-5341-7
   A young white rabbit student is sitting in class when his teacher announces that they are going to learn about the Black Sea and the Red Sea. As Mrs. Martin talks and talks and talks, the student’s thoughts start to wander and soon he is no longer in his classroom. Instead, he is exploring the seven seas and all the lands around them “by train, by boat, by plane.”
    After travelling to Marrakesh in a bus, to Peru in a taxi, to Istanbul on a mule, and to Timbuktu on a yak, the little rabbit learns that it is said that the Yellow Sea is made of lemonade and that it is “quite all right to sip.” He sees that the Green Sea is full of broccoli that is twelve feet tall. The Red Sea looks like “pizza sauce,” and the Brown Sea is “made of chocolate. The Black Sea is also sweet and tasty to eat because it is made of licorice. What else will he discover on his journey? What will the Purple and Pink Seas be like?
   Learning about the Seven Seas and what they are like takes on a whole new meaning in this wonderfully amusing picture book. With its rhyming text and its funny illustrations, this book shows to great effect how vital it is to have an active imagination.
   At the end of the book, the author includes an informative section (with a map) that looks at the real Seven Seas. She also includes general information about what seas are, why they are blue, and more.

Friday, April 1, 2011

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Ninety-One

Finding the courage to stick your neck out and be who you are, fashion-wise, is not easy. Many of us would rather fade into the background and not get noticed. Today you are going to meet a little girl who is determined to find a hairstyle that is different and memorable. 

Kate Hosford
Illustrations by Holly Clifton-Brown
Picture book
For ages 5 to 7
Lerner, 2011, 978-0-7613-5409-3
   It is the first day of school, and Annabelle is much disheartened when she sees that the girls in her class all have “ponytails and braids.” She decides that what her class needs is “some fashion” and “some fun,” so she sets out to find a hairdo that will bring a little pizzazz into her classroom.
   When she gets home, Annabelle notices a photograph of her grandmother who has “a marvelous tower of hair.” Annabelle begs her mother to arrange her hair in a bouffant that is as big as possible. Her mother responds by creating several other dos for Annabelle, none of which satisfy the little girl. Clearly, if she wants a bouffant, she is going to have to “do it myself,” which is when Annabelle finds out that it is not easy to create a bouffant that does not fall down, slip, or tip. Who knew that it would be so hard to create a fashionable hairstyle.
   This charming picture book with its delightful rhymes and its unique multimedia illustrations, is a tribute to all those young people who have the courage to be different and creative. They dare to follow their inclinations, and make the world a more colorful and interesting place in the process. 
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