In Memoriam - Brian Jacques

Soon after I started reviewing books I discovered the Redwall books, a series of stories about animals who have adventures, who battle evil doers, and who have the most marvelous feasts and celebrations. I fell in love with the wonderful characters, especially the moles (who have a delicious way of speaking) and the hares (who have bottomless stomachs). I was therefore very sad to hear that the man who created the Redwall Tales, Brian Jacques, passed away a few days ago. Here is a little information about this wonderful writer. He will be greatly missed.

Brian Jacques was born in Liverpool, England, on 15 June 1939 to James (a truck driver) and Ellen. He grew up in the area of the Liverpool docks. He is known by his middle name 'Brian' because both his father and one of his brothers are also called James. His father loved literature, and passed it to him, having him read stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Jacques showed a knack for writing at an early age. At age 10, he was given an assignment of writing a story about animals, and he wrote about a bird that cleaned a crocodile's teeth. His teacher could not believe that anyone could write that well when they were only 10 years old. He was called a liar for refusing to say he copied the story. He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for writing.

He attended St. John's private school until the age of 15 when he left school (as was the tradition at the time) and set out to find adventure as a sea merchant sailor. His book Redwall was written for the children of the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind, whom he refers to as his "special friends". He first met them when he delivered milk there as a truck driver. He began to spend time with the children, and eventually began to write stories for them. This accounts for the very descriptive style of the novel and the ones to follow.

His work gained acclaim when Alan Durband, a friend (who also taught Paul McCartney and George Harrison), showed it to his (Durband's) own publisher without telling Jacques. Durband told his publishers: "This is the finest children's tale I've ever read, and you'd be foolish not to publish it". Soon after, Jacques was summoned to London to meet with the publishers, who gave him a contract to write the next five books in the series.

Jacques has said that the characters in his stories are based on people he has encountered. He based Gonff, the self-proclaimed "Prince of Mousethieves", on himself when he was a young boy hanging around the docks of Liverpool. Mariel is based on his granddaughter. Constance the Badgermum is based on his grandmother. Other characters are a combination of many of the people he has met in his travels.

His novels have sold more than twenty million copies worldwide and have been published in twenty-eight languages.

Until recently, Jacques hosted a radio show called Jakestown on BBC Radio Merseyside. In June 2005, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by theUniversity of Liverpool.

Brian lived with his wife, Maureen, in Liverpool. The couple had two adult sons, David and Mark, and one granddaughter named Hannah. Marc is a builder, a carpenter, and a bricklayer. David is a professor of art and a muralist, who has painted in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile.

Brian Jacques died on 5 February 2011, of a heart attack.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Thirty-Eight

Here is another wordless book that is funny and imaginative. I am finding quite a collection of these wordless gems, all of which are wonderful for children who want to 'read' a book by themselves, even though they don't know how to read on their own yet.. 

Where’s Walrus?

Stephen Savage

Wordless Picture Book

For ages 3 to 5

Scholastic, 2011, 978-0-439-70049-8

   All is quiet in the zoo. The keeper, the elephant, and the bear are all napping, but the walrus is wide awake, looking over the wall of his enclosure. Before the keeper has the opportunity to do anything, the walrus is out of his pool and heading out of the zoo. You would think that it would be easy to find a very large grey animal in a city, but the walrus is a very intelligent animal. He knows how to blend in with his surroundings. He knows how to disguise what he is, and the poor keeper searches and searches in vain. Then something amazing happens and the walrus’s disguise comes off. Everyone can see what he is, and everyone can also see that this walrus has a hidden talent – besides being a master of disguise.

   Young children are going to fall in love with the walrus in this book. They will laugh when they see how the wily animal hides in plain site, and the ending is sure to cause a sensation. With minimal flat illustrations, Stephen Savage gives little children a unique book experience. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Thirty-Seven

I once had a friend who was seemingly  good at everything. She was a faster runner than I was, she was better at math, she did not struggle with chemistry as I did. There were times when I felt as if I lived in her shadow. Thankfully I came to realize that she valued and admired me as much as I valued and admired her. We depended on and cared about each other. Today's picture book is about two little girl crocodiles who learn a valuable lesson about friendship.

I’m not

Pam Smallcomb

Illustrated by Robert Weinstock

Picture Book

For ages 4 to 7

Random House, 2011, 978-0-375-86115-4

   A little brown crocodile has a best friend called Evelyn, and Evelyn is everything that the little brown crocodile is not. Evelyn is creative, fashionable, artistic, imaginative, and loud. Sometimes the little brown crocodile wonders if her friend Evelyn “is from Mars” because they are so unalike. The little brown crocodile admires her friend, and sometimes she is exasperated by her. Evelyns is so larger than life that she can be a little overwhelming at time.

   Thankfully, the little brown crocodile has her own gifts and accomplishments. She can do things that Evelyn is not good at doing, and she has something to offer that is truly priceless.

   Having a friend who is good at many things can be a little bit of trial at times. What the author of this charming book shows to great effect is that even the most accomplished of people (or crocodiles) have things they are not good at. And even the most accomplished of people (or crocodiles), need to have a best friend.

   Young readers will love these two delightful little crocodile children who discover how well they compliment one another, and how precious their friendship is to both of them. Wonderfully humorous illustrations and loveable characters make this a picture book that is sure to become a favorite with young readers.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Thirty-Six

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so I thought I would review a few 'lovey dovey' titles. Here is one that hundreds of children have enjoyed since the book came out. This book was written for all those young children who worry that their parent's love might have an expiration date.

I Love You Stinky Face

Lisa McCourt

Illustrated by Cyd Moore

Picture Book

Ages 3 to 6

Scholastic, 2004, 978-0439634694

   All children need to feel loved, and there are times when they wonder if their parents might stop loving them under the right circumstance. In this story a little boy wonders - as his mother cuddles him before bedtime – if she would stop loving him if he were different. What if he were a big ape, or a smelly skunk? What if he were an alligator or a swamp creature? What if he was a “green alien from Mars” who “ate bugs instead of peanut butter?”

   Thankfully this little boy’s mother not only loves him unconditionally, she also finds wonderful answers for his questions. She tells her funny little son that, whatever he looks like, however badly he smells, and whatever strange things he eats, she will always be there for him, she will always take care of him, and she will always love him.

   Delightful and amusing illustrations show the little boy in all his imagined forms. Always, whether he is an ape, an alien, a monster, or a dinosaur, the little boy is wearing his telltale striped pajamas, and in each case his mother is there, being a mother and doing all those things that mothers do so well.

   This simple little story will make a wonderfully comforting bedtime story, and it will reassure children when they worry that they might not be loveable any more.

Poetry Friday - A review of Dear Mother, Dear Daughter

As the mother of a daughter, I found today's poetry title to be very interesting, amusing, and perceptive. I could almost hear the voices of my daughter and I as I read the poems, and I will be sharing the book with her in the next few days. It will be interesting to see how she responds!

Dear Mother, Dear daughter

Poems for young people

Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple

Illustrations by Gil Ashby

Poetry

For ages 9 to 12

Boyds Mills Press, 2001, 978-1-59078-743-4

   Mothers and daughters have been having heart-to-heart discussions, arguments, fights, and reconciliations for as long as there have been mothers and daughters. Daughters want to stay up later, mothers want them to get their beauty’s sleep. Daughters think that they are fat, and their mothers tell them that they are “just right,” perfect the way they are.

   For this unique and very meaningful collection of poems, Jane Yolen and her daughter Heidi Stemple have written poems that present seventeen topics from the point of view of a mother, and from the point of view of a daughter.

   They begin with a poem about doing homework. How many millions of times have mothers and daughters tussled over not putting off doing homework. Here the daughter asks to “watch one show, / Then to work I’ll go.” The mother is sick and tired of having to be the “homework cop,” and she announces, “By golly, I am going to get tough.”

   Then there is the poem in which the daughter grieves when a much-loved grandmother dies. She is feeling her loss and remembering how her grandma “was always here.” In response, the mother comforts her daughter, reminding her that so much of Grandma is still here in their memories and their hearts, that she is “more / here / than not here.”

   “There is nothing to do,” the daughter says, complaining about how everything is “boring and dull” and how her life is “the pits.” Not surprisingly, her mother is not best pleased with these remarks, and she informs her daughter that there are so many things to do, “Both old things and new.”

   This collection of poems will delight both mothers and daughters. They offer insight, presenting both points of view with humor and sensitivity. It would be interesting to see what fathers and sons would say to each other.

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Thirty-Five

I am always impressed when I come across an author who is able to write different kinds of books. Jane Yolen is just such a person. She writes poems, board books, picture books, and novels. In 2010 Jane Yolen showed us that she has yet another skill; she wrote a graphic novel.

Foiled

Jane Yolen

Illustrated by Mike Cavallaro

Graphic Novel

Ages 9 to 12

First Second books, 2010, 978-1-59643-279-6

   Aliera has a very quiet life. She does not have many friends, she is not popular in school, and she has never been on a date. She spends much of her free time at her fencing school, practicing her parries and lunges. Recently Aliera’s mother – who loves to buy things in junk shops, thrift stores, and yard sales – bought Aliera a second-hand foil with a large fake looking jewel on the hilt. Though the jewel looks pretty tacky, Aliera likes the foil. It balances well and at $2 it was a bargain. She has no idea that the foil has been entrusted into her care for a specific reason.

   Not fitting into any of the cliques at school, Aliera is a “loner,” which suits her just fine. Then she goes into tenth grade and a new boy comes to the school. Avery Castle is gorgeous, and Aliera is instantly attracted to him. Of course, she believes that he is out of her league, so she tries to “forget him.” She is not pleased when she is partnered with him in biology lab, and she does her best to “protect her heart” just as she does in her fencing classes. Unfortunately she is unable to fend off Avery’s charms, and she comes to realize that she is “in love” with him, worse luck.

   When Avery invites her on a date, Aliera is thrilled and terrified. This is going to be her first date ever. What should she wear, what should she do? Aliera arranges to meet Avery in the train station, and before he even gets there the date becomes bizarre, to say the least. When she puts on her fencing mask, she is able to see strange beasts and creatures flying and walking around her. A beautiful fairy like person tells Aliera that she is the “Defender,” that she was handpicked to protect the Seelie Court from its enemies. When Avery arrives on the scene, Aliera learns that he is not what she thought he was. In fact, he is not even human.

   This graphic novel will enthrall readers who enjoy fantasies and mysteries. Readers will enjoy seeing how poor unpopular Aliera discovers that she is more than just an awkward girl who knows how to fence. She has a gift, and she is important.

   With a beautifully told and illustrated story, this book is a must for graphic novel fans. 

The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Book Thirty-Four

Adjusting to a change can sometimes be hard. I, for one, do not like it when my plans for the day are upset in some way. In today's picture book you will meet a dog who is not at all happy when his person upsets a schedule that he feels should be sacrosanct. 

Say Hello to Zorro!

Carter Goodrich

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 8

Simon and Schuster, 2011, 978-1-4169-3893-4

   Mister Bud the dog has a good life. He has his own toys, bed, and bowl, and he has a schedule that he is very happy with. Mr. Bud is determined that everybody is going stick to “the schedule” with “no exceptions.”

   Then, one day Mr. Bud’s person comes home and the schedule is thrown into a state of chaos. Mr. Bud’s person has committed a major faux pas, she has brought home Zorro, another dog! Not surprisingly, Mr. Bud is very unhappy to see Zorro. How can his person honestly say, “you two get along.” What is she thinking? Mr. Bud is often grumpy, and Zorro can be very bossy. What on earth is Mr. Bud going to do? Will his life every be normal again?

   Getting used to change is never easy, and children and adults alike will laugh out loud as they watch Zorro and Mr. Bud come to terms with the changes in their lives. They will see how change can actually be a good thing, even if adjustments have to be made. Dog lovers will quickly come to recognize elements of their own dog (or dogs) in these two thoroughly loveable pooches.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Please visit the TTLG Chinese New Year feature page to find some wonderful titles for children that are about Chinese New Year

Groundhog Day and The TTLG 2011 Picture Book Celebration - Thirty-Three

Happy Groundhog Day! For today's picture book I have a story about a groundhog who has a very unusual Groundhog Day.

Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox

Susan Blackaby

Illustrated by Carmen Segovia

Picture Book

For ages 5 to 7

Sterling, 2011, 978-1-4027-4336-8

   It is the second of February, and Brownie the groundhog has come out of her burrow to see if she can see her shadow or not. As she stands on the snow, she looks down, and there, “stretched across the frosted field,” is her shadow. It looks as if there is going to be six more weeks of winter, and she is going to have to “Wait, wait, wait” for spring.

   Then, before she can do anything to save herself, a fox jumps on Brownie and he asks her to hold still because he wants to eat her for breakfast. Brownie is a very clever animal and she manages to put off the fox by telling him that it is too late for breakfast. He will have to wait for lunchtime.

   Brownie and the fox wander across the snow together. Brownie looks for signs of spring, while the fox tries to ignore his hungry stomach. Brownie knows full well that at lunchtime the fox is going to want to eat her. Somehow, she is going to have to find a way to save herself.

   In this wonderful picture book, we meet a groundhog who knows how to think on her feet, or rather on her paws. Children will laugh when they see what Brownie does to the poor fox, and how she turns a potential enemy into a friend.

   Paired with Carmen Segovia’s unique vintage looking illustrations, this story is a wonderful tale to read during cold February days when one is looking for signs of spring. 

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For those of you who don't live in the U.S., here is some information about Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly "see its shadow" and retreat back into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.

Modern customs of the holiday involve celebrations where early morning festivals are held to watch the groundhog emerging from its burrow. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges (Grundsow Lodges) celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge, social events in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. The Pennsylvania German dialect is the only language spoken at the event, and those who speak English pay a penalty, usually in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter, per word spoken, put into a bowl in the center of the table.

The largest Groundhog Day celebration is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day, already a widely recognized and popular tradition, received worldwide attention as a result of the 1993 film of the same name, Groundhog Day, which was set in Punxsutawney and featured Punxsutawney Phil.

The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog. The holiday also bears some similarities to the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas. It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication

An early American reference to Groundhog Day can be found in a diary entry, dated February 5, 1841, of Berks County, Pennsylvania storekeeper James Morris:

Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate.

For those of you who don't know what a groundhog is, they are large rodents belonging to the family of large ground squirrels known as marmots. They are also called woodchucks or land-beavers. They can weigh up to 9 pounds (4 kg)

Over the years I have reviewed several wonderful books about Groundhog Day. You can see these reviews on the TTLG Groundog Day Feature.

Free ebook of the first Septimus Heap book

Until the end of the day you can get a free copy of Septimus Heap: Book One: Magyk for Kindle, Kobo, and Nook. If you have an iPad you can get a free app that will allow you to download the Kindle ebook onto your iPad. 

This is such a great book. You can read my review of it here.