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We just received an email from Richard Michelson with a link to a video taken November 8 at the 20th Annual Children’s Illustration Show at his gallery. The video features an incredible gathering of authors and illustrators sending get well soon wishes to Andrea. How cool is that?!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thank you to everyone for participating and to Richard for organizing this.

Front Row: Heidi Stemple, Rebecca Guay, Jane Dyer, Jeanne Birdsall, Diane deGroat, Barbara Diamond Goldin, Nonny Hogrogian, Susan Yard Harris.
Second Row: Brooke Dyer, Shelley Rotner, Norton Juster, Jane Yolen, Lesléa Newman, Brian Karas, Barry Moser, Susan Pearson, Anna Alter, Alice Schertle.
Third Row: Wendell Minor, Jeff Mack, Rich Michelson, Kathy Brown, Nancy Sippel Carpenter, Jeannine Atkins, David Kherdian.
Back Row: Carol Weiss, Mo Willems, Scott Fischer, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Mordicai Gerstein, Paul Jacobs.

Today we look at a “clump” of four books about independent thinkers who, without fanfare or animosity, disregard the judgements of others and are simply happy being who they are.

Ingredients (books discussed):

• Odd Velvet
• The Recess Queen
• Suki’s Kimono
• Annie Bizzanni

Jump into Today’s Soup (feedback):

Join the conversation by clicking the Comments link below or sending an email to [email protected].

Second Helpings (transcript of podcast):

In a society where the media, schools and, sadly, even parents often expect us to conform to prescribed,cookie-cutter ways of being, a common challenge for adults and children alike is to understand and appreciate out-of-the-box thinking or behavior in ourselves and others. With so much emphasis on conforming, being or even befriending a person who is viewed as different can be a scary and isolating experience.It’s not surprising, then, that we sometimes go to great lengths to reject or hide our unique selves — and to avoid those who don’t.

Many children’s books and, to a greater extent, movies attempt to reduce the social stigma against being different through boisterous victory-of-the-underdog themed stories in which the independent thinker saves the day and, to the rousing cheers of once-distant peers, instantly becomes the poster child of popularity. There is no denying that such victories feel great but I believe stories which present quiet appreciation, improved understanding or simply congenial co-existence go further to help children deal with different ways of being.

Before looking at the books, let me explain that I like to read to my two daughters in clumps. That is, I like to read in one sitting several books that are completely parallel in certain ways – offering similar characters, situations, or themes – but are different enough to make the clumped reading interesting. I clump by activity (riding a bike, say), by storyline (several variations on the Frog Prince story, for example) or, as in the case today, by explorations of a similar “type” of character (a girl that is viewed as being “different”). There are many books that deal with differences in, what I believe are, very constructive ways. Today we look at a “clump” of four books about independent thinkers who, without fanfare or animosity, disregard the judgements of others and are simply happy being who they are.

Odd Velvet (Mary Whitcomb Illustrated by Tara Calahan King; 1998 Chronicle Books) tells the story of a happily independent school girl who has bypassed the consumer mentality of her peers and finds beauty and entertainment in the world around her. What I love about this story is that Violet’s unimposing enjoyment of life remains steadfast throughout: her self esteem easily withstands the taunts of her classmates and she remains true to her nature as she gradually gains the respect of her peers. Violet’s self worth is clearly not tied to her judgment by others.

The Recess Queen (Alexis O’Neill Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith; 2002 Scholastic Press) relays, in snappy, what is it? Hip hop beat? the story of a school yard bully effortlessly felled by the teeny tiny independently minded Katie Sue, “a kid you might scare with a jump and a boo!”. Here again, the beauty of the story — for me — is in Katie Sue’s unwavering sense of self worth regardless of her noticeably different approach to life and in the fact that she takes in stride both the bullying and her offhanded deflation of the bully.

Suki’s Kimono (Chieri Uegaki Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch; 2003 Kids Can Press) is a refreshing celebration of individuality and joie de vivre. This first-day-of-school story contrasts the uninhibited and happily independent six year old Suki with her self-conscious, stiff and validation-seeking sisters – and their complete embarrassment that their little sister is wearing a kimono to school. Although I think Suki could do without the applause of her classmates, Suki’s sunny self-assurance remains constant throughout and she gains no satisfaction from the fact that her sisters’ preparation and preening brought them nothing but exasperation.

Annie Bizzanni (Frances Halle Illustrated by Fil et Julie; 2006 Bayard Canada Books) introduces us to a creative, multi-tasking and impulsive free-spirit who lives life in large slices which she feels no pressure to complete. Although her friends are obviously amused, inconvenienced and, sometimes, scared by Annie’s quirky behavior what I love about this book is that Annie’s way of being is simply portrayed as being different — not better or worse — than that of her peers, that her friends love her for who she is and that she is very happy being herself.

Although society may expect it, we’re not cookie cutouts and we all fall inside and outside various different boxes. We might as well enjoy ourselves!

Thanks for listening. I’m Andrea Ross from the Just One More Book!! Podcast and we’ve been Swimming in Literary Soup.

There are parts of being in this world that many parents want to shield their children from.  War, with its toll on lives, communities and countries is one of those controversial topics for children’s books that’s either hotly debated or blatantly dismissed.

For Canadians, August 19, 1942 carries even more significance because many were led to believe the British organized battle at Dieppe was an important victory, not a bloody defeat.  As we honour the 67th anniversary of Dieppe later this month, a new children’s book will be published that explores the reasons, strategy, horror and incredible survival that are part of this Canadian tale.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Mark speaks with author and historian Hugh Brewster about his new book Dieppe: Canada’s Darkest Day of World War II, and the importance of sharing the stories of the events and the people in war and remembrance.

Other books by Hugh Brewster:

• At Vimy Ridge: Canada’s Greatest World War I Victory
• On Juno Beach: Canada’s D-Day Heroes

More about war and remembrance on Just One More Book:

• A Bear in War
• A New Coat for Anna
• The Unknown Soldier
• The Diary of Laura’s Twin
• The Donkey of Gallipoli
• Janusz Korczak’s Children
• One Thousand Tracings
• A Poppy is to Remember
• Gleam and Glow
• The Cello of Mr. O
• What We Remember

There’s a lot of talk about the benefits of reading aloud to children. But it’s usually focused on the benefits to the children!

Today, we pause to consider how reading aloud to our children benefits us as adults, our family and our relationships with each other.

Books mentioned (and pictured to right):

• The Greatest Power (The Gecko & Sticky)

We’d love to hear how reading has benefited your family. Leave us a comment below or, better yet, leave us a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.

Happy Reading!

Click here to view the embedded video.

The drive home from Northampton was the longest eight hours of our lives not because of the weather (we experienced sun, clouds and a spectacular if short snow storm) or the traffic (there wasn’t much) but because of the amazing memories that we collected and friends we made and how we seemed to be going further away from both.  Fortunately, those friendship remain and the memories are still with us; they have helped shape the way we enjoy and understand children’s books.

In this final installment of the Rock Stars of Reading we reflect on the what we experienced and consider the impact those experiences will have on us.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Afternoon in the Sun by John Williams (from Long Ride Home) found on Magnatune

Listen to author/illustrator Mordicai Gerstein tell Mark about his turbulent career, imagination and his idea that children’s books as the perfect combination of film, theatre and drawing.

Books by Mordicai Gerstein that you may recognize…

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Soon Enough by John Williams (from Dusty Porch), found on Magnatune

Listen to Mark and illustrator Jane Dyer talk about Jane’s fine brushwork, painting movement and imagination, and her own masterpiece.

Books by Jane Dyer you may have seen…

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Razorback by Robert Farrell (from Elegant Chaos)

Listen in as Mark and Author/Poet, Paul Jacobs, chat about the differences between children and adults as book and reading audiences, writing with a playful spirit and the collaborative nature of children’s books.

Books you may have seen by Paul Jacobs…

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Funky Instrumental by Steffen Coonan found on the Podsafe Music Network

Author/poet Lesléa Newman, author of the groundbreaking book Heather Has Two Mommies, talks to Mark about seeing in words (not images), writing for adults and children, and treasures in our brains.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Red Mood by Jami Sieber (from Hidden Sky), found on Magnatune

  

Mark, Richard Michelson (on JOMB), Tony Diterlizzi and Scott Fisher spoke for three hours about almost everything related to children’s books and the publishing industry.  It was a very cerebral conversation, much of which revolved around print and digital books, the future of the industry and competing with technology for reader attention.  There were light moments, too, like when they did an analysis of Jon Scieszka’s (on JOMB) reign as the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Skittles at Buckley Bay & Mischief in the Garden by Jaime RT (from Reach)

  

  

  

Click here to view the embedded video.

Did you know that the first chldren’s picture books featured illustrations produced from wood engravings?  Technology made way for lithographs and drum rollers and eventually computers which aren’t just part of the printing process — they figure prominently in the creative process.

Jarrett Krosoczka (on JOMB) shows us how he’s using his laptop computer for his new Lunch Lady graphic novel series, the first two editions of which will be available on July 28, 2009.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Bullet Drive by Robert Farrell (from When the Banks of the Mississippi Run Dry)

Click here to view the embedded video.

It was like picture-book-boot-camp.  We had an 8am workshop and our training officer, one Jarrett Krosoczka (on JOMB), didn’t waste any time.  After a quick introduction to his pug Ralph Macchio and his fantastic creative environment, Jarrett demonstrated his illustrating and painting technique.  Before long, Lucy and Bayla were rolling up their sleeves and trying out what they had just learned; prepping the illustration paper, mixing paint and shading to create three dimensions.  At the end of the whole process, we had an original Krosoczka/Ross-Blevis painting to bring home.

Oh yeah, it was when we finally arrived at Jarrett’s (after being coached to his place over the phone) that we decided we weren’t not going to get lost en route to any more of our scheduled appointments.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• PF on Tour Interlude performed by Punk Farm

Mark spent two amazing hours at a table with Jeanne Birdsall (on JOMB), Jane Dyer, Jarrett Krosoczka (on JOMB) and David Ezra Stein, sharing a common love of children’s books and talking about how each found their way into writing and illustrating, children’s books vs. traditional publishing and what keeps them in an industry that isn’t known for generating a lot of wealth for the people in it.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Cliffhanger by the Eternal Jazz Project (from Season), found on Magnatune

Listen in as we grab a spot of floor in the home office of author Corinne Demas to talk about books and how stories are researched, the similarity between poets and picture book creators and the best job in the world.  Lucy started us off with a read-aloud of Corinne’s new book, Always in Trouble, and Corinne explains the origins of Lucy’s favourite phrase from the book “quiet as a goldfish”.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Dragondance by Art Turner (from Jade)

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the final of three parts that feature Author/Illustrator Lane Smith (on JOMB), we go through Lane’s archives to see ten years worth of idea development for his amazing book John, Paul, George and Ben.  Then, we hit the road for Northampton with a fun stop at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Scultpure Gardens in Springfield, Massachusetts.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• Song About You by The Birdinumnums (from She Say Go, found on the Podsafe Music Network)
• The Swaggering Dragon by Zubot and Dawson (from Tractor Parts: Further Adventures in Strang)

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is the first of three videos that document our visit with Lane Smith (on JOMB) and Molly Leach. Here, Lane shows us original artwork from The Stinky Cheese Man, describes the production process for The Happy Hocky Family books, shares his passion for children’s books — old and new — and compares traditional collage with digital collage.

MUSIC

• Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1)
• The Getaway by Matthew Ebel (from Goodbye Planet Earth)

In our family, a book needs more than just a great story to be engaging.  The words and images need to be tightly connected with each other and yet tell slightly different story lines at the same time.  That kind of magic doesn’t just happen because two immensely creative people are producing the words and text.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Mark speaks with author Alexis O’Neill and illustrator Laura Huliska-Beith about their first collaboration, The Recess Queen, and their new book, The Worst Best Friend.

Other books mentioned:

• Loud Emily
• The Book of Bad Ideas
• Poetry for Young People: Edward Lear

Photo provided by Alexis O’Neill.

Mark recently attended the second annual Kidlit Conference, a gathering of bloggers, podcasters, authors and illustrators, in Portland, Oregon.

During the conference Mark had the opportunity to meet and speak with some fascinating people. Take for example, Philip Lee, one of the founders of Lee and Low Books, an independent children’s book publisher that focuses on diversity.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Philip Lee tells Mark about life after his departure from Lee and Low and taking risks in publishing books about diversity.

Links to resources mentioned by Philip:

• Baseball Saved Us, the first book published by Lee and Low
• Voices of Diversity, Philip’s radio work at KBCS

Not everyone has the means to own children’s books; some have other priorities.  And, with the increasing pace of the modern era, a growing number of parents are finding it difficult to find the time or energy to sit down with their children to read together.

Two years almost to the day after his first appearance on Just One More Book!!, author of the Little Wolf series and the Harry and the Dinosaurs books popularized through their own television show, Ian Whybrow returns, this time to discuss an initiative to put two free books in the hands of children who are reporting to school for the first time of their academic career in the hopes of encouraging parents to read aloud with their children.

For more information, please visit the following links:

• Booktrust
• Booktime
• Pearson Media
• BBC report

Photo: Captured from the BBC report

We’ve often suggested on Just One More Book!! that children’s books are an important way to introduce children to complex topics. Death and the celebration of life is one such topic and we’ve reviewed books such as My Great-Aunt Arizona and Gleam and Glow as great books to help children understand the cycle of life.

While she may be best known for her work in promoting writing as a literacy tool, Gloria Houston has used children’s books as part of her work with grieving children.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Mark speaks with Gloria Houston about the value of children’s book in helping children understand death and the cycle of life.

Other books mentioned:

• The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
• The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst and Erik Blegvad
• Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child by Rabbi Earl Grollman
• My Brother Joey Died by Gloria Houston, Gloria McLendon and Harvey Kelman
• On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Mark’s Uncle, Earl Blevis, who passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2008.

There’s one thing you can count on when it comes children’s book creators; they’re wildly passionate about what they do and what they believe in which is typically literacy and a love of reading.

Count illustrator Cyd Moore among that crowd. I called Cyd to interview her about Book Buddies, her contribution to our Love of Reading gallery and when I brought up literacy and love of reading in general, she took off, joking that she’d jumped on her soapbox. And you know what? It was great. I could have talked to her for hours.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, illustrator Cyd Moore shares her personal experiences with children’s books and her passion for getting children hooked on reading.

Among Cyd’s illustration credits are:

• Willlow
• I Love You Stinky Face (and other books in the Stinky face series)
• Room for Rabbit

Books mentioned:

• Missing Rabbit

Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

As part of the second anniversary celebrations of the Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast, we’re conducting short interviews with each of 51 contributors to our Love of Reading Gallery. These interviews are being published as extra shows in our interview feed until we’ve interviewed everyone who contributed before June 15.

On this edition, Mark speaks with illustrator Denise Simon about her contribution called Little Red Reading Hood and her hope to illustrate children’s books.

Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

Books and stories mentioned:

• Little Red Riding Hood

There’s no turning back, now. We’re eight interviews into fifty-one with illustrators and children — artists all — who’ve contributed amazing illustrations that promote a love of reading for the Just One More Book!! podcast’s Love of Reading Gallery.

On this edition, Mark speaks with after-hours illustrator Lucy Autrey Wilson about her contribution called A Book Can Take You Anywhere.

Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

Books mentioned:

• The Wind in the Willows
• Grimm’s Fairy Tales
• Hans Christian Anderson Tales
• Goodnight Moon
• The Velveteen Rabbit

When we put out the call for illustrations that promote a love of reading, we didn’t expect to receive 51 submissions in about a month.

As part of the second anniversary celebrations of the Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast, we’re conducting short interviews with each illustrator that contributed to our Love of Reading Gallery. These interviews will be published three times each week as extra shows in our interview feed.

On this edition, Mark speaks with Rebecca Gavney Driscoll about her contribution called Reading With My Friend.

Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

This listener submitted review comes from Kevin Hodgson of Kevin’s Meandering Mind blog. As a gift to Kevin for this, his sixth listener submitted review, we have provided Kevin with his own theme music.

In this entertaining contribution, Kevin shares his thoughts about Traction Man is Here! by Mini Grey.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Send your MP3 recorded or type-written review in email to [email protected], or phone it in to our JOMB listener hotline (206-350-6487).

Need some inspiration? Give a listen to 22 previous listener submitted review episodes here.