By: David Elzey,
on 7/25/2013
by David Lucas Candlewick Press 2012 The unbeaten Skeleton Pirate who refuses to accept defeat is beaten not once but twice in this quirky picture book. The Skeleton Pirate knows one thing: that he will never be beaten, and will fight to the, uh, death to prove it. But when a band of pirates chains him up and throws him over board... he still will not accept defeat. rescued by a Mermaid he is
.jpeg?picon=3103)
By: Jenny Miller,
on 11/29/2012
.jpeg?picon=3306)
By: Zoe,
on 11/17/2011
Having admitted that Christmas isn’t a major event for us in my previous post, you may be wondering why I’ve a second post so soon with Christmas in the title.
There’s a simple answer: David Lucas.
David Lucas is one of my very favourite illustrators (an appreciation which went only deeper after meeting him in the summer), and when I learned he had a new book out about Christmas I couldn’t resist it.
Christmas at the Toy Museum by David Lucas takes the cast and setting of his previous book Lost in the Toy Museum (my review is here) and explores what the toys in the Museum of Childhood get up to at Christmas.
Disappointed to discover the toys themselves have no presents waiting under the museum Christmas tree they come up with a novel but brilliant idea: “Let us not be downhearted! Why don’t we all give each other ourselves?”
The toys have great fun wrapping each other up in beautiful paper and sparkly boxes with ribbons and bows. Then they face the very difficult task (as any child will recognise) of waiting till morning to open their presents.
But there is a flaw in this plan; the very last toy to be unwrapped will have no present himself to open.
Fortunately, overnight the angel on the top of the Christmas tree foresees this situation and on Christmas morning flies down to offer Bunting, the toy with no gift to unwrap, something very special, very magical and full of hope. In fact it’s the sort of thing we might all wish for, although what it is, you’ll have to find out for yourself by getting hold of this beautiful book.
David’s story is simple and elegant, with a sprinkling of fairytale magic over the tale’s profound heart. Of course, for many children Christmas is all about getting new toys, but actually the value of giving each other, giving of themselves, ourselves, of giving time is inestimable, and is an important part of “true” Christmas spirit (both for people who have faith, and those who don’t).
Some readers may feel uncomfortable with this idea of giving yourself selflessly, but it’s an important theme for Lucas. It’s at the core of the first book I read by him – The Robot and the Bluebird – and David discusses different readers’ reactions to this book in
4 Comments on Fairytale (Christmas) stars and being selfless, last added: 11/18/2011
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 10/2/2011
By: Julie Fortenberry,
on 7/12/2011
By: Betsy Bird,
on 7/11/2011
Maybe half a year ago I mentioned that Ms. Lucy Knisley had created a cartoon poster for the first four Harry Potter books. Now with the final Potter movie coming out, the posters are at long last complete. They follow the plots of the books, not the films, but the look of the characters can be amusingly cinematic at times. And for the record, if I were a tattoo-minded dame, I would adore getting this image of Luna Lovegood and her pop.
But that’s not really my top news story of the day. How could it be? No the top news story is that it is once again time for the Summer Blog Blast Tour. Twice a year a cadre of bloggers for child and teen books gather together to interview some of the luminaries in the field. Chasing Ray has the round-up, so seek ‘em out and read ‘em up. I know I will.
When I lived in London for a time (it was like a little Intro to New York) I would periodically buy the newest issue of Time Out London and find interesting places to visit. One day the mag highlighted a toy museum. It was called The Museum of Childhood and it was fascinating. I was too intimidated to take any pictures, though, so I sort of forgot that I even went. Years have passed and I see that author/illustrator David Lucas has also been to that same museum and he has written about it in the post What do TOYS Think of Us? Stick around for the moment when he starts talking about panpsychism. Looking at all those ragamuffin bits of much loved cloth and felt reminds me of my library’s own original Winnie-the-Pooh. He is, after all, of the British persuasion.
By: Zoe,
on 6/16/2011
Have you ever wondered what happens to all the exhibits in a museum once the public have gone home, the doors are locked and the lights turned off?
In the Museum of Childhood, where David Lucas’ latest book, Lost in the Toy Museum is set, wondrous things happen after dark; all the toys come to life.
But the question is, do they have much fun?
Night after night Bunting the old toy cat calls the register, counts the toys, makes them do their exercises and checks for signs of wear and tear before lecturing his fellow exhibits on the museum’s history.
Marble Floor at the Museum of Childhood. Photo: V&A Museum of Childhood
But toys are made for playing, for having fun!
And so one night Bunting’s audience breaks rank. The toys run away, enticing poor old perplexed Bunting into a game of Hot or Cold, which despite its perils, ends up being rather a pleasure. And although it seems likely that Bunting will never manage to relinquish all his sense of responsibility and need for order, night times in the museum are going to be a whole lot more adventurous and enjoyable from now on!
Continuing a grand tradition of stories about toys coming to life (here’s an Amazon listmania list of such stories, to say nothing of Toy Story) and inevitably calling to mind The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc and the subsequent film, you might ask what does Lost in the Toy Museum add to the mix?
First and foremost for me is the tremedous beauty of David Lucas’ illustrations, full of pattern and colour. Then there’s the story which is perfectly pitched for the youngest listeners to enjoy with its simple text and pared down plot (although I’ve also read it to classes of 6 and 7 year olds and they’ve loved it too, going off at break time to play their own games of Hot and Cold). I love the fact that the toys, even though they are museum exhibits, want to play and have fun – exactly what toys should be all about (unlike the nasty dolls in the exhibition in Rumer Godden’s The Dolls’ House who simply want to be admired), and I’m utterly entranced by the fact that all the characters which appear in Lost in the Toy Museum are based on real exhibits in the Museum of Childhood; I can’t wait to take my girls to the museum with this book and play o
By: Mary Lee,
on 10/22/2008
We borrowed this book from the library a month ago & was a huge hit. Love the glitter stars too
Glad to hear your family has been enjoying it as much as ours Damyanti!
OH is a glitter foe, hates the stuff (he hates crumbs too); I am undecided LOL.
I really want to read this book (off to the library website to reserve it!)I will also email this post to my friend who is organising the Xmas storytime at the library for book group, I think she will love your ideas.
I’m thinking of using this book at school for storytime in December too – don’t know what the school’s policy is on glitter!