I steal my children's ARCs. Sometimes, when they're in bed at night with their new books clutched in their hands, I pry their fingers loose and sneak the books downstairs to read.
J and E are members of the Harper Kids First Look Program. Every month, they go to a website and choose the titles they'd like to read from a list of books on offer. Harper has a drawing and sends them the ARCs to review if they win. Cool, huh?
Except grownups aren't allowed to participate. Just kids. Which forces me to stand over their shoulders when they log on each month, saying things like, "Ooohhh...don't you want to read that one? I really think you'd like that one. Look how exciting it looks. You really ought to let them know that you'd like to review that one..." Sometimes it works out beautifully.
Like last month... when E scored ARCs of two books that I absolutely LOVED. Both walk the line between genres -- mixing text and illustration in creative ways that bring even more life to already lively stories.
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat, due out in June, is by Chris Riddell of Edge Chronicles fame. It's the kind of book you might imagine if Roald Dahl and Brian Selznick had teamed up on a graphic novel. Ottoline is a young girl whose parents travel the world and leave her home in the family townhouse in the care of a friendly, hairy creature-person named Mr. Monroe. I loved the characters in this book. Ottoline's a little like Pippi Longstocking -- brave and funny and always up for an adventure. And Mr. Monroe.... well, he was so cute I want to adopt him and keep him as a lap dog. Ottoline and Mr. Monroe team up to solve the mystery of a string of neighborhood burglaries -- a plot that is brought to life by the abundant and amazing illustrations. This one was well worth the grief I got from my daughter when she found out I stole it.
Then I had to wait a while to read The Curse of Addy McMahon by Katie Davis because E wouldn't let it out of her sight until she finished. Like Ottoline, this book mixes text and illustrations in a way that's sure to grab even the most reluctant readers. Sixth graders, in particular, are going to love this one because it's the perfect mix of humor and the honest-to-goodness angst that's part of starting middle school. I've already recommended this one as a purchase for our school library. Addy McMahon has a lot to deal with as she makes that transition -- a father who died of cancer, a mother whose icky boyfriend is moving in, and an email disaster that nearly costs her her best friend. Add it all up, and Addy's convinced that she's curse. What middle school kid hasn't felt that way?
Addy is both a talented writer and illustrator -- just like author Katie Davis -- so the book's narrative is told in part through Addy's "autobiograstrip," an autobiography in comic book form. Full disclosure time... I met Katie Davis at a writers retreat this winter and thought she was fantastically funny and smart and energetic, so I fully expected to like this book. It didn't disappoint, and it's going to be a terrific title for other kids making that leap from elementary school to middle school. They'll appreciate the warmth and honesty as well as its creative format.
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By: Kate Messner,
on 4/26/2008
Blog: Kate's Book Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book review, harper collins, first look program, Add a tag
By: Valerie Walsh,
on 10/19/2007
Blog: ValGal Art (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Valerie Walsh, grow, Australian flowers, illustration, Illustration Friday, Valerie Walsh, grow, Australian flowers, Add a tag
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By: Kate Messner,
on 4/26/2008
Blog: Kate's Book Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: book review, harper collins, first look program, Add a tag
By: Valerie Walsh,
on 10/19/2007
Blog: ValGal Art (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Valerie Walsh, grow, Australian flowers, illustration, Illustration Friday, Valerie Walsh, grow, Australian flowers, Add a tag
My submission for Illustration Friday's "grow" is from an illustration I did this week for a beautiful lady who has her own cosmetics label. The companies name fits in the open space that is the sky and all of these flowers are used in the products and are from Australian flowers that promote well being and growth. Each flower will imbue the wearer with positive feelings, will help eliminate fear and celebrate your beauty. Art is a great job because it helps you to grow as a being, you learn so much about things you might miss out on.
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This is such a beautiful, happy illustration! And a beuatiful label!
Those are beautiful flowers indeed.....and I agree with you about what you said about art.
So precious Val! and I agree :)
Gee. I wouldn't want to pee on that. I just want to watch. Pax et Amo. Bad Dog
very beautiful. i like your comments too
Very beautiful !
Oh yes, growing beautifully!
Soft and beautiful Val.
Lot of nice work on here...like the clean linework and detailing...really like blues and juggle...nice...
Another beautiful image, Val. I wish I could see it more close up to see all the detail that you put into it.
great label, and I guess, packaging...I agree w' you about art and growt...
(Australian flowers=Bach's flowers?)
Very pretty. ;-)
wonnnderful fairy! she is fabulous and surrounded by such lovely flowers in the val garden.... :))
Val, this is so beautiful! Lots and lots of lovely flowers surrounding the equally lovely garden centerpiece. And your thoughts about art are so true!
val i think this is one of my fav of yours maybe cause its so different from your other style
How beautiful and what a wonderful product this must be. Actually I get that good feeling just from looking at your painting.
What a beautiful label for natural products from the garden! I see the fairy is the gatherer, snipping away with her tiny scissors. I also love the yellow background, a great choice. Very, very nice Val!
Happy ... yes, that is exactly what this piece feels like.♥
Wonderful piece! Perfect. I'm sure that your client is thrilled with your design.
Beautiful piece of work, Val, and I agree with you totally about the incidental things you find out about when you're doing artwork and researching images.
What a classy label. If I had a product, I'd chose you too.
Hope you are safe! Val, hearing about these Malibu fires made me think of you. Have you been affected at all???
I do think I'll go to the opening of that gallery. It sure was nice to be chosen. Might you go?
Gorgeous! I bet she's tickled to put those labels on her products! Nice work!
This is lovely. And I need some of those products she is selling!
wow! i love it, val!
awww that is so sweet; and a different - kind of oriental feeling to it. you are so versitale!
Honestly, I am not sure how to read this. It is nice and makes me want to submerge myself in a lemon meringue pie.
I view the wonderful crafted tiles of the roof and I trace the vines until I see a window (?) or a board (?) and for me I stop there. It is enough information to just look at. Possibly the addition of conflicting object could top it off, but otherwise I think you have two separate good pieces combined together.
Of course it could be just me feeling overall guilty for not going to the gym and eating yummy foods... thinking about pie.
Love the yellows! So bright and cheerful.
What a Beautiful illustration and a great project to be involved in.
What a lovely picture! The colors and details are great. I really like the contrast between the black fairy and the colorful background. Nice.
Lovely as always.
Val this is perfect in everyway. You did an excellent job of fitting everything in. I love the fairy figure in the middle. The figure really just sets the whole label off. Great Job!
So very delicate and how appropriate for this week's theme. Wonderful!
Exquisite!
Lindo siempre!!!!
nice weekend
You are totally right.. Art helps you to grow in a lot of ways.. I agree with the rest.. Happy Illustration.. :)