The menagerie of animals that comprise the cast of characters for this book include a fox, a chicken, a rooster, a rabbit, and a bear. Bidding a fond farewell to their friends, fox and chicken, the other animals row across the water in a small boat and end up capsized on a strange island. The rooster becomes entranced with what appears to be a glowing orb, and runs off with it in a nefarious way. It turns out that the orb is not just an unusual sphere, and the entire gang enjoys a happily ever after ending. The illustrations are sure to charm a wide range of readers because they create a characterization that is equally silly and sly. The Treasure Thief by Beatrice Rodriguez. New Zealand: Gecko Press, 2011. [9781877467844]
I did not understand this story at all, even after multiple readings, so I rely on the interpretation provided by the White Ravens 2014 catalog. This book is a retelling of a well-known fairy tale by Charles Perrault called "Little Thumb," which is "laid out in a narrow horizontal format." The catalog justifies its inclusion by noting that "Roman-born illustrator Giovanna Ranaldi captures the gloomy, violent mood of Perrault's tale well by keeping to a black, white, and grey palette and adding occasional expressive red accents. The drastically simplified and abstracted pictures do not recount the plot in a traditional way, but focus instead on symbolising key moments and motifs in a more figurative way. This is a fascinating picture book for all ages." Pulgarcito [Little Thumb] by Charles Perrault and Giovanna Ranaldi. Spain: Milimbo, 2013. [9788494021916]
Multiple readings of this story may be required to get a deeper understanding of its meaning. The artwork contains a lot of beautiful details, but upon first review, the basic plot will be uncovered: a unicycle-riding witch doesn't fit in with her flock of broom-flying friends, and is banished from the group after being distracted by a small bird in her path. The two develop an unlikely friendship, and are assisted by a lonely scarecrow who facilitates an astonishing ending. The book creator's website says that he is currently "obsessed with three concepts: the ambiguous, the improbable, and the uncertain." This book addresses all three of those ideas. La Bruja y El Espantapajaros [The Witch and the Scarecrow] by Gabriel Pacheco. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2001. [9786071606785]
Bold black, white, red, and yellow pictures show a chicken preparing to lay an egg, laying and sitting on the egg, watching the egg hatch, and nurturing its new baby chick. The story is simple, and the most fascinating part is when the pages alternate from what is happening outside of the egg to what is happening inside as the baby develops. The back of the edition that I reviewed (copyright 1969) says "This is a book without words. The child applies the words. This technique was tested on groups of children in New York City who experienced the excitement of the modern way - the discovery approach. Iela and Enzo Mari are two artist-designers who have devoted much time to the field of visual education." L'Uovo e La Gallina [The Chicken and the Egg] by Iela & Enzo Mari. Italy: Babalibri, 2004. [9788883620942]
Originally published in 1970, the illustrations in this book are old-fashioned. This may appeal to some readers, but be a turnoff to others. After getting up on the wrong side of the bed, Johnny starts his day in a grumpy mood. He behaves poorly and is reprimanded by his mother. Other unpleasant and unfortunate events follow until Johnny finds a coin. He contemplates buying himself some candy, but elects to purchase some flowers for his mom instead. This repairs their relationship and presumably turns the day around. This book did not resonate well with me, but I imagine others will have different perspectives. Johnny's Bad Day by Edward Ardizzone. United Kingdom: Nissan, 2008. [9780370015330]
This basic board book shows what life is like on a farm in the country. The series that this book is part of was created to help children look at the world around them. Books in the series use images so that children can see scenes of everyday life and recognize familiar objects; express what they see, think, or want, in relation to things suggested by the drawings; observe and compare the images with the real environment; remember situations they have experienced or imagined; and invent or draw stories of their own. El Camp [The Countryside] by Roser Capdevila. Spain: La Galera Editorial, 1994. [9788424613013]
You don't need to know anything about art, museums, London, or Delft to enjoy this exciting romp. You just need to enjoy watching a boy dash into the National Gallery to escape some mean kids, befriend a dog that has jumped out of a Van Eyck painting, and time travel with his new companion through a Vermeer canvas before returning to the museum (and the streets of London) to continue his day. The plot will keep readers turning the pages, and the details in the illustrations provide readers with an opportunity to find new objects of interest with each re-reading. USBBY'S 2013 Outstanding International Books list, called "The Literary Equation: USBBY's Outstanding International Books Connect Kids Worldwide" includes this title because the "adventure is told in lively, wordless cartoon style." The Hero of Little Street by Gregory Rogers. Australia: Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, 2012. [9780596437296]
