Sunday, January 20, 2008

The Monster who did my Math by Danny Schnitzlein Illus. by Bill Mayer


Summary: "When a monster offers to help a boy who is afraid of numbers by doing his math homework, the boy eagerly signs a contract and agrees to pay later, but the first time he is asked to solve a problem in class and cannot, he realizes he has gotten no bargain."


This is one of the best children's picture books I've read lately and the illustrations are great! Even the illustrator has writing talent if he wrote his own summary for the illustrations on the CIP page. "The illustrations were produced by dipping a tranquilized squid into small vats of liquified, colored chalks and randomly applying him (or was it her?) to pencil sketches on carrot paper. Then hairbrushing."



Thursday, January 10, 2008

Toy Boat

I just love the illustrations in this book. They are by Loren Long. He takes us on a journey with Toy Boat when he is seperated from his boy and travels out into stormy and chaotic seas. The illustrations in acrylic take the reader along on this journey safely returning to the boy in the end. Remember this book when thinking about the art in childrens' picture books. If I had had a son I would frame a copy of the cover of this book and it would be hanging in his room.