Category: Maker

Sip Slowly

12/16/2019

Straw by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ill by Scott Magoon

Not everything’s a race. Some things are meant to be savored.

First there was a Spoon, then Chopsticks, and now Straw joins the trio of picture books featuring eating implements. Amy Krause Rosenthal’s fertile imagination gives Straw a distinctive personality and character trait. That’s right. Straw is his name so a capital letter is in order.
Here’s the thing: Straw has a compulsion to be first. He measures his consumption in relationship to the nearby straws, constantly comparing himself to others. With help from friends, he learns to slow down and savor the moment.
The text is chock full is delightful word play. "I think what you're feeling is called awe, Straw." Gentle message. Charming characters. It's better than a thick milkshake with whipped cream and cherry on top.

Scott Magoon's illustrations capture the anxiety of wanting to be first. He injects whimsy into the narrative, giving the straws expressive faces and body posture. Who knew a paper drinking straw could be so dramatic?

Straw’s tubular shape is highlighted with imaginative page design and orientation, inviting readers to turn the book and look at things in a new way,

There are not-so-subtle homages to the author scattered throughout. A mug of AKR root beer, a glass of lemonade with a cheery sunshine logo, even her signature yellow umbrella makes an appearance.

Making Things

Amy Krouse Rosenthal liked to make things: books, films, salads, something out of nothing, and wishes. This list is paraphrased from the foundation website.

In this spirit of making, I tried making things with drinking straws. Armed with a handful of plastic straws and my trusty glue gun, I got to work. Here are the results: A cardboard box maze, ready for a marble race. Mini rockets that launch with a puff of air. A tiny easel that holds a name card. Try having a marble maze relay or a rocket launch competition. Finish with a milkshake. Sip slowly.

Eat Up

Sample these Amy Krouse Rosenthal picture books.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: January 4, 2020 Publisher: Disney-Hyperion ISBN: 978-1484749555

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Weird on Top of Weird. Squared.

10/22/2019

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Weird Little Robots
by Carolyn Crimi ill by Corinna Luyken

Real live robots and their pet squirrel. It's like weird on top of weird squared.

Penny Rose is lonely. In the past, she has always enjoyed friendships with other children in her neighborhood. Now everything has changed. Her family moved and she can't connect with any of her new classmates. She spends her free time sequestered in the shed in her family’s backyard, creating a collection of tiny robots from found objects: outdated technology, broken bits and pieces, even a set of false teeth. She names each creation and fills her days tinkering with these mini-friends.

Then she meets her nerdy neighbor Lark. A budding ornithologist, Lark has a yard brimming with an incredible collection of birdhouses created from assorted curiosities that the birds leave for her,

Lark wasn’t afraid to let her weirdness show, and Penny Rose thought that was very brave.

The two loners combine their shared resources and talents to create roboTown, an intricate metropolis for robots, complete with multilevel buildings, lights, and a battery-operated elevator. One night they discover that the robots have come to life.

Every story must have a dark moment and it arrives for Penny Rose in the form of a mysterious invitation to join a Secret Science Society. In a moment of weakness, Penny Rose shares her robots with members of the secret group. She does this without the knowledge or consent of Lark, betraying the trust of her best friend and the magical robots. There are consequences. Most of the robots are stolen, roboTown demolished, and her friendship with Lark damaged.

In the process of attempting to reclaim and repair broken relationships and the lifeless toys, Penny Rose makes her own discoveries: What does it mean to be friend? What is science? Can all mistakes be fixed?

Crimi brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, including a miraculous recovery of one robot and a repaired friendship. But she leaves a few threads open. Does this mean that there will be more adventures for Penny Rose, Lark, and their robots? Count my vote for an absolutely, positively, without a doubt yes. More Weird Little Robots. More Penny Rose and Lark. Please.

There are so many things to love about this charming little tale of friendship and creativity, science and magic. The girls are interesting and interested in the world around them. But it's the robots who steal the show. There's iPam, made from a cell phone. Her cracked screen displays text messages to the girls. Fraction, the friendly bot, is an old calculator with a heart-shaped sticker, Clunk with a meat thermometer head atop a transistor radio takes over plugging in the lights. Sharpie created from a pair of old dentures, can sometimes be a bit grouchy. Data with a marble eye keeps watch out the window. She can see the future.
I absolutely adore these robots!

Luyken's full page illustrations accentuate the story's magic. She captures the essence to the two girls and the distinctive personality of the robots. Images of roboTown glow with the wonder of the girl's imaginations and cast a bewitching spell over the tale.

Build Your Own Robot

Penny Rose loved the idea of dressing up in the same costume for Halloween..."We'll be Best Friends Robots!"

The girls want to dress up as robots for Halloween.
Although their plans fall through, young readers can create a cardboard robot costume and make their own magic.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 1, 2019 Publisher: Candlewick ISBN: 978-0763694937

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Monster Mash

7/2/2019

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My Big Bad Monster by A. N. Kang

What should one do when that first little niggling notion of self-doubt creeps into one's mind?

Author/illustrator A. N. Kang envisions this uncertainty as a monster. It begins as a tiny squiggle escaping from a young girl's line drawing. When she steps back to examine her finished art, the scrawl leaps off of the floor, confronting the artist and her finished work. The monster's mocking laugh shames the youngster and compels her to obliterate her drawing with dark scribbles.

The monster moves on, taking residence on her head with derogatory thoughts about her appearance, her performance in school, and her playmates. Each negative thought that the girl accepts feeds the monster and causes it to grow larger. The influence is so pervasive, that this sweet little girl is in danger of becoming a monster herself.

Quite by accident, she discovers a solution to her problem. Noise causes the monster to cower under the table. She wonders: what if she were to create a series of interesting sounds? Our inventive problem-solver sets to work with pipes and pans, bottles and spoons. Viola! She makes her own "spectacular” sound. The music is a welcoming invitation for others to join her in making music and making friends.

Kang uses expressive faces and an economy of words to tell the tale. The menacing squiggle of a monster contrasts with the girl's masses of red curls. As the monster grows, it covers the entire two-page spread. When music overpowers
negativity, the spunky little music-makers completely replace the monster and fill the pages with their unique sound effects.

My Big Bad Monster is a charming picture book celebrating overcoming destructive thinking and making one's own music.

Think Positive Picture Books

The Brain Storm by Linda Ragsdale Ill by Claudio Molina

Grumpy Pants by Claire Messer

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: July 2, 2019 Publisher: Disney-Hyperion ISBN: 978-1484728826

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Story Stork

11/27/2018

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Babies. Beautiful babies. Anticipating the arrival of an infant is often a joyful occasion. Creating handmade items for mothers expecting the arrival of a little one is one of life's pleasures

Here's the small "fish" shaped cap I knit for a newborn whose parents are aficionados of the seashore. I decided to make this a thematic gift and include a few other items related to fish. It proved to be a terrific idea.

I wondered: Could I create thematic baby gift packages featuring my handcrafted items? If so, what would I include?
The answer was simple: board books.
Viola! a small, actually a teeny tiny, cottage industry was created:
Story Stork
The premise: pair a board book with a handknit infant hat. I was in business. The knitting needles began to fly. I would match cute little head toppers with a charming board book that would be just the right size and shape for chubby hands.
Heads up. Hands down. This is one great gift idea!

Making and printing Story Stork tags to accompany each gift was the finishing touch.
I like the idea of giving books to expectant mothers. It's never too early to begin cultivating a love for books and stories.
Story Stork. Coming to a baby shower near you.

The Story Continues

After I moved to South Texas, warm woolen items became a bit more problematic. The summer heat presented the opportunity for Story Stork to branch out and create something new.
Embroidered little cotton shirts and onesies are better suited to this temperate climate.
It is fun to coordinate the gift wrap. I like to use pages from picture book galleys as wrapping paper. The excess paper strips make eye-popping decorative bows.
The Story Stork strikes again!

Bonus

Incorporating children's books into gifts doesn't need to be limited to gifts for babies. For many years I have participated in the Red Scarf Project, knitting red scarves to be included in care packages to foster care students.
I include a personalized gift tag that features Jon Klassen's art from the award-winning Extra Yarn. (Note on the card attributes the art.)