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Deakin Newsletter September 2005Newsletter and reviews written by Dr. Andrea Deakin. Picture Books
Every year monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico. Antoine O Flatharta describes the migration and the butterfly's cycle in a story about one of the butterflies who, on her trip south, befriends an old tortoise called Hurry. The time comes for the monarch to move on, and while Hurry falls asleep, hibernating for the winter, we follow her trip into Mexico and the warm green forest -- "the perfect place". In the spring the monarch returns to lay her eggs before she moves on. Hurry watches a caterpillar hatch and grow until another monarch emerges from his shell to see the world. "What do you think it is like?" he asks Hurry. "I imagine it is like my garden - a place full of astonishing things." This charming and effective introduction to the migration of the monarch butterfly is accompanied by delicate watercolours. These expand, with gentle wit, on the relationship between the tortoise and the butterfly while they make clear the cycle of the monarch's life and flight. There are some striking pages - the monarchs in flight, a cluster of butterflies on a tree branch, or the gentle intimacy of Hurry's garden. This is a striking, most effective marriage of writer and illustrator - a perfectly paced clear text and lovely watercolour illustrations.
Katya Arnold teaches art in a school in Brooklyn, but she also teaches art to elephants in Thailand. Her picture book is a description of both sets of pupils and as positive an introduction to her animal pupils as to her human ones. As less wood is being cut in Thailand there is less work for the elephants who haul the trees. No longer needed, the elephants have been dying out, but Katya Arnold and her husband, Alex Melamid, decided to help by teaching the animals to paint, and by selling the elephants' paintings to raise funds for the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project. The book, illustrated with photographs and examples of art work, compares and contrasts both sets of pupils, human and elephant, in an entertaining and sympathetic way that is bound to appeal to youngsters. Classes might well enjoy becoming engaged in the project, and the pictures the elephants paint, apart from the odd bit of paint that becomes oddly distributed, are revealing and often extraordinary. Some elephants, apparently, will paint trees and flowers, and there is a photograph of one such painting of blue flowers that has quite extraordinary movement. Individual children may well enjoy this book. I can certainly see its use in a classroom.
Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett have co-operated on another picture book biography following on their notable biography of Joan of Arc. This time the subject is Anne Frank, whose story is followed from her birth in Frankfurt, through the developments in Hitler's Germany until the Franks flee to Amsterdam. Even here, after a brief respite of normal life, the Franks find themselves in danger when Hitler invades the Netherlands. Through the kindness and care of Mr. Frank's Dutch assistant, Miep, the family is hidden until, almost at the end of the war, they are betrayed. Josephine Poole's clear straightforward text makes the story accessible to younger readers, and Angela Barrett's illustrations powerfully convey the change of mood as the family goes through the stresses and dangers of their situation. This is a notable retelling of Anne Frank's story for younger readers.
Meredith Hooper has written a series of information books for young readers, the latest of which, Tom Crean's Rabbit, draws on her personal experience, travelling on three occasions to work at Antarctic stations. She has been awarded the Antarctica Medal by the US Congress and is a Visiting Scholar at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge. None of the above makes her picture book the least bit intimidating. Indeed it is a delightful little tale based on the diaries of those who sailed on theTerra Nova. Tom Crean, a sailor on the Terra Nova during Scott's voyage to Antarctica in 1910, had a little pet rabbit. The picture book takes them both on a trip through the ship, searching for a cozy and safe place for the rabbit to sleep and, as it turns out, deliver her litter. As they look Bert Kitchen shows us how the ship is equipped, who the voyagers, including the animals, are, and how the crew prepares to celebrate Christmas. What appears to be the story of a pet rabbit becomes an introduction to crew and gear, a portrait of the vessel, and a two-page striking illustration and description of the Antarctic seas, complete with whales, seals and penguins. Meredith Hooper's gentle descriptive text and Bert Kitchen's finely detailed illustrations- few can depict the texture of animal’s skins and feathers as he- make for a very attractive picture books.
Stephen Biesty continues his invaluable series of cross-section reference books with an account of a journey undertaken by young Dedia and his father Wennefer down the Nile by boat from Elephantine to the mouth of the Nile at Piramesse. On the way Biesty gives us double spreads which depict the busy harbour at Elephantine, the quarries at Geber el-Silsila, Amun-Ra's temple at Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, the town of Deir el-Medina, Saqqara's step pyramid, and Ramses' palace at Piramese. In his now familiar style Biesty shows us the details of everyday life, the design and construction of buildings, and the intimate details of people conducting their business in both the buildings and the busy streets. These are illustrations for both adults and children to pore over and explore, presented in lively and minute detail. His previous book, Rome in Spectacular Cross Section (Oxford) was the winner of the UK Literacy Association Award for Non-Fiction 2004.
Little children are born with a natural response to rhythm and rhyme. Somewhere we let many of them down -- but it is still surprising how many can supply a rhyme or pen a line. Nursery rhymes, chants, singing games are all part of that same response; but as we become a little older and more aware we become more hesitant and more embarrassed about trying to rhyme. Well, for all those children who still want to try, or for all those children who have received the homework instruction, "write a short poem", here is not only sympathy but help. This dictionary is a collection of rhyming words, little poems by poet John Foster, and helpful, sympathetic, or just plain funny illustrations by Melanie Williamson and Rupert Van Wyk. Never mind writing homework, this dictionary is plain fun- and I have a wastepaper basket full of attempts while, if not Robert Browning or Ted Hughes, were amusing exercises. This book is recommended for children, teachers, budding poets, and those who enjoy a little creative exercise.
Body Language in Art is one of a series of books for young children that are designed to help them learn how to look at paintings. This volume asks children to look first at faces - Dolci's St. Catherine of Siena and Pablo Picasso's Weeping Woman - both dealing with suffering. Charles Le Brun's Terror depicts staring eyes, Peter Stanwick's Dead Shark shows shock. Next children are led to consider what hands convey. In Ferdinand George Waldermuller the hands of mother, child and grandmother are linked lovingly in The Grandmother's Birthday; or a tender touch of a hand indicates loving pride in Mark Gertler's The Rabbi and his Grandchild. Body pose is powerfully conveyed in John Steuart Curry's John Brown where, backed by tornado and fire, Brown bursts out from the canvas. Other works ask the child to look carefully for the message- a theft, a no nonsense approach to life, a plot being hatched. The brief text is clear and to the point and more thoughtful ways of looking at paintings are suggested in the seventeen canvases shown. Finally there is a brief description of each painting, when it was made, when the artists lived and where the paintings are on view. Fiction Books
Ellen decides that she will spend the summer writing a novel. After all there are characters all around her in the village of Partridge Cove. But what to write about? As the summer goes on, Ellen and her friend Jenny realize that there is something strange going on in the village, and it has to do with the water supply. The story unfolds over the next few weeks during which Ellen learns a great deal about human nature - greed, ambition and deceit all playing their part. Her environment has its own concerns. Ellen's mother has MS and should avoid stress, Ellen's younger twin brothers have definite views and are too often underfoot, petty irritations with her friends are caused by Ellen's habit of pointing out illogical arguments (her father teaches Philosophy). In the end none of these matter as friends and family draw together in the face of danger. We are to hear more of Ellen, something to look forward to, for strong intelligent characters and an exciting yet disciplined story line make Ellen Fremedon a book to challenge and intrigue young readers.
Poltergeists, sadness summoners, and chain rattlers, every ghost has some form of acceptable employment: but young Grey Arthur has not yet found his place. Bullied at his new school, lost in his new surroundings and insecure, Tom also has not yet found his place. Grey Arthur, watching Tom's miserable encounters, is suddenly sure of what he should be - Tom's invisible friend. He can deal with the bullies, take the signs off Tom's back and make sure he does not lose his books or pens. Then Tom has an accident, not too serious, thanks to Grey Arthur, but afterwards he suddenly becomes aware of his pale insubstantial friend. In the ghost world Tom has become famous; everyone wants to meet him, a situation which leads to some heart-stopping moments for poor Tom. However his odd friends and admirers will prove their full worth when Tom and Grey Arthur are in trouble. This is a very funny, well-paced and inviting story for 8-12's. Louise Arnold has woven her tale with skill and imagination. It would have been only too easy to go over the top with a story like this, but she maintains discipline with her innovation. Her characters, inviting young heroes Tom and Grey Arthur, Tom's parents and the hilarious entourage of ghosts, are not only lively and inventive- they are also compassionate and kind. I hope we shall see more of Tom and his incorporeal friend.
Young Eben is fascinated by the book that he is reading - a description of the Seven Wonders of the World. He longs to leave the small community of Sassafras Springs, go out into the world, and seek wonders for himself. His father makes him an offer, "You find yourself seven wonders right here in Sassafras Springs, and I'll buy you a ticket to go and see Molly and Eli and that mountain"( in Colorado). Pa gives him seven days. "I'll start tomorrow", states Eben and next morning sets out on his quest, a search some in town find amusing, some puzzling, and some downright annoying; but Eben persists and he finds his wonders. Betty G. Birney's novel is a complete delight, poignant, funny, down-to-earth, but illuminated by vivid and telling vignettes and graced with compassion and insight. Her characters will stay with you and the book - fated to become a classic.
War Horse was first published in 1982 and has been re-issued in paperback. It was a runner-up for the Whitbread Award. It is the story of a horse called Joey, a distinctive young red bay with a white cross emblazoned on his forehead and four white socks. In 1914 he is sold to the army from his farm. He takes part in battle charges, facing the grim reality of cannon fire and barbed wire. Running lose free after an engagement he is caught by the enemy and for a while pulls gun carriages and field ambulances, facing all with courage, until, eventually, he loses his way in No Man's Land. Through Joey's experiences the reader is exposed to the grim realities of that war- yet at secondhand; a limitation on the narrative that works well. It leads to a sympathy with the horse while holding the horror somewhat at bay, and allowing the reader to interact with the different people who at some time or other own Joey. War Horse reminds me of Black Beauty more than any other horse story I have come across, as the tightly knit dramatic narrative never loses sight of the character and experiences of its hero.
Moses, Me and Murder and The Doctor's Apprentice were the first novels in Ann Walsh's story of young Ted MacIntosh and early days in Barkerville. By the Skin of His Teeth is based on the accounts of the murder of Ah Mau in November 1870 and the subsequent trial. Ted is now seventeen and working with his father. Racial tension is high in the town where the Chinese population is treated with contempt. Little fuss will likely be made when Tremblay, an egotistical bully, is accused of the murder of Ah Mau, found stabbed to death on the steps of his restaurant. Tom, however, stands up for what he believes, supporting and protecting a young Chinese friend, putting himself on a collision course with Tremblay and the racist community. Ann Walsh always spins a good story, blending an amount of historical and cultural detail into her stories with skill and subtlety. Tremblay's type had many a small settlement afraid to express any opinion other than complete agreement with the racist, and sexist, attitudes of the time.
In The Edge of the Sword Rebecca Tingle used a fictitous incident to tell a stirring tale of the Lady of the Mercians - Alfred the Great's daughter, Aethelflaed. The story gave a vivid portrait of the princess's intelligence, determination, and vigour. Her new book, Far Traveler, introduces us to Aelfwyn, Aethelflaed's daughter. History tells us very little about Aelfwyn. When her mother died her uncle Edward, King of the West Saxons, removed her from Mercia, adding her kingdom to his own. After that Aelfwyn disappears from history. Rebecca Tingle takes the orphaned and dispossessed daughter of the great Lady of the Mercians and imagines a positive and credible fate for her. As with her first novel about the period, Rebecca Tingle is very able in bringing the time alive for us and, in the process, gives us an exciting tale of intrigue and courage with an engaging, intelligent and feisty heroine. This novel is bound to capture the imagination of any lover of history, and is one of only a handful of novels about this period available to young readers.
Diane Lee Wilson's novel, set just as Lincoln is about to be elected, is told in the words of young Colton Westcott. Colton and his family are in a wagon train making for California when his father accidentally shoots him and then rides off leaving the boy with two young sisters, a mother recovering from childbirth and a sickly baby. There is small help from the wagon train. Colton's father is white, his mother is black, and almost at once the boy realises that he is on his own. They make it to a small town where the lad, desperate to make some money, sees an advertisement for Pony Express riders. He is determined to be a Pony rider, but he will have to pass for white, and if his secret is discovered, he risks hanging. Colton needs the money to pay for a doctor for his mother, he has to get to California and take freedom papers to his mother's sister, a runaway slave. He needs this job.Colton is setting out with two disadvantages: winter is coming on, and there is talk of war, civil war. This is a gripping story complete with a breathtaking winter ride on the Pony Express trail over the Sierra Nevada. The tension rarely yields in a story that shows Colton learning to stand up for himself, and growing ever aware of the serious situation his country is in.
The Second Mrs. Giaconda was first published in 1975, and it makes a welcome re-appearance in this new paperback edition. So much that is good is being published today that earlier novels become forgotten and a reprint of a novel as outstanding as this one becomes a necessary reminder of past glories. Reading it again gave me the same pleasure, for this thoughtful insightful novel catches the imagination immediately with its portrait of Salai, the boy who goes on to be the lying, dissembling apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci sees more than the thief, though, in the grubby destitute boy, and as Salai tells the story we begin to recognize what it is. In this recreation of three intriguing characters - the apprentice, the artist and inventor whose exploring mind never lets him stay long enough at any project, and the plain Duchess with the beautiful character- the world of Renaissance Italy comes alive and we are drawn to understand why the Mona Lisa intrigues all who see her. In this recreation of three intriguing characters - the apprentice, the artist and inventor whose exploring mind never lets him stay long enough at any project, and the plain Duchess with the beautiful character- the world of Renaissance Italy comes alive and we are drawn to understand why the Mona Lisa intrigues all who see her. Poetry
"So what's it like to be a cat?" asks the interviewer, a small red-headed boy with notebook in hand. "I'm very glad you asked me that" answers his cat, his eager face gazing upward, eyes wide open and ears at alert. It is as if he has been waiting for this opportunity for quite some time. What follows is a lively interplay between boy and cat which is gradually dominated by the energetic cat's wild expressions of leaping and prancing. The poetic text, with its very real appreciation of feline ways, moves with energy and wit. Betsy Lewin's illustrations elaborate on the situation with laugh-aloud comic illustrations that anyone who has a cat cannot fail to appreciate. From the upside down cat and the inquisitive small boy on the front cover to the collection of cat poses at the back, this book is a hoot and will give pleasure to cat lovers of every age. Reprints
The Jungle Book was first published over a hundred years ago and has been a firm favourite with children ever since. Many illustrators have brought Mowgli, Bagheera, Baloo and Kaa and the jungles of India to life, often with strong vigorous portraits. Nicola Bayley trained originally as a miniaturist and has illustrated many finely detailed books for children like The Mousehole Cat, The Mouldy, and Katje The Windmill Cat (shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal). Her delicacy of line, fine detail, and amazingly textured work depicting animals, is all shown off to great effect here. On the whole the illustrations are small and delicate. There is a miniature portrait of a peacock, his feathers fanning out from behind the rugged rock face on which he is perched; the smooth flowing coils of Kaa's body curl along the forest floor, Bagheera is swimming in a pool surrounded by water lilies, or suddenly there is a larger picture where the violent power of the black panther fights off the monkeys. Humour and totalrelaxation suffuse her portrait of Baloo rolling around on the forest floor, and there is magic in the small painting of the baby Mowgli among the wolves, calling under a full moon. These are small delicate pictures which give an intimate view of Mowgli's world as well as suggesting the power and the violence that is in the jungle. AwardsThe Guardian Award for Children's Fiction: Shortlist
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