Recently the very talented Cinti from My Poppet had a spectacular trip to Japan. While she was away Katie did a guest post for her on the My Poppet blog about one of our very special new books in our store, The Secret Circus by Johanna Wright.
Pop over to the My Poppet blog to see Katie’s review of this gorgeous book and to find out more about the author and illustrator Johnna Wright.
Did you know that Alfie, that endearing little character created by Shirley Hughes in the 80′s, turns 30 this year?
I adore Alfie, actually all of Shirley Hughes’ work really. Dogger, which I have written about before on the blog, is one of those books that I can remember vividly from my childhood.
I was thrilled a year or so ago when I picked up a copy of The Alfie Treasury in an op shop in amazing condition for a couple of dollars. Ned has treasured it.
The reason that Alfie is endearing is because he is so like every pre school child. Children can relate to him as his stories are normal everyday occurrences in their lives. He gets new shoes, gets locked in the house, he gets babysat, goes to a birthday party and plays with his little sister, Annie Rose.
Shirley’s illustrations are comforting and homely. Her detail is delightful, there is always so much going on in each picture that you can pour over for hours and still see something new.
Each story has connections from another story. For example when Alfie is being babysat by Mrs MacNally’s Maureen his new yellow boots from the previous story Alfie’s Feet are sitting in the hall next to the stroller.
Our favourite Alfie story has to be Alfie Gets In First. Alfie and mum and Annie Rose are coming home from the shops. Annie Rose is tired, mum is flustered and Alfie runs through the front door banging it behind him leaving mum and Annie Rose on the front steps.
Alfie can’t reach the handle to open the door and soon the whole neighborhood is involved in trying the get the door open.
I love this story because I know how mum feels and how easily this could happen to us and Ned loves it for the same reason. He totally relates to Alfie’s predicament and we often talk about what it would be like if it did happen to us.
Last month children’s book museum, The Illustration Cupboard in London, had an exhibition to celebrate 30 years of Alfie.
Watch this clip of Shirley Hughes explaining some of the illustrations displayed in the exhibition – one of which is one of the illustrations from Alfie Get’s In First.
Happy birthday Alfie! We love you.
If you’d like some more Alfie then pop over to the website that publisher Random House UK have set up for the 30th anniversary. The website has some great colour and activity printables that are perfect for the school holidays.
I just received some lovely new-to-me Golden Books of eBay. ABC Rhymes I’ve seen before, but I’d never come across Play Street or The Little Golden Book of Mother Goose.
When I saw the cover of Play Street, I was immediately reminded of the illustrations of Eloise Wilkin – author and illustrator of many Little Golden Books, including A Child’s Garden of Verses, We Like Kindergarten and Prayers for Children. Jane Werner Watson, who edited and wrote hundreds of Golden Books, called Eloise Wilkin “the soul of Little Golden Books”.
But Play Street was written by Esther Wilkin and illustrated by Joan Esley. A little research into these two revealed some interesting collaboration. Esther Wilkin was the sister of Eloise, who were born Eloise and Esther Burns, and they married two brothers Wilkins. Eloise was friends with Joan Esley and they opened a studio together and later moved to New York city together. I love the thought of the shared careers of these three, working together, helping each other in an era when few women were working, let along making names for themselves as leaders in their careers.
This is a gorgeous story, if you don’t already know it – how’s this for a classic 50s opener?
It was all very quiet on on Butternut Lane. The mothers were busy with their housework and the babies were taking their mid-morning naps. Bobby was riding his tricycle.
Against a backdrop of a classic US streetscape, is a tale of make believe – each of the littlies of Butternut Lane rides his or her trike imaging they are driving a vehicle. Until the roving policeman stops them as they are starting to make so much noise!
The Little Golden Mother Goose collects 75 Mother Goose rhymes – I’m amazed that I’ve heard of most of them but lovely to read a few new ones too.
I’m a very happy e-Bayer…
Unpersuaded by my alternative suggestions, Rowan was determined to have a superhero theme for his 4th birthday party. I admire parents who can persuade their 4-year-olds to have a party theme of an adult’s choosing… Thus far, I’m not one of them.
At least I get a say over the cake…
Inspired by Harry and Horsie, first blogged about by Lou right here.
Of all the superheros, Harry might just have to be my favourite. Katie Van Camp and Lincoln Agnew capture the spirit of little boys becoming super heros and cleverly sidestep the fighting and guns, with a ‘super duper bubble blooper’…
(Did you know Harry is a celebrity baby of sorts? I just discovered this.)
It was very wet and very cold on the day of Rowan’s party, and despite four-year-old energy levels and being cooped up in the garage for most of the party, Rowan and his friends were absorbed by a reading of Harry and Horsie.
The costumes were calling out for a photo, a la the cover of Play All Day.
But the highlight? A patch of sunshine and a good half an hour of ‘superhero flying’: jumping off the slide and into the beanbag.
A friend asked me a while ago if I remembered the Barbapapa books and where she could get some… Of course I do remember this lovable family of characters, who are absolutely quintessential 1970s fun.
Originally published in French by Parisian couple Annette Tison and Talus Taylor, they were published in many languages. The French editions are still in print, but the English ones are not, to the benefit of eBay sellers! It’s hard to score a copy of one of these small staple-bound volumes here for under $40… I was lucky to pick up this copy of The Egg and Barbazoo recently for less – but a lot more than the price on the cover of 10c!
A Netherlands cartoon version of the Barbapapas was also produced and these days the characters have been wholeheartedly adopted in Japan, I found lots of gorgeous merchandise when I was there.
Barbapapas are blob-like shapeshifters. Each member of the family has a different passion and can turn themselves into all manner of useful shapes in line with that passion: Barbalala loves music, Barbabeau loves art, Barbalib loves books. And Barbazoo? Well he loves animals! And in this story he finds some eggs.
He can’t find who they belong to so he changes himself into a chicken to sit on the eggs… Barbabelle features too…
Simple stories, somewhat quirky text and the brightest of naive illustrations contribute to the overall happy feel. The Barbapapas are also attributed with an environmental messages well before their time. Perhaps this is why they are such sought-after collectors’ items now. Anyone have any copies lurking in their shelves??
For some lovely Barbapapa links, check out these crochet cuties on Meet Me At Mikes and an AMAZING craft project building a house for the family on Playing By the Book.
Our favourite pig is making a long awaited comeback to bookshelves later this year. It has been three years long years since Ian Falconer gave us the last Olivia book.
The new book is Olivia Goes to Venice…
Olivia said to her mother with an edge of hysteria in her voice, “Oh please – OH, PLEASE MOTHER – can’t we live in a palazzo on the Grand Canal?”
You can see these illustrations better here
Ian Falconer has also illustrated an adult David Sedaris book that is also due later in 2010. The book is called Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary and this is from the books description – In “The Toad, the Turtle, and the Duck,” three strangers commiserate about animal bureaucracy while waiting in a complaint line. In “Hello Kitty,” a cynical feline struggles to sit through his prison-mandated AA meetings. In “The Squirrel and the Chipmunk,” a pair of star-crossed lovers is separated by prejudiced family members.
Thanks to Sara O’Leary for the prompt to write this post.
See more here
I was very excited to discover this year’s program for the Little Big Shots International Film Festival for Kids. Some of our favourite picture books are going to be included on the big screen! The beloved Oliver Jeffer’s book, Lost and Found AND the classic Mo Willems picture book Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Here’s a wrap-up of the book-related highlights and scroll down for a chance to win a double pass…
I missed seeing Lost and Found when it was aired here on Christmas Day last year – but now that there’s the chance to see it on the big screen, I’m kind of glad to wait! You can read more about our reactions to the trailer for this multi-award-winning animation at our previous posts here and here. It will screen at the festival as part of Big Shots, Small Packages 3 (for 4 to 10 year olds) .
The animation of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus features the voice talent of picture book veteran, Jon Scieszka and Mo Willems himself. The short film won the American Association for Library Service to Children Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Home Video. Find out what Mo Willem thought about it all on his blog. The animation will screen at the festival as part of Big Shots, Small Packages 1 (for 2 to 5 year olds).
Another picture book adaptation will also feature, with the Australian premiere of The Bake Shop Ghost, based on this book by Jacqueline Ogburn and Marjorie A. Priceman. The film trailer is just as delicious and spooky as you would expect, and stars Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives’ Karen McCluskey) and Academy Award nominee Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace’s Vivian Johnson). It will be part of the Big Shots Small Packages 5 (for 6 to 10 year olds). Check out the trailer here:
Now that most of my film festival attendance is stymied by the necessity of babysitters, and my own sleep deprivation, Little Big Shots seems like a brilliant way to combine international cinema with parenting. The films are aimed at children aged 2 and up; perfect for sharing that other-worldly experience of cinema with toddlers and preschoolers (minus the leisuirely dinner at a funky restaurant before and drinks after …)
Each screening of the festival includes an informative introductory session, and there is access to an education kit, designed to encourage kids to think further about the films, as well as the craft of filmmaking. There is also a film reviewing competition and the top ten film reviewers are awarded a spot on the festival’s 10-member children’s jury for the following year!
Need any more inspiration to get to the festival? Check out their trailer here:
We have a generous number of double passes to give away to three of the screenings of the Big Shots Small Packages 3 (for children aged 4 to 10). To win, leave a comment on this post with the title of a picture book that you would love to see adapted for the big screen…
Double passes will be for screenings at Melbourne’s Fed Square on Wednesday 9 June at 10am, Thursday 10 June at 1.15pm or Friday 11 June at 11.30am.
