Last weekend, my
5-y-o nephew and 3-y-o niece visited. I left a stack of picture books on the
coffee table. Out of 20 books, The Terrible Plop was the big hit. It’s a perfect
read-aloud with fun rhythm and rhyme.
Summary “When
Isabel and her family move to the United States, Isabel misses all the things
she left behind in Mexico, especially her aunt Lupita and hearing people speak
Spanish. But she also experiences some wonderful new things--her first snow
storm and a teacher who does not speak Spanish but has a big smile. Even
better, Papa and her brother Chavo help her turn a big box into her own quiet
place, where she keeps her books and toys and writes letters to Aunt Lupita. As
she decorates and adds more and more on to her quiet place, it is here that
Isabel feels the most at home in her new country while she learns to adjust to
the changes in her life.”
The Story begins
April 5, 1957 Dear Auntie Lupita, Here is my first letter in English. I am going to practice my new language by writing to you. Thank you for your letter in Spanish.
I love how Sarah Stewart shares the whole story through letters from Isabel. The illustrations by David Small add another layer of emotion through Isabel's expression and color tones. Resources for Teachers: Activities and Discussion Topics
Sarah Stewart reads an excerpt from The Quiet Place. If you wish to watch the entire interview with her husband David Small, go to Meet the Author/Illustrator Team
Visit Susanna Leonard Hill's blog for a complete list of today's Perfect Picture: HERE!
“Acclaimed
author and illustrator Christopher Myers uses rich black-and-white illustrations
to bring a sketchbook to life, showing that with a simple pen, a kid can do
anything!”
Favorite
lines on the first spread
“Sometimes I feel small when I see those rich and
famous people.
But then I remember I have my pen.”
I love the diverse stories Christopher Myers has illustrated. Here are a few.
Resources
for Teachers
"Christopher
Myers comes from a long line of creative storytellers. In this exclusive video
interview with Reading Rockets, Christopher Myers talks about his Brooklyn
neighborhood, his work, and how reading touches every part of his life."
Visit Susanna Leonard Hill's blog for a
complete list of today's Perfect Picture: HERE!
“Join
an adventurous rabbit and his animal friends as they journey over steep
mountain peaks, through bustling cityscapes, and down long, winding roads to
discover the magical worlds that await them just outside their doors. This book
celebrates the possibilities that lie beyond the next bend in the road – the
same road that will always lead you home again.”
The Story begins
When it’s
time for a journey, to learn and to grow,
roads
guide your footsteps wherever you go.
Resources for Teachers:
* Have a class discussion
on urban vs. rural environments, or geography.
* Wherever You Go:
Graduation Event Kit for ages K - 12
Did
you include any illustration notes in your manuscript? If not, when do you use
illustration notes?
Pat Zietlow Miller:
Thank you
for your question. You are right that Eliza Wheeler and I did not interact at
all while she was working on the art for the story. So I was thrilled to read
her blog post about the process, as well. I am not artistic, so I was
fascinated to see exactly how she created something so beautiful.
I did not
include any illustration notes in the text for WHEREVER YOU GO when my agent
submitted it to editors. I purposefully wanted to leave it open to
interpretation, and I knew it could be illustrated several ways.
So when
Connie Hsu was interested in acquiring the manuscript, we talked on the phone
about different directions the art could possibly take. Then, she and Little,
Brown art director Patti Ann Harris put their heads together and found Eliza
Wheeler and I had no further involvement until I saw her lovely sketches.
Sometimes,
people hear that and are concerned. “But weren’t you worried the art wouldn’t
be what you wanted?” they ask. And my answer is honestly, “No.”
I usually
don’t see pictures in my head when I write, and I am more than willing to let a
professional illustrator and art director take my story and make it even better
by applying all the knowledge and expertise they have that I do not.
I have, on
rare occasions, used an illustration note with my original story. But only when
reading the text alone makes a plot point in the story unclear. And then, it’s
more of a clarification like: (“The father is now hopping, too.”) rather than
specifics about how the art should look.
Pictures
books are collaborations, with each person bringing very specific skills to the
project. So I trust what the other folks involved are doing just like they
trust me. I wouldn’t want the illustrator to tell me how to write the story, so
I wouldn’t tell him or her or her how the art should be. Thank you for sharing, Pat!
Enjoy the WHEREVER YOU GO Book
trailer!
Visit
Susanna Leonard Hill's blog for a complete list of today's Perfect
Picture: HERE!
Last weekend, my
5-y-o nephew and 3-y-o niece visited. I left a stack of picture books on the
coffee table. Out of 20 books, The Terrible Plop was the big hit. It’s a perfect
read-aloud with fun rhythm and rhyme.
