Thursday, March 31, 2011

Abraham Lincoln wins in 1940.

This is the book I was waiting for.  And I still am.  Read on and you will see why!
Abraham Lincoln
1940 Caldecott Winner
Story and Pictures by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire
Edgar Parin, originally of Swiss citizenship, was born in Munich, Germany to the noted Italian portrait painter Gino Parin (1867–1944) and Ella Auler, a talented artist and musician who had moved from St. Louis to Paris. Edgar Parin took his mother's maiden name when she changed it to d'Aulaire. At about the same time he became a sought-after artist in his own right. Edgar, a pupil of Henri Matisse,[1] illustrated many books in Germany from 1922 to 1926 and painted frescoes in Norway from 1926 to 1927.
Ingri Mortenson was born in Kongsberg, Norway. When she was 15, the renowned Norwegian painter Harriet Backer encouraged her to pursue art as a career. Ingri later studied at art schools in Norway, Germany, and France.
Ingri and Edgar met in Munich. They were married in 1925. A modest insurance settlement following a near-fatal bus-trolley collision in Paris provided the seed money to send Edgar to the United States, steerage class, to scout for opportunities. He garnered enough commissions illustrating books to send for Ingri. They initially took up residence in a cold-water walk-up flat in Brooklyn, NY in 1929.
At first, the couple pursued separate careers. Edgar concentrated on illustrating books using wood block engravings and stone lithography; Ingri garnered commissions to paint portraits of prominent businessmen.
Their work caught the eye of the director of the New York Public Library. Acting on her suggestion, the d'Aulaires decided to turn their talents to children's books. They collaborated on the first of many to come, The Magic Rug in 1931. Shortly thereafter they took up United States citizenship. The d'Aulaires lived and worked in Wilton, Connecticut, from 1941 until their deaths in the 1980s.
Bio for Wikepedia
Book Summary
                This book is the life story of Abraham Lincoln.  It begins with Abraham as a very young child and follows him until he becomes the President of the United States.
I found this book to be a delight!  I am learning more and more about myself as I continue on this quest and one observation I have made about myself is that I am a History Moron! No Joke.  I learned so much from this story and things that I have heard about so many times in my life but never really understood them.  This is the method I would prefer to learn history, in a children’s book.  The interesting thing about Abraham Lincoln is that although it is a children’s book it is full of information.  The authors did not water it down.  I appreciate that.  I also enjoyed learning about Abraham Lincoln before he became the 16th President.   Okay remember I said I was a History Moron.  Here is a good solid example of this!  I asked my 7 year old son what he knew about Abraham Lincoln and he said I know he was the 16th President and that he was a Lawyer.  Okay I knew he was the 16th President but I did not know he was a Lawyer.  How in the world does my 7 year old know more about Abraham Lincoln than I?  Time for me to brush up on some things!  He he
                One of my favorite parts of the book was when Abraham Lincoln learned he was now the new President of the United States.
“Late one evening Lincoln got the message that he had been elected President of the United States.  He went home to his wife, and said:  “Mary, we were elected.”  And Mary rejoiced.  Her dream had come true.  Abe sold his horse and buggy and cow, and made ready to leave his home.  And he grew a beard on his chin.  He knew he wasn’t handsome, and he thought a beard might make him look nicer. On a drizzling morning he tied up his trunks.  Then he went to the train at the station.”
Wow times have changed!  I thought this was so interesting to see that an American Icon had to sell his livestock before he could go to Washington to become the President!
Art Medium:  Believe it or not I can’t comment on this one yet.  When I was researching this book I discovered that the illustrations that won the award is different than the ones I was looking at.  Publishers had Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire redo the illustrations in 1957 to help with production costs.  I have requested a copy of the book that was produced prior to this change and will comment on illustrations when I have both in front of me!
Final Thoughts:
1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Yes
2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? If you are a history buff I think this would be an interesting read for you
3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? yes
4. Where did I get the book from?  The Pierce County Library System 

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

1942 Honor by Wanda Gag: Nothing At All

1942 Caldecott Honor: Nothing At All
Story and Pictures by Wanda Gag
Previous Years of Honor: 1939 for Snow White (Caldecott) Honor 
I will refer you to the previous post for Snow White if you want to review Wanda Gag’s bio.  I thought that this time I would share with you another book I read, Wanda Gag: The Girl Who Loved to Draw.  If you like Wanda Gag as do I then this is a book worth looking at.  It is biography of her life in a children’s book.  We learn that art was always a part of her life.  She used to watch her father paint.  Just a fun book to take a look at.  I got a copy from the Pierce County Library.
Book Summary
                “Once upon a time there were little orphan dogs.  They were brothers.  They lived in a far forgotten corner of an old forgotten farm in three forgotten kennels which stood there in a row.”
Then one day two children arrive at the forgotten farm and find two of the brothers, and take them home.  The Third Dog, Nothing At All” misses his brothers and begins on an adventure to reunite with them.
Illustrations: Wanda Gag has quickly become one of my favorite author/illustrators.  I love her style of art and his fun descriptions.  In Nothing At All Wanda has illustrated a dog that is, “nothing at all, in other words invisible.  I find it very interesting to show nothing with something.  Wanda was able to take a white fuzzy ball and create an entire character out of it.  I love it!  I love to share these type of illustrations with children who think they can’t draw.  I say just look a white fuzzy circle became the main character!  It has personality and interest.  It makes you want to read more.
                Another piece of the illustrations that I enjoyed were the lines.  Yeah I know here I go again with lines.  But hear me out.  There are three dogs with the names Pointy, Curly and then of course Nothing at All.  When Wanda Gag goes to introduce each dot they have corresponding dog houses, which is cute but then she takes it to the next level, the grass in front of each dog house also reflects the dog, the bushes behind each dog house also match. This is done is such an effortless way that I didn’t even notice until after I had read the book thru and was on my second look.  What a delightful detail.
Art Medium: Lithograph
Final Thoughts:
1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Yes
2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Yes
3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book?  Yes
4. Where did I get the book? Pierce County Library
More info: 
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Wanda_Gág

Sunday, March 27, 2011

1942-WWII in full swing and the Diary of Ann Frank begins!

All History Facts from Wikipedia!
January
 February
 March
 April
 May
June
 July
 August
 September
 October
November
December
 Date unknown

Family and History! Something I am all about!


They Were Strong and Good
1941 Caldecott Winner
Story and Pictures by Robert Lawson
Side Note: Robert Lawson also won a Caldecott Honor in 1938 for Four and Twenty Blackbirds, yup that is two years in a row for Mr. Lawson!  Way to go!
Robert Lawson (October 4, 1892 – May 27, 1957) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. During World War I, he also served as a camouflage artist.  After the war, Lawson resumed his work as an artist, and in 1922, illustrated his first children's book, The Wonderful Adventures of Little Prince Toofat. Subsequently he illustrated dozens of children's books by other authors, including such well-known titles as The Story of Ferdinand the Bull by Munro Leaf (which later became an animated film by the Walt Disney Studios) and Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. In total, he illustrated as many as forty books by other authors, and another seventeen books that he himself was author of, including Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin By His Good Mouse Amos and Rabbit Hill. His work was widely admired, and he became the first person to be given both the Caldecott Medal (They Were Strong and Good, 1941) and the Newbery Medal (Rabbit Hill, 1945).

Bio from Wikipedia

Book Summary
                “None of them were great or famous, but they were strong and good.  They worked hard and had many children.  They all helped to make the United States the great nation that it now is.  Let us be proud of them and guard well the heritage they have left us.” –From the story
“Robert Lawson introduces us to his forefathers and with them we brave Caribbean storms, travel to the wharf markets of New York, and fight in the Civil War.  Amidst these adventures Lawson’s grandparents meet, marry and raise a family, and later his parents follow the same cycle of life.  But this book is more than just the story of one family, it’s a social history of our country,  It reminds us to be proud of our ancestor-who they were, what they did, and the effect that they had on the nation we live in today.” –Summary from the book jacket.

Controversy Note:  The illustrations and text depict things that are no longer socially acceptable but were part of that time period.  I always think that it is important that we recognize the past and learn from it.  I don’t feel it is good to hide it.  If you want to more take a look at the link from Wikipedia. (found at the end of this post)

Illustrations: Robert Lawson was obviously a man who was highly respected in the industry.  He won Honors in 1938, for Four and Twenty Blackbirds and in 1939 for Wee Gillis.  But 1941 was his year to win the top honor!  These pictures are very similar to the other ones, he knew his style.  Clean and precise.  Lines are very important!  Yet these lines can display a huge range of emotion and detail.  Each picture is on the right hand side with text on the left. 
Art Medium: Etching
Final Thoughts:
1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? Yes
2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? If you are a history buff I think this would be an interesting read for you
3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book? Perhaps
4. Where did I get the book from?  The Pierce County Library System 
More info: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Were_Strong_and_Good

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Paddle To The Sea - Classic Children's Film - Part 3 of 3

Paddle To The Sea - Classic Children's Film - Part 2 of 3

Paddle To The Sea - Classic Children's Film - Part 1 of 3

Oscar Nominated!!!


Paddle-to-the-Sea
Story and Pictures by Holling Clancy Holling
Holling Clancy Holling “was best known for his geo-historical-fiction volumes for children, believed that children’s literature should be both entertaining and instructive and therefore filled his adventuresome tales with well-researched historical and scientific data.” Who was this writer, artist and naturalist who remains popular sixty years after his books were published? Holling Clancy Holling was a giant of children’s literature who will long be remembered by children of ALL ages.
http://hollingcholling.blogspot.com/
Book Summary (from Wikipedia)
At Lake Nipigon, Canada, a native boy carves a wooden model of an Indian in a canoe and sets it free to travel the Great Lakes to the Atlantic ocean. The story follows the progress of the little wooden Indian on its journey through all five Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, finally arriving at the Atlantic Ocean.
Each movement of the canoe is celebrated by a short chapter, suitable for reading aloud to a child and decorated with black-and-white sketches and at least one full-page watercolor. The sketches accompany the larger story and tell smaller narrative stories of their own: for example, one sketch demonstrates how a sawmill works by visually outlining the progress of a log of timber towards a mechanical saw.
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are in black and white on the left hand side and color on the right hand side. The black and white illustrations are snippets from the story.  They are very detailed and provided the text with much support.  There are often three or so snippets around the text.  Each one is as important as the others.  The Right hand side is full page in color.  ALL illustrations are detailed!  Very detailed.  I wonder how long it took the illustrator to complete all the needed art work for this book.  The thought and accuracy on each page is outstanding.
Just a note: that this same author/illustrator also was awarded the Newberry Award for two of his books!  The text in the book is lengthy and as detailed as the pictures.  Each page of text is a single chapter in the story, there are a total of 27 chapters.  This one took me a few times to read the entire thing.  Of course after you read the text you begin to understand the importance of the illustrations.  What a great compliment to each other!
Art Medium:  Couldn’t find anything that would confirm my suspensions but I think the illustrations are done in ink and paint.
Final Thoughts:
1. Would this be a book I would pick up again? If I were to travel to Ontario or around the Great Lakes yes!
2. Would I recommend it to others to search out and take a look at? Yes
3. Would I spend my hard earned money on the book?  Maybe for the right reason
4. Where did I get the book? Pierce County Library
More info: 
The film Paddle to the Sea, based on this book, was produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 1966, directed by Bill Mason. It was nominated for an Oscar.
Traveling to Ontario anytime soon?  Then you may want to visit this park Nipigon, Ontario.
The interactive Paddle-to-the-Sea Park in Downtown Nipigon is a beautiul place to visit. It's twelve play stations lead visitors from the Downtown Shopping area to the fully serviced Marina, providing a safe place for children to work off their energy.
The award winning book "Paddle-to-the-Sea" was written in 1941 by Holling C. Holling who visited Nipigon before putting ink to the page. In the story, a young Indian boy who dreams of visiting the ocean carves a wooden canoe, or ‘paddle-person’, who travels the Great Lakes and reaches the sea in his stead. The park has been built in our small town because the famous story of Paddle-to-the-Sea starts on the Nipigon River.
The story inspired Canadian canoeist and film maker Bill Mason to create the celebrated National Film Board film of the same name.
Is Ontario a bit far?  Well another reason to visit the University of Oregon!
Guide to the Holling Clancy Holling Papers
1955-1956

Creator:
Holling, Holling Clancy
Title:
Holling Clancy Holling Papers
Dates:
1955-1956 ( inclusive )
Quantity:
.5 linear feet (1 container)
Collection Number:
Ax 304
Summary:
H.C. Holling (1900-1973) was an author and illustrator born in Henrietta, Michigan and educated at the Chicago Art Institute. The collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, and publicity material. A majority of the collection constitutes the manuscripts of Pagoo.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299
URL:
http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html
Languages:
Collection materials are in English. 
Sponsor:
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.