Michael Sampson - Author

Today (April 3, 2020) author Michael Sampson visited with a young reader via Zoom.  Michael Sampson is a professional educator, football lover, literacy expert, and author. (Learn more about Sampson and his books at www.michaelsampson.com/ ). During the one-on-one visit (just one of 10 that Sampson contributed to do his part in educating readers in this epic situation) Sampson read this first grade reader three books that he wrote or co-wrote.

Star of the Circus, had a refrain that invited participation and both Sampson and Pryor sung the refrain.  And who is the star of the circus of the eight animals: Cannonball Cat, Zany Zebra, Marvelous Mouse, Crazy Kangaroo, Dazzling Dog, Jazzy Giraffe, Big Bear, or Elegant Elephant?  The answer is in the reading.

When Michael Sampson shared a reading of a sequel to his friend, Bill Martin, Jr's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, a sequel that Sampson helped to write, Sampson shared some additional information about Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? 

Michael Sampson is an author or co-author of many books.  He was a good friend of Bill Martin Jr.  who wrote Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You Hear?  Together the friends wrote many books.

 Sampson wrote a book titled The Football That Won... but also wrote many others with his friend.
A popular book that Sampson wrote with his friend was a book, I pledge allegiance, explaining the vocabulary in the Pledge of Allegiance written by Francis Bellamy in 1852.
Pryor read that book before meeting Michael Sampson.  And he had also read all the books in the Brown Bear series.

 Other books by Sampson include the Little Squeegy Bug Book and several about Kitty Cat.

Pryor enjoyed meeting Michael Sampson, and enjoyed hearing his books.  Pryor was very familiar with Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? but had not associated that title with Michael Sampson.  Sampson also co-wrote Baby Bear, Baby Bear What Do You See?  

And what advice did Sampson have for a young scholar - read and start a journal.  What a great experience for a 7-year-old reader!

Cite this article:

McElmeel, Sharron.  (2020, April 3).  Michael Sampson - Author.  Author, Author, and an Illustrator or two.  Retrieved from https://bit.ly/michaelsampson. 

Tomie depaola - A Friend (Sept 15, 1934 - March 30, 2020)

Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola, at the age of 85 died from a fall, according to a news post by Roger Sutton, editor at Horn Book Magazine; and Elizabeth Law, dePaola’s long time publisher at Holiday House.

Tomie dePaola is the author/illustrator of many beloved children’s books including: Strega Nona, Helga’s Dowry and more than 250 more.  Tomie dePaola was born on September 15, 1934 in Meriden, Connecticut where he grew up with an older brother and two younger sisters, who appeared with him in his successful biographical series, 26 Fairmount Avenue.  His mother was Irish and father Italian.  His mother loved books and spent many hours reading aloud to her children.   He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a children’s book illustrator.  He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and earned a masters of fine arts from California College of Arts and Crafts.  For a time, he taught art at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire.  For many years he lived and worked in a 1830s, 13 room house and barn in Wilmot Flats — a picturesque village down the road from New London.

He studied at Pratt along-side of Arnold and Anita Lobel; and was neighbors with Wally Tripp and Trina Schart Hyman.  All the events of dePaola’s life have had a significant effect on his art and writing.  At one time dePaola joined. Monastery with the intention of becoming a brother.  He left the monastery before taking his final vows but throughout his career he created many works of art for Catholic churches and monasteries in the New England area.  Several of his book have religious themes.  One of his most popular,  Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi(Holiday House, 1992) was recently rereleased as Brother Francis of Assisi (Ignatius Press, 2020).

For many years dePaola’s companion and assistant has been Robert Hechtel who helped him in all aspects of his career.

In a 2017 interview with Maggie Reagan for Booklist Online, dePaola said, “My days are busier than they’ve ever been, and I’m 84. But I’m very pleased that this is true. I’ve had a long career, and I hope it keeps on going for more years, because I love the work that I’m doing now. “ (http://bit.ly/talkingwithtomie).
And all of his readers wish there were more years … but his work will live on, and so will Strega Nona, Helga and the dozens of other characters he created: Charlie, Andy, Bill and Pete.  And as for Tomie - he is off on the wing of a whitebird.  RIP

The obituary from Associated press 

'Strega Nona' author Tomie dePaola is dead at age 85 By KATHY McCORMACK Associated Press Mar 30, 2020 can be found online at in the MuskogeePhoenix News which was first to get the information online.

~~~

For more information about Tomie dePaola visit his website at http://www.tomie.com and search the net for information about YOUR favorite dePaola books - these are some of mine.

For my archival information about Tomie dePaola from my resources, locate my 1988 title An Author a Month (for Pennies) (Libraries Unlimited, o.p.) but available in many libraries.Research material related to Tomie dePaola is part of the Sharron L. McElmeel papers in the University of Iowa special collections.  Identifier: msc0991.  http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc

Some Illustrator - Melissa Sweet

Some Illustrator - Melissa Sweet

In October 2019, Melissa Sweet was invited to visit a series of schools in Iowa City, Iowa.  She also presented a short talk at a local bookstore and it was there that we (myself, other local writers/illustrators, and Pryor).  I have long admired her work - and actually had several of her titles - some of them signed by the author, and some actually signed by Sweet.  I had never met her but had obtained the signed books through bookstores where she had signed.  Other titles were signed by authors: Jen Bryant, Judy Sierra, Heidi E.Y.Stemple, and Jane Yolen.
We loved hearing the back story of some of her books. 
Pryor had just one question about her newest book: How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander.
The question:  Why does she use neon colors?
Below we have linked to several interviews and resources which will provide much information about Melissa Sweet and her illustrations.  We will certainly be looking for her next book.  Pryor clutched his signed books, all the way home.
Thank you, Melissa Sweet, for coming to Iowa.

More Resources for Information About Melissa Sweet

Art of the Picture Book (2014, Oct 8). An interview with Melissa Sweet — Art of the Picture Book.  Retrieved from https://www.artofthepicturebook.com/-check-in-with?tag=Melissa%20Sweet   

Bookology: Children’s Literature.  (2016, April 29)  Melissa Sweet – Interviews.  Retrieved from https://www.bookologymagazine.com/article/melissa-sweet/

Idle, Molly: Idle Illustration.  (2013, November 27 ) Mini Interview: Melissa Sweet.  Retrieved from http://idleillustration.com/2013/11/27/mini-interview-melissa-sweet/

McElmeel, Sharron L.  (2012, June) in the Spotlight; Balloons, Marionettes, an Mobiles.  Retrieved from  https://www.mcelmeel.com/author/otherwritings/articles/Sweet_balloonsMJ2012SWEET.pdf  -- The article profiles Anthony Frederick Sarg, the inspiration of author Melissa Sweet for her book "Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade." It discusses his birth and residence in Guatemala until he reached the age of seven, the transfer of his family to England and Germany including his immigration to New York City where he worked on the display window of Macy's department store. It offers information on the discussions about the puppeteer and the parade.

Sweet, Melissa.  (n.d.) Melissa Sweet: Author + illustrator (homepage).  Retrieved from https://www.melissasweet.net/about.  Several links to other interviews on the “About” page.

The Children’s Literature Research Collection: University of Minnesota.  (2015, April 4).  Balloons Over Broadway, Melissa Sweet, and the Engineering of a Picture Book: The Author, interview with Melissa Sweet.  Retrieved from  http://gallery.lib.umn.edu/exhibits/show/balloons-over-broadway/the-author/interview  More sections explore information about the exhibit, the author , research for a picture book, trial and error, mixed meia, life of a page, curriculum, about the exhibit, and appropriate links.

The National Center for Children’s illustrated Literature (NCCiL).  (n.d.)  Some Illustrator! Pictures by Melissa Sweet.  Retrieved from https://www.nccil.org/exhibitions/illustrations-of-melissa-sweet.  – outlines awards and books that has brought Sweet honors/awards.  Description of exhibit available for a ten week period. 
And a page about the artist herself - https://www.nccil.org/artists/melissa-sweet
A video trailer previewing the available exhibit - https://youtu.be/dWOa8h4lHKY

Wm. R. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (n.d.)  Author Interview Melissa Sweet.  Retrieved from https://www.eerdmans.com/Pages/Item/9080/Author-Interview-Melissa-Sweet.aspx

www.mcbookwords.com
for author visits

Caldecott 2018 - Mock Voting

This morning (11/08/17) our picture book group -- seasoned writers and book reviewers considered several dozen 2017 books that we felt would be contenders for the 2018 Caldecott.  The following results of our discussion and voting result in a winner, and two honor titles.

The award vote went to Mike Curato, the illustrator of Margarita Engle's All the Way to Havana (Henry Holt and Company, 2017).  Engle is a native of Cuba.  Curato went to Cuba and stayed in a bed and breakfast operated by two of Margarita's cousins in Havana.  During his stay he research and photographed many cars and scenes in Cuba.  Car enthusiasts will notice that the cars are often modified with parts from a variety of sources, parts that substitute for the original parts but do not necessarily duplicate the original. The car that is the main focus in the book is a real car, a 1954 Chevy 201 Series - sometimes know as a Chevy Delray.  The real car was owned by Rey a driver who took Curato and a fellow illustrator, Curator's interpreter in Cuba, around Havana.  The car has been in Rey's wife, Marbelis's family for more than three decades.  Curato's illustrations were created with pencil and paint and emulated the textures from the photographs Curator had taken in Cuba.  The perspectives of the buildings and the variety of cars are a feast for the eyes.  Readers will glimpse a bit of the culture and history of Cuba - as seen through the eyes of an observer in the country.  A book trailer for this book is available online at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=pcqtGqGUuFM


These following two illustrators were strong contenders and are listed here in alphabetical order by the illustrator's last name.

Illustrator Keith Mallett - 
First time author Andrea J. Loney tells the story of an innovative photographer in Take a Picture of Me, James Vanderzee! (Lee and Low, 2017).  Loney tells the inspirational story of Vanderzee who as a young boy saved his coins to buy his first camera to his rise as a sought after photographer in Harlem where he took photos of legendary figures that were part of the Harlem Renaissance.  As a photographer Vanderzee created photographs that showcased the beauty of those he photographed.  The illustrator, Keith Mallett, does the same for Vanderzee as he illuminates the subjects of Vanderzee's subjects.
Keith Mallett is an artist and designer, residing in San Diego.  He has been creating art for as long as he can remember.  For more than three decades he has created posters and art prints.  He was able to attend the original James VanDerZee exhibit "Harlem on my Mind" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The illustrations were created with acrylic paint and were meticulously researched for accuracy true to the late 19th century.  Read VanDerZee's comments about how he created the illustrations in a blog post on Lee and Low's blog about art and design.
"Illustrator Keith Mallett Takes Us Behind the art of Take a Picture of Me, James Vanderzee.  (27 Jul 2017).  Lee and Low. (Online) http://blog.leeandlow.com/2017/07/27/illustrator-keith-mallett-takes-us-behind-the-art-of-take-a-picture-of-me-james-vanderzee/.  


This book joins other recent books about photographers that will make a great collaborative reading package for young readers.
Weatherford, Carole Boston. Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America. Illustrated by Jarney Christoph. (Albert Whitman, 2015)
Weatherford, Carole Boston. Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of Depression.  Illustrated by Sarah Green.  (Albert Whitman, 2017)

***

Illustrator: John Rocco

Fans of the forever popular writer Virginia Lee Burton will love this look at Burton's life and artistry, Big Machines The Story of Virginia Lee Burton, by Sherri Dusky Rinker, with illustrations by John Rocco (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017).  The biography text is a tribute to both Burton and her artistic style, while Rocco emulates Burton's visual style and includes images of Jinnee and her two boys, Aristides Burton Demetrios and Michael Burton Demetrios, in many scenes.  (Note: Learn about Aris and Mike on the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Internet site at http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/mike_mulligan/arismike.shtml) But the focus of the book and the illustrations are the big machines that Jinnee created to delight her sons: Mary Anne, Katy, and Marybelle.

John Rocco is no stranger to illustration or to the Caldecott. He has illustrated dozens of children's books, one of which was named a Caldecott honor, Blackout, in 2012.  His art for Blackout was created with graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol paper with digital coloration.  For this book, the talented and versatile illustrator created the illustrations with watercolors, colored pencil, and digital media. Rocco's art can also be seen on the covers of many books by Rick Riordan - specifically the Percy Jackson series.  He also has worked in animation and in leading industry venues.  Rocco's illustrations for Big Machines have been described as being "... alive, bursting with color and action" and indeed they are.

.
Visit Christopher John Rocco's professional site at http://www.roccoart.com
 
Access a complete list of books illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton at the FemBio site at http://www.fembio.org/english/biography.php/woman/biography/virginia-lee-burton/


Now to wait until the actual awards are announced during the American Library Association's midwinter convention February 9 - 13, 2018 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.  The announcements are typically made on the Monday morning of the conference - which would be February 12, 2018.  Good luck to all the illustrators of 2017 books.

Creekfinding: A True Story

March 2017 saw the release of Creekfinding: A True Story.  This tale based on the true story of Michael Osterholm and his efforts to bring back a lost stream that once flowed through a field on his farm.  With heavy equipment, thoughtful plans and plenty of ingenuity Osterholm created an environment that allowed the spring fed stream to come back and when the water came so did the birds, and reptiles, and hundreds of insects.  This is the story of the finding of that creek and the efforts to restore the creek as a habitat for the trout that once inhabited the stream.

In March, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Claudia McGehee, and Michael Osterholm were at Prairie Lights in Iowa City, Iowa to share the back story of the book, and to introduce the work to the many bibliophiles that came to hear the reading and learn about the stream and the story.  On April 1, Claudia and Jackie shared their book at the CSPS hall in Cedar Rapids as part of a program arranged and sponsored by Next Page Books in the New Bo District.  And on April 15th there is a celebration at the Perfect Blend in Mount Vernon, IA.  But the celebration does not stop there, on April 23rd, the Red Balloon Bookshop celebrates the book with another reading and appearance by Martin, McGehee, and Osterholm.

Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Claudia McGehee, Michael Osterholm
at Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City, Iowa.

Watch for this blackbird who seems to show up
throughout the illustrations for the story.

Max is a real dog that was by Michael's side throughout
the Creekfinding activities.  Ask the book creators about
his story.

Michael Osterholm began his adventure with the creek
through his efforts to create a prairie area on his newly purchased
farm fields. Now cone flowers and other native wild flowers have a
home along the banks of the creek that runs through the field.

 Gtotaku - making a fish print

The first step in creating a fish print (Gyotaku) is to cover
the fish with the black ink which will create the print
impression.

Those who attended the reading at the CSPS hall in Cedar
Rapids were given an opportunity to make a fish print in the
manner that has been used in Japan for centuries.  Here the
fish which has been covered with a printer's ink is being rubbed
with the paper which will yield a print of the fish.

This is the finished print, framed, and ready for his mother's day gift.

Earlier at the CSPS hall Jacqueline Briggs Martin reads
from Creekfinding: A True Story.

Children attending the reading helped put the animals in
the prairie.

Be sure to ask the creators about the role the fox played in
the book - or at least the backstory about the origination
of the story and its role in finding the collaborators.

  From the publisher - The University of Minnesota Press

"In the words of award-winning author Jacqueline Briggs Martin and the enchanting illustrations of Claudia McGehee, this is the heartwarming tale of an ecosystem restored in the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa. The story will charm and inform young readers who are drawn to a good mystery, the wonders of nature—and, of course, big earth-moving machines." ~ University of Minnesota Press
 

"The main narrative reads smoothly aloud, and the pictures, though detailed, should show well to a small group. Author's and illustrator's notes and a comment from the actual creek rescuer complete the package. A heartening story of environmental restoration." ~ Kirkus Reviews

 

 

Jacqueline Briggs Martin - author of Creekfinding: A True Story (and many other picture book titles) is available for author appearances -- find out more at McBookwords.

McBookwords has a dozen or more authors that speak with young readers.  If you would like to investigate having an author visit your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Each of these authors often speak  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.

Garden Colors

Creating  Authors - Growing Gardens - Photo Skills

It's always a delight to me when I come across a new book or two that connects in my mind with an "old" favorite title, and an interesting "book" activity  pops into my head. 
Today, I came across this 2016 series of books from Gareth Stevens Publishers -

Find out more & how to order from
https://www.garethstevens.com/series/Our-Favorite-Colors

The colorful jackets immediately caught my eye.  The photographs were engaging and I envision that the contents are equally as innovative.  A favorite three-year-old that frequently visits at my house LOVES orange so I immediately thought about how much he would love the We Love Orange! title.  And then my brain continued to dance through the possibilities, and the one that emerged on top is the idea of taking my digital camera and going into the community and finding "colors."  To focus on categorization, I would ask the camera operator to concentrate on one selected color.  Another color for another day -- go on a digital photo search for the color of your choice.

A great place to expand on the color idea is to visit community gardens and soak in the wonderful colors of radishes,  corn, and the lush greens of peas, string beans, lettuce, and other great food.  Share some garden books with children... stimulate their sense of color with these books.

Vegetables of all colors and shapes -- build vocabulary and awareness of fruits and vegetables that might be unfamiliar.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert.

Growing Vegetable Soup - another book by Lois Ehlert.  Luscious brightly colored vegetables -- raise awareness of the colors that populate vegetable gardens.

Yes - a chant -- what fun! Work your way through the fruits find some you know and some you don't.  Build vocabulary and color recognition with this lyrical presentation.  Go, Go Grapes: A Fruit Chant by April Pulley Sayre.

 First fruits -- and now a chant featuring vegetables.  The same lush colors, new words, familiar words - and lots of familiar vegetables and some new ones as well.  Rah, Rah, Radishes! by April Pulley Sayre.

While your digital photographers might be looking for colors in vegetable and fruit books, they might be interested in knowing where these vegetables and fruits are grown.  While there are large farms that produce food for others, there is also a new movement to start and sustain urban gardens.

Find all the colors in Jacqueline Briggs Martin's Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table.

All the colors of the gardens will be a visual (and perhaps a tasty) treat.

 

Jacqueline Briggs Martin - author of Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table (and many other picture book titles) is available for author appearances -- find out more at McBookwords.

McBookwords has a dozen or more authors that speak with young readers.  If you would like to investigate having an author visit your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Each of these authors often speak  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.

Farmer Will Allen - 25 Points of Light

Join the Read Across the Globe efforts -- Obtain copies of Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table for your classroom/library. Connect and READ. Join the efforts.

 

NEWS -- Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table to be the featured book in President George W. Bush's 25th Anniversary celebration of his Points of Lights initiative. The celebration will include an effort to enlist thousands of volunteers to break the Guinness Book of World Records listing for the number of children being read to in a 24-hour period as part of the "Read Across the Globe" initiative. A gigantic conference is planned October 19-21, 2015 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas. The record is 238,620 and officials are aiming to go past the 300,000 mark with 10,000 volunteers fanning out to Houston area schools and day care centers during the conference to read aloud the children's book, Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table. Even astronaut Scott Kelly plans to read the book aloud from outer space, although he won't be counted in the tally since he won't be in a classroom.

 

Jacqueline Briggs Martin is available for author appearances -- find out more at McBookwords.

McBookwords has a dozen or more authors that speak with young readers.  If you would like to investigate having an author visit your school or library -- for an author appearance please contact us at McBookwords.  Each of these authors often speak  in schools with young readers, and at all types of groups that are interested in literacy and  books.