Don't Write the Obit For Picture Books Yet
Reading through the Publisher's Weekly response to the front page NY Times article declaring an end to picture books, I kept wondering why the NYT's did it? It seems so lit-snob smarmy. I worked in publishing and know it when I smell it. There is no end of editors world-wide who will, um, crap on any book at all. So, really, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to take a dump in the picture book yard.
Bad decision it seems. According to PW, the Times online edition received 8 - haha - pages of irate emails cursing the article and its conclusions. What's worse is that some of the individuals interviewed felt completely misquoted and that their statements were creatively edited.
But Why? What would be served if we saw the end of the picture book? No more Eric Carle, Bruno Munari, Hillary Knight, Christoph Niemann, David Wiesner, Suzy Lee...my list goes on and on. I love the feel of good, heavy paper between my fingers; the smell of a book. To my daughter, page or ipad, it's all the same. And since the Barnes and Noble (nook) e-reader has a 4-colour screen the age of ebooks should not effect picture books at all. I declare the New York Times out of touch and snooty to boot! HA HA take that you charlatans!!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Dragons and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
I'm so happy to see that Christoph Niemann's new picture book SUBWAY was named one of the best 10 illustrated children's books of 2010 by the New York Times. His first picture book THE PET DRAGON is magnificent...a great story with an elegant illustrative twist.
A little girl is given a baby dragon. They become best friends and then the dragon goes missing. Throughout the friendship and journey ro find the pet dragon, Chinese characters are woven into the illustrations in a way that makes the meaning obvious. After a few times through the story, my daughter was able to identify nearly all of the characters.
It's a great book, still in print, and a wonderful way to introduce Chinese characters.
Ummm, I don't have anything to say about bears. I just like the Wizzard of Oz.
A little girl is given a baby dragon. They become best friends and then the dragon goes missing. Throughout the friendship and journey ro find the pet dragon, Chinese characters are woven into the illustrations in a way that makes the meaning obvious. After a few times through the story, my daughter was able to identify nearly all of the characters.
It's a great book, still in print, and a wonderful way to introduce Chinese characters.
Ummm, I don't have anything to say about bears. I just like the Wizzard of Oz.
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