It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. Jen Vincent over at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye from Unleashing Readers decided to put a children's and YA spin on it and they invite anyone with an interest to join in. You can participate by creating your post then visit one of their sites to add your site. Finally, visit at least three participant blogs and comment to spread the love.

If you want to know more about what I am reading, visit me at my Goodreads shelf. Images via Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Previous Week: 

Picture Books

Of the three, Dusk was my favorite. Like the companion book Snow, Dusk is a quiet, somewhat contemplative type of book. It made me smile to see the many holiday lights lighting up the dusk. Little Red Writing was especially fun because I happened to read it on the National Day on Writing. It was also a reminder that NaNoWriMo will be here very soon and I may have to cut through the underbrush of my novel to stick to my path. Mister Whistler was amusing. Anytime characters are in boxer shorts, my students are sure to giggle.

Middle Grade 

I reviewed The Twistrose Key here. Fun fantasy. In Bluffton, Matt Phelan brought the past alive. It also inspired me to check YouTube to refresh my memory of Buster Keaton.

Young Adult 

I listened to Liar and enjoyed the audio. The title really explains a lot. This is a book that cannot be talked about much without giving away too much, but let's just agree that the title is very appropriate. Monstrous Beauty is a haunting story that pulled me in and wouldn't let me go. I think it was my favorite of the week. I don't go in for mermaid stories, but this one had fantasy, mystery, romance and tragedy so there was a lot going on besides the mermaid thing.

Non-fiction

Biographies have always interested me and this one is no exception. I reviewed it here. I loved learning more about Caldecott, but even more about the evolution of picture books.

The Coming Week:

I am in the middle of Winger and am finding it amusing. I also found the audio of Fangirl today! Score. I started listening to it while doing the laundry and making dinner. I know I need to read some books for review this week, but also have a huge pile from the library - maybe P.S. Be Eleven and Every Day After. Have a great week of reading!

Review: Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing

Title: Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing
Author: Leonard S. Marcus
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 64
Available: August 27, 2013
Review Copy: Library Copy

Summary:Randolph Caldecott is best known as the namesake of the award that honors picture book illustrations, and in this inventive biography, leading children’s literature scholar Leonard Marcus examines the man behind the medal. In an era when the steam engine fueled an industrial revolution and train travel exploded people’s experience of space and time, Caldecott was inspired by his surroundings to capture action, movement, and speed in a way that had never before been seen in children’s picture books. Thoroughly researched and featuring extensive archival material and a treasure trove of previously unpublished drawings, including some from Caldecott’s very last sketchbook, Leonard Marcus’s luminous biography shows why Caldecott was indeed the father of the modern picture book and how his influence lives on in the books we love today. -- Cover image and summary via Goodreads

My Thoughts: This week I finished reading Randolph Caldecott: The Man Who Could Not Stop Drawing, but I also attended the Charlotte Zolotow Lecture in Madison which was delivered by Leonard Marcus. His topic was Why Picture Books Matter. During his speech he said that "a book could have more than one story to tell." He explained that one of those stories could be how the book came to exist. His book about Randolph Caldecott does just that. He gives us the history of not only Caldecott's life and the many things that influenced him.

It was fascinating to learn that the advent of the steam engine and other mechanical types of advances actually affected illustrations. Marcus links speed of the trains to the fact that illustrators were creating pictures that conveyed motion. Caldecott excelled at this. They were pictures that invite readers to be a part of imagining the scene.

The book includes samples of Caldecott's early sketches and illustrations from his books. I loved the combination of text and artifacts. The old-fashioned cream colored paper on the end pages made me feel like I was stepping back through time. Marcus included a timeline, a list of Caldecott's books, source notes and a thorough bibliography.

I am glad that I got the chance to read this fantastic piece of picture book history.

A Few Notes from the Charlotte Zolotow Lecture: Leonard Marcus explained that some people think of picture books as water-wings to be shed as soon as possible. That people should graduate from picture books. Obviously Marcus does not share that belief.  Picture books can speak to all ages and they are important. He pointed out that picture books are the "first gateways to a lifelong appreciation of literature and art." One of my favorite quotes was that, "No one should underestimate the 'thinginess' of books." They are things that we collect. We like to have them in our hands.

The video below expresses much of what he spoke about - Why Picture Books Matter:

Extra:
Brian Selznick and Leonard Marcus on Caldecott