tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post8792953568037670214..comments2023-12-13T02:57:32.461-08:00Comments on Book Aunt: Thoughtful Picture Books You've Never Heard OfKateCoombshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584944601221466789noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-68319911288263891542011-02-06T17:42:40.937-08:002011-02-06T17:42:40.937-08:00Madigan--Also, look at my post about Picture Books...Madigan--Also, look at my post about Picture Books with Bite from the list of my favorite posts on the right side of the blog. Be sure to link through to Seven Imp's excellent posts about snarky, strange picture books!Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-18415046745696136922011-02-06T17:40:24.170-08:002011-02-06T17:40:24.170-08:00Madigan--You are clearly a girl after my own heart...Madigan--You are clearly a girl after my own heart! The only piece of original children's book art I own is by Elisa Kleven...<br /><br />And yeah, I really don't care for The Fox; it just feels rather mean-spirited. But I do like the drama of its art, and I figured I should throw in SOMETHING for fans of dystopia and non-Hollywood endings! :)<br /><br />Tongue-in-cheek is a whole 'nother thing, of course--I'll have to look for Arlene the Sardine.Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-23596725789121784302011-02-05T19:40:53.656-08:002011-02-05T19:40:53.656-08:00Funny, I am actually familiar with most of these. ...Funny, I am actually familiar with most of these. Some are books that I just love... I love the illustrations of Wendy Halperin, Elisa Kleven and the Dillons. <br /><br />Several of these are actually tops on my "most hated/disliked" picture book list. I disliked The Fox by Wild so very much. It's such a depressing book.<br /><br />Not that I'm saying that all picture books should be sweetness and light and good times... there are books that I'll call, "message books" for example, Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen, a wonderful book for discussing death with children. Or even snarky and wild, like Arlene the Sardine by Chris Raschka, about a fish who basically commits suicide because she thinks it would be cool to be appreciated as a sardine - a dead fish in a tin can. You have to have a certain sort of humor to appreciate it.<br /><br /> I felt like the message of The Fox was that in most cases, individuals are self-interested and petty, and when put in a horrible situation, nothing can ever be improved. What a downer that book was!Madigan Mirzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03298558705488237857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-74729103825297995892011-02-01T15:24:29.507-08:002011-02-01T15:24:29.507-08:00I had no idea Ray Bradbury wrote a picture book. A...I had no idea Ray Bradbury wrote a picture book. And, yes, choosing the Dillons to illustrate was inspired!kathrynjankowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16708011523767228663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-32979429205889451092011-01-30T07:08:55.416-08:002011-01-30T07:08:55.416-08:00BP--I LOVE The Red Tree! Not to mention The Arriva...BP--I LOVE The Red Tree! Not to mention The Arrival. Interesting about Australia being a hotbed of dark picture books in recent years. :)<br /><br />Toby--You're welcome! I can't think of Cherry Alive without smiling.<br /><br />P&K--Heehee. Didn't realize my title was a challenge, but I guess it is! It's nice to hear that students liked How to Paint a Portrait of a Bird. It's such a hopeful, thought-provoking, deceptively simple book. (And thanks.)Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-61558369217064811562011-01-30T06:38:06.566-08:002011-01-30T06:38:06.566-08:00Ah, the challenge implied in the title of your pos...Ah, the challenge implied in the title of your post! Love it. I thought I would be able to gloat after seeing the first book, but I had not heard of all the rest of the titles. They look intriguing.<br /><br />I might not have heard of How to Paint a Portrait of a Bird, were it not for the handselling that the owner of my favorite Indie did when it released. I took it home, read it and decided to read the book, K - 8, the following week. First, I was sorta shocked at how entranced all the kids were. Didn't matter the age. It got 'em. Second, I found something new nearly every time I read it.<br /><br />Important post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-72798054839410904262011-01-30T02:33:37.131-08:002011-01-30T02:33:37.131-08:00There were a couple of titles I must check out, I ...There were a couple of titles I must check out, I have not encountered them before, so thank you for that.<br />In reference to Fox, thinking about it I think there is a bit of a trend to darker themes in Australian picture books. In recent years there has been some very remarkable books published, Fox is one, but others like Requiem for a Beast, or The Island are quite dark in their themes but they are all books I admire, I think of them as more picture books for older readers though. Shaun Tan's work can also be a bit like that, The Red Tree is a favourite of mine. Mostly I think I am drawn to picture books with a sense of humour. You have given me a new list of books to check out next time I'm at the town library.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-45537594088542641602011-01-29T21:53:07.370-08:002011-01-29T21:53:07.370-08:00Tabatha--Very cool! I'll pop that into the pos...Tabatha--Very cool! I'll pop that into the post as an update.<br /><br />Brandy and Amy--I'm so glad you like the list! It's always great to discover new book treasures, isn't it?Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-90130838343532971642011-01-29T18:42:15.871-08:002011-01-29T18:42:15.871-08:00Wow. What a gift this list is. Thank you, Kate! ...Wow. What a gift this list is. Thank you, Kate! Some of these I know and love...the rest, I am ordering. Much gratitude to you, from me, my children, and my teacher friends! A.Amy L Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03830987204619914326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-57556582672106112172011-01-29T16:32:40.421-08:002011-01-29T16:32:40.421-08:00I love when you do posts like this. It's like...I love when you do posts like this. It's like coming across a treasure trove! That Amazon link is going to come in handy too. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8144605744535591088.post-44579702117045866422011-01-29T16:09:11.695-08:002011-01-29T16:09:11.695-08:00Kate, Thanks for this list. When I was looking up ...Kate, Thanks for this list. When I was looking up the first book, I found <a href="http://loosemoonproductions.com/portrait%20of%20a%20bird/To%20Paint%20The%20Portrait%20of%20a%20Bird.html" rel="nofollow">this video of it</a>. Looks promising!Tabathahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367572663591077922noreply@blogger.com