Picture Book Month, Week 2, Day 1

I am back with some more picture book favorites.  Since I did not post on the weekend, I will highlight 2 different authors today and 2 more tomorrow!

My first author is Keiko Kasza.  She was born in Japan and arrived in the United States in 1973 to continue her education.  Work as a graphic designer led her to discover  picture books.  Her first book was published in 1981 in Japan and in 1987 she published her first book in the U.S.  Some interesting facts that she notes on her website (http://www.keikokasza.com/index.php ) "Keiko’s worst subject at school as a child was art! She enjoys writing more than illustrating her books."

The Wolf's Chicken Stew was publiched in the U.S. in 1987 and was named an ALA Notable Book for Children.  This was probably one of the first books I used for story time, as I began my career in 1987.  I loved telling this story about a hungry wolf who tries to fatten up a chicken for his dinner.  He makes her lots of yummy and fattening treats, but she doesn't seem to get any fatter.  He discovers at the end that she has a slew of baby chicks who now love "Unlce Wolf" for making them all the treats.  A sweet story!

As a mother who adopted a child  who does not look like me, this is one of my personal favorites. Little Choco searches for his mother and finds some animals that have some parts that look like him - feathers, a beak - but none are his mother.  He runs into Mrs. Bear who definitely does not look like Choco.  But she kisses him and cheers him up just like a mother would.  Then Choco meets her children Hippy, Ally and Piggy!  None of her children look like her , "And Choco was very happy that his new mommy looked just the way she did."   I use this for Mother's Day story times as a little introduction to adoption.

My second author was actually the reason that Keiko Kasza became interested in picture books.  His name is Leo Lionni and he was born in Amsterdam in 1910.  His first career was as a successful and award winning art director. His picture book career developed from a long train ride in 1959 with two of his grandchidlren.  To keep the children occupied, he began tearing up a magazine and telling the story of "Little Blue and Little Yellow." This became his first published book in 1960. Before his death at age 89, he would write 40 children's book and win 4 Calecott Honor Awards. 

"His innovative use of collage, white space, and clean, modern design was a major influence on Eric Carle, Ezra Jack Keats, and other children’s book artists. In 2007 the Society of Illustrators awarded him a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award." (http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/lionni/index.php)

A Caldecott Honor book in 1964, Swimmy  is a modern fable about a little fish who comes up with a plan to survive.  Swimmy is the only fish in his school to survive being eaten by a bigger fish.  So he finds some new friends and together they are able outwit the larger fish.  A great story about teamwork and big ideas.

This Caldecott Honor Book of 1966 is a story about artists and their palce in the world.  While the other mice gather food for the coming winter, Frederick sits on a rock by himself , “I gather sun rays for the cold dark winter days,” he tells them."   He also gathers "colors" and "words".  When the food runs out and things are at their bleakest, Frederick uses his colors and words to create stories and poems that keep everyone hopeful until spring finally arrives.  A beautiful story about the power of art and how we all need the dreamers in our lives. 

Check in tomorrow for 2 more picture book authors!