The Story of Little Red Riding Hood: Dark and Luminous

December 9, 2010 | Tasha

The Story of Little Red Riding Hood by the Brothers Grimm, illustrated by Christopher Bing

This is the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood, complete with them filling the wolf’s belly with stones at the end and killing him. The text here has an easy flow for reading aloud, never becoming too verbose. The moments with the wolf are studies in darkness and danger, with the tension palpable on the page. The star in this book are the illustrations which are rich and radiant. The entire book is an homage to the Grimm brothers, their story, and yet has paid attention to the needs of modern children as well.

In his illustrations, Bing works with light and darkness. On the path, the wolf is bathed in sunlight, almost haloed with it. But when he has eaten the grandmother and is in disguise, he is in shadows, and it is Little Red Riding Hood that the rays of light reach for. When the stones are being fetched to kill the wolf, the play of light and shadow on each person’s face is beautiful with the dancing dust motes from the first scenes returning again.

Bing has also framed his illustrations with pressed flowers and leaves, as if you have found an old book that someone has used and loved. He has also built a frame for the book itself, which shows the dogeared pages of a much larger book, giving it a sense of age and depth. My favorite use of the pressed flowers comes on the page where the wolf attacks Little Red Riding Hood and objects are tossed around and towards the reader. The pressed flowers become part of that, whirling on the page along with the objects in the picture. Brilliant.

A virtuoso rendition of the classic tale, this version belongs in every library thanks to its ease of reading aloud and the exceptional illustrations. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from copy received from Chronicle Books.

Also reviewed by A Patchwork of Books and Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Of Thee I Sing: Obama’s Picture Book

December 9, 2010 | Tasha

Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama, illustrated by Loren Long

I was very leery of this book, because in my experience politicians and celebrities rank about equal for successful children’s book writing. In other words, odds are good that it will be bad. But I am so glad that I did eventually pick this one up and give it a try. President Obama has written a letter to his daughters that asks a question like “Have I told you that you are creative?” He then offers an example of a famous American who exemplifies that character trait, summing them up in a few lines. This is a celebration of what makes America great, but also what makes for a great person. It is a celebration of all we hope our children will become.

President Obama’s words read like verse here. The structure is a strong one with a question, a person as an example, and words that sum that person up simply and powerfully. One of the pleasures of the book is that when you read it, you hear the President’s voice in your head, because the cadence matches the way that he speaks so closely. Thanks to this, the book reads aloud beautifully.

Long’s illustrations feature the two Obama girls and their dog. Then, as each famous American is mentioned, a child appears who is like that great person. So a girl with paintbrushes and palette is there when Georgia O’Keeffe is featured. A boy with a baseball bat, glove and ball is there when Jackie Robinson is given as an example of bravery. And they join the group, so that by the end there is a crowd of diverse children listening to the book along with you. Long’s style changes when he depicts the famous Americans. Where the children are lighthearted and full of whimsy, there is a more serious feel to the great Americans.

A beauty of a book no matter who the author is, this book is one to be appreciated by all Americans no matter their politics. This will make a great holiday gift this year. Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from copy received from Random House.

Please read Debbie Reese’s reaction to the Sitting Bull image on her blog, American Indians in Children’s Literature. I respect her opinion immensely.

William C. Morris Award Finalists

December 9, 2010 | Tasha

Here are the five finalists for the 2011 William C. Morris Award for a debut author of a book for young adults. I’ve only read two of them, but really enjoyed them both.