Muddy Waters

Muddy, the story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters.
by Michael Mahin.
Illustrated by Evan Turk
Available now (as of September, 2017)

This picture book biography is getting a lot of talk and hints about awards.
For example, it's already listed by the New York Times as one of the Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2017.  And more awards are to come, for sure.

The writing is smooth and lyrical, with the refrain, "But Muddy was never good at during what he was told" coming at turning points in his life.

It's the illustrations that are getting the most attention, even mention of possible Caldecott material - but I have a bone to pick with them.

Nowhere can I discover if Evan Turk is considered "white" or a person of color.  Even the photo on his webpage doesn't clue us in, because it's a black and white photo.

Now, if he is African American, people will overlook the exaggerated body positions and rough cut faces with thick lips.
But if he is 'white'....  Lordy, if he is WHITE, they will burn him alive.
Just like they did to Ezra Jack Keats when he depicted the loving mother in The Snowy Day being heavyset.  (when she certainly looked like lots and lots of the moms who were around me while I was growing up.)
p.s.  I just checked his Facebook page and yes, he is white.    Hmmmmm.

Evan Turk has lots of information about the technical side of how he created the illustrations in this book here.

His Facebook page is here.

To learn about Michael Mahin, click on the link above under the title of this book.
In the interests of honesty, I confess that Michael Mahin is an active member of the San Diego Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and of the PRO group to which I also belong.

Holiday decorations

What's with this jump from Halloween decorations to Christmas decorations?
Don't people realize that there is a Harvest Holiday that comes between?
Thanksgiving?

In fact, I was seeing Christmas decorations for sale in stores by mid October - along with huge sales on Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations.  I know store buyers like to be slightly ahead of the sales season and have their products available the minute you want them -- but I think they're getting too far ahead of themselves these days.

Don't you?

Day of the Dead

November 3.
All Soul's Day is known as the Day of the Dead here in southern California.
Here's a picture of my son-in-law ready to play polo - in Day of the Dead costume!









And here he is again, with his wife.

Uma Krishnaswami

One of the marvelous faculty members of Vermont College of Fine Arts, Writing for Children and Young Adults has been interviewed on Cynsations Blog.

(Yes, I know that's a very long name for my grad school.  We usually write it as: VCFA WCYA.)

Anywho, check out Uma Krishnaswami - On thriving as a long time, actively publishing children's author.

Writer's Quotes

Neil Gaiman quote:

"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers.
A librarian can bring you back the RIGHT ONE!"

Book Review - Apartment 1986 by Lisa Papademetriou

(with any luck, that picture might be a link to the HarperCollins site where you can read a bit of the book.)
Apartment 1986 by Lisa Papademetriou. HarperCollins, 2017.

Wow, Lisa. You had me on the edge of my seat during the last few chapters of your new book -- Apartment 1986.
I had been reading a few chapters while eating lunch, but at that point I had to carry the book around with me -to sit and read, to lay on my bed and read, etc. until I reached the very satisfying conclusion.
Of course there are questions still to be answered, such as Cassius adjusting to his final handicap (no spoilers), and how Callie's family carries on, and what about Callie's school and that huge test she missed? Whoa - and the school bully.  
Great ending, but lots of threads here if you plan to do a sequel.
Love.

If you'd like to listen to a NPR interview of Lisa Papademetriou, click here.   Guess what?  She DOES plan this to be a series.  Yay!

First Day of School approaches

It's getting close to the beginning of school (happens in 2 weeks) and the teen is suddenly muttering, "I'm going to be a Senior this year. I have to look Good!"
(I see a shopping trip in our future.)