Congratulations to Cozbi A. Cabrera and Sydney Smith, plus the wacky Dog Vs. Strawberry

It’s a blast when your favorite picture book creators receive recognition and earn prestigious accolades! And recently two artists (great illustrators as well as writers) whom I hold in high regard did just that.

Cozbi A. Cabrera Is a 2024 Sendak Fellow

The fabulous 2 time Coretta Scott King honoree, Caldecott honoree and Sibert honoree Cozbi A. Cabrera is a 2024 Sendak Fellow. You can read about this honor here. Also a brilliant doll maker, graphic artist, and quilter, Cozbi has illustrated a terrific list of children’s books over the years, including such works as Patricia McKissack’s Stitchin’ and Pullin’, Sandra Belton’s Beauty, Her Basket and Melvina Noel’s Chef Edna. She also wrote and illustrated the lovely My Hair Is a Garden. Here are excerpts from two reviews I wrote for this blog:

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, written by Suzanne Slade, published by ABRAMS, ISBN: 978-1419734113.

A book about a great poet should offer strong writing, and Slade truly delivers with her concise, poetic text. Meanwhile, the fabulous illustrator Cozbi A. Cabrera fills each of her acrylic paintings with beautiful sights and memorable emotion. Cabrera often adds a surreal spin to the words. Swirling pinks, blues, and whites fill the sky. And for those concerned with made-up dialogue in non-fiction picture book biographies, the back matter assures us that every quote can be traced back to an original source. Winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor and a Sibert Honor. I wrote at great length about Exquisite on Horn Book’s Calling Caldecott site.

Me & Mama, illustrated and written by Cozbi A. Cabrera, published by Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 978-1534454217.

Illustrator Cabrera is on a roll with Exquisite above and this terrific, loving book that shows a mother and child enjoying a simple yet special day. The story zeroes in on the little moments that happen during a short period of time. Meanwhile, Cabrera quietly throws in colors and concepts that deepen the experience. Winner of a Coretta Scott King Honor and a Caldecott Honor.

Cozbi is also one of the coolest and kindest kidlit people I have met.

Sydney Smith wins the Hans Christian Anderson Award

Over the years, I have praised the cinematic quality of Sydney Smith’s moody illustrations. Book after book, image after image, Smith creates unforgettable visual moments. He is, as my co-worker Betsy Bird says, inconveniently Canadian, which means he is not eligible for the United States’ big prize, the Caldecott. But he has won many others, including Canada’s coveted Governor General’s Literary Award, and now the biennial Hans Christian Anderson Award. This award is described here. Smith’s many great works include My Baba’s Garden (written by Jordan Scott) and Do You Remember? And here are excerpts from two books I reviewed on this blog:

I Talk Like a River, illustrated by Sydney Smith, written by Jordan Scott, published by Neal Porter Books (an imprint of Holiday House), ISBN: 978-0823445592.

Some of the very best picture books employ art to reflect what is happening inside a character’s mind. Their emotions, feelings, inner-struggles. As a result, the reader steps inside the protagonist’s head and sees the world from their point-of-view. The poignant I Talk Like a River emerges as a potent example of this thanks to Sydney Smith’s rich, evocative watercolor, ink, and gouache illustrations. His work perfectly captures the moods and nuances of Jordan Scott’s dynamic highly personal text.

Town Is by the Sea, illustrated by Sydney Smith, written by Joanne Schwartz, published by Groundwood Books, ISBN:  978-1554988716.

Sydney Smith’s compositions remind me of images you would see on the silver screen–those created by the very finest of cinematographers, rendered with care and a masterful eye.  He clearly studies cinema.  Just look at the way the sun reflects off the sea on the cover of the haunting Town Is by the Sea–the image looks as if it has come from a classic international film from the 1950s (when the story is set).  Throughout Smith gives you evocative double page spreads that give you widescreen views of the interior of the boy’s house, the landscape as the father walks to work, and, most claustrophobically, the view underground as mine workers labor (the earth seems to be crushing their hunched bodies).  

Congratulations Sydney!

Dog Vs. Strawberry is Silly Fun

Dog Vs. Strawberry, art by Andrea Zuill, story by Nelly Buchet, published by Random House Studio, ISBN: 9780593643129.

And now a quick look at one of the funnier new picture books of 2024. This goofy slapstick comedy stars a dog who decides to challenge and race, well, a piece of immobile fruit. Kids love it when they know something the lead character does not. And this competitive canine truly believes that they are outrunning and outjumping and outmaneuvering that delicious strawberry, that just merely sits stationary on the floor. Buchet’s bouncy text captures the manic absurdity of the situation. And Zuill, a gifted artist who knows how to stage a joke and a punchline, clearly loves showing this pooch in motion. Great doggy facial expressions throughout. And whoa, that startling moment at the climax will have young storytime attendees gasping and giggling at the same time.

The Spaceman and Viewfinder are otherworldly gems

Two very different looks at visitors from other space for those budding sci fi fans.

The Spaceman, illustrated and written by Randy Cecil, published by Candlewick, ISBN: 9781536226164.

With his bug eyes and “whoa I cannot believe the wonders I am seeing” facial expressions, The Spaceman makes for one engaging protagonist. He lands on a planet (most likely Earth) on a mission to gather soil. It’s supposed to be a quick visit but chaos involving his rocket ensues, leading to a hilariously depicted chase. Along the way, this misadventure gives our titular hero a chance to take in his beautiful surroundings. Yes, things do not go as planned, but with enchanting encounters with refreshing water, lovely winged creatures (yay butterflies!), and a very very very very friendly pooch, the now-content Spaceman does not mind. Cecil’s book delights on so many levels. The first person narration grabs the reader right away. The Spaceman is diminutive, and Cecil has fun placing with scale, placing him next to flowers, bugs and the tongue-wagging dog that tower over him. Also, Cecil knows how to pace the action, whooshing the reader from one comical event to the next with grace and ease. And Cecil sticks the landing with an adorable ending that satisfies.

Viewfinder, created by Salwa Majoka and Christine D.U. Chung, published by Tundra, ISBN: 9780735268753.

At 144 pages, Viewfinder is not really a picture book. It’s a wordless graphic novel. But it goes so well as a companion piece to The Spaceman I had to pair the two. Viewfinder drops the reader into the world of a young space traveler who goes from planet to planet collecting gems. The character lands on a planet that seems to have been deserted. She discovers an object (which we will instantly recognize as one of those viewfinder toys) that shows her photos of the once vibrant life that existed, and this includes human life. As she moves from locale to locale, trying to figure out the planet’s mysteries (the illustrations effectively convey the blur of motion), the book casts a compelling spell on the reader. The work is sci fi, it’s a mystery, and it’s also surprisingly sweet–probably the cutest dystopia novel ever. And yet Chung and Majoka are not afraid to tap into the sadness of the situation. In a reassuring touch, the creators do manage to give those experiencing this adventure hope. It would make a terrific animated feature.

Storytime Successes: Book That Almost Rhymed, Mama in the Moon, Turtle-Turtle

This past week I introduced three new books to some of my preschool groups and the children loved them!

The Book That Almost Rhymed, illustrated by Hatem Aly, written by Omar Abed, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, ISBN: 9780593406380.

An enthusiastic rhyme-spewing young storyteller wants to tell an action-packed tale filled with verses and wordplay. But a younger sister keeps botching up the rhymes by yelling out totally unexpected words, disrupting the narrative’s flow. That is the fun comical premise of this rollicking sibling romp that never goes the direction the reader thinks it will go. As new obstacles appear, the book becomes sillier and more giddily ridiculous and young storytime audiences cannot help but giggle. Abed has a blast throwing in zippy words, and demonstrates a talent for effective comic timing. Aly’s bright illustrations capture the escalating wildness of this impromptu collaboration; this is controlled chaos at its best. Things end with a sweet peaceful resolution. But what I really like is the clever way Abed reveals that the sister’s contributions can be used in an all new way. Here’s to future collaborations!

Mama in the Moon, created by Doreen and Brian Cronin, published by Rocky Pond Books, ISBN: 9780593698204.

You may have heard but this past week we had a solar eclipse, ha. When I saw a certain spread in this book showing a mama sloth’s silhouette as she slowly moves down a tree in front of a giant yellow moon I couldn’t help to think–wow, this looks like a sloth eclipse! The Cronins tell a tale that invites the storyteller to read it as slowly as a sloth’s movements. And yet, there is surprisingly a lot happening here. A baby sloth cuddles with their mother high up in a tree, but then tumbles to the ground. The little tyke panics, calling up to mom. She shouts down reassuring words, saying she will arrive soon, and to notice the comforting flowers, worms and butterflies. The idiosyncratic images in this book glow in the moonlight. The worms especially have a very distinct look to them. When the mother-child reunion finally does occur, young listeners feel relieved and elated. A satisfying gem.

Turtle-Turtle and the Wide, Wide River, created by Jane and Will Hillenbrand, published by Holiday House, ISBN: 9780823453979.

Will Hillenbrand says in an afterword that this story of a baby turtle surviving its first storm came to him in a dream. And it’s interesting: the book, while seeming like a pretty straightforward account about perseverance and animal characters helping out the littlest and youngest in their ranks, does have sort of a dream logic to it. Turtle-Turtle lives on a little island surrounded by a big river. Other seasoned creatures (a heron, frog and otter) notice a storm brewing, while Turtle-Turtle happily sniffs flowers, oblivious to the rolling dark clouds. When things go haywire and a wave pulls our turtle pal underwater, Turtle-Turtle must discover how to swim, paddle and kick those legs. The Hillenbrands make creating a picture book seem effortless and easy, when we all know that it is not. They throw in recurring word patterns (“down, down, down” followed by an “up, up, up”) and children happily shout out the sound effect words like whish, swish, and whoosh even while feeling deeply concerned about our hero. The illustrations deftly mix in the cute with perilous: that little smile on the turtle’s face makes listeners say “aaaawwww” while the storm clouds make them say “whoa.” An instant storytime favorite.

Cover reveal and Q & A: Paint with Ploof by Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser

Paint with Ploof, created by Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser, published by Tundra (an imprint of Penguin Random House), ISBN: 9781774881941, release date: October 29, 2024.

I am so psyched. I have been doing this blog for a while, but today I will be doing my first cover reveal! And it’s for a book that I’m excited about: Paint With Ploof, a sequel to last year’s fantabulous Ploof, coming out from Tundra on October 29, 2024!

In 2023, I had a blast discovering Ploof (original review here), an interactive delight starring one cool shape-shifting cloud. Co-creators Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser invite listeners to, among other things, clap for, play hide and seek with, and sometimes assume the shape of the title character. Ploof has become one of my very favorites to read in storytimes. I gave the book as a gift this past holiday season. And it made my list of favorite picture books of 2023. I wasn’t alone in my praise. Review journals such as Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist also cheered on Ploof’s playful spirit and the captivating creativity Clanton and Musser bring to the project.

When Tundra (thank you Evan!) reached out and asked if I would like to present this cover reveal knowing I’m a fan, I said “yes” without hesitation. I know this will be one terrific romp!

What should we expect from the new Ploof book? The book’s web page (link after the cover reveal) says: Ploof is a little cloud who’s eager to make their first rainbow! But how? With your help, of course! Can you help Ploof find the right shape? Mix colors? Fly high to paint? Cheer Ploof on through the ups and downs of trying something new, follow along with some calming breathing exercises and find a new perspective!

Colors! Rainbows! Making art! Oh, I see a lot of potential here for classroom and programming use. (Please note that this cover reveal is happening on April 3, which is also National Find a Rainbow Day.)

Before I roll out the cover reveal, I wanted to share a little Q & A I did with co-creators Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser. In this photo, Andy is on the left and Ben is on the right:

What led to you two to collaborating on the first Ploof? 

Ben and Andy: We’ve known each other for around 14-ish years now and been in a critique group together for about 7 of those years. We started collaborating in 2020. We both enjoyed each other’s work, often played drawing games together, and were curious what a book might look like if we collaborated. At first, the plan was to get together in person, but the pandemic began and we soon found ourselves doing that remotely. Our calls and collaborative google doc sessions became a highlight of each week for us. We worked on a few different story ideas and found we had some overlap. Turns out we both had our heads in the clouds! We combined a couple of our different ideas together and POOF! next thing we knew Ploof was taking shape.

What is your collaborative process?

Ben and Andy: We are very serious about keeping it all as fun as possible. We often begin a collaborative session with drawing games which soon turn into improv “yes, and . . .” play. When writing we will both open up the same Google doc and work on the same story at the same time. It’s amazing how we seem to frequently anticipate where the other person wants to go with it. It feels like a game! Sort of a puzzle where we piece our ideas together.

With Paint with Ploof we used post-it notes to storyboard together. We would draw oodles of options and see what felt like the best fit. With final illustrations it is a similar process. Each of us creates different components using powdered graphite, pencils, and paint which we then put together in Photoshop. The end result is something that neither of us would have created on our own!

How was working on the sequel different?

Ben and Andy: With the first book we had some growing pains trying to figure out our final illustration process. In Paint with Ploof it was generally much breezier as we had an established rhythm. One thing that did throw us for a bit of a rainbow loop though was how to paint the rainbows. That involved some new experimenting! Which in a way mirrored Ploof’s own creative journey and struggles. Like Ploof, we found we needed to embrace what might seem like mistakes at first. To take another look at things and give it another go.

Another thing that was special and different when creating the sequel came about from school visits we’ve been doing for the first book. We decided to preview a nearly final draft of Paint with Ploof. At one point in the book Ploof is feeling really sad and upset. We got the idea to ask the audience if there was anything they might like to say to Ploof. Next thing we knew kids were saying the sweetest things to encourage Ploof. We incorporated that interaction into the book, and it has become one of our favorite parts. We love the genuine and thoughtful discussions that come about with the kids. 

Thank you Ben and Andy for your answers!

And now–drum roll please–here is the cover of Paint with Ploof:

Ooh, cannot wait to share this with kids!

And for an extra taste, here are some interior shots:

To read more about Paint with Ploof, please visit the publisher’s page for the book here.

Please visit Ben’s official site and Andy’s official site.

I hope you enjoyed this cover reveal!