Fall 2010 Picturebook Highlights: Candlewick Press

Ready for another long post? Introducing Candlewick's Fall line for the Fall 2010 Picturebook Highlights round-up!

Disclaimer before we begin: I have not seen these books with my own two eyes. As I'll soon be leaving the Odyssey Bookshop to pursue a career elsewhere in the children's book industry (more on that in a later post), I've been going through catalogues but haven't been able to get my hands on the actual books. So, these books have been chosen based on my knowledge of the author and/or illustrator's previous work, the catalogue description, and my own personal taste.

Grandma's Gloves
by Cecil Castellucci, illustrated by Julia Denos
9780763631680, $15.99, Pub. Date: August 2010

These charming illustrations showcase the talent of first-time illustrator Julia Denos. More than an "issue book", this picturebook tells the story of a little girl and her grandmother who bond over growing plants and gardening. When her grandmother dies, the little girl is sad until she remembers all the gardening skills her grandmother has taught her. The illustrations capture the love and vivacity of their relationship, as green growing things jump off the page at the reader.

Snook Alone
by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
9780763626679, $16.99, Pub. Date: September 2010

Though not technically a picturebook, this book is intended for a picturebook-age audience of ages 4-7. The combination of acclaimed poet Marilyn Nelson and award-winning illustrator Timothy Basil Ering (who illustrated Kate DiCamillo's A Tale of Despereaux, among others) is sure to produce a hit. A quiet tale, this story is about a monk named Abba Jacob and his rat terrier, Snook. They live on an island together, but when the two are separated in a storm, the tale becomes Snook's journey finding his way back to his friend.

There's Going to Be a Baby
by John Burningham, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
9780763649074, $16.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

For the first time EVER, husband-and-wife team up for a darling picturebook. John Burningham's witty take on a timeless story of an older sibling's uncertainty over a new family member is perfectly matched by Helen Oxenbury's "freshly enchanting and wonderfully nostalgic" illustrations.

Tiny Little Fly
by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Kevin Waldron
9780763646813, $15.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

I can already tell this is going to be a storytime favorite. Michael Rosen's (British Children's Laureate) simple text creates the sound affects for the animals trying to catch the fly. Tramp, crush, tramp - swat, swoop, snatch - roll, squash, roll: so many sounds and animals to act out with each reading! The tiny little fly lands here and there, while Kevin Waldron helps us imagine a fly's-eye-view of each animal the fly passes.

Fantasy: A Artist's Realm
by Ben Boos
9780763640569, $19.99, Pub. Date: October 2010 

Okay, I'm slipping this in here with the picturebooks. It is definitely an illustrated book, but for the older reader, 7 or 8 and up, all the way through to adults. Ben Boos has created a whole new world (stop singing the Aladdin song, right. now.) with this illustrated fantasy. Welcome to New Perigord, a land full of elves, dwarves, minotaurs, hobgoblins, and much more; scary and mystical, the detail of this land will leave you breathless and inspired to dream up a world of your own.

Mirror
by Jeannie Baker
9780763648480, $18.99, Pub. Date: November 2010

Having written a paper on Jeannie Baker, I was thrilled to see a new book of hers in the Candlewick catalogue - and what a book it is! The title, Mirror, refers to the dual stories told side-by-side, one of a little boy in Sydney, Australia, one of a little boy in Morocco. The two different cultures are pictured in brilliant collage illustrations on opposite pages so the reader can examine each boy's day, and compare it to their own.

Fall 2010 Picturebook Highlights: HarperCollins

Presenting publisher #2 in the Fall 2010 Picturebook Highlights series: HarperCollins!

There are a lot of amazing books on Harper's list for the fall, so get ready for a longer-than-usual post. I'm going to follow up with a post of winter holidays-specific books later in the year, probably November or December, as there are several worthy holiday titles, too.

Pajama Pirates
by Andrew Kramer, illustrated by Leslie Lammle
9780061251948, $16.99, Pub. Date: September 2010

Beautifully illustrated, these charming pictures perfectly capture the fun and adventurous spirit of the pajama pirates and their pre-bedtime escapades. The rhyming text tells a story of rowing away in a boat to have a pirate brawl on the high seas. The soothing, gentle rhythm of the story compliments the dusky blues and purples and moonshine color palate used in the illustrations.

Dinosaur Vs. The Potty
by Bob Shea
9781423133391, $15.99, Pub. Date: September 2010

Remember Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime? Well, now it's time to face that potty! With familiar, friendly illustrations, bright colors, lots of humor, and loads of potty-inducing playtime, this book will become an instant potty time classic.

Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique
by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
9780061235924, $17.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

Don't miss the newest, full-size, hardcover, fabulous Fancy Nancy title! In addition to running her fashion boutique, Nancy has to come up with an emergency plan to save her little sister's rained-out birthday party. What fancy ideas does Nancy have to save the day?

Knuffle Bunny Free
by Mo Willems
9780061929571, $17.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

Finally! The last installment of the Knuffle Bunny trilogy. Trixie and her family are visiting her grandparents in Holland. But on the way, a very important friend gets left on the plane! What will Trixie do? Is Trixie a big enough girl to spend a vacation in Holland without her beloved Knuffle Bunny? Find out what happens as Trixie grows up.

13 Words
by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Maira Kalman
9780061664656, $16.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

Confession: I haven't actually seen this book in person with my own two eyes. Yet. BUT, I generally love the humor of Lemony Snicket, and I like the illustration-style in the cover image drawn by Maira Kalman, SO I'm going out on a limb and recommending this book. This is what the catalogue has to say about this book:

From bestselling author Lemony Snicket and celebrated illustrator Maira Kalman comes an uproarious, whimsical word book like no other.

Snicket and Kalman present a startlingly beautiful adventure woven from a practical introduction to thirteen wonderful words, including such marvels as Bird, Dog, Panache, and Haberdashery.
Maira Kalman, renowned for her design—illustrating the New York Times column The Principles of Uncertainty and books such as the bestselling The Elements of Style—carries this madcap adventure to wondrous heights with her vision of a world populated with hats, song, and cake. A rollicking adventure joins forces with magnificent art to create a true celebration of words.

Sounds good, right?!?

I Didn't Do It
by Patricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan Charest, illustrated by Katy Schneider
9780061358333, $16.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

The follow-up to Once I Ate a Pie, this top-notch team has come up with another steal-your-heart picturebook of poems and paintings all from the dogs' points of view. Just as sweet as the first book, you'll be introduced to a whole new cast of dogs and their silly, naughty, loving little worlds

The Secret Message
by Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by Bruce Whatley
9781423110446, $16.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

This lyrical retelling of a Rumi poem is not written as a poem itself, but as a delightful, cheeky tail about a parrot who tricks his owner into delivering a secret message. The double-page full-color illustrations help to evoke the beauty, scenery, and culture of Persia.

She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story
by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Don Tate
9780061349201, $16.99, Pub. Date: November 2010

Every spring when I put my baseball picturebook display together, I think to myself, "We need more picturebooks about girls and baseball." An answer to my prayers was found in this fictionalized account of the true story of Effa Manley: a woman who lived, breathed, and worked baseball. As a mixed-race child growing up in the early 1900s, Effa experienced a lot of racism and sexism, but she didn't let that stop her. She organized protests in Harlem, married a ballplayer named Abe who helped start the Negro National League (a black baseball league), and managed the Brooklyn Eagles (a black baseball team). She never stopped working for the rights of black baseball players, and in 2006, she became the first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The last two lines of the book say, "On Effa's gravestone it says: SHE LOVED BASEBALL. In 2006, baseball proved it loved her back."

All the Things I Love About You
by LeUyen Pham
9780061990298, $16.99, Pub. Date: October 2010

Boy, I'm not a mother yet, and this book still brought a tear to my eye. That's not to say it's over-the-top sweet (though in some ways it is), but there are little elements of sly humor that keep it from being barf-inducing and instead firmly in the "Awww" category. Perfect for mothers and sons, with bold, contemporary illustrations.

Fall 2010 Picturebook Highlights: Random House

Remember back in January when I posted about ordering books that would be published this Summer 2010? Well, it's the end of April and guess what I'm doing.

If you guessed buying books for Fall/Winter 2010, you'd be correct!

Introducing the Fall 2010 Picturebook Highlights, beginning with Random House!

Camille Saint-Saens's The Carnival of the Animals
music by Camille Saint-Saens
verses by Jack Prelutsky
illustrations by Mary Grandpre
9780375864582, $19.99, Pub. Date: August 2010

You don't get more all-star cast than this, folks! The illustrations are by Mary Grandpre, the woman who first put a face to the American versions of Harry Potter. Jack Prelutsky was the first Children's Poet Laureate in 2006. Camille Saint-Saens was a famous French composer who wrote a musical suite of 14 movements, the musical accompaniment to carousing carnival animals. The music is performed and recorded by the Wurrtemberg Chamber Orchestra and Jack Prelutsky reads his poetry on the 54-minute CD is included with this delightful picturebook.

Dog Loves Books
by Louise Yates
9780375864490, $16.99, Pub. Date: September 2010

Yes, I chose to highlight this book in part because it describes my life as a bookseller so well! When you love books as much as Dog and I do, obviously opening a bookshop is the thing to do. Unlike dog, however, I can't just read when customers aren't in the shop. Dog reads all kinds of books waiting for customers to arrive, and when his shop becomes busy, he's able to put exactly the right book in their hands.

Six Crows
by Leo Lionni
9780375845505, $16.99, Pub. Date: September 2010

Originally published in 1988, this book is back in print for the first time. I love crows - I've actually been designing a crow or raven tattoo for years - so I was particularly pleased to see this one back in stock. Leo Lionni's Swimmy stole my heart as a child (9780394826202, $6.99); it was a pleasure to be introduced to this classic. Six crows watch a farmer tend his field of wheat. Though he sets up a scarecrow to protect his wheat, the clever crows make plans to outmaneuver the farmer. Like most of Lionni's books, there is a moral to this tale: compromise.

Hush, Little Horsie
by Jane Yolen
illustrated by Ruth Sanderson
9780375858536, $16.99, Pub. Date: September 2010

Two local children's book creators have teamed up to bring you this gentle masterpiece. Ruth Sanderson's dreamy illustrations perfectly compliment Jane Yolen's rhyming bedtime verses.   

The ABCs of Rock
by Melissa Duke Mooney
illustrations by Print Mafia
9781582462936, $16.99, Pub. Date: October 2010 - from Tricycle Press, distributed by Random House

This book is really for adults, I think, or maybe for the children of musicians or those really into the rock music scene. Personally, I love it, but what I'm trying to say is this book is probably not for everyone. This is what the catalogue has to say:

From one of the top rock band poster artists comes a collection of 26 evocative images of rock music's most recognized icons. Starting with AC/DC's familiar lightning bolts and ending with ZZ Top's customer Ford coupe, this alphabetical retrospective of more than four decades of rock history will inspire music lovers of all ages.