Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for November 28, 2023

 For this author/illustrator, born in Michigan in 1949, drawing was just a way to relax after sculpting. But his curious illustrations in pencil made him famous, starting with his first book in 1985, which became a holiday classic. Another book was inspired by the thought, "What if kids were bored and found a board game..." and another sees the world from the perspective of ants. His most widely read book is The Polar Express and the creator is Chris Van Allsburg.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for November 21, 2023

 This Grand Junction, Colorado author is a retired teacher and mother of five. She's written early readers and edcational books, but her best-selling picture books feature a loveable turkey. Turkey Trouble came out in 2012, followed by 6 more, including Turkey Trick-or-Treat, Turkey's Eggcellent Easter, and her most recent, Turkey's Sandtastic Beach Day which came out in May of 2023. Happy Thanksgiving to Wendi Silvano!

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for November 7, 2023

 When this author/illustrator moved from Honolulu to NYC hoping to become a children's book illustrator, he met: a) his future wife and b) an art director who told him his portfolio of sketches was so bad he should throw it away. He did, but then created a new collection of drawings that got him a contract with Dial Press for his first book in 1967--A Boy, A Dog and A Frog. It was wordless, as were his next several books. He went on to create over 300 books, including There's a Nightmare in My Closet and the Little Critter series. This is Mercer Mayer.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for October 24, 2023

 This writer/composer used his talent to create songs for the characters on Sesame Street. He wrote "I Love Trash" for Oscar, and "Rubber Duckie" and "I Don't Want to Live on the Moon" for Ernie. He worked up until the day he died of cancer in 1998. This was Jeff Moss. His story is one of many in the book Street Gang by Michael Davis, about the earliest days of Sesame Street.

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for October 17, 2023

  This Irish-born author of over 250 books passed away Octover 1, 2023. Her  book The Valentine Bears (1985), about a bear couple who wake from hibernation to celebrate Valentines Day, is illustrated by Jan Brett. Her story Fly Away Home (1991) is about a homeless father and son living in an airport, and her The Wall (1992) is about searching for a grandfather's name on the Vietnam memorial. The Cart That Carried Martin (2013, illustrated by Black artist Don Tate, tells about two mules and a borrowed cart that carried Martin Luther King's casket. This is Eve Bunting.

Fall Frenzy 2023 entry--Fall Into Fun

 Thanks again this year to Kaitlyn Sanchez for hosting the Fall Writing Frenzy contest, and thanks also to all the sponsors who offered prizes! This is my entry, based on the photo below.

Fall Into Fun by Deborah Holt Williams (54 words)

 

Is a leaf surprised by a sudden tumble,

Or does it decide to descend,

To take flight, swirling and spiraling,

Down,

                   Down,

                                           Down.

Does it cling to the branch until children appear,

Then leap to join them in their joyful game?

Does a leaf wait for just the right moment

To come and play?

Tuesday Kidlit Trivia for October 3, 2023

 This Chinese author/illustrator used a variety of art techniques in his fables from his own and other cultures. He used a cut paper technique in The Emperor and the Kite, pictures divided into panels in the Chinese version of Red Riding Hood (which won the 1990 Caldecott medal), and inky black backgrounds of the tale from India, Seven Blind Mice. This is Ed Young, who died this week on September 29th at the age of 91.