Happy Birthday, Dear Frances

Yesterday marked the 50th birthday for Russell Hoban's little badger, Frances. Carol Baicker-McKee, an author/illustrator that I've written about, wrote a special tribute to Frances that you can read from her blog, DOODLES AND NOODLES, here.

Carol Baicker-McKee has lent her fun 3-dimensional art photographs to several children's books, one of which I have on my Christmas Book List. It's MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHEEPS!, by Julie Steigemeyer. I love Carol's style. Click here to see her other books and read my past blog post.

Frances was in the broom closet, singing:

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday to you,

Happy Thursday, dear Alice,

Happy Thursday to you.

"Who is Alice?" asked Mother.

"Alice is somebody that nobody can see," said Frances. "And that is why she does not have a birthday. So I am singing Happy Birthday to her."

"Today is Friday," said Mother.

"It is Thursday for Alice," said Frances...

"I am sure Alice will have cake and candy on her birthday," said Mother.

"But Alice does not have a birthday," said Frances.

"Yes, she does," said Mother. "Even if nobody can see her, Alice has one birthday every year, and so do you. Your birthday is two months from now. Then you will be the birthday girl. But tomorrow is Gloria's birthday, and she will be the birthday girl."

"That's how it is, Alice," said Frances. "Your birthday is always the one that is not now."
From A BIRTHDAY FOR FRANCES, by Russell Hoban, with charcoal illustrations by his wife Lillian Hoban

PICTURE BOOKS WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART

CAROL BAICKER-McKEE has done some brilliant 3-D multi-textured collage art and photography for several children's picture books, for ages baby-preschool.

•  MIMI written and illustrated by Carol Baicker-McKee (ages 4-8). Mimi is a quirky little piglet, who wears a purple cape and a silver tiara.
•  CHEEP! CHEEP! by Julie Steigemeyer, illustrations by Carol Baicker-McKee (baby-preschool). These chicks cheep, they peep, they creep, and they leap!
•  MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHEEPS! (same as above) The family of chicks gets ready for Christmas!

MOLLY BANG has written and illustrated another beautiful picture book in 3-D cut paper collages and paintings...

•  THE PAPER CRANE (ages 4-8) Story based on an ancient Chinese folktale - a stranger enters a restaurant and is served a fine dinner by the owner of the struggling restaurant and his young son. He tries to repay the kind owner with an origami crane made from a paper napkin, that dances when they clap their hands.

ROBIN BRICKMAN has done some intricate, 3-D paper sculptures for the following children's nature and animal books:

•  A LOG'S LIFE , by Wendy Pfeffer (ages 4-8)
•  WINGS, by Sneed B. Collard (ages 4-8)
•  BEAKS!, (same as above)