A STYLISTIC RENDERING OF BIBLE STORIES

An up-and-coming children's book illustrator to take note of, for anyone interested in beautiful pictorial Bible storybooks, is Niko Chocheli. My previous blogpost focused on Bible Books by Brian Wildsmith. Like Wildsmith, Chocheli makes use of a rich palette of vibrant color. His lavish, but ethereal illustrations are even more precisely detailed and of a more classical style than Wildsmith's, resulting in renderings not only reminiscent of the Old Masters, but with a dramatic contrast of light and darkness - an obvious influence of the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine iconography from his native country, the Republic of Georgia.

Niko's illustrated books for children include:
PREPARE, O BETHLEMEM
A PERFECT CHRISTMAS
THE BOOK OF JONAH
THE PRAISES: PSALMS 148
CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
(Published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press)

To find out more about this artist, go to http://www.nikochocheli.com/.

BOOKS BY BRIAN WILDSMITH

"I believe that beautiful picture books are vitally important in subconsciously forming a child's visual appreciation, which will bear fruit later in life." -Brian Wildsmith


While visiting my sister, I came across a book that I hadn't thought of in years, by an author/illustrator I have not mentioned yet. The book was JOSEPH and the illustrations are by Brian Wildsmith. He is certainly one of the greatest living children's illustrators today. His first book ABC, for which he was awarded the Kate Greenway Medal (Britain's equal to our Caldecott Medal), was published in 1962.

Brian Wildsmith has done a whole series of Bible storybooks, with artwork that is full of lavish color and detail. He was born and raised in a small village in Yorkshire, England, "where everything", he says, "...was grey. There wasn't any colour. It was all up to my imagination. I had to draw in my head..." When asked why he paints with so much detail, he relates: "I believe children appreciate details as well as color. I want to help young people wonder at the world and to become close observers of the beauty and harmony in nature."

Brian Wildsmith also enjoyed writing and illustrating books about animals. He relates, "We once had a blind dog that was mothered by a neighborhood dog. I was quite impressed by this and learned that animals show a great deal of compassion for one another. When I paint animals, I imagine them as a child would. I want children to make personal connections to the animals in my books."

Today, as an octogenarian living in southern France, Wildsmith still paints in a studio where he is inspired by the light and colors of the Mediterranean Sea.

MORE BIBLE BOOKS:
EXODUS; A CHRISTMAS STORY; THE EASTER STORY; JESUS.
OTHER STORIES:
CAT ON THE MAT; THE LITTLE WOOD DUCK; THE OWL AND THE WOODPECKER; OPPOSITES; ZOO ANIMALS; AMAZING ANIMAL ALPHABET; ANIMAL GALLERY; THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE; CAROUSEL; FISHES; BIRDS; JUNGLE PARTY; HUNTER AND HIS DOG.
ILLUSTRATED BY BRIAN WILDSMITH:
A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES, by Robert Louis Stevenson.



(quotes from http://www.brianwildsmith.com/ )

ALL IN THE FAMILY!

I just got home from a wonderful visit with my family, who all came together from near and far to celebrate the joyous occasion of my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary. Our gathering place was at my sister Terri's home. I am the oldest of six and she and I are probably the most alike out of all my siblings, both in temperament and situation. As stay-at home-moms, we both home schooled our children (Terri's still going, with three of her five!), we both have one girl in the midst of boys, we tend to be a bit introverted, and we share a tender spot in our hearts for the very young and the very old. Honestly, that last trait is shared by my whole family.

Anyway, Terri and I were talking about my blog and fondly reminiscing about which read-alouds have been our favorites, when before I knew it, there was a huge pile of books on my lap, two small towers of books on the floor next to my feet, and another stack beside me on her couch. She accomplished this feat in about 10 minutes flat, all the while poking into bookshelves and book baskets around the house as she asked, "Did you ever read this one?"

That's the great thing about good books: they become like part of the family and, as with family, you look forward to the time you can spend with them, as well as the memories you share with them. Some times are sad, some are happy - but good books and good families leave legacies and stories that are not to be forgotten, even when we have to say goodby.

"A blessed companion is a book - a book that, fitly chosen, is a lifelong friend...a book that, at a touch pours its heart into your own." - Douglas Jerrold

SOME NEW PICTURE BOOKS THAT WILL TOUCH YOUR HEART:My new favorite is an endearing book called WILFRID GORDON McDONALD PARTRIDGE and it's about a young boy who lives next door to a retirement home. His favorite person there is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper (notice - she has four names too!) She happens to be 96 years old and has lost her memory. As the story unfolds, Wilfrid, after asking the old folks what a "memory" is, ponders the responses and is able to help Miss Nancy find hers. This sweet and quirky tale presents the nature of memory in a way that young children can understand. The fun illustrations go perfectly with the text. Written by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas (for ages 4-8).
Another very unique book is THE BEAR THAT HEARD CRYING by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock and Helen Kinsey, illustrations by Ted Rand (for ages 4-8). Set in 1783, this story is about a three-year-old pioneer girl, Sarah, who wanders into the forest and disappears. Friends and neighbors search in vain for four days. She is finally discovered beneath a pine tree and she tells her rescuers about "a big black dog" that kept her safe and warm each night. (But the bear tracks left in a circle around her reveal what really took place!) A dramatic tale of protection and comfort, based on a true story. The illustrations of the dark forest, done in a beautiful grey-green palette help set the mood.
MISS TIZZY, written by Libba Moore Gray, illustrated by Jad Rowland. (ages 4-8) Like the first book I mentioned, this one also deals gently with interactions between the old and young. "Miss Tizzy always wore a purple hat with a white flower in it and high-top green tennis shoes...her house was pink and sat like a fat blossom in the middle of a street with white houses, white fences, and very neat flower gardens. Miss Tizzy had no fence at all but she had flowers that grew everywhere and spilled over onto the sidewalk." Like her flowers, Miss Tizzy's love spills over to all the children in her multi-ethnic neighborhood. Near the end of the story, Miss Tizzy, who is a slightly elderly and eccentric black woman, falls ill and must go to bed. The children know just what to do to make her feel loved.


TOMIE DePAOLA is a popular author/illustrator of children's books and these three will not disappoint - all for ages 3 and up. Make sure to have a box of tissues close beside you:The first is THE BABY SISTER and is the story of the author's childhood memories of the anticipated arrival of a new sibling. Tommy wants a sister. What I love about this story is not only the way that little Tommy helps his parents get ready for the new baby, but also the relationship that develops between him and his strict Italian grandmother, "Nana", who comes to stay while his mom is at the hospital.
The second book, NOW ONE FOOT, NOW THE OTHER is the story of a boy who is named Bobby after his best friend - his grandfather, Bob. The grandfather teaches his grandson to walk by telling him, "now one foot, now the other". And then, not long after Bobby's fifth birthday, the grandfather suffers a stroke. Bobby believes his grandfather will get well and eventually helps him to walk again - "now one foot, now the other."
One of the most precious stories helping children deal with the death of a loved one is NANA UPSTAIRS & NANA DOWNSTAIRS, which is again, based on memories of the author's childhood. This time, he recalls visits on Sundays to his grandmother's and great-grandmother's house. His grandmother always seemed to be downstairs by the kitchen stove and his great-grandmother was "always in bed upstairs because she was ninety-four years old". One morning Tommy's mother tells him that "Nana Upstairs died last night...but she will come back in your memory whenever you think about her." A very graceful treatment of a difficult subject. Anyone who grew up with a precious grandparent in their life will adore this book!


AND AN OLD CLASSIC (THAT'S NEW TO ME!)
FROG WENT A-COURTIN', retold by John Langstaff, pictures by Feodor Rojankovsky.
This book was published in 1955, but it was first written down in Scotland over 400 years ago. Early pilgrims from Scotland and England brought it to America as a ballad. Wait until you see all the guests that come to Frog and Mouse's wedding, especially the last one! The Caldecott Medal-winning illustrations bring the song to life in this fun song-story. (Ages 4-8)

A VERY VIRTUOUS BOOK...

THE BOOK OF VIRTUES: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories (Edited, with commentary by William J. Bennett) is a wonderful collection of fables, fairy tales, fiction, poetry, songs, speeches, and biblical stories, divided into sections of ten virtues: Self-Discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Friendship, Work, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Loyalty, and Faith.

Bennett gives brief introductions to each section. Geared mainly toward younger and middle readers, you and your child will encounter a wonderful treasury of moral stories from around the world in this "little library". The collection is over 800 pages and includes works by Tolstoy, Aesop, Hans Christian Anderson, Benjamin Franklin, Daniel DeFoe, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, John Donne, Shakespeare, Robert Frost, Henry van Dyke, and Robert Louis Stevenson, to name a few.

Also not to be missed, are THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF VIRTUES and THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF HEROS. These are selections from THE BOOK OF VIRTUES that are brought to life by the sumptuous illustrations of Michael Hague.

BOOKS THAT TRANSPORT US AND HELP US LEARN MORE ABOUT OURSELVES...

"But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do." -C.S. Lewis

My children and I really enjoyed traveling through books to far off lands and different centuries and meeting the people (and humanized animals!) who inhabited them, while coming back to ourselves at the same time by sharing with the characters not only their adventures, but also finding a common boundary of ideas and feelings about family and friendship, loyalties and truths. We would always return with a new perspective on others and a renewed perspective of ourselves...

FOLKTALE/MYTHOLOGY:

TALES OF A CHINESE GRANDMOTHER, by Frances Carpenter. (Ages 9-12) Wonderful folktales of the Chinese culture, told by an old grandmother. Each chapter is a different tale.

THE CHILDREN'S HOMER, by Padraic Colum. Exquisite pen and ink illustrations by Willy Pogany. (Ages 9-12) My kids were entranced by this telling of Greek mythology because it allowed us to see the Greeks through their own eyes.

FANTASY:

THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD (series), by Lynne Reid Banks. (Ages 8-12) Exciting, absorbing, and thought provoking story, alive with magic as two boys discover they can bring their toys to life by putting them in an old medicine cabinet that one of them receives - along with a small plastic Indian - for his birthday. They are faced with the responsibility of this tiny person and the consequences of their actions. Gives new meaning to the phrase, "the dignity of human life".

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA (series), by C.S. Lewis, illustrated by Pauline Baynes (Ages 8-12). It is so evident in these stories that Lewis respects children's imaginations - he does not dumb-down evil or sugar-coat goodness. At the same time, there is a wonderful sense of the everyday in these incredible fantasy books - hearth and home and the honest decency of ordinary characters who are movtivated by love!!! The children, talking animals and creatures, and especially the great Lion, Aslan, will become endearing companions that your children will never forget.

REDWALL (series), by Brian Jacques, illustrated by Gary Chalk. (ages 8-12). This series was read to my children by their father and I'm not sure who enjoyed the reading more, him or them! All the characters are animals, mostly mice and mostly heroic, with the exception of the villian, Cluny the one-eyed rat, and his horde. Matthias, a novice monk (mouse) at Redwall Abbey, has dedicated himself to the service of peace. But he slowly learns that, sometimes, it is virtuous to defend oneself and those one loves. (Many children have been known to read this under the covers at night with a flashlight, after read aloud time is over and dad and mom have gone to bed). Go to http://www.redwall.org/ for Brian Jacques' fun website and a list of all the books!

HISTORICAL NOVELS:

THE BRONZE BOW, by Elizabeth Speare. (Ages 9-12) Beautifully told story of a boy living in Jerusalem at the time of Christ. 1962 Newbery Medal winner. A family favorite of ours!

THE HOUSE OF SIXTY FATHERS, by Meindert DeJong, illustrated by Maurice Sendak. (Ages 9-12). The Japanese invasion of China during World War II is the backdrop for this touching story of a little boy named Tien Pao, who becomes separated from his parents. He is eventually helped by American soldiers and airmen. Throughout the search for his parents, he is determined not to despair.

BIOGRAPHY:

THE ENDLESS STEPPE, by Esther Hautzig. (Ages 10 and up). This book made a huge impression on us, probably because it is a true story and the heroine, only ten years old, never loses courage or perserverance in the face of extreme hardship after being forced to leave her beautiful home in Poland in 1942 and live in Siberia with her family because they are Jewish.

"READ TO ME, PLEASE!" - PRACTICAL TIPS FOR READING ALOUD...

My last post included guidelines on how to choose good books. This entry focuses on practical tips for reading aloud to children:

1. Try to set aside some time each day for reading aloud.

2. Be attentive to your child's reading/listening level - don't force a book too early, but remember that children can understand and enjoy books above their reading level.

3. For very young children, remember that they enjoy and are stimulated by stories with rhythm and repetition. The sounds of language count most at this stage.

4. Be aware that myths, fairytales, and folktales come in many adaptations. Find the good ones! And look for editions with illustrations that don't trivialize the text, but do it justice.

5. Reading aloud will be more enjoyable for all if you can find stories that you, yourself, liked.

6. Good stories deserve a good telling - practice, or at least skim over, the book you intend to read, if possible. That way, you'll be prepared for the plot, characters (voices!), and rhythm.

7. Be expressive when you read aloud. Learn to slow down, speed up, create suspense with a low voice, etc.

8. Allow your children time to settle down before you start...if you're reading a picture book, you could talk about what's on the cover. If it's a chapter book, you can gently prompt your child to remember what happened where you left off.

9. Don't be tempted to explain the "moral" of the story. Just enjoy the story and let it speak for itself. At the same time, it's perfectly fine if the book brings out conversations and questions, just try to let your child do the asking spontaneously.

10. Balance read-aloud time with silent reading time. (Even prereaders can have time alone with their picture books.) As my kids got older, naptime was replaced with "quiet time", as they did their silent reading.

-Adapted from BOOKS THAT BUILD CHARACTER, by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe.

TIPS FOR SELECTING GOOD BOOKS

So - you've decided to start reading aloud to your children and you're at the library (or bookstore, or an online source, such as Amazon). Here are some guidelines that William Kilpatrick gives for selecting good stories, from BOOKS THAT BUILD CHARACTER, A Guide to Teaching Your Child Moral Values Through Stories:

1. Think back to stories that had a positive impact on you when you were growing up. There's a pretty good chance that the same stories will have a similar effect on your child.

2. Choose a book in keeping with your values, not simply on the basis of its reputation.

3. Try to distinguish between issues and virtues. Many contemporary children's books focus on trendy issues rather than character development. You want your child to acquire strength of character before he acquires a lot of secondhand opinions. It's one thing to have an opinion on an issue such as immigration, and quite another to develop a habit of helping those you have an opportunity to help. Having enlightened opinions is no substitute for having character. Good books should reinforce qualities like courage, responsibility, and perserverance rather than offering prepackaged opinions on divorce, euthanasia, and the like.

4. Look for books where the author has an interesting story to tell, not a message to convey. Many good books deal with contemporary issues, but the issues are integrated with the characters, setting, and plot; and they are people centered, not problem centered. The characters are real. We are gladdened by their victories and saddened by their sufferings. They are not there just to teach a lesson.

5. Context is crucial. Character-building books are not simply about good people doing good things. Moral books may deal with immoral behavior. The question is not whether unethical behavior is present but how it is presented. The hero or heroine may give way to temptation, but a good book will show the real costs of such a choice.

6. Allow some room for growth. Although you want to be careful about choosing books that are way over your child's level, it's okay to challenge them by reading somewhat above their level. You definitely want your children to learn to extend themselves through reading. How do you determine which books will help your youngsters grow? A simple rule of thumb is to look for books in which the main character grows. As your child becomes involved with the protagnonist, he vicarioiusly shares in that character's development.

7. Choose books that are fun to read aloud: The above guidelines are not to suggest that books with a moral theme are the only type of book you and your child should read! There are all types of books and all kinds of reasons to read them: for suspense, for humor, for the beauty of the language, for the pleasure of wordplay and nonsense rhymes. There is no discernible moral in GOODNIGHT MOON; TO THINK THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET; THE JUMBLIES; or THE CREMATION OF SAM MCGEE, but it would be a shame to deprive your child of the pleasure they bring.

"To the extent that the well-made-thing provokes a responsive, corrective, self-examination, it works to educe from us an ongoing, active and answering creation--an answer that performs our longing to wholeness and reconciliation. One might say that, in attending to such art and in answering it with substantive response, we make our hope matter." -Scott Cairns, Poet and Professor of Engish (from "Art and the Meaning of Creation", published in The Huffington Post, June 1, 2010).