Part of the fun--ok, who am I trying to kid--nearly all of the fun of going to Library Conferences is discovering new books. (The rest of the fun is meeting their authors...or dodging the authors of books you didn't like--it's a game I play). I didn't even find this series AT the Library Conference, it came to me later, but I met the nice staff from Peachtree at PLA, and they sent me William Bee's "Stanley" series. Stanley is a very helpful Guinea Pig (ok, he might be a hamster...I can't tell and the book jacket and publisher website don't say...but he's a cute little rodenty animal). In mostly simple declarative sentences in big dark friendly text, we hear about Stanley and his busy days full of colorful machines. In Stanley's garage..."Here is Stanley's friend Hattie. / She needs some gas for her red sports car." Stanley fixes a flat on a blue car, tows a purple car (which leaks oil on him when he puts it on the lift)...he has a full day and goes home for a nice dinner (and a bath). When he's a builder, he builds a house for his friend Myrtle. He clears the land with an orange bulldozer and digs out the foundation with his yellow digger. Then he and his mouse buddy Charlie build the house from the ground up. Another busy day. These hit several different picture book genres: cute animals, colors, machines, jobs. The cartoon illustrations with their heavy black lines and bright colors are mostly full bleed (full page) and very inviting. Kind of a combination of Richard Scarry books and Philemon Sturgis's "I Love..." series. William Bee is a race car enthusiast who lives in the English countryside (rough life). He has a pretty-bare-bones yet colorful website at http://www.williambee.com/ I am definitely looking forward to more from him...Try these (once they're out). |
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About MeTim is a writer, book reviewer and Librarian. He has a Master's of Library Science and was on the Newbery Committee twice. Technology scares and often annoys him, but he is always game for a silly costume! Archives
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