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juushikaMore autumnal and/or spoopy picture books. Gravett is! so good! I can't wait to read more.
Title: Leaves
Author: David Ezra Stein
Published: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2007
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 30
Total Page Count: 378,225
Text Number: 1406
Read Because: from multiple autumn picture book lists, hardback borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: A bear experiences his first autumn. The dark, messy lines and cool autumnal colors are definitely a style! But the floppy, long-muzzled bear is a miss for me. Since this is a cute but straightforward autumn book, all about cozy vibes and learning the changing seasons, its success hinges on its art; I found it forgettable.
Title: Alfred's Book of Monsters
Author: Sam Streed
Published: Charlesbridge Publishing, 2019
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 30
Total Page Count: 378,970
Text Number: 1408
Read Because: from this list of best Halloween books 2019, hardback borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: Alfred would rather read his monster encyclopedia than attend another "delightful" tea with his aunt. This is a near-miss for me and the problem is the art: children's books with digital-heavy art always look flat, even when they have a strong aesthetic and textured backgrounds; I also wish the bestiary pages were more dynamic, specifically that the monsters weren't in roughly the same angle and pose each time they appear. But "baby goth frustrated by niceties figures out a way to spice things up" is a charming and relatable premise and, while the art doesn't land, the spooky/playful Victorian gothic vibe is still fun.
Title: Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears
Author: Emily Gravett
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007
Rating: 5 of 5
Page Count: 30
Total Page Count: 379,000
Text Number: 1409
Read Because: reading more of the author, hardback borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: A little mouse fills out a create-this-book of phobias in order to work through her many, many fears. I loved this tip to tail. It's a deceptively simple gimmick brought to life by countless clever details: nibbled corners and interactive pages (which have held up well in this library copy, so kudos on the design); a wealth of morbid humor in the flavor text of newspaper cutouts and collage materials; endless texture, motion, and creativity in each panel. It's cute, highly relatable, and unexpectedly dark—with a funny coda that manages to be upbeat without spoiling the overall tone. I didn't love this quite as much as Wolves, but it came close and it makes me glad I'm checking out more of Gravett's work.
Title: Leaves
Author: David Ezra Stein
Published: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2007
Rating: 2 of 5
Page Count: 30
Total Page Count: 378,225
Text Number: 1406
Read Because: from multiple autumn picture book lists, hardback borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: A bear experiences his first autumn. The dark, messy lines and cool autumnal colors are definitely a style! But the floppy, long-muzzled bear is a miss for me. Since this is a cute but straightforward autumn book, all about cozy vibes and learning the changing seasons, its success hinges on its art; I found it forgettable.
Title: Alfred's Book of Monsters
Author: Sam Streed
Published: Charlesbridge Publishing, 2019
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 30
Total Page Count: 378,970
Text Number: 1408
Read Because: from this list of best Halloween books 2019, hardback borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: Alfred would rather read his monster encyclopedia than attend another "delightful" tea with his aunt. This is a near-miss for me and the problem is the art: children's books with digital-heavy art always look flat, even when they have a strong aesthetic and textured backgrounds; I also wish the bestiary pages were more dynamic, specifically that the monsters weren't in roughly the same angle and pose each time they appear. But "baby goth frustrated by niceties figures out a way to spice things up" is a charming and relatable premise and, while the art doesn't land, the spooky/playful Victorian gothic vibe is still fun.
Title: Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears
Author: Emily Gravett
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007
Rating: 5 of 5
Page Count: 30
Total Page Count: 379,000
Text Number: 1409
Read Because: reading more of the author, hardback borrowed from the Wilsonville Public Library
Review: A little mouse fills out a create-this-book of phobias in order to work through her many, many fears. I loved this tip to tail. It's a deceptively simple gimmick brought to life by countless clever details: nibbled corners and interactive pages (which have held up well in this library copy, so kudos on the design); a wealth of morbid humor in the flavor text of newspaper cutouts and collage materials; endless texture, motion, and creativity in each panel. It's cute, highly relatable, and unexpectedly dark—with a funny coda that manages to be upbeat without spoiling the overall tone. I didn't love this quite as much as Wolves, but it came close and it makes me glad I'm checking out more of Gravett's work.
