SteigFEST 5: Spinky Sulks

Publisher: Farra, Straus and Giroux, 1988, 1st ed.
Ages: 4-8yrs
Themes: humorous stories, family life, anger
Opening: Spinky came charging out of the house and flung himself on the grass.
Summary: Spinky is convinced that his family hates him and goes off to sulk in his hammock. His brother and sister try to make amends. His mom even brings him a beautiful tray of food. But nothing can get Spinky to stop sulking—not even a circus passing by on his street! Will Spinky ever cheer up? Spinky Sulks is another delightful tale from the incomparable William Steig that will leave readers of all ages smiling.

I like this book because: I have vivid memories of feeling that same kind of all-the-world-against-me anger, of hiding, as per usual, under the middle pine tree for as long as need be. As a parent I can laugh at the familiar attempts made and lengths taken, over-stretched, to console the poor child. There were times we were not even allowed to look at my oldest at the breakfast table – but we can all laugh now!

Resources/activities: great discussion starter on feelings, anger, moodiness, cheering up a friend or letting them have their space, and how we might help ourselves when a bad mood is coming on. For adults, writers especially: read this post on Neruda and his childhood realization about our ‘longing for mutuality that impels us to make art’, at Brain Pickings –HERE

Today’s tidbit: Letters of Note post on Steig’s Caldecott acceptance speech and glossophobia- HERE

 

SteigFEST 4: Gorky Rises

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1984, 1st ed.
Ages: 5 and up
Themes: humorous stories, magic, frogs
Opening: As soon as his parents kissed him goodbye and left, Gorky set up his laboratory by the kitchen sink and got to work.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Clutching the bottle of magic potion he has made, a young frog falls asleep and wakes to find himself floating in the sky.

I like this book because: of the buoyancy of the text – the lyrical prose will float your boat! It is a silly story, but beautifully told – that is ‘the sort of magic’ this story contains.

Resources/activities: this would be a great book to read before a creative writing exercise – for any age. My son’s first grade teacher encouraged kids to use more daring descriptive words (calling them ‘million dollar words’) and this is a great example to ignite young minds with.

Today’s tidbit: the story of Steig’s crying chickens HERE

SteigFEST 3: Zeke Pippin

Publisher:HarperCollins, 1994
Ages: 4-8
Themes: humorous books, pigs, harmonicas
Opening: Moseying down his street one morning, Zeke Pippin found a harmonica. He didn’t exactly find it. It fell at his feetfrom a garbage wagon that happened to be rumbling by.
Summary: (from my library catalog) After finding a harmonica in the street, a young pig becomes an accomplished musician, but when his loving family falls asleep every time he plays, he runs away in search of a more appreciative audience.

I like this book because: it is a great discussion starter! It is also close to a Zen story I have often shared, about what we might consider to be lucky – read #6 HERE

Resources/activities: discuss communication, how one person can understand or remember a situation differently than another person, and what we can do about a misunderstanding before it escalates; learn to play a simple tune on the harmonica – HERE

Today’s tidbit: Always wanted to know how to pronounce his name? Click HERE

SteigFEST 2: Yellow & Pink

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1984, 1st ed.
Ages: 5 and up
Themes: humorous stories, contemplating life, philosophy
Opening: Two small figures made of wood were lying out in the sun one day on an old newspaper. One was short, fat, and painted pink; the other was straight, thin, and painted yellow. It was hot and quiet, and they were both wondering.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Two painted wooden figures argue about where they came from, whether they just happened by accident or were created by some other being.

I like this book because: The story touches delicately with subtle humor on the perennial question: Why are we here?

Resources/activities: great book to start a discussion about where we come from and why we are here in an open-minded classroom.

Today’s tidbit: Check out Michael Sporn‘s post with layout drawings that Steig did for an animated Alka Seltzer commercial – early 60’s: HERE

 

Welcome to SteigFEST!

I really admire William Steig’s picture books (just short of creating an in-home Steig-shrine!) and enjoy knowing there is much to his work for me yet to discover: with more than 30 books for children and numerous others, AND his cartoons and covers for The New Yorker, Steig was prolific! For each of the 13 days leading up to Steig’s birthday (born November 14, 1907 in Brooklyn, NY), I’ll post a picture book recommendation and tidbits collected while reading up on the picture book maker who did not patronize children, but presented their truths. In the end, you may think I’ve forgotten one of your favorites, but leaving out some of the most celebrated was deliberate: I hope to inspire you to read some you don’t know, as well as beloved ones again!

Publisher: Joanna Cotler Books/Harper Collins, 2003
Ages: 4-8yrs
Themes: William Steig, childhood, Bronx
Opening: In 1916, when I was eight years old, there were almost no electric lights, cars, or telephones – and definitely no TV. Even fire engines were pulled by horses. Kids went to LIBRARIES for books. There were lots of immigrants.
Summary: (from Amazon) This is the story of when I was a boy, almost 100 years ago, when fire engines were pulled by horses, boys did not play with girls, kids went to libraries for books, there was no TV, you could see a movie for a nickel and everybody wore a hat.

I like this book because: Published shortly before his death in 2003, it’s Steig’s return to his own childhood in the Bronx, not much different than that of my father born in Brooklyn 22 yrs later. Like Steig’s family, the Rowan’s were immigrants and moved around a lot. The colors are lively, and the lines are innocent yet sophisticated.

Resources/activities: ask children to interview a grandparent – certainly they would not have been born over 100 years ago, but ask what everyday objects didn’t exist for them as children; a good companion read: MIGRANT by Maxine Trottier and Isabelle Arsenault.

Today’s tidbit: Are you close to the University of Pennsylvania? You can visit the exhibit until December 19th, 2014: “As the Ink Flows: Works from the Pen of William Steig, explores the life and career of the artist, cartoonist, and children’s book author/illustrator William Steig.” More info HERE

 

Best Witches

No PPBF today – Susanna is busy narrowing down Halloweensie entries (reading them, I got the ‘itch’ to draw). But I’d like to invite you back tomorrow for the start of SteigFEST – a 14-day picture-book-salute to an author-illustrator I very much admire, William Stieg.