Evie, Ivie, Over

Bluebells, cockleshells,
Evie, ivie, over,
Mother's in the kitchen
Doing a bit of stitching,
Baby's in the cradle
Playing with a rattle,
A rickety stick, a walking stick,
One, two, three.

These Nursery rhymes are from Here Comes Mother Goose edited by Iona Opie and illustrated by Rosemary Wells. This book is well worth having in your collection. Did you know there was a Mother Goose Society? I did not know that. The hedgehog is for the cute effect.

Down in the valley where the green grass grows,
There's a pretty maiden she grows like a rose;
She grows, she grows, she grows so sweet,
She sings for her true love across the street.
Tommy, Tommy will you marry me?
Yes, love, yes, love, at half past three.
Ice cakes, spice cakes, all for tea,
We'll have our wedding at half past three.

Rats!

If I was a cat, I would look like this today- watch out kiddies! I could use a massage or roller coaster ride but since I'll have neither today I potted a large red geranium on the front porch and bought a good bottle of red wine for dinner. Speaking of dinner and cats I'm reminded of another favorite, Pizza Kittens by Charlotte Voake

"OH NO! NOT PEAS!" said Joe, Lucy and Bert. "We really don't like PEAS!"

"That's it!" said Dad. "Tomorrow we will all eat together. You will eat your food, and you will try to be helpful."

If you're not familiar with this story, Mom Cat is tired of picky little eaters fussing and making a big mess at dinnertime. The kittens leave the table to watch TV while Dad announces he will prepare dinner tomorrow. Dad's dinner starts off pretty well and then little Bert, falls off his chair taking the entire meal with him leaving soggy peas everywhere. The next night it's pizza. "Absolutely PERFECT!"

Our copy of Pizza Kittens is coming apart it has been read so many times. And now that I've resolved what to have for dinner, I wonder if Dad will notice the geranium? Happy New Year!

Marjolein Varekamp

I have a soft spot for European illustrations, kind of like UK or Australian accents. When I saw Marjolein Varekamp's pictures of pig and mouse wearing wellies, fixing a red airplane, and dreaming of bats and chocolates, I contacted her hoping she would be interested in working on a project together. Lucky for Bees Knees Books she was! Marjolein tells us a bit about herself, her books and her art. BTW that's Harold the little mouse with the glasses. Marjolein you live in the Netherlands. Tell us a little about your childhood there.
I had a long, quiet, cushioned and pleasant childhood. Being the late arrival of the family (I have a brother and a sister), meant that I was pampered a lot, but also that I had to play on my own for most of the time. I loved playing with my cuddly toys, drawing, doing handicraft with mysister, collecting wildflowers and going to my ballet lessons. I have spent most of my childhood living in the country. My parents taught me to respect and love nature. To admire all things beautiful and to maybe create some more.
Where do you find inspiration for your books?
My inspiration comes mainly from observation: animals (real or toy ones), the garden, interior design magazines, everyday life, art (e.g. Rembrandt, Cézanne, William Morris).
You went to art school in London. How has that influenced your work?
At art school in Holland I had studied painting, etching and drawing. In the end my work was nearly abstract. My Graphic Design Studies in London made me return to my roots and real passion: creating and illustrating children’s books. Also: leaving home, being a mature student, married and all, made me realize it was time to grow up, leave school and have children. (We have two.)
You have previously published children's books and worked on concept books for children. Please tell us about that creative process.
Usually it starts off with a simple idea: an imaginative picture of an animal character in a setting. What would be nice, funny and interesting for children to happen? The story develops as a series of pictures. Words are added. Than a few spreads are made for real and put into a dummy to visit publishers.
What would you say is the most fulfilling part about being a children's author/illustrator?
As a creator of children’s books you can step back into childhood. Imagine a world you would like to be in. And during the making of it you really are. Whenever a book is actually published, you see this world from the outside. And if children (and adults) like it, it surely feels wonderful.
Are there any children's authors/ illustrators that you admire?
As a child I was (and still am) a great fan of the Golden Books and Winnie-the-Pooh. I also admire John Burningham, Tony Ross, Ron Briggs, Jan Piénkowski, Max Velthuijs, Quentin Blake, Gitte Spee and many more.
What tips/advice would you give to aspiring authors and illustrators?
Realize this seemingly gentle and loving profession can be very very tough. Don’t be shy and hold on to your own style. Where can we go to read more about you and your art?
You can visit my website at www.marjoleinvarekamp.com
Look for more from this talented author/illustrator and a special collaboration with Bees Knees Books coming late Summer.

A New Classic

Today I found a new classic picture book for little ones. A magical book with a red fabric book cover, called "the little red fish" by Taeeun Yoo. It's the story of a little boy who goes to a library in the middle of the forest with his grandfather, the librarian. Je Je (the little boy) brings his pet fish with him. He falls asleep in the library and when he wakes up, the fish is missing! As you follow the fish through the story it sweeps you into a world of fantasy and imagination. The illustrations are amazing. You must check out Taeeun Yoo's website for more... like this polar bear paw. Here is also a feature on Taeeun.

Speaking of fish...look who I just caught fishing!

Happy Hocky Family

I remember the first book my oldest daughter sat and listened to without trying to grab at the pages. It was The Happy Hocky Family Moves to the Country! by Lane Smith. Here is a review. Why this book after numerous animal and belly button toddler books? Partly it was my need to move on from hat, ball, and dog object identification books, but she was also developing an understanding of pictures as representations. Babies behave as if realistic color photographs are real objects. They rub, hit, and try to grasp and investigate the depicted objects. Somewhere around 19 months, they cease their attempts to manually explore pictures and instead, they point to the pictures. This suggests they have developed a concept of pictures.

Taking it a step further, many of the pictures in the Hocky Family Moves to the Country are familiar to a toddler. There is a Family, mom, dad, brother, sister, baby and dog. There is a Farm, a farmer, cows, squirrels, birds a rabbit and skunk. There are seasons, fall leaves and snow, and food. Although there are vocabulary and references in the story a toddler would not understand, these make it a humorous read for adults.

Lane Smith's Hocky Family is less celebrated then books, like The Stinky Cheese Man or his other collaborations with Jon Scieszka. (I saw a recent interview with Jon Scieszka over at Jen Robinson's Book Page and here's a good one at 7-imps. ) But it suits my taste. Smith's other Hocky Family book, which was actually the first Hocky book, is titled, The Happy Hocky Family. *************Try them. You and your toddler will love them.

Boogers

"Boogers are made from dirt, so they're dirty. Even if you line them up neatly like this, they're still dirty."

One of the most annoying toddler behaviors for any parent is booger-eating. Is it enough to say, stop picking you'll get a stomach ache? No, but now I have a secret weapon in Genichiro Yagyu's, The Holes in Your Nose.

Originally published in Japan in 1981 with the first American edition by Kane/Miller in 1994, this title is one of a series called, My Body Science. Other titles in the series by different Japanese authors include, All About Scabs, Contemplating Your Belly Button, The Gas We Pass, Everyone Poops, Breasts, and The Soles of Your Feet. I wish they would come out with a boxed set of this series and maybe add a new one about teeth or something.

This book will make adults smile and probably gross toddlers out. With large drawings, arrows, and diagrams showing mucus, nose hairs, and bloody noses, this book is much more effective then my nagging statements to stop picking! We know that the impressions and feelings inspired by books during childhood remain in the child's conscious mind even after growing up. They are a medium that possess immeasurable potential. Picture books teach moral lessons, show emotions, imaginative situations and factual information. Now if I can just get her to stop picking that scab.

Good Days Bad Days

My hands are much softer since I've been blogging and not doing as much housework. I go undetected as long as I hide the piles of laundry and keep coming up with excuses not to host playdates. Only kidding... about the playdates.

Work is not always required . . . there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected.
-George Macdonald

Lessons learned when your car needs a new part and you're stranded at home for three days. This is one of the few times I've been able to stay home without being sick as a dog. Rent a car? No thank you I can wait. Friends are usually willing to pick your kids up from preschool, and I'll do the grocery shopping late in the evening- alone. I read Poetry Friday posts over at Karen Edmisten's Blog, made the phone calls I've been putting off, thought about organizing the garage. Notice I said thought about it because I've been practicing sacred idleness.

A year before my second, Bean was born, I found Catherine Anholt's Good Days Bad Days at a children's consignment shop.
The cherished simplicity of family life is so accurately pictured in this book. The text, "In our family we have good days and bad days happy days sad days work days play days.... Every day's a different day, but the best day follows yesterday. Today!" allows for much imaginative discussion about the pictures: little girls touching snails, refusing to leave the park, splashing out the bathwater or going to the library.

You may be familiar with Catherine Anholt's illustrations from Sophie and the New Baby or the Chimp and Zee books. Many books by the picture book team of Catherine and Laurence Anholt are for very young children. Speaking of which I have a baby shower tomorrow and no gift. An online gift certificate and handmade card will be just fine.