Spring Stunners: Picture Book Standbys Back in Print
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Brighten up your shelves with handsome new editions of difficult-to-find classics that still have plenty of pertinence and appeal for today's readers. Arnold of the Ducks (HarperCollins, 1983), the first picture book published by Caldecott Medal-winning author Mordicai Gerstein, has been reissued in a lovely edition by Roaring Brook Press. Adorned with a lemon-yellow cover and featuring beautifully reproduced warm-hued artwork, this offering is as sunny and satisfying as a spring day. On a hot May morning, a little boy is "scooped out of his wading pool by a near-sighted pelican and carried off." Dropped into a nest of new hatchlings, Arnold is devotedly cared for by a mother duck who clothes him in mud and feathers and comes to love him dearly. Though he's a bit of a square peg in a round hole, the child is content with his duck existence, even discovering that he has a natural affinity for flying. Then one day while soaring on the breeze, Arnold tangles with a kite, resulting in a crash that reunites him with his human family and return's him to a boy's way of life. Humor, whimsy, and a wistful touch of longing abound in both the narrative and artwork. Undiminished by the passage of time, this tale of transformation and self-discovery-and its endearingly intrepid protagonist-will still captivate kids. (PreS-Gr 3)
Templar books presents a 50th anniversary edition of Janet Charters and Michael Foreman's The General (Dutton, 1961), lusciously restored and printed on pleasingly thick, cream-colored pages. This volume marked the picture book debut of Foreman, who today remains one of children's literature's most prolific, beloved, and well-lauded author/artists. The fable-like tale centers around General Jodhpur, a determined and dedicated military leader who longs to have his army admired by all. However, when he is thrown from his horse during a ride through the countryside, he finds himself forging a connection to nature that redirects the course of his ambition and ultimately brings him fame not for glory in battle, but for making his country beautiful and his people content. Done in flat reds and blues, the watercolor and gouache illustrations are vibrant and appealing and reveal the artistic spirit of the time period. A publisher's note provides a bit of background about Charters (now Abis) and Foreman and the Cold War world in which they grew up, pointing out that today "the book seems even more relevant as not only the need for peace but also the threat to the environment, hinted at in the story, are both now clearly evident." Taking a sprightly giant step across half a century, this offering provides a glimpse into the past while remaining relevant to the present. (K-Gr 4)
First published in Switzerland in 1947 and then in the United States in 1953 (Harcourt), Hans Fischer's Pitschi returns in an elegant edition from NorthSouth. In this charming tale, the title character-a tiny kitten who would rather daydream than play-goes off "looking for something else entirely," trying on the trappings of being a rooster, a goat, and other critters, until a cathartic experience (a nighttime fright) shows her that she can find contentment by just being herself. With nimble lines, soft splashes of color, and delightful animal depictions, Fischer's illustrations are as fresh and appealing as ever. An appended page provides a biographical note about the artist and points out his influence in the field of children's book illustration. While this offering will surely add depth to your historical collection, it certainly won't be a shelf sitter: young fans of animal tales will absolutely adore it. (PreS-Gr 2)
Pub Info
GERSTEIN, Mordicai. Arnold of the Ducks. illus. by author. Roaring Brook. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-077-8.
CHARTERS, Janet. The General. illus. by Michael Foreman. 50th Anniversary Edition. Candlewick/Templar. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-4875-6.
FISCHER, Hans. Pitschi. illus. by author. NorthSouth. 2010. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-7358-2278-8.
