Pick of the Day: Blue Clouds (CD)

SLJ — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:00:34 +0000

Blue Clouds. CD. 39 min. with booklet. Smithsonian Folkways. 2012. ISBN unavail. $11.99.
PreS-Gr 3–Beautiful harmonies and Elizabeth Mitchell’s lovely, sweet voice are the hallmarks of this outstanding collection of traditional and original songs. She’s joined by her husband, Daniel Littleton, and daughter, Storey, as well as others. Mitchell has breathed new life into these traditional songs and has transformed several classic rock numbers into folk style with elegant and simple arrangements. In addition to the top-notch vocal performances, the band and guest musicians give outstanding performances on a variety of instruments, including acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, cello, viola, zither, dulcimer, piano, recorder, oboe, drums, percussion, xylophone, glockenspiel, and more. Mitchell performs beautiful covers of some classic rock pieces: “I Wish You Well” (Bill Withers), “Kooks” (David Bowie), “Everyone” (Van Morrison), “May This Be Love” (Jimi Hendrix), and “Blue Sky” (Allman Brothers). “Arm in Arm” (octopus love), “Rollin’ Baby,” and “Blue Clouds” (a lullaby) are all original songs. Traditional numbers include “Hop Up, My Ladies,” a medley of “Froggie Went a-Courtin’” with “King Kong Kitchie,” “San Toki” (Mountain Bunny, Korean), “Summer Is Icumen In” (medieval round), “The Little Bird,” “Circle of the Sun” (dedicated to Storey’s cousin who passed away at age four), “Moon Don’t Go,” and “Yuki” (Snow, Japanese). The booklet has notes for each of the songs and is illustrated with pictures from Remy Charlip’s 1969 book, Arm in Arm (Parent’s Magazine Press, 1965). This fantastic album should be in every library’s collection of music for children.–Beverly Wrigglesworth, San Antonio Public Library, TX

Author, Illustrator Remy Charlip Dies at 83

Mahnaz Dar — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:18:23 +0000

Remy Charlip, dancer, actor, and an award-winning author and illustrator of more than 30 children’s books including I Love You (Scholastic, 1999) and Mother Mother I Feel Sick (Parents’ Magazine Press, 1966), died August 14. He was 83.

Charlip’s most famous work, Fortunately (Parents’ Magazine Press, 1964), a light-hearted, engaging picture book about a young boy who encounters a number of perils on his way to a friend’s birthday party, remains a staple during story hours, and School Library Journal’s blog, Fuse 8, named it one of its Top 100 Picture Books.

His other works include Baby Hearts and Baby Flowers (Greenwillow, 2002), Arm in Arm (Four Winds, 1969), and Handtalk Birthday, co-authored with Mary Beth Miller (Four Winds, 1987). The latter two were named New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year. Charlip also illustrated several of Margaret Wise Brown’s books, such as The Dead Bird (Young Scott, 1965) and Four Fur Feet (Hopscotch, 1990),

In the late 1970s, Charlip devised the concept of “Airmail Dances,” where he would send sketches of choreographed dances to other performers, encouraging them to stage their own interpretations of his moves. Charlip also displayed his innovative style in Thirteen (Four Winds, 1975), a picture book co-authored with Jerry Joyner that simultaneously tells 13 different stories and received a Boston Globe/Horn Book award and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year citation.

In 2007, Charlip published A Perfect Day (HarperCollins), a rhyming picture book about a father and son spending a day together. SLJ gave the book a starred review, stating that “In less than 100 words, Charlip has crafted a cozy story that is a perfect example of parent and child bonding.”

Charlip also inspired other artists. He was the model for illustrations of Georges Méliès in the Caldecott-winning book The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic, 2007), written and illustrated by Brian Selznick. Selznick spoke about his friendship with Charlip in his Caldecott acceptance speech, calling it “one of the great joys of [his] life.”

Born January 10, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY, Charlip spent several years with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. He began designing book jackets and soon decided to write and illustrate his own books, starting in 1956 with Dress Up and Let’s Have a Party (Scott, 1956).

In 1958 he co-founded the Paper Bag Players, a renowned children’s theater company that still tours and performs. Combining both his artistic passions, he became the head of Sarah Lawrence’s Children’s Theater and Literature Department in 1967.

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Pick of the Day: Blue Clouds (CD)

Author, Illustrator Remy Charlip Dies at 83