Annie and the Wild Animals

Annie placed more corn cakes

at the edge of the wood.

This illustration from Annie and the Wild Animals (Houghton Mifflin, c1985) is a great example of Jan Brett's technique of adding story information in panels strategically placed at the top and bottom, or on the sides of a two page spread. What animal is coming next to eat Annie's corn cakes? Can she tame him for a pet? (She misses her cat, Taffy.)

Jan Brett: Author/ Illustrator

Jan Brett is one of my favorite contemporary children’s book authors and illustrators. Her books are a visual treat with covers and end papers designed to reinforce the story and complement her detailed illustrations. In most of her books, each two page spread contains border panels or bottom decorations that allow a young child to anticipate what will happen next in the story, or the panels extend the story beyond the words written on the page.

I have so many favorites, starting with one of the earliest Jan Brett books I discovered and began to collect, long before my son was born: Annie and the Wild Animals. Other favorites, many of which I own, include: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, The Hat, The Mitten, Armadillo Rodeo, Trouble with Trolls, Berlioz the Bear, The First Dog, Gingerbread Baby, and Hedgie’s Surprise.

Wait, there’s more! Jan Brett, on her web site, at no charge, and under no obligation, generously makes available to the user: free art, free crafts, free coloring pages, free full color bookmarks, free calendar pages illustrated with her myriad characters, free ABC and 123 pages, and free online games. She also links to information sites for educators, and craft sites that relate to her stories and her themes.

All in all, she includes over 4,800 free coloring and activities pages. And, just if you want, she adds convenient links to information about her books and where you can buy them. She also has a blog, where she discusses her travels, her research, writing and illustration, and the bookmaking process.

Silver Phoenix - Book Review

Gods, demons and monsters abound in Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia, Cindy Pon’s debut fantasy novel, named within one month of publication as one of the Top Ten 2009 SF/Fantasy novels for Young Adults by the American Library Association. What makes Cindy Pon’s novel unique in the Speculative Fantasy genre is its origin in the myth and legend of ancient China. Journey on foot and fly by dragon with Ai Ling and her romantic interest, Chen Yong, to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams as Ai Ling discovers her awakening powers, and is charged by a Goddess with a mission to free the Kingdom of Xia from a sorcerer who has cheated death for centuries. Issues of equality, prejudice, male/female relationships, murder, morality, and an attempted rape make this novel appropriate for mature high school age teens and adult fantasy fiction readers. Readers will anticipate the sequel, awaiting answers to questions about Chen Yong’s father, Ai Ling's past life as Silver Phoenix, and the resolution of the budding love between Ai Ling and Chen Yong.

For more information about Silver Phoenix and author, Cindy Pon, please visit her web site. Cindy is a wonderful person, and she freely shares her journey from fledgling novelist to published author on her web site, in author interviews, and on her blog.