soup of the day

soup of the day: mouse was mad by linda urban!

~ jama ~ 34 Comments


Feeling a little put out?


Things just not going your way?

Then get MAD!! Really really really MAD!!

That’s right, folks. It’s time to scream and holler your head off, in honor of a brand new picture book that’s officially out today: Mouse Was Mad, by the one and only Linda Urban!


MOUSE WAS MAD by Linda Urban, pictures by Henry Cole,
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009), Picture book for ages 4-8, 40 pp.

&!!$*#$%#*#(@!!!

The thing is, you won’t stay mad for very long. You simply can’t. That’s because this brilliantly fine-tuned, adorable, endlessly endearing charmer of a book will steal your heart away at first reading — and you’ll find yourself madly in love with it!

Seriously. For me, this one stole the big cheese. Linda’s telling demonstrates picture book writing at its finest. At the center of the storm is Mouse — tiny in size, but experiencing a rage so huge, he’s hoppin’, stompin’, screaming, rolling-around-on-the-ground mad. As he struggles to express his anger, Hare, Bear, Bobcat and Hedgehog come along and show him how it’s really done, but poor Mouse can’t get it right, flopping, splooshing and splushing into one mucky mud puddle after another.

Finally, he reaches the point of being standing-still mad. And guess what? Nobody can outdo him. Not Bobcat, whose “ears twitched.” Not Hare, who “could not keep his tail from wiggling.” Certainly not Bear, because “when he breathed deep, trees moved and the ground shook a little.” Sigh. Not even Hedgehog — “even he could not keep his bristles from bristling.”


Hare, Bear, Bobcat and Hedgehog in awe of Mouse’s singular skill.

I can’t say enough about the perfect pacing of this story, or the precise comic timing of the dialogue — spare though it may be, it’s always right on target and speaks volumes.

And Henry Cole’s art? Blissfully, beautifully, dynamically expressive. With ink, pencil, and watercolor, he charts every stage of Mouse’s anger, in all its teeth gritting, whisker bending, eyeball squinching glory. I can say with full confidence that one would be very hard pressed to find any child, (or adult, for that matter), who, while reading this story, wouldn’t be thoroughly engaged and amused by Mouse’s transition from livid to laughing. A great story for little ones building social skills, with a nod to the primacy of self expression.


Mouse tries to express his anger by screaming.

Mouse Was Mad recently received a decidedly ebullient review from Kirkus, who says, “Urban unfurls the gentle ‘be true to yourself’ moral perfectly, with plenty of funny dialogue, overplayed reaction and the enduring appeal of the tiny hero. . . Who knew standing still could be so dramatic?” I couldn’t agree more, and whole heartedly give this book my highest five spoon rating!

Speaking of spoons, grab one right now and slurp some celebration soup in honor of Linda. For today only, feel free to hop, stomp, scream, or roll yourself silly in our edible muck — sop, sip, guzzle, and gulp with gusto till your whiskers are awash! And thank you, Linda, for writing such an awesome book!


Today’s Special: Mud Puddle Soup served with cheese hearts (for best flavor, consume while sitting perfectly still).

The perfect way to top off our celebration? A piece of chocolate mud cake:

photo by food pornographer

Alrighty then, scamper over to your local indie and scoop up your very own copy of Mouse Was Mad. It’ll have you jumping for joy!


(photo by jeffffd)

For more about Linda and her books, visit her official website and Live Journal blog, Crooked Perfect. Mouse Was Mad is her first published picture book, on the heels of her highly acclaimed middle grade novel, A Crooked Kind of Perfect, which came out in 2007 (I lurved that one, too)!

 

*Mad face #1 courtesy of tylerburkphotography; mad face #2 by tassava.

**Spreads posted by permission, text copyright © 2009 Linda Urban, illustrations © 2009 Henry Cole, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved. 

soup of the day: a recipe 4 robbery by marybeth kelsey!

~ jama ~ 12 Comments


photo by EssjayNZ

HONK HONK!!

Have you heard the good news?

Marybeth Kelsey’s second middle grade novel, A Recipe 4 Robbery (Greenwillow, 2009), is officially out today! WooHoo!!

   
     A RECIPE 4 ROBBERY by Marybeth Kelsey (Greenwillow, 2009),
     Fiction for ages 8-12, 288 pp.

I don’t know about you, but a book with the word, "recipe" in the title sounds awfully good to me. Actually, I just read the first eight chapters at the publisher’s website, and it looks like Marybeth has cooked up a fun, fast paced mystery caper with just the right ingredients to satisfy readers 8 – 12.   

      
        Cukes everywhere are doin’ the Marybeth happy dance!
        (photo by sujuzspace)

First, there’s ten-year-old Lindy Lou Phillips, who’s sworn off vegetables for the annual Bloomsberry Cucumber Festival. That includes dressing up like one (her mom’s a carrot, and her dad and brother are beets), as well as eating them. But alas and alack, a plate full of gross, slimy, disgusting stewed cucumbers prepared by the dotty Mrs. Unger is forced upon her, and she is obligated to try them.

Add to the mix, Lindy’s best friend, Margaret; know-it-all, Gus Kinnard (who’s definitely not her boyfriend!); a desire to go to band camp, and a messy run-in with snotty Cucumber Festival Princess, Angel Grimstone (strawberry shortcake is involved).

Next, slip in a key ingredient: the discovery of a valuable stolen locket in the cucumber sludge! Knowing full well there’s no way Mrs. Unger, aka, Granny Goose, could be guilty, the three friends set out to find who could have framed her and why. Could it be flamboyant François, the French chef? Or Leonard, the Grimstone’s sullen gardener?

A hefty reward looms on the horizon, as the trio adopts a strategy laid out by the NSCCB (Not-So-Clueless-Crimebusters). The narrative moves along at a brisk pace, and readers will be captivated by Lindy’s authentic voice and humor from the outset. Sprinkle in a mischievous, shiny-object-loving goose named Pickles, a little jealousy, corn dogs, lemonade, and french fries, and you’ve got a delicious, suspenseful read. 

A Recipe 4 Robbery has already received a glowing review from Kirkus, who called it "top-notch summer reading." Sweet words, indeed, especially on the heels of Kelsey’s highly acclaimed first novel, Tracking Daddy Down (2008), which received a starred review from School Library Journal, and was named to the New York Public Library’s 2008 list of Top 100 Books for Reading and Sharing.

    
      How about a big flap of applause for Marybeth?
      (photo by ruth_gord)

Now, please join me in congratulating Marybeth on another fabulous book (vegetarians will be especially pleased with today’s soup). Though cucumbers are involved, they are of the coolest variety — no sludge, slime, or goop to interfere with your celebratory slurping!


Today’s Special: Goosey Gumbo (served with mini cheese breadsticks).

And, to top off the meal, have some strawberry shortcake:

photo source: Betty Crocker Recipes

A Recipe 4 Robbery can be purchased at your local indie or fave online bookseller. Click here to read some sample chapters from the book.

   
     "Well, what are you waiting for?!"
     (photo by phekda5000)

Don’t forget to check out Marybeth’s website or Live Journal blog for more about her and her books!

To see more Soup of the Day posts, click here.

soup of the day: stanza by jill esbaum!

~ jama ~ 16 Comments


photo source: jumping lab

Woo Hoo! It’s time to jump for joy!

Arf arf arf! Woof Woof!

There’s very good reason to rustle up all this canine commotion, because today, Jill Esbaum’s fabulous new picture book about a truly endearing poetry writing dog, Stanza, is officially out!

*Roll over* *Sit* *Stay*

Yes, I said poetry writing dog. What a great premise! Stanza’s a city dog, who usually prowls the streets “annoying and chasing and bullying others” with his two bad brothers, Dirge and Fresco. People in the neighborhood are fond of calling him “Scoundrel,” “Bonehead,” or “Slobbery lug.” But under his rough, tough exterior, lives a truly sensitive soul — who waits until after his brothers are asleep every night to pen his poetry.

He wrote of first snowfalls,
a colorful bird,
the 7th Street hydrant,
a tune that he’d heard.
He wrote tender haiku of earth, sea, and sky,
and sonnets devoted to chicken pot pie.

Now, I’d love Stanza even if he didn’t sonnetize chicken pot pie, for he loves writing poetry so much that he risks his brothers’ torturous teasing by writing in secret. One day he learns about a poetry contest: just by writing the winning jingle for Snappers doggie treats, he could win some serious cash. He fantasizes about all the things he could do with his prize money. He wouldn’t have to chase, steal, or scavenge on the streets anymore.

So — he writes and writes and writes, and finally sends off his poem. Does he win? And what happens when his brothers find out about the contest? I won’t spoil the ending for you, but let’s just say, it’s doggone delicious and totally satisfying, even though Dirge and Fresco get a hold of Stanza’s poems and rip some of them up (shudder)!

Jill’s rhyming verse is tippy top brilliant, making this a story that begs to be read aloud again and again. The characters spring to life in all their beady eyed glory thanks to Davis’ frenetic ink, watercolor and acrylic cartoony illustrations. Stanza is a character who will steal your heart; you will inevitably find yourself rooting for him throughout, and maybe even craving chicken pot pie. And did I mention the font they used for this book is called, “Chicken Soup?”

It’s a sign, I tell you, a sign — that kids will eagerly lap up this story and be inspired to write some poetry of their own. Stanza is the perfect spokesperson for National Poetry Month. He represents all those closet poets who are afraid to strut their stuff for fear of being ostracized or ridiculed. A very refreshing take on the “be true to yourself” theme, this book will make poetry très cool with young readers, and show them that yes, it takes a great deal of courage to write and share what you’ve written, and oftentimes, the “rewards” we seek for doing so come in different guises.


 Colette totally crushing on Stanza!

So, are you ready to howl your happy wishes for Jill? No need to sit up and beg. Just slurp directly from the doggie bowl today, and take as many biscuits as you like. Thanks for writing such a chewy, fun story, Jill, and Congratulations!!


Today’s Special: Poetry Potage (guaranteed to make you wax poetic).

If you write a poem today, you also get some chicken pot pie:

photo source: foodistablog

Now hightail it over to your local indie and score your copy of Stanza. Be sure to lick the sales clerk to show your appreciation.

For more about Jill’s books, visit her official website or Live Journal blog, Down a Dusty Road.

Wishin’ you could have some of those cool “I Love Poetry” stickers that Stanza is wearing, too? Go to the HMH Poetry Kit page, and download to your heart’s content. And while you’re there, check out the Stanza activity page, with full instructions on how to write your own jingle!


alphabet soup residents will be wearing their stickers all month long!

Keep on chanting: We love Stanza! We love Stanza! We love Stanza!

Edited to add: Jill’s running a special contest! Try writing your own jingle about why you’d like to win a copy of Stanza. Deadline is Sunday, April 12th. Contest is open to all ages, and 3 copies of Stanza will be awarded as prizes! More info here.

*Interior spreads posted by permission, text copyright © 2009 Jill Esbaum, illustrations copyright © 2009 Jack E. Davis, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Books. All rights reserved.

soup of the day special edition: stampede by laura purdie salas and steven salerno

~ jama ~ 36 Comments

 

Look out! Take cover! Clear the decks!

A stampede is coming!!

Just two days from now, Monday, April 6th, to be exact, Stampede!: Poems to Celebrate the Wild Side of School, by the amazingly prolific author and poet, Laura Purdie Salas, will be officially released through Clarion Books! WooHoo!!

That’s right. One of Poetry Friday’s regular participants, deemed last year an official Poetry Princess, she of the famous 15 Words or Less weekly poetry writing feature, is launching her first trade book collection of poems for kids.

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SOUP’S ON: Carla Golembe in the Kitchen Interview and Book Giveaway

~ jama ~ 36 Comments
Carla and Joe, husband and soulmate of 28 years.

Today, I’m thrilled to welcome award winning artist, author, illustrator, and teacher, Carla Golembe, to alphabet soup!

I first learned about Carla’s beautiful work back in the 90’s, when she signed on to illustrate my third picture book, The Woman in the Moon. Back then, it was frowned upon for authors and illustrators to communicate about book projects, so we never met or even wrote to each other in those pre-email days. Instead, I oohed and ahhed over some of the books she had illustrated for Mary-Joan Gerson, like People of Corn, How Night Came from the Sea, and Why the Sky is Far Away, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book.

 

Carla’s art is eminently suited for multicultural stories. She is especially adept at capturing the essence, rhythms, and natural beauty of places like Central America, Brazil, Nigeria, and Hawai’i through her sensual, color-saturated, vibrant and exotic paintings, which bring to mind Frida Kahlo, Matisse, Gauguin, and some of the whimsical and mystical elements of traditional folk art. On her website, she says her intention is “to create a visual haven that encourages viewers to enter my personal vision.”

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