A Dash of Heartache this Perfect Picture Book Friday

For my memory that ties into today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday review, you’ll be traveling back with me five years to an art store in an unnamed town, in a state that shall remain nameless to conceal the identity of my irksome shopping companion.

But first… a necessary fact for the story: I have loved to create art since I could hold a paintbrush.

I credit much of my passion for art to my mom who was a scientific illustrator for the Field Museum in Chicago. The moment I showed an interest in drawing, Mom taught me how to hold a pencil, how to angle it to thicken the lines, how to alter my pressure to change the intensity. I branched out from painting and drawing to sculpting and printmaking and photography. I have a small room set aside just for art that is draped and stuffed with folded fabrics, pans of paint, ceramic jars of brushes, stacks of art books, and one comfy chair by the window for dreaming.

Let’s return to the art store in that unnamed town, in a state that shall remain nameless…

While out on a walk, I noticed a quaint art store. The colorful window display seemed to whisper, “Leslieeeeeeeee, come inside. We have many, pretty art supplies…” I crossed the street with my disinterested companion and stepped inside the magical (to me) store. Sheets of marbled papers lay lose upon a table, showing off their colors and patterns like the fanned tail of a peacock. Paintbrushes and pads of watercolor paper full of promise beckoned to me. I didn’t have the money for much, but I did have enough to bring home a few irresistible treasures. I carried my items toward the cash register and dreamed about the next piece of art I would create. Soon, my shopping companion came over, looked at the items I held, and said in a cold tone…

“What do you need that stuff for?”

I explained about the imaginative art I hoped to create and received this comment…

“What are you going to do with it when you’re done? It’ll just clutter up your place.”

I looked at the items I had treasured a moment earlier. Suddenly, they no longer brought me happiness. If I bought them, each time I held them, they would remind me of this moment. I put back the watercolor block, the paintbrush with bunny-soft bristles, and the small spool of blue, silk ribbon, and left the store. When my companion expressed great pleasure that I hadn’t wasted my money. Something broke inside of me.

A long time passed before I picked up my favorite paintbrush again. That day I experienced a jolt of pure joy and decided no one would ever steal happiness from me again.

Time for the picture book review I promised you.

Title – The Room of Wonders

Written and illustrated by – Sergio Ruzzier

Published by – Francis Foster Books – Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, New York 2006

Suitable for ages – 3-7

Topics/Theme –  collections, confidence, and inner happiness.

Opening – Pius Pelosi was a packrat, and he collected things. On long walks through the forest, he found twisted roots, interesting twigs, leaves, feathers, and sometimes a skin left behind by a snake.

Amazon Review – Pius Pelosi, a young pack rat, is a born collector who fills a
room with his marvelous findings, attracting curious visitors. His very favorite item, a plain gray pebble, is given a place of honor, which baffles everyone. They all ask why he would keep such an ordinary stone. Bowing to public opinion, Pius gets rid of it, but in doing so, he discovers he’s lost much more than just the pebble.

Why do I like this book? At the moment when Pius, the main character, hears the harsh words against his most prized treasure and throws out his entire collection, no one cheered louder during the story’s applause-worthy climax than me. I hope that children, listening to this story, will learn the value of standing up for what they love, believe in, or treasure. Hopefully, they will never allow the negative opinions of others to overshadow their precious feelings.

Learn about Sergio Ruzzier HERE.

I’m adding something new to my blog this Monday. I hope you’ll follow along to find out what it is. 

Take care.

A Round of Robins add their poetic song to Perfect Picture Book Friday

Welcome to another Perfect Picture Book Friday book review. Knowing my admiration for all things nature, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’ve chosen to share a nature-themed poetry book. This one is ALL about robins – those red-breasted, fancy-vested, springtime visitors with a hearty appetite for wiggly, jiggly worms.

A Round of Robins 

Written by- Katie Hesterman

Illustrated by – Sergio Ruzzier

Published by- Nancy Paulsen Books – 2018

Topics – Bird poems, robins, and nature

The first poem in the book. 

TURF TUNE

Defender Dad sings, “Back away,

‘Cause Mom and I are here to stay!

We’ll raise a brood, and when we’re done,

We just might hatch another one.”

Synopsis from Amazon – Sixteen fresh and funny poems welcome a new batch of robins to the world!
Katie Hesterman’s vibrant verse celebrates this awesome circle of bird life, as we follow a pair of robin parents from nest-building and egg-laying to raising their hungry hatchlings, and finally sending off their flying fledglings. Sergio Ruzzier’s brilliant, candy-colored art pays tribute to all these stages of a robin’s life cycle, reminding us that while robins may be common, they are also extraordinary!

Why do I like this book? With my soft spot for nature, birds, and poetry, this book sings one of my favorite songs. I found this gem perched on a library shelf beside a flock of bird-themed picture books. Sergio Ruzzier’s signature style of illustration stood out from the other books. His playful and expressive pen and ink and watercolor illustrations add the right feel to accompany Katie Hesterman’s thoughtful poems which take the reader on a journey from nest building to family hatching to nest leaving. I opened to the first page, read the poem I shared above, and I instantly added this book to my checkout pile of picture book treasures. I hope you’ll pick up this book and enjoy the thoughtful robin poems and downright adorable illustrations.

Learn more about Katie Hesterman HERE.

Learn more about Sergio Ruzzier HERE.

Watch a video about robins on YouTube HERE.

Visit “Drawing Tutorials” to help children learn how to draw a robin HERE.

Until next Friday.

Perfect Picture Book Friday Looks at The Room of Wonders

Perfect Picture Book Friday (PPBF) looks at The Room of Wonders by Sergio Ruzzier.

Writing or editing one of my picture book stories is my favorite way to spend a day. And although I am still anxiously waiting for one of my submissions to attract the attention of an agent, I never let a written or silent rejection dampen my spirits. “Okay,” I say, “so Ms. Dream Agent didn’t connect with my humorous story about the dog with the poorly timed hiccups, maybe I’ll submit again and see if she prefers my Candy Land meets Willy Wonka counting book.” My point is that I keep trying. However…

a number of years ago, I let the words of one person turn me away from what I love.

I decided to send one of my manuscripts to a professional editor for a sizable fee. The story was close to my heart and took the better part of two years to complete. When the critique came back, I was devastated. The editor began her letter briefly telling me how much she enjoyed reading my story. She followed this with pages of the harshest criticism I ever read. Some comments mocked my work. What’s the point, I thought. Maybe she’s right. That story file stayed closed on my computer because I let the editor’s harsh words fill me with doubt.

In the years that followed, I took many writing seminars, attended writing conferences, joined a critique group, and kept writing. One morning, I thought about the characters from that story. I remembered how much I enjoyed being with them. I opened the file with a fresh heart, once again believing in myself, ready to put my years of gained knowledge to work. This brings me to the touching and sensitively illustrated picture book, The Room of Wonders.

Title – The Room of Wonders – view on Amazon HERE.

Written and illustrated by – Sergio Ruzzier

Published by – Francis Foster Books – Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, New York 2006

Suitable for ages – 3-7

Topics/Theme –  collections, confidence, and inner-happiness.

Opening – Pius Pelosi was a pack rat, and he collected things. On long walks through the forest, he found twisted roots, interesting twigs, leaves, feathers, and sometimes a skin left behind by a snake.

Amazon Review – Pius Pelosi, a young pack rat, is a born collector who fills a
room with his marvelous findings, attracting curious visitors. His very favorite item, a plain gray pebble, is given a place of honor, which baffles everyone. They all ask why he would keep such an ordinary stone. Bowing to public opinion, Pius gets rid of it, but in doing so, he discovers he’s lost much more than just the pebble.

Why do I like this book? In picture books, the main character should change, improve, or grow in some way. Sergio Ruzzier clearly illustrates this when he presents us with a completely lovable, little critter named Pius Pelosi. Pius loves to collect treasures, but when visitors viewing his collection question why he keeps an ordinary gray pebble – the very first and most favorite treasure in his collection, Pius believes his visitors must all be right. He succumbs to their feelings and tosses out the pebble, a decision that destroys his love for the remaining treasures. Then one day… Pius discovers another gray pebble and remembers why he liked his first gray pebble. Happiness returns and he begins to collect treasures again. Children reading this story will learn to stand up for what they love, believe, or treasure. Hopefully, they will never allow the negative opinions of others to overshadow their own precious feelings.

Learn about Sergio Ruzzier HERE.

Find more picture book reviews at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog HERE.

Activities with children – Ask children what items they like to collect. Can they relate to Pius Pelosi in The Room of Wonders who turns items he discovers along his path into treasures? What do they believe would make a good collection?

If the items in a child’s collection are small, you could help them make a shadow box to display their treasures. Shadow boxes can be purchased at craft stores or upcycled from shoe boxes.