Menu
Susan Banghart
  • Home
  • About
  • Art
  • Blog
  • Home
  • About
  • Art
  • Blog

Summer Book Review: Bink and Gollie

6/19/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
I'm continuing my summer review of books. Today, it's an early chapter book and I'm already breaking the promise I made to only cover books  available in audio versions. I cannot be trusted when tempted by irresistible books. Bink and Gollie  made me do it! Even though they lack an audio version, non readers will enjoy the fun interactive links on their website. I dare you to go there and not giggle.

Kate DiCamillo, one of my favorite authors teamed up with  Alison McGhee to write Bink and Gollie and they've recently released a second book, Bink and Gollie: Two for One. Award-winning illustrator, Tony Fucile captured the authors as children in Bink (a petite Kate with wild blond hair) and Gollie (a tall, thin Alison in managed, brown locks). The art is done in dynamic strokes, simple washes and minimal color. Unlike other early chapter books where the art merely illustrates the story, the art in Bink and Gollie is essential to the plot.

The book offers vignettes in three chapters: Don't You Need a New Pair of Socks, P.S. I'll Be Back Soon, and Give a Fish a Home. Bink is a cheerful, impulsive girl who zips around town in roller skates and a skirt. She lives in a rustic cottage at the base of a tree, likes colorful socks and peanut butter sandwiches. Gollie lives in a minimalist, ultra-modern house in the tree's branches. She likes long words, mental stimulation and pancakes. In the first chapter, the girls happen upon a sock sale. Bink finds the perfect pair of socks and Gollie says, "The brightness of those socks pains me. I beg you not to purchase them." Bink hugs the socks and responds, "I can't wait to put them on."  Their differences try their friendship in comical ways but their bond is never broken. Bink and Gollie won the 2011 Theodore Seuss Geisel Award and they have stolen my heart.

0 Comments

Summer Adventures in Reading

5/30/2012

0 Comments

 
Students are counting minutes until the last school day and daydreaming about summer adventures. Some kids will find those adventures in books. So for the next few months, I'll review  books that lead the mind on fantastic journeys. And for non-readers, I'm only covering books available in audio form. Listen to them on that long car ride to Aunt Ethel's (or some relative who lives hours away and pinches your cheek). I promise you won't be sorry.

My first pick is packed so full of wondrous tales, I'm surprised it doesn't spontaneously combust! The Chronicles of Harris Burdick is introduced by Lemony Snicket who  begins, "Is There any author more mysterious than Harris Burdick"? Who can resist reading on? Lemony says Harris appeared over twenty-five years ago in a a publisher's office with a stack of titled drawings. The publisher was intriqued and Harris promised to return the next day with the stories behind the art. That was the last anyone saw of him.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick  by author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg (of Polar Express and Jumanji fame) was published in 1984. To this day, Harris Burdick's drawings continue to inspire writers, animators and songwriters, all featured on Van Allsburg's website. Last year, the drawings hatched The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, a collection of fourteen stories by illustrious writers, including some of my favorites: Kate DiCamillo, Lois Lowry, Gregory Maguire, and M.T. Anderson. The irresistable tales flex the mind with titles like ""Uninvited Guests"" by Jules Feiffer, ""The House on Maple Street"" by Stephen King and "'Just Desert"" by M.T. Anderson. My personal favorite so far (I'm savoring them!) is ""The Harp"" by Linda Sue Park. Imagine an old magician  who isn't quite ready to retire, two bickering sisters banished outdoors by annoyed parents, and a boy, mourning his mother and facing a miserable summer with an "off the grid" grandfather. The stories tickle the mind, raising questions that will linger long after the last word is read.  We found Burdick's chronicles in the middle grade section of the library but the writing is sophisticated enough to entertain older teens and adults.  You'll want to check the book out even if you prefer the audio version. The unseen drawings will trouble your sleep if you don't! 
0 Comments

Swinging Back to Picture Books

1/10/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
I'm not a person who handles creative productivity slumps well. So, with my latest novel project stalled, I turned to a picture book I'd written. The text could be improved but what it really needed was art. After a week of uninspired drawing, I headed to the library for resource material and came home empty handed. How is it that two local libraries lack books on Louisiana?
 
I'm trying really hard not to panic about the absence of my artist self. She'll come back. She has to come back. Art's been a vital part of my life since toddlerhood. I can't imagine my life without it. I thought back to those early years when horses ruled my drawing. Eventually, I added dogs and people to my portfolio. An idea surfaced. Why not go back to the subjects I loved to draw the most, horses and dogs, find the joy art used to bring me before it became a job.

I immediately knew the story I would write about a very special dog who grew up with a horse trainer. But I also knew I needed support. I've tried to go it alone the last few months and it just doesn't work for me. The January news from Florida SCBWI mentioned the Dummy Book Challenge, a guided sixteen-week process from story idea to finished dummy at kidlitart . I signed up before doubt interfered. Then I emailed Rob, the leader of my old picture book group, asking if they had room for one more. I'm waiting on their reply. Next step, gathering photos of my subject, who is now deceased. I don't have many but I know the ones I have will make me smile and I'm hoping . . . praying, that they make my fingers itch for a pencil and paper.

0 Comments

    Follow the blog. Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Author

    I write middle grade and young adult books with a magical twist.  I'm represented by the fabulous Leslie Zampetti of Dunham Lit.
    ​

    Writer Websites
    Augusta Scattergood
    Maggie Stiefvater
    Rob Sanders
    ​Fred Koehler
    ​JC Kato
    Sarah Aronson

    Kelly Barnhill
    ​Linda Urban
    Kate DiCamillo
    Jacqueline Woodson


    ​Helpful Links
    SCBWI
    Agent Query
    Lorin Oberweger - Freelance Editor

    RSS Feed

    Search Blog

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    Categories

    All
    2012
    2020
    Animal Books
    Art
    Artists
    Artists And Writer's Gardens
    A. S. King
    Banned Books
    Book Art
    Book Openings
    Book Review
    Book Reviews
    Books
    Caroline Leavitt
    Changes
    Childhood Friendship
    Children
    Children's Anthologies
    Children's Art
    Children's Books
    Children's Books About Artists
    Children's Holiday Books
    Children's Movies
    Children's Writers
    Children's Writing
    Children's Writing
    Children's Writing
    Chris Van Allsburg
    Chronicals Of Harris Burdick
    Connecting
    Contemporary YA
    Contests For Teens
    Creating
    Creating Characters
    Creativity
    Criticism
    Critique Groups
    Damiel Woodrell
    David Yoo
    Digital Connecting
    Discipline
    Distraction
    Dogs
    Dummy Books
    Dystopian Books
    E-books
    Eckerd College Writers In Paradise Conference
    E. Lockhart
    Fantasy Fiction
    First Page Critiques
    Good Books
    Harry Potter
    Highlights Fiction Contest
    Highlights Magazine
    Holidays Vs. Creating
    Horses
    Illustration
    Imagination
    #IMWAYR
    Inspiration
    Introverts
    Isolation
    It's Monday! What Are You Reading?
    J.K. Rowling
    Joyce Sweeney
    Julianna Baggott
    Kathi Appelt
    Kidlitart
    Kim Wright
    Kindle
    Learning
    Libraries
    Library Downloads
    Little Free Library
    Lois Lowry
    Maggie Stiefvater
    MG Books
    Michael Koryta
    Motivation
    Moving
    Nanowrimo
    Newberry Award Books
    New Year
    Nonfiction Children's Books
    Novels
    Olivia
    Picture Book Art
    Picture Books
    Post-apocalyptic Books
    Printz Award Books
    Printz Awardees
    Printz Winners
    Protagonists
    Publication Opportunities
    Publishing
    Pure
    Querying
    Querying Agents
    Readers
    Resolutions
    Revision
    SCBWI
    School
    Social Distancing
    Spring Fever
    Stories
    Story Ideas
    Summer Reading
    Teaching With Children's Books
    Teen Art And Writing Awards
    Teen Art And Writing Scholarships
    Teen Artists
    Teen Readers
    Teen's Choice Book Awards
    Teen Writers
    Terry Pratchett
    The Silent Boy
    Trilogies
    Ucla Writing Classes
    Verla Kay
    Writers
    Writer's Block
    Writer's Voice
    Writing
    Writing And Social Media
    Writing Conferences
    Writing For Children
    Writing Groups
    Writing In A Pandemic
    Writing Short Stories For Children
    Writing. Writers
    Ya Books
    Ya Dystopian Books
    YALSA
    YA Magical Realism
    Ya Novels

    Picture
    NetworkedBlogs
    Blog:
    Susan Banghart
    Topics:
     
    Follow my blog
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Copyright 2011 Susan Banghart
NetworkedBlogs
Blog:
Susan Banghart
Topics:
 
Follow my blog