SATA
iENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Spring after Spring
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Roth, Stephanie
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: www.stephanitely.com/
CITY: San Luis Obispo
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: Armenian
LAST VOLUME: SATA 237
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born Frankfurt, Germany; married Fred Sisson; children: Tristam.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and illustrator.
AVOCATIONS:Yoga, travel, trivia, history, cooking, music, decorating, gardening.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Children Book Council.
AWARDS:Best Children’s Books of the Year selection, Bank Street College of Education, 2004, for Meow Means Mischief by Ann Whitehead Nagda; Best of the Best selection, Chicago Public Library, 2010, for Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade by Stephanie Greene.
WRITINGS
Also author of the blogs Steph’s Blog o’ Sketches and Stephanitely.
SIDELIGHTS
Stephanie Roth Sisson is a prolific illustrator whose works include Stephanie Greene’s “Princess Posey” books as well as Block Party Today! by Marilyn Singer, Tarantula Power! by Ann Whitehead Nagda, and picture-book series by Jennifer Hirsch and Colleen O’Shaughnessy McKenna. Born in Germany, Sisson began drawing “as soon as I could hold a pencil,” as she noted on her home page, often sketching illustrations for the stories her grandfather read to her. She made her literary debut in 1995, providing the artwork for Robert TallTree’s The Legend of Spinoza: The Bear Who Speaks from the Heart. Since that time, Sisson has created art for dozens of other stories, working under the name Stephanie Roth until the late 2000s.
Sisson’s pencil and acrylic illustrations bring to life Colleen O’Shaughnessy McKenna’s “Gordie Barr” series of humorous chapter books about a creative but anxious youngster. In Third Grade Stinks! Gordie learns that his favorite teacher, Mrs. Tingle, has assigned him the worst possible locker partner: Lucy, the class show-off. Determined to rid himself of the pompous girl, Gordie decides to place Limburger cheese in his locker, hoping that the foul odor will drive Lucy away. Sisson’s pictures for the book drew praise from School Library Journal critic Teri Markson, who wrote that “friendly black-and-white illustrations complement the text.” Gordie returns in Third Grade Ghouls!, a Halloween tale. As the holiday approaches, Gordie worries about finding the perfect costume and turns to his best friend, Lamont, for help. When Lamont’s suggestion only leads to humiliation, Gordie brags to the school bully that he will return with something frightening. Further complicating matters, at the school parade Gordie volunteers to care for a first-grader who vomits at the sight of a scary outfit. According to a contributor in Kirkus Reviews, Sisson’s “sweet occasional pencil sketches for Third Grade Ghouls! will make the book “attractive to the early reader.”
In Doggone … Third Grade! Gordie and his friends prepare for the class talent show, and when he learns that his classmates plan to display a variety of artistic and musical skills, he announces that his dog, Scratch, will perform a clever math trick. Unfortunately, the training-deprived Scratch does not even roll over and there is only one week left before the curtain rises. “The appealing pencil sketches add to the story’s humor,” noted Marilyn Ackerman in a School Library Journal review of Doggone … Third Grade! and a Kirkus Reviews critic remarked that Sisson’s “delightful and emotional black-and-white illustrations … add a lot” to the story. Gordie becomes jealous of his teacher’s fiancée and schemes to prevent the marriage in Third Grade Wedding Bells?, and here Sisson’s illustrations show the action “from Gordie’s awkward, nervy viewpoint,” as Hazel Rochman commented in Booklist.
Sisson has also enjoyed an enduring collaboration with Nagda that begin with Dear Whiskers. As part of her classroom’s pen-pal project, which involves writing from the perspective of a mouse, fourth-grader Jenny is teamed with second-grader Sameera, a new student from Saudi Arabia who speaks very little English. Sisson’s “expressive illustrations capture the tone and characterization” of Nagda’s tale, Carolyn Phelan reported in her Booklist review of the multicultural story. In a companion volume, Meow Means Mischief, Rana struggles to adjust to a new school just as her grandparents arrive from India for an extended visit. After the youngster adopts a troublesome stray cat, her classmates stop by and offer friendly advice. According to Jean Gaffney, writing in School Library Journal, Sisson’s drawings for this story “capture typical school activities and reflect the diversity of the characters.”
In Nagda’s The Perfect Cat-sitter Rana’s friend, Susan, agrees to care for the house pet while Rana travels to India. Although Susan believes she will have no problems keeping everything under control, the cat immediately runs away, which causes the ultra-responsible Susan to doubt her abilities. “Soft black-and-white illustrations capture Susan’s emotions throughout her escapades,” noted Booklist critic Suzanne Harold. A fourth grader is the focus of Tarantula Power! as Kevin stops his obnoxious science partner from bullying a younger student with the help of the class spider. A contributor in Kirkus Reviews remarked that Sisson’s pictures for Tarantula Power! “help move the story along,” and June Wolfe wrote in School Library Journal that Sisson’s “illustrations match the action and give the book appeal for reluctant readers.”
Sisson’s artwork has also graced Singer’s text for Block Party Today!, which celebrates a sun-splashed get-together in a multiethnic neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. “Warm, relaxed watercolors depict the ‘big fun’ of the day,” noted Booklist reviewer Jennifer Mattson, and a Kirkus Reviews critic stated that the story’s “airy” images capture “a diverse cast of characters dancing, drumming, and lounging in lawn chairs.” Elissa Schappell, writing in the New York Times Book Review, complimented the artist’s “playful palette,” adding that “Sisson’s illustrations catch the bustle and camaraderie as Lola’s neighbors stream across and sometimes off the margins of the page—some on roller skates and skateboards, others bringing corn bread and bongos.”
In Two Christmas Mice, a picture book by Corinne Demas, a pair of snowbound neighbors spends Christmas Eve sharing holiday decorations with each other. Here “Sisson’s paintings employ well-chosen details with a humorous touch,” wrote a contributor in Kirkus Reviews, while Gillian Engberg noted in Booklist that the “pencil-and-paint illustrations” for Two Christmas Mice “create delightfully expressive mouse characters and communicate the sense of warmth in detailed scenes.”
Like the “Georgie Barr” stories, many of Sisson’s illustration projects focus on youngsters at school. Such is the case with Robin Pulver’s Thank You, Miss Doover, which focuses on a boy’s experiences with a very patient teacher. When Miss Doover shows her class how to write a thank-you note, young Jack gets off to a slow start, attempting to thank his stuffy great aunt for a gift of stationary. Working through several revisions, he finally expresses his appreciation clearly, although as readers soon learn, his use for the gift is likely not what his great aunt intended. Remarking on the “clever pictures” Sisson crafts to resemble a child’s homework assignment, Mary Jean Smith added in School Library Journal that Thank You, Miss Doover treats readers to “a fine, funny writing lesson,” and Michael Cart asserted in Booklist that the “cartoon-like illustrations … capture and expand the wit of” Pulver’s humorous text.
School is also the setting for the “Princess Posey” chapter-books, which pair Sisson’s pencil drawings with texts by Stephanie Greene. In Princess Posey and the First-Grade Parade readers meet Posey, a likeable little girl who overcomes her worries over starting elementary school by putting on her bright pink tutu and transforming herself into a confident princess. Posey’s birthday gift for a favorite teacher seems to come up short in Princess Posey and the Perfect Present, until thinking like a princess allows the child to put things in perspective. An extra-big helping of confidence is needed in Princess Posey and the Next-Door Dog , as a new neighbor’s pet presents Posey with the opportunity to overcome her fear and make a special new friend. “Sisson’s charming, expressive black-and-white illustrations” help make Princess Posey and the First-Grade Parade “just right” for novice readers, according to a Kirkus Reviews writer, while Jennifer M. Brabander wrote in Horn Book that the “generously illustrated” chapter book “will be warmly received by youngsters looking for something comfortable and familiar.”
In addition to her continuing collaboration with Greene for the “Princess Posey” chapter books, Sisson is the illustrator for Jennifer Ward’s The Sunhat and Robin Pulver’s Persuading Miss Doover. Sisson has also turned to writing and illustrating her own books, beginning with Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos. The picture-book biography of cosmologist Sagan focuses primarily on Sagan’s childhood when he became enamored with the night sky and thought about the possibilities present in the universe, including the notion that there may be extraterrestrials. “As he grows, that general inquisitiveness settles into a passion and an adult craving to know more about stars and solar systems,” wrote Horn Book contributor Betty Carter. The narrative follows Sagan as he becomes a scientist and astronomer. Sisson includes a list of Sagan’s accomplishments, including his role in space missions and his appearances on television. “Sisson’s economical narrative and lighthearted illustrations convey Sagan’s regard for the power of imagination and his generous approach to knowledge,” wrote a Kirkus Reviews contributor. Maggie Chase, writing for School Library Journal, called Star Stuff “a gorgeous, informative offering for biography and science collections.”
In her next self-illustrated book, Spring after Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement, Sisson examines Carson’s fascination with the natural world when she was child. Sisson relates how this fascination helped inspire Carson to write her groundbreaking books about the environment, most notable Silent Spring, which informed the world about the negative impact of fertilizers and pesticides on the environment. In an interview for BookPage, Sisson describes Spring after Spring as a book about how Carson “helped save the plants and animals that she loved with her courage and words.”
Sisson describes and illustrate’s Carson’s youth, focusing on her curiosity with the animals around her home in Pennsylvania. As a scientist and then a writer, Carson wrote about a wide range of environmental issues as well as the lives of animals. As for Carson’s book Silent Spring, Sisson includes various diagrams that help explain how the pesticide DDT harmed the environment as pointed out by Carson. Sisson includes a brief look at the controversy around the book and also discusses its significant influence on the environmental movement that began in the 1960s. “Her meticulous notes reveal Sisson’s own extensive research,” wrote Kathy Piehl in School Library Journal, adding: “The variety of page layouts add visual interest.” Booklist contributor Kara Dean commented that, in addition to the picture-book presentation for younger readers, the book’s “detailed reference sources for older children makes this accessible to a wide audience.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 15, 2000, Carolyn Phelan, review of Dear Whiskers, p. 642; July, 2002, Hazel Rochman, review of Doggone … Third Grade!, p. 1848; October 1, 2003, Kay Weisman, review of Meow Means Mischief, p. 321; May 15, 2004, Jennifer Mattson, review of Block Party Today!, p. 1627; October 15, 2005, Gillian Engberg, review of Two Christmas Mice, p. 56; May 1, 2006, Hazel Rochman, review of Third Grade Wedding Bells?, p. 82; July 1, 2007, Carolyn Phelan, review of Tarantula Power!, p. 63; December 1, 2007, Suzanne Harold, review of The Perfect Cat-sitter, p. 42; July 1, 2010, Carolyn Phelan, review of Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade, p. 67; November 15, 2010, Michael Cart, review of Thank You, Miss Doover, p. 51; March 1, 2011, Carolyn Phelan, review of Princess Posey and the Perfect Present, p. 58; June 1, 2018, Kara Dean, review of Spring after Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement, p. 82.
BookPage, August, 2018, “Meet Stephanie Roth Sisson,” p. 31.
Horn Book, July-August, 2006, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Third Grade Wedding Bells?, p. 447; July-August, 2010, Jennifer M. Brabander, review of Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade, p. 106; March-April, 2011, Jennifer M. Brabander, review of Princess Posey and the Perfect Present, p. 116; November-December, 2013, Martha V. Parravano, review of Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic, p. 64; January-February, 2015, Betty Carter, review of Star Stuff, p. 103.
Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2001, review of Third Grade Ghouls, p. 1687; May 15, 2002, review of Doggone … Third Grade!, p. 736; April 15, 2004, review of Block Party Today!, p. 401; November 1, 2005, review of Two Christmas Mice, p. 1192; April 15, 2007, review of Tarantula Power!; April 15, 2010, review of Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade; August 1, 2013, review of Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic; October 1, 2014, review of Star Stuff; June 15, 2018, review of Spring after Spring.
New York Times Book Review, July 11, 2004, Elissa Schappell review of Block Party Today!, p. 18.
Publishers Weekly, September 26, 2005, review of Two Christmas Mice, p. 87; May 3, 2010, review of Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade, p. 50.
School Library Journal, November, 2001, Teri Markson, review of Third Grade Stinks!, p. 129; July, 2002, Marilyn Ackerman, review of Doggone … Third Grade!, p. 95; October, 2003, Jean Gaffney, review of Meow Means Mischief, p. 132; May, 2004, Genevieve Gallagher, review of Block Party Today!, p. 124; April, 2006, Diane Eddington, review of Third Grade Wedding Bells?, p. 112; June, 2007, June Wolfe, review of Tarantula Power!, p. 117; April, 2008, Jennifer Cogan, review of The Perfect Cat-sitter, p. 118; June, 2010, Elizabeth Swistock, review of Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade, p. 72; October, 2010, Mary Jean Smith, review of Thank You, Miss Doover, p. 92; October, 2013, Virginia Walter, review of Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic, p. 70; September 2014, Maggie Chase, review of Star Stuff, p. 164; July, 2018, Kathy Piehl, review of Spring after Spring, p. 91.
ONLINE
Mommikin, https://mommikin.com/ (October 1, 2018), “Drawing All Day Can Be a Real Job! With Illustrator Stephanie Roth Sisson.”
Stephanie Roth Sisson website, http://www.stephanitely.com (October 1, 2018).
Drawing all day can be a real job! with Illustrator Stephanie Roth Sisson
“Make your art uniquely you—imitation is good for practice/honing your skills, but publishers want something that stands out from the pack—and that will be what you have to offer if you follow your own instincts and create from your experiences and things unique to you.”
steph_bio
Stephanie Roth Sisson has illustrated over sixty books for children including several for American Girl’s Bitty Twins, Princess Posey series and others. She just WROTE and illustrated her first book for kids. A biography of her childhood hero, Carl Sagan called Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos.
She currently resides in both California and the island of Mauritius (take a right at Madagascar). Now that she has written her first book, she’s hooked on the doing both the writing and the illustrating and is already at work on her next books! To see more of her work, visit her website.
This week we’re excited to feature mom and children’s book illustrator, Stephanie Roth Sisson. Her work first caught our eye on the website of Red Fox Literary and after browsing her gorgeous portfolio we knew we wanted to feature her. In addition to being a delightful illustrator, she’s also recently authored her first book and is a bonafide globetrotter, splitting her year between California and Mauritius.
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Getting to draw beautiful pictures all day sounds like a dream job! How did you start in illustration? Did you pursue formal art training? How is it starting out as a working illustrator?
Yes! Illustration is a dream job for me. I was a quiet kid who loved to draw and I still do. I am still (mostly) pretty quiet. No, I have no formal art training. I started off on my mom’s lap, scooted up to a table with a pencil/crayon in hand, with her patiently drawing with me, and I have continued to draw—but not on her lap.
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When I was in the fourth grade, Tomie de Paola came to my elementary school (he had a full head of dark hair then!) and I was selected with other representatives from our classes to meet with him in the school library. It was then that it occurred to me that this was something that people did—they drew for a living—it was a real job.
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I was lucky in that when I started my professional career I had no idea what I was doing. I went to the offices of local publishers and showed them my illustrations. I clearly had no idea what I was doing, but I think a few of them saw potential, and in those days editors had time sit down with new illustrators and give out a bit of advice.
So, I listened and put together a portfolio with a variety of illustrations (people, animals, various settings) and some with the same character expressing different emotions. Eventually I got my first assignment and went from there.
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If you had a time machine and could chat with any illustrator, who would you choose?
So hard to choose!! But, I would actually choose Ursula Nordstrom—who wasn’t a, illustrator or author, but an editor. She worked with all of the greats : Maurice Sendak, E.B. White, Charlotte Zolotow, Shel Silverstein, Margaret Wise Brown. There is a wonderful book by Leonard S. Marcus called Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom which is a collection of the correspondences she had over the time she was an editor with the creators of some of the best known and loved books for children ever.
I go to it whenever I’m feeling down or have lost my focus. There is a letter from a young Maurice Sendak to her, full of doubt about his talent, and her reply is perfect—I imagine him reading it and feeling enough confidence to sit back down and create.
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How does your children’s book illustration come in?
Ah, well, the first books I did worked like this: I would send samples in to a publisher and they would call up or e-mail when they had a job that matched my style. I would take pretty much any assignment that people asked me to do for the experience and the money (making a living as an illustrator is not easy — it is a take work when you can get it sort of thing).
Eventually, after many books and a lot practice, I was picked up by my wonderful agent, Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary. She networks with editors and art directors and that’s how I have come to illustrate some of my more recent books. What she did for me professionally though, something that has been ground breaking for me, was to encourage me to write.
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That’s where my Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos came from. Together with my incredible supportive powerhouse critique group (amazing talent in that group), we eventually put together a book dummy on the life of Carl Sagan. When the book was ready to pitch to editors, Abi put together a gorgeous letter and sent it out with the dummy, and it quickly found a home.
Then my super smart, savvy, brilliant editor helped me shape the final book— which even after purchase underwent huge changes. Now I am officially an author-illustrator and I am hooked! I have another book rolling right now and several more ideas waiting to be developed. I want to do mostly my own books now, although if a great manuscript comes my way I would still illustrate it.
By the way—I don’t have any contact with the authors of the books I illustrate until after I’m done illustrating. I know a few of them now, but we don’t work together. When I’m illustrating, I work with an art director who guides my work.
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What is the process for a children’s book going from manuscript to illustrated book?
The process in general is that writers send in their manuscripts to editors at publishing houses that they think are a good match for them (researching to make sure they are sending their work to an appropriate house) and if the editors like something, they bring it to a meeting with their fellow editors/art directors (and later the marketing team) at the publishing house. If there is a consensus, the manuscript is purchased and then the work of finding an illustrator who is a good match starts.
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The manuscript goes though the final edits before going to the illustrator. Sometimes an art director will ask illustrators to create a sample piece of work for the manuscript—something to get a sense of what they would do with the book. Other times they will just choose an illustrator and go with him or her.
They get the illustrators through various sources: agents, illustrators’ directories, websites, postcards. (Illustrators will sometimes send out a postcard with a sample of their work several times a year to various art directors.)
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A big, famous publisher calls you up to say they’re opening their vault and you can re-illustrate any children’s book ever, which do you choose?
Wow! maybe something by Edward Lear would be fun.
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Who are some of your favorite children’s book illustrators who keep you inspired?
I could make a really long list of favorites! Some of them are Oliver Jeffers, Viviane Schwarz, Wolf Erlbruch, Melissa Sweet, and Lisbeth Zwerger.
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Do you have any tips or resources for moms who would like to get started in illustration?
I think the SCBWI should be stop number one for someone wanting to get into the children’s book field. They have been invaluable to me—especially the conferences.
I would tell anyone to draw at every opportunity—being a mom can make it so hard to find time. Start keeping a sketchbook handy and draw the things that interest you. Keep in mind that being able to draw kids (use yours as models!), animals, classrooms, the rooms of a house—things that you typically find in books for children—is important. Then start putting together some samples of your work, send out postcards, start a website with samples of your work on it.
Get inspired and keep inspired—I have boxes of illustrations from others, photographs and random things I’ve collected that I refer to in order to keep my work fresh and fun for me. Pinterest is pretty great for that too. I’m addicted to it at the moment. Make your art uniquely you—imitation is good for practice/honing your skills, but publishers want something that stands out from the pack—and that will be what you have to offer if you follow your own instincts and create from your experiences and things unique to you. Create your own style.
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Thanks so much for the lovely interview and inspirational illustrations Steph! We loved hearing about your process and are looking forward to seeing what books you come up with next! Steph also shared a fun drawing game she does with her children and is sure to encourage the little budding artist in your family.
For all you moms of little stargazers, Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos is really gorgeous and a great stocking stuffer! See it in action:
Note: We do use affiliate links to support Mommikin’s mission of inspiring creative moms.Thank you!
STEPHANIE ROTH SISSON
Stephanie Roth Sisson is an artist who has illustrated many books for children, including the Princess Posey chapter book series. Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos is the first picture book that she has both written and illustrated. She lives in California.
My blogs
Steph's Blog o' Sketches
Stephanitely
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CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATION
Christopher Cheng's Blog - - - - it's all about the books
Cotswold Peeps
Documentaries in a Year
Eric Orchard
Jay Asher
Joel Stewart
JP's Sketchbook
julie fortenberry
Letters From Schwarzville
Middle of Nowhere
our stories, ourselves
RANDM collective
Red Fox Literary Blog
Robin Mellom
rSquare -- rillas rant
sybil's fashion point of view
Teaching Authors--6 Children's Authors Who Also Teach Writing
The Official SCBWI Blog
The Official SCBWI Conference Blog
~~~ Sharon Lovejoy
About me
Gender FEMALE
Industry Arts
Occupation Illustrator and Writer
Location Central Coast, California, United States
Introduction Here you will find doodles, ramblings and goings on from my life as a roving writer and illustrator of books for children.
Interests My Hubbie Wubbie, Bikram yoga, books with great pictures, sushi, travel, trivia, history, cooking, music, decorating, pretty things, gardening, keeping fit/healthy, psychology/anthropology, stain removal...
Favorite Movies Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Nowhere in Africa, Dexter series, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, WallE, Rivers and Tides, Wings of Desire, Roman Holiday, Six Feet Under, Finding Neverland, The Jerk, Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision, Downfall, 2001 A Space Oddessey Out of Africa.
Favorite Music Thievery Corporation, Bill Withers, Bebel Gilberto, Cat Power, Martini Pink, The Prairie Home Companion Radio Show, Johnny Cash, Lou Reed, Morcheeba, The White Stripes, Paul Simon, Carla Bruni, Champion Jack Dupree, , The Dixie Chicks, Al Green, The Style Council, Nick Drake, Moby, Cold Play, Nina Simone, Amanda Palmer
Favorite Books There are Cats in This Book, There Are No Cats in This Book, Heart in a Bottle, Anything by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan The Outliers, The Signature of All Things, Chowder, Gossamer, A Crack at the Edge of the World, The Tipping Point, The Alchemist, Bombay Time, Eulalie and the Hopping Head, The Reader, I am Too Absolutely Small for School, The Harry Potter Series anything illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger
Chicken monkey shoes?
Yes, with coordinating handbag.
meet STEPHANIE ROTH SISSON
BookPage. a (Aug. 2018): p31. From Literature Resource Center.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 BookPage
http://bookpage.com/
Full Text:
Q: What's the title of your new book?
SPRING AFTER SPRING How RACHEL CARSON INSPIRED the Environment Movement
Q: How would you describe the book?
It's the true story of a quiet girl who helped save the plants and animals that she loved with her courage and words.
Q: Who/What has been the biggest influence on your work?
Stories and pictures in my favorite books
Q: What was your favorite subject in school? Why?
ART! Because you can create things that never existed before AND there are no wrong answers!
Q: Who was your childhood hero?
CARL SAGAN
Q: What books did you enjoy as a child?
Books about animals
Q: What one thing would you like to learn to do?
Scuba dive
Q: What message would you like to send to young readers?
Stay curious. Listen carefully. Make your own observations. Wonder and daydream.
SPRING AFTER SPRING
Stephanie Roth Sisson beautifully profiles conservationist Rachel Carson in Spring After Spring (Roaring Brook, $17.99, 40 pages, ISBN 9781626728196, ages 4 to 8). Sisson has illustrated over 60 children's books and is the author and illustrator of Star Stuff, a biography of cosmologist Carl Sagan.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"meet STEPHANIE ROTH SISSON." BookPage, Aug. 2018, p. 31. Literature Resource Center, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A547988092/LitRC?u=schlager&sid=LitRC&xid=bc344382. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A547988092
SISSON, Stephanie Roth. Spring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement
Kathy Piehl
School Library Journal. 64.7 (July 2018): p91.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
SISSON, Stephanie Roth. Spring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement, illus. by Stephanie Roth Sisson. 40p. bibliog. diag. notes. Roaring Brook. Aug. 2018. Tr $23.50. ISBN 9781626728196.
K-Gr 3--Sisson's paneled illustrations place Rachel Carson in the natural world that fascinated her from childhood and inspired her groundbreaking books. Sisson stresses Carson's curiosity about and careful observations of birds, insects, and other animals as she grew up in Pennsylvania. Those same qualities served her well as a scientist and writer who introduced readers to the lives of sea creatures in best-selling books. Sisson's diagrams help explain the harmful effects of DDT that Carson articulated in her most influential work, Silent Spring. Sisson leaves out many personal and professional challenges Carson faced, which Laurie Lawlor includes in her picture book biography for slightly older readers, Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World. Although Sisson does mention some of the controversy the Silent Spring generated in the main text, she provides additional information in an author's note that emphasizes the book's influence on the environmental movement. Her meticulous notes reveal Sisson's own extensive research. The variety of page layouts add visual interest. VERDICT This brief, upbeat biography that introduces an important scientist and her work would be a good addition to most public and school library collections.--Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Piehl, Kathy. "SISSON, Stephanie Roth. Spring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement." School Library Journal, July 2018, p. 91. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A545432519/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=56806905. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A545432519
Sisson, Stephanie Roth. Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos
Maggie Chase
School Library Journal. 60.9 (Sept. 2014): p164.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
* SISSON, Stephanie Roth. Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos. illus. by Stephanie Roth Sisson. 32p. bibliog. notes. Roaring Brook. Nov. 2014. RTE $17.99. ISBN 9781596439603.
Gr 1-3--Told in narrative format, this beautifully designed and illustrated picture book gives readers a glimpse into the childhood wonderings Sagan experienced as he looked at the night sky and imagined the possibilities. The images are wonderfully childlike, many appearing to be chalk on a dark, night sky background. The simple but lyrical text ("Carl thought about the stars hanging down like bulbs on long black wires") conveys a dreamy, wistful quality, and the comic book-style panels and speech bubbles will keep kids intrigued as Sisson takes Sagan from an inquisitive boy to a scientist working in the field of astronomy. One particularly magnificent page should elicit gasps of awe from readers. It folds out to create a marvelous expanse that extends from a library room, where young Sagan is poring over a book about the solar system, up though the city landscape and ever upward toward the sun. Children will easily relate to and may even see themselves in Sagan's youthful exuberance. Detailed notes illustrate the solid research and facts behind the narrative. A gorgeous, informative offering for biography and science collections.--Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID
Chase, Maggie
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Chase, Maggie. "Sisson, Stephanie Roth. Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos." School Library Journal, Sept. 2014, p. 164. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A381406835/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2efce962. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A381406835
DownloadPDF
Greene, Stephanie. Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic
Virginia Walter
School Library Journal. 59.10 (Oct. 2013): p70.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2013 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GREENE, Stephanie. Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic. illus. by Stephanie Roth Sisson. 96p. Putnam. Oct. 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-399-16363-0; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-14-242734-7. LC 2012046089.
K-Gr 2--First-grader Posey is excited about the approaching holiday. She is convinced that Santa will bring her a real magic wand to make things right for the people she loves, but she worries about the tiny bit of naughtiness that she has concealed from her mother. The wise adults in her life--Mother and Gramps--help her see that she can work her own kind of magic through acts of kindness. This is an easy-to-read early chapter book that will appeal to girls, whether they already know Poser or not. Boys, not so much.--Virginia Walter, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
Walter, Virginia
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Walter, Virginia. "Greene, Stephanie. Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic." School Library Journal, Oct. 2013, p. 70. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A344498664/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=daabdb00. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
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Print Marked Items
Spring after Spring: How Rachel Carson
Inspired the Environmental Movement
Kara Dean
Booklist.
114.19-20 (June 1, 2018): p82.
COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Spring after Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement. By Stephanie Roth Sisson.
Illus. by the author. Aug. 2018. 40p. Roaring Brook, $17.99 (9781626728196). 570.92. K-Gr. 3.
This picture-book about revolutionary environmentalist Rachel Carson begins with Carson as a young girl
who paid attention to the seasons, sounds, and patterns of nature. She developed a love of writing and,
eventually, biology. She was able to combine her interests, which led to the publication of the hugely
influential Silent Spring and a national discussion about the relationship between humanity and nature.
Though Carson herself did not live long enough to witness the full impact of her work, the author explains
the direct connection between Carson and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Throughout, Carson is presented as curious and receptive, a quiet individual brave enough to face fears in
the interest of academia as well as activism. An author's note is included at the end, as well as a
bibliography and extensive notes for each page, which flesh out the details of the sparser, comic-style
illustrations. The combination of picture-book biography for young readers and detailed reference sources
for older children makes this accessible to a wide audience.--Kara Dean
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Dean, Kara. "Spring after Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement." Booklist, 1
June 2018, p. 82. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A546287641/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a7a09863. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
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Sisson, Stephanie Roth: SPRING AFTER
SPRING
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 15, 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Sisson, Stephanie Roth SPRING AFTER SPRING Roaring Brook (Children's Informational) $17.99 8, 14
ISBN: 978-1-62672-819-6
"It was dawn when the chorus began."
As a child, Rachel Carson awoke to a symphony of birds, and she listened, watched, and wrote as other
animals joined in. Innovative, appealing illustrations show Rachel in comic-book panels, vignettes, and fulland
double-page spreads as she explores, observes, and deeply appreciates nature. A profusion of dialogue
balloons reproduces the vocalizations of the animals around her. As a student, Rachel intends to write but
instead focuses on the microscopic world in a drop of water, which in turn leads to underwater scientific
study and, later, well-received books about the sea. However, it's when she realizes that the symphony she
loves has grown quiet--effectively represented by both the absence of sound bubbles and negative-space
outlines of creatures now disappeared--that she makes her greatest contribution by revealing the destruction
caused by pesticides in her book Silent Spring, which contributed to the formation of the EPA and the
environmental movement. Resilience and dedication are strong underlying themes here; relevant details,
such as her mother's background in music, are seamlessly incorporated; and while the focus understandably
stays on her work--her overwhelming success as an activist and scientist in a field dominated by men goes
unmentioned--there is certainly room for outside discussion. Carson and her family are white; people of
color appear in scenes depicting her impact.
The perfect choice to inspire young readers and listeners, with just the right amount of detail to inspire,
entrance, and encourage further investigation. (notes, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 5-8)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Sisson, Stephanie Roth: SPRING AFTER SPRING." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A543008856/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=5c636818.
Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
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Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries
of the Cosmos
Betty Carter
The Horn Book Magazine.
91.1 (January-February 2015): p103+.
COPYRIGHT 2015 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Full Text:
* Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos
by Stephanie Roth Sisson; illus. by the author
Primary Roaring Brook 32 pp. 10/14 978-1-59643-960-3 $17.99
Beginning with the first page, Sisson showcases the magnitude of the universe, visually presenting the
Milky Way and our sun's place in it. Turn the page, and readers move from our sun "in a neighborhood of
stars," to our planet, to one place: Brooklyn, New York. There readers meet young Carl, curious about the
world around him. As he grows, that general inquisitiveness settles into a passion and an adult craving to
know more about stars and solar systems. "It gave Carl goose bumps to think about what he learned about
the stars, planets, and the beginnings of life"; that "the Earth and every living thing are made of star stuff."
His repeated, geeky boyhood interjection of "Wowie!" exuberantly captures that continuing wonder and
passion. Illustrations with shifting perspectives portray Carl standing on a sidewalk that mimics the Earth's
curvature or lying on the floor surrounded by space creatures from his imagination. A vertical foldout
initially depicts Carl studying in a library; as the page opens (and Carl's knowledge increases), the universe
above him expands. Sisson takes her time introducing Sagan, but as he learns more and more and his
questions increase in complexity, the pace of the narrative accelerates as readers accompany him on his
intellectual journey. An author's note, clarification and source notes, and a bibliography complete this outof-this-world
picture-book biography.
* indicates a book that the editors believe to be an outstanding example of its genre, of books of this
particular publishing season, or of the author's body of work. For a complete key to the review
abbreviations as well as for bios of our reviewers, please visit hbook.com/horn-book-magazine.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Carter, Betty. "Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos." The Horn Book Magazine, Jan.-
Feb. 2015, p. 103+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A395847390/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d2c5a598. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
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Sisson, Stephanie Roth: STAR STUFF
Kirkus Reviews.
(Oct. 1, 2014):
COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Sisson, Stephanie Roth STAR STUFF Roaring Brook (Children's Picture Books) $17.99 11, 4 ISBN: 978-1-
59643-960-3
Young Carl Sagan looks endearingly like his grown-up self, with expressive dark eyebrows and a cheerful
look of inquiry, in this warm account of the life of the notable scientist. Sisson captures an important
moment in young Sagan's life. In a library, where he has been handed a book on stars, "Carl's heart beat
faster with every page he turned." The next double-page spread offers a vertical orientation and a gatefold
opening skyward, as if Carl himself were soaring into space. He imagines extraterrestrial life and space
travel among the planets--and though he can't wish himself to Mars, he finds a way to get there in spirit.
The text sums this up with brevity: "He studied life and space and became... / ...Dr. Carl Sagan." Sisson's
economical narrative and lighthearted illustrations convey Sagan's regard for the power of imagination and
his generous approach to knowledge. She includes the accomplishments for which Sagan will be
remembered: his passion for science and space discovery that he shared with the world through his
television appearances and the creation and launching of space missions--in particular the Voyager probes,
with their recordings of Earth sounds and sights. Abundant backmatter (oddly missing Sagan's birth date) is
compactly delivered in a two-page spread with a list of quotations and sources, a bibliography/resource list
and an author's note. Both friendly and inspiring--just like its subject. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Sisson, Stephanie Roth: STAR STUFF." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2014. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A383902464/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f55d497e.
Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
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Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic
Martha V. Parravano
The Horn Book Magazine.
89.6 (November-December 2013): p64.
COPYRIGHT 2013 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Full Text:
Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic
by Stephanie Greene; illus. by Stephanie Roth Sisson
Primary, Intermediate Putnam 80 pp.
10/13 978-0-399-16363-0 $13.99
Paper ed. 978-0-14-242734-7 $4.99 g
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
In her latest easy-to-read adventure, first grader Posey worries that Santa won't come to her house this year:
she has failed to tell her mom the whole truth about an incident involving her baby brother and the
Christmas tree. A full confession (as always, made easier by donning her empowering pink tutu) eases her
guilt. Meanwhile, she helps Gramps become a more confident dancer and draws a special picture for a
neighbor. A warm family story told in ten brief, generously leaded chapters, with a likable, kindhearted
protagonist. Art not seen.
Parravano, Martha V.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Parravano, Martha V. "Princess Posey and the Christmas Magic." The Horn Book Magazine, Nov.-Dec.
2013, p. 64. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A351081252/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=69afe9c7. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
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Greene, Stephanie: PRINCESS POSEY
AND THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 1, 2013):
COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Greene, Stephanie PRINCESS POSEY AND THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC Putnam (Children's Fiction)
$4.99 10, 17 ISBN: 978-0-14-242734-7
All Posey wants from Santa is a real magic wand. Posey and her classmates are excited about the upcoming
winter holidays, and Posey sure is ready. She has written her letter and knows that Santa will understand
that she needs a wand that can really perform magic. But when Posey accidentally hurts her toddler brother,
she does not tell her mother the truth and is haunted by the fact that Santa will know that she was bad, for
goodness' sake! Posey is a delightfully imperfect little first-grader, and others will empathize with her
plight. A subplot about Gramps and his new love interest, neighbor Mrs. Romero, adds much to the story,
making it more than just a story about a little girl. When Mrs. Romero shares a childhood picture of
Barbara, her little girl who died years ago, the twist is revealed with calm, believable emotion. And later,
when Posey creates a gift picturing Barbara with angel wings, it is a powerful moment that is free of any
emotional manipulation. Telling this story with simple vocabulary, in oversized font and 10 very short
chapters, Greene makes this rich tale accessible to the earliest readers. Showing no signs of flagging in this
seventh series entry, she continues to develop winning characters in realistic situations. No wand needed--
pure magic for emerging readers. (Fiction. 5-8)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Greene, Stephanie: PRINCESS POSEY AND THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2013.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A338101959/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2a32773a. Accessed 29 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A338101959