SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: The North Wind and the Sun
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.philipstead.com/
CITY: Ann Arbor
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 373
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; wife’s name Erin E. (an illustrator); children: Adelaide.
EDUCATION:University of Michigan, B.F.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author and illustrator of children’s books.
AWARDS:100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection, New York Public Library, Best Illustrated Books selection, New York Times, both 2010, Notable Children’s Books designation and Caldecott Medal, both American Library Association (ALA), Best Children’s Book of the Year list, Bank Street College of Education, and Charlotte Zolotow Award honor book, Cooperative Children’s Book Center, all 2011, all for A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E. Stead; ALA Notable Children’s Books designation and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award honor book selection, Association of Booksellers for Children, both 2013, both for Bear Has a Story to Tell; ALA Notable Children’s Books designation, 2016, for Lenny and Lucy, and 2018, for The Only Fish in the Sea; Best Children’s Book of the Year list, Bank Street College of Education, 2018, for The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
An author and illustrator of original picture books such as Vernon Is On His Way: Small Stories Samson in the Snow, and Ideas Are All Around, Philip C. Stead has also collaborated with his wife, artist Erin E. Stead, on the award-winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee, The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, and other acclaimed works. The couple’s work has merited effusive accolades from reviewers who note their focus on mindfulness and compassion. “We don’t make much distinction between messages meant for children and for humanity at large,” Stead told School Library Journal contributor Kiera Parrott. “The purpose of art is to transmit some kind of power and magic into the world, and nothing is more powerful and magical than a small kindness.”
Stead earned a B.F.A. at the University of Michigan’s School of Art and Design and then moved to New York City, where he worked at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum as an illustrator and designer of publications and displays. Published in 2009, his debut self-illustrated book Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast is based on a family story about his grandfather’s famously declarative revolt against a too-frequent casserole. For School Library Journal contributor Susan Weitz, the book’s “charm is mainly in the pictures,” which she described as “multilayered collages/paintings/ink drawings” highlighted by “gorgeous blotches of color.” An “homage to Americana,” in the opinion of a Kirkus Reviews writer, Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast finds Stead “proudly reclaiming the rhythms of old stories and craftsmanship not so common in the digital age.”
Stead’s more recent self-illustrated books include A Home for Bird, a winsome tale about a toad that struggles to forge a connection with his stoic new friend, only to discover Bird’s wonderfully punctual hidden talent. “The style is fresh and exciting, and the pages brim with handclap-worthy details that kids will love,” declared Ann Kelley in Booklist, and a Kirkus Reviews writer dubbed A Home for Bird “a deeply satisfying story that speaks to the universal desires to be nurtured and to find a home.”
The kindhearted toad makes a return appearance in Vernon Is On His Way, a collection of three tales featuring Stead’s gouache, crayon, pastel, and charcoal illustrations. In “Waiting,” Vernon sits atop a shell, his anticipation at some hoped-for event eventually growing into boredom. In “Fishing,” Vernon and Skunk help their anxious, inexperienced companion Porcupine devise an unorthodox new approach to a familiar activity, and “Gardening” centers on Porcupine and Skunk’s efforts to cheer Vernon, who misses Bird.
“Stead’s world is filled with characters whose empathy, kindness, and calm resolve make them easy to love,” Parrott observed in a School Library Journal review of Vernon Is On His Way. A writer in Kirkus Reviews applauded the work, remarking that “Stead has a gift for expressing the emotions and dialogue that accompany the uncertainties of childhood—those anxious, wanting-to-be-right-but-not-quite-knowing-the-rules moments.” Parrott also complimented Stead’s artwork, noting the he “depicts the characters with soulful expressions and charming vulnerability.”
A contrast to Bird, a cheerfully exuberant title character stars in Hello, My Name Is Ruby, another self-illustrated story by Stead. Here the author/illustrator sends his wee warbler on a grand adventure during which she collects a diverse array of new pals. “Ruby exemplifies the willingness to see the good in everyone,” declared a Publishers Weekly reviewer, “and Stead’s artwork echoes her joyousness.” A writer for Kirkus Reviews found a deeper meaning: “The blessings that reaching out to a diverse community bestows.” Another airborne scenario plays out in Sebastian and the Balloon, in which a youngster builds an aircraft to escape from his humdrum life. “Stead’s trademarks are present in this volume: pithy, talking animals, quixotic travel, and a matter-of-fact sensibility offsetting fantastic events,” enthused School Library Journal writer Anna Haase Krueger.
Stead took a more grounded approach in his self-illustrated Ideas Are All Around. Stymied by the challenge of coming up with a new project and acquiescing to his dog’s request to take a walk, the author/illustrator explores familiar streets and remains open to ideas for new story books. The “introspective” narrative voice in Ideas Are All Around “transforms into quiet wonder when experiencing nature, kindness, and friendship,” commented Wendy Lukehart in her School Library Journal assessment of the work, and a Kirkus Reviews critic wrote of the self-illustrated work that “Stead has given readers a deeply felt, deeply connected story that is homage to creation—and really quite brilliant.”
In his self-illustrated All the Animals Where I Live, Stead presents “a careful catalog of thoughts about living in the country,” according to a contributor in Kirkus Reviews. A former city dweller, Stead chronicles his many encounters with the creatures that share his rural environs, from sandhill cranes and turtles to coyotes and snowy owls. Stead’s “lovely mixed-media artwork,” which employs oil ink monoprinting and bamboo calligraphy brushes, drew praise from School Library Journal reviewer Luann Toth, who added that “young artists and nature lovers will find much here to admire.” A contributor in Publishers Weekly described All the Animals Where I Live, as “a journey with an artist who sees the eternal in the everyday.”
A Sick Day for Amos McGee marked the Steads’ first published collaboration, and Erin Stead’s wood-block prints highlight Philip’s story about a zookeeper who treats each of his exotic charges like a friend. Amos serves as occasional playmate, ad-hoc therapist, and even bedtime-story reader to the animals under his care. When the man contracts a cold that prevents him from traveling to work, the animals make a house call and repay his many kindnesses. Stead’s gentle story features a fresh take on “the familiar pet-bonding theme [that] will have great appeal,” predicted Hazel Rochman in her Booklist review of this Caldecott Medal-winning book.
In Bear Has a Story to Tell the Steads teamed up to share a heartfelt tale about a gentle giant’s search for an audience before winter closes in, and their work Lenny and Lucy was described by School Library Journal reviewer Amy Shepherd as a “timeless story of a boy using his imagination to cope with loss and acclimate to a new environment.” Through Philip’s story and Erin’s art, readers meet Peter, an unhappy lad who moves with his father to a remote forested area. Lonely, the boy fashions some pillows and old blankets into Lenny, a scarecrow-style guardian, and an equally silent cloth companion he names Lucy. These curious totems work magic by attracting the curiosity of a friendly young neighbor. “What stands out is the Steads’ … ability to evoke the wordless intimacy and companionship that every child needs,” remarked a Publishers Weekly writer, and a contributor to Kirkus Reviews admired the couple’s talent for creating pages that “invite children to linger in the wild woods of worry and emerge intact, enriched … by this complex, contemporary fairy tale.”
A work more than one hundred years in the making, The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine “is a noteworthy publishing treat, one best shared and read aloud,” in the opinion of BookPage reviewer Alice Cary. In 1879 the young daughters of celebrated American humorist Mark Twain begged their father for a bedtime story; he regaled them with the tale of a youth named Johnny who communicates with animals. Twain later recorded sixteen pages of notes about the story that lay untouched until discovered by a scholar combing through the Mark Twain Papers housed at the University of California, Berkeley. Editors at Doubleday contacted Stead about expanding Twain’s unfinished work into a picture book, and he spent months working on the manuscript before turning it over to his wife to illustrate.
The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine introduces Johnny, a gentle-hearted, impoverished orphan raised by his cruel grandfather. After Johnny trades his pet chicken for some magic seeds, the resulting plant’s flowers allow him to converse with a variety of creatures. Upon learning of a handsome reward offered to the individual who can locate Prince Oleomargarine, Johnny and his animal friends band together to search for the missing royal.
According to a Publishers Weekly reviewer, “Stead stays faithful to Twain with a cast of eccentric characters, celestially fine writing, and a crusade against pomp that doesn’t sacrifice humor.” Chris Borris offered further praise for the volume in Scholastic Teacher, commenting that the “sly Twainian humor, along with Philip Stead’s clever, empathetic voice and Erin Stead’s expressive woodblock-and-pencil illustrations, … make this rescued tale a revelation, the story we never knew we were waiting for.”
The Steads team up again for the 2019 book, Music for Mister Moon. This volume tells the story of a cello-playing kid named Harriet, whose nickname is Hank. When an owl keeps interrupting her practicing, she becomes frustrated and throws a teacup out the window at it. Instead of hitting the owl, she discovers she has accidentally knocked the moon out of the sky. She bargains with the moon to get him to return to his rightful place, offering to get him a hat, to take him for a boat ride on the lake, and finally, to play her cello for him. In an interview with Lindsay Ward, contributor to Critter Lit, Stead stated: “ Music for Mister Moon is book about an introvert, made by two introverts. We hate to ever say what a books means, but at its core the book is meant to ask a question which is: can a thing have value if it isn’t shared?” A Kirkus Reviews writer described the volume as “a low-key, atmospheric encounter a-glimmer with verbal and visual grace notes.” Michael Cart, reviewer in Booklist, called it “a gift for the eyes and a delight for the imagination.”
Stead teamed with illustrator Matthew Cordell on the picture books Special Delivery and The Only Fish in the Sea. In the former title, a spunky youth named Sadie goes to extraordinary lengths to deliver an elephant to her lonely Great-Aunt Josephine. The latter work follows Sadie’s attempts to rescue a goldfish—a birthday gift—that was tossed into the sea by its ungrateful recipient. Critiquing Special Delivery in BookPage, Jill Lorenzini stated that “young adventurers will identify with [Sadie’s] unruffled single-mindedness.” The Only Fish in the Sea was lauded by School Library Journal reviewer Joanna K. Fabicon, who deemed it “a contemporary tall tale fueled by the characters’ genuine caring and heart.”
Another Cordell-Stead collaboration is the 2021 picture book, Follow That Frog!, which is a follow-up to Special Delivery. In this volume, Great-Aunt Josephine tells young Sadie about a scientific expedition she went on in Peru. On the journey, she meets a giant frog, who swallows a little boy. Josephine determines to pursue the frog, which she follows around the world. A Kirkus Reviews critic noted that the book delivered “more female-powered action from an inspired creative team.”
In In My Garden, Stead illustrates a poem written by Charlotte Zolotow in 1960. The book finds an older woman and a young girl discussing what they like best about the various seasons of the year. Describing the volume in Publishers Weekly, a contributor suggested: “It’s an intergenerational look at companionable contentment derived from the simplest things.” Mary Lanni, reviewer in School Library Journal, commented: “Readers will find relatable sentiments peppered throughout the pages of this story.”
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Stead returned to the characters of Amos McGee and his animal friends in Amos McGee Misses the Bus. Illustrated this time by his wife, Erin E. Stead, the book tells the story of Amos planning a surprise for his friends. Unfortunately, he stays up so late planning the surprise that he sleeps in and misses his bus. He tries to walk to the zoo, but the long journey leaves him tired. Fortunately, the animals take it upon themselves to finish Amos’s chores, which gives them all enough time for the surprise outing.
Shelle Rosenfeld, writing in Booklist, loved this sequel to Philip’s Caldecott winner. Rosenfeld called it a “wholly delightful follow-up that also stands well on its own.” She described Erin’s illustrations as “lovely, expressive woodblock-and-pencil illustrations” that “judiciously employ soft-textured color and line.” Rosenfeld also appreciated the “sweet, gently comical details.” A writer in Kirkus Reviews agreed, calling the book a “welcome return” and praising Erin’s work as “sensitive, warm illustrations” that “infuse subtle humor into the scenes.”
Philip returned to his collaboration with Matthew Cordell in Every Dog in the Neighborhood. Louis is a boy who wants a dog, but his grandmother is apparently not so sure, so Louis sets out to meet every dog in his neighborhood. He knocks on his neighbors’ doors and meets twenty different dogs, which he is excited to tell his grandma about. She has her own plan, however, to make a new dog owner out of Louis. Along with telling a story, the book also introduces topics such as canvassing and animal adoption.
Writing in School Library Journal, Sarah West was enthusiastic about this picture book: “What a pleasure to see sprawling urban neighborhood scenes with every kind of adult, child, and dog imaginable.” She called it a “gentle and pleasant read,” and she predicted that readers of all ages would find the book entertaining. She was particularly taken with the literary jokes that Stead sprinkles throughout the text. A reviewer in Kirkus Reviews also mentioned the “winks” that are “directed” at the adult readers, and the reviewer called the book a “charming, gently humorous tale” that particularly benefits from a “heartwarming, satisfying ending.”
The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer is a picture book that features three farm animals: a cow, a horse, and a mule. The three are waiting in their barn for the sun to rise because that means the farmer will appear and feed them. This morning, however, they are convinced that the sun is late, and they start to worry about what will happen if it never rises. That might mean the farmer may never come! Illustrated by Erin E. Stead, the pictures capture that sense of darkness before the dawn and the joy that often follows anxiety.
“A gently comic telling,” wrote a reviewer in Publishers Weekly. They appreciated how both the story and pictures “confer unexpected dignity” on the three animals, and they saw the book’s theme as a “quiet reminder about perceptions’ ability to mislead.” A writer in Kirkus Reviews concurred, calling the book a “gem” whose story “employs repetition and just-right word choices.” Comparing this book to earlier books by the Steads, they found the plot “slightly more complex” and affirmed that it might prompt discussion about what is real and what we perceive.
Philip C. Stead turned to illustrating another author’s story in Amy Hest’s Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone. Using a question-and-answer format, the story imagines a child talking to a toy and asking a question. Then on the following spread is the answer with an unexpected revelation. The narrative uses the refrain “Sometimes it’s nice to be alone,” but the story affirms that it is also nice when a friend joins in the fun.
Writing in Horn Book, Julie Roach described the book as a celebration of “everyday moments.” She particularly highlighted Stead’s illustrations, calling them “mischievous and detailed, perfectly extending the plucky text.” Lucinda Whitehurst, in Booklist, described the pictures as “soaring illustrations” that “greatly expand the text and add larger action to the narrative.” Whitehurst appreciated the book’s message that “alone does not equal lonely.”
The North Wind & the Sun finds Philip C. Stead again illustrating his own narrative, or actually Aesop’s fable. The story is about a competition between the North Wind and the Sun to see who is more powerful. The wind attempts to blow three sisters over and destroy their coats, but the older women are able to stand firm and withstand the wind’s taunts and force. Then the sun uses generosity and warmth to persuade the ladies to take off their coats, which they do. Stead has modified the original story to be both gentler and more epic.
Kimberly Olson Fakih, in School Library Journal, loved this new version of the old tale, calling Stead a “virtuoso.” She predicted that children would enjoy this “Aesop on steroids in blasts of colored pencil.” Writing in Horn Book, Julie Danielson agreed, describing the book as a “moving and welcome retelling, like a breath of fresh air.” She described the illustrations as “beguiling.” A writer in Kirkus Reviews made it three for three, as they described the story as “masterfully updated and impeccably rendered.” They appreciated how the pictures “create a strong duality between the elements” and how Stead’s use of space will “encourage readers to rotate the book.”
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BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, May 1, 2010, Hazel Rochman review of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, p. 92; July 1, 2012, Ann Kelley, review of A Home for Bird, p. 56; August 1, 2012, Kristen McKulski, review of Bear Has a Story to Tell, p. 83; August 1, 2013, Ann Kelley, review of Hello, My Name Is Ruby, p. 72; September 1, 2014, Maryann Owen, review of Sebastian and the Balloon, p. 121; February 1, 2015, Lolly Gepson, review of Special Delivery, p. 57; June 1, 2015, Julia Smith, review of Lenny and Lucy, p. 120; June, 2017, John Peters, review of The Only Fish in the Sea, p. 116; August 1, 2017, Michael Cart, review of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, p. 64; March 1, 2018, Lolly Gepson, review of All the Animals Where I Live, p. 53; March 15, 2019, Michael Cart, review of Music for Mister Moon, p. 74; October 1, 2021, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of Amos McGee Misses the Bus, pp. 70+; April 15, 2022, Kay Weisman, review of I’d Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog, p. 57; February 1, 2023, Lucinda Whitehurst, review of Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone, p. 60.
BookPage, March, 2015, Jill Lorenzini, review of Special Delivery, p. 30; October, 2017, Alice Cary, review of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, p. 28.
Horn Book, May-June, 2010, Kitty Flynn, review of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, p. 72; July-August, 2012, Robin L. Smith, review of A Home for Bird, p. 101; September-October, 2012, Joanna Rudge Long, review of Bear Has a Story to Tell, p. 74; September-October, 2014, Megan Dowd Lambert, review of Sebastian and the Balloon, p. 95; March-April, 2015, Julie Roach, review of Special Delivery, p. 84; September-October, 2015, Megan Dowd Lambert, review of Lenny and Lucy, p. 87; November-December, 2017, Susan Dove Lempke, review of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, p. 116; January-February, 2023, Julie Roach, review of Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone, pp. 61+; November-December, 2023, Julie Danielson, review of The North Wind & the Sun, pp. 93+.
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2009, review of Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast; April 15, 2010, Philip C. Stead, review of A Sick Day for Amos McGee; May 1, 2011, review of Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat; May 1, 2012, review of A Home for Bird; August 1, 2012, review of Bear Has a Story to Tell; July 15, 2013, review of Hello, My Name Is Ruby; September 1, 2014, review of Sebastian and the Balloon; December 1, 2014, review of Special Delivery; July 1, 2015, review of Lenny and Lucy; December 15, 2015, review of Ideas Are All Around; May 1, 2017, review of The Only Fish in the Sea; July 15, 2017, review of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine; May 15, 2018, review of Vernon Is On His Way: Small Stories; February 15, 2019, review of Music for Mister Moon; January 1, 2021, review of Follow That Frog!; October 1, 2021, review of Amos McGee Misses the Bus; March 1, 2022, review of Every Dog in the Neighborhood; August 1, 2022, review of The Sun is Late and So Is the Farmer; August 1, 2023, review of The North Wind & the Sun.
Publishers Weekly, May 10, 2010, review of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, p. 41; July 2, 2012, review of Bear Has a Story to Tell, p. 65; June 10, 2013, review of Hello, My Name Is Ruby, p. 75; December 22, 2014, review of Special Delivery, p. 73; June 29, 2015, review of Lenny and Lucy, p. 66; December 2, 2015, “Q&A: Philip and Erin Stead,” p. 28; January 4, 2016, review of Ideas Are All Around, p. 50; March 13, 2017, Sue Corbett, “The Steads: Reconstructing Mark Twain’s Only Picture Book,” p. 23; May 29, 2017, review of The Only Fish in the Sea, p. 65; July 10, 2017, review of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, p. 89; December 18, 2017, review of All the Animals Where I Live, p. 126; April 9, 2018, review of Vernon Is On His Way, p. 75; December 9, 2019, review of In My Garden, p. 146; November 23, 2020, review of Follow That Frog!, p. 105; October 3, 2022, review of The Sun is Late and So Is the Farmer, p. 154.
Scholastic Teacher, fall, 2017, Chris Borris, interview with Philip and Erin Stead, p. 52.
School Librarian, spring, 2013, Trevor Dickinson, review of Bear Has a Story to Tell, p. 36.
School Library Journal, November, 2009, Susan Weitz, review of Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast, p. 89; May, 2010, Mary Jean Smith, review of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, p. 92; August, 2012, Linda Ludke, review of Bear Has a Story to Tell, and Kristine M. Casper, review of A Home for Bird, both p. 87; December, 2012, Amy Dreger, review of A Home for Bird, p. 69; September, 2013, Marilyn Taniguchi, review of Hello, My Name Is Ruby, p. 130; August, 2014, Anna Haase Krueger, review of Sebastian and the Balloon, p. 81; December, 2014, Teri Markson, review of Special Delivery, p. 112; July, 2015, Amy Shepherd, review of Lenny and Lucy, p. 68; December, 2015, Kiera Parrott, “Putting Magic into the World: Philip and Erin Stead on ‘Lenny and Lucy,’ Picture Books, and Kindness,” p. 18; January, 2016, Wendy Lukehart, review of Ideas Are All Around, p. 78; July, 2017, Joanna K. Fabicon, review of The Only Fish in the Sea, p. 65; March, 2018, Luann Toth, review of All the Animals Where I Live, p. 91; May, 2018, Kiera Parrott, review of Vernon Is On His Way, p. 72; 2019, Elizabeth Blake, review of Music for Mister Moon, p. 88; 2020, Mary Lanni, review of In My Garden, p. 111; June, 2022, Sarah West, review of Every Dog in the Neighborhood, p. 63; November, 2023, Kimberly Olson Fakih, review of The North Wind & the Sun, p. 52.
ONLINE
Critter Lit, https://www.critterlit.com/ (May 2, 2019), Lindsay Ward, author interview.
Folio Literary Management, https://www.foliojr.com (April 8, 2024), author profile.
Philip C. Stead website, https://philipstead.com (May 13, 2021).*
Philip C. Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal winning and New York Times bestselling A Sick Day for Amos McGee and its sequel Amos McGee Misses the Bus illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead. Philip is also the co-author of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine with Mark Twain and illustrated by Erin E. Stead. Philip wrote and illustrated Vernon Is On His Way, All the Animals Where I Live, Samson in the Snow, Ideas Are All Around, Sebastian and the Balloon, Hello, My Name is Ruby, A Home for Bird, Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, and Creamed Tuna Fish & Peas on Toast. He is also the author of The Only Fish in the Sea and Special Delivery both illustrated by Matthew Cordell.
Philip C. Stead is the author of the Caldecott Medal winning book A Sick Day for Amos McGee, also named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2010 and a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of 2010, illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead. Together with Erin, he also created Bear Has a Story to Tell, an E.B. White Read-Aloud Award honor book. Philip, also an artist, has written and illustrated several of his own books including Hello, My Name is Ruby, Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat, A Home for Bird, and his debut Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast, which was applauded by School Library Journal for “its wry humor and illustrations worthy of a Roald Dahl creation.” Philip lives with Erin and their dog, Wednesday, in a 100-year-old barn in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Amos McGee Misses the Bus. By Philip C. Stead. Illus. by Erin E. Stead. Nov. 2021.48p. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (9781250213228). PreS-Gr. 2.
In this new title featuring the characters of Caldecott Award-winner A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010), zookeeper Amos hasn't slept a wink, anticipating tomorrow's special trip with the animals. But come morning, while prepping to leave, Amos nods off at the kitchen table. When he's awoken by the bus' "beep-beep," he knows he's too late, and he treks to the zoo on foot. He tries to prepare the animals for disappointment, since he fears having to cancel their outing, and while doing his chores, he tells Penguin, Rhinoceros, and Owl exactly how he got behind--and, incidentally, lost his favorite hat. Plus, where's Tortoise? Eventually, tuckered-out Amos succumbs to a snooze on a bench. The animals let their beloved zookeeper pal rest, finishing the chores themselves. And when Amos awakes to discover their kindness, they have just enough time to catch the bus for their outing--a trip to the beach to watch the sunset. Lovely, expressive woodblock-and-pencil illustrations judiciously employ soft-textured color and line, depicting the characters and events with sweet, gently comical details--Penguin holds up a "Shh! QUIET, please!!!" sign as Amos naps; a bird, mouse, and cat have side activities of their own; and the animals have creative ways of completing zoo chores. Amos' and the animals' mutual affection and support is evident throughout in this wholly delightful follow-up that also stands well on its own.--Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Rosenfeld, Shelle. "Amos McGee Misses the Bus." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 3, 1 Oct. 2021, pp. 70+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A695507220/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=30f91c58. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
Stead, Philip C. AMOS MCGEE MISSES THE BUS Roaring Brook Press (Children's None) $18.99 11, 2 ISBN: 978-1-250-21322-8
A welcome return of the kindly, Caldecott-winning zookeeper and his animal friends.
As in A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010), the gentle zookeeper ends up receiving care from the very animals he tends. The stories' shared sentiment of mutual responsibility and care is one well worth repeating, and here it's delivered in a book that stands on its own but benefits from familiarity with the original. This time, Amos McGee doesn't need the animals' help because he's sick; instead, they come to his aid after a series of mishaps caused by his excitement about a planned outing. At the beginning of the story, the gangly, White zookeeper's happy anticipation keeps him awake at night in a homey setting that will be familiar to readers of the first book, with its yellow-striped wallpaper and quaint furnishings. Overtired the next day, he dozes at the breakfast table and misses the bus. In his subsequent rush to the zoo, poor, groggy Amos McGee loses his satchel and a favorite hat. Once there, he's so worn out that he literally falls asleep on the job. This is when the animals pick up the slack, with Philp C. Stead's understated text detailing the responsibilities they earnestly assume, while Erin E. Stead's sensitive, warm illustrations infuse subtle humor into the scenes. Pages depicting a tortoise's earnest perambulation are perfectly paced. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Amos McGee is back, right on time. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Stead, Philip C.: AMOS MCGEE MISSES THE BUS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A677072822/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=720a1d63. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
STEAD, Philip C. Every Dog in the Neighborhood. illus. by Matthew Cordell. 40p. Holiday House/Neal Porter. Jun. 2022. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780823444274.
K-Gr 3--What a pleasure to see sprawling urban neighborhood scenes with every kind of adult, child, and dog imaginable, all packed into a picture book. For children who love dogs, this sweet story, charmingly limned by Cordell, follows a grandmother and her grandson, Louis, as they spend time trying to remedy a problem. Louis, resembling a sheepdog with black bangs hiding most of his face, canvasses the neighborhood to find out how many dogs live there after Grandma says there are too many for him to have one of his own. Grandma has a campaign of her own, concerning a vacant lot. By the end of the story, Louis has counted 20 neighborhood dogs, including the one he adopts, and his grandmother has turned the lot into a dog park. Louis's innocent but matter-of-fact narration is entertaining for all ages (with plenty of inside literary jokes to boot), while the illustrations show Cordell's signature sketchbook style of thin black outlines and soft watercolor paint. The art matches the tone of the book, making this a gentle and pleasant read. VERDICT In spite of its outwardly comical premise, this book delivers a ton of information on canvassing, addressing city agencies, amassing data, and getting things done. It can bolster various programs and collections, and makes a great addition to any shelf.--Sarah West
Caption: Every Dog In the Neighborhood (Stead) [c]2022 by Matthew Cordell
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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West, Sarah. "STEAD, Philip C.: Every Dog in the Neighborhood." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 6, June 2022, p. 63. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A705791238/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=bd32c123. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
Stead, Philip C. EVERY DOG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Neal Porter/Holiday House (Children's None) $18.99 6, 7 ISBN: 978-0-8234-4427-4
A boy who counts dogs winds up counting his blessings, too.
When Louis wonders how many dogs live in his neighborhood, neither his grandma nor City Hall can provide an answer. Louis conducts a dog census and discovers that most people in his community have at least one dog--including a pooch who lives only in his owner's heart. He also encounters cat, bird, and reptile owners. Louis compiles a numbered list of dogs, noting quirky names and characteristics and taking occasional breaks to report his findings to his feisty, white-haired Grandma, who is busily constructing something--delightfully revealed at the story's end. Finally, Louis announces his tally to Grandma; but wait--she introduces him to yet another dog owner, a twist that makes for one heartwarming, satisfying ending. This charming, gently humorous tale will resonate with youngsters. Adults will appreciate the winks directed at them: the dog named E.B. dreams of writing animal stories; pups Nos. 17 and 18 on Louis' list are named Thelonious and Monk respectively. Illustrations rendered with pen, ink, and watercolor and marked by Cordell's signature quick, loose strokes complement the sweet story and capture Louis and Grandma's loving relationship admirably; some art is set in spots and panels. The protagonists present White; their neighbors are diverse in race, age, and physical ability. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Whether you're a dog lover or not, count this one a winner. (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Stead, Philip C.: EVERY DOG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A695027041/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cd1e7fce. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
I'd Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog. By Philip Stead. Illus. by the author. Apr. 2022. 48p. Doubleday, $18.99 (9780593375082). PreS-Gr. 2.
Using playful text and whimsical art, Stead conjures a thoughtful tale of an old dog considering the possibilities of the outside world. "Will I ever be the dawdle of a penguin? / Will I ever be the waddle of a snail? / Will I ever be the tumble of a bumble bee? / Will I ever be the bumble of a whale?" Employing questions geared to stretch imaginations (and vocabulary), the lilting verses introduce a series of familiar animals. From turtles, bullfrogs, and elephants to buffalo, walruses, hummingbirds, and mice, Stead's creatures exist in a bucolic, colorful world. Many spreads feature white backgrounds, brightly hued collaged figures, and a bevy of colorful birds that flit unmentioned from page to page. Each verse is separated with a colorfully lettered refrain. The scene visible through the titular window evolves throughout the story: at first, rain peppers a gingko tree; later, a rainbow appears; and finally, a whale swims by. The facial expressions on some of the animals hint at additional details not revealed in the text: for example, the fawns appear worried while hiding in the grass, and the elephant seems happiest when he can shelter another creature with his umbrella. This is a text that begs to be read aloud, one-on-one or to a group. Prepare for serious toe-tapping.--Kay Weisman
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Weisman, Kay. "I'd Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 16, 15 Apr. 2022, p. 57. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A702054529/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=43f5109b. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
Stead, Philip C. THE SUN IS LATE AND SO IS THE FARMER Neal Porter/Holiday House (Children's None) $18.99 11, 8 ISBN: 978-0-8234-4428-1
Animal friends pull together in another collaboration from the Steads.
A disruption in routine prompts a worried group of animals to work together, just as the zoo animals rallied together when Amos McGee fell ill in the Steads' first joint picture book, A Sick Day for Amos McGee (2010). As in that Caldecott-winning title, Philip Stead's artful text employs repetition and just-right word choices to result in a pleasing aurality. A mule, a milk cow, and a miniature horse wonder why the farmer hasn't arisen yet and then decide to venture forth to awaken her. Leaving the barn is daunting; as Milk Cow says, "We will have to find courage." Erin Stead's illustration style closely resembles that which she employed in Sick Day, though the palette here is attuned to the darkness of pre-dawn hours, ultimately giving way to the warmth of the sunrise. Before that happy ending, a whimsical reference to a "sleeping giant" is accompanied by a picture of enormous stocking feet, toes pointing to the sky, which offers a visual echo of Amos' feet poking out of his bedclothes as he sleeps. And yet, this is a farm setting, not a zoo, and the light-skinned farmer is a woman, not a man. The plot is also slightly more complex, with dream references that may prompt discussion about what happens in the reality of the story world and what is all a dream. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Waste no time in adding this gem to the storytime shelf. (Picture book. 2-7)
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"Stead, Philip C.: THE SUN IS LATE AND SO IS THE FARMER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A711906606/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a6539dd0. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer
Philip C. Stead, illus. by Erin E. Stead. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8234-4428-1
"There is a silence inside of everything." The almost prayerful early lines of this reverent episodic nartative by the married collaborators (The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine) confer unexpecred dignity on its protagonists: a mule, a milk cow, and a miniature horse, all worrying together under a starry night sky. Noting that "the sun is late... And so is the farmer," they reason that the farmer is unlikely to appear with breakfast it the sun doesn't rise. Erin Stead conveys their anxious expressions with unfailing sweetness against inky blue backgrounds. When they approach the farm's barn owl, it sends them on a quest "beyond the field full of sheep... all the way to the edge of the world... . Bring Rooster along -- Rooster will know what to do." The three animals strike out: "We will have to be braver than we ever thought possible," writes Philip Stead. As the sky lightens, though, readers realize that the journey may not be as challenging--or necessary--as the animals had feared, building to a happy if ptecipitous ending. It's a gently comic telling that appreciates creatures' gentle ways and offers a quiet reminder about perceptions' ability to mislead. Ages 4-8. Agent (for author and illustrator): Emily van Beek, Folio Literary. (Nov.)
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"The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 41, 3 Oct. 2022, p. 154. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A721992796/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=48b13880. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone
by Amy Hest; illus. by Philip Stead
Preschool Porter/Holiday 40 pp.
2/23 9780823449477 $18.99
This question-and-answer story featuring an independent, bespectacled child joyously explores and celebrates everyday moments, whether spent alone or in unexpected company. The book opens with the child focusing on her cookie, disregarding a small pink toy elephant at her feet. "Sometimes it's nice to be alone. Just you, eating your cookie, alone. But what if a friend pops in?" A page-turn addresses that question, with the elephant, no longer a toy, now dominating the spread as a life-size snacking companion. The refrain "sometimes it's nice to be alone" repeats, with the child reading a book near a toy horse, riding a bike with a stuffed bear in the basket, spying from a treehouse with a toy giraffe. Each vignette follows the same pattern, but the reveal is always a delight when the come-to-life toy creates a more dramatic and entertaining scene. A real dinosaur makes playing in a pile of leaves much more exciting, and an alligator friend can turn bathtime into a beach day. The brightly colored, textured illustrations, created by hand using printmaking techniques, are mischievous and detailed, perfectly extending the plucky text. The last spread shows the child ready for bed, looking out the window on a snowy scene; the page-turn reveals a toy penguin on the floor and a final word ("dreaming"), allowing listeners to decide what might come next.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Roach, Julie. "Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 99, no. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2023, pp. 61+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A735604663/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=110fb5c6. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone. By Amy Hest. Illus. by Philip Stead. Feb. 2023. 40p. Holiday/Neal Porter, $18.99 (9780823449477). K-Gr. 2.
Sometimes it's nice to be alone, and sometimes it's nice when a friend comes by, but either way, you can find good things about each day. In this affirming acknowledgement that alone does not equal lonely, a young girl eats a cookie, reads a book, practices somersaults, rides a bike, crunches through leaves, takes a walk, plays in a treehouse, and watches it snow. Paired pages first show the girl alone with a toy animal. The second page takes a fanciful turn as the animal becomes life size and the settings become more exotic. Soaring illustrations created with printmaking techniques greatly expand the text and add larger action to the narrative. Somersaults are fun, but tucking and rolling with a full-size whale is an adventure. The episodic nature of the story encourages readers to move slowly and think about each scene. The final comparison resets the premise. The child is shown cozy in bed. Instead of a friend joining the scene, the final page simply states, "dreaming," which puts the animal escapades into a new context. --Lucinda Whitehurst
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Whitehurst, Lucinda. "Sometimes It's Nice to Be Alone." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 11, 1 Feb. 2023, p. 60. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A737696050/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=68fb9fd3. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
TEAD, Philip C. The North Wind and the Sun. illus. by Philip C. Stead. 48p. Holiday House/Neal Porter. Oct. 2023. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780823455836.
PreS-Gr 3--Do we really need another version of Aesop's fable? The answer is a solid, sobbing yes. In spare sketches of colored pencil that thrillingly follow the events limned in a vigorous retelling, Stead turns the battle of the North Wind and the Sun into a nearly nuclear meltdown across the globe, while three tiny sisters, gray-haired and elderly white women, huddle against the blows in patched and mended coats." The sisters had felt cruelty like this before. Over the years, they had learned the ways to unravel it, to weave it into something beautiful and new." These words are not found in Aesop, that the North Wind blows so hard that "his fury made ripples in the teacups of old women, who felt the sorrow of friendships lost to the past, and his hatred whipped dust into the eyes of old men, who felt the regret of arguments never resolved." No, the soft, on-the-nose fable gathering dust on the shelf is, in Stead's hands, now epic, closer to David and Goliath, but the Sun is not interested in winning. The Sun is like the wise woman in the corner who just wants everyone to calm down and get along, and she includes the North Wind. "A quiet breeze whispered through the tall grass." The world warms and peace is restored. VERDICT When a virtuoso abandons all the rules and creates something more, everyone sits up with attention, and children will too. Aesop on steroids in blasts of colored pencil? Now that's a classic. --Kimberly Olson Fakih
Caption: The North Wind and the Sun (Stead) [c]2023 by Philip C. Stead
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Fakih, Kimberly Olson. "STEAD, Philip C.: The North Wind and the Sun." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 11, Nov. 2023, p. 52. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A773080395/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fddc7cc4. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
The North Wind & the Sun
by Philip Stead; illus. by the author
Preschool Porter/Holiday 48 pp.
10/23 9780823455836 $18.99
In this retelling of an Aesop's fable, three elderly sisters don their patched-up coats--yellow, blue, and red--and head out for a walk. The next two spreads are vertically oriented: readers turn the book to the right to see the depiction of the Sun shining with joy upon the women; in the next spread they turn it left to see the petulant North Wind. The Sun and North Wind agree to see which one can remove the sisters' coats. The North Wind wreaks havoc, but the sisters, who hold fast to their coats throughout the onslaught, recognize the "lies," "spitefulness," "mockery," "pity," and "loneliness" inherent in his taunts. The gentle heat of the Sun, however, prompts the sisters to remove their coats. Stead writes with a spare and eloquent lyricism. He weaves a tender memory motif with the notion of threads--"memories began to unspool like brightly colored thread"--and the yellow, blue, and red both of the birds who leave and then return and of the sisters' clothing. At one point, the sisters wave to the birds and "wove the sight into a memory to be kept for later." Stead's line work is beguiling: the scribbly North Wind conveys anger and chaos; scenes with the Sun contain delicate lines as well as warm, gentle hues in colored pencils. A moving and welcome retelling, like a breath of fresh air. JULIE DANIELSON
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Danielson, Julie. "The North Wind & the Sun." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 99, no. 6, Nov.-Dec. 2023, pp. 93+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A772686832/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b7683e2a. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.
Stead, Philip C. THE NORTH WIND & THE SUN Neal Porter/Holiday House (Children's None) $18.99 10, 10 ISBN: 9780823455836
The North Wind and the Sun face off in a retelling of one of Aesop's fable.
Cued by a chill in the air, three brown-skinned sisters rise from their rockers in their little house. The sisters don beautifully patched and mended woolen coats. Each sister's coat is a primary color: yellow, blue, and red--and colored lines on their white socks match. Outside, the Sun admires the sisters' coats "with radiant joy" while the North Wind rages at the puny garments. Both forces of nature strive to pull the coats from the sisters' backs. As the North Wind blows, the sisters huddle together with their black dog until it subsides. The Sun's warmth then brings wild animals out of hiding. The coats soon become repurposed as picnic blankets--a clear sign of the contest's victor. While many artists have retold this story, Stead has created something truly special. The original fable's solo traveler has become three sisters, demonstrating a collective strength. The sisters' colors also each symbolize something more: joy, sadness, and trouble/strife. Stead's beautifully textured illustrations create a strong duality between the elements, with the North Wind's frenetic lines in stark contrast to the Sun's serene spirals. Several page turns play with the sense of scale and encourage readers to rotate the book. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Masterfully updated and impeccably rendered. (Picture book. 4-8)
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"Stead, Philip C.: THE NORTH WIND & THE SUN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A758848992/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=78d4d8d2. Accessed 21 Mar. 2024.