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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Lunch Buddies
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.danieldraws.com/
CITY: Knoxville
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: two sons, one daughter.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and illustrator. Pixel Press, cofounder.
AVOCATIONS:Hiking, cooking, biking, watching movies, listening to music.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Daniel Wiseman is a writer and illustrator of books for children. He is also the found of Pixel Press, maker of a product called Bloxels, which allows kids to make video games. Wiseman has written self-illustrated titles and has also provided original illustrations for works written by other authors. In an interview with a contributor to the Polilla Writes website, Wiseman discussed his career, stating: “I love taking a manuscript and pushing the story even further with pictures. That’s really what picture books are about. You need the images to fully tell the story. That really appeals to me. The idea that I’m not just drawing pictures, but I’m visually story-telling. That’s just fun! Also, there’s something about creating a tangible product that is super special to me.”
Goodbye Brings Hello: A Book of Firsts is a collaboration between Wiseman and author Dianne White. It finds a series of preschoolers experiencing various new things as they each prepare for their first day of school. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews described the book as “a great read-aloud for any child going through early life changes.” “This title combines the topics in a simple, upbeat way,” commented Kimberly Tolson in School Library Journal.
Wiseman has illustrated several books written by author Susanna Leonard Hill, including When Your Llama Needs a Haircut and When Your Monkeys Won’t Go to Bed. In the latter, a girl struggles to wrangle a group of monkeys into bed. She devises a series of methods to manipulate them into performing their bedtime routine. Finally, she succeeds in getting them to sleep. A critic in Kirkus Reviews asserted: “Preschoolers will giggle, and many a tired caregiver will secretly rejoice in knowing that other families also struggle with bedtime-averse monkeys.”
What about X?: An Alphabet Adventure is a collaboration between Wiseman and writer Anne Marie Houppert. It focuses on X, part of a group of young letters who prepare for a camping trip. Each letter brings something useful that starts with its respective letter, but X has trouble finding something to bring. Eventually, X realizes that he can mark the spot on the map and is thrilled to be useful. Kelsey Socha, contributor to School Library Journal, called the book “good-hearted and cheerful.” Booklist critic Carolyn Phelan described it as “fun for reading aloud.”
In My Brother the Duck, written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Wiseman, an aspiring scientists named Stella Wells suggests her new baby brother may actually be a duck. Stella presents evidence to support her theory, but eventually, she realizes that the new baby is really a human. In an interview a contributor to the Picture Book Builders website, Wiseman explained what attracted him to the book’s story, stating: “I’m excited by stories that have an equal amount of charm, wit and humor, and My Brother the Duck really nails all three.” “It’s all very jolly and absurdist, an original take on the new-baby ‘problem,'” suggested Sarah Ellis, critic in Horn Book. John Peters, writer in Booklist, described the volume as “a cheery episode.”
Wiseman collaborated with actress Kristen Bell and author Benjamin Hart on several books, including The World Needs More Purple People and The World Needs More Purple Schools. Both volumes emphasize the importance of diversity and being true to oneself in order to make the world a better place. In the latter book, Penny, the narrator, discusses good ways of interacting with others, learning, and working hard. Illustrations include children of multiple races, a child in a wheelchair, and another child wearing a hijab. Rachel Mulligan, reviewer in School Library Journal, described the book as “engaging with its honesty, silliness, and inspirational message.”
Lunch Buddies: Battle in the Backyard is a self-illustrated volume by Wiseman and the first in his “Lunch Buddies” series. The book introduces siblings Marco and Julia and their dog, Poofypants. Marco determines to create the best sandwich in the world and is surprised when the sandwich comes alive. The squirrels in the backyard make attempts to steal the sandwich, but Marco and Poofy have a dance battle against them to make them stop. A writer in Kirkus Reviews described the volume as “a wonderfully wacky series of unpredictable events.” Referring to Wiseman, Jesse Karp, contributor to Booklist, suggested: “He serves up the fun, fast and tasty.” The crew returns in Lunch Buddies: Stunt Sandwich Superstar. On a rainy day, Marco and the sandwich perform stunts to entertain Julia and Poofy on a rainy day. A Kirkus Reviews critic described the book as offering “breathtakingly improbable excitement.”
In an interview with Jena Benton on Benton’s self-titled website, Wiseman offered this advice for aspiring illustrators: “Never stop learning. Never stop looking at art of all kinds. I continually research new illustrators and their process. I love to find out how other artists think and do things. I think that hunger for knowledge comes naturally if you have a true love for the craft … no matter what it is. If you love creating picture books, then chances are you spend a lot of time looking at other illustrator’s work. Just like if you really love building homes, you probably spend a lot of time studying beautiful residential architecture.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, March 1, 2020, John Peters, review of My Brother the Duck, p. 65; December 15, 2020, Carolyn Phelan, review of What about X?: An Alphabet Adventure, p. 100; November 1, 2023, Jessie Kare, review of Lunch Buddies: Battle in the Backyard, p. 72.
Horn Book, July-August, 2020, Sarah Ellis, review of My Brother the Duck, p. 119.
Kirkus Reviews, April 1, 2018, review of Goodbye Brings Hello; July 1, 2018, review of When Your Llama Needs a Haircut; January 1, 2019, review of When Your Monkeys Won’t Go to Bed; June 15, 2019, review of Baby Astronaut; October 15, 2019, review of Baby Botanist; February 1, 2020, review of Rad!; May 15, 2022, review of The World Needs More Purple Schools; July 15, 2023, review of Battle in the Backyard;July 1, 2024, review of Lunch Buddies.
School Library Journal, May, 2018, Kimberly Tolson, review of Goodbye Brings Hello: A Book of Firsts, p. 63; February, 2021, Kelsey Socha, review of What about X?, p. 55; August, 2022, Rachel Mulligan, review of The World Needs More Purple Schools, p. 70; September, 2022, Amy Nolan, review of Let’s Go, Bike!, p. 104;
ONLINE
Daniel Wiseman website, https://www.danieldraws.com/ (February 1, 2025).
Jena Benton website, https://jenabenton.com/ (July 3, 2017), author interview.
Picture Book Builders, https://picturebookbuilders.com/ (April 10, 2020), author interview.
Polilla Writes, https://lynnadavidson.com/ (July 13, 2017), author interview.
Hi I’m Daniel!
I make books for kids. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my brilliant wife, two rambunctious sons, one teeny tiny daughter, and a shaggy dog. We spend the day playing, learning, drawing, building, laughing, and crying (the kids more-so than my wife and I). If I’m not perched in my studio drawing, you can find me hiking, hanging at the lake, cooking for my family, or trying to nap.
Selected Client List
Little Simon
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Bloomsbury
Chronicle Books
Harper Collins
Abrams Appleseed
Penguin Putnam
Penguin Random House
Highlights Magazine
Holiday House
Harper Alley
QUOTED: "Never stop learning. Never stop looking at art of all kinds. I continually research new illustrators and their process. I love to find out how other artists think and do things. I think that hunger for knowledge comes naturally if you have a true love for the craft…no matter what it is. If you love creating picture books, then chances are you spend a lot of time looking at other illustrator’s work. Just like if you really love building homes, you probably spend a lot of time studying beautiful residential architecture."
Simply 7 interviewS with Susanna Hill and Daniel Wiseman PLUS Give Away!
July 3, 2017 / jenabenton
This summer brings some amazing things to the Simply 7 interview series that I’m SO excited to share with you guys! Today, I get to bring you TWO interviews for the price of ONE. That’s right, I was able to interview BOTH the author and the illustrator of today’s picture books. Yes, there’s TWO books too! AND there is a prize to be given away at the end. Read on to find out more!
If you haven’t met Susanna Leonard Hill, well let me introduce you. SHill1Susanna has written more than a dozen books for children. She also teaches an online picture book writing class, offers picture book critiques, and uses her blog to 1) host writing contests (Valentiny, Halloweenie, etc.), 2) share picture books with activities (Perfect Picture Book Fridays), and 3) help writers practice their pitches (Would You Read it Wednesdays). Did I mention the amazing dessert recipes she shares on her blog? She ALSO does frequent school and library visits. Whew! I don’t now how she does it all! BUT she does! You can learn more about her at her website (and I highly recommend following her blog!).
Today, she stops by to discuss her latest books: “When Your Elephant Has the Sniffles”Elephant Amazon no background and “When Your Lion Needs a Bath.” These adorable books are just the start of a wonderful series AND the debut of a new illustrator (but more on him in a minute). And here is the PREMIERE OF THE NEW BOOK TRAILER for “When Your Lion Needs a Bath”!! Isn’t that cute? Before we go any further, I need to cover some legal stuff. ALL pictures from the books are by permission: Text copyright © 2017 by Susanna Leonard Hill; Illustration copyright © 2017 by Daniel Wiseman; Used by permission of Little Simon
Without further ado, welcome Susanna!
Susanna: Thank you so much for having me today, Jena, and for helping spread the word of my new books! I so appreciate the opportunity to share! =)
Me: Absolutely! I’m excited to share them too! What draws you to writing picture books?
Susanna: I love the challenge of telling a complete story in a minimum of words (and it IS a challenge for me! My early manuscripts routinely came in at 2,000-2,500 words!)
I love the subject matter that is appropriate for early childhood – coping with a new sibling, banishing monsters under the bed, wanting to feel important, going somewhere without mom for the first time, learning to do things yourself, wondering about every little thing under the sun because it’s all so new and interesting.
I love the interplay of text and illustration, and the opportunities it offers for humor, surprise, wonder, or poignancy.
But maybe in the end what I love most of all is that picture books are time shared between a grown-up and a child. Whether it’s naptime or bedtime or wait-at-the-dentist time or ride-in-the-car time or summer-afternoon-on-a-picnic-blanket-under-a-tree time, it’s magical time to share the joy of reading and stories with someone you love. And if you’re a writer, you get to give others that opportunity to share and enjoy, and you get to help kids find their way in the world through story.
Me: You have been publishing picture books since 2002. What helps you to keep writing and keep it fresh?
Susanna: I don’t really need help or encouragement to keep writing. I don’t always write well, but I always write. I can’t not. =) As for keeping it fresh, I guess every new idea brings its own nuances. Every story has a different mood, a different feel, calls for a different unfolding and different language. Because the stories are new, they feel fresh. And part of the fun of a new story is trying things I haven’t tried, reaching for better words, experimenting with different characters, channeling different emotion, sharing something in a way that will hopefully touch readers. I tell my students, and hold myself to this as well, that if you’re bored writing it, readers will be bored reading it. So I try to have fun. =)
Me: I see that you have two more books in this series as well (“When Your Monkeys Won’t Go to Bed” and “When Your Llama Needs a Haircut”). What gave you the idea for this series?
Susanna: I have 5 children. Enough said. =)
But seriously.
I have a child who refused to bathe to the point of hyperventilating when she was 21 months old.
I have a child who hated getting his hair cut and would run screaming from the barber chair.
And I have many children who object to bedtime and occasionally get the sniffles.
So all of these stories came right out of my life, as I think is quite often the case for writers. Certainly for me!
Bearing in mind that these stories are about things that kids often find objectionable, I wanted plenty of humor. And I also wanted the child in the story to be in the power position – to be the one in control – because that is something we all long for in real life but don’t always have. Especially when we’re little. =)
Me: Oh my goodness! Hyperventilating about baths! What is one thing that surprised you in writing these stories?
Susanna: One thing that surprised me when writing these stories was how visually I saw them. I always think visually when I’m writing, but these stories had more art notes than I’d ever included before. The text is quite brief (for me) =) and much of the humor is dependent on being shown in the art without being stated.
Me: And amazing art it is too! (Again, MORE on that in a minute!) What does your writing process look like?
Susanna: I think calling it a “process” is a bit generous! =) Does walking in circles around my house and staring out the window count? =) ice cream sundaeActually, a lot of my writing is “pre-writing” – what my son, when he was five, would have called his “thinking time.” I am always open to ideas. Many of them sail right on through without enough substance to hold my attention. But some of them feel like they have potential. Those ones stick… but they have to roll around in my head for a while until they find magnetic north and make their direction known. The sticky ones are helped significantly by washing dishes, vacuuming, showering, driving, or taking long walks with the dogs – anything where my hands are busy and my mind is free. At a moment when I have absolutely no way of writing them down, they will suddenly beg to be captured! So I rehearse the ideas in my head along with any lines of story I think up until I can get to a writing implement of some kind. I write my first draft long hand on paper. Then I type it into the computer, revising as I go. Then I “save as” and rewrite/revise some more. I do that anywhere from once to about 100 times. =) There is a lot of chocolate involved. Also, coffee. Also some gnashing of teeth and rending of garments when things aren’t going well. And, usually, more chocolate. =)
Me: Any advice for other picture book writers?
Susanna: I’m afraid I don’t have anything pithy or original to say. My advice is probably the same as everyone else’s that you’ve heard a million times. But in case you’re new to this, and you haven’t heard it a million times here are Susanna’s Baker’s Dozen Rules for Picture Book Writers:
Read a lot of current picture books and get a feel for the market – what’s popular, what sells, what appeals to librarians, parents, teachers, and kids.
Read books on the craft of writing. Two excellent ones are Ann Whitford Paul’s Writing Picture Books and Linda Ashman’s Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books.
Take some writing classes if you can – in real life or online. There are lots of good ones.
Write.
Write some more.
Write some more!
Join a critique group – in person or online. Not only will you get valuable objective feedback from your peers, you will get to practice your own evaluative skills by reading and commenting on their
Write some more!!
Join SCBWI, and follow KidLit411
Don’t just sit at your desk all the time. Get out. Do things. Go places. Learn stuff. You never know where ideas might be lurking or what might spark your interest and a possible story. Also, spend time around kids if you can (without being thought creepy). =)
Look around for online communities of interest, including 12×12, Storystorm, ReFoReMo, RhymeRevolution, and the aforementioned KidLit411 (among others) – places where other PB writers hang out, share information, and learn from each other.
Eat chocolate. =)
Write some more!
Me: I read “Punxsutawney Phyllis” every year to my students on Groundhog’s Day. You also have Valentiny and Halloweensie contests (among others). What holiday would you say is your favorite?
Susanna: Ooh! Favorite holiday! That’s a tough question! Valentines, Halloween and Easter are very appealing due to the chocolate factor… and I’d like to be unique and say something interesting and off the beaten path like Day of the Dead or Cinco de Mayo… and because of my books and contests, I should probably pick Groundhog Day, Valentines Day, April Fools Day, or Halloween…but I think my favorite holiday might be one I don’t have a published story about (though I DO have a contest) =) … Christmas. I love the smell of balsam in the house, the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights, baking cookies, wrapping presents, singing carols, and having all my family around. None of the other holidays can match that. =)
That is VERY true. Thank you again, Susanna!
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! (A phrase I like to repeat all year with my students until they say the 2nd part of the refrain for me.)
I promised you another interview with the illustrator as well. MEET Daniel Wiseman!Daniel pic He has been drawing forever, but these books are his illustrator debut. Usually he draws animals wearing clothes, or kids enjoying a good dance party. However, when prodded, he’s been known to draw pretty much anything else. He currently lives in St. Louis, MO with his beautiful wife and his equally beautiful son. You can learn more about him at his website.
Me: Welcome Daniel! Can you tell us about your artistic journey? When did you start drawing?
Daniel: I’m sure I started younger than this, but the first time I remember really drawing for fun on a regular basis was around 9 or 10. I loved hockey, baseball, and The Simpsons, so that’s what I drew ALL THE TIME. Bart and Homer Simpson were my favorites to sketch. In my teen years I became a huge Grateful Dead fan and began copying their posters. Drawing bears, skulls, and turtles on everything I could. I’d create pieces of art for my friends with their names and some dancing bears. Those were probably the first things I ever made for other people that they actually requested.
When I got older I played in a few different bands, and ended up falling in love with Photoshop through creating album art. That led to starting a “business” creating album art and MySpace page designs for all of my band friends. That’s when the light bulb illuminated and I thought “I can make money creating art!”Lion Amazon no background
From there I’ve had a pretty typical journey of getting a corporate designer job, then quitting that job and going freelance. I now am a co-founder and CCO of a St. Louis based startup called Pixel Press that creates a product called Bloxels. Bloxels is a toy and app that allows kids to create their own video games. I do that on the weekdays, and illustrate picture books at night and on the weekends. I stay really busy, but illustrating for children’s books and products is a true passion of mine so it never really feels like work!
Me: These books are your official picture book illustrator debut. How exciting is that?! What draws you to picture books?
Daniel: It’s been super exciting…and a real whirlwind! Like most illustrators, I’ve loved picture books since I was a child. I think what keeps me fascinated by them is how the words and pictures rely on each other. I love reading a manuscript and being allowed the freedom to interpret it almost any way I choose. The ability to further the story with pictures, rather than just draw what’s being said, is what really makes picture books interesting to me. It’s a true collaboration and not only a window into the author’s soul, but also one into the illustrator’s.
Me: Wow. I couldn’t have said that better if I tried. What is one of your favorite scenes that you illustrated from these two books?
Daniel: There are a lot of fun spreads in these books. The lion knocking down the blocks made me happy because drawing primary colored blocks is a blast.LION-spread-5b I also really enjoyed the spread of the little girl and the elephant playing cards in their messy room. I tried to model it slightly after what my bedroom looked like as a 6 or 7 year old…which was pretty gross!Elephant14-15
However, I think with these particular books doing the cover for LION really takes the cake, simply because it was the very first illustration for the very first book I’d ever created. That moment will never happen again, and I’ll try to hold onto that feeling forever. I was just over the moon to finally feel like I was living a dream I’d had for myself for so long.
Me: I can only imagine! I can’t wait to experience that moment myself someday. What is one thing that surprised you in illustrating these stories?
Daniel: I think the most surprising thing about illustrating these stories (and picture books in general) is the process. I’m really accustomed to designing for digital, whether it be apps, games or the web. It’s very fast paced and iterative. Make it, launch it, fix the problems, over and over again. With books the pace is much slower and the refining process is longer. It took me a while to get used to doing black and white sketches for approval without wanting to just dive right into the final art. After doing more books this past year I’ve grown to appreciate the process, and now really enjoy the sketching phase. It’s really helped me grow as an artist.
Me: What does your illustration process look like then?
Daniel: It’s pretty simple really. When it comes to books I will spend some time sketching out variations of the characters. Normally I have a pretty good idea of what I want everything to look like, but through sketching I’m able to refine the idea. I do almost all my sketching digitally because of efficiency and because undoing mistakes is so simple. I’m able to quickly get my idea out and refine it without redrawing it a hundred times.
The sketching process is also where I will work on composition. Sometimes I’ll start even more lo-fi, and make small digital thumbnails with only sketched shapes. After I sketch I’ll either work through values in black and white fill, or I’ll just jump straight to the finished product. Either way I just start opening up new layers in Photoshop, and begin the final art on my Wacom tablet. Sometimes I’ll start with inking the outlines, other times I don’t want outlines so I just go straight for color shapes. That just depends on my mood, and/or direction from the editors and art directors.
This final phase is obviously where I start to experiment with color. I really love primary colors, and put them in almost everything I do. I can’t explain why I’m drawn to red, blue and yellow, but something about them together just makes me happy. Occasionally I branch out…especially with LION and ELEPHANT, because I wanted them each to have a different color story. You can catch my love for primary colors thrown about in there, though. Almost all of my work is done digitally due to efficiency and the myriad of amazing Photoshop brushes at my disposal, however I love other mediums and can’t wait to experiment incorporating them into my future work.
Me: Any advice for other picture book illustrators?
Daniel: Never stop learning. Never stop looking at art of all kinds. I continually research new illustrators and their process. I love to find out how other artists think and do things. I think that hunger for knowledge comes naturally if you have a true love for the craft…no matter what it is. If you love creating picture books, then chances are you spend a lot of time looking at other illustrator’s work. Just like if you really love building homes, you probably spend a lot of time studying beautiful residential architecture.
Another piece of advice is to hone your portfolio to what you want to do, then go find an agent who really cares about you. If you want to make picture books, then start making art that looks like it should be in a picture book. Make it all the time and share it with the world. Once you’ve done that, look around for an agency that feels right for you and show them your work. For me, I wanted an agent who works specifically with children’s literature and has a relatively small number of clients. It has worked out wonderfully for me, and I owe it all to my agent, Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary. She not only introduces editors and art directors to me and my work, but also helps me grow as an artist.
Me: Whether it’s a guitar playing mouse or a bunch of kids dancing, music seems to be a common theme in your illustrations that crops up from time to time. You even mention you like to sing loudly in your car. Do you illustrate while listening to music? If yes, any favorite songs you like to work with? Or if not, would you like to share a couple of current favorite songs with us anyway?
Daniel: Oh man…I love music of all kinds, and I find it hard to work without it. I tend to listen to really dismal and sad music when I work, which surprises some people because I like to draw brightly colored, happy dance parties, and bunnies wearing clothes. I guess they picture me wearing a jam shorts and listening to Love Shack on repeat? I really just like non distracting music that I can sort of sing along with while I draw. Some of my favorites right now are the Bon Iver Pandora Station, any old Sam Cooke or Otis Redding, Alt J, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Noah Gundersen. I also really love listening to film scores while I work. Some of the best are The Assassination of Jesse James, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Fountain, Little Miss Sunshine, Amelie, Lenin, and anything else by Yann Tiersen.
Oh man Daniel! Yann Tiersen! You’re speaking my language. I too love film scores and he’s one of my favorite composers. Amelie. Need I say more?
Well yes. Yes I do. Because I did mention something about a prize, didn’t I? TWO readers of this blog will win ONE book: either “When Your Elephant Has the Sniffles” or “When Your Lion Needs a Bath.” And Susanna has offered to autograph them to anyone the winner may wish. How cool is that? You don’t have to wait to read these books, you can WIN them! Just enter the Rafflecopter at THIS link and stay tuned to find out who wins the prize. Thank you SO much Susanna and Daniel!
QUOTED: "I love taking a manuscript and pushing the story even further with pictures. That’s really what picture books are about. You need the images to fully tell the story. That really appeals to me. The idea that I’m not just drawing pictures, but I’m visually story-telling. That’s just fun! Also, there’s something about creating a tangible product that is super special to me."
Interview with illustrator Daniel Wiseman; & book giveaway!
I am excited today to welcome you all to my first ever interview with an illustrator! Daniel Wiseman, illustrator of When Your LION Needs a BATH, and When Your Elephant Has the Sniffles – both written by Susanna Leonard Hill – is participating in Susanna’s blog tours. I am thrilled that he graciously consented to an interview for Polilla Writes.
Welcome to my interview corner, Daniel! I’m happy to have you as the very first illustrator I’ve interviewed. By way of introduction, could you tell us a little about yourself?
Thanks! I’m flattered that you decided on me as your very first illustrator interview! My name is Daniel Wiseman, and I’m an illustrator from St. Louis, MO. I live here with my wife Elizabeth, my son Henry, and another soon-to-be son who has yet to be named! I love the outdoors, specifically the mountains. I miss them almost daily. I grew up in East Tennessee, where I suppose I took the plethora of beautiful locations for granted, because now I’m surrounded by miles and miles of flat, corn-covered farmland. I like to bike, hike, cook, watch new movies, re-watch old tv series, and listen to music while I have a beer on my patio. I also work A LOT. In addition to illustrating picture books, I co-founded a company called Pixel Press. We created a product called Bloxels. You can find it at your local Target or Toys ‘R’ Us.
Triple Congratulations on your expected new little boy, your co-founding of a company, and for the game you helped create! (Bloxels looks interesting – I checked.) 🙂
When did you first know you wanted to be an illustrator? Who or what inspired you, and what keeps you motivated? What do you remember about the very first time you received an assignment?
I’ve always known that I wanted to be some type of creative. During my adolescent years I was in love with Calvin and Hobbes and The Far Side. I was convinced that I would someday be a cartoonist. When I got a bit older I began playing music and joining bands. I ended up playing drums in a locally successful band for basically my entire 20s. We all had stars in our eyes, and wanted to be rock stars. During that time is when I picked up Photoshop and began making album art for my band as well as all of my friends’ bands. That’s when I realized I could make money by making art. It opened up a whole new world for me. Since then I’ve learned to do many design related tasks, but I’ve always been drawn to illustration (pun intended). It’s the only thing I’ve picked up that’s felt completely natural. I’m inspired by a mix of the world around me, and other illustrators. Music and pop culture find their way into my work pretty regularly. Nature as well.
As far as other artists go, there are quite a few who I really admire. Christian Robinson, Zachariah Ohora, Greg Pizzoli, Quentin Blake, Nicholas John Frith, Roger Duvoisin, Charles Dutertre, Alice and Martin Provensen, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian…just to name a few. Taking breaks outside keeps me motivated. I tend to get bored easily. I’m not one of those people that can just sit and grind away on drawings for 8-10 hours at a time. I need to get up and move around. Give my brain some time to wander. Having multiple projects going at once sometimes helps with this, but it can also make things very difficult. I find that if I’m having a hard time coming up with ideas, or even just finding it impossible to actually sit and work, I will go on a bike ride and all of the sudden new ideas will just start flowing.
My very first assignment was album artwork for a band that was really popular in my hometown of Knoxville, TN. I got the job through a local producer, and at the time it all felt extremely professional. I remember that I had to teach myself a lot about print design in a very short time, as I knew nothing about how to set up album artwork. I worked so hard on that album. It took just a ton of hours. I had no idea what I was doing, but trying really hard to come off like I did. All in all I probably averaged about $1.50 an hour. Not bad, huh?!
Better than for nothing, and you can’t put a price on the learning experience of it, right? 🙂 You have a very interesting background and lead-in to what you do now. What process do you go through when preparing a project?
My process varies a bit based on the project. Normally there’s a good amount of brainstorming and research up front. I like to focus on character building first, if that applies. One of the things I love about illustration and story telling is that you can create whatever universe you have in your head. There are no rules. A book can be just as powerful whether its main characters are a group of kids, or a group of highly intelligent woodland creatures with the ability to talk. Once I have a good idea of the characters and setting, I usually get down to sketching. I like to sketch and take notes on the same page (or file if I’m doing it digitally). While I’m sketching, I’m also doing a lot of Googling. I like to build a stock pile of inspiration and create secret Pinterest boards for every project. Once I’ve done enough sketching and inspiration gathering, I’m usually ready to dig in. With all of that said, the process can change at the drop of a hat. Sometimes I have to knock something out in an absurdly short amount of time. When that’s the case, all bets are off and I just start making final art and hope it looks good!
Challenging and exciting! Can you tell us a little about your technique and choice of medium?
As unexciting as it is, almost everything I do is digital. I use a Wacom tablet, Photoshop, and custom brushes that I sometimes tweak to fit my mood. This is done purely for efficiency’s sake. I can work much faster and more confidently this way. However, I love real ink and I love watercolor, and colored pencils, and tons of other traditional mediums. I worked on so many books this past year that I didn’t allow myself to divert from my typical medium, but my goal this year is to slow down and experiment with others. I’m even taking a watercolor class this weekend! (first weekend of July)
I hope that course was inspiring for you. How do you decide on how the characters you’ll create will look?
Most of the time I have an immediate picture in my head right after reading a manuscript. I think this is probably the case for most illustrators. Growing up I’d do this with any book I read. I’d imagine what the characters sounded and looked like. It’s just part of being a visual thinker, I suppose. For LION and ELEPHANT I wanted to make sure that the characters first and foremost were human, and represented a diverse cross-section of society, because it’s important for children to relate to these books. This will become even more apparent as subsequent books in the series are released.
Your imagination must be a wondrous place. 🙂 How much is your own idea when illustrating a book, and how much direction is decided for you? In other words, how much freedom are you given? Do you brainstorm with the author at all?
So far my experience has been that it varies from publisher to publisher. For the most part I have creative freedom, but for some books I’m put in more of a box than others. The brainstorming usually happens with either the art director or the editor. For LION and ELEPHANT Susanna and I have been in contact about a lot of marketing materials such as activity kits, bookmarks, etc… With that being said, I’m very new to the world of picture books, so I could see in the future doing more collaborative type work with authors as I progress and make friends with them.
Your illustrations for Susanna’s books, When Your Lion Needs a Bath and When Your Elephant Has the Sniffles, are wonderful. Approximately how long did it take you to complete each book?
Thank you! The process took between 4-5 months per book. A lot of that time is spent waiting for different sketches and illustrations to pass around the powers-that-be at Little Simon. Because my process is mostly digital, I can usually knock out a spread or 2 (or more) a day. Although, all of that may change since we’re about to go from a family of 3 to a family of 4 in November. I foresee some of my drawing time being taken up by baby time! 😃
Oh, yes! And your wife will thank you. 🙂 What is it about illustrating children’s books that appeals to you?
Pretty much everything! It’s been a dream of mine for quite some time, so finally getting to really do it is a wonderful feeling. I love taking a manuscript and pushing the story even further with pictures. That’s really what picture books are about. You need the images to fully tell the story. That really appeals to me. The idea that I’m not just drawing pictures, but I’m visually story-telling. That’s just fun! Also, there’s something about creating a tangible product that is super special to me. I’ve spent a lot of time working on digital products. Things like apps, websites, etc… As an artist, I work just as hard on that artwork and after a few months it just disappears, and it’s replaced by something else. Picture books are the exact opposite of that, and I love it. I love the fact that I can create things that my sons will be able to pick up and read to their kids someday and say “Grandpa Daniel made this book!”. I mean, what’s more special than that?
Indeed! Is being an illustrator all you had hoped or thought it would be?
It definitely is! I’ve been lucky to have an agent (Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary) that has really encouraged me to work on projects that are fulfilling and fun. I’ve heard much different experiences from other illustrators. In some ways this first year has been even more than I thought it would be. Immediately after signing with her I began work on LION and ELEPHANT, and soon after that I began work on 3 other books for 2 other publishers. It was shocking how quickly things took off. It’s been a whirlwind year, and it’s super exciting to have the first books I’ve worked on just days away from being out in the wild. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for the years to come.
A year that got you off to a flying start! I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of your work. Writers have critique groups, editors, agents, how does that work for illustrators? How did you get your agent?
While I’m sure there are formal critique groups for illustrators…outside of art school of course…I don’t know of any in my immediate area. My version of that is sharing a lot of the things I do on Instagram and Tumblr. I get pretty decent feedback on there. I also have a few illustrator friends that I occasionally share my work with. Lastly, I show my agent pretty much all the book related things I do. She has a lot of experience in the agency world as well as past experience as an art director and writer. My agency is Bookmark Literary, which is run by Teresa Kietlinski. She is one of my favorite people on the planet. I owe every ounce of success I’ve had in the picture book world to her. She’s believed in me from the very first email exchange. You know how you can meet certain people and you feel like you’ve known them for years?…I definitely feel like I’ve known her my whole life. I’m truly grateful for finding her, which was just by a simple Google search for “children’s illustration agencies”. I just sent her my portfolio and she got back to me almost immediately. Everything has been smooth sailing from there!
Wow, that’s amazing! You must credit the fact, too, that she has good work to promote, Daniel. 🙂 Do you have any advice for hopefuls?
Sure! If you want to make picture books, then just start building a portfolio of work that looks like it should be in picture books. Research what other illustrators are doing. Read a lot of picture books. Study them. What do you like about some, but don’t like about others. Spend as much time as possible writing stories and illustrating them. As you do it, share it with the world. Get feedback. Reach out to illustrators and authors that you admire. I guarantee most of them will respond. People that make books for kids are really nice…that’s why we chose this medium. Basically spend as much time as you can thinking about picture books. This should come pretty easy if you really love them. I firmly believe that if you just set your mind to something, and really take action towards that goal, then you will eventually achieve it. How could you not? If you spend all your hours pouring your soul into something then you will become a master of it. Just make sure that goal is something reasonable like making picture books, and not something unreasonable like turning yourself into a robot in order to move to another galaxy…
Also, listen to Alan Watts. He will help you through anything.
Thank you so much, Daniel, for this very interesting peek into the world of an illustrator. 🙂 It’s been an enjoyable interview. I wish you much success.
Where you can find Daniel:
WEBSITE
http://yesdanimal.tumblr.com/
Instagram: @d_wiseman
Twitter: @danimal_1980
And now …
Susanna Leonard Hill, and her publisher, Little Simon, are offering to one of you a copy of When Your ELEPHANT Has the SNIFFLES! Yay!!!
The rules are simple. Leave a comment on this post telling how you would take care of your elephant or amuse him when he has the sniffles, and your name will be entered into the draw. 🙂 You have until Saturday, July 22, at 9:00 PM EST to enter. Using the “random name picker” I will select one name, and the next morning – Sunday, July 23 – I will announce the winner. Be sure to check your email Saturday night because I will be contacting the winner for a mailing address.
Don’t delay, comment today! And please pass the news on to your friends; post on Twitter, FaceBook, or what ever way you communicate with the world. We thank you. ♥
To keep up with the exciting things happening here all month read about it.
Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂
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QUOTED: "I’m excited by stories that have an equal amount of charm, wit and humor, and My Brother the Duck really nails all three."
Home Fiction picture book Meet Daniel Wiseman: And, MY BROTHER THE DUCK
Meet Daniel Wiseman: And, MY BROTHER THE DUCK
Pat Zietlow Miller April 10, 2020
One of my favorite parts of the picture book process is seeing the final artwork for each of my books. It’s great seeing how a talented artist interpreted my story.
My Brother the Duck
And, I was especially excited to see Daniel Wiseman’s art for MY BROTHER THE DUCK, which releases April 21 from Chronicle Books. His work is bright, cheery, sunny and funny. Just what I need now with all the uncertainty going on in the world.
The book is about Stella Wells, a fledgling scientist, who is pretty sure her brand-new baby brother is a duck. So, she sets out to test her hypothesis by gathering evidence. Stella’s got STEM skills to spare, but is she ready for what she’ll discover?
Daniel was kind enough to answer some questions about how he created the art for this book.
What initially made you interested in illustrating MY BROTHER THE DUCK?
I was initially drawn to MY BROTHER THE DUCK because I loved the manuscript. It had a lot of room to inject humor, but it also had a certain sweetness that I like to think I expanded upon through my style of illustration.
I’m excited by stories that have an equal amount of charm, wit and humor, and MY BROTHER THE DUCK really nails all three. Outside of that, I was really excited to work with Chronicle and Sara Gillingham, the art director. The process really challenged me, and I feel like a better artist because of it.
What process did you follow to decide on your approach to the book?
This book took longer than any other book I’ve worked on. It took me a while to find my rhythm and land on a style that was right for the story. I don’t know if it’s this way for other illustrators, but I usually have an existential crisis somewhere in the middle of every project. I begin to question my decisions, and start to think about other possible career choices … just kidding!
But there’s always a point where I lose confidence in myself. Once I found the right style and design of the characters, things began to go more smoothly. Sara and I worked very closely on composition and character expressions to make sure each page propelled the story forward. At the end of it all, it felt like the book took just the right amount of time to come to fruition, and I’m very proud of what we ended up with.
What spread or illustrations are you most proud of?
I like them all a lot, but there are a few that stand out for particular reasons. I love the big, red spread of Drake crying in his swing, and Stella holding her ears. As a parent of two little guys with big lungs, I can almost hear those pages!
I also love the spread in the school hallway with all the kids walking. I love drawing pages full of characters because I can add so much color, detail and expressions. I like to think about what each kid might be thinking, or where they’re going next. That was a fun one!
And lastly, the family photo page is kind of an inside joke for myself and my best friend. When we were younger, his family had this very large, canvas photo of themselves posed nicely with black turtlenecks and khakis on. I made fun of him a lot for that. I thought I’d pay homage to it by having Stella’s family wearing the same stylish outfits!
Do you have experience with ducks? Science? Babies? How did that influence how you illustrated the book?
I have a small amount of experience with ducks and science, being that I grew up on a farm that had some ducks on it, and I have a parent who is a doctor. However, I have a lot of experience with babies, being the father of two young fellas.
I think being a parent influenced how I depicted the parents in the book. Especially the spread where they are coming home from the hospital. I’ve been that dad carrying all the stuff, sweating the inevitable years of sleepless nights starting all over again with the second child!
Whose illustration skills do you admire?
Gosh, there’s so many! From the past, I love Richard Scarry, Quentin Blake, Tomi Ungerer and Roger Duvoisin. There are also a lot of working illustrators whom I can’t get enough of, like Ben Clanton, Zachariah Ohora, Bob Shea, Ed Vere, Jared Chapman and Micah Player. I could go on and on.
What other projects do you have in the works?
I have several things going on at the moment. Just in the past few months I’ve wrapped up a few picture books.
RAD! by Anne Bustard comes out May 5, 2020. It’s about skateboarding cats.
WHAT ABOUT X? by Anne Marie Houppert comes out August 2020. It’s about the entire alphabet going on a camping trip.
THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PURPLE PEOPLE by Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart comes out June 2, 2020. It’s a how-to-guide on how to be a good (purple) person.
And I’m just about to finish up another one called DON’T HUG DOUG by Carrie Finison, which comes out next year. It’s about a little guy named Doug who isn’t really a fan of being hugged.
I’m also working on writing a book of my own! I won’t divulge too much about it other than it’s about dinosaurs and puns. Needless to say, I try to keep myself pretty busy!
How to get a copy
If you’d like to get a copy of Daniel’s and my work for your very own, please consider ordering MY BROTHER THE DUCK from an independent bookstore. Like all small businesses, they’ve been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but many are offering mail service or curb-side pick-up.
If you don’t have an independent bookstore, you can order from Bookshop. This online bookseller shares part of its proceeds with indie bookstores across the country.
And, if you’d like a copy signed by me that comes with a cool sticker, call Mystery to Me: An Independent Bookstore at (608) 283-9332 and leave a voice-mail message or send the store an email at info@mysterytomebooks.com. They will ship the signed books right to you.
With social distancing, there are not as many ways for book creators to spread the word about their latest offerings. Schools are closed. Conferences are canceled. Bookstores and libraries are shuttered. Launch parties are a no-go.
That leaves online and good, old-fashioned paper mail. I’m sending out more than 1,000 of these postcards. I like addressing them, because it gives me the chance to think fond thoughts about each recipient. Maybe one will be coming your way.
Keep reading. Stay safe.
QUOTED: "breathtakingly improbable excitement."
Wiseman, Daniel LUNCH BUDDIES HarperAlley (Children's None) $8.99 9, 3 ISBN: 9780063236257
Wiseman serves up a fresh helping of wackiness in this second series installment.
What to do on this rainy Saturday? Poofy the dog and the nameless talking sandwich--both of whom readers will remember from the earlier book--convince Marco that video games are out (the sandwich lacks opposable thumbs), as is pranking sister Julia, who's now a potential ally. Then the sun emerges, and Marco and the sandwich decide to perform a series of "nausea-amplifying" stunts for an audience consisting of Poofy, Julia, a garden gnome, and a manic squirrel. Marco propels the reluctant sandwich, perched on a skateboard, through the "tunnel of doom" (a rotting log). Unappreciative Julia grumbles about her interrupted reading. Next, Sandwich successfully skateboards off a ramp through a tire swing. The final, "stupendously spectacular" stunt induces even Julia to put down her book, and indeed it is heart-stopping. Initial success quickly turns to semi-disaster thanks to an unexpected application of Newtonian physics, a misplaced hammock, and an unexpected puddle. So many other laws of realism are broken that readers won't bat an eye when things are miraculously put right. Previously overconfident Marco apologizes, showing an iota of the sandwich's sense. Changes in perspective, like that from bird's-eye to slug's-eye views, add to the sophisticated absurdity of this romp. Marco and Julia are brown-skinned.
Breathtakingly improbable excitement. (Graphic fiction. 6-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Wiseman, Daniel: LUNCH BUDDIES." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A799332913/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3ef26e8c. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "He serves up the fun, fast and tasty."
Lunch Buddies: Battle in the Backyard. By Daniel Wiseman. Art by the author. 2023. 64p. HarperAlley, $14.99 (9780063236233); paper, $8.99 (9780063236226). Gr. 1-4.741.5.
Marco is the self-proclaimed best sandwichmaker in the world. Problem number one: his sister doesn't believe him. So, he fixes her a sandwich. Problem number two: the sandwich doesn't know sandwiches can't talk and starts talking. So, he gets the sandwich to play a prank on his sister. Problem number three: Marco's longtime archenemies, the backyard squirrels, kidnap the sandwich. But it turns out the sandwich speaks Squirrel, too, and what the squirrels have wanted all these years is a dance-offbattle. So, time to bust out some moves. Absurdly hilarious and propulsive enough to keep burgeoning readers plugging away through some unfamiliar words like cbarcuterie (defined on the spot) and a peppering of colloquialisms like y'all and awww, yeah. It helps that Wiseman's art is filled with undeniable charm and makes the most of the story's opportunities for loopy, exaggerated humor. He also employs it nicely for the occasional visual cue and works with many literal sound effects (open, slop) to encourage easy decoding. Most importantly, he serves up the fun, fast and tasty.--Jesse Karp
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
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Karp, Jesse. "Lunch Buddies: Battle in the Backyard." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 5-6, 1 Nov. 2023, p. 72. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A774988485/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=527263b5. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "a wonderfully wacky series of unpredictable events."
Wiseman, Daniel BATTLE IN THE BACKYARD HarperAlley (Children's None) $14.99 9, 26 ISBN: 9780063236233
Break-dancing wildlife take a talking sandwich hostage.
Pursued by "psycho squirrels," Marco and his older sister, Julia (both brown-skinned), barely make it inside their house. Marco decides to make one of his "best in the world" sandwiches for his skeptical sister ("A sandwich is a sandwich"), who goes to the backyard to read. As his dog, Poofypants, looks on, Marco makes "sandwich magic" from standard ingredients and secret sauce. Just then, the squirrels come in through the window in an attempt to steal the sandwich. Poofy chases them away, and suddenly Marco discovers that the sandwich talks, thanks, it seems to Marco's even greater-than-boasted-of culinary prowess. Sandwich is also a bit boastful, rattling off a string of vaguely sandwich-related vocabulary words ("Charcuterie. That's like wood with meat and cheese on it"). Sandwich can also sing and, it turns out, understand squirrel-speak. A sandwichnapping soon ensues, followed by the promised "battle"--a dance-off between the boombox-toting squirrels and Marco and Poofy. Wiseman conveys some impressive dance moves in the frenetic cartoon illustrations. The book balances randomness, like a squirrel guard sporting a Viking helmet, with realism, like Julia's exasperation at Marco, adding to this comic's absurd charm..
A wonderfully wacky series of unpredictable events. (Graphic fiction. 6-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Wiseman, Daniel: BATTLE IN THE BACKYARD." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A756872098/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=793073d1. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
BELL, Kristen & Benjamin Hart. Let's Go, Bike! illus. by Daniel Wiseman. 32p. (Step into Reading). Random. Sept. 2022. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780593434451; pap. $4.99. 9780593434444
PreS-Gr 1--Penny Purple cannot wait to take a spin on her brand-new purple bike, so she hops right on and off she goes! As readers leam, Purple People are curious; this is quickly demonstrated when Penny rides by her neighbor, Goldie, planting a garden. Penny has lots of questions, and soon Goldie decides to put on her purple skates and join Penny. The pair next meet Emma, who likes to sing funny songs, and all three blast out a goofy tune. Of course, Emma must join this merry band, so she hops on her purple skateboard and tags along. This parade of Purple People subsequently helps a neighbor fold laundry and invites a young boy and his dog to come along on the adventure. At the end of their journey, the whole crew ends up having a picnic, where everyone brings something different to share. Bell's "My Purple World" series encourages inclusivity, creativity, and accepting others. Paired with brightly colored and joyful illustrations by Wiseman (Don't Hug Doug), there is plenty for readers to look at and observe. Speech bubbles are outlined in purple against a white background, helping emerging readers identify conversation. VERDICT This is a great fit for those looking for an early reader title filled with simple sentences that contains an overarching message of acceptance.--Amy Nolan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Nolan, Amy. "BELL, Kristen & Benjamin Hart. Let's Go, Bike!" School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 9, Sept. 2022, p. 104. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A715572382/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7137635c. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "engaging with its honesty, silliness, and inspirational message."
BELL, Kristen & Benjamin Hart. The World Needs More Purple Schools. illus. by Daniel Wiseman. 40p. (My Purple World). Random. Jun. 2022. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593434901.
PreS-K--By extending the lesson of their original "purple people" metaphor from The World Needs More Purple People to this book, Bell and Hart seek to open the minds of their readers--as well as those of adults, or "mostly grown adults," in schools--to the idea of building and learning in a "purple school." Led by a bubbly tour guide, Penny Purple, readers visit every room of her "purple" elementary school, a place where creativity blends richly with learning, like how red and blue mix into a perfect purple hue. Readers will be busy taking in the many activities that the students and teachers engage in with joyful enthusiasm; huge smiles fill the characters' faces, even as their simple, sharp-angled forms appear in constant motion, reaching, presenting, or dancing on the pages. In an electrifying voice, Penny applauds the meaningful mindset that her school supports to create a special sense of community, speaking matter-of-factly--with some funny examples--about how collaboration, curiosity, and hard work are a part of every lesson at a purple school. One sparkling note in Penny's animated speech lies in her inspiring claim that silliness, laughter, and individuality are just as important to the growth of the world. While seemingly simple in its message, this book reminds readers that the collaborative will and purposeful actions of all are needed to make this ideal learning environment a reality. VERDICT Engaging with its honesty, silliness, and inspirational message, this book celebrates the idea of a "purple school" to help students and teachers alike put the united value of learning and being yourself into perspective.--Rachel Mulligan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Mulligan, Rachel. "BELL, Kristen & Benjamin Hart. The World Needs More Purple Schools." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 8, Aug. 2022, p. 70. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A711673759/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=eabbb17b. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Bell, Kristen THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PURPLE SCHOOLS Random House (Children's None) $18.99 6, 21 ISBN: 978-0-593-43490-1
A color-themed vision of what school should be like.
In what amounts to a rehash of The World Needs More Purple People (2020), Bell and Hart address adult as well as young readers to explain what "curious and kind you" can do to make school, or for that matter the universe, a better place. Again culminating in the vague but familiar "JUST. BE. YOU!" the program remains much the same--including asking questions both "universe-sized" ("Could you make a burrito larger than a garbage truck?") and "smaller, people-sized" (i.e., personal), working hard to learn and make things, offering praise and encouragement, speaking up and out, laughing together, and listening to others. In the illustrations, light-skinned, blond-haired narrator Penny poses amid a busy, open-mouthed, diverse cast that includes a child wearing a hijab and one who uses a wheelchair. Wiseman opts to show fewer grown-ups here, but the children are the same as in the earlier book, and a scene showing two figures blowing chocolate milk out of their noses essentially recycles a visual joke from the previous outing. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
The message is worthy, but this phoned-in follow-up doesn't add anything significant. (Picture book. 6-8)
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"Bell, Kristen: THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PURPLE SCHOOLS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A703414013/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=66550402. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "good-hearted and cheerful."
HOUPPERT, Anne Marie. What About X? An Alphabet Adventure. illus. by Daniel Wiseman. 40p. Abrams Appleseed. Feb. 2021. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781419740787.
PreS-Gr 1--The letter X and all of his classmates at Alphabet Academy are going camping, but X cannot figure out what special item to bring in this energetic picture book. While all of X's friends are bringing items that start with the letter of their names--(A is bringing apples, B is bringing binoculars, and so on)--X's xylophone is unfortunately broken. What else starts with an X? Wiseman's brightly rendered digital illustrations on a white background are evocative of Keith Baker's LMNO Peas or Adam Rex's School's First Day of School, and will engage new readers with delightful letter-specific details. His classmates appears to be wearing accessories themed to their letters: A is wearing an astronaut helmet, while H is hairy, and C is dressed like a cowgirl. Some of these are more successful than others. Ultimately, X's friends assure him that "X marks the spot," and that all he needs to bring is himself, and the class is on their way! This is a fun and simple alphabet-centered, highly alliterative text. VERDICT Good-hearted and cheerful, this is not a first purchase, but larger collections will find space for one more entry in the ABC canon.--Kelsey Socha, Westfield Athenaeum, Westfield, MA
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Socha, Kelsey. "HOUPPERT, Anne Marie. What About X? An Alphabet Adventure." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 2, Feb. 2021, p. 55. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A651086903/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ce8842a8. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "fun for reading aloud."
What about X? An Alphabet Adventure.
By Anne Marie Houppert. Illus. by Daniel Wiseman.
Feb. 2021.40p. Abrams/Appleseed, $16.99 (9781419740787). PreS-K.
At the Alphabet Academy, where the students are personified letters dressed as children, the announcement of a camping trip leaves the class wildly excited, especially X, who has never gone camping. Wondering what to take on their excursion, the students begin searching for useful things beginning with their letters. B brings binoculars (for bird-watching) and C chooses canteens, while E packs "ear plugs, because someone snores" (yes, he's looking at you, Z). X runs to his treehouse to retrieve his xylophone, but it's broken. Feeling dejected, X hears his friends calling him from below. They need X himself to mark the camping spot on the map. Now he's sure that it will be "an exceptionally excellent trip." Bright, lively, and colorful, the digital illustrations capture the breezy tone of the text. While the basic plot is simple, Houppert creates plenty of fun along the way. As the high-energy characters make their decisions, even pre-readers may want to suggest their own additions to the trip. Fun for reading aloud.--Carolyn Phelan
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Phelan, Carolyn. "What About X? An Alphabet Adventure." Booklist, vol. 117, no. 8, 15 Dec. 2020, p. 100. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A649725749/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9592391a. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "It's all very jolly and absurdist, an original take on the new-baby 'problem.'"
My Brother the Duck
by Pat Zietlow Miller; Ulus. by Daniel Wiseman
Primary Chronicle 40 pp. g
4/20 978-1-4521-4283-8 $16.99
When Stella's dad remarks that Stella's pregnant mom is walking with a waddle, young Stella begins to develop her hypothesis that the new baby will be a duck. Like a budding research scientist or nascent detective, Stella considers this theory after the birth of her brother. She uses observation (he has a yellowish tinge), inference (her parents have named the baby Drake), and logic (he has a loud squawk). Finally, she consults an expert, the school principal, who, of course, must know everything. The principal airily declares, "If it looks like a duck." Stella considers her hypothesis proven until further experience (also known as coming to accept the new baby) forces her to abandon that hypothesis. Undaunted, her rigorous scientific mind still fully engaged, she begins to see her father in a new light. Wry cartoony illustrations, making effective use of primary colors, especially bright yellow, render this romp slightly more plausible (there's a big duck-decorated bath towel involved). It's all very jolly and absurdist, an original take on the new-baby "problem" and a lighthearted introduction to the scientific method and critical thinking. SARAH ELLIS
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Ellis, Sarah. "My Brother the Duck." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 96, no. 4, July-Aug. 2020, p. 119. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A630831704/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0d02402f. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "a cheery episode."
My Brother the Duck. By Pat Zietlow Miller. Illus. by Daniel Wiseman. Apr. 2020.40p. Chronicle, $16.99 (9781452142838). K-Gr. 2.
Introducing herself as "Stella Wells, fledgling scientist," a serious-minded big sister carefully gathers evidence to support the hypothesis that her newly arrived baby brother is a duck. His name is Drake? Check. Does he quack? Very loudly. Does he have feathers? Not yet, but he's fuzzy. Also, his bright yellow onesie is topped by a bill. And as her school principal, a duck expert, says, "If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck, it's probably a duck." Hypothesis confirmed. The young researcher looks forward to fishing trips, shared lunches, and never again losing a game of Duck, Duck, Goose. But when her brother's nose begins looking "almost ... normal," she begins to doubt her conclusions--particularly after her dad waddles by wearing big, floppy swim fins. Aha, a new hypothesis! Wiseman supplies appropriately sunny cartoon illustrations (with a diverse cast that is plainly all human) to a cheery episode that fits the bill nicely for readers who relate to the young investigator in Andrea Beaty Ada Twist, Scientist (2016) and like STEM-ware.--John Peters
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 American Library Association
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Peters, John. "My Brother the Duck." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 13, 1 Mar. 2020, p. 65. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A618567262/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d6457cf7. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Bustard, Anne RAD! Abrams (Children's Fiction) $16.99 5, 5 ISBN: 978-1-4197-4101-2
With moral support and practice, anything is possible!
"Skate! says Esther. / Stoked? says Chester. / Totally! say Hester and Sylvester. / Never, says Lester." At the Beachside Skate Park, four cats are excited to use their skateboards, but one gray kitty is not. It seems Lester thinks skateboarding is "scary." The other kitties gently cajole Lester to give it a try and practice. They pop a helmet on their reluctant companion's head and say, "Please"--but when Lester says, "no" again, they roll into the park and have a "RAD!" time while Lester peers over the wall at them. When Lester concedes, "Maybe," the others enthusiastically respond with "awesome," "gnarly," and "cool!" Lester doesn't succeed the first time, but the four skateboarding veterans encourage the wobbly cat, and they all celebrate when Lester finally prevails. Everyone has a great time. Then Lester sees some surfers and suggests they try that tomorrow--but: "No, no, no, no way! say Esther, Chester, Hester, and Sylvester."Bustard's story is told entirely in her characters' one-word exclamations and dialogue tags, using type style rather than quotation marks to denote their speech. It's easy to follow, as Wiseman's cartoons supply an unmistakable visual narrative. Cartoon kitties of various colors in helmets and streetwear skate in a park decorated in bright graffiti. Young listeners will identify with Lester's fears and will soon be able to read the story on their own; as Chester says: "Righteous!"
Bright in mood, message, and hue, this is a winner. (Picture book. 3-7)
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"Bustard, Anne: RAD!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A612619116/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=165eaf5e. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Gehl, Laura BABY BOTANIST HarperFestival (Children's Informational) $8.99 10, 1 ISBN: 978-0-06-284132-2
In this newest addition to the Baby Scientist series toddlers are introduced to the basics of what a botanist does.
The book starts with a simple and straightforward explanation of its subject matter: "Who studies plants? / Baby Botanist does!" Wearing a white lab coat with yellow polka dots, a brown-skinned child with a purple hair bow holding up its one little curl proceeds to present a number of simply stated and easily understood plant facts. As with the previous books, the illustrations are colorful, uncluttered, and humorously engaging, and baby has a sidekick; this time it is a blue-and-yellow snail. After planting a seed, Baby wonders what plant will grow. The text explains that some plants have roots and some do not, and they might grow on water or underground. In a simple acknowledgment of a healthy diet, the book states "Baby's favorite foods all come from plants." Children are also presented with food they may not recognize as coming from plants, such as noodles and chocolate. In the end, the seed that Baby has planted, watered, and kept in the sunlight "grows into a flower for Mama!" and with that comes a big thank-you hug from Mama.
A nice addition to this baby-attuned series. (Board book. 2-4)
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"Gehl, Laura: BABY BOTANIST." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A602487576/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=571e44e0. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Gehl, Laura BABY ASTRONAUT HarperFestival (Children's Fiction) $8.99 5, 7 ISBN: 978-0-06-284134-6
Toddlers learn about some of the aspects of being an astronaut.
Dressed in a jaunty red spacesuit and sporting two cute ponytails on either side of her round face, Baby Astronaut is ready for liftoff. Accompanying her on the space shuttle is a little owl. Once in space Baby Astronaut can see the moon, stars, Mars, Venus, and Earth. She also conducts some experiments: "Can plants grow in space? Yes! / Can ants live in space? Yes!" Young readers are also introduced to the concept of gravity at a very simple level. In companion title Baby Oceanographer, a baby with just a wisp of a brown curl dons a wetsuit and flippers to explore the ocean. This baby's sidekick is a very expressive little red crab. Once in the ocean, Baby encounters a dolphin, an octopus, other marine life, and even a volcano. Readers are also introduced to waves and salinity: "Baby Oceanographer tests ocean water and fresh water. / Ocean water has salt. Fresh water has no salt." Baby Astronaut has olive skin and black hair, and Baby Oceanographer presents white. The concepts in both books are presented simply, and the illustrations are uncluttered and engaging; such details as a mohawked comet and a yellow submersible add humor.
A cute infant-scientist offering that's better tuned to its audience than many of its ilk. (Board book. 2-4)
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"Gehl, Laura: BABY ASTRONAUT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A588726737/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6b6b5b6c. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "Preschoolers will giggle, and many a tired caregiver will secretly rejoice in knowing that other families also struggle with bedtime-averse monkeys."
Hill, Susanna Leonard WHEN YOUR MONKEYS WON'T GO TO BED Little Simon/Simon & Schuster (Children's Fiction) $7.99 8, 28 ISBN: 978-1-5344-0565-3
A clever child uses sneaky tactics to lull two energetic monkeys to sleep.
Charged with getting her recalcitrant monkeys off to dreamland, a resourceful young girl concocts a series of games (go upstairs "without touching the floor!"), tactics (pretend to yawn so the monkeys will too), and projects (build a cozy tent in order to entice them into slumber) to accomplish the nightly ritual of bath, teeth brushing, stories, and bed. Although the girl eventually prevails, it's not before she too conks out on the bedroom floor with the monkeys, an ending that drifts off a tad too placidly after such a lively beginning. Kids will enjoy the wry second-person narration and animated scenes of monkeys swinging from chandeliers and having feathery pillow fights, but it's the grown-ups who have woken, sore and disoriented in floor tents of their own, who might have the most rueful of smiles. The predominantly white background sets off the thick-lined cartoon illustrations and draws attention to the brown and tan monkeys and the white girl's gingery hair. Clever visual gimmicks--cameos from other animals from the When Your... series, books with such titles as The Count of Monkey Cristo--all add to the general sense of silliness.
Preschoolers will giggle, and many a tired caregiver will secretly rejoice in knowing that other families also struggle with bedtime-averse monkeys. (Board book. 2-4)
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"Hill, Susanna Leonard: WHEN YOUR MONKEYS WON'T GO TO BED." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A567651478/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6702d5ba. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
Hill, Susanna Leonard WHEN YOUR LLAMA NEEDS A HAIRCUT Little Simon/Simon & Schuster (Children's Fiction) $7.99 1, 2 ISBN: 978-1-5344-0564-6
It's picture day, and everyone wants to look their best--including a very hairy llama.
To prepare for picture day, an unnamed black boy must fix his pet llama's unruly hair. It turns out that making a llama photoworthy is no easy endeavor: after catching his llama and convincing him to get a haircut, the little boy must wash and detangle his pet's hair. Next, the pair must choose a hairstyle. After vacillating among choices ranging from a bowl cut to a mohawk, they settle on a "simple trim from nose to tail." When the llama still won't cooperate, the boy decides to take a different approach, leading to a twist ending. It is refreshing to see a black protagonist in a comedic story, and the combination of second-person narration and cartoonish illustrations proves witty and engaging. Adults will appreciate Hill's (When Your Lion Needs a Bath, 2017) numerous winks to parents, who may recognize parallels between cutting a llama's hair and caring for a toddler. However, the narrative is too advanced for the typical board-book-age reader. The conflict involves picture day, an occasion that will be unfamiliar to children who do not yet attend school. The ending falls flat, partly because it involves an abstract leap too complex for very young readers.
Overall, a mismatch of story and format. (Board book. 3-5)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Hill, Susanna Leonard: WHEN YOUR LLAMA NEEDS A HAIRCUT." Kirkus Reviews, 1 July 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A544637694/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d6a6ca49. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "a great read-aloud for any child going through early life changes."
White, Dianne GOODBYE BRINGS HELLO HMH Books (Children's Fiction) $17.99 6, 26 ISBN: 978-0-544-79875-5
A book of firsts and transitions for young kids growing up and becoming more independent.
As the seasons change, White and Wiseman follow many diverse children as they experience new changes in their lives. It begins in autumn with a small white child who learns to swing independently by pumping. During winter, a black child says goodbye to an outgrown sweater and hello to a new coat. In the spring, a ponytailed white child says goodbye to an old "preschool trike" and hello to a "big-kid bike." Summer brings great splashes in the pool. Finally, autumn comes back around, bringing new haircuts, shoes with laces, and first days of school. Written in rhyme, the text is short, making it engaging and accessible to young children. The illustrations are simple--some so casual as to look almost like colored doodles. Wiseman leaves the matte backgrounds plain but adds color and details to the characters, bringing them into focus. There is humor: An Asian child with glasses and a huge tuft of snarly hair is initially grumpy about a haircut but smiles at the result. Even though the text is short and illustrations are simple, both are sweet, and this book will give courage to any child feeling a little nervous or scared to try something new.
A great read-aloud for any child going through early life changes. (Picture book. 4-6)
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"White, Dianne: GOODBYE BRINGS HELLO." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A532700408/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=843e471c. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
QUOTED: "This title combines the topics in a simple, upbeat way."
WHITE, Dianne. Goodbye Brings Hello: A Book of Firsts. illus. by Daniel Wiseman. 40p. HMH. Jun. 2018. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780544798755.
PreS-K--This ode to growing up follows a diverse group of preschoolers as they change and learn in the days leading up to their first day of school. One by one, the kids are shown learning new skills such as tying shoes, riding a two-wheel bike, or learning to swim. Others are shown experiencing firsts such as getting a haircut and flying on an airplane. The ending shows the individual kids coming together at the bus stop for their first day of school. The rhyming text lends itself to being read aloud. On a spread showing a girl trying on shoes with laces, the text reads, "Loop the laces. Knot the bows. So long, Velcro-covered toes." The brightly colored, naive-style illustrations add a cheerful positivity to the book. The expressions on the children's faces change from uncertainty, fear, or determination to proud smiles with their accomplishments. VERDICT While there is no shortage of first day of school books or books about childhood milestones, this title combines the topics in a simple, upbeat way. A good addition for larger collections.--Kimberly Tolson, Millis Public Library, MA
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Tolson, Kimberly. "WHITE, Dianne. Goodbye Brings Hello: A Book of Firsts." School Library Journal, vol. 64, no. 5, May 2018, p. 63. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A536987901/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=94a21c2d. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.