First Second Books - Doodles and Dailies

Quote of the Day

"In these pages, the author has endeavored to paint that species of noisy, frolicsome, mischievous children which is now almost extinct, wishing to preserve a sort of fabulous remembrance of days long past, when young people were like wild horses on the prairies; rather than like well-broken hacks on the road; and when, amid many faults and many eccentricities there was still some individuality of character and feeling allowed to remain." -- Catherine Sinclair, from the foreword to Holiday House

The more things change, the more they remain the same!  That was written in 1839.  With all the hullabaloo about kids today not being as independent-minded and individualistic as they had the opportunity to be in the past, it's interesting to think that even in 1839, this was something people were worried about.

What fantastic things the children of the early 1800s must've gotten up to!

(To provide historical perspective: public schools in the US only really started to be an organized, existing-everywhere thing in the 1840s.)

(this quote was happened upon in Roger Green's introductory essay to Only Connect: Readings on Children's Literature)

A juicy comics treat: HAMSTER AND CHEESE

When she's not designing books for First Second, Colleen Venable's secret lives include being an author. This first in a delicious new series, HAMSTER and CHEESE introduces a new Private Eye to reckon with: a guinea pig named Sasspants and the case of the stolen sandwich. 

Stephanie Yue's world-in-a-loony-pet-shop is visually irresistible, and Colleen's story shines with its hilarious dialog and timing. Anyone six and up deserves to discover this gem. 

Move over Miss Marple, never mind the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency, here's the real mistress of the whodunnit. She's sharp. And she's furry. This one's a keeper. 

(Published by Lerner, for their Graphic Universe, where editor Carol Burrell is a breath of fresh air and fresh vision.)

 
 

 

More SARDINE fanmail...

Every so often, we've got to post some of these things that come in. This just in from somewhere in Virginia...

and this reply from Emmanuel Guibert, the very next morning:

SARDINE FAN MAIL

Jane in California wrote to us, asking us to tell Emmanuel Guibert that she loves the Sardine books and to please hurry up and make her a movie too.

We passed on the message. And here's what Emmanuel sent back:

And Jane was thrilled:

... and when she found out Emmanuel lived in Paris she told her dad "Oh, that's why he didn't understand me!" Her father asked her what she meant. She said "well I wasn't asking for a drawing, I was asking for a movie!"

With her father's help, she even wrote the following to Guibert:

Merci pour le dessin monsieur! S'il vous plait faire un film et un D.V.D de sardine pour moi et le terre. Jane!

... which I guess Monsieur Guibert will simply have to oblige!

The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard

Another must-have picture book, all in wordless panels: a wild tale set in and around the Globe theater -- hey Booksellers, Librarians, Homemakers, Collectors, here's another treasure to help raise the next generation of graphic novel readers!

From Roaring Brook Press/Neal Porter books:

Seadogs in Blue Bonnets

Hm. Shall I shamelessly exploit this new YOUNG READERS CORNER for purposes of ignoble self promotion?

Why of course!

SEADOGS, An Epic Ocean Operetta was my first comics entry into the world of picture books. The script is by beloved author Lisa Wheeler, and was my first project with one of the greatest living editors in children's publishing: Richard Jackson.

And i just got the news SEADOGS won the Bluebonnet Award -- all the more encouraging since it comes from actual young readers.

. . . Who clearly want to read comics!

THE ADVENTURES OF POLO

Hey there! Here's a new category in the :01 blog: YOUNG READERS CORNER! Brought on by popular demand, from the many librarians, booksellers, educators and parents begging for a list of "graphic novels' for ages 6 and up...

So YOUNG READERS CORNER will include highly recommended quality comics, and before long, it should be VERY OBVIOUS there's plenty of material out there to make a hoppin', happenin' section for the picture book set in every bookstore, library, classroom and children's room!

And you, cherished visitor, if you know of a MUST-HAVE title for this Young Reader's Corner, please, comment, comment away!

And of course, I'll be sure to mention the First Second Titles which belong here, such as SARDINE IN OUTER SPACE, available as of May 1st 2006 online or in your favorite bookstore, since we are wholeheartedly committed to helping raise the next generation of demanding Graphic Novel readers.

So we begin, with the most amazing THE ADVENTURES OF POLO by Regis Faller (from Roaring Brook Press, :01's parent company.)

It's exquisite, generous, surprising, thrilling, delightful storytelling, without any words -- and you can get a glimpse of Polo's world at the Polo website, although it's in French.