3 New Picture Books - Their Worth is in their Illustrations

All three lack good story writing. All three obviously missed good editing. But the three distinctly different styles of illustrations are worth the look. I'm listing them by illustrator.

The Hungry Ghosts pictures by Geraldo Valerio 2009
How the Nobble was Finally Found pictures by Stephen Gammell 2009
Leon and the Place Between pictures by Grahame Baker-Smith

The artwork in each book is well worth your time.
The Hungry Ghosts illustrations are done in acrylic paint on watercolor paper, lots of blues on every page. Nobble illustrator Gammell is the same artist who did Old Black Fly (1991 - Jim Aylesworth). Gammell created the handlettering seen in the text of Nobble. Baker-Smith used digital montage for the pictures in Leon. It has a 3-D effect that draws your vision into the busy setting. Of the three, Leon has a story that at least flows and is not a bad read.

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Review: Umami

Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience? Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

Review: Faker

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Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

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