Skip to main content

Five Faves: Books by Author-Illustrators

By

There is something special about the seamlessness achieved when an author is able to completely realize their vision through not only words, but illustration as well. Here are five of my recent favorites that combined the two in a truly remarkable way:  

Hot Dog
By Doug Salati
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. Picture Book.

This year's Caldecott winner, Hot Dog, is an emotive triumph. Told through the journey of an overwhelmed dachshund, we learn the importance of taking and enjoying a breath of fresh air both literally, in the summer heat, and figuratively, through life's stressors. 


By Yuyi Morales
New York: Holiday House, 2021. Picture Book. 

Shown primarily through the character of a young fawn, which is then later revealed to have been a metaphor for a young girl, Bright Star,  provides a reassuring voice that you are loved even in dark or difficult times. Greatness is achieved through the story's mix of softly detailed illustrations, intermittent yarn textiles, and an eloquent blend of Spanish and English text.

Meow
By Chris Raschka
New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2022. Picture Book.

A funny and charming ode to the way cats relay their many feelings through a simple meow. The movement of Raschka's watercolors is the perfect medium to transmit the importance of body language in feline communication as the book's word count is minimal and yet, somehow a wealth of information is shared anyway.  

You Matter
By Christian Robinson
New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book.

A thoughtful reminder that through all of life's up and downs one thing will remain constant, that you matter! This simple idea is complimented by the pared down sweetness of Robinson's illustrations, creating a book that will remain as timeless as it's enduring main concept. 

Farmhouse
By Sophie Blackall
New York ; Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2022. Picture Book. 

Farmhouse follows the life of family within the structure of their well-loved home. We see them through time, until the home seemingly meets its end by falling into disrepair after the last member of the family leaves. However, the cycle of the house's life is renewed when Blackall herself discovers the home and uncovers the love that once lived there through its forgotten treasures. Charmingly, the home and its occupants' story will continue to live on as Blackall used actual scraps of wallpaper, photos, and remnants of clothing she found in the house to create the artwork for the book itself. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Fowl Play

By
  Fowl Play By Kristin O'Donnell Tubb New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2024. Fiction 277 pages. Still reeling from her beloved uncle's death, Chloe Alvarez is comforted and confused when at his last will and testament reading, Uncle Will gifts her his African Grey parrot, Charlie. Charlie has a robust vocabulary and loves to make Alexa requests for her favorite songs, but when she starts saying things like, "homicide," and "cyanide," Chloe becomes convinced that Uncle Will may have met his demise by murder instead of a genetic disease, as was previously thought. Ultimately, bringing in her brother, Grammy, and Uncle Frank (and of course Charlie,) Chloe's ragtag and adoring family support her search for answers ---going on stakeouts, engaging in fast pursuits, and searching for clues. But as the suspects stack up and the mystery grows, Chole will learn that the process of death and grieving is complicated, and in the end her Uncle Will's words that, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The Factory

By
The Factory By Catherine Egan New York, NY : Scholastic Inc., 2025. Fiction. 306 pages.  Thirteen-year-old Asher Doyle has been invited to join the Factory, a secretive research facility in the desert which ostensibly extracts renewable energy from the electromagnetic fields of its young recruits. But Asher soon realizes something sinister is going on. Kids are getting sick. The adults who run the Factory seem to be keeping secrets. And the extraction process is not only painful and exhausting, but existentially troubling. Asher makes a handful of new friends who help him with an investigation that turns into a resistance, which turns into...a cliffhanger! The Factory is a page-turning sci-fi with multidimensional characters, an intriguing plot, and refreshingly straight-forward writing. Egan weaves in detail about climate crises and social unrest, making the story's dystopian setting feel rich and plausible. With its sophisticated themes and accessible storytelling, I would recomm...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: A Game of Noctis

By
A Game of Noctis By Deva Fagan New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. Fiction. 310 pages. On the island of Dantessa, social standings and wealth are determined by your place in the Great Game. If you keep on winning, you can reap treasures, power, and security for yourself and your family; but if you lose too many games, you'll be exiled to Pawn Island and a life of servitude. That's what happens to 12-year-old Pia's grandfather. Due to poor vision, he struggles to see the games, but also can't afford new eyeglasses without winning. When his score falls to zero, he is sent away. Desperate to bring him back, Pia joins a ragtag group of misfits to form a team for the annual game of Noctis. The game requires contestants to perform dangerous challenges in front of a live audience, and no one outside the wealthy Diamond District has ever won. Each member of Pia's team, the Seafoxes, has their own reason to compete, but if they're going to win they'll h...
Post a Comment
Read more