Quote of the Week

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable?" 



--From An Abundance of Katherines by John Green 







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Mr. Pig LIVE . . . with Henny!

Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of my hit talk show, "Mr. Pig LIVE!" 

Today's guest is the feathered star of Elizabeth Rose Stanton's acclaimed debut picture book. Let's give a big, er, hand for the chicken with arms . . . 

HENNY!  

Baawwaaak! Hello, Mr. Pig.

Welcome, Henny! Before I get to our interview, let's roll a clip. . . . 

   

Henny, what is your full name? 
Henrietta Van Cluck Stanton. Just kidding. It’s just Henny. I just thought I’d be fun to pretend I had a longer name.

What is the best thing about being you? Having arms.

What is the worst thing about being you? Having arms.

Do you have a belly button?
That’s the least of my concerns.

*Snort.* If you were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?
Duct tape, a hammer, my chopsticks, chicken aspirin, and a whole bunch of books. Oh and, of course, my pink purse and green umbrella.

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

What is your idea of the perfect day?
Sitting on a hilltop, a gentle breeze blowing through my comb, reading a book.  

Aaah, delightful. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I kind of have one already, don’t I? I mean, come on, a chicken with arms? All I need is the cape. I’ll have to ask Stanton to draw me one.

Hmm. I smell a sequel! What are you reading right now?
George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man.

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

What is your favorite word?
Bwwaaak! It’s kind of like “aloha”—it means hello and goodbye in Chickenese. Sometimes, when I want it to, it also means “thank you.”

What is you least favorite word? 
BaGOKin’! (it’s a bad word in Chickenese)

What is your favorite sound?
No sound. I like quiet. 

What is your least favorite sound?
Too much sound—especially from that baGOKin’ rooster. Oops! I shouldn’t use bad words. 

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.
Oui! There is a French edition of me (published in France by Seuil Jeunesse). 

Ooh la la! Congratulations! If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?
I would most certainly have to return the favor and invite Mike Curato’s sweet Little Elliot, especially since he’ll bring the cupcakes. I would also invite Ame Dykman’s Cub because he knows the tea party rules and, finally, Drew Daywalt’s Beige Crayon, because he could draw us up a turkey dinner—and maybe some chairs.

From HENNY. Illustration copyright 2014 by Elizabeth Rose Stanton.

Little Elliot and Cub have been on my show. Lovely folks! What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
Bugs, with my chopsticks. 

What is your most embarrassing moment?
When someone called me “creeptacular.” Then I decided I kind of liked it. 

What is your pet peeve? 
People who think my name is HENRY. 

What was it like working with Elizabeth Rose Stanton? 
She’s an inveterate procrastidoodler. But I guess that’s a good thing since that’s how she thought me up. Oh, and that cute cat of hers gets in the way. A lot. 


Thank you so very much for having me, Mr. Pig! Baawwaaak!!  

Thank YOU, Henny! Now stick around. Nina from Mamabelly Lunch's with Love has prepared a Henny-themed bento lunch just for you!*

*Scroll down to see the HENNY Literary Lunch.

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About the book
HENNY
by Elizabeth Rose Stanton
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2014  
ISBN 9781442484368 



A New York Public Library Best Children’s Book of 2014  

“This adorable, albeit unconventional, story of self-discovery will charm all ages." --American Booksellers Association Kids’ Indie Next List, Winter 2013-2014

★ “The premise is clever, and the execution is hysterical . . . a good message about making the best of one's circumstances and looking on the bright side.” --Booklist, starred review

“Henny’s journey of adjustment and empowerment is a useful lesson for young children, told in a fun, imaginative way." --BookPage

“In gentle pencil-and-watercolor sketches on an eggshell-white ground, Stanton scatters moments of quiet humor like chicken feed." --Publishers Weekly


About the author
Elizabeth Rose Stanton began her picture book writing and illustrating adventure a few years ago, after a brief career as an architect and long career as a parent and fine artist.

Her debut picture book, HENNY (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books), was awarded a Booklist star and was recently named as one of the best books of 2014 for children by The New York Public Library. She has signed on again with Simon & Schuster for a new picture book, PEDDLES, about a little pig with some big ideas, due out in early 2016. 

She lives in Seattle with her husband and Bea-the-Cat. Elizabeth is represented by Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media in New York, and is a member of SCBWI International, and SCBWI Western Washington.   

Visit Elizabeth at her website or blog. You can also find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Literary Lunch . . . with Henny!

Meet the star of Elizabeth Rose Stanton's new book Henny. Henny is an avarage chicken. Well, almost. There is one tiny little thing different about Henny. Have you spotted it yet?

Well . . . Henny was born with arms. Which is pretty unusual for a chicken. But Henny likes being different. And she can do lots of fun things with her arms that other chickens can't. Like eating bugs with chopsticks!

Nina's kids loved this book and this was their favorite page, so she used it for Henny's Literary Lunch inspiration!

Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches With Love made an egg-cellent lunch chock full of:

• Fruit Booty Corn Puff Worms to eat with chopsticks
• A Henny sunflower seed sandwich with cheese, seaweed, and carrot decorations
• An egg (an important part of the book, but we can't give away everything now, can we?)
• And some spinach leaves to keep those arms strong underneath all of that yummy food!

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

A SNICKER OF MAGIC
by Natalie Lloyd

This week's pick is from Cottager Anika Denise

What it's all about…
Twelve-year-old Felicity Pickle arrives in Midnight Gulch, Tennessee, to discover all the magic "has gone up out of this place," driven away by a mysterious curse. Felicity's a girl with a little magic of her own. She's a "word collector," who can see words hover in the air around people and places. She wants more than anything to convince her nomadic mother to allow them to put down roots, and Midnight Gulch is the first place she sees the word "home." But first, she must unravel the mystery of the missing magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf...
First of all … a word collector! A little girl who sees words shimmering in the air is poetic and lovely, and particularly appealing to those of us who spin them for a living. We especially love the words Felicity spins from her own imagination: spindiddly, factofabulous, clutzerdoodle.

Our favorite lines...
"I didn't say another word to Mama that night, but I could feel something good even then: the YES in my heart, the swirling-around my belly, the prickly tingling all the way from the freckle on my finger to the tip of my pinky toe. That much wonderful could only mean one thing:

There was still magic in Midnight Gulch.

This is how I turned it loose. . ."

Why kids will love it...
Don't you? After reading those lines? There's a magical town, an ice cream factory, a word-collecting girl, a secret magical someone called "the Beedle," a mystery to be solved, the loneliness of being twelve, and Lloyd's delicious prose. Need we say more?

Why grown-ups will love it...
This is one to savor and read aloud tucked into bed at night with your kids. Natalie Lloyd is clearly a word collector. . . and all of her words are magical.

Sunday Brunch in the Cottage

Once a month, the Cottagers meet for a Sunday brunch to discuss our works-in-progress and latest adventures. We're also getting ready for a blizzard, so for today's brunch, we made warm comfort food--lasagna, freshly baked bread, and brownies.

Add a stack of books and a roaring fire, and we're ready for you, snow!

Today's Menu

Giada's lasagna rolls

a baguette from Seven Stars Bakery

mixed greens salad

Kara's ridiculously delicious chocolate brownies

and of course, a bottle of Prosecco

Almost ready! The bread is in the oven.

SURPRISE DELIVERY Literary Lunch… for Petal and Poppy!

Our fabulous caterer Nina from Mamabelly.com was off on an adventure when Petal and Poppy stopped by to visit Mr. Pig in the cottage. And since none of us does lunch as well as Nina, we served them some boring old cheese and crackers. (Sorry, Nina.)

Well, Nina could not resist making a special surprise lunch to deliver especially to Petal and Poppy to celebrate their book: Petal and Poppy and the Penguin - written by Lisa Clough and illustrated by Ed Briant.

In Petal and Poppy and the Penguin, Petal and Poppy discover a penguin in their garden! Petal is too afraid to let him into the house at first but soon this cute, friendly and very talented penguin wins her over.

Nina from Mamabelly.com made a Petal and Poppy lunch - of course with penguin! Packed are:

• a Petal sunbutter sandwich
• a Poppy peanut butter sandwich
• and a salad with carrots, grape tomatoes, cheese and cherry flavored cranberries.

Our lunch was inspired by this page from the book Petal and Poppy and the Penguin.

Make sure you go and read all of Petal and Poppy's fun adventures!

Isn't Penguin cute as he is sitting in his BabyBel Cheese and grape tomato hot balloon drifting in cherry flavored cranberry clouds and flying over lettuce and carrot fields?

Loved-to-Pieces . . . with ZACHARIAH OHORA!

Good morning! Mr. Pig here. I'm so very excited to welcome author-illustrator Zachariah OHora to the Cottage! The kidlitosphere is buzzing about WOLFIE THE BUNNY, his new book with Cottager friend and favorite Ame Dyckman. We can't wait to get our hands on a copy when it releases on February 17th!

In addition to illustrating Wolfie, Mr. OHora is the genius behind the picture books No Fits, Nilson, My Cousin Momo, and Stop Snoring, Bernard! 

Influential children's librarian and School Library Journal blogger Betsy Bird said this of OHora: "Clearly the man knows where to find the picture book sweet spot. A visual feast as well as a treat to the ear, this is a book that’s going to find an audience no matter where it goes." 

So what did this rising star in children's books love to read as a child? We asked the question—and Zachariah told us one of the sweetest Loved-to-Pieces stories EVER!
Read on!

"When I was a kid, my Grandmother lived in the woods of Connecticut and she had a giant wicker basket full of toys and books. The book I reached for every time was Clyde and Wendy Watson's Father Fox's Pennyrhymes.

The rhymes were silly and I loved staring at all the little foxes, seeing what they were wearing and what each on of them was doing. And how about those trees?! All those leaves?! It was a book of poems but also kind of a comic book from another century.

My cousin and I loved how mischievous the foxes could be. Like this Aunt's house they just come in and trash. That definitely appealed to my six year old boy self. Especially in a house that as much as were allowed to do what we wanted, there were a line that couldn't be crossed (like playing with Grandpa's pipes)!

But my absolute favorite spread, both the poem and the artwork, was this one. My cousin and I would make my Grandmom read it over and over and we would roll on the floor with laughter at the thought of someone eating the buttons of their shirt!

I never had an actual copy of the book myself. So it was a special treat to see it at my Grandmother's. I don't know if it was the setting (her house was very country style) but combined with the old fashioned dress of the foxes and their little world, I assumed this book was some kind of relic from the 1800s instead of a National Book Award Nominee for 1972!

Years later, I would recite this poem to my two young boys Oskar and Teddy and they would giggle with laughter just as my cousin and I did thirty-odd years ago.

I came across a copy at a bookstore in New York and it reminded me that I should Google Wendy & Clyde Watson.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that Wendy was still alive and well. Apparently the book came out in the 1970s and not the 1870s as I had presumed. I was further surprised to find out that Clyde Watson was her sister! Not her husband as I had presumed as well.

The biggest shock was realizing that we followed each other on Twitter! THAT Wendy Watson?! It couldn't be! I emailed her that evening, fanboyed out on her, told her all about how I recited the button poems to Oskar and Teddy. 

That Christmas, a package came in the mail with a copy of Father Fox's Pennyrhymes signed by Clyde and Wendy."

Zachariah OHora is an illustrator and author of a number of children's books. His debut Stop Snoring, Bernard! was awarded the Society of Illustrators Founder's Award, and his book No Fits Nilson! was the Huffington Post Best Picture Book of the Year for 2013. He lives and works in Narberth, PA. To learn more about his books and art, visit him at his website Fuzzytown. 

Wolfie The Bunny

by Ame Dyckman

illustrated by Zachariah OHora

Little, Brown (February 17, 2015)

Families of all kinds will delight in this sweet tale of new babies, sibling rivalry, bravery, unconditional love...and veggies!

The Bunny family has adopted a wolf son, and daughter Dot is the only one who realizes Wolfie can--and might--eat them all up! Dot tries to get through to her parents, but they are too smitten to listen. A new brother takes getting used to, and when (in a twist of fate) it's Wolfie who's threatened, can Dot save the day?

★"OHora's distinctive folk-naïf spreads poke gentle fun at hipster families. . . " —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A tongue in cheek tale of a wolf in bunny clothing. It's pretty adorable." —Kirkus 

No Fits, Nilson

by Zachariah OHora
Dial (June 2013)

★ A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2013, a New York Public Library Book for Reading and Sharing, and The Huffington Post's Best Overall Picture Book of 2013!

"OHora’s rough, woodcutlike acrylic paintings are a delight, and there are quirky details to be savored everywhere… Nilson’s (and Amelia’s) struggle to behave will leave a lasting impression." —Publishers Weekly

"OHora’s acrylic illustrations evince a crispness of finish, smoothness of color, and strength of black line that suggests particularly lively woodcuts, and a streamlined retro palette...enhances the graphic strength." —Bulletin of Center for Children's Books

Quote of the Week (Special Edition)

From Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. Illustrated by Bryan Collier (Hyperion 2001)
Illustration © 2001 Brian Collier 

Quote of the Week

“If something doesn't creep into a drawing that you're not prepared for, you might as well not have drawn it.” 

― Edward Gorey

Pin it!

What Kind of Bear Are YOU?: A Personality Quiz

And now for something completely different. . . . We're wild about Jeannie Brett's gorgeous and informative picture book WILD ABOUT BEARS! 

It made Mr. Pig wonder . . . what kind of bear would he be if he were a bear? Admit it. You've always wondered the same question yourself. Take the quiz above to find out the answer, and then check it against Jeannie's illustrations below!

The Polar Bear from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett. 

The Brown Bear from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett. 

The Asiatic Black Bear from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett.

The Sloth Bear from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett.

The North American Black Bear from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett.

The Spectacled Bear from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett.

The Giant Panda from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett.

The Sun Bear from Wild About Bears. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeannie Brett.

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About the book

WILD ABOUT BEARS
by Jeannie Brett
Charlesbridge Publishing, March 2014
HC ISBN: 978-1-58089-418-0
PB ISBN: 978-1-58089-419-7 

Discover shared traits and behaviors as well as unique characteristics of the polar bear, brown bear, North American black bear, spectacled bear, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, sun bear, and giant panda. Readers will marvel at the adaptations each has developed to survive in a challenging world.

“With its clear text and illustrations, this introduction is just the ticket for younger elementary readers.” —Kirkus
 
“After initial introductory paragraphs, Brett scatters brief, captionlike sentences throughout her warm, naturalistic watercolor scenes…A solid introduction to bears, their habits, and the challenges they face.”  —Publishers Weekly


About Jeannie Brett

Jeannie Brett lives on the coast of Maine and spends most days in her studio, illustrating cats, bears, horses, kids, and other assorted mammals, along with writing words to accompany them. Occasionally she does the same from her Montana home.

Jeannie enjoys visiting elementary schools and libraries. She shares her process and art, along with her passion for nature, animals, and books!

Her latest book is Wild About Bears, written and illustrated by Jeannie Brett and published by Charlesbridge Publishing. Decorated Horses, also illustrated by Jeannie Brett and written by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, will be published by Charlesbridge Publishing in early spring of 2015. Her model for Decorated Horses was Bailey Boy, her pet horse.

Jeannie and her horse, Bailey.

For more info about Jeannie, visit her at www.jeanniebrett.com or www.wildaboutbears.com.
Like her on facebook at Jeannie Brett, Wild About Bears, and My Cat, Coon Cat.
 
 

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

Jazzy in the Jungle 
by Lucy Cousins

This week's pick is from Cottager Kristen Tracy.

What it's all about . . .

A baby lemur plays hide-and-seek from his mother in a colorful and delightful jungle story.
 
Why it’s on the Crooked Bookshelf . . .

It’s fun to look for baby lemurs. And it’s even more fun with all the jungle animals helping.
 

Our favorite lines . . .

Mama JoJo looks by the tumtum trees. Where are you, Baby Jazzy?
 

Our favorite illustration . . .



From JAZZY IN THE JUNGLE. Illustration copyright 2013 by Lucy Cousins.

Why kids will love it . . .

It’s a colorful book with lift-up flaps that create a vivid and multi-layered jungle. The anteater is quite fetching.
 

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
It’s sweet and humorous and a good way to teach a child about all the animals that live in the jungle.