a flash of color and light: a biography of dale chihuly

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, with an art history major mom, and as a result I visited a lot of museums and learned about Northwest artists. Dale Chihuly was arguably our most famous local living artist, so I saw a LOT of his glass installations. I have to say that as a younger child they were a bit lost on me – you couldn’t touch or play with them, and they were often mounted far away, or behind plexiglass. As an adult, I’m very proud of Chihuly’s glass, and I recognize it immediately, anywhere I see it around the world – thanks mom! When I saw that there was a picture book biography about Chihuly out from a Seattle publisher, I knew I had to take a look. Author Sharon Mentyka and illustrator Shelley Couvillion's nonfiction picture book A Flash of Color and Light: A Biography of Dale Chihuly is one of the most visually vibrant and beautiful picture books of the year.

 

The first-ever picture book biography of world-renowned glassmaker Dale Chihuly—with stunning watercolor illustrations that reveal the history of the art—for aspiring artists ages 5-9.

Travel along with Dale Chihuly on his life’s journey full of curiosity, discovery, teamwork, and perseverance as he overcomes challenges to become a glass artist of international acclaim.

Dale Chihuly’s early life presented many challenges, such as tragic losses in his family at a young age and an accident that left him blind in one eye, yet his resilience, hard work, and optimism taught him life-long skills that became inseparable from his body of work—incomparable glass creations that provide rich material for the book’s gorgeous illustrations.

In this picture book biography, Mentyka covers the formation, education, and career of Chihuly throughout several decades, and showcases his artistic evolution. She makes a case for Chihuly’s greatness by discussing his artworks, the school he co-founded, and his worldwide fame. However, as you’d expect in a book for children, there is a substantial focus on Chihuly’s younger years, family life, and his first attempts at art. Mentyka’s biography highlights three elements: an ordinary life broken by tragedy, Dale’s fascination with water, and his dedication to glass. In the final pages, Chihuly’s types of glass artworks are identified, a more in-depth biography and family photo from Dale’s childhood and a glassmaking glossary are included, and finally, there’s a timeline of Chihuly’s life events from 1941-2012. The story itself is basic, but the back matter will give young readers a strong starting point to understand one of America’s most talented craftsmen/artists. 

As an adult reading a picture book, I was impressed most by those final pages (after the story concludes), which went into further detail about Chihuly’s life and contribution to art. These pages also prompted me to read more on Chihuly’s own website, and look up photos of his artworks for reference. For children, this book’s art alone will undoubtedly inspire their own curiosity and creativity, but delving into the back matter (perhaps with an adult guide) in depth will prompt questions about art-making and Chihuly – it is that intriguing!

And that art – it is especially stunning and attention-grabbing, almost neon in its vibrancy. It feels as though artist Couvillion (who I didn’t realize was someone I followed on Instagram??) understood the assignment deeply, and dove right into a psychedelic rainbow of color. Her medium of watercolors and pens (that’s a guess on the last one) perfectly washes the sky, sea, and land, along with details of architecture and indoor interiors – but the star of her art are the renditions of glass. It’s there in a true kaleidoscope of brights – all bleeding one into the other in layers just like Chihuly’s glass does. In contrast, Couvillion’s figures are flat and slightly boxy, with textures (Chihuly’s curly hair looks like so many waves, or perhaps pasta!), stylized features (look at the hands!), and skillfull shadow and light work. The art alone is worth pouring over again and again and again. Bravo!

 

Note: One page mentions that Dale lived in an Israeli kibbutz for a few months and that it was a formative experience in his young adulthood. The kibbutz movement was and is a Zionist project. Dale himself is not Jewish. Given the state of the world, this is an authorial choice that deserves more context and interrogation.

 

In all, A Flash of Color and Light is a celebration of color, light, glass, and Dale Chihuly’s enormous contribution to the field of glassmaking and art.

Recommended for: young ones ages 4+ and the adults who read to them, those interested in picture books about art and biographies of artists, and anyone who appreciates absolutely gorgeous illustrations.

 

A Flash of Color and Light: A Biography of Dale Chihuly will be released by Little Bigfoot (Sasquatch Books) on October 15, 2024.

Fine print: I read an advanced digital copy of the text on Edelweiss. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

a witch's guide to fake dating a demon

In July I checked out a new bookstore near my summer spot in upstate NY. Perusing small town bookstores is one of my chosen summertime Hallmark movie-type activities, along with supporting volunteer firefighters at pancake breakfasts, going to outdoor concerts, and volunteering at the annual library book sale. I have a goal of racking up as many of these charming small town staples as possible for my own amusement. Alas, there was no bookstore meet-cute this time, but I ended up finding (and purchasing) Sarah Hawley’s A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon. Why this book? First, the main character’s name – Mariel Spark – is very close to one of my all-time favorite author’s names (Muriel Spark), second, it had fake dating in the title, and third, I always like to support an independent bookshop. Lucky me, it was a funny, witchy romance just right for a day or two of light reading, and perfect for this particular time of year.

Mariel Spark is prophesied to be the most powerful witch seen in centuries of the famed Spark family, but to the displeasure of her mother, she prefers baking to brewing potions and gardening to casting hexes. When a spell to summon flour goes very wrong, Mariel finds herself staring down a demon—one she inadvertently summoned for a soul bargain.

Ozroth the Ruthless is a legend among demons. Powerful and merciless, he drives hard bargains to collect mortal souls. But his reputation has suffered ever since a bargain went awry—if he can strike a bargain with Mariel, he will earn back his deadly reputation. Ozroth can’t leave Mariel’s side until they complete a bargain, which she refuses to do (turns out some humans are attached to their souls).
 
But the witch is funny. And curvy. And disgustingly yet endearingly cheerful. Becoming awkward roommates quickly escalates when Mariel, terrified to confess the inadvertent summoning to her mother, blurts out that she’s dating Ozroth. As Ozroth and Mariel struggle with their opposing goals and maintaining a fake relationship, real attraction blooms between them. But Ozroth has a limited amount of time to strike the deal, and if Mariel gives up her soul, she’ll lose all her emotions—including love—which will only spell disaster for them both.

The story opens with protagonist Mariel proving that she struggles with magic: she accidentally explodes a chicken in her kitchen. Mariel gets “simple” spells wrong all of the time, and is harassed about it by her self-important and -absorbed mother (the mothers in this story are THE WORST). Later when she tries to summon flour for a recipe, she instead accidentally calls a demon, Ozroth the Ruthless, to make a bargain. Two problems there: it was a mistake, and Mariel’s not interested in surrendering her soul for any of the things the demon may be offering. When her mother meets Ozroth (Oz for short), Mariel panics and says they are dating. Thus, a romance novel plot is born!

Character-wise, Mariel suffers from chronically low self-confidence due to unreasonable expectations placed on her by her family (there was a capital P prophecy at her birth!) and underperforming over the years. Her magic is nature-based, and only succeeds when she focuses where she has genuine interest (i.e. caring for plants and baking). Her loyal friends Calladia and Themmie join Oz in trying to build up her magical confidence and backbone with her toxic family, but Mariel must commit to that growth on her own. 

 

Oz, on the other hand, is looking for redemption. He used to be a cold, emotionless soul bargainer, but sometime in the past six months he accidentally got himself a human soul! He’s on thin ice in the demon realm and uncomfortable feeling things, so what better place to be stuck trying to set it all right than in the human realm with only the clothes on his back?! As Oz slowly adjusts his expectations, Mariel starts valuing herself, and various fake dating hijinks ensue. The romance itself is light, predictable, and features a fairly slow start (the characters kiss for the first time somewhere around page 170), but then takes off.  

There are two interesting things that set this book apart from the usual fare. First, although it is primarily a small town romance… this is a small town is set in an alternate universe where magic and magical creatures are accepted and commonplace, the demon plane exists, and there are different cultural rules throughout. For a full-on romance, it has one of the most well-developed fantastical settings I’ve ever seen. It is also a self-aware creature fic. By that I mean that there are lots of in-jokes and allusions to tropes that will resonate with folks who either read a lot of fantastical/paranormal romance or fanfiction. For instance, the main character knows about knotting, barbed genitalia, and so on, and there are funny asides and in-jokes, such as Oz liking pumpkin spice flavor ice cream best.

In all, this is a light, formulaic romance set in an interesting magical universe, with characters who must work through their pasts and toxic habits before they can commit to their happily ever after.

Recommended for: fans of small town and paranormal and fantasy romance, and anyone who is feeling witchy autumn vibes and wants to read a romance to enhance that feeling.

we're off to the forest

I have to admit that at my age, I’m a terribly picky picture book consumer. I want to see hand-drawn illustrations, or something that looks like it took time and an excess of skill to create. In other words, I am serious about picture book art being ART. After all, how am I to maintain my title of best book gifting auntie ever without a discerning eye? But seriously though – an artful book for children is a wonder, and I am constantly on the lookout for something that matches an aesthetic I can only articulate as “hard work slash art!” Katarína Macurová's forthcoming picture book We're Off to the Forest, translated by Andrew Oakland, met that vague criteria on the merits of its cover art, which hint at its forest-in-autumn theme, and illustrations full of color, depth, and texture. Here we are!

Autumn is here. The forest is awash with colour. Leaves flutter to the ground, where they rustle underfoot. It’s getting colder. The animals are preparing for winter. A daddy squirrel and his son go to the forest every day – for stores, and for something else. Shh … Do you hear that? A story is coming your way. A story tender and warm, about an ordinary, extraordinary forest, ordinary, extraordinary treasure within it, and how even little things can change the big, wide world.

A young squirrel is the narrator in this picture book, and they are excited to go with their father into the forest on their daily mission to look after their acorn. However, lots of animals in the forest like to eat acorns too – what makes this one special? This acorn was planted, and it is slowly turning into an oak tree! Katarína Macurová’s detailed illustrations, all in full autumnal color, span two pages each for a rich and varied forest landscape. The art alone makes this title worthy of many reads and re-reads.

We’re Off to the Forest is a quaint and beautifully illustrated picture book about a squirrel family at its core, but on a much larger scale it is a lesson on how forests are ecosystems that feed and shelter all of the animals within them. The “lesson” of the book will spark interest in how readers can care for the natural world in sustainable ways – and maybe they too can adopt an “acorn” in their corner of the world. The oak tree that the acorn came from in this story is 500 years old, and feeds many different animal families in the forest. Each of these animals are lovingly illustrated in bright colors, with lots of contrast (purples next to greens! oranges and yellows next to browns!) making for an attractive and engaging visual experience as well. I was particularly charmed by some cute touches, such as the little squirrel’s acorn cap hat, and the different sorts of mushrooms illustrated within the pages.

In all, We’re Off to the Forest is a delightful and short read to share before going on a nature walk, leaf-peeping trip, or acorn-collecting with young ones.

Recommended for: reading aloud to children ages 3-5, fans of Kate Messner’s Over and Under series, and anyone interested in sharing about the lifecycle of the forest in beautiful picture book form.

We're Off to the Forest will be published by Albatros on September 24, 2024.

Fine print: I received an advanced digital copy of the text from the publisher (Albatros) at Picture Book Palooza. I did not receive any compensation for this post.

the first snow

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was reading picture books in preparation for the upcoming holidays… and now I am reading my first picture books of the year about wintertime! These things go hand in hand, but it makes me laugh a little bit since we’re still firmly in summer weather-wise. Marie Štumpfová and Radek Malý's wintry picture book The First Snow, translated by Mark Worthington, is a gorgeously-illustrated and meditative picture book, and its layered, screen printed art will delight readers young and not-so-young.

 

It’s common knowledge that there are many shades of snow. As is the fact that it is possible to find just about anything in it, from a lost glove to a careless arctic explorer.

Even though Stefan and Agnes come across something altogether different under the snow that morning, their journey through the dreamlike snow-covered landscape sometimes seems like an expedition to a frozen wilderness. Even so, they still find time to feed the birds and stroke the cat on the way. And even Miss Smilla would be delighted by the shades of snow in the illustrations.

 

Stefan and Agnes wake up one morning to a world blanketed in white. They venture out into the newly snowy landscape accompanied only by their tiger-fierce kitty, as their mother has chores to do. Once in the wintry wonderland of their backyard, they find that even common objects have been transformed by deep snow. They make snow angels, follow animal tracks, shovel the path, and then begin building… a polar bear! In a flight of imagination (or is it truly magic?) the children visit the frozen wilds atop the bear’s back before returning to their own backyard and continued surprises. 

In this picture book, siblings Agnes and Stefan experience that singular joy of a first snow day as a child, when everything seems impossibly wondrous under a blanket of new-fallen snow. Their whimsical adventures will feel familiar to adults, and spark children’s imaginations. The main characters take moments to marvel at the world around them, and this is reflected in the pacing of the book – it feels as though it should be lingered over as well, like a gorgeous view or any other nature-driven delight.

Worthington’s translation of Štumpfová and Malý’s prose is at times uneven. There are clunky choices of verb tense and contractions where full words might produce a more poetic effect. All that to say – the words don’t all flow perfectly, but small children will not mind this. I admit that as an English teacher, I am becoming more crotchety about words each year! Language choices to celebrate in The First Snow? Plentiful figurative elements in the form of metaphors and similes, such as “quiet as a lamb”, “like being in another world”, and “like winter-flavored ice cream.”

My quibbles with the text do not matter in the grand scheme of things because the art is transcendent! Štumpfová’s illustrations appear to be screen printed, in an array of pastels. The visual elements of this text are truly magnificent – of course there is a lot of white on each page, but all the different colors that snowy white can be – reflected blues, pinks, and even yellows, show up throughout the pages. The screen printing also adds subtle depth, textures, and patterns to the illustrations, and the many different forms that snow can take are the stars. I can’t emphasize how much I love the art – I’d snap up boxes of The First Snow-themed holiday cards and wrapping paper in a hot second!

In all, The First Snow features exquisite art and a story that both young ones and their adults will enjoy reading. It may even spark world-traveling polar bear adventures in backyards after the first snow of *this* season!

Recommended for: fans of seasonal picture books, young readers ages 3-6, and winter holiday gifting!

 

Fine print: I received an advanced digital copy of the text from the publisher (Albatros) at Picture Book Palooza. I did not receive any compensation for this post.