AARON SHEPARD'S 2nd PAGE: THE CRYSTAL HEART; THE LEGEND OF SLAPPY HOOPER

THE LEGEND OF SLAPPY HOOPER: An American Tall Tale
AARON SHEPARD (illus. Toni Goffe)
Skyhook Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$25.00 hardcover, $15.00 paperback

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: WINNER OF THE 2024 AESOP PRIZE FROM THE AMERICAN FOLKLORE SOCIETY

You'd better believe Slappy Hooper was the world's biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter. He was bestest because no one else ever made pictures so true to life. But some folks said they were too good when the pictures started coming alive!

Will Slappy have to give up sign painting for good? Or will a couple of timely jobs from the Heavenly Sign Company let him climb to even greater heights? Find out in this delightful tall tale from mid-20th-century Chicago.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Charming, slight tale about an extraordinary guy who impresses everyone with his skills.

Honestly, it's a tale for lap-readers and story hour at the library. I don't care for the art too much. The spreads are well designed to go with the text, and the images aren't outside the realm of reason the way comic-book images can be:

a good example of what's in store

...I'm just not feelin' it. I'll show you some more:

the bulk of the narrative looks like this

But there are exceptions to the sameyness:

this one's a stunner in context

...and there's a lovely payoff to end us up right. I liked the story fine, think your preschool nibling or grand will too, and the parents won't hate it.

Quite the farewell!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE CRYSTAL HEART: A Vietnamese Legend
AARON SHEPARD (illus. Joseph Daniel Fiedler)
Skyhook Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$25.00 hardcover, $15.00 paperback, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: As the daughter of a great mandarin, Mi Nuong leads a sheltered life. But one day, sitting in her tower, a song floats to her from a distant fishing boat on the river.

"My love is like a blossom in the breeze.
My love is like a moonbeam on the waves."

The voice is so beautiful, she knows the singer must be young and handsome—perhaps even a mandarin's son in disguise. Could it be that the song is for her? She longs to meet him, but how? And what will she find if she does?

In this poignant legend, a young lady discovers that appearances can deceive, but the heart speaks true.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: A folktale about self-deception and how easy it is to leave it to externalities to guide us. Being careful what you ask for, lest you get it, is a lesson that can never be repeated often enough.

how we are greeted

where we are

We're with a ranking official, a man of substance in his community whose marriageable daughter harrbors romantic illusuions as she contemplates beginning her life:

father and daughter

As time passes and impending marriage occupies her mind more and more, she hears a beautiful song in her tower fastness, a song of piercing musical and lyrical beauty, again and again. It obsesses her, consumes her, as thoughts of her marriage to a mandarin's son...quite a step up...meld with the beautiful voice. She consults oracles to see if she will marry a man with beauty like that she hears.

Omens must always be interpreted...so of course, we know what happens.

Does it all work out?

Yes; and no.

Nothing on this Earth is forever; no ending is not also a beginning.

Excellent lessons for young girls most especially in this culture that orders them to consider men their dreams, or their paths to getting dreams in reality. It's not like that, but it's not all bad.

AARON SHEPARD'S 1st PAGE: PRINCESS OF INDIA; THE SEA KING'S DAUGHTER

PRINCESS OF INDIA: An Ancient Tale (30th Anniversary Edition)
AARON SHEPARD (illus. Vera Rosenberry)
Skyhook Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$15.00 paperback, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: The ancient tale of one of bravest, cleverest heroines of all time.

Beauty and intelligence were the princess Savitri's, and eyes that shone like the sun. So splendid was she that people thought her a goddess. When at last she found a man worthy to wed her, no one could sway her from her heart's path—not even the god of death.

This lovely retelling, now in a 30th Anniversary Edition, presents a classic tale of devotion, courage, wit, and will from India's national epic, the Mahabharata. (Original picture book title: "Savitri: A Tale of Ancient India.")

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Lovely, simplified but not dumbed-down kid-friendly retelling of a small part of the Mahabharata: the life of Princess Savitri.

Savitri herself

A woman whose entire will is bent to achieving a goal can overcome her father's resistance, can even defeat the God of Death...her power is formidable. So how does she use it?

To keep her husband from being taken from her.

he seems nice

There are relatively few ideas in this book, except focus, clarity, and a cool head will help you achieve yuor goals:

focus even when facing a god

After adventures are had, you can keep your prize:

Is it beautiful? yes; do I like its gender politics? not a lot. All this effort and all she gets is a man? There's lots of those. It felt to me as though I was being overcritical all the way through. I'm pleased the pricess saves the boy, but this doesn't make me think we ought to put this on the minds of second-graders somehow.

But that's some stunning artwork! You'll get happy smiles from the art-lovin' youth and parents.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE SEA KING'S DAUGHTER: A Russian Legend
AARON SHEPARD (illus. Gennady Spirin)
Skyhook Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$15.00 paperback, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Sadko the musician loved his city of Novgorod, the richest and most free in all Russia.

With its great feasts, its white stone churches, its merchant visitors from many lands, Sadko felt there was no better place to be. Yet he was lonely too, for the rich young ladies who danced to his music would never favor anyone so poor.

One night he takes his twelve-string gusli and goes alone to play by the River Volkhov. Suddenly from the water rises the Sea King, who invites the astonished musician to play at his underwater palace. But how will Sadko get there? And how will he get back? And will he want to return at all, when he meets the Sea King's lovely daughter?

One of the most popular legends of Russia, Sadko's story is found in medieval epic ballads, as well as in a popular opera by Rimsky-Korsakov. It is retold here in elegant prose, complemented by the entrancing illustrations of a modern Russian master.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Poignant tale of love that cannot ever be, of being separated from one's love by things outside our control, and living on as well as one can. It's a sad story, but longing is a human emotion children resonate with. A tale with long, long cultural roots in the Russophone world for a very good reason...now brought quite stunningly to life with some of the most spectacular illustrations I've seen yet.

how we're greeted

As expected from Author Shepard, the language is lovely, lyrical, and ideal for that still-alert six-year-old who gets to lap-read it at naptime, down to a truly little one who needs it read at bedtime. This artwork makes it a great coffee-table book, one I'd display very prominently and proudly. Look:

Sadko; by the river; the storm

the Sea King; with daughter Volkhova

I am more than a little in love with this style of illustration. It is transporting to the world of the story. It gives us a real, visceral sense of the Otherness and impossinility of Sadko in his situation:

In common with all legends, this one is well-populated with interesting folk. This spread is the one I'd spend the longest staring at:

...possibly because Sadko looks very, um, provocative down in that corner.

Not inappropriate, invisible to kids, but makes me wonder what this message really is....

Something I think any parent with a lap-reader would thank you for giving to their kid. Grand, aunts, uncles all duly encouraged!

Aussie publisher Compendium does parenting: MOM, I MADE YOU A BOOK & DAD, I MADE YOU A BOOK, sweet keepsakes against *shudder* teenage

DAD, I MADE YOU A BOOK
MIRIAM HATHAWAY (illus. Asahi Nagata)
Compendium (non-affiliate Amazon link)
$14.95 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: There is no better way to brighten Dad's day than heartwarming words from their little one. Help a child tell their dad just how great he is with this fun fill-in-the-blanks book. Kids can open the pages to draw pictures, make lists, and check off boxes as they express their love for their papa. When complete, Dad will have a one-of-a-kind keepsake that captures their child's personality, creativity, and love.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: I think this little keepsake is completely adorable. I have some reservations about teaching kids to write and/or draw in books, but honestly they're going to anyway so lean in on this one occasion. It's also very nice that the way it's presented means it could be used by queer parents, too...no presumption of an opposite-sex spouse.


Seems likely to me that SOMEone out there will use this as a jab at the ex, but that's on you, not the author and illustrator. Cheap'n'cheerful way to give Dad an ongoing hug from the six- or seven-year-old who will be a surly teen one day soon...and guaranteed it'll come long before you're ready...so stock him up on the good memories now.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


MOM, I MADE YOU A BOOK
MIRIAM HATHAWAY (illus. Asahi Nagata)
Compendium (non-affiliate Amazon link)
$14.95 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Mom makes every day special! Help a child tell her everything they love about her with the playful prompts in this fill-in-the-blanks book. Kids can open the pages and enjoy an afternoon of imagination—drawing pictures, selecting checkboxes, and making lists—all while celebrating everything they love about their mama. When complete, Mom will have a heartwarming keepsake that captures their little one's personality and appreciation.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: An idea to put before your husband, wives. Or grandparents, give to your grand's mother...with the appropriate hand-holding, of course.


My, let's start the kids on gender stereotypes early, shall we? Its saving grace...making up a bit for the pinkness of it...for me was the playfulness of the idea. Let the kid say it with a little prompting. And, as above, entirely appropriate for queer couples or single moms.