Synopses & Reviews
From two-time Caldecott winner Chris Van Allsburg, creator of Jumanji and The Polar Express, comes a poignant story of one hamsterand#8217;s struggle with destiny. Being a pet store hamster isnand#8217;t much fun for Sweetie Pie, but life in human homes proves downright perilous. As Sweetie Pie longingly gazes out of his cage at the squirrels frolicking in the trees, he wonders if heand#8217;ll ever have the chance to feel the wind in his fur. Allsburgand#8217;s expressive, soft-hued illustrations artfully capture a hamsterand#8217;s-eye view of the wide and wonderful world where maybe, just maybe, Sweetie Pie could someday run free.
Review
andquot;This helps fill a critical need for art-loving black child characters. A good bridge to take children from comic tropes to fine art.andquot;
Review
andquot;By steering readers into the heady realm of context, criteria, and taste, everyone becomes a critic - and thatand#39;s an illuminating, empowering thing.andquot;
Review
andquot;The story is well written and serves as a great introduction to art appreciation. The subject matter, along with a tender grandparent relationship, makes this a worthwhile purchase.andquot;
Review
andquot;A good bridge to take children from comic tropes to fine art.andquot;
Review
andquot;Young art history students will enjoy embedded Picasso and Duchamp references. Grandmas, particularly those who belong to the Red Hat Society, will be pleased to be honored as and#39;one of a kind.and#39;andquot;
Synopsis
Meet Bailey, a dog who surprises and charms his fellow human classmates with his irrepressible antics.
Follow Bailey the dog as he gets ready and goes to school. Should he wear the red or blue collar? Both are so fashionable! Will he be late? That squirrel is a distraction! And what about Bailey's homework? Would you believe he ate it? That is what dogs do, after all.
In this funny new book from the best selling children's illustrator Harry Bliss, school proves to be an unexpected place for Bailey to do all sorts of things he loves: reading, fetching, painting, digging, singing - and making friends!
Synopsis
Sweetie Pie escapes the confines ofand#160;his hamster cage (and several insufferable owners)and#160;to find a new home in the wild. Another instant picture book classic from two-time Caldecott-winner Chris Van Allsburg.
Synopsis
When a young boy learns about what makes art specialandmdash;sometimes itandrsquo;s beautiful, sometimes itandrsquo;s funny, sometimes it tells a storyandmdash;he realizes that these same characteristics are what make his grandmother special, too. As a result, he finds the inspiration to create his own masterpiece thatandrsquo;s one of a kind.
Christopher Awardandndash;winning author Scott Menchin and New York Times bestselling illustrator Harry Bliss have teamed up for a celebration of the power of art and expression, and the extraordinary love between grandparent and child.
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About the Author
Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, as well as the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Book for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children, he has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in childrenand#8217;s literature. In 1982, Jumanji was nominated for a National Book Award and in 1996, it was made into a popular feature film. Chris Van Allsburg was formerly an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and two children.