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BOOKS
28 Glebe Report March 10, 2017

Let’s tell a story! developed in leaps and bounds from through illustration. ous consequences that will certainly
Michael Hall continues his explor-
the early charms of Curious George
entertain, the final page is a letter
and Babar. Now the art of the picture ation of the world of crayons with to readers testing whether they have
by Susan Townley book is enjoyed not only by young Frankencrayon. The story opens with being paying attention to the action.
children but by adult readers as well. a notice declaring that the picture book Finally a picture book about the
Ottawa Public Library is celebrating This year the library has newly has been cancelled! The reader is told history of storytelling from Dan Yac-
Canada’s 150th anniversary by explor- arrived picture books exploring the to close the book and find something carino: I Am A Story. Yaccarino traces
ing the art of storytelling throughout power of storytelling. Oliver Jeffers, else to read. Frankencrayon, a creature storytelling from the earliest moments
this year. In March, OPL explores a picture book author and illustra- played by purple, green and orange of history when we sat around a fire
storytelling through images and tor with a quirky view of the world, crayons stacked together to a mon- telling stories to the present day with
words. has teamed up this time with typog- strous height, is suitably distressed simple cartoon illustrations. He por-
From early childhood we learn the rapher Sam Winston to create A Child at having his stage debut cancelled. trays the evolution of storytelling from
language of pictures and the picture of Books. A young girl, who calls her- After some complaining, the action oral to various forms of print through to
book is our first dictionary of visual self a child of books, finds a boy and picks up with the lights going out and electronics. The text is simple and spare
vocabulary. The picture book, with introduces him to her world. The a giant red scribble appearing. From yet effective. Scenes of book burnings
it’s primary narrative of images and children climb “mountains of make- then on it is a series of twists, at times and protests speak to the power of
minimalist text, is different from the believe” whose peaks and valleys are hard to follow, that lead us to the final words. The story comes complete cir-
illustrated book where pictures take constructed from the text of Peter Pan. reveal of the villain on the last page. cle with the final pages a contemporary
a back seat to the narrative text. The They play hide and seek in a forest This is a fun, fast and at times crazy campfire scene of a family enjoying the
true picture book is about 130 years of trees whose branches are made of twisted tale of a book out of control. wonders of storytelling. The message is
old, dating back to when the illustrator text from fairy tales. As the two travel This book is out of control! by clear and perhaps something we need
Randolph Caldecott used the image as farther into the land of imagination Richard Byrne is another in this auth- to be reminded of. Stories transcend
the primary storytelling vehicle rather the art slowly takes on more colours. or’s series about books about books. time and space and can live forever
than just using illustration to decor- An exploration of the texts from clas- Again Bella, her dog and her friend and be carried with you anywhere in
ate the text. But the picture book sics of the English language, such Ben are back in action. Ben has a your mind.
didn’t come to the fore until the late as Dracula, Frankenstein and The remote control fire truck to show
19th and early 20th century with new Legend of Sleepy Hollow ensues. The Bella. While the remote doesn’t seem Susan Townley is the children’s
developments in printing technology end pages are a complete listing of the to be working on the fire truck, Bella’s programming and public services
and changing attitudes towards child- excerpted works! This is a charming dog is being commanded around on assistant at the Sunnyside Branch of
hood. The art of the picture book has and clever exploration of storytelling the opposite page. After some hilari- the Ottawa Public Library.

Mike Hooper Jeff Hooper Derek Hooper
brokers
recently sold

WhAT yOUr NEIGhbOUrS ArE rEADING

Here is a list of some titles read and discussed recently in various local book clubs:
TITLE (for adults) AUThOr
Any title by 1 Marilynne Robinson
13 HArvey sTreeT 106 ApplegATe prIvATe Do Not Say We Have Nothing 2 Madeleine Thien
oTTAwA eAsT Dow’s lAke
solD In 8 DAys! solD over AskIng Under This Unbroken Sky 3 Shandi Mitchell
Three Men in a Boat 4 Jerome K. Jerome
recently listed
When Breath Becomes Air 5 Paul Kalanithi
Being Mortal Atul Gawande
Honeymoon in Purdah 6 Alison Wearing
Inside the O’Briens 7 Lisa Genova
The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine 8 Alina Bronsky
The Nearest Exit 9 Olen Steinhauer
The Valley of Amazement 10 Amy Tan
TITLE (for children) AUThOr
167 Florence sTreeT 881 wInnIngTon Ave. 157 FIFTH Avenue
cenTreTown wHITeHAven glebe Chien pourri 11 Cola Gutman
“Purpose built” $1,725,000 - Custom $859,900 The Fourteenth Goldfish 12 Jennifer L. Holm
Fourplex built home by roca Homes
When You Reach Me 13 Rebecca Stead
Buyers love the GleBe! If you are contemplating a move within or beyond, please 1. Broadway Book Club 8. OPL Sunnyside European Book Club
2. Can’ Litterers 9. OPL Sunnyside Mystery Book Club
contact us for a confidential consultation to work on your timeline for a smooth sale. 3. Helen’s Book Club 10. OPL Sunnyside Second Friday Adult Book Club
613-788-2588 4. Seriously No-Name Book Club 11. OPL Sunnyside Club de lecture en français pour les enfants
12. OPL Sunnyside Cover to Cover Book Club
5. The Book Club
6. The Topless Book Club 13. OPL Sunnyside Mighty Girls Book Club
7. OPL Sunnyside Adult Book Club
info@HooperHomeTeam.com IF YOUR BOOK CLUB WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ITS READING LIST,
www.HooperHomeTeam.com PLEASE EMAIL IT TO MICHELINE BOYLE AT
grapevine@glebereport.ca
Not intended to solicit properties already for sale.