James Ransome
Every character James Ransome draws is based on a real person. And that's not always easy. When he was illustrating Major Taylor, he remembered a barber who would be the perfect model. After several vain attempts to contact the barber, he realized their sons attended the same school. He put a note in the backpack of the barber's son and was soon able to schedule a modeling session. Sometimes Ransome will photograph just one individual, but often he creates the entire scene he wants to paint, almost like a movie set. He might use a dozen rolls of film for each model or scene. The background and other details he paints in later. "It's like a bowl of stew," explains Ransome, "realism mixed with abstraction and imagination."
James Ransome says he is inspired by painters like Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt and wants the illustrations in his children's books to make museum painting more familiar to children. He urges young children and the students he used to teach at Pratt Institute to "have their own ideas about what they want to express and have the confidence to express it." He likes to remind children and teachers that he came from a "simple household in an average place, but I had a passion for something and through hard work, I found a way to turn this passion into a living."
Ransome has not yet written his own stories, though he's thinking about that. He rarely works directly with an author but more commonly with an editor or art director. Even his wife, who has written several books he illustrated, waits in line for him to illustrate her stories. He works first on "finding his voice" for each new book. "I always hope the story will tell me how it should be illustrated. If it doesn't come to me right away, I look at movies, old sketch books, comic books, paintings, other books.... When I find the right voice, I create a challenge to keep myself and the audience interested, like letting white paper in the background become part of the illustration rather than covering the whole page with paint."
One of his favorite books is being published this fall, Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl by Virginia Hamilton. "It is a story so rich in African American culture," says James. The illustrations are unusual in several regards - Ransome's use of watercolors and the lack of models. "It's all from my imagination" , he explains, because he was drawing animals, not real people. "There's some freedom in that - I could dress them any way I wanted to!" He likes using his art to explore his own family story and that of other African Americans, but he insists he never wants to be type cast: "I have other interests too, not just African American stories" and he points to another book he's working on right now about construction of the Empire State Building.
Ransome lives with his wife and four small children in a new home in Rhinebeck, New York, not far from Poughkeepsie, but he regularly travels for school and conference presentations. Now his art is traveling too, in an exhibit called "Visual Stories". The exhibit opened at Vassar college in September and will travel around the country for several years. For himself, Ransome says he's still "growing, learning and listening."
Contributor: Karen Leggett
For more information about an upcoming appearace by James Ransome visit:
Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award - award for nonfiction
James Ransome doesn't just illustrate children's books. He enriches them. Each page has small, evocative details: the patches on a poor man's clothes, the flowers that brighten an otherwise hardscrabble farm, theworn-out quilt that serves as a saddle blanket. His illustrations are oil paintings, lush and textured. Ransome'scharacters are realistic, not idealized. Uncles have comfortable paunches and sagging yet still powerful shoulders. Mothers' faces may be furrowed by work and worry, but they are beautiful and strong. Even the folds and creases of clothing hint at the way the wearers stand, walk and live. "You should get a sense of something that's happening," says Ransome. "The pictures alone tell a story."
The 34-year-old artist, who has illustrated more than 15 books, has won a Coretta Scott King Award as well as a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. These prizes are given by the American Library Association to the top children's books from black authors and artists. Ransome, who lives in upstate New York with his wife and two young daughters, spoke by phone about the life of an illustrator.
Q. You've described yourself as a "visual storyteller." Can you explain?
My job is to tell the story using pictures. To some degree, the pictures should tell the story that the writer has written. The pictures themselves, just by looking at the pictures alone, you should get a good feeling of what the story's about.
Q. You've said you like to convey individual traits of characters.
I like to show a variety of types of people. Weight, height, skin color- they're important to me. I have a nephew who has modeled for me a number of times. I guess you would say he's overweight. I always like to use him because he's not your traditional children's-book boy. He's chubby. I think it's good for kids who are overweight to see him appear from time to time.
Q. Do you feel there is a lack of books out there to show minority children images of themselves?
I think the industry is changing, but I think there's lots of room for more books about different kids. Usually, the burden is put on African-Americans or Hispanics or Asians to do books about themselves, so they can be represented. If an illustrator is doing a book, why not have some of the kid's friends be of different nationalities? So often, the burden of inclusion is dealt with only by minorities. It's not dealt with by white illustrators. Without it being written in the text, I would like to see more of that. I think that would help everyone. The responsibility is not just with minorities trying to depict minorities indifferent situations. Everyone should be trying to do it.
Q. Are your characters based on people you knew growing up in the rural South?
Probably closer to the people I know now. Usually the story sort of directs me into the type of character, the person I'm looking for, to playa particular part. I use real models, so if I read a story I try to think of who I know who's close to that, that may have the body type of the character I envision. I go through different models. At this moment now, a book I'm working on now, I was very interested in finding a very strong-looking, dark-skinned man to be the lead role. I feel that I need to do that because I haven't done that enough in the past. Somehow my characters wind up looking lighter-skinned. In this book, I think it's important for me to have a darker-skinned man, because I don't think there's enough darker-skinned males in books.
Q. It's important to you that readers should think these are real people?
That's always important to me. My idea is that you should feel like I was there....I had my easel and my canvas there and my brushes, and I am painting these things as they are happening. You should get the feeling that you are across the table, you are a participant in what's happening. A lot of times I try to get some interaction between the readers and the characters in the books. In Celie and the Harvest Fiddler, I have the character look out - she realizes that we're there. What happens is her brother, her father and her mother are talking about the experience they just went through. As you read that, her face is looking directly at the reader - we have eye contact. She knows what's happened, and we know what's happened. When she's looking at us, it ends with us knowing the secret that no one else knows.
Q. You enjoyed photography and filmmaking classes in high school - how did they influence your work?
I enjoy cropping my pictures a lot. It's called a snapshot image. An amateur photographer would take a picture and mistakenly cut off the person at the waist, or one side of his shoulder or an arm would be out of the picture. Those types of things I do a lot, again to give the feeling that we're there and a part of it. I use that sort of snapshot feeling to give the idea that it was done on the spot, it was spontaneous. It's the way you see things: We don't always see the full picture. Also to give a sense of drama - we can go in close on things. I also am very interested in trying to introduce paintings to children at a young age. I want to break that gap that so often happens between museums and the common person. Art and paintings are seen as something that are for intellectuals and wealthy people, that there's no relationship to the common man. Hopefully that's a way of breaking that down - kids see paintings in their books, and when they go to a museum they say, "I've seen something like this before."
Q. Paintings are unusual in this era of cartoon illustrating - Disney books and the like.
I have friends who think that a Disney book is a good book for their children. I try to explain that there's a difference between literature and a book. It's like McDonald's and a restaurant: sure, both will fill you up, but it's a different experience. That's one of the reasons (I) travel: I meet parents, they hear me speak and they understand what I put into a book. Hopefully, they'll understand there's a difference. Your children are worthy of literature.
If you'd like to disover more about James Ransome, visit his website at www.jamesransome.com.
Contributor: Donna Freedman
Reviews
All the Lights in the Night
Arthur A. Levine
Pictures by James E. Ransome
Russia was a dangerous place for Jews in 1914, and the Kaplans had already sent their oldest son to Palestine safely. He sent money for two more boys, who leave home a few days before Hanukkah with food, money for tickets, and their grandmother's small oil lamp. This last-minute addition to their baggage saves them twice over--by lighting it and retelling the Hanukkah story they counter their fear and homesickness on the journey, and by giving it away to the ship captain, they ensure their passage to Palestine. Realistic and boldly colored, Ransome's illustrations draw the reader into the story to feel the piercing cold of a Russian winter and the reassuring warmth of the lit lamp. 1991, Tambourine, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: The Five Owls staff (The Five Owls, November/December 1991 (Vol. 6, No. 2))
ISBN: 0-688-10107-0
ISBN: 0-688-10108-9
Aunt Flossie's Hats (and Crab Cakes Later)
Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Paintings by James Ransome
This is a story about two girls, Susan and Sarah, who visit their Aunt Flossie and try on some of her hats. When the girls pick a hat, their aunt tells them a story from the past relating to the hat. Ransome's beautiful illustrations make you feel as if you are in the story listening to Aunt Flossie or sharing her experiences. At the end you will discover that Susan and Sarah can be good storytellers themselves and it may make you want to share family stories of your own. Category: African-American; Read Aloud. Grade Level: Primary (K-3rd grade). 1990, Clarion, under 40 pages. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Jeanenne (BookHive (www.bookhive.org))
Hats tell Aunt Flossie's story. Every Sunday, two eager young listeners, Sarah and Susan, arrive at their great-great-aunt house "full of stuff and things." Tea and cookies, and crab cakes later, hat boxes full of hats, and stories await them. The smoky green hat reminds Aunt Flossie of the big fire in Baltimore, and the dark blue one with a red feather calls to mind the parade celebrating the end of the Great War. "Aunt Flossie says they are her memories," Susan tells us, "and each hat has its story." Best of all is Aunt Flossie's "favorite best Sunday hat," and the children's favorite story to go with it. Sarah and Susan help Aunt Flossie tell the story of the time her hat blew in the water and floated downstream like a boat. They were part of that story, and the whole family went out for crab cakes later. Each time the story is retold, it reminds them of crab cakes. Almost everyone, young and old alike, has some remembrance of a grandmother or grandfather, aunt or uncle, relative or neighbor, who tells stories about the old days. In spare language, the author has affectionately captured her own fond memories of the "real" Aunt Flossie and the events of a family outing to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The story's framework of hats, all kinds and colors, gives Howard's personal recollection universal appeal, and places it along side such storytime favorites as Eat Up, Gemma and Jennie's Hat. The richness of family storytelling is handsomely complemented by the pictures, a series of oil paintings set cleanly against plenty of white space. Ransome's visible strokes of deep, almost edible colors relect the warmth of the story, as do the finely chiseled features of Aunt Flossie and the children. Piles of plain and patterned hatboxes invite a peek at various hats, but the illustrator missed an opportunity to show the hats themselves in an array of colorful profusion. From the opening scene of Baltimore rowhouses at sunrise to the closing patterned-wallpaper cover, this lulling reminiscence joins a growing legacy of fine intergenerational stories. 1991, Lothrop, $13.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Megan McDonald (The Five Owls, May/June 1991 (Vol. 5, No. 5))
ISBN: 0-395-54682-6
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Teachers' Choices, 1992 ; International Reading Association; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 1997 ; Nominee; Michigan
Bimmi Finds a Cat
Elisabeth J. Stewart
Illlustrated by James E. Ransome
This is a lovely, sensitive story of the loss of a pet cat and its meaning to its young owner named Bimmi. Set in a coastal village on the Gulf of Mexico, its languid prose interspersed with Creole dialect and accompanied by brilliantly painted illustrations transports the reader to another culture. When Bimmi finds another cat and attempts to return it to its owner, he is rewarded in a way he had not expected. 1996, Clarion Books, Ages 7 to10, $14.95. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger
ISBN: 0-395-64652-9
Bonesy and Isabel
Michael J. Rosen
Illustrated by James Ransome
Isabel has recently arrived from El Salvador to live on a farm with Vera and Ivan, her new parents. The farm is teeming with animals, most of whom can understand about as much English as Isabel. She forms a special bond with Bonesy, the elderly "inside" dog. When Bonesy dies-just three weeks after Isabel's arrival-Isabel learns that emotions are a universal language. As Bonesy's long story comes to a quiet end, Isabel begins her new story of living with Ivan and Vera. Drawn in an appealing impressionist style, Bonesy and Isabel touches on many concepts making it a great book for older kids. 1995, Harcourt, Ages 8 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels
ISBN: 0-15-209813-5
Building a New Land : African Americans in Colonial America
James Haskins and Kathleen Benson
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
In a large, picture-book format, the authors present a sophisticated account of the contributions and tribulations of African-Americans during the colonial period. The eloquent prose is accompanied by stunning, vividly colored illustrations. The first blacks to reach the New World arrived with Spanish, Portuguese and French explorers in the late 15th century. They were navigators, laborers, freemen, indentured servants, slaves and even slaveholders. After 1700, English colonists began to outnumber other Europeans and the plantation system of agriculture emerged in the South. Black Africans were soon relegated to servitude and slavery. A few English immigrants like William Penn founded colonies where slavery was prohibited and a small antislavery movement existed, but most white colonists accepted slavery as part of the natural order. Despite the unfair and harsh conditions to which they were subjected, most blacks, both freemen and slaves, adapted to life in the colonies. By the time the Revolutionary War began, they thought of themselves as Americans rather than Africans. This book is the third in a series by Haskins and Benson called "From African Beginnings." Future volumes will describe the role of African Americans in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and beyond. 2001, HarperCollins, $17.95 and $17.89. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Joyce Schwartz (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-06-029361-6
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Celie and the Harvest Fiddler
Vanessa and Valerie Flournoy
Painting by James E. Ransome
Who is the mysterious fiddler who appears at celebrations? Will he come to the All Hallow's Eve harvest festival? Celie wants desperately to win the costume contest, but when she dances to the fiddler's music, her costume just doesn't hold up. She flees in embarrassment, but then the fiddler magically appears and gives her an unusual mask to wear. The tale gets more complex, and is handsomely depicted by Ransome's rich oil paintings that move from early evening to the dark of the night and all its mysterious happenings. 1995, Tambourine, Ages 6 up, $15.00 and $14.93. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-688-11457-1
ISBN: 0-688-11458-X
Dark Day, Light Night
Jan Car
Illustrated by James Ransome
"Go ahead, 'Manda," she says, "tell me what it is you like in this world." The story begins just after Amanda's friend Bobby steals the ball away from her during a game. This upsets Amanda, but her Aunt Ruby talks with her. She encourages Amanda to think of things that make her feel good. While Amanda nestles in her arm, Aunt Ruby shares her list of things that give her good feelings: the enjoyment of mixing blueberries, strawberries, and peaches together and seeing the bright colors and glistening juices; listening to the sound of Mr. Franklin's sax while Callie sings along; and sometimes even a dark storm, knowing that everyone is safe inside together. A warmhearted story, with exquisite illustrations to match. 1995, Hyperion, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95 and $14.89. Reviewer: Beverly Rice
ISBN: 0-7868-0018-6
ISBN: 0-7868-2014-4
Eli and the Swamp Man
Charlotte Watson Sherman
Illustrated by James Ransome
This is the story of a disturbed eight-year-old boy who dislikes his stepfather and cannot see that he is surrounded by friends and that his father, living in Alaska, cannot be a part of his life. He tries to run away to Alaska, but underestimates the distance from Seattle, believing he can make it by bike. A man who lives in the nearby swamp helps Eli learn that his life is not over because his father has left. Good reading for ages 8-12. 1996, HarperCollins, Ages 8 to 12, $13.95 and $13.89. Reviewer: Judy Silverman
ISBN: 0-06-024722-3
ISBN: 0-06-024723-1
Freedom's Fruit
William H. Hooks
Illustrated by James Ransome
Mama Marina, an African-American trickster of sorts, buys freedom for her daughter and future son-in-law for only twenty gold pieces. They are so sick from eating her conjured grapes that Master Alston believes that the young slaves will die, so he makes what he thinks is a good bargain. Mama Marina brings Sheba and Joe Nathan out of the valley of death with the blossom of the spring grapes. At the close of her tale, Mama Marina celebrates her victory and assures the reader that only when her children are free will she take the spell off of the grapes. This well-written text combined with the finest of Ransome's artwork make a wonderfully compelling picture book. 1996, Knopf, Ages 5 up, $16.00 and $17.99. Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin
ISBN: 0-679-82438-3
ISBN: 0-679-92438-8
How Animals Saved the People : Animal Tales from the South
J.J. Reneaux
Illustrated by James Ransome
Have you ever been whupped upside the tailfeathers by a great, green GollyWhumper? If not, give thanks to "Bon Dieu above" and grab a copy of this book to find out just how lucky you are. Written with the lively rhythms of a gifted storyteller, these retold animal folktales from the southern U.S. incorporate the region's African, European and Native American roots. By faithfully translating the flavorful diversity of Southern dialects (Appalachian, Cajun, Creole, African-American, indigenous) to the page, the storyteller/author spices her stories "like hot pepper sprinkled in a gumbo." Award-winning James Ransome's watercolors add even more depth and character to the featured animals. His paintings illuminate the humor and fear, the slyness and vanity of these "bodacious critter folk" who seem more than a little human. A glossary of foreign words and dialect follows the text along with recommended animal storybooks and audio recordings. The origins of each of the eight stories are also discussed briefly. 2001, HarperCollins Publishers, $17.95 and $17.89. Ages All. Reviewer: Stephanie Farrow (Children's Literature)
Children of all ages can enjoy these newly collected folk tales about animals interacting with each other and with humans. There are scary tales, funny tales, and tales with a moral, all retold in the dialect from which they sprang. The illustrations are absolutely delightful and well suited to the stories they accompany. The book includes a table of contents, a glossary and pronunciation guide for unfamiliar or foreign terms, notes about the stories, and suggestions for further reading and listening. Nonfiction (398.2). 2001, HarperCollins, 64p, $17.89. Grades 3-5. Reviewer: Ginny Hoskins (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 14, No. 2))
ISBN: 0-688-16253-3
ISBN: 0-688-16254-1
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices, 2002 ; International Reading Association; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
SEBA Book Award Winner 2002 Children's Category United States
How Many Stars in the Sky?
Lenny Hort
Paintings by James E. Ransome
Mama is away and a young boy just can't sleep. He decides that he wants to know how many stars are in the sky. He stares out the window and starts to count, then he climbs up into his tree house for a better view. Dad too can't sleep, and together they set out on an expedition to count all of the stars. The nighttime adventure explores the warm bond between father and son that is beautifully depicted in Ransome's night scenes. Father and son are shown close together, touching and comforting each other during Mama's absence. A Reading Rainbow book. 1997 (orig. 1991), Mulberry, $16.00, $15.89, and $4.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-688-10103-8
ISBN: 0-688-10104-6
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
I Have a Dream
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Illustrated by fifteen Coretta Scott King Award winners
Dr. King's moving speech is peacefully rendered here by a special group of artists. Each of these artists have previously won the coveted Coretta Scott King Award. This award recognizes the gifts that African American authors and illustrators give via their art. But the illustrations are only half of the story. They are woven, warp and weft, within the fabric of Dr. King's speech from August of 1963. With this book, we can hear the words and see the dream with fresh eyes for this is a beautifully rich volume, from its luxurious end-pages, to its back matter. Each illustration captures the spirit of Dr. King's message. The illustrations and text call for our memories of yesterday, the possibilities for today, and a hope for a not-too-distant tomorrow. The volume ends with a tribute to Dr. King. The end matter includes a photograph of Dr. King, a short biography, and signed descriptions of each artist's work. 1997, Scholastic Press, $16.95. Ages 11 up. Reviewer: Karen Moroughan (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-590-20516-1
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Fourteenth Edition, 2001 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 1998 ; Children's Literature; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 1997 ; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Not Just for Children Any More, 1998 ; Children's Book Council; United States
Not Just for Children Any More, 1999 ; Children's Book Council; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 1998 ; International Reading Association; United States
Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of the Social Studies, 1997 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 1998 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 1997 ; American Library Association-Booklist-YALSA; United States
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 1998 ; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Teachers' Choices, 1998 ; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award Winner 1998 Special Subjects United States
The Jukebox Man
Jacqueline K. Ogburn
Illustrated by James Ransome
Drawing on her own memories of growing up in a family that serviced jukeboxes, Ogburn tells the story of a young girl who joins her grandfather on his route stocking and repairing jukeboxes. Illustrating the joy a child feels in helping an adult with a grown-up job, this story also highlights the love of a child for her grandfather. Set in the fifties, the book provides a glimpse into the past when Elvis' "Blue Suede Shoes" played on the radio and jukeboxes were all the rage. It also shows some of the ways in which childhood has changed and yet remained the same. Ransome's touching oil paintings add a depth and beauty to the everyday life portrayed in the book. This is a nostalgic book both children and adults will enjoy-one that grandparents might like to read to their grandkids. 1998, Dial, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye
ISBN: 0-8037-1429-7
My Best Shoes
Marilee Robin Burton
Illustrated by James Ransome
Marilee Robin Burton's bouncy rhyme about shoes each day of the week is an ideal antidote for a blue day. This rhyme sings of high shoes, tap shoes, tennis shoes, even no shoes. Children prance, dance, skip, and hop across each page. Ransome's children reflect our multi-cultural society and are as joyous as the text. "On Monday I wore tie shoes/ Sturdy lace up high shoes/ Tie them in a bow shoes/ know them in a tangle shoes/ Oops - don't let them dangle shoes." 1994, Tambourine, Ages 3 to 6, $15.00. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-688-11756-2
ISBN: 0-688-11757-0
The Old Dog
Charlotte Zolotow
Illustrated by James Ransome
A classic story of a boy and his dog--except the dog dies at the beginning of the story. The beautiful paintings are a poignant portrayal of the story. The book has few words, which enables the paintings to tell the story. While death is a universal experience, there are few books for young children that deal with this sensitive subject. A strong family unit supports the child as he comes to terms with the devastation and finality of death. The author has written over seventy books for young readers. 1995, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.95 and $14.89. Reviewer: Rae Valabek
ISBN: 0-06-024409-7
ISBN: 0-06-024112-7
Peepers
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by James Ransome
In the fall they come--tourists eager to drink in the beauty of the New England landscape in its autumnal colors. Jim and Andy help their dad run Fred's Fall Color Tours as he shuttles visitors to all the points of interest. Behind their backs, the boys poke harmless fun at the tourists they nickname "Leaf Peepers." Every "ooh" and "aah" sends them into gales of laughter. Yet even as they giggle, the boys cannot help but admire a leaf floating like a boat upon the rivers or how the leaves gently catch the breeze like a butterfly. When day is done and they wistfully stare at the moon poking through spiky branches they are heard to utter, "how beautiful." James Ransome's rich acrylic paintings with the bright palette of autumn's reds and yellows add sparkle to this quiet mood piece. The touches of humor in both text and illustration heighten its appeal to children. Sharing this with children before embarking on a nature walk may sharpen their powers of observation and elicit their own words of admiration for nature's show of colors. 2001, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature)
This story is about tourists, known as Peepers, who travel to New England to see the leafy trees change colors. As fall changes into winter, Jim and his brother Andy discover changes in their surroundings. The boys are able to relate these experiences with those of the Peepers. This is a wonderful story to be shared with in science class and with our region of the United States because it describes the fall season so vividly. Children will delight in the visual changes that occur in this book, along with the antics of Jim and Andy. Fiction. 2001, Harcourt, Unpaged, $16.00. Grades PreK-3. Reviewer: Dawn Cobb (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 14, No. 3))
ISBN: 0-15-260297-6
Quilt Alphabet
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrated by James E. Ransome
Each letter has a poem, a brief one with a clue to the word that letter begins. If the reader can't guess from the illustration, the answers are in the back, but most are pretty obvious. The imagery of the verse is more than an excuse for the quilt square-like letters and illustrations. The artist's choice of image ranges from a simple garden gate to a more complete scene of a scarecrow in a detailed landscape, painted with broad strokes that emphasize color relationships and basic forms, with direct visual appeal. 2001, Holiday House, $17.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8234-1453-1
Just when you think ideas for alphabet books have been exhausted, along comes a fresh approach. This beautifully illustrated book provides paintings and text that can be used to stretch any child's vocabulary and appreciation for everyday objects. Approaching the alphabet as if it were a quilt, each letter includes four short rhyming lines of poetry, which enhance the illustrations. The focus is on the natural world and everyday objects in a child's world--a chance to look at ordinary objects from, perhaps, a different viewpoint. The object that is tied to each letter is not always so obvious. This unusual approach lends itself to this book being read and extended over and over, and of course, becoming a favorite. 2001, Holiday House, $17.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger (Children's Literature)
This is an alphabet poem using a homespun theme. The illustrations are great, but the poem may be a little too deep for some kindergarten students. It may not hold their attention very well. It will be necessary to discuss the meaning of the vocabulary. Rhyming words can also be reviewed while reading this aloud. Nonfiction (811). 2001, Holiday House, Unpaged, $17.95. Grades K-1. Reviewer: Linda Lane (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 14, No. 4))
ISBN: 0-8234-1453-1
Best Books:
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, September 2001 ; Cahners; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 2001 ; Smithsonian; United States
Quilt Counting
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Paintings by James E. Ransome
Each double page has a number, written and spelled out, as we count from one to ten in this companion to the pair's Quilt Alphabet. For each number there is a brief rhyme including the number as it relates to the farmhouse where three generations are piecing a family quilt, and to the materials needed to make the quilt, such as thread, tape measures, etc. When we begin to count back down from ten to one, then each rhyme refers to something about the farm that can be a subject for a square of the quilt, such as the fields, sheep, or sunflowers. Ransome manages to depict the ordinary items in the text with esthetic imagination. His paintings, sometimes double-page scenes, sometimes smaller framed vignettes, have a visual complexity and painterly quality that help them transcend the relative simplicity of their task. There is an appended "Note " giving more information about quilts along with this simple introduction to both numbers and quilts. Don't miss the end-papers. 2002, Seastar Books/North-South Books, $15.95 and $16.50. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 1-5871-7177-5
ISBN: 1-5871-7178-3
Quinnie Blue
Dinah Johnson
Paintings by James Ransome
The paintings in this picture book are outstanding. They depict the past life of an African-American community while responding to the questions of a new generation. A young girl named after her great grandmother explores her family history through vivid imagines of what life must have been like generations before her. She questions her great grandmother--Quinne Blue and discovers they are very much the same. Walking outdoors in your barefeet and feeling the green grass tickle your toes or running down the path to the tree with a swing so you can soar high into the air are just a few experiences in life that never change from one generation to the next. This book is rich with community and family relationships and makes for excellent reading. 2000, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Sharon Tolle (Children's Literature)
A young African American girl imagines the young life of her great-grandmother, with whom she shares a name, then relates it to parts of her life today. There were crab cracks, Easter and Christmas celebrations, many happy times with the extended family and friends. The spare text is full of the nostalgia and warmth felt by the author for her own great-grandmother, "I'm glad I'm named after you--Hattie Lottie Annie Quinnie Blue." Johnson includes a note on her heritage. Ransome's long vertical oil paintings visually evoke the emotional warmth in these remembrances. From the title page's shingled house with its wrap-around porch and chickens on the grass, to jacket/cover and final double portrait of the Quinnies sitting on that porch with yellow sunflowers blooming behind them, each scene depicts people in joyful relationships. To these naturalistically rendered scenes, a small painting created in a child-like manner is added to the text page, each related in theme to the facing picture dealing with the young girl's imagining. The juxtaposition of pictures is an effective way of integrating the experiences of the generations. 2000, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
This book is a treasure and would be a rich addition to any child's library. It is about family love and family memories. Told in a rhythmically unique dialogue format as the granddaughter asks and rejoices in her grandmother's past. The wonderful paintings by James Ransome contribute greatly to the text. A superb gift choice. 2000, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: A. Braga (Parent Council Volume 8)
ISBN: 0-8050-4378-0
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Children's Crown Gallery Award, 2003 ; Nominee; United States
Red Dancing Shoes
Denise L. Patrick
Illustrated by James Ransome
This book tells of a girl who gets red shoes, falls down, gets them dirty, and gets them cleaned up. Slice of life stories may be authentic, but they aren't up to the standards set by solid contributors like Walter Dean Meyers, Eloise Greenfield, Patricia McKissack, and Ashley Bryan. 1993, Tambourine, Ages preschool up, $16.00 and $15.93. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-688-10392-8
ISBN: 0-688-10393-6
Rum-A-Tum-Tum
Angela Shelf Medearis
Illustrated by James Ransome
Crayfish, oysters,/ flounders on ice,/ fry them, boil them,/ serve them up nice! At the turn of the century peddlers roamed the streets singing of their wares. The author discovered these cries as she researched New Orleans history and they were her inspiration. The rhyming text uses the jazz rhythms of those early days to tell the story of a girl who is enchanted with the sights and sounds of her neighborhood and follows the sounds of that music through the French Quarter. Ransome's paintings are a joyous expression of the people, the music and the love of their neighborhood. 1997, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8234-1143-5
Best Books:
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Third Edition, 2001 ; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Satchel Paige
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Paintings by James E. Ransome
James E. Ransome has been a consistent contributor to excellence in children's book illustration. Now, joining forces with his wife on her first book, Ransome's bold illustrations complement his wife's dramatic storytelling voice. Lesa places Paige's playful quotes in a simile-studded, vivid narrative, which ebbs and flows with rhythms and expressions that make the great Paige even more mythic and the pacing of the text like Satch's fast ball. Together text and images present Satch--his love of the game, the hard choices poverty presents, and one man's ability to make his own rules in a world limited by prejudice. 2000, Simon and Schuster, $16.00. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
This picture storybook biography chronicles the life of the first black player to be honored in the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame, the pitcher, Satchel Paige. His nickname came from his youthful porter days of carrying bags and satchels from the railroad depot, but his skills were honed in the family farmyard and at reform school (where he was sent for stealing). The coach there taught him the difference between throwing and pitching. The book covers his career within the Negro League against the backdrop of the times, his draft to the major leagues as the first black pitcher, and his two seasons there (being 42 and his independent spirit made those seasons "extra challenging"). A baseball card-like page of vital statistics hints at a possible series to follow and provides classrooms with a model for their own research on baseball players. James Ransome's bold paintings capture Paige's stance and stature while reflecting Paige's coolness in the game's excitement. An excellent bibliography suggests further sources for interested child and adult readers as well. 2000, Simon & Schuster, $16.00. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler (Children's Literature)
The book is a very pleasant read. The illustrations are quite lovely. The story chronicles Paige's life--starting at his birth and continuing through the Negro league and on the "majors." It also told about his personal life, including the fact that he was the first black pitcher drafted. Children will find the story inspiring. It encourages the idea of "never giving up." 2000, Simon & Schuster, Unpaged, $16.00. Grades 3-5. Reviewer: Virginia Gleaton (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 13, No. 3))
ISBN: 0-689-81151-9
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2000 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2001 ; Children's Literature; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2000 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2001 ; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2000 ; Parent's Guide to Children's Media, Inc.; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002 ; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, March 2000 ; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Garden State Children's Book Award, 2003 ; Nominee; New Jersey
Michigan Reader's Choice Award, 2002 ; Nominee; Michigan
North Carolina Children's Book Award, 2003 ; Nominee; North Carolina
South Carolina Book Awards, 2003 ; Nominee; South Carolina
The Secret of the Stones: A Folktale
Retold by Robert D. San Souci
Pictures by James Ransome
This folktale is based on several sources--African American legends from Arkansas and Bantu tales. A childless couple, Clara and John, who love each other deeply work daily in the cotton fields from sun up to dusk. Often they return home tired, but must do their own chores and eat dinner. On day, Clara finds two white stones and takes them home--strange things begin to happen. Every night when they return home all of their chores are done. When they can't discover who their helpers are, they seek the advise of Aunt Easter. They learn that two orphaned children are their benefactors and they sincerely want to make them part of their lives, but there are complications. Again they turn to Aunt Easter. It is a beautifully told story of love, devotion and persistence. The story is filled with beautiful illustrations by James Ransome who also illustrated James Weldon Johnson's The Creation, winner of Coretta Scott King Award for illustration. 2000, Phyllis Fogelman Books/Penguin Putnam, $16.99. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature)
This retelling is drawn primarily from Arkansas folk tales, but has older sources in an African Bantu legend. Childless John and Clara are hard working cotton farmers who find two white stones that seem to perform household tasks while they sleep. The mystery is solved by Aunt Easter who can see "haunts," knows cures, and helps them outwit the conjure-man who has transformed two orphaned children into stone. Threaded with dialect, the story is also made richer by its poetic verses, African-American traditions, and the vivid illustrations by Ransome. 2000, Phyllis Fogelman, $16.99. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-8037-1640-0
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001 ; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Volunteer State Book Award, 2003 ; Nominee; Tennessee
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrated by James Ransome
The powerful collaboration of storyteller and artist stitches together the true story of young Clara's courageous plan to map the route to the Underground Railroad in the squares of her quilt, providing a path to freedom for hundreds of slaves. It's a beautiful book of deep love and faith that will impress and inspire young readers. 1993, Knopf, Ages 5 to 10, $16.00, $16.99 and $6.99. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-679-82311-5
ISBN: 0-679-92311-X
ISBN: 0-679-87472-0
Uncle Jed's Barbershop
Margaree King Michell
Illustrated by James Ransome
We all know someone like Uncle Jed. Someone who is always there when times are tough. Ms. Mitchell writes affectionately about such a person. Jed is a black barber whose dream is to have his own barbershop but in the 1920's that won't be easy. For Jed, there is always someone who needs his help. But dreams don't die, not if your determination is strong enough. A tender story illustrated with paintings of very real characters. Cheers and tears accompany the final scenes. 1995 (orig. 1993), Simon & Schuster, Ages 8 to 11, $16.00 and $5.99. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-671-76969-3
ISBN: 0-395-73246-8
ISBN: 0-614-20625-1
Under the Quilt of Night
Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrated by James Ransome
This story follows a slave girl through the dark of night on her journey to freedom in Canada. The format the author used to write the text gives the appearance that time is short and fleeting. This lends itself well to the subject matter of the book. The illustrations, with their rich colors, also enhance the story line. This would be a wonderful book to include in the discussion of the Underground Railroad. Fiction. 2002, Anne Schwartz/Atheneum, Unpaged, $16.00. Grades K-5. Reviewer: Dawn Cobb (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 1))
ISBN: 0-689-82227-8
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2002 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices, 2003 ; International Reading Association; United States
Choices, 2003 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 2001 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, January 2002 ; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Winner 2003 Grades K-3 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; Maryland
Visiting Day
Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by James Ransome
Jacqueline Woodson burst on the children's book scene with young adult titles that were raw with emotions. She has handled themes of sexual abuse, gay parents, racism, poverty, and prison with spare and honest writing, which has won her awards and faithful fans. Of late, Ms. Woodson has turned her talent to picture books. Not surprisingly, her picture books are winning awards, too. Woodson's Visiting Day is the story of a young girl visiting her father in jail. It is based on Woodson's early memories of visiting an uncle. The book's illustrator, James Ransom, is also African-American. He was clearly affected by Woodson's poignant story and by his own experience of visiting his brother in prison. Ransom's oils are strong, bold and emotional. So is the unnamed little girl who takes center stage in Woodson's story. She wakes on "visiting day" morning, smells chicken frying and hears her "Grandma/ humming soft and low,/ smiling her secret/ just-for-Daddy-and-me smile." Each page has only a few words. Ransom completes these pictures with vibrant colors and skillful detailing. Soon we know this little girl and her world. We see her exuberance and understand her love for her daddy, and its love is tinged with longing for his every day presence. Her grandmother's character is just as clear. The older woman's demand for respect and proper behavior is balanced with a satisfying and steady caring. The daddy's cameo appearance shows the pride he has in his daughter as well as his tenderness. The three have a shared sadness and hopes for a future together. Woodson stays firmly planted in the perspective of a sentient young child who is comforted by the familiarity of her world. She doesn't moralize about prison, or even mention the father's crime. The only wrong she alludes to is the little girl's. When a neighbor, Mrs. Tate, comes to bring a present for her imprisoned son, the little girl notes her grandmother's baleful look. That look means, "You better not make a sound about Mrs. Tate not having money to take the bus up there to see her only son." And the little girl sits "quiet, respectful." She is being trained to know right from wrong. She is learning restraint and kindness. Woodson knows right from wrong, too. She knows it would be wrong to place complicated ideas and moral questions in mouth, or mind, of a young child. 2002, Scholastic, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
In a simple and hopeful story, Maya and her grandmother get up early to prepare food, get on the bus, and visit Maya's father in prison where he is "doing a little time." There, Maya and her father talk about what has happened over the month, share peppermints and hugs and then leave for the long ride home. The grandmother is a reassuring presence, saying that it won't always be this way and that one day Daddy, her son-in-law, will be back in the house again. Without belaboring the point, Woodson's text mirrors the many children with an imprisoned parent who are being raised by grandmothers. While no mention is made of Maya's mother, Ransome's rich acrylic paintings show many photographs of loving groups of children and adults. Obviously, Maya has the support of many other people--if those photographs are any indication. Suggesting more family connections, Maya's other grandmother comes to the door of the row house where Maya lives to drop off some presents for her son (and Grandma warns Maya not to say a word about her other grandmother not being able to afford to ride the bus to the prison visiting day). It is a warm and poignant story of a sensitive subject, told in a hopeful and matter-of-fact tone that suggests that things happen, but we go on. Notes from both illustrator and author reveal family prison stories that give this book's creation extra resonance for readers. 2002, Scholastic, $15.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Susan Hepler (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-590-40005-3
ISBN: 0-590-55262-7
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2002 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2003 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, September 16, 2002 ; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2002 ; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Skipping Stones Book Awards 2003 Multicultural and International United States
The Wagon
Tony Johnston
Paintings by James E. Ransome
While the often rhyming free verse of this picture book tells the powerful story of an enslaved African American family who gain their freedom, the paintings surpass the literary text with their beauty, depth, and vibrant color. Told by a child narrator, the story centers on one family on a Carolina plantation. The father builds a wagon that is a symbol of their slavery and their freedom. The family must use the wagon to serve their owner until the Emancipation Proclamation sets them free and they use the wagon to journey north to witness Lincoln's funeral. The odd collapsing of historical time which allows an enslaved family to be set free so soon after the war ended should be noted, but the text as a whole is an intriguing and powerful look into the way slavery affected a child. The paintings Ransome created for this book are stunning. His use of color and detail brings the book to life with vibrant blues, browns, yellows, and reds. He showed the detailed and evocative expressions of the people's faces and gave the book a sense of realism, beauty, and depth that goes beyond the text. This is a moving and powerful picture book that should have adults and children talking, reading, and looking for quite some time. 1996, Tambourine, Ages 7 to 12, $16.00, $15.89 and $4.95. Reviewer: Alexandria LaFaye
ISBN: 0-688-13457-2
ISBN: 0-688-13537-4
ISBN: 0-688-16694-6
Your Move
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by James Ransome
Eve Bunting does it again! The author of Smoky Night and Dandelions has the wonderful ability to create three-dimensional characters even within the length constraints of a picture book format. Ten year old James badly wants to join the gang K-Bones. To join the group however, James has to "prove himself." The gang initiation act endangers the life of James' six-year-old brother Issac. When this happens, the two boys have the courage to say "thanks, but no thanks" to the gang members. This story deals with the issue of peer pressure, in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. The book can help children understand that its OK to say "no" to something they know is wrong. James Ransome's beautiful illustrations in oil have the quality of priceless art and capture every nuance of this wonderful book. 1998, Harcourt Brace & Company, Ages 6 to 10, $16.00. Reviewer: Shalini Murthy
ISBN: 0-15-200181-6
Updated 09/30/03
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