Candace Fleming
Candace has a great love of history and received her degree in history is from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. She was pretty much a new writer producing nonfiction articles for Highlights and Cricket Magazine when she was "discoverd." Her first book published in 1996 by Albert Whitman is entitled Women of the Lights. It was illustrated by James Watling and it was selected as one of the entries for Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999 published by the National Council of Teachers of English. Candace is happy to point out that it is still in print. She pretty much debunked the myth that Ida Lewis was the only female lighthouse keeper in the U.S. According to her research there were closer to 300. They are the forgotten women who did all the work even if the man was the "official" lighthouse keeper.
Her next book was Madame Le Grande and happily S. D. Schindler did the artwork. It was Candace's first book with Anne Schwartz who she considers to be among the best in the children's book business. She was at Knopf at that time (1995-96). For Candace the meeting was a happy confluence of events. Anne came through Woodstock, Illinois when Candace was reading her manuscript and asked her if she could take it. The book was published in 1996. Gabriella's Song is another where Candace just loves the illustrations, which were done by Giselle Potter. Candace actually went to Venice, one of her favorite cities, just so she could experience the sights and smells. The genesis of the story stated when her son was about six or seven. She noted that it was not the best of times for mother and son and after mulling for months about the story she changed the boy to a girl-it was her way of exacting a slight bit of revenge. When Agnes Caws is one of her personal favorites, When she reads it to kids she does real bird calls. Kids start memorizing them and have a lot of fun making the sounds. She does a lot of school visits now that her own children are older. The kids always tell you something that is funny or ask funny questions. She likes kindergarten the best. The girls grab you to give you a hug and tell you how pretty you are. (Who wouldn't like that?). Some days Candace feels like she is a stand up comic-laughing about books and encouraging writing. Give her a microphone and watch out!
The Hatmaker's Sign was her first book with Melanie Kroupa. The story is based upon an incident in the life of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. She had heard the story that he has told Jefferson and she changed the tavern setting in order to make it more appealing to children. The book also gives readers a look at Boston during that period. It is interesting to learn how distressed Jefferson was--he just couldn't get over the mutilation of his work. The Big Cheese also illustrated by S.D. Schindler was directly related to the research that she was undertaking about Franklin and Jeferson. It led to the story about the cheese, which was a gift to President Jefferson. Candace continued her research into the story of the cheese and discovered that it was indeed true; and she even found a "little old lady" who was related to the man who made the cheese. When the cheese could no longer be eaten-it was tossed into the Potomac-the entire affair was a kind of publicity stunt. Melanie Kroupa and Richard Jackson at this time had an imprint at DK. The book will be coming out in paper in 2004 much to Candaces delight.
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! is much more of a preschool book and more of a personal story. She waited a long time for illustrator Brian Karas to take it on, but it was worth it. Candace like Mr. McGreely had problems with her garden in Tennessee. The book is a sort of wish fulfillment. On the last page the gardener is sharing all of the produce with the rabbits. If you cant beat 'em join 'em! Boxes for Katje is a story based on information obtained from her mother. After WWII, Catholic Relief organizations created boxes to send overseas. A little girl from the Netherlands was the recipient of the box prepared by a girl in her mother's hometown. The people of the town became more involved in the support of this small town in the Netherlands. In return, when life got better, the small town in Indiana was the recipient of a huge box of tulip bulbs which were planted around the town.
Who Invited You-with illustrations by the amazing George Booth of The New Yorker fame, is her only book to date done in rhyme. She was asked to think about the preschool audience by Anne Schwartz; and Candace who likes a challenge came up with this new story. She tries to do the reading in a Southern voice. The illustrator loved the heron and enjoyed the book and the character. Her oldest son (age 17) who is into art and cartooning has never been impressed with her books, but he got really excited when he saw the initial illustrations for this one. He thought it was really terrific to have the artwork done by an artist who was such a well known cartoonist.
Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life is a real departure from her usual picture books. First it is targeted to older readers; and second, Candace had a say in the design so the book really is her baby. She was just delighted with the designer who worked with her on the almanac's size and also the organization of the material. Selections for all the visuals were hers. She did all of the research and also obtained all the permissions. Usually when writes a book, it takes about 9 months; this one took three years. During the course of her extensive research, she met some really phenomenal people and the book is the culmination of her years of study and lifelong interest in Benjamin Franklin. Her original idea was to write 10 short stories about Franklin (10 About Ben, she though was a pretty catchy title). She really did not want to do a full-blown biography of the man, because it would be too much like so many others. While she found Ben Franklin fascinating, she wanted to take a different approach. Since kids are used to getting information in bite size chunks, she decided on the almanac format. Taken as a whole the book really does cover his life and its myriad accomplishments. The book is full of irreverent humor that will appeal to readers, especially boys. Who can resist a section titled Farts. Her researched unveiled more material that she could possibly use, so selection was necessary. The backmatter is extensive, a bibliography, listing of picture sources, books for young readers, web sites and an extensive index. The Library of Congress, American Philosphical Society, National Archives, Franklin Collection at Yale are some of the places she visited to conduct her research. She enjoyed seeing the actual material itself and walking around Philadelphia to get a feel for the city where Benjamin Franklin lived.
What next? She is actually writing a book at the request of her publisher about Eleanor Roosevelt due out in 2005. The research took her the Hyde Park where she met a friend of Eleanor's now in her 90s. She had a cardboard box of stuff and stories. In the spring of 2004 there will be a new picture book available--Smile, Lily with illustrations by Yumi Heo. Gator Gumbo edited by Melanie Kroupa is due out in 2004 from FS&G. The annotation notes that this is the tale of a hungry alligator, slow with age, who hopes to catch some good meat to add to his spicy gumbo. The pictures are by Sally Anne Lambert who won some acclaim for Barkus, Sly and the Golden Egg. Given the centennial interest in the Lewis and Clark exploration, her paperback book about the Louisiana Purchase is scheduled to be reissued as a Sunburst paperback by FS&G in April of 2004.
Reviews
Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life
Candace Fleming
It isn't often that we are lucky enough to be invited into the life of a man who had the curiosity of a child, the mind of a genius, who was not afraid to keep learning no matter what his age, and who was able to find humor in all manner of situations. Benjamin Franklin was such a man. Candace Fleming has created a book that allows us to explore Franklin's extraordinary life in a new way. Deciding not to write a tradition biography, she has chosen to present Franklin's life in the form of a scrapbook or almanac. This has a certain irony, for Franklin gained a good bit of his original popularity by publishing an almanac himself, entitled "Poor Richard's Almanac." Perhaps it is only fitting that his own life is presented in the form of an almanac as well. It is quite astonishing to discover in this remarkable book how much Franklin did indeed accomplish in his lifetime. Electrical experiments involving kites aside, he organized the first real postal system in the thirteen colonies, printed the first paper money, and saw, years before anyone else, that the American Revolution was going to happen. In fact, he also saw that slavery was an issue that was not going to go away; he knew that it would one day be a problem for the people of the United States. One of the wonderful things about this book is that one can pick it up and dip into the pages at random. The other is that once you pick it up, you cannot put it down. The book, looking so much like an almanac or scrapbook with an old-fashioned looking script, pictures, photographs, copies of letters and other documents, is a refreshing new look at the life of one of America's greatest men; we are able to marvel and sometimes smile at the things Benjamin Franklin did and said. Surely such a lover of books would be proud of this one. 2003, Atheneum, $19.95 Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Marya Jansen-Gruber (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2003; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-374-37486-4
A Big Cheese For the White House: The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar
Candace Fleming
Illustrated by S.D. Schindler
Several giant cheeses have graced the White House during the course of its history, and Fleming chooses to tell about Jefferson's cheddar. Her humorous account is centered in the town of Cheshire, Massachusetts, whose inhabitants are annoyed that the cheese of a competing town is being served in Washington. The making of a cheese sizable enough (1,235 pounds) to make the president stop and take notice is both amusing and informative. Schindler's pen and watercolor drawings make the most of the cheese's sled and boat ride to the capital. And Fleming's final word points out the cheese's longevity. For the record, a cheese later given to Andrew Jackson topped the scales at 1400 pounds. 1999, DK Ink, $16.95. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature)
A Big Cheese For the White House: The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar
Candace Fleming
Illustrated by S.D. Schindler
Based on an actual historical event, this amusing tale recounts a small community in Massachusetts in 1801 that decided it would create the country's biggest cheese (weighing 1,235 pounds) and deliver it to President Thomas Jefferson. They hoped that he would serve it to guests at the White House. Getting the cheese from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C. was no small feat. It traveled by horse-drawn sleigh over snow-packed roads, then by sailing ship down the Hudson River to New York City, and then again by sleigh to Washington. This transportation saga is nearly as fascinating as the description of the creation of the big cheese. The tremendous cheddar graced the East Room where it was enjoyed by many visitors to the White House from its arrival in 1801 until a reception in honor of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The pen and watercolor illustrations add humor to this tale. 1999, DK Publishing, $16.95. Ages 5 to 12. Reviewer: C. Henebry (Parent Council Volume 7)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2000; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
ISBN: 0-7894-2573-4
Boxes for Katje
Candace Fleming
Pictures by Stacey Dressen-McQueen
This wonderfully illustrated story is based upon the experiences of the author's mother who sent a box with toothpaste, soap and socks, along with a note, to Europe after World War II. The European people were in desperate need of food, warm clothing and personal items, and groups such as the Children's Aid Society, Catholic Relief Services, and the American Red Cross came to the rescue. Many Americans sent boxes packed with goods to those in need. Katje was a little girl who lived in the Dutch town of Olst where the people were suffering during the aftermath of the war. When Katje received a box from a child in the United States, she and her family generously shared the contents with their neighbors. She wrote a letter of thanks to Rosie, the young girl who sent the package, and Rosie and her family and friends responded with more boxes. Katje, her mother, and her neighbors were finally able to send a box to Rosie in return. They sent a box of tulip bulbs, and before long the beautiful tulips were blooming all over a little town in Indiana. An informative, inspirational story of young people sharing with others. 2003, Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar Straus and Giroux, Ages 5 to 7, $16.00. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford
ISBN: 0-374-30922-1
Gabriella's Song
Candace Fleming
Illustrated by Giselle Potter
There is so much music in Venice! Gabriella hears it in the calls of the street merchants, in the rhythm of the gondolas riding in the canal, even in the drying laundry hanging in the sun. She hums her own melody as she skips along, and soon everyone is humming it. When it floats to the window of a famous composer temporarily stumped for the music to his next opera, Gabriella's simple tune receives the royal treatment and becomes a masterpiece for the whole town to enjoy. Lovely sun-washed illustrations transmit a warm feeling for the city of canals. 1997, Atheneum, $16.00. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Judy Chernak (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1998; Bank Street College of Education; 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
Notable Books for Children, 1998; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 1998; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 1997; Cahners; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, November 1997; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Red Clover Children's Choice Picture Book Award , 1998-1999; Nominee; Vermont
ISBN: 0-689-80973-5
The Hatmaker's Sign: A Story by Benjamin Franklin
Retold by Candace Fleming
Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker
Thomas Jefferson had just presented his version of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress. He was sure that they would love it. When he was finished, the Congress broke into a great buzz and immediately began changing what Jefferson had thought was the perfect document. A saddened Jefferson sat alone as Congress argued until a friend, who saw his sadness, came to him and said "Tom, this puts me in mind of a story." That friend happened to be Benjamin Franklin and he told Jefferson the story of a young hatmaker, John Thompson, who was just starting his business and trying to come up with the perfect sign to represent it. On his way to have the sign made, John passed many people, each of whom had a suggestion for revising his sign. When the revisions were done, all that was left was a confused John Thompson and a blank sheet of paper. The point Franklin wanted to make was that revision is a part of the writing process. No matter what you write and no matter how wonderful it is, if the public is going to read it they will all have ideas for changes. 1998, Orchard Books, $15.95. Ages 7 to 9. Reviewer: Trina Heidt (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1999; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 1999; Children's Literature; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, February 1998; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Aesop Prize Accolade 1998 United States
ISBN: 0-531-30075-7
ISBN: 0-531-33075-3
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!
Candace Fleming
Mr. McGreely cannot imagine the trouble he will encounter when he finally plants the garden of his dreams. For years he has wanted a garden, but when his plants begin to sprout, three innocent looking bunnies attack them. The bunnies' nightly escapades by the light of the moon drive Mr. McGreely to desperate measures as he builds a fence, a wall, a mote and a fortress to thwart their thievery. But the bunnies cannot be deterred as they discover every way under the sun and the light of the moon to obtain the garden treats. As he comes to terms with their antics, Mr. McGreely finds that if he can't beat them he must join them and he sits down to munch a carrot along with the furry creatures. Fun repetitive words and phrases like "muncha, muncha, muncha," and "tippy, tippy, tippy, pat," and "dive-paddle, splash, splash, splash," will delight children as they cheer for the bunnies. The cumulative story line adds to the appeal of this book. Playful illustrations depict the bunnies as frivolous, likeable characters. Add this book to your shelf for increasing word awareness, sequencing and just plain fun. 2002, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $16.00. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature)
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!
Candace Fleming
This book is great fun on every level. The story is wickedly funny, the language is tantalizing, the pictures are hilarious, even the font (Kozmik) is playful. Poor Mr. McGreely tries everything to protect his beautiful little postage-stamp garden from three very resourceful bunnies, a.k.a. "flop-ears," "puff-tails," and "twitch-whiskers," but, of course, it's no use. Their persistent "tippy tippy tippy pat!" prevails over Mr. McGreely's hammering, blocking, sawing, stocking, drilling, filling, trapping, and locking. Mr. McGreely thinks he has won, but his jiggly, wiggly victory dance is premature. Fortunately for him, the tippy-tippy, muncha-muncha bunnies know how to win-win, and the ending is happy for everyone. Fiction, Highly Recommended. 2002, Atheneum, Unpaged, $16.00. Grades PreK-K. Reviewer: Carolyn Jennings (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 4))
Best Books:
Capitol Choices, 2002; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2003; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, February 2002; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2004; Nominee; Arizona
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Maryland
ISBN: 0-689-83152-8
Westward ho, Carlotta!
Candace Fleming
Illustrated by David Catrow
The West has never seen real adventure until Carlotta Carusa, the world-famous opera singer appears. Carlotta silences wolves as she trills Prokofiev's symphony, Peter and the Wolf. She ends a drought with an aria from Britten's Noah's Flood. She defeats Skullneck Sam and his band of outlaws with a crescendo blast from Puccini's Girl of the Golden West. Sam's baritone voice pours from him to join her soprano, creating a "divine duet" that brings the town to tears and Sam into the role of sheriff. Silly in concepts and pictures, this musical slapstick introduces terms and pieces in ways that will educate and intrigue. 1998, Atheneum, $16.00. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature)
Westward ho, Carlotta!
Candace Fleming
Illustrated by David Catrow
Can a wonderfully wacky, Wild West adventure teach little varmints about OPERA, too? Darn tootin'! Our heroine, the diva Carlotta Carusa, decides to give up the grand opera house to travel the Wild West with her amazing voice. It's there that Carlotta intends to find adventure, while serenading the cowboys and the buffaloes. But whoa! Snarling wolves, disastrous droughts and that no-good villain Skullneck Sam threaten her stagecoach tour. Carlotta ably shows us how the inspirational power of music, a positive attitude, and a spine-tingling E above high C can turn a bad situation around. The text is clever, the plot lively, and the characters funny. David Catrow's hilarious watercolor renderings add much to the hardcover picture book's appeal. 1998, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, $16.00. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Dianne Ochiltree (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-689-81063-6
When Agnes Caws
Candace Fleming
Illustrated by Giselle Potter
At a very young age, it became apparent that Agnes Peregrine had a very special skill. She could mimic the calls of a variety of birds. She is selected by the World Bird Society to search out the rare and elusive pink-headed duck. Thus, she heads for the Himalayas, but the nefarious bird collector Colonel Edwin Pittsnap is trailing the unsuspecting Agnes. Agnes' attempts to lure the mysterious pink-headed duck seemed doomed, but wait, what is that swooping in? Will Pittsnap snatch the pink-head? Can the plucky Agnes and her caws summon her feathered friends in time to stop Pittsnap and effect a rescue? It is a delightful and preposterous story that will have kids practicing their own bird calls. 1999, Simon & Schuster, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
When Agnes Caws
Candace Fleming
Illustrated by Giselle Potter
This delightful tale with a strong female heroine is also an accurate introduction to bird species around the world. Eight-year-old Agnes Peregrine's amazing ability to recreate bird calls makes her the World Bird Society's choice to find the "rarest, most elusive bird of all--the pink-headed duck." Agnes and her ornithologist mother set out for the duck's Himalayan home, and an adventure that involves outwitting the wicked bird collector, Col. Edward Pittsnap. Potter has chosen a mottled creamy paper to hold the many vignettes and full-page, thinly painted, stylized drawings. The Victorian illustrations have an appropriate light-hearted delicacy, yet there is a dramatic aura as Agnes's skills evolve and the hunt intensifies. The end papers picture ten of the birds mentioned in the text; captions give ornithological information. 1999, Atheneum, $16.00. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2000; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, February 1999; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 1999; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-689-81471-2
Who Invited You?
Candace Fleming
Pictures by George Booth
It is a challenge on some of the pages to get the rhyme and rhythm quite right on this otherwise fun counting-up-to-ten book. Readers appreciative of Booth's manic, squiggly-line-drawn jokes in The New Yorker will delight in the ink and watercolor illustrations of a girl "a-polin' through the swamp" in her flat-bottomed boat. One by one, nine uninvited bayou animals rhyme and count their way into the girl's boat ("Possum was there.../a-swingin', a-swayin',/a-dangly-wangly-playin'/'Whoo-eee!' whooped he/'I'm comin' along!'" and "'Hey!' I hollered. 'Who invited you?'/'If you got room for one,' said Possum,/'you got room for two'"). When animal number ten, a Gator, comes "a-smilin',/a-slinkin',/a-blinky-blanky-winkin'," he relieves the boat of its nine animal occupants, leaving the little girl "a-feelin' just fine" as she poles onward "through the bright swamp sunshine." 2001, Atheneum, $16.00. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Darcy H. Bradley, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
ISBN: 0-689-83153-6
Updated 11/03/03
To stay up to date on new books by this author, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.
If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.