David Milgrim
It was a very cloudy day in August when I met with David Milgrim at a café near his home in Rhode Island. He had considered living in California and Virginia, but ended up in Rhode Island because of family connections. He likes California since he grew up there and is a graduate of San Diego State, and later he studied at the Parson's School of Design which brought him to the East Coast. His undergraduate fields were communication art and graphic design. He even had an internship with United Media, the organization that publishes Peanuts and Garfield (David has a real desire to produce his own comic strip one of these days).
At the age of nineteen when he was reading Peanuts Jubilee My Life and Art With Charlie Brown and Others by Charles M. Schulz, David realized that people could make a living through art--so why couldn't he. His real goal has been to write and draw, he never wanted to just draw. To make a living, David spent five years (1984-1989) as a graphic designer, and then became a freelance illustrator undertaking assignments for corporate clients. At the same time he was preparing his portfolio.
Then in 1993 he took a workshop with Pat Cummings. In this series of three sessions, he needed to have a story that he could illustrate. His inspiration came with a story about a dog barking at the moon. Pat thought it had potential and she was able to get him into Macmillan/Bradbury. That was exciting, because David had been calling on various publishers in New York and leaving his portfolio, but really wasn't having any luck. While the book did not sell at Bradbury, Why Benny Barks, did become part of the "Step into Reading" series at Random House. Hazel Rochman (Booklist, January 1, 1995 (Vol. 91, No. 9)) noted "A simple, funny rhyme ... is illustrated with cartoon-style line-and-watercolor double-page spreads that show a puzzled child trying to work out why his dog barks. ... Kids will enjoy the silliness and the bewilderment."
Later he did a book entitled My Friend Lucky for Simon and Schuster with editor Anne Schwartz who encouraged him to do a book in his natural style. His simple cartoon style was appealing and his natural work tends to be flatter. All his new books are created using the computer. He creates thumbnails on the computer to get across the character and the actions. This really lets him put in a minimum amount of effort prior to selling the story. Once sold, he begins work creating drawings to size. He uses a drawing tablet, colors the images, and then prepares the files for his publisher. There are of course issues with color when you use a computer-what you see on the monitor is often not the exact color that will be printed. David did tell me that he does rough out ideas by hand or in pencil, but as previously described, the real thumbnails are on the computer. He remarked that he produces about one and a half books a year. To enjoy samples of his work and his children's books, visit his web site http://www.davidmilgrim.com.
At this point David has about 15 books-which as he candidly noted is not quite enough to support a family. He has managed to stay a book ahead so he always has work in the queue. As for family, David is married and has a son. He also has two older brothers and they have remained fairly close- I remarked that it is not easy in the age of busy careers and lifestyles that let family members live thousands of miles apart as they do in my own family.
Writing is always a challenge and he told me about a story that he had written a few months after the workshop with Pat. The story was completed in two to three hours, but it needed a different ending. It was a fourteen sentence book, but the last two sentences took him three weeks to write. In one of his writing classes at the New School, a visiting editor from Viking liked his work and thus his second book Dog Brain was published by that house. Now, like most authors and illustrators, he has books with several house and several imprints (some of that due to a consolidation of the publishing industry).
David currently has a new book underway, tentatively titled Another Day in the Milky Way, due in the spring of 2007 from Putnam. There are several other projects in more preliminary stages including a graphic chapter book. He loves the idea of Superheroes but doesn't like action heroes. For him Captain Underpants is a brilliant series and he would love to do work along those lines. It is funny to both kids and adults-truly broad humor. David believes that comics and graphic novels are here to stay. He pointed out that they are widely accepted in Asia and Europe, but we have yet to see total public acceptance here in the States. Kids like comic books. Pictures have so much power and for kids who have gone beyond picture books, comics and graphic novels offer a bridge to novels without illustration.
In David's own work, the text is spare because his pictures tell the story. He enjoys illustrating his own work because he can alter either the text or the drawings at will. It is much more difficult and limiting to work on the text of another author because you would not have that freedom to make these changes without direct negotiation or the intervention of an editor.
It is really enjoyable to talk to someone who loves what he or she is doing and David clearly loves what he is doing. He always liked to draw and despite slight family pressure to enter into a business career, he found his calling in art. He told me that he finds "our world endlessly mysterious and downright odd. But like stars, which can not be seen in the day (even though they are very much still in the sky), this mystery often goes unnoticed in our busy daily lives. My goal is to dig around in this deep wonder and bring it to the surface through books. I love to revel in the grand puzzle of life, and want to share my awestruck delight." And we in turn will revel in the delight that his books bring to us.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
For further information, please visit David's website www.davidmilgrim.com
Reviews
Here in Space
David Milgrim
The fact that the earth is "in space," instead of the idea that outer space is somewhere else, is the basis for this book. A little boy, who describes himself and his environment, explains, "Since I live on the earth, I am living in space." What follows is a look at earth as an outer space explorer might see it. The diversity of the geography, living creatures, and archeological relics are presented to encourage seeing the earth as a wild and exciting frontier, with humans as pioneers. The illustrations are very humorous and entertaining. Although simple in style, they do invite investigation, with pleasant rewards. David Milgrim has a knack for presenting provocative ideas that will definitely gets kids and parents thinking and talking. 1997, BridgeWater, $15.95. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Kristin Harris (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars, November 1, 1997; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1997; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
ISBN: 0-8167-4393-2
ISBN: 978-0-8167-4393-3
Little Lamb's Christmas
Josephine Page
Illustrated by David Milgrim
The traditional Christmas story is told through the eyes of Little Lamb, mainly through illustrations and minimal text. Little Lamb is awakened one night in the pasture by a special angel who urges the shepherd and his flock to travel to the City of David. They do, of course, and Little Lamb is treated to a special greeting by the Baby Jesus. The Peanuts-like illustrations, done predominantly in blue, will make this hardback a favorite read of the preschool set. Young children seem to identify more with animals than adults, anyway. 2003, Scholastic, $7.99. Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-52464-4
ISBN: 978-0-439-52464-3
My Friend Lucky
David Milgrim
A boy and his dog demonstrate the concept of opposites in this simple picture book. The endearing quality of the book is in the affection expressed between the boy and his best friend, Lucky. The two characters are drawn in a colorful cartoon style with oversized heads and expressive actions. They show exuberant love for each other. Each page has only two words of text and the first word is always Lucky or Lucky gives--kisses. Lucky gets--kisses. Lucky's hungry. Lucky's full. Lucky's sad. Lucky's happy. Young children will relate to the joy of interacting with a dog and will soon be proudly "reading" the book. 2002, Atheneum, $12.00. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-689-84253-8
ISBN: 978-0-689-84253-5
Patrick's Dinosaurs on the Internet
Carol Carrick
Illustrated by David Milgrim
In the competent hands of author Carol Carrick, dinosaurs are loveable creatures. Readers have met these dinosaurs before in Patrick's Dinosaurs and What Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs? On this outing, the dinosaurs jump out of the computer's screensaver and whisk Patrick out into space and to their home planet. Patrick goes to school with the friendly dinosaurs and enjoys class time, sharing time, and recess with them. The dinosaurs are all good sports until the fun is ruined by the timelessly villainous T-Rex. This book is more riotous than the previous two; but the warmth and friendship Patrick and these prehistoric creatures share is as evident as ever. 1999, Clarion Books, $16.00. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Judy Katsh (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-395-50949-1
ISBN: 978-0-395-50949-4
See Otto
David Milgrim
If you remember the books with Dick, Jane and Spot, this one will seem pretty familiar. It follows a similar pattern, "See Otto/See Otto Go/Go Otto, Go!" The main difference here is that Otto is a robot who blasts off in a space ship and ends up falling to Earth. It is a pretty simple story and is designed for those just beginning to recognize words. Part of the "Ready-to Read" series, Pre-level 1. 2002, Atheneum Books, $14.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-84416-6
ISBN: 978-0-689-84416-4
See Pip Point
David Milgrim
Definitely a very basic reader with large type, short sentences, simple and repetitive words, this is the story of Otto, the robot, and his friend Pip, the mouse. Pip wants Otto's balloon and points to it, so Otto willingly shares his balloon with Pip. However, when Pip takes hold of the balloon, he goes flying. There is adventure along the way with the picture clues aiding the reader. Finally, Pip's balloon gets popped, but alas, there is another balloon for Pip. This is the third in a series of easy reader books about Otto by Milgrim. The basic color illustrations do not clutter the page; therefore, the focus remains on the action pictures and the easy reading text. The cartoon style of Milgrim enhances the fun of this story. Interestingly, a similar mouse and robot appear in Milgrim's book Here in Space published in 1997. (Ready-to-Read). Fiction. Grades PreK-K. 2003, Atheneum Books, Unpaged., $14.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Marita Richards (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 16, No. 3)).
Best Books:
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award Winner 2004 Beginning Reader-Fiction Maryland
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Garden State Children's Book Award, 2006; Nominee; Easy Reader; New Jersey
ISBN: 0-689-85140-5
ISBN: 0-689-85116-2
See Santa Nap
David Milgrim
Santa gives his last two presents to Otto, the robot. Now it is time for Santa to rest. Unfortunately, it is hard for Santa to nap while everyone plays with their new toys. Flop marches by pounding his new drum, Pip tests his new water gun. Santa relocates, but it is no use. At one point, Santa gets into trouble, but Otto rescues him. Simple, repetitive text is perfect for emerging readers, who will be amused by the bold illustrations. Young readers will undoubtedly identify with the difficulty of remaining quiet while their elders nap. A "Ready-to-Read" pre-level 1 book. 2004, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, $14.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-85928-7
ISBN: 978-0-689-85928-1
Thank You, Thanksgiving
David Milgrim
In this adorable tale of a Thanksgiving Day errand, a little girl thanks all the things she is aware of along the way--the animals she sees and hears, the places she passes in her community, the natural world, etc. After accomplishing her mission, she returns home and is exuberantly thanked by her large family, who have been awaiting the arrival of...whipped cream! The digital oil pastel illustrations are bright and cartoon-y, perfect for the picture-book crowd. Kids will notice lots of clever little funnies in the pages, like animals peering in the general store window while the protagonist buys food for them along with the whipped cream, and a snow-baby with a pacifier among the neighborhood's snowmen. Pictures of extended family, turkey, pie and other traditions of Thanksgiving are vivid and happy, making this a great holiday read. Adults will chuckle at the references to that most inexplicable part of the tradition: football. Simple, repetitive text (on the order of Goodnight Moon) makes it a good choice for kids learning to read. 2003, Houghton Mifflin/Clarion Books, $9.95. Ages 2 to 5. Reviewer: Jane Harrington (Children's Literature)
With his stylized drawings and a very simple repetitive text, Milgrim takes us on an outing one Thanksgiving Day. The family has eaten dinner and on what is apparently a day after a big snowfall; a young gal sets out for the store. It can't be too cold because she isn't wearing any mittens or gloves. She is thankful for all of the ordinary things in life--warm boots, the sweet sound of birds, clouds in the sky and the animals that she encounters along the way. At the store she purchases the whipping cream that was obviously her mission and a few other items. She feeds the carrots to the rabbits and the bread to the duck. After her sledding adventure down a hill, I would have expected that the cream would be nearly whipped. However, once safely home she helps get it whipped up the traditional way so it can be served on the pies. The final scene even shows the animals enjoying a bit of the holiday treat. 2003, Clarion/Houghton Mifflin, $9.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-618-27466-9
ISBN: 978-0-618-27466-6
Time To Get Up, Time To Go
David Milgrim
This simple picture book portrays a toddler's view of his world from the time he gets up to the time he goes to bed. Viewing himself as the parent of his doll, he guides the doll through the various activities of his day, such as eating breakfast, playing in the park, pretending at home, and storytelling at bedtime. The focus is on the cartoonlike drawings, while the brief rhyming text adds nicely to the story and will soon have young listeners "reading" along. The activities the boy engages in are ones all youngsters can identify with. 2006, Clarion Books, $15.00. Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-618-51998-X
Young MacDonald
David Milgrim
Clad in white lab coat, Scientist David wheels the components for a madcap machine into the barn. Presto! An invention that pairs names, sounds, and bodies of animals is soon creating a new sing-along version of a familiar tune accompanied by full of life two-page illustrations. The mix-and-match begins with the title-a switch from the familiar "Old MacDonald." Little do the farm animals that grace the cover, suspect that they'll become a twosome on the platform of David's apparatus. Move to the title page and find him pondering the tasks to come. The adventure gets underway as he teams up a horse and pig, donkey and goose, sheep and chicken, duck and mouse, cow and owl. The matching game goes astray when the cat tips the lever while David and the dog are on the platform and a "bog" is created. Lickety-split! It's time to make everything right and soon all enjoy a pizza reward. Later the whizkid falls fast asleep hugging his cat and having continued his research with a book titled "Cloning." Charming characters and actions invite young readers to browse the animal antics and sing-aloud to new words of a familiar tune. 2006, Dutton Children's Books, 4 to 8, $12.99. Reviewer: Barbara Troisi (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-525-47570-2
ISBN: 978-0-525-47570-5
Added 10/26/06
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If you’re interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.