CHECK IT OUT

‘A picture book really exists only when a child and a book come

together, when the stream that formed in the artist’s mind and heart

flows through the book and into the mind and heart of the child,’

explains three-time Caldecott Medal Award-winner Marcia Brown.

To help bring picture books into the minds and hearts of children, the

Newport Beach Central Library displays original illustrations by

well-known children’s book artists in its Stahr Children’s Room. All have

been received as gifts from their esteemed creators.

Among the works is Brown’s Chinese ink and brush drawing that was an

alternate illustration for the jacket of ‘Lotus Seeds,’ her thoughtful

volume about children, pictures and books. Also on display is her

linoleum print for ‘Dick Whittington and His Cat,’ recognized as a 1951

Caldecott Honor Book for best illustration in a children’s book.

One of the most beloved characters from children’s literature is

represented in the autographed title page from ‘Clifford the Firehouse

Dog,’ depicting the big red canine loping down a street to clear the way

for fire engines. Another unconventional dog is featured in a portrait of

Pinkerton, the pony-sized puppy from Steve Kellogg’s award-winning

series.

Still another oversized hound leaps across a pen, ink and watercolor

illustration from Dick Gackenbach’s ‘Tiny for a Day.’ The delightful

drawing depicts second grade inventor Sidney riding his dog Wally to

school after shrinking himself with his amazing Mini-Box.

Among the boldest of the framed works is an autographed poster from

Eric Carle’s ‘Today is Monday.’ In his trademark style, Carle used

colored tissue for the bright collage, achieving different textures with

brushes he used to splash, splatter and finger paint on his paper

palette.

Susan Meddaugh employs a more delicate style in a pen, ink and

watercolor illustration from ‘The Witches Supermarket,’ an imaginative

tale about a market that stocks such gruesome groceries as Cherno-Belle

Chewies and ghoulaid.

Another pen and ink illustration is from Judith Viorst’s ‘Alexander,

Who’s Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move.’ The work by Robin

Reiss-Glass is rendered in the style of Ray Cruz, illustrator of the

series of books about the irascible Alexander, who has been playing on

readers’ sympathies since 1972.

The newest additions to the collection include a sizable drawing of

Miffy, the lovable bunny in Dutch graphic designer Dick Bruna’s ‘Miffy’s

Birthday’ and ‘Miffy is Crying.’

Also new is a felt tip pen sketch of Livingston Mouse, the mouse

created by Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole.

Parodying one of the explorer rodent’s lines in ‘Livingstone Mouse,’

the inscription reads, ‘I had no idea books would be so hot at the

Newport Beach Public Library!’

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Lin Look.