rapido's next stop

Rapido's Next Stop is a lift-the-flap book by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joëlle Jolivet, both from France.  This is the duo behind Oops! and 365 Penguins.  I'm absolutely in love with Jolivet's fresh color palette and bold, broad lines.  Rapido starts the day with a long list of things to transport.  Clues to help you guess each of Rapido's packages can be found under each flap and are delivered in rhyming text.  

I asked Avery if she were to receive a delivery from Rapido, what would she want?  She replied, "Hello Kitty-riding Unicorno and Hello Kitty Frenzies surprise box."  I'm sure I would want those, too, if I were six!  Avery’s favorite part in the book was when Rapido delivered the croissant.  Because who doesn't want breakfast delivered to their door? 

Rapido, bring us a croissant, stat!

cats' night out

Ever wonder what cats do at night when everyone’s asleep?  Written by Caroline Stutson and illustrated by Jon Klassen, Cats’ Night Out offers a hilarious possibility.  With the open night skies cloaked in subtle grays and browns, cats come out to cut the rug on urban rooftops.  Jon Klassen uses a nocturnal color palette and layered watercolors to create a world that we had no idea existed.  

Avery’s favorite part was the ending when the neighbors say "No more cats dancing!”  She liked looking for the prettiest cat on each page.

henri's walk to paris

Henri’s Walk to Paris was written by Leonore Klein and illustrated by Saul Bass.  Leonore Klein was a librarian as well as an author of children's books.  Saul Bass was a graphic designer and filmmaker, and this was the only children’s book he ever illustrated.  It was originally published in 1962 and reissued in 2012.  It's about a little boy named Henri, who wonders what life is like in Paris.  He plans a trip to Paris with a sweet and unexpected ending.

Bass’ style is a throwback to the bold, modern aesthetic of the 1960s (which is no surprise—it’s when the book was first published).  I love the use of pattern and repetition, modern and sparse lines and shapes.  Color plays a big role in this book.  Bass uses color to contrast city and country—bright pinks, reds and oranges for Paris' lively urban setting versus serene greens, blues and browns for the tranquil countryside of Henri’s small town, Reboul.  

If Saul Bass had illustrated more books, we would definitely have them all in our library.  Any of the pages in this book would make amazing wallpaper!

home

This year has gotten off to a good start for children’s literature.  Home by Carson Ellis is one of the beautiful works that has been published recently.  It features homes of every ilk—real, imaginary, urban, bucolic.  If Ellis’ work looks familiar, you’ve probably seen it on covers for The Decemberists.  The words in Home are hand-lettered and the illustrations are done in gouache and ink.

Avery was interested in living in the “cup house” because she wanted a “lot of space.”  As you read this with your kids, you’ll be imagining which otherwordly abode you’d like to live in, too.