David Biedrzycki
Author of Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight?
Series
Works by David Biedrzycki
Icky Bug COlors 1 copy
Sumo Puppy 1 copy
Associated Works
The Freshwater Alphabet Book The Freshwater Alphabet Book (1996) — Illustrator — 371 copies, 2 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1955
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Kutztown University
- Occupations
- advertising
children's book illustrator - Short biography
- [excerpt from author's website]
I was born a long time ago in Taylor, Pennsylvania where early photographs of me were taken when the world had no color or, because it was a mining town, everything was covered with a fine layer of gray coal dust or soot. Up until a short time ago, my older brother had me convinced I was adopted from a family of wandering coyotes.
In college I learned how to ride a unicycle. However, not being able to juggle precluded me from a career in the circus. For as long as I could remember I always loved to draw. I always wanted to be the best artist that I could be. I went to Kutztown State University and majored in painting. After graduating from college I moved to Boston and started taking my portfolio around to any place that bought illustration. I met a lot of wonderful people who gave me my first illustration jobs. I started doing work for newspapers, magazine, ad agencies and design firms. It was so much fun.
I met author Jerry Pallotta in the early 90's and began illustrating some of his books in between other illustration jobs. Jerry also took me along with him to his school visits. I was amazed by his presentations. I started to understand my audience. Around 2000 I decided to go full time into writing and illustrating my own books and doing school visits. I have been given the opportunity to visit schools all over the United States, and countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. - Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Taylor, Pennsylvania, USA
- Places of residence
- Taylor, Pennsylvania, USA
Massachusetts, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
A stray kitty, looking for some food and longing for a home, finds a way to make himself useful at the heya, or training center for sumo wrestlers. But when his plentiful diet makes him a little chubby, and he can no longer catch the mice, out he goes again. Fortunately for our rotund feline, his special sumo friend Kuma lets him in again, and this kitty cat begins to train, eventually getting fit enough to restore his honor as a mouser. Kuma meanwhile, inspired by SumoKitty, manages to beat show more the reigning sumo champion, and become yokozuna himself...
SumoKitty is my first picture-book from author/illustrator David Biedrzycki, whose illustrative style reminds me a bit of Rob Scotton, the British creator of Splat the Cat. By turns poignant and humorous, the entertaining narrative here is paired with colorful and cute artwork that perfectly captures the spirit of the story. I particularly liked the droll expressions on both kitty and sumo wrestlers throughout. I also appreciated the use of various sumo terms, and that they were defined on the page, rather than at the back. Entertaining, amusing, and educational, this is a picture-book I would recommend, both to young cat lovers, as well as to any child interested in sumo wrestling. show less
SumoKitty is my first picture-book from author/illustrator David Biedrzycki, whose illustrative style reminds me a bit of Rob Scotton, the British creator of Splat the Cat. By turns poignant and humorous, the entertaining narrative here is paired with colorful and cute artwork that perfectly captures the spirit of the story. I particularly liked the droll expressions on both kitty and sumo wrestlers throughout. I also appreciated the use of various sumo terms, and that they were defined on the page, rather than at the back. Entertaining, amusing, and educational, this is a picture-book I would recommend, both to young cat lovers, as well as to any child interested in sumo wrestling. show less
When an alien spaceship snatches up bears, moose, rabbits, and squirrels, everyone is concerned. But it isn’t only the meadow animals; the aliens also took farm animals and zoo animals.
The Animal Rescue League sends messages into space demanding the animals’ safe return; the mayor interrupts his campaigning to say how much he cares about the animals.
And then the alien spaceship returns. Why?
This story, presented in the format of a news broadcast, is both frenzied and hysterical. While show more everyone worries about the animals, the abducted animals don’t seem to be in any danger. [No spoiler here to tell you why.] There are clever clues in the Adobe Photoshop pictures and the runner along the bottom of each page is often hilarious.
The target audience for this picture book is the young reader, ages four through eight [preschool through third grade]. The colorful pictures add to the telling of the tale [be sure to look at the pictures bracketing the beginning and the ending of the story]. This book is one that parents are likely to enjoy as much as their young readers [who are sure to be laughing far too hard to go to sleep]. show less
The Animal Rescue League sends messages into space demanding the animals’ safe return; the mayor interrupts his campaigning to say how much he cares about the animals.
And then the alien spaceship returns. Why?
This story, presented in the format of a news broadcast, is both frenzied and hysterical. While show more everyone worries about the animals, the abducted animals don’t seem to be in any danger. [No spoiler here to tell you why.] There are clever clues in the Adobe Photoshop pictures and the runner along the bottom of each page is often hilarious.
The target audience for this picture book is the young reader, ages four through eight [preschool through third grade]. The colorful pictures add to the telling of the tale [be sure to look at the pictures bracketing the beginning and the ending of the story]. This book is one that parents are likely to enjoy as much as their young readers [who are sure to be laughing far too hard to go to sleep]. show less
This book is a little long, but it really works. There are pages with the stories told entirely by illustrations and other where it’s a little wordy. But altogether it works well for an interesting, fun, and a bit crazy story that I know I want to read again so kids are gonna wanna read it again. The illustrations are Masterful. They bring terror but life and help the story live on after the words have stopped.
I do like this series. It was better than the original, but the Christmas story is still the best. Did you know what dragon does not like Halloween? He is afraid of zombies and most creatures that go bump in the night. But with a little imagination, and I do mean little, dragon and family find the perfect trick or treat outfit and gather tons of candy.
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Statistics
- Works
- 20
- Also by
- 5
- Members
- 2,609
- Popularity
- #9,848
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 58
- ISBNs
- 108
- Languages
- 3