Tony Johnston

Inspired by Russian lore concerning that powerful witch Baba Yaga, author/illustrator team Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola spin a fantastic witchy yarn set in the American southwest. Residing just outside the settlement of Santa Fe, Alice Nizzy Nazzy was a fearsome witch who lived in a house with roadrunner feet, surrounded by a fence of prickly pears. She liked to eat little children, and the parents thereabouts warned their offspring to avoid her house. But one day Manuelita found herself show more approaching that very domicile, in search of her lost sheep. Would Alice Nizzy Nazzy eat her? Or would Manuelita prove that not only was she a good child, but a clever one too...?

Johnston and dePaola collaborated on nine picture books, including the Halloween classic, The Vanishing Pumpkin, as well as that pioneer tale, The Quilt Story. Here they offer a delightful tribute to their original witchy inspiration—just as Baba Yaga has a house on chicken legs, Alice Nizzy Nazzy has one on roadrunner legs, and both witches fly through the air with a mortar—but also craft an original story with lots of southwestern flair. I don't always care for transplanted stories such as this, but Alice Nizzy Nazzy: The Witch of Santa Fe really only uses the original Russian lore as a starting point, offering something unique and entertaining, rather than the same story in a different skin. As someone who enjoys witchy fare, I enjoyed this story of a truly wicked witch, and appreciated dePaola's signature artwork as well. dePaola is know for a far gentler magic maker, in his classic Strega Nona books, but as he himself notes, this is a very different kind of witch! Recommended to picture book readers who enjoy witchy tales, and for stories of clever children outwitting their foes. show less

Author Tony Johnston and illustrator Jim LaMarche, who previously collaborated on the lovely Winter Is Coming, return to the picture-book form here, producing a title that is as poignant and moving as it is breathtakingly beautiful. A young girl dreams of seeing a puma - AKA: mountain lion, cougar, painter, etc. - and, with the encouragement of her grandmother, sets out a salt lick, hoping to lure one close to her ranch home. Her grandmother advises patience, letting her know that some show more dreams are long-term, taking years to come to fruition, if they ever do. But eventually, after a long time, the girl is rewarded with a glimpse of one of these elusive "ghosts of the mountain." Deeply moved and inspired, the girl chooses a new dream: to help save the endangered puma, so others might someday see it as well...

It's the rare book that earns a full five stars from me, but Puma Dreams manages it, providing both the aesthetic and emotional epiphanies necessary to make it a true classic, in my estimation. The text is simple but poetic, with a frequently insightful turn of phrase that had me stopping and rereading. From the description of pumas as creatures who "keep shy of people and to themselves. Quiet. Like secrets," to the girl's feeling, after finally seeing this elusive cat, that "the puma will always glisten there, a great golden ghost," Johnston's language here is beautifully descriptive, and emotionally resonant. LaMarche's artwork, created using acrylics, colored pencil and opaque ink, is simply gorgeous, skillfully capturing the girl and her grandmother, and the majesty of the natural world around them. The artist is at the top of his game here, and his illustrations work perfectly with the text. Looking back, it seems astonishing to me that this book wasn't awarded a Caldecott Honor (at the very least) in 2020. I don't often second guess awards committees - such judgements are of course subjective - but they really missed the ball with this one. Highly recommended, to all picture-book readers looking for lovely stories about children and their interaction with the natural world, and to fellow Jim LaMarche fans. show less

"The Harmonica" was written by Tony Johnston and illustrated by Ron Mazellan. From the beginning, readers know it is going to be a dark book. It is about the Holocaust. It opens with a tone I have never heard in a children's book. "I cannot remember my father's face, or my mother's, but I remember their love, warm and enfolding in a song." This struck me immediately. It has such an amazing and engaging hook. The book goes on to discuss other memories of the parents. And the importance of show more music to his family and the harmonica's importance. This book is for younger children, but older kids will understand it on a different level. They will feel it on a different level. This is a culturally rich book because it discusses such a huge part of history through the eyes of a young boy. The main idea of this book is to show how people can be hopeful in miserable times of pain and toil. show less

An old woman makes herself soup one lonely Halloween night, but finds that the broth is a little weak. Searching for a soup bone, she heads out into the night and ends up digging up more than she bargained for in the form of a skeleton who chases her up a tree. Not to be outdone, the old woman dons her Halloween costume (a dog suit) and frightens the skeleton right back. Fortunately for both, peace is made, and the two new friends settle down for some soup together, before heading out to show more scare the world...

Having greatly enjoyed the previous collaboration between author Tony Johnston and illustrator Margot Tomes - the marvelously witchy picture-book, The Witch's Hat - I picked up The Soup Bone with great anticipation. I was not disappointed, finding the narrative by turns humorous and spooky, and the artwork expressive and appealing. Recommended to anyone looking for entertaining Halloween fare for the picture-book set, as well as to those seeking children's stories about confronting our fears. show less