Lucy Ruth Cummins
Author of A Hungry Lion, or, A Dwindling Assortment of Animals
Works by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Associated Works
Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story (2012) — Book and cover designer, some editions — 455 copies, 9 reviews
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
- Agent
- Folio Literary Management
- Short biography
- [excerpted from author's website]
Lucy Ruth Cummins is an author, illustrator, and art director. She is the executive art director of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers where she has worked for two decades on picture books, middle grade books, and young adult novels. She also manages a team of talented art directors and designers.
Born in Canada, she is the youngest of six children, and her family lived in an actual log cabin. She grew up in Cortland, New York, and she now lives with her little family in Brooklyn, New York. Her favorite food is the french fry. - Places of residence
- Cortland, New York, USA
Brooklyn, New York, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- New York, USA
Members
Reviews
A diverse group of animals, gathered together with a hungry lion, gradually begin to dwindle in number in this humorous picture-book. Have they disappeared into the lion's stomach, as seems likely at first, or is something else responsible for their departure? If the latter, does this signal a happy ending, or is another surprise in store...?
With its pointed and very sharp sense of humor, this debut from Lucy Ruth Cummins reminded me of the work of Jon Klassen, which is fitting, as Klassen's show more recommendation can be found on the back cover of A Hungry Lion. I enjoyed the surprises here, and the way that the author continually misleads the reader, but suspect that more sensitive young people may not like the conclusion of the tale. I recommend that parents proceed with caution, reading this one first, before giving it to younger children, just to make sure it will suit them. The artwork, done in brush marker, gouache, graphite, charcoal and colored pencil, is absolutely charming, somehow managing to look hastily scribbled and skillfully done all at the same time. It looks very simple, but somehow manages to communicate a real sense of motion, and to capture its characters' various states of emotion. Recommended to anyone who enjoys picture-book fare of the slightly less-than-sweet variety. show less
With its pointed and very sharp sense of humor, this debut from Lucy Ruth Cummins reminded me of the work of Jon Klassen, which is fitting, as Klassen's show more recommendation can be found on the back cover of A Hungry Lion. I enjoyed the surprises here, and the way that the author continually misleads the reader, but suspect that more sensitive young people may not like the conclusion of the tale. I recommend that parents proceed with caution, reading this one first, before giving it to younger children, just to make sure it will suit them. The artwork, done in brush marker, gouache, graphite, charcoal and colored pencil, is absolutely charming, somehow managing to look hastily scribbled and skillfully done all at the same time. It looks very simple, but somehow manages to communicate a real sense of motion, and to capture its characters' various states of emotion. Recommended to anyone who enjoys picture-book fare of the slightly less-than-sweet variety. show less
When the Dracula family visits the zoo in this humorous picture-book from author/illustrator Lucy Ruth Cummins, their youngest member changes places with one of the penguins for the day. Although the switch remains unnoticed by the vampires, the penguins are more alert, and so will the reader be, picking up on the many discrepancies between the textual description of each scene, and the reality depicted in the artwork...
Although I have read and enjoyed a number of Cummins' other show more picture-books, both those written by her and those written by other authors, I was unaware of Vampenguin until seeing it reviewed by an online friend late last year. Thankfully, my library request arrived promptly, and I was able to read it. I enjoyed it, particularly the humor of the textual/visual disconnect, and the way in which all of the zoo animals are immediately able to spot the penguin, when the Draculas cannot. That said, I think I agree with my friend, in feeling like there was potential for a deeper story here, one about an actual penguin vampire. Perhaps this was too much to expect, given that I think Cummins is a stronger artist than she is a storyteller. Still, leaving that aside, this was still a fun little romp, and is one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for stories about vampires, zoos, penguins, and/or the idea of perception vs. reality. show less
Although I have read and enjoyed a number of Cummins' other show more picture-books, both those written by her and those written by other authors, I was unaware of Vampenguin until seeing it reviewed by an online friend late last year. Thankfully, my library request arrived promptly, and I was able to read it. I enjoyed it, particularly the humor of the textual/visual disconnect, and the way in which all of the zoo animals are immediately able to spot the penguin, when the Draculas cannot. That said, I think I agree with my friend, in feeling like there was potential for a deeper story here, one about an actual penguin vampire. Perhaps this was too much to expect, given that I think Cummins is a stronger artist than she is a storyteller. Still, leaving that aside, this was still a fun little romp, and is one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for stories about vampires, zoos, penguins, and/or the idea of perception vs. reality. show less
A beautiful big pumpkin with every good quality, save for a stem, Stumpkin looked forward to someone taking him home and making him into a Jack-o-Lantern in time for Halloween. But as the other pumpkins sold, one by one, he slowly began to lose hope. Then Halloween night arrived, and Stumpkin discovered that he didn't need to leave home to achieve his dream...
A sweet Halloween story about an 'ugly duckling' pumpkin who nevertheless achieves his dream of becoming a Jack-o-Lantern, Stumpkin is show more the third picture-book I have read that is illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins (and the second that is both written and illustrated by her). It is really quite well-written, much like Cummins' A Hungry Lion, or, A Dwindling Assortment of Animals, and features winsome illustrations. I particularly liked the scenes in which Stumpkin is being carved, and slowly gains a new perspective. Recommended to anyone looking for new Halloween picture-books on the sweeter side. show less
A sweet Halloween story about an 'ugly duckling' pumpkin who nevertheless achieves his dream of becoming a Jack-o-Lantern, Stumpkin is show more the third picture-book I have read that is illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins (and the second that is both written and illustrated by her). It is really quite well-written, much like Cummins' A Hungry Lion, or, A Dwindling Assortment of Animals, and features winsome illustrations. I particularly liked the scenes in which Stumpkin is being carved, and slowly gains a new perspective. Recommended to anyone looking for new Halloween picture-books on the sweeter side. show less
Exquisite: vibrant art that keeps giving and the writing (pure joy) takes you there: Pool day! Set in a city community pool with bodies of all kinds, skin (including sunburned) of all kinds, styles of all kinds (do you put a toe in at once? Do you immediately jump in? Do you play? Do you like to just lean back and talk to friends?)...Knowing and loving the pool as "OUR POOL" evokes pride, community, belonging, and being in this together (literally). Celebrates all the joys of a public pool show more in childhood--"You can feel TALL in the shallow end. And OH-SO-SHORT in the deep end. We line up and take turns swimming through each other's legs...", the lifeguard whistle (boo), the cloud that briefly appears (collective boo), then disappears (collective cheer), slimy or spray sunblock, an ice cream truck on the way home. OUR POOL is one of the best illustrated and "storyboarded"/"directed" picture books I've ever read, and the text is great, too--the assonance, consonance, typography, bits of humor--just great. show less
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- Works
- 12
- Also by
- 12
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- 903
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- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 44
- ISBNs
- 36
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- 4