Blue on Blue

I have a backlist of illustrators to choose from for my We Explore Favorite Artists programs and Beth Krommes was near the top of the newer illustrators I wanted to try. However, when I was picking people for this year's programs, I was worried that she didn't have enough of a backlist of titles, especially those I could use with toddlers and young preschoolers. However, with this new title, I need worry no longer.

White's poetic text takes the reader through a rainy day on the farm, from growing storm clouds to pouring rain, from a celebration of muddy delights to the peaceful bath and bedtime as night arrives. Simple couplets explore the sound of the rain and the storm.

Krommes' artwork is a visual feast, with so much to offer for a show more discussion in programming. Her distinctive scratch-art style, of course, makes scratch-art projects a must. Hidden details in the pictures; the girl and dog under the covers during the thunder, little ducks in a pond almost hiding in the gutter of the book, and details in the landscape views are perfect for a toddler audience to interact with the story. For older children, discussions of how Krommes uses her scratch-art style to create shadows and movement, light and dark in the images, will flow naturally from the story.

I had our We Explore Favorite Artist Beth Krommes session last week and this book was a big hit. It's already garnered starred reviews and I expect to see it show up on award lists at some point as well.

Verdict: Even if you're not planning a program around this book, it's a must-have to add to your titles for toddlers. Beautiful art and lovely text combine to offer a simple, reassuring story of the beauty of a summer storm. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781442412675; Published 2014 by Beach Lane/Simon and Schuster; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library show less

This beautifully illustrated picture book portrays an ordinary stormy, rainy day in the country that looks wonderfully extraordinary. The scratchboard illustrations with added watercolor paint by 2009 Caldecott Medal winner, Beth Krommes, are the real stars here. With repetitive, spare, dreamy words and illustrations we see a day unfolding--wash being hung on the line, fields being plowed, pigs rolling in the mud, loud thunder, drips dripping, umbrellas up, rain suddenly stopping and finally the sunshine. The two-page visual spreads are breath-taking, especially the final spread of a breaching whale “on a silver night.” This is a magnificent picture book for sharing one-on-one with your preschooler or budding young artist.

Sharyn

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H. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

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A rain storm in summer. Krommes' illustrations are vibrant as always. The text features a lot of rhyming, alliteration, and onomatopoeias to evoke the experience of a summer rain storm rather than a narrative.

What a lovely illustrated book. It was calming to read the text and soak in the very beautiful images.

This is a story of rain that pours and causes all to seek shelter. And, then there is joy when the sky breaks forth and the sun shines through.

This book depicts the approach, duration, and resolution of a summer storm. The phenomenal and striking illustrations are rendered in scratchboard and watercolor. This book has very striking details, a simple story line, and uses basic language and rhyme in order to draw in the attention and focus of young readers. The plot spans for one day, also teaching young readers about the passage of time, from morning until night. The book ends, "Moon rises. Golden glow. Glitter stars, twinkling light. Black on gold...on silver night." Very nice lyrical writing.

The scratchboard and color illustrations in this book are fantastic and depict beautifully the mood and subtle details the farm goes through as the seasons change. The text is also lovely, but the illustrations are what makes this book really special. This was one of my favorite finds this term.

A young girl and her family experience the thrills of a summer thunderstorm at their seaside farm. Concise rhyming verse and detailed watercolor illustrations capture the energy of the storm and the warmth of family.