Comments on: Review of the Day: Ice by Arthur Geisert

By: Ed Spicer

Ed Spicer — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:22:00 +0000

I know I am coming to this party late, but I can offer the fact that HOGWASH is a favorite with my first graders. The artwork in HOGWASH is especially for those students (more often, boys) who like inspecting detail. I did not share HOGWASH to my class, but did booktalk it to my students. Word of mouth has carried its circulation from there (and I definitely have a Geisert groupie core who have checked out HOGWASH dozens of times). I shared this one with teachers and librarians in presentations as well. I think that once folks hear, “Hey! Look at these funny, well-drawn details!” they become much more interested in his work. I have not yet seen ICE, but hope to very soon.

By: Sergio Ruzzier

Sergio Ruzzier — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:45:38 +0000

Arthur Geisert is an American treasure. I am always grateful and relieved when I see that a new book of his is being published. I hope he’ll go on for a very long time.

By: :paula

:paula — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:22:40 +0000

I am with Wendie – I promote the Geisert books at our library whenever I can. Oops and Lights Out are fantastic for kids who like to build things, but I am a particular fan of the Town books, which can be hard to find nowadays.

In our system Prairie Town, River Town, et al, were unfortunately shelved as NF, under, like, weird urban-studies call numbers, and so their circulation was nil. But they are terrific detail books, great for kids who like to construct their own narrative based on pictures. Particularly good for kids with certain learning differences.

By: WendieO

WendieO — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:08:45 +0000

I Love, Love, Love Arthur Geisert books.
They don’t circulate well at our library, but anyone who takes the time to slowly follow all the ins and outs of what’s happening on each page will be reminded of the complexity of Rube Goldberg contraptions. (and the fun of them, too.)
Check out OOPS,
and HOGWASH,
and Pigaroons,
and OINK.
Hmmm, I detect a piggy trend here.

By: Elizabeth Bird

Elizabeth Bird — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:55:15 +0000

I think my comment was less an all-glitter-must-die note and more just a simple fact that as great as glittery books are, there needs to be room in this world for books like Ice and their ilk as well. I'm reading Cinderella Ate My Daughter at the moment and the debate of whether kids love glitter or have had a love of glitter untimely thrust upon them is fascinating. Americans may be independant thinkers, but my worry is that their choices might be taken away if there is only the bright and sparkly to choose from.

By: Jackie Kramer

Jackie Kramer — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:02:45 +0000

I appreciate that books like ICE are noticed and appreciated. Yes I agree they’re is an intricate delicacy to the illustrations.
However, your comment on “Americans want books that are dipped in glitter and that scream, pick me, pick me!” Well, I personally can’t speak for all Americans, but as a writer, this could become a “what came first chicken or egg” debate. I could lay (excuse the pun) the blame at the feet of the editors, publishers and agents who believe that those glittery, loud books is what will sell here and the readers want. Thus begins the proverbial viscous cycle. Writers/illustrators begin to feed the monster. I’m not about to compare my writing or lack of it to Arthur Geisert, but my peers and myself continue to write and illustrate stories that struggle to find a place here in “America”. Which I believe has become less and less a reflection of what the majority like and more about the industry taking the safe bet, with little inspiration, and having little faith that we Americans are independant thinkers. Yes, we can rise to the occasion. As my kids say, “Bring it!”