The Giraffe That Walked to Paris, by Nancy Milton, illustrated by Roger Roth

這是Roger Roth 的第一本書，買的原因是長頸鹿是我喜歡的動物，加上巴黎，還有，雖然是University Bookstore賣出的舊書，書況卻非常好。還加了Demco的書衣，像新的一樣。
故事是第一隻到法國的長頸鹿，在15世紀時歐洲只有義大利的Medici家族有一隻長頸鹿，法國很羨慕，在1827年時由埃及送了一隻長頸鹿給法王查理五世，由船經地中海到法國南部的馬賽，因為不堪長途跋涉而且沒有適合的交通工具，最後只好讓長頸鹿一路走到巴黎。
It is based on real event and real people.

How to map!

地圖一直是我的莫名喜好之一，所以如果看到書有地圖，品質還不錯，就，就，買回家。
這幾本書是教孩子做地圖的，還有scale的概念，東南西北，或高低深淺，還有某些地圖是被distortion的，大小比例扭曲的。
"閱讀"地圖其實是需要學習的能力，而且終身受用，讓自己有比例感、有方向感、知道自己的位置。

Curious Garden 開放囉！

Peter Brown採用Charles Sheeler的城市畫風，用壓克力顏料與不透明水彩畫出的廢棄鐵道變身秀。
這段荒廢的鐵軌建於1934年位於曼哈頓西邊，這原來想取代造成多起事故的平面鐵道，但是運送系統漸漸被卡車和其他公路取代，所以沒多久就荒廢了，到1970年完全關閉。經過規劃修復後成為公園，2009年6月即將對公眾開放。
在建造期間，非常險峻，因為這段鐵路高出地面30呎，雖然非常堅固，但是風大，經過下雪的季節，其實最辛苦的據說是夏季的熱浪，但是也有消遣：他們可以從上看到許多明星拍片、剪頭髮、試衣服，因為這裡是紐約最新的時尚中心。鐵道下很多倉庫已經轉形成商店，個性小店與名牌爭奇鬥艷，但經過這場重生，meatpacking district改頭換面，正式步上世界時尚中心。

那天到Bryant Elementary School時剛好看到牆上貼著，不過我恰好錯失那天。

Terrible Things 後記

這本'這恐怖'的書其實在獻給某人之後，Eve Buntign寫了一段：

...

Standing up for what you know is right is not always easy. Especially if the one you face is bigger and stronger than you. It is easier to look the other way. But if you do, terrible things can happen.

- E.B.

合不就是對現在沈默的人的強心劑。

5/12新聞：一位幾乎已被確認是納粹蓋世太保主力殺手的89歲老人，以醫療專機送回德國接受審判。
有關Holocaust的圖畫書：
The Mozart Question, by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Michael Foreman符符
The Cats in Krasinski Square, by Karen Hesse, illustrated by Wendy Watson
The Harmonica, by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Ron mazellan
Music for the End of Time, by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Beth Peck
有關Holocaust的寫作，其實已經非一般寫作了，這樣深沈的題材必須高手才能掌握，但是高手中的高手首推Eve Bunting與Stephen Gammell的Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust ，這本書呼應了Martin Niemoller寫的詩，Eve Bunitng 用小動物來暗喻發生的各種狀況，令讀者不寒而憟。

Steve Jenkins, more

那天看完書後，一直興起，就想為什麼要自己猜測，不如直接問作者，於是發了一篇e-amil給 Steve Jenkins，如下：

Dear Mr. Jenkins,
My picture-book sharing circle started with your books this morning.
The topic was brought up because our book club talked about David Wisniewsky last week.
We are a group of picture book lovers and readers, gather some college teachers, moms, English tutors, and book shop owner at the SilexBooks <http://www.silexbooks.com.tw/silexbooks/> in Taipei.

I have few questions:

* Do you make certain kind of the paper by yourself? The wings of
dragonfly confused us.(Prehistoric Actual Size)
* How do you find your material (I mean paper)?
* Do you use X-acto knifes?

There's a paper culture museum <http://www.suhopaper.org.tw/english/default.htm> in Taipei. The owner also runs a store with great collection of paper next to the museum. Visitors can make their own sheet of paper by using ready-made paper pulp in museum. If you are interested in this. I can take pictures for you.
Last, your books are amazing. Do you keep all the original manuscripts? Is there any exhibition?

Best regards,
Charlene Lai

幾天之後(5/20)收到他的回信，太棒啦！
Hi Charlene,

I'm glad you're sharing the books -- thanks!

Here are a few answers:

Those dragonfly wings are actually maple tree seeds. I'm not sure if those trees grow where you are. I don't usually use things that aren't paper, but in the US every kid is familiar with maple tree seeds -- they call them 'helicopter seeds', because if they are dropped from a height they spin around as they fall. It's sort of a visual joke...

I use mostly handmade papers, many of which come from Asia. I do make a few paste papers - basically painting the surface of the paper.

Most of my paper comes from a single art store in New York City. They have a big handmade paper section, and I travel there twice a year or so to shop for paper (New York Central).

I do use X-acto knives. The only time I don't is when I want a rough edge, and tear the paper. It takes several hundred knife blades to illustrate a book, because the blade's points snap off and I have to replace them so they cut cleanly.

If you know of a good art supply store that sells paper (on the internet) in Taipei, let me know, and I'll check them out. I'd love to see the pictures of the museum store.

I keep most of the original art. Perhaps someday there will be an big exhibit... There is an exhibit that includes some of my work in Korea right now -- that's the only one I know of.

Thanks for writing,

Steve Jenkins

他回答了那隻蜻蜓的翅膀是楓葉樹種籽，果然，如大家所料，是紙之外的材質。其他的等我到樹火紙博物館回來再整理。

Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

這也是一位用剪紙做圖的童書創作者，Nancy Elizabeth Wallace 的書，著重在知性的如回收、蜂蜜採成、蘋果豐收、節日、藝術作品的賞析；其他在網站看到的還有蝴蝶、種子、拼布，共有20本，還有DVD，每一本都有特殊主題。