19. Cherish Today: A Celebration of Life's Moments

I'm sure you're all familiar with this Dr. Seuss classic. I read it every year on the last day of school to my students. I still use the copy that I received as a gift when I graduated from high school. Even with all of Dr. Seuss' crazy scenarios and invented words, kids still understand the message. It is about the future...to expect difficult times and failure, but to in the end know who you are and how wonderful you are and that you will succeed.

But that's not the book I am reviewing...I am reviewing Cherish Today written and illustrated by the husband and wife team of Kristina Evans and Bryan Collier (remember him?). 

 

This book is also about the journey toward the future, but instead of focusing on where you end up going, it is more about the getting there. The book urges you to cherish the moment you are in and the road you are traveling. Though the book features an African-American girl and her journey, this book is for anyone as they are about to make their way through life.

The text is written in a style similar to Dr. Seuss, with a rhythmic, poetic quality. 

"You've accomplished your goals

And you're well on your way.

The future's tomorrow-

Cherish today!"

Evans' story is not of a chronological tale of a girl growing up (in fact, she doesn't age at all). Instead it is the advice that a loved one gives about the road ahead of her. There will times when things are hard and you aren't always the best, but the love and support of your friends and family will always be behind you. This book is like an updated, more realistic version of Dr. Seuss' classic. I could see giving it to any child/graduate about to go off on a new adventure. It is a sweet book full of love and caring.

Collier's signature watercolor and collage style adds to the thoughtful words. The muted palette of browns, greens, and blues ground the story in reality. Even the yellows are not too vibrant-- Collier wants to portray the landscapes and scenes with a sense of realism and give it sincerity and feeling. He continues to put balloons as a motif throughout the book, sometimes acting as a guide for the girl, sometimes representing the paths that each person chooses to take as they are 'set free'. 

The title page, endpapers and publishing pages feature a theme of blue and skies, often representative of freedom. As you go through the double page bleeds, you notice that Collier has an attention to detail in order to make the book as realistic as possible-- he even includes a clip chart in the classroom scene! The collage is so well positioned that it melds together and creates a unified scene on every page. We follow the girl along on her journey, each page turn showing us where she is headed next. His play with light and shadow help create the mood of the story, not excited, not sad, but contemplative. The only surrealism he allows to creep in is on the page where the advice tells the girl to think of those who came before her -- Collier paints some faces into the tree trunks, signifying those important people.

I probably would have never heard of this book if I hadn't studies Bryan Collier. I loved it and will gladly substitute it in for Oh, the Places You'll Go! on the last day of school. Everyone needs to be reminded that life can be hard, but in the end cherish today...even I need that reminder sometimes.

17. ish

Here is a preview, a la Weston Woods.

Ramon loves to draw-- anything, anytime, anywhere. Unfortunately, one day his big brother makes fun of his drawing, causing Ramon to crumple up all of his future efforts. He is unaware, though, that as he is discounting his drawings, his sister is secretly picking them up and treasuring them in her room. She declares his style 'ish' art (i.e. tree-ish, vase-ish, house-ish) and reminds him that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. (Heck, most modern art is even less 'ish' than 'ish' and it is still considered fine art!) Ramon is reinspired and begins to take pride in his drawings again.

A sequel to Peter H. Reynolds' The Dot, ish (2004) is a great book for anyone who has ever felt like their art wasn't good enough. If you do any research on Reynolds, you will find that he is inspired by children as well as motivated to inspire them. He travels to different schools, encouraging young artists and reminding them to not lose their creative side, relaxing about feeling the need to be perfect. This book sends that message across in a simple, poignant manner.


Reynolds' wraparound cover shows us a boy who is free with his art and feels confident in his abilities, his brush carrying the picture from the back cover to the front. The endpages and title page ironically have more bold color in them than the rest of the book, perhaps illustrating the growth of this young artist's confidence. The final publishing page includes a dedication to Reynolds' art teacher who 'dared me to draw for myself and find my voice'. Reynolds pays it forward with this book, encouraging his readers to find their voices.

When I flipped through the pages of the book at first, Reynolds' style looked familiar to me. Upon further investigation, I found out that his art is all over my classroom and I never knew it! He has illustrated all of the Judy Moody collection, as well as the most recent versions of Judy Blume's Fudge books. Reynolds used watercolor, ink, and tea to create this book, with dark outlines surrounding each figure which is then shaded in with a pale, limited range of colors (mostly yellows, oranges, greens, and blues). There is a lot of white space bordering the cartoon-style (almost naive) vignettes and color does not dominate any page. It is mostly his unconventional lines that stand out, outlining the characters and objects in unique ways. The fact that they are squiggly and imperfect exemplify Reynolds' message that art does not have to be flawless-- its quirks give it character. The emotion and warmth come through even with the simplest of illustrations. Even Reynolds' text is hand-lettered, adding to the simplicity of the book. It's small size makes it feel like it is meant to be shared in an intimate way, telling that little person 'Come sit right here next to me and I'll tell you a story.' Good things come in small packages.


I tend to discount my artistic abilities in front of my students, which I now realize might plant a seed of doubt in them, causing them to question their art. I don't want to do that anymore and will make an effort to be brave in sharing my work (and showing pride in it, too). I want to share this sweet, simple, yet powerful book with my students to remind them that there is no 'right' or 'perfect' in art...it's more important that it means something to you (even 'ish' is great!). It will inspire all who read it to look at the world in a new way.