Julie's Library: Not Your Typical Dragon and Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans
Courtesy of publisher
A fashionable rooster? A dragon that breathes… anything but fire? Today’s stories are about two creatures that march to the beat of their own drum. Plus, an interview with Queer Eye’s Tan France about fashion and the clothing that makes him feel extra special.
Get Not Your Typical Dragon: | |
“Not Your Typical Dragon” written by Dan Bar-el, illustrated by Tim Bowers. Copyright © 2013. Used with permission of Viking Books for Young Readers, Penguin Random House. All rights reserved.
Get Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans: | |
“Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans” written by Jessie Miller, illustrated by Barbara Bakos. Copyright © 2018. Used with the permission of Maverick Arts, distributed in the United States and Canada by Lerner Publisher Services. All rights reserved.
PICTURE THIS: MORE FROM THE ILLUSTRATOR
Tim Bowers
Tim Bowers, the illustrator of Not Your Typical Dragon, wanted to be an artist from an early age. Becoming an artist was pretty unusual where he grew up — but he persevered!
“With a Dad who worked in a factory and a Mom who was a hairdresser, my interest in becoming an artist was “not typical,” but my parents gave me their full support. As a parent of four adult children, this story reminds me of the importance of discovering and supporting each child’s unique talents and personalities.” — Tim Bowers, illustrator of Not Your Typical Dragon
Tim Bowers
Barbara Bakos, the illustrator of Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans, also always knew she wanted to be an artist, but she was surrounded by artists from a very young age.
“I grew up in a family filled with artists. My grandpa was a textile designer, my dad is a painter and my mum is an art teacher. I was literally always drawing — and not only on paper! I drew on the walls, on the table, on the furniture, even on the screen of the telly… I was not the favorite of my kindergarten teachers because I was always up to something with my crayons and my hands and fingers were usually colorful from my rainbow markers.” — Barbara Bakos, illustrator of Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans
Barbara Bakos
THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY
In Not Your Typical Dragon, Crispin Blaze breathes band-aids, bubbles, party streamers, beach balls, teddy bears… basically everything BUT fire. What else can you imagine him breathing out?
Draw a picture of Crispin with something totally unexpected coming out of his mouth! Send it to us here! We can’t wait to see what you dream up.
THE BACKSTORY
Dan Bar-El says his background in sketch comedy helped him come up with the absurdly delightful premise of Not Your Typical Dragon.
“It trained me to play with questions like, ‘What if a dragon could breathe out anything BUT fire?’ and then see what ideas come out.” — Dan Bar-El, author of Not Your Typical Dragon
Jessie Miller said her inspiration for Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans came from participating in a writing challenge called Picture Book Idea Month, (now called Storystorm).
“The concept was to come up with an idea for a book every day, even if it's just the title. Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans started as a title that popped into my head randomly, and after that the story seemingly wrote itself!” — Jessie Miller, author of Rooster Wore Skinny Jeans
READING RECOMMENDATIONS
Mitford at the Fashion Zoo by Donald Robertson
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Louise: The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo
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Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
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Mary Had a Little Glam by Tammi Sauer
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Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band by Kwame Alexander
Get this book: | Bookshop.org |
WONDERFUL WORDS
Silhouette (noun): The outline of something. e.g. When I look toward the sunset, the black silhouette of a tree stands out against the bright orange sky.
Submit your own Wonderful Words.
