2006 September « Jago Illustration

The 2006 “Education Show” was held at the NEC in Birmingham,UK. Mantra Lingua’s “Little Red Hen and the Grains of Wheat” won the “WOW!” award given by the National Literacy Association (NLA). The book “caught the panel’s attention because of its sumptuous illustrations with their determined and joyful appeal which give the familiar text a resonance. Witty, with a juggling cat and a duck on stilts, this will be a favourite in primary classrooms. There is a helpful list of keywords in translation in every edition, so you get a literacy resource for two languages, great for multilingual classroom. Mantra Lingua also won the 2006 EDUCATION RESOURCES AWARD given by BESA for their very innovative “Story Props” range of resources. Story Props work on the basis of extending the learning that can arise for a single story. For example, based on the book “The Buskers of Bremen” the props will include an “interactive literacy” CD Rom for KS1 English, a Board Game, a set of soft toys of characters in the book, an audio CD retelling the story in various language and a big book for whole class teaching. Story props are great for matching various learning styles and extend a simple story to numerous learning uses. (BESA is British Education Suppliers Authority and is the prominent representative of the Education Publishing world.)

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Another Myron review… 5 stars! September 14, 2006

Filed under: Barefoot Books, Myron’s Magic Cow — jagoillustration @ 9:49 am

Children’s book reviews — picture book *Myron’s Magic Cow* by Marlene Newman, illustrated by Jago- Curled Up With A Good Kid’s Book

Myron’s Magic Cow by Marlene Newman, illustrated by Jago
Ages 4-8	40 pages	Barefoot Books	September 2005	Hardcover

With hints of fairy tales run amok, Myron’s Magic Cow is peopled by whimsical characters set in the framework of everyday life in the city as a little boy sets out to buy milk for his mother’s morning pancakes.

Five dollars clutched in his hand, Myron trudges the familiar blocks (with brilliant illustrations by artist Jago) until he meets a girl with curly blonde hair pulling a cow by a rope: “You need milk and I need money- so let’s cut a deal.” Hinting at the adventures ahead (the three bears waiting in the car), the girl trades Myron the cow for the five dollars and is on her way, leaving Myron to ponder the wisdom of his decision.

Myron pushes and pulls the uncooperative cow home, ignoring the stares as he passes, at a loss for how to transform this very large animal into the milk his mother needs. Much to his surprise, when Myron utters the magic word, “please”, the cow speaks. Myron’s decision is about to be rewarded by the amazing possibilities revealed by the cow.

Thereafter the story evolves into the realm of fantasy and imagination, Myron’s world transformed and his perceptions of reality changed by the magic behind the mundane. With its whimsical story and outstanding illustrations, this wonderful book explores the parameters of the imagination and the infinite boundaries of fantasy.

Myron’s Magic Cow is a product of a contemporary press, Barefoot Books, celebrating “art and story with books that open the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, inspiring them to read deeper, search further and explore their own creative gifts.” Not to be missed!

Luan Gaines/2006 for curled up with a good kid’s book

technorati tags:myron, review, marlene newman, barefoot books, myrons magic cow, jago, jagollustration, illustration, illustrator

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