Chalk

From School Library Journal Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 4—This stunningly illustrated wordless picture book tells the story of three children who find a bag of magical chalk at the playground on a rainy day. Their drawings come to life, which seems great when a drawing of the sun stops the rain, but is scary when a dinosaur stalks them. A drawing of a rain cloud inside a play tube brings the rain back and dissolves the frightening creature. This imaginative story is the perfect showcase for Thomson's extraordinary pictures. Though they look like photos or computer-generated images, each one is actually composed using traditional techniques with acrylics and colored pencils. The artist's clever use of light, perspective, and expression, along with the protagonists' neat solution to their dilemma, creates a completely satisfying experience. Thomson is a master at visual storytelling.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Product Description Three children discover a magical bag of chalk on a rainy day From Booklist With eye-catching, realistic illustrations, clever details, and some dramatic suspense, this wordless picture book offers a fresh take on the drawings-come-to-life theme. One rainy day, three raincoat-clad children head to the playground and find a bag of chalk. When one girl draws a sun, something amazing happens: clouds break and a sunny blue sky appears. The second kid draws butterflies, which also appear. But when a boy draws a dinosaur, things get almost too exciting. Luckily, a solution is close at hand. Vibrant acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations, rendered with intricate precision, nearly leap off the page, as the expressive, diverse trio experiences magical, exhilarating moments that highlight how familiar materials and settings can inspire rewarding adventures. Varying perspectives, from vistas to close-ups, enhance the drama. A few scenarios, such as those featuring a giant, looming, spiky-toothed T. rex, may be too intense for the youngest children, but many kids will enjoy this testament to the power of creativity and imagination. Grades K-3. --Shelle Rosenfeld About the Author Bill Thomson was born in Waterbury, Connecticut in 1963. Thomson has illustrated Karate Hour, Building With Dad, Baseball Hour, CHALK and Soccer Hour, all published by Marshall Cavendish. Thomson's paintings, executed in acrylic paint with colored pencils, are highly realistic and utilize strong perspectives and dynamic compositions.Bill Thomson is also an Associate Professor of Illustration at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford. Thomson lives in Southington, Connecticut with his wife, Diann, and their three sons, Billy, Nik, and Ethan.