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Recent Releases by Local Writers and Illustrators
By Ronna Mandel

Here in L.A., we rarely get those curl-up-in-bed rainy days that scream for a good book. But some books are good enough to inspire you to get out – right in your own back yard!

Mar Vista couple Julie Jaskol and Brian Lewis collaborated with friend and artist Elisa Kleven to create a family-friendly tour of our vast and varied city in City of Angels: In and Around Los Angeles (Angel City Press, $19.99, all ages). From quirky Watts Towers to the shiny steel surfaces of Disney Concert Hall, from Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena to Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights, this whimsically illustrated book filled with facts, fun, people and places pleases in a plethora of ways.

The bright illustrations by L.A. native Kleven pop off the pages, inviting readers to see the many sides of our multicultural city and learn its rich history.

“It’s not just a children’s book,” says Jaskol. “We hope people will use it as inspiration to visit parts of L.A. they’ve never been to before.” When asked to name her favorite place in L.A., Jaskol says, “That’s like choosing your favorite child. For a long time it was Echo Park, the beach, oh, and downtown. A visit to Angel’s Flight followed by a trip to Grand Central Market and the Bradbury Building, and don’t forget to go to MOCA. Right now there’s the ice skating in Pershing Square (through Jan. 19) and then tea at the Biltmore! And there’s your great day out for families.”

Just as a multitude of neighborhoods weave together to form the city we know as Los Angeles, the following collection of local authors and illustrators and their entertaining books could form the basis for a fantastic family library.

Too Many Toys (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 2-7): Ever step on your son’s Legos or trip over your daughter’s jacks scattered on the floor? Maybe your house, like Spencer’s, is filled with too many toys because your child loves them all and cannot bear to part with a single one. Local author, Caldecott Honor illustrator and dad David Shannon of Burbank has drawn on his daughter Emma’s real-life best friend and next-door neighbor, Spencer, to create a humorous look at a modern middle-class family dilemma. Detailed drawings only add to this delightful story that Shannon fans will devour.

Find the Magic (Rip Squeak, Inc, $21.95, ages 4-7):
Santa Monica’s Every Picture Tells A Story owner Lee Cohen has joined forces with Carmel Valley artist Julia Harnett Harvey to continue and expand themes based on the beloved Rip Squeak series created by Susan Yost-Filgate and Leonard Filgate. In this story, according to Cohen, “the characters find themselves bored, but with the help of amphibian friend Euripedes,” and a trip to Ye Olde Book Shoppe, “they learn about the fun you can have imagining when you open the pages of a book.”

A Penguin Story (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $17.99, ages 4-8):
Southern California author Antoinette Portis, a UCLA School of Fine Arts graduate, has created the indomitable Edna, a penguin seeking more than the black, white and blue landscape that surrounds her. When she finds that something else, her life is forever changed in a most colorful way.

Amy Hodgepodge Series: All Mixed Up!, Happy Birthday to Me, Lost and Found and Playing Games (Grosset & Dunlop, $4.99, ages 6-10):
Fourth grader Amy Hodges is the lively invention of Kim Wayans and Kevin Knotts, actors and yet another Los Angeles wife-and-husband writing team. Amy gives up the safe, secure environment of home schooling to enroll midyear at Emerson Charter School. While she may look different (she’s part Caucasian, African-American and Asian and beautifully illustrated by Soo Jeong), inside she’s the same as any girl who yearns for friendship and acceptance. The example she sets for young girls is laudable, and she will have your child eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep (Tricycle Press, $15.99, ages 5-7):
Susan Lendroth from Sierra Madre has written gentle rhyming text and, with the help of stunningly vivid illustrations by Raúl Allén from Spain, brings to life the tale of a young girl in the 19th century. While Papa is sailing off to join the China trade, Mama remains home with the baby daughter. Seasons pass and children grow, but when will Father return home, and will he be the same?

Big Words For Little People (Joanna Cotler Books, $16.99, ages 4-8):
A clever and captivating new book from the bestselling combo of Jamie Lee Curtis (actress, children’s advocate and Southern California resident) and Laura Cornell. Kids learn how big words aren’t scary and can actually help even the littlest of people communicate. Don’t miss a square inch of the inventive illustrations. The rhymes used to describe the words couldn’t be more “apropos.” (Look that one up!)

The Road to Oz: Twists, Turns, Bumps, and Triumphs in the Life of L. Frank Baum (Alfred. A. Knopf, $17.99, ages 9-12):
Did you know that the illustrious creator of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz once acted, raised chickens, sold dishes and edited newspapers? This biography, by Kathleen Krull of San Diego (and longtime L.A. Parent writer, introduces readers to an imaginative young Lyman in upstate New York in the 1860s and takes them along on the bumpy yellow brick road to his eventual success. Thanks to thoughtful illustrations by Kevin Hawkes, The Road to Oz brings us face to face with Baum’s failures as well as his fame.

Welcome to Your World, Baby (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $16.99, ages 3-8):
Actress Brooke Shields brings us a loveable big sister who delights in the arrival of the family’s new baby girl. From playing princess to sharing tea parties and secrets, from dressing up to building castles at the beach, Big Sister clearly welcomes the latest addition to her family – and so will readers. Her sheer joy, conveyed in wonderful shades of pink by illustrator Cori Doerrfeld, is contagious.

Tea For Ruby (Paula Wiseman Books, $16.99, ages 4-8):
Let’s learn about manners from this “in the know” dynamic duo of Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, and local illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser. Ruby’s been invited to tea with the Queen, and her imagination goes wild. She’s in for one royal surprise! “Don’t interrupt, when you meet the Queen!” Ruby is reminded. Read this lively, upbeat tale with a twist about how Ruby’s friends and family help her prepare for her big day.

Sammy’s Suitcase (A Robin Corey Books pop-up, $21.99, ages 3-8):
With nearly 100 children’s books under her belt, Lisa Rojany Buccieri of Los Angeles takes us on a pop-up train ride to visit Pop-pop and Grammy Sue. Despite breakdowns and cows blocking the train, Sammy’s suitcase seems to be filled to the brim with whatever’s required to get things running smoothly again. Great illustrations by Sachiko Yoshikawa, perfect paper engineering by Bruce Foster and a built-in book handle make Sammy’s Suitcase a must-have item for your next trip.

Manual For Motherhood (Mothering Heights Press, $12.95, for adults):
Editor Christine Fugate of Laguna Beach captures “what we wish we knew before becoming a mother” in this collection of themed essays and poems hand-picked from an essay contest she held in her popular Mothering Heights column and blog. Touching on everything from the inexperience of first-time moms to postpartum depression, the mommy drive-by and finding an adoptive child’s birth mother, the book will have you thinking “I could have, and should have, written that because that’s exactly how I feel!”

Auntie Tiger! (HarperCollins Children’s Books, $17.99, ages 5-8):
In this Chinese version of “Little Red Riding Hood,” Laurence Yep of Pacific Grove has spun a telling tale of intrigue, greed, sibling rivalry and love. In this story the villainous tiger pays an opportune visit to two sparring sisters when their mother goes into town, leaving them only with a foreshadowing reminder, “Don’t open the door to anyone while I’m gone.”

A Day With My Dad (Parents Publishing Group, LLC; $17.99, ages 2-6):
San Diego dad and writer Lance Waite believes in the importance of fathers spending time with daughters. In A Day With My Dad, illustrated by Manuela Pentangelo, he shows how a dad and his daughter spend a special day hiking, communing with nature and most importantly, creating memories to enjoy for a lifetime.

Curse of the Bone Pirates, Nui Island Eco-Logical Adventures (Nui Media & Entertainment; $11.95, ages 8 and up):
B.T. Hope is a pen name for the creative team of environmental crusader and Nui co-founder, Brian Machovina and Tina DiCicco, designer, illustrator and storyteller. In Curse of the Bone Pirates, the authors are intent on subtly teaching kids an important ecological message. Pirates, the sudden debilitating illness of Grandpa Prune along with the dying Maemae reef and strange happenings on Nui Island form the basis of this story. Enter grandson Big ‘B,’ along with some new friends who attempt to solve the mysterious goings on, and you have the makings of an entertaining book.

Mo Smells Red (www.mosnose.com; $17.95, all ages):
Imagine being able to read a great story and smell all the beautiful images. Kids will adore Mo Smells Red, the first in the Mo’s Nose children’s series featuring nontoxic “Press-2-Smell” technology. Friends of 20 years Margaret Hyde and Amanda Giacomini have created an inspired, lovable, collectible product in the form of Mo, a dog with a heightened sense of smell who experiences color through his nose! Giacomini is an artist and graphic designer living in Point Reyes, and Hyde is a publisher, writer and photographer based in Southern California.

Reporting For Doodie, One Grandmother’s Story of Commitment, Frustration & Unwavering Love (www.ReportingForDoodie.com, $19.95 ages – adults):
Part self-help, part autobiography, this book is all about the power of positive thinking. It’s also the account of how one suddenly single grandmother with a great sense of humor came to find herself through caring for her grandson while his parents were deployed overseas by the U.S. Military. A heartwarming tale of love, devotion and inspiration from Long Beach “gramma” Judy L. Smith.

Zibby Payne & The Red Carpet Revolt (Lobster Press, $6.96, ages 6-11):
Writing from South Pasadena, Alison Bell has recently launched the latest in her tween Zibby Payne series. In this adventure, Zibby, a smart and spunky sixth grader, takes on the popular girls and provides excellent fodder for riveting tween fiction. See what happens when etiquette lessons are introduced to the sixth graders in this fun and fast-paced read.

Ronna Mandel is L.A. Parent’s associate editor and avid reader.
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