Ugh

Ugh

Arthur Yorinks

illustrated by Richard Egielski 1990

There's something about Richard Egielski's artwork that I've always liked.  This pairing with Arthur Yorinks is a type of Cinderella story featuring a cave boy named "Ugh".  Put upon by his family to do the laundry and keep the cave home clean, Ugh just wants to create and make things.  When the scientist, Oy, invents the wheel, Ugh sees his opportunity to build something that has never been thought of before.  Soon the whole world (which consists of a handful of cavemen and women) are looking for the creator of this remarkable machine so they can crown him king!  This is the type of story that will appeal to those of a sillier nature and of course Egielski fans.   

From Sea to Shining Sea

 Filled with a wonderful collection of stories and some of our favorite illustrators, this treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs is a necessary addition to any children's library.  The Dillons, Anita Lobel, Egielski, Cooney, and Trina Schart Hyman are just a few of the artists included.  Spanning centuries and across the country it's a sampling of Native American lore, Gospel songs, tall-tales, and historical stories.  The hilarious skit "Who's on First?" is even included!  It's one of those books that nice to pickup and read here and there.

From Sea to Shining Sea

compiled by Amy L. Cohn 1993

The Tub People

The Tub People

Pam Conrad

illustrations by Richard Egielski 1989

We first read this story in a book collection of Children's literature.  Madeleine loved it.  Egielski's pictures are perfect for telling the story of a family of tub people (little wooden bath toys) who played ship with the soap and had water races during bath time.  One night a terrible thing happens, the little tub child gets sucked down the drain!  Eventually he is rescued by a plumber and the tub people are lined up on a bedroom windowsill instead of the tub.  Now they can play mountain climbing on the bunched up quilt!  

Last time I was at the thrift store I found The Tub Grandfather.  I had no idea there were other Tub People books!  In the first book, the list of characters includes a mother, father, child, grandmother, policeman and doctor.  In this story, the missing grandfather is accidentally found underneath the bedroom radiator.  Covered in dust and with only one eye, he doesn't respond to his excited family at first.  They even try to jog his memory by showing him the infamous tub.  It's not till the grandmother dances with him on the rug that he remembers his love for her and is part of the family once more.

The Tub Grandfather

Pam Conrad

illustrations by Richard Egielski 1993

The story is definitely cute, and I'm really impressed with Egielski's pictures.  They are beautifully done in a simple way, but with great visual appeal (just look at the cover and the pages with the grandmother on the rug!)

The End

 

 The End

David LaRochelle

illustrated by Richard Egielski 2007

This book has been on heavy rotation for Charlotte.  It's a clever way to tell a story- from the end to the beginning!  It starts off with "And they all lived happily ever after."

And then, "They lived happily ever after because...", and the story of a prince falling in love with a clever princess, a giant unhappy about his dessert, and a runaway tomato is told in reverse.  I love the pictures and the tag line on the flap:  "You've never had so much fun going backwards!"