Night at the Fair

Crews, Donald

ISBN 10: 0688114849 ISBN 13: 9780688114848

Publisher: Greenwillow, 1998

Synopsis

A nighttime journey to the wonders and excitement of a fair is presented through the works of a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator and highlights such attraction sites as the top of the ferris wheel.

About this title

About the Author:

Donald Crews is the renowned creator of two Caldecott Honor books, Freight Train and Truck. Among his other enormously popular books are such favorites as Night at the Fair, Sail Away, Bigmama's, Shortcut, and School Bus. He and his wife, Ann Jonas, live in New York's Hudson River Valley.

Donald Crews grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and says that all through his childhood the members of his family were always doing something with their hands. He was always drawing pictures. Now, in the old farmhouse where he lives with his wife, the noted author and illustrator Ann Jonas, Donald Crews is still drawing pictures.

After graduating from New York City's Cooper Union, Mr. Crews spent three years working as a designer. He was assistant art director of Dance magazine, on the staff of a small design studio, and did freelance work as a book-jacket designer. But in 1962 he was inducted into the Army, and for a time his artistic pursuits were set aside. As the end of his eighteen-month military stint in Germany approached, he assigned himself to the task of writing and illustrating a children's book to add to his portfolio. The result was the brilliant concept book We Read: A to Z (Harper & Row, 1967), which, nearly twenty years later, was reissued by Greenwillow Books. Ten Black Dots, a counting book, came next, and then several books for which he did illustrations only. But the turning point came in 1978, when Greenwillow published Freight Train, a picture book inspired by Mr. Crews's childhood train trips from Newark to visit his grandmother in Florida. It was named a Caldecott Honor Book. Since then, Mr. Crews has created several other highly acclaimed picture books (including Truck, a 1981 Calclecott Honor Book), all painted in the flat, clean colors and bright, unambiguous shapes that are the hallmarks of his striking graphics.

Donald Crews grew up in Newark, New Jersey, spent his summers in Cottondale, Florida, and was graduated from Cooper Union in New York City. He and his wife, Ann Jonas, live in Brooklyn, New York.

When Donald Crews is asked why he focuses on picture books, he frequently answers, "Why not?" All the tools necessary for the creation of any piece of art are also elements in a successful picture book. Mr. Crews chooses a subject, explores ways to develop the subject visually, writes a story, then produces his finished illustrations. And the final audience, the children, tell him that they like what he does. Why not, indeed!Donald Crews grew up in Newark, New Jersey, spent his summers in Cottondale, Florida, and was graduated from Cooper Union in New York City. He and his wife, Ann Jonas, live in Brooklyn, New York.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2?Opening with the graphic signage of a finger pointing "THIS WAY IN," Crews invites readers to join the crowd streaming through the gates. His prose is spare and energetic, perfect for initiating newcomers to the dynamic pleasures of the fair?the food, the games, the rides. Double-page paintings done in watercolor and gouache offer snapshots of the event bursting with brilliant carnival colors. Lights dance against the pitch black summer night. Observant readers will be tickled to see the author's rendition of himself strolling the midway. The best ride of all, the giant Ferris wheel, stands glowing in the night. The next page is a breathtaking view of the entire fair. "WOW!" is the only text needed. At last, another finger points "THIS WAY OUT," and the crowd files into the shadows. This subject has many sensory connections, and Crews so ably captures them that one can almost smell the food and hear the hucksters beckoning. Clean, large type, much of it white on black, will be accessible to even beginning readers. Urban and rural children alike will revel in the excitement of a Night at the Fair.?Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwillow
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0688114849
• ISBN 13: 9780688114848
• Binding: Library Binding
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 24