Thursday, November 19, 2015

Great memories from Filbita Buenos Aires 2015

Having the best of times in Buenos Aires, in the company of authors, books, children and the wonderful people from Filbita. 
 Workshop with children.

 In the company of talented Jutta Bauer and Phillipe Lechermeier.

 A talk about the possibilities of visual narrative.

 In conversation on Play and literature.

 The beautiful book haven Eterna Cadencia at Palermo in Buenos Aires.

Laughing with Jutta: yoga class was canceled because of our workshops.

Building rhinos with kids at Filbita Montevideo

Workshop with kids at the Centro Cultural de España in Montevideo, as part of the activities of Filbita 2015. We built a rhino puzzle after reading my book La Vida Salvaje.




Tuesday, October 27, 2015

The BCCB review of The Tooth Fairy Cat


Cat is a delight, thoroughly and appropriately childlike in action and emotion . Rueda's sassy Cat, rendered in ink and colored pencil on white paper, is a hoot in an aqua tutu and fairy wings, as is the droopy-eared, potbellied Mouse in similar attire. Fans of the previous books will want to join Cat on this latest jaunt, [as will] those looking for a tooth fairy-themed title.” —BCCB

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Volume 69, Number 1, September 2015 

SLJ review of Here Comes The Tooth Fairy Cat

School Library Journal Review

The colored-pencil and ink illustrations practically tell the story on their own


Cat is back, and this time a lost tooth and the promise of a visit from the Tooth Fairy inspire his shenanigans. His misguided attempt to trick the legendary sprite into revealing herself to him backfires when Cat is recruited by the Tooth Fairy to conduct three difficult exchanges. He receives honorary wings, a tutu, and some "help" from a fellow trickster (Mouse). The reluctant pair first visit a gopher hole, then a squirrel's nest, and finally a bear cave, where only teamwork will get the job done. Once these missions are accomplished, Cat's desire to meet the Tooth Fairy is magically fulfilled—much to his surprise. As in the first two books, the author assumes the role of narrator and commentator, addressing Cat and Mouse directly, and they respond using only placards, body language, and priceless facial expressions. The colored-pencil and ink illustrations practically tell the story on their own, thanks to the extensive use of white space and an absence of irrelevant detail that puts the focus squarely on the characters and their wily behavior. VERDICT Fans of Here Comes Santa Cat and Here Comes Easter Cat (both 2014, Dial) and newcomers alike will ask for this book again and again.—Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, Oak Bluffs, MA

Pop Up Animals Workshop

Having fun with children making pop up paper animals at Casatinta in Bogotá, Colombia.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

At the Children's Book Conference in Lima, Peru

Sharing with students and illustrators at the beautiful Casa de la Literatura Peruana





The Horn Book review for the Tooth Fairy Cat


 Cat is back 
and craftier than ever

Cat, who wanted to steal the Easter Bunny’s spotlight (Here Comes the Easter Cat, rev. 3/14) and bypass the naughty list by impersonating Santa (Here Comes Santa Cat, rev. 11/14), is back and craftier than ever. Now he wants to meet the Tooth Fairy, but she’s already taken his tooth under cover of night. His attempt to lure her back with a comb’s tooth fails, but she sends him his own fairy costume and a note assuring him, “if you help me with a few deliveries, maybe we can meet.” Cat, in cahoots with a new mouse assistant assigned by the Tooth Fairy, manages to collect teeth from several challenging locations, and learns in a surprise twist that fairies can be tricky, too. Underwood crafts yet another original plot within the format established by the previous two books. As before, Rueda’s ink and colored-pencil illustrations allow Underwood’s characters (none of whom actually speak) to communicate clearly with the offstage narrator through actions, facial expressions, and the occasional placard, while white space creates a sense that the narrator’s opinionated voice echoes within the pages. The lost-tooth canon, smaller than the Christmas canon and maybe even the Easter-bunny canon, has plenty of space for this welcome addition. shoshana flax

Thursday, March 26, 2015

An Interview for the 2015 Bogota Bookfair blog

"Obedience is creativity's worst companion"



Macondo es el ‘país’ invitado este año a la FILBO, para usted ¿qué es Macondo?

Creo que Macondo es el país visto desde la imaginación de sus habitantes. Es la fantasía que nos salva del tedio de lo normal y nos permite entender la vida en este caótico país de una forma poética y simbólica. Es lo que hace valer la literatura.

La franja central de la feria este año es “Leer las mujeres”. ¿Qué mujer escritora recomienda leer?
Dos de mis favoritas son Marguerite Yourcenar y Virginia Woolf. Yourcenar por su profunda comprensión del ser humano imperfecto y Virginia porque me parece del nivel de James Joyce pero no igualmente reconocida por ese pequeño detalle de ser mujer. Detalle que tuvo que disimular la misma J.K Rowling para poder vender a Harry Potter. En literatura fantástica, admiro en Ursula Le Guin el tratamiento de los grandes temas del poder y el conflicto a través de la ficción. En literatura infantil las autoras de libro álbum que más quiero son Babette Cole, Kitty Crowther, Kvéta Pacovska y Margaret Wise Brown.

Dicen que escribir es mentir un poco. ¿En qué ocasiones miente por fuera de la literatura?

En ocasiones con una intención similar a la de la literatura, que es mentir para decir la verdad sin crudeza y con perspectiva, por dura que sea. En otras, para no herir innecesariamente a alguien.

¿Qué es lo más importante para usted a la hora de escribirle a un niño/a?

No impartirle lecciones monolíticas. Evitar la moraleja inequívoca y más bien invitar a mirar las cosas desde diferentes puntos de vista.

Cuando ilustra para otras personas ¿Siente que aún tiene libertad? ¿O a qué tipo de parámetros debe ajustarse?

¿De qué serviría ilustrar sin tener libertad? Para aceptar ilustrar un texto de otro, es para mí indispensable que la ilustración venga con un reto y que tenga su agenda propia. La ilustración que me interesa es la que dialoga con el texto, no la que le obedece. La obediencia es la peor compañera de la creatividad.

¿Qué temas cree que le falta abordar a la literatura infantil de estos días?

Desde los años sesenta la literatura infantil por fortuna dejó de ser casi exclusivamente cuentos de advertencia: si te portas mal esto es lo que te va a pasar. Ya para el sigo XXI hay pocos temas que haya dejado de abordar, pero creo que en la carrera por hacer siempre algo nuevo y bonito que se venda se han dejado atrás la experimentación y la profundidad.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Kirkus Review for The Tooth Fairy Cat

KIRKUS REVIEW


Mischievous Cat is back (Here Comes Santa Cat, 2014, etc.), this time determined to meet the Tooth Fairy.
After losing a tooth, Cat is disappointed that he didn’t get to meet the Tooth Fairy when she left a coin under his pillow. Never at a loss for ideas, Cat concocts a plan to lure her back. Underwood and Rueda continue their playful repartee between the oh-so-patient narrator and silent Cat, bouncing the narrator’s understated questions off of Cat’s humorous expressions and handheld signs. Cat finds that it’s harder to trick a fairy than he expected. Two packages arrive with a note that suggests, “if you help me with a few deliveries, maybe we can meet. Love, Tooth Fairy.” But: “P.S. You’ll have some help.” When Mouse shows up as Cat’s assistant, Underwood plays the two off each other to great effect. Both animals are full of not-quite-helpful suggestions (“Cat! Mouse can climb into the hole perfectly well without your, uh, help”), and Rueda’s ink-and–colored-pencil illustrations heighten the humor with spot-on expressions and sight gags. Generous white space, expert timing, and minimalist illustrations focus attention on the plentiful, playful banter.
Clever fun continues in this delightful series. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Review 

Monday, January 19, 2015

Publishers Weekly recommends AHI ESTABAS

New and Forthcoming Spanish-Language Titles 

A roundup of books publishing between September 2014 and February 2015


Ahí estabas (You Were There) by Claudia Rueda
Océano Travesía
ISBN 978-607-735-418-5
Whenever one feels lonely, sad or afraid, there is always a faithful and noble companion to help. A new book by New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Claudia Rueda.