about the book
This book was supposed to be about an all-crayon production of the acclaimed play, “Frankencrayon.” But I’m sorry. This picture book has been cancelled.
The tale of “Frankencrayon,” which you were about to read, has been ruined by a scribble on the page. The story can’t go on. Who’s behind this mad meddling?
No, no, no, crayon! Don’t try to fix it! Sigh. Now there are more scribbles on top of the original scribble. Never ask a crayon to do the job of an eraser.
There’s no way to fix the scribbles—but wait, the crayons cast in “Frankencrayon” may have come up with a clever solution. Hold on, maybe this picture book isn’t cancelled after all…
about the author/illustrator
Michael Hall creates his own video trailers for his books. Most writers can barely get their laptop to work, but then again, Michael has a really unusual background for a writer.
He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan. For several years, he worked in bio-chemical research before becoming a graphic designer.
In 1984, Michael co-founded Hall Kelley, Inc. This award-winning firm specializes in creating identity designs (logos) for companies, and Michael is the principal designer. Logos are meant to tell a lot about a company with a few simple shapes. Michael does the same thing with his illustrations for his children’s books—he tells a story using a few simple shapes.
The process he uses to create his illustrations is referred to as acrylic monotype ink prints. See this site for a great demonstration of how he makes the prints. The process involves snitching his wife’s pinking shears without her catching him. (Don’t say anything to her.)
Michael lives with his wife Debra and their two daughters on a farm in a small town northeast of St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minnesota. His studio is in a converted barn on the farm.
Sources:
Author/Illustrator website
Author/Illustrator’s company website : Hall Kelley
Author/Illustrator process : From the Studio/Greenwillow Books
Author/Illustrator profile : Greenwillow Books
Also by Michael Hall:
Little i. Greenwillow. September 2017.
Wonderfall. Greenwillow. 2016.
It’s an Orange Aardvark! Greenwillow. 2014.
Red : A Crayon’s Story. Greenwillow. 2015.
Cat Tale. Greenwillow. 2012.
Perfect Square. Greenwillow. 2011.
My Heart Is Like a Zoo. Harper Collins. 2010.
read more!
The Bear Who Wasn’t There by LeUyen Pham
This is the story about a bear. Hold on. Um…the book appears to be missing the bear. Have you by chance seen it? No? Let’s try the next page. Who’s the duck hawking his own book? These kids don’t want to read a story about a DUCK, they want to read about a BEAR! Now, where is the BEAR?
It’s an Orange Aardvark! by Michael Hall
Something is making a ruckus outside the home of five carpenter ants. One ant wonders if it is a hungry aardvark, waiting for them to leave their home. Another ant makes a hole in the stump, in order to check it out. Orange light comes flooding in—it can’t be an aardvark. It’s orange! The ants keep making more holes, which reveal more and more colors. What is outside their home?
We’re in the Wrong Book! by Richard Byrne
Bella and Ben are participating in a potato sack race when things go wrong. Bella’s dog bumps them right off the page and into the gutter where they land in the wrong book. Somehow, they have to get back to the book they belong in. Their journey takes them to different times and genres, but will it ever get them back to where they started?