I Like Black
and White
by Barbara Jean Hicks
Illustrated by Lila Prap
A lyrical poem that celebrates all things black
and white, from puppies and penguins to dancing feet and helping
hands, I LIKE BLACK AND WHITE is a feast both for ears and eyes.
Designed as a concept book for toddlers, this "little book" is
appropriate for beginning readers as well. The rhyming text and the
playful images placed against vividly colored backgrounds are sure
to delight young and old. Underlying themes of tolerance and
friendship also provide a basis for thoughtful conversation.
tiger tales, 2006
BUY THIS BOOK
FROM AMAZON.COM
FIND YOUR NEAREST INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLER
Reviews
I Like
Colors
by Barbara Jean Hicks
Illustrated by Lila Prap
A celebration of all things bold and bright, this
companion book to I LIKE BLACK & WHITE vividly portrays whimsical frogs,
bugs, birds and other natural wonders against inky black backgrounds.
In addition to being a rhapsody to color, I LIKE COLORS introduces
common pairs of opposites. The concepts, lyrical rhyming text and themes
of friendship and sharing are equally appropriate for the very young and
beginning readers. tiger tales, 2006
BUY THIS BOOK
FROM AMAZON.COM
FIND YOUR NEAREST INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLER
Reviews
"Imaginative and vibrant
... delightful!" ―Junior magazine
"A vivid exploration of
the animal and human worlds." ―Cork Evening Echo
"Bright, bold and simple but
very stylish." ―Carousel magazine
A Cat Crouched on the Lawn:
Wherein the Author Reveals
How Her "Little Books" Came To Be
I call I LIKE BLACK
AND WHITE and I LIKE COLORS my "little books" because that's what they
are. They are only about eight inches square and have thirty-one words
each! They really are just little poems that celebrate both friendship
and the natural world.
While working on
these little books, I discovered that "writing short" can be a LOT harder
than writing long. When you write short, every single word counts. You
can't have any extra words, and every word you choose has to be exactly
the right one for the situation. When you are writing in rhyme, getting
the words right is even harder. They can't just rhyme. They have to
rhyme and be the best word for the poem or story, period!
I
got the idea for I LIKE BLACK AND WHITE one summer day when I looked out the
window―the
very one in the picture at left―and
saw my cat, Miguel, sitting in his "meatloaf" position in the back yard.
He looked so very black-and-white and beautiful against the
green, green lawn!
That got me to
thinking about all the wonderful things in the world that come in black
and white―from tuxedo cats to zebras and piano keys to feet and
hands. I researched by going to the library and looking for
pictures of black and white animals.
Out of the pictures came the words, and out of the words came the
illustrations. (More about those later.)
When my editor asked me to come up with a book to go
along with my black-and-white book, a book about colors seemed like the
logical choice. But it took me a very long time to figure out what
images to use. I started out with clothes in different colors―from hats and
boots to shorts and swimsuits. Then I tried toys: balls, yoyos, kites,
balloons. Next I thought about organizing the book around seasons:
flowers in springtime, leaves in autumn.... Then I thought about all the
colors that come with Christmas: lights, gifts, ribbons, bows.
But nothing seemed to feel quite right.
Finally I went to the library, just the way I'd done
for the first book, and I looked up books about the
most colorful plants and animals I could think of: garden books, insect
books, bird books, tropical fish books, reptile books. That gave me lots
of inspiration!
Next, I wrote out the text for I LIKE BLACK AND WHITE
on the left side of a piece of paper in the form of a poem, and I wrote
some ideas for I LIKE COLORS on the right side of the page, trying to
keep the same structure and language. Eureka! (That's another way to
say, "Finally! I got it!")
My editor liked my new poem too―except for the last
four lines. You wouldn't believe how many months it took to get those
last four lines just right! But we both really liked the final version.
I hope you do, too.
I know you'll love the illustrations
by
Lila Prap. Aren't they bright and fun and cheerful?
from I LIKE BLACK AND WHITE
from I LIKE COLORS
Lila Prap's real name is
Lilijana Praprotnik, and she lives in a country in Eastern Europe called
Slovenia. (See if you can find it on a map.) Lila responded to my two
little poems using colored chalk on
textured black paper for her drawings. She has written and illustrated
lots of other books in her own country, but my books are the
first English language books she's illustrated.
I got to meet Lila in Bologna, Italy at the Bologna
Children's Book Fair in 2004. She is a very nice person as well as a
great artist. Now that we know each other, we like to send e-mail
messages back and forth about what we're working on. Thank goodness she
speaks and writes English, because I don't know a single word of
Slovenian. After I LIKE BLACK AND WHITE and I LIKE COLORS were
published in England, Lila translated the text of both books and they
were published in her home country. Now Slovenian kids can read them in their own language.
Even though these books look really simple, they
weren't simple to write! But then, I always have a lot to say, so maybe
"writing short" will be easier for you. Try it!
All text and images on this website © Barbara Jean
Hicks 2005-2009 unless otherwise identified. Text and images may be used for
educational and other non-commercial purposes if copyright and website information are
clearly stated. Commercial use of all text and images is strictly prohibited.
