The Open Road Beckoning

Motion toward, motion away. Consider images of train tracks, roads, etc. on children's book covers and what they suggest to a potential reader. They can visually draw the reader into the book. They can evoke a sense of running away, loneliness, or hint at an adventure to come.

Clare Vanderpool's Moon Over Manifest (Delacorte, 2010. Read a summary/review.) is an interesting study. The cover of this Newbery Award-winning novel (which I haven't read yet [blushes]) tells us . . . what? Here's a girl in a rural setting who is alone, but perhaps not lonely. She is going . . . home? Wandering away from home?

A forest path converges on this cover, and there is a light ahead which surrounds the young boy's head like a halo.

Desperate Measures by Laura Summers
(Putnam, US Edition, 2011)

We are confident that we will enjoy traveling with Fred and Ted on their excellent adventure:

Fred and Ted's Road Trip
by Peter Eastman (P.D. Eastman's son)
(Random House, 2011)

A journey. Fear? Hope? Anticipation?

Crossing the Tracks
by Barbara Stuber
(Margaret K. McElderry, 2010)

Motion toward/motion away. Conflict, contrast:

Winter in Wartime by Jan Terlouw
(Lemniscaat USA, Translated from
Dutch, paperback edition, 2011)

This sidewalk leads to adventure at school:

Skippyjon Jones: Class Action
by Judy Schachner
(Dutton, coming July, 2011)

I'd like to proudly point out that in the same post I have managed to juxtapose Skippyjon Jones with John Grisham. Here's his latest book for young readers complete with a converging bridge:

Theodore Boone: The Abduction
by John Grisham
(came out today, Dutton, 2011)

What about converging/diverging lines in general? They can be attention-grabbers.

Love this cover for From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler because of the way it represents the vastness of the museum, and by contrast the puniness of the kids.

Evocative of loneliness or contemplation:

The Six Rules of Maybe
by Deb Caletti
(Simon Pulse, 2010)

Similar image, thoughtful but less lonely:

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
(Flux, 2011)

May your summertime travels be safe and lead to all good things.

A THANK YOU AND AN APOLOGY:

I am most grateful to author Trent Reedy for the idea for this post. Thanks, Mr. Reedy!

I apologize for missing last week's post. Family emergency, but I'm happy to report that all is well now

~~CB