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Peter Sis
Reading Rockets recommends the following books by Peter Sís.
Fact and fantasy combine in this intricately illustrated story about Jan Welzl, a Czech folk hero who traveled to the Arctic from Eastern Europe. Welzl lived for a time with Eskimos and worried about their peaceful lifestyle when gold was found. Sophisticated, highly detailed illustrations combine with a straightforward text to present a memorable tall tale.
A young ballerina dons different colored clothes from her trunk as she dances joyfully. The reader sees the little girl view herself in a mirror and also on the opposing page as she imagines herself as a prima ballerina in different ballets. Rhythmic language captures the joy of dance to enhance the uncluttered illustrations.
When a boy’s toy dinosaurs come to life, a whole new world is created in his bathtub. No words are needed as the adventure grows and then recedes when his mother brings him back to the real world. Black lines on crisp white pages effectively convey the child’s fantasy and his reality. Dinosaur names appear on the endpaper to the book.
Fire trucks fascinate Matt, so much so that he starts and ends his day thinking about them. When he imagines actually becoming one, he zooms around to put out fire and save his community – actually in his house – and is brought back to being a little boy by the cozy smell of pancakes. Crisp black lines with touches of red are used in this imaginative excursion, which also invites readers to count related objects from one to ten. The boy has another imaginative adventure in Trucks Trucks Trucks (1998) where trucks that haul, lift, and more grow in size in his room.
Events in Columbus’ life that led up to his now renowned voyage are effectively and briefly portrayed. While the text is informative and engaging, it is the intricate illustrations, some reminiscent of 15th century motifs, that distinguishes this handsome book.
Madlenka's tooth is loose and she wants to tell the world. She takes the reader around the block to meet her neighbors. Looking at the images and memories they have carried from old country to new, we can see that Madlenka's block is as richly varied as its inhabitants.
When Madlenka walks her imaginary dog on a red leash, adult friends in the neighborhood remember their own dogs. Madlenka’s young friend, Cleopatra, with her imaginary horse, joins the fanciful play before each girl returns home. Dye cuts and flaps are used to focus the eye and differentiate real from imagined in this unique jaunt around a city block. Fans of Madlenka (2000) will not be disappointed in her latest adventure.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was not only a famous composer and a musical genius; his father turned him into a child sensation! Limited language but rich, detailed, and varied illustrations introduce the essence of the boy and his music.
The complicated, sometimes disconcerting life of Galileo is presented in a multi-faceted, intricately illustrated, completely original biography. Differing typefaces combine with illustrations in various styles to create an informative, engaging, and unusual glimpse of the man and his genius.
Above all else, Charles Darwin was an independent thinker whose work still influences views of the natural world. The Tree of Life begins with Darwin’s childhood and traces the arc of his life from his university studies to his early professional pursuits. The book continues through the voyage of the Beagle to the Galapagos Islands, and concludes with Darwin’s return home for a quiet life devoted to science and family. Sís’s pictures – drawn in fine pen and ink, along with lush watercolors – create a visual treasure trove that makes Darwin’s journey come alive.
Growing up in Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia, Sis craved Western pop culture, subverted authority in small ways, and maintained a strong fear of the secret police. This title won the Sibert medal for distinctive non-fiction for children.
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