"March Forth!"

On Monday I read a review of this gorgeous book and found it on the shelf at the library. I think I've read it every day this week and today I finally checked it out and brought it home so I can look at the illustrations more closely. I can't say whose work I admire more: the author or the illustrator. Joyce Sidman's poems about colors through the seasons are wondrous and imaginative. In this amazing world Pamela Zagarenski has created, everything seems to float in a quiet dreamy place that matches the poetry beautifully. The mixed media collages are detailed, intricate and fanciful and as a budding artist, I am curious how she creates them. (Read an interview and see many beautiful pieces by clicking here). The only issue I have with the book is that it has already filled the niche that I hoped to fill with my own poetry book about a colorful year... it's a bit daunting. It raises the bar on what a quality children's picture book is and only makes the competition tougher!

But March 4th ("March forth!") seems like a good day to take a step forward, even if it's a small step or I'm not sure where I'm going. I finally got a glimmer of inspiration for a piece I need to complete by early April, so maybe I'll head downstairs to move forward a little...