Julie Paschkis, the illustrator of
Night Garden: Poems from the World of Dreams, pairs up with Janet again in
Knock on Wood: Poems about Superstitions.
Janet likes to describe this book as the one “that was the most fun to write.” That’s because doing the research for this book led her to interview lots of old people from other countries, asking them to share superstitions. Some of that research didn’t quite make it into the book. For instance, there was no room for this tidbit from a teacher from the West Indies: when you have houseguests who have stayed a bit too long, sprinkle salt in a broom—and they will leave soon. Or this piece of book research: if a girl wants a boy to love her, she must take an orange, prick it with a pin, and have him sleep with it in his armpit; in the morning, he will love her. Somehow I think that any boy who would sleep with an orange in his armpit (for a girl) must already love her!
Reviews & Comments
"Itchy ears, broken mirrors, and hats worn backward join wood spirits, ghosts, and of course black cats in this imaginative exploration of common and lesser-known superstitions. The shapely poems are infused with fey intimations in keeping with the collection's theme: "It is said/salt is magic. The pure kind, sea crystals./Spilled salt is magic flung wild." Some selections are haunting, and some humorous, as in this glimpse of a vampire's downfall: "All you bloodsuckers,/this is your last chance:/I am one bite/away-/from a hunk/of Mother's famous garlic chunk chicken." Paschkis creates an exquisite backdrop for the verses. Presented on a panoramic spread, each poem and facing watercolor scene have matching frames, anchoring them as reflections of one another. Some of the borders are abstract designs, but others are suggestive of elements in the verses. For example, "Potatoes" is contained inside a lumpy oval. Adept at both storytelling and design, the illustrator places the text and picture blocks against a wonderful montage of images in tones of a single color. Children of varied ethnicities and time periods are cast in fanciful folk-art scenes. Humor, satire, subplots, historic references, and decorative and surreal elements abound in artful profusion. There is much to ponder in both words and pictures. Some of the children depicted suggest a young audience, but the mixed poetic/visual brew is sophisticated. The author includes brief comments about the featured superstitions and a note reflecting on her personal experience in this area."
--School Library Journal
Ordering Information
Knock on Wood: Poems about Superstitions
By Janet S. Wong
Illustrated by Julie Paschkis
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication date: September 2003
ISBN: 978-0689855122; $17.95
Ages 9-12
This book is available at your local independent children's book store or online at::
