By Lisa Von Drasek
Red Rubber Boot Day, written by Mary Lynn Ray and illustrated by Lauren Stringer. New York, Harcourt, 2000. 10.6″ x 9.4″, Kerlan Collection, Children’s Literature Research Collections, University of Minnesota Libraries.
This poetic read-aloud continues the tradition of the “Here-and-Now” school. Ray’s buoyant text and Stringer’s energetic acrylic paintings perfectly capture an up-close child’s eye view of indoor and outdoor rainy-day play. The cover illustration exemplifies the explosive joy of puddle jumping, in contrast to the “almost cover’s” expression of contemplation and longing gazes out the window.
About Lauren Stringer
Lauren Stringer received a BA in Art and Art History from the University of California, Santa Cruz and then went on to study Art Education with the Whitney Museum of American Art Independent Study Program in New York City.
In 1994 she illustrated her first picture book, “Mud,” and won the Minnesota Book Award, the IRA Children’s Choice Award, the Crayola Kids Best Book of the Year Award, and the Flying Start award from Publishers Weekly. When not illustrating and writing books, she has written scripts, designed sets for Circus Juventas, and visited school classes. As of this writing, Stringer resides in Minnesota.
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