And Tango Makes Three

This delightful true story follows the lives of chinstrap penguins living in the Central Park zoo. Through beautiful watercolor illustrations a story of families is told, imparting the importance of love and care above all. Story’s central characters are Roy and Silo, two male penguins that work towards forming a family.  Following the example of other penguin families at the zoo, Roy and Silo form a nest and take turns sitting in it. However, lacking an actual egg, they sit in vain, until a zookeeper places a penguin egg in need of care into their nest. They name the penguin that hatches “Tango”, “because it takes two to make a Tango.”  The lesson all readers can take away from this story is that love, patience, and care define the concept of family. This story has received numerous awards, but has also encountered censorship due to its theme. The American Library Association reported that And Tango Makes Three was one of the most challenged books from 2006 to 2011.

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Ages: P-8

Pages: 32

List Price: $16.99

Cover: Hardcover

Published: 4/26/2005

ISBN-10: 1442424109

Inkblot, by Margaret Peot

Inkblot is an imaginative art guide for anyone seeking inspiration. Creative blocks can be avoided easily by playing with inkblot art, and this book provides a plethora of demonstrations and examples. It mentions several different techniques and variations, including blow-art and ink pouring, drawing into inkblots, creating inkblots with single fold and multi-fold, using colored ink, creating inkblot landscapes, applying different amount of pressure and ink, inkblots created within different shapes and styles of paper,  landscapes, among others . Additionally, it provides examples of a few artists, as they themselves used inkblots in order to expand their visions. Some of the most famous ones include Victor Hugo (artist and writer of novels such as Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and Stefan G. Bucher (contemporary master of the blown-ink technique). This is a great book that will inspire creativity for artists of all ages.

Boyds Mills Press

Ages: 11 and up (although younger artists are encouraged to work with minimal guidance)

Pages: 56

List Price: $19.95

Cover: Hardcover

Published: 3/1/2011

ISBN: 1-59078-720-X