LUNCHTIME FOR A PURPLE SNAKE

Ziefert and McKie (Egad Alligator!, 2002, etc.) team up again with a story about the creative process. Jessica loves to visit her artist grandpa in his studio. Like all artists, Jessica sometimes gets frustrated with her painting, but grandpa reassuringly points out that even mistakes can turn into something good—a brown blob can become a very convincing meatball. They collaborate on a painting, with grandpa dispensing artistic advice as they go: “Don’t start right away. Take time to choose your colors. Try to make the paint sing.” McKie’s trademark geometrics, his simplified, flat forms and colors that manage to be subtle and bold at the same time, never fail to please. Grandpa’s oh-so-arty beret ends up on Jessica’s head while she stands beaming beneath their framed composition, “Lunchtime for a Purple Snake.” An artist is born. (Picture book. 3-5)