Illustrator Daniel Jennewein shares his 5 favorite picture books

Daniel Jennewein, debut illustrator of IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? written by Audrey Vernick, is not only a fanastic illustrator, he is also my husband. Even though we don't have kids (yet at least), we have over 100 picture books on our shelves. Today, Daniel shares 5 of his favorites.

Rotten Island by William Steig
This book is actually my nr. 1 favorite. It is wildly funny and irreverent. In it, Steig introduces many creatures that compete in ugliness and evilness. They roam in the most horrific island imaginable, surrounded by boiling sea. I love its’ originality and freshness. Sample line: "Nothing could make these monsters shake so hard with laughter as to see another one suffering pain. They loved their rotten life. They loved hating and hissing at one another, taking revenge, tearing and breaking things, screaming, roaring, caterwauling, venting their hideous feelings." Don't worry - there is a happy ending!

Where the Wild Things are by Maurice Sendak
My mother read this book to me when I was small and I am so familiar with it that it feels like a person I know. I think the German translation is great and I will always know the text by heart. I also think the book design is spectacular – how the illustrations grow larger as Max is more and more swept into his fantasy world, and then smaller again as he begins to want to return home. This is a classic for good reason, and I'm still not sure whether I should chance seeing the film or not.

Zeralda's Ogre, Tomi Ungerer
Tomi Ungerer is one of my biggest influences, and has been a favorite illustrator of mine since I was a young child. I am a huge fan of most of his books, but this is arguably my favorite. He often introduces horrible characters in his stories that start to grow on you while you read. This particular book is about a cannibal who loves to eat little children and how he meets a little girl called Zeralda who changes his life. By the way, if you are ever in Straßburg, France, you should definitely check out the Tomi Ungerer Museum.

Duck, Death and the Tulip, Wolf Erlbruch
This is a picture book about death, not such a common topic for the genre. I think it is amazing how it deals with such a difficult subject in such a light and accessible way. It is sad and funny and foreboding at the same time. Warning: It can make you cry. Unfortunately the English translation is not able to capture the simple and poetic language of the original German. Still, I think it is quite a powerful book.

Not a Box, Antoinette Portis
This book is based on a great concept and demonstrates the power of imagination. It is beautifully designed by the author Antoinette Portis and the wonderful HarperCollins Creative Director Martha Rago (with whom I was lucky to work with on the Buffalo books). I first became aware of this title when Martha spoke at a SCBWI meeting in Paris a few years ago. She told us that they found this gem in the slush pile! So it can happen. There is also a sequel called NOT A STICK which I like as well.

Thanks Daniel! Visit Daniel's website http://www.danieljennewein.com/ to see his work. You can see some spreads from IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? too. The next Buffalo book comes out summer 2011 and is called TEACH YOUR BUFFALO TO PLAY DRUMS. It is even cuter than the kindergarten book (if such a thing is possible).

He also maintains an illustration blog where he uploads a new drawing everyday.