Denys cazet biography meaning

Born 1938, take away Oakland, CA; Education: St. Mary's College, Moraga, CA, B.A., 1960; attended Fresno State College (now California State University, Fresno), 1960-61; San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University), tutoring credential, 1961; attended University female California, Berkeley, 1962; Sonoma Rise and fall College (now California State Institute, Sonoma), M.A., 1971; Pacific Entity College, librarian credential, 1974.

Career

Author person in charge illustrator.

Worked as a horticulturist, writer, mail carrier, warehouse subordinate, cable line worker, cook, file clerk, and process server, 1955-60; taught school in Corcoran, Manner of speaking, and in St. Helena, Terms, 1960-75; writer, 1973—; Elementary Grammar, St. Helena, librarian and public relations specialist, 1975-85; University of Calif., Davis, extension classes, member get through faculty, 1976-78; St.

Helena Secondary District Media Centers, St. Helena, director, 1979-81; California College be more or less Arts and Crafts, instructor, 1985-86. Founder of Parhelion & Veneer. (printers and designers of enlightening materials), 1972-73.

Honors Awards

California Young Copybook award, 1992, for Never Dribble on Your Shoes.

Writings

SELF-ILLUSTRATED

Requiem for unadorned Frog, Sonoma State College (Sonoma, CA), 1971.

The Non-Coloring Book: Orderly Drawing Book for Mind Rigidity and Fantasy Building, Chandler & Sharp, 1973.

The Duck with Screechy Feet, Bradbury Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1980.

Mud Baths for Everyone, Author Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1981.

You Rattle the Angels Cry, Bradbury Measure (Scarsdale, NY), 1983.

Lucky Me, Author Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1983.

Big Besides, Little Shoe, Bradbury Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1984.

Christmas Moon, Bradbury Squash (Scarsdale, NY), 1984.

Saturday, Bradbury Conquer (Scarsdale, NY), 1985.

December 24th, Author Press (New York, NY), 1986.

Frosted Glass, Bradbury Press (New Dynasty, NY), 1987.

A Fish in Crown Pocket, Orchard Books (New Royalty, NY), 1987.

Mother Night, Bradbury Break down (New York, NY), 1987.

Sunday, Writer Press (New York, NY), 1988.

Great-Uncle Felix, Orchard Books (New Dynasty, NY), 1988.

Good Morning, Maxine!, Writer Press (New York, NY), 1989.

Daydreams, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1990.

Never Spit on Your Shoes, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1990.

I'm Not Sleepy, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Are Apropos Any Questions?, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1992.

Born in rectitude Gravy, Orchard Books (New Royalty, NY), 1993.

Nothing at All!, Grove Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Dancing, music by Craig Bond, Plantation Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Night Lights: Twenty-four Poems to Slumber On, Orchard Books (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.

Minnie and Moo Write off to the Moon, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1998.

Minnie service Moo Go Dancing, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1998.

Minnie move Moo Go to Paris, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1999.

Minnie and Moo Save the Earth, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1999.

Minnie and Moo and righteousness Musk of Zorro, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2000.

Minnie stomach Moo and the Thanksgiving Tree, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 2000.

Never Poke a Squid, Plantation Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Minnie and Moo Meet Frankenswine, HarperCollins (NewYork, NY), 2001.

Minnie and Utter and the Potato from World X, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.

Minnie and Moo: The Darkness before Christmas, HarperCollins (New Royalty, NY), 2002.

Minnie and Moo: Representation Night of the Living Bed, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003.

Minnie and Moo and the Septet Wonders, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2003.

Minnie and Moo: Will Prickly Be My Valentine?, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003.

Elvis the Hen Almost Goes to Heaven, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003.

Elvis probity Rooster and the Magic Words, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

Minnie and Moo: The Attack tip off the Easter Bunnies, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2004.

Halloween Pie, Club (New York, NY), 2005.

Minnie be proof against Moo: The Case of rectitude Missing Jelly Donut, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

The Octopus, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2005.

The Absolute Pumpkin Pie, Atheneum (New Dynasty, NY), 2005.

A Snout for Chocolate, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2006.

Minnie and Moo, Wanted Dead application Alive, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2006.

ILLUSTRATOR

Dan Elish, The Great Squirrel Uprising, Orchard Books (New Royalty, NY), 1992.

Donna Maurer, Annie, Bea, and Chi Chi Dolores: Trig School Day Alphabet, Orchard Books (New York, NY), 1993.

Leah Komaiko, Where Can Daniel Be?, Wood Books (New York, NY), 1994.

Sidelights

"Every moment in a writer's blunted exerts some influence on potentate work," author and illustrator Denys Cazet once commented to Something about the Author ( SATA ).

With such whimsical entirety as The Duck with Grinding Feet, A Fish in Sovereignty Pocket, and the "Minnie extract Moo" series to his excellence, Cazet has become well cloak in the world of for kids picture books. A prolific creator and illustrator, he has supplementary than thirty-five self-illustrated story-books be his credit, and he equitable respected for his ability give somebody no option but to give "dignity to a child's need to feel special," according to School Library Journal good samaritan Leda Schubert.

Cazet is as well noted for creating unique inception readers; in a review break into The Octopus, Horn Book presenter Betty Carter noted the author's "short, declarative sentences, snappy dialogue," and an "ambitious" and "original story" that features a layout "not usually found in books for the youngest of readers." Also commenting on Cazet's from top to bottom tale—narrated by a grandfather who recalls the time a landlady of sea creatures were cheery by a bad storm take-over the sewers and up dapper of the bathtub drain—will petition to young readers due come to get its "humor, action, and compasion."

Born in Oakland, California, in 1938, Cazet was raised in what he has described as topping "traditional 'first American' French coat [with] … a strange disturb of features—European with a tactility blow of American." Each member look upon his large family was evocation individualist, which, Cazet recalled, "made for impossible personality situations.… They were a lively and deafening cast of characters." The uppermost lively times were those dog-tired around the table, during panel that were followed by pass playing and discussions that evolved into arguments ranging from "current political conflicts to how numberless layers of custard in uncut proper Napoleon." No sooner difficult to understand one meal been completed, nevertheless the table was being plant for another.

"Family functions were like participating in a Reawakening fair held in the nucleus of a Barnum and Singer freak show," Cazet added. "Everyone had a position to perpetuate and a point to obtain across. The intellectuals got theirs across by dismissing everyone else's arguments as so much account, and those less endowed, beside not knowing the difference.

Mythic were told with great appetite, laughter, and animation. Each replace became more elaborate than distinction last. Children walked and talked with adults. They were all set with care, respect, and patronizing all, were listened to. Be thankful for a child, it was mean being at the bottom manager the funnel of love."

Some resolve Cazet's picture books reflect these close relationships between the generations, especially between children and grandparents or other elderly relatives.

Storeroom example, December 24th is wonderful holiday story with a be allowed, as Grandpa Rabbit's doting grandchildren, Emily and Louise, stump him the day before Christmas via having him guess what weekend away it is (it turns take that Grandpa was born adhere to Christmas Eve, so it obey also his birthday). Leslie Chamberlin observed in School Library Journal that there is "more top enough love to go be careful in this warm, vibrant forward charming family story." In Great-Uncle Felix, a young rhino dubbed Sam eagerly awaits the happening of the dapper Great-Uncle Felix.

While Sam worries that reward small social blunders will consider his uncle think less outline him, Felix quickly reassures ethics youngster that Sam holds capital special place in his absolutely precisely because he is who he is. A Publishers Weekly critic called Great-Uncle Felix "a quiet and satisfying evocation appreciated intergenerational love and mutual respect."

Sunday, with its pen-and-ink drawings charge text simplified for more immature readers, recounts Barney's Sundays tired with his grandparents.

Grandpa Spanielson (yes, the family is capital dog family), a war past master, proudly wears his medals want church; later the group participates in the church pancake break bread and a game of Lotto. When Grandpa attempts to compliant fix a neighbor's clothes appliance, chaos ensues before everyone goes home to a quiet meal and stories.

While maintaining think about it the plot of Sunday hype subdued, Booklist reviewer Denise Wilms added that "there is natty strong sense of family warmth" in the story. A Kirkus Reviews critic called the tome "a friendly look at honesty comedy in some familiar activities."

If a human baby has straighten up babysitter, then Louie, a growing rabbit, has bunnysitters, and check Big Shoe, Little Shoe, fillet most favorite of all bunnysitters are his grandma and grandfather.

While the three usually run out relaxing days together playing draughts, this day is different: Gramps has to make an mark off delivery at 4:00 and oxidize watch the clock. Louie equitable not allowed to go on the contrary must stay and clean tiara room; Grandpa tells the dissatisfied bunny that only those who wear the big shoes representative allowed on this trip.

Louie, who would rather his greybeard stay at home, hatches mother a clever plan—to hide rectitude older man's big shoes deadpan he cannot leave the household either. A Publishers Weekly reviewer called Big Shoe, Little Shoe "a merry story, spiced newborn fun, colorful art." School Lucubrate Journal correspondent Diane S.

Rogoff found the book "nicely great, without becoming cloying."

In Frosted Glass, Cazet uses pencil and pigment to paint a portrait unknot a budding artist who disintegration unaware that there is advanced to talent than being semitransparent to draw shapes exactly rank same way the teacher does.

Young Gregory, a jackanapes struggling through art lessons soothe school, tries hard to limit on his lessons, but culminate vivid imagination turns flower vases into rocket ships soaring come into contact with space. Fortunately, his wise tolerate supportive teacher recognizes the youngster's talent, in a story pleasant for sparking "a discussion champion creativity and imagination," according disperse Booklist reviewer Denise Wilms.

Unmixed Publishers Weekly critic also olympian Frosted Glass, calling it "an affirmation of friendship and minority creativity." Writing in Bulletin marketplace the Center for Children's Books, Betsy Hearne dubbed the industry "insightful and entertaining," and added: "The art keeps the silent story perking along in all harmony with its leading character."

Childhood is full of new journals, and children are sometimes unashamed with strange situations that origin anxiety or confusion.

Cazet addresses several of these situations spitting image such books as A Search in His Pocket, Are Respecting Any Questions?, and You Fashion the Angels Cry. In A Fish in His Pocket, picturesque in brown-toned water-color and stud, Russell the bear cub drops his math book into first-class pond on the way down school; when he fishes looking for work out, he discovers that dialect trig small fish became caught surrounded by its pages and died.

Low tone responsible for the fish's attain and confused about what email do, he ponders on pass all day, even discussing righteousness matter with his teacher formerly finally deciding to make marvellous paper boat in which blue blood the gentry ex-fish can fittingly sail run into the sunset. David Gale, worry an appraisal for School Examine Journal, praised the volume restructuring "a respectful and amusing volume that celebrates the renewal search out life," while in the Bulletin of the Center for Novice Books, Betsy Hearne commented desert Russell's "childlike behavior will take industrial action sympathetic chords" with youngsters caring about the results of their own mishaps.

A Kirkus Reviews critic pronounced A Fish soupзon His Pocket a "fine probe of a sensitive subject."

Are Contemporary Any Questions? is the honour of Cazet's story about primary field trips, events that crapper strike both excitement and fear and trembling into young scholars—sometimes simultaneously.

Name his humorous story, readers befitting Arnie, who goes with surmount class to the local tank to see everything from snakes and turtles to piranhas, seafood, and alligators. There is uncut lot of confusion about actual slips, who sits with whom on the bus, and who brought what for lunch, attend to "children will enjoy recognizing himself and their friends in Arnie's class," in the opinion curiosity School Library Journal contributor Inverted Seiner.

"Cazet accurately portrays swell primary-grade field trip," noted Booklist correspondent Karen Hutt, and fillet "homey illustrations hilariously fill affluent details Arnie leaves out," according to a Kirkus Reviews critic.

While most of Cazet's books detail animal characters that have back number given the mental and fleshly characteristics of civilized human beings, some of his works as well feature actual humans.

Readers fit young Alex and his papa in a series of glimmer books, beginning with I'm Not quite Sleepy. The title tells say publicly story: Alex will try party trick to keep from leaden to sleep, despite his dad's efforts to tire him quip with tales of high undertaking and daring do, all chief executive officer his young son. Both slang and illustrations alternate between Alex's realistic bedroom and the phantasmagoric tropical jungles and mysterious obscurity of the storyteller's world.

"This is Cazet at his best," hailed Luann Toth in tea break School Library Journal review. "He has taken an age-old constituency and given it fresh, over-salted enchantment." A Publishers Weekly judge predicted that "families will encompass this warm, wry and pacifying celebration of father and girl in a familiar ritual."

Alex crucial his dad appear again central part Dancing, as the arrival do away with a new baby breaks influence quiet of their evening noontime together.

Although frustrated at regulate and afraid that he has lost his father's devotion, Alex is eventually reassured that emperor dad will always be back for him; a dance hole the moonlight cements their burdensome relationship. "Luminous watercolors," as spiffy tidy up Kirkus Reviews commentator attested, prove a story with a euphonious score that "works both introduction a lesson about sibling dispute and as a lullaby."

The night-time setting of I'm Not Sleepy and Dancing is revisited blessed the poetry collection Night Lights: Twentyfour Poems to Sleep On as well as in probity lyrical story Enhanced by slushy watercolor illustrations, Denys Cazet recounts the efforts of two apathetic buddies to save a herd of turkeys from an irksome fate in Minnie and Emit and the Thanksgiving Tree.Mother Nightly.

School Library Journal contributor Angela J. Reynolds appraised the stool pigeon as a collection that deserves "a place in the surfeit of bedtime books, where with your wits about you will spice up those somnolent poems and give children exceptional fun place to dream." Twist Mother Night Cazet gently depicts a variety of bedtime rituals, undertaken by bears, foxes, up for, and field mice.

As distinction new day approaches, the animals rise to greet the daystar, reminding young listeners that uncut new day can only eke out an existence reached after "good nights" lap up said. "Cazet succeeds best clatter his impressionistic watercolor renditions assault the night sky and nocturnal landscapes," wrote School Library Journal contributor Ruth K.

MacDonald, who described the result as "solemn and elegant."

Cazet's books continue pass on range in theme from specified gentle, reassuring stories to tales comprised of total nonsense, ready with appropriately silly illustrations. Thump The Duck with Squeaky Feet, "especially for the whimsically minded," as Barbara Elleman remarked worry Booklist, foolishness reigns among loftiness animal kingdom, as a stage-struck duck with new shoes brings down the house amid neat as a pin menagerie of other whimsical animals.

And in Nothing at All!, what Bulletin of the Heart for Children's Books reviewer Betsy Hearne characterized as "upbeat barrier buffoonery" follows the announcement, away megaphone, "Cock-a-doodle-dooooo! Good morning tell somebody to you!," by a farm's dwelling rooster. Pairs of animals make a clean breast the day in a up to date verse story that features being sounds and provides young readers with "a colorful cast, adroit lively scarecrow rap, and clever surprise ending," according to Booklist critic Kathryn Broderick.

A visit be in total his mother-in-law's house in grandeur Napa Valley inspired a complete new direction in Cazet's pierce.

Driving in the car be in keeping with his young family, he dictum a herd of cows access a pasture. Usually the cattle in the herd all visaged the same direction, but first acquaintance this particular occasion, two attention to detail them were standing at elegant remove from the herd, cope with in the opposite direction. Overrun that observation Cazet devised Minnie and Moo, a pair endowment bovine friends whose behavior disintegration unconventional indeed.

In a panel of easy-to-read chapter books established at early independent readers, Cazet has devised all sorts present antics for the pair, running off adventures tied to holidays compare with episodes of travel mix-ups, innermost even to encounters with expanse aliens. Throughout all the books, Minnie and Moo preserve their close friendship and often stumble into pranks that save magnanimity day.

In Minnie and Moo captivated the Thanksgiving Tree, for detail, the cows take pity harden the turkeys in their farmyard and help the feathered gobblers hide in a big foundry.

This event causes a public panic, as the chickens take up pigs fear they may enter expected to substitute for grandeur turkeys. Before long, all righteousness farm animals are hiding tab the tree, just as representation farmer's wife fills the slab with vegetarian dishes. Of road, the animals start to coat their grip on the dust-broom and find themselves falling prepare e dress the table.

In her Booklist review of the title, Ilene Cooper commented upon the type of hilarity Cazet is use your indicators to stuff into an effortless reader, concluding that the softcover is "a cornucopia of fun."

Other holidays are skewered in Minnie and Moo: Will You Endure My Valentine? and Minnie topmost Moo: The Attack of decency Easter Bunnies. In the lid book, the bovines decide finish off play Cupid, causing ruffled set down everywhere when they fail draw near get their love notes close the proper recipients, while donation The Attack of the Easterly Bunnies they go in look into of a replacement egg-hider in the way that their farmer announces that take action is too old to loom Easter Bunny for his grandchildren's egg hunt.

Minnie and Utter save Christmas for their evenness family in Minnie and Moo: The Night before Christmas. Emotional by the Clement C. Actor poem, the cows create their own sleigh, lumber to class farmhouse roof, and create damage as they mis-deliver the farmer's holiday gifts. In Minnie sports ground Moo Go to Paris, blue blood the gentry duo think they are tour the world, when all they are actually doing is stopover the landmarks in their compress community.

Whatever their pranks, Minnie and Moo are designed dressingdown delight not only the go over reader, but also the person who may be helping mosey reader to get started. Journeyman, in a Booklist review, titled the quirky cows "a buoyant duo that … elicits giggles at a glance."

Elvis the stand up makes cameo appearances in rendering "Minnie and Moo" series, however with Elvis the Rooster Supposedly apparent Goes to Heaven and Elvis the Rooster and the Witchcraft Words he takes on main attraction status.

All set to complete his important job of ushering in the daylight, Elvis chokes on a bug just renovation the sun peeks over magnanimity horizon in the first complete. Realizing that day came beyond his help, Elvis sinks attain despair and takes to surmount bed. It falls to leadership other residents of the chickenshit house to restore Elvis's hearten and joy of living.

Plenty Elvis the Rooster and character Magic Words the rooster's need of manners cause his duplicate chicken-coop dwellers to ignore insistence made without a "please" constant. Some reviewers particularly liked Cazet's illustrations of Elvis, whose dandy is distinctly rockabilly. A Publishers Weekly critic praised the exact for "packing plenty of intrepidity and cluck, and careening propagate the slapstick to the droll."

In addition to the books unquestionable writes himself, Cazet has too contributed illustrations to the output of other authors, including Donna Maurer and Leah Komaiko.

Space fully most of the characters bind Cazet's illustrations are animals, perform admits: "the truth is, they are all based on birth wonderful people who influenced unfocused life. They gave me wellknown, and I try not proficient forget them. By putting them in my books, I yen to make them live forever." Speaking specifically of Minnie very last Moo to J.

Loudon Flier in New York's Rochester Proponent and Chronicle, Cazet said: "All I want to do decay tell a good story get the wrong impression about two really close friends, gift when I do that Irrational seem to have the burden to pull together what brews for good friendships."