While born in Massachusetts, Christopher Denise actually grew up in Ireland. However, he would return to the States and eventually attend (you guessed it) the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). At RISD, he honed his illustrative and design skills, working on textbooks and newspapers by providing illustrations. His debut book was The Fool of the World and The Flying Ship, an adaptation of a Russian fairytale. The book was greeted with effusive praise and hailed as a “stunning debut.” It won’t surprise anyone who sees his work to know Denise works in animation. His designs are a perfect fit for that venue.
Knight Owl (Christy Ottaviano Books)
Written & Illustrated by Christopher Denise
For ages: 3-7
Little Owl has read all about the knights and their adventures. He dreams of being one himself someday, taking on fearsome dragons and becoming a famous hero. Suddenly, many knights go missing, so Owl applies to Knight School to help fill the gap. Unfortunately, everything is designed for bigger people. Owl struggles to wield large weapons or wear armor, which is far too big, and he keeps napping during the daytime. His nocturnal habits pay off, though, when one night, while he patrols the castle walls, he encounters a hungry dragon. This is a beautifully illustrated and genuinely funny book about being who you are and taking on challenges you might be a little scared of. The Owl’s wisdom helps him out of this confrontation with a dragon. By the end, he proves how much he deserves to be a knight. Denise’s illustrations are perfect for his words, with such expressive faces.
Bunny in the Middle (Henry Holt and Co. (BYR))
Written by Anika Denise
Illustrated by Christopher Denise
For ages: 3-7
This book about birth order focuses on the bunny sibling in the middle of a trio. The book’s message is very positive: middle kids are the luckiest because they have someone older to help them out and someone younger who looks up to them. This middle bunny is a great negotiator, able to solve problems between the two others but also likes to pull back and do their own thing sometimes. The book doesn’t shy away from the typical complaints and doesn’t try to diminish them in any way. The illustrations began life as pencil work but have been enhanced with digital coloring, giving them a sense of weight and texture. Denise is one of those artists who knows where to place little details that will draw younger readers’ eyes. These add to the depth of the world even if we don’t get names for the characters. I also appreciate that nothing in the text attempts to gender these siblings making it something everyone can connect with.
Baking Day at Grandma’s (Philomel Books)
Written by Anika Denise
Illustrated by Christopher Denise
For ages: 3-7
Three bear siblings spend a day of fun & hard work with their grandma in the kitchen. The text is written as rhyming couplets and relies heavily on sensory imagery, evoking the sounds, smells, sights, and tastes of a kitchen producing delicious food. The three little ones make their way through freshly fallen snow to Grandma’s warm, inviting cottage. Once inside then, toss on some aprons and get to work while the fire crackles and warms them. Once again, digital coloring gives hand-drawn illustrations some extra heft. The use of light in these pictures is exceptional, with a comforting afternoon beam of sunlight cascading through a kitchen window to illuminate these little ones and their granny. The book wraps up with the three bears not indulging in the treats all for themselves but taking slices of cakes or small piles of petit fours and wrapping them as gifts to share.
The Reading Circle 