Rufus the Writer

April 27, 2015
Instead of selling lemonade, Rufus decides to open a “story stand.” He barters his stories for offerings from his friends, a diverse group of colors and sizes. Millie and her brother Walter are going swimming. “I’ll take one story, please. How much?” asks Walter. “Just bring me a special shell from the beach,” Rufus replies, and starts writing. “Red and Yellow got married and had a baby named Orange,” he begins, as the characters are shown as fish swimming among seaweed. Rufus trades a story about a cat for a newborn kitten, then remembers that his sister Annie’s birthday is approaching and writes a tale for her: “Annie could not pour the tea because the teapot and the cups would not stop dancing.” Groenink (Under a Pig Tree) gives the children simple forms and features, and the neighborhood’s trees pleasing, Matisse-like shapes. Bram, in her first children’s book since 1980’s Woodruff and the Clocks, questions the conviction that things only have value if they cost money, holding Rufus up as an unconventional hero whose creations draw his friends into community. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House.

Starred review from June 1, 2015

Gr 1-3-Rufus is a dreamy, imaginative kid with loads of creative energy. He decides to put his talents to work for him one summer by running a "story stand." The boy dons a bow tie and sets himself up with a table and his pens in his front yard and gets down to business. Rufus prides himself in crafting each story to suit his customers' tastes and interests. The book contains four of his fully illustrated child-centric selections. Groenink chooses a lush and delicious sun-drenched palette for his upbeat and lively full-bleed gouache, acrylic, and pencil artwork. Rufus's own creations are clearly set off from the main narrative by orange borders and depictions of different writing implements. You might ask yourselves what kind of a kid turns down a trip to the beach? One who takes himself and his creativity seriously. His neighbor Sara asks, "How much will it [a story] cost?" Rufus replies, "Whatever you think. Surprise me." The highlight comes at the end of the day when the friends gather to exchange their barters and read their stories. Upon receiving "Annie and the Dancing Teapot" as an early birthday gift, Rufus's sister Annie says, "This is the best present ever! Can you read it to me?" "Of course," he replied. VERDICT A charming, celebratory ode to the writing life and those who follow their artistic inclinations wherever they lead.-Luann Toth, School Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2015
"Rufus was watching a cloud shaped like a cushion turn into a cat when the idea first came to him. 'I'm not going to have a lemonade stand this summer, ' he said. 'I'm going to have a story stand!' " Rufus runs off "to gather pencils and paper and markers," after which an eight-panel double-page spread shows him going through the sequence of setting up a table and chair for his enterprise, carefully decorating both the table and himself. As unlikely as it may seem, when friends Millie and Walter come by and invite Rufus to go swimming with them, Rufus declines, as he has "a story stand to run." He tells these friends that their price for a story will be a seashell from the beach. Rufus (who is Caucasian) creates a story specifically for his sister and for each of several friends of differing genders, ages, and skin tones; "payments" vary. Each simple story "by Rufus" spans two to four pages, with hand printing and colorful art. The text about Rufus is in black typeface, with artwork similar to that attributed to Rufus. The entire book-including the endpapers-is a tribute to literacy. It may appeal to bibliophiles, but its lack of action beyond reading, writing, and walking is unlikely to create any converts. The idea is original and appealing, but the execution is less than inspiring. (Picture book. 4-7)

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