Rufus the Writer

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. (July)

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

Grades K-2. One afternoon, while watching the clouds, a young boy is inspired to run a “story stand” for the summer instead of a lemonade stand. All in a day’s time, Rufus sets up his stand, establishes a system that lets customers trade objects for stories, and begins to write, illustrate, and hand out his compositions. Four neighborhood children commission Rufus to pen them each a story—with topics spanning colors, kittens, buttons, and a tea party—which are integrated into the book’s overall narrative, as are his delightful tokens of payment. This is a quiet, pleasant tale without conflict. Even the reactions to Rufus’ stories are serene, as each child reads through what he has written. Softly colored illustrations in acrylic, pencil, and gouache feature a racially diverse cast of characters that perfectly match the tranquil tone of the text. Rufus’ entrepreneurial endeavor introduces readers (on a very simple level) to the concepts of trade and creative writing, in addition to serving as a sweet summer anthology.

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