Books with author Gail E. Haley

The legend of the Green Man, a figure known throughout Europe as the lord of the forest, is given an imaginative and appealing interpretation by Gail Haley. Claude, the spoiled and arrogant son of Squire Archibald, finds himself stranded in the forest one day while hunting, and in order to survive he learns to live in harmony with nature around him. Description in book; 1981 Parent's Choice Award winner book.

Jack is the universal folk hero and adventurer. Tales of Jack's adventures are as timeless as bedrock but as fresh as dawn in the Appalachian hills. Whether Jack is outsmarting ogres, besting card sharks, wrestling with ornery witches, or even taking on Old Man Death himself, the plainspoken hero's common sense, goodness, and hill-country humor help him come out on top every time. Gail Haley is an author, award-winning illustrator, puppeteer, and storyteller. She has written and illustrated over forty books for children. She is the only North Carolinian to have won the Caldecott Medal and is the only person world-wide to have won both The Caldecott Medal and the Kate Greenway Medal. In addition, she won the Kadai Tosho Award in Japan. Parent's Choice Award for The Green Man and the Kerlan Award for Lifetime Achievement. She was a storyteller in residence at Appalachian State University for fifteen years and has lectured extensively in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and South Africa.

This is not the usual how-to book on costuming. Rather, it suggests methods of creating a “look.” Imagining and creating a costume is a microcosm of the creative process. Proceeding from simple drawing to finished product is a lesson in patience spurred by excitement. Dyeing used pajama pants and a t-shirt can become the base layer of anyone, from a clown to a super hero. The reward of fulfillment leads to enthusiasm for further experiments. For a child or parent and child creating the illusion of a different time or place is an experience not to be missed. “Putting on someone else’s skin” can be a springboard into learning history or social consciousness. A boy who has “been” Henry the Eighth, will be interested in learning about the time in which he lived. A girl who has become Amelia Earhart can learn lessons about self-esteem and female independence. The author made every costume and pattern over a seven year period when her children were young, and continues to make costumes for festivals and events. Knowing how a costume is made, and seeing it in three dimensional form, has been invaluable to painting characters for her more than forty picture books.