Lindsey Yankey grew up in rural Kansas, playing outside with her sister and giant little brother. When she was inside she spent time meticulously drawing with colored pencils and oil pastels. She later earned a BFA with and emphasis in Illustration from The University of Kansas in 2009. Since then Lindsey has spent time traveling and starting her career as a children's book illustrator and author. Bluebird was her first children's book in English and was preceded by In cerca del vento, the Italian edition. In cerca del vento earned a mention for the Bologna Ragazzi Opera Prima. She has also illustrated a collection of short stories by E. Nesbit titled Melisenda e altre storie da non credere. Her illustrations are created through a variety of materials. Some of her favorites include oil paint, watercolor, found paper, and linoleum block. She strives to create books that all children, as well as grown ups who were once children, can enjoy. Lindsey currently lives in Lawrence, KS with her husband, cat, dog, and their jungle of houseplants.
"Sun and Moon by Lindsey Yankey is one of those books that young
children will want to hear and look at again and again and that
parents will enjoy reading and sharing with them. For children who
are a little apprehensive about the dark, Yankey provides some good
reasons, in both words and pictures, to appreciate the dark night
and its beauty. Yankey also provides a subtle message about the
importance of really looking at and appreciating what you have
rather than coveting what someone else has. Share Sun and Moon with
your children as both a bedtime and an anytime story."
About.com, Elizabeth Kennedy, Children's Books Expert
5 stars review!
"Being happy with who you are and what you have instead of yearning
for what lies beyond reach is a good message for children to learn,
and this book teaches this brilliantly through the story of Moon
who, after a lifetime in darkness, wished to spend one day as the
Sun."
Sun Herald
"In a fablelike story about greener grasses and discovering wonder
in one's own circumstances, the moon wishes to take the place of
the sun for a day: 'Moon imagined Sun saw beautiful sights like
flowers blooming, children playing, and tigers sunbathing.' While
Sun agrees to switch places, there are two conditions--that Moon
agrees to take on Sun's role forever and that he must first closely
observe what unfolds on the Earth during the night. Yankey's
(Bluebird) poetic descriptions provide ample opportunity for her
inky, enigmatic artwork to flourish. After dark, Moon observes
gold-inlaid elephants forming a towering canopy for a nighttime
carnival, lean foxes awakening in a den of wildflowers, and
exploding fireworks that resemble stained glass. He also witnesses
the whimsical dreams of children, boys and girls borne aloft in
sailboats, a goose, and hot-air balloons. Ornamental detailing,
collage elements, and delicately penciled figures that call to mind
19th-century children's book illustrations (a gangly lamplighter
could be kin to the Mad Hatter) combine to create a lyrical
reverie. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)"
Publisher's Weekly
"It's an endearing and gratifying story of acceptance and patience,
but it's Yankey's simply stunning illustrations that make this such
a joy to pore over. In warm, saturated hues and tapestry-like
textures, she paints gorgeous, captivating spreads of bold red
poppies towering in the foreground of a field of wildflowers; lanky
tigers stretched out in pools of sunshine; and a bunk bed of
sleeping children, rendered in delicate, whisper-thin lines and
muted tones, dreaming of boisterous colors and madcap adventures.
Each wide-format, two-page spread is a beautiful composition on its
own, but together with the gentle lines of the story, they invite
close, slow examination, just as the pale-green moon must look
carefully to notice the splendid magic of the night. Truly
enchanting."
-Booklist STARRED REVIEW!, Sarah Hunter
"Lindsey Yankey's (Bluebird) stunning illustrations call to mind
batik patterns and colors in this folktale-like story of Moon, who
wishes to spend 'just one day' as the sun. A nighttime palette of
violets and olive greens sets the scene. As Moon imagines the Sun's
sights, the pages explode with poppies and black-eyed Susans that
match the golden globe in the sky. A carnival-like atmosphere
pervades as a parade of children balance on intricately patterned
balls, and hold pinwheels and exotic banners. In another two-page
spread, of 'tigers sunbathing, ' one wraps its tail like an outline
around the sun while another encircles a patch of flowers. At the
book's midpoint, Sun and Moon appear together, separated by a mound
of plants and butterflies. Sun spells out the conditions for the
exchange: 'First, if we trade, it will last forever, not just one
day. Second, you must spend an entire night... looking very closely
at the earth.' As the moon fulfills the requirements, he sees the
evening equivalent of his fantasies of daytime: a nighttime
carnival, and foxes leaving the circle of their den. Moon also sees
'children dreaming': riding astride a goose, on a sailboat, in a
helium balloon. In a nod to The Little Prince, Moon views the
blossoms of a baobab tree and watches a lamplighter at work. A
mother owl who'd left her nest at the start of the book returns at
the close with a meal for her young. Yankey's gentle message
suggests that when we pay attention, our daily routines take on new
meaning."
Shelf Awareness
"Luminous, intricate illustrations light up this tale of a lonely
Moon, who yearns to trade places with the wise Sun. Imagining the
wonder of watching flowers bloom and children play, Moon eagerly
proposes the switch--but Sun makes two preconditions: first, the
exchange must be permanent, and second, Moon should first spend an
entire night looking down at Earth more closely than ever before.
Yankey lays flat, cut-paper figures of pale children, bright
carpets of delicate flowers, sinuously elongated wild creatures,
and flowing lines of landscape over backgrounds of deep, starry
darkness. With this technique, she shows the astonished Moon city
lights shining out, sleeping children flying through magical
dreams, baobab flowers floating like ghosts, raccoons scampering on
mysterious errands in the silvery forest, and fireflies gleaming
like low stars. All of these are prof ound revelations, and by the
time Sun returns, the enthralled Moon has changed his mind
completely about ever losing them. The narrative describes Moon's
discoveries in sonorous but unaffected language. A lovely tale to
share, day or night. (Picture book. 5-8)"
Kirkus Reviews
"The artwork, which combines collage, cut-outs, porcelain block,
and inks, is expertly used to create a beautiful and stunning
modern-day folktale. The detailed, stylized artwork is perfectly in
tune with the text.
"VERDICT A terrific book pulled together with wonderful artwork. A
treat for the eyes and ears."
School Library Journal, Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library,
CA
"This beautifully illustrated children's book begins with the moon
wanting to trade places with the sun for just one day. But as lush
images of poppies blossoming in the sun are juxtaposed with baobab
trees blossoming in the moonlight, and children playing in the sun
in the daytime then dreaming in the nighttime, Moon is reminded of
all the wonderful things he gets to experience each night.
Eventually, under amazingly bright fireworks, Moon realizes he
would not want to give up any of his nocturnal experiences for even
one day. A sweet story of appreciating what one has is brought to
life through Yankey's incredible artwork. Using a mix of oil paint
and watercolor, linoleum block print and collage, she fills each
page with details children will keep discovering with each
read."
Rebekah Rine, Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, Kansas "Sun and Moon
by Lindsey Yankey is a beautiful reminder to children and adults
alike that, if we look at them closely, our own lives hold far more
delight and surprise than we ever imagined. When the moon envies
the sun's view and begs to trade places, the sun asks the moon to
look spend one more night looking closely at the earth before they
seal the agreement. When moon obeys, the world magically reveals
itself, and moon realizes it is just what and where it should be.
Yankey's exquisite and detailed illustrations reveal new things
with each viewing."
Kelly Barth, Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kansas
Reviews for Lindsey Yankey's previous book, Bluebird:
"At the end of this visual treasure, Bluebird soars happily with
the wind through the clouds in a seemingly limitless sky." -
Booklist, starred review
"A story of a missing friend found and of confidence gained,
Bluebird by Lindsey Yankey is pure pleasure. It is a quiet,
thoughtful story wrapping around you like a warm hug. This is a
book meant to be shared anytime with anyone." - Librarian's
Quest
"Bluebird is a delightful story with luminous art which will send
imaginations soaring." - Sturdy for Common Things
Sun and Moon is an October 2015 Midwest Connections Pick, by the
Midwest Independent Booksellers Association!
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