The Icelandic Canadian - 01.04.2006, Síða 41

Vol. 60 # 1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
39
Book Reviews
The Problem with Chickens
By Bruce McMillan and Illustrated with
paintings by Gunnella
Reviewed by Lorna Tergesen
Published by Houghton Mifflin
Company, $21.95
As a bookseller and book lover, it is so
wonderful when a book comes into your
hands that truly excites you. This book was
recommended because of its great reviews
in so many prestigious papers and journals.
It was awarded the best illustrated book in
2005 by the New York Times, also great
accolades from Parent's choice Foundation
approved award seal and Publishers
Weekly Best Children's Book 2005. Bruce
McMillan is no stranger to writing books
or photograhing material based in Iceland.
An ardent photographer, he often spends
his summers in Iceland but lives in
Shapleigh, Maine. One of his other recent
works that deals with Iceland is Nights of
the Pufflings. Bruce has either written or
done photographic work for some 48
books to date.
This story, The Problem with
Chickens is meant for very young children.
It is a fantastical tale using some factual
activities of our culture. We have all heard
of the Icelanders collecting eggs from the
nests that lie precariously on the cliffs of
the mountains.
The Icelandic women of the story need
eggs. They buy some hens and things go
well until the chickens begin to think that
they are women too. I won't explain the
entire story but the best part of the book is
the illustrations by Gunnella. The women
are in national dress, always robust and full
figured.
There is a wonderful sense of humour
to all the illustrations.
1 was unfamiliar with Gunnella and so
I Googled for information on her. There I
found a delightful website with much more
of her direct, stylized, colourful art:
www.gunnella.info
Her name is Gudrun Elin Olafsdottir.
She was born in 1956 and studied at the
Icelandic College of Art and Craft (1974-
76). She began her career as a graphic artist
and has developed into a full time artist.
Her youth was spent with her Amma in
Siglufjordur. The influence of that period
plays heavily into her current work. She
has exhibited widely, many shows in and
around Iceland but also in Sweden and the
USA. The best news is that Bruce
McMillan and Gunnella are preparing
another book that will be ready in the
spring of 2007 entitled How the Ladies
Stopped the Wind. I will definitely be
watching for it!