Reviews

The Mud Puddle

Childrens Book

"Witty and colourful illustrations."

-- Canadian Book Review Annual

re: The Mud Puddle by Robert Munsch

"Suomalainen also illustrated the 1982 edition, but his new pictures feature a more fluid, energetic style and full colour on every page, rather than on alternative spreads. The growing popularity of Munsch's picture books and this edition's more appealing illustrations make this a likely choice for larger collections."

-- Annick Press

re: The Mud Puddle by Robert Munsch "...Munsch has released a new edition of The Mud Puddle, originally published in 1979. This book has been redesigned and the new version features the bright and bold artwork of Sami Suomalainen."

-- Brantford Expositor

re: The Mud Puddle by Robert Munsch

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Mr. Reez's Sneezes:

Childrens Book

"Sami Suomalainen's bright watercolor illustrations nicely complement the humorous story."

-- Canadian Book Review Annual

re: Mr. Reez's Sneezes by Curtis Parkinson

"... Suomalainen's watercolors are whimsical and appealing."

>-- Canadian Children's Literature

re: Mr. Reez's Sneezes by Curtis Parkinson

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Marisol and the Yellow Messenger:

Childrens Book

"Sami Suomalainen, well known to children all over the world for the first Robert Munsch books, has travelled widely in South America. His warm, vivid dream-scapes and his Northern city neighbourhood studies extend the child's experience and engagement with this story."

-- Annick Press

re: Marisol and the Yellow Messenger by Emile Smith-Ayala

"...The understated grief in the text is countered by the bright, glowing colours of Sami Suomalainen's paintings. Dominated by vivid yellows and blues, the illustrations capture the stark contrasts that Marisol experiences between sun and snow, heat and cold, North and South. The dream vision of the four weaving woman who call themselves 'your great-grandmothers' mothers' -- they are clearly mystic figures -- adds a rich, spiritual dimension to the story....A touching story."

-- Quill and Quire

re: Marisol and the Yellow Messenger by Emile Smith-Ayala

"Colour tells me much about what is going on in Marisol and the Yellow Messenger. Sami Suomalainen use it to indicate how young Marisol is feeling. Thus, yellow becomes synonymous with peace and love."

-- Vancouver Province

re: Marisol and the Yellow Messenger by Emile Smith-Ayala

"Of all these books, its illustrations -- created by Sami Suomalainen and infused with the vibrant and vivid colours of Guatamalan weavings -- are most noteworthy."

-- Kitchener-Waterloo Record

re: Marisol and the Yellow Messenger by Emile Smith-AyalaA

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The Dark:

Childrens Book

"...Fantasy come true, with effective illustrations."

-- London Free Press

re: The Dark by Robert Munsch

"...Firmly melds the real and the fantastic."

-- Globe & Mail

re: The Dark by Robert Munsch

"...Visually appealing, as well as fun to listen to."

-- Books in Canada

re: The Dark by Robert Munsch

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The Financial Post Magazine:

Editorial Illustration

"His work is always an editors' delight; he has the rare ability to add a new dimension to the text he's working with by subtly injecting his own interpretation. At the same time, he always mirrors perfectly the mood of the text."

-- Ann Rhodes, Editor

Financial Post Magazine