The Etcher's Studio

Creating an enthralling parallel, Geisert (Oink; Pigs from 1 to 10) illustrates this story of the intricate goings-on in an etcher's studio with the stylish, full-color etchings that have earned him accolades. Step by careful step, a boy helps his grandfather prepare for the annual sale of prints made from his etchings. After Grandfather soaks the paper in water, inks the copper plate and rolls it through the press, the boy's real work begins--he colors each print by hand. This soon proves tiresome, and the boy daydreams of exploring the exotic places--the jungle, the ocean--depicted in the prints. Luckily his wandering mind doesn't prevent him from filling the studio with a bounty of artwork ready for sale. Geisert's portrait of an involving intergenerational relationship is warm and welcome. As the story's narrator, the boy balances a certain maturity and respect for his grandfather's work with typical kidlike thoughts and reactions. Readers are also rewarded with a bit of an education: Geisert provides a precisely labeled illustration of an etcher's studio, as well as a detailed spread explaining, in stages, how an etching is made. Geisert fans will also enjoy spotting scenes from his previous books scattered around Grandfather's studio--and, not surprisingly, the etching on the how-to pages is of a pig. All ages. (Apr.)