Tuesday

Story

Tuesday evening, around 8pm, out in the wetlands something strange is happening as frogs rise into the air on lily pads and head to town.

Why we chose it

An almost wordless picture book from a highly acclaimed illustrator and a brilliant example of visual storytelling, very funny and full of detail. A picture book for older children with filmic effects – wide screen and close up views.

Where it came from

Wiesner started exploring creating wordless stories while still a student. When drawing frogs for the cover of Cricket magazine, he was struck by the shape of them sitting on lily pads, looking like flying saucers in old moves like Forbidden Planet or The Day the Earth Stood Still. For the magazine cover he drew frogs rising out of a swamp and heading off to who knows where. He began to wonder where they were going and the layout of the book began to emerge from the sketches that he did.

Where it went next

Wiesner won the 1992 Caldecott Medal for illustration for Tuesday.

The book is widely used in schools for the joy of its storytelling, the detail and atmosphere of its illustrations and the endless opportunities for discussion, speculation and imaginative response.

Associated stories

Wiesner also won the Caldecott Medal for The Three Little Pigs (2002) and Flotsam (2007). His other books include, Art and Max, Mr Wuffles, Fish Girl, and I Got It.