Over There: Pixar Animation Studio Artist Showcase

by Steve Pilcher, Steve Pilcher (Illustrator)

Overview

Shredder is a little shrew who lives by himself, and while he loves his forest home, he gets a bit lonely. There must be something more, he thinks. So when he sees a "silver line twinkling in the distance," he decides to find out what it is. He discovers a beautiful stream, but then he gets caught up in the current! Luckily, a mole named Nosey saves him. As they explore, Shredder begins to miss the forest, so he and Nosey return together, and Shredder realizes that all he really needed was a friend.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781423147930
Publisher:	Disney Press
Publication date:	09/23/2014
Series:	Pixar Animation Studios Artist Showcase Series
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

In 1995, Steve Pilcher began working in feature film animation at Warner Bros. He spent eight years there, then worked freelance for Disney Feature Animation, followed by four years in the art department at Dreamworks, where he contributed to Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third. He was the Production Designer on Brave and currently works at Pixar. His art has been shown at the Nucleus Gallery in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

07/21/2014
A shrew named Shredder lives in a woodland paradise of sculpted roots, glistening leaves, and filtered light, yet he’s anxious and lonely: “And when he swung on a rubber band and sang a little song, there was no one to sing along.” He sets off in search of something more—he’s not sure what. When the silver foil cup Shredder is using for a boat capsizes, and he’s rescued by a mole, Nosey’s casual self-introduction (“I’m a professional digger.... Wanna dig?”) is the beginning of the friendship Shredder only half-realized he was seeking. Shredder’s shrew-size den, with its bottle-cap dishes and matchbox bed, will draw smiles, while the silvery rivulets in which his boat founders testify to Pixar production artist Pilcher’s ability to produce breathtaking visual effects. Pleasing tension is set up between the narration, told from Shredder’s point of view (“When a giant shadow came over them, they hid inside a cave”), and the extra information that Pilcher reveals on the page—the cave is a pair of worn leather work boots. Pilcher’s debut will likely win Shredder more than one new friend. Ages 3–5. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 2 Part of a series of collaborations between Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Worldwide Publishing, this story of found friendship follows Shredder, a lonely shrew who sets out to find if there is something more to life "over there." Attracted by a reflection of light, Shredder leaves the safety of his home to explore the big world. His progress is halted when he comes upon a body of water. Coincidentally, the shiny object that drew his attention in the first place is an aluminum tin that he uses as a boat. Sadly, it is not exactly seaworthy. However, before he can drown, a mole named Nosey comes to his rescue. Because they have so much in common, the two become fast friends. Bonded together by a love of digging, similar fashion choices, and food, the shrew and mole find that companionship makes life so much sweeter. The story is told through a combination of the cinematic illustrations and the simplistic text. Children and adults alike will appreciate this story with its stunning, dark illustrations, endearing characters, and cinematic spreads that propel the story forward. Highly recommended. Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA—SLJ

Readers meet Shredder, a tiny grey shrew, in his home beneath the forest floor, yearning for companionship. One day Shredder sees sunlight bouncing off a far-away object and he makes the decision to follow his dream. Not only does Shredder's world widen, but he finds Mole and a friendship is formed. The two face many things together. Though the language may lack rhythm at times, there is something likeable about this tiny shrew. The perspective of several of the illustrations put the reader next to Shredder in his underground house. Showing his ingenuity when using human objects, the bravery of sailing down a stream alone, and his willingness to venture forth alone, all make Shredder endearing and quite intriguing. Leslie Greaves Radloff, Educational Reviewer, South St. Paul, Minnesota Recommended—Library Media Connection

A shrew named Shredder lives in a woodland paradise of sculpted roots, glistening leaves, and filtered light, yet he's anxious and lonely: "And when he swung on a rubber band and sang a little song, there was no one to sing along." He sets off in search of something more-he's not sure what. When the silver foil cup Shredder is using for a boat capsizes, and he's rescued by a mole, Nosey's casual self-introduction ("I'm a professional digger.... Wanna dig?") is the beginning of the friendship Shredder only half-realized he was seeking. Shredder's shrew-size den, with its bottle-cap dishes and matchbox bed, will draw smiles, while the silvery rivulets in which his boat founders testify to Pixar production artist Pilcher's ability to produce breathtaking visual effects. Pleasing tension is set up between the narration, told from Shredder's point of view ("When a giant shadow came over them, they hid inside a cave"), and the extra information that Pilcher reveals on the page-the cave is a pair of worn leather work boots. Pilcher's debut will likely win Shredder more than one new friend. Ages 3 5.—PW

From the Publisher

★ 10/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2—Part of a series of collaborations between Pixar Animation Studios and Disney Worldwide Publishing, this story of found friendship follows Shredder, a lonely shrew who sets out to find if there is something more to life "over there." Attracted by a reflection of light, Shredder leaves the safety of his home to explore the big world. His progress is halted when he comes upon a body of water. Coincidentally, the shiny object that drew his attention in the first place is an aluminum tin that he uses as a boat. Sadly, it is not exactly seaworthy. However, before he can drown, a mole named Nosey comes to his rescue. Because they have so much in common, the two become fast friends. Bonded together by a love of digging, similar fashion choices, and food, the shrew and mole find that companionship makes life so much sweeter. The story is told through a combination of the cinematic illustrations and the simplistic text. Children and adults alike will appreciate this story with its stunning, dark illustrations, endearing characters, and cinematic spreads that propel the story forward. Highly recommended.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA

School Library Journal