Christopher Cerf is an author, composer-lyricist, record and
television producer, editor, and cofounder and president of
the educational television production company, Sirius Thinking,
Ltd. Since its first season in 1970, Cerf has played a pivotal
role in the creation and production of the "Sesame Street"
television program, most notably as a regular contributor of
music and lyrics. In the process, he has won two Grammy Awards
and three Emmy Awards for songwriting and music production.
Currently, Cerf serves as Co-Executive Producer of "Between the
Lions," the multiple Emmy-award-winning children's literacy series,
created by his company for PBS.
Paige Peterson is a noted and widely exhibited artist
who has been selected for membership in the prestigious Guild Hall
Academy of the Arts in East Hampton, New York. As a child in
Belvedere, California, she often fed Blackie apples, carrots, and
sugar cubes in his pasture. She illustrated Jesse Kornbluth’s
edition of “A Christmas Carol.” A Senior Vice President of the
Huntsman Cancer Institute, Paige lives and works in New York City
and Belvedere, California.
"Blackie is the heroic antidote to our frenetic society, a guide to
parents who often feel they must enrich and enhance their
children’s development at every turn. Blackie stands still, knows
the value of observation and reflection, of being in the world, not
always acting upon it. Children innately know this, too. Parents,
read with your children about this horse who will help you preserve
in their up-bringing a necessary environment of calm."
-Owen Lewis, M.D., Child Psychiatrist
"Blackie is a beautiful and touching story, told in rhyme by Chris
Cerf and Paige Peterson. Unforgettable as the tale is, the artwork
by Ms. Peterson is even more so. Long after you've read the book,
you will remember the stunning pictures, illustrating the events of
Blackie's life. This book will be admired and enjoyed by adults and
cherished by children. An instant classic!"
-Joan Ganz Cooney, Co-founder of Sesame Workshop and
originator of Sesame Street
"If you're the horsey type, try Christopher Cerf and Paige
Peterson's inspiring work Blackie: The Horse Who Stood Still.
If you loved Ferdinand the Bull, then your kids will love
Blackie."
-Liz Smith, NY Post
"In the season of long trips to Grandma's, new books with animal
appeal are perfect for taming the young folk. Inspired by a lovably
balky horse who was the pride of Tiburon, California, this sweet
picture book depicts stubbornness as a virtue."
-Michelle Green, People Magazine
"For a story about a horse that stands still, Blackie is
wonderfully moving! It's a heartwarming reminder -- to children and
adults alike -- about the preciousness of patience, dependability
and love. Christopher Cerf's wordplay is mischievous and
delightful, and Paige Peterson's paintings are simply breathtaking.
I love this book!"
-Marlo Thomas, Actress, Author, Activist
"Oh, Blackie, my hero. You truly can stand put in afast-moving
world and still succeed. Thank you, Paige, for your tender
illustrations, and Chris, for such inspiring words. This tale will
be told to my grandchildren over and over."
-Lynn Sherr, ABC News
"Blackie is a must for every family bookshelf. The endearing and
evocative prose by Christopher Cerf coupled with the colorful,
innovative, and unforgettable illustrations by Paige Peterson make
for an enchanting literary experience....A delight for the young at
heart of all ages....You'll love it!"
-Joan Walsh Anglund, Author
"When we bought our very first home, in Tiburon, California, we
didn't realise we'd be living across the street from a celebrity,
'Blackie. This charming book brought back wonderful memories of him
standing as a living landmark in his pasture - a beacon signifying
HOME - every day for our family. Can't wait to share it with our
grown 'kids' and our nine grandchildren, too. What a lovely and
touching gift 'Blackie' will be for all of us!!!"
-Drue and Arthur Gensler, Founders of GENSLER
"Paige Peterson's paintings remind me of the joy of art. She has a
wonderful sense of color and a unique vision."
-Mort Zuckerman, U.S. NEWS and World Report
"Illustrator Paige Peterson and Sesame Street co-creator
Christopher Cerf have a message for overscheduled children:
Slow down. They've created a beautiful new book."
-Rush & Molloy, New York Daily News
"What a sweet, soulful tome of tree flesh. Cerf's Up! Turn the
page!"
-Wavy Gravy, Winnarainbow Kids Camp Director, Woodstock Master of
Ceremonies, Seva Board Member, Ben & Jerry's ex ice cream flavor,
Hippy Icon Flower Geezer and Temple of Accumulated Error
"Kids will love it!!!"
-Lucie Arnaz
"BLACKIE is an equine delight...the story and the illustrations are
witty, deceptively simple & simply beautiful."
-Laurence Luckinbill
I wish our daughter still nestled in my lap so I could read her the
inspiring story of Blackie, a horse who appeared lazy but in fact
understood why nature is to be savored and change is sometimes to
be resisted. I think I'll read it to her anyway!
-Ken Auletta
"Growing up on the Tiburon peninsula, Blackie the horse was part of
my community. In their delightful book, Christopher Cerf and Paige
Peterson not only recreate the true story of an amazing animal,
they capture the magic that every child felt seeing Blackie's stoic
silhouette in the pasture. It's a wonderful story about a special
horse that helped define a community."
-Kate Kelly, Newscaster, CBS-5 San Francisco
"This charming and sweet tale celebrates the life lived with
deliberate tranquility -- a life that resists the enticements of
bustle and business. Blackie reinforces simple and
powerful values in a book that is deepened and enriched with its
marvelous illustrations. Children of many ages will be drawn to
this delightful story."
-Judith Stoia, Television Producer
"What an absolutely charming yet powerful story! The cleaver rhymes
and striking simplicity of the illustrations are in perfect
harmony...hard to imagine what came first as each beautifully
compliments the other. A brilliant little book that elegantly
honors a horse who every reader will empathize with."
-Douglas Leeds, President, American Theater Wing
"Blackie is such a perfect interweaving of Cerf's warm, unfussy
lyricism and Peterson's simple, elegant, deep-and-wide paintings -
the warm narrative playing lightly against a backdrop of bold
colors and unexpected compositions of ears and eyes, shoes and sky.
A totally charming naivete pervades the sweetness of the
storytelling."
-Fred Newman, Actor, "A Prairie Home Companion"
"I can't wait to read this book to my children. It's wonderfully
heart-warming and lyrical, a beautifully rendered and lovingly told
story for those of us not resigned to following the pack!
Bravo!"
-Gavin Spanierman, Spanierman Gallery
"Blackie represents a wonderful coming together of Chris
Cerf's lilting rhythm and rhyme and Paige Peterson's charming and
touching illustrations. This tale should appeal to people of all
ages, and reminds us once again that time passes so fast that we
must force ourselves to slow down and smell the roses when we
can. Blackie is a winner."
-Jade Albert, Photographer
"With Blackie, Chris Cerf and Paige Peterson have written a
beautiful book that brings a smile to my face and a tear to my eye.
And make no mistake, while it has the look of a children's book,
its message is right for all ages. I highly
recommend Blackie for young and old alike."
-Drew Casertano, Headmaster, Millbrook School
"A charming children’s book that can teach us all about the delight
of simply standing still."
-Eden Collinsworth, Author
"A great artist it seems to me captures not just a subject but a
particularly telling moment in the subject's life. As Picasso said,
'I paint to find out what I think.' Discovering what Paige Peterson
thinks is always interesting indeed."
-Nancy Collins, Architectural Digest
"Paige Peterson and Chris Cerf have created a heartfelt classic
illustrated story about a real life horse Blackie and his lifelong
career of standing still. But it is so much more than that. In its
sophistication, Blackie cannot be classified as strictly a
children’s book. It is funny, it is goofy, it is intelligent and
entertaining and it had me in tears. The rhyming text by Cerf and
Peterson and the quirky paintings by Petersen combine to create a
well spun tale that appeals to all ages can and starts a
conversation about commitment and convictions in a manner
that kids can understand and any parent would enjoy having with
their children."
-Frank Lupo, Painter
"I loved the book and plan to incorporate it into my lectures as a
symbol of standing still and not trying to make things
happen. The illustrations are spectacular–simple, clean, but
evocative."
-Allan J. Hamilton, MD, FACS, Professor of Neurosurgery
"The spirit of BLACKIE is forever summoned through the magical
words of Christopher Cerf and enchanting illustrations of Paige
Peterson."
-Mindy Marin, Movie Producer
"It is amazing that someone as active as Paige Peterson can so ably
depict the virtues of standing still. She is without question a
multi-faceted and multi-talented person. Her sweet illustrations
are a pleasing complement to Chris Cerf’s presentation of a simple
but meaningful story. What many readers of Blackie: The
Horse Who Stood Still may not know is that our energetic Paige
is always moving in pursuit of support for the Huntsman Cancer
Foundation. To put it simply and meaningfully, we are in awe of her
talents and creativity."
-Jon M. Huntsman, Founder, Huntsman Cancer Institute
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