Hannah E. Harrison, author and illustrator of Extraordinary Jane and Bernice Gets Carried Away, offers readers another heartfelt book later this summer. It’s called My Friend Maggie (Dial, August 9).
Paula and Maggie have been friends forever. Paula thinks Maggie is the best—until mean girl Veronica says otherwise. Suddenly, Paula starts to notice that Maggie is big and clumsy, and her clothes are sort of snuggish. Rather than sticking up for Maggie, Paula ignores her old friend and plays with Veronica instead. Luckily, when Veronica turns on Paula, Maggie’s true colors shine through.
Publishers Weekly and Kirkus are certainly fans of this duo. See?
“Harrison tells her story with touching and expert restraint, and…shows a deeply sympathetic understanding of the simultaneously fragile and powerful emotions of children.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Harrison’s straightforward, first-person text…conveys a wealth of emotion.” — Kirkus Reviews
Check out these gorgeous scenes. Don’t you just want to jump inside of them?
Hannah gives us a sneak peek into her writing and illustrating world in this video:
Hannah was also kind enough to share a tip with Picture Book Builders readers. Here it is!
“When I was first starting out, and building my portfolio, I made the mistake of illustrating the way that I thought an illustrator was supposed to illustrate; I painted my characters nice and cartoony with beady little eyes, I used “kid colors,” and an overly simplified style. And there wouldn’t have been anything wrong with doing those things except for the fact that it just wasn’t me…and you could tell. It wasn’t until I started painting for myself—creating paintings that I would want to see hanging on my wall–that I hit on my style, and finally started to get noticed. If it means something to you, it’ll mean something to somebody else. So my tip would be this: paint from the heart. Same goes for writing.”
I love that!
You now know a little more about my friend Hannah. I hope you will look for My Friend Maggie in August!
The Giveaway:
Hannah is offering a signed copy of My Friend Maggie to one lucky duck commenter. Winner will be notified in August.
The Congratulations:
Congratulations to Katrina Moore! She won a signed copy of Ginny Louise and the School Field Day, written by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger.
I love the theme of this book. Every child has to face this situation in some way. Can’t wait to read it!
I saw this book in its early stages and could tell it was going to be great. Hannah has hit it out of the park again.
Nice post. I loved Extraordinary Jane and am looking forward to reading this new one.
I loved hearing about Hannah’s process and the video is fantastic. And I’m impressed she can paint neatly in a white sweater! 😉 Can’t wait to see My Friend Maggie
Looking forward to My Friend Maggie. This preview made me smile.
I’ve been a fan since Extrordinary Jane. Can’t wait to see My Friend Maggie!
This book looks delicious, and the video piques my interest in seeing all the work of this talented author-illustrator.
Oh I can’t wait to read this one. The theme is so real and relate-able! And those illustrations! Priceless!
I loved Extraordinary Jane–such a sweet book!! I’ll have to look for this & Beatirice.
Thanks, Tammi!
I too loved Extraordinary Jane and can’t wait to see My Friend Maggie! Thanks for putting this on my radar, Tammi!
This is a theme we can all relate to. In the classroom this situation between friends happens at least once a year. This book will definitely have a place in homes and schools across the country. I can’t wait to get a copy.
What a wonderful story! I can’t wait to read it!
Awesome post, Tammi!
Hannah, you inspire me!
thank you for all the great information, making for a fun read.
Woohoo! Excited for the win :-). Can’t wait see Ginny Louise, again. Thanks, Tammi! Loved reading, seeing, and hearing about Hannah’s process. Can’t wait to meet Maggie!
Hi, Katrina!
Would you please send your snail mail address my way? 🙂
tksauer at aol dot com
Thanks,
Tammi
Hi, Katrina!
I still have a book to send your way. Please pass along your snail mail address.
Thanks!
Tammi
Oh, wow! The illustrations are amazing and the theme is so universal. Congrats on the book and I look forward to reading it with my family!
The video is great! What a talent.
This looks like a MUST read – both for the important lesson on friendship and the gorgeous illustrations. Thanks for sharing. =)
I’m excited to read My Friend Maggie. I am a huge fan of Extraordinary Jane and Beatrice Gets Carried Away and can’t wait for this one!
Great video! I’m looking forward to reading MY FRIEND, MAGGIE.
This sounds like a perfect book. Thanks for telling me about it. I am looking forward to getting a copy.
I am such a fan of Hannah’s art! EXTRAORDINARY JANE is one of my favorite picture books. Thanks for sharing your process!
What a great read-a-loud for primary students!
As a ‘big’ girl all of my life, this time of bullying I am well aquainted with. So glad someone is writing and illustrating for kids like I was. Kudos and I must say the illustrations are magnificent.
Navigating friendships can be hard! This book looks beautiful.
Looking forward to finding this book on the shelf!
What an excellent story. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for highlighting it Tammi.
It looks so sweet…and I have a sister named Maggie! Great name 🙂 Thanks for sharing
Congratulations, Hannah. I love the illustrations and theme of your book. Thank you for your advice. Working from the heart is great.
We Love Hannah Harrison’s books!
Gorgeous illustrations! I love that too, to paint from your heart. Congratulations, Hannah!
The miniatures she did in the book on Remy and Lulu are amazing! Can’t wait to read about the new ”babies” she created!
Loved Extraordinary Jane, so looking forward to another winning book. Thanks.
This looks like a very sweet book and I’m looking forward to reading it. I also love the advice Hannah gives to illustrators. It is certainly true of my illustrations. Draw from the heart! You can tell she did in the lovely scenes from My Friend Maggie!
Congratulations, Hannah! I’m like a kid myself, looking at the pictures over and over again, never tiring of them and always seeing something new! I look forward to sharing them someday with our new grandson due in October!
The illustrations are exquisite! I just want to crawl right into this book!
So I just finished reading Princess in Training to my girls for the first time and then came to my email to find this post and put 2+2 together. They loved it! (As a side note, they also recognized the illustrator’s style and asked me to research if he also illustrated Hattie the Bad. He did. They’re 4 and 6.)
Ha! Way to go, ladies. 🙂
From the time I saw Jane at Wiggles in Ada, I knew that I wanted to put Hannah’s little dog to work in my counseling practice. I made the trip back to Wiggles so that I could meet Hannah and have her sign my copy, and then along came Bernice. And now Maggie, each with a story to tell and lesson to be learned for the little hearts I hope to reach. What a gift to see Hannah’s own story. I’ve wondered how she creates these treasures, and now I know.
We are big fans of Jane and Bernice and can’t wait for Maggie! It looks wonderful and I’m excited about sharing the message it sends with my kids as well!
Thank you for sharing the best advice to give and receive. Perfectly delightful book in every way!! Great expectations for more on your path ahead.
This artwork is amazing!
What a great and relatable message. I can’t wait to read Maggie and Me; Hannah’s illustrations always manage to both inspire me and blow me away. Just wow. Great post, Tammi!
Beautifully illustrated with an important message of true friendship. Each of us has special gifts to share with others. Friends really do save the day!
Love the artwork. Looks like you could touch those jeans! And such a great topic.
I love Hannah’s characters. Such sweet stories. I’ve ordered My Friend Maggie for my school’s library and can’t wait to meet her.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Hannah seems like SUCH a sweet and talented lady! I will certainly check out any/every book she’s ever written or illustrated. I enjoyed the video SO much; I was hanging on every word. Thank you for sharing that, Tammi. Hannah is SUCH an amazing artist!! I loved the story about how she was placed in a 5th grade art class when she was in kindergarten. And she interned with Kevin Hawkes! Wow! I am going to share this link with the librarian and Art teacher at our Primary school so perhaps Hannah could visit our school some day.
I’m looking forward to sharing “My Friend Maggie” with my grand children!
Gorgeous illustrations!
“…paint from the heart. Same with writing.” I love that too! It is easy to feel that if we write what we love instead of what is popular we will fail or be overlooked. But the passion that is seen in that kind of writing/painting succeeds every time. I look forward to reading your books.
The illustrations are stunning! This seems like such a sweet and touching story about what it means to be a true friend. I can’t wait to read it!
Hannah uses ‘human’ eyes on her characters and, to me, it feels like I’m right with them. Loved the video. Thanks, Tammi.
Bernice is one of my favorite books – I can’t wait for August to read this new one. Thanks Tammi for the heads up and for another great post.
I love Hannah Harrison’s books! This latest one sounds extraordinary!
Can’t wait to read, My Friend Maggie. An important life lesson for children-and all of us, for that matter. Great post. Thank you.
Hooray for Hannah! I adore her style, and her storytelling is top notch too. I was so impressed by “Bernice Gets Carried Away” that I did a little write-up about it on my blog. I can’t wait to see Hanna’s newest book.
I love how all the animals watching the Independence Day parade are wearing not just red, white and blue but whatever red, white and blue they had–be that a Hawaiian shirt, a t-shirt with a boat on it or a baseball cap. It’s also a cute touch that some animals are missing a color. We just had our Fourth of July parade and the audience was similarly attired. Myself… last year I didn’t own anything red and could only outfit myself in white and blue. This year I bought a pair of red sneakers.
This sounds like such a sweet story. I can’t wait to read it.
What a lovely book. But then again, aren’t ALL of Hannah’s books beautifully done??
OOH, this looks like a wonderful book. I love the illustrations and story line. Thanks for sharing!
“Paint and/or write from the heart.” I love that.
Extraordinary Jane is a favorite of mine! Looking forward to meeting Maggie and Paula and also seeing how the first person POV is used.
Thank you so much!!!!! Can’t wait!
This book looks gorgeous — and that advice is absolutely perfect! Thanks, Tammi!
Many thanks to all of you for stopping by Picture Book Builders and leaving comments! The winner will be announced on Friday, July 29.
I know I am late in reading this email and leaving a message but just wanted to do so because I am passionate about stories about friendship and so glad to see this new PB coming out. Children struggle with friendships but often know deep within what is right and it sound like this book really honors that. Looking forward to reading it.