Do you have that thing, where, if you see something so cute, you want to start smashing and bashing said cute thing, and all things surrounding it? Or maybe you have the urge to hug and squeeze it tightly, risking an ‘Of Mice And Men’ situation. If you don’t have …
I’m checking in from this dreamy place – Scotch Hill Farm in upstate New York. Last November, I had a magical email arrive in my inbox, informing me that I was receiving the Sendak Fellowship award, which meant a paid illustrator’s retreat for a month on Maurice Sendak’s former property. …
The Picture Book Builders blog has a new picture book writer and illustrator joining us this summer, so get ready, because it’s . . . MIKE BOLDT!!! If you’re not yet familiar with Mike’s work, you are in for a treat. A few of his own books include 123 VERSUS ABC, …
Author-Illustrator Mary Peterson, a critique group pal of mine, has a new book out to get us excited about our gardens and new tasty growing things! The book is called SNAIL HAS LUNCH, and is in a unique format that I hope to see a lot more of in children’s books these …
Last year, I shared this post while in the thick of final art for the picture book by Caroline McAlister, JOHN RONALD’S DRAGONS: THE STORY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN (Roaring Brook/MacMillan). This month, on the 21st of March, the long-awaited release of that project will be here! I can’t wait to share it …
On my hold shelf at the library this week was a picture book called THE JOURNEY by Francesca Sanna. The story is one of a family attempting to escape a war and travel in secret to a new place in order to make a better life. The author created this …
Every year over the holidays my Mom-in-Law picks picture books to gift from a wishlist, and I love that feeling of starting a new year with a new stack of books. Among them this year are: Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET, retold by Anthea Bell and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. The annual …
With the chilly seasons arriving, there are only three things on my mind; cozy, cozy, and cozy. I guess, if you want to get all technical, that’s only one thing (but just so you know, being technical is not very cozy). Here are a few things that are cozy: Cups of tea. Pillows. Knitting. Tiny villages. …
One of the unforeseen joys of writing and illustrating picture books has been that of making friends with other writer/illustrators, and seeing their books come out into the world. I think I’m often just as excited for and proud of them as when my own books come out. One of these …
When I was little, my grandparents had a version of RUMPELSTILTSKIN that I adored. The story was strange, scary, and had these awesome ink drawings. At the time, I didn’t understand the concept that books were made by individual artists, so I never paid attention to who might have made them. They …