Just found out Absolutely Not made the list for this year’s New York State Reading Association’s Charlotte Recommended Reading List. The Charlotte Committee from 2002 to 2005 reviewed books from over thirty publishers, and the selections were compiled when each of the Charlotte Members presented their final top ten in January. (A PDF of the entire list is available here)
Category Archives: Making Books
Final Prints for Backbeard
Today I began the final round of checking the illustrations for Backbeard before sending them off. I printed every single picture from the book and tacked them up on my drafting table so I could see them side by side and spot mistakes.
In the process I ran through an entire color ink cartridge and entirely too much paper. It seems like no matter how carefully I check a picture, there’s always another mistake that I don’t notice until too late. If it weren’t for the ink cartridge finally running dry, I would have been there for days.
The Ladybug Award
It turns out Absolutely Not is one of ten books nominated for this year’s LADYBUG Picture Book Award.
The LADYBUG award was created by the Children’s Librarians of New Hampshire to complement the Great Stone Face Award. A committee of children’s librarians from around the state picks ten picture book titles a year to compete for the Ladybug Award. During Children’s Book Week in November, New Hampshire children from preschoolers to grade three select the winner.
As a result of this nomination, I will be setting up a campaign office in Concord, effective immediately. Children of New Hampshire, can I expect your vote this November?
Kansas Recommended Reading List
Absolutely Not has been selected for the Kansas State Reading Circle 2005 Recommended Reading List. Go Kansas! You have excellent taste.
Absolutely Not!
After several years of work, I’m happy to announce that my new book, Absolutely Not is now in fine bookstores everywhere.
It’s the story of two bugs, Gloria and Frieda, who take a walk in the woods one summer day. Gloria is an adventurous optimist, but Frieda is a bit of a stick-in-the-mud who sees danger at every turn.
To find out more about Absolutely Not, visit the Books section of this site. There you’ll find information on the making of the book, lesson plans, games, and reviews.
Finally, be sure to check out Frieda’s Shadow Game if you haven’t already. It’s fun! It’s free! This and other activities are also on a free CD-Rom for teachers and librarians. Contact me and I’ll send you one!
Getting Started Freelancing
It’s my great pleasure to be a part of Michael Fleishman’s book, which came out recently from Allworth Press. Mike was kind enough to include some of my illustrations and quotes, but you should buy this book anyway. (If you want, you can tear out those pages and send them directly to me, and I’ll give them to my mom.) It’s full of great, practical advice, and the first edition was what got me started in the field over a decade ago. Highly recommended!