Copies of Blue!

Yesterday I received the best Christmas present ever: my very own copy of When Blue Met Egg! I was so excited to open the package it arrived in, I almost ripped the book...yikes! But of course Blue is intact and resting happily on my shelf along with Pelly and Pig. It is so surreal to flip through the pages of something I have been working on for four years. I am very proud of Blue and I hope you will all love her as much as I do. When Blue Met Egg will arrive in stores February 2, 2012 or 2.2.12 (I love the symmetry of that). I'm currently in the process of planning a book party for her, more details on that soon...

Publisher's Weekly Review of When Blue Met Egg!!

Thank you Publisher's Weekly for this wonderful review of When Blue Met Egg. I can hardly wait for her to meet the world February 2, 2012!!!

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8037-3718-1

Character Studies

Lately, I have been working on revisions for my new picture book. I've been thinking a lot about character study and how we as writers and/or illustrators determine the qualities and characteristics of our characters. Who are they? What do they care about? What is their motivation? What is the appropriate resolution for them? And so on and so on. The questions are endless it seems.

Of course everyone's character development process is different. But I though this week I would share a little bit about my process. Oddly enough, the first thing I create for my character is their name. I can't begin to draw them if I don't know their name. I don't know why, it is just the way my brain works. Pelly, for example came from the book The Giraffe, the Pelly, and Me by Roald Dhal, granted the Pelly in that is story is actually a pelican but I always loved the name. Emma Bloom's surname came from a friend of mine whose last name I thought was really unique and would make a great character name...which is how it ended up belonging to Emma.

Once my character has a name, I begin to draw. As an illustrator it is important to take everything into account. When I was working on Pelly and Mr. Harrison Visit the Moon, I originally wanted to make Pelly a brunette. However, when I went to do the color studies I realized that dark hair wouldn't stand out against the night sky. I needed a color that would pop, which is why Pelly became a blond. Apparently they have more fun too. Clothing is another thing I think a lot about. I have to make sure that the clothing I pick will be appropriate for the characters actions throughout the book.

But the most important thing is my character chart. It basically looks like one of those bubble diagrams you learn to make in 3rd grade. I write the character's name in the center and add traits and ideas about the character as they pop into my head. EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT: their favorite color, activity, food, who their friends would be, what they like to do, if they have pets, even their favorite ice cream flavor (Pelly's is Rocky Road). Generally I don't use a 1/3 of what I write down in the actual text or drawings, but it helps me get to know my character inside and out. The more you know your character the more your drawings will look authentic because you will know exactly how your character will look, act, or behave in any situation.

Whether or not a bubble diagram helps you, it is definitely something worth trying if you feel stumped developing your character. You never know what you might discover...

Holiday Picture Book List for 2011!

Seeing as it is post Thanksgiving, and holiday shopping is in full effect I thought this week's post should be about picture books :) In particular, some recommendations for the holiday season. I have selected five of my favorite 2011 books and five oldies (but goodies!) that some of you may not have seen before. So whether you have an adventurer, a dreamer, or princess to buy for this year, this list has it all...

George and Martha by James Marshall

Houghton Mifflin Co., 1972

For your best friend: One of my favorite books of all time. "Five stories about two great friends." These five stories are short and sweet and oh so funny. My particular favorite is about split pea soup. Great read aloud and essential for any picture book library.

The Great Pie Robbery and Other Mysteries by Richard Scarry's

Random House, 1969-75

For the detective: Originally published in three volumes between 1969 and 1975, later reprinted into one storybook containing all three mysteries by Sterling Publishing in 2008. These stories are wonderfully silly, featuring the sleuthing duo Sam Cat and Dudley Pig, who run all over town looking for pie thieves, disappearing food, and Mrs. Pig's fabulous

pearl necklace. No picture book library is complete without at least one Richard Scarry book.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Chronicle Books, 2011

For the reluctant reader: Have you walked into a bookstore recently and noticed someone shaking or flipping upside down the book they were holding, if so they were probably looking at Press Here. This book is wonderfully interactive and gets everyone to participate upon opening its cover. Truly this book is for everyone, but especially a reluctant reader. There is no story, just instructions for what to do. Tullet brilliantly turns a book into a toy.

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

Roaring Brook Press, 2011

For the gardener: This book was recently named one of the NYT best illustrated books of 2011. A beautifully illustrated story of old and new, past and present, love and loss all told through topiaries created by one boy's grandfather. I am a sucker for gatefolds in picture books and this one has a double gatefold that is simply lovely. This is a great book for young and old. One of my favorites for 2011.

Be Nice to Spiders by Margaret Bloy Graham

HarperCollins, 1967

For the bug lover: This is one of my favorite books of all time! Spiders always get such a bad wrap. Now I'm not saying I want to let a hairy tarantula crawl up my arm, but I am one to let a daddy long leg live if only to get rid of the occasional bug in my house. We all have our purpose, which is exactly what this book is about. Even if you're a bit squeamish around spiders I promise you will enjoy this book.

The Princess and the Pea by Lauren Child, Captured by Polly Borland

Hyperion, 2006

For the princess: Lauren Child is one of my favorite illustrators of all time. She has this amazing ability to capture all that it means to be a child in her illustrations. This edition of The Princess and the Pea was fabulously done using 3D miniatures created by Lauren and photographed by Polly. Each spread is like looking into a dollhouse window, pouring over and discovering every minute detail Lauren has added. I find new things every time I read it. This is an amazing book that not every princess will already have.

King Jack and the Dragon, Written by Peter Bently, Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011

For the adventurer: I love love love all things Helen Oxenbury. Her illustrations are wonderful! So of course her new book is on my list. Peter Bently's imaginative story about Jack, Zack, and Caspar is an adventurous romp into the wild, facing dragons and beasts, and conquering the backyard! A great suspenseful read aloud before bed.

Amanda & Her Alligator! by Mo Willems

Balzer + Bray, 2011

For the animal lover: I like to think of this as a modern day George and Martha because it is a picture book of short stories, six in all. Meet Amanda and her lovable, sometimes persnickety alligator, named Alligator. Alligator has a lot of opinions, which is why I love the character so much. This book has the charm of Willem's Leonardo the Terrible Monster and the humor of the Pigeon books. A perfect book for any child, boy or girl.

Time to Get Out of the Bath, Shirley by John Burningham

Random House, 1978

For the dreamer: As you can see I love British illustrators. John Burningham is no exception. He also happens to be married to Helen Oxenbury which makes me love him more. This book is one of my favorites of his. The entire book is about Shirley who goes to take a bath one night and slips down the drain on her rubber ducky only to encounter knights, a king and queen, and a jousting competition. On every spread the right side of the page shows Shirley on her adventure and on the left we see Shirley's mother waiting for Shirley to finish her bath. The perfect bath time book, well maybe after Pelly and Mr. Harrison Visit the Moon ;)

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

Houghton Mifflin, 2011

For the artist: This book involves three of my favorite things: Melissa Sweet illustrations, Thanksgiving, and the Macy's Day Parade. Another 2011 NYT Best Illustrated Book, Melissa Sweet's newest book tells the true story of Tony Sarg, the man who became the puppeteer behind the Macy's Day Parade. The artwork is absolutely stunning! A great non-fiction picture book for any creative child on your list.

I hope you enjoyed my list and maybe you'll pick up some of these books for those on your list this year. Remember, pictures books stay with you always, even when you finish growing up. I know I still remember ones I received as a kid.

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Pre-Turkey Day

Good morning and Happy Pre-Turkey Day!!

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday (mainly because of stuffing and pie). This year I am going to make a recipe from the Flour Bakery cookbook (my favorite Boston bakery). Blueberry Lemon Pie. Doesn't that sound tasty and fantastic?! I know it is a bit summery for Thanksgiving, but sometimes you need a little variety to go with all the pumpkin pies. I love this holiday because it is the one time of year where sweatpants (elastic waistband included) is appropriate attire. When it comes to Thanksgiving I have one motto: Go Big or Go Home! Needless to say, I will be eating a lot tomorrow.

But my favorite part, oddly enough isn't the big dinner, it's the part before hand, the preparation. I love spending the morning in the kitchen baking and cooking, tasting bits here and there, spending time with friends and family. Those are the best parts. Unfortunately, I can't even remember the last time I was home for Thanksgiving. In college it was too far/expensive to fly from Syracuse, New York to San Jose, California in such a short amount of time, so I was adopted by various friends and brought home to eat their traditional dinners and meet their families. I'm lucky to have amazing friends, who happen to have really good food at Thanksgiving.

In college, I usually went home to Schenectady, New York with one of my dearest friends, Kait, whose mom makes everything from scratch, even the butter. The whole family would alternate shaking the mason jar with heavy cream inside throughout the day until it became butter. Kait's mom's menu also included two key items: mashed potatoes with cream cheese (you just have to try them to experience the gloriousness) and stuffed artichokes, the family favorite. Let me preface this by saying how rare it is to come across people who make artichokes on the East Coast. It is definitely more of a West Coast thing, so you can understand how me, the California girl, felt right at home at Kait's house for Thanksgiving. Plus the stuffed artichokes are absolutely outstanding! But it wasn't just the food that I loved about Kait's, it was her family and the feel of their house, so cozy and welcoming. The house creaks when you walk down the hall and when you wake up in the morning the first sound you hear is Kait's brother playing the piano. And not just fooling around playing, but like "I'm a music major and amazing" playing, it was wonderful (although after years of this I'm sure Kait and her family felt differently some mornings). I loved that house because it had so much character. It was the perfect place to spend Thanksgiving when I couldn't be with my own family.

When I moved to Boston, I was adopted by the Gil Family. My roommate Lindsey, who is from a very large Irish Catholic family in New Jersey, brought me home for my first large scale Thanksgiving event. And let me tell you, when the Gils do Thanksgiving, they go all out! Which of course fit in well with my Thanksgiving motto. They rent a hall and have around 60 people. Most of which are all immediate family, her father is one of ten! It was overwhelming and crazy, and in the beginning I probably looked like a deer caught in the headlights, but it was great. I loved that they had this tradition of a huge family get together. It was so welcoming and wonderful. My dad's family, which is where I used to spend Thanksgiving when I was home in California is also a big Irish Catholic family, so for me it was a little like coming home, minus the Jersey accents of course ;)

Now, I spend my Thanksgivings with my boyfriend Frank's family here in Ohio. Lucky for me Frank's mom is one of the best cooks I know. Her food is AMAZING! We usually end up over at his aunt's house for dinner after I spend the morning cooking and baking with his mom. And it is perfect, my favorite part of the day. I doesn't hurt that she is one who makes the stuffing too (which I get to taste test in the morning).

After all my visits to different Thanksgivings, I found I had two very useful things to offer:

1. I love to chop, peel, and mash, which means all those time consuming tasks that no one wants to do I will. I assume this has something to do with the fact that I like to do painstaking tasks like cutting tiny bits of paper out.

2. I don't cry when I cut onions. It's my superpower.

So as someone who has spent most of her Thanksgivings with other people's families, I have a few tips:

Always be grateful

Say please and thank you

Help the cook

Offer to taste test ;)

Happy Turkey Day everyone!

Chicken & Bear Books and the Perfect Library

I have been collecting random antique children's books here and there over the past couple years and realized I just don't have space for them, thus creating Chicken & Bear Books, my new Etsy shop for vintage children's books.

As noted in my previous post my studio is very small, which you can imagine reflects the size of my house as well. Most of my books (some 30 boxes mostly adult, YA, and middle grade) went into storage when I moved into this house. It was very hard to part with them. All I have left in the house are the library books I am currently reading and my collection of children's picture books. Upon moving I pleaded that those were the ones I needed the most and therefore could not live without, needless to say I won my case. I am now accountable for moving all the boxes full of books every time we move, but to me it's definitely worth it.

After posting my new shop yesterday, I got to thinking about home libraries and what people do with all their books, especially in small spaces. I have a tenancy to let books just pile up around my nightstand, creating rather treacherous mountains to skirt around while crawling out of bed in the morning...leading to many stubbed toes and tumbles. But yet I won't move them. There is comfort in their surrounding. When I lived in Boston, the piles where everywhere, spilling off of shelves, drawers, and stacked high against the wall. Thankfully for my feet I have scaled back a bit.

I recently read an article about the twenty best home libraries, most of which were owned by celebrities of course. Because who else has the money to have a whole room devoted to their books with those amazing ladders you see at Strand Books? It made me wonder about other book lover's libraries. What do they look like? Do they sort them alphabetically like I do? Do they break them down in to sections: picture book, YA, adult, middle grade, non-ficition and so on? Or are the books just piled together at random? Are their comfy chairs to sit in? I have friends who live in New York who say that if they buy a new book they have to get rid of an old one to make room. Space is obviously a very precious thing in New York so this is understandable however tragic it may sound to me.

Hopefully, Chicken & Bear Books will help find the perfect home for all of my vintage books that need one. Perhaps some fabulous home library somewhere...

To visit Chicken & Bear Books click on the link below:

www.etsy.com/shop/chickenandbear

Anyone out there with a library they have created in some corner of their home? I would love to hear about it.

My Alice in Wonderland Studio

One of my favorite things about reading about other illustrators is finding out what their work space looks like. When the book Artist to Artist: 23 Major Illustrators Talk About Their Work, published by the Eric Carle Museum, came out I think I was one of the first people to purchase a copy. I was so excited to see what the work space of some of the illustrators I have always admired such as Robert Sabuda, Quentin Blake, and Leo Lionni, looked like. (If you don't own this book, I highly suggest you pick up a copy today!)

I have been thinking a lot about my studio space lately, mainly because I am about to start a new book, and every time I begin a new project I go into 'Scary Type-A Dinosaur Mode.' I want everything to have its perfect place, with a label of course, and maintain a neat and tidy appearance. I have determined that the only reason that I go into this mode is because of my medium, cut paper and mixed media. For someone who is as much of an organizational freak as I am, you would think I would pick something like colored pencils or pen and ink: minimal clean-up and an overall tidy work space. But no, when I start a book, I begin to hoard paper. A lot of paper. So much paper that by the time the book is finished it looks like a paper bomb went off. There are scraps everywhere! In fact, I distinctly remember going to dinner one night while I was in the midst of finishing A Garden for Pig, and a friend of mine removed a scrap of paper from my hair, which is curly, but still paper should not be nesting inside of it! Needless to say, my studio space is filled with lots of paper in all shapes and sizes.

When I moved in May, to the house I currently live in, I acquired very small studio space upstairs. In fact if you are over 5'7" you will not fit in it. This can behelpful when I need to get work done and therefore physically excludes people from being a distraction. I like to think of it as my Alice in Wonderland studio. Every time I go in it I think of the scene when Alice grows so rapidly her arms and legs go flying out the window as she can no longer fit inside the house. So I thought I would include some photos of my very tiny, Carroll-esque studio space.

This is the very small entry way to my studio :) Notice the hobbit size requirement in order to get in.

My ever growing collection of children's picture books, all of which I love dearly.

My color-coded paper bins (the result of 'Scary Type-A Dinosaur Mode'). In a perfect world my studio would include those amazing print drawers that they have in printmaking studios. Some day...

And of course, a place for Pelly.

A studio motto.

Although my studio is very small, and I hope to have a larger space in the future, I love how cozy it is. And most importantly, I have been extremely productive in it since I moved, so here's to small spaces and being creative.