Jaime Temairik: CocoaStomp

Did I never mention the McSweeneying? It's THE GOODS!

2012-02-03T11:05:00.005-08:00

A busy fall and not being able to buy a copy locally kept me waiting to post about the AWESOME THE GOODS! One of my favorite authors and tweed wearers, Mac Barnett, was kind enough to include my Semaphore Kids in his groovy group. I never got to see it in print, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen! Here's hoping some kids somewhere are sending secret notes covered in flags. And maybe those newspaper copies are now spooning some quality fish and chips, which sounds like an ideal life cycle.

Here's the top bit:

And the key:

THANKS, MAC!

Have you seen Mac Barnett and Adam Rex are nominated for an Edgar for one of my all-time favorite MG series, THE BRIXTON BROTHERS: IT HAPPENED ON A TRAIN?

And here they are arguing about CHLOE AND THE LION:

And Mac's knitted up another awesome picture book, this time with Jon Klassen.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Selina Alko!

2012-01-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

The SCBWI Winter Conference is basically next week, and one panel I'm crazy excited for is the Book Maker's Dozen panel. Not one, but nearly a zillion amazing children's book creators make up that dozen.

Stolen from Tomie de Paola's blog, Selina and family with the Tome-ster

I'm thrilled that a member of the terrifically talented Dozen, Selina Alko, answered some questions for Team Blog—with a few hints about what to do in New York thrown in, too.
Thank you, Selina!

Jaime: Hi, Selina. What's your average day like?

Selina: I work when our children are in school, which is usually from about 9:30 am to 5:30 pm (I guess that adds up to 8 hours!). I try not to work at night unless I'm under a major book crunch/deadline, but usually I try to pace myself when doing a book. I usually do the art for one book at a time, but may be developing book ideas/manuscripts at the same time or creating a book dummy. Probably 2 books are being worked on at once in one form or another.

Jaime: Being able to pace yourself on a book is a talent all by itself! What are you working on right now?

Selina's awesome books!

Selina: I have written a nonfiction book that will be illustrated by Sean and myself (our first time collaborating!). It's the story of the Loving's - an interracial couple - who in the 1950's fought to have their marriage legalized. It will be published with Arthur Levine at Scholastic.

Jaime: That sounds fantastic! And your husband, Sean Qualls, is in the Book Maker's Dozen, too. What's a favorite thing about being a Book Maker's Dozener besides the fact that I hear you guys only hold your meetings at doughnut shops and ice cream parlors?

Selina: Being closely associated with the work of some of my favorite author/illustrators making picture books. It's been fun!

Jaime: Any favorite picture book of 2011?

Selina: I Want My Hat Back. Grandpa Green. Me... Jane.

Jaime: Ooo, I love all of those. Will be fun to see what happens with them at ALA next week! Which is in Texas this year. But I wonder if you have any advice for Winter Conference Goers and what they should do in New York if they have a spare moment?

Selina: Ice skating with my son in Bryant park. I also always LOVE City Bakery (get a shot of hot chocolate) and a visit to Books of Wonder across the street.

Jaime: That sounds like a brilliant January day. Any not-to-be missed galleries/art shows/museums for visiting illustrators?

Selina: The Diego murals were incredible. I especially loved pages from his sketch books that are framed and displayed side by side at the MoMA.

Jaime: I admit, on every trip to New York, I have never missed visiting City Bakery, but have yet to visit MoMA. Diego murals will take priority this time, instead of my stomach. Last request, Selina: Pictures! Are you willing to share any pictures of current projects?

Here's an illustration from my book coming out in a year called, Daddy Christmas Hanukkah Mama.

Selina Alko's DADDY CHRISTMAS HANUKKAH MAMA

Jaime: Gorgeous, gorgeous! Thank you, Selina, for taking time out of your busy (yet well-paced!) schedule to talk to SCBWI Team Blog. Friends, are you super excited for the conference and to meet Selina? She even puts me in the dancing mood with her trailer for Every-Day Dress-Up:

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Peter and Dan! Dan and Peter!

2012-01-13T14:13:00.000-08:00

You love their books, you know them from Twitter, they're two author-illustrators even more charming in person, it's:

¡¡¡DAN SANTAT AND PETER BROWN!!!

If you've signed up for the SCBWI International Winter Conference or the Friday Marketing Intensive for Illustrators you know that both of these guys are presenting (Dan on Friday, Peter on Sunday). (If you haven't registered for the Intensive yet, did you know there are only three spots left?)

We all know Dan and Peter are big SCBWI fans, pillars of the children's book community, award-winning creators, and champions of independent booksellers. But did you know they are also former figure skaters? It's true, they were once a professional skating duo. Here's a photo of Peter and Dan in their last ice performance:

While skating, Peter and Dan spent a lot of time exercising and eating healthy foods to improve their synchronized double axels. They've applied many of those same practices to their writing and illustrating careers.

At the beginning of the year, most of us have healthy eating on our minds, getting those recommended vitamins and food groups on our plates. There're even new food guidelines by First Lady Michelle Obama and the USDA, www.myplate.gov:

I asked Dan and Peter to share their well-balanced diets for successful careers in illustration, and below are their plates. No doubt we'll get even more tips for success at the Illustrators' Intensive in a few weeks, but with these hints below, I know how I'm going to plan my days in 2012...

From Peter Brown

From Dan Santat

AND BONUS ART! Dan's only working on forty books this January, so he's got loads of extra time and kindly made some fan art. Here's Dan's version of Peter Brown's LUCY character. Love it!!!

Last Minute Gifts for Illustrators! Flattering on Any Illustrator!

2011-12-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

Friends, if 2010 marks the third year in a row your significant other gave you Uri Shulevitz's WRITING WITH PICTURES, point them to this blog post.

I love me some Uri, but BELOW is a killer present you should give your favorite up-and-coming illustrator. All sizes still available!

It looks good on dudes

It looks good on ladies

Yes, the SCBWI International
Winter Conference Lanyard!

The conference takes place January 28-29, 2012, and Early Bird Registration price breaks are available until December 31st!

To gift the conference, you can either sign your illustrator up via this link, or consider helping them cover the cost of registration—SCBWI Member registration is only $360.00 right now, Non-Member registration is $450.00.

Some of the great people they'll hear at the conference include: Agents! Editors that are acquiring picture books! HarperCollins Associate Creative Director Martha Rago! TWELVE, count them, TWELVE, of the Book Maker's Dozen!

What if your favorite illustrator is already planning on going to the New York Winter Conference? There's another, equally valuable, awesome lanyard-based present STILL AVAILABLE!

The totally amazing,

marketing focused

intensive for illustrators

happening the Friday before the conference,

January 27th.

This optional, pre-conference mega-opportunity is $225.00, which includes the private portfolio showcase fee, here's a snapshot of the schedule:

Help your favorite illustrator get closer to making their dreams come true, 'tis the season!

Palette Hack!

2011-12-06T17:01:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting since summer to see if this would spontaneously combust (or mold), but it hasn't yet, so let me share with you how to make a Picnic Paint Box.

You will need:

Tiffin lunch box with locking lid, or bento box with locking cover
Sta-Wet palette paper
Sta-Wet sponge
Pencil or pen
Scissors
Hot, hot, hot water
Clean casserole dish
Acrylics or Acryla-Gouache
The four illustrator food groups OR a sandwich

Target sold some very cute picnic/tiffin lunch boxes with locking lids this summer and I bet they will again soon. I got a snazzy yellow one:

I've been using Sta-Wet palettes for my acrylics ever since the ethereal Yuyi Morales explained them at a SCBWI Conference a few years ago, thanks, Yuyi and SCBWI!

Using the lid or base of your box, trace its shape onto a piece of dry Sta-wet paper as well as the dry sponge. Cut inside your tracing line, about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch in, all around. The paper and sponge expand, and it's better to be slightly smaller than the box's interior than it is have your flat sta-wet palette not lay flat. You can try fitting the dry stuff into your box, if it's too big dry, keep trimming things down.

Follow the Sta-Wet directions for how to activate your palette paper and spongy bit (that's where the casserole dish and hot water come in.)Stick the palette paper and sponge in your box's bottom. Grab your paints. This tiffin box has kept my acryla-gouache happy for months:

Your box may have one or more levels. My box has two levels, bottom for a palette, and the top level splits into two.

I put my paint tubes in one of those compartments, but realized all of my brushes are too long to fit in the other compartment. I don't have one of those canvas rollup brush holders, but who needs one of THOSE when you have nostrils and ear holes? Natural brush holders!

So, what to do with your empty compartment? I recommend filling it with the Illustrator's Four Food Groups, the seasonal version of those being:

1. Eggnog (taffy or liquid form)

2. Peppermint (taffy, schnapps, or cane form)

3. Clementines

4. Gingersnaps (standalone or as a crust)

And now you, too, can have a cheery palette to keep you company.

Which is better company than the company I normally keep, that of dead-eyed chair stealers.

Happy belated birthday, Julia!

2011-08-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

I meant to celebrate it with more gustatorial gusto. BUT there is still time to eat and drink well this weekend. And what a lovely note to receive—that Ewelia Child was featured in a Julia-inspired Etsy Treasury! I have my big eyeball on that butter and cream quote as well as that butter crock...

Thank you, Beth Mason/kasintehty!

From http://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTM2MzIzN3w1ODMzODY1MDI/happy-birthday-julia-child

Sketching at the airport

2011-08-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Put some new sketches up on my Tumblr. Like this one from our pre-flight hours at LAX on Tuesday, this little boy was orbiting around his luggage. He got an enormous Gatorade, and then promptly crashed.

I love seeing other illustrators' airport sketches. Debbie Ohi uses her iPad at the airport, and Dan Santat has a lovely new Tumblr site!

Back from the best conference ever!

2011-08-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hugging my HERO, Lin Oliver. No one told me my Exceptionally Ecstatic face is also my Being Goosed face. I leave it to you to decide which face this is.

It was a lovely week away. I admit, I'm sad to have left the 1300-watt creative vibes and sunshine of the SCBWI International Summer Conference.

A giant thank you to Alice Pope and the rest of Team Blog for being so cool. And a truckload of thanks to SCBWI headquarters for doing so much amazing stuff for so few dollars. Their conferences and intensives are worth every flipping penny, my friends. Below are my conference posts:

My Experience at the Monday Illustrator Intensive

David Small's Keynote

Laurent Linn: Judge This! The Anatomy of Creating Book Cover Art

Steven Malk: Making the Most of Your Illustration Career

Martha Rago: The Craft of the Picture Book

Jerry Pinkney's Keynote

Richard Jesse Watson: From Capable to Mastery

Agreement You Must Agree To If You Want To Hear Jon Scieszka Speak

Jon Scieszka's Keynote You May Read After You Agree To The Above Agreement

Paul Zelinsky: Illustrating Fairy Tales

I made a BEAUTY QUEENS themed commercial for before Libba Bray's keynote

The Golden Kite Poster

Sally Mavor's Acceptance Speech for the Golden Kite Award

Denise Fleming: Illustrating for the Very, Very Young

Agent Panel: Marcia Wernick

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Richard Jesse Watson

2011-08-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

The last of the SCBWI Summer Conference pre-interviews is with my favorite children's book family patriarch, none other than local hero Richard Jesse Watson. Richard is incredibly talented and JUST as kind as he is talented, which is pretty freaking amazing.

Here are his lovely book covers. You can't tell from the slideshow that he did the art for THE BOY WHO WENT APE on elephant poop paper, but HE DID. Read more about that and many other toothsome posts at Richard's blog.

Jaime: RICHARRRRRRD! What are you doing for the demo?

Richard: I will crack an egg and paint with it. In other words, demonstrating egg tempera in combination with mixed medium.

Jaime: Delicious! Who is your favorite illustrator in history?

Richard: Some of my favorite illustrations are petroglyphs or other "primitive" imagery such as the Lascaux Cave paintings. These wordless pictures still speak volumes after thousands of years.

Jaime: Maybe we could organize an SCBWI field trip to there. Favorite up and coming illustrator?

Richard: Renata Liwska, illustrator of The Quiet Book.

Jaime: Ooo, I love her! Your favorite working snack? There's been a lot of confusion in these past pre-interviews with the other illustrators' answers. I realized too late that professional illustrators speak in code. For example, if an illustrator says their favorite snack is nuts or legumes, that really translates to gummy bears and sour candies. Further, if someone says they like vegetables, they mean baked goods. Fruits are code for milkshakes and sundaes. So, Richard, what's your favorite working snack?

From Jay Asher's blog: http://jayasher.blogspot.com/2011/07/very-yummy-book.html

Richard: Radishes.

Jaime: Let me just look that one up... Ah, yes! Radishes = Donuts. Yum! What is your favorite tool? Again, there's been some confusion in the past. In this instance, Tool ≠ Dan Santat, but something like a paint brand or paper type.

Richard: #5 DaVinci Maestro Toblosky-Kolinsky watercolour brush.

Jaime: Ain't that a mouthful. Final question, (and thank you, Richard, I have never seen anybody paint with egg tempera and I can't wait to see your demo—so excited!) what do you do everyday that makes you a better artist?

Richard: On first waking up I visualize imagery and books that I want to make. Even if the images are soupy or primordial, the essence of them will eventually crawl out onto the shore to take on a life of their own. Every day I also jot down story ideas and sketch those "Help-me-Obi-Wan,-you're-my-only-hope" fleeting images. I also try to go for a walk to put everything in perspective.

Jaime: To jot down your story ideas do you use a pen that you keep in a jar-jar?

Richard: ...

Jaime: Sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned that. To end on a better note, LOCAL FOLKS of Washington, if you want to get some good schooling in the art of picture book writing, Richard is holding a weekend workshop! Any price would be reasonable, and the location is perfect, too.

Below are two shots of Richard's amazing studio:

SEE YOU ALL IN L.A., EVERYBODY! Head to the Official Conference Blog starting Friday. Between now and Friday, check out Alice, Lee, Suzanne, Martha, and Jolie's pre-conference interviews, too!

BRUCE COVILLE
http://www.leewind.org/2011/06/bruce-coville-exclusive-scbwi-team-blog.html

HAROLD UNDERDOWN
http://www.leewind.org/2011/06/harold-underdown-exclusive-team-blog.html

KATIE DAVIS
http://www.leewind.org/2011/06/katie-davis-scbwi-team-blog-pre.html

ELLEN HOPKINS
http://www.leewind.org/2011/04/ellen-hopkins-exclusive-pre-conference.html

EMMA DRYDEN
http://www.leewind.org/2011/05/emma-dryden-exclusive-scbwi-team-blog.html

Alessandra Balzer:
http://suzanne-young.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-2011-scbwi-pre-conference.html

Steven Malk:
http://suzanne-young.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-2011-scbwi-pre-conference_14.html

Julie Strauss-Gabel
http://suzanne-young.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-2011-scbwi-pre-conference_18.html

ALLEN ZADOFF
http://marthabrockenbrough.squarespace.com/blog/2011/7/25/allen-zadoff-interview-drink-a-bottle-of-wine-stumble-to-the.html

BRUCE HALE
http://marthabrockenbrough.squarespace.com/blog/2011/7/13/bruce-hale-interview-write-the-authentic-stuff-la11scbwi.html

JON SCIESZKA
http://marthabrockenbrough.squarespace.com/blog/2011/7/8/jon-scieszka-interview-what-he-wishes-he-knew-when-he-starte.html

LISA YEE
http://marthabrockenbrough.squarespace.com/blog/2011/6/6/scbwi-la-pre-conference-interview-with-lisa-yee.html

JENNIFER L. HOLM
http://marthabrockenbrough.squarespace.com/blog/2011/6/3/scbwi-la-pre-conference-interview-with-jennifer-l-holm.html

Laurie Halse Anderson:
http://cuppajolie.blogspot.com/2011/07/scbwi-team-blog-exclusive-interview.html

Mary Pope Osbourne:
http://cuppajolie.blogspot.com/2011/06/scbwi-team-blog-exclusive-interview.html

First-time attendees:
http://cuppajolie.blogspot.com/2011/06/scbwi-team-blog-first-time-attendee-pre.html

BRENDA BOWEN:
http://scbwi.blogspot.com/2011/07/scbwi-team-blog-pre-conference_21.html

BARRY GOLDBLATT:
http://scbwi.blogspot.com/2011/07/scbwi-team-blog-pre-conference.html

SCBWI TEAM BLOG: Denise Fleming in Los Angeles! A mini-soap box moment!

2011-08-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Summer Conference Attendees, drink your electrolyte enhanced waters, please, because you are meeting Denise Fleming this week and she is a dynamo.

SCBWI Western Washington locals had the good fortune to meet Denise in 2007, she led a retreat weekend for us with the inimitable Darcy Pattison. I don't think Denise went to bed that entire weekend, she was up all day leading hands-on workshops, and up all night giving beyond-the-call-of-duty manuscript critiques and/or making fake boogers out of rubber cement.

Super Denise and SCBWI WWA ARA Kim Baker

I can count two of my daily illustration practices as directly inspired from Denise's critique of my work and her workshops, so I thank her for that everyday. AND for how to make rubber cement boogers, they stick so well to your nostrils!

At our retreat, Denise focused on picture book writing and illustrating for the very young, and I am thrilled to see she's covering those topics at the Summer Conference. BUT, don't be fooled. Her tips and techniques work if you are writing or illustrating picture books for the... very old young, too.

Most of you know Denise creates her art using a paper pulp painting method which usually needs a whole studio's worth of gear. I don't know if she'll be doing that for her demo, but whatever she does, I know it will be incredible.

Check out Denise's process-rich website and consider getting her super cool junior autobiography.

JAIME'S SMALL SOAP BOX.

Like the Hyatt Hotel soaps soap-sized box.

There's nothing junior about the Meet The Author series, if you are a fan of any of the authors—Lois Ehlert! James Howe! Janet Wong! They are fine reference books for new writers. Denise's is very charming.

The MtA series is rivaled only by the out-of-print SELF-PORTRAIT series which I would pay a zillion dollars to see started up again. In fact, ALL of the illustrators doing demos next Monday would make great additions to the SELF-PORTRAIT series. I have Trina Schart Hyman, Erik Blegvad, and Margot Zemach's. They are small, fully illustrated picture book autobiographies. They are gorgeous and personal and perfect, and it's a dirty shame they aren't being made today. SHAME, I SAY!

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Kadir Nelson

2011-07-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

All of the illustrators doing Monday demos at the SCBWI Int'l Summer Conference have made illustrations that stick in my heart. Kadir Nelson's work fills my left ventricle. Look at all these lovely covers (if you can still see the covers, what with all the medals on them.)

Not sure what Kadir will be demo-ing, but we know it will be awesome, right?

Jaime: Hi Kadir! Who's one of your most favorite illustrators in history?

Kadir: Dean Cornwell.

Jaime: Neat! I have never heard of Dean Cornwell! I love discovering new illustrators. It's like discovering a new kind of candy. Which reminds me, do you think Steven Malk eats too much candy?

Kadir: Don't know.

Jaime: I know you made him a bobblehead doll, a fairly well documented thing Steve likes, and I believe it is also fairly well documented that he is pro-dessert. Don't feel you need to shield him from the scrutiny of the children's book blog world.

Kadir: ...

Jaime: By not answering you are proving that you are a loyal and discrete client. Well done. What's your favorite working snack?

Kadir: Water.

Jaime: I'm sorry, I fainted. Water? Like frozen with sugar and flavors? As an ingredient in a baked good? Maybe you thought I was asking what your favorite tool was, like water for diluting paint. Did you mean water is your favorite working tool?

Kadir: My favorite tool is a sable flat brush.

Jaime: So water is really consumable on it's own and not just as a necessary evil in a Slurpee? This is news to me. Final question, besides drinking "water," what do you do everyday that makes you a better artist?

Kadir: I meditate and play the game of life.

Jaime: Thanks, Kadir! I want to point out that Kadir did not capitalize "life" in the answer above, though he may play the game of Life on occasion.

Check out Kadir's lovely studio, an image swiped from his fantastic site. And look on the Events section, Kadir's WE ARE THE SHIP art is touring! It will be at the Carle Museum starting February 2012, but is out and about around America now.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Paul Zelinsky

2011-07-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

The goodness of the Illustrators' Intensive just keeps increasing exponentially. Paul Zelinsky wowed us with his magic camera contraption at the Winter Conference, and he's heading to LA to do a live demonstration. When I asked Paul for a hint of what he'd be sharing, he got downright poetical.

First, Paul's books, check out all those award-bedecked covers below. His pictures are as lovely in print as they are in person. If you have a chance to see Paul's work in a gallery, go for it! Some of his work came to my town: I saw pieces from AWFUL OGRE'S AWFUL DAY and am happy to say Paul Zelinsky's responsible for alerting me to the incredibleness of E. Nesbit after I heard him talk about the art he made for THE ENCHANTED CASTLE.

Jaime: Hiya, Paul, can you give us a hint of what you'll be demo-ing in LA?

Paul: The technique I'll be demonstrating in the Intensive will be linked to the topic of my talk during the regular conference.

Or, as a haiku:

Intensive technique
using oils for fairy tales
very intensely

Jaime: Super! What is your favorite non-Olympic sport? Your favorite smell? Your favorite bachelor on the current The Bachelorette? What is your favorite Cadbury product? What do you do every day that makes you a better artist?

Paul: I have to say that I have an aversion to, and a near-complete inability to respond to, questions about my favorite anything. Those are four really hard questions for me, and the fifth is even harder, because I not only don't have an answer to it, I have no faith that I wake up a better artist any day, much less every day. And I don't do anything to promote or demote myself. I suppose the mere act of waking up will make me a person with more life experience than the last time I've woken up, and perhaps that translates into being a better artist. I don't think so, though!

Jaime: Yes, yes, yes, I switched those first four questions! I asked Paul what I asked all the other live-demo illustrators and not having favorites is fine by me. And can't we agree that Paul's last non-answer is actually a wonderful answer? And though he may not have the faith he's waking up a better artist every day, we kidlit people have that faith for him in spades. Spades means up the wazoo, right?

Check out Paul's fabulous studio. If you follow him on Twitter, you'd see some fun photos of his studio view, which is of a street popular with movie makers...

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Jerry Pinkney

2011-07-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

Hey #kidlitart fans. A reminder that for those attending the Illustrators Intensive at the SCBWI International Summer Conference, you'll see this guy do a painting demo: The Jerry Pinkney. Excited isn't the word.

Here's a quick slide show of Jerry's book covers. Though, while I was grabbing all these images, I had to take a break, my mouse died, so many good books!

I'm already planning a pilgrimage in 2012 to one of the galleries slated to exhibit Jerry's latest show, WITNESS. It was at the Norman Rockwell Museum until May—check out this incredible summary of the show I swiped from Jerry's site:

Witness presents an overview of fifty years of a varied career as a designer and illustrator. This retrospective consists of 150 watercolors, process drawings, dummy books, reference photographs, and also a museum provided video along with inter active displays. There is a companion eighty page catalog with essays by Leonard S. Marcus, Gerald L. Early, Ph.D., Steven Heller, as well as Stephanie, Joyce, and myself. My essay titled Call and Response offers up the building blocks of how I became the artist I am today. The exhibition will currently be traveling to the Flint Institute of Art, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Hudson River Museum, High Museum of Art and the African American Museum in Dallas.

Some quick questions with Jerry to get us inspired:

Jaime: Hi Jerry! What's your favorite tool?

Jerry: 2B pencil

Jaime: Classic! (Editor's note: Though I will venture that Jerry's 2Bs are made of holly and have phoenix feather cores.) Favorite working snack?

Jerry: Walnuts and Almonds

Jaime: (Editor's note: I know, this is hard to understand. There are too few words above. I'm sure Jerry meant Walnut CAKE. And Almond BRITTLE. He's a busy guy, I'm happy to correct him.) Who is your favorite illustrator in history?

Jerry: Arthur Rackham

Jaime: Hooray! Arthur Rackham has 2,233 Likes on Facebook. Thank heavens you can't Poke someone on a Facebook Page because I can only imagine that poking the ghost of Arthur Rackham would make him angry. Though it might be nice to be haunted by the ghost of Rackham, he might hover over your shoulder and tell you if your sketch is off. Right?

Moving on.

Favorite up and coming illustrator?

Jerry: Kadir Nelson

Jaime: Up-and-coming! With at least two Caldecott Honors, and a Sibert, and a Coretta Scott King, and his art on US postage stamps I will agree, Kadir is up-and-coming, he's practically in the stratosphere. And Kadir'll be presenting a live demo at the Illustrators' Intensive, too!

Final question: What do you do every day that makes you a better artist?

Jerry: I have hundreds of publications on the art of illustrators, painters, printmakers, and photographers. At some point in most working days you will find me scanning my bookshelves searching for that right book to set my creative juices flowing.

Jaime: Lovely. I am adding to my library of art books as I type. Thank you, Jerry! His website is a treasure trove of information, too. Please go wander around it. And check out Jerry's new-ish studio, beautiful:

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: David Small

2011-06-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

This February, Winter Conference-goers were saddened to hear that David Small wouldn't be able to attend. Being bold, I'll speak for SCBWI (and surely future Los Angeles attendees!) that we are thrilled he'll be coming to the Summer Conference. Plus, David speaking in LA means we'll get to see him in his jammies on Saturday.

Holy wow, look at this slideshow of books David has illustrated:

Not only those he's authored, like NBA finalist STITCHES, but those with the incredible Sarah Stewart. His co-creator list basically reads as a Who's Who of Children's Literature.

David was kind enough to answer a couple questions and send us a groovy photo of his studio (tell me that's not the best place to hang an NBA medal.)

Jaime: Hiya, David. Can you give potential Illustrator Intensive attendees a hint of what your live demo will be about?

David: I'll be stressing what I think is most important: knowing anatomy, drawing with an expressive line, and drawing fast.

J: That sounds fantastic. On the topic of expressive line, who's your favorite illustrator in history?

D: In books, Ernest Shepard. In Editorial: Heinrich Kley.

J: Ernest Shepard is amazing. I've never heard of Heinrich Kley, so nice to meet a new (old) illustrator, and wildly interesting. Who is one of your favorite up-and-coming illustrators?

D: L’Uyen Pham.

J: My favorite of L'Uyen's might be GRACE FOR PRESIDENT, but I'm also excited by her work in graphic novels. Illustrators, be sure to check out her fun new site and blog. How about favorite art tool? Again, to be clear, not an art tool like Peter Brown, but a favorite brand of pencil, paper, etc.?

D: Pocket Brush Pen by Tombo.

J: Awesome! And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you use that on some of your incredible travel sketches. Favorite working snack?

D: Tangerines.

J: Like chocolate oranges?

D: ...

J: Oh, REAL FRUIT? I will have to check these "tangerines" out. One last question, David, and thank you so much for taking the time out of your schedule to chat with us pre-conference. What's the one thing you do every day that makes you a better artist?

D: I try to complete at least one drawing (of anything) every day, to justify my existence on this earth.

Thank you, David!!! Friends, see David in action at the 40th Anniversary SCBWI Summer Conference. And illustrators, if you haven't signed up for the Intensive yet, you can and should.

Here's that studio pic:

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Marla Frazee

2011-06-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

It is 53 days until the 40th Annual SCBWI SUMMER CONFERENCE! And I have the crazy honor of doing some Q&A with a few of the faculty members.

Marla Frazee's class at Portland State's Haystack Conference changed my illustrating life. And I know I'm one of a bunch that can say that about her and her classes. Whether at Haystack, Art Center College of Design, or SCBWI shindigs, if you are lucky enough to get a critique from Marla, you should know you are going to get some terrifically good advice. Advice that will stick with you forever, and most likely move your career to a new level.

To repeat: (You + Marla) x (Time Together) = Awesome. And because SCBWI International has invited her to be one of the seven illustrators doing live demos at the Illustrators' Intensive (which you can still sign up for!), we can now make this equation:

(You + Marla x Time Together) x (Watching Marla Make An Illustration) = Awesome Infinity³

A few questions with Marla below:

Jaime: Hi Marla! Can you give us a hint of what you'll be doing for the demo?

Marla: I couldn't complete a finished illustration without the foundation this particular process provides, so here's what I'll be demonstrating – first, I do the drawing on paper. Then I soak the drawing and staple it to a board. When the drawing is dry, I build the color up with multiple washes – sometimes as many as 50 to 100, which takes forever. I'll have to do this in stages, otherwise it would take a week or more to show it in real time. And that would be extremely weird for anyone to watch.

J: WE WOULD TOTALLY WATCH. But we understand time constraints. And the perils of eating X Bar food for too long. Who is your favorite illustrator in history?

M: This changes for me constantly. But Robert McCloskey is always in the top five.

J: Oh, nice! Here is a link to an archive of Anita Silvey interviewing him for The Horn Book. How about favorite working snack? I know I've asked this before, and you said CHEEZ-ITS...

M: If I'm honest, it's coffee. As much as I like CHEEZ-ITS, they are pretty greasy and eating them while I'm working would seriously mess up the work.

J: Favorite tool? Not, like, Jon Scieszka, but, like, favorite brush or pencil brand?

M: I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't work on Strathmore 500 series hot press 2 ply paper.

J: Readers, don't forget to explore Marla's kickass site, full to the web gillls with fantastic info. Final question: Marla, what do you do every day that makes you a better artist?

M: Worry that I'm crap.

Oh, that Marla. I'll bet a studio under an avocado tree that she's the only one who worries she could be crap. And speaking of studios under avocado trees, check out Marla's fab studio:

THANK YOU, MARLA! See you in L.A.!

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Exclusive: Details about the Illustrators' Intensive

2011-06-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

Word on the street is you've never seen a live painting demo by a world-class illustrator. Or, maybe you've seen one, but have you seen SEVEN IN A ROW?

You will if you sign up for the Post-Conference Intensive for Illustrators at the 40th Anniversary SCBWI Summer Conference in LA this August.

And you still CAN sign up for this Intensive, but time is running out.

Some of the committee (L-R Priscilla Burris, Pat Cummings, and Cecilia Yung)

One thing I love about the SCBWI Int'l Illustrator Committee is that they are always having a ball. Always mixing it up—the Intensive this year is a new format. I asked Pat Cummings about the committee's decision to have seven of the world's best illustrators do live demos for attendees. And here's what the committee said:

The Illustration Committee of the Board usually begins planning programs no later than six months in advance. For this conference, we started even earlier. We had gathered for the opening of The Golden Kite exhibit at the NCCIL Gallery in Texas last July and, surrounded by so much exquisite work, we all felt it would be fitting to have a wealth of top illustrators for the 40th Anniversary Conference.

The surveys we've collected after each Intensive repeatedly indicate a real curiosity about technique: How do the illustrators who present programs actually create the work they show? So what better way, we thought, to celebrate SCBWI's 40th Anniversary than to invite top illustrators to demonstrate just that. Show us how the magic happens.

Over the next few months we floated names, assessed techniques, refined our list, checked to see if speakers might fit into the larger schedule and by the Winter Conference, we were ready to begin inviting speakers. Each illustrator invited is at the top of his/her game and each will present something dramatically different. It will be an explosive, exciting, probably exhausting day but it will definitely be a memorable example of the scope of talent members will find at an SCBWI conference.

So hooray for this Intensive! The next few weeks I'll be posting some Q&As with a few of those demo-ers, I cannot wait for August.

But some good gnus

2011-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Don't think I blogged about it yet, but I have a kickass agent! His name is Stephen Barr. He's at Writers House. He has super powers, I'm not allowed to say what they are.

But truly: I hesitated to post about it a few months ago because Stephen is in the Witness Protection Program. Stephen is so smart and funny, he's being hunted by the world's best comedians—Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais. So the desire to share this good news has been tempered by the fact that I might be exposing him to a comic hit. And I want to keep Stephen around. So if you are friends with Jerry, etc., don't mention any of this, please.

I sent my signed agency agreement in this envelope:

And then he sent back a signed copy in this envelope:

So that's fun.

Ho-hum news

2011-06-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Oh, nuts. I'm sad to say the UW class has been canceled for this summer. Hopefully it will go on next summer. I am mostly sorry you'll miss Richard Jesse Watson's painting demo, and the smartest person I know, Martha Brockenbrough, talking about picture book writing.

You're in a bit of luck, though, both of them will be at SCBWI Int'l's 40th Annual Summer Conference. More about that here.

The books I recommend for beginning illustrators

Martin Salisbury's ILLUSTRATING CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Uri Shulevitz's WRITING WITH PICTURES
A primer for the whole biz/shebang, Harold Underdown's THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S BOOKS
And for authors, you can't go wrong with Cheryl Klein's SECOND SIGHT. It's new and I love love it.

If you had been planning on taking the class, I hope you'll still keep your Tuesday and Thursday nights set aside, devoted to picture book making. I am, and I'll be rereading those books mentioned above, plus a new one that I'm kinda gaga for. And not because the book includes a delicious pasta recipe. Not because of that at all.

Ivan Brunetti's CARTOONING. Structured so each chapter is a week of class. And all of the exercises strike me as fantastically invigorating. Like the city's early season outdoor pools, before they've had a chance to be ruined with heated water. Why heat water? How is that refreshing, I ask you?

Take my class this summer! I am fairly well behaved.

2011-05-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

No blog updates since February?! Well, I have many good excuses. But excuse no more. Watch out, I say, because I am putting my blogging pants BACK ON. And they are even more comfortable than pyjama jeans.

First news bit: I'll be teaching again this summer! My favorite summer class, the one the amazing Brenda Z. Guiberson usually teaches. I am substituting again, and here is the ad:

And here is the link!

If you are new to picture book making, this class is for you! And if you are old to picture book making, look me in the eyes and tell me you are truly, truly remembering all the smart rules of writing and illustrating and LIVING THEM while you work on Dummy X. If you can only look me in the eyebrows, this class is also for you.

It's not that many classes, but you'd be surprised at the cupcakes to class ratio—I know I was. And I have some stellar guest speakers! None other than the queen of smart, Martha Brockenbrough, who will tell us some incredible stuff about the words in picture books. And the king of smart, Richard Jesse Watson, who'll not only tell us incredible stuff about the art in picture books, he'll actually show us with a live painting demo! I can't stop exclaiming about this!

Here's the full description:

Explore the visual side of writing picture books through workshops, discussions and critiques. Delve into character details, word choice, visual research, pacing, art styles, media, point-of-view and manuscript revision. Craft a book from an original story or retold folktale.

QUICK FACTS

Status: Open
Start Date: 6/14/2011
End Date: 7/7/2011
Credits: 2.4 CEUs
Learning Format: Classroom
Location: UW Seattle
Cost: $549
Reg #: 108945
What the Program Covers
Ways in which a manuscript can suggest visual scenes and how illustrations enhance the narrative qualities of a manuscript
Character details, word choice, visual research, pacing, art styles, media, point-of-view and manuscript revision
Seamless integration of a story's words and pictures
Outcomes
You will know how to unite visual and narrative elements to create a compelling story. You will have developed a 32-page book mock-up and worked toward the final art.
Who Should Enroll
Aspiring and published illustrators and authors of children's 32-page picture books

Status:	Open
Start Date:	6/14/2011
End Date:	7/7/2011
Credits:	2.4 CEUs
Learning Format:	Classroom
Location:	UW Seattle
Cost:	$549
Reg #:	108945

New York bits and bobs

2011-02-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

Last week was a last-minute trip back to New York, my favorite place! No conference schedule to adhere to, so lots of walking around and eating up art and snacks and skylines.

The Society of Illustrators main gallery had the books and editorial show up. Some familiar children's book artists in the mix. A few of my favorites:

André Da Loba

Transfer print by André Da Loba for Kalandraka Editora

Vincent Bourgeau

Digital print by Vincent Bourgeau for Ecoles des Loisirs

Our little John Hendrix

Ink and acrylics wash for NURSE, SOLDIER, SPY! by John Hendrix for Abrams

David Ercolini

Ever excellent Ercolini for NOT INSIDE THIS HOUSE! for Scholastic


Walking in Chelsea, the place they send bad dolls to. This window was much creepier in person.

Cut-out of character Searle made for British rum ads in the Fifties, Mr. Lemonhart

AND one of the best parts of my trip:

Seeing Ronald Searle originals in person.

He's pretty fascinating, born in 1920, during WWII he was captured by the Japanese. Searle almost died in a POW camp, one of the ones that had prisoners building the Thai-Burma railway. I didn't take any pictures of the sketches he did of his captors, but Searle sketched everyday while imprisoned to keep his sanity.

Illustrations for a mug mock-up

Searle did work for Forbes Magazine, and most of the books and art in the retrospective are the personal property of the Forbes family. He also did concept sketches for Disney's 101 DALMATIANS! I had no idea. A great resource for Searle fans is here.

My favorite Searle bits of the retrospective was all the St. Trinian's art, but from this article, that's probably not something I should write a fan letter about.

from http://ronaldsearle.blogspot.com

A side hallway of the Forbes Gallery houses a few beautiful panels from the S.S. Normandie. This blog has better photos than I was able to take, it's hard to tell, still, how luminous these panels are in person, but even the little explanatory plaque was exciting to read.

from http://aestheticusrex.blogspot.com/2010/06/normandie-hodgepodge.html

Even the Forbes bathrooms had a healthy dose of Art Deco

Forbes toity wallpaper of neverending skyscrapers

And finally, some good news while I was gone, my darlink Kim Baker SOLD HER FIRST BOOK! Did you see the news? It's better than four kinds of Momofuku Milk Bar soft serve plus toppings, and that's saying something.

Head EAST! Over to the SCBWI conference blog!

2011-01-28T08:11:00.000-08:00

It's already started, the 12th Annual SCBWI Winter Conference in New York is underway with today's Intensive tracks for writers and illustrators. I'm blogging on the official conference blog along with my stellar Team Blog team mates.

SCBWI Team Blog Interview with Art Director Denise Cronin

2010-12-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

These interview questions came in pre-blizzard, but still, there're a lot of similarities between what postmen and art directors slog through to get to work. Thanks to Denise for taking the time to chat with SCBWI Team Blog!

Jaime: Denise, did you know not only are you an Art Director, you're a flipping Vice President? What is your average day like?

Denise: If you count time spent on the train, checking files and reading manuscripts, my day is about 9 hours. We are usually juggling about 60 books at various points of development. I work very closely with the editors and the designers in my department from start to finish. Making books is very collaborative. Rarely do I work alone.

Jaime: I'm always interested to hear what catches an art director's eye in a bookstore—do you have any favorite covers (not from your publishing house) for 2010?

Denise: Some favorite book covers for 2010 are THE DREAMER, illustrated by Peter Sis and written by Pam Muñoz Ryan (designed by David Saylor and Charles Kreloff);

THE BOSS BABY, illustrated by Marla Frazee (designed by Ann Bobco);

IT’S A BOOK, illustrated by Lane Smith (designed by Molly Leach);

and CATS’ NIGHT OUT, illustrated by Jon Klassen and written by Caroline Stutson (designed by Lucy Ruth Cummins).

Jaime: Nice! We heard a bit about Jon Klassen thanks to your fellow conference faculty member Lucy Cummins. Let's get down to the really important question: What does a VP/AD snack on?

Denise: When I am successful in avoiding the vending machines down the hall, my favorite snack is herbal tea with honey. When I cave, it’s usually chips or strawberry Twizzlers.

Jaime: Kill, kiss or marry: Helvetica, Baskerville or Comic Sans?

Kiss Helvetica, marry Baskerville, and (of course) KILL Comic Sans!

Jaime: Favorite Pantone color?

Denise: I’m fond of the “mutes”: 611, 535.

Jaime: What can out-of-towners look forward to doing in New York in late January if it gets less blizzardy?

Denise: I love to take long walks exploring the city, with strategic stops for hot cocoa. I hope to go ice skating in Bryant Park this winter.

From http://nnmportfolio.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Blizzard2010097.jpg

Jaime: Fantastic ideas! Final question, are you willing to share some snapshots of your office?

Denise: Office toys and a bulletin board!

Jaime: KILLER! Thanks, Denise! Illustrators, can you spot your postcard on Denise's bulletin board?!? I am loving those top four animals. Meet Denise at the upcoming SCBWI International Winter Conference—and there's still room in the Illustrators' Intensive!

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Interview with Art Director Lucy Ruth Cummins

2010-12-22T08:16:00.000-08:00

We're only a month or so away from the 12th Annual Winter Conference, can you smell it?

Illustrators, we have some fabulous art directors speaking at this year's conference (not that we've ever had a non-fabulous one.) Lucy Ruth Cummins, associate art director at Simon & Schuster was kind enough to do a wee interview before the new year:

Jaime: Hi, Lucy! Word at the Caldecott meetings is Justin Chanda is a real bear to work for. Rumor has it he keeps the Art Directors chained to their desks for 20+ hour work days. What's your average day like?

Lucy: I tend not to have an average length of work day - some run long and some finish on the dot. Often if I'm totally "in the zone" working on a book, I'll have a hard time checking out the moment the whistle blows. Really flowing with a project is such a wonderful feeling, and squandering that flow is something I try never to do.

Jaime: Okay, I can read between the lines. Justin is in your office, isn't he? I'm going to ask you how many books you are currently art directing/designing. If you answer "six picture books," we'll know he's listening in on things.

Lucy: I'm currently actively working on approximately six picture books, and about twelve novels. Many other projects are at various final stages - once we've sent them off to the printer, picture books generally return for proofs (and occasional corrections) over the course of another two or more months. Same goes for novels.

My executive art director Lizzy Bromley does a wonderful job of pairing her staff's talents with projects, so generally as a new season comes up, she and I will meet and she'll give me a slate of new titles that will be at the very beginning stages - frequently just a manuscript (for both novels and picture books) - and often there are no illustrators attached at this stage for picture book projects. Then I'll meet with the editor of each project to discuss directions and possible artists and move forward from there. When we are developing our projects, we often have meetings which include all the other designers within my imprint, and other times meetings which include all designers and editors from my imprint. These are great brainstorming sessions and it's neat to have feedback from fresh eyes.

Jaime: Oh, man, Chanda's in the room?!? I'm going to ask you about your favorite working snack next. If you want us to send help, mention a Coca-Cola product.

Lucy: I could never choose just one favorite working snack, but I'd have to say I'm frequently munching on something delicious that's been baked by someone on the editorial side of things. That field seems to be a magnet for wonderful bakers! I am a big coffee drinker in the AM and I'd be nothing without a Diet Coke (preferably bottled) in the afternoon.

Jaime: Okay, help is on the way. In the meantime, I'm having my people send Justin a bunch of emails so he'll be distracted and hopefully you'll be able to answer a few more questions. Illustrators will definitely want to know if you are currently acquiring?

Lucy: We are always acquiring new talent. I'm always keeping my eyes peeled. Even if I can't place someone on a project immediately (and it is true that some parts of publisher's lists are shrinking!) I'll often keep them on hand waiting for the right project. An example of this is the debut book from illustrator Jon Klassen, CATS' NIGHT OUT by Caroline Stutson - Jon just received the Governor General's Award for this project, and I had had his work on hand for several years before I was able to pair him with the perfect project. Although we may not always be able to immediately put the rubber to the road with new folks, good artwork makes a strong impression and the quest for a winning collaboration is always on my mind.

As for what I'm looking for - there's never anything specific. I love such a range of things, but I'm mainly looking for things I'm touched by. I love cute. I love simple. But I also love creepy and detailed! There's no one thing I'm looking for and I'm always happy to be surprised.

At this point in the conversation, I could hear a commotion coming from the Simon & Schuster end. Justin Chanda was taken into custody by the Newbery Committee and we were able to conduct the rest of the interview in relative privacy.

Jaime: Oh, I'm a huge Jon Klassen fan. And that CATS' NIGHT OUT cover is lovely, it reminds me of 1930's romantic comedy opening titles. What's your favorite children's book cover of 2010 not done by your publishing house?

Lucy: Nothing made me giggle more than the cover for CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS by Peter Brown (designed by Patti Ann Harris.) There's so much to love about it, and the title is so grabbing.

Jaime: Kill, kiss, or marry: Helvetica, Baskerville, or Comic Sans?

Lucy: I suspect you'll get the same answer from every one who's ever graphically designed - kill: Comic Sans, kiss: Helvetica, marry: Baskerville. (Although maybe Comic Sans is so darn unlovable that it would make a really grateful spouse...?)

Jaime: Favorite Pantone color?

Lucy: Pantone Red 032 PC - a poppy red color with no hint of blue. Divine!

Jaime: The Winter Conference brings in lots of out-of-towners. What is your favorite thing to do in late January in New York?

Lucy: There are so many wonderful things about January in New York - hot chocolate from Jacques Torres (so thick it's nearly solid, worthy of a last meal), post-holiday sales at all the stores, and just walking through Central Park while well bundled up.

Jaime: Any illustrator-centric activities?

Lucy: I feel so spoiled by this city - there are so many epic cultural institutions that I feel I could visit one a day for the next 100 years and not run out of options. Despite the steep price, the Museum of Modern Art is not to be missed. It's free on Fridays but I think it's worth the price of admission to avoid the crowds that form that day and go any other time.

The Metropolitan Museum is fun to walk around and recall scenes from FROM THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER.

The American Museum of Natural History has always been one of my favorites - the dioramas are breathtaking and they have a life-sized blue whale replica that will stun you on sight.

And the Whitney currently has a well-reviewed retrospective of Edward Hopper that I'm dying to check out.

Jaime: Wow, awesome suggestions, thanks, Lucy! One final kicker and then you and all the other art directors can run free: The format of this year's art show has changed, can you tell us how this change positively impacts your experience with the art show?

This will be my first SCBWI (and I'm beyond excited!) so I can't speak to the previous structure of reviews. I can say, however, that I think really trying to hone in on one stunning piece is a great way of developing one's ability to edit work and presentations. I can't wait to see illustrator's personalities oozing out of the piece they've selected for this purpose - it seems like it will be very telling!

Check out Lucy's site to see more of the books she's worked on—including her own—THE TAKING TREE.

Shop Local: University Book Store Mill Creek

2010-12-21T14:06:00.000-08:00

It's not too late to keep shopping locally—no outrageous shipping fees, the chance to score a donut while you browse. Especially if you visit University Book Store's gorgeous Mill Creek location.

Look at their lovely collection of ornaments and holiday kid books

Holiday doodads and cards

CANDY! CANDY. Candy. candy

Their sweet window display

Jessica Perez, children's bookseller extraordinaire, gave me the scoop on holiday books:

We have a TON of fantastic holiday books for adults & children! My personal holiday favorite, DUCK & GOOSE: IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTMAS. Tad Hills does such amazing illustrations and this glittery little board book makes you feel all warm & fuzzy about the holidays. I'm also currently reading David Levithan and Rachel Cohn's DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES (set during the Christmas season in New York) and, so far, I'm totally loving it! I was literally laughing out loud last night and had to stop reading because I couldn't keep the book still in my hands. For the adult crowd, Amanda (our book buyer) is really excited about TINSEL TALES, an audio collection of NPR's favorite Christmas stories from the past 30 years.

I asked about gift books, and UBS has a theme even! Says Jessica:

Our theme this year is "Giving Season: Something for Everyone on Your List" and it can't be more true. Our book staff has been extra busy collecting their favorites and writing them up for our Staff Favorites wall. They cover everything - fiction, non-fiction, children's, art, cooking, etc. And we all, of course, love gushing over our favorite books so we'll happily escort our customers to what we consider the best of the year.

In addition to books, we also have so many amazing Husky items (Go Dawgs!!!) and beautiful, unique, gifts that are sure to please anyone this holiday season. Plus, as always, we do complimentary gift wrapping and free book shipping. I would also like to encourage people to visit our website and sign up to "Be in the Know" and receive all the most recent event info, deals, coupons, and specials!

Finally, and maybe, most importantly, there is a donut shop in the bookstore. Jessica took all these photos, and I have to say the one below is my favorite. She says Top Pot is also making Salted Caramel Mochas for the holidays. So I have no idea why we aren't all in Mill Creek right now.

Thanks, Jessica! If you ever have a chance to attend one of her story times at the store, do it, they're terrific. She's a Toddler Whisperer.

University Book Store Mill Creek

Mill Creek Town Center
15311 Main Street
Mill Creek, WA 98012
425.385.3530

Saturday, December 4 – Friday, December 24

Monday – Saturday: 7am – 9pm
Sunday: 8am – 6pm
Friday, December 24: 7am – 5pm
Saturday, December 25: CLOSED

Cocoastomp Gift Guide: Hanukkah Books and Bites

2010-12-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

You might remember some of these from last year's holiday gift guides, but I've added in some new favorites PLUS SNACKS. Do you need Hanukkah books or treats? All but THE WINTER BOOK are Hanukkah-centric. If I missed anything wonderful, correct me, please. You'll notice all the book links go to Indiebound—shop local!

Hanukkah Lights by David Martin, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

The Winter Book by Rotraut Susanne Berner

Theo Chocolates is selling a holiday box of eight, chocolate-covered confections, one for each night, in these droolable flavors: Apple Cider Caramel, Burnt Sugar, Cardamom Caramel, Chinese Five Spice, Fig Fennel, Hazelnut Gianduja, Mint, Peppermint Caramel.

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Lisa Brown

Celebrate Hanukkah by Deborah Heiligman

Light the Menorah illustrated by Jannie Ho

On Etsy, there are some Hanukkah treats, Guilt Candy or The Nosh from the craquerockshop (same item, different bags)

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

I Have a Little Dreidel by Maxie Baum, illustrated by Julie Paschkis

Chanukah Lights Everywhere by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Melissa Iwai

Plus there're the terrifically traditional Hanukkah fondant cupcake toppers from KidsCakes on Etsy:

There's nothing that smacks of menorah about Fran's Chocolates Hanukkah selections, but they are so yummy, you won't really care.

And finally, I don't know if latkes should only be served with applesauce or not, but I'd bet anything from The Girl and the Fig could be a worthy alternative.

Shop Local: Secret Garden Books

2010-11-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday! And I'm demanding I get my way today: Please go out and buy yourself something nice at an independent bookstore. If you are in Seattle, you might consider shopping at today's Shop Local shop, Secret Garden Books in Ballard. Already gushed about Ballard here, but this post is devoted exclusively to Secret Garden gushing.

First off, Secret Garden always has lovely display windows as those are usually done by chic crafter Dawn:

And it's not just Dawn that's crafty, the store has a great display table of signed craft books and crafty wares. So lovely it almost wipes away the nightmare that is me knitting...

Secret Garden has also upped its purchase of holiday cards this year, and they are all winners. Some vintage reproductions as well as lovely ones by Egg Press caught my eye.

I asked Christy McDanold, the owner, what her favorite books of the season are, and she brought me over to the children's book holiday display.

Christy has lots of favorites, but this season is loving:

LI'L RABBIT'S KWANZAA by Donna Washington, illustrated by Shane Evans
CHRISTMAS MENORAHS by Janice Cohn, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth
IT'S CHRISTMAS, DAVID by David Shannon

And for almost all ages as a gift, WORK SONG by Ivan Doig.

Suzanne, Secret Garden's event guru, was thrilled to tell me about some faboo gift ideas—all of the titles below are signed by the author:

FLOTSAM and ART AND MAX by David Wiesner
TWO BOBBIES by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, illustrated by Jean Cassels
HOW ROCKET LEARNED TO READ by Tad Hills
IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE and IF YOU GIVE A MOOSE A MUFFIN by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
OH NO! (OR HOW MY SCIENCE PROJECT DESTROYED THE WORLD) by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Dan Santat
SWAMP ANGEL and it’s follow up DIRT DEVIL by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
JAKE STAYS AWAKE by Michael Wright

Not signed, but also Suzanne approved are CHILDREN MAKE TERRIBLE PETS by Peter Brown, MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND by Helen Simonsen, and JUST KIDS by Patti Smith.

You'll also be able to get your cider on at Secret Garden. Ballard businesses are having a holiday party this Saturday, December 4th, and Santa is supposedly dropping by and there will be FREE horse-drawn hay rides.

Speaking of horses, maybe you want to get a jump on your resolution to join a book club? Secret Garden's meets December 16 with OUT STEALING HORSES by Per Petterson. Try this club, they don't bite! That's the Vampire Books Book Club and they only meet after store hours.

Secret Garden Books

2214 NW Market Street
Seattle, WA 98107
206-789-5006

Holiday Hours

Monday - Saturday 10 - 8

Sunday 12 - 5

Shop Local: Queen Anne Books

2010-11-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

Good afternoon, shoppers. I'm so excited to share this Shop Local series with you—because it's all about one of my favorite things—great, independent bookstores.

First up is the hilltop heaven known as Queen Anne Books. So lovely in the snow:

Did you know Queen Anne Books offers free gift wrapping year-round? That they offer personalized shopping in person OR over email? That besides helping you pick out a gift, they will pack AND ship it? That you can place orders on their website 24/7?

You must go visit in person, though, if only for your stomach's sake. Queen Anne Books has a new neighbor, Le Rêve French Bakery, and Tegan of QAB says it is delightful. Tegan also mentions the hot chocolate at El Diablo Coffee next door, which you must then compare to the thicker sipping chocolate at Chocopolis down the street...

Which puts me in the mood for cookbook shopping. Queen Anne Books has a bunch by local authors like:

If you stop in at Queen Anne Books on December 3rd, they're having a big holiday party where you can meet the author of and sample treats from The Meat-lover's Meatless Cookbook by author Kim O'Donnel.

But maybe you are reading this because you need kid book recommendations? Well, Tegan and QAB have those in spades, or snowflakes, as the case may be:

Tegan's favorite kids' book of last year was Zorgamazoo by Paul Weston, and she highly recommends the audio version as it is read by the dulcetly toned Alan Cumming.

So, remember, December 3rd, you are going to Queen Anne Books for free bites, an additional 15% off merchandise in the store, and from 3 o'clock on, the rest of Queen Anne is having a holiday party, too. Don't forget the cocoa taste testing!

QUEEN ANNE BOOKS

1811 Queen Anne Avenue N # 103
Seattle, WA 98109-2850
(206) 283-5624

Holiday Hours: Monday through Friday: 10 am to 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10 am to 5:30 pm

My love letter to Ballard and some good news!

2010-11-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hey, you guys!

I'm thrilled to announce Cocoastomp items are for sale at Venue in Ballard.

What is Venue you ask? It is a delightful store/studio space. Here's a quote from their site:

The collection at Venue includes home accessories, personal accoutrements, artisan chocolates, fine art and many creative gifts. Because we have work studios on site, you have the opportunity to meet the artists from time to time and perhaps commission them to do custom pieces for you.

How cool is it they have on-site art studios? And tons of classes like felting or calligraphy or even chocolate making? So cool.

But what's most wonderful about Venue? The owners. Diane of Venue has been nothing but encouraging and I can't tell you what an impact that has on an artist. Or maybe I can—it's flipping inspiring.

What is Ballard you ask? Only potentially the greatest neighborhood in Seattle. I hope you'll duck into Venue to do a bit of holiday shopping. And you're right next door to a thousand, other great local shops. SERIOUSLY:

The Field House may be the most beautifully curated shop in the city. And it has a candy section. Check out sister store Blackbird and their amazing apothecary section which has colognes you actually want to smell.
Secret Garden Books (which'll be featured in its own post soon) is full of perfect paged gifts.
Cookie has all your baking needs.
Sonic Boom Records can't be beat for its beats.
Clover is my favorite toy store in the city.
Lucca not only has a kickass holiday window this year, they are full of incredible finds, like an antique wooden Tintin and stationery that makes you want to write to somebody.

Not only will you shop in Ballard, but you'll eat and drink and make merry:
Cupcake Royale which has pumpkin cupcakes.
Caffe Fiore where I do spend hours because of their perfect coffee and the loveliest tables/lighting in town.
La Carta de Oaxaca is the best Mexican food and margaritas in the state. I'll leg wrestle you on this.
Ocho for tapas, a drink called The Donkey Tongue, and reliably good background music.
The Back Bar at Bastille is the perfect place for masterminding criminal plots.
And for fun! Majestic Bay Theater or Sunset Tavern or Tractor Tavern or pool at BalMar.

I'm forgetting places, I know, but this is a start. Hope you are all gearing up to shop local this holiday season!

It's happening again! SCBWI Int'l Winter Conference!

2010-10-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Can't wait for the Winter Conference. Registration opens tomorrow at 10 A.M. Remember, special opportunities sell out within minutes of registration launching, so flex those fingers and sequester yourself in a wifi hot spot (don't forget your credit card.) SCBWI HQ has allowed us to leak a few names on the all-star conference line up:

& more!

Jules Feiffer!?! Jules bleeping Feiffer! Isn't that a great picture of him above? A lovely two-part interview with Jules from 2008 at The Daily Crosshatch.

SALE! Christmas in August at my Etsy shop!

2010-08-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

My holiday monsters were getting antsy, so I've put them back up in the CocoaStomp Etsy shop. And they're on sale and for sale to a good home.

AND everything, everything, everything in my Etsy shop is on sale!

Prints, thank you cards, recipe cards, bookplates, you name it, it's yours for less.

LA Conference post round up

2010-08-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

I wasn't shirking my Cocoastompian duties these last few weeks, but blogging at the 2010 SCBWI International Summer Conference on the official conference blog. See? I'm at the end, where conferencegoers kept leaving their leftover plates of cookies and candy and coffee. I'm no dummy.

A BIG FRIENDLY GIANT thanks to Alice Pope, Jolie Stekly, Sarah Stern, Lee Wind, Suzanne Young, Martha Brockenbrough, Aaron Hartzler and everybody at SCBWI HQ. I love being on Team Blog and wish we could have a conference every weekend.

Here are my posts, grouped by subject, sort of.

Celebrity sightings

In the lobby (Marla Frazee and Chris Rylander)

And pics of conference attendees and faculty

Keynotes

Jon Scieszka really does look like Indiana Jones if you take his photo using the iAngelaLansbury iPhone app.

E.B. Lewis's amazing keynote

John Parra's acceptance speech for Golden Kite Award

IMPORTANT FANTASTICO NEWS for illustrators

Editors

Brenda Murray on the Editor Panel

Big Pants Justin Chanda on the other editor panel

Justin Chanda's breakout session

Picture book related breakout sessions

My uncle, Loren Long, and his session about illustrators that want to write

Lauren Rille - How a designer brings your book to life (TOTALLY AWESOME!)

Diane Muldrow's premium workshop

Mac Barnett and Steve Malk's session

Graphic novel related breakout sessions

Mac McCool's premium workshop

Nick Eliopulos's session

The Party is over on SCBWI's blog!

2010-07-31T10:23:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, live blogging is happening... live at http://www.scbwiconference.blogspot.com/ for the next few days of the SCBWI International Summer Conference.

Team Blog has had a few connectivity issues, so some of the posts from yesterday are going up today. And we'll be posting loads today, too, and definitely hope to blow your mind with all the amazing things we are hearing and seeing at the conference.

Right now, there's an agent panel and TEAM BLOG has got it covered. You can even pick up hot quotes and tips by following us all on Twitter—especially the #LA10SCBWI.

What's Selling! University Book Store Picture Book Favorites, Part 2

2010-07-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Good morning, campers. You may have read Part 1 a few days ago. Today we discover another picture book group that's selling well for the delightful University Book Store children's department. I was surpreezed at the bounty of new titles in this category...

BIG SELLERS/UBS FAVORITES: WORDLESS

Wordless picture books, you had me at " "

THE TREE HOUSE by Marije and Ronald Tolman, Boyds Mills Press 2010

WAVE by Suzy Lee, Chronicle 2008 (the new MIRROR gave Lauren/Kitri/Caitlin existential crises)

THE SURPRISE by Sylvia Van Ommen, Front Street 2007 (Lauren can't resist a sheep on a moped)

THE CHICKEN THIEF by Beatrice Rodriguez, Enchanted Lion 2010 (I am in love with the book's wide screen/letter box trim size)

Earlier, the UBS ladies had talked about how beautiful art in a picture book wasn't enough, the story had to be stellar, too. Well, although there are no words in these, the stories told in the pictures are powerful—intricate, poetic, hilarious, or surprising, respectively.

There's one more picture book category that's been doing well at UBS, plus a peek at the titles Lauren and staff are excited about for Fall.

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Interview with William Low, Part Two

2010-07-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Just a few more questions and some wise words from William Low. I'm attempting to work today like William works—JUST coffee, no snackiepoos. We'll see if my face melts off from the unnaturalness of it all.

Jaime: Are there any people you look forward to hearing at the upcoming LA conference?

William: I expect to see a few familiar faces, but since this is my first summer conference, everything will be new to me. All of the keynote speakers sound terrific and I am looking forward to meeting them!

Jaime: What are you working on now?

William: Right now I am putting the finishing touches on my book, Machines Go To Work in the City and a new picture book by T.A. Barron, Ghost Hands. (Jaime adds—Check out their previous collaboration on The Day the Stones Walked!)

Jaime: What do you think of the iPad?

William: I have not tried the iPad yet, but I love the concept. I saw a drawing demonstration online by David Kassan and it was amazing. The idea of digital picture books is also exciting... this is truly a new frontier.

Jaime: Are you looking forward to better digital tablets in the near future?

William: I'd love to see a pressure sensitive iPad type devise that was based on the Mac OSX. That way, I can run Adobe Photoshop/Corel Painter and will be free to paint without being tethered to an outlet.

Jaime: It's only a matter of time for the above, I'm sure. Maybe you can help develop the iEasel. I am interested in helping develop the iEasyBakeOven. Last question: Any words of advice to illustrators just starting out in the children's book field?

William: Try to follow your personal vision. Don't try to develop a style, this needs to evolve naturally. Try not to be overly influenced by any one contemporary artist. Look at the old Masters for insights on color, drawing and composition. Watch your favorite movie without the sound to analyze staging, lighting and visual story telling. Travel!

Jaime: Thanks for all your time, William. Remember, there's still time to register for the SCBWI International Summer Conference and a few spots left in William's premium workshop series!

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Interview with William Low! Part One

2010-07-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

More great pre-conference interviews popping up all over. Jolie's been talking to Ginger Clark, Arthur Levine. Suzanne's chatted with Rachel Vail. Lee's whooped it up with Paul Fleischman. Alice has gabbed with Jennifer Rees, Francesco Sedita. And Martha Brockenbrough brought down the INTERVIEW HAMMER—Mac Barnett, Rubin Pfeffer, Gennifer Choldenko, Greg Pincus, and Gail Carson Levine.

You've read all about Mac McCool here on CocoaStomp. So it is with great pleasure that I add another name to the pre-conference interview pile of goodness, William Low!

And after reading this, you may think, dang, I wish I could sit in on this workshop series. And the good news is, you still have time to sign up for it! A few spots are left, but they are dwindling fast.

First, let's rehash William's conference bio:

William Low has been working as an award winning painter and illustrator professionally for over 23 years. Recently William wrote and authored Old Penn Station (2007) a children’s picture book on the history of one of New York City’s most infamous buildings. Other books William has authored are Chinatown (1997) and Machines Go to Work (2009). For over 20 years, William has been teaching painting and illustration. He is currently a professor at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where he teaches a painting technique on the computer to undergraduates and graduate students. He gives talks and demonstrations nationally his innovative painting technique and his career in Illustration. William Low lives and works on Long Island in New York. He is married and has 2 children.

Jaime: Hey, William! Thanks for chatting with me before the conference. Is this your first time at SCBWI LA? If not, how do you feel about the dance party/taco bar on Saturday?

William: Yes, this is my first time and I was not aware of a party on Saturday. Sounds like fun!

Jaime: The party is a hoot (beware the quesadilla bar and/or people wearing quesadillas.) Your workshop series sounds FANTASTIC. There's a list of software and hardware requirements. For those just starting out, do you recommend any online classes or books they could turn to to bone up on Photoshop ahead of time?

William: This workshop assumes a working knowledge of Photoshop: its interface, selection tools, layers management and image adjustments. For this, I think that any beginner book on Photoshop will do. The more they know, the more comfortable they will be. This is an important part of the creative process. If you need a book to get started, I recommend Adobe's excellent Classroom in a Book series. They will also need a Wacom tablet. I don't have any book recommendation for this... like all things it will just take time to get used to drawing on this tablet.

Jaime: Oh, good Photoshop book suggestion! Lynda.com is a nice resource, too. I love my Wacom, I think most artists take to it fairly quickly once they get the nerve up and just start playing. I was so bummed to miss the 2009 SCBWI Winter Conference—I know you did an Illustrator's Intensive there—can you speak a bit on how your upcoming LA series is similar or differs from that?

William: The NYC Intensive was a primer to this course, because I only had one hour for a lecture and demonstration. For the LA conference, we will have 4 hours. This gives me a chance to expand on Photoshop's power and to talk more about technique.

Jaime: I'm thinking there are quite a few illustrators out there who've never done digital work and don't think they can make the crossover, but you're the poster child for mixing things up. You've changed mediums for your picture book work: CHINATOWN was oils; OLD PENN STATION was oils and digital; and MACHINES GO TO WORK is all digital. Why did you make the change?

William: For me, change is the only constant. I made the switch from traditional to digital because I like the freedom and flexibility of working on the computer. Having the artwork print ready (without scans and color correction) is also a huge plus. However, I do love the feel of real oils and I expect to switch back again sometime in the future.

Jaime: Who are some of your favorite, fellow digital picture book artists?

William: I am a big fan of Craig Mullins' work. He is a great traditional and digital painter.

Jaime: When working on a picture book do you like to eat a particular snack?

William: No, but I do drink lots of coffee.

Jaime: Hold on, I need a moment to process this coffee-only, non-snack world you work in.

.

.

.

Jaime: I can't imagine it. Maybe you should show me what a studio without snacks looks like.

William: Here are 3 pictures of my studio. From left to right: Apple iMac, a modified Wacom Cintiq, my art books and large format Epson printer.

This is a close up of my computer station. The Wacom Cintiq is a pressure sensitive LCD screen, this was removed from its base and mounted on top of my easel, with a removable keyboard stand attached.

If I prefer to paint in portrait mode, I can rotate this screen on its axis. Since the palettes will also be rotated with the image, I must change screen orientation from my operating system.

Jaime: The modified Cintiq is pretty amazing, William, but all I'm saying is, you *might* get more done if a box of Cheez-Its were keeping you company. I'm going to let you think on this, William, and we'll check back in tomorrow with Part Two!

What's Selling! University Book Store Picture Book Favorites, Part 1

2010-07-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Oooh, I am so sad the UW class is over. I hope all my students are going to flock together and keep their Tuesday and Thursday nights set aside for picture book making. They were a creative and fun bunch, that's for sure.

One awesome thing that happened on the last day of class, thanks to the amazing generosity of our independent bookstores, was an impromptu field trip to University Book Store! Semi-impromptu—I cleared it with the store/children's book buyer weeks ahead of time (I was afraid the UW summer school might say no (insert large-eyed emoticon here.))

Lauren, Kitri and Caitlin of the children's book department greeted the class with coffee and tea and GIGANTOR cookies. They had three tables full of books and spent a good half hour telling us about their favorites, the books that were selling like hotcakes, and titles they are excited about for fall.

BIG SELLERS/UBS FAVORITES: HUMOR

It's no yoke! Funny books always do well.

MONKEY WITH A TOOL BELT by Chris Monroe

(and the follow up, MONKEY WITH A TOOL BELT AND THE NOISY PROBLEM) both Carolrhoda 2007, 2009

Melanie Watt's SCAREDY SQUIRREL, Kids Can Press 2006 (lotsa other Scaredy Squirrel books now, too.)

HATTIE THE BAD by Jane Devlin, illustrated by Joe Berger, Dial 2010

BARK, GEORGE by Jules Feiffer, HarperCollins 1999

UBS loves all of the above titles because they are great for story time, appeal to different age ranges, are easy to sell by just opening up the book to certain pages (Monkey's tool belt illustration*, Hattie's underpants moment,) and are laugh out loud funny. Lauren, Kitri, and Caitlin appreciate that while the art in all of them is stellar, so is the text, and that's what makes them fall in love with a picture book enough to handsell it, equal parts stellarness (if that's a word.)

Can you guess what two other picture book genres sell well and are University Book Store favorites?

*Besides, who can resist a monkey named Chico Bon Bon?

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Interview with Mac McCool, Part Deux!

2010-07-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

More with Mac McCool!

Jaime: What materials do you like to work with?

Mac: I couldn’t do without Photoshop and my little Wacom tablet these days. However, my favorite tools remain a pencil and an ink brush (Winsor & Newton #7 series). Doodling with a pencil is so basic, yet versatile, and inking with a brush is lyrical. The curves and twirls, delicate dabs, dramatic swings evoke the grace of ballet dancing. The Yin to my brush’s Yang is a mechanical (Rotring) pen I have used since I was 13. Even though I find it far less seductive than the brush, its strength and predictability are impeccable and reassuring.

Jaime: What are you working on these days?

Mac: My super secret day job in an unnamed awesome university takes the bulk of my time. Under that cover, I’ve started playing “editor.” My students and I have put out a 100+ page graphic novel, “Herakles: Myth, Monsters, and Inner Demons” (soon available on Amazon). We’ve retold the famous myth of the Twelve Labors while bringing more continuity to the life journey and struggle of an unwilling hero, victim of his lineage. I will bring copies of “Herakles” at the conference.

We’re also completing a graphic novel anthology of Aesop’s fables set in the American Far-West. At first, it sounded like a goofy idea, but my students have surprised me and made it all work. Finally, next Fall, we’re going to produce our first alphabet picture book. A team of some 20 to 30 college students will each produce about one page using a wacky, innovative theme we’ll pick as a group.

Jaime: WHOA, your school project sounds fantastic! Any personal projects?

When I’m Mac McCool, the-non-university-guy, I explore the world and work on my own comics. Last January, I visited China. It was so exciting, I’m trying to teach myself Mandarin (yes, it’s a pretty crazy pursuit, but my brain can’t get enough of that nutty challenge!). Immediately after the conference, I’m heading to France to see among other things the Lascaux paintings by the nameless prehistorical cast of original Bohemian graffiti artists. As far as graphic novels, I’m preparing a webcomics for kids and writing a script for a longer graphic novel I’ve researched for 10+ years.

Jaime: Nice! Glad to hear you have so many creative irons in the fire. And I have always wanted to see the Lascaux paintings—hope you'll blog about that, Mac. Are there any people you look forward to hearing/seeing at the upcoming LA conference?

Mac: Sure, and it’s funny how my anticipation has changed over time. The first year or two, I attended the SCBWI conference for the knowledge. I got what amounted to a semester-long college course in the craft and industry of creating children’s books. After that, I found that like most folks I knew, we attended the conference for the friends and to encounter speakers who have been life-long inspirations.

Lin Oliver and Stephen Mooser put on a superb show every year, but it’s more than that. It’s a family gathering of sorts. We all love hanging out in the SCBWI "kitchen," enjoying everyone’s company while we’re stuffing our hearts and souls. My only regret when presenting at the conference is missing out on some of the great people who present at the same time I do.

Still, this year, the folks I’ve never had the chance to hear include: Jon Scieszka, Loren Long, Nic Eliopulos, Ashley Bryan, Bruce Hale, Michael Reisman, and many more who no doubt will surprise me!

Jaime: Oh, that kitchen analogy is perfect. Any words of advice to illustrators just starting out in the children's graphic novel/comics field?

Mac: There has hardly been such a great time in the history of US publishing to craft graphic novels for children. So my advice?

Get busy and EMBRACE THE PRESENT!

SCBWI TEAM BLOG Interview with Mac McCool

2010-07-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

YOU GUYS! The Summer Conference is three weeks from today. I am thrilled with this year's line up of sessions, especially the redonkulously awesome premium workshop options.

If you've ever thought about writing or illustrating a graphic novel, there are still a few spots open in the GRAPHIC NOVEL MASTER CLASS lead by Mac McCool.

Who is this mysterious Mac McCool? What does he read? How does he feel about comics on the iPad? What's the skinny on his Graphic Novel sessions? And most importantly, what does he think about the Summer Conference Saturday Night Taco Bar? Well I know all this now, and more, because I got to interview him! See below.

For starters, here is Mac's conference bio:

Mac McCool had his first comics strips published at sixteen. For ten years, he freelanced as an illustrator for Disney, the Smithsonian, and many dotcoms. He now shares his passion for children’s graphic novels in presentations and workshops across the country. He has published more than a dozen articles on graphic novels, including in the 2009 Children’s Writers’ and Illustrators’ Market. He teaches illustration and sequential art at California State University, Fullerton.

Jaime: Thanks for chatting with me, Mac! First off, I'm trying to build my graphic novel/comics library and wonder what you've read recently that has knocked your socks off.

Mac: Last summer, I fell in love with Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha (8 vol. graphic novel).

So this summer, I’m reading more Tezuka (Black Jack, right now).

I’m also revisiting a lot of my French and Belgian comics “albums” (they call them albums instead of comic books), and enjoying some American golden oldies, like Terry and the Pirates.

Finally, I'm head over heels about the graphic novels and illustrations of Daphné Collignon, whose artistic skills and approaches to comics are nothing short of brilliant.

Jaime: NICE. I'm putting all those on hold at the library as I type. Your conference workshop series sounds totally awesome, Mac. And it is for both writers and illustrators wanting to make graphic novels, so I bet that's a fun mix. There are five assignments to do (writer assignments here and illustrator assignments here.) If someone were to sign up for your workshop series TODAY—do you think they could get all five assignments done before July 30th?

Mac: First, thanks for the kind words. I think participants have enough time to do all the practice work. It’s four small exercises and one completed page of comics. I’ve tailored the assignments so they’re not too time consuming, and yet participants should gain a lot of insight about the various steps of the creative process and be able to pinpoint what skills they master and which ones they need to build up.

Jaime: I remember your excellent talk at an earlier conference and think your workshop series is going to be aces. Anything else you want people to know about it?

Mac: We're going to have fun, get things done, make friends, and cover a lot of material. I envision that we’ll take some of the finished pages we created and that we'll show them to some publishing pros.

Jaime: Holy Frijoles! That last part is a real bonus! Speaking of frijoles, how do you feel about the Heart & Soul poolside gala and taco bar on Saturday night?

Mac: Salsa heaven!

Jaime: I was thinking of making my pool party outfit AT the party, what do you think of a quesadilla bikini top?

Mac:...

Jaime: Yes, probably not worth pursuing that. Enough about the conference, what does your studio look like?

Mac: Like a dance floor the morning after a wild taco bar party! On the photo of the wall of comic "albums" I face when I work at my desk, you’ll notice the carton the SCBWI made for me a couple of years ago – a special keepsake! In the bottom left corner, you'll also notice the edge of the screen of my MacBook - my workhorse.

Jaime: When slaving away on panels on your MacMcCoolBook is there a certain snack that helps you get work done?

Mac: French bread. Any excuse to eat French bread works for me! And salsa of course!

Jaime: Last question for now—what do you think of comics/graphic novels being available on things like the iPad?

Mac: It’s the natural evolution. Better get ready! I’ll miss the smell of paper and ink, but that’s because I was born in the last century. In contrast, students in my classes have no hang-ups about clicking through instead of leafing through comics.

As far as how the iPad and digital tablets will affect the artistry of graphic novels, I believe the Internet has already showcased many of the experiments and possibilities. We can study and build upon those that have worked (metadata about the creative process, akin to a DVD commentary; direct artist-reader interactions; fan communities) and those that haven’t (animated comics that generally look like a poor-man’s TV cartoon).

Jaime: Thanks again, Mac!

Suck it, Eclipse!

2010-07-01T15:45:00.000-07:00

NO, I'm not being rude! I'm happy for everyone that is going to see the latest Twilight movie this week. Even though I will wait to watch it via Rifftrax, I wanted to offer to all my friends waiting in those long ticket lines the chance to try a beverage that would rival vamp juice:

Quick Milk Magic Straws

FEEL THE TASTE!* Straws full of cocoa-y pebbles!

And what would be even BETTER than having choco magic straws in an Eclipse line would be receiving a free copies of Suzanne Collins's THE HUNGER GAMES!!! I've never heard of this happening before. England gets Cadbury and free books.

*I want to feel the taste of all my comestibles, don't you?

Your New Travel Companion: Sailor Twain

2010-06-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

I gushed about this earlier in the year, but Sailor Twain, First Second's free, serialized web comic is picking up speed. The last few pages have been extra lush and full of intrigue. AND THE WHOLE THING IS FREAKING FREE! And all online. Perfect vacation reading if you have a fancy phone or can't go ten paces without your laptop.

If you, like me, are a sucker for sea tales (or if Mark Twain was also your boyfriend in a former life) then you must go check this out.

Read it once for pure pleasure, then read it again. The whole thing is a lesson in mystery writing, draftsmanship, panel building, and just plain dreamy. There's even been two swear words, so I'm in heaven.

And you can have Mark Siegel's art in your house! They have four prints available at a ridiculously low price. I have 'Wounded Mermaid' and am thinking I need at least 'Don't Call Me Captain' and maybe something from an unreleased chapter to round out my collection.

The link section is full of smart bits like a widget showcasing other great artists who wow in black and white. And I can't WAIT to see what the 'Handwritten Love Letters' section yields.

Start from the Overture and enjoy the first five chapters.

So Long Bound, Hello, Again, Cocoastomp and SCBWI TEAM BLOG!

2010-06-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

I am eternally grateful to all the wonderful opportunities that came my way thanks to MSN Entertainment and WetPaint and the other Superfans. I hope they bring it back someday! Which is to say, as of tomorrow, the Superfan blogs are going down.

In the meantime, all is well at Cocoastomp. Did you read all the tweets rocketing in this weekend from ALA? I am so glad attendees did that, and look forward to providing tweets at the SCBWI International Summer Conference! Which is in a few weeks!!! The speeches for the Golden Kite Luncheon are nothing to sneeze at, you know.

The Illustrating Children's Picture Books Class is going swimmingly, too, and I wish you could all be in it.

To recreate a hint of the class, get yourselves these things:

1. Cupcakes
2. Fifty pounds of picture books
3. A few Horn Books
4. Art supplies to play with
5. Stellar guests like Julie Paschkis and Paul Schmid
6. Three hours, twice a week to explore all the amazing books that are out in the world plus time to envision and explore YOUR own picture book projects!

Over on Bound, Summer reads to knock your socks off.

2010-06-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

The NBA does a dang good job of picking Finalists. Not talking about the Lakers. Plan your summer reading with the recent NBA-ers all listed on Bound!

I have soooo many of these still to enjoy, but I did just read TOUCHING SNOW (a 2007 finalist) and was amazed amazed amazed. So good.

In other news, the Superfans group on MSN Entertainment is being canceled as of June 30th, so if you liked anything on Bound, take a picture, the links will be kaput soon.

Cocoastomp isn't going anywhere (even if you might want it to since I've changed the blog layout/bg and it now look's a bit like a clown uterus.)

Previously on Bound: Post NBA Finals

2010-06-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

National Book Award Finals, that is (the world doesn't revolve around you all the time, Kobe.)

Middle graders or teens that are looking for some amazing books this summer, look no further than the past couple years of NBA winners and finalists. These are beach reads that might make you forget the beach. Not usually light and fluffy, no, but often full of humor or mesmerizing plots—stories that will stick with you for decades. Most of the links below go to the paperback versions so they'll be nearly weightless in your beach tote or bike basket.

I just finished reading a 2007 finalist, "Touching Snow," and could not put it down. Part heartbreaking and part laugh out loud funny, a must read for all teens.

Some of the books below are even appropriate for younger readers or family read-alouds, like the 2005 winner "The Penderwicks."
You might find some outstanding illustrations in these books, too. The first ever NBA graphic novel finalist from 2006, "American Born Chinese," opened the gates for David Small's "Stitches," the heavily illustrated "Lips Touch" by Laini Taylor with art by Jim Di Bartolo, and Brian Selznick's "The Invention of Hugo Cabret."

Any of your favorites below you want to champion?

2005 Winner - "The Penderwicks" by Jeanne Birdsall
"Where I Want to Be" by Adele Griffin
"Inexcusable" by Chris Lynch
"Autobiography of My Dead Brother" by Walter Dean Myers, art by Christopher Myers
"Each Little Bird That Sings" by Deborah Wiles

2006 Winner - "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" by M.T. Anderson
"Keturah and Lord Death" by Martine Leavitt
"Sold" by Patricia McCormick
"The Rules of Survival" by Nancy Werlin
"American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang

2007 Winner - "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
"Skin Hunger" by Kathleen Duey
"Touching Snow" by M. Sindy Felin
"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick
"Story of a Girl" by Sara Zarr

2008 Winner - "What I Saw and How I Lied" by Judy Blundell
"Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson
"The Underneath" by Kathi Appelt with art by David Small
"The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks" by E. Lockhart
"The Spectacular Now" by Tim Tharp

See the post about the 2009 winner and nominees here.

Previously on Bound: Kickass Books

2010-06-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

"Kick-Ass" is out in theaters now. MSN gave it only 1 1/2 stars, but Rotten Tomatoes gave it 77% delicious. I'm hoping to side with the kick not ass side of things. The movie is based on a comic book series by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. which you can read 8 volumes worth of in Marvel's "Kick-Ass."

There's also a companion book out by the comic's creators and the movie's director, "Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic, Making the Movie."

But maybe you want to be REALLY COOL? Or maybe you just miss Michael Cera? There's a bit of movie rights news and movies in production all based on books that you could check out now:

"Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" comes out in theaters in August, but you can read Volumes 1 through 5 now.

"Incarceron" by Catherine Fisher is a hot new YA title that's just had its film rights bought at auction.

And Ally Carter's "Heist Society" has lots of big movie people names on board -- Shauna Cross is adapting it ("Whip It!" and "If I Stay") plus it is being produced be the ladies who did "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." And I've ALWAYS preferred heists to pants, so, this'll be great!

And for little kids, you may have had a chance to Tivo, but lord knows they'll replay such an episode as this: Martha Stewart with an audience full of chickens!?!? And not only in the audience, but two of Martha's guests for that episode included picture book creators with their feathered friends: Jan Brett ("Daisy Comes Home") and Terry Golson ("Tillie Lays an Egg") who has a Hen Cam!!

Who needs picture book boot camp this summer? Still a few spots left!

2010-06-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

A good-for-you impulse buy is summer class tuition.

Still a few spots left for my UW class THAT STARTS TOMORROW!!!

Take your picture book dummy ideas from flab to fab—

this class is open to writers and illustrators of all levels.

Tuesdays and Thursdays June 15 to July 8.

Info and registration details here. We'll be on the gorgeous UW Seattle campus. The Quad couldn't be lovelier this time of year, you know. And if you sit outside the Music Building you can hear the music students practicing—and they don't suck, so it's almost a free opera/violin concert. And if you sit outside the Art Building someone may or may not have added an 'F' to the sign.

It will be a cupcake laden 6 hours each week (tomorrow probably the old standard of my Nana's chocolate chip zucchini in cupcake form with cream cheese frosting.)

Julie Paschkis and Paul Schmid are both on board as guest speakers. We'll be celebrating Eric Carle's birthday, too (he won't be there, but for sure some hungry caterpillars will be!)

I am tickled pink over the book report assignment we'll be doing tomorrow and cannot wait to share it!

Over on Bound, Nikki McClure brings us SUMMER!

2010-06-13T12:30:00.000-07:00

She might be a super hip Mother Nature in disguise. All I know is I could listen to her talk/work for hours. Check out my Nikki McClure book event recap on Bound with her new loverly, "Mama, Is It Summer Yet?"

Previously on Bound: Nikki McClure Summer

2010-06-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Nikki McClure was in town yesterday signing copies of her new book, "Mama, Is It Summer Yet?" And it actually WAS a gorgeous, summery Seattle day in Ballard, the perfect weather backdrop to Nikki's book talk. You may recognize her amazing calendars and things available at buyolympia.com, her gorgeous work with Chronicle or Sasquatch, or her equally gorg children's books with Abrams?

Nikki wowed the crowd demonstrating the art technique that has garnered her a cult following -- papercutting. Using plain, old pencils to sketch out her drawings, she then cuts with ordinary X-acto knives on acid-free charcoal paper. The end result is the opposite of plain or ordinary—plus, as a challenge to herself—she tries to make her cut image be one, connected piece! And Nikki loves making mistakes—the whimsy of the blade can alter her original drawing. But instead of feeling like things are ruined, Nikki feels free to go hog wild on an illustration by trying out new ideas because, hey, it already has one mistake! But those often become the strongest pieces, says Nikki.

For more on Nikki, or if you want to feel good about the world, please go read this excellent, excellent interview Amy Baskin did with her last year.

All I can add is that "Mama, Is It Summer Yet?" is worth the endpapers alone and "All In A Day" by Cynthia Rylant is just as scrumptious.
Final, most important factoids:

1. If it isn't strawberry season, Nikki's preferred work snack is dried apricots or prunes with the pit still in them.
2. Some of her favorite kid books are hidden in "Summer" — see if you can spot "Blueberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey, "Life Story" by Virginia Lee Burton or "Comet in Moominland" by Tove Jansson.
3. She's a bit of a force of magical, nature-y goodness to be around. If you have the chance to hear her speak in person, go go go.

Previously on Bound: Fat Vampire Infomercial and The Naughty List

2010-06-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

First, the HILARITY that ensues when you get Mac Barnett to open his yapper. Here he's flapping his gums on behalf of Adam Rex, for Adam's first YA novel, "Fat Vampire." Awesome, awesome, awesome. The book doesn't come out until August, but you'll want to memorize this fantastic infomercial.

Second, the NAUGHTINESS of so many boys in "So Many Boys" out today from Suzanne Young. "So Many Boys" is the second in "The Naughty List" book series, here's a peek at the trailer for the first book:

The SUSPENSE that ensues when you get to read the first eight chapters of an amazing YA novel for FREE—"Tell Me A Secret" by Holly Cupala.

The GOAL of soccer this week is World Cup fun! Celebrate with Pelé's new picture book, "For the Love of Soccer!" Illustrated by Frank Morrison.

And finally, THE END IS NEAR. At least it will be on Tuesday when "The Deathday Letter" comes out by Shaun Hutchison. Dead funny from the sound of things!

Over on Bound, an interview with THE Meg Cabot!

2010-06-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

Don't adjust your children's book eyeballs, that is indeed, a bosom-y lady with a dagger. But it is also the cover of Meg Cabot's new book! Which you need for your summertime fun. It has vampires. And a dog named Jack Bauer.

A quick interview with Meg Cabot!

Previously on Bound: Meg Cabot Interview

2010-06-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Meg Cabot! Could she be more lovely? Author of "The Princess Diaries" series and a bazillion other great books has taken on the fanged and funky with "Insatiable." Sparkling wit, sweet characters, and pithy dialogue, "Insatiable" is for adults, but the older teens I know that have devoured "True Blood" will find this a refreshing and hilarious take on vamps. Meg is giving away free "Insatiable"s on her site (visit, you'll absolutely want to try to win!) and offering up some advice on how to help with the BP oil spill in her online journal.

First, the publisher's flap for "Insatiable":

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper. But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them. Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.) But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets—then makes the mistake of falling in love with—Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for. The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own. And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare. Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future. . . . If she even has one.

Meg is my new book trailer hero. She has FOUR, count 'em, FOUR book trailers for this book! I dream her legions of fans will film their own episodes of the book's Insatiable soap opera (maybe using live actors or Barbies?) and Meg to curate on YouTube. A girl can dream, right? And if I watch any soap opera I want it to be one that Meg Cabot inspired.

Absolutely I agree with Seventeen and NBC's "Today" that this is a stellar beach read. The only problem is we have to wait until next year for the sequel (and I'm really bitter about this, but there are a few Cabot books I have not read yet to get me through the next few months.)

On to Bound's exclusive interview! It was a bit agonizing finding interview questions. Meg is one of the few authors that has a totally current website, an extensive FAQ section, plus an active blog and twitter account. So many questions I thought of I had to cross out! But I did, of course, get to ask about snacks:

Bound: I loved "Insatiable" and, although it is listed as a book for adults, many of my teen friends would eat this up. Your book giveaway contest is open to anyone age 13 and older, so would you say this is okay for older teens?

Meg: Yes! I'd say it is okay for 14 and up.

I read that you have another YA paranormal series starting next year, too?

It's called "Abandoned" and I'm actually just finishing up the first book right now, out next spring. It is very dark, much darker than my "Airhead" series—a modern retelling of the Persephone myth, you know GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD, so pretty dark.

You'll be at a big, public event in Orlando at the end of July, what is that for?

On July 28th I'll be at a big literacy signing. Hopefully it will be huge, with tons of people, and we'll be able to raise lots of money for the Readers for Life literacy fundraiser.

What's on your nightstand?

I'm actually reading "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" because I never read that and it is so popular right now, and I want to see the movie. But I'm also reading a lot of books that are going to be coming out—people have asked for blurbs. So I can't talk about those books yet, but I'll definitely be blogging about them in the future. And I'm dying to read Rachel Vail's latest, "Brilliant."

Do you have a favorite writing snack?

I do! Gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. I found this woman who makes me chocolate chip cookies and they're SO GOOOOD! Oh my gosh, and you know what I love? I also love miniature Heath bars, too. Yeah, it's a horrible snack because they aren't very healthy, but I LOVE THEM.

Thanks, Meg!!!

All the funny things I'm remembering from Twitter are from her, too! I keep thinking it is some comedian, but it is this lovely lady.

Meg's site is a treasure trove of extras to round out your "Insatiable" reading experience—a playlist of great songs, a pronunciation guide, photos of all the great places/paintings/pooches/totes mentioned in the story, and coming soon, once the book has been out for a few weeks, a Deleted Scenes section! (I think there's still room for a button leading us to a mock-Insatiable episodes video page... Just saying.)

And her online journal is awesome. Check out what the grandmas of Florida are doing and find out how you, too, can help with the mess in the gulf.

Previously on Bound: Happy Donut Day!

2010-06-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Today is National Donut Day. And a little bird at Mill Creek University Book Store in Washington State told me that the Top Pot Donuts IN the bookstore is giving out a free donut with coffee purchase. Perhaps your local indie has donuts for the taking, too! If not, you can at least read about donuts. Here is a gorgeous, oldie but goodie cover from super Robert McCloskey and his "Homer Price."

A few picture books that are delish:


"The Donut Chef" by Bob Staake	"Arnie the Donut" by Laurie Keller	"Who Needs Donuts?" by Mark Alan Stamaty

Over on Bound, Guys Read and Why I Love David Lubar

2010-06-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

I do.
I love Lubar.
A quick write up of the Guys Read Panel at BEA.

Previously on Bound: Guys Talk about Guys Reading

2010-06-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

A highlight of BEA was hearing the Guys Read panel talk about their forthcoming, "Guys Read: Funny Business." I adore the book trailer and getting to see these guys in person was ridiculous fun.

The book is a collection of short stories from some amazing authors. The hope is boys who don't normally reach for a hardcover will find this book irresistible for many reasons. The first being all of the authors involved respect their readers.

Jon Scieszka defends the quintessential guy reader "...he's not stupid, he's just not engaged." And the goal of the "Funny Business" stories is to engage them without dumbing stories down or being sensational, "to go beyond kick-in-the-nuts humor."

But don't be alarmed if, like me, you adore nut humor. David Lubar got in trouble with his fellow panelists when, after all the assurances of the book taking the humor high road, he said, "I spent three weeks worrying about the fart joke at the start of my story stepping on the diarrhea joke later on." I LOVE THIS GUY.

And another reason guys might embrace this book? The stories are short. Lubar said "short stories are a hard sell, but this is what kids love. And reluctant readers are less daunted by the prospect of a twenty-page story versus a 200-pager..." Editor Jordan Brown believes short story collections are a great way to introduce kids to a lot of authors and hopefully get them interested in finding an author's longer works.

Here's what the panel had to say about two of the stories in the book:

YOU KNOW Jon Scieszka, former ambassador of kid lit. Trend-setting author. Expert barbeque-er. Jon co-wrote a story with the amazing non-male, Kate DiCamillo (of "Winn-Dixie," "Despereaux," "Tulane," "Mercy," etc. fame) a story Jon calls Dear Mr. Henshaw-esque. Jon and Kate wrote letters back and forth to each other, Jon as a young kid writing to author Kate. Kate played off of Jon's first letter and their story was born. Sounds like a ton of fun, right?

As does author/illustrator Adam Rex's story which takes place at a school where ALL the kids have discovered they have special powers. And they have all been whisked off to wizarding or dragoning schools. Except for Adam's main character who is painfully average and powerless.

It sounds like there will be more Guys Read editions covering Mystery, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Sports, Nonfiction, and Animal Husbandry. Can't wait!

Left to right, the illustrious bloke team at BEA: Jeff Kinney, Adam Rex, David Lubar. And Mac Barnett, Jon Scieszka, and Jordan Brown.

Previously on Bound: Memorial Day Books

2010-05-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Some interesting Revolutionary War picture books about our founding fathers and mothers mentioned on the smart MacKids blog.

For older kids there's the new "Countdown" by Deborah Wiles or "This Means War!" by Ellen Wittlinger, both set during the Cuban Missile Crisis:

If you feel safer reading about war in alternate universes, "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card was a big deal to me, I'm not sure if it still holds up for today's readers. Two new titles that may take over for Ender are Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother" (though the book lost me on some of the technology. Perhaps I am more like Pat Sajak than I care to admit.) Just finished "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins and am beside myself with worry for when I will get my hot hands on the even hotter "Mockingjay." (Reading tweets of the BEA Scholastic/Mockingjay party, they said that Suzanne reads Katniss with a Southern accent. I'm not sure I can get behind that just yet. I'm trying. Team Peeta, for the record.)

Everyone in the children's book community is in love with M.T. Anderson's Octavian Nothing books "The Pox Party" and "The Kingdom on the Waves" as well as Laurie Halse Anderson's "Chains" (follow-up "Forge" comes out in October.)

Walter Dean Myers's has set his stories in the Civil War, Vietnam, and Iraq: "Riot," "Sunrise Over Fallujah," and "Fallen Angels."

And don't forget some incredible graphic novels: the online "Zahra's Paradise," "Refresh, Refresh," and "The Photographer."

Previously on Bound: New Nonfiction

2010-05-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

At that crazy BEA book expo I met some very cool people like Marc Tyler Nobleman. His book, "Boys of Steel" is a wonderful look at the origin of Superman. And not from the loins of Jor-El, but the typewriter and ink pen of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Illustrated by Ross MacDonald (I LOVE how he draws shoes, just saying, and Nobleman is a great storyteller.)

At BEA I did not meet Don Brown. If I had, I might have swooned. To me, his picture book biographies can do no wrong. Check out his latest, "A Wizard from the Start" about Thomas Edison.

A book many adults, including myself, could use on a daily basis: "For Good Measure" by Ken Robbins.

Previously on Bound: Author Spying 05/20

2010-05-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

Today is a great day to stay home and read blogs. No, really. There's a spring storm here — white caps to the west and a tornado to the east. This is battening-down-the-hatches weather.

So let's do some author spying. Today's peepings are on YA author Maggie Stiefvater and author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka:

First up is Maggie Stiefvater. She's a YA author with books about werewolves and 'homicidal faeries' to her credit. Making the book blog rounds is a peek at Maggie Steifvater's new book trailer which is TOTALLY AWESOME.

A snapshot of Maggie's blog:

Here's her trailer for "Shiver"

And the new trailer for "Linger" Plus some great 'making of' posts. Part 1, 2, and 3. Definitely check those out on Maggie's blog. You'll have to wait till July to read the book, though!

Author/Illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka you may remember from "Punk Farm" or the Children's Choice award-winning "Lunch Lady" comics series? And I believe you may remember that funny lady Amy Poehler has optioned "Lunch Lady," which is going to be awesome?

Here's a snapshot of Jarrett's blog (where you can see that Jarrett's part of Graphic Novel Spectacular, an event happening this weekend in Brooklyn with lots of other spectacular graphic novel dudes like Matt Phelan and Eric Wright!)

Previously on Bound: Kids Got Mail

2010-05-19T09:57:00.000-07:00

Do you get Daily Candy? The Kid edition? I do and love it. And they featured the coooolest thing a couple of days ago. One of my favorite books as a kid was the one with all the addresses you could send away to for free bits and bobs. That book is dead as a door nail now that we can print .pdf downloads or subscribe to things online, but with it died the thrill of the postman ringing twice. For the price of a week's worth of mochas, you can bring back six months of stamped fun.

Abe's Peanut, is a serial postcard story service for kids, four postcards to a story, one card per week. A six month subscription is only $48 and you can get in on the first issue -- it starts in June. Look at this charming image they have on their site (I think it is by Vanessa Boer):

Over on Bound, BURIED TREASURE FOR REALS. And the Edgar Award

2010-05-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

WHAT? Why is this not all we can talk about? There's actual buried treasure out in the world. Twelve treasures, to be exact. And to find it all you have to do is read a very short book. With pictures. See more on Bound. Plus, the Edgar Awards came out a few weeks ago and I totally spaced all that. I adore the nominees I've read and look forward to snapping up the ones I haven't gotten to yet.

Previously on Bound: Mysteries and REAL BURIED TREASURE!

2010-05-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

The Edgar Awards for 2010 came out a few weeks ago. Some of my favorite new mysteries were nominated which is awesome, and proves the Mystery Writers of America have bloody good taste. There are a number of MWA groups across the U.S., if you care to join one. I went to one in Seattle once and greatly admired their choice of meeting place -- an Irish pub with a subtle jail theme. The meeting's keynoter stood right under a giant ax mounted to the wall, could you ask for better mystery writing ambience? I think not.

The 2010 Best Juvenile Edgar Nominees and Winner:

"Closed for the Season" by Mary Downing Hahn (WINNER!) Hahn has written loads of mysteries, so be sure to check out her other titles.

"The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity" by Mac Barnett (LOVE! This is the first in the Brixton Bro. series with the next one out in October)
"The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour" by Michael D. Beil (Want! Also first in the series)
"Creepy Crawly Crime" by Aaron Reynolds (Also want, this is the first in the Joey Fly series, a totally rocking insect noir graphic novel. The second book comes out in late fall)
"The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline" by Nancy Springer (love that Enola Holmes -- Sherlock Holmes's sister, of course. This is the fifth book in the series, be sure to grab the earlier ones first. The sixth one just came out last week) (1) "The Case of the Missing Marquess," (2) "The Case of the Left-Handed Lady," (3) "The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets," (4) "The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan," (6) "The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye"
And if all that wasn't enough, have you heard about the new McSweeney's book?!? "The Clock Without A Face" is basically a giant clue to twelve hidden treasures. Not only is it awesome to look at, but you could win an emerald encrusted number if you are smart enough and not afraid of a little dirt digging. For all the junior super sleuths out there, this has got to be right up their allies. And one of the contributors to the book, Mac Barnett (who wrote "Case of the Case" above) has a groovy interview over at Betsy Bird's blog, perhaps there's a hint about the jewels within his interview answers...

Previously on Bound: Nonfiction Award Winners

2010-05-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for some fun, nonfiction picture books? Maybe some autobiographies that inspire? Well, I don't know how I missed these, but in November, the Orbus Pictus Award went out, and the winner was:

"The Secret World of Walter Anderson" by Hester Bass, illustrated by E.B. Lewis.
Here's the publisher's description:

"Residents along the Mississippi Gulf Coast thought Walter Anderson was odd, rowing across twelve miles of open water in a leaky skiff to reach Horn, an uninhabited island without running water or electricity. But this solitary artist didn’t much care what they thought as he spent weeks at a time on his personal paradise, sleeping under his boat, sometimes eating whatever washed ashore, sketching and painting the natural surroundings and the animals that became his friends. Here Walter created some of his most brilliant watercolors, work he kept hidden during his lifetime."

Two other honor books include:

"Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream" by Tanya Lee Stone. The book has won, like, 18 other awards or mentions. Kirkus said it was a:
"Fascinating, dramatic story...The author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society and its institutions. Handsomely illustrated with photographs, this empowering, impassioned story will leave readers inspired."

And "Darwin: With Glimpses Into His Private Journals and Letters" by Alice B. McGinty and illustrated by Mary Azarian. The Horn Book review:"... Explanations of natural selection are particularly strong . . . Nearly every spread contains a parchment-like "letter" containing edited portions of Darwin's diary and letters. These quotes validate the main narrative and form an abbreviated chronological record for important events and thoughts in Charles's life. A brief author's note, source material, and full documentation complete this book."

The Orbus Pictus Award is handed out by American English teachers for excellence in nonfiction writing. The award "commemorates the work of Johannes Amos Comenius, Orbis Pictus—The World in Pictures (1657), considered to be the first book actually planned for children."

Previously on Bound: Vampires for All Ages

2010-05-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Books That Suck! I couldn't write that in the title line...

Teen vampy books, of course, suck in the best way! A huge, huge, huge thank you to Sci-Fi Movies Superfan Amy for her fabulous recount of the Charlaine Harris book event. Harris was just in Seattle, too, and her adorable exterior hides so much delicious vampire bloodlust! I love her. AND her book series is a huge hit with all the teens I know.

But if you've read all ten Sookie books, do you want to try out some different blood types?

Here are just a few, but since biters are still all the rage, we promise to bring you more suggestions in a few weeks.

First, consider trading Merlotte's in for Sanguini's, a vampire friendly restaurant in Texas and also the setting for Cynthia Leitich Smith's "Tantalize." "Eternal" is set in the same world as "Tantalize," but with different characters. Both out in paper back now. A third book should be out in 2011.

Or there's the Blood Coven Vampire series by Mari Mancusi with twins and their Buffyesque romantic adventures: "Boys That Bite," "Stake That," and "Girls That Growl" and "Bad Blood."

All the cool kids are enjoying "The Vampire Diaries" TV show, and how bad can it be if Boone from "Lost" is on it?!? Maybe you should read the books by L.J. Smith, too? Books 1 and 2 ("The Awakening" and "The Struggle" or 3 and 4 ("The Fury" and "Dark Reunion" are available together. The last two are "The Return: Nightfall" and "The Return: Shadow Souls".

If you aren't old enough for Sookie and friends, there's a few younger vampire books out there:

For middle graders, there's Joann Sfar's Little Vampire series. I looooove Joann Sfar's work. He compares making comics to improvising in jazz which is such a nice way to think about drawing similar, but different panels of art. All three stories in one book: "Little Vampire."

And for picture book fiends, there's "Vunce Upon a Time" by Siobhan Vivian and J. Otto Siebold.

Previously on Bound: Children's Choice Book Award Winners

2010-05-13T10:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Children's Book Week! A lovely celebration since 1919. It used to be in the Fall, but I'm cool with the move to May. A few nights ago, there was a gala award dinner where, after oodles of children voted online, some big book winners were announced for 2010. The Children's Book Council is responsible for all the fun associated with Children's Book Week. I love this bit from their website:

"...in 2008, the Children's Book Council created the Children's Choice Book Awards, the only national child-chosen book awards program, giving young readers a powerful voice in their own reading choices.
The need for Children’s Book Week today is as essential as it was in 1919, and the task remains the realization of Frederic Melcher’s fundamental declaration: “A great nation is a reading nation.”

Here are the awesome award-winning Books of the Year:

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
"Lulu the Big Little Chick"
by Paulette Bogan

3rd Grade - 4th Grade
"Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute"
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

5th Grade - 6th Grade
"Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life"
by Rachel Renée Russell

Teen
"Catching Fire"
by Suzanne Collins

Author of the Year
James Patterson for "Max"

Illustrator of the Year
Peter Brown for "The Curious Garden"

As Illustrator of the Year, Peter Brown gets to make next year's Book Week poster. As Author of the Year, James Patterson gets a yacht and Kleenex made of dollar bills.

Really, the poster thing is the prize of all prizes. This year's poster was done by Jon J. Muth. All the great illustrators end up doing a Book Week poster. See "75 Years of Children's Book Week Posters" by CBC and Leonard Marcus.

Previously on Bound: Iron Man 2 and more

2010-05-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

Marvel is taking advantage of the Downey Jr. flick with some tie-in comics. Most of these are cool for teens:
First off, there's "Iron Man: Extremis" by Warren Eliis and Adi Granov, a motion comic. What is a motion comic, you ask? Well, grandpa, it's a 3D animated version of a comic book with audio and a few special effects. It is available in six, twenty-minute episodes on iTunes, Zune, or X-Box Live. Check out the trailer for Marvel's third motion comic. The talking heads are a wee bit hokey, I would LOVE to see Terry Gilliam comics available this way... Also in hard copy.

Scarlett's character gets her own comic book, too. "Black Widow" by Marjorie Liu and Daniel Acuna is a new series for the lady spy that has been featured in many Marvel dude comics.
If you've been following the old Iron Man comics, you know what's up. "Invincible Iron Man 25" is a special edition of the periodical out now for the movie. By Matt Fraction.

"Iron Man Legacy" is a new series that launched in April by Fred Van Lente and Steve Kurth.
"Iron Man 2: Public Identity" by Joe Casey, Justin Theroux and Barry Kitson is a comic for those that want to know exactly what happened between the first movie and the second movie.

Littler kids might dig:

"Iron Man: I Am Iron Man" an I Can Read Book Level 2 by Lisa Rao, illustrated by Guido Guidi
A board book, "Super Hero Squad: Iron Man Springs Into Action!" by Kirsten Mayer

And for middle graders who want some super main characters, I know I've mentioned both of these before, but STILL, if you haven't picked them up yet:

"Candle Man: Book 1 The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance" by Glenn Dakin (out in paperback in a few weeks!)
"The Rise of Renegade X" by Chelsea Campbell (which just came out on May 11)

Previously on Bound: Author Spying 05/10

2010-05-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

Today we are spying on author Cecil Castellucci and author/illustrator Erik Brooks.

Cecil has a few traditional novels outs as well as some fantastic graphic novels. She's also written the libretto for an opera that premiered in Toronto last week. Oh, don't be a snooty turkey about opera, her opera is a LIVE COMIC BOOK OPERA. Barnes & Noble has a groovy interview with her here.

Here's a snapshot of Cecil's site:

Her last blog post was a few days ago, but she's active on Twitter, which is like little mini-posts, you know?

Some of Cecil's books:

And Erik Brooks saw a bear! Or his neighbor/friend did. Here's a snapshot of his blog:

The author/illustrator is in bear country, many hours away from me in Washington State. I wouldn't mind seeing the bears Erik paints. Especially because they have the decency to usually wear pajamas.

Some of Erik's books:

Both Erik and Cecil have loads more books, but this blog software just ate all my photos and links for the umpteenth time. So, please, please, go check out their sites and get to know all their great titles.

Previously on Bound: Superstars!

2010-05-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Some people just make things fun. This is the case with David Aguilar. He explains the otherworldly mountain of math and science behind astronomy with infectious enthusiasm, which makes adults and kids think it is something not only worth knowing, but worth exploring. Lucky you, if you can't hear David speak in person, there're a few books out that convey his excitement and passion for astronomy.

David is currently on tour for his new book, "Super Stars: The Biggest, Hottest, Brightest, Most Explosive Stars in the Milky Way." An astrophysicist as well as a skilled artist and model maker, the art in the book of alien moonscapes and close-ups of stars is all done by David using photoshop and models he made out of foam core and spare bits and bobs you'd find around the house or in a model airplane kit.

You want to know what Betelgeuse really looks like? "Super Stars" shows you. The back of the book contains constellation maps that call out where particular stars are within a constellation in a way that is clearer than most other astronomy books, too.

David started his school presentations talking about what interested him as a kid, so David's slide shows NOT ONLY include very cool sound effects, but clips of B movies from the Fifties. From an early age, David was encouraged to make something out of nothing. He wanted a telescope, so he went to the library, found a book about how to make one out of everyday materials and a passion for science and astronomy was born. This can do attitude has served him well. Inspiring stuff.

Also -- do you know how cool it was to see his step-by-step process of making star art and ufo models? Using a program most kids have access to, and materials you could find in your garage or garbage can? Very cool, is the answer. His message to kids wasn't just about how great The Universe is, but the UNIVERSE. Life is fun, pay attention to what makes you happy and try to do as much of that as you can. For David right now, that is astronomy, but he has a pretty interesting past, too.

Though he currently works as the Director of Public Affairs and Science Information at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, before that he was a marine biologist and lead singer for the band The Chocolate Watch Band (opening for The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Jimmy Page among others.) He now leads educational tours for the Smithsonian taking people to Hawaii, Arizona, Chile, or Italy. You can bet those tours are a hoot.

In a few weeks, David is going to New York to work on his new Discovery Channel show about what would happen if aliens landed on Earth (probably not anything awesome for humans.) He ended his school talks by sharing the first page of the script for that show. I know we are all waiting to find out what happens on page two!

David's other books:

"11 Planets" ("13 Planets" out soon)

"Planets, Stars, and Galaxies"

Previously on Bound: Dan Santat's new book is AWESOME

2010-05-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Dan Santat is one funny bunny. He's not only an incredibly talented illustrator and author. He's a MOVIE STAR -- 'News Reporter #1' in this hilarious book trailer Dan made all by himself in iMovie:

While you wait for "Oh No" (written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Dan) to come out (few weeks still!) read Dan's blog or check out some of his other books (including the illustrations he did for Lisa Yee's "Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)".)

"Otto Undercover" series by Rhea Perlman, illustrated by Dan
"Chicken Dance" by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Dan
"Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo" by Ayun Halliday, illustrated by Dan
"The Secret Life of Walter Kitty" by Barbara Jean Hicks, illustrated by Dan
"The Ghosts of Luckless Gulch" by Anne Isaacs, illustrated by Dan
"The Guild of Geniuses" all by Dan Santat!

Over on Bound, Oh No! It's Dan Santat!

2010-05-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Dan, luckily, uses his creative powers for good. See the new book trailer for his and Mac Barnett's OH NO! over on Bound.

Remember when Dan was a sock puppet? That was fun.

Over on Bound, celebrating Latino kid books!

2010-05-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

List of books celebrating Latino culture or characters. And one mousy Cinco de Mayo book (which I mean in the nicest way.)

For suresies, these are to enjoy year round, not just today.

My three favorite covers/illustrations:

Previously on Bound: Celebrate Latino Books!

2010-05-05T10:09:00.000-07:00

The original reason for the holiday may not be why any of us are partying at happy hour later, but it's still a great day to celebrate Mexican authors. I'd wager it would be nice to celebrate all Latino (Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc.) characters and author/illustrators, too. A source of mine says that a quarter of the children born in the U.S. today have Latino heritage, but less than 2% of characters in children's books (or TV) reflect that heritage! Hopefully that is changing.

Below is a list of great books for ages 0-14ish that celebrate Latino culture or characters, or the Spanish language (and not all Latinos speak Spanish, we know). Plus one book that mouseifies Cinco de Mayo.

My buddy, super writer/Wagging Tales blogger, Kimberly Baker, has a few suggestions, too, and those titles have a star by them, thanks, Kim!

Picture books

*"Chato's Kitchen" by Gary Soto, illustrations by Susan Guevara (one of Kim's faves)
"Mañana Iguana" by Ann Whitford Paul, illustrated by Ethan Long
"Before You Were Here, Mi Amor" by Samantha Vamos, illustrated by Santiago Cohen
"Frida" by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Ana Juan (one of my favorite authors + one of my favorite illustrators + amazing subject/person = awesomeness)

"Gracias - Thanks" by Pat Mora, illustrated by John Parra
"P is for Piñata" by Tony Johnston, illustrated by John Parra
"Cinco De Mouse-o!" by Judy Cox, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler (out today!)
"Just In Case" by Yuyi Morales

Middle grade

"The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano" by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sean Qualls
*"Confetti Girl" by Diana Lopez
*"Return to Sender" by Julia Alvarez

*"How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay" by Julia Alvarez
*"Becoming Naomi Leon" by Pam Muñoz Ryan
*"Esperanza Rising" by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Teen

"The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros (one of Kim's all-time favorite books)
"Mexican Whiteboy" by Matt de la Peña (another of Kim's favorites)
*"Tortilla Sun" by Jennifer Cervantes
*"The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzales (out next week)

Over on Bound, SPYING ON AUTHORS

2010-05-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, you know I passed my Day-As-A-P.I.-In-Training with flying colors... Until I saw a candy store. So it should come as no surpreez that I am now spying on authors.

See who on Bound. Here's a non-subtle hint:

Previously on Bound: Author Spying 05/04

2010-05-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

We are starting a new feature on the book blog, spying on authors! Their blogs, sheesh.

If you have a favorite children's book author or illustrator, odds are that they have a blog or a website. So if it has been a while since their last book, don't despair! You can probably read about all that they are up to on their blogs.

Today, let's sneak a peek on: Laini Taylor and Lisa Yee. I'm not sure they could be more talented, or, more importantly, adorable.

Here are a few of Lisa's books (and "Absolutely Maybe" and "Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally)" both out in paperback this month!)

Here's a snapshot of Lisa's blog. She was just in New York doing fun things to kick off the Scholastic Summer Challenge INCLUDING a very silly mock game show. You may notice Lisa's got a buddy in many photos, her Best Marshmallow Friend, Peepy!

Here are Laini's books, with art by her husband, illustrator Jim di Bartolo.

Snapshot of Laini's blog below. Laini is on her way up to Seattle to speak to a children's book writing class today. Besides this blog she also has Not For Robots, which is a great collection of Laini's essays on her writing process as well as a treasure trove of quotes.