Rejection vs Dejection

I received a very encouraging rejection in my mailbox yesterday afternoon.

A busy editor took the time to write this
at the bottom of my rejection letter. God bless her!

And just in case your rejection letter was a bit less personal, consider these words from Cathy C. Hall.*

"Don’t let a rejection (or even a stack of rejections) undermine all your hard work. Keep submitting."

Thanks, Cathy.

*From The Muffin

Challenging and Beguiling

"It is challenging and beguiling to sense something inside, put it on paper (or carve it in stone), and then step back and see how much has got lost in the process. The inevitability of losing some of the idea in trying to bring it to life is what keeps me working. I am always certain that next time, I'll lose less."

-Chris Van Allsburg

Bookplate of author, editor,  John Clyde Oswald

Official Unofficial PBDummy Badge

2013 badge design by Lisa Thompson

Grab your Unofficial badge at Lisa Thompson's blog.  While you're there, read through the list of resources she's compiled.  Whether you are starting from scratch or taking this opportunity to flesh out an idea from PiBoIdMo, it all starts with a little light bulb.  Who knows where your ideas will take you!

PiBoIdMo, November 2012

Picture Book Idea Month starts tomorrow.  Don't forget to sign-up at Tara's blog, Writing for Kids (While Raising Them).

Kudos to Ward Jenkins for this year's banner art
and Tara Lazar for her inspiring event!

If you're planning to participate in NaPiBoWriWee in 2013, there's no better way to prepare than with the challenge that sparked its creation.


We'll try to keep you posted on our progress.  Why not let us know how you're faring?

Oh, No!

I love a good story, especially one which demands to be read aloud.  And of course, great illustrations will make me loyal to a book I've never even read.  Amazon is promoting Oh, No!, written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann.  That proves even the big box bookstores recognize a winner once in a while.

Oh, No!
Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, 2012

This picture book is scheduled to be released on September 11, 2012.  You may recognize Candace Fleming as the author of  Muncha!  Muncha!  Muncha!, Madame LaGrande and Her So High, to the Sky, Uproarious Pompadour, or The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School.  Her book Amelia Lost was awarded the Golden Kite last March.

I have loved Eric Rohmann ever since I first bought The Cinder-Eyed Cats in 1997.  His first picture book, Time Flies, was a Caldecott Honor Book.    In 2003, he won the award itself for My Friend Rabbit.  As an accomplished printmaker, Eric is sure to take our breath away with his beautiful illustrations.

Take note,  both creators are listed with equal billing on the cover.  What's next, children's book authors' names bigger than the title ? (compare to any adult novel cover and you'll see what I mean.)

Learn more about Eric and Candace at the Children's Literature Website.  And be sure to see Candace's "For the Press" info on her own website for a funny story!

Illustrator of the Year, Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck,
by Brian Selznick
Scholastic, 2011

Congratulations to CBC Illustrator of the Year, Brian Selznick for Wonderstruck!

Brian Selznick has had an amazing career, and he has been pushing the boundaries of children's books for some time.
Brian has written or illustrated dozens of books, including The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
If you aren't familiar with Brian's latest work, you'll have to see it to experience it.  His last three books include graphic sections which do more than illustrate the text.  As in a picture book, the art carries the story.  What's most exciting is these books are middle grade / YA.  These works are reminiscent of a graphic novel, but are something more. In an age when many young readers are being pressured to forego picture story books too soon, these 600-page picture books will bring readers back and, I hope, remove the pb stigma for elementary students as well.

Wonderstruck was chosen as the best illustrated publication of 2012 by over 900,000 students.  That's the largest turnout to date.  Brian beat out some stiff competition, including the legendary Eric Carle.  You can find the other CBC finalists and winners for 2012 at the Book Week page of the Children's Book Council.  There's more information about Children's Book Week at the 3/21 post on Bookish Ambition.

Artwork by Brian Selznick
from Wonderstruck

Just a few weeks ago, we were discussing the feasibility of a black and white portfolio at kidlitart.  Here again, Brian Selznick proves that it isn't the trend in art that interests readers, it's art and stories that speak to the viewer.

Artwork by Brian Selznick
from Wonderstruck

You can find great insights into Brian's career at Indie Bound and a thoughtful interview at Reading Rockets.

Visit Wonderstruck at Scholastic to learn more about sign language, constellations, and the making of the book.

Ben and Me

I finally got around to reading Ben and Me, by Robert Lawson.

Let me start by saying I love Roberts Lawson's illustrations; I always have.  He excels at black and white drawing, of placement of lights and darks on the page.  He illustrated for St Nicholas, and for adult magazines of his day.  Most people know his artwork from Munro Leaf's Ferdinand the Bull or Mr. Popper's Penguins, by the Atwaters.  During his career he was called on to illustrate the writings of Dickens, Twain, Coatsworth, as well as classics like One Foot in Fairyland, by Eleanor Farjeon and The Sword in the Stone, by T H White.

If you are only familiar with the Disney version of this historical fantasy, you'll be greatly surprised by the differences.

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Are You My Mother?

Happy Mother's Day!

P. D. Eastman was a remarkable man as artist, author, creator.  His talent was recognized and nurtured by Theo Geisel himself.  As I look over his list of published work, I count many of my childhood favorites among them.  But his books stand the test of sentimentality, for I have read them to my children.  They love them, and read them to their younger siblings.  That they will read them to their children, I have no doubt.  My thirteen-year-old cleaned her bookshelf yesterday, and saved two of P. D. Eastman's books:  they were not put in the charity pile, nor even the home library pile, but the keep-it-in-my-room-a-little-longer pile.  Are You My Mother? was one of those books.


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In Memory of Maurice Sendak

Illustration copyright 2012
by Charles Santoso

Author, illustrator, legend Maurice Sendak passed into eternity on Tuesday, May 8.  No matter your personal opinion or connection to his books, you cannot deny the extraordinary influence he had on a generation of readers and picture book makers.  Thanks to Australian illustrator Charles Santoso for his outstanding tribute pictured above.

Maurice Sendak
1928-2012

Making Mischief
A Maurice Sendak Appreciation
By Gregory Maguire

A Hole Is To Dig,
By Ruth Krauss

Here are some additional links to learn more about Sendak's life and work:
Rosenbach Museum tribute
The Worlds of Maurice Sendak
Philadelphia Daily News article regarding death and the Rosenbach
PBS interview
Bookish Ambition highlight
Wiki Bibliography

The Art of Maurice Sendak,
By Selma G. Lanes

The Art of Maurice Sendak
1980 to Present,
By Tony Kushner

Terry Brooks, Lessons

Just a quick post to follow up on Monday's quote.  Fantasy readers are probably familiar with author Terry Brooks whom I will highly recommend to our older readers.  But to all aspiring authors, make time to read Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life.




I found ample quotes and advice.  Besides, sometimes it's just enjoyable to read about someone who loves words as much as you do.  Follow Brooks's Cinderella career and be inspired.




And if you haven't read them yet, try the books below:

The Sword of Shannara,
by Terry Brooks,
published in 1977

Magic Kingdom For Sale, Sold!
by Terry Brooks,
published 1986

Children's Book Week

Tomorrow is the start of Children's Book Week sponsored by the Children's book council.  May 7 - 13, 2012 celebrates the literacy, and the power of the printed word to influence the lives of young people.

Get on board by attending a local event or just getting involved at your local schools and libraries.
Download great bookmarks and book lists.  See the winner for author of the year and other awards.

Get creative and get reading!

 Thanks to Book Character Costume blog

Happy Birthday, Doug

Today is the birthday of illustrator / author, Doug Cushman.  Many happy returns of the day!

Recently, our 16-year-old pulled out his copy of The Mystery of King Karfu.  He decided it was time to introduce his little brother to Seymour Sleuth and friends.  We hadn't seen that book in years, but since last week it's been reread at least five times.

The reason for this is surely Doug Cushman's skill as both storyteller and illustrator.
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NaPiBoWriWee

Logo design by Sandy Tanaka 

We are three days into NaPiBoWriWee  2012, the brain child of Paula Yoo.  May 1 - 7, 2012 is officially known  as National Picture BookWriting Week.  Pronounce it nah-pee-boe-ree-wee (although "rye-wee" is acceptable.)  

Four years ago, Paula Yoo needed a way to promote her new book and a way to get herself back on track toward her next book.  She came up with NaPiBoWriWee.  The goal is to write one rough first draft of a picture book each day for seven days.  Read all about it at her blog, buy a T-shirt to commemorate the event, or view her great interviews, but don't hang out too long, because you've got manuscripts to write!

Mirette

Sorry for the interruption.  I was reviewing the three books listed in the April 25th post, Bookish Dolls.  But it's been a busy weekend.  Today I'll highlight the third and last heroine featured in the Wendy Lawton collector's series, Mirette.

Mirette on the High Wire is a beautiful story of a little girl and an extraordinary adventure.  Set in Paris in the late 1800s, Mirette is written and illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully.  She has produced 33 books and illustrated almost 90 for other authors.

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Reading Good Books

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."


-Mark Twain

Bookplate by Celia Levetus

World Book Night Comes to America

Tomorrow is World Book Night.  Join book lovers in the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S.!  Sponsored by the leading library and book associations in the world and supported by many major publishing houses, the second annual World Book Night is designed to spread a love of the printed page and to promote libraries and booksellers around the globe by giving away one million books.  The volunteers get books into the hands of people who wouldn't normally read - - 'simple as that.  Although the event was originally intended for adults, this year the giveaway includes YA.  Hooray!  Even if you're not involved this year, why not pick up a copy one of these outstanding novels?  Happy reading!

The Book Thief,
by Markus Zusak

Wintergirls,

by Laurie 

Halse Anderson

Ender's Game,

by Orson Scott Card

Because of Winn-Dixie,
by Kate DiCamillo

The Absolutely True Diary
of a Part-Time Indian,
by Sherman Alexie

The Hunger Games,
by Suzanne Collins

A Knot of Toads

I have hardly mentioned chapter books in any previous post, so I thought it time to highlight a few.

Newberry Award winner,
Frog and Toad Together
by Arnold Lobel

No childhood would be complete without the Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel.  Days With Frog and Toad is the first in this lyrical series of adventures.  In simple but engaging language, Lobel gets us to smile as these two friends  fight and laugh their way through everyday activities:  planting a garden, taking a ride, flying a kite.  These books are an absolute must for the illustrations alone.  Especially geared to readers grade 1-3, but appropriate for toddlers to adults.

Garden State
Children's Book Award
winner, by
Jane Yolen

Master storyteller Jane Yolen is better known for her picture books or middle grade novels, than for her easy to read chapter books.  Nonetheless, the Commander Toad series for readers 6-9, has equal appeal. Bruce Degen's humorous characterizations of the crew of the Star Warts and the galactic oddities they encounter are the perfect compliment to the writing.  Commander Toad books are a sure-fire way to turn reluctant readers into bookworms.

On an interesting aside, Bruce Degen lists Arnold Lobel as an early influence on his work.

For more amphibian adventures, check out Tuesday by David Wiesner.

And for a challenging quiz, test your knowledge at FunTrivia: Animal groupings with a twist.

Attention Adult Harry Potter Fans

Little Brown has just announced details of J. K. Rowling's new adult novel due later this year.  According to Hachette Book Group, the new dark comedy,  The Casual Vacancy is due September 27, 2012.  This news follows the announcement Rowling would be signing with a new publisher back in February.  We look forward to more great characterizations and a bewitching sense of place. (Pun intended.)

We wish her much success, and hope afterwards that she will grace us with another venture into the world of YA.

J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series and . . .

Willa By Heart

I just finished Willa by Heart, by Coleen Murtagh Paratore.

Willa By Heart
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Cover art by Barbara McGregor

Willa By Heart is the third book in the Wedding Planner's Daughter series.  I highly recommend Coleen's books.  This one is no exception.  I would suggest there is probably little for boys in these books.  The title character is an independent, artistic pre-teen trying to sort out her emotions and her family life.  It is full of frills and girly stuff, though Willa herself is much more grounded.  I particularly enjoy Paratore's character quirks and place descriptions of the Cape.

It is interesting to note the author lists Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott as her favorite childhood book.
Check out Coleen's newest book which premiered Feb 17, 2012.  And check out tomorrow's blog about Little Women.

The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin

by Betsy and Molly Bang
Macmillan, 1975

The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin by Molly Bang is a Bengali folktale translated and adapted by Betsy Bang.  This is the third book she illustrated, but is one of my favorites.  Bang's style for this book was based on art depicting Jainism.  However, the emergence of her style and the influences this religious art had on her future illustrations is obvious.

The story follows a widow who travels to her grand-
daughter's house.  Along the way she meets some hungry animals.  The old woman will have to use all her cleverness to arrive safely at her family's house and return home again unharmed.

I didn't discover this charming book until I had a family of my own, but it reminds me of The Lambikin by Helen S. Hansen, illustrated by Jack and Louise Meyers for Whitman in 1962. I used to ask my mother to read The Lambikin over and over.   The Lambikin was originally taken from Tales of the Punjab, so the comparison makes perfect sense.

The old woman meets the bear,
Molly Bang

Lambikin by Helen Hansen