Children's Book Week 2013

It's here. (And I'm a day late!)

This year's poster by Brian Selznick

Celebrate literacy and the world of reading. Children's Book Week is an initiative to instill a love of reading into future generations. Take some time this week to read with a child. Patronize your community children's library. Attend a local event. Buy Indie whenever possible. Then let us know how you celebrate. We'd love to hear from you.

Check out the activities across the country at the CBW website. You can learn to draw a dragon or download Grace Lin's free bookmark. The Book Week winners will be announced by tomorrow . . .
There's so much in store.

Courtesy Grace Lin

Two Readers

"No two people read the same book."  
-Edmund Wilson

Courtesy Valerie Greeley

Kei Acedera for Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Tibetan mother and child courtesy Kei Acedera

In honor of mothers everywhere, I thought I'd combine  my well-wishes for moms with Saturday's Fresh Talent artist.

Kei Acedera of Imaginism Studios is not a new talent, but is probably largely unknown because her work often takes place behind-the-scenes.

She is a character designer and illustrator living in Toronto. Her work is whimsical and charming. Other than her obvious skill with characterization, I admire Kei's color palette choices.

You can find a lengthy interview on the Character Design blog.

She has also illustrated Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver, available from HarperCollins.

PPBF: Chloe and the Lion

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick

Chloe and the Lion, by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex

Chloe and the Lion
Written by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Adam Rex
Disney - Hyperion, 2012, Fiction, ages 4-8

Themes:
Humor, Cooperation, Problem solving, Imagination, Book Creation

Opening:
"This is me, Mac.
I'm the author of this book.
This is my friend Adam.
He's the illustrator of this book.
And this is Chloe.
She's the main character of this book."

Synopsis:
Words fail me. This hilarious confection needs to be experienced.
Let's say it's a story-within-a-story. Chloe meets danger in the forest while Mac and Adam try to get the book written (and illustrated).

What I Love:
I had to find out for myself what all the fuss was about concerning this book.  I'm only sorry it took me so long.  I laughed out loud in the library - oops!
I love the page layouts, the unique placement of text and images, the creative use of media, and the sheer bizarre genius that understands what kids love.
Kids (both boys and girls, but especially mischievous boys) will love the wacky, unexpected, irreverent turns of events.  Kids love being smarter than the grown-ups in the story.  They love being able to see a solution even though the adult characters do not.

Bonus:

1. Adam Rex's clay characters are an obvious inspiration for creating people, animals, or whole dioramas in clay. If you are adventurous, here is a "by students, for students" link about claymation.
2. For younger children, try a simple paper lion from firstpalette.com, a yarn-wrapped lion from freekidscrafts.com, or a lion made by tracing your child's hands.
3. Make and share lion cupcakes using Cracker Jacks popcorn.
4. This book is the perfect springboard for a discussion about how picture books are made. Definitely use this story to encourage kids to write and illustrate their own versions of stories they know, inserting unexpected twists or changing the endings. ReadWriteThink has a thorough book planning resource for teachers.
5. Make Chloe and the Lion come to life in a neighborhood or school production. Spoiler Alert! (The redrawn parts of the story are tricky, but can be accomplished with costuming. Kids may have an even more creative solution.)

Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday for May 10, 2013 at Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.

Greg Manchess on Procrastination

Spectrum cover by Greg Manchess

Illustrator Gregory Manchess is one of the top talents in his field.  He also spends time teaching workshops and online.  I stumbled upon some of Greg's tips for overcoming creative blocks at the cooperative blog, Muddy Colors, to which he contributes.

I love the dramatic lighting
 in this winery piece by illustrator Greg Manchess.

He suggests block is caused by three things:
Perfection. Procrastination. Paralysis.

"I used to start a piece needing it to be the best thing ever: perfection. It had to solve every problem of my portfolio development, it had to stimulate, it had to thrill. . . It was too much to accomplish. So, I hesitated: procrastination. The more I hesitated, the bigger the problem became, until it was so great I couldn’t start since it would surely fail on any level: paralysis. Idea abandoned.
It was simply fear."

Check out his 7 tips to fighting inactivity.

Among them, don't be afraid of being an imposter.  Battle throught the fear until you reach a discovery. Hearing Greg Manchess say he gets scared about projects was quite a jolt. Also, Failure leads to success. Expect to fail a few times so your work can evolve into something better.
Then begin. It's okay if you don't quite have it figured out yet. Nothing gets solved or accomplished if nothing is begun.

Your Book is Waiting

"Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier."
- Kathleen Norris

bookplate by Aliki
courtesy My Home Library

Illustrator Elina Ellis

Illustration for No Name Cupcakes by Elina Ellis

Meet Elina Ellis, a Ukrainian illustrator living in the UK. Elina's illustrations cover a variety of styles, but I thought the art, color, and design of this postcard in particular too lovely to exclude from my blog.

 She has designed greeting cards, commissions, and has just finished a gigantic assignment of Biblical proportions for Lion Hudson. Congrats, Elina!

Courtesy Elina Ellis

Courtesy Elina Ellis