Boo No. 2

Boo is VERY excited about her new book, Boo's Surprise. Now she just needs to find that purple striped dress that she was wearing for the new cover art...

Methow Arts Fest 2009!

The 4th of July here in the Methow Valley is awesome! We don't do hot dog eating contests or fireworks -- the later being banned completely because we just too hot and dry -- but we DO have a terrific parade and an incredible Arts Fest thanks the amazing efforts of Methow Arts and all of their business partners and volunteers from Pateros to Mazama.
I didn't take nearly enough pictures to do the Festival justice, but for 3 of the last 4 years I've been face-painting at the Festival and simply have a blast. Kids are running everywhere, there is music, food, arts & crafts booths: boat building, bug outfits, bubble wands etc.. Way too great. Come and visit in 2010!

Madam Zorony Coloring Pages

Mail Bag

Due to certain clerical errors from the left bank studios of Wolf Creek a wonderful batch of first grade school visit 'thank you' notes only just arrived late last week - they were postmarked May 11 :O

Somehow, I am hopefull that a delayed response on my part will evetually reach these now second graders from Clear Creek Elementary. Thank you all!

Max only wishes he looked this tough!

And I only wish I were this handsome :)

A wonderful Slow Days, Fast Friends drawing...

...and other super cool drawings too!

A Kirkus Suprise!

My lovely editor at Holt passed along this recent review of Boo's Surpise. It was a real treat to follow-up on Besty's/Boo's adventures from the first book, and I was especially pleased by the sentance or two regarding the illustrations :) Available on August 4th!

Byars, Betsy
Boo's Surprise
Illus. by Erik Brooks

Boo’s imagination continues full force in this gentle sequel to Boo’s Dinosaur (2006). Boo styles herself the “luckiest girl in the world” when she discovers a spotted egg hatching in her yard. She and her dinosaur develop a rich friendship, jumping rope, playing hopscotch and pretending to be cowboys together. Her upbeat voice depicts her supportive friendship with her playmate: “He has wings. He just doesn’t know how to use them yet.” With her magic cape held tight, Boo teaches him how to fly, and he soars away, leaving behind a memento for Boo and her older brother to share. Convincing family relationships enhance Boo’s experiences; child-centered dialogue abets the taut pacing. Engaging double-page drawings extend the text with humor and warmth. Brooks’s illustrations vary shading to depict the fully realized characters. The dinosaur’s dynamic expressions provide a warm immediacy to the engaging plot, and Boo’s bouncy pigtails convey her youthful exuberance. The successful balance between fantasy and realism creates a satisfying chapter-book selection. (Fantasy. 5-9)

Super Princess Madam Zorony!

My Summer Reading adventures are off and running. You can follow along, or print and color all of the pages here, but the first three days of our summer serial packed such a wallop that I'm posting them on this regular blog as well. Get the word out and keep up the great work kids!

MATTAWA PUBLIC LIBRARY, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Summer Reading 2009!

I'm done with my grades, and back to my first full-day in the studio in over a month! Yesterday was also the kick-off of Summer Reading here in North Central Washington state. Follow along with both the library visits AND the Summer Serial at: http://ncrlsummerreading.blogspot.com/

Happy Reading!

In the wake of a giant...

For the last week, I have been humbled and awed, saddened and inspired, by my return to teaching in a high school art room. Tragically, Sean McCabe, the beloved art teacher at Liberty Bell High School, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer. It has been my sincere pleasure to fill in for him in this time of need.

He has spent a career giving of himself, and the inspiration - both artistically and personally - that he provides for so many is a force to be reckoned with. Rest easy Sean. Be well, and fight like the Giant that you are in so many other ways!

Cover Art!

Here's a sneak peak of the CAT DIARIES cover art. This was taken with a digital camera, so the color is a little different, but it's pretty close. I'll post additional snapshots of the work-in-progress and some of the various sketch ideas soon, but you get the "frosting" first. Enjoy!