Arg! Happy Halloween!

The pirate limped, the toddler toddled, and the bunny hopped -- all through the town!

I'm overdue with a post about another fantastic year at the Humbolt County Author Festival. I'll report on that very soon :)

Recommended Reading: Rabitt Hill by Robert Lawson

I don't think I've done a book recommendation before, but reading Rabbit Hill might make this a semi-regular feature. We recently finished this really cool 1944 edition (on lone from my father-in-law) and it was great.

In some recess of my brain, I can recall reading this book as a kid. I know for certain that I would have loved the artwork, but reading it out-loud over the last few weeks of bedtime routine, I am now firmly impressed with the entire package. The cast of characters, the dialog, the emotional swings of the story... It's an excellent read-aloud. Like so many good books, there are real moments of danger, joy, sadness, and elation at play here. When reading aloud, those feelings bubble so naturally into the author's chosen words that you can't help but "act " a bit as you read along.

Plus, the art work is still awesome! Check it out. Hop to it. Etc.!

Wonder Schools! Part 1

My week started off with a 5:30am rousting and just possibly the most gorgeous school visit drive of my life! I sauntered down the Methow under cover of darkness, filled up with gas in the 16 degree chill of Brewster, WA, and rose up out of the Columbia River Valley into early light and long shadows. Some inspiring color in the dryland grain farming NE of Waterville...

... and then a descent into Dry Falls /Sun Lakes -- a canyon carved out by the Ice Age Floods.

The students, teachers, staff, and parents at Grant Elementary School were just simply AWESOME! So friendly, creative and welcoming. Thank you all very much, and keep up the excellent work on your own writing and illustrating!

PS Click the school link above for a few additional photos of the visit -- for as long as they stay on the "News Paws" homepage anyway :)

Illustration Friday: Flying

A return to Illustration Friday! Next week, I promise to create something brand new, but this is from my latest book at least.

Orange County Children's Book Festival

Here's a quick photo from my recent weekend in Orange County, CA. In conjunction with the Orange County Children's Book Festival, and on behalf of Jacketflap.com, I spent the day hanging out with Dan Santat, Ashley Wolff, Joy Allen and several other excellent author types in the chilly Californina sunshine. More to come soon!