Horsharkosaurous Maximous

Another nice round of visits this afternoon. In this instance, to my local local libraries: Winthrop and Twisp. Here are a few of the promised coloring pages as inspired by our group drawings in round no. 1 of the summer reading tour. Just click on the images to enlarge and then print away. More to follow!

Can you identify the three creatures combined together in this lovely beast? The name is a major clue :)

The titles aren't working in Blogger right now...

In any case, I'll shout this news from just about anyplace: My latest book is going to be on THE TODAY SHOW!

Author Emme Aronson will discuss her first children's book (and my latest illustration project) during THE TODAY SHOW on Monday July 9th. It will most likely air during the final hour of programming, but watch it all to be sure :)

Sinking Fast

Hopped-up on caffine and altogether distanced from REM cycle no. 2, I am sinking fast but nearing completetion on the POLAR POLKA project. Stay tuned for a virtual whoop it up when I put both the project AND myself to bed, but the light is glowing faintly at the end of the tunnel. A short vacation awaits!

Summer Reading: Round No. 1

I actually kicked things off last week with visits to Republic, Tonasket and Oroville -- and thanks very much to all of the librarians and patrons that made those visits such an excellent start to the summer. Following, are just a few photos from part 1b of my summer library tours: Mattawa - Grand Coulee. Photos of crowds are conspicuously absent, but I will add a few when I get them -- the photos, that is, not the crowds :) Thank you!

The state of my passenger seat on a trip such as this... Essentials, one and all!

From my hotel room in Moses Lake, WA, I give you Moses Lake :)

An excellent mural painted on the exterior of the Quincy Public Library.

The Horsharkasaurous Maximous: Also discovered in Quincy. BEWARE!
**Check back soon to see some of these fine creatures turned into coloring book sheets.

"Points of Interest" along my route. After Moses Lake, Warden and Ephrata, WA, I headed north again through Soap Lake and into Grand Coulee country. Some incredible geologic history in this area. Visit the Ice Age Floods Institute for more info. I took too many pictures of cool rocks and canyons to post here :)

A reason for smiles in Soap Lake, WA. The Pigeleken!

From my day's end stroll around Coulee City. Although sage brush and grasses rule, this small town on the south end of Banks Lake reminded me a lot of places in rural Minnesota.

An finally, just some cool clouds above the neatly hospitable Ala Cozy Motel. To wit, I spent 3-6 hours every night working on my project d'jour: POLAR POLKA. It is nearing completion, but still getting lots of work. Back to it!

Summer Reading in North Central Washington!

Hello to everyone in the North Central Regional Library system. With visits in Republic, Tonasket and Oroville last week, my summer tour of this terrific library system is offically underway :) This is the complete summer schedule:

Friday, June 22
Republic 10:00am
Tonasket 1:00pm
Oroville 3:30pm

Monday, June 25
Mattawa 11:00am
Royal City 2:00pm

Tuesday, June 26
Quincy 11:30am
Ephrata 2:00pm
Moses Lake 6:00pm

Wednesday, June 27
Warden 1:00pm
Soap Lake 4:00pm

Thursday, June 28
Coulee City 11:30pm
Grand Coulee 2:30pm

Tuesday, July 10
Winthrop 10:30am
Twisp 1:00pm

Thursday, July 12
Pateros 1:00pm
Bridgeport 3:00pm
Brewster 5:30pm

Tuesday, July 17
Okanogan 1:00pm

Wednesday, July 18
Manson 11:00am
Entiat 2:00pm

Tuesday, August 7
Chelan 1:00pm
Cashmere 3:30pm
Leavenworth 6:30pm

Wednesday, August 8
Waterville 10:00
Peshastin 2:00

Thursday, August 9
East Wenatchee 10:ooam
Wenatchee 2:00pm

For those that are interested in ordering books, please see the appropriate section on my website. If you would like a signed bookplate, I will be posting a custom image for the 2007 summer reading program very soon. Thanks very much. I'm looking forward to the visits!

Polaboratory 2

For those playing along, here are just a few additional cover sketches in the mix. Compare at your leisure and I'll reveal the final art when it has achieved such status...

The Polaboratory

Work ensues at a soon to be feverish pace for POLAR POLKA (Sasquatch, Spring 2008). There are other books to draw as well, but the PP deadline is fast approaching. Here is a cover mock-up that will not likely make the cut. I like it very much, but it's hard to know how these things will go...

Sasquatch has gone completely freelance with it's design staff of late, so no one aside from little old me will really "design" anything until they have all of the final art? I like having mucho influence in such a process, but then again it's also VERY nice to have some help. I'd love to hear what some opinions on this particular option. Cheers!

PS It's kind of a count down book for the pre-k set, thus option No. 2 with the screened-in numbers.

Meet the Authors of Dog Diaries

A brief interview with Besty Byars, Betsy Duffey, and Laurie Myers, was posted recently at www.childrenslit.com. They about their inspirations as writers and readers, and give us just a few hints about the origins of DOG DIARIES. Enjoy!

PS: What's this about a CAT DIARIES? Meeeow!

Art Exchange '07 No. 8

School Visits Galore!

One of the really fun, non-homebody, parts of my job is visiting schools. This past week I embarked on a mini-tour of sorts, visiting 5 different elementary schools in three different towns -- and a public library for good measure -- in four days. All totalled, I spoke with nearly 1500 kids, shared some "festival" time with fellow author Peggy King Anderson, AND I met the newly christened National Teacher of the Year, Andrea Peterson. Kids and teachers alike were very welcoming. I've done numerous visits in the past, but this was one of the first times that schedules aligned in such a way to make such a concentrated effort a possibility. This is also the first time that I have ever remembered to bring a camera! Darrington, Enumclaw and Granite Falls all have their scenic allure - as each is tucked away near the western Cascades - but Darrington Elementary, with its jagged snow-capped peaks takes the cake. Enumclaw's Sunrise Elementary wins praise for the most creative (and flattering) "welcome author" decor, and Granite Falls was abuzz with some seriously enthususiastic readers, writers, AND illustrators!

Thanks very much to all!!!!!!!!!

Horatio Hornblower

Polka Practice

Art Exchange '07 No. 7

DOG DIARIES: Secret Writings of the WOOF Society!

Aroooo.... My latest book debuted today! Dig it up at your favorite brick & mortar bookseller or online at this new and neatly convenient locale.

New Beginnings for Trail's End

I spent two days last week and a good portion of this weekend painting my first ever mural! With loads of space in their new (opening May1st) location and a dedicated children's book section, the good folks at Trail's End Bookstore decided to let me add a splash of color :)

Get a glimpse here and be sure to check it out in person the next time you are in Winthrop, WA!

Shrinky, No Dinky!

With much thanks to author/illustrator Jeff Newman, of Hippo, No Rhino fame, I am the proud winner of a recent contest! I'm very excited to post pics of my prize when it arrives. Hippo, by the way, is a very cool book and a recipiant of the most recent SCBWI Golden Kite Honors Award for Illustration. Way to go Jeff!

Art Exchange '07 No. 6

Illustration Friday: Snap

To Willie's constant surpise, even the slightest friction between thumb and index finger, would always wake them up...

Art Exchange '07 No. 5

A Bank Street Best Book!

Boo's Dinosaur was recently named to the Bank Street College of Education's Best Books list for 2007.

Congratulations to Besty Byars, who wrote a wonderful book, and thank you very much to Nina Ignatowicz and Patrick Collins at Henry Holt for allowing me to illustrate it!