Harts Pass No. 162

Three (plus) years in and I'm still pretty much a novice cartoonist. Its such a compact medium -- but I'm still in awe of its ability to hold its own when unfolding a plot, a joke, or a play on words. My own ever-changing efforts could certainly benefit from more time spent writing or an extra experiment with expressions or compositions, but its I hope that you enjoy it for chuckle or two nonetheless!

Gator Sketches!

I'm finally getting close on a new ms revision. Gators Galore! Hey, that sounds like a title -- but not for this particular book, actually... Cheers to summer color :)

Harts Pass No. 161

A forest fire about 45 miles from home meant that electricity for the entire upper valley was off for about 12 hours on Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning. A definite reality of living off the beaten path... and Thor really does think he's funny!

Sketches: Jazz Night at Twisp River Suites

I'm not necessarily sayin' that Harvey rocks the 'bone like a skinny mountain goat, or that D. Wolfe (in the house), jams the bass like a soulful beaver, but Suites proprietor "Rat Pack" Marver can definitely belt it out, and not-pictured Weidig kept things cool and breezy on on the guitar. A quick little sketch from a fine little evening. Keep an ear to the ground for future events in the lounge at the Suites. The music alone was worth it and there was food!

A new review for Who Has This Tail?

A new review of Who Has This Tail? From the "Reading Chair" review section of Young Children: The Journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. - July 2013

In this guessing game, the author presents readers with a picture of an animal tail and asks, "Who has this tail?" Children will have fun examining all the hind-side extremities and quessing whose it could be. Turning the page reveals the answer, with a picture of the full animal and a description of how the tail is used. In these small science lessons, animals use their tails for balance, warning enemies, pushing and steering through water, flicking flies, stinging prey, and attracting a mate.

Hulbert has thoughtfully curated the array of animals. Appearances range from the plain-looking horse and gerbil tails, to the geometrically striking scorpion and shark tails, to the flamboyant peacock tail. Brooks captures little-known details, such as the fleshy underside of the spider monkey's tail that helps it grasp tree branches. Brooks's use of negative space (blank white space in the background) on pages that showcase tails adds drama to the guessing game. This excellent companion to Who Has These Feet? is a good reminder for young scientists to ask about the purpose and use of what they find in nature.

Harts Pass No. 160

When you get right down to it, with SO many things happening -- summer is exhausting! A quiet night or two in a tent sound pretty good.

Harts Pass No. 159 - Happy 4th of July!

Wishing I had more time for the indulgence of a good summer action movie -- and closer proximity to a theater, it suddenly occurred to me that super heroes and super cool animals kind of inspired each other in some sort of endless loop... I'll get to The Wolverine SOME time this summer. I promise.

Happy 4th of July!

Children's Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt, selects SEA STAR WISHES!

Recently appointed Children's Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt, has selected Sea Star Wishes (Sasquatch Books, April 2013) as his book of the month for July :)

Some nice news for this fine little book and you can read a short interview that Mr. Nesbitt conducted with author Eric Ode over at Poetry For Kids.org.

Happy Summer Reading!

Harts Pass No. 158

Thor took full advantage of the Super Moon last weekend, and pumped up his ego... for the inevitable sarcastic jibe from Melanie. Summer is officially here as well, and its supposed to get HOT in the North Cascades. Stay cool!

Harts Pass No. 157: Summer Reading!

Summer Reading is off and running... *ON THE SOAP BOX* And, as per usual, it's more than just sitting kids down with a book of their own. ENGAGE with those readers people!!! Ask questions. Be curious. Read out loud. Do voices. Be silly. Read side-by-side even... The book is just the beginning! *EXIT SOAP BOX* Enjoy :)

Sea Star Wishes: A Seattle Times Summer Kids Book

SEA STAR WISHES was in today's Seattle Times! Thanks to author Eric Ode for the head's up and to librarian Stephanie Dunnewind for the nice review :)

Summer kids books | Books | The Seattle Times

Harts Pass No. 156

School's out in the Methow Valley! One more school visit for me and then it's on to Summer Reading :)

Happy Graduation Week from Harts Pass!

Happy Graduation Week Class of 2013! The newspaper/print edition did not run my footnote regarding Voltaire's Candide. If you thought it was a little odd to have an asterisk leading you nowhere, now you know why --- not that it really does much to explain things anyway :)

Harts Pass No. 154

Memorial Day (observed) by our fine furry friends at Harts Pass...

Harts Pass No. 153

While I'm not 100% certain that wolverines get mistaken for "baby bears" in the wild, readers do sometimes confuse them in the comic. I'll take full responsibility for that based on inferior caricature -- and then just keep hammering you all with bold-faced lettering to draw attention when necessary. Cheers!

Seventies Sleepdog!

A brand new Sleepdog for the disco-themed Little Star Montessori School Auction. TONIGHT. 5PM @ The Winthrop Barn. Groovy!

Sketching wolverines... on an iPad!

I've been fumbling around in the dark a bit with video promo... but this one seems like a fun start!

Harts Pass No. 152

Life lessons from a young wolverine...

Harts Pass No. 151: Happy Mother's Day!

An elephant this afternoon...

Drawing elephants and other things this afternoon. Including this one. More on the way...