I have been having a good amount of fun coupled with a lot of work, both in and out of the studio. So, I let my blog languish a bit for summer. Now is the time to bring it up to speed as we go into FALL!

Going back a couple of months, I don’t think I ever showed you this fabulous new book called lllustrating Children’s Picture Books:

It’s by my friends Steve Withrow and Lesley Breen Withrow, and I was most happy to contribute a couple of articles to it. This one is about writing and illustrating board books, which is truly one of my favorite subjects:

This page is about the “other” markets you can pursue with your children’s art. If there’s one thing I do know a lot about, it’s “other” markets! This encompasses toys, fabrics, magazines, and stuff like that.

Let’s see… what else? Ah, I have been illustrating almost monthly for Highlights High Five, mainly little snippets of recipe ingredients.

I am continuing to create the Newport Creamery children’s menus. The current one is summer-themed and has Newport’s Cliff Walk on the cover. Next time you’re there, go ahead and ask for the kid’s menu!

I haven’t managed to update my website in a while (it’s on the list), so for now I will show you a few of my recently designed Fred items, now available at a store near YOU! Keep your eyes open for:

Salt ‘n’ Pants! Oh, how happy it makes me to see this one on the market! The little guy is salt, and his pants are pepper. I know it’s weird, but I’ve been trying to get it made for a couple of years now. Huzzah! Hooray for pants!

Another item I am glad to see out there is the Candy Stash. It’s a zip-up wallet shaped like those candy buttons stuck on paper. Mmmm, paper…and candy!

Fresh into the world is the Desk Daisy- a little potted plant that has 3 stems full of paper clip “petals”, held in place by magnets. Perky, huh?

Also new to the market are Chewdrivers…little interchangeable tool handles that can be fitted with a knife, fork, and spoon. This one was challenging to figure out, but it came out well and works like a charm.

Last but not least, I spent a good part of summer ferrying kids to and from the Swamp Meadow Summer Children’s Theatre. They did a very fun musical called “Olivia”, which was something like a female “Oliver” but with all new songs, and a totally different plot. Anyhoo, I did the art that was used for the playbills, t-shirts, and media stuff.

That’s all for now… we now return you to your regularly scheduled blog posts!

Or, you could ask Ralphie.

Here’s Twiggy, which is a silicone basting brush shaped like a twig. Hence, the name.

It’s in the June 2010 issue…get your barbecue on, people!

The amazing Mary Jane Begin was signing at the same time as me:

Her Willow Buds books are adorable!

Also signing later that day were Karen Dugan and Richard Evan Schwartz.

Karen has created some gorgeous books! Richard is a math guy who found a cool way to integrate math concepts into a colorful monster book.

Bonus! Lesley and Marin were there, too!

Many thanks to the staff of Barrington Books and to Anika Denise for arranging this fun day!

It’s the 2009 High Five Cover of the Year Award, a.k.a. a Pewter Plate Award. I know you can’t see it in the picture, but it’s all specially engraved for me, mentioning the specific cover shown here, “Let’s Read!”

I am very honored to receive this, because frankly, there is a LOT of beautiful art on and between the covers in any given Highlights/ High Five issue. Thank you, Highlights staff!

Hundreds upon hundreds of dealers…thousands of weird items…

Here’s my mom considering a new sewing machine:

They have things you wished you could take home:

Any home would be enhanced if it had a ride-on squirrel!

70’s Huffy!!

They also have stuff you’d likely never take home, but is fun to see just the same:

WHAT is this?? Freaky!

This one’s for Barb!

Kitchen kitsch, anyone?


Fab Scandinavian ceramics.

I wish I had a carousel horse in my living room. Or a few! Who needs couches?

I did not know there were this many chocolate molds in existence.

SO, what did I end up taking home? Not the carousel horse or the freaky alligator thing. No siree.

Fab fabrics? Yeah, maybe!

The thing on the right is a toaster cozy. I don’t even have a toaster! : )

70’s Holly Hobbie doll and a Sun Rubber Minnie from the late 40’s. Awesome.

A 1944 Disney War Bond filled out for a deceased family dog!

Uncle Wiggly flies again! Game is from the 30’s.

Miscellaneous wonders from the world of ephemera.

Mini toy food products! They go great in mini kitchens!

Wooden dutch chick already embedded into a planter.

Gimpy-armed bunny who seems to have a chip on his shoulder. LOVE him!

And there you go… a day well spent scrounging around!

Thing One:

It’s official! I have a new book coming out in March 2011, and I couldn’t be happier. It’s called “What Does a Seed Need?” and will be published by Grosset/Penguin. I wrote and illustrated it myself, and it will have fun-o-rama flaps and interactive bits. I will show pictures of it when I can!

Thing Two:

Last year, I illustrated a biography about Christopher Columbus, written by the delightful Marion Dane Bauer, that was designed for preschoolers. It was available only through the Scholastic Book Clubs (you know, those brochures that the kids bring home). Well, THIS year starting in August, you will be able to find the trade version at Regular Bookstores Near You! That makes me happy.

Thing Three:

I’m signing copies of my book What Kind of Rabbit Are You? at the Barrington Books Children’s Book Week Event. Barrington Books is a fabulous bookstore located (surprise!) in Barrington, RI. Signing with me at the same time (10 am-12pm) is the amazing Mary Jane Begin. There will be authors there from 10-4, so that would be a good day to come, right? Crafts and other fun stuff will be going on during the day. Come on down and say “hi”!

There you go… book news x 3!

Here’s how it looks all by itself, from the FRED site:

Once again, the marvelously beautiful acreage of the Alton Jones campus welcomed us to the Whispering Pines Writer’s Retreat! It is always such a treat to head into the woods and live amongst authors, illustrators, and book lovers of all kinds for a few days.

We were swept into the experience right away with good food, drinks, and a First Pages panel. Folks had anonymously submitted first pages of their works in progress and were able to get first impressions from the panel.

All ears on the first pages.

The panel: Agent Rebecca Sherman, Assistant Editor Connie Hsu, Associate Editor Alexandra Penfold, Author Cynthia Lord.

This was one of the BEST First Pages panel discussions I’ve ever heard. It was just a good mix of whip-smart personalities and good submissions that made it truly interesting. Everyone took a lot of notes!

The next morning was glorious, literally. One of the first truly nice weekends in a long time here in New England.

Lynda Mullaly Hunt, organizer extraordinaire, started the day with the conferring of a few gifts.

Jan receives…what is that? Silly Putty?

Connie Hsu, Assistant Editor at Little, Brown, was the first to speak.

She had a lot of good information on the ingredients present in a good book; about setting boundaries and creating rules for your characters that make their world ring true. Look- there’s Grace’s book used as an example!

Author Cynthia Lord was the next speaker. I had heard her speak at the NESCBWI conference before, and remember being blown away by her talk. This time around, she gave a more directed talk about plotting that was, once again, spot on and very inspiring. She’s got a real gift, not only for writing, but for being able to share what she knows. Which is plenty.

Between sessions, Marlo Garnsworthy showed us her newly released book series!

Her Ginny Giles series is published in New Zealand but will hopefully become more widely available soon!

Here’s Associate Editor Alexandra Penfold from Paula Wiseman Books/ Simon and Schuster. She made it clear that manuscripts need to be in the best shape as possible before coming across an editor’s desk. A book needs to connect quickly if an editor is going to go ahead and champion it through the publishing process.

Here’s Jan and Paula in the Great Outdoors:

It wouldn’t be Whispering Pines without a few dozen baskets full of books and goodies to raffle off!

Betty Brown won Marlo’s Ginny Giles basket, and Cheryl Kirk Knoll got the coveted Nerd lunchbox. She ended up giving it to me, because she’s supremely nice!

While I brought a few baskets to be raffled, I also won one! It’s the delightfully named “Unthemed Basket” made by Mary Pierce! I love it… it has a plush Tony the Providence Dancing Cop doll, and a squeaking duck that have nothing to do with the books inside. Perfect!

There are my signed Cynthia Lord books, too!

Cocktails and chat before dinner…

All the food at WP is top notch, really.

Another session of First Pages that was just as good as the previous night’s version.

Here’s the “Official” mentor line-up:

Cynthia Lord, Carlyn Beccia, Alexandra Penfold, Rebecca Sherman, Connie Hsu.

And before bed, everyone should read a favorite children’s book, and possibly have a pink beverage.

Mary makes the most of a very special children’s book!

Rebecca Sherman was Sunday morning’s first presenter. She is an agent with Writer’s House. I always like hearing about the marketing side of the publishing process, and she delivered on that count.

Rebecca’s got a very no-nonsense style of speaking, and a creative way of getting editors’ attention!

Children’s Lit Jeopardy was next on the docket! Lynda was the Mistress of Ceremonies (or Alex Trebek, as the case might be). We were divided into 6 random groups and got to choose from categories like “Award Winners” and “First Lines”. I helped the incredible Team #4 sail all the way to Third Place!

WooHoo! We’re Number THREE!

A last lunch. Oh, it’s so easy to get used to being served great meals and NOT having to clean up!

Lynda, Betty Brown, Sally Riley, and Laurie Murphy.

Me, Jan, and Barb. Wake up, Jan!

We were so lucky to have my friend Carlyn Beccia as the Illustrator Mentor this year! She gave a fabulous talk about how she researches her books and how she works, complete with a digital demo. Her enthusiasm for all things historic is positively infectious!

Speaking of infectious…don’t get her started talking about Syphylis throughout history! haha

The time always ends up flying by so quickly, alas.

Julia Boyce, Barbara Johansen Newman, and Laurie Murphy.

And the time comes to go home. It’s always a bit of a melancholy feeling.

BUT, inspiration is always the by-product of a Whispering Pines retreat, and this year was no exception. Besides, I have Tony the Dancing Cop and the Random Squeaky Duck on my desk to remind me of the good times! And when I got home, there was a book contract in my mailbox the next day. It’s all good!

Many thanks to Lynda for her amazing ability to pull this wonderful weekend together, and to everyone else for making it a blast! Hope to see you next year.

Previous years at Whispering Pines:

Whispering Pines 2009

Whispering Pines 2008

Whispering Pines 2007