My Hero!
Pleased as punch to be off to the Hero’s Convention this week with comic book artist, Jay Piscopo. We have been busy over the last six months working with master marketer, Tami Kennedy and game designer, Ed Evans to create a collectible card game (and other treats) to promote Jay’s new graphic novel, The Undersea Adventures of Capt’n Eli.You can get your hands on this great new comic and the collectible cards at upcoming events, online and quite soon in Maine at Casablanca Comics.I will be sweetly geeking out over all the...
read moreIrrascible, Anyone?
Gore Vidal was interviewed by Deborah Solomon for the New York Times Magazine today. It is not to be missed. Read it here.Although, I make my living in the new world of publishing helping authors & illustrators reach out to readers, this does make me pine (momentarily) for the days when writers wrote in their smoked-filled rooms and all others be damned (darned).Still, Vidal reminds us of the pure cultural superiority of writers and artists. I cannot agree more. Share...
read moreLivestock Rocked
Cannot begin to tell you how much bovinity divinity was celebrated at Livestock: This Summer’s Picture Books of Livestock, Love & Udderstanding. Children’s books by David Elliott, Suzy Becker, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Lori Korcheck and Marshall Taylor were paraded through the Strolling of the Heifers parade and then feted at the Dairy Festival under the Livestock tent.Each author had a hands-on activity for kids ranging from the Great Cow Count (how many cows in an old Barbie Volkswagon bus) to Punk Farm Cow (collage to create a...
read moreBoneheads Beach Party
Simply delicious. Melissa Sweet feted all things BONEHEAD on May 25th on the most perfect day on the East End Beach.Dogs packed the beach, followed their dog hero Garbage Pail Tex, got treats from FETCH, met Shelter Dogs up for adoptions, had their portrait taken, and rode the rails just like Melissa’s characters the BONEHEADS in her new book, Tupelo Rides the Rails.The event was a visual splendor owing to Melissa’s exuberant visual style and sewing prowess. The “Every Dog Deserves a Home” Game invented by Curious City...
read moreFollow the Path of Pages
Thrilled to be working with Tory Rogers, M.D. and Jill Prescott of the Children’s Co-op , the folks at Let’s Go! and Diane Skog of Raising Readers to develop the idea and design for Story Walk.Story Walk allows families to walk alongside a path reading the pages of a picture book–thus combining literacy and physical activity.We are developing the pilot with Cathryn Falwell’s SCOOT! because of all its delicious action words.Cathryn has created additional action illustrations that show kids how to move like the animals...
read moreLUV : N @ LYF
Well, I just have to say that I am.Just back from a weekend working with up and coming authors on self-promotion plans at Haystack (aka the most delicious place on the planet).Proud as pumpkin pie to be working currently with fabulous authors and illustrators like David Elliott, Anne Sibley O’Brien, Melissa Sweet, Phillip Hoose, Jay Piscipo, Lita Judge, Jamie Hogan, Jamie Harper, Maria Testa, Sarah L. Thomson and Cathryn Falwell. They are all bold and brilliant and it is a damn honor to help them make whatever connection I can with...
read moreHey, Little Ant Essay Challenge Judged
Should the Ant get squished, should the ant go free? We leave the Kid with the raised up shoe. What do you think that Kid should do?-Picture Book, Hey, Little AntA fine group of educators, parents and children’s book authors gathered at the home of author, Phillip Hoose to judge the artwork entries by Kindergarten thru 3rd Graders to the Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge. There was much concentration, debate, and laughter as the amazing submissions were reviewed.Meanwhile across the country, 17 additional judges are reviewing the writing...
read moreYoung Readers Underserved in New City Plan
Is it Portland City Council’s $30,000 cut to the library budget? Is it the Portland Public Library’s hasty decision? Or is it the economy, stupid?Either way, The Portland Public Library plans to close The Reiche Library, the only neighborhood branch in Portland’s working class and low income West End. 60+ kids, parents, seniors and other citizens turned out for a near spontaneous protest of the closure. PPL director Steve Podgajny bravely stepped into the fray of citizens who were asking, “why Reiche”,...
read moreToast The BONEHEADS
A stupendous group of fellow artists, readers, and other dog lovers showed up to raise their glasses (of dog wine) to TOAST THE BONEHEADS. The BONEHEADS are the stars of Melissa Sweet’s new picture book, Tupelo Rides the Rails.Humans stood around munching bog bones, reading books, and discussing Melissa’s initiative to help dog shelters–www.mydogisabonehead.com. Fab website to launch May 25th thanks to White Dog Arts.The party was held at the deliciously eclectic studios of SNAP Productions where Scott Nash, Scott Whitehouse...
read moreThe Attorney General’s Brain
Spent the morning being gesticulated at with a rubber brain. Who knew Maine’s Attorney General had an extra?Well he does and he has put it to fine use. Maine Attorney General, Steve Rowe is out stumping for the brains of wee ones. Citing the incredible figure that 85% of brain development occurs by the age of three (90% by age 6), he made the case that it made good economic (if not moral) sense to support early childhood development.He showed a brilliant graph of educator salaries laid over the arch of brain development. A college...
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