Comic Book Heroes
South Portland, Maine middle school librarians, Connie Burns and Dan Wolotsky strike a pose after an evening celebrating kid created comics.Check out the comics created in Comic Life by Memorial Middle School kids and Mahoney Middle School kids.These two never fail to take advantage of every grand opportunity books or authors offer. This year they pulled off a fabulous school wide read of Maria Testa’s Something About America and a comic book workshop with Anne Sibley O’Brien for The Legend of Hong Kil Dong.They are also known to...
read moreTournment of Turtles
Mad Turtle, indeed. Cathryn Falwell and I trundled up to LL Bean in Freeport for a few hours to promote SCOOT! on the flagstones of their mighty flagship store. Using Cathryn’s cleverly simple puppet form, kids created every variation of tussling turtles.Always say, “yes” to a LL Bean signing. They are very dedicated to the books and authors they host.More Photos Share...
read morePirate or a Pest?
We were pleased (as punch) to throw a small event for Geoffrey Hayes for his grand early reader comic book, Benny and Penny in Just Pretend.Geoffrey read to the crowd about Benny, who insists that he has a pirate ship and his younger sister, Penny, who declares in a younger-sister-pest-like way, that it is a BOX. Rather funny sibling squabbling ensues.Geoffrey’s audience was rapt during the reading, settled in to create their own comics and then took turns having Polaroid snapshots taken in the H.M.S. Toon.The H.M.S. Toon was our...
read moreCookin’ Up Somethin’ with Baby Bundt
Kirsten Cappy may not have bun in the oven, but perhaps a bundt. We are pleased to be working with the bright and hilarious board book line from author / illustrator Jamie Harper, Baby Bundt.Big sister will be doing some bossy social networking and using her brother’s charms to wheedle their way into to baby gift baskets across the country. Share...
read moreCastle Dweller
Once told by an editor that his illustrations were, “so strange there is not a manuscript to go with them,” Kevin Hawkes has found his way to many a fine manuscript.From arrogant mermaids, to flying pianos, to library lions, to vomiting sisters, to dueling divas, to wicked big toddlahs, Kevin has blessed kiddie’s lit with his delicious strange.Speaking last weekend at the New England Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Kevin talked about his childhood in Europe. His father always carried a hatchet...
read moreDigital Diva
As I sit here hoping UPS will not arrive early and catch me in my kitty PJ’s, I hail the Queen of Pajama Promotion, Mitali Perkins. At last weekend’s New England Society for Children’s Book Writer’s & Illustrators (SCBWI or “Skibby”), Mitali wowed the crowd with her widget wisdom, promotions prowess and her ability to out network the stars.I have since trashed my idea for the Curious City website of services. With thoughts of digital slide shows dancing in my head, I am reimagining my site. Stay tuned....
read moreIllustrator Luv
No one can deny my puppy love for children’s lit. The recent New England SCBWI Conference found me smooching creators left and right. Here I am shamelessly appreciating the work of Jamie Hogan, the illustrator of Mitali Perkin’s fabulous chapter book, Rickshaw Girl.Attention, art directors!! Jamie Hogan needs to be illustrating your chapter books. Her drawing skills are absolutely exquisite. Keep an eye on her portfolio and blog and specifically, her entries about illustrating Mitali’s novel set in Bangladesh. Curious City...
read moreCharming the Archivist
“Make friends with your archivist,” advised Lita Judge to a roomful of children’s historical fiction writers at the 2008 SCBWI New England Conference. I have been friends with some anarchists, but I have yet to embrace the chroniclers of paper, ephemera and all things past. I am putting it on my to do list.Lita told the story of finding a box of “tracings” in her grandmother’s attic. The foot shaped scraps of newspaper and butcher paper were slid into envelopes addressed from Germany in the 1940’s....
read moreAuntie to the Skibbys
Just returned from the New England meeting of The Society for Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI or Skibby as we call it) so nicely arranged by Anna Boll and others. Anne Sibley O’Brien (pictured smooching moi) acts as Auntie to all the Skibbys (published and soon to be published children’s authors and illustrators). It is a darn delight to watch Annie encouraging the work of others whether belting out book biz cabaret with Yolanda LeRoy or looking over portfolios or asking with genuine curiosity about new...
read morePond Creation
Cathryn Falwell and Curious City have had fun dreaming up event possibilities for her new pond publication, Scoot! Readers attending her events will be able to play all the animals that leap, creep, lurch and perch their way thru her beautiful book.Cathryn just completed this AMAZING portable pond. It is far beyond the image that Curious City dreamed up. Share...
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