Friday, July 31, 2009

Life and Lemons

Heavy with lemons the branches reach to the ground, brittle and ready to break. But instead, the heat warms the lemons and they let go, dropping to the ground like leaves on an autumn day. There are so many that we squeeze for hours, day after day, and freeze enough juice to make lemonade all summer. Maybe even all year!

So this is life lately. Nothing but lemons. I keep making lemonade. More and more lemonade. I love lemonade! But I've had it with lemons. Maybe it's time to try a new recipe?


We really have a lemon tree. I see it from my studio window. These are the lemons from just one afternoon drop when the summer first turned scorching hot. And it really hasn't been a good year. I guess that's why I haven't been posting here much. I have been doing a lot. I think of topics to post, I go to events, I take photos, I plan on posting. But somehow it never happens. I still draw. I still write. I still submit. But I'm wondering if it's time to try a different way of doing things?

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wednesday Links

I must have found this on one of those days when I was reacting just like those people on the commercial for Bing. It's in my bookmarked folder, but I have no recollection of how I found it, or where it came from. But I'm glad I bookmarked it! It's a good one. Here's the link. How to be a Children's Book Illustrator. Last week they had some great videos with Caldecott Medal Winner Brian Selznick. Oh, and try not to get lost while you're checking it out.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Take the Dare...

Cynthea Liu has a new book coming out! It's called Paris Pan takes the Dare. And boy, does she know how to celebrate! Join in on the fun and help out. There are a ton of great prizes you can win. Plus, she just announced "Due to the craziness of the holiday weekend, the auction has been EXTENDED through July 8th."

To learn more about “Take the Dare: Show You Care,” please visit www.cynthealiu.com/showyoucare or contact cynthea@cynthealiu.com.


Wednesday, June 10, 2009









Have you seen Betsy Bird's poll results for the Top 100 Picture Books on A Fuse #8 Production? Sure, everybody's seen them right! In case you missed it, or want to go back and check them out again, here's that link Top 100 Picture Books.


I can't believe with all the books on my bookshelf I don't have either of the top two voted classic. But thanks to Jean Reidy, it's now one down, one to go! Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon is one the way to my studio. Thanks for the contest Jean.


Now, for the #1 ranked picture book Where the Wild Things Are. I had to check my bookshelf to make sure. Maybe I have a Scholastic paperback sandwiched somewhere between a couple of other titles. Maybe I forgot to file it alphabetically. Maybe I filed it with my autographed copies. (OK, now that's dreaming!) But alas, maybe I just check it out from the library for extended periods of time over and over. I mean I know the text by heart. I know all the images. But I don't have my own copy of Maurice Sendak's all time classic! That's just wrong. I guess know the next book I'm buying.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Chilrdren's Book Week

What better way to get back to the basics of what this blog is about than with the kick-off of Children's Book Week! Head over see whats happening this week. You can even download bookmarks, posters, crosswords, and puzzles. Be sure to check in on Wednesday for the Children's Choice Book Awards and see what books kids voted their top choice.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

Bestselling author Kelly Corrigan has a very cool Mom!!!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Wednesday Links









If you haven't seen it yet, you have to checkout Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup. She posted a wonderful interview with this year's 2009 Caldecott Honor Medal winner Melissa Sweet! It's chock full of sweet advice, sweet pictures, sweet links, and even a sweet give-away!

Be sure to check out Melissa's blog too. You can see how she celebrated her win.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Picture-Bookies Are Back!

After a brief hiatus the The Picture-Bookies Showcase is back! Visit the Grand Reopening of an Online Showcase of Professional Children's Book Illustrators.

Sponsored by the Picture Bookies Group, illustrators of children's books and products are back to display their work for your enjoyment.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Wednesday Links









Upsetting news from Oxford.
The Alphabet's being axed!

Check it out in today's article at the National Post.












Getty Images


Thanks Verla Kay's Message Board for the link.


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Wednesday Links









Cybil 2008 Fiction Picture Book Finalists
I'm a little late here, but in case you haven't checked out the the Children's & Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards, the finalist were posted last week. There are some awesome titles in the running. And they're in great company with last year's winner and finalists. To see the 2008 finalist in all categories go here.


Quentin Blake-Ten minutes of Illustration
Got an extra ten minutes? Be sure to check out this video of British Illustrator Quentin Blake as he tours you through his studio and demonstrates the method he has used to illustrate over 300 books! I love his system for archiving all of his original artwork. Simply amazing to see. You can also check out a slide show of his workspace and tools.