The Story Blanket

I picked up a picture book at our local independent bookstore. The Story Blanket, written by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz, illustrated by Elena Odriozola. I am always on the lookout for new and fresh looking illustration styles and the cover of this book, immediately jumped out at me.

I leafed through my new find and was happy to see that the cover wasn't the only lovely illustration there. Believe me, it happens often that a book doesn't measure up to it's cover, but not this time. "You didn't read the story?" you ask me, "It's a picture book, a quick read!" I have to admit a little secret of mine, I didn't read the story, and it's certainly not the first time I buy a book just for the art. Last night I read The Story Blanket to my 3 year old daughter. Oh, what a nice tale. I loved it. The main character Baba Zarrah unravels her beautiful story blanket piece by piece to secretly knit warm clothes for the villagers. There is a lot of snow and no way to go to the town for new yarn. The story is sweet and warm and good. And, as I said before, the illustrations are great. Every single page is beautiful. Elena Odriozola, I am a big fan. The layouts and use of white space in masterful, the bright colors complement each other fabulously and the character design is original and fresh. A new favorite book in our picture book library.

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Knit Bella & Bean Hat

I know, it's been a while... What can I say. I have been knitting. After being asked a few times if the Bella & Bean hats were available somewhere, I decided to knit a couple of sample hats. You know Bella & Bean, from the book Rebecca Kai Dotlich wrote and I illustrated. The one that is at the top of your shopping list! Anyway, so here it is the hat as Bean sports it in our book, and below is the knit version.

It's a pretty tall hat!

I am planning to make some in different colored stripes. Maybe I will have to open that Etsy shop I've been thinking about, after all.

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Lovely Mayfest

In between rain showers, in a nearby park, we celebrated the coming of spring, with people from my daughter's school. Everybody brought flowers to share for making crowns, we danced around a Maypole holding ribbons and we shared a delicious picnic. We had a lovely time and I wanted to share some pictures with you on this dreary NY day.

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Breakfast with Seven Imps

Rebecca Kay Dotlich and I just enjoyed a fabulous cyber breakfast with Julie, over at Seven Imps.

What a fun experience we had. Come see and taste with us.

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Madame Pamplemousse

One of my very favorite writers is Roald Dahl, in particular his books for children. Even though I reread his books again and again with great pleasure, there is always a sad empty space in my heart longing for a new Matilda, a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or any of his other whimsical and incredibly funny books. The unfortunate fact is that Roald Dahl will never write another book because he went to Oompa Loompa heaven. 

Recently, however, that sad place in my heart became a lot smaller. I discovered Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles, by Rupert Kingfisher. Madeleine has to wash dishes in her terrible uncle's restaurant every summer. She is a very promising little chef, but Uncle Lard is a very insecure and jealous man. Luck brings Madeleine to Edibles, a little shop owned by Madame Pamplemousse. But then Uncle Lard forces Madeleine to spy on Madame Pamplemousse and that's when things become complicated...

I loved, loved, loved this book! Kingfisher's very fulfilling world of heroines and villains is one to be reckoned with. From the dark and musty store, Camembert the incredible cat, to the pig-like Mr. Lard, Madame Pamplemousse kept my attention from the moment I opened the book until I put it down. I can't wait to read more of Kingfisher's work! And I have to mention that the cover art is very inviting, and the pen and ink interior illustrations are much fun. Sue Hellard certainly lived up to the challenge. Thank you for a great book.

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Our First Week-End in the Country

We just went back to our fixer upper in the country after a five month hiatus. All in all it wasn't bad. No major plumbing explosions, no break-ins or roof leaks, just a decaying dead dear in the front yard, (yuck!) some new critter house mates, a dead bird in the chimney, and the usual suspects, an army of little biting black flies waiting to eat us up as soon as we set foot out the door.

Don't get me wrong, we had a great time. We assessed all the work we still need to do on the house and the yard. We ate outside on the back porch, we walked to the river and we pulled out many many weeds. Okay, we're a little overwhelmed, though nothing the soon to be sweltering heat of the City can't take care of.

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Felted Easter Eggs and Nest

Time for another craft entry. This time, for Easter, I decided to make an robins nest and eggs. I love decorating eggs but decided to try some felting first. I am happy with the result, still have all my fingers (although some have little red dots on them), and I didn't brake my one and only felting needle. Hopefully, Saturday morning will allow for some egg painting. All depends on my husband being willing to blow out half a dozen eggs and my daughter not to brake them. Wishing you a happy Easter.

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Nice Encounters

At the first keynote of the last SCBWI winter conference I sat next to a woman called Suzie Jean. We started talking, she was a very friendly librarian and writer and we exchanged cards. Immediately after the conference we emailed and she ordered both my books, Hugging Hour, and Bella & Bean and both my husband, John Rocco's books, Wolf Wolf!, and Moonpowder. Suzie read our books to the children of the school she works at and sent us the nicest emails with comments from the kids about each book and pictures from the readings. 

How nice it that!

She wrote that when she asked the children: "What's your favorite part of this book?" They said: "All of it!"

I just want to say thank you to Suzie Jean!

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Carll Cneut

While in Belgium, we did of course purchase some picture books. One of them is called (literally  translated) The Secret from the Throat of the Nightingale, illustrated by Carll Cneut. 

Cneut has been one of my favorite illustrators since the first time I discovered one of his books, years ago. The books he published here in the States, are, The Amazing Love Story of Mr. Morf, (written and illustrated by Cneut) Antonio on the Other Side of the World, Getting Smaller, (written by Malachy Doyle) and Monster Don't Eat me, (written by Carl Norac). I love the way he uses his Acrylic paint thickly and dry, allowing the carefully chosen color of the layer below to show through. His use of color and pattern is beautiful and unique, and his play with perspective and scale, masterful. 

I hope this new book will make it to the American market, but for now I am happy to share some of his art here with you. (Top: cover of The Secret... Middle: spread from Antonio... Bottom: spread from Mr. Morf)

Carll Cneut makes me proud to be Belgian!

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Switzerland Day 2-3-4-5-6

Wow, I had a blast snowboarding! I am still not able to sit properly because of a big bruise on my b-hind, and all my muscles are sore. You can imagine that the plane ride home was not exactly comfortable. Thumbling down a icy slope is a whole new experience at 40. I now own a tail protector (similar to a fat-suit for the hips, buns and thigh area... very flattering as you can imagine.) I rented a helmet and will soon get something to protect my knees as well. You might ask if it's worth it? It is! The mountains, the snow, the freedom, the beauty, it was completely worth hitting the back of my head quite a few times. I still have to make an appointment with my doctor to gage the extent of the brain damage inflicted... 

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