Pigeon of the Month #8

Monkeys of the World, part 8

Helensville, New Zealand

Oddly Amusing

aka The White House Book

I was extremely honored to be asked to contribute a story to "Our White House, Looking In, Looking Out" which is being released in September. This massive anthology was spearheaded by the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and assembled by the massively talented folks at Candlewick Press.

I was asked to write and illustrate a story about the Great Depression. In four pages. The result, a stripped down comic about Herbert Hoover and apple peddlers, will be the first story that I've written to be published (although my upcoming graphic novel was written before this). Above is a sketch for the first page of the story. Other contributors to the book include M.T. Anderson, Jerry Spinelli, Katherine Paterson, David Small, Brian Selznick, Susan Cooper and really too many to list here.

Publisher's Weekly just did a very nice write up about the book here. And the NCBLA has a website that should explode with extra content around the time of the book's release. Personally, I can't wait to see this thing.

Pigeon of the Month #7

Monkeys of the World, part 7

Vaduz, Liechtenstein

SCBWI Fall Philly Conference

I'll be speaking at this year's Fall Philly Conference of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (eastern PA chapter). Details are not up on the website yet, but when they do go up, they should be here. Registration ends August 25th, but it's limited to 140 people, so you might want to register soonish.

Five years ago at this very conference, I showed my portfolio to a Simon & Schuster art director who then showed it to Richard Jackson who then hired me to illustrate my first picture book. So, illustrators, be sure to bring your shiny shiny portfolios and sign up for the optional review!

Pigeon of the Month #6

Monkeys of the World, part 6

Norman, Oklahoma.

Don't Call Him Yellow

Cowboy Guy

Scarlet Sprite

Sideburns

Monkeys of the World, part 5

Antwerp, Belgium.

Raw Sienna Melancholia

Palette Doodles

Splotches of extra paint make interesting backgrounds. Pro Tip: Wait until it dries.

Pigeon of the Month #5

Washington Sketch

Sorry for the paltry blogging of late. I am nearly finished work on my graphic novel and by nearly I mean I still have about 40 pages to go. But since Children's Book Week is next week, I thought I'd show you a sketch from Big George by Anne Rockwell, coming to a bookstore near you this fall. This is Washington at Carpenter's Hall, volunteering to lead the army. Clearly, my uniform research came after the sketching phase.

Monkeys of the World, part 4

Reykjavik, Iceland

Pigeon of the Month #4