Akron Art Museum Workshop

This week, in honor of the Ezra Jack Keats exhibit (which everyone should absolutely go see) at the Akron Art Museum, I have been invited to teach a cut paper and collage workshop for teachers.  The event will be this Thursday from 4-6pm.  Click on the link below to purchase tickets:

www.akronartmuseum.org

I hope to see you there!

Jon Klassen & Lemony Snicket Event!

Last night I went with two of my picture book critique partners to see Jon Klassen and Lemony Snicket speak about their new book The Dark.  It was hands down the best author/illustrator presentation I have ever seen!  It's so rare to get to see both the author and illustrator together, and these two played off each other so well.  The highlight for me was watching a blindfolded Klassen illustrate The Dark on an easel as Snicket was reading aloud, it was hilarious.  These two will be touring to a few more cities and if you are lucky enough to have them head your way, make sure you don't miss out!!!

Getting my copy of This is Not My Hat

by this year's Caldecott winner

Jon Klassen!

Ellsworth Elementary School Visit in Hudson, Ohio

Today I visited Ellsworth Hill Elementary in Hudson, Ohio, where I met the coolest group of second graders!  You may have seen all the fabulous pictures they have been sending me for the past week as I have been posting them on my other blog: www.whereintheworldisblue.blogspot.com.  The whole school totally embraced Blue and Egg, it was amazing.  From the moment I arrived at the school I was greeted with this awesome display in front of the library where I did my presentation:

Earlier in the week, the school had a cake auction for Literary Night and Blue was featured on several cakes!  Check out how incredible these cakes are:

And I got to take my very own picture with Blue and Egg!  How cool is the Ellsworth Hill principal for dressing up like Blue?!!

I had such a wonderful day with all the students, faculty, and parents at Ellsworth Hill Elementary today.  Thank you to all of them for such a wonderful day!

A Sneak Peek at Please Bring Balloons!

I am so excited to be able to release some images from Please Bring Balloons, including the cover (yay!), which will arrive in stores on OCTOBER 17, 2013!  And I absolutely cannot wait!!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it!

Please Bring Balloons (Cover)

A Dial Book for Young Readers

"Emma has never heard of carousel animals leaving notes before,

but she decides to take this one seriously.
And it's a good thing she does.

Soon, she and her polar bear friend are soaring to the Arctic,

where carousel bears from near and far dance beneath

a sparkling night sky.  It's a perfect adventure.

Afterward, Emma can hardly believe it really happened.
(But it did!)

For anyone who has ever imagined what it would be like to ride

a carousel animal right off its platform,

this enchanting story is your chance.

Happy Travels!"

- Please Bring Balloons Jacket Flap

Meet Emma...

and her polar bear!

They dance and dance...

But was it all just a dream?

Find out in Please Bring Balloons this October
at a bookstore near you!

News!

Happy February!  I have been awful about posting lately...but here is a bit of news to share:

When Blue Met Egg received a Little Bird Award from childrensbookguide.com and made their "30 Best Children's Books of 2012" list!!  Yay for Blue!  You can read their review of Blue here:

http://childrensbooksguide.com/reviews/when-blue-met-egg

or check out Blue and the rest of the fabulous books on their list here:

http://childrensbooksguide.com/best-childrens-books-2012

BLUE IS PACKING HER BAGS FOR KOREA!  I just found out that When Blue Met Egg will be available in Korea!! How crazy is that??!  I must get my hands on a copy when it comes out!

And last but not least, I finally have a release date for my new book, Please Bring Balloons, which will be available on OCTOBER 17TH, 2013!  Hopefully, I will have a cover to share soon...

Until then, happy reading!

Video on How I Made When Blue Met Egg

Want to know more about When Blue Met Egg and how a picture book is made?  Check out the video of my presentation at the Cuyahoga County Library last week in Independence, Ohio:

Cuyahoga Library Video Presentation

BookPage Includes When Blue Met Egg on Their Best Picture Books of 2012 List!!!

Not only was BookPage kind enough to write a wonderful review of When Blue Met Egg earlier in the year when it first came out, but they also recently included it on their list of top ten picture books of 2012!  I am so honored and thrilled to be among such good company!

http://bookpage.com/content/bookpage-best-children's-books-of-2012