author + illustrator Deborah Freedman
The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, ABFFE, will hold its Annual Children’s Book Art Silent Auction on Wednesday, May 29, at BookExpo America. This year’s auction will include some special pieces created in memory of Maurice Sendak — and this is my tribute, above. You can learn more about ABFFE and this special event here.
Coming from Viking Children’s Books, June 13.
Would you like a signed, personalized copy of FISH & SNAIL?
Pre-order from independent bookseller R. J. Julia before June 13th, to have it shipped hot-off-the-press.
AUTUMN SALAD:
Toss together:
Season to taste with fern fronds. Serve on a bed of pine needles; garnish with feverfew, mums.
Suggested Reading, RECIPES: Mudpies and Other Recipes, by Marjorie Winslow and Erik Blegvad.
Suggested Reading, Books about LEAVES: The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger; Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert; Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson and Tiphanie Beeke; Leaves by David Ezra Stein; Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace;
I’m sorry, Blog! I was finishing the art for my next book. But I missed you!
Oh. They don’t?
Sigh.
It seems I decided by around age five that I wanted to be Maurice Sendak when I grew up. I penciled my name in right next to his on this book that he illustrated for Ruth Krauss in 1952, which is one of my most treasured possessions and has been with me always. Over the years I’ve become an obsessive collector of his work and words, which have taught me just about everything I need to know about writing and illustrating for children. I can think of no more to add to all that’s been said about Sendak, or by Sendak, who died on May 8th at the age of 83.
“Hello, As you probably noticed, I went away forever. I am very experienced now and very famous. I am even a star…. I get plenty to drink, too, so don’t worry…. If you ever come this way, look for me. Jennie” *
Dear Jennie, I did notice. And I will certainly look for you. Love, Debbie.
*As shared by Lynn Caponera, Sendak’s assistant and longtime friend, who perfectly closed a memorial service for him at the Metropolitan Museum of Art last week by quoting this letter and sharing this image of his beloved dog, Jennie, “from his favorite book”, Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More to Life.
Have you ever wondered how your favorite author’s or illustrator’s name is pronounced? TeachingBooks.net has a huge collection of brief recordings of authors & illustrators saying their names. It includes my own thirty-seven second story – about a shy first-grader and her name.
But wait. Does one of the chickens want to help?
From Blue Chicken, Viking 2011
The Illustration Friday topic for March 2, 2012 is INTENTION.
Suggested Reading for Valentine’s Day: The Wedding Procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle and Who Was in It , by Carl Sandburg and Harriet Pincus; Henry in Love, by Peter McCarty; Bloom, by Maria van Lieshout; Ooh-la-la (Max in Love), by Maira Kalman.
I know that, BLOG.
And that’s actually why I’ve been
working on a “suggested reading” list –
picture books about chickens.
Thanks a lot, Blog.
Readers… I have my favorites; what are yours?
Suggested Reading, Splashy Picture Books: Art & Max by David Wiesner, I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont and David Catrow, Mudkin by Stephen Gammell, Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth and Stephen Gammell.
Suggested Reading, Picture Books About Clouds: Cloudland by John Burningham, Little Cloud by Eric Carle, The Cloud Book by Tomie de Paola, Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld, The Police Cloud by Christoph Niemann.
Julie Danielson interviews me today over at her blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. She’s brewed plenty of coffee… won’t you join us?
BLUE CHICKEN is available today, from Viking Children’s Books!
We will be celebrating it’s release at several events in Connecticut this fall; they are listed here.
Or find BLUE CHICKEN here:
Hey, Blog, look at my new bag!
My husband gave it to me, to celebrate
the release next week of BLUE CHICKEN!
Suggested Reading, Picture Books About Purses:
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes; The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Mary Ann Hoberman and Nadine Bernard Westcott.
… the chicken is seeing stars!
★“Breathtakingly beautiful meta-illustrations will draw many eyes to this tale of a curious chicken who spills some paint… Delicate and durable, visually sophisticated yet friendly: simply exquisite.”
– Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★“The spare, poetic text allows the images to shine… this delightful treat emphasizes the joy of breaking free of conventional boundaries and turning accidents into art.”
– Booklist, starred review
★“Full of surprise and emotion… The book has much to pore over on every page, and children will want to experience the action over and over again.”
– School Library Journal, starred review
More Blue Chicken news and upcoming events are listed here.
A good way to carry your carrots when you pretend you’re a horse is put them inside your shirt. Probably you’ll need a belt or a piece of string around your middle so they don’t fall out when you gallop.
By Ruth Krauss, Illustration by Crockett Johnson
From How to Make an Earthquake, Harper & Brothers, 1954
Ruth Krauss was born on July 25, 1901.
Have I said before that I want to be Ruth Krauss when I grow up?
Suggested Reading, Picture Books About Water: A Drop of Water, by Walter Wick; All the Water in the World, by George Ella Lyon & Katherine Tillotson; Wave, by Suzy Lee.
© Deborah Freedman and Writes With Pictures, 2009–2012. Photos and text on this website may not be re-used electronically or in print without permission.
