BRAIN BURPS ABOUT BOOKS - HOW TO SUBMIT A BOOK FOR PUBLICATION

Katie Davis, best selling Author/Illustrator and Kidlit expert was inspired by this coming weekends national scbwi conference to do a blog talk radio piece on her now famous Brain Burps About Books on how to submit a book for publication.  She explains the process and highlights several books, including GRANDMOTHER HAVE THE ANGELS COME?  Any aspiring picture book author and illustrators out there give it a listen http://www.blogtalkradio.com/brainburps  and check out Katie's site: http://www.katiedavis.com/

Library of the Early Mind trailer 1.mov

On my list 'to see' list:

Trailer for "Library of the Early Mind," a documentary film exploring children's literature. Website: www.childrenslitproject.wordpress.comDirected by Edward J Delaney; produced by Edward J Delaney and Steven Withrow. Featuring Chris Van Allsburg, Lemony Snicket, Lois Lowry, Natalie Babbitt, Norton Juster, Jeff Kinney, Brian Pinkney, Brian Selznick, Roger Sutton, Mo Willems, Leslea Newman, Nancy Garden, David Small, Sarah Stewart, Jack Gantos, Richard Michelson, Lane Smith, Peter H Reynolds, Elizabeth Bird, Mary Jane Begin, Nick Clark, Arthur A Levine, Mary Downing Hahn, Jane Yolen, Anita Silvey

ICON 6

sketches from ICON6 illustrator's conference.

I can not recommend ICON enough.  This year's program included speakers from the fashion, fine art, book, and commercial worlds; as well as timely information on contracts, orphan works and PLUS.  I came home ready to work and thinking I need to spend way more time/effort improving my skills...so... to the drawing board.

GRANDMOTHER won the Colorado Book Award for Children's Literature

I am so pleased that GRANDMOTHER HAVE THE ANGELS COME? Has been awarded a Colorado Book Award for Children's Literature!  Not only did Denise and I both recieve a beautiful plaque and generous check, we also get book stickers!  I love book stickers!! Yay!

2010 Américas Book Award

GRANDMOTHER HAVE THE ANGELS COME? has been selected a 2010 Américas Book Award commended title. The award winners and commended titles are selected for their 1) distinctive literary quality; 2) cultural contextualization; 3) exceptional integration of text, illustration and design; and 4) potential for classroom use. Yay!!

The Américas Award is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By combining both and linking the Americas, the award reaches beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere. The award is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP), a United States Department of Education National Resource Center.



Here's Rene Colato Lainez Blog with full details and a list of the winners: http://labloga.blogspot.com/2010/06/2010-americas-book-award.html

GRANDMOTHER HAVE THE ANGELS COME? Wins CAL Award

GRANDMOTHER HAVE THE ANGELS COME? has won in its catagory at the Colorado Author's League (CAL) Awards.  The judge's comments:  "The topic of aging can be difficult to explain to a young child but is discussed here with sensitivity and great tenderness. The illustrations create a visual experience with the use of bold vibrant colors swirling across the pages. The love felt between the grandmother and her

granddaughter are well expressed not only in the text but visually through the illustrations. The text is rich in descriptive phrases that enhance the imagination and call up memories of a loved one: "...see your beauty reflected in the dewdrop on a flower", "savor flavors long on my tongue ", "stroke your cheeks in the light and in the darkness". This is a joyful book that reaffirms the beauty in living a long life and the love between generations."  Denise and I are both thrilled!   

Hope Haiti

Here's a video showing the organization that the 'tree of life' silent auction will support.  Please remember Haiti and please be generous with your bids.