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Yum, beautiful architectural drawings!


There is currently an exhibit, an homage if you will, to Andrea Palladio, the architect, at the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan.

I wish I lived closer, I'd love to go. I love architecture, architectural rendering, and Palladio.


I'm tempted to buy the catalog, at least.


In other news, my friend and fellow children's book illustrator Marion Eldridge honored me with a Beautiful Blogger award. Thanks Marion!


The award comes with the direction that I'm supposed to list 7 things about myself that you might find interesting. Hmmm, let's see ~

I'm often cranky.
I loathe flip-flops. (I know. I've most likely just alienated most of you.)
I'm ashamed to say I could live on cheeseburgers, even though I'm well aware of how horrible they are on so many levels. (I said I was ashamed.)
My favorite birds are mourning doves. I just think they're so sweet, and love their 'cry'.
Second to cheeseburgers, I could live on sushi. (Hopefully that evens things out a bit.)
I love fog. A lot.
My favorite 'place' is at Fort Point, beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

And now I'm supposed to choose 5 fellow bloggers to honor. I will close my eyes and randomly select some out of a hat. (No, really, this is how I'm doing it.)
Here we go ~

Paintings from the Point - M Collier
Fox in Sox - Paige Keiser
Teresa Mallen Studio
Middle of Nowhere - PG
Stuff About Art Stuff - Beth Logan

So now you can go broaden your mind or art appreciation or something. I'm off to make lists and actually do some art of my own. We have another storm a-brewing, geez, what's up with this weather? I also have a big 'broken sprinkler pipe in the flower beds that requires removing large shrubs and rocks to fix' thing going on, how fun does that sound?

See you later ~

Shanté Keys and the New Year's Peas

Author: Gail Piernas-Davenport
Illustrator: Marion Eldridge
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company; November 2007
Reading Level: Ages 4-8

I'm so disappointed at the variety of children's books when it comes to New Year's. A lot of them deal with the Chinese New Year, but not many talk about what New Year's is like here in the United States. In Shante Keys and the New Year's Peas, Gail Piernas-Davenport dives into a world of fun when it comes to New Year's traditions. For the Keys family, eating black-eyed peas brings good luck on January 1st. But when Shanté comes for New Year's dinner, Grandma Louise has fixed chitlins, baked ham, greens, and cornbread, but she forgot the black-eyed peas! What could happen just because you don't eat some silly peas, you ask. Well, it means they'll have a year of bad luck!

Grandma sends Shanté to find the peas, so Shante sets out on a search, beginning with her neighbors. Does Miss Lee have peas? What about Mr. MacGhee, or Shanté's good friend Hari? None of them do, but as Shanté discovers, they have fun foods and traditions for their New Year's! She finds out about Chinese New Year, Hogmanay in Scotland, New Year's Eve in Mexico and the Hindu Diwali celebration, but she doesn't find any peas! Will the family be doomed? The book is cleverly written and the colorful illustrations by Marion Eldridge are as fun as the rhyming story itself. This is a great book for the classroom as it teaches all about different cultural celebrations.

Be sure to download the teacher's guide and take a peek at the trailer on YouTube. One more thing... HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Holy cow! Has it been three weeks since I last posted? I've been so busy writing press releases and brochures, and finishing my activity guide to go with my picture book that I guess I just haven't had time to stop by.

More reviews are starting to pop up for Shante, and these feel good. Take a look at:

Book Buds by Anne Boles Levy reviewed the book with 3 Stars. Sounds good to me!
Chicken Spaghetti had an interview with Shante's illustrator, Marion Eldridge, about Robert's Snow. Good stuff!

I'll be signing books at the National Association for the Education of Young Children on Thursday at Chicago's McCormick Place, 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm. I know working a booth at a conference can be dreadfully slow, so if there's anyone out there in cyberspace reading and you'll be at the conference, please stop by!

 We writers all dream our characters will turn into literary super heroes and earn us a lottery full of money. But do we ever dream they can fight disease and help for a brighter future? Hardly ever.

I have to admit I never even imagined that was possible. How on earth could little Shante' do something like that? I got the surprise of a lifetime last week when I found out that she will contribute in the fight against cancer.

The illustrator of my picture book, Marion Eldridge, used Shante' in her snowflake design this year for Robert's Snow. (http://www.jimmyfund.org/eve/event/roberts-snow/default.html) If you've never heard of Robert's Snow, it's an auction of snowflakes designed by children's illustrators to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It was started by illustrator Grace Lin as her husband Robert fought cancer, a battle he lost last month. I actually got teary eyed when I saw Shante' in that snowflake. I hope some wealthy person (are you reading this Oprah?) will fall in love with her, as Marion and I have, and bring in tons of money for cancer research.

You can see the snowflake on Marion's new blog:

http://marion-eldridgenews.blogspot.com/