By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 1/4/2016
Daniel Clowes new graphic novel Patience drops in late winter and it’s sure to be the comic book event of the first half of 2016. Promised as a SF tale about time travel and love, it’s a powerful return for Clowes. And you’ll be able to get your copy signed, and doubtless hear a talk […]
By: Bruce Black,
on 10/25/2015
When autumn comes, nature begins to slow down, and my brain wants to go into a deep sleep. It’s the time of year when some of us come up against a wall and can’t see beyond it. Where does the wall come from? Why does it appear? How do we deal with it until it vanishes? Maybe we should just go into hibernation and wait for it to fall down on its own. Writing—or trying to write—on
By: Bruce Black,
on 6/14/2015
It took all day to write something that I didn’t even know I wanted to write. I sat at my desk for hours trying to think of something to write and at the end of the morning I left an unmarked sheet of paper on my desk, the same blank sheet that I'd started with when I sat down earlier. It was like diving and returning to the surface empty-handed. I hadn’t found any pearls on the sea
By: Bruce Black,
on 5/10/2015
Sometimes writing can feel as if I’m making headway one day, only to find myself retreating the next. Two steps forward, one step back. It’s as if I’m swimming effortlessly through the water and then unexpectedly hit a strong current, and everything changes. My pace slows, my arms feel fatigued, my legs weaken, and I fear sinking to the bottom. And then, just as suddenly, the
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 5/6/2015
Fantagraphics has been teasing something new from Daniel Clowes for a few weeks and now and here’s the official word: Patience, a new 180-page graphic novel from Clowes is coming in March 2016. It’s described as “an indescribable psychedelic science-fiction love story.” Certainly the art seems like a technicolor throwback to some of Clowes earlier genre-influenced work, as well as The Death Ray.
The book veers” with uncanny precision from violent destruction to deeply personal tenderness in a way that is both quintessentially “Clowesian,” and utterly unique in the author’s body of work,” the blurb continues. “This 180-page, full-color story affords Clowes the opportunity to draw some of the most exuberant and breathtaking pages of his life, and to tell his most suspenseful, surprising and affecting story yet.”

“Patience is the best book yet by probably my favorite cartoonist ever,” said Fantagraphics associate publisher Eric Reynolds, “and I can’t wait for people to have the chance to not take my word for it.”
The preliminary cover image, above, also recalls come earlier Clowes work, including the cover to David Boring and the splash pages to some of his Eightball work. But you’ll be able to check all that out for yourself when The Complete Eightball comes out in a few weeks. It’s good to have Daniel Clowes back.
PATIENCE
By Daniel Clowes
180 Pages * Full Color * 7 7/8″ x 10 1/4″
ISBN: 978-1-60699-905-9
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Hop, Hop Bunny
Series: A Follow-Along Book
Written by Betty Schwartz & Lynn Seresin
Illustrated by Neiko Ng
Chronicle Books 3/01/2015
978-1-4521-2464-3
10 pages 7″ x 7” Age 0—2
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“Help bunny hop through the die-cut holes as she explores the garden. Where will she go? How many colors will she see? Warm illustrations and a playful adventure teach little ones hand-eye coordination and introduce them to reading fun. Punch out the piece and follow along!” [back cover]
Review
Before reading and hopping through the die-cut hole, Bunny must be released from his stationary spot on the cover. Adults, this is your first job. All done? Good. Let’s open the book and begin.
“Bunny likes to play in the garden.
“Hop, hip Bunny. Hop between the red flowers.”
Now help your little one help Bunny hop from his home in the tree stump through a garden of red roses—look out for the snail! Bunny continues to explore, hopping up and over rocks, under a green bush, and other garden spots along the way. Bunny never gives away where her journey will lead her, how long the adventure will last, or if she has a goal.
Not only will children continue developing hand-eye coordination, but they will also learn patience and concentration. To guide Bunny through each bunny-shaped die-cut hole, none of which line up with the hole before or after it, children must first lift the right-side page, then hop Bunny—paws on the ground, please—to her next destination. A sturdy ⅛th inch ribbon, strung through each hole and then embedded into the front and back covers, keeps Bunny from losing her way.
Hop, Hop Bunny’s digital illustrations are colorful and have delightful details. Each spread contains additional critters for children to find, identify, and count. Young children will enjoy the inclusive nature of Hop, Hop Bunny, and its companion Run, Run Piglet 
Betty Schwartz and Lynn Seresin also collaborated on Ten Playful Tigers: A Back-and-Forth Counting Book (reviewed coming soon).
HOP, HOP BUNNY (A FOLLOW-ALONG BOOK). Text copyright © 2015 by Betty Schwartz & Lynn Seresin. Illustrations copyright © 2015 by Neiko Ng. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, CA.
Purchase Hop, Hop Bunny at Amazon
Learn more about Hop, Hop Bunny HERE.
Meet the author, Betty Schwartz, at her website:
Meet the author, Lynn Seresin, at linkedin: http://bit.ly/LynnSeresin
Meet the illustrator, Neiko Ng, at her website: http://www.neikoart.com/
Find more Board Books at the Chronicle Books website: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/
Follow-Along Books
Run, Run Piglet
978-1-4521-2467-4
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Review Section: word count = 269
Copyright © 2015 by Sue Morris/Kid Lit Reviews. All Rights Reserved
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By: Bruce Black,
on 3/1/2015
"Make an empty space in any corner of your mind, and creativity will instantly fill it."--Dee Hock "Once you are empty then there is no barrier for the divine to enter in you." - Osho It may sound like a contradiction to try to empty your mind when you write. After all, if your mind is “empty,” how can you possibly find the words and images you need to set down on paper? But I’d like to
By: Bruce Black,
on 12/7/2014
Writing’s not a career for the faint-hearted or those seeking instant gratification. So much of a writer’s life is spent waiting—waiting for words to come, stories to appear, the next critique group to meet, the response to a manuscript or contract from an editor or agent. Waiting can transform your writing life into a daunting succession of days filled with agony, self-doubt, and
By: [email protected],
on 10/7/2014
Peter Carnavas is an award-winning children’s author and illustrator, some of his titles including The Children Who Loved Books, Last Tree in the City, The Great Expedition, The Boy on the Page, The Important Things and Jonathan!. Peter’s books consistently provide both children and adults with heartwarming, humorous and thought-provoking experiences that leave a […]
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Photo by Vicky Lorencen
Soon I will be leaving my preparing place to bounce into a new phase in my publishing pursuits– querying agents and editors. Up to this point, I’ve been writing/revising/researching/daydreaming in a liminal space that exists between the time I decided to become serious about writing and the stage to come when others will see my work and choose to love it or leave it. This long season of liminality has been challenging (to put it politely), but I believe say I am a better person for it (and sheesh, let’s hope a better writer!)
Photo by Vicky Lorencen
Thanks to my stint in the Land of Liminality, these words mean much more than mere words to me:
Patience
Encouragement
Empathy
Resourcefulness
Bravery
Boldness
Kinship
Stubbornness
Optimism
Humor
Priorities
Focus
Generosity
Humility
Sacrifice
Persistence
Opportunity
Chocolate
Oh, sure. I know the minute I hit “send” on the first query I submit, I will slip into a new level of liminality, but now I feel more prepared for the transition. And between you and me, I believe the outcome will be worth the wait.
The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms. ~ Thích Nhất Hạnh
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By: Ronni A. Hall,
on 10/14/2013
In September, I only had leaves and lost hope.
Then the first little pumpkin showed up.
Then another. Some are still changing color from green to orange.
You are allowed to have.
You’ll see.
Just be patient.
I’m in a bit of a transition right now, so I’m not sure if classes will be offered in November or not and which. I’m expanding and growing! So, if are interested in Fairy Online School classes, they start Friday! Here’s the catalog of classes to choose from. Hope to see you in class!
By: JOANNA MARPLE,
on 9/12/2013
Title: if you want to see a whale
Written by Julie Flogliano,
Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Published by Roaring Book Press, May 2013
Ages: 2-5
Themes: patience, whale-watching
Opening line:
If you want to see a whale you will need a window.
Synopsis:
A story of sweet and simple practical tips on how a child might become an adept whale-watcher and the virtue of the wait! This includes what you will need, such as time for wondering and an ocean. But the little boy also receives gentle warnings about distractions one might need to avoid, like the lure of sweet pink roses or the temptation to cloud-gaze.
Why I like this book:
Waiting is hard for an adult. For a little child waiting can feel interminable. This soothing, lyrical language, gentle rhythm and perfect pacing make this a great choice for bedtime or a quiet moment in the day. The illustrations and text breathe patience and an invitation to astute observation even for little eyes. Through all of the potential distractions (even the pirates are alluring) the reader is constantly centered on the clear goal of seeing a whale.
The illustrations are light and filled with wonder and depth. You see the perspective already on the choice on the front cover of making the ocean so high and vast! The dog and bird are also delightful companions to the little boy on each spread. Sometimes I am more drawn to either the words or the pictures in a picture book, in this case, I love both equally. The illustrations are created with pencil and linoleum print techniques, and peppered with humor, whimsy and depth. The last two pages with the barnacle-encrusted whale swimming right under the boy’s boat and then just the tip of the whale emerging are worth the wait and you may wonder if they had been there, ‘unseen’, all along.
This is truly a talented paring of author and illustrator and I will stick my neck out and say I think this picture book may well win some awards.
Activities:
A predicting activity – if you want to see a (tiger, hawk……) you would need to……. and be careful to avoid…………….
Whale-watching in North America
Whale and Dolphin-watching in Europe
Video of IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WHALE
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Books.
By: Bruce Black,
on 8/4/2013
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How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind The answer is blowin’ in the wind. 4.5 stars Bob Dylan’s iconic song, Blowin’ in the Wind, comprises the text for a beautiful children’s book by artist Jon J. Muth. Muth has [...]
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By: Kristi Holl,
on 8/15/2011
For you, what is the hardest part of writing? Getting started? Making time? Finding ideas, or maybe dealing with rejection?
Perhaps the hardest part is the endless waiting that goes with this profession. You wait for word from a critique partner, then an editor or agent. When a book comes out, you wait for reviews and reader reaction and sales figures.
The question isn’t whether you will have to wait during the publishing process. You will. It’s a fact, no matter who you are. The question is how you will wait. Waiting involves more than entertaining yourself (with blogging, reading, watching movies, talking on the phone, or eating out) to make the time pass with less stress.
Ingredients of Waiting
If you want to survive in this thing we call the writing life, your waiting has to be different. While it’s a difficult skill to learn, you need to wait patiently, productively, and expectantly. Here’s what Webster’s has to say…so think about these traits in connection to your writing life.
Patiently: bearing pains, suffering, and trials without complaint; manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain; not hasty or impetuous; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.
Productively: having the quality or power of producing, especially in abundance; yielding results; continuing to be used in the formation of new words or constructions.
Expectantly: looking forward to something with a high degree of certainty; usually involves the idea of preparing or envisioning; much more than wishful thinking
Honest Self-Assessment
Is that how you wait to hear from an agent or editor? Are you uncomplaining (to yourself, your critique group, your family, your blog readers)? Are you steadfast, not making hasty decisions (like sending angry emails or posting nasty comments in discussion groups)? Do you show forbearance under the strain? Then you wait patiently.
Do you work on other projects while you wait? Do you continue to study and go to your critique group? Do you refuse to sit and not write until you hear the fate of your current manuscript? Do you focus on the current work-in-progress, giving it your undivided attention? Then you wait productively.
Do you have a clear vision of where you want to be as a writer five years from now? A year? A month? Do you work hard and work consistently on your craft, expecting to improve steadily over time? Even while you wait, are you preparing yourself physically and mentally to be the writer you’ve always wanted to be? Then you wait expectantly.
Be a Professional
Wannabe writers complain when editors and agents don’t respond within a week. Wannabe writers won’t write another word until they sell their current manuscript. Wannabe writers continually tell themselves and others that the odds are terrible and they’ll never sell anything.
Professional writers don’t like waiting either–nor do they always like the answer that comes. But they don’t waste the waiting time. They use it to write and grow and move ahead.
Waiting well is a skill you can acquire. You (and everyone in your environment) will be happier if you learn this skill. Don’t let waiting times–no matter how long they drag on–cause a setback in your writing.
If waiting well is a problem for you, don’t just read this post, agree mentally, and move on with you
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By: Bruce Black,
on 5/29/2011
The question isn't if you can write. The question is do you have the patience to write? Every step of this process requires patience:Patience to find the time to write.Patience to listen to your heart.Patience to wait for words to appear.Patience to let the story unfold.Patience to reach the end of the first draft.Patience to begin again... and again... and again.Patience to recognize that each
"What I was least prepared for was the loss of control. It was easy to have faith in my agent, but at the same time it was strange not being able to do anything. I just have to...wait. In querying, when you get a rejection you can send another letter out. You can decide who to send to, when, and what. That all goes away, and while it's nice it's also weird. I was so used to working for myself, and now my writing fate is out of my hands."For those of use who cope with difficult situations by finding something constructive to do, situations where the only thing you can do is wait are extremely trying. Put another way, the wannabe-writer-sphere is so full of encouragement to keep writing that it leaves you ill-prepared for the time when the writing is done and the waiting begins.
By: Bruce Black,
on 10/31/2010
Waiting for the next wave isn’t just waiting.You sit in the water poised, active, watchful.You’re set to start swimming as soon as the wave comes in.You sit there frustrated or upset about not swimming yet, not catching a wave, or maybe you're a bit impatient.But that’s what waiting for a wave is all about: learning to cultivate patience.To write, you need to develop the ability to sit and watch
By: Adventures in Children's Publishing,
on 8/25/2010
We're happy to introduce Kaitlin Ward to do this week's Wow Wednesday guest post from. Kaitlin lives in rural Connecticut with her fiancé, son, and dog. She is a YA writer represented by Elizabeth Jote of Objective Entertainment, and can be found at YA Highway, on her blog, and on Twitter.
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By: Eva Lopez,
on 4/14/2010
Title: The Farewell Symphony
Author: Anna Harwell Celenza
Illustrator: Joann E. Kitchel
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (September 2000)
Reading Level: 4-8
Theme: Music, Determination, Patience
I believe every sheet of music has a story of its own. The Farewell Symphony, has a unique story as well. A story about a prince who kept his musicians away from his family for far too long, and even though they had missed their families so very much there wasn't much they could have done; especially if they wanted to keep their jobs. A very unfair trade-off right? Having no choice, but to stay away from your family for a very long time or else. A wonderful story with very vibrant illustrations that are framed in different borders.
A great read-aloud and what's great about this book is that includes a CD so you can go along with the Symphony.
Hey if you love music and want to introduced something different then this is your book.
Enjoy!
Excerpt: Haydn is ask to speak on behalf of the musicians to the king.
OSH. Orchard Supply Hardware. I've been there three times in the last 36 hours. All three times I returned something that didn't fit or work. Lesson learned: Buy two things that look like they might fit, then return the one that doesn't. Good thing OSH (smaller than Home Depot, but definitely more approachable; being a green homeowner, I'm all about approachability). I now own these things from OSH:
By: Jean Matthew Hall,
on 11/16/2009
What I am learning about writing this week has come from an unexpected source. I was asked to give a quick (15 minutes) challenge to a high school club that encourages leadership among students. I did this last year and it was a wonderful experience. The club members and sponsors read a book and their weekly meetings emphasize and explore the concepts of that book. This year's book is Do Hard
By: Rachelle Gardner,
on 9/29/2009
A couple weeks ago I was having dinner with a group of novelists (who also happened to be my clients). We were talking about the terrible waiting that's always involved in publishing. At every step of the journey, whether you're agented or not, published or not, there seems to be a huge need for patience. The waiting sometimes gets unbearable.
We bemoaned the difficulty of developing patience. Is it even possible, or just wishful thinking?
Then my sweet friend Christy Truitt spoke up. "I don't think I'm getting any more patient. But I'm learning to tolerate my impatience better.”
Wow! What a cool insight, and a terrific goal: To be able to exist in a state of impatience, and be okay with it.
To be waiting, and longing, and frustrated that it's taking so long (whatever it is) and still be okay, still have a measure of peace.
To me, that seems like a more realistic goal for writers, and possibly a healthier one. After all, we don't want to completely lose the impatience, because it's part of what drives us. It creates a tension inside us, and as we strive to calm the tension, we're working towards our goals. You could even say that the impatience keeps the fire lit beneath us.
What would it mean for you, to stop trying to be more patient, and instead tolerate your impatience better?
Taking it one step further, how can you use your impatience and actually benefit from it?
Thanks, Christy, for the great thought!
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By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 9/4/2009
Author: Monica Kulling (on JOMB)
Illustrator: Bill Slavin
Published: 2009 Tundra Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 9780887768811
Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was the compact camera. This sprightly tale of curiosity and determination puts the spotlight on the inventive young man who made photographers of all of us, one improvement at a time.
On this date, September 4, in 1888, George Eastman registered the trademark Kodak. You can learn more here.
Other books mentioned:
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
By: [email protected] (Mark Blevis and Andrea ,
on 8/21/2009
Author: Thad Krasnesky (on JOMB)
Illustrator: David Parkins (on JOMB)
Published: 2009 Flashlight Press (on JOMB)
ISBN: 9780979974649
Cute only gets you so far in the real world. Capturing the glee of victory and the sting of defeat, this hilariously illustrated rhyming book lets us laugh at our own (and our little sibling’s) attempts to prove otherwise.
Mentioned in this episode:
Pop over to The Boy Reader for today’s full menu of poetry offerings. Poetry Fridays are brought to us by Kelly Herold of Big A, Little A.
HOTLINE VOICES: Cathy Miller, “The Literacy Ambassador”, alerts us about Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury).
We’d love to hear your thoughts on a favourite children’s book. Leave a voice message on our JOMB listener hotline, +1-206-350-6487, so we can include your audio in our show.
Loved your phrase "waiting is writing, only without words and paper." We are not just writers or artists when we sit down to work. It is something that informs our consciousness every moment, a way of viewing the world. Even when I don't have my camera I am noticing the world in a much different way than I used to, fully present to both my surface thoughts and the stirrings
Absolutely true. Without patience we cannot write, and waiting is a profound and essential part of the process.
In the end we need to find a way to get the words on paper, but sometimes I think we forget that writing is more than just sitting at our desks putting words down.<br />The waiting is, as Lev says, "a profound and essential part of the process." <br />And as Lynn says, "We are not just writers or artists when we sit down to work. It is something that informs our consciousness every