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Thomas and the Dragon Queen is making a tour of blogs about children’s books this month. In honor of that, I’ve decided to give away an autographed copy to a reader at random. Just leave your name and an email address where I can reach you, if you win, by midnight October 12th. Kids:  If you are under 13 years of age, please get a parent or guardian’s permission to enter the contest. To enter: click here or on the hand below:

NOTE:  You MUST be over 13 years of age, or have a parent’s permission if you are not. And I will randomly select a winner on Oct. 13th.

Good luck, all!

Shutta Crum

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Today is THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN’s birth-(launch)-day! It is now available in stores. It is published by Knopf, with black and white line illustrations by Lee Wildish. THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN is an adventure story of a small knight and a large dragon.

This book seemed to pour out of me. I was stuck in the middle of a much longer book with a more complicated plot when, suddenly, I knew I had a different and very important story to tell that was short, simple, and pure. That story became THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN.

I do hope you get a chance to read it; especially in these times of so much misunderstanding in the world . . . for this book is really a book about peace. It is also humorous and full of adventure. That is good. A work of fiction is primarily meant to entertain. But if a book about peace can entertain as well as demonstrate how to get along with others different from ourselves . . . that is wonderful! And I am happy about it.

Peace

Shutta

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My friend Hope Vestergaard had a wonderful storytime at Nicola’s
Books today. She read her new book, Potty Animals, to the enjoyment of the crowd.

Afterward the kids built a castle with rolls of toilet paper!

Fun!

Shutta

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I ran across the perfect video for Tuesday, March 2nd’s Read Across America celebration. Check it out!

Ocoee Middle School Gotta Keep Reading from Michael Cardwell on Vimeo.

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Wow! When it rains, it pours. I just got word that the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books will be giving THUNDER-BOOMER! an “R*” in its September issue. (Recommended, and an asterisk for “exceptional.”)

A writer friend asked if I knew that this book (my tenth) would be exceptional? And how did it feel writing it? Hmmm . . .

Good questions! I remember I felt good writing it. I live on a farm now and I love how  “the air smells sweet as butter” after a storm. And I LOVED the editorial process with my editor at Clarion, Marcia Leonard.  But of course, I had no idea it would generate such good reviews. I truly believe that with a picture book, a good portion, if not MOST, of the weight of the book is carried by the illustrations. And Clarion had the great good sense to hook THUNDER-BOOMER! up with Carol Thompson-a truly talented and knowledgeable illustrator.

Carol’s use of drippy gray watercolors, collage, and pencil over textures brings the storm to life. And the pale pale green of the after-math—my favorite spread—is picture perfect. In fact, most of the reviews speak to Carol’s inspired illustrations. Thanks, Carol!!!

Enjoy,

Shutta

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Revisions are like dying your hair a new color only to discover you have to now change your entire wardrobe.
I have been making changes to this illustration for a couple of days now...hours and hours of decision making. It will all be worth it in the end, but right now it is a question of color, balance, how much , how little...you all know the drill.

Here are some snaps of the saga...maybe if I just add more kids I can use all the different outfits ~

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Today marks the beginning of Education Week July 27-31, a highlight of ‘United We Serve,’ President Obama’s call to nationwide community service. This is a challenge to all Americans to engage in sustained, meaningful service because ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things, which is directly aligned with what we do here at First Book.

We have seen first-hand how our friends, volunteers, and the heroic programs reaching kids in need serve tirelessly, year-after-year, educating our children. We know you are already heroes, whether you are working in classrooms directly with children in need or making a simple monetary donation to provide more books for kids who need them. We are deeply thankful for all of you who help elevate educational opportunities for children across the nation.

Three easy ways you can participate in Education Week:

1. Visit http://www.serve.gov and look for volunteer opportunities in your area.
2. Visit http://www.serve.gov and post a volunteer opportunity in your community.
3. Start a “Books for Kids, Books for Keeps” virtual book drive to raise funds to get more books to kids through First Book. Individuals go to:  http://www.firstbook.org/booksforkeeps. Organizations serving kids in need go to: http://www.firstbook.org/rgbkbk.

As one of 14 national nonprofits on the ‘United We Serve’ Education Team advancing book distributions, summer learning opportunities, and library card registrations, First Book is leading efforts to dramatically increase access to books for our nation’s disadvantaged children. The ‘United We Serve’ initiative culminates in a day of service and remembrance on September 11, but is intended to remain a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans.

We are pleased to be a part of this national movement to highlight service and we thank you for helping us deliver the books that will brighten children’s lives and inspire their journeys. With your help we can reach even more children.

We celebrate Education Week all week, and through all of you, throughout the year.

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I had been working on this illustration last week, and this week added a character. It is always fun to have friends join you on an adventure.

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As the events of the day began to UNFOLD, Mrs. McInnes realized her dream of becoming a brain surgeon were limited. Of course, had she chosen to be a rocket scientist instead, she might have more options where immediate travel plans were involved.

I made this Illo Friday theme stretch a bit, since I had been working on it all week. The earlier sketches were posted a few days ago. The piece began to grow and may yet still evolve. I had such fun doing this one. I really got to KNOW each child and feel like they belong to me as much as they belong to Mrs. McInnes. If I were to pick the one most like me... it would be the girl with her boot propped up against the door frame.

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Sometimes I need to PAINT with real paint before I finish an illustration in the computer. In this case I used hot press illustration board to begin a sea scene for a project I am currently working on.

I like to be able to use my whole arm ( and soul) when I am painting and my sketches and preliminary paintings are usually done on a rather large scale. They will be reduced in the computer to the correct size for the project underway.
I used Dr. Martin's inks and some transparent acrylics for the first stage. Along with that combination I also used a house paint brush, a fan brush and some more conventional sable brushes.
After photographing the preliminary painting I transferred the image to my computer and completed it in Painter. The advantage for me is being able to get darker layers in place without having to wait a day for paint to dry.. and if I don't like a layer... I whisk it away.
In addition to transferring the painting to the computer I was able to stretch the entire image horizontally to accommodate the size I wanted to work with for this book.

If you look carefully you might be able to find two very recognizable constellations. Did you find them?

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Reviewed by Amy M. O’Quinn for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Written and Illustrated by: Dr. Seuss
Hardback: 64 pages
Ages: 4-8
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (October 12, 1957)
ISBN-10: 0394800796
ISBN-13: 978-0394800790

While perhaps not a classic in the traditional sense of the word, How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, is definitely a beloved Christmas book in modern culture. How many of us haven’t enjoyed the story of the mean old Grinch and his nasty plans to steal Christmas from the residents of Who-ville? And how about little Cindy Lou Who? And, of course, the signature illustrations by Dr. Seuss are familiar to us all!

In the rhyming style of Dr. Seuss, this book tells about a stingy soul who hates Christmas and despises anything at all that brings holiday joy and cheer to others. So he (the Grinch) comes up with a spiteful plan to take all the gifts, decorations, Christmas trees, and food from the happy people of Who-ville. He dresses as Santa, transforms his dog, Max, into a ‘reindeer’, hitches him up to a ramshackle sleigh and heads to Who-ville. In the cover of darkness, he goes down the chimney of each home and steals anything and everything to do with Christmas. He doesn’t even leave crumbs big enough for a mouse!

In one home, however, little Cindy Lou Who wakes up and asks the Grinch why he’s taking all their Christmas. The mean old Grinch even deceives the child, and he tells her he’s taking the tree to fix a broken light. What a bitter, sly, critter he is! However, he doesn’t care as he hauls all ‘the presents, the ribbons, the wrappings, the tags, the tinsel, the trimmings, and trappings’…and even the logs from the fireplaces up the side of Mt. Crumpit! He thinks he’s stolen Christmas from all the Whos!

But suddenly he hears something and pauses! ‘Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!’ The Grinch is confused.

Then the Grinch has a revelation! “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas…perhaps….means a little bit more!” And at that moment, as the residents of Who-ville will say ‘the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day!’ So he brings everything back and ends up celebrating Christmas with the residents of Who-ville!

In a nonsensical way, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, really pegs the true meaning of the season. It’s not the presents, the decorations, the special food, or the Christmas tree that matters. It’s the heart! So for a special treat, be sure to grab this book off the shelf to share with your family this holiday season.

********

Amy M. O’Quinn is a pastor’s wife and former schoolteacher-turned-homeschool mom of six. She is also a freelance writer who enjoys jotting down ideas around the fringes of family life. She specializes in non-fiction, and her work has been published or acquired by magazines including Jack and Jill, US Kids, Guideposts for Kids, Learning Through History Magazine, Highlights, GEORGIA Magazine, Homeschooling Today, International Gymnast, etc. She is also a product/curriculum/book reviewer for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and a regular columnist for TEACH Magazine. The O’Quinns live on the family farm in rural south Georgia. You can find Amy’s blog, Ponderings From Picket Fence Cottage, at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.

Amy M. OQuinn, books for kids, Christmas picture books, Dr. Seuss, Grinch

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Aaron Filler, MD, PhD, FRCS is the author of Do You Really Need Back Surgery?, and an evolutionary biologist who studied under Stephen Gould, Ernst Mayr, David Pilbeam, Russell Tuttle, and Irven DeVore.  Filler is now a medical director at the Institute for Spinal Disorders, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles. In the article below he looks at what makes humans- “human.”

 

OED: “Human”– Adjective - Of, belonging to, or characteristic of mankind, distinguished from animals by superior mental development, power of articulate speech, and upright posture. (more…)

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