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OK, I just finished listening to the 4:31 Scholastic Audio recording of POLAR OPPOSITES. I was skeptical at first, it was really pretty nice :) These arrived in the mail about 10 days ago, but I really could't bring myself to listen. Its a short book, and the story is shared pretty evenly between the words and the pictures -- You HAVE to see the artwork in order to understand the story.
But you know what? They did right. There are some fine "Tinkerbell-style" charms to indicate page turns. Paced just about right for a child to read the simple sentences in concert the audio AND still have a moment or two to take in the art. The sound quality is great. Very professional with both the narrator's voice and some short snippets of background music suited to the story - and there is even some additional whimsy with an audio effect or two - IE some lip-smacking when Alex and Zina enjoy their breakfast, and a well placed grunt and groan as they both push and pull their luggage along the ice.
All-in-all a pleasant surprise :) Thanks Scholastic, for making a fine day even better!
0 Comments on Scholastic Audio Polar Opposites! as of 2/28/2014 12:56:00 AM
When Highlights asked me to make a What's Wrong? of a City Market I could think of no other than Philadelphia's Italian Market. I've only been there once in my life, during the off peak time, but I did a lot of research (see below) to make it look authentic minus the trash and fire barrels. If you've ever been to the Italian Market in South Philadelphia, or saw the scene in Rocky when he is jogging through it (starts at :23) one thing comes to mind, "this is so beautiful and yet, totally disgusting." Honestly, it smells, there's trash all over the place, and most of the merchants are rude. Ah, Philadelphia! City of Brotherly Love. That's what makes this city so great- everyone wears their hearts on their sleeve and we don't apologize for it or care if you're offended- much like you would speak to a close family member. Ha!
I finished this piece the week my Dad went into the hospital before he passed away. Good friend and designer, Drew Phillips, helped me out with doing some flat coloring for me. All I had to do was make some adjustments, then add textures and shadows. Thanks, Drew!
Things to look for in this piece: Adrian Balboa ironing a sock, myself, wife and daughter driving a row home, and my personal favorite, a girl mouse being serenaded with her concerned Father reacting in a nearby window.
The original sketch is below. One thing I was sad to see go was Adrian Balboa carrying Rocky's two turtles known as Cuff and Link.
The scene was based loosely on these photos:
Make sure to get a Highlights subscription for the kids in your life. It really is the greatest magazine on earth.
0 Comments on What's Wrong, Italian Market? as of 7/16/2013 10:48:00 AM
We’ve had a lot of snow this week and one of the ways we’ve been really enjoying it is by using it as an excuse to return to some favourite wintry books/scenes. First up we made Sugar Snow, inspired by the classic description in Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I boiled up a jar of maple syrup, using a jam thermometer to tell me when it got to the firm ball stage. This took about 10 minutes. Then I poured the bubbling mixture onto fresh snow, where the maple syrup immediately hardened into Sugar Snow.
The Sugar Snow was delicious but very, very chewy – not one if you’ve got wobbly teeth!
Next we made an igloo, inside which we told stories, and reminisced about Holly Webb’s The Snow Bear (which we reviewed here), and the utterly gorgeous picture book Immi by Karin Littlewood (which we reviewed here).
I also brought the snow theme into my school story + craft sessions, and read Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon. This simply illustrated book is quite literally full of heart (you’ll have to read it to see what I mean). The pictures are great for the youngest of listeners who appreciate bold, uncomplicated pictures, the penguin is undeniably cute and the story is perfect if you want a smattering of snow without any reference to Christmas.
You can get a good idea of what the book is like from this trailer:
Having read the story I helped my 30 5 and 6 year olds create their own play set for Penguin and Pinecone. I gave them each a pinecone (I collect these every year when a local tree sheds them) and a short stretch of felt, with a small snip in it, so one end could be threaded through the other to create the scarf around the pinecone.
To make the sledge each child had a craft matchbox, an elastic band and a small piece of pipecleaner. I prepped the matchboxes by making a hole in the matchbox drawer, and each child then threaded through the elastic band and inserted the pipecleaner to keep the elastic band in place.
We stuck lollypop sticks on the side to make sledge runners, and then we made pine trees and penguins using the templates below.
I printed this template on to green paper for the fir tree crowns and used strips of brown paper (about 8 inches long by 3 inches high) for the trunks.
The penguin templates can be downloaded here. They work fine printed onto regular paper, but for something more robust you could print them on card.
If you’re looking for some snowy, kid friendly, non christmassy music I can recommend:
This has some great lyrics!
A dreamy song for swirling around like snowflakes, with a pretty gorgeous video.
Have you had snow recently? Or are you suffering in summer heat?
Disclosure: I received a free copy of Penguin and Pinecone from the publishers. I was under no obligation to review the book and I received no payment for this review.
3 Comments on Snowy reads and a penguin playscene to print, last added: 1/24/2013
I love your igloo! We haven’t had much snow at all for the past two years- we have a storm coming on Friday and I really have my fingers crossed that we get enough to play in!
Amy said, on 1/23/2013 7:28:00 PM
We recently tried sugar snow, and it was yummy, but it didn’t look as good as yours.
And I wanted to make an igloo (since we also have an abundance of snow), but my boys are too little to be much help, and I wasn’t motivated enough to do it on my own.
We have read and loved Penguin and Pinecone, but I love all your extra activities to go along with it. We are going to be learning about penguins when I teach preschool next, and so I’m going to pin this activity and hopefully use it with them. Thanks for the great ideas!
Zoe said, on 1/23/2013 10:52:00 PM
Hi Stacey, yes, we hadn’t had snow till last week and now less that a week later, most parents are wishing it was gone, but not me! I love it. Taking the girls to school on the sledge is a good way to start the day!
Hi Amy,We were really lucky with our snow – it was just perfect for building – just the right amount of stickiness, and that made the building of the igloo quite easy.
We love your illustrations. That tree is fantastic and the playfullness of the penguins is apparent in the scattered toys and their pure exhaustion. You really brought the scene in my mind before they fell asleep alive.
Laura Anne Miller said, on 1/2/2013 7:26:00 AM
Linda – love all your HHDDDay sketches. Especially this one- it’s how I feel after taking down the tree. (I came down w/flu the day after Christmas. At least it waited til then.) You are such an inspiration. I had so wanted to continue sketching w/you in HHDDDay – but life came along… I’m so glad I got to meet you via 12×12 link. You have been a delightful inspiration. May your new year be blessed with love, joy, laughter and creativity!!! Laura
A penguin named Zeppi makes a boy’s wish for a special friend come true. When young Alesdor finds Zeppi amongst the flowers in the garden, they adopt each other and grow in The Adventures of Zeppi series. Zeppi and his friend have fun and discover a lot about friendship, tolerance and generosity. As Zeppi adapts to his new life with ecological-minded Alesdor, he will learn about taking care of the planet too.
Book 1 – New Friends
When Zeppi’s cage falls off a truck, he’s found by a kind boy named Alesdor, who teaches him that compost piles are plant food and not penguin food.
Zeppi’s Christmas gift: FREE download on December 25 and 26:
Check out the other books in The Adventure of Zeppi series:
Book 2 – Circus
Now living in Alesdor’s teepee in the garden, Zeppi is overjoyed when a circus parade comes down the street. It’s so much fun, until he realizes some animals are caged. Have his parents wound up in cages at the circus? Zeppi decides to find out.
Zeppi’s Christmas gift: FREE download on December 25 and 26:
During a visit to his favorite toy store, Zeppi decides to snuggle between two plush penguins that remind him of his parents. But everything turns topsy-turvy when a wildlife protection officer wants to take him to the zoo.
Happy holidays, everyone!
I've got some book reviews to catch up on and some screenwriting news to share, but that's all going to wait until the New Year.
Have a fabulous holiday season with your family and friends!
And my gift to you are these singing penguins.
Bonus Video: San Francisco Jingle Penguins
0 Comments on Merry Christmas to All, 2012 Edition as of 12/23/2012 3:59:00 PM
In the middle of the night, a mysterious red truck races down Happy Town. Its cargo? Cages filled with penguins on their way to be shipped to another country. Suddenly the doors fling open and one cage rolls down the street and lands in a garden. From it, a little penguin steps out fearfully, awed at the world around him. Up until now, he has only known the constraints of the zoo.
In the morning, a boy named Alesdor discovers him and decides to keep him. Naturally, they immediately click and become the best of friends. Though the little penguin, Zeppi, is heartbroken from being separated from the rest of his family, he finds warmth and affection in Alesdor, who is as anxious for a friend as his new companion.
This children’s book by first-time Belgian author C.K. Omillin put a smile on my face throughout; not only because it’s about a penguin (and who doesn’t love penguins?), but because the story is sweet and weaves elements of friendship, family and ecological, planet-friendly values. This is the first instalment in The Adventures of Zeppi series and the beginning of their escapades. The adorable illustrations in soft pastel colors complement the story perfectly. This isn’t the standard picture book for 3-7 year olds that has short text and includes artwork on almost every page, but rather a picture book for slighter older kids (ages 6-9), who can handle longer stories. Still, there are 13 illustrations in this book, many of them spot illustrations.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series. The Adventures of Zeppi is sure to become a favourite of children, especially those who love penguins. C.K. Omillin is definitely an author to keep your eye on.
Elliot asks for a penguin during a visit to the aquarium with his father - his father thinks he means a stuffed animal and simply answers, 'sure.'... Don't miss this clever, funny story of friendship, penguins, and mischief!
Also try:
Antarctic Antics
Cuddley Dudley Tacky the Penguin Tacky in Trouble A Penguin's Story
In the middle of the night, a mysterious red truck races down Happy Town. Its cargo? Cages filled with penguins on their way to be shipped to another country. Suddenly the doors fling open and one cage rolls down the street and lands in a garden. From it, a little penguin steps out fearfully, awed at the world around him. Up until now, he has only known the constraints of the zoo.
In the morning, a boy named Alesdor discovers him and decides to keep him. Naturally, they immediately click and become the best of friends. Though the little penguin, Zeppi, is heartbroken from being separated from the rest of his family, he finds warmth and affection in Alesdor, who is as anxious for a friend as his new companion.
This children’s book by first-time Belgian author C.K. Omillin put a smile on my face throughout; not only because it’s about a penguin (and who doesn’t love penguins?), but because the story is sweet and weaves elements of friendship, family and ecological, planet-friendly values. This is the first instalment in Th
0 Comments on Book Review: The Adventures of Zeppi: New Friends (book 1) as of 1/1/1900
After a career in the corporate world, Charlotte K. Omillin decided to dedicate her time to writing and illustrating stories for children. She’s the author of The Adventures of Zeppi series. A lover of nature and the environment, Omillin interweaves the ecological theme in her series. In it, Zeppi the penguin and his friends learn how to take care of our planet.
Over the years, Omillin has attended several Academies of Arts in Belgium for drawing, painting, and film animation courses. In addition, she’s been a member of several critique groups. She also writes for young adults. You may contact the author at [email protected]. Download free coloring pages of Zeppi at http://theadventuresofzeppi.wordpress.com.
Thanks for this interview, Charlotte! It’s a pleasure to have you here to talk about your new series for kids. What was your inspiration for Zeppi? How would you describe him?
I once knew a little boy who was crazy about penguins and I made up stories for him. After each tale he asked me, “What happens next?” That’s when I started structuring my ideas and writing down the tales.
Who is Zeppi? He’s a young Adelie penguin born in a zoo. That’s the only environment he knows, surrounded by his parents and his penguin buddies. Zeppi is good hearted and friendly but also curious, impulsive, and a little opinionated. As he tends to know everything, he gets easily entangled in complicated situations and then learns at his own expense. Young Zeppi is impatient to live and speak like humans. His ecological-minded friend, Alesdor, shows him how easy it is to respect planet Earth.
Zeppi also loves to sing and to eat desserts (anything with chocolate will do!).
Zeppi sounds adorable and I love the ‘green’ angle in your series. I understand the first two books in The Adventures of Zeppi have been published. Tell us a little about the stories and what ties them together.
Zeppi is rescued by a boy, Alesdor, who believes a miracle happened the day he found a penguin in his backyard. So he decides to keep his new friend and hides him in his tepee.
Zeppi and ecological-minded Alesdor will adopt each other and grow together. The stories are also about friendship and acceptance of others’ differences.
Throughout the adventure series, Zeppi becomes an eco-friendly-penguin. Young readers will understand how fun and easy it is having the ‘green attitude’. Children say they’re ready to change their habits but don’t like the negative way the environment issues are presented to them.
I agree with that last statement. What are the reading level and target audience for the series?
It would say children aged 5-8 years old. Parents and teachers, who are sensitive preserving our planet, will enjoy the books too.
How many books will there be in the series?
There are 24 adventure stories. The first two are already published, and I’m actually working on the illustrations of book number three.
Wow, you must be busy 24/7! That’s a lot of books. Let’s talk about books 1 & 2. I understand that, besides writing the stories, you also did the artwork. Can you describe what your creative process was like? Did you write the stories first or did you do the art as you wrote them?
0 Comments on Meet Charlotte K. Omillin, author of The Adventures of Zeppi as of 1/1/1900
Atwater, Richard and Florence. 2011. Mr. Popper's Penguins. New York: Open Road.
(first published in 1938) Review copy provided by NetGalley.
I checked out this 1938 classic for several reasons. The movie was just released, it's summer reading season with Newbery Medal and Honor books always in high demand at the library (I prefer to recommend what I know), and after hearing a radio interview with the founder of Open Road Media, I wanted to experience what they have to offer.
So here are my few comments on all of the above.
Fortunately or unfortunately (please tell me which) I didn't get out to see the movie (though I definitely made time for HP and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2! - it was great!). If you did get to see Mr. Popper's Penguins in the theater, please share your thoughts in the comments. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for the DVD.
Mr. Popper's Penguins was a Newbery Honor book in 1939. Times (and children's books) seem to have been simpler then. In my humble opinion, based upon the relatively few older Newbery titles that I've read, there is either a greater level of sophistication in the writing of today's juvenile fiction or the preferences of the esteemed librarians choosing the awards has changed much over the years. That isn't to say newer or older books are superior, just different.
This particular version of Mr. Popper's Penguins, is an e-book published by Open Road Media. They appear to have struck upon a great idea, making classic books available digitally with enhanced content, in this case, "never-before-seen archival material from the authors' estate," or in more common parlance, period photographs of the Atwaters and brief biographical information. Open Road's offerings are available through the usual digital content providers (Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, etc.). I don't see any Open Road offerings from my library's e-book consortium, but they are listed on the publisher page, so perhaps some Open Road titles will be forthcoming via public library download.
Jane Friedman, once the CEO of Harper Collins is the CEO and Cofounder of Open Road Media, a new entry into the brave new world of e-books and digital conten
0 Comments on Mr. Popper's Penguins as of 1/1/1900
I always think of penguins as being bigger, like five feet tall. Especially Emperor penguins like the ones in the documentary, "march of the penguins."
At least this exhibit wasn't bad. The penguins seemed happy and well loved. They all have colored arm bands so the viewers can read about who's who.
This guy looks like he has a friend stuck on his back, hence the commentary!
Love penguins too! Last night I saw the new documentary about the pelican rescued and followed from the oil spill in the gulf. Your pelicans reminded me in your beautiful header painting!
So wonderful! Penguins are so funny! At our Academy of Sciences, they colour band them to keeo track of who is "married" to who... and sometimes....(gasp)..there are "affairs"....in fact, one of the Penguins has fallen in love with one of the caregivers....and follows him everywhere!
That red-headed bird is fantastic! I hope someone will identify it!
Penguins are so cute!!! There is a lot to be said about Zoos but being able to see these exotic animals up close has something to say for itself................ It is an experience :) I bet you had a lot of inspiration for a lot of perfect pieces of art!
The penguins are interesting birds. They don't look like birds at all. THey look like little old men in tuxedos. I don't know what this bird is. I have seen something similar in Hawaii. HAW.
interesting photos. love Robin's story of the mating penguins. Ha. I do not like zoos and penning up animals so will never go to one. i guess this is a vicarious visit!
Looks like you had a great time Lo! watching penguins is so interesting, and funny!
We were lucky to see them on the beach near Cape Town (i wonder if this is where Marianne saw them too?) we were so fasinated we stayed for hours, left, talked about them, decided to change our plans and went back to spend more time with the delightful african penguin!
I'm combining my celebration of a couple of Little-Known Holidays today. First, today is World Penguin Day, celebrated on April 25th because it occurs during the time of the flightless birds' annual northern migration. Second, today is also National Crayola Day, celebrated on April 25th because...well, I'm not sure why. Maybe for the love of this colorful, versatile drawing implement? Let's go with that, since I found no explanations for this particular holiday, just a couple of entries on a couple of calendars.
Some of you may argue that the Crayola part of this little celebration is late, and you may be right: I also found a Crayola Crayon Day listed for March 31st. And this one I did find an explanation for: it's celebrated to mark the first time, in 1903, that Binney & Smith offered its crayons for sale to the public. Neither holiday, however, appears on the official Crayola website. So which one is officially right? Or is it neither? Who knows? All I can say is, unofficially, Bugs and Bunnies is celebrating National Crayola Daytoday. Because it works for me. Here's why:
Get it? It's National Penguin Day, and it's National Crayola Day, so...I drew a crayon-loving penguin (note the totally-not-seen-in-the-wild t-shirt), and then I colored it with crayons!
Oh, yes. I'm We're the Celebratory Multitasking Queen.
And We are very amused.
0 Comments on Celebratory Multitasking at Its Finest (Or at Least, at Its Funnest) as of 1/1/1900
On Tuesday I attended an excellent talk on Emperor Penguin diving research by Dr. Torre Stockard. Zina, my character in Polar Opposites, is much more like an Adelie penguin than an Emperor (smaller and a bit less colorful as penguins go) but it's always inspiring to learn more about such the world at large from those that really dig in deep.
And then yesterday afternoon, someone sent me an elementary school-aged science resource in connection to the book as well. The irony, of course, is that Beyond Polar Bears and Penguins wants to get past these two charismatic and appealing creatures and expose students to the many other fascinating things about these extreme polar worlds. For that, I applaud them, and it looks like a terrific site. Still, at least I have my penguins living in the southern hemisphere, and penguins ARE a great springboard into Antarctic studies :)
PS Did you know that penguins have square pupils?
0 Comments on Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears as of 1/1/1900
April 25th is world penguin day, and in honor of this day I have a review for you about a very special penguin who had a rather extraordinary adventure. Pierre the Penguin: A True Story
Jean Marzollo
Illustrated by Laura Regan
Nonfiction picture book
Ages 3 to 7
Sleeping Bear Press, 2010, 978-1-58536-485-5
In a big museum, at the end of the Africa Hall, there is a display of live penguins. Unlike their cousins who live in cold regions, these African penguins like warm temperatures. One day Pam, an aquatic biologist, notices that one of the penguins who is called Pierre is “in a jam.” He has lost most of his feathers and he looks very unhappy and very cold. To make matters worse, Add a Comment
I have a big mouth, a loud voice, and something to say about everything. I don’t blend well. I am cosmetologically impaired--I can’t use a straightener, properly apply makeup, or figure out what not to wear. If someone were asked to list adjectives describing me, I can’t imagine any of the first ten (or maybe hundred) would be “classy.” Oh, sure, I’d get “enthusiastic,” “vivacious,” and “intense” (on the nice lists), but not much in the way of “elegant” or “gracious.” It’s not that I haven’t tried to be those things, just that my efforts have been entirely unsuccessful so far. Each time I go into a new situation, I make a silent vow with one of the voices in my head that I will show a different side to my personality. And I usually succeed. For about five minutes. Then, someone says something I disagree with or brings up a subject I feel passionately about (which is most of them) and the braying laugh bellows or the pushy broad comes out and I’ve ruined another chance to be elusive and mysterious by being me. I get not fitting in and feeling like everyone else does. So, reading Helen Lester’s Tackylocks and the Three Bears was therapeutic. Tacky is a Hawaiian shirt-wearing penguin in a tuxedo kind of crowd and the other penguins (with names like Goodly and Neatly) never let him forget it. But, he ends up the most popular wig-wearing guy on the iceberg. That gives me hope.
Out this past Tuesday is Oliver Jeffers' new picture book, The Heart and The Bottle, a poignant (I bet that's the word literally every review of this book will include. But it's the only one that fits!) story about a little girl filled with curiosities. Incorporating more of the mixed media style he uses in his paintings, coupled with many found images reminiscent of The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, Jeffers crafts a deceptively simple story about love, loss and recovery. He stills plays with recurring images from his other books, including rubber duckies, whales and, of course, the penguin, but it's a beautiful new development of his aesthetic. I have loved all his books, and this new one is no exception. (And I'm especially glad there's now one about a girl.) The only hazard of handing people this book is that if they are, at this very moment, in the process of losing someone close to them they can, will and did break down and cry at the counter of the bookshop. Turned out she was shopping for things to DISTRACT her, including two of Jeffers' other books when I made the suggestion. I've never felt like such an ass for handing someone a book. She did, however, tell me a really wonderful story about her uncle, who gave her a cat who was all the colors she could think of, and an old fashioned baking mixer for her to use to make bubbles in the bath. The Heart and The Bottle is not the only awesome new thing out from Oliver Jeffers this week! (That was a terrible transition. Sorry. There was really no good way to do that.) Completely unrelated to his books, Jeffers has teamed up with his studio mates to make a few items now for sale at the following link: http://www.youandmetheroyalwe.com/index.html I'm a big fan of the "this machine kills fascists" pencils and the "Places on Earth: a Self Congratulatory Guide to Personal Globalization" map.
0 Comments on Oliver Jeffers makes neat things as of 3/4/2010 11:16:00 PM
Mr. Popper's Penguins by the Atwaters: An adorable, totally wholesome story about Mr. Popper, a humble house painter with humongous dreams of being an Arctic and Antarctic explorer. When, in response to a fan letter, Mr. Popper's favorite explorer promises a suprise over a radio broadcast, Mr. Popper's life is changed forever by the delivery of a penguin of his very own. Now charged with caring for the strange bird, Mr. Popper finds all means and manner of solutions, and eventual showmanship with his ever-growing flock. Hilarious, and so cute it's almost physically painful, Mr. Popper's Penguins is a perfect book to read aloud to younger kids and for kids to read on their own. Because, really. Who doesn't like penguins?
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman: Join a boy (aptly named Odd, Gaiman has a way with names) on an adventure with three very cranky Norse gods who, thanks to Loki, have been turned into animals and robbed of their powers. This is the newest children's book from Newbery winning Gaiman, and as usual he is able to delivery snappy dialogue, individualistic protagonists and a thoroughly comical view of famous mythological deities. Unlike TheGraveyard Book and Coraline, this book has plenty of adventure without being too scary for younger readers. It can also serve as a really great intro to Norse mythology for the younger set. Personally, my favorite part actually came at the end of the book, and isn't even a part of the story (but is rather the about the author, clearly written by the author) but the content is good, too. The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon: Chester Cricket arrives in New York quote by accident by way of picnic basket. But once he settles in, he finds all the Big Apple has to offer: friendship (with an adorable cat and mouse pair, yeah, they're friends, things work differently in the city, they tell Chester) music and even fame. Despite a pretty outdated depiction of an older Chinese gentleman (writing in dialect doesn't help anyone...) this book holds up pretty well, with enough adorable to give you diabetes. The illustrations by Garth Williams (who also illustrated Charlotte's Web) punctuate the book nicely. A generally lovely little book.
Sorry for being MIA lately. I'm still recovering from my wisdom tooth extraction. I still have pain, but the meds are making me sick. I am a bit better each day which is good because I am sick of this!!!!
I can't wait to share some news, but I'm so afraid to jinx it. Some of you have already guessed. Sorry to be such a tease, but you never know what'll happen. I hope to be back creating soon. Meanwhile, here's a Penguin Christmas Carol for your viewing pleasure. Take care everyone.
Hope everyone had a great Halloween. Here's some fresh work Cosmic Penguin. I didn't think putting penguins with astronauts would work but I'm happy with the way its turned out ;)
My favorite picture book artist, Oliver Jeffers, (I own all his books... and have no kids) put out a new book in January, called The Great Paper Caper. It's the story of a tree shortage in a forest that is ultimately accredited to a well-meaning but competitive grizzly-lookin' bear who just wanted to win the annual paper airplane contest. Perfectly illustrated, as always (Jeffers is also a working artist, whose paintings toy with the relationship between text and image-- swoon) the story utilizes a lot of great detective/police procedural vocabulary, not to mention to obvious conservation themes. And like The Incredible Book Eating Boy (also by Jeffers, winner of the Irish Children's Book Award) there are lots of clever little details in the backgrounds of the illustrations, though Incredible Book Eating Boy does not have anything quite like a pig making bacon as his alibi. Better for kids who are willing to have vocab words explained to them, this story did not do particularly well at my toddler-laden storytime. But nonetheless, I recommend it all the time, for ages 4 and 5 and up.
An Illustration from The Great Paper Caper
The Witness, a painting by Oliver Jeffers
0 Comments on oh mr. jeffers, you're so dreamy. as of 4/18/2009 10:25:00 PM
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You really brought the scene in my mind before they fell asleep alive.
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Over the years, Omillin has attended several Academies of Arts in Belgium for drawing, painting, and film animation courses. In addition, she’s been a member of several critique groups. She also writes for young adults. You may contact the author at 
Zeppi sounds adorable and I love the ‘green’ angle in your series. I understand the first two books in The Adventures of Zeppi have been published. Tell us a little about the stories and what ties them together.
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Oooh I love it!! Can't wait to see how you work it with color. Such fun Laura!
Good luck. This is wonderful. Great storytelling.
This is super, Laura! Wishing you the best..it's gonna be fabulous.