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The good people at the Star-Telegram are spreading the word on Punk Farm to their Fort Worth and North Texas readers. Check it out here.

The Austin-American Statesman gives Punk Farm on Tour some props in their gift giving children's book guide. Check it out here!

I am honored to be the first children's author featured on NPR's new podcast - Book Tour. Each week, listeners can hear authors read from their work by logging onto NPR's website or have the readings downloaded straight to their iTunes. Recorded at my stop to Politics & Prose, NPR has put together a pretty schnazzy audio piece of my talk to the visiting 1st graders. They even put together a slide show of my work - both old and new. Head on over to NPR's Book Tour for all the fun!

You see, when I get the Punk Farm music recorded, my friend Scott Cambot puts the band together and records the music for me. To thank him and the musicians, I am raising money for an organization that is very important to Scott and I'm using a portion of the proceeds to pay the musicians. This ensures that there will be more Punk Farm music in the future and that I can continue to give it away for free.

Here's how it works - individuals purchase a $5 raffle ticket for the character painting that they would like to win. Their name and address will be placed on an index card, put into a jar and winners will be drawn at random. The winners of each painting will be drawn and announced at www.punkfarm.com/raffle.html, LIVE VIA VIDEO (Maybe not in real time, but a video nonetheless!)on December 19, 2007.The winners will receive the original paintings shortly thereafter!

What can you win? You could win any of the following paintings. Each painting is 11" x 14", acrylic on masonite.





Get in on the fun at www.punkfarm.com/raffle.html!

Further proof that I really have no control over the band - Punk Farm went and made a video for "Wheels on the Van" without me!

Huge props to Mr. Christian, Mrs. Osburn and their crew in Oklahoma!

ATTN: Authors and Illustrators - if you ever want to feel like a rock star, visit Holland Hall School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I had never been to Oklahoma, but I would eagerly return after my visit with the kids at HH. Every teacher and parent volunteer just threw themselves into all things Punk Farm and my books. Everyone had homemade iron-on T-shirts (made from the downloads at my site), some actually wore wigs and crazy shoes and if you need any evidence - please take note of the school's librarian, Mr. Christian, book talking Punk Farm ahead of my visit:
And this is probably a record for any one school, but they sold 511 books! And I managed to sign them all throughout the day. Here's a pic of the gang who was crazy enough to volunteer to help with that effort:Every kid in the school made a cool punk something - farm animals, penguins, aliens.... and they were collected in one giant Punk Farm scene:

The librarian from St. Andrew School in Newtown, PA (Mrs. Kristen Sava) knows how to party....
St. Andrews was one of my stops in the suburbs of Philly hosted by Barnes & Noble. Thank you to everyone at St. Andrews, Edgewood Elementary & B&N for a great day!

Okay, I've seen some cute book promotions, and many annoying ones. Fortunately, Jarrett J. Krosoczka , author of Punk Farm on Tour, made me laugh instead of cringe when he suggested his characters do a Q&A with various bloggers.

Bloggers at 7-Imp and Fuse #8 took the bait, and so did I, but on one condition: that my five-year-old son and his classmates do the asking.

I dropped off the galleys at school and his teachers read the book about five farm animals who form a punk rock band. They were kind enough to write down the questions, but asked that the children's anonymity be protected on the Internet (hence, no photos of the dears).

I then emailed Jarrett, who admits:

These are hysterical! What a cool twist! PF has faced many tough interviewers...but the Kindergartners from Chicago Jewish Day School? Yikes, they were tough ones... =)

If you like, here's my review as a refresher.

And now, a transcript from the toughest little interviewers in Chi-town (many thanks to teachers Alex and Jaimie):

CJDS: Pig -- Why would he do all the stuff, when he had to stop the people?"

PIG: Well, you know how it is. When you're a pig in a rock band, sometimes you need to just make things happen. The other band-mates got a little upset when they had to wait for me.

CJDS: Sheep -- Why do you make the animals go fast?

SHEEP: Oh yeah - uh...about that. Well, you see the thing is, we needed to get back to the farm and quickly! But speeding is wrong and I don't think it's a good idea...

CJDS: Pig -- How did you make the song?

PIG: I made the song by practicing playing my guitar every day. Practice makes perfect! So does confidence. And that's why I ROCK!

CJDS: Sheep -- Why did they start the show?

SHEEP: Well, the owl who was running the club needed us to start playing on time. A lot of animals bought tickets to see the show and they'd get upset if they were kept waiting.

CJDS: Cow -- Why did he say hold your horses?

COW: Well, I said "Hold your horses" because everyone was getting upset because we were lost. I saw the barn and knew that's where we had to go!

CJDS: Why couldn't they fix the car?

GOAT: Little dudes, I tried my best to fix the van. But it's an old van and we traveled very far. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did!

CJDS: Pig -- Why did he say I don't want to get dirty, since pigs like getting dirty?

PIG: Well, I'm not like other pigs. I like to be clean and presentable. I also don't like manual labor. So fixing a tire just isn't my thing.

CJDS: Goat -- Why are you so cool and not the other animals?

GOAT: Well, well, well...looks like the jury is out. I'm the coolest one in the group!

PIG: Hey!

SHEEP: Now, is this a scientific poll?

CHICKEN: What about me?! I'm cool!!! And not one question for me?! (sniffle)

GOAT: See...I'm the coolest because I don't get upset. Sometimes life throws you curve balls and you just need to roll with it.

COW: Well, Goat is really cool. But look at my cowbell! Cowbells rock! That makes me cool. Doesn't it? Oh.....

Something incredible has happened in the last few years. The Internet has emerged as a powerful marketing tool and a way to connect with friends and followers. For the children’s book industry, one that has long relied on authors and illustrators to help promote their works, the accessibility and ease of online tools offers incredible opportunities to build a community around their books.

Jarrett Krosoczka is and appears to have always been energetic and driven. In his teenage years he spent several summers working at a camp for sick children (Hole in the Wall Gang Camp) and now, as a children’s book author and illustrator, is about to release his ninth book in six years. Punk Farm on Tour is the follow up to the popular book, Punk Farm, and Jarrett is taking full advantage of the Internet to create an entire culture around a fictitious band of farm animals – complete with a recording of their hit song “Old McDonald Had a Farm” and a video that documents his own book promotion tour.

Would you believe he’s even managed to squeeze in a wedding to his now-wife, Gina, on September 30th. Congratulations and best wishes to both of you.

In the creative spirit of Jarrett Krosoczka, Mark took out his safety scissors and his tub of kindergarten paste to put together a collage from their one hour conversation.

Other books mentioned:

• My Buddy, Slug

Other relevant links:

• Betsy Bird’s post: Hot Men of Children’s Literature (part 25 in a series)

Participate in the conversation by leaving a comment on this interview, or send an email to [email protected].

Photo: StudioJJK