Next to author/illustrator Matthew Cordell, Tammi Sauer may very well be the busiest picture book author of 2012.
I wanted to chat with the very punny Tammi here at 7-Imp about her upcoming books—she sees five of her picture books released this year—and then she up and announced she was doing one of those newfangled, so-called blog tours for her picture book Bawk & Roll, being released today by Sterling and illustrated by the one and only Dan Santat. (How do you like their back-flap photos for this book, pictured right and below?) So, I said, Tams, sign me up for that blog tour thingy. (I don’t really call her “Tams,” but she’s visiting for coffee this morning, so why not?) But in true 7-Imp style, seeing as how I have an excessively overactive work ethic,
not to mention I love me some picture books, I also secured some art from the other picture books Tammi will be releasing this year, so this is a long, art-filled post but also with some words from Tammi, of course.
Whew.
In fact, as you can see at the top of this post, I’ve got a wonderful image from Bawk & Roll—the back cover image, to be exact—but above that is an early sketch from Joe Berger for Tammi’s Princess in Training. I just really like that sketch, that bad-ass princess on her skateboard. More images from that book (which won’t be released from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt till October) are below.
In March of this year, we were already treated to one of Tammi’s books. Bawk & Roll (the sequel to 2009’s Chicken Dance) is out today, as mentioned, and it’s mighty fun. “Sauer dispenses her many puns with an appealingly deft touch,” writes Kirkus, “offering a genuine lesson on friendship. Santat’s illustrations are similarly droll, featuring several clever and surprising page designs, making the most of the opportunity offered by the contrast between stage and audience. This flock rocks.” And, as mentioned, more Sauer picture books are to come this year.
So, let’s hear from Tammi, and as she talks I’ll show you some more of Dan’s entertaining illustrations from Bawk & Roll, as well as from all the other 2012 titles.
I thank her for visiting — and I thank all the illustrators sharing art today. (more…)
Oh to wake up to such fun, frolic & fabulous art! Marvelous…simply marvelous! Thanks!
Thanks for helping me celebrate the year of the cave boy, chicken, princess, chipmunk, and the state of Oklahoma!
Tammi
Amazing and fun stuff here! And Double thanks for the 10 tips on school visits. Wish I was going to school so you could come visit!
The fifth-grade paparazzi - too funny!
It is clear from your terrific interview and school visit tips why kids love you so!
Thanks!
How come the boys get all the fun Tammi Sauer books to illustrate!? And the lone girl, Victoria, has that geographic advantage…
I loved this interview and can’t wait to read the books. Brava, Tammi, on unleashing so much fun, and thanks, Jules, for getting up early to help her share it.
Hooray for the year of the cave boy, chicken, princess, chipmunk and the state of oklahoma! The books look great. Also, fun to wake up to all this fantastic art.
What a great interview!
Also, Marlow Elementary looks like such a fun school. I am now envious of all those kids who get to have an outlaw for their mascot.
Great post! I loved all the art work, thanks for sharing!
Mouth open in shape of WOW, no words coming forth but thinking that each of these books are dynamos; awesome illustrations inspired by equally awesome narratives—knowing in my heart of hearts that my budget has just gone south
How fun to read about and see all your upcoming books, Tammi! This was a very fun interview.
To everyone who read this and/or commented and/or thought about reading this and/or commenting:
Thankyou.Thankyouverymuch.
I love seeing the variety of (fabulous) illustratiion styles.
My personal favorites are Crazy Dan Santat and Bob Shea. So great. And funny, Tammi! Very funny.
Such a great interview! Awesome illustrations and narratives…just LOVE them all!! Thanks for the great read.
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Outstanding interview, Jules. (And thanks, too, for the follow-up post with more from Dan Krall.)
Tammi Sauer seems like she might be someone who exhausts everyone within a 5-mile radius, and/or collapses into bed every night and sleeps like a… hmm, not a log, a log is much more lively than what I have in mind… sleeps like a stalagmite. (There y’go.) Maybe by her measure she doesn’t do many things, but clearly she is ALWAYS DOING THINGS.
All the art is great. But I really, really hope the chicken-rock* books turn out to be a a trilogy.
_______________
* Which reminds me: there used to be an AM radio station in Philadelphia, WIP, which in the ’60s was once dubbed a “chicken rock” station. The “rock” it played was pretty lame, 2nd- and 3rd-tier stuff. Rock which lacked the courage of its convictions, so to speak. (I don’t know why I’m boring you with this.)
Tammi is prolific! Love her books. Excited about all 5 to come. “Princess in Training” - loved the artwork.
Great interview! Tammi is amazing, and so are all of the illustrations! I love seeing the diverse styles and can’t wait to read them all.
What each of these books (and this interview) offers is an exuberant sense of FUN and mischievous a sense of humor. Tammi clearly inspires her illustrator collaborators. The names Cutesy, Blinky and Bob are just a funny combo. And Marge and Lola meditating… ha! Thanks for sharing that watering hole pic; I wish I’d been an elementary school outlaw. Fun stuff all the way around.