JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans. Join now (it's free).
Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.
Blog Posts by Tag
In the past 7 days
Blog Posts by Date
Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 5 of 5
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: Vanessa Brantley-Newton in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
***To everyone who completed the PiBoIdMo Challenge, the Pledge for you to sign is coming later today. In the meantime, enjoy our first Post-PiBo guest blog with a very talented illustrator!***
When I was going to school, I attended a community school that had been created by the parents and local writers, artist, musicians, and poets. It was a special school because we could not go to white schools. We had some of the best teachers ever! One day, I met this wonderful teacher named Miss Russell. Miss Russell had the biggest, orangest afro I had ever seen in my whole entire life. It looked like a cloud. She wore the shortest dresses and the coolest shoes. I loved Miss Russell. Once she set me on her lap and shared a beautiful book that has stayed with me all these years. It was about a young boy who wore a red snow suit and lived in the hood as far as I was concerned, LOL! The thing that stood out about this boy was that he was brown just like me!
He was beautiful!! His mom and dad looked just like my parents. Even the wallpaper looked like the wallpaper in my own house. I was excited and thrilled. Surely the person was who created this book must have been watching me from his studio window. The book left me feeling some kind of way. It conveyed all my feelings and thoughts through its beautiful, colorful pictures and collage. I couldn’t remember all the words to the story, for you see I am dyslexic. There was nobody who really understood what that was. The words didn’t make sense to me but the pictures told me the story.
Everybody is now talking about diversity in children’s books. In 1963 there weren’t many books that had a black children as a main character, and when they were drawn in children’s books of old, black people were drawn very cruelly and just plain ugly. The book moved me so because it would be the first time I would see a black child that looked like me, dressed like me…might have even been me, LOL.
I loved Peter—he was my little brother in my head. Peter was beautifully illustrated and I related to his story because I had experienced the same thing. Countless other children experienced the same thing. Many years would pass and I would end up in a Barnes and Noble looking for picture books to inspire me as I began to illustrate children’s books myself. I came across “The Snowy Day”.
Now as I told you, I am dyslexic. Reading for me sometimes can be a struggle. The words seem to dance on the page. Numbers seem to move and float around. I push myself constantly to read out loud, and while I make it look effortless and fun, it is a struggle for me still. I took “The Snowy Day” and sat on the floor of B&N and I read it through tears. Every wonderful and magnificent word.
Finally, words and pictures came together. Comforting memories from the first time that the book was read to me spilled over like warm beach waves. I looked for books written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats. I began to do my own study on his work. I copied the man. I wanted to somehow do for other children what this awesome man had done for me. Ezra Jack Keats made me feel so special because he thought that I should have been in a children’s book all along. I wasn’t an afterthought!
It is important that not only Black, White, Chinese or Indian children be seen in picture books, but that all children see themselves in picture books. That all children get to experience another culture so that their minds broaden. Diversity is needed if we are going to grow as writers and illustrators. I like to call myself “The Multicultural Illustrator”. It is reflected in my work. I come from a very blended background—African American, Asian, European, and Jewish decent—it’s all in there. So if you are thinking that diversity is not important, take it from a little brown girl who was effected by someone’s beautiful pictures.
Once Upon A Time, a little girl wished to be an artist. So, she took her fantastic box of Crayola crayons and drew on the sides of her mother’s clean white stove and white walls. When her mother prepared dinner that night, the crayons melted in a beautiful puddle of waxy deliciousness. She was thrilled! Her parents? Not so much. They made that almost-famous artist get some soap and water and remove and clean up her fantastic masterpiece. Her mom and dad got her a pad of paper and she has been drawing ever since. Vanessa is agented by Painted-words.com. She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, daughter and a friendly cat named Stripes. Visit her at Oohlaladesignstudio.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter @nesterb.
Her latest book is ONE LOVE, based on the song by Bob Marley and adapted by Cedella Marley.
10 Comments on Post-PiBoIdMo Day 1: Vanessa Brantley-Newton Celebrates Diversity, last added: 12/1/2014
Enjoyed the post. Children do wish to see themselves in books. Beautiful illustrations, glad your wish came true.
Michele Prestininzi said, on 12/1/2014 4:07:00 AM
Vanessa, Thanks for sharing your personal story. It’s such an important message and so inspiring.
lmconnors said, on 12/1/2014 4:08:00 AM
Lisa Connors
Diversity is important! I remember reading Corduroy as a young (white) girl and thinking nothing about skin color, just of a child who loved a teddy bear. There were not enough such books. We need them.
Yvonne Mes said, on 12/1/2014 4:09:00 AM
Thank you for showing the power of books and the importance of diversity in picture books.
imartypoet said, on 12/1/2014 4:11:00 AM
Your art is lovely. I had the thrill of seeing Ezra Jack Keats originals at a local museum. Peter’s Chair is a favorite of mine. Whenever it snows I think of the images in the Very Sniwy Day. I think he influenced all of us and continues to now. Thank you for bringing one of the truly great illustrators to the PiBoIdMo community. Miss Russell sounds totally cool. She makes me realize we need diverse looks as well as books to make their way into picture books! Have you drawn her into one of yours yet?
August Washington said, on 12/1/2014 4:12:00 AM
😊 thank you
lindamartinandersen said, on 12/1/2014 4:19:00 AM
So glad you were encouraged to draw and were introduced to one of the greats that inspired you.
gweddle said, on 12/1/2014 4:32:00 AM
Thank you for sharing your personal story. So many of us feel a separateness. Recognizing ourselves in stories gives us feelings of inclusion, acceptance and security. Hence the importance of diversity in children’s books. They have such power. 😊
Cathy Breisacher said, on 12/1/2014 4:35:00 AM
Your work is gorgeous and your words tugged at my heart strings. Thank you for sharing.
Carolyn Rohrbaugh said, on 12/1/2014 4:39:00 AM
You are a very talented artist and writer. I truly enjoyed your blog.
Boy, oh, boy are we going to have tons of fun today!
(Which is good because we're back in sub-zero temperatures around here and I might get cranky about that if not for all the fun! :))
First of all, it's Perfect Picture Book Friday, and what's not to love about that?
Second of all, we have a winner of today's book from our meet the author post on Monday! (You can see the post HERE if you missed it.)
Finally, someone around here, who clearly cannot be left unsupervised for a second!, has been hatching a hare-brained scheme, and I suppose it's about time I let you in on it :) But first - our perfect picture book!
Title: The Girl Who Heard Colors Written By: Marie Harris Illustrated By: Vanessa Brantley-Newton Nancy Paulsen Books, September 2013, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-8
Themes/Topics: synesthesia, differences, acceptance, perception, five senses
Opening: "Jillian loved the world with all her five senses. She loved the tickling touch of her bunny's whiskers on her cheek. She loved the taste of warm maple syrup on waffles."
Brief Synopsis: When Jillian hears a dog barking, she sees red. When she rings her bike bell, she sees silver. The wind in the pines is soft gray, and the rain, light purple. Jillian has synesthesia - a way of perceiving that causes sound to have color. But when the kids at school tease her, suddenly it doesn't feel like such a great thing to have. It takes a special teacher to help them all see it for the gift it is.
Links To Resources: The back of the book has information about synesthesia. Neuroscience For Kids has information about synesthesia as well as a test you can try. Science News For Students also has a lot of information. HERE is a test to see if you might be a synesthete. Talk about what it would be like to hear colors or taste sounds. Are there times when experiencing the world like that would be an advantage? A disadvantage?
Why I Like This Book: I always like books that encourage acceptance and tolerance. There is too much variety in the world for any one way to be the "right" way to be or believe or perceive. So I like this book for that reason. But it's also a beautifully written story that any child who has ever felt different will relate to. The language is poetic (not surprising since it was written by a New Hampshire poet laureate :).) And synesthesia itself is absolutely fascinating. I finished this book and found myself wishing I could be a synesthete for a day, just to see how cool it would be to experience the world that way!
The next item on our agenda of excitement today is to let you know who won the book so generously donated by Marie. Random.org has chosen our winner and it is Tracy Campbell! Woo-hoo, Tracy! Come on down! Your prize is a signed copy of THE GIRL WHO HEARD COLORS! Please email me with your address (which I probably have but can't find! :)) and I'll get it right out to you!
And now, one last item before we all head off for the weekend....
It's been a long winter.
We've had a lot of snow, and more is coming Sunday into Monday (according to the local weatherman who seriously needs to be replaced by a new weatherman with better news!)
It's been bitterly cold, day after day, for weeks on end.
The icicles have icicles!
I think it's time for some fun!
And it seems to me, we haven't had a writing contest in nearly 3 months...
SO, boys and girls, hold onto your hats, because we're taking Hare-Brained Scheme to a whole new level!
Announcing
TheMarch MadnessWritingContest!
The Contest: Write a children's story, in poetry or prose, maximum 350 words, that is a fractured fairy tale. Feel free to add a theme of spring, or mix in one of the spring holidays if you like - St. Patrick's Day, April Fools Day, Easter or Passover, Arbor Day, Earth Day... Have fun with it ! The madder* the better! :) *as in wild and wacky, not angry :)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between Thursday March 20 at 12:01 AM EST and Monday March 24 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official post which will go up on my blog on Thursday March 20 (no PPBF March 21!) and remain up through Wednesday March 26 (no new post on Monday March 24, no WYRI on March 26). If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my March 20th post. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I'll post your entry for you!)
The Judge: My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to five (or possibly a couple more :)) finalists which will be posted here on Thursday March 27 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on March 30 and the winner will be announced on Monday March 31.
The Prizes!: I'm still working on the prize(s). I'm hoping to have something knock-your-socks-off great to offer... I think I do... we'll see. Stay tuned :) But I wanted you all to have time to get to work on your stories so I went ahead and posted the contest rules without the prizes.
Now. The really hare-brained part of all this is that it will be followed by a related Illustrator Contest in April!!! (to be announced and elaborated on later! :))
I know!!!
That kind of excitement bowls you right over, don't it? :)
And with that, I wish you a lovely time perusing the rest of today's perfect picture books! PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links in the list below.
Have a great weekend, everyone!!! (And fire up those thinking caps!)
0 Comments on Perfect Picture Book Friday - The Girl Who Heard Colors PLUS A Contest Announcement! as of 2/28/2014 5:18:00 AM
Enter to win the One Love Prize Pack featured to the left. One Love, adapted by Cedella Marley, Bob Marley s first child, inspires children and parents to feel the positive groove of change when one girl enlists her community to help transform her neighborhood for the better. Giveaway begins October 5, 2011, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends November 2, 2011, at 11:59 P.M. PST.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Book overview: Adapted from one of Bob Marley s most beloved songs, One Love brings the joyful spirit and unforgettable lyrics of his music to life for a new generation. Readers will delight in dancing to the beat and feeling the positive groove of change when one girl enlists her community to help transform her neighborhood for the better. Adapted by Cedella Marley, Bob Marley s first child, and gorgeously illustrated by Vanessa Newton, this heartwarming picture book offers an upbeat testament to the amazing things that can happen when we all get together with one love in our hearts.
About the authors: Cedella Marley’s life has always been rooted in music and culture. As the oldest child of Bob Marley, she has dedicated herself to keeping her father’s message and memory alive. She is a musician as well, performing internationally with the three-time Grammy Award?winning Melody Makers, which consist of her brothers Ziggy and Steve and her sister Sharon. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her husband and three sons.
Bob Marley (1945 -1981) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He remains the most widely known performer of reggae music. In 1994, Marley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2001, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
About the illustrator: Vanessa Brantley-Newton is the author and illustrator of Let Freedom Sing and Don’t Let Auntie Mable Bless the Table. She loves to craft, cook, collect vintage children’s books, tell stories, make dolls, and shop. She lives in East Orange, New Jersey, with her husband, daughter, and two crazy cats, Kirby and Stripes.
How to enter:
Fill out the required fields below
Maximum entries: Three (3)
Giveaway Rules:
Shipping Guidelines: This book giveaway is open to participants with a United States or Canadian address.
Giveaway begins October 5, 2011, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends November 2, 2011, at 11:59 P.M. PST, when all entries must be received. No purchase necessary. See Add a Comment
Cedella Marley’s life has always been rooted in music and culture. As the oldest child of Bob Marley, she has dedicated herself to keeping her father’s message and memory alive. She is a musician as well, performing internationally with the three-time Grammy Award–winning Melody Makers, which consist of her brothers Ziggy and Steve and her sister Sharon. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her husband and three sons.
TCBR: What can you tell us about your latest book, One Love?
Cedella Marley: One Love is my adaptation one of my father’s favorite songs. I kept the spirit of the lyrics, but made a few changes for young readers. I’m thrilled to introduce the spirit of One Love to a new generation.
What age group is itintended for?
Like most picture books the primary ages are between 4 and 8, but kids older and younger will also love the message and illustrations in One Love.
What do you think children will connect with the most?
[I'm] very proud that there is such a diversity in the characters depicted in One Love – every child will find someone who looks like them or a member of their family. And I hope they’ll also love singing along with the book.
To what extent did you collaborate with Vanessa Brantley-Newton when creating the illustrations? Do the illustrations match your vision for the book?
Vanessa and I collaborated very closely and I could not be happier with how she brought my vision of the book to life! She added so many wonderful touches, like the bedspread that has dictionary definitions of the words “happy” and “laugh,” the number 56 on the town house – which was the house number of the home we grew up in, and the appearances of my father throughout the book.
As well as One Love, you have adapted two more of your father’s songs: Boy from Nine Mile and Three Little Birds. With so many legendary songs to choose from, what was it that inspired you to bring these three songs from your father’s great legacy to a new generation?
In The Boy from Nine Mile I wanted to tell the story of my father’s childhood in a way that was accessible to young readers and share the joy and challenges growing up in Jamaica at that time. One Love and Three Little Birds are the songs
I had posted the little fairy sitting on the mushroom a few weeks back. She is part of set that I did. Here is the other as well as one that I did digitally with in Corel. I sure hope I find one of them or one of yours in the backyard this spring. Everyone keep your eyes peeled! he he he!!! Happy Spring!
6 Comments on Fairies Bearing Gifts, last added: 4/23/2009
The top one is absolutely fantastic, Vanessa! (I like the other ones, too.) I don't normally like a broken up line, but I really like hers. The colors, the sparkles, the expression, her pose are impeccable. It's beautiful!
(By the way, thanks for being so encouraging. You make a terrific cheerleader!)
I love both illustrations - excellent colors and much fun! The top fairy is so sparkly and I bet the coffee/tea/hot chocolate she's offering would be yummy. I think my favorite is the bottom illustration though. It looks like they had so much fun shopping, and I'd like to go with them.
***To everyone who completed the PiBoIdMo Challenge, the Pledge for you to sign is coming later today. In the meantime, enjoy our first Post-PiBo guest blog with a very talented illustrator!***
Enjoyed the post. Children do wish to see themselves in books. Beautiful illustrations, glad your wish came true.
Vanessa, Thanks for sharing your personal story. It’s such an important message and so inspiring.
Lisa Connors
Diversity is important! I remember reading Corduroy as a young (white) girl and thinking nothing about skin color, just of a child who loved a teddy bear. There were not enough such books. We need them.
Thank you for showing the power of books and the importance of diversity in picture books.
Your art is lovely. I had the thrill of seeing Ezra Jack Keats originals at a local museum. Peter’s Chair is a favorite of mine. Whenever it snows I think of the images in the Very Sniwy Day. I think he influenced all of us and continues to now. Thank you for bringing one of the truly great illustrators to the PiBoIdMo community. Miss Russell sounds totally cool. She makes me realize we need diverse looks as well as books to make their way into picture books! Have you drawn her into one of yours yet?
😊 thank you
So glad you were encouraged to draw and were introduced to one of the greats that inspired you.
Thank you for sharing your personal story. So many of us feel a separateness. Recognizing ourselves in stories gives us feelings of inclusion, acceptance and security. Hence the importance of diversity in children’s books. They have such power. 😊
Your work is gorgeous and your words tugged at my heart strings. Thank you for sharing.
You are a very talented artist and writer. I truly enjoyed your blog.