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I want to know your opinion for my next project. I'm designing and submitting a proposal for a new coloring book, but I can't decide which theme to go with. This would be for adults, and I know I want to include all things with wings, but how??

Halos I adore all things pattern, and placing the circles behind a lovely lady are representative of her personality and purpose. The halo is the radiating circles behind her. When I first heard this concept of patterned halos it was through a Mucha exhibit, where he himself called them halos. It forever changed how I saw them and the stories they tell.

Enchanted Gardens A narrative starting with the garden gate, entering into a world full of florals, landscapes, fairies, angels, and the songs of nature around them. A story unfolds as you wander through the pages, helping to create the mood through your choice of colors.

Will you help me? Vote!


My Pixie Fairy Coloring Book has be so much fun to share and create, I want to do more, with more pattern and detail. Something I truly love doing.


What's your favorite subject to color?
Answer in the comments below. :)

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This summer, I have done a live illustration on the sidewalk of my little city. This is part of a great project to revitalize the neighbourhood. The theme is The art of sharing. The public is welcome to vote for their favorite art.

This is where I need your help, please vote for my illustration - Socialisation et partage -.

To vote, you can go at http://www.saint-eustache.ca/concours-lart-de-partager and select my illustration (Socialisation et partage) and then, to submit your vote, just click the "soumettre" button.

Thank you very much for your help :)
And happy great summer to everyone!!

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April 2015 will go down in history as the month that the 2016 race for the White House began in earnest. Hillary Clinton’s online declaration of her presidential candidacy was the critical moment. With it America’s two major political parties have locked horns with each other. The Democrats intend to continue their control of the presidency for another four years; Republicans hope to finally make good on a conservative bumper sticker that began appearing on automobiles as early as the summer of 2009 and that read, “Had Enough Yet? Next Time Vote Republican.”

The post Do America’s political parties matter in presidential elections? appeared first on OUPblog.

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March is looking to be a great fun Month with lots of Theater all over the country, appearances in Amherst, MA and, for the first time, New Zealand! But first a quick look at last month: RECAP! What a fun month February was; starting out with a surprise call from the Geisel Committee informing me that Elephant & Piggie's WAITING IS NOT EASY! had garnered a Geisel Honor!  This was a

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thanks for making 2014 such a great year at Knuffle Manor.  2015 promises to have lots of exciting events, theater performances, books, and more.  Here's a taste of what's scheduled this year as of now. Productions of ELEPHANT & PIGGIE'S WE ARE IN A PLAY! in Nashville, TN; Syracuse, NY; Orlando, FL; and Washington, DC plus a production of Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical

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What is SkADaMo? Check it out here.

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It still boggles my mind that in this country women only gained the right to vote less than 100 years ago. (August 18, 1920.) Guess what I'll be doing today?

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VOTER FLOOD

 

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November is going to be a busy month, with a new book plus appearances in Amherst, MA, Northampton, MA, & Brooklyn, NY. So let's get to it. NEW BOOK! November 4th, 2014 will see the release of Elephant and Piggie's newest adventure, WAITING IS NOT EASY!   Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have

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BIRDth-DAY! April 1st marks the 11th anniversary of the publication of my first book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Because of the support of Librarians, Teachers, Parents, Grand-Parents, and Fans the last 11 years have been a wonderful ride filled with opportunities for me to write, draw, and meet fantastic kids and grown-ups all over the world. Thank you for this gift.

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I am SO excited!

Only ONE MORE DAY! until the Match Madness Writing Contest opens!

I cannot wait to read the fabulous entries I hope will soon be pouring in to distract us from the fact that it is still 10 degrees even though tomorrow is the official first day of spring!

(The only small fly in the ointment is that I STILL don't have an idea for my sample story...  EEK!  I am seriously running out of time!!!)

One quick note on the contest: (because people keep asking) it's for a fractured fairy tale (think Cinderella, Snow White, Rumplestiltskin etc. - there are lots) not a fable, myth, or legend.  Also, even if your story is intended to be a picture book, no art notes because we get into a weird area with word count.  And no, your title doesn't count in the word count.

I think Something Chocolate might fuel the creative muse.  Let's have some of Teresa's French Chocolate Silk Pie, shall we?

Teresa's French Chocolate Silk Pie - gorgeous, isn't it?

And here's a tasty view of a delicious slice - YUM!

Ah!  I feel more creative already! :)

But now let's get down to brass tacks!

First, the February Pitch Pick.  Here are the contestants:

#1 Kristine
The STEM Girls Take Off - Picture Book (ages 5-8)
Sophia wants to win the school science fair, but when her project won’t cooperate, she uses perseverance and teamwork to bring home the goal, proving that every girl can be a STEM girl.

#2 Pam B
Fee Fi Fo Flub - Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The giant Mini wants to continue her school’s tradition of putting on the annual production of Klurg and the Beanstalk. But during practice, Mini’s co-star makes jokes and goes off-script, and Mini fears he will ruin the show. It is only when Mini makes her own blunder on opening night that she realizes the value of creativity and flexibility, and works with her co-star to make the show a success.

#3 Julie G
Diary Of A Linky Kid - Picture Book (ages 4-7)
Herman wishes he was like everyone else, but when all the other kids are gazing at their belly buttons during gym class, Herman is hiding his coil shaped tummy under his t-shirt. When just another day at school turns into a daring rescue mission, Herman becomes an unlikely hero when his flexibility saves the day.

#4 Steve
Silly Tilly - Picture Book (ages 4-8)
Tilly's dreams of having a baby come true when a hatching egg presents her with a fluffy bundle of … crocodile! Everything is bliss until Charlie starts to grow. AND grow. When her friends start disappearing, Tilly worries that she’s next on the menu. But when Charlie invites her down to his cave, she’s in for a big surprise … party!

Please vote in the poll below by Friday March 21 at 11:59PM ET for the one you feel most deserves a read by editor Erin Molta.

February 2014 Pitch PickMany thanks!!!

Today's pitch comes to us from Beth H. who says she is a, "Chocaholic, reformed Catholic, (I don't feel guilty anymore about eating chocolate), red wine lover - (no I was not an altar girl) seeking to publish children's books that introduce children to self love, thinking out of the box and just plain silliness."  

Here is her pitch:

Working Title: Martin's Perfect Web
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 5-7)
The Pitch: In a quest to build the perfect web, an obsessive compulsive spider confronts his biggest fears through an unlikely friendship with an inquisitive dragon. In a wild ride on the dragon's tail, Martin learns how to relax and enjoy the simple process of creating - leaving a beautiful web behind him to his utter disbelief.  

So what do you think?  Would You Read It?  YES, MAYBE or NO?

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Last week I was gearing up for action after my summer break and it already it's all go!

     Firstly, I'm so pleased and proud to announce that Burly & Grum and The Secret City has been nominated for a People's Book Prize Award (children's section).  

     It's up against many other childrens' books, all of them written by very talented authors and I am honoured to be alongside them. Please spare a moment vote for The Secret City if you or your child enjoyed reading it - there's room for you to leave a comment as well if you like. 
     The People's Book Prize was founded by Tatiana Wilson who wanted to give new authors an equal opportunity in the marketplace, based purely on their talent and ability. Writers' works are voted by the public and that not only helps to raise the profile of the author but also highlights the importance of libraries and bookshops and encourages new work. Thank you Tatiana!
     My second piece of good news is that I have been asked by Paws n Claws Publishing to be a judge for their children's writing competition which will start on 16 September - so watch this space for more details on how to enter!  Paws n Claws work very closely with the Born Free Foundation, the charity Burly & Grum also supports and I am delighted to have been invited to work with them! 

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By Matthew Flinders

The 29 August 2013 will go down as a key date in British political history. Not only because of the conflict in Syria but also due to the manner in which it reflects a shift in power and challenges certain social perceptions of Parliament.

“It is very clear to me that Parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action,” the Prime Minster acknowledged, “I get that and the Government will act accordingly.” With this simple statement David Cameron mopped the blood from his nose and retreated to consider the political costs (both domestically and internationally) of losing the vote on intervention in the Syrian conflict by just 13 votes. While commentators discuss the future of ‘the special relationship’ with the United States, and whether President Obama will risk going into Syria alone, there is great value is stepping back a little from the heat of battle and reflecting upon exactly why the vote in the House of Commons matters. In this regard, three inter-related issues deserve brief comment.

The broader political canvas on which the vote on military intervention in Syria must be painted can be summed up by what is known as the Parliamentary Decline Thesis (PDT). In its simplest manifestation the PDT suggests that the government became gradually more ascendant over Parliament during the twentieth century. Texts that lamented the ‘decline’ or ‘death’ of Parliament — such as Christopher Hollis’ Can Parliament Survive? (1949), George Keeton’s The Passing of Parliament (1952), Anthony Sampson’s Anatomy of Britain (1962), Bruce Lenman’s The Eclipse of Parliament (1992), to mention just a few examples — have dominated both the academic study of politics and how Parliament is commonly perceived.

What the vote on Syria reveals is the manner in which the balance of power between the executive and the legislature is far more complex than the PDT arguably allows for. There is no doubt that the executive generally controls the business of the House but independent-minded MPs are far more numerous, and the strength of the main parties far more constrained, than is generally understood. (Richard Crossman’s introduction to the 1964 re-print of Walter Bagehot’s The English Constitution provides a wonderful account of this fact.)

Drilling down still further, this critique of the PDT can be strengthened by examining the changing constitutional arrangements for the use of armed force. The formal legal-constitutional position over the use of armed force is relatively straightforward: Her Majesty’s armed forces are deployed under Royal Prerogative, exercised in practice by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. However, the last decade has seen increased debate and discussion about Parliament’s role in approving the use of armed force overseas. From Tam Dalyell’s proposed ten-minute rule bill in 1999 that would have required ‘the prior approval — by a simply majority of the House of Commons — of military action by the UK forces against Iraq’ through to the vote on war in Iraq on 18 March 2003, the balance of power between the executive and legislature in relation to waging war has clearly shifted towards Parliament. Prior assent in the form of a vote on a substantive motion is now required before armed force can be deployed. The problem for David Cameron is that he is the first Prime Minister to have been defeated in a vote of this nature.

Defeat for the coalition government brings us to our third and final issue: public engagement and confidence in politics (and therefore politicians). The data and survey evidence on public attitudes to political institutions, political processes and politicians is generally overwhelmingly negative with a strong sense that MPs in particular have become disconnected from the broader society they are supposed to represent and protect. The public’s perception is no doubt related to the dominance of the PDT but on this occasion it appears that a majority of MPs placed their responsibility to the public above party political loyalties.

With less than 22% of the public currently supporting military intervention in Syria, Parliament really has ‘reflected the views of the British people’. The bottom line seems to be that the public understands that ‘punitive strikes’ are unlikely to have much impact on a Syrian President who has been inflicting atrocities on his people for more than thirty months. (Only in Britain could war crimes in Syria be relegated for several months beneath a media feeding frenzy about Jeremy Paxman’s beard!) War is ugly, brutal, and messy; promises of ‘clinical’ or ‘surgical’ strikes cannot hide this fact.

At a broader level — if there is one — what the ‘war vote’ on the 29 August 2013 really reveals is that politics matters and sometimes works. Parliament is not toothless and it has the ability to play a leading role in restraining the executive in certain situations. Could it be that maybe politics isn’t quite as broken as so many ‘disaffected democrats’ seem to think?

Professor Matthew Flinders is Director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre for the Public Understanding of Politics at the University of Sheffield. He wrote this blog while sitting in the Casualty Department of the Northern General Hospital with a broken ankle and is glad to report that he received a wonderful standard of care.

Author of Defending Politics (2012), you can find Matthew Flinders on Twitter @PoliticalSpike and read more of Matthew Flinders’s blog posts here.

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Image credit: London Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge. By Francesco Gasparetti [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

The post Why Parliament matters: waging war and restraining power appeared first on OUPblog.

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In anticipation of CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK, every year the Children's Book Council asks YOU to vote for your favorite childrens book and I'm happy to say that both THE DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE and myself are up for Book of the Year (K-2) and Illustrator of the Year respectively. I'm all for awards that go directly to the kids and ask them who they like to read.  Traditionally, gobs of kids vote

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Did you see the New Jersey SCBWI Chapter Logo? It was created by illustrator Susan Brand. Congratulations to Susan Brand for her winning entry. The image (see above) incorporates the SCBWI kite symbol but also the New Jersey state bird: the goldfinch—a beautiful icon to symbolize our members taking flight and moving onward and upward in their journey to publication. Congratulations, Susan! You can view Susan’s illustration work here.

The Final Round of voting for the 2013 Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards continues until March 15, 2013. Winners of the 2013 Crystal Kite Award will be notified the following week, and announcement of the winners made on April 30, 2013.  Here are the finalists. Make sure you vote. Go to www.scbwi.org, log in, go to your regional chapter page, then click on the Crystal Kite Award Tab.

Here are the finalist for Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey/Wash DC/Virginia/West Virginia/Maryland Regions.

Ame Dyckman, Boy+ Bot (Alfred A. Knopf (Random House Children’s Books)

 

Cynthia Grady, I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers)

Lana Krumwiede, Freakling (Candlewick Press)

Anne Marie Pace, Vampirina Ballerina (Disney-Hyperion (Disney Children’s)

Lois Szymanski, Wild Colt (Schiffer Books/Cornell Marime Press)

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy

Filed under: authors and illustrators, children writing, Competition Tagged: Ame Dyckman, Anne Marie Pace, Boy + Bot, Cynthia Grady, Freakling, Lana Krumwiede, Lois Szymanski, Vote

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Every year kids across the nation get to vote for their favorite picture book via the Bank Street School's Irma Black Awards. I love a program that allows actual picture book readers to have their voices heard. This year it looks like two of the four nominees are THE DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE!? and GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE DINOSAURS.  I'm flattered to have so much of my work represented.

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I'm back from a great trip, digging out (literally & email-i-ally) from the avalance of stuff that I need to attend to. So, quickly: Thanks to everyone who came out to MoMA, SCBWI, The Grove in LA, & Sketchfest in SF.  Every appearance was great fun and very different, Here's an image of the DON'T LET THE COMEDIANS DO STORYTIME! class picture.  As you can see Patton was upset he didn't get to

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  The vote in Ohio is important for kids, too.  Every year, school kids from all over Ohio get to nominate, then vote on their favorite books of the year.  The book with the most votes in each catagory gets a Buckeye Award. I'm thrilled to report that this year the K-2 kids voted Elephant and Piggie's WE ARE IN A BOOK! as their fave. There's nothing better than having your real

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I got to the polls at 6:55 am and I was about 20th in line.  By 7 am, when the machines opened, there were over 50 people waiting to vote.  Such a change from last Spring when I just walked in - refused to show ID because I'm a rebel and it wasn't The Law yet - and voted.  BTW, after all the brouhaha about IDs in PA, no one asked ANYONE to show ID this morning.

There is still time.  If you have not voted, DO IT NOW. 

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According to The Ladies Home Journal, 34% of American women do not vote.  What is THAT all about?  Ladies, you have to vote.  A lot of the talk in this presidential campaign is about you - your health, your employment, your family and who gets to make decisions about your life.  You might be fine with letting the men have the final say.  But you still need to VOTE!!!  I have to say, I think the men should listen to the women in the world.

Like that Pope Benedict.  What is he doing, ordering the Nuns on the Bus about?  And not just the more outspoken nuns, either.  Benedict wants to take over the whole Leadership Conference of Women Religious.  What these nuns seem to be saying is the world needs more kindness.  When you ask a group of people - nuns in this case - to work with the country's most marginalized people - the poor, the sick, the troubled, - well, you have to expect them to want to HELP the people they work with.  American nuns are just taking their Christian gospel to the streets, admonishing law makers to remember all the citizens of the United States, not just the rich, the white, and the male.

Here's what the Huffington Post reports on how the LCWR responded to Pope Benedict at their annual conference. The ladies are behaving like ladies and offering to keep the lines of communication open.

Now, I went to parochial school, and I KNOW just how scary a determined sister can be.  Maybe Benedict ran into one or two of those determined nuns back in his younger days.  But he's a grown-up now.  And if the best he can do, when negotiating with committed members of his flock, is to threaten them with take-over, he might not be the World Leader he thinks he is.  I'm just saying.

So back to voting.  If you have two X chromosomes, are over 18 and have not registered to vote, do so tomorrow.  There are laws about being registered at least a month before an election in many states.  In Pennsylvania, until the law is overturned, you will need a photo ID and possibly another form of ID to register.  And you will need a government issued photo ID to actually cast a vote - unless fairness prevails.  Take a lesson from the sisters.  Get involved.  Work to make things better.

I try not to get political on this blog - much.  I don't care if you vote R or D or I or L or G or even, gasp, C.  I DO care if you vote.  Register.  Vote.  Here's a site that will tell you what you need to know.  Registertovote.org.

Do it.  Now.

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Hi, 

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Myself and my fellow guest judges and pals have done their voting for this year's Doodle for Google Contest. Now it's your turn!  The finalists are waiting for your vote.   Scholarship money for the kids and their schools will be awarded to the winners in a few weeks in New York, presented by the Google and judges. Good luck to the kids who've made it this far.  Looking forward to meeting

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It’s just about time for you to cast your vote in the 2012 YALSA election. The association’s 2012 Nominating Committee wants to make it as seamless as possible for you to make your selections and cast your ballot. Over the past few week’s we’ve worked to do that by providing information on candidates, the process, and the positions up for a vote. Now, we’ve put together a handy 2012 election guide for you to use as you continue to prepare. In the guide you will find all of the posts from the past few months on the election. You’ll also find a sample ballot which includes an example of the actual ballot along with the biographical and professional information for each of the candidates running for a YALSA position. You can read through before going online to cast your ballot. That way you’ll be all ready for voting day.

In just under two weeks you’ll receive an email from ALA with your voting information, it should arrive in your email as part of a 48 hour email blast between March 19 and March 21. The polls are open from March 19 through April 27.

Remember, by voting in the election you have the opportunity to help guarantee that YALSA is the association you want it to be. By the way, there is more information on candidates still to come. Over the next few days audio interviews with each of the candidates running for governance positions will be posted on the YALSABlog, stay tuned.

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The fine folks at Publisher's Weekly have given my upcoming THE DUCKLING GETS A COOKIE!? its second starred review.  They say: "Willems packs his punchy dialogue, punctuation, and cartoon visuals with meaning." Thanks, PW! Meanwhile: Over at Scholastic Parent & Child, they list their 100 favorite children's books ever. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is bestowed "Best Read-Aloud

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