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On this edition of Just One More Book!, Mark speaks with illustrator and Houghton Mifflin Art Director, Scott Magoon about children’s books as a gateway drug, what an Art Director looks for in children’s book illustrations and his 2007 snowflake, Loch Kindness (The monster in this loch gets a “taste” of the holiday spirit).

Scott’s heart-warming snowflake is up for bids December 3-7, 2007.

Books mentioned:

• Lissy’s Friends
• The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster (on JOMB)

Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure is an online auction of wooden snowflakes painted by participating children’s book illustrators. This annual event, which was started in 2004 by author Grace Lin and her husband Robert Mercer, has raised over $200,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Just One More Book! is one of many online children’s literature resources participating in the promotion of this year’s Robert’s Snow auction. Over the next few weeks we will be publishing interviews with participating illustrators and we’re hoping that you’ll find yourself bidding on the incredible art that’s available to you during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You can read more about Robert’s Snow: Art Auction for Cancer’s Cure here.

On this edition of Just One More Book!, Mark speaks with illustrator Laura Huliska-Beith about the inspiring over-the-top optimism of the 1950s, how a pair of roller blades and an obedience school drop-out influenced her children’s book illustration career and her 2007 snowflake, Three French Hens.

Laura’s feisty, festive snowflake is up for bids December 3-7, 2007.

Books mentioned:

• The Recess Queen
• The Looking Book
• The Book of Bad Ideas

Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure is an online auction of wooden snowflakes painted by participating children’s book illustrators. This annual event, which was started in 2004 by author Grace Lin and her husband Robert Mercer, has raised over $200,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Just One More Book! is one of many online children’s literature resources participating in the promotion of this year’s Robert’s Snow auction. Over the next few weeks we will be publishing interviews with participating illustrators and we’re hoping that you’ll find yourself bidding on the incredible art that’s available to you during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You can read more about Robert’s Snow: Art Auction for Cancer’s Cure here.

On March 3 we issued the first of a special series on Just One More Book. We called it Waiting at the Door to Unger and it followed the process of writing, editing and publishing Lee Edward Fodi’s book Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger, the long awaited sequel to Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers.

The wait is now over. The Door to Unger opened a few weeks ago, just before the end of October.

Lee Edward Fodi joins us for this ninth and final edition of the series to talk about his release party, early feedback on the book, an upcoming event in New York City and his plans for the next installments of the Kendra Kandlestar series.

You are entering the Door to Unger.

On this edition of Just One More Book!, Mark speaks with illustrator Diane Greenseid about singing colours, the process of developing a book and the creation of her snowflake, Humpty Dumpty Had a Great Fall, and a Great Winter, Too!

Diane’s spunky snowflake is up for bids November 26-30, 2007,

Books mentioned:

• The Trouble with Tilly Trumble
• Teeny Weeny Bop

Check out Diane Greenseid’s blog here.
Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure is an online auction of wooden snowflakes painted by participating children’s book illustrators. This annual event, which was started in 2004 by author Grace Lin and her husband Robert Mercer, has raised over $200,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Just One More Book! is one of many online children’s literature resources participating in the promotion of this year’s Robert’s Snow auction. Over the next few weeks we will be publishing interviews with participating illustrators and we’re hoping that you’ll find yourself bidding on the incredible art that’s available to you during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You can read more about Robert’s Snow: Art Auction for Cancer’s Cure here.

Waiting at the Door to Unger is our ongoing series of Podcast interviews in which we follow the process of writing, editing and publishing Lee Edward Fodi’s book Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger, the long awaited sequel to Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers.

In this eighth knock, join Lee and me as we spend an afternoon together in Vancouver, Canada on what Lee would later call a children’s book pilgrimage. Our afternoon consisted of lunch at Bellaggio Cafe on Hornby Street, shopping for children’s books at a store appropriately called Kidsbooks and then taking a tour of Christian’s Lyceum of Literature and Art — a newly opened literacy centre — all the while talking about reading and writing great children’s books.

Books mentioned:

• Shi-shi-etko
• Foundling
• Porcupine
• Fiona’s Luck
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

You will soon have a chance to purchase the artwork of a favourite children’s book illustrator while helping to fight cancer — by participating in a unique fundraiser for cancer research: Robert’s Snow: for Cancer’s Cure. Since 2004, this online auction has raised over $200,000 for The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and, with your help, the holiday tradition will thrive in 2007.

In order to raise awareness of and participation in this fabulous fundraiser, we in the kidlitosphere community will be highlighting the individual illustrators who have created snowflakes for the upcoming ’07 auctions — and giving you a peek at the unique snowflakes they have made.

Here at Just One More Book, we will be showcasing the art of:

• Diane Greenseid
• Scott Magoon
• Laura Huliska Beith
• Graeme Base

Thanks to Jules and Eisha at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast for highlighting this fabulous fundraiser and for organizing the book-bloggers brigade.

More details about the Robert’s Snow Online Illustration Auction can be found here.

Stay tuned…

Waiting at the Door to Unger is our ongoing series of Podcast interviews in which we follow the process of writing, editing and publishing Lee Edward Fodi’s book Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger, the long awaited sequel to Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers.

In this seventh knock, I speak with Lee Edward Fodi about the excitement building up towards the October release of The Door to Unger.

I know this is a long post but it is worth reading. After the Artists Business course I did in March this year I started looking into the marketing side of artists and in general. The most important point that stood out for me was that you must have “constant contact with your audience”. In both Alyson Stanfield’s class and in the further research I did, email contact stood out as the dominant

Waiting at the Door to Unger is our ongoing series of Podcast interviews in which we follow the process of writing, editing and publishing Lee Edward Fodi’s book Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger, the long awaited sequel to Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers.

In this sixth knock, Lee Edward Fodi teases us with a reading from Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger. So come along, pull up a seat, make yourself comfortable and let us put our ears to The Door to Unger. Here is chapter one: A Mysterious Visitor.

Drawing of Oroook and Kendra: Lee Edward Fodi

Waiting at the Door to Unger is our ongoing series of Podcast interviews in which we follow the process of writing, editing and publishing Lee Edward Fodi’s book Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger, the long awaited sequel to Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers.

In this fifth knock at the Door to Unger, Lee Edward Fodi makes some announcements including a surprise about the release date of the book, shares his plans for the summer and offers suggestions for those who want to do some creative writing.

Sound effect: Concrete blocks moving from the Freesound project

This episode is part of our Publishers Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers, which we are running during the weeks of July 2 and July 9 2007.

It’s easy to forget that the amazing books we read are the products of publishing companies that exist within what some call a flawed economic model.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with Nancy Traversy, co-founder of Barefoot Books — a company the publishes books to inspire and educate our children as the caretakers of tomorrow — about her decision to pull their catalog from big box bookstores such as Borders and Chapters, and turning Barefoot Books green.

You can learn more about Barefoot Books by visiting their website, barefootbooks.com. (NOTE: the website automatically plays music)

This episode is part our Publishers’ Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers, which we are running during the weeks of July 2 and July 9 2007.

A publisher was once asked how someone could start a small children’s book publishing company in Canada. The response… “start a big one and wait”.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with Rick Wilks about the thirty-two year evolution of his independent children’s book publishing company, Annick Press, from two books per year by kids for kids to thirty amazing titles each year. You can learn more about Annick Press by visiting their website, annickpress.com.

Photo: Annick Press

This episode is part our Publishers’ Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers, which we’re running during the weeks of July 2 and July 9 2007.

Did you know that sharks are shy? That squid can be any colour of the rainbow and light up like fireflies? How old were you when you learned these facts and how did you learn them?

Mark speaks with Stacy Nyikos, author and President of Stonehorse Publishing, about her company’s mandate to publish books about the world’s most exotic animals and wildlife. You can learn more about Stonehorse Publishing by visiting their website, stonehorsepublishing.com.

This episode is part our Publishers’ Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers, which we are running during the weeks of July 2 and July 9 2007.

In 1975 the movie Jaws scared us out of the ocean, the Red Sox lost the World Series and Andrei Sakharov won the Nobel Peace Prize. It was also the year that a publishing house, Children’s Book Press, set out to connect children with rich and varied cultures, their emerging identities and to each other – something that children’s books just didn’t do.

Mark speaks with Dana Goldberg about the unique vision and staying power of Children’s Book Press. You can learn more about Children’s Book Press by visiting their website, childrensbookpress.org.

This episode is part our Publishers’ Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers, which we are running during the weeks of July 2 and July 9 2007.

Children’s books can be for much more than entertainment and education. They can help children understand themselves, the world around them and how to make each day great.

Mark speaks with Illumination Arts founder John Thompson about making the move from adult to children’s publishing, spirituality in children’s books and the economics of the publishing industry.

You can learn more about Illumination Arts by visiting their website, illumin.com.

This episode is part our Publishers’ Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers, which we are running during the weeks of July 2 and July 9 2007.

One in five children suffers from mental illness. That’s a pretty significant statistic to be lacking of quality resources for families and caregivers. So, when her own son was diagnosed with mental illness, Gayle Grass took matters into her own hands. She created Iris the Dragon, a series of picture books to help children and educators.

Our guest on this edition of Just One More Book is Jessica Grass, head of marketing and education for Iris the Dragon. You can learn more about Iris the Dragon and the books in which she appears by visiting the website, iristhedragon.com.

This episode is part of our Publishers Showcase, a special series of interviews with children’s book publishers, which we are running during the weeks of July 2 and July 10 2007.

A baby swan, or cygnet, is not remarkable to look at though it will grow and be nurtured into a beautiful bird that we know as a swan. That image is the concept behind Red Cygnet Press, a publishing company that searches for and helps first-time children’s book authors have their work published.

On this edition of Just One More Book I speak with Bruce Glassman, co-founder of Red Cygnet Press.

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

Waiting at the Door to Unger is our ongoing series of Podcast interviews in which we follow the process of writing, editing and publishing Lee Edward Fodi’s book Kendra Kandlestar and the Door to Unger, the long awaited sequel to Kendra Kandlestar and the Box of Whispers.

In this fourth knock at the Door to Unger, Lee Edward Fodi talks about plans for marketing and promotion, and keeping things fresh in the public speaking circuit.

Also mentioned

• The Chocolatier’s Apprentice (illustrated by Lee)

Sound effect: Concrete blocks moving from the Freesound project

This episode of Just One More Book! is part of our showcase coverage of the International Reading Association’s 52nd annual conference.

Mark speaks with Timothy Shanahan, President of the International Reading Association and Professor of Urban Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, about literacy in life and the role of children’s books in building literacy skills.

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

This episode of Just One More Book! is part of our showcase coverage of the International Reading Association’s 52nd annual conference.

Mark speaks with author and illustrator Wallace Edwards about playing with language and art to inspire children to think differently.

Books mentioned:

• Monkey Business
• Alphabeasts

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

This episode of Just One More Book! is part of our showcase coverage of the International Reading Association’s 52nd annual conference.

Mark speaks with author Stephen Swinburne about how he writes books to turn children in conservationists.

Books mentioned:

• Saving Manatees

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

This episode of Just One More Book! is part of our showcase coverage of the International Reading Association’s 52nd annual conference.

Mark speaks with author and illustrator Elise Primavera about her magical and endearing book, Plantpet.

Books mentioned:

• Plantpet
• Auntie Claus

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

This episode of Just One More Book! is part of our showcase coverage of the International Reading Association’s 52nd annual conference.

Mark speaks with author and dreamer Susan Bosack about her book “Dream”, it’s participation in LegacyProject.org, and being a conductor in a book creation process that involved fifteen illustrators.

Books mentioned:

• Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes

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

This episode of Just One More Book! is part of our showcase coverage of the International Reading Association’s 52nd annual conference.

Mark speaks with author and illustrator Tedd Arnold about playing with words and the process of illustrating books.

Books mentioned:

• The Roly Poly Spider

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

This episode of Just One More Book! is part of our showcase coverage of the International Reading Association’s 52nd annual conference.

Mark speaks with Alvina Ling and Peter Brown about the process of writing and editing Peter’s book Flight of the Dodo.

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