What is JacketFlap

  • 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).

Sort Blog Posts

Sort Posts by:

  • in
    from   

Suggest a Blog

Enter a Blog's Feed URL below and click Submit:

Most Commented Posts

In the past 7 days

Recent Comments

Recently Viewed

JacketFlap Sponsors

Spread the word about books.
Put this Widget on your blog!
  • Powered by JacketFlap.com

Are you a book Publisher?
Learn about Widgets now!

Advertise on JacketFlap

MyJacketFlap Blogs

  • 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
new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Champs Story, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 14 of 14
1. Join my HUGE, ginormous, fantastic BOOK giveaway!

Welcome to my latest children's book giveaway!  To celebrate the release of my 2 latest books, "Desert Baths" and "The Tree That Bear Climbed", I am having a fun coloring contest.  This time I am giving away 4 of my children's books, published by Sylvan Dell Publishing!



The books include "Desert Baths", "The Tree That Bear Climbed", "Prairie Storms", and the award-winning "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!".

Here are the rules:

1. Choose ONE of the coloring pages in this post to download and color.  You may color it or have a child color it.  Crayons are fun, but you can also use glitter, paint, etc.  Use your imagination!

2. POST your finished coloring page on your blog, Facebook, Flickr or Instagram, with a LINK back to my blog.  Then leave me a comment here with the link to YOUR coloring page so we can all see your lovely masterpiece.  (You must do this step in order to qualify.)

3. You have until midnight Central Time Zone on Friday, October 12th, 2012 to post your coloring page link as a comment.

4. The winner will be drawn RANDOMLY from all entrants, and their name will be posted on my blog on Monday, October 15th, 2012. (Please be sure I have a way to contact you via email.)

5. This contest is open to residents of the continental US only.

Here are the coloring pages.  Choose one:




HAVE FUN!

2 Comments on Join my HUGE, ginormous, fantastic BOOK giveaway!, last added: 9/29/2012
Display Comments Add a Comment
2. Mad-Dash-Last-Minute-Holiday-Giveaway!

Thank you to all of the wonderful friends who have visited my blog, come to my book signings and events, and bought my books this year.  I am excited to have 2 new books coming out in 2012.  But as a way of saying thanks for making 2011 such a fun and successful year, I am giving away signed copies of 2 of my books, "Champ's Story" and "Prairie Storms".  Just leave a comment on my blog as to why you think you would like to win my books.  I will draw a winner at RANDOM from all of the entries be sure I have a way to contact you.  Contest ends Thursday, Dec. 15th at 7pm Central Time Zone.  I will contact the winner on Friday.

21 Comments on Mad-Dash-Last-Minute-Holiday-Giveaway!, last added: 12/16/2011
Display Comments Add a Comment
3. Illustration Friday: "Stay"

True friends stay with you through life's ups and downs.

We all need encouragement to stay the course at times.  Find out how Champ's friends encourage her during her battle with cancer in the book I illustrated, Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!, written by Sherry North and published by Sylvan Dell.  And watch for my latest book, Prairie Storms, to be released in August.  To see previews of the book, check out my website.

2 Comments on Illustration Friday: "Stay", last added: 7/10/2011
Display Comments Add a Comment
4. Illustration Friday: "Remedy"


Sometimes the best remedy is love.

Get the heart-warming, award-winning book I illustrated illustrated book, "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!"(published by Sylvan Dell) right here.

Check out what's new over at my fine art blog.

6 Comments on Illustration Friday: "Remedy", last added: 7/7/2011
Display Comments Add a Comment
5. Champ's Story book signing!


Thank you to Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Arlington Hts., IL, for hosting last night's event.  It was a great success!  If you would like to schedule a school visit or book signing for any of my books, please drop me an email.


Here I am explaining how a story becomes a book.  The original art for the cover of "Champ's Story" is framed and displayed on my table along with copies of the book.


Here I am with local authors Michael Bellito and Jackie Pilossoph, who were also signing their books.


Another shot of the original art and the book cover.


1 Comments on Champ's Story book signing!, last added: 5/26/2011
Display Comments Add a Comment
6. "Champ's Story" book signing tomorrow at B&N

Tomorrow I will be signing copies of the award-winning "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!" at Barnes & Noble in Arlington Hts., IL, from 7 to 8:30pm.  Click HERE for more info.


As always, if you have bought a copy of "Champ's Story" and would like me to sign a bookplate for you to affix inside the cover, contact me and let me know.  I will sign one and send it right out to you.

0 Comments on "Champ's Story" book signing tomorrow at B&N as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
7. Become a fan of "Champ's Story" on Facebook!

You can now join the "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!" fan page on Facebook.  Just click HERE, and the click the "Like" button at the top of the fan page.  Post your stories about the book, photos of your child reading the book, your own stories about how cancer has touched the life of you, your child or a pet.  I hope you enjoy this new way to interact with the publisher, author Sherry North, illustrator (me), and other fans of the book.

0 Comments on Become a fan of "Champ's Story" on Facebook! as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
8. SIGNED books make great GIFTS!

If you order any of the books I have illustrated (click the links on the right margin of this blog), I will personally sign a book plate and drop it in the mail to you in time for the holidays.  I am working on book plate designs for "The ABCs of Yoga for Kids", "Little Black Ant on Park Street", and "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!", and will post examples after the weekend.

0 Comments on SIGNED books make great GIFTS! as of 1/1/1900
Add a Comment
9. Illustration Friday: "Spent"


After an especially eventful day for Champ and Cody, the pair was spent and ready for sleep.

(Illustration taken from the book I illustrated, "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!", available on Amazon.)

10 Comments on Illustration Friday: "Spent", last added: 11/1/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
10. Look what I got!


Last week I received my first copy of my latest illustrated children's book "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!", by Sylvan Dell Publishing, written by Sherry North. The book is due to be released this August.

It's such a great feeling holding a new book in my hand. It always brings back memories of all of the hard work that goes into illustrating a children's book.


I dedicated the book to my dog, Sunshine. :)

6 Comments on Look what I got!, last added: 6/28/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
11. Something New...

Only 4 more spreads to complete for "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!".


I promise, the book has a happy "twist" at the end! Get the book, and you'll see what I mean!

See more of my artwork for the book by visiting my website. Thanks!

6 Comments on Something New..., last added: 2/19/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
12. Illustration Friday - "Clumsy"

From my latest children's book illustration project, titled "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!", written by Sherry North, and coming in 2010 from Sylvan Dell Publishing.

15 Comments on Illustration Friday - "Clumsy", last added: 1/24/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
13. Better in 2010

I'm really excited about children's book I am currently illustrating for Sylvan Dell Publishing, and written by Sherry North. It's called "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!"

When the folks at Sylvan Dell offered me the project, I skimmed the manuscript and admittedly I was a little disheartened. Having lost both my parents to cancer at a young age, I was not so sure I wanted this theme to creep back into my life in the form of a story about a little boy whose pet gets sick and has to endure chemotherapy treatments. I really had to think about it and pray about it and search my heart about whether this book was a good match for me. For those who don't know, children's books generally take anywhere from 6 months to a year to illustrate. They are all-consuming, at least for me, because I pour my heart and my passion into them. After sitting with my thoughts awhile, it began to become clear to me that the book was Divinely offered to me for a reason. I have great empathy for anyone going through such a difficult illness, whether they themselves or a loved one. I also sweetly love my dog, Sunshine, and could easily imagine how I would feel if I had to watch her endure treatments for cancer. It is my life experience, I believe, that is guiding me as lovingly I create each illustration for this book. I hope that the end result will touch many lives and help many children understand cancer and deal with their own treatments for the disease.

Here is a dramatic scene from the book Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!".

Sylvan Dell Publishing has been wonderful to work for. They have given me quite a bit of creative freedom in how I have chosen to illustrate the book. It has been fun mixing media - watercolor, gouache, oil pastel, pastel pencil, and touches of colored pencil - to achieve the look I want. I like how I've been able to bring a softness to the illustrations through the mix of media. It's like getting paid to try something new with my art!

In other news, if your New Year's resolution for 2010 is to a better illustrator, please read my latest column in the SCBWI-IL's e-newsletter The Prairie Wind, appropriately titled "Your New Year’s Resolution: Become a Better Illustrator". I lay out a few tips, accompanied by examples from my latest children's book "Little Black Ant on Park Street", written by Janet Halfmann and published by Soundprints Publishing.

11 Comments on Better in 2010, last added: 1/19/2010
Display Comments Add a Comment
14. What I'm Up To Now...

My latest children's book project is a book I am working on for Sylvan Dell Publishing, titled "Champ's Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too".

Below you can see the cover art. Champ and Cody are best friends, so I gave them both golden red hair. I used a combination of watercolors, gouache, oil pastels and pastel pencils for the art throughout the book:


And here was my pencil sketch for the cover. I wanted to show a deep, emotional connection and love between the main characters:


And here is a mock-up for the possible finished cover design by Sylvan Dell:


The book will be out sometime in 2010. The story is designed to help children with cancer understand and deal with their illness and treatments. But I also believe it is a great story for children dealing with the illness of a pet or a sibling or friend. I really think it is a great story, and I am honored to have been chosen for the project.

6 Comments on What I'm Up To Now..., last added: 12/22/2009
Display Comments Add a Comment