Tag Archives: children’s literature

Viva Frank Viva!

  I love Frank Viva’s “Trip to the Bottom of the World with Little Mouse.”  It is drawn digitally in Adobe Illustrator, yet it has a retro feel. I got to meet the Canadian author/illustrator at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Boston. He flew down from Toronto where he heads an award-winning graphic design agency, VivaContinue reading “Viva Frank Viva!”

Kid Lit Stars, near and far, coming to Kutztown

One Keynote Speaker at the 17th annual Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference is author Mara Rockliff. Mara will walk less than one block from her home on Walnut St. to campus. If you want to hear her talk, don’t knock on her door, come to the conference on April 18. Thanks to Firefly Bookstore, Kutztown’sContinue reading “Kid Lit Stars, near and far, coming to Kutztown”

Hansel and Gretel and Lorenzo and Neil

Once upon a time, in 2007, The Metropolitan Opera staged Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel.  Françoise Mouly, art editor for The New Yorker, helped organize an exhibition at the opera house based on the fairy tale. Contributors included stellar New Yorker cover artists including Roz Chast, Jules Feiffer,  Anita Kunz, Christoph Niemann, Gahan Wilson, and LorenzoContinue reading “Hansel and Gretel and Lorenzo and Neil”

A Man of Few Words: DAVID WIESNER

The great children’s book illustrator Davis Wiesner (WEEZner) came to Kutztown to talk at the 16th annual KU Children’s Literature Conference. The 3-time Caldecott Award winner visited a Communication Design class to share his art and creative process. Oddly enough, he considered attending Kutztown University but was put off by our art test used inContinue reading “A Man of Few Words: DAVID WIESNER”

Kate Santee, Illustrator and Roller Girl!

Speaking of curious networking, another KU grad, Kate Santee, tells me she got to illustrate a book through folks she met in her role as roller derby racer! Kate recently illustrated a chapter book for young readers. First in a series, Silly Nomads From Palmerston Close is written by Jan L. Lewis and Marcus Mohalland.  Kate’sContinue reading “Kate Santee, Illustrator and Roller Girl!”

BIG SNOW in Kutztown, PA -Dec.6

Jonathan Bean now lives in Harrisburg, PA, but he grew up in Fleetwood and so, of course, he has often been in Kutztown. The gifted illustrator and author is returning Kutztown to share his new picture book Big Snow at Firefly Bookstore, Friday, Dec 6th from 6-8pm. Big Snow has wonderful reviews. Publisher’s Weekly writes “anotherContinue reading “BIG SNOW in Kutztown, PA -Dec.6”

Meadowlands

I visited Hoboken, my old hometown, for the opening of an art show from Meadowlands, Thomas Yezerski’s beautiful children’s book. His book is about the battered, but amazingly resilient, ecosystem that exists just a few miles from Hoboken and it’s better-known neighbor, New York City. The exhibit runs to March 10 at the Hoboken HistoricalContinue reading “Meadowlands”

5 questions about illustration for Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan is coming to Kutztown this weekend for the 2012 Children’s Literature Conference. Even if you can’t make the conference you might go to the KU bookstore to pick up his books at a discount. He is a prolific and popular illustrator. He writes as well. A piece of Matt’s original artwork from hisContinue reading “5 questions about illustration for Matt Phelan”

Jonathan Bean, local children’s book illustrator makes good

Once upon a time, a young man named Jonathan Bean  stopped by KU’s beloved old Communication Design House. This must have been nearly a decade ago. He was a recent grad from Messiah College in central PA with a small portfolio and large ambitions. He was wondering about topping off his bachelor’s degree from MessiahContinue reading “Jonathan Bean, local children’s book illustrator makes good”