Exciting SPUNKY news!

Just found out that SPUNKY TELLS ALL is a nominee for the 2014 Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award!! You can view the 7 books that were nominated right here. Hooray for Spunky!

Edgewood Book Festival

Maryland friends! I'm going to be in town this Thursday Sept. 27th signing my latest books at the Edgewood Book Fest from 4-6pm. Location: Barnes and Noble, 620 Marketplace Drive Bel Air, MD 21014. If you're nearby, please stop in and say hello  :)

Princeton Children's Book Festival

On Saturday I drove down to Princeton NJ (in a mini van full of Brooklyn kidlit peeps!) to attend the 7th Annual Princeton Children's Book Festival, hosted by the Princeton Public Library. What an awesome, fun-filled day. I got to meet lots of kids and their parents, a bunch of librarians and teachers, AND several authors and illustrators whose work I've admired over the years. Ohh, and I signed a good amount of books too! And then, the owner of JaZams bookstore, Joanne Farrugia, graciously opened up her home to us authors and illustrators for one fantastic after-party (w/ crab cakes and champagne — yummm!) An all round success of a day, I'd say :)

just one tiny piece of the large crowd

my table

the musical entertainment

Bad Kitty!

another piece of the crowd

an adorable Happy Like Soccer fan :)

Extra special thanks to Allison Santos, the festival coordinator, for inviting me to be a part of such a wonderful event!  I love my little children's book world~

Thank you, Bankstreet!

Bank Street College of Education has released their 2012 edition of the Best Books of the Year, and I was very happy to find out that both SPUNKY TELLS ALL and MELVIN AND THE BOY made the list (age 5-9 category)!! You can read more about Bank Street College of Education, and how they choose books for their annual list, right here. Thanks again to the fantastic committee for selecting my two titles!

Alabama is a fan of Spunky!

Good news: Spunky Tells All has been chosen as a 2012-2013 Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Award selection! You can find out more about the award and program right here. Thanks to the state of Alabama for including Spunky on your list :)

an award for Spunky!

   

Spunky Tells All was named an Honor Book for the Maryland Blue Crab Young Readers Award!!! My home state has good taste :-) Thanks, Maryland! You can check out the full list of winners here if you like: http://www.mdlib.org/divisions/csd/blue.asp

This Saturday I will be signing copies of my most recent books at Barnes and Noble in Bel Air, Maryland. If you live nearby, come say hello!

Winning hearts

Reviewers, kids, & even famous authors have been falling for little Spunky. And I don't blame them. Ann Cameron wrote a fantastic story about this loving dog and his family, and I'm so glad it's getting the attention it deserves. Hooray for Ann and Spunky (and our fabulous editor, Frances Foster, too)!

Here are some review clips:

“Cameron has written another top-notch entry in the Julian and Huey series, this time from the brothers’ pup’s perspective . . . Readers will be simultaneously tickled by [Spunky's] canine observations and moved by the profound connection between dog and family . . . Though the narrative doesn’t need embellishment, thickly outlined illustrations pepper the text, giving readers a visual reference for some of Spunky’s antics. A gem.”--School Library Journal, Starred Review

"The beloved family of Julian and Huey Bates (The Stories Julian Tells, 1981, etc.) is back after a long hiatus. Spunky, their mixed-breed dog, hilariously reveals all about his humans and realizes his purpose in life . . . Spunky’s love of his boy, Huey, will bring a tear to the eyes of dog lovers, too. Castillo’s perfect black-and-white spot drawings capture the energy and intelligence of both animals as they begin the careful dance of new friendship . . . Readers ready for chapter books will delight in seeing the world through Spunky’s eyes and powerful nose.”

--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“With a jacket showing a winsome pup only Cruella de Vil could dislike, this is a beginning chapter book that begs to be read.” --Horn Book Magazine

 “Dog fans … will delight in Spunky’s tail-wagging tale-telling, which could introduce a new generation of kids to the Bates family chronicles . . . [A] deeply touching tribute to the dog-kid bond.” --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)

“Spunky Tells All is a beautiful tale of human, cat, and dog finding friendship together. I loved it. It speaks with deep spirit and fine observation of small telling things in a way that young humans will understand.” --Paula Fox, author of the Newbery Award winning The Slave Dancer

“I loved going back inside Huey and Julian's world, but this time, through the eyes of the wise and loyal Spunky. A book with humor, heart, and a lovable dog. Who could ask for more?"
—Barbara O’Connor, author of How to Steal a Dog

“I fell in love with Spunky who, in his own words, is a considerate Dog and only tries to do what is best for his human family. His tale, both charming and hilarious, will make readers laugh out loud—and pay much closer attention to what their own dogs are really saying.”
—Ann M. Martin, author of Everything for a Dog

“I loved it all the way to the end.” 
--Ivan, Beaverton, Oregon, age 12

 

“I liked your book so much that I want to buy it and read it to my sister before she goes to bed.”
--Connor, Beaverton, Oregon, age 11

Spunky leaps in to libraries and bookstores today!

 

So excited to announce the release of SPUNKY TELLS ALL, written by the wonderful Ann Cameron. You can read this lovable dog's story in either hardcover OR Ebook. 

Go on and grab your copy today! How could you resist such a dog? : )

SPUNKY

It's been busy over here in the Castillo studio. I recently finished interior art for an awesome chapter book by Ann Cameron, titled SPUNKY TELLS ALL. Here is the synopsis, courtesy of the author:

Spunky is a middle-aged, serious dog, --a thinking dog, a dog with some troubles. His humans-- Ralph and Michelle, and their sons Julian and Huey — don’t speak his language. Even worse, they don’t realize that smells are the center of life’s meaning. Worst of all, they think that Spunky wants a new companion — a cat!

Thus arrives in Spunky’s life the aristocratic Balinese Fiona-- snobbish, supremely sure of herself and absolutely incompetent — who, to his astonishment, gives him a life purpose and a new way of looking at his world.

I loved working on this book, as it was the first time I've had the opportunity to illustrate a non-picture book. Creating black and white art was a really nice change of pace. PLUS, I got to draw a lot of dogs and cats! Always a fun thing.Look for Spunky on shelves this Fall!