Book Expo America!

Next week is Book Expo America at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, and I'm super excited to be making the trip up for it. I get to visit with all my New York buddies, plus share my two new books The Troublemaker and Nana in the City at the conference. It's going to be a fun few days!

·Wednesday, May 28th: BEA kicks off with the 20th Annual Children's Book Art Silent Auction 

This is one of my very favorite events of the year! If you're attending BEA (even if you're not, but happen to live nearby) come to the Javits and bid on some great original art to raise money for the ABFFE (click on the link for all the deets). This little guy below (from Nana in the City) is looking to go home with a new friend.

 

·Thursday, May 29th: day away from the Javits

I'm going to skip the conference to hang out with my friend and former editor, Frances Foster, along with my good friend (and editor extraordinaire) Noa Wheeler. One of the things I miss most about living in NYC is being able to easily take the subway to the UWS to visit Frances and her husband Tony. I haven't seen them since I moved away from the city in January. It's going to be really nice to spend the afternoon with the Fosters :)  

·Friday, May 30th: full day at the Javits

12-12:30 pm -- I will be in the Autographing Area, signing and giving away a buncha Troublemaker's. Info is HERE. Please come snag a copy and say hello!

3:30 pm -- I'll be at the ABC/CBC Author and Illustrators Tea, chatting about The Troublemaker and Nana in the City with a group of awesome booksellers. I wish there was a way to clone myself so that I could also sit at the tables of the other authors— what a lineup (It's crazy to think I'm even going to be in the same room with all these guys)! Info is HERE. Right after the Tea I'll be hopping on a bus back to Baltimore. A short but full trip! I hope that if you are also heading to BEA next week, I will get to run in to you some point . . .

 

Wishing you all a lovely Memorial Day weekend. Hooray, summer is almost here!!!

The Original Art 2013

Great news! My new book CITY CAT was selected to be a part of this years Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. It's such an honor to have my art hanging in the exhibition, alongside THIS amazing roster of illustrators. Thanks so much to the awesome jury for including CITY CAT in the show. If you are in the NY area, please come join me at the opening reception this Thursday evening, October 24th. Details are here. Hope to see you!!

The Original Art 2011

I'm honored that two of my books are included in this years Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators! Many thanks to the jury for selecting CHRISTMAS IS HERE and MELVIN AND THE BOY. I look forward to seeing lots of lovely book folks at the opening reception next Thursday evening, October 27th. Here are the details if you'd like to join. Hope to see you there!

Opening fun

The Original Art Show opening last week was a blast! The show is up at the Society Of Illustrators through November 24th. I hope if you're in the city you'll swing by—It's a great looking show! Here are a few photos from the evening:

The incredible Eric Carle accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award

Laurent Linn and Amy June Bates, this years' lovely Juror and Co-Juror

my ALFIE pieceFront: Paul Hoppe and Julia Denos;
Back: Brian Floca, me, Laurent Linn, Selina Alko, Sean Qualls, Chad Beckerman, Meghan McCarthy

30th Annual Original Art Show Opening

Tomorrow night is the 30th annual Original Art Show opening @ the Society of Illustrators! This show never disappoints, so hopefully if you're in the area you'll swing by and check it out! (click on the above image for details)
p.s. I was on the jury this year! Here's a link to the post about my experience back in August~
p.p.s. ALFIE is also represented in the show, if you want to see him up close and personal :)

~Jurying the 30th Annual Society of Illustrators Original Art Show~

Piles and piles of books to judge...554 to be exact! (photo courtesy of Chad Beckerman)

Monday was a very big day for me: I had the incredible honor of serving on the jury of the 30th Annual Society of Illustrators Original Art Show. About a month ago Laurent Linn, Chair of this years show, called me up to ask if I would be an alternate juror in the event that one of the others could not make it. I was honored to be asked, but doubted the fact that I'd actually be called in... Well, much to my surprise, I got the "you're in!" phone call on Sunday night. Wow. What a wonderful experience it was, and I am extremely thankful to both Laurent Linn (Chair) and Amy June Bates (Co-Chair) for having me on board! One of my fellow co-jurors, Chad Beckerman, did a great job of documenting the day over at his blog, if you'd like to see and hear a little bit about how it all went down (thanks for photographing, Chad!). This is going to be an awesome show--make sure to mark your calendars for the opening reception and awards ceremony on Thursday, October 21st!

Society of Illustrators Opening

In front of my piece (from That's Papa's Way). It was fun that Peter's piece was below mine, and Julia's piece was to the left of mine~ Goooo Team Rodeen!
A small part of the crowd, right before Chris Van Allsburg came up to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award. It was so wonderful to hear him speak, especially because his incredible books were part of what inspired me to work toward a career in this field!
SVA MFA unite! Taeeun Yoo, You Byun, me, Paul Hoppe, and Chris Butzer. Congrats to Tae and Chris, and to all my other friends who had their work on display (AND to all my other incredibly talented and hardworking friends who did not, and should have!). It was a great exhibit, and an event that I look forward to every year. The show is up through November 25th, so go check it out if you can!

S.I. Original Art Show

If you live in or around NYC, and have interest in the book arts, then The Society of Illustrators is the place you need to be next Thursday evening October 22nd! It is the opening reception of the 29th annual Original Art Show, and I promise the exhibit never disappoints. I feel honored to be part of the show this year, and look forward to celebrating the work of this lovely industry~

And P.S. A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Brian who won a Silver medal for Moonshot, his absolutely gorgeous book!

Night at the Society

Last night was the opening of the Original Art show @ the Society of Illustrators, and a good time was had by all! Thanks so much to everyone who came out! Here are a few pictures from the evening:

Me and my piece from What Happens on Wednesdays

My good friend TaeEun Yoo receiving her very well deserved Founders Award!

And a final toast to the evening!

The Original Art Show

I am very excited to be a part of this year's Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators! (I will have one piece up from WHAT HAPPENS ON WEDNESDAYS.) This is a fantastic show of many wonderful children's book illustrators, and I feel so honored to be a part of it. It is up Oct. 17th - Nov. 21st. If you are in New York, come check it out!