Camden Library Illustration Show

The Camden Public Library on Main Street in Camden, Maine, is presenting an exhibition of children's book illustrations by six Maine illustrators. There will be a reception, open to the public, on Tuesday,  August 11th at 6:30 pm. Come and say hello!

Exhibiting in this show: Noah Z. Jones, L.A. Meyer, Garvin Morris, Jim Sollers, and Jay Piscopo ...and me!

This will be an interesting show of diverse styles and mediums. Many pieces will be offered for sale as well.

The show will be up for the month of August. Check the Camden Library site for hours.

Illustrations here are from SCOOT!  written & illustrated by Cathryn Falwell.

Greenwillow Books, 2008

Swooning for Loons

What an incredible morning! I was a lucky passenger on a loon observation field excursion conducted by the Biodiversity Research Institute. The mission of this wonderful organization is to "assess ecological health through collaborative research, and to use scientific findings to advance environmental awareness and inform decision makers." (visit their site by clicking on their name here and see all of the amazing work they do!)

My friend and fellow nature enthusiast, Nancy Craig, and I met up with the Executive Director and Senior Scientist, David Evers, Ph.D., Business Manager and Development Director (and boat captain), Lee Attix, and Consultant Paige Holmes. We had been invited to accompany them on their loon survey of a Maine lake about a half-hour north of my home. This lake, a busy vacation area, is home to at least five nesting pairs, and several "rogue" loons. On our excursion this morning we were able to see many of the loons with their chicks, and to also check three nest sites. Dave and Lee offered a wealth of fascinating information about these amazing birds. You can probably guess that I am very eager to work on a loon picture book! 

Bottom photo, L to R: Paige, Nancy, Lee & Dave. Photo above has female feeding fish to chick!

Pond Friends

A star singer at Frog Song Pond! And here are a few other residents:

and MORE tree house!

A friend requested a photo of my tree house, so here it is. Note that this is MY tree house---not my children's--and has screens and steps. My carpenter neighbor built it for me two years ago.  This isn't my studio, but it IS a grand place to observe the critters at Frog Song Pond.

The little froggy here is from SCOOT!

Lazy Afternoon in the Tree House

Greetings from Frog Song Pond! 

A lovely Maine afternoon with happy critters willing to pose for my new camera. A very dead tree crashed into the pond a few days ago, creating a lovely new log for turtles to bask. 

I'm working on a new pond book idea.....stay tuned for updates.

Garden Time

Soggy summer here in Maine, so the garden is looking a little sad this year. Last year's bounty was inspiring, though--especially the mysterious "volunteers" that grow on their own. Last year I picked four gorgeous acorn squash that I didn't plant. Several years ago a mystery vine grew out of my compost heap, and produced 32 little pumpkins! Well, inspite of this year's meager crop, my new book, Mystery Vine, will be ready for harvest in August. 

Greenwillow Books has posted an activity page for the book here,

that includes little growing projects like these:

Ruby Slippers

Shape Capers traveled to Kansas last week by invitation from the The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art in Manhattan, Kansas, and a grant from the Kansas Arts Commission. A grand time was had by nearly 300 shape-making munchkins! 

After leaving Manhattan (also known as the "Little Apple"), we stopped in Wamego, birthplace of my dear Aunt Norma, and home of the Oz Museum. Since I am a devoted fan of The Wizard of Oz, we of course took the tour down the yellow brick road! After a lovely visit with relatives in Eudora, Lawrence, and Overland Park, it was time to click my heals together three times and head back to Maine, where my very own ruby slippers (aka: pink ladies slippers) rest by the pond.