Holiday Greetings

May the new year bring you unexpected joy!

Fan Mail

I just LOVE getting letters and pictures from young readers! This splendid drawing arrived in my mailbox today from a child named Maddie in Massachusetts. Her grandparents sent her Gobble, Gobble. In her note, Maddie, who is 7, said she thinks it's a "100% Awesome Book!"

Thanks, Maddie!

Play time

I'm taking a break from working on a book, but still need to find creative things to do. I am guilty of having WAY too much fabric--those "fat quarters" at the fabric store are soooo addictive!--plus leftovers from clothes, costumes, quilts and other projects. So to use them up, (as well as give me an excuse to watch old movies) I've been making things for the Holiday Fair at the Allen Avenue UU Church. The Fair is this Saturday, so after that I'll make a few things for presents.

These little cupcakes are pincushions

Happy Thanksgiving

From Feast for 10,published in 1991 by Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin.

Wishing all who might find themselves visiting here a very Happy Thanksgiving!

The Case of the Missing Carrot

Book cover, Feast For 10

Zane's letter and drawing

Page from hardcover edition

Board Book

Close-up of corner

A letter from a child came in the mail today. I'd wouldn't go so far as to say it was a complaint letter, but it wasn't exactly fan mail, either. It should probably be classified as a quality control query. "Where is the seventh carrot?" Zane, the letter's author, wants to know. A very fair question. I wondered this myself when my picture book, Feast for 10, was published as a board book. When the art was converted from the rectangular format of the hardcover and softcover editions to the more squarish board book format, a few things got trimmed....like carrots, for example. Very sad indeed, especially since this is a COUNTING book. So--I'm very sorry, Zane. The seventh carrot is actually there---but only a tiny bit of it shows. And I'm very impressed that you noticed! You must be an excellent counter. So Happy Counting, and Happy Reading!

More Gobble fun

I just have to share this cute book trailer that the wonderful folks at Dawn Publications made for Gobble, Gobble!

They also posted a piece about how I made the illustrations for this book, in case you are interested. Click here.

Gobble fun at Audubon

Gobble, Gobble

What a great Apple Day at Maine Audubon at Gilsland Farm! In spite of dreary and rainy weather, over 350 people showed up for apple activities, crafts, great music, yummy food (best mac & cheese ever) and.....Gobble, Gobble fun!

We had story time, a printing demo, nature journal making, and the Gobble Trail Game, which proved to be a big hit. If you'd like to try this game with kids at your school, nature center, or library, scroll down to the last post and click on GOBBLE GAME & ACTIVITIES for a free download of posters, game cards, and related activities. I'd love to have your feedback if you try it!

For the event at Audubon, I had the posters enlarged to double the size: 11 x 17, and then laminated. Plastic zippered pockets held the game cards.

For more photos, see Curious City's photos here.