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Title: This is My Home, This is My School Author & Illustrator: Jonathan Bean Publisher: Farrar, Strauss, Giroux, 2015 Themes: Homeschooling, family life, concept book Ages: 3-7 Opening: This is my home.             And this is my school. Synopsis: Drawing from his own childhood experiences, Jonathan Bean takes … Continue reading →

Jonathan Bean has a knack of writing picture books with families I want to belong to and characters I want to be. Such levels of identification are rare for me with picture books compared to MG and YA novels. I … Continue reading →

Title: Big Snow Author & Illustrator: Jonathan Bean Publisher: Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2013 Themes: Anticipation, excitement, first snowfall of season Awards: Charlotte Zolotow Award Nominee for Highly Commended Title, 2014 Ages: 3-5 Opening: “Mom,” said David, “when will it snow?”                                                                                                                  “I think soon,” said Mom. “Why don’t you help … Continue reading →

I am thrilled to be a part of the lovely group exhibition Everyone Can Fly at the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg, PA. The show opened on March 20th, and will be up through the end of May. If you find yourself in the Harrisburg area I hope you'll drop by the beautiful museum and enjoy a visit.

photo credit: Jonathan Bean

Artists on view: 

Amy Bates, Jonathan Bean, Lauren Castillo, Megan Lloyd-Thompson, Faith Ringgold, Shadra Strickland 

Friday, May 15- Free Family Evening! Join us to meet the illustrators, enjoy light refreshments, music, and hands-on activities. Free admission 5: 30 – 8:30pm.

You know that feeling that you’ve missed something? Well, I had that feeling last week when I pulled out the titles for my class’s mock Caldecott. I blithely grabbed Bad Bye, Good Bye and thought, “Uh-oh. I never wrote about this one, did I?” In true Robin Smith fashion (ask any of my editors what a procrastinator I am), here I am, just under the wire, to chat about this fine book.

I first read about this book months and months ago when Jules Danielson interviewed the illustrator, Jonathan Bean, here on her blog. Go and read the link, because his explanation of color separation (old school!) is interesting and clear. In the comments are technical questions about brayers and Prismacolors and friskets. I got lost there for a little bit.

Here’s the skinny:

1. I love the emotional intensity of the illustrations — even the endpapers start with a very dark blue-black and end with a sunny yellow. The title page shows one angry boy glaring at the moving man. Even his dog is furious. The stripes on the boy’s shirt are parallel with the spine of the dog, leaving no question about how these two are feeling about their family’s move to a new town and new house. The background shows the movers moving at full speed, rendered only in pencil. The title is placed on the page a little wonky, implying movement. The page turn shows the boy redder even than before—all the way to his scarlet scalp! We all know that feeling.
2. That anger has to abate, of course, and the long nap in the car and dip in the motel pool seem to be a turning point for everyone. By the time the family arrives in the new town, after mom and dad take turns behind the wheel, everyone seems ready for the new house. Even the movers seem to have happy energy.
3. The illustrations deftly extend the spare, rhyming couplets. I especially appreciate the “Road games /We’re here” page. It’s a brilliant interpretation of the alphabet game we always played in the car to pass the time. Bean draws a variety of signs with just about every letter of the alphabet shown, including q in antique. Another spread (“New house/New wall/New room/New wall”) shows that creepy feeling when you walk into an empty house or apartment for the first time. Everything is still in boxes and the illustrations are layered with the details that add to that strange feeling: the lone light hanging from the ceiling in the hall, other people’s wallpaper, stacks of chairs and boxes marked “pots” and “sheets.” Seeing the boy cautiously opening all the doors, one at a time, brings me right back to all my Army brat moves.
4. The happy resolution is just right, too: this is a book for the very young reader, and it needs to be comforting. It is — right down to the fireflies, a neighbor boy who will clearly be a friend, and a climbing tree.

There is a lot going on in these illustrations, inviting the reader to slow down and explore every inch of the page. That also allows committee members lots to talk about: artistic technique, satisfying page-turns, and emotional punch. It would also make a dandy book for new readers. Geisel and Caldecott committees, pay attention to this one!

The post Bad Bye, Good Bye appeared first on The Horn Book.

This weekend I hung out in Harrisburg with Jonathan Bean, Taeeun Yoo, and Lauren Castillo for 3rd in the Burg. The third Friday of every month, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, artists open their doors and invite the community into their studios to learn about their work and process.

Taeeun at the opening ceremony

During that time Jonathan Bean hosts an art show in “The Steps Shown”, his charming stairwell gallery. Jonathan shows sketches, dummies, and final work of children’s book illustrators, the work that is usually never seen by the general public.

choosing work for the gallery

On Saturday morning we walked a few steps down the street to listen to Taeeun read and sign her books at The Midtown Scholar’s Children’s Section. The fab four hasn’t been together all in one place in quite some time. It was a historic reunion for us all.

The Fab Four in full effect

To see a wonderful video of Taeeun reading from her latest book, YOU ARE A LION, head here.

Taeeun Yoo with fish and lions

Shadra said, on 8/20/2012 10:23:00 AM

This weekend I hung out in Harrisburg with Jonathan Bean, Taeeun Yoo, and Lauren Castillo for 3rd in the Burg. The third Friday of every month, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, artists open their doors and invite the community into their studios to learn about their work and process.

Taeeun at the opening ceremony

During that time Jonathan Bean hosts an art show in “The Steps Shown”, his charming stairwell gallery. Jonathan shows sketches, dummies, and final work of children’s book illustrators, the work that is usually never seen by the general public.

choosing work for the gallery

On Saturday morning we walked a few steps down the street to listen to Taeeun read and sign her books at The Midtown Scholar’s Children’s Section. The fab four hasn’t been together all in one place in quite some time. It was a historic reunion for us all.

The Fab Four in full effect

To see a wonderful video of Taeeun reading from her latest book, YOU ARE A LION, head here.

Taeeun Yoo with fish and lions

 

This Tuesday I head to Sao Tome and Principe! MICA’s Office of Continuing Studies sponsors a Summer Intensive Travel Program where students and life-long learners are able to explore different cultures and make art. The illustration department travels to Sao Tome. Other programs include Fibers in Istanbul, Sculpture in South Korea, General Fine Arts in New York, and more.

It will be my first time traveling to Africa and I am sooooooo excited. For more information on MICA’s summer intensive programs, click here. For more info on the Sao Tome experience, see our blog.

In other news, my homie, Jonathan Bean, has moved to Harrisburg! He lives in a fantastic new studio with a stairway gallery. Every third Friday is Third in the Burg, where artist’s open their studio spaces for all to come and visit. On his inaugural studio opening, he shared work in “The Steps Shown” gallery. If you’re in Harrisburg n a third Friday, go see what work is currently cluttering his drawing desk while enjoying the 19th century stairwell gallery that, each month, will feature doodles, notes, studies, sketches, photos or other ephemera documenting an artist’s creative process. The studio is located on the third floor of 1320 N. Third St., Harrisburg, PA.

And, finally, for those of you who have brilliant picturebook ideas with no set plan on how to flesh them out, my friend and mentor, Pat Cummings is hosting her annual Children’s Book Boot Camp. For more details on how to apply, visit her here.

It’s looking to be a busy, busy summer!

Last week was senior portfolio week at MICA. By a strange stroke of luck, four of my SVA homies all ended up at MICA to participate. Though all of us didn’t get to see each other at the same time, it was great getting hugs in and catching up with everyone in small groups. Taeeun, Lauren (MICA graduate), and Nora reviewed portfolios and “The Bean” spoke to my advanced book illustration class. Here are a few pics…

Lauren and Tae spelling "hi" for the camera

We girls had a great time catching up over desert at Cafe Hon. I will spare you the sordid details of our little slumber party. When picturebook artists get together, there’s no telling what will happen! I’m still scraping paint off my ceiling

Tae giving advice to Hannah (www.cargocollective.com/htrieb)

After saying farewell to Lauren I ushered Tae over to MICA for a day of portfolio reviews with our seniors. Tae is seen with Hannah Trieb here, you can see more of her work at www.cargocollective.com/htrieb. Hannah has also been my teaching assistant this semester for advanced book illustration. Here is one of her thesis pieces:

from "The Anti-Love Potion", written and illustrated by Hannah Trieb

After a day of portfolio reviews, we picked up Jonathan Bean. On Thursday, Jonathan spoke with my advanced book illustration class about his work as a college student, why he chose graduate school, his style evolution, and how he got published. It was so great to re-live those days at SVA and to see years of hard work pay off so greatly.

Jonathan guiding us down publication lane

we are all wowed

My lucky students had a chance to have their work seen and reviewed by Jonathan after his presentation. In the meantime, I had

By Phoebe Vreeland, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 4, 2010

Thanksgiving is a time for pie.  Pie makes me think of Harold and his purple crayon.  Remember that picnic on the sandy beach?  “There was nothing but pie.  But there were all nine kinds of pie that Harold liked best.”  My daughter and I love to imagine what all the different fillings could be. Who doesn’t love freshly baked pie, the most amazingly delectable dessert that fills the home with its tantalizing aroma?  It’s such a perfect vehicle for a scoop or dollop of some cool creamy topping.  Kids love to help bake, especially mixing, licking their sweet, sticky fingers and rolling out pie dough.

Here follows a list of picture books—all about pie—to share with your little ones.  Some simply get your mouth watering, but most are laced with a secret ingredient.  There is a reminder about abundance, a lesson on humility, and a tale of perseverance.  You will also find a trip around the world, a juicy alphabet primer and a cautionary tale for the literal-minded—from Amelia Bedelia, of course.  A few even include a recipe so good that you won’t need to invite a very hungry moose and deserving porcupine to help you finish.

All for Pie, Pie for All

by David Martin (Author), Valeri Gorbachev (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Candlewick; Reprint edition (August 12, 2008)

Source: Library

Publisher’s synopsis: In this merry, multi-species story cooked up with folksy warmth and humor, everybody gets a piece of the pie — and then some.

Grandma Cat makes a delicious apple pie, and there’s plenty for everyone — and even a piece left over. Grandma Mouse finds a piece of apple pie, and there’s plenty for everyone — and even crumbs left over. Grandma Ant spies some crumbs of apple pie, and there’s plenty for everyone. But what’s left over after cats, mice, and ants have had their fill? Little readers will eat up this scrumptious, gently math-related story that’s as sweet and satisfying as a fresh-baked dessert.

Add this book to your collection: All for Pie, Pie for All

The Apple Pie Tree

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Acceptance Speech (from www.hbook.com)

The 2008 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards
for Excellence in Children’s Literature
cover illustration by Tricia Tusa

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