children's books Archives - Page 5 of 7

January 17, 2011 In children's books By Patricia Saxton

Snooki Vs. Newbery/Caldecott Winners

This was disappointing news, and speaks volumes about our celebrity-centric popular culture. Even combining Snooki and Newbery or Caldecott in the same sentence is a conundrum.

For the first time in 11 years, The Today Show decided not to feature the Newbery and Caldecott Medalists, in order to do a show with Snooki from Jersey Shore reality-tv fame. In the NBC program’s defense, they do present segments on children’s books throughout the year ~ but I’m not sure they could have chosen a more insulting displacement in this particular case.

We all understand “ratings rule”. But this was ill-timed. Doesn’t seem right.

Media blunder aside, cheers and congratulations to the 2011 winners of the most prized awards for children’s literature:

John Newbery Medal (outstanding contribution to children’s literature): “Moon over Manifest,” written by Clare Vanderpool. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Randolph Caldecott Medal (distinguished American picture book for children): “A Sick Day for Amos McGee,” illustrated by Erin E. Stead. The book was written by Philip C. Stead, and is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing.

(More from Publisher’s Weekly, here: No ‘Today Show’ for Vanderpool or Stead.)

January 9, 2011 In art, children's books, drawing By Patricia Saxton

Year of the Dragon?

We had breakfast with my sister-in-law this morning and she asked, “How’s your Dragon Book coming? I’ve been telling people about it!”

Hmmm. Well… Sometimes life and the universe conspire in taking over the best of intentions; in this case, last year’s intention to finish my next children’s book.

It’s far from forgotten though, and really is in the works. I’m just getting warmed up, but who knows, maybe this year will be the year of the dragon!

And it all makes sense really. You see, according to the Chinese calendar, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. But 2012 is the Year of the Dragon … so if I’m able to stay on task, my book will be timed just right. (I knew there was a reason for the delay…!) Don’t you love it? Dragons and “2012”. Kismet!

January 4, 2011 In art, books & stuff, children's books, illustration By Patricia Saxton

#1 in "Books About Fairies"

Just when I thought I couldn’t be more thrilled, the news got better!

The holiday season was very kind to my books (A Book of Fairies and The Book of Mermaids), and I hope everyone who received them as gifts is finding much enjoyment within the pages.

Naturally, post-holiday sales have slowed, so I was both surprised and truly thrilled to see that as of today A Book of Fairies has reached the #1 listing on Amazon’s 3,429 “books about fairies”!

Earlier today I’d been wowed to see that it held the #8 spot on Amazon’s entire listing of 60,556 fairy books! Holy fairy wings! That’s a lot of books about fairies. I feel very honored to be so high among them.

And … I’m feeling immense appreciation for the many good people who have helped make my book flutter towards the top.

from "A Book of Fairies"

Maybe I should ask my numerology friends… but whatever they’d say, I’m thinking #’s 1 and 8 are pretty good numbers for me today. : )

December 22, 2010 In animated video, art, children's books, communication, creativity, drawing, illustration, imagination, inspiration, presentation By Patricia Saxton

New & Improved Mermaid Video Debut

Sorry to post this again, but it must be done!

I wasn’t satisfied with the sound quality on my Magnetic Mermaid Toy video. The music itself was excellent, the problem came with the translation inside the video editing software.

Thanks to the collaboration with musician and master whistler (& fellow perfectionist!) David Santucci, a new track was prepared that worked MUCH better in the editing process. Our ears are much more pleased ~ and we think yours will be too. Please enjoy!

December 16, 2010 In art, books & stuff, children's books, creativity, illustration, imagination, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

Gifts of Peace, Magic & Creativity (under $20!)

Can it be last-minute holiday gift idea time already? Hmmm. I just might have some ideas. How about the gift of reading and imagination..? A Book of Fairies, and The Book of Mermaids are great for school-age kids! The Magnetic Mermaid Dress-up is ideal for 3 and up. All are available at Amazon.

Then there’s a whole bunch of cool stuff over at my *boutique* at CafePress. Totebags, mugs, coasters, mousepads, journals and magnets, grouped by my signature pieces of “peace”, “pencil points”, fairies” and “mermaids”. Lots to choose from. Fun, unique, and practical!

Happy holidays ~ and may peace, magic and creativity fill your hearts!

December 10, 2010 In appreciation, children's books By Patricia Saxton

Shout Out to Chattanooga

I got up early today to do some online Christmas shopping before work, and noticed a special email message from Amazon. Turns out they’ve added some nifty features for Authors, and I have to say “kudos to Amazon” for adding these nice analytic tools.

Because of the new tools, I can see where and how many copies of my two books, “The Book of Mermaids” and “A Book of Fairies”, are sold each week. So I want to say Thank You to all of you who’ve bought my books from places like New York, Boston, Rhode Island, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New Orleans, North Carolina, Montana, LA, San Francisco, Nashville, Albuquerque, Omaha, Oklahoma CIty, Kansas City, Detroit, Phoenix, Hartford, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Washington DC, Miami, Dallas, Houston and Denver.

And a special shout out to a lone somebody in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who bought “A Book of Fairies” last week. I don’t know who you are, but I thank you ~ and I send you best wishes!

We’re not talking NYTimes Top 10 bestsellers here, but the numbers are good and I have to tell you it’s a thrill to see the reach, and to know that kids and parents all over the country are reading and sharing things I created. Things that originated in one heart and mind … made its way to pencil, ink and paper, and to a publisher who found it worthy to print, and into the hands of people near and far. Every purchase is an honor.

Thanks everyone!

December 8, 2010 In animated video, art, children's books, communication, creativity, design, illustration, inspiration, presentation By Patricia Saxton

A Conspiracy of Mermaids, Art, Music and a Toy

If you recall the “sneak peeks” I posted a while back, your wait is over. Here’s a special something I’ve been conjuring up for the holidays!

For those interested, this video was created with hand-drawings, animated in PowerPoint. I wanted to push the boundaries of what most people think PowerPoint can and can’t do. In that sense alone, I feel a mission was accomplished. But I also wanted to have some fun with it…. which I did!

The vision for the video came to me after it was clear that no one wanted their children to be filmed in a piece that would be shown on YouTube. That was disappointing, since kids really engage with this game and it would have been great to capture their enthusiasm. But, as someone, somewhere, once said, “inside every cloud is a silver lining”. This one came in the form of a happy idea.

And so, this is what happened when an idea + illustrations + PowerPoint + some good music became a video!

Special thanks to composer/musician David Santucci for lending his remarkable talent to this piece. A gifted artist and overall nice guy whose work will soon be available in high-def quality on iTunes; it was a delightful collaboration.

Now I hope you’ll go on over to Amazon and buy the Magnetic Mermaid Dress-Up toy and make some kids very happy this holiday! : )

November 10, 2010 In art, children's books, design, illustration, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Sneak Peek of a Secret Project …

My muse is hard at work, sliding with a vengeance into all available slivers of time. (When is a girl to sleep, I ask?) This time it’s something kind of new for me … and it’s making me smile, despite a crazy schedule, some sleep deprivation and probably too much tea and chocolate. (Wait ~ there can’t be too much tea or chocolate. What was I thinking?)

But I will say no more (because, after all, it’s a secret) and just cut to the sneak peek. Hope it makes you smile too. : )

October 19, 2010 In art, children's books, drawing, illustration, writing By Patricia Saxton

The Artful Joy of Appreciation

Literally.

Appreciation is always a lovely thing. But how can one not be thrilled by one that’s hand-drawn?!

I was raised by a writer and learned early on to write out my thank-you’s. Friends may even think of me as a bit of thank-you note nut. Just the same, there’s an art to it, and over my lifetime I’ve seen the dwindling of that art. First there was the phone call, then the email note. Add to that the inundated-with-to-do’s, fast pace of people’s lives that doesn’t allow much room for proper thank you’s ~ especially challenging for people who don’t have a natural affinity for writing ~ and the way of thank you note gets lost.

But of course it’s important to realize that appreciation takes many forms. Not everyone draws a picture, or writes a beautiful note. Sometimes they say just the right words, or do something marvelously selfless and generous. People are good at heart; they show it in different ways.

Still … there’s nothing quite like a real thank-you! So I’d like to show a little appreciation for a very special one, by sharing it with you. It’s a card I received from a young girl I’ve never met, who’d received my books and toy as a gift. Hopefully the exuberant art will brighten your day, as it did mine!

(I especially enjoyed the serious, unassuming cover opening to a delightful surprise inside.)