Studio NT

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T06:29:00.000-05:00

First Peas to the Table is on Facebook!

2011-12-02T12:34:00.001-05:00

This is a book I'm really excited about! Classroom gardening, spring, contests and kids! It's called First Peas to the Table and it's coming out this spring from Albert Whitman & Co. Susan Grigsby and I teamed up again, and it's a great story. More to come - teacher's guides, coloring pages, an maybe even a contest!
Visit and like the new Facebook page! :)

Halloween!

2011-10-26T10:33:00.000-04:00

What if...

Squirrels eat pumpkin...are they Zombie Squirrels?

A scary moonlit night...the old tree stump looks like it might have a face...

Dog tags

2011-10-24T09:50:00.000-04:00

I kept all of dog's tags. Strung ribbon through them, made a loop, and they're Christmas tree ornaments. :) This one I did on cold press watercolor paper with Winsor Newton colors.

Yupo!

2011-10-24T09:14:00.000-04:00

I got some "Yupo" paper and experimented with it. It's very smooth, and watercolor can "sit" on top of the surface, almost the way it looks on a paper palette. The experience was very frustrating for me so far...

I think the watercolors were too thin and light.

So I did a really loose sketch of a maltese, and threw on darker, richer colors. This is when I realized that unless your hands are superclean, oils will leave areas that the paint won't adhere to.

So without any pencil, I loaded up some brushes with green and brown and did this. Ah, I think I see how it should work now.

Next I'll experiment with printing a drawing onto it from my Epson. Then make sure I don't use any lotion on my hands before painting!

Sketches

2011-10-14T07:13:00.000-04:00

Some sketches to share...

Celebrate!

2011-10-13T07:08:00.000-04:00

Squirrel sketches

2011-10-12T07:08:00.000-04:00

In the Garden with Dr. Carver wins the Growing Good Kids Award!

2011-07-23T09:05:00.010-04:00

The American Horticultural Society and the National Junior Master Gardener Program are pleased to inform you that In the Garden with Dr. Carver published by Albert Whitman & Co. was selected as a 2011 Growing Good Kids - Excellence in Children's Literature Award winner.

This book awards program was established to recognize and build awareness of picture books that effectively promote an understanding of and appreciation for gardening/plants and the environment. Through engaging story, illustration and design, In the Garden with Dr. Carver was designated by our book awards committee as exemplifying excellence in this aim.

Click here!

Bestseller list!

2011-07-12T12:04:00.000-04:00

In the Garden with Dr. Carver is on the Shelf Awareness blog's best seller list! Neat!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T12:16:00.000-04:00

Lucky bunny...

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T09:06:00.001-05:00

Photos and Video from my School Visit at Brophy

2011-02-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

I visited a 4th grade classroom at the Brophy School in Framingham, and local reporter from the Patch was there. She took photos, video, and wrote this very nice article about the visit. :)

Thanks Susan Petroni!

Way Tugeau!

2011-01-04T09:04:00.002-05:00

My agent, Chris Tugeau, has recently entered the world of blogging! Check it out here. :)

Lucky Beans has been named one of the Smithsonian's Notable Books for Children!

2010-12-30T07:05:00.000-05:00

Lucky Beans has been named one of the Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children!

7 Impossible Things!

2010-12-30T07:02:00.000-05:00

7 Imp is always a cool place to visit...but this time I'm in it!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-22T09:06:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Blessed Yule, Happy Kwanzaa to all!

Kite

2010-12-01T06:21:00.000-05:00

I love the words "What if?". Here's a boy out with his dogs flying a kite. What if...he came across a broken kite? What if it's exactly like the kite he's flying? What if this is a picture about a time travelling adventure?

Winter holidays...

2010-11-30T10:32:00.000-05:00

School Library Journal reviews In the Garden with Dr. Carver

2010-10-06T10:39:00.000-04:00

K-Gr 3–In this story set in the early 1900s, African-American elementary-school students Sally and her classmates get scientific lessons from Dr. George Washington Carver, who arrives in a “funny-looking wagon” pulled by an old mule, his “movable school.” Everyone in the small Alabama town has heard of the famous plant scientist, however, and pays attention to what he has to say. The setting seems slightly idealized. The characters look healthy and well-dressed, although they do talk about the difficulties of farming land depleted by years of growing cotton. The focus of the story is on Carver teaching the children about plants though, not economic conditions, so Tadgell’s sunny color palette, rich with earth tones, is appropriate. Sally, in a bright red dress and white pinafore, stands out in the gardening spreads. The watercolor illustrations include many humorous asides of children acting like children–making horrified faces as they taste Dr. Carver’s menu of “chicken” made from peanuts and wild-weed salad, or being silly with friends when they are supposed to be listening. Scientific and historical information is well-presented through the gentle text and lighthearted illustrations. Teachers will find many uses for this appealing book.–Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA

October SLJ review

GRIGSBY, Susan. In the Garden with Dr. Carver. illus. by Nicole Tadgell. unpaged. notes. CIP. Albert Whitman. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-3630-8. LC 2009048124.

A is for Anansi Conference

2010-10-05T10:13:00.002-04:00

At NYU this weekend! I'll be there. :)

http://africanastudies.as.nyu.edu/object/anansi.html

Wheaton Quarterly Article

2010-09-22T16:24:00.000-04:00

I'm honored to have been interviewed by Sandra Coleman for my alma mater's magazine, The Wheaton Quarterly!

Rutgers University Reviews: In the Garden with Dr. Carver

2010-09-08T11:18:00.000-04:00

Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, September 3, 2010

By	Yana V. Rodgers

In the Garden with Dr. Carver (Hardcover)

Botanist and inventor George Washington Carver achieved professional acclaim with his scholarship in plant pathology and agriculture at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. His strong desire to use hands-on methods in teaching farmers and mentoring children led him to travel across the South in a wagon specially equipped with extension materials and pulled by a mule.

Carver's novel use of the movable school contributed to improved understanding of how alternative crops such as peanuts and sweet potatoes could improve soil quality and diversify people's diets. As a highly educated and successful African American scientist, he also served as an important role model for children at a time of rampant discrimination and racial segregation.

This work of historical fiction presents young learners with a snapshot of George Washington Carver's extension work with children. Although the text and illustrations have a botanical focus, the story can motivate some useful economics-oriented discussions related to natural resources, innovation, and agricultural production. As one of the most famous African American inventors in U.S. history, Carver has left a rich legacy that is clearly presented in this appealing children's book.

Dr. Carver Exhibit Boston Museum of Science Exhibit!

2010-09-01T12:59:00.000-04:00

This is neat! I plan to go & see this soon at the Boston Museum of Science.

In the Garden with Dr. Carver

2010-09-01T11:22:00.000-04:00

By Susan Grigsby, published by Albert Whitman and Co., September 2010.

Check out these great REVIEWS:
Booklist
Rutgers University
Kirkus

Share some free COLORING PAGES with the kids.

Reviews: In the Garden with Dr. Carver

2010-09-01T11:21:00.000-04:00

REVIEWS:
Booklist
Rutgers University
Kirkus

Coloring Pages for Dr. Carver

2010-08-25T07:31:00.001-04:00

Booklist Reviews In the Garden with Dr. Carver

2010-08-20T09:26:00.000-04:00

Booklist Review
Advanced Review – Uncorrected Proof
Issue: September 1, 2010

In the Garden with Dr. Carver
Grigsby, Susan (Author) , Tadgell, Nicole (Illustrator)
Sep 2010. 32 p. Albert Whitman, hardcover, $16.99. (9780807536308).

In this charming historical-fiction picture book, a young girl relates an educational and inspirational visit by Dr. George Washington Carver to her Alabama town. When Carver visits Sally’s school, his child friendly explanations (“Plants, like people, need nutritious food to help them grow”) and hands-on demonstrations invite the students’ curiosity and participation, as they learn about gardening, including the importance of respecting nature, and plant a school “kitchen” garden of their own. Concepts like composting and planting are well conveyed through Sally’s descriptive, sometimes lyrical narrative, which includes fun details like a school picnic filled with Carver’s recipes, such as sweet-potato-flour bread. The colorful watercolor illustrations, featuring soft touches and historical details, depict the rural setting and expressive characters; and attractive renderings of garden flora and fauna, labeled with scientific and common-use names, decorate the endpapers. Overall, this is an enjoyable, accessible, and informative
introduction to Carver’s work and philosophies as well as gardening basics. A brief endnote provides additional information on Carver.

— Shelle Rosenfeld

Cynsations!

2010-08-17T16:30:00.000-04:00

I've been interviewed at the Cynsations blog! Check it out HERE. It's great sharing the illustration experience. Only one small snag: although I was born in Detroit, I didn't grow up there. Mostly Texas, on Long Island, and in Massachusetts. I'm still growing up in Massachusetts. ;)

Silly monkey

2010-08-14T11:54:00.000-04:00

Podcast!

2010-08-10T12:58:00.001-04:00

Here's my very first audio interview! The author, Becky Birtha, and I were interviewed about Lucky Beans here on Albert Whitman's website:

http://albertwhitman.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/awc-author-podcast-series-lucky-beans/

Kirkus Review - In the Garden with Dr. Carver

2010-07-22T09:46:00.000-04:00

Here's a wonderful review from none other than Kirkus!!

"Tadgell’s watercolors add both playful side business and accurate botanical illustration to this admiring child’s account of the famous scientist’s stopover in a rural community. George Washington Carver often spent weekends visiting settlements around Tuskegee with his "movable school" to dispense information about reclaiming depleted farmland, recycling and good agricultural practices. Avidly absorbing his injunctions to look closely at the natural world and to understand its interrelationships before changing or destroying anything, the young narrator and other children move a rose bush to a sunnier spot, make nature drawings, sample ice cream and other foods made from peanuts and “strange wild weeds,” then help dig and plant a garden outside their schoolhouse. Though fictionalized, the encounter presents Carver’s work and ideas in a simple, engaging way that will stay with young readers until they're ready for Marilyn Nelson's soaring Carver: A Life in Poems (2001). The endpapers present lovely illustrations of flora and fauna, complete with common and Latin names, and an author's note provides additional background on Carver's career. (Picture book. 7-9)"

Sketches - motion and emotion

2010-07-16T06:40:00.000-04:00

Color and motion study

2010-07-15T06:40:00.000-04:00

Publish Post

Character studies

2010-07-10T08:39:00.000-04:00

Sandy Foster's Shabby Streamside Studio

2010-06-24T09:27:00.009-04:00

My beautiful, gifted sister Sandy has been featured in the New York Times!

Want to get in touch with Sandy? Email her: zuzudotfosteratgmaildotcom

Visit her blog here, it's incredible. For even more behind-the-scenes, visit here.

My New Portfolio Book

2010-06-23T08:24:00.000-04:00

For once I am happy with my most recent portfolio book! For a long time I've wanted to do something really different, and I was so tired and bored with the typical glossy-paged, spiral-bound black portfolio cases that most artists carry around. I have several of them! The glossy pages get scratched and bent, and create a glare that is off-putting for me. The black paper inside gets marred and torn from adhesive corner holders or tape.

I considered making my own book using fabric, cardboard, and ribbon - a technique I learned years ago. However, the result has a "craft" look - great for wedding guest books and keepsakes, not for showing art to potential buyers.

My husband volunteered to make a custom wood cover, with rivets to bind the pages together. It would be gorgeous and unique. Either way, I couldn't easily replace the pages. A portfolio should be updated frequently - and I change my mind about what I want in it constantly.

I wanted something that looked more like a real book. I've seen a lot of portfolios - at previous SCBWI conferences, there would be a room where you can view other artists portfolios. At work, we had a client who wanted to put together a binder of work he could show to his customers. So we asked a representative of AI Friedman to come down and show what is available out there. Some of it I'd seen in Michael's or CC Lowell (my local art store), and some of it I'd seen in the ASW or Dick Blick catalog. But when he mentioned that we should be using the UniBind system, and showed the hardboard covers available, that's when I said "a-ha!".

I can print my pages (two-sided, even!), slip them into the cover and set it on the UniBind machine. By re-heating the spine, I can re-arrange, remove, and change my mind as often as I want!

It's perfect for me. The covers come in standard and unique sizes - I chose the white linen 12x12. The window cutout is charming for my "silly me" painting to peek out of.

Another use I can do is create layouts of family photos, with a selected image for the window or even a type header. I could even paint on the white linen covers. The only snag is that I had to buy 10 of them, and they are all the same. The die cut window was extra, too. The window iss customizable, as well. Oval, square, rectangular, round. Positioning can be pretty much anywhere, too.)

These pics were taken from my little point-and-shoot camera. I'll upload better pics soon, this gives you an idea of how it looks "in real life". :)

The previous two images are from LUCKY BEANS by Becky Birtha, published by Albert Whitman and Co. just this spring.

"Start strong, end strong" is the motto of any good portfolio. Usually means that what is in the middle isn't as strong. For me, the middle is the place I put images I couldn't decided on. In this case, I put in pieces that are my "favorites". Fantasy, or watercolors that turned out well. Friends, family, colleagues, and art directors agree that many of my personal favorites just don't belong here! "If you hear the same comments three times or more, there's the truth" is another well-known saying. So I listened, and have since taken those out. Some of the fantasy pieces should have their own page, though, many people said.

Here's a sneak peek at my new book IN THE GARDEN WITH DR.CARVER by Susan Grigsby. Watch for it this fall, also from Albert Whitman and Co.

Overall, I'm pleased with the result! Until I make new art, of course. Then I'll agonize over what to put in and what to take out.:)

A Day with Daddy by Nikki Grimes

2010-06-20T08:00:00.005-04:00

Happy Father's Day!

A Day with Daddy by Nikki Grimes is a Scholastic "Just for You" title published by Color-Bridge Books.
Here's a great review from Booklist.

I had a very enjoyable time working on this book. My younger brother John posed as the Daddy in this story (he isn't a Daddy in real life yet). Here are a few behind-the-scenes images you might enjoy:

After the rough sketches are approved, I took photos for references for the daddy character;

Then I drew tight pencils:

And then final color paintings:

Pencils

2010-06-13T15:24:00.000-04:00

I'm always on the lookout for a better pencil. Recently on a discussion list I'm on, the topic of pencils came up, with lots of suggestions about which ones were liked or preferred. So of course, I had to try some of the favorites!

The turqoise ones were my favorites for a long time. You can see the pencil extender on one of them.

Even though I've spent a lot on pencils, trying to find the "perfect" one, I still go back to this one: a Sanford EarthWrite number 2 HB. From OfficeMax. Go figure. It's smooth (no grittiness in the middle of a line like the Raffines do), sharpens well, doesn't smudge too much and the color is nice and dark.

Interviews

2010-06-12T10:36:00.005-04:00

Cynsations

Seven Impossible Things - Lucky Beans

Seven Impossible Things - No Mush Today

Lee and Low

The Brown Bookshelf

Big A little a

Lucky Beans NEW Coloring Page!

2010-06-12T06:49:00.000-04:00

The Elephant in the Room

2010-06-11T06:43:00.000-04:00

Very interesting topic of conversation spurred by Elizabeth Bluemle at the Shelftalker blog. Check out the illustrations, too!

Warm-up sketch: crazy-silly cartoony

2010-06-10T06:22:00.000-04:00

Warm-up sketch: 3 preteens

2010-06-09T06:29:00.000-04:00

I saw a stock photo of three preteen kids walking along in a field. Two were close together, one was a little further back. Why? Maybe the two forward characters were in a fight with the third? Or is the third one harassing the two? What's unique about number three?

These were the questions running through my head as I sketched them. I noticed also that I didn't "study" the reference photo and try to make the drawing look like it. I rarely do that unless they are photos I took myself. It's like I use the photos as a launching pad for ideas.

Warm up sketch...with china marker

2010-06-08T06:06:00.001-04:00

Warm up sketch...with ink

2010-06-07T06:01:00.003-04:00

More warm ups

2010-06-04T06:46:00.002-04:00

Warm up sketches

2010-06-03T06:58:00.000-04:00

Often I like to sketch "warm-up" drawings before doing "serious" drawings. Shakes the cobwebs off, reminds me how to coordinate my hand/eyes/brain.

Sometimes I use photo references to get started, sometimes not. Here's one from a stock photo reference, of a preteen girl with her guitar:

The Horn Book!

2010-05-26T06:43:00.003-04:00

LUCKY BEANS by Becky Birtha was reviewed in the May/June issue of the Horn Book!
It was written by Susan Dove Lemke, which feels like coming full circle, because it was an article written by her in the Horn Book called "The Faces in Picture Books" years ago that sparked me into launching a career as a children's book illustrator.

NESCBWI Conference

2010-05-17T16:08:00.001-04:00

For an event I wasn't ready for, it was a whirlwind of fun, learning and inspiration. Anindita and Greg, with all the volunteers did an awesome job. It was neat to see my art on the big screen, too. :) Surprisingly, we've now outgrown even this new conference space. I wonder if we'll end up in or near Boston...which would be an awesome experience, especially with all the excellent restaurants so close to each other.

I wish I could have gone to more than one workshop! A device where you can be two places at once...hmmm...didn't work out too well for Hermione. Oh well.

Major highlights would be getting portfolio feedback. (Not pictured) Interestingly, I heard the same comments from published professionals and green newbies, so the truth is the truth! My "favorite" pieces don't necessarily work in this current portfolio, time to retire them!

The illustrator academy was such fun! It was a rare treat to see behind-the-scenes sketches and book dummies. I also wished I could have seen every portolio critique instead of those just at my table.

I also hoped we'd have more time to work on improving sequencing from the homework assignment. Four hours sounds like a long time, but it flies by. Watching the progression of David Costello's book was wonderful, very eye-opening. What a treat! Speaking of treats...the food was just okay...so how did I gain four pounds???

NESCBWI Conference!

2010-05-13T09:39:00.000-04:00

It's this weekend! I'm glad it will be raining...that way I won't feel guilty about not spending time in the garden...:) It's tough to balance two passions like those.

Doodle and Squeak drawings

2010-04-11T17:43:00.000-04:00

Dancer

2010-04-08T15:40:00.001-04:00

Nez Perce Illustration

2010-04-07T09:27:00.001-04:00

Memories - warm toned

2010-04-06T11:07:00.002-04:00

Adopted sibling rivalry

2010-04-05T11:53:00.002-04:00

In this illustration, I wanted to tell a story of parents who already have an adopted child, and have adopted another. Clearly the boy isn't happy about it at first, but his little sister reaches out and warms his heart. I love the colors on this - working on the experimental Strathmore paper which I seem to like better than the expensive Fabriano.

Sadness

2010-03-29T09:50:00.001-04:00

"If it should be....
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
and pain should keep me from my sleep,
then you must do what must be done,
for we know this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
but don't let grief then stay your hand,
for this day, more than the rest,
your love and friendship must stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
what is to come can hold no fears.
Would you want me to suffer? So,
when the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
only stay with me until the end,
and hold me firm and speak to me,
until my eyes no longer see.

It is a kindness that you do to me,
although my tail its last has waved,
from pain and suffering I have been saved.

Do not grieve, it should be you,
who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears."

-- by Julia Napier, copyright 1999

Email trouble...

2010-03-25T06:43:00.001-04:00

If anyone has tried to contact me through the email link on my (sadly neglected) website, I have been having trouble with that address. Please try nickietart at yahoo dot com if you've been trying to reach me. Art buyers can try reaching my agent, Chris Tugeau, at chris@catugeau.com.

Sorry, and thanks!

Wheaton People!

2010-03-15T09:09:00.000-04:00

Wheaton did a nice profile, you can see the photos and interview here.

"Multicultural" Fantasy art

2010-03-13T10:04:00.000-05:00

Having heard about the new publishing company Tu Publishing, I was so excited and was gearing up to send along a submission of my favorite fantasy artwork. Unfortunately, I was also working away at my latest book, and put the project aside. Now I've heard the news that Lee and Low acquired Tu and now it's called Tu Books! I was delighted, having worked with Lee and Low on NO MUSH TODAY and am still working on new art for a fantasy submission. They are looking for middle grade & YA right now, not picture books so I have time. Meanwhile, I've updated the fantasy page on my blog, here's the link: http://nicoletadgell.blogspot.com/2008/11/fantasy-art.html

I've always enjoyed fantasy. I loved to "pretend", I loved fairies and elves. I read voraciously when I was a kid, and when a teen I would lose myself in the worlds of McCaffery, Tolkien, Weiss & Hickman. I watched Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, and so many more. And I didn't realize until much later how few of the characters looked like me, or how much it would hurt to have that unspoken "this isn't for you" message. Well, it's becoming more and more for you...for everyone. Imagination is not limited to ethnicity or skin color, wealth or poverty.

Blue Rose Girls: Welcome TU Books!

2010-03-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

Blue Rose Girls: Welcome TU Books!

Lucky Beans is on 7-Imp!

2010-03-04T06:27:00.000-05:00

I had fun visiting with the folks at Seven Impossible Things! Check out the blog.

Blue Rose Girls: entropy

2010-03-03T10:55:00.000-05:00

Blue Rose Girls: entropy

Shabby Chic Sis!

2010-02-23T14:31:00.001-05:00

My sister's fledgling blog My Shabby Streamside Studio has been 'discovered' by one of the biggest 'shabby decorating' blogs in the US! Please use the link below to see it.

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2010/02/let-me-introduce-you.html

hand study

2010-02-13T07:49:00.001-05:00

Found this...from when I was in a watercolor class at the Worcester Art Museum.

Found

2010-02-12T09:03:00.001-05:00

Found some art I had done a long time ago...it's undated so I don't know when. Probably 2002-2005. Anyway...I did these on a different kind of paper. I think it was a strathmore watercolor pad - student grade. But I really love the way the color sits on the paper more than the expensive "artist-grade" Fabriano artistico I'm using now. I'll have to get another pad and experiment some more.

quick inkies

2010-02-12T08:57:00.000-05:00

Found some old sketches, decided to play with the ink pens...keeping it loose. Some were really small - 2".

Hermit Thrush!

2010-02-08T11:27:00.000-05:00

Wow!! A confirmed sighting of a hermit thrush in our yard yesterday! I had glimpsed them in the past, but never got a good enough look to be sure. Confused as to why they are here now, having read that they don't come into our area until April. I do so hope that they build a nest or at least SING this spring! I love their song. Haunting, echoey, spiritual.

pretty fairy!

2010-02-07T16:53:00.000-05:00

Kirkus Reviews LUCKY BEANS!

2010-01-29T09:15:00.000-05:00

Amazing as it is to even get your book reviewed, it's even more amazing to get favorable ones from sources like Kirkus. I'm chuffed!

Kirkus Reviews, Feb. 1

Birtha, Becky
LUCKY BEANS
Illus. by Nicole Tadgell

History proves cyclical with this story of an African-American family living through the Great Depression. “Marshall didn’t feel so lucky. The elbows of his jacket were worn almost all the way through. Dad had been out of work for months, and there was no money.” The story, however, is not one of depression. The family works together to survive and finds moments of love, appreciation and sheer happiness. This moving tale not only relates a little history but also some math, as Marshall helps his mother estimate the number of beans in the furniture-store jar and ultimately wins a new sewing machine, which helps alleviate their dire financial situation. Tadgell’s watercolor illustrations move the story and stir readers’ emotions. A two-page spread of the contestants in the store teaches readers everything they need to know about the characters without a letter of text. Many children today can relate to the family’s challenges, which makes the timing of this picture book sadly relevant. (author’s note) (Picture-book. 5-12)

School Library Journal Review

2010-01-25T09:58:00.000-05:00

Yayy! Another nice review:

BIRTHA, Becky. Lucky Beans. illus. by Nicole Tadgell. unpaged. CIP. Albert Whitman. Mar. 2010. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-4782-3. LC 2009023901.
Gr 2-4–Money is tight during the Great Depression, and Marshall is tired of eating beans for dinner every night. When a local shopkeeper announces a contest to win a new sewing machine, he seizes the opportunity to make his Ma’s dreams come true. The catch is that to win it, he has to guess how many beans are in a jar. Birtha effortlessly describes how Marshall and his mother use math to find their answer. Young readers thus will discover fun, realistic applications for the estimating and multiplication skills they learn in their classrooms. Math is not the only subject in Birtha’s lively lesson plan, though. She also confronts the racism of the 1930s when a white girl tells African-American Marshall that he might not be allowed to enter the contest because “only white ladies can win contests.” An author’s note provides a brief description of the Great Depression and anecdotes from the author’s family history. Tadgell’s colorful illustrations, many full page, give the book an old-fashioned feel and include many period details, strengthening the text’s usefulness for social-studies classes. Children will appreciate the story’s humor and happy ending. Lucky Beans can be used across the curriculum to educate while it entertains. Ideal for classrooms and school libraries, it’s also a strong choice for public libraries.–Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY

Lucky Beans Booklist Review

2010-01-22T15:10:00.000-05:00

Booklist Advanced Review – Uncorrected Proof
Issue: February 1, 2010
Lucky Beans.
Birtha, Becky (Author), Tadgell, Nicole (Illustrator)
Mar 2010. 32 p. Albert Whitman, hardcover, $16.99. (9780807547823).

Math and wry comedy mix in this lively historical story based on Birtha’s grandmother’s memories of life
during the Depression. Young Marshall describes his African American family’s hardship when Dad loses
his job and then his relatives crowd into Marshall’s room. Worst of all are the beans Ma constantly cooks.
Then a local furniture store makes an exciting offer: whoever guesses the number of beans in a huge jar on
display will win a new sewing machine. If only Marshall could win the prize for Ma so that she could earn
money by sewing. He works out a system to estimate (not guess) by counting the number of beans that fill
a quart jar, and how many quarts fill up a crock . . . and his formula works! The expressive watercolor
paintings show both the racism that Marshall and his family endure as well as his final triumph, and
Tadgell folds in humor, as Marshall faces what looks like a lifetime supply of beans. An informative final
note fills in more about the era’s history.

— Hazel Rochman

Lucky Beans by Becky Birtha

2010-01-16T11:00:00.003-05:00

Here it is at last! LUCKY BEANS by Becky Birtha.

Published by Albert Whitman & Co. Spring 2010

And here's a lovely review in the Horn Book.

ALA!

2010-01-14T16:39:00.000-05:00

Wow, I'm going to be at the American Library Association's Annual Winter Meeting on Sunday in Boston, signing copies of my newest book LUCKY BEANS by Becky Birtha at the Albert Whitman booth.
I've never been to ALA and I'm looking forward to meeting people!

New art...or oldie but goodie?

2009-12-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

I'll be participating in some upcoming promotions with my agent, so of course I'm back to my fighting my nemesis: deciding which piece to put in! Do I find an older piece, maybe done for another client? Or do I create something new? So in my search of archived art, I came across these pieces which viewers may not have seen:

Coming soon!

2009-11-10T10:43:00.000-05:00

The F&Gs for LUCKY BEANS by Becky Birtha came in yesterday! (For those se of you who don't know, F&G stands for "folds and gathers" and is an unbound copy of a book)

It's my newest book coming out this Spring from Albert Whitman & Co. As with many of the books I illustrate, I have lots of mixed feelings while I work on the art - ranging from elation to despair! This particular book takes place during the depression, so I needed to do a lot of careful research.

I also like to challenge myself, so I drew scenes with more perspective, and layering. It was very difficult! So when I was finished with this one, I really wasn't happy. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't what I saw in my head. Months later, I'm seeing it again for the first time in context - words and pictures, trimmed and folded.

It really works, and looks nice! The team at Albert Whitman was great to work with, as well. Kudos to them! Hopefully the book will receive good reviews, too. :)

Horn tooting!

2009-10-15T14:15:00.000-04:00

Neat! There is a book called the Encyclopedia of Writing and Illustrating Children's Books and my work is featured inside! I got my copy recently, and it looks great!

Neesha's post

2009-09-15T16:19:00.000-04:00

I am going to need to re-read this PLUS the comments when I get home and can devote more time to this rich, thought-provoking discussion...

Shelftalker Follow-up

2009-09-11T13:50:00.001-04:00

This is an amazing follow-up to Elizabeth Bluembe's blog about diversity in children's books - wonderfully well-written, and I am so heartened by all the comments. There are a LOT of people out there who feel the same as I do!

Totally off topic...

2009-09-09T10:45:00.000-04:00

Okay, this has nothing to do with illustration...I just needed to vent! How can I lose 10lbs and still look the same?! All that work, being hungry all the time, and my clothes only feel a LITTLE looser!

Geez... makes me want to go eat a cupcake.

On the other hand, if the scale is wrong (and I suspect it is, being 15 yrs old), this would make sense.

Digitally Created Artwork

2009-08-31T14:54:00.001-04:00

There's a lot of buzz lately about artiss creating work digitally...as in some companies now have that as a requirement. Here are some examples that I created digitally 100%. But what I'm confused about is why. What's the difference between doing a painting and scanning it, and creating it 100% in Photoshop. I'd flatten the layers anyway. Do they want the "digital" look? Do they think they have better control over color spaces? I don't actually render the same digital vs. traditional. It's not fun to try to make a digital painting look like a watercolor.

Below is an image I painted traditonally and then scanned in and modified in Photoshop with layers and filters. . Is it digital? Why or why not?

Great article!

2009-08-28T09:26:00.000-04:00

So well said!

Summer reading

2009-08-10T14:45:00.001-04:00

Right now I'm reading DICEY'S SONG by Cynthia Voight

Recently read books: (in no particular order)
BABY by Patricia MacLachlan
THE HIGHER POWER OF LUCKY by Susan Patron
WE ARE THE SHIP by Kadir Nelson
KIRA KIRA by Cynthia Kadotada
GATHERING BLUE by Lois Lawry
ARCHER'S QUEST by Linda Sue Park
TANEESHA NEVER DISPARAGING by M. LaVora Perry
CRISPIN: The Cross of Lead by Avi
CRISPIN: At the Edge of the World by Avi
SHILOH by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
HOLES by Louis Sachar
RULES by Cynthia Lord

Basically, I go to the library planning on reading Newbery books, and I just sort of browse, and pick up other books that look interesting, or are by an author I know.

It SEEMS that if a book got a Newbery medal, it means somebody dies or something really tragic happens.

Here is an interesting article about this topic.

When people say that they want to "stretch a child's mind", I think they mean more emotionally and socially - not necessarily intellectually. I recall being an excellent reader at an early age - reading at levels a lot higher than my age group. I think I was reading at a college level when I was in middle school. But I didn't want to "stretch" in the emotional/social way. Intellectually, sure. Not a problem. But I could not deal with books about death (my younger sister died when I was a child) or poverty (I had already experienced being poor and it wasn't something I wanted to read about for fun) and politics weren't interesting (a lot of adults don't think they are interesting, either). Or about being black. I wasn't 100% comfortable with my race, and I didn't enjoy exploring things that made me uncomfortable.

For me, books were a way to escape what I couldn't. Children are largely powerless (can't control where they live or their financial status) so reading about faraway worlds, magical creatures, other planets, or other time periods were the most fun for me, and stayed that way well into my adulthood.

So now that I'm "grown up", I'm having fun reading these middle grade and young adult books. I love how refreshing they are. How clean the writing is. No unnecessary details going on about "how she tossed raven-black curls over her shoulders".

I can't wait to read the next book...and the next...and the next. Will I someday read "adult" level books? Perhaps. But not today.

Blue Rose Girls: so, where do I go from here?

2009-08-05T12:22:00.000-04:00

Blue Rose Girls: so, where do I go from here?

Doing your best

2009-08-05T11:58:00.000-04:00

What is your best?

Doing your best has more to do with getting your mind, body and spirit on the same page at once.
Performers and sports players know how hard this can be. Artists, too. It might seem, on the surface, that if you're a writer or artist, you can go back and re-do, rework, repaint. With deadlines, there's a limit. Or like a student taking a test. An answer that keeps eluding you – then you know it suddenly, hours after the exam.

So when I show my work, is it the best I can do? Yes and no. It WAS the best, at that time. Sometimes I overwork or overthink the art, and the art I did in a different state of mind is actually "better". That's why a lot of art artists do for themselves (as opposed to contract work ) is "better". No one to say what the subject should be. How the character is feeling, what he is doing.

impatiens

2009-08-05T09:26:00.000-04:00

Ink and Photoshop Mice Characters

2009-08-03T05:59:00.002-04:00

Awhile back, I did these illustrations for a local cable company. They were done in ink, and colored in Photoshop.

8-1-09

2009-08-01T10:13:00.000-04:00

The flowers are beginning to really fade now. If I deadhead them, I could get more blooms.

Bee Balm Countdown - Final day!

2009-07-08T11:49:00.001-04:00

Today I am finished!

Articles

2009-07-05T07:11:00.000-04:00

The Horn Book article/review of Lucky Beans

Josias, Hold the Book articles and reviews

No Mush Today articles and reviews

Worcester Living Magazine interview

Central Mass Magazine interview

Bee balm Countdown - Day 15

2009-07-04T08:08:00.000-04:00

Reviews - Lucky Beans

2009-07-03T14:22:00.004-04:00

Kirkus Reviews

History proves cyclical with this story of an African-American family living through the Great Depression. “Marshall didn’t feel so lucky. The elbows of his jacket were worn almost all the way through. Dad had been out of work for months, and there was no money.” The story, however, is not one of depression. The family works together to survive and finds moments of love, appreciation and sheer happiness. This moving tale not only relates a little history but also some math, as Marshall helps his mother estimate the number of beans in the furniture-store jar and ultimately wins a new sewing machine, which helps alleviate their dire financial situation. Tadgell’s watercolor illustrations move the story and stir readers’ emotions. A two-page spread of the contestants in the store teaches readers everything they need to know about the characters without a letter of text. Many children today can relate to the family’s challenges, which makes the timing of this picture book sadly relevant. (author’s note) (Picture-book. 5-12)

Booklist

Math and wry comedy mix in this lively historical story based on Birtha’s grandmother’s memories of life during the Depression. Young Marshall describes his African American family’s hardship when Dad loses his job and then his relatives crowd into Marshall’s room. Worst of all are the beans Ma constantly cooks. Then a local furniture store makes an exciting offer: whoever guesses the number of beans in a huge jar on display will win a new sewing machine. If only Marshall could win the prize for Ma so that she could earn money by sewing. He works out a system to estimate (not guess) by counting the number of beans that fill a quart jar, and how many quarts fill up a crock . . . and his formula works! The expressive watercolor paintings show both the racism that Marshall and his family endure as well as his final triumph, and Tadgell folds in humor, as Marshall faces what looks like a lifetime supply of beans. An informative final note fills in more about the era’s history. Grades 1-3. --Hazel Rochman

Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, March 27, 2010

By	Yana V. Rodgers "http://econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ)

Marshall knew that times were tough, but that did not really help him feel any more grateful to see the pot of beans cooking on the stove. After all, they ate beans just about every night. Like many households, the Great Depression had hit Marshall's family hard with the loss of his father's job, the cramped living situation after his relatives moved in, and the shortage of money for food and clothes.

Those beans, though, took on a whole different meaning when Marshall spotted a sign in a store window challenging people to guess how many beans were in the enormous pickle jar. The winner would take home a brand new sewing machine worth $23.95. Although Marshall desperately wanted to help his mother win that prize, he knew they had to overcome two obstacles. Not only did they need to make a better guess than everyone else, they also had to find out if the storeowner would even allow a woman of color to win the contest.

Based on real events in the life of the author's grandmother, this new book helps today's generation of young readers better understand the difficult economic times and the racial discrimination of the Great Depression years. With illustrations that beautifully match the text's subtle humor and grace, Lucky Beans is an ideal choice when seeking picture books that are rich in substantive content.

By	D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont)

The streets and sidewalks were a snowy mess and the cold winds seemed to go right through Marshall Loman's old clothes and chill him to the bone. He raced up the three short steps of the family home shouting, "What's for dinner, Ma? I'm starving!" His eyes widened as his took the cover off a large pot. Beans, beans, beans . . . it was always beans. His Ma said they were lucky to have them, but every night made him want to hate them. The house was filling up with relatives and to make it worse he had to "share a room with his little brother and sister, Tommy and Patsy." Even their clothes were wearing out, but his mother had hope in President Roosevelt. Perhaps he could help everyone because he was "on the poor people's side."

The next day when Marshall and Tommy were passing by Kaplan's Furniture Store he spotted something very interesting in the window. There was a new sewing machine and a huge jar of beans. Beans, beans, beans . . . it was always beans. This time though, these beans might just help the family. Anyone who could guess how many beans in the jar would win the sewing machine. There was a lot of thinking to do and Marshall would have to think about what he learned in school. There were 333 beans in one cup, four cups equal a quart . . . with Marshall's help, would his mother guess the right number of beans in that humongous jar?

This is a heartwarming story about a young boy during the Depression years who learned that those yucky beans were really lucky beans. The scenario, loosely based on a tale relayed to the author by her grandmother, is reminiscent of many stories told by those who lived during those hard times. The story gives off an aura of hope as we see a family who is living and working together to ensure the family's welfare. Marshall, like any other boy, was portrayed very realistically and we know exactly what he likes, dislikes, and what his dreams were. The artwork was expressive and, with the little touches, brought back the good times families had during the Depression. In the back is an author's note that gives a brief overview of the Depression years.

Review - Lights Out by Angela Shelf Medearis

2009-07-03T14:16:00.001-04:00

School Library Journal

"Just For You!" Series

MEDEARIS, Angela Shelf. Lights Out! illus. by Nicole Tadgell. ISBN
0-439-56868-4.
ea vol: 32p. (Just for You! Series). Scholastic. 2004. pap. $3.99. LC number
unavailable.
K-Gr 1-

These appealing easy readers focus on social skills, conflict
resolution, and bedtime, and feature African-American characters. The
stories are engaging, even though the language is quite simple. The
illustrations will draw young readers, as they are filled with action and
activities to which children will relate. Each title includes discussion
tips for adults. "Meet the Author" and "Meet the Artist" pages include
photographs and interesting personal notes. These books will be effective in
a classroom or library.-Corrina Austin, Locke's Public School, St. Thomas,
Ontario, Canada

Review - A Day With Daddy by Nikki Grimes

2009-07-03T14:10:00.000-04:00

School Library Journal
K-Gr 2-These four easy readers, all of which feature African-American characters, are a bit uneven in quality. All begin with tips for adults on reading aloud and end with questions and activities that encourage youngsters to relate to the stories' themes. Daddy, in which a boy tells about his weekly visit with his father, is a sweet and gentle look at a difficult topic with watercolor illustrations that match the mood, while What Do You Know?, which relates a young girl's early-morning romp through fresh snow, is wordy with uninspired text and illustrations. Girls and Bath! are both fun stories with hit-and-miss rhyming styles and illustrations that bring the texts to life.-Catherine Callegari, San Antonio Public Library, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information

Booklist
Grimes, Nikki. A Day With Daddy. Illus. by Nicole Tadgell. 2004. 32p. Scholastic, paper, $3.99 (0-439-56850-1). Gr. 1.
Upbeat without being preachy or sentimental, these titles in the new Just for You! easy-reading series tell realistic stories of African American family life with excitement and grace. In Jumping the Broom, Erin’s big sister is getting married. Everyone is happy except Erin, who can’t find the right gift––until Grandmother tells her about jumping the broom, a wedding tradition that started among slaves. The characters are beautifully defined in both words and pictures, and many kids will recognize Erin’s pride in honoring her roots. In A Day with Daddy, a boy living with his mom talks about having fun with Dad on their weekly outing. Grimes draws on personal memories of growing up in a divorced family, and her simple, poetic words describe what goes on until the boy returns home with “enough happy / to last me one week.” The separation is here as well as the joy, and Tadgell’s exuberant watercolors show the family bonds, the longing, and the love. Both books include excellent notes for adults and suggestions of things they can do with their children. ––Hazel Rochman

Reviews - Fatuma's New Cloth by Leslie Bulion

2009-07-03T14:03:00.000-04:00

Publishers Weekly
In Bulion's tender tale set in East Africa, the traditions of chai (tea) and kanga cloth contribute to a mother's gentle lesson to her daughter. Mama and Fatuma walk to market where the girl will choose kanga cloth for a dress. Tadgell's (Just Call Me Joe Joe) luminescent watercolors depict the flowing grass and vermilion flowers that line the path to town; Mama's blue and golden kanga drapes gently over her head and shoulders. "Will you sew my new kanga when we get home from the market?" the child asks. When Mama promises to make chai as well, a trio of friendly vendors each offer a special ingredient for the brew, but none makes the chai "taste sweet like [Mama's]." Fanciful patterned borders on each spread hint at what's to come when Mama and Fatuma finally meet with the cloth vendor. Beautiful colors and fabrics fill the spreads as Fatuma searches for "a kanga the color of the deep sea and the early morning sky." When she finds it, Mama reads her the words embedded in the design--"Don't be fooled by the color. The good flavor of chai comes from the sugar"--and explains that what makes a person special is not always evident to the eye. An author's note describes East African customs and provides a recipe for chai. Tadgell's artwork highlights the glorious colors of the area's fabrics and landscapes, and demonstrates the warmth of a closely knit community in which tradition is paramount.

Christian Science Monitor
Fatuma's New Cloth, by Leslie Bulion, takes readers to a colorful East African marketplace. There, little Fatuma and her mother shop for a new kanga cloth. With loose watercolors, illustrator Nicole Tadgell captures the friendly market vendors and their wares. Pages are bordered by various kanga designs. In addition to being bright and beautiful, each piece of fabric sports a printed message. The author makes this Swahili saying part of her narrative: "Don't be fooled by the color. The good flavor of tea is the sugar." This proverb leads little Tuma and her mother into an affectionate conversation about how the good qualities of a person are invisible, just as the sugar that sweetens tea can't be seen. Making and drinking tea figures prominently in the book; in fact, a recipe for chai is included. But this is clearly a device for sending a positive message and for giving readers a vivid picture of contemporary East African culture.

School Library Journal
Fatuma is excited about helping her mother with the marketing in her East African village because she has been promised a kanga cloth of her own and a treat of chai, or tea, afterward. Various merchants offer opinions on the secret of perfect Chai: a dark and strong color from the leaves, a light color from creamy milk, or a shiny new saucepan to boil it in. At the cloth shop, the girl chooses a kanga that is "the color of the morning sky meeting the waves of the sea." Each kanga pattern contains a Swahili saying, and Fatuma's reads, "Don't be fooled by the color. The good flavor of chai comes from the sugar," which can't be seen. Her mother uses Tuma as an analogy and the child exclaims, "What is good about me is on the inside too!" While the message is sweet, the watercolor illustrations are somewhat blurry and washed out, and the story drifts along at a dreamy pace.

H-AfrTeach (H-Net) by Gloria Creed-Dikeogu
(c) 2003 H-Net
"...The story of Fatuma's new cloth is not about chai or kanga cloth, but about a child's journey into social learning and understanding, and we enjoy that social learning experience with her."Experience the sights, colors, sounds and tastes of East Africa with Fatuma and her mother. This book is a feast to be enjoyed by readers of any age. To young readers, the story will be perceived to be simple and straight-forward, and yet it also offers them a lot to think about. The illustrations are rich and colorful and fit the main themes of the book, which focus on the social importance of kanga cloth and chai in the lives of East African communities like Fatuma's.
"This book is highly recommended and is appropriate for any age interested in learning about African culture and tradition."

Blackberry Express
(A) great (book) for Mother's Day present(s) the special relationship between moms and daughters. Fatuma's New Cloth by Leslie Bulion, illus. by Nicole Tadgell is an engaging picture book set in an East African marketplace. Fatuma and her mom search for the perfect colorful fabric for a new dress but are fortunate to discover something more on this shopping trip.

Midwest Book Review
Fatuma's New Cloth is an energetic and highly recommended children's picturebook about Fatuma, a young East African girl who learns about the complexities of the marketplace. There is even a recipe for East African chai (tea) included in this highly enjoyable tale by Leslie Bulion, whose engaging text is superbly complemented by the soft, watercolor-style illustrations by Nicole Tadgell.

WordWeaving
"Fabulous lessons! Very highly recommended"
Fatuma and her mother plan to spend their day in the market. Along the way, various merchants suggest their wares make chai (tea) taste better, but she does not see how their offerings make the chai taste differently. Then at the cloth shop, Fatuma chooses a new kanga cloth from which her mother will make her dress. Each Kanga pattern is imprinted with a Swahili saying, many of which have more than one meaning. Fatuma chooses a kanga imprinted with this message: "Don't be fooled by the color. The good flavor of chai comes from the sugar." So she learns that just as surgery dissolves becoming something we cannot not see, so are the things make us special as impossible to see.Fatuma's New Cloth provides not only an entertaining tale, but also a fascinating peek into a vastly different culture from most American children's. In America, we teach our children, "don't judge a book by its cover." In Swahili, the same lesson is expressed as "don't judge the tea by its color." Parents will welcome the message that the value of people lies on the inside where we cannot see. In addition, parents seeking to teach their children the lessons of acceptance of other people's beliefs and culture will find the story an excellent aid. In addition, authentic East African features and kanga patterns frame the pages, lending the text an extraordinary visually pleasing appearance as charming illustrations bring the text alive. An author's note at the end aids parents to further explain the nuances of the story. Also included is a recipe for chai, allowing young children to experience the story first hand. Very highly recommended.

Bookviews
In America we say "don't judge a book by its color", but in Swahili it's "don't judge the tea by its color" and a young East African girl learns this lesson as readers 5-9 enter a contemporary African market with Fatuma and her mother. It's a delightful introduction to another culture as they make their way around from vender to vender.

North East Independent
an exotic tale from modern-day East Africa...Writer Leslie Bulion and illustrator Nicole Tadgell take us to an African market in search of kanga cloth and the secret to good chai. In a series of delicate watercolors we travel with little Fatuma and Mama as they touch beautiful kanga fabrics, smell sweet and savory cooking spices and talk to the market vendors during a typical day. The book also comes with a recipe for East African chai.

Skipping Stones"charming"

Reviews - No Mush Today by Sally Derby

2009-07-03T13:55:00.000-04:00

School Library Journal: August 2008.Nonie, a young African-American girl, sits at the breakfast table with her parents and a wailing baby, sulking: "Not gonna eat my mush. /Not gonna eat it! I say./Squishy, yucky, yellow stuff/mush is baby food." She puts on her shiny black shoes, and, with her chin poked out, stomps off to live with Grandma (next door), where there's "no mushy mush or bawling babies", and where "Grandma attends when I'm talkin''". Nonie feels better as she and Grandma go to church, but when Daddy passes the collection plate, he faces a still-frowning daughter. Later, at the church picnic, her mood lightens and she allows her dad to give her a paddleboat ride. Pointing out animals, he says, "Ducklings stick with their families/Lots to learn from ducks." By day's end, Nonie has decided to return home and is greeted by her baby brother's great big smile and Momma's warm welcome. The story is told in two to four short sentences per page. The spare text deftly conveys Nonie's reactions and emotions, which are clearly reflected in Tadgell's realistic, folksy watercolors sweeping across double pages. Ultimately, this gentle story addresses the universal frustration older siblings often face at having a new baby in the family.

Booklist: August 2008.Nonie refuses to eat her yucky mush porridge for breakfast ("mush is baby food"), and to get away from her bawling baby brother, she runs next door to Grandma's house, where she thinks she'd like to live because she gets the attention she craves ("Grandma attends when I'm talkin'"). Then, after she goes with Grandma to church, joins the ladies' picnic, and spends time with Daddy in a boat and on the swings, she returns home to her baby brother, now smiling and reaching for her at the gate. Maybe home isn't so bad after all. True to the young kid's viewpoint, this picture book tells the displaced-sibling story with wry affection. The warm, realistic watercolor double-page spreads show Nonie's anger, jealousy, and feeling of connections with her loving African American family and in the multiracial church community. Nonie's sulks are as much fun as the final quiet embrace, when she gives the baby the little yellow duckling toy she has been clutching throughout the day.

Rutgers: September 2008.
Nonie is fed up with her baby brother’s crying and with the cornmeal mush served at breakfast. She decides she wants to leave her family and live with Grandma next door, because at least Grandma pays attention to her and prepares better food. But later that day at the church picnic when Grandma just wants to sit, Nonie cannot resist her father’s offer of a paddleboat ride and a push on the swings. Nonie and her dad see a group of ducklings swimming with their parents, and Nonie reconsiders living at home with her family.
No Mush Today may appear to have a simple premise, but underneath the surface is an important lesson about the time demands of providing care for children. Caring for a new baby is particularly time consuming, and as the older sibling, Nonie feels she is bearing the cost when her parents are less attentive to her own wants and needs. Going to live with Grandma seems appealing, but Nonie soon realizes that there are tradeoffs when she misses her family. The rich illustrations add emotional depth to this engaging story.
Yana V. Rodgers, Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children

Kirkus Reviews: September 2008.
After her baby brother’s arrival, young Nonie must cope with the reality that she is no longer her parents’ only priority. She uses another morning of mush for breakfast as an excuse to move in with Grandma, who lives next door, and Grandma gives Nonie all the attention she craves. After services at church and a following picnic that gives her a chance to reconnect with her family—“ ‘Baby’s been missin’ me some?’ I ask. / Momma nods, attendin’ now”—Nonie decides to try living with her parents once more. Using watercolors, Tadgell creates a soft dreamlike world filled with details. Nonie’s small duck is on every page; like her family, it is always with her, and by the end of the story, she learns to share it with her sibling, just as she must learn to share her parents. The text uses dialect and some grammatically incorrect English, which does not add to the story, but is simple and straightforward. Overall, a delightful book.

M. LaVora Perry: October 2008.
Sally Derby's No Mush Today will have young children smiling and some
may nod in agreement while identifying with the spunky heroine who
feels unfairly put upon on two counts: by her breakfast menu and in
her new role as big sister. Nicole Tadgell's colorful and animated
illustrations instantly drew me in.

Awards

2009-07-03T13:33:00.005-04:00

Américas Award, 2007 for
Josias, Hold the Book by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren
Presented by the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies at the Library of Congress

Growing Good Kids Award, 2007 for
Josias, Hold the Book by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren

Named one of Bank Street College of Education's
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007 for
Josias, Hold the Book by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren

Named one of Eastern Washington University's
Excellent 2006 Choices of Trade Books for Grades K-9 for
Josias, Hold the Book by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren

Children's Africana Book Award, 2003 for
Fatuma's New Cloth by Leslie Bulion
Presented by the African Studies Association

Bee Balm Countdown - Day 14

2009-07-03T08:07:00.000-04:00

Studio NT

Merry Christmas!

First Peas to the Table is on Facebook!

Halloween!

Dog tags

Yupo!

Sketches

Celebrate!

Squirrel sketches

In the Garden with Dr. Carver wins the Growing Good Kids Award!

Bestseller list!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photos and Video from my School Visit at Brophy

Way Tugeau!

Lucky Beans has been named one of the Smithsonian's Notable Books for Children!

7 Impossible Things!

Happy Holidays!

Kite

Winter holidays...

School Library Journal reviews In the Garden with Dr. Carver

A is for Anansi Conference

Wheaton Quarterly Article

Rutgers University Reviews: In the Garden with Dr. Carver

Dr. Carver Exhibit Boston Museum of Science Exhibit!

In the Garden with Dr. Carver

Reviews: In the Garden with Dr. Carver

Coloring Pages for Dr. Carver

Booklist Reviews In the Garden with Dr. Carver

Cynsations!

Silly monkey

Podcast!

Kirkus Review - In the Garden with Dr. Carver

Sketches - motion and emotion

Color and motion study

Character studies

Sandy Foster's Shabby Streamside Studio

My New Portfolio Book

A Day with Daddy by Nikki Grimes

Pencils

Interviews

Lucky Beans NEW Coloring Page!

The Elephant in the Room

Warm-up sketch: crazy-silly cartoony

Warm-up sketch: 3 preteens

Warm up sketch...with china marker

Warm up sketch...with ink

More warm ups

Warm up sketches

The Horn Book!

NESCBWI Conference

NESCBWI Conference!

Doodle and Squeak drawings

Dancer

Nez Perce Illustration

Memories - warm toned

Adopted sibling rivalry

Sadness

Email trouble...

Wheaton People!

"Multicultural" Fantasy art

Blue Rose Girls: Welcome TU Books!

Lucky Beans is on 7-Imp!

Blue Rose Girls: entropy

Shabby Chic Sis!

hand study

Found

quick inkies

Hermit Thrush!

pretty fairy!

Kirkus Reviews LUCKY BEANS!

School Library Journal Review

Lucky Beans Booklist Review

Lucky Beans by Becky Birtha

ALA!

New art...or oldie but goodie?

Coming soon!

More reading

Horn tooting!

Neesha's post