Rutgers Review!

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


Thank you, Yana and Rutgers!!

School Library Journal

Wow, here's another lovely review! This one's from School Library Journal:

"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."


Thank you, SLJ!

Booklist review

It's always wonderful to have your book reviewed favorably! Here is a lovely one from Booklist:

"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."

Coloring pages for kids!

I like to make at least one for kids to color with each new book I do. For NO MUSH TODAY, I've got several ideas.



Lately, I like to print a drawing in blue - by cutting the black channel and pasting it into the Cyan. Then I ink right on top of it, then scan it in and delete the Cyan channel.




What's hard is making the art simple enough to be colored in! It's hard to tell what will be "too hard" for kids or "too easy". So I make both. I guess it also depends on the age of the kids, and how much patience they have.

No Mush Today

Here's a sneak peek at my newest book, due out this September! I just got a review copy yesterday.

It's called "No Mush Today", written by Sally Derby and published by Lee and Low Books. Visit http://www.leeandlow.com/books/180/hc/no_mush_today and there are lots and lots of other great books there, too!

Major Taylor

About ten years ago, I was asked by the Major Taylor Association to serve on a committee to help find a sculptor to create a statue of Marshall "Major" Taylor. He was called the "Worcester Whirlwind" - first black World Cycling Champion in 1899.

The sculpture would be installed at the entrance to the newly renovated Worcester Public Library. Antonia Tobias Mendez was selected to create the monument. This is the first monument to an african-american in the city of Worcester.


On Wednesday, May 21, the statue was unveiled! Here is Lynne Tolman of the Major Taylor Association, whose determination helped see this project through.

The grandson and great-grandchildren of Major Taylor were there, giving heartfelt speeches. You can see them to the right of the lady in the hat (committee member Stacy DeBoise Luster) in the front row, below.






I love how the statue is low to the ground, accessible to everyone who goes to the library. Especially accessible to kids. So many monuments are set so high they are difficult to see, or to have a sense of connection with the person honored. I hope this sculpture inspires hope and appreciation to all who see it.


Links:
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/who.htm
Antonio Tobias Mendez
Worcester Public Library

P.S. Children's book illustrator James Ransome did a book on Major Taylor a few years ago. I got to see him speak at the Worcester Library during the book's promotional tour. He is an awesome painter, wonderful speaker, and a kind person. Visit his website at: http://www.jamesransome.com/

Coming along...

April simply flew by! Admittedly, I spent most of it in the garden (even in the rain) and less of it at the drawing board or at the computer to scan it all in.

Anyway, here's some of what I've been up to:

Playing with technique.

Here's the same drawing - I painted it with watercolor, after printing the drawing onto on cold press paper.

You can see the texture of the paper, which makes the image look kind of blurry. (I don't care for the composition very much, the figures lean left too much.)

Then I wanted to see how it would look as a black-and-white piece. I know that if I printed the drawing in blue, then went over it in black ink or black crayon, I could scan it in CMYK and simply delete the Cyan channel, convert to black & white, and adjust.

It's easier than inking over a drawing, then erasing the drawing. And if make a mistake, I could just print it again and start over.

Quiet

It's been quiet recently. No new projects coming in. Instead of worrying about the next project, worrying about bills and such...I've been enjoying the time off. Sleeping, garden work, new techniques and drawing just for fun.



I've done a bit of work on my "Mouse and Elf" story, too. They have names now, Doodle is the Elf, Squeak is the Mouse.

I read SCBWI's bulletin, and they had a call for submissions, so I thought, why not combine working on my characters with this? So I drew stuff like this:
So now I think I'll take some of those sketches I posted about previously, print them onto good paper, and play with my gouache paints. I love the fluidity and transparency of watercolor, but I don't like how pale they seem to reproduce. I love the intensity of gouache, but I don't really like how it feels while I'm working with it...so I'm going to learn how to make it all work.

March mailer

Here's my part of my agent's March mailing!
The top part is from "Grandaddy's Season" by Gwen Lavert. The bottom has in inset from my Christmas card, and a scene of my "Mouse and Elf" characters fishing for cheese out of a mousetrap. They're hiding behind a boot so they don't get whacked when the trap springs. :)

Sketches

Initial drawings have so much looseness, so much life. They are free from any expectations, and filled with so many possibilites.

Who are they? What did they just go through? Are they now friends, and weren't before? Did this girl just make the team?

The laundry basket - are the kids pitching in only because a parent is ill or has left? These thoughts added a melancholy feel as I was drawing, letting my mind wander.

Finals Finally Finished!

Whew! I finished the artwork for my latest book (I think this makes it #14) and the art has been sent (and has arrived safely) to the publisher. They say they love it - that's always nice to hear. Hopefully I'll be able to post pictures of it when it's time to do promotions. The book is due for a Fall '08 release.

Now for a much-needed vacation! Hopefully will get caught up on the many things I've neglected - like housework, exercise, going to critique group meetings, visiting friends and family...

Worcester Living Article!

Wow! I've been interviewed for the lovely Worcester Living Magazine and this is the issue where the article appears. Special thanks to Tom Rettig for the photography and Caitlin Moore for the writing.

Merry Christmas!

Hope your holidays are filled with peace and love.

My angel

It's hard to put into words, but those of you who have experienced the loss of a pet will understand most.

My little Brandy...I'll see her again someday.

Central Mass Magazine!

There's a neat new article about me! It's in the current issue of Central Mass Magazine, you can download a PDF of it at: http://www.centralmassmagazine.com/

Here's a little picture I made:

Painting....

I'm painting finals for a book I've been working on all year. It's been a loooong journey, and it's nice to be in the home stretch at last!

Américas Award Event

After a loooong train ride we arrived in DC for the Américas Award ceremony! Most of my photos came out a bit blurry, so here are the best of them:











It was lovely to meet fellow authors and illustrators Margarita, Sean and Jennifer. Many family members and friends attended as well, including my wonderful Mom! My husband was awesome as travel guide - taking charge while I tried to not be nervous about my speech.

The organizers did a lovely job, VERY special thanks to everyone involved in making this a lovely trip.

When I saw all the honor books set up on a table at the Library of Congress, I was awed. So many beautiful books! I'm very, very honored to be part of this.

Josias, Hold the Book - Américas Award

My book, "Josias, Hold the Book" written by Jennifer Elvgren has been awarded the Americas Award!

Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature The Américas Award is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By combining both and linking the Americas, the award reaches beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere. The award is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP). The award winners and commended titles are selected for their 1) distinctive literary quality; 2) cultural contextualization; 3) exceptional integration of text, illustration and design; and 4) potential for classroom use. The winning books will be honored at a ceremony (tentatively October 6, 2007) at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Américas Award Winners JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren. Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell. Honesdale: Boyds Mills, 2006. 32 pgs. ISBN 1-59078-318-2

Toni Trent Parker Multicultural Children's Book Festival!

On Saturday, May 5th from 10-3 at the University of Connecticut, Stamford!

Along with Kevin Clash, Tonya Bolden, Gloria Pinkney, Javaka Steptoe, and MANY other cool people, I'm going to be there, too!

Reading, signing, drawing for kids, whatever sounds like fun!

Hope to see you there!

Updating

It's getting close to that time of year again...my agent's March mailing! As with any promotions I do, it's always very hard for me to choose which pieces of art to include.

The purpose is to attract new buyers, remind previous buyers that I'm around and interested in doing new work. The art is supposed to be my best, and is supposed to show what I can do, what I do well, and what I want to do.

It's recommended that I show children and adults of different ages, ethnicities, engaged in a variety of different activities, emotions, settings. This is always so hard for me! I often think my work is not good enough.


And then there are some pieces that I'm not allowed to show until they appear in the print publication, sometimes all the way into 2008! By then, I definately won't like it anymore, and will probably (hopefully) have improved significantly enough that I wouldn't want to show it. I think. Maybe.

Anyway...back to work!

More drawings

Fun!

Drawing for fun. I'd like to do more of that! It's a long weekend and I'm all caught up on deadlines, so I think I will!

Tatnuck Bookseller on Sat. Aug. 19th!

I'm going to be at Tatnuck Bookseller in Westboro this Saturay at 11:00! I'll be doing a booksigning, reading, and watercolor demonstration. Should be fun!

Eric Carle this Saturday!

I'll be at the Eric Carle Museum this Saturday July 15 reading and signing my new book Josias, Hold the Book! There will be coloring pages for kids, a little bit of "show and tell" and maybe even a drawing demo!

Visit http://www.picturebookart.org/

Eric Carle on June 4th!

Bagels and Books with Local Illustrators! I am honored to be part of this group appearing at the Eric Carle Picture Book Museum. There will be a panel discussion moderated by none other than Patricia MacLachlan, author of "Sarah, Plain and Tall" among many other wonderful books. I wonder if I should bring my copy for her to sign??

http://www.picturebookart.org/

Here's a page from my new book "Jammin', Rockin', Toe Stompin' on the Rooftop" I recently finished painting for a New Zealand company. It was challenging and fun. I'm not overly fond of cities, being a country girl, but I brought out what I liked about cities and what I liked about the story, and this is my favorite picture of the bunch.

Upcoming Events!

On May 27th (that's a Saturday!) I'm going to be signing at the Barnes & Noble in Lincoln Plaza in Worcester, MA! From 11 to 12. Please come & see me, even if you already have a copy of my new book. Bookstore owners love to see crowds, and so do I.

Magazine work!

I finished some work for a magazine and wanted to post some of the pieces here. I'm very happy with the results! I LOVE the way the watercolor came out. I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of watercolor.

And the young man in the picture came out a lot like my friend, D! Um...sorry, D, I was told to make the caregiver young & fun, so I thought of you!

Also, I just finished reading Grace Lin's Year of the Dog, and put the little girl on the right with her very own "Year of the Dog" tee shirt as a tribute to Grace's wonderful novel.

WMIG Show!

Wish I had a picture to post...oh well. This weekend I finished the prep work for the Western Mass Illustrator's Guild group show coming up in Amherst in May. It took a loooong time to decide which paintings to include, and in which order. (They asked us to order them in case there wasn't room for some). Making art decisions like this are very hard for me! So I chose two from Josias, Hold the Book, one from Fatuma, and one from Lights Out.

Michael's had a frame sale, so I got the frames there, and cut the mats myself. I hate cutting mats. It requires patience and precision. I usually ruin two for every good one I cut. Good thing the mat board was also a bargain! Then I agonized over the labelling of the artwork, making sure there wasn't any dog hair trapped between the glass and the art (boy their fur gets positively everywhere) etc. I feel incredibly priviliged to be in a show with such talented folks, and really want my art to look good (without breaking the bank!)

As for selling the art...well, this is a gallery show, so I'm expecting folks to look, not buy. I have a hard time selling originals - it takes a lot for me to part with them. Some folks I just can't say no to... my brother, my father, my friend Dain from college...my mom of course. :)

Show opens May 6th...my birthday!

Here's a black & white ink project I did recently. It was short, fun, and didn't take long. There are 7 drawings altogether.