November 2008 Archives

Since I know many of you are interested in conservation and eco-friendly products, I thought I'd give you some recommendations for environmentally conscious parents. Some of these might make great gifts for the holiday season.

• BuddhiWear sells clothing made of organic fabrics. They have clothes for children as well as adults. According to their website, "Each organic shirt saves 1/3lb of chemicals from being used."


• Natural Mat sells organic mattresses and bedding for cribs. The mats are sold in stores around the country, and sound like a great way to make sure your child gets a restful night's sleep.


• Eco-Babies Wear Green is an entire gift basket full of eco-friendly products. The basket includes an organic onesie, an organic blanket, and books to help you raise your child on eco-conscious principles.


• The Tree, one of Illumination Arts' own books, is printed on recycled paper, and teaches children the importance of preserving the environment.

The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi held their annual Children's Book Preview earlier this month. Both of our recent releases, God's Promise and Roonie B. Moonie: Lost and Alone were on display for the local community to peruse. Karen Rowell, the event coordinator, tells us that "Roonie B. Moonie: Lost and Alone was a favorite of many of our visitors!"

The event also included storytelling and puppet shows. What a fun way for the university to reach out to the community!

Jane Yolen, veteran author of both picture books and young adult novels, details the process of developing her current project, a picture book about Ben Franklin and his son William. She's posting about the process on her online journal; scroll down to "Interstitial Moment: 1 of 3 on Writing A Picture Book" for the beginning of her journey. Yolen writes:

Difficult? A picture book? O, ye of little knowledge. To remind you: a picture book is usually 32 and occasionally 40 pages long. Half or more of it is pictorial. The trick of writing one--so far as there is a trick--is to be a prose writer with a poet's sensibility. Or a poet who is comfortable with story. Furthermore, an historical picture book needs to be able to boil down a biography or a part of a biography into a followable line with illustrate-able pages.

And the rest of the post is just as interesting. If you're an aspiring author or a fan of Yolen, this is one post you won't want to miss!

[via the ever-fabulous Fuse #8]

This morning, Fuse #8 has links to a plethora of gorgeous picture books for your viewing pleasure.

First up is the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books 2008, a slideshow featuring interior views of some beautifully illustrated new books. Among them is We Are the Ship, written and illustrated by the amazing Kadir Nelson. We recently tried to get Nelson as an illustrator for one of our upcoming titles, A Home Run for Bunny, but sadly he is booked with projects for the next four years. I'm not surprised, though; the man is supremely talented.

Amazon.com also has a list of recommendations for the Best Children's Picture Books of 2008. Their list is split into two categories of Editors' Picks and Customers' Picks.

Any of these books would make a wonderful addition to your child's bookshelf.