And the winner is....

I counted all the comments (except for mine) and we have 42 comments! So using a random generator we got a winner! Number: 26

Congratulations to Judy!! :o)

(Please email me so I can send you your signed copy of ABC, Baby Me!)

Now I didn't want you all to leave empty handed so the above illustration, Baby Hugs, is a little gift for you to copy and use on your cell if you'd like. I specially made it for the iphone dimensions so you can use it as a wallpaper.

Thank you ALL so much for being a part of the celebration and for all your comments. This wouldn't have been the same without you!

And remember if you get a copy of ABC, Baby Me! let me know and I can email you this dedication card with a handwritten note from me, so all you have to do is print and insert it in the book. :o)

I leave you with some beautiful words from Susan B. Katz where she explains how she was inspired to write ABC, Baby Me!:

"On June 19, 2008, I was on a plane on the way back from Michigan. I had just found out that my twin nephews, David and Jacob were born that day, but I hadn't met them yet.

The whole event was so exhilarating, that I found myself bursting with energy on the plane. I started thinking, "What do people need to do to take care of babies? SO MUCH!" The idea of the alphabet format flowed naturally from that and, by the time I landed in San Francisco, I had written the book."

Got to love moments like that!

Thanks again for visiting this week, hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.

And a special thanks to my lovely PBJ's for doing this for me.. you gals rock!!!!!!!

ABC Baby Me! Book Launch

This is Susan Katz, the author of ABC Baby Me! Since I live in Northern California, I was lucky enough to attend the author's launch of her book last Sunday morning at

Book Passage in Corte Madera. I also took pictures for Alicia, who lives in Venezuela, so she could see Susan in action.

Susan has been teaching elementary school for 18 years and gave a creative and entertaining presentation to her audience, young and old. We all sang "Happy Bookday" to her new book and she read it to the kids. She also talked about how she wrote the book, which was inspired by her two nephews when they were born.

You could tell how happy Susan was with the book. It must be hard to turn over your manuscript to a publisher and not see it again until the book is printed. Authors and illustrators don't get to collaborate when it comes to the illustrations. That's what the editor and art director are for. But Alica was definitely the right illustrator for this book. She really brought Susan's words to life!

***Don't forget to leave a comment in order to be entered in Alicia's book giveaway. The winner will be announced on Sunday!***

ABC Baby Me: A toddler review

My 20 month old son Miles and I have been reading ABC Baby Me since last week. We've generally moved beyond board books, but he was so interested in every detail. He picks out something new each time we read it. Above, he thought the kitty-cat was sleeping. Usually he wants to 'shut the (music) box'. Each time, we debate whether the baby's hat is going ON or OFF on the Mommy Me page - we always have our disputes!
He's actually able to recite most of the book, but 'Oops... I need a bib' was one of the first phrases he repeated from the book. Clearly, he can relate. And it's funny. Ali makes the book sweet AND funny - a winning combo.
One of the things I like most about this book is that all members of a baby's family have been included. Daddies, grandmas and grandpas, sisters and brothers. I like seeing the same baby in 2 scenes also. You get a lovely variety of different babies, but you see each one through two activities. It's such an easy book to read and Ali's little details make it fun to read over and over.
So I thank you Ali, for making this lovely book that has already made sweet memories for me and my little boy.

** Remember to leave a comment on any post this week to be entered in the giveaway to win a signed copy. Winner will be announced on Sunday**

The making of ABC, Baby Me!

© Copyright Alicia Padrón

I was sitting at a table overlooking the water while having ice cream with my lovely agents, Kendra Marcus and Minju Chang on Fisherman's Wharf in SF, when they spilled out the news that Robin Corey Books had decided they wanted me to illustrate ABC, Baby Me!

It was one of those moments that make you feel like you are in a movie. Talk about a great start! I was so happy and excited that I forgot about my ice cream, and that hardly ever happens.. ;o). The manuscript had won my heart and I really wanted to work on this book.

When I get a manuscript for a book I like to take a few days to just think and brainstorm. I don't even hold a pencil in my hand, even though sometimes I am dying to. I just think.

I think while I'm driving, while I'm watching TV, while doing the dishes. I think all day. I visualize the book in my head. I think of what it would be like to be a kid and read this book. I think of different ways of illustrating a particular scene. I think until I feel the book as a whole. A couple of days later I know I'm ready to jump into it, I then grab pencil and paper and ideas just start flowing out of me like crazy. I love it.

For ABC, baby me! it was the same way. I waited 3 days and was able to see this book very clearly in my head and was anxious to start sketching.

Jason Zamajtuk, the art director working with me on this book, was a joy to work with. He is every artist's dream! He gave me complete creative freedom and I was able to work on how I envisioned this book to be. I will always be grateful to him for that.

© Copyright Alicia Padrón

They suggested to have babies with their parents, mom and dad, depicting scenes from Susan's text of every letter of the alphabet. So I began sketching but the more I worked on the book the more I realized that babies are loved by many members of the family, not just mom and dad. Grandparents, big brothers, little sisters and even the family dog love a baby. So I decided to sketch the book this way, some scenes with mom and dad and others with grandparents, siblings and pets. Luckily they loved it and I got a green light to go color.

I painted the art with watercolor, then shaded with graphite pencils and when that was done I worked on the illustrations digitally adding special effects and tweaking color if they needed to. When the art was ready I sent it to them digitally. I then waited many months until that special brown box arrived and I was able to hold the finished book in my hand. The real thing. It's a beautiful moment and honestly, I don't think it will ever get old.

I knew I wanted this book to have a clean and airy feel by showing lots of white in the pages and have only soft spots of art. I wanted it to be entertaining for the adult reading it but specially entertaining for the kid. I wanted it to have scenes that make you feel joy and spreads that make you laugh. I wanted it to be a loving and a bonding experience for the baby and the caregiver reading the book.

I hope this book does all these things. I enjoyed it tremendously and I have to say it will always have a special place in my heart. :o)

© Copyright Alicia Padrón

Thank you all for visiting and sharing the book celebration with me!

And a special thanks to my PBJ's, my lovely group of artist friends, a wonderful support, always...

Remember to leave a comment on any post this week to be entered in the giveaway to win a signed copy. I will announce the winner Sunday and post a little about the author Susan B. Katz and how she was inspired to write this beautiful book.

ABC Baby Me! - Review

ABC Baby Me!, is an endearing alphabet board book, perfect for cuddle-time reading with the little ones in your life. Its quiet rhyming text walks the reader through a day in the life of "baby" with key words represented by each letter of the alphabet.

I will try not to gush over Ali's illustrations but I can honestly say that I would even if she wasn't a friend. Her charming style and warm color palette marries so nicely with Susan B. Katz' writing, while her illustrative choices kept the scenes dynamic and entertaining. How cute to use a doggy for "tickle", for example.

I particularly appreciated how Alicia handled the layouts. Using vignettes, she managed to incorporate a diverse group of baby's and their caregivers. However, each spread was dedicated to one baby, giving them substance.

Ultimately, Ali uses a full color spread for the last page which, for me, gave it a satisfying conclusion to the book visually.

Ali, the enjoyment you felt working on this project exudes off the pages and I know many families will make this a staple in their home libraries for years to come!

Tomorrow, Alicia will be sharing some behind the scenes experiences while working on this project so be sure to join us for that. =o)

Also, leave a comment to be entered for the drawing to win a free copy of this delightful book!

It's ABC BABY ME WEEK on the PBJ blog!

This week, we are celebrating our own PBJ Alicia Padron and the release of her latest book, ABC Baby Me! Get set for a book review, some fun factoids about the experience of making the book from Alicia herself, plus... drumroll... a book giveaway!

To enter the book giveaway: Leave a Comment on any post this week from now through Saturday, and be entered to win a copy of "ABC Baby Me!" Winner will be announced Sunday!

Check back every day this week for more ABC Baby Me! book release fun :)