Next week, guess who-who? A Publisher Celebration and Giveaway!

Can you guess what publisher we're going to celebrate all next week? Stay tuned tomorrow!
We're all so excited because the books we're reviewing are just so wonderful. The book Miles is reading is a MUST own reference for every family with young kids. You know. In my humble opinion. And the giveaway is for ALL the books we review next week!

And we have a winner!

This morning I wrote 45 names on a piece of paper..

I cut them into little pieces,

folded them

and made it snow on the little village on top of my piano..

little papers fell everywhere..

One of them caught my eye because it fell on the

bench beside Beth and her grandmother,

They were resting from shopping around that day.

and we have a winner...

Laura Zarrin!

Congrats Laura! :o)

Thank you everyone for visiting and for your lovely comments,

and a special thanks to my PBjunkies for throwing me a fantastic Christmas Book Party!

Christmas Book Celebration Week- day 3

© copyright Alicia Padrón

I was very excited when Ladybird contacted me offering to illustrate one of their books. They had a Fairy Tale book in mind that they thought would work very well with my illustrations. They asked me to whip up a full spread paid sample first with my choice of the Fairy Tale characters in it.

I came up with the illustration you see above. I always thought Little Red Riding Hood set in the winter instead of spring would be so much lovelier, so I placed all the characters in a snowy forest.

After seeing this, Ladybird decided they wanted me to illustrate a Christmas title instead. I was thrilled because I am a Christmas nut. It's my favorite time of the year. I just love the magic in the air. People seem happier and it's all about the kids. So of course, I said yes. :o)

© copyright Alicia Padrón

This is one of my favorite spreads in the book. When I was a little girl, I always imagined how thrilling it would be to see Santa. I think all kids wish this at one point or another. So I gave them that in this illustration.

© copyright Alicia Padrón

Thank you all for your lovely comments and for participating in the giveaway! I wish I could give copies to all of you but of course I can't. The good news is anyone, anywhere in the world can participate. I will purchase the book and it will ship to the lucky winner.

You have until Saturday to comment. I will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good luck! :o)

It's a Christmas Book Celebration!

Today we are kicking off our celebration week of Alicia Padron's latest book for Ladybird. And it couldn't come at a more perfect time if you are looking for a super cute gift for the young ones this holiday season. The book is filled with Ali's beautiful watercolors with all her whimsy and charm. There is such a sweetness and innocence to her work and I can see why the publisher picked her for this project.

I love the layout of the book, with big sturdy pages and tabs. At the end of the book is the Christmas Story. But this book is really all about her artwork. I just love how she lets loose with her watercolor technique. Such freedom.

Be sure to leave a comment to be entered into our giveaway of this book.

You have until Saturday!

Labracadabra Celebration Week Continues!

When Deb told me she got this job I of course smiled form ear to ear, I was so ecstatic for her! But I wasn't surprised. I think the editor that chose her, knew very well what she was doing.

Not only Deb's style is perfect for this book, but Deb really knows and loves dogs. I am a dog lover as well and I know she really understands the bond between a dog and a human and is more than capable of bringing that into a book.

You don't have to be an illustrator to realize how hard it would be to come up with a dog that was part Labrador, Basset Hound, Dachshund, Terrier and Brittany? LOL.. I know!

But that wasn't a problem for Deb. She came up with the perfect pooch. Belive me, I know dogs. I used to volunteer in a shelter and I was the one who dictated the breed. Larry is part all those breeds, no doubt about that.

Deb really captured the essence of the story and I love how with the character poses she was able to say so much.

My two favorite illustrations in the book are:

and this one

Which are basically the two most important moments where boy meets the dog for the first time and then when he realizes how special this dog is and what a beautiful bond they have. But I didn't have to say all this in order for you to know it because that's why Deb is great at what she does. You already know this by looking at her illustrations.

Labracadabra is an adorable book. My daughter who is 10 loved it! I highly recommend it for boys or girls and of course

for your doggie too! :o)

Remember to comment to enter in the giveaway of a signed copy by Deb!

Labracadabra Celebration Week

©2010 Deborah Melmon

I know I've posted about Labracadabra before, the chapter book I did for Viking last year, but this week we are going to have a giveaway! It's an adorable book, beautifully printed with hardcover and a jacket, and written by the talented Jessie Nelson and Karen Leigh Hopkins. This week if you leave a comment on our posts, you will be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced on Saturday and I will mail you your very own autographed copy!

It's funny how jobs come along. In this case, the art director at Viking had seen some of my recently mailed tear sheets (yes, old school...but it works!) that had some quirky, loose sketches of dogs. She emailed me and asked if I had any more art with dogs and boys. She had a story about a dog, with magic powers in it's tail, that she thought would be a good fit for me. "Of course!" I said, and madly set out creating a few more pieces.

©2010 Deborah Melmon

I created this piece and glad I kept it loose, because it turned out to be the exact style for the book. After a bit of back and forth, and weeks of waiting, she told me I had the job. And so I began creating "Larry" who is a mutt with about nine different breeds all mixed up together. I sketched and emailed, resketched and emailed, and resketched again. We finally came up with a version of Larry that everyone bought in to. I also had to create the human characters in the book and my favorite was cousin Seymour who is tormented by allergies, bee stings, sun burns and dogs....

© 2010 Deborah Melmon

I created the artwork with pen and ink and watercolor for the cover and then digitally enhanced it and created the "magic tail" in photoshop. The black and white interiors were done with line work which I scanned into the computer and digitally put in the half tone.

I will always remember the time I spent on this book as it was also the last months of my sweet little Airedale, Gracie, who passed away while I finished up the artwork. I dedicated the book to her.

Don't forget to leave a comment so you will be included in the giveaway!!

Get ready for a book celebration!

Start looking for you party hats because next week we'll be having a party here at the PBJ's!

We will be celebrating a pretty special book.. Labracadabra written by Jessie Nelson and Karen Leigh Hopkins, and illustrated by our very own Deb Melmon!

Make sure to visit us all week. We'll have reviews, pictures, behind the scenes, and of course a giveaway!! (we would love to give out candy and cake too but darn.. this is just a blog..) ;o)

See you all next week here, you won't want to miss this!

Camp Shalom, Reading Together

I'm a big believer in reading all types of books to my child. Despite being just 2, Miles and I read anything from board books, to non-fiction early readers and, of course, picture books on all subjects.
Picnic at Camp Shalom offers so much to my young reader, even if he's not quite the intended audience! I give a lot of credit to Deb for including so many beautiful woodland animals, character features, and other camp details that give us things to find and laugh about. She made a bird pooping on a little camper boy's hat - you know that earned some big belly laughs! Deb also did a wonderful job with consistency - something that Miles is VERY mindful of. If you spoke of, then showed him a beaded necklace in one spread, he wants to see it again. Nice work Deb. We find something new every time we read it, and I can't wait til he's old enough to understand the big 'twist' ending to the story of two very charming girls' friendship.
Remember to leave a comment in order to participate in a book giveaway! You have until Saturday. Winner will be announced Sunday. Good luck!

Picnic at Camp Shalom Review

Picnic at Camp Shalom is a beautiful book about friendship. Every kid at some point in his or her life experiences rejection from a friend. This is a wonderful story about two new best friends that realize they have more in common than they think and that friendship is really worth fighting for.

The story and illustrations go so well together. I know you must think that being Deb's friend of course I will say marvelous things about her work.. but let me say, I would say them anyway even if we weren't friends.

Deb did a fantastic job with the setting in this story. She uses color so well for creating the mood. The characters are lovable right from the beginning and this story is filled with tons of fun details that I know kids will adore!

This is my absolute favorite expression in the book:

Look at that little girl with the ponytail! Even though you don't know the story just yet, I am sure you can tell she cares for her friend. You know she is really trying hard to do whatever it takes to make things right. You know she's worried but filled with hope at the same time. Deb created the perfect expression. Just brilliant!

Here is just one of the spreads filled with fun little details that Deb adds to the story. I know kids will take their time and will tell their parent to wait and don't turn the page just yet. ;o)

And here is a perfect example of how she creates the feeling of closeness and bond between the two girls just by the perfect use of color and lighting.

My hat's off to you Deb! :oD

Finally here is the book trailer for you to enjoy!

Remember to leave a comment in order to participate in a book giveaway! You have until Saturday. Winner will be announced Sunday. Good luck!

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!!!!!!!

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.