Sunday, May 22, 2011

Superstar Artists to the Rescue!

Fact: It is not easy to find a giraffe costume for a 230-pound, 6' 3" man.

I discovered this fact last month while searching for a giraffe costume for my husband. He ever so kindly volunteered to dress as Joe for the JOE AND SPARKY, SUPERSTARS! book launch party. But the only costume I could find was this little number. Sadly, we quickly realized that a 230-pound, 6' 3" man wearing yellow facepaint and an incomplete giraffe costume would terrify small children.

On to Plan B: a carnival cut-out. You know, one of these things:

I tried to get my crafty on and make one on my own. Several disastrous attempts and six Exact-o blades later, I was forced to create a Plan C. But time was running out! What to do???

Luckily, the Superstar Artists of Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Florida came to the rescue. (It helps to have friends in sunny places.) Just LOOK at what they did!
Our Superstar Artists carefully planning, measuring, and sketching.

Adding color to Joe & Sparky's Superflash 5000.

The finishing touches to Joe's fruit hat.

A few of the talented artists with their teacher, Susan Anderson.

Voila! The masterpiece is done. Ready to be rolled up and shipped from Florida to Rhode Island. (Then I'd have to rubber cement the art to cardboard and carefully cut out those cute heads. Yikes!)

THANK YOU, SUPERSTAR ARTISTS OF TARAVELLA HIGH SCHOOL!
(Rebecca, Joel, Domingo, Dylan, and Ali)



Party time! Click play to see the finished cut-out & funny friends at the JOE AND SPARKY, SUPERSTARS! book launch party:

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Monday, May 16, 2011

Giveaways for Superstar Teachers & Librarians!

Hey, Teachers, Librarians, and other Swell Children's Programmers . . . Joe and Sparky are giving you the Superstar treatment in honor of their book launch!

Educator & Librarian Giveaway!  Enter here before 6/15/11 for a chance to win one of Joe and Sparky's books.

Activity Kit!  Three madcap activities for public librarians, school librarians, educators, and other swell children's programmers. Download it for free here.

Thanks to the brilliant Kirsten Cappy at Curious City for creating all of the above!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

It is here! It is here!


The return of the unlikely duo that Kirkus describes as "part Bert and Ernie and part Thelma and Louise!"
The second Joe and Sparky early reader, JOE AND SPARKY, SUPERSTARS!, is out today!

Here's an excerpt from the first review--a star from Kirkus!

★ "This little treasure is one that will get passed around. Like the Hokey Pokey, that's what it is all about." —Kirkus, starred review

Order a copy from your independent bookstore: Shop Indie Bookstores

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Kirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2009!

Joe and Sparky Get New Wheels has been included in Kirkus Reviews' Best Children's Books of 2009! Kirkus describes Joe and Sparky as "part Bert and Ernie and part Thelma and Louise." To see the entire list, go here.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Attention, Little Monsters

You are invited to a spooktacular Halloween event--

Barrington Books' Children's Book Author & Illustrator Celebration!

I'll be signing at Barrington Books in Barrington, RI, this Saturday, October 31st (Halloween), from 10 am - 12 pm. Please stop by and say hello! Enjoy treats and surprises, and meet favorite children's book authors and illustrators. Costumes are encouraged. Hope to see you there!

10:00 am - 12 pm: Jamie Michalak, Anika & Christopher Denise

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Kiki Latimer, Bunny Griffeth

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: R.W. & Zoe Ally, Alison Paul

You'll find Barrington Books at 184 County Road in Barrington, Rhode Island.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Where in the World Are Joe and Sparky?

Jon, Kate, and Fuse 8 (and Joe and Sparky)
Jon and Kate Plus Fuse 8 (and Joe and Sparky)
Who do I spy at ALA? Ambassador Scieszka, Kate DiCamillo, Elizabeth Bird . . . and Joe and Sparky! After an eventful road trip to Chicago, Joe and Sparky parked behind Elizabeth Bird's head to observe the hijinks. (You never know where those two will pop up next.)

Friday, May 1, 2009

A Kick in the Pants

It's Day One of NATIONAL PICTURE BOOK WRITING WEEK.  Write 7 Picture Books in 7 Days!

In the spirit of National Novel Writing Month (aka "NaNoWriMo") where people across the country try to write a complete novel in one month, author Paula Yoo has started the first ever National Picture Book Writing Week, affectionately nicknamed "NaPiBoWriWee."

I am so doing this. Are you? See Paula's official news release for more details.