NEWS AND EVENTS

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Arizona
On the first day of Christmas, my cousin gave to me....a cactus wren in a palo verde tree!

Here is a book to enjoy at Christmas, but to learn about Arizona all year long! Sterling Publishing is doing one of these books for every state. In fact, I already illustrated the Louisiana Christmas book, and hope to do Montana at some point! Good for all ages, and a perfect gift from a grand-parent or out of state friend!

A New Amelia Bedelia!
Remember Amelia Bedelia? Well, Herman Parish has written a whole new series with Amelia as a contemporary first-grader! I have had the honor of working with Herman and developing this new character, and the first book "Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School" was released in April 2009. Since then, there have been four more picture books, and the first "I Can Read" book (Amelia Bedelia Makes a Friend). There will even be chapter books starting in the very near future!

The Pirate of Kindergarten
In 2011, "The Pirate of Kindergarten" was awarded the Schneider Family Book Award by the American Library Association. This award goes to a book about a child dealing with a disability. In this case, it's Ginny, who has double vision and has to wear an eye patch. I am very honored to have received this award, and had a wonderful time in New Orleans at the awards ceremony, meeting the author, George Ella Lyon, and making so many new friends!

New York Times Best Seller!
WOW! On September 11, 2007, CHANGING YOU was featured on the Today Show with Dr. Gail Saltz, the author. It created such a stir, that they put it on again the next day AND that shot it right up to #3 on the New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Books! Check it out! It might be just the thing you need to explain the birds and the bees to your kids - and you might get a kick out of the pictures too!

Awards for LOVE, RUBY VALENTINE
LOVE, RUBY VALENTINE won the GOLD MEDAL in the Children's Picture Books (6 & Under) category from the 2007 Independent Publisher Book Awards, and also their Ben Franklin Award in their Children's Picture Book category. From the Society of School Librarians International, it was given a 2006 Honor Award. You go Ruby!

Extreme Makeover Home Edition
During the first week of February, 2005, I got to work with the team of ABC Television's Extreme Makeover Home Edition on site for a family in the Phoenix area. I worked in collaboration with Preston on a one-of-a-kind children's book commemorating the event for the library they built in the house for the kids! It was a very spontaneous and intense experience, and so much fun! It was my television debut...maybe I'll get discovered and be a big star! The show aired on March 13, 2005.

School & Library Visits -
I would love to come and visit your school or library. I do a very interactive program where we share stories and secrets of being messy painters. Messy can be good! The kids enjoy learning about the process of bookmaking - from the story idea to sketches, to book dummy, to final art and binding.

If you're interested, please contact me for a brochure!

Purchasing Original Art -
All the art you see on these pages is available for sale, and believe me, there is a lot more. In fact, you could do me a huge favor, helping me clean out closets, under the bed, getting my car back in the garage. But anyway, if you are interested, please contact me for prices.

RELATED LINKS

portfoliosolutionsllc.com
This is my agent's website, where you can view lots more of my artwork.

directoryofillustration.com