Two New Books! (and a Golden Moonbeam....and more!)

They've finally arrived, two boxes of books!

    What a lovely way to end the Summer, with two brand new picturebooks.....they are:
     Bartholomew's Gift
        Written by Diane Dignan
             Published by Ferne Press
                 July 2010
Little Bartholomew is bestowed with a unique gift at birth - an ability that his loved ones do not possess or understand. There is excitement and wonder when, as a child, he discovers the meaning of his gift and wishes to share the joy it brings with others. Misunderstood, he withdraws and denies his experiences until the gift disappears forever. Or does it? This story is for anyone who searches for wonder in everyday life.

  Purchase Bartholomew's Gift here or here

       and.....I am thrilled and honored to report that I have been awarded the Gold Medal in the Best Illustrator category of the 2010 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for my illustrations for  Bartholomew's Gift!
 “The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. The Awards recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians – and to children themselves.”

       Thank you to everyone who has been involved in honoring my work in this way, and thank you to Diane for writing this book.....without which, of course, these pictures would never have been created.
        Sometimes, working long, l o n g hours through the night, one wonders, when the project is finally finished and pushed from the nest and published, if anyone else will care about the characters and the paintings that have become ones friends and family. 
      The true Gold is awarded when someone tells you the work has moved them to tears or a child decides that this book is their favorite and pours over the pages...but a shiny gold medal and golden stickers for the book cover are sweet reminders of those things in solitary hours.

   and I am humbled to add that Bartholomew's Gift was just chosen as a Finalist in the BBAs, the Best Books 2010 Awards for both Best Cover Design and Best Childrens Picture Book, Hardcover, with Audio categories ! 
     I am beyond grateful.
                                                        

Pobble's Way

Written by Simon Van Booy
Published by Flashlight Press
        July 2010
A perfect bedtime story, this gentle tale follows Pobble and her father as they stroll through the snowy woods near their home one evening and, in Pobble’s imaginative and unique way of looking at things, nature transforms: a winter mushroom becomes frog umbrella, a floating leaf turns into a butterfly boat, and a feather is a tickle stick. In the excitement of imagining worlds transformed, Pobble does not notice when her pink mitten falls from her pocket. Soon the woodland animals gather and begin to wonder whether the soft, pink addition to the forest is cotton candy, a mouse house, a wing warmer, or a fish coat. With luminous paintings and lyrical language, this picture book celebrates family, nature’s beauty, and the power of imaginative thinking.

 

  Purchase Pobble's Way here

      I hope you enjoy these books!
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart to both Diane and  Simon