Coloring Page Tuesday - Dancing Cacti!

     COLORING PAGE TUESDAYS is almost 5-years-old! AND...
EL DIA DE LOS NINOS ~ EL DIA DE LOS LIBROS is today AND...
CINCO DE MAYO is Sunday!
     We've got a lot to celebrate! SO, I give you... dancing cacti! Would you do the bump with a cacti?
     Par-TAY! I'm doing birthday images from now through May 11th. Want to color and share your birthday wishes in MY GALLERY? (You'll need to post them to your blog first so you have a URL to share, or send me an email at elizabeth at dulemba dot com). Artwork from kids and their adults is welcome! Or just leave comments on my blog to share how you've used my coloring pages and what they've meant to you. I can't wait to read!
     CLICK HERE for even more birthday images to get you started.
     Sign up to receive alerts when a new coloring page is posted each week and... Please check out my books! Especially...

My two bilingual picture books
Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco y la planta de chile gigante
and
Soap, soap, soap ~ Jabon, jabon, jabon.

Quote of the Day - Joseph Campbell

“Life is without meaning. You bring meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning.”
- Joseph Campbell

Thanks to SwissMiss for the reminder.

Certificate in Children's Book Illustration - Hollins University


As some of you may have heard, I will be teaching in Roanoke, Virginia this summer at the Hollins University Certificate in Children's Book Illustration. This is an incredible opportunity for those who want to hone their craft and learn more about the ins and outs of children's book publishing. Classes are consistently SMALL so you practically get one on one guidance from the amazing Ruth Sanderson; Lauren Mills; Ashley Wolff; and me. I dropped by to speak there last summer (which is when I was hired) and I can report Hollins is an incredibly creative environment with people who are passionate about their craft - you can't help but be inspired.

The Illustration Certificate program runs concurrently with the graduate program in children's literature and includes an exceptional array of visiting speakers and the chance to participate in the annual student-run Francelia Butler Conference on Children's Literature. Not to mention, it's a beautiful campus in the stunning Appalachian Mountains.

Please feel free to email me at elizabethdulemba at mac dot com if you have questions or go to the program's website to read more.

El día de los ninos, El día de los libros - April 30th!

Next Tuesday we celebrate El día de los ninos, El día de los libros! Instill a love of reading to ALL of your students by promoting this happy day!
     Día means "day" in Spanish. In 1996, author Pat Mora learned about the Mexican tradition of celebrating April 30th as El día del niño, the day of the child. Pat thought, “We have Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Yes! We need kids’ day too, but I want to connect all children with bookjoy, the pleasure of reading.” She even created a FREE booklet to help your organize YOUR Día celebration (click the cover).
     Pat was enthusiastically assisted to start this community-based, family literacy initiative by REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. El día de los niños, El día de los libros/Children's Day, Book Day, now known as Día, is a daily commitment to link all children to books, languages and cultures, day by day, día por día. Día is now housed at the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. Every year, across the country, libraries, schools, and community organizations, etc. plan culminating book fiestas creating April Día celebrations that unite communities. Join us!
     I'm joining in on the initiative by reminding you of my two bilingual picture books Paco and the Giant Chile Plant ~ Paco y la planta de chile gigante and Soap, soap, soap ~ Jabon, jabon, jabon.

     Each title has activity pages you can share (click on the titles or the covers) - including bilingual word search puzzles, which make a great literacy tool. There are also free coloring pages and recipes to share.
     And since we're so close to Cinco de Mayo - some of those coloring pages might be a good fit as well!
     Over at ALSC, find a Día program in your area, register a 2013 program, and download a Día family toolkit, download and print this free poster to publicize an event in your community. Or you can purchase a Many Children, Many Cultures, Many Books! poster and bookmarks.
     Need more ideas? Check out this video!


Many thanks to Cynthia Leitich Smith for getting this on my radar!

Coloring Page Tuesday - Tier of Cupcakes!

     COLORING PAGE TUESDAYS is almost 5-years-old!!
     To continue the celebration, I give you... tiers of cupcakes! Want to help celebrate?
     I'm doing birthday images from now through May 11th. Want to color and share your birthday wishes in MY GALLERY? (You'll need to post them to your blog first so you have a URL to share, or send me an email at elizabeth at dulemba dot com). Artwork from kids and their adults is welcome! Or just leave comments on my blog to share how you've used my coloring pages and what they've meant to you. I can't wait to read!
     CLICK HERE for even more birthday images to get you going.
     Sign up to receive alerts when a new coloring page is posted each week and... Please check out my books! Especially...

MY COLORING BOOKS!
     Going on Vacation? Want to take Coloring Page Tuesdays on the road? The Coloring Page Tuesdays collections, "I Love to Read!", "Fun Stuff!", and "Holidays!" are now available as bona fide coloring books with over 20 coloring pages in each. Click the cover to buy a copy through Lulu.com for $7.50 plus shipping or $5.00 to download as .pdf's.
     "I Love to Read!" covers book-themed and back-to-school subjects. "Fun Stuff!" is all the general stuff like happy animals, robots, ballet, etc. And "Holidays" covers all major holidays and some minor ones, including birthdays, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Earth Day. Enjoy!

Sidewalk Chalk Art - Round 2!


Saturday I did my second stint as the Sidewalk Chalk Artist for the city of Decatur's Sidewalk Saturdays program. This time there were Flamenco dancers, musicians, and a giant Chinese dragon scattered around town. I was between Mingei World Arts, The Seen Gallery and the Yogurt Tap.
     Like last time, I quickly drew some ears for people to pose with in pictures.

     In addition to these there was an alien helmet and a crown... worn by Dylan.

     Then I started in on my "fine art piece" - ha! (I never really get to finish these - the kids show up and then it gets crazy.)

     Sometimes I draw things for the kids to color in... Like Poseidon's Trident and Zeus' lightning bolt for two Rick Riordan fans:

     And this zombie monster for a six-year-old boy. I have no idea why he was so into zombies, but I think this was my fave:

     And sometimes they branch out on their own and get creative.
      Even the grown-ups get into it. One of the managers of The Seen Gallery couldn't resist drawing a rose (even though she was trying to prepare for an opening that evening). You can also see the dragon in this photo.

     The dragon had it out with a laser blaster.

     The laser blaster was art directed by Dylan, the same boy in the crown. Love it!

     Once again, I had a gaggle of kids getting into the coloring with me and we had a FANTASTIC time! Who knew? A box of cheap pastels (okay, five) and a sidewalk. Wowsa.
     Parents, if you have photos of your kids joining in - please email them to me at elizabeth at dulemba dot com and I'll add them to this post!

Happy Earth Day!!!

How will you hug our planet today? Recycle, clean up, use less energy? Maybe just be more aware of our impact on our fragile planet. Like this: World's Worst Pollution Problems. How can we make things better?
     Click the globe to download some Earth Day coloring pages - maybe you can use them to open conversations with your kids about environmental responsibility?

Authors for Earth Day!


What a fabulous idea. 19 authors with environmentally-related books are visiting schools throughout the US, Canada, and Australia during the month of April in celebration of Earth Day. Alison Formento, who I interviewed on Thursday for her new book THESE SEAS COUNT, is one of them. And all of them are donating portions of their speaking engagement fees to nonprofit conservation groups voted on by the students. How cool is that?
     The initiative was created by author Brooke Bessesen in 2010 and you can visit the website for Authors for Earth Day here. And read more about it at Publishers Weekly.
     Since my new novel is heavily environmental (coming out Spring 2014), I hope to join in and be a part of this initiative in 2014. If you're an environmentally-minded teacher or librarian and would like to get on board - email me at elizabeth at dulemba dot com!

My publisher is the Best for the World!


I'm proud to announce that Little Pickle Press, publisher of my upcoming Mid-Grade novel, has been named a B Corp Best for the World. That means that not only are they environmentally responsible - they are in the 10% of the MOST responsible companies in the world!
By definition:
Certified B Corporations are a new type of corporation which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corps are unlike traditional businesses because they: meet comprehensive and transparent social and environmental performance standards; meet higher legal accountability standards; build business constituency for good business.
Considering my book has a very strong environmental theme, this is so fitting! And I'm proud to be associated with them!

Revising my novel...

causes good nails. Yup. As I'm working on my mid-grade novel, I sometimes get stuck or just need some thinking time. So, I've taken to painting my nails while I do it.
     You have to understand - this is revolutionary. I'm an artist. My hands are my TOOLS. I have rarely ever treated them nicely or done anything pretty to them. So this is quite 'out there' for me.
     Like the color?
      I have to admit I'm not very good at painting them, so this may not last for long. Or maybe, I'll just paint each one a different color. Hm. (Also, am I the only one who feels like my nails can't breathe with nail polish on?)
      Oh, showers are good too. I've renamed the shower the "Miracle Room!" Ideas and plot lines flow like water in there - pun intended.
      Walks are good too, although people tend to stare when I'm talking to myself.
     Hey! It's not me, it's my characters battling it out!
      What do you do to get the creative juices flowing?

Peter Reynold's SKY COLOR - GIVEAWAY!


Candlewick does the best children's books. This latest is proof - SKY COLOR by Peter Reynolds. As he did with THE DOT and ISH, Peter takes a seemingly simple idea and turns it on its head.
     Marisol is to paint the sky in her school's mural, but one color is missing from the art box... "How am I going to make the sky without blue paint?" She asks.
     When asked what color sky is, most people will say "blue," but the sky is so many more colors than that! If you've ever watched a sunset, you know. So does Marisol as she watches the sky that evening and into the next day when it's raining and the sky is anything but blue. What a wonderful thing to discover when you never really thought about it before!

GIVEAWAY!
     In lieu of an interview, Candlewick is offering TWO copies of SKY COLOR to go to two of my lucky commenters. So enter to win - you're chances just doubled! (Must live in the continental US to win.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How Book Distribution Works

If you're in the book biz, this is fascinating. It's a behind the scenes look at Oxord University Press' distribution center in Cary, North Carolina. Ever wonder how your book orders get filled? This is it!

Thanks to Shelf Awareness for the link!

Coloring Page Tuesday - EARTH DAY and Happy Birthday CPT!

     COLORING PAGE TUESDAYS is almost 5-years-old AND...
EARTH DAY is coming APRIL 22nd!!!

     Want to help celebrate?
     I'm going to do birthday images from now through May 11th (like this Happy Birthday Planet Earth image) and I'd LOVE for you to do something fun with them and post them to MY GALLERY (you'll need to post them to your blog first so you have a URL to share, or just send me an email at elizabeth at dulemba dot com). Artwork from kids and their adults is welcome! Or just leave comments on my blog to share how you've used my coloring pages and what they've meant to you. Now's the time to spread some love!
     CLICK HERE for even more birthday images to get you started.
     And CLICK HERE for more Earth Day images!
     Sign up to receive alerts when a new coloring page is posted each week and... Please check out my books! Especially...

MY COLORING BOOKS!
     Going on Vacation? Want to take Coloring Page Tuesdays on the road? The Coloring Page Tuesdays collections, "I Love to Read!", "Fun Stuff!", and "Holidays!" are now available as bona fide coloring books with over 20 coloring pages in each. Click the cover to buy a copy through Lulu.com for $7.50 plus shipping or $5.00 to download as .pdf's.
     "I Love to Read!" covers book-themed and back-to-school subjects. "Fun Stuff!" is all the general stuff like happy animals, robots, ballet, etc. And "Holidays" covers all major holidays and some minor ones, including birthdays, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Earth Day. Enjoy!

On Being a Southern Writer

Back in September of 2011, I was a guest poster at author Janni Lee Simner's blog. She features authors in her "Guest Dispatches" and asks them to talk about how their home influences their writing.
     With my first novel coming out in Spring 2014, I was reminded of my post. So much of what I wrote is still relevant today and truly influenced my novel, which takes place in the north Georgia mountains region. I didn't want it to fade away in the archives and have added it to My Articles list on my ADVICE PAGE.
     If you'd like to read the article, CLICK HERE.

Flashmob recreates Rembrandt's "The Night Watch"


In a Dutch shopping mall, shoppers were stunned to suddenly be surrounded by a drama unfolding in Renaissance-era garb, all as a promotion for the upcoming opening of The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam which is reopening (after renovations) in April.
     Brilliant advertising, but I hate to think of the liability issues. People running with lances, jumping off balconies, farm animals at large... I suspect this would never happen in America.
     Read more at Open Culture: Flashmob Recreates Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" in a Dutch Shopping Mall.

The Secret of Kells

There was so much buzz about this beautifully animated movie when it first came out. And I never had a chance to see it until now. It's free on HULU!!! CLICK HERE. The design and story are so worth your time! Here's the trailer:

Add to that, the actual BOOK OF KELLS is now available to view for free online by Trinity College Library in Dublin. Illustrators - who needs chocolate when you have this!?

Alison Formento's THESE SEAS COUNT - GIVEAWAY!


I'm thrilled to let you know about a talented writer and advocate of the environment, Alison Ashley Formento, whose third book in the "These Count" series has just come out: THESE SEAS COUNT (Albert Whitman). (Previous titles are THESES TREES COUNT and THESE BEES COUNT - all illustrated by Sarah Snow.)
     Not only are they counting books, they help educate children on the importance of saving our trees, bees, and seas. In that tradition, THESE SEAS COUNT! is a must share for Earth Day...not to mention World Oceans Day on June 8th!

Q. Hi Alison and welcome to dulemba.com! Congratulations on the release of THESE SEAS COUNT. You must be so proud of the entire series and the message these books deliver.
A. Thanks, Elizabeth. I’m proud if parents, teachers, and librarians share my picture books with children, and I’m especially proud when I meet young readers who love nature as much as I do.

Q. Rather than talking about the environment from an overwhelming viewpoint, you hone in on particular issues with trees, bees, and now, seas. How were you able to narrow your topic down?
A. It was a particular challenge in each book, but I knew I had to keep my information concise to highlight the theme of how trees, bees, and seas count, as well as including a counting numbers element, too. I learned enough in my research to write several “Counts!” books on each subject, but I wanted to focus on the main theme (in each book) of understanding the importance of caring for our environment, whether it be trees, bees, or seas.

Q. What was the inspiration for writing these books and will there be more?
A. Nature is my primary inspiration for my “Counts!” series and for much of my writing. An wonderful old elm tree that I hike past at a local nature reserve inspired my first book THIS TREE COUNTS! It’s a huge tree with sprawling branches and I wrote a ten line poem imagining what this tree might say if it could speak. That poem eventually expanded into a full story for my first picture book.
      A taste of honey ice cream inspired my second book, THESE BEES COUNT! and a sign at the ice cream shop describing the plight of disappearing honeybees. I started researching the subject and meeting beekeepers and soon realized how “bees count!” to help our world as much as trees do.
     My new book on seas was a natural follow-up as a “Counts” books since I love the ocean and all that it means for our environment. Recent oil spills and news on ocean pollution inspired my initial research, as well as visiting marine habitats and talking to oceanographers. But, at the end of the day, the waves inspired me. A relaxing day at the beach is always an inspiration.
     Nature is full of creative inspiration, so yes, plans for more “Counts!” books are in the works.


Q. I love Sarah Snow's artwork in the series. They have a very distinctive look. How did you respond when you first saw her vision of your story?
A. I hopped around like a happy bunny! Seriously, though, Sarah Snow’s illustrations captured exactly what I felt when I saw that old tree on my hikes. There’s a real sense of texture and motion in her art. I can imagine hearing the wind in the trees, the bees buzzing, and feel the sea waves splashing when I look at Sarah’s illustrations in our books.

Q. You're also about to launch your first Young Adult book, TWIGS. Can you tell us a little about that?
A. TWIGS will be published in September, 2013, by Merit Press, the new Young Adult imprint of F&W Media. An homage to the classic Gary Cooper film, 'High Noon,' it is the story of a girl nicknamed for her small stature, which is belied by her great spirit when trouble threatens her ne'er do well family — from within and from far away in a war zone. In the contemporary realistic YA tradition of such authors as Sarah Dessen, 'Twigs' asks old questions about the triumph of the weak against the strong, with compassion, humor, and wit.

Q. What was your path to publication? (I always ask this!)
A. My path starts like this—“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I first heard my editor (Abby Levine, Albert Whitman) speak on a panel at an SCBWI conference. After the conference, I submitted a picture book manuscript to her, which she rejected, but had added a nice note saying she liked my writing. I immediately sent another story, which was also rejected, but this time she mentioned they were looking for nature stories. I sent my tree story. To quote another old saying, “Third time’s a charm.”

Q. Finally, are there any upcoming dates, engagements, or events you'd like my readers to know about?
A. I’m busy with several school visits throughout April, including a special Authors for Earth Day event to donate to a charity dedicated to helping our environment. I’ll be at the Albany Book Festival on April 27th and the Hudson Children’s Book Festival on May 4th and I’m thrilled to be leading a Writing Seeds Workshop on growing creative picture book stories at the NJSBWI conference in Princeton on June 7th. For more information, please visit my website: www.alisonashleyformento.com.
     Thanks for the fun questions, Elizabeth. I can’t wait to read your next book, too!

GIVEAWAY!
One of my lucky commenters will win a free, signed and dedicated copy of THESE SEAS COUNT from Alison! (Must live in the continental US to win.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview! Interview!

As if you didn't already know enough about me already... well, maybe you still have a few questions about breaking into or working in the children's book industry, marketing, the general angst, etc.
     Sometimes I get asked to do interviews for people's school projects, magazines, and such. Recently Barbara, an illustration student, asked me for an interview. She had obviously done her homework, so I was willing - and as it turned out, I was feeling rather verbiose. Seeing as it takes a lot of time to answer questions like these thoughtfully, I thought I'd include it on my website for any future interviewees to pull from as well - and for those who are curious.
     CLICK HERE to read.

Coloring Page Tuesday - 5 YEAR'S OLD CELEBRATION!

     Can you believe it? May 11th will mark the fifth anniversary of my very first coloring page. (I didn't even know that's what I was creating back then.) Some of your children have actually grown up with my coloring pages, and that means so much to me!
     Want to help celebrate?
     I'm going to do birthday images from now through May 11th and I'd LOVE for you to do something fun with them and post them to MY GALLERY (you'll need to post them to your blog first so you have a URL to share). Artwork from kids and their adults is welcome! Or just leave comments on my blog.
     CLICK HERE for even more birthday images to get you started.
     If you've been a fan of Coloring Page Tuesdays - now's the time to share. What have my Coloring Pages meant to YOU? How do you use them? Do you have a favorite? I can't wait to hear from you and see what you create!
     Like this great congratulations coloring job by Sophia! Thanks to her mom for sharing!

     Sign up to receive alerts when a new coloring page is posted each week and... Please check out my books! Especially...

MY COLORING BOOKS!
     Going on Vacation? Want to take Coloring Page Tuesdays on the road? The Coloring Page Tuesdays collections, "I Love to Read!", "Fun Stuff!", and "Holidays!" are now available as bona fide coloring books with over 20 coloring pages in each. Click the cover to buy a copy through Lulu.com for $7.50 plus shipping or $5.00 to download as .pdf's.
     "I Love to Read!" covers book-themed and back-to-school subjects. "Fun Stuff!" is all the general stuff like happy animals, robots, ballet, etc. And "Holidays" covers all major holidays and some minor ones, including birthdays, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and Earth Day. Enjoy!