Drawing Out

Summer is nearly here, and the weather has been fine for drawing outside! Here are some recent sketchbook pages from Union Square and Tribeca. In Tribeca, I was drawing in a garden and a hundred little green bugs crawled all over me: It was very tickly! But I persevered.

Ezra Jack Keats Award

I'm mighty proud to say that I just received the 2008 Ezra Jack Keats New Author Award, for my third book, Leaves. This award is given once a year by the New York Public Library and the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation to one new writer and one new illustrator of picture books. I shared the spotlight on Thursday May 15 at the Donnell Library with Jonathan Bean, the very talented illustrator of The Apple Pie That Papa Baked, among others.

The evening was filled with warmth, coming from the wonderful children's book folk and guests who were present. I am always pleased to be part of this community of creative and loving people. And to be honored by them. . .well!: Heaven on earth.

My thanks again to the jurors and supporters of my work, my editor and art director, and the New York Public Library and Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.

Click here to visit the EJK Foundation's web site.

(Above: Me and Jonathan Bean with Doctors Deborah and Marvin Pope of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.)

Cowboy Ned-The Play!

Well, I just recently had the treat of seeing 4 original plays written and performed by 2nd and 3rd graders at the Muscota New School up in Inwood. And guess what? Two of them were based on my book Cowboy Ned & Andy. One of them even had me and the Mrs. as characters. I thought the acting and writing were simply exceptional. Thanks to librarian Ellen Shave for inviting me, Dana the drama teacher, and all the other teachers for encouraging creativity in their students!

Keep up the great work, y'all!