Book: Island Birthday

Celebrating summer reading

Posted by on Aug 10, 2015 in Book: Island Birthday, Children's Book Illustration, Illustration, Peaks Island, Publisher: Tilbury House | 1 comment

I was honored to be the guest at the final Summer Reading Program led by veteran story time maestro Pat Crowley-Rockwell at the Peaks Island Library last week. She introduced me with great flair, and I shared details of creating my illustrations for Island Birthday by Eva Murray, from story board sketches to final art. Pat’s Story & Craft program meets every Tuesday evening all summer long, pairing books and activities for a dedicated troop of island kids and visitors. Following the reading, she demonstrated the craft of folding paper planes. This artist is drawing a decorative...

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Storybook Waters

Posted by on Jul 17, 2015 in Book: Here Come the Humpbacks, Book: Ice Harbor Mittens, Book: Island Birthday, Book: John Muir Wrestles a Waterfall, Book: Seven Days of Daisy, Book: Tiger Boy, Book: Warmer World, Children's Book Illustration, Illustration, Maine College of Art, Pastels, Peaks Island, Portland Public Library, Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing, Publisher: Tilbury House | 0 comments

The Storybook Waters of Illustrator Jamie Hogan opened last week, with a swell flock of peeps gathering to see my originals from 7 picture books, and hear Eva Murray read Island Birthday. It’s not every day two island girls make a book. We both deal with crossing water; I was delayed leaving Peaks Island because of capacity crowds on the Casco Bay Lines ferry. Eva flew from Matinicus, thanks to clear weather. Smiles abound when serendipity brings us together, in the Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library at the Main Branch of the Portland Public Library....

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Illustrationland

Posted by on Jun 28, 2015 in Book: Island Birthday, Children's Book Illustration, Curious City, Illustration, Peaks Island, Portland Public Library | 2 comments

Today’s rain is a welcome break in the action.  June’s been a swoon of events involving illustration all over the Maine map. Things began with a bang on First Friday with the opening of Cathryn Falwell’s exhibit in the Children’s Room at the Portland Public Library. My show is up next, so I needed to see How It Is Done. Bravo, Cathryn! Besides showing the original illustrations from her latest book, The Nesting Quilt, she also made it real. As well as a big nest for little peeps to play in! From the library, I flew to Pinecone & Chickadee, where I am part of a...

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Island Birthday party

Posted by on Jun 15, 2015 in Book: Island Birthday, Illustration, Peaks Island, Portland Public Library, Publisher: Tilbury House | 3 comments

Thanks to the Friends of the Peaks Island Library, a swell party for Island Birthday took place on Friday at the Community Room, with the whole Peaks Island School in attendance. Woot! I shared a slideshow with some of the back story. One sharp-eyed student noticed that I printed “island” and used cursive for “birthday” in the illustration for the title page. Yes, that’s a real stamp on the envelope, which I placed over my pastel. I showed some of my reference photos, like this one in which my model, Nikolai, is pretending to swim in my yard. And his friend,...

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Bloomin’ books!

Posted by on Jun 10, 2015 in Book: Island Birthday, Book: John Muir Wrestles a Waterfall, Book: Tiger Boy, Children's Book Illustration, Illustration, Pastels, Peaks Island, Portland Public Library, Publisher: Tilbury House | 1 comment

This is a super duper first: I have 3 new books recently published! They are written by different authors, and have very different stories to tell. BUT, they have a few things in common, besides featuring my work: Each book has lots of blue on the cover, yup! And there is water involved. And the moon plays a part in every story. Here’s a list of bookish events coming up:   June 27 at 10 AM Hello Hello Books  Rockland, Maine Author of ISLAND BIRTHDAY, Eva Murray, and I will have our first book event together. Two islanders’ ferry schedules converge, watch out. Eva will read and I...

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Island Birthday has landed!

Posted by on Mar 12, 2015 in Book: Island Birthday, Silder | 0 comments

Like an airplane long awaited, Island Birthday by Eva Murray (Tilbury House) has landed in bookstores! “Hogan’s lively, brightly colored pastel illustrations bring the distinctive island setting to life. This book engagingly invites young readers to explore a different lifestyle from a child’s perspective.” —Kirkus...

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