Dark Sky Week

Did you know it’s Dark Sky Week? There’s no better time to get out and see what’s up in the night sky.

I was thrilled to learn the news that SKYWATCHER is on Bank Street College‘s Best Books of 2021! I’m humbled to be in stellar company of so many wonderful books. Thank you, Bank Street!

I also learned that American Illustration judges had chosen two of my illustrations for their Archive, the cover of SKYWATCHER and this interior illustration. Hoot!

I kicked off my Dark Sky Week by heading to the Merry Barn in Edgecomb, ME on Earth Day for a splendid star gazing party.

This cheerful barn is a haven for community literacy, with retreats, camps, and educational events. Founder Stephanie Noyes McSherry warmly introduced me to a room of fellow stargazers at 6:30 PM. We were connected by our mutual friend, Kim Traina, who has fed me with her friendship since our daughters were little.

Thank you both!

After I read the story and shared some details of my process, craft supplies came out. Folks colored and cut out their animal masks.

How sweet is this quiet luna moth!

This band of birds was hooting up a storm, wild things after my own heart.

By 7:30, the sun had set. Kids ran around in the twilight, with glow bracelets and balls, as one star, then two, appeared.

The clear night began to glitter. Telescopes were on hand. Kids were gleefully squealing in the pitch black. How magical it is to be in real dark. The Merry Barn is in a rural spot, without light pollution, and blessed by the wealth of dark skies that blanket Maine. What a treat to share this memorable evening! Thank you!

On Sunday, April 24, I ventured to Orono to the Jordan Planetarium at the University of Maine. I was invited by Shawn Laatsche, Director, to follow their program about Earth, Moon, and Sun with a reading of SKYWATCHER. Another good reason to wear my moon phase dress!

The lobby has a fun interactive game where you can learn how much you weigh on another planet. My daughter, Daisy, discovered she’d be super heavy on a neutron star.

UMO students, Jeffrey and Brenda, took turns with interactive demonstrations of the sun rising, moon rotations, and constellation locating before and after a swooping ride through the galaxy that’s also a micro-unit on astronomy.

These two, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, are the first two I learned to identify as a child. What about you?

This was a perfect lead into my reading of SKYWATCHER.

Here the two bears grace my story.

I’m no expert on astronomy, which is why creating this book was a joyful challenge to learn all I could. Drawing constellations was a big puzzle; I still have difficulty identifying them with my naked eye outside. But it was cool to see my book larger than life.

It was wonderful to meet little ones sporting clothes with planets and stars and rockets. Kindred spirits! Thank you, UMO, for a fun visit. We headed back to Peaks, ready for more star gazing. Make sure you look for the lunar eclipse that will happen around midnight between May 15 and May 16.

Meanwhile, my island friend and artist/librarian, Kathy Hanley, sent this photo of my book at the central library in Seattle. Pardon me, I don’t get tired of seeing it out in the world!

I’m delighted by and grateful for the way this story is making it’s way in the wild.

We head soon to Minnesota to visit family at long last. My next outing with SKYWATCHER will be in August at the Camden Library‘s Bookfest by the Sea. Til then I will be in my studio working on new books.

Watch out soon for WINTER CROWS by Rae Chalmers. Keep looking up, and shine on!