Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year --
xo M.
New York Times
December 17, 2012
Not allowed to reprint the whole article, so if you like complete sentences, check out this weekend's Sunday New York Times roundup of penguin books.
From The New York Times, Dec. 14, 2012 © 2012 The New York Times All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the Material without express written permission is prohibited.
The Big Day
December 6, 2012
This is it: Baby Penguins Everywhere! is officially published. As in, it's on real bookstore shelves across the US -- and Canada, eh!
Whether you buy a copy from your friendly local bookshop or borrow one from your library, I hope you'll share it with the little penguins in your life. If you don't have penguins, share it with your kids!
xo, Melissa
p.s. Remember to request your free signed bookplate!
Blog Tour
December 4, 2012
My December blog tour starts today! Pop over to Nerdy Book Club (where I get nerdy about Roald Dahl), then check in as I waddle along. I'll be visiting established kidslit favorites and sparkly new upstarts; we'll talk about my drawing process, a favorite book, how I got my agent...And of course we'll give away books!
Dec 4 - NERDY BOOK CLUB
Dec 9 - 7 IMPOSSIBLE THINGS BEFORE BREAKFAST
Dec 10 - CYNSATIONS, CREATIVE TIMES
Dec 11 - WRITER'S DIGEST GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS
Dec 15 - PEN & OINK
Holiday Events
November 25, 2012
Dear NYC: My book will be published December 6th, but I'm reading at two local events before the book comes out. Come get your signed copies early! We will eat goodies and get our pictures taken with Santa (at the first event anyway). I've always wanted to meet him!
December 2, 3pm
powerHouse Arena Kids Holiday Party
(with Carin Berger)
37 Main Street, DUMBO, Brooklyn
December 3, 2pm
JCC Holiday Book Fair
(with Ame Dyckman, Michael Leviton, and Jeanne C. Blackmore)
344 Amsterdam Ave. (@ 76th St.), Manhattan
Thanksgiving
November 19, 2012
I'm especially thankful this year.
Thankful for my family (especially when they're not thankful for me).
Thankful for my friends, some of whom came over yesterday and helped me start making a braided rug; it looks like a snake right now, but it will be fabulous.
Thankful for everyone who bid in my first-ever fundraising auction. (Congratulations to Jennifer Reinstein on winning Storm Penguin!)
Thankful for Red Hook Initiative, who've been taking such good care of people since the hurricane.
And thankful that my book is finally coming out.
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Storm Penguin to the Rescue!
November 7, 2012
I don't often sell my original artwork, but I'm auctioning one of my preparatory paintings for Baby Penguins Everywhere! to raise money for storm relief in NYC.
Proceeds go to Red Hook Initiative, a local youth and community development organization that is taking major responsiblity for relief efforts in Red Hook.
Please bid, and spread word of Storm Penguin throughout the land!
The Original Art
October 27, 2012
Welcome to the first day of Picture Book Month! And for new subscribers, welcome to my blog!
Sandy delayed this post a week, but I'm not complaining! Being unable to blog is nothing compared to what others are dealing with. I'm going to be offering one of my penguin paintings for sale to raise funds for NYC storm recovery efforts; watch this space for details.
Last Thursday night was the opening of The Original Art 2012 at the Society of Illustrators. The Original Art is an annual exhibition of artwork from the year’s best children’s books, as determined by a jury of art directors, editors, publishers and illustrators.
Illustrator friends new and old were selected: Brian Biggs, Matthew Meyers, and of course Jon Klassen, who accepted the Silver Medal for This is Not My Hat. Christian Robinson came all the way from California, as did Gianna Marino.
Kelly Light was there, too: we have a visual on that. (P.S. My heart goes out to Kelly, whose town on the South Shore of Long Island was devastated by the storm a few days later.)
I always swore that if I met Paul O. Zelinsky I would tell him how much I love The Story of Mrs. Lovewright And Purrless Her Cat. Well, I forgot.
My good friends Laure and Jennifer helped me find my picture in the sea of illustration goodness. It hangs below a beautiful piece by my friend Carson Ellis, and opposite paintings by Lifetime Achievement Award-winners Tomie de Paola and Richard Scarry.
If it's not clear from my face, I Am A Bunny is one of my favorite children's books. Sharing a gallery wall with little Nicholas and those butterflies is like being in a dream.
It was also an honor to be selected in the same year as author/illustrator Jeanette Winter. Eight years ago, when I was an aspiring illustrator, Jeanette and her husband Roger took me to see my first Original Art show. Sadly, we didn't cross paths on this night (like my art director Semadar Megged, they were smart enough to come early). Happily, I ran into my former teacher, the professional heckler Sergio Ruzzier.
The show is at The Society of Illustrators until December 22, 2012. Getting to East 63rd St. in Manhattan may pose a challenge in coming days. If you can manage in coming weeks, I think it's worth it. And when you go, tell me, I'll join you. I want to see it again!
Hello, new blog
October 22, 2012
If you got a recap of old posts the other day, apologies; it was the result of tinkering behind the scenes. Which leads me to...my new blog!
If you were subscribed before, you are automatically subscribed to the new version, which will continue to feature the high-quality artwork and humor you've come to expect from 52 Pictures. Thank you and goodbye, old blog!
Calling all Brits/Scots/Welsh
October 16, 2012
I am dying to own one of these adorable wooden penguin statues being given away by Penguin Classics!
Sadly, the contest is only open to UK residents. :( If you live in the UK (or have a good friend who does) will you please enter on my behalf? I know it's a long shot, but I will happily send a signed copy of my book to anyone who can procure one of these!!
