space junk: April 2008

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Jeffrey and Sloth has been selected for the Ontario Library Association’s Canadian Materials Committee Best Bets list for children. Each year the committee selects the top ten Canadian picturebooks and Jeffrey and Sloth was one of them!

Great news! 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day has just been selected as a Book Sense Summer 2008 Children’s Pick!!

Monday, April 14, 2008

At the OLA Superconference I did a short presentation at the OLA/CANSCAIP Mega-Book Launch.
It was for Jeffrey and Sloth. I wanted to talk about the story without giving too much away.
It went something like this…

This is Jeffrey.

Hi there, Jeffrey.

Jeffrey is pretty stressed. He has a problem. What’s your problem, Jeffrey?

You have homework? And you have to write a story? Yes, that can be pretty stressful, but there are a lot of things you can write about. Just pick something.

Oh. That is a problem. Well, you just have to be creative. What’s making it so hard to get started?

UGH. The blank piece of paper. Yuck. That is one of the biggest creative blocks I know. Who can think with all of that blankness sucking in every idea like a black hole. We’ll just have to make it a little less blank. Let’s try doodling.

Why not start by doodling a few of your favorite buildings.

And then make it a little more exciting by adding a monster and a space alien.

Now just let your mind wander and go abstract. A few shapes and squiggles.

How about doodling your favorite animal… the three toed sloth?

That’s great! Um…Jeffrey, you didn’t draw the sloth with his hands on his hips. That’s strange.

Uh oh, Jeffrey. You’re doodle is moving. And the only thing worse than a doodle that moves, is a doodle that moves with attitude! Good luck with your story! I think you’re going to need it!