Going once...

Book Expo America, the big annual book industry conference, starts today in New York City. I won't be there this year, but one of my illustrations will be. I donated this painting of Henry Aaron hitting his record-breaking 715th home run to this year's ABC Children's Group at ABA Silent Auction--the most recent incarnation of the annual ABC event, now in its 17th year.

The silent auction takes place tomorrow night, Wednesday, May 25. There is some amazing artwork up for bid, by some of my favorite illustrators, like Matt Phelan, Mo Willems, John Rocco, Bryan Collier, Paul O. Zelinsky, Chris Van Dusen... the list goes on and on. You can see all the artwork here.

All proceeds from the auction benefit the new ABFFE Fund for Free Speech in Children's Books, which promotes understanding of the importance of free speech for children and young readers and provides support to the students, parents, teachers, librarians, and booksellers who fight the hundreds of challenges to children's books that occur in schools and libraries every year.

The auction is a ticketed event, but I've heard rumors of an online element later on. I'll keep you posted.

If you happen to be at BEA, stop by the Candlewick booth and check out my upcoming picture book, Over the River and Through the Wood (Fall, 2011). Thanks to Candlewick for posting this picture on facebook, so I can live vicariously through them as I sit here in my studio in Maine (middle shelf, far left).

MUDBALL book giveaway!

APRIL BOOK GIVEAWAY!! In honor of the rainiest, muddiest month of the year, I'm giving away a signed copy of Mudball, with an original pen drawing of the main character, Little Andy Oyler, inside. Anyone who "likes" my facebook page between now and Friday, April 29 is entered to win.

A Lupine Honor Award for Henry Aaron's Dream!

I was thrilled to accept the Lupine Honor Award for Henry Aaron's Dream yesterday, at the Reading Round-Up conference in Augusta, Maine. The award is presented by the Youth Services Division of the Maine Library Association, to recognize an outstanding contribution to children's literature of Maine. 

The award is beautiful- a handmade, hand-painted piece of Maine pottery. Here it is:

Kiddo Award Sweepstakes

Henry Aaron's Dream Book Giveaway

BOOK GIVEAWAY!! This time I'm giving away a signed copy of Henry Aaron's Dream, with an original pen drawing on the title page, of Hank Aaron hitting his 715th home run. Anyone who "likes" my facebook page between now and Friday, March 25 is entered to win.

Henry Aaron's Dream won a Kiddo Award!

Woohoo! Henry Aaron's Dream won a Kiddo Award! This new award was created by bestselling author James Patterson's organization, Read Kiddo Read, whose mission is to help make kids readers for life. The Kiddo Awards are meant to honor "the very best books of the year for getting kids absolutely addicted to reading". Henry Aaron's Dream was chosen as the winner of the transitional books category (books for ages 6 and up).

It is such an honor to win this award, knowing that it was voted on by so many people (nearly 5,000 in my category!)- including parents, librarians, teachers, and of course, kids! Thanks so much to everyone who voted, to James Patterson, and to Read Kiddo Read.

Read Kiddo Read put together this video which features the creators of the four award-winning books: Rick Riordan, author of The Lost Hero, which won the advanced readers category (for ages 10 and up), Lincoln Peirce, author of Big Nate: In a Class By Himself, which won the pageturners category (ages 8 and up), Eric Litwin and James Dean, creators of Pete the Cat, winner of the illustrated books category (ages 0 to 8), and myself.



 And here's the full 2-minute video I sent in:

Book Giveaway!

My first book, Zachary's Ball, came out 11 years ago today. To celebrate, I'm giving away this signed hardcover copy, with an original pen drawing of Ted Williams on the title page. Anyone who "likes" my facebook page between now and Friday, March 4 will be entered to win. If you already "like" my facebook page (thanks!), you can enter by "liking" this photo on facebook. Good luck!