Aaron sent me a link to this. Silly boy. He knows our future holds chickens and donkeys and pygmy goats, but he's always poopooing the idea. So why on earth would he send me a link to the cutest tiniest donkeys and goaties in the world? Of course we are going to get some now. Maybe not tomorrow. But donkeys are the future.

Check out Snow Pea (donk) and Boris (booboo goat) while I go do "research" here.

Jaime

If you buy one fashion book/activity kit for ages 7 to 10 this year or ANY year make it this one! True--it is a work-for-hire. True--my name's not on the cover or the Amazon listing. But those are my skinny tall girls being fashion forward on every page and my carefully crafted boatneck tee template outlines with matching capri pants that youngsters will be tracing. Tracing and building their Project Runway dreams on. Take that Tim Gunn! I'm published!

Thanks to multi-talented author, Sara, for introducing me to the project. Her writing and fashion flair are beyond compare.

Jaime

I'll be doing a post soon on great books about writing and illustrating for children. One that I love and am only three pages through is Joan Aiken's The Way to Write for Children. I'm only three pages through (for the past five years) because after reading one page I have to go lie down. Joan packs a big wallop of information on every page and makes me think writing for children is the most important job in the fine arts world. I assumed Ms Aiken's books were fabulous though my only contact with her writing was this how to write book.

So when I heard my amazingly talented friend comparing The Wolves of Willoughby Chase to the Lemony Snicket books as if Mr Snicket had ripped Ms Aiken off I wanted to see this for myself.

Maybe I'm a dodo, but personally Daniel Handler's books contain their own brand of melodrama different from Joan Aiken's. Though he is following in her genre footsteps of wonderful Victorian cliches, Joan Aiken's Wolves was great great fun quite different from the fun of Lemony Snicket.

The beginning is smashing, there are REAL WOLVES. Huge packs of them. And they are just AROUND. God help me, but Joan makes it seem so believable that I really am afraid of roving teams of wolves following trains to train stations and launching themselves at sleeping passengers in their cars. The Wolves of WIlloughby Chase is very satisfying--the beginning instills a proper amount of terror in your heart to fear for our two young main characters and there are a few scenes (ice skating on a frozen river to spy on a suspicious person as it gets dark and hearing a howl) that are amazing scenes of tension. I wanted to rip the pages up to find a way to read faster and found myself yet again reading it before bed and then again at six in the morning to find out what had happened while I slept.

Even though I knew there'd be a happy ending I wasn't entirely sure. That had me reading to the end. Surely those that love Lemony Snicket or a dark Anne of Green Gables even will enjoy this. I'm excited to find the sequel, also with a lovely Edward Gorey cover, and see what happens next.

Jaime

After a rousing winter meeting with Gayle Richardson in which she gave attendees a HUGE list of new books to read I ran out and found as many of them as I could. The Beasts of Clawstone Castle is my first read on the list and I am thrilled with it. To be fair it was my first "listen" while moving back into my office after our basement flooded.

I'd love to put this book on MTV's movie list, but I wonder if American audiences would be able to handle it. The ghosts in Clawstone are tremendously well developed characters with gruesome or frightful ends. Ends which Ms. Ibbotson describes in great detail. The end of the book hinges on some really disgusting cruelty to animals. I don't think it is gratuituous, but I'm not sure I could look at it on screen. If I hadn't watched The Departed last night I think I'd be having nightmares about the end of Clawstone instead of the thugs of South Boston (to be honest I had a hard time getting to sleep BECAUSE of having just watched The Departed, but my trusty subconscious had me dreaming about getting to eat the best most expensive candy in the world. Candy dreams are almost as good as nightmare preventing pudding.)

I love England, ghosts, and cows. Maybe this book was written just for me. I also love truly nefarious villains, siblings that are nice to each other, and modern books that acknowledge/use the internet, but find a way to leave our characters without its help believably.

Any kid that digs the ghosts in Harry Potter and are budding environmentalists will love this book. It would make a great winter road trip book for families. The ending packs a lot of information that might befuddle parents so you'll want your kids to explain it to you, but you might want to be there for the kids when some scary animal testing passages come up.

Cover-wise: score one for England. David Roberts did the cover (above) for the British printing. THIS is a perfect cover for the book. The American one I'm not as thrilled about as it seems sweeter and tamer than this funny, deliciously ghastly book.

Gayle also recommended Which Witch? which I saw a young girl reading at a yummy neighborhood coffee shop. I wanted to ask her about it, but her mom seemed to be in a hurry. Here's hoping she also reads The Beasts of Clawstone Castle.

Jaime

The last few weeks my nightstand has hosted a battle of little girl book vs little girl book and author memoir vs. author memoir.

First up is Ramona Quimby vs. Harriet Welsch.

Don't think I'm too much of a boob, but I'd never read any of the Ramona books until a few weeks ago. After Patti Lee Gauch's rousing Sassy talk at our October SCBWI meeting I knew I had to find out more about this funny little girl and her talented author.

Ramona the Pest couldn't be better. Hilarious, not dated, with a crystal clear voice and super snappy dialogue. I know NOW that Beezus and Ramona comes first, forgive me, I'll get to it. I'm sad I missed out on Ramona at my Ramona age. At the time I thought the books looked baby-ish and never wanted to open them opting instead for John Fitzgerald's (drawings by Mercer Mayer) Great Brain series. I do remember enjoying Dear Mr. Henshaw, but why didn't anyone force me to read Ramona for my own good? MOM and NANA I'm talking to you.

I can't be so glowing about Harriet the Spy, though. I REALLY wanted to love it--I've always wanted to be a spy and was intrigued by the article about Harriet and Louise in the Horn Book. I can remember loving the title, cover, and chapter illustrations as a kid, but I'm pretty darn sure I never read the accompanying text. Harriet had moments of briliance, but it wasn't as snappy or timeless as I found Ramona. I know, from all the great articles written about Louise and from mention of her in Dear Genius, how important Harriet was. Maybe I have no right to compare them, but Ramona wins for me for now.

Next: Beverly Cleary vs. Betty MacDonald.

Both fairly local ladies, both with thoroughly engaging memoirs. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle I couldn't get ENOUGH of when younger. I dream of spending a night at Betty's old place. But I am still slogging through the Egg and I and it isn't all it's cracked up to be.

A Girl From Yamhill chronicles Beverly Bunn's life from birth to highschool graduation. The beginning is lovely, funny, poignant, and gives you glimpses of the real Ramona. As the Depression rages on and Beverly gets older her family falls apart a little bit. The passages about teen Beverly's interactions with her mother made me cringe inside. Still, A Girl From Yamhill had me wanting to finish, to see how Beverly would triumph and continue to find humor and joy in her everyday Portland life.

To be fair, I still need to finish the Egg and I and read the second of Beverly's autobiographies, My Own Two Feet. While The Egg and I started strong, it has become a chore for me to finish this book. It has ruined my romantic thoughts of owning a chicken farm someday or trying to live off the grid. Normally, I'm all for continuously ridiculing your neighbors, but there are so few passages without judgement or complaint that Egg and I is leaving me curdled. I want to love it. Some of her descriptions of the Northwest are so spot on and so poetic that it might be worth reading just for those. But I can also get that from Sometimes A Great Notion so...

For now Beverly takes the cake. Following Beverly's "college prepatory course" I would happily make her a potato caramel cake, quick chocolate cake, Arabian spice cake, Lady Baltimore cake, prize devil's food cake, walnut loaf cake...Beverly can bake all of these. Please believe this is not the only reason I picked her.

Jaime

Twoo-dalolly! The second interview in what I hope will be many with one of my favorite groups of people--booksellers, librarians, and authors.

This sweet interview is with Carol Santoro, the lovely and knowledgeable owner of Santoro's Books, just up the street from me. Carol's fairly new digs have a downright cozy children's book corner. Her shelves are stocked with the latest and greatest titles, cream of the crop classics and backlist books, and a great sale section to boot! I highly recommend checking the store out. While in that neighborhood there is a delightful coffee shop, the Herkimer, nearby. Grab a tasty beverage and hunker down with your new book from Santoro's Books--the ultimate rainy day Seattle activity.

Chompo Blog Questions in Bold (pictures taken by Carol, links added by me.)

1) How long have you been at this store/in this field?
I've been at this store for 20 months, but I've been a bookstore owner for nearly 22 years.

2) In the past year what books have you been excited to share with little kids, middle graders, and teens?
My favorite book for teens last year was "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" by M.T. Anderson. It was the National Book Award Winner for Young Readers and was far more challenging than most young adult novels I've read. I thought Octavian was a fascinating character. I also loved to recommend "Flotsam" by David Weisner for the picture book audience. And for middle readers you can't go wrong with "Jenny and the Cat Club" by Esther Averill.

3) In the coming year what books are you looking forward to for little kids, middle graders, and teens?
I must confess I haven't looked through ALL the publishers' catalogs for spring and Summer, but I am looking forward to new picutre books by Kevin Henkes (A Good Day) and Karla Kuskin (Green as a Bean).

4) What is your all time favorite picture book and novel?
This is such a hard question!! I still love "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss (the author who taught me to read) but for more recent picture books, I'm partial to "When Pigasso Met Mootisse" by Nina Laden and "Madlenka" by Peter Sis.

5) What events are coming up at your store that you are thrilled to tell us about?
The end of May marks our two year anniversary and I'm sure we'll have a gala party to celebrate. We have a Young Readers Book Club (Ages 8-12) that meets every third Tuesday of the month, and storytime for the little ones every Friday at 11:00 AM.

6) In your opinion what makes a GREAT book event? (start 3 months in advance? must invite a celebrity like the local weatherman? must have cupcakes? must bring extra books? better if there is more than one author or illustrator for an event?)
The best events I've hosted tend to include the audience in some activity, OR revolve around a specific theme, OR include several authors. There's one golden rule: always offer free food. (NB: I went to a Santoro's book event and the cheese and wine and crudites were scrumptious. WORD.)

7) What is your favorite animal?
I like cats because they like to sit around and read.

8) What is your favorite color?
Purple (hence the purple carpet in my store).

9) Anything you'd like to tell children's book authors and illustrators like me? (stop using sepia toned covers? call before coming to the store? write more books about cupcakes?)
A phone call or email announcing your visit is always appreciated. Otherwise, just keep writing good books!

10) If you could make your *dream* Chompo Bar what would be in it?
It would have to involve dark chocolate and coconut.

Thanks Carol! And dang that Fran. Carol will be receiving her dream candy and custom candy wrapper of the newest Chompo Bar Flavor--The Choco-Coco Santoro Snacker Bar:

These are only the extra-curricular highlights of the NY trip. Pictures taken by Aaron:

Met a dog named Odie with awesome space snow shoes. Odie is blind, but is attracted to the sound of a camera clicking pictures and likes to have his wooly ears rubbed. I (does my hat really look like that?) watched him while his owner (someone who looked really nice and smart) got coffee at the Once Upon A Tart bakery. We oogled the tarts, but didn't get any because we had a mission. A mission to seek out RICE PUDDING. I don't even like rice pudding.

Now, thanks to Betsy and Rice to Riches, I am addicted to most any of the flavors--especially the Mascarpone with sour cherries. Damn you rice. Damn you pudding.

Speaking of Betsy, a big group of children's book groupies walked all the way across the street from our hotel to the Donnell library to say hi to Betsy. Betsy was gone. But the original Pooh, Eeyore and Kanga were all there, more mystical to me than the Shroud of Turin. There is the talented Holly's homemade coat cuff, Greg and Sarah of Class of 2K7, Jim (blurry because he is maybe messing with the time space continuum), the lovely Laini, chilled Sara, Tim with his new pants, and Pooh peeking Jolie.

The next day I did some portfolio drop offs, ate Jacque Torres chocolates and was glad I had long underwear. After a COMPLETELY AWESOME meeting with the uber talented cover designer Vikki Sheatsley (she's responsible for the Hattie Big Sky cover) and her compatriots at Random House I ran down the street 10 blocks to the Daily Show Studios and met Aaron who'd been in line for hours. I got there with a minute to spare and we were let in for the show's taping. It was very quick. The guest was a wacko, but we saw some Coney Island Polar Bears and the hilarious Samantha Bee.

Because Aaron has super powers, he managed to get us half price tickets to see Spamalot that night, too. Prince Herbert was the best.
Famished because we hadn't eaten dinner between Jon and Spam we took the subway back to our Inn in search of nearby foodstuffs.

Right in front of the subway exit was THIS GUY in a hot dog shop.

The shop has a floor to ceiling window and he was inside chomping on his hot dog with all the trimmings. But either something he read or heard tickled his fancy and when WE saw him he was laughing with his mouth of sauerkraut wide open. The most pure expression of joy on his face we'd ever seen. For a full minute his mouth was open, ha-ha-ing, shoulders bouncing, sausage fingers dripping with mustard. We were blown away by his happiness. Then and there we knew THIS was where we'd have dinner. And let me tell you: A one dollar hot dog with all the trimmings is my idea of a delectable dinner. It was completely scrumptious. Thank you, happy hot dog man. You made my trip.

That and the uplifting empowering talks of Susan Cooper, Katherine Paterson, Robie Harris, Ann Brashares, and Brian Selznick at the conference! I'm not sure I can do them justice. If I find some good posts from other attendees I'll let you know.

Jaime

Here is my big New York purchase. A lovely green apron with some Tomie dePaola art on it.

NOT to be a Debbie Downer (I promise to still write up some NY highlights), but here is where I am today:

After an interesting morning of me making silly mistakes and getting huffy I've decided to wear this apron while working on art or stories that I don't want people to comment on YET. That's the problem with not being a monk or a stylite--I don't live alone on a pointy rock and sometimes I open my mouth or share a sketch too soon before it is ready to share OR I am ready to take criticism on it. This morning I should have known better, but it is hard NOT to want to talk out a new plot idea or show a sketch sometimes. Especially if none of our in-house doors lock.

The new house rule (also applies to all house visitors) is: If I'm wearing the green apron and I show you something or read you something all you can do is smile and say "That's GREAT! Keep going!"

You CAN'T say it like Ben Stein or Joan Rivers--more like Hayley Mills in Pollyanna or Julie Andrews at any time. Once I take the apron OFF and I ask for feedback you can be brutally honest, but while the apron is on it is a world without criticism so I can keep creating without any internal or external editors.

Am I the only one who feels this way or makes this mistake? Still looking in my writing books for corroboration that other authors and artists sometimes share their work too soon, too, before the idea has had time to root and grow more than those two little bud leaves. I'm hoping that this IS true and NOT that the story line I told Aaron about this morning stinks like old manure.

I've been sensitive about my new work before, but part of this irritability might be due to our plane ride home from NY...

Aaron and I spent Valentine's day walking all over Manhattan in cold snow and whipping winds, but our JetBlue flight was still listed as departing at 7:30 pm. We took the subway to JFK and got there shortly before 6 pm. We didn't get on the plane until 9:45 pm and THEN we sat on a full plane until three in the morning smelling other people's hot Nabisco snack breath. We finally took off around 3:30 am. Thanks to a really nice crew and pilot we landed safely in Seattle, but JetBlue management seems a little screwy. I get nervous on planes normally without sitting on one for six hours and not moving or sleeping. And we were some of the lucky ones.

So my sleep cycle is a bit wacko and I'm edgier than normal this weekend. My new apron might stay on permanently for the next few days. I'm going to bake some bread now and maybe let that story idea do some rising and proofing, too.

And NO MORE plant or pastry mixed metaphors I promise.

Jaime

Just a few days left in my new favorite city. Thanks to Betsy for the picture. She also recommended the fantastic Books of Wonder store and Rice to Riches.

Although I'll post more when I get home, the conference was jam packed with lots of wonderful opportunities to meet new people and catch up with old favorites--look for their new books in stores soon!

Also found my new favorite band and saw someone eat lard pizza. Olive oil gelato YES, lard pizza NO.

New York New York!!!!

Jaime

Hooray hooray! Look to your right for a link to my online portfolio. Trying to add some descriptors to each picture, but for now it is up and working! I'm completely thrilled.

Thanks Aaron!

I signed up for the art display/silent auction at the conference and am debating what to bring for it. There's a size limit and I thought about entering something small and maybe adding a hand lettered quote to it.

There's a Russian proverb: Love and eggs are best when they are fresh. Same could be said of stories and books and art. Are you allowed to tweak proverbs? This reminds me of old children's book week posters, but maybe I'm the only one. I'm a little too frazzled right now to be making intelligent quote choices:

Logan ate something stupid and has been active at both of his ends...

There is wet concrete in our basement and I think it cemented shut the closet with my suitcase in it. I'm leaving for NY tomorrow and am lucky just to have clean underwear. Maybe it will all fit in my coat pocket--who needs luggage?

Jaime

Oooodalolly! Chompo Blog's newest feature is about to be unveiled below--short but sweet interviews with my favorite people in the children's book world. Primarily these interviews will be with librarians and booksellers, but if you have the chance to interview a friend AND recent Newbery Honor winner you'd bend the rules a little, too.

Chompo Blog Questions in Bold (links added by me.)

1) How long have you been in this field?
About 18 years, plus or minus.

2) In the past year what books have you been excited to share with little kids, middle graders, and teens?
I love sharing about all my books!

3) In the coming year what books are you looking forward to for little kids, middle graders, and teens?
I think I will be busy in this upcoming year talking to readers about HATTIE BIG SKY.

4) What is your all time favorite picture book and novel?
All time favorite picture book: HOW TOM BEAT CAPTAIN NAJORK AND HIS HIRED SPORTSMEN, written by Russell Hoban, ill. by Quentin Blake; novel: can't pick one but here are a few: MATILDA BONE, by Karen Cushman; BELLE PRATER'S BOY, by Ruth White; BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, by Kate diCamillo; THE PINBALLS by Betsy Byars; THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS by Katherine Paterson; and FEED by M.T. Anderson.

5) What book events are coming up that you are thrilled to tell us about?
I am excited about going to ALA in June to accept my Newbery Honor Medal (I picked the best prize to win -- I get to dress up and sit at the grown-ups' table but I don't have to give a speech!) but I'm also very excited about attending the Central Missouri State University Book Festival in March and the Southern Kentucky Book Festival in April, because I have family ties to both those states.

6) In your opinion what is the key to a GREAT book event?
Have incredibly low expectations. So what if no one shows up? Every connection you make will make a difference. For example, I once had an event at All for Kids Books to which 2 whole kids came. I read them a chapter from my then-new book, SECOND GRADE PIG PALS, chatted a bit and we all had a great time. Chauni Haslet, the store owner, overheard me reading and saw the kids connecting and promptly read the book herself. A few weeks later, the Seattle Times called her and asked her to recommend some good titles for emergent readers. She recommended Pig Pals, which was ultimately awarded a Seattle Times Best Book for 1st and 2nd Graders. I could not have planned that wonderful turn of events if I had tried.

7) What is your favorite animal?
The hummingbird

8) What is your favorite color?
Green

9) Anything you'd like to tell children's book authors and illustrators like me?
Believe in your gift and work to honor it as best you can -- which may mean chucking a project you love because it will never be your best effort.

10) If you could craft your *dream* Chompo Bar what would be in it?
It's already invented -- Fran's Smoked Salt Chocolate Caramels. I weep just to think of them.

Thanks Kirby! Each interviewee will receive a custom made candy wrapper with their dream Chompo flavor inside. Here's Kirby's, the Hattie Big Bar: