The world is especially full of wonderful and magical happenings at the holidays:

1) This morning Bebop jumped up on my drawing table which was full of important sketches. I ran and grabbed him, picking him up around his middle. As I lifted and squeezed a lilting, harmonious high pitched noise came out of his rear, "Beee - booop." He was like a furry orange bag pipe. I tried to squeeze again and get the same response, but certain Christmas miracles only occur once. Like:

2) Logan wearing the Santa outfit my family gave him long enough to be photographed.

3) Logan learning to listen. I read Logan Llama Llama Red Pajama substituting 'Logan Logan' for 'Llama Llama' (which is said on almost every page) and he wagged his tail the whole time. Later, when my friend, Mika, came over I convinced her to try reading Red Pajama's sequel, Llama Llama Mad at Mama with the same name substitution. Logan REALLY got into the sequel. Holding a stinky meat treat in the book helps, too.

4) Starting a new business that you are thrilled and excited to be a part of.

5) Getting the chance to HOPEFULLY illustrate some spots in an awesome book! I'll know more in the New Year, but it all really came about in the last few days and I'm terribly excited.

6) And a final miracle is finding a seven year old musical/Rock Band playing genius. Mika totally rocked the drums. She's ready for tours and stage diving, but promises not to go all Britney on us.

Wishing you and yours the best holiday ever,

Jaime

A few days ago I had the pleasure of being a Reflections judge for an evening at Woodridge Elementary in Bellevue. The brand new school is absolutely beautiful and behemoth, the walls decorated with tiles hand painted by its first year of K through 5ers. Even at night the entire building still buzzed with hope and energy. I'd love to see the school on a busy weekday!

Reflections is "an arts recognition and achievement program for students. The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness on the importance of the arts in education.

The Reflections Program was established in 1969 by National PTA board member Mary Lou Anderson. Since that time, more than 10 million students have participated in the program. The program's longevity and participation figures attest to its strength. The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for children, parents, schools and communities is unmatched."

I got to judge Visual Art and Literature as divided by K-2 level and 3-5 grade level in addition to 3-5 level Photography and Dance. Um, kid art is freaking awesome!?! I've seen some kids in action lately as it relates to them drawing dresses for the Fashion Book, but the art I saw last night was really stupendous.

This year's theme was "I can make a difference by..." I saw tons of fabulous art -- great story telling, bold color choices, ahead-of-their-time editorial cartoon type stuff or light-years-beyond-me poetry forms, and innovative use of perspective (or non-perspective.) And really awesome composition! I took notes for my own work! Woodridge has a real live art teacher, I hear, and she is loading up those kids with great art education and chutzpah to express themselves if these Reflections entries are any indicator.

Ahem, as a past Reflections winner (boo-yah Northshore District 1983 Primary Division 1st place winner!***) I can tell you this program has legs and is a wonderful and support-worthy endeavor.

This settles it. I'd really like to be more involved with kids and art as soon as possible. Unless I can teach Logan how to paint with his tail...

Continue reading "Reflecting on Reflections" »

Tonight is our fun filled SCBWI WWA Holiday Party meeting complete with cocoa, a cookie contest*, books by local authors and illustrators** for sale (most can be signed tonight, too, making awesome prezzies) and top notch session topics including:

Mini-Session: SHARING OUR GIFTS
With Mindy Harwick and Ann Teplick***. Feeling like a hermit? Checking and rechecking your email for that multi-book contract? Caught in the vacuum of self-absorption? Get out there and share your talents! The possibilities are endless, from volunteering in a classroom to mentorship with youth in juvenile detentions, prisons, or hospitals. Come learn how to partner with community organizations to help others find their voices and get their own stories into the world. Mindy, who has published short stories and many articles for children, also mentors teens at Denney Juvenile Justice Center and works as a school writer-in-residence. Ann is a poet, playwright, and prose writer who has worked with a variety of young writers including incarcerated youth at King County juvenile detention and young residents at a state psychiatric hospital.

Main Program: THE GIFT OF BOOKS
This December we’ll host some of the best read minds in the region as Allyson Schrier moderates a panel with booksellers from All for Kids Books & Music, Parkplace Books, The Secret Garden Bookshop, Third Place Books, and University Book Store. They are joining us to share their gifts of wisdom and wonder as we engage in a discussion about their passion and ours: books! Between them they have read much of what has been published for children this year and will speak candidly about the books we've got to read, and those we are better off avoiding. From the Newbery to the Caldecott; from the Prinz to the Geisel award—who do they expect to see earning medals this year? What books should win the awards but probably won't—and why? Which of this year's books are going to light up kids' eyes and help turn them into life-long readers? What are the books, current and classic, we should be gifting to the children (and grown-ups) in our lives this holiday season? If you love books—and we know you do—this is a session you won't want to miss!

Be there or be square:

Seattle Pacific University, Otto Miller Hall 109
Registration/cookies at 6:30 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m.
Guest entry is only ten bucks for hours of delight!

* I was a cookie judge last year and might be again this year. And I welcome bribes. All bribes should be in the form of cookies or British Pound Sterling.

** Illustrators like me! Sara and I will be on hand to sign copies of our award and seal winning fashion book!

*** Is it illegal or just nosy that I know that Ann Teplick and I are often on the same Hold shelf at the library? Because she comes right after me alphabetically and I often wish I could take some of the books she puts on hold...