Bravely Be You: Virtual Tour: Interview with 'One of Us' Illustrator Penny Weber, Review + Contest!

Hello, hello!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

It's been a busy week here on the site what with my one year blogoversary (with contest...have you entered?), and blog tour after blog tour...but admit it, you had fun, right?  (waits for nodding of head....ah, there it is...)  Prepare to have even MORE fun, starting......NOW!

Today's guest comes to us courtesy of Sarah at Tilbury House.  They are in the midst of preparing for the big New York event coming up next week....but never too busy to share news of great books coming your way.  The theme of this tour is "Bravely Be You".  What an empowering statement!  In their own words, this tour is "to not only honor girls and women who are doing inspiring things, but also to help readers find the courage and confidence to truly be who they are — to stand up for what they believe in, follow their passions, and not be afraid to go against the grain."  Well if that isn't an effort worth supporting, I don't know what is.  Since this post will contain not only a review, but also a great interview with the illustrator, special event details for their launch party, and contest information....I'll try to keep my ramblings short (hehe...yeah, I said "try"...)  The book of choice for today and virtual tour guest is....

One of Us

by

Peggy Moss

Illustrated by

Penny Weber

This is a story about one little girl trying to find her place in the world....in this case her world is a new school and we all know how FUN (read as scary, panic attack inducing, etc...) that can be.  Roberta James is a spirited child that is making her debut at Baker School two weeks after the start of the new year and just after moving to the neighborhood.  She approaches the first day with a small case of butterflies, but it's nothing she can't handle (strong girl!).  As she makes her way into class, she discovers many different groups of children collectively gathered due to their similarities.  There's the monkey loving crew (hangs out on the monkey bars and totes lunchboxes with monkey pictures on them), the fun hair girls, the flower lunchbox group....just to name a few.  So many to choose from...but what if you don't just fall into one category?  What if you and your interests are a blend of several?  Can Roberta sort through the kiddie hierarchy to find a place she belongs.....a place she can be claimed as "one of us"?

Okay...let's do a quick poll...how many of you have changed schools at least once in your life and been the new kid that knew no one at all?  (go ahead, raise your hand....no one can see except you and the screen....)  Now how many of you have felt out of place until you finally found a group of friends to call your own?  Yep, that's what I thought.  Most of us have been in Roberta's position, and it is not comfortable regardless of the age you were at the time.  I know in my experiences it was dreaded...hey, I was a shy child (still am to some degree...no smirking...really I am) and new situations with new people...not really my cup of tea.  The important factor here and one that is key to overcoming these situations in real life is that Roberta was brave enough to be herself.  She doesn't just squelch her other interests or change her appearance to suit the crowd.  She keeps moving, certain that she will find a place to call "home".  It's an admirable trait to be sure.

Aside from the wonderful story, this book is in fact a picture book and what makes it so?  The combination of the right words and fabulous illustrations.  This one in particular features the lovely artwork of illustrator Penny Weber.  The colors are strong and vibrant which each scene encompassing not only what the author speaks of but also little added touches of detail in larger unexpected scenes.  I was privileged enough to score an interview with this talented artist (thanks Sarah for the connect!), and pose a few questions of my own.  Here's what she had to say....

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Interview with Illustrator Penny Weber

I'm certainly not an art major, but I can definitely appreciate fine artistry. The illustrations in this book bring to mind the technique used by the likes of Van Gogh and other revered painters. What made you choose this style for your work?


I am certainly very happy to have a style compared to Vincent Van Gogh!  As I believe many artists will admit, my style just sort-of evolved and is still evolving everyday. I love to layer color and build textures and experiment with different techniques. I've gravitated to this style over the years and it feels very comfortable for me.


As an illustrator, a love of art is generally ingrained within your character. To whom do you look up to in this field?

This field is full of such wonderful illustrators that I admire.  I have been a huge fan of James Gurney of Dinotopia fame and I've studied his process and learned so much from him. The amazing David Wiesner and Brian Selznick are also favorites of mine. And of course I am a great admirer of Norman Rockwell, (who isn't!) because of his ability to capture emotion in the people he painted which is what I strive for. I am also lucky enough to be part of an fantastic critique group of children's illustrators who are a constant inspiration to me.



Creative minds often give a portion of themselves whenever they create something new. Is there a little of you within the characters we see in this book? Who would you most identify with?

What a great question! I definitely identify with Roberta. Peggy Moss wrote such a wonderful character that immediately reminded me of my school years. I thought of myself as a "floater" with many friends and interests although I believe Roberta was a bit braver than I was when it came to being herself. When creating her I definitely drew on my memories as a kid - I wore a lot of those striped shirts too!


The color palette used is in one word...whimsical. I love the variety and mixed feel of them all on the same page at once, definitely plays right into the story. What inspired you to make Roberta's world so colorful beyond the differences noted between the groups of children?

Color has always been my thing- I've tried limited palettes but it never quite works for me even though I love paintings and illustrations done in monotones or a few colors to create a certain mood. Like I said, all artists tend to evolve into their own style and mine is certainly centered around color, right now anyway. I loved how this story felt so alive and fun so the full color approach really seemed to work!



I noticed in your 'about me' information, you worked as a mural painter, greeting-card illustrator and portrait artist. Quite a career in the art world! When did you realize that this would be your calling?

I've always admired and desired to work in this industry. Many years ago I took a course at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan. I worked one-on-one with a wonderful illustrator Deb Desiax (The Girl Who Danced With Dolphins ). She was so encouraging and inspirational but I was newly married and starting my family at the time. Illustrating greeting cards and painting murals were something I found the time to do but as soon as my third child headed off to kindergarten three years ago I have gone into children's book illustration full force and I have never looked back! I still do illustrate cards and I am refining my portrait skills but there is nothing quite like bringing stories to life!



Random Thoughts...

When I was younger, I wanted to be.... an artist!
If I wasn't an illustrator, I would be.... a weather girl on TV.
When I'm not plying my trade, I can be found.... reading or watching movies and sports with my family.
My favorite color is.... bright red!

On my nightstand is.... a note book for mid-night inspirations, a novel assigned by my book club (this month it's The Bridge of San Louis Rey by Thornton Wilder), and a non-fiction self help book, (this time it's The Seven Steps to Fearless Speaking since I have to do start doing school presentations!)  Oh and I can't forget my cell phone which wakes me up at 3am some days because I can't wait to get to work. (I do usually take a nap and go to bed by 9pm.)

The best advice I can give to future illustrators-in-training is..... make the time to learn to draw first by filling up many sketch books and drawing everyday, this is so important! And don't give up! A cliche but true, don't let anyone tell you it's too hard because if I can do it anyone can!

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Thank you so much for the interview!  It was a pleasure "talking" to you...your answers are great.  Really, a weather girl?  Huh...interesting alternative choice there and the advice you gave for future illustrators is tried yes, but SO true!  Congratulations on your work in this publication and best wishes on your future endeavors!  For more information on her work both past and present, check out her site or her blog.  There is also a rather interesting piece on her illustration process for this book in particular so be sure to check it out (it's on her site).

One of Us is scheduled for release on June 1, 2010 (as of this post).  In the mean time, as a special for visitors to this virtual blog tour, anyone who visits Choosey Chicks during the tour (May 17 - June 1) and enters the code "one of us" will receive 20% off their purchase of beautiful, inspiring shirts for women!  (Chance for more shopping AND a discount...YAY!)

Special thanks to Sarah at Tilbury House for the opportunity to participate in this great tour and the ARC for review.  (THANK YOU)  For more information on this title and more, visit their site or follow along on Twitter.  For those that will be in the New York area for the BEA events, you may be interested to know that Tilbury House is throwing a huge launch event.....Powered by Girl/One of Us Launch Reception.  It is taking place Monday, May 24th from 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM.  You'll have a chance to meet the authors, illustrators, listen to key speakers and meet Sarah, herself!  Last day to purchase your tickets to this event is tomorrow, May 22nd so if you're interested click here to find out more, check out the new flyer from Tilbury House here!  (...and of course, if you attend, be sure to stop back through and let me all the details!)

Until next time....happy.....HA!  GOTCHA!  I bet you thought I forgot about the contest, right?  Nope...here comes the info right now!  The lovely folks at Tilbury House are celebrating this virtual tour with a giveaway to delight readers of all ages.  Here's the scoop: 

Chance to win:

- A copy of One of Us, signed by author Peggy Moss and illustrator Penny Weber (5 available)

- A signed print of artwork by illustrator Penny Weber

- A shirt from the empowering t-shirt company Pigtail Pals

To enter:

1. Leave a comment on a participating blog post during the tour (May 17 - June 1)...including this one...

2. Spread the word about the tour on Twitter using the hashtag #bravelybeyou

To get you started on your way....a few stops along this tour....

05/20:  BriMeetsBooks:  Interview with YA author Carrie Jones

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05/22:  Miss Trimble's Trap Door:  New Crossword Puzzle on inspiring women

05/22:  Huck Hill Press:  Excerpt from Women Who Could...And Did

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Alrighty, enough from me...it' time to set you free!  Back into the bookish world you go.  Remember, spread the word for your chance to win as well as for the shear sake of supporting a great message....

Until next time...happy reading!

Special Moments: Under the Night Sky by Amy Lundebrek

Hello everyone!  Welcome back to another post here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.  If you are a new visitor....welcome!  Kick back and stay awhile!  If you are a returning member, well you know the fun we have in store, but feel free to spread the joy around.

I was honestly trying to wait to review this one until winter or at least the Christmas holidays, but it's just been calling to me....~~~you read me a while ago now....you need to review meeeeee....if not I will keep calling to you in this voice......ooohhhhhoooohhhh~~~  Did you hear something?  Uh, me neither...anywho....today's pick is one for readers of all ages.  It shares the magic of....oh, wait....let me instroduce the book before I get into that.  Today's book of choice is....

Under the Night Sky
by
Amy Lundebrek

This is the story that rings true in so many households today.  A single mother working off hours to support her child.  A community filled with hustle and bustle, so focus on their own individual lives as they try to survive the unending rat race that they miss out on the simple pleasures that surround them....almost.  You see with lives as filled as these, time schedules and routines are a must.  One night, a young boy's mother breaks away from that routine to experience the beauty and majesty of the aurora borealis with him....in turn creating a memory that will last a lifetime.

Coming from a single parent home, I definitely identify with the child at the center of this story.  Mom always did her best, but without the fine-tuned routine, chaosis was soon to follow.  There were days she would start really early and have to drop me off at school that much earlier just to make it in time, and then there were weekends where I would go with her while she worked her remaining hours (that free time allowed for Casey Casem Top 40 listening and...reading, of course!).  Single parents as frowned upon by some, but I'd say that they are some of the most valiant and love filled individuals in this world.  They take the issues normally faced by two parents and handle them as one, driven by their love of their children. 

Memorable moments can be hard to create in such a dwelling, but come they do at the least expected times.  The mother in this story chooses to take a few minutes from their otherwise scheduled day to make one of these moments come to pass.  Mother Naure provides the exhibit, while she and the neighborhood, provide the audience.  It really presents a feeling of community spirit when everyone regardless of race, status, or age comes together to watch the light show in silent awe.

Marketed as a children's picture book, the illustrations by Anna Rich are reminiscent of the charcoal drawings one might have made in high school, only with more detail of course. The colors used to complete the effect seem to be drawn from the northern lights themselves.  It's as if they took a sampling of the magnificent lights and somehow convinced them to stay on the pages of the book to be shared with readers around the globe.  Truly amazing...

Review copy received courtesy of Sarah at Tilbury House. (THANKS!) To view their available titles, check out their website or follow them on Twitter.

Until next time....happy reading!

Book Blog Tour: Bear-ly There by Rebekah Raye

Hello, there everyone!  Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  I hope that you enjoy your visit today (and everyday) and if you have any questions, comments, or feedback...feel free to share! 

You've chose an exciting day to stop by indeed as we are playing host for our second Book Blog Tour of the month (and of the life of this blog thus far!  Yay!).  Exciting, isn't it?  But WAIT....there's more!  Today will be a first indeed as along with the fabulous info imparted, YOU will HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN PRIZES!  That's right....our very FIRST contest! (*~*happy dance*~*)  So without further ado, allow me to introduce our "post guest" of the day.  It is a children's book dealing with nature, our relationship with it, and a story of both forward thinking and wonder.  Today's Book Blog Tour star is....

Bear-ly There

by

Rebekah Raye

This is the story of being in the wrong place at the right time. (Confused?  Keep reading...) We start out with a beautiful black bear awakening from it's slumber after a long winter's nap.  The first thing on his mind?  MUST FIND FOOD! (Can you blame him?  Would you last months without eating...I think not...)  In his search for something delicious he happens upon an easily accessable stash of seeds ripe for the taking.  The problem?  They are in located outside a house that happens to be both occupied and in a residential area!  Needless to say the neighbors do not take so kindly to this perceived intruder and suggest a myriad of ways to handle the situation (some less gruesome than others).  The one person to solve the problem is the one person few would listen too....a young boy named Charlie.  Charlie happens to live in the house that the bear visited and despite the fact that his pet geese were in dangerously close proximity to this unexpected guest, he is the one that comes up with a plan to solve this problem as well as the underlying "elephant in the room"....human behavior.  Take a walk with both Nature and mankind on this incredible story that will touch both your heart and your mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebekah Raye is an artist beloved for her bird and animal paintings and sculpture. Her warm, expressive work is derived from her affinity with the natural world around her at her studio and home in East Blue Hill, Maine (where she had a bear visitor not too long ago). She illustrated Thanks to the Animals by Allen Sockabasin and is the author and illustrator of The Very Best Bed. Rebekah shares her love of art and her skills in workshops for adults and children and makes frequent school visits.

When first invited to join this Book Tour, I was very flattered.  At the time, it was the only one planned (albeit I had another join up for a visit 2 weeks before this one....but Sarah from Tilbury House was truly the first one to make contact...THANKS!), so beyond the fact that the story sounded cute, I was really excited!  After receiving and reading the ARC sent, I was more than happy I joined.  The story is sweet and informative at the same time.  You really learn about natural bear activites as well as ways to avoid them coming to your neck of the woods (i.e. your front yard) without causing them any harm.  In fact, it helps them to stay within their natural habitat and not become classified as a nuisance to populated areas...a problem that is seen more frequently as we spread out into previously nature driven locations.

That being said, I do want to take a moment to mention how beautiful the pictures are.  There is one photo that you are right in the bear's face (muzzle?) and it's big brown eyes are looking right at you...it's so cute!  Each one is detailed and tailored to fit the point of the story it is displayed at perfectly.  One of my favorites is when the bear initially wakes up and stands tall to scratch his back on a tree.  The bear is pictured doing this, but his woodland friends are right there in the background too....a squirrel, fox, and owl are all peeking out of the page just off center.  It really pairs wonderfully with the tale. 

In preparation for this stop on the tour, I was offered the chance to post a special feature of my choosing.  (Oh, how I love creative freedom!)  After thinking long and hard (okay, somewhat long, but definitely hard), I thought...why not ask what I'm almost certain my readers will be thinking when they read about this book?  So, here it is....the answer straight from the author herself!

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What was your inspiration for writing this book?

Last summer I had made an appointment with Tilbury (House) to come in and discuss some new concepts and ideas I had about another book. I had a couple of ideas that I really liked. The very night before my meeting we had an incredible first time Black Bear visit in the moonlight just at dawn in our backyard that was both exciting and frightening. I went into my meeting with Jennifer Bunting, Audrey Maynard, and Karen Fiske. I felt very comfortable talking to them about my new ideas, but was still bubbling over with excitement about the bear visit that it seemed to be prominent in our conversation. They were quiet as they listened to all of my story summaries. Then after a pause, they thought we should do the story of the bear visit. I felt so unsure how I would make a story beyond the event of that evening he visited us. Then after a while, and encouraging calls from Audrey and Jennifer, it became clear to pose a position from the bear’s point of view. My research about bears habitat, food, and family life consumed me. Then I put myself in a 8ish year old boy’s body and included the very animals I have and love, keeping it based on a true story.

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Thanks for that wonderful insight!  I myself had a brief encounter with a black bear when I was younger.  We lived in the mountains at the time and I was standing out waiting for the school bus.  This BIG black bear comes out of the trees right across the street from where I was and starts lumbering across the street.  It was maybe 15 - 20 feet from me....we were basically separated by a row of hedges.  Needless to say...yup, that's about as close as I want to get to a bear in the wild.  Beautiful creatures, but they need their space too!

Now our site was merely the 7th stop on their whirlwind tour.  It runs from October 15th straight through October 30th.  The next stop will be tomorrow over at On My Bookshelf, so be sure to stop by and check it out...you never know what you'll find at each stop, but it's sure fun finding out! With that said, I believe I will close this post out....HA!  Gotcha!  You didn't think I'd run out and forget about the AMAZING contest, did ya?  (If you did...for shame...)  There are not one but TWO amazing contests running in association with this tour.....and they are as follows: 

Option 1:  On Twitter...

Everyone that participates in the Twitter Book Party, and/or posts anything about the tour using the hashtag #BearlyThere from October 15th through the 30th, will be entered to win  a complete set of Bear-ly There, Thanks to the Animals, and The Very Best Bad books, all SIGNED by Rebekah Raye!

*Winners will be announced on October 31st.  U.S./Canada addresses only, please.

Option 2:  On the Blog Tour!

Do you love animals?  Ever encountered a bear?  Leave your comments on these questions, the tour, and/or the entire post for your chance to win big!  NINE lucky winners will be drawn from all of those who leave comments on the participating tour posts from (October 16-30) to win one of the following prizes:

• A set of four art cards (2 sets available)
• A signed wildlife art print
• An original sketch from Bear-ly There
• An original sketch from The Very Best Bed
• An original sketch from Thanks to the Animals
• A copy of Bear-ly There, The Very Best Bed, or Thanks to the Animals, signed by Rebekah Raye

**Winners will be announced on October 31st.  U.S./Canada addresses only, please.

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Many will enter....many will win!  (sorry, I always wanted to say that...yay for contests and great books!)  I hope you enjoyed the second book tour to grace our fair blog site and be sure to enter the contest!  Both the author (Rebekah Raye) and the publishing house (Tilbury House) are reachable through Twitter (again, who isn't?), so feel free to drop them a line (or technically a 140 character of less post, but you know what I mean).

Until next time....happy reading!

Do You Know...: The Mushroom Man by Ethel Pochocki

Welcome back to another exciting week here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  Loads of stuff going on, just going to mention one or two.....this Thursday we have our very first Virtual Book Blog Tour making this it's home for stop number three on their journey...read a little more about the who and what in the MARK YOUR CALENDER sidebar entry.  Approximately two weeks later, we have another great tour coming through, albeit a different genre of book entirely, but hey, that's why you love the blog, right?  ALSO, sometime during the month (can't say when as it's still in the air at the time this post was written), we are going to have not only a guest post from a popular YA author whose new book is surely one you'll want to add to YOUR "possesions" (*hint*hint*), but an AWESOME giveaway courtesy of this same author!  (YAY!  My first giveaway!  Whoo-HOO!) Oh, and did I mention that it will be open internationally? (Go ahead, jump for joy all of you readers that reside outside of the US and Canada.  I'll wait..... **jeopardy theme music**...done yet?  Good!)  So much to do, so little time, and oh SO MUCH FUN! 

Anywho, let's get back to the post at hand....today's pick came to my attention after winning a contest over at BriMeetsBooks.  You see, the title I won was Travels with Tarra (a wonderful book about an elephant that can roller-skate among other things...I reviewed it during a previous post), one of many picture books published by the folks at Tilbury House, Publishers.  Several of their titles are rather intriguing, however two in particular caught my eye.  Through their wonderful generosity, I was able to receive a copy of both said books (okay, not really "said", I'm going to leave you in suspense on one title, while revealing the other...) and here is post number one!  Today's choice is....

The Mushroom Man
by
Ethel Pochocki

Sorry, I couldn't resist the play on words of the children's song in my blog post title.  (For those that didn't recognize it, I'm referencing the children's classic "Do You Know the Muffin Man?")  It just made me smile thinking of it and since this is actually a children's storybook, it fit perfectly!  (Hey, there...no running off just because it's a storybook...they are not like Trix cereal you know!  Silly rabbits, they're for all ages!  Oops, there I go again with the nostalgic references....back to the book!)

This is the story of the lonely Mushroom Man.  (Okay, so you gathered that much from the title...keep reading...)  He is named as such not only for the work he does (he "mines" for the tasty little fungi in the dark), but his appearance (you may look a bit pasty too if the majority of your awake time was spent bathe only in the moon's soft glow).  Needless to say when one resembles a bulbous headed mushroom with legs, the children in the surrounding community are probably not going to be that kind.  Although accepting of his way of life, he finds himself longing for companionship.  What pet would make a good match for someone with a lifestyle such as his though?  After considering his options and experiencing the fowl taste of losing a friend, one is bestowed upon him in an unthinkable, yet highly appropriate form...a mole!  Now moles and humans are not exactly known for being the best of friends, and this one in particular harbors some ill feelings which are definitely warranted considering his past experience.  Can these two strangers look past the surface to find the warm glow of true friendship within?

Honestly, what caught my eye about this story was the unusual name.  I read it and just had to find out what the story was all about!  After happily reading and shelving my very own copy, I couldn't wait to share this review.  Although the book is short (it is a picture/storybook after all), the message within rings out loud and clear.  You can't judge a book by it's cover just as you can't judge a person solely on the way they look.  How many wonderful friendships would we miss out on if we took everything at face value only? Along with this age old message, readers are also taught a few things along the way in regards to the traits and habits of moles....an unexpected plus!  Last but not least, this being a picture book of sorts, I must make mention to them.  While beautiful in style (almost painting-like) and tone (kept with natural colors), I wasn't a huge fan of some of the full frontal character faces (kind of on the "rough" side...but they do make you wonder what the kids were making fun of when they had their own issues!).

Special thanks to Sarah at Tilbury House, Publishers for the review copy!  (THANK YOU!)  For more information, definitely check out the portion of their site highlighting this delightful tale.

COMMENT CREATOR
It looks like we've stumbled across another one dealing with pets.  If you have pets currently or have had any in the past, I'm sure it would be hard to pick your favorite.  Instead of placing that label on one of them (hey, you might make the others jealous!), I want you to dig within your memory bank and share one of your fondest memories of time spent with them.

For mine...there are so many to choose from...I'd say one of them would just be relaxing with my longest-had (although not eldest) poochie, Brittany.  She would lay across the foot of my bed and we'd watch TV together...me resting my head on her middle.  It was great fun....(only said in the past tense since she prefers the WHOLE bed now.)  =0)

Feel free to leave your comments and feedback!
Until next time...happy reading!