Books of Wonder signing

Yesterday I was invited to sign at Books of Wonder a 'Mecca' for children's literature. There were eight of us signing and for awhile there I thought we would outnumber the audience. It was a beautiful day in Manhattan. I had a chance to meet some lovely woman authors and illustrators. I had the pleasure to be placed between DIANE GOODE and GAIL SILVER . Diane has the a great sense of humor and the drawings she created for But I Wanted a Baby Brother manage to capture the humorous angst of a young boy who eagerly anticipates the idea of the arrival of a baby brother, but gets a sister instead. The ink drawings are whimsical and charming. KATE FEIFFER manages to capture the vernacular of a young boy so well.

It was a pleasant surprise to understand that CHRISTIANE KROMER is a Parsons Alum and I loved the treatment of the character she portrays as Anh's anger in the story that she and Gail Silver collaborated on by the same name; Anh’s Anger. She uses textured paper and mixed media to create the visceral feelings and emotion of anger. Gail is able to convey calm from her experience of techniques based on her yoga practice. Time went very quickly and I did not get to peruse all the books as well as I would have liked but from the general look of things and the descriptions presented I was in very good company: MAYA GOTTFRIED - Our Farm KELLY MURPHY - Over at the Castle SHERRY NORTH - Because I am Your and-Daddy .

It would have been wonderful to have Doug Wood in to partner in this. I am hoping I represented him well enough.

I was pleased to see a number of friends who I haven't seen in such a long time. I can't tell you what that means. It is a very unsettling feeling to think that you might be sitting behind a stack of books that no one would want to see or purchase. It is an awkward feeling, particularly since most of us, artists, have gone into this business because we express ourselves BEST on paper. To present takes a special set of skills that I am still honing. It is an out of body experience to be sure.

Thanks to the staff there, who were patient and generous with their help and encouraging smiles. Thank you Bill and Wynn for yet again, being there to support and chat.