Julia Sarcone-Roach

"In support of Libraries, books, words, ideas and those places that house our treasures..."

2011-11-30T22:23:00.000-05:00

- from a tag accompanying a mysterious and beautiful paper sculpture found in the National Museum of Scotland.

The note was attached to a copy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World that this T-Rex is bursting through (his tail pokes through the other side of the spine of the book!) This was one of ten sculptures in all, left anonymously in libraries and museums in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In mid-november a clue in library guest book first pointed the way to a small pair of gloves and a feathered hat, all made of paper at the Scottish Poetry Library.

a close up of the hat feathers made of book pages

Then came a "Poetree", found sitting on a table in the same library, with an eggshell filled with strips that when properly assembled, became a poem about birds, "A Trace of Wings" by Edwin Morgan.

These were made as a token of thanks by an unknown woman, celebrating the importance of libraries, books, words, and ideas. The sculptures are fantastic. And it's such a beautiful and inspiring project!

Discover the full story and see more of her fantastic creations, read the NPR articles here and here. And for the source of these (and more) photos, check out Central Station Blog's post here.

Transit Museum Event!

2011-11-28T23:22:00.002-05:00

I'm really excited to be doing a very special event at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn this Saturday. I'll be reading 'Subway Story' inside the subway train car where I first heard the true story that inspired it!
If you haven't been to the Transit Museum yet, it's an amazing place. The turnstiles alone can keep me endlessly occupied...

Train fans, New York fans, picture book fans - Please join me for a very special event!

Here's what Lee Magill of Time Out New York Kids has to say about the event:

"It's not every day that a visit to a museum inspires an undertaking as enormous as writing, illustrating and publishing a picture book, but that's just what happened to Julia Sarcone-Roach at the New York Transit Museum. It was there she learned about the subway car recycling program that sparked her Subway Story (Knopf, $17; ages 5 to 9), a tale about a 1960s-era MTA car named Jessie who flourishes as the newest and brightest train in the fleet, is abandoned in a railyard after decades of service, then begins life anew on the bottom of the ocean as a manmade reef in which shellfish, coral and fish slowly take up residence. Author-illustrator Sarcone-Roach's colorful, evocative images draw out the magic in the already remarkable true story... as though she'd dreamt the tale up herself. It's fitting that the artist is returning to the museum to share her book with her intended audience: adventurous kids with a passion for trains and serious love for the environment."

Thanks Lee!

So please come for the story, and stay for the turnstiles!

all ages welcome

More information on the Transit Museum is here.
Corner of Boerum Pl and Schermerhorn St.

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast!

2011-11-25T19:26:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful visit with Jules over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast - one of my absolute favorite blogs! Read her thoughts on my books and learn more about the making of Subway Story and some secrets of the Secret Plan here.
(Find out what Rosalind Russell has in common with a Morse code obsessed kitten...)

A Family of Readers

2011-11-15T17:14:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday, Roger Sutton and Martha Parravano, Editors of the Horn Book Magazine discussed their book, A Family of Readers at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA. They also introduced "new books from 2011 that they found exceptional and wished they could add to their 2010 book as excellent examples each genre and reading level."

I'm honored to report that Subway Story was included on this list! About Subway Story they said:

"Reminiscent of classic Virginia Lee Burton, this story of a subway car turned into a reef is a fresh, innovative way to approach nonfiction. While the story is factual, the subway car talks with a personality of it own, creating an accessible and entertaining blend of fiction and nonfiction."

There's Jessie, in a crowd of great books!

Thanks to Roger Sutton and Martha Parravano! More on their list of 2011 books here.

Come hear Subway Story this weekend in New York!

2011-11-15T16:31:00.000-05:00

This Saturday, November 19th, I'll be reading at the New York Book Fair at noon at the Goddard Riverside Community Center (593 Columbus Ave., New York, NY- at 88th St.) I'm also looking forward to hearing Selina Alko read from her great new book, Everyday Dress-Up at the festival too!

Proceeds from the Book Fair support Goddard Riverside Community Center, which provide services annually to 17,600 people from Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Harlem. The agency manages 600 units of affordable housing. It advocates for justice and enriches community life with recreational, cultural and arts activities. More information about the book festival can be found here.

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Also, this Sunday, November 20th at 11 am, I'll be reading and signing Subway Story as part of an event with my friend Meghan McCarthy, who will be reading from her new book, Balto, at BookCourt in Brooklyn. (163 Court St Brooklyn, New York) Please stop by and say hello!

Wow!

2011-11-15T16:30:00.000-05:00

Release Party at Hooray For Books!

2011-11-15T16:22:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, I was delighted to return to Hooray For Books in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia to celebrate the release of Subway Story. Thanks to all my friends and family who came out to support me. It was great to see some familiar faces! And to my Mom who provided many delicious treats and Adam, for the cake collaboration.

Many thanks to Meghan, Megan, Patrick and Trish at Hooray For Books for such a great event, and I look forward to returning soon!

Jessie in cake form.

Beautiful cookies from Mother's Macaroons, thanks to my own mom!

Some enthusiastic audience members helped me spot Milo's sneaky feet in The Secret Plan.

It's hard to hide an elephant in a cats' house!


Author and friend Marc Tyler Nobleman stopped by!

Thanks to Mitchell Schneider and Adam Kesner for the photos.

Big Weekend for Subway Story

2011-11-11T11:00:00.001-05:00

On Saturday I'll be celebrating Subway Story with an event at Hooray For Books in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia at 2pm. Join me for a reading, signing, and refreshments!

And this Sunday, Pete Hamill's wonderful review of Subway Story will be in the New York Times Book Section here. The article is great, and I'm honored and humbled by the kind words from such an amazing New York author.

The picture above accompanies the article, and is actually a self-portrait of my boyfriend Adam and I. I was painting this page as we were baking a wedding cake for a friend. (Incidentally, he and I will be carrying cake down to Virginia from Brooklyn for the Hooray for Books event.) I had such a delightful time when I was there last for The Secret Plan release party, I'm looking forward to returning and hope to see some familiar faces tomorrow!

Please come for books, and stay for cake!

Common Frog Cure

2011-11-07T23:15:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when I'm having trouble figuring something out in a project, I take a time out and just paint. And then I become unstuck.

So, here are some nice hibernating frogs:

Questions for a Subway Conductor

2011-10-16T13:20:00.000-04:00

For anyone curious about what operating a modern subway car is like - there's an interesting interview with a subway conductor in Gothamist. The full interview is on Reddit here, including a true story about a man who would serially impersonate subway conductors so that he could sneak on and drive the train!

Holy Smokes!

2011-10-11T16:15:00.000-04:00

Subway Story received a wonderful starred review in the Horn Book!

"Sarcone-Roach displays a discipline not always seen in books about the environment; she allows her theme of reuse and recycling to emerge naturally from a fine story and lets readers draw their own conclusions without adding a heavy-handed one of her own. Here youngsters meet Jessie, a subway car that begins service during the 1964 New York World’s Fair and contentedly operates for approximately fifty years before she is dismantled. Jessie and other cars like her are hauled out to sea and, in a small scary moment (which is quickly resolved), dumped into the ocean. There she happily resides as an artificial reef that’s home to myriad sea animals. Illustrations, unexpectedly cozy-looking, emphasize the story’s tone. Structurally and artistically, the book recalls Virginia Lee Burton’s The Little House (rev. 11/42) (“Over the years, Jessie saw the city change, and she had some changes of her own”): Jessie’s half-century of traveling the city is depicted through a series of curved routes much like the streets and roads that close in on the Little House with the passage of time. Front end pages trace Jessie’s original underground route; final ones show a peaceful, blue ocean where she now rests. An author’s note describing the science behind similar projects and a bibliography conclude the book. - Betty Carter"

I'm grateful for this thoughtful appreciation of Subway Story by the Horn Book. The observations about details like the endpapers and the Virginia Lee Burton parallels make me especially happy. She's been a lifelong inspiration for me, and The Little House is one of my favorite picture books.

Here's a picture of my desk as I was beginning to develop early character sketches for Subway Story, complete with breakfast brownie, coffee and copy of Katy and the Big Snow. (Don't those snow drifts on the cover look a little like waves?)

Many thanks to Betty Carter and the Horn Book!

Upcoming Events

2011-10-11T11:15:00.000-04:00

There are some exciting events ahead for Subway Story. Please join me if you can!

Community Bookstore - Sunday, October 16th at 11am - I'll be reading and signing Subway Story in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY.

Boulevard Books and Cafe - Saturday, October 22nd at 11am - Come join me as I read and sign Subway Story in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY. $20 Includes signed copy of the book, storytime and activity!

Hooray For Books - Saturday, November 12th - I'm delighted to be returning to Old Town, Alexandria, VA for a VA/DC Book Release Event for Subway Story. There will be snacks!

BookCourt - Sunday, November 20th - I'll be reading and signing Subway Story at an event in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn with Meghan McCarthy, who will be presenting her book, The Incredible Life of Balto.

Stay tuned for more events!

Book Release Day!

2011-10-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the official release date for Subway Story, and in Jessie's honor, here's a great ad from 1964 for the brand new R33 subway trains:

Subway Story at PowerHouse Books!

2011-10-08T00:03:00.000-04:00

This Sunday, October 9th at 4pm - I'll be reading and signing Subway Story, two days before it's officially released at an event at powerHouse books in DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY! See Subway Story early and be the envy of your friends and neighbors!
I'll be there with authors Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter who will be presenting their delightful book 11 Experiments That Failed. And Meghan McCarthy will also be reading and signing her great new book, The Incredible Life of Balto. She will also be raffling off some original drawings at the event.

Here's the first glimpse of Subway Story in powerHouse's window!

Thanks to Jesse Zryb for the photo.

Subway Story Reviews

2011-10-01T20:49:00.000-04:00

Subway Story has received some very nice early reviews -

from Kirkus:

Jessie weighs 75,122 pounds and is a beautiful, brand-new subway car.
She was brought to New York in the early 1960s for the World’s Fair, and she loves traveling all over the city. She speeds around curves and ducks under rivers. When musicians practice on board, she accompanies them with deep rumbles and toe-tapping clacks. Over the years, there are many changes, but Jessie never forgets her most important job—helping people travel safely. Until one season, sleek, shiny new silver trains start taking over the tracks. A downcast Jessie sits in a dusty yard, poignantly wondering about the people she had carried. “Did they notice she was gone?” Thankfully, her adventure doesn’t end there. She is taken to the Atlantic and sunk to become an artificial reef, home to many barnacles, coral and fish. Sarcone-Roach cleverly brings the story full circle: Jessie was once an integral part of a bustling city, and now a whole city lives inside of her. With sprawling landscapes and vast underground tunnels as a backdrop, readers will cheer Jessie’s story of revival. The author's acrylics gently anthropomorphize Jessie, giving her headlight-eyes and a winsome smile.
Immensely readable and surprisingly touching, this large heft of metal totes a lot of charm. (author’s note, bibliography, further reading) (Picture book. 3-6)

from School Library Journal:

This story of “Jessie,” a subway car built in the early 1960s, was inspired by the author’s trip to the New York Transit Museum and is a lovely tribute to the city and its boroughs. Told in a clever biographical format, the story begins with Jessie’s “birth” details: weight, length, etc. The shiny, new car takes her responsibilities seriously as she safely carries children to school, adults to work, and friends and family members to visit one another. As the decades pass, Jessie delivers visitors to the 1964 World’s Fair in Queens, is covered in graffiti, then painted red, repaired, and refurbished, including air-conditioning to replace outdated fans. Eventually, she is retired and becomes part of an artificial reef in the Atlantic Ocean, where she assumes her new job. The expressive acrylic illustrations set the tone and give the story depth. The features on the front of the subway car are used to make Jessie’s eyes, nose, and mouth. An author’s note gives details about the history of subway cars around the world. This title will be appreciated by train buffs and those curious about the history of New York City.
–Anne Beier, Clifton Public Library, NJ

Thanks to Anne Beier, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews!

30 Minutes Over Oregon

2011-09-27T14:15:00.000-04:00

Author and friend, Marc Tyler Nobleman has written a great non-fiction picture book manuscript which has received some great responses from teachers, kids and editors, but has yet to be acquired by a publisher. Marc approached some illustrator friends (including me) to design mock covers for the manuscript.

Here's his description of the story:

"Thirty Minutes Over Oregon

Hiroshima. Dresden. London. Brookings?

Americans know the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as one of the most infamous events of WWII. However, few on either side know that the next year, the Japanese also bombed mainland America—twice. Navy pilot Nobuo Fujita launched his two-seater seaplane off a submarine and hit the woods outside tiny Brookings, Oregon. He was the first (and still only) wartime enemy to complete an aerial attack on American soil.

None were hurt, but all involved were changed. Twenty years later, amid a blaze of controversy, Brookings invited Nobuo back. Though nervous, he felt an obligation to say yes. He brought his family's 400-year-old samurai sword, the same he had taken on every war mission. Always a man of honor and now a man of peace, he planned to gift it to the town. He would be devastated if his onetime targets did not forgive him..."

Below are some notes and sketches I did after reading the manuscript. To see the cover that I designed, along with all the great covers, feedback, and comments, check out Marc's post about the project here.

Any day that I get to put a majorette hat on a raccoon...

2011-09-13T16:58:00.000-04:00

is a GREAT day.

A sketch for an upcoming illustration.

Meet Jessie!

2011-09-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

My new book, Subway Story will be coming out October 11th!
From Random House:

"Never was there a subway car who loved her job more than Jessie. From morning to night she carried all sorts of people all sorts of places—to work and school and World's Fairs, over bridges and through tunnels—sometimes she even took a pigeon along for the ride! But as time passed, sleek new silver cars began to take over the tracks, banishing Jessie to an abandoned lot. What will she do with no passengers to carry? And where will she go now that she's no longer welcome on the tracks?

Based on the true story of 1960's-era subway cars that are now being used to create artificial reefs in the Atlantic, this stunningly illustrated second book from Julia Sarcone-Roach is sure to delight scuba diving historians and kids alike."

Preorder it here!

Batten and Hatch

2011-08-30T00:13:00.000-04:00

The day before Hurricane Irene was set to blow through New York, we found two more Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the anise plant in the yard, and brought them inside. They were named Batten and Hatch.
As the rain came down in fits and spurts and heavy winds whipped the trees outside, Batten, the largest one, went calmly about turning into a chrysalis while Hatch watched, and I drew. Here's our hurricane day:

Japanese Prints

2011-08-25T15:30:00.000-04:00

I've been drawing some Japanese prints lately in the sketchbook for a extracurricular project. The pictures bled between the pages a bit, as the sketchbook and I received a good soaking in a downpour. It was a week before we both dried out and one of us ended up all warped and wrinkly.

(I Heart) We Heart Books Online

2011-08-19T21:35:00.000-04:00

Here's an old picture to celebrate a nice new review. This was the view of my desk while I was working on a page of The Secret Plan, and my helpful cat model, Holly.

Here is a wonderful review of The Secret Plan by We Heart Books Online from Melbourne, Australia:

"Bedtime always gets in the way of the fun stuff!

Milo, a baby elephant and his kitten friends Henry, Harriet and Hildy love to play but mum saying 'Bedtime' always ruins their games. 'Bedtime! Had to be stopped!'

They need a plan - a secret plan to overcome bedtime and play all night. They try hiding, going undercover, blending in and sneaking out but are foiled by clever mum at every turn. Then they remember a certain pair of furry monster feet and Milo quietly makes a break for the attic to meet up with the kittens. 'It was the perfect late-night no-bedtime-ever hideout'

After some play and a late night feast however everyone starts to get a little drowsy - perhaps it's not such a good idea to stay up late after all?

Time to hatch a new secret plan - after a little rest!

This beautiful playful picture book is the perfect bedtime read. It's funny and engaging as well as ending on the best note of everyone falling asleep dreaming of the day ahead.

Julia Sarcone-Roach's amazing acrylic illustrations are vivid and intricate. She includes cross sections of the house showing the characters moving around carrying out their various plans and the delightful end papers are blue prints of the town house - designed by 'House by Mouse'.

There are many picture books about children avoiding bedtime but none as clever and funny as this one. The illustrations are warm and snug, enveloping you like a big quilt. The illustrations and the text fit perfectly making this a comforting bedtime story that I have no doubt will become a classic."

Thank you, We Heart Books Online, for the kind and thoughtful review!

Butterfly Birthday

2011-08-03T15:55:00.000-04:00

There's a little spot of garden that I help keep up with some neighbors. Recently, our parsley had been mysteriously disappearing.

After several days of patience, the parsley thief was caught in the act.

It was a Black Swallowtail caterpillar (also known as a "Parsley Worm" or "BS cat" to those hip to caterpillar slang.) This is the caterpillar stage of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Here are a few sketchbook drawings of our BS cat (named Lieutenant Pinkerton) who ate a small forest of parsley before turning into a chrysalis inside a pickle jar in the studio.

And here is the Lieutenant right after turning into a butterfly:

(Photo thanks to Adam Kesner.)

Both male and female Black Swallowtails look identical as caterpillars, and it isn't until they reach the butterfly state that their sex is revealed. The deep blue spots on the wings reveal that the Lieutenant was a lady!

Moments after this photo was taken, she was released and fluttered off into Greenwood Cemetery.

Morse, the Man and the Code.

2011-07-30T13:36:00.000-04:00

As far as I know, The Secret Plan is the only picture book about bedtime that heavily features kittens communicating using Morse code.
What I didn't know was that Samuel F. B. Morse, the man who invented the telegraph, as well as the Code, was a painter before he turned to inventing. I saw one of his most famous works, Gallery of the Louvre at the National Gallery in Washington, DC.

Here's a visual way to remember the Morse alphabet (based on A.G. Reingold's chart.)
Useful when plotting your next sleepover.

For those more curious about Morse and his code:

A short biography of Morse is here.

There's also an interesting article from the New York Times here about a recent event called the Night of Nights, when the air was once again filled with "the music of Morse." (The article was also my first introduction to the term "radio squirrel.")

Lucca Night

2011-07-18T15:04:00.000-04:00

A painting from the sketchbook.

Penny Arcade Cameo

2011-07-15T13:11:00.000-04:00

Penny Arcade is one of the most popular and longest running webcomics about video games and video game culture, written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. Besides the comic, the Penny Arcade guys have also created games, books, podcasts, a gaming convention and a reality show based on their adventures.

I'm lucky to have two eagle-eyed, Penny Arcade fans in the family. My cousin Jon Stauder and his wife Heidi were watching the deleted scenes on the Penny Arcade: The Series - Season 1 DVD, and happened to spot The Secret Plan on a table in the foreground! Heidi is an elementary school teacher and has used the book in her classes, recognized it immediately and leapt up and started pointing at the screen and yelling! Jon emailed me and I was surprised and proud.

Here is Jerry Holkins (aka Tycho) and The Secret Plan:

I was also very excited to learn about another of Penny Arcade's endeavors, Child's Play, a charity founded in 2003 that has raised over 7 million dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children’s hospitals across North America and the world. The issue of children, (and their families) dealing with hospitalization is one that hits home for me. To learn more about the organization or to make a donation, check out their site.

At Last...

2011-06-01T15:55:00.000-04:00

I've managed to combine my love of terrible puns with my enthusiasm for art history. Please enjoy the cheeky baptistry.

They Don't Let You Have Bees In Here...

2011-05-10T16:15:00.000-04:00

Some bee and wasp drawings and Carl Sandburg poems from the sketchbook.

Water Tower Rocket Mural!

2011-05-01T15:15:00.000-04:00

Recently I got to join an enthusiastic crew to help paint a mural on the side of M.S. 131 Dr. Sun Yat Sen School, here in Chinatown. "Blast Off" was designed by my friend Shana Siegel, Eve Biddle, and Joshua Frankel for New York Cares.

For more information and superior pictures, here are Shana and Joshua's posts about the mural.
Here's a great time lapse film of the project:

Blast Off from Tom Starkweather on Vimeo.

In addition to being an excellent painter, designer, and photographer, Shana's talents also extend to creating fantastic tiny sofas for cats. Check out her Etsy store, The Upholstered Puss.

Istrice

2011-04-18T14:32:00.000-04:00

from the sketchbook.

Come see "Call of the Wild" this weekend in Brooklyn!

2011-04-11T21:27:00.000-04:00

My short animated film, "Call of the Wild" will be playing in the "FREE Short Films for Kids in Park Slope" show, part of the Rooftop Films 2011 Summer Series this Saturday, April 16th at 3pm at M.S. 51 in Park Slope (350 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn.) Rooftop Films is a great program that I'm happy to have been connected to since 2003! Check out this year's lineup and learn more about the film festival, here.

From an article in the Park Slope Patch by Kristen V. Brown about this event:

"Film buffs both young and old are in for a treat this weekend.

On Saturday, Rooftop Films and the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District will host a pair of screenings – one for the younger set of cinema addicts, the other for adults – at M.S. 51 on Fifth Avenue.

The summer film series, known for screening new, independent films in unique outdoor locations across the city, will start off at 3 p.m. with a special screening of short films for kids, featuring fun and family-friendly shorts from all over the world. The films will range from nutty animation featuring knights, robots, monkeys, and people made of sand to live action shorts about ping-pong.

"Most of our shows run too late or just aren’t quite age-appropriate for younger audiences. So we wanted to present special shows that people in this area could attend as a family,"

For the grown-ups, starting at 7 p.m. Rooftop will preview a handpicked selection of shorts the program will screen in the 2011 Summer Series.

Both events are free and open to everyone. This is the program’s 15th year in operation.

"Part of our mission is to work with and engage the local communities where we screen our films, and this is especially true for Park Slope, it being the neighborhood we call home," said Lela Scott MacNeil, Outreach Manager for Rooftop Films."

Here's an early sketch for the scene from "Call of the Wild" that was hailed as 'the best square-dancing bat sequence in the history of cinema', by the Cinematexas Film Festival!

Bookshelves

2011-04-06T19:52:00.000-04:00

Here are my bookshelves as part of
Meghan McCarthy's blog about shelves!

Yep, I keep them organized by color. Don't they look nice? It's an alphabetical rebellion against my years of working in a bookstore.

Proofs!

2011-01-18T19:30:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to have the first proofs of Subway Story sitting on my kitchen table! It's exciting to see the whole book all laid out. After so much work, seeing it like this really makes it feel real! Above is the first page of the book.

Subway Story

2010-12-20T12:35:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I turned in the final art for my next book, Subway Story. This will be the second book that I've written and illustrated. It's about a subway car named Jessie who comes to New York in the 1960's, and the life that she lives on and off the tracks. It's based on a real subway car and inspired by a visit I made to the New York Transit Museum.

Here I am behaving recklessly on a recent research trip to said museum (inside R-33 WF car number 9306):

And here is the actual final art for the book in transit to Random House, on the subway. (In it's dignified garbage bag of transport.)
This project has been underway for a long time, so getting to make this trip meant a lot to me!

Hooray!!

Here's an unrelated subway car fact which will be familiar to anyone who's already been subjected to my trivial bits of subway information while riding the train with me...

In her final working years, Jessie had a brick red paint scheme (which was applied to many older trains - not a particular model of subway car - which gave them the nickname 'Redbirds'.) The Redbirds were retired from the tracks and replaced with newer models, like this R-160.

The flecks of red that you can see in the floor of this train are a little tribute to the iconic Redbirds!

Stay tuned for more Subway Story soon!

20 Notable Poetry Books of 2009

2010-12-10T12:27:00.000-05:00

Good news!

It was just announced that Incredible Inventions was chosen as one of the NCTE Notable Poetry Books of 2009! The National Council of Teachers of English has put together a great list of books, and I'm so happy that Incredible Inventions is a part of it.

Many thanks to the NCTE Excellence in Poetry Committee!

Time for Bed

2010-11-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

Recently I've been working late into the night, which has reminded me of a moment I had while finishing the art for The Secret Plan.
I was up late working and didn't realize that I had used up all the sheets of paper on the pad that I'd been painting on. I went ahead and started another picture... on the white cardboard backing of the empty pad.

The texture seemed different and the painting kept looking funny but it still took me a little while to realize what I had done. And in the morning I found that I had left myself a note so I wouldn't forget the benefits of sleep.

jsarconeroach.com

2010-11-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

Hooray! I now have a website!
Thanks to Adam Kesner.

Remoras! Our Awesome Underwater Friends

2010-10-26T11:56:00.000-04:00

Recently I've been having fun identifying some underwater creatures from scuba videos. I came across these torpedo shaped guys who were hitchhiking on a turtle. They're Remoras (or 'Sharksuckers') and they attach to other fish, turtles, whales, sharks, and rays with a 'suckerlike organ'. I think they're tremendously neat.

Beach Dinosaur

2010-05-31T13:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a horseshoe crab from Maryland!

Did I carry it around in a chip bag until I could draw it? I might have!

And did the removal of the small monster from chip bag freak out some surrounding beach goers? yes indeed!

Interview on Book By Its Cover

2010-04-02T12:32:00.000-04:00

Check out my interview on Julia Rothman's very awesome book site!
Many thanks to Julia for the great interview!

Library Love

2010-03-18T12:30:00.000-04:00

The Secret Plan was lucky to have received a couple of really lovely reviews online. The library was one of my particular favorite places to be as a kid, so I get rather excited when librarians welcome and enjoy The Secret Plan!

Jennifer, the librarian of the Jean Little Library wrote:

"Just when I thought we couldn't possibly use any more bedtime stories....I discover a new one. One which we must, must, must have!
...This isn't just a soothing bedtime story, it's a story about the magical days of childhood, when just five more minutes is never enough and the simplest things are exciting and wonderful."

One by Tasha Saecker of the Menasha Public Library in Menasha, WI.

"...This is such a winning book. The four main characters are real scamps and their plans and the outcomes are deliciously naughty and very funny. I especially appreciated Milo blending in with the wallpaper by painting stripes on himself. Their disguise is equally funny with all of them working together. But it is the ending of the book that really makes it work. Instead of getting into any trouble in their late night escapade, they have a quiet time with books and a tea party in the attic. There is no parental outrage, no repercussions, just the immense pleasure of a late night with friends.

Sarcone-Roach’s art works very well here. Done in acrylic paint, the illustrations are rich, vivid and engaging. A lot of the humor here is visual, though the wry tone of voice of the text offers some of the laughs. The house that the animals share is wonderfully tippy and upright, filled with stairs. A great book to share for a bedtime story or a special late night read."

(You can read the whole review here.)

Thank you all for taking the time to read, review, (and like!) The Secret Plan.

Snowy Brooklyn

2010-02-18T22:15:00.000-05:00

the view from the studio.

2010 UBIE Award!

2010-02-15T23:38:00.000-05:00

Wow! The Secret Plan is the Favorite Picture Book of the Year at the University of Washington Bookstore! It's in excellent company - check out the adorable stuffed critters looming over their favorite novel of the year (and Newbery Award Winner) - Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.

Thank you, University of Washington!
GO HUSKIES!!

Booklist Review

2009-12-01T12:01:00.000-05:00

"Harriet, Hildy, Henry, and Milo, three kittens and a baby elephant, want nothing more than to play uninterrupted. But various nuisances continue to sidetrack them. The biggest offender is bedtime, so the friends devise a secret plan to avoid it, which doesn’t quite work out as expected but is satisfying nonetheless. This is an enjoyable, inventive offering that incorporates single- and double-page spreads focused on the activity of the four friends, as well as comic-style acryllic illustrations that include crosssections of a townhouse that allow for multiple scenes to play out at the same time. In addition, speech bubbles that indicate parents calling for the young characters literally break into the text—and, consequently, the fun—and there is a certain conspiratorial amusement as the reader or listener is allowed in on the secret plan, as long as they “don’t tell.” Charming and genuinely funny, this will appeal to a wide audience."
- Booklist

Pink Me

2009-11-23T12:12:00.000-05:00

A super cool review by Paula Willey of Pink Me:

"Milo the little elephant has great things going on with the kids next door, three kittens named Henry, Hildy, and Harriet. They make tin-can telephones. They build a house of cards, they play forts, and they dig for treasure. But JUST when they're about to uncover the chest full of loot, something intervenes. Something parental. Curses! Just when things are getting good, it's always lunch, or dinner, or even worse - BEDTIME.

They try everything to get around it. But hiding and sneaking aren't enough. They have to come up with a special secret plan. A plan that involves the fuzzy green monster feet from Milo's Halloween costume, and the cozy attic way upstairs.

This plot is VERY appealing to little kids. It has enough tension to keep them on the edge of their seats, but no actual consequences, as befitting a picture book. The details are adorable. The illustrations slyly extend the text, adding extra humor.

The design, especially the text layout, conspires with the other elements to give us tiptoeing, frustration, and being startled. It's almost concrete poetry.

The art, in its swishiness, somehow reminds me of Good Night, Gorilla. The sweetness, and the bedtime-circumvention plot, is like that too. And when I compare a book to Good Night, Gorilla, that is some of the highest praise I know."

That's so cool! Goodnight Gorilla is one of my favorite books! Thank you Paula! And the lovely text layout and book design of The Secret Plan are due to the talented Melissa Nelson.

Nice Things

2009-11-20T15:00:00.000-05:00

Strollerderby recommends the Secret Plan!

It also received a really nice mention by Jane of Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vermont!

Book Launched!

2009-11-17T15:45:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came to Hooray For Books for the launch party for The Secret Plan!

It was a great turn out and a lot of fun. I think the reading, drawing, signing, (and the cookies) went over well and a good time was had by all! Thanks to everyone who came from far and wide to celebrate the book with me. It was really wonderful to see some familiar faces.

Thanks to Trish Brown and everyone at Hooray For Books for a great event and to Mitchell Schneider and Adam Kesner for the excellent photography. And extra special thanks to my mom who threw a spectacular party!

Awesome elephant and cat cookies hot off the radiator from Mother's Macaroons!

Kiwi Magazine Recommends The Secret Plan

2009-11-15T20:55:00.000-05:00

"Milo and Henry have devised the perfect plan to avoid going to bed. It’s fool proof! Well, it’s fool proof until they actually get so tired that they want to go to bed. The illustrations are delightfully playful, invigorating the text. Let’s hope the kids don’t get any ideas from this one!" - Kiwi Magazine

They're on to me! My devious bedtime overthrowing agenda is exposed!

Just kidding... Thank you Kiwi!

The Secret Plan Launch Party!

2009-11-09T20:22:00.000-05:00

Come celebrate the launch of The Secret Plan this Saturday at 11:30 am at Hooray For Books in Alexandria, Virginia. I'll be reading, signing copies and there will be some party snacks!

Society of Illustrators Original Art Show

2009-11-09T19:29:00.000-05:00

The Secret Plan was chosen for inclusion in the Society of Illustrators Original Art show! I'm completely thrilled. It's always a fantastic show and I am so excited that my book is included this year!

I was happy to find my picture in a Team Rodeen cluster next to two wonderful pieces by Lauren Castillo (That's Papa's Way) and Peter Brown (Curious Garden) too!

The show includes original art from 125 books as well as several amazing real, live works by Chris Van Allsburg (and at the opening there was real, live Chris Van Allsburg himself too.) There's a great piece from Brian Floca's beautiful Moonshot (which won a Silver medal!) And one of my favorite paintings from Shaun Tan's stunning Tales From Outer Suburbia is on display too. The show is up until November 25th (and free to get into) - I encourage everybody to stop by!

School Library Journal

2009-11-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

"Milo the elephant loves playing with his feline neighbors Henry, Hildy, and Harriet, but something always seems to interrupt their fun, especially bedtime. So they try every way they can to get around it. Things don't go so well (though the image of Milo painted to blend into the wallpaper is bound to inspire giggles). At last, they find "the perfect late-night no-bedtime-ever hideout"—the attic, which also happens to be full of neat stuff to play with. But sleep must come to even the most intrepid explorers, and so their night turns into a slumber party, heavy on the slumber. The age-old dilemma of wanting to stay up and play just a bit longer finds a gently humorous treatment in this tale, accompanied by swirly acrylic paintings that evoke dreamy nighttime fantasy." — School Library Journal

The Secret Plan in Cookie Magazine

2009-11-09T16:23:00.000-05:00

Very exciting! The Secret Plan was recommended in the October issue of Cookie Magazine! There it is, happily cuddling up to the promising sounding The Book That Eats People. (Which maybe will take on Oliver Jeffers' The Incredible Book-Eating Boy!)

Kirkus Review

2009-11-09T16:04:00.000-05:00

The Secret Plan got a lovely review from Kirkus Reviews (I'm really happy they mentioned the endpapers!):

"Milo the elephant and his kitten next-door neighbors, Hildy, Henry and Harriet, love to play together. However, their adventures are continually curtailed by calls of "Lunch!", "Dinner!" or, most disagreeably, "Bedtime!" Milo's secret plan engenders lots of hiding, but their parents always find the friends. (It is hard to hide an elephant child.) Hildy remembers Milo's furry monster feet from Halloween. After feigning sleep, Milo dons them, softly padding upstairs to join the kittens in a big, treasure-filled attic. "It was the perfect late-night no-bedtime-ever hideout." They try on hats, study a book on Morse code and sip tea before tiring - with one more plan in store. Sarcone-Roach's brushy, full-bleed acrylics alternate warm and cool colors and provide plenty of humorous detail, including a mouse hidden within each double-page spread. The front endpapers depict 4610 A and B South 6th Street as a faux architectural drawing; the back ones present the Morse code, arrayed like stars around a cross-section of the sleeping house. Sweet fun. (Picture book. Ages 3-6)"

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award

2009-11-09T15:05:00.000-05:00

Neat! It turns out The Secret Plan won a Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Book Gold Award!