(Find out what Rosalind Russell has in common with a Morse code obsessed kitten...)
Showing posts with label The Secret Plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Secret Plan. Show all posts
Friday, November 25, 2011
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast!
(Find out what Rosalind Russell has in common with a Morse code obsessed kitten...)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Morse, the Man and the Code.
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.")
Friday, July 15, 2011
Penny Arcade Cameo
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.
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.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Time for Bed
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.
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.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Interview on Book By Its Cover
Check out my interview on Julia Rothman's very awesome book site!
Many thanks to Julia for the great interview!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Library Love
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.
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.
Monday, February 15, 2010
2010 UBIE Award!
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!!
Thank you, University of Washington!
GO HUSKIES!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Booklist Review
"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
- Booklist
Monday, November 23, 2009
Pink Me
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.
"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.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Nice Things
Strollerderby recommends the Secret Plan!
It also received a really nice mention by Jane of Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vermont!
It also received a really nice mention by Jane of Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vermont!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Book Launched!
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!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Kiwi Magazine Recommends The Secret Plan
"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!
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Secret Plan Launch Party!
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
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
"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 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
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
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)"
"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)"
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