"The Big Talk", X-rated illustrations.

I got a call a few weeks ago from Time Out New York Kids asking if I was interested in illustrating their cover story on "The Big Talk", teaching kids the facts of life. I jumped at the opportunity to illustrate such a racy subject! The myriad of symbols stimulated my imagination, and I was mentally doodling birds and bees before I finished emailing the art director back. My original concept for the main illustration was changed around a lot and they went with a small sketch of a bathtub scene. Time Out NY was very specific about wanting the illustrations to reflect real New York locations, so the bathroom had to be cramped, cluttered and definitely pre-war. It's been a while since I did an editorial assignment and the quick turn-around time gave me a run for my money. But in the end, at least I learned a thing or 2 about what I might say to my little ones when the time is right!

The November issue of the magazine just hit the newsstands.

Dime Bag Paintings

I'll be in a group show with 200 artists this July at Giant Robot NY , curated by Jordin Isip and Rodger Stevens.  Each piece of art fits into a 3" x 3" clear dime bag, and will be hung in a grid-like fashion side by side.  This is the third show of this sort (Dime Bag 3), and the first that I'll be participating in.  With the theme totally open-ended, I had some fun creating on a small scale and was inspired by some key things close to my heart: New York, my family and ice-cream.  

I think these work as a series, but I had to chose just one for the show (it has already been submitted).  Do you have a favorite? 

TimeOut NY Kids; a tasty read!

Here's my interview in TONY Kids!  I will post a link when it appears online in March.  For now this scan will have to do (click on image to enlarge).  I have to say, I am pretty thrilled with this bit of press and hope that it inspires people's interest in my latest book I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother (Knopf, $17; ages 4-8)

While I have your attention, please save the date Friday, March 13th for I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother's book release party at Book Court!  Beginning at 7 PM, rub shoulders with - and get books signed by - the author/illustrator (ahem), and kick-off the week-end with some fine wine & cheese.  FYI, we were going to have some fancy peanut butter hors d'oervres, but decided not to take the chance of accidentally poisoning anyone who might show up!

If you can't get a babysitter or you chose to leave the kids behind for the book's Friday night shin dig, bring them instead on Sunday, March 15th,  for a special child-friendly reading @ 11 AM, also at Book Court.

Book Court 

163 Court Street, Brooklyn NY

  

Peanut Butter Promotion

My debut as AUTHOR begins this spring with the publication of, I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother (which I also illustrated), but getting the word out for the book has already begun!  My wonderful publicist at Knopf has been busy setting a few things up, helping me get into the spirit of self-promotion.  

The first thing came to me a few weeks ago while my family was vacationing on the Big Island of Hawaii.  I received an email asking if I was available to do an interview for Sirius Radio for an All About Kids segment with Sesame Workshop.  It was a LIVE interview set for 9 AM est, which is (yikes!) 4 AM Hawaii time.  But who I am to pass up an interview?  After all, it's my very first book that I have both written and illustrated, I need all the press and buzz I can get!  Who cares about relaxation!  Who needs sleep?  Forget the fact that I'm not really sleeping anyway, since my 11 month old has been in our bed most nights anyway!  So I said, bring on the interview!  When the dark and ungodly hour arrived, fresh brewed Kona coffee in hand, notes from my talking points in front of me, I waited for 'the phone call'.  Apparently, it was the-call-that-could-not-get-through, since no-one was at the condo's reception area to receive it AND they had misplaced my cell #!  In retrospect I guess I can say it was good practice... the live interview is rescheduled for February 27th!  Now I have plenty of time to let people know about it, plus it's closer to the release of the book.

The second blog-worthy promotional event for, I'm Your Peanut Butter big Brother is a PRINT interview, which will be in this March's: Time Out New York Kids.  Last week, fresh off the Aloha Jet I met with Maureen Shelly from TONY Kids at the Cupcake Cafe midtown.  Always welcoming an opportunity to get out of my studio and head into the city, I chatted with Maureen about the makings of Peanut Butter.  It was a really enlightening conversation covering everything from the original inspiration for my story to the current political culture.  We talked about how completely thrilling Obama's Inauguration Day was (since it was the same week!) and for me, especially, the significance an African America President has on my biracial children.  I am looking forward to seeing the interview in print and will, of course, post it when it comes out in this March's issue of Time Out New York Kids.

And finally, there will be a BOOK RELEASE PARTY for I'm Your Peanut Butter Big Brother at Book Court in Carroll Gardens, on Friday, March 13th.   Should be the event of the season!  Come alone or bring a date, your kids, nieces, nephews, mother-in-law, etc., for an evening of wine, cheese and schmoozing.  Would love to see each and everyone of you for my big debut!  By the way, there is also supposed to be a day time reading at Book Court on Sunday, March 15th especially for kiddos, so the book release party might be a nice opportunity for a night out -- sans the little ones.