The weather is turning cooler, kids have already been back at school for a while spreading new virulent strains, and recently the nice people at Random House granted me permission to show some of the final illustrations from my latest book, a 32 page leveled reader featuring a first grader who struggles to come to terms with his waning popularity when a new girl comes to school. The title is How to Start First Grade, and it is scheduled for release on 6/9/20.
I really enjoyed the playground chalk art scenes, drawing kids yelling at each other, (anger is so much fun) and the challenging scenes which required me to draw the backs of kid's heads.
I have a strong aversion to looking at my work after it is finished. I'm sure I'm not alone in that feeling. I think enough time has passed since I finished these in July and August, that I can look at them; even if it's through slightly parted fingers.
A postscript: after I wrote this, the electricity went out for a few hours. But now I'm back, and with a little luck I may actually get a blog post out for Monday morning.
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Cover. The blackboard is obsolete, but the bulletin board lives on. |
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| Steve and family and Dad the waiter getting fortified for the first day of school. |
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All of his friends are happy to see him again. |
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He's still got it... |
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... until Hannah from Alaska shows up with her gold nugget. |
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Celebrity is fleeting. |
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| So he draws his house which is also a rocket ship. The kids have their doubts. |
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| He challenges Hannah about her house. Shouting ensues and teacher steps in. |
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" Don't worry about it", Steve says to Hannah. "I get sent here all the time." |
The moral of the story is: If you are going to make a shark out of paper mache´ for Show and Tell, don't stuff it in your backpack because it will crumble, patch things up with your enemies before the principal opens her door, and remember: "He who has the gold makes the rules".
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