it’s a book!

My advance copy of World Rat Day arrived the other day and in my excitement, I might have jumped up and down a few times. I guess it’s no secret that I really loved working on this book. (The official publication date is March 12th.)

Meanwhile, I’ve been finishing up illustrations for a book with Holiday House due out next fall, in addition to working on the trailer for World Rat Day. Somewhere in there, I need to find time to redesign my website. Oh yeah, and it’s Christmas...

In case you haven’t already seen it, here’s a link to my holiday card. Best wishes for a peaceful holiday season!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *    SAVE THE DATE   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

On the afternoon of Saturday, April 13th, there will be a World Rat Day book party (and signing) at the Rizzoli Bookstore here in Manhattan. Details to come.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

k-1, p.s. 372 – brooklyn

I had a great time last week, taking Sylvia’s Spinach on the road to the K-1 class at P.S. 372 in Brooklyn. This being my first appearance at a kindergarten since the Nixon administration, I was a little bit nervous. The kids were terrific and very enthusiastic, sharing their thoughts on favorite vegetables, gardening and showing off some creative coloring.

I want to extend a huge thanks to Lori and Matthew Richmond for organizing the visit and for buying every student in the class a copy of the book! Also a very special thanks to their son Cooper, who introduced me and showed great restraint in not giving away the end of the book—which he’d already read a few times. 

(photos by Matthew Richmond :^)

cooking with kids - kiwi magazine

It’s three years and counting for my relationship with Kiwi Magazine, illustrating  their “Cooking with Kids” section. The other day, the new editorial director got me caught up on tear sheets, pictured above.

We’ve done so much the last few months—made crackers, breadcrumbs, and rolled sushi. I just finished another series of cooking spots this week, so more on that when the next issue is out.

a review and a school visit preview

The Sylvia’s Spinach road show has thus far been concentrated on the West Coast featuring its author, the wonderful Katherine Pryor. Next week, I head to Brooklyn for my very first school visit to a  kindergarten class, armed with markers, coloring pages and a lot of nerves. But more on that in a future post.

In the meantime, today I received one of the best reviews I think I’ll ever see in my career. Here’s what Cooper, age 5 3/4 had to say after a first reading:

“Mommy, I want another Anna Raff book now!”

With a little luck, he’s got a future at Kirkus. Thanks Coop and Lori!

eternal twinkie

a new hope

death of the twinkie