Art Auction and Banned Books Week

Boxing Kangaroos from A Kangaroo's World, pages 18-19

Update December 4:

Chris Finan reports a that over $7,500 has been raised in the holiday auction—a 50 per cent increase over last year.  It was clearly a very successful event!  I'm happy that I could be part of it.

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) is holding a children’s art auction on eBay in support of the freedom to read.
The auction begins on eBay at noon, November 27 Eastern Standard Time, and will run through Dec. 3.  The auction homepage is http://myworld.ebay.com/abffe
I have contributed a giclee print from my book A Kangaroo’s World.  The art contributed to the auction doesn’t just raise money for ABFFE and the defense of the free speech rights of young readers--it also helps draw attention to Banned Books Week, held annually in September, which is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. ABFFE President Chris Finan says, “The Holiday Children’s Art Auction gives the public a rare opportunity to bid on art from some of the book industry’s leading artists and illustrators.  At the same time, they will be supporting the free speech rights of kids.”  ABFFE is a co-founder of the Kids’ Right to Read Project and a sponsor of Banned Books Week.
Check out the site and help contribute to this good cause!

Young Authors at LA's Best

Card made by Young Authors at Knox School

I recently visited three schools in Los Angeles to talk to children in the Young Authors Club program which is part of the LA's Best after school enrichment program.  Through the year, the children are learning about writing and illustrating and making their own books.  It was a delight to talk with them and share my creative process and to have them share their writing projects with me.

I Am Strong by student at Wilshire Crest School

The students begin by making books about themselves.  Of course, this guarantees that everyone has plenty to write about and that each book will be original!  Some of their titles included I Am Strong, I Am Pretty, I Am Mommy's Girl, I Am Happy and I Am Smart.  And every one had wonderful original illustrations too!


The author visits to LA's Best Young Authors clubs are funded by Target and coordinated through California Readers.

Cards for the Holidays at My Etsy Site

Need cards for the holidays?  To send?  To give as gifts? I continue to sell cards and prints based on the illustrations from my animal books at my Etsy site.  I have expanded my card collection and am now offering cards in a rectangular format, which allows me to show more of the image from my illustrations. Check out my site and see what’s new!  www.etsy.com/shop/CarolineArnoldArt

Playful Wild Goats: Writing Activity

"The two baby goats scampered across the rocky wall, their tiny feet clinging to the rough stone surface."  That's the beginning of my book WILD GOAT, now available as a digital book in the StarWalk Kids collection and at Amazon.  Visit Seymour Simon's Science Blog for more about the book and the opportunity to do a short writing activity.  Seymour posts a new activity each week on Wednesday.
Note: This exercise is designed to use in support of CCSS Reading/Informational Standard #6: Distinguish between information provided by pictures or other illustrations and information provided by the words in a text.
Review from SLJ of the 1990 print edition of WILD GOAT:  A beautiful, comprehensive text describes wild goats worldwide: history, life cycle, how they differ from other animals, and conservation efforts. The photos are touching, capturing the character and magnificence of these animals; the story is further personalized by focusing on two young Nubian ibex goats at the Los Angeles Zoo. ... The text is clearly written with exquisite photographs [by Richard Hewett.] 

CLC Fall Gala: Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann Featured Speakers

Last Saturday I attended the Children's Literature Council of Southern California (CLC) 51st Fall Gala at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles.  This annual event honors Southern California authors and illustrators, presents awards, and features a keynote address.  This year's keynote speakers were the talented team of Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, who gave a lively, humorous and informative presentation of their creative and collaborative process for Oh, No! a picture book about a tiger and animals that have fallen into a hole. Their talk included pictures of their various pets and some amazing animal photos from a family trip to Borneo that inspired the book.  After the program I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet both Eric and Candace and have Candace sign my copy of Amelia Lost, winner of this year's SCBWI Golden Kite award for nonfiction.