More Glorious Samples!

Christmas is continuing for the full 12 days this year. I got galley and advance copies of two of my books out in the next couple of months!

I should have book trailers for Cool Summer Tail and Fort on Fourth Street out soon!

Spooky... Back From NYC

Two snakes discuss keeping cool is A Cool Summer Tail

I just got back from trip to visit my brother and his family in NYC.

I plan to post the sketches I did soon, but as usual, I come back to a pile of deadlines so I will atone properly for my time off.

Anyway, even if this image from A Cool Summer Tail is not Halloween-specific, many find snakes spooky. (No offense garter snakes...)

Fort on Fourth Street Books Are Here!

A fort made out of Fort on Fourth Street books.

The book is out and available at any bookseller!

Book Signing at Blue Manatee!

I will be signing A Warm Winter Tail on February 2nd, 2pm at Blue Manatee. I will be doing a drawing demo and then sign books!

It is also Groundhog Day! Sadly, no Puxatony Phil though...

Event here: http://www.facebook.com/events/193433200801706/

Hope to see you there!

Sylvan Dell Has an App!

One of the things I LOVE about Sylvan Dell, is how they embrace technology.

They now have an app available with the books I illustrated for them! So cool!

          We are very excited to announce the launch of our

                               “Fun eReader” iPad App.

                   Enjoy with this 30-day free trial offer!

Picture carrying 76 ebooks to inspire reading and teach children about science and math. Now all the great things you have loved about Sylvan Dell books are available in one spot on the iPad or any flash capable device. Covering tough science and math subjects through picture books children will digest amazing facts about strange animals, faraway places, earth systems, and even math concepts.
			Free Trial: Login only as a School Site License User by entering 2WZ637 into the Red box at the bottom of the iPad App Registration page. Trial Expires Nov 15th.
Features include: ·         76 eBooks each with Read-to-Me / Read-toMyself, Auto Play, and English / Spanish selection on the fly. ·         Cloud and Download eBook play. High speed internet needed for cloud viewing ·         Download, Uninstall, Buy Now options via MyAccount page. ·         Drag, Tap, and Flick page turning ·         Easy Registration for: (1) New Users, (2) existing Personal eLibrary customers, and (3) School and Library eBook Site License users. ·         Viewable on iPads, computers, and flash compatible devices.
Share! If you love Fun eReader shout about it in iTunes and rate us in customer reviews. If you have any questions please email or call us at (877) 243-3457

Blog Tour for A Warm Winter Tail

Carrie Pearson is doing a blog tour for A Warm Winter Tail:

Here is the schedule:

Monday 1st: Robin McCoy at  http://www.inspiredbysavannah.com/2012/10/book-blog-tour-warm-winter-tail-by.html

2nd: Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre at http://www.literaryrambles.com/

3rd:  Sue Heavenrich at http://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/

5th: Anastasia Suen at http://asuen.com/blog/

Monday 8th: Nancy Shaw at www.nancyshawbooks.com

11th: Wendy Lawrence at www.thefamilythatreadstogether.com

12th: Jennifer Rumberger at www.jenniferrumberger.com – winner announced!

15th: Debra Diesen at http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/


More info...

More Glorious Samples! A Warm Winter Tail

This book looks cool in 88 degree heat.

It is a busy fall! I recently got initial samples of A Warm Winter Tail by Carrie Pearson from Sylvan Dell. I do not like to show bias, but I love how this book turned out! It is also available in Spanish

I will be signing this in October at Books by the Banks, so stop by! I will post signing events as they come up.

Here is my favorite spread:

Squirrels keeping warm.

Spike loves new books!

Book Trailer: A Warm Winter Tail

I am really excited about this one. (OK, I like both, or rather all 8 books coming out this fall, but this one is so lovely.) Thanks to Theresa Franke for recording her children Gwen and Max for the track. It makes it over-the-top adorable. Theresa is also an amazing artist. Check out her work: https://www.facebook.com/TheresaFrankeIllustration

I should get a copy of the book in a couple weeks; looking forward to seeing the printed version. Of course there will also soon be a Sylvan Dell App. Stay tuned!

Another peek: A Warm Winter Tail

I am just starting on the book trailer for A Warm Winter Tail. Stay tuned! Although no explanation is probably needed, this is the squirrel spread...

Coming Soon! A Warm Winter Tail

Special Sneak Peek! Part of a spread from Warm Winter Tail  by Carrie Pearson out from Sylvan Dell in the Fall. This reminded me of the weather today! Nothing is more lovely than the snow first coming down...

More as we get closer to the book release. Also, stay tuned for the book trailer!

Interview with Carrie Pearson, author of A Warm Winter Tail...

 As I put finishing touches on the art, an interview with the author in Children's Book Insider...

http://cbiclubhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2011-12.pdf

This book will be so fun. Here is a sketch teaser:

Pencil sketch

Final painting

Sneak Peek: Cover Sketch Approved!

My next book for Sylvan Dell is called A Warm Winter Tail written by Carrie Pearson.

Just got the cover sketch approved. It is a wrap around and I will have the final soon.

 There is a quiet serenity around snow scenes. I always enjoy painting them.

Habitat Spy won a Brain Child Tillywig Toy Award!

Good News Everyone! Habitat Spy won a Brain Child Tillywig Toy Award!

So excited! The art for this book took a very, very long time so I am glad people are enjoying it.

http://www.tillywig.com/award-winners.php

New Sylvan Dell Facebook Fan Pages

You can now "like" these pages from my three books from Sylvan Dell:

Habitat Spy (out in March and trailer coming really soon): http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Habitat-Spy/146733592049045

Little Red Bat http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Little-Red-Bat/133204930076453

Henry the Impatient Heron  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Henry-the-Impatient-Heron/170990129612332

New Review for Little Red Bat!

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection Blog
http://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/little-red-bat-by-carole%c2%a0gerber/

Now available on the Bat Conservation International website!
http://batcatalog.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=392

Little Red Bat is Out and Available!

Have you ordered YOUR copy yet???!!

Interview: Robert and Ann Walton

Little Red Bat is out next week!

While researching to do the illustrations for the book, I got referrals to several people who had experience rehabilitating red bats. Since they do not do well in captivity and are not regularly in contact with humans, it took several phone calls to find Bob and Ann who had just rescued a whole red bat family!

They generously allowed me to visit their wonderful home in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and the bats in their care.

Bob does many school visits and community events to help people understand more about bats to help assuage the fears and misunderstandings around them.

1. Tell me a little about your background.

Bob is a retired electrical engineer. Served 4 years in Air Force (ours). Worked for Vanderbilt University, WLAC-TV in Nashville and IBM in Nashville while studying for a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree. Worked for Magnavox for 25 years on Government and Industrial products. Worked part time for Wild Birds Unlimited as a "Bird Feeding Specialist" for 10 years. From 1992 to present involved in raptor rehabilitation.

Ann is a retired Special Education teacher. She worked for a year in England with men with Down's Syndrome. She taught in the Nashville and Ft. Wayne school systems.

After raising 3 adopted special needs children (and a special needs husband) she worked for Wild Birds Unlimited for 13 years. She has been involved with raptor rehab since 1992.

2. How did you get involved in bat rescue?

One of the raptor rehabbers we worked with also rehabbed bats. She lived 30 miles away. I would take "rescued" bats to her since everyone else was scared silly.

She moved to Florida and left my name with Ft. Wayne Animal Control. First we took care of a few bats, then we suddenly became "bat experts" and were requested to make presentations. This lead to more bats needing rescue. After a year, I attended a week long course in Texas at Batworld.

3. What species of bat do you get the most calls about?

Mostly we receive Big Brown Bats.

4. Describe a typical rescue from capture until release.

Typically we receive our rescued bats from Animal Control. However, in some cases, the bat is in a location where Animal Control officers will not go. In these cases I will climb a ladder, crawl in an attic, etc. to retrieve the bat. The bat is placed in a "padded" container and taken to the "bat house". The bat is weighed, sexed, measured, rehydrated with a subcutaneous injection of Ringers Lactate, given a rabies shot, and then given age appropriate food (milk, blended mealworms or mealworms). The bat is then inspected for injuries and treated as required. Depending on the species, the bat is placed in safe enclosure to feed, rehabilitate, etc. Each bat receives daily care. When the bat is ready and the weather (and insect) conditions are good the bat is taken to the flight pen where it must demonstrate its flying ability over several days. If possible, the bat is then returned to area where it was "captured" and released.

5. What should someone do if they have a bat in their house or see an injured bat?

Please refer to http://www.batcon.org/ or http://www.batworld.org/

The best thing is DON'T PANIC. If the weather is good just open the doors or windows and let them out.

6. Have you ever come across a bat with the white-nose syndrome?

NO

7. What other animals do you rescue?

I also rescue raptors (hawks, falcons, eagles and owls) for Soarin' Hawk Raptor Rehabilitation in Ft Wayne.

8. You do a lot of traveling and mentioned you recently were in Tanzania. Do many of your trips involve seeing animals in other countries? Do you have any plans for travel in the near future?

Almost all of our trips involve looking for birds and animals. We stay out of cities. We usually travel with "local" guides and learn about the culture.

Future trips will include: Colombia, Brazil and Indonesia.

9. Finally, if someone is interested in learning more about getting involved in rescuing bats, how would they get started?

Contact Batworld in Texas. www.batworld.org

Little Red Bat-Anticipation

Little Red Bat is shipping the first week in March and so I am posting some of my favorite pieces from the book in anticipation of it coming out.

Above is my favorite painting from the book!

While I worked on the sketches, I visited a couple who do bat rescue and happened to have a red bat family they had rescued and released a week or so later in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. (This took a LOT of phone calls. Red Bats are hard to track down in captivity) It helped so much to see them in person and I took video of the bat moving. It completely altered the way I drew them.

As an illustrator it emphasized how important it is to see the real animal you are drawing if possible. It allows you to really see and understand.

Carole Gerber and I will have a kick off signing at Blue Marble in Ft. Thomas on April 17th from 2-4.