Friday, October 26, 2012

Whohoo! A Kirkus Star for Sled Ride!


THE ICIEST, DICIEST, SCARIEST SLED RIDE EVER! (reviewed on October 1, 2012)
A young girl’s first-person narration brings a New England sled ride to life.
But this isn’t just any sled ride. Inspired by ice-crusted snow, Grampa Bud’s yarns of his childhood and a giant homemade double-runner sled, seven friends set out to conquer the “highest, mightiest, iciest sledding hill.” Rule lengthens out one sled run into an entire book, but its pace is not slow and clunky, nor does it drag. Instead, she marvels in the details along the way, building up the suspense. Comically, the children attempt to get themselves and the sled to the top of the hill, taking each other out like dominoes as they relentlessly and repeatedly slide down to form a pig pile at the bottom. When they finally manage it, Thermes beautifully conveys the awesomeness of the hill they have chosen to tackle; none of the kids will speak their fears aloud, though their faces say volumes. The trip down is accomplished in just a few spreads, a ride so fast that tears, fears, screams and laughter all get whipped, “like a beautiful scarf trailing wildly behind.” The watercolors give a wonderful array of viewpoints, showing the path of the sled run as well as close-ups of the children: fresh-faced and having the time of their lives.
Parents beware: Children are likely to scout out the highest hill to try to replicate this amazing run. (Picture book. 4-8)


A HUGE thank you, Kirkus! This calls for happy dancing and chocolate! (And lots of exclamation points!!!)

Read the review on site...

... and I hope you'll enter the Goodreads giveaway!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Sled Ride ~ Giveaway!

The Sled Ride book releases on November 9th! I'm giving away three copies on Goodreads to celebrate. Head on over and enter!



 
 


    Goodreads Book Giveaway
 



   

        The Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever! by Rebecca Rule
   


   

     


          The Iciest, Diciest, Scariest Sled Ride Ever!
     


     


          by Rebecca Rule
     



     

         
            Giveaway ends November 17, 2012.
         

         
            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
         

     

   

   


      Enter to win

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Moose to the Finish Line...
















This week I spread all the Moose book art out on my dining room table to check for consistency and final touch-ups. Sometimes it's really hard to know if a piece is finished. At this point I usually go through a round of neurotic panic... What if it's awful? Should I have done it differently? Should I chuck it all and go work at some big box store?...

Then my husband laughs at me and says I do this after every project. He's right. And in talking to my artist friends it seems we all go through this to some extent. Phew! I must be normal.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Books With Maps ~ The Vine Basket






























This is a map I did recently for a book called The Vine Basket, by Josanne La Valley, coming out next spring. I love books with maps for so many reasons. (Not just because I get to create them!) One is that they anchor your imagination in the world of the story...