Bill Thomson's Blog, page 3

SENDAK & CO.: Children's Book Illustrations Since Where The Wild Things Are EXHIBITION

I am delighted to have my work included in a wonderful exhibition called, "SENDAK & CO.: Children's Book Illustrations Since Where The Wild Things Are" at the Appleton Museum of Art in Ocala, Florida. The exhibition was originally planned as a celebration of Maurice Sendak and the 50th anniversary of "Where The Wild Things Are", but became a tribute after Sendak's passing in May. The show will run through January 20, 2013 and is open 10am to 5pm (Tuesday- Saturday) and noon to 5pm (Sunday). The Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL. The exhibition sounds GREAT (and very kid-friendly), so I encourage any of my friends that will be in the Ocala area during this time to check it out!
http://www.ocala.com/article/20121115/ARTICLES/121119916

CHALK Wins Ohio's BUCKEYE CHILDREN"S BOOK AWARD

Over the last several months, I have been working feverishly on my next book and neglected my blog. However, I did want to mention one of the nicest things that happened to me it 2012- winning the Buckeye Children's Book Award! This was extremely special to me because the Buckeye Awards are the only state book awards that are both nominated AND selected by students. It is really wonderful to have your work recognized by the audience that you created it for. You can read about the 2011 Buckeye Award here: http://www.bcbookaward.info/portfolio-items/2011-awards/

CHALK Wins The Connecticut Book Award

http://cfb.hplct.org/cba.htm
I am thrilled that CHALK was selected as a winner at the 2011 Connecticut Book Awards in the Children's Illustrator category. The Connecticut Book Awards, sponsored by the Connecticut Center For The Book, recognize and honor books with specific ties to the state of Connecticut. The author, illustrator, or designer must be native-born or have been a legal resident of Connecticut for at least three years, or the book must have a Connecticut setting in order to be considered. Andrea Wisnewski's "The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane" was also selected as the winner- this was the first year that two books were selected as winners in the Children's Illustrator category. My book, Baseball Hour, previously won the Connecticut Book Award (Children's Illustrator) in 2009, and Karate Hour and Building with Dad were both selected as finalists in 2005 and 2007 respectively. The Connecticut Center For The Book does a magnificent job of celebrating and promoting books of all kinds.

CHALK DAY at Hatton School

On October 10, the faculty and students of Hatton Elementary School in Southington, Connecticut had "Chalk Day", an entire day of school events that grew out of my book. Seeing the event that San Rafael Elementary School (Pasadena, CA) held earlier this year, Hatton School's wonderful principal, Roberta McAloon, formed a committee to plan their own day celebrating creativity and imagination. The committee, headed by amazing teachers Joyce Frederick and Denise Pedrotty, did an incredible job planning a day filled with an assortment of creative events.

The day began with my slide presentation to the students about my work and the creation of my books. Although the focus was on CHALK, the school depicted in one of my other books, Building With Dad, was based on a mix of photos of Hatton School and Strong School (two elementary schools in town).



Then I played a drawing game with the students and answered their questions. My youngest son and favorite model, Ethan (#4), started the game and showed the other students what they should do.



The day also included an asbsolutely incredible seven-foot-tall dinosaur sculpture created by Ms. Meda and her art students (and parent helpers)...

The "Poetry in Motion" dance group performed an energetic participatory dance event for the students (and their teachers)



And students illustrated their current topics of study on large black rolls of paper that were hung in the hallways.


The  capstone event was done on the playground blacktop- divided into rectangular boxes, each student was given a bag of chalk and their own box to fill with their imagination. Students will later write about the picture they each drew. I was amazed at the great effort and wonderful drawings that the students produced. There is a lot of imagination and talent at Hatton School!













At one point in the day, a teacher saw a kindergarten student sitting and staring at her drawing for an extended period of time. The teacher asked the little girl if anything was wrong and she replied, "No, I am just waiting for my drawing to come to life... just like in the book."

The day concluded with all the children going out to the blacktop for a school photo (and a quick dance) before catching their buses home.


That morning, I was also presented with the first "Hatton Hero" award and a plaque that will go on the school's wall. I am truly honored and humbled to be recognized in such a special way. However, a walk down the hallways of Hatton School reveals the true heroes… the caring and dedicated administration, teachers and staff that make Hatton School such a special place! Each of my three sons was a student at Hatton School, so I have personal insight to what a wonderful and caring community Hatton Elementary School is!


http://www.myrecordjournal.com/southington/article_e71a29f6-efc0-11e0-ad68-001cc4c002e0.html

CHALK Named a Finalist for the 2011 Connecticut Book Award

The Connecticut Center For The Book has named CHALK as one of three finalists for the 2011 Connecticut Book Award in the Children's Illustrator category. Wendell Minor's "The Last Train" and Andrea Wisnewski's "The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane" join "CHALK" as the other finalists. Winners will be announced at the Hartford Public Library on Sunday, October 30.

http://cfb.hplct.org/Book-Award-Finalists-And-Winners.htm

SBCWI Children's Book Event at the Danforth Museum

I am looking forward to appearing at an event at the Danforth Museum sponsored by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators called "Overcoming Challenges" on Saturday, October 1 from 10am-3:30pm.
http://www.nescbwi.org/pdf/2011%20Danforth%20Flyer.pdf

Princeton Children's Book Festival

I will be appearing at the Princeton Children's Book Festival on September 10 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Albert E. Hinds Memorial Plaza at the Princeton Public Library.
http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/children/festival/authorsandillustrators.html

CHALK Is A Finalist For The Cardozo Award For Children's Literature

I was excited to hear that CHALK was selected as one of five finalists for the Whitney and Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature. Finalists are selected by a juried panel from nominated titles by authors whose works focus on literature for children ages four through eight. Readers online and at public libraries and bookstores vote for the winner. Please vote today! http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/litawards/vote.asp