Grace Lin's Blog, page 46
August 7, 2013
a working studio
Even though the studio is not completely set up (note the empty book tower in the back), work cannot wait for my perfectionist aspirations. Work has begun on the third Ling and Ting book (right now titled "Twice as Silly!") and, just like when I was working on the last book, my "assistant" is ever devoted:
her rabbit might make a cameo in the book
But I'm excited! I think it's going to be a fun follow up to Ling and Ting Share a Birthday (which comes out in September!!).
her rabbit might make a cameo in the bookBut I'm excited! I think it's going to be a fun follow up to Ling and Ting Share a Birthday (which comes out in September!!).
August 6, 2013
this week in our garden
For unknown reason, our pumpkin plant (flowers and all) withered and died:
But there is an early harvest of another vegetable:
Though Rain Dragon is not sure what kind of vegetable they are:
Are they beans? Even her book doesn't quite convince her:
But she keeps them, anyway:
But there is an early harvest of another vegetable:
Though Rain Dragon is not sure what kind of vegetable they are:
Are they beans? Even her book doesn't quite convince her:
But she keeps them, anyway:
August 5, 2013
on my desk monday
Eeks! Finished books! Ling and Ting Share a Birthday is all bound and ready to go out into the world! I better start planning that launch party...
August 2, 2013
fortune cookie fortunes
"Fortune has a fickle heart and a short memory."
-Chinese Proverb
July 31, 2013
summer school visit
I usually use the summer to catch up on writing and illustrating as there are no school visits to go to. However, this summer, I invited to return to present to the Rutgers Startalk program. I had presented to this group in 2010 and had such a good time that I was glad to visit again.
this backdrop is actually inspired by The Seven Chinese Sisters which is the book they used last summer. They had invited me to visit last summer too, but I was a little busy.The Startalk program "cultivates qualified teachers of the Chinese language"with an immersive Chinese language summer camp for students pre-k through 6th grade. It's a really neat program--by the end of two weeks the kids are speaking better Chinese than me (granted, that isn't too hard but still)!
This year, using The Ugly Vegetables, they created a neighborhood garden mural:
They also had an ugly vegetable farmer's market:
As well as grew the vegetables:
And created a shadow puppet play based on the book:
Isn't that amazing?
With all that, I felt like my visit might be a bit anti climatic:
But the students still seemed to enjoy it and their drawings were so great:
older kids drew dragons!
can you believe these tigers were done by kindergartners?And I had a great time, again!
Rain Dragon had a good time, too!
Thanks so much, Rutgers!
this backdrop is actually inspired by The Seven Chinese Sisters which is the book they used last summer. They had invited me to visit last summer too, but I was a little busy.The Startalk program "cultivates qualified teachers of the Chinese language"with an immersive Chinese language summer camp for students pre-k through 6th grade. It's a really neat program--by the end of two weeks the kids are speaking better Chinese than me (granted, that isn't too hard but still)!This year, using The Ugly Vegetables, they created a neighborhood garden mural:
They also had an ugly vegetable farmer's market:
As well as grew the vegetables:
And created a shadow puppet play based on the book:
Isn't that amazing?
With all that, I felt like my visit might be a bit anti climatic:
But the students still seemed to enjoy it and their drawings were so great:
older kids drew dragons!
can you believe these tigers were done by kindergartners?And I had a great time, again!
Rain Dragon had a good time, too!Thanks so much, Rutgers!
July 29, 2013
on my desk monday
I was sad to hear, a bit belatedly, that author Barbara Robinson passed away. She was the author of one of the most beloved (and my favorite) Christmas books written, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
I had the great honor of meeting Barbara in 2011, when I attended the Plum Creek Literacy Festival in Nebraska. She was highly amused at my pocket pacy project and was warm and funny and kind, just like her books. At the time, I was thinking about starting a podcast where I'd interview legendary children's book authors and asked if she'd consider being interviewed in the future. She agreed heartily, but Rain Dragon arrived and extra projects like the podcast were postponed...and I sincerely regret that now we will never have that conversation.
At least I can comfort myself with her lovely books.
I had the great honor of meeting Barbara in 2011, when I attended the Plum Creek Literacy Festival in Nebraska. She was highly amused at my pocket pacy project and was warm and funny and kind, just like her books. At the time, I was thinking about starting a podcast where I'd interview legendary children's book authors and asked if she'd consider being interviewed in the future. She agreed heartily, but Rain Dragon arrived and extra projects like the podcast were postponed...and I sincerely regret that now we will never have that conversation.
At least I can comfort myself with her lovely books.
July 26, 2013
fortune cookie fortune
"A single tree cannot make a forest."
-Chinese Proverb
July 24, 2013
this week in our garden
Our strawberries are making a comeback:
But a small creature keeps stealing the fruit:
so we are placing our hopes on the tomatoes:
But a small creature keeps stealing the fruit:
so we are placing our hopes on the tomatoes:
July 23, 2013
on the way to the grocery story
there's a veritable jungle of tiger lilies lining the street:
it makes me want to paint with more orange.
it makes me want to paint with more orange.
July 22, 2013
on my desk monday
It's the New York Public Library's 2012 Children's Books 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing List! They used the cover art for Starry River of the Sky for their brochure! The list came out a while ago, but moving drove everything else from my mind and it's only recently that I realized what a huge honor the NYPL bestowed on the book. I'm going to frame one!
