Color for Jack and the Giant Barbecue

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Jack and the Giant Barbecue is Eric Kimmel's retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, set in west Texas. I wanted my images to tell the reader where he is, so the costumes and settings were carefully researched. Color is a powerful tool for telling…

Eric reads Jack

Here's Eric Kimmel reading Jack and the Giant Barbecue— [vimeo http://vimeo.com/37501127]

Design for Jack

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Jack and the Giant Barbecue is officially in bookstores today! I had a great time designing these characters. Here's how Jack came to be. The first drawing I do of a character is always too rough. I draw it just to get that drawing out of the…

Let’s eat!

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Grandpa Crow serves up some pizza in Let's Have A Tree Party! [slideshow]

Grandpa Crow’s tree

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Here's the establishing shot for Let's Have A Tree Party! Just like in a movie, the establishing shot at the beginning lets the reader know where the story takes place. In this case we're in the woods at the base of Grandpa Crow's tree. Let's…

Giddyap!

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Here's another title I have coming out in March—Jack and the Giant Barbecue. It's Eric Kimmel's update of the Jack and the Beanstalk story set in west Texas. West Texas, you said? Cue the Elmer Bernstein music! Here we go: thumbnail sketch,…

Bunny hop

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Here's the scene in Let's Have A Tree Party! where the animals bunny hop across a branch.  You'll notice the thumbnail sketch shows a bird's-eye view.  Art director Maryellen Hanley asked me to change the direction of the branch so it would…

Publishers’ Weekly reviews Tree Party!

Let's Have A Tree Party! hits the bookstores in March. Here's a very nice review from Publishers' Weekly for you to read while you're waiting.