I can’t believe I’m saying this, but summer has passed by quickly! I’ve been busy with a lot of new work that I can’t talk about here because it’s not published or it’s not official yet, but stay tuned…
One thing is for certain is that an old favorite of mine has been re-released as a board book and will be out next month!
It’s been a perennial favorite among young construction vehicle lovers. It is also a fun way to learn one’s ABCs! There is another “story” taking place in the background about two friends and their puppy. The puppy becomes a dog, and the construction site becomes a… we’ll you’ll have to get the book to see….!
I based the dog on Tilly, my brother’s family’s sweetie, whom we just visited in June.
Here are some samples of the interior of the book:
A is for Asphalt
C is for Crane
I illustrated B is for Bulldozer long before Jamie was born. I think the original came out in 2002! It’s still in print and available in bookstores, and I’m very thankful for that. I remember when I was painting it, I amassed a huge collection of construction toys. I used the toys as models for the vehicles, because I wanted a simplified version of the real thing. I also like using interesting points of view in my illustrations, so having a 3-D model was useful in figuring out how things would look at different angles. Lucky for Jamie when he was a toddler, he inherited all of my trucks and bulldozers.
I’ll be doing a book signing and reading of B is for Bulldozer September 28, 2013 at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn at 11 am. Please stop by and say “hi”.
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With school starting soon, I’ve been collecting ideas from friends about what to pack for lunch. I haven’t had to pack a lunch for the last three years because Jamie would eat at school. Next year, they have the option of bringing a lunch or eating the school lunch. The lunches at his sch0ol are really great, so I have a lot of competition!
I was approached by Live In Nanny about camp lunch ideas. I think they would be great for school lunches too. Check it out here. My favorite is the Lunch Kit idea. NannyNet also has a roundup of 18 blogs with tips on saving money on lunches and how to make lunches more interesting. I especially like the tip about getting your child involved in making their own lunch, which is something I am planning to do.
There are so many amazing bento blogs too. I can’t look at them often, though, because they kind of wig me out — I feel like I should be making these — and then the pressure is too much! Check out these adorable Despicable Me inspired rice balls!
Jamie’s lunches will not be as labor intensive. But I did buy a cute panda bento box for him today. So look out for future bento meals.
One of his favorites is soup. When it gets cooler, I will be sending him to school with a hearty, nutritious soup like this Broccoli Sweet Potato Soup. Steam veggies, add broth, puree. So easy and fast, and so good!
Do you have any good tips for healthy kids’ lunches?
Broccoli Sweet Potato Soup
3 cups chopped broccoli florets and sliced broccoli stems (about 3 stalks of broccoli)
1 small sweet potato
2 cups chicken broth (or other broth you prefer)
salt and pepper to taste
grated parmesan (optional)
- Poke holes into a sweet potato and microwave on a plate in microwave for about 5 minutes. Cool a bit before handling.
- Steam broccoli until tender in steamer, about 8 minutes.
- Peel sweet potato when cool enough to handle and cut until cubes, about one cup.
- Pour broccoli, sweet potato and chicken broth into blender and puree in batches, being careful not to fill blender more than half way. Remove center cap and cover lightly with a towel while blending.
- Garnish with parmesan if desired.
Makes about 4 cups of soup.