Here’s my Perfect Picture Book selection for the week:
Peepsqueak!
Written and Illustrated by Leslie Ann Clark
Harper, 2012
Suitable for: Ages 4 and up (per Amazon, but I think it’s great for the toddler age group)
Theme/Topic: Determination, Animals, Exploration
Opening: One sunny morning, Peepsqueak popped out of his shell. All the other baby chicks were stretching and yawning. But not Peepsqueak! Because why?
He was on the move!
Brief Synopsis: Peepsqueak wants to fly high, but all the other animals tell him not to try and “You can’t fly!” Peepsqueak keeps trying and well, you’ll see what he can do at the end of the story.
Link to resources: Learning to Fly (a picture book I previously added to PPBF) to see another take on the wanting to fly adventure. Here’s a Baby Chick jigsaw puzzle online. Some cute baby chick crafts, so you could try and make your own Peepsqueak!
Why I chose the book: I heard Leslie Ann Clark share her story about how she evolved over the years as an artist and how Peepsqueak hatched into a book at the Rocky Mountain Region SCBWI conference last weekend in Denver. She was inspirational.
As an illustrator, she developed her Peepsqueak character first. At a licensing show (where artists attempt to sell their work to different companies to use on their fabrics, gift items, etc.), Clark’s Peepsqueak was discovered by a publisher. She was asked to write the story. I poked around Leslie’s blog and well this one shows what a nice person she is: New Every Morning. The Peepsqueak adventure continues with the release of a second book in 2013.
12 x 12 in 2012
I also “called” Peepsqueak! for Perfect Picture Book Friday when I saw Penny looking at it in the bookstore area. I’ve mentioned before the need to do a book review fast, before someone else posts it.
What can I say about meeting fellow 12 x 12 in 2012 participants? Beyond awesome. I met some of the 12xers online like Penny, Julie Rowan-Zoch and our fearless leader Julie Hedlund. Then, at the conference I met them plus more participants like Beth Thaler. It was like instant friends — just add a conference (well, a little water too as it’s dry here in Colorado)!
Julie Rowan-Zoch and I talked and talked and talked at the end of a day filled with author speeches and workshops. She may never want to be my roommate again.
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| Julie Rowan-Zoch, Megan Halsey and Me |
Julie and I both attended the Under the Creative Umbrella workshop by artist Megan Halsey. She shared her personal art, children’s picture book illustration, editorial art, giftware products and licensing work. Her presentation was both inspiring and refreshing. It was a wonderful reminder that markets — for books and magazines — can change. Megan has reinvented and branded herself in several markets as a result.
Megan mentioned she uses photos from conferences to post on her Facebook wall, etc. So, I grabbed roommate Julie and we had our photo taken together. We may wind up on a Facebook wall near you.
I’m still catching up after the weekend conference. I’m checking off items on my to-do list, so I can apply the tips and techniques I learned in workshops.
The Pikes Peak Writer’s group blog Writing from the Peak is letting me contribute a monthly post. I’ll share some tips from the SCBWI conference there. I’ll let you know when it gets posted.
Jenny Lee Sulpizio interviewed me for her Write on, Mom! series. You can read why I’m on my iPhone a lot — it’s not just all Facebook, Twitter and email. Sometimes, I’m … well, you can read about it here.
Sounds like a super-cute book. Interesting that the character evolved first and then the story. Puts a new perspective on reading picture books.
sandi
Sandi, Leslie’s session reminded me to up the personality of some of my characters.
This book looks really cute, Stacy! Thanks for adding it to our list. And it sounds like the conference was amazing! I wish I could have gone! But Colorado is very far away… 🙂 Hopping over to read your mom post now 🙂
Susanna, Really I should thank Penny for letting me “call it.”
What a cute book, Stacy, and what a privilege to meet the author/illustrator in person, and hear her story. One of these conferences, I hope to join with all the 12×12’ers…fun!
Jarm, I was in Perfect Picture Book heaven by meeting several of the authors, who have made the list in recent weeks.
Adorable book. I’m trying to collect titles for a friend with a 2-year-old. This certainly fits the bill. What a great opportunity for the author. You never know who is going to see your work and support you.
Sounds like a great time with your 12×12’s. So happy you went and had such a good time at the conference.
Patricia, This is a good two-year-old pick. Most of my books have to be Enzo-tested to make the list.
Sweet! My 4yo would love this.
Glad you have fun at the conference!
Emily, I think so. The characters are just too darn cute throughout the book.
Great review! This is really cute!
I need to go to a writers conference soon… Maybe join SCBWI? 🙂
Love the book cover and the title. Looks like a great read.
I love the idea of this book and you have renewed my desire to read LEARNING TO FLY as well!
Great post – love all the connections you have mande with other writers!
I love that story of how the book came to be. I can see why the publisher thought he would make a good book character.
It was fun learning about how the book came to be. Looking forward to your post on writing from the peak. I hope to meet you one day, Stacy!
It was fun to catch the tail end of her workshop. Glad you highlighted her book!
~Debbie
Love the book, too cute! Sounds like a fun time at the SCBWI conference, so jealous you were able to meet so many 12x12ers! 🙂
What a fun looking little peepsqueak! I love that the books you share are Enzo-tested, Enzo-approved. That tells me they’re GOOD!
Loved hearing about your time at the conference, too, although like a lot of other people, I’m envious about all of you getting to meet each other!
You are one busy lady, Stacy!!!! Sounds like the conference was a rousing success…I’ll look forward to hearing more about it at our critique group meeting. 🙂
I love this book…thanks for reviewing it…and it was interesting to hear how it came to be.
What a sweet book for the young. Loved your review Stacy! Sounds like your Conference went really well. It’s such fun meeting up with some 12x12er’s