Thursday, December 30, 2010

A Party for Amos McGee (and other books, too!)


Merry Holidays, everyone! I am having a bout of insomnia and a roaring headache so now seems as good a time as any to stop avoiding this blog and instead, avoid drawing for a bit. You'll have to excuse me if the writing today is a little off. I know it's a been a while since I've posted. Every so often I would check erinstead.com to see if a new post somehow magically appeared. It did not.

Our Amos McGee has been working awfully hard these days and I do hope he took a little time off this holiday season. If you saw the previous post, the book was chosen as one of the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2010. Our publisher generously flew Phil and myself back to the city (we had just been there a few weeks before to turn in a book) and we attended a party.


I am by nature a very shy person. Very shy. It takes me about three years of knowing someone to make a friend. I think my parents did a pretty good job at teaching me how to politely get through situations like parties without completely losing my cool. But a party with a name tag and a framed prize that I have to walk up and accept....this is a nervous situation for me. Which is not so say I wasn't excited and blown away by the whole thing. If anything, that excitement made it worse.


So there I am. I am the person standing up there with my head down looking at the ground to make sure my knees didn't buckle and that I am, indeed, still standing. Everyone else seemed pretty cool and collected up there.

A note on who I'm standing up there with–
Be sure to check out the books on the list. The professionals in that picture (most are illustrators and some are the editors accepting for the illustrators) are all exceptional. It's difficult for me to not write about how crazy I felt standing next to those people, but Phil has been trying to teach me how to accept a compliment graciously without skipping straight to self-deprecation. So that's what I'm trying to do here. But be sure to stop by your local store and check them out. Two of my favorites of the year are on that list...but I'm not telling which ones.


I met a lot of very nice book people that night. I think I got through it without being too shaky or saying anything too wildly idiotic. But I love book people. It was nice to have an excuse to talk shop. Oh, and librarians for goodness sake! Where would I be without librarians?

An interesting note and a nod to a future post–

Upon a little research, it appears as though the NYT panel all had some ties to the fair state of Michigan in their past. In my next post, I'm going to talk a little about that and this state, I think.

I hope everyone had a nice December. Happy Holidays! I love snow.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Who bought the New York Times today?



More on this later, when I get my head around it a little. For now, though, let's all go to Phil's stamp blog, where he'll be celebrating this news with a special stamp series.

ps. click on the image! This one gets bigger!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Falling for Bear (ba dum dum).



It's definitely fall now. One night in August an incredibly strong and spooky wind came and blew summer away. It was a little unsettling, but when the wind died down I was happy to see this summer go. Most of that happiness was weather-related. It was uncharacteristically gross in Michigan (hot with a humidity that was off the charts).

But now it is fall. It's a beautiful time to live in Ann Arbor where (I'm pretty sure) the trees outnumber the residents. However, I'm just returning from a very nice quick trip to New York and I am back to my regularly scheduled program of feeling torn. October is one of my favorite months in the city and we were staying with friends who live near Prospect Park. New York City was giving me quite an argument to drop everything and move back.

Still, on the drive back from the big city, I was very happy to return to our big barn in the little city. It is hard to argue with the smell of pine needles and fall leaves and the affection I have come to realize that I possess for this (now a little broke) state. When we accidentally moved back to Michigan, I think Phil and I were defeated (and a little broke) but so was this state. It was the height of the financial crisis. I found myself sticking around and feeling defensive about this place the way you would run to a friend who was having a tough time.

Artistically speaking, it's certainly not a bad thing to have to walk my dog in the woods in the morning. For now, the pace of everything is helping me draw. In New York, I'm not always sure I had enough time to process all of the stimuli and make art out of it.

Right now, I am working on a dummy that takes place in fall (and then spring, later) so I get to steal from my surroundings.


I stole the stamp today from Phil's stamp blog. The blog is for his book that is releasing in Spring 2011 entitled Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat. I know that's a long time from now, but he's helping us all through it with a daily countdown on the blog.

On another note, thanks to the kind people who have left comments about A Sick Day for Amos McGee. They mean a lot to me. I love hearing about bedtime story experiences or library programs.

Speaking of library programs, if you're in southeast Michigan and feel like hearing a story, Phil and I will be reading at the Pittsfield Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library on November 5th from 10-11 am. Mark your calendar!

Also, Craig Frazier (an author and illustrator and graphic designer of very high esteem. If you haven't read the Stanley series, let alone Hank Finds Inspiration, you are missing out) just posted a little review of our Amos on his website. And I am once again looking to the thesaurus for another word for flattered. Or blushing a little.

Happy Fall!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Come and see our ugly mugs!

Bored this weekend? Feel like taking a roadtrip? This Sunday, September 12th is the Kerrytown Book Festival! Kerrytown is my favorite neighborhood in Ann Arbor (and not just because I live there). The farmer's market, good coffee, food, and one of my favorite stores, Found, just to name a few things within a 2 block radius.

On top of all that fun, this weekend there are two festivals. The first, Saturday, is the Homegrown Festival. Phil and I stumbled upon it last year and we were so pleased to have accidently attended. It's delicious.

The second festival is Sunday. It is the Kerrytown Book Festival. There will be a plethora of speakers and events for kids and adults. Notably, David Small will be doing an interview with Nicola Rooney. Ms. Rooney is the local indie bookstore owner. She has graciously invited us to sign copies of our little book, A Sick Day for Amos McGee. We'll be sitting at her table at 1 o'clock.

Head to Ann Arbor this weekend! If you don't want to see us or your tired of Amos McGee, there will be plenty of other books and things to do. Check out the Hollander's activities. While you're at it, check out their store.

1 o'clock, Sunday September 12th! See you there!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Amos McGee takes an international flight


The photo to your left was taken (with a cell phone, so let's not judge too harshly) in the Arboretum in Ann Arbor. I've been spending a lot of time here lately in the mornings, before the heat completely takes over and makes everything completely unlivable. This second half of summer weather has been oppressive. I'm getting through it, but not with a good attitude.

However, it is keeping me indoors and I am getting my work done. I'm thinking about a new book and trying to tie the book I've been working on all up together in a nice clean package. I've got some shaky legs about that one. But maybe I'll finish strong.

In the meantime, I found out that our little Amos McGee has released in Japan.






















I haven't seen a copy in person, but I have seen some images. The publisher took the images where I drew words like "City Zoo" in the sign and translated them. For instance, the original is below–


And now the Japanese translation. They did an amazing job. I was really blown away by the level of care they gave each letter.


Here are two more examples. They translated everything! Including little tiny things I wouldn't expect anyone to notice. There is a tiny sign in the back of the zoo below that says "eat vegetables!" for instance...




That's it for now!

Friday, June 25, 2010

On learning not to google.

This June has been a little dramatic weather-wise. It's been extremely humid during the day and then thunderstorms-really good ones- at night. I don't like the hot humid days but I like the thunderstorms. When I was little and there was a big summer storm at night, my dad would stop whatever he was doing and he and my brother would go straight to the porch and I followed. We would all stand there and take it in.

I still have that instinct now. Maybe at my own peril. But in this new apartment, I am without a porch. When the storms start lately, I feel a little like I'm wearing pants without pockets. I have nowhere to put my hands. I park at the window and watch the storm anyway, but it's not quite the same. I can't smell the rain and I'm a little too protected.


I'm discovering that the pants without pockets feeling is also a little how it feels the first month your first book is published. I am no longer in charge of A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Almost everything that goes along with that is wonderful. Amos McGee gets to be someone else's book from the library or someone else's bedtime story or someone else's book they don't like very much. I really like that. I think the process of making art can feel selfish. But once the book is a book and not 32 separate drawings, I like that's it's someone else's experience.

Okay, most of the time. That lack of control can get to me. I have an extremely thin skin and I'm often nervous. Since this is my first book, too, I'm just not sure what to think. So this last month I have taken to attempting to spy on the book. This means google. This, I have found, is a mistake. It has only expanded my horizons to the fact that I know nothing about nothing.

So, I'm circling back to my original illustrator intent. The book is someone else's now. I hope they like it, but if they don't it's okay. Everything is oooookaay. I should get back to work.



That's it for now!
p.s. I can't figure out what the glitch is that won't allow the pictures get bigger when you click on them, but I'm working on it...

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Well, I left you in May.


Hello, again. It's June 1st now and I've been away from this blog for a while. Philip, Wednesday, and I had moved during May and then were without the internet for a couple ofweeks after that. But here we are again in the digital age. We moved into a 100 year-old barn that is still in downtown Ann Arbor (the image on your left). We live across the street from atrain station,too. This place should end up being full of inspiration. Or at least a train book.

We have a lot more space to work now, which we are happily adjusting to. Below is our desk area now. For those of you who are artists, we get northern light through those windows!



We've had some good fortune with the new book, A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Have I mentioned it yet? Did you know I drew the pictures in that book? Did I happen to mention it's now available in stores?


Also, Phil and I just did our first event for the book at Madison Square Park hosted by the park and Time Out New York Kids Magazine. It was loud and scary for me because it required talking but we got through it. It was actually really fun and I felt a little honored to be there. They wrote a nice review in this month's issue of the magazi
ne, which you can see here.

A long time ago I showed a sketch of a bunch of bears. Here is how that turned out.

That's all for now!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

By George!

My friend and colleague George O'Connor has a number of books out there in the world for you to buy. You can find them here, here, here, here, here, and here. Recently, he has embarked on a new series of graphic novels about greek mythology. I've only laid eyes on the first one so far (but the second one is out in 6 days!). The first book is truly outstanding. It's inspiring to see a friend make a series of books that suits them as well as this does. I'm not sure I can describe it properly, but perhaps the quality of the books will speak for themselves. Hurray, George!

He also has a great website that pairs with the series.

And on that website you can follow his special Olympians blog.

And on that blog you'll notice today that yours truly is featured. What a kind friend he is! I'll let him talk about the description, but this is the image I drew for the feature.

Buy his books! They're great! And they are all a little different. He has many facets, that George.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

48 days and counting!


Hello again! It's been a nice few weeks for Amos and crew (Phil and myself included). It certainly helps that it's spring and that baseball season has started. Phil has started a blog in anticipation of his next book, Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat. The book is about a very lost best friend teddy bear and the adventure Jonathan has to go on to find him. And so, for every day that passes he'll be putting up a postage stamp of a ship from somewhere around the world. You can follow the journey here. You can see some of the art from both of Phil's books here and here, too! Also, see some kid art related to Creamed Tuna Fish and Peas on Toast here.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee has had a very nice couple of weeks. Phil and I received our
certificates and lapel pins from the Junior Library Guild (Amos is their September selection) and we've been discussing the best way to wear them with pride. Amos McGee
will also have reviews coming up in Kirkus and The Horn Book (hooray!). But today was also very exciting because Amos was reviewed on Elizabeth Bird's blog for the School Library Journal. You can see that here. It was delightful but very strange to see my own drawing on a blog I read daily. What a nice surprise.

Whew. Well, who's fed up with the bragging? That will be it outta me for a couple of weeks. Let's get down to some art sharing. Today we'll go to a tea party....of the non political variety (I'll admit, I kind of resent that group for usurping such a happy phrase of mild friendship time).

I sketched this one out towards the end of the book making process so I was able to be a little looser and more confident before I went to a final illustration. If you look closely you'll notice I had to color code the penguin to table to Amos area because carving woodblocks for that area was getting a little confusing.

And there's the final illustration. Come back soon! Less bragging! More art!




Tuesday, March 16, 2010

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Spring is really rolling here right now. There are Marches in Michigan that laugh in the face of spring but this year it's really mild. I'm tentatively enjoying it and so is the dog (who is on your left tentatively checking out Huron river).

7o days until A Sick Day for Amos McGee hits the shelves! Or at least the internet! I'm probably going to post about the process for the next few weeks to get everyone nice and sick of the book before it comes out. Remember this post about my picture making process?

We'll start today at the very last picture I made for the book but the very first one you'll see. The cover.

For better or for worse, I tend to thumb my nose at the computer. It's a tool for me. There are times when I make bad sketches on it, lay out a book, or stare at it to try to get an idea. I avoid the computer for final art. For the cover of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, I had an idea that I would do the title type by hand. So I went to work. Below is the carved block.

Here is a detail of it.

I printed the title type in 3 colors– one for the cover, one for the title page, and one for luck.

I ended up (with the help of the art director) using the dark blue type on the cover. I don't think it mattered. The type is pretty small and would have been just as nice as digital. But I learned a little and I enjoyed carving the type.

The book is out May 25th! Mark your calendars! 'Til next time!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

A case of books!

We're actually thawing out this week after the snowstorm pictured on your left. But it was pretty. I live in Michigan, so you never really know, but it may have been the last big one.
Last week Phil and I received a couple of cases of A Sick Day for Amos McGee (which will be out May 25th). We had to give a few copies away and the recipients wanted them signed.
It might sounds silly, but I have been dreading signing copies of my book since I knew I was making a book. I have terrible handwriting. I think the type of drawings I usually make should go hand in hand with nice nun-like script. But this is not the case.

To compensate for my handwriting, I made a little print on each book I was giving out.



So everyone gets a penguin along with a hurried signature.


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Snow and Sketching

There is a snowstorm today in Ann Arbor. Much coffee and hot chocolate will be consumed. Phil and I have recently bought a new type of paint so there is some excitement in our little studio. The snow is a good combination with new paint because it feels like hunker-down-and-make-art weather.

So, in honor of the weather and the new paint, here is a quick post of a page right out of my sketchbook. Phil and I are knocking around a new idea for me. The page below is the most preliminary result of this new idea. More later!



Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Porcupines! sounds like a great expletive.

To your left is how my dog, Wednesday, goes to work with Phil and me. Her office is that red tent she's sleeping in (that's my desk behind it). Phil and I work in a pretty small room together so the tent can be a little cumbersome. But I have a desk, Phil has a desk, so Wednesday needs a place to work as well. It's only fair, I guess.



More later this week-
but here is a tiny sketch to share.




Monday, January 18, 2010

Announcing the First Annual STEADBERY and PHILDECOTT AWARDS

From the Desk of Phil and Erin Stead,

In conjunction with this year's Newbery and Caldecott Awards we, the Steads, are proud to announce to The First Annual Steadbery and Phildecott Awards. The criteria for selection is as follows:
Authors and illustrators selected for the awards must have had their book published in the United States during the previous calendar year. However, the author or illustrator need not be a United States citizen or resident.

And now for the awards.
The First Annual Steadbery Award, for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature in 2009, goes to (in an ironic twist)...

WHEN YOU REACH ME, by Rebecca Stead

In the interest of full disclosure we discolose that we have nothing to disclose about our relation to Rebecca Stead. As far as we know we are not related. We are proud though to claim her as a Stead.

And now for the Phildecott.
We are pleased to announce three winners of The First Annual Phildecott, going to the finest works of illustration for a children's picture book. In alphabetical order...

POUCH! by David Ezra Stein


THE SNOW DAY by Komako Sakai


WAITING FOR WINTER by Sebastian Meschenmoser


There are three Phildecott Honor Books this year.

THE CURIOUS GARDEN by Peter Brown


FEELING SAD by Sarah Verroken


ONLY A WITCH CAN FLY by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Taeeun Yoo


Congratulations to this year's winners and honorees. Congratulations as well to this year's ALA award winners.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Hello 2010!


Hello again! Apologies for the long stretch. I'd say that it's a new year and I'll be much better at posting, but that would probably be a lie. But I'll do my best. It's winter in Ann Arbor. My dog is happy. I love the snow. Phil, I think, is neutral.
Nothing much to say today, but here is an update to the last picture you've seen.






Happy snow-shoeing!