The SCBWI Florida Mid-Year Workshop in Orlando was fantastic. Linda Bernfeld, Gaby Triana and Janeen Mason did an amazing job as usual!!
I had the pleasure to attend the llustrator Intensive with authors/illustrators Jarrett Krosoczka, Janeen Mason and Mac McCool.  Former editor turned agent Mark McVeigh stopped by in the afternoon. They all gave us great insight and advice. What a great day, how lucky those of us who could attend!

The children’s author and illustrator breakfast was a celebration of books and music for the 1,200 booksellers at BookExpo America 2009.
Read the full story.

Check out Tom Warburton’s first children’s book: “1000 Times No”. Tom Warburton is the award-winning creator of Cartoon Network’s smash hit series Codename: Kids Next Door.

Yay! One of my favorite pictures books “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”  by Mo Willems has taken #5 in the top 100 picture books, ranked from a reader poll of top 10s done by blogger Fuse 8. Congratulations Mo! See the Top 100 Picture Books Poll results here. 

Jarrett J.Krosoczka and Janeen Mason are presenting a one-day Illustrator’s Intensive at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference in Orlando June 19 and 20, 2009.  If you  have a burning desire to illustrate children’s books, join us!  You’ll be glad you did.  

Go check out our website at: www.floridaillustrators.net.  
Register now, attendance is limited.

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators has a gorgeous new website at www.scbwi.org !!
If you are a member, go check out the SCBWI Member area, with lots of new stuff for you.
If you’re not a member yet, the SCBWI website offer lost of incredible information on children’s book writing and illustrating. 
If you’re really serious about children’s book writing and illustrating, please consider joining the SCBWI, it’s absolutely worth every dime of it!

Great quote from Mo Willems I just read in my “Notes from the Horn Book” newsletter. 
Mo Willems’ books are definitively small, loud, fun, and zippy!! And inspiration to all of us picture books writers and illustrators!

With Jan Day and Janeen Mason, at the Publishing Party for their brand new picture book “The World’s Greatest Explorer.” 
My review? great adventure, with a mysterious journal, exciting travels, dangerous bandits and clever monkeys! Beautiful illustrations make this book a real treasure!

Brilliant video by author/illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka (www.studiojjk.com)

BOOK BY BOOK: the making of a monkey man by Jarrett Krosoczka

Hellfire from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notredame.