feels nice

 
My first book for children came out at the beginning of the month. It's part of a series of books I am writing for Millbrook Press in Minneapolis, and the next title will be all about colour (except, of course, it's all about color for the US market).

The first, though, is about spiky, slimy, smooth textures - and lots more touchy, feely things. It was huge fun putting together all the photos; I hadn't realised just how many photos of everyday objects and scenes I'd been taking since I started writing yarnstorm until I trawled my albums for these books. Even without any formal plan to write a series of children's books, I discovered I'd been photographing textures all along. (I think I knew I'd been doing colours for a long time.)

 

However, I did have to do some book-specific photography. When Danielle, who designed the book so brilliantly, asked for a new slimy picture, I cracked masses of eggs in an egg-box on a bread board on my bedroom windowsill 'studio'. Unfortunately, the whole lot slid off the board  as I was coming down the stairs balancing egg boxes, board and camera. One dozen broken eggs with their shells are definitely super-slimy, and I did think of photographing the mess for the book,  but the light in the stairwell isn't ideal. Shame. Simon also knows that mud feels very oooooozy when it comes up between your toes because he modelled the muddy foot page when no-one else would stand in a patch of freshly and specially created mud on a very hot, sunny, dry day in the garden.

The book has had some lovely reviews, and I have to say this feels very good. There is one here on Kirkus Reviews, and one here on Booklist Online. The School Library Journal preview was also very complimentary, as was their full review which called the book a 'visual feast' which gives the reader a 'sense of intimacy and 'will work in either science or languages arts classroom. But just browsing and enjoying the lovely photos will appeal to younsters as well'.

It's available in the UK via Amazon and even though it comes from an educational publisher, it is just as suited to bookshops, local libraries, and reading at home as it is to classrooms and teacher-led discussion.

Comments

[D A Nelson]

Good luck with your new book Jane.

Dawn x

[Sue]

Well, if you can judge a book by its cover, I'd say this looks like an interesting one, Good Luck :)
Sue x

[ruth]

Very exciting! As a retired librarian, I can tell you that great reviews in those journals will sell your book to libraries all over the place.

[Tess]

Congratulations! Wonderful that you keep expanding your audience so others can learn to sense fully!

[Anna]

Congrats! You continue to be amazing. And I'm pleased that the book has a Minneapolis connection!

[Rebecca]

Oh Jane, how lovely to have such glowing reviews, I have always found your blog a visual feast so I am not surprised at all.

[Ali]

I am mourning this horrible gap between having little children of my own and them producing some grandchildren I can read to. Just think of all the great books I am missing out on enjoying.

At least you dropped the eggs after you got your shot!

[Darci]

These rock...As an 8th grade English teacher I am always on the lookout for picture books that can prompt freewrites on various topics - these will be great for narrative and Response to lit. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Wandering Chopsticks]

I bought "Turkish Delights" recently and wondered if it was an abridged combo of "Cherry Cake" and "Ripping Things to Do?" The latter books are not available in the US, or not very affordably available anyway and I wondered if "Turkish Delights" was a "best of" of those books? More Americanized, with less Enid Blyton? The Amazon reviews on the UK and US websites don't really make that clear.

I also bought "Domesticity" long ago and recently bought "Quiltmaking" as well. I've started a quilt based on the Russian shawl pattern. Just perfect as I wanted to use a Scottish tablecloth for a quilt, but didn't know what type of pattern would best showcase it.

Also, I wanted to say I've been enjoying your blog more the past few months than in the past few years. It feels a little like the old Yarnstorm that I loved. More you again instead of the impersonal snippets of the past few years. I've been reading since the Villandry quilt post of long ago. And while I understood why you had to detach from the public in some ways because of the criticism when "Domesticity" came out, I was also sad that that forced you to change your blog a bit.

[Carlie]

What a fabulous accomplishment! Congratulations!

How did you decide on a topic for cooking up a book?

[A Trifle Rushed]

I ordered the book ( we have a 4year old) It arrived a few weeks ago. We've read, looked, discussed it a few times. SHE LOVES IT.

Thanks Jane, we are looking forward to the next children's book.

Regards Judith x

[Laura]

I bought my copy of Spiky, Slimy, Smooth as soon as it was available here in the US and eagerly look forward to your next one in the series. My youngest child is 9, and I love the book for him, but as I now look forward to a grandson this summer, I'm thinking I'll have a new generation of readers to enjoy your books soon!

[christine]

Looks fabulous - am going to buy a copy for my God daughter !!
Thought of you yesterday as I took my youngest daughter to the Musée du Quai Branly to see the Christian Lacroix exhibition of oriental dresses. Outstanding collection of embroidery, patchwork and creation by women in regions that we hear so much of for the most awful reasons at the moment. And these are their dress for special occasions. Try to get to Paris - I think it closes on the 15th may.xx C

[eireann]

Minneapolis! You know it's my hometown? :)

Congratulations on the book's release, Jane.

[vanessa]

Congratulations Jane, it looks fantastic! I love the idea. I hope you have a huge success with it. With that wonderful title, I'm sure you will! Vanessa x