Studio Goodwin Sturges is an artists' agency dedicated to nurturing creative talent and developing quality literature for children. The Studio works with children's book publishers across the country and with more than forty artists and authors around the world. This periodic newsletter celebrates our most recent books, awards, and artists' exhibits and events. Enjoy!
In This Issue
Spotlight on Alison Paul
Winter 2010 Books
Fall 2009 Books
Events and Awards
Spotlight on
Alison Paul

Q: When did you know that you wanted to be an illustrator? Are there other artists in your family?

A: My parents actually met in art school, so I don't know if it's in my DNA, but
I definitely did grow up in
an artistic environment. Both of my parents were oil painters, though, so I'd have to say that my choice to illustrate came out of my love for books and storytelling. My first illustration gig was in fourth grade when we wrote "tall tales" and several of my classmates asked me to illustrate their stories. I never looked back...

 


Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: At the risk of sounding cheesy, I find inspiration everywhere (which is why I keep a sketchbook on me at all times). A stranger will step onto the train platform, or someone will squeeze into the elevator, and something about him or her will stay with me. Parts of these people and our interactions make up my future characters and stories.



Q: You are an author-
illustrator; which usually comes first in your mind when you have a new idea, words or images?

A: I definitely see the story first. I might know the title, or the characters' names, but I pretty much have to sketch the whole story out before I can write the words that go with it.



Q: Your latest book, Sunday Love, uses a black, white, and red palette. Did you enjoy working in limited color, and what opportunities did you find it presented?

A: I love the design challenge that a limited palette poses. For Sunday Love, I tried to take it one step further and literally let the palette dictate the story. I tried to only include characters and settings that were already black, white, and/or red. It then became a challenge to have all of those elements exist together in a space without the information getting lost. That line between clarity and confusion was a fun one to walk.



Q: What are you working on now?

A: I'm writing story about a family of map makers. We'll see where they lead me...



Q: What would be your "dream project"?

A: I have always dreamed of doing a grand collaboration with some
of my author/illustrator friends where we all swap stories and illustrate each other's words. I think it would be different and fun
to write something with a friend's illustrations in mind, and interesting to see what their words bring out in my drawing
.



Come see Alison and Bruno the Burglar, star of Sunday Love, at Curious George and Friends Books & Toys in Harvard Square this Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14th, 1-3pm. There will be sundaes! :)



Sunday Love
Houghton Mifflin
(January 18, 2010)

link to amazon



The Crow
Houghton Mifflin
(September 1, 2007)

link to amazon

Winter 2010 Books

Alison Paul
Sunday Love

Ages
4-8

Houghton Mifflin (January 18, 2010)


ISBN-10:
0618991840

ISBN-13:
978-0618991846

$16.00
link to amazon

Anne Wilsdorf
Tutus Aren't My Style

Ages
4-8

Dial (February 18, 2010)


ISBN-10:
0803732120

ISBN-13:
978-0803732124

$16.99
link to amazon

 
Fall 2009 Books

Holly Berry
Woof: A Love Story

Ages 4-8

HarperCollins (November 24, 2009)

ISBN-10: 0060250070 

ISBN-13:
978-0060250072

$16.99
link to amazon
Rebecca Bond
In the Belly of an Ox: The Unexpected
Photographic Adventures of Richard
and Cherry Kearton


Ages 6-9

Houghton Mifflin
(November 16, 2009)

ISBN-10:
0547076754

ISBN-13:
978-0547076751

$16.00
link to amazon

Nicoletta Ceccoli
Dr. Sigmundus: The Resurrection Fields

Ages Young Adult

Knopf (November 10, 2009)


ISBN-10:
0375843353

ISBN-13:
978-0375843358

$16.99
link to amazon

Christine Davenier
Mr. & Mrs. Portly and Their Little Dog, Snack

Ages 4-8
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 1, 2009)

ISBN-10:
0374350892

ISBN-13:
978-0374350895

$16.99
link to amazon
Christine Davenier
Piper Reed Gets a Job

Ages 9-12

Henry Holt (August 18, 2009)
Christy Ottaviano Books

ISBN-10:
0805081992

ISBN-13:
978-0805081992

$14.95
link to amazon

Bob Kolar
The Little Dump Truck

Ages
3-6

Henry Holt (September 29, 2009)
Christy Ottaviano Books


ISBN-10:
0805082816

ISBN-13:
978-0805082814

$12.99
link to amazon

Eva Montanari
Chasing Degas

Ages
6-9

Abrams (October 1, 2009)


ISBN-10:
0810938782

ISBN-13:
978-0810938786

$16.95
link to amazon

Eric Puybaret
The Nutcracker

Ages
6-9

Sterling (October 6, 2009)


ISBN-10:
1402755627

ISBN-13:
978-1402755620

$17.95
link to amazon
Ashley Wolff
When Lucy Goes Out Walking: A Puppy's First Year

Ages 4-8
Henry Holt (October 27, 2009)
Christy Ottaviano Books

ISBN-10: 0805081682
ISBN-13: 978-0805081688
$16.99
link to amazon

Ashley Wolff
I Call My Grandma Nana

Ages 4-8

Tricycle Press (August 11, 2009)


ISBN-10:
1582462518

ISBN-13:
978-1582462516

$15.99
link to amazon

Ashley Wolff
I Call My Grandpa Papa

Ages 4-8

Tricycle Press (August 11, 2009)


ISBN-10:
158246256

ISBN-13:
978-1582462523

$15.99
link to amazon



 
Awards and Events

The I Love series, written by Philemon Sturges and illustrated by Shari Halpern (HarperCollins), was named one of the Top 10 Early Literacy Series by Booklist Magazine.

In the Belly of an Ox, written and illustrated by Rebecca Bond (Houghton Mifflin), is an ALA Notable Book.

The Little Dump Truck, illustrated by Bob Kolar (Holt), was selected a Top Ten Children's Book of 2009 by Nick Jr, and was
also named a Best of the Best book by the Chicago Public Library.

How Robin Saved Spring,
illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli (Holt), Just Like a Baby, illustrated by Christine Davenier (Chronicle), Muriel's Red Sweater, illustrated by Bernadette Pons (Dutton), and I Call My Grandpa Papa, written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff (Tricycle), have been nominated for the 2009 CYBIL awards.

Four Studio books were selected for the 2009 Original Art Exhibition: Woof! A Love Story, illustrated by Holly Berry (HarperCollins);
In the Belly of An Ox
, written and illustrated by Rebecca Bond (Houghton Mifflin); How Robin Saved Spring, illustrated by
Nicoletta Ceccoli (Holt); and Chasing Degas, written and illustrated by Eva Montanari (Abrams). How Robin Saved Spring was also one of forty pieces selected as part of the traveling show from the 2009 Original Art Exhibition. The show will travel to schools across the county from December 2009 through December 2010.

"The Illustrator's Studio: Works of Wade Zahares" ran from October 22 - November 18 at Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk, ME. 
Wade's work was also exhibited at the Center for Arts in Natick, MA, December 2 - January 13, 2010.

Giles Laroche's What's Inside (Houghton Mifflin) was accepted for the Society of Illustrators' Illustrators 52 Annual Book and Editorial Show, January 27 - February 20, 2010. Giles is also exhibiting at the Wenham Museum in Wenham, MA, where "Paper Capers: Adventures in Paper Art" will run from February 5 - May 9, and at the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, MA, where "The World At My Fingertips" will run March 17 - May 16. You'll also find Giles at the Newburyport Literary Festival in Newburyport, MA, April 23-24.