Blessing of the Animals

Every year I take my dog Constance to the Blessing of the Animals at a nearby church.  We meet dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ferrets (even one time a fish in a bowl!) and have a wonderful time celebrating St. Francis and his love for all animals.

This year I was contacted by Ginger Berstrom, Family Ministry and Communications Director at The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul in Charleston, South Carolina.  She wanted to use some of my animal drawings to design a poster and door hangers promoting their Blessing of the Animals service.  I was happy to be able to contribute in a small way to this good cause, and delighted with the end result.  I think Ginger did a great job incorporating my drawings into the materials and I hope you think so too!

Illustration Friday | Spooky

Oops, perhaps a bit TOO spooky?

I haven't been able to participate in IF lately, but this week I couldn't resist.

Opa, talvez um pouco assustador DEMAIS?

Não tenho podido participar no IF ultimamente, mas esta semana não resisti.

Drawn in Brooklyn Exhibitions

The Brooklyn Public Library is hosting a fantastic exhibit of original children's book illustrations by 34 artists who live and work in Brooklyn.

You can read all about it here.

Drawn in Brooklyn runs from September 21, 2010 until January 23, 2011 at the Central Library, Grand Army Plaza.

It's sounds amazing, doesn't it? See you there!

Spotlight on Books and Illustrators

Did you know that October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month? Well, it is! So I thought I'd share with you five pictures books about adopting or rescuing dogs. Perfect, right?


We begin with "Let's Get a Pup! said Kate" by Bob Graham (Candlewick, 2001) in which Kate and her parents go to a shelter looking to adopt a new dog. Kate's cat Tiger died the previous winter but now it's summer and she's ready to find a new friend. First they bring home Dave, a puppy full of energy. But at the shelter they also meet Rosy, an older dog that radiates "good intention." What will they do? Can Rosy find her forever home with Kate as well?

Next comes "The Stray Dog" by Marc Simont (HarperCollins, 2001) from a true story by Reiko Sassa. A family out for a fun Sunday picnic in the park meet a stray dog. They name him Willy and play all day. When it's time to go home the dog stays behind, but as the week goes by no one can stop thinking about the him. The following Saturday they're back in the park, but where is Willy?


In "Before You Were Mine" by Maribeth Boelts with illustrations by David Walker (Putnam, 2007) a little boy wonders what his rescued dog's life was like before he adopted him. A truly sweet story, the boy imagines both happy and sad scenarios and we join him in wondering how this loving pup ended up in a shelter. An author's note at the end talks about the benefits of adopting.


In Stephen Michael King's Mutt Dog ( Harcourt, 2005) we meet a little dog living all alone on the street looking for both food and shelter. We follow him on a particularly windy and rainy night as he takes refuge in a homeless shelter. Will mutt dog ever find a home of his own?



Finally, there's "A Day, a Dog" by Gabrielle Vincent (Front Street, 2000), a wordless book that starts with a dog being abandoned by the side of the road. No words are necessary to express his confusion and fear in what can only be described as a powerful story. Although in picture book format, this book is better for older children and adults, but it's one that shouldn't be missed by animal lovers and illustrators alike. An amazing book.

There it is. Do you have favorite books about rescuing pets? I'd love to hear about them!