Picture Book Idea #9

Picture Book Tryouts

If today's book idea was your only reason for getting out of bed this morning, you can go back to sleep now. Yesterday was a little hectic, and I had to prioritize things like doing laundry, and playing with my toddler.

But I still have a fun sketch for you guys!

Lets' talk a little about tryouts. After high school ended, I figured my days of trying out (and getting picked last) were over.

But not so! As an illustrator, I've had to try out for every single job I've ever gotten. Because I'm new, publishers need to know exactly what they're getting for their money. So they ask me to do some initial samples before sending a contract.

These sketches are from a tryout I did back in April. Enjoy!

Bonus Sketch!

I went on a walk with my two-year-old daughter today. It was her first time walking in fresh snow, and it was so cute that I had to grab my sketchbook.

Picture Book Idea #8

I'm not entirely sure what this story is about. One possibility: an adaptation of Town Mouse and Country Mouse - where two adventurous kids go exploring in each others' lands, only to discover they miss their own homes.

Picture Book Idea #7

These are just getting stranger and stranger...

Picture Book Idea #6

What could be worse than hand-me-down armor?

Picture Book Idea #5

A cautionary tale:

When Ruthie doesn't get what she wants, she tries throwing a fit - just a little one at first. It screams, and it squawks, and it scampers around the house. And Ruthie gets what she wants.

She starts throwing bigger and bigger fits. Whiny crybaby fits and roaring door-slamming fits. No-bones floppy fits, and all-teeth angry fits. She has a fit for every occasion.

Little by little, the fits grow wild. They argue with everyone. They snarl, and they growl. Ruthie knows she has to stop throwing the fits, but it's too late. The fits start throwing Ruthie!

How is the going to get rid of them?

Saturday Bonus Sketch!

My wife and I went and watched our friends' kids' soccer game last night. A bunch of 4-year-olds chasing a ball is golden sketch fodder.

I'm pretty proud of these.

Daily Picture Book Idea #4

The world needs more books about flying magic dogs.

Daily Picture Book Idea #3

This is mostly just a concept, but I think it could be soft, lyrical, and transporting for children as they nod off to sleep.

Every page turn would reveal a new place, and show what people are doing as America's kids nod off to sleep. French bakers waking up early to begin their day's work. Saudi Arabian Muslims performing their morning prayers. Children heading to school in India, and taking lunch break in Korea. In Samoa, children leave school for afternoon homework or activities.

If done right, I think it could be very soothing. If done wrong, it could confuse kids.

Good night, sleep tight.

Daily Picture Book Idea #2

When we need a dose of swashbuckling action, but we're sick of pirates, where can we turn? VIKINGS!

Here's my current plot for the book:

A boy needs a break from his kindergarten class, but he's out of sick days, there's no chance of a snow day, and President's Day is weeks away. So he writes a letter to some Vikings, and asks them to come disrupt things.

Unfortunately, the Vikings discover that they LOVE kindergarten. Music time, art time, reading time - they've never had so much structure in their lives! And there's even a nap time!

The boy either has to get rid of the Vikings, or stop class himself. He isn't counting on a third possibility: that he might learn to like kindergarten as much as the Vikings.

Copyright Jed Henry blah, blah, blah. Anyone who rips this off will have a longboat of Vikings to answer to. :)

One Book Idea Per Day!

Apparently, November was National Picture Book Idea Month in the kid lit world. I totally missed it. So I'm going to be posting my own ideas for the next month. Until January 7, I'll be posting a new picture book idea every day.

Here's my first entry, a sequel to WOLF BOY SLEEPS OVER.

P.S. - Now that we all know Wolf Boy, do you have any antics you'd like to see him perform in this new academic setting? I'm open to suggestions, since the book isn't actually written yet. :)



(You can scroll down a couple posts to see the full dummy of WOLF BOY SLEEPS OVER.)

The Night Light

Here's a sketch of the Night Light.

The Night Light

This is a very different type of book, compared to Wolf Boy. It has a very special place in my heart.