Favorite Winter Picture Books!

Winter is such a magical time. Here are 11 of my favorite picture books with winter themes. I hope you'll enjoy! 

Favorite Picture Books of 2017

Out of the hundreds of 2017 picture books my son and I read these ones stood out the most. They are the books that made us laugh so hard Sam snorted milk out his nose. They are the books that spontaneously inspired profound discussions. They are the books with illustrations that took our breath away. So without further ado...here are the best of 2017.

Sam’s Top 5 Favorite

Tyranosaurus Rex vs. Edna – Douglas Rees and Jed Henry

Read the Book Lemmings! – Amy Dykman and Zachariah O-Hora

What the Dinosaurs Did at School –  Refe & Susan Tuma

Through the Window – Taro

The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse – Mac Barnett, and Jon Klassen

My Top 5 Favorite

Out of Wonder – Ekua Holmes – Kwame Alexander

Mighty Moby – Ed Young, Barbara Dacosta

The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet – Carmen Agra Deedy and Eugene Yelchin

Letters to a Prisoner – Jacques Goldstyn

The World is Not a Rectangle – Jeanette Winter

An Anniversary Illustration

When Mae Suramek, entrepreneur and founder of Noodle Nirvana, approached me requesting an illustration for her parent's anniversary I responded with a very enthusiastic"YES"even though the deadline was only two weeks away which can to be tricky as a mother working a full time day job.

The day Mae sent me the photograph of her parents from the 1970's I knew instantly that this was going to be a fantastic illustration. The colors, the motion, the classic white suit and gorgeous flowered dress, and most of all their body language, a clear expression of love, tenderness, and joy, these factors combined provided the best subject material an artist could ask for. I couldn't wait to get started.

I began that very afternoon, bringing loose scraps of paper and a mechanical pencil to the park. As my 6 year old son played on the playground I drew. A young girl looked over my shoulder as I sketched and said, "That's good. Your good. Let me know when you're done so I can see how good it is." And then scampered off to join the others on the playground.

My favorite part of an illustration is when I get to decide on what colors I'm going to use. I spread pieces of scrapbook paper across the floor looking for the ones that jump out at me and beg to be included. I usually tend to go with more earthy and neutral tones, but this piece called for bolder and brighter colors. 

Thank you Mae, for trusting me with this project. They were a gorgeous couple 46 years ago and they are a gorgeous couple now. It has been an honor. 

Valentine's Day Literary Bracket

Happy Valentine's Day! It's been a long time since I created one of these brackets, so I decided to do one in honor of today. Since there are many different forms of love out there I focused on 4 different categories: siblings, guardians, friends, and colleagues/partners in crime. I left romantic relationships out of it seeing as they get enough attention already.

Friends
Frog &Toad - Frog & Toad
Wilbur & Charlotte - Charlotte's Web
Offred & Moira - The Handmaid's Tale
Leisel & Rudy - The Book Theif
Pooh & Piglet - Winnie the Pooh
Diana Barry and Anne - Anne of Green Gables
Ruth & Idgie - Fried Green  Tomatoes
Amir & Hassan - Kite Runner

Guardians

Jean Valjean & Cossette - Les Miserables

Mrs. Frisbee & Timothy - Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH

Dodola & Zam - Habibi

Atticus Finch & Scout - To Kill a Mockingbird

Alana & Hazel - Saga

Myrtle & Zeek - The Pinkish, Purplish, Bluish Egg

Serious Black & Harry - Harry Potter

Man & Boy - The Road

Siblings

Hazel & Fiver - Watership Down

Arthur & DW - Arthur

Jane & Elizabeth - Pride & Prejudice

Baudelaires - Series of Unfortunate Events

Jamie & Tyrion - Game of Thrones

Meg & Charles Wallace - A Wrinkle in Time

Josh & Jordan - The Crossover

Fred & George - Harry Potter

Partners in Crime

 Sherlock & Watson - Sherlock Holmes

George Milton & Lennie Small - Of Mice & Men

Frodo & Sam - Lord of the Rings

Rorschach & Nite Owl - Watchmen

Hamlet & Horatio - Hamlet

Don Quixote & Sancho - Don Quixote

Caveman & Zero - Holes

Calvin & Hobbes - Calvin & Hobbes