Hello! I feel like it’s been forever since I posted (ok…a week!) The trouble about blogging and working as I do,  is that most of what I do all day is stuff that I can’t talk about! It’s the nature of producing things that take  a long time to mature and get out the door. Books for instance take a ba-jillion years (well, it feels like it!) and that goes with fabric, products, etc.

But I want to give you a little sneak peek into what’s happening oh so soon….

Sneaky Peek #1:

CHILDREN AT PLAY PAPER LINE!

First let’s talk PAPER!

Making Memories was in touch with me earlier last year about turning the Children at Play fabric line into a children’s paper line. Um…ya! That was an exciting YES!! But I didn’t want it to be just ANY paper line. This one has the same feeling as the fabric…playful, and creative. Paper Pinwheel kits, banner kits…even…(eeek!) Paper dolls with clothing that sports the fabric design…etc. Oh! And not to mention paper, paper, paper! (For wallpapering dollhouses of course:)

I won’t go too much into detail now (there is so much more to show you!) because it won’t be available for another month or so….but I just had to give you a heads up.

You can see more images here on the website if you want! But stay tuned for better photos and DIY’s when it becomes more available!

Sneaky Peek #2:

MORE BOOKS!

A new Non-fiction I’ve been working on with Harper Collins…a Fantastic book! So lucky to have been a part of it.

FRENCH KIDS EAT EVERYTHING is such a fantastic book, I had to force myself to illustrate it because all I wanted to do was underline every other line and really read it slowly. It’s the story of a Super-Mom (Karen Le Billon) who moved to her husband’s native Northern France with her 2 small girls, and emerses herself into the foreign culture of French eating habits. Why do children there eat everything? They stay at the table for long hours! They don’t snack?! They aren’t afraid to eat new foods and their children are expected to eat it all?  Etc, etc. Principles my husband and I have tried to adopt since we started parenting, we found to be well and alive in the French culture.  And Karen Le Billion outlines how she turned her 2 incredibly picky eaters into food connoisseurs over her year of delving and applying the unspoken rules of French eating. A Brilliant read, and will really make you think about how you feed your family!!! I can’t say enough…so i’ll share more when it comes out in April. But you can pre-order here and hop on over to Karen’s blog here.

So…I highly recommend this book if:

1) You have desires to have a better eating experiences with your children (i.e. no food wars, healthy eating & overall happy experience)

2) If you are fascinated with the idea that there are other cultures in the world where cooking, eating, grocery shopping, and feeding your children are central (and very pleasurable) parts of the day

3) Love the growing trends of “slow food” and “real food” but don’t know how to bring that down to a family level

4) Want to know more about the WHY behind the often stereotypical French habits with food &  why they make for very happy, healthy children.

FRENCH KIDS EAT EVERYTHING is available for pre-order here.

So, I know none of these will be available until around March-ish….but I had to give you a little peek into what’s coming! I have more to share on both accounts, so stay tuned!

Eek! It feels like Christmas in February (February??? Already?) Maybe I’m the only one who’s excited here…but I’m just tickled to have been part of some really awesome projects. More soon!

Making paper puppets is a wee bit too much fun. Maybe it’s because it’s when I really get to see my art come alive with my kids! That’s also probably why I love illustrating books and fabric so much, because I get to see children handling and playing with the art.

For A Christmas Goodnight, I’ve made some fun coloring pages and paper puppets to go with the story. I think you’ll have fun making up all sorts of uses for these!

A Christmas Goodnight tells the simple story of a little boy saying “Goodnight” to all the characters in the Nativity…

Goodnight to the Baby in the hay

Goodnight to the doves, coo-coo

Goodnight to the sleepy Mother

Goodnight to Joseph too

But you don’t realize it’s the little boy saying goodnight until the very end, and it’s just a charming read.

COLORING PAGES

Download here.

So, what I did, was create 2 pages of characters and objects from the book, so you can create your own interactions and say “goodnight” as well! Some ideas for you:

1) Color in each character as you read the story

2) Make your own ornaments, and hang on the tree as you read the story to your children

2) Back with felt and make a felt board scene.

3) Make your own Christmas Goodnight scene and glue the pictures to the “Starry Night” backdrop I made for the puppet theater.

4) Play a “Find and Seek” game and while you read, have your child go seek the cut out character from around the room, to place on the tree, or in a scene.

DOWNLOAD THE COLORING PAGES HERE

Nativity Puppet Theater

Download here.

The Puppet Theater is simple, but really fun to set up!

In the book, I designed a very starry sky for that magical Christmas night.  We usually imagine that night with the ONE new star  in the sky. But while that star is the brightest, I imagined that if I were a star, I’d want to shine the brightest for Baby Jesus too! So, it’s a starry night…full of stars that all want to shine their best!

This little scene is perfect for acting out and can even be added too with the coloring page characters, if you want to add more!

DOWNLOAD THE PUPPET THEATER HERE.

But right now…I really just want to say thank you!!

Thank you for all your sweet email, comments, notes and support. I’ve loved hearing how you have wrapped this up under the tree….or that you’ve already read it to your little children. Creating my very first book around the best story ever told, was such a wonderful challenge! Wonderful because best story ever told, but challenging because it also the most TOLD story ever told. How do you illustrate a story that EVERYONE knows, and loves? It was very daunting and very intimidating for much of the process. But in the end, I just feel honored to have illustrated this story! It’s simple and unassuming…yet warm and magical. All how that night must have been.

And to say Thank You,

I thought we could have a little GIVEAWAY!!

All you need to do, is leave a comment below, and I’ll choose THREE winners to get  a signed copy of the book, as well as  the “For Unto You” print, unframed. Or, any print of your choice. But I thought these would go well together!

TO ENTER:

1) Leave one comment below (making sure to leave your email in the comment form)

2) Like this giveaway on Facebook here.

3) Tweet about the giveaway or book using #christmasgoodnight  My twitter is here.

4) Comments will be closed Monday night at midnight (EST)

5) USA and International welcome!

6) I’ll total up the number of tweets, comments and facebook likes to randomly select the winner.

7) But in the mean time…print off these coloring pages and have some fun this weekend!

Enjoy!

Thanks again! I hope you are all getting into the Christmas Spirit! Love to you all!!

xo

sarah

 COMMENTS CLOSED!

I’ve made a book trailer that I think really gets to the core of what this book is about. Creating activity pages for children to play with goes right along with the themes of children interacting with the Christmas Story, and so I hope you enjoy!

You can purchase the book here.

More information on the book here.

You can download FREE PDF printables that go with the book in tomorrow’s post.

I’m feeling more like Christmas than ever before. This book was so, so special to make, and finally enjoying the book with children has sealed the deal. I love this work.

xo

sarah

When you put a book out in the world, it’s only natural for you to hope people like it. I mean, it’s a labor of love, and you get really close to your work, and you really have no idea how it will be received out in the big (critical) world out there.

I finished this book a year and a half ago. Can you believe that? I started it when Ella was born. It’s a weird idea to promote something that people are seeing as fresh and new, but really it’s something that is a part of your soul….from 2009. I know it’s part of the industry that I’m in, but I still can’t get used to it:)

So finding out that A Christmas Goodnight has received some warm praises, is such a highlight. This is my first experience with having my name in papers, and online reviews, so you can imagine how I’d be a little shy about hearing what people have to say. I’m just so glad that readers are finding it a classic and special way to bring in the Christmas Season!

Yesterday, A Chrismtas Goodnight was featured in the NEW YORK TIMES Book Review section, which is pretty neat. And I realized, that I haven’t really shared any reviews with you! Here you go:

“…a debut for Wright, the illustrator, “A Christmas Goodnight” features sweet faced children and animals and an especially cosy looking manger, which work well with Buck’s graceful rhymes.”

The New York Times

“Buck and debut illustrator Wright produce a book that deserves special status, to be kept off-season with other holiday decorations and then brought out each year at Christmas. Great for grandparents to give.”

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Quietly charming. A fine read-aloud for a group of little ones, but also a cozy choice as a December bedtime story. A terrific introduction for preschoolers who are just learning about the Nativity story.”

Kirkus Reviews

“The soothing rhyming text and soft palette of the illustrations is ideal for bedtime read-alouds while also serving as a straightforward introduction to the important characters in the story of that first Christmas. ”

The Horn Book

The most important reviews are the ones from the kids though. I love getting your emails sharing with me your children’s reactions….their favorites little characters (everyone loves either the little tiny bunny or the baby lamb) and it’s so special for me to hear that! Reactions from the children are the most important. I’m a newbie here in the publishing world, but I’m already working on more books…and if you have a review to share, I’d love it if you could post one online.

Last week, Kenneth and I took the kids out for a little family date night (ice cream cones and a trip to Barnes and Noble) and as we walked into the children’s section, guess what we saw for the first time! Addie and Ian had the cutest faces. The face that says: “No way! This store has the same book that mom made?” Ian was sure to hurry and point out the little hidden secrets in the book that he loves to see

Happy Monday! I’ve got tons of fun downloads and activities and Christmas play things to show you in conjunction with the book and with Christmas. I feel like a Christmas Elf!

Thanks all of you who have shared your wonderful emails and comments about the book. It’s a sweet, simple, uncomplicated book…the way the Christmas Story should be. It’s the kind of book that you have to read slow and feel. And I’ve loved reading your comments:)

And just a reminder…there are just a few more days (Dec. 10th internationally and Dec. 15th within in the U.S.) that you can get autographed bookplates from me that I’d be happy to sign and write a message on. You can get them here.

Happy Monday!!

xo

sarah

I know I know….

It’s not even Christmas, but I need to take your time this morning and say…..

MY  DEBUT PICTURE BOOK IS RELEASED TODAY!

There I said it. I’m done now.

Well, maybe not. I really do want to say a little bit more, but honestly, I get a little shy. Isn’t that silly? It’s like stage fright. My fabric line was such a whirlwind release, and the art I create in the shop is usually the same. There was no time to be nervous.

But books are slow. Created fast and with crazy deadlines, but then you wait. And wait. And wait.

And the waiting has made me a little timid. Like, I want to say, “Are you still there? Do you still care? I made this book for you over a year ago….do you still want to read it?”

(Insert pigeon toes and flushed cheeks here)

Regardless, today it’s happening. All pre-ordered books are being delivered by white and brown trucks all over the country today. They will be (oh so gently laid) onto little doorsteps where a man in uniform will place brown cardboard boxes filled with art that I made in my basement studio, while listening to Christmas Choir music in July. A book with magic in the text that had gave me goosebumps the moment my editor read it to me over the phone for the first time. A book about Jesus and the light He brings to all the world. A book that still has my children begging to read it, even though it’s not even Halloween. A book that I’ve placed little secrets into that no one but myself and my children really know.

A book that was illustrated while moving twice, pregnant, going on partial bed rest, having a baby, buying a house, wading through financial difficulties and struggling through post partum, all while trusting in God to pull us through. It was quite literally a miracle in and of itself to be patiently wading through the “stuff” life brings, and then to illustrate the Christmas Story at night. I don’t think there could have been a better release for those emotions…I needed God, and I got to draw my emotions on paper.  This was my place to put in my feelings of my Savior, the miracle of His birth, and all the relationships that were formed around that miracle.

And now you get to be a part of that.

I actually didn’t pre-order any. Looking back maybe I should have! But I will have the honor of hand delivering copies to some very special people. And that will make for quite the perfect day.

I won’t post about this any more until the air is a little crisper and colder…but I just had to share a special moment. A life goal. A day that won’t ever come again.

I think I’ll go kiss a little lamb:)

The Mailman is a pretty popular guy at our house. Small white and blue trucks, and big brown trucks usually bring my kids screaming to the front door with high hopes they will get something. Usually it’s not for them, but this time it was.

And guess what he brought?

A Christmas Goodnight just came in the mail! The first sample copy was wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper by my editor (how she got some in August I have no idea) and looky-looky!

It’s always a bit surreal, these moments. Children at Play fabric was such a whirlwind…it was created fast and produced fast to make it in time for Spring Market. This book on the other hand, I started 2 years ago, exactly. I finished it a year ago, so getting my fingers on this is rather sweet. But honestly, seeing my children’s reactions for the first time is precious.

This is a OH SO VERY candid moment of me reading it the first time. Precious. Not exactly promo material, but maybe this will give you an idea how little eyes see the book.

It was so magical and hilarious to witness their reactions. This lasted for like 12 minutes, but I love you all, and am only showing you 1 minute:) So sorry about the quality. I need to hire a movie-techie-elf. Someday.

But really you guys…I love this. I love illustrating. I LOVE the world of books, and I really, really hope to keep my hand in it. Working on this book was an amazing experience, one where I knew I was where I belonged!

But to keep illustrating books, I need your help:)

To give you a little scoop on the world of publishing, authors and illustrators get to publish more books based on how well their previous books have sold. Meaning, you could have a really awesome book, but if just your mom and your cousin purchase it, the chances of you getting another contract are really slim. Sad, but true. It’s just how the publishing world works.

I’m not asking you to go buy millions of copies (although, that would be really cool, and I’d mail you some of the to-die-for Swiss chocolate my brother just brought home from a trip to Geneva). But, you can help your local libraries, bookstores and communities be aware of it so that they can buy it. I have a little PDF download here that my amazingly wonderful editor put together, and if you print it off and hand it to your librarian or local bookstore, you can make sure that your favorite local book places will be carrying it.

And if you DO want to get your hands on a copy, you can pre-order it here, here and here. Did you know that by pre-ordering it, it tells the Harper Collins Publishing elves that they need to get more out by Christmas? (And shhhhhh…secret: It’s a steal of a price to pre-order online!)

So, print off this info sheet and make sure your library will have it, or local bookstore, etc. (I’d especially love to see us all supporting our local bookstores this Christmas!)

I’ll be posting more about the making of the book, and other really fun facts as we get closer to the holidays. Although, right now, it’s really feeling like Christmas!

To print A Christmas Goodnight info sheet for your local bookstore or library click here

To Pre-order on Amazon click here

To Pre-order on B&N click here

To pre-order at a local bookstore in the USA click here

Merry Christmas!

xo

sarah

“On a quiet but wondrous Christmas Eve, the nativity story comes to life,

and families everywhere celebrate the miracle of Christmas.

Nola Buck’s simple poetic text and tender illustrations by Sarah Jane Wright

make this gentle holiday goodnight book a joy to read and share with those you love!”

So, this is quite early in the game. But I had to share! My first picture book, A Christmas Goodnight, won’t be coming out until the fall, but this is the first time that I can actually start releasing some images! It’s so intersting: I’ve been working on this since August of 2009, and it’s only just now that I can show you what I’ve spent the past year of my life doing:)

I won’t tell you too much right now…there’s still quite a while until any of you will be thinking about Christmas again. But, since you are all friends…and friends just want to share….I thought you’d love to catch a glimpse of what A CHRISTMAS GOODNIGHT is about.

Really, this post should be about my husband, friends and family who supported me all along the way. This has been my dream illustrate children’s books…and I never realized that illustrating a children’s book while mothering young children would be so challenging. But I’ve learned so much a long the way, which I plan on sharing a little later.

But for now: it’s official.

A Christmas Goodnight

By Nola Buck Illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright

Harper Collins Childrens Books

Oct. 1, 2011

Not available for Pre-order just yet…hold your horses.

Merry Christmas!

Or rather, Happy Ground Hog Day!

This week I made another normal trip to UPS to send my illustrations to Harper Collins like I have been for months now. But this time….it was a special delivery.

The final art for Christmas Goodnight is in! DONE AND DONE!

Did you hear that? I have to keep pinching myself. For real? Have I really finished? Remember how this journey started a year ago? Yes. One year. And a great year at that. I have a completely new perspective of children’s books now. I’ve always known in my head how much goes into a picture book, but it wasn’t until I actually became an illustrator myself, have I fully understood the labor of love involved.

The actual final art took only about 6-8 weeks in the making. What takes so long is getting the vision, storyline and sketches just right.  Well, that and a whole bunch of big life events that I had to work around (having baby #3, moving twice and becoming a first time homeowner all while trying to make deadlines!) And though the book took longer than expected, it couldn’t have worked out better. In that year’s worth of work, I’ve also been given an education of a lifetime! For someone who kinda skipped the whole art school scene, this has been my Illustrating Children’s Book Degree. You guys, the publishing world is SO COOL and the people that get the books out there on the shelves are SO SMART and TALENTED and just plain AMAZING. I’ve been so lucky to work with such gifted mentors. There is so much that goes into getting a book to be at it’s best. I think I’ve gone through at least 15 revisions of just this short Christmas book. But getting the vision and the storyline just right, as well as all the visual details right takes patience and creativity, and I’m so glad I got to work with the kind of people that know creativity and ideas come when they come, and can’t be forced.

I will for sure post more about the book and it’s insides once it gets closer to publication. But, it’s not going to be for a good while. I’ve sent the art to the big guys in New York and there are a lot of color scanning and adjustments that they do, and then it’s off to press which takes several months all together.

So that’s that! Now it’s off to unpacking boxes and really moving into our house…and getting out some new art. Sorry guys…this blog hasn’t been very artsy lately…but that’s cause everything has been going to this book. Stay tuned for more art soon. There’s a lot bubbling up that’s needs to surface now that Christmas is over around here!

PS-If you are new to the blog, here’s the info about the book:

A Christmas Goodnight written by Laura Godwin, illustrated by Sarah Jane Wright

Published with Katherine Tegan Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Children’s

Coming to stores Fall 2011

Dear Reader who wonders how I have time to do creative things,

What you need to know about being an Artist and a Mom and a Book Maker:

You will be absolutely lousy without help.

May I introduce you to man who  makes things happen around here? Oh, and have I mentioned he happens to be the most amazing man on the planet?

Say “Hi” to Kenneth. He’s the love of my life. Not only has he been on kid duty while I finish up the book at full speed, but he’s the King Gardener, Fixer-Upper, Royal Chef, Fort Maker, Grocery Shopper, and Make-Believe Player and even does the dishes. He is basically makes this whole book making process wonderful. That, and he is a writer and storyteller himself, so he understands how this all works…and enjoys it too! We don’t live close to either of our parents, and with 3 young kids in the mix, having long stretches of time to do anything is out of the question. But thanks to my school-teacher husband who has the summer off to let me work, it’s been amazing.  And on top of all that, he keeps things fun around here. He is the one that keeps me laughing when I get too stressed and knows how to have a good time when things are a bit crazy. I am seriously in love. I am so blessed to be married to my best friend. Like, really blessed.

The kids think so too.

So, when I look at my life and wonder why I haven’t cracked yet, it’s cause of him.

The end.

xo

Sarah

PS: New summertime art is in the shop today!

When you put your life and soul into something, it’s only natural to want to share it with the people you interact with. I mean….what mother can’t keep her mouth shut about the cute thing her toddler said, or the sleepless night spent with a teething infant? It’s just how we are made. We were meant to share things.

I for one, and not naturally a ‘secret keeper.’ I can keep a secret when there is a specific reason behind the withholding…like this book I’m illustrating for instance…but any one who knows me, knows that I’m a rather transparent person. I wear my feelings and thoughts on my sleeve.

But…the book is getting closer. Closer and closer to being done! It’s taken a bit longer than initially anticipated:  mostly due to my buying and selling and remodeling a house, having a baby and mothering 3 under school age children while trying to learn the industry of picture book making all at the same time. Whew! But thankfully I have the best editor in the entire universe (Yes, YOU Molly!) and I’ve been granted a lot of strength and help from my family…namely my incredible and good-lookin’ husband.

I’ll save all the thank-you’s for when I’m actually finished with this baby. But it’s been an AMAZING journey…one that I can’t wait to share more of. I can’t share it all now…I still have a bit more time before it goes to press…. but the lessons have been invaluable. I’m completely in love with the Children’s Book industry, and illustrating picture books is the hardest yet most fulfilling and wonderful work! I feel so, so lucky. It’s such an amazing opportunity and I am so humbled to be involved and learning!

A CHRISTMAS GOODNIGHT (Fall 2011) written by Laura Godwin and Published with Katherine Tegan Books, and imprint of Harper Collins Children’s Books,  is a simple goodnight story which mixes the traditional Christmas story with the story we make for ourselves every season. It is a classic treasure!

Stay tuned for more!