Just Published- My New Book

My new book, TIME TO SAY BYE BYE was just published by Viking Press, NY. I got the idea when I thought back on my own children as toddlers and remembered how difficult it was for them to transition from one activity to another without having a melt down. Well, this book will help make transitions easier. It recently got a great review by Kirkus:

"Many books have mimicked Goodnight Moon, and this rendition applies much the same formula, substituting the title phrase with bye-byes and extending it through a busy day.

A toddler is taken to the park, where he swings, digs and has fun, but when it’s time to go, he says, “I don’t want to leave.” The unseen adult says, “It’s time to say bye-bye,” so the child obligingly says bye-bye to the swing, the sandbox and his friend. A visit to Grandma sees a similar scenario, with bye-byes to the cookies, flowers and Grandma. Back home means eating, building and a toy parade, with subsequent bye-byes to dishes, blocks and toys. Bath time and bedtime follow with night-nights to the light, books and Mommy, with time for sweet dreams. Cocca-Leffler’s sprightly illustrations are sweet but not saccharine, and their positivity is useful for adults trying to deal with “I don’t want to go” whiners. Each objection to leaving by the toddler is expressed in the first-person and printed in red.

So effective is the delivery here that parents may find themselves saying bye-bye to things they’d never imagined talking to." (Picture book. 0-2) KIRKUS REVIEW

LET IT RAIN and LET IT SHINE

Cover sketch- Let It Rain

Good News. Scholastic has decided to continue my "LET IT" Season's series. Last year LET IT FALL and LET IT SNOW were published with an impressive response. A big Thank You to all the kids and parents who purchased my books from bookstores or from the Scholastic bookclub- Because of you these books have become my bestsellers selling over 1 million copies.
Scholastic also listened to those of you who wrote to them and those who joined the WE WANT SPRING (and summer too) fan page. (A special thanks to parent Evie Louise Cronin who started that facebook page.) Scholastic did respond and I am now writing and illustrating LET IT RAIN (spring) and LET IT SHINE (summer). I am only now in the sketch stages and will have a busy year ahead. Both books will be released in the Spring of 2013...I know- it seems forever. (But I do need to create the paintings!) Back to my desk!
During this time of Thanksgiving- I thank all of you who read and share my books.
Enjoy!
Maryann

GRANDMA & ME -A New App!

Grandma and Me is a book that I wrote and illustrated many years ago. At the time, my daughter was two years old, and she spent every Tuesday with my mother, her Nana Rose, while I spent uninterrupted time in my studio. I dedicated this book to my daughter Janine and my mother Rose. It has been over 20 years since this book was first published by Random House, but the premise and love behind the story is timeless. I am happy to announce that Grandma & Me is back- only this time as an interactive App, developed my a new and innovative company,

Interactive Touch Books  

Please visit their new online store and share an interactive book with your little one.

Let It Fall! Free activity sheet

It's that time again...FALL!
Time to share Let It Fall with you students and children. I just added a free downloadable activity sheet for Let It Fall.
Get It Here: Let It Fall! Activity Sheet

Visit the "activities" link on my website for lots more. I just added:
Learn How to Draw Carlin 
from my book, Bravery Soup. (another great book to share.)




Happy Fall!
Maryann

Announcing my NEW Website

Please check out my redesigned website:

www.maryanncoccaleffler.com

Much of my summer was spent designing my website using iweb. I am not a technical person, so thankfully I found iweb very easy to use- drag & drop! I included links for school visits, portfolio, books & ebooks....so please explore. For kids (and teachers) you'll find an 'Activities' link to download free activity sheets. I'll soon we establishing a STORE where I plan to sell PDF ebooks and play scripts, along with autographed books.(Right now, my store has autographed CLAMS ALL YEAR books.) Please keep checking...and spread the word. I'd also love to hear what you think.
NOW- Back to work!

A Book for the Start of School

September means cool nights, wilting gardens, and SCHOOL! For teachers and parents, I'd like to suggest my book JACK'S TALENT to share during the first days of school. The simple story, which takes place on the first day of school, helps introduce the students to eachother while giving children confidence in their abilities.

Some Reviews for Jack's Talent:
From Booklist :" A reassuring confidence booster, encouraging children -and their adults- to creatively think about what they enjoy, their abilities, and how to recognize and celebrate individual accomplishments." 
 
From Horn Book :"Teachers will want to use this at the beginning of a school year, but children will find piquant details in the pictures when they return to it later on their own."
 
 
Jack's Talent is published by Farrar Straus. It was also recently licensed by Houghton Mifflin and published as a Big Book...So hopefully lots of excited or nervous students will be reading it this September. ENJOY!

A Visual Story- A Publishing Connection

WMUR came to my studio several weeks ago to interview me for their magazine show called NH  Chronicle. Jen Crompton and a talented cameraman showed up and spent three hours, filming and talking. I was very impressed at how Jen Crompton edited this together. It was seamless. She is a master at what she does. Take a peek:  WMUR NH Chronicle Interview
After I viewed this segment, it hit me... this interview/ film editing process, is much  like publishing a book.  Starting with research, organizing information, and asking the right questions, it moves onto the making of a visual "story" by editing the pieces so it flows together like a moving "book". I was impressed at how Jen brought this piece full circle, by starting with "Wednesday is Spaghetti Day" and ending with the same book and a look to the future of ebooks. We, as authors, use that same technique of "full circle" when writing a book.  There was also a "balance" in this segment, moving in and out, cutting to visuals at the appropriate place, etc. As authors and illustrators we also strive for balance; keeping the reader's interest, changing perspective, and tieing everything together to make a satisfying "read".
This whole process has given me a new appreciation for this film medium. Thanks Jen Crompton & WMUR staff for a great job.   --Thanks!