Ready-Set SCHOOL VISITS

Happy 2014!

The New Year always takes me out of my studio and on the road to visit schools. I am excited and ready to meet my readers! The most rewarding visits, for both the students and myself, are those where the students are READY for me!  Before I arrive the teachers and librarians prepare the students by reading many of my books and doing related activities. (Free downloadable activities sheets are on my website.)

Below are some Spring 2013 photos from Ohio and New Hampshire. One popular pre-visit book activity is from MR. TANEN TIES. After reading the Mr. Tanen Tie books, the entire school gets involved in creating ties for their own Principals and staff. Life size photos help inspire the kids. Many times the school sponsors a "Tie Contest", having the students parade their creative and imaginative ties, sometimes resulting in a "Best Tie Awards.

Milan, Ohio

Meredith, NH

Drawing Pooch for the kindergarteners.

One of my Spring Selections.

Activity sheets for my book JACK'S TALENT

For those schools who expect me- I'll see you soon! For those schools interested in a school visit this Spring, please contact me at mcleffler@aol.com

SCHOOL VISIT INFO

Get Ready and READ!

Maryann

Holiday Wishes

Tis The Season to be JOLLY....

Warm Holiday Wishes from

Maryann Cocca-Leffler

(inspiration for illustration- my daughter, Janine as a kid!)

Thanksgiving at the Tappleton's- the Sad Saga.

Thanksgiving is upon us, and as always I am grateful to my readers and thankful that I am able create and share my books with you.

But as happens every year at this time, I receive emails and phone calls from teachers and parents looking for my 1992 illustrated version of  Thanksgiving at the Tappleton's (written by Eileen Spinelli). Thank you all for contacting me.  It is one of my favorite books as well, but no longer available with my illustrations.  Here are recent emails:

Why did someone change the illustrations for Thanksgiving at the Tappletons?  Illustrations with people, rather than wolves, are much more effective.

"This morning I began my search on the internet to purchase a copy of "Thanksgiving at the Tappleton's" as gifts for my family members. The effort was locating a copy of the book with the illustrations of people seated at the dinner table on the front of instead of the current copy which has a group of foxes(?). I think the book has lost some of it's impact and "wow" with the non human illustration."

Amazon review: This is a wonderful Thanksgiving story for children and families--a true classic. However, it was ever so much more effective when the illustrations were of people, not wolves! If you can find an older version with the people illustrations, buy that one instead.

Here is the Sad Saga:  I first illustrated this book in 1980 (fresh out of college- my first job!) Back in the 80's it was very expensive to print in full color, so I illustrated the book with 'pre-separated' 2-color interior art, and a full color cover.(Thankfully that technique is not needed anymore!) Here is the 1982 cover:

Ten years later, I was asked by HarperCollins to re-illustrate this book. In 1992 my full color version was published:

Eileen Spinelli wrote a wonderful, timeless story. I still share this book with my family each year. Thanksgiving at the Tappleton's was available for 23 years. Then in 2002 I made a phone call to HarperCollins and offered to re-illustrate the cover for it's upcoming 25th Anniversary. Unfortunately, I was shocked to receive the news from a young editor that the story was being re-illustrated by another illustrator with the Tappleton family becoming a family of wolves....Yes- WOLVES!

1982

1992

After I got over the initial shock that my version was going out-of-print, I asked, "WHY?" The publisher explained that they felt that "animals" will give the story a non-discript multicultural advantage. I was floored. (I sometimes do not understand publishers!) In my view- this was a classic story with a human family. I do believe that readers of any color can relate to this family story. Should we change all classic story characters because we don't like the color of their skin? Readers are smart. HarperCollins did not need to change a human into a wolf to appeal to all people.

Every year readers contact me searching for my version, and every year I ask HarperCollins to bring my classic version back. (My offer still stands to illustrate a new cover.) I will forever feel that HarperCollins made a big mistake. To all those people who are looking for my book- I am sorry.

If you are interested in giving your view, please drop HarperCollins a line at: feedback2@harpercollins.com

Or email me at MCLeffler@aol.com

Let's hope someday they'll bring the people back!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Maryann

My NEW book! Theo's Mood

 It's "Mood Monday" a day when the class shares their MOOD NEWS. Miss Cady asks Theo, "Are you in a good mood or a bad mood?"  Theo doesn't know what to say because he has a new baby sister and is not sure how he is feeling. His classmates chime in and talk about their moods...Happy, Proud, Sad, Mad, Jealous...Theo finally realizes that he has a lot of feelings.

"Maybe you feel Jealous like me."

"My sister won another trophy."

SOME REVIEWS: "Cocca-Leffler's friendly mixed-media illustrations telegraph each child's emotions clearly, and her story underscores the idea that good and bad moods aren't mutually exclusive." Publishers Weekly

 . . . Cocca-Leffler once again demonstrates her understanding of small children and the complexities of their emotions." Kirkus Reviews 

MAD!

PROUD!

Character Inspiration- My Dad- THEO- Back Flap

I hope you enjoy my new book. (Published by Albert Whitman & Co.) It was a fun book to illustrate...using collage (fabric & printed papers) along with gouache paints.  All the best- from a "HAPPY"- Maryann

The Purple Line.

As a children's book illustrator, I am used to working small...book size. I am currently undertaking a very LARGE project- I am bringing my books to the stage and designing and painting the sets. My play, Princess K.I.M. The Musical , is based on my Princess KIM books published by Albert Whitman & Co. As illustrators we struggle with technique, specifically THE LINE, as we decide how we will approach the illustrations to a book. In my Princess KIM books, after many trials, I decided on a purple line, and then painted the illustrations with acrylic paints. Since I wanted  my sets to "match" the book, I wondered if I could pull off the same technique on a large scale. I went for it.  I am outlining everything with a PURPLE LINE, and then painting with Latex.

Choosing the color palette is another challenge. I went about it as I do when illustrating a book. I planned out the colors for the characters and their clothing. As in a book, I wanted to offset my characters so they do not get lost in the background. I am working closely with my costume designer.
The main characters will be wearing rich magentas, royal blues, yellows, reds, pinks, emerald green etc.

The sets are coming together. My Play's Opening is only 2 months from now...so I have a BIG deadline looming.
Below are some views of a few pieces that will be included in the sets.  I want the audience to feel as if they are walking into my children's book. I hope I can accomplish what I visualize. (Luckily I have some painting help including my talented college art student intern, Jeremy Edelblut.)

I will continue to post my progress.

I hope you can attend my play and see this all come together.
(Tickets are already on sale on the Princess K.I.M. Website.)

Okay- Back to painting!
Thanks for reading!
Maryann
Here is a recent Video /Amherst Patch
"Painting the Whole Picture"

Let It Shine! Happy Summer!

Finally- The SEASON'S Series is complete.

Let it Shine has just published and is available in stores and on the Scholastic's May Bookclub.

Now you can follow this endearing family through all four seasons...each book leads right into the next.

Enjoy! ...and Let it Shine! And enjoy your summer!

Maryann

Published by Scholastic.

Recent School Visit- Amherst, NH

Thanks to all the students from Clark & Wilkin's School in Amherst, NH
It was a pleasure meeting you all.

On my recent school visit I featured my new book A Vacation for Pooch and drew a picture of POOCH.  Ms Doyle has shared a few pictures of her enthusiastic class along with some creative renditions of Pooch! Enjoy!

Ms Doyle's first grade- Wilkin's School Amherst, NH

A perfect Pooch and his belongings by Catie

Catie and her Pooch!

Pooch inspired puppets