Elephants shop local on Small Business Saturday…and everyday!
Here they are at their local indie bookseller.
“Do you like my earrings?” asks Elephant.
“Perfect,” says Gracie.
Macmillan
Ask the Author…Questions & Drawings from students…
What fun to go to my mailbox and find these wonderful letters and drawings from students in Ms. Montemayor’s class at Gray’s Woods Elementary in Port Matilda, Pa. Thank you! I love them.
Here are answers to your questions:
“Do you like doing what you do?”
…I love doing what I do! I walk into my studio each day…turn on music…and draw and paint….or I sit in my comfy chair…with quiet all around…and write a story…and I can do all of this in my pajamas!
“Why did being an author and illustrator inspire you?’
…I love to read. I love art. I love making art and writing stories. I love watching my stories turn into picture books.
“Is it fun sending writing back and forth?”
…(to my editor) It’s a lot of work writing things over and over and sending them back and forth to my editor. However, it is rewarding. I always end up with a piece of writing that I think is much better than the one I started with.
“What do you do in your spare time?”
…Lots. I love the outdoors. I love to cook and eat. I love to garden. I swim at an indoor pool several days a week. I bike. I ski. I practice yoga. I love to go for walks and hikes in the woods. I’m waiting to hear if I will have a puppy. He will take up a lot of spare time…but he’ll like taking walks.
“What is your first book ever?”
…I made my first book ever in 2nd grade. It was about a bluebird. I gave it a red construction paper cover. I used crayons for the art. My first published book was We Wish You a Merry Christmas. It was published in 1983.
I was at a book festival this Spring. Brooke, a mom, came by with her family. She asked me if I would sign her copy of this book. It was her favorite book when she was little and now it’s a favorite with her children. Her parents gave it to her in 1989…I signed it for her…in 2015!
Math question: How many years after Brooke’s parents gave her the book did I sign the book for Brooke?
Bonus math question: How many years after the book was published did I sign the book for Brooke?
“Do you have your drawings at home?”
…Yes. They’re all over my studio. I have flat files, big long skinny drawers, filled with art. I have framed art scattered about from past exhibits. I have towers of sketchbooks.
“Do you think making books all day is fun?”
…Totally!
“Wut wus yor last book you wot?”
…The last book I wrote was ELEPHANT’S STORY. The last book I illustrated was TUCK-IN TIME by Carole Gerber.
“How do you publish your books?”
…I don’t actually publish them. I write the stories and draw the pictures. My publisher turns my pictures and stories into books. Farrar Straus Giroux has been the publisher for many of my books. They are part of Macmillan Publishers and are in this building in New York City. It is called the Flatiron. It is very cool. I think it’s shaped like a slice of cake. Some people think it’s shaped like a slice of cheese.
“What is the best book you wrote?”
…I haven’t made my best book yet. I’m still working on that.
“How many books have you written?”
…I wanted to have 20 books published by the time I was 40 years old. I did that. Then I stopped counting. I just keep making books. You can go to this link on my website and count my books…then you can tell me and I’ll know the next time someone asks me this question!
http://www.traceycampbellpearson.com/books01.htm
“Do you travel a lot?”
…I’m not sure if I travel a lot. Some people travel all the time. I travel “a bit”. I travel to visit schools. I go to New York City to meet with my publisher, see my daughter and friends…go to museums…and eat…and eat…and eat. I like to travel for fun around the country and to Europe. I like cities. I like countryside. I like to bring my sketchbook.
“Did you have eney pets when you wer a kid?”
…Yes. I had a cat named Smokey. He was gray and liked to sleep in drawers.
…and your school is called Gray’s Woods….that’s cool
I enjoyed your letters and drawings. I enjoyed meeting everyone. You have a great school. Thank you Room 81!…Keep reading…keep writing…keep drawing…tcp
*Answers to math questions.
I signed the book for Brooke 26 years after her parents gave it to her.
I signed Brooke’s book 32 years after it was published.
Happy New Year….2015
Wishing you a year of joy and great books!
….Elephant, Gracie and all my studio companions…
Sketchbooks…Last concert at On the Rise…
Catching up…
Here are sketches from September at On the Rise Bakery in Richmond, VT….I’ll miss hanging out with sketchbook…yummy dinner and a glass of wine…Farewell..thank you to the folks at On the Rise….Best of luck in your new adventures…
Welcome to Parkside Kitchen…the new owners and the owners of Kitchen Table Bistro in Richmond…they certainly know how to make delicious food and run a restaurant…
I’m hungry already…and I always have my sketchbook…
Elephant and Gracie back in VT…all “TUCKED-IN!”
Elephant and Gracie have been busy traveling…
They’re back in Vermont and all tucked-in…getting ready to launch Tracey’s newest book…
TUCK-IN TIME written by Carole Gerber and illustrated by tcp is now available at your local bookstore…yay!
Join Tracey for a pajama party at PHOENIX BOOKS in Essex, VT on Friday, Oct. 24th at 6pm….don’t forget your favorite stuffed critter and you blankie!…see you there!…tcp
TUCK-IN TIME…a new picture book…sneak peek!
Elephant and Gracie are checking out my author’s copy of my newest picture book.
I had lots of fun illustrating TUCK-IN TIME written by Carole Gerber.
Thank you, Carole…for writing such a sweet and delightful text!
Published by Margaret Ferguson Books-Farrar Straus Giroux
and available at your local bookstore on August 19, 2014.
Here’s a sneak peek…
When I tuck you in,
what do I see?
Two little eyes shining at me.
I see two little ears
that I want you to tweak
and a round little nose.
Can you push it? Beep! Beep!
what do I see?
Two little eyes shining at me.
I see two little ears
that I want you to tweak
and a round little nose.
Can you push it? Beep! Beep!
So begins this naptime or bedtime romp that eventually has the child all tuckered out and ready for sleep—until Mama remembers she forgot one important thing. What could it be? A kiss, of course!
Early Praise for Tuck-in Time
Here’s a link to our websites
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Margaret Ferguson Books
8/19/2014
Hardcover
ISBN: 9780374378608
ISBN10: 0374378606
Picture Book
9 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches, 40 pages, full-color throughout
Age Range: 1 to 3
Grade Range: p to p
Elephant Fireworks…
Happy 4th of July….tcp
The Mazza bus tour visits Elephant in Vermont…
Elephant and Dr. Jerry Mallet…Mazza Bus tour visit to Jericho Center Green, VT.
Brrrr…Mazza group joins Elephant for a chilly picnic on the green in Jericho Center, VT.
Elephant and Gracie visit the Jericho Center Country Store, VT.
Elephant wants to drive the bus.
The bus driver gives Elephant a driving lesson.
The Mazza Bus Tour arrives at Tracey Campbell Pearson’s studio.
Elephant is greats the group from the Mazza collection.
Yes…you can fit 42 Mazza children’s book enthusiasts and an Elephant in Tracey Campbell Pearson’s studio
Elephant and Gracie say goodbye to the Mazza Bus Tour.
Bob wants to go to Ohio with the Mazza Bus tour.
All is quiet in Tracey’s studio after the Mazza tour leaves.
A tour bus from Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art in Findlay, Ohio arrived at my studio in Vermont in late June…with a picnic on the village green…a visit to the general store…and a visit to my studio…
42 children’s book enthusiasts and an elephant in my studio all at once. Tons of fun!
If you haven’t been to the Mazza Museum of Picture Book Art…absolutely worth a trip…and another…and another… they’ve a wonderful collection of original picture book art!
Thank you Mazza!!!
Elephant has a great school visit at Chamberlin School…
….I wasn’t the only author in the room!
Here’s ELEPHANT’S STORY made by the young authors and illustrators in Mrs. Meehan’s First Grade. It’s wonderful.
Here is a story quilt by Mrs. Charbonneau’s Kindergarteners….very cool.
Drawing Elephant Letters for the classrooms!
…There was even Elephant Cake…yum!
Mrs. Flickinger shares her library with a GIANT Bob…made a few years back…and still hanging out in the library…..a rooster that’s bigger than an Elephant!
I thought I was cool because I found an Elephant scarf…But Cally Flickinger was wearing of the t-shirts I designed for Shelburne Farms….very cool.
Thanks to Cally, Traci and everyone at Champlain School for making author visits fun!…I had a wonderful day with the kindergarten and first grade classes at Chamberlin School in Vermont….tcp
Elephant meets Robert Frost…looking for spring in Vermont…
Celebrating Poetry Month with Elephant and Robert Frost…
Robert Frost’s Snowy Woods…with help from Elephant and Gracie…
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
…and fill
…and fill
…and fill
…and fill
My little horse must think it queer
That Spring will never visit here
Between the woods and frozen lake
The longest winter I do fear.
We give our heavy coats a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of gusty wind and heavy flake.
The woods are snowy, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
Please… a sign of Spring before I sleep,
Please… a sign of Spring before I sleep.
–Elephant, Gracie with help from Robert Frost and Tracey Campbell Pearson
The original (below) from Robert Frost works well December through February!
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
tcp scribbles from a picture book author & illustrator 