Daisylocks by Marianne Berkes, illustrated by Cathy Morrison,
Sylvan Dell Publishing

Here's a cover concept for a new book coming out Spring 2014. I won't go into a lot of details yet but you'll be seeing more along the way. Plus there's two more trade books in the works for next year as well. There's a whole lot of drawing going on.

 Tracks made by raptors of long ago show that they moved in packs...

 Step back in time to a long-lost land, where dinos ruled the Earth...

Still two spreads to go before final artwork for DinoTracks is done. Here's a couple of new interior spreads and I probably won't be showing more dinosaurs until the book is published fall 2013. Back to work now and thanks so much for taking a look.

Dinosaur tracking

Here's a sneak peak at some cropped illustrations for DinoTracks, a fall 2013 release for  Sylvan Dell Publishing. The author, Rhonda Lucas Donald tells the story in rhyme that can be sung to the tune of Over the River and Through the Woods. She takes you back in time and around the world as you follow the various tracks. These trackways are clues to the dinosaur species, can tell their behavior and movements, what they ate, how and when they lived, etc. Paleoichnology, the study of fossilized tracks and trackways is an amazing science and we hope future dino trackers will enjoy the book.

Show and tell for this working girl!

DinoTracks, Colorado Foundation of Agriculture Workbook and Apps, Gardener Girl

I start feeling guilty when I don't post on my blog for over six weeks. Not that anybody cares except for me, but I hate to appear a slacker.

So here's what I'm currently working on.... illustrations for my fourth Sylvan Dell Publishing picture book, Dino Tracks by the amazing, Rhonda Lucas Donald, 100+ spot illustrations for Bette Blinde (who is also a Livermore, Colorado resident! I don't get many of those as you can imagine), with the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, illustrating the Understanding Water Activity Book and Apps, and last but not least, my own story, Gardener Girl that I'm writing as well as illustrating. We'll just have to wait to see if that one sees the light of day, but so far so good.

OK,  I don't feel like such a slacker now that I've validated myself. Back to work I go! See you in another six weeks or so....

I Want A Pet!

Front Cover

Back Cover

I Want A Pet!, my first book as author and illustrator comes out today. The publisher is Tiger Tales Books, one my favorite publishers for books for little readers, seven and under. And its first review is actually good! You can go to Kirkus for the full review. So far so good. Maybe I should stop while I'm ahead, but heck no, I'm working on another.

Dino Tracks by Rhonda Lucas Donald

I'm drawing dinosaurs. Here's the cover and I'm revising interior spreads to get vetted before going to final artwork. It involves lots of research which is one of my favorite things to do. So this will keep me busy through the end of this year and beyond. I feel like I've drawn about everything there is to draw, but this is a first for me. 

Dino Tracks, by Rhonda Lucas Donald, illustrated by Cathy Morrison

And the focus is on the tracks - we follow dinosaur tracks around the world. They leave clues for today's scientists and our future scientists to discover all kinds of things about these ancient creatures. The author, Rhonda Lucas Donald  tells the story in rhyme and it can be sung to Over the River and Through the Woods which makes it a lot of fun. Another Sylvan Dell Publishing project, coming fall 2013!