Wild Fathers official book release date is in two days, September 10, 2024. But it is already available on Kindle and it’s coming out strong! Top New Release in Children’s Zoo Books.
Wild Fathers receives a 5 Star review on LitPick, read it here.
Wild Fathers is also a CBC Hot Off the Press selection for September!
Check out Wild Fathers and my other Arbordale Books (17 of them!) including award-winning Achoo! Why Pollen Counts.
Officially releasing next week, September 10, 2024… Wild Fathers Check out the great book trailer LitPick created:
Just like human families, animal families come in all shapes and sizes. Some wild animal fathers have diverse and surprising wildlife parenting roles in the rearing of their offspring. Told through captivating illustrations and lyrical text, young readers learn how animal dads, from wolves to seahorses, protect, nurture, and teach their young. This educational picture book combines storytelling with scientific facts, making it ideal for young children fascinated by animal behaviors and nature.
Written by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 4-8, Grades K-3, Lexile: AD 750:
Jerry Pallotta gave me the first ARC (advanced reading copy) of bookBlack an Alphabet tonight. I am over the moon! Jerry and I have teamed up on 14 books, this being our latest release.
Yes! There will be a book for each color, and YES I am the author of the rest of the colors!!!
Woo hoo! So lots more excitement in the works. Check out Jerry’s website, he’s phenomenal! ☺️
I’m very, very excited! Coming this September 10th, Achoo! Why Pollen Counts will have a sibling, my second authored book, again with fabulous Arbordale Publishing. 😊
Wild Fathers featuring the role of some extraordinary fathers in nature.
“Just like human families, animal families come in all shapes and sizes. Many fathers in the wild have unusual and unselfish roles in the rearing of their offspring. While some animal fathers may never meet or know their offspring, there are some that protect and shelter their children. Others feed or teach their young. Let’s learn more about each of these Wild Fathers and their important duties.”
Written and illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 4-8, Grades K-3, Lexile: AD 750:
Soon available in English and Spanish on Arbordale Publishing. But for now, you can preorder your copy on Amazon.
Do you love my Activity pages? I’m creating all new ones for Wild Fathers! Here’s a link to a few free coloring pages and puzzles to get you started (puppets on their way!).
Lots, lots more to come, including its own website! And head over to Arbordale to check out all of my books with them, 17 total.
Did you hear me say FREE ACTIVITY PAGES?! Find TONS of free coloring pages, puzzles, crafts, puppets, and paper doll clothes on Achoo!’s website! And here’s the link to Wild Fathers website.
I got home late last night from the Keystone State Literacy Association’s 2023 Conference in Hershey, PA. I don’t know where to begin, so I’ll toss down highlights:
It started with The Eyeball Alphabet Book winning the KSLA 2022-2023 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award for the Intermediate Level.
Jerry and I were invited to a book signing Sunday (and the award ceremony luncheon on Monday in Hershey). Here’s the poster for Sunday night’s book signing:
We had some fun with Miss Kiss and the Reese’s character:
Miss Kiss was rocking one of my lucky 🍀 art pins!
The conference was at the Hershey Lodge - Kisses. Chocolate. Enough said, that place is to-die-for phenomenal. Chocolate butter, fresh hot cocoa bar with eye popping toppings and stir-in’s. Even the hotel soap was chocolate infused. Chocolate is EVERYWHERE. I need to return! 😋
So in addition to creating many new lucky 🍀 art pins to give away, Lou suggested I also make 100 of these Eyeball pins to hand out:
The Eyeball pins are pivotal to my story. For I simply posted the above photo on my Facebook account and mentioned I was heading to Hershey a few days before heading out.
My mother came from a large family, 8 kids. She grew up with her siblings in Pottsville. She married my dad and they moved to Boston, but most of her family - and their kids - all remained in the general area. (I think my sister and I have 32 first cousins.) Being born and raised in Massachusetts, I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know my relatives, or even meet most of them. (My mom passed in ‘89, it’s been a long time since I’ve visited Pottsville.) One of my first cousins, Ruthann, saw my Eyeball pin Facebook Post. She mentioned she lived about an hour from Hershey. (She later told me she recalled meeting me once, when she was 5 and I was 6 - I believe when our grandfather died.) Without my knowledge she reaches out to our cousin Bob…. Bobby had lived with us in MA the year I was in fourth grade. He attended BU for his freshman year and commuted from my house to school. I hadn’t connected with him since that school year. Our cousin Maryann also saw my “heading to Hershey” post, and she reached out to her sister…..
Monday’s award ceremony luncheon comes around, and as I’m about to go onstage - I receive a text I had cousins in the back of the room…
I get up onstage to give a little speech, see my cousin “surprise” and I’m now overwhelmed with emotion, all choked up and teary-eyed.
After the luncheon, we all got together for a couple hours to chat and catch up. I had the phone number to our cousin, John, in Texas - so I called him and put him on speakerphone so he could ‘join’ us.
Here are my cousins who went out of their way to surprise and celebrate my award with me: Ruthann, Bobby, me, Maryann, Dotsy.
After my cousins left there were many books to sign:
And a LOT more chocolate to eat:
Oh and the jacket I wore on Monday - I had it custom made in London by www.bagsofloveuk.com I uploaded 15 eyeballs from pages of The Eyeball Alphabet Book, and they created the fabric and sewed the kimono for me. Check them out, Bags of Love. Fantastic job! (The back has the cover snake eyeball centered with the others surrounding it.)
Together with Jerry Pallotta. I’ve illustrated many more of his books, check out Jerry’s site: www.JerryPallotta.com
Onto my next book…. Updates will come later. 😉
Here’s a sample of the books I’ve written and/or illustrated. Most are available on Amazon.
Check out Arbordale Publishing’s site for my Arbordale books, and head over to Charlesbridge for my books with them. I’m currently illustrating my 40th picture book! 📚🥳
To those who landed here due to the gift of a pin….
I’m the award-winning children’s author of Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, and more notably the illustrator of 39 other children’s picture books. I’ve illustrated for Scholastic, Arbordale Publishing, Charlesbridge, American Cancer Society, to only name a few. My books have sold millions of copies worldwide. Not all, but most can be found on Amazon.
After art school, I started out hand lettering signs for a chain of retail stores, moved onto colored pencil portraits, surgical tools for Johnson & Johnson, illustrations for gardening magazines, and ultimately illustrating and designing children’s books. I have a great love of nature that typically shows up in my work.
A few years ago I realized I had a knack for finding lucky 4- and 5-leaf clovers. I turn the ones that I collect, plus flowers from my yard, into art pins. It gives me great joy to share these with others!
In 2023 I’ve traveled near and far, for work and family commitments. Along the way I’ve handed my pins to people I interact with. My goal is to spread cheer, love, hope, joy… and some good luck to others!
I hope you enjoy your pin as much as I enjoyed creating it. Much love. ❤️
….If you haven’t received one, and would like one mailed to you, DM me on Twitter @ShennenBersani
Update: So many people have now tracked me down and told me amazing stories of how their pins brought them; hope, joy, and luck…. I am collecting these for a book I am working on. If you would like to contribute to my book project, you can email me your pin story at [email protected]
Pollen, softly blowing in the breeze. The smallest seed of life. Here are some perfect pollen and pollinator books for children (of all ages!). I say, ‘of all ages’, because adult art collectors have told me they have copies in their personal book collections. These books are all available on Amazon. Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, Home in the Cave, and Night Creepers are also available at Arbordale. Butterfly Colors and Counting, Butterfly Counting, and Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book are also available at Charlesbridge.
I am delighted to share that The Eyeball Alphabet Book is the Intermediate Winner of the Keystone to Reading Book Award! This holds a special place in my heart as my mom was from Pennsylvania. ❤️
Preschool: Best Day Ever by Marilyn Singer-author, Leah Nixon - illustrator
Primary: The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, and One Extraordinary Friendship
by Kim Tomsic-author, Hadley Hooper- illustrator
Intermediate: The Eyeball Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta-author, Shennen Bersani-illustrator
Jerry Pallotta and I started an eyeball journey back in Snakes: Long, Longer, Longest.
I love all the unusual things Jerry has me illustrate, I especially love all the research I get to do to accurately bring my art to ‘life’. Visiting museums, zoos, aquariums, the ocean….. my illustration research brings me…. everywhere!
Here are some pages from The Eyeball Alphabet Book.
Published by Charlesbridge, The Eyeball Alphabet Book is available from any book seller, if you don’t see it ask them to order it.
I’ve illustrated a lot of Jerry’s books, with more on the way. 📚🎨 Look through my blog archives for how I started illustrating books with Jerry Pallotta, 21 years ago!
An absolutely wonderful friend sent me a link to this photo “I Love Book” on Facebook.
Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought I would be the illustrator of a ‘banned’ book. But I am illustrating my 37th children’s picture book, and they have sold an overall world-wide total combined 3+ million copies…. so I can’t even begin to comprehend where the books have gone off to….
Apparently A Case Of Sense ended up being banned in Duval County, Florida. Along with 175 other children’s titles. Read all about it here.
A Case of Sense, written by Songju Ma Daemicke is a children’s book about ‘senses’, yup that’s what I said - smelling and hearing. And how is learning about your senses controversial? You got me, you’d have to ask the administrators down in Duval County, Florida, that question. The great state of Kansas loved the book! It is on the 2017 Kansas NEA Reading Circle Catalogue Selection. I’m proud of that. My friends, such as the one who sent me that quote from Isaac Asimov, tell me I should be proud the book was banned - that it makes it a ‘book of honor’, a ‘book worth reading’. What it does is make me sad, sad that there are students in Duval County, Florida, who don’t have access to the book.
A Case of Sense is available from Arbordale Publishing in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Here is the book’s description from it’s webpage:
While Ming plays outside one summer day, the smell of delicious food fills the air. It is coming from greedy Fu Wang’s house. "What is he up to?" wonders Ming. To his alarm, Fu Wang demands that all the neighbors pay him for the pleasant smells. When the neighbors refuse, the case goes to court. How will the judge rule in this unusual case and will justice be served? Can Fu Wang make money from the neighbors’ sense of smell? A wise judge makes use of another sense to close the case with clever and convincing logic.
This fictional story includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 23-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. A Case of Sense is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension. Tap animals and other things that make noise to hear their sounds.
Written by Songju Ma Daemicke, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5x10, Ages 4-8, Grades K-3, Lexile: AD 550L, AR: 3.3, F&P: M
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First of all you really should check out Arbordale’s ebook collection! They are interactive and they do make sounds! I personally love them!
Second, I’m serious about ‘sounds’ and ‘smells’, spoiler alert - two pages from the book:
I hope you take a moment to visit the book’s homepage where you can purchase it directly from Arbordale Publishing. On the top right corner of that page you will find fantastic free Teaching Activities for your classroom or homeschool use, including coloring pages.
Third, please check out author Songju Ma Daemicke’s website. Songju is an amazing multi award-winning author of numerous books. Plus, she is such a lovely, lovely person! I am honored and proud to have illustrated A Case of Sense!
The other day I dropped off these five pieces and a portfolio of my children’s book work at The Brush Art Gallery & Studios in Lowell, MA, for their upcoming exhibit: Cartoons, Illustrations & Sketches.
All of the framed pieces are prints of my illustrations.
Top image, is a spread from Animal Partners, by Scotti Cohn, Arbordale Publishing. The lower image is a spread from Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, written and illustrated by Shennen Bersani, Arbordale Publishing.
This is the cover of Once Upon an Elephant, by Linda Stanek, Arbordale Publishing.
This is a spread from Sea Slime: It’s Eeuwy, Gooey, and Under the Sea, by Ellen Prager, Arbordale Publishing.
This is a spread from Once Upon an Elephant, by Linda Stanek, Arbordale Publishing.
Samples shown from my portfolio on display.
Later I will share photos of how these are hung.
Cartoons, Illustrations & Sketches
The Brush Art Gallery & Studios
256 Market Street
Lowell, MA 01852
Exhibition: February 25 to April 8, 2023
Reception: Saturday, March 18, 2:00 PM
* This exhibit is made possible in part by the Lowell National Historical Park.
By the way, fun fact! Arbordale’s books are available in English and Spanish, as well as in many other languages! Perfect learning tools for people of any age to learn a new language. Check them out here, Arbordale Publishing.
Last night Fr. Edmond Nyoka sent me these photos, I wept for a good hour, with tears of joy seeing their smiling faces and enthusiasm!
I’m on Twitter @ShennenBersani over there I’ve met some amazing, compassionate people who were donating to a Catholic priest, Father Edmond Nyoka in the Mzuzu, Malawi, Diocese of Saint Monica Parish. Fr. Edmond is an amazing soul, he has been raising money to purchase corn and rice for his famished community - and he has been teaching the children English. Other people in Scotland are raising money to purchase desks for the children, currently they have to sit on the floor. To help Fr. teach the children English, I sent 14 of my books to them:
Icky Bug Shapes; Jerry Pallotta, Scholastic
Ocean Counting: Odd Numbers; Jerry Pallotta, Charlesbridge
Butterfly Counting; Jerry Pallotta, Charlesbridge
Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book; Jerry Pallotta, Charlesbridge
The Eyeball Alphabet Book; Jerry Pallotta, Charlesbridge
Snakes: Long, Longer, Longest; Jerry Pallotta, Scholastic
Sharks: Big, Bigger, Biggest; Jerry Pallotta, Scholastic
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts; Shennen Bersani, Arbordale Publishing
Once Upon an Elephant; Linda Stanek, Arbordale Publishing
Cheetah Dreams, Linda Stanek, Arbordale Publishing
River Otter’s Adventure; Linda Stanek; Arbordale Publishing
Home in the Cave; Janet Halfmann, Arbordale Publishing
Yay for Big Brothers!; Janet Halfmann, Arbordale Publishing
The Shape Family Babies; Kristin Haas, Arbordale Publishing
I purchased my own books using my royalties and paid for the FedEx shipping with those royalties. If you choose to purchase any of my books please know my future royalties will be used to donate to others. I have a priest in Ghana waiting patiently for his donation of books.
If you are interested in helping out, donating to, Father Edmond, and his community (they do need more corn and rice), you can DM him on Twitter @ednyoka
🙏❤️
At my house we had a pumpkin carving contest! Two contestants, me and Mr. Raccoon. Here are our two entries for this year’s competition:
And this year’s winner is:
Caught red-handed! Mr. Raccoon! 🥳🎉😂
Read about raccoons and other night creepers in Night Creepers, illustrated by me, written by Linda Stanek, and published by Arbordale Kids. Available in English, Spanish, and French.
Butterfly Colors and Counting hit 500 reviews on Amazon today. Just sharing, ‘cause I feel it’s kinda a big deal. 🥳
Find the book on Amazon here: Butterfly Colors and Counting
Also, check out the 32 page accompanying book, Butterfly Counting.
And if you enjoy counting butterflies, you will love Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book! All three of these are published by Charlesbridge, written by Jerry Pallotta, and illustrated by me.
Follow this link to check out all 5 of my Charlesbridge books!
I’m about to illustrate some ants, that set me thinking about cookie crumbs. So here’s a little cookie illustration. BTW for any book, illustration, or art inquiries I can be reached at Shennen at Mac dot com. Currently, I’m illustrating my 35th picture book. 📚 I also do portrait commissions, some graphic design, and fine art paintings. 🎨
April, 2022. It’s my 20th anniversary of illustrating children’s books, 34 books, over 3 million copies sold worldwide! How am I celebrating? With an art show, of course! #savethedate
The past 20 years is only half of my art career. I’ve been a professional artist for 41 years, so in reality this art show will be a celebration of my life’s work. 📚🎨💗🎉
I’m excited to reveal the cover of my newest book, Let My Colors Go, written by Courtney Filigenzi. I few years back I illustrated Courtney’s Let My Colors Out, published by the American Cancer Society. LMCO is the story of a young boy who deals daily with his mother’s cancer, each day is defined by a ‘color’. He has his angry Red days, or his happy Yellow days, etc. I am forever emotionally entwined with LMCO. When I was first contacted regarding illustrating it, I mentioned to the client I knew no one with cancer. It hadn’t hit home with my family. Boy, can life hit you hard! Somewhere in the middle of illustrating the book I got the diagnosis of my own cancer. And I watched while my own children’s emotions mirrored those of the book’s protagonist.
Here’s a excerpt from the book, SERENDIPITY, where I talk about LMCO,
“Within an hour my phone rang. The caller said, “I'm publishing a series of books on a sensitive topic and I love what you’ve done with the girl with Down syndrome. Would you be interested in illustrating books for the American Cancer Society?”
Cancer hadn’t touched my family or my life, but I felt sympathetic with the people it had, I felt I could bring emotion to the subject. The first book I worked on for the Cancer Society, Let My Colors Out, written by Courtney Filigenzi, was a board book for young children. The protagonist’s mother was being treated for cancer and he showed his changing emotions with different colors. He had “blue” sad days, or “yellow” happy days. Each color of the rainbow was significant to the child.
Shortly after I signed onto the project, a delivery truck rear ended me at a red light. The accident injured both my hands, stopping my work while I recovered. Every day, I cursed that accident.
However, initially, the hospital performed an MRI to check for neck and spine damage. The report came back, “We see a large nodule on your thyroid.”
With research, I found that approximately 1.1 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer at some point during their lifetime. The odds were in my favor the nodule would be benign.
But while I illustrated Let My Colors Out, I learned that mine was malignant. I watched as my four children’s emotions mirrored the book’s protagonist’s to a tee. I had a thyroidectomy and have become a survivor.
Remarkably, my next book was Nana, What’s Cancer?, written by cancer survivor, Beverlye Hyman Fead with her granddaughter, Tessa Mae Hamermesh. I flew to Los Angeles to meet the two. Beverlye’s tenacity for life was contagious. Every day I thank God for the car accident that saved my life! I had noticed no sign of having cancer, but without that MRI it most likely wouldn’t have been found in time.”
Read my entire story here, from the book: SERENDIPITY compiled by author Madonna Dries Christensen.
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Last year I was honored when Courtney asked me to illustrate her follow up book, LMCG. Going beyond cancer, this very special book is useful for children of families facing a sudden illness, a job loss, the loss of a loved one, a divorce or a sudden move. Children view life changes and challenges differently than adults do, each day brings out different colorful emotions. This book can help children understand that they are not alone with their feelings.
Purchase on Amazon: Let My Colors Go
“A young boy uses color to express a range of emotions as his family undergoes a sudden life change. Some days he's sad, some days he's happy and other days he's scared or angry. The boy comes to realize that these "ups and downs" are perfectly normal for his situation.
Based on the award-winning books, Let My Colors Out and My Cancer Days, this beautifully illustrated book assures children of families facing a sudden illness, a job loss, the loss of a loved one, a divorce or a sudden move that they are not alone. Importantly, it helps them understand it's okay to let their feelings go. Drawing and journaling pages are included to encourage children to express themselves in a thoughtful and positive manner.”
UPDATED!
Here is the video!
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Some of you watched me Saturday afternoon on Legit Kid Lit’s Live Draw Off come back later in the week, I’ll be uploading the templates and instructions here for my Yay for Big Brothers! animal puppets and paper doll clothes!
I just finished all the illustrations for a new book, releasing in March 2022…. (More on that later!) now I can focus on some new drawerofmanythings YouTube videos and new, free craft projects to go along with my books.
Legit Kid Lit Draw Off: what does Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Incredible, corn, candy, pile of leaves, and Lorax have in common? Watch the latest episode and find out!
Just a quick note: Yay for Big Brothers! written by Janet Halfmann has been released and is now available in English and/or Spanish! Here at Arbordale.
I autographed a pile of them today and they are ready to be mailed!
This is the second Janet Halfmann book I’ve illustrated. I also did the art for Home in the Cave.
Both can be found at Arbordale or on Amazon. Yay for Big Brothers! is my 16th Arbordale book! Check them all out here!
Big brothers are amazing! Did you know that big brothers are important in animal families, too? Animal big brothers do many of the same things as kid big brothers. They play with their younger siblings, teach them new things, and help with their care. Sometimes animal big brothers even babysit when their parents leave to hunt for food. Are you a big brother or do you have a big brother?
Written by Janet Halfmann, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 4 - 8, Grades K - 3, Lexile: AD 520, F&P: L
First, I want to share the press release published in today’s Wayland Town-Crier, click on the link below to read it:
Mass Book Awards recognizes 'River Otter’s Adventure'
Available in English and Spanish, paperback and ebook from Arbordale.
And I also want to share this lovely interview I had with Ashley Lucas, creator of Linzer Lane.
I hope you enjoy it. While on YouTube, don’t forget to Subscribe to my channel drawerofmanythings. I have more interviews with my creative peers lined up and you won’t want to miss their insights and my silliness!
River Otter’s Adventure, made the Massachusetts Center for the Book’s MUST READ Book list! You will find it under MUST READ PICTURE BOOKS/EARLY READERS.
I’m very excited! Written by Linda Stanek and published by Arbordale, here is Arbordale’s press release.
Released during the pandemic in 2020, River Otter’s Adventure is the 30th book I’ve illustrated. I’m so delighted children across Massachusetts will be reading it. Earlier this year the state of Texas selected it for their Tejas Reading List. I am doubly excited kids all across the country are reading it. Take a look!
River Otter’s Adventure, available in English and Spanish, paperback and ebook.
When a young river otter sneaks into a zoo, she wonders if she should be more like some of the other animals she meets. She wants a trunk like the elephant or be loud like the gorilla… By imitating and comparing herself to these other animals she learns to appreciate herself. Educational components are woven throughout this fun, read-aloud story and sidebar information complements and extends the learning, making it a perfect book for a wide variety of ages.
Written by Linda Stanek, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 4 - 8, Grades K - 3, Lexile: 600, F&P: N
Just before the pandemic hit I was given a really fun assignment for Geeks Who Drink. Then bars across the country closed and GWD had to go virtual. They are now getting back on track with live trivia quizzes, so I checked in with their Quizmaster-in-Chief Christopher Short (yeah, that Christopher Short, you might have seen him kicking butt on Jeopardy!) and asked him if it was okay to share these. I got the green light, so check these out! Can you solve them without cheating?
These were really fun to illustrate! Adult books turned into children’s book covers.
I’ve added three four new activity sheets to www.achoowhypollencounts.com - Color by Number is the first one. I’m all for creative expression, I’m not mandating you follow this color key, use it as a guide to get you started!
The second is a Connect the Dots. One side is easy, whereas I’ve made the other side a bit more challenging. But you can do it!
The third is a Jigsaw Puzzle.
The fourth is a Find the Difference.
And don’t forget to visit the site to find lots of other activity sheets for summer fun time learning; puzzles, coloring pages, and free crafts. Plus photos of bees from around the world.
For the Jigsaw Puzzle. As a challenge! Try coloring in the pieces first, then cut each out and solve the puzzle to see how your coloring came out. 🧩
I participated in the latest Legit Kid Lit Draw Off! We filmed it last weekend, and it was released today. Participating with me were Isabella King and Kaela Rivera. Check it out!
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May) I am giving away a hardcover copy of A Case of Sense by Songju Ma Daemicke and Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal, by Jeanne Walker Harvey. (Both illustrated by me.) To have a chance to win follow and retweet my link on Twitter @ShennenBersani PLUS follow @Legit_Kid_Lit. Alexis and Tiffany at Legit Kid Lit will be selecting the winner. Good luck!
I love all the books I’ve illustrated. Each and every one of them (I’m working on book 34). Sometimes I’ve illustrated people realistically, as in the true non-fiction story of Astro: The Steller Sea Lion, written by Jeanne Walker Harvey. Astro is a celebrity Sea Lion! You can see him in person at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.
Other times I illustrate whimsical, playful people, as I did for the fictional storybook, A Family Walk, written by Jennifer Butenas. This is the delightful story of a family who spend precious moments together, creating lifetime memories - captured by their Mom with her camera.
I was recently asked which style I prefer. I honestly answered this way. I truly don’t have a favorite style to work in. I look at each book as a new clean canvas. I read the manuscript and ponder it for a while. The words direct me one way or another. Non-fiction books typically are realistic, while fictional tales slide to whimsy. This isn’t hard and fast, and sometimes the editor/art director requests a specific style or technique. Working in a wide variety of styles and techniques is what makes my job so much fun!
Are pollen allergies getting you down? Check out www.achoowhypollencounts.com. Over there you will find fun, free puzzles, coloring pages, and craft projects that are sure to cheer you up!
....plus, Arbordale Publishing has free Teaching Activities and quizzes for additional learning possibilities. Find the links on the top right.
Spring has arrived and pollen is in the air. Baby Bear does not like the pollen—it sticks to his fur and makes him itchy and sneezy. He’s allergic! Achoo! He just wishes the pollen were gone. When his friends gather to tell him why they need pollen, Baby Bear learns that pollen is good for the forest and provides food for many animals, including him! Pollen might be something we all love to hate, but can we really live without it? This story explains why we need it.
This fictional story includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 45-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. Achoo! Why Pollen Counts is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension.
Also available in German and Portuguese! Gesundheit!
2020, a year none of us can forget. We all have personal stories to share.
Oh, it is so eye-ronic, here’s my right eye - which got injured in 2019 to the point of legal blindness - which finally got repaired with surgery this year! Yay! 20/400 -> 20/20 in one day! To have this book released shortly after my surgery is soo, eye opening and heart-felt emotional for me!
...It was the pandemic that forced me to wait so long for my surgery, that, and requiring a specialist.
Onward and upward! Yay!
So the Big Question is, is my eye in The Eyeball Alphabet Book, or am I just teasing you here? Grab a copy and See for yourself!
My eye surgery was in Boston. The day after surgery I had to return to Boston to have the surgeon recheck my eye. I was OVER THE MOON I could not only see, but I could see colors correctly again! We left the surgeon’s and headed directly to Dick Blick’s, of course!
The injury, and all the trouble I had drawing that came with it, ushered in my Watercolor phase. I’ll talk about that in the future. Until then....
Ann Downer is on the left, I am on the right.
Listen to my interview with Pat Rullo here, scroll down to find link.
I am currently illustrating my 34th picture book. For 19 years I’ve been illustrating children’s books, that’s a long time and a lot of books. Over the course of my career, a few books have touched my soul. One has been Shark Baby. Written by author Ann Downer, Shark Baby tells the story of a baby shark, searching for his identity. Who of us can’t relate to that?
As you can read in my dedication, I traveled across the country to do hands-on research for the illustrations:
After the book was released, I was excited to meet Ann Downer, who also lived in Massachusetts. Ann and I did school visits and many book signings together; in and out of Boston, and at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. With Ann being a year older than I and both of us mothers, I felt a real connection to her. I loved getting together with Ann. I had secretly hoped to illustrate more of Ann’s books. One day she told me she was ill. The doctors were having a challenging time nailing down a diagnosis. The next time we met she told me she was dying of ALS. Ann passed away two years after Shark Baby was released, one year after she was diagnosed with ALS.
The world lost a most cherished author. You see, Ann was already a famous author before she wrote Shark Baby. You can read about her books at Simon and Schuster. Or on her Wikipedia page. Or find her books on Goodreads. Or on Amazon.
I cherish Shark Baby. For me, it is wrapped up in many precious memories; researching it, illustrating it, promoting it with Ann. I would love to share it with others. So as the illustrator, and in honor of Ann, I submitted it to the Firebird Book Awards for illustration.
I am honored to say Shark Baby, written by Ann Downer, has won first place in three categories of the FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS:
First place: Illustration Children
First place: Illustration General
First place: Picture Book All Ages
https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/?powerpress_pinw=12876-podcast
Here is the press release:
EIGHTY FOUR AUTHORS AWARDED THE FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD
April 2021 – Speak Up Talk Radio announced the winners of 2021’s first quarter FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS contest. Eighty four winners were announced in 98 categories.
One of the winning entries was from Massachusetts, illustrator Shennen Bersani, whose book titled Shark Baby won in First Place in these three categories: Illustration Children, Illustration General, and Picture Book All Ages.
Authors and publishers from around the world submitted their work to the Firebird Book Awards. A panel of 12 judges within the writing and publishing space then read every book and independently scored each entry according to a set of standardized criteria that evaluates the quality of the writing as well as production aspects. Only entries with the highest of scores are awarded the coveted Firebird.
Patricia J. Rullo, founder of the Firebird Book Awards, says, “This quarter’s entries were a joy to read and speak to the talent out there. At Speak Up Talk Radio, our mission is to offer radio interviews and podcasting services to help authors expand their reach. In addition to additional prizes, our winners have the opportunity to be interviewed and aired on iHeart Radio, Pandora, as well as 50 additional online venues, giving them new ways to speak up and share their work.”
Pat adds, “We’ve included a charitable component to our awards by making all entry fees tax-deductible to the author. In return, we personally make and send handmade fun and whimsical pillowcases to women and children in homeless shelters via Enchanted Makeovers, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All entry fees fund this project. In this way, authors can get notoriety for their work while doing good for others. It’s been such a rewarding venture for everyone.”
The Firebird Book Awards run quarterly contests so authors can receive recognition on a timely basis. Authors from all genres, mainstream, independent, and self-published are welcome. Additional winning authors and titles as well as entry information is available at https://www.speakuptalkradio.com
Shark Baby is available in English and Spanish and can be purchased at Arbordale Publishing.
About the book:
“Who am I?” wonders Shark Baby. When his “mermaid’s purse" egg case is torn loose in a storm, he finds himself on a journey through different ocean habitats: kelp forests, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. He learns what kind of shark he isn’t, but not what kind he is. He needs to find the “mermaid" to learn where he belongs, but the ocean is big and full of dangers. Will he find out who he is—and what he can do—in time?
Just a quick post of the cover, and to let you know something new is coming! Releasing September 10, 2021, written by Janet Halfmann and published by Arbordale. Yay for Big Brothers! This is the 16th picture book I’ve illustrated for Arbordale Publishing, and my second Janet Halfmann book, the first being Home in the Cave.
From Arbordale’s site:
Big brothers are amazing! Did you know that big brothers are important in animal families, too? Animal big brothers do many of the same things as kid big brothers. They play with their younger siblings, teach them new things, and help with their care. Sometimes animal big brothers even babysit when their parents leave to hunt for food. Are you a big brother or do you have a big brother?
Written by Janet Halfmann, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 4 - 8, Grades K - 3
Preorder from Amazon here: Yay for Big Brothers!
An excerpt from Kirkus’ review of The Eyeball Alphabet Book,
“Bersani follows up the spectacular illustrations in Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book (2019) with another set of equally bright, bold, and this time literally eye-catching close-ups to go with Pallotta’s alphabetical assortment of ocular animal facts.” Read the entire review over at Kirkus.com Releasing May 11, preorder it here.
Written by Jerry Pallotta, published by Charlesbridge.
I was in heaven when Achoo! Why Pollen Counts earned this honor. Today I was equally thrilled to learn River Otter’s Adventure also made The Tejas Star Reading List.
Lookie 👁👁 what arrived yesterday! My advance copy of Charlesbridge’s The Eyeball Alphabet Book! Charlesbridge doesn’t have preorder up, yet, but Amazon does. You can order it here. This was originally published as a Scholastic Book Club original paperback, being rereleased in hardcover by Charlesbridge. Written by Jerry Pallotta.
February 11, 2021 Update:
Listen to today’s interview with Speak Up Talk Radio’s host, Pat Rullo. Learn about where my ideas for Achoo! Why Pollen Counts came from.
I’m pleased to announce Achoo! Why Pollen Counts has won three awards in the Firebird Book Awards!
First Place Picture Books - All Ages
First Place Picture Books - Ages 4-8
Third Place - Children’s Fiction
https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/?powerpress_pinw=12035-podcast
Here is the press release:
SEVENTY TWO AUTHORS SNAG THE FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS
January 2021 – Speak Up Talk Radio announced the winners of 2020’s fourth quarter FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS contest. Seventy-two winners were announced in 87 categories.
One of the winning entries was from Massachusetts, author Shennen Bersani, whose book titled Achoo! Why Pollen Counts won in the following categories:
Authors and publishers from around the world submitted their work to the Firebird Book Awards. A panel of 12 judges within the writing and publishing space then read every book and independently scored each entry according to a set of standardized criteria that evaluates the quality of the writing as well as production aspects. Only entries with the highest of scores are awarded the coveted Firebird.
Patricia J. Rullo, founder of the Firebird Book Awards, says, “The quality of the entries were stunning and speak to the talent out there that needs a marketing voice. At Speak Up Talk Radio, our mission is to offer radio interviews and podcasting services to help authors expand their reach. In addition to additional prizes, our winners have the opportunity to be interviewed and aired on radio stations, iHeart Radio, Pandora, as well as 50 additional online venues, giving them new ways to speak up and share their work.”
Pat adds, “We’ve included a charitable component to our awards by making all entry fees tax-deductible to the author. In return, we personally make and send handmade fun and whimsical pillowcases to women and children in homeless shelters via Enchanted Makeovers, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All entry fees fund this project. In this way, authors can get notoriety for their work while doing good for others. It’s been such a rewarding venture for everyone.”
The Firebird Book Awards run quarterly contests so authors can receive recognition on a timely basis. Authors from all genres, mainstream, independent, and self-published are welcome. Additional winning authors and titles as well as entry information is available at https://www.speakuptalkradio.com
Go to www.achoowhypollencounts.com to learn more about the book, and find free puzzles, crafts, and coloring pages.
You can purchase the book in English, Spanish, German, or Portuguese at Arbordale Publishing. Or there’s always Amazon. If you visit Amazon, check out the 29 other books I’ve illustrated. There’s definitely something for everyone in your family.
https://www.speakuptalkradio.com/?powerpress_pinw=12035-podcast
I love Legit KidLit! This time I participated in their Winter Draw Off episode. I was joined with fellow Arbordale illustrator, Veronica Jones. Also drawing were Jenn Kocsmiersky and John Green. Check out the episode, and don’t forget to like it and give Legit KidLit’s YouTube channel a follow.
Legit KidLit Draw Offs: Four kidlit creators. Two wheels of topics. Three rounds. Five minutes per round. Lots of creativity and so much fun!
As a bonus, here’s my first sketch you can print out and color or decorate however you like.
You will find this and many more fun downloadables over at www.Achoowhypollencounts.com
Don’t forget how snowflakes form.... from Pollen!
Last week I participated in Legit Kid Lit’s 1st Draw Off. Here’s their description of the event:
Legit Kid Lit Episode 11 is a special drawing episode featuring four authors and illustrators! This was a blast of an episode full of humor and fun sketches. Watch now to see Jeanette Bradley, Brooks Benjamin, Abi Cushman, and Shennen Bersani doodle and have fun. Why don’t you grab a pencil and some paper and join in the fun too?
We plan on doing another Draw Off in November.
I also did a webinar with the Darby Creek Valley Association and created this drawing page to go along with it.
Here’s the NOAA link to How a snowflake is formed: https://www.noaa.gov/stories/how-do-snowflakes-form-science-behind-snow
Don’t for get to check out all of my Achoo! puzzles, crafts, and coloring pages on www.achoowhypollencounts.com
Between hurricanes, wildfires, and Covid, 2020 has definitely taken a toll on our nation’s education. If an elementary school lost their library from a hurricane, tropical storm, or wildfire please have the staff leave a comment. I have two complete sets of my Arbordale books and a limited number of my Jerry Pallotta books to donate. Two schools will receive 20 books. I can donate smaller amounts to additional schools until my supply runs out. Please share and spread the word.
Please leave a comment I will respond to. I no longer read my gmail.
ps. I’ve also illustrated seven other books with smaller publishers. A few of these might be sent as well, while my supplies last.
Fine print: Staff only should contact me, preferably the school’s principal or administration. I want to be certain the books get delivered to the proper people/location.
My Jerry Pallotta books are published by Scholastic and Charlesbridge. Most of my books can be found on Amazon.
Hurray! Today is the official book release for River Otter’s Adventure! About the book: When a young river otter sneaks into a zoo, she wonders if she should be more like some of the other animals she meets. She wants a trunk like the elephant or be loud like the gorilla… By imitating and comparing herself to these other animals she learns to appreciate herself. Educational components are woven throughout this fun, read-aloud story and sidebar information complements and extends the learning, making it a perfect book for a wide variety of ages.
Written by Linda Stanek, illustrated by me.
You can purchase it from Arbordale here in English or Spanish
on Amazon, or ask your Indie publisher!
What reviewers are saying about River Otter’s Adventure:
The repetitive format will soothe younger children and build confidence in older ones. The introduction of exotic animals among more-familiar ones adds variety. Some readers might see the river otter’s journey as a support of identity play and self-acceptance; others can simply indulge in all the ways to act like animals. Cute and playful, like its featured critter.
What a fun book about adventure and accepting to be yourself! I loved River Otter's Journey! It was so much fun! The illustrations are beyond belief beautiful and capture the story perfectly! It taught a good lesson that it's okay to be ourselves! I also really loved that there was facts about river otters at the end!
Steph Dykhouse, Reviewer
Thank you, Steph Dykhouse for your review!!
Congratulations to Achoo! Why Pollen Counts for becoming a 2019 Story Monster Approved Winner! The stickers arrived today. Looking good!
Visit www.achoowhypollencounts.com to find free resources and learn more about the book. You can purchase a copy at Arbordale or on Amazon.
Have you dyed Easter eggs? Just made some omelets? Reuse and repurpose your empty egg cartons with this fun and easy craft.
Step 1. Start by printing this page out for your bees and an interior glimpse of an active beehive. Print out as many sheets as you’d like, it’s up to you how many bees you want your hive to have.
This is an example of a finished beehive mobile! Yours can be any colors you want, decorated any way you like!
Step 2. Collect your supplies. Empty egg cartons, scissors, glue, coffee stirrers, needle and thread, fishing line, and washers. Not shown I also used colored pencils and fingernail polish.
You don’t have to decorate your egg cartons, but I used paints to make mine look more like a beehive. Use any kind of paint - even spray paint if you have some - to decorate your beehive. Also feel free to experiment, you can also decoupage photos or put papier-mâché over the outside. This craft project is fun, let your imagination run freely. 😊
Start with your printed sheet.
Step 3. Color in your bees and the interior of your beehive.
I like adding glitter fingernail polish for a shimmering ‘pollen’ effect.
Color your pages in any way that makes you happy!
Step 4. Here I am cutting out hexagon hive holes to show a sneak peek into the hive’s interior. Please be careful. Adult supervision with sharp scissors advised. You can cut as few or as many holes as you’d like. Or skip this step altogether.
Your interior art will show through the holes you cut out as shown.
Step 5. Cut out your bees and hive pieces.
Step 6. Glue your bee medallions back to back so you will have a bee showing in all directions when your finished hive is hung.
Step 7. Paint your egg carton.
More painting.
Step 8. Decorate your beehive any way you like! Here I used a Sharpie to draw in honeycomb shapes. Note the hole punched in the bottom left cell. I will be pushing a coffee stirrer through that.
Step 9. This is optional. I added coffee stirrers to give more space to hang my flying bees.
My two 2019 releases were, A Family Walk, written by Jennifer Butenas; and Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book, written by Jerry Pallotta.
Here’s a little peek inside of each:
The styles and techniques are different, but both pure me! I would find my job boring if I did the exact same style in each book. I’ve been blessed to have done such an amazing variety.
Here is my upcoming 2020 release, River Otter’s Adventure, written by Linda Stanek.
and a small peek inside of it:
Very different from the Uber realistic art I’m now doing for my 31st book, which happens to be my 9th Jerry Pallotta book.... but I’m keeping that under wraps for now.
I love my job!
Pure joy! Tears ran down my face today when Ryan sent this photo from Luxor, Egypt. Tears of joy, seeing the girls’ smile at receiving a copy of Once Upon an Elephant, translated into Arabic. Thank you, Ryan, for helping me donate the books. You can read about this award-winning book from Arbordale here.
Following on the joy I received donating my Portuguese books to a school in Brazil, I’m now using my royalties to buy Arabic books for Egyptians. With a little assist from my son, Ryan, some have already made their way to Cairo. Here he is reading to the Sphinx. Ryan’s comment, “I read your book to the Sphinx. Learning experience for the Sphinx as he only knows hieroglyphics.”
I’m still Challenging authors and illustrators out there to buy books with your royalties and donate them to children who can use them! #PayItForward
Thank you, Ryan, for your help.
Learn more about award-winning, Once Upon an Elephant, at Arbordale. Written by Linda Stanek, illustrated by me. Winner of the Children’s Choice Book of the Year, 2017. Other Linda’s books I’ve illustrated are: Cheetah Dreams, Night Creepers, and River Otter’s Adventure. All can be found at Arbordale, along with eleven of my other illustrated books, including the one I authored, Achoo! Why Pollen Counts.
Meet my friend, Pablah.
Her and her husband own a restaurant my husband and I visit often. Pablah and Mac both come from Brazil. One day they hung this poster:
Both hot chocolate specials are delicious, but I especially like the s’mores one. 😋
So each visit I reflect on the poster and it occurred to me, I have Arbordale picture books that have been translated into Portuguese. I’m going to use my royalty money to buy Portuguese books for the children at this school. (Currently the children are having their classes outside while the building is being built.)
Soooo I took my royalties and bought 40 Portuguese picture books. Yesterday I donated them. Here’s a short video:
I’m working on a longer video, and will post a link when it’s done. Until then, here’s my Challenge video. Fellow children’s authors and illustrators, join me in getting books to children and schools who have none. I know all of you are not in a position to do this, but for those who can, I challenge you to take your royalties and use them to get vital books to these schools. Further details follow in the video.
To donate, email Pablah @ pfchwres @ Gmail dot com. And thank you from both of us! ❤️
I’ve created a new Crossword Puzzle for Achoo! Why Pollen Counts. Find these, crafts and coloring pages over at www.achoowhypollencounts.com.
I’ve been waiting to share this art! I was a guest artist for Geeks Who Drink. I was assigned to illustrate eight cities with animals in their name - more or less. Last night my art was the visual round for all the quizzes across the country, hundreds of them. My son, Ryan, is a quiz master at the Hong Kong in Harvard Square. As we would say in Boston, this was wicked pissaah! Check out Ryan’s roundup of last night’s events here.
Can you solve these?
BTW, check out my handmade jewelry shop, HeartGlimmers, on Etsy. Perfect for your holiday gift giving. And for all the young ones in your life, find my children’s picture books on Amazon here. I’m currently illustrating book 31, there’s over 2 million copies of my books out there!
Tracy and I at the Hong Kong.
I want to leave a post here saying hello to anyone who finds me through GWD! My usual gig is illustrating children’s picture books (or writing them!). I’m currently working on my 31st. You can find most of them searching my name here on Amazon. I’ve illustrated a wide assortment of subjects; from realistic non-fiction to whimsical fiction, I’ve created something for just about any family. If you have little kids in your life please check them out. Books make awesome gifts.
This website www.achoowhypollencounts.com has some of my free coloring pages, craft projects, and more.
I also sell my handmade jewelry over at HeartGlimmers on Etsy. I randomly add new pieces, so take a fresh look every now and then. Here are some samples.
Time permitting I even do portrait commissions. You can reach me at sbersani at mac dot com. If I’m too busy, I have friends I will recommend.
Here are simple math and word search pages for you to print out. Find more coloring pages and craft projects at www.achoowhypollencounts.com.