Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

There is much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, as is the case with each passing holiday. Great family, great friends. You can't ask for much more.

I hope that everyone out there enjoys a safe and happy day filled with turkey and/or stuffing.

Here is a picture of Ralph dressed as a pilgrim (pulgrim?) hunting for the family's wild turkey. (Or maybe just a passing bicyclist...)









PF on Tour Posters by Kids


On a recent visit to Klein, TX, I stopped by Kuehnle Elementary. The school library hosted a poster contest where the students had to guess where Punk Farm would travel to next on their tour. Check out the awesome results below. And check out the school's website to see the posters on display, as well as the cool luncheon held for the winners.

PF of course went to Old McDona'd's farm:

PF also stopped by Hawaii:

PF traveled to Italy:

PF rocked the Eiffel Tower:

In their waning years, they had a stint in Vegas:

PF played quite a few shows in DC:

PF stopped by St. Louis:


PF played the school that was hosting me:


PF rocked like an Egyptian:


The first animal band to play while on a doomed raft,
PF played Niagara Falls:


And PF rocks out Mardis Gras style in New Orleans:





Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Norton Juster at the R. Michelson exhibit opening

Here is a picture of me with Norton Juster at the R. Michelson Galleries' opening reception for their 20th illustration show. Norton is a friend, neighbor and at times -- lunch date.


There are a lot of book neighbors in the Pioneer Valley. How many authors and/or illustrators can you name in the picture below?

(Group photo by Seth Kaye)

To see more pictures from the opening reception, head on over to the R. Michelson Galleries' website.

Monday, November 23, 2009

R. Michelson Galleries 20th Annual Illustration Show

The show is up through January 31st. Here is a sneak peak:


R.Michelson Galleries
132 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-3964

Sunday, November 22, 2009

LL3 - 1 month to go!

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta - on shelves December 22, 2009!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Postcard Interview with Maxwell Eaton III

You know Maxwell Eaton III, right? No, you're thinking of Maxwell Eaton II. Maxwell Eaton III is the guy who wrote and illustrated the mega-awesome Max and Pinky books.

Over four months, he interviewed me via postcards. I was zig-zagging the country promoting Lunch Lady and working on the next installments throughout. Take a look at the fun results over at Max's blog:

http://maxwelleatoniii.blogspot.com/2009/11/postcard-interview-with-jarrett-j.html


And here is a sneak peak of what you will see:

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

RI Radio

Reading with Robin is a great radio talk show out of Rhode Island. This Saturday morning from 7-8 AM, my friend and former RISD professor, Mary Jane Begin, is taking over the airwaves. She'll have Kelly Murphy in the studio and Grace Lin and I will be calling in from Philly while at the NCTE conference.

Listen to is online at: www.readingwithrobin.com.

Curious George in Cambridge

A few weeks back I had a great reading at Curious George in Harvard Sq. This book shop holds a special place in my heart because I frequented it in my pre-published days. I used to live just down the road and as I received rejection after rejection from publishers, I would stop in looking for inspiration on the shelves.








My reading was just by the store's front door, so when I requested volunteers from the audience to strike super hero poses...



...this couple had just wandered in. They didn't have kids, were just tourists, but they were incredible sports!



And here is the gesture drawing that came from it:



Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Funny kid quote


While setting up for a school visit presentation, a kindergartner asked, "What's your name?"

Feeling a little mischievous, I replied, "Dr. Suess."

Without missing a beat, she looked at me incredulously and said, "Then why ain't you dead yet?"


Monday, November 16, 2009

Totes for my totes

We here in the Krosoczka house love our totes. We have totes to hold our totes, we have so many totes. So imagine our surprise and delight when we discovered that Random House Children's Books teamed up with Perma Bound to produce a special graphic novel tote that featured Lunch Lady!

Look for them at the upcoming NCTE conference in Philly. You will be the coolest eco-minded shopper at the grocery store!


Speaking of the NCTE, here is the info for the program that I am on. I'll be talking up graphic novels with the talented Holm siblings.

9:30-10:45 am Program: Babymouse and Lunch Lady: Creating Graphic Novels for the Younger Set Convention Center/Room 203B, Level 2

Thursday, November 12, 2009

At NYC Public Library w/ Matt Phelan

Betsy Bird, of Fuse #8 fame, recently hosted a panel on graphic novels at the NYC Public Library. Here I am with Matt Phelan, author/illustrator of the beautiful Storm in the Barn.





Below is the library's lobby. Imagine walking into this everytime you wanted to borrow a book?


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Lunch Lady Photo Contest

There is one month left to enter the Lunch Lady photo contest!

All entries must be in by December 11, 2009.

Celebrity lunch lady experts will look over all photos submitted and choose a winner. The winner will be announced here on the blog on December 22, 2009. (The same day that LL3 hits book shelves.)

Celebrity lunch lady experts will be announced soon. Stay tuned . . .

Baghead Pumpkin



The school library at Kuehnle Elementary hosted a literary pumpkin painting contest. And look what librarian Mrs. Mitchell created to lead the charge--a Baghead pumpkin! So cool! I think even Martha Stewart would be impressed!




Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Drawings from Isaiah

Check out these cool drawings sent in from Isaiah, age 8. He recreated his favorite scene from Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute. Isaiah is also proud to report that he read the first two Lunch Lady books in one day! Rock on, Isaiah!



Do you have a note or a drawing that you'd like to share? I would love to see them!
They can be emailed to me via props@studiojjk.com or mailed to:
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
PO Box 60155
Florence, MA 01062

Monday, November 09, 2009

Mistaken Identity



We had a wonderful time at the gallery opening last night. A woman came up to me and asked, "Which piece is yours?"

I pointed to the wall and responded, "I painted the Wild Things." Her jaw dropped, her eyes widened.

"Oh my. I'm sorry. I never knew your face!"

I quickly realized what had happened. "Oh no, I just painted a picture of the Wild Things. I didn't invent them."


Junior Library Guild

I am honored that the Junior Library Guild has selected Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta as a Fall 2009 selection.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Gallery opening this Sunday

This Sunday, come on out to the R. Michelson Gallery for their 20th Annual Children's Illustration show. The party goes from 4-6 PM.




Here is my tribute to Where the Wild Things Are, which will be on display at the exhibit:




And here is the official announcement from the gallery:


Included in the exhibit will be such notable illustrators as Tomie dePaola, Mo Willems, Barry Moser, Tony DiTerlizzi, Alice Provensen, Jane Dyer, Mordicai Gerstein, Nonny Hogrogian, E. B. Lewis, Jules Feiffer, H.A. Rey, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Rebecca Guay, Raul Colón, Steven Kellogg, Brooke Dyer, Wendell Minor, Karla Gudeon, Dr. Seuss, Diane deGroat and Kathryn Brown.

We will be featuring original Wild Thing drawings by Maurice Sendak and there will be a rare opportunity to view and purchase original artwork by Eric Carle.
                                 
Fifteen works will be offered for sale as a benefit for "Reader to Reader", a public charity dedicated to bringing books, free of charge, to needy schools and public libraries across the United States.

As an homage to their inspirations as illustrators, and in support of "Reader to Reader", Mo Willems draws Dr. Suess, Jarrett Krosoczka draws Sendak, and many of our other artists contribute their own surprising and personal tributes in the form of recollections and images to benefit this worthy cause.

Jane Yolen, children's book author and mentor to many artists and writers, will be receiving the second annual Norton Juster Award for service to the world of Children's Literature.

Thursday, November 05, 2009

David Levithan at the Decatur Book Festival

David and I in Decatur at, of all places, Taco Mac.


By the way, have you read this book by David yet?


It is nothing short of amazing.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

LL at Halloween

Ashley Aguirre, second grade teacher at Foster Elementary School in Kingwood, Texas, served justice and served lunch at Halloween!

Very cool. I am flattered!



Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Not your average author visit

A few weeks back, I had the great honor of joining Target and Heart of America for their READesign "library makeover" program. What a powerful day. Target and Heart of America select school libraries that are in serious need of a helping hand. These economically challenged libraries not only get a complete face-lift, but their library is also supplemented with two-thousand books that are requested by the school librarian. AND each kid at the school is given seven books to take home and call their own.

To learn more about the READesign program, visit www.heartofamerica.org/READesign.htm.

Here are some photos that I took during the day:









Note: I've always wanted to attend an event that involved giant scissors. I can now say that I have.