The Mock Turtle

Findings and updates about words, pictures, and myself.

Hello and welcome to The Mock Turtle! Thanks for being part of this project.

What I’m working on

I’m finishing the final artwork for the first of three books to be published by Candlewick Press in 2025. The books are about The Smushkins, a series of endearing characters I created a while ago and can’t wait for you to meet. The first book will be titled The Smushkins Look for a House and it will work as an introduction to the characters.

From my studio

Finishing the final art kept me busy during the holidays. Coloring is relaxing and rewarding, but you can't hurry the process. This is the first book I’ve drawn using Procreate (the iPad becoming a convenient portable studio)—here’s a glimpse into part of my current process.

Picture books about war

Writing picture books for children about ugly subjects like war is challenging but important. I’ve been trying to crack the problem for years. I debate between using the metaphor, the fable, or the anecdote. I wish to talk about conflict, but also about the possibility of mutual understanding.

From my comic strip “Zoey”

Two good picture books—The Enemy by Davide Cali and The Conquerors by David McKee— aim to show that the enemy is no monster. I also like The Day War Came by Nicola Davies, which addresses the impacts of war on the lives of the young. Do you have any favorites?

Shows to catch

Medieval Money, Merchants, and Morality, at The Morgan Library through Mar. 10

This exhibition is an excellent opportunity to see outstanding illuminated manuscripts. Aside from being beautiful, I find the work a rich source of visual narrative material (the image is from the fine book “The Hours of Catherine of Cleves”, 1440).

The Original Art, Annual Exhibit, at The Society of Illustrators through Jan. 27

Felicita Sala, Jon Klassen, Brian Selznick

I was finally able to visit the SOI’s showcase of original art from the best children’s books published in the US each year. Although I often use digital media, I did not find enough original art made with real paint or pencil. I took some close-ups of original illustrations by artists I admire.

What I’m reading

Paper: Paging Through History by Mark Kurlansky

I turn to history books whenever I find it hard to understand the present. However, a 400-pager on the history of this precious material requires an excellent storyteller to engage me. Luckily, that’s Mark Kurlansky. This journey is well worth the ride—taking you through the history of books, writing, and civilization, and away from a Eurocentric approach. I’m loving it.

Upcoming

Classes & workshops I’m teaching

• Picture Book Course - Online
  Tuesdays, Feb 6–Apr 2, 6–9 pm ET
  An 8-week virtual course through SVA Continuing Education; read more here.

• Picture Book Course - In-Person (NYC)
  Thursdays, Feb 8–Apr 4, 6:30–9:30 pm
  I’m also offering the SVA class in person—a great chance to meet like-minded creatives in the city; read more here.

• Picture Book Workshop - In Person (NYC)
  Saturday, Feb 10, 9:15 am–12:15 pm
  A 3-hour Creative Lab during the SCBWI Winter Conference; read more here.

Call for Entries

• Silent Book Contest
  Deadline: Feb 5, €50 to register
  A picture book competition for 28-page projects without words. A great visual narrative challenge for those who might be interested. 

I’d love to hear from you!

I welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. The source of creativity is in dialogue, not monologue.