A Girl and Her Horse

I never get to draw horses so for this illustration I put in three. Yay!

This is an interior black and white illustration for a chapter book.

This was loads of fun- I hope you enjoy it as well.

What My Kid is Reading- Fortunately, the Milk

Fortunately, the Milk
Written by Neil Gaiman
Illustrated by Skottie Young
Age range: 8-12
Released: 2013



What's this book about?
It's about what really happens when your dad goes out to buy milk.

He just buys it from the store, right?
Yes. HOWEVER, fortunately the milk helps him on a journey through time and space.

So there's more than just groceries in this story?
Yup. There are also dinosaurs, "Wumpires", volcanoes, aliens and whole lot more but I don't want to ruin the story. Oh, and there is also a time machine and that's how you're able to see the previous list of characters.

I love how one of the main characters gives unusual names to things we know. Wet white hairy crunchers = coconuts. Floaty ball person carrier = hot air balloon. But a button is a button.

Is the book illustrated?
Oh, it has some of the best illustrations I've seen. I love his drawing style- all his lines are messy and he makes the weirdest looking characters possible.

Thinking about the illustrations, who's your favorite character in the book?
I really like the drawings of the Wumpires because their bodies look like rubber being stretched out.

Why did we buy this book?Because you suggested it to me.

Have you ever read anything else by Neil Gaiman?
No. Because most of his books seem to be for older people. Or not as funny.

(I think we'll have to check out some of his other titles so I can prove Leo wrong.)

Who would you recommend this book to?
Anyone would like this book because it has adult humor and kid humor.

Was it easy to understand the time travel aspects or would some kids find it confusing?
It was really easy to follow because they didn't talk about it as time travel- rather more as teleportation (even though it really was time travel).

How would you rate this book?
5 stars (out of 5)

Thanks Leo!

Buy this book from Amazon

More book reviews from Leo

Kidlit Group Gallery Show

Update: Here's an article from Artscope Magazine about our show with a few quotes from me. 

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I'm currently in a group gallery show with 3 other talented children's book illustrators at the Hess Gallery in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

I have 9 book illustrations in the show. In the bottom photo you can see my son reading below my illustration with a quote by Neil Gaiman: "A book is a dream that you hold in your hands."

On March 9, we gathered for a conversation with students from Pine Manor College to discuss how we create our work and how we get work in the crowded field of illustration. It's always interesting to compare notes with fellow illustrators!

Each of us does very different work:

Priscilla Alpaugh Cotter works in watercolor and colored pencil

Wayne Geehan works in acrylics and oils

Toby Williams works with cut paper

The show is up until August 1, 2016. If you have a chance to check it out, let me know what you think!

Frizzy Girl Who Might be Hayden Panettiere

Sketch of a girl who looks a lot like a young Hayden Panettiere circa Malcolm in the Middle. Totally by chance, btw.

Here's a screenshot from Season 7, Episode 5 for comparison:

Donald Trump is a Troll

Considering his hair and his fear mongering and xenophobia, how could I resist depicting Donald Trump as a Troll doll?