More Flyleaf Authors

The Children’s Book Week Event at Flyleaf Books on Sunday, May 16, will have several picture authors. Anne Runyon, who is also an illustrator as well as a writer, has created art for many picture books as well as for magazines. Adrienne Ehlert Bashista has published two picture books about Russian adoption–a hot topic in the news right now.

Anne Marshall Runyon
The Sheltering Cedar (Portal Press)
http://www.annerunyon.com

A sturdy tree shelters small animals during a storm on Christmas Eve, allowing peace and joy to reign as the tempest clears. Filled with beautiful illustrations of birds, animals, water, and sky, The Sheltering Cedar is a gift of nature, illuminating and delightful. Written and illustrated by Anne Marshall Runyon.

Anne Runyon was born in Washington, DC. Quiet summers on Ocracoke Island nurtured her love of the natural world and inspired The Sheltering Cedar. Anne studied art and design at college in Minnesota and illustrates and writes for Wildlife in North Carolina. She also creates the monthly nature activity in the young readers’ section, WILD Notebook.

Adrienne Ehlert Bashista
When I Met You and Mishka: An Adoption Tale (DRT Press)
http://www.adriennebashista.net

From scenes in the orphanage to the child’s Russian birthmother, this is one of the first children’s picture books to chronicle the special background of children adopted from Russia. Delicate watercolor illustrations perfectly compliment this poetic and heartfelt text. A celebration of the joy that adopting a child brings to a family.

Mo, a teddy bear and a small boy in Russia are both waiting for the day they’ll be part of a family. A special couple take Mo on an airplane journey to meet his new best friend, Yuri. Mo has many questions once he gets to his destination. Where is he? What’s a mishka?

Adrienne Ehlert Bashista is a writer, school librarian, and the mother of two boys, one of whom was adopted from Russia as a toddler. She wrote both stories for all the families created through adoption from Russia and Eastern Europe.

Celebrate Children’s Book Week

I’m lucky enough to be part of this illustrious group of authors who will be celebrating Children’s Book Week at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC. Here’s a press release about the event:

CELEBRATE CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK WITH SEVEN LOCAL AUTHORS

Chapel Hill, NC, May 16, 2010—Join seven local children’s and young adult authors for a reading, question-and-answer session, and booksigning. Hear excerpts from David Macinnis Gill’s award-winning Soul Enchilada (Greenwillow); Bonnie J. Doerr’s eco-mystery Island Sting (Leap Books); Carolyn McAlister’s retold folktales ¡Holy Molé! (August House) and Brave Donatella and the Jasmine Thief (Charlesbridge); Maryam Tabibzadeh’s poetic Persian Dreams (Dream Books); Laurie J. Edwards’ biography of R&B singer Rihanna (Lucent) and thriller/romance from the anthology Summer Lovin’ (Wild Rose Press); Adrienne Ehlert Bashista’s picture books on Russian adoption, When I Met You and Mishka: An Adoption Tale (DRT Press); and Anne Runyon’s seasonal picture book, The Sheltering Cedar (Portal Press).

Attendees will be treated to a sneak peek at two of Leap Books’ most recent paranormal releases: Freaksville by Kitty Keswick and Under My Skin by Judith Graves. These teen novels have unique graphics and illustrations by Canadian artist Val Cox.

Leap Books, a newly launched publisher of teen and tween books, is sponsoring this Children’s Book Week . Featured authors are all local members of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), an international organization that provides networking, education, and support for authors and illustrators of children’s books at all stages of their careers.

The American Booksellers Association began Children’s Book Week in 1919. In 1944 the Children’s Book Council (CBC) took over the role of promoting reading and literacy through Children’s Book Week activities. Each year in May, CBC sponsors a nationwide week of events to encourage children and teens to read. A list of these events, as well as related online activities, can be found at the CBC website.