deadline world September 27, 2011

Fall is sweeping in, and I'm hunkered down in the studio,  painting rabbits  and witches while the baby sleeps. This is tricky business indeed, but I like how time has become a sharp little tack. It's made me much more efficient in a weird way. More soon!

Reading this Saturday! September 13, 2011

I will be doing a Bandits reading at 2pm this Saturday, September 17th at A Children's Place. Bring your wee ones and your sneakiest sneakers. Hope to see you there! 

diorama! September 13, 2011

Whoah, ch-ch-ch-check out this insanely cute Bandits diorama that the folks at Green Bean Books put together this month!! It makes me insanely, happy-o-rama! 

Reading, interview, and a star review in Booklist! September 02, 2011

So much goodness lately...

* A big thank you to everyone who came out to Green Bean Books for my reading a week or so ago, and buying EVERY SINGLE COPY of Bandits in the store. Man oh man, you guys are amazing. The owner of Green Bean confided that it was a record breaking sales day (for one book), and more Bandits books are on their way for those that didn't get a copy. Thank you, thank you!

* So excited to share, this review by the amazing, Robin Smith. Brought a tear or two to my eye. 

* An interview by Brian Juenemann over at NW Book Lovers.

* And lastly, a lovely review and a star for Bandits in this month's Booklist!!! Holy cow!!!! Here it is:

Bandits. 
Wright, Johanna (Author) , Wright, Johanna (Illustrator)
Aug 2011. 32 p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter, hardcover, $16.99. (9781596435834).
 
As the text tells the tale, a group of bandits roam the neighborhood at night, taking what they please, leaving plenty of clues, and hightailing it up to the hills. After picnicking until dawn, they head for their hideout and lie low until . . . nightfall. The illustrations reveal that the bandits are a family of raccoons with masklike markings, stick-thin arms and legs, and at least as much affection for each other as the trash cans, apple trees, and clotheslines they plunder. Wright’s text is is quiet and slyly humorous, but her illustrations transform the story and ultimately steal the show. On closer visual acquaintance, even the little raccoon who looks shifty-eyed and furtive in the opening scene is shown to be a playful, curious fellow who ends the night tired, leaning in toward his mother while supporting little sister on his other side. Fresh, witty, and beautifully composed, Wright’s naive paintings create a world that is familiar and fantastic at the same time, with glowing skies, round houses, and wonderfully quirky human and animal characters. Working its charm in a thoroughly underhanded manner, this is the sort of quiet picture book that might sneak into a child’s pile of favorite books and catch adults unaware. — Carolyn Phelan

new season, new projects... August 31, 2011

The last day of August and fall is creeping in. Goodbye, summer. Goodbye, hot studio. Goodbye, iced coffee. 

Hello, latte. Hello, rabbits. Hello, witches..... 

Bandits book giveaway! August 16, 2011

PDX Kids Calendar and Green Bean Books are partnering up for a Bandits giveaway. You can read all about how to win, right here!

Beware! BANDITS are on the loose! August 16, 2011

Caution!!! Bandits, has been released into the wild today! Be on the lookout for this book!! It has been spotted at the following places....

Powell's, IndieBound, Macmillan, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and your local bookstore!

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—Bandits are rarely presented in as endearing a manner as in Wright's delightful book about six troublesome raccoons that prowl the neighborhood digging through trash, stealing, and leaving a mess. The text reads like free verse, and it's clear that the words have been carefully chosen. "But those bandits are careless/Leaving clue after clue/And when they are caught/They will never confess!/Back on the run." The true star of this book is the amazing artwork. The textural, expressive paintings are full of life, movement, and humor. While the artistic process is evident through visible canvas texture and messy lines, each illustration is fully realized. The spread showing the raccoons as "They sneak and they creep" exaggeratedly toward the village at dusk perfectly introduces the rascally animals. Children who have experienced these nighttime visitors will enjoy seeing their version of events and the fanciful depiction of their activities. This quirky little story is best suited for one-on-one or individual reading. Given the chance, these bandits will easily steal readers' hearts with their charming mischief.—Anna Haase Krueger, Antigo Public Library, WI

Publishers Weekly

here we go... August 08, 2011

I just shipped off the final illustrations to NYC for The Best Bike Ride Ever, (by James Proimos, Dial Books, 2012.) I can't believe it's done!! 

For those of you that have been keeping track, I've been working hard on this book for over a year now. It's been an amazing process, and I'm really proud and happy about it all.

Well, this awesome kiddo kind of sums it up.....

More Bandits... August 01, 2011

Just two more weeks until Bandits is released! 

You can read a lovely review over at Seven Impossible Things, right here.

And for you Portland peeps, I will be doing a book signing and reading over at Green Bean Books on August 20th, at 2pm. You can read more about it on their list of summer events. Hope to see you there!

Bandits etc.... July 14, 2011

What you’re seeing here, is a hardcover copy of Bandits, on our brand new floors.. two extremely exciting things colliding. The Bandits hard copy looks fantastic, and makes me swoon with delight. I can’t believe the pub date is nearly here! August 16th, peeps!

The floors...oh our dear floors. Majority of the downstairs of our old (old!) house had fir floors that were so ancient and thin, there was a lingering fear of falling through to the basement when we did any vigorous dancing. Not to mention any piano arranging. So, floors have been replaced with the beauty that you see here. Walking barefoot (without any fear of splinters...) has been amazing and liberating. 

Ok, ok, enough about our dang floors. You can pre-order Bandits at Macmillan, Powell's, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon. Hooray!!