Studio News
I’m on podcast!
Aimee and Emily at Born in the Bend interviewed me recently and it was a blast.
They’re here!
The UPS delivery person dropped this big box of fun on to our doorstep yesterday. Thanks to Elizabeth Bennett, Sue Tarsky, and all fantastic folks at Albert Whitman & Company for helping get one more Chip & Ben story on the bookshelf.
Coming this September…
This fall, the newest Chip & Ben Story comes to bookstores near you. My Friend Ben and the New Neighbor published by the wonderful people at Albert Whitman & Co. This story was inspired by my childhood experiences of being part of a military family where my father’s job had us moving every two to three years. Being the new neighbor on the block was challenging but I have many fond memories of the friends I made everywhere we lived. In this story, Ivy is the new neighbor who Chip & Ben welcome to their neighborhood and sometimes adding a third playmate can make it hard for two old friends to cope with.
School Visit Coming Soon!
Looking forward to visiting the students and faculty at Mission West Elementary School in Houston next Friday. It will be their career day and I get to talk about the two things I really know a lot about: illustration and me! See y’all soon.
Release Date for My Friend Ben and the Big Race
February 15, 2022
Get ready, get set, Go! The third book in the series: My Friend Ben and the Big Race will be released March 1st!
This book was inspired by summer memories of snorkeling in the mountain lake at my aunt and uncle’s cabin. I loved exploring the bottom of the lake which had old growth stumps and gnarly logs from the early logging days in the state of Washington. From underwater these stumps and logs looked like amazing cities populated by all kinds of fresh water critters: crayfish, bass, catfish, and snails.
One of my favorite illustrations from the book is the map of the beaver pond. I had a blast drawing all of the locations of where Chip and Ben love to have their adventures. What is your favorite illustration from the Chip & Ben Books? Hit the contact button on my site or leave a comment to let me know.
Scout the Mighty Tugboat and I are in a magazine!
Special thanks to the folks at StoryMonstersInk for an awesome interview.
Little Lunch Truck is here!
The UPS guy dropped off my copies of Little Lunch Truck yesterday. WOO HOO!
This is a huge moment for me since this book was my first story to be published and the project that got me into the world of children’s books. I could not be happier with the way the book turned out. Kudos to Liz Szabla and all the folks at Feiwel & Friends for working with me and believing in my work. Extra special thanks to Elizabeth Bennett and Transatlantic for representing me and opening the doors.
Local Newspaper Love
There was a really nice article published in the Fort Bend Star recently. You can read it here.
Chip and Ben have their first review!
Chip & Ben Have Their First Review!
The Secret is Out!
Big news announced in Publisher’s Weekly. In production right now is the second in a series of Chip & Ben stories. Look for My Friend Ben and the Sleepover next fall!
Scout Arrives!
September 1st is the day Scout the Mighty Tugboat arrives in stores. It is my first children’s book and I could not be happier with how it turned out and with my experience with Albert Whitman & Co. All of the creative folks that I worked with: Sue Tarsky, Ric DeMonico, Christina Pulles, and Aphee Messer. Major league thanks to Elizabeth Bennett, my rep who made everything happen. THANK YOU!
“A tiny tug…on the heartstrings”
Kirkus Book reviews has definitely been granted permission to come aboard with their recent review. Check it out here.
The Proofs Arrive!
My trip to the mailbox everyday is usually a mundane affair. I pick up the bills, junk mail, and the occasional new magazine or catalog of cool stuff you can’t afford. This week was different. A big envelope from Albert Witman & Company stuffed with proofs of Scout the Mighty Tugboat. I could not be happier with the way it looks and now anxiously await the finished hard cover (arriving this coming September!) Many thanks to Christina Pulles and Sue Tarsky (editors), Rick DeMonico (art director) for their expert talents. Extra special thanks to Elizabeth Bennett (my agent) for making this whole adventure happen.
Our First Review
Scout the Mighty Tugboat – Charles Beyl, Albert Whitman & Co., 9780807572641, 2020
Format: PDF Review Copy (Hardcover available September, 2020)
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5
Genre: Picture Book
What did you like about the book? This is an adorable story about a tugboat named Scout and her many adventures in one day on the bay. Scout begins her day pushing and pulling huge cargo ships filled with containers loaded with all kinds of supplies. Next, she is called to haul a cruise ship through the bay out into the open ocean. She makes more trips pushing and pulling cargo ships many times her size and all the time she is working, she has a huge smile on her face (yes, the tugboats in this story have faces!). Toward the end of the day, Scout is called to an emergency–an oil tanker’s engine won’t work and it is getting dangerously close to a cluster of sharp rocks. Scout arrives to help, but the job is much too big for her alone. She sends out a radio signal and calls in several other tugboats to help. With them all working together, they are able to avert a huge disaster and bring the oil tanker safely to the port. At the end of a long day, Scout heads back through the beautiful bay for a much-needed rest.
There are several opportunities in the story for children to join in with repeated words such as “chug”, “push”, “pull”, “help”, “soar”, “tow”, “splash”, “rumble”, and “burble”. This is a great way for children to participate in the story. Also, the book is filled with vivid illustrations using every color of the rainbow. Scout and the other tugboats have simple faces, so the reader can see when they are happy, worried, working hard, and simply enjoying their time on the water.
Anything you did not like about the book. Nothing
To whom would you recommend this book? This book is perfect for children between the ages of two and five years old. I would recommend this book to a child who loves to participate with readings because there are many opportunities for that with this story.
Who should buy this book? Public libraries, daycare centers, preschools, anyone who works with children between the ages of two and five years old.
Where would you shelve it? Picture books
Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes, provides a little insight into the job of tugboats that children might not otherwise know.
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Kristin Guay, former youth services librarian.
Date of review: May 6, 2020
Are you hungry?
I am working with some wonderful and very talented people at Feiwel & Friends. They are the folks who are publishing my story Little Lunch Truck. Liz Szabla (editor) and Mallory Grigg (art director) consistently have given me great advice on how to improve my story and the look of the book. They recently contacted me for one last piece of art. This pattern will wrap the book in protective box. Nice idea Mallory!