grace lin

we have 2 winners (bearly)!

~ jama ~ 18 Comments

 

Big thanks to all of you who commented on the Grace Lin interview!

I’m happy to report we’ve picked the winners of two signed, personalized copies of The Year of the Rat!

Friends, I want you to know this was not an easy task.

For one thing, some of the kitchen helpers grew overly fond of the prize:

      
                     Julius cherished it.

     
                        Mr. Bear slept with it.

      
                   Buddy and Brogan tried to hijack it.

And, when I looked around for help, everyone was too busy.

       
       Becky was scarfing down candied ginger. 

       
                       So was Pudding.

       
              Who let Skippy into the kitchen?

Others were obsessed with reading beautifully illustrated books:

   

   
        
So I took matters into my own hands.

First, I assigned a number to all 33 commenters.

Then, I wrote the numbers inside foil baking cups:

Next, I folded them up like little dumplings, tossed them into a bamboo steamer, and waited until they were perfectly done:

Just then, our official alphabet soup impartial volunteer returned from Whole Foods just in time to fish out the winners:

       

And they are:

IMG_0359-1.jpg picture by jamesmargaret3rdIMG_0358-1.jpg picture by jamesmargaret3rd
       #17 – Jeannie C.                 #4 – Kristi Valiant  

CONGRATULATIONS!! YAY!! WOOHOO!!
Jeannie and Kristi, please email me with your mailing addresses and personalization info: readermail *at* jamakimrattigan *dot com*!

Thanks again, everyone!!

SOUP’S ON: Grace Lin in the Kitchen Interview!

~ jama ~ 68 Comments

“Your work is to discover the world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” ~ Buddha

Last year, children’s author/illustrator Grace Lin was asked in an Edge of the Forest interview what she would say if she had the complete attention of everyone in the United States for thirty seconds. Grace quoted Buddha, and if the body of work she’s produced during the last 10 years is any indication, she has definitely lived by those words.

Talented, prolific, critically acclaimed and beloved by her readers, Grace has illustrated ten picture books and written and illustrated a dozen more. Her use of bold colors, intricate patterns, swirls, and charming details mark a distinctive style that engages, delights, and invites the reader to look closer.

In 2006, Grace’s first middle grade novel, The Year of the Dog, received tons of accolades, including Kirkus Best Early Chapter Book, ALA Notable Book for Children, and a National Parenting Publication Gold Award. The Year of the Dog is autobiographical, picking up where her picture books, The Ugly Vegetables, Dim Sum for Everyone, Fortune Cookie Fortunes, and Kite Flying leave off. Readers everywhere have fallen in love with Pacy Lin, her best friend, Melody, and her sisters, Lissy and Ki-Ki.

This year, a much-anticipated sequel, The Year of the Rat, was released along with yet another gorgeous picture book, Bringing in the New Year. In The Year of the Rat, we are treated to more of Pacy’s joyous, funny, and poignant experiences. Much like the classic Little House or Ramona books, these stories leave us craving more about this family and Pacy’s world, so full are they of heart and universal truth. Bringing in the New Year focuses on the preparations for Lunar New Year, complete with homemade dumplings and a dragon dance, with pictures that pull us right into the action.

I couldn’t think of a better way to top off Tea Party Month, than with Grace as my special guest of honor. I’m sure you’ve noticed how often she writes about food, using it as both subject and metaphor. She’s definitely my kind of girl — and she’s even brought cupcakes!

Continue reading →

three quick bites

~ jama ~ 13 Comments

 
Tomorrow is Chinese New Year — the Year of the Rat (for those born in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, and 1996)!

1. Debbi Michiko Florence is celebrating with a special contest in honor of her new book, China:A Kaleidoscope Kids Book. Though the official release date is not until March 15, 2008, China is already available for purchase online, and judging from the description, it looks like a real feast — hands on activities, history, culture, and yes, food! Today is the last day to enter Debbi’s contest, so head on over there now for all the details!

          
   CHINA by Debbi Michiko Florence,
        illustrated by Jim Caputo
 (Williamson Books, 2008), ages 7-14
 

2. There are two other wonderful books released last month just in time to celebrate the Chinese New Year, both by Grace Lin, one my favorite author/illustrators. In my mind, these are must-haves: 
       
             Bringing in the New Year             
              BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR by Grace Lin    
                       (Knopf, 2008), ages 4-8, 32 pp.  

          
           
             THE YEAR OF THE RAT by Grace Lin
                    (Little, Brown, 2008), ages 9-12

                             
3. And finally, there’s a brand new nonfiction blog that’s definitely worth adding to your favorites list. It’s called I.N.K.: Interesting Nonfiction for Kids, and features 12 authors blogging about a genre that is woefully under-represented in the kidlit blogosphere. So head on over and check it out!