Last weekend I spent time with a lovely group of young ladies who belong to
a local Girl Scout Troop.
They were enthusiastic and talented. Before I left they gave me boxes of cookies, a poster, and this
amazing box that looks like a book. It is covered with a collage of images from my books.
(Made by Shelby! Great job!) Special thanks to Shelby and Gina for arranging my visit.
APRIL 2013
The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation does important work to support children's literature and education. I was honored when they recently asked me to contribute my thoughts about one of Keats' books, JENNIE'S HAT, to their website.
I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU; A FAMILY IN HIDING DURING WORLD WAR II
May 2011
I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU; A FAMILY IN HIDING DURING WORLD WAR II
is a Junior Library Guild selection!
I just completed my 3 year term as a member of the Ezra Jack Keats Award committee.
What a delightful experience it has been!
On May 10th I attended the awards ceremony at the main branch of The New York Public Library where I had the pleasure of meeting this year's winners, Laurel Croza (I KNOW HERE) and Tao Nyeu (BUNNY DAYS). You can see them holding their awards, flanked by their beautiful books held by Lisa Van Drasek and Nina Crews. The EJK award is given to new writers and illustrators in the children's book field. I wish both Laurel and Tao good luck in the future and look forward to seeing what they do next!
The next evening I was delighted to attend a party given by the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Barbara Genco, me, and Nina Crews enjoying the party
April 2011:
With spring in the air...well, sort of...time for more news about A VERY BIG BUNNY:
It has been chosen for the
BANK STREET CHILDREN'S BOOK COMMITTEE'S BEST CHILDRENS BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2011
If you're interested in seeing an original piece of art from the book, don't miss a wonderful show of
children's book art that is coming up at the main branch of The New York Public Library:
Children's Centennial Exhibition
May - December 2011
Children's Room
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
5th Ave. & 42nd St.
March 2011
After a long snowy winter I am finally back with news. A lot of news! I have just finished the art
for a book called PETER IS JUST A BABY to be published by Eerdman's in spring 2012
In other news:
A VERY BIG BUNNY was just included on the best-of-the-year-list of the
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
What a great honor!
Yesterday I visited the Bank Street Bookstore in New York City. Here's the store window. A Very Big Bunny is officially on Broadway! (That's me in the green sweater feeling very happy and proud.)
I met so many wonderful children. We read five books together.
By the end everyone had moved up to sit next to me so we could really talk about the pictures.
At my book signing at RJ Julia I met two very big bunny fans:
Here is a link to this wonderful independent bookstore: www.rjjulia.com/
News Flash - A VERY BIG BUNNY is a Junior Library Guild Selection.
JUST PUBLISHED!
On January 26, 2010 my book
A VERY BIG BUNNY was published by Schwartz & Wade, (Random House.)
Here's the jacket. My newest characters are
Amelia (a very big bunny) and Susannah (a very little bunny.)
Reviews of A VERY BIG BUNNY are in:
Imbued with charming details that reward close inspection, Russo’s vivid gouache illustrations are a lively counterpart to the text’s refreshingly real-life tone and spot-on dialogue and classroom situations. A rewarding title for discussions on fitting in,
bullying, and accepting and appreciating differences.
— Kristen McKulski
BOOKLIST
Nov. 1, 2009
Like most of Russo’s work, this gets at the heart of the ordinary child experience with
emotional truth and sensitivity. The gouache paintings show rabbits in human (very cute) clothing and situations, but Russo uses their bunny ears effectively to express emotion, from sadness to apprehension to pride.
susan dove lempke
The Horn Book
Jan/Feb 2010
News Flash - The Junior Library Guild has just chosen A VERY BIG BUNNY for their Fall 2009 list. The book will be featured in the JLG Monthly coming out later this year. The magazine is read by 17,000 librarians all around the country.
Coming soon:
In January 2010 my book A VERY BIG BUNNY will be published by Schwartz & Wade, (Random House.)
Here is a sneak preview of the jacket. My newest characters are
Amelia(a very big bunny) and Susannah (a very little bunny.)
In March I went to Sacramento California to visit Temple Or Rishon. I had a wonderful time speaking to the congregation as well as two groups of Sunday school students. Thanks go to Marcia Greene for inviting me and for being a terrific host! And thanks also to the children who gave me such a warm and enthusiastic welcome.
In April 2008, I went to Pocatello, Idaho to see a theatre production of my book, ALWAYS REMEMBER ME. Sherri Dienstfrey, the head of the theatre department at Idaho State University, adapted my text for the stage. She and the wonderful young actresses she cast created a beautiful and moving drama. Bravo!
Also in April, my YA novel, A PORTRAIT OF PIA, was awarded the 2008 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People in the category of Grades 7-12.
I have been asked to sit on the committee for the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and Illustrator Awards for the next 3 years. I can’t wait to read all the picture books by talented newcomers to the field of children’s literature.
And in Bunny news, THE BUNNIES ARE NOT IN THEIR BEDS has been translated into Japanese and will soon be published in Hebrew and Chinese. Those Bunnies! How will we ever get them to stay in their beds now?
