At the Kerlan

Anne Rockwell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:51:28 +0100

The Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota is one of the most extensive collections of art and manuscripts for children’s books in the world. Students and professionals in children’s literature come from all over to study its holdings. If you follow this link you’ll find fascinating details of how this collection came to be, to thrive and to grow.

Last summer I visited the Kerlan and gave a talk to graduate students from Hamline University. I also brought my paintings for th...

Apples and Pumpkins Redux

Anne Rockwell — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 03:23:25 +0100

Apples and Pumpkins, the first book I collaborated on with my daughter Lizzy Rockwell back in 1989, has a beautiful new cover! So I asked Lizzy to guest-blog about it, and to share some of her test artwork.

From Lizzy:

"Here are scans of the tester paper used when I was getting ready to do the jacket for the revised v...

Gasoline Book Giveaway!

Anne Rockwell — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:52:33 +0100

I’m only one of many people worried about rapid climate change, and am always open to reading and listening to responsible comments and information on the subject. I came across the Green Philly blog, which I like. Imagine my pleasure in discovering that they are offering one of my books as a prize, and gave it a good review, too!

What's So Bad About Gasoline?

Celebrating the Green

Anne Rockwell — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Green is for spring, but it’s also come to stand for pride in being Irish-American. I imagine that is because of the shamrock, that humble little bright green plant that Patrick, a Roman Christian, chose to teach the Irish about The Holy Trinity, which he so strongly believed in.

My Right Hand

Anne Rockwell — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

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Growing, Growing, Grown!

Anne Rockwell — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0100

I hope my friend and fellow illustrator Carolyn Croll (illustrator of SWEET POTATO PIE, which I wrote,) will read this. She’ll understand why it makes me think of her and send her good wishes.

A few nights ago I went to an art opening at our newly renovated Byram Schubert Library, which has a spacious and beautiful gallery. The show was huge, and the artist being honored was my middle child, Lizzy Rockwell, who is an illustrator. There were plenty of visitors, framed pictures ever...

NEW BOOK! What's So Bad About Gasoline?

Anne Rockwell — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:00:00 +0100

When Paul Meisel and I did WHY ARE THE ICE CAPS MELTING? we realized that it couldn’t cover the huge subject of global warming in its entirety. We felt other books were needed to expand the subject for children to offer them more to think about. And one of the most urgent aspects of the problem is the contribution of carbon dioxide to global warming made in large part by the burning of fossil fuels.

As I child I was fascinated by fossils. I still am. Not only that, but a weekend tr...

Founding Fathers

Anne Rockwell — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

It's strange that two biographies I wrote on two people who are American founding fathers, each in his own way, would appear in the same year, same month, by the same publisher.

BIG GEORGE was to be published in fall of 2008 by Harc...

Cinco de Mayo – Homage to Jose Clemente Orozco

Anne Rockwell — Tue, 05 May 2009 07:00:00 +0100

Although September 16 is actually Mexican Independence Day, many Americans seem to think May 5 or Cinco de Mayo is. This year the world owes the people of Mexico apologies and compassion for being the most devastated by the new strain ...

Earning Myself a Nice Cuppa

Anne Rockwell — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Yesterday I said good-bye to February with a celebration. Just Books in Old Greenwich, Connecticut held a signing for my new book, "Big George: How a Shy Boy Became President Washington," Harcourt 2009, beautifully and evocatively illustrated by Matt Phelan. In these tough times we all know...

The Big Day

Anne Rockwell — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Here's a picture of my grandson Nigel at the President Obama inauguration, taken by his mother, Lizzy Rockwell.

He looks cold, doesn't he? I figure he'll always remember how cold George Washington and his less well-layered troops were that first winter in Valley Forge.

Long Time Coming

Anne Rockwell — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Some books take a mighty long time between the flash of an idea and the finished book. If I count the first moment of the idea, ”Big George” (January 1, 2009, Harcourt/Houghton) has been 10 years in the coming. Or more. George by the fire

Revising Illustrations

Anne Rockwell — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:00:00 +0100

I get lots of inquiries on illustrating books for children. I try and answer them as best I can but every question has its own answer. Some years ago a painter friend of mine commented that she probably should switch gears and try illustrating books (which she obviously thought easy to ac...

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