And the Winners Are...

Thank you to everyone who bid on the auction, donated to the campaign, shared and posted and entered this competition!

Your contributions raised $3982 which, thanks to the generosity of The Curious Reader, will stretch to send 230 picture books to 23 schools! Which schools you ask??

The studio sorting hat was put to good use again (thank you Brian Floca and Sergio Ruzzier!) and these are the winning schools:

Auten Road Intermediate School, Hillsborough NJ
Cannaday Elementary School, Mesquite TX
Cerra Vista Elementary School, Hollister CA
Crestview Elementary School, Springfield TN
Discovery Elementary, Grand Forks ND
Dr. Debbie Emery Elementary School, Katy TX
Eagle Cliffs Elementary School, Billings MT
Grundy Center Elementary, Grundy Center IA
Henry Ford Elementary, Pharr TX
JFK Elementary, Sioux Falls SD
Manatee Cove Elementary, Orange City FL
Matthews Elementary School, Matthews NC
Menchaca Elementary, Austin TX
Nicolet Elementary School, Green Bay WI
Orchard School, South Burlington VT
PS 18 The John G. Whittier School, Staten Island NY
Russell Street School, Littleton MA
Seatack Elementary - An Achievable Dream Academy, Virginia Beach VA
St. Bernard School, Enfield CT
St. Paul School, Cana VA
Sturgeon R-V Elementary School, Sturgeon MO
Visitation BVM School, Norristown PA
Wilson School, Natick MA

They will each receive a set of these ten picture books. Congratulations to all, Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

Let's Turn This Painting into Books!

I have so loved hearing about schools that run mock Caldecott Awards but I have also been hearing from librarians and teachers how they struggle to buy new books. How they often supplement the classroom library out of their own pockets.

Around this time last year I held a fundraiser to send sets of 10 new picture books to schools in need.
I thought maybe there was a way of turning a drawing into a pile of new picture books. Because while there’s nothing as comforting as curling up with an old favorite, there’s something thrilling about turning the first page of a brand new one.

I was hoping to be able to fund 60 books for six schools. Thanks to your generosity we raised around $3500, which enabled us to send 200 books to 20 schools.

So! It's that time again!

Here's how it works.

This painting is for sale on eBay. It was on the cover of the Horn Book Magazine Awards Edition in June, 2016. Eagle eyes will spot Last Stop on Market Street and The Lion and the Mouse, The Snowy Day and Winnie the Pooh.

The listing is live and runs until December 3rd.
I have partnered with the wonderful bookstore, The Curious Reader, who have helped me select 10 beautiful, funny, rich, thoughtful picture books to tempt young readers.

The Airport Book - Lisa Brown
The Case for Loving - Selina Alko and Sean Qualls
Du Iz Tak? - Carson Ellis
Finding Winnie - Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall
Freedom in Congo Square - Carole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie
The Journey - Francesca Sanna
Penguin Problems - Jory John and Lane Smith
Real Cowboys - Kate Hoefler and Jonathan Bean

This is Not a Picture Book - Sergio Ruzzier

Thunder Boy Jr. - Sherman Alexie

So now I just need
a) People to bid on the drawing. Click here!
b) Librarians and teachers to enter the draw. (Which you can do by leaving your name and the name and location of your school in the comments below. Only US schools, I’m afraid.)
c)  You to help spread the word! (Please share far and wide!)

Thank you, all!

ps. If you'd like to make a separate donation, you can do so here and receive a signed print from Finding Winnie!