Sophie Blackall Illustration

Drawings and Snippets and Breaking News, (but more snippets than breaking news).

Thursday, November 24, 2016

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 SquareCarole Boston Weatherford and R. Gregory Christie
The JourneyFrancesca 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!

48 comments:

Jana The Teacher said...

Thanks for all you do to put beautiful books in the hands of children! I teach at West Mound Elementary School in Columbus, Ohio.

Unknown said...

Jeana Voss - librarian for 2 elementary schools in Lubbock TX - Maedgen & Wolffarth

Wendy Payer said...

Wendy Payer, librarian at Gilbert Magnet School for Communications and Creative Arts, North Las Vegas, NV
What a fantastic idea! Thank you for doing this!

Eric Carpenter said...

Eric Carpenter
Fred A. Toomer Elementary School

We had so much fun with last year's books. You're the best!

Anonymous said...

Tara Harrison, art teacher, at CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School, Avon, CT
So wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Tara Harrison, art teacher, at CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School, Avon, CT
So wonderful!

Unknown said...

Donna Macdonald, librarian at Orchard School in South Burlington, Vermont. Thank you for being so thoughtful and generous, Sophie!

Unknown said...

Jennifer Evans, librarian at Seatack Elementary -An Achievable Dream Academy in Virginia Beach, VA. This is awesome! Happy Thanksgiving!

Unknown said...

Lizanne Johnson, librarian at Pleasant Valley Elementary in Groton, CT. Thank you for supporting our schools!

Mrs. B's Busy Bees said...

Amy Bahena-Ettner, librarian at Nicolet Elementary School in Green Bay, WI
This is a wonderful idea! Gracias!

Unknown said...

Carmen Shannon, library media specialist at Discovery Elementary in Grand Forks, ND. What a wonderful idea and such great titles!

Unknown said...

Jennifer Powers - librarian at Riverside Elementary, Shreveport, LA. Thank you for sharing your time and your talents to put books in the hands of children!

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous idea! Beth Raff, Grade 5 teacher, Auten Road Intermediate School, 281 Auten Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Andrea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

This is such a kind and wonderful gift! Narda Lugo-1st year librarian at Henry Ford Elementary in Pharr, Texas. Thank you and fingers crossed! GOD BLESS

StoryOwl said...

How fun!
Christen Higgins
Matthews Elementary School
200 McDowell St
Matthews, NC 28105

Kristen Picone said...

This is an amazing opportunity and I appreciate the chance to bring these fantastic books to my school.
Kristen Picone
RJO Intermediate School
99 Old Dock Rd.
Kings Park, NY 11754

Unknown said...

Belinda Rusnock
William Penn Elementary School
1002 Main Street
Bethlehem PA 18018-6693
Thank you for the chance!

Mary Hood said...

Thank you for creating such a wonderful opportunity for little readers!
Mary Hood
Grade 1 Teacher
Independence Elementary
4700 South Memphis Street
Aurora, co 80015

Unknown said...

Ciro Scardina, Library Media Specialist
P.S. 18-The John G. Whittier School
221 Broadway
Staten Island, NY 10310

Unknown said...

Eileen Csongradi librarian at
Visitation BVM School
190 N Trooper Rd
Norristown, PA. 19403

Unknown said...

Michele McCoy
Librarian
Manatee Cove Elementary
734 West Ohio Avenue
Orange City, FL. 32763

Unknown said...

Michele McCoy
Librarian
Manatee Cove Elementary
734 West Ohio Avenue
Orange City, FL. 32763

Unknown said...

Starla Hazen
Librarian
Russell Street School
57 Russell Street
Littleton, MA 01460

Amanda said...

Amanda Davis
Librarian
9100 Blackhawk
Houston, TX 77075

Unknown said...

Melissa Cody, Library Media Specialist
PS/IS 295
222-14 Jamaica Ave.
Queens Village, NY 11428

Anonymous said...

Diane Jensen
Librarian
Eagle Cliffs Elementary
1201 Kootenai
Billings, MT 59105

Ms. O'Brien said...

Ilse O'Brien
Wilson School
22 Rutledge Road
Natick, Ma 01760
A wonderful idea! Thank you for doing this.

Rita Painter said...

You have a heart of gold, thanks!
Rita Espinoza Painter
Co-Librarian
Menchaca Elementary
Austin, TX

Unknown said...

You are so wonderful! Thank you for understanding how we supplement our library selection to keep our students excited about reading!
Rochelle Menendez
Librarian
Cannaday Elementary School
Mesquite, TX

Unknown said...

Kristan Neeb, Librarian
Jefferson Elementary and Cunningham Elementary
Wichita Falls, TX

My students would be so excited to win!

Marcia R. said...

Marcia Rhinehart
Sturgeon R-V Elementary/Middle School
210 W. Patton
Sturgeon, MO

My students and teachers would be so excited to win this package of books.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Unknown said...

Shannon Dole, 2nd grade, Grundy Center Elementary, Grundy Center, Iowa

Unknown said...

Rachael Funk
Library Media Specialist
Stafford Elementary School
11 Levinthal Run
Stafford Springs, CT 06076

All of my 2nd through 5th graders know that the E of the call number on picture books in the library stands for "Everybody" because picture books should be universally read!

K. Frost said...

What a wonderful idea! You are so lovely. Thank you for helping to supplement our library collections.

Kristen Frost
Librarian
St.Bernard School
Enfield, CT 06082

Unknown said...

Rachel Oard
Orvis Risner Elementary
Edmond, OK 73013

Anonymous said...

Bettie McGinness, Dr. Debbie Emery Elementary School, 19636 Plantation Myrtles Dr., Katy, Tx, 77449

Anonymous said...

Barbara Gomon
Librarian at Daffron Elementary
Plano, Texas

Wonderful idea!



Ms. Hall said...

Katrina Hall
Serene Lake Elementary
4709 Picnic Point Rd.
Edmonds, WA 98026
Thank you!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for getting new books in the hands of kids! Paula Ruedebusch, Reading Specialist at JFK Elementary in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where it's cold and winter-y!

Unknown said...

Thank you for making ways for kids to get their hands on new books!

Heather Alexander, Librarian at Crestview Elementary School in Springfield, TN.

Unknown said...

Thank you for such a generous gift to students!

Sylvia Koehly
Teacher-Librarian
Woodland Elementary School
Lacey, WA

Unknown said...

So cool!

Karen Firstbrook
Librarian
Cerra Vista Elementary School
Hollister, CA

Unknown said...

Thank you for everything you are doing!
Christy Kanine
Media Aide
Central Elementary School
Petoskey, MI

Anonymous said...

Awesome list of books! Thank you for introducing us to such great titles.

Larnette Snow
St. Paul School (public)
231 Flower Gap Rd
Cana, VA 24317

Katherine Hlousek said...

Thank you for your generosity!

Katherine Hlousek
Librarian
Emiliano Zapata Academy
2728 S. Kostner Ave.
Chicago, IL 60623

Anonymous said...

Tanisha Copas
Librarian
Westmoreland Elementary School
4178 Hawkins Drive
Westmoreland, TN 37186

Maria-Daphne Kazanis said...

Thank you for your efforts
Mari-Daphne Kazanis
Cicely Tyson Elementary School
45 N. Arlington Ave
East Orange, NJ 07017