I’m so excited that today is the book birthday of my newest picture book, PLEASE BRING BALLOONS! Since I finished the artwork for this book I have completed another book, which will come out next fall, and started working on a new story. It seems so long ago! I’m thrilled it will finally be released into the wild today!
In honor of my book release I thought I would share some behind the scenes photos from the making of Please Bring Balloons.
Originally titled The Balloon Thieves, the first few manuscript drafts were very different from the book as it is today. The irony of it all is that I followed up When Blue Met Egg with a story about a carousel. I absolutely hated working on the carousel spread revision I did for Blue (I don’t like to draw horses), so needless to say my editor was surprised to find my new manuscript focused on one (read more about the making of When Blue Met Egg here). But this carousel featured wild animals…totally not the same as drawing horses!
In the first draft the polar bear was a real polar bear (not a carousel polar bear) who ends up lost, wandering the boardwalk owned by Emma’s family. Emma decides she has to help the polar bear get back home to the North Pole…
first of all…congrats!!
secondly…thanks for sharing all the sketches. it's wonderful to see early drawings and then comparing to the final product. my copy is on order…can't wait to get it 🙂
Marvelous! Can't wait to hold this beauty in my very own hands. Congratulations!
Congratulations! Love it. Will be looking for the book.
Absolutely amazing! I didn't realise how much work actually went into creating a book from start to finish — and I'm sure this is still just a taste of everything that's involved. I can't wait to meet Emma and the polar bear.
p.s. I love that polka dot narwhal 🙂
Congratulations, I loved seeing the layouts and process. The illustrations are beautiful. 🙂 I'm your newest fan.. 🙂