Shennen Bersani's Weblog

Any books I know? Read here to learn more about my books.

 

Let My Colors Go

I’m excited to reveal the cover of my newest book, Let My Colors Go, written by Courtney Filigenzi. I few years back I illustrated Courtney’s Let My Colors Out, published by the American Cancer Society. LMCO is the story of a young boy who deals daily with his mother’s cancer, each day is defined by a ‘color’. He has his angry Red days, or his happy Yellow days, etc. I am forever emotionally entwined with LMCO. When I was first contacted regarding illustrating it, I mentioned to the client I knew no one with cancer. It hadn’t hit home with my family. Boy, can life hit you hard! Somewhere in the middle of illustrating the book I got the diagnosis of my own cancer. And I watched while my own children’s emotions mirrored those of the book’s protagonist. 

Here’s a excerpt from the book, SERENDIPITY, where I talk about LMCO, 

“Within an hour my phone rang. The caller said, “I'm publishing a series of books on a sensitive topic and I love what you’ve done with the girl with Down syndrome. Would you be interested in illustrating books for the American Cancer Society?”

Cancer hadn’t touched my family or my life, but I felt sympathetic with the people it had, I felt I could bring emotion to the subject. The first book I worked on for the Cancer Society, Let My Colors Out, written by Courtney Filigenzi, was a board book for young children. The protagonist’s mother was being treated for cancer and he showed his changing emotions with different colors. He had “blue” sad days, or “yellow” happy days. Each color of the rainbow was significant to the child.

Shortly after I signed onto the project, a delivery truck rear ended me at a red light. The accident injured both my hands, stopping my work while I recovered. Every day, I cursed that accident.  

However, initially, the hospital performed an MRI to check for neck and spine damage. The report came back, “We see a large nodule on your thyroid.”

With research, I found that approximately 1.1 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer at some point during their lifetime. The odds were in my favor the nodule would be benign.

But while I illustrated Let My Colors Out, I learned that mine was malignant. I watched as my four children’s emotions mirrored the book’s protagonist’s to a tee. I had a thyroidectomy and have become a survivor.

Remarkably, my next book was Nana, What’s Cancer?, written by cancer survivor,  Beverlye Hyman Fead with her granddaughter, Tessa Mae Hamermesh. I flew to Los Angeles to meet the two. Beverlye’s tenacity for life was contagious. Every day I thank God for the car accident that saved my life! I had noticed no sign of having cancer, but without that MRI it most likely wouldn’t have been found in time.”

Read my entire story here, from the book: SERENDIPITY compiled by author Madonna Dries Christensen.

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Last year I was honored when Courtney asked me to illustrate her follow up book, LMCG. Going beyond cancer, this very special book is useful for children of families facing a sudden illness, a job loss, the loss of a loved one, a divorce or a sudden move. Children view life changes and challenges differently than adults do, each day brings out different colorful emotions. This book can help children understand that they are not alone with their feelings. 

Purchase on Amazon: Let My Colors Go

“A young boy uses color to express a range of emotions as his family undergoes a sudden life change. Some days he's sad, some days he's happy and other days he's scared or angry. The boy comes to realize that these "ups and downs" are perfectly normal for his situation.

Based on the award-winning books, Let My Colors Out and My Cancer Days, this beautifully illustrated book assures children of families facing a sudden illness, a job loss, the loss of a loved one, a divorce or a sudden move that they are not alone. Importantly, it helps them understand it's okay to let their feelings go. Drawing and journaling pages are included to encourage children to express themselves in a thoughtful and positive manner.”

Yum or Gross? Peanut Butter & dill Pickle Sandwich? #ArtistLife with update

Over the past few months I’ve been very busy; my son’s wedding, family, illustration deadlines…. At one point I had mentioned pickles on Twitter and fellow children’s book illustrator, Leanne Franson, asked me if I had tried a peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich. Two problems with me eating one, the first was a supply chain problem keeping my favorite pickles, Bubbies, from reaching stores in Boston. The second problem was I’m perpetually on the Whole30 - I don’t eat bread nor do I eat peanut butter.

 

I finally got my hands on my favorite dill pickles. At this point I owed Leanne a review on my take of a peanut butter and dill sandwich. For Leanne, I sacrificed my diet. In for a penny, in for a pound, I figured I’d make a spoof on a cooking video:

 

That was a few days ago. Today I saw Leanne’s new book in the Wild, at a gift shop I randomly stopped into. I thought how crazy, I had just made a sandwich video inspired by her, then I stumble onto her book. Well, Leanne, I hope you are getting royalties, I bought a copy for the grandkids! Leanne’s watercolors pop off the pages with joy and awe. A beautiful addition to our family’s library.

 

 

 

New: Yay for Big Brothers! craft project!

UPDATED!

Here is the video!

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Some of you watched me Saturday afternoon on Legit Kid Lit’s Live Draw Off come back later in the week, I’ll be uploading the templates and instructions here for my Yay for Big Brothers! animal puppets and paper doll clothes! 

I just finished all the illustrations for a new book, releasing in March 2022…. (More on that later!) now I can focus on some new drawerofmanythings YouTube videos and new, free craft projects to go along with my books. 

Legit Kid Lit Draw Off: what does Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Incredible, corn, candy, pile of leaves, and Lorax have in common? Watch the latest episode and find out! 

Yay!! Yay for Big Brothers! is now out and available!

Just a quick note: Yay for Big Brothers! written by Janet Halfmann has been released and is now available in English and/or Spanish! Here at Arbordale.

I autographed a pile of them today and they are ready to be mailed! 

This is the second Janet Halfmann book I’ve illustrated. I also did the art for Home in the Cave. 

Both can be found at Arbordale or on Amazon. Yay for Big Brothers! is my 16th Arbordale book! Check them all out here! 

Big brothers are amazing! Did you know that big brothers are important in animal families, too? Animal big brothers do many of the same things as kid big brothers. They play with their younger siblings, teach them new things, and help with their care. Sometimes animal big brothers even babysit when their parents leave to hunt for food. Are you a big brother or do you have a big brother?

Written by Janet Halfmann, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 4 - 8, Grades K - 3, Lexile: AD 520, F&P: L

Peerless watercolors

I absolutely love my Peerless watercolors! Check out their website. 

My tools:

My sweetheart:

I’ll be adding to this post soon! 

A couple new things to share

First, I want to share the press release published in today’s Wayland Town-Crier, click on the link below to read it:
Mass Book Awards recognizes 'River Otter’s Adventure'

Available in English and Spanish, paperback and ebook from Arbordale.

And I also want to share this lovely interview I had with Ashley Lucas, creator of Linzer Lane. 

I hope you enjoy it. While on YouTube, don’t forget to Subscribe to my channel drawerofmanythings. I have more interviews with my creative peers lined up and you won’t want to miss their insights and my silliness! 

Watch my YouTube channel drawerofmanythings Trailer

Learn more about me and my work. Check out my YouTube channel, drawerofmanythings Trailer. And don’t forget to Subscribe so you don’t miss my upcoming interviews! 

 

More Colored Pencil Portraits from the ‘80’s See how well they held up.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to my YouTube channel, drawerofmanythings.

Colored pencil portraits I created using Prismacolors and Derwent Studio pencils, back in the ‘80’s. Visit each video to read all the details. The lightfastness held up fantastic, the only sign of any wax bloom is on the inside of the glass on Ryan’s wooden chair. Love my Prismacolors! 

These were the very beginning of my career, the roots of my becoming a children’s book illustrator. Read each video’s description to learn why I created each of them. 

 

 

Shark Week! Draw a Shark with Shennen

It’s that time of year, again. Shark Week! To celebrate I’ve got a new video posted for all of you on my YouTube channel, drawerofmanythings. Check it out, and don’t forget to Subscribe, like and share! 

Uh-Oh, Ryan!! A Prismacolor and Neocolor II portrait on Matboard in a Shadow Box

This newest video on my YouTube channel, drawerofmanythings is a real fun one! Is Ryan in trouble? Watch and find out what he’s got himself into this time.

Follow along with me as I add more videos, of my art, art supplies, children’s books, and tutorials. Lots on the way, Subscribe to my channel, like and share this video.

 

Favorite Doll, a colored pencil portrait created with Prismacolors and Caran D’Ache Neocolor II

I’m continuing to share my colored pencil portraits on my YouTube channel, drawerofmanythings. Check out my channel; Subscribe, like and share. You’ll be notified as it grows, I’m planning on future how to’s and interviews with fellow creatives, so check it out and Subscribe! Here’s my newest video:

Here is another one of my Prismacolor portraits. I’m revisiting my older colored pencil work to see how well my art has withstood the passing of time. Yeah, I’m aging myself here a bit, but that’s ok! I love my age, with it has come fabulous experiences and years of published illustration work. This is a colored pencil and crayon portrait in a 20”x24” framed shadow box I created in 1990. I used Prismacolor pencils, Caran D’Ache Neocolor II crayons, and found objects - on hot press illustration board. It has held up quite nicely, I do see some wax bloom on the doll and some color shifting on my daughter’s right hand. Other than that, it looks great after 31 years. Artwork copyright Shennen Bersani 1990-2021. 

DM me over at @ShennenBersani on Twitter and @Shennen14 on Instagram

 

River Otter’s Adventure is a MUST READ BOOK! Mass Book Awards

River Otter’s Adventure, made the Massachusetts Center for the Book’s MUST READ Book list! You will find it under MUST READ PICTURE BOOKS/EARLY READERS.

I’m very excited! Written by Linda Stanek and published by Arbordale, here is Arbordale’s press release.

Released during the pandemic in 2020, River Otter’s Adventure is the 30th book I’ve illustrated. I’m so delighted children across Massachusetts will be reading it. Earlier this year the state of Texas selected it for their Tejas Reading List. I am doubly excited kids all across the country are reading it. Take a look! 

River Otter’s Adventure, available in English and Spanish, paperback and ebook. 

 


When a young river otter sneaks into a zoo, she wonders if she should be more like some of the other animals she meets. She wants a trunk like the elephant or be loud like the gorilla… By imitating and comparing herself to these other animals she learns to appreciate herself. Educational components are woven throughout this fun, read-aloud story and sidebar information complements and extends the learning, making it a perfect book for a wide variety of ages.

Written by Linda Stanek, Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
32 pg, 8.5 x 10, Ages 4 - 8, Grades K - 3, Lexile: 600, F&P: N 

 

Geeks Who Drink quiz art

Just before the pandemic hit I was given a really fun assignment for Geeks Who Drink. Then bars across the country closed and GWD had to go virtual. They are now getting back on track with live trivia quizzes, so I checked in with their Quizmaster-in-Chief Christopher Short (yeah, that Christopher Short, you might have seen him kicking butt on Jeopardy!) and asked him if it was okay to share these. I got the green light, so check these out! Can you solve them without cheating? 

These were really fun to illustrate! Adult books turned into children’s book covers. 

 

Portraits in Prismacolor pencils

I’m on the introverted side, I enjoy creating art and reading - 2020 was perfect for that lifestyle. But like a butterfly leaving its chrysalis, it’s time to breakout, get moving and spread those wings! Summer is here and life is finally getting back to normal.

I’m just finishing up a #30daysofdoodles on Twitter and Instagram. My ‘doodles’ weren’t exactly what one would call a ‘doodle’, mostly I experimented with new pencils and supplies. Check them out, you’ll see plenty of colored pencil bananas, each with a different brand of colored pencils using only the colors that come in their 12 set packages. I compared:

Faber Castell Polychromos

Caran D’Ache Pablo

Derwent Lightfast

Holbein

Caran D’Ache Luminance

Derwent Inktense

Crayola

Bic

Don’t laugh, the .97 cent Crayola’s are pigmented, actually blend and worked good! I wouldn’t use them for my professional artwork, but I would recommend them to students and colorists of all ages to enjoy. The Bic’s were pricey (haha) at $1.98 a package. I do not recommend them, they didn’t blend well and were dull for my standards. 

Keeping in mind my doodles were never meant to be finished, professional artwork. They were just me having some fun with new supplies. So for all who want to know what my colored pencil work actually looks like, I created a short YouTube video showing one of my Prismacolor pieces from 1988. All I hear online is quips about Prismacolors not being lightfast. Look at my art and you decide. Plus subscribe to my YouTube channel, drawerofmanythings. I plan on sharing much more of my Prismacolor colored pencil work. All self taught, back in the mid ‘80s I was teaching colored pencil course and giving workshops. I’ve never used a solvent or blender pencil, just tons of layers and lighter colors as my blenders. Plus I use a basic electric sharpener to sharpen my pencils. Take a look at this first video:

Find me on Twitter @ShennenBersani and on Instagram @Shennen14 

*I spent five years studying at the Art Institute of Boston (now at Leslie College) majoring in graphic design for two years and illustration for three. Colored pencil was a material I practiced with and perfected after I left there. Originally I used colored pencils for fine art and portrait commissions, eventually they morphed into my go-to technique for picture book illustrations. My illustrations are typically created with Prismacolors, Derwent Studio pencils, and Caran D’Ache Neocolor II crayons. After my eye surgery I finally broke down and bought Polychromos, and all those other brands, plus a few more people gifted to me. I really like them all, minus the Bic!, but so far I’m still in love with my Prismacolors! I’m trying out a variety of new materials and supplies, so stay tuned, new techniques are evolving and old dogs can learn new tricks. 

 

New Achoo! Activity Sheets - Color by Number, Connect the Dots, and Jigsaw Puzzle

I’ve added three four new activity sheets to www.achoowhypollencounts.com - Color by Number is the first one. I’m all for creative expression, I’m not mandating you follow this color key, use it as a guide to get you started!

The second is a Connect the Dots. One side is easy, whereas I’ve made the other side a bit more challenging. But you can do it!

The third is a Jigsaw Puzzle.

The fourth is a Find the Difference.

And don’t forget to visit the site to find lots of other activity sheets for summer fun time learning; puzzles, coloring pages, and free crafts. Plus photos of bees from around the world.

 



For the Jigsaw Puzzle. As a challenge! Try coloring in the pieces first, then cut each out and solve the puzzle to see how your coloring came out. 🧩

Legit Kid Lit Episode 43 Draw Off!

I participated in the latest Legit Kid Lit Draw Off! We filmed it last weekend, and it was released today. Participating with me were Isabella King and Kaela Rivera. Check it out! 

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May) I am giving away a hardcover copy of A Case of Sense by Songju Ma Daemicke and Honey Girl: The Hawaiian Monk Seal, by Jeanne Walker Harvey. (Both illustrated by me.) To have a chance to win follow and retweet my link on Twitter @ShennenBersani PLUS follow @Legit_Kid_Lit. Alexis and Tiffany at Legit Kid Lit will be selecting the winner. Good luck!