—————— 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!
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
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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, 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
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.
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.
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. 🧩
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!
I love all the books I’ve illustrated. Each and every one of them (I’m working on book 34). Sometimes I’ve illustrated people realistically, as in the true non-fiction story of Astro: The Steller Sea Lion, written by Jeanne Walker Harvey. Astro is a celebrity Sea Lion! You can see him in person at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. Other times I illustrate whimsical, playful people, as I did for the fictional storybook, A Family Walk, written by Jennifer Butenas. This is the delightful story of a family who spend precious moments together, creating lifetime memories - captured by their Mom with her camera.
I was recently asked which style I prefer. I honestly answered this way. I truly don’t have a favorite style to work in. I look at each book as a new clean canvas. I read the manuscript and ponder it for a while. The words direct me one way or another. Non-fiction books typically are realistic, while fictional tales slide to whimsy. This isn’t hard and fast, and sometimes the editor/art director requests a specific style or technique. Working in a wide variety of styles and techniques is what makes my job so much fun!
Are pollen allergies getting you down? Check out www.achoowhypollencounts.com. Over there you will find fun, free puzzles, coloring pages, and craft projects that are sure to cheer you up!
....plus, Arbordale Publishing has free Teaching Activities and quizzes for additional learning possibilities. Find the links on the top right.
Spring has arrived and pollen is in the air. Baby Bear does not like the pollen—it sticks to his fur and makes him itchy and sneezy. He’s allergic! Achoo! He just wishes the pollen were gone. When his friends gather to tell him why they need pollen, Baby Bear learns that pollen is good for the forest and provides food for many animals, including him! Pollen might be something we all love to hate, but can we really live without it? This story explains why we need it.
This fictional story includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 45-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. Achoo! Why Pollen Counts is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension.
Also available in German and Portuguese! Gesundheit!
2020, a year none of us can forget. We all have personal stories to share. Oh, it is so eye-ronic, here’s my right eye - which got injured in 2019 to the point of legal blindness - which finally got repaired with surgery this year! Yay! 20/400 -> 20/20 in one day! To have this book released shortly after my surgery is soo, eye opening and heart-felt emotional for me! ...It was the pandemic that forced me to wait so long for my surgery, that, and requiring a specialist.
Onward and upward! Yay!
So the Big Question is, is my eye in The Eyeball Alphabet Book, or am I just teasing you here? Grab a copy and See for yourself!
My eye surgery was in Boston. The day after surgery I had to return to Boston to have the surgeon recheck my eye. I was OVER THE MOON I could not only see, but I could see colors correctly again! We left the surgeon’s and headed directly to Dick Blick’s, of course!
The injury, and all the trouble I had drawing that came with it, ushered in my Watercolor phase. I’ll talk about that in the future. Until then....
I am currently illustrating my 34th picture book. For 19 years I’ve been illustrating children’s books, that’s a long time and a lot of books. Over the course of my career, a few books have touched my soul. One has been Shark Baby. Written by author Ann Downer, Shark Baby tells the story of a baby shark, searching for his identity. Who of us can’t relate to that?
As you can read in my dedication, I traveled across the country to do hands-on research for the illustrations:
After the book was released, I was excited to meet Ann Downer, who also lived in Massachusetts. Ann and I did school visits and many book signings together; in and out of Boston, and at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. With Ann being a year older than I and both of us mothers, I felt a real connection to her. I loved getting together with Ann. I had secretly hoped to illustrate more of Ann’s books. One day she told me she was ill. The doctors were having a challenging time nailing down a diagnosis. The next time we met she told me she was dying of ALS. Ann passed away two years after Shark Baby was released, one year after she was diagnosed with ALS.
The world lost a most cherished author. You see, Ann was already a famous author before she wrote Shark Baby. You can read about her books at Simon and Schuster. Or on her Wikipedia page. Or find her books on Goodreads. Or on Amazon.
I cherish Shark Baby. For me, it is wrapped up in many precious memories; researching it, illustrating it, promoting it with Ann. I would love to share it with others. So as the illustrator, and in honor of Ann, I submitted it to the Firebird Book Awards for illustration.
I am honored to say Shark Baby, written by Ann Downer, has won first place in three categories of the FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS:
First place: Illustration Children First place: Illustration General First place: Picture Book All Ages
EIGHTY FOUR AUTHORS AWARDED THE FIREBIRD BOOK AWARD
April 2021 – Speak Up Talk Radio announced the winners of 2021’s first quarter FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS contest. Eighty four winners were announced in 98 categories.
One of the winning entries was from Massachusetts, illustrator Shennen Bersani, whose book titled Shark Baby won in First Place in these three categories: Illustration Children, Illustration General, and Picture Book All Ages.
Authors and publishers from around the world submitted their work to the Firebird Book Awards. A panel of 12 judges within the writing and publishing space then read every book and independently scored each entry according to a set of standardized criteria that evaluates the quality of the writing as well as production aspects. Only entries with the highest of scores are awarded the coveted Firebird.
Patricia J. Rullo, founder of the Firebird Book Awards, says, “This quarter’s entries were a joy to read and speak to the talent out there. At Speak Up Talk Radio, our mission is to offer radio interviews and podcasting services to help authors expand their reach. In addition to additional prizes, our winners have the opportunity to be interviewed and aired on iHeart Radio, Pandora, as well as 50 additional online venues, giving them new ways to speak up and share their work.”
Pat adds, “We’ve included a charitable component to our awards by making all entry fees tax-deductible to the author. In return, we personally make and send handmade fun and whimsical pillowcases to women and children in homeless shelters via Enchanted Makeovers, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All entry fees fund this project. In this way, authors can get notoriety for their work while doing good for others. It’s been such a rewarding venture for everyone.”
The Firebird Book Awards run quarterly contests so authors can receive recognition on a timely basis. Authors from all genres, mainstream, independent, and self-published are welcome. Additional winning authors and titles as well as entry information is available at https://www.speakuptalkradio.com
Shark Baby is available in English and Spanish and can be purchased at Arbordale Publishing. About the book:
“Who am I?” wonders Shark Baby. When his “mermaid’s purse" egg case is torn loose in a storm, he finds himself on a journey through different ocean habitats: kelp forests, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. He learns what kind of shark he isn’t, but not what kind he is. He needs to find the “mermaid" to learn where he belongs, but the ocean is big and full of dangers. Will he find out who he is—and what he can do—in time?
Just a quick post of the cover, and to let you know something new is coming! Releasing September 10, 2021, written by Janet Halfmann and published by Arbordale. Yay for Big Brothers!This is the 16th picture book I’ve illustrated for Arbordale Publishing, and my second Janet Halfmann book, the first being Home in the Cave.
From Arbordale’s site:
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
An excerpt from Kirkus’ review of The Eyeball Alphabet Book,
“Bersani follows up the spectacular illustrations in Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book (2019) with another set of equally bright, bold, and this time literally eye-catching close-ups to go with Pallotta’s alphabetical assortment of ocular animal facts.” Read the entire review over at Kirkus.com Releasing May 11, preorder it here.
Written by Jerry Pallotta, published by Charlesbridge.
Tremendous joy for River Otter’s Adventure! The Spanish edition is on the 2021-2022 Tejas Star Reading List! Check it out: La aventura de la nutria de río (River Otter’s Adventure) by Linda Stanek, translated by Alejandra de la Torre y Javier Camacho Miranda, illustrated by Shennen Bersani (Arbordale Publishing, LLC, 2020)
*The Tejas Star Reading List (TSRL) provides a recommended reading list to encourage children ages 5-12 to explore multicultural books and to discover the cognitive and economic benefits of bilingualism and multilingualism. The Tejas Star Reading List is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum.
Lookie 👁👁 what arrived yesterday! My advance copy of Charlesbridge’s The Eyeball Alphabet Book! Charlesbridge doesn’t have preorder up, yet, but Amazon does. You can order it here. This was originally published as a Scholastic Book Club original paperback, being rereleased in hardcover by Charlesbridge. Written by Jerry Pallotta.
January 2021 – Speak Up Talk Radio announced the winners of 2020’s fourth quarter FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS contest. Seventy-two winners were announced in 87 categories.
One of the winning entries was from Massachusetts, author Shennen Bersani, whose book titled Achoo! Why Pollen Counts won in the following categories:
Authors and publishers from around the world submitted their work to the Firebird Book Awards. A panel of 12 judges within the writing and publishing space then read every book and independently scored each entry according to a set of standardized criteria that evaluates the quality of the writing as well as production aspects. Only entries with the highest of scores are awarded the coveted Firebird.
Patricia J. Rullo, founder of the Firebird Book Awards, says, “The quality of the entries were stunning and speak to the talent out there that needs a marketing voice. At Speak Up Talk Radio, our mission is to offer radio interviews and podcasting services to help authors expand their reach. In addition to additional prizes, our winners have the opportunity to be interviewed and aired on radio stations, iHeart Radio, Pandora, as well as 50 additional online venues, giving them new ways to speak up and share their work.”
Pat adds, “We’ve included a charitable component to our awards by making all entry fees tax-deductible to the author. In return, we personally make and send handmade fun and whimsical pillowcases to women and children in homeless shelters via Enchanted Makeovers, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. All entry fees fund this project. In this way, authors can get notoriety for their work while doing good for others. It’s been such a rewarding venture for everyone.”
The Firebird Book Awards run quarterly contests so authors can receive recognition on a timely basis. Authors from all genres, mainstream, independent, and self-published are welcome. Additional winning authors and titles as well as entry information is available at https://www.speakuptalkradio.com
I love Legit KidLit! This time I participated in their Winter Draw Off episode. I was joined with fellow Arbordale illustrator, Veronica Jones. Also drawing were Jenn Kocsmiersky and John Green. Check out the episode, and don’t forget to like it and give Legit KidLit’s YouTube channel a follow.
Legit KidLit Draw Offs: Four kidlit creators. Two wheels of topics. Three rounds. Five minutes per round. Lots of creativity and so much fun!
As a bonus, here’s my first sketch you can print out and color or decorate however you like.
Legit KidLit Draw Off 2! Here’s their description:
Welcome to Draw Off Volume 2 on Legit KidLit! We have four authors and illustrators joining us today. We have award-winning author and illustrator Shennen Bersani! Shennen’s books show a world of nature and science through emotions that create strong connections with her readers. We also have author Brooks Benjamin, author of My Seventh Grade Life in Tights, a middle school novel that is full of humor and heart. Jarrett Lerner is a guest creator today and his books are always full of humor and positive messages for readers, including his newest series Geeger the Robot! Last but not least, we have Larissa Marantz. Larissa has illustrated a dozen books, including the series Clyde the Hippo, and has worked as an animation artist for numerous shows, including Rugrats!
Last week I participated in Legit Kid Lit’s 1st Draw Off. Here’s their description of the event: Legit Kid Lit Episode 11 is a special drawing episode featuring four authors and illustrators! This was a blast of an episode full of humor and fun sketches. Watch now to see Jeanette Bradley, Brooks Benjamin, Abi Cushman, and Shennen Bersani doodle and have fun. Why don’t you grab a pencil and some paper and join in the fun too?
We plan on doing another Draw Off in November.
I also did a webinar with the Darby Creek Valley Association and created this drawing page to go along with it.
Between hurricanes, wildfires, and Covid, 2020 has definitely taken a toll on our nation’s education. If an elementary school lost their library from a hurricane, tropical storm, or wildfire please have the staff leave a comment. I have two complete sets of my Arbordale books and a limited number of my Jerry Pallotta books to donate. Two schools will receive 20 books. I can donate smaller amounts to additional schools until my supply runs out. Please share and spread the word.
Please leave a comment I will respond to. I no longer read my gmail.
ps. I’ve also illustrated seven other books with smaller publishers. A few of these might be sent as well, while my supplies last.
Fine print: Staff only should contact me, preferably the school’s principal or administration. I want to be certain the books get delivered to the proper people/location.
My Jerry Pallotta books are published by Scholastic and Charlesbridge. Most of my books can be found on Amazon.
Hurray! Today is the official book release for River Otter’s Adventure! About the book: 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.
The repetitive format will soothe younger children and build confidence in older ones. The introduction of exotic animals among more-familiar ones adds variety. Some readers might see the river otter’s journey as a support of identity play and self-acceptance; others can simply indulge in all the ways to act like animals. Cute and playful, like its featured critter.
Edelweiss, Goodreads, and Other Community Reviews
What a fun book about adventure and accepting to be yourself! I loved River Otter's Journey! It was so much fun! The illustrations are beyond belief beautiful and capture the story perfectly! It taught a good lesson that it's okay to be ourselves! I also really loved that there was facts about river otters at the end! Steph Dykhouse, Reviewer
Earlier this month I was contacted by teacher Kate Narita, author of 100 Bugs! A Counting Book. Kate asked if I would help with a project she was working on. A quickly said, yes! I want to share that project, Students Sending Love, with you. Perhaps you can share this info with a teacher. From the website:
Calling All Educators!
Are you and your students looking for a meaningful way to help others at this unprecedented time? Help us support hardworking nursing home staff and their isolated residents by sending uplifting, handmade messages to some of our most vulnerable populations.
The enormous ramifications of Covid-19 are rippling through our state, and nursing homes in Massachusetts have had to prohibit all visitors since early March. Residents have lost their community connections and activities, and dedicated staff are working under tremendous pressure to keep their residents safe. Together, we can help make their days a little brighter.
Join us in providing your students with a rewarding project that will bring joy to givers and recipients alike. It’s a win-win! Let’s send letters, artwork and even poems to the workers and residents in nursing homes. This is a terrific way for students to create work for an authentic audience.
Please note that Students Sending Love is run by volunteers and is not affiliated with any organization. We will run the program for as long as schools are closed or until we have met our goal of sending love to every one of Massachusetts' 388 nursing homes—whichever event occurs first!
Have you dyed Easter eggs? Just made some omelets? Reuse and repurpose your empty egg cartons with this fun and easy craft.
Step 1. Start by printing this page out for your bees and an interior glimpse of an active beehive. Print out as many sheets as you’d like, it’s up to you how many bees you want your hive to have.
This is an example of a finished beehive mobile! Yours can be any colors you want, decorated any way you like!
Step 2. Collect your supplies. Empty egg cartons, scissors, glue, coffee stirrers, needle and thread, fishing line, and washers. Not shown I also used colored pencils and fingernail polish.
You don’t have to decorate your egg cartons, but I used paints to make mine look more like a beehive. Use any kind of paint - even spray paint if you have some - to decorate your beehive. Also feel free to experiment, you can also decoupage photos or put papier-mâché over the outside. This craft project is fun, let your imagination run freely. 😊
Start with your printed sheet.
Step 3. Color in your bees and the interior of your beehive.
I like adding glitter fingernail polish for a shimmering ‘pollen’ effect.
Color your pages in any way that makes you happy!
Step 4. Here I am cutting out hexagon hive holes to show a sneak peek into the hive’s interior. Please be careful. Adult supervision with sharp scissors advised. You can cut as few or as many holes as you’d like. Or skip this step altogether.
Your interior art will show through the holes you cut out as shown.
Step 5. Cut out your bees and hive pieces.
Step 6. Glue your bee medallions back to back so you will have a bee showing in all directions when your finished hive is hung.
Step 7. Paint your egg carton.
More painting.
Step 8. Decorate your beehive any way you like! Here I used a Sharpie to draw in honeycomb shapes. Note the hole punched in the bottom left cell. I will be pushing a coffee stirrer through that.
Step 9. This is optional. I added coffee stirrers to give more space to hang my flying bees.
Step 10. Here I punched a small hole through the top of the egg carton to thread the fishing line through. The fishing line will be used to hang the mobile.
Step 11. View from the inside, I’ve tied a washer to the end of the line to keep the line firmly in place while hanging.
Step 12. Now do the same thing to the other end of the fishing line.
Step 13. I’ve glued some of my bees to the hive.
Step 14. Now you’ll want to add your bees. Here I am sewing thread through the bottom of the egg carton.
Step 15. And then I sewed the thread to the bee medallion.
Step 16. Don’t forget to add your interior hive art inside the carton, to show through your holes. Alternatively, you could simply cut out the hive pieces and glue them to the outside.
The finished beehive mobile! 🐝💕
Visit www.achoowhypollencounts.com and click on the blog page to find more easy craft projects. Feel free to add those previous craft project insects to your mobile! Also check out free coloring pages while you are on the website. 🐝🤗💕
And while you are at it, check out all the free Teaching Activities on Arbordale’s website. Perfect for homeschooling. You will find the links on the top right of this page.
Today I’m Challenging my fellow authors and illustrators to add their books to Little Free Libraries while their local libraries and schools are closed for the Coronavirus19 outbreak. Let’s get great books into the hands of kids! Here I’ve added 15 brand new books; 12 of the books I’ve illustrated, and 3 copies of the book I wrote and illustrated, Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, to the Little Free Library in Natick Center, in Massachusetts. The library across the street in Natick is closed indefinitely. Children will find some award-winning books, and three very popular books written by Jerry Pallotta! Watch the video to see all the books I added today.
The styles and techniques are different, but both pure me! I would find my job boring if I did the exact same style in each book. I’ve been blessed to have done such an amazing variety.
Very different from the Uber realistic art I’m now doing for my 31st book, which happens to be my 9th Jerry Pallotta book.... but I’m keeping that under wraps for now.
Pure joy! Tears ran down my face today when Ryan sent this photo from Luxor, Egypt. Tears of joy, seeing the girls’ smile at receiving a copy of Once Upon an Elephant, translated into Arabic. Thank you, Ryan, for helping me donate the books. You can read about this award-winning book from Arbordale here.
Following on the joy I received donating my Portuguese books to a school in Brazil, I’m now using my royalties to buy Arabic books for Egyptians. With a little assist from my son, Ryan, some have already made their way to Cairo. Here he is reading to the Sphinx. Ryan’s comment, “I read your book to the Sphinx. Learning experience for the Sphinx as he only knows hieroglyphics.”
I’m still Challenging authors and illustrators out there to buy books with your royalties and donate them to children who can use them! #PayItForward
Thank you, Ryan, for your help.
Learn more about award-winning, Once Upon an Elephant, at Arbordale. Written by Linda Stanek, illustrated by me. Winner of the Children’s Choice Book of the Year, 2017. Other Linda’s books I’ve illustrated are: CheetahDreams, Night Creepers, and River Otter’s Adventure. All can be found at Arbordale, along with eleven of my other illustrated books, including the one I authored, Achoo! Why Pollen Counts.
Her and her husband own a restaurant my husband and I visit often. Pablah and Mac both come from Brazil. One day they hung this poster:
Both hot chocolate specials are delicious, but I especially like the s’mores one. 😋
So each visit I reflect on the poster and it occurred to me, I have Arbordale picture books that have been translated into Portuguese. I’m going to use my royalty money to buy Portuguese books for the children at this school. (Currently the children are having their classes outside while the building is being built.)
Soooo I took my royalties and bought 40 Portuguese picture books. Yesterday I donated them. Here’s a short video:
I’m working on a longer video, and will post a link when it’s done. Until then, here’s my Challenge video. Fellow children’s authors and illustrators, join me in getting books to children and schools who have none. I know all of you are not in a position to do this, but for those who can, I challenge you to take your royalties and use them to get vital books to these schools. Further details follow in the video.
To donate, email Pablah @ pfchwres @ Gmail dot com. And thank you from both of us! ❤️
I’ve been waiting to share this art! I was a guest artist for Geeks Who Drink. I was assigned to illustrate eight cities with animals in their name - more or less. Last night my art was the visual round for all the quizzes across the country, hundreds of them. My son, Ryan, is a quiz master at the Hong Kong in Harvard Square. As we would say in Boston, this was wicked pissaah! Check out Ryan’s roundup of last night’s events here.
Can you solve these?
BTW, check out my handmade jewelry shop, HeartGlimmers, on Etsy. Perfect for your holiday gift giving. And for all the young ones in your life, find my children’s picture books on Amazon here. I’m currently illustrating book 31, there’s over 2 million copies of my books out there!
I want to leave a post here saying hello to anyone who finds me through GWD! My usual gig is illustrating children’s picture books (or writing them!). I’m currently working on my 31st. You can find most of them searching my name here on Amazon. I’ve illustrated a wide assortment of subjects; from realistic non-fiction to whimsical fiction, I’ve created something for just about any family. If you have little kids in your life please check them out. Books make awesome gifts.
I also sell my handmade jewelry over at HeartGlimmers on Etsy. I randomly add new pieces, so take a fresh look every now and then. Here are some samples.
Time permitting I even do portrait commissions. You can reach me at sbersani at mac dot com. If I’m too busy, I have friends I will recommend.
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts has been translated, it is now available in Portuguese, German, Tejas Star Award-winning Spanish, and English! Children’s books are the perfect tool for learning new languages. Purchase your copy of any of these at Arbordale.
Achoo! Why PollenCounts has been translated into German! I am so excited, my Pennsylvania Dutch Mom was solid German, née Zimmerman, she passed in ‘89, but I’m certain from Heaven she is proud of my accomplishments.
Currently the book is available as an interactive Arbordale ebook - it reads to you, and you can click on the animal characters to hear the sounds they make! You can purchase here: Achoo!
Soon to come, it will be printed auf Deutsch, in paperback!
Also available in the Tejas Star Award winning Spanish!
I am thrilled to announce the opening of my Etsy shop - HeartGlimmers. Soon it will be filled with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings! Take a look: HeartGlimmers
Step-by-step-step instructions to make your own pollen snow globe, brought to you by Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, and Shennen Bersani. There are two versions, one very inexpensive and easy, the other a bit more complicated using more supplies. Either way you can use repurposed used containers. Just wash them out and they are ready to go!
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts! Make this fun pollen snow globe! Here I used recycled containers, my coloring page printout, and simple items I bought at a craft store.
Print out this page for your airborne critters.
Here are the supplies I used. You can get very elaborate, or very simple. I’ve used some little animals to create a forest environment.
I selected plastic and silk flowers to create a forest in the jar. In one of my snow globes I used green felt for the grass. In another globe I used this fancy ‘fairy’ grass.
After you have your supplies you will want to color in your airborne critters. Get as fancy and creative as you’d like!
I painted a coat of gold glitter fingernail polish on mine to give them a shimmering effect.
Now cut out your critters.
Glue them back to back. When they sway they will show from any direction.
Once the glue dries sew a short piece of string to each one.
Use a piece of duct, or other strong tape, to attach the string to the underneath of the lid.
Add glitter!
Screw on the lid and shake! Don’t add water, pollen floats in the AIR. This globe was made using a used jelly jar. This is an inexpensive and easy pollen snow globe. You might want to glue the lid in place so little tykes don’t open and spill onto your rug!
Now I’m going to make a couple more advanced globes. Repurpose used containers. Here I’m cutting a piece of felt to use as grass.
I’m adding glue, I am wearing gloves to keep my hands clean. You can also use a hot glue gun.
I’ve glued down the felt, added fake flowers, and now I’m adding the glitter.
Securely tape your thread underneath the lid. Again, I recommend duct or strong tape that won’t fall off.
Secure the lid and enjoy! Once you are finished have fun shaking and playing with your globes!
If you enjoyed this craft check out my Night Creepers firefly craft here. Print out both coloring sheets and mix & match to create your own unique projects, just like Heather and Ivy did! Love their craft!
Scroll down for my interview with LitPick. Check out their fabulous video review!
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts has received two 5 star reviews from student reviewers at LitPick. This earns the book their highest honor, the LitPick Top Choice Book Review Award! Wow, I am so honored and excited! Here are the two reviews:
Student Review Jonny Age at time of review - 12 Reviewer's Location - Matthews, NC, United States View Jonny's profile
Achoo! Why Pollen Counts by Shennen Bersani is about a baby bear who comes out of his den in the spring, sneezing so much that he wishes pollen didn’t exist. When he meets up with his mom, she cleans him up and explains how important pollen is. Then he wanders around and meets all sorts of critters who explain why pollen is important to them too.
It’s a cute story with catchy language that is easy to understand and educational at the same time. It even has a “For Creative Minds” section at the end that has interesting information about allergies, pollination, and bees. A couple of activities about flower parts and pollinators make learning fun, and anyone can read more about allergies, pollen, insects, and bears if they look up resources listed in the bibliography that is included. The very best part of this book is its beautiful artwork. Happy pictures with bright colors and a swirling effect that mimics pollen in the air practically jump off every page.
Opinion: Achoo!Why Pollen Counts is written for children ages 5-8, but I can’t imagine who wouldn’t love this book (no matter how old they are)! It is a fantastic multi-purpose book that is perfect for anyone who enjoys nature or wants to know more about pollen. The artwork is detailed enough that young children can picture walk themselves through the basic story. Parents can help their children learn the names of specific creatures that they may not have seen before or do not know yet. Anyone could use it as a guide to help others understand allergy symptoms better, what pollen is, and how it’s used in nature. The more I read this book and looked at its pictures, the more detail I saw and the more I learned. It was like taking a real nature walk outdoors and finding something new to explore with every next step.
hawkreader10 Age at time of review - 13 Reviewer's Location - Corning, New York, United States View hawkreader10's profile Achoo! Baby Bear is allergic to pollen. And he gets covered in it as soon as he wakes up from his long winter hibernation! As he struggles to get rid of the sticky yellow dust covering his fur, Baby Bear decides he does NOT like pollen. He even says that he wishes pollen didn't exist. But as his other animal friends wake up, Baby bear learns that pollen does a lot more than just make him sneeze. In fact, many other animals and insects rely on pollen. His friends Sandy Spiderling, Zoe Zebra Butterfly, and some honey bee larvae even eat it! Will Baby Bear be able to use all his new knowledge to make the best of this “sticky” situation?
Opinion: At first, pollen might seem like a strange subject for a children’s book, but in Achoo! Why Pollen Counts by Shennen Bersani, the curious young reader will learn many interesting facts about pollen right along with Baby Bear. The easy to follow storyline and colorful pictures will engage young readers and help them learn about pollen in a fun way. Parents who are reading with their children will probably learn a lot, too.
Bersani packs a lot of scientific information into her story, while still keeping it at a level that young children can understand. Additional information and activity pages in the back of the book offer an opportunity for children to apply their new knowledge.
I would recommend this book for children three to seven years old to enjoy with their parents. Kids with allergies will be able to identify with Baby Bear and maybe see a brighter side to pollen.
My SIX MINUTE AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH LitPick
SIX MINUTES WITH SHENNEN BERSANI: Joining LitPick for Six Minutes with an Author is Shennen Bersani, author and illustrator of almost 30 books. Her book, Achoo! Why Pollen Counts, is perfect with spring right around the corner. One of our student reviewers gave it 5 out of 5 stars, saying, “It is a fantastic multi-purpose book that is perfect for anyone who enjoys nature or wants to know more about pollen.” ----- ***How did you get started writing? When I was very young, my parents sang songs to me. By the time I reached fourth grade, I was writing my own songs, composing them, and singing along with my guitar. As I grew older, I took creative writing classes and expanded my writing into stories. I always dreamed of being an author. ***Who influenced you? My mother was my biggest influence. She encouraged me to keep journals. I filled my journals with poems, songs, stories, and drawings. ***Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting? I am very fond of earth science, nature, and animals. I don’t have a particular favorite book, I simply love learning new things! I gobble up any books I can find on animals and their habitats. ***What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author? Read, write, edit. Read as much as you possibly can. By reading the works of others, you get an understanding of what makes a successful poem, song, or story. Take a notebook along with you; you can keep one handy in your backpack. When rhymes, poems, or story ideas come to you just jot them down. Read your entries over at the end of the day. Add descriptions, including how you felt at the time, if you were happy, sad, tired, hungry; was it cold, hot, sunny, dark, or raining? Expand on these notes to write poems, stories, plays, books. Then comes the edits. This is the hardest part but most important. It is natural to feel your first draft is fabulous and couldn’t possibly be improved! You struggled over your words, selecting just the ‘right’ ones - and it took so darn long for Pete’s sake! There is no way you will want to change anything, it will kill you to do so! Wrong, and I’ll prove it. Set your first draft aside for a few days, a week, or a month... then reread it out loud to yourself. Time has a way of changing our perspective. You will now chuckle at yourself and find all sorts of words or sentences you will want to change and correct. Oops, there you missed a period, and there’s a misspelled word. I simply can’t stress how important edits are to improve your writing. I just wrote this answer over a dozen times. ***Where is your favorite place to write? I love sitting alone near my aquarium, surrounded by plants and photos of my family. I have this set up in my studio where I also illustrate books. I write out my research notes and my story arcs freehand on sheets of paper first, then type them up on my computer where I edit, edit, edit.
***What else would you like to tell us? Don’t ever get discouraged! Follow your dreams wherever they take you. I have piles of unpublished stories. The more books you read, the more you write, the better your writing becomes. Also research as much as possible. I crisscross the country doing research and asking people I meet countless questions. I try to learn as much as I can about a subject before I write about it. ----- Thanks for joining us, Shennen. We love how your parents began by igniting this passion inside of you that you continued to fan into flame. Your advice about placing a first draft to the side is very helpful, and we know it will benefit many students and other writers. We look forward to your next book featuring natural elements.
100 Book Trailers - Must Have Books For The Elementary Classroom
Author and teacher Kate Narita has complied a list of Must Haves for teachers, andAchoo! Why Pollen Counts made her list! Check out Achoo! and her complete list here. And don't miss all the free Teaching Activities and Quizzes on Arbordale's Achoo! Why Pollen Countspage.
Check out this great spring blog post from Arbordale!
Pollen season 2018 has arrived, what better way to teach your children Why Pollen Counts!
It’s spring in Boston, but I’m looking forward to September. I’m excited to announce Cheetah Dreams, written by Linda Stanek and published by Arbordale, will be released. It’s my 14th Arbordale book - and I promise the art will knock your socks off! Check out its Arbordale page
Linda and I also brought you the 10th Children’s Choice Award-winning Once Upon an Elephant, and also Night Creepers! Check them all out over at www.arbordalepublishing.com.
Also HUGE news for Once Upon an Elephant! The book was selected for Choose to Read Ohio 2019 & 2020. Read about it here.
