tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71160749836220072642024-03-13T06:51:18.153-07:00Dan Yaccarino's BlogDan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-80535128063603521272017-04-19T05:22:00.000-07:002017-04-19T05:22:13.020-07:00THE MORRiS MOLE BOOK TRAILER IS HERE!<div style="text-align: center;">
Take a look at the trailer for my new picture book MORRiS MOLE <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kr_BSt_XZo" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-61082010118284633462017-01-30T17:40:00.000-08:002017-01-30T17:42:16.719-08:00THE PAPERBACK EDITION OF ZORGOOCHI INTERGALACTIC PIZZA: DELIVERY OF DOOM IS HERE!Signing signing signing!<br />
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<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-87739372242418143822017-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:002017-01-19T03:19:36.868-08:00THE STORY BEHIND I AM A STORY Part 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last element of a picture book that is addressed is the cover. </div>
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The design and art is usually done after all of the art for the book has been completed. It's a very important component because it's the first thing you see and must encapsulate the idea and feel of the book into a single image. It's sort of like a poster or an ad for the book.</div>
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There were <i>many</i> ideas for the cover of I AM A STORY. </div>
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It proved to be difficult because the content wasn't a character in a story. It was an extremely broad view of thousands of years of different ways stories were presented.</div>
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So how to approach it?</div>
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I thought maybe showing bits and pieces from the interiors in a design.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLglHtoRaeQ/WENV3gUmp4I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/0PuAc32CRFYd-4K9n9cFKVoy4w3bxwX9wCPcB/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NLglHtoRaeQ/WENV3gUmp4I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/0PuAc32CRFYd-4K9n9cFKVoy4w3bxwX9wCPcB/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory-1.jpg" width="526" /></a></div>
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Or go totally minimal.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keTIROx3Qe0/WENV3XDqUsI/AAAAAAAAB2A/ZxCR1xC1rlwPjPfROW4ZC9Jm3kvjGTUMgCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B5-1%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keTIROx3Qe0/WENV3XDqUsI/AAAAAAAAB2A/ZxCR1xC1rlwPjPfROW4ZC9Jm3kvjGTUMgCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B5-1%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="514" /> </a></div>
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Perhaps work vignettes into a design with the type.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_UWi2SZ1q0/WENV3R1SYdI/AAAAAAAAB18/X2J2qys3Ir0CY9Rp5lmSY9Ix8oMb3kLcwCEw/s1600/I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2B2%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_UWi2SZ1q0/WENV3R1SYdI/AAAAAAAAB18/X2J2qys3Ir0CY9Rp5lmSY9Ix8oMb3kLcwCEw/s640/I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2B2%2Bcopy.jpg" width="512" /> </a></div>
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Maybe make it less geometric.</div>
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Make it all about the title? With a hint of narrative?</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjrCb6lzU0A/WENV3GV1gvI/AAAAAAAAB10/kEx0EHJ30dAh878FU_ePbEQw5X-T1AbSwCEw/s1600/Cover%2B7%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RjrCb6lzU0A/WENV3GV1gvI/AAAAAAAAB10/kEx0EHJ30dAh878FU_ePbEQw5X-T1AbSwCEw/s640/Cover%2B7%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="512" /> </a></div>
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How about more of a balance between title and image?</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V0-YfytOdRg/WENV3Xif_dI/AAAAAAAAB2E/nGTDm_thNgQm9Ly7TvicdwYpTiSF1pYqwCEw/s1600/I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory_cover_comps_v2-6%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V0-YfytOdRg/WENV3Xif_dI/AAAAAAAAB2E/nGTDm_thNgQm9Ly7TvicdwYpTiSF1pYqwCEw/s640/I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory_cover_comps_v2-6%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="498" /> </a></div>
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This felt right.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmHBTfwugvc/WENxKH0HkRI/AAAAAAAAB20/fB-2IH8n_w0LpxKoJIsPtNFpTuS-JVRXwCLcB/s1600/Yaccarino-%2BI%2BAm%2Ba%2BStory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmHBTfwugvc/WENxKH0HkRI/AAAAAAAAB20/fB-2IH8n_w0LpxKoJIsPtNFpTuS-JVRXwCLcB/s640/Yaccarino-%2BI%2BAm%2Ba%2BStory.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>
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So that's the story behind I AM A STORY. </div>
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I am so thankful to Nancy Inteli and Rick Farley for all of their hard work and patience. </div>
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You can see the wonderful trailer HarperCollins created for it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1boW8jHmI&t=8s" target="_blank">here</a>. I think they did a fabulous job! </div>
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I've been creating books for 24 years. My fascination and love of the medium and it's possibilities continues to grow. I'm truly grateful to be able to continue to write and illustrate stories for children. I've always felt that children's books are the most important books we'll ever read and that a child's experience of a story can last a lifetime. I'm so grateful to be able to continue to create them.</div>
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I hope this in-depth look gives you an idea of what went into the creation of the book and what my intentions were. </div>
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Mostly I hope you enjoyed it.</div>
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Onward! </div>
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<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-58338243842247604772017-01-16T08:12:00.000-08:002017-01-17T17:30:54.380-08:00THE STORY BEHIND I AM A STORY Part 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Onto more ways of how story has affected us and our world.<br />
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Since the book's publication, I've been asked who this woman was. To be honest, I had no one in particular in mind. I just wanted to depict someone before a crowd inspiring them with something from literature. Feel free to assign an actual person to this image.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4JbsonBsXw/WENVa3wo45I/AAAAAAAAB1k/fM0qtqrp2zsqzAL7LKb7N1d43Z9hygKpgCLcB/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-17%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4JbsonBsXw/WENVa3wo45I/AAAAAAAAB1k/fM0qtqrp2zsqzAL7LKb7N1d43Z9hygKpgCLcB/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-17%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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You can probably tell I like drawing crowds. </div>
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The bird is used in a slightly different way here. He's more of a dove, which represents peace. I'm hoping this woman's oratory is inspiration for harmony and nonviolence, which I can't imagine anyone having a problem with.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TcooGW10W30/WERVTzGv3qI/AAAAAAAAB3w/WrMKvYx1mhU9iQOi68xQtw0SKPgWY6WkwCEw/s1600/millions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TcooGW10W30/WERVTzGv3qI/AAAAAAAAB3w/WrMKvYx1mhU9iQOi68xQtw0SKPgWY6WkwCEw/s640/millions.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On an art note, I started to work digitally about 5 years ago, my first book done in this manner was <i>Doug Unplugged</i>. Looking back, I see that there is a lot more line work in this book than any other I've ever done (except perhaps my next book, <i>Morris Mole</i>).</div>
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I find that every few years my technique evolves or changes slightly, but I think my style, the way I draw, hasn't. Someone once said to me, "Once you hit on your style, you'll never lose it and if you do, it wasn't your style."</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuY-Yz0RjlQ/WENwRCMdc2I/AAAAAAAAB2s/H97Aqtmuu6Ikv1o1phAki1LZgcqXVn67wCLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuY-Yz0RjlQ/WENwRCMdc2I/AAAAAAAAB2s/H97Aqtmuu6Ikv1o1phAki1LZgcqXVn67wCLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The ebook spread has probably changed the most out of all of the images from rough to final.</div>
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Now stories can be experienced all over the world through digital technology. Hundreds of stories (text, audio, visual) now can be carried in your pocket on a small device and you can enjoy them everywhere at any time.</div>
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Look how far story has come! </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CaXDOe4mp-c/WENVa49u6HI/AAAAAAAAB1o/tsDbWQbLMLU747IyHO4Wxu30uST2kgQpwCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-18%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CaXDOe4mp-c/WENVa49u6HI/AAAAAAAAB1o/tsDbWQbLMLU747IyHO4Wxu30uST2kgQpwCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-18%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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You'll notice how the image evolves from rough, to line drawing, to final art.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_2iqSkhiJI/WERVTwAkiGI/AAAAAAAAB34/eqPsvCbsMTcMh6g2Yca25Kklb-0aa6T2wCEw/s1600/everywhere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B_2iqSkhiJI/WERVTwAkiGI/AAAAAAAAB34/eqPsvCbsMTcMh6g2Yca25Kklb-0aa6T2wCEw/s640/everywhere.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted to give this image a more global feel by including people in various cultural dress. It's by far the most detailed and complicated, as well as having the most Photoshop layers. I'm sure this one took the longest to do.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymEEsdaeBa8/WENweykIasI/AAAAAAAAB2w/AaToSx2icOAGI-dfOZV33HnqSxJ3Gxx6wCLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymEEsdaeBa8/WENweykIasI/AAAAAAAAB2w/AaToSx2icOAGI-dfOZV33HnqSxJ3Gxx6wCLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So the last spread. </div>
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For me, it goes right back to the beginning. The oral tradition will never die, at least I hope it doesn't. You'll notice that the figures are in the same positions as the prehistoric family, including the dog, which has become a bit more domesticated.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSG6M9mkQp4/WENVbNf5rJI/AAAAAAAAB1w/PZdn3PH_t90Z3w6DK3Ss4hfRfVbF7WTUACEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-19%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSG6M9mkQp4/WENVbNf5rJI/AAAAAAAAB1w/PZdn3PH_t90Z3w6DK3Ss4hfRfVbF7WTUACEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-19%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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In a sense, we still tell stories about the same things, over and over.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3NJrOx1doA/WERSn7c-acI/AAAAAAAAB3M/Y9tg0HM44rQt3FTcRUWw010RjIppRTJZgCEw/s1600/Last.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3NJrOx1doA/WERSn7c-acI/AAAAAAAAB3M/Y9tg0HM44rQt3FTcRUWw010RjIppRTJZgCEw/s640/Last.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And I guess we'll never tire of hearing them. I know I won't.</div>
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You'll notice I changed the drawings of the astrological signs in the first spread to the actual constellations.</div>
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And there goes the bird, forever flying onto the future, inspiring man to move ever forward to tell stories to the next generation in a new way.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PYKUlHYZIN0/WENVbEFV0DI/AAAAAAAAB1s/HEBH6Eyw0pI4Qz4na2hcXCS8seCClYUWgCEw/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-19%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PYKUlHYZIN0/WENVbEFV0DI/AAAAAAAAB1s/HEBH6Eyw0pI4Qz4na2hcXCS8seCClYUWgCEw/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-19%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Next: The cover and final touches.</div>
<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-82500549567711745182017-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:002017-01-17T04:17:00.417-08:00THE STORY BEHIND I AM A STORY Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The slow but constant evolution of how story has been conveyed has brought us to books and private libraries. </div>
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I explain at my school visits that a long time ago, books (and the ability to read) were only enjoyed by a select few. Fortunately, most kids today cannot comprehend this, which shows how far we've actually come. </div>
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I really enjoyed drawing the details of this 19th Century private library, as well as the wealthy magnate reading to his child. </div>
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Here is the rough sketch.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx6ThvaoFmU/WENRpXj6fvI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/iLX3pGzkhdgFAzyXmRVttmZUH23qUU_rgCPcB/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-12%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx6ThvaoFmU/WENRpXj6fvI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/iLX3pGzkhdgFAzyXmRVttmZUH23qUU_rgCPcB/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-12%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here's the tight line drawing.</div>
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It's at this point, the somewhat chronological flow of the events takes a detour. </div>
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Yes, we've arrived at mass-produced books and the "modern era," but I wanted to stop marching ahead and slow down to examine the different aspects of how stories effect all of us.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIKHRJM5pJ0/WERSoFbOr1I/AAAAAAAAB4M/RN1T2g-UQSIgXeGr88L0qVHC7hy64tphQCPcB/s1600/private%2Blib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIKHRJM5pJ0/WERSoFbOr1I/AAAAAAAAB4M/RN1T2g-UQSIgXeGr88L0qVHC7hy64tphQCPcB/s640/private%2Blib.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here's final art. Notice where the bird is. I suppose I'm suggesting that stories were cloistered by the wealthy and a few select others to enjoy and be enlightened by. It was in a sense held captive until...</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIqeO7Spe0E/WENRp9hBYBI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/f5Dhr0ayTuAcpu8_gQdUcC4YGcU2C6ZWQCEw/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-12%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WIqeO7Spe0E/WENRp9hBYBI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/f5Dhr0ayTuAcpu8_gQdUcC4YGcU2C6ZWQCEw/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-12%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Public libraries! Hooray!</div>
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You'll notice that the patrons waiting in line are holding books. I thought I shouldn't waste an opportunity to slip in a few classics here. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j2irv4IEnA8/WENRp8SgnuI/AAAAAAAAB1M/q_prlr6oth4ujmfyesBnyX58gqBOcGp3wCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-13%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j2irv4IEnA8/WENRp8SgnuI/AAAAAAAAB1M/q_prlr6oth4ujmfyesBnyX58gqBOcGp3wCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-13%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<i>Goodnight Moon, To Kill a Mockingbird, </i>and<i> A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,</i> all major examples of classic children's literature. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t0rr_PHgKZg/WENRqBtgLkI/AAAAAAAAB1U/SLiVsZxZxn4EA1KssJPqG1di7r0YW-F3wCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-13.4%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t0rr_PHgKZg/WENRqBtgLkI/AAAAAAAAB1U/SLiVsZxZxn4EA1KssJPqG1di7r0YW-F3wCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-13.4%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Now stories were available to everyone. </div>
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But where's the bird? </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWzjtL35ATI/WERSoA5-1XI/AAAAAAAAB3g/00W8MsYOznU-L4mkz-nLqCKotfPqH33sgCEw/s1600/public%2Blib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWzjtL35ATI/WERSoA5-1XI/AAAAAAAAB3g/00W8MsYOznU-L4mkz-nLqCKotfPqH33sgCEw/s640/public%2Blib.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Look close! You'll find it.</div>
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See it?</div>
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Now stories can be enjoyed by everyone. </div>
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I wanted this image to contrast the private library spread by using bright colors and smiling faces.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZB3SPItlM2U/WENv-nbClZI/AAAAAAAAB2o/0g2bdbxQ9agEsE27KDKGIRFPo0dhN9B0wCLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZB3SPItlM2U/WENv-nbClZI/AAAAAAAAB2o/0g2bdbxQ9agEsE27KDKGIRFPo0dhN9B0wCLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Like I said, at this juncture in the book I wanted to explore different aspects of how stories were delivered. I've certainly seen many "Little Libraries" and wanted to include them in the book, but then I delved deeper and discovered so many other unconventional delivery systems.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTG3hPFVNmU/WENRqW_tHdI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/jPJe5v83uVoKXGLDy_f4Rq-lnRXSUJYoACEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-14%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oTG3hPFVNmU/WENRqW_tHdI/AAAAAAAAB1Y/jPJe5v83uVoKXGLDy_f4Rq-lnRXSUJYoACEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-14%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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I had no idea there were so many fun and interesting ways stories were brought to readers all over the world.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qV_naU9Qszo/WENyMm_QHwI/AAAAAAAAB28/5KMBsShQe5MIYBY8Xu_34L8g40xjk_t3QCLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qV_naU9Qszo/WENyMm_QHwI/AAAAAAAAB28/5KMBsShQe5MIYBY8Xu_34L8g40xjk_t3QCLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also felt compelled to address some of the negative aspects of story. Although a difficult subject, I didn't feel that an examination of story would be complete without touching on censorship, book banning, and book burning.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygad12chM1o/WENRqv1aJvI/AAAAAAAAB1c/XNDG7D1BRPQ8nCfgl-o67PxNqrhSns8ZACEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-16%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygad12chM1o/WENRqv1aJvI/AAAAAAAAB1c/XNDG7D1BRPQ8nCfgl-o67PxNqrhSns8ZACEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-16%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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At a school visit, a student was thoroughly confused by the concept of book burning. "Why would somebody do that? It's stupid."</div>
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Indeed. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYDTdc-u0QY/WGQfl-naBfI/AAAAAAAAB5A/NADJk8evOzAlsLHjZjL8IZ-EBeDTpQfRQCLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYDTdc-u0QY/WGQfl-naBfI/AAAAAAAAB5A/NADJk8evOzAlsLHjZjL8IZ-EBeDTpQfRQCLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next: From the 20th to the 21st Century.</div>
<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-22193400841784938762017-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:002017-01-12T04:32:31.839-08:00THE STORY BEHIND I AM A STORY Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So how were stories conveyed <i>after</i> oral tradition? I imagined cave paintings were next when man began to evolve and develop a sense of objectivity about himself and the world around him.</div>
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I researched the cave paintings discovered in southwest France in Lascaux and remember studying them in school, but forgot how beautiful they were. I love doing research for my books because I learn new things and one of the things I learned was that these paintings were not merely of animals. They had <i>another</i> meaning, which I was totally unaware of and fit perfectly into the story.</div>
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As you'll see whenever the subject of the story is being depicted in I AM A STORY, it's in some way, shape, or form related to the night sky, the cosmos, as it was the very original subject on the title and campfire image page, which was then passed down from generation to generation. Well, I was concerned that the story man was conveying in the cave painting image was merely about things around him and his everyday experiences, but I was wrong- and relieved. </div>
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Among the animals, depicted are 3 bright stars we know today as the Summer Triangle, as well as a star cluster of the Pleiades sometimes called the Seven Sisters. So even here, I was able to keep the content being conveyed consistent. </div>
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It was also a star map. Whew!</div>
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Below is my original sketch for the dummy.</div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span> </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSrhcIiig1M/WENQroFTHvI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/zCQGl3r_8I0gTCYc5kqiKzvL9BVjwyfOACPcB/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-5%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSrhcIiig1M/WENQroFTHvI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/zCQGl3r_8I0gTCYc5kqiKzvL9BVjwyfOACPcB/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-5%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I printed out and pieced together some of the cave paintings and used it as my guide for the drawing. When Picasso went to Lascaux and saw the paintings he said that man had learned nothing new.</div>
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Now story would no longer need to be told by a particular person. It was depicted here for all time, or at least 16,500 years so far. </div>
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You'll also notice that the red bird makes an appearance, too. I thought it might be weird to have it flying by or perched on a rock inside the cave, but I thought a child wanting to imitate the artist by drawing it on a rock would be appropriate and a nice touch. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bu9ZlQS9BoQ/WERVT3LLLqI/AAAAAAAAB30/KcIv9NdxHH0nONsH2esAGhGuOXPL1rFDACEw/s1600/cave%2Bpainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bu9ZlQS9BoQ/WERVT3LLLqI/AAAAAAAAB30/KcIv9NdxHH0nONsH2esAGhGuOXPL1rFDACEw/s640/cave%2Bpainting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here is the final image.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GIErNfpkmdk/WENvBMsetyI/AAAAAAAAB2c/hwsq2dckT20C29pHTqKo-mBD181kA08qACLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GIErNfpkmdk/WENvBMsetyI/AAAAAAAAB2c/hwsq2dckT20C29pHTqKo-mBD181kA08qACLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Moving ahead to stories written on clay tablets and in hieroglyphics, I did research on Sumeria, Mesopotamia and Egypt, which was fun for me. It has been said that the Sumerians invented writing (cuneiform), the stylus (used to write onto the clay tablets), the wheel, the plow, sewers, jewelry, bronze tools, geometry, medicine, architecture, and music, just to name a few.<br />
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So maybe it wasn't so strange that in my research I came across the image below of 3,000 year old hieroglyphs found in Seti 1's temple in Abydos, Egypt, of what I consider to be a helicopter, a plane, and a futuristic aircraft.<br />
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How could so many incredible things originate from a single culture? Perhaps some friends from another planet gave man a little help? Or time traveling future man checking in on his ancestor's progress? Just saying!<br />
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It's something to think about and for those of you who know me, it's something I think about <i>a lot</i>. I love science fiction and those of you who know my work, see it in some of my books.<br />
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Anyway, here it is. Let me know what you think. <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-tPm-d_x5s/WF_715tTKGI/AAAAAAAAB4w/3b1u3-MgrZAQGHBRQZrbb5SVniVdD90JgCLcB/s1600/Heli-Hyrp-641465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-tPm-d_x5s/WF_715tTKGI/AAAAAAAAB4w/3b1u3-MgrZAQGHBRQZrbb5SVniVdD90JgCLcB/s640/Heli-Hyrp-641465.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pretty wild, huh? I hope it's not a hoax.<br />
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Below is a depiction of two different forms of very early writing.<br />
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In the instance of the tablets, now you didn't need to go to a certain place (like the cave in Lascaux) to experience story, it was now portable (although incredibly heavy).<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X8Y6rSXlSMc/WENQr4ECJeI/AAAAAAAAB04/WWoKlFR32iMXFUCBSVRVXjaF6HzlpFRLACEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-6%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X8Y6rSXlSMc/WENQr4ECJeI/AAAAAAAAB04/WWoKlFR32iMXFUCBSVRVXjaF6HzlpFRLACEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-6%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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You'll notice that the bird appears in the sketch and line drawing for the Sumerian image.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGF3_Cjq1N0/WERSoSLbRWI/AAAAAAAAB3o/XCvHTPiXL98BTG6nvH-aVUOwVJl3bFcmwCEw/s1600/tablets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="582" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGF3_Cjq1N0/WERSoSLbRWI/AAAAAAAAB3o/XCvHTPiXL98BTG6nvH-aVUOwVJl3bFcmwCEw/s640/tablets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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But not necessarily in the Egyptian image. Or <i>does</i> it?<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2o5kyMJDoo/WERSoE_wncI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/jxHHJcAnsbQxJ3h78N7VZSLA5-c0ZJ73ACEw/s1600/egyptian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2o5kyMJDoo/WERSoE_wncI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/jxHHJcAnsbQxJ3h78N7VZSLA5-c0ZJ73ACEw/s640/egyptian.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It doesn't appear in the final of the Sumerian image.</div>
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Why? Because the bird is in the hieroglyphics! I tricked you.</div>
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I wasn't going to allow an opportunity to pass to be able to reinforce the subject matter of the story being conveyed. It took some doing, but I actually wrote out the beginning of the story of man's origin according to the ancient Egyptians. Some of it is obscured by the characters, but it's there. I didn't want to just put a meaningless jumble of symbols there when I could actually give it a purpose.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--grICJnLMqo/WENQrKf1ERI/AAAAAAAAB0o/zf2g_daOHdou5ch999mZUWT8NfiFhEVHACEw/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-6%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--grICJnLMqo/WENQrKf1ERI/AAAAAAAAB0o/zf2g_daOHdou5ch999mZUWT8NfiFhEVHACEw/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-6%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a> </div>
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We move onto papyrus scrolls and tapestries. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXi_5UsBAUc/WENQr9gmJ4I/AAAAAAAAB08/s3K5iB6BtNo3W8IYs_mDU6jy1HyF94_ywCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-8%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TXi_5UsBAUc/WENQr9gmJ4I/AAAAAAAAB08/s3K5iB6BtNo3W8IYs_mDU6jy1HyF94_ywCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-8%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Both of these images were single page and I completed them, but then my editor told me that the pagination needed to be changed, which completely changed 2 images. I created a double page spread depicting Japanese wood block printing, which then had to become a single page and my single page image of the tapestry and the king needed to become a double page spread!</div>
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Here are the line drawings of the components of the tapestry image, which I then arranged in Photoshop, then colored.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFi9VhIksPY/WERSn_pQsHI/AAAAAAAAB3U/F--_E9p0tDA_ybGlVqnmcVlOszvc91pNgCEw/s1600/King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFi9VhIksPY/WERSn_pQsHI/AAAAAAAAB3U/F--_E9p0tDA_ybGlVqnmcVlOszvc91pNgCEw/s640/King.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here is the double page version of the tapestry spread. I actually like it more than the single page version.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uA0s5PAjz98/WENQrEE81DI/AAAAAAAAB0k/5MooRrV2xwUn-h2vfTlKVLOCyhnMPJU3gCEw/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-8%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uA0s5PAjz98/WENQrEE81DI/AAAAAAAAB0k/5MooRrV2xwUn-h2vfTlKVLOCyhnMPJU3gCEw/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-8%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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We now move onto illuminated manuscripts created by monks in the early Medieval period, which I found fascinating. Here's the rough sketch.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEJxykmjX7s/WENQsBnY0qI/AAAAAAAAB1A/MKvDMcWxy_g3Ze3z9MOtcBMpvGflQHmDwCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-9%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEJxykmjX7s/WENQsBnY0qI/AAAAAAAAB1A/MKvDMcWxy_g3Ze3z9MOtcBMpvGflQHmDwCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-9%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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And here is the very tight line drawing.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LgZRXWkgVYI/WERSn7OKpVI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/q-7PCkl7XA4xD5Gv7ct1xXo-_JAjfSdAwCEw/s1600/Monk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LgZRXWkgVYI/WERSn7OKpVI/AAAAAAAAB3Q/q-7PCkl7XA4xD5Gv7ct1xXo-_JAjfSdAwCEw/s640/Monk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here's the finish. Now multiple stories could be contained in a single volume.</div>
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I really enjoyed including small details like the cat and mouse. Did you spot the bird?</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ_MIuV2bJ8/WENQqs3USeI/AAAAAAAAB0g/Fnid-1_Jc1ohQYdupdp7Pn87SSNJfgcngCEw/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-9%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yZ_MIuV2bJ8/WENQqs3USeI/AAAAAAAAB0g/Fnid-1_Jc1ohQYdupdp7Pn87SSNJfgcngCEw/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-9%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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The next image, plays and performances, is one of my most favorite from the book. The lighting is dramatic and I got to draw dozens of faces in the crowd. I never actually come out and say the actor is performing a Shakespeare play, but I guess I sort of alluded to the Globe Theater in the final art, where many of his plays were performed. </div>
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Below is the rough sketch. I didn't know what I was in for until I did the line drawing.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6ITxO3T9tA/WENQrTB_d9I/AAAAAAAAB0s/P5BQFYMD1AAn0EBEYjt8kS1EpzLWesCPQCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-10%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6ITxO3T9tA/WENQrTB_d9I/AAAAAAAAB0s/P5BQFYMD1AAn0EBEYjt8kS1EpzLWesCPQCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-10%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Now <i>that</i>'s a lot of people! It was fun drawing the costumes of the era, especially those frilly collars.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NELgdgajGEw/WERSofCTs9I/AAAAAAAAB3s/wWdPAASTu9QDkUIRoE-2LKLboVJjUHrcgCEw/s1600/stage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NELgdgajGEw/WERSofCTs9I/AAAAAAAAB3s/wWdPAASTu9QDkUIRoE-2LKLboVJjUHrcgCEw/s640/stage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You don't see the bird right away, but he's there. </div>
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Now stories can be experienced in a dramatic setting with actors playing roles. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrfA9fku1eY/WENvWh-b1AI/AAAAAAAAB2g/ymNpcImuigwN7ZzPzKo-gCLAgktRfUcuwCLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LrfA9fku1eY/WENvWh-b1AI/AAAAAAAAB2g/ymNpcImuigwN7ZzPzKo-gCLAgktRfUcuwCLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized how information (and for our purposes here, story) was disseminated around the world and we still feel it today. It was as profound as the wheel and the computer.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5OG4yYLiL6w/WENQrr2Bb_I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/eEaY3WKf3WwBET-3Ezwj__7ijQ0oRnwBQCPcB/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-11%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5OG4yYLiL6w/WENQrr2Bb_I/AAAAAAAAB2Q/eEaY3WKf3WwBET-3Ezwj__7ijQ0oRnwBQCPcB/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-11%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted to show a busy printing shop. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ8_6K6FtEc/WERSn9AvncI/AAAAAAAAB3c/aFsWk-VvcOcvz0WMm7n1qroRB7eTcE8fACEw/s1600/Press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ8_6K6FtEc/WERSn9AvncI/AAAAAAAAB3c/aFsWk-VvcOcvz0WMm7n1qroRB7eTcE8fACEw/s640/Press.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You'll notice that the subject of what they are printing is still related to the cosmos, this time represented by prints of an engraving of the phases of the moon.</div>
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Now stories could be mass produced and distributed. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcuGXbdqVow/WENvoEs1pbI/AAAAAAAAB2k/8jHxCcnzoVQOF23OhPT9lYm9IHaLElDswCLcB/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcuGXbdqVow/WENvoEs1pbI/AAAAAAAAB2k/8jHxCcnzoVQOF23OhPT9lYm9IHaLElDswCLcB/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next: The 20th and 21st Century.Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-85352146484485641912017-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:002017-01-10T05:15:25.189-08:00THE STORY BEHIND I AM A STORY Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Once I accumulated dozens and dozens of drawings, most of which were unusable (but led me to the ones that <i>were</i>), I sifted through them and kept the ones that had potential. I always like to have way more than I need rather than the opposite. I feel the same way about cooking. I've been accused of making way too much food, but hey, leftovers are not a bad thing.</div>
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I laid out the drawings more or less in chronological order, even though most of these mediums overlapped each other. There was no way to put them in any sort of <i>totally</i> accurate order, but I tried my best. From this I created a very rough book dummy, which consisted of black and white sketches and first draft text. </div>
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My editor Nancy Inteli at HarperCollins really liked the idea so we moved ahead with smoothing out the idea. Throughout the editing process, Nancy would send me suggestions and questions and I would reply with responses and answers. We did this a lot.</div>
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I mean a <i>lot</i>. </div>
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If you'll notice in most of my picture books, I tend to use the title page to start the story since there are only 16 spreads in a 40-page picture book (subtracting the front and back covers, the end pages, and title spread), so I try to use as much as I can.</div>
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I wanted to start the story with early man, so I came up with this image of a prehistoric man gazing up at the vast night sky with his son, to allude to the idea of generations and how it played into the book. I guess what I'm suggesting is that these stories are passed down to each generation, especially in the beginning, when it was an oral tradition. Someone had to hear and learn the stories and then pass them down to the next generation. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JcuECbLiv_I/WENOmfWKwCI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/dJkRlanJPoIkr7tlCu72xeO9bdtaQQjYACPcB/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-3%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JcuECbLiv_I/WENOmfWKwCI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/dJkRlanJPoIkr7tlCu72xeO9bdtaQQjYACPcB/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-3%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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I also wanted to touch on the ideas of those first stories. I thought about early man and how he may have looked up at the night sky full of mystery, stars, and endless blackness. What did he think? How did he explain his existence or where he fit into the cosmos? Why was he here? Maybe he created stories to explain these things. </div>
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Perhaps these stories provided comfort in a cold, dark, confusing world that surrounded him. Maybe that's why we still tell those stories today. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QEKdr9krsc/WENOmXYnQyI/AAAAAAAAB0A/JQ8eSkPssI4VUNkGIi0MrEFx6WYmIJPtwCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-2%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_QEKdr9krsc/WENOmXYnQyI/AAAAAAAAB0A/JQ8eSkPssI4VUNkGIi0MrEFx6WYmIJPtwCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-2%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I imagined he created stories about the stars in the sky above him. Perhaps this is the way the zodiac came into existence. I did some research and learned that astrology has a very ancient history. Perhaps those signs were the subject of man's earliest stories.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLQ5UDxHQFQ/WENOm-kvFiI/AAAAAAAAB0I/6Ryh4IaZJZgN1ooQkir2ZhHJEfyEs4lTwCEw/s1600/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-4%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLQ5UDxHQFQ/WENOm-kvFiI/AAAAAAAAB0I/6Ryh4IaZJZgN1ooQkir2ZhHJEfyEs4lTwCEw/s640/Yaccarino-I%2BAm%2BA%2BStory%2Blayout%2B6-4%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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So I combined the image of early man around a campfire with the signs of the zodiac swirling in the night sky above to suggest that these are the stories he's telling to the rapt listeners huddled together on a cold night around a warm fire.</div>
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Then I started thinking about just what drove man to keep telling these stories. Why didn't they eventually stop being told? Why weren't they abandoned? What was that ineffable something, that desire to hand them down from generation to generation? Being a visual person and being that this was a picture book, I knew I had to depict this with an image. I also knew whatever it was, it had to appear throughout the story in order to string the images together. </div>
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This is what I drew.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqaY3oQVYSA/WENOlDPgnVI/AAAAAAAABzo/NPgkzkOCyPA7hlJBR_87iD_M8iiYu_NMACEw/s1600/Bird%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YqaY3oQVYSA/WENOlDPgnVI/AAAAAAAABzo/NPgkzkOCyPA7hlJBR_87iD_M8iiYu_NMACEw/s640/Bird%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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To me, this represented INSPIRATION. I imagined that this bird flew through man's history, always moving ahead into the future. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abXCh0OK4yU/WENOlGtnh6I/AAAAAAAABzs/E9Q3vHLoCFAH2xPoayyY4aR3W380cydggCEw/s1600/Bird%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abXCh0OK4yU/WENOlGtnh6I/AAAAAAAABzs/E9Q3vHLoCFAH2xPoayyY4aR3W380cydggCEw/s640/Bird%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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And I wanted it to be red because red is such a powerful color for me. I didn't want too many things in the book to be red, so the reader could spot it. The bird is not in all of the images, but it's in all of the spreads (even the one spread you don't think it's in).</div>
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So on to the art. </div>
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First I take the rough sketch and place a sheet of frosted vellum over it. Then using the rough sketch as a guide, I redraw the image onto the vellum using India ink and a brush. I like using vellum because it's smooth so the lines are clean. I also use the blackest black ink I can find, so the lines are clear and dark.</div>
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This is the line drawing for the title page spread.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8_wBp0-DV4/WERVVEmAMGI/AAAAAAAAB38/BE4PdsPhMdkzzSnwDJjBAKlPgD31kv7ZQCLcB/s1600/title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8_wBp0-DV4/WERVVEmAMGI/AAAAAAAAB38/BE4PdsPhMdkzzSnwDJjBAKlPgD31kv7ZQCLcB/s640/title.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then I scan the line art and open it in Photoshop, then apply color.</div>
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This is the final art once it was designed by the extraordinaire Rick Farley.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OorhiuX_D44/WENOoQKj0vI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/f1BnDZCn1BcfMeatxQBNjiPsUdPnBasgQCEw/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-3%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OorhiuX_D44/WENOoQKj0vI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/f1BnDZCn1BcfMeatxQBNjiPsUdPnBasgQCEw/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-3%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Next: Moving through history.</div>
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<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-71863209996844839222017-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:002017-01-06T05:25:03.668-08:00THE STORY BEHIND I AM A STORY Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes I'll have an idea for a book that comes very quickly and then there are times when I have an idea in my head for a few years before I even write it down. My picture book I AM A STORY was in my head for at least 3 or 4 years before I wrote or drew anything because I think it was such a BIG idea, I wasn't sure how to approach it. <br />
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I used to think of stories and books as being synonymous, but once I took the long view, say 500,000 years, I realized that the medium of books hasn't actually been around all that long. In fact, just about any other medium which delivered stories had been around significantly longer.<br />
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I first looked at it in very broad strokes, playing around with an image I've seen many times before, the Ascent of Man, to cover in a very general way HOW stories were delivered.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il08huliBes/WENOk8SjmnI/AAAAAAAABzw/ahQhSGa6jHwf4cG3Au7Hf6WNniLihcJFwCLcB/s1600/Ascent%2Bof%2BMan%2Bcopy%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-il08huliBes/WENOk8SjmnI/AAAAAAAABzw/ahQhSGa6jHwf4cG3Au7Hf6WNniLihcJFwCLcB/s640/Ascent%2Bof%2BMan%2Bcopy%2B6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then I thought about a quote I read years ago, which sort of stuck in my head.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unU5ASowESs/WENOldPXUXI/AAAAAAAABz0/kT7chv4ZOW02RDhos4ujwf3nTLr_0Hi7gCEw/s1600/Cather%2BQuote%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unU5ASowESs/WENOldPXUXI/AAAAAAAABz0/kT7chv4ZOW02RDhos4ujwf3nTLr_0Hi7gCEw/s1600/Cather%2BQuote%2Bcopy.jpg" /> </a></div>
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Hmmm. Willa Cather had a point. We <i>do</i> tell and listen to essentially the same stories over and over. It's just the details that have changed to fit in with the time period, location, or culture. </div>
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So putting specific story aside, I decided to concentrate on just the <i>ways</i> stories were delivered to us and came up with this.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXCTGgNAD_k/WENOl5VeltI/AAAAAAAABz4/OTICgeytFLsuVWmsHmdfipYiyjXSMtIEQCEw/s1600/Timeline16%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXCTGgNAD_k/WENOl5VeltI/AAAAAAAABz4/OTICgeytFLsuVWmsHmdfipYiyjXSMtIEQCEw/s640/Timeline16%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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Now I know there are many many other different ways, but I had to narrow my focus, so I decided to limit it to these, which ended up being the end pages for what eventually became I AM A STORY a few years later. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-io4C6TujxHo/WENOl3yH2_I/AAAAAAAABz8/KDf_JfS3Z_EPSniCx1MYCDq4kC2blaezwCEw/s1600/IAmAStory_int_des4-2%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-io4C6TujxHo/WENOl3yH2_I/AAAAAAAABz8/KDf_JfS3Z_EPSniCx1MYCDq4kC2blaezwCEw/s640/IAmAStory_int_des4-2%2Bcopy%2Bcopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once I figured out the different mediums, then I started to sketch in my sketch book to work it out. This is an important stage in the process for me. I usually like to give myself several days, a few uninterrupted hours at a time, to just draw whatever comes to me. I don't edit myself at all. I play some music, turn off my phone, and shut down my computer. </div>
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I know most of what I'm doing will not end up in the book, but that's okay because looking back on having done this for other books, I find that some of the things I come up with at this stage actually do end up in the book, almost exactly. Throughout all of the changes and draft upon draft that comes later, there are certain things that never change.</div>
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These are the very first drawings I did to flesh out specific scenes. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ8mxftZO8g/WENOm3AuuKI/AAAAAAAAB0M/Evi46XxQt9EM6gIZ9ToGSSiuQddZaZHugCEw/s1600/unnamed%2Bcopy%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ8mxftZO8g/WENOm3AuuKI/AAAAAAAAB0M/Evi46XxQt9EM6gIZ9ToGSSiuQddZaZHugCEw/s1600/unnamed%2Bcopy%2B4.jpg" /></a></div>
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While I was sketching, I thought about what kind of voice should tell this story. <br />
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The idea of it being a first person narrative came to me very quickly.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_Nwu0OY4Pc/WENOnGqYOXI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/IPUIQWNLQhMSD2cmvRq2B5WuS1Gsk_o1wCEw/s1600/unnamed-2%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_Nwu0OY4Pc/WENOnGqYOXI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/IPUIQWNLQhMSD2cmvRq2B5WuS1Gsk_o1wCEw/s640/unnamed-2%2Bcopy%2B2.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
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As did the title, I AM A STORY. </div>
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It just clicked and once it did, I never had any other ideas about how to tell it or the title. Even some of the text I scribbled in my sketchbook remained unchanged and eventually ended up in the book.</div>
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This was such a HUGE and potentially complicated idea, so my goal was to strip it down and keep it simple. </div>
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Next: Honing in on the idea.</div>
<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-87543780444727864722016-09-08T20:24:00.000-07:002016-09-08T20:24:32.205-07:00I AM A STORY TOUR DAY FOUR: HOSUTON AND TRAVEL!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So now it's day 4 of my tour!</div>
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I woke up super early and had myself a good breakfast. It's the second most important meal of the day (the first being pre-breakfast).</div>
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The Overlook Hotel was wonderful, except for that kid on the Big Wheel and those two creepy kids who kept popping up.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z3dq90mmcY/V9IobstEgzI/AAAAAAAABys/fv82-hRdFzUzJ4TftTA5Z7vE5S69JcRgACEw/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z3dq90mmcY/V9IobstEgzI/AAAAAAAABys/fv82-hRdFzUzJ4TftTA5Z7vE5S69JcRgACEw/s640/unnamed-2.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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The Mothership landed in the lobby.</div>
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How can this not be the coolest job in the universe?</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7EJ6xVluRY4/V9IobrEFRBI/AAAAAAAAByw/2rUXWMtvvXksQfs0KevMJnufDKaXWJR9gCEw/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7EJ6xVluRY4/V9IobrEFRBI/AAAAAAAAByw/2rUXWMtvvXksQfs0KevMJnufDKaXWJR9gCEw/s640/unnamed-3.jpg" width="478" /> </a> </div>
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Those children revere me like a god. Just look at this shrine!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i3_dQ0Hj9KM/V9IobzSiGJI/AAAAAAAABy0/Gr5UtizVvdwHrWTThHLME-MTEvbKJKY5ACEw/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i3_dQ0Hj9KM/V9IobzSiGJI/AAAAAAAABy0/Gr5UtizVvdwHrWTThHLME-MTEvbKJKY5ACEw/s640/unnamed-4.jpg" width="478" /> </a></div>
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We had a great time.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-AVxmgg_g8/V9IobdsoTJI/AAAAAAAAByg/oPeK3pO8eIwM5Ore5b4XuMnA4htXFFjFwCEw/s1600/unnamed-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-AVxmgg_g8/V9IobdsoTJI/AAAAAAAAByg/oPeK3pO8eIwM5Ore5b4XuMnA4htXFFjFwCEw/s640/unnamed-12.jpg" width="478" /> </a></div>
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A gift for the library!</div>
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Listening to the many fun questions.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5voLOhdqxDc/V9IocNkNpMI/AAAAAAAABzA/VPm3aelYgvc88bux5TfXEmQRNPko5ftdgCEw/s1600/unnamed-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5voLOhdqxDc/V9IocNkNpMI/AAAAAAAABzA/VPm3aelYgvc88bux5TfXEmQRNPko5ftdgCEw/s640/unnamed-7.jpg" width="478" /></a><br />Then signing signing signing!</div>
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My publisher HarperCollins very graciously created these lovely postcard books.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e45UITDkWAo/V9Iobq6INkI/AAAAAAAABzU/WVO5EPzfUtMpURT150RQ3NTOteELx1VIQCEw/s1600/unnamed-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e45UITDkWAo/V9Iobq6INkI/AAAAAAAABzU/WVO5EPzfUtMpURT150RQ3NTOteELx1VIQCEw/s640/unnamed-13.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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Back to the airport and in a short line! Again!</div>
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Stop tempting me Cinnabon! Be gone!</div>
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<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-70291101939208813902016-09-07T18:56:00.000-07:002016-09-07T18:56:05.261-07:00I AM A STORY TOUR DAY THREE: TRAVEL TO HOUSTON!<div style="text-align: center;">
I say a fond adieu to my new friends in Oxford, MS and now I'm off to Houston, TX!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHHt_IIGN0U/V9DEO3gCzYI/AAAAAAAAByE/82OK7prHJYoonv9O_ZXZJWO6ITv9fs2mgCLcB/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHHt_IIGN0U/V9DEO3gCzYI/AAAAAAAAByE/82OK7prHJYoonv9O_ZXZJWO6ITv9fs2mgCLcB/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="478" /> </a></div>
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Another short line at the airport!</div>
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I had no idea they still made barf bags.</div>
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Sometimes I secretly wish for a water landing.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67G2y6dVqrQ/V9DEOsRsglI/AAAAAAAAByA/YieOPHWsX1ESC6_2RQPapsSOLFTMzaqZACEw/s1600/unnamed-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67G2y6dVqrQ/V9DEOsRsglI/AAAAAAAAByA/YieOPHWsX1ESC6_2RQPapsSOLFTMzaqZACEw/s640/unnamed-4.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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A little dinner.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlwHit9zgbw/V9DEOkyZDzI/AAAAAAAABx8/qFXrpTEiaasL39I-acIoxR9CIRs3MQLsgCEw/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlwHit9zgbw/V9DEOkyZDzI/AAAAAAAABx8/qFXrpTEiaasL39I-acIoxR9CIRs3MQLsgCEw/s640/unnamed-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And little doodling after a long day.</div>
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Time to rest up for a big day tomorrow!</div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-76154512591526836372016-09-06T17:55:00.005-07:002016-09-06T17:55:45.496-07:00I AM A STORY TOUR- DAY TWO: OXFORD MISSISSIPPI!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxGApUbELKc/V89jRpTtYuI/AAAAAAAABxM/ZjuMfRBWdVEGKT2W-LVUzpXkcufxe0hYACEw/s1600/unnamed-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JxGApUbELKc/V89jRpTtYuI/AAAAAAAABxM/ZjuMfRBWdVEGKT2W-LVUzpXkcufxe0hYACEw/s640/unnamed-7.jpg" width="640" /> </a>I had a fantastic day talking to students about I AM A STORY!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng2FPhHaukA/V89jR4qZVhI/AAAAAAAABxQ/dQOja35j1KUM8mxSkmkcxcxgI1c8ssoNgCEw/s1600/unnamed-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ng2FPhHaukA/V89jR4qZVhI/AAAAAAAABxQ/dQOja35j1KUM8mxSkmkcxcxgI1c8ssoNgCEw/s640/unnamed-8.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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You can see the young me onscreen and well, the old me!</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8vit349hr4/V89jRztUIlI/AAAAAAAABxU/RzN90i0-drsdQAQtdmTsDGNr8Nwo_d0MwCEw/s1600/unnamed-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8vit349hr4/V89jRztUIlI/AAAAAAAABxU/RzN90i0-drsdQAQtdmTsDGNr8Nwo_d0MwCEw/s640/unnamed-9.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />Either I'm trying to emphasize a point or trying to fly.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cm1EeXR2ktw/V89jRRM3-OI/AAAAAAAABxE/BAQgyse30fccfkDLvT9NXRt1n0glYsr3gCEw/s1600/unnamed-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cm1EeXR2ktw/V89jRRM3-OI/AAAAAAAABxE/BAQgyse30fccfkDLvT9NXRt1n0glYsr3gCEw/s640/unnamed-5.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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I noticed this sign outside the school. Dipping? Not sure what that means, but it sounds pretty gross.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZsenDHP7yk/V89jRK4iRMI/AAAAAAAABw4/kQqjixVzppgMalU1Ti4YhMIMjdCsvTscQCEw/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZsenDHP7yk/V89jRK4iRMI/AAAAAAAABw4/kQqjixVzppgMalU1Ti4YhMIMjdCsvTscQCEw/s640/unnamed-3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />Then it was time to sign some books at <a href="http://www.squarebooks.com/junior" target="_blank">SQUARE BOOKS JR</a>!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1vNPm0j4H1s/V89jRB8pgkI/AAAAAAAABxA/XTDDr3xVWpUtgMdiV-9jJokiw-qM8RJjgCEw/s1600/unnamed-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1vNPm0j4H1s/V89jRB8pgkI/AAAAAAAABxA/XTDDr3xVWpUtgMdiV-9jJokiw-qM8RJjgCEw/s640/unnamed-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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They seemed to be VERY prepared for my visit!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGp9Vmg15z4/V89jQx9I34I/AAAAAAAABw0/hh5LUMTypvI3KffbUuHpgHId08H26-I9wCEw/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGp9Vmg15z4/V89jQx9I34I/AAAAAAAABw0/hh5LUMTypvI3KffbUuHpgHId08H26-I9wCEw/s640/unnamed-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Good thing I iced my arm before I got there.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhmvAaqf49c/V89jSKGPTxI/AAAAAAAABxY/GegvoMQPrW8phjKT1EelB6XIjbr-obIkgCEw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhmvAaqf49c/V89jSKGPTxI/AAAAAAAABxY/GegvoMQPrW8phjKT1EelB6XIjbr-obIkgCEw/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Phew! I job well done!</div>
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Thank you Square Books Jr and thank you Oxford MS! You sure know how to make a fella feel welcome!</div>
<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-69298226451517104952016-09-05T16:05:00.001-07:002016-09-05T16:05:53.008-07:00I AM A STORY TOUR- DAY ONE: TRAVEL!<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm off to tour for my new picture book I AM A STORY! First stop: Mississippi.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e6s4XwLqRB8/V8344jHjPYI/AAAAAAAABwg/yYHy3WEyIBMOr94Mvbc_L9ysfPgilqTogCLcB/s1600/unnamed-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e6s4XwLqRB8/V8344jHjPYI/AAAAAAAABwg/yYHy3WEyIBMOr94Mvbc_L9ysfPgilqTogCLcB/s640/unnamed-3.jpg" width="480" /> </a> </div>
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I say, driver, to the airport and step on it!</div>
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It may not look like it, but I was put in the short line!</div>
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While the plane fuels up, so will I.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jKh0JnyMD5s/V83440n60VI/AAAAAAAABwk/cyOsOSkrF9oVMgfHLaxWFBByAI3P6KPFgCEw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jKh0JnyMD5s/V83440n60VI/AAAAAAAABwk/cyOsOSkrF9oVMgfHLaxWFBByAI3P6KPFgCEw/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On the plane finishing up my presentation.</div>
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Check back tomorrow!</div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-41171758233340856652016-08-26T06:14:00.000-07:002016-08-28T15:16:52.592-07:00SEE THE TRAILER FOR MY NEW PICTURE BOOK I AM A STORY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">To see it, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1boW8jHmI" target="_blank">HERE</a>!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAhOq1Qf3NE/V8NimEvfajI/AAAAAAAABwA/tymhF0CcNEETp0nGTj7qoTVyaB7htW1owCLcB/s1600/Yaccarino-%2BI%2BAm%2Ba%2BStory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAhOq1Qf3NE/V8NimEvfajI/AAAAAAAABwA/tymhF0CcNEETp0nGTj7qoTVyaB7htW1owCLcB/s640/Yaccarino-%2BI%2BAm%2Ba%2BStory.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-52843102719196624902016-08-25T08:24:00.001-07:002016-08-25T08:24:41.213-07:00A little behind the scenes peek at the production of the trailer for my new picture book I AM A STORY releasing on September 6!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzFWNE_5kmsyoEI2K8uEKxbpFEHmLVsDGiSAK9_MPYx3lQz6JpYnTcztn90rCH9nQBA98QnVDi0LLJ1ZhlC' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-56278024962465143422016-08-10T16:33:00.003-07:002016-08-10T16:33:46.546-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Get ready for Happyland, my new board book series!</div>
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Click <a href="http://www.danyaccarino.com/books/happyland.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to order.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xnh3-TMkzos/V6u5mTgpSnI/AAAAAAAABvk/uKUYtypzSEc-8t0ocrg_-lAOUszZXvkiACLcB/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xnh3-TMkzos/V6u5mTgpSnI/AAAAAAAABvk/uKUYtypzSEc-8t0ocrg_-lAOUszZXvkiACLcB/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-7485059398124048942016-06-28T06:00:00.000-07:002016-06-28T06:00:12.993-07:00CLASS PET SQUAD: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TOWN!<div style="text-align: center;">
The book goes on sale TODAY! I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think!</div>
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To order the book, click <a href="http://www.danyaccarino.com/books/class-pet-squad.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to my website.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2tNg4vyHfg/V1y8p6YLbfI/AAAAAAAABuk/Dli6482yptE5u2crxcORyLFuKuT9B_FcwCLcB/s1600/Blue%2BPromo%2BPOST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2tNg4vyHfg/V1y8p6YLbfI/AAAAAAAABuk/Dli6482yptE5u2crxcORyLFuKuT9B_FcwCLcB/s640/Blue%2BPromo%2BPOST.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-88910353202021809702016-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:002016-06-27T06:00:00.136-07:00CLASS PET SQUAD: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TOWN. MEET RHONDA!<div style="text-align: center;">
The next member of the squad is Rhonda, computer genius and chameleon. She's kind of shy, but would never shy away from her duties.</div>
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To order the book, click <a href="http://www.danyaccarino.com/books/class-pet-squad.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to my website.</div>
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<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-3583258392233596172016-06-23T06:00:00.000-07:002016-06-23T06:00:13.891-07:00CLASS PET SQUAD: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TOWN. MEET JULIUS!<div style="text-align: center;">
Julius is a brilliant at planning out the missions, but he's kind of slow, you know, like a turtle, but the squad loves him just the same!</div>
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To order the book, click <a href="http://www.danyaccarino.com/books/class-pet-squad.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to my website.</div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-32329315909924588552016-06-20T06:00:00.000-07:002016-06-20T06:00:20.469-07:00CLASS PET SQUAD: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TOWN. MEET SUZU!<div style="text-align: center;">
Meet Suzu. No one's entirely sure what she does, but she sure has a lot of fun doing it!<br />
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To order the book, click <a href="http://www.danyaccarino.com/books/class-pet-squad.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to my website. </div>
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<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-71680026492417921492016-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:002016-06-13T06:00:19.932-07:00CLASS PET SQUAD: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TOWN. MEET MAX!<div style="text-align: center;">
My new chapter book CLASS PET SQUAD: JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF TOWN will be released on June 28, 2016, but first I'd like to introduce you to the squad. First up is the leader, Max.</div>
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To order the book, click <a href="http://www.danyaccarino.com/books/class-pet-squad.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to my website.</div>
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Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-27025571564237485482015-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:002015-07-06T09:00:11.043-07:00HELLO FORT WORTH, TX!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had a swell time at the Morningside School in Fort Worth, TX.</div>
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How about this for a welcome? Although Mr, Kelly got top billing over me, it was still a thrill.</div>
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And take a look at this! The path to the school was lined with my book covers!<br />
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I knew I was in Texas now!<br />
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I'm always so grateful for such a wonderful welcome. <br />
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I guess the teachers and librarians prepped the students for my visit.</div>
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Note to self: get a new headshot and lay off the chocolate ice cream.<br />
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We had a great time talking about Jacques Cousteau.</div>
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Alright, who's the wiseguy?Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-25009066888398833142015-06-22T09:00:00.000-07:002015-06-22T09:00:09.494-07:00FLYING FISH!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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During my visit to Fort Worth, TX I discovered some pretty incredible Southern style seafood.</div>
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Look! Up in the sky! It's the famous Flying Fish!<br />
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What a fun place it was. There were fish everywhere just to remind you of what they served.</div>
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There was lots of fun stuff to look at while I waited for my order.</div>
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And there were sure a lot of plastic fish everywhere.<br />
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A piece of advice- try the unsweetened iced tea first! One time I ordered a large sweetened iced tea and I was all crazy jittery for about 2 days.<br />
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Ahh! At last. My order of fried catfish, shrimp, and hushpuppies. Deee-lish!</div>
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I think someone wanted a bite.Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-8949286133361267442015-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:002015-06-09T06:00:03.857-07:00RUSS & DAUGHTERS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So to follow up on my visit to <a href="http://katzsdelicatessen.com/" target="_blank">Katz's Deli</a>, I usually then pop into <a href="http://www.russanddaughters.com/" target="_blank">Russ & Daughters</a>, another one of my Lower East Side favorites.</div>
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Whenever I come here I feel like a kid in a candy store, pretty much because I <i>am</i> in a candy store. Look at all these wonderful treats! Everything is better dipped in chocolate.</div>
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Even coffee beans! And so many different kinds. I may have to try them all.</div>
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After being here for a few minutes, my head was spinning with choices. So many sweets! So many different kinds. I had to turn away for a moment, but when I did, I saw this... </div>
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I've been coming here for years and I still can't quite figure out why they also sell all sorts of fish. I mean, I <i>like</i> fish, but why are they selling candy on one side of the store and fish on the other?<br />
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Oh, well. I'll take a quarter pound of the chocolate covered coffee beans, a quarter pound of the chocolate covered graham crackers and a quarter pound of the herring.</div>
<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-80314798598222651022015-05-26T06:00:00.000-07:002015-05-26T06:31:23.226-07:00KATZ'S DELI!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you visit my blog, then you know how much I love all sorts of food.</div>
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I've lived in New York City for over 25 years and fortunately my absolute favorite delicatessen is still here!</div>
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There it is! Mighty <a href="http://katzsdelicatessen.com/" target="_blank">Katz's Deli</a> on the Lower East Side, a short walk from my neighborhood. </div>
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The first thing you must know is to KEEP THE TICKET YOU'RE GIVEN AT THE DOOR! Do not lose it! Even if you don't eat anything, <i>you must give the ticket back on your way out.</i></div>
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Ah! The sights, sounds, and aromas of Katz's. It's usually pretty crowded whenever I come here, but that's okay. There's plenty of seats. You can get table service, or...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TqoP7P04yHw/VV4iVYbL4pI/AAAAAAAABoU/OPV7TtFLSuY/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TqoP7P04yHw/VV4iVYbL4pI/AAAAAAAABoU/OPV7TtFLSuY/s640/IMG_3350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can walk right up to the counter and order your food. Today, I'm ordering a Reuben sandwich (pastrami, Russian dressing, sauerkraut on rye bread) and a knish (pronounced "kin-ish"- it's actually a large square of golden brown potato). While you're waiting for it all to be prepared, you can examine the pickles and pickled tomatoes. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d2FWtlM7jnc/VV4iWNgvJWI/AAAAAAAABog/8pg7z8aONMY/s1600/IMG_3354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d2FWtlM7jnc/VV4iWNgvJWI/AAAAAAAABog/8pg7z8aONMY/s640/IMG_3354.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And there it all is! They even gave me a plate of garlic and half sour pickles to compliment my meal. Notice that my ticket is always in sight. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_tom62qUxc/VV4iWDub8pI/AAAAAAAABok/Kt-02FvNdMI/s1600/IMG_3355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_tom62qUxc/VV4iWDub8pI/AAAAAAAABok/Kt-02FvNdMI/s1600/IMG_3355.JPG" /></a></div>
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As I eat my lunch, I look around and just enjoy the atmosphere.</div>
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Take a look at this lovely still life, worthy of painting. If you look hard enough, you'll find beauty everywhere.</div>
<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116074983622007264.post-74069626111041334072015-05-11T09:00:00.000-07:002015-05-11T09:00:12.883-07:00MORE SCHOOL VISITS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I LOVE visiting schools!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zxOMXwkrb6s/VMfFehbOlLI/AAAAAAAABiU/X8B22mlrFYk/s1600/School2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zxOMXwkrb6s/VMfFehbOlLI/AAAAAAAABiU/X8B22mlrFYk/s1600/School2.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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How incredible is it that I can walk into a school and see a wonderful sign like this!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6_8ho0c781A/VMfFeuyqwqI/AAAAAAAABiY/V59fGTySa2o/s1600/School1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6_8ho0c781A/VMfFeuyqwqI/AAAAAAAABiY/V59fGTySa2o/s1600/School1.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm so happy to see my books on display in the library. Very cool.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tt3ijXLQhe4/VMfFvCb7RxI/AAAAAAAABjA/LYcAbTbquaQ/s1600/School6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tt3ijXLQhe4/VMfFvCb7RxI/AAAAAAAABjA/LYcAbTbquaQ/s1600/School6.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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And all of the lovely drawings and paintings of characters from my books all over the place.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NMbdIYM6GTA/VMfFxJT5VmI/AAAAAAAABjM/2f07LStg-w8/s1600/School7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NMbdIYM6GTA/VMfFxJT5VmI/AAAAAAAABjM/2f07LStg-w8/s1600/School7.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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Mission accomplished! My goal for my book <a href="http://www.yaccarinostudio.com/ys/books/cousteau.html" target="_blank">THE FANTASTIC UNDERSEA LIFE OF JACQUES COUSTEAU</a> was to raise awareness of the great Jacques Cousteau in elementary schools students and it looks like it worked!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5xQlKuo6icw/VMfFmV854ZI/AAAAAAAABio/fQj79CkQ7Wo/s1600/School3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5xQlKuo6icw/VMfFmV854ZI/AAAAAAAABio/fQj79CkQ7Wo/s1600/School3.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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There can never be too many robots.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YtfSfvhwBao/VMfFqN4vFrI/AAAAAAAABiw/qkndHL1ULNU/s1600/School4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YtfSfvhwBao/VMfFqN4vFrI/AAAAAAAABiw/qkndHL1ULNU/s1600/School4.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F22JlcEmaB8/VMfEmJFeMnI/AAAAAAAABh0/A47wbrDHZfo/s1600/DSC06176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F22JlcEmaB8/VMfEmJFeMnI/AAAAAAAABh0/A47wbrDHZfo/s1600/DSC06176.JPG" height="266" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then the best part- hanging out with the students! We have a great time talking about books, animation, and a lot of other things.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ygI5WX-_Yf0/VMfFI48mKiI/AAAAAAAABiI/5yrLj78zlpQ/s1600/Art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ygI5WX-_Yf0/VMfFI48mKiI/AAAAAAAABiI/5yrLj78zlpQ/s1600/Art.jpg" height="640" width="432" /></a></div>
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And when I see something like this- </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDBnsgwLWJE/VMfEol9N4qI/AAAAAAAABiA/Zm_f9_ElyhU/s1600/childrens-lit-conference468%2B(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDBnsgwLWJE/VMfEol9N4qI/AAAAAAAABiA/Zm_f9_ElyhU/s1600/childrens-lit-conference468%2B%28Large%29.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm a happy fella.</div>
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<br />Dan Yaccarino's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10738978037745437564noreply@blogger.com0