Un-Brella News

I received some good news today. Un-Brella, my first picture book is being reprinted this week. It is so nice that it has found a niche in the crowded market. The book was first published in April 2007 and so it has taken just over a year for it to sell out the first printing.

Now thanks to Lookybook you can read it right now.
Thank you for looking. Have a great day

Kids Lit Reviews Un-Brella

Check it out, the Kids Lit blog has posted a nice review of Un-Brella. While you are there enjoy the book reviews from picture books through YA. The blog is updated regularly and worth a visit.

FYI, Not Much Really Changes.

Note to Unpublished Authors: Not much really changes. While having a published book is statistically good. One book doesn't mean that there will be a second one. I have submitted several manuscripts since Un-Brella and they have all be turned down. "We like your artwork and the way you think, we just don't think you have a story . . . yet"

So here is a little advice to myself: Pay attention if the same comments keep coming up. It is time for me to spend time refining the "art" of storytelling.

I will start by reading and enjoying the process of a story. Paying attention and enjoying the small events and why they are there.

New Postcards

In my attempt to promote Un-Brella I have printed some postcards, and here they are. The world of book promotion is so new to me that I just thought I would give it a shot.

The back of the card features a Hide & Seek game with 12 images that can be found in Un-Brella.

Library Art Donation

I would like to donate a fine art print from my new book Un-Brella to 20 different libraries. Please send the required information in an e-mail and the first 20 libraries that respond will receive a print suitable for hanging in their library.

For more information:
Library Art Donation
http://www.scottefranson.com/3-books/unbrella/unbrella_art-prints.html

Let your local librarian know. Have a great day!

I'm a Newcomer!

My new book Un-Brella has been added to the Newcomers page of The Horn Book. I am excited that the book is receiving some attention and flattered that it is attention from The Horn Book.

Newcomers
The Horn Book is always on the watch for talented newcomers to the children’s literature scene. This page highlights exceptional work by the latest crop of novice authors and artists. All these books were reviewed in The Horn Book Magazine during the last year.

Fun and Games

I have just updated the Un-Brella Kids section of my website. It now has a Hide and Seek game. Have fun Seeking!

Un-Brella Book Trailer: An Encore

My good (blog/Illustration Friday) friend that I have never met, Kathy Weller, left the following comment on my blog.

Scott, I just happened upon your Un-brella "Trailer". WOW!!!!!!!! That is fabulous!!! It's gorgeous!!!

I know that she has visited my site many times and so it was a surprise to me that she had never seen the Un-Brella Book Trailer. And so here is is again. Kathy, this is for you!!

(The animation was done in Adobe AfterEffects)

Illustration Friday: polar

This series of snowmen in different seasons was inspired by my new book, Un-Brella. In the book there is a young girl that can control the weather with her "Un-Brella". This allows her to keep snowmen year round. Enjoy and look for Un-Brella at a bookstore near you!

Good Company

I know it is only a flash in the pan, but for a few minutes on this Saturday evening I am enjoying some very good company. JacketFlap is a Community/Blog Reader for all things related to books for children. On JacketFlap you can search by Publisher and it shows a list of each publishers top 50 books. (The rating is somehow sampled from Amazon.) It was a nice surprise to discovered my book Un-Brella sandwiched between 2 very good books in the #2 slot. Just a moment of joy and surprise that I wanted to share.

Un-Brella, Scott E. Franson

Now please bear with me because it has taken 2 years and hundreds of hours to produce Un-Brella. It will officially be published tomorrow, on April 3, 2007 by Roaring Brook Press. It is exciting for me to have my first book available for sale. I don't have much control over how Un-Brella is displayed in the bookstore but if I owned a bookstore, I would display it like the image above. I can't believe that the day is finally here. Woo Hoo!! Thank you to all who helped make this book possible.

Is this Snowman a Cannibal?

In my new book, Un-Brella, there is a scene where the little girl is sharing a snow cone with her friend the snowman. At the conference this past week someone asked me if the snowman was a cannibal. What do you think?

I saw my books for sale!!

On Wednesday Un-Brella, my first book, was on sale at the UVSC Conference on Children and Literature where I made a presentation. It was fun to see my book for sale. I also had my first book signing. The conference was great with lots of good information. I have received calls from friends and family that their orders have been shipped and they will be receiving them soon. It took two years to get a book on the store shelf from concept to publication. Looking at my book for sale in a bookstore is a great feeling. I am really happy with the end result.

Un-Brella Book Signing—Rexburg, Idaho

I will be signing copies of Un-Brella at the Brigham Young University-Idaho Bookstore April 27 from 12:30-2:30. The Bookstore is located on the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus in Rexburg, Idaho. The Bookstore is in the Manwaring Center. Stop by and say hi if you are in the area.

School Library Journal review for Un-Brella

PreS-Gr 3–This wordless tale begins with a little girl dressing for a day at the beach though it is clearly snowing. Even the cat is surprised when she picks up her “un-brella” and goes outside. It is here that the title of the story becomes clear. Wherever she opens the un-brella, sunshine flows and grass, flowers, and insects appear. She spends a fine winter day walking in her bathing suit, sunbathing, and swimming. As the season changes to summer, she is again at home. But now, dressed in winter gear, she opens her un-brella and spends the day making snow angels, ice-skating, and building snowmen. The book ends with the girl watching rain fall, leaving readers to wonder what kind of “brella” she will use now. Franson’s illustrations resemble paper cutouts although they are done using a computer. The crisp, clean pictures have bright colors, exceptional detail, fun patterns, sly repetition, and heaps of whimsy. They are irresistible. The expressions on the faces of the cat, girl, snowmen, goldfish, penguins, and other animals clearly advance the story. Pair this title with other wordless books like Raymond Briggs’s The Snowman (Random, 1986) or Alexandra Day’s “Carl” books (Farrar) and allow creative storytelling to reign.–Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH

The Library Visit . . .

This is me with my daughter during story time, at the Madison District Library in Rexburg, Idaho.


I had a great time this morning "reading" my wordless book Un-brella to preschool children for story time at the Madison District Library in Rexburg, Idaho.

There were about 25 children at the reading. I started with a book trailer for Unbrella. I read the wordless book to them by starting a conversation. I ask questions with the most frequent question being, "What do you think will happen next?" The children today were very well behaved and we had a good time. In addition to the conversation about Un-Brella, I handed out a coloring page to each of the children. The morning went well and it was a lot of fun.

First Library Visit

Tomorrow I make my first library visit as an "Author/Illustrator". I will be at the Madison Library District in Rexburg, Idaho at 10:30 for Story Time. I am looking forward to sharing my first book, Un-Brella, with a group of preschoolers. Un-Brella is published by Roaring Brook Press and will be released on April 3, 2007.