Draw me a story,

tell me a tale

Vermont is home to a celebrated group of contemporary children’s book authors/artists. The Sheldon Museum is fortunate and privileged to present the art work and books of those 18 listed above. Three galleries showcase their literary artistry with paintings, illustrations, photographs, preparatory drawings and, of course their books. Author readings, presentations, panel discussions, and hands-on activities are being planned throughout the run of the exhibit, which concludes on January 13, 2018. 

A number of artists/authors specialize in works that help children learn numbers and the alphabet. Woody Jackson’s readers will count cows; one of Ashley Wolff’s books features a bear tallying bees, and Mary Azarian’s letters relate to the garden.  More adventuresome nature and travel stories are offered by Jan Reynolds, Peter Lourie, and Jim Arnosky. Jan traveled to the Himalayas on assignment for National Geographic and captured a stunning image of a 16 year-old Sherpani who traversed the Salt Trade Route that reaches heights of 20,000 feet, while she carried a heavy backpack.  Jim, known by many for his fly-fishing book, also illustrates and offers studies of waterfowl, insects, and wild animals.  Peter encourages canoe travel in recounting his journey on the Hudson River from the Adirondacks to the Atlantic Ocean. Warren Kimble also showcases America’s beauty with patriotic illustrations of flags and animals of the Vermont countryside.

Other authors take a more traditional, often humorous, approach to storytelling. Cartoonist Harry Bliss of The New Yorker Magazine, the New York Times, and Seven Days introduces his readers to a museum, while Thatcher Hurd entertains with exploits of a mischievous mouse. Janet Hayward tells her stories through poetry, complemented with illustrations of dragons and frogs.

Many of the featured artists/authors capture the imagination with animal characters. Sarah Dillard relates the adventures of heroic mice and chicks, while Tracey Campbell Pearson depicts levitating youngsters and friendly elephants, and co-authors Tami Crupi Zeman & Bruce Zeman, Jr. entertain with tales of the famous Vermont little brown dachshund, Hobbes. John and Jennifer Churchman provide stunning photographs to accompany stories of sheep and other farm friends. Jason Chin adopts a more educational approach, introducing eager young learners to the mysteries of gravity, the wonders of the Galápagos Islands and life under the sea. Winter dragons and tales of train travel are the subjects of the stories created by Deidre Gill. Baby robins and a desperate dog frolic though Eileen Christelow’s tales, and Phoebe Stone colorfully portrays themes of friendship among angels and animal characters.

The many authors and artists vary in age, background, experience, and style, but all have chosen to live in Vermont, finding inspiration from the state’s landscape, agriculture, village life, and friendly neighbors. They also draw inspiration from their own childhood memories, as well as more recent experiences with their children and grandchildren. A child’s imagination is limitless and these artists/authors perfectly capture the whimsy of possibility. Their colorful and creative works will captivate you and visitors of all ages.

Bill Brooks, Executive Director 

Collection Images

About the Author: Ashley Wolff

As a child, whenever anyone asked me: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I answered “An artist.” I always drew and made small books when I was young. I was not afraid to steal plot elements from the Brothers Grimm. Two of my favorite things to draw were princesses and horses. In school I loved my art lessons and my teachers: Prindle Wissler and Lachlan Field. In high school I spent all my spare time in Mr Field’s art room, where I felt most at home. I wanted to go to an art school, so Mr. Field helped me prepare my portfolio, including the three required black and white drawings. The first two were of a bicycle and shoes. For my 3rd drawing I did a self portrait in charcoal. The face was black and white but I used colored pencils to draw a wreath of flowers in my hair. I was accepted to the Rhode Island School of Design. My favorite class was life drawing, but I studied painting and printmaking, wood working, jewelry making and lots of art history. I eventually decided to major in printmaking and illustration. When I took an illustration class called Picture and Word I knew I had found something I really loved. It was taught by illustration professor Judy Sue Goodwin-Sturges and English professor Phil Bailey. In that class we learned to write stories that left room for pictures and use pictures to enlarge and enhance words. The lessons I learned in that class inspired my first book: A Year of Birds, and still influence me today. And I have always painted murals. I started on barns and expanded to warehouses, doors and ceilings. I have painted sharks, mermaids, horses, pigs, geese, giant tropical trees covered with ferns and orchids and small, exquisitely detailed portraits of cats, dogs and children. My books are all different and illustrated in many techniques and media: watercolor, gouache, and acrylic, linoleum block print, collage, pastel and colored pencils. While I like to change the techniques used for the pictures, many other things remain constant in my books. You won’t find many airplanes, tractors or trucks, but you will always find lots of color, animals, children and a love of nature. In 2014 I moved back to the Champlain Valley of Vermont. My children are grown and living in the west, but I need to be closer to my mother. I built an energy-efficient, modern home on the shore of Lake Dunmore, Vermont. I live and work here, and share my home with guests on Airbnb. See my complete Curriculum Vitae here.

About Dierdre Gill and her first book, “Outside”

ABOUT THE BOOK: In this gentle picture book fantasy, a child’s world transforms through his hard work, imagination, and persistence. The silences in this little book work to build a gradual escalation of wonderment—from humble snow angel to fairytale castle, complete with a flying dragon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deirdre Gill was inspired to write this, her first story, from her own experiences of playing outside as a child. The outdoors is still a source of wonder and excitement for Deirdre—the place she goes to “see the possibilities” as well as to ski, hike, and bike with her family. She lives in snowy Vermont with her husband, Jason Chin, also a children’s book author and artist, and their son. After the release of Outside in Fall 2014, she went on to release her second book, Trains Don’t Sleep, in Spring 2017.

About the Author: Jason Chin

Jason Chin is the author and illustrator of the acclaimed books Gravity, Island: A Story of the Galapagos, Redwoods and Coral Reefs.  He has also illustrated Water is Water, by Miranda Paul.

Jason grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, and studied illustration at Syracuse University.  In 2001 he moved to New York City and found a job at a children’s bookstore in Manhattan.  It was through co-workers at the store that Jason found his way to his current publisher, Roaring Brook Press.

Jason’s latest book, Water is Water has just been published, and has earned multiple starred reviews.  His previous book, Gravity was a 2014 Gryphon Honor Book (from the Center for Children’s Books) and Island: A Story of the Galapagos, won the 2013 Gryphon Award.  His earlier books, Redwoods and Coral Reefs, also received critical acclaim:

·        2010 FOCAL Award (Redwoods)

·        Horn Book – 2009 Fanfare Title (Redwoods)

·        Booklist – Starred Review (Redwoods)

·        Publishers Weekly – Starred Review (Redwoods)

·        Washington Post – Best of 2009 list (Redwoods)

·        Amazon.com – Best of 2009 list (Redwoods)

·        Junior Library Guild Selection (Redwoods)

·        Society of Illustrators Orginal Art Exhibition (Coral Reefs)

·        Kirkus Reviews’ Best of 2011 list. (Coral Reefs)

·        Junior Library Guild Selection (Coral Reefs)

Jason lives in Vermont with his wife, Deirdre Gill, and their children.

About the Author: Phoebe Stone

Phoebe Stone is the only painter in a family of writers. She spent her childhood drawing and telling stories as she drew. "I was always painting and drawing," she says, "but, I learned to write by osmosis, by hearing my parents read their beautiful work."

Before concentrating on creating books for children and young adults, Phoebe had a very successful career established as a fine art’s painter. During that time, she received two Vermont Council on the Arts Fellowships in painting and exhibited her work in many museums and galleries all around New England and New York City, and influenced many New England artists with her unique, brightly colored narrative and metaphorical style. "I was already working in sequences," she says, "but at some point I began to realize that I could combine my love for images and words in picture books for children."

Phoebe Stone’s novel Romeo Blue was published June 1, 2013. Before publishing, it had already received early praise, including a starred review from Booklist who said her “evocative writing sets time and place beautifully.” Calling it “compelling, and with plenty of heart and soul.”

Phoebe’s novel The Boy on Cinnamon Street, published in February 2012 was named to the Dorthy Canfield Fisher Master List for 2013-2014. It has received four starred reviews including one from Kirkus Review and was selected by Independent Bookstores to be a Winter 2012 Indie Next Kids Pick.

Phoebe’s novel, The Romeo and Juliet Code was published in 2011. It keeps receiving lots of praise and attention, including STARRED REVIEWS from Publishers Weekly and Hornbook. More great reviews have appeared in The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Booklist,The Chicago Tribune and Kirkus.

Phoebe's novel Deep Down Popular, was published in 2008 by Arthur A. Levine Books, Scholastic. A novel for ages 9 and up, it was called "sweet and winning" by Kirkus Reviews. Deep Down Popular also received a starred review and praise from Booklist (read the review here).

Phoebe Stone's first novel published in 2000 All the Blue Moons at the Wallace Hotel, was called"haunting . . . and poetic" by the New York Times and remains a favorite of children and adults alike.

Phoebe's novel Sonata #1 for Riley Red was published in the Fall of 2003. In a review, TheBoston Globe said: "Stone's books speak to the heart of youth -- its frailty, wild ambitions, and promise. Literature doesn't get much better than this."

When the Wind Bears Go Dancing, the first children's book both written and illustrated by Phoebe Stone, was published in the fall of 1997 by Little, Brown and Company to much critical acclaim and attention. Six original pieces of art from the book were included in the exhibit, Telling Stories with Pictures, the Art of Children's Book Illustration, at the DeCordova Museum in the Boston area. The show featured the work of 30 prominent children's book illustrators from the past 25 years. Well-known artists such as Maurice Sendak, Chris van Allsburg, Marc Brown, Edward Gorey and Eric Carle were also featured. Phoebe was selected as one of the new illustrators working in the field today to be included in the exhibit.

When the Wind Bears Go Dancing was also selected by The Society of Illustrators to be included in their Original Art '97 exhibition. The show was held at the Museum of American Illustration in New York City, and featured the original art from the year's best illustrated children's books. Booklist also featured art from When the Wind Bears Go Dancing on the cover of their February 1998 cover. We've had news that When the Wind Bears Go Dancing was aslo published in Korea.

What Night Do the Angels Wander? was Phoebe Stone's second book as both author and illustrator. It was published September 1998 by Little, Brown and Company. The book is best described as a dreamy and poetic personification of the spirit of Christmas. One night each year, following a flurry of celestial preparation, all the angels come together for a single purpose. It is a night of heavenly celebration, one that brings together all the children and animals of the earth. It is a night filled with light. It is a night to hear the angels sing because it's Christmas Eve.

What Night Do the Angels Wander? received a great deal of attention and generated a lot of excitement last fall. It was a November selection of the Children's Book-of-the-Month Club and was featured on the December cover of theHearthsong Catalog. You can read what Kirkus Reviews had to say about this new book.

Phoebe's picture book: Go Away Shelley Boo, was published book by Little, Brown and Company for fall 1999. It has appeared on the cover of the Hearthsong Autumn catalog and been chosen by the American Bookseller's Association as a "Pick of the Lists". Kirkus Reviews describes Phoebe's drawings as "exhuberant" and writes of the book: "Children will identify with Emily Louise's anxiety about a new neighbor and share her relief when she finally does meet the infamous 'Shelley Boo'…" The Boston Globe called Go Away Shelley Boo! --"totally irresistible."

In God's Name, written by Sandy Sasso and illustrated by Phoebe Stone, is an award-winning book that celebrates multiculturalism as well as nondenominational and nonsectarian religion. First published in 1994, In God's Name is in its fifth printing. A One Spirit Book-of-the-Month Club selection, it still remains at the top of many religious and spiritual book bestseller lists. In God's Name was a finalist in the Hungry Mind Review Children's Books of Distinction Awards, a finalist in the Marion Vannett Ridgeway Awards and part of The Children's Book Councils exhibit, Not Just for Children Anymore, at the 1997 American Booksellers Association Conference.