The Grudge Keeper Book Review

Posted on 27 June, 2014 by Hannah

It was one of those days, I felt grumpy at the world. As a generally easy going person I don’t like those days. The ones where everything someone says seems to be in THAT TONE, the one that sets my teeth on edge and I feel like I have to do what’s right even though my heart isn’t in it. Let me repeat, I do not like those days.

The fact that it’s hard sometimes doesn’t wipe away my responsibility to love others and be kind.

Photo Credit: Scott Beale / Laughing Squid cc

But:

What if every time you felt THAT way you could take THAT complaint to someone who would keep a record of it?
What if every time someone hurt you it went on file?
Would you feel better?

I don’t know about you, but knowing Jesus’ sacrifice has wiped my slate clean is one of the most comforting thoughts to me. Because I am by NO means perfect.

This idea is the whole premise of the book The Grudge Keeper.

I feel like I should say it in a deep announcer voice. “THE GRUDGE KEEPER, by Mara Rockliff and Eliza Wheeler.”

To me it’s the perfect visual for little kids (and big kids like me too).

People in Bonnyripple bring every offense, big or small, to the grudge keeper. A little old man who fills his house with all the complaints, and wrongs, done in the town. Got a problem? Bring it to the grudge keeper.

It’s amazing to watch the papers build up. And — I will not tell you what happens — but when everything comes to a head and people realize they need to forgive, well, there’s a very satisfactory ending. (Resist, ruining the book…)

I think it would be a perfect lead in to talking about grace and how God will wipe our slates clean and get rid of our record of wrongs when we follow him.

That’s why I’m recommending it for the perfect library find, and giving this book a rating of: Buy (do not pass go and do not collect $200 until you do). Just kidding… I’m rating it as one that I will get one day for my bookshelves.

Is there a book you’ve used to teach a lesson to someone younger then you? I’d love to hear about it!

Hebrews 8:12 ESV “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

The Amazon link is an affiliate link.

Don't be shellfish...

Brushes, Studios, and a New Book in Progress!

Posted on 13 June, 2014 by Hannah

Tons of things have been happening between posts lately. Course it helps that there’s so much time between them.

Last month I went to a Bible Forum and got to see several friends and make some new ones. It was a great weekend, but I have to admit nothing much got done on the book writing/illustrating end.

But now I’ve actually been working this week on my next book!

Image from DailySquee

Yup, I finally had an idea that the writing got to the final editing stage while I’ve been sketching some super cute the images for the book. It’s so nice to have everything I work on in one place. So far I have the sketches for 8 pages of the 34 page book.

Which I just realized is basically a quarter of the way there. Wow. Can I say again how pumped I am?

Plus getting my sketches working on paper I also bought some digital brushes from FRENDEN for the art suite Manga Studio 5 (which I finally decided on for a belated b-day present). I’m excited to start inking the images.

Oh, everything’s coming together.

I think these inking brushes will look so much better then what I’ve been producing so far, though my art keeps getting better.

This end of the screen is back to being busy and I’ll be writing more about what the next book will be so stay tuned.

Talk to you soon!

P.S. If you don’t want the hassle of remembering to check back be sure to sign up for my newsletter!

Don't be shellfish...

Picture Book Update

Posted on 20 September, 2013 by Hannah

Well, next month my picture book is coming out and have I been learning a lot about self-publishing lately. I must say there’s more then I ever knew (or expected) to it. It’s been quite a learning experience, including having to redo my art a couple times.

Can anyone tell me why computers decide to randomly loose things?

Yeah, I know it might just be me, but i have to tell you that sometimes I think my computer’s hiding stuff on me.

Anyway. It’s all coming together amid writing, fixing, and twiddling my thumbs while I wait for proofs somehow it’s all getting done.

belongs to Charles Schultz

Don't be shellfish...

When Self-Publishing Gets You Down

Posted on 13 September, 2013 by Hannah

caption mine, photo by mintyfresh

Well, self publishing my picture book – which comes out later this month (Yay!) – has been an exercise in patience and has stretched my knowledge to the max. I’ll admit there were a couple times I wanted to pull my hair out, but in the end it’s been worth it.

Yes I’m still surprised I feel that way. But then it all comes back to how crazy I am about books. And that makes perfect sense.

So what do you do when you feel down about your writing or illustrating?

Watch this cute song by Sue Fliess — seriously it made my day that much better. (Thanks Sue!)

Still down?

Then take a moment and watch Nathalie Lussier’s video on feeling like you should give up.

Feeling better? I hoped you would. That’s one of the best parts about the internet all of us who are in the same boat can connect — an knowing there are people working through the same things I am makes me feel a ton better.

By the way. I misspelled illustrating as luustrating and spell check wants to know if I meant strangulating — creepy how a program can guess how you feel when your computer keeps hanging up.

What helps most when you feel like quitting?

Picture from flickr by mintyfresh.

Don't be shellfish...

4 Illustration Tips I Learned from Cheer Up, Mouse! by Jed Henry

Posted on 16 August, 2013 by Hannah

A librarian friend told me people ask her if they can go into the Children’s section. I want to stand up and shout “yes!” What better place to learn neat things, read thrilling tales, or enjoy great illustration?

Some treasures are hiding in the kids section of your library. Tweet it!

Like this picture book.

Cheer up, Mouse! had me at the cuddly animals, honestly who can resist animals smiling? Okay, maybe you, but not me. Besides I wanted to know one thing.

Why was the mouse sad?

By the end of the book that question wasn’t so important. In my opinion the whole message of this book is what we generally do when someone’s unhappy.

“Do what makes me happy and you’ll be happy too!”

I don’t know about you but I’m guilty of that. Yes all the animals mean well, but the story gently leads you to this conclusion:

Helping a friend is not about what I want, but what they NEED. Tweet it!

Big difference. So necessary.

Since I’m still new to the world of illustrating picture books I’ve been picking up several of them when I go into the library. And here are 4 things I gleaned about illustration from this book:

1. Pictures convey everything — Mr. Henry made every picture count, and to tell the truth your could remove the words and still have a great book that makes an awesome point.

2. Use every inch of your character — The animals use every ounce of their body to tell the story. How? By revealing their emotions in the slight change of the eye, the way the ears sit on the head, even the action line through the body.

3. Intelligent backgrounds — I struggle with backgrounds, but this book simplifies the backgrounds in a way that leaves the story perfectly set with just the right amount of white space. Plenty for the eye to see, but not filled to the gills

4. Small Perspective — Each drawing gave me the feel of being the size of the animals in the book, which just made it more fun to read! It drew my attention to how much the perspective plays in a book.

I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for more books by Jed Henry — have any suggestions of ones to try?

For readers — what got you to pick this book up?

For illustrators — what tip would you draw from this book?

If you want a more in depth (*spoiler warning*) review check out this one at Kirkus.

Cheer Up, Mouse! is Written and Illustrated by Jed Henry, and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. The pictures are not mine, and fully belong to the publisher.
The views are my own and unsolicited.
*The Amazon link is an affiliate link.

Don't be shellfish...

Hannah Kosek

Tag Archives: picture books

The Grudge Keeper Book Review

Is there a book you’ve used to teach a lesson to someone younger then you? I’d love to hear about it!

Brushes, Studios, and a New Book in Progress!

Picture Book Update

When Self-Publishing Gets You Down

So what do you do when you feel down about your writing or illustrating?

Still down?

What helps most when you feel like quitting?

4 Illustration Tips I Learned from Cheer Up, Mouse! by Jed Henry