The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow

Monday, November 24, 2014

Monday's Riddle: A Passing Wind..

Hello Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? You're in for a real treat this week, if you can stand it. ; ) ~ F

Naturally, I shall pass, like a star releasing gas. I gurgle and burble, then chime right in, brewing magic from within. Cast as vulgar by those deemed fit; I'm even finer once I'm lit. The scent I carry isn't the show, it's the way I resonate high to low. Not a flautist, but surely the same- for mine is a subtle take on the name. A frenchman gave a bang for a buck. He knew how to tune me, and the melody stuck. I'm like an instrument, but I've got flourish; making music with the source you nourish. A fleeting wind come up from below, bringing fun to the whole, silly show.

What am I?

I gave you a clue!

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Friday, November 21, 2014

2014 UCONN Children's Book Fair

From left: Stephanie Robinson, Florence Minor, Jessica Haight, Barbara McClintock, Wendell Minor, Judy Schachner

We had an amazing time at the 2014 Children's Book Fair! It was wonderful to see everyone excited about books and interested in learning about the creative forces behind them. The day was packed with inspiration, enough for any bookworm to feast!

This week our theme has been children's picture books, and today we're whisking you away, right to their source... Bon Appetit!

A few highlights from the book fair...

It's always such a pleasure to hear Barbara McClintock speak. Her work has a measure of quality that is rarely seen, and the attention to detail can't help but bring the scenes to life. Her illustrations wrap around the words like magic, telling the story through a lens of imagination.We were happy for the chance to listen to her talk about her journey becoming a children's book illustrator, which is unbelievable! We'll be featuring Ms. McClintock's latest children's books Where's Mommy and My Grandfather's Coat in December, so be sure to check back. For those of you interested in learning how to become a children's book illustrator, you won't want to miss out on this exclusive peek into the life of a brilliant artist and a lovely person.

My Grandfather's Coat

From left: Anika Denise, Stephanie Robinson, Christopher Denise

It was awesome to meet Anika and Christopher Denise. This married couple can really set the scene. Anika is the writer and Christopher is the illustrator. As a team, they collaborate beautifully, entwining a world of stories that will warm your heart.

We're excited to be featuring this dynamic duo in December, so be sure to check back for an exclusive look into their studio, and find out how the magic is sewn together. We'll be giving away signed hardcover copies of Bella and Stella Come Home and Baking Day at Grandma's.

The campus was buzzing with creativity and the quiet energy only a room full of books can bring. We saw many new titles that we can't wait to read, and our TBR list grew exponentially!

From left: Jessica Haight, Chris Grabenstein, Stephanie Robinson

We also met up with the animated Chris Grabenstein, author of Mr Lemoncello's Library. It was so much fun to learn about the inspiration behind this incredible library, and the eccentric billionaire responsible for its creation. Mr. Grabenstein did an amazing job reading, and we enjoyed listening to his characters come to life.

We'll be hosting Chris Grabenstein in December and giving away a signed hardcover of Mr. Lemoncello's Library.

Books everywhere!

From left: Nora Raleigh Baskin, Stephanie Robinson

One of the highlights of the day was listening to Nora Raleigh Baskin talk about her journey to publication. We both took a lot away from this presentation, as Ms. Baskin's open honesty and personable nature shined through. Her formula for success made a lot of sense, especially the B.I.S (butt in seat) part!

We're looking forward to chatting with Nora Raleigh Baskin in January, and we'll be giving away a signed hardcover copy of Anything But Typical.

We heard Sunday was a madhouse when the author of this diary popped in.

From left: Anna Dewdney, Stephanie Robinson

We also had the pleasure of chatting with Anna Dewdney, author of the llama llama books. This author and illustrator is lovely, and we enjoyed hearing about the sounds llamas make. These books are so cute, you won't want to put them down!

From left: Jessica Haight, Kevin Sherry, Stephanie Robinson

It was very cool to meet Kevin Sherry, author of the The Yeti Files. This author and illustrator is such a fun character, and we enjoyed watching him change into a yeti and sing!

From left: Stephanie Robinson, Natalie Lloyd

We were lucky enough to bump into Natalie Lloyd, who told us about her middle grade book A Snicker of Magic, which we both cannot wait to read. This creative story takes word play to a whole new level, and we're excited to see where the adventure goes. Ms. Lloyd was charming, and she did a wonderful job reading and telling us about her adorable dog, Biscuit. We're looking forward to learning more about her character, Felicity Pickle, and we'll be sure to share our thoughts with you!