Unicycle Dad Book Launch: Red Balloon Bookshop March 23, 2024

Red Balloon is excited to welcome local illustrator Alicia Schwab for a special storytime in honor of her new picture book, Unicycle Dad!

Sarah cooks, takes care of her brother, and does homework on her own, while her single dad is at work or school. Based on the author's childhood, Unicycle Dad shares the inherent struggles and quiet joys of a single-parent, impoverished household. Join Alicia Schwab for a read-aloud of Unicycle Dad, a drawing demonstration, and snacks!

To attend: This event is open to the public, but registration helps us when considering spatial constraints. You can register through March 23, 9:00am and order a copy of the book below. Extra copies of Unicycle Dad will be available for purchase during the event.

Signing Guidelines: Following the event, Alicia Schwab will sign and personalize copies of the book. If you would prefer not to stay for the signing portion, Red Balloon is happy to have your books signed and personalized for you and will contact you when they're ready to be picked up.

Accessibility: Red Balloon Bookshop is wheelchair accessible and has a handicap parking spot directly behind our store. If you have a disability or medical condition and have questions about or need other specific accommodations, please email events@redballoonbookshop.com or call 651-224-8320.

Alicia Schwab (a-LEE-sha SHH-wab) (she/her/hers) is an award-winning illustrator of books in multiple genres. Alicia is an advocate of autism and learning differences, and specializes in books about characters who conquer adversity. She speaks on various topics at bookstores, schools, libraries, conferences, and book festivals.

Sarah Hovorka is an author of picture books, novels and short stories for all ages. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the California Writers Club. Sarah lives with her husband and her three sons in California.

#pb24galore Sarah Kurpiel

Please congratulate Sarah Kurpiel from the PB24Galore Team! Sarah's picture book A LITTLE LIKE MAGIC is coming fall 2024. Follow us @pb24galore for news and giveaways. linktr.ee/pb24galore HOORAY, Sarah!

SUN SAILOR NEWSPAPER

YAY! We have an article in the local SUN SAILOR paper covering Minnetonka, Excelsior, Eden Prairie, Plymouth, Wayzata, St. Louis Park and Hopkins, Minnesota.

https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/free/plymouth-author-contributes-to-dual-volume-picture-book-about-pandemic-life/article_89a8fe90-0a30-11ee-b0fc-3b8c74887e72.html

The House We Sheltered In / The Masks We Wore is a dual volume: two stories that start from each end of a flippable book. Each poem begins at the cover and ends in the middle of the book.

Three Daughters Press, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-9906197-9-6

Written by poet and author Freeman Ng and illustrated by a team of 14 artists:

Alicia Schwab, Annie Kuhn, Brigitte West, Cheryl Ann Warren, Eshanthie Tyner, Gabriela Vega, Haley Grunloh, Jessica Chrysler, Juliana Castro, Rebecca Hoenig, Ruby Michelle, Sara Nintzel, Olivia Pinney, and Wendy Roble.

Buy this book!

ChildrensIllustrators.com

I’m having a good month at ChildrensIllustrators.com! Their February newsletter theme is “bear”, and they highlighted my picture book, THE MUKLUK BALL written by Katharine Johnson, illus. by AliciaSchwab. Published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

Also, my art for an upcoming SCBWI IA/MN conference featured this week (Feb. 6—12, 2022) on the ChildrensIllustrators.com homepage!

Commission: "Something Old"

I created this piece for a commission for an upcoming IA/MN SCBWI middle grade and young adult (MG/YA) workshop titled, “Something Old”. I am obsessed with mysteries and murder mysteries. My streaming video feed is almost all mysteries. But I also like history. And you know what’s really old and very cool? Egyptian art and artifacts: hieroglyphs, Egyptian canopic jars, towering statues, and other tomb treasures.

To the Edge of Our Galaxy

I was inspired by the James Webb telescope launch to make this art. The telescope was designed to unfold like origami and travel to the outer edge of our galaxy. It is hard to imagine how far away that is. But I wonder what is out there.

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/JWST.html

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/1036600340/nasa-is-launching-a-new-telescope-that-could-offer-some-cosmic-eye-candy

https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/the-long-awaited-james-webb-space-telescope-has-a-big-to-do-list

#Artvsartist challenge

The Art VS Artist challenge is to post eight pieces art you made throughout the year with a photo of the artist. I made much more than eight, but this year I focused on making children's books fiction and nonfiction art. #artvsartist2021 #artvsartist #artvsartist21

WIP for #Huevember

I’m experimenting and playing with color for #Huevember, hues: red through green with an emphasis on magenta. #WIP #painterly #amillustrating #kidlitart #nebula #artistsoninstagram #space #fantasyart

#Cozytober 2021: Leaf Pile

From the picture book, THE MUKLUK BALL, written by Katharine Johnson and illustrated by me!. “All autumn Karhu swayed, glided and whirled with his new friends.” —Katharine Johnson, Minnesota Historical Society Press. #Cozytober #Drawlloween2021 #drawlloween #witch #ChildrensBooks #scbwiARTober #kidlitart #artistsoninstagram #amillustrating #portfolio #work #multimedia #artistontwitter #Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October.

#Drawlloween 2021: Witch

October Art prompts. #Drawlloween2021 #drawlloween #witch #ChildrensBooks #scbwiARTober #kidlitart #artistsoninstagram #amillustrating #portfolio #work #multimedia #artistontwitter #Drawlloween is a month-long art prompt during October.

#Cozytober 2021: Baking

Anyone who has visited the North Shore of Minnesota (north of Duluth, MN on Lake Superior) knows you must stop at Betty’s Pies. This image is from my picture book, THE MUKLUK BALL, written by Katharine Johnson for the Minnesota Historical Society Press. #cozytober 2021 #baking #Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October.

“Youngsters led him (Karhu) in the bunny hop.” —Katharine Johnson, The Mukluk Ball

October is magical!

The leaves are changing color. Animals scurry to prep for winter. Pumpkins are carved and lighted. October is magical! http://aliciaschwab.com #scbwiARTober #kidlitart #art #design #artistsoninstagram #inspiration #amillustrating #portfolio #digitalcreators #drawtober #work #digitalart #DigitalArtist #multimedia

STEM/STEAM: Other triggers for earthquakes

Check out the latest seismic activity in central USA.

STEM/STEAM: Ring Ring! Earth is Calling

Did you know, earthquakes can make sound!

Q: On Valentine’s Day what did the Volcano say to the Tectonic Plate?

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

A: “I lava you.”

STEM/STEAM: It's All Our Fault(s)

Q: What do cows make during an earthquake?

A: Milkshake!

STEM/STEAM: Earthquake Book

I feel for the people of Haiti. They were recently hit again by a major earthquake and are suffering. To better understand the situation, I illustrated, designed, and heavily edited an earthquake book from a public domain book to make it an up-to-date STEM / STEAM middle grade book for kids.

IN ONE DAY

On August 25, 2021, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory reported 140 small earthquakes (1 to 3.3). Fortunately, no-one was hurt. But it may indicate that Mount Kilauea will start erupting soon.

THE CARIBBEAN PLATE PUSHES EASTWARD

But earlier on August 14th, 2021 a major earthquake (7.2) struck Haiti. The small country lies on the western end of the island of Hispaniola. Haiti was devastated by an earthquake in 2010 (7.0) from which it still hasn’t fully recovered.

There are two faults in this region of the Caribbean, one is “dominantly strike-slip and the other is a small component of subduction plate.” This strike-slip fault is extra destructive because as the two plates slip past each other they get stuck. However the Caribbean fault continues to push east while the tension increases until it breaks free, (like when you snap your fingers). The people in Haiti are starving and desperate for aid. There’s lots of ways to help. Google “how to help people in Haiti” for suggestions. Educate yourself. It’s always good to learn something new.

Book Birthday!

I’m excited to announce the release of my newest book, TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, by Tara Perron, illustrated/designed by Alicia Schwab. From: Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing ISBN: 978-1-7327706-3-8, release date: May 2020. Order a copy today!

Tara Perron, a Dakota/Ojibwe author, has written an endearing, lyrical children's story about a young Dakota girl (Walks With the Blue Moon Girl) and her Kunsi (grandmother). The grandmother teacher her Takoza (granddaughter) through story while making star quilts and planting and caring for a garden.

Dakota Star Quilt

by Gwen Westerman
South Dakota

Dignity of Earth & Sky statue in Chamberlain, South Dakota; (photo: wikipedia)

“Black Bears and Blueberries Publishing is a Native owned non-profit company that publishes children’s fiction and non-fiction paperback books and ebooks, reading levels K-6, on Native topics serving a regional audience, including the Dakotas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.”

I was hired to tell the story about a loving family through art, working with the publisher and members of the Native American community to ensure my art represents the characters in the best, truest and most meaningful way. I was initially drawn into this beautiful story because of the similarities to my own childhood. I helped my mom and grandmom pick raspberries from the patch, and we grew our own vegetables. My mom canned, froze and preserved food for us to eat all year, and she taught me how to cook. As she made us clothes to wear and quilts for our beds, I also learned to sew. We often had cut fabric pieces around the dining room table, just like in this story. 

From the book, TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL by Tara Perron illustrated by Alicia Schwab. “Then, together they fill the kettle with water and make cedar tea and feast on bread with maple syrup.”

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Baby Quilt

By Sue Broenkow (my aunt)
California

I have never made a quilt, but I admire those who do. Recently, I’ve sewn 100s of cloth face masks to donate to hospitals to supplement their PPE supplies during the Covid19 pandemic.

I hope you enjoy this book TAKÓžA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL as much as I do. Please be kind and do good work.

Stamps!

This is so much fun! Custom made stamps with art foam.