We are thrilled to share with you that our book GRANDMOTEHR THORN received a 2018 Anna Dewdney Read Together Award Honor. We are honored to be listed with the other finalists. Thank you, CBC!
Interview Alert: Katey Howes
We love creating connections not just with authors and illustrators on books, but between authors of different books. Click here to read author Lauri Fortino's interview with author Katey Howes.
What a Weekend: Celebrations for Grandmother Thorn!
We had a whirlwind weekend finally meeting the author of Grandmother Thorn, Katey Howes, and celebrating the release with her and illustrator Rebecca Hahn. The weekend started Friday when we all met at the Portland Japanese Garden, fitting for the setting of this beautiful book! We followed that up with two packed events at Powell's and Green Bean Books on Saturday and Sunday.
If you haven't seen Grandmother Thorn, request it from your library, shop at your local independent bookstore, or buy it online!
And enjoy these photos from a memorable weekend.
Grandmother Thorn Celebrations
We are beginning a few weeks of celebrations for the release of Grandmother Thorn, beginning with a book launch party hosted by Katey Howes at the Crosswicks Library in Crosswicks, NJ. Check out how beautiful everything turned out!
And, if you're in the Pacific Northwest, join us this weekend for an event at Powell's and Green Bean Books.
GRANDMOTHER THORN on sale today!
About the Book
Grandmother Thorn treasures her garden, where not a leaf, twig or pebble is allowed out of place. But when a persistent plant sprouts without her permission, Grandmother Thorn begins to unravel.
“Her hair became as tangled as the vines on her fence. Her garden fell into disrepair. One morning, she did not rake the path.”
A dear friend, the passage of seasons, and a gift only nature can offer help Grandmother Thorn discover that some things are beyond our control, and that sweetness can blossom in unexpected places.
Rebecca Hahn’s detailed multimedia illustrations capture the intricate beauty of nature and bring the rural Japanese village and its inhabitants to life in this folktale style story by debut author Katey Howes.
About the Author/Illustrator
Katey Howes loves connecting kids with the natural world through exploration, art, and science. On weekends, you might find her camping with her Brownie troop, curled up under a blanket with a stack of books, or discovering a new museum with her husband and three daughters. After ten years as a physical therapist, Katey now writes full time from her cluttered basement office. Grandmother Thorn is her first picture book, inspired by an epic battle with an unruly raspberry bush. You can connect with Katey online at kateyhowes.com or follow her on Twitter @kateywrites.
Rebecca Hahn lives in a skinny blue house in Portland Oregon with her husband, son, and one lonely gerbil (it’s a long story). Each page of this book was meticulously painted, sewn and crafted by hand. Rebecca’s artwork has appeared in numerous shows and publications around the world. Visit her online at www.rebeccahahn.com
Reviews
This well-crafted take offers a gentle lesson of stewardship and living in peace with nature. Teachers and parents will appreciate its story, and readers of all ages will delight in its appealing design. -School Library Journal
Beautifully illustrated with the distinctive artwork of Rebecca Hahn, "Grandmother Thorn" is an impressively original picture book story by Katey Howes that is especially commended for children ages 5 to 7 -- and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family, elementary school, and community library collections. -Midwest Book Review
It’s a quiet, visually arresting reminder that compromise has its benefits. -Publishers Weekly
Review for Grandmother Thorn
Interior artwork from Grandmother Thorn
With just about two weeks until the release of Grandmother Thorn we were pleased to find this review in the print edition of School Library Journal:
In this parable like story, nothing disturbs Grandmother Thorn’s well-tended garden. With eyes narrowed and sharply etched frown lines, she maintains every leaf and pebble in its proper place. Grandmother Thorn values tidiness and symmetry above all else, ripping out weeds and chasing away birds with her gravelly voice and rake raised high. The only crack in her well-ordered life is her friendship with Ojiisan (“grandfather” in Japanese), who walks with a slow, shuffling gait and provides her with sweets and good conversation. Knowing her fondness for sweets, he send s a berry peddler her way, but Grandmother Thorn chases him away when he breaks off one of her blooms. One stray berry takes root in the garden, and though Grandmother Thorn battles the stubborn off-shoot, it reappears each day. The woman falls ill, and in her absence, Ojiisan tends the garden. When she returns, the berry plant sports colorful fruit, and birds, squirrels, and bunnies have moved in. Grandmother Thorn has a change of heart. Hahn’s impressive eye-catching illustrations with intricate designs and shapes dominated by strong lines give the pictures a layered look. Intriguing sewn and painted patterns and details enhance the story, with its Japanese setting and phrases.
VERDICT This well-crafted take offers a gentle lesson of stewardship and living in peace with nature. Teachers and parents will appreciate its story, and readers of all ages will delight in its appealing design. -Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Review for Grandmother Thorn: "impressively original"
Many thanks to Midwest Book Review for their review of Grandmother Thorn:
Grandmother Thorn treasures her garden, where not a leaf, twig or pebble is allowed out of place. But when a persistent plant sprouts without her permission, Grandmother begins to unravel. "Her hair became as tangled as the vines on her fence. Her garden fell into disrepair. One morning, she did not rake the path." A dear friend, the passage of seasons, and a gift only nature can offer help Grandmother Thorn discover that some things are beyond our control, and that sweetness can blossom in unexpected places. Beautifully illustrated with the distinctive artwork of Rebecca Hahn, "Grandmother Thorn" is an impressively original picture book story by Katey Howes that is especially commended for children ages 5 to 7 -- and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to family, elementary school, and community library collections.