Riikka's new book is out! In Finland (alas not U.S.)

Well, on a cheerier note, my friend Riikka tells me her new book is out in Finland, the sequel to her first story, Nokikätkön ritarit ja Kuuhiisi, or The Knights of the Sooty Nook and the Moon Troll. The new book's title is Vaahteratuvan väki ja vaarallinen peto, I have no idea what that is in English. Yet. Riikka tells me that a copy is on its way.

So, to celebrate I scanned the picture she drew of Arrow when she was here last March.

A plot summary and list of chapters for Riikka's first book can be read here.

UPDATE: I posted about Riikka's new book on my other blog by mistake! Here's the link: madam-pince.blogspot.com/2009/06/on-mood-wolves-and-drawing.html

2008 Reading Rainbow Contest Winners Announced

The 2008 Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest winners have been announced!

You can now read the story that moved me so much, Adam Pace's story, Sweetcakes [pdf], which won in the Kindergarten category.

Congratulations to the winners, and to all of the young writers who sent in such excellent writing!

Blog of book marvels, a digital curiosity cabinet

No, that's not a colossus from Burning Man.

Someone identified only as "peacay" (PK?) is posting digital images of 15th - 19th-century book illustrations on his blog, BiblioOdyssey. The range of images is part of the fun: Spanish zodiacs, 17thC caricatures (see left), Norse Eddas, fashion lampoons, emblemata, theater sets, and on and on.

Give your eyes and imagination a joyride; this is an exceptional collection of historical book art.