welcome baby collection at papyrus

Yay! I walked out my back door this morning and discovered FedEx had delivered a mystery box. It was product samples for my Welcome Baby collection at Papyrus! It's a woodland animal theme for baby boy and girl, loosely inspired by the style and art of my book Haiku Baby.

The 13-piece collection is available in stores and on the Papyrus website, in case you want to take a peek or stock up for your next baby shower.

win a hoot owl hoot! game

Post your child's drawing of an owl by Monday, March 19 to Peaceable Kingdom's facebook page to be entered in a random drawing for a Hoot Owl Hoot! game. Click here for more info.

Happy St. Patrick's Day...may the luck of the Irish be with you!

in like a lion

This year has been a blur so far. Lots of good things, just so, SO busy. I do kind of hope March goes out like a lamb. I'm hoping for a lull in April, just in time for spring, to help me catch my breath.

Since last fall, I've been mostly working on my new picture book for Random House, which I will be finished with soon. It's different from anything I've done before—I feel like I've grown so much working on this project. I got over a big writing hump with this book, thanks to an amazing editor who sees things in me that I don't even know are there. And I've evolved my art style and process quite a bit for this book as well. And this book is all kid characters, which I haven't done a lot of. I can't wait to share more, but it's not time yet. Maybe just a snippet of what I have in-progress on my studio wall...

In other book-related news, in January I attended the Kindling Words Vermont writing retreat, focused on the art of creating books for children. Three-time Caldecott winner David Wiesner was the illustrator presenter, so you can guess that was uber inspiring. I also found it so motivating and affirming to connect with other author-illustrators doing the same thing I do. It's nice to feel that sense of community and be able to help each other along the way because we are all in this together. I found that some of the things I've struggled with over the past few years are commonalities, and knowing I'm not alone in this journey makes all the difference.

I'll leave you with some new product I've done for Peaceable Kingdom Press, one of my favorite companies. They plan to feature me on their facebook page this week. Thanks Peaceable Kingdom!

welcome 2012

 Hugs for a happy 2012!

party animals finger puppets!

Just in time for the holidays, the party animals finger puppets I illustrated for Mudpuppy are now available here. I think they would would make great party favors. I had so much fun working on this project...I love the idea that the child's fingers become the animals' legs. Oscar, my real-life dog-friend, even made the cut! WOOF-WOOF! Can't you tell he's a big party animal?

fallin' in love....again

Every year it's the same. Summer winds down, and I get mopey about saying good-bye to warm weather. I hold on desperately to those last glorious, hot, sunny days. Bare feet. Freckled cheeks. Flowy skirts. Fresh-cut grass. Open windows. Cricket chirps. Firefly nights.

Then, whether I like it or not, fall settles in. And "Oh yeah!",  I remember how much I actually love fall and everything that comes with it. Cool, crisp skies. Low, golden sun. Earthy air. Crunchy hikes. Backyard bonfires. Distant drums of the high school band at half-time. Harvest time. Hay rides. Ohio apple-pickin'. Pumpkin patches. Halloweeeeen! Front-yard-maple red against patches of bright blue.

So today, as I do this time every year, I declare Fall as "my favorite and my best" (as Charlie and Lola would say). Always. Forever. That is, until I see the first snowflake...I'm fickle like that about my seasons.

Wishing all of you a leaf-crunchin', apple-munchin', fall-lovin' weekend.

best fan mail EVER

Earlier this week I was working on finishing up a manuscript to send off to my editor, which is always a bit scary for me since I'm less confident about my writing than I am with my art. Isn't it funny (and wonderful) how affirmations seem to come your way just when you need them to? Perfect, unexpected little surprises that you need in a BIG way are the definition (at least in the unofficial Betsy dictionary) of my favorite word: serendipity.

So, I thought I'd share three-year-old Adler's heartwarming "fan mail" to me. I got this letter via her mom and dad's email. Dictation begins:

I love you, Betsy Snyder.
I love Sweet Dreams Lullaby. I like all the pages.
I have the same quilt from my Bubbe like the rabbit's.

How do you feel?
What books do you like?

I live in Pepper Pike.
I live in northeast Ohio, too.

From Adler

So, how could I resist? I immediately wrote back:

Please tell Adler:

Thank you, Adler Indiana.
I LOVE that you love my book!
I also have a quilt, one that my mother made for me. The bunny in the book looks like my pet bunny Lu-Lu.

I feel happy that you wrote me a letter. And I feel hungry because it's time for dinner.
I like books about animals and nature and friends the best.

I live in an old house.
I live in northeast Ohio, too!

From your book buddy Betsy

Thank you, Adler. This was just the motivation and reminder I needed.