Mondays with Mira reviews 2 of Salina Yoon's Bear Books and super fun quiz with prizes

There's nothing like the excitement of gearing up toward a new course and our upcoming Craft and Business of Illustrating Children's Books is especially exciting. We have more outrageously fabulous major award-winning contributors than I could ever have imagined including the wonderful Salina Yoon, Lane Smith, Ashley Wolff, Paul O. Zelinsky and so many more. I'm co-teaching it with Kristie Radwilowicz who designs and art directs books for both Farrar Strauss and Giroux and Roaring Brook Press, two awesome imprints from Macmillan. In case you're curious about Kristie, here's a wee informal video of her (1 minute). She really is a delight and despite looking 16, knows her stuff.

Meanwhile, I'm having an "I Love Salina Yoon Day". If you've ever had the good fortune to meet her in person, you'll understand why her books are so successful. Besides her talents and skills, Salina's books reflect her warmth, smarts, open-heartedness and quirky personality. In this 8 minute video, I look at 2 of Salina's books from her bear series (she tends to work in series) and while I talk a little about the stories, I mostly focus on the art and what she does that makes her images uniquely hers as well as what makes them work!! Unfortunately the color came out a little florescent so bear that in mind (pun intended) and know that the colors are much more attractive in real life.

Oh and just a quickie heads up - if you sign up between now and September 7th sign up for the Craft and Business of Illustrating Children's Books, we'll teach you how to draw (if you need that), how to illustrate board books through graphic novels, and how to take your work to the next level and sell it in the contemporary market. You'll also receive FOUR FREE BONUS COURSES (our most ever) with a year's access each plus the early bird special price. Here's the link!

Finally we have a really fun quiz/giveaway with great prizes in honor of the new course right here.

Do come join the fun and we'd love your comments below. In fact share about the quiz and comment below to win a free social media course!! WAHOO!!