Awards...and not winning...

Congrats to the mighty Dan Santat on his Caldecott Medal for "Beekle."

Days like today are hard for most writers and illustrators.  We are happy to see our friends win, but I'm sure that the thought of "Why didn't I win?" goes through everyone's mind.  For me, I know it's no longer a jealous, or angry thought, but more of a clinical, academic thought.

What does the winner do better than me?

What skills does he posses that I don't?

Is it the technique being rewarded, or the content of the image?

Are people impressed with the technical accomplishment of the drawings, or the emotional weight that an image can carry?

Why do some books affect readers more than others?

Is there a style that is currently popular?

Hopefully, one can learn from theses questions, as tough as some of the answers might be.  The other thing that has always made me feel less grumpy on a day like today is numbers.  Thousands of picture books were published this year.  Only a few will win awards.

The truth is, I haven't even released a picture book since 2010's "Furious George Goes Bananas." I wasn't even in the running. I have been working on a few ideas, but haven't been able to find the time to really flesh them out.  Between the Icky Ricky books, and the Fangbone! tv work,  and school visits, I'm plenty busy.

This is a cover sketch/idea for one of my new stories.  Excuse me while I go think...

International Primate Protection League, Pt. 2

Back in December, I published the following post

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The International Primate Protection League is a “grassroots wildlife protection organization” that promotes “the conservation and protection of all nonhuman primates, great and small, around the world.” In other words, they’re good people.
Please, take a few moments to stop by their site and find out more about the IPPL and the great work that they do.

Their September 2010 issue of "IPPL News" features an entire page dedicated to “Furious George Goes Bananas!” There’s even a contest for children to draw George, and they can win a book signed by me! When it's announced, I'll make sure to post the winning entry.



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A few days ago I received the December 2010 issue with the results. Enjoy!

PETA U.K. Furious George Contest

The great people over at PETA U.K. are giving away two signed copies of "Furious George Goes Bananas" to anyone who can "take an existing book title and rename it with an animal twist." Go check it out.

PETA UK---Furious George Contest

I've also talked with the PETA U.S. people and they will hopefully be doing something similar soon. It's a good time of year to give to groups like this. Some people might enjoy having a donation made in their name, rather than getting another DVD or hoodie for the holidays.

International Primate Protection League

The International Primate Protection League is a “grassroots wildlife protection organization” that promotes “the conservation and protection of all nonhuman primates, great and small, around the world.” In other words, they’re good people.
Please, take a few moments to stop by their site and find out more about the IPPL and the great work that they do.

Their September 2010 issue of "IPPL News" features an entire page dedicated to “Furious George Goes Bananas!” There’s even a contest for children to draw George, and they can win a book signed by me! When it's announced, I'll make sure to post the winning entry.

I'm Back

Wow! Has it really been so long since I last posted? Where did the summer go?

Honestly, I know exactly where the summer went. I drew an entire 112 page graphic novel that I hope to show soon. I was either at the draft board drawing or with my family doing fun things like going to Ocean City (NJ), visiting the USS Intrepid and every nature center within an hour’s drive.

In the meantime, the Goon is still saying goodnight…



The Mummy is still running away…



And George is still furious…

"Furious George Goes Bananas!" Live! Behind The Scenes!

As promised, today we wander deep into the black-box jungle for a behind the scenes peek at the talent swinging onto stage in this season’s simian smash, “Furious George Goes Bananas!” Live!

Produced by The Chatham Community Players, it featured the primal playacting of performer Chris Furlong. His hair-raising rendition of the hirsute hero moved the audience to laughter, tears, and eventually further from the stage. His chest-beating bravura brought the house down in a furry and ferocious tour–de-furiousness!

As writer/director/illustrator/producer/stage technician, Michael Rex, said of his star “He monkeyed around real good! He’s a top-shelf trooper!” On the flip side, Rex denies having said, “He got the part because he had the suit!” while stepping out for an early morning donut break.

More on the fur suited Furlong! He’s been swinging around on stage for many, many years and is now goes bananas as a Teaching Assistant at the NJ FILM SCHOOL!



This pic shows the massive sets that Rex and co. slaved over for their two show run of “Furious George Goes Bananas!” Live! In the inset, is thesp Furlong having a rare, out-of-mask experience.

"Furious George Goes Bananas" Live! The Opposite of Avatar!

On Saturday, June 12th, I had a dream come true. With some fantastic help, I put on a play of one of my books at The Chatham Playhouse, home of the Chatham Community Players, in New Jersey. I had done many shows there as a child, and cut my acting teeth on that very stage!

We performed an awesome, amazing, and exhilarating version of my latest book, “Furious George Goes Bananas!” It was as if the illustrations walked right off the page and onto center stage!

We went all out on the production! No prop was too intricate! No costume was too outlandish! No spectacle was too elaborate! The following shots are from the first of two packed performances.

Which is the book?

Which is the stage show?

I dare you to tell the difference!

Here, in an early pivotal scene, the Man in the Funny Hat lures George with a pile of bananas! Such authenticity!





Midway through the story, the drama heats up, and George gets furious at a construction site! Such vision!





In the penultimate scene, George is taken advantage of by a scientist! Such pathos!





Laughs! Heartache! Whimsy! Histrionics! It had it all!

Stay tuned for more!

Live Action Preview...

Here's a shot from the past weekend. The "Live Action Furious George Goes Bananas" went over very well, and was lots of fun. I'll more pics in a few days, as I have to get them sorted. We had a full gorilla costume, and made a few additions to it to make it look more like George in the book.

Today I'm banging out a cover for my next book, which I hope to announce soon.

Furious George Live!

Heads up! I am doing a "live" version of "Furious George Goes Bananas" this Saturday at the Chatham Community Players in my home town, Chatham NJ. The show is coming together very quickly and will be a little rough around the edges, but I do know that we've got a guy in a gorilla suit! What could be better? Shows are at 11:30 and 1:30. I'll also be doing a "live" reading my first book, 1997's "The Painting Gorilla." (Sadly, it went out of print about two years ago.)



Please stop by for the show and to say hello. I'll also be siging copies of "Furious George."

Furious George Review #4

Betsy Bird, who Forbes Magazine called “the most powerful blogger in kids’ books,” wrote an incredible review of “Furious George Goes Bananas” back in January. I was waiting for the book to come out to post the review, however, Betsy’s gigantic Blog is migrating, and the review is not currently available. However, she kindly put up a copy at Amazon.

“There is no feeling in the world quite like returning to a picture book you loved as a kid, only to discover how weird or disturbing that book was all along. A lot of adults experience this when they first have kids of their own and want to read them the books they used to love. The green elephant in Babar. The unapologetic nudist in In the Night Kitchen. And then there's Curious George. That happy little monkey has long since had his adventures adapted into movies, television shows, spin-offs, and even iPod apps. But when you go back and reread the original stories you may find yourself more than a little perturbed by what he experiences. Michael Rex sure was…”

Read the rest here…

Thanks Betsy!

Forbes

Betsy’s Blog

BookPage Interview

I was recently interviewed by BookPage, which is a free review journal with a circulation of 400,000. As you can see, they inteview the author/illustrators in a really fun way. It was great to be asked to do this, as it shows strong support for Furious George. This is a scan from the actual paper, you can click it to see it larger. I think the link will be up soon.

Furious George in Parenting Magazine

Here's a tiny review of "Furious George" in Parenting Magazine (School Years)

Furious George Review#2

Here's another nice review, this time from Kirkus Reviews...

"George, a very large ape, lives happily in the jungle until a man in a funny hat traps him. The man in the funny hat sells George to a zoo, but George doesn’t like being locked up. George goes bananas. The man in the funny hat finds him only to sell him to a construction crew. George works hard, but the foreman doesn’t give him water. When a brick falls on George’s head, George goes ape! Next the man in the funny hat sells George to a Broadway director. When the audiences laugh at him. George gets furious again. When the man in the funny hat sells George to a scientist who wants to shoot him into space, George finally uses his brain for a little creative revenge and a quick trip back to his beautiful jungle. Rex’s latest parody of a classic (Runaway Mummy, 2009, etc.) will tickle the funny bone with its mix of slapstick and deadpan silliness. The bright, digitally colored pencil illustrations hit just the right note of goofy mayhem to please fans of that OTHER George, especially those with an eye for detail. (Picture book. 4-7)"

—Kirkus, 4/1/10

Signing, May 15!

Furious George Goes Bananas will be in stores on May 13!



I'm doing a reading and signing on Saturday, May 15 at "The Voracious Reader," located at 1997 Palmer Ave, Larchmont. NY. I'll be there from 2:00 to 3:00.
The Voracious Reader





Here's a review of "Furious George" from Publisher's Weekly!

Furious George Goes Bananas: A Primate ParodyMichael Rex, Putnam, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-399-25433-8
Rex, creator of the Margaret Wise Brown parodies The Runaway Mummy and Goodnight Goon, takes on the Rey franchise in this escapade. His protagonist’s resemblance to Curious George is only in the details, since Furious George is a huge purple gorilla captured by an opportunist in a pith helmet. The “man in the funny hat,” a craven alter ego to Rey’s fatherly Man in the Yellow Hat, does not care for his captive. He peddles George to a zoo, construction site, Broadway show, and lab, growing richer by the sale. In a running gag that takes aim at the Rey books, he repeatedly refers to Furious George as a monkey, something each buyer attempts to correct. “[H]e ain’t a monkey, he’s an ape,” notes the construction foreman. “A monkey got a tail.” (Like Curious George, Furious doesn’t have one.) Enraged at being locked up, having to lay bricks, etc., Furious George “goes bananas” several times, though Rex makes it clear he’s not destructive by nature--he just wants to get home, which he eventually accomplishes. Rex preserves Rey’s comic-strip palette and earnest tone, while humorously delivering a message about avarice. Ages 5–8. (May)

Halloween, maybe 1972

Well, "Furious George Goes Bananas" will be out in a few weeks. It seems like just yesterday that I was drawing it, but it was really this time last year. I'm swamped with work right now, moving along on a 112 page Graphic Novel dummy, and wrapping up my Grad School thesis. They're both due on the same day. Anyway, here's a picture of me dressed up for Halloween. Like the title said, it might have been '72. I really don't remember.

Furious George Goes Bananas

Hey! Look out! It's only about two months until Furious George lands in your bookstores!

2010...The Year We Make Books!

Happy New Year! I am finally up and running for 2010, and have a ton of work ahead of me. First up, is completion of the artwork for “My Dog Jack is Fat” written by Eve Bunting. While working on that, I’m writing the first of my new three book series for Putnam. I can’t really talk about the content yet, as contracts have yet to be signed, but they are going to be very fun, and feature this guy---



In May, “Furious George Goes Bananas” comes out, again from Putnam. It’s my third, and what may be my final, parody. I’m really happy with it, and, like “Goodnight Goon” it’s a simultaneous send-up and homage. My Goal is to post out here at least once a week! Have a great 2010.