Starred review from Horn Book

★ BLUE
HORN BOOK - September/October 2018

Where this inventive author-illustrator explored both the palette and politics of the color green in Green (rev. 3/12), Blue finds her sneaking up on us with a story about loss, even if at first we think we are simply in for a celebration of all shades blue—“baby blue, “berry blue”—tucked into a portrait of the happy life of a boy and his dog. But as we explore blues both objective (“sky blue,” as the boy releases balloons into the air) and personal (“my blue,” where the boy and dog play tug-of-war with a towel), we slowly understand that the boy is growing, and so is the dog…“old blue.” As in Green, small die-cuts lead from each richly textured double-page spread to the next, always surprising, where the canopy of an umbrella becomes the top of a bird feeder, say, an encapsulation of the larger imaginative leaps being made from spread to spread. When was the last time a concept book made you cry?
- Roger Sutton

 

Starred review for BLUE from School Library Journal

★ BLUE 
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - July 2018 (starred review)

K-Gr 3–In her companion to Green, Seeger follows the lives of a boy and his dog, Blue. Beginning with the sleeping toddler and his puppy accompanied by the words “baby blue,” the pair is shown growing up together and sharing experiences through all seasons and in all weather. Their various activities include blueberry picking, chasing butterflies, taking snowy walks, and frolicking in the ocean. An azure bandana appears on almost every page, sometimes worn by the boy and sometimes by his dog. The pictures and words will appeal to readers’ emotions, including delight, contentment, exasperation, and profound sadness when the youth is pictured holding his elderly dog for the last time. Precisely placed die-cuts lead readers to the next page and the next illustration depicting the pair’s devotion. Short, rhyming couplets consisting of two words each scan well and are skillfully conveyed by the acrylic paintings on canvas: “quiet blue/silly blue/stormy blue/chilly blue.” 

VERDICT: Though there is sorrow, it is followed by joy in this touching tribute to a heartwarming relationship that will engage readers of all ages.

- Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library WI

Starred review for BLUE from Kirkus

★ BLUE 
KIRKUS - July 15, 2018 (starred review)

This companion to Seeger's Caldecott Honor book Green (2012) explores a fresh color's visual and metaphorical permutations. Seeger unfolds the entwined lives of a white boy and a golden Lab, from baby- and puppy-hood through a series of poignant transitions. Cleverly placed die cuts and rhymed, two-word phrases (set in ever crisp Helvetica Neue bold) anchor each double-page spread. To her many-hued blues, some thick with impasto, Seeger adds yellow, sienna, crimson, and green in scenes that transit fluidly among interiors and natural tableaux exploring the sea, a stormy night, a sun-dappled park, and more. At "baby blue," puppy and toddler sleep among blue toys, sharing a small square of blue cloth—a future neckerchief they'll trade throughout. For "berry blue," boy pulls dog and a berry basket in a red wagon. The phrase "maybe blue" perches on a blob of yellow in the child's vivid self-portrait with pet. (The dog traverses the picture, tracking yellow paint across the deep-blue ground, its die-cut paw prints mixing to make green.) At "very blue" the pair cavorts among blue butterflies, which fill the foreground in huge, delightful proximity. Later scenes depict the Lab's inevitable aging, with the boy sitting ("so blue") on a dock at sunset, his body bent in grief. Last, another transition: meeting a brown-skinned girl and her young sheepdog, the blue scrap now tucked in the teen's back pocket. Sumptuous, stunning, and heart-stirring. (Picture book. 3-7) 

Starred review for BLUE from Booklist


★ BLUE 
BOOKLIST - July 1, 2018 (starred review)

In this companion to her Caldecott Honor Book Green (2012), Seeger reflects on the many shades and emotions suggested by this pigment. “Baby blue” depicts a sleeping toddler and puppy sharing a blue blanket. A page turn reveals a slightly older preschooler and his dog collecting “berry blue” fruit. A child’s painting of a boy and dog, marred by paw prints, is captioned “maybe blue.” In later spreads, both youngster and pooch mature, sparking adventures that involve running into the waves (“ocean blue”), camping out (“quiet blue”), and a snowy walk (“chilly blue”). Eventually, of course, “old blue / true blue” passes away, leaving the teen “so blue,” until he meets a girl with her own pup, “new blue.” While story takes a prominent role in this concept book, Seeger has not neglected the artistic details that distinguished her work. The acrylic-on-canvas paintings exhibit a range of styles: from playful (“silly blue”) to contemplative (“midnight blue”) to gently combative (“my blue,” in which boy and mutt each tug at the baby blanket). As in Green, strategically placed die-cuts help to connect the spreads, previewing important features of the next illustration. A story full of heart, this works on many levels, assuring satisfying discoveries with repeated viewings. 

— Kay Weisman

Fun times at ALA 2018!

It was so much fun to debut BLUE at ALA in New Orleans. Here are some photos from the weekend...

(at the Newbery/Caldecott banquet with Emily Feinberg, Neal Porter, Jason Chin)

(at the Newbery/Caldecott banquet with Emily Feinberg, Neal Porter, Jason Chin)

(with Yuyi Morales)

(with Yuyi Morales)

(with Philip Stead)

(with Philip Stead)

(with Matthew Cordell and Shane Evans)

(with Matthew Cordell and Shane Evans)

(with Sue McCleaf Nespeca)

(with Sue McCleaf Nespeca)

Book Expo 2018, NYC

Book Expo in New York City was so much fun today.

Got to sign tons and tons of books and meet so many wonderful teachers, librarians, parents, children, and friends.

So excited to share BLUE!.

Thank you to everyone at Macmillan Children's for everything!

with Matthew Cordell

with Matthew Cordell

Irma Black and Cook Prize Awards 2018

It was an honor to deliver the keynote speech at the Irma Black Award/Cook Prize ceremony at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Special thanks to Cindy Weill for organizing an incredible event, and congratulations to all the award recipients! 
(photos by Cheryl Simon)

11.jpg
22.jpg
33.jpg
55.jpg

Amazing China Trip!

Recently, I was so fortunate to have spent almost a month in China, speaking at the Pudong and Puxi American Schools in Shanghai, visiting my 21st Century/Macmillan publisher in Beijing, and appearing at the incredible Shanghai Book Festival.

At the American schools, I had an absolute blast working with the children. An extra special thank you to Kimbra Power and Beth Rohrbeck for making sure every day was a joy. As a huge added bonus, I was able to spend some extended quality time with my good friend, author Chris Crutcher.

And everyone at 21st Century/Macmillan couldn't have been nicer. Jon Yaged (President of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group), Kristin Dulaney (Executive Director of Subsidiary Rights), and I had such a wonderful time. We visited the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, and had countless amazing meals. 

Here are just a few photos from this most memorable trip...

IMG_5388.jpg
IMG_5910.jpg
IMG_3130.jpg
IMG_5401.jpg
IMG_3139.jpg
0501D194-650D-4FCB-B077-5498C760985D-833-00000043BE493925_tmp.jpg
IMG_6204.jpg
IMG_6069.jpg
IMG_5635.jpg
IMG_5565.jpg

Plum Creek Festival was a Blast!

What a wonderful time was had by all at the fabulous Plum Creek Festival, in Seward, Nebraska.

It was so much fun to hang out with so many friends, including Melissa Sweet, Philip Stead, Matthew Cordell, Kadir Nelson, Brandon Mull, Christian Robinson, Tad Hills, Jenni Holm, Matthew Holm, Lauren Castillo, Henry Cole, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Joan Bauer, and the absolutely amazing Patricia MacLaughlin. 

Special thanks to Dylan Teut for making all of us feel so welcome, and for organizing this incredible event. He and his colleagues are absolutely wonderful.

22140984_10214733671880657_6384842004716218008_n.jpg
22050962_10212614325971161_2089686878469605175_o.jpg
22050111_10212629611153281_1837464625615431103_n.jpg
22221622_1493535677433147_7551630599985670511_n.jpg

ILA 2016

Great fun meeting so many librarians and teachers at ILA in Boston. Shout out, for an amazing job, to Lucy Del Priore and Katie Halata at Macmillan, and Deborah Wooten and Amy Broemmel at ILA. And an added bonus was getting to hang out with my good friends, Steve Sheinkin, Candy Fleming, and Jack Gantos. Love these guys.❤️

Uniondale School Rocks!

Had a wonderful time this week with 144 utterly well-behaved, attentive students, and the amazing Dr. Brenda Williams and her staff at the truly special new PreK school in Uniondale, New York.