KENNETH KRAEGEL

KidLit4BlackLivesRally and One More "Best of" List

6/25/2020

Below is the recording of the KidLit4BlackLivesRally that took place on June 4, hosted by the Brown Bookshelf. Lots of different children's book authors share their thoughts on where we are on race in the USA and how we can move forward. I found it very useful in guiding my own thinking. The rally starts at around 10 minutes into the video.

On a separate note, Wild Honey from the Moon was listed on the Bank Street Best Children's Books of 2020 and given an outstanding merit designation in the 5-8 year old category.

Wild Honey from the Moon Gets a Gold

6/11/2020

Wild Honey from the Moon received a gold award from the Parent's Choice Foundation!

Black Lives Matter, Black Kids Matter

6/8/2020

The AADL Short Story Award Ceremony (from home)

4/18/2020

Here is my talk for the Ann Arbor District Library's short story contest award ceremony. I was really looking forward to meeting all the young writers (3rd - 5th graders) but we were not able to all be together, of course. Instead the AADL recorded the ceremony remotely, including my talk about my creative process. I was able to sit in my studio and show every step, something I can't do as well in front of a group of people. Congratulations to all the participants and to the winners!

Green Pants Now in Paperback!

4/14/2020

The paperback edition of Green Pants is now available! Get it from your local bookseller or at:
IndieBound
or Barnes and Noble
or Target
or Amazon.

Create with Kenneth Kraegel

4/10/2020

Here art is the video series I did with Schuler Books and Nicola's Books. It was a combined effort to reach out to kids and adults during this stay-at-home period. We make an illustration together in five sessions. In the first video we make a frame and talk about using straight edges. In the second video we draw a dog and talk about sketching. In video #3 we talk draw a lot of butterflies and discuss perspective. In the fourth video we talk about and draw foreground and background. And in #5 we address color. Enjoy!

Facebook Live Event with Schuler Books

3/19/2020

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From March 30 - April 3 at 11 AM EDT, I'll be leading a series of mini-art classes with Schuler Books as a Facebook Live Event. We will have a lot of fun! Everyday, I will show how to do one step of an illustration (right now I am thinking of dragons and butterflies) so that by the end of the week we will have created a finished piece of artwork. The sessions will only last around five minutes, but should keep your artists busy for a while after the lesson is over. Each lesson will contain an art tip as well. I'll be updating this post with more details. :)

This is a Book of Shapes

2/19/2020

Announcing This is a Book of Shapes!

Coming September 8, 2020, this 32 page board book has more than just shapes in it, as you might have guessed. Here is how the publisher, Candlewick Press, describes it:

First comes the circle. Then the square and the triangle. Then
the . . . emu pushing a pancake wagon down a hill? What begins as a concept book about everyone’s geometric favorites soon defies expectations with a series of funny and imaginative twists. Award-winning author-illustrator Kenneth Kraegel pairs a deadpan text with simple wood-grained shapes, interspersed with vibrant illustrations of animals engaged in hilariously absurd pastimes. Each page turn builds on the delicious anticipation the contrast creates to make this a unique and rollicking story-time hit.

More on this to come!

Nice Reviews for Wild Honey from New York

2/3/2020

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Here is a nice review of Wild Honey from the Moon from the New York Times:
Kraegel’s (“Green Pants”) warm, offbeat tale is divided into seven chapters, great for parsing out over a week’s bedtime reading....The enchantment and adventure just keep multiplying.

And here is a nice review from the Buffalo News:
A mother shrew is willing to go to the moon and back to cure her sick young son in this whimsical, sweet story with delicate and distinctive illustrations by a self-taught artist....In lyrical and humorous style, Kraegel spins storyteller magic....

Upcoming Events and an Interview

1/21/2020

butterfly study for Wild Honey from the Moon

Here is an interview I did with author, illustrator and professor Elizabeth Dulemba for her blog. There are a lot of pictures! You can see how the idea for the cover evolved into its final form.

And here are a few speaking dates that I know about. More details to follow.
On March 27 or 28, I'll be on a panel at KidLitCon. This event has been cancelled. :(
On April 15 and 17, I'll be speaking at the Festival of Faith and Writing. On the 15th I'll be leading a workshop on writing picture books and on the 17th I'll be talking about Wild Honey from the Moon and how the circumstances in my life unintentionally guided the storyline. This event has been postponed to April 7-10, 2021.
On September 25-27 I'll be speaking at the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book This event has been cancelled. :(

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