Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish: 100,000 copies sold!

In celebration of Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish selling over 100,000 copies, I thought to post this fun interview with illustrator Debra Ziss. Enjoy!

1. Can you describe your process, Debra?

i usually see something in my head the moment i read the manuscript. then i sit down at the computer and "sculpt" in illustrator. by this i mean that i draw shapes and refine them until they begin to look like something. what i see in my head is NEVER what appears on screen. i'm usually pleasantly surprised by the end result.

2. Want to share an early sketch?

you can see sketches on: debbiedoesdoodles.blogspot.com i posted my original ideas for the book along with some finishes so readers could see the process. Like this:


3. Do you have any totz in your life now?

i sometimes test out my drawings on my "peanut gallery", my friends kids. if they like and understand what i've drawn, i know it's good!

4. Um, do you like to eat fish?

sushi is a personal favorite. good nite fishies!

Thanks, Debra! I love how our work came together. Thanks also to editor Rotem Moscovich and Scholastic. *hugs* And final thanks to everyone who has purchased copies!

Here's one last look at that sweetie pie reading to us:

Rotem Moscovich, MY EDITOR!

One of the very best parts of ALA was meeting my Cartwheel/Scholastic editor Rotem Moscovich! She's a gem and a new friend! Here we are in Millennium Park where we talked about Argentina, board books, and ice cream.


And then she was my host at the Scholastic table during the Newbery Awards Banquet. So much fun! Let it be known she ate her entire cayenne apple. Woohoo!

Here's to meeting fellow creators who challenge you to be your best. May we collaborate on many more books together!

Now, to commission my very own Rotem handbag...

A fantastic signing at Costco!

What is better than finding you are one of the featured items of the day? Woohoo! So glad there's no mention of price per pound. :~)


Then you find there's a lovely display with posters and plants, and folks are walking past with fliers about your work!


Your friends come out and support you AND you meet fantastic new people and sell many, many books!


Besties from different parts of your life meet for the first time!

Your last customer you've never met before is named Lucy, and she just happens to be dressed just like you. All the way down to her teeny tiny Chucks! She's excited about your book that is now her book.


Is she not adorable? Thanks to her sweet folks for allowing me to share her picture.

What a fantastic day. Special thanks to Dave, the South Hill Costco manager; Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Costco Book Buyer; Assistant Buyer for Children books, Melissa McMeekin; and my Scholastic editor Rotem Moscovich!

And of course kudos to all my supportive friends and family. How did I not end up with a photo of Holly Cupala and her purchases? IT WAS A HUGE STACK.

Thanks again, my dear friends!

Press Release for Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish

CO-FOUNDER OF READERGIRLZ AND READERTOTZ CELEBRATES A NEW BOARD BOOK: BEDTIME KISS FOR LITTLE FISH

Author/illustrator Lorie Ann Grover’s new board book for babies is “utterly serene from start to finish,” says Publishers Weekly.

June 1, 2009 (Seattle, Wash.) – readergirlz and readertotz co-founder and author/illustrator Lorie Ann Grover’s new board book Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish has just been released from Scholastic/Cartwheel. Endearingly illustrated by Debra Ziss, the work beautifully expresses soothing images of sea creatures preparing to sleep. A small orange fish instructs:

"Night is dark, baby shark.

Make no fuss, octopus."

Lorie Ann says, “I love the short rhymes offered up by the tiniest fish as he encourages the sea life to go to sleep. Thanks to my editor Rotem Moscovich for realizing the baby fish needs a bedtime kiss as well!”

Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish introduces sea life and adds a quiet calm to babies’ evenings.

About Lorie Ann Grover, Debra Ziss, readertotz, and readergirlz

Lorie Ann Grover is the author of three young adult verse novels (Loose Threads, On Pointe, Hold Me Tight) and three board books (When Daddy Comes Home, Hug Hug!, Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish). http://lorieanngrover.blogspot.com

Debra Ziss is an illustrator and hand lettering artist from New York. Her clients include: Scholastic, Random House, Houghton Mifflin, Grosset and Dunlap, Barnesandnoble.com, The Gap, The Limited, and American Girl Magazine. http://www.debraziss.com

readertotz is a blog which showcases infant-toddler books as important additions to children’s literature. http://readertotz.blogspot.com

readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by five critically acclaimed YA authors. The site is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award; the Association for Library Services to Children, ALA, Great Web Sites Award; and the National Book Foundation’s Innovations in Reading Prize. www.readergirlz.com

Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish and Rotem Moscovich!

Before I post my roundup of Miami, I have to post this!


How cute is that? Thank you to illustrator Debra Ziss! I've seen a few interior spreads and just can't wait to hold the entire book. Launch date is June 1. Title and bubbles will have foil.

And who else do I have to thank? First, my fab agent Elizabeth Harding from Curtis Brown, Ltd. (No photo of Elizabeth. *sigh* We have not yet met face-to-face!)

And then Rotem Moscovich, Associate Editor at Scholastic! She's been awesome to work with through this process. Together we brainstormed the title. Look how adorable she is:

I haven't met her either, but Joan Holub found this photo on Publisher's Weekly for me! She's the best Grouchy Ladybug ever. :~) I hope to work with her on many more projects.

So that's the news for today. *do a little dance*

Yay for an awesome team and a new book coming soon!