Korean Copies

 A happy package this morning:  copies of ZIG in Korean. 

So this must be my name.  So pretty:
 

 

This is my favorite detail.  How well they duplicated my hand-drawn lettering.
  

ZIG reviewed in the NY Times!!!!!

What an incredible surprise today:  Zig is included in the 

NY Times Sunday Book Review.  

I sure got MY magic umbrella today!

SUNDAY BOOK REVIEW | CHILDREN’S BOOKS

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Rites of Spring

By MARIA RUSSO APRIL 22, 2015

New picture books welcome spring weather — even the downpours.

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   CreditFrom "Zig and the Magic Umbrella"

   Zig and the Magic Umbrella
   Written and illustrated by Sylvie Kantorovitz
   Kantorovitz (“The Very Tiny Baby”) takes an umbrella — to a small child, a totally compelling and even magical object — and plays it for all it’s worth. Her Zig is an unusual, blurry-lined creature, blue all over with a rectangular nose and two mushroom-like protrusions on his head. He looks just right holding an umbrella painted in shades of red with squiggly brush strokes. It takes Zig on a journey through the sky and into a zany forest of crazily patterned blue, red and gray trees that look like lollipops, where he joins forces with a sweet yellow bird. By the end of this strangely satisfying book, Zig has used the umbrella in every conceivable way — as a bridge, a hook, a boat, a sword and a lever.
   32 pp. Dial Books. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 2 to 7)

Booklist review

Another very nice review of ZIG.  Booklist of February 15th.  

It's so nice when the reviewer's words echo one's intentions.  

Zig and the Magic Umbrella.

Kantorovitz, Sylvie (Author) , Kantorovitz, Sylvie (Illustrator)

Mar 2015. 32 p. Dial, hardcover, $16.99. (9780803739130).

When is an umbrella not an umbrella? When it is a bridge, a boat, or a lever, among other things. Little Zig, observing a rainy day through his window, is surprised when a red umbrella blows by. He grabs hold of it and is whisked away. He eventually lands near a yellow bird who needs help rescuing a flock of friends trapped in a cave guarded by a giant beast. 

While the umbrella is not so much magic as Zig is innovative in his use of it, the story certainly has its share of charmed escapades. The umbrella as a force for good is echoed in the final pages, when a grateful bird brings Zig a token of his appreciation: a red umbrellalike flower. While not a wordless picture book, the text is minimal. Author and illustrator Kantorovitz lets the rather geometrical illustrations tell the tale. Liberal use of white space makes the primary colors pop, even when there is a lot of activity on a page. A sweet, satisfying adventure for any day, rain or shine.

— Kara Dean

A good ZIG to hold.

YEAH!  My first copy of ZIG.  At the risk of boasting, I'll say it looks pretty darn good.  I am so happy with the printing, the chosen fonts and the layout.  Yes, all that hand-written looking text is a font.  Although there is also some hand-painted onomatopoeia inside.  (The book will be out March 17.  And not a speck of green in the whole book!)

First Review for ZIG!

A happy surprise in my inbox today:  a review of ZIG in Kirkus.  

ZIG AND THE MAGIC UMBRELLA

Author: Sylvie Kantorovitz

Illustrator: Sylvie Kantorovitz

Review Issue Date: December 15, 2014

Online Publish Date: December 6, 2014

Publisher:Dial

Pages: 32

Price ( Hardcover ): $16.99

Publication Date: March 17, 2015

ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-0-8037-3913-0

Category: Picture Books

A magic umbrella transports Zig to a faraway place where adventure and friendship await. All seems blue on this dark and stormy day, until a red umbrella whooshes by Zig's treehouse. The Shrek-eared protagonist grabs hold of the umbrella, which pulls him to an unfamiliar land where dandelion-shaped trees and corallike plants have a mysterious, cheerful allure. When a bird he encounters asks for help, the umbrella becomes a tool to set a trapped flock free. Transformed by Zig's imagination, it becomes a boat, pick ax, bridge and lance. But its real magic lies in the friendship it forges between Zig and the little bird. Kantorovitz's mixed-media collage, full of pattern and texture, creates a vibrant fantasy landscape; the character designs and scenery recall the work of William Steig, Heinz Edelmann and Jill Bliss. For all its seeming strangeness, a comforting and familiar tale about a journey that ends in companionship and contentment. (Picture book. 3-5)

Zig's F&Gs

Yoohoo!  F+G's came today!  (Folded & Gathered.)  Zig looks very good.  I feel great.  Also, in the package, the Penguin catalog for January to April 2015.  Zig will be out in March.  Still over 6 months to go!

ZIG's First Proofs!

Package of first proofs arrived.  YEAH!!!  Things are moving fast.  I am very happy with the proofs.  The colors are beautiful and so true to my originals.  

Following Amy Biancolli's advice:  Celebrate every little thing.  So B and I ate at the Gastropub last night.  YUM!  

Off to production!!!

Zig is "off to production".  A phrase that sings in my ears!

Thank you, Lucia, thank you Lily, thank you Maya!!!  I enjoyed working with you all SO MUCH!  Even though I have illustrated about 25 books, this kind of team work hasn't happened much.

The good thing is that we are due for another book together.  YEAH!

And thank you to my fabulous agent, Linda, who liked Zig right from the start!

ZIG Delivered!!!!!!!

I can hardly believe it!  Zig is done and delivered!!!  Took the whole package to city myself yesterday.  I have to say, the pages looked good all spread out on the huge display tables at Dial.  Doesn't mean I'm off the hook.  Now we have to discuss type and layout.  Still I can clear my work space.  It's been covered with collage material for months!  

work space after delivery and before clean-up

Note about lost art back in the winter:  what felt like a disaster turned out to be a good thing.  On one hand, I am happier with the redone pieces.  (Hard to admit but true.)  On another hand, it pushed me to shake my tendency to inertia and go to the city to visit with my editor/art director team.  I have enjoyed meeting with them all so much!

Good day in NYC

Day in NYC yesterday. 

-Showed 3 new pieces of ZIG to Lucia, Lily and Maya.  They liked the work.  Plus I so enjoyed meeting them. 
-Discovered Forbidden Planet and enjoyed browsing.  Fascinated by the NOBROW publishing Co.  Have my eyes on one of their anthologies.
-Party at Books of Wonder.  Enjoyed meeting owner, Peter Glassman. 
-Had never seen this fabulous and enormous Picasso sculpture (off Bleeker) called Sylvette!

Lost Package

Major set-back:  UPS is reporting my package missing.  I will not know any more till Monday.

Quite desolate at the thought of redoing the 6 spreads I was sending and felt so pleased with.  Worried about keeping the enthusiasm fresh.

On another hand, in the big picture, life goes on and one day, this will not matter anymore.

DEEP BREATH!

First 6 double spreads

 

Just finished the 6th double spread of ZIG.  Bits of paper everywhere, glue, music...  I am having such fun.  Planning to send them to Dial for review before going on with work.  Hope all goes well. 

Talk with Dial.

Talked on the phone with editor Lucia and art director Lily today.  Finally! 
We discussed Zig's art.  I can start on finishes.  YEAH!!!   Goal is now to create a few finishes and send them by end of October for review. 

Merge

Troubling news.  At least for me.  Penguin and Random House are merging. 

Dial is part of Penguin.  Zig and Silly Bob are with Dial.  What will happen?  Time will tell, but dreadful feeling of déjà-vu (with Go to Bed, Monster and Go to School, Monster.  First one is barely surviving, second one was dropped altogether after dummy stage.) 

Zig sample art

 

Zig in the Magic Forest...

 

... and in the Monster's land.  

2 finished pieces of sample art for editors to see what I have in mind.  Hope they like it and finally give me the "go ahead" for final art.  I enjoyed myself.  Bits of paper everywhere... 

blue, pink and yellow

detail from dummy in the works.