Karen Robbins wins award

Karen Robbins' book, Shoe Print Art, just took a BIG step in NYC!  

 
Shoe Print Art: Step Into Drawing won the Gold Medal Independent Book Publishers Association's Bill Fisher Best First Book Award.  The book was written and published by Karen Robbins and illustrated by Sally Marts, both of Seattle. It includes 55 images created from a shoe print shape. Children 3-14 years of age have their drawings printed in the book.

Congratulations, Karen!

Monday morning catch-up!

Welcome to this, the Monday edition, of what I call "Playing Catch-Up"! Now that the turkeys have been reduced to stock and the pie pans contain nothing but crumbs, 'tis the time for me to catch up on some of your news.




Apologies to the stalwart crew who made it to the Kid Lit Drink Night on Bainbridge Island a couple of weeks ago! Here's the long-awaited recap of what went down on The Island, courtesy of Jennifer Mann:

Seven intrepid SCBWI-ers traveled from far and wide on a very dark and rainy Friday night recently to join up on at Casa Rojas Cantina on Bainbridge Island for Kid Lit Drink Night November 16. Kevan Attebury came all the way over from the Eastside (but departed before our photo shoot); Christina Wilsdon joined us from Seattle; Rowena Russell traveled from Bremerton; and Andrea Lawson came down in the dark from Port Townsend. Margaret Nevinski, Dawn Simon and Jennifer Mann made the relatively short journey from other dark and rainy neighborhoods on the island. Although we competed for the Noisiest Group Award with a large and lively crowd imbibing at the Cantina before seeing Breaking Dawn at the theater next door, we did manage to silence the room when we loudly brainstormed brilliant and unexpected markets for Kevan’s Monster-a-Day project. We also solved some vexing Photoshop problems, discussed the current state of publishing and generally toasted the wonder and joy that is children’s books. It was a great night to venture out into the rain! Next time maybe we’ll aim for a sunny summer evening, and a spot on the deck of the Harbour Pub.


Plus:

Check this out! Lois V. Harris was interviewed on Stacy Thies’ blog.

Karen Robbins will be signing Care For Our World and children will be doing an art drawing from her Shoe Print Art book at Market Street Shoes (2232 NW Market St #101, Ballard) on Tuesday, November 27 at 7pm. This is a combined book event with Secret Garden Books and Market Street Shoes. Please bring a slightly used pair of shoes to place in the collection box for Soles 4 Souls.  



 

Karen Robbins book release helps others

From Karen Robbins:

Soles4Souls just released this yesterday and connected our websites to help get shoes for those without. There are 1.5 billion people walking barefoot. Today is Bebarefoot4them to help bring awareness.  Thanks for your help.  Karen 

Karen Robbins, Author, Steps Out with Children's Drawing Book Benefitting Soles4Souls

Karen Robbins, Author of “Shoe Print Art,” Steps Out with Children’s Drawing book TO BENEFIT SOLES4SOULS

“Shoe Print Art,” sets goal to help the shoeless around the world.

 Karen Robbins, a children’s author will release “Shoe Print Art” to raise support for the International shoe charity Soles4Souls. With the purchase of a “Shoe Print Art” book, you are partnering with Soles4Souls to help put shoes on the feet of kids who cannot afford them. With 1 in 4 people in the world living in adverse poverty, the access to footwear is extremely limited.  Soles4Souls works hard to provide individuals in need with proper shoes.  The shoe charity has distributed more than 19 million pairs of shoes around the globe.
In support of “Shoe Print Art” and Soles4Souls partnership, Simplicity Décor and Simplicity ABC retail stores will be collecting shoes. Beginning on October 11th, individuals may come to drop off the new and gently used shoes.
This book illustrates ways that children can take the outline of their shoe and transform it into a work of art! “When I learned children in parts of the world aren’t allowed to attend school without a uniform or shoes, it broke my heart. No child in our world should be banned from school. I am so blessed, and hope to make a difference by giving a percentage of the sales from my Shoe Print Art book to Soles4Souls. Working together, we can make a difference,” said Robbins.
"By purchasing a copy of ‘Shoe Print Art’ you’re also helping millions around the world receive their first pair of shoes," said Paul Wilson, Chairman of the Board.

Karen Robbins bares her "Soles"

Good news from Karen!


I decided to take on a new challenge and publish my own book, Shoe Print Art Step Into Drawing Step by Step!  My 5,000 books arrived last week, and they're beautifully illustrated by Sally Marts.  Here's what 139 cartons of 5,000 books look like.

I was fortunate to have MaryAnn Kohl of Brightring Publishing as my editor.  Shoe Print Art has 55 images all drawn from a shoe print shape. Children from across America followed the steps and created an image which is printed on the page. The young artists range in age from 3 to 14. (Three of Susan Haas' creative granddaughters have drawn three images for the book.)  It shows children who follow the challenge of "Putting your best foot forward, you can draw anything!"

A percentage of the profits will be donated to Soles4Souls.org    

For more information on Karen and her creative projects, click here. For more about her project, click on www.shoeprintart.com.

Good News for Karen Robbins!

Good News and Happy Monday to fellow SCBWI WWA member Karen Robbins! Karen's first picture book, CARE FOR OUR WORLD (illustrated by Alexandra Ball from the U.K. and published by Compendium) recently released at the NY Stationary Show and this week will be at BEA at the Javits Center in NYC. Compendium also created an adorable CARE FOR OUR WORLD play kit with punch out animals, for hours of imaginative play.  Compendium's booth at BEA will have life sized cut outs of the animals from CARE FOR OUR WORLD.  Karen's book has also recently won Runner-Up at the Green Book Festival in S.F. in the children's book division.    
   
             Karen has been a member of the SCBWI for 26 years, and has published several books and over fifty magazine articles.