I am working on an Illustrator Saturday featuring John Seckman. He is in the process of illustrating a picture book, titled Jurassic Rat written by Eleanor Ann Peterson. John, Eleanor, the art director, and publisher are going back a forth on the two sketches he sent in for the cover. Before John goes to color they would love your thoughts. The first one has wonderful action and a great wrap around cover, while #2 is much cuter and more adorable. Personally, I like #2 best. Can you help them decide? Please leave your thought under comments. Thanks!
Cover Reveal: Erin Teagan’s newest middle grade novel SURVIVOR GIRL (Clarion) coming out in 2019!
INDUSTRY CHANGES:
Scholastic announces at Graphix, Phil Falco has been promoted to creative director; Cassandra Pelham Fulton has been promoted to executive editor.
Jenny Brown will leave Random House Children’s Books, where she was vp, publisher at Knopf Children’s for the past 3 years, on August 3, after which she “then plans to take some time to determine her next step.”
At Harper, Sarah Haugen moves up to associate editor.
At WordServe Literary, Keely Boeving has been promoted to agent.
Haley Swanson has joined Harper and Harper Wave as assistant editor. She was an editorial assistant at Viking.
Nicole Otto has been promoted to associate editor of Imprint (Macmillan Children’s). Weslie Turner has joined as associate editor; she was previously assistant editor at Scholastic.
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates has been appointed children’s and YA scout for V&R Editoras in Latin America and Brazil.
Lauren Scovel has been promoted to junior agent at Laura Gross Literary Agency.
John Siciliano has been promoted to executive editor for Penguin Books.
Thanks,
Kathy
Writing and Illustrating 
I love 1 because literally the big Dino makes me want to read the book.
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By: Mireya on July 19, 2018
at 3:09 am
If the story has an exciting element go with one. If it’s more of a sweet story go with two.
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By: willowwrites on July 19, 2018
at 6:49 am
I like 1.
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By: rnewman504 on July 19, 2018
at 8:01 am
Both are visually appealing. The first one seems to indicate a one-level (dinosaur aims for rat) Chase. The second opens more of a multi-level intrigue, due to the questions in my mind regarding the peeking rat, plus the graphic similarity of the rat and dinosaur heads. Also, number two may work better for younger audience…less threatening.
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By: saschwarcz on July 19, 2018
at 9:12 am
I would like #1 better if the ground weren’t so flat and had more organic hills. I love #2 a lot and think it’s great as-is – but it depends on the mood of the story. Is it high action and fast-paced? Then #1 would work better.
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By: anikaWolf on July 19, 2018
at 10:59 am
I am so sorry! I meant Cover 1, wheredino is chasing rat! Please see my prior post for reasons!
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By: Janet Lawler on July 19, 2018
at 11:03 am
I love dinos and this looks like a lot of fun. I prefer cover 2 because is shoes more action with the dino appearing to be chasing the rat. It makes me want to know why and why they are both up to! The illustrations are so adorable on both covers that the figure themselves are equally appealing. I just sense more of an interesting story in the first cover. Good luck to the team putting the book out, and thanks for asking for input.
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By: Janet Lawler on July 19, 2018
at 11:02 am
I much prefer #1 for its action and expression. I find it adorable in those expressions.I do like in #2 that he is peeking from bush, but the rest just seems like any other dinosaur book.
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By: fireurchin on July 19, 2018
at 11:10 am
#1 promises humor and action, like the book’s title. I would pick it up and I think a child would too. Especially the dinosaur-obsessed.
But #2 is sweet, with more detail, appropriate for very young.
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By: FaithC on July 19, 2018
at 11:22 am
I like #2 better. I think it makes the setting more clear. I LOVE the Survivor Girl cover. Thanks for all the industry info.
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By: rosihollinbeck on July 19, 2018
at 11:33 am
Well, I liked #1 best until I looked at #2! I agree with the other comments that it depends on the story. If the story is a chase, then #1 is fine. #2 gives me the feeling that there’s more to the story, and for some reason it makes me think that the two dinosaurs behind the rat gave birth to the rat. Don’t ask me why that popped into my head.
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By: anitanolan on July 19, 2018
at 12:00 pm
#2! Gives more limelight to the main character.
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By: carrie a. pearson on July 19, 2018
at 12:15 pm
I think the first one is more exciting. Makes me want to find out what is going on.
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By: Mary Worley on July 19, 2018
at 12:49 pm
#1 . I like the idea of a wrap around design.
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By: shiela Fuller on July 19, 2018
at 1:16 pm
Every picture tells a story – if that story is of one dinosaur chasing one rat, I’d go with #1; if it’s a story involving a community of dinosaurs, I’d say #2. One issue I had with #2, though, is that the rat seems bigger than the dinosaurs – is it?
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By: ptnozell on July 19, 2018
at 1:38 pm
More action happening in number ONE and kids LOVE action…especially with dinosaurs.
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By: darlenebeckjacobson on July 19, 2018
at 2:14 pm
I’m on team #2! The first cover shows action, but it does seem scary, rather than adventurous. The happy faces of the second cover, with the dinos peeking over, tell me there will be some action, but it’s a fun world.
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By: Annie Kuhn on July 19, 2018
at 2:40 pm
Two votes for #1 over here. It encourages a page turn (open that book!), entices the reader to find out what’s happening, and shows a hint of story.
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By: jenabenton on July 19, 2018
at 3:39 pm
I love both! What we first see in the cover is it’ right half when the book is closed. We only perceive wrap around design after, if we are interested to take a book and open it. I prefer the first picture, but when the book is closed I think the second one works better. That’s why I vote for the second one.
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By: Antonina Novarese on July 19, 2018
at 4:08 pm
I like the action in the first one but that is better for inside the book.
I prefer #2 which made me feel more curious about the story and I loved the overall feel of it.
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By: Kaye Baillie on July 19, 2018
at 4:45 pm
I vote for #1. Lots of action going on!
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By: carolbaldwin on July 19, 2018
at 5:19 pm
#1 makes me want to know what happens next. I like action!
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By: Cathy C. Hall on July 19, 2018
at 6:24 pm
I would definitely pick up #2 but I might pass #1 by.
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By: David McMullin on July 19, 2018
at 10:24 pm
I like #1 best. It made me smile immediately. Lots of action that I want to know more about, and get involved in-do I run with the rat or the dinosaur, or away from both?? Is the rat in trouble because he took something that’s not his and got caught? Is the dinosaur hungry? Are they playing a game? And it made me laugh because the rat has such an “oh no” look on his face and because the dinosaur has such a cute look on his face too.
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By: wendymyersart on July 20, 2018
at 1:43 am
I love #2. It’s great fun and more engaging and a little “mysterious.” Definitely captures my interest.
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By: ellenramsey on July 21, 2018
at 9:18 pm
#2 is more friendly which I like better. #1 is more exciting and makes you want to find out what will happen. Tough decision!
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By: julie lopez on July 22, 2018
at 11:07 am
#2!
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By: Sue (Susan Uhlig) (@susanuhlig) on July 23, 2018
at 5:02 pm