Book Giveaway – CONTRARY CREATURES by James Weinberg

Author James Weinberg has a new picture book titled, CONTRARY CREATURES. It is available in bookstores now. James has agreed to share a book with one lucky winner. All you have to do to get in the running is to leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know the other things you do to share the good news, so I can put in the right amount of tickets in my basket for you.

Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, reblogging really helps spread the word for a new book. Thanks for helping James!

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

This vibrantly illustrated nonfiction picture book goes beyond expected animal opposite pairings by comparing and contrasting behaviors like migration habits (or lack thereof) and sleeping schedules.

Featuring snow monkeys, sea dragons, peacocks, and more, this is an eye-catching and thought-provoking concept book. It will appeal to nature-loving readers, making them think about opposites in new ways.

“Some animals live only in stories and legends, while others are real but seem make-believe.”

BOOK’S JOURNEY:

While this is my first book, for years I had been around children’s books as a designer and before that a bookseller. Kristen Nobles, who I had known from my days as a book designer, contacted me to see if I had an ideas for Page Street Kids. At the time I had been doing silkscreen posters with natural history themes. When I shared my animal comparison idea she really responded to the more “conceptual” contrasts as well as the obscure animals.

The illustration style in Contrary Creatures is informed by silkscreen printing with its use of half-toning, over-printing, and texture. As the book was coming together I thought about how the animals could have traits children could identify with, like the chameleon being introverted and peacock extroverted. As a kid I was really interested in animals especially lizards and dinosaurs. I hope Contrary Creatures is a book that will inspire young readers fascinated with animals and nature.

JAMES’ BIO: 

James Weinberg is an illustrator and designer creating everything from murals to silkscreened posters to this, his debut picture book. He fills some of his spare time by riding his bike around Somerville, MA, where he lives.

Thank you James for sharing your book and journey with us. Teachers should gobble this book up.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy