A Big Surprise for Little Card — Anna Raff Illustration

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Saturday Stories at the Society of Illustrators

July 8, 2021

Ever wonder how a picture book gets made? On Saturday, July 17th, I’ll be giving a free, kid-friendly, virtual presentation at on of my favorite New York institutions, the Society of Illustrators .

Presented monthly, Saturday Stories invites guest illustrators to lead children and their adult companions in a read-aloud Zoom workshop related to the wide range of materials and processes that illustrators use to create their picture books.

Join me at 10:30 AM–noon EST, on Saturday, July 17th for a workshop about children’s publishing, including a behind-the-scenes look at my illustration process, a read-aloud, and a character-building craft activity. I’ll present what happens when I first receive a story idea to illustrate, and how I get to know the characters through brainstorming and sketches, long before I put paint to paper. Focusing on the main character from A Big Surprise for Little Card , I’ll do a reading, followed by some step-by-step crafting using common household materials.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Little Card character:

1 letter-sized piece of paper cut in half (to approx. 8.5” x 5.5.5”)

2 pipe-cleaners (or 2 strips of paper, approx. 11” x .5”)

drawing materials (crayons, markers, pencils—your choice!)

scissors

tape

a pom-pom and glue (optional)

The program is free, but an RSVP is required. You can register online here .

Tags events , illustration , Society of Illustrators , work , virtual , online , children's books , A Big Surprise for Little Card , craft , activities for kids

Little Card on "Let's Learn, NYC!" on PBS

February 22, 2021

We kidlit creators miss in-person school visits terribly. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need creative, new ways to connect with our readers. So when I was contacted by the NYC Department of Education to team up with the local PBS station for a read aloud and drawing demo, I jumped at the chance. My segment on “Let’s Learn, NYC!” aired Monday morning on Thirteen/WNET and Channel 21/WLIW. Just as I’ve done classrooms in-person, I read A BIG SURPRISE FOR LITTLE CARD (written by Charise Mericle Harper, published by Candlewick) and showed kids how to draw the main character step-by-step.

My segment is just a small portion of what WNET offers stay-at-home kids each weekday morning at 11AM. Here’s a iink where you’ll find a whole litany of content.

For more information about LITTLE CARD and for free downloadable activities to use alongside the book, click here .

Tags A Big Surprise for Little Card , teaching , TV , WNET/Thirteen , Read aloud

Little Card & Portland Stage

April 11, 2019

Who among us children’s book creators doesn’t wonder if our work might find a second life somewhere beyond the page? Sure, a movie deal would be amazing—pardon me while I fantasize about a second home with an ocean view—but in reality, it rarely happens. More commonly, that second life comes in a smaller, more intimate form. So it was with great pleasure that I traveled up to Maine last week to witness something really special.

For the past three years, the Portland Stage Company has been performing A BIG SURPRISE FOR LITTLE CARD by Charise Harper as part of their educational outreach into public schools. Their PLAY program brings children’s literature and poetry to life in front of students, grades K–5. Here’s a quote from their website:

“The goal of PLAY is to connect theater with literacy by making literature performative and encouraging reading fluency, character recall, understanding of themes, emotional recognition, physical storytelling, and vocal characterization.”

I really didn’t know what to expect, but the performance was delightful and the actors were wonderfully engaging. Best of all, the students really loved it. LITTLE CARD is a plucky, enthusiastic guy who show great perseverance even in the most challenging situations, so he seems like an excellent choice.

So while this may not be a movie deal—or something that has any financial payoff—it still makes me feel pretty good. Look at these lovely people. Thanks, Portland Stage! 💜

Tags A Big Surprise for Little Card , Charise Harper , Candlewick , Portland Stage , theater , school visit

A WRAD Surprise for Me!

March 31, 2017

World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) was back in February, and among the classrooms I connected with were 2nd graders from PS 30 in Brooklyn. After reading A BIG SURPRISE FOR LITTLE CARD to them, I fielded questions and talked about my art-making process. The school librarian was so enthusiastic, I suggested she share my Make-Your-Own Little Card activity with the teachers. One teacher, Ms. Marcano, took the project even further with fabulous results.

Imagine my delight to receive this adorable group of handmade LC's in the mail the other day! Each one opens up to reveal a message about what it would be like to be Little Card, or one of his card friends featured in the story. Here are some of my favorites, verbatim:

"Have you want to be a card? I would like to be little card
because I could go to a Library! For example, I could go to
a Library and read a book. Also help kids and people read
books or tell kids and people where books are. I would be
helpflu to the Library and people in the Library!"

"I would like to be a rectangle card because I like cake. I like
candy and the design on the goody bag. I like thems on the
party. That's why I would like to be rectangle card. "

(I think she means Long Card, the birthday card, who thinks that's pretty great.)

"I would like to be wide card because I would like to travle
around the world. I would also like to tell people to know
that I'm travling some where so that they can visit me befor
I go away. For example if I was going to Florida I would send
a wide card to let them know I'm travling to Florida. Thats why
I want to be wide card."

(Wide Card, the postcard, also approves )

I'm sure I've said it before, but the most rewarding part of this job is connecting with kids through books. Thanks PS 30 for making my month! And if you'd like to share the Little Card activity with your kids, click here .

Tags A Big Surprise for Little Card , school visit , WRAD17 , WRAD , craft

Queens Museum Children's Book Celebration

July 11, 2016

Yesterday was the second annual Children's Book Celebration hosted by the lovely folks at the Queens Museum, and what a great day! It was a whirlwind of books, readings, and activities, with appearances by a bunch of my kidlit friends and heroes: Dasha Tolstikova, Jen Hill, Sara Varon, Ruth Chan, Tim Miller, Melissa Iwai, Neil Swaab, Isabel Roxas, Ame Dyckman, and more.

My table was a Make-Your-Own-Little-Card factory and by my estimation, we made nearly one hundred Little Cards! That's a lot of library cards who know all about birthdays out in the world. Thanks Queens Museum!

Tags A Big Surprise for Little Card , Queens Museum , children's books , events Older Posts

EVENTS

Saturday, May 4, 2024
Hudson Children’s Book Festival
215 Harry Howard Avenue
Hudson, NY
website

Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Family Literacy Night
East Lebanon County School District
Myerstown, PA

Saturday, September 30, 2023
Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival
Chappaqua Train Station
Chappaqua, NY
website

© 2024 Anna Raff

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Posted by Jack Read more Comments (15) 2024.06.20 21:17