Frolicking into Spring
Where Spring frolics along with you.
As you’ll see next month, my newest book THIS IS OUR CITY takes place in Spring. Which is great you might be thinking, what a lovey time of year. But really, Spring could be considered another character in the book, that’s how important she is.
The premise of the book is that this group of neighbors have built their very own city in a shared backyard. Some of the kids live there, some of them bike over. It’s collaborative, it’s ever-changing, but one thing is sure: the city comes alive in Spring.
Forgive me parents, but there are hydrangea ice cream cones and mud stew, there is fence climbing and frolicking through weeping willows at their weepiest.
Oh, and there is clean-laundry pillaging, but I promise it’s all in the name of inclusion.
Spring is such a powerful turning of time: the transitional weather, the blooms, the pull to gather outside. It was the perfect moment in time for the kids to give you, our reader, a tour of their city, Cat Pine Falls.
In April, they’ll be taking over my newsletter. In one post I’ll talk through the development of the book, and in another full post I’ll dive deep into the art making of the book (which was really fun this time).
But for now, in celebration of Spring, here are my first (very good) trade reviews:
Kirkus Reviews says:
“In this follow-up to This Is a Window (2024), a backyard is transformed into a vibrant city as a group of children come together for a day of play.
Creating a sign labeled “Cat Pine Falls,” the little ones jump into action. Conrad ably conveys children’s limitless creativity: Acorns become currency, a flipped-over kiddie pool turns into a table at a cafe, trees serve as skyscrapers, and the dangly branches of a weeping willow act as a car wash. Each illustration feels like a freeze frame from an actual day. An image of the “school,” for instance, contains an assortment of items: small sticks tied together, larger sticks resting on an angle against a log, and an overturned watering can. Nothing is labeled, leaving plenty of space for readers to imagine whatever they see—could those larger sticks be a slide? The children vary in skin tone and hair color; all have the same expression, tiny black eyes, and a curve for a smile, making clear their happiness. Consisting largely of simple shapes and blocks of color, the illustrations have an appealing, two-dimensional feel; visual interest will be high, and kids will enjoy picking out details in the art.
A winsome foray into a world of pure imagination. (Picture book. 3-5)”
And School Library Journal writes:
“PreS-K–A group of children in a suburban neighborhood, through imaginative play, transform their backyard into a bustling city. Willow branches become a car wash, an overturned plastic pool transforms into a trendy cafe, and a jump rope tied to a pine cone becomes a pet on a leash. Conrad uses simple text to tell her story. Her illustrations depict the objective reality of the children’s play, allowing readers to project their own visions onto the story. Their imaginary city is enhanced by collage artwork, in which mundane shapes compose delightful scenes. The children’s faces are simple circles with friendly U-shaped mouths; their clothes display an array of fun patterns; different races and hairstyles are represented. Conrad’s compositions effortlessly convey a sense of movement and play.
VERDICT Few stories capture the joy of playing pretend in such a simple, direct way as this immensely charming book, perfect for reading aloud or independent exploration.”
If you are able, pre-orders help a ton! And even better, if you order through my indy Malaprop’s I’ll sign it and send a big giant (lovely!) bookmark with it :)
Thank you, thank you! This book is full of sweet, playful happiness, and I cannot wait for it to be out in the world with you.
Meow!