Chris Van Dusen

Next Book

chris — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:15:01 +0000

Hi readers! Thought I’d update you on what I’ve been working on … since If I Built A House came out last fall, I’ve been illustrating a book that was written by Mac Barnett. I can’t give away the title or much else for that matter, but I can tell you how excited I am about this book! Mac is a tremendously talented writer and I am so happy to be working with him. Mac wrote the award winning Extra Yarn last year. I am currently painting the art for this next book which will be published in Spring 2014 by Candlewick Press. So, that’s why I haven’t added a blog lately. I’ve been holed up in my art cave! Which is where I have to go right now! Happy Spring!

New Prints

chris — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 22:08:10 +0000

In a previous post called Help, I asked for your opinion- what images from King Hugo’s Huge Ego and Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit would you like to see made into prints? The response was tremendous! So I tallied up the votes and had four new giclee prints made, two illustrations from each book. You can see them on my Prints page. Thanks for your help.

Now that I have a new book out, (and yes, I know I don’t have it on my Books page yet, but it’ll be up soon) I need your help again. What two illustrations from If I Built a House do you think would make good prints? I would really appreciate your vote. Thanks in advance.

And Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

chris — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:15:36 +0000

I’ve heard it said that at midnight on Christmas Eve, all the animals in the world have the ability to speak. I wonder what Pearl, our 11 year old yellow lab will say tonight? Probably ask for more food…

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Fall/Winter Schedule

chris — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:03:27 +0000

I’m hitting the road again to sign copies of my new book, If I Built a House. Here’s where I’ll be:

• Sat. Nov. 24th – The Children’s Book Cellar, Waterville, ME from 10:00 AM to noon

• Sun. Dec. 2nd – Kennebooks, Kennebunkport, ME from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Fri. Dec. 7th – Sherman’s Books & Stationery, Camden, ME from 4:00 to 5:30 PM

• Sat. Dec. 8th – Planet Toys, Rockland, ME from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

• Sat. Dec. 15th – Longfellow Books, Portland, ME from 1:00 to 3:00 (with Scott Nash!)

• Sun. Dec. 16th – Nonesuch Books, South Portland, ME from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

• Sat. Dec. 22nd – L. L. Bean, Freeport, ME from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

As always, I hope to see you at one of these events!

“HOUSE” Opening Strong!

chris — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:34:22 +0000

So far, the response to my new book, If I Built a House has been amazing. At the launch, (held on October 27th at The Owl & Turtle Bookshop in Camden, Maine) I had one young friend come up to the table, and even though he was only six years old, he read the whole book, cover to cover. It was great to hear the story in his voice, but even better was his reaction as he turned each page and discovered a “new” room. He kept saying, “Oh, come on! Are you kidding me? A Racetrack Room?!” or “A Fish Tank Room?!” It was really fun watching him walk his way through Jack’s dream house. And this last Saturday (November 3rd) I was at The Briar Patch Bookshop in Bangor, Maine for my second signing where I met 125 people and read them a few of my books, including HOUSE. It was another enthusiastic crowd. Even the mayor brought his daughters to meet me!

I’ll be holding several more book signings throughout the state of Maine from now until Christmas. I’ll post my full schedule in the next post. In the meantime, if you’ve read If I Built a House and would like to add a review on Amazon, I would really appreciate it. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Thanks!

“House” Release & OA Show

chris — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:09:40 +0000

TODAY is the day my 14th BOOK is released! If I Built a House, published by Dial Books for Young Readers, comes out today! It’s a follow up to my third book, If I Built a Car, only this time the main character, Jack, shows his mom through the rooms of his imaginary dream house, and like the CAR book, things get crazier and crazier as Jack’s tour progresses. I’ve added several details in the illustrations that were picked up from the CAR book and I think kids will have fun discovering things they’ve seen before. If you get a chance, let me know what you think.

Coincidentally, today also marks the opening reception of The Original Art Show at The Society of Illustrators in New York City. The OA Show is the annual juried exhibition of original children’s book art put on by The Society of Illustrators. I’ve only made it into this prestigious show once before (for If I Built a Car) but this year I was very pleased to hear that both of my books from this year were accepted- Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit (Candlewick Press) and If I Built a House. If you go (the show runs through December 22nd, 2012) you’ll see a gallery full of framed original illustrations from children’s books published within the last year. It should be quite show.

If I Built A House

chris — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:20:47 +0000

If you’ve been on Amazon recently, you may have noticed I have a new book coming out. In fact, it comes out three weeks from today. It’s called If I Built a House and it’s pretty similar to my third book, If I Built a Car. Again, the main character is a boy named Jack, only this time he shows his mother through the rooms of his dream house. If you’ve read the CAR book, you know that Jack has a vivid imagination. Wait until you see what his house looks like!

Here’s a detail from one of the pages:

Summer Schedule

chris — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:50:39 +0000

I have a few things planned for this summer. Here’s a list of the places I’ll be, in case you’re interested. Hope to see you at one of these events!

• Wed. June 27th, 6:30 PM – Belfast Library, Belfast ME – Evening presentation

• Fri. July 6th, 1-4 PM - L.L. Bean, Freeport ME – Book signing

• Tues. July 10th, 9 AM-12 PM – Land Trust, Grand Lake Stream ME – Presentation

• Wed. July 11th, 11:30 AM – Wells Library, Wells ME – Presentation

• Thurs. July 12th, 11 AM – Skowhegan Library, Skowhegan ME – Presentation

• Tues. July 17th, 1 PM – Portland Observatory, Portland ME – Reading

• Thurs. July 19th* – Artisan Books, Islesboro ME – Book signing

• Tues. July 24th, 10 AM – Stockton Springs Library, Stockton Springs ME – Presentation

• Fri. July 27th, 10 AM – T.C. Hamlin School, Randolph ME – Presentation

• Sun. July 29th, 2-3 PM – Bellabooks, Belfast ME – Book signing

• Wed. August 1st, 2 PM – Clinton Library, Clinton ME – Presentation

• Thurs. August 16th* – Kennebooks, Kennebunkport ME – Book signing

* Time to be determined

Help!

chris — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:52:45 +0000

If you’ve read King Hugo’s Huge Ego and/or Randy Riley’s Really Big Hit, I need your help. I have yet to produce prints from these two books and I’d like to add some to my Prints page. I usually pick two illustrations from each book to reproduce and I’d like you to help me make the selection. Do you have a favorite picture from either of these books that you think would make a good print? If so, please send me a note through my contact form and let me know. I’d really appreciate your opinion.

Thanks!

Tucson Bound!

chris — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:16:22 +0000

If you’re in the Tucson area (why do I always want to put the “S” in front of the “C”? Do we even need the “C”?) and you happen to read this blog (I know, what are the odds of THAT?) I’ll be in your beautiful city this weekend attending the Tucson Festival of Books. I’m really looking forward to my visit because I’ve never been to Tucson. In fact, I’ve never even been to New Mexico*!

For more info about the festival and a schedule of events, go to TucsonFestivalofBooks.org

Hope to see you there!

(*kidding. I know Tucson’s in Nevada.)