28 Awards…Great gifts!
I got this lovely note from a parent:
“I had to tell you that today I went to my library and the children’s librarian bought all of your books. I’m so excited to share your wonderful stories with my community. I had a moment in my library. I am beyond happy.”
I am also “beyond happy” and my heart is smiling. Thank you, Jen.
First Illustration – the Masterpiece
I’ve had lots of fun lately at Book Events for the children at several schools, and one of the things I have shared with them are some revelations about the illustrations in My Fingerpaint Masterpiece. I have always described the fingerpaint print as a Kalpart “Masterpiece” – and in the back of the book I have A Special Note from Sherrill which suggests the chlld try to find other objects in the masterpiece by giving a hint to “look at the upside-down version also!”
There are other interesting things about the book, in that the illustrations are told from the point of view of the child, so that the reader has to imagine whether the child is a girl or boy (the vote is always 50-50 when I ask the kids at the end of the book) – so the entire book is really an exercise in perspective and perception…and also self-esteem.
So I thought I would share with all of you, the scan of the upside-down version of the masterpiece, with a few of the hidden objects outlined. (They are mentioned in the comments in the text of the book itself) Perhaps you will have fun too!!!
Upside-down look at the masterpiece – see blue ribbon, hanging down…
Upside-down version of the masterpiece with several of the hidden objects outlined.
Did you see them before??? I’m sure there are more, and if you find some please let me know! Enjoy!!!
Reading Santa’s Birthday Gift
I had a lovely time at the St. Katharine Drexel School yesterday, returning for the third year in a row… It’s wonderful to see familiar faces, and to have so many children who have already read my books – voting on which ones they want to hear again!! Santa’s Birthday Gift is always a favorite…
It was also fun to share my newest book, My Fingerpaint Masterpiece, since they had learned a little bit about it last year.
The children asked lots of questions, and I have the feeling there are a lot of future authors and illustrators at St. Katharine’s!
Sherrill S. Cannon
Come and meet awesome award-winning author of children’s books Sherrill S. Cannon on Leyla Atke’s website!
Interview with Sherrill Cannon by Leyla Atke
INTERVIEW WITH AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR SHERRILL S. CANNON. #BOOKS
December 18, 2014
I am so honored to interview an award-winning author of multiple children’s books, Sherrill S. Cannon for my official author website. A former teacher, Sherrill S. Cannon of New Hope, Pennsylvania, is now retired and travels the country with her husband in an RV, going from coast to coast to visit their children and grandchildren, sharing her books along the way.
Author Sherrill S. Cannon’s children’s books have won her twenty-eight prestigious awards in 2011-14. In the past five years, this award-winning former teacher has had six books and seven children’s plays published. Her seventh will be released in 2015!
Thank you, Leyla, for this great opportunity! I am so pleased to be here.
Sherrill, could you please tell about yourself? Where you grew up, the places you lived, your family and your current place of living?
I was born in West Palm Beach, FL but only stayed there until I was 9 months old! My hotel-manager Canadian father took us to the Royal Muskoka Hotel (Ontario, Canada) for several years before he became the Manager of the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. when I was 6. We lived there for 10 years – which made me sort of an “original Eloise”! My husband and I married when we were 20 and 22 respectively, and lived in Northern Virginia for 19 years, ten of which I was a teacher, and later a newspaper sports photographer and columnist while raising our 4 children. Multiple years and moves (and jobs, including running a Dinner Theatre, and being an Office Manager) later, we are now in New Hope, PA, a suburb of Philly, where we are retired (if you don’t count my husband’s consulting business and my children’s books…) and traveling in our RV. We celebrated our 54th Anniversary in June!
2. What kind of person are you?
I like to think that I am a giving person… I truly love to give, and make others happy. My greatest achievement in life are my children who are all contributing nicely to society… well, that and the success of my books for children!
3. You are an author of many children’s books. Could you please tell from where comes your inspiration for writing?
The first children’s book I wrote was Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, which was a story my mother told to me as a child, and later to her grandchildren, which I wanted to get into written form so that it would not be lost. Because I have always loved poetry – and the rhyme and meter of words – it seemed wonderful to combine both story-telling and poetry…so that children could hear the music of the words. My first published children’s book was Santa’s Birthday Gift, which was inspired by my granddaughter who, after listening to me read the story of the Nativity to her, looked at me and asked, “But where’s Santa?” That story actually came to me in a dream that night – and it’s not about what Santa gets, but what Santa gives…a promise to baby Jesus to bring gifts at Christmas to celebrate His birthday.
What are your books about? Why do you write?
All of my books try to teach values to children – I guess once a teacher, always a teacher – but they are all disguised as fun stories! “The Golden Rule” is the subliminal message…if everyone could treat others as they wish to be treated themselves, think of what a wonderful world we could have!!!
My books also have strong social messages – about thinking of others, manners, how to cope with bullying, self-esteem…and also are all part of two ongoing fundraisers: http://sbpra.com/CureJM and http://sbpra.com/Imbullyfree – where 50% of the cost of the books goes to each charity.
5. What you are currently working on? Any future plans?
My seventh book, Teacher’s Warning, has just gone into Illustration with my wonderful illustrator, Kalpart, and will be released in April 2015 (hopefully!) Please stay tuned for another rhyming story, with some familiar characters, but a very different storyline!
6. What are your hobbies?
Other than keeping up with all the social media, I love to read – and spend time in the RV, exploring the beauty of the U.S. as we travel to Florida and California and back each year to spend time with our family (and, I admit, to stay warm!)
You can find out more about author and her books at her website: http://sbpra.com/sherrillscannon/
Leyla is the author of Charm, an Amazing Story of a Little Black Cat available at amazon!
Aly and my Books
Thank you to my wonderful illustrator, Kalpart, for adding the CLC Seal of Approval to the cover of My Fingerpaint Masterpiece!
Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval
CLC Seal of Approval
My Fingerpaint Masterpiece has received the Seal of Approval from Children’s Literary Classics
Children’s Literary Classics is pleased to announce that the children’s picture book, My Fingerpaint Masterpiece, by Sherrill S. Cannon, has been selected to receive the Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval. The CLC Seal of Approval is a designation reserved for those books which uphold the rigorous criteria set forth by the Children’s Literary Classics review committee, a team comprised of individuals with backgrounds in publishing, editing, writing, illustration and graphic design.
My Fingerpaint Masterpiece is the story of a child whose fingerpainting project gets blown away by the wind. To the child’s dismay, the painting finds its way to an art gallery where it ends up being judged along with the other paintings in a show.
Sherrill S. Cannon has created a picture book in rhyme which explores the concept of art and its value and perception to others. My Fingerpaint Masterpiece is a multifaceted book with several underlying messages including the importance of seeking and speaking the truth.
This book would make an excellent classroom or library book and will provide excellent opportunities for open discussion.
Children’s Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in children’s literature, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic children’s literature which appeals to youth, while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations. To learn more about Children’s Literary Classics, you may visit their website at http://www.clcawards.org or http://www.childrensliteraryclassics.com
My granddaughter Kylie and I had a lovely time at the annual Lunch with Santa at Buckingham Springs (PA)
Book Event at the Learning Express in Richboro, PA (with Jared and Brynn!!)
Thanks to Jean Brenner for this nice article in the Bucks County Herald…
The link to the paper is www.buckscountyherald.com The article is on page 41.
This link was just shared on an auto-immune site, by Burly-Man…
Auto-Immune Author Highlight – Sherrill S Cannon
28 Awards…Great gifts!
Sherrill S. Cannon's Blog 