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    The Children's Book Review

    Illustration Inspiration: Pamela Zagarenski, Illustrator of Zola’s Elephant

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze3 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Animal Books Best Kids Stories Books with Girl Characters Illustrator Interviews Picture Books
    Interview Pamela Zagarenski
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    The Children’s Book Review | November 13, 2018

    Pamela Zagarenski is the winner of two Caldecott Honors. The books she has illustrated have also been Booklist Editor’s Choices, Horn Book Fanfare and Bulletin Blue Ribbon books, winners of Bank Street’s Claudia Lewis Award, and translated into many languages. As well as illustrating picture books, she creates paintings and has a gift card line. Her work is exquisite!

    I make art because …

    It is like taking my next breath – or  the next beat of my heart – I have to…

    My latest published book is …

    ZOLA’S ELEPHANT 

    Art medium used …

    Acrylic

    Artistic process …

    It is very hard to describe my process. I paint intuitively … and try not to let my ego get in its way.

    I am inspired by …

    I’m inspired by words, poetry literature and children. The moon and the sun and the stars and the rocks and moss and trees and the birds and the oceans and the whales and lions and and and alchemy and —- life and all of its awesome mystery.

    My favorite place to create & illustrate is …

    In my barn with my dog Basho by my side.

    My most used art supply or tool is …

    A paint brush.

    Illustrator idols …

    Marc Chagall   Beatrix Potter  Maurice Sendak

    All-time favorite children’s book I didn’t illustrate…

    THE LITTLE PRINCE

    A literary character to create art with …

    The Little Prince

    Currently working on …

    It’s a secret – I prefer not to talk about chicken’s before they hatch 🙂

    To learn more about Pamela Zagarenski, visit: www.sacredbee.com, www.pamelazagarenski.etsy.com and Twitter

    —

    Zolas ElephantZola’s Elephant

    Written by Randall de Sève

    Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

    Publisher’s Synopsis: Illustrated by two-time Caldecott-honor winning artist Pamela Zagarenski, this tender, witty friendship story of imagination gone wild, by New York Times bestselling author Randall de Sève, shows how assumptions often cause us to misjudge—and miss out. But with a little courage, new opportunities and new friendships can be made.

    When Zola moves into the neighborhood, her new next-door neighbor is too shy to go over and introduce herself. Plus, Zola already has a friend to play with—an elephant!

    What we imagine is not always true, as the little girl discovers. Luckily, she also discovers that being brave can lead to new friendships—and even richer imaginary worlds—in this heartwarming book about friendship, moving, and the power of imagination by New York Times best-selling author Randall de Sève and Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator Pamela Zagarenski.

    Ages 4-7 | Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers | October 9, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1328886293

    Available Here: 

    Text, logoBuy on AmazonLogo

    Discover more picture book illustration inspiration and books like Zola’s Elephant, written by Randall de Sève and Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, on The Children’s Book Review by following along with our Illustration Inspiration series and articles tagged with Elephant Books, Friendship, Imagination, Pamela Zagarenski, Picture Book, and Randall De Seve.

    What to Read Next:

    1. Illustration Inspiration: Lauren O’Hara, Illustrator of Madame Badobedah
    2. Illustration Inspiration: Kataneh Vahdani, Creator of Kat and Juju
    3. Illustration Inspiration: Charles Santoso, Illustrator of This Way, Charlie
    4. Illustration Inspiration: Nicola Killen, Creator of The Little Kitten

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Books About Imaginary Friends Elephant Books Friendship HMH Books for Young Readers Illustration Inspiration Imagination Pamela Zagarenski Picture Book Randall de Seve
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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