Sneak Peek: Sketches for Upcoming Picture Book, PANTALOON

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In 1951 Simon & Schuster published a wonderfully silly little Golden Book entitled PANTALOON, written by Kathryn Jackson and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard. The publisher Random now owns all the Golden Book titles and I am fortunate to be illustrating their re-release of the PANTALOON picture book title.

I was asked by Random's art director Roberta Ludlow and I accepted immediately. Not only because I enjoy working with Roberta (she was the art director for the picture book MRS WOW NEVER WANTED A COW that I illustrated) but because of the special association with a Golden Book title. For those few of you who don't know, Golden Book titles were slim little books that cost about a $1 and were published in the 40's, 50's and 60's, and many were a gem in terms of illustration.

I have a copy of the original 1954 PANTALOON picture book, but purposely did not look at it again once I knew I'd be illustrating the new version... just to make sure I was bringing my own illustrative spin to the project. The story is about a silly dog named Pantaloon who wants to become a baker's assistant... and so I accentuated his quirky personality.

Posted here, at the top, is a sample of just one of the many tiny thumbnail sequences I create of the entire book to work out the general dynamics of the compositions, action, page turns, etc... as well as a couple of the larger preliminary sketches with the rough text in place. At the bottom are two different cover sketch ideas... right now all the inside sketches have been approved, so I am just getting started on final art. I just learned that the cover sketch depicting Pantaloon riding his bicycle is the final approved cover selection.

This book will be released in 2010 by Random.