jama rattigan's alphabet soup

For the past eight years, this book, illustrated by Carol Schwartz, 
has been on display in my butler's pantry. 

                      
                        ( MOTHER GOOSE COOKBOOK by Marianna Mayer,
                          pictures by Carol Schwartz, Morrow, 1998)

Its warm, cheery cover greets my guests and makes them feel at home.
I haven't tried any of the recipes yet; I bought this book because I loved the art.  

                          
                                (from MOTHER GOOSE COOKBOOK)


When Jules at 7-Imp asked us which illustrators we wanted to feature for Robert's Snow: Blogging for a Cure, I picked Carol. After all, we're practically family. I soon learned that Carol's work encompasses so much more than Mother Goose. She is, in fact, a consummate nature artist, whose illustrations startle the eye with rich, sumptuous jewel tones, extraordinary detail, and singular beauty. Her paintings of seahorses, whales, starfish, hippos, penguins, ants, whales, and dinosaurs invite us to take a closer look, marvel, and appreciate these fascinating creatures anew.

                 
                 (from WILD FIBONACCI by Joy Hulme, pictures by 
                 Carol Schwartz, Tricycle Press, 2005)
        
Carol has illustrated over 40 children's trade books, including the math-oriented picture books SEA SQUARES, SEA SUMS, and WILD FIBONACCI (all by Joy Hulme), and many titles in Scholastic's Hide & Seek Science Series and Hello Science Readers.Her most recent books are EMPEROR PENGUINS (2007), and BEST FRIENDS: THE TRUE STORY OF OWEN AND MZEE (2007), both written by Roberta Edwards, and part of Grosset and Dunlap's All Aboard Science Reader Series.  Her work has been honored by the EdPress Association of America and is included in the Society of Illustrators permanent collection of Outstanding Female Illustrators of the Past One Hundred Years.

                                
                                              
                                      
Carol always knew she wanted to be an artist, but it wasn't until she heard Chris Van Allsburg lecture at one of her RISD classes that she became excited about children's book illustration. For many years she worked for design firms in the Washington, D.C., area, creating art for newspapers, magazines,and advertising. Carol now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she is working on a new book about fireflies. 

Don't you just love these puppies?

                    
                                  (from a 35-piece Ravensberger puzzle)

Now, I'm beyond delighted to welcome Carol Schwartz to alphabet soup!

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