Upcoming Appearances

1.30.2010 Pearl River Public Library:
"Groundhog Weather School Illustrated"
3:30-5:00 pm
Presentation about Illustration to be made for the local Girlscout troop.

2.1.2010 Barnes & Noble West Nyack Palisades Mall
Storytime Presentation
10:30 am Children's Book Dept.

1.10.2010

More Groundhog Weather School News!

•Junior Library Guild selection for Fall 2009!

• Ingram Pick

•Reviews pour in! All hogwild:
9.2009Booklist [S]o varied and so often witty that children will absorb the facts effortlessly.

School Library Journal Gr 2–4—This story combines elements of comic books, science lessons, a holiday tale, and history class. It opens with a groundhog incorrectly predicting the coming of spring, prompting a rabbit to write a letter suggesting that more groundhogs be trained and utilized to improve accuracy. Candidates are schooled in the fine points of groundhog physiology, nomenclature, Groundhog Day lore, seasonal changes, and weather patterns. After graduation, they take their places to make their predictions—without much change in the outcome. Sorra's amusing multimedia illustrations include comic frames, collage, and speech bubbles; each turn of the page provides another surprise. Holub does a good job keeping all the balls in the air—the groundhog school story line propels the stream of information—but accessibility is a problem. The text is too advanced for the primary grade students who are most likely to be celebrating Groundhog Day, and the book does not lend itself to reading to a group. Best for one-on-one sharing.—Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick's Catholic School, Charlotte, NC

Groundhog Weather School Gets Praise from Kirkus!

Kirkus gave Groundhog Weather School a very positive review! Read on!

Holub, Joan GROUNDHOG WEATHER SCHOOL Illus. by Kristin Sorra Holub presents a clever look at the weather as readers follow some groundhogs (and an imposter) through their training at Professor Groundhog’s school. In their lessons (including “GeHOGraphy”) they write reports on “Famous Furry Hognosticators,” learn other natural weather predictors, read about famous figures in weather history, learn about burrow building, do a skit entitled, “The Reasons for Seasons” and experiment with making shadows. Readers can take “The BIG Test” along with students to see how much they have learned. Sorra’s illustrations combine a scrapbook style, with letters, checklists and typed research reports, and a comic-book style complete with speech bubbles and panels. The result really lets readers get into the premise and allows for diverse facts to be presented in little snippets (and funny comments to be assigned to each unique groundhog). Bright colors, textures and the incorporation of found objects, as well as the busyness of each page will keep readers searching the artwork. Backmatter includes information about Groundhog Day. Nothing in-depth or too serious here, but good fun that will subtly teach in between laughs. (Picture book. 4-8) —Kirkus, 9/15/09

Sept 1-30, 2009

Groundhog Weather School will be featured in URI's
Imagination! The World of Children's Book Illustrators

The University of Rhode Island is poised to exhibit children's illustrations by a select group of illustrators, including myself, at their campus in Providence. Click on the link for more details. IMAGINATION!

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May 2 & 3, 2009

Open Studio at Garnerville Arts Center

On the weekend of May 2nd & 3rd, parents, kids and art lovers alike wandered the buidlings and halls of the GAGA Arts Complex where my sudio is situated, and tenants opened their spaces to share their work with the public. The works varied from sculpture and painting, to photography and writing, to music and beyond. With my original art of published works on display, as well as books and kids' activities, the buzz in my studio was lively and full of conversation. Many never really understood the idea of commercial and published art, so to see it first-hand was a treat for them, and I was happy to explain the process. I also had many teachers comment on how educational my display was and how we could bring it to schools. One idea was to have classes come to me. Now there's an idea that's worth exploring.

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2.19.2009

Illustrations for BUNGLE BEAR'S BURNT TOAST receives honors!


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I just received word that I've won the Magazine Merit Runner-up Honor Award for Illustration for Bungle Bear’s Burnt Toast in the April 2008 issue of Highlights. It's a mouthful, but hey it's an award! The award is presented by the SCBWI, an organization of peers, and the notification was made by its President, Stephen Mooser. I like to imagine myself on a podium, not unlike in the Academy Awards, dressed to the nines, saying that I'm very honored and humbled to receive the award and I accept it most happily. But truly I say the same in my jeans and t-shirt typing my acceptance speech before my computer, equally thrilled. Thank you SCBWI!

Art © 2008 Highlights

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2.1.2009

Look for your FEB 09 issue of Highlights High Five Magazine!

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On stands now,my latest published piece can be found on the cover of Highlight's High Five magazine!

Art © 2009 Highlights High Five

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1.27.2009

Groundhog Weather School slated for Fall 2009

I just completed work on my newest project for G.P. Putnam's Sons (a Penguin Group imprint) entitled Groundhog Weather School written by Joan Holub. The book is slated for a fall 2009 release. More details to follow including promotional art.

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1.19.2009

New Representation

I am now being represented by Mela Bolinao at MB Artists. I am looking forward to further growing my career in children's publishing with Mela. I would most like to thank and acknowledge Libby Ford at Kirchoff/Wohlberg for always being so positive throughout our working relationship and lending her unwavering support and guidance.

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1.16.2009

Happy New Year!
There's lots in store on the creative front.
Stay tuned.

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7.9.2008

Grasslands Road Produces a Line of Ballerina Products called "Little Ladies" designed by Kristin Sorra.

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Beautiful, jewelry-like detail and charming design make these little ladies a prize for any young dancer's collection. Actually, I did have jewelry in mind when I designed them. Here I lend my style to a series of figurines, plaques and frames produced by Grasslands Road. It's my first venture into gift products. The "Little Ladies" line is available in fine gift shops around the country.

Independent Promotional for Little Ladies ©Grasslands Road. Design and photography by Kristin Sorra.

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6.10.2008

Association of Educational Publishers
ANNOUNCES ITS WINNERS
Mama Mouse's Birthday Present wins Distinguished Achievement Award for
Best Illustration in the K-5 Category

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My illustrations for the story entitled, "Mama Mouse's Birthday Present" appeared in Highlights High Five Magazine's, August 2007 issue. The work was submitted to the AEP and won for best illustration under the K-5 Periodical Design category. The winners were announced at the AEP's gala awards event that was held on the evening of June 6, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The plaque hangs proudly at the Highlights editorial offices in Honesdale, PA.

Mama Mouse's Birthday Present © Highlights

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4.15.08

"Beach Day" slated for April 2009 Release!

From Marshall Cavendish's Board Buddy series, illustrations for the title "Beach Day," written by Anahid Hamparian, have recently been completed. Look for this little gal in stores April 2009.

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11.15.2007

WALTUR PAINTS HIMSELF INTO A CORNER NOW ON SALE! (Houghton Mifflin)

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These funny, easy-to-read stories play with three common idioms, revealing how Waltur the bear eventurally discovers the wisdom in each. Waltur and his friends Matilda and Darwin are back in this collection of three stories that help beginning readers understand funny everyday sayings-like trying not to paint yourself into a corner(easier said than done!), putting the cart before the horse(how backwards can you get?), letting sleeping dogs lie(not much good can come from waking up a cranky dog!). What kind of trouble will Waltur get himself into this time? How much the wiser will he be for it?

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10.1.2007

LATEST PROJECT WITH G.P. PUTNAM'S SON'S
SLATED FOR FALL 2009

I'm currently working on a book for Penguin Group under the G.P. Putnam Son's imprint. Stay tuned for more on the what, when and where!

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Readers love WALTUR BUYS A PIG IN A POKE AND OTHER STORIES
Released August 2006, WRITTEN BY BARBARA GREGORICH,
ILLUSTRATED BY KRISTIN SORRA (Houghton Mifflin)

AWARDED:
CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) Choice 2007

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Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY!
In this funny early reader, a dimwitted bear named Waltur learns-the hard way-what is really meant by three age-old idioms, each highlighted in its own story. (The stories are further broken down into four easy-to-digest chunks.) Waltur's wise and patient roommate Matilda introduces each adage, then watches as Waltur's subsequent clueless behavior drives home the meaning of the moral. In the first tale, Waltur is eager to buy a pet pig at the fair. "Do not buy a pig in a poke," says Matilda, explaining that a poke is a bag. "You should not buy what you cannot see." But when a wily fox proffers a pig in a box, Waltur figures he's home free. The pig, however, turns out to be imperious and usurps Waltur's place in front of the TV. The second tale's exegesis on "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched" finds Waltur hatching a money-making scheme by raising chickens from eggs but finds himself stuck with a passel of ducklings. The final story teaches the meaning of "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." Despite Waltur's missteps, things do work out for him, sending an upbeat message to youngsters that at times one only learns by trial and error. Gregorich's (Beep, Beep!) prose tickles nascent readers while building their confidence (Waltur to the horse: "I can make you drink water." Horse to Waltur: "I think not"). Sorra's (King o' the Cats) chipper spot watercolors add just the right touch of comic visual stimuli. An afterword offers a brief history on each idiom. Ages 7-10. (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Check out the writer's point of view! "Barbara Gregorich's Life with Waltur"

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-4–Gregorich has fun with idioms in this easy reader featuring a single-minded bear. First, Waltur plans to get a pet and his friend Matilda cautions him, Do not buy a pig in a poke, meaning sight unseen. He takes the advice literally and purchases a pig sealed not in a bag, but in a box, and ends up with an unpleasantly bossy porker. Next, the enterprising bear plans to raise chickens from eggs and sell them for honey money. When Matilda warns, Don't count your chickens before they are hatched, Waltur refrains from counting the actual number of eggs, but remains convinced that they will all hatch without a hitch. He is in for a surprise when the big day arrives. In the third tale, Waltur is determined to prove Matilda wrong when she says, You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink, but only succeeds in landing in the drink himself. The author makes excellent use of repetition, sight words, and engaging dialogue to create a manageable and entertaining read. Sorra's cartoon-style watercolors are perfectly suited to the lively text and help round out the characters' personalities with added emotional details. A brief note introduces idioms and explains the origins of those that appear in the book. These clever and accessible tales will capture the interest of youngsters who are ready for short chapters but are still most comfortable with the beginning-reader format.–Carol L. MacKay, Forestburg School Library, Alberta, Canada. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 2-4. In an entertaining early-reader chapter book, Gregorich tells three funny animal stories that dramatize idioms and play with words in a cozy domestic setting. In "Waltur Buys a Pig in a Poke," Waltur ends up with a bossy pig that treats him like the pet. Similar funny scenarios and turnarounds characterize the other two stories in the book, which demonstrate the familiar expressions "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched" and "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." Sorra's cheerful line-and-watercolor pictures show Waltur and his friends trying to keep control in the uproar, and a cheerful concluding note traces the idioms to their probable origins hundreds of years ago. The wordplay will appeal to kids as much as the wry outcomes, when the powerful find that they've got everything wrong. Hazel Rochman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved