Andrea Blinick – illustratör

The meditative picture book that Kirkus Reviews recommends as “a practical introduction to the mindfulness meditation, as an example of the practice, and as a guide”—now in paperback!Parents, educators, and health practitioners everywhere are recognizing the importance of mindfulness practice, particularly for children. Meditation and yoga are becoming common activities in kindergarten classes and beyond. Taking time to be still and pay attention to their thoughts and bodies helps kids feel calm, focused, and in control. In A World of Mindfulness, meditative text reflects on the sensory ways children experience life, from the feeling of their muscles when they run…to the sound of a turning page…to the memory-laden taste of fresh-baked cookies. Positive and negative emotions are alike acknowledged and affirmed, and a strong sense of self is reinforced.Richly illustrated by fourteen artists with all-new original art, A World of Mindfulness will create its own quiet moments as children revisit its lavish pages. A closing note about mindfulness practice rounds out this board book, making it a helpful resource for homes, classrooms, and beyond.

A lyrical nonfiction celebration of the outdoors pairing childlike observation with facts about the natural worldOutside,you notice things.Time spent in the outdoors stirs a child’s imagination. Nature sparks wonder, wonder leads to curiosity, and curiosity brings about a greater knowledge of the world and one’s self. In Outside, You Notice, a meditative thread of child-like observations (How after the rain / Everything smells greener) is paired with facts about the habits and habitats of animals, insects, birds, and plants (A tree’s roots reach as wide as its branches).Author Erin Alladin invites young scientists and daydreamers to look closely and think deeply in this lyrical nonfiction text, celebrating all the kinds of “outside” that are available to children, from backyards to city parks to cracks in the sidewalk. Illustrator Andrea Blinick portrays these spaces bursting with small wonders with a child’s-eye view, her naïve and nostalgic style capturing the joy of endless discovery.

The cooking of a healthy breakfast moves from parent-child bonding to an eloquent conversation about energy, the growth of plants, and the miraculous ways the sun’s light nourishes us all. It began with the sun,Who showers the earthWith heat and light—Tiny packets of energy.How does a home-cooked breakfast give a little girl the energy she needs for a brand-new day? In gently expressive language, her mother takes readers on a journey into the earth where sleepy seeds are tickled awake and grow into golden oats; into blueberry patches, where green leaves break apart water and air to build sweet sugar; and into a pasture where sun becomes grass, becomes cow, becomes milk.Author Laura Alary’s free verse breaks big ideas into child-sized pieces, making Sun in My Tummy an accessible introduction to the concepts of matter and energy, and how the sun’s light becomes fuel for our bodies through the food we eat. Andrea Blinick’s mixed-media illustrations pair the cozy and homelike with the glowing and dramatic as she takes readers from the kitchen to the farm field and to the sky and back. A concluding Author’s Note shares further information about photosynthesis for young readers.

The meditative picture book that Kirkus Reviews recommends as “a practical introduction to the mindfulness meditation, as an example of the practice, and as a guide”—now in paperback!Parents, educators, and health practitioners everywhere are recognizing the importance of mindfulness practice, particularly for children. Meditation and yoga are becoming common activities in kindergarten classes and beyond. Taking time to be still and pay attention to their thoughts and bodies helps kids feel calm, focused, and in control. In A World of Mindfulness, meditative text reflects on the sensory ways children experience life, from the feeling of their muscles when they run…to the sound of a turning page…to the memory-laden taste of fresh-baked cookies. Positive and negative emotions are alike acknowledged and affirmed, and a strong sense of self is reinforced.Richly illustrated by fourteen artists with all-new original art, A World of Mindfulness will create its own quiet moments as children revisit its lavish pages. A closing note about mindfulness practice rounds out this board book, making it a helpful resource for homes, classrooms, and beyond.

A lyrical nonfiction celebration of the outdoors pairing childlike observation with facts about the natural worldOutside,you notice things.Time spent in the outdoors stirs a child’s imagination. Nature sparks wonder, wonder leads to curiosity, and curiosity brings about a greater knowledge of the world and one’s self. In Outside, You Notice, a meditative thread of child-like observations (How after the rain / Everything smells greener) is paired with facts about the habits and habitats of animals, insects, birds, and plants (A tree’s roots reach as wide as its branches). Author Erin Alladin invites young scientists and daydreamers to look closely and think deeply in this lyrical nonfiction text, celebrating all the kinds of “outside” that are available to children, from backyards to city parks to cracks in the sidewalk. Illustrator Andrea Blinick portrays these spaces bursting with small wonders with a child’s-eye view, her naïve and nostalgic style capturing the joy of endless discovery. ★ “The detailed text and varied images immerse readers in the feeling of being outside, fully attentive and relaxed….The illustrations use soft coloring, varied perspectives, and active characters to great effect, pulling observers into the worlds of plants, animals, and the people who love them. This lovely book is more than the sum of its parts.”—Kirkus ★ Starred Review

The cooking of a healthy breakfast moves from parent-child bonding to an eloquent conversation about energy, the growth of plants, and the miraculous ways the sun’s light nourishes us all.It began with the sun,Who showers the earthWith heat and light—Tiny packets of energy.How does a home-cooked breakfast give a little girl the energy she needs for a brand-new day? In gently expressive language, her mother takes readers on a journey into the earth where sleepy seeds are tickled awake and grow into golden oats; into blueberry patches, where green leaves break apart water and air to build sweet sugar; and into a pasture where sun becomes grass, becomes cow, becomes milk.Author Laura Alary’s free verse breaks big ideas into child-sized pieces, making Sun in My Tummy an accessible introduction to the concepts of matter and energy, and how the sun’s light becomes fuel for our bodies through the food we eat. Andrea Blinick’s mixed-media illustrations pair the cozy and homelike with the glowing and dramatic as she takes readers from the kitchen to the farm field and to the sky and back. A concluding Author’s Note shares further information about photosynthesis for young readers.“This book is as essential as sunshine; the absolutely beautiful STEM story is as absorbing as photosynthesis itself.” —School Library Journal★ Starred Review“Toronto author Laura Alary’s poetic rumination about how the sun nourishes us all offers food for thought. The sunny and bright mixed-media illustrations from Andrea Blinick are inviting.”—Quill & Quire★ Starred Review

The light from a menorah takes a young boy on a fantastical journey around the world to experience different festivals of light, and the people who celebrate them.Nothing brings communities together like the warm glow of a lamp or candle flame, illuminating people and the stories they tell. In The Light from My Menorah, a young boy celebrating Hannukah follows his menorah’s light as it twists and turns in the night sky, carrying him to mountains, deserts, and even into space. On his journey he sees families from around the world sharing food and togetherness as they celebrate their own special holidays, lighting diya for Diwali, kinara for Kwanzaa, crowns of candles for St. Lucia Day, krathongs for Loy Krathong, and strings of lights for Christmas. Illustrator Andrea Blinick’s luminous mixed-media art creates a dazzling world filled with sparkling light and warmth, while Robin Heald’s beautiful free-verse text evokes the quiet wonder of a holiday night. An author’s note offers further information about Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, Kwanzaa, St. Lucia Day, and Loy Krathong.“The Light From My Menorah, is a new book by Robin Heald, which lyrically emphasizes not only the light of her menorah, but how our world is filled with light, traveling from day into night and back again…as well as into the worship or celebration of other religions and countries.”—Jane Yolen, author of Owl Moon, the How Do Dinosaur picture books, and 400+ other books

Water is a shape-shifter, a life-giver, an almost magical thing. Explore the journey of water from the sea, to your glass, to your cells.From sea to clouds.From clouds to rain.From rain to lake.From lake to glass.Water is a shape-shifter.Take a big gulp.Can you taste the sea?In this ode to water, learn how the lifecycle of water works. All the water on earth is all there ever was, and all there ever will be. So, the next time you pour a glass of water, take a moment to think about all the wonderful things this life-giving resource does. Author Laura Alary’s free verse breaks big ideas into child-sized pieces, making Sea in my Cells an accessible introduction to the water cycle. Andrea Blinick’s illustrations take readers from the kitchen to the ocean and to the clouds and back. A concluding Author’s Note shares further information about the water cycle for young readers.

The whimsical debut picture book by two celebrated novelists about a slug, desperate to fit in at all costs, and the adventure he embarks upon to learn that maybe being yourself is best of all!Feeling like an outcast, Serge sets off on a solo adventure in search of the elusive shell that will make a perfect home - and make him just like everybody else. After some much-needed advice from his friend Fish, he finds himself at the ocean, where many options await. But can Serge find the perfect shell, or is he destined to be different forever?A charming, lyrical story with bouncy text, whimsically illustrated by artist Andrea Blinick, Serge the Snail Without A Shell puts a modern twist on a tale as old as time: trying to fit in at all costs, before realizing that maybe being yourself is best of all.

A child tries their hardest to get the forest birds to eat from their hand in this funny and relatable story about finding patience and connection. The child reluctantly heads out on a winter hike with their parents through deep snow to feed the birds. At first they don’t want to be there. It’s boring and hard to wait in the cold. But when they see the birds swooping for bird seed, they know they won’t want to leave until one lands in their hand. It’s tough to stay still, though, and the birds spook easily. All it takes is a snapped branch or some excited jumping to scare the birds away. But the other kids can do it, so why is it so hard?The child stomps away in frustration, but when they stop to breathe, and get the support of a parent, they are finally able to wait patiently for a bird to land in their hand. In that moment, their body is still, and their heart soars.Jen Lynn Bailey’s spare, rhythmic verse tells a powerful story of emotional regulation and coregulation, featuring a lovable protagonist that young readers will relate to. Andrea Blinick’s playful illustrations also showcase beautiful wintry landscapes that feature common North American birds and other forest animals that are fun to spot.Key Text FeaturesillustrationsCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.