FeedThrough Endangered Eyes (a poetic journey into the wild) by Rachel Allen Dillon
April 20, 2009 in Books with Science Content, Books with Science Content, Dillon, Rachel, Elementary Educators, Making Personal Connections, Picture Book Tags: endangered animals, picture books, poems, Rachel Allen Dillon, Through Endangered Eyes
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
*Picture book for preschoolers through elementary-aged students
*Endangered animals are featured in Through Endangered Eyes.
*Rating: Rachel Allen Dillon’s illustrations are remarkable, and these paintings really bring her animal poetry alive!
Today, I am honored to be taking part in a blog tour sponsored by WOW! Women on Writing for the talented author/illustrator, Rachel Allen Dillon. She is going to answer a few questions for us about her beautiful book, Through Endangered Eyes. Every time you turn a page in this book, you’ll see a beautiful painting of an animal and read a poem about this creature. In the back of the book, Dillon provides you with facts about each animal she features in the book. Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of this book!
Margo: What inspired you to write this wonderful book?
Rachel: After my daughter was born, I felt this desperation to do more than my marketing job. I wanted to make a difference in the world for endangered animals, no matter how small. I bought a book called Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want by Barbara Sher. I started compiling memories of what I loved to do as a kid–when my mind was pure and I did things just because I loved to. That self-reflection spelled out my most ideal circumstance: work from home, write, paint, teach kids and help animals. I put together all that I love in my book. Once I had the idea that if I organized my thoughts and poems about endangered animals and submitted a couple of my paintings, maybe someone would be interested in making them into a book. I researched the market on children’s books on endangered species. I didn’t see any books like mine, so I felt maybe I had a chance.
I really feel that our younger generation’s passion about wanting to help the Earth needs to be encouraged. That is why I focus on children 4-9 years old as the audience for my book.
Earth Day is April 22nd. My kids and I are really going to try to celebrate this year by starting a garden. Maybe others will celebrate by reading my book to their children and open up discussions about endangered animals.
Margo: It’s true that people are always searching for Earth Day activities, and your book is a perfect fit! What is your background as a writer/illustrator?
Rachel: I really haven’t had formal training in writing and poetry, other than college classes in English literature. I know when I was growing up, I would express myself with poems and lyrics. As a mom, I have been exposed to a lot of children’s books. I love books with clever rhymes. I can’t stand rhymes that don’t sound quite right. Rhythms have a cadence, and a rhyming poem flows or it doesn’t. I wrote what sounded right to me. I am still getting used to the idea of being an author but farther from calling myself a poet.
I feel more comfortable calling myself an artist first, since I have had training and a lot of time to build that image of myself. I have always drawn animals and started painting in college. I earned my bachelor of science degree in art and graphic design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I started painting in dots around 1992, and my style has evolved over the years. I like creating an image of an animal in a way most people haven’t seen.
I come from a line of published authors–my father and my grandfather. I am excited to be finding my own path as a writer and know how proud my family is of my book.
Margo: I love the dot paintings. They are so unique and beautiful! What are you working on next?
Rachel: I have started my second book, Through Desert Eyes – a poetic journey with endangered animals (working title). I have chosen 21 endangered desert species from around the world and will research factual information about them and then start writing.
My next step, after the text is done, is to start working on artwork sketches.
Then I will submit these to Windward Publishing to see if they are interested in my second book. I hope to create a series of books on endangered species with my style and writing for children.
Margo: That sounds great! What a great idea for a series and your paintings and poetry will really capture children’s attention. What are two or three activities teachers or parents could use with this book?
Rachel: a) Use the Web as a resource. If you want to check out redlist.org, you will find a list of animals in trouble to promote further awareness. I also recommend talking about habitats and food chains. I found this great website that makes it fun to do projects about those subjects.
b) Ask your kids to send a dollar to a nature conservation group. Teaching children about philanthropy at an early age helps create a foundation for future support.
c) Create paintings out of dots. Your children can use the end of a paintbrush (without the brush); dip it into acrylic paint and start painting. I recommend starting with circles, lines or rainbows. It is harder than it looks.
Margo: Thank you so much, Rachel, for talking with us today! Hey everybody, make sure to leave a comment before Tuesday at 8:00 pm CST for a chance to win a copy of this beautiful, hard-cover book!
April 20th, 2009 at 2:11 am
The book looks absolutely beautiful! Best of luck with this; it looks like a hit!
April 20th, 2009 at 2:26 am
Hi Margo and Rachel,
Great interview, Margo.
Rachel, I love, love your art! It’s fun to see new techniques for children’s books. I know kids will love this and your poetry.
Good luck!
April 20th, 2009 at 2:26 am
Thanks, Margo for providing this wonderful information! I can’t wait to see the book. Best of luck, Rachel, with this one and many more!
April 20th, 2009 at 3:10 am
I think this is a great book to use for introducing children to the topic. The illustrations are wonderful and invite the eye to linger a while. When I do school visits, I often read excerpts of other authors works, then hide the book behind my back and ask the children how the illustration was made. When I pull the book out again, I find the children pouring over details they missed before.
Kudos. I look forward to hearing about the next installment!
April 20th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
The great thing about this book is it exposes children to the concept of engdangered species, and also to an interesting art form, which is executed flawlessly. What better way to capture their attention than to present them with colorful, detailed pictures. I’m also impressed that Rachel found a way to combine many of her passions – I think people typically have a hard time identifying their passions, let alone bring them fruition. Rachel – you said your inspiration came after the birth of your daughter. I, for one, think this is a beautiful and meaningful legacy you have created for her, and I thank you for letting the rest of the world enjoy it, too.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I’ve been thinking of trying to do dot painting with my son using the eraser end of a pencil. He loves painting and I think he might have some success with this new method–with brushes he usually gets the paint on so thick it takes days to dry!
April 20th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
what a gorgeous book! My 7-year-old would love this. WHen he was 4 he announced he wanted to be a zoologist and save endangered monkeys. He still wants to be a zoologist, still wants to save monkeys, lemurs, mountain gorillas, manatees…
thanks, Margo!
April 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Congrats! I would be curious to know a bit about the decision to go hardcover. Is softcover planned? Also, in the ‘old’ days a publisher would send out review copies, perhaps as many as 500. Do you have a sense of what your publisher may have done? I’d also love to hear your thoughts about how you might promote the book on your own apart from whatever the publisher may do. It looks like a terrific product — best wishes.
David Lee Kirkland
April 20th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Hi Everyone! I am touched by your kind words, enthusiasm and support for my book and the process.
To touch on a few of your comments and questions:
Christine – that is a great idea to read and excerpt, hide the book and then ask the questions. What a wonderful way to get kids to look a little deeper at an illustration. I think the same process for poetry makes it fun to read and pick apart its meaning.
Kristin – I am touched at your insight and comments. I hadn’t looked at the “legacy” aspect of this process. My daughter and son are currently smothered by my book readings and signings. My wish is that when they look back they feel happy they were exposed to the process. It would be wonderful to think that this will be what they associate me with as they grow up – their mom the author/artist that worked hard to do what she loved!
Jodi – eraser on the pencil will work, but it is hard to get a good round point. Try using the end of the paintbrush (not the brush-side) and use tempura paint or acrylic vs. the paint that is for fingers or is jelly-like. I just had my daughter’s first grade class working on bookmarks with dots and the kids were surprised how challenging it was to paint that way. It takes patience and focus, some kids did great with it and others got bored Let me know how it goes!
Colleen – what an amazing child to pick a family of species at such a young age. Look out Jane Goodall! Have you read the book or listened to “Reason for Hope,” by Jane Goodall? I listened to it and it is a beautiful and amazing story. Best wishes!
David – excellent question. I am not sure why the publisher chose hardcover, or if they will reprint soft cover? I am not sure how many review copies they did send out. That is something I should ask them. I have been overly cautious when it comes to asking questions of my publisher – I am not sure why. I have asked them multiple times how many zoos have agreed to carry my book in their shops, but haven’t received an answer yet. I guess I will need to approach the zoos one at a time.
I have been doing a lot of school readings and when I travel I try to arrange book signings and readings. I think this blog tour has been a wonderful source of marketing. I have gotten into some newsletters of organizations I am affiliated with. I want to submit the book for some awards and see if there are book fairs I might be able to attend. Someone mentioned that home schoolers could use the book as a guide, so I might look into that as well. I am selling my artwork, prints and cards of the illustrations and hope to get a one woman-show in a gallery of the book illustrations. Any ideas you might have? Thanks for the question!
April 21st, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hi Rachel,
What a lovely cover for your book!
Thanks for sharing your insight through your answers to Margo’s questions and the follow-on comments.
You mentioned your father and grandfather were both published authors. How did coming from a family of writers affect your career choice?
One more comments: How appropriate for you to be interviewed so close to Earth Day on Margo’s site about your boook Through Endangered Eyes.
Best,
Donna Volkenannt
April 21st, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Hi Donna,
Thanks for the question! My grandfather was a journalist for the “Cleveland Post” and during WWII; and my father has produced a number of non-fiction books for Northword Press.
My dad used to read to me every night when I was growing up, and that was so important to me.I think that my dad was a great influence on my writing. I knew that some how my writing and art would guide me towards a career, I just wasn’t sure how it would play out.
It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to be on Margo’s site during National Poetry month as well as during the week of Earth Day. One of my greatest wishes is that some how my books will make a difference!
Thanks so much!
April 21st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I really enjoyed reading this interview. We are having a recycle birthday party for my five year old on Friday…wish I had the book to share with them!
Thanks for including me!
April 21st, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Hi, Rachel! I so enoyed reading your interview here with Margo, as well as the questions and comments posted by so many. I have a little-bitty girl and I can’t wait to begin enjoying the outdoors with her when it warms up a bit more! As an elementary teacher I always brought environmental education into my classroom. Now I’m so excited to share my love for the world with my daughter… and love that books like yours will be a part of that sharing!
I really enjoyed reading about your inspiration for the book and how you followed your love of poetry, art, and the environment. Best wishes to you as you continue on with your writing! I will continue to look for your books in the future!!
April 22nd, 2009 at 5:36 am
Hi Kim – what a wonderful theme for a party! How are you going about doing it?
Hi Katie – thank you for sharing. Your daughter is so lucky to have a mom with your skills. She will only know how important the Earth is, because that is what you will show her.