Then when I spoke, I could hear the Arabic translation. It was very cool! We rode the dunes in four-wheel drives, I sand-surfed on a snowboard, watched a whirling dervish mystic perform in the desert, and held this beautiful falcon. She was fairly heavy, I had to use both hands! I met so many extraordinary, inspiring people. I am so grateful. Please invite me back!!! If you look closely, you can see that Alison and I got badass henna tattoos.
Arabic lessons are next! Did you know that you can tell where someone is from by the way they tie their scarf? Here I am distinctly tied as a native of. With heavy hearts we share the news that our dearest friend and beloved colleague,Yumi Heo, mother to Auden and Sara Jane, wife to Steven Dana, daughter and granddaughter, sister to Yun and Yunsoo, award-winning author and illustrator, whose picture books brought to colorful life Korean and Scottish folktales, as well as stories of contemporary Asian and Asian-American families, passed away on November 5, , in White Plains, NY, after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was Charise: I remember our first hello. One day while walking in Rye, New York, something in a store window caught my eye. As I got closer, I realized the entire display was made up of books by Yumi Heo — one of my favorite illustrators. Suddenly he picked up the phone. Well, she did and after that first hello, we became friends. I am grateful for that day.
Grateful that my family got to know Yumi and Steven and their children. We have shared many holidays and Thanksgivings together. Yumi always inspired me. She was fearless in her art, incredibly creative, sweet, gentle, loyal, determined and funny, and always- all these things with a smile.
My children adored her. I feel lucky to have known her. But more importantly, she became one of my dearest, sweetest friends. And up until a year ago, we were meeting every few months at the ice rink in Hackensack, NJ, where Sara Jane was training, to chat and plan new books together. It worked! Our day together became our next book. Yumi is herself in the work — and she really is like that — happy, fun, playing wonderful music, and busy, busy — doing a thousand things at once, helping everyone all the time.
She also loved introducing her friends to each other — I think she loved seeing people she enjoyed, enjoy one another. There she met Steven Dana, a fellow student, who became her husband. Every family outing or picnic that the family went on, Yumi had to bring crayons and paper with her. Insects, bizarre little creatures, strangely shaped inanimate objects, random pencil marks, scribbles, patterns, and other-worldly flowers often float dream-like in the background of the main action, creating a narration of their own.
I have a hard time believing that she is gone; I will really miss her. In , she founded her pottery studio, Polka-dot Penguin Pottery in Rye, NY, which became a creative outlet for children throughout Westchester County and Connecticut. It felt like a sacred place of wild invention and even wilder dreams, especially in the windowless little corner where she sat at her drafting table.
We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful and cherished friend. There is no tribute adequate enough for a life that brought as much kindness and joy to others as hers did.
Steven has set up a Yumi Heo Memorial Fund to help their family through this difficult time. Any amount is deeply appreciated. If you would like to make a donation, please go to: gofundme. I received this letter recently from a young reader named Damien. Thank you for your letter. I had a terrible time making friends, too, when I was your age. I loved that egg like a mother hen! In many cultures around the world, people are expected to exchange gifts when meeting.
In fact, it would be considered rude not to do so. I think that this is the question you are asking. This is not trading. This is bullying. Do not trade with a bully. Something really fantastic! A snake in a lunch bag is a good start. Find a large watermelon. Cut it in half. Scoop out the insides and make helmets with the rind.
Be sure to cut peep holes and a nose notch. Wear one, carry the other to an upstairs window or up into tree, and wait. When the bully is one step away from being straight underneath you, drop the helmet. It should slip perfectly on their head as they pass. What a great surprise! In fact, you could get SO busted for it. Here it is:. Thank you again for writing to me, and for your great drawing of Alvin. I love it!!! The next year, she and her family joined me at Shaolin Temple in China for a week of Kung fu lessons.
We had many heart-to-heart talks, the kind you have with a BFF you grew up with. About the Author Lenore Look first discovered a love of writing when she was a young child, creating, packaging, and distributing her own picture books.
Books by Lenore Look. Brush of the Gods. Alvin Ho Collection: Books 3 and 4. See More. Author Essay I first began making picture books in kindergarten because my other career option at the time was stealing.
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Stay in Touch Sign up. Become a Member Start earning points for buying books! To redeem, copy and paste the code during the checkout process. Happy Belated Birthday. Thought of you and WOW! Please get in touch with me, it would be good to see you again and catch up.
Have a great day. Cheryl Garman. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on writing, and for spending time with me and my kids! I hope you recovered from your marathon trip. He would fit right in with Ruby! Hi Loralee! It was a real pleasure to meet you and your kids.
Your book is LOTS of fun too! Good luck with your next book! Like Liked by 1 person. Lenore, I just discovered your blog. Love it!! My six-year-old son and I discovered Alvin a couple months ago and he has now read — and adored — all of them.
Thank you for such a wonderful series. I look forward to introducing my daughters to Ruby Lu in the next couple years. Marilee Haynes author of a. Genius August by Pauline Books and Media momnbeans. Hi Marilee! Thanks so much for stopping by! I never check this section of my blog. Thanks for letting me that your son enjoys Alvin. I think that he would like Ruby too. Best wishes on your books!
Lenore, We heard about you through Ironia Elementary School and would like to know some of the details about how we could possibly get you to come to our school, which is only minutes away!
Thanks, in advance. Hi Theresa, Thanks for stopping by! I would love to visit your school. Please contact my publicist Lisa McClatchy at liske aol. She will arrange everything for you. I had such a great time at Ironia. What a warm, nurturing place that is. The children were treated with great respect, and they in turn were very kind and polite :. I just loved it. Thank you for thinking of me. We are holding our breath! My son loves your books and has read all of the Alvin Ho books at least two times.
Please write more. Where can he email you a lettter? Hi Caresse, Thanks so much for stopping by! Not even a word. Thank you for writing these books! We look forward to more! I was looking for books for my daughter and came across your Ruby Lu book. I went ahead and borrowed it from the library. I decided to start reading the beginning and I was presently surprised that setting was in Beacon Hill.
I just found your blog and I am so excited! I was so lucky to have met you a few years ago when you came to my former school for a authors chat Graham, In Washington State. I love your writing so much that I convinced my new second grade team to use your books in their classes. Your writing has given my class many opportunities to to laugh as well as talk about issues students face. We also love the way we can tie what we read into a writing experience.
You handle issues so beautifully. I have read Alvin Ho to my class for a few years now and I have to admit I still can not remain dry eyed in the chapter where Alvin and his dad go to the ice cream shop. We are very excited that you are from our area of the world and hope that some day we will be able to meet you. I met you at Debbies service briefly. I was wondering if it would be alright to use your memories of her that you posted on your blog. It would, of course be credited to you.
Hi Robin, It was a great pleasure to meet you. Yes, you may re-publish my piece in your journal. Hello, my name is Damen Browne.
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