Isatou is coming! Isatou is coming!

Four of the eight books I have now illustrated are about real people: Romare Bearden, William Kamkwamba, Barack Obama, and most recently Isatou Ceesay. I've never met any of the subjects of my books, but have felt like I've gotten to know them through my research about their lives and trying to put myself in their shoes as I illustrate their stories.

But, now, all that is changing because...

ISATOU  IS  COMING!  ISATOU  IS  COMING!

...WITH  MIRANDA  PAUL!!!!!

Isatou Ceesay, the subject of my next book due out February 1, 2015, will be in the U.S. this Spring, and she's coming to Albany, NY with the author of the book Miranda Paul, from March 21 to March 26!!!!!

The three of us will be doing some fun book events in Albany to celebrate the release of  One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia (Millbrook Press), kicking it off with an Art for All activity at the Albany Institute of History & Art on March 21. (details to follow)

I am so so very very excited to actually shake hands with someone whom I feel I sort of already know and have a kinship with! And with the super-talented children's writer and teacher Miranda Paul, who met Isatou in the Gambia, West Africa in 2003, learned about Isatou's inspiring recycling project and worked so very hard to make this book about her a reality, has been such a sweetheart to me! It was an honor for me to illustrate this book. 

Miranda has been very busy writing, and has a slew of new books for children coming soon! In addition to One Plastic Bag, look for her upcoming books:

- Water is Water, illustrated by Jason Chin (Roaring Brook Press, May 26, 2015)

- 10 Little Ninjas (Knopf/Penguin/Random House, January 2016)

-  Helping Hands (Lerner/Millbrook, March/April 2016)

Miranda and her team have created an awesome website for our book: oneplasticbag.com where you can learn about the book itself, the plastic bags Isatou and her friends recycled in their village, the women involved in bringing the story to you, the Gambia, where Isatou is from, and the Earth Day contest for kids, and more!

Sooooooooooooooo coooooooooooooooool!

Can you tell I'm excited?

If you would like to book us for an event at your school, library or bookstore in the Capital Region area, email me at info@lizzunon.com.

Isatou Ceesay will be on a One Plastic Bag U.S. Book Tour from March 9 until May 9. You can email Baptiste Paul at bpaul@inbox.com to book your customized tour event!