Into the Weeds

A patch of 'common weeds' has taken over a corner of the yard and we couldn't be happier about it. They inspired me to make signs preserving the area and even relocate more of the leafy plants, by the wheelbarrow load, from the adjacent field. There are over a hundred of them there now, all together, established, and growing tall.

What 'common weed' is worth this effort? Sore shoulders, blistered hands, a little chiding from the gentleman who's been hay baling the field for years? "Common Milkweed. (Asclepias syriaca) is a tall, native North American perennial wildflower famous for its fragrant pink flower clusters and its role as the essential host plant for monarch butterfly larvae." (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)

We are constantly learning, here, and seeing new wonders everyday. One of the most endearing sights, this summer, was the near constant flow of little, fluttery Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies who discovered this place themselves. Can’t wait to see this spot and even more butterflies next year!

Chase Cemetery, Cornish, NH

There’s a little cemetery just down the road from our house. Quintessentially New England, there are tombstones from Revolutionary War soldiers, their wives, and their families. Many of Cornish’s first residents are interred here as well. It’s always moving and humbling walking through the rows of tombstones and appreciating the unique decoration and epitaphs.

“I sleep in dust but rest in hope, That Christ My Life Will raise me up”

— Phebe Vinson (1753-1798)

“Friends remember you must die, and turn to dust as well as I””

— Robert Dunlap (1754-1801)

Getting a sense of their lives, getting to remember them, the experience is made more special at the thought, that we all share something in common; if only for a small window of time, we all had the lucky chance to call this place home.

So very grateful.

How the Word is Passed

Illustrated a pair of maps for How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith, and adapted for young readers by Sonja Cherry-Paul, showing key historical sites and monuments foundational to slavery in the U.S. and in Senegal. 

Beautifully written, illuminating and challenging, Clint Smith’s factual accounting of our history invites readers on a journey across America, and to Gorée Island, Senegal, through candid conversation with everyday people and through personal family stories. How the Word is Passed is a must read, a definitive introduction and examination of slavery for all ages.

Thanks so much Patrick Hulse and Little, Brown and Company for your excellent and encouraging art direction and for this special opportunity.

Dyckman Farmhouse

Recently, I had the honor of collaborating with the Historic House Trust of New York City to create this illustration of the Dyckman Farmhouse, an 18th century home still standing at the intersection of Broadway and W 204th St. We wanted to give the scene some good narrative and approached the subject as though it were a picture book spread. Upon reading the HHT research, I wanted to be sure all of the Farmhouse’s earliest residents were represented as well, including two enslaved residents, a young girl named Hannah and her mom. 

Enslaved women in Upper Manhattan and the Hudson Valley performed a number of tasks that were critical to the upkeep of the farm. In addition to helping in the fields, women also worked the dairy room. Rising early in the morning with the rest of the house, Hannah and her mother would have walked to the barn to milk the Dyckman’s six cows. The “morning milk” was then carried to the house where it was “set in pans while the cream was skimmed from the previous evening’s milk.” Other duties included churning “the cream into butter” and making cheese from the milk. These products filled the Dyckman’s table and supplemented the grains harvested in the fields. (Windows to Our History, Tomczak)

Please check back for more developments on this special collaboration. In the meantime, learn more about the Dyckman Farmhouse Here: https://dyckmanfarmhouse.org

Thanks so very much to the whole team at HHT for this incredible opportunity, and as always to my reps Pat and Piper.

That's a Wrap!

Author Matt Esenwine and I concluded our A Universe of Rainbows events this week visiting libraries in Canterbury and Claremont, New Hampshire. We had the biggest group of kids I’ve ever seen! (please support your local libraries - they’re doing amazing work in the community) The good engagement of the young readers, the endearing skepticism of a 7-year-old voice shouting out, “Is this stuff real!?”, and the true wild rumpus of our rainbow finch craft, followed by parting hugs, was the best reward. I’m still relieved we had enough finches for everyone. Thank you Matt for making it happen, for your fantastic reading of the poems, and your knowledge of the country roads.

And Thank you to Elkins Public Library and Fiske Free Library for having us.❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

Black-eyed Susans

Had to give these wild, lovely ladies a chance, relocating them near the veggie garden💛#gardeningismytherapy

July 3

I’ve been working hard on a manuscript, a picture book biography of a great Civil War general most folks probably haven’t heard of. He was instrumental in the Union’s victory at Gettysburg, and as a result, helped to save the country. Maybe you know the feeling, but it’s become quite consuming, a project I have to see through - whatever it takes.

Hoping to have some good news to share, very soon–

The battle of Gettysburg, and especially those who gave all of themselves there, have been in my thoughts these past few days. The fighting would have concluded in the afternoon, July 3, 1863.

Biking with the Mayor 2025

I’m excited to share this poster I recently illustrated for Cleveland Heights Mayor, Kahlil Seren’s, annual Biking with the Mayor event.

Thanks so much for all that you do for the Heights, Mayor Seren, and for all your support of my work over the years. I wish I could’ve been there today, to join you and all the cyclists, riding through that beautiful city! I appreciate your thinking of me for the poster. Thanks also to Frances Collazo, for your excellent art direction.

A Universe of Rainbow, across New Hampshire

It’s been a busy, rainy April and May hasn’t it? Matt and I still ventured out to share A Universe of Rainbows. Turnout was light, but as you can see meaningful connections were made at each stop. We had great kids, teenagers too at most our visits, bringing their curiosity and creativity for nature’s many forms of rainbows. Another fun surprise not common at this juncture, making a new friend along the way, truly. Thanks for these gatherings Matt, and for your great company too! Many thanks also to the booksellers for hosting us and gifting fresh eggs! 🌈❤️🐓

Universe of Rainbows Spring Events

Author Matt Forrest Esenwine reached out to some great local book shops in the New England area and we’re excited to get to share the book together! Please join us! We’ll be reading the lovely poems and making a fun, colorful craft, paper Gouldian Finches. No age limits here folks!🌈❤️

Thanks so much for having us:

The Toadstool Bookshop, Keene, NH and Peterborough, NH

https://toadbooks.com

and MainStreet BookEnds of Warner, NH

https://www.mainstreetbookends.com

A colorful peek inside A Universe of Rainbows–

A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World publishes, April 1, in celebration of National Poetry Month. Author Matt Forrest Esenwine and I are getting excited to be able to share the book, a journey around the world and beyond, exploring incredible phenomena and destinations, intriguing occurrences in nature and wildlife too, that all radiate the beautiful colors of the rainbow. I wanted to give you a sampling of some of the wonders to come - hope you enjoy!

You can preorder your copy at your local Bookseller or through the publisher’s website here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802855718/a-universe-of-rainbows/

A Universe of Rainbows (Cover Reveal!)

I’m happy to share the cover for our next book, A Universe of Rainbows: Multicolored Poems for a Multicolored World, written by Matt Forrest Esenwine and published by Eerdmans Publishing Co. This collaboration is over a year in the making and you will not believe the content of the poetry, all very real subjects and locations, and I tried my best to capture and illustrate them in the book. These places are truly wondrous and beautiful - I couldn’t help getting a little emotional learning about them and gathering the reference imagery. Thanks so much, as always, to Holly Hoover for your inspired art direction and design. A Universe of Rainbows publishes, April 1, 2025. We can’t wait to share! To learn more, checkout the Eerdmans website here.

For a behind the scenes look at the process, I’m including some of the alternative sketch ideas we explored. I could see all of these being effective options, but I’m so happy with the final cover art. Hope you enjoy too!

Blow-me-down Brook

Blow-me-down Brook

Elegant and unassuming in the dimming day's luster,
like tarnished heirloom silver,
tucked in a drawer.
Your ancient, hidden stream shimmers through these hills.

Below, muddy trout bathe with snapping turtles and beavers.
Above, namesake gusty winds chase away our goldfinches,
and strip the last huddled trees bare.


While the first hints of winter may signal foreboding,
a foreseeable end.
Your meandering banks and shallows lasso the light,
flowing always, forward.

-JC

Homemade Pickles

When life hands you too many cucumbers, make homemade dill pickles! I learned this tasty lesson this past summer and wanted to share here– I had a blast at every stage of the process, from slicing and mixing up the ingredients, to always having a fun, fresh, garnish for our meals. These refrigerator pickles are fast and easy to make and taste amazing. I’m linking the recipe here: https://cookieandkate.com/best-pickles-recipe/

Enjoy!!💚

U.S. Brig Niagara

Tall ships, with their towering masts and sails, never fail to harness the wind and our collective imaginations. But of all the great ships I encountered growing up; in movies like the Goonies and Treasure Island, Lego Pirates and even ‘Old Ironsides’, it’s Brig Niagara I love the most. You can’t beat the comeback story with Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry besting the Royal Navy, “We met the enemy and they are ours..” The Niagara has a special place in my childhood memories as well (dad’s family is from  Erie, PA where the restored ship is docked and available for tours).

For the The Great Lakes Our Freshwater Treasure endsheets, I knew we had to include a representation of the Niagara with the imagery. Recently, I had the chance to dust off the original illustration and add more detail to the rigging and background. It turns out it was appropriate timing, the Battle of Lake Erie took place September 10, 1813. Thanks for your interest in the history and my work!

Baby Snapping Turtles

Not long after moving into the house, we were surprised to see large Snapping Turtles walking down the driveway and circling the yard, even inspecting the flowerbed by the deck! It was early May, and I was relieved the dogs knew to keep a safe distance - also relieved these stalwart “mamma” turtles didn’t stick around long after laying their eggs. Returning to the nearby brook, they move faster than you might expect. The incubation of the eggs, however, is surprisingly drawn out. We had forgotten about them.

Almost four months later, I was going out to water the garden, and happened to look down to find these little ones stirring in the grass! No bigger than quarters or half dollars, a second chapter had finally begun for 10-20 turtle hatchlings in the yard. I spent the next few days keeping watch on this tiny ‘armored division’ as each baby turtle instinctively converged on the brook. We had to assist a few stragglers, yes it was a group effort including HVAC service guys and our UPS delivery man, I think it’s just been too hot, but the turtles soon disappeared into the shaded brush leading down to the water. Apparently this magical process and journey has been playing out for almost 100 million years. It was our first experience - looking forward to many more. Nature is amazing.💚

I also wanted to share a great article on Snapping Turtles by Ted Levin for Audubon Magazine:

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/march-april-2012/the-staying-power-snapping-turtles

Sandhill Crane–

Toward the end of The Great Lakes Our Freshwater Treasure, we touch on environmental threats, reform, and the rejuvenation of wildlife on the Lakes. Along with Yellow Perch, Otters, and Piping Plovers, I wanted to be sure to include a Sandhill Crane, soaring upward with outstretched wings, majestic! The presence and scale of these great birds has long been a fascination, growing up in Florida, and seeing them on the Great Lakes as well. I’ll always remember this family of Sandhill Cranes (pictured below) near Sleeping Bear Dunes.

To see and learn more, please check out the book, The Great Lakes Our Freshwater Treasure here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/668979/the-great-lakes-by-barb-rosenstock-illustrated-by-jamey-christoph/

Lake Superior and Pictured Rocks–

In publishing, we’re encouraged to ‘write about what we know about’- I’m a firm believer in illustrating from experience too. With The Great Lakes Our Freshwater Treasure, it was a privilege to be able to tap into all the good times and memories we’ve had on the Lakes. On one page, we show geological features formed along the coastline over thousands of years, “great dunes and limestone cliffs”. I immediately thought of this glorious day, when Brad, the boys, and I explored Lake Superior and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in a rented 18’ pontoon boat. As you can see, I used my own reference photos where possible in the book. With illustration, we’re able to share our personal experiences, and in this case, some pretty amazing, awe-inspiring places. I hope you enjoy and are able to get up to Lake Superior to see these wondrous sites too! Just a warning, even in June, the water’s far too cold for swimming - learned that the hard way!

New Chapter–

We moved into this new little house over the weekend! So very grateful for our realtor, Heidi Ruth for her guidance and expertise, and to the previous owners, Steve and Mary, who lovingly cared for this place and absolutely had a hand in making this new chapter possible. Thank you for sharing your dream with us–

First project, potted geraniums by the front door like mom always had.

The Great Lakes Our Fresh Water Treasure

A thriving Great Lakes ecosystem–

Great Lakes' interconnected waterways and landmarks–

Niagara Falls–

Out this week! The Great Lakes Our Fresh Water Treasure, written by Barb Rosenstock and published by Knopf. Thank you Sarah Hokanson, Michelle Frey, and Lindgren & Smith for this dream job and most special book. So proud of our collaboration and the opportunity to share about this natural wonder - making these illustrations was the next best thing to driving up M-22 with the windows down, the oldies playing, alongside some of the most pristine coastline you’ll ever see! Please check out the book and plan a visit!

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/.../the-great-lakes.../