TORREY, Richard. Because. illus. by author. unpaged. CIP. HarperCollins. June 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-156173-3. LC 2010010510. PreS-Gr 1–Young Jack promises to show examples of why “because” is a “real answer.” Amusing drawings and the boy’s single-sentence clarifications for questionable behavior justify why cereal is spread across the floor, why the dog is in time-out, and why boy and dog are covered in strawberry icing. Readers don’t truly learn why Jack is swathed in Band-Aids, but Torrey skillfully counterpoints scenes such as the child relinquishing his teddy and blanket, then reclaiming the toy “Because he needs me.” The final “because” effectively wraps up the tale, as Jack gently embraces his tethered tail-wagging pooch: “Because sometimes I have to play with my other friends.” Torrey paints scenes of a suburban family with a fully stocked kitchen and toy chest, a beach vacation, and an iPod. The story will allow youngsters to recall fondly their own “because” moments.–Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

: Final approved cover sketch, BECAUSE (HarperCollins, 2011)

BECAUSE cover art in progress (HarperCollins, 2011)

Final cover art, BECAUSE (HarperCollins, 2011)

Jacket art for ALMOST (HarperCollins, 2009), WHY? (HarperCollins, 2010), BECAUSE (HarperCollins, 2011)

Original rough (very)

Tighter sketch

...~~can't~~ won't say anything more than that.

I just wanted to thank librarian, Pat Adamko and all those who attended for making my visit to the Comsewogue Public Library so special. It is always a privilege and an honor to be able to speak to readers, young and old, about my work, and last night was no exception! I hope everyone had a good time.

I will be speaking at Comsewogue Public Library on May 2nd. For more information go to: http://cpl.suffolk.lib.ny.us/ or call 631-928-1212

Here are a few recently completed covers sketches as well as the final cover illustration for A HOCKEY STORY, due out in September. A HOCKEY STORY is published by Kane Miller Children's Books.

This month I was lucky enough to spend four days at the Pebble Beach Lodge. I didn't think of a single decent story idea or draw so much as a stick figure...but I played some really bad golf on some of the best courses in the world (thank you Sue!).

First draft....as usual, a complete mess. For some reason it always looks a lot better when it's bouncing around my brain. It's a lot easier to erase up there too!



(My Easter Bunny/Recycled Paper Greetings)

Here's an illustration I did for a greeting card several years back. I've got lots of stuff like this just sitting in boxes. Eventually I'm bringing it all out!...okay, maybe not all of it...some of it's pretty bad.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to draw. This is the earliest of my drawings that survived the numerous moves my family made. It's a picture I drew when I was four years old of an airplane flying over what looks to be a seasick Viking....or a strange green man wearing a giant marshmallow on his head with a stick through it.

Blog