Glo Friends! New Book Series I Have Been Working On!

Happy December!

It's truly starting to feel like winter here and I have been dreaming of winter fun!  About a week ago we had 77" of snow drop on us in a 48 hour window.  Yes!  77"  But it missed me because I was out of town at an art show, and I got to reveal for the first time, the project I have been working on for over a year!  

And now I get to share it with you!

I was commissioned by the toy company PlayMonster to help them with a series of 6 picture books to compliment a wonderful new line of toys they are producing - the Glo Friends.  This community of adorable, glow-in-the-dark bugs illuminate a child’s world from morning to night. Each loveable bug and matching picture book is designed to teach the cornerstones of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) with kids.   These books and toys are perfect for preschoolers and to prove it I have pictures from my show this past weekend.

Each pack is only $17.99 for a Glo Friends toy, and 20-page full color picture book, illustrated by yours truely. :) 

 

They are available on Amazon, and I would love it if you choose to gift them to your special little ones this holiday season.

 

 Here is a link to the site:

And a few more illustrations for your viewing enjoyment!

Thanks for reading my news!  I hope you have a cozy and delightful December wherever you are!

 

Children's Book Council Recognizes Clover and the Shooting Star

My publisher Marti Gorman at City of Light Publishing was recently interviewed for the Children's Book Council's blog.  I had the wonderful surprise of being mentioned in her interview when asked this question:

"What is a title you’re proud to have published and why?"

"The most important children’s book that I have ever published is surely Clover and the Shooting Star. Since its release in 2016, this charming board book has helped thousands of toddlers cope with loss. Clover is a bunny, and the shooting star is a sparkling metaphor for those we lose too soon. They can light our hearts just like the shooting star lights the hearts of the fireflies, so we remember them forever. Award-winning artist Heather Lynn Harris created this gem of a book now used by Hospice organizations across the country, in response to a family tragedy. She has also breathed new life into Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Swing, and retold Five Hungry Mice, another long lost 19th century tale. The Monster in My Basement is her next book, with a timely October 2020 release date."

Wow, Marti!  Thank you for those wonderful words about my book.  I could never have done it without you:)  If you want to check out the full story you can click on the link here.

Hair Love

Last night I attended a SCBWI zoom workshop with the talented Vashti Harrison.  This week she has five top selling picture books on the NY Times best sellers list!  Included on the list is my favorite - Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison.  The book was made into a short film (Vashti was a film major) which I included above.  You have to watch it!  It is a beautiful story about a dad trying to do his daughter's hair.  The relationship between the dad and daughter is so tender it makes you want to cry, and then they really pull the waterfalls out of you when they weave in a story of cancer survival as well!  Being a two-time cancer survivor, with small kids at the time, when I battled cancer, I just bawled when I saw that.  

I hope you love it as much as I do!

The Monster in my Basement

I love this time of year - cool nights, leaves turning colors, and monsters being born! Yes, you heard me right! MONSTERS. I say monsters being born because I just finished my 5th picture book.  It's a book about a monster. I have been working on it for a year now, with the last 6 months being the painting of the artwork, so in a way you could call it a creative birth. :)

I turned the artwork over to the publisher on Monday and now I get to tell you about it. We don't have an official title for it yet, (that's the publisher's job) but it's about a 4 year old boy who discovers a hungry monster in his basement. So, I am calling it "The Monster in my Basement".

This monster is really hungry! And really big!

What should the boy do?

Maybe the monster wants some fruit or tuna fish? Chicken or a hotdog? Or ice cream in a dish? How about spaghetti or sweet potato pie?

Or just maybe... the monster wants something else? (GULP!)

If you want to find out what the monster DOES EAT you won't have to wait long! The book will officially launch fall 2020, but I will have several dozen advance copies for my collectors this holiday season! First-come-first-serve basis. Come see me at one of my holiday shows or contact me on e-mail through my website: www.heatherlynnharris.com

Fall 2019 Show Schedule

November 11 WNY Childrens Book Festival Buffalo Convention Center

November 22 - 24 Rochester Holiday Bazaar Rochester Science Museum

December 7 - 8 Roycroft Christmas Show Roycroft Campus, East Aurora, NY

December 13 - 14 WNY Book Arts Center Buffalo, NY

Cory and the Seventh Story Launches

Great News!  My fourth picture book is here!  Cory and the Seventh Story officially launched just before Christmas 2018, but I was so busy with everything I didn't get a chance to blog about it.  Now, I have had time to make a little trailer about the book and give you some details.  Click on the video above to check it out.  

This is a wonderful story written by Brian McLaren and Gareth Higgins, about a little raccoon named Cory who learns how the stories we tell about the world shape how we live.  As Cory's neighbors live out their stories, readers will discover six familiar ones that have repeated through history, teaching us how to dominate, fear, or withdraw from the world and the beautiful people in it.  

The good news is that there is another story, a path of openheartedness toward others.  Cory's discovery of the Seventh Story will inspired children and adults alike.  

Written in the spirit of classics like Douglas Wood's The Old Turtle series, and Kenneth Graheme's, The Wind in the Willows, Cory and the Seventh Story invites kids and adults into conversations about what's going wrong in the world, and what we can do to be part of the solution.  I was so honored to be a part of this project because of it's timeliness and it's lasting message. 

It is a beautiful hard cover book with book jacket that is considered a long form picture book, which means it has full pages of text plus pictures on every page, making it perfect for children 6 - 9 years old,  However, it really is appropriate for all audiences.  :)  If you are interested in ordering a copy of the book you can go to this link: 

 www.theseventhstory.com

I hope you enjoy Cory and the Seventh Story and are transformed by the power of its message.  Thanks for your support!

New Year Giving Update

Due to your generous support over the past year, we were about to provide 4,636 nutritious meals to children. One of these children is Flor in El Salvador. Her parents struggle to provide for their six children. Her father lost his crops of corn and beans twice due to drought. He dives for lobster and oysters to sell at the market. It's dangerous work and he is often unsuccessful. But he continues to work at providing for his family. And with our generosity we can make it a little easier by helping him to provide nutritious meals every day.

  

I thought you might like to see how your generosity has grown over the time that I have been using my books to support feeding hungry children....

Incredible!  Isn't it?  Maybe this year, with the launch of Cory and the Seventh Story and another book in the works due out in time for Christmas we can feed a village!  

Thank you again for your support and blessings to you for a prosperous new year! 

Piper

Piper

I have to share this with you!  It's the "World's Best Animated Short Film".  I found it one day just cruising the internet for inspiration and boy did it inspire!!   Click on the link above and be prepared to smile:)

Enjoy!