SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

November 18, 2014 by Travis Jonker

Sara Varon Has Been Busy: An Exclusive First Look at Her New Projects

November 18, 2014 by Travis Jonker   3 comments

Sara Varon is the creator of the first book I ever reviewed on this blog – Robot Dreams. I’ve been enjoying her work ever since, including Chicken and Cat Clean Up in 2009 and Odd Duck last year.

Today I’m happy to announce that Sara has a batch of new projects in the works. Let’s hear about them, Sara.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

I’m excited to be working on a bunch of new books for the great folks at First Second!!

Right now, I’m working on a project called Sweaterweather. It’s a reprint of a book of short stories that I made in 2003 – my very first book!! The new version will be redesigned and have about 50 pages of new material. I believe it’s due out in Fall 2015.

(click on images to enlarge)

Next I’ll be working on a 192-page as-of-yet-untitled book about a donkey shoemaker named Francis who lives in a tropical village. Through a confluence of events, he is forced to leave the comforts of his village in search of a missing friend. His journey takes him into the jungle, where ha has lots of adventures, meets strange animals, and learns a little about fruits and plants. Here are some thumbnails.

This will be followed by a 32 page wordless picture book about a dog and his bird friend who get caught in a rainstorm. 

My 4th project, Darwinia will be another graphic novel/picture book hybrid, around 120 pages. The story follows an eponymous sea-faring monkey who sets sail on an around-the-world expedition with her companion (not by choice,) a spoiled poodle whom she discovers has stowed away on her ship. Written by TR Simon.

All coming (relatively) soon!!

Sara was also kind enough to take part in a quick illustrated interview…

I shoulda known! Thanks Sara.

And many thanks to Gina Gagliano at First Second for making this post happen.

Filed under: Articles, Previews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
First SecondMacmillan

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2020

2020 Books by Printz Winners

by Travis Jonker

March 2020

2020 Books by Caldecott Winners

by Travis Jonker

March 2020

2020 Books by CSK Winners

by Travis Jonker

January 2023

Who's Published the Most Newbery Winners in the Last 25 Years?

by Travis Jonker

January 2023

2023 Caldecott Medal Predictions

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

One Star Review, Guess Who? (#181)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Monkey Prince Vol. 1: Enter the Monkey | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

Heavy Medal Mock Newbery Readers’ Poll Results

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

The Value of Innocence for BIPOC Students, a guest post by David Mura

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

6 Middle Grade & YA Novels on Repeat for Groundhog Day

Eight Graphic Works that Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Past | Stellar Panels

ChatGPT Does Readers’ Advisory | Top Stories on SLJ

6 Chapter Books Series Updates for Transitioning Readers

Remember: 10 Titles to Read for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Josh Funk says

    November 18, 2014 at 9:59 am

    The kids LOVE Sara Varon’s stuff! It fits a need in between the Lunch Lady and Smile/Sisters age group and has been perfect for us! Awesome art! Glad she’s got so much coming out soon!

  2. kim baker says

    November 18, 2014 at 11:36 am

    Great post! We’re big Sara Varon fans in our house. All of the new projects sounds great! Looking forward to them.

  3. Rebecca Jones says

    November 18, 2014 at 10:00 pm

    My daughter, who is 9, will be so excited! She loves Odd Duck, Robot Dreams, and Bake Sale!

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023