Congratulations!!!

Foreward starred review for TINY WORLDS by Brittany Cicchese: "A tender tale about seeing the world differently and loving one another all the same, this picture book is a hug put to paper. A boy visits his grandmother in her small house that holds an even smaller world: the miniature Tiny Town the boy glued, taped, and painted together with cardboard and found objects. Grandma tries to draw him into the bigger world, but the boy seeks out a tiny world everywhere he goes—and Grandma learns to appreciate them, too."

School Library Journal starred review for TINY WORLDS by Brittany Cicchese: "In this embracing work, a young boy goes to stay with his grandmother for a while. His favorite thing to do is create tiny towns, useing natural materials and items from around the house to crafts roads, houses, parks, and businesses. The boy’s tiny towns then become settings for adventures he imagines. His grandmother encourages him to play with other kids, or big animals, but he persists in finding quiet corners to create his own spaces. On a trip to the beach, he shows his grandmother tide pools and suggests that slowing down and noticing small things is valuable too. The artwork has an organic feel, with a leafy green, gold, and brown palette. The pictures are detailed and the youngest readers will enjoy identifying the many elements in the tiny towns. Older readers will have questions about the boy, such as why he is staying with his grandmother and for how long and why he does not want to play with other kids—questions which could lead to interesting inferential conversations. The story could also be an excellent mentor text for building community and exploring architecture, or in a more whimsical venue, fairy houses. VERDICT: This warm and accepting picture book is an excellent addition to any library."

🌱 TINY WORLDS written and illustrated by Brittany Cicchese has received not one but TWO starred reviews! ⭐

Read the Foreword review here and the School Library Journal review here.

In bookstores everywhere tomorrow!

@cicchese-art.bsky.social
@jenrofe.bsky.social

Sketchbooks 5 and 6 YouTube video by Anya K

The tour of sketchbooks 5 and 6
#sketchbook #kidlitartist #greenrainart #childrensbookillustration

youtu.be/OMY-cK8ZAsY?...

Kidlit illustration of a frog singing and playing an accordion

Day 2 or #folktaleweek2025 with a song that echoes in the night.

#folktaleweek2025echo #folktaleweek #kidlitart #kidlitartist #childrensbookillustration #greenrainart

Thank you so much!

Folktale week artwork- house with owl, cat and toad, stars above them

Starting late due to travel, but here is my #folktaleweek2025 day 1: Night

#kidlitart #folktaleweek2025night #kidlitartist #childrensbookillustration #greenrainart

Slow sketching of the little things
#sketchbook #drawing #greenrainart_away #greenrainart

💛💛💛

💛💛💛💛

Illustration of a witch picking mushrooms

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!
I am an illustrator and author, I am especially interested in picture book projects. I am represented by Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary
#kidlitart #kidlitartist #childrensbookillustrator #greenrainart

Thank you so much!!!

Kidlit illustration of children in Halloween costumes

Happy Halloween! 🎃

#kidlitart #kidlitartist #childrensbookillustration #greenrainart

Sketchbook page scribbles from life

Sketchbook page scribbles from life

Sketchbook page scribbles from life

Sketchbook page scribbles from life

Spontaneous visit to Fall Festival= lots of sketching. Not pretty drawings, but so fun!
#kidlitart #kidlitsketchbook #sketchhook #livedrawing #greenrainart

September happenings Art and life

New post, on what I was up to in September
#greenrainart #kidlitartist #substack
open.substack.com/pub/greenrai...

Illustration from How To Start a Food-Free Fun Club by Emily Duty (2023)

Hey #kidlitartpostcard!

🍁I’m interested in picture books, early reader books
🍁I’m repped by Lynnette Novak at @seymouragency.bsky.social
🍁View more of my work here www.gortmanillustration.com

💛💛💛

Thank you so much!!!

Kidlitart postcard image- mom and kids picking mushrooms in an autumn forest

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!
I’m Anya, illustrator and author of picture books.
Represented by Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary

#kidlitart #kidlitartist #choldrensbooksillustrator #greenrainart

Photo of Starry Night Lego set assembled

Finished my #lego Starry Night! It’s so pretty!

#afol #vangogh #greenrainart

Draw This in your Style You could win a signed book! #birdboy_dtiys Collage and paint image of a boy wearing a crown, riding on a colorful flying bird

🎨 It’s a Draw This In Your Style! Create your own version of this image. I'll pick a favorite on Sept 30th & send the artist a signed and personalized copy of my new book PIGGY BANK SAVES THE DAY!

Rules in the comments ⬇️

#dtiys #drawthisinyourstyle #artchallenge #artprompt #illustration #kidlitart

Battle doomscrolling by posting 5 small pleasures in life:

1. Cat who was a jerk all day but is suddenly sweet right before bedtime
2. Getting home just as the thunderstorm begins
3. Good songs coming up few in a row on shuffle
4. A cup of tea and a sweet homemade treat
5. Comfort re-reads

Friday in the Gardens A couple of days ago, my dear friend and I visited the Denver Botanic Gardens. It is a lovely place to be in any season, but early fall is especially charming with every section of the garden having s...

A new post on my botanical garden visit open.substack.com/pub/greenrai...
#greenrainart #sketchbook #substack

My September newsletter comes out next Friday (Sept 19)! If you are a parent, you’ll find cool seasonal printable freebies for the little ones and will be able to access the archive of activities from previous newsletters 🍁🍂🦔

Sign up here mailchi.mp/17492b53084f...

#seattle #pnw

Sharing my book #giveaway since you have one last day to enter! #kidlit #EduSky #Skybrarians

Summer 2025 and fall plans. First post here on Substack

First Substack post: open.substack.com/pub/greenrai...

#greenrainart #childrensbooksillustrator #blogging

Evening

So lovely!!!

Thank you so much!!!

Hello #kidlitartpostcard!

🍓I’m interested in quirky fantasy stories for kids
🍓I’m repped by Lynnette Novak at @seymouragency.bsky.social
🍓View more of my work here www.gortmanillustration.com

Thank you so much!!!