Robert's Snow

It is finally here!! It is time for bloggers to showcase an illustrator each day from now through November. We will feature an illustrator that has made a snowflake for Robert's Snowflake - a wonderful online auction to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Sadly enough, it all began when Grace Lin's husband, Robert, was battling a long battle with cancer. He passed away just a few short months ago and this is ALL IN HIS HONOR.

Each blogger that wanted to participate has chosen an illustrator/illustrators to showcase. I asked right away for Grace and was so pleased to be allowed to post on her snowflake. I am a BIG, BIG fan of Grace Lin - she is just one of THE BEST, in my humble opinion!!! And not only that, I feel honored to showcase her as it was her husband that this whole auction is in honor of! I asked Grace for some background of why she became a writer/illustrator and she said:

"I grew up in Upstate NY and I knew at an early age that creating children's books was what I wished to do. In my book, "The Year of the Dog" the main character enters a National Book contest and wins 4th place. That really
happened to me and it was from there on that I knew I wanted to make books for my job."

Grace has written so many wonderful books that I could not even begin to tell you our favorite over here, but I will say that she was a favorite LONG before we ever adopted our daughter from China, and now her "Asian flair" just makes her books all the more sweet to us!! When I asked Grace about participating in the blog event she said "I would like to try to participate in promoting Robert's Snow as it is very important to me. My hope is that the fundraiser continues on forever, so that Robert will always be remembered." These last few months have not been easy for Grace but she believes firmly in Robert's Snow and has decorated a beautiful snowflake.

"My snowflake is called "Flower." Amidst white snow, a vividly clothed girl stands like a flower. I painted it when Robert was declining, while things like hope and happiness were not obviously in the landscape. Yet, even in those days, we were able to find bits of beauty and bittersweet joys. Those moments were like finding flowers in the snow. "

Grace added, "I thought it might be interesting for people to know that the style I painted my snowflake was inspired by Chinese Cloisonné." I think her snowflake is stunning! If you want to bid on Grace's, or any other snowflake, head over to the auction site and check them out! What a great cause!

Oh yes, AND one last thing!!! Grace has graciously offered to give away a wonderful gift here at my blog!! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and you will be entered into a drawing for a signed copy of her book, Lissy's Friends, AS WELL AS an accompanying Lissy Doll!! (Ok, to be honest I'd be jealous except, yes, we already have them both!!!) And if you don't win - go ahead and buy a set for yourself anyway - you won't be disappointed!!