No, I didn't win...

But I was a little nervous as I scrolled through the January, 2013 entries. Joel Friedlander of The Book Designer had added his commentary on the design of many of the covers, and he didn't hold back when he thought a cover didn't work for whatever reason. In most cases, he offers suggestions for improvement, but learning that one's design just doesn't work can still sting a little.

Fortunately, Friedlander had good things to say about my entry of Shakespeare's Complete Paragon: “The author is also the artist who created these amazing and beautiful paintings of animals, here collected from various other books. A beautiful and arresting cover that combines great illustration with custom lettering for a unique effect.”

My illustrations aren't exactly paintings, but I'll take it.

The latest article on Teach with Picture Books features Shakespeare's Zoo! The post, Animal Attraction: Exploring Animals with Picture Books, outlines 10 different ways to use animals to keep students engaged in the classroom, each with picture book examples. Read the original post for how to use these resources specifically.

1. Fantastic Fables - Creative Writing - Grades 2 and up
Yo, Aesop! Get a Load of These Fables
Aesop's Fables
Squids Will Be Squids

2. Peerless Predators - Argumentative Essay/Research - Grades 4 and up
Predators
Top 10 Worst Killer Animals You Wouldn't Want to Meet
Nature's Deadliest Predators

3. Crazy Critters - Creative Writing/Art - Grades 2 and up 
Scranimals
Animals that Ought to Be: Poems about Imaginary Pets
Cock-a-Doodle-Moo: A Mixed Up Menagerie

4. Beasts of Burden - Creative Writing/Research - Grades 3 and up
Animals that Changed the World
Tales of Famous Animals
Do Animals Work Together?

5. Creature Comparisons - Poetry/Figurative Language - Grades 3 and up
Shakespeare's Zoo (Volume 1)
About Hummingbirds

6. Pack Behavior - Analytic Essay/Novel Extension - Grades 5 and up
Be the Pack Leader
Scruffy: A Wolf Finds His Place in the Pack
Wolves
Face to Face with Wolves

7. Feathered Friends - Poetry/Research - Grades 5 and up
Animals Animals

8. Who's to Choose When It Comes to Zoos? - Argumentative Essay/Research - Grades 6 and up
The One and Only Ivan

9. Animal Allies - Art/Research - Grades 5 and up
Once a Wolf: How Wildlife Biologists Fought to Bring Back the Gray Wolf
Dorje's Stripes

10. Home Sweet Home - Creative Writing - Grades 2 and up
The Salamander Room
Not Inside This House!