Check It Out

“Within Reach” by Joy Allen is her third entry for the Robert’s Snow Auction.  When I asked Joy what was her inspiration for this snowflake, she responded,”Cancer special goals, things that are hard in life…are often so close and yet so elusive.  Something like a snowflake.  And yet, each time we reach, each time we try, we grow closer to obtaining our own special snowflakes.  My little boy reaches out in play grabbing for his moment. Robert lives on through his snowflakes as well.”

Wow, wow, wow. I do not think that Joy Allen could be more right on.  I had fun looking at her website: www.joyallenillustrations.com and www.joyallen.us .  As a teacher librarian, I am always on the look out for new books and possibilities for the library.  I discovered that Joy illustrated for American Girls and is currently illustrating for the Cam Jensen series, one of the favorites in the library!   She has several picture books out, Being Friends and The Book of Boy for Girls and the Book of Girls for Boys.

She currently lives in northern California in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains.  She loves to take her dog hiking each day by the pond behind her house. He chases turkey and deer. She tries to take the stickers out of his tail.

A few more things I found out about Joy:

What is she currently reading? Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (her second reading of the book).

Favorite childhood book: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodges Burnett

Chocolate: Dark or Milk? She will take any “Yum!”

Who would you  most like to meet? My new baby granddaughter that will be born in May. She has four grown children and four wonderful grandchildren.

If you weren’t an artist, what occupation? ”That;s a hard one since I am doing what I always wanted t do. I like music so it would be fun to sing on stage. But I also think it would be great to be a doctor and make a great contribution to many people.

Joy, you are making a great contribution to many who enjoy your books and illustrations. Look for her wonderful snowflake during the third Robert’s Snow auction, December 3-7, 2007.  Maybe her snowflake will be within reach for you. 

Happy Reading.

MsMac