Dear Readers,

You are cordially invited to join me at the Newark Museum this Wednesday, November 20,  to kick off their Holiday Shopping Spree! I will be signing copies of my latest picture book, BRUSH OF THE GODS, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.BRUSH OF THE GODS, a historical fiction account of the life of China’s most famous painter, Wu Daozi, was just named a Kirkus Best Books of 2013!!!

And while you’re at the museum, don’t miss their fantastic special exhibit, Ming to Modern: Elevating the Everyday in Chinese Art, which includes beautiful pottery such as this:Can you guess which is Chinese and which is English?

Which of these was made in France about 100 years ago, and which in China about 1,000 years ago?  Hard to tell isn’t it?

Or how about these? Can you guess which of these was made in England less than 50 years ago, and the other in China, nearly 2,000 years ago?Come to Newark Museum for the answers!

Additionally, you’ll enjoy walking around the galleries and finding all sorts of marvelous things. On a recent evening, I got so engrossed in their vast collection of Tibetan art, that I nearly accidentally (well, okay, so I fantasize about living From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) SPENT THE NIGHT, if it weren’t for a guard who did a final check through the galleries before locking the doors!

Hope to see you on Wednesday! Got school? Play hooky 😀 !!! It’ll be worth it, I promise :).