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Rosenthal, Robin

ENTRY TYPE: new

WORK TITLE: Sweet Babe!
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.robinrosenthal.com/
CITY: Brooklyn
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:

 

RESEARCHER NOTES:

PERSONAL

Married; children: Stella.

EDUCATION:

Yale University, B.A. (art).

ADDRESS

  • Home - Brooklyn, NY.
  • Agent - Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio, 306 Chase Ct., Edgewater, NJ 07020.

CAREER

Designer, creative director, illustrator, and writer. Graphic designer, 1995–, became art director for Martha Stewart Kids magazine; has worked on redesign for FamilyFun, Scholastic Parent & Child, Real Simple Family, Brides, Martha Stewart Living, More, and Cooking Light magazines and the Land of Nod catalog; has contributed artwork to Giggle’s JCPenney clothing line; has developed brands and characters for Sesame Workshop and Johnson & Johnson. Pen & Oink (children’s illustration blog), cofounder and contributor, 2012–.

MEMBER:

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

AWARDS:

SCBWI Portfolio Mentorship Winner, 2014; SCBWI New York Portfolio Showcase Winner, 2018.

WRITINGS

  • SELF-ILLUSTRATED
  • Sweet Babe, Tundra (Plattsburgh, NY), 2025
  • ILLUSTRATOR
  • (Gabi Snyder) Two Dogs on a Trike, Abrams Appleseed (New York, NY), 2020
  • ILLUSTRATOR; "BIG IDEAS FOR LITTLE PHILOSOPHERS" BOARD-BOOK SERIES
  • (Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry) Truth with Socrates, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • (Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry) Imagination with René Descartes, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • (Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry) Equality with Simone de Beauvoir, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • (Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry) Happiness with Aristotle, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • (Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry) Kindness with Confucius, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2021
  • (Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry) Love with Plato, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2021
  • ILLUSTRATOR; "BIG IDEAS FOR LITTLE ENVIRONMENTALISTS" BOARD-BOOK SERIES
  • (Maureen McQuerry) Ecosystems with Rachel Carson, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022
  • (Maureen McQuerry) Restoration with Wangari Maathai, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022
  • (Maureen McQuerry) Conservation with Jane Goodall, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022
  • (Maureen McQuerry) Preservation with Aldo Leopold, G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022

Contributor of illustrations to periodicals, including Martha Stewart Kids, Parents, Scholastic Parent & Child, and Real Simple Family.

SIDELIGHTS

[open new]A longtime designer and art director, Robin Rosenthal has illustrated a number of children’s books by other authors and has also made her self-illustrated debut. Raised in Connecticut, she studied art at Yale University and settled in New York City. Rosenthal has worked in design for a number of magazines, including Martha Stewart Kids and Real Simply Family, and has contributed creative efforts to clothing for JCPenney, characters for Sesame Workshop, and branding for Johnson & Johnson. She drew on her Ivy League background in illustrating a couple series of board books introducing young readers to philosophy and environmentalism, and she made her debut as an author-illustrator with Sweet Babe!, a Jewish-themed tale. Rosenthal lives in Brooklyn with her family.

With the tagline “A Jewish Grandma Kvells” adorning the cover, Sweet Babe! depicts an adoring, doting grandmother engaged in playtime with her grandchild. With kvelling defined as “bursting with pride,” Grandma plays peek-a-boo, theatrically marvels, offers unqualified praise, and of course kisses and cuddles her cherubic descendant. The story presents a number of Yiddish terms, including bubbeleh, ketzleleh, hertzeleh, punim, keppie, and pulkies as Grandma gushes over the baby’s features, and the back matter includes a glossary with transliterated vocabulary. Rosenthal dedicated the book to, and liberally quoted from, her own grandparents Edith “Nanny” Goldman and Mike “Grandaddy” Rosenthal.

A Publishers Weekly reviewer affirmed that Rosenthal “brings this laugh-out-loud linguistic breakdown to life through the broadly cartooned interplay” between elder and infant. Enjoying how the “brightly colored, vibrant double-page spreads present all the activities in sharp relief,” with lively facial expressions galore and “dramatically large, bold fonts,” a Kirkus Reviews writer hailed Sweet Babe! as “joyous, uplifting, and pure fun.”

Rosenthal provided the illustrations for Gabi Snyder’s Two Dogs on a Trike, in which pandemonium unfurls as a pair of dogs make an illicit getaway through an opened gate. The household cat is hot on their tail, but the pursuit grows unwieldy as the fugitives are joined by one dog after another, counting up to ten while switching vehicles until at last racing through space. The story counts back down again as the canines get their comeuppance. Perceiving inspiration from P.D. Eastman’s classic Go, Dog. Go!, a Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that Snyder’s “spare, snappy rhymes” empower Rosenthal to “hilariously execute eye-popping images of raucous canine chaos,” as the book “perfectly captures the rollicking, manic joy of dogs off the leash.”

Authored by Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry and illustrated by Rosenthal, the “Big Ideas for Little Philosophers” series introduces famous thinkers including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Descartes, and de Beauvoir. Rosenthal also provided the artwork for McQuerry’s “Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists” series, which commemorates efforts by Jane Goodall to protect chimpanzees, Rachel Carson to cherish ecosystems, and Wangari Maathai to heal landscapes by planting trees. Julia Smith remarked in Booklist that the “cute digital illustrations will hold the attention of the littlest readers” and help make for an “appealing” series.[close new]

BIOCRIT

PERIODICALS

  • Booklist, March 1, 2022, Julia Smith, review of “Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists” series, p. 50.

  • Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2020, review of Two Dogs on a Trike; December 15, 2024, review of Sweet Babe!

  • Publishers Weekly, December 16, 2024, review of Sweet Babe!, p. 60.

ONLINE

  • Robin Rosenthal website, https://www.robinrosenthal.com (July 2, 2025).

  • Tundra Books website, https://tundrabooks.com/ (March 6, 2025), “Creator Spotlight: Robin Rosenthal.”

  • Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), https://taralazar.com/ (August 8, 2019), Gabi Snyder and Robin Rosenthal, “Two Dogs on a Trike Cover Reveal (Plus a Giveaway),” interview between Snyder and Rosenthal.

  • Sweet Babe Tundra (Plattsburgh, NY), 2025
  • Two Dogs on a Trike Abrams Appleseed (New York, NY), 2020
  • Truth with Socrates G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • Imagination with René Descartes G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • Equality with Simone de Beauvoir G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • Happiness with Aristotle G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2020
  • Kindness with Confucius G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2021
  • Love with Plato G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2021
  • Ecosystems with Rachel Carson G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022
  • Restoration with Wangari Maathai G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022
  • Conservation with Jane Goodall G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022
  • Preservation with Aldo Leopold G.P. Putnam's Sons (New York, NY), 2022
1. Sweet babe LCCN 2023949019 Type of material Book Personal name Rosenthal, Robin, author, illustrator. Main title Sweet babe / Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced Plattsburgh : Tundra, 2025. Projected pub date 2503 Description pages cm ISBN 9781774884324 (hardcover) (epub) Item not available at the Library. Why not? 2. Conservation with Jane Goodall LCCN 2021935826 Type of material Book Personal name McQuerry, Maureen, 1955- author. Main title Conservation with Jane Goodall / story by Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, [2022] Description 20 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 18 cm. ISBN 9780593323601 board 0593323602 board CALL NUMBER QL83 .M38 2022 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 3. Preservation with Aldo Leopold LCCN 2021935825 Type of material Book Personal name McQuerry, Maureen, 1955- author. Main title Preservation with Aldo Leopold / story by Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, [2022] ©2022 Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 cm ISBN 9780593323724 (board) 0593323726 CALL NUMBER QH48 .M395 2022 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 4. Restoration with Wangari Maathai LCCN 2021935824 Type of material Book Personal name McQuerry, Maureen, 1955- author. Main title Restoration with Wangari Maathai / story by Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, [2022] ©2022 Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 cm ISBN 0593323688 (board book) 9780593323687 (board book) CALL NUMBER Not available Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms 5. Ecosystems with Rachel Carson LCCN 2021935823 Type of material Book Personal name McQuerry, Maureen, 1955- author. Main title Ecosystems with Rachel Carson / story by Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, [2022] ©2022 Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 cm ISBN 9780593323649 (board book) 0593323645 (board book) CALL NUMBER QH541.14 .M38 2022 Spect Format Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Bldg General or Area Studies Reading Rms 6. Love with Plato LCCN 2020949221 Type of material Book Personal name Armitage, Duane, 1982- author. Main title Love with Plato / Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, [2021] Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 cm. ISBN 9780593322994 (board) (ebook) (kindle edition) CALL NUMBER B398.L9 A76 2021 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 7. Kindness with Confucius LCCN 2020949087 Type of material Book Personal name Armitage, Duane, 1982- author. Main title Kindness with Confucius / Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G. P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Pengiun Random house LLC, [2021] ©2021 Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 cm ISBN 9780593322956 (board book) 0593322959 (board book) CALL NUMBER BJ1533.K5 A75 2021 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 8. Happiness with Aristotle LCCN 2019952541 Type of material Book Personal name Armitage, Duane, 1982- author. Main title Happiness with Aristotle / Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Random House LLC, [2020] Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 x 18 cm. ISBN 9780593108819 (hardback) 0593108817 CALL NUMBER PZ7.1.A7478 Hap 2020 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 9. Equality with Simone de Beauvoir LCCN 2019952487 Type of material Book Personal name Armitage, Duane, 1982- author. Main title Equality with Simone de Beauvoir / Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House, [2020] Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 cm. ISBN 9780593108840 (board book) 0593108841 (board book) CALL NUMBER PZ7.1.A7478 Equ 2020 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 10. Imagination with René Descartes LCCN 2019952469 Type of material Book Personal name Armitage, Duane, 1982- author. Main title Imagination with René Descartes / Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Random House LLC, [2020] Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 x 18 cm. ISBN 9780593108789 (hardback) 0593108787 CALL NUMBER PZ7.1.A7478 Ima 2020 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 11. Truth with Socrates LCCN 2019950794 Type of material Book Personal name Armitage, Duane, 1982- author. Main title Truth with Socrates / Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry ; pictures by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, [2020] Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 18 cm. ISBN 9780593108758 (board) (kindle edition) (epub) CALL NUMBER MLCS 2022/42213 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE 12. Two dogs on a trike LCCN 2019937794 Type of material Book Personal name Snyder, Gabrielle, author. Main title Two dogs on a trike / by Gabi Snyder ; illustrated by Robin Rosenthal. Published/Produced New York : Abrams Appleseed, [2020] Description 1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 25 cm ISBN 9781419738913 (hardback) 1419738917 (hardback) CALL NUMBER PZ7.1.S657464 Tw 2020 FT MEADE Copy 1 Request in Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms - STORED OFFSITE
  • Robin Rosenthal website - https://www.robinrosenthal.com/

    THE SHORT VERSION

    Robin Rosenthal is an author-illustrator and art director. She has illustrated Two Dogs on A Trike and the Big Ideas for Little Philosophers and Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists series of board books. SWEET BABE! is her authorial debut. She grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. You can see more of her work at robinrosenthal.com.

    THE LONG VERSION

    Robin Rosenthal is an author-illustrator and art director. She has illustrated Two Dogs on A Trike and the Big Ideas for Little Philosophers and Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists series of board books. SWEET BABE! is her authorial debut. Robin's illustrations have been published in Parents, Real Simple Family, Martha Stewart Kids, and Scholastic Parent & Child magazines, and on giggle’s line of clothing for JC Penney. She was the winner of the 2018 SCBWI New York Portfolio Showcase. She was also a 2014 SCBWI Portfolio Mentorship Winner.

    Robin has been working in the design field since 1995, when she graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Art. She is a former art director at the award-winning Martha Stewart Kids magazine, and she has redesigned The Land of Nod catalog and FamilyFun and Scholastic Parent & Child magazines. She has also worked on the redesign teams for Real Simple Family, Brides, Martha Stewart Living, More, and Cooking Light magazines. Robin has also developed branding strategies and character concepts for Sesame Workshop and Johnson and Johnson.

    Robin grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. You can see more of her work at robinrosenthal.com.

  • Stimola Literary Studio - https://www.stimolaliterarystudio.com/robin-rosenthal

    Agent: Rosemary Stimola
    Robin is an illustrator, graphic designer, and creative director. She is the winner of the 2018 SCBWI New York Portfolio Showcase. She is also a 2014 SCBWI Portfolio Mentorship Winner.

    Robin’s illustrations have been published in Parents, Real Simple Family, Martha Stewart Kids, and Scholastic Parent & Child magazines, and on giggle’s line of clothing for JC Penney. She has also developed character concepts for Sesame Workshop and Johnson and Johnson.

    In 2012, Robin started Pen & Oink, a blog about children’s illustration, with two fellow illustrators and it has given her a great excuse to approach her favorite illustrators for interviews.

    Robin is currently illustrating her first picture book for Abrams Appleseed. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.

  • Tundra Books - https://tundrabooks.com/creator-spotlight-robin-rosenthal/

    March 6, 2025 by Tundra Books
    Creator Spotlight: Robin Rosenthal

    At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Robin Rosenthal!

    About the Author:

    ROBIN ROSENTHAL is an author, illustrator and art director. She has illustrated Two Dogs on A Trike and the Big Ideas for Little Philosophers and Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists series of board books. SWEET BABE! is her authorial debut. She grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her sweet, sweet family. You can see more of her work at robinrosenthal.com.

    Fast Five with Robin Rosenthal:

    If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

    I’ve lived in New York City for about 28 years and there is no place I would rather be. There is so much energy here and so much to see and do. I love that New York accepts all kinds of people and that you can be creative and weird and different and that is celebrated. I love looking out my own apartment window at the other buildings and thinking about how a different person lives in each one of those apartments, with a different life, different goals, dreams, loves, fears, histories. We are all living together and coexisting in this relatively small area and making it work.

    What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

    So many things . . . a quality hug from my husband or daughter, a breakthrough on a project I’m working on, or a long catch-up with a friend.

    Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

    Definitely breakfast. I love anything egg related: eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs with cheese, eggs over-easy, bacon gruyere egg bites from Starbucks. My mom used to make me scrambled eggs with cream cheese and buttered cinnamon-sugar toast when I was home sick as a kid. Delish. Cracker Barrel hack in case you didn’t know: they serve breakfast all day but you have to ask for the breakfast menu when it is lunch or dinner time.

    What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

    Indigo Girls back in the 1990s. They have also been my top choice for sing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-in-the-car music since high school.

    What’s your favorite Yiddish word?

    My favorite Yiddish word is b’shert. It is pronounced “buh-SHARE-t” and it means “meant to be.” It’s often used in a romantic context but our family uses it in a more general way. It’s a nice way to mark a positive, serendipitous moment when the world seems right and good. You look at your family member and say, “b’shert,” and they say “b’shert,” back and you both nod your heads knowingly.

    Books by Robin Rosenthal:

    Sweet Babe!
    By Robin Rosenthal
    32 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Hardcover
    ISBN 9781774884324 | Tundra Books
    Look at this baby . . . what a genius! And such a shayne punim, too! From the top of baby’s adorable head to the tips of their toes, there’s nothing for a grandma not to adore in her little bubbeleh. Sweet Babe takes babies and their bubbies, not to mention grandparents of every stripe, on a delightful read-aloud journey that practically cries out for frequent cheek-squishing and keppie (head)-kissing in this irresistible celebration of the connection between grandparent and grandchild, and of Jewish joy through the generations. Includes a Yiddish glossary at the back with transliterated vocabulary.

    Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Conservation with Jane Goodall
    Written by Maureen McQuerry
    Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
    20 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
    ISBN 9780593323601 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
    Even little children can make a positive impact on the environment. Jane Goodall has dedicated her life to studying chimpanzees, and realized that sometimes people hurt the places where animals have always lived. She began to teach others how we can enjoy nature while also making sure that the homes of animals aren’t suffering. Kids will come away from this book with questions about what animal habitats they can care for in their own community, and how conservation work makes sure all people and animals have a healthy home.

    Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Ecosystems with Rachel Carson
    Written by Maureen McQuerry
    Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
    20 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
    ISBN 9780593323649 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
    Even little children can make a positive impact on the environment. Rachel Carson was an environmentalist who studied the way the land, plants, and animals interact with each other, beginning when she was a child. She noticed that everything is connected, and all of nature must stay healthy for living things to thrive. When she realized that the chemicals people used outdoors were making plants, animals, and even other people sick, she began teaching others about the ecosystems, and how we must take care of them to keep the Earth balanced. Kids will see, through Rachel’s curiosity and passion for all creatures, that even seemingly small choices can have big consequences on the world around them.

    Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Kindness with Confucius
    Written by Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry
    Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
    22 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
    ISBN 9780593322956 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
    Even little children have big questions about life. Confucius believed always treating people with kindness can make us wise, and Kindness with Confucius brings his philosophy to the youngest thinkers. He believed we should use our own feelings as a guide to how to treat others. We feel good when people are kind to us and should want to make others feel that way. Emphasizing the importance of being in touch with your own emotions in order to be kind to others, this book will lead to inspiring conversations about human dynamics between people of all ages.

    Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Love with Plato
    Written by Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry
    Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
    22 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
    ISBN 9780593322994 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
    Even little children have big questions about life. Plato believed showing and receiving love makes us wise, and Love with Plato brings his philosophy to the youngest thinkers. Asking young readers what being loved feels like to them and how they can show others love prompts questions about how we treat one another and ourselves. This book will lead to inspiring conversations about loving people for what is on the inside, and helping others do the same.

  • Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) - https://taralazar.com/tag/robin-rosenthal/

    TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE Cover Reveal (plus a giveaway)
    August 8, 2019 in Uncategorized | Tags: Cover Reveal, Gabi Snyder, Giveaway, Robin Rosenthal, Two Dogs on a Trike | 121 comments

    by Gabi Snyder & Robin Rosenthal

    Thank you, Tara, for hosting the cover reveal for TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE!

    READY TO EMBARK ON A JOURNEY?

    When the gate is left open, one dog escapes the yard for an adventure on tricycles, trolleys, and trains. This hilarious story counts up to ten and back down again as more pups join the fun—and one very determined cat goes on the chase!

    Coming in May 2020!

    We (author Gabi Snyder and illustrator Robin Rosenthal) “met” for the first time over video chat to discuss our experiences creating TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE, which is the debut picture book for us both!

    RR: What inspired TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE?

    GS: I’d say one part real-life and one part kidlit! The dog versus cat dynamic that plays out in the story was inspired, in part, by my childhood pets. I grew up with a cat we called Kinko (named for his kinked tail) and an assortment of dogs. Kinko was the undisputed boss. Now my family includes one dog and one cat. (They take turns keeping each other in line.)

    As a kid, one of my favorite picture books was GO, DOG. GO! by P.D. Eastman. I must’ve read that book hundreds of times, anticipating the playful and action-packed dog party at the end. The silly dogs and sense of movement and fun in TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE are, in part, an homage to the P.D. Eastman classic.

    GS: Speaking of silly dogs, I adore the characters you’ve created for TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE and your bold, colorful style! What drew you to the text?

    RR: Thank you! Wow, I love hearing the backstory!

    I loved this text when I first read it. It is so simple, and you leave such a generous amount of room for the illustrator to play. The joke is entirely in the illustrations. You really had to trust your illustrator to pull it off! It’s a true partnership of art and text.

    RR: How did you make choices about leaving room for an illustrator? Was that hard? What, if anything, surprised you about my art?

    GS: Tough questions! I didn’t make a conscious effort to leave room for an illustrator, but I did aim for spare. The text is very simple, but functions as both a counting book and an epic chase! As a counting book, it does specify the number of pups and mode of transportation for each spread, but the appearance and personality of the dogs and the setting were left open to interpretation. I did include a few illustration notes about the cat character and her story arc that’s not obvious from the title or the text!

    The story escalates to “Nine daring dogs on a hot-air balloon.” But when we reach “Ten dogs,” there’s a revelation. That tenth animal is NOT a dog! And while my illustration notes made clear who that is, I did not specify where we are. Robin, your illustration there is hilarious and unexpected! I gasped in surprise when I saw it, and yet it seems like the inevitable “of course!” choice. Truly perfection. Thank you!

    GS: The humor in your art is fantastic. I especially love the facial expressions and costume choices for the cat. What influences did you draw upon when creating this fun group of pups and one sneaky cat?

    RR: When I read the text, I immediately knew that I wanted to create this cat character. In my head she was part Garfield/part Terminator: kind of aloof, but also with strong drive and purpose. I wanted the dogs to be happy, optimistic, and confident. I also wanted each dog to be different so there would be a surprise on every spread. I spent a lot of time getting the expressions right, as they need to convey the emotion of the story without any text to back them up. The clothing is a little bit 80s retro mixed with current kids’ fashion styles.

    GS: Part Garfield/part Terminator—ha! I love the 80s retro vibe in your art.

    RR: What was your experience like as a debut picture book author? Anything that surprised you about the process?

    GS: I was delighted to have the opportunity to work with editor Meredith Mundy and the team at Abrams. The suggested text changes were pretty minor, but definitely strengthened the story. As a newbie, I didn’t know what to expect, but was happily surprised that Meredith kept me apprised of each new development with the art. It was such a delight to watch the characters come to life in your adorable illustrations.

    Meredith recently asked me whether the book looked like what I’d imagined when I submitted the text. In truth, the book’s illustrations are even more adorable and humorous than I’d imagined in my head. The 80s retro vibe/wardrobing of your characters is very much in line with my aesthetic. The only big surprise was the “Ten dogs…WAIT!” spread (which, as I mentioned above, I ADORE). And then when I saw the full color illustrations—wow! It may sound clichéd, but there’s something magical about the picture book collaboration between an author and an illustrator. The whole is so much more than the two parts!

    GS: What was your experience like as a debut picture book illustrator? Anything that surprised you about the process?

    RR: So, first of all, that is so nice to hear! I appreciate that they keep the author and illustrator separate throughout the process, but it is also a little strange to not really know how an author is feeling throughout the process. Meredith would give me very nice updates—like “The author loves the character sketches!”—so that was helpful. I felt a big responsibility with your work!

    I think the hardest part for me as a debut picture book illustrator was the pressure I put on myself. This is your first impression, DO NOT blow it! I had to keep reminding myself that the kids are my audience. Will they laugh? Will they love it and want to read it again? I tried to make that my focus.

    Meredith and our art director, Hana Nakamura, were a pleasure to work with and they gave me a lot of freedom and great feedback. For the cover, we agreed we wanted to show our three main characters. I drew a lot of options and here are a few.

    Meredith and Hana and the team at Abrams picked one and sent some feedback:

    And here is the final cover! I’ve just heard they are going to foil stamp the blue type and the scarf stripes, so I am excited to see that when it is printed!

    TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE is available for pre-order!

    Gabi and Robin will give away one copy of TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE to a lucky commenter (to be sent your way when it releases in May 2020)!

    Leave one comment below.

    A winner will be randomly selected next month.

    Good luck!

Snyder, Gabi TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE abramsappleseed (Children's None) $16.99 5, 19 ISBN: 978-1-4197-3891-3

Careening canine countdowns have never been so much fun!

An inadvertently opened gate beckons, and an adventurous spotted pooch clad in striped leggings and slick boots makes a stealthy getaway with an obliging trike-riding poodle. However, the stern, ever vigilant family cat is not caught unawares. Quickly donning running gear, the determinedly resourceful feline is soon on the tail of not one, not two, but ultimately nine thrill-seeking, barking fugitives. Pizza on a train, busting a groove on a ferry—no chance to party is overlooked. Discarding in turn every mode of pursuit along the way, from skates to helicopter, the intrepid calico finally faces down the drooling mob inside a—spaceship! The panicked dogs backtrack until the original troublemaker is finally locked behind bars. The End—or is it? One paw lick later, two cats on a trike take off with a skateboarding mouse in hot pursuit….Trolleys, trains, ferries, hot air balloons, and more fondly evoke the energy of P.D. Eastman’s Go, Dog. Go! (1961). Snyder’s spare, snappy rhymes give Rosenthal all the fuel needed to hilariously execute eye-popping images of raucous canine chaos. From a guitar-playing dachshund in a cone of shame to a boat-driving pug, this tongue-lolling wild bunch can really get it on.

This fur-raising one-to-10-and-back-again counting book perfectly captures the rollicking, manic joy of dogs off the leash. (Picture book. 3-7)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Snyder, Gabi: TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A617192783/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6b3f49b3. Accessed 7 June 2025.

Rosenthal, Robin SWEET BABE! Tundra Books (Children's None) $17.99 2, 18 ISBN: 9781774884324

An exuberant woman is completely enamored with a special baby.

This gray-haired, bespectacled, very chic grandmother "kvells" over every wonderful thing about the child (a glossary defineskvelling as "bursting with pride"). They play peek-a-boo, and Grandma hugs, kisses, and cuddles the little one. Baby's every expression is met with excitement and joy, and Grandma decides that even the infant's smiles are evidence of genius. There's nothing subtle here and no shading in the art--brightly colored, vibrant double-page spreads present all the activities in sharp relief and large-scaled views. Facial expressions match the action, and even the dog gets in on the fun. Gran's comments appear in speech bubbles or across the pages in dramatically large, bold fonts. Exclamation marks abound, and the text is peppered with Yiddish words that will easily be understood in context. Baby is Grandma's "bubbeleh," and she admires the child's "punim" and kisses the little one's "keppie" and, of course, those chubby baby thighs, the "pulkies." The love between these two is palpable. Jewish readers will especially appreciate this tale, but the glossary and labeled diagram of the baby's body parts ensure that all youngsters and their grown-ups will enjoy cuddling together to read it. The characters are light-skinned.

Joyous, uplifting, and pure fun--a perfect read for grannies babysitting their own bubbelehs.(Picture book. 2-5)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Rosenthal, Robin: SWEET BABE!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A819570362/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0d3df97d. Accessed 7 June 2025.

Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Conservation with Jane Goodall. By Maureen McQuerry. Illus. by Robin Rosenthal. Mar. 2022. 20p. $8.99 (9780593323601). 590.92.

Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Ecosystems with Rachel Carson. By Maureen McQuerry. Illus. by Robun Rosenthal. Mar. 2022. 20p. $8.99 (9780593323649). 570.92.

Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Preservation with Aldo Leopold. By Maureen McQuerry. Illus. by Robin Rosenthal. Mar. 2022. 20p. $8.99 (9780593323724). 333.9516.

Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Restoration with Wangari Maathai. By Maureen McQuerry. Illus. by Robin Rosenthal. Mar. 2022. 20p. $8.99 (9780593323687). 333.72092.

Following the success of the Big Ideas for Little Philosophers series, McQuerry and Rosenthal now turn to the physical world in Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists. This appealing board-book series looks to leaders in the field (sometimes literally), giving light accounts of their lives, work, and values. Each book begins with the statement, "An environmentalist cares for and protects the world around us: the land, water, and air, and the animals and people who live on our planet," and closes with encouraging ways in which kids can be environmentalists themselves. Conservation with Jane Goodall, naturally, looks to Goodall's work with chimpanzees, paying particular attention to her efforts to protect these animals and their habitats. Ecosystems with Rachel Carson accessibly defines ecosystems as "communities of living and nonliving things working together in nature" and highlights their interconnectedness. In Preservation with Aldo Leopold, readers get a good sense of Leopold's love and respect for the outdoors, which he encouraged people to treat "like we would treat a neighbor." Restoration with Wangari Maathai effectively shows how planting trees helped "to heal and repair damaged land." Cute digital illustrations will hold the attention of the littlest readers, but the longer text, big ideas, and reader-directed questions will also work with those who have graduated to picture books.--Julia Smith

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Smith, Julia. "Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists. Putnam. PreS-Gr. 1. (4 titles)." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 13, 1 Mar. 2022, p. 50. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A697176981/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=637cd114. Accessed 7 June 2025.

Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells

Robin Rosenthal. Tundra, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-7748-8432-4

How does one Jewish grandmother dote on a toddler grandchild? With theatrical flourish ("Look. At. This. BABY!!"), absolute conviction ("You're a genius"), and affectionate irony ("OY, you're so sweet, I have a toothache"). But most of all, via lots of Yiddish words, including bubbeleh, ketzleleh, hertzeleh, and terms that present a full accounting of the baby's features. Making her authorial debut, Rosenthal brings this laugh-out-loud linguistic breakdown to life through the broadly cartooned interplay between a pale-skinned grandmother and grandchild, portrayed in distilled single-plane spreads. Beginning and ending with a game of peekaboo, it's a work truly focused on unadulterated kvelling, expressing cross-generational love through two sets of wide eyes and operatic text that speaks to an unalloyed bond. A glossary concludes. Ages 2-5. (Feb.)

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
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"Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 48, 16 Dec. 2024, p. 60. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A820624868/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=389f0543. Accessed 7 June 2025.

"Snyder, Gabi: TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A617192783/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6b3f49b3. Accessed 7 June 2025. "Rosenthal, Robin: SWEET BABE!" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A819570362/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0d3df97d. Accessed 7 June 2025. Smith, Julia. "Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists. Putnam. PreS-Gr. 1. (4 titles)." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 13, 1 Mar. 2022, p. 50. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A697176981/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=637cd114. Accessed 7 June 2025. "Sweet Babe! A Jewish Grandma Kvells." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 48, 16 Dec. 2024, p. 60. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A820624868/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=389f0543. Accessed 7 June 2025.