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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Sheepwrecked
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BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.ashleybelote.com/
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COUNTRY: United States
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LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Female.
EDUCATION:Anderson Broaddus University, B.A.; University of Kentucky, M.A.; attended Simmons College.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and illustrator. Has worked as an art teacher at a children’s camp.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writer and Illustrators (illustrator coordinator for Carolinas chapter).
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Ashley Belote is a writer and illustrator based in NC. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Anderson Broaddus University and a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky. She has also taken courses at Simmons College.
During a stint working as an art teacher at a children’s camp, Belote became inspired to write her first self-illustrated volume, The Me Tree. It finds Bear moving from his crowded cave into a treehouse, where he can be alone. However, Bear discovers that the tree has many other inhabitants, and he learns to enjoy being with them. In an interview with Melissa Fales, contributor to Story Monsters Ink, Belote discussed what she wanted readers to take away from the book, stating: “The message is about more than sharing; it’s about taking the time to appreciate what you have and being in the moment and appreciating the people around you and what they bring to your daily life.” She told Fales that the group in the book was inspired by the relationships she had during her own childhood. She stated: “All of my parents’ friends were my pseudo aunts and uncles. … My close friends are like my brothers and sisters. So, I really love the idea that your family doesn’t have to be limited to the people you’re blood-related to. Family can be whomever you want it to be.” A critic in Kirkus Reviews offered a favorable assessment of The Me Tree, noting that it “celebrates both alone time and community—each one makes the other sweeter.”
In 2022, Belote released a follow-up book called A Partridge in the We Tree, which finds the bear tree dealing with an increasing number of holiday guests. Kelly Jahng, reviewer in School Library Journal, predicted that the book “will give [readers] a laugh while sharing a message of inclusion.”
Another self-illustrated volume by Belote, Witch & Wombat finds Wilma the young witch anticipating adopting a cat. She is disappointed that no cats are available at Beast Buddies Pet Shop, but she reluctantly brings home Wombat instead. Wombat is unable to perform the duties traditionally assigned to witches’ cats, which frustrates Wilma. However, she ultimately learns to appreciate the unique qualities her new friend does have. Reviewing the book in School Library Journal, Annmarie Braithwaite asserted: “With a valuable lesson to accept others as they are, this story is great for any children’s collection.” A Kirkus Reviews writer described the book as “a spellbinding tale that encourages readers to accept—and celebrate—what makes us different.”
In Sheepwrecked, Belote tells the story of crew of pirate sheep that gets stranded on Foggy Island. The crew, led by Captain Hoof, has plundered a treasure known as the Golden Shears, which are owned by the notorious Woolly Jones. Coincidentally, Woolly lives on Foggy Island. Captain Hoof and his crew decide to return the sheers, fearful of how Woolly will react. However, Woolly surprises them by being welcoming and grateful. A Kirkus Reviews critic described the book as “a cheery story that ‘wool’ likely evoke some smiles.” Joan Kindig, contributor to WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, noted that the volume offered “perfectly timed silliness that even very young children will love.”
Belote has also served as an illustrator for volumes written by other authors. In a collaboration with writer, Joy Keller, Belote provided the artwork for Frankenslime, which stars a slime-loving science fan named Victoria Franken. Victoria is tired of making the usual slime, so she determines to make something new. When her latest creation is struck by lightning, it takes on a life of its own. “Victoria is a wonderful, inquisitive protagonist of color with a warm heart,” asserted Rosie Camargo in Booklist. Writing in School Library Journal, Elizabeth Gold commented: “Kids are sure to get a kick out of the detailed illustrations.” Victoria returns in Valenslime, which finds her once again creating new types of slime. According to Kelly Richards, contributor to School Library Journal: “This vibrant book is filled with eye-catching illustrations that will leave children yearning for more.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, June 1, 2021, Rosie Camargo, review of Frankenslime, p. 87.
Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2021, review of The Me Tree; May 15, 2023, review of Witch & Wombat; January 15, 2024, review of Don’t Wash Winston; May 1, 2024, review of Sheepwrecked.
School Library Journal, September, 2021, Elizabeth Gold, review of Frankenslime, p. 67; January, 2022, Kelly Richards, review of Valenslime, p. 55; September, 2022, Kelly Johns, review of A Partridge in the We Tree, p. 89; June, 2023, Annmarie Braithwaite, review of Witch & Wombat, p. 67.
Story Monsters Ink, December, 2021, Melissa Fales, “Ashley Belote Invites Little Readers to Climb the Me Tree,” author interview, p. 8.
WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, August 23, 2024, Joan Kindig, review of Sheepwrecked, p. 1.
ONLINE
Ashley Belote website, https://www.ashleybelote.com/ (October 17, 2024).
Jena Benton website, https://jenabenton.com/ (June 28, 2022), Jena Benton, author interview; (July 6, 2023), Jena Benton, author interview.
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators website, https://www.scbwi.org/ (October 17, 2024), author profile.
Ashley Belote
Ashley Belote is the illustrator of FRANKENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021) and VALENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021). She is the author-illustrator of her solo debut early reader THE ME TREE (Penguin Workshop, 2021) and her solo debut picture book LISTEN UP, LOUELLA (Feiwel & Friends, 2022).
She studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. Ashley is a West Virginia native, and earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University. She earned her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course, The Whole Book Approach, through Simmons College at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. She also serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the Carolinas chapter of SCBWI. Ashley is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency.
Contact me! Ashley@AshleyBelote.com
Ashley Belote is the illustrator of Frankenslime and the author-illustrator of Listen Up, Louella. She studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. Ashley earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University and her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course through Simmons College. Ashley lives and works in North Carolina where she creates artwork that she hopes brings lots of laughs to others.
Ashley Belote
Illustrator Coordinator
PAL Member
About
Ashley Belote is the illustrator of FRANKENSLIME
(Feiwel & Friends, 2021) and VALENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021). She
is the author-illustrator of her solo debut early reader THE ME TREE (Penguin
Workshop, 2021) and her solo debut picture book LISTEN UP,
LOUELLA (Feiwel & Friends, 2022). She studied traditional animation under the direction
of Don Bluth. Ashley earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University and her MA
in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study
included a children’s literature and illustration course, The Whole Book Approach,
through Simmons College at the Erica Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. She also serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the
Carolinas chapter of SCBWI. Ashley is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency. Visit her at AshleyBelote.com.
www.ashleybelote.com/
Simply 7 with Ashley Belote: LISTEN UP, LOUELLA
June 28, 2022 / jenabenton
Today I get to share a new author-illustrator picture book with you.
AshleyBelote Headshot 8.30Ashley Belote is the illustrator of FRANKENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021) and VALENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends, 2021). She is the author-illustrator of her solo debut early reader THE ME TREE (Penguin Workshop, 2021) and her solo debut picture book LISTEN UP, LOUELLA (Feiwel & Friends, 2022).
She studied traditional animation under the direction of Don Bluth. Ashley earned her BA from Alderson Broaddus University and her MA in Arts Administration from the University of Kentucky. Her graduate study included a children’s literature and illustration course, The Whole Book Approach, through Simmons College at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. She also serves as the Illustrator Coordinator for the Carolinas chapter of SCBWI. Ashley is represented by Moe Ferrara of BookEnds Literary Agency. You can learn more about her at her website.
Louella CoverLISTEN UP, LOUELLA is a fun picture book about an elephant named Louella. She is much too excited about Roar Scout Camp to slow down and listen to what anyone around her wants. This leads to a few frustrated friends not being able to communicate important things with her. I won’t spoil the ending, but the story didn’t quite go in the direction I thought it would. I love when a story surprises me. The illustrations are fun with lots of details to entertain young readers. In fact, the details need to be paid attention to, just like Louella needs to listen (as there’s a secondary storyline that could be missed otherwise). This is a book that you won’t want to miss.
Welcome Ashley!
Me: Can you share about your artistic journey? When did you start creating art? How did that bring you to where you are now as an illustrator?
Ashley: Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Jena! My artistic journey began when I was two years old! One day, my mom was busy preparing for a family gathering and needed to occupy me somehow. She put a crayon in my hand and drew some lines. She jokes that I’ve never put that crayon down! I have always loved art and was never interested in anything else. I consider being an artist part of my identity, and I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to do what I love so much.
My family owned an independent publishing house, so I grew up surrounded by books. I studied art in school, but it wasn’t until I attended the Simmons College program at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art that I found my place in art. I took a class from Megan Dowd Lambert called The Whole Book Approach, and that class changed my life. It showed me all that picture books can offer, how they can affect readers and the endless possibilities of 32 pages. I fell in love with the entire process. I joined SCBWI shortly after the class, and in 2019, that organization helped me launch my career after a successful portfolio review with art director Mallory Grigg. I got my first book deal to illustrate FRANKENSLIME (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan) by Joy Keller, and my dream began to come true!
Me: Wow! That’s quite a journey. “Listen Up, Louella” is your author-illustrator debut. Yay! Congratulations! What is it that draws you to creating picture books?
Ashley: Thank you so much!! I would say…laughter!! I love to laugh, and I love to make others laugh. Humor has always been there for me. I love watching comedies, reading the Sunday funnies, and spending hours perusing funny picture books. My mom has a great sense of humor, so it’s just been something I have always been surrounded by and find comforting. If I can create a humorous illustration that makes a child giggle, I consider that a success.
I also love the challenges that arise during the picture book-making process. When working on a picture book, I’m often faced with odd problems to solve. For example, in LISTEN UP, LOUELLA, there is a scene in which Louella builds a toilet paper fort, haha. I had to figure out what a toilet paper fort would look like, how it would stand up, and how Louella would exist within that space. So, I did a series of construction drawings and finally figured out a design that worked. It was a fun way to spend the day! I loved it!
1_TP fort sketch
Another scene that was fun to work through was the canoe spread. Louella charges to the front of the line so she can get into a canoe before someone else takes it. I needed to show her using two canoes so that none of the other characters would be able to have one, thus showing her being a bit selfish. I also needed to show the frustration of the secondary characters to contrast with Louella’s happiness. Plus, I needed to work in Tarantula! I created my final composition through the evolution of the three sketches below.
2_12-13 progression
Me: I love how you have almost a side-story going on in the illustrations of this book with the spider constantly trying to get Louella’s attention. It’s not that she’s just excited, but she’s literally tuning everyone out. What gave you the idea for this story?
Ashley: Thank you! As an illustrator, creating a B-story is my opportunity to illustrate beyond the text and add a visual narrative (mine is often humorous) that kids can spot throughout the book. Throughout LISTEN UP, LOUELLA, a tiny tarantula desperately tries to get Louella’s attention, but she is too focused on her own agenda to pay attention. I used a small character to fill this role so that readers could search through the art to find him! Exploring artwork for small details is one of my favorite things to do. As a result, when I make books, I love creating spreads that offer that experience to readers. The first spread in the book was super important to set up the rest of the story. I tried several compositions and with the help of the art director, we ended up with a loud and active introduction that features Louella and also presents the tarantula.
3_6-7 progression
LISTEN UP, LOUELLA is the product of a manuscript revision. I wanted to show a bold character solely focused on their wants and needs. Listening is an important lesson for children as well as adults. I can often get wrapped up in my tasks and become completely oblivious to my surroundings. If this becomes a habit, like in Louella’s case, it can cause you to miss out on something important! It’s necessary to slow down, listen, and appreciate what is happening in your environment. PLUS! Elephants are one of my favorite animals. I’ve always, always, always wanted to make a book with one in it! This story was my chance!! Thus, Louella was born. 😊
4_Louella
Me: I love elephants too! Which was harder: writing or illustrating “Listen Up, Louella”?
Ashley: I would say my process of writing and illustrating happens simultaneously. I often draw a character first, then write about it. I switch back to drawing, and that back-and-forth process inspires additional plot points to help me fill in the narrative. I’m a visual learner, so while in school, I would need to see things to understand how they worked. This tendency has carried into my picture book-making process, and it’s a lot of fun! My characters are like my friends, so I’m always excited when I get to draw them because they show me a story.
Me: What did your illustration process for this book look like? Are you a traditional or a digital artist? Or do you use a blend of both?
Ashley: I’m a bit of a blender, haha. I sketch traditionally, and then once I have a solid idea, I’ll pull that sketch into Procreate and sketch more on top of the original drawing. I use Procreate for all the final sketches and color artwork.
In terms of my process, I begin with character development so that I get to know a lot about who/what I’m drawing. I need to know how their bodies move, how their facial expressions look, and how they move and interact with other characters and backgrounds. I create what’s called a character model sheet, a page of character sketches that show different positions/perspectives. Below is a model sheet of Louella that I created during the character development process.
5_Louella Model Sheet
Experimenting is part of the creative process, and the digital format allows me to work uninhibited. I can try several different techniques, work with unique and unlimited colors, and incorporate textures and effects into my illustrations. One of the best advantages of working in the digital space is color matching. When creating artwork for a picture book, many aspects must remain consistent throughout the illustrations. For example, characters must remain on model, which means the characters need to look like the same characters every time they appear in the work. One factor in this consistency checklist is color. When working digitally, it’s simple to take a color sample from your approved color and apply it to the subsequent illustrations, thus resulting in consistent tones throughout the book. It’s also efficient when choosing colors because you can simply duplicate files, change the color of your elephant, and then compare them next to each other to define what’s working and what’s not working. Below is a few examples of color tests I tried for Louella’s color.
6_Cover color progression
Me: Louella’s feelings get hurt when she isn’t invited to the birthday party, but really that’s her own fault for not listening. I love all the different ways you show why it’s important to actually listen to others (their voices, their body language, their wants and desires, etc.). Why is this an important message you want to share with young readers?
Ashley: I was super shy when I was a kid, so I was often afraid to ask for help or stand up for myself. I wanted to tell a story from the perspective of a bold character to show how actions can affect those around that character and how that character can be affected personally. School and girl scouts helped me overcome my shyness, so I set the story at Roar Scout Camp so the main character would have a lot of opportunities to interact with secondary characters. Forming close friendships through scouts can be so helpful for kids who struggle in social situations, so using that type of group in the book was a way for me to pay homage to my own troop and celebrate how much they helped me grow. I hope this book speaks to all kids, especially the softspoken ones who just need someone to care about what they have to say.
Me: Any advice for other new picture book writers and/or illustrators?
Ashley: Your motivation should come from passion. In my opinion, passion is the key to success in publishing. No matter where you are on your publishing journey, your love for your craft should be able to continue carrying you through all the trials and tribulations that a creative career can entail. Just continue to make books because that’s what you love to do! And to illustrators specifically, draw what makes you happy. Don’t try to emulate what others are doing. No one can make what you can create. So, make it, embrace it, and love it!!
I love that advice Ashley. Thank you for stopping by my blog today.
Dear readers, Ashley’s book came out exactly one week ago (i.e., last Tuesday). If you haven’t had a chance yet to read it, track it down. It’s a fun story that I think every young reader will relate to with tons of fun details thrown in. Don’t miss it!
QUOTED: "Learning to look past the obvious and get to know others is an essential lesson that kids need to learn at an early age. If we judge others by their appearance or a brief first interaction, we could be missing out on wonderful friendships. Showing all that wombat can bring to the table (even though it's different from what a cat can do), was a fun way to present this concept throughout the book."
Simply 7 with Ashley Belote: WITCH AND WOMBAT
July 6, 2023 / jenabenton
Today brings another author-illustrator’s fabulous picture book with wombats! But this one is a fun fictional take with those lovable furballs.
Ashley_Belote_Headshot 2023Ashley Belote has visited my blog once before and I’ve since had the delight of meeting her in person. She has illustrated or been the author-illustrator of several books now. She lives in the Carolinas and you can learn more about her at her website.
WITCH & WOMBAT cover 3.22 BWITCH AND WOMBAT is a delightful story of a young witch named Wilma who is excited to get her very first cat. Instead, she ends up bringing home a wombat! And try as she might, she cannot get that wombat to act like a cat. It’s funny and heart-wrenching at the same time as she learns to accept instead of try to change her new furry friend. These are such fun characters!
Welcome back Ashley!
Me: I love both of your main characters, Wilma and Wombat. What gave you the idea for their story?
Ashley: Thank you! The idea originated about 10 years ago. I was studying children’s literature and illustration with Megan Dowd Lambert at the Eric Carle Museum of picture book art. I rented a small attic apartment in a house in Amherst, MA while I was studying there, and one evening I was sitting at my desk and the alliteration, witch and wombat, popped into my mind. The story has taken many twists and turns since that day, but it wasn’t meant to be a book until now. Timing is everything!
6-7_5.2
Me: I love that. Out of all the animals in the world, you have chosen some interesting ones for this book: wombats and piranhas. Why did you pick those specific animals for this story?
Ashley: I chose a wombat because that was part of my original concept. I think choosing unique characters is fun because they come with a challenge! I’m always trying to branch out and I haven’t seen a lot of wombats (or piranhas) in children’s books. I also tried to think of typical pets you see at the pet store. I always see fish and thought, well, if this is a unique world, then the pets at the store should reflect that. Therefore, piranhas would be the norm instead of goldfish!
12-13-4.1
Me: You have several picture books out now. Can you tell us a little bit about your creation process? What comes first for you? The writing or the illustrating?
Ashley: I love both writing and illustrating, and these creative processes happen simultaneously for me. I’m a visual person, so I’m most inspired by visuals, including pictures. I’ll typically have an idea for a character and create a sketch, then I’ll do some writing about them and craft a narrative. I’ll switch back and forth from writing to illustrating throughout the process of creating a book dummy. I find that to be helpful because if I get stuck on one, I can switch to the other for a while.
Me: Wilma could have just been a child who gets the wrong pet, instead of a witch. BUT having her be a witch looking for a cat like every-other-witch, creates more tension and increases the urgency of the problem. That’s brilliant! Was the story always that way? If not, how many revisions did it take to get to such a great plot arc?
Ashley: Thank you so much! As I mentioned, this story has taken many twists and turns on the way to the final version. In 2013, the story began as an adult witch who was in search of a cat. Over time, she changed from an adult witch to a kid witch, and various struggles morphed into the situations currently present in the story. I would say this book evolved over a 10 year period, which includes three full versions of the book dummy and 20 plus manuscript drafts. Now, this is certainly not always the case for every book I work on. Sometimes stories take more revisions than others. This one took a lot, but that is honestly because I was growing as a picture book maker along with this story. It has been a pleasure to come into my own alongside this special narrative.
20-21-4.1
Me: What is one thing that surprised you in the writing or illustrating of this book?
Ashley: One thing that surprised me was how much I enjoyed the research aspect of this book! I wanted to be sure to incorporate facts about wombats throughout the narrative. I think they are fascinating (and adorable) critters, so learning about them became a fun perk of working on this project.
Me: I love how Wombat doesn’t speak and yet has so much to say as a character. And at the heart of the story, Wilma learns to accept Wombat as he is, instead of trying to change him into something she wants. That’s such an incredibly heartfelt message delivered in a non-preachy (and very funny) way! Why is this an important message you want to share with young readers?
Wilma and Wombat hugAshley: I think picture books are magical in that they can teach while being entertaining. If a child is going to spend some time enjoying one of my picture books, I think they should come away with some entertainment and a valuable lesson learned. I’ve always felt like an oddball myself, so creating a book about an odd friendship seemed appropriate. Learning to look past the obvious and get to know others is an essential lesson that kids need to learn at an early age. If we judge others by their appearance or a brief first interaction, we could be missing out on wonderful friendships. Showing all that wombat can bring to the table (even though its different from what a cat can do), was a fun way to present this concept throughout the book.
Me: You’ve had some unusual pets over the years (a beaver, a catfish, and a snapping turtle!). If you were a witch and you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
Ashley: I love this question! Yes, the character of Wilma is loosely based on myself. I spent my childhood asking for a cat but couldn’t have one because my mom was allergic. I grew up surrounded by wonderful outdoor spaces to explore, so I did indeed have a few strange pets. I will say, these were all outside pets, haha. If I were a witch, I would probably choose a wombat, simply because Wilma seems to really enjoy her new friend.
Ha! That’s wonderful. Thank you for stopping by my blog again today Ashley.
Dear readers, WITCH AND WOMBAT was just released into the world this week. It’s a super fun concept with amazing characters that will pull at your heartstrings (and make you laugh out loud). You won’t want to miss it!
QUOTED: "perfectly timed silliness that even very young children will love."
BELOTE, Ashley. Sheepwrecked. illus. by Ashley Belote. 40p. Random. Jul. 2024. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593569665.
K-Gr 4—This book will require no coaxing of children to get them to read it—quite the opposite. The vibrant, colorful illustrations will appeal to young readers as soon as the cover comes into view. Their interest will already be piqued by the title, and the chaotic cover reveals a clue or two to what's inside: a pirate ship in shambles and worried looks on the sheep trying to keep it afloat. The sheep need to get to Foggy Island where an old pirate, Woolly Jones, lives as he is the only one able to help them. Fun for pre-readers, this story is also suitable for older kids due to playful language. The text abounds with puns ("Wooly is me" instead of "Woe is me"), Shakespearean quotes ("All's wool that ends well"), alliteration, visual spoofs (Woolson instead of Wilson, the ball from Castaway). Teachers can introduce all of these things incidentally and begin referring to other examples upon further reading.
VERDICT: Reading this book on more than one level makes it a must-buy for the elementary school library; its appeal crosses grade levels, which is unusual, but it never stops being perfectly timed silliness that even very young children will love.—Joan Kindig
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Kindig, Joan. "Sheepwrecked." WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, vol. 70, no. 8, 23 Aug. 2024, p. 1. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A807277404/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=84c7b09a. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "a cheery story that 'wool' likely evoke some smiles."
Belote, Ashley SHEEPWRECKED Random House (Children's None) $18.99 7, 9 ISBN: 9780593569665
A "baa"-nd of pirates gets the wool pulled over their eyes.
After a treasure-hunting foray, Captain Hoof and his crew of fleecy sheep are homeward bound with a glittery bounty--the lost Golden Shears, which once belonged to the infamous Woolly Jones. Suddenly, huge waves engulf and smash their ship. They're sheepwrecked and stranded on Foggy Island, home to none other than Woolly Jones. After nearly a month of failed attempts to get off the island, Captain Hoof decides to return the shears to their rightful owner. Trekking across the island through fog as thick and impenetrable as wool, captain and crew eventually bump into their nemesis, who snatches the shears from the captain's hooves. Expecting dire consequences, everyone starts to flee, but things turn out wool, er, well. In a 90-degree book turn, Woolly is depicted using the shears to give himself a much-needed "woolcut." He's grateful for the shears--and for the company after a long, lonely spell. Captain Hoof and crew are delighted at this outcome. This is a cute tale, though the plot is a bit thin; the numerous, amusing sheep puns will appeal more to grown-ups than kids. But the digital illustrations are comical and dynamic, and the all-ovine protagonists are lively and expressive. The book contains lots of typographical creativity, including some onomatopoeic words, incorporated into the artwork, and maps in the endpapers include islands bearing funny, aptly punny names.
A cheery story that "wool" likely evoke some smiles. (Picture book. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Belote, Ashley: SHEEPWRECKED." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A791876924/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4f2afe80. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
Belote, Ashley DON'T WASH WINSTON Feiwel & Friends (Children's None) $18.99 3, 26 ISBN: 9781250883056
Sometimes being a good friend means making scary choices.
Young Liam and his beloved teddy bear, Winston, love playing together. They take care of each other and lean on one other when times get tough. Their favorite activity is making mud pies, which naturally involves a robust helping of dirt and water. It's all fun and games until Winston takes "a terrible tumble." Flipping "toes over nose," he lands with a tremendous FLOP in the middle of the mud. Winston is a mess, and a messy bear means a trip to the washing machine. Liam has feelings about this (he creates a drawing labeled "box + Winston + water = no way") and attempts several creative evasion techniques, culminating in Liam taking a muddy spill of his own. After a satisfying bath, Liam realizes that Winston also needs to get clean. Liam takes a deep breath and promises Winston that he'll stay close. Winston is finally cleaned, and the two are cozily reunited. Liam's dad is patient and empathetic (if a little understandably annoyed with his shenanigans). Photos and drawings on the wall suggest that theirs is a single-parent household--a subtle and welcome reminder that there are many examples of loving families. Effervescent illustrations convey energy and emotion and have a palpably cuddly appeal. Liam and his father are brown-skinned.
A wonderful choice for any youngster who's ever known the love of a stuffed best friend (scary appliance notwithstanding). (Picture book. 2-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Belote, Ashley: DON'T WASH WINSTON." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Jan. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779191163/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c94d9042. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "a spellbinding tale that encourages readers to accept—and celebrate—what makes us different."
Belote, Ashley WITCH & WOMBAT Random House (Children's None) $18.99 7, 4 ISBN: 9780593569634
A bespectacled young witch longs for a cat but ends up with something unexpected.
Though Wilma is excited for her first feline pet, when she goes to the Beast Buddies Pet Shop there are no more cats; instead, she is offered a wombat. She begrudgingly takes the dumpy, snoozy chum but worries: "Everyone else brings cats to school. Cats have been friends to witches for centuries. What a cat-tastrophe!" Unfortunately, Wombat is afraid of heights, which makes mastering Broom-Flying Basics a challenge; can't perch on the edge of a cauldron during Brewing Potions for Beginners; and doesn't stay in the required spell boundary zone, causing a spell to go disastrously wrong. Wilma is so frustrated she wishes Wombat would disappear. And Wombat does just that--by burrowing deep into the ground. Sprinkled with wombat facts (Wilma's remembering that wombat scat is cube-shaped helps her follow a trail of poop to find her pal), this is a winning testament to true friendship. Wilma sets aside her assumptions of what a witch's companion should look like and realizes just how wonderful Wombat truly is. This is a not-so-spooky tale perfect for Halloween and beyond. Wilma has bluish-black hair and pale skin among a diverse class. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A spellbinding tale that encourages readers to accept--and celebrate--what makes us different. (Picture book. 4-7)
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"Belote, Ashley: WITCH & WOMBAT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A748974102/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6e555889. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "With a valuable lesson to accept others as they are, this story is great for any children's collection."
BELOTE, Ashley. Witch & Wombat. 40p. Random. Jul. 2023. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593569634.
PreS-Gr 2--Wilma, a child witch, wakes up excited. Today, she will become a complete witch. She goes to receive her cat to start her magic training. She gets to the pet shop, but they are all out of cats and only have a wombat. So begins a whimsical story of Wilma and her wombat, and as readers soon learn, wombats are so unlike cats. They do not play with yarn, they produce cube-shaped poop, they have small tails, and they can dig tunnels up to 650 feet long. They will not perch on the cauldron, as Wilma needs, and her wombat is afraid of flying on a broomstick. She cries out in distress and wishes he were a cat--and he disappears. When she discovers that the wombat is reading up on how to become a cat, Wilma is in awe, and changes her mind about what kind of witch she will be. This quirky picture book lives beyond any seasonal use. The font is set up in a graphic novel-type format, which may be small for some younger readers. VERDICT With a valuable lesson to accept others as they are, this story is great for any children's collection, any time of year.--Annmarie Braithwaite
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Braithwaite, Annmarie. "BELOTE, Ashley. Witch & Wombat." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 6, June 2023, p. 67. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A751405737/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ae084a00. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "will give [readers] a laugh while sharing a message of inclusion."
BELOTE, Ashley. A Partridge in the We Tree. illus. by Ashley Belote. 32p. Penguin Workshop. Oct. 2022. Tr $12.99. ISBN 9780593384886; pap. $4.99. ISBN 9780593384862.
K-Gr 2--This follow-up to Belote's The Me Tree is a frenetic romp through a parody of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." In the previous volume, Bear has accepted the idea of sharing his tree, but he's not sure how he feels about so many others showing up for Christmas. In this book, a new set of animals comes each day to join the festivities; from a simple partridge and three French squirrels to five manatees, eight goats a-milking, and more. The simple text with plenty of repetition follows a predictable pattern, making it accessible to emerging readers. Bear interjects a simple comment with the arrival of each animal crew, which adds humor and perspective on Bear as a character. The full-page color illustrations add excitement and show the energetic nature of the story, as well as Bear's facial expressions as he attempts to deal with the new arrivals. However, illustrations do not help readers' comprehension enough. The exterior of the tree house is never shown, nor do the interior views give the scope of how many animals have gathered in this tree. Nevertheless, this is a fun holiday offering for beginning readers that will give them a laugh while sharing a message of inclusion. VERDICT A nice addition to holiday and early reader collections.--Kelly Jahng
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Jahng, Kelly. "BELOTE, Ashley. A Partridge in the We Tree." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 9, Sept. 2022, pp. 89+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A715572326/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=009bd842. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "This vibrant book is filled with eye-catching illustrations that will leave children yearning for more."
KELLER, Joy. Valenslime. illus. by Ashley Belote. 40p. Feiwel & Friends. Dec. 2021. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781250799777.
K-Gr 2--Victoria, an exuberant Black girl who loves to experiment with slime, calls herself a "slime scientist." She and her friend, Goop, a giant slime blob, love to read science stories together. As Victoria makes Valentine's cards for her school friends, readers learn through detailed illustrations and text that Goop wants another friend. Can Victoria experiment and make a friend for Goop? Keller takes readers on a hysterical rollercoaster ride of action while Victoria tinkers with different recipes of slime. She records all her observations, like a true scientist. Finally, Victoria and her dog Igor realize they've made many friends for Goop. This vibrant book is filled with eye-catching illustrations that will leave children yearning for more. Using a mix of bright colors and a variety of digitally created art, Belote taps into every child's imagination. The author and illustrator also blend in Victoria's handwriting all over the walls with her scientific observations. Keller uses developmentally appropriate text that early readers know, combined with multisyllabic adjectives like "splattered and sparkled" to make for a joyful reading experience. Classic Frankenstein hints dropped in the book make this a fun read for all ages. Back matter includes some of Victoria's favorite slime recipes, so readers can make their own valenslimes. VERDICT A must for early childhood librarians, teachers, parents, and readers.--Kelly Richards
Caption: Valenslime (Keller) [C]2021 by Ashley Belote, p. 55
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Richards, Kelly. "KELLER, Joy. Valenslime." School Library Journal, vol. 68, no. 1, Jan. 2022, pp. 55+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A688744146/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f2eecaf8. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "celebrates both alone time and community—each one makes the other sweeter."
Belote, Ashley THE ME TREE Penguin Workshop (Children's None) $12.99 11, 2 ISBN: 978-0-593-38485-5
A disgruntled bear searches for solitude.
The cave is much too crowded; Bear needs to find another place to live. The community notice board is filled with options, but none is more appealing than a treehouse. A whole house in a tree? Bear plants a signpost out front so everyone knows that this is the titular "Me Tree." But alas, Bear is not alone. There are squirrels munching on popcorn in the theater room, bees buzzing in the bedroom, and a very (very) slow sloth using the toilet. Bear bellows in frustration: "I just want to be / ALONE!" The menagerie of animals slumps sadly away. (Sloth even carries a note that reads: "I am sad.") The text is paced for emergent readers, but those wanting more of a challenge can also scan the plethora of notes and signs found within the art. Belote's humor shines in the details (the ingredients listed on the "Acorn Flakes" box, for example, include "dirt" and "more dirt"). Some vocabulary, such as potpourri, seems a bit much, but most words skim easily along, thrumming with Bear's grumpiness (and eventual change of heart). (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Celebrates both alone time and community--each one makes the other sweeter. (Early reader. 5-8)
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"Belote, Ashley: THE ME TREE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A677072924/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=03098cb2. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "The message is about more than sharing; it's about taking the time to appreciate what you have and being in the moment and appreciating the people around you and what they bring to your daily life."
"All of my parents' friends were my pseudo aunts and uncles. ... My close friends are like my brothers and sisters. So, I really love the idea that your family doesn't have to be limited to the people you're blood-related to. Family can be whomever you want it to be."
When she was growing up, Ashley Belote's parents owned a small, independent publishing company, providing her with an insider's view of the industry and instilling her with a lifelong appreciation for books of all kinds. "I would travel to book shows with them and run the cash register and help out any little way I could," she says. "I developed a love of reading through that involvement, and I had access to hundreds of books all the time." Belote recently made her debut as an author/illustrator with her early reader book, The Me Tree, released on November 9.
Belote pursued a career in the illustration field, studying traditional animation at Alderson Broaddus University and earning her master's degree in Arts Administration at the University of Kentucky. As part of her education, Belote completed the Whole Book Approach Course taught at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts through Simmons College. "It was the coolest thing I've ever done," she said. "It was absolutely magical. We got to take private tours of the museum. The class was held in the library, so we were learning about all the books that were all around us. We learned how picture books can entertain, how they can teach, and that reading a picture book can be an event."
One of the lasting takeaways from the course for Belote is how to use the whole book as a teaching tool. "We learned how to teach kids about the specific parts of a book: the spine, the front and back covers, and my personal favorite, the end papers." Belote says she likes the idea of carefully examining the end papers to pique the interest of children. "You can often start the story there, before the words," she says.
Belote was attending a SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) conference when she made the connection that led to her first book illustration deal. "I took a class from the art director at a publishing house," she says. "I learned that she was working on a project and was looking for someone to illustrate anthropomorphic slime and I thought How fun is that?" Belote submitted a sample she whipped up and got the job. "I was so excited," she says. "The thing I'd been working toward my entire life was coming true."
Frankenslime, written by Joy Keller and illustrated by Belote was published in July 2021. It's about a science-savvy girl who loves to experiment with different kinds of slime only to have one of her crazy concoctions come to life. Keller and Belote also teamed up for Valenslime, due out this December.
Belote says she got the idea for The Me Tree while teaching an art class for elementary-age children at a summer art camp.
"We were making leaf prints using lettuce leaves," she says. "I thought the one I made looked like a tree. Then I drew a cute little bear and the phrase 'Who's in my tree?' popped into my head." The kids in the class helped Belote by suggesting other animals for her to draw in the tree. "I thought that the idea of a bunch of animals living together in a common space would make a great children's book," she says.
The Me Tree is about a bear who wants some alone time. He finds a large tree to live in where he plans to bask in solitude, only to discover that the tree has a number of other residents. He gets upset and asks the other animals to leave, only to find that each of them has left him a little note telling him how much they enjoyed the activities they did together. "At the end of the book, bear decides it's time to change the 'me' tree to the 'we' tree, a place that works for all of the residents to be together," says Belote. "The message is about more than sharing; it's about taking the time to appreciate what you have and being in the moment and appreciating the people around you and what they bring to your daily life."
For Belote, an only child, the idea of a group of animals who aren't related but still form a family hit home. "All of my parents' friends were my pseudo aunts and uncles," she says. "My close friends are like my brothers and sisters. So, I really love the idea that your family doesn't have to be limited to the people you're blood-related to. Family can be whomever you want it to be."
Belote says it was "definitely different" illustrating her own text as opposed to a story written by someone else. "When I'm illustrating someone else's book, the words are there," she says. "But The Me Tree started as a picture, so I worked backwards. I started with sketches. I worked on movement and character interaction with my sketches, and then I built the narrative around them."
Next June, look for Belote's next release, Listen Up, Louella. "It's about a fun little elephant who is a little overly excited about life," she says. "I guess it's better to be overexcited than gloomy, but Louella tends to insert herself into games and cuts lines where others are waiting because she's so excited to do everything." Throughout the story, there's a little tarantula on every page, trying to get Louella's attention. "He's trying to invite her to his birthday party, but she never stops long enough to notice him and eventually he gives up," says Belote. "When Louella later walks in on the party, she gets upset because she thinks she wasn't invited."
All of Belote's work has one thing in common: she injects her sense of humor into everything she does. "I feel like humor can help deliver any type of message you want to give," she says. "There's always an opportunity to rope in something funny. And it doesn't necessarily have to be something that's included in the story. It can just be something happening in the background." It's one way Belote tries to entertain the adults who are reading to children. "It's a way to say to the parent, 'Look, I understand that this is not as exciting to you as it is to a child, but hopefully I can give you something that will make you want to read it again,'" she says. "And when you're trying to include a message to children about kindness or friendship or something like that, the underlying use of humor always helps spread that message more easily."
For more information about Ashley Belote and The Me Tree, visit ashleybelote.com.
by Melissa Fales
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Story Monsters LLC
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Fales, Melissa. "ASHLEY BELOTE: INVITES LITTLE READERS TO CLIMB THE ME TREE." Story Monsters Ink, vol. 00, no. 00, Dec. 2021, pp. 8+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A686051760/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=18c9bc18. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "Kids are sure to get a kick out of the detailed illustrations."
KELLER, Joy. Frankenslime. illus. by Ashley Belote. 40p. Feiwel & Friends. Jul. 2021. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781250765802.
Gr 3-5--With the help of her canine lab partner, Igor, scientist Victoria Franken creates varieties of slime that excite and amaze. One night, after Victoria comes up with a new idea, she and Igor return to the lab and begin experimenting. This time, their hard work results in a slime like no other. Persistent Victoria never gives up trying to perfect her recipes even after multiple failures. Most pages have no more than three to four lines of text. The font is very easy to read. On some of the pages, the author breaks up the text and uses ellipses, resulting in a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative. Victoria is Black, and illustrations include children from different cultures and a girl in a wheelchair. Three slime recipes appear at the end of the book with clear step-by-step instructions. This title is great for group read-alouds or independent reading. The story is entertaining, and kids are sure to get a kick out of the detailed illustrations, which also include sticky notes, diagrams, and lists that Victoria has hung up all over her lab. VERDICT Highly recommended for all picture book collections.--Elizabeth Gold, Midwood High Sch., NY
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Gold, Elizabeth. "KELLER, Joy. Frankenslime." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 9, Sept. 2021, p. 67. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A673471196/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e5b57046. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "Victoria is a wonderful, inquisitive protagonist of color with a warm heart."
rankenslime. By Joy Keller. Illus. by Ashley Belote. July 2021. 40p. Feiwel and Friends, $18.99 (97812507658021. K-Gr.3.
Victoria Franken loves science, but what she loves most of all is making slime. With the help of her faithful dog, Igor, she creates a lab where she can dedicate her science skills to engineering slime. She begins small, making bouncy, smooth, and stretchy slimes, but soon grows bored with these simple concoctions. In a gleeful demonstration of the scientific method, Victoria begins experimenting and adjusting her recipes as she develops incredible slimes, like rainbow cloud slime and intergalactic space slime. Then one night during a thunderstorm she gets an idea for a new creation. Victoria mixes her ingredients into a glowing green slime, only for it to be struck by a bolt of lightning that brings it to life! Not to worry; a clever twist diverts the plot from horror to happy ending. Playful illustrations utilize a Halloween palette favoring purples, teal, and greens and incorporate fun details and a decidedly mad-scientist vibe. Victoria is a wonderful, inquisitive protagonist of color with a warm heart, and three of her amazing slime recipes are appended.--Rosie Camargo
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
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Camargo, Rosie. "Frankenslime." Booklist, vol. 117, no. 19-20, 1 June 2021, pp. 87+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A666230317/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8d6cae49. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.