Giveaway – 14 Cows For America and Thomas Gonzalez Shares the Illustration Process for this Beautiful Picture Book
Yesterday I gushed about 14 Cows for America illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez and written by Carmen Agra Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah. If you missed my gushing, go back and read my book review because I can honestly say that 14 Cows For America is one of the most beautiful picture books that I’ve read this year both in prose and in illustration. While there don’t forget to watch the book trailer which is full of beautiful spreads from the book.
Two things that I wanted to accomplish with this post today was to share with you a video of Tom Gonzalez describing the illustration process and then give a book away!
In this video Thomas Gonzalez shares his background, how he got involved with 14 Cows For America, and the process of illustrating what is specifically one of my favorite spreads of the entire book.
The illustrations are stunning.
If you’d like to bring this gorgeous book into your home, you’re in luck! Peachtree Publishers is giving one away. To enter, simply answer this question. It’s a pretty deep one but at the heart of this book. Where were you and what were you doing on September 11, 2001? Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah was in New York City attending school. When he returned back home to Kenya, he brought his stories and compassion with him. Thus the basis of the story of 14 Cows For America.
Giveaway open to U.S and Canada and will close in a week on the 12th. Although I’m making it easy this time around w/ no extra entries etc. PLEASE spread the word about this particular giveaway. It’s such a special book.
Links of interest: Maw Books review of 14 Cows for America, 14 Cows website with further study, teachers guide and more (still under construction), read more book reviews on the blog tour, Carmen Agra Deedy website, Thomas Gonzalez website.
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Category: Book Reviews, Nonfiction, Picture Books
Tags: Africa, Kenya
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I would love this (hello, new elementary school library!).
I was at school, and since I was in Las Vegas, it was early and class hadn’t started yet, so I was hanging out with some friends in the theater and someone came running in to say a plane had hit the WTC tower. And then when we went to class, the teacher had the TV on and we saw the second one hit. So surreal.
on August 5th, 2009 at 9:08 amThis is a wonderful story, definitely one to add to my collection! On Sept. 11, 2001, I was at school, about to begin math class. The tv was on when I walked into the classroom. I arrived just in time to see the second plane fly into the tower. No one really knew what to say. Our test was postponed until the next class.
on August 5th, 2009 at 9:35 amI was at my niece’s home where I was helping with my great niece. I immediately called my sister and then the rest of my family. Then I had a dentist appt. I was shocked to hear another patient say “didn’t the pilot’s know they would be killed too”….Oh, wonder if I have ever been that dense…Probably.
on August 5th, 2009 at 10:19 amWow, thanks for sharing that story. I don’t want to be entered, as I have way too much to read right now…but I just wanted to stop by and enjoy your blog after it is back up. Congrats on getting it back up and running!
Thanks for sharing about this beautiful book.
on August 5th, 2009 at 10:26 amI’d love to have this book to share with my son.
On 9/11/01 I was 4 months pregnant with my son, and sitting in my office at work. Some of my co-workers told me a plane had crashed into the WTC. But we didn’t have all the info and we thought it was a small prop plane. It look a while to get a TV hooked up but we did it just in time to see the 2nd tower come down.
on August 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am.
I was in bed with my wife and then we turned on the radio and tried to understand. We didn’t attend classes that day and only went to campus to see for ourselves the images.
on August 5th, 2009 at 11:35 amThis book would make a wonderful addition to my school library.
When the incident happened on 9/11/01, I was driving on the freeway to my sons school to drop him off and proceed to work. I was thinking ” Why am I continuing on with my life as normal, when there is this much suffering going on right now?” For a moment I wished I was back home with my family telling them how much I loved them.
on August 5th, 2009 at 11:40 amWe did not live in Tucson, Arizona yet but were visiting. So we were in a hotel and my husband was in the shower so I turned on the news to entertain myself. After that, I was running back and forth to the bathroom giving him an update every 2 seconds, it seems. We were also on the first plane allowed out of Tucson on the 13th.
Thanks for the giveaway!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
on August 5th, 2009 at 11:58 amWhen I woke up that morning my son had turned on the TV to watch PBS. He came in and said, “Mom, New York is on fire.” I remember saying that it was probably just a small fire and then I saw the TV. Shortly after than is when the buildings began to fall.
on August 5th, 2009 at 12:25 pmI would love a copy of this beautiful book. I was at home and had just turned on the TV to catch a little bit of news before setting about that day’s errands. I did not leave the house for the rest of the day. I live a stone’s throw away from Fort Jackson and can still remember the sounds of helicopters and jets circling overhead that night.
on August 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pmThis book sounds wonderful! I was in school. I was in 6th grade, so I was pretty confused (since I only heard tid bits and the teachers didn’t really explain..)
on August 5th, 2009 at 1:41 pmPlease enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
on August 5th, 2009 at 1:53 pmwandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
On Sept 11th 2001 I was a Freshman in college. It was only the second week of classes. SInce it was in the beginning, I was still in the habit of waking up at the same time every day, regardless of whether or not I had a morning class. I was in the cafeteria eating breakfast when the first plane hit. I remember thinking it must be an accident. But then the second one hit.
I didn’t really know anyone at school yet–most of my high school friends went to different colleges. They cancelled classes that day and I went for a three-hour walk.
Thanks for the chance to win, and for everyone’s stories.
on August 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pmOn Sept 11th I was at my desk at work and my mother called me crying. I couldn’t believe it! I was talking to her when the second plane hit and she screamed. It was a terrifying day as I’m in Maryland and when I heard about the plane hitting Washington I thought for sure that this was it! They finally attached us! I wanted to get home to my daughter so bad but then I heard that they had locked down all the schools. I will never forget. I cried for days. I got married on Sept. 22nd, 2001 and felt guilt for being so happy. I hope we never forget.
on August 5th, 2009 at 2:24 pmAs the high school librarian, I was one of the first to receive a phone call from our BOE about the attack on the WTC. I immediately turned on the TV and saw the horror unfolding as smoke poured from one of the twin towers. I streamed the live broadcast out over our building broadcast system, knowing that it wouldn’t come on in the classrooms unless each teacher turned on that room’s TV. Our guidance counselor rushed in and asked what we should do since our principal was out of the building. We quickly divided the building in half with her covering one half and I took the other half. We pulled each teacher out of his/her classroom and quietly explained what was happening. The teacher was given the option of turning on TV for his/her class. As the day progresses, I had a growing group of students in the library where we could share our thoughts and concerns and try to help the kids deal the enormity of what they were seeing. This will remain one of the most indelible memories of my years in education.
on August 5th, 2009 at 3:47 pmOn 9/11/01 I was teaching 7th grade. It was my first year teaching and I was trying not to fall for any typical middle school tricks. When students came in and said a plane flew into a building, I thought it was a ploy to get out of work and I ignored them. When my principal popped in 15 minutes later to see how we were doing, he explained what had happened in more detail, and I felt awful. Needless to say, not much teaching got done the rest of the day.
Thanks for offering this book. I’d love to be entered.
Megan
on August 5th, 2009 at 4:29 pmmearley@twinlakes.k12.in.us
[...] This post was Twitted by mawbooks [...]
on August 5th, 2009 at 5:35 pmI would be so excited to win this book. I just saw this on another teacher’s blog, and I instantly added it to my Amazon wish list. It sounds like it would be a great addition to my classroom library.
I will never forget where I was/what I was doing on September 11th. For the first time I was away from home for more than a couple weeks. I had just moved across the country to Rhode Island for a National Student Exchange. I was in the computer lab before class and could hear students start to talk about the Twin Towers. I was not sure what was going on, but I did not know anybody in the lab (I barely knew anybody there yet), and to make it worse, growing up on the west coast I did not have a true grasp on just how big the towers are and how much of an impact the event would hold.
I was anxious going to my first class because I could tell there was a nervous buzz in the air. I finally found out what was going on, and it was a horrible feeling knowing that I was so far away from home, my security zone, and even if I wanted to run back home, the airports were shutting down.
on August 5th, 2009 at 11:15 pmNatasha, I was just coming down the hall to my classroom when the teacher across the hall came and told me about the first plane. We kept the tv on in our rooms, but really thought it had been a weird accident until the second plane hit. Then we knew it was a terrorist attack. It was frightening.
on August 6th, 2009 at 12:43 amI would LOVE to win this book because it sounds amazing.
On Tuesday, September 11, I was sitting in my early-morning economics class when the teacher said, “Well, some thing’s happened in New York.” It was a memorable and tragic morning. I don’t think we did much learning in any of our classes that day.
on August 6th, 2009 at 5:45 amI would love to win a copy!
When the first plane hit, my husband and I were driving to work. We live in the DC metro area. The first reports stated that it was a small prop jet that hit the first tower, so no one was really worried. Everyone believed the towers could withstand anything.
By the time I arrived at work, the video of the large plane striking the tower was being prodcast on every channel. My heart dropped. I work with engineers. I KNEW the towers couldn’t withstand that type of damage.
Our office set up television viewing stations all throughout our office. I witnessed the second plane hitting the other tower. At the same time, we were hearing reports of destruction in DC. First reports indicated that the Pentagon had been destroyed, and The Mall was on fire.
I hurriedly attempted to contact my husband. He was supposed to be meeting his cousin for brunch in downtown DC. Luckily, the call went through and he was viewing and hearing about the same destruction.
I attempted to contact my family. The phone lines weren’t working, everyone was in a panic. The roads in this area were closed, only authorized personnel were supposed to be on the streets. I worried about my son, at the time he was just under two years old.
My office is not too far from DC. We saw fighter planes flying past our windows, helicopters everywhere.
We were eventually allowed to leave, and I rushed to pick up my son. At that time, he was enamored by air planes. Air traffic was shut down, but still he pointed to the sky and said, “Look, Mommy! An airplane!” I instantly burst into tears, knowing there were no planes in the sky, and feeling anger and sorrow for all those that were killed that horrible day.
It wasn’t until later in the day that we heard about the plane that crashed in PA, and the heroic passengers that prevented a horrible fate.
I can’t believe it’s been almost 8 years since this horrible tragedy. One thing that resulted from this was that for a short time, we were truly the United States of America. In time, though, we have broken up and split up into our various parties and beliefs. It shouldn’t have required a horrifying terrorist attack to bring us together, but I wish we could go back to that sense of unity.
on August 6th, 2009 at 7:04 amI was at work, in Lincoln, Nebraska, when the planes hit. Someone who came to work later than I did had heard the news on the radio on the way to the office. We turned the radio on for awhile, and some co-workers went down to the restaurant on the first floor of the building, which had a TV (I wasn’t allowed to leave my post). We were all stunned for quite some time, but eventually, duty insisted. I called my husband, who was also at work; they didn’t get much work done that day because they were glued to the television in the break room.
on August 6th, 2009 at 10:51 amOn september 11, i was sleeping. dad woke me up early and told me “haley, i think you’re old enough now that you need to see this.” so he took me downstairs and i watched on TV as the buildings blew up. dad had to explain everything– what they had been there for, who the terrorists were, what they’d done 7 years before… it was then that i realized that war was real.
haleymathot (at ) yahoo (dot) com
on August 7th, 2009 at 1:11 pmI was working. I was teaching at a NYC HS when another teacher knocked at my door and gave me the news. We remained at work all day. Parents afraid for their children appeared at the school, and many children were released for the remainder of the day.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
on August 7th, 2009 at 8:53 pmWe were in Las Vegas of all places – on vacation. Had to miss a few days of work before we could fly back home! It was amazing to see the party city turn somber. Still lots of flashing lights, but very patriotic and somber.
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
on August 9th, 2009 at 5:37 pmI was tearing up just reading your review.
I was at home sleeping. My husband was getting ready for work (Pacific time, so very early) and turned on the tv to see the news. The second plane hadn’t crashed yet, but somehow he just knew it wasn’t an accident. He told me that someone had bombed the WTC. He had to go to work, but I remember watching the news and nursing my 1 month old baby as the second plane flew into the trade center, and then later hugging and crying as the buildings fell.
On the anniversary each year I used to watch the coverage and cry. Then my second son was born on September 11th in 2004. From that point on each year on the anniversary we have turned off the television for the day and celebrated life.
akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
on August 9th, 2009 at 10:50 pmNot an entry; just a note that we’ve posted about this at Winning Readings:
http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/08/14-cows-for-america.html
on August 10th, 2009 at 4:11 pmI was at a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)meeting, receiving an award for something or other. My son was 9 months at the time, and I vividly remember the moment because my cousin was in the Navy at the time, and I knew there was the possiblity of him going to fight. Oh I remember that day…
on August 11th, 2009 at 12:56 amI am sorry to leave a second post, but I forgot to leave my contact info…
mrsdayseye@gmail.com
on August 11th, 2009 at 1:02 amI was teaching a class of third graders. My boss comes into the room to tell me that the children will be going outside to play on the playground in ten minutes and the teachers are to meet in the faculty room. I didn’t know why until I got there and watched on the tv what was happening. It was an emotional day…reassuring myself and my students.
Thank you for this book…
on August 11th, 2009 at 4:57 amI was just outside of L.A. on Sept. 11/2001. I was visiting California from Ontario, Canada. Because of the time zone difference the planes had crashed before I woke up. When I woke up I turned on the t.v.(an unfortunate habit) and saw the NY skyline filled with smoke. I didn’t know what had happened…I thought to myself “Wow! Big fire going on in NY”. Then the news scrolled across the bottom of the screen…”two planes crash into WTC”…and I thought innocent mid-air collision. Then it scrolled “third plane crashes into Pentagon”. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was 2500 miles away from home and as far as I knew the world was ending.
on August 11th, 2009 at 12:24 pmI was home getting ready for work and getting my boys ready for school. I went in to work for a while,but came home early so I could spend more time with my family. Time together is precious, and we never know when our time will be over.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
on August 11th, 2009 at 11:31 pm[...] excited to be participating in this giveaway for 14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy sponsored by Peachtree Publishing. It’s a beautiful book and I think [...]
on August 20th, 2009 at 12:23 amWe had just moved to Hawaii and were staying with our nephew and his wife. Around 4AM, the phone rang. Then I heard the TV come on, then my husband came in to tell me that a plane had crashed into the WTC. I was still sleep addled, so I couldn’t quite process what this might mean, but I knew it wasn’t good.
Our nephew is in the Navy, and it was his mother who had called-she was worried about what this might mean for him and his wife and new baby. We just sat there, watching the television all day-it was so surreal. Realizing that America had been attacked was one thing-how could this happen??-but when it was announced that all flights had been shut down, I realized how isolated we are out here. The fact that we were living on a military base did not make me feel any better.
on September 8th, 2009 at 7:14 amHaha-just realized I am a month behind! That’s ok, it was good to share my story and to read all the others that were posted here.
on September 8th, 2009 at 7:22 am