JULIANHECTOR

Happy Birthday, Darwin!

2012-02-12T11:09:00.000-08:00

Also, happy birthday to the other great emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, who was born the very same day as Darwin. Here's a nice quote from an article by Steven Conn that compares the two:

"Lincoln insisted on equality as a political fact. Darwin demonstrated it as a biological fact. In their shared commitment to human equality these two Great Emancipators, each in their own realm, helped us to break free from the shackles of the past."

C.R. Mudgeon - Trailer

2012-01-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

Here's the new book trailer for C.R. Mudgeon, written by Leslie Muir. It premiered

yesterday on Mr. Schu's blog. I'm going to try and do a 'making of' post soon. Enjoy!

Picture Book Idea Month Month / Day 14

2011-12-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind in keeping the blog updated, but here's my PiBoIdMo post from over a month ago.
A big congratulations to my Austin friend, Suzanne Lewis, for winning the giveaway painting -
which is the final scene from The Gentleman Bug.

A Double Review

2011-12-10T11:38:00.001-08:00

Here’s a very nice review of both the The Gentleman Bug and Monday is One Day
on Susan Murray’s “From Tots to Teens” blog. I LOVE the review’s title :)

Ooh la la Artisan Confectionary

2011-12-10T11:36:00.001-08:00

Here’s a great new article about Ooh La La Artisan Confectionary, a South African candy company

that I’ve been providing illustrations for. The company was founded by Karen Schneid, and she has an

amazing story. As a sweet-toothed francophile, this has been a dream job for me.

Happy Holidays from the Italian Alps!

2011-11-17T15:04:00.001-08:00

Who Eats Who? - A Food Web

2011-11-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

This is a foodweb that I made in college. You can see who eats who by starting with the sun and following the outward lines through plants, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers (Lions, tigers, bears, and us!) on the outer rings. (Click the map to enlarge)

_________________________

Key

10 SCARY ANIMALS

2011-10-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

_______________________________

Habitat Maps

_______________________________

10 Scary Animals - Coming Soon

2011-10-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

My latest web-story is almost here!

10 Scary Animals - Trailer

Occupy Wall Street

2011-10-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

I support Occupywallstreet!

10 Scary Animals - Habitat Maps

2011-09-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

C.R. Mudgeon Process

2011-09-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

I'm usually really bad at taking "in progress" shots as I'm working, but I was looking through my phone, and it turns out that I have a few photos of this painting from C.R. Mudgeon as it was being completed - I missed capturing the actual painting process, though. This earlier post describes my method in better detail.

10 Scary Animals - Trailer

2011-09-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

My first trailer!

I'm a big fan of book trailers, and have wanted to make one of my own for a long time.
I figured that my upcoming free educational field guide would be the perfect place to
experiment with one. Enjoy!

(Music: Stigmata Martyr by Bauhaus)

Happy National Dog Day!

2011-08-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

From Julian and his greyhound, Vespa.

Be good to your dog! :)

The Gentleman Bug's Library Is...

2011-08-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

based on the Radcliffe Camera, which houses the Radcliffe Science Library in Oxford.

The Gentleman Bug

Evolution According to Mitt

2011-08-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

'Corporations are people, my friend'

Lord Moth and Phil and the Queen of Rage

2011-08-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

Every so often, Lord Moth and Phil stumble upon something truly horrifying from the human world.

Lord Moth and Phil 1

Lord Moth and Phil 2

A is for Arita... Z is for Zucker

2011-08-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite artists, A through Z.

The White Stag

2011-08-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

Book News: Monday is One Day and Gbug

2011-08-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, The Gentleman Bug has a great new review by The Deakin Review of Children's Literature, and Monday is One Day was reviewed on Lee Wind's blog, I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I read? along with getting picked by The Center for Children's & Young Adult Literature as a best book so far of 2011!

The Little Matador: Paper Toy

2011-07-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

Book Review: Monday Is One Day by Arthur A. Levine

2011-07-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

There's a new Monday is One Day review on the Waking Brain Cells blog! I love the following quote: "This book just celebrates everyone with ease and style."

Read the review here

This Is the Firefighter

2011-07-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

This Is the Firefighter

Written by Laura Godwin

Disney-Hyperion

Description

The fire alarm sounds. The firefighter responds. He jumps in the fire truck and

races to a daring rescue! Will he be able to save the trapped people in time?

Where to Buy

Indie Bound

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Construction

2011-07-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, sorry for all of these 'book' posts. I'm in the process of turning my blog into my main website, and needed to give my books their own individual posts so that I can link to them throughout the blog.

Over the last year, I've really started to enjoy blogging and found my personal '.com' website to be unnecessary. It's cumbersome to update (dreamweaver!), it allows for zero interaction from readers, and it's not mobile friendly. Most importantly, for me, having a blog and a personal website is redundant - I don't like having my information under multiple roofs, so I'm choosing blogger.

C.R. Mudgeon

2011-07-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

C.R. Mudgeon

Written by Leslie Muir

Atheneum

March 2012

Description

C. R. Mudgeon, a sensible hedgehog, likes knowing just what to expect. Always. No surprises, no excitement. So when a noisy new neighbor, Paprika the squirrel, arrives, C. R. Mudgeon is even less cheerful than normal. The sights! The sounds! The peppery, fiery smells! Everything about Paprika is just too much to handle, and

C. R. is aching, sneezing, and seeing spots. But everyone needs quiet sometimes, and when that time comes,

C. R. Mudgeon will have just the thing for a new friend in need. And as for himself, he may even discover that a little spice is just what the doctor ordered

Nuanced, joyful humor permeates the pages of this heartwarming picture book that

will make even the littlest, grumpiest curmudgeons want to jump up and dance!

Where to Buy

Indie Bound

Amazon

The Gentleman Bug

2011-07-22T16:31:00.000-07:00

The Gentleman Bug

Atheneum

Story

Teased because he likes to spend all of his time reading, the Gentleman Bug decides to change in order to catch the eye of the new Lady Bug in the garden, but she is not impressed until he goes back to being himself.

Reviews

Hector's crisp, utterly charming watercolor-and-colored-pencil
illustrations have a classic, timeless feel. - Booklist

The combination of an elaborately imagined community and a pared-down

plot and text makes this a fine choice for the very young. - Publishers Weekly

Where to Buy

Ebook

Interview

The Gentleman Bug on 7-imp

Paintings

Concept Art

The Little Matador

2011-07-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Little Matador

Disney-Hyperion

Description

The Little Matador comes from a long line of proud bullfighters, but he would rather draw a bull than fight one! Despite his father's best efforts to get him to follow tradition, the Little Matador spends most of his days daydreaming and sketching animals in the meadow.

Reviews

This is an impressive debut for Hector, whose art, with its unusual

perspectives, both amuses and charms. - Booklist

Where to Buy

Indie Bound

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

In Traditional Chinese

Yes Asia

Extra

The Little Matador Paper Toy

Concept Art

Monday is One Day

2011-07-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Monday is One Day

Written by Arthur A. Levine

Scholastic Press

Story

A love note from a working parent to a child, counting the days of the week -- each one a special opportunity to spend time together. One by one, the days of the week roll by. Monday is one day, Tuesday is blue shoes day, and Wednesday is halfway day.When Saturday and Sunday finally come, it's time for little ones and the adults who love them to play, share, and celebrate. Every day of the week offers a special opportunity for families to enjoy

being together!

Starred review - Booklist

Where to Buy

Indie Bound

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Interviews

Julian's Interview with Amy Baskin

Book News: The Gentleman Bug and C.R. Mudgeon

2011-07-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

Some recent book news:

The C.R. Mudgeon cover (written by Leslie Muir, Atheneum 2012, cover design by Ann Bobco) was revealed on IndieBound last week. Now I can add "can paint a fully articulated field of poppies" to my resume! That's right, I wasn't allowed to short-cut my way through the flowers impressionistically; they had to be "fully articulated!" (though, I did cheat and paint the cover much larger than actual size).

Here's an earlier post that shows the making of a tiny illustration for the back of the book jacket.

The Gentleman Bug ebook was released last week!

Starting out as an author/illustrator, I knew that it would be amazing to see a book of mine in a book store, but I never considered how amazing it would be to see the same book in the iTunes store (I'm young, folks, my dream of becoming an author/illustrator is as old as the second-gen ipod). With Borders in mind, I wonder when seeing your book in an ebook store will become the dominant thrill?

From the Archives: Mythlandia

2011-07-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

Get ready to zoom!

The Key

Squeak Peak: The Tricycle Mouse

2011-07-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

Oh no!!! :(

Thank You!

2011-06-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the birthday wishes!!!

Happy Fathers Day!

2011-06-19T14:13:00.000-07:00

From MONDAY IS ONE DAY

Mordecai Mole Booklet / Pdf

2011-06-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Over the last year, I've played around with creating some web specific stories, and while I love creating them, I'm a print guy at heart, and have missed not having something physical to hold and flip through. So, from now on, I'll add a print component to all my future stories (I might even go back and reformat the old ones, too).

It's all yours! You can download and print the story here:

Full Pdf:

PDF

Foldout list of buildings:

The Key

Also, a huge thanks to Karen Cilento for posting the story on Archdaily!

Mordecai Mole the Building Thief

2011-05-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

Many great buildings

can no longer be found,

because Mordecai Mole has them deep underground.

Tonight he is stealing a building by Ando,

To add to his stash of Foster,

Kahn,

and Piano.

The End

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

(My mom with her borzoi nanny in NYC)

My Monday is One Day interview with Amy Baskin

2011-04-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

"Julian Hector dreams in 32-page spreads. And vibrant primary colors.

And tight narrative arcs. I'm certain of it. He didn't tell me this outright,

but his enthusiasm for the medium is so contagious that he's got me doing it...."

Continue reading

My New Website!

2011-04-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

It's over! My week and a half of html/css hell is finally over! The new site is basically an evolution from my last one, but with larger fonts, an extra layer of content, and plenty of social media links scattered throughout. I'm eager to see what you think!

www.julianhector.com

Edit: My blog is my website now

Happy Passover

2011-04-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

From Julian and Vespa!

Monday is One Day: Arthur A. Levine Interview

2011-04-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

It's Arthur!!!!!!!!!!! I cant really think of anything else to say,

other than "It's Arthur" followed by lots of exclamation points!

Little Julian's Room

2011-04-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

I think that I would have liked this room when I was a kid.

In Time for Spring, a Gratuitous Dose of Cute

2011-03-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

From the Archives: Commedia Dell'arte Poster

2011-03-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is a poster that I made years ago for the Actors Studio while I was a student at Parsons. My professor, Sergio Ruzzier, art directed the project.

My Deep Dark Digital Secret

2011-03-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

(From the first Matador dummy)

(test piece from This is The Firefighter)

This might come as a surprise, but five years ago, I worked exclusively on the computer. It was my editor, Nami, who convinced me to try painting, after seeing sketches for The Little Matador - and I'm soooo glad that she did. Working digitally was very convenient in college, but it was hard for me to connect with the work. I missed all of the sketches and color studies that it took to create non-digital illustrations, and hated how bare my studio walls were, due to a process that lived on my computer.

Monday's Touch of Austin

2011-03-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

When I'm illustrating a book, there's nothing more fun than bringing bits of myself into the work. In the case of Monday is One Day, the city was (loosely) inspired by my hometown, Austin. I didn't use references, and nothing is geographically accurate, as I didn't want this to feel like a specific city, but Austin was definitely in my mind when creating this.

Austin Bestsellers: Monday and Gbug!

2011-03-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Monday is One Day and Gbug are on the Austin American Statesman's local bestseller list!!! Thanks to Jeanette Larson for posting the pic on Facebook.

Jacket Illustration for C. R. Mudgeon

2011-03-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

I just finished illustrating C. R. MUDGEON (Atheneum 2012), written by Leslie Muir, and I thought that it would be fun to show how the very last illustration was made.

First, due to the small size of the actual artwork, I had to scan and print a much larger version to work from (original sketch is on the right). An added benefit of this, is that all of my mistakes (hopefully) disappear when the painting is shrunk back to 100%.

Then, I cover the back of the print with graphite, transfer the sketch onto a block of water color paper, and get to painting. It's a coloring book at this stage.

I slowly build up the color with at least three layers of paint all around.

When the painting is finished, I use charcoal pencils,

vine charcoal, and blending sticks to outline and shade everything.

*washes hands from all the charcoal*

...and done!

Bears on the Beach

2011-03-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

This is a drawing that I was commissioned to do for a relative of Roald Dahl's.

Four T-rex Growls Before I Go!

2011-02-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

Noel Rodriguez, of Buda Texas, built these two little guys last week. He even added a prop!

This was my attempt. I wanted him to be green, but my printer,

low on color ink, wanted him to blend into my keyboard ;)

The printable version

The Original Post

Mississippi Frog

2011-02-16T17:30:00.000-08:00

Starred Review from Booklist!

2011-02-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

Ideal for families with working parents—and that’s pretty much everyone now, right?—Levine’s cozy ode to counting down to the weekend should provide some solace to the lonely: “The hardest part of going to work is being apart from you. / Let’s count the days till we’re both at home with a special thing to do.” Levine smartly doesn’t put all of his eggs in the weekend basket, pausing to focus upon special moments of togetherness wherever they happen to fall: at breakfast, while getting on the bus, when the parents return at night, and during family time on the sofa. The diversity extends to geography; the town, seen in full on the title page, includes metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas, and families from each region share the spotlight. Hector’s grinning cartoon-style illustrations are delightful, based in reality but accented with unexpected color, such as the carnival stripes of a farmer’s distant field. But the book’s greatest accomplishment might be its crosssection of middle America: white, black, old, young, white-collar, blue-collar, straight, and gay (and—scandal!—the gay couple is pictured hanging out in the bedroom). It’s that rare book perceptive enough to recognize that the random moments are those we treasure most.

— Daniel Kraus

My Greyhound, Vespa

2011-02-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

Monkey's Miranda Rights

2011-02-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

(Cue Music: Morning Mood by Edvard Grieg)

"You have the right to remain silent!"

"Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law!"

"You have the right to speak to an attorney!"

"If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you!"

"Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?!"

(Cue Music: Someone has Died by Philip Glass)

The End

Monday is One Day

2011-01-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

It's getting closer to April 1st, and the release of Monday Is One Day, written by Arthur A. Levine! Here's a toy featured in the book that you can cut out and assemble.

Printable version

Bullfighting: A Wordless History

2011-01-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

The Millipede Mohel

2011-01-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

The Millipede Mohel is a picture book character that I've had in the back
of my head for awhile, though, at this point, it's more of a song:

It’s the day of our bris! It’s the day of our bris!

we four little moles are excited for this.

The millipede mohel is riding this way,

he’s coming to take all our foreskins away!

When he arrives he can’t help his old habit,

of backflipping off his rabbinical rabbit.

Due to all of his arms, he says it’s a crime

not to do all four brises at the same time.

After it’s over, we go back to our holes,

we all feel fantastic, we’re happy jew moles!

and as we grow up,

deep under the soil,

new babies are brought to the millipede mohel.

The millipede mohel! The millipede mohel!

Oh how we love the millipede mohel!

The End

Lord Moth and Phil: A Dismemberment Story Full of Cross-dressing and Baked Brie

2010-12-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

One day, Lord Moth and Phil decided to have a picnic, and paint in the park.

Chief among their refreshments, was a marvelous baked brie,

Which the park’s ruffians found to be irresistible.

They ran!

Phil, the baked brie, and most of Lord Moth were able to escape.

Lord Moth was rushed to the infirmary,

Where he was set to receive a wing transplant.

Phil, who was very meticulous, wanted to choose the new wing,

but he was barred from visiting Lord Moth.

So, he went to his favorite clothier,

and bought a disguise.

It was very convincing, but Phil was too late.

In a rush, Lord Moth’s operation was already complete.

Feeling beyond frustrated with the day’s events, Lord Moth

and Phil headed home, but forgot all about their baked brie...

Which the infirmary staff happily took to the park to eat after work.

The end.

----------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue:

After a long recovery, Lord Moth was able to fly again,

but only in circles, due to his lopsided wingspan.

----------------------------------------------------------

Here's the first one, in case you missed it:

Lord Moth and Phil: A Hanky Panky Story Full of Passion and Estate Planning.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

(My greyhound, Vespa)

Recent Book Sketches

2010-11-20T08:34:00.000-08:00

Run, Forest, Run!

2010-10-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

READ...Books with Pictures!

2010-10-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

“Harvard admission is not a Grail that will compensate for eighteen years of insufferable parenting.” Random Gawker commenter

Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children

Car Animals

2010-09-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Bär König

2010-09-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

Monsta Mama

2010-09-17T12:09:00.000-07:00

Monsta Mama,

I wanna slay ya,

but we dance, dance!

Then you eat me up,

go to sleep,

and feed your young with monsta milk!

The (Business) Days of the Week

2010-08-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

Lord Moth and Phil: A Hanky Panky Story Full of Passion and Estate Planning

2010-07-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

To the chagrin of his wife

Lord Moth amended his will, leaving a third of his fortune

To a centipede named Phil.

The End

----------------------------------------------------------

Cast
(in order of appearance)

Hypercompe Scribonia.............Lady Moth
Musca Domestica..................Servant Fly 1
Musca Domestica..................Servant Fly 2
Musca Domestica..................Servant Fly 3
Hypercompe Scribonia..............Lord Moth
Schistocerca Gregaria......Linus Locust Esq.
Armadillidium Vulgare...................Virginia
Armadillidium Vulgare.........................Vita
Scolopendra Polymorpha......................Phil

The Latest Story
Lord Moth and Phil: A Dismemberment Story Full of Cross-Dressing and Baked Brie

The Cambridge Crickets

2010-07-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration from a story that I'm working on, about crickets, and what they're really up to when we think that they're mindlessly chirping the night away.

Lawyer Locusts - a short story.

2010-06-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

Poor Mr. Cicada lay sick in bed,

For the bad Dr. Dormouse prescribed lots of lead.

He sent for his lawyers -

who were locusts quite naturally,

and the very next day they ate the Dr. quite fastly.

" What happens when author/illustrator Julian Hector daydreams in his Feminist Artist class...."

2010-06-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

My trip to Seven Imp:

Author/illustrator Julian Hector’s visiting 7-Impagain to share some art work and sketches from his newest title, The Gentleman Bug, whichPublishers Weekly has praised for its “quiet humor” and School Library Journal calls an “odd love tale.” It tells the story of the scholarly, bookworm Gentleman Bug, a schoolteacher living in the very Edwardian Garden, whose life scoots along just fine, thanks very much, till Lady Bug arrives in town and he falls head over heels in love. He tries a bit too hard to impress her, in what the publisher (Simon & Schuster) amusingly enough refers to as a failed Victorian makeover. It all works out in the end, but I won’t tell you how, in case you want to read this charmer for yourself (though, caveat: Hector’s words below do include some spoilers). Kirkuswrites that Hector “artfully uses subdued colors, elegant lines and generous quantities of space to lend low-key grace to each scene.”
Julian’s here to tell us a bit about the creation of the tale, what’s next for him, and a bit more. And he shares lots of art and sketches. I thank him for stopping by…continue reading

MYTHLANDIA

2010-05-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

So, this is a blast from my past. Mythlandia, my senior thesis at Parsons, was completed almost exactly four years ago. It's a map depicting various characters and settings from many of my favorite stories, organized onto the continents of Adventure, Utopia, and Discord.

See how many characters/gods/goddesses/super heroes/cities/monsters you can name...
MYTHLANDIA

The Real Gentleman Bug and His Class

2010-05-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Gentleman Bug

Gregory Grasshopper

Wendy Weaver

Batilda Bee

Timothy Tick

Amazon review:

2010-05-04T11:47:00.001-07:00

"Lovely illustrations, sweet little story., May 1, 2010

By	CVS (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gentleman Bug (Hardcover)

Just picked this up at my local bookstore today. The text is very simple and sweet. The illustrations are just lovely of little bugs and their beautifully detailed little village.

The story is about a simple teacher bug and how he loves to read and is often ostrasized for it in his town. A new lady bug arrives and he is so smitten with her that he decides to become a refined, well-dressed bug to impress her. Some mishap follows and in the end, he gets the girl.

This book won my heart because first and foremost, it advocates reading!!! Second, I just LOVE a beautifully illustrated picture book."

- - - - -

This is the fastest I've ever received an Amazon review - It's the little things that keep this author happy. So, if you're out there reading this, CVS, I have a drawing to mail you!

The Gentleman Bug

2010-04-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

My third book, The Gentleman Bug,

arrives at bookstores today!

From Publishers Weekly

2010-03-31T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Gentleman Bug Julian Hector. S&S/Atheneum, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4169-9467-1

Thoughtful, scholarly Gentleman Bug and his colleagues inhabit the Garden, an Edwardian town, and it's the contrast between the multilegged creatures and their period costumes that supplies the book's quiet humor. (The Garden is laid out on a map on the endpapers, labeled with locations like Bugadilly Circus and Pollen Hill.) The Gentleman Bug, a teacher of juvenile bugs, falls for Lady Bug; in a sort of anti-Cinderella scene, he appears at a ball in a dapper suit and top hat to impress her. “The rest of the evening didn't go quite as planned,” Hector (The Little Matador) writes as the bug collides with a waiter. Lady Bug is a librarian, it turns out, and their mutual love of reading draws them together in the end. The fact that the romance unfolds in public reduces the mush factor, and even smaller children will sympathize: “Safe at home, he tried to forget about the Lady Bug, but it was a very hard thing to do.” The combination of an elaborately imagined community and a pared-down plot and text makes this a fine choice for the very young. Ages 2–5. (Apr.)

The Gentleman Bug's second review

2010-03-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

From Booklist:

Gentleman Bug is a bookish sort. The bachelor ladybug spends his days teaching pupils and reading books, and he doesn’t care one whit that the pompous peerage of the Garden (a bug-size facsimile of Victorian-era London) make fun of him for doing so. Then Lady Bug comes to town, and Gentleman Bug decides that he needs a dapper new look to get her attention. The results of his makeover are predictably disastrous, but in a subtle, Cinderella-like twist to the story, Lady Bug discovers that the two insects are kindred spirits after all. Composed as panels against airy, white backgrounds, Hector’s crisp, utterly charming watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations have a classic, timeless feel, and the spectacularly detailed scenes, which demand close-up viewing, do the bulk of the storytelling. In comparison, the book’s brief text feels a bit ancillary; but that won’t stop young children from poring over Hector’s enchanting, wee world and appreciating the story’s straightforward, feel-good themes.

— Kristen McKulski

The Gentleman Bug's first review

2010-02-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

From Kirkus:

Hector follows up Little Matador (2008) with another simply told take on the value of staying true to oneself. Outfitting an all-insect cast in frilly gowns, top hats and like dress from centuries past, he creates a comfy setting for his tale of a smitten teacher—(almost) literally and figuratively a bookworm—who exchanges his casual dress for more formal clothing in an effort to be noticed by a newly arrived Lady Bug. Disaster ensues, and the Gentleman Bug flees home in massive embarrassment. As it turns out, he needn’t have bothered with a makeover, because shortly thereafter the town’s new library opens and its librarian is none other than… guess who? The two bond instantly over their shared love of reading and are last seen sitting together with bookish intimacy on a picnic blanket spread beneath nodding garden flowers. The author relies a little too heavily on details in the pictures to fill out his sketchy text, but he artfully uses subdued colors, elegant lines and generous quantities of space to lend low-key grace to each scene. (Picture book. 6-8)

My New Website

2010-02-02T21:14:00.000-08:00

I finished my new website. I went for complete minimalism. I admit that it's not the most fun children's book author/illustrator website, but it's easy to update and manage, allowing me to focus on more important things - like writing and illustrating more books!

http://www.julianhector.com

Virginia Woolfspider

2010-01-26T23:17:00.000-08:00

With stones in her coat the water rose higher,

that was the end of Virginia Woolfspider.

I'm Back

2010-01-14T17:43:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry that I've been a terrible blogger, and haven't posted for nearly five months. I was exhausted after finishing The Gentleman Bug in August, then I experienced a family tragedy in September, and I was gone for most of fall. When I returned to New York, I was far behind on a long overdue book for Scholastic, and I had to work like crazy to catch up. The book was finished this week, so I can finally come up for air. It's titled Monday is One Day, and was written by the editor of nine of my favorite books. Illustrating this book was very, VERY exciting.

Now that that's done, I've started working on a cool project for Harper Collins, and I'm about to start illustrating one of three new stories that I've written for Simon and Schuster.

The Gentleman Bug - Finished!

2009-09-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

Two paintings from the book.

My Favorite scene:

2009-05-20T23:47:00.000-07:00

From my next book, The Gentleman Bug - Spring/Summer 2010 Atheneum Books for young Readers.

The Little Matador, Taiwanese edition!

2009-05-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

The Little Matador was recently translated into Chinese. It's being sold in Taiwan, and can be purchased here:

yesasia.com

Findbook.tw

Book Signing

2009-04-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

I will be signing books at the Clinton Book Shop in Clinton, NJ on Saturday, May 2nd starting at 1pm.

Clinton Book Shop

Beefeater

2009-04-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Mephistopheles

2009-04-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

Virginia Woolfspider

2009-03-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

According to a Facebook quiz, Virginia Woolf is the writer that I am most similar too. Related to this, Wolfspiders are very common where I grew up in Texas. Spiders scare me, btw.

The Gentleman Bug: update

2009-03-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

My editor, Nami, recently moved to Simon and Schuster's Atheneum Books for Young Readers imprint and "The Gentleman Bug" will now be published there. Ann Bobco is art directing the project.

House

2009-02-28T16:28:00.001-08:00

Art & Science

2009-02-04T23:57:00.000-08:00

Firefighter's first review

2009-01-30T22:51:00.000-08:00

From The Horn Book:

Remember Lois Lenski’s The Little Fire Engine (1946) and the reliable Fireman Small? This latest of its many descendants features an urban crew of firefighters quelling an apartment fire. After a brief introduction to our particular firefighter (“This is his truck, / and this is its hose. / This is the station. / This is the bell”), the text moves into action (“And this is the signal / that all is not well”). Indeed: flames are erupting from an apartment building. Heroic rescues ensue, each neatly encapsulated (“This is the ladder, / attached to the truck, / that reaches the lady and man / who are stuck”). Julian Hector’s sturdy, simply modeled figures recall Lenski’s, though his characters are more varied and express a wider range of emotion; our hero looks especially sturdy, four-square, and compassionate. With its swift action, catchy verse, and appropriate palette (red, white, blue, and flame), this should find good use among preschool vehicle enthusiasts and new readers as well as in the “community helpers” unit. j.r.l.

This is "This is the Firefighter"

2009-01-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

I received the book yesterday! The iphone camera ruined the reds, but here is a sneak peak.

Lovin From my Hometown Paper.

2009-01-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

Hays grad charges onto publishing scene with 'The Little Matador'

I was featured for an article in this week's Hays Free Press - my hometown paper! Thanks Jen!

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T10:49:00.000-08:00

True to form, I indulged my inner Ferdinand last night, avoiding the parties while drawing some flowers.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T20:36:00.000-08:00

Dodekatheon

2008-12-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

I learned a new word the other day, and immediately felt like illustrating it, especially, as it pertains to a book that I'm working on.

October's Books of Wonder signing

2008-12-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

Ellice and Nami, art director and my editor!

Bryan Collier

Happy Holidays

2008-12-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

Caesar + Cleopatra

2008-12-07T16:46:00.001-08:00

Mount Olympus

2008-12-02T07:04:00.000-08:00

I'll be using this for my third book, "Vulcan."

Bestiarum Minimum

2008-11-30T22:10:00.001-08:00

Cut them out and piece them together. They stand, just like real animals would!

Great for role playing games too.

This one time, I played the part of the Griffin and Unicorn. Together, we poked the Cyclops' eye out, dropped a book on top of the Minotaur, threw a (lit) match down the Dragon's throat, and tied the Hydras' necks into knots, all before Medusa turned us into stone... good times.

Printable: Bestiarum Minimum