Illustrated By...

Fifty years ago on the day after the rocket blasted off towards the moon, those of us back on earth went into a holding pattern. We waited and for little kids it was like waiting for Christmas in the middle of the summer. I feel like that now, after watching a day of Apollo Eleven features on the television set. We had liftoff on every channel, over and over and over. More hype is to come on Saturday when we watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon. Until then we wait.

Which gives me a chance to introduce the artist who illustrated Back on Earth: When Men First Landed on the Moon. Bobbie (Roberta to be exact) Gumbert.

Look at those fantastic medals hanging around her next. She earned them at this year's North Carolina Senior Games, one of them for the painting beside her.

I took this picture the day we sat down together with her Apollo Eleven artwork. I was blown away. She nailed it! And our book with her art is featured in today's edition of the Hickory Daily Record.
The reporter, Emily Willis, chose pages from the book to showcase.

Thank you Emily for your article. This is what good reporters do. And thank you Bobbie for interpreting my words so a child can better understand. That's what good illustrators do.

Catch of the day,

Gretchen