Pemba Sherpa

France 2011

2011-12-15T11:47:00.001-08:00

I had a great opportunity to speak to over 400 children in 3 cities (Gien, Vannes, Montauban: France) about book creation and illustration. It was really a great time, and the kids gave back as much as I gave them. Great learning experience; it was my first time to speak French when presenting formally and in front of a crowd. I hope to have the opportunity to do more of this in the future.

O'Doodle's in Chestnut Hill

2011-10-25T12:29:00.001-07:00

O'Doodle's in Chestnut Hill picked up Pemba Sherpa(and Ollie and Tugg). Thanks guys!
8335Germantown Avenue, Chestnut Hill., PA 19118

Los Angeles visit

2010-11-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

It was great to be a part of the LA County Unified School District for a day. I spoke to (and with) over 140 students and was welcomed with open arms.

Pemba Sherpa included on the Amelia Bloomer Project 2011

2010-10-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Glad to be a part of it!

From the website;
..."an annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, ages birth through 18. We are part of the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association!"

"Since 2002, when the Amelia Bloomer Project published its first bibliography of feminist books for young readers, American culture has undergone radical change. During this decade, many in U.S. society turned their backs on the ideals of equality and tried to return to the restrictive attitudes of the 1950s, reveling in a backlash that attempts to roll back Social Security and Medicare as well as passing laws that limit women’s rights to our own bodies.

Although the inauguration of President Barack Obama, just one year ago, raised hopes that the anti-women excesses of the previous administration would be overcome, conservative rhetoric co-opting feminist arguments remains deeply engrained in U.S. society. Purity balls “empower” pre-teen and teenage girls to promise their virginity to their fathers as these children pledge to abstain from sex until they are married. So-called crisis pregnancy centers deliberately set up shop near high schools with the intention to counsel young women against having abortions. A U.S. Army Major General commanding U.S. forces in Northern Iraq added pregnancy to the list of prohibitions, with punishments that include courts martial. At the same time, the U.S. military has made few provisions to protect women soldiers from rape and sexual assault by other U.S. soldiers."

YouTube trailer

2010-05-24T18:57:00.001-07:00

See a 40 second trailer for the book click here.

School Visit

2010-04-11T10:22:00.001-07:00

These photos are from my visit to St. Genevieve's School in Flourtown PA. I spoke to the 4th-6th grades and k-1st grades, read the book and opened up to questions from the students afterwards.

Barnes and Noble Signing

2010-04-11T10:20:00.001-07:00

Barnes and Noble signing in Plymouth Meeting PA. Thank you to the store for organization and the opportunity!

Pemba Sherpa Limited Posters

2009-12-07T12:55:00.000-08:00

14"x20" Poster
The image is the full size illustration from the books cover.
($4 shipping costs for the continental US.)

Reviews

2009-11-30T14:29:00.000-08:00

This is one of three books I took to my Tuesday morning workout at Parrish Health and Fitness. Yes Ms. Louise works out. You couldn’t tell it by looking at me, but I have a personal trainer who has been trying to work me into health and fitness for over a year. Today was treadmill and elliptical day and I brought books to read. This is the first.

First the reason I picked this book to read was because of the cover. Illustrators the cover is very important and this one is definitely a work of art! It’s beautiful. Luckily the story inside is just as wonderful. It’s dedicated to Pemba Doma Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest via the North Face. I don’t usually quote the dedication page, but then again most picture books don’t have a dedication page. This one does and after reading the story you will understand.

It’s a wonderfully crafted story of an older brother and younger sister in Nepal. He tells of how young boys carry wood to school each day, so that they will be warm enough to concentrate on their studies and strong enough when older to carry packs on their backs as Sherpa’s or porters for hikers.

Don’t miss this story. I don’t think it will keep the attention of children under four, but it will their parents. It took about 10-15 minutes to read and I think that everyone, every age, will love the artwork. Check it out of your local library or bookstore.

Louise Nottingham

Booklist Online Exclusive: October 7, 2009
Advanced Review
Pemba Sherpa.
Cossi, Olga (Author) , Bernard, Gary (Illustrator)
Aug 2009. 32 p. Odyssey, hardcover, $15.95. (9780976865568).

In a Himalayan village in Tibet, a young boy rises before dawn to collect firewood. His younger sister, Yang Ki, longs to join him in his task, which is part of the training to be a Sherpa, but the boy scoffs: it isn’t girls’ work. One morning, though, Yang Ki disregards her brother’s bossy command to stay home, follows him along the steep mountain path, and saves his life when he loses his footing. When Yang Ki carries his heavy load of firewood home, the villagers are astonished, and she does indeed grow up to be a famous guide. Narrated in the voice of the boy as an old man looking back, this dramatic story gracefully embeds specifics of Tibetan culture as it captures a child’s universal feelings of frustration when she is held back and underestimated, her determination, and her final pleasure when she triumphs. The illustrations’ sketched ink lines, delicately layered with sheer colors, capture the strength and fragility of mountain life and create memorable characters in the two strong-willed siblings.
— Gillian Engberg

..........more >>

The first 3 weeks

2009-11-13T10:18:00.001-08:00

I am very pleased and excited to report that within the first 3 and a half weeks of being available, over 6000 copies have been sold. Thanks everyone for your support!

Pemba Sherpa recognized

2009-10-24T12:14:00.000-07:00

Pemba Sherpa has just been awarded the Junior Library Guild Selection for the Fall of 2009 and has been reviewed by The Children's Book Review

Pemba Sherpa on sale now!

2009-09-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

Pemba Sherpa is a story that whisks children off to another land. It will leave girls feeling empowered and boys with a deepened respect for younger sisters everywhere. Now available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. Enjoy this story based on actual events and be charmed by its warm, hand drawn illustrations and powerful lesson.

Start to finish

2009-09-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

People have asked me what it entails to create illustrations for a book. Every artist has his/her own way of working, and with different media comes another way of preparation and handling of the tools. Below are 3 images from one illustration of the book as a fast look into my work in progress. I started with a rough sketch, then to the final drawing to adding color (washes of watercolor). If you have any questions on the book or you are interested in school, library, etc, speaking engagements, please feel free to contact me directly at garybernard@verizon.net.