No Monster Here on my mind
Posted by alyssa | Filed under News
Today Alyssa finished up designs for the activity cards that go along with the No Monster Here Pre-orders. Everyone who pre-orders the book before Nov 1st will get a set of cards. And after that we’ll be selling them as little card sets in the store. Whaja think?
Creative Endeavors Event & Book Pre-order signings
Posted by alyssa | Filed under News
Colleen was at “Creative Endeavors – Children’s Art Studio” this past weekend for a No Monster Here event. They did a book reading and an art activity with the kids. Lots of fun!
Colleen and Alyssa also spent a some time autographing books for those of you who pre-ordered. Look for your book in the mail early November! 
No Monster Here First Edition Completed
Posted by admin | Filed under News
Hear ye! Hear ye! No Monster Here is ready for reading. Our first edition book is complete and we will be ready to start shipping out copies November 1st.
Each box is 35 books. Here's a finished one.
Boxes of the books all wrapped up and ready to be shipped.
At the printer
Posted by alyssa | Filed under News
Here are some pics (with explanations) from the press check of No Monster Here.
1. The printer ran a few sheets for us to look over to see if the colors and registration look good. If we wanted a page to be a little more yellow or a little more magenta, then they would make the adjustments and print a few more sheets. They would do this until we were happy with the colors.
2. Here is the color scanner that would scan the color bars (you can see them in the first image on the bottom of the sheet). They do this to see exactly how dense the Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black inks are printing. The scanner can also tell if the densities are the same consistently from the left side of the sheet to the right side of the sheet.
3. Another sheet that we’re checking over. When the book is bound all pages will be folded in half and then will be sewn down the side of the book 1/4 inch from the folded edge. So we needed to build in a little “cross-over” area (or gutter) down the middle of the page. You can see the “cross-over” area going down the middle of the monster’s face in this image. After it’s bound the gutter will disappear and the monster’s head will become perfectly aligned.
4. Part of the printing press. Each tower prints a different color, either Cyan, Magenta, Yellow or Black. Each tower holds a drum that holds a plate.
5. Here’s one of the 4 plates that was used to print the cover. I think this is the Black plate.
6. Here’s a stack of paper with one side printed already.
7. Now the stack of paper is starting to run through the press.
8. Here it is coming out the other side (after going through all the towers) all finished.
9. Here are all the pages stacked up after printing. They’ll sit here for a day or so to dry out. Then they will get cut and folded here at the printer. After that the folded pages head off to the bindery where they will get sewn and bound. And in about two weeks they will be finished books!
What age group is this book for?
Posted by Colleen | Filed under News
For the past few weeks, I’ve been telling people about our book. It’s been fun to see their reactions. One of the questions asked has been; “What age group is this book for?”
Actually, this is a book for all ages. Because it’s a story with suspense and humor, readers of all ages can enjoy it together. We all like to figure things out and we all like to get the joke. Our book is a read aloud picture book, which means it can be read to one child or a group of children. Picture books can be read to children of all ages. Reading to a baby helps develop language skills. Reading to preschoolers helps develop early literacy. And this book is great for beginning readers since the pictures help children figure out the words.
No Monster Here would be a great book for reader/response workshops. It could also read in adult assisted living programs to stimulate discussions and reminiscence. Good storytelling, illustration, suspense and humor are universally enjoyed by every age .
Special pre-order offer!
Posted by alyssa | Filed under News
Every pre-ordered book will come:
• Signed by the writer and illustrator
• Include a free set of character cards
To qualify for this special offer pre-order No Monster Here by
November 1, 2009.
Only $20.00 USD + $6.00 Shipping & Handling
Learn More >
Welcome to the No Monster Here website
Posted by alyssa | Filed under News
Hi all! Welcome to the website for our children’s book No Monster Here. We’re excited that you’re here! No Monster Here is the debut book of writer/educator Colleen Thomas and illustrator Alyssa Thomas. It is set to go to the printer in a couple of months and then it will be ready for the world early November. You can pre-order yours right now. You can also view the entire book here.
We’d love to hear from you! Take a look around and feel free to comment. If you want news about any giveaways or new products, you can sign up for our email newsletter in the form in the right hand column.
Keep checking back. Colleen and I (Alyssa) will be blogging about our book making process and about all other happenings in the world of No Monster Here.
Thanks for visiting!
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