Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Brian Lies recently went on tour in the Northeast to present his new picture book Cat Nap (Greenwillow). The book, which has earned seven starred reviews, follows a cat-and-mouse pursuit inspired by artwork from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Lies created 56 pieces of original art in the book ranging from oil paintings, carved hieroglyphics, an illuminated parchment, stained glass, and more. PW rounded up highlights from Lies’s travels.
Lies (c.) kicked off the tour in Duxbury, Mass., with a publication day event at the Duxbury Senior Center and Duxbury Free Library, with book sales by local indie Booked. Here, Lies with attendees at the senior center event, showcasing a piece of original art that is featured in the book.
Lies and his wife, Laurel, traveled in a custom-wrapped Subaru featuring art from the book, along with a roof-mounted picture frame, complete with the book’s gray cat leaping inside.
Lies made an appearance at Bank Square Books in Mystic, Conn., on October 1 to present the book. Here, he showcases a sculpted dog figurine he created, modeled after a ceramic canine by an unknown maker in Veracruz, Mexico, circa 700–800 A.D.
During his October 2 event at Barnes & Noble High Ridge in Stamford, Conn., Lies was joined by (from l.) his editor, Greenwillow VP and publisher Virginia Duncan, joined him for a stock signing, along with store manager Pam Dodson and bookseller Brian Zwolinski.
At an event at Children’s Book World in Haverford, Pa., on October 3, Lies was greeted by former HarperCollins sales executive Annette Hughes.
Children’s book creators Matt Phelan (l.) and Gene Barretta also made an appearance at the event at Children’s Book World and checked out his new book.
On October 11, Sherman’s in Portland, Maine gave Lies a warm welcome for his event where he signed copies of his books and greeted fans. Here, Lies (l.) with two readers in front of the “Cat-mobile.”
Guests who attended Lies’s event at G. Willikers in Portsmouth, N.H., on October 12 were treated to up-close-and-personal looks at original art from the book.
