5 new MADELINE picture books & board books

-detail of an illustration from MADELINE Says Be Kind -Miss Clavel, Madeline and the girls heading to school early in the morning -5th in the series of 5 new MADELINE picture books & board books from publisher Viking Press (Penguin/Random House) and illustrated by Steven Salerno -in the illustration style of the famed originator of the Madeline character, Ludwig Bemelmans. Note: MADELINE Says Be Kind will be released in Spring 2025.

Back in 2020 I signed the contract with publisher Viking (Penguin Random House) to engage in a very interesting picture book project -to illustrate a series of 5 new mini picture books & board books featuring one of the most well known and beloved characters in all of picture book history, MADELINE. Yes that Madeline! The classic 1939 picture book (and still a best seller today) with the famous opening line: “In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.” (The brave, charming little girl in the yellow hat living in an old Paris boarding school along with eleven other girls, and always under the watchful eye of the towering Miss Clavel.

Read more detail about my involvement with this special MADELINE project.

For these new titles I created all the illustrations in the style of the famed originator of the Madeline character, author/artist Ludwig Bemelmans. All 5 of these new MADELINE titles are written by John Bemelmans Marciano, the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans.

The first four titles in this new MADELINE series have already been completed, published, and released… And the 5th and final title, MADELINE Says Be Kind, was delayed considerably due to the story manuscript not being finalized on schedule, and was not in my hands until Spring 2024. Update: I just recently completed all the final illustrations for this 5th book, and it’s being released by the publisher in Spring 2025.

FYI: For those who don’t know Ludwig Bemelmans (born 1898 - died 1962), he was a well established illustrator/travel writer who had already penned & illustrated a number of picture books for children when in 1939 his little gem of a picture book entitled, MADELINE was first released. It grew into a hit, striking a popular note with both children and adults and over the years became one of the most loved and memorable characters in children’s picture book history. The first Madeline picture book in 1939 was followed by four more Madeline titles before Bemelmans’ death in 1962, then with a sixth title released posthumously.

-detail of an illustration from MADELINE Says Be Kind -Madeline sharing her cookies in the park -5th in the series of 5 new MADELINE picture books & board books from publisher Viking Press (Penguin/Random House) and illustrated by Steven Salerno -in the illustration style of the famed originator of the Madeline character, Ludwig Bemelmans. Note: MADELINE Says Be Kind will be released in Spring 2025.

These MADELINE books were released in the following order:

(1) Love from Madeline -released April 2022

(2) Madeline’s ABCs -released June 2022

(3) Madeline’s 123s -released Nov 2022

(4) Madeline’s SEASONS -released Spring 2023

(5) Madeline Says Be Kind -to be released Spring 2025

-detail of an illustration from MADELINE Says Be Kind -Madeline visiting an elderly neighbor -5th in the series of 5 new MADELINE picture books & board books from publisher Viking Press (Penguin/Random House) and illustrated by Steven Salerno -in the illustration style of the famed originator of the Madeline character, Ludwig Bemelmans. Note: MADELINE Says Be Kind will be released in Spring 2025.

Lady Pigsworth -A Smashing British character in an upcoming new picture book!

^ above -the Title Page illustration from the upcoming new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, slated for release in Spring 2025 published by G.P Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno

To date I’ve had 37 picture books published. And back in April 2024 I completed all the final illustrations for my 38th picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, slated for release in Spring 2025 published by G.P Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House. A jaunty and charming story about a stubborn little girl who refuses to get ready for bedtime. So her wise Dad cleverly elicits the assistance of the girl’s very British stuffed animal, Lady Pigsworth, to help him prompt his daughter in getting ready for bed. It’s wonderfully written by the prominent NY Times editor & columnist, Pamela Paul, her first picture book story!

Back in April I delivered all my final illustrations (the interior spread illustrations, the Endpapers, Title Page, and Cover art) to the art director Lily Malcolm and senior designer designer Cindy De la Cruz. They finalized their design layout & production files -which were sent to the the printer to do test printings. And just this week I received the 1st run of color proofs from the printer for my review, in order to give my thoughts on the accuracy of the color reproduction. These color proofs are printed on the exact paper the final picture book will be printed on. So sometime soon the printer will get the official approval and the picture book will be scheduled for printing. I won’t see a hot-off-the-press copy of it probably until the beginning of the Spring in 2025.

Below are a few sneak peeks at finished illustrations (and a sketch) from It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime. I created all the illustrations nearly all digitally in Photoshop, though I also paint gouache textures -which are scanned into Photoshop and integrated into the many layers involved to create the final illustration.

NOTE: When this picture book is released in Spring of 2025 at that time I’ll also add more images from this book into the fiction picture books section of this site.

^ 2 images above -the preliminary sketch and the corresponding finished illustration (a cropped detail view) of the stubborn little girl character in the upcoming new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, slated for release in Spring 2025 published by G.P Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno

^ above -a cropped detail view of an illustration -with the Dad in discussion with the very British stuffed animal Lady Pigsworth -from the upcoming new picture book, It Simply Can’t Be Bedtime, slated for release in Spring 2025 published by G.P Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Written by Pamela Paul & illustrated by Steven Salerno

TAX DAY tomorrow!

Posted here are a couple recent drawings I created reflecting on TAX DAY -the annual (and usually depressing) payment to a host of various taxes… Chin up!

TAX DAY -The Letting of Your Financial Blood illustration by Steven Salerno

TAX DAY -Like Losing an Arm and a Leg illustration by Steven Salerno

Just the ENDS! -a look at endpapers created for many of my picture books

Not every one of the 38 picture books I’ve illustrated to date have end papers art included… perhaps only about a third do. (usually it’s a publisher’s budgetary issue) But when the publisher does give the green light on a picture book project to include the end papers, I’m thrilled! It’s always fun and challenging to devise and create a thematic pattern reflecting the subject and feel of the story.

Posted here are some endpapers I’ve created over the years for various picture books:

^ above: endpapers from, Wild Child -written & illustrated by Steven Salerno -August 2015 Abrams Books for Young Readers. (gouache & digital)

^ above: endpapers from, Wild Horse Annie Friend of the Mustangs (nonfiction) written by Tracey Fern & illustrated by Steven Salerno - April 2019 by Farrar Straus Giroux. (gouache & digital)

^ above: endpapers from, The Secret Code Inside You -all about your DNA (nonfiction) written by Rajani LaRocca, MD & illustrated by Steven Salerno -Released in 2021 by Little Bee Books. (digital)

^ above: endpapers from, Pantaloon -written by Kathryn Jackson & illustrated by Steven Salerno -March 2010 Golden Books/Random House.  (gouache & digital)

^ above: endpapers from, Love from MADELINE -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno (in the style of the creator of MADELINE, Ludwig Bemelmans) Released in Jan 2022 by Viking Books for Young Readers (Penguin-Random House) (gouache & digital)

^ above: endpapers from, PRIDE The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag (nonfiction) written by Rob Sanders & illustrated by Steven Salerno -April 2018 by Random House.  (digital)

^ above: endpapers from, Harry Hungry! -written & illustrated by Steven Salerno -February 2009 Harcourt Children’s Books.  (gouache & digital)

^ above: endpapers from, BOOM! -written by Mary Lyn Ray & illustrated by Steven Salerno -June 2013 Hyperion Books/Disney. (gouache & digital)

^ above: endpapers from, PASS GO And Collect $200 The Real Story of How MONOPOLY Was Invented (nonfiction) written by Tanya Lee Stone & illustrated by Steven Salerno -July 2018 by Henry Holt & Co/Christy Ottaviano Books. (digital)

^ above: endpapers from, Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates -written by April Jones Prince & illustrated by Steven Salerno -October 2017 Farrar Straus Giroux/Margaret Ferguson Books.  (gouache & digital)

On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue -How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America... the new picture book from publisher Clarion Books/Harper Collins is released today!

My latest illustrated picture book, ON THE CORNER OF CHOCOLATE AVENUE is available starting today from publisher Clarion Books/Harper Collins. It's the inspiring life story of Milton Hershey -the chocolate king who brought milk chocolate to America. Wonderfully written by Tziporah Cohen & illustrated by Steven Salerno.

And here is the direct link to the podcast, The Happy Writer... hosted by NY Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer. In this latest episode Marissa chats with Tziporah Cohen and Steven Salerno about their new picture book - ON THE CORNER OF CHOCOLATE AVENUE: HOW MILTON HERSHEY BROUGHT MILK CHOCOLATE TO AMERICA - as well as the process and timeline of a picture book, from manuscript and revisions to artist selection, preliminary sketches, and beyond; the vast amounts of research that go into the creation of a nonfiction picture book, for both the prose and the illustrations; why its important for writers to leave room for the illustrator to bring their own ideas and interpretations to the story; how so often rejection is a result of poor timing, not necessary the quality of the work; having the confidence to identify as a writer; and a few different inspiring stories of perseverance - from chocolate makers to writers!

http://www.marissameyer.com/podcast

And here is the link to my illustration web site where you can view some of the illustrations from ON THE CORNER OF CHOCOLATE AVENUE

https://www.stevensalerno.com/on-the-corner-of-chocolate-ave

illustrator & children's book author STEVEN SALERNO -bio update

illustrator & children’s book author Steven Salerno (photo 2019) -visit stevensalerno.com

STEVEN SALERNO has illustrated 37 picture books for major publishers -with 5 of these titles being both the author & illustrator: Little Tumbo (Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books), Coco the Carrot (Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books), Harry Hungry (Harcourt Children’s Books), Wild Child (Abrams Books for Young Readers), and his most recent author/illustrator title is Tim’s Goodbye (Farrar Straus Giroux 2018).

Steven Salerno lives and works in Manhattan (NYC) and is a graduate of Parsons School of Design. (Note: while a student at Parsons his instructor for a year long picture book illustration course was the famed author/illustrator Maurice Sendak, creator of Where the Wild Things Are.) Over Steven’s long freelance illustration career, in addition to the 37 picture books he has illustrated thus far, he also creates illustrations for magazines, newspapers, print & web advertising, publishing, packaging, and retail graphics.

visit stevensalerno.com to view many samples of his editorial and advertising illustrations -and click here to see a list of all his picture books published through 2023.

Steven Salerno has illustrated 37 picture books to date, and is both the author & illustrator for 5 of these titles (shown above) -visit stevensalerno.com

Steven Salerno working on an illustration for the picture book, BOOM! -published by Hyperion Books/Disney. -visit stevensalerno.com

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LATEST PICTURE BOOK NEWS

In December 2022 Steven’s most recent illustrated picture book was released, On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue -How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America (nonfiction) written by Tziporah Cohen and illustrated by Steven Salerno, published by Clarion Books/Harper Collins. The true story of the poor kid from Pennsylvania, Milton Hershey, who first introduced his innovative HERSHEY’S milk chocolate candy bar back in 1905 -and went on to create his massive chocolate empire, becoming one of the largest chocolate candy producers in the world.

COVER: On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue -How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America (nonfiction) written by Tziporah Cohen and illustrated by Steven Salerno, published by Clarion Books/Harper Collins 2022. (A Junior Library Guild GOLD STANDARD selection for 2022) -visit stevensalerno.com

one of the inside of book illustrations from On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue -How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America (nonfiction) written by Tziporah Cohen and illustrated by Steven Salerno, published by Clarion Books/Harper Collins 2022. (A Junior Library Guild GOLD STANDARD selection for 2022) -visit stevensalerno.com

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Steven Salerno also has been working on a very special picture book project for VIKING -an imprint of Penguin Random House. In 2019 the publisher had asked Steven if he would illustrate 5 new MADELINE picture books written by John Marciano Bemelmans, the grandson of famed Ludwig Bemelmans (b.1896 - d.1962) who was the author/illustrator creator of the five original classic MADELINE picture books which were released from 1939 through 1961. Yes, THAT Madeline! The brave little girl in the yellow hat living in a Paris boarding school along with eleven other young girls, all under the watchful gaze of the towering Miss Clavel. This special project request meant that Steven wasrequired to create the illustrations for these 5 new MADELINE picture books in the recognizable drawing stye of Ludwig Bemelmans! Thus far Steven has competed the first 4 titles in this 5 book series:

1) Love from Madeline (this book was released in January 2022)

2) Madeline’s ABCs (this book was released in June 2022)

3) Madeline’s 123s (this book was released in November 2022)

4) Madeline’s SEASONS (this book was released in Spring 2023)

5) the 5th picture book in the series is still in development.

above: the new mini-hardcover picture book, LOVE From Madeline -written by John Marciano Bemelmans & illustrated by Steven Salerno, released in January 2022 by VIKING (imprint of Penguin Random House) -visit stevensalerno.com

above: detail of the Title Page from the new mini-hardcover picture book, LOVE From Madeline -written by John Marciano Bemelmans & illustrated by Steven Salerno, released in January 2022 by VIKING (imprint of Penguin Random House) -visit stevensalerno.com

above: detail of the one of the interior illustration spreads from the new mini-hardcover picture book, LOVE From Madeline -written by John Marciano Bemelmans & illustrated by Steven Salerno, released in January 2022 by VIKING (imprint of Penguin Random House) -visit stevensalerno.com

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AWARD NEWS

In 2019 The Crayon Man -The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons (nonfiction) written by Natascha Biebow & illustrated by Steven Salerno was released by publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. It’s the story of Edwin Binney, who loved color, but his chemical manufacturing company in the late 1800’s only produced black ink, black crayons, black powder, and black dyes… until the day in 1903 when Edwin finally came up with just the right recipe for making color crayons especially for school children, which he and his wife named CRAYOLA CRAYONS… This wonderful picture book not only was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, but in 2020 it also won the prestigious Irma Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature, voted for by children all around the world.

COVER: The Crayon Man -The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons (nonfiction) written by Natascha Bibow and illustrated by Steven Salerno, published by Houghton Mifflin 2019. (A Junior Library Guild GOLD STANDARD selection for 2020 and winner of The Irma Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature in 2020) -visit stevensalerno.com

Heat Wave -drawing by Steven Salerno

“Heat Wave” drawing by Steven Salerno (placed into a mock-cover design of The New Yorker magazine)

This is one of my recent drawings (digital) -created in response to news of ever increasing temperatures being recorded around the globe, due to climate change -represented by the earth as a scoop of ice cream atop a cone, and rapidly melting under the hot sun.

Many years ago some of my drawings appeared on the inside pages of a few The New Yorker magazine issues… but never on the cover. When I created this drawing of the melting “earth” ice cream I had the thought that it would make for a provocative New Yorker magazine cover, so just for the fun of it placed within the mock-design of the magazine’s iconic cover design. (To be clear, my drawing posted here was not created for The New Yorker magazine nor published by the magazine.)

LOVE From Madeline -just received my copies! The first title released in the new MADELINE 5-picture book series from VIKING

^above: the new mini-hardcover picture book, LOVE From Madeline -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno, released in January 2022 by VIKING (imprint of Penguin Random House)

^above: detail of the Title Page from the new mini-hardcover picture book, LOVE From Madeline -written by John Bemelmans Marciano & illustrated by Steven Salerno, released in January 2022 by VIKING (imprint of Penguin Random House)

One of my recent picture book illustration projects I’ve been working on over the past couple years is the MADELINE series of 5 new picture books published by VIKING (an imprint of Penguin Random House) -featuring one of the most beloved and recognized characters in picture book history, Madeline, created by Ludwig Bemelmans (b.1898 - d.1962) the author and illustrator of the original 5 classic Madeline picture books published from 1939 through 1961. Yes, THAT Madeline! The brave little girl in the yellow hat living in a Paris boarding school along with eleven other young girls, all under the watchful gaze of the towering Miss Clavel.

(see a video on this special MADELINE project on Steven’s YouTube.com channel)

(see more details about this special MADELINE project in my spotlight feature section)

(see examples of some of the completed illustrations from LOVE from Madeline)

Thus far I have competed the final illustrations for the first 4 titles in the 5 book series:

1) Love from Madeline (this book was released in January 2022 and is available now)

2) Madeline’s ABCs (this book will be released April 2022)

3) Madeline’s 123s (this book will be released June 2022)

4) Madeline’s SEASONS (this book will be released November 2022)

5) Madeline’s KINDNESS (still in progress release date Spring 2025)

The author of these 5 new MADELINE titles is John Bemelmans Marciano, the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans.

^above: detail of the one of the interior illustration spreads from the new mini-hardcover picture book, LOVE From Madeline -written by John Marciano Bemelmans & illustrated by Steven Salerno, released in January 2022 by VIKING (imprint of Penguin Random House)

And just yesterday I finally received delivery of my copies of LOVE from Madeline -which is the first book produced in the 5 book series, and was released back in January 2022. Apparently because of national supply chain issues it took six months for me to receive these copies!

^above: detail of the one of the interior illustration spreads from the new mini-hardcover picture book, LOVE From Madeline -written by John Marciano Bemelmans & illustrated by Steven Salerno, released in January 2022 by VIKING (imprint of Penguin Random House)

These 5 new picture books are mini-hardcovers… and are adorable! It was a very challenging project -which required me to emulate the very distinctive illustration style of the famous MADELINE originator, Ludwig Bemelmans… I created all the new illustrations for these picture books entirely digitally, which gave me total flexibility to draw and redraw and redraw the line work defining the characters over and over again, as many times as it took, for me to ensure I was capturing the look and feel of Bemelmans’ style.

My career creating illustrations for many popular picture books, as well as illustrations for editorial and advertising has never been about mimicking another artist’s style. But in the unique instance of this MADELINE project, I felt a kind of obligation to accept it and provide my talents helping to protect the Madeline/Bemelmans brand for future generations.

I hope you add a few of these new MADELINE titles to your picture book collection!

Trump Digs In....

Supreme Perpetual President of the United States of Trumpdom (SPPOTUSOT) -illustration by Steven Salerno

I created these political satire illustrations before the November 3rd Election day…. and it seems to have come true. Trump is refusing to acknowledge Joe Biden as the new President Elect. And perhaps he may not even vacate the White House by January 20th, 2021?

Trump hunkers down in the White House. Will he refuse to vacate when 46th President Joe Biden takes over residence in January 2021? -illustration by Steven Salerno

On my website stevensalerno.com, see the the illustration portfolio section and click on the sub-section political commentary to view more of my satire illustrations.

"The Crayon Man" picture book wins the 2020 Irma Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature!

^ cover of The Crayon Man -The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons …winner of the 2020 Irma Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature.

WINNER OF THE 2020 IRMA BLACK AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

The Crayon Man -The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons (nonfiction) written by Natascha Biebow & illustrated by Steven Salerno -published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2019.

The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature (Irma Black Award) goes to an outstanding book for young children—a book in which text and illustrations are inseparable, each enhancing and enlarging on the other to produce a singular whole. The Irma Black Award is unusual in that children are the final judges of the winning book. Thousands of children in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and the United Arab Emirates participated in the voting process. Sadly, this year, the award ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 14th 2020 was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

See the illustrations from The Crayon Man, illustrated by Steven Salerno

See how the illustrations for The Crayon Man were created by Steven Salerno