Cynthia von Buhler Presents an Animated Window Display & Dollhouse Diorama Workshop
For Immediate Release
Contact: Hannah Goldstein, hannah@drawbridge.com or Jennifer Taber, jennifer.taber@hmhpub.com / 617-351-3671
Popular Children’s Book Author/Illustrator Cynthia von Buhler
Presents an Animated Window Display &Dollhouse Diorama Workshop at Manhattan’s Books of Wonder.
Meet Cynthia, view her book sets, make a diorama and get your books signed.
Children’s book author and illustrator Cynthia von Buhler is creating an animated window display featuring handmade sets and painted characters from her children’s book But Who Will Bell the Cats? for Books of Wonder bookstore in Manhattan. The elaborate window, featuring a life-sized princess and her cats playing with the dollhouse sets, will be on display from July 1 through August 30, 2010.
Dollhouse Diorama and Paper Doll Workshops – Free (with the purchase of a Cynthia von Buhler book from Books of Wonder)!
Sunday, July 25, 2010 from 12 NOON – 2PM.
Monday, July 26, 2010 from 12 NOON – 2PM
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 from 6PM – 8PM
Come to Books of Wonder and learn to how to make a dollhouse room from a shoebox. Cynthia von Buhler’s characters and castle rooms will be available as pre-printed full-color sheets for children to cut out and make into their own dollhouse diorama. Please bring a standard shoebox with you to the workshop. The author/illustrator will also be signing books. Characters from But Who Will Bell the Cats will make an appearance at the events and will give away free bells on ribbon for children to wear around their necks (as supplies last).
The workshop is free for anyone who purchases Cynthia von Buhler’s books, But Who Will Bell the Cats? or The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside, from Books of Wonder the day of the event(s). Space is limited. Please R.S.V.P. by emailing hannah@drawbridge.com. The events are limited to 30 children per day. Children are required to bring a shoebox and a parent or guardian to assist them. Books of Wonder, 18 West 18th Street, NY, NY, 10011, (212)989-3270, www.booksofwonder.com
To download a PDF of step-by-step details from the workshop click HERE.
Cynthia working on the book sets:
Recent reviews from But Who Will Bell the Cats?
"My library’s secret weapon from here on in…Beautiful and haunting with the kinds of images kids will pore over." - Betsy Bird, Children's Librarian at The New York Public Library
"Destined to earn the ‘classic’ label." - Urban Baby
"this story of an indefatigable mouse should find a welcome place on the shelves of any castle...or library."- Horn Book
"Children will find a lot to discover in the details, even after repeated readings". - School Library Journal
“Young readers will pore over this one again and again." – Kirkus
A girl shows off her completed diorama.
Paper cutout characters from the workshop:
But Who Will Bell the Cats? by Cynthia von Buhler
Mouse and his friend Brown Bat are tired of watching the princess’s cats enjoy the life of luxury in the banquet hall of the castle, while they languish on crumbs and sleep in smelly socks.
They are determined to get out of the basement and join the fun and frolicking. But how to get past those spoiled cats who block their every effort?
It will take ingenuity, teamwork, and quite a bit of cunning for Mouse and Bat to succeed. If they can only figure out how to bell the cats . . .
Award-winning artist Cynthia von Buhler takes the reader on a whimsical journey in this visually stunning and innovative book. But Who Will Bell the Cats? (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children) is an enchanting tale of determination, bravery, and creativity—and beautifully illustrates the rewards of the uncomplicated power of kindness.
In addition to having written this story, Cynthia von Buhler was also the painter, sculptor, interior decorator, mason, gardener, and plumber of the sets. The rooms were built by hand from wood. The stone walls were formed from plaster. The floors are handmade from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl, and plaster. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper, then cut out and placed in the sets. The scenes were photographed by Cynthia with a Nikon D300. You can view photos of the sets and see the creation of the book from the beginning stages by visiting the book’s blog, www.butwhowillbellthecats.blogspot.com.
Cynthia von Buhler’s work has been compared to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. Her award-winning art has been displayed in galleries and museums around the world, as well as in books, magazines, and newspapers. She lives in Staten Island and Connecticut with her husband, eight cats, one dog, seven doves, and an unknown number of mice below the floorboards.
And be sure to visit the book’s website at www.butwhowillbellthecats.com for crafts, games, a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the book, downloadable posters, a lesson plan, and much more!
But Who Will Bell the Cats? • September 2009 • Ages 3–7 • 32 pages • $16.00 • Hardcover • ISBN-13/EAN: 978-0-618-99718-3
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Boston, Massachusetts • www.hmhbooks.com
Available wherever books are sold or by calling 1-800-225-3362
READ THE TIME OUT KIDS ARTICLE ABOUT THE BOOK AND WINDOW (AND SEE THEIR SLIDESHOW) HERE.