Cover Reveal: THE CRAB BALLET (plus critique giveaway)

 


Nov. 15, 2021

We are thrilled to host the cover reveal of THE CRAB BALLET, the debut picture book of Renée LaTulippe, illustrated by Cécile Metzger (Cameron Kids/ Abrams), out on March 8, 2022!


Isn't the cover delightful? Check out our one-question interview; register for your free Crab Ballet kid's activity pack (everyone wins this); and enter the pre-order giveaway to win one of three Zoom consultations with Renée (manuscript or rhyming critique).


Kidlit411's One-Question Interview: What are some of your favorite lines from the book, and why?


Renée: One of my favorite stanzas is when the crabs, who are the stars of the show, make their first appearance:

 

… crabs pop up from bubbling holes,

dozens of crustacean souls.

First the eyes, then toe toe toe—

dancers playing tidal roles.

 

Eye stalks are always funny to me, so I really enjoyed playing with this image and imagining the little eye stalks peeking up from the holes in the sand. And of course I had to pat myself on the back for the play on words with “tidal roles.” Ha!





About the Book: The curtain's going up on The Crab Ballet, a sunset seaside show starring the dancing crab divas and their aquatic corps de ballet. A fantastical rhyming text ushers readers through one sea-foam-dreamy act after another, from a gentle seahorse pas de deux to dramatic dolphin leaps beyond the spray. 

 

Gorgeously illustrated in sea-washed watercolors by Cécile Metzger, The Crab Ballet is a two-act spectacular full of salt, sand, and French ballet terms. Mais oui!

 


About the Author: Renée M. LaTulippe is a poet and writer who lives by the sea in Italy with her husband and three little urchins. Besides The Crab Ballet, she is the author of Limelight: Theater Poems to Perform (Charlesbridge, TBA) and has poems published in many anthologies including Night Wishes, School People, National Geographic's The Poetry of US and Book of Nature PoetryOne Minute Till Bedtime, and ThankU: Poems of Gratitude. Renée teaches the online course The Lyrical Language Lab and provides free lessons and critiques for children's writers on her YouTube channel. She has a BFA in acting/directing and an MA in English Education. www.reneelatulippe.com.

YouTube: Lyrical Language Lab  

IG: renee_m_latulippe

 

 

About the Illustrator: Cécile Metzger is a French freelance watercolor illustrator and artist currently living in Florence, Italy. When not working in her main medium of watercolors, she loves to embroider, draw, drink tea, and think about beautiful imaginary forests and her cat Marcel. www.coucou-illustration.com

IG: coucou_illustration

 

 

Pre-order your book here: IndieBound


FREE GIFT + PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY


Click this link to enter to get a FREE kid's activity pack, and for the pre-order giveaway for one of three Zoom consultations with children's poet, Renée LaTulippe.

  • Everyone wins. There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to receive the Crab Ballet kids' activity pack. Perfect for parents and teachers, it's full of coloring pages, mazes, word search, and more. (packs emailed in early March)
  • Pre-order Grand Jeté Giveaway! Your pre-order with proof of purchase enters you into a giveaway of a private Zoom consultation with Renée LaTulippe.
  • Three winners chosen in December, January, and February. 
Giveaway ends March 7, 2022. Pre-order here: Indiebound, Book Depository (great for international orders), or providers linked on the publisher's website.
 





Comments

  1. Congratulations, Renee! The cover is beautiful! And your release is on my birthday! I know what I'll be buying for my birthday gift!!!!

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    1. Oh yay, a real birthday book! Thank you, dear Penny! <3

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  2. This is soooo exciting! Love love love this cover and the sneak peek at the verse! Congrats, Renee, on this gorgeous book! Darn tootin' I'll be pre-ordering! Cheers!

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    1. Thank you so much, Jilanne! I so appreciate your support! <3

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  3. What a great idea for a fun picture book. It's clear you're a poet from the beautiful way you use the language. Congrats!

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    1. Oh, what a lovely thing to say, Melissa. Thank you so much!

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  4. Congratulations! I love the sample verse and know all the poems are spectacular! i can’t wait to hold a copy in my hands🥰.

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    1. Thank you, dear Iza! I can't wait for you to read it! <3

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  5. Renee, your lovely text and Cécile's gorgeous illustrations transported me back to my happy place, snorkeling among sea creatures who do, indeed, dance. Brava!

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    1. What a lovely image, Patricia. And as a non-snorkeler, I am very glad to know that they DO dance. So it seems I've written a non-fiction PB? :D ;)

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  6. So much congrats, Renee! Can't wait to read it. Thanks for this lovely reveal Kidlit411!

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    1. Thank you so much for your support! I hope you like it! :)

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  7. Can't wait to hold this beautiful poetry in my hands! Pre-order - DONE! Congratulations, Renee and Cecile!

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    1. Yay!! Thank you so much, Patricia! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! <3

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  8. Congrats! Gorgeous cover. Lyrical words. A perfect match.

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  9. Wow! What a gorgeous cover. I couldn't resist. I pre-ordered right away. Thanks for the heads up.

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    1. Grazie, Rosi! I am so appreciative of your support! <3

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  10. Absolutely beautiful!

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    1. Thank you, Marty! Cécile's watercolors are so lovely, aren't they? :)

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  11. This looks like so much fun! Poetic and full of the language that is dance. Congrats!

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  12. Oh my goodness the cover is just beautiful. Love that you never stop supporting this community. Me likey GIVEAWAYS!
    CONGRATULATIONS Renee'!

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    1. Thank you so much, Pam! Kidlit411 is the BEST, right?? <3

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