It's Earth Day * Go Green

Even before the first Earth Day in 1970, I was very aware of preserving the Earth's natural resources. My favorite class in Junior High School was Earth Science.

I mentioned the idea for an ecology book to my agent. The agent mentioned the idea to green writer, Kathy Krull.
IT'S MY EARTH, TOO was published in 1992 by Doubleday Books for Young Readers. The book was made in an environmentally friendly manner. It was printed on recycled paper with soybean oil inks, there was no paper dust jacket, and water-soluble glues were used in the binding.

The Children's Defense Fund reprinted the cover art of IT'S MY EARTH, TOO as a poster. I was selected by the organization's founder and president, Marian Wright Edelman.

Here is a FREE Download to color in honor of Earth Day!

All Art is Copyright Melanie Hope Greenberg

Signed Prints from MERMAIDS ON PARADE

* Double-sided autographed Color prints
* Reversible prints fit into 8 1/2" x 11" frames
* $35.00 shipping included
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Set #1 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.








Set #2 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.








Set #3 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.







Set #4 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.









Set #5 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.








Set #6 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.








Set #7 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.








Set #8 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.







Set #9 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.







Set #10 $35.00

Two prints for the price of one. Two images are reversible. Each side fits into an 8 1/2" x 11" frame.








All Art: Copyright 2008 Melanie Hope Greenberg

Norman Rosten

April is Poetry Month!

I feel so fortunate to have met and worked with so many talented people along my life's path. Brooklyn Poet Laureate Norman Rosten was one of these wonderful people.


I was just breaking into children's books in 1987 and Cousin Arthur's was the local children's bookstore in Brooklyn Heights. It was also a place for grown up happenings and community gatherings. The owners, Bob and Barbara Tramonte, were poets. They also owned a small poetry press. Readings at Cousin Arthur's listed some of the top poets in NYC. In 1987, the idea for the Children's Book Illustrators Group (CBIG- New York City) was born at this bookstore. I became it's first President.


Local author, playwright and poet, Norman Rosten, was a frequent visitor to Cousin Arthur's. I had read his memoir about his friend, the actress Marilyn Monroe.


Norman and I became friends during the time I designed a book of his poems, 'Songs for Patricia'. The Tramonte’s poetry press reissued it in 1988. When my second children’s book, MY FATHER'S LUNCHEONETTE, was released in 1991, Norman asked if I would read some of his children’s poems for possible publication. Being new in children's books that offer was incredibly generous and encouraging.


A CITY IS had many detours on it's journey to publication. It was rejected a few times before Norman passed away in 1995. It finally sold to Henry Holt, one of his original publishers. His poem are simple and timeless. Memories of Norman alway stay with me.

Here is an early sketch I did for the "Pocket Park" poem that never made into the book. You can download and color it.

Purchase an autographed copy of the book A CITY IS.

Art from A CITY IS Copyright Melanie Hope Greenberg 2004

I Love the Library Kids

I presented an author-illustrator workshop at the Hamilton Fish Library branch in lower Manhattan. I met the "library kids", young people from kindergarten to sixth grades who frequent the library and attend the workshops. Librarian, Sarah Belanich, along with a saavy library guard rounded up the library kids into the meeting room. Today was part one of a two part visit.


Picture book process broken down with a handout to take home to continue practicing.

Kids of all ages love to imagine and express.

Photos Copyright 2010 Melanie Hope Greenberg

Women's History Month Celebration

The opening event of the Women's History Month Celebration started with an original picture book illustration exhibition at Superfine.

Selina Alko, Miriam Cohen, Pat Cummings, Aileen Leijten, Meghan McCarthy and I shared the Superfine gallery wall during March 2010.

My illustration was from the book, MERMAIDS ON PARADE.

Lots of children attended and went home with signed books.


Everyone was treated with a special visit by Miss Brooklyn 2009, Keelie Sheridan. The children could not stop talking to her. Keelie was interviewed on this blog in October 2009.

Here are two amazing women I feel lucky to be connected to. How fantastic that Miss Brooklyn extended her support to the Women's History Month Celebration. Keelie Sheridan's platform is Arts in Education for all as part of the Miss Brooklyn/Miss America Scholarship Fund. And Tanya Rynd, an owner of Superfine, who 'got' my vision for a grassroots community art and literature event and helped to make it come true. THANKS!

With Heather Scott of Scholastic.

Deloris McCullough from Brooklyn Central Library with a parent.

Uldis Skrodelis from Brooklyn Heights branch library.

I want to thank all the participating author-illustrators, bookstores, and Superfine, as well as bloggers, friends, artists, writers, students, parents, librarians, publishing professionals, patrons and well wishers for their support. It takes a community to create a picture book. THANK YOU!

Photo Credits: Melanie Hope Greenberg and Michael Santangelo Copyright 2010

Montessori Students Create Theater from My Picture Book

Katie Kovach and I were introduced via email through mutual friend, musician Alex Battles. She and I later connected on Facebook where I took special note of her alice FOUND photo galleries. Katie, a talented photographer, takes emotionally energetic photos of local bands.


Best of all, Katie and I connect through Arts in Education via my book, MERMAIDS ON PARADE. Katie is the drama teacher for 2-5 year olds at Montessori School of Manhattan. She covers acting, writing, set design, costume design and props. They even work on Shakespeare and opera!


Katie sometimes works with picture books as a source of drama exercises. She said "Your book was perfect because it centers around an event with a specific place, has beautiful illustrations that the kids are drawn to (making it easier for them to note things about the place to include in their designs), and it is local. Several of my students began to tell me about their own trips to Coney Island. And of course the Mermaid Parade in general is so fantastical and dramatic, it's like it's own theater piece".


Enjoy some of Katie's students set designs for MERMAIDS ON PARADE.



Thanks, Katie and Students!

Photo Credit: Alex Battles

Artists in my Book/ *Evan Reynolds* Interview

I know Brooklyn artist Evan Reynolds from Superfine. He marched as a Neptune with the Superfine Dinettes in the 2006 Mermaid Parade. And, he's painted in my book, MERMAIDS ON PARADE.

Can you spot Evan? He is #53.

Evan likes many different forms of art and he uses as many as possible to create short movies. For many years Evan played music in bands. He plays drums, bass, guitar; he has made recordings where he plays all the instruments and sings all the vocals. For his last short movie Evan made sculptures, painted them, filmed them, edited them, and created the music. To Evan this was a lot of fun, so he is in the process of doing it all again.

Here is a link to Evan's highly creative short movie,"Todt/Toad".

Evan was generous to answer a few questions.

Q: If you had a mermaid name what would it be?

ER: Triton

Q: What does Coney Island mean to you?

ER: Hot Dogs, the Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel, Ruby's, the parade, old Russian men sunning themselves, and just freaks in general, but also New York's beach. If you go there on July Fourth (which I have done) there are easily a million people there. It's pretty amazing just to see that many people in one place.

Q: Why do you enjoy marching in the Mermaid Parade?

ER: It's a freaky party... all the strange ones come out... it celebrates the impossible...It's a majestic tinfoil hat!

Q: What are you currently working on?

ER: I am working on my second short film called "Frog (swimming)"

Thanks! p.s. today is his 40th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Evan!

Photo Credit: Evan Reynolds
Illustration detail from MERMAIDS ON PARADE
Buy MERMAIDS ON PARADE