It's a Marshmallow World

Sometimes I ask social media friends for their ideas on the animal drawing sheet. Often, I find a match for something interesting, unique, and well-suited for a kid’s drawing sheet. But other times I just end up circling back to an animal based on mood.

And with that, I give you the Capybara.

But I am also sharing a second activity sheet: Capybara Bathtime. Of course.

I was inspired by this informative and soothing video. During the stress of the holiday season, we all need to celebrate an animal that is kind, beloved, and enjoys a warm bath.

As for work, I’ve been doing a few Highlights illustration assignments and planning for events in 2025. Be sure and reach out if you’d like to have me talk about books to your students or library patrons. You can read more about my school visits here.

Life takes over at this time of year. Holiday shopping and getting kids ready for winter concerts and parties. And of course, marshmallows.

I’ve been making homemade marshmallows at Christmas for over twenty years. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I usually share a few videos marking the start of ‘Marshmallow Season’. It began as a personal challenge to make a Martha Stewart’esque treat. It helped that they are gluten-free. Since I have celiac it sort of covered me for any type of work cookie swap moment and made for inexpensive but memorable gifts. I bump into old friends that will remind me that once-upon-a-time I gave them marshmallows that they loved and remembered. But, as many good things do, it changed from a fun seasonal hobby to an OBLIGATION: to my husband’s coworkers, to my kids’ teachers, to the annual teacher cookie day event that I then organized for several years. What started as one or two batches each season became seven or eight. By the last batch of the season, I am done.

Twenty years is a LONG time to make the same holiday treat. Sometimes I still make a mistake because I’m doing too many things at once, but generally, I make these on auto-pilot. I don’t even need a timer. I can tell by the sound of the mixer when it’s time to stop and pour. It’s nice to be an ‘expert’ but I’m also a little bored. I have joked more than once that my obituary will say “that lady who made marshmallows”. This all might be a bigger testament to the endurance of a Kitchen Aid Mixer than anything else.

But I’ve also been illustrating children’s books for close to twenty years. I’m not sick of making them. Not even close. No two books are the same. I’m always learning something, drawing something new, finding something that excites me and that I want to make next. So when I’m in that long listening to the mixer whip sugar into fluff tomorrow (the start of marshmallow season), I’ll be daydreaming about a new story, a new character, a new way to paint snow.

READING: Lone Wolf Goes to School by Kiah Thomas, pictures by K-Fai Steele It’s hilarious and I keep finding new funny details in the art. Such a gem!

WATCHING: Bad Sisters, Season 2 on AppleTV. I don’t think anyone can top John Paul as a villain, but Fiona Shaw does her best.

LISTENING TO: Nothing. Help? I’m open to podcast or audiobook recommendations. I usually love a good true crime or horror to listen to as I work on cute kid’s illustrations (yes, most of us do!)