Caricatures, Silhouettes and Illustrations by Leona Hosack

A few years ago I came up with a picture book idea that shows a Baha'i child progressing through his day, and incorporating spiritual concepts into his activities. I was lucky to have had an opportunity to show the idea to an editor at Bellwood Press/US Baha'i Publishing Trust and my book Kamal's Day was published last year and is now available at www.baha'ibookstore.com Click here for a direct link: http://www.bahaibookstore.com/Search.aspx?k=kamal%27s%20day Here are three ideas that I used in creating this picture book! Happy Writing!   1.Choose what concept or story you want to share with your readers.  In this book which is a concept book, there's not an actual story with a conflict, and a beginning, middle and end, during which the conflict gets resolved. But there is the story or concept of  what Kamal does during his day and how he practices Baha'i ideals supported by his family.  I wanted to help Baha'i children, and others to bette...

SO grateful that I have two books that I've written and illustrated available on line NOW!  A picture book for the young ones and a chapter book for older readers! My picture book about a day in the life of a Baha'i Child called Kamal's Day, published by Bellwood Press, shows how a young boy studies some Baha'i quotes in his neighborhood children's class and is involved in other core activities in his home and neighborhood. Glad to say that this book would make a great gift for a child from age 3 to 8! Me with my book-Kamal's Day, published by Bellwood Press! Join Kamal as he goes about a typical day in his neighborhood, spending time with his family, attending a neighborhood children's class, visiting an elderly neighbor, playing with his friends, and helping his parents host a study circle. Kamal's Day offers us a glimpse of a young person who is fully engaged in the community-building process, and it is hoped that Kamal will offer famil...

 This is an interesting video about a website that offers a more interactive way for your child to enjoy ebooks, as well as another way for children's book authors and illustrators to have their work published. You can record you voice to be heard by the child while they look at the ebook! What will they think of next! Check it out here:  http://ripplereader.com/ Here are a few illustrations I did a while ago, plus two illustrations (below) from my upcoming picture book, Kamal's Day to be released soon from Bellwood Press, an imprint of the US Baha'i Publishing Trust. This is an illustration I did a few years back for the Core Curriculum Series of Books  put out by The National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'i of the US. The sketch for the finished piece above. This is from my picture book Kamal's Day! Snack time at Children's  class! Clean up time. Even the dog helps!

I thought I'd share some of my illustrations featuring parents with their children! This is my latest contribution to Illustration Friday! The theme this week is Secret. Do you know what this little girl's secret is? Here is a great quote about children from the Baha'i writings: "Children are even as a branch that if fresh and green; they will grow up in whatever way ye train them.Take the utmost care to give them ideals and goals, so that once they come of age, they will cast their beams like brilliant candles on the world, and they will not be defiled by lusts and passions in the way of animals, heedless and unaware, but instead will set their hearts on achieving everlasting honour and aquiring all the excellences of humankind." I did this illustration years ago for no particular reason except that I like this lullabye (it's part of the drawing) by Christine Lavin and felt like illustrating it. It's nice to pull it out of my portfolio and sh...