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The Origins of an Idea
Get a behind the scenes look at the beginnings of an idea for a picture book inspired by nature in the city. I was delighted to wake one morning to the noisy going-ons of a mourning dove couple setting up home in my top floor window in the back of the building. Over the first summer of the pandemic I was privileged to watch the development of two families from the same couple and was inspired to write a story about it and how it effected my life and brought a new sense of won

Traci Van Wagoner
May 223 min read
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Good Morning, Mourning Dove
Another picture book creation journey begins where a pair of mourning doves nest in my window, and I pose a question: bars or no bars on the windows?

Traci Van Wagoner
May 152 min read
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Boomer is Here! The final children's book is now available.
IT’S OFFICIAL!!! Many of you have watched and waited and shared in the journey from initial text dummy to final book for Boomer the...

Traci Van Wagoner
Mar 30, 20232 min read
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Look Out! Boomer is Coming!
Update on the book making process following Boomer's journey from sketches to final book.

Traci Van Wagoner
Mar 14, 20231 min read
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Boomer Update
You are all due an update for Boomer! Time has gotten away from me with so much of my attention at the drawing board with this project,...

Traci Van Wagoner
Dec 1, 20222 min read
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A New Picture Book Project
Great news! I'm illustrating another picture book! I'm thrilled to be diving into illustrating a new picture book, Boomer, written by my...

Traci Van Wagoner
May 19, 20221 min read
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Itsy Bitsy Teddy Bear's Adventure is Off to Press
Itsy Bitsy Teddy Bear's Adventure is Off to Press

Traci Van Wagoner
Oct 6, 20201 min read
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Book Giveaway to Support USPS
I'm celebrating the pioneering woman artist , Ruth Asawa, and helping support the USPS with a book giveaway of the book I illustrated...

Traci Van Wagoner
Aug 21, 20202 min read
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The Making of Ellie and Her Emotional Dragons
A behind the scenes look at my process of illustrating a children's picture book The project begins: * manuscript cut up into text dummy...

Traci Van Wagoner
Nov 16, 20184 min read
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Ruth Asawa Book Giveaway Winner
I had a great time at my launch party for Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life. Thank you all for your support and help in sharing. I'll share...

Traci Van Wagoner
Oct 23, 20181 min read
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Ruth Asawa Biography
I'm Celebrating the little things and the BIG things, like having another picture book coming out this fall. Here's the back story. I've...

Traci Van Wagoner
Jul 17, 20184 min read
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The Making of The Mermaid's Gift: My Illustration Process
A behind the scenes look at the making of a picture book Since May is the month of #Mermay, I thought it fitting that my first post on...

Traci Van Wagoner
May 16, 20184 min read
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