Rocky The Human Squirrel

My most recent project has been illustrating a book for Jean Ball-Maurer titled Rocky The Human Squirrel. It’s a short, illustrated chapter book. I did the color cover (front and back) and 10 black and white interior illustrations.

She just emailed me that that the paperback is up on Amazon now. She’s so excited to see her first book out in print! Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW385B6V

The ebook will be coming in a few days. I’ll post about that when it’s up and I’ll share a look at the illustrations pretty soon also. In the meantime, here’s the cover:

The front cover of a book with the title, "ROCKY The Human Squirrel" and bylines for "Jean Ball-Maurer" and "Illustrated by Karen B. Jones".  The word "ROCKY" in the title is in all-caps and uses an acorn for the "O".  The cover artwork shows a cartoon squirrel standing on a branch holding a tree bark sign reading "FREE TO BE ME". Behind the squirrel and branch are tree leaves on the sides and top and blue sky behind everything.  There is a copyright notice across the top that reads, "Copyright © 2023 Jean Maurer.  All rights reserved."

SCBWI Bookstop

The Genie LoopholeThe Genie Loophole written by Paul Maguire and illustrated by Karen B. Jones (me) is now up on the SCBWI Bookstop!  Check it out or browse other great SCBWI titles.

It’s a chapter book with one black and white image per chapter.  Go to my portfolio for a peek at the illustrations.

It’s currently available in paperback from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers.  It would make a great Christmas gift!

Synopsis:

It’s something that has crossed every kid’s mind…  If you were given three wishes, what would they be?  For Teddy Rogers, who one summer discovers a magic bottle on the beach and releases the genie inside, the answer is simple: Wish for a billion more wishes!

What follows is a series of unexpected situations, each crazier than the one before.  Teddy soon learns that unlimited wishes can easily spin out of control… and sometimes into dangerous territory!

Demon Schoolgirls

I was thinking about the Monster High idea. This is Monster Middle School, I think. A private school, by the looks of those plaid skirts. I tried to draw them with goat legs and cloven hooves, but I was having trouble making them look cute that way, so they got standard human legs instead. The saddleshoes were fun to draw.

Demon Schoolgirls

Get it from Shutterstock.