A sketch I did for an SCBWI-Michigan illustration seminar in which I was a participant. Prior to the event, we were given samples of text from published books. It was our job to come up with a different interpretation of the material. The editor who ran the workshop (sorry, forgot his name) was excellent in leading the crit of the work. Was a great day and, as usual, I was very happy to participate in this wonderful SCBWI weekend. Pencil, 2011.

America, with 5% of the world’s population, has 25% of the world’s prisoners.

A cover sketch for "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", a graphic novel written and illus.d by me, publ.d by Disney/Hyperion, 2014. We've passed on this one too. While I think this image- Koji and his mom Adeline entering the concentration camp in San Bruno, Ca. for the first time- is an important moment in the narrative, it doesn't carry the visual impact of a cover. What do you think?  Pencil, 2013.

3 cover concept sketches which will not be used for "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", a graphic novel written and illus.d by me, publ.d by Disney/Hyperion, 2014. Here are 3 of the 7 sketches I sent along to my editor which we've canned. The chosen image is closer to the surreal dream sequences in the book. As soon as I get off of Facebook I'll get back to working on it! Pencil, 2013.

This is Ken Ozawa. Ken is a character in "Gaijin-American Prisoner of War", a graphic novel written & illus.d by me, publ.d by Disney/Hyperion, 2014. Ken was an excellent baseball player- a star pitcher for the YMCA team in his San Francisco neighborhood. In 1942, 4 months after the Japanese Imperial navy attacked Pearl Harbor, Ken and his family (grandmother, 2 grandfathers, mother and father, younger sister and baby brother) were removed from their home and incarcerated in the Alameda Downs temporary Internment Camp. Alameda Downs was a converted horse racing track. Ken and his family lived in a horse stall for four months until they were transferred to the Agua Dulce Internment camp in the desert of eastern California. Pencil, 2011.

Final art for an article in "Cricket" magazine. The young man wasn't too proud to wear the frightening hat- knitted for him with love by his Nana- to school. Water color, gouache, 2006.

Final art for page 23 of "You're On Your Way, Teddy Roosevelt" by Judith St. George and illustrated by me, publ.d by Phylomel/Penguin&Putnam. Did you know that little Teddy had acute asthma? Teddy's mom and dad took him to some of the most respected doctors of the time. They prescribed drinking coffee and smoking cigars as a cure for asthma. I know, sounds crazy but it's true.  Teddy did improve over time. Not sure if it was the coffee or cigars. ;) Water color, gouache, 2003.