Bill Thomson Chalks One Up for Kids

Under a big white tent, children were able to meet and draw with one of Connecticut's most successful illustrators. Bill Thomson of Southington received the 2009 Connecticut Book Award for Children’s Illustrator and was a finalist in two previous years. 

Thomson's latest book, "Chalk," is the first that he's both written and illustrated. In keeping with the book's theme, children were invited to draw with chalk on the nearby sidewalk. So many took up the invitation, about 50 feet was covered with illustrations ranging from mermaids to a dinosaur's head.

The dinosaur is a key character in "Chalk" which Publisher's Weekly calls "a clever twist on the them of 'be careful what you wish for,' " after three kids discover a bag full of magic chalk hanging from the mouth of a playground dinosaur.

Thomson said in an interview last year that he had his three sons in mind while illustrating "Chalk." "I remember how excited they were when they were learning how to read," he said. 

Thomson is the associate professor of illustration at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford. 

According to his website, Thomson's books have received accolades from the National Parenting Publications (Gold Award), the International Reading Association (Children’s Book Award Notable) and the American Library Association (Booklist Editor’s Choice).

More information on the Connecticut Book Festival can be found here.