The Making of A Universe Big & Small: A Story About Carl Sagan
August 6 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$10.00 – $15.00
Astronomer and scientist Carl Sagan loved asking questions—he wanted to learn about everything from the smallest atoms to the vastness of the galaxy. And by using his imagination and allowing himself to dream up questions big and small, he inspired others to keep exploring the mysteries of the universe and our place in it.
Join award-winning author and illustrator James Yang along with Viking Children’s Book Publisher/Editor Tamar Brazis and Senior Art Director Jim Hoover for a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and editorial process of making of James’ latest children’s book A Universe Big and Small: A Story About Carl Sagan.
James Yang was born in Oklahoma and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communication Arts and Design. Within a few years of entering illustration, his work appeared in prestigious trade publications such as Communication Arts, 3×3 Magazine, American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators Annual, Print, and The Art Directors Club of New York. James has won over 250 awards for design and illustration including Best of Show from 3×3 Magazine. He has taught and lectured at a variety of institutions including SVA, Parsons, FIT and SCAD, and was an executive board member for ICON, a biennial illustration conference. His book Bus! Stop! was selected as an outstanding picture book by The New York Times and the follow up Stop! Bot! is the 2020 Geisel award winner for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers. A Boy Named Isamu has been called by Kirkus Reviews “A marvel of prose, illustration, and design.” and received the 2022 honor picture book title for Asian American Literature for the American Library Association. His subway wallpaper can be seen on trains in the Metropolitan Transit system. James currently lives in Brooklyn where he happily works for a variety of clients and books.
Photo Courtesy of James Yang
Tamar Brazis joined Viking Children’s Books in 2018 as Editorial Director of Illustrated Publishing, specializing in children’s picture books, and was promoted to Associate Publisher in 2021. Her background in poetry led her to acquire the debut picture book, Change Sings, by presidential inaugural poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman, as well as Gorman’s first full-length poetry collection for adults, Call Us What We Carry. Other New York Times bestselling picture books at Viking include Tomatoes for Neela by Padma Lakshmi and Juana Martinez-Neal, Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett, and Just Because by Matthew McConaughey.
Photo Courtesy of Tamar Brazis
Jim Hoover is a Senior Art Director at Viking Children’s Books. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in Illustration, Jim has been in publishing now for twenty-five years. He speaks regularly at SCBWI and has designed and art directed hundreds of books ranging from picture books, nonfiction, to middle grade including James Yang’s Geisel Award Winning Stop! Bot!, Max Brallier’s #1 New York Times best-selling series The Last Kids On Earth, and Amanda Gorman’s #1 New York Times Change Sings. Jim lives in New York City with his wife and son.
Photo Courtesy of Jim Hoover