So they went along and went along until they met Turkey Lurkey.
“Good morning, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Daddles, Cocky Locky, Henny Penny, and Chicken Licken,” said Turkey Lurkey, “where are you going?”
“Oh, Turkey Lurkey, the sky is falling and we are going to tell the King!”
“How do you know the sky is falling?” asked Turkey Lurkey.
“Ducky Daddles told me,” said Goosey Loosey.
“Cocky Locky told me,” said Ducky Daddles.
“Henny Penny told me,” said Cocky Locky.
“Chicken Licken told me,” said Henny Penny
“I saw it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears, and a piece of it fell on my tail!” said Chicken Licken.
“Then I will go with you,” said Turkey Lurkey, “and we will tell the King!”
Chicken Licken, by P.C. Asbjörnsen
Here is the illustration that I submitted to the Tomie dePaola award competition. He asked that the above nursery rhyme be depicted in any size or medium, and he wanted to see a style or vision that he hadn’t seen before.
I wanted to tell a story with my picture. It is bedtime and the older child is reciting the Chicken Licken rhyme for the baby. She acts out the scenario with stuffed animals that she has sewn from scraps of fabric. The landscape is the bedspread and the “falling” sky is a mobile hanging above them. The baby is delighted to be wearing the construction paper crown that the girl has made for him because he gets to play the part of the king. The highlight of the bedtime story is at the end, when the baby claps his hands, giggles and calls out “again!” As the rhyme is repeated over and over the two are so absorbed that the animals seem real to them and the walls transform into the nighttime sky.
I hand sewed the little critters from various fabrics, cut the mobile out of felt, and made the crown from construction paper and oil pastels. The stuffed critters photographed easily against a white backdrop, and were Photoshopped into the drawing. The other things were simply scanned and then added.
I really had fun working on this piece, and feel honored to have been a participant in the great Tomie dePaola’s illustration competition.
For a bigger pic click two times slowly. (Double clicking doesn’t seem to do the trick.)
Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year! 
Lovely colors and atmosphere !
Hi Patsy- glad you found me- wow- we do have a lot in common- working in fabric, art teachers, love the sound of where you live, I live on an old homestead, and guess what have two daughters but only three dogs! Enjoyed reading your blog!
Sorry Heidi- getting the name wrong- saw you on illustration friday and realized the mistake!
Hey Heidi! Thanks for being the first to welcome me back and for your great comments. I love the way you incorporated fabric and paper into this work. Very cool! I hope you get first place in the competition! You’re a highlight!
I really like the way you did the birdies wings. Good luck in the competition!
Wonderful details, particularly with the birds! This really has a bedtime feel to it. Happy New Year!
Greetings Heidi
Wow! What a great approach. I love the methodology – and the gap in the teeth
but I am sure it will knock him off his chair !
All the different textures grab me, not to mention the whole concept.
I think it’s wonderfully unique and I am sure something like this is what the Tomie chap asked for when he said (knock me off my feet with something I hadn’t thought of) – well I am a bad paraphraser at the bestest of times
Good luck!!
Sorry to be sparse – I’ve been having a sabbatical
What a cool approach with the stuffed animals! Best of luck with the contest!
P.s. AlphaBeasts is open to all– the instructions are in the tumblr site (linked in that post). You don’t have to do them all, btw.
Heidi – I left a comment after I clicked it once…I just want to make sure you get this…
Heidi, this is a FABULOUS piece..I just love the concept..and the fact that the little baby is the King makes it perfect. Love how you used fabric for the toys and the mobile is just so smart! What a treat to see your creative genius here. I know Tomie will be smiling when he sees your wonderful illustration!!
oooooo, creative idea Heidi! Love it
Hiya Heidi! How are you? I hope you’re having some lovelylicken days over there. Well, this piece is amazing! I absolutely love your approach, and as usual your art leaves me with the giggles.
Again! Again!
Oh wow, Heidi! Now that’s creative. And a lot of work put into it, too! The birdies look fantastic. Love all the patchwork patterns. Oooh, I could squeeze that turkey. This is a great idea!
Happy New Year to you!
excellent birds – very creative!
You’re comments are like little presents that are so much fun to unwrap. Thanks!
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