Book Reviews on "You Should, You Should!"

Any child and every adult can relate to the message in this book. The Hippopotamus represents the fear of rejection in all of us. The illustrations in this book bring out with crystal clarity our insecurities, but also show us how our greatest fears can be our greatest strengths. What a beautiful book! 

~Aaron N.



I read it to my 4-year-old and he wanted me to read it again and again, which I'm sure is great news since he's the target audience. :-) The pictures made him laugh--especially the hippo trying to peck-peck-peck the watermelon. The grammar and spelling are clean. I was able to read the book aloud smoothly, so the words fall together perfectly.  My son definitely had a basic understanding of what the book was about and once we finished we had a discussion on how important it is to do what he likes and not what other people like. He did understand that the hippo was trying to make others happy which did not make the hippo happy, so he did understand the message. He only wants books he really really likes repeated. Usually, if we read three or four books for the day, he wants his favorite repeated. There are plenty of books he has no interest finishing from start to finish, so he knows what he likes. :-) His bookshelf has about 50 books and there are three books that he wants read over-and-over, so hopefully that gives you an idea of how much he liked your book. 

I read the book five times (four times with Ayden) just trying to find more to critique, but the book was so good that it ended up just being fun to read with my son.

~Melissa M.

Sneak Peek

Written and Illustrated

By Ginny Tilby

BFA SHOW PHOTOS - wanna see?

BFA Show Opening Reception!  I loved it.

(note: the show will remain up until July 13th for those who still want to go see)

Photography by Lindsey Marie Sweat:

I put the story's text at the bottom of each piece so people could read the story of "You Should, You Should!"

This wonderful lady found me more than once to tell me how much she loved my book.

I love this pic

BFA OPENING RECEPTION TODAY

Food!  Friends!  Fart!  

I mean art!

You're invited!!

Free attendance, free food, free parking.

Part of the requirement to graduate as a Fine Art Student is a Bachelor of Fine Art Student Show.

This is where the student hosts a gallery show at which they display their Capstone Project.  

My project, as most of you know, was the illustrating of the children's book I wrote, 

"You Should, You Should!" 

And today I get to show it off.  :)

It's here TODAY at the UVU Library:

I won't be showing alone!  I've joined up with talented illustrators:

James Allen, 

Nate Call, 

and Rani Bean.  

So you'll have your fair share of really great art to look at!  See you there!

Caricature Artist For A Day!

A few years ago I emailed the Ogden City Fair and asked if they needed a "Caricature Artist."  They wrote back and said yes, they want me.  You'd think I'd jump for joy, but instead I shook in my shoes.  I wrote back saying I wouldn't be able to attend after all.

Letting Go

But I won't say, 'You should, you should!' 

I'll let you choose it if you would.

'Cause very most importantly,

I am choosing to be me."

Hippo learned it's okay to be himself, and he learned to let go of worrying what others thought, and chose authenticity and presented his own reality.  He learned to let go of trying to control his friend - to let go of trying to make them like him by always doing what they wanted him to do.  He let go and stopped trying to protect their feelings by saying things he didn't mean, in case of offending them.  He let go, and learned honesty and vulnerability instead, stating his discomfort and asserting his real feelings.  He let go of fear and took the risk that his friends may be disappointed, or laugh at who he really is.  He let go and gave his friends the ability to choose to like him for HIM.  Hippo learned the art of letting go.

Another useful handout from a very good psychologist:

Letting Go...

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring.

It means that I can't do it for someone else.