Dear Tomas (mi Estimado amigo tambien):

I am delighted that you are making a stab at illustrating the poems. As for your questions regarding the style of the illustrations -- that I'm not sure. It's partly a matter of definitions (I'm not sure what the difference is between a "cartoon" style of illustration and a "fairy tale" style of illustration -- I did see your drawing of the Don Quixote character; it was great) and partly that I'm not quite sure in which style you feel most comfortable or proficient.

If I had to say at this time, I guess that in my mind's eye fantasy I see the alphabet poems being set next to illustrations that are stylistically a cross between the cartoon style and the fairy tale style. Of course, I may be imagining these styles all wrong. You might want to check out some illustrators, though, who sort of do what I was having in mind. Maybe you could get some ideas from them.

For example, I like Arnold Loebel (see his book, FABLES). Tomie de Paola and Jack Ezra Keats are also illustrators whose styles I can imagine would work with the poems. Technically simple (as compared with Maurice Sendak, say, or Chris Van Allsberg and Mitsumasa Anno) but at the same time visually very rich and colorful, even ornate -- feasts for the eyes, as it were. Does that help? Maybe at this point, it might be better to listen to the dictates of your muse and/or inspiration rather than to my babbling on incoherently on this matter.

With regards to your second point regarding the means of transmission of these drawings: I'm afraid you're losing me in the technical jargon. I've no idea what a TIFF is. I have some vague idea as to what pagemaker 2.0 and PublishPac is -- I don't have them. I could probably get a hold of a laser writer at the local Kinko's, though, if that would help.

I know this sounds medieval, but does the transmission have to be through the computer? I mean, after making the drawings (on the computer, with pencils, or however you do them), could you send them through the mail? Or am I being real dense about something obvious here?

Anyway, Tomas, as Bogart said at the end of Casablanca: "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Louie."