10/28/2026
“I’m from Northern Arkansas and I frequently visited Springfield growing up. The warmth and inclusivity of the people of Springfield played a significant role in my decision to choose SPS and move to the area. When I started my teaching career as a middle school art educator at Carver, I instantly felt welcomed and included in the Carver family, and my experience in the Glendale community has been equally welcoming.
My passion for creating and helping others guided me to a career in arts education. Providing students with a positive experience and genuine teacher/student relationships in the art classroom are what I strive for. Additionally, my own artistic practice as an author/illustrator allows me to bring authentic, real-world experiences into the classroom.
My book October Woods Coloring Book is a love letter to my favorite time of year - autumn and Halloween. Last summer, an editor from Penguin Random House reached out to me after seeing the autumn-themed illustrations on my Instagram page (). Together, we decided to create an interactive coloring book for adults and children who appreciate fall foliage, Halloween, and cozy living. I love that my coloring book has resonated with autumn lovers across the United States and around the world.
On October 3, I had the pleasure of participating in a book signing event at Bear Pond Books in Stowe, Vermont. This year, New England experienced its most colorful autumn in decades, and fortunately, the weekend of October 3 coincided with peak fall foliage, attracting many visitors to Stowe. I really enjoyed the experience and loved meeting fellow autumn enthusiasts from across the globe while in Stowe. After the book signing event, my husband, Joel Blackburn, and I visited many other bookstores across the state of Vermont, promoting my book and signing copies of the October Woods Coloring Book in stores. It was a fun way to highlight and celebrate my book as well as enjoy the autumn season.”
- Jessica Blackburn, Glendale High School Art Teacher
October Woods Coloring Book can be found in store locally at Barnes & Noble and Books A Million, as well as online at all major booksellers like Target, Walmart and Bookshop.org. You can find links to purchase on at jessicablackburn.com as well.
