91×ÔÅÄ

Professor and Head Jamie Runnells | Department of Art

Once, an unpublished children’s picture book

Written and illustrated by Jamie Runnells, Once leads readers through a series of common—and not-so-common—childhood misadventures, including incidents with scissors, snakes, and Sharpies. Playful and reflective, the book invites children and families to document their own mishaps alongside the story. 

Once was longlisted for the dPICTUS Unpublished Picturebook Showcase #6 (2025), where a jury of 54 international picturebook publishers selected 154 projects from more than 600 submissions representing 70 countries. Longlisted works are featured on the dPICTUS platform for a global audience of publishers and agents. 

The project was also selected for the juried exhibition M(OTHER)ING at James Madison University’s Duke Gallery (October–December 2025). 

So.Much.to.Unpack

So.Much.to.Unpack is part of an ongoing illustration series that explores contemporary therapy language alongside broader cultural commentary. 

The work was longlisted for the inaugural International Juried Dots x Circles Illustration Awards (August 2025), which received 406 entries from 25 countries.