Hello Picture Book Builders! Today, I am so honored to be able to share a truly special book with you all: UNBREAKABLE: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp, written by Minoru Tonai and Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Chris Sasaki. Here’s my review: Wow. This masterfully written and …
I’m excited to tell you about a great idea that hopefully spreads to picture book lovers and students everywhere! About two years ago, I received a group email sent by Carolyn Crimi, one of my favorite picture book authors (whose latest picture book JADEN NOTICED is awesome btw!) Carolyn was …
Please welcome Maria Gianferrari back to Picture Book Builders to talk about her two new books, JUST ONE OAK and PUFFINS! Although both books are very different in style, they both have a ton of appeal for readers and will keep them engaged while absorbing information about these two species. …
Welcome, Picture Book Builders people! Today, I invited award-winning author/illustrator Janee Trasler to share a post about one of her creative pursuits–The 100 Day Project. Perhaps it may inspire you to take on a project of your own. Here’s Janee….. Have you heard of The 100 Day Project? It’s an …
Others, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Charles Santoso is a masterclass in how to convey a complicated concept by combining the perfect marriage of words and pictures. In this stunning picture book both text and illustration carry equally heavy loads and they do so in a very natural, …
Last year, Kashmira Sheth sent me a PDF of TAKING FLIGHT, her upcoming picture book with Nicolò Carozzi. Would I, she asked, consider writing a blurb for it? I read the book and instantly realized two things. Here’s what ended up going on the back of the book: “With gorgeous …
Since we’re now posting once/week, rather than twice, we eight bloggers no longer post monthly, but once every TWO months. While that eases our busy schedules, it makes us super-picky about our book choices for those rare posts. (Not complaining; it was my idea!) So, this month, I present to …
Hello Picture Book Builders! I don’t often share board books, but this one was just too adorable to pass up! Here’s my review: This genius little board book is perfect for any music lover and their little one. Using the structure of the song “Rock-a-bye baby,” McMullin introduces babies and …
In the past, I’ve taken on nonfiction picture book subjects that are a bit obscure, bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, outsider artist Nek Chand, the creatures in the Sargasso Sea. Those kinds of topics come with challenges: huge gaps in the historical record, few experts to draw on, and issues of …
Every once in a while, my editors will come to me with ideas for new books. It happened with Mostly Monsterly. An editor wanted a cute, young, funny Valentine’s Day story about friendship. Right away, I went to the library, read every Valentine’s Day picture book I could find, and …