All picture books, all the time

Red House Tree House Little Bitty Brown Mouse

When I read, Red House Tree House Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Blanca Gómez, I was reminded of how many varied categories picture books fall into. A plethora of needs and uses that a slight-worded book for tiny hands can fulfill. Red House Tree House …

WE LOVE BABIES! by me … and, you know, lots of other talented people.

I have a new book out, We Love Babies!, and I get to pretend it’s mine, all mine…because my name is the only one on the cover. In reality, the ones deserving the credit here are the brilliant design-photo-editorial team at National Geographic Kids. They took my rhyming concept book …

GOOD BOY by Sergio Ruzzier

My son Jackson grew up with four furry “siblings.” Nicky and Remy greeted him when he came home from the hospital. After their sad departure years later, we adopted Sammy and Stella. Each one embraced her role as best friend, jester, team mascot, clean-up crew and comfort object. Jackson is now 21, …

STRICTLY NO ELEPHANTS by Lisa Mantchev (+ Giveaway!)

Happy New Year! Whenever I start working on a new picture book, I pull out this quote from Allyn Johnston, vice president and publisher of Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster. She defines a narrative picture book this way: “In the most basic, classic, and very best sense, you could …

PBB “Great Posts” of 2020

2019 was a great year filled with awesome posts about delightful books at Picture Book Builders. But some weeks were so hectic I missed a few posts. If you missed some too — never fear! Here’s a round up of some of my favorite 2019 posts — one from each …

20 Picture Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2020….

It’s almost 2020, and I don’t know about you, but I am really excited about what’s in store for us book-wise. These are just 20 of the books I’m looking forward to in 2020….. Happy New Year, everybody! ************************************************************** WINNER: Congratulations, Linda Skeers! You won a signed copy of Everybody …

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao

I recently read a delightful picture book I’m pleased to share with you. It’s AMY WU AND THE PERFECT BAO, written by Kat Zhang and illustrated by Charlene Chua and published by Aladdin. What makes it delightful, you ask? It’s a warm and charming, perfectly structured story with an endearing …

The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City, by Tara Lazar, and an update on all things Storystorm!

I’m excited today that Tara Lazar has dropped by to talk with us. Tara is the author of many funny-punny books, as well as founder of the incredibly inspiring January event, Storystorm. In case you hadn’t heard, her 2017 hit, 7 Ate 9, now has a sequel, The Upper Case: …

Henry and Bea

Having a friend that you are comfortable with, that understands you, that you love to spend time with is a great thing. Having a friend that you always have fun with and can “tell what the other is thinking without saying a word” is, indeed, fortunate thing. In Jessixa Bagley’s …

A Visit with Eliza Wheeler and her HOME IN THE WOODS (+ Giveaway!)

Hello, all— I’ve got an extra special holiday treat today: former PBB blogger and super-talented picture book creator Eliza Wheeler is here to chat about her gorgeous new book Home in the Woods (Nancy Paulsen Books/PRH, 2019). This is a particularly heartfelt and personal story, based on the experience of …