I had the pleasure of meeting Annie Silvestro a couple of years ago at the NJ-SCBWI Conference. Trust me when I say Annie is every bit as delightful as her debut picture book, Bunny’s Book Club.
This is what Kirkus had to say about the book:
“A sweet salute to reading.”
And Publishers Weekly:
“[Annie Silvestro] makes the pleasures of reading abundantly clear.”
And Booklist:
“Mai-Wyss’ soft, muted watercolor scenes sprinkled with charming, expressive cuddly animals is the perfect complement to Silvestro’s enchanting story about the love of books.”
Nice, huh?
Annie was kind enough to stop by Picture Book Builders.
Annie, congratulations on your debut picture book. Please tell us about Bunny’s Book Club.
Thank you so much, Tammi! Bunny’s Book Club is a love letter to libraries, my very favorite places. Bunny loves books so much he sneaks through the library’s book return to get them. When Bunny’s friends catch wind of what he’s been up to, they want books, too. So Bunny takes them on a field trip. All is well and good…until they get busted.
What sparked the idea for this book?
My children’s preschool holds a parent show each year – I played a bunny in my debut performance. Backstage, the cast and I were all being silly in our animal costumes and I started imagining all kinds of funny things my bunny could be up to. One spark ultimately developed into an early plot of the story.
What was your revision process like?
This manuscript went through a number of revisions. At first it had more of a Western-type feel, but after speaking with my editor early on in the process, we decided to take the story in a different direction. The tone of the story changed, but its essence and heart stayed the same.
I love the warm and wonderful art created by illustrator Tatjana Mai-Wyss. I have to know–who was the genius behind the endpapers for Bunny’s Book Club? They are my absolute favorite endpapers of 2017 so far!
Thank you! My incredible editor, Frances Gilbert, is the genius behind the library card on the endpapers! She worked in a library when they started phasing out the cards for computers and has always been nostalgic for them. I have fond memories of my school librarian letting me help sort and catalog the cards, so this page is particularly special to me, too. Tatjana Mai-Wyss created the beautiful images of each animal reading—I especially love the raccoon with the cowboy hat!
Okay, now I love Frances even more than I did before. 🙂 She was my editor for Cowboy Camp, Chicken Dance, and Bawk & Roll. She’s also the editor for my upcoming book, Wordy Birdy.
If you had one key piece of advice for writers, what would it be?
Aside from reading as much as you can, I would say be sure to give your manuscript plenty of time and space. Don’t rush. It’s important to put each story away for a little while to try and get some fresh perspective.
Scoop time! What’s next for you?
My next picture book, Mice Skating, comes out this fall with Sterling. I recently had a peek at Teagan White’s illustrations and I was blown away. She is incredibly talented and perfectly matched with this story! In 2018 comes The Tree Who Loved Trains, illustrated by Paola Zakimi. I absolutely love Paola’s work and I can’t wait to see this story come to life.
Congratulations, Annie! We at Picture Book Builders look forward to your upcoming releases. Thanks again for stopping by.
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BIO:
Annie Silvestro is a lover of books who reads and writes as much as possible and can often be found shuffling piles of them around so she has a place to sit or someplace to put her teacup. Her picture books include BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB, illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss (Doubleday Books for Young Readers), which has been chosen as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick as well as an Amazon Best Book of the Month, MICE SKATING, illustrated by Teagan White (Sterling, Fall 2017), and THE CHRISTMAS TREE WHO LOVED TRAINS, illustrated by Paola Zakimi (HarperCollins, Fall 2018). Annie lives by the beach in NJ with her husband and two boys who like to read, and a cat who does not. Visit Annie online at: www.anniesilvestro.com and on Twitter and Instagram: @anniesilvestro
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GIVEAWAY:
Hey, everybunny. Annie is giving away a signed copy of Bunny’s Book Club to one lucky duck commenter.
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WINNER:
Congratulations to Katy Duffield. She is the winner of a signed copy of The Friend Ship by Kat Yeh.
I loved this book before I even “met” it – and ordered it immediately. LOVE it – and the art is perfect!
Thank you so much! And I agree – so grateful to Tatjana Mai-Wyss for her beautiful artwork!
I enjoy these very much–just one small quibble. Whenever a picture book is mentioned, the author AND the illustrator should be cited.
An illustrator is not a decorator for the text- the illustrator is an equal, co-creator of the book.
Absolutely! And Tatjana Mai-Wyss is amazing!
LOVE – -can’t wait to join the club!
Thank you!!
Yay! And thanks!
Thank you for debuting BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB. This book is truly delightful. I checked it out of the library and am reading it over and over again.
That is so nice! So happy you like the book! Thank you!
Looks SO darling! Just requested it from my library. Can’t wait to read it! Thanks so much, ladies!
Hooray! Thank you!
I’m already in love with this book and can’t wait to get my hands on it. Congrats!
Thank you so much!!
Oh how I would love to be a member of Bunny’s Book Club!
Congratulations Annie!
You’re in! 🙂 Thank you!!
Great interview and Bunny’s Book Club looks adorable! Can’t wait to read.
Congratulations!
Thank you! I appreciate it!
Loved this interview. For so many reasons. One of them being that–only two days ago–I shared a ms. with my poet friends. They had lots of encouraging & helpful comments, and then I said to them, “It’s a good thing I share a birthday with Grandma Moses.” Because I too have collections of adult poetry published & am hoping for an editor to say yes to my children’s poetry. And I am even older than Elaine!!!
Oh, I adore this and have been anxiously awaiting this book’s arrival! And that library card! All the hearts! <3 <3 <3
That is so nice, Kristin! Thank you! And thank you for sharing this!
Can’t wait to get my paws on this one. And the library card=utter brilliance! xo Thanks for the great post, Tammi and Annie!
Thank you for reading it! 🙂
This looks absolutely adorable, and I agree with Tammi about the endpapers. Congratulations, Annie, on this and your forthcoming books (I love Teagan White’s work too). And as a former Jersey girl, I have to give a shout-out to the Jersey shore! 🙂
Thank you, Linda, I really appreciate it! Go Jersey! 🙂
This looks adorable! Can’t wait to read it
Thank you! Hope you like it!
I saw this book was coming out and I got so excited! It is a perfect book for Kindergarten. I love teaching my students to love stories. Can’t wait to read this one. Thank you!!!
That’s wonderful, thank you!
I do want to be in Bunny’s Book Club! I can’t wait to read and share.
Awesome! Welcome to the club! Thanks!!
Nice interview! And I have my copy of Bunny’s Book Club–hopefully I can remember to bring it to NJ sometime to get it signed. 🙂
Aww, thanks, Wendy! That is so awesome!
I’m looking forward to finding this book in Barnes and Noble. Thank you for the post.
Thank you, Kathy! I hope you like it!
I can’t wait to read this book. I absolutely love the library card endpapers. Didn’t realize how nostalgic I was for that!
Thank you! And the library card is so fun to talk about with kids who don’t know about them these days!
Bunny’s book club? Count me in, please!
Done! Thanks 🙂
Wow! What a fun idea for a story, can’t wait to read Bunny’s Book Club!
Thank you!
I love this book. Thanks Annie for stopping by and sharing behind the scenes information of Bunny’s Book Club. I too love the library card and end pages.
That is so nice, thank you! It was a pleasure to be here!
This is a club I want to belong to!
Hooray!
Thanks for introducing me to this book about other book-loving critters. I am one myself. Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks! Hope you like it, Kathy!
Congrats! It looks like the cutest book ever. I can’t wait to see it in person. Frances was my editor for the Pretty Minnie books that I illustrated. I agree she’s wonderful.
Thank you, Kristi! And that is awesome- Frances is so wonderful 🙂
I want to be in Bunny’s Book Club, but I don’t think I would fit through the book return. The book looks adorable, congratulations on this and the future books!
Ha! Thank you!
How adorable a book! I definitely want a copy. I’m plenty old enough to remember using library cards like the one in the end papers. What a great idea to get everyone reading…thank you!
So great to hear, thank you!
I have to join in to express my love for BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB! Adorable. The book is perfection. The text and art work together wonderfully!
And the library card looked so real that I did a double take!
Thanks, Penny! So kind of you to say!!
I want to be a member of Bunny’s book club!!! Congratulations to Annie and Tatjana, and thank you, Tammi, for the interview!
Thank you, Judy! So appreciate it!
This sounds like the perfect book to encourage young readers. So adorable. What a great book this would especially be for storytime at libraries.
Thank you! I have my first library story time today – hoping the kids like it!
This is an absolutely beautiful story. I totally relate to bunny! I was excited to add Bunny to my collection.
So kind of you to say, thank you!
I love Tatjana’s work – congratulations!
Me, too! Thanks!! 🙂
A new book on my list to check out. Thanks. Sounds like it might mean a new author to watch as well.
I love the end papers too. Perfect!
Awesome, thank you!
That cover just calls to me. Can’t wait to see it!
Hope you like it! Thanks!!
Congratulations, Annie! This books is adorable; I can’t wait to read your next one!
I really appreciate it, thank you!
The artwork is awesome – draws me right in! I also love the endpapers. Libraries have always been my second home, too! ♡ Thank you so much for creating this delightful book!
So nice! Thank you!
The art to this book looks amazing. Should be a fun read!
Hope you like it! i’m a huge fan of the artwork! So grateful to Tatjana Mai-Wyss!
Gorgeous book. Look forward to reading it. Thanks for the lovely post.
Thank you!
Such an adorable book! That library card! ?
thanks!! 🙂
Genius idea! Wish I would have thought of it…it makes so much sense:> I cannot wait to read this book and your upcoming two books!
Ha! Thank you!! 🙂
What an adorable book! Can’t wait to read it!
🙂
Looks darling! So neat how ideas pop into our heads.
Thanks!
My petites would love to hear all about bunny’s book club. So wonderful! Congratulations!
Thank you! 🙂
Love your sharing the inspirational spark to this story. It sounds delightful. LOVE those endpapers.
I appreciate that! Thank you!
Such a comforting looking book! I am looking forward to joining the club!
yay!
Oh, I <3 this book! Brings back great memories. I made my own library card system for my books when I was a kid.
Love it!!
Looks like a cozy story to read with Grands. Love the pictures especially the library card, brings home the story, brilliant!
Thank you! Hope they like it!
It’s so delightful to learn about the new books. This one looks wonderful.
Congratulations on a beautiful, well-received book!
What a beautiful book club. Can’t wait to read it!
Love Bunny’s Book Club, Annie. I can’t wait for Mice Skating!
LOVE those end papers and the library card!
Love the endpapers too! Brings back memories of signing out books. Looking forward to reading Bunny’s Book Club.
Great story! Congrats!
Congratulations, Annie! I can’t wait to read your debut picture book!
Who doesn’t love a sweet animal book club?! Thanks for sharing!
I love bunnies, picture books, book clubs, and all the excitement new books contain – congratulations
Annie – thank you for sharing your journey. Can’t wait to meet Bunny!
Thank you for introducing Bunny’s Book Club. Not only do I want a copy for myself, but I’m planning on getting copies to give to book-loving friends!
Love those endpapers! And that I have another book to add to my reading list.
This book is so adorable!!!
I love this cover. I’m a sucker for adorable animals.
A book loving bunny. Delightful. On my reading list.
I love the whole concept for this book. I cannot wait to read it.
Looking forward to reading this one. Those endpapers are fun! As a librarian, I loved automating the check-outs. As a reader, I miss those cards.