Pick and commit: Choosing a picture book structure

I’ve read a lot of picture book manuscripts — written by current and aspiring authors — during the past year. Some have been from conference critiques I’ve done, some from contests I’ve helped judge and some from mentorship programs or writing seminars I’ve been part of. And, recently, as I …

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OUTSIDE THE BOX with Kelly Starling Lyons!

Whoa, baby. I feel really fortunate to have snagged Kelly Starling Lyons for a chat, because this is one. busy. woman. Prepare to be INSPIRED, people. JE: Welcome, Kelly! After watching your recent SCBWI Zoom, I knew you were perfect for this OUTSIDE THE BOX feature. In that presentation, you …

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A Day for Rememberin’ by Leah Henderson

Lately, I’ve been reading picture books about “hidden history” as research for a manuscript that I’ve been struggling with. These books cover historical people and events that have been left out of school history books, often deliberately and usually because they involve people of color. Leah Henderson’s moving A DAY …

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Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous, Scandalous, Shockingly Sensational Umbrella!

With a title like that I think I could just stop here? ❤️ This wonderful picture book written by Josh Crute and illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen is sensational indeed. In London, back in the way back days in the mid 1700’s, men did not carry umbrellas. And therefore, London …

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