Friends – This is my last post with Picture Book Builders, and I want you to know how grateful I am to have spent two wonderful years with you – celebrating words, art, storytelling, and our collective love of children’s books! By now, you know how much I love tips, …
I am thrilled that author Meeg Pincus is here to fill us in on the making of COUGAR CROSSING: How Hollywood’s Celebrity Cougar Helped Build a Bridge for City Wildlife. With mesmerizing illustrations by Alexander Vidal, this inspiring picture book features the cougar that crossed 16 lanes of traffic to …
Adorable best friends, bubbles, and cake – count me in! Vikram Madan is here to tell us all about the creation of BOBO and PUP-PUP. The title alone made me want to know what’s happening. With fun stories that celebrate friendship, this new graphic novel series will make kids laugh …
MEDITATION STATION is what I call a cutie pie book, which means it’s one of the cutest books I’ve ever seen. It reminds me that I can choose to “stay in the station” and focus on my breathing rather than dwelling on negative thoughts. Being a person with a busy …
Author Anne Wynter is here to tell us about her debut picture book releasing in October. With gorgeous illustrations by Oge Mora, EVERYBODY IN THE RED BRICK BUILDING is a fun, rhythmic read-aloud celebrating apartment living and a variety of sounds. In this clever story, one sound leads to the …
From the vibrant, intriguing cover to the lively story, I’m loving CAT LADIES! Author and illustrator Susi Schaefer is here to tell us all about it. From the book description: “Princess has four ladies. Some cats say that’s too many, but there’s no such thing! Taking care of all these …
Christina Soontornvat, a two-time Newbery Honor-winning author, is here to tell us about the creation of THE RAMBLE SHAMBLE CHILDREN! Written by Christina and illustrated by Lauren Castillo, this sweet picture book received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, and School Library Journal. From School Library Journal: “No need …
I love it when fascinating, true stories inspire fiction for children. A brand new picture book called THE FREEMAN FIELD PHOTOGRAPH is a wonderful example. Join me in welcoming author Bryan Patrick Avery to Picture Book Builders! Bryan’s rhythmic language and Jerome White’s charming illustrations are full of emotion. Inspired …
Poetic picture books make my heart soar. They make complex themes accessible, capture deep emotions, and convey stories with brevity and grace. No easy feat. Author notes are a wonderful way to provide additional details that complement a lovely, spare text. Here’s a look at three of my favorite poetic …
I have accumulated a big, beautiful pile of rejection letters over the years. I believe the more rejection letters you get, the easier it is to let them roll off your back and keep writing. But what really makes my pile beautiful is that I have identified some interesting patterns …