Some stories stay with you. I don’t remember exactly when I first heard the story of Wilma Rudolph. It was probably sometime in grade school. But I do remember the details of her life. Wilma grew up in a low-income family with 22 children in Clarksville, Tennessee, a segregated town. …
It seems like we just welcomed in the New Year. But now, it’s almost February. And that means it’s nearly time to celebrate another new beginning. And that’s the launch of Miranda Paul’s newest picture book WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE? This book, which is illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell and published by …
It’s the day after Thanksgiving. If you’re a holiday purist like me, that means you can start thinking about what comes next. In my case, the next holiday I celebrate is Christmas. And that means it’s the perfect time to look at STAR BRIGHT, an enchanting picture book written by Alison …
If you’ve read previous posts of mine, you’ll know I’m a fan of picture books that make me say, “Awww.” Somehow, some way, they have to touch my heart and remind me of an emotion I thought I’d forgotten. There are lots of ways picture books can do this. And …
One of my favorite things is learning which illustrator will create art for the stories I write. And, I was especially excited when I learned Jill McElmurry, the author and/or illustrator of more than 20 books, would bring SHARING THE BREAD: AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING STORY to life. I’d seen her …
I’m a picture book junkie. I love them truly, madly and deeply, and believe they are for everyone. Babies — They can drool on the edges. Toddlers — They can sit in a lap, help turn the pages and listen. Beginning readers — They can sound out words or call out refrains. Kids …
One thing aspiring picture book writers often are advised to do is take a favorite, modern-day picture book and type out the text. Why? Because doing so shows writers how spare and essential words in a picture book really are. Once they see how the text looks on a page, …
A few posts ago, Kevan Atteberry mentioned that cats didn’t — how did he put it? — gun his scooter. But, yet, he found himself really liking Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret. Cats do gun my scooter. A lot. Check out Exhibit A (Ollie) and Exhibit B (Sunny) to the …
Social media often has Throwback Thursdays, where people post photos of their younger selves on Facebook or Twitter. Today, I’m having a Flashback Friday, where I look at one of the books that inspired me the most when I was starting out as a children’s writer. Therefore, I am proud …
Jill Esbaum’s most recent post was on a picture book that breaks the rules. It made me smile because I’ve been mulling over the same topic lately. I’m a big rule follower. I think rules exist for a reason and, usually, life goes more easily if you follow them. But some …