If you’re looking for a family Christmas book to read out loud, there’s still time to find CHRISTMAS FAIRIES FOR OUMA, a new picture book by Lindsey McDivitt and Katarzyna Bukier that came out this year from Familius Books. The book is about Tessa, who wants to show her far-away …
The magic of picture books is how they tell a complete story in few words. To help that happen, picture book authors often use repeating elements. Repeating elements are words, phrases or sentence structures that occur several times in the story. They provide a strong framework and help the plot …
If you’re like me, you’ve got a drawer in your kitchen, or a shelf in your closet, or a corner of your spare room where you keep … stuff. Stuff that hasn’t yet found it’s way into a formal place in your home. Stuff you definitely intend to use someday. …
I’ve been thinking a lot about picture book structure lately. In fact, I wrote two Picture Book Builder blog posts about it not so long ago. Here’s one. And, here’s the other. I’ve become a firm believer that the best picture books have a very solid structural foundation that elevates …
Today’s post is about two words that often confuse authors, both new and veteran — marketing and promotion. And, there’s a reason those words confuse people. Because they are, in fact, confusing. They generate so many questions: What should the publisher do? What should the author do? When should it …
Are you a rock star? Either in reality, or secretly deep inside? If so, you might like LUPE LOPEZ: ROCK STAR RULES, a new picture book from Candlewick Press written by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Joe Cepeda. The book is a story about Lupe, a …
I talk a lot about revision, because it’s such an important part of the picture book writing process. And, revision can come at so many different phases in the writing process. Writers often revise: On their own before anyone else sees the manuscript. (Often multiple times.) After sharing the story …
Do you sometimes get tired of listening to the news? Mentally exhausted, bone-deep tired? I do. I used to be a newspaper reporter, so I know the drill. Average, everyday people going about their business hurting no one don’t make the news. Exceptions make the news. People doing something spectacular …
I love being a picture book author. And, I love talking to other people about what I do. Family. Friends. Students. Teachers. Librarians. Aspiring writers. Bloggers. Journalists. As I talk to these people, there is one question that I get asked in practically every conversation. It is: “Do you get …
Cabbages! Carrots! Cauliflower! IN OUR GARDEN, a new picture book out next week from G.P. Putnam’s Sons, has all those veggies plus a heartwarming story of a student with an idea, a school with a rooftop garden, and plants and people that blossom and bloom. I’m so happy to welcome …