I have known Anne Marie Pace since the glory days of LiveJournal, and I have valued her friendship for more than a decade. Anne Marie is the author of a number of pictures books including her popular Vampirina Ballerina series, illustrated by the spooktacular LeUyen Pham. Anne Marie was …
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 …
I was in Barnes & Noble, minding my own business, when some irresistible, voyaging animals caught my eye. I opened The Friend Ship, written by Kat Yeh and illustrated by Chuck Groenink, and happily set sail with this adorable crew. This is what Kirkus had to say about the book: …
Let’s go way, way, way, way, WAY back to 2005. Eleven years ago, one of my all time favorite picture books debuted. I Ain’t Gonna Pain No More!, written by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by David Catrow, is picture book gold. Oh, people, there are many reasons why I love …
I have attended the Annual SCBWI Summer Conference in Los Angeles nine times. One of the very best parts to come out of those wonderful experiences is that I met Kate Dopirak. Kate = joy. Joy, I tell you! Right away, Kate and I became friends. Together, we commiserate, we …
Over the years, I’ve shared many of the books I love on Picture Book Builders. There was A Hungry Lion: A Dwindling Assortment of Animals, written and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. I love that it’s subversive, funny, and unexpected. There was Mimi and Bear in the Snow, written and …
In 2015, illustrator Goro Fujita and I were responsible for an alien invasion. Your Alien begins when a little alien crash-lands on a boy’s front yard. The two have a great day together, but, when nighttime arrives, the boy notices something is wrong with his alien. At last, the boy …
Oh, picture book people, you know that moment when you have a new book in your hands, you are ready to dig in, then a bear walks out of his cave and says, “Have you gotten to the part where the puppy runs away? That’s so sad.” Well, that’s the …
Hey, everyone. I have some big news. I sold a rhymer! It’s called Mary Had a Little Glam. The book’s official release date is August 2, but Mary has proven to be fashionably EARLY. She’s already strutting her stuff in a bookstore near you. Today on Picture Book Builders, I …
Hannah E. Harrison, author and illustrator of Extraordinary Jane and Bernice Gets Carried Away, offers readers another heartfelt book later this summer. It’s called My Friend Maggie (Dial, August 9). Paula and Maggie have been friends forever. Paula thinks Maggie is the best—until mean girl Veronica says otherwise. Suddenly, Paula …