I am a huge fan of Bao Phi’s work. His debut picture book, A Different Pond, won the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association Award, a Caldecott Honor for illustrator Thi Bui’s amazing artwork, as well as many other accolades. It was also a mentor text for my own picture book, …
I wish I’d picked up a copy of AMAH FARAWAY by Margaret Chiu Greanias and illustrated by Tracy Subisak before I presented to bilingual and ESL educators a couple of weeks ago. This book explores the feeling of living in and between two cultures in a heartfelt but fun and …
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 …
Sometimes, there’s that person in your life who just gets you. Your BFF. Your bestie. Your boo. Maybe they’re someone you’ve known forever. Maybe you’ve only just met. You might love them platonically. Or romantically. They might live close by. Or far away. Eliza Wheeler and I — with some …
I read a lot of picture books in 2021. And, I talked about some of them on this blog. But, as I looked back on the year, I found three books I truly meant to talk about, but did not. So, now seems like a great time to highlight these …
People learn in different ways. Some, by reading words. Others, by listening to or watching people explain things. And others, by looking at graphs, charts or pictures. I’ve always learned best by reading. In eighth grade, I even taught myself to do a cartwheel and the splits by reading a …