You’ve probably enjoyed many of the 2020 Caldecott winning books by now. What as outstanding collection this year! Today I’d like to highlight one of the gorgeous Honor Books: GOING DOWN HOME WITH DADDY by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter (and published by one of my favorite houses, …
Oh, Picture Book Builders people, summer is here! Author Meg Fleming and illustrator Paola Zakimi have just the book for us. This is what School Library Journal and Kirkus had to say: This first purchase is a perfect storytime choice to usher in the beach season, and the rhyming, repetitive …
I’d like to introduce you to my dear friend, Alfred. Today is his birthday! He and I have gotten very close over the past four years. It all began a long time ago when I saw a cousin of his in our trashcan. This is how Cousin first looked, and …
Today I’m excited to chat with my good friend Linda Skeers about her new book, DINOSAUR LADY, the Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist (Sourcebooks, illus by Marta Alvarez Miguens). Linda and I have been writing friends since…well, as she put it when she signed my copy: “since …
Back in the Before Times when we were still crowding into libraries, I’d checked out stacks of picture books to prepare for a writing workshop (which happened) and my weekly one-on-one, side-by-side reading sessions with two first graders (not happening any time soon). I’ve since returned the books to our …
Join me in welcoming Camille Andros! What do you get when a smart, confident bunny knows all about the scientific method and loves to solve problems? Charlotte the Scientist to the rescue! Written by Camille Andros and illustrated by Brianne Farley, these delightful books feature fun stories and colorful illustrations. …
Today I have the pleasure of showcasing a lovely, new pb THE SEA KNOWS (Simon and Schuster) by Alice B. McGinty and Alan Havis, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. As you can tell from the colorful cover, this is a glorious, gorgeous book from start to finish. It’s seemingly simple, yet …
My pal Janee Trasler is an author, illustrator, and esteemed member of PBJeebies, our critique group with Kim Norman and Jessica Young. I asked Janee to stop by Picture Book Builders and give us a little insight into creating an early reader series. Lucky for us, she said YES! The …
It Began with a Page; How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way, written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Julie Morstad. Here is a photo of one of my favorite picture books. Tattered and worn, splintered binding, and detached cover— this book was magical to me. My mother and I spent …
Hi, friends. I love when a real-life passion fuels a story. Any book that results from that is truly a labor of love and feels like so much more than “just” a story. It feels like a part of us, pulled into the light from way down deep. Such is …