As you all know by now, I’m a sucker for books with rhyme and lyrical language, great use of metaphor, and sweet, beautifully illustrated stories with a subtle message. HOPE IS A HOP by Katrina Moore, illustrated by Melissa Iwai, is all that (and a bag of chips! Hmm, think …
Hello, Picture Book Builders people. When you are a part of a critique group and one of your critique buddies has a brand new book, you want to celebrate it, right? I know I sure do! Today, I am so excited to share Jessica Young and Chelsea O’Byrne’s Two Homes, …
I always say that Creatives are extremely brave. To share one’s work is such a vulnerable thing to do and I am proud of and applaud every single one of us for doing it. That might be why I adored this book so much. How Dreadful!, by Claire Lebourg and …
Hello, readers. Happy Women’s History month! I’m thrilled today to introduce my newest book (illustrated by the extremely talented Rebecca Gibbon and published by Calkins Creek), a biography of author Gene Stratton-Porter. One hundred years ago, Gene Stratton-Porter was a monstrously popular woman. She’d written 26 books, both fiction and …
Sleep is important. Not that anyone needs convincing. The lack of sleep—or not enough sleep—is unhealthy and we are reminded of this often; in the news, online, wherever we get our information. As an adult I know this first hand. I love sleep and celebrate every morning I wake up …
I’m very excited to welcome to Picture Book Builders one of the most generous and kind-hearted people in the KidLit Community! Vivian Kirkfield has supported me and so many others on our journeys, whether it be by hosting cover reveals or book birthdays on her amazing blog, offering inspiration and …
One of the best things about my path to publication has been the formation of Kidlit Works, the fantastic debut group I am a member of. I got to know other writers with books coming out this year—and their stories. And now that it’s 2024, I get to talk about …
Hello, Picture Book Builders people. One of the picture books that brought me a whole lot of joy in 2023 was Down the Hole, written by Scott Slater and illustrated by Adam Ming. It has humor! It has drama! It even has the barcode incorporated into the art! Evidence: But …
The Red Jacket by Bob Holt mixes character and humor to tell the perfect story about making friends and fitting in. This is a wonderful picture book to point out how both the illustrations and spare text is used to take turns telling the story. At the beginning, we meet …
Hello, readers! Today I’m keeping it short with a quick look at a funny title from 2022 (Kids Can Press), written by Monica Silvie and illustrated by Elina Ellis. This cover grabbed me right away. Those eyes, right? This little chickadee could not be more quirky and original. Right off …