A really successful, wordless, picture book is so incredibly difficult to create. I don’t think it’s hard to make one that is entertaining to read— once. But to make a wordless book that leaves enough room for the viewer/reader to return to it again and again is extremely tough. And… …
Oh, people. I am happier than a little girl with a mango tree to introduce you to All Kinds of Special AND illustrator Fernando Martin. The whole idea for this book came from a text conversation with my very first writer friend–Flora Doone. Flora is the owner of an overzealous …
I’m happy to welcome illustrator Keisha Morris to the blog today. Keisha created the art for A GIRL CAN BUILD ANYTHING, written by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and me, which joined the world on April 18. When e.E. and I were writing the book, we thought it would be super-cool if the …
Andrea: It’s my favorite kind of birthday–a book birthday! Today on PBB we’re celebrating Frances Gilbert and her latest wonderful picture book, Can You Hug a Forest? Hi and happy book birthday, Frances! It’s great to have you back on Picture Book Builders! Can you tell us about Can You Hug …
My newest picture book, BEHOLD THE OCTOPUS! released 2 weeks ago from Peachtree Publishing. I’d love to take credit for coming up with the idea for a book about the clever, curious, and colorful octopus, but alas, I didn’t. Tom Gonzalez, the talented illustrator who I’d worked with on COUNTDOWN, …
When my students saw The Courage of the Little Hummingbird: A Tale Told Around the World on display in the classroom, they demanded an immediate read aloud. I’m not surprised. When I came across the cover for the first time, I was immediately pulled in too, first by the lush …
For the past week, one picture book has been on my mind a lot. Love in the Library, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Yas Imamura, was published in February 2022. It received multiple starred reviews and I added it to my extensive TBR list. There it stayed until last …
Hello, picture book people. I have a confession. Before today, I have never posted about a Maddie Frost book. This makes me very disappointed in myself because Maddie’s books bring me JOY. Let me share the opening spreads from just one of her little treasures. Look at that bright and …
Don’t Forget, written by Jane Godwin and illustrated by Anna Walker feels like a hug. The illustrations are so endearing and the thoughtful “Don’t forget to…” reminders move us through the story in a warm and comfortable way. In order to work as a picture book, the narrative needs to …