When I decided to use my 2021 posts for inspirational chats with picture book authors/illustrators who think OUTSIDE THE BOX, I knew I’d be talking with one of my favorite people in publishing, Alli Brydon. I first met Alli at an Iowa SCBWI conference in … 2012? In 2013 she …
The new book by Barbara Davis-Pyles (Stubby the Fearless Squid, Grizzly Boy), illustrated by Justin Hillgrove, is Cliff the Failed Troll. It stars a stocky, young troll named Cliff. Cliff is attending Troll School to become a proper troll. He is a likable enough student, though he is not welcomed …
Hello, all! Today I’m thrilled to welcome Brandon Reese to the blog. Brandon is the author and illustrator of several picture books, including, most recently, CAVE DADA (Chronicle Books, 2020)—a classic bedtime story with a Stone Age twist. When Baba asks for his favorite book, his weary father resists. But …
Hooray for animal families! I was lucky enough to be paired with Matt Cordell several years ago for our picture book ITSY BITSY BABY MOUSE, a story about a mouse who gets lost. ITSY BITSY is still twirling and whirling; teachers tell me they use the book to teach kids …
Last week I enjoyed Pat Zietlow Miller’s January 15 post celebrating her 22nd book sale. Congrats Pat! The feelings of fear she experienced while attending her first SCBWI conference really resonated with me. As an engineer who didn’t take a single writing class in college and who struggled with writing …
Okay. One look at this cover and you KNOW you are going to get yourself a funny book. The title says “sheep” and the art says “definitely NOT a sheep”–this makes little readers feel in on the joke from the start. We see that Brenda is literally a wolf in …
What a stunning and uplifting picture book by Apryl Stott. It’s her author and illustrator debut. Bear is sad. Because of his size the forest animals are afraid of him and think he must be mean. The front end pages echo this message and the second page of the book …
So, I recently sold a book. Which is always exciting. But, this book sale was especially exciting because it was my 22nd sale. Twenty-two books might seem like an odd milestone to celebrate. Why not 20 or 25? But, I have a reason. When I went to my first-ever conference …
Happy 2021, picture book people! Today’s post marks the first of a year-long series I’m launching called OUTSIDE THE BOX. Each month I’ll chat with an established picture book creator who, for one reason or another, has branched into other formats. Maybe they simply wanted to stretch their creativity in …
Hey, it’s 2021. We made it! Anyone manage to flourish creatively last year? I commend you, if so. (And please share your secret below.) I did not. For various reasons, both universal and personal, my creative well was bone dry. But it’s a new year, things are looking up, and …