Many of us are drawn to writing picture books because we want to have a positive impact on kids. Maybe we hope to encourage a sense of empathy, kindness or self-acceptance, or teach them about a person or issue we find important. But—as my files full of clunky manuscripts attest—good …
Artist Keturah Bobo is here to talk with us about her beautiful picture books. With a sweet, rhyming text by actress Grace Byers and gorgeous illustrations by Keturah, I BELIEVE I CAN was published in March 2020 by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins. This empowering book features positive messages of self-love – …
Get Ready! There’s a LOT in this one little post.Whether you’re a book creator, teacher, librarian, or reader, you’ll find a gold mine of craft tips from authors and illustrators of inspiring 2020 nonfiction picture books who banded together to form a group called 20truePBs. Plus, we’re doing a huge …
Oh, Picture Book Builders people, I can BEAR-ly contain my excitement. Today, our friend Mike Boldt has returned for a visit in celebration of Find Fergus. This book had me at the cover. An endearing bear named FERGUS who was hiding behind the title?! I mean, c’mon! This is what …
There are three books so far in this contemporary artist series by Fausto Gilberti and I hope that there will be more to come. The first in the series is Yves Klein, Painted Everything Blue and Wasn’t Sorry. That’s why I wanted this book. That title… that amusing illustration of …
So. I’ll start with the truth. I’m not a dog person. I’m not fond of barking. And jumping and growling. And, after I was bitten by a German Shepherd, I liked dogs even less. They sort of scare me. Not YOUR dog, of course. I’m sure your dog is lovely. …
Happy autumn, everybody! I know I’m not alone in embracing this as my favorite time of year. Here in the midwest, it means oven-hot summer days have flown the coop, and we can enjoy more time OUTdoors, savoring and storing in our hearts every iconic (but fleeting) fall image and …
All effective picture books have some amount of heart. Something in their story that connects with readers — whether they are four or 94 — and makes them think: “Oh! I’ve felt like that. I understand.” My favorite picture books have lots of heart. They tell stories that inspire lots …
With recent starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER is on the way with a release date of October 6, 2020. Scholastic calls this picture book “an ode to black and brown children everywhere that is full of hope, assurance, and love.” The poetic text from …
Today I’m pleased to share an inspiring, important book: THE TEACHERS MARCH!: How Selma’s Teachers Changed History by Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Charly Palmer. Sandra and Rich are seasoned nonfiction writers who take research very seriously. So I asked them to share how they found out …