Page 72 – All picture books, all the time

Niko Draws a Feeling

Niko Draws a Feeling, written by Bob Raczka and beautifully illustrated by Simone Shin. How much of why I love this book is because I’m an artist? Because as an artist I have felt dear Niko’s frustration watching blank faces staring at my masterpieces? Well… perhaps a lot of it. But Niko …

DAD AND THE DINOSAUR dazzles — for readers and writers

Recurring elements are one of my favorite features in picture books. Picture books are shorter affairs, so the writer has to fit a plot into a tighter-than-normal space. To make the story hang together and feel like a coherent whole, there often are words, phrases or themes that repeat throughout …

The Poetic Brevity of Deborah Freedman’s This house, once

Today’s post is a two-parter. Part 1: If you haven’t yet seen the loveliness that is Deborah Freedman’s newest book, This house, once (Atheneum), I hope you’ll find it. The pencil, pastel, watercolor illustrations are soft and dreamy and so cozy I wanted to live inside each spread. The publisher’s …

Talking with Agent Jennifer Mattson (+ Giveaways!)

Hello, all, and happy April! I’m so pleased to have my fabulous agent, Jennifer Mattson, with us today. Before joining Andrea Brown Literary in 2008, Jennifer held various positions as an editor, book reviewer and bookseller—excellent preparation for her current profession (you’ll find her bio and literary tastes here). I …

SNAIL HAS LUNCH with Mary Peterson

Author-Illustrator Mary Peterson, a critique group pal of mine, has a new book out to get us excited about our gardens and new tasty growing things! The book is called SNAIL HAS LUNCH, and is in a unique format that I hope to see a lot more of in children’s books these …

Announcing: the American Writers Museum!

Big news! (And I mean really big.) In a few weeks — May 16th to be exact — the American Writers Museum opens in Chicago. That’s right. The first national museum featuring American writers and their works is making its home in the windy city. Talk about a must-see museum! So when AWM Program Director, Allison Sansone, recently invited me to visit, I jumped at the chance. Hope you enjoy this sneak peek of the museum.

Vampirina takes on the beach AND her very own Disney Junior Animated Series

I have known Anne Marie Pace since the glory days of LiveJournal, and I have valued her friendship for more than a decade. Anne Marie is the author of a number of pictures books including her popular Vampirina Ballerina series, illustrated by the spooktacular LeUyen Pham. Anne Marie was …

Who What Where? Who Done It? (and giveaway winner announced!)

When in doubt, ask a librarian. I was chatting with my librarian friend, Sara, and asking about book shapes. I’m at that beginning stage with my next picture book and I wanted her thoughts on how different shapes work on the shelf. Sara mentioned that small books often get pushed …

A kiss for Amy Krouse Rosenthal

If you love picture books, you’ve probably read one or two from Amy Krouse Rosenthal. She’s written a ton — well — more than 20. And her books are universally lovely. Often funny. Always moving. Deceptively simple. Amy has been in the news twice recently. First, when an essay she wrote …

My Busy Green Garden, Author Interview + a Giveaway!

What first drew me to My Busy Green Garden (Tilbury House Publishers), by author Terry Pierce and illustrator Carol Schwartz, was its colorful cover. On it were some of my favorite flowers – daisies, lilies, a purple coneflower. Oh, wait. There were insects, too? A praying mantis, a honeybee, a …

Niko Draws a Feeling

DAD AND THE DINOSAUR dazzles — for readers and writers

The Poetic Brevity of Deborah Freedman’s This house, once

Talking with Agent Jennifer Mattson (+ Giveaways!)

SNAIL HAS LUNCH with Mary Peterson

Announcing: the American Writers Museum!

Vampirina takes on the beach AND her very own Disney Junior Animated Series

Who What Where? Who Done It? (and giveaway winner announced!)

A kiss for Amy Krouse Rosenthal

My Busy Green Garden, Author Interview + a Giveaway!

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