I’ve enjoyed Margie Palatini’s books for years. And when I crack one open, I’ve come to expect certain things: a distinctive voice, great humor, and lively, rhythmic language packed with repetition, puns, and clever wordplay. What I don’t usually expect? Brevity. But No Nap! Yes Nap! (Little, Brown, 2014) IS brief. …
In Tammi Sauer’s last post, she mentioned that “The Watermelon Seed” made her want to be a better writer. Reading that simple statement led me to know immediately what I had to write about next. Don’t you love it when inspiration strikes like that? (Thanks, Tammi!) My first book, MISS …
A few weeks ago I was invited to be part of the 35th Annual Children’s Literature Conference at Northern Illinois University. This year’s conference topic was “A Celebration of Picture Books For All Ages.”One of the main speakers, Melissa Sweet, shared how she wrote and illustrated her award-winning picture book, BALLOONS OVER …
There is so much to love about YETI AND THE BIRD by Nadia Shireen (Atheneum). I am a sucker for friendship books. Friends found, friends discovered, and friendships of the unlikely. This book seems to have them all. Bird, a little bit clueless, finds a friend when she crashes into Yeti’s …
The medium in which an illustration is executed has an enormous impact on the style and feel of the entire book. Claudia McGehee is an illustrator who works in scratchboard. Her finished illustrations have the look of a woodcut, or linocut print, but the process is very different. Claudia begins …
I have a secret to share. I’ve long admired author Emily Jenkins, illustrator Sophie Blackall and publisher Schwartz & Wade. So, I fully expected to admire their collaboration on the recently released picture book A FINE DESSERT. But, wow. Even though I know that a whole can be greater than the sum …
I love picture books that make me laugh. And those that make me cry. It’s nearly impossible, though, to find one book that does both. Nearly impossible. But then there’s this one: The Impossible Patriotism Project (2007), written by my friend Linda Skeers and illustrated by Ard Hoyt, is a …
One of my favorite picture books is The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli. Why do I love it more than a crocodile loves watermelon? Let me count the ways. The main character is active, relatable, and flawed. I care about this toothy crocodile! The cover alone makes me want to be friends …
It’s been a rough winter, hasn’t it? Here in central North Carolina, my son has finally returned to school after nearly two weeks of cancellations due to nasty weather. And yet our little bit of snow is nothing compared to what you folks in the northeast and elsewhere have endured. …
Earlier this month, on February 2nd, the 2015 Caldecott Awards were announced. Every children’s book illustrator can count a Caldecott Medal as one of their dreams, and I feel lucky to know this year’s winner, Dan Santat, as a local Los Angeles illustrator, for his picture-book “The Adventures of Beekle, The Unimaginary Friend“. …