Sometimes, there’s that person in your life who just gets you. Your BFF. Your bestie. Your boo. Maybe they’re someone you’ve known forever. Maybe you’ve only just met. You might love them platonically. Or romantically. They might live close by. Or far away. Eliza Wheeler and I — with some …
Hello, all— I’ve got an extra special holiday treat today: former PBB blogger and super-talented picture book creator Eliza Wheeler is here to chat about her gorgeous new book Home in the Woods (Nancy Paulsen Books/PRH, 2019). This is a particularly heartfelt and personal story, based on the experience of …
I’m checking in from this dreamy place – Scotch Hill Farm in upstate New York. Last November, I had a magical email arrive in my inbox, informing me that I was receiving the Sendak Fellowship award, which meant a paid illustrator’s retreat for a month on Maurice Sendak’s former property. …
The Picture Book Builders blog has a new picture book writer and illustrator joining us this summer, so get ready, because it’s . . . MIKE BOLDT!!! If you’re not yet familiar with Mike’s work, you are in for a treat. A few of his own books include 123 VERSUS ABC, …
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 …
Last year, I shared this post while in the thick of final art for the picture book by Caroline McAlister, JOHN RONALD’S DRAGONS: THE STORY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN (Roaring Brook/MacMillan). This month, on the 21st of March, the long-awaited release of that project will be here! I can’t wait to share it …
Every year over the holidays my Mom-in-Law picks picture books to gift from a wishlist, and I love that feeling of starting a new year with a new stack of books. Among them this year are: Shakespeare’s ROMEO & JULIET, retold by Anthea Bell and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. The annual …
When I wrote about Mary Petersen’s art for the book, DIG IN, by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, a commenter mentioned another book by Cindy, WEEDS FIND A WAY, illustrated by Carolyn Fisher. A picture book that celebrates weeds? How curious! I grew up with a mother and grandmothers with green thumbs, and so, probably like most …
It’s a week for book releases here on Picture Book Builders! Tammi Sauer’s MARY HAD A LITTLE GLAM came into the world on August 2nd (congrats, Tammi!), and a new book with my illustrations was also released on the same day. Woohoo! THIS IS OUR BABY, BORN TODAY, written by Varsha Bajaj and …
VIRGINIA WOLF, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, written by Kyo Maclear, is the story of two sisters — Vanessa and Virginia — one bright and sunny, and the other, well, wolfish. Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her sister up, but nothing seems to work. In a quiet moment of resignation, …