Wet Cement by Bob Raczka
“Wet Cement, A Mix of Concrete Poems” This title drew me like a freshly poured sidewalk calls to a child’s palm. … More Wet Cement by Bob Raczka
Children's Writer
“Wet Cement, A Mix of Concrete Poems” This title drew me like a freshly poured sidewalk calls to a child’s palm. … More Wet Cement by Bob Raczka
With the “Paging Through the Parks” celebration of the 100th anniversary of U.S. National Parks during August, it’s the perfect time to examine setting. Liz Garton Scanlon shares her experience mining the setting for story. What she found sprang from her own experience and memories, and how the setting had touched her. In the Canyon: How Setting … More Mining the Setting: “In the Canyon: How Setting Became Story” by Liz Garton Scanlon
When anyone can look up anything, what makes a story different than a Wikipedia entry? What is it that lingers after a child reads a book, bringing new perspective and inspiring thinking? To me, that’s heart, the most essential and difficult part of writing. It’s a thread that you won’t find in the research, but something that comes from the research. It might hit ten seconds before sleep, during a walk, while reading something entirely unrelated, or may never surface at all. Barb Rosenstock, author of a number of picture book biographies, calls it the “So What?” … More Mining for Heart: “Writing a Picture Book Biography? So What?” by Barb Rosenstock
This week – a middle grade favorite. And next week, I’ll be launching a monthly series from published authors entitled “Mining for Heart.” Stay tuned. Title: Pax Written by: Sara Pennypacker Illustrated by: Jon Klassen Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins, 2016, fiction, 288 pages Suitable for ages: 8-12 Lexile: 760 Themes/topics: nature, war, family, relationships, pets, grief Opening: … More Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post features a man of seemingly endless talents, author /illustrator Don Tate. Looking forward to meeting him at the WOW retreat and learning about his process, with text and art! Title: It Jes’ Happened, When Bill Traylor Started to Draw Written by: Don Tate Illustrated by: R. Gregory Christie Lee and … More It Jes’ Happened and more from Don Tate
Another WOW Retreat author is Audrey Vernick. She’s definitely a baseball fan and writes nonfiction as well as fiction picture books. Title: The Kid From Diamond Street, the Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton Written by: Audrey Vernick Illustrated by: Steven Salerno Clarion, HMH, 2016, biography Suitable for ages: 4-7 (easily extends to age 10) … More The Kid From Diamond Street and other Audrey Vernick favorites
Today on PPBF I’m featuring another author participating in the WOW retreat. Jill Esbaum, a rhymer, hits age-old childhood themes in new and creative ways. Title: Teeny Tiny Toady Written by: Jill Esbaum Illustrated by: Keika Yamaguchi Sterling, 2016, fiction, 40 pages Suitable for ages: 4-7 Lexile: AD520 Themes/topics: problem solving, siblings, rescue Opening: (Opening … More Teeny Tiny Toady and other Esbaum favorites
Another author I’m thrilled to meet at the Week of Writing (WOW) Retreat is Barb Rosenstock. I’ve already started my list of questions for her. What an amazing writer! It’s hard to choose just two favorites… Title: Dorothea’s Eyes, Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth Written by: Barb Rosenstock Illustrated by: Gerard DuBois Calkins Creek, 2016, … More Dorothea’s Eyes and The Noisy Paintbox
Today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post features two books from Duncan Tonatiuh. … More Separate is Never Equal and Diego Rivera, His World and Ours
How much do you know about the puzzling platypus? Title: Platypus Written by: Sue Whiting Illustrated by: Mark Jackson Candlewick Press, 2016, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 5+ Themes/topics: animals, nature, Australia Opening: Beyond the snaking bend in the creek, where the water lazes in a still green pool, a scraggly gum tree perches on the … More Platypus