As a children’s author drawn to nonfiction topics, I know the most difficult part of writing a book about real people and events in the past is to figure out the best way to tell a story to make it matter and connect to kids today. THAT is everything. And that challenge can lead a … More Behind the Scenes: “The Sweet Spot Where History and Fiction Meet” by Nancy Churnin
THE SEED THAT MOLLY GREW is all about connections that come from the miracle of a tiny seed. Author Sue Heavenrich even found a way to make story structure a part of that heart! This is a perfect book to share for fall as kids’ attention turns to pumpkins. Congratulations to A. Turner, winner of … More Mining for Heart: “One Seed, Many Connections” by Sue Heavenrich
There’s nothing more fun than a book that is a shape! The first book of the nonfiction board book series by Sue Lowell Gallion and Lisk Feng (Phaidon Press) caught my eye immediately. It looks like a globe and stands up! One thing I didn’t think about was what that means for the writing. So … More Behind the Scenes: “Circular Thinking” by Sue Lowell Gallion
Just in time for the start of a new school year! This post from author and teacher Zeena Pliska shares an activity for educators to help explore, examine, and evaluate classroom libraries. AND she’s offering a copy of her newest picture book, EGYPTIAN LULLABY. GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment after the post to get in the … More Especially for Educators: “Recentering Diversity and Decentering White/Eurocentric Culture” by Zeena M. Pliska
I would bet just about every writer has been asked, “How long does it take you to write a book?” Well…it turns out every book has its own story of becoming. And if you peruse this blog, you’ll find many books that sprang from ideas or experiences many years earlier. Here, Marsha Diane Arnold shares … More Behind the Scenes: “The Long Journey of ARMANDO’S ISLAND” by Marsha Diane Arnold
When I picked up THIS IS TAP, I was delighted by this lively, lyrical, rhythmic, toe-tapping, sparsely written, standout biography. So I reached out to Selene Castrovilla wanting to learn about how it came to be. Here’s a terrific post from Selene about how an idea in her heart found its way to the page … More Mining For Heart: “THIS IS TAP: A Nineteen-Year Breech Birth” by Selene Castrovilla
When new authors learn that much of the marketing and promotion for their book will be left to them, it can be daunting for many who are not “natural salespeople.” In this post, Susan Johnston Taylor shares tips for starting a marketing group, a group of kid lit creators who band together to learn and … More Behind the Scenes: “Start a Picture Book Marketing Group!” by Susan Johnston Taylor
Stories of inanimate objects offer their own special challenge. As with all stories, I think the secret is to find a meaningful personal connection that also connects to children. In Jessica Stremer’s new book, GREAT CARRIER REEF, she was drawn to the idea of transformation. Read on to find out how this idea played out … More Mining for Heart: “A Transformation Invites New Life” by Jessica Stremer
While many people are inspired to write a piece of family history, a memory or heartfelt reverence for ancestors’ endeavors isn’t usually enough to create a great picture book. Laurie Wallmark’s patient pondering to find the focus along with her expert knowledge of how to write an engaging story resulted in her latest release, RIVKA’S … More Mining for Heart: “Finding the Focus for Rivka’s Presents” by Laurie Wallmark
Maps! And trees! I’m a fan of both! Here’s an activity to use with MY GRANDPA, MY TREE, AND ME by Roxanne Troup—ready to go for busy educators! Roxanne is offering a GIVEAWAY—a free 30-minute virtual visit! For a teacher, it can be a virtual author visit for a classroom. Or for a writer, a … More Especially for Educators: “Using Back Matter to Inspire Lesson Plans” by Roxanne Troup
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 