Category: picture books

Behind the Scenes: “Illustrating ‘A Life of Service: The Story of Senator Tammy Duckworth'” by Dow Phumiruk

September 9, 2022

If there ever was a dream team to share a Thai woman’s story with children, it’s Dow Phumiruk and Christina Soontornvat! Here we get to hear from Dow about the thought process of illustrating the story. GIVEAWAY! For a chance to win a copy of A LIFFE OF SERVICE, just leave a comment below! Behind … More Behind the Scenes: “Illustrating ‘A Life of Service: The Story of Senator Tammy Duckworth'” by Dow Phumiruk

Especially for Educators: “Nonfiction Mentor Texts for the Classroom” by Annette Whipple

August 12, 2022

In the classroom, I found that mentor sentences and mentor texts provided opportunities for student writers to amaze themselves and tackle many forms of writing with confidence. Now, as an author, I analyze mentor texts for my own learning. Thank you, Annette Whipple for this post for educators on using your nonfiction series in the … More Especially for Educators: “Nonfiction Mentor Texts for the Classroom” by Annette Whipple

Mining for Heart: “Layering & Language- Moving Beyond Autobiography & Into the Universal” by Costantia Manoli

July 29, 2022

TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX hit me right in the heart! It’s truly a special picture book. Here’s a post from author Costantia Manoli all the way from Cyprus in which she shares how she built this story.  GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of the book!   Layering and … More Mining for Heart: “Layering & Language- Moving Beyond Autobiography & Into the Universal” by Costantia Manoli

Behind the Scenes: “How a Single Photo Can Bring a Book into Focus” by Elisa Boxer

July 15, 2022

I love discovering old photos when I research a subject! They’re such an essential and valuable part of learning about another time and place. But they can also be the inspiration for the dive into the past or a driving push through the writing process. Here, Elisa Boxer shares how one photo sustained her as she wrote. … More Behind the Scenes: “How a Single Photo Can Bring a Book into Focus” by Elisa Boxer

Behind the Scenes: “Finding My Agent on Twitter + Social Media Tips” by Margaret Aitken

June 24, 2022

Ahhh, social media…love it? hate it? Social media elicits a full range of emotions! Here’s Margaret Aitken’s positive approach and how she found her agent on Twitter. Congratulations to Margaret on her debut picture book OLD FRIENDS!  Margaret is offering a GIVEAWAY of a picture book critique. If you’d like to enter, just leave a note in … More Behind the Scenes: “Finding My Agent on Twitter + Social Media Tips” by Margaret Aitken

Behind the Scenes: “A Perfect Symphony, Mining for Gold in The Greatest Song of All” by Megan Hoyt

June 17, 2022

I can totally identify with the problem of finding so much goodness in a story that it becomes overwhelming! Megan Hoyt shares how she pulled multiple threads into one in THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL: HOW ISAAC STERN UNITED THE WORLD TO SAVE CARNEGIE HALL (releases 7/5/22). Megan is offering a GIVEAWAY of a picture … More Behind the Scenes: “A Perfect Symphony, Mining for Gold in The Greatest Song of All” by Megan Hoyt

Especially for Educators: “Climb Aboard the Yellow Submarine: A Study in Research and Activism” by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw

June 10, 2022

Here’s a great story of the birth of MIGHTY MAHI from Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw, a story that sprang from project-based learning with excited and engaged  students. Authors will enjoy learning about the genesis of the book, and educators will surely find inspiration for their own classrooms. While Suzanne wrote the book as a result of … More Especially for Educators: “Climb Aboard the Yellow Submarine: A Study in Research and Activism” by Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw

Behind the Scenes: “Building Layers from Life” by Helen Wu

May 13, 2022

This week’s guest blogger, Helen H. Wu, shares how she found the layers in TOFU TAKES TIME. When you write from a personal experience, paying attention to emotions and details can contribute to the creation of a multi-layered story. Helen has a special giveaway, too—a signed bookplate and a limited edition art print! Just leave … More Behind the Scenes: “Building Layers from Life” by Helen Wu

Mining for Heart: “Finding the Manuscript’s Mission” by Elisa Boxer

May 6, 2022

Welcome, Elisa Boxer, and thank you for this wonderful post with another way of viewing the HEART of a story!  Giveaway! Elisa is offering a signed copy of one of her books—your choice! Just leave a comment below for a chance to win! Congratulations to Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner, winner of FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE from my … More Mining for Heart: “Finding the Manuscript’s Mission” by Elisa Boxer

Behind the Scenes: “Building Franz’s Phantasmagorical Machine”

April 29, 2022

This post is another in my author’s journey. Though my initial attraction to Franz Gsellmann’s story came from the child within, and the writing brought more layers of connection, as I reflect back on it now, I’ve found something deeper.  To celebrate the release of FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, we’ve got a GIVEAWAY! Just leave a … More Behind the Scenes: “Building Franz’s Phantasmagorical Machine”