Celebrate Children’s Book Week with characters from the past! People like you and me, facing life’s challenges. In the midst of this pandemic, living our own piece of history, we can all benefit from learning how others persisted through difficult times. Pictured are six new picture books to inspire children. And there are many more! … More Children’s Book Week 2020!
2020 is a big year for Nancy Churnin with two picture book releases! How does she decide what subjects are worth pursuing through months of research and revision? Read on to learn about Nancy’s process when she discovers a fascinating person from the past… “My Three Musts in Writing Picture Books” by Nancy Churnin People often … More Behind the Scenes: “My Three Musts in Writing Picture Books” by Nancy Churnin
Today we go Behind the Scenes with author Anne Renaud as she explores the writer’s all important decision of whether to go ahead with a picture book biography or not. Heading down the rabbit hole of research involves a lot of time and effort. I love historical figures that have been lurking in the shadows, … More Behind the Scenes: “Writing a picture book biography – Stop or Go?” by Anne Renaud
GIVEAWAY!! Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday! Last week Elizabeth Brown shared her process of finding how to write the story that became Dancing Through Fields of Color. This week I have more about the book and an opportunity to win your very own copy of this very lovely biography of Helen Frankenthaler. Be sure to … More Dancing Through Fields of Color
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
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 