Picture Books

Kidlit Social #62: Our First Live Editing Session!

It’s our first ever live editing session! We chose seven works in progress from CBI subscribers (both fiction and nonfiction) and we invited award-winning author and editing wizard Bonnie Johnston (instructor for Manuscript Magic and author of The 30 Day Novel Workbook, The 30 Day Romance Novel Workbook, and The Writer’s Guide to Getting Organized) to edit each submission live and in real time!

This is a tremendous opportunity to really understand the “inner game” of editing, and pick up some valuable tips for editing your own work.

Kidlit Social #59 Replay: Beth Anderson on the Changing Face of Picture Book Biographies

Award-winning author Beth Anderson joins us to discuss the wonderful category of picture book biographies. Laura and Beth talk about the “new” picture book biographies and how the genre has changed, and what types of approaches are most appealing to editors today. If bringing history to life for young readers excites you, you need to meet Beth!

Kidlit Distancing Social #51 Replay: Author/Illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch on the Dance Between Words & Images in Picture Books

In this episode, we welcome Julie Rowan-Zoch (author/illustrator of I’m a Hare, So There! and illustrator of Louis, written by Tom Lichtenheld) to chat about the interplay between words and images in picture books. We also talk about developing a range of styles as an illustrator, how illustrating her own words compares to illustrating texts written by other authors, and what she’s learned about the market from working at an independent book store.

Kidlit Distancing Social #44 Replay: Picture Book Author Tameka Fryer Brown on Rhythm, Rhyme & Celebrating Community

In this episode, meet picture book writer Tameka Fryer Brown, author of Brown Baby Lullaby (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), named by Parents Latina Magazine as one of the Best Latino Children’s Books of 2020 and one of NPR’s 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers.

Laura and Tameka talk about using rhythm and rhyme to pen stories for picture book readers that celebrate family and community, and how Tameka’s books showcase diversity in a way that is accessible and relatable to any reader.

Kidlit Distancing Social #40 Replay: Jennifer Swanson, Melissa Stewart & Cynthia Levinson on Why Kids Love Nonfiction a *Lot* More Than You Probably Think

Three top children’s nonfiction authors talk about the growing significance of nonfiction and why “the nonfiction books of today are not the textbooks of yesteryear”.

Kidlit Distancing Social #39 – Overcoming Self-Doubt & Finding the Courage to Put Your Work Out Into the World

Meet Jennifer Vassel, an inspiring self-publishing success story. Jennifer is the author and founder of “I Am Unique!”, a children’s book series and self-love brand aimed to inspire kids and adults to rise above their insecurities and share their unique gifts with the world.

Her work has been featured in national media such as Forbes, Black Enterprise, Thrive, Essence, and
Today.

Join us to find out how Jennifer has overcome self-doubt and insecurity to build a thriving writing career. She’ll also share some excellent self-publishing and marketing advice.

Kidlit Distancing Social #33 Replay – Newbery Honoree Steve Sheinkin on Making History Exciting

In this episode of the Social, we welcome Steve Sheinkin, author of Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon.

Steve’s hugely popular books make history accessible, fun and exciting for young readers. With wildly diverse topics – from Jim Thorpe and Benedict Arnold to Daniel Ellsberg and the women pioneers of aviation – Steve proves that history can be massively entertaining. And his Time Twisters series bends time to allow for wild adventures – like Abraham Lincoln, Pro Wrestler.

Kidlit Distancing Social #32 Replay – An Evening with Author/Illustrator Lea Lyon

In this episode of the Social, we welcome author/illustrator Lea Lyon, co-author of Ready To Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina (HarperCollins), and illustrator of seven books including It Rained Warm Bread (Henry Holt) and Lailah’s Lunchbox (Tilbury House). 

Among her honors are a Teachers’ Choice Award, ILA-CBC Children’s Choices list, Skipping Stones (twice), and Moonbeam award (twice.) If you’re an illustrator, a writer who wants to learn more about illustration or just a kidlit fan who enjoys learning about the creative process, Lea is someone you absolutely want to meet.

Kidlit Distancing Social #22 Replay – Candice Ransom, Author of 150+ Children’s Books

Candice has written more than 150 books, including 18 books for The Boxcar Children series, The Time Spies series and the Sunfire series. She wrote the Dungeons & Dragons novel, Key to the Griffon’s Lair. Her work includes picture books, easy readers, middle grade fiction, biographies, and nonfiction. Laura and Candice discuss her fascinating career, and then open the floor for a freewheeling “Ask Us Anything” session!

Kidlit Distancing Social #21 Replay – An Evening with Legendary Children’s Poet David Harrison

This week, we welcome a children’s book legend – poet David Harrison, who is about to see his 100th book in print. He is Drury University’s poet laureate. David Harrison Elementary School in Springfield, MO is named for him, and he was recently chosen to receive the first Laura Ingalls Wilder Children’s Literature Medal for his body of work.