By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Shonto Begay (Schwartz &
I’m always inspired by authors who balance writing with running organizations that promote literacy, and I’m thrilled to introduce Cynsations readers to Joy Jones, author, non-profit director and double Dutch jumper!
Congratulations on Jayla Jumps in! The story has a lot of interesting layers. What was your initial inspiration for writing it?
Continue Reading Author Interview: Joy Jones Jumps in to Share Stories »
Starfish by Lisa Fipps (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2021) unfolds as eleven-year-old Ellie, who has been fat-shamed and bullied since childhood, begins to break away from “Fat Girl Rules” she’s been told are foundational to her life. Ellie’s loving friendships, close relationship with her father, and a growing positive connection with a fabulous therapist,
Continue Reading Heart and Spirit: Lisa Fipps Discusses Her Debut Middle-Grade Novel in Verse »
Today we are celebrating Linda Sue Park’s initiative to bring together and highlight Korean American children’s book creators on her kiBooka website. Linda Sue will talk about the site’s inception, and we’ll hear from creators Janet Wong, Marie Myung-Ok Lee, Paula Yoo,
Continue Reading Interview with Linda Sue Park & kiBooka Authors & Illustrators »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung, illustrated by Julie Kwon (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers,
Today we welcome veterinarian Dr. Gary Weitzman, who is also the president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society. We got to chat about writing nonfiction for kids with regards to his two National Geographic books for kids Fetch! How to Speak Dog,
If you love historical fiction and rebel girls, Supriya Kelkar‘s newly published middle-grade novel, Strong As Fire, Fierce As Flame (Lee & Low Books, 2021) will steal your heart as you vicariously experience the journey of a strong girl writing her destiny against all odds.
Today,
Today we extend a warm welcome to Lauren Wolk. She is the author of the Newbery Honor book Wolf Hollow (Dutton, 2016), Beyond the Bright Sea (Dutton, 2017), which won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and her latest book,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Lauren Wolk on Staying True to Yourself »
We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) has announced the opening of the application process for the 2021 WNDB Internship Grants. In the program’s successful first six years, fifty-four diverse publishing interns received supplemental grants. Of the fifty-four grantees who have since graduated from their educational institution, thirty-four have gone on to pursue full-time work in publishing.
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Zonia’s Rain Forest by Juana Martinez-Neal (Candlewick Press, 2021).
Author/Illustrator Insights
A Hero Like Thurgood: Author Guest Post by Kekla Magoon from Harper Stacks.