By Traci Sorell
I’m delighted to share my interview with Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, a fellow Epic Eighteen debut author of Mommy’s Khimar, illustrated by Ebony Glenn (Salaam Reads, 2018)).
This cheerful and empowering story which centers on a young Muslim, African American girl who loves wearing her mommy’s khimar (headscarf) received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly.
Continue Reading New Voice: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow on Mommy’s Khimar »
By Traci Sorell
I love picture books, especially the ones like Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean: Remembering Chinese Scientist Pu Zhelong’s Work for Sustainable Farming (Tilbury House, 2018) that combine beautiful art and help me learn something new.
Debut illustrator and fellow Epic Eighteen member, Melanie Linden Chan creates a gorgeous visual scrapbook to convey the work of the late Chinese scientist Pu Zhelong,
LoonSong: A Writer’s Retreat is scheduled for Sept. 6 to Sept. 10 at Elbow Lake Lodge in Cook, Minnesota.
Faculty include children’s-YA authors Nikki Grimes, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Bruce Coville, Marion Dane Bauer, Jane Buchanan, Sarah Aronson,
Continue Reading LoonSong: A Writers Retreat & LoonSong: Turtle Island »
Author and illustrator Anne Rockwell died on April 10 in Stamford, Connecticut. She was 85.
Obituary: Anne Rockwell by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek:
“Christy Ottaviano… worked with Rockwell on four books….describing her as ‘…a visionary in her ability to reach young children through her thoughtful,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith,
Gayleen Rabukukk & Kate Pentecost
Author/Illustrator Insights
Mama’s Belly by Kate Hosford by Adi Rule from The Launch Pad. Peek:
“In the winter of 2009, I did an amazing picture book semester with Uma Krishnaswami…The gestation period for this book was very long—nine years,
Kim Ventrella is the debut author of Skeleton Tree (Scholastic, 2017). From the promotional copy:
Twelve-year-old Stanly knows the bone growing in his yard is a little weird, but that’s okay, because now he’ll have the perfect photo to submit to the Young Discoverer’s Competition. Continue Reading New Voice: Kim Ventrella on Improving Your Writing Skills & Skeleton Tree »
By Traci Sorell
I’m overjoyed to feature The Little Red Fort by author Brenda Maier and illustrator Sonia Sánchez (Scholastic, 2018) here on Cynsations.
This new picture book is a contemporary retelling of The Little Red Hen, featuring spunky Ruby and her three brothers who are not interested in helping her build a fort.
By N.H. Senzai
The reason I love writing for the middle grade audience is because at this age kids can still suspend belief and journey with you through a story as long as you create believable plots, authentic characters and dialogue that rings true.
However, you need to hook them in quickly,
Author, illustrator, and educator Jean Marzollo died April 10, 2018.
SCBWI Remembers Jean Marzollo 1942- 2018 from their website. Peek:
“…Marzollo served for 20 years as editor of Scholastic’s magazine for kindergartners, Let’s Find Out. …she wrote nearly 150 books,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Robin Galbraith,
Gayleen Rabukukk & Kate Pentecost
Author/Illustrator Insights
South Asian Historical Fiction—Author Interview with Veera Hiranandani and Giveaway by Suma Subramaniam from From the Mixed-up Files of Middle-Grade Authors. Peek:
“I grew up hearing about partition [of India in 1947] from my father…I would hear parts of the story,
