Maria Gianferrari writes both fiction and nonfiction picture books from her
sunny, book-lined study in northern Virginia, with her dog Becca as her
muse.
Maria’s debut picture book, Penny & Jelly: The School Show, illustrated by Thyra Heder (2015) led to Penny &
Continue Reading New Voice & Giveaway: Maria Gianferrari on Penny & Jelly »
CSK Author Award Acceptance Speech by Rita Williams-Garcia from The Horn Book. Peek:
“…upon occasion, our histories are bound by peace and wonder as people of the planet Earth, looking up as we did on one night in the summer of 1969.
“In spite of some current rhetoric,
Continue Reading Author Rita Williams-Garcia & The Surely Do Dancers »
Author Lois Duncan died in June while Cynsations was on summer hiatus.
Lois Duncan Obituary: Bestselling author of fiction for young adults, including the thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer by Julia Eccleshare from The Guardian. Peek: “She was born Lois Duncan Steinmetz in Philadelphia,
Author Interview: Guadalupe García McCall: Remembering What Has Endured, What Has Been Lost by Justin Barisich from BookPage. Peek: “It takes a lot of courage to let the world see your heart, to lay it down on the ground in front of the enemy and say, ‘This is it.
By E.M. Kokie
From the flap copy of Radical by E.M. Kokie (Candlewick, 2016):
Preppers. Survivalists. Bex prefers to think of herself as a realist who plans to survive, but regardless of labels, they’re all sure of the same thing: a crisis is coming.
And when it does,
Continue Reading Guest Post: E.M. Kokie on Hands-On Research & Getting Out of Your Character’s Way »
Roxie Munro & Julie Gribble shooting Ready Set Draw!
By Roxie Munro
In August of 2014, I traveled from my Long Island City studio to downtown New York City, lugging KIWiStorybook frames and rolled-up giant walk-in picture books, about to be the first author interviewed for the media start-up, KidLit TV.
Scholastic Book Club will soon be offering my debut tween novel, Rain Is Not My Indian Name, as a diversity selection through book clubs.
Rain Is Not My Indian Name (HarperCollins and Listening Library, 2001)(ages 10-up). Available as an unabridged audio download.
Continue Reading Scholastic Book Club to Offer Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith »
Hannah West is the first-time author of Kingdom of Ash and Briars (Holiday House, 2016). From the promotional copy:
Building on homages to Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Jane Austen’s Emma and the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, Hannah West makes a spectacular and wholly original debut.
Continue Reading New Voice: Hannah West on Kingdom of Ash and Briars »
“Barefoot Books was founded in 1992 by two young moms working from home with the dream of creating beautiful books that celebrate diversity, spark curiosity and capture children’s imaginations.”
There’s been an ongoing conversation about diversity in children’s literature. What are your thoughts on the subject?
Continue Reading Publisher Interview: CEO Nancy Traversy of Barefoot Books »
Joyce Carol Thomas, Berkeley children’s author, dies at 78 by Shradha Ganapathy from The Daily Californian. Peek: “Celebrated local children’s author Joyce Carol Thomas — a poet, playwright and winner of the National Book Award — died Aug. 13 at Stanford University (Medical Center).”
Obituary: Joyce Carol Thomas by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly.
